Environmental Wellbeing: Summer Wellness Series

At Help You Dwell, we strongly believe that wellness begins with the spaces we inhabit.

Last week, we had the pleasure of joining Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique for their Summer Wellness Series, where we explored the intersection of environmental wellness and personal well-being.

Nestled in the heart of West Knoxville, Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique offers a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation. With luxurious spa treatments and a curated retail boutique, Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique provides a refreshing and holistic approach to wellness. 

During our session at the Summer Wellness Series, Taryn shared insights on creating clutter-free and stress-free environments that nurture both the mind and body. She emphasized practical strategies for decluttering living and work spaces, transforming them into serene and productive sanctuaries.

Our goal is always to empower you with the tools to maintain a clutter-free lifestyle, enhancing your overall well-being.

The event was a delightful blend of education and relaxation, allowing attendees to learn firsthand the transformative power of an organized space!

Guests of the series were able to engage in one-on-one discussions with our experts, gaining personalized advice tailored to their unique needs.

"We were honored to participate in the Summer Wellness Series at Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique, it was inspiring to see how our insights resonated with guests who are eager to enhance their lives through creating intentional and nurturing environments in their homes."

- Taryn

During the event, we also had the privilege of hearing valuable insights from Kati, the spa owner. Kati emphasized the importance of being conscious about what we bring into our homes, highlighting how our environment can significantly influence both our bodies and minds as well. Making healthy switches in our living environments can have a transformative effect on our daily lives. From choosing non-toxic cleaning products to opting for a high-quality reusable water bottle over disposable plastic ones, these conscious decisions contribute to a healthier and more sustainable home for everyone.

Small changes can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kati and her dedicated team at Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique for inviting us to be part of their Summer Wellness Series! Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or planning a group event, Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique offers a sanctuary where wellness meets luxury. Check out the full list of their services here! 

One Stop Commercial Cleaning: Knoxville's Premier Cleaning Service

At Help You Dwell, we love all things organization and cleaning, so we had to share this story with you. 

Attention all Knoxville folks! One Stop Commercial Cleaning has officially opened for business, and we got the chance to hear all about the services they offer from their Co-Founder Becca Stone! We sat down to chat with Becca about the recent launch and what hopes One Stop has for its future. Becca shared that when she and her sister started the company, their goal was to "build a business from the ground up to help provide the life we want for our families while serving our community at the same time.”

Their vision for One Stop goes beyond cleaning.

“We believe that your environment impacts your experience, productivity and health. We strive to serve our community through providing an enhanced experience through a clean, pristine home or commercial property.”

Discover All That One Stop Commercial Cleaning has to offer!

One Stop services:

Move-In & Move-Out Cleaning

Post Construction Cleaning

Commercial Cleaning

Deep Cleaning

Window Cleaning

They provide a range of services, specializing in move-in and move-out cleans for both residential and commercial spaces. For office and commercial cleaning, they offer flexible scheduling with daily, weekly, and monthly options. One Stop is also active in all phases of post-construction cleanup for residential, remodeling, and commercial projects.

Recently, One Stop worked with a client going through a big remodeling project. Working to fill both the construction company’s needs and homeowner’s needs was the main goal. 

“To be able to sit down and help customize a cleaning solution to fit the needs of his client that he could present was the best! WIN-WIN! Not only will we successfully serve his client, but our services will also benefit the construction company and crews to be able to work more efficiently, and keep their project moving forward on time.”

The business holds tremendous importance for Becca and her sister, as it is central to their personal and professional lives. Balancing the demands of running One Stop with other aspects of their lives is crucial. Becca explained, "My sister and I help each other big time with this! We are a great tag team and are in different seasons of life with kids, so this really helps. We also have very different roles in the business, so we divide and conquer well. The things that steal my energy are her specialties and vice versa! This is KEY for us when it comes to balance and efficiency, and keeping the fire going."

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You can contact One Stop for all your residential and commercial cleaning at:

info@oscommercialcleaning.com  or 865-224-3812 

A Decade of Help You Dwell

10 years ago, Caroline and I sat on these two stools in the newly opened KBrew and talked about what we wanted to do next. Little did we know that 63 HYD staff members, 4 different office locations, 16 consignment sales, 500+ volunteer hours of work, and more than 3200 clients in 5 different states later, we would be celebrating a decade of working alongside incredible clients to help them reclaim their homes.

Our shared love of homes and serving the folks who live in them is even greater today than it was in 2014 when we started this journey. We have learned so much from each other and from our clients about how to create order and peace in homes - and there’s still so much more to come! 

