Tell Your Story

We’re All Immigrants

By Hazel Thornton | November 23, 2025 |

As a genealogist, and as a U.S. citizen living in politically stressful times, I think about immigrants kind of a lot. Especially around Thanksgiving time, which is right now, as I write. NOTE: If you do nothing else, scroll down and watch the 5-minute video I have provided for you. Thanks! The first Thanksgiving The…

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What’s in a name? (family naming patterns)

By Hazel Thornton | November 7, 2025 |

Who (or what) were you named after? I was named for my paternal grandmother, Hazel Islery Clay Thornton, the “bathing beauty” on the cover of my book What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy. My mom was named for her maternal grandmother, and my dad was a Junior. Why are…

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Rabbit, rabbit!

By Hazel Thornton | October 12, 2025 |

Do you say, “Rabbit, rabbit,” for luck on the first day of the month? Have you heard others saying it (or seen them posting it on social media) and didn’t know why? Here’s how I remember it… Girl Scouts At Girl Scout camp, in 1970s Idaho, we had a tradition, on the first day of…

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Why and how to write your own obituary

By Hazel Thornton | August 18, 2025 |

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll be used to me talking about death from time to time. Planning my virtual funeral – who’s with me? Talking about death won’t kill you, LOL! “We Remember” our loved ones Is Swedish Death Cleaning for you? ‘Death Cleaning’ isn’t as scary as it sounds! (4 short…

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The Sound of Music

By Hazel Thornton | July 11, 2025 |

Theme 1: Prologue This is a story about growing up with my mom and music. It’s easier for me to write about distant ancestors than it is to write about people I actually knew. Sometimes I get overwhelmed, partly because I know so much about them. I think: “I can’t include everything, but how can…

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Celebrating 20 Years

By Hazel Thornton | December 16, 2024 |

Please join me in celebrating 20 years of membership in the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. NAPO has been the foundation of my professional life and business. I’m retired now, but I’m still an emeritus member. For 17 of those years I helped clients to declutter, simplify, organize, and refresh their homes, offices, schedules,…

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refrigerator

Backup Gratitude & Fridgescaping

By Hazel Thornton | June 30, 2024 |

What are you always grateful for, if nothing else? My friend Jane and I have been complaining to one another for over 50 years. But we also count our blessings. And sometimes, when things look bleak, and we can’t think of anything current to be grateful for, we have certain reliable backups, like each other…

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Witches in the Family

By Hazel Thornton | February 16, 2024 |

Yikes! Witches? Really? Well, suspected and accused in court, yes! Convicted and hanged, thankfully not! . The Connecticut Witch Trials You’ve no doubt heard about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-3 Massachusetts. But what about the Connecticut Witch Trials that predated them by 30 years? Yeah, me neither. The Salem trials were more numerous and…

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Do I Practice What I Preach? (Habits, Maintenance, and Backsliding)

By Hazel Thornton | January 15, 2024 |

Dear Readers: I hope you enjoy this refreshed post from 2016.   I was helping a long-time virtual coaching client with email maintenance, teaching her about Inbox Zero, and I admitted that mine was currently more like Inbox 200. In fact, as I continued to say, I don’t do anything (maintenance-wise)  every day. She was…

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Storytelling

Storytelling Made Easy — Prompts & Challenges

By Hazel Thornton | December 28, 2023 |

I always get excited as the year comes to a close. What will the New Year bring? Sometimes it brings fun challenges like the ones I have gathered here for your consideration. Is this the year you will start telling the stories of your photos, family, and things? If you’ve read my book, What’s a…

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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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