How To Do A Spring Declutter On Kids Toys

The dust has settled on the new year and we’ve all moved into a new routines. By now you know a bit more about the things that walked in the door at the end of last year. Some are being enjoyed and others are just creating unnecessary clutter and work for you. Since we are right on the cusp of Spring (even if the weather doesn’t quite feel like it where you are) this is the perfect time to reset your home from the toy clutter that’s accumulated since the new year. Here’s 3 steps to help you do a solid decluttering on your kids toys as we move into Spring (or anytime)!

Toys can mean anything your kids are playing and engaging with. Cast the net as wide or as narrow as you’d like to declutter.

1. Observe what they’re playing with.

This includes anything you consider “toys” in your home or fosters play, problem solving and creating. Think sports equipment, outdoor toys, bath toys, books, building sets, random “treasures”, rock collections, crafting supplies, stuffies, games, etc. I bet off the top of your head you’ll be able to identify several things you haven’t see your kids touch in months (if not longer) or have outgrown. In this phase of Spring toy decluttering, we’re merely taking note of what you’re seeing going on in your home to help you in the next step.

Bonus Tips:

To confirm your suspicions about what your kids are or aren’t playing with, ask them about what their favorites are (if age appropriate). Talk to your kids about things you never see them use and discuss whether to keep it or not. Move things around to draw more attention to items you suspect they enjoy but might have forgotten about because of where they are stored (out of sight). Use this as a benchmark for which items to keep while you’re observing what they’re naturally gravitating towards.

2. Do a thorough edit involving your kids.

You can tackle this in a few different ways. One, by a single category at a time. For example, edit all books, all building toys, all bouncy balls, all board games, dress up items, etc. Individual categories help you focus on one group of things at a time. Two, you can also edit by zone in your home. Toys in the bedroom, the primary play area, the toy chest, etc. Focusing on a certain zone in your home allows you to start and complete one area before moving on to another. However you want to do this is the right way to do it for you. In both of these options, you can break down the process into small chunks, as you can get to it with your schedule. Your kids will also stay more focused for a Spring decluttering on toys in small bursts of time. Correct, no clearing your schedule for a toy edit! Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Bonus Tips:

Involve your kids in whatever what you are able and feel comfortable. Age will steer conversations and the level of involvement. Take this decluttering time with your kids to ask questions, to listen and learn about what they’re enjoying most at this time. It is a time of connection and learning together. Ask what they enjoy most out of a group of book OR which are your favorite books you love reading over and over again? Ask directly “which items do you no longer enjoy?” Involve them in the donation, recycling, and giveaway process. Talk about what is trash versus something you can repair and keep. These are all just jumping off points on how to start. You know your child best and I know you’ll come up with some great ideas on decluttering together that is age appropriate. If you’re child is too young to involve, focus on toys they’ve outgrown, are developmental appropriate, safety and what activities you want encourage. Avoid toys that do all the work for your kids - focus on keeping toys that can be reinvented over and over again into different things depending on how they want to play in that moment.

One thing that has always been important in our home is to make drawing, art and creating accessible. We intentionally keep paper and drawing supplies out on one end of our table at all times and it gets used every single day!

3. Make it easy for play to happen.

After you’ve completed your Spring toy decluttering on any and all of the toys and play/create things, assess what you’ve decided to keep. Take a moment to make sure to set up clear zones for play to happen easily in your home. Not everything has to be out at one time, but items should be easily accessed by the kids as it makes sense for your space. Lesser used items can be tucked away, up high or in a spot adults can help with if it needs more supervision or more time to set up. Keep their favorites easy to access. If you want to encourage more reading or for that untouched bead set to be used, make it easy to see and reach for.

Bonus Tips:

During the Spring season, continue to take note of what they’re enjoying and what they’re outgrowing. Decluttering is an on-going process for all of us and this idea is highlighted the most with kids. They grow and change in the blink of an eye. Taking the time to filter what comes in, care for what is in the home, and being resourceful with what is kept is a must. When they’re asking for new things or to buy something with their piggy bank money, ask helpful questions to guide their decisions making like: where will this item go in the home, do you have anything like this already, how will you use this or play with it, how will you take of it, how much space will it take up and is that worth it to you, etc. While your child will still make the decision, these are questions they should learn to have in the mind before bringing new things into the home. Yes, it gets easier for you and them with practice!

NOTE: Adults need to comb through all these tools in our mind as well to help filter what we bring into the home. We model what we want to teach to our kids and decluttering is a powerful medium to share and learn with our kids over and over again.

A few organizing tips:

Once you’ve identified all your toy “keeps”, use this list as a go by when you’re finding homes for things + getting reorganized:

• Try to store things where they will be used a much as possible, or where it would be the most convenient to access them

• Make sure the main users (kids) can safely access things you want them to

• Keep sometimes toys or items that need adult support away from the main play zones

• Organize items by type and by size (building, books, kitchen toys, dress up, etc.)

• Big items need a big shelf or bin / Smaller items need smaller containers to store them - when they get mixed is when you dig and lose things!

• Not everything needs to be out at one time / consider rotating things around as needed / less out reduces overwhelm (where they choose nothing) and fosters more creativity

• If you want to encourage more play with a particular thing, put in an obvious, easy to access space / move things around until you get the results you’re after

• The size of your space or zone detemines how much you’ll have out. If something needs to be tucked away or pulled out, make sure it’s in an easy to reach spot so things don’t get forgotten/ignored.

• Encourage easy clean up by making it simple and intuitive for your kids to do it on their own - but make sure to teach them what to do, what the expectations are and follow up!

• The best “toy” you can offer your kids is open space to play, create, learn and breathe! Aim for less whenever possible.

Want more support decluttering all things kids?

Declutter Guide for Kids

See all Declutter Tools + Guides

Let me know how I can support you in your home.

Drop your comments below. Thanks for being here!

3 Things You're Doing That Sabotage Your Decluttering Efforts (+ what to do instead)

I have a lot of repeat conversations with family, friends and new clients about how they put effort into decluttering in their home, only to see clutter come back with vengeance. I’m here to help you take back control of the decluttering in your home so your effort isn’t wasted.

Kitchen counters can harbor a lot of stress when they’re covered in “stuff”, from drying dishes, to appliances, to randomness that needs to get put away. Aim to have out as little as on those kitchen counters as much as possible.

1. Inconsistent home reset routines.

I'm talking about a nightly clean up + reset in the main spaces of the home, hanging up clothing in your room at the end of the bed, clearing off kitchen counters, etc. Doing these daily, quick tidying moments make decluttering so much easier when you go to do it because everything isn't screaming for your attention that simply needs to be put away.

Bonus Take-Action Tip:

Write down one thing you can do to create more order in your home tonight before you go to bed. Just pick one. Start consistently doing it this week and pay close attention to how it positively sets you up for the next day. Example: Put all the dishes away on the counters before bed so you wake up to an uncluttered kitchen and not an immediate to do list.

2. Not having a decluttering mindset everyday.

Tap the brakes, I am not asking you to declutter everyday, not at all. I am asking you to see your home through a lens of decluttering as much as possible. When you see something in your kitchen you never use + it's jamming up your drawer, remove it. When your kiddo comes to you with clothing that doesn't fit anymore, remove it. Better yet, set up a small zone somewhere in your home for donation to go the second you notice they need to go. Decluttering (most of the time) is not this big massive effort. It can + should be chipped away at in little bits!

Bonus Take-Action Tip:

Do a quick check in at the end of the week…did you observe anything this week that you no longer need, was grown out of or is beyond repair? Go ahead and remove those items (toss, recycle, donate). To help you remember, set a reoccurring appointment on your phone once a week that says ‘declutter?’ as a reminder and take action as needed.

If kids are in your home, anytime is a good time to declutter. From books they no longer read or have outgrown, to clothing that no longer fits. Things are constantly changing, growing and evolving with them and it’s the perfect reminder to maintain a declutter mindset with everything in our home.

3. Waiting until you have the perfect time to declutter. 

NEWS FLASH MY LOVE, IT AIN'T COMING!! The perfect time will never show up so please stop waiting! So to recap…start anywhere, at anytime! Small, consistent bits of progress will serve you well + win every time over obsessing about the right time to spend hours decluttering, burning yourself out + making you miserable! Be proud of where you're at + keep going!

Bonus Take-Action Tip:
One way to easily integrate decluttering in your full schedule is to get it down on paper. In whatever time amount you’re comfortable with, jot down your plan. Example: I plan to declutter for 15 minute bursts at least 3 times this week. The more specific, the more likely it is to happen. Pick one zone or move to different areas. Progress is progress, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

“Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo

Want more decluttering tools and tips? Here’s more you can find in the shop.

Clothing Closet Declutter Guide Entire Home Declutter Kit

Declutter Guide for Kids All Access Declutter Bundle

Let me know how I can support you in your home.

Drop your comments below. Thanks for being here!

How To Start Your New Year: 3 Easy Tips To Simplify Your Life + Home

Truth time. I hate the pressure of starting the New Year off “right” and I’m a natural born goal setter and go-getter. There’s pressure to have goals, set intentions, do more, be more, do better. I’d like to take a counterintuitive approach in sharing 3 tips with you that will reduce your overwhelm day to day and simplify your life and home. We are setting no goals here, just offering ways to simplify your life. Deal? Ok, let’s get started.

Creating peace in my office niche has both to do with how the physical space looks/feels + with what’s lurking in my email inbox. Both need + deserve attention to be maintained.

1. Unsubscribe to Emails

Now I want you to be ruthless in this email unsubscribe purge effort for 10-15 minutes. The plan is to start unsubscribing from emails you don’t read or doesn’t add value to your life.

Make it happen: Look for marketing emails to stores you don’t shop at, emails you never signed up for (it happens), blog or email subscriptions to content that no longer interest you. Also consider changing the frequency setting to once a month to stores/shops you love but don’t want to hear from them as often.

Benefits: You’ll scroll less and have less emails to manage. By creating more boundaries in your email inbox, the more time you’ll save and the less overwhelmed you’ll be by your inbox.

Bonus tip: Do this a few times a year to keep your inbox wrangled (I like to do it at the change of a season since it’s easy to remember) . Deleting unwanted emails is a separate effort. If you struggle with this, schedule a reoccurring appointment on your calendar once a week for a short burst of concentrated effort to simplify your inbox.

Having the beds made in the kids’ room is crucial so the room doesn’t feel incredibly small as a shared space. When the beds are made, they tend to put their clothes away quicker and keep the room cleaner overall to maintain the fresh feeling they walked into. Since my kids are still young, this is often a joint effort and modeling this skill is the first step.

2. Make Your Bed Everyday

Don’t come at me like I’m a crazy person, OK? The benefits far outweigh the 2 minutes of bed-making, trust me.

Make it happen: Carve out 2 minutes in the morning, before you leave the house or dig into your workday, and make your bed. If you find that it is taking more than 2 minutes to make your bed, you need to do a bed audit. Remove all the unnecessary extras (excessive throw pillows or blankets) and keep only on the bed what is useful, beautiful and cozy.

Benefits: You set an invisible intention for the day that you value your space, your time and your home. Your room will instantly look more streamlined, spacious and cleaner. This clean visual cue (a made a bed) is a mood booster cue anytime you walk past or in your bedroom.

Bonus tip: One of my favorite ways to streamline and modernize the look of your bed (minus a big price tag) is to place a long lumbar pillow on top of your sleep pillows. It adds a moment of design, elevates the look of the bed, and is useful for your back if you like to sit up in bed and read at night.

3. Clear Off Your Kitchen Counters

I don’t care if you love to cook, don’t love to cook, have a large kitchen, have a tiny kitchen. I want you to take 5ish minutes before you turning in for the night to wrangle as much chaos in your kitchen so the next morning you don’t walk into an immediate to do list. Deal?

Make it happen: set a timer for 5ish minutes and hit the kitchen highlights. Put dishes away. Load the dishwasher. Clean things out of the sink. Put anything away sitting out on the counters that doesn’t need to be out. Wipe the counters down. Put things back where they belong.

Benefits: When you walk into your kitchen the next morning, it’s such a relief to walk into a fresh, clean space versus an immediate to-do list. Remember the saying “clear counters = a clear mind”? It’s a real thing. When there’s less visual clutter there’s less stress and overwhelm. Not to mention it will simplify your food prep throughout the day, saving you time and sanity.

