This Organized Life

Hi Friends! Today we are wrapping up our parenting series, with my laundry loving, notecard taking, hubby-Josh!  Josh is no stranger to the guest mic at TOL. He made his debut appearance back in episode 86 and 87, so if you haven’t already listened, you’ll definitely want to go back and check those out! Josh shares his perspective on how our parenting roles and priorities have changed over the years.  We talk about the importance of communication, not sweating the small stuff, and knowing when to back away and let him re-load the dishwasher :). We talk about how we parent differently, as well as where we are on the same page. After being married for over 20 years, with 2 almost grown kids, we reflect on what we did that (hopefully) has prepared them to become functioning members of society. It’s an honest and unscripted conversation, that basically gives you a glimpse of what life is like at our house, so if you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors-here you go! xo- Laurie  Please

Hi Friends! Today we are joined by host of The Minimalist Moms Podcast, Diane Boden. Diane, is the wife to Marty, mom to Miss Charlotte Rose, Martin, and a September babe on the way! She is a lover of books, travel, cool autumn days and coffee. Diane describes herself as a reformed ‘shop-aholic’ who now readily embraces a ‘less is more’ lifestyle. Her goal is to inspire you to think more and do with less. We talk candidly about her own minimalism journey the spectrum of minimalism  how things like screen time, extra circular activities and family factor into her minimalist philosophy I love chatting with moms of younger kids who can bring a fresh perspective to raising kids in a "digital first" era.  I invite you to listen to our entire conversation and share the episode with your tribe! XOXO- Laurie CONNECT WITH DIANE WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! LEAVE A REVIEW .  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others

Hi Friends! Today we are joined by Heather Wells.  Heather is a single mother of three children: twin 18 year old sons (both with special needs) and a 12 year old daughter. Heather spent years struggling just to make ends meet. Now she is a successful business owner, host of the ever popular Single Mom Podcast (and blog), and is dedicated to helping other single moms find the tools, resources and mindsets to navigate through the craziness of raising children alone. On this episode, Heather shares her incredible story that you don’t want to miss! Her day to day struggles as a single mom wearing “all the hats” The organizational tools that helped to foster and empower independence for her boys How she found financial freedom by creating a business from home How she is helping create opportunities for other women to do the same! I found our conversation inspiring and full of relevant information-I hope you feel the same! All links mentioned in this episode are included below.  If you enjoyed this episode pleas

Hi Friends! On today's episode of TOL we are joined by my friend, and SBO partner, Stefanie Wyres. Stefanie is a home organizer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and is the founder of Bring Peace Home.  Stefanie and her team are driven to helping people find balance and peace in their lives.  She tackles everything from garages to craft rooms to doctor’s offices and has fun doing it!   Stefanie is also a mom to 2 daughters, ages 18 and 20. Given that she  has already gone through the whole "college thing" with her 20 year old,  I asked her to share with us some valuable tips and strategies for those who are about to embark on this exciting (yet overwhelming) chapter. I realize that many of you can’t even begin to think about college, because you're surrounded by diapers, sippy cups, and tripping over toys, (and for a hot minute I would like to trade places with you!). For folks like me, who are in the thick of it, trust me when I tell you that the whole college prepared-ness can be a real struggle, and source of

  Hi Friends, Today we are kicking off our parenting series, and trust me when I tell you that this series is for everyone, whether you have kids or not.  We have a line up of great guests this month, so regardless of your season of life, be sure to stick around! I figured, who better to kick off our parenting series, than my very own daughter, Logan-- who at the time of this recording was embarking on her 16th birthday (Jesus take the wheel!) If you've listened to my show at all, you know that I have 2 incredible daughters, each with their own gifts and talents. They also each have areas in which they struggle.  It is with their permission that I am able to share parts of their lives with all of you. Logan has had her fair share of struggles, and has come a long way over the past 16 years. She really opened up on this episode about some vulnerable topics, including her struggles with ADHD, OCD, and Magical Thinking. We also talk about how Josh and I parent differently, what she likes (and dislikes) about bei

