Winnow & Spruce Organizing

Winnow & Spruce Organizing Hello, I am professional organizer, Valerie Cady. I bring the hope and transformation. Everyone deserves to live an organized life.

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**If your home gets harder to manage when life gets busier, you're not imagining it.**Summer can have its own kind of ch...
08/21/2026

**If your home gets harder to manage when life gets busier, you're not imagining it.**

Summer can have its own kind of chaos.

But when fall hits?

School.
Work.
Sports.
Appointments.
Activities.
Homework.
All. The. Things.

If you're neurodivergent—or you're parenting someone who is—the transition back into routines can feel especially overwhelming.

My advice?

**Don't wait until you're drowning to make the system easier.**

Look at the places where things pile up.

Where do backpacks land?

Where do shoes disappear?

Where does paperwork go?

Where do the "I don't know what to do with this" items collect?

Those are clues.

Instead of asking, "How do I get everyone to be more organized?"

Try asking:

**"How can I make this easier?"**

Maybe the backpack needs to live by the door.

Maybe the shoes need an open basket instead of a closed cabinet.

Maybe the paperwork needs one simple drop zone instead of a complicated filing system.

The goal isn't to create a perfect house.

It's to create a home that works with your brain and your life.

**What's one spot in your home that seems to magically attract clutter?** 😂

I'm pretty sure we all have one.

🍂 **Fall is coming—and your house is about to get a whole lot busier.**Summer has a way of making everything feel a litt...
08/20/2026

🍂 **Fall is coming—and your house is about to get a whole lot busier.**

Summer has a way of making everything feel a little… loose. Shoes by the door. Swim towels everywhere. Kids coming and going. Schedules? What schedules? 😂

And then suddenly it's September, and you're wondering why your house feels like it needs a traffic controller.

Before fall gets into full swing, take a little time to reset the spaces that are about to work overtime:

🎒 **The entryway:** Make room for backpacks, shoes, jackets, and all the stuff that comes flying through the door.

🧥 **The coat closet:** Pull out summer items and make room for fall jackets, sweatshirts, and shoes.

🥾 **The mudroom:** Give it a reset before the boots, wet clothes, and sporting equipment start multiplying.

🍽️ **The kitchen:** Take a quick look at your pantry and refrigerator. What's expired? What's been sitting there since June? (I'm looking at you, half-used bottle of barbecue sauce. 😂)

📅 **The family calendar:** Fall routines are easier when everyone knows what is happening and where they need to be.

You don't need to organize your entire house before September.

Just focus on the spaces that are about to get a LOT more use.

A little preparation now can make the transition from lazy summer days to busy fall routines feel a whole lot smoother.

And if you're already feeling overwhelmed just thinking about it?

That's okay, too.

Sometimes you don't need more motivation.

You just need someone to help you get started. ❤️

**Is there a room in your house that still belongs to a child who no longer lives there?**Maybe their bedroom hasn't cha...
08/17/2026

**Is there a room in your house that still belongs to a child who no longer lives there?**

Maybe their bedroom hasn't changed since high school.

The trophies are still on the shelf.

The closet is full of clothes they haven't worn in years.

And every time you walk past it, you think…

**"I really should do something with that room."**

But then you close the door.

I get it.

These aren't just things.

They're memories.

And sometimes, you're not ready to let go.

That's okay.

But here's something to think about as we head into fall:

**Could that room serve you in a new way?**

Maybe it's a cozy guest room.

A craft space.

A home office.

A place to exercise.

Or simply a room that isn't packed with things waiting for someone who isn't coming home.

You don't have to erase your child's history to make room for your future.

You can keep the things that matter.

And let go of the things that don't.

**If you could magically transform one room in your home, what would you turn it into?**

I'm betting the answers will be interesting! 👇

**If you're a senior or you've recently retired, can I give you permission to NOT organize your house this summer?**Seri...
08/15/2026

**If you're a senior or you've recently retired, can I give you permission to NOT organize your house this summer?**

Seriously.

August is for enjoying summer.

Go sit on the patio.

Take the day trip.

Meet a friend for lunch.

Watch the sunset.

You have plenty of time for that closet you've been thinking about.