Bonus tip: Create a predictable system/routine for washing dishes, whether it is handwashing or running the dishwasher. Know when it’s easier to run it and carve out a few minutes to put clean dishes away. I also want to encourage you to ditch your dish drying racks for good. They take up a ton of countertop space and encourage poor habits (like letting dishes just sit there without every being put away for days on end). Opt for a dish towel instead and hang it up after you put the clean dishes away. You’ll thank me later for all the extra counter space you’ll have back in your kitchen! You’re welcome!

When we take a few moments to simplify small bits in our day to day, the benefits continue long after. They also encourage us to value the spaces we have, what we own, and take better care of ourselves with just a few small shifts in our day.

I can’t wait to hear how these tips impact your entire day (please share below)!

If you have more in your home you’d like to simplify, check these handy tools in the shop:

Business + Life Simplifying Guide Clothing Closet Declutter Guide

Declutter Guide for Kids The Ultimate Kitchen + Pantry Guide

Let me know how I can support you in your home.

Drop your comments below. Thanks for being here!

Giving, Gifting + Navigating Unwanted Gifts

It’s the most wonderful time of year, sort of. Full permission here to feel lots of different feelings as the holidays roll around.

There is an influx of things, demands, pressures and more, so no wonder we feel overwhelmed and confused when we’re suppose to be having the time of our lives (or of the year)!

To go against the grain on this, as we do here, I’ve got a list of tips and tools to help you reduce the holiday overwhelm around giving, gifting and unwanted gifts.

1. GIVING - Fill Up Someone Else’s Bucket

There’s a vast array of places to give of your time + donations. As a personal choice, I like to move into these seasons being aware of others that need our support, especially during this time.

• Consider local charities / Non-profits Organizations you’ve caught wind of during the year that you’re inspired by and love the work they’re doing (Abide Women’s Services is one in my area I support through donations/Amazon wish list donations during the year)

• Keep local shelters in mind and take a few minutes to do some research on your area and what their needs are most during this season - often they have an active list of items on an Amazon wish list you can easily grab (from toiletries to bedding/clothing - Safe Haven in Tarrant County is one example - check locally for how you can support your community).

• Creating care bags for the homeless are great to have on hand to share when you have the opportunity (I love this resource with a list/breakdown of items that are actually useful to someone without a home/what is helpful - HOMELESS CARE PACKAGE IDEAS)

2. GIFTING - Think Low Waste + Less Stuff

I think our mind automatically goes to OBJECTS when gifting (guilty here too)! Before you gift someone a physical object, please be mindful of these ideas below while you’re making your decision.

• Will this items cause them to have to manage something extra or will it take up a lot of valuable space in their home? The gift you’re thinking of for someone sounds awesome, but will it cause them to have to spend time on something new they’re weren’t planning for, taking up their time or space in their room?

  KIDS: As this applies to kids, remind yourself that open space to move and create is the most valuable thing you can give a child.

• Consider the case for disappearing gifts. At least this is what I like to call them, as they are intended to be gifted to someone, enjoyed and then they are gone (nothing physical is left behind). Think edibles, candles, flowers, soap, experiences like a trip, visit to a theater show or music, a visit to a favorite ice cream shop, etc. What I love about these is it allows someone to enjoy something special from someone without the burden of managing something new in their home and adding to clutter. Yes please! You can also consider making a donation to a charity of their choice on their behalf.

  KIDS: I love this as it applies to kids because stuff just tends to collection around the little ones. Redirecting gift giving to something that is not an object is also important for them to learn that we can give to each other in many ways.

• Ask for ideas on what to gift them + also what they don’t need. I often ask my sister especially when thinking of gifts for my nieces and nephews what they DON’T need in their home, what do they have plenty of already. This is a powerful question because it does ask someone to take visual inventory of what they have in their home, what they like and what their current needs/preferences are. This is not tacking, it is thoughtful to put the person you want to gift to in the drivers seat. If they have specific needs you open the door up to learn about them or consider a gift card to a specific place so they can get exactly what they want.

  KIDS: I love this as it applies to kids because stuff just tends to collection around the little ones. Redirecting gift giving to something that is not an object is also important for them to learn that we can give to each other in many ways.

3. UNWANTED GIFTS - What To Do With Them

If you already have it, have too much of it, it is not your style or it’s not developmentally/age appropriate for your kids, it needs to go. No guilt needed, it’s just time to part ways with it + here’s your permission to do so!

• Find out if you can return it. Even without a receipt, most stores have a policy with store credit, returns and exchanges for certain amounts (Target with your ID is $75 per year without a receipt the last I checked). I have had to do this in our home for duplicate books, games or items we just wouldn’t use in exchange for something we would.

• Sell the item if you have the time + are willing to put in the energy. This is not always my recommendation, as many of us don’t have the time to managing selling something, but sometimes it works out just fine.

• Can you gift it to someone else who would love it or find it useful? Depending on the item, this could be through local donations, schools, churches, shelters, local theaters or organizations, or by offering it to a neighbor, family or friend.

• Repurpose it with a creative DIY. If there is something you do like about the item and you have space for it, consider adding some tweaks to it to make your own/your aesthetic. For example, you were gifted an art piece but the frame doesn’t go within anything in your home and it is not your vibe - consider painting it, refinished it (if wood) or replacing the frame. If you were gifted a pitcher or vase for flowers or for your vessels collection but you don’t love the color or finish, consider refinishing with paint or by creating a concrete/pottery look with paint and baking soda.

Lastly, don’t forget to set whatever gifting boundaries you need for yourself (and your family) as the holidays approach. This could look like being very specific, asking for no gifts, setting a gift budget, thrifting or finding gifts secondhand or focusing on experiences only to dodge bringing new things into your home.

Whatever you choose, remember that boundaries are healthy, communication take practice and an awkward conversation here or there is worth it in the long run so you can thrive in your home (and others in theirs) without the burden of unwanted stuff.

Wishing you all the happiest + healthiest of Holidays!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you soon in the next post.

5 Ways To Lighten Your Holiday Load

The holidays often come with unwanted pressure, stress, obligations eating up your time and that awful busy feeling we all hate. In an effort to go against the grain (as we like to do here), I’ve come up with some tried and true ways that will help lighten your load this holiday season, fill up your bucket and help you focus on what’s most important to you (minus the overwhelm and stress).

1. Unsubscribe From Unwanted Emails

Not where you thought I was going to start, am I right?!

Your inbox is about to be inundated with marketing emails and this is the perfect time to reduce what’s landing in your inbox. Within a few days and into the first week you’ll start noticing far less emails in your inbox to review, and less emails taking up your time.

WHAT TO DO:

• put the timer on for 10 minutes

• start unsubscribing from emails you no longer want to receive

• delete emails you’ve already read + gathered what you needed from it

• unsubscribe from stores/blogs/websites you never engaged with this year

  
  

2. Do A Quick Seasonal Declutter

I’m not talking about a huge entire home purge here, but editing things in a few key areas will feel like a full home declutter.

This is a great time to assess items that weren’t used, worn, not longer your taste or have expired. The change of seasons almost beckons for this, so let’s lean in! These three categories alone will have a far reaching effect on your day to day routines and how much you’re having to store/manage seasonally.

WHAT TO DO:

• declutter seasonal decor as you pull it out to decorate your home (remove anything broken, you’ve fallen out of love it, have recently replaced, etc.).

• declutter your cooler weather clothing/outerwear/accessories (if you never wear it, it doesn’t fit or beyond repair, send it on to donate or textile recycling)

• declutter your fridge, freezer, pantry + spices (look for items you’re not eating or have expired) - donate anything unopened/not expired to your local food bank - have a list handy for writing down any items that need to be restocked

3. Look For Timer Savers

Many of you expressed to me that part of your biggest frustrations with the holiday season is feeling like you don’t have enough time for everything, therefore looking for ways to streamline your have-to tasks is a must.

Doing a quick time audit (where’s your time going each day) plus looking for ways to save time will help you get back in control of your days so you can enjoy what’s most important to you. Below are just a few examples that can be applied in many different ways.

WHAT TO DO:

• write down things that are upcoming that are important to you that you want to make time this for this holiday season to put those into focus

• identify things that can be done in advance or in bundled bursts to create more time for those important holiday activities/gatherings - this could be bundling cleaning or laundry tasks, scheduling a grocery order to save time or recruiting others to help with any of these basic but essential tasks

• take care of shopping/errands during a low-traffic times on a weekday if you can, handle it all online or place an order for pick up for a convenient time

• time saving example: I stock up on a few of my favorite appetizers that I can find in the frozen section for a few holiday occasions that save me lots of time (+ I like to pair with fresh fruits + veggies = is easy + fast)

• time saving example: I love making fresh pie crusts but I often don’t have the steam for it so I spent time finding my favorite pre-made frozen brand as a back up that is delicious + preserves my energy for other things - I’ll stock up on several for pies, quiches + more!

4. Look For Things You Can Eliminate

Instead of saying yes to all the things, which we often feel compelled to do, try to looking for things that aren’t “have-tos” to let go of this season.

Saying no to things can be just as or more powerful than saying yes. And ironically, saying no to more things allows you to say yes to things that actually matter. Here’s a few ideas to help you recapture more time, energy + peace this holiday season.

WHAT TO DO:

• eliminate any social gatherings that you don’t want to be a part of - no reasons are needed, promise!

• eliminate the need to make all the food for an event - ask others to bring things, order food in advance or try a combo of making some + buying some already made to lighten your load

• eliminate the pressure to buy new decor, a new outfit, or big gifts - repurpose what you have + gift with heart/intention - the size + cost doesn’t matter

• eliminate the need/pressure to buy “things” to give to others - offer up your time, cook a meal, gift an experience, offer to fix something or do housework for someone or make something with your own two hands

• eliminate the pressure for family photos, holiday cards, etc. if you’re heart is not in it this year, don’t do it - save your money + energy - take intentional time to connect with those you care about most when you can + call it a day (or year!)

5. Fill Up Your Bucket + Others

Lightening your load is very much intertwined with how you care for yourself + others.

In a season where the feeling of “busy” seems inevitable, let’s slow down + look for ways to do just the opposite. Here’s a few ideas to get you going.

WHAT TO DO:

• donate to a favorite charity or new one in your area for a cause you’re wanting to support/impact this season

• take some quiet walks to move your body, get some fresh air + clear your mind - or meet up with a friend to walk together

• surprise a neighbor with a meal or homemade treats they might not be able to make for themselves

• schedule in downtime and quiet alone time to rest your body + mind

• take some leisurely power naps + read more

• focus on local shops and small businesses for gifting and home good needs

• incorporate a free family activity or fun with friends like driving around to see Christmas + holiday lights in your area on Friday nights until New Years

• schedule a low key game night with family or friends + maybe throw in some hot chocolate, popcorn or store bought treat/keep it easy!

• call, text or write a quick note of encouragement to friend/family member

• purchase high priority items from an Amazon wish list for a local non-profit or charity - check their website or send them an email to inquire more

Get creative, start looking more intentionally and I promise you’ll find lots of ways to take your time + energy back while doing some good for yourself + others.

Wishing you all the happiest + healthiest of Holidays!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you in the next post.

Dynamic Women In Their Home - Bess

We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what’s bringing them joy.

Our next interview is with Bess Swantner. Bess is an Architect turned water color artist based out of San Antonio, Texas. Bess and I met at Texas A&M in Architecture School (we were both studying Environmental Design during our undergrad years). Ironically we didn’t have many classes together, which seems hard to believe thinking back on it. We had many good mutual friends and she had a lot more classes with my now husband, Luke. Long story short, Bess and I have thankfully stayed in touch after going separate ways for graduate school, moving to different cities, both having architecture careers and then us both shifting out of those roles in different ways (her, now focusing her creative energy on watercolor painting and myself, as an interior designer here in this space with you).

Anytime I’ve been around Bess she’s warm, kind and welcoming. She is thoughtful and intentional with her words and her approach to design. Her water color work is detailed, humble, approachable and brilliant. I see her very clearly in her work. Her work gives you fresh eyes and perspective on things you thought you knew, things you’ve seen many times before. If you are lucky enough, you’ll get your hands on some of her beautiful work ASAP. You can find her watercolor work here.

Most days you can find us DMing about our kids getting too big too fast, all sorts of excitement with mom life, cool furniture pieces and all things design/home. She’s such a delight to have here in our community and I know you’re going to love getting to know her!

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Bess about all things home and life.

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard

Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

The past five years have been full of changes for our family - I quit taking on architectural work, began painting more seriously, gave birth to our third child, moved to a new home and endured the challenges of school/childcare during the pandemic.

What's your day to day like right now?

