Get Stuff Done with "Pretty Home Power"! | Clutterbug Podcast # 187 

Cas, please stop beating yourself up!!! You have only been there 3 days. Oh my gosh. You got the kitchen and the bedroom and the kids rooms and the family room together - that is so amazing. Thanks for being vulnerable and honest. Thank you for all that you do.

Just make something better today. If you're tired, rest and call it a day.😊

I love how real you are about your struggles. I feel like you really understand us. I love how much motivation I get from you!!

Yes! When the light at the end of the tunnel feels far far away I love to set up one spot that becomes very concrete evidence of what I’m capable of and what I will do with the rest of the hot mess. Also, I’m an animal trainer and every time one of my animals is a jerk I think “geez, shouldn’t my animals be perfect”? Nope. There is no perfection. Your real deal experiences are such an inspiration. Just because you are a professional organizer doesn’t take away your human experience. It’s really what makes you a precious presence for all of us. Thank you!

I appreciate the message of "You're bedroom is your sanctuary. " Thank you for the reminder.

P.s. 25 minutes later and my kitchen is clean! Thank you

This is actually pretty original thinking!

Your house is your project for the next year or two. You have to use it to show us what to do. Don't stress. ❤

Cassandra Aaarssen, you are the Best!!! I have discovered this approach to be true, especially when nothing. else. works. The power of even a cheap bunch of daffodils, or free Fall Foliage, for instance, is amazing... A candle, a nice tablecloth etc. It inspires me to spread that beauty a little further. I remember buying inexpensive flowers at the grocery store, and another lady said pensively to me that I want some too, but cannot buy them because my house is a mess. I explained to her that mine is too, and that's exactly why I am buying the flowers. This is what helps me to take gentle steps to make it nice. Large numbers of people online, are presenting us with unrealistic ideas of perfection, as though they are helping , by making their homes and even fridges look like shop windows. But it's not real day to day life. What you have to offer is real and I am so grateful for your help. Wishing you the absolute best in your lovely new home!

I have moved a lot. At the three day mark I always want robbers to come and steal all of my stuff.

I want to say thank you. I was raised by a controlling, narcissistic, hoarder. It took me years to get out of that control. I thought I had it together but after watching your show I saw that I had not let go of my fear that I learned of getting rid of things. A couple of months ago I started decluttering. I got to the large bins of “mementos” that I had been keeping with me. I looked at them and I dug in. As I threw them away and letting go my fear turned to freedom of the past. Thank you

“Pretty Home Power” !! Cas!! ❤wherever you came up with this title is fantastic!!! Way to go!!

Even though we’re just friends online, I love “hanging out” with you ❤ You always crack me up 😆 and we all know laughter is key 🔑 you’d be so fun to just hang with in person! Love from Iowa, the good ol’ corn state 😜 🌽

I have always used this method of make it pretty. the first 18 years of our marriage we moved 13 times. our 2nd move was with a new baby. I made up the nursery. then the kitchen. It got me into the bedroom. I stacked every box that was not open in one end of our living room. I had to go back to work . The baby three months old. My husband was a God send. Cloth diapers HE did laundry NO dryer hang on line. He unpacked all the bedroom stuff and set up the living room. Watched the baby I worked nights. When I got home I was so grateful. I have always made one room look pretty when I get over whelmed . Making something look pretty always helped

I'm not moving, but I am overwhelmed and wanting to run from every space I look at it seems. This was a great listen and I got 2 baskets of laundry put away while listening!

Girl, you did a LOT in just an hour!

Cas 😭😭😭💕💕💕this resonated with me. I can’t totally wrap my head around it but the self talk and the not feeling like I deserve to have nice things… I have kept myself stuck… so much so that I’m embarrassed to let anyone come to my house. I did the All Day Declutter and you hit me to the core and I got so much stuff out and it feels great. I just can’t thank you enough. I asked God for help today and listening to you is helping me to not just say I want whatever but to say what action will I take today to get to my goal! 💕💕💕. I deserve better than I’m giving myself.

