Lauren Williams's (casualuncluttering) Blog

Um hmm, another imperfection post. Because I can't proclaim "Perfect!" with any satisfaction just yet. I made this trifle for the sole purpose of holding my reusable shopping bags. The top to drop full bags onto is just whipped cream. Found the topless wire cart in a Redmond thrift store, went te...

I was delighted to discover The National Association of Black Professional Organizers exists. I think it's always fantastic when colleagues with potentially similar experiences, who may share common needs, are able to connect to support each other. And equally wonderful, their association may als...

I belong to numerous behind-the-scenes chat rooms for Organizers. Some are hosted by my professional societies, some are convened for common interests around issues like hoarding, others are hosted by people selling courses they claim are sufficient for getting trained for the profession. I'm goi...

As of 7/1/2021, Washington State requires me to charge sales tax on my services and any goods or services, for example the assistance of subcontractors, I add to my services on behalf of a Washington client. The charge will depend on a client's location: current rates vary from 8.4 to 10.4% of my...

Michael Dargie, Creative Zealot, in his 2021 Creative Playful Summit Playing Within The Guardrails conversation with David Chislett, touched on so many ideas about creativity I wish I could just open up the YouTube video to the world. I need to start this summary by making it EXTREMELY clear that...

I had a minor medical procedure recently. Very very very minor, but the aftermath wasn't what I expected and, in recovery, I cancelled an appointment with a client with only 24-hours notice to her. That was discouragingly hard! Not because of the client - the client was so gracious, so enrichingl...

Competition ain't playful - it can be healthy, if it's goal-oriented. BUT... don't confuse competition with play, actively engaging in relaxing, mindless, unstructured, "timeless" and/or energizing pastimes without any purpose other than having fun. Which, by the way, seriously promotes creativit...

I teach what I call "thoughtful release" when I guide people in making their keep/let go decisions about their stuff. One of my mentors pointed out that "thoughtful" has several definitions, all appropriate in regard to organizing (Oxford English Dictionary, via Google): "absorbed in or involving...

PlayfulFest is one, which has deep connections to a clown festival! I can't describe PlayfulFest accurately. Its 2020 website details classes in playfulness as active meditation, musical games, clown cabaret, creative movement and so much more. Saras Feijoo, the Festival's Founder, is a playfulne...

I’d never thought of music as “play” until I listened to Juan David Garzon’s 2021 Playful Creative Summit presentation “Collective Creativity Sparks Motivation.” Which surprised me, because I can remember being a little kid, banging away on pots and pans and anything else I could turn into a nois...