When Life Feels Sideways: The Simple Little Habit That Helps Me Reset

The last few weeks have been rough. Really rough. I’m sure we all have those “life-is-a-hot-mess” weeks. Mine included a sick dog, a sick kid, a sick husband (notice a theme? 😂), a new business, and the busy back-to-school season that makes life feel like it’s on fast-forward. 

Real, unedited picture of my family room…Duke knocked over the baskets!)

Everything has felt a bit sideways — more to do, less time to do it, and somehow the “extra stuff” decided to throw itself into the chaos for good measure.

Not that life is ever perfect. But sometimes, it really gets in the way of my “perfect” (ha!) home.

A few years back, I discovered my secret weapon: dumping baskets. 🙌

Having these random pieces “unceremoniously dumped” in a basket can create a clean counter, a picked-up floor, and a little breathing room for our homes — which, in turn, gives our brains a chance to breathe and rest.

Here’s how I use them:

• Entry: random shoes and anything else that magically appears

• Important papers: things I’ll “deal with later” (translation: completely forget about… until I desperately need them, and then it’s like treasure hunting!)

• Near the kitchen: everyone else’s random stuff that lands on counters or tables — chargers, keys, AirPods, etc. When the inevitable “Mom, where’s my ___?” comes, I just point to the basket like a sanity superhero. 🦸‍♀️

• Laundry: each bedroom gets its own laundry basket, plus one in the bathroom — because life is messy, and sometimes clothes need a little designated landing spot before they make it to the washer.

Now here’s the ironic twist: I come from a family of basket makers. I’ve loved baskets my whole life, and I still have a few original Bryant Basket Company pieces that I cherish. But honestly? Any basket will do. 🙃

So, for all of us living in a slightly sideways world, here are a few of my favorite baskets that actually keep me sane:

Important Papers Basket - Perfect for collecting all of yoru important papers until you have time to deal with them properly!

Shop this basket on Amazon

These baskets are adorable! They come in a set of three - they’re nice and small, perfect for storing smaller items. I particularly love the daisy print on the cloth liner — I use mine for my supplements!

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Love, love, love these larger baskets. These also come in a set of three - the hinged lid is perfect for storing items while hiding what’s inside.

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Great for dumping all sorts of items — shoes, hats, jackets, or anything else that comes in the door that doesn’t get to its proper spot.

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Yes, we all have those ugly cables hanging out of our TVs and computers. This basket holds a power strip perfectly and hides all the cables going into and out of your devices. Not only does it look good, but it’s also easier to clean around since everything is hidden.

Shop this basket on Amazon.

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The Bike on My Doorstep

When “just one more thing” becomes a big thing

You know that moment when life is so busy, and you think…
“I can just do one more thing—it’ll only take a moment.”

And so you do it. Quickly. Distractedly. And, of course, you do it poorly. Suddenly… you have all the work to fix that little mistake.