Stand in Your Back Door and Really Look: Is This the Life You Want?

Have you ever stood in your back doorway, coffee in hand, and just looked at your house?

Not just a passing glance—but really looked?

The dishes from yesterday. The piles on the counter. The cluttered corners you’ve stopped noticing. The closet you keep meaning to tackle. The laundry that seems to multiply like it has a life of its own.

Now ask yourself:

Is this the life you want to live in?

The Quiet Toll of Chaos

Disorganization doesn’t always look like an episode of a reality show. It’s quieter than that.

It’s the mental weight you carry every time you walk past a mess you can’t face.
It’s the argument sparked by a missing shoe or forgotten appointment.
It’s the dinner you don’t cook because you can’t find the cutting board.
It’s the guilt, the stress, the overwhelm—that slow, simmering tension that never quite goes away.

And over time?

That chaos chips away at your peace, your time, your energy, and your joy.

But Here’s the Truth: It Doesn’t Have to Stay This Way

Imagine walking into your home and feeling calm instead of anxious.
Imagine knowing where everything is—and where everything goes.
Imagine a home that works for you, not against you.

You don’t need a bigger house.
You don’t need fancy bins or color-coded systems (unless you want them).
You just need a reset—a reclaiming.

Because your home should feel like a soft place to land.
Not a battleground of stuff.

Let’s Get Real About Your Space

If your home could talk, what would it say to you?
Would it beg for breathing room? Would it whisper, “Help”?

Stand in your back door again.
This time, take a deep breath.
Look through eyes that see potential, not just problems.

You are allowed to want more peace.
You are allowed to want a space that supports you.
You are allowed to say, “This isn’t working for me anymore.”

Your Home is a Reflection—Not a Judgment

This isn’t about shame. It’s about clarity.

Every item that clutters your space is a decision waiting to be made.
And when those decisions pile up, they paralyze us.
But you don’t have to make them alone.

At Chaos Organizing, we step into that overwhelm with kindness and strategy. We guide you, not judge you. We help you make the hard calls, create systems that fit your life, and breathe new energy into every room.

Start With a Doorway and a Decision

Sometimes the first step toward peace is standing still long enough to see what’s not working—and having the courage to do something about it.

So go to your back door.
Stand there.
Look inside.
And if you feel something stir in your chest—a longing, a restlessness, a “this just isn’t it”… then know that change is possible.

Your home doesn’t have to be perfect.
But it can be peaceful.
It can be yours again.

Ready to reclaim your space?

Let’s do it together.

The CHAOS Method Goes Abroad: How I Packed for 15 Days in Scotland & Ireland with Just a Carry-On and Backpack

When you’re a professional organizer, packing for a two-week trip is more than just logistics—it’s a challenge you secretly enjoy. For my 15-day adventure through Scotland and Ireland, I used only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, proving that you can travel light without sacrificing comfort or style.

I relied on my tried-and-true CHAOS Method to guide every step of my packing—and let me tell you, it worked beautifully (well… except for that one jacket I shouldn’t have brought 😉).

C – Categorizing

Before packing, I divided everything into five core categories:

• Clothing

• Shoes

• Toiletries

• Tech

• Travel Essentials

This helped me focus on what I truly needed—not what “might be nice.”

Here’s what I packed for clothes:

(All black except one pop of green!)

• 1 pair of Vuori ankle pants
  Vuori Elevation Ankle Trouser

• 2 Vuori joggers (both black: one regular, one wide-leg)
  Regular Jogger
  Wide-Leg Jogger

• 1 pair of jeans

• 2 Vuori long-sleeved performance tops (black)
  Daydream Crew

• 2 Gap long-sleeved t-shirts (black)

• 1 black tank top

• 1 green puffy vest

• 1 black White + Warren cashmere wrap
  Cashmere Travel Wrap

• 1 black Lilly Pulitzer Ollie Max polo dress
  Maxi Polo Dress

• 1 white fleece jacket (spoiler: this was a regret)

• 1 army green rain jacket with hood (Amazon find)

Shoes:

• 1 pair of Hoka waterproof tennis shoes (gray)

• 1 pair of Veronica Beard slip-on tennis shoes

H – Helpful or Hurtful?

Every item had to earn its spot. I asked: Will this help me enjoy my trip—or hurt by taking up space?

✅ Helpful: My Hoka waterproof tennis shoes—comfortable, weather-ready, and walked hundreds of steps a day.
✅ Helpful: My White + Warren cashmere wrap—used on flights, trains, and in chilly B&Bs.
❌ Hurtful: My white fleece jacket. Cute, yes—but it never got worn and took up precious space. I regretted bringing it.

Lesson? When in doubt—leave it out.

A – Action: Keep, Toss, Leave Behind

I made intentional decisions with everything. No “just in case” extras.

