Many of us want a more organized home, but are we approaching it the right way? In this episode we talk with a home efficiency expert about rethinking how we organize so it actually improves our day-to-day lives — helping us feel calmer at home, be more present with our kids, and even become more patient partners. She shares why the kitchen should be treated like an operating room, why a pared-down closet doesn’t always solve problems, and what makes garages especially difficult to control. We also admit how a random phone call and a sketchy forecast slowed our duplex progress, but we’re finding some silver linings. And yes, Sherry becomes smitten with some fairies.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may have to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- We filmed a quick tour of our messy garage, which is full of boxes and items waiting to be moved to the duplex — including two Crate & Barrel sofas we ordered over a year ago. (Bonus: a peek at our chaotic dining room.)
- Note: If you’re in a feed reader you may need to click through to view the video. You can also watch it on YouTube.
- We bought those sofas back in November 2017 after scoring a great sale and loving the one we already had in our Richmond house. The sofas we ordered for the duplex are in “Truffle,” while the one in our house is “Steel.”
- The rest of the boxes contain window blinds, curtain rods and rings, toilet paper holders, shower rods, kitchen hardware, and a few rugs.
- Also included: the infamous photo of our moving truck stuck in a ditch from when we moved out of our first house eight years ago. You can read about that whole ordeal in our archives.
Stephanie Sikora, Life Made Simple
- If you want to learn more from Stephanie, check out her book Simplified: A Real-Life Guide to Organizing Your Space and Saving Your Sanity.
- You can also explore her website Life Made Simple for blog posts, online courses, and consultations.
We’re Digging
- Sherry has been immersed in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin. There’s also a box set if you prefer that format.
- She compares the series to The Selection but says these books feel like a blend of Game of Thrones and Hunger Games, plus fairies — but the fairies are cool and wear leather outfits.
- She’s also started the first book of Sarah J. Maas’ other series, A Throne of Glass.
- Below are examples of shower heads featuring H2OKinetic technology that we like; many come in multiple finishes. We’ve found these make a noticeable difference in water feel and performance.
- The model we found on clearance isn’t available anymore, but it’s similar to the one pictured above.
If you’ve forgotten which episode covered a particular product or book we’ve mentioned, consult our master list of everything we’ve been digging from past episodes. You can also find all the books we recommend on our Book Club page.
Finally, a big thank you to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at Grove.co/YHL to receive their free gift: a trio of Mrs. Meyers cleaners, a set of walnut scrubber sponges, and a tin cleaning caddy.
Thanks for listening!
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