 Now that the winter holidays are in the rearview mirror, January can feel a bit bleak at times. Some areas of our country are in a deep freeze and even in Northeast Florida we’ve been experiencing a chill not seen in years! Many of us are spending more time indoors. So as you look around your homes, are you embracing the concept of hygge? Pronounced “hoo-ga,” this term doesn’t have a direct translation into English, but it refers to a cozy, comfortable, and contented state of being. Hygge is a way of life that invites us to slow down, savor the small moments, and appreciate the simple pleasures. While the weather in Denmark may be a bit different than ours on the First Coast, I think the Danes may be onto something! At its core, hygge is about creating warmth and happiness in your everyday surroundings. Hygge isn’t just for winter—it’s about making the most of every season. In the colder months, it might involve enjoying hot drinks, baking, and staying cozy inside. In the warmer months, hygge can mean having a picnic outdoors, enjoying a slow summer evening with friends, or simply basking in the sunlight. By aligning your activities with the natural rhythms of the seasons, you can foster a sense of connection with both the environment and your inner peace. So can we “Hygge-fy” our spaces? Let's start in a family room or great room where our homes see the most action. As you look around, what is some visual chaos you notice? Is it the stack of mail or papers to go through? A pile of toys that the kids overlook? Magazines that have long since been read and ready to be recycled? Those are quick areas to focus on to reclaim peace in your home and cost you almost nothing to overhaul. In a time when burnout and stress are at an all-time high, embracing hygge can be a powerful tool for cultivating well-being. It encourages mindfulness, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Hygge isn’t about stuff, but a feeling. Tackle small projects to create more peace and order and over time, you’ll see those small changes add up. Ready for some instant hygge? We’d be happy to help you this winter. Our team of trained organizers can design an organizational system customized to you and your family’s needs that will not only look beautiful, but is sustainable for ongoing peace in your home. Wishing you comfort in this cooler season, Cassie and the Serene Team
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 Can I be real for a minute? I love the winter holidays. I love the traditions, the music, the decorations, the food, the drinks, the games…I am here for it all. But as I get older, my relationship with the holidays is getting a bit complicated. What used to be a season of joy and magic is slowly evolving into one of stress. I mean, I used to worry about being on the nice list, but now it's all about my ever-growing holiday “to-do list.” While making holiday magic happen within my four walls and for my extended family, my husband and I are still both working full time, raising two active kids, and managing a household just like every other month of the year. Adding cookie exchanges, Secret Santa, and the plethora of awkward obligatory gift giving events this season leaves me feeling depleted and frantic. I want a slower December this year. I want to linger with family and friends and enjoy their company. I want my gift giving and receiving to be intentional and not just about stuff. I want to normalize regifting unwanted gifts at white elephant exchanges post holidays! I want an ugly sweater party in February, because hey, it’s still cold in February. As an organizer I’m always looking for ways to wear those cute holiday shirts more than once a year! I want a cookie exchange in March when I’ve forgotten my New Year’s Resolution to eat less sweets. Holidays I love you, but I’m changing the game this year. Less consumerism and more connection. Less obligation and more celebration. To my clients and followers, I invite you to try the same.
The holidays are the perfect time to welcome family and friends into your home, but before the festivities can begin, let's get your space organized and inviting! Preparing your home beforehand can create a warm atmosphere for your guests and reduce your stress, so you can focus on making memories. Here are some tips to help you get organized before your holiday visitors arrive. A good first step in preparing for guests is to clear out the clutter in common areas. Walk through your home and take a quick inventory of high-traffic areas like the living room, kitchen, and entryway. Throughout the year things tend to accumulate in our most used living areas. But don’t let the temptation to throw these items in a closet, cupboard, or spare bedroom take over! This can cause more work down the road and is a hard habit to break! Commit to finding intentional spaces for those items or letting them go, if it’s been sitting unused for quite some time, there is a good chance you don’t need it to begin with! With any big goal, it’s best to break it down, so let’s start with one closet. Set your intention for how you want that closet to function. Will guests be using it to store their items while visiting? Empty it out completely and make decisions quickly to keep, donate or sell. Once you know what is left you can assess the possible need for bins or storage containers and set up those new organizational systems. This space will be refreshed in no time, and you will be fired up to tackle the next step! Or maybe the process is hard, overwhelming, and you realize there is NO WAY you will get all the necessary organizing done. If that’s the case, we’d love to help! Reclaiming your space and making it an inviting and calming home is our specialty. Our team of organizers are ready to help you tackle projects big and small without judgement or pressure. We’d love to be a part of the best gift you can give yourself this…your very own Serene Space. Happy Holidays!   Fall looks different for my local Floridian clients than it does for my virtual clients spread across the country, but the changes that come with fall are appearing everywhere. Just as the trees shed their leaves to allow them to grow bigger and more beautiful in the spring, some fall decluttering now can help foster new growth and a fresh start for your upcoming year.
