Embrace the Step-by-Step Approach to an Organized Life

The Step-by-Step Approach to an Organized Life:
Everything You Need to Get Your Home & Life in Order

If you’re interested in decluttering, downsizing, getting organized and gaining greater control of your life then you’ve come to the right place.

My goal is the help you eliminate all the unnecessary stuff that weighs you down and learn the skills that will allow you to live an organized lifestyle, free from the chaos that comes with too much clutter.

Virtual Organization Support

Don't let social distancing and other restrictions prevent you from achieving your organization goals!
With my Virtual Organization Support services you can access the knowledge, expertise, and support
of a professional organizer without risking person to person contact. Learn more about the process here.

What's New

Minimalist Living: Tips from the experts

Get answers to all your questions regarding a minimalist lifestyle in this Porch article by Sofia Medina in which she shares tips from various subject matter experts, including me! My contribution is on the difference between downsizing and decluttering, but you will also learn about the benefits of minimalism as well as other tips on decluttering and organizing and storage.

Tips for Hosting a Terrific Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, but there have been years when I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked because I allowed myself to become overburdened. Over the years, I've learned that careful thought and preparation can make a world of difference, not only in the experience of my guests, but also in my own enjoyment of the day.

Affordable Tips for Building a Surplus of Food and Other Essentials

Having food and other needed items available can help ease you through any number of undesirable circumstances to include natural disasters, severe weather events, power outages, supply chain issues, or personal tragedies such as the loss of a job or an unexpected illness or injury. Even if your budget is tight, there are things you can do to create a surplus.

How to Save Money on Groceries and Other Essentials: An Organized Approach (Part 2)

There are tons of digital tools available to help you save money on groceries and other essentials. Maximizing your savings takes a little organization, but it is well worth the effort.

How to Save Money on Groceries and Other Essentials: An Organized Approach (Part 1)

With inflation on the rise, I've been searching for new and meaningful ways to save money on groceries and other essentials, and I've discovered several tools and practices that really work.

Guidelines for Getting Rid of Photos

Do you have boxes or drawers of printed photos from the pre-digital camera days? Or perhaps you have old magnetic albums that are slowly leaching the life out of your old photos? Not every photo that is taken is worth keeping but deciding which ones to part with can be difficult. Use the guidelines provided here to make the task much simpler.

Thrift Store Etiquette

Sometimes in an effort to ease our consciences about getting rid of things, or simply out of convenience, we pass things on to thrift stores that they cannot use. Doing so increases their burden while decreasing their bottom line, or profit. Since most thrift stores are run by charities, that means less money is available to go toward the cause and more is being wasted on unnecessary expenses.

Lessons I Learned About Life and Organization from Writing About War and Chaos

As a professional organizer writing a book on the Afghanistan war, I discovered many parallels between the writing process and the organization process.

The Single Most Essential Requirement for Successful Decluttering

Decluttering is a personal pursuit. It cannot be done on another person's behalf. Results may be obtained short term, but in order for the effects to be lasting, this one factor must be present. This truth applies to those of us attempting to declutter our own belongings as well.

Why It's OK to Get Rid of Things You Might Use

Clients often express a reluctance to get rid of things they haven't used in years because they might need them at some future date. While I understand and respect the desire to be frugal and not waste resources, I also recognize that 'might' often acts as a crutch, preventing us from venturing out on our own two feet away from the things that are holding us back. During our recent downsizing and associated move, I got rid of lots of things. In a couple of instances, I have found a use for things I parted with, but even then, I do not regret letting go.

Finding a Place for Everything

We've all heard the axiom "A place for everything, and everything in its place." This simple saying actually teaches two important organization principles. While they may seem obvious at first, the fact is that both aspects of this maxim can, and do, present challenges for many people.

How to Edit Your Space

As an editor and an organizer, I’ve put together some suggestions for editing your space. Doing so serves much the same purpose as editing a written product; it makes the space better, more enjoyable to experience, easier to work with (or within), and nicer to share with others.

Life is not a Balancing Act

People often talk about leading a more "balanced life". This phrase arose from the notion that you can "do (or have) it all". The problem is a balanced life is not possible, nor is it truly desireable. There are a number of reasons why this is the case.