These bead boxes are 3.25″ x 3.25″ x 1″ and have a hinged lid.  This is great because the lid can never get lost, and it latches securely, so you don't have to worry about these popping open on accident!  They're stackable, have a nice spot for a label, and…. they are the MOST AFFORDABLE organizing container I've ever bought!  Here's what I store in them:

1.  Beads or Aquabeads

Of course you can store any kind of little beads or marbles in them.  That's what they're actually made for!

2.  Small Craft Supplies

I store a ton of my chalk art supplies, but any little craft supply works perfectly with these.

3.  Jewelry when Traveling

This is possibly my favorite use!  I often travel with larger earrings or necklaces that won't fit in a traditional travel jewelry bag or case.  They fit perfectly here, are protected, and the lid is latched securely, so nothing dumps out.

4.  Wipes

All kinds of wipes work here– hand wipes, lens cleaning wipes, or anything small you need to carry around with you.

5.  Earbuds

If you still have the more traditional, wired earbuds without their own case, this is perfect for keeping them safe and untangled.

6.  Small Cords

Little charging cables, plugs, or cords.

7.  Washi Tape

Washi tape is so cute, and it's making a comeback.  I store mine in these little boxes.

8.  Sticky Notes

9.  Cough Drops or Hard Candy

10.  Tiny Doll or Action Figure Accessories

Perfect for doll shoes, and little accessories that my daughter would otherwise easily lose.

11.  Ribbon Scraps

I'm a sucker for saving little scraps of ribbon.  This way I can actually see what I have and use it!

12.  Buttons

I organize buttons by color so I can easily see what I have!

13.  Hair Ties

I keep one of these in my bathroom and my car.

14.  Small Hair Bows

Hair bows, barrettes, or clips are easily contained in these.

15.  Small and Medium Binder Clips

All but the really large clips will fit in here.

16.  Sewing Kit

A spool of thread and a few needles fit nicely in these.

17.  Bandaids or Small First Aid Kit

I always have a few bandaids on hand!

18.  Paper Clips

19.  Push Pins

If you have a bulletin board, keeping the pins in a little box like this will protect your hands.

20.  Open Seed Packets

Did you know seeds last for several years (or longer!)?  The key is keeping them dry.  I store opened packets of seeds in these boxes so they're ready to use next year!

21.  Rubber Bands

If you're not crazy about the rubber band ball, try this!

22.  Jewelry Supplies

I keep my extra earring backs, etc. in these bead boxes.

23.  Coins

Great for the house or the car.

24.  Cord Ties

25.  Temporary Tattoos

My kids love temporary tattoos, and it seemed like we were collecting so many, but they were layign all over the house.  This way we have an easy way to keep them contained and protected.

26.  Cricut or Silhouette Blades

It makes my life soooo much easier to sort the blades by depth/type, etc., so I don't have to look it up every time I go to use one!

27.  Letter Board Letters

I can separate the letters out so they're fast and easy to find!

28.  Small Hardware

These are perfect for organizing screws, bolts, and nails in the garage.

29.  Command Hook Strips

I love Command Strips, and I can separate them by small, medium, and large, and then I don't have to drag out a huge tote every time I need one.

30.  Cotton Swabs

These are always so handy to have around, and in a little case like this, I can keep them anywhere, or travel with them!

Of course, you can use these for many more things!  I also love bead boxes because I can use them in so many different places.  They fit easily in a purse or diaper bag.  They stand up well in most drawers, and then you can read the labels.

You can put them in your car's glove compartment or center console.  I've also found this canvas bin where they fit perfectly with two side by side!

I'm always a fan of thinking outside the box, LOL, and finding new ways to use something.  I do the same with photoboxes!  You can check out my video on photoboxes here.  What else would you organize with these little bead boxes?

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

1.  Their spaces all look very different.

There is no one way to be organized.  People have different personalities and organizing styles, and all of this works differently for different people.  Sometimes it helps to think about the only two things you have to have to be organized:

1. Every item needs a home.
2. It has to make you smile.

That's it!  As long as you know where everything belongs and can find it when you need it, you're set!  You can have a lot of stuff (that you need and use!) or less stuff, but if it all has a home and you aren't searching all over when you need it, then it's organized!

An organized space also doesn't have to look like it belongs on Pinterest!  As long as it makes you happy and you can find what you need, you don't need to worry about what it looks like to someone else.

2.  Organized people are all very different.

Anyone at any age can be organized!  Organized people all have different needs and preferences, and there is no one-size-fits-all system or type of person.  Anyone can do it!

3.  They may not have always been organized.

If you're not organized or you've struggled very long with disorganization, it can feel like organized people must have just been born that way.  This is totally not true.  Sometimes the stress and craziness of disorganization can be the catalyst that makes a person finally organized their life.  This can happen for any one at any age or stage in life.

It's also important to remind ourselves that organization is a learned skill.  It's not inborn, and with some effort, literally anyone can make some changes for the better!

4.  They don't always love organizing.

So, to be honest– I absolutely love organizing!  I can geek out all day on creating a new organizing system, LOL!  But not all organized people are like this.  Some absolutely hate the organizing process, but they like the results or how it removes stress from their lives.

It's okay to not enjoy the process of getting your home to run more smoothly.  It's okay to hate decluttering and doing all the initial setup work.  As long as you can make yourself actually do it, you don't have to like the process.

5.  They're not all minimalists.

I'm not a big fan of clutter, obviously.  But I am by no means a minimalist!  I have a pretty big house, and I have a fair amount of things, too, but I just don't have clutter.  I like keeping my home decluttered so it's easier to find homes for what we do need, and it's easier to find those things when we want them!

But the idea of a tiny home or getting rid of all but two kitchen utensils totally makes me squirm!  There is a difference between keeping your home decluttered and trying to live with as few items as possible!

6.  Their houses are not always tidy.

Organization can easily be confused with tidiness.  In reality, you can have one or the other or both combined (the sweet spot, of course)!  Organizing and tidying are two different things.  I love organizing, but I pretty much hate tidying, LOL!  So this is a constant struggle for me.

If you were to just drop in at my house, about 20% of the time, it's a hot mess!  About 60% of the time it's in decent shape but not perfect, and about 20% of the time, it looks spotless and perfect.  Despite the occasional mess, I'm organized almost 100% of the time.

I've never been great at sticking to a cleaning routine or schedule.  With my chronic illness over the last few years, keeping up with housework has gotten even harder.  I don't always pick stuff up right after we use it or get the dishes washed right after dinner.  I've had to learn to be okay with this.

One good thing about being organized though is that since everything has a home, we're never more than about 10-20 minutes away from being tidied up!  This relieves so much stress when I find out a last minute visitor is coming by.

7.  They're not always consistent.

Consistency is a great trait, but you can still be organized without it!  I wouldn't call myself consistent, really.  I tend to organize all at once, and I work in fits and spurts.  I'm also bad at sticking to a consistent routine with cleaning or decluttering.  All of a sudden I'll just decide something is too much to live with anymore, and I'll finally do something about it!

8.  They can be forgetful.

Organizing tends to keep you on track, not missing appointments, and not running around searching frantically for something right as you need to leave the house.  However, sometimes it's the forgetful people who have to have an organization system to keep themselves on track.  If they don't set up a system, they'll forget!  Know yourself, and if you're the forgetful type, what systems can you set in place to help you remember?  I'm a big fan of setting reminders for everything on my phone.

9.  They spend little time actually organizing.

Most people have to spend more time on maintenance than on actually getting organized in the first place.  With this in mind, it's important to think about how you'll maintain the space once it's organized.  How can you make it easier to put something away than it is to leave it out?

Always organize with the intention of making maintenance as easy as it can possibly be.  This is the way to create a system set up for long term success!

10.  They may be lazy.

This is me in some areas, LOL!  A good organization system will literally make it easier for you to be a bit lazier!  Systems should be there to relieve stress and make your life easier.  For example, when you know where to find keys or shoes, etc., then you won't have the mad dash of searching for things on the way out the door.

11.  They don't do it all alone!

Literally every influencer you see online has help of some kind!  No one can do everything on their own. Lots of people have a nanny or a house cleaner, or sometimes they have hired people to help them run their business.

Even if they don't have professional help, most organized people at least have family help if others live in their household.  My kids can make messes faster than I can clean them up, so I could NOT do everything on my own.  My husband does dishes at least as often as I do (probably more!), and we're working on getting the kids to help more as they get older.  It takes time to teach them, but in the long run it comes back to you in less work.