We are thrilled to begin this next decade with a dedicated,  experienced and growing team full of ideas and energy to bring into your homes as we help you love where you live.

And just for fun, enjoy these pics from the incredible journey we’ve had so far!

Sweet Summertime and These 5 Things

Summertime is near and we are so excited about the change of pace that comes with it. There is so much to see and do in and around Knoxville and we wanted to share these 5 things with you!

Photo Credit: Paris Woodull

1. Paris Woodhull: Even if you don’t know her name, you have probably seen her art around town. Paris Woodhull has made a career out of creating illustrations that celebrate Knoxville, mental health, and all things colorful. She has a brick-and-mortar shop in Market Square and does custom artwork as well. Learn more about her art and products here!

2. Riverview Family Farm: This farm (and fellow Scout Guide member) has been a working farm since 1801. The 7th generation of the family now runs the farm and solely produces Black Angus beef. Their market also sells locally made honey, cheeses, and more! They have a 6,000 sq. ft barn you can rent for weddings and events. In the summer they also have delicious ice cream at the market to enjoy. If you've never been to an event or sale there, go visit and enjoy the beauty and peace farm life can bring.

3. Rhinestone Fest: Dolly Parton is an icon. Knoxville will celebrate her June 2-4 during this festival in the Old City. This celebration (formerly known as Dolly Fest) is a family-friendly event that will celebrate all things Dolly, and it’s FREE to attend. Put on those cowboy boots and dress up in your Dolly-best for a weekend of art, music, history, food and fun celebrating Dolly!

4. Dixie Lee Fireworks: Light up the sky this summer with fireworks from this family-owned fireworks stand. This year they celebrate 75 YEARS of business when they open NEXT WEEK, which makes them pretty legendary, too.

5. Take a Selfie! Did you know Knoxville has over 40 murals? Take a walking tour downtown and see some of the amazing creations done by local artists. The Top 5 are listed here and they are a good place to start. Don’t forget to tag #knoxrocks if you post them on Instagram!

More than Memories

Somewhere in the back of one of your closets or in the basement, there might be some boxes of cassette tapes, slides, and more just waiting to be taken out and remembered. The problem is, we have made so much forward progress with technology, that we might not have a way to actually listen to or watch those tapes!

Wil Davenport is the man with an answer to that exact problem while also helping you invest in yourself, friends and family with his company More than Memories (MTM). Wil works to do three things— Preserve, Create and Communicate.

Preserve- MTM will digitize and enhance old media such as home movies, slides, printed photos and documents, 8 and 16mm film reels, cassettes, records, and more.

Create- MTM also makes video slideshows for all kinds of occasions including Memorials, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Church events, Retirements, Christmas, and Easter.

Communicate- MTM also interviews people to help them communicate their values, faith, and stories to those they care for and love.

PC; Texture Photo

Wil is a one-man team, and works hard to “give folks back a better treasure than they started with.” Wil has several sample videos on his webpage and Facebook page that show just how much time he puts in each and every memory.

He finds his work the most rewarding when he can help people share what’s most important to them, and spark meaningful conversation from videos and memories. He says: “Without a doubt, my favorite part of the job is getting to know new people. I love it!”

““Without a doubt, my favorite part of the job is getting to know new people. I love it!””

— Wil Davenport

Help You Dwell absolutely loves sending our client’s Wil’s way. So often we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to sorting through memorabilia. They are precious memories, but so often they remain in their box unwatched, under-appreciated and, frankly taking up space we need for other things!

Wil can bring all those memories to light, while also helping us keep them organized in a way we can actually get them out and appreciate them. (And the digital copy takes up much less space!)

“If you want to know what Wil Davenport strives to be known for, it can be summed up in three short phrases: integrity filled, a great encourager, and kind. The husband of Celeste Davenport and the father of Kaleb, Elise, and Nika, Wil seeks to serve and exceed the expectations of his customers. He is also an avid Duke basketball fan.” —More than Memories Webpage

What Wil does is more than memories, it’s about human connection and celebrating life every day! He loves helping you be the family hero who took the time to get those precious memories preserved and enhanced.

If More than Memories sounds like it might be just the thing you need, or a perfect gift for a loved one, Wil would love to hear from you! You can call More than Memories at (865) 414-3954 or reach him by email at MoreThanMemoriesTn@gmail.com.

Doing Dishes with Flanders - Knoxville's Dish Shop

Doing Dishes 1912 Washington Pike Knoxville, TN

If you’re a new friend of Help You Dwell or new to Knoxville, welcome! Let us introduce you to one of our incredible local resources… Doing Dishes, a pretty little shop selling vintage, antique, and collectable china by the piece.

