Welcome to the Trailhead! My name is Jen and I live in this 34x10 tiny house on wheels. My channel consists of all things tiny house living, organizing, decluttering, styling and most likely some cooking as well. I built this house after my marriage of 18 years ended and I was tasked with finding affordable housing on a single mom budget. I created this channel to inspire others who are looking for an alternative way to restart their life when big change happens.
Oh my, I'm so proud of you...I ended a 32 year marriage and started a new life in my fifties. I also live at the foothills of Colorado. I really think skirting the bottom of your tiny house would help with the cold/wind/freezing of your home. People ask me what I would miss the most if I ever moved from Colorado and it would defiantly be the winter snows.
You did a great job!! I love your tiny house design. I’ve been dreaming of living in a THOW for a long time. You’ve inspired me. It’s so expensive where I live.
Even though I’m 18 right now I don’t really aspire to have a home as of right now but I always wanted a tiny house and travel around the country hopefully soon I’ll be able to get one
You just keep being you! I appreciate your posts whenever they arise. Looking forward to your bathroom series (is that weird?!). I'm starting my own tiny build soon and look forward to hearing about your 'real life' experiences. 😎 BTW - I am in love with your storage in the bathroom!
Thanks. Fair point… I guess everyone I know who was out of a job has one now. So maybe a better observation would be that the unemployment rate seems to be dropping.
I saw you, and your tiny on CNBC Market Place! I didn't know if I should congratulate you for being noticed on their channel or worried that it was not legitimate and a theft of your content. Therefore, I am giving you a heads-up that this is on RU-vid.
It’s legit footage! I guess they have been mixing it in with other stuff but originally it was about an 8 minute piece they did just on my story last April.
Thank you for posting a new video! You really are in inspiration to me! Since you mentioned your bathroom edition video coming, can you add where you found your beautiful shower curtains? I would appreciate it so much! I am so glad you are getting to spend time with your son. Enjoy your moments together!! :)
Good morning! So glad to see an update. Really look forward to seeing what you are up to…so just know that we are out here when you are ready…no pressure. Lots of good vibes to you!!!
Hi, Jen. First off, congratulations on the new job! I can relate to your story so much. I appreciate and admire your honesty and vulnerability. I'm about your age and have a lot of the same circumstances as you do, and it feels good to know I'm not alone. You're so brave and strong and an incredible role model for women like me, trying to make it all work. Hang in there, and know you have a network of support out here. ❤
This is a great video of your new tiny home living. I would love to buy a tiny house and live in it. I live alone and housing in California is so expensive.
Just love each time you post and share your thoughts, struggles and accomplishments in life, we all have them and good to hear what others are doing to get around the struggles. And life alone as a single person can be a huge struggle. I have a friend that sent in, she said, over 100 resumes before getting her job now. So glad you have a steady income now, that is a major accomplishment in life and congratulations!!! Keep posting we love seeing you and your beautiful hom.
Glad you found another job with security. I'm curious about the hot water in a tiny home. Are you able to take long hot showers and full hot baths? For me having hot water is one of life's biggest luxuries.
I love your Tiny home ...I feel for you but at the same time I am glad you are finding your grove. I am 67 and really want a tiny home. Last month my daughter and I got a 60 day notice to move. Everything is so $$$$$ rent is so high . We have 3 weeks left and still can not find a place we can afford . there are a few places we have looked at but after paying rent, our bills and food we barely have a penny left. There is no rent control in California it's so sad. Now I know why there are so many homeless ...I wish you well and I love your videos
I understand the job/commute situation. I work 7:30a.m.- 6:30 & the commute depending on traffic is an hour to 2 hours both ways. I’m exhausted once I get home. So weekends are packed with the things I can’t get to during the week. I’m an artist as well and I e always had a side hustle, but not with this job. I beat myself up because I’ve changed so much. I absolutely love my job, but it does suck the life out of me. Single income means a lot of sacrifices in other areas. Any way I relate so much to your situation.
You have had a lot on your plate and you did exactly what you needed to do. But so glad to see you back! You are an inspiration and you are a natural on camera. Keep doing what is best for you. It would be fun to introduce your son to us. Have a blessed day.
