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...
2 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...
10 days 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...
16 days 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...
24 days 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 1 month 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...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Paper clutter is a daily challenge! And the important stuff always gets lost in the pile. I helped a client find a car title, saving her so much time and money! Every single one of my coaching clients is working on their paper filing system so they can go paperless. If you're ready to get started on the road to paperless living, I have TWO resources for you today: Read: 5 Easy Technology Solutions to Go Paperless Download: the Paper Filing Guide to get started If you REALLY want...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Just a quick note for my NoVA friends. If you have clothing you'd like to donate to a good cause or you're ready to shred a filing cabinet worth of old files, I have just the opportunities you need this weekend. Donation Opportunities This Weekend Saturday, April 12 - Shred Event - 9AM -12PM - 11413 Purple Beach Drive, Reston, VA Sunday, April 13 - Clothing Drive for non-profit Upsidedown Moments - 9AM-12PM - 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon, VA What additional donation resources do...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, The school year is ending very quickly, which means graduation season. We just received our first grad party invite for May. Last year, we celebrated my son's high school graduation. My husband and I went parties for two weeks like it was our job and we loved every minute of it. We've been empty nesting for the past year and our college freshman will be packing up his dorm in a few weeks to return home for the summer. So all that extra stuff is coming with him 😳 and we need to...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I returned from a lovely two-week ski vacation in Colorado. My son was with me during his spring break and I had extra credit days on the mountain with my favorite person, my cousin Chris. I returned to beautiful spring weather in the mid-Atlantic but I am sad ski season is over. I cleaned and dried all the gear and returned it to my storage closet. Until next year.... Last week, I took the best intermediate ski lesson ever with Anthony at Keystone Resort and have graduated to...
2 months ago • 1 min read