Researchers at the Center on Everyday Lives and Families (CELF) at UCLA discovered a link between clutter and depression. They found that the more stuff in a home, the more stress female homeowners feel. They also found that women associate a neat and tidy home with a happy and successful family.

One question I often ask my clients when sorting and purging their clothing is, "how do you feel when you wear this?" Their initial reaction is usually a good indicator of their feelings about the item.

The anxiety and stress that clutter causes can negatively impact our mental health and well-being. When things at home are chaotic, it’s difficult to concentrate and focus.

The purpose of my blog has always been about connecting with you, my LIVE WITH LESS peeps - a way to share what's been happening with my business, and provide tips and stories about how to live with less and create an office / kitchen / closet / bedroom / home that you can be proud of.

The question, "How do I feel when I walk into this room?" and your response to the question offer tremendous insight into how your home is affecting you, whether its a negative reaction or a positive one. "How do I feel..." is an open-ended, gentle question intended to delve into areas that lift your spirit versus areas that suffocate and/or frustrate you.

I don't usually write too much about my personal life other than my Small Space Stories posts, but today is the fifth anniversary of my dad's passing and I couldn't let the day pass without "publicly" acknowledging him. You see, my dad was a pretty incredible person. Humble as can be, he touched so many people's lives with a smile and a genuine interest in learning about others.

Does your space support you or does it suffocate you? This question really gets to the heart of how you might feel about your home and its contents.

How do you feel when you walk into your home at the end of a work day? Does your home feel like a sanctuary - a soft spot to land after you’ve finished a busy day and a stressful commute? Or does it feel like an added stressor that you’d rather run away from?

I’ve been taking an online class from Janet Luhrs, a simple living advocate who I’ve followed for the past 20+ years and the author of The Simple Living Guide. The class is full of great information about leading a more simple and fulfilling life.

When addressing clutter, whether it’s paper clutter or stuff clutter, Luhrs uses the following terminology to help one determine whether or not to keep an item:

Does the item energize you, are you neutral with regard to it, or does it make you feel drained?

As 2016 comes to a close, I’m humbled to report that my business will be three years old in January. Three years! For the past three years, I’ve been given the opportunity, time and time again, to help change people’s lives and their relationships with their stuff. I’m incredibly passionate about helping people to ditch the stuff that’s not serving them and creating a retreat they will love to come home to.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! It's a chance to spend time with loved ones without the pressure of finding the "perfect gift" and, more importantly, a time to reflect on the things one is grateful for.

My client and her husband bought their home 14 years ago. They had planned to paint the walls and install hardwood floors soon after moving in, but 14 years later their plans are still on hold because she felt their home is so disorganized.

Any frequent-flyer has heard this message over the airplane loudspeaker a number of times: "In the event of an emergency, please put on your oxygen mask before helping others." Essentially, the message is reminding airline passengers to take care of their needs first, before helping anyone else who might be in trouble.

As a small business owner, I am faced with a lot of decisions every single day. Aside from my accountant who files my taxes every year, I’m not at a point where I need or want to hire someone to handle my bookkeeping, social media or writing. In all honesty, I love writing my blogs each week and I love getting feedback from my awesome blog subscribers as they read my weekly posts. It’s quite an ego-boost to know I’m impacting people and how they live.

Today I am thankful for…

Remember how it feels to be in love? The butterflies in the stomach, the anticipation and excitement of seeing him or her, feeling as though you’re constantly floating on air…. I still experience those feelings with my significant other after 12 years together!

When you get home after a long day at work, how do you feel when you walk in the door? Are you relieved/happy/excited to be home? Or does your home stress you out even more?

Today I am thankful for…

Today I’m thankful for…