Help can also come in the form of inspiration.  When I was first organizing the bookshelves in my video backgrounds, I had seen a picture of someone else who had done things this way, and I loved it!  Pinterest is great for inspiration, of course, but our GOHQ community is also so good at supporting and encouraging each other.  Help can come from online as well!

12.  They may not be organized in all areas.

I'm constantly asked if I have a “Monica closet” or a place where I just toss stuff.  For the most part, I try to stay decluttered, but almost everyone who is organized has at least one area where they aren't.  Or they have a catchall area where they stash anything that they just don't know how to deal with.

One benefit from having a place to keep stuff that's in limbo is that it does help keep the rest of the areas in pretty good shape!  This is a stress reliever and helps with motivation to keep going with organization.

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

I love organizing and sharing ideas on my blog and my YouTube channel, but sometimes organization just has to take a backseat to life.  If you're in that season now, know that you're NOT ALONE.  I share more in the video here, or keep reading if this resonates with you.

We all go through hard stuff in life.  I don't care who you are or how much money you have– you will face challenging times, and some of those times can absolutely bring us to our knees.  It's in those times that the to-do list, the organized house, the cleaning, the fancy dinner making just can't be a priority.

Sometimes it's a bunch of little things that all add up.  Maybe you're going through changes.  You've moved.  You've had a baby.  You've gotten married or divorced.  You've had a job change or a major loss.  Maybe there's personal or emotional turmoil going on with you.  If you're in a rough patch, it's really not the time for you to be worrying about alphabetizing your spices, LOL!

Maintenance Mode

In these times, the best thing to do can be to go into “maintenance mode.”  What's the absolute minimum you have to do to keep your house from dissolving into utter chaos?  Just do the minimum.  You don't always have to eat fancy (or even super healthy)  meals.  Your laundry doesn't have to be folded fresh from the dryer, and the vacuuming can probably wait a couple weeks (eek).

I've always been a very driven, motivated person, and, okay, even a bit of a perfectionist.  I remember the exact time in my life where I realized I just had to let go of perfection.  Several years ago, I had just had my second baby and two weeks later moved across the country for my husband to start a new job.  I had to use the GPS to go to the grocery store (with a toddler and newborn in tow!), and my husband was trying to figure out his new job.  My business was taking off, so I was overwhelmed with figuring out how and when to hire help.  I was stretched THIN.

It was a few weeks after the move when the unpacking STILL wasn't close to done, and I was just going a bit crazy.  I had to prioritize.  These were my main categories/responsibilities:

• My kids/family
• My business
• My house

Obviously, my kids are a top priority.  I really wanted to focus on my business because I felt like it had potential, and it was something I loved doing.  So I let my house go a bit.  I didn't clean much, and our meals were about as basic as it gets.  Sometimes we ate cheese and crackers and called it dinner!

You cannot do it all.

I don't care what it looks like on social media.  No one can (or should!) “do it all.”  We see snippets of people's lives on social media.  I have to fight the comparison monster a lot myself.  It always looks like other moms are doing more with their kids and doing it better.  But I'm only seeing what they put on their IG stories.  I really have no idea what their real life is like.

People so often talk about how positive I am or how organized and efficient my house is, but it is definitely not always like that!  Sometimes I'm crying in the corner of my closet.  Maybe 20% of the time my house is near perfectly in order.  About 50% of the time it's average– a bit messy but not out of control.  And the other 30% of the time, it's a hot mess!  But you don't see that part on YouTube.  I've tried to show things more realistically, but no matter what, people see only (at most!) about an hour of my life each week.

No matter what it looks like on the outside, no one can do it all.  No one is perfect.  And no one should pressure themselves to try to be perfect, either.  It's no way to live!

My story

After that initial struggle after the move, things got better for me.  I got part time child care.  I hired help in my business.  We ended up moving back closer to family. Life became much more manageable for a while.  Then I got a curve ball– a chronic illness.

I never really appreciated what chronically ill people endure until I became sick myself.  There are worse things, but this is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with.  My illness, which remains undiagnosed, mostly involves abdominal pain.  But I'm not talking an upset tummy.  I'm talking intense, put me in bed with a heating pad pain that has sent me to the ER on several occasions.

The worst is the unknown.  I never know when I'm going to have a good or a bad day, and sometimes the painful episodes can last weeks or months.  I never know when or if it will end or for how long.  That really stresses me out!  It's a constant weight on me.

How I get through it

I've learned that for myself at least, the best thing for me is to work through it to an extent.  I can't pause my life forever.  If I had a stomach bug, of course I could put life on hold for a day or two.  I wouldn't need to cook, clean, and my husband could take over child duties. But this isn't just a day or two bug.  It's my life now.

Living with pain takes soooo much of my energy.  Take filming a video (which I LOVE!).  If I'm having a good day, I feel energized afterward.  If it's a bad day, I dread putting on makeup and my happy face and making the video.  Afterward I'm wiped out, both physically and emotionally.  But I still have to show up.  I have to show up for my business and for my family because life can't just stop for me all the time.

Of course there are limits to how far I can just push through it.  And if you're in a similar situation, pushing through it may not be the right choice for you.  What has made this all somewhat doable, though, is giving myself permission to let the house slide when it needs to.

If I have a really good day, I am NOT giving that energy to the house.  I'm taking my kids to the park, and we're bonding.  They are getting my best energy, NOT my house!  And that's OKAY!  What I've learned over the last few years of my illness is that I have to:

• keep my priorities in order
• not compare myself to others who may be able to do more

I do the best I can, and then I don't beat myself up.  Because I did my best!

You're not alone

If you can relate to this, just know you're not alone.  Even if you're not dealing with an illness like I am, we all have hard seasons.  In those times, the house is just not the most important thing.  I would like to say in my case (or in yours) that things will get better in time.  But sadly they may not.  I know that sounds like a huge downer, but it can also be freeing because it can allow us to just live in our reality, do our best, and then appreciate ourselves for what we can do and not beat ourselves up for what we can't.

One way I am able to stay positive (most of the time) is that I now realize what a total GIFT a good day is.  If I have a good, relatively pain-free day, I make the absolute MOST of it!  And I treasure it for what it is.  I never take those days for granted anymore.  So, I just try to get through the bad days and enjoy those good days to the max.

If you're beating yourself up right now because your house just isn't what you want it to be, then I”m going to tell you now– STOP IT!  You're not a failure.  You're a person struggling through a hard time.  Whatever you're going through, your house is probably not the most important thing right now.  Things probably will not be like this forever, and there will always be time for more organization later.  Just be kind to others and to yourself!  We are all going through something.  We are all here to help each other out and lift each other up!  No one is perfect, and you don't have to be either!

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

1.  Experiences

This idea isn't a new one, but I couldn't not mention it because it really is a great idea!  Experiences give you memories, time with those you love.  That lasts forever, without a single thing to store!!!  Here are some of my best ideas for experiences:

• Travel– could be something expensive or just a day or weekend trip.
• Parks, hikes, walks– this doesn't have to cost a thing!
• Restaurants– who doesn't love to eat at a great restaurant they might not always treat themselves to?
• Movie, show, or play
• Zoos, museums
• Berry farms, orchards, or a flower farm– I know I've mentioned this before, but the flower farm was one of my favorite experiences.  It's so beautiful there, you get to take home flowers with you!

2.  Flowers

You can buy yourself or someone else flowers so inexpensively.  You can always spend a bunch if you want, but every grocery store has flowers for lower prices.  Trader Joe's has a great, inexpensive flower section if you live near one of those.  Flowers can be such a wonderful pick-me-up and make you smile every time you see them.  Plus, they are literally going to die, and you will have to toss them out.  They aren't meant to be permanent– just a temporary thing of beauty!

3.  Kindle or Audiobooks

If you're really on a budget, this can be totally free by using library apps like Libby or Hoopla.  I almost always have an audiobook going while I'm doing chores, so it doesn't seem like much of a treat.  However, if you just sit still and listen or read, or maybe do this while taking a bubble bath or relaxing on an outdoor swing, it totally becomes a treat!

4.  Online learning subscriptions or courses

Maybe I'm just a little nerdy, but I just love taking online courses and learning new skills!  You could look at sites like Udemy or Skillshare, and sometimes I'm super interested in courses I hadn't even thought of before!

