When Things Go Wrong: How a Junk Drawer Cleanout Becomes Something Else Entirely

Everyone has one, right? That one drawer filled with an odd collection of items, probably in your kitchen, and most definitely in need of some TLC. Need a screwdriver? A rubber ball? A Taco Bell sauce packet? It's most likely in that infamous location known as your junk drawer.

(I asked a few friends to share with me what their junk drawers looked like... and they did not disappoint)

If you're on top of your organization game, your junk drawer might be beautifully organized with sorting trays and perfectly shaped containers to keep your knickknacks tidy. Or maybe it's limited to only specific kinds of items, like this 'junk drawer' that contains mostly games and a few out of place bottles of sunscreen, a few lighters and a camera. 

(It's almost a junk drawer, but I'd say it's closer to a 'game drawer' with a near-perfect Tetris-style arrangement making it an excellent example of a well-organized space)

But, if you're like most people, it's a hot mess of charging cables, batteries and playing cards. Throw in a hodgepodge of office supplies, twine and hand sanitizer and you've got just about all your bases covered. And I'm here to tell you, there's nothing wrong with any of it! As promised, you'll get no judgment from me.

To prove my point, here's my current junk drawer situation. Somehow we've ended up with a fairly typical junk drawer, as well as a secondary/bonus junk drawer... right next to each other in the kitchen... because every home needs a safe space (or two) to tuck things away when people drop by unexpectedly.

(My junk drawers in all their haphazard glory)

Shockingly, mine aren't overflowing. I've tried to find better homes for the assorted goodies that tend to wind up in these spaces, but there's always a collection of the most random objects you can find in one's home. We've got masks and gum and stickers and paper and flashlights and tools and sunglasses and magnetic letters... well, you get it.

Now, you may be wondering why I would write about my not-so-well-organized kitchen drawers. This post, my friends, is not about a thing I've gotten right. It's about the journey of trying something new with my home organizing and I thought it would be fun to take you along for the ride rather than the traditional write-up with before and after pics. My goal was to show you the steps I took, the things I tried and tie it all up with a pretty little bow at the end where I reveal how my brilliant idea came together. It turned out to not be that...

The original idea for this post was to utilize decorative items that not only look nice on shelves and end tables, but also serve a practical purpose... storage for the not-so-tidy-looking collection of stuff that winds up in our junk drawers in the first place.

(These books, for example, aren't books at all... they're cute storage containers for things you might want to keep hidden)

Growing up, I remember my parents having a Campbell's Soup can that looked like a regular can of soup but was really a little bank for stashing away a few extra bucks. I'm not sure if it was hidden from us kids or if it was a rainy day fund, but it was a great hiding spot!

This idea was the same, but rather than hiding cash and priceless jewels in a pantry or bookcase, I wanted to use mine in plain sight with easy access so that we could have everything we need close at hand while still not leaving everything out on the counters... maybe a cute container of household tools and another with pens and pencils. The goal was to end up with no junk drawer at all, while still keeping those handy items, well, handy.

I started with the process I apply to almost every organization project I work on... I go from room to room looking for miscellaneous items that I'm not currently using to their full potential and attempt to repurpose them in a new space. I also use plastic containers and mason jars and Amazon boxes and pretty much anything else that's not nailed down. My goal is always to start with the things that cost nothing and only spend money to organize a space once I know the system I'm putting together has long-term potential.

(Here's everything I could find to get me started)

Step two was the emptying of everything out of the drawers and onto the counters so they could be seen and sorted. It's easier to organize a space when you know exactly what needs to be included. I started by separating out anything that has an official place to be returned: tools back to the garage (except the measuring tape, which is used almost daily for measuring my son's current height because he's obsessed with it and somehow seems to get taller every day! Pardon the tangent...), recipes into our recipe container and Neosporin back to the first aid kit. Then I sorted the items into piles based on who they belonged to and each of us decided how much of it should be kept and what could be thrown away. 

