cover image Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Life

Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Life

Allie Casazza. Thomas Nelson, $26.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-4002-2563-7

In this instructive debut, Casazza, host of the Purpose Show podcast, brings her signature warmth to the topic of how to welcome joy and calm into one’s life by getting rid of stuff. As a young mother, Casazza spent her days scrambling to maintain a home filled with belongings rather than being the wife and mother she wanted to be. By decreasing the number of items overwhelming her, Casazza not only fashioned a relaxed home and a happier family; she built a multimillion-dollar business helping others—especially mothers—learn how to minimize the clutter in their lives. Casazza helps readers work through the emotional challenges of getting rid of stuff (“If everything is sentimental, then nothing actually is”) before providing tips on how to find time to declutter and providing workable solutions for freeing up space. Maintenance ideas for keeping a family from falling back into old habits (such as consistently recycling and donating toys to save space and avoid overattachment) rounds out the plan. While many of these commonsense ideas are not new, Casazza’s understanding manner and realistic view of family life make her approach refreshing. Readers looking for straightforward advice on streamlining one’s possessions will get much from this reassuring, sensible road map. (Sept.)