YAY!! It's good to see you, and Congratulations on the job!! I'm always sending you all the good vibes!! I recently had to change up my morning routine, and it's been tough getting into the groove and figuring out what works with what I want to be doing and for my wellbeing. I can't wait to hear your words of wisdom.
I love your tiny house, but more than that you are inspiring. Your genuineness and upbeat attitude reminds me that life can be good even when it’s hard. Keep going! You got this!
I was financially ruined in late 30's. I mean I literally couldn't afford rent. I know you aren't asking, but here's something that may help. I am now in my mid-50's and spent 40 until now prioritizing retirement savings, which included building a cash nestegg because i knew i'd want to retire from a job job early. I'm about to do that, stop working full time. The reason i did this is because in my late 30's the financial stress was really crippling. However, my mother, who was full of wisdom ,gave me some great advice. In my 30's and 40's I could work my way through the situation, handle the pressure. However, if you are in this situation in old age that is an entirely different matter. So... I am not rich, that was never the goal. But I am now financially free and can retire comfortably when that time comes. I am about to leave my corporate job to work part time doing creative work I value, all possible because i prioritized saving for my future from 40 onward. I'm not suggesting this is easy or that I am somehow virtuous for having done this, a lot of luck is involved. But I cannot tell you how glad i am that i did this. I now have a lot of freedom to live life on my terms. I hope this gives you some inspiration that you don't need to win the lottery. All it takes is deciding you're going to live on a lot less than you make and investing the rest. It's amazing to me how much growth now happens without me lifting a finger. Good luck. Keep it coming. We all want to see you succeed!
So happy to hear you found the full time job. Honestly, every time I watch your videos I feel like I'm looking into a mirror. Your situation is so similar to mine. Divorced after the kids are grown and now I'm dealing with the mom guilt of still having my 20 year old son with me and finding the balance or starting my life over while still being a good mom to him. It's a struggle, girl, but we'll make it. So glad to hear from you and this channel again, and don't stress out about making content. RU-vid is supposed to be fun, and there have been plenty of times when I've had to take a break from my own RU-vid channel as well in order to deal with what life throws at me. Keep it up because you're doing and will continue doing great things!
Congrats on the new job! I can only imagine how challenging it is to balance everything with such a long commute. I'd be super interested in seeing your strategy for fixing the winter water situation. I'm planning on getting a tiny house and I'm in New England, so we have long winters. I went to Tiny Fest in San Diego in March and mentioned your situation to all the builders I met and they all seemed to brush off the cold weather concern. Thanks!
I’m in a similar situation..my family comes first. I was looking forward to a quiet house as an empty nester and to do some weekend camping …my kids are in their early 20s…then my mom developed dementia and now she lives with me ..we adapt, no matter how hard.
Maybe goal one creative video a month. Go for a run and film views during a cool down, walk back. Simplify it. There are literally RU-vidrs filming their daily chores live and making money doing it. You have the personality + to pull that off and maybe now comfortable enough to know you don’t have to be perfect in every way to be successful at this. I hope you continue. I struggled with job hunting and still only in a contract assignment. Age is a factor I’m sure mid 50’s. But also thousands of applicants. One thing not sure if it would work but maybe you could ask your employer if you could shift your schedule 1 hour go in earlier like 7am-4:00. That has worked for me at every job I have had. Would likely cut an hour off your total commute time. They can say no, but you won’t know if you don’t ask.
Congratulations on your new job! I'm about to leave my steady income, and it's scary as hell. Good luck finding pockets of time to build your channel, I look forward to seeing your content.
Lovely to see you again. You are so right; life is ever-moving and changing. Having the flexibility to go with the flow, prioritise what you value, and keep moving toward your dreams are the keys to keeping your sanity. I love your beautiful tiny home and look forward to seeing more of what you share. Congratulations on the job, also. Warmest wishes from Melb Australia.
Oh my Lord! I had no idea there were so many places where water lines could freeze in a tiny house. It seems like the builder should have wrapped all those lines during the building process. Thanks again for the education. ❤
