There are so many ways to spread love (aside from romantic love) and this month is about finding ways to love up on your space.

If there is an area in your home that makes you cringe, what would make it better? A clean-out? Better fitting furniture or decor? More light? 

Choose just one place and think about what could change so you could truly enjoy entering the space. 

Make a list.

Commit to acting on at least 2 times that are on that list.

Make time in your schedule and do the work.

I’m here to help, so if you are stuck or need suggestions, email me and let me know. 

It’s hard to go it alone - so I am here to support you! 

You can do this!!

February is not just about celebrating romantic love; it's also the perfect time to shower some love on the people we hold dear to our hearts AND on the spaces we inhabit every day. 

Here are some ideas to create spaces that truly reflect the warmth and comfort you deserve.

Take that picture, special memento or heirloom from the box or file and find a place to display it so it can be enjoyed. 

Bring the outdoors inside by adding a plant to your space - it helps aesthetically as well as improves air quality!

Enjoy a little aromatherapy by using essential oils or candles. These can help to motivate or relax you.

Elevate your bedroom space by upgrading your bedding, adding decor you love or getting rid of the items that are taking up space. This room should be a place you look forward to being at the end of the day.

Remember, your space is a reflection of you. So, infuse it with love and make it a place where you truly belong.

January has been a slow start for me this year. 

After some very mild winters, we have had some snow, which always give me the ‘snow day’ feel from growing up. A day where you don’t HAVE to do anything. 

It also reminds me that we are a very busy, goal oriented, ‘doing’, culture. Nothing else in nature is growing 24/7 365 days a year, yet there is an assumption that we should be. 

I’m trying to shift that perspective and remember that we need time for rest. With the shorter days and colder weather the winter months are a natural time to slow down, go inward and recharge. I’ll take my cues from nature - even though I prefer seeing it through a window :)

I’ve been wanting to go through all my files. Each year, I go through the monthly bills, utility and credit card files and clear out the previous year, but it was time to go through ALL of them. ​

We moved a fews years ago and had some renovations done. Everything from that time ended up in one folder, which was a collection of what I had and what my husband had. Since that time, anything to do with the house went into that file. 

It has been a process and instead of doing it all in one day - I’ve been doing a little here and a little there. I’m about half way through and have been able to get rid of a lot, which helps keep me going. It can be mentally exhausting, especially the personal files, so I try and be mindful of me energy. After a couple of hours I take a break. Pushing through is not always the answer, because that’s often when I don’t make the best decisions.  

The biggest concerns I hear about paper are: how long do i have to keep this? and I want this but don’t know what to do with it. 

You can be plowing through things and then find one piece of paper that you want, but have no idea what to do with it. The same thing happens when sorting through things. It is what often stops people from continuing. They shut down.

My advice has always been - as you go through things, just decide what is important and what is not. Make a pile for those things that you want and aren’t sure what to do with. After the sort it done, we go back through those things and work them into the system. Usually by then, it is much clearer. 

It is my 20th year organizing!!

I have seen many things over the years - but what I’ve found most interesting is the way people judge themselves and what they put value on - what is important to them.  

The judgements can get in the way of progress and change. It usually stems from something they heard or was told that keeps them stuck or feeling bad about themselves. No one every grows from that place, so it’s important to shine a light on the limiting beliefs and reframe them so they either dissolve or empower.

When I have an understanding of what someone values or is important to them, it allows me to better serve them and offer solutions. 

When I think back to when I started Riley Creative, the tenant of keeping business separate from personal was popular (and still may be). I followed that to the best of my ability until I realized, in my work, it’s a really fine line.   

It is a privilege to be welcomed into someone’s home and trusted to go through their things with them. Meeting them at an often vulnerable place and making space for them to process through their stuff is a big part of my work, and it is personal. So while it is more important for me to listen than to share, it is me who makes the connection. What a gift!
​

Happy New Year!

​Most years, I take some time to reflect on the past year and do some journaling. It helps me to know what I want to work on, or change for the upcoming year. There is a great journal prompt that helps me get started that a meditation teacher uses in his retreats.

This is a time in my life when……

It helps focus my thoughts and look inward to sense what is falling away, or no longer of value to me and also what might be arising that needs attention.

January is GO month in the organizing world (get organized). I always start with clearing out and the journal reflection is a great way to start CLEARING for the New Year. Clutter is so much more that the stuff you have- it is the activities you do, the people in your life AND the thoughts in your head. 

Rather than deciding if you want to keep something or commit to an event, first ask yourself if the item still aligns with your current lifestyle? Or, is the event something you want to spend your time and energy on? 

Figure out what is most important to you first. Then hold up everything else to those ideals and the decisions become much easier.

