Meet Jamie, your new friend and local Clear Lake/Seabrook mom of two. But here’s the twist – she’s not just any mom; she’s also a fearless, thrill seeking soul who once leaped out of a plane on a sky-diving trip! As you get to know her in this interview, you’ll learn she’s the heart and soul behind Happy Shelf Organizing, a venture born from her desire to spread happiness through well-unorganized spaces right here in our community.
Join us for this insightful interview where Jamie spills the beans on her adventures, the gratitude she has for her own mom, and the secrets to simplifying family life. From the chaos of PB&J dinners to embracing the beauty of imperfection, her stories and wisdom will leave you wanting to hear more. Get ready to be drawn into her world of purpose, adventure, and the art of making everyday life a little brighter.
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
Purposeful: When I set a goal, I like to be intentional with the mindset of how and when that goal will be completed. I am a very spiritual and faith based individual and feel as if everything in life has its purpose. If I can live my life for the purpose of the greater good of our Lord and Savior, I’m a happy camper!
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I’ve jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, thanks to my husband and his surprise birthday gift! I am a thrill seeker, I love adrenaline and roller coasters!
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you along your motherhood journey?
My own Mother, who has shared countless amounts of advice, help, hugs and love through the valleys and mountains.
Your best shortcut or routine for helping you through parenthood?
Don’t overthink meals, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will be just fine for dinner if that’s the kind of day it’s been. A fed baby is a happy baby. Sit and enjoy the chaos for a minute, the messes can wait to be cleaned up. Then, when it’s time to clean up- make it fun and get the kids involved!
What advice would you give to the “old you” before you had kids?
Learn to embrace the now, not everything has to have a plan. 🙂
Happy Shelf Organizing
Can you tell us the story behind the name “Happy Shelf Organizing”? What inspired you to start this business?
I wanted the name, brand and logo to embody “happiness” and my goal when I leave a client’s home is to create shelves that are “happy” and easy for a family to maintain order through the daily chaos of life. I want to bring smiles and joy to those who choose to follow me and support me through this small business.
So with those thoughts, we created the name! I had the help of a dear friend who encouraged me to pursue my dreams of being a business owner and organizer. I felt sort of a nudge from God and a peace in my heart that led me to making the decision to take the leap and start creating happiness in homes.
What are the main benefits of professional organizing services that people might not be aware of?
I believe the main benefit is having someone see your space from a different perspective that you may not see because you’re focused on the “mess”. From that perspective, we are able to create systems that you can maintain and simplify tasks such as putting your groceries away or putting laundry away when everything has a home. Leaving you with a fresh take and less to worry about.
Relationships are also created with an organizer that are special, we are helping take stress away which is a delight in knowing you’ve helped someone at the end of the day.
How does your personal experience as a mom influence your approach to organizing spaces?
I am just as guilty in my own home of not taking the time to put things away where they belong. Taking that perfection piece away is a huge deal for me when I am working in a client’s space. Nothing will ever look like Instagram when you have kids, a husband and busy schedules. So, my goal is to always help that space breathe but still have those boundaries that can be kept in order to make daily life easier.
Take a pantry, for example, I want it to be easy for a 5 year old to understand where the cereal goes to be able to help Mom keep that pantry in order. Simplicity, not perfection. Labels go a long way!
Many people find it challenging to start decluttering their spaces. What advice do you have for someone who wants to begin but doesn’t know where to start?
My advice would be to create boundaries with time. If an item hasn’t served a purpose or been used in the past year, chances are you can part with it. I usually go through my own closet about every 6 months and pick 2 or 3 pieces that don’t make me feel good anymore to make room for new ones that do!
Start small also. There are so many dreams I have with my own personal home projects, I write them down and do one at least every other month. Right now, it’s our home office. It’s not a race, if you need to start with one cabinet in your kitchen, do it!
Can you walk us through the process of working with a client? What can someone expect when they hire Happy Shelf Organizing?
I try to make the process as simple as possible so that the client doesn’t feel overwhelmed with the service. I start with a consultation, where we discuss your personal goals for the space and take measurements. From there, I will come up with a quote that includes pricing for the organizing service and shopping lists for any product that I recommend to help the space.
I offer the option to do all of the shopping and receiving of items (if shipped). After the product and quote is approved, we order the product and schedule an install date.
There’s no pressure to purchase new products, if you want to recycle what you’ve already got in the space, we can just come in and re-organize for a fresh and clean system! Plenty of options and ways to achieve your goals depending on the budget, house and client.
What tips or tricks can you offer to help our readers maintain an organized space once it’s been decluttered and organized by your team?
Inform your family that your goal is to maintain that space and get everyone on board! Train them while also training yourself to take that extra 30 seconds to put it back where it goes. You can also take one day out of the week to do a 10 minute declutter session- turn on some jams and move the shoes back to the closet, etc.
Also, what has personally helped my family and I is to not go overboard with what you bring into the house. I did a HUGE pantry overhaul a couple of years ago and it was a game changer with keeping the pantry stay clean and organized. Makes meal prep easier too when it feels less overwhelming.
Lastly, what advice would you give to someone who is considering hiring a professional organizer but is hesitant to take the first step?
It’s more than just organizing. You’re getting a new friend, a fresh take on the space and lots of help to maintain the space into the future. But of course, we always offer “reset” services where we can come back quarterly to get things back into shape.
We love to support local small businesses. What is your favorite place in the South Houston area to:
Take your kids out for some fun: Pump it Up/Bounce N Play
Have a date night: Merlion Thai Restaurant
Have fun as a family: Lone Star Flight Museum
Get your hair done: Ryan Cash @cashryan.hair & https://katiefrausto.glossgenius.com/
Get your nails done: Citris on Nasa
Get a facial: I’ve never had a facial- but if you need a Women’s Wellness doctor- @hivewomenswellness
Shop for yourself: Amazon, Haute Stuff Boutique, Brave Boutique
Shop for your kids: Target, Walmart