Earlier this month I traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the How To Summit – a conference for professional organizers. People came from all over the country (and world!) to learn, connect and share a sense of community. You know those opportunities and experiences that just fill your soul? Well that is exactly what my two […]

2019 was a tremendous year in some many different areas and I am extremely grateful for it all. I could not run this little business of mine without my team and I am so fortunate to have committed, enthusiastic, brilliant, organized, and loving team members that help make Rachel and Company the best organizing firm in the Washington, DC area (dare I say even outside the area?!)

Lately it seems as if everyone has hopped on the recent organization craze. Everywhere you look you see beautiful images of perfectly decluttered and beautifully labeled and organized spaces. But how do you actually get there? As a professional organizer one of the main things (among many others!) that I do is to help my clients declutter and then implement versatile organizational systems that continue to keep them organized after I leave. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: getting organized isn’t a one-time event and I don’t treat it as such. I focus on creating systems that will last based on the needs and current lifestyle and habits of you and your family. With those elements in mind, I’m able to implement solutions that will last because they support how you are already living, making it easy and intuitive for you and your family to adapt.

With the holiday season among us (Thanksgiving is only one week away!), this means that our schedules are about to become a bit busier and our fridges and pantries may become a bit more crowded. Between hosting obligations and the anticipated turkey and side dish leftovers, finding space in an already crammed refrigerator may seem nearly impossible.

So, what can be done?

Before you bring another Tupperware container or bulk-size box into the fridge, let’s use today—National Clean Out Your Fridge Day!—to make some necessary improvements to this space.

A lot of my organizing tips are specific to an area of the home (like the kitchen, playroom, or under the sink), but there is a common area that we are all touching on an everyday basis: our email inboxes! While this area of your life doesn’t fill up with the same type of clutter that you see around your home, the impact of the disorganization in this area can be just as frustrating and difficult to navigate and honestly one of the most difficult areas to organize.

When you’re working on decluttering your home, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and feel the need to get rid of everything. Yes…that happens! And while there are no real “rules” to getting organized, there are general guidelines that are helpful to keep in mind when you are deciding what should stay and what can go. If there are items or categories that you don’t use or need any longer, that’s usually an indicator that you can and should part with those items. But, there are a few categories that—despite their lack of use—should be the exception to the “rules”. Check out my recommendations below for seven things that I suggest you not throw away while decluttering (or at least take a second look and pause before you do).

There are a couple of topics that win the title for “most requested” when it comes to creating content. It’s probably no surprise since you’ve likely seen the commercials and been inundated with ads and store sales pushing products and reminders, but back to school season is a big one over at Rachel and Company. I definitely see a rise in requests for clients asking for help around the home to get organized for the upcoming school year. As a parent, I totally get it! There are lists of products to buy, clothing and supplies to get prepared, and maybe even a rogue backpack or two left to unpack from the last school year (hey, no judgement!).

I’ve noticed that having an office space that is beautifully designed and organized isn’t just a trend. Companies seem to be taking the time and are investing more in their employees and their surroundings by bringing in experts to create better work environments. From how the furniture is designed to the office, companies have taken notice of the positive impacts that organized office spaces can have on their employees and their productivity.

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.

It was time for a change and something major: a rebranding of Rachel and Company. I had an idea of what I liked and what I wanted, and realized it wasn’t as easy as going blonde! That’s when I met Marcela, a branding expert and designer for one of my favorite brands (Framebridge), and she offered to redesign my logo and create a new look and feel for Rachel and Company. Take a look.