We Love ❤️ You Cassie ❤️ 💕 💓 💗 💖

We moved 2 years ago. I went slowly - but I unpacked, decluttering things that didn’t work in our new house and climate, for a year.

You help me out daily so much. If you were not there I would not be able to get everything around the house ready for winter, and being a family of six and having room for the size of only two or three. Not exagerating!

Thank you Cas!

I like your strategy for making things pretty when you get overwhelmed

You can get it done Cas! A power hour per day and you'll be enjoying your home in no time! ❤

For some reason organizing/prettying up my linen closet makes me happy. I’m in the closet so often having it pretty motivates me to tackle something else. 😊

Good for you for not fleeing and procrastinating by going and buying area rugs! This is what I do when overwhelmed. I'll go and buy something for after the work is done, but then it doesn't get done and I've added clutter to it ! 😢 Thanks for being real and sharing your struggles and the ways you overcome! Finding your channel a few months back has been so encouraging and motivating for me (light bulb moments), and I hope that encourages you! God bless!

Your background looks beautiful it will get done. Be happy you have help.

Yes, I agree cass to have a pretty space. Flower candles, etc.

Give yourself the grace that you would give one of your clients.

I moved almost a month ago into a space less than half what I had. Thanks to you and other RU-vid, I had been decluttering for several years, but still have a lot of things to deal with. You have motivated me to get my wall decor from storage and put some of it up. I think I'm doing pretty well and the place looks good, but I think adding the paintings and such will make it feel more like home. Thanks for all the motivation 🙂

Thanks for sharing about your struggles and please know I'm rooting for you!! Because of you I've just discovered I'm a Bee Style and just now I heard you say "Time Blindness" and I immediately identified! 😂 You are an irreplaceable inspiration to me Cass!! Thank You! "The Power of an Hour" 🎉 😊

Thanks for this, I came tired from office, I was lying on the sofa but got up and cleared kitchen table, put table cloth and fresh flowers. Rest of the kitchen is hot mess. But I want to make it pretty

As I listened to you speak - I got a few slip covers to make my mish-mash furniture pieces into a more cohesive look. I bought a much needed shoe rack, a wire storage shelf for the kitchen (and clear liners for them), and a can of high gloss black spray paint for the frame of a glass coffee table I bought on Kijiji that's a bit chipped. I'm smiling and it's not even here or together yet but it will be worth every penny when it looks how I want! I know buying isn't always the answer but these are things I've wanted for months & months but I just needed permission to spend the money on making it pretty! Thank you for this! :) Heather xo

My back entrance is TERRIBLE, but I cleared and cleaned the window shelf for my couple of plants. I feel so happy.

So relatable. I really thrive from making a small part beautiful /tidy or arranged

Love the way you motivate me. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and use your ways of organizing my house. I’m 75 , not healthy, and move slowly, have too much STUFF and it’s time for me to listen to you. Only one that’s ever motivated me enough.

Right with you Cas

I wholeheartedly relate to your situation. "Make something pretty"! LOVE it! I too have taken a break to beautify one little thing to help.myself cope with chaos. ❤

The little pretty things along the way make all the difference in the job

You’re being much too harsh on yourself, Cas 🧸 Remember, you didn’t just move, you’re also redecorating an entire house. So of course it’s going to feel chaotic. But look how amazing it looks already, and it’s only been THREE DAYS! And you say nothing has a home. But look behind you, look at your kitchen - you’ve made an amazing start. You know that moving is one of the most stressful life events, so of course it’s going to be hard. I never ever want to move because the thought scares the crap out of me, but you make it look effortless and like such fun, I’m really envious 😄 That house looks like it was made for you, so enjoy it! Be proud of what you’ve accomplished in a very short period of time, and just hang in there - YOU CAN DO IT 😘 Sending you the biggest hugs 🧸🧸

Love you, Cas! I'm with you! Vent away, because there is always someone who is feeling like they're drowning, like me😜 I was also feeling so alone, so thank you for sharing! I so do that "make something pretty". It's usually putting up some of my BTS pictures, those are pretty! LOL It sure helps my mood. Especially when I feel like I've been cleaning and you can't tell😂 Ay! Have a great weekend, everyone!💜

I've sick a cold or something for the last week. I was able to get my kitchen 'reset' while listening to this. Thanks

As your friend who also just moved to a new home 8 months ago, I’m going to ask YOU (Clutterbug) to give our friend (Cass) some grace in navigating this new season of her life. We are here for you! We love you!

