As you know, my husband and I have been full-time travelers ever since he retired in July 2013. We love the RV lifestyle and plan to continue traveling. What you didn’t know (because I never told you) is that I’ve been semi-retired for a few years now. I’ve continued to blog and send my quarterly organizing tips newsletter and other emails to my subscribers. And I’ve written some articles like this one about RV Space Hogs. But the time has come to say goodbye. I’ve decided to retire, effective immediately. So this will be my last blog post. Click Here to Enter My Farewell Giveaway! I want to ..read more

With December in full swing, you may feel like your home is getting out of control. Preparing for Christmas and New Year festivities on the tail of Thanksgiving can make your head spin. Just trying to keep up with the tree needles shedding can be stressful! And with so much on our minds, it’s easy to misplace things. We experience this every year, yet we still find ourselves losing control of our living space and are left with a cluttered mess to work through by the time January rolls around. However, this can be the year to put an end to the chaos so we can relax and enjoy a clean home. Thin ..read more

We’ve all been spending more time at home than usual, so it’s no surprise that home projects have flourished. You’ve likely been busy with home quarantine projects such as cleaning out closets, and generally decluttering and re-organizing your home. As you go through your home, exploring boxes of whatnots, you’ll find plenty of things to throw away, for sure. But you may find items that you can repurpose and reuse. Here are a few home quarantine projects that can keep you engaged, entertained, and even organized during your time at home. 1. Remake an Old Rug In addition to providing a bit of ..read more

It takes work to accomplish your goals. Whether they’re large or small, perseverance is key to achieving them. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re not sure where to begin. A perfect place to start is to focus on your natural habits. What tasks do you naturally gravitate towards? What is the most productive part of your day? Beginning here and understanding your natural rhythms can make a huge difference. There is, however, a way to get a headstart just by optimizing your daily schedules and to-do lists. Once you have a system in place that works for you, it’s only a matter of time ..read more

If you’re working from home, you need a comfortable, efficient, and overall enjoyable space to work in. You’d be surprised at what a difference a well-designed office space can make in your productivity and attitude. Here are some expert tips for organizing your home office, whether you’re upgrading your current office or converting a spare room into your office space. Choose the Right Furniture When it comes to furniture, you don’t necessarily need to have all the pieces that make up a corporate office. The beauty of setting up your home office is that you get to choose the right furniture f ..read more

If you live in a home that is cluttered, you may be struggling with depression. That can make it difficult to keep up with housework and stay organized. Taking action to declutter your home may help you fight off some of the symptoms of depression and improve your daily outlook. Here’s how clutter and depression are related. Clutter Causes Lower Self-Esteem  Living in a constant state of disorganization can be difficult and stressful. When you can’t find your keys, miss deadlines, or misplace important papers time and again, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and sad. Living with clutter may ..read more

Just as regular cleaning and decluttering helps to keep your home safe, there are some simple things that you, as a responsible homeowner, should tackle to ensure the safety of all who enter your home. Right now, at the start of the fall season, is a good time to take care of these important home maintenance tasks. Change Batteries in Smoke Detectors Start by changing all the batteries in your smoke detectors. This is easy with the help of a ladder and someone holding that ladder while you remove the cover of the smoke detector, then remove the current batteries and replace them with fresh ba ..read more

This post was originally published on June 24, 2017. Genealogy research can be an expensive hobby if you factor in computer programs, tools, memberships, documentation fees, research trips, books, seminars, and conferences! (Hmmm, wonder how much I’ve spent over the years? Not to mention the time invested…) But it doesn’t have to cost a penny. I want to help everyone who’s interested in discovering, organizing, preserving, and sharing their family histories regardless of where they live, or how much money they have. But there’s only one of me, and I need to make a living too (so I can’t work ..read more

Most of us have photos stored away somewhere in our homes. You may have digital photos stored on computers, phones, CDs and thumb drives. Or you have print photos hidden in drawers or boxes in the attic or back of the garage. There is likely a mix of both for storing your precious memories. These photos, home movies and memorabilia are priceless family keepsakes. They can, unfortunately, become easily damaged or destroyed by sunlight, heat, humidity, pests, poor handling and natural disasters. Take steps to protect these memories and declutter your life by treating your family photos and memo ..read more

Over the last few months, you’ve probably noticed some major change in your routines, lifestyle, habits, and responsibilities. If you’ve felt a bit off track or lacked direction during this unprecedented crisis, you’re not alone. Following are six ways to get back into a routine – mentally and physically – and organize for a better tomorrow. Start and End Your Day with Purpose When life feels unpredictable or you’re going through a difficult time, it’s very easy to lose your motivation to maintain healthy habits. But those little routines can make a big difference in your overall well-be ..read more