I particularly love taking courses that will help me use up stuff I already have.  If I've bought craft supplies for something but have just been too intimidated to start, taking a course can sometimes give me the push I need.  Then I'm using up stuff I already have, so win-win!

5.  GOHQ Insiders

I have to list this because people tell us every day how much it is helping them.  There are tons of tools and inspiration here, and you absolutely deserve a home that gives you peace!  A home that is your happy place and your retreat is totally possible for you, and it's definitely one of the best gifts you can give yourself!

GOHQ Insiders is an online community with tons of support and resources for you as you get your home and your life organized.  Insiders have access to tons of printables, monthly planning sessions and challenges, and it's basically a road map to finally getting yourself organized for good!  Go here to see what it's all about!

6.  Consumables

This can be anything that is meant to be used up:

• Food, chocolate, candy
• Bath products
• Candles

One caveat here– actually USE it, LOL!!  How many times do we get a candle or lotion that we just love, and we “save” it for a special occasion?  I have done that SO often, and then sometimes it expires or dries up, and then I have to toss it without ever having really used it!

We deserve to use nice things every day, so this is your encouragement to actually start using the good stuff!  You're worth it!

7.  Spa Treatments

These can make great gifts or treats for ourselves.  Massages or facials are so relaxing.  Or my favorite is getting my nails done.  It still feels so luxurious to me, and then it makes me happy seeing my pretty nails over the next couple of weeks!

8.  House Cleaning

This always felt so extravagant to me.  And sometimes I still feel a little bit of nagging guilt if I have my house cleaned by someone else, but hear me out.  For us, it costs less to have someone else do the few nagging cleaning tasks that I hate than it does to take my family of four to Chick-Fil-A!

It can be such a treat to have someone else give your house the occasional deep clean or to do a few tasks that you just hate doing.  Plus, it's all done at once, and then you have a sparkling home!  If I set out to do deep cleaning, it can literally take me weeks.  By the time it's all done, it's dirty again where i started, LOL!

House cleaning is a great treat to yourself or an out-of-the-box idea as a gift for someone else.

After decluttering, it can be so easy to fill our homes back up with new stuff, so we have to be really intentional about what we bring in.  That doesn't mean we can't still buy stuff for ourselves or treat ourselves…but it helps when we think differently than we used to!  What are your ideas for non-clutter things to treat yourself?

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

I love seeing everyone's favorite Amazon picks, and so I thought I'd share mine with you! If you just want to jump straight to my picks, you can go to my 2023 Prime Deals storefront section here. If you want to read a bit more about each item and some general tips, then keep reading.

First, there's a few things you need to know:

1 – You DO have to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of some Prime Day deals. If you're not already a member, don't fret! You can sign up for a free trial here and get in on all these amazing deals. I love being a Prime member – I get super fast shipping (same-day shipping for many products), and my kids and I watch a lot of shows + movies on Amazon Prime.

2 – Don't undo all the good decluttering work you've done. Just because something is a good deal doesn't mean it's necessarily a good deal for you. If it's not something you'll need, use, or love, then you should pass. (This is something I need to remind myself of often!)

3 – If you do end up buying something that you realize wasn't really the best decision, most items can be very easily returned. I'm impressed with how easy Amazon's return process is. (As a bonus, if you return something at Kohl's, you usually get a valuable Kohl's coupon.)

4 – This is your friendly reminder that affiliate links are used below – that simply means that I get a small percentage back in return for letting you know about these deals at no extra cost to you. I only select products that I either personally use and love or know that my readers would enjoy hearing about.​

5 – Lastly, don't forget that these are incredibly limited time deals. Prime Day ends on July 12, so if you're reading this after the fact, you probably won't be able to score the same deals on these products. Also, they have a lot of deals that only last for a few minutes or hours. If you're interested in something, you should order it right away. As a Prime member, you won't need to worry about shipping costs (and for convenience, you can check a box at checkout to allow them to combine your orders).

6 – I'm sharing more details and more deals on Instagram stories, so be sure to follow along there.

My Top Favorite Deals

• My Amazon Storefront – If you want to see a lot of the Amazon products that I love in one place (whether they're on sale or not), you can go right here.

• 50% Off ALL Get Organized HQ shop products – If you're interested in getting more organized and being productive, you can use coupon code PRIME2023 at checkout in the Get Organized HQ shop. This will give you 50% off any product!
  • • Pro tip: Our guides are one of our most popular shop sections, so be sure to check those out! (That link should apply the discount automatically at checkout. In case it doesn't, simply use code PRIME2023.)
• Picasso Tiles – I got these years ago as a birthday gift for my daughter, and we have been loving them! They’re a very similar concept to the popular magna tiles, except they’re cheaper and I actually think I might like them better because they are solid. The other good news is that they are interchangeable with magna tiles so you can combine the two toys. The set I bought also included several ideas for things to make with the tiles which I really appreciated! If I had to pick only one toy for my kids, it would be these. They have used them in endless ways, and they last for many years. Also, this is truly the best price I've ever seen on them (and they're already way cheaper than Magnatiles)!

• My Cooklee Stand Mixer – I ran across this mixer on Amazon several years ago after my KitchenAid broke. It really intrigued me, but I was skeptical because it's so cheap (compared to most mixers). A while later, I ran across some folks in a baking group on Facebook talking about how they liked it, and the Amazon reviews are actually really good, so I decided to try it. I am SO glad I did!!! Especially with my cookie decorating obsession, I've used it many times already. I can honestly say that I prefer it over a large Kitchen Aid (which sells at about 4 times the price). The bowl is even bigger at 9.5 quarts so you can make large or small batches, and I really like the tilt head. Many large mixers simply lift up and I find it hard to get the paddle in and out of stiff doughs with that design. The pour shield (the thing that keeps stuff from flying out) design is genius! It slips onto the top part of the mixer so it comes up automatically when you lift the mixer head. I had tried pour shields on my other mixer but ended up finding it easier to just let the flour go flying. It has suction feet on the bottom so your mixer doesn't walk across the counter – a huge problem with my last mixer. It's also really lightweight compared to most mixers, which could be seen as a pro or a con. For me it's a huge pro! I can very easily carry it up and down my stairs and put it away. (I can see how it has a lot more plastic as opposed to metal which makes it lightweight, but it also may not be as sturdy or long lasting.)
• Photoboxes – These are definitely one of my top 10 organizing products, and this is the best price I've ever seen on them! I was SOO excited to see these on sale. My secret is that I use them for basically everything EXCEPT photos. Think small office supplies, flash cards, small games, small puzzles, hair ties, wrapped candy, wipes, coupons, etc. I even have an entire video about them here.
  
• My Scanner – I absolutely love this scanner and have used for about 8-9 years. It was a total game changer. You can place multi-page, front and back documents into the document feeder at the top and just press one button to scan it all. I also love how small it is. (When I worked in smaller offices, it fit nicely when stored in a drawer.)
• 7-Drawer chest (that I use in my craft room) – I use 4 of these to construct a work area and storage area in my craft room. I absolutely love it!

• Diamond Painting – My kids and I are loving doing this! I think I enjoy it just as much as they do! I got a kit super affordably on Amazon. It's sort of like a paint by number. The canvas has little tiny circles with numbers for what color of gem you should put there. The gems come in little numbered baggies. Then you take the “pen”, dip it in a waxy substance with some stick, and use it to pick up a gem and place it where it goes. The canvas already has some stickiness on it so there's really no adhesive and no mess! (It would not be great for little kids, though. I would say 5 is the youngest age that might enjoy it.)

More Favorites

• Cricut Joy Machine – I'm so excited that the Cricut Joy that I have is on sale again! I purchased mine in 2020 for $179 and was happy to do so, but now it's only $129! It's unbelievably small and will store easily anywhere. I use it to make all sorts of vinyl or other types of labels. It's also so quick and easy to make any kind of greeting card. I really haven't bought a greeting card since I got this machine. Tons of other Cricut products are also on sale right now. I used the Joy to make laundry room labels and pantry labels. Here's a basic intro and tutorial on how to use the Joy.

