As I’m standing at the event looking at the photographer take photos it dawned on me that my summer vacation pictures were still sitting on my phone. The photos were now so far deep in the album that I would have to scroll pretty far to find them. I had really great intentions of getting them printed as soon as I got home from my last trip, but then I got sick…and work was busy…and life was back to normal…so, it was easy to be dropped on the priority list. That’s when I decided to try a new-to-me app to preserve my photos. The best part? It takes under 5 minutes to do!

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times that people have said to me “you’re home must be so perfect and organized!” or I’ve received questions on how I balance being a full-time business owner and mom to identical twins. I am always flattered to hear that it looks like I’ve got it together and all figured out, but I would be lying if I said that it was easy and that I truly don’t work hard every day to keep my business, home, and family running smoothly. I was recently asked by Ringlet Studio to share my organizing tips for business owners, and I wanted to share a couple of the tips on the blog because I know that they can be used in your life regardless of what your work or home life looks like.

One of the reasons I love my job is that it ensures that no two days look the same. While most of my days are full of client walkthroughs and overseeing organizing projects and designs, some days I’m out of town for work and other days I’m flexing my expert skills in front of an audience. Last week I had the honor of joining Responsibilty.org at the #TalkEarly Summit in DC. I was brought on as the organizing expert to discuss how organization can help to reduce stress, and this topic is something that I couldn’t wait to share on the blog because I know that so many of us are in the same boat.

During the transition between seasons I find myself reaching for the “in between” items. The light jackets and sweaters are the items that I rarely shop for but honestly they probably get the most wear!I know I’m not alone, as we have several clients requesting closet organization and refreshes. The turn of the season brings the “out with the old, in with the new” mentality, but in my line of work I have seen time and time again that it is more difficult for people to practice what they preach. I get it! So, here are the tips that I tell all of my clients. There are no strict rules that you have to follow, and honestly very little time that goes into it if you keep up with the process seasonally.

As a busy mom, I’ve learned a thing or two about how kitchen organization can impact not only what we eat, but how we eat. How you approach organization in your kitchen – all with an emphasis on making good food choices- can help save time and reduce waste. As I’ve mentioned time and time again, I always recommend investing in products that are not only functional and add to the existing aesthetic of your home BUT also save you time. Years ago when I discovered Fridge Coasters…

Here we are in mid-September. Summer is officially over. The kids are back in school. You can feel a hint of crispness in the air when you walk out the door each morning. I’m inspired to muse about the changes I anticipate for myself, and particularly, my business. I don’t like to let things get to comfortable and I am constantly striving to figure out new and innovative ways to expand Rachel & Company. So what’s ahead you might ask? I’m excited to create more online classes, expand the rachel-company.com Shop page, and continue to partner with other amazing groups to promote new ideas and offerings…

With the onslaught of Hurricane Irma and Harvey, it has put emergency preparedness at the front of my mind (and yours too, I’m sure) and now more than ever I find it important to address emergency preparedness and being organized for an emergency. Here are a few quick tips to safely store all the items that you may need in an emergency situation.

As cheesy as it may sound, labels are the glue that hold your systems together. They are the structure to support the system that you’ve worked hard to put into place (like organizing your pantry) and keep categories together. Labels can help you save time (especially with kids), cut down on waste, save money and make daily tasks easier. I highly recommend the company Mabel’s Labels, their products are durable, aesthetically pleasing and can be applied to multiple items.

Last month I chatted with Kirsten and Graham from the The Home Hour podcast and I’m so excited to announce that it’s now up on iTunes! In the 45-minute segment we talked a lot about closet organization, decluttering tips for your home, and of course back to school (tis the season!). I touch on everything from how to stop decision fatigue, the motherly instinct to be prepared for those “just in case” situations, and why I focus more on being a realist instead of a minimalist.

I don’t know about you, but I depend on routines and schedules. If you’re interested in adopting some tried-and-true tips that have worked in a busy household with young children, I’ve included the morning routine tips that have worked for our family over the years below. For younger and older kids, the same morning routine tips apply but your involvement will be determined on their age and how much responsibility/independence you’d like for them to have.