Let’s face it - our relationship to our stuff can be complicated so we thought we’d share a framework to help you better understand and define your relationship with your belongings.
Keep it Simple | Organizing Tips
The beginning of a New Year offers us a fresh start! You may be tempted to overhaul your whole life (if you do- more power to ya!) or be overwhelmed with the many ways you want to grow in the next year. You may be wondering why we’re talking about this a few weeks into the 2021- because it is never too late to start new habits and create new rhythms. You didn’t miss your chance to begin your journey to simplicity!
Is Your Home a Reflection of You?
As we begin a new year, we want to encourage you to reflect on a few questions we often explore with our clients. The hands on “organizing” and “packing/unpacking” work we do is important, however the deeper work we do often has more meaningful implications than we can express through before & after images.
Take some time to consider these questions:
What do you love about your home?
What are a few of your favorite memories or meaningful moments that have taken place in your home?
What do you hope others feel when they spend time in your home?
Does your home decor and style consist of your own selections? Or is it a combination of gifts from loved ones and passed down pieces from family members?
Where do you find inspiration for your home?
Who do you trust to help you make decisions about your home?
Where do you go in your home to find rest?
What are values that you’d like your home to reflect?
What do you wish you could change in your home?
Are there areas in your home that cause you to feel overwhelmed?
What is one improvement you could make to your space that would increase your enjoyment?
Photo by Texture Photo.
Before we begin any home organizing project, we create space to listen first. This allows us to gain a more full understanding of why a client reached out to us and what hurdle they are hoping to overcome. Life is messy, complicated, and unpredictable - and our homes are often affected by the events and seasons of our lives. We remind our clients that feeling shame around the current status of their home is not helpful, beneficial, or necessary. Rather, we encourage them to dream again of what their space could look/feel/be like. We remind our clients that their home is never too far gone & there is always somewhere to start.
Do you have an area of your home you’re ready to reclaim? Our team is ready to help.
Start the conversation today.
Sidenote: Just as we are continually encouraged and inspired by our clients stories, our team is made up of strong, resilient, and talented organizers who each bring a unique set of life experiences that enable us to serve clients facing all kinds of challenges. Read more about them here.
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.
enjoy our Q&A with Meg
Q- Can you give us a bit of background on who you are?
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.
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!
2020 Year in Review
No one was prepared for what 2020 delivered. So much challenge mixed in with joy, loss, and longing. In reflection, we want to take a look back at the blessings. If you know us, you know the stories and people behind these numbers are way more important than the actual numbers, but we wanted to share a few stats to give you a glimpse into our year as a small business.
Home for the Holidays
Pantry Organizing Guide
These 5 Things
An Unprecedented Thanksgiving
2020 Holiday Gift Giving
We want to encourage you to be mindful as you approach gift giving this holiday season. With fewer parties and events taking over our calendars, we can choose to be more intentional about the gifts we give this year. Make time to think about those loved ones and friends on your list, and consider some new ideas…
Storing Seasonal Clothing
Back Porch Mercantile: Save the Date
This week, Taryn stopped by one of our favorite local shops to get the scoop on their holiday collection. Jenny and her team at the Back Porch Mercantile have created an intentional and magical winter wonderland in the shop. The classic sentiment, “I’ll be home for Christmas” has never been more true. With less events and travel this year, people are focusing on creating a cozy and intentional place for family in their own homes.
5 Tips for Holiday Prep
Pause for a Moment
Perks of Organizing
Let's Talk Countertops
Some people prefer to have a collection of daily use items, decor or appliances on their kitchen surfaces, while others enjoy a completely clear counter top. Which group of people do you find yourself in? There is no right or wrong way, but rather an approach that fits your specific season. We’ll share a few thoughts on both options…
Making "Home": a 500 sq ft London Flat
Welcome to London! I wish so badly I could invite you in for a real life tour & give you a hug, but sadly that is not the case currently. So I’ll do my best to virtually welcome you into our “home” in this beautiful city. I’d offer you a cup of coffee (or tea) if you were visiting- so make yourself a “cuppa” and settle in.
Revisiting Home Tours
While we’re all still at home a majority of our time, so we thought it could be fun to take a walk down memory lane and recap some of our favorite past home tours. We’ve been so honored to get to know the story of many Knoxvillian’s and their homes over the past 5 years. Enjoy a few memories from home tours throughout the years…
Learning at Home
As this season of constant unknown continues, we’re faced with the challenge to adapt rather frequently. We’ve spoken to many parents, teachers & students who are asking questions about how to adjust to the new learning environments we find ourselves in. Here are a few suggestions to help you create healthy learning environments in your home.
