Home, Sweet Home (Office)

The home office is here to stay. Whether we use it as the place to pay bills, keep school papers, or run a business (or all of the above) our home office should help us focus in an organized and relaxed atmosphere. Organizing a home office can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t…

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Back to School: Ready, Set, Go!

The new school year brings excitement and opportunity for kids returning to the classroom. For many, it also brings a little nervousness as well. Concerns about friends, homework, and an often hectic schedule can overwhelm children, particularly at the start of a new year. These organizing tips can help them (and you) get off to…

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Ready for Your Close-Up?

There’s something special about taking the time to sit down and apply make-up to the face we most take for granted: our own. Most of us end up rushing the routine, and end up curling our eyelashes while merging into traffic (stop doing this) or, at best, allow ourselves one hasty minute as we head out…

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All in Good Taste: The Beauty of Spices

The beauty of spices can be an asset to any kitchen. Too often, however, the “spice” section of our pantry turns into a graveyard of culinary dreams: dusty jars in a dark pantry corner, waiting patiently for the holidays to make themselves known. Do you know how long it takes to use 1.5 ozs. of…

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The Ten Item Wardrobe: Madness or Marvelous?

This fascinating TED Talk explores one area of struggle for American women: clothes. Is your closet so full of clothes that they can’t breathe? Have you taken the time to stop and think about what kind of clothes best reflect you, and purchased accordingly? Or is your closet more a collection of clothing you’ve bought…

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Summer Organizing Tips for Kids

Summer brings with it a whole new set of organizing opportunities, with vacations, activities, and adjusted schedules. Watch Erika on Sonoran Living as she discusses tips & tricks to keep a busy household running smoothly. With just a little planning, summer will be smooth sailing!

Work of Art

Recently we had a request to help organize art supplies. That got us thinking: should art supplies be neat? Is there something about the creative process that requires a loosening of boundaries in order to more fully explore our ideas? Some people think so. Check out the creative spaces of some famous artists, and you’ll…

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Choose a Cheerful House. . .

“Choose a cheerful house, furnish it with taste and propriety, such that everything in your home breathes of you. Have good books, instruments, good friends, pleasant company. . .”  Madeleine de Puisieux, (Letter to a Friend), 1749. What makes a house a home? Advice from the 18th century about furnishing our homes still rings true.…

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As Easy as 1–2–3

Most of us have a love/hate relationship with habit. We categorize them as “good” or “bad,” and struggle to develop the good and leave the bad by the wayside. Fortunately we can create routines (habit’s first cousin) fairly easily to make our lives run more smoothly. The key is to make certain behaviors automatic: You know…

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Five Ways to Create a Great Sleep Space

We all know the importance of a good night’s rest — not sleeping well makes it hard to think clearly, stay awake while driving, and, most importantly, can lead to weight gain. Five ways to create the perfect space for restful sleep include: 1. Cleanliness: wash bedding at least once a week. If you want to…

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