Letting Go: Ready to Embrace Your Next Chapter

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Kim

One of the things I love about packing and moving is that you get to go through everything. Letting Go of items that you do not need to take into your next chapter.

You get to see what you have.

And, perhaps more importantly, you get to decide what you don’t want to take into your next chapter.

I am at the point now where I must make some tough decisions. I know you can probably relate.

Here are a few of them from this past week

The Big Roasting Pan

The roasting pan that has not been used in years.

My thought process went something like this:

It would be good to cook a large turkey, along with potatoes, carrots, and onions.

“It does have a tray that fits in there perfectly to set the turkey on.”

“However, everyone likes mashed potatoes with turkey.”

“I have a smaller one that works perfectly for us.”

And there it is.

I am letting it go.

The Pile of Sheets

They’ve been sitting in a cupboard for quite a while.

My first thought was, “They would be great for painting projects.”

But I’m not a fan of painting, and if painting was needed, I would prefer to hire someone.

Then I thought, “I could cut them up and turn them into rag rugs.”

Yes, I have made a number of rag rugs in the past.

But am I likely to do it again?

Probably not.

So I’m keeping one for a possible future paint/craft project and the rest are going into the donation bag..

The Purple Boots

These have a story.

It was March Break many years ago and it was unseasonably warm. The sun was shining, the snow was melting fast, and my friend and I went to her cottage for the weekend.

When we arrived, there was no way to get to the cottage without getting completely soaked.

So we went into town to buy boots.

I bought these little purple boots.

They were a children’s size 7 and they were a tad too small.

But I wore them a LOT…..mostly in the garden.

The other day I put them on again and finally had to accept the truth.

They were too small.

I am able to let them go.

The Huge Photo Album

This one surprised me.

I actually thought it was a completely different album.

It was huge and heavy and filled with photos, pamphlets and postcards from a trip to Australia that I took with my ex-husband.

I did take a short trip down memory lane.

And then I realized something.

I didn’t need all of these pictures to remember the trip.

I was able to let the photos go, and the postcards went into the donation box.

It felt so good.

I’m sure there are many more tough decisions ahead.

As I pack my belongings, I’m trying to declutter as much as possible so that I can be more intentional about what I’m bringing into our new home.

We really are wanting to simplify our lives as much as possible..

And as I was doing this work, I was reminded of this quote:

“You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.” by Louise Smith

There is something about moving that makes this especially obvious. But you don’t have to be moving to ask yourself these questions.

What are you still holding onto?

What no longer fits your life?

What are you keeping because of a “maybe or someday”?

And what would it feel like to make a little more room for what comes next?

If you’ve been following our journey, you’ve probably noticed that creating a simpler life doesn’t happen overnight.

There are decisions.

There are “but maybe…” thoughts.

And sometimes there are tough choices.

That’s exactly how I work with my clients.

I help you work through those decisions with gentle support and without judgement.

If you’re ready to begin making some decisions of your own, I would love to help you.

Until next time,

Happy Decluttering

Kim

Posted in Clutter, De-Clutter Your Life, declutter, decluttering, downsizing, Inspiration, Organizing | 4 Comments

Stress-Free Moving Tips: Magic in the Mess

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Kim

We are beyond excited to be moving! Stress-Free Moving Tips below.

If you read my email from last week, you know that I have dreamed about this for a very long time.

It really does feel like so many things are falling into place in the best possible way.

But I have to tell you… there have been a few moments that have been very stressful.

No wonder so many people just stay where they are instead of making a plan to move.

It’s a lot.

And, it can be a tad overwhelming. Ugh!

But here’s what I’m learning about Stress-Free Moving.

There can be magic in the mess.

We want things to be smooth and easy. Calm and peaceful. We want everything to go according to plan.

But life isn’t always like that.

Sometimes we learn the most about ourselves when things don’t go according to plan. We learn that we can handle whatever comes our way. Knowing that challenges will happen and learning how to navigate change in a good way is a great skill to master.

