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

Hi Friends!We are continuing with our Room-By-Room series with a little twist today…What happens when best friends, moms, neighbors and former healthcare workers, decide to start a business together during the pandemic?Our guests today did just that. Mary Beth Bartlett and Megan McDowell took their love of organizing and passion for helping others to start Rooms to Breathe, an Alabama based organizing business.They are particularly passionate about supporting women as they make the life changing transition into motherhood, so I asked them if they would come on our show to talk about an area that we have never discussed on This ORGANIZED Life…Baby Prep and Nursery Organization.During our conversation we talked about:Specific practical ways to help new mothers with touches like stocking the fridge with grab-and-go items like granola bars, cheese sticks, and fresh fruitIncorporating turntables in the fridge and pantry to make accessing items a breeze.Having hydration stations available to keep mom going throughout the day.Setting up memorabilia boxes for precious keepsakes.Megan also opened up about her personal bout with postpartum anxiety, and we discussed how the process of decluttering and simplifying helped her through that period of her life.I was in awe listening to all of the details and thoughtful touches they include; not only to organize a nursery, but for comfort and ease for mom, dad, and visitors so they can enjoy their new bundle in the peace of an organized space.This is a great episode, and Mary Beth and Megan are adorable! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.XOXO-LaurieCONNECT WITH ROOMS TO BREATHEWEBSITE | INSTAGRAMBOOK RECOMMENDATIONSMEGAN: FAIR PLAY | THE LAZY WAY GENIUSMARY BETH: SIMPLICITY PARENTING

Joining me today is Leigh Achenbach, founder of Suddenly Simple Organizing in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I invited Leigh on TOL to talk about storage spaces-specifically Garages, Attics and/or Basements. For folks living in a house, you probably have at least one of these areas that requires ongoing maintenance to keep from becoming a cluttered mess. If you live in an apartment you may have a storage space somewhere in your building where you keep seasonal or large items. During our conversation Leigh shares some practical and SIMPLE strategies to keep these spaces functional and organized. Some things we talked about:The many uses for garages, attics, and/or basementsHow many people are unable to park cars inside their garageWhy these larger spaces are so overwhelming to declutter and get organizedCommon pain points on why folks struggle to keep organized long termWhy she likes to work in “macro-categories”So many people fall into the trap of forgetting where they put something, or if they even have it. Leigh shares some of her favorite products, and tips to maximize space and find what you need. If this sounds like you or someone you know, you’re going to want to listen to this episode!Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about during our conversation.XOXO-LaurieP.S. Would you mind taking a second to leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in Apple Podcast to let other folks know what you love about our show. You can also ask us questions, or suggest topics you’d like to hear!CONNECT WITH LEIGHWEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAMLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEGARAGE CHECKLISTFAST TRACK STORAGE SYSTEMLATCHED STORAGE BINSHANGING LOFTSSHANNON FORD PODCASTUNLOCKED with SAVANNAH CHRISLEY

Hi Friends,Today we are continuing with our Room-By-Room series, and talking about one of the biggest pain points for many of you-CLOSETS.From linen closets to primary closets, we tend to never have enough space, or if we do have ample space, utilizing it in a way that serves our needs is often a struggle.Joining me today is Heather Bifulco, founder of Tidy Style. Heather is based in Boise, Idaho and along with her team of professionals, helps her clients live a more organized life.During our conversation we talked about:The biggest issue she sees with her clients (hint: it has to do with volume, not space)How to identify and maximize Prime Real EstateHanging vs Folding (is there a right way?)She is also a mom of littles, so we talk about what to do with “hand-me-downs" and “grow clothes.” Whether you live in an apartment, an estate or somewhere in between, there’s something in this episode for everyone.Make sure to check out the links below to our closet checklist and all things mentioned in this episode.XOXO-LaurieTune in next week when we’ll be talking about garages, attics and basements!CONNECT WITH HEATHERWEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBEDOWNLOAD OUR FREE CLOSET CHECKLIST!BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: The Lincoln Highway This Tender LandAnything by Elin Hilderbrand

