Building a Capsule Wardrobe: The Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style and Simplified Fashion

Written by guest blogger Kevin Connor of Inspired Organizers. In a world where fast fashion trends constantly come and go, creating a capsule wardrobe offers a refreshing approach to dressing with intention and versatility. A capsule wardrobe is a curated collection of essential, timeless, and high-quality clothing items that can be mixed and matched to…

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Freedom From Clutter is Possible

feeling free

Hey there! Let’s take a moment to declare our independence from clutter together. We all know how overwhelming it can be to have too many things filling up our physical and mental space. So, let’s make a pact to start simplifying and organizing our lives, one step at a time. Think about how good it…

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It’s okay to donate your nice things

sign that reads thrift stores want nice stuff

  I’ve heard my clients say this more than once…….”Jill, this is too nice to give away!” My response is, “yes, that’s a nice __________, but here’s the thing, thrift stores LOVE nice things.” Clients often believe they should sell their items rather than donate them because it feels wasteful and they want to recoup some…

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Our tree topper has had a good run

beach with christmas ornaments with text it's a wonderful time to thin out holiday decorations

This star has topped our tree for 24 years. This year of all years the star refused to light up, go figure. Our $10 star had a good run. I remember shopping for this star with my mom after she saw our star-less tree. A tree without a topper was unacceptable to my mom. She…

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Nifty Gifty Ideas for any Holiday

gift ideas

I stink at choosing gifts because I agonize over each gift, buy it, return it and cross my fingers they like it.  Then I wised up and decided to stop buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff.  It didn’t feel aligned with who I am (the Queen of decluttering). If you want to be…

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Follow my system to organize your home

paint brushes with blue and white paint

Since I started painting as a hobby in 2020, I notice that the organizing and painting processes have some similarities. It starts with a goal.  In my mind,  I’ll have an image of the completed painting I’m aiming for. Just like an image of the uncluttered space you have in mind. Getting started can be…

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Downsizing when it gets emotional

your stuff doesn't care if you love it

Downsizing is emotional for humans. You might feel bad about letting things go but your stuff doesn’t care whether you keep them around, toss, recycle or donate them to the nearest thrift store. Acknowledging this might make the downsizing process a bit easier. We have to feel the feelings, deal with them, and heal our…

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You are capable of doing hard stuff

making decisions is hard

This is hard! That’s what my client repeatedly stated as she sorted out a bin. I’m not going to deny this. Making decisions and dealing with stuff is hard. She didn’t quit though. I held space for her and oozed support. I listened without interrupting.   Bit by bit, the decisions were made and she…

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I wanted to give up.

hiker gazing at a mountain

I barely made it to our destination on this hike.  A cirque on a Colorado mountainside. Did you spot me in the lower righthand corner of the photo surrounded by expansive mountains? It felt incredible to get to this spot, sit down, breathe normally, refuel and take some time to enjoy nature while scanning the…

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You don’t have to live like this

moving boxes

The boxes haven’t been unpacked even though you moved a million years ago. Or, you moved last month, and the remaining boxes feel so hard.  This I understand; you’re overwhelmed.? ? It’s easy to avoid unpacking boxes, especially when you’re able to hide them in the basement, garage, or closet.  But they are still there……taking…

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Is it just me who needs more space?

You aren’t the only one with too much stuff and too little space. Here’s a solution to regaining control. If you can’t shut the closet or cabinet door, then remove some items until it all fits and the door closes. Look for things you don’t use or don’t like. Do the same when a drawer…

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This shovel was more than a shovel

gardening tools

  My husband decided to re-organize our garage. An area I like to think of as my husband’s responsibility. He is the main user of the stuff as well as a SAVER with a capital “S.” Me, I’m a tosser. For example, I don’t save short bits of rope, just in case. Nor do I…

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My client’s bed wasn’t sleeping in her bed

Her bed was completely buried beneath clutter.  My client was dealing with physical and emotional challenges besides an overwhelming amount of bedroom clutter. She couldn’t sleep in her bedroom because clutter had completely taken over the room (I’ve seen this situation countless times; I couldn’t wait to help).  It had become an area to stash…

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Who hasn’t decluttered by accident?

  Those moments of unplanned, spontaneous decluttering can be very productive. You had no intention of decluttering but there you are sorting and discarding by happenstance (I’ve always wanted to use that word). I’ve had this happen in my garden when I spot a weed while admiring a bloom.  Thirty minutes later I’ll notice I…

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Try this if you need to get rid of items quickly

tan moving boxes opened and unopened piled on floor with white background and white floor

Sometimes a move to a different home is planned, other times it’s due to a crisis. My parents experienced both situations and moved 3 times in the last 9 years. Each move required downsizing because of space constraints. Fortunately, they’d downsized for decades and didn’t hang onto things that no longer served them. They continued…

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My dad’s wait is over

beach with blue, sunny sky and white sand with the words my dad's wait is over

His 5-year wait ended.   Ever since my mom passed, dad envisioned once again being with his bride of 64 years. That long-awaited day arrived for him on December 29, 2019, with his passing. His kids and grandkids drove and flew into Madison to love on him during his last days. • We held his…

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