I have a story for you…

I had arranged storage for some of our larger furniture pieces and overflow from our closets.

Our Realtor had suggested a company, so I called, made the arrangements, and thought everything was taken care of.

Weeks later, I called to make arrangements for the big day. Moving day….and was told:

“We don’t have any record of your storage.”

What?? Cue the stress. My mind started spinning.

Did I get scammed? Did we lose all of our stuff? What happened to the money we paid?

And, of course, they had my credit card information.

I was so stressed that it actually took me awhile to find the receipts and text messages that had been sent.

And then I discovered what had happened. I had called a completely different company.

Who knows how that happened! But it was definitely a good lesson.

When you’re overwhelmed and have a million things going on, it’s easy to move quickly without really paying attention.

So here are a few things I’m taking away from this:

• When you’re feeling overwhelmed, slow down. Be present with what you’re actually doing.

• Make a list. Get the things swirling around in your head onto paper.

• Check the details. Especially when you’re making arrangements with companies you don’t know. Write down names, dates, phone numbers and specifics.

• Trust yourself. You are doing the best you can with what you know at the time.

• Look for what the experience is teaching you. Resilience. Patience. Trust. Confidence. The ability to handle the next unexpected thing that comes along. Because it will!

Because maybe that’s where the magic is.

Not in everything going perfectly.

But in realizing that you can handle it when it doesn’t.

And now… my office.

This past week, my plan was to tackle my office.

Most of the stuff in there is not currently needed, so it seemed like a good place to start.

Files, Paper, Shredding, (yuk – I am NOT a fan) Burning papers can be so much faster.

Books can be hard for most of us. I love sharing some of the books I no longer want with Little Libraries in the neighbourhood.

It felt good to go through it all and make decisions about what gets to come with me into this next chapter – and what doesn’t.

Here are a couple of pics I took so you can see my progress.

My office space - stress free moving tips
My desk space - stress free moving tips

And honestly?

This is what decluttering often looks like.

It isn’t always pretty.

It isn’t always organized.

Sometimes it looks like a bigger mess before it looks better. Growth happens when things feel uncomfortable and messy.

There’s magic in the mess.

And maybe that’s true for more than just our homes.

Maybe the messy parts of life are where we discover what we’re capable of.

18 days until we move…

(Not that I’m counting.)

And we get the keys to our new place in 11 days. Yikes!

One day, one decision, one box at a time.

As always, I love hearing from you. Do you have a funny or messy move story for me? Just comment below or email me at hell0@spaceforyou.ca

Stay tuned for more of this behind the scenes of our moving journey.

Until next time,

Happy Decluttering!

Kim (Your Virtual Professional Organizer)

Posted in De-Clutter Your Life, difficulty Discarding, downsize, downsizing, families, feeling overwhelmed, goal setting, home goals, Inspiration, office organizing, Organizing | 6 Comments

How We Sold Our Home in 2 Days

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Kim

Actually…it’s been much longer than that.

I’ve wanted to move for longer than I can remember.

It’s not that I haven’t loved this home. I truly believe we can make any house feel like a home.

I have been here since 2002, and this house has held many memories, mostly positive but some hard times too.

At this stage of life, my partner and I are ready to simplify. We want less outside work, a stronger sense of community, a home that’s better for entertaining, and honestly….I’ve always loved change. And a new perspective can be amazing too.

This wasn’t my first attempt.

In fact, I’ve had a “For Sale” sign on our lawn twice before. However, it simply wasn’t meant to be. Looking back now, I can see the timing wasn’t right.

This time was different.

Everything seemed to fall into place with such ease that it truly has felt like divine timing.

Moving was one of my biggest goals for this year, and I can hardly believe it’s finally happening. It’s a huge undertaking, but I’ve learned that when you know what you really want, amazing things can happen.

Over the past couple of years, we’ve slowly started looking at our home through the eyes of a future buyer.

We had already decluttered a great deal, but as anyone who has moved knows, there’s always so much more to do and so much more to let go of. We had rooms painted and didn’t put nails and pictures back up knowing we wanted to move one day.

