Blog
In addition to actually doing the organizing, another of Angie’s passions is writing about organizing.
She has been writing a monthly blog on organizing since 2016. Most of the blog posts were also published as monthly newspaper articles in the Kingsport Times-News and Johnson City Press.
To access the blog, you can either:
Click on a category below to see all the blog entries from that category; OR
Scroll the feed of blog entries below
- Apps
- Bathroom
- Business
- Children
- Christmas
- Computer
- Decluttering
- Digital organizing
- Estate planning
- General Organization
- Getting Records Together
- Goals
- Health
- Home Organization
- Kitchen
- Media
- Medical
- Mental clutter
- Minimalism
- Moving
- New Year
- Office
- Organizing Principles
- Paper organizing
- Phone
- Photo Organizing
- Photo organizing
- Preparing for Death
- Purse
- Residential organizing
- Resolutions
- School
- Technology
- Television
- Time Management and Productivity
- Travel
- Working from Home
What to Do with Dead People's Stuff (Part 2)
Imagine this: a family gathers to divide their grandmother's estate. A beloved heirloom, a dining room table and chairs, becomes the center of a heated dispute. Such conflicts are not uncommon when dealing with the possessions of a loved one. This article offers practical advice on how to navigate these sensitive situations and ensure a fair distribution of belongings. In addition, you’ll find my recommendations for maximizing the value of a deceased person's belongings.
Letting Go of the Past and the Maybe: Conquering Identity and Aspirational Clutter
This article addresses two related categories of clutter—identity clutter and aspirational clutter. Both types are associated with how we think of ourselves, either in the past or in the future. Whether it’s old trophies stored in a box in the attic, a treadmill serving as a clothes rack, or camping gear for someone who’s never actually gone camping, these items are a source of clutter. Read on to find out how to conquer these common clutter categories.
Practical Clutter: How Much is Too Much?
I define practical clutter as objects that are useful in and of themselves, but we simply have more than we need. There is a huge variety of items that could be considered practical clutter: t-shirts, cooking utensils, toiletries, tools, shoes, and more. It’s not that we don’t need items like these. The problem is that we have an overabundance or that we have items that don’t suit us anymore. If we keep holding onto items that don’t bring value to our lives, we end up with clutter. In this article you’ll find some of my favorite organizing principles to help determine whether a particular item is clutter and to determine how much is enough.
Categories of Physical Clutter
When we think about clutter, we often think of it in terms of one giant, oppressive mass. Seen in this light, it’s no wonder we often feel overwhelmed by it! But have you ever stopped to think about clutter in terms of different categories? Ever wondered which types are most problematic for you? This first article in a series will begin a discussion of the many categories of physical clutter.
Taming the Medicine Cabinet: Organizing Your Medical Supplies
When it comes to medication and medical supplies, the potential consequences of disorganization can be problematic at best and critical at worst. By following the recommendations in this article for organizing your medical supplies, hopefully you can difficult medical situations in the future.
Win the War on Clutter with These Audiobooks
The New Year brings a familiar feeling: the urge to revamp our lives, break old habits, and forge shiny, new ones. Like many, decluttering and organizing may be high on your list of New Year goals.
I salute you for that intention! And I’d like to equip you with a few new tools. I love using my time for learning. I often listen to podcasts or audiobooks as I drive, work on home projects, or exercise. Here are a few of my top audiobook choices on decluttering.
How To Be The Less-Organized Spouse
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be married to a professional organizer? Or how to successfully cohabitate when your spouse’s level of organization feels like overkill? My husband Eric has graciously offered to reveal all by guest writing this article. You’ll find practical tips for negotiating a level of order that suits both spouses and allows them to flourish without driving each other crazy.
Organizing Your Spices
I’m often asked, “What’s the best way to organize ____?” There is rarely one solution that works perfectly for everyone. Nowhere do I find this to be more true than when organizing spices. Whether for myself or my clients, I’ve arranged spices at least ten different ways! There’s no such thing as “one size fits all”.
When deciding the best way to organize spices, there are two main decisions you need to make. Those two decisions will lead you to very different organizing solutions. Check out the options in this article.
What’s in your On-Deck Circle?
Everyone needs a space for items that are in transition from your home to someplace else. Examples of items that might be included include a book to return to the library, a store purchase needing to be exchanged, or an umbrella usually kept in the car. What’s the best place to put things like these? And what should you call this space?
Don’t Let Your Crafts Become Clutter
Those of us who love crafting know that it requires LOTS of supplies. Without careful planning, crafts can be a source of clutter! My latest newspaper article gives practical tips for preventing craft clutter.
One of my best opening lines ever may whet your appetite to read this one—"In a moment of temporary insanity in 2017, I purchased a stack of wooden crates filled with vintage 1986 Tennessee Homecoming Centennial Coke bottles."
Chaotic Closet No More
The winner of the Chaotic Closet Contest received a fantastic prize—a custom closet renovation by A Place for Everything Closets and free decluttering and organizing. Take a look at this transformation!
Ten Myths about Professional Organizers, Busted! (Part 2)
Whenever I introduce myself as a professional organizer, there are several common responses. The most common response is a blank stare and the reply, “What’s that?” Many of the other common responses are included in this list of myths below, along with a myth-busting explanation for each. This is the second of a two part article. Read on to test your knowledge and to determine whether you might benefit from hiring an organizer.
Don't Buy those Containers (Yet)!
I LOVE containers! I love the variety of shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and materials. I love the basic ones that can be used to store most anything as well as the very specific ones custom made for one specific need. When I am lucky enough to be visiting a city that has a Container Store, I always find a way to spend some time there. It’s an organizer’s dream! I walk around practically salivating at the seemingly endless selection of products. Did you notice that containers are usually on sale around the first of the year? Since getting organized is a very common New Year’s resolution, stores tend to capitalize on this by placing their containers at the front of the store and marking them down. So it’s the perfect time to buy them, right? What could be wrong with that?