Keep:

• Classic layers and moisture-wicking items

• My two favorite pairs of shoes for walking

• Stylish, functional pieces that could dress up or down

Leave behind:

• Anything bulky, impractical, or not versatile (looking at you, fleece jacket)

O – Organize (with Packing Cubes & Pouches)

Packing cubes made this trip a dream. I used:

• 1 cube for tops

• 1 cube for bottoms

• 1 small cube for undergarments & sleepwear

• Zipper pouches for toiletries, cords, and meds

Every item had a home, which meant I wasn’t rummaging through my suitcase every time we changed hotels.

What Was in My Backpack

While my suitcase held my wardrobe, my backpack was my mobile command center. Here’s what I kept close:

• Travel-sized toiletries and makeup

• A change of clothes (in case luggage got lost—later moved to suitcase while city-hopping)

• Chargers, cords, and international adapter

• Passport and ID

• Laptop (so I could check in with work!)

• Snacks and a reusable water bottle

• My wrap—easy to pull out on chilly flights, walks, or train rides

✈️ Martha-Carol’s Backpack Must-Haves:

• Travel-size deodorant & facial mist

• Lipstick & hand cream

• Power bank

• Emergency snack (because hangry is real for me)

• Printed copies of important documents (just in case Wi-Fi fails)

S – Simplify (Label + Let Go)

Everything had a home and a purpose. I even used labeled zip pouches to make TSA checks quick and painless.
I simplified by sticking to a neutral palette—mostly black—with a pop of green. It made mixing, matching, and dressing up or down effortless.

Packing List Additions (Toiletries & Tech)

Toiletries & Haircare:

• Makeup

• Deodorant

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Hair gel

• Hairspray

• Dry shampoo

• Laundry detergent sheets

• Dryer sheets

Tech Essentials:

• Charging cords (phone + computer)

• AirPods

• Power bank

• International adapter

Final Thoughts

My carry-on never felt like a burden, and my outfits made me feel confident, comfortable, and ready for anything—from castle tours to countryside walks.
If I can travel this organized, so can you. 😉

✨ Want my full printable packing list?

👉 [Click here to grab it!]

Kindness always,
Martha-Carol Stewart
Founder of Chaos Organizing | Co-Author of Southern Chaos
ChaosOrganizing.com | @chaosorganizing

The Hidden Cost of Disorganization

Let’s be honest: We’ve all spent 20 minutes searching for that thing we just saw yesterday. Maybe it was your favorite sweater, your kid’s field trip form, or the charger you swear lives in that drawer.

Disorganization isn’t just a nuisance—it’s quietly draining your time, energy, and yes... your money. Here's how.

⏱ 1. Time: The Thief That Wears a Cluttered Cape

Every time you dig through a junk drawer or rifle through a closet like you're on a scavenger hunt, you're losing time. Precious time. The kind you can’t get back.

According to studies, the average American spends 2.5 days per year looking for lost items. That’s a weekend getaway, gone to the land of “Where did I put that?”

And yes, even I’m guilty of this.

There was a time I was rushing to write a newsletter—on deadline, of course—and couldn’t find my reading glasses. After 15 minutes of frantic searching (and fully blaming my sweet husband for moving them), I charged into the barn and demanded their return. He smiled, reached out… and plucked them from the top of my head. 😳

Y’all, I’m married to a saint.

💸 2. Money: The Repeat Buyer’s Club

When you can't find what you need, you buy another one. And then another. That’s why you have four staplers and enough birthday candles to light a stadium.

Worse yet, disorganization leads to:

• Expired groceries (goodbye, forgotten lettuce)

• Missed bills and late fees

• Unused subscriptions or duplicates

It’s like a slow financial leak you don’t notice until you’ve floated into a sea of unnecessary Amazon boxes.

I had a client who owned over 40 flashlights.
Yes—forty. Plus six can openers, nine pairs of scissors, and who knows how many rolls of tape.

Why? Because every time she couldn’t find one, she’d just buy another. Things were tucked away in random drawers, closets, and unopened shopping bags. She truly didn’t realize how much she already had.

When we lined them all up, we both laughed—but it was a lightbulb moment.
Disorganization wasn’t just cluttering her space—it was draining her wallet.

😩 3. Mental Load: The Invisible Cost

Clutter isn’t just visual—it’s psychological. Every pile you see is a to-do list you haven’t tackled. Every unorganized cabinet whispers, “You should’ve handled this yesterday.”

You may not consciously hear it, but your brain does. And it’s tired.

Research shows clutter increases cortisol, the stress hormone. Translation: clutter = chaos, even when you’re trying to relax.

🧠 The Mental Load of Coming Home

You know that moment when you walk through the back door?
Are you glad to be home—or instantly overwhelmed?

