How To Simplify Your Home Routines When Life Feels Busy (back to school edition)
It’s back to school for many and the shift out of Summer mode is in full swing. When I feel things ramp up, I like to take some time to pause and reflect on how we can keep peace in our home to avoid feeling run over by our schedule shifts.
The feeling of being rushed is the worst. It adds unnecessary anxiety to my kids, myself and everything we’re doing. It just sucks the fun out of life and I’m not here for it.
Today we’re going to brainstorm together a slew of ideas to find extra pockets of time in your day and streamline your home routines during the week to add more ease and peace when life feels busy.
And for the record, use whatever tips work for you and your family. Not all ideas will work for you and that’s OK. Tweak and adjust things to fit your life, your family and your home, deal?! OK, let’s get going.
Observe The Chaos
Before I start listing out a bunch of ideas to save you time and energy during the week, I want you to take moment to reflect on where you saw, felt and were involved in the most chaos during your days this week.
For example, in our home, getting out the door for school can be very dicey. I have two kids that go to school at two different times, yet are somewhat close together. There is very little room for error. I am always looking for ways to make this go smoother and be as stress-free as possible.
Another example is our very full Monday afternoons. We have a chunk of time in between gymnastics and soccer practice where we have to squeeze in a light dinner, which can also get dicey because there is so little time.
Maybe the end of the day is harder for you. Maybe a certain day of the week is particularly challenging. Own it. Write it down. List out on paper or in your phone each of the moments that feel stressful, take too many steps or are just down right not fun. Now we’re getting somewhere. Now we can start talking solutions! You’ll now be able to start aligning your most chaotic times of day in your life and home with some of the ideas listed below that make the most sense for you.
Daily Routine Simplifying + Plan Ahead Ideas:
Eliminate things in your schedule. If it doesn’t have to be done, don’t do it.
Weave in shortcuts throughout your week. Always shopping for the same groceries? Have a standard list and stick to it or automate it with a grocery pick up order.
Know what things might be forgotten ahead of time. If a paper has to be signed last minute (it’s going to happen), locate a pen right in your pack up location so you don’t have to go running through the house looking for a pen last minute. If your kids always need extra ponytail holders, have an extra stash right near the door.
Pre-wash and chop fruits and veggies for the week that can handle it. I don’t do this with raspberries, for example. Cucumber spears, carrots, celery, grapes and some other berries get used to throw into lunches and pulled out for quick dinners all week long. I’ll also do this for apple slices and toss them in lemon juice and they last for days without going brown. This 10 minute effort on Sundays saves countless minutes all week long.
Make most meals extremely predictable and mindless. In fact I want to challenge you to repeat meals week after week. Get creative only when you want to and have the energy for it. For example, our Monday nights now are always grilled cheese with raw veggies and fruit. Wednesdays are salmon, 3 minute jasmine rice and steamed veggies that cook quickly while the salmon cooks. Dinner is done in 10 minutes. Friday nights we elect to grab something out, usually pizza!
Take 5-10 minutes at night to reset a clutter/chaos collector space. This can be a kitchen counter, a kitchen table, part of the living room, the bathroom, anywhere will do. We just have some spots in our home that need to be revisited most days. It’s just reality. But a little light maintenance each day will prevent loads of clutter and overwhelm at the end of the week when you’re just ready to relax.
Meal Plan. I know you don’t want to but it might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. I have lots of tools for you like the School Meals Idea Planning Sheet or the Groceries and Meal Planning Bundle.
Fill up water bottles the night before (kids, adults, etc.). They’ll be cold for the next day and more time for other things in the morning.
Clear out and pack up bags the night before (or as much as possible). If everything can’t be packed at night, lay out anything else that needs to go in close by to it’s easy to pack the next day.
Lay out shoes near your exit location. We don’t keep all our shoes in our exit location because we are limited on space, but the shoes my girls wear for the next day go right next to their backpacks. No running through the house last minute to find shoes, yes please!
Create outfits that already go together that can be folded or laid out together in a drawer or hung up in the closet. This could work for kids and adults. My kids don’t use this method most days but occasionally plan something out the night before.
Create a personal clothing uniform. This can be easier during certain seasons for sure. Right now I am a cropped linen pants or light joggers and t-shirt girl. It is easy. It is comfortable. It is predictable. It is mindless. If I want to off-road one day I do it.
Add hooks to hang up items to take or reminder notes for the next day. It’s hooks for days over here in this house. I couldn’t go a day without them! From a jacket, to clipping a dollar or return receipt to a hanging basket, or an encouraging note for your child on their way out for school, hooks near your entry/exit areas can help streamline your efforts to remember all the extras.
Cook a meal on the weekend that lots of left overs or is easy to reinvent. One of my favorite weekend meals is chili or pasta with meat sauce. Both of these give us at least 3 dinners during the week. If I want something easy to reinvent, I think about grilled chicken. It can go into pasta, we have it on top of beans with avocado, make tacos or quesadillas, can throw it on a big cobb salad, etc.
Add good music to a mundane task. I’m not sure this will save you time (it might if it makes you do the task faster!) but it will certainly add more joy to your day!
Do a quick reset of your entry/exit zone each week. Remove any non-essentials and clutter that showed up that week. Check out this past blog post helping you do exactly that HERE.
Do a morning routine audit. Frankly, you can do this with any part of your day or your end of day routine (or bedtime routine). Remove any steps that are making the process harder or less enjoyable. More details on how to do this in a past blog post HERE!
Get more sleep and go to bed earlier. Not sure how this will save you time during the day? In a nutshell, everything your brain and body tries to do the next day on more sleep will be easier. Oh, and your overall health will be better for it too! Check out these 7 Surprising Reasons To Get More Sleep to motivate you even more!
Don’t give up precious minutes/hours of your day over to mindless phone scrolling. Recover extra minutes in your day by intentionally using technology and setting healthy boundaries for yourself. If you’d like help with digital decluttering, check out my guide HERE.
Leave out a task list for important items that randomly pop into your head you need to remember. Save yourself brain space and put it in a spot where everyone can see it. Write it down, get it done and most importantly, don’t forget it! See our favorite This Week Printable Planner HERE.
And now I want to here from you!
Drop a comment below of something you love to do during your week to make life easier, save you time, energy and add more peace into your home when life feels busy.
And don’t forget to let me know if any of the tips above were particularly helpful for you in your home!
Organizing Traps: What The Container Store Isn't Telling You
To be clear, I do enjoy shopping in the Container Store (when I need to). The beautiful wall of an incredible array of glass jar options makes my heart go pitter patter. But let’s get real here for a second. What I don’t love are the unnecessary pressures people feel when they go into a store like this (or any store with organizing and storage solutions) and then they end up spending an obscene amount of money on products they don’t actually need. And guess what? Their organizing issues still aren’t solved and they still have clutter making life and daily routines harder than they need to be. Here we’re going to unpack a few organizing traps that are easy to fall into, and what to do instead so you’ll be well on your way to organizing bliss in your home without that hefty price tag. Well…shall we?!
Declutter before you shop.
By the time you step foot into an organizing hot spot like the Container Store, Target or one of my personal favorites, Daiso, you need to declutter the space you’re wanting to add more order to. That’s always step one. This will help you gain clarity on your next steps and what exactly needs more organizing. By the way, none of the stores are going to coach you on how to do this! Here’s a quick checklist of things to make sure you do before you layer in any organization solutions from your favorite stores.
Declutter the zone you’re focusing on thoroughly and ruthlessly.
Remove things that don’t belong in that spot. Toss, recycle, donate, giveaway items as you see fit.
Assess the space you have and identify any organizing challenges you’re having.
Is it a deep shelf? You might need a pull out bin so nothing gets lots in the back.
