Holiday Tips

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Tidy News: Shannon Krause Interviewed on Room By Room Podcast - How To Organize Your Home For Guests

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Shannon was recently interviewed by Marie Stella on Room by Room: The Home Organization Science Insights Podcast.

With the holidays just around the corner, we dove into all things guest prep.

Here’s what we covered:

  • How to create a warm & welcoming environment for your guests without sacrificing your home’s functionality.

  • Clever tips for making space when you’re short on it.

  • Must-have products for a seamless hosting experience.

  • Favorite quick fixes to make your guests feel right at home.

If you’re gearing up for holiday hosting, this episode is packed with practical, stress-free tips to help you shine as the ultimate host!

The Guide to Organizing Your Home For Guests with Shannon Krause

Tidy Tips: 5 Things You Should Toss Before Hosting Guests

hosting, preparing for guests, organizational tips, decluttering

We love to host and frequently have friends coming and going. In general, we have a long list of ways to prepare for visits -- from food shopping (taking into account allergies), cleaning extensively (especially the kitchen), organizing and decluttering.

Today we’re sharing some tips that are not so glamorous but trust us, it goes a lot way. It’s important that your guests feel welcome and comfortable and we know these tasks help you to prepare for their stay!

5 things to toss before your guests arrive:

hosting, preparing for guests, organizational tips, decluttering

Garbage & Recycling

The kitchen garbage and recycling. The kitchen is the busiest room in the house and you're bound to spend time in there with guests. Smelly and unsightly garbage is a quick way to dampen the vibe. 

hosting, preparing for guests, organizational tips, decluttering

Bathroom Trash

Similarly, empty out any trash cans in the bathrooms and guest rooms. We want our guests to feel like they're at a B&B when they visit - and basic cleanliness is a must. 

hosting, preparing for guests, organizational tips, decluttering

Old Food

Throw out old food in your fridge. Our favorite guests are the ones who get whatever they need from our fridge because it means they're comfortable in our home. To that end, we don't need them seeing week old meatloaf.

hosting, preparing for guests, organizational tips, decluttering

Used/Expired Toiletries

Used and/or expired toiletries in the bathroom. For example, we're not fans of soap bars. We don't want to use yours, and we don't really want you to use ours either. Go ahead and toss the bar next to your sink and replace it with a soap dispenser. 

hosting, preparing for guests, organizational tips, decluttering

Pet Hair

Pet Hair. This one sounds strange because you don't necessarily think about 'throwing out' pet hair, but we throw out handfuls of it! It's essential to clean and remove pet hair from carpets, couches, blankets, pillows, etc... before having guests. Not only is it unsightly, but so many people have allergies these days. The last thing you want (which we've experienced) is a dinner guest with red eyes and the sniffles who can barely stay awake because of the emergency Benadryl dose they had to take.

Framed Photo of Guests in Guest Room

PRO TIP

Change out the framed photos in your guest room with photos of you and your guests together — seeing those memories always makes guests feel more welcome.

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Tidy Nest Featured Press: How To Organize A Kitchen In Readiness For Entertaining (Homes & Gardens)

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We recently shared some simple yet effective tips with Homes & Gardens to help you keep your home, specifically your kitchen, tidy and stress-free this holiday season.

FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

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Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Post-Christmas Decluttering Rules Professional Organizers Swear By– and What to Get Rid of NOW (Homes & Gardens)

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After Christmas is over, it can be overwhelming to deal with all of the new gifts and decorations, as well as the leftover holiday items.

We were asked by Homes & Gardens to share our advice and best tips for decluttering post-Christmas!

 

FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

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Tidy Nest Featured Press: 8 Christmas Storage Tips...(Architectural Digest)

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We are so excited to announce that Shannon contributed to an article in Architectural Digest - definitely a highlight of 2022!

Shannon spoke with AD regarding storage solutions and tips on how to keep all that holiday clutter under control.

Check out her tips on string light storage and how to manage that pile of holiday greeting cards.

String Light Storage

We take a deeper dive in a previous blog post. Take a look at our step-by-step guide below.

String light Guide

Greeting Card Storage

Take a look at our step-by-step guide below

Greeting Card Guide

holiday storage tips on gift wrap & ornaments are coming up next!

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Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Hot Spots Professional Organizers Always Declutter for the Holidays (Homes & Gardens)

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The holidays are stressful - schedules are packed, guests and in and out, the volume of items in the home multiply - so we always suggest doing a little decluttering before the craziness begins to gain some extra mental and physical space.

We recently spoke with Homes & Gardens about some of our holiday decluttering suggestions.

 

Other spaces to declutter before guests arrive

We always make sure our guest rooms and bathrooms are ready for guests. We remove any items that have accumulated in these spaces - like that pile of summer clothes on the bed that we haven’t put away yet or any used and/or expired toiletries in the bathroom.

2022 Holiday Gift Guides: Local Picks

Our final gift guide includes just a few of our favorite local spots for those last minute gifts. This category was extra difficult to narrow down because we have access to SO many great stores, restaurants and theaters in Northern Westchester and Fairfield counties.

As we did last year, we’ll be gifting someone a little something from one of the guides. All you have to do is comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season.

Truck - Bedford, NY

We love giving restaurant gift certificates to clients and friends and Truck is always on the top of the list. Truck is a casual restaurant serving dishes from “Northern New Mexico”. We love all the tacos and old school inspired desserts.

