Organizing

Organizing the Garage in 5 Easy Steps

Did you know nearly 75% of people can’t put a car in their garage? I know, it’s shocking, isn’t it? I’m guessing that you had to have a garage to put the car in when you were house shopping. This is especially true of Canadians because clearing snow and ice off your car on cold, … Read more

7 Steps to an Organized Christmas

This is it, we’re in the holiday homestretch, and with three weeks to go, we’re down to the wire! Have I made you a bit nervous yet? Not to worry! These seven steps to an organized Christmas will help you accomplish most of the tasks on your to-do list. 1. Cards Send your cards out … Read more

Ten Things To Do Before You Start a Renovation

Having worked on dozens of renovations with clients over the last 20 years, I can share with you these ten tips that should help you avoid the pitfalls and bring your renovation to completion on time and on budget. The key components of any renovation project are to have a sense of humour, a lot … Read more

How to Get Organized at Home with Zones

As you declutter your home and create a plan to get organized and stay organized, it is a good idea to learn how to set up zones so that it is easy to put things back where they belong, and, more importantly, so you can find what you need. This process can take a lot … Read more

10 Ways to Organize and Repurpose a Fine China Collection

As a Professional Organizer with 20 years experience, I have been asked many times what to do with the china collection that has never been used. After all, it’s a collection and those aren’t actually meant be touched at all, are they? Well, that’s an ongoing debate if you are trying to become more organized … Read more

Planning Your Move to a New Home

Are you thinking of moving and getting super stressed about where to start? During my career as a Professional Organizer,  I have helped dozens of clients prepare for their move, unpack, and set up their new homes. With that experience in mind, here are four things you should consider when planning your move to a … Read more

How to Overcome Disagreements About Organizing at Home

Do you have ongoing disagreements with your partner about the level of organization or lack thereof in your household?  We all have different expectations for how tidy our home should be.  These expectations can often be a result of the environment in which we were raised. Was it cluttered or tidy? If you grew up … Read more

What Are Your Clutter Hotspots Saying?

In the winter do you normally hunker down and wait for spring before you tackle any major decluttering projects?  I wonder if you drag yourself up off the sofa and take a look around the house for some of those ‘clutter hotspots’ and work to banish them once and for all. Before you do that … Read more

Tips to Help You Get Organized for the Holidays

Here are some ideas I put together to help you get organized before the Holidays season and stay organized afterwards too. I created a Holiday Checklist which allows you to check off all the things you may need to do to be ready for this busy time of year. If you want me to send … Read more

Finding Just the Right Container Isn’t Easy!

Trying to find just the right bin, basket, container or shelving unit for organizing a clients’ space can be so time consuming. Even after 20 years of helping my clients find just the right solution, it is still a challenge.  It is so important to spend the time to find just the right product so … Read more

Lessons from Combining Households

It’s done. The move is behind us.  Moving is one of the top three most stressful events in your life.  I don’t know how some people move over and over and over.  We are absolutely exhausted and don’t want to do it again any time soon, that’s for sure. There are so many moves in … Read more

Not Minimal Enough to Move

You would think that someone such as myself who is considered by all accounts to live a fairly minimal existence would very easily be able to pick up and move.  Well . . . much to my dismay that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Yes indeed, I am moving after just over three years of living in 600 square feet with one bedroom.  It has been a wonderful sanctuary and I am going to miss my little abode and the neighbourhood.  Again, just another life lesson to reinforce that things change.  Don’t get me wrong, I am very much looking forward to the move and to the brand spanking new place. However, it turns out even I have some excess clutter to deal with.  Who knew?

 A Few Easy Things to Let Go Of:

Body Pillow

Cane (from the broken foot)

Books (I’m never going to read them)

Extra Wine Glasses, Picture Frame

Cutting Board (I found it above the fridge, forgot it was there)

Boogie Board (I used it twice and I don’t really like the color)

 

Is it Worth Packing?

One piece of advice I always give to clients when they are decluttering is to consider whether they would keep what they have if they were moving.  When you are actually moving it’s a good idea to decide if it’s worth packing and moving everything you have.  Or can you let go of things you don’t really need and start in your new space with less.  It seems that I really dislike packing so I am highly motivated to keep a little less.

Can You Shift Energy?

I would also suggest that you consider the movement of energy and how it brings new and exciting opportunities into your life.  When I first started my business, I met a woman who was a Feng Shui practitioner and I think her work still affects me and how I work with clients to this day. One of the foundational principles of this practice is that shifting stuff can shift energy in your home and your life. Therefore, when you can let go of extraneous stuff, you are inviting new energy into your life. I am keeping that in mind as I go through closets, drawers, and bins and somehow that is making it easier to let go.

What Fits Comfortably in Your New Space?

The other thing to keep in mind is how you will make a home for everything you are keeping in your new space.  I believe the goal is to be comfortable in that space. Please consider if you want to fill every nook and cranny of your new home with furniture and belongings or if you want to have room to move, space to breathe, perhaps even a few empty spaces in case new things arrive in your life.  My approach has always been to let go of as much as I have to in order for everything I keep to fit comfortably in my new home with a little extra room if at all possible.

I must sign off now and get to work on living with less. There truly is freedom in that.

 

 

Looking Back to Move Forward

What a year it has been.  I don’t know about you, but never in my lifetime did I think I would see anything like a worldwide pandemic.  It has turned all of our lives upside down in one way or another.  We have had to adapt and change everything from the way we do business … Read more

5 Last Minute Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

Like the Grinch, you can try to stop Christmas from coming, but I doubt you’ll be successful. I’m sure you don’t want to cancel the holidays; you think you do because you still have so much to do! Whether you’re eating turkey, turducken, tofurkey, or a free-range chicken, by the time you read this post, … Read more

Home Edit Reality Check

Last week I was at Tim Horton’s for a quick washroom break and I happened to overhear a conversation. A lady said to her friend, “You have to read this book and watch the series on Netflix.” Then, she passes a copy of The Home Edit to her friend. I immediately thought to myself, “Geesh, … Read more

Shopping Tips for Changing Times

Even if you embrace a minimalist lifestyle, you still need to buy essentials like groceries or a new toilet seat to replace the one that broke. Shopping has certainly changed over the last few years. You should wear your mask, follow directional arrows, and keep your distance from other shoppers. Then, you should disinfect your … Read more

A Kitchen Stuffed to the Brim

The Friday before last, I spent the entire day with a close family member helping him declutter a kitchen stuffed to the brim. It was long overdue. We “refreshed” the kitchen a few years ago, installing a new countertop, sink, faucet, and backsplash. We also repainted. It made such a huge difference. At the time, … Read more