The weeks left leading to the winter holidays are the perfect time to let go of things in your home that are no longer serving you or keeping you from the peace you want. Many of us struggle with letting go of things because we are told to be thankful for all we have. It's even harder this time of year, when thankfulness takes center stage. As we help clients sift through years of accumulated items and reclaim their spaces, many struggle with organizing because they feel they aren’t being appreciative of these items, many which were given with love by well-meaning family and friends. As we enter the Thanksgiving season, let's focus on some spaces that get more use as guests visit. The closet that is overflowing with items that have been out of sight and out of mind for the year? Set a goal to empty it and declutter it before organizing what remains. The guest room that has become a dumping ground for things to deal with another day? Make that day today! As you declutter, remember that we can be thankful for things that were helpful in the past or given in love and still let that item be passed on or donated. The warm feeling of receiving it, or the gratitude of the item’s past usefulness at one time is still with us. The Serene Team is committed to taking some time to look for all we have to be thankful for this time of year. Which includes our clients who trust us with turning their homes into more serene spaces for all you love and are grateful for. We thank each and every one of you who has invited us into your most treasured space, it is a privilege we don’t take lightly and we would love to help you organize your spaces! In gratitude, Cassie We’ve all been there…shortly after the hustle and bustle of the back-to-school season, time marches on into fall, and before we know it, it's time to change out décor for the upcoming winter holidays! This year, instead of throwing Halloween and Fall décor into a storage box, spend a few extra minutes to save a lot of time and money next year. As you pull out your fall décor, promptly throw out items that are broken or missing pieces. If the items are working and just not fitting your fall vibe anymore, consider donating right away. Thrift stores typically can’t store seasonal items, so don’t let the items sit in a box for months waiting to be donated, head down to your donation center ASAP! That way those items have the best chances of being picked up to be used and loved, and you get that valuable space back in your garage or storage space right away. When it’s time to put everything away, make sure to collect all your seasonal items before putting them into bins and boxes. Remember that cute ghost you found on sale? Is it in the kitchen, or stuffed in a cabinet? Do the kids decorate their rooms for holidays? Gather all those items and put them in your labeled Halloween bins. Go the extra mile to label bins (indoor/outdoor, yard items, etc.) streamlining the process for the next year. Since Halloween is just a small part of the fall season, having a separate box or bin for those items helps keep things tidy and items can be easily put away. If you love decorating for seasons, but want to avoid too much extra stuff, consider decorating with items that stay out for more than just October. Pumpkin décor can work from September through November. Switch out cobwebs and Halloween fabric swags for leaf garlands and cozy fall fabrics for a quick refresh.  And if the (literal) skeletons stuffed in the closets get too overwhelming, we’d love to help you find a system that is custom designed for you and your needs. The Serene Team can help you navigate options to help each holiday season run smoothly, leaving you with more time to relax and enjoy what really matters in the cozy days ahead. Next time you contact us to help with your garage, pantry, or playroom ask about what solutions we can design to help with seasonal items. You might be surprised how much time and space we can save you!