Every day is a little bit different, but I am finally in a phase of life where I have some uninterrupted time throughout the week. My older children are in elementary school full-time and my youngest is in part-time preschool. On mornings when Clara is at school, I try to block time to paint, usually working on commissions or toward a collection of paintings. I spend the early afternoon with Clara, and usually sneak back into the studio for an hour or so before Elsa and Henry come home on the bus. From then on, I am running kids to sports, supervising homework and fixing dinner. 4-8 pm are busy hours in our home! I spend a lot of time volunteering at the Old School Makerspace, a community space for art and making that I helped to launch over the last few years.

Photo Credit: Bess Swantner

How long have you been in your current home?

Three years.

What do you love most about your current home?

Our house is a great party house. The open spaces and back yard are perfect for entertaining. The previous owners put a lot of work into the back yard, pool and covered patio, and we added a tree fort for our kids and an outdoor kitchen. Our favorite way to spend the weekend is with kids in the pool and my husband, Matt grilling something fun for a big group of friends.

Photo Credit: Bess Swantner

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

My biggest challenge is keeping it tidy with three kids! We also have a really awkward fireplace with deep glass shelves that is continually filled with clutter. I would love to rip out the entire fireplace surround and clean it up with something more modern. But that is a project for another year.

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

I am constantly decluttering kids’ closets as they outgrow clothes so quickly.

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

A few years ago, I edited my closet down to a capsule wardrobe and learned a lot about what colors I gravitate towards and what fits my body best. I would like to do another capsule wardrobe this winter.

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

Declutter. The organization part overwhelms me a bit. Fortunately, my sister is a professional organizer and comes to my rescue.

Photo Credit: Bess Swantner

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

The pair of leather chairs outside of my studio. It is a great spot to read in the quiet morning hours or read aloud to my kids. My son, Henry, and I are currently reading through the Chronicles of Narnia together.

What object in your home means a lot to you?

That is hard - there are so many! I love my grandmother's milk glass collection and an oil painting created by my high school art teacher and mentor.

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...

I was the duchess of the Miss Comfort Court in Comfort, Texas, at age 14. We rode in small town parades all over Central Texas, white gloves and all.

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

Light

Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:

Open concept (although I did enclose my studio after a little too much open concept during the pandemic).

Color or neutrals:

Neutrals with blue. Always blue.

Real plants or faux:

Real but I also have a black thumb.

Listen to music or read:

Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

Morning pages with my first cup of coffee.

Morning person or night person:

Night

Favorite piece of furniture in your home:

My Danish modern credenza I bought from Period Modern, an amazing local store specializing in mid century modern furniture.

Do you dress like the interiors of your home?

I think I do! Most of my closet is black, white, denim and other shades of blue or green.

THANK YOU BESS for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your watercolor adventures and am exciting to see the pieces you’re working on next! Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard (studio portrait) | Bess Swantner (interior home photos)

Find Bess on IG: @bessstudio

Find Bess’ Water Color Work: www.bessswantner.com

More Support for Your Home + Life:

✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Decluttering Quick Guide I know you’re going to love!

✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!

✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.

See you in the next interview!

Dynamic Women In Their Home - Nicki

We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what’s bringing them joy.

Our next interview is with Nicki Turner. Nicki is a one woman show over at Cori Rose Handmade where she creates lightweight clay jewelry. She’s based out of Polk County Florida, not too far from my sister, who’s also a Floridian. Nicki and I connected through mutual interest Instagram accounts many months ago. I landed on her page one day and loved what she was doing, as she was just starting up her handmade clay jewelry business at that time. I am most drawn to her use of color and I am a total sucker for her simple stud earrings (yes, she does big, bold pieces as well you’ll need to check out)! I also appreciate her ability design for the bold and minimal aesthetic simultaneously, which I feel is incredibly rare!

A while back, I did an “ask me anything” series and she reached out to me about advice on several kids sharing a bedroom and how to keep it organized (what a fabulous topic). You can see my response here on Instagram.

Most days you can find us DMing each other about our kids and encouraging each other on our small business adventures! I’ve loved watching her business grow, how she involves she kids in her making process, and seeing her keep pushing her creative boundaries through the designs in her shop. I’m absolutely thrilled to share more about her with you here!

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Nicki about all things home and life.

Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

Over the last five years I've have been transitioning roles from working full time, being in school, raising kids, and starting a new business.

What's your day to day like right now?

I drop my girls off at school in the morning and then return home to work.

While my girls are at school I'm making products and scheduling marketing events to promote my work. Throughout the week I also have webinars and meetings with virtual entrepreneur communities. My work day ends at 3 pm so that I can pick up my girls. Sometimes I leave projects from my business for after school so that they can join me. I love teaching them about clay and having their help.

How long have you been in your current home?

I've currently been in my home for almost four years. We were not looking to buy, but I walked through this house and fell in love. I saw the home online and it looked like an Austin Powers movie set. My friend was a realtor and was familiar with the neighborhood, so I asked her if I could be nosey and see the house. She warned me that it was a time capsule, but agreed. After my first walk though I fell in love and we started a long and grueling process of renovation (a story for another time). I'll never forget finishing our first walk through and my friend asking me what I thought. I told her I could see myself living there and my husband was like that was not the purpose of us visiting this house (lol).

Also, after purchasing this home we found out a lot of really cool history about the previous owners and their amazing contributions to our community.

What do you love most about your current home?

The size. It's very spacious and large, because the previous owners did a lot of entertaining.

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

There is still a lot that needs to be renovated, because we had to stay within a budget. Also, we have an insane amount of storage space all throughout the house and we don't utilize it well.

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

Here and there we have made efforts to declutter. Recently we've done some decluttering in our girls room, because we were inspired by advice from Kristin with Fuzzy Hippo Shop. She emphasized the importance of children's rooms being restful and gave a lot of insight on how to help kids with shared rooms have their own areas.

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

Decluttering their room was extremely helpful. The girls are starting to prioritize making their room cozy and restful, by giving ideas on what to remove and add. They mostly want to add things (lol).

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

I'd much rather organize, because I have a hard time letting things go. I'm always worried I'm going to miss it, or that I should use it while I already have it. Haha, this probably means that I need to focus on decluttering rather than organizing.

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

I have a few, but my favorite is our dining room in the morning. Our home has a lot of windows and when the sun hits just right the rooms are golden, warm, and cozy.

What object in your home means a lot to you?

Our dining table. We built it with Ben's uncle and its taken a beating, but I love it. It can comfortably fit 10+ people.

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...

I played soccer from Kindergarten through college and I can play four instruments.

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

I love both, but for my mental health I need Light/Bright

Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:

Open Concept

Color or neutrals:

Color

Real plants or faux:

Real Plants

Listen to music or read:

Listen to Music

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

Coffee or Tea in a quiet house

Morning person or night person:

Night Person

Favorite piece of furniture in your home:

Dining Room table or Piano

Do you dress like the interiors of your home?

No

THANK YOU NICKI for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your colorful designs and can’t wait to see what you’ll be creating next! Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!

Photo Credit: Nicki Turner

Cori Rose Handmade Clay Jewelry | https://www.corirose.com/

Follow Nicki over on IG: @corirosehandmade

See you in the next interview!

---

Ready to make things feel easier + simpler in your home?

✔ Learn the 3 step process to start simplifying your home now + regain more time/energy.

✔ Shop all Declutter/Organize/Design Guides + Programs here.

✔ Shop all desk/home/kitchen organizing helper in the Paper Shop.

✔ Skip to the head of the line + work with me to fast track the changes to make life lighter + easier in your home now.

HAVE YOU GRABBED YOUR FREE DECLUTTERING FREEBIE YET?

Learn 10 Not So Obvious Things To Declutter Now To Start Living Lighter.

5 Steps to Simplify Your Kitchen + Pantry Now

A recent poll from our community shouted out loud that this topic was something that MOST everyone needed ASAP! Deal! We’ll break down together some simple steps to get your understanding your kitchen and pantry on a deep level so you can start removing obstacles lingering around and start making life easier here!

And PS. when your kitchen is working right, a lot of other things seems to go SO much smoother throughout your home and your day!

1. Observe Your Space

All we’re doing in this first step is looking around and taking note of any hot spots you see or are experiencing. A hot spot might look like:

• cluttered counters or piles of things on the counter

• overstuffed shelves or cabinets

• digging for things or not being able to find things easily

• lots of extra trips to the store

• finding expired things you’re not getting to because you didn’t know you had it

• lots of duplicates of things you don’t actually use

• seeing things taking up space that you don’t use, enjoy or like anymore

• your family not being able to take care of their basic needs in the kitchen without your help (based on their age of course)

• areas that are hard to keep clean or organized

I want you to write it ALL down. Any observations and anything you know you’re currently struggling with related to anything kitchen and pantry.

2. Remove Things

Now we are going to select a zone of your kitchen and pantry to focus on improving. Let’s pretend you’re really struggling with a particular drawer in your kitchen (lots of digging going on and overstuffed). We’re going to focus on that zone/category only for the next several steps. Deal?

The next step is to heavily EDIT (declutter) this zone so it can intentionally serve the purpose you need to serve. Pull everything out from this zone so you can objectively look at what is there outside of it’s current “home” that you’re conditioned to looking at at certain way (and numb to).

Here’s what you’re looking for to edit out:

• items you never use

• items that are broken/damaged/beyond repair

• duplicates that aren’t used regularly

• items you don’t like/enjoy anymore

• items that don’t belong in this zone and need to be relocated

Toss items that cannot be donated or repaired. Recycle if possible based on your local regulations (I was just able to recycle old plastic plates and dishware that were not in good enough shape for donation by could be recycled locally). Donate if it’s in good shape and can be resold/be immediately useful to someone else. Donate it locally or offer it up to a site like Free Cycle in your community.

3. Move Things

Before you put things back into this zone, you are going to assess what you’ve decided to keep and align that will how you want that zone to work.

Back to my example of the overstuffed kitchen drawer, here’s what I am going to think about now that this zone is emptied and edited:

• what is the drawer close to/what tasks will it make easier for me? (ex. cooking/baking prep)

• what tasks do I want to do right near this zone and what should be in this drawer to support this? (ex. chop, mix, stir, measure)

When you more clearly identify what this zone (drawer for example) needs to do, it will likely involve you moving things around to get the end result you’re after and simplify/create more efficiency in this zone.

Now you’re going to group what you are keeping in this zone (drawer for example). Use these guidelines to group items in a zone:

• by size/ shape (items with fit better together, nest better and maximize your space)

• by use (spatulas together, measuring tools together, long spoons together, etc.)

• by frequency of use (if you use it all the time, move it to the front so it’s super easy to grab)

4. Add Order

With clear categories of items to put back in the zone you’re focusing on, a bit of additional order (organization) will make this zone shine with efficiency and make great use of the space you have.

Here’s some ideas for how to maximize any zone in your kitchen and pantry with organizational items you likely already have in your home:

• counter tops - if it must stay out, make sure it is used frequently, isn’t taking up too much usable counter space (corral essentials on the counter with a tray, plate or shallow basket)

• shelves - keep what is used frequently in the front and easily in reach, if out in view all the time, curate items by type to create visual “collections” by use, color, material, size, etc.

• cabinets - to avoid losing items deep in the cabinets, use baskets, containers or bins with handles/cut out to pull out a group of items (like water bottles or cooking tools) all at once and can easily slide back in place similar to a drawer

• drawers - create mini drawers with drawer dividers, shallow boxes, cut down cardboard boxes, lids, trays, etc. Subdividing the space you have allows you to see all that you have at a glance and make it easier to access what you need without digging around

5. Live With It

With all your essential keep items back in their place in this kitchen and pantry zone, it is now time to LIVE with the changes you’ve made. As you spend more time with this newly refreshed area, you might realize it is exactly as you need it to be OR that it needs a few tweaks.

Here’s what you might experience and how to tweak it:

• you notice you don’t need something out on the counter anymore (your habits/routine has shifted) and can be tucked away

• you need to move something to another spot in your kitchen/pantry to make it easier to access/use or support a task better

• you need another mini zone in a drawer or cabinet to make it easier to access something

• you want to swap locations of items for another area of your kitchen/pantry because it makes more sense

Tweaking things to get them working just right is a normal part of the process as you “listen” to your space and respond to what is needed to make life easier and more efficient in this area.

Want more support in your kitchen + pantry?

If you’d like understand how to make your kitchen + pantry work seamlessly, efficienctly, look beautiful, while saving you time, money and energy, I’d love for you to check out my Ultimate Kitchen + Pantry Guide.

