Tell Your Story

What do you love about your office? Here’s what I love about mine.

By Hazel Thornton | February 12, 2020 |

I think the key to being productive is to be comfortable and happy spending time in your office. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a corporate cubicle; a dedicated room at home with a door that closes; or another space you’ve carved out for yourself. If you love your office, great! Carry on. If you don’t,…

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The End of an Era: RIP George

By Hazel Thornton | January 20, 2020 |

George was my constant companion for 17-1/2 years. Social media friends got to see a lot of him. He had his own Pinterest board. And a Facebook photo album. He died in December from multiple health conditions (OK, I had him euthanized, ugh!), and I miss him terribly. I know many pet owners who can…

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Org4life: The First 15 Years

By Hazel Thornton | January 5, 2020 |

Please join me in celebrating 15 years of helping clients to declutter, simplify, organize, and refresh their homes, offices, schedules, and lives…and helping them discover their roots and tell their family stories, too! And what’s an anniversary without gratitude, a few selected highlights, and a crossword puzzle?

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Thornton Farmstead: Home of the Iowa State Fair

By Hazel Thornton | August 13, 2019 |

I’ve never attended the Iowa State Fair. I gain weight just reading the 2019 Food On A Stick menu! But I did visit the fairgrounds a number of years ago on a genealogy research trip with my dad. Why? Because the land formerly belonged to my 2nd great-grandfather, Calvin Thornton. Prior to that, it belonged…

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Playing Detective: Grandma’s Birth Certificate

By Hazel Thornton | July 11, 2019 |

                AHA! I was RIGHT! Right about what, you ask? Right about where my Grandma Hankins was born (Villa Mae Lawrence Hankins 1904-1986). Where was Grandma born? I was lucky enough to have known her well. Sadly, though, I did not become interested in doing genealogy research until…

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Thornton Family Resemblances Revisited

By Hazel Thornton | June 10, 2019 |

I once wrote an article for APPO (Association of Professional Photo Organizers) called Who Do You Think You Look Like? The Mystery of Family Resemblances. It featured a small selection of photos from both sides of my family. This time, in honor of Father’s Day, I’ve gathered photos from six consecutive generations of Thornton fathers…

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Mom’s Boxes Part 8: The Gangster Hideout

By Hazel Thornton | May 23, 2019 |

READERS: This is the sort of story I intend to write more of over the next few years to share with my family. It’s also the sort of story I encourage you to write about your own family! It doesn’t have to be fancy, with links to articles and such. Just capture the memories for…

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Confessions of a Professional Organizer (I’m organized enough, and not one bit more)

By Hazel Thornton | February 1, 2019 |

Clients are always amused and relieved to learn that I have my own organizing issues to deal with at home. I tell them, “I’m organized, not perfect! Whoever said I was perfect?” If you and I both have a pile of clutter on the kitchen counter, the difference between us is that I know it’s…

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Mom’s Boxes Part 7: Sharing family history with my family

By Hazel Thornton | December 3, 2018 |

Shhh! Don’t tell my family, but I’ve finally figured out what I’m giving them all for Christmas. “What?” you ask…with bated breath… Why, The Gift of an Organized Family Tree, of course! “But wait…you’re an organizer, and a genealogist. Haven’t you already shared your family history with your family?” Well…yes and no…

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Mom’s Boxes Part 6: Sometimes Organizers Need Help Too!

By Hazel Thornton | August 6, 2018 |

You didn’t think I was finished with Mom’s Boxes, did you? Ha ha ha! Noooo! In fact, I haven’t done a thing on this project since my brother left in December to spend a year in Japan. ←These are a few of the resulting categories: Cassette tapes, Mini photo albums, Grandma & Grandpa’s letters, Ephemera…

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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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