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The Village That Had Too Many Letters: A Decluttering Fairy Tale
Ever feel like your home is drowning in stuff? You're not alone! Join Julie and Janis as they share a whimsical fairy tale about Alderwick—a village where storage bins multiply like rabbits and possessions pile up faster than good intentions.
What You'll Discover:
In this episode, we explore the enchanting story of a village overwhelmed by well-meaning clutter. When belongings start mysteriously disappearing, the villagers panic - until they realize nothing important is actually missing. Follow Juniper, the wise village mender, as she discovers why possessions were leaving and what they really needed.
The Big Lesson: Your possessions are like letters of the alphabet. Too few and life feels unfinished. Too many and the meaning gets lost. The goal isn't to erase your alphabet - it's to build words that make sense for the life you're living RIGHT NOW.
Key Takeaways:
Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept It):
Pick ONE area this week and ask yourself: "Which letters no longer belong in my sentence?" Thank each item for its service, then decide - does it move on or need a new job? (you don't need to thank the inanimate object if you don't want to ... you can just say "bah bye!")
BONUS: Join our February "Decluttering Through the Alphabet" challenge! One letter per day builds your decluttering muscles through small, doable doses that create lasting habits. Download your FREE tracking calendar in the show notes.
No shame. No judgment. Just gentle progress toward a home that tells YOUR story.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj
Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com
Podcast website: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com
eMail: [email protected]
#DeclutterPodcast #DeclutteringTips #HomeOrganization #OrganizingTips #ClutterFree #DeclutterYourLife #SimplifyYourLife #MinimalistLiving #OrganizedHome #DeclutterChallenge #OrganizationHacks #HomeOrganizing #TidyHome #DeclutterMotivation #LessStuffMoreLife #IntentionalLiving #SimpleLiving #OrganizedLife #DeclutterCoach #ProfessionalOrganizer #JJsDeclutterPodcast #ClutterCrushers #SmallDoableDoses #AlphabetDeclutter #DeclutterFairyTale #EmotionsFirstDecluttering #ABCDeclutter
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Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
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Let It Go! A Wintertime Decluttering Tale
Winter has arrived in Frosthome… and so has the clutter. In this episode of The JJs Declutter Podcast, Julie and Janis share a fractured fairy tale with a powerful message. Let It Go! A Wintertime Decluttering Tale follows Queen Elsa-Light, a kind ruler who freezes decisions instead of making them and slowly buries her kingdom under coats, scarves, and sentimental snowflakes.
Through humor, storytelling, and very relatable winter clutter struggles, this episode explores how indecision and procrastination can freeze us in place and how small, intentional steps can melt overwhelm.
After the story, Julie and Janis unpack the decluttering lessons hidden inside the tale and offer practical, doable strategies you can use right now, especially during winter when coats, hats, and closets are front and center.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
This Episode’s Decluttering Challenge:
Small steps. Real momentum. No frozen decisions required.
Winter Decluttering Tips Mentioned:
Join the JJ Decluttering Community:
Want encouragement, accountability, and zero judgment?
Visit www.abcdeclutter.com
Join the private Facebook group: ABC Declutter With JJ – Community
Share your progress, ask questions, and celebrate every small win.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj
Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com
Podcast website: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com
eMail: [email protected]
#DeclutterYourHome #WinterDecluttering #DeclutteringDozen #LetItGoClutter
#ClosetDeclutter #IntentionalLiving #DeclutterMotivation #TheJJsDeclutterPodcast
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Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
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Magazine Moments: Post-Holiday Reset
Episode Description
The holidays are over, the decorations are shoved back into bins, and now you're standing in the middle of the mess thinking, "What just happened to my life and my bank account?" Between leftover cookies, wrecked sleep schedules, and uninvited credit card bills, it's a lot.
In this Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis tackle the post-holiday reset from three practical angles: your overstuffed pantry, your crying wallet, and your completely destroyed routine. Because guilt isn't productive, and misery isn't a goal.
What You'll Learn
Shop Your Pantry First
No Spend January Challenge
Transitioning Back to Normalcy
Key Takeaways
The post-holiday reset doesn't need to be harsh.
Pick ONE thing - pantry, spending, or sleep.
Small changes compound. Give yourself grace because you're human, and this is a transition, not a failure.
