This Organized Life

Hi friends! Before we get into today’s episode, will you please take a moment to fill out our short listener survey? Joining me today is SBO Partner, Janelle Azar, founder and owner of A Meaningful Space based in Michigan.  As a professional organizer, she specializes in residential organizing, moving and relocations, and closet design. She is also Enneagram 1 aka, the Perfectionist or Improver (which we will talk about!)I invited Janelle on TOL to talk about travel organization.  With more people returning to travel whether for work or pleasure, I thought we could all use a refresher on travel tips 101.  As an avid traveler, Janelle has tapped into her “organizing brain” and streamlined and simplified the process into 2 phases: Planning & Packing.During our conversation she walks us through the details of  her 5 step process:Step 1: is to Research your DestinationStep 2: Start Packing EarlyStep 3: Consider the EssentialsStep 4: Packing the SuitcaseStep 5: Must Have items in your Carry On/Personal ToteWhe

Before we get into today’s episode, will you please take a moment to fill out our short listener survey?Hi Friends!You’re going to love today’s guest--joining me today is Marian Parsons.​Marian Parson is a pastor's wife, mother of two boys, paint enthusiast, lover of all things home and owner of Miss Mustard Seed, an online resource for making your home beautiful and inviting.  With the holidays just around the corner, I thought it would be fitting to have Marian on the show to talk about her new book Feels Like Home .During our conversation we unpackWhy people seem to crave encouragement in the areas of creating a warm and inviting homeThe cross-over between organization and decoratingHow to keep things simple while entertainingHow a quick “room reset” can make you feel as though you’ve had a complete makeover!  I love Marian’s advice on how to create a “living mood board” in your home, regardless of budget or design expertise.For more information on Marian, make sure to check out the links below.XOXO-Laurie

Hi Friends!Today I am joined by home organizing expert, Shira Gill. Shira is known for her online makeover programs, popular lifestyle blog, and Instagram feed that have inspired a global audience.She can now add author to her list of accomplishments! Her new book, Minimalista Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life, is due to release on Nov 2nd.I invited Shira on the show to talk about all the things…How she got startedWhat her life was like growing upHow her childhood relationship with clutter and organization has shaped how she parents, lives and runs her business  In the second half of the show we dive into her new book, including her 5 step process that she uses with her clients. Her book is filled with gorgeous images designed to inspire you.I’m so grateful to be surrounded by friends and colleagues like Shira who continue to inspire and empower others to live simply and love their space.I hope you enjoy this honest conversation as much as I did!XOXO-LaurieIf you are a professional

We are always looking for ways to improve our show. Before we get into today’s episode, will you please take a moment to fill out our short listener survey ? One of the many comments I hear as a professional organizer is “I wish I could afford to hire someone like you!”The truth of the matter is that getting organized does require time and a level of intentionality, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.Dave Ramsey says “where a person spends money is a reflection of their priorities,” and I have seen that play out in my own life. If someone handed me $500 I would rather go out to a nice dinner with friends, or put it towards a home improvement project. Whereas someone else might want to go on a shopping spree or put it towards a vacation.There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s simply a matter of priorities. Even if no one is handing you a stack of Benjamins, if you want to get organized, I assure you that you can do it on a shoestring budget.The greatest organizing tools I have to offer you are visio

Hi Friends,Before we get into today’s episode, will you please take a moment to fill out our short listener survey? Today I am joined by Amanda Cunningham, founder of The Glory Days Co., a company that provides organizational tools for parents and caregivers of special needs children.Amanda shares her story of giving birth to her beautiful daughter Aurora “Rory” and finding out upon her arrival that she had Down Syndrome. She walks us through the early months following Rory’s birth and speaks candidly about how she struggled with feelings of overwhelm. From attending weekly doctors and therapy appointments, to wading through the unexpected newness of becoming a stay-at-home mom.When looking for tools to support her in this new role as a special needs parent, she couldn’t find anything that encompassed everything Rory needed. So Amanda created her own planner filled with checklists, calendar, daily tasks and a robust notes section to document the countless appointments and therapies required to help Rory thriv