If you’re current kitchen feels too small, has too little storage, you think you need to spend a ton of money on it to improve it or take on a costly renovation, the clutter and chaos feels like it is never ending, then this program is calling your name!!

Can’t wait to blow your mind as I show you exactly how to intentionally declutter, organize and layer in design you love throughout your current so you fall back in love with your kitchen again!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you in the next post!

Dynamic Women In Their Home - Molly

We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what’s bringing them joy.

Our next interview is with Molly Lam. Molly and I were destined to meet for many years because we were swirling around in the same handmade/makers community in the DFW area. When I met her in the fall of 2016, I had come off of an incredibly taxing year of family health issues, followed by having a miscarriage of my own, all in the midst of studying for one of my Interior Design Professional exams. To say that meeting Molly as a fellow designer/maker at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash/Handmade Bash was a *bright spot* for me that year would be a total understatement! She stopped by my booth of paper goods and said the most sincere, kind things about my shop and my booth display. We hit it off, both encouraged and inspired by the design work we were both doing at the time, while also having young children about the same age. We’ve thankfully stayed in touch ever since and I continue to be inspired endlessly by the creative, color and dynamic work of hers over in her design shop, Tokodots. Since that show, her illustrations have evolved to various mediums, from prints, to cards, to fabric designs and surfacing art. She also has a card of the month subscription delivered to you monthly so you can keep a stash of beautifully colorful cards on hand for notes through out the year. Yes please!

Most days you can find Molly and I chatting about our kids, random house decluttering/organizing bursts, and how we’re navigating motherhood along side being a small business owner. I am so grateful to have her here to share with you!

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Molly about all things home and life.

Photo Credit: Yony Lee Kim @ylkphotography

Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

The last 5 years have been a whirlwind of the early years of motherhood as a SAHM to my two young boys, building and running a small stationery and art business. 

What's your day to day like right now?

It’s the end of the school year (at the time of writing this) so things are crazy, breakfast and rushing to school in the mornings, usually followed by a little down time at home with my toddler after that. We spend time in the garden, making art, doing housework and sometimes just sitting on the couch to watch TV while I work on a project before naptime, then school pickup and the dinner/evening activity rush. By the time the kids are finally settled down some time around 8:00pm I find it really hard to make good use of that alone time! I like to just go to bed early if I can stay off of my phone, but a lot of days lately I’m up late trying to get in some time on creative projects. 

How long have you been in your current home?

My husband and I moved into our one story, 3B house in the suburbs about 6 years ago before our oldest had his first birthday. Because of the timing of our move with a little one I let so many design decisions go for years and years and am still working through some ideas about how I actually want things to look. 

What do you love most about your current home?

We have a “small” home by Texas standards, but I love that I can have eyes on both of my kids from the kitchen while I prepare meals in any of the areas they’d be playing in our house. When we were searching, we definitely had the kids in mind as we decided what was a priority for us at this stage, even if it’s not really what we ultimately love in a home.

We’ve also been really flexible about how we organize the space, and some rooms have seen many different layouts and setups for the kids as they have gone through different stages of childhood. We’ve eaten dinner at our dining room table about 3 times since we’ve lived here, and the rest of the time the room has been used as a “family work room” which has meant sewing spot, painting studio, Lego zone, puzzle area, or even cello practice area over the years. We’ve moved the table around the room in different ways, had a couch in there for a short time to accommodate a big tent in the living room, and cordoned the whole area off with a baby fence for a big portion of the pandemic. Our master bedroom, off the main living area, now has a big bookshelf, all of the art supplies, and several work tables for the kids because it is a convenient space we could lock off for the little one but I could still see and supervise from my spot in the kitchen. It’s not exactly the most relaxing bedroom setup for me, but we like that everyone has a variety of spaces to use throughout our home and that feels worth it for the sacrifice when the kids are small. 

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

I never thought I’d buy a house with half-circle windows and really wanted something more interesting but here we are in the North Texas suburbs with lots of things I swore we’d never have. I have had a hard time expressing my own style in a home that is not really what I had envisioned for our family, but little by little we’re making it our own. We started by painting everything white, the walls and the kitchen cabinets, and try to use that as a base for the colorful textiles and artwork that we’d like to use in the space. The house has these small cutout shelf/nooks in some hallway spaces that really bothered me at first, but I’m finally figuring out how to use them in a way that I like.

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

Yes! It is a constant struggle, because I have a tendency to always be stashing things out of the kids’ sight—toys they are being too rough with, special items I want to have up my sleeve for when they need a surprise, or just things of my own that I don’t want out for everyone to see—and this often means stuffing things quickly into a locked cabinet, tall shelf, high counter, or off-limits closet and then not having the energy to clear it out when the kids are asleep. My guest room/studio closet, a few junk-type cabinets in the kitchen, and my desk are all places that I spend decluttering more often than I’d like, but as the kids get bigger I can find a little time and mental space to address these things, more than I used to at least.

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

It always feels so great to declutter and get rid of things I don’t need but I’m obviously not doing it enough because there are certain problem spots that just need to be addressed again and again. Although each time I do a big purge—baby toys we’ve outgrown, maternity clothes I’m not saving anymore, and other unnecessary items, I’m getting closer to the simplified home I prefer.

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

I think I’d rather declutter.. I’ve spent years reorganizing things that were really just too big for their spaces. And now that I’ve realized the great feeling of leaving some spaces empty, I just want to clear out everything! 

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

I love this hutch in our dining room/family work room. It had more of my own books and display objects on it until recently, when I had to make room for some growing book and Lego collections. But I love how my cookbooks can live alongside Lego manuals and everyone has their own space on this special piece. 

What object in your home means a lot to you?

My favorite things are my quilts—mostly made by my mom but a few by me too. I wanted to find the right place to store them where I could enjoy looking at them all the time, so we settled on this console table in an angled spot leading into our family room. I love it because I can see them as I walk by (when the kids don’t have them draped all around the living room), but I also like that if I ever had to run out of the house in a fire I could probably grab an armful to bring them with me.

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...

I’m not an animal person. When I first moved to Japan after college I had a blog called “Afraid of Small Animals” inspired by my fear of the creepy crawlies that I figured would show up in my new apartment. Now that I have kids of my own I work really hard to show how excited I am to meet neighborhood pets so that my kids don’t end up scared too. But it might be in their blood.

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

Light/bright

Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:

Open concept

Color or neutrals:

Color!

Real plants or faux:

Real.. if I can keep them alive

Listen to music or read:

Read

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

That first cup of coffee

Morning person or night person:

Morning

Favorite piece of furniture in your home:

My little Muji couch, the first piece of furniture I bought as an adult in 2005 in Japan and have found a spot for ever since. It’s faded and a little worse for the wear but still hanging in. I’d love to reupholster it in a bright, colorful pattern when the kids get a bit bigger. Maybe of my own design!

Do you dress like the interiors of your home?

Sometimes! Neutrals as a base for bright colors and interesting textiles… but I want to do a better job of mixing color and texture in my wardrobe. It’s a work in progress.

THANK YOU MOLLY for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your colorful life and designs and can’t wait to see what you’ll be creating next! Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!

Photo Credit: Molly Lam | http://www.tokodots.com/

Portrait Photo Credit: Yony Lee Kim @ylkphotography

See Molly’s Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/tokodots

Find Molly on IG: @tokodots

See you in the next interview!

Ready to make things feel easier + simpler in your home?

✔ Learn the 3 step process to start simplifying your home now + regain more time/energy.

✔ Shop all Declutter/Organize/Design Guides + Programs here.

✔ Shop all desk/home/kitchen organizing helper in the Paper Shop.

✔ Skip to the head of the line + work with me to fast track the changes to make life lighter + easier in your home now.

HAVE YOU GRABBED YOUR FREE DECLUTTERING FREEBIE YET?

Learn 10 Not So Obvious Things To Declutter Now To Start Living Lighter.

3 Steps to Improve Your Entryway Today: Back To School Edition

If I got paid for every time someone popped into my DMs about their entryway being a fluid concept, I’d FOR SURE be more financially stable in my small business!

For those of you who have hung out with me for a minute, you know that our entryway (where our front door is) also doubles as my kids’ main play area. Now while you may think I’m on something, I’ll assure you every square inch is intentional for everyone using the space and everything has a home. I also have to note that this spot happens to be more of a secondary entryway for us currently.

Our pass thru from the kitchen to the laundry/pantry/garage is what we use most and MUST be a well oiled machine or it’s a one way pass to the hot mess express. Another less significant in and out point of our home is near the door to our backyard, but more on that spot another day! You can read more on our garage pass thru entry/exit spot in our home and streamlining your morning routine a recent blog post here.

Your primary entryway in your home is a workhorse, however it is set up. It does, however, often get ignored because of the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. How often have you noticed something in your entryway as you were leaving and thought “geez, it would be nice if ____ was different?” Only to go on with your life and only think about it again the second you are back in that spot. Sound familiar?

Well today we’re going to learn how to break this cycle of confusion and chaos in your entryway once and for all with tools/strategies that will stand the test of time. Deal?

Here’s 3 steps to improving your entryway that I know you can do in a snap so you can get back to all the living!

1. Observe, audit + edit.

For the sake of this exercise, I want you to identify the primary entryway or in and out point in your home. This doesn’t necessary have to mean your front door.

Next I want you to simply observe what is going on in this space. Look at it with fresh eyes like you’re a visitor to the space. Who uses it? What do they need there? What clutter chaos is hanging out there? What doesn’t need to be there? Are there other functions going on in here (this is where we also do laundry and unpack groceries)?

Now I want you to do a thorough, RUTHLESS edit of this space. If it is not going to support the actions that must happen in this space, relocate it, donate it, recycle it, send it packing. Only allow things to stay that will actively support your in and out routine in your home. Again, I want you to be ruthless, OK?!

PS. Do not feel discouraged for a second looking at my laundry room/mudroom photo up there…it has been RUTHLESSLY edited and organize over the years (this is also my job!) and I can assure you that this photo makes this space appear far larger than it is in real life!

2. Create essential zones.

With your primary entryway newly edited, it’s now time to create clear zones for your essentials. Remember, your essentials are the things you MUST have for your entryway to work well, improve efficiency and streamline every action you’re doing. Try to limit any “extras” in this space and only focus on what you need to make life EASY moving in and out of your home.

Some examples zones might be: shoe storage, bag or backpack storage, seasonal clothing storage, reminders board, extra baskets or bins for store returns or library books, etc. Create whatever zones you need to make your space efficiency for all the users of the space.

We’ve spent time streamlining/editing your entryway, and now it’s time to possibly bring things in to make your space work even better. Do you need more hooks for backpacks? Do you need a smaller basket for shoe storage to encourage less options to be stored there? Do you need a place to sit to put shoes on? Do you need a pen visible to sign papers for school? Think through each step, each detail and each need and keep asking the question…”how can I make this easier”?

A few quick considerations from your resident Interior Designer here and efficiency chasers:

• Remember who is using each item and consider the height or reach range of each user so they can easily use hooks, shelves, baskets, etc. If they can’t reach it, they won’t use it and chaos will continue.

• Consider the weight and durability required for things like wall mounted hooks or storage shelves. Install these items in studs in your home wherever possible. Verify weight capacities on any product you install for safety and so you know how much you can store where.

• Focus on durability and aesthetics while selecting items to finish streamlining your space. If you select pieces that won’t last, you’re wasting your money and material resources. Shoes shouldn’t be stored in white soft bins for obvious reasons. Consider items that can be easily vacuumed out or wiped down. Also, make sure you actually like each item you bring into this space. You will be looking at it everyday, several times a day. It will impact your mood and it’s worth the attention to get it just right.

• Bonus points - select items that you could use in other areas of your home in the future! This is how the “shop your home” concept continues to come full circle with intentional buying!

3. Live with it + make changes.

There is an unfortunate misconception that once we get a space set up that it’s done for good. Sometimes we do get really close and don’t have to touch it for a while. True. But is that realistic for anything, to expect it to never change or evolve over time? Does anything in life stay exactly the same? No. I want to encourage you to have the mindset with any area of your home that somethings might need to be tweaked and a few things changed here and there. Not only is this necessary but this mindset is aligned with real life.

At this present moment, I want you to live with the changes you have just made. Give them a few test runs. Check in with all your users and see how it works for them? Were they able to put everything back where you showed them things belong? Did you need one more bin or need to remove one that is not being used? Do you need one more hook in a different location than you thought? Do your keys need to be stored in a completely different spot? Make a few intention tweaks if needed and then get back to living.

