Expert advice

You know when you’re in a cycle of buying the same thing each year for the special gal in your life? Aunts, sisters, and friends have received the same candle-scarf-coffee mug combo for way too long. This year, let’s change it up a bit. Here are my top 10 items to buy this holiday season! 10. Candle: Hear me out. This candle is still okay to buy. This wide-fluted speckled ceramic salt jar candle is from the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line at Target. If you can’t road trip to

As we attempt to get organized for back to school, I’m sure many of us parents are thinking about routines. What time do we drop off each kid? Does school start at the same time? How are they getting home on Wednesdays? Am I supposed to meal plan for dinners? Hot or cold lunch? And what about clothes? Does anything actually fit? Slow down and breathe, parents. Here are a few tips to encourage you as you prepare for another school year. We can all think of a time when morning

Here we are! We made it through yet another year. Hopefully you’ve been able to sit down and catch your breath after the holiday season to reflect on where you’re at in life. If you haven’t already, sit down and physically write, yes, on an actual piece of paper, what your top 3 goals are this year. If you’d like to be more organized, simply writing “Get organized” is too broad of a topic. If you feel overwhelmed with all the clutter in your home, you can write: “Whole house

When we moved from St. Louis back to our hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, most of our belongings were packed in boxes except for the basic necessities. Our kids were ages 9 and under, so I let them keep a couple of their favorite toys unpacked. I was curious to see how they did with less toys…and guess what? It was actually enjoyable. We went on lots of nature walks. They picked up sticks and created games such as “Pirates and Treasures.” They played hide-and-seek and rock, pape

We’ve all been there. We’re running late because we can’t find our car keys. Your husband’s sunglasses. Your son’s football cleats. Your daughter’s favorite blanket. When you bring a professional organizer into the mix, sometimes it’s helpful to simply have another set of eyes on your home. We are able to see and observe some new ways that may help your home function better. Ben Franklin once said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” Think about it. Wh

Recently, I organized a friend’s playroom. Her dress-up trunk was spilling out onto the floor and was in need of some serious attention. There were so many princess dresses that took up so much space that I decided to neatly hang the dresses in a bedroom closet. While I was hanging the dresses, I thought of the little girl donning each dress, imagining she was truly Belle, Elsa, or Cinderella. I smiled and gently closed the closet door. I returned to the dress-up trunk and d

I am thrilled to introduce Megan Nelson from Nest with the Nelsons. She is an interior designer who serves the Omaha area. We were able to catch up and chat about how our services, interior design and professional organizing, overlap. If you feel the need for design services, Megan is your girl! Leigh: Tell us about yourself! Megan: I am a busy mama of three amazing kiddos. My husband, Matt, and I lead a hectic lifestyle with lots of work, tons of time with the kids, and ple

When people ask how a professional organizer or household manager can help with laundry, let me tell you. Sometimes I naturally organize here and there during a whole house refresher. During a refresher, whether it be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, I come through your home and do laundry. Delicates I take this seriously. I prefer to turn articles of clothing inside out, wash on cold delicate, and hang dry. I will use a separate garment bag if needed. If the item appears new

Yes and no. If you want a cleaner and more organized space, chances are good that we'll need to discuss some purging. In the end, however, it's your stuff. I understand that this is a personal topic. I respect your feelings about the sentiment and nostalgia. When I meet with clients, I like to discuss your goals. Do you need a special project completed such as organizing your craft area? Do you want me to come in monthly for a maintenance reset? Or would you prefer an entire

PACK A DAY BAG: You never know when you’ll have friends call at the last minute to join them at the pool, the lake, the park, or a picnic. Have a bag ready to grab on the way out the door. Include summer essentials such as sunscreen, bug spray, Chapstick, a hat, Band-aids, a few snacks, a beach towel, baby wipes, a light layer of clothes, and sunglasses. SUMMER WARDROBE: Have you ever been running out the door and see your kids wearing a tiny frayed swimsuit, a too-small tank

Summertime. When kids get to stay up way past their bedtimes chasing fireflies. Slow afternoons include splashing in the pool, reading books, and lounging on a porch swing. Usually after the 4th of July, we start to notice school supplies being displayed in local stores. Much to our dismay, summer begins to slip away before our very eyes. As our lazy days include lots of relaxation, at times, items begin to pile up around the house. Shopping bags here, a few suitcases waitin

There’s just something about back to school, isn’t there? Freshly sharpened pencils and crisp crayons are tucked into backpacks. Shiny new haircuts and sneakers are entering schools all around. Parents’ hearts are feeling bittersweet…perhaps the joy of a bit more freedom and sadness that our babies are actually growing up. When we return home after the whirlwind of the first-day-of-school drop-off, we look around. We know full well that stacks of forms are coming home in back