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

    A special thanks to our good friends at CURIO-PRESS for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! Check out the AMAZING discount at the bottom of the show notes, exclusive to the TOL community!   For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations click here     Hi Friends! Today I am joined by new friend, Alexis Austin. Alexis is the founder and CEO/Mom-Boss behind Curio Press— a family owned stationery company based in St. Louis Missouri. Alexis and her beautiful products have been featured in St Louis Business Journal, Saint Louis Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Brit+Co, AND right here on This ORGANIZED Life podcast! I connected with Alexis several months ago and was inspired by her story. I invited her on TOL to talk about her journey as a wife, mom, small business owner and everything in between! She shares how a health scare that changed the trajectory of her life, resulted in her building a company alongside her husband, and living her passion. “If we can make even the most mundane tasks like jotting notes or making grocery lists look pretty, it somehow makes us feel good.” During our conversation we talk about:  The power of a handwritten note in a world filled with texts and emails The importance of expressing gratitude in writing Why personalized gifts matter  We also touch on entrepreneurship. Alexis shares some advice for anyone wanting to start a business, whether it’s a side hustle, passion project or new venture even if you have no idea where to start. AND, Alexis has a special promo code exclusive for TOL listeners that you won’t see anywhere else! And you can share it with a friend-how great is that? Visit CURIO-PRESS.COM and enter the code ORGANIZED at checkout to receive 15% your entire order!         xo - Laurie         Please support us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!   REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!    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.  Connect with Curio-Press WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK  DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GRATITUDE LOG  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

A special thanks to our good friends at CURIO-PRESS for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! Check out the AMAZING discount at the bottom of the show notes, exclusive to the TOL community!  For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations  click here Hi Friends! Today we are talking all about removing the stress from tax prep. Full disclosure, I find the entire process completely overwhelming so I was glad to call in an expert to break it all down! I invited Lisa Greene-Lewis from Turbo Tax to join me on today’s episode to share some tips, strategies and solutions.   Lisa is a CPA, with over 20 years of experience in tax preparation. She has held positions as a public auditor, controller, and operations manager. She has contributed tax articles to local, national, and online publications, including US News & World Report and Huffington Post. Lisa has also appeared on various news broadcasts, the Steve Harvey Show, and the Ellen Show. During our conversation, Lisa and chat about things like: Misconceptions people have about filing their taxes Common mistakes people make when it comes to preparing their taxes  How to simplify receipt-tracking (especially for my fellow entrepreneurs!) When to begin gathering your tax documents Who is a good candidate for using an online tax preparer like turbo tax What steps will make the process more seamless, and less stressful How to Make the  most of your deductions (including Qualifying Relatives) Hopefully, after listening to today’s episode you will feel more prepared, and less overwhelmed to tackle your taxes! xo- Laurie P.S. Make sure to check out our new favorite company, CURIO-PRESS.COM and enter the code ORGANIZED at checkout to receive 15% off your entire order! Want to file your taxes for free?  Lisa has gifted promo codes for our first (5) five TOL listeners!  Choose from any one of the options below, and enter one of the following codes:  Free Edition | Deluxe | Premier | Self-Employed Code 1: H88GAUF3U3CTLB |Code 2: GH9LFV2SKARFJG |Code 3: NL6AM9HTD7GY39 | Code 4: ADVFZHYNTC2Z3S |Code 5: BUVLTPMLNWMG6L  *Limit one code per family *Terms & Conditions apply Connect with Turbo Tax WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! I’m always trying to come up with ideas to help make the process of purging and organizing more fun. Because let’s face it, I realize that most people don’t consider purging a pantry on their top list of “fun” activities! I do however, think that doing boring or mundane tasks with a friend makes it more palatable (ever hear the phrase misery loves company?) And if you’re like me, you never have enough time to spend with your girlfriends. So what if there was a way to combine the two? I’ve been listening to people both IRL & “on-the-line” who want to thin out their closet, but are either too tired or frankly, unmotivated to actually do it. So I began thinking about creative ways that didn’t cost any money, add more work to our already overscheduled lives, and may actually get people motivated to clean out their closets. “What if I invited our friends and neighbors over for an open house for a Community Clothing Swap?” Community Giving Back De-Cluttering Food  Girl Times So here’s the rules: Before you come to the party, you