Inevitably seasons change, needs change, kids get taller, schedules shift, etc. Do a check in during the first few days of your improved space, then only sparingly after that when you detect a bit of extra chaos. No problem. Simple run through these three steps again and you’ll be good to go!

Product ideas if you need them (but please shop your home first as always)!

Galvanized Metal Planter (or maybe a shoe tray - check the depths with the shoes you want to store first)

Galvanized Boot Tray (would great for kids + adult shoes/larger boots for rain/winter situations)

Dog Food Tray Mats ( to give a minimal durable/physical boundary for shoes, lay a wet umbrella on or hang to drip on)

Yamazaki Home Shoe Rack (I love most of their designs + like that it is more vertical solution for several pairs of shoes)

Minimal Wood Wall Hooks (you can create all sorts of designs with these or simply keep them in a row - they look like art when not in use!)

Pegrail Hook Rack (these are essential in our home + are helpful for bags, backpacks, jackets, seasonal gear + more)

White Wire Baskets with Wood Handles (durable extra storage and things to remember heading out the door with a boundary that looks good)

More Resources!

Watch my Instagram live with one of my favorites @thefreckledkey where we chat more about the challenges in her mudroom/entryway in her home and some ideas from both of us for how to navigate them. It can be incredibly helpful hearing how someone else is using their entryway area in their home and the roadblocks they’re dealing with (which just might happen to look similar to what’s going on in your home). You can do this!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you in the next post!

More Support for Your Home + Life:

✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!

✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Home Simplifying Quick Guide!

✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.

3 Things To Simplify Your Morning Routine For Less Stress: Back To School Edition

Well friends, it is August and back to school plus the general shift out of summer mode is upon us, and with that comes the resurgence of morning chaos (if we let it)!

The phenomenon of morning chaos comes from two things. One, things taking too many steps to complete. And two, things being done that don’t actually need to be done at that time. But I have GREAT news! We have control over both of these things, and when we streamline our morning, it also allows for more flexibility to handle those unpredictable moments that tend to pop up conveniently at this time (like spills, a forgotten scrunchie, or a missing favorite shoe).

Whether your kids are headed back to school, you homeschool, you’re starting a new job or just wanting to tame your regular morning chaos during the week before you start your day, I’m here to help. Let’s not waste another second!

1. Clarify what’s essential for your morning.

You’re no longer going to walk blindly into your mornings or let them just happen to you, deal? You’re also not going to shove a bunch of stuff into your morning that won’t add value to you, your family or your day. When I say clarify, that’s exactly what I mean. I want you to go through this list below and ask yourself (honestly) what needs to be part of your morning (and for everyone involved) to make it great (and of course less chaotic). We’re going to do a morning time/activity audit if you will!

Before you add or allow something into your morning routine, first ask yourself:

Will this add fuel to my tank (or to others) to start the day?

Does it absolutely have to be done in the morning before work/school/etc?

Could it be done at another time and still be helpful/effective?

Do I even need to do it at all? (domestic chores, can lunch packing happen at night or the process be simplified or delegated)

Make sure whatever you have loaded up into your morning routine during the week are things that HAVE to happen in the morning to get your day started off on the right foot. Edit out everything else from your morning that doesn’t need to happen then and watch the chaos melt away!

2. Edit your “exit” zone.

You can also consider this your landing area for bags/daily essentials OR the place you grab all the things you need before you head off to school, work, etc. If you’re schooling from home, take some time to edit your learning hub/learning command center so your transition into your learning time is smoother and easier. Our exit zone in our laundry niche, which also happens to be the pass thru between our kitchen, pantry and garage. There is a lot of activity happen in one small area so it must be a well-oiled machine or it quickly turns into the hot mess express.

Here’s a few things to consider while you edit your space:

Does each item in this space support what needs to happen here?

What can I remove from this space to make grabbing our essentials for the day easier/quicker?

It is clear what each person should do here, is clearly marked, or highly intuitive so it is easy to do?

Do I have everything I need here or do I need to add anything to streamline how this space works? (more hooks, labels, rearrange a few items)

Have I given this space some breathing room (some white space) so it’s not chocked full of stuff and more flexible for us to move in and out of?

Does everyone in the home understand where everything is, what to do in here and what the realistic expectations are?

After you edit your space, give it a test run to make sure you’ve covered all the details. Walk everyone through how to use the space and let them ask questions and share feedback/share their insight to make improvements. Make tweaks as needed once you start getting in you groove during a normal week day. We learn and improve things only by living with it and by reflecting on how well it is working.

3. Carve out time to fuel + care for yourself.

Remember to do this what actually help you save time and energy over the course of your whole day, boost your mood and increase your patience/flexibility to handle whatever the day might through at you. This looks different for each person, but as the adult in the home, you need to invest time each day in yourself to care for your well-being, even in small ways right out of the gate as you start your day.

Here’s a few ideas to get your going:

Having a quality but simple/quick breakfast.

Filling your favorite water bottle up the night before to save time in the morning.

Quiet time to stretch before you join your family to start the day.

Packing a protein snack for later in the day.

Having fresh flowers out on the counter you see the most during your morning routine.

Reading a few pages in your book instead of screen scrolling.

Avoiding checking emails first thing in the morning.

Sipping your favorite coffee or tea while you get breakfast ready.

Delegating some tasks to free up a few extra minutes so you can spend more time caring for yourself.

Getting up a few minutes earlier so you can move slower while getting dressed for the day.

Listen to your favorite music or an inspiring podcast while you get ready.

Going to bed 20 minutes (or more) so you can feel more refreshed when you wake up in the morning.

Tidy up the kitchen, your bedroom or your exit zone the night before so the first thing you see in the morning is order and peace.

Test these 3 simplifying strategies in your home now to reduce the stress and chaos you feel in your morning. And remember to check back in with these whenever you feel the chaos on creeping up again…you just might need to implement a few simple tweaks to get your routine back on track!

See you in the next post!

BIG HUGS,

Kristin

More Support for Your Home + Life:

✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!

✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Home Simplifying Quick Guide!

✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.

Dynamic Women In Their Home - Lauren

We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.

Our next interview is with Lauren Nygard. Another one of my favorite humans I’m so thrilled to introduce you to in our incredible community here. Lauren and I met at Texas A&M in Architecture School (we were both studying Environmental Design during our undergrad years). I’m trying to pinpoint exactly when we met, but I am guessing it was at least by sophomore year. We were in the same student group that studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain and we’ve stayed connected ever since. After we both went in different directions for graduate school, we stayed connected by sending each other mix CDs…Lauren, should we start this up again? I loved this! Lauren is a former military spouse and mom of 2 young boys who wears many business hats that I’ll let her tell you more about. She’s an incredible photographer (you can find her work here) and is a major learn through reading advocate. Yes, she’s my go-to book lady! Most days you can find us DMing about misc home biz, iced coffee hacks + kiddo randomness. She has the most lovely, infectious laugh and is passionate about creating and sharing good out in the world. I’m so thrilled to share more with you about her here!

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Lauren about all things home and life.

Photo credit: Lauren Nygard

Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

In the past 5 years, we've added two boys to our family, my husband got out of the military, we moved from NC to TX, and I've been working from home during a pandemic. :)

What's your day to day like right now?

We spend a lot of time in our backyard or reading on the couch. I squeeze in work when I can during the day, and usually work for an hour or two after the boys go to bed.

Photo credit: Lauren Nygard

How long have you been in your current home?

Since September 2019, though it seems like just a few months!

What do you love most about your current home?

It's cozy and the perfect size for our family.

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

This is a huge can of worms! We had to have our foundation repaired last summer and are still waiting for our flooring material to arrive so that we can replace the flooring (it was damaged due to foundation issues). We then will need to repair cracks in our drywall (walls and ceilings) and repaint practically every surface.

Beyond that mess, our boys' bathroom doesn't function well as is (I've messaged you about our towel storage in there!) and I'm considering replacing the vanity while we're redoing the floor. The vanity that was installed before we moved in is above average height, which I actually love but it doesn't work well for our 18-month-old. The bathroom is so small that we can't put a step stool tall enough in front of the vanity without blocking the entrance to the bathroom (the door opens up to the sink). Now that he's interested in potty learning, it's been even more frustrating than it had been.

Photo credit: Lauren Nygard

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

Yes! Lots of editing of my closet and dresser drawers, as well as my "work" and "craft" stashes. When our second son arrived, my office became his room, and my work desk moved out into our living room. When he's a little older, he'll move into the same room as our older son (and we'll get an office again--hurray!) but I cleaned out a lot to make the shift happen--and it's still a work in progress!

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

It has been super helpful to be able to find more of what we need and get rid of things we no longer need or use. There are still some areas that need more decluttering (our laundry room cabinets have become a stash for random stuff) but we've been working on it little by little.

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

Right now, definitely declutter... because organizing doesn't matter if you still have too much stuff.

Photo credit: Lauren Nygard

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

Inside.... Our bedroom! We spend most of our time in our living room but the 4 of us end up hanging out, lounging and reading on our bed sometimes. The living room tends to get out of control with toys so our bedroom is a nice place for us to relax since it's usually cleaner. (Except when I don't put my laundry away--shhhhhh!)

Outside... We have a really deep front porch that was a total sanity saver when we were homebound in 2020. Colt and I spent lots of time out on the porch, even through the heat of summer (pregnant!)--we were gifted an old art table from a neighbor, and he'd scribble for hours out there. We added a big deck in our backyard about a year ago, which has been amazing as well.

Photo credit: Lauren Nygard

What object in your home means a lot to you?

I can't think of anything right now!

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...

Do I have any secrets? I can't think of one.

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

Light/bright

Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:

Open concept

Color or neutrals:

Neutrals

Real plants or faux:

Real!

Listen to music or read:

Read

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

My new morning ritual is to drink 16oz of water before I have any coffee. I feel like it sets me up to drink more water throughout the day. But my favorite daily ritual is my early afternoon iced coffee a la Kristin (shaken, not stirred)!

Morning person or night person:

Morning

Favorite piece of furniture in your home:

Our mid-century dining table

Do you dress like the interiors of your home?

Color-wise? Yes. Style? I'm not sure.

THANK YOU LAUREN for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your entrepreneurial spirit and seeing what awesomeness you’re cooking up next. Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard | https://laurennygard.com/

Find Lauren on IG: @laurennygard

More Support for Your Home + Life:

✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!

✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Home Simplifying Quick Guide!

✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.

See you in the next interview!

5 Things I'm Intentionally Taking Slow Right Now

Summer seems to slow us down from the heat and a shift in routines for most of us. I can’t say I needed the heat to crank up like it has recently here in NTX but the shift in routine has proven to be critical to my body, my mind and my soul as I’ve moved through the first few weeks of it.

During this shift, here’s 5 things I’ve decided to take intentionally slow right now, and invite you to come up with your own list as well.

#1. The pace of my business

Ya’ll, this last spring was fast and furious. It seemed to wildly fly by. I was wrapping up the creation of my new Organized Home Masterclass that rolled out literally the day my oldest daughter finished school. I couldn’t believe I had made it to the finish line. But all along last spring, my intention was to roll out that program in order to down shift for the summer with my girls. And somehow I did it!

Last summer was quite different, as I rolled out my Ultimate Kitchen + Pantry Guide smack in the middle of the summer to celebrate my 10th year in business as Fuzzy Hippo Shop in July of 2021. For me celebrating this milestone meant I wanted to create something new for you, and that’s exactly what I did! I knew, however, this summer needed to be different, as I didn’t have the mental or physical energy to repeat this. It was critical I shifted my timeline to make space for a slower paced summer.

This summer, while I am still very much running my business on reduced and adjusted hours around being with my kids, the focus is a lot more about letting my mind wander and hold space for new ideas to develop, while my business mind is allowed to be less busy and more quiet. I can’t wait to share with you more about the new shifts in my business that will happen in the future! So excited!

#2. The speed in which I do things all day

Up until summer, I found myself rushing through almost everything I was doing all day, even when there was no reason to do so. Rush to wash my face and put on make up, rush getting dressed, rush making the bed, rush making breakfast, etc. You see where I am going. This had all been conditioned to get my babies to their school on time, which is all fine and well, but I was struggling to control when to go fast and when to go slow. It’s like I always tell my kids, there are times to move quickly (like move across the road quickly because a car is coming) or slow, when chopping veggies for dinner so we don’t get hurt.

