Sometimes I feel like I'm the Queen of the Obvious. Welcome to my kingdom. I've recently come up with a solution that's so obvious, I'm pretty sure every mom of more than one kid has been doing it since she washed her first load of baby-plus-toddler laundry. But whatever. I don't write for the moms who already have it together. I write …
kids rooms
Using the Container Concept with Kids – A Reader’s Story
I've been enjoying hearing the stories coming from those who are reading advance copies of my book that releases next week, Decluttering at the Speed of Life. This story from Lisa about using the Container Concept to help her son declutter made me so happy: Reading the kids chapter and wanted to share a story. My youngest son was adopted from …
The Mama Who Kept on Decluttering
I don't share many pictures of my kids' rooms anymore. They're old (one is FOURTEEN) and have their own lives and such and I don't feel it's my place to share their messes with the world. But that doesn't mean we don't declutter. Oh boy, we do. It gets easier and easier and easier every time. You know how I talk about re-decluttering? And …
More Ideas for Containing Stuffed Animals
I started to title this, "More Ideas for Stuffed Animal Storage" but stopped myself. It's not about storing. It's about containing. By "it" I mean the way I have to think about my home to keep it from getting out of control. Storing means finding a place (or many places) to put things. Containing means designating a space, and letting that …
Organizing Kids’ Rooms: Containers (Used Correctly) WORK!!
Wait. You saw that picture and clicked over because you thought it was a before pic? Oh. Well, this is uncomfortable. That's not a before picture. It's actually a celebration picture. Here it is without all the extra bloggy stuff: It's a success picture because it's an "organizing solution" that works for us. And it has been working …
Re-Decluttering Is a Real Thing
In case you're new around here, let me explain something. I truly believe the #1 thing I have to give to my kindred slob spirits is permission to keep going. Photo-proof that "after" photos turn back into before photos, and it's okay to tackle that same space again instead of throwing my hands up in the air and declaring there's no point in even …
Using Timers with Kids – Reader Story
I love hearing how this mama is using what she's learning to help her daughter: Hi, Dana: I love your blog, but who doesn't? The idea of decluttering one box at a time was just what I needed to attack (and defeat) my closet last month. I'm the one who posted on Facebook that I got my little girl to do "one in one out" by using a paper bag to …
Play Room: Play Space or Storage Space?
I spoke to a lovely group of mothers last fall. One of the questions that came up really made me think. It was about playrooms. And storing toys in them. (I can't remember the question exactly.) PLAYROOM! was at the top of my list when we were searching for a house. We had three kids ages four and under, and I thought it was a Must …
The Like It Shelf and the Love It Shelf
Do you recognize that bench/bookshelf? The one I "got rid of" almost two years ago. I did remove it from its chronically-piled spot by the back door. It sat in the garage for a while, in my entryway for a while, and back in the garage. I had the idea to put it in my daughter's room. The main reason I don't love it in other spots is that it's …
