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Monday’s Meditation: On The Point Of Things Falling Apart

By Annie | August 7, 2017 | 1

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The Ideal Kitchen: Toe Kick Drawers

By Annie | August 2, 2017 | 0

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Favorite this: July 2017

By Annie | August 1, 2017 | 0

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Monday’s Meditation: On Why You Must Simplify

By Annie | July 31, 2017 | 2

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Spotlight On Olivia O’Bryan

By Annie | July 26, 2017 | 1

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Step Up Your Game With These 9 Stylish Step Stools

By Annie | July 25, 2017 | 3

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Monday’s Meditation: On Attracting The Solution

By Annie | July 24, 2017 | 4

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Spotlight On Lauren Conrad’s Pacific Palisades Home, Designed By Katherine Carter

By Annie | July 19, 2017 | 0

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8 Laundry Baskets Perfectly Proportioned For Clean Clothes

By Annie | July 18, 2017 | 1

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Monday’s Meditation: On Passing Judgment On Our Past Decisions

By Annie | July 17, 2017 | 4

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Welcome

Annie Traurig was born with the ability to see order through clutter. As a child, she spent playdates organizing friends’ closets and packing their duffle bags for summer camp.

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Simplify Your World

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Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17878326114484834
Beginning today, consider the components of your daily life not merely as routines, but rituals. Routines are obligatory. They can be laborious. And they don’t necessarily require our active attention or inspire positive emotions. Rituals are ceremonies we perform for ourselves. They invite us to focus on the present moment, to enjoy the Simple acts that constitute them, and to experience a sense of groundedness and peace. Daily rituals contain a clear beginning, middle, and end. As such, they are distinct pockets of time (in our otherwise flurried days) when we can appreciate the processes we’ve lovingly designed for ourselves. Each step can be a delight-inducing cue that calls on us to acknowledge the blessings around us. Something as seemingly banal as making a morning coffee, exercising, or applying skincare can be elevated to the level of a ritual when we define the key steps and choose tools needed to perform the ritual with intention. The difference between consuming caffeine and Making A Cup Of Coffee (using preferred beans, while enjoying the sounds of the kettle warming and  hot water being poured, the feeling of a favorite mug in hand, and so on), is not to be discounted. It isn’t that the conditions have to be perfect, but that we are tuned into them. Some days are quieter than others, and being present is easier then, sure. But how attentive we are to gratitude for everyday practices and pleasures is ultimately up to us. “Here I still am, alive, getting to do this,” a ritual inspires us to say. It reminds us, “I am worthy of this small, daily devotion.” And it invites us to reflect and remark, “thank you.” Just as we bring intentionality to the opening of a ritual, we thoughtfully close one. We do this by putting away all that we have used. Each thing, one by one, we put back where it belongs. That way—assuming we are fortunate enough to meet tomorrow—the ritual will be ready for us to perform again. [calendar designed exclusively by @arielm_garcia ] #dailyrituals #ritualmagic #declutteryourmind
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17891355120424596
Wondering where to start editing and organizing? Your own closet. The space where you begin and end your days. All of your internal noise will be on display there, and when you confront it, you free yourself. It can either be a place where ease reigns and present-moment-you is supported, or where past regrets and future fears distract and burden you. You can either have functionality and ease or you can maximum options; rarely can you have both. What if you allowed yourself to Simply answer the question, “What do I LOVE to wear NOW?” And let the honest answers to that decide the rest for you. #closetorganizer #professionalorganizing #declutteryourhome
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17916304950282374
The happiest Simply kitchen around. Our organizing process is designed to inspire delight. Add to that base the happiest version of most any thing (in this house, even a hot pad is a chance to inject more whimsy into life) and a playground designed to evoke joy (done by the one and only @massuccowarner ), and the result is this singular space. Can’t you tell how delicious the banana bread baked here is??😘
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How many canvas tote bags does one person or family really need, anyway, would you say? (Aka everyone’s favorite Simply psychological game, round 6). #professionalorganizing #declutteryourhome #declutteringjourney
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17888682213429952
Are Lego bricks worth meticulously organizing? In most cases (hot take!) I say no. i find that parents who think they want a detailed Lego organizing system are actually desiring less Lego responsibility, not more. But since a higher maintenance Lego system isn’t a reasonable ask for most young kids, parents are unknowingly signing themselves up for a result that’s counter to their original goal (clocking in precious time sorting Lego after the kids have gone to bed). Instead of attempting to design an elaborate differentiation system, establish clear expectations about where the Legos belong (and where they don’t!), and make it as EASY as possible for kids to succeed. A Lego countertop/ tray/bucket/storage tote or two > myriad different drawers/categories/color-sorting system. It’s one of the only instances I can think of where my vote is less organization. Intention and clearly defined places, yes, always, and in this case, less sorting for more sanity. Then it falls on parents, loved ones, and caregivers to not overconsume Lego, because excess makes anything unmanageable for everyone. That’s my hot Lego take. What’s yours?? #legosystem #professionalorganizers #legoorganization
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18016739834815886