Do you have a drawer that you need to store a wide variety of items in? You might need to subdivide the drawer with smaller, shallow trays or containers so everything isn’t lumped together and you can see everything you have at a quick glance.
Measure the space you have and sketch a plan for the items you might need to improve that zone with a little as possible organizing product.
Shop your home first.
Shop your home first before you buy a single organizing item. Trust me. Often the best solutions to your organizing dilemmas are already hanging out right there in your home, without you ever leaving the house or spending a dime. Of course the stores won’t tell you this tip!
Look in other rooms, drawers, desks, closets, etc. for organizing items that could solve your current organizing challenges without you leaving the house or spending a dime.
Consider swapping things between rooms that could better fit the zone you’re working on.
Be resourceful with your organizing solutions. Consider boxes, packaging, trays, jars and containers from products/foods already hanging around in your home. Boxes can be cut down and sized to fit drawers.
Plastic fruit containers from the produce area in your grocery store can be cut into two pieces (the lid and the containers base) and great uses as drawer dividers for small items.
They’re also great to corral small office essentials and kids crafting supplies of all kinds.
Price check before you shop.
The reality is that there’s a lot of stores offering similar products to solve the same organizing challenges. Some stores carry different sizes of the same things, some are exactly the same, and others carry a very specific line of product that you can only get there. Before you commit to buying anything, take a few minutes to see what each store has in stock, check the dimensions against what you’re needed, and verify the material(s) used to make the product.
While you’re price checking the items you want to buy, make sure you’re cross checking that with the measurements/quantities you need. A slightly different size might not fit as well in your kitchen drawer, even if you save a few bucks.
Don’t forget overstock stores like Tuesday Morning, Marshalls, TJMaxx and Homegoods (those are just a few of my favorites) for organizing solutions at discounted prices. These stores are best shopped at in person.
Container Store is an excellent stop for highly specific organizing solutions because they’ve thought of every nook and cranny in your home! Depending on what you’re buying, if the cost seems higher, make sure you check the material quality. I’ve never had an issue with quality on items I’ve purchased at Container Store.
Also consider the cost of shipping to your home versus hopping in the car to pick up what you need.
Don’t forget your local thrift stores for organizing solutions. Once you know what you’re looking for, the world is your oyster! Go with a list and measuring tape and see what you can find!
Shop for solutions, not by store labels.
The websites and stores will direct you to the kitchen section for kitchen storage, bathroom area for bathroom storage, etc. This is all fine and well, but, it’s only part of the story! There are so many solutions in every store that could solve your organizing challenges that can be found ALL throughout the store. Here’s a few examples of how I’ve shopped for organizing solutions/products in various shop categories.
I’ve used vertical paper organizers found in the office section for pantry organizing
I love looking in the bathroom section for bins and storage ideas that can go all over the home, like toy storage and pantry containers, especially these Brightroom options from Target with hand cut outs so they’re easy to grab and move around.
The sushi trays, plates and tools from Daiso (shop in store for their full selection) have been my go-tos for organizing shallow drawers in our home because they work just like a tray and are so versatile and wipeable!.
I hope you’ll find these tips handy and inspiring the next time you find yourself needing to add more order and organization to a space in your home. After all, the answers might already be sitting in your home!
If you’d like MORE HELP decluttering, organizing and resetting your home, here’s a few great places to start.
Free Declutter Guide Donate for Good Links + Resources Learn the basics of Decluttering Organizing Basics Shop all Declutter + Organize Guides/Products
Reset Your Home For Summer Checklist
It’s officially Summer according to the calendar (even though it’s been hot here in North Texas for a while now). The focus has shifted to popsicles and hydration now more than ever! With the arrival of Summer comes necessary shifts in our life and home so we can cruise into this next season enjoying what it has to offer. Seasonal transitions are an inherently great time to slow down, reset your home, part ways with anything you don’t want to move forward with in your spaces, and gain clarity on what you’d like in greater focus moving forward.
Do a clothing check in.
1. Take a quick look in your drawers and clothing and remove anything that you KNOW you don’t plan to wear during this warm season. This would include things you avoided last Summer season, items that don’t fit, are uncomfortable, or items you no longer enjoy wearing. If you find anything that you still enjoy wearing that needs to be repaired or altered, put those items aside to repair on your own or take to a local tailor. Here’s our list of donation resources for clothing throughout the US and are often local to your area.
2. Move things around so it’s easier to get dressed during this warmer season. I’m a notorious’ organizing by color only person’ in my closet, but this season I was noticing that I was struggling to dressed easily once the heat started to crank outside, so I decided to move everything around. I grouped all my short sleeves, shorts, skirts, etc. together, organized them by color, then moved these ‘warm weather staples’ so they are the easiest to see in my closet. You can do something similar in your drawers with your warmer weather items. These visual cues focused on the current season for your clothing will help you get dressed with great easier.
3. Pay attention this seasons to items you’re avoiding OR wanting to wear more of. If you notice you’re avoid a particular pair of shorts, start asking questions. Are they uncomfortable? Do they need to be altered? Do they fit right? Are you not sure what to wear them with? Do you need to try them out with other tops or accessories to have more fun with it? Move things you want to wear in a spot that is easy to see. If you have a dress that you’re unsure you want to keep, wear it around the house for the day or on a day you’re running car errands (or quick errand into a store). See how you feel while you take it for a quick “test drive”. Try to mix things up and try out garments you’re not sure about with other things you’ve haven’t worn them. Intentionally shaking things up a bit will likely breathe new life into these pieces you’re unsure about. And if it’s not a match, you can be confident parting ways with these garments after you’d tested them out this season.
Do a food check in.
1. First take a breeze through your fridge and freezer. Look for anything you’re not going to eat, is expired or you simply don’t want anymore. Clean out and recycle and much as possible (please check locally for plastics they accept).
2. Next assess your pantry area. Whether you have an official pantry space or you like to store your room temperature snacks/dry goods/spices/baking ingredients in cabinets, out on a shelf or on top of the fridge, focus on removing anything that is expired, no one is eating or you no longer want to eat. If anything is unopened and not expired, check to see if your local food bank will accept it.
3. Organize and plan for the season. In any area holding food (fridge, freezer, pantry, cabinets, etc.) spend a few minutes group liking items so you’re not digging around all over for the same things. In any kitchen zones that you’re struggling to keep in order, give them a boundary (clear container, basket, tape line on the shelf) to give them a clear home. Label any area necessary so finding things and putting things is easy and intuitive for anyone in the home. Take note of anything you need to restock from your food decluttering session you just completed. Make your life easier with meal planning by creating a list of go-to Summer meals you can put on autopilot for the season. Try our weekly dinner planner notepad here or our Meal Planning Printable Bundle here that will help you plan out your meals with ease for months at a time!
Do a general home check in.
1. Walk the main areas of your home to look for anything out of season, and items that need to be removed or relocated. For example, the winter coats still on the hook in the entryway can be put away for the season. If you’d like to lighten the look in your living a bit, swap out blankets from other rooms to lighter ones during the Summer months. Swap out your kids artwork in frames to ones that feels lighter and brighter. Remove any unnecessary decor, pillows, nick nacks, etc. that make your space feel crowded and cluttered for donations. Recycle old magazines from past seasons. Recycle, file, shred, toss old mail/paper pile that’s been staring at you.
2. Look through your medicine cabinets and toiletries for expired products and items you need to restock. Come Summer, I always get caught off guard with all the products that are essential for our Summer, from bug sprays, aloe, skin care, sunscreens, lotions, etc. Check for expiration dates on all items each year. It’s also important to check in on your first aid kit status and restock on any essentials, including medicines. Check out our TOSS section for proper disposal of products, medicines and common expiration dates for many household items here.