Late to the game, but I enjoyed watching this today. I simply want to encourage you (and anyone) to take your present circumstances into account and cut yourself some slack...much as you would someone else. Not only have you (and family) managed and executed a huge move with all the endings and beginnings involved, but life has continued at its own pace. Plus, you, Cas, work from home -- something not everyone has to contend with or account for, so you're responsible for it all and must create or recreate your workplace pretty much from scratch by the sound of it. I really appreciated you putting this and yourself out there -- your renewed empathy and understanding on full display. Experience can be a hard teacher, can't it, especially when it's been a long time between personal lessons...we can forget until plunged into a head-spinning situation again. But I am with you -- beauty is fundamental to my peace of mind and well-being. For others it might be (visible/invisible) order or cleanliness -- whatever and to whatever degree we need it to feel grounded. It all might be necessary in the end but I feel compelled to bring beauty where there is none, even in the smallest ways. It inspires me to create surroundings to support and sustain it -- to live up to it. So, thanks for sharing what wasn't on-screen here but for also sharing what gets you through...and able to continue. Sometimes it's okay to start with dessert. A win, as you say, however we each define that. (Side note: Hope you don't have water issues in that basement, having seen your back yard after a storm. Yeah, function matters too. 😉) Enjoy your new home as it comes together, and thanks for taking us along. You continue to inspire me, however dug in I might be. Love the fresh eyes you bring every time.

I am doing this, too. Fortunately, I am a single senior and have the time to do this at my own pace. As I am a crafter, I have recently learned how to cover cardboard boxes with fabric, so I get to reuse some of those boxes and make them pretty and useful, too. It does keep me motivated and adds a bit of fun to my organizing. ❤ your tips! .

I'm washings dishes and cleaning the kitchen while listening to your podcast.

Hi Cass, I head to relisten this podcast, because at the moment our bedroom ist a desaster! We had mildow in 1 of our walls and since 2 weeks we are working on this. We had to rearrange the closet, the tv-table and it is pure chaos!!🤪🥴🤯. So today I took your advice: We have a small washing niche and I cleared that of and cleaned it and I felt so much better! Also my husband started working in this area and hopefully we will be done today.💪💪💪😅

Cas, same here. Sometimes I just need to make someting pretty to get motivated. I used to know this and do this. My hubby would cut me down for making something pretty even if I also made it more functional, if there were other problem areas in the house. I stopped making things pretty, guess what else stopped? My motivation stopped and years later, not letting myself decorate make things pretty, I'm now much more cluttered than ever. Thanks for the reminder.

Cass, we love you; give yourself the time to settle in at least a week. We can wait.

Dear Cass, please give yourself plenty of grace, darlin girl! You have accomplished so much in such a short time already! Take a breath, take a nap, and then start fresh. Baby steps. You got this. No rush, no need to stress. Stay in peace, girlfriend. ❤

My mom told me that when we move, setting up our bed first would give us a place to sleep at the end of that first, exhausting day. When my ex-husband was in the Army, we moved every year. I was glad to take my mom's advice.

I did the same when I moved. I dealt with the kitchen and bath and living room. Bed and clothes were in place. And then I hung up pictures. My friend said I was crazy but I needed to see something pretty and personalized in the space to make feel mine. Some boxes stayed packed since our first move 15 years before. 😂 And you’re totally right my bedroom is the graveyard. Apartment living and nowhere to hide things but there. But I just have to get started. My container is full again. 😅

Thanks so much for being SO REAL!! I feel like you know how I feel and it’s SO ENCOURAGING!!