(If you're anything like me, you tend to hang onto things longer than necessary.... receipts, paystubs, grudges...)

Anything that's left after this process needs to be re-homed, which is where the fun usually begins. But, sometimes things don't go exactly as planned and this was definitely one of those times.

This post was intended to be about the moving of things from a junk drawer into cute storage solutions that actually freed up space in my drawers. I even had the perfect title: Junk Drawer to Junk Décor (cute, right?!?). But none of my junk drawer contents ended up making sense in any of my containers (clear containers aren't so great for hiding "junk") and all I'd done was pare the contents down to one drawer. 

(Don't get me wrong, it looks lovely and organized and I'm not mad about it, but it wasn't what I was looking for)

Since I wasn't yet satisfied with this project, I decided my next step would be to find the best use of this newly empty drawer. And the best place I could think of to free up space was my pantry. From the pantry I brought out all of the coffee, tea and hot chocolate related items... because it's starting to get cooler out and a wintertime hot chocolate bar is one of my favorite things to set up in the kitchen. I placed them neatly in the drawer and stepped back to admire my work.

(Progress... but still not right)

I was only slightly satisfied. I now had all of my beverage station supplies in a super convenient location and they were fairly well-organized, but I still hadn't achieved my goal of turning my junk drawer into junk décor, which is when I started to completely rethink the premise of this post... and the idea of re-titling it was stressing me out way more than was reasonable.

So I circled back to my original plan of using containers to store and display my stuff, this time with the contents of my newly created beverage supplies drawer. I desperately wanted it to count as "junk", but as a drawer filled with only drink-related accoutrements that actually came from the pantry, I realized that would be cheating.

(Beverage station with new containers on display)

At this point I have one freshly cleaned and well-organized junk drawer, a cute-ish beverage station with all of my coffee, tea and hot chocolate supplies and just a few additional drink-related items in the second drawer. 

(Not satisfying to an organizing junkie like me)

Since home organizing is not one-size-fits-all, I often try something out for a bit to see if it's a system that will work for me and my family (hopefully before spending any money on it). Still unsatisfied with the current arrangement, I spent the next few days reshuffling all kinds of things from pantry to drawer to shelves and back again until I found something that functioned well. 

With a cat, an elderly lab mix and an unhealthy bulldog (is there any other kind?), we have tons of random pet supplies, so I move those items from the pantry and try a few different configurations with them. 

(I don't like the way cans roll in the drawer, so I switch out food for treats in this space)

The mismatched containers on the counter at this stage drive me a little crazy, but I'm determined to be fiscally responsible, so I continue to hold out on spending money. This is the hardest part of a project for me. I love when a project comes together and the end result looks as incredible as I'd imagined it. This is not yet that.

(I snag a few storage containers from another space and try a few more configurations. Nothing is perfect, but it's getting closer.)

Finally, I believe my project is ready for the finishing touches... the décor that brings it all together so that it's both functional and fun to look at. In this process, I have not only cleaned up my junk drawers effectively, but also made my kitchen more efficient through the consolidation of all hot drinks to one station, freed up valuable real estate in our crowded pantry, AND relocated a variety of pet essentials into one convenient place. In celebration of my efforts, I treat myself to the kinds of things I'd envisioned when I first took on this little project of mine.

(My organized junk drawer, new pet supplies drawer and a fresh look for my coffee bar)

And while I completely failed at turning my JUNK DRAWER into JUNK DÉCOR, I did manage to free up space in my pantry by creating a functional coffee/tea/hot chocolate bar... so I successfully turned my PANTRY DISARRAY into a COFFEE BAR DISPLAY... which also has a nice ring to it. It's not at all what I set out to do, but it turned into a win on all fronts.

Bonus life lesson: somewhere in this post is an important lesson about adapting or going with the flow or rolling with the punches or (insert other overused cliché here). In life, there are things that just don't go as planned... even in something as simple as cleaning out a junk drawer. 

