Inspiration & Motivation

make chores fun

15 Ways to Make Chores Fun!

By Hazel Thornton | October 14, 2016 |

                Who enjoys doing chores? No one, that’s who. But what if I told you there were ways to make chores fun? Or, at least, more fun than they seem now. Chores include house work, meal prep, yard work, paying bills, running errands, grocery shopping, tidying up, cleaning,…

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Is Your Unfinished Project Really Worth Doing? (The Sunk Cost of Clutter — Part 2)

By Hazel Thornton | September 16, 2016 |

My client and I are sorting and purging her belongings. We come across some fabric she has had for years. Decades, in fact. She puts it in the KEEP pile, saying, “I always thought I could make something out of this.” Not being a sewer, or a quilter, she does not otherwise have a stash…

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The Trouble with Minimalism

By Hazel Thornton | August 14, 2016 |

                  Minimalism is a lovely thing… and it’s also a big can of worms. “At its core,” writes one of my favorite bloggers, Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist, “minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.”…

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Try This Simple Trick to Curb Impulse Buying

By Hazel Thornton | August 8, 2016 |

First, why do I want you to curb impulse buying? I really couldn’t care less about how much money you spend, or how much stuff you have. It’s your money, your stuff, and your life….until you call me for help, and then I care a lot! I care that you feeling overwhelmed and embarrassed to…

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Embrace the Clutter!

By Hazel Thornton | July 18, 2016 |

Embrace the clutter! Why on earth would I, a professional organizer, say such a thing? Well, think about it. What’s the opposite of embracing something? Fearing it? Ignoring it? Avoiding it? Doesn’t it seem like anything you fear, ignore, or avoid persists? It doesn’t go away, it just nags at you. Doesn’t it? Maybe not…

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Organizing a Creative Mess

By Hazel Thornton | April 23, 2016 |

Do you have a creative mess? Do you feel inspired by it…or overwhelmed? I have helped clients organize their quilting and sewing rooms; scrapbooking, jewelry making, painting, and glass art studios; and elementary school art classrooms. Their respective supplies and equipment all had different storage requirements, but the clients all had these things in common:

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Things That Don’t Spark Joy, But You’d Better Keep Anyway

By Hazel Thornton | March 19, 2016 |

                  What do a toilet plunger and old tax returns have in common? They’re both things that don’t exactly spark joy, but you’d better keep anyway. If you’ve heard of Marie Kondo, the Japanese bestselling author, you will probably recall her #1 criterion for keeping things: Does…

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Getting Organized Once And For All

By Hazel Thornton | March 14, 2016 |

So… what does “Getting Organized For Life” really mean, anyway? Consider these three meanings: 1. Getting organized so your life will be easier, less stressful, more balanced, and ultimately more satisfying; so you can find your things when you need them, and get stuff done; so you can spend less time doing what you have…

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The Five Stages of Marie Kondo & The Life-Changing Magic of Doing What Works for YOU

By Hazel Thornton | January 21, 2016 |

Last year was a very long one for professional organizers. Some have jumped on the bandwagon, some have been openly critical, and others are just trying hard to stay above the fray. Not a day goes by but what I don’t see an article about, or at least mentioning, Marie Kondo, or someone asks me…

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The Gratitude Box

By Hazel Thornton | January 1, 2016 |

What? Have you ever heard of a Gratitude Jar? Well, I use this pretty wooden Gratitude Box. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and find it very rewarding. Keep reading to learn how I use it, and why you might want one too…   How? Write down good things that happen to…

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Hazel's Books

Book cover: What's a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy

What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy

Cover of "Go With the Flow! (The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook)"

Go With the Flow! (The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook)

Cover of "Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror"

Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror

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