Do NOT skip this step when remodeling. If you want your home to be designed for everyday ease and functionality, CONSULT A PRO ORGANIZER, PLEAZZZZ. We’re paying attention to the details that are often overlooked or under-considered in the planning phase. Details like interior drawer and cabinet dimensions, the types of storage spaces needed, and their proximity and orientation to each other, splurge-worthy cabinetry add-ons, and the ones pros love to use that Organizers are perpetually plagued by in practice. All of this is made exponentially more impactful when combined with pro Organizers firsthand knowledge of your particular belongings and daily routines. We’ve been in far too many newly renovated spaces whose lost opportunity for functionality make us groan (since they make YOUR life harder). So please, just ask us to review your design plans.🙏🏻 #professionalorganizing #remodelingexperts #homedesigning
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18218636842310931
Pro tips for fridge/ freezer organization: 1. Have clearly defined zones. Make distinct places for fruits, vegetables, dairy, lunch snacks, and whatever else are staples in your household. Bins help to define shelf space and make contents more accessible. 2. Make a dedicated leftover shelf. Label it. This alone helps significantly to cut down on waste and prevent things from getting lost. 3. Decant your heart out. Especially for the items you always keep stocked. Uniform canisters = more order = more awareness of what you have = better shopping decisions. 4. RESET when you restock. Pull contents out and clean the cabinet or drawers when your stock is lowest/ right before you do a big shop. The state of your space impacts how you feel. Give yourself the best shot at clear thinking when it comes to eating. 5. Most any bin/ jar/ turntable that fits in your fridge will be a winning organizational tool. Whether or not it’s marketed as being intended for the fridge is largely irreverent. What systems have helped you keep your fridge/ freezer in order?? #professionalorganizing #fridgeorganization #fridgefreezerorganization
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18111983281728750
Nothing we hear, speak, or think goes in one ear and out the other. It lands and lives within us, whether consciously or subconsciously. The media we consume, the conversations we have, and the thoughts we think directly shape our realities. Yet despite this, we’re far too glib about what we give our precious attention to and what we habitually choose to focus on. When we consume mental junk by deluging our brains with a constant stream of reality-tv, social media, and societal stress, we simmer in a negative, distracting, toxic mental stew. It only stands to reason that we feel less inspired, less connected, less creative, and less vital as a result. When we think expansive, life-affirming, grateful thoughts and speak about inspiring topics, we plant mental seeds. Each time we practice those thoughts, we strengthen their roots and our lives flourish as a result. We cannot expect or hope to avoid altogether challenging topics. Challenges are a part of life and to deny them would be to live in delusion. And yes, we have a civic duty to be informed and proactive in society. Still, we are responsible for protecting our inner peace and wellbeing. We do that with intentional daily choices and dosages. We can choose to limit the amount of inconsequential chatter we ask our systems to digest and prioritize engagement in the present moment instead. We can be intentional about the content and tone of our conversations. We can focus not just on crucial world updates, but also on hope and heroism. Our attention is in peril, increasingly exploited for the gain of massive corporations. Directed with discipline, it is the key to our peace and contentment. [calendar design by @arielm_garcia ] #february2026 #attention #mentaldiscipline
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17995244051883744
When you finally have a full-on walk-in pantry, the only sensible course of action is to ensure it has organizing systems that make cooking, baking, snacking, meal packing, and restocking EASY. #professionalorganizing #organizedpantry #kitchenorganization
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18079023776206785
Yet another reason why it’s beneficial to organize your space… Organizing involves your hands, and your brain loves that. Tasks like sorting objects, putting things away, folding, positioning things precisely, touching different textures, and so on all lead to an enhanced sense of wellbeing. Research shows that hands-on activities stimulate your brain, help to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve cognition. Especially doing repetitive tasks (ahem, folding, ahem), has the ability to shift our focus from ruminating on problems to finding solutions. Lots of studies (published on PubMed Central) back this up, as well as sources like Lifting Depression: A Neuroscientist’s Hands-On Approach to Activating your Brain’s Healing Power by Kelly Lambert, and The Breakout Principle by Dr. Herbert Benson. What does this mean? Organizing delivers on both the journey and the destination! Feel better while you work on doing something that will make you feel better. What more could you ask for?? #organizinginspiration #brainhealthtips #declutteringtips
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17902540878346751
We’re looking forward to this next year with pure excitement for the opportunities that are in store. Spaces yet to be transformed, lives yet to be shifted, work yet to be done and fun yet to be had…🚀 Post concept by the one and only @y2kira 😘 #professionalorganizing #seattleprofessionalorganizer #garagestorage
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I have long held the belief that success is largely dependent upon our ability to suck it up in the present in service of our future selves. Our actions today dictate our circumstances later. When we bear that truth in mind (and have clarity about what we ultimately desire and value), we’re better able to prioritize behaviors that don’t just feel good in a fleeting, sugar-high, dopamine-rush sort of way, but a long-term, mature way. Maintaining an organized home is wholly dependent on your ability to attend to tasks that need doing now, rather than delaying them in favor of doing most anything. When you make the bed in the morning, you give your evening self the gift of an elevated nightly ritual. When you take the time to re-hang the items of clothing you tried on, but did not ultimately wear, your later self gets to return to a calm, rather than chaotic, space. When you take five or ten minutes now to sort through a smattering of mail, you ensure your future self doesn’t have to eventually face a seemingly unending stack of papers. When you edit regularly and maintain organizing systems, you make not only your life easier in the future, but also your loved ones’ (none of us are taking anything with us when we go!). Each decision you make now determines the reality your future self will inhabit. Choosing the better, wiser, more long-term action requires that you persistently ask yourself the question: what will make me feel my best later on? [calendar designed to exclusively by @arielm_garcia ] #january2026 #futureself #persistence
