Today, June 1st, I turn 40. I am closing out my most challenging, rewarding, and life altering decade. In my 30s there were at least 5 major life changes where organization helped me…and when I say “helped” me at points, being organized actually saved me. Saved me from having to focus on the unnecessary and waste time, saved my sanity so that I could just stick to the routine and saved me money because I knew what I had and didn’t overspend which saved me lots of unnecessary stress. Here is a little insight into my life and how I navigated it all!

We are in the midst of wedding season and–as I’m sure many of you know–the amount of choices and to-dos can make anyone feel a little overwhelmed. So, from one bride-to-be to another, I want to give some advice and share how I’ve stayed organized along the way with the hope of making this special time less stressful (and more fun even if you don’t like planning!) and allowing you to concentrate on what is most important to you throughout the process and in turn, the marriage. Using websites like Zola to organize registries and HitchSwitch to simplify the process of changing your name.

As a company full of women, it should come as no surprised that we get excited when a client requests to have their jewelry organized. We wanted to share our tips for how we tackle a jewelry project for our clients so that everything is separated, secure, and accessible. Things like categorizing your jewelry, identifying your storage options and then storing while keeping in mind how frequently you certain pieces will make a world of a difference when you are putting the final touches on your favorite outfit.  

We chatted with The Washington Post on their Facebook Live yesterday to discuss how to organize a fridge, our favorite products to use, and general tips for how to keep up the systems once they are in place to prevent food waste in the future. Some of the tips that we mentioned are keeping similar products together, using clear containers and checking out-of-sight places regularly. These small actions will make a world of a difference when it comes to grabbing a quick snack for breakfast or making dinner for the whole family.

Closets are area that for many seems to be too big of a beast to tackle for many reasons. With kids, it’s inevitable that systems will never be perfect. In order to create a system that will be successful for you and your family it is important to think about your needs, identify how you and your children use the space, and figure out what you want for it to look like. Here are some of the tried-and-true tips that I incorporate into my client’s homes and that would work in any tight space, from dorm rooms and studio apartments to older homes with teeny storage spaces.

When I walk into an awkwardly-shaped room or tiny closet that I know is not functioning best for the client I am forced to get creative with the existing space (especially if it is not an option or within budget to change the layout of the space). So, I maximize the area that is available. Here are some of the tried-and-true tips that I incorporate into my client’s homes and that would work in any tight space from dorm rooms and studio apartments to older homes with teeny storage spaces. Choosing quality over quantity, investing in double-duty pieces, adding color and texture pieces are all key in getting the most out of your small space.

Packing is not a fun task, but–similar to organizing–when you create a system to help get the job done you are not only going to cut down on the time it takes to get ready for a trip, but you’ll also spare yourself the stress, second-guessing, and overstuffing that is commonly associated with it.  Creating a packing list, planning outfits in advance, and preparing for just-in-case moments will make your travel experience go a lot smoother.

My 9-year old identical twin daughters and I were on Great Day Washington earlier to discuss spring organizing tips and to provide real-life examples of how families, including those with young children, can help out with getting organized (and not just create more chaos). Here are a few tips to get your family involved with spring cleaning the closet, toys chest, pantry and storage.

There are SO many organizing products out there, and in recent years more stores have stepped up their game to offer products that are aesthetically appealing. It’s overwhelming to know where to begin.I can hear the frustration in my clients’ voices as they describe their failed attempts to get organized on their own. If you’ve been in this situation know that there is ONE thing that you need to know to avoid this type of frustration moving forward: how to measure.

I am often faced with the “I don’t why I store this here” situations during client appointments (i.e. why lightbulbs and batteries are stored typically in 3+ areas of the home) and it just reiterates the point: when you bring an item into your house it typically lives where it lands. One of the best times to create organizing systems is also during what can be for some a very stressful period: moving time! It’s the only time you will have a completely blank space to work in and get to re-assign what goes where, which–if done strategically–will make your life easier moving forward.