• Cricut Joy Card Mats – To go along with the Joy, you'll want card mats. These are an excellent price for nearly 50% off – again, I haven't seen price this low since last year's prime days!
• Cricut Joy Card Inserts – These are the actual cards that you cut. They come pre-folded with the insert and the envelopes. I can literally make a card for any occasion in LESS than 5 minutes! The inserts are 50% off! (This is way cheaper than you can even buy cards at the Dollar Tree, and these are way cuter and more personal.) Also, this is the main cost once you have the machine and a card mat. My card mats will do a LOT of cards, so it is consumable but the cost per use is just a few cents per card. Here's an example of a card I made with it:
• Audible 30-day free trial – I absolutely love Audible! I have listened to so many life-changing audiobooks. While I have discovered other ways (like Hoopla) to access some free audiobooks, no one has the extensive library that Audible does. I love to listen while I workout or do housework. (Fun fact: In the fiction category, Audible exclusives are my favorite as they often have different narrators which makes it way more interesting!)
• 6 Qt Instant Pot – I have this Instant Pot and use it regularly. This is a really good deal on an Instant Pot!

• Shark Vertex Pro Cordless Vaccuum – I have an odd habit of watching vacuum review videos for fun (yes, really)! I don't own this one yet, but it's at the top of my wishlist based on reviews. It has the dual roller (so both the soft roller for hard floors and the carpet agitator roller for carpets are in the same vacuum head), so it performs optimally on both carpet and hardwood. It also folds over like my current vacuum so it can stand up on its own. I'm really tempted to buy this since it's such a good price.
• Osmo Learning Games Starter Kit – I've been eyeing these games for a while. It combines a tactile learning experience with a tablet. I really trying to limit my kids' screen time (even for learning activities), but they still do some. I like that this also combines it with some hands-on learning. This is the best price I've seen on it. (I think you have to have a Kindle Fire to use with it. Does anyone have it?)
• Noise Cancelling Premium Headphones – These are the headphones that I have and love. I like them much better than earbuds, because the earbuds always fall out of my ear. (One time an earbud even fell into the garbage disposal when I was talking on the phone while washing dishes!) Also, the noise-cancelling ability and sound quality of these headphones is so much better than earbuds!
• Facial Sheet Masks (pack of 12) – only 83 CENTS each! – These are an amazing deal! My 8-year-old daughter loves relaxing with a sheet mask. I used to buy them for over $2 each at Target, but these are only 83 cents each right now! We have used them, and we feel like they are good quality. I also think these would make a great gift!
• Crystal Command Hooks – I don't see Command products on sale this much very often, and I love these! Like all Command products, they're easy to apply and can be removed without damaging the wall. These crystal ones are so pretty. I use them for hanging my jewelry.
• Tall Plastic White Open Bins (Set of 8) – I really like the size and style of these bins. I think they would look great with labels, and they're quite versatile.
• Bino Clear Open Storage Bins (Set of 2) – I use these in our kids' craft room. I love how the clear design goes well with almost anything. They fit 5 by 7 photo boxes perfectly. They are also the right size to use as a paper inbox.
• Wide Kitchen Wrap Organizer (for parchment paper) – I use this for parchment paper that is too wide for a standard organizer.
• Regular Size Kitchen Wrap Organizer – I use this on the wall in my pantry for my wax paper, aluminum foil, and Saran wrap. It works wonderfully!

I'm going to keep this list updated and add to it throughout the sales, so be sure to check back often. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram for even more details and deals!

There are two main types of bins available in their new release:  clear plastic and bamboo.  They both look beautiful and feel and look very high quality.

Clear Bins

I could see using most of these products in the kitchen more than anything.  I love how these clear bins are truly modular.  When you stack the smaller two, they are the same height as the tallest bin– yay!  That makes my organizing heart happy!  I absolutely hate it when the stacked items are just a bit off.  It would drive me crazy, so I'm glad these are perfectly sized!

They nest super well!  There will be no sliding around or accidentally knocking off.  And the seals on these bins are fantastic.  I would say the most similar (and most popular) bin on the market right now are the OXO bins.  One thing I hate about the OXO bins is that if I pick up the container by the lid and there's something heavy in there like flour or sugar, it will totally dump out and fall on you.  Ask me how I know, LOL!  The Home Edit bins not only seal super well with the gasket around the lid, but they also latch.  You could pick these up by the lid all day, and it's not going anywhere!

I love the look of these and the function.  I'm totally going to keep these in my pantry for things like snack storage.  You can also stack them two deep on a shelf because they are so shallow.

The Home Edit also released a larger bin in this range.  It is deeper, so you couldn't stack two deep.  The larger bin also doesn't line up evenly with the smaller bins, so big bummer there.  I get annoyed when things don't line up quite right.  However, the heights are consistent, so that's something.  The BIGGEST con I see to these larger bins is that it won't hold a full bag of flour.  I think it's so silly to decant food into a cute bin just to have to save the last bit in the bag itself waiting to fill the cute bin.  So unfortunately, I won't be able to use these for baking ingredients.

The other bin I ordered has divided compartments.  These are kind of like a bento style bin, and there is a gasket surrounding all the divisions, which is awesome.  These would be great for meal preps or for packing a lunch.  A sandwich fits perfectly in one compartment, fruit or veggies in another.  You could even put dip in one section without an issue because the seal is so good.  Or you could put crackers in one bin and not worry about them getting soggy in the fridge.  These are perfect for homemade lunchables!

The Bamboo Line

The bamboo here is such good quality.  It's smooth and sturdy.  They nest super securely, too, so you don't have to worry about knocking them off each other.  These are great for the kitchen, but I could also see them in a linen closet or closet of any kind.

One key difference here is that (obviously) you can't see through the bamboo.  Depending on what you're after (hidden versus visible storage), this could be a good or bad thing, but it's just something to be aware of.

There are two styles of bamboo bins– ones with open fronts and ones that are closed all the way around.  I love the look of the open fronts, but in practice, they are a little tricky to use.  Kids' smaller hands fit in better, but I find myself knocking them off one another if I reach in while they're stacked.  They also just can't hold as much as the ones with all four sides.

The bamboo bins are all the same depth and height, which I love!  There are bigger and smaller versions, and all that changes is the width.  The lazy susan has high sides, which is great for keeping taller bottles from tipping over as you spin it.  The one issue here is that because it doesn't have clear sides, if you have something shorter, it could totally get lost.  But for tall bottles these are perfect!

They do also have a bamboo lazy susan with a low lip.  Shorter bottles could go here, but I would worry about taller bottles falling off.

Another cool product is their bamboo risers.  This is great for making canned goods or spices more visible.  The shelves are nice and deep, so most things should easily fit.  The only issue i have with it is that the width is not at all adjustable, so it will either fit your space, or it won't, and there may be dead space, which would be a big waste!

As expected, I love the new Home Edit products!  They are such a great value, and as always, they kill it on aesthetics, too!  They are beautiful in my pantry, so much so that I'm going to be switching out a few of my beloved multi-purpose bins to make room for these beauties!  I also have another review of previous Home Edit at Wal-Mart items.  You can read the blog post here or watch the video here if you want to see the full range!

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

1.  Your space doesn't have to look like a magazine!

Most of the spaces we see online or on Pinterest are color coded, all match in neutral modern colors, and everything is uniform.  The shelves have lots of negative space, and everything looks super tidy.  This just isn't often real life!

There are only two things a space needs to be “organized”;

• Every item needs a place,
• It has to make you happy.

That's it!  You need a clear home for everything, and as long as it makes sense to you and gives you a sense of peace and calm, then you're golden!  It does NOT have to look perfect or be ready for a photoshoot at a moment's notice.

2.  What you see online often costs a LOT of money.

Have you ever looked at pictures on The Container Store Site or photos from Real Simple magazine and loved how all their bins were coordinated, and their colors all matched, etc.?  That's because their budgets are pretty much unlimited.  The acrylic bins are gorgeous, but one bin can cost $20!!!  Imagine doing that over a whole closet or pantry.  Things can get crazy!

If you don't have that kind of money, you can still have a very organized house.  I even did a comparison recently between organizing my kids' craft closet with Container Store multipurpose bins versus dollar store products.  The Container Store products cost $700 for one very large closet!  You don't have to do that!

3.  Many organized spaces are staged.

The spaces in photos are often not lived in by real people.  The spaces don't have to be maintained and stay the way they do in the photo.  Have you ever seen pictures of a perfectly organized pantry with pasta and crackers/chips in matching jars?  What do you think happened to the bright blue plastic on the oreo packaging?  What if you like to buy different brands of pasta when it's on sale?  Your packaging won't match!

We can spend so much time stressing over getting our pantry to look like the picture, but it's not realistic.  It's not fun to decant every product or limit what we buy based on how the packaging looks.  People aren't actually eating or cooking with the food from those pantry pictures.  But you have to actually live in your house!