Hi Friends, Today we are joined by Hunter Clarke-Fields. Hunter s is a mindfulness mentor, host of the Mindful Mama podcast, creator of the Mindful Parenting course, and author of the upcoming book, Raising Good Humans. She helps moms bring calm into their daily lives and cooperation in their families. Hunter has over twenty years of experience in meditation and yoga practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide. She is the mother of two active daughters, who challenge her every day to hone her craft :) We talk about how she started her mindfulness journey, what mindfulness looks like to her, and why now, more than ever, we need to hit the pause button and take a breath (literally!) Hunter shares 5 tips for getting started (if you're like me and have no clue!).  If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, overextended or overwhelmed, this episode is a must-listen! I learned so much for our conversation and I hope you do too! XOXO- Laurie *If this is your first time here, please tap the SUB

Hey Friends, We are continuing with our series on Clutter & Mindset, and today we are talking about the benefits of a Staycation. With summer here, many of you are planning vacations (or maybe even on one right now!), yet studies show that there are both financial and emotional benefits to taking a staycation. What is a Staycation: A staycation, is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodations.  Don’t get me wrong, vacations are great, there is something to be said about getting out of dodge, changing your scenery and completely unplugging, but if you have things around the house that are stressing you out, leaving isn’t going to solve them, in fact, coming home to disarray can often add to your stress levels.  Sometimes the best thing you can do is just carve out some dedicated time to get it done. IS A STAYCATION FOR ME? You have an area of your home that has been neglect

Hi Friends! Today I am joined by Jennifer Ford Berry.  Jennifer is an organizational expert, best selling author, the host of The 29 Minute Mom podcast, national speaker and promoter of God’s plan. Here's some additional info on Jennifer: She was previously the regular organizing expert on the TV show: Winging It, Buffalo Style.  Jennifer has been a guest on numerous television and radio shows, featured in many national magazines and newspapers.  She speaks to corporations, churches, national conferences, mom groups, and school districts. Jennifer currently resides in Western New York where she continues to work hands-on with her clients helping them to eliminate clutter and live their dreams. We talk about several things, including Jennifer's journey as a professional organizer, and how now considers her work a ministry.  She talks about her vision for the CREATED ORDER Conference, and her passion for inspiring teens, with her BLURRY conference. I could have chatted with Jennifer all day about Jesus, livi

Happy 4th of July! I hope you are all enjoying your summer!  At the top of our episode Erika and I talk about our amazing Partner Program-it's our way of connecting YOU with a trusted resource in your neck of the woods.  Make sure to check out our partner page to find someone near you.   If you don't see your city listed, let us know and we will look to find someone for you!  If you are a professional organizer and looking to learn more about our program, click here for details. On today's show we are discussing the differences between Chronic Clutter vs Situational Clutter. Situational Clutter is typically the result of an external situation: such as kid coming home from college, an illness, death, end of the school year, holiday craziness, or a party.  Most importantly, situational clutter is TEMPORARY. Chronic Clutter is based on behavioral patterns. With chronic clutter, your quality of life is hindered by disorganization. This can manifest in one area or multiple areas.  Some common examples of chronic

Hi Friends! On today's episode of This ORGANIZED Life we are joined by Lauren White, founder of Intentional Edit, an organizing service and lifestyle company based in Phoenix, AZ.  What I love about Lauren’s website is that it not only is chock full of great information on organizing solutions, but it is aesthetically BEAUTIFUL!  It’s basically Pinterest Porn in the best possible way! What drew me to Lauren was not simply her amazing eye, but her mission: To help inspire people to live their best life.  Lauren is also a member of our SBO Partner Program, which if you’re unfamiliar, is a network of amazingly talented and passionate professional organizers around the globe who are serving others well.  So what that means to you, is that if you live in a particular area and looking for an accountability partner to help you get organized, we’ve got your back!  When you are done listening to this podcast, I invite you to hop on over to our partner page, where you can find links to ALL of our amazing organizers and