 Spring is here! Which can only mean that moving season, or PCS Season as the Military calls it, is upon us. I thought that it was only fitting that we talk about moving during April, the Month of the Military Child. As a former military family, we have had our share of moves and have learned a lot of tips and tricks that help make the move go a little smoother. A few lessons I have learned: DECLUTTER – Not only is it great to declutter on the front end for weight purposes (the heavier the load the more you are charged), but also because it gives you less to put away when you get there. One of my kids “favorite” games that they get to play before a move is “keep or go”. We go through their rooms and we figure out what toys, clothes, and belongings they want to keep and what can go (donate). Example: I hold up a shirt and they tell me if they want to keep it, or if it goes (it doesn’t fit or they don’t love it anymore). You should hear the groans I have gotten when I am in pre-move mode and I bring an arm full of shirts out of their closet. They know their favorite game is inevitable. But think about it, wouldn’t you rather weed out all the excess prior to a move and donate, than have to take the extra time to unpack it just to find out you don’t have room or it doesn’t even fit your kids anymore? CONTAIN- This can help ensure that unpacking is more streamlined. I learned a huge lesson on our first PCS move, if you don’t contain the small items before the packing process, then you will be picking them out of the box one by one at the next place. We had movers dump ALL of my son’s toys (2 at the time) into a huge box. I had thought that I had prepped everything by putting the like items together, but boy was I wrong. It took me forever to unpack and re-sort all the toys that had gotten jumbled in the box enroute to our new duty station. After that first move, I started to contain all the small items when prepping for moves. Ziploc bags are great for keeping small toys like action figures or Barbie accessories together. A few rounds of plastic wrap around puzzles and board games keep the pieces where they should be. Rubber bands are great for preventing cords from being a tangled mess when you unpack. INVENTORY- Always make a picture inventory of the furniture, electronics, and other valuable items in your home. Having a picture of these items, along with a picture of the serial number is a huge help if you need to claim an item when you get there. This has saved me more than once. I tend to over document everything. I take pics of all the furniture, electronics, rooms as they are set up before the prep begins, etc. One time I had a mover label on the paperwork that the item was “dented” or “scratched”, but because I photographed and videoed everything, I had proof that it wasn’t and therefore we were able to get the item repaired free of charge. If I hadn’t been able to prove it, then I would have had to pay to fix it myself. MOVING BINDER- Having important documents, insurance paperwork, inventory lists, contact info for movers, account numbers and company info, zipper pouch for receipts, are just a few things that are great to hand carry with you and can save you so much time. These are also accessible online nowadays, but I always find it easier to have a copy of everything in one place so that I am not logging in and searching several sites. SCHOOL RECORDS- Hand carrying your kids records from one school to the next makes registrations a much smoother process. Also, having their last report card and any 504 plans or IEP copies with you will ensure they are getting the proper placement and resources from the get go. I usually check before the move to see what the requirements are for your kids to start school. That way if you need to get vaccine records transferred to a certain form (like Florida) you can have that done ahead of time so you can have it ready to go. In some moves we needed to make sure to get the kids registered asap so that they had enough days to meet the requirement for moving on to the next grade. CATEGORIZE Let’s face it, items like artwork hardly ever end up in the same room they were before. It all depends on that wall space available as to where it goes in the next house. Before the movers get there, I take all the artwork off the walls and line them up together. This also helps ensure that anything that might get overlooked (like bathroom art) all gets onto the truck (items found last minute don’t always get packed properly). TCHOTCHKES – Same goes for tchotchkes. Gather all of them from around the house and group them together (I usually use the dining room table). This helps ensure all the delicate items get wrapped together and not in a random box underneath something heavy (it happens).  BOX # 1- Have a “unpack first” box. Put anything that you will need right away into a box that is clearly labeled, so that you can function while your house is being unpacked. Great things to put in this are: can opener, a roll of toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels, bedding, paper plates & cutlery, commonly used tools (screwdrivers & hammer, and measuring tape ), and cleaning supplies. ELECTRONICS - After you inventory your electronics (pictures of all the angles, serial numbers, a video of them turning on and off, etc.) make sure to disconnect them yourself right before the movers get there. This way you can control how the cords and remotes are packed. If you are going on a long haul move or don’t have housing set up yet, make sure to remove any batteries from the remotes (do this all your electronics). When you disconnect them, label the cord and remote (if you don’t have access to a label maker, painters tape and sharpie work great). Then either put them in a Ziploc or tape it to the item itself. If you happen to have the box they came in, make sure to sit them beside the item so the movers can use it. Searching for remotes and cords while you unpack just adds to the frustration. ZIPLOCS- ANYTHING