Happy Thursday, friends! As I sit here this morning typing out my experience in the “Tiny House in the Woods” I can’t help but notice the profound difference I feel physically, emotionally, and even spiritually since our little getaway. Since the effects of Covid have settled into what feels like every part of our lives, as business owners, both my husband and I have been reeeeeally…busy. To say the least. I truly wouldn’t have it any other way though. Keeping busy helps me stay motivated and excited for the future. Staying busy also helps keep my doors open. So for that, I’m grateful.

However, you just know when it’s time to sit down and breathe and escape. For my husband and I, and I’m sure many of you can relate, we have to plan trips out far enough in advance, pay a portion up front, block off a few days, and commit. Otherwise, we would never ever leave - haha. This trip was planned back at Christmas time and was actually a present to my husband. I’ve figured out one of the best gifts to give my hard working, “doesn’t need anything” husband, is a getaway. An escape, an experience, and not just to anywhere…but to a place that inspires him as a creative man and as a brilliant business owner. This has been a fun challenge for me as his wife to find quick escapes to a vibrant city, a town with unique things to do, eat, and see - but the town isn’t the only experience we’re after. Where we stay needs to be just as much an inspiration as the city itself. Folks, let me introduce you to The Tiny House in the Woods.

Thats not it’s actual name, that’s just what I’ve been lovingly referring it to as.

I’ve always loved the idea of “tiny living.” Being forced to simplify everything down to the bare necessities. I remember camping in an RV at Higgins Lake years ago and I really fell for that lifestyle. My husband, however, was skeptical of my Airbnb discovery. I wanted to give him a unique stay but, though he was grateful for the gesture, I could see in his shaky smile that he was not sure about spending a weekend in a tiny…and I do mean TINY…house. I understand how that can be hard for a 6 ft tall man to be ok with.

Remember how I said we have to plan far in advance in even commit with a down payment on a trip to ensure we actually leave town? We’re especially glad we did this time. It was the week leading up to Mothers Day and, when you work in retail, that’s the next biggest holiday next to Christmas and we had planned to leave that very weekend. So we spent the whole week working very long hours, up early, up late, just to keep things running smoothly. I had actually had the thought several times throughout the week, “We should just cancel and stay in town…What if we’re needed?” This pestering thought is exactly why we have to commit in advance!

Friday arrived, we loaded up, and we drove 3 hours to Charlevoix, MI where the Tiny House waited for us. We got to the property and drove down a long two-track deep into the woods where it sat. We came upon this darling wooden house with a steep roof, windows all around, fire pit in the front, and even a quaint little porch just big enough to fit a small table and chair. I could see beyond the clearing where the house sat, a few walking trails shooting off into the woods. We opened the door and stumbled around feeling the walls for the light switch. When the lights came on, my husband looked around with a smile on his face, “this is actually really cool, babe.”

The house was a mix of light wood tones and pastel accents. A great choice for a small space. Light colors, no surprise, take up less visual space and weight, so even though the house was very tiny, it felt open and airy. A sweet little kitchen with all new appliances ran along the wall with an eating nook laying parallel. Up a ladder and above the main living area was the larger of the two lofts where a full size bed sat. I noticed while scaling up the ladder that each space between the rungs was a clever storage solution. Little hooks held coffee cups, another a few books. Next to the ladder were book shelves, a cozy seat, under the seat a record player and collection of records. Every corner has been used wisely. That’s what I love about this lifestyle. You’re forced to think creatively and you have to be smart about your designing or else you’ll be cluttered and miserable. The builders of this house did a great job.

We spent the weekend walking through the woods, walking through the emptied out town of downtown Charlevoix walking through the historic neighborhoods, talking about the homes, what we liked, what we didn’t. We ordered take out for lunch, and stopped at the local grocery store to pick up ingredients for dinner. That afternoon we read for hours in the cozy loft as light poured through the skylights and windows surrounding us. Nick would get up and make coffee, but because the space was so small we could carry on a conversation while I was “upstairs” and he was “downstairs”. I’d continue reading and tell him revelations I was having from the book, and he’d not even even climb the ladder but reach up and place a coffee on the ledge of the loft for me - I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as I watched only his hand quietly creep up over the ledge with a cup of coffee. We spent the evening playing the card game speed in the kitchen while making bruschetta and frozen lasagna.

Only a few minutes from the tiny house is a park sprawling with acres of woods and walking paths all lining Lake Michigan. Having very little and very spotty internet, we weren’t tempted to be on our phones but we were able to just stay present. As we walked through those trails we talked about goals, fears, solutions, and things we simply want to change and be better at. This is what we needed. I don’t know about you, but we don’t need a lengthy, expensive vacation to reset. We’re easily affected by short stays at unique destinations and seclusion enough to realign and reconnect. The tiny house in the woods made a big impact on our hearts, bodies, and vision for the future. Want to check out this place for yourself? Check it out here and book a quick get away…you won’t regret it!