This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL we are joined by one of our SBO Partners, Michaela Santen, founder of Simple-Sweep in Portland, OR. Michaela started Simple Sweep six years ago after a career as a television news producer. Michaela specializes in helping people live better with less stuff. She is a regular contributor on the NBC affiliate station KGW where she shares her tips for living an organized life. But she is also a real life human, with 3 kids, a dog, 2 cats and a husband so she knows how chaotic life can get. With all of our hectic schedules we don't always have large chunks of time to dedicate to decluttering, am I right?  I asked Michaela to come on TOL to share 20 THINGS YOU CAN GET RID OF TODAY WITH NO REGRET. Listen to our conversation below: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! CONNECT WITH MICHAELA WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK  20 THINGS LIST 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!  We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL we are joined by one of our long time SBO Partners, Beth Wilson from Wilson Home Organizing in Tacoma, WA where she lives with her chef husband and 2 adorable pugs! This is also Beth’s second appearance on TOL, she was a guest on episode 059, if you want to go back and check it out. Beth talks about BULLET JOURNALING.  What it is, How it works, and Why she prefers pen & paper to a digital option. I learned so much from our conversation, and can't wait to do some additional research,  because as we all know, there is no one-size-fits all approach to reducing stress and increasing productivity. You can listen to our entire conversation right here: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE BULLET JOURNAL | CONNECT WITH BETH ON IG | CONNECT WITH BETH ON FB READ MORE ABOUT BETH'S JOURNEY WITH BULLET JOURNALING  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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!  We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL Erika and I talk about the Hallmark Holiday, otherwise known as Valentine's Day. If you are looking for some clutter free gift options (other than flowers and chocolate), we've got your back. They range in price, category, and just as an FYI, the items we talk about are strictly our opinion derived from our own research. No paid endorsements. No free goodies.  Just our own honest editorial suggestions.  Listen to the full episode here:  What are your thought's on V-Day? Do you love it? Do you dread it?  What are you memories of Valentine's Day when you were young? We'd love to hear your stories!  Feel free to pop into our facebook group, This ORGANIZED Life Podcast and join the conversation! If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Movie Scratch Off Poster ($15): available at uncommon goods Wine Tasting Kit ($99): available at winc.com Cooking Classes (starting at $49): available at surlatable Bath Bombs (starting at $4.95): available at Lush Day of Pampering or Couples Massages (prices vary): Check your local spa in your area 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!  We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL Erika and I share our thoughts about Netflix show: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.  Why people like it, and why we fear that the series might be setting people up for increased feelings of shame, embarrassment, and failure. Regardless of whether you have seen the series or not, this is a great episode, and we'd love for you to join the conversation in our facebook group, This ORGANIZED Life Podcast. Click below to listen to our conversation: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!  We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL we are joined by my real life friend, Jennifer Artur, founder of Body Flow Movement Studios. Jennifer is a world class Pilates Instructor, Cyclist and Equestrian. She is also a mom to two teenage kids and married to her husband, Tony for 20+ years. We chat about why New Year's Resolutions fail, giving ourselves grace and forgiveness when life gets busy, and how to build exercise into your lifestyle-regardless of your season of life. I loved our chat and think you will too! Click below to listen to our conversation: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! CONNECT WITH JENNIFER WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK A special thanks to our sponsor for this episode, 2BOrganized.com.  If you have ever thought about starting your own Professional Organizing business, but weren’t sure where to begin,  2B Organized may be just what you are looking for! 2B Organized has franchise opportunities available throughout the country with locations currently in Missouri, California, Texas and Ohio.  The process of starting your own business can be completely turn-key with this franchise business model.  No stressing about building a website, becoming a legal entity, social media strategies, tag lines, logos or starting from the ground up. Hit the ground running BUILDING your clientele. To learn more, visit 2b-organized.com/connect 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).  This makes it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts. If you're not sure how to do it, just shoot me a DM or email and we can help! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! Pick up your copy of my book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized today!  Think of it as a roadmap helping you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!    We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL we are joined by my real life friend, Danielle Datz, founder of Danielle Datz Designs. We chat about some simple strategies to consider when planing a room renovation.  Whether you are working with an interior designer or going DIY, these 5 tips are key components to help you maximize your budget and minimize your stress! Click below to listen to our conversation: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! Connect with Danielle on Instagram  A special thanks to our sponsor for this episode, 2BOrganized.com.  