“THINK ABOUT THE PERSON WHO COMES AFTER YOU” was a constant refrain in my house when I was growing up. (In fact, the [self-proclaimed] “Nag Hag” would leave us notes to this end!) So, natch, that old chestnut can be heard coming out of my face from time to time as I try to Impart Life Lessons Upon My Kid.
Read MoreHaving discovered the work of Gretchen Rubin—thinker on habits, human nature, and happiness—AKA my jam—I have been eagerly consuming her books and considering how to apply and/or share some of her strategies
Read MoreAs a home organizer and a person with a slight home-design-ap-and/or-real-estate-listing addiction, I spend a significant portion of time observing home environments. And while I’ve enjoyed feasting my eyes on thousands of attractive, visually well-composed spaces, I often realize with dismay that they’d present problems to my clients rather than solve them.
Read MoreWe did it—we KonMari-ed the playroom. It was both more and less painful than I thought it was going to be. It was my six-year old's idea to do this—she woke up one Saturday and was suddenly all about tidying up the playroom.
Read MoreAs you would no doubt imagine, once you have discarded all the clothes that are harshing your buzz, or whatever, you now have to put them away, either in a closet, but preferably in a drawer. Kondo suggests that you "hang any clothes that look like they would be happier hung up, such as those made with soft materials that flutter in the breeze or highly tailored cuts, which protest at being folded."
I decided to Feng Shui a room in my house. I realize that sounds like something an un- /under-employed person would say, but I've been learning a bit about Feng Shui and sincerely wanted to try my hand at it.
Read MoreAre you ready? It's very simple. Here it is:
KEEP THE THING IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU USE THE THING.
Read MoreA lot of people I've been talking with lately have been exploring the idea of setting up systems and routines for themselves. Someone told me recently that the Dalai Lama said one of the keys to happiness is ROUTINE. In a Mazlow's-hierarchy-of-needs sort of way, we need to know that the basic framework of the bulk of our days is set, so we are not expending a crapload of energy each day trying to figure out what the fudgsicles we're doing. Rather, having a set of parameters to frame the day allows us to relax into our lives, allowing for focus and productivity.
Read MoreOH LORD, THE CLUTTER. I AM SO OVERWHELMED, I MIGHT HAVE A STROKE. WHERE DO I START???
If this is you, rest easy: I have a few simple tips to get you started. Number one, well, precursor number one: Don’t try to do everything at once. Your head will explode.
Read MoreI am starting a regular series of posts of organizational tips, called "From Chaos to Zen." It is all about what I am learning and noticing as I organize. I hope you find it helpful!
In website terms, user-experience design (UX) is all about configuring virtual, visual space in such a way as to guide users to see, do, or experience a particular thing. In a well-designed site, you know where to go and what to do, because it is really visually obvious.
Read MoreMy kid loves to do art (so do I). She is also something of a hoarder. This of course makes me, the home organizer, cuckoo bananas. The artwork that she does at school, art class, and at home piles up and piles up. And then piles up some more. Which also, of course, makes me cuckoo bananas.
Read MoreI hate playing. I don’t want to pretend to be Kirsty Tate to my daughter’s Rachel Walker. I don’t want to stuff everything I own into several old shopping bags and imagine that I’m going on an airplane with an imaginary cat named Chester. This is not fun for me. But the guilt! Oh, the guilt. So I do it. Painfully. Begrudgingly. Who’s with me!?!
Read MoreGetting out the door in the morning is the bane of my existence and undoubtedly that of many other parents. You mean I *have* to get dressed? Brush my teeth? SIT ON THE POTTY??? Oh no no no Mommy! I *HAVE* to put this sparkly bird sticker! On my face! Because [BFF] did it yesterday! MY SOCKS! ARE. TOO. TIGHT. MUST. THROW. FIT. NOW. (And I don’t CARE that I could just simply go change them! No! Never!)
Read MoreFor the first 6 years of marriage, my husband did the cooking. I’m not going to lie to you, it was freaking awesome. Then we had a kid and I wound up staying home with her, while said husband went to work outside the home full time. Though he offered to continue doing the cooking, logistically, it made sense for me to do it, so I began reporting for KP duty.
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