Featured Resources
Follow us! Join our community! Share with your friends!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj
Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com
Podcast website: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com
eMail: [email protected]
Support the show
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
Send us Fan Mail
Why Your New Year's Resolution Already Failed (And What to Do About It)Let's be honest—if you made a New Year's resolution on January 1st, you're probably side-eyeing it like it's decorative decor, not an actual plan. And the stats back this up: only 25% of people stick with resolutions past 30 days, and fewer than 10% actually finish what they started.
But here's the relief—it's not your fault.
The Science of Why Resolutions Fail
According to research from Crucial Learning and Yale, most resolutions fail because they never become habits. And since 40% of what we do daily is habitual (brushing teeth, making coffee, washing your hands after you pee... especially if you're a guy), creating actual habits is the key to success.
The Three Brain Traps:
The Revolutionary Solution: Wait Until April
Psychology Today research suggests January might actually be the worst time to start new habits. You're fighting post-holiday burnout, financial stress, short dark days, and depleted mental resources.
Why April Works:
What to Do Now
Use January through March as your planning season. Notice what's bothering you, explore strategies, and join our Clutter Crushers community. Then launch in April with energy, clarity, and a solid plan.
Remember: Real change happens when you're ready—not just because the calendar says so.
Join us! Follow Us! Subscribe to Us!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj
Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com
Podcast website: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com
eMail: [email protected]
Support the show
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
Send us Fan Mail
🎉 Episode 56: Looking Back with Gratitude – Celebrating Your Year’s Wins
As the year wraps up, Julie and Janis invite you to put down the self-criticism, step away from the “good riddance” posts, and take a gentler, more empowering look back. This episode is all about finding and celebrating your wins, even if this year felt messy, exhausting, or downright hard.
Instead of focusing on what went wrong, the JJs guide you through a thoughtful Year-in-Review framework that helps uncover progress you may have overlooked. From decluttering wins and habit changes to personal growth, relationships, finances, health, and plain old survival, no victory is too small to count.
You’ll learn why your brain naturally fixates on the negative, how acknowledging wins rewires your mindset, and why progress does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Whether you cleared a junk drawer, set one boundary, asked for help, paid a bill, survived a hard season, or simply kept showing up, this episode reminds you that those things matter.
Julie and Janis also share practical ways to celebrate your wins: writing them down, sharing them with supportive people, creating visual reminders, and starting a simple “Wins of the Week” practice so future reflections feel lighter and more encouraging.
This is not toxic positivity. It’s balanced reflection, honest compassion, and building momentum rooted in gratitude instead of defeat.
So grab something cozy, give yourself 12 intentional minutes, and let’s end the year proud of what you accomplished, survived, and learned.
💬 Share your wins with us in ABC Declutter with JJ – Community on Facebook or at www.abcdeclutter.com. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and — as always — Keep Decluttering!
#DeclutterWithTheJJs #CelebrateYourWins #YearInReview #GratitudePractice
#SmallWinsMatter #DeclutterMindset #IntentionalLiving #ProgressNotPerfection
#EndOfYearReflection #MindsetShift #DeclutteringJourney #SimpleLiving
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Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
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Welcome back to the JJ's Declutter Podcast ~ Fractured Fairy Tales Edition!
We're heading back to Whoville, where the halls are decked, the stockings are hung, and the glitter is absolutely everywhere. Full-on festive explosions that would make even the most enthusiastic decorator question their life choices.
The Holiday Chaos
It's early December in Whoville—garland on banisters, bows on pets, twinkle lights tangled in ways that defy physics. But in his cave on Mount Messmore, the Grinch sits clutching his "Silent Night, Please" mug, glaring at the chaos below. His cave is still recovering from last year's holiday hangover—broken ornaments everywhere, fake snow stuck to everything, and a half-melted candle shaped like Santa's leg.
The Spirit Returns
When the Grinch declares he'll skip Christmas and cleaning altogether, the Spirit of Clean floats in! "You learned to declutter last year, but look at this place! You've got more glitter than a kindergarten art room!"
She's here to help him manage the holiday chaos with simple maintenance routines. "Joy doesn't have to mean junk, and celebration doesn't require chaos."
The #Tidy12 Festive Edition
The Spirit hands him a timer: 12 minutes. "Pick one small area. This isn't about perfection, it's about progress."
The Grinch protests but hustles through sweeping, wiping, and muttering. When the timer dings, he smiles: "It's clean! And I didn't die!"