Try not to compare your own organized spaces to what you see online.  Those pictures are beautiful and inspirational, but they're not really practical.  Think of those spaces like a photoshopped model, and don't let all that “photoshopping” make you feel badly about your own organized spaces.

4.  Color coding is pretty but not always practical.

I LOVE color coding.  In my closet, my clothes are in rainbow color.  My kids books are even in rainbow color….I know that may sound a little over the top.  It looks so pretty on a shelf though, and actually color is an easier method for kids to organize.  It's not like they'll be able to alphabetize, but usually they can color code.

There are a few sticky points with this, though.  First, what do you do with a book that is blue-green.  Which color does it go with?  What about a book that has two colors on the spine?  Also, if it's your kids' bookshelf, they will not be perfect with this.  It will get messed up, and it will need maintenance, so expect that and roll with it!

5.  It's just as important to maintain a space as it is to organize it in the first place.

The most successful organizing projects start our by making it as easy as possible to keep up with it.  A system has to be just as easy to put things away as it is to toss it somewhere.  What makes the most sense to you?  If your family or kids will be using the space, what will be easiest for them?  If they toss their clothes on the bathroom floor, put the hamper in the bathroom instead of in their bedroom.

Are there any spaces you've organized in the past that have stayed that way?  If so, why?  How are they different than ones that failed?  Think hard about this and then try to repeat that.

6.  Start with decluttering, but then be just as intentional about what you bring back in.

Sometimes it's almost easy to spend an afternoon organizing and decluttering one space.  You're motivated, seeing progress, and then you get that sense of accomplishment.  But it's never really “done.”  If you want a space to stay organized, it will need regular mini-declutters.  But what I think is one of the most important parts is to be careful about what you bring back in afterward.

If you're like me and love to shop, this can be particularly difficult!  My best tip is to be absolutely ready to return something if it isn't perfectly right.  When clothes don't fit you quite right, or don't match the skirt you thought they would, then take them back immediately.

If you love something, use it right away!  If you don't have the perfect place for it, then back it goes!  Don't stash it somewhere and wait 3-6 months or more until it's too late to return.  Take it immediately to your car so you can return while you're out running errands the next time.

7.  Not every item needs to be used for its intended purpose.

You know those binder clips for office paperwork?  They work great as. a chip clip or as a clip to corral your charging cables.  Cable organizers cost significantly more, but binder clips work just as well.

Boxes can also be repurposed.  Apple (phone, earbuds, laptops, etc.) have great sturdy boxes that work perfectly as drawer organizers.  Some people even cut up cracker and cereal boxes, cover them with contact paper, and use them as drawer organizers.

The one warning I would give you, though, is not to start stashing all your boxes indefinitely.  You need to have a planned project, save them a while, do that project, and then get rid of the leftovers!  Don't make this an excuse for collecting a bunch of clutter in the form of boxes!

8.  Have an inbox and an outbox in every room

I made an entire video about this.  What I mean by this is that every room in your house should have a place to put things that are coming in when you don't have the time to put them exactly where they go right away.  This will help keep things contained and keep clutter off your flat surfaces until you have time to deal with them.

An outbox is basically a decluttering area.  I have them in every closet so I can quickly toss something that doesn't fit or that we just don't like.  Once it's full, it can easily go off to the donation center.  I have a dresser drawer in my bedroom for this purpose, and it's just as easy to put something here as it is to stash it back in my closet to “deal with later.”

Hopefully these tips have made you think outside the box LOL!  I just don't hear people talking about these things, but some of them can be total game changers.  Let me know if you give any of them a try!

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

1. Riding around for weeks or months with donation boxes.

I too, have done this.  You declutter, take the boxes to your car, and then they sit there indefinitely.  The best way to fight this is to literally schedule a dropoff time in your calendar.  Or, you can go a step further and schedule a pickup!  This gives you a deadline if you're doing a lot of decluttering.

2.  Shifting or hiding clutter.

Sometimes you just need to get rid of the visual clutter quickly, so you shove everything in a drawer or move it to another room or even to the basement where it languishes.  This can make your space look better, but don't mistake it for actual decluttering.  You're only hiding the problem this way, not fixing it.

3.  Following someone else's decluttering advice.

So, obviously, you're reading a post about decluttering advice, LOL!  It's great to watch videos and see what works for other people, but you should always take into account what will work best for YOU and your personality.  How do you operate best?

Do you want to dive in and do it all at once or make slow gradual progress?  Both methods work, but one way will work better for you than another.  Put some thought into how to best attack the clutter, and you'll be much more successful.  I even have a video here on decluttering slowly versus all at once.  Check it out here.

4.  Touching each item a bunch of times.

This will slow you WAY down.  You won't make much progress if you move items over and over again.  Touch it once, decide what to do with it and where it goes, and then put it there.

5.  Putting off decisions.

I am definitely NOT a decisive person in general.  I like to do research and really think about things before I make a decision.  But with decluttering, that just isn't efficient.  When you touch something, decide immediately what to do with it.  If you have a “maybe” pile, make sure it doesn't get too big.  Not everything can be a maybe!

6.  Decluttering before you're ready.

This really can't be forced.  You should wait until you're mentally ready to get rid of the clutter.  Decluttering can be especially painful if it's after the death of a loved one or if it's after a child has left for college– basically any emotionally charged situation.  It's okay to wait until you're in the mental space to handle it.  You'll be more successful this way!

7.  Thinking it's a one and done situation.

Decluttering is an ongoing process.  Once you get rid of the clutter, you have to maintain it.  You'll have to keep decluttering.  You may not have to do it to the same extent, but it's an ongoing process, and you'll need to keep donating or getting rid of stuff regularly, or you'll end up right back where you were.

8.  Not watching what comes back into your home.

If you want to stay clutter free, you have to keep a sharp eye on what comes back into your home.  If you like to shop, this will be especially important.  Watch your purchases, and realize that if you buy something new, you should get rid of something you already have so your items don't build back up again.

Paper clutter is another thing to watch out for.  Check out this video if you need extra help taming your paper clutter!

9.  Keeping things “just in case.”

You can always come up with a scenario in which you will need or use any given item.  You usually know the cost to replace something, but what is the cost of keeping it?  When things pile up, it causes mental stress, saps energy from managing the items, and can just in general make your house a not so fun place to be.  Is it worth keeping it?  Will you even be able to find it if you need it?

10.  Asking your kids' opinions.

I am NOT saying you should declutter people's possessions without asking them.  But with kids it's more of a gray area.  Young children don't really understand, and if you ask them, literally EVERYTHING is their most favorite toy ever.

Rephrase the question.  Ask them which three stuffed animals are their favorites.  Ask them to put their favorite toys in a bin.   It keeps it more positive, and you are less likely to declutter something important.  They can give input without keeping every single item until their room is so full they can't find the toys they love.

11.  Dreading or complaining about decluttering.

If you want your family to join you in decluttering, then think and act positively about it.  They're more likely to want to do it themselves if you have a positive attitude!  You're also more likely to enjoy it or at least dislike it less.  Attitude is key!

12.  Hold onto things for a yard sale.

Are you ever actually going to have a yard sale?  They are TONS of work!  You have to organize, price, store, set things out, actually have the yard sale and sit out working the sale.  Is it worth it?  Most of our items are worth next to nothing.  Will it pay you enough to make it worth it?

If you have a few more expensive items, would it be better to put them online to sell?

If you have a yard sale every year like clockwork or have a firm date set, then by all means, save your stuff (preferably pre-priced!) for that yard sale, but for most of us, it just isn't going to happen.

13.  Selling too many items online.

Online selling is work, too!  You have to take pictures, list the item, answer questions, and then meet up with the person (and lots of times they are no-shows!!).  I don't usually list an item if it's worth less than $100.  If you want to list more, then accept that it will take time, and treat it like it's your job because it is definitely work!

14.  Getting distracted by your clutter.

This mostly applies to sentimental items.  It happens to me with baby clothes.  I know I'm done having children, so it's easy to sit and remember my kids in a favorite outfit or look at pictures… and then an hour has gone by!

Reminiscing is good, but set aside a time to do that later or make a note, but don't get distracted from your goal of decluttering and lose momentum.

15.  Decluttering someone else's stuff.

It is NEVER okay to declutter someone else's stuff without asking them first.  This causes trust issues and makes them feel defeated and as if they have no control.  It's also not a good way to help them want to declutter themselves.