Breads N Bakes - Pound Ridge, NY

New to Scott’s Corners, this bakery has the best meringues & croissants in Westchester.

O2 Living - Cross River, NY

This is your one stop shop for all things wellness. Take a yoga class (hot yoga too), grab a juice, get a holistic facial, massage or reiki treatment, participate in a sound bath and have a yummy vegan lunch. Gift certificates are available!

The Angel Cooperative - Ridgefield, CT

This metaphysical store has a great collection of crystals, candles, jewelry, books and other unique gifts. At the back of the store you’ll find their Shungite Room (the only shungite room in the US) where you can book various services like tarot readings. Across the parking lot is The Angel Wing, where they offer many classes & events like yoga, sound healing and various certification courses.

Design Solutions - Pound Ridge, NY

We always find unique gifts at this fun shop in Scotts Corners. They sell our FAVORITE incense and candles and have a great selection of coffee table books and greeting cards. 

Rosie - New Canaan, CT

This is truly our second home. You can find us there on our free weekends, having meetings or grabbing lunch between jobs.  Rosie has the very best brunch, lovely staff and the LARGEST muffins on the planet.

The Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT

And this is Jared’s second home…the playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center with a mission to entertain, enrich and educate the surrounding areas. They have extensive programming so you’re guaranteed to find a show for everyone on your list.

Ace Hardware - Ridgefield, CT

This is a very special gem in Ridgefield because the staff is SO helpful. The second you walk in there’s someone ready to help (and not in an annoying way). Not only do they have the standard hardware supplies, they have a great selection of housewares, candles, and kitchen decor if you’re looking for some last minute gifts.

Scout - Pound Ridge, NY

If you can’t find Shannon, she’s probably at Scout. Scout has an incredibly thoughtful curated collection of clean beauty products and a great selection of candles. The staff is super friendly and helpful which makes shopping for beauty products so much more enjoyable.

Reminder to comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season. You’ll be entered to win s little something from one of our guides.

👩‍🏫 As families are thinking about back-to-school and the dreaded task of setting up dorm rooms, we’ve been receiving questions from clients about our favorite dorm room organizing products. 📦 Prepping for dorm life is challenging. The
Before & After! Garage Project in Ridgefield, CT = complete! The clients wanted two free bays to park cars, a dedicated bay for storage (with easy accessibility to all items) and a dedicated bay for the part time handy man (Dad). There was great,
Please join me in wishing this very special, incredibly hard working, kind, caring, dedicated, generous, patient and strong lady a very happy birthday!! We love you @travelingolive! 👑💅🎉🎈🎁⭐️🌷🐈🦐🪣🧿🔮🎂🧁🥂
Hello friends…! How’d you spend your weekend? Here’s how we spent ours! This was a big project that required 4 team members, a patient and committed client, and LOTS of donation trips! In the last photo, you’ll see we even ma

disclaimer:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

2022 Holiday Gift Guides: Jared's Picks

We had so much fun last year with the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We received such great feedback from everyone.

We created a handful of guides this year from our own picks to stocking stuffers to organizing supplies.

Next up is Jared’s picks!

As we did last year, we’ll be gifting someone a little something from one of the guides. All you have to do is comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season.

Manta, Sleep Mask

I have a difficult time sleeping and I have tried so many sleep masks. This one was recommended to me by one of our organizers (thanks Sarina!) and it’s on the top of my wish list. This mask has adjustable eye cups and extra deep eye cups so you can blink like you’re not wearing a mask!

Graf Lantz, Felt & Leather Catch-All Tray

I am guilty of coming home and dumping my keys, wallet and phone in different places in the house which makes my mornings a tad chaotic because I can never find anything. I even do this at guests houses which I'm sure drives them nuts. So I’ve decided to take Shannon’s advice and get catch-all trays for all my drop-zones. While these trays are pricey, I love the leather and merino wool combo for a more elevated look. Plus they come in various colors and sizes.

Aplós, Hemp-Infused Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Aplós is a hemp-infused, non-alcoholic spirit that can be enjoyed neat, on-the-rocks, or mixed in cocktails. Formulated with notes of yuzu, rosemary, basil, cucumber, and dandelion, this drink has been a great alternative to alcohol, especially during the holidays.

Function 101, Bento Stack Charging Kit

We travel a lot and between the two of us we have a lot of devices and Apple accessories.

This Apple accessory organizer has a built-in power bank / wireless charging cover that is designed for both workspace and mobile use. It allows you to charge your AirPods, iPhone, watch, pen and it keeps all your Apple essentials organized for when you’re on the go.

oHHo, Full Spectrum CBD Balm

We get injured a lot on jobs and CBD balm is always a life saver for our tired muscles.  This full spectrum topical CBD balm is made with a blend of botanicals and high potency CBD, derived from organic hemp flowers. It’s an entirely natural way to heal tired and damaged skin, ease muscles and soothe away aches and pains. Plus they are located right here in Bedford, NY !

MoMA Design Store, Backgammon Set

My friend Brock introduced me to Backgammon this past summer and I really enjoyed it. While Shannon and I don’t have a lot of time to play a full game, this set is nice enough to keep out so we can play a little here and there.

Tom Petty Products, House in the Woods Candle

The only candle I ever need to own.  There’s nothing else to say except buy this.  You won’t be disappointed. 


