Back in the day, I use to be magazine o b s e s s e d .

With at least ten subscriptions, I couldn’t wait to get the latest edition of InStyle, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Allure (the list goes on) and just lose myself in the gorgeous images.

You’d never want the magazine after I finished with it because half the pages would be torn out:/ I had a style file system set up (imagine that) so if I needed inspiration, I knew just where to go.

Then came Pinterest. (I actually wrote a blog post on it when I first discovered it in 2011!) That was the end of my magazine clipping and the start of my digital obsession.

Fast forward to today

Instagram is now my inspirational go to, and I love sharing the gorgeous images I come across.

While I share more real life stuff on Instagram Stories, I’ve just added a new category in my feed called R E A L I T Y where I’ll share two images: the first – a ‘magazine’ version; the second – my real life way of organizing that same thing:

I know how easy it is to get caught up in the comparison thing on social media.. not feeling your pantry (or life) comes close to how ‘everyone else’ is living. So think of this as a reality check!

While I love stunning images of organized spaces, they often* take place in big spaces (walk in closets or pantries), cost a small fortune (organizing products can add up quickly) and require a good bit of work to maintain that perfect look.

*often but not always! Fabulous looks don’t have to take place in a mansion and cost a fortune to set up. That’s a benefit of working with a good professional organizer who knows how to maximize space, work within your budget while getting you results you love and can maintain.

Smart Organizing + Styling TIP

You can always do organizing in stages: clear out the clutter, establish smart homes for items and then later – style it. That’s what I typically do at my place and often how I’ll help clients in their homes or workspaces.

In fact, best solutions come when you do it in that order, so there’s actually a benefit to delaying purchasing products. (You never want to buy products before understanding what you really need. Otherwise you’ll be wasting your time and money.)

More posts on the way, so I’d love for you to follow along if you aren’t yet! Here’s the link: Instagram: Angela / YourLifeOrganizer :)

xoxo,