One of our favorite parts of owning and running a company is working with other small businesses around town! We’ve been so amazed by the local companies and business owners we’ve met over the past 7 years. It is so important to us to partner with folks who serve our clients needs. We were delighted when we discovered Doing Dishes and have grown quite fond of owner Flanders Setchel and Lola Marie- the shop pup!

We sat down over the weekend to learn more about Flanders and her journey to quickly becoming Knoxville's dish queen.

With one of the most interesting career paths of anyone I've ever met, Flanders has been a florist, gardener, server, real estate agent, jewelry shop owner, certified egg handler on a chicken farm, horse trainer, organic veggie farmer, and was a singer in the band the "Red Hot Mammas and Sultry Ladies" that covered torch songs from the 30's and 40's. Flanders came to Knoxville in 2012 by way of Rough and Ready, CA (yes--- that's really the name of the town!!). Doing Dishes became a reality about 1.5 years ago and has quickly become Help You Dwell's go-to spot and highest recommendation to clients who are looking to sell china and dishware. Flanders has been collecting china since the mid 80's and started selling it in '92 to support her dish buying habit. She comes by her love of dishes naturally-- her mother Doris (who you can often find in the shop) designed a line of china for the Carmel Valley Ranch Resort in the 80's. If you think Flanders sounds interesting, you should ask her mom about the time she almost adopted an elephant.

When asked "Why dishes?" she says "For the sake of entertaining. I have a deep affection for feeding people. I love gathering a few friends and setting a beautiful table. The different textures, colors and flavors set the mood for an unforgettable event." Flanders states that she always has 5 sets of dishes at the house at any given time in order to host a variety of different kinds of meals. There's a great quote that she stands by, "I'd rather eat a hot dog off a beautiful plate than beef wellington off an ugly one."

Flanders hosts at least 2 dinners a month and enjoys gathering an eclectic group of people for a beautiful meal and an exchange of ideas. She loves hosting conversations between people who might not ordinarily sit down at the same table- people with different ideas, political views, and backgrounds. For Flanders, setting a beautiful table and using beautiful dishes is a celebration of hospitality. In fact, she mentioned that she ended up selling some of her living room furniture to accommodate a larger dining room table so that she could host larger crowds. Her largest dinner party ever? She recalls a large party back in CA where some 250 people showed up--and who can blame them: her dinners sound idyllic!

So what is "Doing Dishes"? It's a little piece of dish-heaven on earth. If you are looking to buy or sell China, this is the place to go. She offers dishes for every price range and even has a dollar table. In addition to beautiful dish ware, Flanders stocks locally and regionally made goods like soap, stained glass pieces, and other gifts. She will be crafting gift baskets for Mothers Day as well! You can find out more about Doing Dishes on the Facebook Page or you can stop by the shop: 1912 Washington Pike Knoxville, TN 37917 (open Thursday-Saturday).

Flanders and DorisWe can help!

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Ready to get organized?

If you have china or other vintage and collectible dishes you’d like to part with? We can help!

Telling More Stories | An Interview with Meg Davis

We are excited to share a little Q&A we had with Meg Davis. She is passionate about storytelling and just recently launched her own business: Telling More Stories. We always strive to honor the story of our client’s lives & their homes, so we were eager to chat with her to learn more about why storytelling is so important to her. Her posture of valuing connection and relationship is one that we so admire.

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enjoy our Q&A with Meg

Q- Can you give us a bit of background on who you are?

Grab your copy!

A- I grew up in Knoxville and have lived here on and off my whole life, it’s home. I went to UT and studied Psychology and English, never envisioning that those two would coincide into any kind of career. I always knew I wanted to be a writer in some capacity. After college, I worked at the Knoxville News Sentinel where I was interested in telling stories with a social justice angle, trying to amplify voices in the community that were seldom heard from. After my time at the Sentinel, I met Kreis Beall, who founded Blackberry Farm back in 1976. She had an incredible story and she herself was a beautiful storyteller. For five years, we worked together to write her life story in the form of a memoir. Her book, The Great Blue Hills of God, came out in February of 2020 with Penguin Random House. The process of telling her story is what prompted me to start my business, Telling More Stories. I discovered how powerful, and even healing, the process of owning and telling one’s own story can be and I knew that was something I wanted to elevate in others and be a part of. It’s an incredible privilege to take part in helping tell another person’s story. Outside of writing, you can find me dreaming up plans of converting an RV into a mobile office to travel around the country telling stories, hiking, forcing my dog to snuggle with me, or exploring our city. I’m a classic Enneagram 9, which means I am also a huge proponent of nap-taking and good old fashioned conflict management. 