Little by little, I started downsizing some more. Almost every time I visited my mom at her Care Home, I’d stop at Talize with another load of donations. I was beginning to feel like a regular there!

We rented a storage unit for a few larger pieces of furniture, cleared out our overfilled cupboards, and created more open space throughout the house. Every small step helped our home feel lighter, brighter, and more spacious.

Then came staging (we did it ourselves), professional photos, and the sweetest video our real estate agent created of our home.

The result?

Our house sold in just two days.

Even more exciting, we had already fallen in love with our next home, and our offer had been accepted.

What a whirlwind.

Over the next few weeks, I’d love to take you behind the scenes of this journey. I’ll be sharing what I’m decluttering, the emotions that come with leaving a home after 24 years, practical moving tips, and the lessons I’m learning along the way.

Whether you’re planning a move someday or simply trying to simplify your home, I hope you’ll come along for the journey.

As always, I would love to hear from you, your moving stories or maybe you are thinking about downsizing and moving someday yourself. Just reply to hello@spaceforyou.ca

Want to be the first to hear about our journey? You can sign up here!

Well…..now to get back to some packing!

Until next time,

Happy Decluttering!

Kim

Posted in Organizing | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Why Is It Hard to Let Go of Something You Paid Good Money For?

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Kim

One of the biggest discoveries I’ve made after years of helping people declutter is that it’s rarely about the stuff. More often, it’s the beliefs we hold about our belongings that make it difficult to let go. It can be hard to let go of something you paid good money for.

This is a common belief I hear.

“I paid so much for this, I cannot let it go”

Years ago, I bought an expensive (at least expensive for me) white blouse.

I could picture myself wearing it to a conference or while speaking at a workshop or meeting. In my mind, it represented the person I was becoming. I was convinced it was the perfect blouse, and somehow it felt like it was going to change everything.

But then reality hit. The blouse sat in my closet for years with the price tag hanging off of it.

Every time I saw it, I felt a little guilty. I wasn’t keeping it because I needed it. I was keeping it because I didn’t want to admit I’d made a mistake.

Then one day, while decluttering my closet, I decided to try it on.

It was just a little too small.

In that moment, something shifted. I realized I had been holding onto this blouse because of what it represented. I had never worn it and likely never would.

I gave myself permission to let it go.

The money was already spent. Keeping the blouse wasn’t going to bring it back. All it was doing was taking up space in my closet and reminding me of a bad decision.

Sometimes decluttering isn’t about the item at all. It’s about giving ourselves permission to release the guilt that has been attached to it.

I am sure this is a common feeling.

Maybe you spent a lot of money on something you never used, or you bought it with the best intentions. Letting it go can bring up guilt, regret, or the feeling that you’ve wasted money.

But keeping it won’t bring that money back.

Sometimes the greatest value comes from accepting that we all make purchasing mistakes. The item served its purpose by teaching us something. Once you can accept that, you can let go with much more peace.

Why is it hard to let go of something you paid good money for?

If this story feels familiar, you’re not alone. So many of us hold on to things because of what they cost, the hopes we had for them, or the guilt of letting them go.

If you’re ready to work through those decisions with someone who understands, I’d love to help. My virtual decluttering sessions aren’t about telling you what to keep or toss. If you’d like support as you work through the emotional side of decluttering, I’d be honoured to help.

Send a message to me at kimtremblay@sympatico.ca or comment below. I would love to hear your story.

Happy Decluttering!

Kim

Posted in hard to let go, home goals, Inspiration, Organizing | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Make Space For Life Today

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Kim

Do you ever catch yourself saying:

“Maybe someday…”
“Just in case…”
“One day I will…”

Are you waiting for someday to wear that outfit, finish that project, use that tool, or enjoy that special item?

Most of us keep some things for “someday.” The problem comes when too much of our life is stored away for a future that never seems to arrive.

We need to live today.

This moment is really all we have. It’s the only time we can truly experience and the only time we have any control over.

