Meet Caroline: Social Worker turned Organizer

My last job included doing home visits in the projects, street outreach under the bridges down by Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry, and attempting to convince chronically homeless and severely mentally ill folks to take their medications and stay out of jail.

Home staging and organizing is just a little bit different than that.

I have always been a curious person and whether I'm finding out about people's stories through their life circumstances or through organizing their belongings, I love collecting pieces of peoples lives and learning about what makes people unique and also the commonalities we share.

If I'm being honest, I come by my knack for organization and decorating naturally. My mom has impeccable taste and is really great about purging her home regularly. My mom's Grandfather, followed by my mom's father, owned and ran a furniture company based out of High Point North Carolina so I'm sure I owe some of my decorating ideas to that history.

My mom and I in New Orleans.

It really all began a long time ago for me. I remember a friend in middle school thinking it was strange that along with teen vogue and Bop magazine I had a stash of interior design and home furnishing magazines. Among other bizarre childhood behaviors, I loved organizing my friends rooms, frequently rearranged all of the furniture in my room if I couldn't sleep at night, and walked around at the age of 12 making a list of all of my moms furniture that I wanted to inherit one day. Lord help me.

All of that to say, Help You Dwell has provided a great way to channel all of my organizing and staging energy into other people's homes so I don't drive my husband crazy by purging and rearranging our home every two weeks.

Andrew and Caroline Smith

On a more serious note, I have to say that the part of Help You Dwell that I love the most is getting to walk with people through change. Whether that is a big move or the decision to let go of belongings, change can be hard. Taryn and I love helping people find creative ways to hold on to memories without letting the past take over your home. We have found that so often we spend pointless time simply managing all of our things and that simplifying and getting your home organized actually frees you up to live more in the present.

"Organize your what?"

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"Twiggy" Artist unknown

Help You Dwell received a strange request a few weeks ago...

"Can you all do what you do in people's houses with my head?"

At the time it seemed a little bizarre but mostly intriguing. We began meeting with this lovely lady and started a journey that has been inspiring to say the least.

In the process, HYD realized that most everyone can benefit from some brain organization.

In America today, most of us are over-committed, drained, tired, and too busy to do things as well as we would like to.

One thing that we have found to be helpful in life organization / time management is to make a list of your commitments:  Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly. Do you feel over committed? What in your life is draining and what is life giving? Writing things down helps us compartmentalize and simplify.  However, list making is not for everyone.

Anna Rusakova

For HYD, the unique challenge of life organization and time management is that each person connects with different ways of thinking.  For some, a list makes everything clear and manageable but for others, like the client we spoke of earlier, a list is more overwhelming than helpful.  Learning how to help a creative, imaginative, passionate artist & photographer make a plan that she can tackle, one step at a time has been really fun. We are realizing that using visualization of the tasks, talking through the scenarios, making clear action plans are some of the key ingredients for getting the brain in order for our dear client. Sometimes it's just more fun to make a mood board or an art journal for your life than to write a list.

Through our research on this journey, we also came across a fantastic resource for artists who seek organization.

www.theorganizedartist.com

Zachary Smith

The brains behind "the organized artist";Ms. Bennett, gives simple, clear guidelines to help entrepreneurs, artists and the like get their projects on the road to fruition.  We learned so much from her experience with many creative folks over the years.  She also has a couple of great books available on her website HYD enjoyed reading through for more specific tools to success.

Once again HYD's cup runeth over as we walk this journey with our client.  Her passion for living life fully is contagious and her commitment to tell the stories of those she walks with will inspire anyone who gets to hear them.  We are learning everyday here at HYD and loving every minute.

Our Favorite Containers

Clients often ask where we like to purchase or suggest that they purchase organizing pieces. There are a variety of places we frequent but we wanted to highlight a few of our favorite containers and where you can get them. We also love scouring thrift shops and vintique stores for unique baskets, bins, and boxes. For the sake of giving you immediate options, here are a few things that you can easily purchase in store or online.

In terms of food storage we are loving these wire baskets from The Container Store for a farmers market feel. We love well organized, open faced pantries.

For counter top storage we tend to gravitate more towards baskets and bowls. We noticed this awesome fruit bowl at Target from the Nate Berkus Collection.

If you prefer to keep your counters clear, this hanging basket is a great fruit/veggie storage solution for your kitchen.

For storing fire wood, blankets, DVD's or other home good's we love this collection from West Elm.

For blankets we also love these Jute Baskets from World Market. They come in a few different colors.

We love the idea of using a caddy to contain your cleaning supplies so that you can easily move your supplies from room to room as you clean. This caddy from World Market is our current favorite.