New Years BINGO    

Several years ago, a few friends and I started a NEW YEARS BINGO game.

The New Year can feel full of possibilities and some people make resolutions.

I have never been one to make new years resolutions. I felt it put too much pressure on January 1st and allowed me to indulge a bit too much leading up to the ball drop.

The resolutions always seem to involve giving up something I enjoyed, or starting something I didn’t want to do. (Well, at least not every day). 

Instead, I thought about things I wanted to do, but never made time for. I was too busy or it wasn’t the right time so they never happened. These were not big things, like trips around the world and scaling a mountain. They were realistic things like visiting a museum, hiking a nearby trail, or finishing a craft project I wanted to make.

My friends felt the same. They too had things they always wanted to do but didn’t.

So began the NEW YEARS BINGO. Instead of making resolutions, we fill out a BINGO card with all those little things we want to do. 

Every time we do one, we cross it out on our BINGO card. 

The first person to get BINGO wins and is taken out to dinner at a restaurant of their choice by the others playing. Of course, you can make the reward anything you want. And there is no limit to the number of people you play with. We used to fill out our card on New Years Eve together as a group, which was fun because we were able to share ideas and there was always something I would not have thought of on my own.


Rules:

You get one free space anywhere on the card, put that in first.

Only put in things you enjoyed doing. Loosing weight or quitting caffeine are out.

NO huge goals or things that take an extended period of time.  (You can have as many goals as you want, but this is not the place for them.)

​Use an afternoon, day trip or long weekend as a time frame for the activity. 
Must have card filled out by 2nd week in January - no adding things later in the year after you do them!

Download your BINGO card here!

Rather than gifting things - consider gifting experiences.

Some ideas are gift cards for restaurants, the movies, the theater, skydiving, the trampoline park, rock climbing, an art class, a pottery class, a dinner cruise, an escape room, a concert, a sporting event, a massage, facial, or salon service.

Maybe there is a membership the person would enjoy that you could gift the first 6 months or a year. There are yoga/gym memberships or monthly subscriptions for a wine club or healthy food delivery.

The options are endless and you can certainly find something for even the pickiest of people.

​Keeping all the holiday stuff manageable can be like solving a puzzle.
 
Have you ever found yourself saying, this year I am going to organize the holiday stuff so it’s not everywhere? It will be easier to find what I need?
 
Having organized in many homes over the years, holiday storage is on everyone’s list.
 
Every year, take a little time to get rid of items you don’t use, or that are no longer in good shape. There will likely be something new to add, so take the time to clear out.
 
Sort by how you use the items.
 
What do you need first?
 
First Out
Towels, napkins, placemats, cards etc. are items I use first every year, so I put these all in one container and label it, including “FIRST OUT”.
 
Inside decor
Includes inside decorations, garland and lights
 
Tree ornaments
Only have the items you put on the tree in this container including garland and ornament hooks
 
Outside lights
Keep all outside lights in one bin (if possible). Wrap up the lights on a light storage roll or use a piece of  strong cardboard and wrap the lights around it. This way the lights won’t get tangled. Then mark on the cardboard (or the reel) where you used the lights, so next year you won’t have to guess. Leave any light timers you use in this bin.
 
Outside decor
Any additional items you use outside like garland, blow-ups, bows etc
 
Wreaths
These will often have their own storage. You can get a wreath container, or use a garbage bag to cover to keep the dust off. Depending on where you store your holiday stuff, they can also be hung on a wall.
 
Gift wrap
Use a separate bin for all holiday bags, wrap and ribbons. I like to keep it separate from other gift wrap and bags because it’s only used once a year and it saves space in my normal wrap container.
 
Gift Bin
If you shop after holiday sales or find something for someone for next year (or for a birthday) have a place to store it. I keep a gift bin so I always know where the items are so when the day comes, I know where to find it!
 
Use similar bins - consistency matters.
 
And most importantly LABEL the bins clearly.

Keeping a healthy mindset during the holidays is so important. Having a gratitude practice helps. 

I started writing down 3 things I am grateful for every night before going to bed. I also do a quick gratitude list in the morning. I helps me with a positive mindset at the start of my day. It’s always good to remember that what I focus on, gets bigger and I’d prefer to put my attention on what lifts me up.

When gathering for Thanksgiving, there are family’s that take turns- each sharing one thing they are grateful for. There are some people that do this practice before every meal. 

There is something about pausing before eating and saying “thanks”.  It helps bring you into your body and the present moment. Just doing this one new thing can make a big difference. What a gift! 

The big things in life can look small when compared to all the little things we get to experience everyday - we just have to remember to take notice. A gratitude practice can shine a light on those moments - especially if you know you will have to write down 3 things later in the day. Your attention will scan for things - making your day more enjoyable.