Love this advice. I'm planning to move in the next year so it gives me some things to think about. We don't eat at home a lot, so the kitchen wouldn't be a top priority for me. We also RARELY have company, so I'm not too worried about a guest space right away. I think I'll focus on the bedrooms and bathrooms first. Thank you for your insight!

Side note...you look so great!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate your honesty. A life we all can relate to. Thank you 🙏

Thanks for the great advice!

Love this a lot, the other day I re-arranged my living room and it gave me so much peace and joy, thank you!

Timely talk! I'm not moving, but the fall crunch is heavy on my mind - ugh, there's so much I want to get done before the snow flies here in nomn!

I love your honesty. Expectations vs reality is so true. We bought an above ground pool thinking it would be a quick project. Wow it was a huge project and part of that was our fault because we kept adding to our workload. We decided to build a deck too. Now that is is done, we realized it took us about 3 weeks of work to get it right. It feels great once you get all the work done... but it is overwhelming thinking of the workload. FYI it is easy to underestimate the time needed to do stuff but give yourself grace. You got this.

Moving is challenging !!! Ty for sharing, we are rooting for you ❤

You’re amazing Cas! Hang in there. One day at a time. You will feel very differently a month from now.

Cas, that background looks great and it will enable you to make content~ thanks for sharing your honest struggle❤

Cas, ❤ you are doing it!!! We too just moved long distance & it’s been hard!! The kitchen definitely- bedrooms & the family room!!!! Oye oye oye & I’ve been filling up the boxes & driving to the donation center weekly!!! And continuing to do repairs on our new home 🥴🥴🥴 …. And homing things - I’ve moved items 3 times 😮 I found a scorpion 🦂- & I did run!!!!! 😩 YOU got this!!! ♥️

Woo! Did it!

this kinda reminds me of the debt snowball that Dave Ramsey does, but for the home. The priority spaces are like the emergency fund to stop the situation getting worse, then bash out the lower debts to build confidence and momentum. I think the making things pretty helps you feel that you are winning at life, even if it's just that little patch :)

My 3 priority spaces: 1) EVERY AM I make my bed the SECOND I get up (sometimes b4 I even pee! Lol) 2) EVERY NIGHT b4 I got to bed, I tidy up my living room and 3) about 7+ mins I my clean my kitchen up (wipe counters, dishes into dishwasher if not all of them done already, maybe something had to soak a few hours) then I turn on dishwasher and WASH my kitchen sink :)

You are amazing. So real. So easy to connect to. Thankbyiu! Can you share your cubes behind and the organization of them?

What a wonderful video❤️

Cas, you rock! I cleaned my kitchen, picked up a bunch of stuff, and got the sticker off my new washing machine (finally!). Thank you! ❤

Thank you for sharing. This will help me a lot!

Cas. ……. KEEP GOING…. keep making things pretty, you do it so well. I wish I could give you a great big hug and come and empty boxes with you.

It took us a week to get the kitchen together in our new home, partly because there was no kitche in the house and we had to order the counters and cabinets, realise what was missing, buy it and insall it. The bedrooms were functional on the first day, the living room as well.

Cas!! “ TY for sharing ur truth with us!! “ This is just one reason, that ur The Best!” Right next to Mr. Peter Walsh of course lol❤xo

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time.... Thank you for sharing. *hugs* 🤗(if that's ok). There have recently been a lot of crazy things happen here.... which have led to the whole house being in total chaos.... (even worse than it was before).... it feels like a huge set back.... I had been making good progress, I had been letting go of a lot, putting lots out for garbage collection each week, and setting stuff aside for donation.... On the one hand, if I hadn't been letting stuff go, all these things would have been A LOT harder to deal with..... but on the other hand.... it's so discouraging and overwhelming, and I just don't know where to start, because "Clean up" is still progress (from flooding in the laundry room - that happened 3 times, - and that's just ONE of the things that happened....) I know things like these happen "anywhere".... but the more things like this happen, the more I just want to pick up and move out of here. (we've been THINKING about moving for a while now.... and this just makes me want to pack up and go). ..... and there's a lot that I can't do by myself... (too heavy, or I don't know how, or it's not my stuff.... or.... etc... ) I know that there ARE things I CAN do.... but.... I'd rather just do my creative things.... and watch You Tube..... but.... I've been trying to do AT LEAST one thing each day.... and things are slowly getting less chaotic, but.... man.... it's hard to stay motivated, when "Life things" keep bombarding you.

