Have you started your holiday shopping? If you’re like me, you take advantage of some of the crazy sales that started last week with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Of course, it’s no surprise that nearly every sale has been extended (seriously, there is no reason to pay full price these days) and I have a few more things I’d like to grab for people on my list. I find gift guides to be helpful because it’s easy to fall in a rut when it comes to gift giving, especially for picky people like your kids or for specific occasions like holiday parties when you don’t want to go empty handed but want an alternative to a bottle of wine.

I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving! I’ll be spending today eating leftovers for lunch (they are the best, right?) and am looking forward to a longer than normal weekend with family. Before I hop offline I’m going to snag a couple of items that are on serious Black Friday sale right now.

I wanted to keep it quick since I’m sure you’ve only got a handful of minutes to spare today while preparing for the day’s festivities. If I’m being honest, I struggled with what to say today because I don’t want to come off as self-centered or braggy when listing out what I’m thankful for. The thing is, I couldn’t ignore the urge to reflect on everything that has brought me gratitude this year, and what better time to share it than on Thanksgiving?

How was your weekend? We went to a family matinee and saw Wonder. As expected, I cried the entire time (I wasn’t alone!)…but I can’t recommend this movie enough. Such a great message to spread kindness! After the movie we were out running errands and popped into CB2, one my favorite stores because their storage and home decor is always on point. Of course, my pink-loving daughter beelined to this adorable flamingo and since we’ve been looking for a solution for her growing jewelry collection we gave it a go.

Have you heard of Hygge? The Danish word that translates to “cozy” has been popping up everywhere in design magazines and in the home decor section of nearly every store I go by. I find myself gravitating to this style more often than others as the simplicity and beauty can truly transform the feeling of a space.I love incorporating functional pieces (like furniture and bins) and home staples (like blankets and accessories) that tie into my home’s aesthetic.

How was your week? I made progress in swapping out my makeup and skincare items (though it wasn’t easy) and this weekend I’m taking time to prep for the next month ahead. I have a couple of quick day and overnight trips on my schedule, and I like to keep my packing to a minimum…both in how long I spend preparing and how many items I bring.

There are some categories that are easier to declutter than others. For some people, it’s easy to discard old bills or clothing, while for others the thought of donating stuffed animals or books seems next to impossible. We all have those categories that are difficult to tackle. For me? My skincare and makeup. I know, I know…how can something that I put on my face be so tough to declutter? The sentimental association I have with the products makes it difficult for me to let go.

How was your week? I’m looking forward to a few quieter days this weekend to catch up. Between Halloween on Tuesday and an epic Boss-Lady event on Wednesday, I’m looking forward to a few days where I can get myself organized.

This has been a big year for me. I got married, made it through another back-to-school season, and even started the process of celebrating ten years in business (lots of changes coming soon).  Feeling run-down is the name of the game when you’re juggling a busy home and professional life, right? Pretty soon, though, I realized that I was dealing with more than just fatigue and a whole lot of stress.  After countless doctor’s appointments, I learned that I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a key gland responsible for regulating many of your body’s essential functions.  On the one hand, I was grateful to finally attach a name to what I have; however, I wasn’t (and maybe am still not) prepared for all that it would take to manage this condition. Let me tell you, life with Hashimoto’s is not easy. The status quo was not going to fly if I wanted to keep my symptoms in check.  It was time to mobilize and organize!

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.