In fact, here's an idea:

**Start a Fall Project List.**

As you go about your summer, notice the things that are bothering you.

Maybe it's:

📦 The basement storage room.

👚 Your closet.

📚 The books you've been meaning to sort through.

🍽️ The kitchen cabinets.

🗃️ The paperwork you've been avoiding.

🏠 The room you want to repurpose now that your kids are grown.

Write it down.

Don't tackle it yet.

When September rolls around, choose ONE.

Just one.

Because you don't need to organize your whole house to feel better in your home.

You just need to make one space work better for the life you're living now.

**What's on YOUR fall project list?**

I'm curious! 👇

Can I say something to the person who gets a little knot in their stomach when someone says, "We should have people over...
08/12/2026

Can I say something to the person who gets a little knot in their stomach when someone says, "We should have people over sometime"?

Not because you don't want people in your home.

You do.

You just don't want them to see… *all of this.*

The piles.
The overflowing closets.
The room you've been meaning to deal with for two years.
The stuff you know you don't need anymore—but somehow can't seem to make yourself let go of.

Maybe you've told yourself you'll get to it when things slow down.

But life doesn't really slow down, does it?

There are kids. Aging parents. Work. A move. A divorce. A marriage. A new baby. A retirement. A loved one who needs more help. Or maybe you're simply at the point where you're looking around your home and thinking, "How did we accumulate all of this?"

And meanwhile, the stuff coming in keeps outpacing the stuff going out.

So the clutter becomes part of the background.

Until one day, you realize you're avoiding having people over because you're embarrassed by your own home.

Please hear me when I say this:

**You are not lazy. You are not a failure. And you are not bad at adulting.**

You're overwhelmed.

And when you're overwhelmed, it's really hard to know where to start—especially when the job feels too big to tackle by yourself.

That's where I come in.

I don't come into your home with a clipboard and a judgmental look.

I come alongside you.

We figure out what matters to you. We make decisions together. We work through the emotions that often come with letting go. And then we actually get things moving.

No shame.
No judgment.
No "Why would you keep this?"

Just practical help, compassion, and someone beside you who can see the path forward when you're too overwhelmed to see it yourself.

Whether you're downsizing, navigating a life transition, helping an aging parent, combining two households, or simply ready to feel better in your own home…

**You don't have to do it alone.**

If you've been thinking, "I just need someone to help me," maybe it's time to listen to that little voice.

Send me a message.

That's always a good place to start. ❤️

**The kids go back to school in… HOW MANY DAYS?!** 😳Suddenly, summer clothes are everywhere, school supplies need to be ...
08/11/2026

**The kids go back to school in… HOW MANY DAYS?!** 😳

Suddenly, summer clothes are everywhere, school supplies need to be purchased, sports schedules are starting up again, and we're supposed to remember where we put the lunch boxes.

Deep breath.

You don't have to get your entire house organized before the first school bell rings.

But there are a few things that can make the transition easier:

🎒 Create a landing spot for backpacks.

👟 Make room for school shoes.

🧥 Check the coat closet before you buy another jacket.

📚 Find a home for school papers and supplies.

🥪 Make sure lunch containers are actually findable.

And maybe—just maybe—have everyone go through their own stuff and decide what they no longer need.

Because here's the thing I've learned as a professional organizer:

**The best organizing systems are the ones that make everyday life easier.**

Not prettier.

Not Pinterest-perfect.

**Easier.**

And if your family is neurodivergent, this is especially important. The system needs to make sense for the people actually using it—not for the imaginary family who apparently puts everything away perfectly every single time. 😂

**What's the one thing that would make your family's school mornings easier?**

Tell me below. 👇

**There is nothing quite like coming home from vacation to remind you that your house needs some attention.** 😂You retur...
08/08/2026

**There is nothing quite like coming home from vacation to remind you that your house needs some attention.** 😂

You return relaxed, refreshed, and ready to sleep in your own bed…

…and then you see the laundry.

The mail.

The suitcase that somehow exploded across the bedroom.

The refrigerator that contains three condiments and a questionable container of leftovers.

Welcome home! 😂

Here's my advice:

**Don't turn your first day home into a decluttering marathon.**

Unpack the suitcases.

Start the laundry.