Hi Friends!Whether you are heading back into the office or on day 7,693,421 of working from home-finding motivation can be a struggle. Studies show that when we lack motivation, our productivity decreases. So the question becomes: “how do we find motivation?”To answer that question, I invited Grace Treutel to share some insight with us. Grace is the Manager of Culture at a rapidly growing eCommerce startup where she helps colleagues get more organized within their workflows and navigate company culture, which results in a healthier work environment. She is also the host and producer of The Standard Office Procedures, a podcast that aims to help professionals grow and prosper through culture, communication, and candor. On the personal side, Grace is a mom to two littles, so she knows what it’s like to have your motivation sucked out of you on a daily basis-jk!During our conversation, Grace walks us through some everyday struggles and shares some tactical steps that you can use in the office, at home, or in an

Hi Friends!When I was in my early 20’s I had a subscription to Martha Stewart Living. Each month when it arrived in the mail I would open it up and immediately flip to the monthly calendar of things to do. From changing out air filters, to checking your smoke detectors, I loved the actionable checklist she provided. Although I may not have been planting bulbs in my garden or harvesting berries to make homemade jam, I was all over the tasks that helped me to stay organized. There’s no question that September is a busy month for all of us, and if we are not intentional, some important areas can easily fall through the cracks, leaving us unprepared when it really matters.On today’s podcast episode of This ORGANIZED Life I share my Fall Organizing Checklist which is a simple list of 10 specific tips to help you prepare for the home stretch of 2021.Check out the full episode above or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also print a free copy of my Fall Organizing Checklist here .Happy Fall Y’all!Prefer to w

Hi Friends!Joining me today is national bestselling author, Christy Wright, host of The Christy Wright Show and ever popular Business Boutique. She is also the mom to three littles, and knows first hand what juggling career, parenting, marriage and home looks like. I invited her on the show to talk about her new book, Take Back Your Time: The Guilt Free Guide to Life Balance, and why this is different from other books out there.Christy walks us through How to stop saying “yes” for the wrong reasons and what organization looks like in her life right now.During our conversation we talked about:Doing the right thing at the right timeThe role of seasons in your lifeHow she defines “life balance”It’s a fun and candid conversation with 2 very high energy Enneagram 8 personalities-lol!If you know someone who is struggling with “all of the things”, will you do them a favor and forward this episode to them?P.S If you want to learn more about why you struggle with saying no, you’re going to want to check out our Enne

Hi Friends! On today’s episode I am joined by Sarah Dalton, founder of Your Simply Big Life. In addition to her online community, her signature Peace and Productivity Planner as well as her online course, help women lighten the mental load and create space in their lives for what matters most.Sarah is also the host of Your Simply Big Life podcast where she has weekly conversations with like-minded women and offers inspiration on all things simplifying and living an intentional life. (where you can listen to yours truly!)She is passionate about helping women learn to find their unique balance and flow with both peace and productivity, so I wanted to share her with our TOL community!During our conversation, we talked aboutWhat makes her planners uniqueHow do get clear on your personal core valuesHow to prioritize the important from the urgentSarah knows first-hand the demands of women, especially moms, and I love her supportive, nurturing approach to helping other women (and men too!)Make sure to check out the

Hi Friends! On today’s show I am joined by Kath Younger. Kath is the mom of two boys, and the blogger behind the website Kath Eats.  Kath has been in the online space since 2007 and over the years her website has grown from a recipe and nutrition blog, to a complete lifestyle brand, where she talks about motherhood, beauty, budgeting and home organization. One area in particular that Kath gets really excited about is streamlining Digital Clutter, specifically emails and photos (an area that stresses most people out!)I invited her onto TOL to share some of her proven strategies with y’all. During our conversation we talk about:Her STAR BOX methodHow not to use your inbox as a digital filing cabinetWhy SEARCH is our best friendKath also talks about what she calls “Your digital POWER HOUR”-a dedicated time each week to tackle through all of those unwanted pics on your phone!This episode is filled with actionable tips and resources, so I encourage you to listen or watch us on YouTube.Make sure to check out the li

