Fresh Start, Fresh Spaces 💫

Newsletters
January 8, 2026
8:58 pm

Published: January 5, 2026

Are you still avoiding eye contact with your Christmas tree and bins of holiday décor?

Same… until my mom and my 94-year-old grandmother started removing ornaments and putting them into the wrong box while I was sneaking in some quiet business time thanks to childcare. That was my cue. I pranced over, grabbed the bins, and just like that—momentum.

Because honestly—It takes only minutes to start creating a fresh start and fresh spaces.

As we step into a new year, many of us are dreaming—new goals, new routines, new spaces that finally work for our real lives. Which makes this the perfect time to spotlight our annual sponsor, New Space Home Organization—and a brand I trust deeply in both my home and my professional OT lens.

🌟 Why Organization Matters (more than you think)

Here’s the thing—clutter isn’t just visual noise that nags at us daily. Research consistently shows that cluttered environments can reduce productivity and increase cortisol levels (aka stress), anxiety, and the unwelcome feeling of being overwhelmed. And often, the issue isn’t too much stuff… it’s simply not enough functional storage.

Books. Toiletries. Toys. Daily-life essentials.

That’s where NewSpace Home Organization truly shines.

NewSpace Home Organization ⭐

New Year, New Space

Whether you’re building new or renovating, NewSpace Home Organization specializes in custom storage solutions that turn “dead space” into intentional, beautiful, functional spaces.

A real-life example from our home:

During the construction of our primary bathroom, our shower felt larger than we truly needed. By slightly reducing its footprint, we unlocked two completely new storage opportunities—one in the toilet room and one beside the shower. After living with this dead space for over a year, we invited NewSpace Home Organization to design custom storage that:

‣ Met our real, day-to-day needs

‣ Looked seamless

‣ Allowed us time to live in the space, save, and make intentional decisions

‣ Kept toiletries out of sight while remaining easily accessible

‣ Gave us additional storage that helps us stay organized

That’s thoughtful design—and exactly why I confidently recommend NewSpace Home Organization.

The bonus: They’re truly a one-stop shop—from design to build to execution, all the way through completion.

👉 Explore NewSpace Home Organization or book a consultation

Or, if you prefer a personal connection, our designer Jenny Elfrink would love to help you get started:

📧 jennye@newspace.com

Joyful spaces don’t happen overnight—but they do start with one small, intentional decision. Whether that’s packing away the tree, rethinking a forgotten corner, or partnering with experts like NewSpace Home Organization, progress builds quickly.

Here’s to a year of less stress, more function, and spaces that support the life you’re actually living.

📬 Next up in The Joyful Blueprint: I’ll be sharing how an occupational therapist’s perspective can help you maintain these systems long-term—making organization accessible, safe, and sustainable for every season of life.

With joy in the chaos,

Occupational Therapist, Universal Design Consultant

The Joyful Blueprint | Joyful Spaces. Effortless Adventures. Lasting Connections.

💛 Thank you to our sponsors 💛

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Hey, It's Tiffany!

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Meet the Blogger

Hi, I’m Tiffany Dill!

As a mom with profound hearing loss, I know firsthand the beauty and chaos of navigating life with young kids, extended family, and all the little surprises along the way. At Blue Day 2, I’m all about creating spaces and experiences that bring joy to families of all ages and abilities. From home designs that work seamlessly for everyone to sharing my favorite picks from my LTK and Amazon shops, I’m here to make life and travel simpler, more accessible, and filled with joy. Stick around for plenty of inspiration, a little less stress, and a whole lot more fun as we embrace life’s perfectly imperfect adventures together!

Let's Get Personal!

Click on the tabs below to learn more fun facts about me. Do we have anything in common?

Tiffany, you've been married to Andrew for over 16 years now. Any special anniversary traditions?

Oh, absolutely! Every year since we got married in September 2008, we’ve worn the exact same clothes we left our wedding reception in. Yup, I'm talking my gold cocktail dress, wedding jewelry shining, and Andrew rocking his wedding suit. We’re not about to let that tradition slide. It’s been 16 years of pure anniversary magic. I guess you could say we’re "stuck" in our wedding day outfits, but in the best way possible!

Completing an Ironman and earning a doctorate in occupational therapy in the same year sounds intense. How did you pull that off?

Intense is one way to put it! But honestly, raising two energetic boys might just be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The Ironman and doctorate were definitely tough, but mom life? That’s the ultimate endurance race. It’s the one that keeps me—and even Andrew—on our A-game, every single day. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though. There’s nothing like their opposite personalities and they surprise you with so much joy even in the chaos, and that's where my energy goes—no finish line required.

You’ve set a pretty ambitious goal with playing ‘Sweet By and By’ on the piano. What’s the story there?

Ah, yes! I miss playing the piano. I started playing piano since second grade and even made it to an advanced level through college. But now, my life goal is to master Sweet By and By (again) before I leave earth. It’s definitely a stretch, but that’s the fun part, right? First, though, I need to add a piano in a room I’ve been dreaming of since we built our home. Playing piano was always my outlet. Until then, running is my stress reliever.

Hidden talent alert: You can read lips. How’d you discover that one?

Oh, this one goes way back! When I was four years old, I managed to fool five different audiologists during my hearing tests. It wasn’t until a doctor noticed that I wasn’t repeating what she said when she turned around (back in those days they didn’t cover their lips nor did they have tinted windows in the sound booth)! I had spinal meningitis at 13 months, which nearly took my life and left me in a coma for a week. As a result, I had to start over on a few developmental milestones and missed a lot of early speech and language development. Thanks to years of speech therapy and a knack for lip-reading, I still manage to fool people with my profound hearing loss. It comes in handy when someone wants to know what the ref said on the field or TV, or if I’m in a crowded room and want to eavesdrop—just kidding. Sort of.

On the flip side, what are some things you’re not a fan of?

Confined spaces. Cilantro. Olives. Blue cheese. I could live without all of those. And don’t even get me started on being stuck inside for hours at a time. I'm much more suited to wide-open spaces, the great outdoors, and pretty much anything that involves fresh air.

We all know you’re a planner, but what do you hold closest to your heart?

Sentiments. They’re irreplaceable. There’s something about the things that carry emotional weight—whether it’s a moment or an object—that just can’t be duplicated. I’ve learned to really appreciate the simple, meaningful stuff in life. In fact, our Christmas tree is adorned with over 20 years of ornaments symbolizing memories from a loss of loved ones to trips and even sour times. It’s like finding joy in the simple little things whether they are happy or sad or even bad memories.

You’re a busy mom and entrepreneur, but how do you manage to squeeze in family time?

Time? What’s that? Ha! Honestly, there’s just not enough of it. And the thing is, we can’t get it back. So I prioritize memory-making with my family. That’s my top priority. Whether it’s hiking, running, biking, traveling, or exploring the great outdoors with my boys, I live for those moments. In fact, I devote one day off work a week to be with my little guys and my husband and I carve out a weekly date night.