But because Shannon is making me say more words… The scent is made up of wintergreen, frankincense and pink pepper with hints of cedarwood, musk, leather and sage. These are made from 100% natural soy and beeswax blend.

Aera, Diffuser

This is a clean fragrance and aromatherapy diffuser system, and they make two different sizes- one for small to medium-sized rooms and one for medium to large-sized rooms. 

You can create a diffusing schedule and adjust the strength all from an app on your phone. 

Most importantly since we have 3 cats, the scents are hypoallergenic and safe for pets.

Apple, AirTag

This is a great gift for the traveler or worrier (or both). We attached AirTags to interior zippers of our checked luggage and we were able to track our bags getting loaded on/off the plane. I didn’t have to listen to Shannon ask “do you think our luggage made it?” and that’s priceless! 

This is also great to use on kids backpacks, on car keys, in your wallet, etc.

Reminder to comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season. You’ll be entered to win s little something from one of our guides.

👩‍🏫 As families are thinking about back-to-school and the dreaded task of setting up dorm rooms, we’ve been receiving questions from clients about our favorite dorm room organizing products. 📦 Prepping for dorm life is challenging. The
Before & After! Garage Project in Ridgefield, CT = complete! The clients wanted two free bays to park cars, a dedicated bay for storage (with easy accessibility to all items) and a dedicated bay for the part time handy man (Dad). There was great,
Please join me in wishing this very special, incredibly hard working, kind, caring, dedicated, generous, patient and strong lady a very happy birthday!! We love you @travelingolive! 👑💅🎉🎈🎁⭐️🌷🐈🦐🪣🧿🔮🎂🧁🥂
Hello friends…! How’d you spend your weekend? Here’s how we spent ours! This was a big project that required 4 team members, a patient and committed client, and LOTS of donation trips! In the last photo, you’ll see we even ma

disclaimer:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

2022 Holiday Gift Guides: Organizing Gifts

We had so much fun last year with the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We received such great feedback from everyone.

We created a handful of guides this year from our own picks to stocking stuffers to organizing supplies.

Next up is our favorite organizing gifts!

As we did last year, we’ll be gifting someone a little something from one of the guides. All you have to do is comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season.

Legacy Box, Digitizing Kit

We are constantly asked how to properly preserve keepsakes like home movies and photos. 

We love LegacyBox’s digitizing kits to safeguard irreplaceable memories - there are multiple packages to choose from based on the quantity of memories you’re preserving and options to save your files on a thumb drive, disc or cloud.

Etsy, Glass Spice Jars

It feels like we’ve researched every spice jar that exists and this one is one of our favorites.  These airtight glass jars are made with food-grade high quality borosilicate glass. The lids are handmade from eco-friendly sustainably sourced Acacia wood. You can even add a matching acacia spice spoon to compliment your jars. It’s a great gift for the chef in your life and we love these as a housewarming gift too.

p.s. the etsy shop owner is wonderful.

Yamazaki, Jewelry Display

We like the minimalist design of this jewelry organizer which can be used for necklaces, watches and bracelets. The bottom tray can be used to prop a phone or hold loose change, rings, and earrings. The little hooks along the top are perfect for keeping necklaces untangled.

Italian retro goblets

Available in 9 sizes and 25+ colors, these bags are incredibly versatile. We use them grocery shopping, as gift bags, as food storage, in place of baskets in bathrooms, the list keeps going.  They are hand washable so you can reuse them over and over again. And when they are not in use, you can store them flat.

Artkive, Children’s Art Publishing Kit

The number one complaint we get from parents….they don’t know what to do with their children’s art work. We always recommend Artkive. Just send them your favorite artwork and they will produce an artbook or framed-mosaic print of the masterpieces. You can either have them return the artwork to you afterwards or you can have them responsibly recycle it (you know our vote)!. Preserve your child’s art in one neat and organized place.

Sendotek, Bamboo Charging Station

We love this 6-in-1 bamboo charging station because we really dislike having cords everywhere.. It charges up to 6 devices (including a watch and airpods) simultaneously and comes with a wall output plug which helps keep your desktop neat and tidy.  It also comes with 3 types of charging cables- a lightning cable, a type C, and a USB micro charging cable. The easiest way to keep all your devices in one centralized place whether it be your desk, counter or nightstand.

Poketo, Spectrum Wall Planner

We still use wall calendars and the bigger the better! With this wall planner, we like to display all 12 months because the entire color scheme is fantastic. This calendar comes open-dated so you can use it anytime. Poketo also sells the Acrylic Poster Hanger if you want to hang up one month at a time.

swarovski magnetic ear cuff

We came across this bag while organizing a basement and I think we may have ordered the bag while we were still on-site. We love this bag because you don’t have to worry about it getting messy or dirty because you can simply rinse it off when you’re done using it.

It comes in a dozen fun colors and each bag has two removable clear pouches that clip into the holes on the side of the bag.  While this bag is a great beach/sports/pool bag, we actually use it as a supply bag on jobs! It’s perfect for a fall tailgate or a summer day at the beach. Our favorite part is that it’s tip proof!

YouCopia, Storage Drying Rack

You already know how much we love our Stasher bags, so it only makes sense how excited we were to find this.  A simple solution for drying and storing reusable food bags of all sizes, the best part is that the prongs keep the bags open to air-dry. It’s easy to clean and made from BPA-free plastic.