3. Create spaces that encourage you to enjoy your Summer season and support any goals you have. How do we do this? Here’s a few ideas. If you want to read more this Summer, create a reading spot with your favorite books, great reading light, cozy blankets and a spot to put your feet up (you can do the same thing for your kids). If you want to focus on less screen time and more activities in the home, create a puzzle table or game area with card decks/board games so things highly visible and not tucked away. If you’d like to cook more with seasonal ingredients while they’re the freshest, display fresh products in a beautiful way in your kitchen and plan out some meals that highlight your seasonal food favorites (see our everyday meals planner and our meal ideas list maker here).
I hope these tips will help you take a quick look at your home with fresh eyes, lighten your load in your home, and help you focus on more of the things that you enjoy about this Summer season.
If you’d like MORE HELP decluttering, organizing and resetting your home this Summer, here’s a few great places to start.
Free Declutter Guide, Learn the basics of Decluttering, Schedule Decluttering Support, Donate Your Decluttered Items For Good Links SHOP all Declutter + Organize Guides/Courses
How To Declutter All The Kids Stuff at the End of the School Year
It’s no secret that when school is out (and in the weeks leading up to it) your home can be inundated with papers, artwork, supplies, and random objects far beyond what your home can handle. Today we’re going to break down each category of kids’ school clutter, how to declutter them, then what to do with what you want to keep. And yes, we’re going to discuss how to work with your kids to get them involved in the process so it’s not all on your shoulders! Yep, I’ve got you!
School Papers + School Work.
EDIT: Go through any school papers that came home with your child or have them go through it on their own. My now 8-year-old does this completely on her own. I like to quickly glance through the stack before to scan what’s been going on in her world, then I let her take over the process. Take a few minutes to marvel with them in the stories they wrote, the assignments that were particularly challenging, or things they enjoyed the most. If it feels daunting, set a timer for 10 minutes to keep things moving.
RECYCLE: Anything that doesn’t want to be kept and is paper-based without tape or glue can be recycled.
KEEP: If there are papers you or your child wants to keep, assign them to a folder for a while (ie. give it a clear boundary with a home your child can manage). Revisit this folder in a few months to see if these keep items still need to be kept (often they are ready to part with them sooner than you’d think).
Kids Artwork.
EDIT: Go through the art pieces with your kids or have them go through it on their own. I love having them tell me about their favorites and how each was created. Pull aside the favorites they want to keep and set aside the ones they’re ready to move on from.
RECYCLE: Art made from tapeless origami or watercolors, crayons, colored pencils, and/or markers on paper can all be recycled when no longer wanted. If a piece of artwork has paint, stickers, glue, googly eyes, glitter, popsicle sticks and feathers, it should go in the trash. Are there plastic pieces? Foam stickers? These are all things that cannot be recycled, and shouldn't be placed in the recycling bin even if they are attached to paper or cardboard. See addition kids art recycle and toss tips HERE.
KEEP: Artwork that your child wants to keep can be saved in a few ways. 1) Displayed in the home in frames or pinned up in any way you choose. We rotate out artwork each season or every few months n frames on an art ledge. 2). Have a keep folder (like the papers) to save for a while and revisit later. 3) Make it into something else, like a card for a friend’s birthday or gift wrap for a grandparent. 4) Take digital photos of their favorite art pieces and create a printed photo books each school year, semester, or whatever timeframe works best for you. I love how Holly Blakey creates art books for her kids using this technique. Alison Mazurek also has the best space saving suggestions related to kids artwork and saving here. I hope to get more diligent with this in our own home, so I’ll keep you posted on my progress soon!
School Supplies.
EDIT: Before you start chunking things in the trash, look at all that has come home with the filter of “could we use this again next year or someone else?” Over the last several years, we’ve been able to reuse several things from year to year. From backpacks, lunch bags, notebooks, plastic folders, dividers, to pencil cases, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, some unused notebooks, pens, erasers, etc. All the sudden your bill for school supplies next year doesn’t seem so high!
RECYCLE: Extra paper boxes and bulky packaging that’s no longer needed can be recycled so they don’t take up as much space. Reuse or donate anything in good shape that is no longer needed or you have duplicates of, from books, to writing utensils, extra paper, notebooks, rulers, etc. Full notebooks that have been used up as journals or for notes can be recycled if they are without tapes, glues, stickers, etc. These extras can also be offered up to local schools and charities to support teachers and students with school supplies needs. Check out all my donation links under schools and teachers here for more ideas.
KEEP: If you have school supplies you anticipate using again for next year, I would encourage you to pull them aside in a bag or container and label it. One of my age old tricks is to remove any permanent marker from notebooks and plastic folders with a damp Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If you’re trying to remove any labels or stickers on most plastics or non-paper surfaces, it will easily come off with some drops of lemon oil rubbed on it for a few minutes. Wipe the area clean with water and dry off completely once the label or sticker has been removed.
Random Toys + Misc Objects.
EDIT: Before you start editing, talk together with your kids about where these fun “extras” are going to live in your home. Give them a clear boundary or two so they have a home for the toys/extras so can be easily returned there. Pull everything out onto a table or flat surface to go through it. Identify what’s trash, recycle, donate and keep items. Discuss limiting duplicates, things that broken or no longer loved. With a clean boundary (like a basket or a drawer) it will be clear how much can be kept moving forward.
RECYCLE: Paper-based items, cards, boxes, notes, etc. can make their way to recycling if they’re not longer being kept. Check on what plastics your area accepts locally. Consider toys in good shape that could be given away/donated/sold and pull those aside for donations. If it is a cheap plastic toy that will break in two seconds, it’s best to send it directly into the trash. You can also offer up a box of toys or kids decor freebies to a local Buy Nothing Group or share to your area on Freecycle for others to enjoy.
KEEP: With the newly establish boundary for your child’s random keep items, help them organize what they have and discuss how to filter what comes into your home in the future. For example, group items by sizes and how it is used/by type for example. Ask them questions about what they enjoy playing with or what they enjoy having around the most to help them focus on what they should allow into the home in the future. This editing and organizing process will also give them clarity on what they already own. Discuss that once this “boundary” is full or feeling disorganized (they’re digging around, can’t find things or the drawer won’t shut for example) it’s a red flag to take some time to go through and edit what’s in there. They can ask for your help or go through it on their own. Practice over time will make this process easier and smoother, promise!
Are there any other kids “school clutter” that I missed or you want me to talk more about? Make sure to drop it down below in the comments. Now tell me, have you tamed the school clutter yet in your home this summer? Tell me everything in the comments below!
Want to get this decluttering party with your kids + need more help getting started? Here’s a few options for you to get you moving + motivated.
Parents + Kids Guide to Decluttering
The biggest game changer to make decluttering in your home with a family less chaotic + more peaceful!
Free Declutter Guide, Learn the basics of Decluttering, Schedule Decluttering Support, Donate Your Decluttered Items For Good Links
Managing The Kitchen Clutter: 5 Tips That Get Results Quickly
Kitchens are known clutter collectors, even in the most tidy and organized homes. Fact. The way we use them, how they’re set up inside our home, the zones we create and how we use the space naturally create opportunities for stuff to pile up. Keep these 5 kitchen decluttering tips in your back pocket and you’ll be able to reset and manage the kitchen clutter in your home in a snap.
Do a drinking cup/vessel audit (edit).
WHY: You likely have too many (I’d be willing to bet money on it) and it’s eating up valuable cabinet/kitchen space that you need for other things, making your kitchen feel smaller.
HOW: Pair down mugs, travel cups, water bottles, everyday cup and glasses, etc.
TRAPS: Avoid lots of duplicates - toss broken/unusable cups - if you never use it (be honest) donate it.