Years ago, I worked with a woman whose apartment was filled with belongings. It was crowded and difficult for her to move around. She had only a tiny space where she could sit.

In fact, she became the inspiration for my business name: Space For You.

Among her belongings were three bicycles. She was saving them for her grandchildren “someday.” Unfortunately, she had become estranged from them. This is more common than many people realize. I was in this position myself for a number of years, so I understand how painful and complicated it can be.

One day, she looked out through her patio doors and saw three children playing in the courtyard.

In that moment, she made a decision.

She gifted the bicycles to those children.

3 bicycles pic from unsplash

The kids were overjoyed, and my client was thrilled…..not only to give the bicycles away, but also to reclaim some space in her home. She called me afterward because she felt so proud of herself.

Sometimes letting go isn’t about losing something.

It’s about making room for life today.

As you know, I love helping people get to the underlying causes of clutter so they can create lasting change.

I recently created a new resource called:

What’s Really Behind the Clutter – 18 Gentle Insights To Help You Move Forward

Inside you’ll find:
• 18 gentle insights into what may be contributing to your clutter

• Simple, practical next steps you can start right away

• A short self-reflection to help you better understand your unique challenges

• Thoughtful journal prompts to help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and compassion

If you’d like your free copy, Here’s the PDF.

Happy Decluttering!

Kim

Virtual Professional Organizer

Posted in De-Clutter Your Life, Organizing | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

The Hidden Weight of Emotional Clutter

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Kim

​And why its so hard to let go.

Emotional clutter isn’t always visible but it can have a powerful impact on our homes.

I remember a client once telling me that her apartment was a reflection of how she felt about herself. She was dealing with depression, low self-esteem, and a lot of anxiety. Her space mirrored that internal struggle.

The truth is, we’re not always aware of the emotional clutter we’re carrying. But it can quietly weigh us down and keep us from moving forward. It might show up as negative self-talk, limiting beliefs about what’s possible, or things like unhealthy relationships, habits, addictions, debt, and old patterns of behaviour.

When I think about emotional clutter, one word comes to mind: overwhelm.

And when you’re overwhelmed, even the basics can feel hard. It’s like having too many tabs open in your brain…..there’s just too much.


No wonder it’s difficult to know where to start or what to do. This is often where decision fatigue sets in.

It can feel like:
“I can’t make one more decision.”
or even
“I can’t make any decisions at all right now”


When you’re feeling stressed, thinking clearly becomes a challenge.

And there are real reasons we hold on:
. It feels easier not to let go
. We’re comfortable with the familiar
. Letting go raises questions about what comes next
. Holding on means we don’t have to change. There’s fear of the unknown
. We haven’t had closure
. We’re holding onto a dream that may no longer fit

I once worked with a woman whose dream was to have a booth at a vendor’s market. She kept buying items she hoped to sell one day. But obstacles kept getting in the way, and over time, her apartment became more and more full, filled with things tied to a dream that wasn’t unfolding the way she’d hoped.

If any of this resonates, there is hope. Often, it starts with looking at things in a new way. It takes self-awareness, mindfulness, and a willingness to gently notice and question our thoughts and beliefs. This is the work that I do with my clients.

If you are craving a bit more space and clarity here are a couple of options

Join us in the (private) Declutter Your Life and Mind facebook group for daily motivation and connection with others who get it. or

Sign up here for a 20 minute free chat if you are curious about working with me one to one…..I currently have space for new clients.

Until next time,

Happy Decluttering

Kim


Posted in declutter, difficulty Discarding, downsizing, Emotional Clutter, feeling overwhelmed, mental health, organize your thoughts, self care | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

What Happens When You Finally Slow Down?

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Kim


I get some of my best ideas and those quiet “ah ha” moments in the shower. And its because I’ve slowed down enough to actually hear myself think. To hear my own intuition. What happens when you finally slow down?

If you’ve been feeling stuck lately, a break might be the most supportive thing you can do for yourself.