If you have ever thought about starting your own Professional Organizing business, but weren’t sure where to begin,  2B Organized may be just what you are looking for! 2B Organized has franchise opportunities available throughout the country with locations currently in Missouri, California, Texas and Ohio.  The process of starting your own business can be completely turn-key with this franchise business model.  No stressing about building a website, becoming a legal entity, social media strategies, tag lines, logos or starting from the ground up. Hit the ground running BUILDING your clientele. To learn more, visit 2b-organized.com/connect 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).  This makes it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts. If you're not sure how to do it, just shoot me a DM or email and we can help! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! Pick up your copy of my book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized today!  Think of it as a roadmap helping you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!    We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hi Friends, With MLK day just around the corner, Erika and I thought it would be fitting to chat about service project ideas that you can do to make an impact.  Whether you want to support on the local level or global level, your gifts can be used to help others! Maybe you don't have a cause that you are passionate about, and that's ok. This episode is designed to help narrow down the countless options out there. Click below to listen to our conversation: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! If you are not sure where to start, we suggest asking yourself the following questions: 1.) Who would you like to help? Is there a specific group of people or cause you are passionate about? Look for projects that relate to your passion and interests. You may also just want to perform particular community service activities that allow you to do hobbies you enjoy, like cooking or sports, and that's fine too. Tip: Start by thinking about categories like children or the environment, if you don’t have a specific organization in mind, searching by category is a good starting place for choosing specific organizations to contact. 2.) Do you want a community service activity that is reoccurring or a one-time event? Perhaps you don't have enough time to regularly devote to community service. In that case, it may be better to look for opportunities that only occur once or sporadically, such as planning special events or helping build a house. Tip: Figure out how much time you can devote to community service. Are you available for two hours every week? Are you not free on a regular basis but can volunteer for an entire weekend now and then? Think about transportation as well and how you'll be able to get to different locations. Knowing this information will help you choose which community service projects to pursue, and its helpful information for volunteer coordinators to know. 3.) What kind of impact do you want to have? Some people prefer to participate in community service activities that have a quantifiable impact, for example, activities where you know the specific number of kids you tutored, dollars you raised, or cans of food you collected. Some people prefer quantifiable activities because they simply enjoy knowing their exact impact on the community. Tip: Do some research to see what projects you can do in your community:Check at your school, place of worship, or town hall for more information on volunteering. You can also contact the place where you’d like to perform your community service, such as a particular animal shelter or nursing home, and ask if they take volunteers. 4.) What skills would you like to gain? Many community service activities can help you gain skills. These skills can range from teaching to medicine to construction and more. If there is a particular skill you'd like to learn for future classes, jobs, or just out of personal interest, you may want to see if there is a community service activity that helps you learn that skill. Tip: Try it! Service projects range from small projects that you can complete on your own in a few hours, to much larger projects that will take more time and people. If you find a project you can start on your own, do it! If you want to do a project where you’ll need more resources or people, check around your community to see if a similar program already exists that you can join. If not, don’t be afraid to start your own! Many organizations welcome new volunteers and community service projects. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 129 Great Examples of Community Service Projects A special thanks to our sponsor for this episode, 2BOrganized.com.  If you have ever thought about starting your own Professional Organizing business, but weren’t sure where to begin,  2B Organized may be just what you are looking for! 2B Organized has franchise opportunities available throughout the country with locations currently in Missouri, California, Texas and Ohio.  The process of starting your own business can be completely turn-key with this franchise business model.  No stressing about building a website, becoming a legal entity, social media strategies, tag lines, logos or starting from the ground up. Hit the ground running BUILDING your clientele. To learn more, visit 2b-organized.com/connect 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).  This makes it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts. If you're not sure how to do it, just shoot me a DM or email and we can help! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! Pick up your copy of my book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized today!  Think of it as a roadmap helping you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!    We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey Friends! On todays' episode of TOL we chat with SBO Partner & Professional Organizer, Kimbra Naber, founder of the ReOrg Project.  Kimbra is a wife, mom and world traveler!  