GAINS: You’ll recover valuable cabinet space, you’ll stop digging, you’ll wash less and have less to manage! Woo hoo!
Do a food audit (edit) - fridge, freezer, pantry, spices, etc.
WHY: Food you don’t need that you’re holding space for is taking up valuable square footage all over your kitchen. You’ll learn what you need to buy and what to stop wasting money on plus learn what you have in stock now.
HOW: Remove expired items, food you’re never eating, don’t like, don’t plan to eat, etc.
TRAPS: Avoid keeping too much back stock of foods you never get to and waste. Keep stock of food items you use/want to eat.
GAINS: You’ll recover valuable cabinet space, you’ll stop digging, you’ll have less to wash and have less to manage!
Do a countertop audit (edit).
WHY: Extras on your counter tops are wasting valuable space to prep food - it’s also visually cluttering up your entire kitchen/causing you constant stress.
HOW: Remove items that don’t need to be put on the counter - be ruthless - if it can be tucked away near where it’s used, do it.
TRAPS: Rarely used appliances (like toasters, blenders, mixers) hog valuable countertop space - make every single item earn its place or remove it!
GAINS: Your kitchen will instantly look cleaner and larger when you simplify/reduce what is out on your kitchen counters. Less visual clutter will make kitchen tasks easier, improve your kitchen workflow and reduce stress.
Do a cooking utensils audit (edit).
WHY: Well, you don’t need 12 spatulas to start. You likely have more than you need and you have your favorites you love to go to time and time again. Your favorites need to take center stage to streamline your workflow in your kitchen.
HOW: Remove kitchen utensils you don’t use regularly, are in poor shape (cannot be repaired or donated), you don’t remember the last time you used them, or you simply don’t like them (yes, this is a perfectly good reason to part with something)!
TRAPS: Be mindful of holding on to too many duplicates. They eat up your counters and drawer space and make you dig for the things you use everyday. Unless it is serving a specific function, makes a task easier and it is used regularly, it needs to go. If you are not a big baker, you shouldn’t have 10 whisks, for example.
GAINS: More drawer space, less digging, simplified kitchen tasks and routines, more efficient workflow in your kitchen, more space, more space, more space!
Do a kitchen decor audit (edit).
WHY: It might not reflect your current season of life, it might not reflect your aesthetic or it might be taking up space that could be better used for more functional items you need regular access to. It might also just be visual clutter all over your kitchen, causing stress.
HOW: Check your counter tops, walls, books, vessels, trays, bowls, kitchen rugs, kitchen towels, etc. Remove anything that takes up more space that it is worth, you’ve grown out of love with, is too loud or not your style anymore, could be more useful in another space in your home, or you’d rather have the space back and could be donated.
TRAPS: Decor is another layer of items that will fight for your attention and clutter up your kitchen if you’re not careful. As we discussed with your counter tops, make every single decor piece/layer in your kitchen earn it’s place. Aim for items that check off the function and aesthetic categories equally. Both are essential.
GAINS: Simplify your kitchen, visually streamline the look and feel of your kitchen, gain back usable space throughout, reduce stress with less visual clutter and more intentional choices will bring you more joy!
Want to take your kitchen to the next level without a costly renovation? Here’s a few options for you to get you moving + motivated with all things decluttering, organizing + design for your kitchen!
Ultimate Kitchen + Pantry Guide
How To Know When To Declutter In Your Home: 5 Red Flags To Look For
Knowing when to declutter in your home can be confusing. Sometimes you’re just not sure if it’s time or if it’s worth your effort to do it right now. The benefits of decluttering are well known, yet it can still feel hard to carve out time to do it. Today we’re going to talk through 5 “red flags” (obvious indicators) that your space needs decluttering. If you notice one or more of any of these red flags going on in your home, you’ll know it’s time to take a moment and declutter that area. Keep this list handy so you can reference back to it often!
This is our front entry coat closet turned “play closet”. If I look in there + there’s stuff everywhere, it can definitely stress me out. But before I spiral, I do a quick reality check in. 1) Are my kids deep in play? If yes, leave it. 2) Can we add this to a reset time later or get their help with it? Yes. Carve out a few minutes later on to pick up that spot. 3) If I notice a consistent pattern of the kids not being able to pick up things, a light declutter might be needed because they’re trying to manage too much in that zone.
You look around + you can see/feel the clutter chaos.
Your space feels triggering for you and you can feel that it’s not working. It is creating unnecessary stress when you’re in the space or when you catch it in your sight lines. Even when we can’t quite put our finger on WHY a space is giving us anxiety, we know it needs our attention. I would say 9.5 times out of 10 reducing what is in the space to essentials is the key to resolving this.
You’re struggling to find things.
There’s a lot of looking and digging. You open up a drawer and you can’t find the kitchen utensils you need for a simple kitchen task. You can’t find the pen you always use to take notes with. Your kids are always losing shoes or their favorite toys. You can’t remember where you put that important note that came in the door last week. You can’t find what you thought you had in the pantry to get dinner started. You’ve given up several times looking for something you needed but just couldn’t find it and didn’t have the time to continue searching. This is a big one. It wastes so much of your time.
You see stuff collecting on your horizontal surfaces.
When you look around at counter tops, tops of tables, desks and furniture, you see a lot of stuff. I’m not talking about when the surface is actively in use (cooking a meal, kids creating artwork or doing homework at the table, etc.). I’m also not talking about simple gesture of joy in your home (fresh flowers, a bowl of a your favorite fruit out, etc.). These horizontal surfaces, if we aren’t diligent in carefully selecting what gets to stay out on them, things will inevitable collect on them. Think about each item out on a horizontal surface in your home, then look at each item carefully. Do you need it? If so, does it need to be out to be helpful/useful? Could it be tucked away? It is worth the space it is taking up this surface or would having more space be MORE helpful? Each item out on these horizontal surfaces, whether it is a counter top or the top of a piece of furniture, all grab for your attention. Too much attention grabbing and we become overstimulated and the attention fatigue easily creeps in without us realizing it. Do a quick horizontal surface “audit” anywhere in your home and feel free to thank me later!
You don’t have a plan for when things get put away.
Real reality, we life in our homes and we use things so stuff gets left out, causing lots of visual clutter. No problems there. The problem surfaces when we don’t have a plan for when we need a sweep through of spaces to put things away to clear this visual clutter. Some clutter is simply things that need to put away (like coats put back in a closer or toys back in their bin). Other clutter is excess because we are keeping things that we don’t actually use or need. When these two combine, it’s dangerous. We clutter up the things we actually need/use/love with things we don’t. That’s where things get messy, literally and figuratively. A plan to remedy this (aside from decluttering) is to put things away in small bits throughout the day, pick one time a day to do a quick round up to reset your home (yes, recruit help if you have it), or pick a few days a week to reset the spaces in your home.
This is a highly active landing spot in our home that can go from mass chaos to orderly in a snap, which is why I love it so much. We need to aim to create lots of these spaces in our home that can ebb + flow with our daily life. Some items get temporarily hung up or set on the bench + then put away later on when we can.
You put off addressing a cluttered zone because you think it will take a lot of time.
Truth, it will take some amount of effort to improve any area of your home, small or large. It will take some time to put things away and reset any space. But on the flip side of this, your brain is VERY GOOD at making things seem WAY WORSE than they actually are. The longer we delay things the more challenging and overwhelming we perceive them, when they likely haven’t changed much. If you’ve identified an area or a few in your home like this, not to worry. Pick any spot of your choice and use my timer method (5 to 20 minutes) and declutter this zone. The goal will be simply remove anything that doesn’t need to be there. Either relocate things that shouldn’t be there and are more useful in another location OR remove items that need to be donated/recycled/tossed. Keep only with is useful, helpful and valuable to you in that area and eliminate the rest. See what you can done in a short amount time. Put on some good music while you work. I can guarantee you’ll be blown away at what you can do in a small amount of time focusing on one small area.