Thank you so much for this! We move every year or two. I finally decided to allow myself one good cry for every move and to just expect it. I had 2 this move. We moved at the end of June, and this month I'm focusing on my last room: the guest room and everything I shoved in there to save until later. Still have a few photos to hang in other rooms. But I laughed when you mentioned decanting your spices because I did that in the first week as well. 😂 I was just so excited for it! Good luck with the rest of your move! 💗

I think thats a great way to motivate yourself - you have to be good to yourself along the way 💝

I don’t need to tell you this, but don’t worry about what Joe thinks. If making things pretty works for you, then do it. We need to take motivation where we can find it. Whatever keeps you moving forward 💪🏼

Love this because even if you walk away after making it pretty you’ve ended on a positive note so you’re more likely to feel good about what you did manage to do.

The power of an hour!!! Cas, you are such an inspiration. Love you!!!!

Hi Cass. I totally agree with you about taking a break when you feel your energy waning, and just make a small area pretty. It really works.

This idea of making a small area pretty really reminds me of Moda Misfit's outro. (Moda Misfit is a RU-vidr in Seattle WA, who focuses on studio and small apartment living.) She ends her videos by saying, "Remember, your apartment is destined to be pretty, and you are pretty powerful".

Yes! Having a little island of peace/pretty in the midst of chaos totally gives you momentum to keep going. It's just like having a made bed or a clean sink! (Laughing coz you just said it too🤭 That's what I get for commenting part way through😂). As everyone is saying, your relatability is totally the reason I've stuck with you all these years (and clearly some of it's sunk in 😂) 💗 You got this Cas 💪 and I know it'll turn out amazing as you accomplished so much in your previous home 👏😘

Cassie going to watch this again as I do you are so right about decorating something In trying to understand the zoning but I love your videos thank you for being here for us you are a great motivator ❤

I am exactly the same. The smallest bit of pretty goes sooo far for me too. I stay in boxes and complete mess but my jumping off place is ALWAYS the bathroom. I clean all the bathrooms like I have to eat off the floor and the hang the shower curtain. It is like the wedding dress of the home (😂😂😂) For me, it sets the tone for the ENTIRE home. Seeing that shower curtain up sets my colors, themes, etc. And once the bathroom(s) are done, the wall spaces come next - curtains (bridesmaids dresses - lol) and then pictures on the walls. Then furniture placement and only then does anything come.out of boxes. Pretty is where it is at and is the jazz that sets the function piece in place. As I watch this video, I keep.asking myself is - how is the water situation and how are you managing THAT?!

Fantastic pic cast Cas! Making something pretty when I’m decluttering or moving totally helps my mental state when I’m starting to feel overwhelmed. I wish I could be there to help you to clean and unpack. Sending love and energizing thoughts from Oregon! 🥰

Thank you, AGAIN, Cas!! While listening to the podcast, I was doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen. I got rid of some mugs that I don’t even like and a few small plates that I very rarely use! congrats on your beautiful new home!! I’m so happy for you and your family! I live in a large home on 9 acres, and have been embarrassed of how nice and big it is, but no more! I’m gonna see it as a blessing and get it decluttered!! 4 mugs,and 3 plate at a time!! The clutter struggle is real!!

YOU ARE AMAZING! Thank you for being real! You have made me laugh this morning and inspired me❤. Thank you, thank you❤.