"That's the magic of the #Tidy12. You don't need hours, you just need focus and 12 minutes."
Taming the Tinsel
Next: organizing holiday decorations. Unlabeled bins, broken ornaments mixed with good ones, enough fake snow to trigger an avalanche.
"You've got to categorize," the Spirit explains. "If it doesn't spark joy or fit in a labeled tote, it's time to let it go. Remember our Keep or Let's Go system?"
The Grinch sorts everything into 3 neat bins: Tree, Trim, and To Donate.
"You're clinging less and cleaning more—keeping it intentional instead of keeping everything."
Party Prep Panic
Cindy Lou invites the Grinch to tomorrow night's party. He freezes: "Tomorrow night?"
The Spirit asks: "What's the rule?"
"Don't panic, plan it."
He sets his timer and does a pre-party power clean—wiping counters, loading the dishwasher, scrubbing his sink until it shines like a Christmas star.
The Whoville Secret
At the party, the Grinch is amazed—everyone's homes are festive and tidy. Cindy Lou shares their secret: "We clean as we go. Do a quick #Tidy12 session each day! The best gift you can give yourself is not waking up to a mess that steals your holiday joy."
Christmas Morning
The Grinch wakes to a quiet, cozy, clean cave. "It feels good to live in a space that sparkles without overwhelming me. I can actually enjoy the holiday instead of drowning in clutter."
The Spirit asks what he learned: "That joy and clutter don't have to be roommates. That small doable doses actually work. And that maintenance makes the magic last longer."
"May your days be merry, and your surfaces clear."
The Lesson
You can have a beautifully decorated home and your sanity with simple routines. With a daily #Tidy12 session, bin labeling, and a clean-as-you-go mindset, you can keep your home festive and functional.
Join the Clutter Crushers Club at www.abcdeclutter.com!
#Decluttering #HolidayCleaning #Tidy12 #ClutterCrushersClub #KeepOrLetsGo #DeclutterCoach
Support the show
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
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Welcome to the JJ's Declutter Podcast Fractured Fairy Tale Edition! This holiday special tells the transformation story of the Grinch of Mount Messmore—a grumpy, cluttered soul who discovers that joy was hiding underneath all that junk. Spoiler alert: He didn't steal Christmas, but he did reclaim his peace, one #Tidy12 session at a time!
Meet Our Grinch
Forget Mount Crumpit—our Grinch lives on Mount Messmore, where:
Sound familiar? Yeah, we thought so.
The Journey from Grunge to Grinchtastic
A Messy Mountain Morning The Grinch wakes up to tangled Christmas lights, fossilized fruitcake, and coffee that tastes like "dust and regret" (what happens when you haven't cleaned your coffee maker since the moon landing). His excuse? "Why bother cleaning? It's just gonna get messy again." Classic clutter denial, right?
The Spirit of Clean Arrives Armed with yellow gloves and a Swiffer wand, the Spirit of Clean isn't here for excuses. She introduces the Grinch to the magic trio: Sort, Simplify, Shine. This is our emotions-first approach in action—we're not just cleaning surfaces, we're clearing minds and reclaiming peace.
The #Tidy12 Transformation The Spirit sets a timer: 12 minutes. That's it. The Grinch grumbles (naturally), but here's what happens:
That feeling when you see progress? That's dopamine, nature's reward for doing hard things. And it doesn't require Wi-Fi.
Deep Clean, Deep Thoughts Once he gets rolling, the Grinch can't stop. He runs vinegar cycles in the washer, wipes down counters until they gleam, and vacuums under couch cushions (finding 3 candy canes, 2 quarters, and an unpaid electric bill from March). His little green heart grows three sizes—one for each bag of junk donated to the Whoville thrift store.
The Big Revelation "I never knew less could feel like more," the Grinch realizes. "I thought I needed all this stuff."
The Spirit's wisdom: "Less mess, more peace. You don't need all this stuff to be happy. You just need room to dance, room to breathe, and maybe a clean mug so your coffee doesn't taste like dust and regret."
The Happy Ending By Christmas Eve, the Grinch's cave sparkles. His socks are folded, his sink is empty, and his heart feels light. He didn't just clean his space—he cleared his mind. He can think better, breathe easier, and the stress of constant mess is gone.