If you find yourself identifying with one or more of these “red flags” in your home, just know that relief from the clutter chaos can happen by focusing on small areas in less time that you’d think. Your efforts will continue to give back to you daily but way of saved time, energy and mental bandwidth. Yes please!
Want to get this decluttering party started but aren’t sure where to go next? Here’s a few options for you to get you moving + motivated.
Free Declutter Guide, Learn the basics of Decluttering, Schedule Decluttering Support, Donate Your Decluttered Items For Good Links
How Architecture School Prepared Me For Motherhood
I had no clue when I was in architecture school (decades ago) how much of my day to day would translate directly into my life as a mother. Did it prepare me for everything? Of course not. Nothing can prepare you for motherhood, and I mean this in the best possible way. I could never have fathomed the ride I was about to take and the joys I would experience having children. I hope you’ll join me (regardless of your seasons of life right now) and delight in this group of life lessons that originally surfaced in architecture school, and has since resurfaced in my first 8 years of my motherhood journey. And if you’re not in the throws of motherhood, not to worry. Many of these ideas will be fitting for your life as well, regardless of your current life season/focus, so stick with us!
Me in literal reflection at Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA. Here I was at the end of my 1st trimester with my second child + it was the first time I had ever traveled alone away from my toddler.
Your sleep will be compromised (at least for a bit).
Architecture School Perspective: During architecture school, pulling all-nighters happened frequently towards the end of big studio projects/deadlines. The sleep was poor, you felt like a zombie, and somehow things were getting done, even though it was hard to remember a lot of it. Note: I’m not recommending that you do this, in fact I got much wiser in graduate school and barely had any all-nighters and the results were much better both in my health and in my project quality! Your design studio projects feel a lot like a growing baby that you’re nurturing and paying continuous, acute attention to. Ironically at the terminus of the project, while you feel like you’ve birthed something profound, you simultaneously then must send it (your design project) out into the world for judgment and scrutiny. This now hits home.
Motherhood Perspective: The needs are high. The feedings and care demands of a baby are HIGH, resulting is less and choppy sleep. Duty calls. You have to step up and get the job done, whether you have help around or not. The jacked up sleep demands while caring for babies and young children last far longer than any project deadline in school. And I got to stop caring for that “baby” AKA “studio project” after my design presentation. I got to walk away from it. Not so much in motherhood. Which leads my to our next topic of needing breaks…
You need to take breaks often.
Architecture School Perspective: If I could tell the former architecture student version of myself one thing, it would be to take more breaks. Your brain and your body need breaks to reset. Your creativity/cognitive function greatly improves after you step away from what you’re focusing on, look at new things/surroundings and then return back. You think you don’t have the time and that your project is going to suffer if you walk away for any amount of time. So many problems and design issues were often resolved after I’d step away, take a break and come back later when my brain had a break.
Motherhood Perspective: This is 100% true as well in motherhood, even though it feels hard to take breaks for so many reasons, unnecessary guilt being one of them. You feel guilty because you think you’re needed all the time (which is often true) but even in these extremely needy phases with children, you cannot ignore your need for taking a break from care-giving. Sometimes taking a break is not by formally leaving the house, but by stepping outside, doing something completely different than caring for others, like water coloring or making yourself a fancy coffee. These all count. Asking for help from others counts. Sitting in silence/quiet for 5 minutes counts. These all help you reset. They are needed. They are essential. You have to intentionally take them or your body will force a break on you by way of sickness or mental health struggles.
Delight in as many details as possible.
Architecture School Perspective: The details that create “good” environments in architecture, interiors and in all design are layered and vast. The details add up to make the entire design and ignoring some results in “holes” in the project. Glaring areas that were missed opportunities where it looked like you forgot it was even there. Every studio professor will find those “holes” by the way. And odds are you already knew they were there. The details of how a user interacts with a space are critical and define the quality of user experience on a small and large scale. The details are everything.
Motherhood Perspective: Your world shrinks down rapidly to LOTS of details as a mother. It becomes ever so apparent in moments when your baby picks up the one hair ball you missed sweeping and you have to finger swipe it out of their mouth so they don’t choke. It is clear just how much the details matter. One thing I learned when my kids were very young (and even now) is how little I noticed before they were around. Our adult brain likes to gloss over the details of the day. And all those details, if we choose to engage with them and delight in them make for a pretty great day and existence. Ignore the details and the day becomes quite dull, colorless and bland. But please note: you will NOT be able to delight in ALL the details. Some are not pleasant at all and still need your attention. They are not in fact enjoyable, at all, and that’s OK.
Connect before you critique.
Architecture School Perspective: I was always so grateful for the studio professors that took the time to understand where I was at with my project, to meet me right where I was in the design process and offer support. To learn the direction I was trying to go, where my hang ups were, what decisions I was trying to make, and how I was planning to “tell the story” of my design concept. If they ignored this step, it was difficult for them to offer genuine mentorship for my project goals. Ignore the design student’s design goals and you ignore their process and offer advice that makes it your own, not theirs.
Motherhood Perspective: Meeting my children exactly where they’re at on a daily basis has completely changed my perspective on parenting. Telling myself “their story” and “where are they right this moment” helps better direct me on how I can offer support or stay on the sidelines until I’m needed. If I assert myself too much, their story becomes mine. Their learning journey becomes skewed. Their developmental timeline becomes someone else’s, not their own. I’ve learned to give breathing room while remaining close, even though it’s not always easy to do so.
Always question: does it need to be here or not?
Architecture School Perspective: I had a professor in graduate school that requested that we ask this question, “does it need to be here or not” throughout every design project. It became one of the most impactful things anyone ever said to me in design school (and down the road as it relates to my entire life). He would asks us to look closely at all the elements of our project, whether it was a building, an interior, a product, then go through each part and cover one element up. Then ask yourself, is it better or worse? Is the design lacking if it isn’t there? Is it better if it’s not there? I have used this assessment tool in all my designs since then and still do in my business, in graphic design projects and in designing spaces in my own home. And guess what, IT WORKS!
Motherhood Perspective: In motherhood, many times, there’s too much and everything seems important. A lot of needs are happening at one time. The list of “must-dos” seems long and endless. I have found over the years that when I actually sit down to assess this list, many things are truly not needed. They can wait or can be removed completely. They don’t need to happen right now. I’ve also applied this idea to the spaces in my own home, particularly with my children. Rooms that have felt stressful and overwhelming had too much in them. They needed to be intentionally decluttered. Things had to assessed and some items slowly removed to make way more living. It’s been a reminder that the greatest gift I can give my kids is space to move, explore and create in. Not by adding in more things, just open space. In times of overwhelm, I ask myself “does it need to be here?” Or “is this essential for the livelihood of myself, my family or my children?” Many times the answer is “no.” Sometimes it is “yes.” But learning to not only edit our physical space and how we use our time is life giving and life saving.
You’ll learn more simply by doing.
Architecture School Perspective: One thing I learned early on was that ZERO of my projects got better or more evolved if I just stared at them. I had to get over the uncomfortable phase of not having any or all of the answers upfront and just start somewhere. I had to move past the fear of doing things wrong, otherwise I would simply stay stuck. As I dug into each project and spent more time with it, the more “answers” seemed to emerged out of thin air. Decisions became easier to navigate and the design vision began to take over, making decisions for me it often seemed. The design concept became so clear that it was easy to say no to lots of exciting ideas that looked sparkly and enticing. It became easy to say no to things that would not serve the design well and would take away from the end goals.