For many people, their home isn’t a place of peace. It’s a silent to-do list: the laundry, the cluttered counter, the closet you avoid opening. Clutter doesn’t just take up space—it takes up headspace.

You may not notice it, but it’s wearing you down. And most of the time, we don’t realize how heavy it’s gotten until we finally let it go.

🚪 4. Missed Opportunities (a.k.a. The Party You Didn’t Host)

When your space feels out of control, you put life on hold.

• You cancel the dinner party because you’re embarrassed.

• You don’t start the new project because your office is a disaster.

• You show up flustered to meetings or events because you couldn’t find your keys.

Disorganization quietly talks you out of living fully.

We once worked with a mom who quietly admitted she never let her kids invite friends over—because she was embarrassed by the mess.

Not because she didn’t love her home. But because the clutter made her feel like she was constantly behind.

Disorganization doesn’t just affect our space—it affects our memories.

When we cleared the clutter, she didn’t just gain a cleaner house. She gave her kids something bigger: freedom to invite joy in.

🛠 So, What’s the Solution?

No, it’s not a trip to The Container Store (though we love a good bin). It’s a mindset shift—and a system.

Getting organized isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a space that works for your actual life—not your Pinterest board.

And yes, sometimes that means asking for help. That’s where we come in.

💬 Final Thought

Disorganization might feel like no big deal—but it adds up in hidden ways:
Lost time. Lost money. Lost peace.

But the good news?
You don’t have to stay stuck in the chaos.

We can help you create a space you actually want to live in.
And I promise—you’ll never look at a junk drawer the same way again.

📣 Ready to stop paying the hidden cost?

➡️ Book a session with Chaos Organizing
📧 Or email us: info@chaosorganizing.com

Why Is It Okay to Hire a Plumber, but Not a Professional Organizer?

In every household, things break down—pipes leak, cars need repairs, and electrical issues arise. When these things happen, no one hesitates to call a plumber, mechanic, or electrician. It’s understood that these tasks require a certain skill set, and hiring an expert is simply the practical thing to do.

But when a woman struggles with home organization, the response is often very different. Instead of being encouraged to seek professional help, she’s frequently met with shame or judgment—especially from her husband. Many men assume that keeping an organized home is just part of their wife’s natural role or responsibilities. But is it really fair to expect one person to manage it all?

Not Every Woman Is Naturally Organized—and That’s Okay

Some people are born with a knack for fixing things, while others excel at decorating, cooking, or planning. Organization is a skill like any other, and not everyone has it. Unfortunately, many women feel pressured to be the "household manager" even when organizing isn’t their strong suit.

The truth is, just as not everyone can fix a leaky sink, not everyone can create and maintain a perfectly organized home. And that’s perfectly okay! The problem arises when society tells women that struggling with organization is a personal failure, rather than a simple skill gap that can be solved with help.

Even Organized Women Can’t Do It All

What about women who are naturally organized? Why do some of them still struggle to keep their homes in order? The answer is simple: time and priorities.

Many women juggle full-time careers, child-rearing, caregiving for aging parents, and countless household responsibilities. Even if they have the ability to organize, they often don’t have the time to do it properly. They may want their home to be more functional but feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff, sentimental clutter, or the lack of systems that work for their family’s lifestyle.

A plumber doesn’t expect you to fix your own pipes just because you “could” learn how. So why should an organized woman feel guilty for hiring a professional organizer simply because she could do it herself if she had the time?

The Double Standard: Home Repairs vs. Home Organization

Imagine if a man tried to fix his own plumbing, only to make the problem worse. Most people would laugh it off and encourage him to call a professional. But if a woman admits that she’s struggling to keep up with clutter or doesn’t know where to start, she’s often met with questions like:

• Why can’t you just figure it out?

• My mom kept a clean house while raising kids, why can’t you?

• If you just tried harder, you’d be more organized.

This double standard reinforces the idea that organization is an expectation placed on women, rather than a legitimate skill or service that can be outsourced. No one expects a homeowner to become a plumber overnight, but many people expect women to somehow "just know" how to organize their home effectively—regardless of their personal strengths, workload, or responsibilities.

Hiring an Organizer Isn’t a Luxury—It’s an Investment

Professional organizers are not just about making things look pretty. They create functional systems that make life easier, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. For families, an organized home can mean:

✔️ Less daily frustration—No more searching for lost keys, important papers, or kids’ school supplies.
✔️ More time for what matters—Less time cleaning and tidying means more time with family, hobbies, and self-care.
✔️ Improved mental health—Clutter and disorganization are directly linked to stress and anxiety. A well-organized home can bring a sense of calm.
✔️ A stronger marriage—Many couples argue about household responsibilities. A professional organizer can ease this burden, creating harmony instead of tension.

It’s Time to Change the Narrative

Women shouldn’t feel guilty for struggling with organization any more than men should feel guilty for not knowing how to fix a water heater. It’s time to normalize hiring professional organizers in the same way we hire other home service professionals.

If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed by clutter or disorganization, don’t let shame stop you from getting help. Just like calling a plumber or an electrician, hiring an organizer is a practical, stress-relieving solution that benefits the entire household.

Need help getting organized?

At Chaos Organizing, we specialize in creating customized organization solutions that work for you. Whether you’re naturally disorganized or just too busy to get it all done, we can help bring order and calm to your home.

📞 Contact us today!
📍 ChaosOrganizing.com | 📧 info@chaosorganizing.com | 📞 225-205-6400

Creating Order from Chaos: How I Helped a Long-Time Friend Prepare to Sell Her Home

When a dear friend of over 50 years reached out because she needed help to prepare her home for sale and felt overwhelmed because of clutter, I was eager and excited to help. She had followed my work with Chaos Organizing and felt inspired by the transformations I had achieved for others and within my own home. Balancing work and family life, she felt paralyzed by the daunting prospect of such a big project. Her initial concern was, "Don't judge." My heartfelt response was, "Are you kidding me?" My focus was solely on supporting her and applying my organizational expertise to bring order to her home as I would for any client. 

An added bonus, I couldn’t get back to Baton Rouge because of the snow!  We ended up having 3 additional days of organizing (I tackled the closet under her stairs!) and playing in the snow!  

The Plan: Targeting Key Spaces

We approached her home using my signature CHAOS Organizing Method:

• Categorize

• Helpful or Hurtful (Evaluating emotions vs. goals while purging)

• Action (Keep, Toss, Donate)

• Organize in Bins

• Simplify with Labeling

This straightforward yet effective system empowers families to maintain order long after the initial organization. You can explore this method further in a book I co-wrote, Southern Chaos: Organizing the Southern Home. Learn more at www.organizingsouthernchaos.com.

Our primary focus areas were the pantry, kitchen, and master bathroom. We incorporated drawer organizers and labeled, durable organizing bins so that order was maintainable and streamline her upcoming move.  

Step 1: The Pantry

We started with the pantry—an easy win since expired food is a no-brainer to toss. Like most busy moms, her pantry had become a catch-all for random items that belonged in other parts of the house. We grouped similar things, tossed outdated ones, and created a designated "Breakfast Food" zone to make her early mornings simpler.

Clear bins made it easy to sort snacks, baking supplies, and more. If you're shopping for bins, look for durable, stackable options with handles for easy access. Labeling them ensures order is easy to maintain.

As we sorted, we laughed over some long-forgotten snack packs and joked about how kids seem to stash random items in the most unexpected places. Moments like these made the process enjoyable and reminded her that organizing doesn't have to be overwhelming.

Step 2: The Kitchen

Next, we tackled the kitchen. By zoning it for prep, cooking, and serving, we made it easier for her to know where everything belongs—a system that makes cleanup a breeze. We decluttered drawers packed with toys, tools, and gift cards her kids had stashed. Out went unused gadgets, making space for things she loves, like her cherished fondue pot and a new set of matching silverware. (Where do all the spoons go?)

We also created a beverage zone where she could easily find coffee, tea, and everything needed to mix a cocktail. Drawer organizers gave every item a home, making the kitchen more functional and easier to maintain.

One particularly fun find? A stash of photos tucked away in a junk drawer that included snapshots of our children together when they were young. It brought back a flood of cherished memories, and we couldn't help but laugh and reminisce about those special times.

Step 3: The Master Bathroom

Finally, we turned her bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary. We tossed old makeup, consolidated medicines, and labeled purchase dates with a wet-erase marker. Clearing the counters by organizing drawer space and making better use of under-the-sink space made the bathroom look more spacious and inviting.

With organizing bins for toiletries and drawer inserts for smaller items, the space transformed into a peaceful place to relax. By moving everyday essentials into drawers, we left her counters clear, instantly creating a more polished and clean look.

She shared how much easier her mornings were now, with everything at her fingertips and no clutter to sift through. It was a small change that made a big impact.

Results: A Sanctuary for Now and a Showpiece for the Future

Helping my friend prepare her home for sale was a labor of love. Together, we created a space that felt calm for her family to enjoy during the selling process and inviting for potential buyers. Clearing counters, zoning spaces, and decluttering unused items made the home feel spacious and organized.

The process wasn't just about decluttering—it was about rediscovering joy and creating a fresh start. My friend told me she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and couldn't wait to replicate these systems in her new home. 

If you're overwhelmed by clutter, whether preparing to sell or simply creating calm at home, I'd love to help. As a professional organizer—and a busy mom—I understand the struggle. Let me help you turn chaos into order with personalized solutions that make your space functional and beautiful.

Let's tackle the overwhelm together—because every mom deserves a home she loves.

Click here to request a consult!