Hi Friends! On today's episode of This ORGANIZED Life, we are joined by Denise Allan, founder of Simplify Experts and author of the book Declutter & Thrive. When she's not helping people get organized, you can find Denise spending time volunteering or outside with her family. I invited Denise to share with us what she identifies as 6 common disorganization types.   The Power Shopper Paper Magnets The Inspired Hobbiest The Caregiver The Easily Distracted The Disorganized Employee     Listen to our conversation below, and let us know which type you identify with most!  If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! CONNECT WITH DENISE WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE INSTITUTE FOR CHALLENGING DISORGANIZATION | TAKE DENISE'S QUIZ CONNECT WITH US! FACEBOOK| WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM Your Opinion Matters!   I am so appreciative of anyone who takes a moment to help the growth of our show by SUBSCRIBING and listening each week.  We woul

  Hi Friends, Today we are wrapping up our series on the 5 clutter pitfalls with TIME. If you look at the 5-Clutter Pitfall Model, you will see that everything else revolves around TIME because undeniably, it is our most valuable commodity. It's really hard to manage something you can't see, which is one of the reasons why most people's to-do list is longer than hours in a day. “Theres never enough time" "If only I had more time"  "I don’t have the time” I call this CALENDAR CLUTTER. This is a generational & societal issue. In 1950’s America, most households were supported by two married parents with a single family income. Typically the dad worked a  9 to 5 job with a short commute. With limited technology, work was left at the office. Families ate dinner together in their modest home, with less stuff, and the only extracurricular activities were playing outside with the neighborhood kids.  Fast forward to 2019, the percentage of households with a dual family income is 61.9%.  If you factor in singl

  Hi Friends, Today we are continuing with part 4 of our series on the 5 CLUTTER PITFALLS, and today we are talking about OVERWHELM (can you relate?) Let's be honest. Life is overwhelming, regardless your season of life.  OVERWHELM is defined as feeling overpowered or overcome with emotion.  A.K.A.: feeling stressed When we feel overwhelmed with more important areas of our lives, the last thing we have energy to focus on is clutter. Ironically, organizing a space, even something as simple as the top of your desk or your kitchen counter, can produce feelings of empowerment, control, and calm.  However, getting out of the starting gate can be tough. 1. WHY do we feel overwhelmed? We have too much on our plates We lack direction We feel external or internal pressure 2. HOW does overwhelm manifest itself? Avoidance (i.e.: shut the door and walk away) Anxiety & Stress Anger & Frustration Feelings of overwhelm can be debilitating and isolating.       3.  WHAT can we do to reduce feelings of

  Hi Friends, Today we are continuing with part 3 of our series on the 5 CLUTTER PITFALLS, and today we are talking about GUILT (something most of us are familiar with!) Guilt plays such a huge role when it comes to Emotional Clutter.  Certain personality types are more prone to feelings of guilt, like Obligers, who tend to be people pleasers, and who gain their motivation from outer accountability. REMORSE, REGRET, & RESPONSIBILITY weigh heavily for people who struggle with Emotional Clutter. 1. WHY do we feel GUILTY? Sentimental Factors:  (i.e. my kid made it) Financial Factors:  (i.e.  it cost a lot of money) Environmental Factors:  (i.e.  I don’t want to waste it) 2. HOW does our guilt manifests as CLUTTER? We often hold onto things we don’t want or use for the wrong reasons  "My Aunt Edna gave this to me for my wedding" "These shoes were so expensive" "I don't want to just throw it away" People want permission to let go.       3.  WHAT can we do to reduce feelings of GUILT? Play

Today we are continuing with part 2 of our series on the 5 CLUTTER PITFALLS, and today we are talking about INDECISION. Last week we talked all PROCRASTINATION, so if you haven’t had a chance to listen to it, I encourage you to hit the pause button and go back to check it out. 5-CLUTTER PITFALL MODEL Indecision is defined as: the inability to make a decision quickly. The bigger question is WHAT causes someone to be indecisive?   1.   The most common reason of all for being indecisive – Fear of making a mistake. Making a decision means you might be wrong- and nobody likes to be wrong.   2. Fear of hurting someone's feelings. Often, making a decision means choosing one thing over another. As humans, we want to be liked and don’t want to say or do something that will jeopardize someone’s feelings towards you. We call this emotional clutter and see it all the time when it comes to gifts we’ve received. Everything from grandmas china to the ugly blouse your aunt got you for your birthday   3.   The