And if there's one thing I've learned in this life so far it's that, no matter how much I may believe otherwise, my home will always have a junk drawer (or two).

Music & Mood : Decluttering Your Playlist

It's no secret that music impacts our mood. Of course, I'm no scientist, so I figured I should find some proof to back up this claim, even if no one was arguing against it. Fortunately for me, there was no shortage of information about how music impacts mood and overall wellbeing. I liked THIS ONE in particular because it wasn't filled with lots of medical and scientific jargon I didn't understand. Ain't nobody got time for that.

So what does this have to do with organizing? While I'd love to help you sort and categorize your vast collection of records, cassette tapes and CDs (no, seriously, I'd really love that!), I'm current enough with the times to know that these vintage collections are a thing of the past for most people (not us though-I'm not ashamed to admit that we actually continue adding to our collection of records and cassette tapes regularly).

(It's not a large collection, but we love it!)

In the age of digital everything, we've found ways to shrink the footprint of almost everything we do. Mail has turned into email, bills have turned into electronic statements, photo albums have turned into digital folders and music has turned into playlists of songs we don't even own on streaming services we can access from pretty much anywhere. Sure beats that old sun visor CD organizer I used to have!

But with an unending library of music and no limit to the number of songs we can add to a playlist, is it even necessary (or practical) to create an organized system for digital music? I'd argue that it is.

As mentioned in the article above, different songs can impact us in diverse ways. And songs that make some people cry can be inspirational to others. Not only do we like and dislike different kinds of music, but that music can also impact our mood in a wide variety of ways.

Over the years, I've created a playlist of my favorite songs. I love them all for different reasons. The list is currently 64 songs and ranges from Eminem to Jason Mraz to Kenny Chesney and provides me with 3 hours and 45 minutes of entertainment. What I've found, however, is that, depending on my mood, I'll skip many of the songs on that list. I still love them, but they're not what I'm looking for in that moment. Maybe I'm going for a walk and I just want some fun, upbeat songs to keep me moving at a good pace. Suddenly, some of my less happy, more angry music comes on and it's all wrong for my current mood, so I skip it for something that better fits my state of mind. While it's no big deal to skip a song, I've found that creating separate playlists for the kind of mood I'm in, or hope to be in, is a better way to go. Not only do streaming services allow you to create a playlist with infinite songs, but I'm pretty sure there's also no limit to the number of playlists one can have. It's time to get your money's worth from that service!

When it comes to sorting through a playlist, I don't recommend scrolling through it and putting songs where you think they belong based on genre. Instead, listen to each song with an open mind and let yourself ease into whatever mood it puts you in, then move that song to the playlist that best fits that mood. This is not a ten minute project. In fact, I've been working on mine for several months now and it's not yet done (thus the 64 songs still on that 'favorites' playlist). I also find that songs sometimes move from one playlist to another or even end up on multiple lists... there's no right or wrong way to do it.

Organizing your songs in this way may seem like a waste of time, but let's look at it another way... Let's say you've had a rough day ___ (fill in the blank: at work, taking care of kids, dealing with unkind people... the list of things that can put us in a bad mood is endless). We know that music has the ability to change our mood through the release of dopamine in our brains, so it stands to reason that listening to music that puts us in a good mood will have a positive impact on our mental state when we're feeling down. Likewise, if we're feeling sad and want to sit in those feelings for a little while, turning on music that matches our mood can allow us to work through emotions we may need to sort through.

The problem with organizing your music by genre is that not all songs in that genre have the same impact. Even songs by the same artist can affect your mood in different ways. Take Toby Keith's extensive list of hits, for example. "Red Solo Cup" might make you want to fire up the grill and pour yourself an ice cold beer while "How Do You Like Me Now?!" could inspire you after a breakup and "My List" might cause you to think twice about how much time you put in at work. That's not to imply that these belong in 3 different playlists... they all just make you feel a different emotion, which could dictate when you want to listen to them.

