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Posts Tagged ‘gift guide’

The 7 Presents Practically Guaranteed To Please Everyone On Your List

By Annie | December 2, 2014 | 6

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.

ABOUT LIVE SIMPLY

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Empty Acquisition mode places the focus on what is lacking: your imperfections and the products that promise to solve them, your lack of fulfillment and the shiny objects you try to fill that bucket with, your fear about not having enough that causes you to collect more than you reasonably need, and on. It’s a mindset that convinces you that you’re not good enough, that you need to be more impressive, must keep up with the latest and greatest in order to remain relevant, and that you need something or someone else to validate your worth.

Present Contentment is a state of awareness and gratitude for all that you do have. It’s allowing yourself to enjoy what you’ve worked to create or bring into your life. It’s centering yourself in the knowing that your worth begins within and radiates without.

As it reaches the end of the calendar year, the fever pitch of the holidays, and the final tallying of the year, we have the choice between fiending and breathing, between getting sucked up into chaos and holding our calm, between emptiness And Contentment.

We don’t have to fear that contentment will melt into complacency, either. The appreciation for things as they are is what paves the way for future growth.

Let the goodness in your life register. Take a second longer than normal to connect to the people around you, to feel grateful for your belongings, and to relish the elements of your daily rituals.

All that you have and all that you are is enough to elicit contentment.

[calendar designed exclusively by @ariel_marko ]

#contentment #contentmentishappiness

How to get a cluttered home (and the mindset fix!)…part 3

#declutteringtips #declutteryourhome #professionalorganiser

How to get a cluttered home…part 2.

#professionalorganizing #declutteryourhome #decluttering

How to get a cluttered space…part 1.

#professionalorganizer #professionaldecluttering #declutteryourlife

Little moments of delight ought to only be a drawer pull away…

And in a hectic and divisive climate, doing what’s possible to establish any greater sense of clarity and calm is paramount.

Your corner of the world is just for you. Tend to it well so that it nurtures you, and so that you, in turn, can more adeptly contribute to the world at large.✌🏻

#professionalorganizer #professionalorganizing #rainbowaesthetic

We live in a highly produced culture. We’re bombarded with shabby befores snapping to swoonworthy afters. The upgrades are instantaneous, only adding to their impressiveness.

We expect our personal transformations to happen as rapidly.

We want the results now. We want our current discomfort, our hang-ups, and our emotional turmoil to be dispelled in the span of an HGTV episode. We evaluate our goals impatiently. We wonder how everyone else is managing to pull off overnight success.

We become so focused on results that we minimize the significance of the small yet valuable steps we make in the right direction.

In any endeavor, whether it’s getting our spaces in order or achieving career success or healing from loss, progress is key.

We must decide that what we’re aiming for is worthwhile and believe in the efficacy of our efforts, because progress is often so subtle that it’s imperceptible.

It’s only later, maybe in a few months, or even years down the road, that we’ll realize we were advancing all along.

As time ticks by and we keep showing up to do the work that needs doing, we move, grow, mature, process, and weave together seemingly disparate dots.

Celebrating progress allows us to appreciate our present circumstances and enjoy the unfolding of our lives.

[Calendar designed exclusively for us by @ariel_marko]
#progressnotperfection #progressisprogress #monthlymantra

Hearing that we made what would have otherwise been a highly stressful, deeply unsettling process FUN?!? That’s some new level kind of high praise unlocked.

No matter how chaotic things may appear on the surface, in our eyes there’s a clear path to clarity and calm. That vision allows us to relax and enjoy the process, (and occasionally delight in how much thought we’re giving to the most minute details). Energy is infectious, and we’re always honored to inject reassurance, action, and a spirit of playfulness into the environment.✨

#professionalorganizing #organizinginspiration #moveinquickly

Repeat after me: self care is more than skincare.

Self care is more than red light masks and bubble baths and efforts to make our physical selves more attractive, and it’s far beyond all of the products you’re constantly pitched as being self-care necessities.

Actual caring for ourselves means caring for our whole selves and our full lives. It means attending to necessary tasks so our days run more smoothly. It may mean delaying gratification by sucking it up in the moment to do what truly benefits us in the long run. It might involve overcoming emotional hurdles in therapy or facing the scary storage room you’ve been avoiding for years or prepping your produce for the week, or scheduling in an admin hour to your weekly calendar to deal with your mail.

Self care—the mature, nourishing kind (rather than the product-centric one peddled on socials), might not look glamorous to anyone else, but it serves to set your mind at ease and move your life in the direction you want it to go.

#declutteringtips #selfcaretips #simplify

Improvements to your space—however incremental—that make your every day life run more smoothly, with more ease, greater delight, and less stress are worth whatever effort or resources they require to implement.

It’s time to start pouring some love into the areas in your life and space that are mediocre (or worse!), and that in however subtle a way, detract from your overall quality of life.

Why? You are worthy of ease.

If you can’t figure out how to pave the way for that on your own, we’re here to facilitate your progress and design Simply energy into your life.