Hi Friends! Today on This ORGANIZED Life we are kicking off a series called UNPACKING THE 5 CLUTTER PITFALLS, starting with #1: PROCRASTINATION. Over the next several weeks we'll be taking a deep dive into the 5 key areas that stand in our way of progress:  Procrastination is defined as a habitual or intentional delay of starting or finishing a task despite knowing it might have negative consequences. WHY do we feel the need to procrastinate in the first place? Boring (other things you’d rather be doing) Overwhelmed (too many other things going on to focus on the task at hand, or it seems like a mountain) Lack of understanding (uncertainty) HOW do we procrastinate? Busy work (social media, TV, focusing on less important tasks) Pretend it doesn’t exist (shut the door and walk away) Pass the buck (wait or hope for someone else to do it first-think laundry, dishes, etc) WHAT can we do to reduce the urge to procrastinate? Prioritize: Make it an appointment Break it up into manageable chunks (20 min)

Hi Friends! Today on TOL Podcast, we are joined by Productivity Specialist,  Amber De La Garza. Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, and creator of S.T.O.P.! The Entrepreneur’s Success Solution. She helps driven entrepreneurs execute actionable solutions to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most! She is also the mama to a 9-year old son, and knows first hand the challenges of juggling work & home life.  I asked her to chat with us about her Productivity Pit Stops that help us to "slow down, in order to go fast." Her list includes simple strategies like creating templates, taking breaks and turning off notifications (even if just for a little while!) And like all of our guests, Amber shares where she feels like the biggest HOT MESS, and where she is thriving! If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! CONNECT WITH AMBER WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM OTHER LIN

On today’s show, Erika and I reveal some BIG news!  We have a new intro, a longer show (thanks to all of your many requests!) AND, a new podcast producer--welcome Don! I share our personal story of how I stressed for months about making changes, the fear of the unknown, and finally taking a leap that will allow us to grow.  Through this process, I learned that by being vulnerable, and sharing our mental overload, it frees us to be our best, most authentic selves.  Mental Overload looks different to everyone.  It can range from trying to run a business by yourself, to keeping everyone's schedule organized, to figuring out what to make for dinner.  (Here's a little secret, mental overload is another form of Calendar Clutter!) Although these may seem benign on the surface, carrying the mental load will eventually catch up with you. We talk about the dangers of being the "bottleneck," and the ripple effect of resentment, frustration, guilt, and shame that often result when we finally reach our breaking point. S

On today's episode of This ORGANIZED Life, we are joined by Betsy Miller, Founder of 2-B Organized in Springfield Missouri. Betsy is no stranger to the organizing world!  Over the last 20+ years, Betsy has helped hundreds of clients declutter, demolish & design their spaces to reflect a simplified space that is both pretty & practical. Betsy has been a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Business Award as well as one of Springfield’s Most Influential Women Award. She has been a guest organizer on the show Hoarders and worked twice on Extreme Home Makeover. In addition to working with clients, Betsy leads the growing team of 2B Organized franchise owners, and like me, loves helping other women entrepreneurs turn their passion into a profession. We talk about moving management, senior downsizing and what to do if you don't live near a parent who needs help. I invite you to listen to our conversation below: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! CONNECT WITH

On today’s show, Erika and I talk about one of her favorite topics, SHOPPING! and how it relates to Emotional Clutter. We discuss several triggers such as  Boredom Depression Companionship FOMO Insecurity Listen to the entire episode below, and let us know your thoughts inside our facebook group, This ORGANIZED Life Podcast or on Instagram at @simplyborganized If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! Did you know that we have a free clutter quiz on our website?  If you’ve read my book or heard me speak, you know that I have identified 3 distinct types of clutter, physical, emotional, and calendar--each with its unique distinct qualities and characteristics. Understanding your dominant source of clutter is the first step in helping take you from chaos to calm.   TAKE THE QUIZ Your Opinion Matters!   I am so appreciative of anyone who takes a moment to help the growth of our show by SUBSCRIBING and listening each week.  We would be so grateful if you would