Downsizing Diaries

Jolene Monaco on Closet Organization: Simplifying the Steps to Organize Like a Pro

By CandysDirt.com Contributor / October 23, 2025 /

By Jolene MonacoCandysDirt.com Columnist You’ve probably seen them on Pinterest or Instagram—the closets we all dream of having. Matching hangers perfectly spaced, clothing arranged in a rainbow, and every item looking like it belongs in a Neiman Marcus catalog. But have you ever wondered what those closets look like during the chaos of trying on…

How ‘The Art of Swedish Death Cleaning’ Started a Trend at CandysDirt

By Karen Eubank / September 10, 2025 /

Watching a funky show called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning gave me hope for actually being able to dig out from under a lifetime of inherited antiques and accessories. I’m most decidedly not a fan of the Marie Kondo method of purging because all my “stuff” gives me joy. I grew up with…

This Savvy Agent Has Some Art Sales You Can’t Resist

By Candy Evans / September 8, 2025 /

Lynda Piepgras is the kind of agent who always thinks outside the box for her clients. A talented Compass agent, Lynda has ventured into estate sales after putting some on for her clients. Finding a demand for these services, she is now known all over the Park Cities for her estate sale prowess. In fact,…

Downsizing Diaries: The Hard Work of Letting Go

By Candy Evans / September 1, 2025 /

It’s Labor Day, and while most folks are firing up the grill or at least taking in a movie to beat the rain, I’m deeply entrenched in the three P’s where I have been buried for months — purging, packing, panicking. Gave the editors the day off, too, not just for the holiday but because…

The Photo Sister: Helping Families Preserve Memories One Snapshot at a Time

By Elaine Raffel / May 27, 2025 /

Mary Boyle organizes photos for a living — a role as niche as it sounds. From dusty boxes in basements to chaotic digital archives, her company, The Photo Sister, helps busy people tame their overwhelming collections of photos and personal keepsakes.