Reminder to comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season. You’ll be entered to win s little something from one of our guides.

👩‍🏫 As families are thinking about back-to-school and the dreaded task of setting up dorm rooms, we’ve been receiving questions from clients about our favorite dorm room organizing products. 📦 Prepping for dorm life is challenging. The
Before & After! Garage Project in Ridgefield, CT = complete! The clients wanted two free bays to park cars, a dedicated bay for storage (with easy accessibility to all items) and a dedicated bay for the part time handy man (Dad). There was great,
Please join me in wishing this very special, incredibly hard working, kind, caring, dedicated, generous, patient and strong lady a very happy birthday!! We love you @travelingolive! 👑💅🎉🎈🎁⭐️🌷🐈🦐🪣🧿🔮🎂🧁🥂
Hello friends…! How’d you spend your weekend? Here’s how we spent ours! This was a big project that required 4 team members, a patient and committed client, and LOTS of donation trips! In the last photo, you’ll see we even ma

disclaimer:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

2022 Holiday Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers

We had so much fun last year with the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We received such great feedback from everyone.

We created a handful of guides this year from our own picks to stocking stuffers to organizing supplies.

Next up is a crowd favorite… Stocking Stuffers.

As we did last year, we’ll be gifting someone a little something from one of the guides. All you have to do is comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season.

Astier De Villatte

Tucson Incense

One of our LA-based clients introduced us to these incense while we were shopping for baskets at Nickey Kehoe. We fell in love with the Tucson scent (smokey & sweet) which has now become our “signature” home scent and our go-to gift.

Rite in the Rain

Weatherproof Writing Kit

Recommended by Sarina, one of our organizers and expert gardeners, this is a great gift for the gardener, outdoors-person or anyone who needs an indestructible notepad. 

This all-weather pen performs in ALL temperatures (seriously all temperatures… -30F to 250F.. However we’re not sure why you’d be writing in 250F), under water (up to 35 ft) and the notepad  will survive sweat, rain, mud, snow, oil, grease, and the wear-and-tear of daily use. 

Bastide

Neroli Lumiere Body Wash

We’re all about essential oils over here and we find that Neroli oil, extracted from the bitter orange tree aka Sevilla Orange, is one of our favorite oils for anxiety and stress. This body wash, another clean product, is made with Provence olive oil and coconut oil leaving skin super soft.

Sereniikey

KEY ORGANIZER

An odd pet-peeve of ours is hearing keys jingle, we know…it’s weird. This key organizer keeps our keys contained and we love containment. No more jingling noises in our bags or unwanted scratches from keys. The key pouches come in a variety of colors and sizes and are made with vegetable tanned leather. 

So Ill x On The Roam

Menehune Beanie

If you know Jared then you know he has a crush on Jason Momoa so when Jason designed with So iLL x On The Roam, Jared purchased nearly the entire line. And this hat is one of Jared’s favorites. It can be worn cuffed or uncuffed, it comes in 5 colors but this dusty pink is the favorite, and it arrives in plastic free packaging.

TenOverTen

THE CELERY OIL

We’ve been on a quest for clean nail products that actually work and so far TenOverTen products have been the best by bar. The line is cruelty-free and vegan (our top requirements for products). This 100% natural nail oil contains celery seed extract to smooth and strengthen nails and Chia seed oil, vitamin B3, rosehip oil and zinc work to promote harder, stronger and more resilient nails.

Twelve South

AirFly Pro

Another travel staple of ours is this Wireless Transmitter/Receiver which allows for audio sharing for up to 2 AirPods or wireless headphones. We use this for in-flight entertainment so we can use our AirPods instead of those annoying corded headphones. Battery life lasts about 16 hours so it’s perfect for those long flights.

Indie Lee

DE-STRESS HYDRATING FACIAL MIST

We love this Indie Lee mist especially for travel. It smells delightful (Rosewood, Bergamot, Eucalyptus and Patchouli) and promotes a sense of calm. Indie Lee products are clean and cruelty free (which is super important to us). 

Fun Fact: Indie is from South Salem, NY (where we live). We love supporting neighbors!

R.Riveter

Lucy Canvas Pouch

Recommended by a client, these pouches are one of our new favorites and great for just about anything- sunglasses, a small makeup bag, you name it. They are made in both canvas and nylon in various color and print options. Each product is crafted by independent military spouses in their homes around the nation, and shipped to R.Riveter's FabShop to be assembled into a one-of-a-kind product.

REMINDER TO COMMENT BELOW (OR BETTER YET, COMMENT ON OUR INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK POSTS) AND TELL US WHAT ITEM YOU HAVE YOUR EYES ON THIS SEASON. YOU’LL BE ENTERED TO WIN S LITTLE SOMETHING FROM ONE OF OUR GUIDES.