Q- Why is "story telling" important to you?

A- Storytelling is important to me, because I think it’s the way we understand not just ourselves, but the world and our place in it. I believe that throughout history, stories have been the primary way in which we are able to interpret the complexities of life. I also think that stories are the great equalizer towards understanding one another, especially those who have differing world views or experiences. One of my favorite quotes is from Michelle Obama, she says, “It’s hard to hate up close.” I think this is the power of storytelling. Once we know someone’s story, where they came from, what shaped them, and the experiences that informed who they are, it changes the way we view that person and has the capacity to soften and change the way we relate to one another. 

Q- What are some of your favorite stories you've read? 

Follow @megcdavis

A- My favorite stories, in any form, are always the ones with complex, and often broken, characters. I love a good story with a strong, female lead and anything historical fiction.

Q- What have been some of your favorite stories to write?

A- In terms of my own writing, I love when I get the chance to amplify voices of people and communities and to help them tell their story in a way that makes them feel seen and heard. I love a good journey too - individuals who have overcome brokenness or hardship. I also love having a chance to build up and support other women through storytelling when possible.

Q- What is most challenging to writing & telling stories?

A- I have a difficult time writing stories that I don’t feel some element of connection to. Writing can also sometimes feel like a very solitary process which can be a challenge, which is why I enjoy what I get to do, which involves so much interpersonal interaction. Relationship for me is at the heart of everything, so it’s nice to feel like I can make what has the potential to be a lonely job, into something that feels more connected.

Q- What do you find most rewarding in telling stories?

A- What I find to be most rewarding is watching how impactful the process can be for the person telling their story. It is truly a powerful thing to watch.

Q- What do you love about calling Knoxville home?

A- I love living in Knoxville because it has such a vibrant, creative, and community feel to it, while also having such a diverse range of urban growth and outdoor accessibility. It feels like it is always growing, and that has been a fun thing to watch and take part in.

Q- If you could live anywhere in the world for a time, where would it be?

A- I have always wanted to live abroad for a season, somewhere in South America or Southern Europe.

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Thank you Meg for sharing with us! Telling More Stories offers a few packages if you’re interested in the storytelling process for yourself or someone you love. Feel free to pass along this interview or share Meg’s website with your friends!

Here’s to the stories we are living today & to the ones we will tell for years to come!

Start 'em young

Taryn with Kate, Will, and Eli Ruth // 2008

I became a mom with very few plans in place for how I’d spend time with my child or children, how I envisioned my home being set up for little ones, or how many kids I wanted to have. I’d always hoped to be a mom. I just didn’t really have specific ideas of exactly how that might go down. Almost 17 years into motherhood, and 3 amazing kids later, I am both thankful for that somewhat clueless beginning and at the same time, a bit regretful that I wasn’t more intentional.

Image: Texture Photo // 2018

I’ve found that not having concrete expectations of how motherhood would go was a gift in that it allowed for a whole lotta grace. Not so much pressure on them or on me to be someone I had dreamed up in my head. I think I have been able to pay closer attention to each one of my kids and their unique personalities, ways of relating, and specific needs better since I didn’t have rigid expectations of what I wanted parenting and my kids to look like.

Being somewhat clueless also paved the way for new relationships and a sweet reliance on family. I am fortunate to have started motherhood off with some incredible new mamas who I’ve shared this crazy adventure with and who are still some of my dearest friends. We learned so much from one another. I am also a very blessed gal to have a mom and mother-in-law who have shown me what great love and sacrifice for your kids looks like. All good gifts in the midst of my cluelessness.

However, there is one area that I do wish I had been more thoughtful about at an earlier stage — how to create spaces in my home, and spaces in our days, for my kids. I had to make a lot of mistakes in this area before realizing there’s a better way. Of course hindsight is 20/20, but if I had taken a bit more time to think through what items &/or areas in my home that would encourage my kids to learn, explore, and love well, I would’ve saved myself lots of hours of singing (and doing) the “clean-up, clean-up, everybody everywhere” song and dance, procrastination, guilt, and frustration.

On May 2 at The Back Porch Mercantile, this is the exact topic we will be teaching on.

• How do we get a baby’s room ready with all the needs but not the excess?

• What’s the best way to create a play area for toddler’s that allows them to explore but doesn’t turn my house into a plastic toy jungle?