Those are two basic examples, and I’m finding we need both rhythms everyday in some capacity. Some days need to be intentionally slow to rest and refill out bucket. Some parts of our day might be more action packed, but then maybe we downshift later on to reduce that feeling of rush that we all dislike so much. Either way, we can control these rhythms and we can decide when they happen or need to shift. And this lady is currently in slow down mode.

#3. How I exist with my children

Kids move fast, run fast, play fast. I’m intentionally trying to join in with them during the day when I can in slow ways. Reading or snuggling together on the couch. Sitting on the floor with them to have a tea party or play a game. Sit on the floor and watch them build something while I stretch after we walk the dog. Often I find the change in position/change in the level I am on helps a lot. Getting" out of the “standing over and observing mode” and sit down on the floor, lay down or pull up a stool to engage always helps things slow down. And my kids love when I am on their level by the way. We all win!

Also worth noting, anytime outside with my kids (or even if I am alone) feels slower, whether it is picking tomatoes in the garden, listening to the birds, watering, looking at butterflies bouncing around on the zinnias, or looking underneath the big vining leaves for cucumbers. Being outside seems to freeze time, especially if you have an ice pop or popcicle in hand!

#4. Taking slow walks with my dog

I am walking in the neighborhood with my girls most mornings now that we are all home and at first I was feeling a little annoyed that my morning walks were no longer a fast-paced exercise for me to get my rear moving. Now we’re walking at a much slower pace with little legs. Once I got out of my head about this I was just simply grateful to be with my kids outside during the coolest part of the day, getting fresh air, listening to the birds, practicing our car/street crossing safety, looking for cool leaves, rocks and feathers to bring home, etc.

My walks during the summer have a different purpose and I have learned to be ok with this. It’s also given us a chance to connect more with some of our elderly neighbors we don’t get to see as much during the rest of the year, bring them tomatoes from our garden or flowers, and just so many other things that in the rush of the pace before would not have happened before.

#5. My meal planning structure

You know I’m an avid meal planner during most of the year because it saves me so much brain power, time and money. But during the summer I ease up a bit on the planning and loosen the reigns with how I meal plan. If I feel like doing it one week, I do it. If I decide that we’re going to eat meals to “clear out the fridge this week” then so be it, and I write nothing down. A lot of our meals right now are swirling around how I am going to use all these beautiful garden tomatoes, and what a wonderful problem to have! I don’t know about you but my appetite shifts a lot during the summer as well, in that a lot of foods don’t sound as good because of the heat. So often what I will do is jot down a few dinners that do sound good and just put those bad boys on repeat and not look back. I highly recommend it!

And when you’re ready to dive back into meal planning or want to test it it out to see just how much mental bandwidth it saves you, check out all the notepad/list helpers I have in the paper shop to make all of this so much easier to do! Your brain space and energy during those more chaos filled days will thank you!

Now I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

What’s something your doing this summer to intentionally slow down? I can’t wait to hear what great ideas you have to share with us!

Thanks for being here.

Dynamic Women In Their Home - Nazly

We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.

Our next interview is with Nazly D. She’s one of my favorite humans I’ve connected deeper with in this space through home. I met Nazly through her husband that I knew from Texas A&M Architecture School and then went on to work with him professionally at an architecture firm in Plano for many years. She’s currently in higher education research (in short) with an extensive background in psychology and developmental psychology (she has a PhD to be exact!) She’s a mom of a toddler and knows the world well of working hard and playing hard with her family. I love chatting with about anything home, design, organizing and decluttering. You can often find us sending photos of areas we are working on in our home or new vessels for our plant babies to live in! She’s such a honest and beautiful human (also a rock star volleyball player!!) and I’m so thrilled to share more about her with you here.

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Nazly about all things home and life.

Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

The last 5 years have been a whirlwind with many ups and downs. We moved from Dallas to Houston in 2016 and I started a new career in higher education research. Over the years I continued to grow in my field and currently serve as the Executive Director of Data Analytics and Institutional Research at a University in Houston. At the end of 2019, I became a new mom and right as I was coming back from maternity leave, the pandemic began a few weeks later. My husband and I were fortunate to be able to keep our jobs and spend more time with our baby. Then in July of 2020, I lost my two longest-time friends, who I grew up with like sisters, to a violent incident. My whole world came crashing down and I began a long journey of coping with the grief and trauma in the middle of a global pandemic. I felt this desperate need to control my environment as a way to cope, and thankfully came across my husband's former colleague and friend, Kristin! Being part of her Declutter Your Home Masterclass gave me the tools I needed to change my mindset around my relationship with stuff and things and allowed me to gain control of my space and create a more peaceful home. This has single-handedly been the most transformative aspect of my grieving journey over the last several years.

What's your day to day like right now?

During the week, my day to day consists of waking up, spending some quality time with my toddler while getting ready for work and prepping for preschool/grandma & grandpa's house, commuting to work, lots of meetings that could be emails, and driving home in time for dinner and toddler bedtime. After she goes to bed, my husband and I spend the evenings together, usually watching something hilarious and having dinner. Then it's bedtime for us, rinse, and repeat the next day! Weekends are much more casual, typically spent running errands and grabbing snacks while out and about. Our daughter loves Trader Joes, since they have an entire wall dedicated to puppy and cat photos, which we have affectionately termed "the puppy wall" (we aren't cat people).

How long have you been in your current home?

We've been in our current home since the summer of 2018.

What do you love most about your current home?

We love that our home has intentional spaces, every room has a purpose. We love our patio/backyard probably most of all. The sellers were the only owners of the home before us and spent a great deal of effort and care into the home. They created a beautiful garden with fountains and beautiful pathways. It’s our happy place.

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

If I could change something right now, it would be the kitchen finishes, including the countertops/backsplash and maybe the cabinet color and floors. They look nice currently and are very functional, but I wish they were lighter, brighter, and a bit more modern.

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

Yes! Oh my goodness yes. I started my decluttering/editing journey last Janurary, so it's been a little over a year. In that time I have more or less decluttered nearly every space in our home. I started downstairs in the kitchen and living room since we spend most of our time in these two rooms. I keep tweaking here and there to make improvements as we go, but I’ve got a good foundation.

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

Decluttering and editing our spaces has made me realize how much functional space we actually have and has led to greater use of each space. It has also helped create a sense of calm and peace in our home. For example, when we see only essential things out on counters, it clears so much mental space and reduces anxiety.

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

I actually really like decluttering, there's something that feels cleansing about it. I have struggled with decluttering the closet though…between pregnancy and grief, my weight has fluctuated in both directions wildly, so it’s a little confusing to figure out what still fits.

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

I have two, my living room and our bedroom. I spent a lot of time really thinking through both of those spaces and curating them to align with our goals and aesthetic that brings a sense of calm.

What object in your home means a lot to you?

A watercolor painting my dad did of our daughter for her 1st birthday.

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...

I think I have actually developed OCD over the years, I legit paused a conversation one time with a colleague to stand on a chair and fix a crooked ceiling tile in a hallway at work...also I played volleyball in college! That's maybe a little less strange and obnoxious haha!

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

Generally light and bright

Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:

Open concept

Color or neutrals:

Neutrals

Real plants or faux:

Real plants

Listen to music or read:

Music to drive, books before bed

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

Washing my face and doing my skincare routine...feels so luxurious!

Morning person or night person:
errrr....neither! If I had my way I would sleep early and wake up late! But I'm definitely not a morning person.

Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
1000% our couch...comfortable AND beautiful. I am a true believer in Cantoni...worth every penny!

Do you dress like the interiors of your home?

What a fun question! I would say somewhat, as I tend to wear neutral colors as well.

THANK YOU NAZLY for sharing more about your home and life with us! I know you have so much greatness on the horizon for you that I can’t wait to hear all about. Thank you for bringing us along for this life snapshot!

Photo Credit: Nazly D.

More Support for Your Home + Life:

✔ The brand new ORGANIZED HOME MASTERCLASS will be live May 26th! Learn more about how epic this new Masterclass is HERE!

✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE.

✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.

See you in the next interview!

Organizing Mistakes You're Making in Your Home + What To Do Instead: Part II

We’re back at it discussing organizing mistakes commonly made in your home and what to do instead. Is there a better DIY topic that exists on the planet right now? I think not! If you missed PART I, you can check it out HERE and then come back to us for PART II below!

MISTAKE #4: You’re locating things in the wrong place.

One of the key components to a highly organize and efficient home is locating things in the RIGHT place to make life easier for you. No one has ever argued with me that they want life to be harder, so let’s keep reading! I know this might seem like a really obvious one, but when we get into the nitty gritty of everyday life, we get into autopilot mode. Here’s a few things to consider to make sure an item has truly landed in the right spot.

✓ Does the item or group of items support a task or goal for this spot in your home?

✓ Does the item or group of items make the task or goal easier and more efficient to complete because it is here? (Example, laundry detergent directly above the washer, verses on a shelf off to the side you have use a stool to get to, then get it down, etc. That’s too many steps!)

✓ Is the item or group of items essential in this location (accessed often, helpful, useful, valuable) or could it go away and life would remain unaffected by its absence?

Answer these honestly then remove or move items that don’t support the task or goals you have for that zone. Yes, decluttering is forever and ever! But it gets easier, trust me! Stick with me friend!

MISTAKE #5: You’re not giving your items breathing room.

You can have a well organizing drawer with lots of little compartments and containers, but if you don’t need half the items in the drawer (ie. they’re never used) or if everything is filled to the brim and you have to dig around in each container just to grab your favorite pen or washi tape, we still have an issue. Organizing is about keeping what you use and love, AND giving it space to live and breathe. Consider the follow tips to give your items you’re organizing a bit of breathing room.

✓ If you ever have to dig (aside from inside a LEGO bin) for something, you have too much. You either need to edit more, or you need to make additional categories to spread out the things you have.

✓ In most cases, you should be able to see everything you have in a drawer at one glance. This means you should avoid stacking things vertically if possible in drawers (or bins) to avoid the “out of sight out of mind” epidemic. If you can’t see it, odds are you won’t use it or you’ll forget you have it.

✓ On shelves, in cabinets and in closets, you should be able to see, grab and pull out anything easily. This means you need space to reach things and remove them without having to move 5 things. If you hold to this rule, you’ll avoid over-stuffing any and all of these spaces.

Just like in graphic design (and in all forms of design) white space is often the solution to solve many design issues. It is the same throughout your home. In this case, the “white space” is the “breathing room” that the things in your home desperately need, just like you need it!

MISTAKE #6: You haven’t shopped your home first.

True story. 9.5 times out of 10 I can solve any organizing issue with the things in my home before I ever even entertain running out to buy something. I want you to look at this like a choose your own adventure game. The next time you encounter an issue with an area in your home that you know needs more order, consider looking throughout your home thoroughly to see if you already have what you need (then prepare to be amazed at what you’ll find). Try these tips.

✓ Declutter the zone in question first, then assess what is left. If you have lots of small categories, hunt around for trays, reusable bags, small jars, tops of shoe boxes, etc.

✓ If you’re dividing up large or deep spaces like a kitchen cabinet, consider something you can pull out similar to a drawer like a bin, a container or a box. You can use a cardboard box and cut out your own handle then swap this out over time if you’d like - but take the time to understand what you need first. If you need to divide the space up further, think “containers within containers”. Drop several smaller boxes inside a larger box to create several small zones in whatever configuration works for what you need.

✓ Make swaps with things in other rooms. If you’re going to corral/organize something in a spot that is more visible and you care what it looks like, consider swapping an old box that will go deep in a cabinet for the nicer basket that will help elevate the aesthetics of your space and be highly visible.

→ Now comment below on which one of these 3 Mistakes feels most common for you? I’ve been guilty of all of them!

I hope these first 3 common mistakes were eye-opening for you + will inspire you to take concrete organizing action in your home. My goal here is to help you save time, money + energy. See you soon in Part III of ‘Organizing Mistakes You’re Making + What To Do Instead.’

PS. The Organized Home Masterclass is coming at the END OF MAY! If you’d like a little sneak peek into what this program is all about, you can check it out HERE! To say I’m excited about this new program is an incredible understatement. Stick here with me + I’ll continue to spill all the beans for you.

Dynamic Women + Their Home - Kirsten

We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.