Motherhood Perspective: For many of us, you are sent home with your baby after mere days and the learning curve is a STEEP dive into the unknown. I remember realizing that I hadn’t changed a diaper until I had my own child, even though I had done lots of aunt duties in the years past. I watched my husband jump in and change what seemed like all of the diapers in the hospital while I was in a postpartum fog. He learned by doing. He had no prior experience. Over the next few days when I was home with a newborn, I had no choice but to learn by doing. The learning and the wisdom came from the doing. Not from being fearful of doing things wrong or imperfectly. What was most important at any given moment became clearer and clearer. Things that weren’t essential to this time did not make the cut or were revisited later. This idea is still true everyday with my family. I am learning everyday by doing life WITH them. I often tell my kids that I am learning how to do LOTS of things right along side them. We’ll figure it out together by “doing”.
Now’s your turn. Which one of these ideas resonates with you most in your current season of life? Please tell us below!
More resources for your life + home:
Free Declutter Guide, Donate Your Decluttered Items For Good Links, Learn the basics of Decluttering, Schedule Decluttering Support
Decluttering For Good: How To Start + Make An Impact On The World Around You
I’ve done a lot of coaching and supportive counseling to clients, friends and family over the years about decluttering in their home. Within all those conversations, there’s two common trains of thought I’ve observed that keep you stuck. One, that you have no time to declutter. Two, that you’re not sure where to start, causing lots of overwhelm, guilt and stress. Today we’re going to walk through a few simple ways to start decluttering and align your items you’re parting with to do good in the community around you.
Start Small.
This is my number one recommendation when you are decluttering in your home, whether you’re a newbie or you’re feeling seasoned with the concept. It’s the skill I teach in all of my masterclasses, guides and courses, the act of breaking things down into small, actionable steps (or mini tasks).
Here’s a few ways you can complete small decluttering tasks in your home in small chunks of time.
Grab a box or bag and walk your home or focus on one small area to declutter. Fill the box or complete that area and be done!
Focus on one category of items to declutter - books, shorts, writing utensils, spatulas, shoes. Put your blinders on with everything else and just focus on that one category and complete it.
Declutter one micro zone - one drawer, one shelf, one counter top, one seating area, one wall, one piece of furniture. Edit and eliminate items you no longer use, find value it or enjoy and keep the rest.
Schedule Your Donations.
I absolutely LOVE scheduling a donation pick up. I’d say this is one of the best tools I share with my clients, family and friends for getting decluttering done in my own home that will work for you too. It gets a hard date on the calendar to focus on, it lights a fire under you and gets you motivated to take action, it has a deadline (or an ending so to speak), and people are relying on you to keep your word. I love it and it works every time! Also note, do the best you can within the time frame you have. You may not get to everything and that is OK. You can schedule another pick up at another time when it makes sense for you. I love to schedule a pick up a week or two out so I have time to go through things and get everything organized for the pick up.
In recent months I’ve schedule donation pick ups with Salvation Army and Leukemia Texas. Also check out this article on charities that offer pick up services. See more donation resources below at the end of this post and always check locally in your area for what’s available around you.
A few tips to make your life easier and easier on the wonderful people who will pick up your items and do good with them:
Donate your items in something reusable or recyclable to reduce waste and trash during the process (paper bags, cardboard boxes or reusable or sellable containers/baskets/bags).
Organize your items by how your donation pick up service requests/categories your items, like clothing bags, household goods, kids toys, etc. I like to further sort items like clothing into adult and kid categories when relevant. This often reduces how many containers/boxes/bags you need for the donations because everything is grouped with like items that are often like shapes.
Make sure you follow the instructions of the donation service for pick up. Have your items out, organized and out/protected from the elements so it’s easy for the truck to pick up and move on to their next location.
Align your donated items to do good for others.
Often times the one thing missing to motivate us to complete decluttering tasks in our home is a greater purpose. For example, if you know that decluttering in your closet is going to help women who can’t afford a new wardrobe for job interviews that are trying to get back on their feet with Dress For Success, aren’t you going to be more willing to see it through? Or that taking the time to declutter toys and books with your kids you’ll be able to offer items to donate to a cause like My Stuff Bags Foundation who offer support, comfort and goods to children displaced from their home.
There are so many ways to align your decluttering efforts and items with good all around your community and beyond. Check out our newly revamped donation resources here for more ideas.
Now’s your turn. What is a favorite donation spot you love to share your decluttered home goods too? I’m so excited to continue building our donations resources to serve our community!
How can I help? Want more support decluttering in your home?
Learn the basics of Decluttering
3 Ways To Declutter In Short Bursts
Full permission here to be done with the old way of thinking that decluttering has to be done in large chunks of time AND that you have to clear your schedule to get anything done. Nope! Not here! The reality is that most of us only have short bursts of time to declutter. Not to mention the limited mental bandwidth to declutter, am I right? Decluttering in small bursts keeps you focused and fresh while you’re making decisions and more motivated to complete small tasks because it’s a practical, doable time commitment.
Here’s 3 ideas for how you can declutter in short bursts of time, regardless of your schedule and season of life.
1. Grab a bag or a box.
To get started on this one, all you need to do is grab a bag, a cardboard box or large container that you can donate. Bonus points of the bag, box or container is reusable or recyclable! Next you’re going to fill it up with items you no longer need in your home. You can approach this in a few different ways. One option is to put your box in a central location in the house, walk your home and bring things back to the box when you find something you’d like to donate (yes, grab those items you need to recycle or toss as well). Another idea is to declutter for a short chunks of time or over the course of a day or week.
Another approach is to bring the bag or box into a certain room and focus all your efforts in that one area. When it is full, you’re done OR when you’re done in that space, you can move to another area to keep filling it up. Remember to remove your donation items from your home ASAP and send them on to their next life with love and care. See more donation resources here.
To provide proof that this idea works you can check out how I used this same idea with my kids and a cardboard box.
2. Set a timer.
Seems obvious but a timer can be your best friend when it comes to decluttering in your home. Here’s one of my favorite time timers I love to use in our home for all sorts of tasks, or simply set your timer on your phone. When you don’t feel like you have much time to devote to decluttering, this will help light a quick fire under you. I’m talking 10, 20 or 30 minutes on your timer to declutter. That’s it!
Where should you declutter during these short bursts? So glad you asked! Here’s a few ideas. You can pick a certain zone to focus on that’s been a chaos/clutter magnet in your home. You can focus on one room. You can also choose one category of items to declutter throughout your home (like books, toys, hanging clothing, etc.). Keep blinders on to everything else and just focus on that one category, room or zone you’ve committed to and see what you can do in whatever short burst of time you can give.
If you’re just getting your feet wet with decluttering, you might want to check out these past blog posts for more (and see more declutter resources at the end of this post). Decluttering In Your Home: How To Get It Done 3 Thing That Sabbotage Your Declutter Efforts
3. Declutter at random.
Sounds like a loose concept but hear me out. I want you to get into the mindset that decluttering can happen at any time, on any day. It does not have to be scheduled to be impactful. When you encounter something that needs to go, immediately remove it and take it to your donations holding area. Set up a donation box, bag or zone anywhere in your home that makes the most sense for you. We have a spot in our garage that once it fills up, we make a donation drop off or schedule a pick with one of our favorite charities in our area. It can also be as simple as a bag on a hook on the back of a closet door or a box on the floor in the garage or a utility closet. Get creative. Anything goes.
So those clothes your kids have outgrown, those extra 3 spatulas you never touch and make you dig for the things you actually use in the kitchen drawer, the unopened toiletries you bought on impulse and haven’t touch in over a year, the items in your closet you avoid daily, the toys your kids no longer play…send them on to your donation zone the same day you make the realization, or better yet, the moment you know it needs to go. No timer needed, no plan on the calendar necessary!