The Moral of the Story
Even the grumpiest, messiest soul can rediscover joy through cleaning and decluttering. A clean space really can make your heart grow three sizes. This is what we teach in the Clutter Crushers Club—you're not broken, you're not hopeless, and you absolutely have the power to transform your space and your life.
You just need to start with one Small Do-able Dose, one #Tidy12 session, and build from there.
Ready to transform your space? Join the Clutter Crushers Club at www.abcdeclutter.com!
#Decluttering #HomeOrganization #CleaningMotivation #HolidayCleaning #Tidy12 #ClutterCrushersClub #SmallDoableDoses #KeepOrLetsGo #OrganizedHome #DeclutterCoach
Support the show
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
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How to Give Clutter-Free Gifts That Create MemoriesIn this heartwarming Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis dive into one of the most freeing concepts of the holiday season: gifting experiences instead of stuff. Inspired by Joshua Becker’s article “How to Gift Experiences Instead of Things” from Becoming Minimalist, this conversation unpacks why experience-based gifts deepen connection, reduce clutter, and create lifelong memories—without adding anything to the closet, drawer, or donation bin.
If you're ready to simplify your holidays, shop with intention, and give gifts that truly matter, this episode is for you.
What We Talk About in This Episode
Plus, Julie and Janis share personal stories—camping trips, cooking subscription boxes, family experiences, and even a grandmother-granddaughter trip to Japan—that illustrate how powerful and memorable clutter-free gifting can be.
Why Experience Gifts Work
Experience gifts aren’t just “less clutter.”
They are:
And they reduce stress, storage needs, and the guilt that comes with unwanted items. Yes, please!
30 Experience Gift Ideas Mentioned
From simple to spectacular:
… and 20 more ideas to fit any budget or personality.
Perfect For:
✔ Minimalists
✔ Declutterers
✔ Busy families
✔ Parents wanting fewer toys
✔ Gift-givers who want more meaning
✔ Anyone tired of holiday overwhelm
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
🖥️ Website: https://www.abcdeclutter.com/
🎙️ Podcast Website: https://www.thejjsdeclutterpodcast.com/
🖥️Email: [email protected]
#GiftingExperiences #ClutterFreeLiving #MinimalistGifts #DeclutterPodcast #HolidaySimplicity #IntentionalLiving #ExperienceGifts #SimplifyTheSeason #JJsDeclutterPodcast
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Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
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Julie and Janis tackle the often-neglected laundry room, transforming it from the "Bermuda Triangle of the home" into a clean, functional space. They break down the cleaning process into manageable steps that work whether you have a dedicated room, stacked units, or just a basement corner.
Why Your Laundry Room Matters
The 6-Step Laundry Room Refresh
Step 1: Declutter First
Step 2: Clean Your Machines
Step 3: Tackle Surfaces and Storage
Step 4: Floors and Walls
Step 5: Organize the Chaos
Step 6: Maintenance Habits
Bonus Tips
Key Takeaway
You don't have to do everything at once! Tackle this project in chunks if needed. Progress over perfection, always.
Join the conversation: Share your before and after photos in the Declutter with the JJ's community at www.abcdeclutter.com
Support the show
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
Send us Fan Mail
Episode 51 | The JJs Declutter Podcast
Episode Description
Get your home holiday-ready! Julie and Janis tackle the two spaces that make or break your hosting game—the entryway and dining room. Learn the "Clear, Clean, Contain (+ Celebrate!)" system that transforms these high-traffic areas from cluttered chaos to guest-ready gorgeous.
In This Episode:
The Entryway Strategy
The Dining Room Makeover
Hosting More People Tips
Key Takeaways:
Resources Mentioned:
📋 Free Holiday Hosting Checklist at www.abcdeclutter.com
Connect With Us:
🌐 Website: www.abcdeclutter.com
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
📸 Instagram: @abcdeclutterwithjj
✉️ Email: [email protected]
Share your transformations! #HolidayReadyJJs
Next Episode: Laundry Room Deep Clean
#HolidayHosting #EntrywayOrganization #DiningRoomDecor #JJsDeclutter #HolidayPrep #GuestReady #HomeOrganization #CleaningTips #HolidayReadyJJs #HostingTips
Support the show
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
From the publisher's feed
The big question is this:
How can we stop procrastinating, take control of clutter (and cleaning) in a way that really sticks, and avoid feeling overwhelmed along the way? We created…