#professionalorganizing #kitchenorganization #organizinginspiration

Moving into a new space offers the opportunity to establish intentional systems and sustainable habits from the get-go.

That’s why we take such care when considering placement of every item, how those items interact with each other and with the nature of the space available, and how best to situate everything for maximum ease of use and client delight.

We’ve done a record number of move-ins this year and we’re more obsessed with the process (and convinced of its value) than ever before.

#professionalorganizing #seattleprofessionalorganizer #movein #seattlemovers

October was my mom’s birthday month, and if there was one quality (aside from joy) that she possessed in spades, it was grace.

She didn’t try, she just was. She didn’t force or manipulate, she allowed things to ebb and flow towards and away from her without ever seeming too troubled about their direction. And that includes lost entities such as mobility, independence, and then, finally, life.

Hers was a grace built on the calm confidence of someone who is secure in themselves and their values, and grounded in the present.

When we’re connected to our true selves and have a clear sense of what matters most to us, we remain rooted in the face of annoying distractions and catastrophes alike. We don’t easily get knocked off our axes or swept up in drama. We aren’t prone to self-chastising or comparison.

In a noisy world, our connection to ourselves helps us to remain composed, to assume the best of others, to be compassionate to ourselves, and to forgive when necessary.

Instead of trying so hard, chasing, and criticizing, what if we take a page from my mom’s book and try grace on for size?

What if we find out that it’s a far more effective strategy on all counts? That we feel better when we prioritize our peace and our authenticity.

What would it look like to give ourselves and those around us grace this month? What if we moved one notch away from the people we think we should be to stand more firmly in who we are, and then decided to lovingly accept that version of ourselves?

Wouldn’t that be freeing?

[design by @ariel_marko ]

By request, memorializing this one in the feed. An honest behind the scenes at what it takes to make a beautifully organized space!

We’re often working nearly on top of each other, balancing things on surfaces like three dimensional Tetris, solving a slew of interconnected-yet-isolated spatial puzzles, and prioritizing the client experience of it all.

To employ a cliched phrase: we wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙏🏻

#professionalorganizer #declutteringtips #kitchenorganization

Peace cannot be purchased.

No matter how you try to justify what you’re buying—whether it’s an item your kids “need” or a new skincare product that you rationalize will kickstart your nighttime self care routine, or the new athletic clothing you tell yourself will motivate you to exercise—the act of shopping, itself will never bring you what you’re truly seeking IF you’re using shopping as an emotional crutch.

Escaping your life into the portal of online shopping (or actual stores!), may temporarily give you a dopamine surge. That will dissipate AS SOON AS you’ve checked out.

Then reality will set in: whatever you’ve just ordered will actually materialize at your door. It will be your responsibility to open it, break down any packaging for it, manage any returns necessary, find a place for it if you keep it, and on and on.

The shopping act is fleeting, but the results aren’t.

So if shopping is your end of day wind-down activity, you must check in with yourself and ask yourself what it is you actually NEED.

Is it acceptance? Is it distance from your daily stress? Is it self care?

Then ask yourself: will buying this truly give me the feeling I desire in a LASTING way?

What other tool can I reach for that I know would actually cultivate those feelings?

I promise you that, like drinking good water is the cure for most common physical gripes (IMO), taking good breaths is a magic cure for any number of emotional ones.

If nothing else, before you buy, breathe.

#professionalorganizer #shoppingtherapy #declutteringtips

If your intention is to purchase a replacement, then let it be that.

When you buy a new version and then continue to use the old one you told yourself needed replacing, you’re falling into a scarcity mindset. This mindset will have you convinced it’s better to own two versions simultaneously than one, and that it’s more appealing to keep using the haggard one than to face the prospect of potentially losing the fresh one, and, in turn, the EXPERIENCE of owning/using the thing you love.

Your brain does some crazy mental leaps in order to protect you from what it perceives as pain, which in this case is risking being without something you rely on.

You’ve gotta talk some sense into that brain of yours, remind yourself what poor condition your old favorite is in, and tell yourself you’re worthy of the new version.

Have you done this in the past or are you doing it currently?

Happiest birthday wishes to @dreamarie.c !!!!! 🎊🎊🎊🎊

For anyone living under a seriously heavy boulder, Andréa is my right hand woman, and so much of what Live Simply is today is thanks to her.

Drea is universally adored by dogs and children, which tells you all you need to know in my opinion. Those creatures have a way of recognizing true character, and her good natured, enthusiastic, and confident way easily disarms them. The shyest of both become her fast friends, following her around, requesting attention and affection.

Their parents are as enamored. Clients regularly go out of their way to tell me how much they adore her. How she’s so patient and kind. How she is as professional as she is engaging. How she’s changed their lives. Same with mine, I say.

Drea is my sounding board. She’s brilliant in so many ways, especially the ones I’m dumbest at. And when I blast through the walls like the Kool-Aid man with LET’S GET THIS SHIT DONE energy, she is the steady, and resourceful force that calmly and keenly keeps us on track.