👩‍🏫 As families are thinking about back-to-school and the dreaded task of setting up dorm rooms, we’ve been receiving questions from clients about our favorite dorm room organizing products. 📦 Prepping for dorm life is challenging. The
Before & After! Garage Project in Ridgefield, CT = complete! The clients wanted two free bays to park cars, a dedicated bay for storage (with easy accessibility to all items) and a dedicated bay for the part time handy man (Dad). There was great,
Please join me in wishing this very special, incredibly hard working, kind, caring, dedicated, generous, patient and strong lady a very happy birthday!! We love you @travelingolive! 👑💅🎉🎈🎁⭐️🌷🐈🦐🪣🧿🔮🎂🧁🥂
Hello friends…! How’d you spend your weekend? Here’s how we spent ours! This was a big project that required 4 team members, a patient and committed client, and LOTS of donation trips! In the last photo, you’ll see we even ma

disclaimer:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

2022 Holiday Gift Guides: Shannon's Picks

We had so much fun last year with the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We received such great feedback from everyone.

We created a handful of guides this year from our own picks to stocking stuffers to organizing supplies.

First up is Shannon’s picks!

As we did last year, we’ll be gifting someone a little something from one of the guides. All you have to do is comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season.

Hulken Storage Bag

This is the best utility bag. It folds up for easy storage, has unbreakable handles, great colors and…IT IS ON WHEELS. Not only do we use this when we’re working but we even use this bag instead of a shopping cart when we’re grocery shopping or at The Container Store.

Westman atelier clean glow trio

We are always on the hunt for clean beauty products and I’ve been loving anything Westman Atelier. These petite sticks come in a set of 3 - highlight, contour and blush. They have no silicones, no parabens, no phthalates, no mineral oil, no synthetic fragrances and are not tested on animals. The petite size is great to keep in your daily makeup bag or for travel.

Ellis brooklyn clean perfume

Ellis Brooklyn is another clean beauty line we love. This limited edition gift set includes 5 of their best-selling scents, which are paraben-free, phthalates-free, cruelty-free and vegan. The bottles are composed of glass and can be reused or recycled. These mini rollerballs are great for travel too.

Italian retro goblets

This has been on the top of the wish list for two years now. These gorgeous retro-inspired glasses are made in Italy from blown lead-free glass. They are handmade by master Italian glassmakers, and come in tumblers, goblets (and even bowls). Plus the color options are gorgeous.

Mz wallace crochet metro tote

Surprise, surprise, another MZ Wallace item on our wish list! We just love this brand so much - all their bags are so functional and durable. This new crochet print is so colorful and fun and reminds us of our grandmas. 

Made from recycled nylon and extremely lightweight, this bag is perfect for commutes, travel and everyday life. It’s spacious and has detachable interior pouches as well as interior and exterior pockets in all the right places.

Living Libations

Best Skin Ever

This is by far my favorite clean-ingredient product. This skin elixir is packed with omega fatty acids, vitamins, lipids and hundreds of bioactive compounds. My favorite thing about this is that it is an all-in-one cleanser, exfoliator and moisturizer- which means less bottles at home and less bottles to pack when traveling.

Fellow Electric Pour- Over Tea Kettle

This is a great gift for the tea or coffee drinker in your life. Available in 13 great colors, this kettle is temperature controlled and has an incredibly fast heat time. We love the minimal design but the best part is that it holds your desired temperature for 60 mins.

swarovski magnetic ear cuff

If you know Shannon, you know she loves jewelry and never leaves the house without earrings. This cuff is magnetic(!!) so it can be worn anywhere on your ear. It comes in purple and yellow (purple wins) and it’s sold as a single cuff. It makes a great statement piece and an easy way to add a little glam to your day!

Headspace

We are big proponents of meditation over here and have been loving the Headspace app. It comes with so many helpful meditations, relaxing sleep exercises, focus music, podcasts, sleep sounds and mood-boosting workouts such as yoga. You can purchase a monthly subscription or pay annually but use our link and you’ll get a 30-day guest pass.

Reminder to comment below (or better yet, comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts) and tell us what item you have your eyes on this season. You’ll be entered to win s little something from one of our guides.

👩‍🏫 As families are thinking about back-to-school and the dreaded task of setting up dorm rooms, we’ve been receiving questions from clients about our favorite dorm room organizing products. 📦 Prepping for dorm life is challenging. The
Before & After! Garage Project in Ridgefield, CT = complete! The clients wanted two free bays to park cars, a dedicated bay for storage (with easy accessibility to all items) and a dedicated bay for the part time handy man (Dad). There was great,
Please join me in wishing this very special, incredibly hard working, kind, caring, dedicated, generous, patient and strong lady a very happy birthday!! We love you @travelingolive! 👑💅🎉🎈🎁⭐️🌷🐈🦐🪣🧿🔮🎂🧁🥂
Hello friends…! How’d you spend your weekend? Here’s how we spent ours! This was a big project that required 4 team members, a patient and committed client, and LOTS of donation trips! In the last photo, you’ll see we even ma

disclaimer:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

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Tidy Tips: Storage Ideas for Holiday Cards

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We’re constantly helping clients declutter their belongings. Believe it or not, holiday cards are a major culprit for holiday storage clutter. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to tackle that growing stack of greeting cards - both old and new.

 

1. Gather

Collect all the holiday cards and supplies. We’re talking the cards you received years ago, the extra custom cards you ordered, store bought cards, stamps, return labels, etc.

 

2. Categorize & Consolidate

Group like with like and evaluate the quantity of each category. Eliminate unnecessary redundancies.

 

3. Cards Sent

If you send out custom holiday cards chances are there’s an abundance left over year after year. We suggest keeping a few from each year for nostalgic purposes. Recycle the rest.

