I love books. Actual books. 

I know a kindle can hold lots of books and take up very little space, but I prefer the feel of a book (and the ease of flipping back to find a name or detail I forgot).

When my bookshelves start looking cluttered, and books are competing for space or ending up in a stack on the floor, it’s time to reassess and start a donation pile.

If you are a book lover, here are 4 ideas for taming your collection:

1. Read or release - If you've been holding onto a book for years without reading it, it might be time to pass it along. Consider it a literary act of kindness. 

2. Category clear-out - maybe there is a type of book, like recipe books or novels, that are easier to part with. It is easier for me to get rid of a novel than many of the non-fiction books I have.

3. Gift - some books you have may be a great gift for someone else. Put a post it on the book with the persons name and put the book in your gift bin.

4. Sell - there are many options for selling your books online - you can do a search to get an estimate on what your books titles may be selling for and decide if that’s the way to go. 

Once you are done and have your final keep pile, you can ‘re-stock’ the shelves. See post with suggestions on how to organize your bookshelves!

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.

​So many PHOTOS!

Many years ago, while visiting my mom, we went through several shoe-boxes of photo’s (it was not her favorite activity, but she was a good sport). She no longer felt the need to hold on to many of the photos from our childhood. I suggested making piles for each of us (me and my 2 sisters) and we went through and put in each persons pile their baby photos, school pics etc. During the process we came across photos she wanted to give to other’s, like her siblings, so we made a pile for them too. She also had a box where she put photo’s she wanted to keep. 

It didn’t take us too long, but we did take breaks. 

Photos are memories. They provide snapshots of our history - events that can bring up different emotions. Each picture can remind us of a time, place and experience that we had not thought about in a long time. Going through photos takes time because a big part is pausing and thinking about the memory.

The newer medium of digital photos adds a whole new element to photo organization. We take pictures of everything from our family and pets - to the grocery list, a price displayed for something we may want to buy or show someone, what we had for dinner, or the new flower in our garden. All of these pictures can quickly add up!

And the more we have, the longer it takes to sort and organize. 

We will gather, sort, organize & maintain.

One step at a time.

​My birthday is in June so it is a reflective time of the year for me. It is also the half-way point of the year so it is a good time to check-in and RENEW any commitments you made to yourself earlier this year that may have taken a back seat. Life can throw things at us that we aren’t prepared for and the things we set out to accomplish can get buried. 

The nice thing is we can always start again.

For work, I set an intention at the beginning of the year to restructure my days so I could spend more time creating content for my newsletter, blog and instagram. I was going to set aside a morning every week to write. There were many weeks that the plan worked, but other weeks where it didn’t. The last few weeks have been more difficult, both in the flow of ideas and the time to write. I’m going to RENEW my commitment to set aside time each week to write in the morning, when I’m most productive. 

Personally, I wanted to stay committed to my daily yoga practice. This was sidelined for several weeks due to 2 separate minor injury’s that needed time to heal. Things can change in an instant - which makes me grateful for everyday that my body is able to do the yoga practice.

Keeping the commitments we make to ourselves is important, but we can’t be so rigid to not allow for a shift when things change. 

Even getting organized can be two steps forward one step back. It is a process that takes time, thought and the ability to regroup when something isn’t working.

This month, I invite you to reflect on the status of the new habits you set for yourself. What is working? What is not working? What can you RENEW?

​The summer months are coming and many people are planning trips. Being organized and having a system can really help with your travel plans. There are people who can pack up and go pretty easily, which is wonderful - but I am not one of them.

Growing up, we went to a NY state park for a week in the summer. We would stay in a cabin which had 2 rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom on front screened-in porch, toilet only. There were hiking trails, a lake with diving boards and a swim area. The park also had family activities in the morning and evening on certain days. I always enjoyed going. Now, as an adult, I realize what my mom had to do to get us there.

The cabin was bare and only had cold water, which means we had to bring EVERYTHING. So in addition to everyone’s clothes and shoes, my mom had to pack blankets, pillows, bath towels, soap, napkins, dish cleaner, dish towels, bug spray, flashlights, plates, cups, pots/pans, cutlery etc. She also premade meals for the week since there was nowhere to eat-out. Then somehow, all the stuff and the 5 of us (plus the dog) would pile into the car for the 4 1/2 hour drive to the park.

Years later when my family was talking about those trips, I asked my mom how she managed to pack and remember everything. She told me she had a list. After each trip she would add to it if she needed to so the following year she would remember. She said: ”It was a lot of work getting packed and out the door, but once we were on the road I could relax.” 

I have never taken on a trip that involved that much preparation, but I have created my own travel list. It includes items that I always need and don't want to forget. It also has things I need to do before I leave town. The list has saved me time and lessened the stress I feel about traveling. 

My wish is that any travel you are doing will be hassle free and truly enjoyable!