Mr. Kamp

This little dog has been the main cause of my stress over the last 2 years. Poor little thing just can't manage to shake his allergies and health issues. 

I've tried everything. Homemade food, supplements, probiotics, vet visits, worm medications, routine baths, allergy tests. This little dog is allergic to being alive.

In latest Kamp news, I've switched him to a dehydrated "raw" food (it's not truly raw or it would have to be refrigerated). For the first 2 months he would only eat a small amount and stayed his skinny self. He'll now eat endlessly, which makes me feel better as I would love for him to gain a little weight, but he's having 1-3 human sized poops a day and hasn't gained any weight. I can't win and neither can he.

At least he's cute.

Wedding Photography

Barron and I rather hesitantly agreed to shoot wedding photos/video for some good friends. I almost never agree to shoot weddings. Too much pressure and build up for one single moment in time and when shooting for friends we end up working instead of celebrating. I don't much like it, but I do like these friends (a LOT) and it was a great chance for us to practice with our new Canon cameras, the 6D Mark ii and the mirrorless m50. We had a fun time working and documenting the evening. Here are some of my favorite photos.

Perks of Farm Friends

They give us beautiful, hand picked gifts :) 

Reviewing BioLite's NEW FirePit

BioLite graciously sent us their new FirePit to test and review. We made a delicious sweets and beets recipe and made a quick review video on how we feel about the FirePit! Check it out!

The Difference

Browsing through old notes on my laptop, I stumbled upon an old tally of rent from 2015. Between the two of us, Barron and I were paying over $1000 each month in rent and utilities. This did not include groceries, vehicle repairs, gas, clothing, going out with friends, etc. The basics. 

$500 is the average cost for Barron and I to live now. We have no rent or utilities. Groceries and gas are our biggest money sucks. We don't buy new clothes because we don't have room. We invite our friends to us rather than going out. It's that simple.

In not spending the extra $500-$1000 every month, I'm effectively "making" that money as though I were working a full time job. Fun fact: I've never worked a full time job in my life (but have had my fair share of part times). 

Aside from ice cream, I almost never pay money for things I don't absolutely need. Every month I'm able to grow my savings account with the money I've saved or made from my businesses in my savings account, and my checking account stays relatively the same, fluxing only a few hundred dollars a week given the circumstances of that period.

Occasionally I do spend money on big ticket items. I look at these items as investments. If I will not make money or gain life experience from the big ticket item, I will not buy it. I sometimes sit with the thought of purchasing a big ticket item for several weeks before taking action.

BIG TICKET ITEMS I'VE BOUGHT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

• Goal Zero 400wh Battery - $400
• Goal Zero 1000wh Battery - $900
• Goal Zero 30w Solar Panel - $80
• Goal Zero 100w Solar Panel - $250
• Subaru Forester XT - $4000 ($8000 total including the trade of the mini cooper)
• Canon g7x camera - $600
• Canon m50 camera -$800
• iPad Pro - $1000
• Yeti Cooler - $200

A little goes a long way. Living with less has allowed us the freedoms to purchase tools that further our passions, lifestyle and "careers", if you will. The easiest way for us to make money has been to rid ourselves of the addiction to it. We don't live for money and prefer to think about it as little as possible. It's working out very well.

We Live in the Forest

I'm writing this blog post from the livingroom of a friend's house as we house sit for the next 4 days. I used a toilet this morning and thought, "I will never grow tired of peeing in the woods".