 

4. Cards Received

This may be an unpopular opinion but we suggest parting with the cards you receive each year. If you MUST keep some, just save the most recent years’ collection in the event you wish to reference who sent you a card (but even that’s a stretch).

 

5. Contain

As with all items, everything must have a home. Select a designated container - we like this Clear Card Keeper from The Container Store but a simple shoe box works just as well if you’re looking for a DIY version.

 

6. Label

Surprise! We want you to label the categories. This allows you to see your inventory quickly and helps with maintenance.

We used our very favorite label maker- the P-Touch Cube from The Container Store.

DIY version - use stickie notes as labels.

 

disclaimers:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

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Tidy Tips: Storage Ideas for String Lights

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We’re sharing our favorite way to store holiday string lights so you’re not spending hours untangling a ball of lights only to find out that they don’t work!

 

1. Test the lights

Untangle the lights and head straight to the outlet to make sure all your lights work. If you have a dead bulb(s), try replacing them before tossing and buying new.

 

2. Wrap the lights

We highly recommend coiling or wrapping the lights to avoid the dreaded tangled mess each year.

See below for a DIY option.

 

3. Contain

Store the lights in plastic or fabric containers. Look for bins specific for lights with wrap organizers already included like this one from Target.

 

4. Label

Not only label the container but label each string of lights so you know exactly how/where they were used. This makes decorating the following year much easier. We used velcro cord labels from The Container Store - see below for a DIY option.

Here’s a DIY Option…

Supplies you’ll need

- Cardboard

- Scissors or box cutter

- Lights

- Container to store lights

- Masking / washi tape

- A curious kitty (optional)

1. Find some cardboard

Use any sturdy cardboard you have lying around. You’ll want to cut a square or rectangle based on the size of the container you’ll be using.

 

2. Create a cord holder

You don’t have to get fancy here, just make two cuts on opposite sides of the cardboard. This will hold the cord in place. Once it’s secure, start wrapping.

 

3. Label

We’re using velcro labels here but for the DIY version, try masking tape or washi tape.

 

disclaimers:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Tips: Four Fall Organizing & Productivity Tasks To Tackle This Weekend

Summer is behind us and fall is at its peak (northeasters - are you LOVING the amazing foliage this year?!) So we wanted to share a few organizing and productivity tasks that are guaranteed to make you feel like an organized genius.

 
stack of sweaters

Seasonal Clothing

I know it’s a little late for this one but if you’re busy like we are, you may still be stepping over that pile of summer clothes. Review and edit your summer clothing before switching to fall clothes. Donate/sell/give away any items you didn’t wear this season, recycle the faded bathing suit (some retailers recycle textiles even from other brands), and repair anything that got damaged this season. Make a list of items you need to replace for next year and watch for them to go on sale over the winter!

tulips in a flower pot

Garden

Wipe down all your garden tools, empty the flower pots, scrape off the dirt and rinse. Take inventory of what you have, what didn’t last thru the season, and what you need for next year so you can restock over the winter when gardening items are on sale.

outdoor chairs

Outdoor items

Collect all the pool floats and outdoor toys, wipe down using a mild antibacterial solution. Wash outdoor cushions and pillows. Once completely dry, they are ready to store for the winter. We opt for these oversized cushion bags for winter storage.

gift wrapped in holiday wrapping

Holiday Prep

Get a headstart on the holidays. Start decluttering the guest rooms. Create a gift giving station. Give your pantry and kitchen a refresh. Review expiration labels and toss expired items, tidy drawers and remove any unwanted items so you have a clean slate for all those holiday meals.

2022 Mother's Day Gift Guide

Since our holiday gift guides were such a big hit we decided to keep the fun going with our Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

Velvet Non-Slip Hangers

Want a quick closet facelift? Low profile hangers are the way to do it. Plastic tubular hangers and wooden hangers take up more space than you realize and wire hangers can easily damage your clothes (and look messy). These non-slip velvet hangers save an incredible amount of space in your closet with their slender profile. Plus having uniform hangers is aesthetically pleasing.

Striped Seagrass Tote Bag

We love a tote and this one is the perfect size for everyday errands. The striped seagrass material is great for the summer and the reinforced handle makes it super durable.

Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide (Atlas Obscura)

One of our organizers introduced us to this book and it’s been on our minds ever since. From the creators behind Atlas Obscura, Gastro Obscura shares culinary hidden gems around the world.

Cricut Joy Labeling Starter Kit

This Cricut is much smaller than their main machines which makes it a little less intimidating. We use ours to create custom labels - surprise, surprise but the personalized options are endless.

Long Floral Garden Gloves

These adjustable gloves are extra long in length to protect arms from scratches and dirt and the whimsical floral print elevates any gardening outfit.

Adjustable Yoga Mat Bag

This yoga mat bag has adjustable straps, is made with water repellent fabric and has a few pockets to store your keys and/or water bottle.

UMA Bath & Body Oil

We love this Ayurvedic beauty brand. This set includes botanicals like clary sage, sandalwood, chamomile, and lavender (in the bath oil), and clary sage, sandalwood, chamomile, and geranium (in the body oil), to create amazing calming scents.

Theragun Mini - Rose

Give the gift of a massage with just a push of the button. This mini Theragun is easy to pack, is super light and packs 20lbs of force. Plus it’s rose.