Decluttering is contagious.  If I'm cleaning up my side of the closet, my husband inevitably tidies up and gets rid of a few things as well.  The best way is to lead by example!

16.  Decluttering something you actually need.

This is the mistake people fear the most, but it's also the most rare.  In ALL my years of ruthless decluttering, I've regretted something maybe 3-4 times.  And I can really remember only one incident clearly.

When we were first married, we were gifted some beautiful stemware.  But we were in apartments or small houses, so it was stored away from the kitchen, and it was a huge hassle to get it out, wash it for company, put it away, etc.  I decluttered it when we moved 3 houses ago.

Now I have a much bigger kitchen with plenty of storage, and I want them back!  They're on my Amazon list right now, and I'm planning to re-purchase the exact same ones!  Am I mad that I got rid of them?  No.  I would have moved them 3 times by now.  They wouldn't have been used in all that time, and they may have gotten broken in the moves.  I can also easily replace them.  So it was okay.

I'd rather make this mistake once or twice than keep a bunch of stuff I really don't need.  I also follow the $20/20 rule.  Could I replace it for $20 or less or in 20 minutes or less?  If so, then I don't stress about getting rid of it.  If I keep too much, I probably wouldn't even be able to find it if I did need it again!

Hopefully this helps you avoid some of the most common pitfalls in decluttering!  I have an entire decluttering playlist on YouTube if you want more tips or if you want to figure out which decluttering style suits you best!

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

What shelving have you found that is good?

One of the most important things to me in shelving is the depth.  I want it to be deep enough that I can use my favorite multipurpose bins from The Container Store without them hanging over the edge.  I've found some great shelving options at Ikea that work for this.

The shelves that are always behind me in my videos are the Liatorp bookcases from Ikea.  They are super sturdy (the've moved houses with me without incident!), and the shelves are strong enough that they don't bow.  I also like the trim and the general look of them.

Another favorite from Ikea are their Kallax bookcases.  Those are the cube shelves that come in sizes all the way from 2×2 up to 5×5.  There are tons of dupes and copies at other stores, so it's easy to find square bins to fit, and one nice thing about these is the bins can give you hidden storage.

I prefer these over the cheaper pressed wood bookcases from places like Walmart because those shelves can bow, but if that's all that's in your budget, then go for it.  You can make it work if you need to!

What are your best tips for keeping your bedroom clean daily?

This is a tough one because we are in this room so often, and a lot of times we're tired when we're here, LOL!  My best tip would be to make the bed every day when you get out.  I do make my bed every day, but I don't always do it when I first wake up.  I'm not one of those people who jumps out of bed ready to greet the day.  I'm still half asleep for at least the first half hour!  Usually I'll get dressed and put on makeup and then go back and make the bed.

Next, do your best to keep the flat surfaces clean.  Flat surfaces anywhere attract clutter, but this is especially so in the bedroom.  I make a real effort to habitually put away stuff on my surfaces.  When I do my makeup, I get out my caddy and put everything back in as I go because it's just as easy to do that as it is to lay it on the counter.

If the flat surfaces get away from you, take the time to do a “hard reset” where you really clean everything off so it's 100% clear.  That will give you a little extra motivation to keep up with it daily.

Also try to put things away immediately.  This can be tough with clothes and makeup, but if you put it away right away, it will never get cluttered in the first place.  If I'm trying on a bunch of clothes, I hang things back up right away.

How do you store gift bags/wrapping paper/bows, and how much do you keep?

First, I keep very few bags in the first place, maybe 5-10.  I just don't need 50+ gift bags in a year, so I don't want to store that many!  I have a very not-fancy storage method– I use a gift bag to store the other gift bags in, LOL!  Once it's full, I don't keep any more gift bags.

I also keep plain white tissue paper and no other colors.  The white matches everything, so it's another way to streamline things.

I keep 2-3 rolls of wrapping paper, and I try to make this pretty neutral/multipurpose so I can use it for kids or adults, boys or girls, etc.  95% of the time I will use a gift bag anyway.  It's much more of a pain to wrap a gift than to just toss it in a bag, so that's what I usually do.

I make cards on my Cricut Joy, so that's super fast.  I don't need a stash of cards because I can make one quickly when I need one.

As far as storage, I just keep these supplies on a shelf in a closet, but I have seen some very cool over-the-door organizers as well as some under-bed storage boxes that hold wrapping supplies.  The biggest key is just to limit how much you store, and when it's full, it's full.

How do you stay so consistent with your newsletter each week, and how do you have such great content for each one?

This question makes me smile because if you knew me in person, you'd know I am not a super consistent person.  It's just something I really struggle with.  I love to do deep dives, go all in, and set up a system from scratch.  But then maintaining it is where I struggle.  However, in almost any business, consistency is the most important factor.

When I started my business (while doing a day job), I decided that the absolute number one thing that was most important was building my email list.  So I promised myself that no matter what, I would send out that weekly newsletter.  Now it's up to twice a week, but in 10.5 years, I have never missed a weekly newsletter!

At first it was super hard because I was the only one working at my business, so if I had a hard week, sometimes I'd put the kids to bed on Tuesday night, and crank out one that was most definitely NOT my best work to go out the next day.  But regardless, I did it.  It was a promise to myself that I committed to keep.  Now I have a team, which has made things so much easier and the content even better!  I also have people expecting that newsletter, a team depending on me for the content so they can do their jobs, and that keeps us all accountable.

How do you decide what craft supplies to get rid of?  I'm out of space for the stuff I have!

This is another really tough one.  I'm a crafter, and most crafts take a LOT of supplies!  So I've really struggled here, but this is what I've found that works for me:

• Pick a project and buy those supplies.  I like to make my project exactly like what I see online, so I just buy those specific supplies when I need them and don't store a bunch of the excess after the project is done.
• Don't collect everything.  I used to do Stampin' Up!, and I had ALL the ink pads, paper, etc.  Now I'm getting back into it, but I'm only keeping about ten ink pads and just a few stamp sets.  I want to have room for the next cool set, so I hold everything with a loose hand.  I don't intend to keep these sets forever.  I want to make a few cards with the set and then let it go.
• Do fewer crafts.  If you sew, and you chalk, and you paint, and draw, and stamp, and crochet…you get the picture.  You need different supplies for each craft.  Which are your favorites?  Consider limiting it to just a few and letting the other supplies go.  You can always pick it back up again later, just like I did with stamping.  Trends change, so if you don't see yourself doing something for several years, let it go and then get the newer stuff later so you're excited about the projects.

Would you please share tips on organizing costume jewelry?

I LOVE jewelry.  It completes an outfit, and you never grow in or out of it size-wise, so this is an area where I collect a bit more because I love it so much.

Personally I love command hooks.  They now have crystal command hooks, and I store my necklaces on those on my closet wall.  I also have a stacking jewelry box that I use for earrings and bracelets.  Personally I love having my necklaces out on hooks because I can see what I have.  Also, it's so pretty!  I love looking at my jewelry, so it's almost like decor in my closet.

You are always so bright and positive and laughing!  Do you need down time?  If so, how much is enough?

First, you all see about 20 minutes of my life each week, just like with any content creator.  I am a fairly positive person, but I still have my moments when I'm down or stressed or overwhelmed.  I'm also dealing with chronic disease, which has been one of the most challenging things in my whole life.

I do feel (maybe this is cliche, but it's true!) that gratitude helps a lot in staying positive.  I have so many things to be grateful for, and I do my best to stay thankful for the (many!) blessings I have.  Also, here at GOHQ, we want to be a positive uplifting place where everyone feels welcome!

As far as down time, I need more down time in this stage of life than I ever did before.  Until I hit 30, I hardly took any downtime.  i was always productive, working inside my home or at my day job, doing activities, working out.  TV was barely on my radar.  I look back at that girl and think she was just a whirlwind of productivity.  It would be AWESOME to have her energy again, but it just isn't my reality anymore.

Part of this is my chronic illness.  Sometimes I literally have to take downtime.  Sometimes I'm in bed all day long in pain.  But even aside from that, I think having kids has been a huge mental weight.  I love them to pieces, but they are a huge responsibility.  Even when I'm not with them, I'm worrying about them or about if I'm parenting the right way, etc., and I think that mental stress takes a toll on me.

In the last 5-10 years, I need at least an hour of down time per day, and usually more!  I have my own bedtime routine.  After I put them to bed, I wind down myself.  I hardly ever do work after they're in bed.  That's the time when I can finally let down.