that is small should be placed into a Ziploc, bin, or something to ensure that it does not get wrapped in just a piece of brown paper. When you are unboxing your household goods there will be a TON of packing paper. If it gets wrapped in a piece of packing paper and shoved in with all the other packing paper, there is a good chance that you will not notice it and it will get thrown out. P.S. Do not forget to do this with screws or any hardware as well. Label and contain! Trust me, you will thank yourself later. LINENS- Wash all bedding, curtains, dining room linens, towels, etc and put in large vacuum seal or Ziploc bags along with a couple dryer sheets or sachets. Nothing is more devastating than being exhausted from unpacking and you finally find your bedding or towels only to realize they smell musty, or something has spilled in the box. Nor do you want to have to wash it all while you are unpacking. VALUABLES- Hand carry ALL valuables. I purchased a fireproof document bag to hand carry all our important documents (birth certificates, marriage certificate, immunization records, passports, etc.) and any jewelry that was valuable. If you have receipts for these items that’s even better. Keep them with you or scan and email it to yourself. This is a way to prove the worth of the item. MOVING DAY - Walk the movers through the house and let them know if there is anything fragile or valuable. Also, walk around while the movers are packing. That way you can remind them of any special requests. I also feed my movers lunch, provide Gatorade and water and tip them. They work hard, showing appreciation for what they are doing can go a long way. NO PACK ZONE- Block off a “no pack” zone for packing days. Anything that needs to be separated, so that it doesn’t end up in a box needs to go in there. I usually designate the largest bathroom or closet as this space. I then put our luggage and items we will transport ourselves in there. All clothing, jewelry, toiletries, etc. I even put the pets in there and any of their belongings that will travel with us, so they stay safe and out of the way of the movers. I also put a large sign (or use a bright colored painters tape) to mark this area (as well as tell them when they do their walk through). 15. LABEL in detail- Write more detailed info on the box if you think it needs it. I learned, while working with Serene Spaces, how to use QR Codes on the boxes. This is especially great for seasonal items, boxes that you know might need to be stored when you get to your new location, or just all your boxes. It is pretty great to be able to scan the QR code and see the contents of your box without having to open it. Air tags are also a great item to use in your boxes (if allowed with your company). It is kind of fun to watch where your Household Goods are as they travel to their new destination.  With so many decisions to make, the whole moving process can be overwhelming. This is where professional organizers can be a great asset. We can come in and take some of these stressors off your plate. Here are just a few of the many things we can do, to help “lighten the load” (pun intended ).
Remember, it is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at times. Moving can be a challenging time for anyone, whether you have moved 20 times, or this is your first. However, with the right support and guidance it can feel a little less daunting.  Sam Zapata, Professional Organizer,
Serene Spaces Professional Organizing Ready to tackle your organizing projects and not sure where to start. We are giving you all the deets here today, follow these steps and you are sure to make some major progress on your organizing goals. Just remember you are only one person and can only do so much at a time so don't get down on yourself if things aren't going as quickly as you imagined. Stay with it and your future self will thank you!
I know, I know. A professional organizer wanting to talk about labels. Shocker, right? What if I told you though, that Cricut labels and labels from my P-touch label maker aren’t my favorite labels? That might shock you. I mean don’t get me wrong, I do LOVE using the Cricut and my P-touch Label maker. I have labels from both in about every space of my home. As Professional Organizers, we label ALL THE THINGS. Why do we love labels so much? Is it because they make the bins look pretty or because it makes us feel more in control of where things go or are we just too lazy to look in the bins? Well, I guess being lazy isn’t too far off. That’s kind of why I love my house organized, I am too lazy to go look for things. If it is in the right spot, then I am not wasting time and energy rummaging through the drawers and cabinets looking for another lost item. As Professional Organizers, we love helping you simplify your life. By using labels, you can take the guesswork and effort out of putting things away. When we have labels, others in the household are more willing to help AND put it in the right spot.  So… what are my favorite types of labels? PICTURE LABELS! When my kids were small, years ago, I was not the fun mom. Every evening (ok sometimes more often), my kids had to clean up their toys. If they were big enough to dump the toys, they were big enough to help clean them up. I learned right away that it is hard for kids to remember where something goes if they can’t read the label. That’s when I started putting Picture Labels on all the bins. My oldest is 20, so this was back before I even knew label makers existed. I would take a picture of the toys in a bin or find an example online, write the word underneath and attach it to the pull handle of the bins. The picture paired with the word also helped them to learn to read. Once I discovered a laminator, I upgraded to laminating the picture card. This made the labels so much more durable. Once the kids could see what went inside, it was a game changer. They were a lot more willing to help and they learned independence and life skills along the way.