Where do you typically purchase storage pieces?

Help You Dwell's "Thank You" Giveaway!

We love our clients and followers and wanted to say "Thanks" by giving you the opportunity to shop on us at one of HYD's favorite spots in Knoxville to find fabulous home treasures...

Bliss Home - 29 Market Sq - Downtown Knoxville

Bliss Home - 29 Market Square & 7240 Kingston Pike www.shopinbliss.com

The shop is filled with an unmatched variety of casual contemporary furnishings, rugs, inspiring art and accessories.  We have personally shopped there for years, filling our own homes as well as purchasing unique gifts for others.  The staff is always warm, knowledgeable and helpful.  Bliss Home also proudly supports local artisans from around East Tennessee and the Knoxville area, which is near and dear HYD's heart.

For a chance to win the $100 gift card to Bliss Home, just 'Like' us on Facebook and leave a comment about which room/space in your house you would like to organize first at www.facebook.com/helpyoudwell.   We'll randomly pick the winner Monday morning and announce it on our Facebook page.

Meet Taryn: Personal Trainer Turned Organizer

So this is a little “get to know Taryn” moment on the HYD blog.  Consider this my journal entry.

Matt and Taryn McLean

Let me just start by saying, I never saw this coming.  As an athlete who has always loved my job in fitness, no one could’ve predicted this shift in vocation, especially not me.  My husband has reminded me a couple times as I’ve recapped the birth of Help You Dwell that I didn’t go looking for this, HYD found me.  Now, several months later with a few jobs under my belt, I can genuinely say, “This is where my heart belongs!”

All the years I spent guiding my fitness clients to achieve their goals is so similar to what I get to do now in clients’ homes.  I’m so thankful I’ve been given this opportunity to encourage others to find freedom in their lives in a new way.  Although I don’t have a background in design nor am I terribly OCD about anything really, it has been obvious as HYD came together that Home Organization & Staging makes me come alive just as working with my personal training clients did along their fitness journeys.

My husband and I both share a passion for restoring a living space.  He owns a company that he would say is a “Residential Redevelopment Company”.  Essentially that means he loves remodeling and restoring family homes.  I love creating a living area so that people can feel free from their stuff to enjoy family, guests, free time, rest or whatever they need. The icing on the cake is that I get to do this with Caroline.

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“Don't own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire.”
― Wendell Berry, Farming: a hand book

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As I’ve reflected on my 18 or so years in the fitness world, I’ve learned the importance of the service provider/client relationship and how I cherish it so much.  I love to get to know people, to find out what makes them come alive and then to encourage them in that area.  Of course, this relationship is not a one-way street.  The encouragement, inspiration, and wisdom clients have shared with me have been priceless.  So much of who I am today and who I aspire to be has come from those who willingly shared their lives with me.  Walking though the homes of my HYD clients, I feel the exact same way.  I want their home to be the place they can feel best in their own skin, the place where they can laugh the hardest, rest the most peaceful and enjoy just being.  HYD clients have told their stories with their family photos, been honest about not getting it all done and then been willing to ask for help, which we all need – me included!

I hope HYD gets the chance to get to know you, encourage you, be inspired by you and that I get to be a part of it.

Meal Planning to Simplify Your Life

Fact: I'm way more likely to be organized if there is a cute and stylish way to do it. For instance.....this notepad from Anthropologie. (Which happens to be on sale for $4.95!!!)

If we are being really honest, most weeks I do not meal plan. In fact, the first time I ever tried was about a year ago. I'm getting better at it and the benefits seem to keep coming.

1. I only have to go to the grocery store 1-2 times a week rather than everyday before I cook.

2. I'm saving money.

3. I'm not wasting as much food.

The catch is setting aside the time it takes to sit down and look at my schedule, figure out which nights I need to cook, who I'm cooking for,  how much prep time I have, and what to make. In the long run I know it saves time because I'm not running back and forth to the grocery store multiple times a week.

I try and cook 3 times during the week. Most nights I'll make enough to have leftovers as a meal for the next night. If you are like me you have a never ending board on my  Pinterest  page of really yummy looking dishes to choose from. I usually start there, on Pinterest and narrow down my selection by the time it takes and the overall health benefits of the dish. I have started editing the captions on my pins to include the date that I make something for the first time, thoughts, recipe alterations and whether I would make it again. If it turns out horribly I delete the pin.

I'm really curious. Do you meal plan? Have you ever tried it? What did you think?

Beaumont Magnet Academy Welcomes You

It's Back to School Time in Tennessee!

