Hey Reader, Did you catch the podcast episode last week? Deanna is such a thoughtful interviewer. I loved our conversation. Several people told me it gave them the clarity and motivation they needed to begin decluttering. 🙌🏻 That’s why I’m reaching out with a small favor. Would you forward this email to someone who might need that same boost? Maybe they’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Or they feel frustrated because no one else in the house seems bothered by the clutter. 😡...
about 21 hours ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I just started working with an amazing client, and we’re tackling a mountain of paper together. But here’s what’s so exciting—she found me through a podcast and told me she learned so much just from that one episode! So I thought… maybe you’d like to hear it too. 🤔 Because let’s be honest: the best part of decluttering isn’t just the tidy drawer or the cleared shelf. It’s that feeling when things finally start to leave your house and you breathe a little easier. You create margin....
7 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, What if you had to carry all the clutter of your life in a backpack? I mean carry all the things that are weighing you down physically, mentally, and emotionally. What would be inside the bag? I can tell you what's in my bag, and I even tried to carry it. There were coffee mugs, books, stuffed animals, baskets, photos, kids' artwork, china, water bottles, electronics, and even a yearbook. And I captured the journey in a new video project that’s coming this summer. 🥳 It’s a...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Our clutter often reflects the many seasons of life we've lived through. Lean years, bountiful years, years with loss and stress, but also joy and celebration. Your mess isn't laziness, it's years of memories and meaning that feel like they live inside your stuff. You know it needs to go, but you're just not quite ready. If you're staring at a closet full of clothing you rarely wear or a storage room that lacks a proper walkway, please know that you're not alone. Decluttering...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Years ago, when my son was little, I was deep in clutter—and deep in denial. I think I was an organized hoarder. 😳 Here’s what I believed at the time: “I just need better storage.” → I thought the right bins or baskets would finally make everything feel organized. “Rearranging will fix it.” → I’d spend hours moving stuff around instead of making real decisions. “I should use every inch of space.” → I believed empty drawers were wasted space, so I filled them… whether I needed the...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Thank you for all the advice! So many of you shared your thoughts about the dance of kids coming home, leaving again, and all the little ground rules we need in between. Here’s my favorite one: “If you’re staying here, please let us know what time you’ll be back. Not a control thing, but we have a life too—and we want to know if the person coming in at midnight is you or an intruder.” ---Alicia Yes! 🙌 We have a life too. (If you’re new here, my son Zack just wrapped up his first...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Did you guess? It’s Zack. One year ago, celebrating his high school graduation ❤️ If you’re new around here, my son Zack just wrapped up his first year of college. One whole year—gone in a blink! And today... we’re picking him up. 😱 I. Cannot. Wait. Tonight, he’ll sleep in his own bed, safe and sound. My heart is full. And yet... we’re also feeling a little apprehensive. Can I tell you a secret? We kind of like empty nesting. I feel a little guilty even saying that. But my coach...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, What season are you in right now? I don’t mean spring or summer (or “pollen with a side of 40-degree nights,” as we call it here in the Mid-Atlantic). I mean your season of life. Are you… Empty nesting and craving simplicity? Stepping on Legos and buried under toys? Or somewhere in between—juggling aging parents and growing kids? That last one? That’s me right now. They call it the Sandwich Generation, and it’s real. My husband and I are helping care for four aging parents. We...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, By now you know that my family and I value #experiencesnotstuff but it wasn't always this way. Over the years we decluttered and removed a lot of stuff from our home. We reduced how much we own by 75% and became a minimalist family when my son was young. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner. We've been living this lifestyle for almost 20 years and I'm never going back. In my article, 6 Habits to Live Like a Minimalist Family, you can learn more about us and the...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Can I be honest with you? Screen time is hard for me. I am a work in progress but I'm committed to lasting change. I want to reduce the time I spend staring at my phone but I struggle. The addiction is real. Maybe you’ve just given up? Do you wake up and hit snooze on the phone alarm? And then scroll through email and social media for 30 minutes to wake up? Finally, you get up and immediately regret how late it is. Maybe your boss sent an email about an urgent task which is now...
2 months ago • 1 min read