I am grateful for her every day, and today I relish the opportunity to celebrate her loudly. Happy, happy birthday @dreamarie.c 🎉🙌🏻🙏🏻

August, with its straw hat and freckles, has taken its final bow for the year. In its stead enters September, which, with its return to routine for so many families, gives one that sense that life is once again standing at attention with its glasses on.

The mornings are crisper, the daylight shortens, but still, the spirit of renewal is in the air.

This month invites us to resume activities we’ve abandoned during the summer and to pour energy into the areas of our lives that we’ve allowed to become neglected or worn, and to recommit to our goals, our values, and our relationships.

Being in a season of renewal also offers us the chance to consciously release those commitments which no longer serve us or to which we can no longer realistically devote our precious time. As we let go of those activities, relationships, or mindsets which clutter our lives, we increase our capacity to pledge ourselves with newfound vigor to that which truly matters to us.

As we work to bring more energy to our priorities, we realize the impact of our positive actions. We are reinvigorated by demonstrating to ourselves that we remain steadfast in our values, behaviors, and relationships. We gain momentum through our efforts to improve.

Every day of this month, we will be demonstrating our values to ourselves through our actions.

Renewal is not only an occasional sport—something we do after many years. It is also what we do daily.

Each morning, we have the chance to renew ourselves through Simple acts like picking up after ourselves, shopping mindfully, and choosing to act now in service to our future selves. Each new day, we have the privilege of renewing our investment in longevity, health and vitality through movement and meditation. We have the opportunity to renew our relationships through quality conversations, through our attentiveness, and through our non-judgment. Each and every moment, we are capable of renewing our peace of mind and centeredness through our breath.

What you pour energy into and express gratitude for will sustain. What you neglect, whether intentionally or not, will fall away.

Renew what matters to you now.

[calendar design by @ariel_marko ]

Organized from crow’s nest to basement ✅

This recently completed move-in project was another opportunity to bring freedom and clarity into a family by way of simplified structure. We edited, bin-ified and systematized, and successfully converted yet one more household from countertop knife block to in-drawer storage (it will come as no surprise that we lead Team Keep Counters Clear).

#professionalorganizer #professionalorganizing #kitchenorganization

Us on our way to help you…

-conquer clutter (the physical and emotional kinds)

-establish functional and beautiful organizing systems to help you better navigate your daily life

-learn how to have a healthy relationship with material belongings (not just repeat what you saw being modeled growing up)

-learn freedom-oriented mindsets, and shift from scarcity and anxiety to abundance and prosperity

-learn to love the art of folding

-become a conscious consumer

-make your corner of the world the one place you can reliably go for quiet, calm and nurturance

-LIVE SIMPLY

#professionalorganizer #professionalorganizing #organizinginspiration

Happiest birthday wishes to our resident Leo, @y2kira! There are so many reasons to celebrate her; maybe chief among them is her caring nature. Anyone who gets to work with her feels the depths of her care and compassion. She is a strong force of good for that reason, only her attentiveness has the lightest touch, like a little fairy.

I’ve thrown too many bizarre requests her way, including driving an injured bird to the local wildlife center, finding a “cute iPhone tripod” (??), and undertaking spontaneous basically-arts-and-crafts-projects, and she meets each one with her signature sweetness, open-mindedness, and relaxed-readiness. What a special spirit. We are so lucky to have her on our team. 🎊✨

Growing up, my family took my mom’s cue (who was able to find humor in her wretched MS) and laughed about everything. Mundane acts that were once effortless for her (like showering, getting dressed, eating, and seeing), became exhaustive endeavors requiring no less than three people to complete. It was too absurd not to also be downright hilarious at times.

We laughed at her first electric wheelchair having a seatbelt, and we laughed when she started to need to be belted in. My dad made up a doctor character for the times he changed her catheter. I put on accents for her; in the evenings I hosted a cooking show while preparing her dinner, and before bed I moonlighted as a European facialist. Once, she got frustrated and yelled, “It’s not like I’m handicapped!” And we cracked up so hard we toned our abs. Together, we teased the shit out of her dumb disease.

We were never attempting to deny the severity of her chronic illness. But we leaned on laughter as our coping strategy, and as our redeeming factor: if things had to be as arduous as they were, we at least deserved to find humor in the hardship.

Each time we chose to laugh, we prioritized joy over despair, filling the room with a spirit of vitality that sustained us.

It’s my belief –and it was my mom’s--that life is intended to be joyful. Laughter is a portal out of pain. Even if it’s a temporary respite, it’s essential.

Nothing is so serious that it can’t also be the source of great humor. In fact, the things that could cause us anger, offense, or grief are often the ones we ought to be laughing about the most.

This month, my wish for us all is to increase the laughter in our lives. To loosen up enough to zoom out from our ego and see through a wider perspective that considers delicious irony and pure joy.

Stiffness, resentment, anger, and an extended attitude of feeling sorry for ourselves is stagnating and calcifying. Having the willingness to laugh means possessing an evergreen ticket to spiritual freedom and a refusal to succumb to negativity.

Be serious when it’s appropriate. Feel what you feel. Acknowledge what’s real. And all the while, don’t let an opportunity to laugh pass you by.

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