must fill up at least 1 trash bag of clothes you no longer wear. This can include shoes and accessories and bring them with you. (*bring hangers!) Check your insecurities at the door. No one is going to judge you for the shirt you bought for some cruise, or the jeans you haven’t fit into in 7 years. Just fill you bag and show up. Leave the kids at home. This is a grown-up event only. Wear comfy clothes (for both the obvious of being comfortable, and to easily try on clothes) Assess what you might want/need before you come. (ie: if you got rid of a fancy black top that you are sick of wearing, perhaps keep your eyes open for a good “steal” at the swap! Side note for the host: The host will provide light refreshments and lots of booze (well at least that’s what I am planning to do!) Set up several rolling racks, I found some inexpensive one’s on amazon, but ask your friends if they have one you can borrow. Designate stations for categories to make it easier for people to shop. o   Tops o   Sweaters o   Outerwear o   Activewear o   Dresses/skirts    4. Depending on how much space you have and how micro you want to get, you can sort by size order, otherwise, just organize the items neatly in piles. 5. Pre-schedule a donation pick-up prior to your event so that you can easily   clear your home of the remaining donations. The Purpose: The purpose of the clothing swap is to get your unwanted stuff out of your house Studies show that it is easier to get rid of things when you know who it’s going Grab some new finds, if you like, but don’t take stuff simply for the sake of taking Your goal is to leave with LESS than what you came with Other things to consider: Include friends of all sizes and shapes—and don’t leave out your pregnant friends who could be looking for larger items. Because some pieces can be easily adapted to fit various figures by adding a belt, have one on hand the day of so that guests can see if cinching a roomy top or dress will make it work for them. Designate one room for changing and have at least two full-length mirrors available so that friends don’t have to fight for face time. If your space is limited, invite guests to wear a bathing suit underneath their clothing to make trying on items in a group setting less awkward. Use a swap as an opportunity to take fashion risks. If you’ve always wanted to wear a high-waisted skirt or a geometric print, but haven’t wanted to make the investment, now is your time to road test the look—for free. If it doesn’t work out, trade it in at the next party. Want to organize your own clothing swap? Keep it simple Set your own rules and guidelines Get creative: kids clothing swap, book swap, housewares swap Create an evite, an event on fb, send an email blast to your friends or a group chat. Have fun! Post your pics in our facebook group, This ORGANIZED Life Podcast or tag us on IG at @simplyborganized! xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW .  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today I am joined by Karen Purze, author of Life In Motion: A Guide for Gathering Life’s Vital Details, a workbook to help people get their affairs in order. She blogs about end-of-life and emergency planning at lifeinmotionguide.com. Whether you want to be better prepared for medical emergencies, learn estate planning basics, give your children the gift of clarity when you pass, or help your aging parents plan for the future — she is the go to expert in this arena! “When my parents both got sick suddenly and simultaneously, I was overwhelmed with the amount of information I needed.” The first thing she learned is that she could have been better prepared, and has since developed a toolkit to help others. I asked Karen to come on our show to share her story of why she left a successful career in tech to start a business focused on helping people tackle some of life’s most difficult areas. We talk about things like: What information is included in the Life In Motion Guide Key information she wished she would have known that would have been helpful during the process What YOU can do proactively to ease stress, frustration, and financial hurdles for your parents, or your kids Some common places where people tend to go wrong, and how to avoid it Helpful advice for people on where to begin I learned a lot from our conversation, and hope you do too!  If there’s someone in your life who can benefit from today’s episode would you please share it? With Gratitude, Laurie P.S. Karen has a special gift for all TOL listeners!  If you would like to try out any of the Life In Motion products, please use the code SimplyB-10 for 10% your entire order! Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode WORKBOOKS & PRINTABLES | EMERGENCY PLANNING | LIFE IN MOTION SHOP Connect with Karen WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN | TWITTER Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! For today’s episode we turned to YOU, our listeners, readers, and followers to answer the questions that you want to know. I am always impressed with the questions you have; some are funny, some are more serious, and others relate to running a business. I even learned a thing or two about Erika along the way! We received lots of emails and DM’s, and narrowed the list to 15 questions, so if your question wasn’t answered, or  if there is something else you’d like to know, shoot us an email to info@simplyborganized.com.  We read each and every one! Now for the fun stuff…..drumroll please! 