Behind the Scenes: My Journey into Virtual Organizing

Woman doing a DIY organizing job

Recently, my husband had hernia surgery, and to my surprise, it was done robotically. The surgeon wasn’t even at the operating table, but off to the side of the room, guiding the procedure through advanced technology. I was shocked at first, but then it made sense: the precision of robot-assisted surgery can lead to better…

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A Professional Organizer’s Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving

A Big Thanksgiving Table

Originally published in 2021, this post has been refreshed with updated tips for 2025. Happy planning! Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to gather with those we love and appreciate the bounty around us. In 2006, my family hosted our first Thanksgiving for our entire family, and we have hosted every other year since! It’s a…

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Forward is a Pace: A Mindset Shift for Anyone Needing Grace

Forward is a Pace

When I first heard Robin Arzón say “Forward is a pace” during a Peloton class, it felt like she was speaking directly to me. As a runner, especially after coming back from injury, I’ve wrestled with critical self-talk: “Pick it up, Steph.” “Why do my legs feel so heavy?” “Am I even moving?” Even though…

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Three Tips for Clearing Mental Clutter

Image of flowers coming out of a brain

What is mental clutter? Anything that takes up space in your head but doesn’t really serve a practical purpose! Fear and anxiety, regrets and grudges are all good examples. They aren’t particularly productive or helpful, and it’s a great practice to clear them out from time to time! In today’s Vlog, I want to talk…

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The New Self Care: Small Daily Practice

image of woman journaling for self-care

Last week, a client asked what I do for myself when I have a “self-care day.” I literally had to stop and think about how to answer the question! Mostly because, like many women, I don’t really ever have a full day for self-care. Historically, we have thought of self-care as being synonymous with “pampering”;…

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My Top 3 Packing Tips

Clothing all laid out, organized and ready to be packed

With the holidays coming, many of my clients are excited to visit family and get out and about a bit more – including myself!

You may find this hard to believe coming from a professional organizer, but packing causes me a lot of anxiety. I love to travel, but I don’t necessarily like to pack! To combat that anxiety, I use these three tips to make the process much easier.

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The Habit That Helps Everyone

Woman holding reusable shopping bags

Boxes and bags represent clutter in virtually every home. And this type of clutter doesn’t just affect my clients who struggle with chronic disorganization – it affects everyone. Developing the habit of UNPACKING THOSE BOXES AND BAGS RIGHT AWAY will help eliminate clutter in every home where it is practiced. A tremendous amount of both…

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Creating Your Happy Place

clean and tidy living room in a home in Manhattan beach California professional organizer help

This photo makes me happy. It shows my friend’s living room, which she created and designed specifically to spend time with her girlfriends. It’s meant to be a place for them to gather, talk, laugh, cry, and share a communal ‘cheers’. When my friend started planning this space at the very beginning of 2020, it…

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5 Easy Ways to Declutter While Staying Safer at Home

Top view of pen and notebook written with Declutter Your Life on wooden background.

We are all at home now, in the place that should be our happy place, our soft spot to land. How does it feel? Are you overwhelmed because the clutter you are accustomed to leaving behind when you go to work is surrounding you 24/7? Here are five ways to start decluttering and organizing your…

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Five Things You Can Do NOW To Establish a “New Normal”

NOW word near alarm clock on wooden desk. Concept of present moment. Time take action.

This is happening – it’s crazy! Last week, I was getting ready to post an article about Life Transitions. I’m pretty passionate about this topic. I’ve given presentations on transitions like moving out, birth, downsizing and everything in between, and hold certificates of study in them. I believe that we also experience small transitions every…

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