For myself, I mainly use these playlists:

Songs that remind me of specific people and times in my life: Listening to this playlist brings back so many great memories and is a favorite for long car trips by myself.

My son's favorite music: A playlist says a lot about a person and I love listening to whatever my son is into these days. Surprisingly, it's a great mix of old school stuff like House of Pain and Coolio, music we listened to together when he was younger like Flo Rida, Pitbull and Fitz & The Tantrums, and newer stuff he's introducing me to that I haven't decided whether or not I like yet. I let him play DJ whenever it's just the two of us playing ping pong or driving somewhere and makes me feel like I'm getting to know him a little better in the process.

Music that pumps me up: There is no shortage of music that gets me fired up and I love this playlist for when I'm doing things I don't particularly enjoy, like exercising and doing chores... you know, adulting.

Music for chilling: For pool days when the only thing I plan to work on is my tan, this playlist is perfect for kicking back with an ice cold beverage (iced tea works too!) and putting my brain on vacation mode.

Songs about girl power: These days, there's no shortage of songs for this female-artist-packed playlist that has a way of motivating me even on my toughest days.

Dance party songs: While I don't host dance parties regularly (okay, it's rare, but it sometimes happens by accident), I do occasionally treat myself to my own personal dance party in the kitchen when no one else is around. I'm not really into working out, so sometimes this is the only physical activity I get all week. Therefor, having the right playlist to keep me moving is essential to my physical fitness.

While I don't have a playlist for it myself, a friend of mine has one where she adds any songs with 'oohs' and 'aahs' because they remind her of a girls weekend road trip and the absolutely awful (and somehow also awesome) sing-along we had in the car. There may have been microphones involved. Maybe you had to be there...

While I'd love to share my actual playlists with you, the fact is that mine won't likely look anything like the playlists you'd make for yourself. How music impacts each individual can be so vastly different, so each playlist should be personal to you.

If you've read through this entire post and suddenly realized that your playlist game is severely lacking, I've got a great way to get you started on creating your ultimate playlists! While this can certainly be done by yourself, it's even more fun with others... like most things in life, I suppose. 

From time to time we'll be hanging out with friends listening to music. Usually, it's when people are visiting from out of town and we're sitting outside enjoying a beautiful day and some cold beers. While we love our own playlists, we're often with people that don't have the same taste in music. This is when we play what I call the Alphabet Game. Feel free to rename it before suggesting it to friends so it doesn't sound so lame :)

The game is simple and there are no winners or losers (and also no participation trophies). It works well for any size group and, other than really little kids, anyone can play along. All you need is a music streaming service so that you're not limited on the songs that can be selected. There are free options out there if you're willing to listen to commercials and don't already subscribe to one.

The first person starts with the letter A and comes up with a song title or artist that begins with that letter. They search for the song and play it. The device (iPod, smartphone, etc. based on how you play your streaming music) is passed to the next person who does the same with the letter B. When the first song finishes, the second one is played and the device is passed to the next person to pick a song for C. The goal is to pick the next song before the previous one finishes and it's usually not tough to do when you can plan ahead based on where you're sitting to determine what letter you'll have. Whether you stop at Z or keep the party going for a second round, there is no limit on time (other than bedtime, which could be 9pm with no judgment from me).

You can certainly make the game more challenging by limiting yourself to only song titles or artists and you can narrow it down to specific genres, but the real fun is in seeing what everyone comes up with. Keeping the rules loose means you're more likely to have a very wide range of songs as people often try to come up with something completely unexpected when it's their turn.

If your group is a fun one and the gathering is something you will likely look back on with fondness, create an empty playlist in advance and ask your friends to add their song to that playlist along the way. While it won't be organized like your other playlists by mood, it will likely be an eclectic mix of music and remind you of this group and this night for years to come. And, of course, as you listen to this playlist later, you can copy your favorites into your other organized lists to keep them fun and fresh for future listening.

