Hazel Thornton

‘Death Cleaning’ isn’t as scary as it sounds! (4 short book reviews)

By Hazel Thornton | June 18, 2018 |

              Sometimes I notice a meaningful, but unintentional, theme among the books I read. Here are some recent good reads: Have you heard of Swedish Death Cleaning?

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Family history: How to organize your genealogy research materials

By Hazel Thornton | June 4, 2018 |

In my last blog post — Family history: Why organize it if you don’t care about genealogy? — I proposed six categories of family history: keepsakes, memorabilia, photos, genealogy research materials, medical history, and pedigree charts (aka family trees). This post is specifically about organizing your genealogy research materials.

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Family history: Why organize it if you don’t care about genealogy?

By Hazel Thornton | May 21, 2018 |

Did you know that not everyone cares about genealogy? Gasp! It is the #2 hobby in America, though. (Do you know what the #1 hobby is? Keep reading to find out!) Sometimes when I talk about family history I am, indeed, referring to genealogy. But not always. So, what else falls under the umbrella term family history?…

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Those Magic Little Words (that help you get organized)

By Hazel Thornton | May 14, 2018 |

A friend recently shared a tip with me that she read in an organizing book. I don’t even know which one it was. It was a technique for detaching emotionally from objects in order to be able to part with them. It said (I’m paraphrasing, and so was she): This item belongs in your past.…

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WHY I Love Chores

By Hazel Thornton | May 7, 2018 |

                WHY do I love chores? OK, I don’t. Not really. But hear me out…. I LOVE having someone else clean my house. But, for the most part, I prefer to clean it myself for various financial and Zen reasons. I’ve often thought of housework and exercise as…

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Why do I take before and after photos?

By Hazel Thornton | May 1, 2018 |

One of the first things I explain to a new client is why I take before and after photos. I’ve also recommended them as a “photo trick” to DIY organizers. They are a simple and effective way to enhance your organizing, redesign, or staging project. And they benefit everyone — the organizer, the client, the DIY-er,…

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Is your kitchen counter messier than mine?

By Hazel Thornton | April 16, 2018 |

← This is my kitchen counter. If you think it looks like THAT at all times — not a bit of clutter; complete with fresh fruit and flowers — you will either be disappointed, or relieved, to learn that it also looks like THIS on a regular basis →              …

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Managing Memorabilia: 5 questions to ask before you start

By Hazel Thornton | April 2, 2018 |

              We’ve all inherited and collected keepsakes and memorabilia. Are yours a legacy, or a liability? A blessing, or a burden? Are you afraid to open the boxes that have been languishing in your garage or storage unit? Do you feel overwhelmed by piles of your own photos, letters, kids’ artwork, and other…

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5 ways Keepy can help organize your family history  

By Hazel Thornton | February 14, 2018 |

I am a new Keepy user, not an experienced one. I am personally child-free, but I have recommended it to organizing clients as an option for managing their kids’ paper clutter. Meanwhile, I am intrigued by the possibilities of using Keepy for genealogy purposes, and the more people who agree, the more likely it will be…

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A Valentine for Your Family: Planning for Your Legacy

By Hazel Thornton | February 9, 2018 |

If you got hit by a bus tomorrow, what would your loved ones be left with? Happy memories, or sad ones? Clutter and uncertainty? Or clear instructions and valued keepsakes? What will your legacy be?  

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Hazel's Books

Book cover: What's a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy

What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy

Cover of "Go With the Flow! (The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook)"

Go With the Flow! (The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook)

Cover of "Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror"

Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror

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