Four years ago, Tidy Butterfly started as something deeply personal. Not a business plan. Not a perfectly mapped-out strategy. Just a real, human moment of realizing that life and home can feel overwhelming when there’s too much “stuff” and not enough support. In 2018, during a season of loss, transition, and change, I began my own decluttering journey. What started as a way to cope slowly turned into something bigger. Something meaningful. Something that would eventually hel

If your closet still feels like January but your calendar says spring, you’re not alone. Around this time of year, I hear the same thing from clients all over Des Moines and the surrounding areas: "I just don’t even know where to start." And that’s exactly why I’m here. As a professional home organizer, my goal isn’t to give you a Pinterest-perfect closet. It’s to help you create a space that feels like a deep breath— functional, calm, and actually works for your life today.

For most of my adult life, I thought I was just bad at keeping up. I tried harder. I bought planners. I watched organizing shows. I told myself, If I could just get it together, everything would be easier. Then, recently, something clicked. I was identified as ADHD as an adult—and suddenly, so much of my life made sense. Not in a “well, that explains everything” kind of way, but in a kind way. A forgiving way. A “maybe I wasn’t broken after all” way. And here’s the thing I wa

Downsizing for empty nesters isn’t about getting rid of everything—it’s about keeping what supports your life today. Start small, avoid emotional overload, and work in short sessions to create a calmer, more functional home without regret. What moment usually triggers the decision to downsize for empty-nesters? For most empty nesters, the decision to downsize doesn’t happen overnight. It’s usually sparked by a life transition that makes the clutter impossible to ignore. The m

A Professional Home Organizer’s Honest Answer for Des Moines Homeowners If you’ve ever looked around your home and thought, “I should be able to do this myself,” you’re not alone. Many homeowners in Des Moines —especially empty nesters and long-time homeowners—struggle with clutter long before they ever consider professional home organizing  help. So let’s answer the real question honestly: Is hiring a professional home organizer worth it? From my experience working with cl

When I walk into a client's bedroom closet, one thing is always true: the clothes tell a story. Not just about style—but about phases of life, old identities, hopes, “maybes,” and the emotional weight many women don’t even realize they carry. As a professional home organizer serving Gen X women and empty nesters in the Des Moines metro, I’ve helped countless clients clear decades of accumulated clothing so they can finally feel lighter, calmer, and more themselves in their da

Grab your Hall Pass You know that moment when you open the hall closet and a cascade of scarves, boots, and gift bags almost takes you out? Yeah that one.... For many of us here in Des Moines and the surrounding metro, the holidays are equal parts heartwarming and hectic. Between hosting guests, decorating, and trying to keep up with gift wrapping and storage, our homes start to feel less like havens and more like stress zones. And let's be real-once November hits, time becom