Get groceries.

Give yourself a minute to get your feet back under you.

Then, when you're ready, take a look around.

Is there one thing you noticed while you were away that you really don't want to come home to again?

Maybe it's the overstuffed entryway.

The closet you couldn't close.

The kitchen counter that disappears under the clutter.

**That's your fall project.**

You don't have to fix everything.

Just notice what isn't working.

Sometimes the best organizing ideas come from realizing how much easier life feels when you're away from your stuff.

**What's the first thing you notice when you come home from vacation?** 👇

🚨 **STOP! Don't go back-to-school shopping until you've done THIS.** 🚨Before you buy one more pair of athletic pants (be...
08/05/2026

🚨 **STOP! Don't go back-to-school shopping until you've done THIS.** 🚨

Before you buy one more pair of athletic pants (because apparently kids need 17 pairs 🙄), take a good look at what's already in your kid's closet.

Here's my back-to-school closet reset:

**1️⃣ Schedule the donation pickup—or put the drop-off on your calendar.**
Pick your favorite charity and decide *when* those donations are leaving your house. A deadline helps!

**2️⃣ Pull out ALL the clothes and shoes and sort.**
Yes, all of them. Even the stuff shoved in the back that hasn't seen daylight since February. Create four piles:

👕 **KEEP** – fits and gets worn
🤝 **GIVE TO FRIEND/FAMILY** – someone you know can use it
❤️ **DONATE** – good condition, but no longer needed
💰 **SELL/CONSIGN** – worth the effort to turn into cash

**3️⃣ Create a "not yet" tote.**
If it's too small for one kid but too big for their younger sibling, put it in a tote and **LABEL IT WITH THE SIZE**. Trust me, you will NOT remember what's in that tote six months from now.

**4️⃣ Bag up those donations.**
And here's the important part: **Get them out of the house!** Don't let your donation bags become permanent garage residents.

**5️⃣ Get the sell/consign pile ready to go.**
Hang it. Fold it. Organize it. Whatever your selling method requires—get it ready and set a deadline for yourself.

⭐ **BONUS TIP:** Pull out those sports jerseys and special team shirts before you donate or sell them. Someday, they could become part of a **graduation T-shirt quilt**—a pretty amazing way to preserve all those seasons, teams, and memories without keeping an entire closet full of outgrown shirts.

THEN go shopping. 🛍️

You'll know exactly what your child needs, what sizes they need, and—best of all—how much space you actually have.

Because the goal isn't to cram more stuff into the closet.

**It's to make room for the next season of life.**

And maybe, just maybe, to stop buying black leggings when your child already owns 14 pairs. 😂

**Is anyone else secretly counting down the days until school starts?** 🙋‍♀️😂Don't get me wrong. I LOVE summer.The slowe...
08/03/2026

**Is anyone else secretly counting down the days until school starts?** 🙋‍♀️😂

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE summer.

The slower mornings.
The vacations.
The lake days.
The extra time with family.

But somewhere around August 1st, I start thinking…

**"Would it be terrible if we just got back to a routine?"**

Because by August, the house can start to feel a little… well… lived in. 😉

The backpacks are still sitting where you dropped them in June.

The summer sports gear is everywhere.

The kids have outgrown half their clothes.

And somehow, there are 47 water bottles in your kitchen.

But here's my advice:

**Don't try to organize your whole house right now.**

Enjoy the rest of summer.

Go to the cabin.
Take the trip.
Eat the ice cream.
Make the memories.

Then, when school starts and everyone gets back into a routine, pick ONE area that is driving you crazy and start there.

One closet.
One entryway.
One room.

You don't have to do it all at once.

And if you're already counting down to that first day of school…

I won't judge. 😂

**Tell me: What's the FIRST thing you want to tackle when the kids go back?**

I'm taking notes! 👇

08/02/2026

Wandered into this treasure trove today! You know how I love a good collection displayed and this vintage store Joey Mansion in Lowertown St Paul, MN is gorgeous!

It feels comfortable, not cluttered.
Like a home, but not fussy. You can touch everything. Come for the furniture, artifacts, pop culture and relics. Stay for the stories.

Tell Brad I sent you!

Address

River Falls, WI

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17154109532

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