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17853631872554038
Packed, moved, unpacked, and organized from primary to pantry, this relocation project for our adored clients was the capper to a year of epic client moves… #professionalorganizing #seattleprofessionalorganizer #organizinginspiration
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How many does one person or family truly need??? #professionalorganizing #declutteringtips #declutteryourhome
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18349631065207890
We tend to hold ourselves to the rules that others have laid out for us. We think the end of the race can only be where the organizers drew the finish line. That the product is finished only when its contents are completely consumed. That the book is finished when we’ve read the whole thing. That’s true in principle, but not always in practice. Being a true completionist means giving ourselves the freedom to define our own processes, and, when necessary, honor those over the ones prescribed by others. Being a completionist can mean using the bottle in its entirety, but it occasionally means ditching a half-used moisturizer when it isn’t working for you (life is too short to risk bad skin!). It may mean reading the book cover to cover, or it may mean absorbing all we care to in the first thirty pages, and then passing it along. Sometimes our personal race spans the entire, official course. Sometimes, when we’ve pushed as hard as we can and our ankles are aching, our race ends at kilometer four out of ten. It can be all too tempting to let ourselves off the hook when it comes to completing what we truly care about, because doing so requires hard and sustained effort. And it can be equally as tempting to hold onto things longer than we wish to because we mistakenly believe we haven’t completed them (according to someone else’s standards). We have to learn to practice perseverance and flexibility, to combine discipline with intuition, and to be intentional, above all. Intentional with what we continue, and intentional about what we complete. The end of the calendar year is approaching. It’s an apt moment to check in with ourselves about what we’re committed to, and how we feel about those systems, goals, and responsibilities. What actions do we need to take in order to reach a resolution? What values do we choose to continue to uphold? What relationships, belongings, or behaviors are we ready to bring to a close? When we act on purpose, no matter the choice, we make the end point a triumph. When we complete, we create space for the new. [calendar designed exclusively by @arielm_garcia ]
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18086866031076955
Children need organized, edited spaces most of all. Think how overwhelming the noisy world feels for you (presuming here) a fully fledged adult, and how important it is for you to have a sanctuary to retreat to. For kids, the noise level is that much louder, and the need for spaces that foster calm is even more vital. Something to keep in mind always, and especially this time of year… #organizedgirlscloset #pinkbedroomdecor #professionalorganizerseattle
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1st time invoking this in a caption, but it feels appropriate… IYKYK. #declutteryourhome #declutteryourlife #professionalorganizing
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18081199280044118
In our comparison-rife culture, it can be tempting to focus on what we aren’t doing. The goals we aren’t working towards, the flashcards we didn’t review with the kids, the steps we didn’t take to fulfill our purposes. And it can be easy, too, to get bogged down by the urgent responsibilities of Today. It is vital that we remind ourselves of all the times we’ve successfully navigated complex situations, or were bold enough to ask “What if?”, or materialized our visions through a series of many incremental steps. It puts us in the headspace to ponder the question, “How do I want to feel in the future? From that perspective, the single phone call we make is what matters, not the seven hypothetical ones we could have but didn’t. The time we do make to care well for ourselves is what counts, not the fact that we could have added on a facial and a massage to boot. As the end of the calendar year approaches, our ability to design our realities remains as potent as ever (the pressure of a count-down clock may be the motivating factor we need!). When we get into action, we often find that actualizing our goals may be easier than we imagined.
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 17916095955197653
Our clients had concluded that the butler’s pantry WITHIN their kitchen would/ could only be for decorative effect. We said: we’ll create function out of it yet! Designed to work in tandem with their concealed storage, this space now operates as a working pantry. Glass jars keep essentials fresh and at hand, and they uphold the aesthetic vision this space was intended to have. Around the corner in the dining room, serveware is conveniently located tableside. Napkins, utensils, and bar accessories are organized and categorized (the last thing anyone needs is to face a cluster in the midst of playing host). Thanks to @heidicaillierdesign for the beautiful playground she designed for our team! #professionalorganizing #pantryorganization #kitchendesignideas
Open post by livesimplybyannie with ID 18180051544350185
Because editing really boils down to whether you still choose something for yourself now. Not where it came from, or how long you’ve carried it, or how much it cost, but rather: is it something you actively and purposefully choose to continue stewarding. #professionalorganizing #declutteryourlife #declutteryourhome

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