Not forcing.
Not figuring it all out.
Just… stepping back.

And just giving yourself permission!

It can take a little time, but when you allow things to unfold instead of pushing for answers, the path ahead often becomes much clearer.

The truth is, most of us already know what we need.

We just don’t always give ourselves the space to hear it.

And I get it 🙋‍♀️ It’s not easy!

There is so much pulling at our attention. And the moment things get quiet, it’s so easy to reach for our phones, turn on Netflix, or find some other way to fill the space.

I found myself in that place last fall.

Many of you know I stepped back from my business for a while. Things just weren’t working the way they used to, and I was feeling overwhelmed, especially with showing up on social media in too many places.

(If I’m being honest…I’m still not a fan.)

But during that time, I kept coming back to two things:
my one on one client work, and writing my weekly emails.

You can sign up here for my weekly email if interested. Bonus: You will also get my free ebook “Get Motivated to Declutter Your Home”

And somewhere in that slowing down… things started to shift.

I’m beginning to feel inspired again.

And I’ve been working on something new that I’m really excited about:

Lighten Your Home – A 10 Day Gentle Experiment

This isn’t about a big clear-out or pushing yourself to declutter everything at once.

This is a 10 Day self-paced email series.

It’s about small shifts. gentle actions that will help you lighten your home without overwhelm.

And building a sense of momentum……..one step at a time.

It’s super simple, no pressure, no rushing, just small daily shifts.

Sometimes the clarity you’re looking for is already there just waiting for a little quiet so you can hear it.

If you are feeling like you could use a little reset, I’d love to have you join.

Kim Tremblay in the post about What Happens When You Slow Down?

Happy Decluttering!

You might also like this post “What if You Love Everything”

Posted in feeling overwhelmed, Organizing, Slow Decluttering, time management, too many projects | Tagged , | 8 Comments

What if You Love Everything?

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Kim

What if you love everything? A few weeks ago I came across this really beautiful platter that was gifted to me many years ago. It wouldn’t fit in the cupboard and I couldn’t find another space to store it or even display it. I decided to donate it.

I love this platter but have never used it.

My beautiful platter that was donated - What if you love everything?

I am getting serious about decluttering because we are wanting to move this year. I decided to put it in the donation box and it has now been donated.

This really got me thinking about the things we love. If you are working on decluttering and ask yourself Do I love this? And the answer is yes, you may need to ask a few more questions like:

Have I used this item?

Do I have other things that are similar that I would use if needed?

Do I plan to use this in the near future?

What do you do with stuff you don’t love?

I asked a client this question and the answer was…..I love everything but why does it sometimes feel like it’s too much.

I have come across this with a few clients and it can be really challenging for them to let go. And that is because its not just about the stuff. Its about the meaning of things, identity and feeling safe.

If this feels familiar, there’s nothing wrong with you.

You’re not “bad at decluttering.
You’re not too sentimental.
You’re not the problem.

There are reasons why we hang onto things

. They represent who we were

. They remind us of people or moments we cherish

. Letting go can feel like losing a piece of ourselves

. But……I love everything

. My stuff makes me feel safe

Try this:

Choose one small area – a table, a chair, a corner and clear just that space.

Make this space a little lighter. Small, gentle steps.

How does this feel compared to the rest?

What if you focused on how you truly want to feel in your space?

Calm, ease, room to breathe

I’ve been creating something simple like this .… a 10-day gentle experiment.

No pressure. No big overhauls. Just small, doable shifts.

Would something like this feel helpful to you?

Comment below or reply to kimtremblay@sympatico.ca for more info.

​

Posted in Organizing | Leave a comment

Craft Projects We Quietly Abandon (for my crafty friends)

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Kim

You open a closet or bin and you see those abandoned craft projects. You immediately feel triggered? Sometimes it’s because there are memories in there you’d rather not revisit. This happened to me. And……
Sometimes it’s because you spent a lot of money on the items and know you won’t get it back.
Or maybe it’s supplies for a project that never quite manifested.