Caraway Bakeware Set

We love a matching bakeware set especially when it features a toxin-free ceramic surface. Extra points for Caraway for creating storage organizers to keep the 11 piece set tidy in your kitchen.

If you purchase from one of our links, we may earn a small commission.

2022 Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For Him

Since our holiday gift guides were such a big hit we decided to keep the fun going with Valentine’s Day gift guides.

Farmhouse Pottery Heart Mug

Our family members all love Farmhouse Pottery so we were excited to include this mug in the mix. They are all one-of-a-kind and hand painted. 10% of each mug sale goes to the American Heart Association.

SunnyLife Lucite Backgammon

Full disclosure: we don't know how to play backgammon but ALL of our nearest and dearest friends love this game so we’re adding the classic game to the list but with a twist.

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

Between this book and binge watching Searching For Italy, Stanley got us through our recent covid-haze. Taste, just like the series, takes you on a journey through Stanley’s life through food. He shares special recipes, anecdotes, funny stories about being on set, growing up in Westchester, New York, and his love for Italian food.

Portable Grill

This charcoal grill is easy to transport anywhere. It’s only 15lbs and has a bamboo cutting board and a plastic storage tray for utensils.

Mix Tape on Vinyl

Select the songs you want to include (20 mins max), create your own cover art and choose between black, white or transparent Vinylify will do the rest!

Outerknown Travel Tote

We love a tote and we love anything Outerknown creates. This tote has all the features we look for - pockets, zippers, removable straps, easy-to-clean fabric, eco-conscious. These bags are handcrafted in a small, family-owned workshop in Japan from mostly recycled materials.

Weighted Sleep Mask

This eye mask is perfect for soothing migraines, calming anxiety, or easing into restful sleep. It’s weighted pods contour to your face, blocking out any light while providing slight, soothing pressure.

Marine Layer Sweatshirt

Marine Layer’s clothes are so soft and this sweatshirt is no exception. Jared lives in his. This sweatshirt is made with organic cotton and recycled polyester - Tidy Nest approved!

Polaroid Instand Camera

Same retro charm as the original with some helpful upgrades like a powerful flash and a timer.

2022 Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For Her

Since our holiday gift guides were such a big hit we decided to keep the fun going with Valentine’s Day gift guides.

Booklinen Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets reduce stress and anxiety and this Brooklinen version does just that. It feels like a cozy, 12lb hug and the breathable fabric doesn’t create extra heat.

MZ Wallace Heart Backpack

Yes, you all get it….We love MZW and we love versatile pieces. This design is half backpack, half tote with all the MZW bells & whistles (a million pockets, detachable pouch, leather detailing). Plus leopard & hearts is a no brainer.

Away Carry-On

You may recall seeing this on our travel gift guide. We love anything Away - the compression board allows us to pack more outfits and the spinner wheels actually work! And now it’s available in this stunning rose gold.

Ellis Brooklyn Library Clean Perfume

It’s hard to find nice smelling perfume that lasts AND is clean. We’ve been using this set since the holidays. The scents can be layered so it’s been fun to play around creating new scents each day. The best part is that the scents are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free and phthalte-free.

Carved Heart Tray

We love multipurpose pieces so we’re always looking for items that can be used in many rooms. We thought this could be sweet in an entryway as decor, bathroom to corral your perfumes and pretty bottles, as a serving piece for parties or simply mounted on the wall as a piece of art. It’s hand-carved from repurposed oak.

Ring Concierge's Customized Birthstone Necklace

This is a fun, modern take on the birthstone necklace. Choose up to 5 different stones and place in any order you’d like. Shannon and her best friend have these as “best friend necklaces” and wear them every single day.

Cashmere Scarf

Cashmere scarf sounds boring but we loved the “Made with Love” detail on the bottom and it’s super wide so it can be used as a shawl or travel blanket - another double duty product!

Adopt An Elephant

Or a Rhino or giraffe at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. Jared was lucky enough to visit a few years ago and came home with an (adopted) elephant for Shannon which is still one of her favorite gifts. You can read about each orphan’s story on their website and choose the orphan that speaks to you

Lavender Essential Oil

Grove products never disappoint. This certified organic lavender essential oil is a more budget-friendly essential oil and is great for aromatherapy and home fragrance.

2022 Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For Your Galentines

Since our holiday gift guides were such a big hit we decided to keep the fun going with Valentine’s Day gift guides.

Raffia Heart Baskets

While this is intended for a nursery or playroom, we think it’s a sweet addition to any room.

Plant A Tree

Plant a tree in someone’s honor through A Living Tribute. Each order will help conservation organizations like the National Forest Foundation restore treasured National Forests and Parks from the Pacific Northwest to New England.

Cork Placemat

A placemat that is cute plus easy to wipe clean is a win-win for us!

Big Friendship

“An inspiring and entertaining testament to the power of society’s most under-appreciated relationship, Big Friendship will invite you to think about how your own bonds are formed, challenged, and preserved. It is a call to value your friendships in all of their complexity. Actively choose them. And, sometimes, fight for them.”

Calm App

Give the gift of mindfulness, improved sleep, and… calm with a subscription to one of our favorite meditation apps.

Copper Water Bottle

Okay, we love a gift that you’d never buy yourself and this is one of them. It’s a pricey water bottle but not only is it so pretty, it’s inspired by the Ayurvedic practice of tamra jal - or, storing water in copper vessels - which is believed to help neutralize toxins as it ionizes and balances the pH of water.

