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

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.

On today's episode of TOL we are joined by SBO Partner, Mary Cornetta, founder of Sort & Sweet in Long Island, NY. I asked Mary to join us today to talk about gifts for the Millennials (since she is a Millennial herself!) Just to clarify, Millennials consist of anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (yes, she is a baby compared to yours truly!).  Although there may a shift towards minimalism in "stuff", Mary shares that there is no shortage of gift ideas, and let's us in on a few of her favs! Check out our conversation here:  If you know someone who would enjoy this episode, will you please share it with a friend?! CONNECT WITH MARY WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM |FACEBOOK 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. We are releasing them as bonus episodes every Tuesday in November & December. 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 get so many kind comments on social media which we LOVE! However, the truth of the matter is that YOUR REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes)  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! Let’s Connect!  Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos-we love hearing from you! Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Today we are talking all about the connection of gift giving and the 5 love languages.  According to Gary Chapman, there are five ways we express and experience love --which he calls "love languages."    The 5 love languages are:  Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time & Receiving Gifts.  In our conversation, we talk about specific gifts that are appreciated by each love language.  If you liked this podcast please share it with a friend! Below is a cheat sheet with all the ideas we discussed on the episode: ACTS OF SERVICE: Give them a day off Do their chores; be proactive in helping Making a meal for someone Doing something selfless for someone Volunteering your time QUALITY TIME: Plan a romantic weekend away Schedule routine date nights Committing a certain amount of time technology free every day Take a Road Trip Taking a class together PHYSICAL TOUCH: Cuddling/Hugs Back rubs/foot rubs Massages Be intentional about showing affection (ie kissing hello and goodbye) Holding hands WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: Framed quote Inspirational message book Handwritten letter Make them a mix tape Public validation (ie social media)  GIFTS: Buy them concert tickets when their favorite band is in town After a trip, bring home a souvenir or trinket that made you think of them Order their favorite childhood candy or snack ― bonus points if it’s a regional treat or something that has since been discontinued Tip: Keep a note in your phone of specific things your loved ones mention wanting or needing so you have a list of gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays or just because. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 365 DAY GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY | 5 LOVE LANGUAGES 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. We are releasing them as bonus episodes every Tuesday in November & December. 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 get so many kind comments on social media which we LOVE! However, the truth of the matter is that YOUR REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes)  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! Let’s Chat!  Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos-we love hearing from you! Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

ENTER OUR 365 DAY GRATITUDE JOURNAL GIVEAWAY! Howdy TOL friends! We are kicking off December with a special guest, my friend Lauren Raja, founder of Justin Jean PJ's. Lauren tells her story of how an unexpected and tragic loss of her husband in 2014, became the very foundation of her business.  She goes on to share with us how in her darkest days, she found the strength to complete even the simplest of tasks with the help of a white board (that she still uses today!) Bring your tissues, and get ready to feel inspired as you listen to my conversation with Lauren: If you liked this episode will you take a moment to share it? (we have a nifty little share button at the top of this post!) I'd be so grateful if you would please check out Lauren's AMAZING PJ'S which make for great holiday gifts!  My new personal favorite is the DARIEN UNISEX DRAWSTRING PANT . (I have them in camo and the dog print of course!) CONNECT WITH LAUREN WEBSITE | LAUREN'S STORY | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM 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. We are releasing them as bonus episodes every Tuesday in November & December. 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 get so many kind comments on social media which we LOVE! However, the truth of the matter is that YOUR REVIEW on apple podcast (aka Itunes)  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! Let’s Chat!  Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post topic ideas, guest suggestions, questions, comments and photos-we love hearing from you! Of course you also connect with us on the IG or follow us on PINTEREST for some added inspiration.