Do you remember how we are without enough sleep? How much we don't get done? How we circle around looking at the mess and wonder where to start? How our energy wanes and enthusiasm plummets? How we think we will accomplish more if we stay up and just push ourselves to do more? On the other hand, what about the nights when we had a proper sleep? We wake up with so much energy, we feel capable of handling anything! We are so enthusiastic, we drive the sleep deprived crazy! We surprise ourselves with how much we accomplish! Whenever there is a big job to do, do yourself a favor, and everyone else. Make sleep a priority for everyone in the family, including ourselves.

My Bungalow 🏡 Home🏡 ♥️ just received a Vinyl Flooring it feel Peaceful & Joyful decluttered some furniture 😀 😊 😄 ☺️ Cass Your My Friend From Callie Girl 👧 😊 San Diego ❤️ California

I’m so sorry! I just went though a move last year and I was overwhelmed. I downsized because my husband passed away 4 yrs ago. And I have an empty nest. I know it was easier than what you are going through. My heart is feeling you!!

When we bought our house I gave us a week from closing on the new one and ending the lease on the old one. Even as we were in the searching mode I packed all decorative decor and all pictures. Then I packed out of season clothes, kitchen items I could do without for a short time, and all extra linen, keeping just the bare minimum. Once we found the house and had the closing set up I picked the paint colors, keeping it to 3. We hired a Painter and told them to do the kitchen first. The walls, ceiling and cabinets were complete after 2 days, we moved the kitchen in & set it up. The next was the bathroom. We moved that over on day 4. On the same day they completed the livingroom so we brought over the LR rug and the decor boxes and pictures as they painted the 3 bedrooms. On day 5 we picked out clothes for 2 days and packed the rest. On day 6 we wiped down and wrapped all the furniture. Small items we moved to the new place ourselves along with the refrigerator and freezer items. On day 7 we had movers move out all the big wrapped furniture. I stayed back at the old place and my husband was at the new one directing the movers as they arrived. By day 8 all the rooms were set up and the only thing left was the decor pieces and the pictures and shelves to be hung. It was an easy plan. And we basically kept all the things in the draws and just wrapped the furniture pieces with plastic wrap.

I have done that! Like hanging up mosaic or crushed glass art I have had laying around!

Welcome to renovation. To home front.

I sooo understand you! I love how real you are! Sending love to you across the miles from Edmonton Alberta Canada ❤

“ Ur The Real Deal “ Cas”” ❤ Love u more than I have words to say😂

Look. We just moved too. I was all methodical and proactive with the packing. Labeled my boxes well. Color coded stickers to easily sort boxes by room when we arrived. It was still chaos when we got here. The house is much bigger and yet things don’t fit “right”. Now I motivate myself by doing at least one box per day. Some days I do the one and keep going. Some days I just do one. I agree kitchen first, then bedrooms, then living room. It felt so much better when the kitchen had what we needed for snacking and meals and cold drinks while we were unpacking. These huge projects are so hard. Nothing here is pretty yet. And none of our bathrooms have mirrors (weird). And there are still a lot of dead bugs. But at least we can eat and sleep. Thanks for the great advice and helping me feel less alone.

The timing of watching this video could not have been better. My husband and I are closing on a new home TODAY ane we are both utterly overwhelmed and exhausted from packing and the thousand mile long to do list. I just keep reminding myself that although it seems endless, it is not. Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to know even professional organizers get overwhelmed sometimes.

I so feel you on doing the pretty and wanting to go out and get the area of rugs and avoiding the real work. So many times I have run out to the store and spend all day looking for stuff cuz I quote needed it to do a project meanwhile my house was a total wreck. And all the time I was out looking could have been spent actually getting the house cleaned.

Girl! Your sense of humor just kills me! LOL 😂 And I totally get the "power of pretty!" I just covered a cabinet shelf & drawer with a gorgeous white & gold peel & stick wallpaper. It looks so good, it energized me to clean the whole kitchen! Every once in a while, I'll walk by & open that cabinet door to remind myself that I CAN create a pretty home. Hang in there! You know it WILL all get done eventually & you'll have some funny tales to tell. Lots of love from Kentucky! 😁

I have read it takes two years on average for a new space to feel completely like home.