The best part of organizing your playlists is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. And if you like the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with a completely random mix of songs, don't hesitate to leave it just as it is! When music is digital and takes up no space, no one can judge you on your messy playlist :)

(Toy) Storage Wars - a constant uphill battle

If you have kids, you know. There’s no way around the chaos of toy organization. Every toy is a different shape and size, and no single storage solution makes sense for everything. For years, I have shuffled my son’s things around into an assortment of bins and shelving units, never quite reaching a point of satisfaction with the whole thing. And just when you think you’ve figured it out (much like nap times and eating schedules), they outgrow the toy that perfectly fit into that one great spot, and it’s replaced with some other horrendous device that doesn’t make sense in that spot at all.

My greatest nemesis of all the toys: Nerf guns. With these gems you have the joy of trying to find something large enough to house these awkwardly shaped contraptions, while also coming up with a way to corral the pellets and bullets in a wide array of shapes and sizes (particularly if you also own other brands of toy guns).

My son’s collection wasn’t vast. Maybe 4 or 5 in total with a small collection of foam and rubber bullets. This felt manageable to me. They were stuffed in a toy chest, the bullets left to tumble their way to the bottom of the bin and, thus, were rarely played with. But, if you’ve ever purchased one of these atrocities, you know how expensive they are, so them not getting played with didn’t feel like a win either.

That all changed 3 years ago when my brother’s family decided their boys had outgrown their old toys and that it was time to pass them down to their younger cousins. Many toys were up for grabs, but I knew exactly which ones my kid would gravitate toward. In all their obnoxious glory, we inherited a massive collection of these noisy, lopsided, absolutely un-storable toys. The toy chest was no longer an option and, for several months, I had the pleasure of stepping over piles of Nerf guns in our basement. I knew there was a solution out there, but it took a while to find it.

To my dismay, no one else seemed bothered by the utter chaos of it all. Our basement had become a Nerf war zone and my son didn’t care one way or the other about how these toys were stored. He never once expressed his displeasure about the fact that his Nerf guns didn’t have a reasonable storage solution. But I knew this was a problem for him (or me… maybe mostly me… okay, completely, totally me) and I was bound and determined to solve it.

After lots of research, I found these metal grid racks that are designed for merchandise. The brand is Only Garment Racks. They were sold in sets of three and included the wall mount brackets. The brackets are now sold separately. We also purchased some additional gridwall peg hooks in various sizes to meet our needs.

The racks were heavy, so hanging them was definitely a two-person job and required measuring, marking the walls and utilizing wall anchors. Thankfully, my hubby was thrilled(-ish) to help hang them and my son, who was now convinced this massive undertaking was all about him, was eager to assist with arranging his collection of useless weaponry.

(The end result - Nerf gun display wall)

While it wasn’t the cheapest organization project I’ve ever done, it was definitely one that made my heart happy. We probably spent about $200 on supplies (not including the Nerf guns). And I’m proud to say that my son regularly puts these back where they belong and even rearranges them from time to time to better fit his collection. As a mom obsessed with organizing, this feels like a parenting win (almost as exciting as the fact that he does his own laundry).

The truth is, there will always be toys that aren’t easy to organize. What this photo doesn’t show you is the shelves on the other side of the room where we’ve stacked all his other un-storable gadgets and toys. But since I’m all about celebrating the little things, I choose to turn around, face this wall, and pat myself on the back for a job well done. After all, we can only wrangle one disaster at a time.

What genius toy storage solutions have you come up with in your home? And do you find those organizing solutions are just for you or do your kiddos pitch in with tidying up because it’s easier for them too?

No matter what kind of toy chaos you need to wrangle, there’s always a creative solution out there! And if there’s not, remind yourself that your kids will eventually outgrow those toys and you’ll have your space back again someday… in 18 years or so…

It's Probably Time to Clean Out the Fridge

How long has it been since you’ve cleaned out your fridge?