Hi Friends!Today we are talking about what happens when a health crisis causes you to get rid of everything you own.Joining me today is actress, entrepreneur and health advocate-Noel Ellie. Noel shares her story which includes putting her career on the back burner to care for her sick mom, and what she learned during that season of her life.Little did Noel know that a few years later she would be facing her own crippling illness that resulted in her having to get rid of 99% of her possessions.During our conversation we talked about:How she had to prioritize health over workMourning the loss of material thingsWhat items were hardest to let goIn the second half of the show we talk about what organization looked like for Noel while she was growing up and she shares some of her tips and strategies with us.I hope you find inspiration and connection during this episodeWatch this episode.xo- LaurieP.S. Want to learn more about the role that our personality plays in how we respond to clutter?  Check out our new Ennea

Hi Friends! Laura Markz is a former online strategy executive, turned corporate dropout, entrepreneur, and mom of two. With over a decade of experience building businesses online and being in the trenches herself, she’s the founder of MyBizU, where her mission is to help moms across the globe build their own businesses.  Her entrepreneurial journey came on the heels of a near death experience after the birth of her son.During our conversation we talk about:Her personal wake-up call that caused her to launch her businessWhat she calls the “Mom Dilemma” and why it’s a problem3 common mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting out (and how to avoid them!)During the second half of the show we dive into what living an organized life looks like in Laura’s home. I ask her what her life was like growing up, and we discuss how her enneagram type plays a role in how she views and handles clutter.It’s a fun conversation that’s jam packed with lots of actionable information!XOXO,LaurieP.S. Laura has a special discount cod

Hi Friends! If you’ve ever had a kid go off to college, you know that the process can be exciting, emotional, and somewhat overwhelming.When my oldest daughter was leaving for college, creating a detailed checklist was the only way my brain could keep track of everything we needed to bring, what we already bought and what we needed to buy.Since that time, I’ve shared this checklist with many of my friends and family, and now I am sharing it with all of you. During today’s episode I walk through each section which is broken down by category (my secret sauce to keeping things straight!)I recommend downloading the checklist HERE, and then you can watch or listen to see how I use it.Please support us!FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!REVIEW. Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.Available on amazon, barnes & noble or where

Hi Friends! We are wrapping up our Clutter Clinic Series with one of life’s biggest pain points…Paper Clutter.“What if I need this someday?” “How long do I need to keep this?” “I am struggling to pay my bills so I avoid opening the mail” There is no denying that paper clutter is riddled with emotion. Whether you’re dealing with mail, school papers, work documents or never-ending subscriptions, it’s easy to find yourself feeling like you’re drinking from a firehose.Not to worry, we’re going to walk with you every step of the way.During this episode we walk through each of the clutter pitfalls and the role that each plays when it comes to paper clutter.From the tactical side, below are 3 simple and practical tips that you can start doing today. Each of these will help you reduce the volume coming in and feel confident about knowing what to throw out.1. Go Electronic for Statements.One of the easiest ways to cut down on paper clutter is to get your recurring monthly statements sent to you electronically.  One of

Hi Friends! Today we are continuing with our Clutter Clinic Series with the most popular room in the house, The KITCHEN.As the “revolving door” room that often acts as the home office, classroom, or hang out space, having a functional kitchen tops my list of must-have organized spaces.The good news is that if you are someone who struggles with clutter and organization, Kitchens are a great place to start and here’s 3 reasons why:Limited emotional clutter unlike other spaces in the homeExpiration dates make it easy to know what to purgeDrawers, cabinets, and pantries help to define your zones for youDuring the episode we’re going to walk you through our process which we use with all of our clients.STEP 1: Identify if your clutter is the result of (physical, emotional, calendar clutter)TOO MUCH VOLUME (more stuff than space)POOR LAYOUT (not enough cabinets or drawers or pantry)LACK OF PRODUCT (loose items that need corralling)HABITS & BEHAVIOR (systems are there, but no one uses them)STEP 2: Start Small: Al