1. What is the Partner Program? Who is it for? 2. How long have you been married? And where did you honeymoon? 3. Do I travel for the Clutter Clinic™? 4. What is your favorite color? 5. Am I writing another book? 6. Why does Erika take off for the summer? 7. How many clients do you see? And who or what type is your favorite client? 8. What is your favorite food? 9. Was your house organized growing up? 10. Do your husbands listen to the show? 11. Who is someone I’d like to interview? 12. What is your favorite organizing product right now? 13. What app do you use most often? 14. How can I help a friend in need without offending them? 15. What is the best place to start? Pretty good questions, right?!  To hear our responses, check out the full episode! xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode CLUTTER CLINIC™ | SBO PARTNER PROGRAM | FAV APP | FAV PRODUCTS Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today we are joined by my IRL friend, Gail who graciously shares her story of losing her mother, then watching her active father’s health decline soon after. She talks about the emotional toll it took on her and her sisters, each of their families, and what it was like switching roles from daughter to caregiver. Gail shares will all of us the information she wished she had known in order to be better prepared: everything from health proxies, to power of attorney, and making sure your Will is updated. We can’t truly prepare for death, but there are steps we can take to help ease the burden of financial and legal hurdles that compound an already stressful situation. I appreciate Gail’s honesty and vulnerability during our conversation and I hope you do too.  Before we started recording, she turned to me and said “If I can help one person feel more prepared than sharing my story is worth it.” xo- Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW .  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today Erika & I take a different approach to getting things done. Instead of sharing our thoughts on how to structure a To-Do list, we are talking today about creating a TO-DON’T LIST. Yep, you heard me correctly!  I was so sick and tired of thinking about all the things that I had to do, I decided to create a list of things that I have control over that I could eliminate from my day. I set some ground rules: 1. It had to focus in one of two categories: RESPONSIBILITIES or RELATIONSHIPS 2. Whatever gets added needs to be SPECIFIC and describe the ACTION, rather than the FEELING. So here’s a snapshot of what I came up with: Responsibilities: 1. I will not look at my phone first thing in the morning or after 9pm / Instead I will establish more healthy habits of quiet time, meditation, reading, etc to start and end my day. 2. I will stop making my kid’s beds, put away laundry, empty dishwasher/ Instead I will empower them to own the process and set expectations of when it must be completed. 3. I will not stop what I am doing just because some asks. Instead I will look at my schedule and see how and when I can help 4. I will not check email after blank time (or I will only check email 3 times per day)/ Instead I will set boundaries around when I check and respond to email. 5. I will not beat myself up for not getting everything on my to-do list completed/Instead I will work on setting more manageable expectations by adding no more than 3 things to accomplish each day. 6. I will set goals for myself both personal and professional to help me to be the best version of myself. Relationships 1. I will limit the amount of time I spend on social media to x amount of time per day. 2. I will unfollow anyone who makes me feel badly or is argumentative. 3. I will not respond yes to every request without taking time to make sure it works with my schedule. 4. I will not go shopping when I am bored, instead I will fill that time proactively by reading a book, going for a walk or meeting up with a friend. 5. I will schedule down time for myself and the family once a week (doesn’t have to be all day, it can be dinner, or Friday night family game, etc. 6. I will not prioritize activities over spending time with my partner. I encourage you to come up with your own TO-DON’T LIST and share it with a friend or accountability partner.  We would love to encourage you, so feel free to take a pic and tag us on IG @simplyborganized or post it in our Facebook group This ORGANIZED Life Podcast. xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations  click here Hi Friends! If you have ever stood in your closet and thought “I have nothing to wear,” THIS is the episode for you. Today I am joined by color specialist, Jeannie Stith-Mahwinney, founder of yourcolorguru.com, a company she started to help women shop smarter.   Jeannie shares her story of frustration with her own wardrobe, and how she developed a system to make shopping and getting dressed super easy. I took the assessment, and the results were both shocking and amazing! It has completely transformed how I shop, and has simplified the entire shopping experience for me. We talk about things like: Where people tend to go wrong when it comes to clothes shopping Jeannie’s step-by-step process What to expect after taking her assessment I can’t wait for you to listen to the episode!  Meet us over in our facebook group This ORGANIZED Life to join the conversation! CONNECT WITH JEANNIE WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM |FACEBOOK A Word from our Sponsor: Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off.