Let’s start by saying you’re in a judgment-free zone here. I’ve seen the insides of lots of refrigerators and I can promise you one thing… yours is not likely the worst I’ve ever seen. The goal here is not to end up with something resembling what you see on Pinterest (although I absolutely LOVE Pinterest!), the goal is just to see what’s in your fridge.

I thought this post should start out with a little song to inspire you as we get started on today’s journey…. 

Okay, so maybe that would have been a better choice for the ‘let’s clean out the liquor cabinet’ post 🤷. But what I love most about this song is the fact that this guy started out with a list of all kinds of chores and, while he didn’t get to all of them, he’s celebrating the fact that he did manage to accomplish something. And I think we can all get behind celebrating the little things. And drinking beer… I can get behind that as well.

The idea of celebrating the little things is what usually inspires me to clean out my fridge in the first place. It’s a fairly quick process, doesn’t cost any money and also counts as cleaning, so it’s a win-win-win. Here’s what I love about a project like this:

1. It’s hidden behind a closed door, so there won’t be any judgment from passersby about the work I’ve done.

2. Unlike work-related projects, it doesn’t have to function for anyone but my family, so I can arrange things exactly how I want to.

3. I feel a little bit healthier with every expired item I toss, and it requires no cutting calories in the process.

4. Sometimes cleaning out the fridge means using up foods that are just about out of time on this earth… and sometimes those foods end up being delicious treats that I can consume, which goes against #3 above, but is still worth celebrating.

5. It’s a project everyone in the family notices (note that I didn’t say ‘appreciates’ because the noticing might come from not finding what they were looking for in the exact place it used to be). While I prefer when someone compliments my completion of a project, sometimes it’s enough for it just to be noticed.

6. A clean slate is almost always a good thing.

If you’re like me, you love a list. Here’s a breakdown of how I tackle my fridge cleanout:

1. As mentioned in my last post, before the crap can be put away, it first must all come out. I like to use the emptying process as an opportunity to check the dates on everything. I pull the garbage can over and pitch anything that’s past its expiration date. *Side note: if I throw away anything I use regularly, I take the time to add that item to my shopping list right away. I 100% do not rely on my memory when it comes to this kind of thing. 

2. Once the fridge is completely empty (don’t half-ass this one – empty it completely), I take the time to wipe down the shelves and drawers. It’s so rare that this gets done thoroughly because it’s so much work to do it. You’ve already done the hard part, so take advantage of the opportunity.

3. At this point, your kitchen is likely filled with all kinds of stuff you didn’t even know you had. Congratulations! It’s like you just went to the grocery store and didn’t even have to leave the house! Whatever you do, don’t jump right into putting everything away. You have the perfect opportunity to get a little closer to that Pinterest fridge we talked about earlier, so use it! I move everything around so that it’s sorted by need. Condiments, salad dressings, fruit, snacks, cheeses, meats. That’s not to say your sorting should be in these categories. Think of it in terms of what you use together. It doesn’t have to match the layout of the grocery store… it should be based on how you (and who you cohabitate with) use these items on a daily basis. For example, in our house, there are a few things we consistently pack in our son’s lunch: yogurt and fresh fruit. In most households, storing these things together may not make much sense, but for us, putting them in the same drawer means only having to reach into one space to get both things. Add up those 2 seconds I save every day over a year of lunch packing, and I’ve just taken back 4.8 minutes of my life… I’m nothing if not efficient.

4. Bonus project if you’re up for it. While everything is still out on the counter (and maybe the table and the floor and the chairs), I look for items we rarely use or that may be reaching their expiration date soon and come up with a plan to use them. Some of the recipes we try in our house call for a rare ingredient that we won’t likely use in many dishes. I make it a goal to use that item before the next fridge cleanout so that it doesn’t tragically turn into one of those things that ends up in the trash.