And what does that mean to Help You Dwell??  Well, for one it means that one-half of the HYD outfit has free childcare again.  But more exciting than that, it meant that HYD got to be part of the preparation process for Beaumont Magnet Academy on Beaumont Ave. here in Knoxville.  This summer Beaumont underwent an administration transformation to breathe life, order & hope into the teachers and students of this amazing Knox County Magnet School.  The three women leading this campaign, Dr. Daphne Odom, Ms. Missy Beltrand, & Ms. Tracy Marsh have a vision for success for Beaumont that is contagious as you spend any amount of time with them.

Before

Ms. Tracy Marsh, Asst. Principal, Dr. Daphne Odom, Co-Principal, Missy Beltran, Co-Principal

Along with the exciting change in administration came the challenge of fitting three administrators into the spaces where only two had previously been.  After much consideration & a whole lotta furniture removal, HYD had these amazing ladies ready to roll.  And many thanks to the KCS painting staff for a stellar job on the walls.

The Beaumont administration also invited HYD to revive the front office space with color, organization & a welcoming atmosphere.  Since Beaumont Magnet Academy has a Fine Arts focus, HYD decided to bring life to the front office by showcasing the students' art right as you enter the school.  Our favorite find was the 30-foot long tapestry made by students several years ago that had been hanging out of sight.  It now hangs in the front office along with several other art pieces & a new lettering making staff, students, parents & guests feel welcomed as they enter.

This job was our longest yet.  We learned so much & enjoyed the process immensely.  It brought us such great pleasure to see the eyes of teachers & staff light up as they enter the front office.  HYD thanks all the Beaumont front office staff for your patience as we moved all your stuff, the encouragement you gave along the way & mostly your dedication to care for students.  You are all doing the work that matters.  Thank you!

5 Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Living Room

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I have found that sometimes it's the little things that transform a room. Because many of us have a budget that doesn't allow for frequent redecorating, knowing a few tricks of the trade can be a great way to change up a room without breaking the bank. If you find yourself feeling like your living space is a bit drab maybe these tips will help. 

1. One of the best pieces of decorating advice I've ever received is to "shop your own house". Take a walk in and out of every room. Notice what your favorite things in each room are and mentally note whether or not your would be willing to rearrange.  Because a living room is a common area, a place where many entertain, and usually the most trafficked room in a house, I encourage people to display their favorite things in this room.

2. Often we have a hard time really seeing our own home because we live in it. Invite a friend over and ask them to take a look at your space. Sometimes friends can help you see if a room feels too cluttered, too minimal, too matchy-matchy, or is clashing. This can leave you feeling a bit vulnerable but I've had great results when I've had an extra set of eyes viewing my space and offering suggestions.

3. One way to add dimension to your living room is to layer neutrals or colors in varying tones. Using creams and grays and browns with a little minimal pattern thrown in can make a room feel so much more interesting. Often times stores sell sets of matching items like throw pillows, blankets etc. Try mixing a few different patterns and shades of colors to your existing pillows or throws for a more eye catching effect.

4. If you have collections of things, try displaying them all together rather than placing them in multiple rooms throughout your home. If you love vintage camera's try staging them all on a shelf or two. If you love glass bottles, group them together  etc. Collections offer a focal point and will spark conversation.

5. If you have a mantel in your living room think about painting it. Rather than repainting the entire room, painting your mantel can change the ambiance of the room without having to embark on a major paint job. You may want to add a pop of color if your living room is mostly neutrals or maybe you want to bring depth into your room and paint it black. If painting is out of the question, try a new mantel arrangement. A collage of different sized framed photos will soften a formal mantel. You could add an arrangement of potted plants or framed art in varying sizes. Change things around and sit with it for a few days. If you don't like it then keep playing until you find something that works for you.

We would love to see  before and afters of your own spaces!

Our Road Trip to Asheville

HYD got to hit the road in May to head to one of the East's coolest towns, Asheville, NC.  We had quite a job ahead of us but the process and results were more amazing than we ever could've predicted.

www.kathleenblanchette.com/images/AshevilleScene

Meet Jen.  Wife of a wonderful pastor, Mama of four incredible kids, inspiring musician, laugh out louder, lover of art, and keeper of lots and lots of things because, "Someday, someone might need that." 

She was gifted some organizing sessions from an aunt who loves her and knows her well and she chose HYD to help her get down and dirty to clear out and clean up.  Add to that a great hope of visiting a family in Colorado this summer but her family needs money for the trip. 

HYD Organizing session + $ need for trip = YARD SALE !