Jade Comb

By now you know that Shannon loves crystals and she will find any reason to bring them into her daily routine. This jade comb, sourced by the best holistic skincare queen, nourishes the scalp, increases blood flow and releases tension.

Heart Pillow

We love simple holiday decor that could also be used year-round.

Yoga Mat

This mat has a great grippy surface and is eco-friendly and biodegradable.

2021 Holiday Gift Guides: Shannon's Picks

We’re so excited to be sharing the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We covered different categories from our personal picks to stocking stuffers to items for the cat lover (I know, big stretch but we love our cats).

Next up are some of Shannon’s favorite gifts to give (and receive).

Bed of Nails Mat & Pillow

I’ve introduced so many people to these acupressure mats. Trust me. This is an incredibly effective tool for easing tension and inducing a state of deep relaxation. Bed of Nails acupressure mats are similar to acupuncture but it does not penetrate the skin.

This has been a lifesaver after a long day of organizing.

Minimalista by Shira Gill

Shira Gill has been a mentor to me (even though she doesn’t know I exist). I just love her perspective on organizing and consumption. Her new book, Minimalista, is a beautiful hardcover step-by-step guide to a better home, wardrobe and life.

Who doesn’t want that?

Reflexology Wand

I will do anything Elizabeth from Honest Rituals tells me to do when it comes to skincare. She hasn’t steered me wrong yet! I watched her mesmerizing Instagram videos using this wand and I instantly felt my tense facial muscles relax.

By massaging specific points on your face using this wand, you can soothe your nervous system, release facial tension and stimulate collagen

Beauty Counter Body Scrub

I am all about clean beauty and have been loving Beauty Counters body scrub. The scent is delicious and the sugar grains are the perfect size. It is made with organic cane sugar, sweet almond oil and organic sunflower seed oil and has notes of apricot, lemon, orange, bergamot and grapefruit.

Yummmmm.

Shout out to my friend Lauren for gifting a Beauty Counter item for our giveaway!

eeBoo Puzzle

Puzzles have always been our favorite pastime but during quarantine it became an obsession and we found ourselves calling the local toy stores (thanks New Canaan Toy Store) asking for curbside pickup of our favorite brand puzzle - eeBoo.

The designs are magical, the images celebrate inclusion and encourages empathy and the pieces are made from recycled materials and vegetable based ink. They have my name written all over them.

Living Libation's Royal Rose CoQ10 Serum

Here’s another gem from Honest Rituals. This serum is magic in a bottle. It contains the most glorious essential oils including Immortelle, Sweet Thyme, Myrrth and Ylang mixed in a Rosehip seed oil base. Truthfully anything from the Living Libations line is a game changer.

Gratitude Journal

I recently did a 44 day gratitude challenge (thanks to @the.lifestyle.psychologist) and I saw the benefits immediately. Now it has become a daily ritual. While you don’t need a specific gratitude journal to practice gratitude, we found it more impactful to physically write a little something each day and why not do that in a pretty journal. 

MetalBird

My brother in law introduced me to these and I have since purchased about 10 for friends and family.

MetalBird started as a street art project in New Zealand and now the products are sold throughout the world. They are all unique and bring a whimsical charm to your backyard. 

Order early because they are made and shipped from Australia (which is another reason why I am so drawn to them - shoutout to my Aussie crew!).

Ember Mug

This is one of my favorite bougie, unnecessary, but oh-so amazing gifts. This mug works with your iPhone to set the desired temperature and notifies you when your temperature is reached. I drink a ton of hot water and tea and have this working for me ALL day, every day.

The best part is not having to get up from the couch to reheat your beverage. 

2021 Holiday Gift Guides: Jared's Picks

We’re so excited to be sharing the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We covered different categories from our personal picks to stocking stuffers to items for the cat lover (I know, big stretch but we love our cats).

Next up are some of Jared’s favorite gifts to give (and receive).

Lafco New York Candles

I have yet to find a fragrance I don't like. They also use ethically sourced ingredients, sustainable manufacturing processes and environmentally friendly practices.

Aldez Tequila

Forget Patron. This is a fantastic tequila with a bright profile and zero artificial flavor. It's an organic and sustainable brand -- all bottles and corks are made from recycled materials.

Hemp Infused Sleep Gummies

Since everyone on Earth is stressed these days, these gummies are my secret weapon in the battle against insomnia.

Custom Notepads

These are a family favorite. Every Christmas I make these custom notepads with really cheesy motivational quotes accompanied by funny family photos. Very inexpensive and personal option and great for lists to keep you organized.

Bombas Socks

If you don't know Bombas, you need to change that. The only socks I wear and they're a 1-for-1 company.

Kershaw Everyday Pocket Knife

I've had this Leek model knife for about 10 years and use it almost daily - especially on Tidy Nest jobs. If you take care of it, it can last a lifetime. 

Beltology Belt

Handwoven belts from New York. They're super versatile and very well made. I've worn mine for several years and it still looks brand new.

Yes To Tomatoes Charcoal Soap

Yes To is one of my favorite brands and while this is my favorite soap, any of their products are great for stocking stuffers. 

Mrs. Weinstein's Toffee

I don't know who Mrs. Weinstein is, but she's a saint. Don't sleep on her dark chocolate almond toffee - it's a must have in our house.

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