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In nearly every home I organize, I find loose change everywhere. In drawers, purses, pockets, jars, coffee cans…the list goes on. NOW is the time to cash in those heavy bags, bins, and boxes of coins. The US Mint is begging you to do it as the change shortage is negatively affecting businesses. Change shortages especially impact underserved populations that…

During the pandemic, puzzles have been all the rage and, happily, we have some friends with whom we can trade puzzles. Wouldn’t it be great to do the same with TOYS? Now you can! If you can’t find local friends to swap with, consider joining a toy library and “borrow” toys to enjoy for two weeks at…

100 years ago today, on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote. And 55 years ago, LBJ signed into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which gave every US citizen the right to vote. But historically, less than half of the population actually votes, even in presidential elections. This year…

Quick, how many spices do you have in your kitchen? Now, how many of them are duplicates or expired? Not sure? Not many people know. A few years ago, I took this photo of SIX different ground cinnamon spices we found in one modest kitchen. Because my client’s spices were not organized, she couldn’t find…

Back to School! For my clients, friends, and neighbors with school-age children, this topic is all they can think about. That means NOW is the time to plan for your virtual homeschooling.  If you want expert advice on how to set your children up for success, go here to book a Private Virtual Consultation with me. During…

Yes, these last 16 years have been VERY sweet indeed! Back-to-school means that it is time for me to celebrate the founding of Simplify You. In honor of this anniversary, I am excited to reveal my fabulous new website recently refreshed by DesignTLC! Sixteen years ago (when I sent my only child off to Kindergarten) I decided to launch…

Because we’re all stuck indoors anyway, mid-winter is the perfect time to finally “conquer the clutter” and get organized. No matter what space you are organizing—be it the office, bedroom, garage, or basement—the FIRST step you need to take is to gather your supplies. Remember “black and white”:Use black contractors bags for unbreakable donations (clothing, linens, toys, etc.) and white trash…

Romance is on our minds this time of year, and, as they say, “it takes two.” Last week I was giving a talk and someone asked “How do we know how many of a thing to have?” and without hesitation, I replied “TWO”! Of course, you can have more than two pairs of underwear or…

I was bracing for a Frozen February, but we just had a record-breaking warm day in Northern Virginia! Nonetheless, I believe the phrase “LET IT GO!” rings true this month.By “let it go” I mean: don’t spend a lot of time and effort trying to sell something with little monetary value. Accept that money spent…

It is essential to have a dedicated folder or file to capture ALL of the important “end-of-year” tax information that is flooding your mail box right now! Don’t let these papers “float” around on your desk, give them a home!  I have a red plastic file folder that is within arm’s reach of where I open the mail.…