When my kids got old enough to be in school full time, I started working as a Paraprofessional at their school in California. This is where I really learned the value of a picture label, as well as a laminator and Velcro 😊. Not only did picture labels help kids put their toys away, but it helped them navigate life! I was blessed to be asked to work in a self-contained Autism classroom. Not only did my love of picture labels grow, but I fell in love with working with the kiddos as well. I learned so much in my 3 years there, about how a simple picture label (of all sorts) could help a child learn routines, communicate their wants and needs, READ, and yes even clean up their toys in the classroom. 😊 Over the years, before I found my dream job as an organizer, I have been fortunate to work in several different ESE classrooms, in 3 different states. No matter where I worked, whether it be in an Autism Classroom, EBD classroom, or 3 year old Preschool classroom, it was evident that picture labels and communication were an essential part of life. Next time you drive down the street, look around and notice how many “picture labels” of all sorts are EVERYWHERE.   I think I mastered my craft though, when I worked in a 3-year-old preschool classroom (talk about fun 😊). I volunteered to take on the role of making sure all the bins in the classroom had an updated picture label (shocker, huh?). I knew it helped some, but I really realized the value the label had when I was sick on a Monday. At the end of every week, we changed out the activities and toys in each center. I would then put out all the matching labels or make them over the weekend if we had new activities or just didn’t have a label to match. Well, one weekend I got sick and didn’t return to school until Tuesday. I was immediately told by my co-workers that the kids were so upset that the bins didn’t have their labels. One kid had even exclaimed “how are we supposed to know where to put anything! We need Ms. Sam back.” I then heard about the lack of labels again and again as the kids arrived at the classroom that morning. At the beginning of this school year I received an email asking me to share the file and template I had used, so that they could continue to use the same system. So, if you have a loved one that would benefit from picture labels, don’t hesitate to use them. I mean you can always call me to make some for you; picture labels are kinda my jam. It doesn’t matter what type of labels you use, just remember….LABEL.ALL.THE.THINGS. 😊
Did you have a chance to check out the article I was interviewed for in Parents Magazine Florida? If not check it out here and don't forget to check out some of the other great articles in the January issue.
HELPING YOUR KIDS STAY HEALTHY: PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS PODCASTS FOR KIDS 18 SIMPLE WAYS TO INFUSE EACH DAY WITH LEARNING Are New Year's Resolutions your thing? If they are and they work for you, GREAT! I am truly glad to hear it! New Year's Resolutions used to be my thing but I seem to keep drifting further and further away from them. For many years I would go hard for several weeks and then life would happen, I would slip up and then start to lose steam. Once I lost steam I would start to feel like I failed, lose all further motivation, and then it was over. My resolution was just another failed attempt. Sometimes. I think there is so much pressure that it becomes easy to get defeated if/when you slip up or fall short. When I decided that New Year's Resolutions no longer worked for me I decided to choose a word to focus on and that felt more intentional and something easier to stick with, which was precisely what I likely needed during those particular seasons. I am here to remind you that if you set a goal or a resolution and it's no longer working for you it's ok to say that. It's ok to scratch that and set a goal that is better suited for you and your current season of life no matter what time of year it is. Also, don't hear me wrong...your goals don't have to be centered around productivity, having more, or being more of a certain way, etc. Your goals should truly be something that adds value to you and your life. Sometimes that means taking something off of your plate or setting boundaries in areas where stress seems to creep into your life.  As I get older the years seem to go by faster so while I think it is very important to be intentional, set goals, and have a vision for your future, I don't particularly like the pressure of a New Year's Resolution and I want more than just one word. I think the power is in constantly evaluating your goals throughout the year and staying motivated to strive to reach those goals. The past couple years I have created a vision board and I do really enjoy that process and the diversity of it. For me it usually encompasses goals that are personal, family centered, and business related. I hang it in my closet where I see it in the mornings and evenings (sometimes more). It seems to be a great visual reminder of what is important to me so I don't forget in the day to day hustle. I also love that if my goals shift I can just adjust. Nothing says what you put on your vision board is permanent. The vision board is meant to keep you pushing towards goals that work for you. I think it's important to remember that progress happens in the small steps that lead to larger distances so our small steps DO make a difference! My final reminder is to give yourself grace if you slip up or if things don't go perfectly the way you want. We are all human and just because things aren't going perfectly or you have had a set back it doesn't mean you should give up. Maybe it's just time to reevaluate and reset! I would love to hear your thoughts... Do you set resolutions? intentional words? Goals? Vision Boards? Is the new year just another day for you? |
Cassie ThompsonProfessional Organizer, mother, wife, friend, and lover of Jesus. Archives
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