Commit to making decluttering a part of your daily mindset to chip away at reclaiming your spaces in small bursts. I promise you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can create more space and breathing room in your home.
Now tell us below, which of these 3 short burst decluttering ideas are you going to try first? And please circle back and let us know how it goes!
How can I help? Want more support decluttering in your home?
Learn the basics of Decluttering
Decluttering In Your Home: How To Get It Done
Decluttering often feels like a grand concept that will take a lot of time. I want to assure you that there is another approach that is far more doable and realistic for you, regardless of the season of life you’re in.
Today we’re going to cover 3 strategic tips that will help you actually get decluttering done in your home, in short bursts. These tips will help you align your efforts with proven ways to complete a round of decluttering instead of it just being an idea, that sounds good, that you hope to get to someday! Let’s dive in.
Create a plan.
The first step to decluttering is to create a plan so it becomes a tangible, actionable thing you can get a pulse on. First, IDENTIFY what category, zone or area you want to focus on. Next CLARIFY when you will work on it. I suggest you write this down on a calendar or planner, a task list or schedule it digitally in your calendar on your phone as a reminder.
Your plan might look like one of these:
IDENTIFY: Declutter the hallway misc. closet / CLARIFY: I’ll declutter it over two evenings after the kids are in bed
IDENTIFY: Do a general declutter of decor in the main spaces in our home / CLARIFY: I’ll set a timer for 30 minutes on the weekend to get it done
Set a deadline.
Nothing is more powerful for getting a decluttering project done than a deadline. Pinky promise. Here’s a few ideas on how to do this, all of which I have done and continue to do in my own home.
Do it with a friend: You both create a plan for a small declutter task you’re doing in your home and then plan to go drop off your donations together. Set a deadline 1-2 weeks out and hold each other accountable/encourage each other during the process.
Schedule a donation pick up: One of my favorite ways to keep momentum during a decluttering burst in my home is to know someone is relying on my efforts for a donation pick up. Having a hard date on the calendar is extremely helpful to keep you focused and motivated. Two of my donation pick ups you can schedule in advance include Leukemia of Texas and Salvation Army - check locally for more options.
Invite someone over: Use the invite of someone coming to your house to visit as your deadline to get your decluttering burst done. I love doing this before my parents visit. I try to get any donations I have sitting in the garage dropped off before they arrive.
Align your efforts with a cause.
One of the things you utilize to encourage forward motion on any decluttering effort is to align it with something that is meaningful and valuable to you. Aligning your decluttering efforts with a cause or charity that needs your help will help you stay motivated when you want quit or spend your time elsewhere. Reminding yourself that there’s so many people in your local community that can benefit from your donated goods will help you remember that your time decluttering is part of a bigger effort to care for the people in need in your community.
Here’s a few of my favorites right now.:
The Big Blue Truck Dress for Success Operation Kindness
My Stuff Bags Hope Scarves The Welman Project
I want to encourage to seek out your own donation causes, charities and groups in your area and share it with us through the forms on any of our donation pages. See all our donation categories here for more ideas.
Want more support decluttering in your home?
Learn the basics of Decluttering
Declutter Your Home Masterclass
Now it’s your turn to weigh in!
Tell us below which one of these 3 declutter strategies are the most helpful to you while you’re decluttering to get the job done.
Zero Dollar Spring Wardrobe Refresh Tips
Whenever I hear zero dollar tips, my ears perk up…you too? Today we’re going to focus on your Spring wardrobe and how you can refresh what you already have in your closet and drawers. These Spring wardrobe tips will help you more creatively and resourcefully get dressed with more ease, more options, and without spending money. Shall we?!
You decide what feels Spring for you. Truth be told, most of my wardrobe crosses over most seasonal boundaries. Over the years I’ve found that I do like having a few pieces that pull me out of the dark, cold winter months to perk up my mood and my mindset. I suggest you have a few of those pieces to boost your spirits too.
Assess what you have.
First I want you to take a thorough look at your clothing and accessories currently in your home. Getting reacquainted with what you have in your closet (or things you haven’t worn in a while) will give you clarity on what you own in your closet/drawers/etc. If you haven’t decluttered/edited your clothing and accessories in a while, head to my last post on simple tips to Declutter Your Wardrobe for Spring. After a light edit and survey of what you have you’ll be ready to rock!
Move things around.
One of my top tips for breathing new life into any space, including your closet/drawers, is to move things around. But not just move things around randomly, move things strategically around a specific goal (in this case, showcasing your Spring or warmer weather favorites). For example, as we shift into this next month, you’ll want to intentionally move Spring-focused garments/pieces in a spot that is front, center and easy to see. Now take a moment to look at your current closet space. Let’s say you organize your closet by garment type (pants, shorts, blouses, short sleeve, long sleeves, sweaters, scarves, etc.). To shift it for Spring, you’re going to reorganize what’s in each section from Spring back to Winter. For many of us, this looks like lighter/brighter colors on the left and then moving gradually to darker pieces over to the right. This alone will help you get visual cues for Spring all throughout your closet and give you a fresh perspective on your clothing. You can use this same idea for your drawers with folded up tshirts, pants, shorts, etc. And don’t forget to keep those essential basics (favorite pants, joggers, jeans, tops, layering pieces, etc.) in a spot that is easy to get to, as they create the foundation for any season you move into.
Scarves, bandanas and hair accessories are my secret weapon when shifting between seasons. Scarves/bandanas can be worn around your neck in a variety of ways, almost like a necklace, or in your hair like a headband or wrap. They are a limitless resource to take an outfit that feels heavy/wintery into a lighter Spring style.
Leverage accessories.
Regardless of the type of accessories you have or collect, these are essential pieces that can help shift your wardrobe into Spring (or any season). Some of my personal favorites are light weight scarves/bandanas (in my hair, around my neck a few different ways), jewelry (I like to pull out some of my bigger/lighter earrings for example), and changing up my lip color (yes I do consider that an accessory). My scarves/bandanas are my secret weapon helping me feel endlessly creative when updating my wardrobe. I have some vintage ones I’ve collected over the year from estate sales/thrifting, a few favorites from Madewell, and of course the hippo bandana I designed for the shop. Other items to consider are belts (love adding more color with thinner belts or lighter woven ones), shoes, jewelry, nail polish color, bags, hair accessories and hats. I’m sure I’m missing something but you’re catching my drift. There’s so many items you likely already have in your wardrobe that can help shift your style into a lighter Spring vibe.
Get creative.
Do “Spring” however you want. You can google spring style trends like I did here. You can also ignore all of them (common for me). You can scope out some ideas on Pinterest and throw together a Spring style board to give you ideas for outfit combos you’d like to try out from things already in your own wardrobe (I love to do this for all seasons when I get bored getting dressed). As I discussed in my last blog post about decluttering your wardrobe for Spring you can walk through your favorite stores or visually shop online for outfit/clothing Spring ideas without ever buying a thing. If you can do this for decor in your home, you absolutely can do this to inject some inspiration into your Spring wardrobe! Take pictures, save images of your favorites and challenge yourself to try out some new combinations and have more fun getting dressed.
Pay attention.
As you move through this Spring seasons, I want you to pay particular attention to a few things. One, what are your favorite go-tos that you feel like you can wear endlessly over and over again? These are your Spring essentials that help make everyday life easy! Two, what pieces are you avoiding? Are they still around after a light edit but you’re still not wearing them? To bring them into more focus, move them to a highly visible spot in the front of your closet or out on a hook so you give more attention to them. Wear them in your home for half a day and see how you feel in them. Give them a test run out for a few errands. Living life in these pieces that you’re on the fence about will give you an answer if they should stay or go. Sometime trying on a garment with pieces you’ve never worn them with before breathes new life into them and you fall back in love with it. Mix it up. Test things out. Edit as you go if needed.