We chat about all of the moving parts that go into planning a trip, and she shares 4 key areas that are so important and often get overlooked. This is one episode you won't want to miss! Click below to listen to our conversation: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! A special thanks to our sponsor for this episode, 2BOrganized.com.  If you have ever thought about starting your own Professional Organizing business, but weren’t sure where to begin,  2B Organized may be just what you are looking for! 2B Organized has franchise opportunities available throughout the country with locations currently in Missouri, California, Texas and Ohio.  The process of starting your own business can be completely turn-key with this franchise business model.  No stressing about building a website, becoming a legal entity, social media strategies, tag lines, logos or starting from the ground up. Hit the ground running BUILDING your clientele. To learn more, visit 2b-organized.com/connect LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Connect with Kimbra: Website | Instagram | Facebook For more travel tips, click HERE to check out Kimbra's blog 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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).  This makes it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts. If you're not sure how to do it, just shoot me a DM or email and we can help! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! Pick up your copy of my book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized today!  Think of it as a roadmap helping you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!    We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Hey friends!    I am so excited to kick off 2019 with two of my favorite people:  Amy Revell & Kirsty Farrugia, hosts of the ever popular podcast, The Art of Decluttering.  Kirsty & Amy both run their own successful organizing companies in Australia, and they are proud members of our SBO Partner Program! We chat about New Year's Resolutions (yay or nay?), Goal Setting, and how we inspire others to live their best lives. It's a fun episode that you won't want to miss. Click below to listen to our conversation: If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! A special thanks to our sponsor for this episode, 2BOrganized.com.  If you have ever thought about starting your own Professional Organizing business, but weren’t sure where to begin,  2B Organized may be just what you are looking for! 2B Organized has franchise opportunities available throughout the country with locations currently in Missouri, California, Texas and Ohio.  The process of starting your own business can be completely turn-key with this franchise business model.  No stressing about building a website, becoming a legal entity, social media strategies, tag lines, logos or starting from the ground up. Hit the ground running BUILDING your clientele. To learn more, visit 2b-organized.com/connect LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Connect with Kirsty: Website | Instagram | Facebook Connect with Amy: Website | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe: The Art of Decluttering Podcast Download Laurie's 2019 Goal Sheet  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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).  This makes it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts. If you're not sure how to do it, just shoot me a DM or email and we can help! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! Pick up your copy of my book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized today!  Think of it as a roadmap helping you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!    We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

For our last episode of 2018, I wanted to share my personal 365 gratitude project, and more importantly, what I learned from it. I'm not a big New Year's Resolution person, however at the end of 2017 I decided to embark on a project, which I called 365 Days of Gratitude. Essentially I committed to documenting one thing, each day, that I was grateful for, and why.  I gave myself 3 simple rules:  1) Limit to one post a day  2) Each post had to be in the moment (no pre-planning)  3) No duplicate posts allowed I used my personal Instagram page as the guinea pig, figuring that I would leave my SBO page for pretty pics, since you will see that I am far from a professional photographer (LOL!).  If you look back through the days, you will see that I actually lost count a couple of times, and had one accidental duplicate, but otherwise I held up to my end of the bargain! On today's final episode of 2018, I share 5 things that I learned from this project, with the hope is that it inspires you to create your own version of a GRATITUDE project for 2019. (If you do, please tag @simplyborganized or @organizingmaster so we can see it and cheer you on!)   Click here to listen:  If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE MY 365 DAY GRATITUDE PROJECT | CHUCK SWINDOLL QUOTE Bonus Episode Alert! ***Are you an aspiring Entrepreneur? Do you have a passion that you want to turn into a profession, but not sure how?  I invite you to check out our 8 episode mini-series, called This ENTREPRENEUR’S Life, where we talk candidly about the struggles and successes of turning your passion into a profession. No need to subscribe, if you are already subscribed to TOL, then new episodes will automatically be downloaded each Tuesday along with your regular weekly episodes each Thursday!  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 click the  5-star button & leave a short REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes).  This makes it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts. If you're not sure how to do it, just shoot me a DM or email and we can help! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! Pick up your copy of my book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized today!  Think of it as a roadmap helping you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 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 wherever books are sold. Let’s Connect!    We love hearing from you! Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos. Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.