Through the years we have been taught to believe that a mountain of gifts under the Christmas tree is what this beautiful holiday is about. At what point are there too many gifts? Before you head out to the mall to make that big purchase, consider giving something different this year.

Check out my holiday experience gift guide full of ideas for giving an experience and creating memories instead of adding to someone's pile of stuff. By giving an experience you can encourage a passion or indulge a loved one in something they wouldn't necessarily give themselves. Here are 8 gift worthy experiences:


1. Paint Nite: ​Enjoy a night out with your bestie while you sip on a glass of wine and create a masterpiece together.

2. Spa Day: If you are anything like me, you enjoy a good spa day to unwind! Some local Ottawa places I love are Le Nordik Spa and Exhalo Salt Spa.

3. Hair Cut: We all need to get our hair cut. Wouldn't it be nice if this expense was covered and all you had to do was show up and enjoy a relaxing wash and blow-dry? I know this is something us ladies would definitely appreciate (wink! wink!)

4. Netflix or Streaming Service Membership: This is one for the movie lover on your list! You could even include a few bags of microwavable popcorn for them as a treat.

5. Hire a helping hand: We all get overwhelmed from time to time and can't get everything done on our TO-DO list. Hiring someone to help around the house with cleaning or running errands will take some pressure off their plate. Pssst, I offer Errand Services and if you purchase a gift certificate by December 21st you will receive 10% off. Just thought I would mention it!

6. Cooking Class: Feel full by giving the gift of food!  Check out class schedules at your local Cordon Bleu or PC Cooking School.

7. Tickets: Whether it's catching a show down at Ottawa Little Theatre or going to a Senators hockey game at Canadian Tire Centre, it is bound to be a blast!

8. Museum Passes: ​Know someone who has kids? This is a great option for the whole family to enjoy a fun day out together.


Giving an experience isn’t necessarily cheaper than buying a physical present but making a memory with the ones you love is something you can cherish for years to come. The holidays are a time of celebration! I hope you find some way to make it a shared experience.​

New clients often contact me and ask if we can skip the In-Home Assessment. I strongly discourage this. While the client is truly the only one that knows the ins and outs of their own home, an assessment is the best way for us to begin working together as a team. This first meeting is crucial for painting a clear picture of your needs so that I as the organizer can customize a plan and provide you with the best results. 

The assessment is as much for me as it is for you. Before moving forward, it is important for me to make sure you are comfortable working with me. Part of my job involves going through your belongings and listening to stories from your life. These are often very private and intimate details that you wouldn't share with just anybody. In order for our future sessions to yield the best result, it is important that there is an underlying layer of trust between you and I. Change is never easy; that fact informs my compassionate, non-judgment approach. 

Organizing issues are very rarely limited to one room or area of the home. Quite often during the assessment, we will end up looking at the entire home even if I am just called in to help with one closet. All the different areas of your home and life are connected and can be affected by disorganization.

Assessments start with a tour of your home while you tell me what you identify the problems. I also like to hear about what IS working so we can build on the progress you have already made. I will suggest specific techniques that will work in your situation and also recommend useful supplies and products if I feel they are needed. You can then choose to execute the project yourself, book virtual coaching sessions with me to help keep you accountable, or hire me to complete the project with you in hands-on sessions. No matter what method you choose, I can help you achieve the best result!​​

Ready to book your In-Home Assessment? Contact me here.​

When I first started my business a few people wondered what I was even doing.

Friends and clients alike asked me,
“What is a professional organizer?”
“Isn’t that what cleaners do?”
“Why would I hire someone to organize when I can just do it myself?”

The realm of professional organizing is not well known despite popular TV shows like Hoarders and Extreme Clutter. While some of those shows are amazing and give people motivation and ideas to get started on their organizing journey, unfortunately that kind of motivation often goes away when people realize decluttering is hard work and can’t be done by one person in one hour. Projects end up taking longer than expected and people get overwhelmed to the point of quitting. So let's break it down!

When should you call on the help of a professional organizer?

1. When you are overwhelmed: Clutter is very overwhelming. Even making the decision to start decluttering can be too much to handle. We will help keep you calm and keep the momentum going.
2. When you don’t know where to start: Professional organizers have seen all types of situations. We know where to start and can help guide you as you organize your space.    
3. When you are faced with a health challenge: When your health is in jeopardy, being organized can often be left by the wayside. Fair enough! We want you to take care of yourself. So when this is the case, your organizer will take over major tasks for you and make sure you have everything you need to feel supported.
4. When you are going through a major transition: It’s hard to stay on top of things when there’s a major change in your life like a birth, death, divorce, or a move. You don’t always have the energy or feel motivated to keep up. A professional organizer is a great option to help keep your home and mind in order in these situations.
5. When you are running out of time: We are all in a race against the clock! The world keeps getting faster and more is asked of us each day. You promised yourself you’d clear out the basement this weekend... 2 years ago. But you can never find the time to work on it! This is where a professional organizer can cut the time it would take to organized. It’s our job to know all the hacks and shortcuts so the project gets done ASAP!
6. When you have tried and the clutter came back: Ah, you finally got your room organized last week! So how is it a mess again this week?! An organizer will look at your situation from a fresh set of eyes. We will bring creative solutions to tackle that clutter and make sure we give you a solution that works for you.
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Why should you hire a professional organizer?

1. We have the experience: Professional organizers have been into many different homes and situations. We work with all kinds of people who are facing all sorts of challenges. Having an expert to guide you will take a load off your shoulders!
2. We have the knowledge: There is no specific program in college or university to become a professional organizer (yet!). However there are training programs offered through professional organization such as Professional Organizers in Canada, National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals, and the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Any professional organizer worth their salt will go through and actively participate in these programs and professional development courses.
3. We are good listeners and have compassion: So many of us organizers have been disorganized at one point in our lives. It happens! We can empathize with you when you tell us you are feeling overwhelmed. An organizer will listen to you intently and without judgment to understand the root cause of your disorganization.
4. We will encourage you and keep you accountable: We will teach you systems and solutions to help you get organized as well as providing the support and accountability for you to stay organized in the long-term.
5. We will teach you skills: We are not just here to organize but also to teach you skills to help you be successful once we have left or stepped away.
6. We LOVE to organize: As mentioned above, clutter can be overwhelming and enjoying the decluttering process is not natural to everyone. Professional organizers genuinely like what they do. We are not intimidated by the work and it even gives us energy when we see our clients making progress. Personally I always get a little high from finishing a successful session with a client!

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter, try reaching out to a professional organizer. I promise we will not bite!  :)

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below.