Just remember as we move into this Spring season and warmer weather, make sure to check back in with your closet, drawers and accessories to gain clarity on what you already have. Just like you need to shop your pantry before you create a grocery list, you need to do the same thing with your wardrobe. Often breathing new life into your ‘getting dressed routine’ is as simple is putting fresh eyes on things you already have.
Want more support decluttering your clothing closet/wardrobe for Spring + beyond?
Clothing Closet Declutter Guide
Learn the basics of Decluttering
Let me know how I can support you in your home.
Drop your comments below. Thanks for being here!
Declutter Your Wardrobe + Accessories For Spring
Attention!!! I am NOT going to tell you to toss or donate the bulk of your wardrobe and start fresh for Spring! Nope! Instead we’re going to declutter your wardrobe and accessories for Spring from a lighter, more resourceful approach. Together we’ll walk through how to quickly edit your wardrobe and dress so it’s more effortless, some easy steps to make better sense of the closet space/drawers you have to store everything more efficiently, and become more resourceful with the clothing you already have. Are you in?! Good. Let’s get started.
I’ve discovered over the years that getting dressed is the easiest for me + my brain when my closet + drawers are organized by color. Take some time to figure out what organizational style works best for you so getting dressed feels as effortless as possible.
1. Clarify how you like to get dressed.
Probably not the first question you thought I was going to ask you! For example, I love getting dressed by color. 95% of the days throughout the year, color drives my initial choices of how I get dressed, followed by what the weather/activities for the day are steering. This might look a little different for you. Take some time to think through how you like to get dressed and what feels most intuitive for you. Is it pure function? Is it based on patterns you like to wear? Do you prefer to have a uniform of sorts (you love wide-legged trousers and a fun blouse for work most days)? It’s OK to have a combo of these on different days of the week or 2-3 primary ways you enjoy getting dressed. Get in tune with this so you can better organize your closet space to support what works best for you (see future steps).
Bonus Tips:
If you’re not quite sure about how to do this, I suggest you observe how you get dressed for the next week. What make getting dressed feel easy? What makes it feel challenging or frustrating? What order do you like to get dressed in with each garment? What color or colors do you gravitate towards? Did you always pull out extra layers to pair with basics? How do you dress differently on certain days or times of day? These are just a few different ways you can document how you naturally get dressed to help steer how you’ll edit and organize your closet/drawers in the next steps.
2. Do a light, strategic edit.
In this Spring wardrobe and accessories decluttering round, I only want you to focus on these 3 things:
Remove Spring/Summer items you haven’t worn in the last few years - including items you’ve fallen out of love with or have been avoiding for a while, don’t fit well or are uncomfortable
Remove items that don’t align with how you want to dress in your real day to day life (ie. the observations you uncovered in the step 1)
Remove accessories, outerwear, shoes, etc. that haven’t seen the light of day in years - if you do uncover something you forgot about that you love, let’s move it somewhere prominent so it can be enjoyed (see step 3)
Bonus Tips:
After you do this light edit, make sure to prepare items that can be resold or worn again for donations. Wash, clean, fold and organize items by type to help whoever receives your items get them in the right hands quickly. Donate items in recyclable paper bags, boxes or reusable bags to reduce waste during the process. Items beyond repair or can’t be resold can be sent for textile recycling. Check out more resources here.
3. Move things around to dress for the new season.
One of the bonus benefits of doing a wardrobe decluttering is a greater awareness of exactly what you own. Having this mental clarity is incredibly powerful! It helps you become more creative with what you already own and keeps you from running out to buy new pieces. Keep these next tips in mind while reorganizing your closet/drawers for this new season.
Group hanging items by how you like to get dressed (example by color, by garment type, by pattern, by occasion/activity, or a combo of any of these - use your insights from step 1)
Move things in a spot that you want to wear in a prominent place, like on a highly visible wall hook, in the front of the group of blouses, on the top or in the front of a folded stack - think about how a store would merchandise their goods for maximum beauty and visibility when highlighting these items
Clothing you’re keeping that’s for a different season/weather can move out of the prime real estate spots of your drawers and closet space (think back of drawers, up high, tucked away, in a container under the bed, in the back of the closet)
When folding shirts/pants/shorts/etc. group by colors that you enjoy most in that season and move other seasonal favorite colors (like for fall for example) towards the back if you don’t plan to wear them anytime soon
Bonus Tips:
Pay attention to items in your wardrobe you can wear through several seasons. These pieces should be easy to see and access at all times. They deserve prime real estate in your closet and drawers since they create the foundation of a versatile, flexible wardrobe.
Dressing for Spring is all about transitioning between cooler + warmer temperatures, often within the same day. I love pairing a classic black pair of joggers with a blouse or top that feels like Spring. I’ll layer it with a sweater, a scarf or hat to stay warm as needed. Above: One of my favorite lavender thifted tops I purchased from Third Sister Thrift.
4. Get creative + resourceful with what you have.
Instead of running out to buy new pieces this Spring, I want to challenge you to utilize the clothing and accessories you already have. Here’s my top tips for extending your wardrobe and reinventing what you have so it feels fresh and new (for free)!
Dress in layers - while the weather is likely still shifting from cooler temps to warmer, you can take a typical Fall/Winter top and add a “Spring friendly” cardigan, blazer or scarf to change the entire look while still staying warm (I love dresses or skirts layered with sweaters/sweatshirts to stay warm while there’s still a chill outside)
Utilize accessories - scarves, jewelry, hats, headbands, shoes, nail/lip color can all take a Winter look and completely transform it to feeling lighter and fresher for warmer weather
Shop your favorite stores for ideas - without buy anything, peruse the aisles or online collections for what’s new for spring and see what aligns with what you already have in your closet; I also like to check out the seasonal thrifted ideas from thredUP that are usually at the top of their homepage
Bonus Tips:
Friendly reminder that you NEVER have to follow trends you see in the fashion world. Choose what you love and what you feel good in. Pay attention to what colors, prints and patterns you always gravitate towards and weave those in all year long with slight tweaks for the season as it makes sense for you/seasonal temperatures.
5. Plan + play with what you have.
One evening when you have a little time, pull out a few favorite staples in your wardrobe (for Spring or those classic anytime pieces you love - think a favorite t-shirt and favorite pair of joggers). Lay these pieces out on your bed and then pull out a few different layers /accessories to change up this look for different temperatures/styles depending on where you live/your daily life. Also consider how you can dress this combination up or dress it down. Challenge yourself to come up with at least 5 ways to make it feel like 5 different outfits. I did something similar to this last Fall with 10ish different combinations with the same few pieces. You can try out this same concept for Spring. Check it out here on Instagram.
Bonus Tips:
Consider taking pictures/document your ideas while you brainstorm different outfit combinations. You can organize your closet around these ideas or simply keep a “Spring Outfits” photo folder on your phone. You can do something similar with looks you find on Pinterest and keep a photo/idea log there. Have a friend over to help or hop on facetime to share ideas while you brainstorm new clothing combinations for the next season. Your friend might even have a piece or two they no longer wear that you do a swap for to refresh both of your Spring wardrobes!
Once you’ve moved through this process in the small bits of time you have, you’ll better clarify how you want to dress, be more in touch with the pieces you already have in your wardrobe, and you’ll better utilize the closet and drawer space you have. By taking a short time to brainstorm clothing combinations you’ll take the guesswork out of it later on, saving you time/mental bandwidth. Wins all around!
Want more support decluttering your clothing closet/wardrobe for Spring + beyond?
Clothing Closet Declutter Guide
See all Declutter Tools + Guides
Let me know how I can support you in your home.
Drop your comments below. Thanks for being here!
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.
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