• Do I keep all my preschooler’s handprint art and the other 724 pieces of art they’ve created?

• Toys through the years and how to store them in a way that your kids can actually clean them up.

• How do we do birthdays and holidays well without filling up on too many gifts?

• What to do with all my elementary-age child’s school work?

• How do teach my kids to organize?

I have learned lots raising this boy and my two girls. I’m still learning. And whether you’re a new mom or a few years in, my hope for you is that through some intentional, thoughtful planning, you can create the best space for your kids and for you to be the best mom you can be.

Image: Paige Severance (and her cutie twins!)

"Be kind to your future self" by Sarah Pattison

We’re excited to share a guest post from our friend, Sarah of The Happy Envelope. She & her husband, Ty, have been creating beautiful paper products here in Knoxville for over a decade. Read & enjoy her words…

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City Prints, by THE.

“The only difference between a mob and a trained army is organization.” –Calvin Coolidge

A friend once said told me about her mantra to make choices that would be “kind to her future self.” When taking off your jacket, for example, you can hang the jacket on the hanger in the closet, or on the hook by the door. You can also just throw that jacket over the arm of the chair as you walk into your home, or set it down across the kitchen table. You can wear it up to your bedroom and crumple it onto the chair there, or hang it up in your bedroom closet. Which decision is kind to your future self? Placing your jacket where you know to look for it when you need it next: that’s kind to your future self. It may take five seconds more energy now—from your present self—but it will potentially save many minutes of wandering around the house asking aloud, “Has anyone seen my jacket?” as everyone in your family is becomes more and more annoyed with how late we’ll all be because Mom can’t find her daggum jacket. (Perhaps this scenario has happened before… with jacket, keys, sunglasses, regular glasses, a purse, diaper bag? Maybe it’s just an example: you decide.)

Custom Stationary, by THE.

Creative people are often stereotyped as disorganized, harried, and discombobulated. I wish that I could defy the stereotype, but unfortunately, I elevate it. I don’t like to be surrounded by chaos, and I actually love when everything is clean and peaceful and beautiful. I’m visual and I care about aesthetics. I’m just not kind to my future self, and things can get out of control quickly. And within just a day or so, even putting the clothes away is no longer a one-basket job, but now a three-basket job and I begin to feel overwhelmed. 

At home, I can get away with this. It’s not like we live in a pigsty; it’s just not as organized and tidy as I’d like, and it’s my own fault. But translate this character flaw to work and it’s an entirely different matter. Clients depend on me. Organization of proofs, time-frames, delivery dates, checklists… these things are crucial to timely deliveries and happy customers. Organization is actually critical for business success.

This past year at the studio, we’ve implemented a few wonderful tools that help us all stay more organized and on-track together as a team. We’re working on a Training Manual. We’ve started using Adobe Sign for all proof approval contracts. We’re trying to clean up our Dropbox. But my favorite is Basecamp, a project management online software. While each project used to feel like herding cats, now the entire project scope from start to finished is filled with checklists, due dates, people held accountable, job tracking, and even file organization. It really has been a game-changer for our entire staff. So, I’m growing. Baby steps. 

Vintage Round Home Address Stamp, by THE.

We’re getting ready to move our studio again, sort of quickly.  As I look around my desk area and bookshelves, I’m already starting to feel the dread. The temptation for me is always going to take the easy, kind-to-present-self way: literally throw everything into one big box, label it, “Sarah’s desk” and tape it up. Out of sight, out of mind! But how will my future self feel later this summer when she’s trying to get her new studio set up and she’s opening up disorganized piles of junk thrown into boxes any old way? I’ll tell you: Future Sarah is gonna be overwhelmed and stressed and she’s gonna cry a lot. I don’t want that for her. 

Instead, I’m planning to actually make decisions as I go: do I really need this book of paper samples from 2004?  No? Then it doesn’t come with me.  Hopefully, when all of our construction and build-out is finished later this summer, Future Sarah will open up a few clearly labeled, simply organized boxes and get her desk set up with a smile on her face. 

Xoxo,

Sarah Pattison, The Happy Envelope.

Sarah

PS- We’re moving to 5605 Kingston Pike right around the corner in Bearden. We’ll be nestled in between Grow Salon and Firestone Tires. Please come pop in to our much bigger space once it’s finished later this summer… you can watch the presses in action through windows, just like the taffy-makers in Gatlinburg! In the meantime, find us online and at the Market Square Saturday Farmer’s markets, Talahi Plant Sale (this Saturday at Lakeshore!), and Retropolitan Craft Fair.