Hi Friends!Today we are kicking off a new series here at This ORGANIZED Life, called Organizing Room by Room. With January leading the charge for decluttering and getting organized, we thought it would be helpful to bring on a bunch of experts who specialize in certain spaces to talk about some of the struggles they see people facing, and share some solutions to help you in your organizing/decluttering journey.To start us off, I invited one of my friends, and one of your favorites, Organizational Designer Lisa Eckerle, to join me in talking about one of my favorite rooms in the house-The Kitchen.You might remember Lisa from Episode 268, where she shared her story of starting her Professional Organizing business on the weekends while working a full-time job and mothering 2 littles. Once folks got wind of her incredible eye for design and her on-point organizing skills, her business took off and she was able to leave her full time job and run Sort Support, full time. She specializes in ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN, and is currently one of the leading experts in the Indianapolis area. -So for all my Indy listeners-make sure to check her out!As the epicenter of our homes, kitchens do a lot of heavy lifting. From cooking and food storage, to conversation areas, command centers, or a homework hub-a good organization plan is critical for reducing anxiety and feeling in control of your space.Although you don’t have to start in this room, for many it’s their biggest pain point.If your kitchen is organized (or disorganized), it sets the tone for the rest of the house. During our conversation we talked about:Common pitfalls she sees and hears from her clients who struggle to keep their kitchens organized.Strategies to help make your kitchen more functional and less stressful.Why ditching (infrequently used) single use gadgets is a simple way to free up space.Lisa’s signature “C.R.A.P “Method is great for this! Cheap, Repetitive, Aggravating, Past its prime.Breaking your kitchen into “zones” by categories to make finding things easier for the whole family. Some examples include Cutting Drawer, Baking Station, Prep Area, Cook CabinetKitchens are one area in the home where the right products can make a huge difference-(*disclaimer we don’t want you buying the wrong products for your space or lifestyle). Lisa shares some of her “go-to” products when it comes to Kitchen organization, including turntables, drawer dividers and using a lid holder to store lids upright (one of my personal faves too!)Make sure to check out the links below to connect with Lisa or to find anything we talked about in this episode.Make sure to tune in next week as we continue our Room by Room Organizing Series with Closets! If you know someone who could benefit from this episode, do them a favor and forward to them!XOXO-LaurieP.S. If you are a professional organizer or thinking about becoming one, we’d love to chat with you to see if the SBO Partner Program is a good fit for you!CONNECT WITH LISA:WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOKLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:BOOK: The World Needs More Purple PeopleLID HOLDER | TURNTABLES | DRAWER DIVIDERS

Hi Friends,Today we are talking about one of the core parts to living an organized life…Calendars.Joining me today is the creator and founder of Artful Agenda, Katy Allen. Katy is wife to American Idol champion Kris Allen and a mom of 3 kiddos. After a life-long love affair with paper planners, Katy was looking for a solution to blend the convenience of a digital planner with the customization and style of a paper planner. I invited Katy on the show to share what makes Artful Agenda different from other traditional calendars like Google Cal or iCal.During our conversation we talked about:Her inspiration for Artful AgendaTime Blocking & PrioritiesBeing diagnosed with ADHD as an adultHow she designed the app to help her (and others) be more productiveSince recording our interview, I personally downloaded Artful Agenda on my laptop and iphone and have been using it everyday. I absolutely love how it seamlessly integrates with my existing calendars, and has the added functionality of allowing me to create my “top 3” priority list on the same screen. I’ve also had fun playing around with the different backgrounds, colors & fonts to make it more personalized.***If you are interested in trying Artful Agenda out for yourself Katy is offering a special promo code exclusive to TOL listeners. Visit artfulagenda.com and enter promo code TOL23 at checkout to receive 20% off!XOXO-LaurieP.S. Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about in this episode.CONNECT WITH KATYWEBSITE INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/artfulagenda/KATY’S RECOMMENDATIONS Procrastinate on Purpose ADHD for Smartass Women PodcastMake sure to check out our 2022 Reading List on Goodreads which has all of the book recommendations from previous guests!