Hi Friends! It’s week 3 of our Clutter Clinic Series! So far this month we’ve talked about decluttering and organizing garages, closets, and today we are talking about toys and kid spaces (the bane of every parent’s existence!) .Whether you live in a house with a dedicated playroom, an apartment where space is limited, or fall somewhere in between-all parents have struggled at some point on how to keep toys and kid spaces organized.In this episode we get right down to it: When & how do you get the kids involved?What to do with toys you want to save for the next kid?How to make clean up easy and how often should we be purging old toys?I’ve also included a link to my popular 30 Day Kids Organizing Checklist which you can download here!Purging TipsLead with serviceMake purging a tradition (birthdays, Christmas/Hanukkah)Teach them young (avoid dark of night purging)Space to Inventory ratio (don’t have more than you can store)Use ESP (our EMPTY, SORT, PURGE method)Organizing TipsClean up every day (avoid the p

Hi friends! Last week we kicked off our Clutter Clinic Series talking about garages- if you haven’t listened, I encourage you to go back and check it out. We gave a TON of practical tips to help you tackle one of the largest areas of the home.Today we are continuing with our series with the ever-popular CLOSETS!  I’m talking about 5 different types of closets including:Linen closetsHall ClosetsGuest Room ClosetsKids ClosetsMaster ClosetsBefore we get into it, let’s look at some statistics that may surprise you:97% of surveyed realtors believe that homeowners covet closet space more than basement and attic storage space. (Braun Research Survey)61% of people who have a hard time finding anything in their closet end up buying new clothes. (OnePoll Survey)1 in 6 people have resorted to taking dirty clothes out of their laundry hamper when they are unable to find anything to wear. (OnePoll Survey)1 in 4 Americans describe their closets as being disorganized. (OnePoll Survey)It’s estimated that 80% of clothes are w

Hi Friends! We are kicking off a new series for the month of July based on my CLUTTER CLINIC™ speaker series.  Over the next 5 weeks we are going to talk about some of the most popular trouble areas to keep organized.Throughout our series we are going to cover everything from closets, to kitchens, to kids spaces, home offices and more!Today we’re starting with the big guns…GARAGES!  (FYI, several of the strategies we cover also translate for attics and basements, or storage units,  so even if you don’t have a garage, you’ll want to listen in.)This episode is packed with lots of info which I’ve detailed in the show notes.  So let’s get started!Garage Stats: 2021About 9% of Americans rent storage space, even though 65% of those homeowners have a garage.50% of homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized place in the house.When purchasing a home, 80% of buyers factor in the garage when making their decision.Garage Pitfalls: Too Much StuffForgotten Area (aka dumping ground)Multi-Zone AreaHigh Traffic AreaL

Hi Friends! Imagine a world where you have all of your information in one central place, safely, and simply…I’m talking passwords, medical records, phone numbers, you name it! And best of all,  you can access it anywhere you are? Our guest today did more than just imagine it-she created it.  Joining me today is Jaclyn Strauss, founder of My Macro Memoir-a digital memory assistant for all of life’s information.Jaclyn is a CPA for a fortune 100 company, who is active in her community and involved in all the day to day happenings within her family-especially her 2 adorable kiddos.Tired of being the “go to” source for information in her family, and wasting time retrieving the same info over and over (think school forms, medical records, etc), Jaclyn knew there had to be a smarter way.“My Macro Memoir was born out of a need that I personally had as a mom of 2 children, a busy working professional who had stuff here, there and everywhere.” Through a series of Yes or No prompts, My Macro Memoir acts as a personal me

Hi Friends! Joining me today is Erin Leonard. Erin is the owner and creator of notice the LITTLE things where she provides practical ways for Moms to be more intentional about their time and space, so they can focus on the things that matter most to them. She is the mom to three young kiddos (who are super cute), a fellow coffee lover, an Enneagram 1 (which we will dig into), and as you’ll see from her adorable website, a lover of lower case letters (which I will definitely ask her about!)Erin shares how her LITTLE things blog started out of her own daily gratitude and has since grown into an entire business of digital & printable products .We also dig into strategies for people who are struggling to stick to a routine, and Erin shares some of her own tips and tricks.During the second half of our show, Erin talks about life growing up as an Enneagram 1 (aka The Perfectionist), and how her mom used to refer to her inner critic as her “imaginary audience.”  ( I so love that!)Erin opens up about  parenting a