Our next interview is with Kirsten Griffin. She’s currently a Job Captain at HKS, Inc. and the Vice-Chair for AIA Dallas Latinos in Architecture (LiA). Kirsten and I got connected through Instagram by a mutual friend/colleague a few years ago AND of course our names are quite close so we’re automatically bonded for life. Quite quickly we had several incredible, genuine, interesting conversations about simplifying life through editing in her home and planning for her future. I’ve always been impressed with her insightful, wise beyond her years questions and ideas about home. I’ve loved getting to know her through our chats about our spaces, the misc. house projects we’re working on/dreaming up, and all things design. I deeply admire her passion for architecture, and her intentional action to make an impact and serve her local architecture community. I love all the commitments she shares with us on Instagram from caring for herself through fitness goals (PS. this girl is strong, don’t mess with her!) and her intentional focus going after her architecture license. And all of which she does while having fun along the way! Recently she’s woven more into her day to day stories about her deaf/hard of hearing and bilateral cochlear implant journey. I value her perspective on this topic that I’m continuing to learn more about. Follow along with her vivaciousness over at @kirsten_ttu on Instagram.

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Kirsten about all things home and life.

Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

Been a busy 5 years! I Graduated college with my Master degree, got married and started working full time in an architecture firm. We adopted two dogs while living in an apartment, then we bought a house to have backyard space for the pups. Now working on my Architectural Exams and highly involved in the architecture community.

What's your day to day like right now?

Work out in the morning, go work at the office at home or the company office and then spend my evening attending an event or at home studying for my Architectural Exams.

How long have you been in your current home?

2 years! Got it July 2020.

What do you love most about your current home?

The space! Get to have my own office and my own home gym.

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

The challenge would be the bathrooms, its a late 70's home. So the bathrooms are not a big as the newer homes.

The outdoor patio is the space where I enjoy drinking coffee in the morning or relaxing in the evening when weather is nice.

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

Yes, the closets. There were a lot of clothes and memorial items that haven't been used in years.

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

Relief, we have plenty of space. More than we think. Spend less time stressing about the overload of items or looking for something.

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

Organize but we have to declutter before organizing. Organizing because you know exactly where everything is rather then looking for awhile to find it.

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

The smallest office the house with the little couch in the corner. A small cozy room.

What object in your home means a lot to you?

My small round breakfast table, I sit here almost everyday drinking my coffee. Came from my uncle who passed away recently.

The breakfast nook is my favorite spot I spend a lot of my time.

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...

I’m left handed but I only eat and write with my left hand. And I do everything else with my right side. Can write/draw also with my right hand (not as good as left).

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

Light/Bright

Open concept OR separated rooms/nooks:

Both! Open concept for social events and then separation for more comfort/cozy.

Color OR neutrals:

Neutrals

Real plants OR faux:

Faux

Listen to music OR read:

Listen to music

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

Getting my day started early and drinking coffee

Morning person OR night person:

Morning, but I still have my days where I don't want to get up.


Favorite piece of furniture in your home:

Breakfast table

Do you dress like the interiors of your home?

Yes, Simple

THANK YOU KIRSTEN for sharing more about your home and life with us! I can’t wait to see what you’re involved with and creating next!

Follow along with Kirsten’s architecture, mentoring and home adventures over on Instagram @kirsten_ttu HERE. Photo Credit: Kirsten Griffin

Ready to take action in your home? START HERE.

Note sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.

See you in the next interview!

Organizing Mistakes You're Making in Your Home + What To Do Instead: Part I

Spring might be a natural time to think of organizing as the weather shifts + we too feel that internal shift + need to restart, regroup + refresh. I’m going to invite you to lean into this feeling while it’s here. These natural rhythms that happen during seasonal shifts help motivate us to tweak in our environment what needs a little boost or a change.

But before you get too wild with your organizing efforts, PLEASE make sure to follow my 3 part blog series on mistakes to avoid when organizing in your home.

I promise it will be worth your time, energy + sanity preservation to follow along with us!

MISTAKE #1: You Didn’t Declutter FIRST!

If you’ve been hanging out with me for hot minute, you likely knew I was going to go here first. I had to. Why? Because this crucial step helps you avoid spending time organizing things you don’t need in the first place! Here’s a few more benefits of decluttering first before you start hoarding baskets. (Yea, I see you!)

✓ Gain clarity on what you own + what you no longer need. (No use saving valuable space for things that no longer support you!)

✓ Save time later on with your organizing efforts. (Less things, less time to organize + manage those items.)

✓ Save money on organizing supplies + products. (Again, owning less means less to corral in the first place.)

MISTAKE #2: You’re Not Focusing On Your Essentials!

Organization is all about keeping the right things in the right place. So what exactly are essentials? We focus on these in great detail in the Declutter Your Home Masterclass + in the Ultimate Kitchen + Pantry Guide but the quick + dirty notes on it are that you keep only the things you need to complete a task, chore or daily routine in that spot of your home. So as you can imagine, throughout your home you should have clear grouping of “essentials” depending on the tasks that need to get done. Here’s why this is so important:

✓ Curating essentials in an area where an important task needs to happen makes it much easier to complete that task.

✓ You’ll save time because your space will offer you clear direction on what exactly to do in that area.

✓ It helps you save energy throughout the day so you have more to give to the things you care about most.

MISTAKE #3: You Buy Organizing Items First Before Assessing What You Have!

Are you seeing a pattern here? Yes you are + here it is again a bit louder for those in the back. You need to have complete clarity on what you own, where it should go + what your goals are before you run around buying organizing product that you likely don’t need! Decluttering + setting goals/expectations is the first part, then a thorough inventory of what you have helps guide you on what you need to buy (if anything)! Here’s a quick reminder why you need to slow your roll before you run out to the stores trying “get organized”.

✓ You’ll save money, oh so much money, when you wait + understand what you actually need before you buy anything to organize in your home.

✓ You’ll gain clarity on your goals + needs for spaces when you go through the process of assessing what you have + taking inventory of your essentials.

✓ Organizing will go faster + be easier to maintain when you know what you have, you create efficient zones for what you need, + then corral them properly to make life easier throughout the day.

→ Now comment below on which one of these 3 mistakes feels most common for you? (For me, I always have to stop myself before I start reorganizing a space to make sure I’ve decluttered first!)

I hope these first 3 common mistakes were eye-opening for you + will help you slow down before you engage in anymore organizing tasks in your home. My goal here is to help you save time, money + energy. See you soon in Part II of ‘Organizing Mistakes You’re Making + What To Do Instead.’

PS. The Organized Home Masterclass is coming at the END OF MAY! If you’d like a little sneak peek into what this program is all about, you can check it out HERE! To say I’m excited about this new program is an incredible understatement. Stick here with me + I’ll continue to spill all the beans for you.

Thanks for being here.

Dynamic Women + Their Home - Hannah

We’re starting a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.

Our first interview is with Hannah Key of The Freckled Key Photography. I’ve lost track with how Hannah and I first got connected, but it went something like…I use to work with someone in corporate architecture that went to school with her husband and I followed his wife on Instagram who is also a talented graphic designer and maker who was connected with Hannah and once posted about a photo Hannah took of their family. Phew! I’m grateful for the incredibly indirect way we’ve connected. I’ve truly enjoy getting to know her through Instagram, email and quick weekly messages about the randomness going on in life, motherhood shenanigan, decluttering adventures, an amazing vintage garment we’ve spotted, or our shared love for Revlon lip stain sticks! PS. She’s also an incredibly talented abstract painter/artist and absolutely worth having in your social media sphere! You can follow Hannah on Instagram here: @thefreckledkey

Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Hannah about all things home and life.

Please share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:

Oh girl, you know I’m wordy, haha! I’ll try to keep it brief… In the last five years we have become the parents of TWO daughters, ages (nearly) 7 and 4. My husband started working for himself full time in April of 2019 so we are both officially self-employed, which is both amazing and stressful, haha. We have moved TWICE in the last five years (but we’ve been in Houston since 2009). We sold our beloved first home in January 2019 and moved into rental while we built our new home. We moved into our new home in November 2020, so just over a year ago now. I would say the last 5 years has been one of immense personal growth, and growth as a family. I struggle with anxiety and it really came to a scary head in the fall of 2020. I’ve come leaps and bounds since then (with the help of counseling, medication, prayer, and my beloved husband) and ever strive to empower other momma’s in their mental health journeys. We are not alone!

What's your day to day like right now?

I am a part-time homeschooling momma to my oldest (she attends school 2 days a week and I teach her here 2 days a week), so my day to day really changes depending on the day of the week, ha! Mondays and Wednesdays my girls are both in school, so I work from my home office or photographing families on those days! Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays I devote 100% of my energy to teaching and house duties. Weekends are a wonderful time to reset as a family; Scott (my husband) and I often take on a project and/or go for a hike with our girls.

How long have you been in your current home?

Just over a year! We moved in in November 2020.

What do you love most about your current home?

The natural liiighhht! OH my. My husband is an architect and when he was designing our home I told him I wanted two things: hardwood floors and as much natural light as possible — and he DELIVERED! I don’t have to turn on a light until dusk, and it just makes my heart sing.

What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?

Man, this is tough. My husband really designed the home of our dreams! I suppose if I could name a daily grievance it’s the ever-presence of my girls’ toys and clothes. I am very strict about culling their toys and clothes several times a year, but it seems I always find a pile of dirty clothes here and there as well as dolls, stickers, and craft paper all over my floor by days-end, haha. I am a creative person so naturally I highly encourage my girls to be messy and creative on a daily basis, but I am also a very TIDY person so perhaps I need to put some effort into teaching them how to better clean up after themselves; an exhausting effort, indeed, ha!

In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?

Yes!! All. The. Time. I probably tackle a drawer a week just to satisfy my love of organizing/purging. I will take on a larger declutter project, like a closet or a room, probably 1-2x a year. I love it!! I like everything to have a home and truly feel stressed when things are a mess so frequent little declutter projects are my JAM!

If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?

ALWAYS helpful. I find that doing these small weekly declutter tasks give me energy to do the next one! I also love that my girls are witness to my frequent editing of our things, showing them that “stuff” is not where our joy and purpose lie.

What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?

Oooooo…. Can BOTH be an answer? Haha! I suppose when it comes down to it, I enjoy the decluttering process more. I find such satisfaction in seeing things LEAVE my house, haha. Giving everything a proper home after the declutter is immensely satisfying as well.

Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?

In the mornings, I really enjoy sitting on our big window bench with a hot cup of tea and my Bible (and my phone, because I’m addicted to my daily Wordle!) Afternoons I want nothing more than to sit in my sun-filled (TINY) paint studio and throw my cares at a canvas. My girls will often join me there with paper and pastels; it’s a sweet time of day that I have grown to love.

What object in your home means a lot to you? Oh man, I am pretty sentimental about items so there are several in my home that really mean a lot to me. I like to have a small treasure or two in each area of my house that reminds me of someone I love. I suppose the ones that give me the most daily smiles are 1) the hand-written birthday card from my grandmother that I keep in my bathroom. Seeing her handwriting every morning and reading her brief note are a daily delight. 2) A stained glass medallion that hangs above my kitchen sink. One of my dearest friends died of cancer 11 years ago and her dad made me this piece to remind me of her. I think of her every time I wash the dishes. 3) A large floral painting that my grandmother did when she was about my age. It sits on top of our piano. She is the one who taught me how to paint, so having one of her earliest pieces in a prominent place in our home delights me.

Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know... Hahahaha…. so many things?? Um… Okay, here’s a good one: I eat my pizza backwards (crust to tip) and I eat my sandwiches and burgers circumference first, then the middle. Ha!

OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!

Light/bright OR dark/moody:

Both!! My photography and paintings are very much dark/moody (I believe this is a reflection of my own inner conflict — ever seeking light in the dark) but I HAVE to have light! My mood is so effected by light!

Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:

OPEN CONCEPT! Walls make me feel claustrophobic, ha.

Color or neutrals:

COLOOORRR!! I am all about those jewel tones!

Real plants or faux:

Real plants — I’m not the best at keeping them alive, but I have kept a 12’ fiddle leaf fig alive for 7 years, so I’m counting that as a plant momma WIN!

Listen to music or read:

Read. I am super super sensitive to sound, so music often stresses me out, haha!

Favorite morning or daily ritual:

My morning tea at the window seat.

Morning person or night person:
Ooophf. This is tough. I really like my morning tea time, but I tend to have more energy at night!

Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
Either my piano or my bed, ha!

Do you dress like the interiors of your home? Yes! Full of color and mixed patterns. Pattern mixing all day e’ry day!!

THANK YOU HANNAH for sharing more about your beautifully colorful life + home right now with us! I can’t wait to see what you’re creating next!