5. Finally, the finish line! It’s time to start putting everything away. With everything sorted, it’s a little easier to determine where things will best fit. Keep in mind a few additional tips:

a. If you have little ones that access certain items in your fridge, be sure to keep those in reach.

b. Be intentional about what gets shoved to the back and what stays in front. If you use it often, keep it front and center, so you don’t have to dig through everything to get it.

c. Keep those close-to-expiration items easily accessible so you don’t forget about those delicious recipes you’re going to try.

d. If your fridge has adjustable shelves, don’t be afraid to move them around. I occasionally put things where they fit rather than where I’d like them to be… sometimes the solution is to adjust the shelves so that things can fit where I really want them.

e. Don’t be afraid to use bins and sorting trays. A refrigerator’s design doesn’t always fit our needs. If you want to store certain items together, but you don’t want to forget about those items in the back, use a bin (I like those cheap plastic shoebox-size bins). This makes it super easy to pull out your entire collection of something (sauces, salad dressings, cheeses, anything really) without anything getting lost in the abyss that is the back of the fridge.

(Shredded and sliced cheese packages fit perfectly in these bins!)

If you’ve elected to mix things up a bit and store items in a new way, try to stick with this system for a few days and see what you like or don’t like about it, then rearrange as needed. The beautiful (and frustrating) thing about reorganizing your refrigerator is that it can look different every time you restock it. Just try to avoid shoving in more than you need making it impossible to see those hidden treasures (that later turn into moldy messes) in the back.

(This is what our fridge often looks like at the end of the week just before we restock at the grocery store - lots of leftovers and some wiggle room for new items.)

Whether your fridge looks like it belongs to a hoarder or as if the Grinch has stolen every last morsel of your holiday feast, there’s always a reason for a good refrigerator cleanout. If it feels like an easy project to tackle, get after it so you can celebrate the accomplishment. If it feels like more than you can handle on your own, ask for help. In my experience, the offer of an adult beverage usually results in a friend’s eagerness to assist with a project… and if that beverage was in the fridge, the consumption of it means you’ve already begun the cleanout process. Cheers to you for taking the first step!

First Things First

As my very first post to this new blog, I want to give a little insight as to what you can expect from it (and me) in the coming weeks, months and, who knows, maybe even years…

This blog is a hobby. Maybe one day it’ll become more. For now, it’s a creative outlet where I plan to write and share and brainstorm with anyone who wishes to read it. I make no promises about how often I will post and can make no guarantee as to the quality of its content. What I can promise is that it will be authentically me… good, bad and everything in between. And I hope to entertain you a little bit along the way. 

So let’s dive in…

Here’s my philosophy on organizing a space (and life in general, as it turns out): It’s not all about putting your crap away. Everyone can find a space to shove an unwanted item so that it’s out of sight (pretty sure we all used the space under our beds for that purpose growing up). Sometimes what we really need is to bring all the crap out, dust it off, remember its story and its purpose, decide whether it’s something to keep or discard, then find the perfect place for it to live going forward.

As I began drafting some of the content I wanted to post here on this blog, I realized that it was going to end up being about more than just home organizing. Don’t get me wrong, I plan to focus on this subject and come back to it every chance I get. But be prepared that there may be some messy in-between posts about real life and hard things and maybe a story or two along the way.

The truth is, life is hard and messy and complicated and, try as I might, this blog will never fix it all.

In reading my content, you may learn a thing or two. It’s also possible you’ll share feedback or insights that hadn’t occurred to me and teach me something new as well. I look forward to learning with you.

In sharing my stories, I hope to inspire others to share their stories as well. I look forward to hearing those stories.

In tidying up our closets and cleaning out the spaces under our beds, we may discover a variety of hidden treasures along the way. Cherished memories, sad moments, and things we thought we’d lost long ago. Whether tangible knickknacks or painful pasts… it all needs to come out before it can be tucked back away in safe spaces.

There will be plenty to hang onto, a whole lot to toss out and maybe some valuable possessions we can pass along to others in need. But regardless of what we find in those dark and dusty spaces, my hope is to inspire you to turn that space into something new. Open the curtains, let in the light, and create a space you can be proud of.

Welcome to my blog. Pull up a chair and stay awhile.