I was looking for some beads for a craft project I was doing with my grands during March Break. I opened the bin and was met with the remnants of projects I had started years ago and then abandoned.

It was a little jarring to see all of the beads, trinkets and supplies I had purchased and now it just all sits in this bin unfinished. Somewhere along the way, I lost the inspiration to keep going. And I understand now why I felt uncomfortable continuing back then.

Those unfinished objects are emotionally draining. We might not really be thinking too much about them. But they are there, quietly taking up space and energy. They might be those someday projects but when is someday.

I remember someone in one of our groups saying “Someday is not a day”.

But at this point, I think the kindest thing I can do is to be honest with myself and decide:
Do I want to continue… or not?

Can you relate to this?

Maybe it’s craft projects. Maybe books you meant to read. Maybe something else that’s been sitting unfinished and quietly taking up space.

Sometimes clutter isn’t just stuff.
It’s a story waiting for us to decide how it ends

A similar post you might like:

Organizing Arts and Crafts

Those abandoned projects and bins can stop us in our tracks.

Virtual Professional Organizer Kim Craft Projects

What unfinished projects are you noticing?

Join Here for weekly inspiring emails to help you to have an awesome week. You will get a copy of my ebook Get Motivated to Declutter Your Home when you sign up. 🌿

Posted in Organizing | Leave a comment

How to Create Storage and Organizing Solutions for Small Spaces

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Kim

How to create storage and organizing solutions for small spaces. Many of my peeps live in small spaces and they often have limited storage space. Our house has small rooms and can easily feel crowded and cluttered. I love finding creative new organizing solutions for my home and I love it when I can help my clients to find the same. It can be important to figure out how we can find homes and store items that we need or want to keep.

Storage and Organizing Solutions For Your Small Spaces

(including tips from the Members of the Declutter Your Life and Mind Facebook Group

. Use a small dresser in a closet or a bathroom to store items in – I love this idea. I sometimes put one of my bedroom end tables (both don’t fit in our small bedroom) in the closet. Right now it’s in the spare room as an end table so that works.

Credit: Rex Van DelStorage and Organizing Solutions

Credit: Rex Van Del

. Crates are fun and can be used in so many ways. A friend of mine has hers standing up on a table with her books in there. It looks great. They can be used to make book shelves or just stack two of them in a bathroom for towels, etc.

. Some beds have drawers underneath which can be helpful. Personally, I am not a big fan of under the bed storage but if you have limited space this might be the best solution. If you need to use this area for storage linens are best. I would suggest bins if they fit or zippered plastic cases.

. Think about building up if you can. Tall storage units and book shelves can save space.

. Baskets and bins can be perfect for storing a lot of smaller things and can often be stored on a shelf or in a closet.

Tips for Storage and Organizing Small Spaces from Group Members

. Storage racks in your cabinets, closets, on the back of doors. Keeps things organized, but out of sight

. Stack cookie sheets, muffin tins, cutting boards in an upright stand that is usually used for plates or pot lids. It fits perfectly under a sink and can easily store all those big things on their side.

Shoe organizers on the back of a door for hair accessories and scarves etc. Great spice jar door organizers are available too.

. You could hang handbags on decorative hooks on a wall in your bedroom. It looks like an art installation and it’s easy to choose handbags (you could do this with belts, scarves, jewellery etc. – whatever is your thing)

. Multi purpose furniture: tv stands with storage underneath, preferably with doors and drawers so it’s hidden; coffee table and side tables with drawers and shelves; hanging closet organizers, foot stools with storage space inside. These storage solutions keep your surfaces from being cluttered and keeps things organized and out of view.

Tip: Clutter makes a small space seem even smaller.

There are so many great ideas on Pinterest. You can search any challenge or idea you are thinking about. Check out my page here

What creative storage and organizing solutions have you found in your home?

Happy Decluttering and Organizing

Posted in bedroom organizing, decluttering, downsizing, home goals, organize, Organizing, Re-organize, sacred home | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments