The Southern Chaos Texas Book Tour has officially wrapped, and we are equal parts exhausted and over-the-moon excited. This trip was packed with gratitude, surprises, sisterly chaos, and more organizing inspiration than we ever expected. If you’re passionate about home organization, decluttering, or discovering the best organizing products on the market, you’re in the right place.

The Container Store is definitely MY HAPPY PLACE!!!

A Heartfelt Thank You to The Container Store

Before anything else, I want to extend a huge thank you to The Container Store for inviting us to share our book, Southern Chaos: Organizing the Southern Home. Their Southern hospitality was unmatched and reminded me why The Container Store remains a trusted leader in the home organizing industry.

Every store we visited was buzzing with energy. Their employees are true experts in home storage solutions, organization systems, and all the bins and baskets we Southerners love. Stepping through the doors felt like walking into Santa’s workshop for organizers — joyful, purposeful, and overflowing with inspiration. So impressed with their staff who attended to every detail!

Sister Time and Support That Meant Everything

A special thank you goes to my sister, Melanie, who joined me on this Texas journey.

Not only did she help manage the chaos behind the scenes, but she also made the entire book tour experience even more meaningful. From logistics to laughter(at my singing ability….or lack of it!), she kept the trip energized and joyful. And to every friend, family member, and reader who showed up -THANK YOU!!! Your support means the world to me! It is what fuels me and our Chaos Organizing mission to help people create functional, beautiful, organized homes.

Inside The Container Store: A Dream for Home Organizing Lovers

Let’s be honest — if you love organization, decluttering tips, and finding the perfect storage bins, then you understand why this event was a dream come true.

Everywhere I looked:
Bins. Bins. And more bins.

From woven baskets and pantry organizers to closet systems and drawer inserts, The Container Store is truly a one-stop shop for creating efficient spaces. One of my favorite parts was speaking with employees about their top trending organizing products and best-selling solutions. I never recommend items to clients unless I’ve tested them myself, so this was an incredible opportunity to evaluate quality, durability, and value.

I discovered several new products I can’t wait to bring into upcoming home organization projects, especially for clients who are downsizing, aging in place, or craving a more functional Southern home.

Road Tripping With My Sister: Chaos Included

Now for the adventure behind the adventure — a sister road trip full of humor and real-life chaos.

The High-Tech Hybrid

We took my new hybrid car, which has more technology than a small airplane. Melanie ended up doing all the driving because every button, beep, and blinking light felt like a mystery so I stayed buried in the owners manual. Let’s just say the learning curve was steep and we laughed a lot about possible hitting a button that might eject us.

The Great Christmas Music Debate

Because it was the holiday season, I naturally wanted Christmas music. Joy, Joy and MORE JOY!!!! Right?
Melanie said absolutely not.
Not just because she dislikes holiday cheer… but because she didn’t want to hear me sing. HA!

Some talents are better left hidden…..deeply hidden..HA!

Austin’s Sky-High Interstates

Then came the sky-high interstate system in Austin — a true test of bravery for two sisters who hate heights. We were so far off the ground I’m pretty sure we could see Oklahoma from up there.(Hey Sandy!) A true bonding moment, fueled by adrenaline, white knuckles and Southern prayers.

Flat Martha

Every great book tour needs a mascot… and ours came in the form of Flat Martha — my life-sized cardboard cutout who traveled right alongside us.

Flat Martha visited three Container Stores, checked into the Aloft Hotel like she owned the place, stopped by Reed’s House of Grad School Boys to watch football, and even managed to keep Melanie in line. (Every time Melanie got sassy, Flat Martha somehow ended up popping her on the back of the head — like any good Southern sister would.)

There is nothing quite like walking into a hotel lobby with a cardboard version of yourself under one arm. Having a flat version of yourself is equal parts hilarious, humbling, and slightly unsettling. But I have to admit… she photographs well and never complains about the car temperature(or my singing!).

Flat Martha became such a part of the trip that by the end, people were asking for pictures with her like she was the Beyoncé of the organizing world. Honestly? She earned it. #FlatMartha if you want to follow along on her adventures.

Nothing better than a photo with #FlatMartha

#FlatMartha thoroughly enjoyed watching the game with Reed and his PT friends! He was disappointed she didn’t clean bathrooms!

A Magical Ending in Austin

The highlight finale of the trip was seeing my son and cousin in Austin. Reed came proudly sporting his Chaos shirt like he was part of our team. Jessica came and brought her entire family along to say hello! She invited us to end the night(and tour) at Frosty’s, a Christmas pop-up bar that looked like a winter wonderland exploded along with a few of her friends. It was the perfect festive finish to an unforgettable week.

My sweet son, Reed, came to support his Mama!

What’s Next for Southern Chaos?

This book tour left me energized and inspired. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing:

The best organizing products from The Container Store
Employee favorites you’ll want in your pantry, closet, or laundry room
Tips for maintaining an organized home heading into the new year
Storage solutions for Christmas Decor

Whether you're starting a decluttering journey, upgrading your storage systems, or simply love a good organizing product roundup, there’s so much coming your way.

Thank you for being part of this adventure. Your support keeps the mission of Chaos Organizing going strong — helping Southern women create organized, functional, warm homes without giving up the things they love.

Kindness always,
MC

Southern Chaos at The Container Store: Texas Book Tour Recap