Hi Friends,To start off 2023 I am joined by none other than NY Times Best Selling Author Jen Hatmaker. If you don’t know Jen, she’s written about a bajillion books including For the Love, Of Mess and Moxie, and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire. Her latest book Feed These People is her debut cookbook that is filled with simple recipes for the whole family. She hosts the popular For the Love Podcast and Jen Hatmaker Book Club. Her online community has millions of women who relate to her witty, honest, and vulnerable approach to life. I invited Jen on the show to kick off 2023 to talk about mindset, goal planning and of course, the Enneagram!During our conversation we talked about:The importance of mindset when it comes to setting goalsNavigating the messy seasons of lifeWhat she’s learned about herself as an Enneagram 3 (aka the Achiever)We talked about the 3 types of clutter: Physical, Emotional and Calendar; Jen shares her dominant type of clutter-can you guess what it is? The start of a new year is almost always filled with expectations that we place on ourselves:Whether you are trying to lose weight, exercise more, declutter your house, get out of debt, read more, yell less… It all starts with mindset. We’re hoping this year you can be a little more kind and gentle with yourself. I encourage you to share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And if you are not already subscribed to our show, we’d love to have you join our podcast community. Search for This ORGANIZED Life Podcast on apple podcast, spotify or wherever you choose to listen. We are also on YouTube at This ORGANIZED Life.XOXO-LaurieCONNECT WITH JEN HATMAKER: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | PODCASTJEN’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for YourselfMake sure to check out our 2022 Reading List on Goodreads which has all of the book recommendations from previous guests!

Hi Friends,Each year we release our “Best Of”, and if you are new to our show, it’s a great way to binge the highlight episodes from other listeners. We include links to each episode we talked about, making it super simple to listen and share. Last week Kimberly and I shared some of our favorite episodes, and today we are sharing the top 10 listener episodes. It’s always fun for me to sit down and look at the topics and guests that resonated with you most. If you listened to last week, you will hear some overlap with our favorites and yours, but there were definitely some differences that surprised us!As 2022 comes to a close, I want to thank you for being part of my community. As we wrap up our 6th year, I am so grateful for the opportunity to sit down and have meaningful conversations with people who provide perspective and solutions for simplifying your life. On behalf of myself and our team at SBO/TOL-we wish you and your family a safe and happy New Year.Cheers to 2023!XOXO-LaurieTOP 10 Episodes of 2022Ep 265: Health and Habits with Mel RobbinsEp 267: Creating Systems with Brittany DixonEp 274: Closet Edit with Sarah SailorsEp 269: Creating a Legacy List with Matt PaxtonEp 271: Prep, Cook, Freeze with Caroline FauselEp 266: 4 Steps to Goal Setting in 2022Ep 278: Spring Organizing ChecklistEp 268: Partner Spotlight with Lisa EckerleEp 273: Divorce and Decluttering with The ExExpertsEp 276: Motherhood Simplified with Krista LockwoodP.S Make sure to check out our 2022 Reading List on Goodreads which has all of the book recommendations from this year's guests!https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/182327.This_Organized_Life_Podcast_2022_Book_Guide

Hi Friends,We’re in the homestretch of 2022…what a year it’s been! Every year we take the last 2 weeks of December to look back on the 50 episodes we released this year.This week, my producer Kimberly and I shared some of our favorite episodes, and next week we’ll look at the most popular episodes from all of you! (make sure you tune in to that!)It goes without saying that we love, admire and appreciate all of our guests, these just happen to be a few of our stand-out episodes.We included links to each episode, making it super simple to listen and share. Enjoy!Kimberly’s Faves:Ep 269: Creating a Legacy List with Matt PaxtonEp 284:Raising Simple with Zoe KimEp 275: Small Business Financial Organization with Melissa LeonEp 265: Health and Habits with Mel RobbinsLaurie’s Faves:Ep 306: Becoming Minimalist with Joshua BeckerEp 289: Summer of Enneagram with Enneagram 4 Leann DearingEp 300: Fair Play with Eve RodskyEp 309: Chasing the Brightside with Jess EkstromEp 305: Ask Me Anything with Josh & Laurie PalauMake sure to check out our 2022 Reading List on Goodreads which has all of the book recommendations from this year's guests! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/182327.This_Organized_Life_Podcast_2022_Book_Guide

