From the Queen of Mess

Why is your home always messy? Believe me, I get it. For years, I was the undisputed ‘Queen of Mess,’ a title affectionately (or perhaps despairingly) bestowed upon me by my family. My sister will probably get a good laugh when she hears I’m writing this, as my lifelong nickname has been ‘Hurricane Hannah’ – where I go, chaos is sure to follow.

But here’s the honest truth: just because you’ve been a disaster, doesn’t mean you have to always be one.

My Downfall: The Great Accumulation of 2019

My own descent into perpetual clutter hit its peak in 2019. We moved from a cozy, under 1,000 square foot, two-bedroom house with two small kids and a dog, into a sprawling 3,000 square foot, five-bedroom, three-bathroom monster. All that empty space seemed to whisper, “Fill me!” And fill it we did.

Generous friends and family, eager to lighten their own loads, ‘gifted’ us furniture and decor. I was incredibly grateful, but suddenly, we had… a lot. Then came the beautiful chaos of life: adding a husband (yes, he came later!), two more children, three cats, and two dogs. Life spiraled further after battling postpartum depression and the heartbreaking loss of our beloved 13-year-old dog, which led me straight to the soothing (and dangerous) waters of Amazon’s ‘buy now’ button. Before I knew it, our large home felt smaller than our tiny first house, buried under layers of accumulated stuff.

From Chaos to “Minimalish”: My Search for Sanity

But enough was enough. I’m finally picking myself up, and I’m on a desperate mission to discover how the wonderful world of minimalism can work for me. I’ve coined my own term: “minimalish .” I’m not striving for stark, empty rooms or giving up everything I own. I’m after practicality, purpose, and less decor that just sits there without serving a function. I want a home that breathes, not one that suffocates.

The Revelation: It’s Not About Baskets, It’s About Systems!

What I’ve learned on this journey has been a game-changer: having a million beautiful baskets, sleek totes, and perfectly sectioned drawer organizers isn’t going to help at all unless you first have a system for the chaos. You can buy all the containers in the world, but if those containers don’t have a designated, logical “home” within a larger system, they just become more clutter, holding more clutter.

This epiphany hit particularly hard with my kids. I used to get frustrated that they couldn’t keep their rooms clean, but it wasn’t their fault. We had the space, and they could put things away, but I hadn’t set them up for success. I hadn’t created clear, consistent systems and obvious “homes” for their toys, clothes, and schoolwork. Shoving everything into their rooms and then getting mad at the ensuing mess solves nothing.

Join Me on This Messy Adventure!

So, if you’re tired of the never-ending tidying, the hidden clutter, and the feeling that your home is perpetually working against you, I invite you to join me on this messy, chaotic, but ultimately liberating adventure.

We’ll learn to:

• Purge the junk we don’t truly need (yes, those three totes of schoolwork might need to go!).
• Build realistic systems that actually work for your home and your family.
• Use budget-friendly supplies – even if they’re not always aesthetically perfect.

This isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress, peace, and practical living. Let’s reclaim our homes, one system at a time!

What’s your biggest clutter challenge?