HYD spent about 16 hours over two days hauling, encouraging, bagging, listening, laughing, rearranging, sifting, laughing some more, saving and organizing the last 30 years of Jen and family's life.  It was awesome to say the least.  And I mean awesome in the true sense of the word, as Webster says "causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing."  She had no idea how much she'd acquired.  She also had no idea how much money she could make and the freedom she would experience in giving others the opportunity to buy it!  We just carried items from her basement and home straight to the front yard.  And after two days of selling items, the family made almost $1000!!

Jen and her family have experienced a monumental shift in how they will relate to the items they now have and items they will bring into their home in the future.  She just gave her own children the gift of seeing how our stuff can weigh us down and keep us feeling behind because we cannot organize it all.  Less is more.  Her keepsakes are now safely stored in designated containers but the "someday" items are someone else's "today" items that Jen no longer has to feel burdened by.

What a gift this job was to HYD.  We will forever be blessed and thankful for this first road trip.  Thanks Jen and Mark for letting us Help You Dwell.

How to Pack for a Trip : The Help You Dwell Packing Guide

I would like to think I'm naturally pretty good at packing for a vacation or trip but if we are being honest I occasionally forget something and I almost always over pack. Lately though, I've been using a few new tips that have proven to be really helpful. I began researching packing techniques and ideas in order to prepare for a trip that my husband and I along with 4 friends are taking this fall. Now that it's mid summer, I thought it would be the perfect time to share these tips.

1. If possible, I always try and pack in a bag that is small enough to stow as a carry on in order to avoid extra fee's but mostly because I have a huge fear of my bag being lost. I typically pack all of my favorite pieces of clothing when I go on vacation and like the fact that if I lose my bag it's my fault and no one elses.

2. The most obvious place to start in my mind is to think through the length of time I'll be gone. Will I have access to laundry facilities? What does the weather forecast look like? What is on my agenda while I'm gone? These practical pieces of information help me frame the amount of items and the type of clothing I take.

3. The most handy tip I have found thus far is to pack a neutral palate or a one color palate so that I can mix and match to create multiple outfits out of only a few garments. I try and add color with accessories since they often take up less room.

4. To avoid over packing the best tip I've found is to lay out each days outfit or to lay out everything I want to take and then eliminate one third of it. (Seriously guys, I over pack A LOT) If I can make myself think through what I actually need versus all of the things that I might want to wear, I end up packing pretty accurately.

5. There is much debate about how to pack clothing and the consensus seems to be that by rolling clothing items you can fit more in. In general I try not to pack my bag to the point that it's bulging and about to pop open but if we are talking efficiency-- rolling seems to be the way to go. I like to leave a little bit of room when I pack in case I purchase something on vacation that I want to bring home.

6. If you are like me, you have a million of those little grocery bags in a drawer in your kitchen. I always pack one so that I can keep my dirty clothing separate from my clean clothing.

7. My final tip is about carry on's. To me, one of the most important parts of traveling is packing for the actual journey. I always make sure to take a few books, phone/electronic chargers, medications, a few healthy snacks, an umbrella, pen and paper, cash, ear plugs, and some light face/or hand lotion (especially if I'm flying).

So we're curious-- do you have any fun trips coming up? Any other packing tips you suggest?

How to Organize a Great Party

Photo by Adam Brimer

So... round one of the HYD blog should start off with a little celebration, don't cha think??  We do!

We've put together a little list of ideas to help you host a great get together.  You can celebrate along with us!  Make it big, make it small, planning ahead & having a few things in place will help you enjoy your guests throughout the shindig.

• The warm weather is in your favor. You can now use indoor & outdoor space so be creative, move indoor stuff out to jazz up your outdoor space for the party. Bring some fun lamps out, maybe an extra table, candle sticks, a rug.

• Once you've picked your space, time to get organized....

When?  Pick a time when you know you'll have time to prepare.  For example: If you're off on Saturdays, you'll have much of the day to get ready.  Consider your guests as well, when is a good time to get as many of them there as possible.

How many guests?  Consider your space, your budget, your purpose for having the party - do you want good conversation with just a few or a fun night of music & mingling with lots?

What kind of food and drink?  Are you interested in preparing all the food or would you like to invite others into that by hosting a potuck?  HYD is a big fan of the potuck because the host can spend more time creating a great space for the gathering while the guests help with the food & drinks. If cooking is your thing, start early!

Decorations? Get creative and use props. Go to a local thrift store and grab a few candle sticks, a new table cloth or place mats. We love using hanging lights and plants to create a festive and picturesque space. Don't be afraid to ask friends to borrow things for your table scape. We love mix and matching plates and glasses and creating a boho feel.

While all of these things help to create a great party, the guests are the most important part. As your prepare, remember that being present and being able to enjoy the party matter most.

Do you have any parties coming up? We would love to hear your ideas for creating a memorable party.