Hi Friends,Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa it’s crunch time! With only days to go for each of these major holidays, navigating clutter pitfalls is no easy task.The physical clutter of presents and wrapping supplies that are overtaking your closet, Christmas cookies and assorted treats that are covering your counters…To the calendar clutter of finding time to shop, wrap, bake, and attend holiday parties in addition to your “normal” schedule…Let’s not forget the emotional clutter of trying to keep everyone’s gift count “balanced”, and trying to create the “perfect” holiday for your family…It’s no wonder that we stress eat, get rundown, and dream of spending countless uninterrupted hours of laying on the couch binge watching Dead To Me.So as someone guilty of all of the above, I’m taking a page out of my personal playbook to share how I keep it all together during the most stressful time of the year.From Holiday Gift Trackers, to enlisting elves to help with some of the simpler, yet time consuming tasks like stuffing envelopes, I’ve found that the key to not losing it on everyone comes down to 3 things: PlanningCommunicationGratitudeFor all my fly-by-the-seat-of my pants listeners, this is where you roll your eyes.Hear me when I say, I have tried it your way, and it didn’t work.I’ve shoved unopened packages in random places only to discover them in February, or realize that one kid has 2 things while the other has 12.I’ve boycotted decorating the house until Team Palau pitched in to help. There were seasons when I’ve been resentful, tired, and overwhelmed, especially when my kids were small, that I was left doing all the heavy lifting alone.I want you to know that you are not alone. The holiday season is wonderful and stressful. It’s a both/and. Life is too short to not focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t. We all have a limit-whether it’s a limit for our finances, time, space or emotional capacity. If you’re not sure where to start, let me help. Hit the PAUSE button, take a walk and listen to this episode. Next, map out a game plan of what needs to get done over the next week, and what can wait. Download our free Holiday Gift Tracker-it was a game changer for me and I know it can be for you. https://simplyborganized.com/free-downloads/You’ve got this friend, I’m pulling for ya!XOXO-LaurieCheck out our 2022 Book Guide: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/182327.This_Organized_Life_Podcast_2022_Book_GuideConnect with us @thisorganizedlifepodcast

Hi Friends,Joining me today is Amber Brandt. Amber is passionate about helping clients and families create spaces that not only reflect their values, but help them live smarter, cozier, and more intentional lives. She believes authenticity, connection, and true hospitality can change the world.Can I get an Amen!When we apply values-based thinking to our homes, it has the power to change everything -- how we decorate, what we buy, what we say yes/no to, and how we connect with others.As we are currently in the midst of the holiday season, our homes often become one big drop-spot. Between shopping, entertaining, and endless to-do lists, it’s understandable why it looks as though the eye of a tornado just ran through our living room.When we finally do come up for air, we’re often left feeling overwhelmed and depleted, rather than peaceful and rested.For many folks, the feeling of “house shame” isn’t limited to the holidays, but this time of year it’s often magnified when family and friends are likely to gather together.During our conversation we talked about the common roadblocks she sees from her clients: obligation, guilt, perfectionism, shame and the inability to make a decision–which are similar to our 5 clutter pitfalls. https://simplyborganized.com/2017/01/12/episode-003-identifying-the-5-clutter-pitfalls/We talked about how physical, emotional and calendar clutter each play a role in creating a cozy home, and Amber shares some simple tips to help you create the home you want. Something as simple as lighting a candle or wrapping yourself in a fuzzy blanket can help you find calm and peace amidst the chaos.What steps can you take today to make your home feel more cozy? Drop us a line and let us know!XOXO-LaurieConnect with Amber:Website http://www.thecozinessconsultant.com Instagram http://Instagram.com/thecozinessconsultantFacebook http://facebook.com/thecozinessconsultantOther Links Mentioned in this Episode:Amber’s Book Recommendations: Atlas of the Heart | The Art of Gathering***Check out our complete 2022 Reading List on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/182327.This_Organized_Life_Podcast_2022_Book_Guide