So…you may be in a different stage of life, and each person needs varying amounts of down time.  My suggestion is to listen to your body and your mind, and give yourself what you need.  Down time really does make you more productive when you do work.  Burnout is real, and if you can prevent it with more rest time, you will ALWAYS come out ahead!

I would like to ask you about your health conditions.  What advice would you give for dealing with this?

Well…I feel like I'm still in the middle of this.  We don't know what is causing my issues or even how to manage it other than to just take things day by day and give my body the rest it needs.

One thing I will say is to manage your expectations of yourself.  I'm not the same person I was ten years ago before I had health problems.  I can't go at the same pace, and I need more rest.  Once I accepted that, my stress levels went way down.  Although it can still be super frustrating for me sometimes, I'm doing better at being realistic about what I can and can't handle these days.  My best tip would be to give yourself kindness and grace!

Do you have any tips/hacks on maintaining a space once you've organized it?

This is by far the biggest challenge of organizing.  My opinion is that maintenance starts when you first organize, so you should set up your systems in the way you want to maintain them.  This has a lot to do with personality.

• For myself, I know I will keep up with something that is organized beautifully.  The shelves behind me in my videos are NEVER disorganized because I find them so pretty this way.
• Labeling, for any personality, is a huge help, too.  It gives you hard and fast boundaries, and it helps other people in your family know where things belong.  Anything that makes it easier to put stuff away is a big help.
• Focus on your trouble zones.  For us it's coming in and piling stuff on our island.  I put hooks by the back door.  It has cut way down on what we pile on the island.
• Set an alarm to tidy up your hot spots 2-3 times a day.  A few minutes of targeted work does wonders!

I would like to know more about Airtable.

This could be a whole post in itself (let me know if you'd like to see that!).  Airtable is a way to organize lists and keep inventories, track habits, etc.

The cool thing about Airtable is that you can link things.  So for example, I can link a list of ink pads to a corresponding list of paper, etc.

I use it to track a lot of habits and things related to my health condition.  I don't yet know what's causing my problems, so I've started very detailed tracking of diet, exercise, etc.  The cool thing is that I can do this every night from my phone, and I have it set up so Airtable emails me the link every night at 8:30 so I can just go in and fill it out.  That helps me stay consistent!

It also has some great business applications, too.  It's way too large a topic to get into here, but let me know if you want to know more!

I always love answering your questions, so feel free to send in a question for me, and I'd love to do a post like this again soon!

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

Now, before you run away imagining I'm going to tell you the only way to do this is to only buy the absolute essentials for survival, that's not true at all. I'll still make many fun purchases beyond the essentials like travel, eating out, hobbies, new clothes, and more!  Believe me, I still have fun, LOL!

However, there are several things I don't buy because they truly aren't worth the cost and clutter for me.  Before I dive in, I should mention that everyone is different, so if you truly enjoy these things, by all means, keep buying them!  Ideally we should all be buying the things that bring us joy and not buying what doesn't!  And you may have some things to add to your own do-not-buy list that I haven't even thought about!

Things I avoid buying:

1.  Things just because I have a coupon

I totally used to do this!  I LOVED playing the coupon game, and I had an impressive stash of stuff, especially toiletries.  Over time, I found that I was forcing myself to use deodorant or shampoo that I didn't even really like just because I got it free or close to free.  Sometimes things would go bad before I even go to use them.  So now I don't worry about the coupons, and I buy the products I love!  I find I buy less overall this way, so win-win!

2. Most bulk foods

I like shopping at Sam's Club or Costco, but our family is just too small to eat up some of the food products before they go bad.  If it's not something we eat a ton of, it just goes to waste, and then it's not saving me money at all!  Also, we're programmed to think that we're saving money if we buy in bulk, but sometimes this just isn't the case, so it's a good idea to price compare before stocking up!

3. Pens/Pencils

There, I said it!  I LOVE cute pens in all different colors.  It's bordering on an addiction.  But I have sooo many, and I just had to draw a line in the sand.  I haven't bought any of these in over a year!  And my pen/pencil collection is still going strong.

4.  Cleaning Products

So, I'll let you in on a secret: I HATE cleaning.  I'm always looking for a way to make it easier or faster.  I used to by cleaning products and tools that made promises to do just that, but I've discovered you just have to put in the work, and that's all there is to it.  Nothing new I've tried has really made a big difference, so I've stopped buying new gadgets and products and just stick with the few necessities that work for me!

5.  Cable TV

We don't watch a ton of TV.  We do watch some, but not enough to justify a big cable bill.  Instead we use cheaper internet-based subscription services, and bonus:  I can watch it on my own schedule!

6.  Hair Products

I've always wanted to have gorgeous curly hair.  The reality is that mine is super thick, long, and VERY straight and smooth.  About once a year I would go on a quest for curly hair.  This involved buying products, gadgets, etc….taking an hour to do a hairstyle that would last maybe 3 hours, even gunked up with a ton of product.  I just decided enough is enough, and I am never going to be someone with curly hair, and that's okay!

7.  Magazines

I love magazine content and reading articles, but I just never find myself sitting down at home to read a magazine!  I'll pick up one in a doctor's office or something, but if I'm at home, I can find almost any content I want online, and my library apps (Hoopla and Libby for me– they are free, and they have books, audiobooks, and magazines!!!) have everything I need without having to have a physical magazine laying around my house!

8.  Stuff from yard sales

In theory I like the idea behind yard sales, and you can get some good deals on things.  However, I found that I usually just bought stuff I didn't need.  Also, if I've spent 4 hours driving to yard sales and don't buy anything, it feels like a waste of time.  So then I try to convince myself to buy something so I wouldn't have wasted my time…vicious cycle!  Instead I just don't go to yard sales anymore.

9.  Makeup subscriptions

I used to subscribe to Ipsy and a couple others.  It was fun getting a little “gift” in the mail every month, but they weren't all that useful for me.  My skin is so sensitive and specific that many things I couldn't use, or I didn't even want to use because I've already found my favorite products.  Most things were a waste for me, so I canceled my subscriptions and just buy what I know I love.

10.  Glitter

My kids love it…but it's SOOO messy!  I've just decided it's a no-go at our house!

11.  Nail polishes

I love painted nails, but I hate when they chip, and for whatever reason, nail polish just doesn't last on my nails.  When an influencer or friend would recommend a polish, I would believe *this* product would be different, and I would go out and buy it.  Spoiler– nothing ever worked.  Now if i want my nails done, I actually go to the salon and get the dip powder that actually lasts 3 weeks.  So much less frustration!  As a bonus, I think I spend less money overall this way!

12.  Cheap purses

I used to buy cheaper purses, but the fabric would tear or get dirty.  This always frustrated me because it's tough to get used to a new purse, where the pockets are, etc.  About two years ago I bought my first better quality purse, and it's still going strong!  It looks great, has held up so well, and I get compliments on it all the time.  This is another instance where paying more for one high-quality means I spend less money overall!

13.  School pictures

I know this may be weird to some people, but we just don't buy these.  They're expensive, and I already have way better pictures of my kids at all ages…so I just don't see the need to buy school pictures.

14.  Drinks at meals

I don't really enjoy a soda as much with a meal as I do if I'm just drinking one without food because I'm more focused on enjoying the food.  If you multiply the cost of a soda over a whole family and then add that up over a year….just WOW.  It saves us so much money!

15.  Souvenirs

When we travel, I don't buy anything to “remember” the trip.  First, I'll remember it anyway, and second, I'll take pictures!  If I do buy anything, I'll buy a set of playing cards.  We did this on our honeymoon, and it's something we've kept up.  They're useful because we play cards with people often, so we just add the new deck to our collection and use it with friends.  Some people will buy an art print or an ornament or something small like that.  It's better to keep it to one thing, but don't feel guilty if you don't buy a bunch of stuff (plus the T shirt!) everywhere you go!  You're still making memories!

16.  Extended warranties

I literally NEVER buy these.  I'm always asked if I want a $4 warranty on a memory card or something from Amazon.  These things hardly ever break within the warranty period, and if they do, you have to deal with customer service and fighting to get your money back.  It's just not worth my time!  If you self-insure, you come out ahead almost every time anyway.

17.  Coffee Tables

Some people love these, but I love the look of the open floor space, and kids always seem to get hurt on coffee tables, so I just don't use them.  I do have a side table in case someone wants to set a drink down, but I skip the coffee table.