Today we are joined by my friend, and fellow Organizer, Lisa Clement, owner of Chaos Organizing of Texas. You may remember back to episode 91, we interviewed Lisa's long time friend and business partner, Martha Carol Stewart (a great episode on back to school organizing tips). If you haven't listened, I suggest you check it out! But today, we are in the holiday spirit and Lisa shares all kinds of simple tips and tricks to make your home festive, without adding to the clutter! She even turned me onto a new app (and you know how I love productivity apps!) to keep track of holiday gifts, called SANTAS BAG. I loved my chat with Lisa, and I am sure you will too! If you liked this episode will you take a moment to share it with a friend? (we have a nifty little share button at the top of this post!)  CONNECT WITH LISA WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM ***Don’t forget to check out our new mini-series, This ENTREPRENEUR’S Life, where we talk candidly about the struggles and successes of turning your passion into a profession. Each BONUS episode airs weekly on the This ORGANIZED Life podcast feed, so please make sure to click HERE to subscribe! Your Opinion Matters!   Reviews & downloads make it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts.I am so appreciative of anyone who takes a moment to help the growth of our show by subscribing and listening each week. If you are feeling generous, would you mind giving us a 5 star rating and leaving a short review (it’s super easy I promise!).   Want to Chat?  Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post your questions, comments and photos-we love hearing from you!         JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! FACEBOOK  |  PINTEREST  |  INSTAGRAM

On today's episode we are joined by Theresa Finnigin, Director of Marketing for Organized Living (the preferred closet solution here at SBO!) You  may remember Theresa from episode 38, when we chatted about closet trends. Today we talk all about how to maximize kitchen storage. Even if you don't have a dedicated pantry, you'll still want to listen, because Theresa has lots of great intell that she shares with our listeners. If you liked this episode will you take a moment to share it with a friend? (we have a nifty little share button at the top of this post!)  CONNECT WITH ORGANIZED LIVING WEBSITE  |  PINTEREST  |  HOUZZ  INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK ***Don’t forget to check out our new mini-series, This ENTREPRENEUR’S Life, where we talk candidly about the struggles and successes of turning your passion into a profession. Each BONUS episode airs weekly on the This ORGANIZED Life podcast feed, so please make sure to click HERE to subscribe! Your Opinion Matters!   Reviews & downloads make it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts.I am so appreciative of anyone who takes a moment to help the growth of our show by subscribing and listening each week. If you are feeling generous, would you mind giving us a 5 star rating and leaving a short review (it’s super easy I promise!).   Want to Chat?  Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post your questions, comments and photos-we love hearing from you!         JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! FACEBOOK  |  PINTEREST  |  INSTAGRAM

On today's episode of This ORGANIZED Life, we chat with Kendra Hennessy is a home management expert and positive motherhood enthusiast. She is a podcast host and founder of Mother like a Boss, where she helps busy modern moms become “homemaker-ish.” Her mission is to redefine homemaking in the 21st century and make the difficult and tedious parts of running your home smoother through systems, routines and mindset shifts. Kendra talks about her journey with our TOL audience and you can listen to it right here!↓ If you liked this episode will you take a moment to share it? (we have a nifty little share button at the top of this post!) CONNECT WITH KENDRA WEBSITE   INSTAGRAM  |  PINTEREST |  COURSE ***Don't forget to check out our new mini-series, This ENTREPRENEUR'S Life, where we talk candidly about the struggles and successes of turning your passion into a profession. Each BONUS episode airs weekly on the This ORGANIZED Life podcast feed, so please make sure to click HERE to subscribe! Your Opinion Matters!   Reviews & downloads make it easier for other people to find us when they are searching up new podcasts.I am so appreciative of anyone who takes a moment to help the growth of our show by subscribing and listening each week. If you are feeling generous, would you mind giving us a 5 star rating and leaving a short review (it’s super easy I promise!).   Let's Chat!  Head on over to facebook and join our group, This ORGANIZED Life where you can post your questions, comments and photos-we love hearing from you!         CONNECT WITH US FACEBOOK  |  PINTEREST  |  INSTAGRAM