Follow along with Hannah’s photography, painting + much more over on Instagram @thefreckledkey HERE. You can find out more about here photography work at The Freckled Key Photography HERE. Photos Credit: Hannah Key

Seasonal Shifts | How To Declutter + Design Your Way Through It

It’s an interesting time right now for most, where cooler weather (unless you’re in Miami per se) has you bustling around with a renewed sense of energy that was previously absent in those high heat months. While it is a time of year that for most of us feels like things are RAMPING UP, I’d encourage you to SLOW DOWN during this “Seasonal Shift” into Fall/Winter, as we dive into December. Look at it as a time to review a few odds + ends around your home to lighten your load as the new year approaches. The new year will thank you!

1. CATEGORY: CLOTHING

When you you start pulling out your cooler weather clothing, take a moment to assess each item + your likelihood of wearing it again.

PRO TIP: Keep a notepad handy + write down any essentials that you’re missing + need to shop for (ie. raincoat, gloves, warmer socks) —PS. I wrote that sock part as a reminder to myself! Last winter was rough…as a I tried to “create” one pair of warm socks by layering three together…yea, it’s embarrassing.

ADULTS

✓ Review your colder weather items in categories (ie. sweaters, jackets, scarves, gloves, boots, etc.) so you can assess what you have objectively + not as one big pile. This is a time to assess if you have any duplicates that aren’t used. Give those away to someone who can use them now!

✓ Ask yourself when’s the last time you wore the item? If you can’t remember + aren’t excited to wear it, let it go, Elsa style.

✓ Keep your best + favorites that you’re excited to wear. Donate the rest that are in good shape + could be immediately useful in someone’s life/home.

✓ Give these cold weather items a good wash + get rid of the dust bunnies, then fold/hang as needed so they’re easy to get to for the season.

KIDS

✓ Look at their clothing in categories (sweaters, jackets, sweats, etc.). Depending on where you live the quantities you need to support your lifestyle + weather conditions will vary. For example, here in NTX, it’s mild but winter can still get “serious” now + then so a good heavy jacket, raincoat we can layer with + a good hat, mittens/gloves, plus warm sweaters are still essentials. But we don’t keep many multiples. Beyond that, focus on layering pieces to create or remove warmth.

✓ Remove anything they’ve grown out of for the season or don’t wear/don’t have interest in.

✓ Make sure these seasonal items are easy for your kids to get to encourage them to get dressed appropriately on their own. If it needs to be hung up, make sure a stool is nearby if they can’t reach it on their own. We hang up our heavy coats, then put all the “cold weather essentials” in a separate drawer down low. Our everyday pants + long sleeves are in another “everyday” drawer because it is worn frequently.

2. CATEGORY: KITCHEN/FOOD

To do a seasonal breeze through of this, only focus on the items below to lighten your load. You can do another deep dive when you have time/energy.

PRO TIP: Keep things simple by breaking things into mini tasks, like one drawer at a time, one pantry category at a time (teas, baking supplies) rather than looking at everything all together which just fuels the “overwhelm”. Put your energy in places you know need TLC (like neglected pantry shelves or drawers that you can’t shut or find anything in). These are quick win/high impact suggestions, so feel free to pick + choose from the list or do them all if you’re feeling wild!

✓ Do a quick review of your pantry - remove old/expired foods + foods you’re not going to eat. Donate to a local food bank anything not expired or unopened.

✓ Jot down on a notepad foods or pantry staples you’d like to restock on for your holiday/seasonal favorites.

✓ Drawers - remove anything that never got used this year/you avoided (or you can’t remember the last time you used it). Toss broken/beyond repair items.

✓ Cabinets - remove anything that you no longer use, is broken or you’ve fallen out of love with. Donate (or sell) anything in good, usable shape.

✓ Fridge/Freezer - toss expired sauces, foods, frozen items, etc. Clean + recycle as much packaging as possible.

✓ Spices - toss anything that’s old/expired (smell it to determine freshness, it should still smell like the spice or toss it) - plan to restock on your favorites.

✓ Mug Intervention - yes I’m talking to you! I’m totally game for all the warm + cozy drinks, but you don’t need 30 mugs to do, I promise you! Pull them ALL out on the counter + only keep your absolutely FAVORITES. The chipped ones need to go. Donate the extras in good shape. Phew! Don’t we all feel better now?!

3. CATEGORY: SEASONAL DECOR

NOW I probably have your attention! Are you ready to tame the seasonal decor chaos? OK, here we go!

PRO TIP: There is this unnecessary, ridiculous pressure each holiday season to buy new decor for your home. What’s the deal with this? Can we just kick this to the curb once + for all? I am here to liberate you. If you need to make a swap or bring something new in, something should be headed out the door as well. Keep reading for more tips on this below.

✓ As you pull out a box/bag/container of seasonal decor items, you’re going to objectively look at each item to decide if you’re going to keep it. PS. Your taste is likely going to change over time + that’s OK! Part with things you fall out of love with + make peace with it!

✓ Declutter as you decorate. Yes! It’s groundbreaking concept, join me! It’s great! I often sort as I open containers + keep a brown paper bag or box handy to add ornaments, knickknacks, art, garlands, seasonal platters, cups, etc. When you have it in your hands if you LOVE IT + you IMMEDIATELY know where it can be displayed/put out, KEEP IT. Once you’ve done a thorough editing on these items (+ have honed your personal style a bit more), there’s less + less to edit each year. Phew!

✓ Be incredibly mindful of what you BRING IN this season. It’s OK to love what you already have + not buy new. It is also OK to make some intentional swaps if there’s something you’re missing + want to add. But don’t bring in more than you need or will use. It is more to manage + store ALL YEAR LONG.

4. CATEGORY: EXTRAS

This category is really for the non-essentials in our life that do make life more enjoyable when we have boundaries for them. Let me enlighten you…

PRO TIP: If you have items you’re donating, plan to donate your items that week. Schedule it into your time + get it done!

✓ Pick one or as many of these “extras” to go through at your leisure: kids toys, magazines, books, decor, throw blankets, writing utensils, candles, lotions, soaps, teas, coffees, etc.

✓ Now pick an “extra” + review it by zone (by shelf, drawer, etc.) or do a full group (pull all your magazines together on the table to review). Keep only what you LOVE + USE + ENJOY NOW. The rest needs to go.

✓ Kids Toys - only KEEP the following: items they use/play with regularly, are developmentally appropriate, aren’t broken/damaged, are worth the space they take up in the home + it doesn’t interfere with valuable open/play space for them. Open space will always be more valuable than any single toy that exists on the planet. Let that sink in.

✓ Some of these “extras” may need to be tossed if opened, expired, etc. Donate or giveaway anything in good shape. Recycle/donate sell books + magazines. Donate decor items you’ve fallen out of love with but are still in good shape + could be useful in someone else’s home.

SO WHAT’S NEXT?

It’s time to enjoy the space you’ve just freed up throughout your home! Yes!! These are all ideas on where to start + by no means do you need to do all of them unless you’d like! I know you’ll love the results when you’re done.

If you’re needing help with more decluttering + you’d like more support from me, feel free to check out all of these mini course still available discounted through the end the year. Here’s the line up:

Clothing Closet Declutter Guide

Declutter Guide For Kids

Organization + Style Guide

Please feel free to DM me on Instagram / email me with any questions while you’re working through these mini courses. I am more than happy to help + keep you moving + encouraged!

And don’t forget, enrollment for the Declutter Your Home Masterclass will be open for enrollment again early next year! If you want to learn more about this holistic, deep dive into learning how to declutter + learn all of the skills you’ll ever need to declutter your home + life for good, click HERE. If you want to know the moment it is live again in 2022, make sure you’re signed up for EMAILS (light on your inbox + you’ll get a bonus low cost organizing guide too just for signing up!).

Thanks for being here.

Why Your Refrigerator Is Working Against You + How To Fix It

If you’ve ever stopped for a moment in front of your refrigerator and thought, “Why is this not better, why does it look like this, and why do I keep wasting food?” Well, I have answers for you that will help you blast past this today. For a space we are in an out of all day, it deserves a little TLC to make life easier.

Quick note, if someone asks me to talk about organization anywhere in the home, you must know that this is a deeply layered topic to truly undercover what is going on and the steps to resolve it. This is just real life, but I am here for it and I hope you are too! I am also here to make that process streamlined and easier for you, I bet you’re here for that too!

Here’s the RECAP BELOW if you missed the video chat that you can also see in my Instagram highlights under KITCHEN I.

ISSUE #1: You’re not treating your refrigerator like it’s a room in your home.

You need to have a mindset shift about your refrigerator right now to improve things, and here’s the secret…you need to treat your fridge just like any other room in your home you’re trying to improve.

SOLUTION: View it like a room in your home. And you need to take the steps with it you would like any other room in your home. You need to ✓ edit/declutter it thoroughly, ✓ simplify what’s happen in there with clear zones and organization that support those zones, and you need to ✓ design it to be helpful, low waste, and beautiful to make life easier in there!

A few quick tips on decluttering + editing your refrigerator today:

✓ Remove expired product/produce/etc.

✓ Remove items you’re not going to eat (that sauce that looked great and wasn’t your vibe)

✓ Clean out and recycle or repurpose containers/jars as much as possible

✓ Pull everything out and sort it in to categories as you remove each item to save time

✓ Wipe everything down (it doesn’t have to be perfect)

ISSUE #2: You don’t have clear zones for EVERYTHING going in your refrigerator.

This is also true for creating space for things that can change, like leftovers (small and large containers). If you don’t plan for these types of spaces beyond the big, obvious stuff, the items you don’t plan for will overhaul your other areas and destroy your organization.

SOLUTION: Create clear zones for everything, and I mean everything. This will help you save time finding things and putting them away, along with saving you money because you won’t forget about what you actually have in your refrigerator. Get creative with the space you do have and don’t feel like you have to stick to conventional uses for each common area in your fridge. Create zones that make sense for you + your home.

A few quick tips on creating clear zones:

✓ Consider moving shelves around in your fridge to take advantage of unused space (think about move a shelf up high for all your shorter items that take advantage of an often forget zone at the top).

✓ Start with the easy items to put back first. If you know the only spot certain condiments or tall drinks fit, put those away first.

✓ Give everything a spot, even if it a spot that is a broad category, like left overs.

✓ Leave breathing room. You don’t have to fill everything up. The refrigerator is one of the only areas of your home where the physical space literally changes multiple times a day. Allow space for this changes + set up some areas/zones that are super flexible.

✓ Corral awkward + varying shaped items in a single category with a container to maximize your space. Example: coffees + syrups. Lots of different shapes that make sense together in a long plastic container that keeps things orderly and easy to see.

✓ Label bins or containers of items when you’re more likely to get disorganized + just throw things in. You know what I’m talking about… you don’t have to label everything, but even a few labels go a long way!

ISSUE #3: You’ve got clear zones, but they’re in the wrong spot.

News flash: You can have an organized refrigerator with clear zones, but if you have things in the wrong spot, it can still be an issue; you will still waste time and money on what’s being stored in there because of where things are located.

SOLUTION: Move zones (or categories of food) in the refrigerator that make life easy. Pay attention to where you’ve had issues before in your refrigerator and design around those to make quick improvements. Example: You’re always forgetting leftovers, so move your leftovers landing spot to the front in a spot that easy to see, and maybe start storing them in clear/glass containers so you can see exact what you have.

A few quick tips on making sure your refrigerator food zones are in the right location:

✓ Frequently used items should be front and center, easy to grab.

✓ If you struggle to use up food before it spoils/expires, put them in clear containers so you can SEE everything.

✓ Don’t allow items to get shoved to the back. Instead consider a clear bin to corral categories of items that you can slide out to get access to just you would a drawer.

✓ Not all fruit or produce has to be stored in the drawers assigned by the refrigerator manufacturer. You might like those drawers better for breads, canned drinks, or for left overs. Create your own rules that take advantage of your space.

✓ Revisit your zones and tweak things (move them around) when you notice you are forgetting about foods or you’re struggling to reach something. Small tweaks translate to big improvements.

SO WHAT’S NEXT?

Now it’s time to go tame the chaos in your refrigerator, or just spruce it up a little bit! For a space we’re in and out of so much each day, you’ll be blown away at how a little time spent in there can have a cascade of positives happen with your mood and how you organize other areas of your home.

If you’re ready for more support in your kitchen, you’ll want to make sure to check out the Kitchen + Pantry Ultimate Guide launching in JULY 2021! Make sure you are on the email list so you’re the first to know when it is live!

Ready to streamline your home + make it more beautiful without running out and buying a ton of product? I’ve got you, that’s how I roll too. I’d love for you to check out all the resources I’ve created for you here.