18.  Physical Books

I do buy physical books for my kids.  But for myself I use digital versions.  Again I use Hoopla and Libby apps for free books through my library, and I have an Audible subscription for some harder to find audio books.  I like that I have the book with me on my phone wherever I go.  It's easier for traveling with your “book,” too.

19.  Inside Plants

I sooo want to be a plant lady, but I'm just not.  I can't keep them alive.  I've even tried fake plants, but I find those look, well, fake.  I got tired of shopping for ones that look good and then not liking them…so we just have plants outside now.

20.  Pets and Pet Stuff

I LOVE visiting other people's pets.  Cute kittens and adorable dogs…but I'm not much of a fan in my own home.  I didn't grow up with pets, and it just seems like so much work to me.  I know MANY people won't agree and totally could not understand this about me.  I like animals, but it stresses me out to think about the expense and even more so the WORK that goes into them.  You have to groom them, take them to the vet, feed them, clean up their messes, and figure out a pet sitter when you're away.  It's just too much for me!

21.  Gym Membership

I used to have a gym membership and used it regularly.  In 2020, that obviously stopped for a while, and then I just never got back into it.  I did buy a nice exercise bike and a few weights, and now I love working out at home!  It's easier for me because I don't have to haul myself and/or the kids out of the house.  It takes so much less time because I'm not traveling anywhere.  Because of all that, I'm much more likely to work out consistently!  And the one-time cost of that bike more than paid for itself in the first year.

22.  Craft Supplies

I used to be a hardcore crafter.  I still struggle with not deep diving into new crafts and hobbies when I find one I like!  I want to have ALL the supplies at the ready.   But I figured this out about myself:  when I see a tutorial online, i want to use the EXACT products they used so mine will turn out the same.  So I ended up going out and buying new things anyway.  Sales can be deceiving too because craft stores are always having sales.  It will come around again, so I remind myself of that when I'm tempted to buy a supply I don't need right that moment.

23.  Clothes that Don't Fit

I used to fall into this trap so often!  If it was just a little too small, I'd buy it anyway because I “planned” to lose weight.  Does that ever really work out?  It never has for me.  So now I don't buy something if I can't turn around and wear it out (and love it!) tomorrow.

24.  Aspirational Foods

Is this a thing?  Maybe I'm making this up, but often I will grocery shop based on what I wish I ate.  I'd love to be a super healthy/clean/veggie eater all the time, but I'm just not always that way.  Sometimes I'll get excited about a new eating plan and buy ALL the healthy foods (and the Costco tubs at that!), but then I don't really like it, or a sweetener doesn't agree with my system, and I end up throwing it out.  So now I do my absolute best to start small and slow.  Buy small amounts of the new foods and make sure you'll really eat what you buy.

25.  Scrapbooking Stuff

I love crafting, but I've realized I'm just not into making scrapbooks.  My 9 year old daughter still doesn't have a baby book LOL!  I'm much more likely to do a digital version, though– one that I can do on my phone or computer.  And I much prefer typing to writing.  So I've given up on trying to be a scrapbooker!

26.  Christmas Gifts

I know this one is out there.  But last year we just decided not to buy gifts for each other or even our kids!  If my husband or I really want or need something, we tend to just buy it throughout the year.  It's the same with our kids.  If they need clothes, we buy them and give them to them before Christmas.  Sometimes we even buy them toys or activities if we see them throughout the year.  This year we still made a whole occasion of Christmas and did family activities all day, etc.  It was a super fun day not focused around gifts, and honestly the kids didn't even notice!

Obviously, some of these won't work for everyone!  Hopefully there are at least a couple here that you'll find you don't need to buy, either!  My biggest takeaway is to just think out of the box.  Are you buying or doing things just because you've always done it that way or that's what “everyone” does?  What can you happily live without?

If you want more tips, check out my decluttering playlist on YouTube here.

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.

To be fair, at the time I gave up I had a tiny freezer on top of my fridge in an apartment.  I just had to cram things in and hope they didn't fall out on my toe when I opened the door the next time.

However, now that I have a bigger fridge freezer plus a deep freezer and a basement freezer…yeah, it's still not any easier.  I just find it impossible to keep organized, and here's why:

1.  I don't always have the same things.

Our needs and tastes are always changing.  Sometimes I try out a new product that catches my eye.  Sometimes I stock up on deals I find, so I end up with a lot more than normal of any given item.  We buy 1/4 of a cow every year.  We have two kids that often eat different things than my husband and I. I also buy different brands.  So a frozen pizza from one brand isn't in the same size box as another pizza.  It's an organizational nightmare, LOL!

The point is, what I'm storing in the freezer is constantly changing.  In the kitchen, we have the same dishes, so it's easy to designate space in cabinets where your needs never change.  It's practically impossible in the freezer where the storage needs can change literally every day!

2.  I have multiple freezers.

I totally think this makes it harder than when I had that tiny little fridge freezer.  Now I have to keep track of which food is where, and sometimes I move things from one freezer to another.

Also, deep freezers are DEEP!  There's no way around just stacking stuff and piling things on top of each other.  No bins actually fit in freezers easily.  The sizing between freezers is never consistent.  Even if you use bins, you're going to have empty spaces where the bins fall short of the sides, etc., and that's just wasted space!  Most of us can't afford to lose space in our freezers, so bins are just a no-go for me.

So what's the solution?!?

While I have given up on organizing the actual items in the freezer, I've not given up entirely.  My solution has been to have an up-to-date freezer inventory!  Looking at the inventory sheet shows me exactly what I have in which freezer, so at least when I go digging for something, I know it's there!

The inventory sheet helps so much:

• It helps me not waste food because nothing gets forgotten even though it may be buried at the bottom.
• If I know what I have, I can meal plan from it and actually use it!
• I know not only what's in there but how much of an item we have.  I found out I had ten packages of sirloin steaks…guess what we've been eating?!?
• I literally HATE rummaging in the freezer, so now I “rummage” by looking at my inventory list!
• It's easy to keep up with.  Just add to the inventory as you buy, and mark off things you use as you go.  If you take just seconds to do this, you'll never have to do the inventory process again!

How to do a freezer inventory

This is not the fun part, but you have to pull everything out of all your freezers and write down every single item.  You also have to work fast so things don't thaw!  Not gonna lie– it's a ton of work!  But it really is worth it to simplify your life a bit more.  It makes dinner planning and prep SO much easier.

Toss what you know you won't eat.  Now is not the time to beat yourself up for letting something expire or for buying the big Costco bag of something you don't actually like.  The past is in the past, and you can't go back and change it.  But you shouldn't just stick it back in the freezer to throw it away in five years!  If you get your freezer inventories and pared down to food you'll actually use, it will help prevent future food waste, so that's a win!

As you write things down that you're keeping, put them back in the freezer.  You can try to do a little bit of organization here– like veggies on the left, fruit on the right, etc., but don't stress!  Really I just toss most things back in because I know it's hopeless for me, LOL!

How to keep up with your inventory

Now that you've done all this work, the key is to take the few seconds you need to update your list as you buy or as you use things.  It really is simple, but you have to get into the habit.  Also, if you are not the only one who cooks or eats things from the freezer, you really need to teach the other people in your house how to update the inventory.  Otherwise you'll end up right back where you started!

Here's how I use my inventory sheets:  I make one mark for the items I have.  If I open a bag and stick a partial bag back in the freezer, I'll use a half line (it makes kind of a Y shape).  Then when I finish off the box or bag, I'll finish out that line to make an X.  Now I know I no longer have it.

Need more help?  Check out our Kitchen Printable Pack!

I've always made printables based on what I myself needed, and these were a huge game changer for me in the kitchen!  The kitchen kit includes:

• Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer Inventory Trackers (the same thing I was talking about above except for ALL your food!)
• Grocery Prices Chart
• Restaurant Menu
• School Lunch Planner
• Meal Planner
• Meal Prep Planner
• Water Tracker
• Weekly and Monthly Intake Trackers
• Meal and Glucose Trackers
• Entertaining Checklist
• Medication Tracker
• Grocery List
• Conversion Table
• Recipe Dividers
• Go-To Meals and Ingredients
• “When did I Last” Cleaning Chart
• AND MORE!

I use these trackers and planners to help me keep up with everything in the kitchen and to be sure my family is eating as healthfully as possible…you know, at least I try, LOL!  And even though I've decided to embrace my completely unorganized freezer, this inventory sheet still keeps things under control!

How about you– do you have one area where you are just a complete mess like me?

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.