A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations click here. Hi Friends! As the New Year gets underway, I am always looking for ways to stay motivated. Sometimes that means learning something new, but other times it means pulling out some tried and true strategies. On today’s episode, Erika and I talk about several simple decluttering tips; some you may have heard of, and others might be brand new to you. The one thing they have in common is that they work! Perhaps not all of them for you, but there is enough variety on this list you are sure to find something that gets you motivated. You’ll want to listen to the full episode to hear our take on each of these, but for all my readers, here you go!    Give yourself 5 solid minutes to declutter something everyday. It can be as simple as cleaning a drawer, putting away laundry or purging old papers.  Give away one item each day.  Fill one trash bag per day (or per week) depending on your level of clutter.  Try the Closet Hanger Experiment. Turn all of your hangers backwards, and each time you wear something you turn the hanger the correct way. At the end of the season you can see what clothes you actually wore, and hopefully donate the rest!  Take the 12-12-12 Challenge. Each week pick 12 items that need to be thrown away, 12 items that can be donated, and 12 items that need to be returned to their proper home.  Experiment with Project 333. (Check out my conversation with Courntey Carver to learn more!)  Put a load in your car for charity.  Create a 30-day list.  Use caddys or trays to corral things like remotes, perfumes, face creams,etc.  Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap or on sale.  Purge anything you can easily get on the internet such as user manuals, take out menus, credit card statements, etc.  Save instead of Spend. Every time you get the urge to spend, put that money in a jar or separate account and at the end of the month see how much you have saved.  Start with the easy stuff first. Getting some small wins under your belt helps with motivation and tracking process. Believe it’s possible. The first step in any change is believing it’s possible  Finally, Asking yourself these two questions while decluttering can be very helpful. 1. Where would I look for this item? 2. Would I know if I already have one? If you liked this list, or looking for a deeper dive into decluttering, My book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is filled with strategies and a complete room by room decluttering guide. There are lots of great resources available, from books, to podcasts, to online courses. The key is to find the combination that works for you.  Several people have shared that they listen to our podcast while they declutter helps to keep them engaged and motivated! Whatever method is working for you, feel free to let us know in our facebook group This ORGANIZED Life Podcast, or tag us on IG @simplyborganized so we can cheer you on! xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST Articles Mentioned in this Podcast 7 FUN WAYS TO START DECLUTTERING | 99 CLUTTER HACKS FOR YOUR HOME A Word from our Sponsor: Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off.

A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries click here. Hi Friends! Today we are joined by my friend, Rose Lounsbury. Some of you may remember Rose from episode 92 where she shared her journey to Minimalism. Since then, a lot has happened…Rose has become a bestselling author, a TEDx Speaker and has been featured all over print and tv including USA Today and NPR. Rose has been on a new minimalism quest: financial freedom from debt, and I asked if she would come on our show and share her personal story with all of you. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST PEOPLE! Rose has never discussed her financial journey publically, and I am so grateful that she choose TOL as the place to share her story. Some of the topics we discuss include: How the evolution began to live debt free What her process looked like How it impacted her day-to-day life The conversation with her kids about their new lifestyle Rose has some great suggestions for anyone who wants to reduce or eliminate debt, regardless of where you are in life! I hope you find value and inspiration from this episode, I know I did!  If so, would you do me a huge favor and share it with your people? With Gratitude, Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW .  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode TEDx TALK |   FREE MINIMALIST STARTER GUIDE | THE BOOK |ON-LINE COURSE Connect with Rose WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | IG | PINTEREST | LINKEDIN Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST A Word from our Sponsor: Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off.