10 things to throw away right now
No, you're never going to need that laptop charger from 2014.
It’s okay to feel attached to objects. Research shows that even as little kids, we feel ownership over our things (see: that raggedy old teddy bear) and assign them value. Recently, I found a card written by my late grandmother and thought, Wow, I’m so glad I have this.
Beyond something to remember her by, I love that I can look at her handwriting and feel like she’s with me a little bit. But what about that birthday card from your dentist’s office or the charger for your 2014 MacBook Air? Trust me when I say: Those are no longer serving you.
In today’s issue, we’re diving into which objects are worth keeping, which ones you should toss or donate, and 10 categories of items to get rid of right now. Enjoy! — Leigh
P.S. If you could hit the little ❤️ heart ❤️ on this post, either at the top or bottom of the page, we would be so appreciative. Liking a post helps other people find us.
📚 Reading: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. Lombardo’s latest novel got me out of a reading rut, so I was eager to dive into her earlier work. Set in Chicago and centered on four adult daughters (think Little Women, but more dysfunctional), it’s proving just as addictive.
📺 Watching: “Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel” on Netflix. I traipsed around my college campus in skintight American Apparel everything—who could resist their metallic bras? It’s been fascinating, and not altogether surprising, to learn that the “ethical” clothing brand was nothing more than a trainwreck disguised as a sweatshop-free operation.
🎧 Listening to: Lena Dunham on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. I know the name of that podcast is terrible, but host Amanda Hirsch is wonderful, and it was refreshing to hear Dunham’s voice again after a multi-year hiatus. She has a remarkable ability to articulate the funny nuances of human nature, and I’m so excited to watch her new show.
🛍️ Shopping: Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray. Recommending dish soap wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card, but now that I know dish spray exists, I’ll never go back. We mostly cook at home, I’m breastfeeding/pumping, we have to send bottles to daycare…it feels like there’s an endless cycle of dishes to do. Dish spray works so well and really cuts down on the time I spend washing dishes. That’s a win! — Leigh
Reika: When the weekend rolls around, some of my first thoughts about what sounds fun usually revolve around spending money. Grabbing a coffee, wandering down streets with cute little shops... I mean, can a girl ever have too many candles?
But when I catch myself shopping just to feel good, I’ve realized it usually means I’m bored. While I’m not against retail therapy as a concept, I’ve found that what gives me a deeper sense of satisfaction is tackling an organizational project at home.
One such project? Getting rid of things, even when you’re not in the throes of spring cleaning. It’s so satisfying and frees up so much physical and mental space.
One caveat: The ideas I’m about to share may not apply if you’ve lost someone very close to you. I still struggle with knowing what to do with the physical things my loved one left behind, but that’s a story for another day. I will say I have some very special ideas for how to honor one of my favorite humans in the world, and I hope to share them with you one day. For now, if you're in that space, know that you're not alone—and it’s okay to hold on for a little longer.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
10 things to get rid of right now
1. Old chargers and mystery cords
If you don’t know what it goes to and haven’t missed it, let it go.
2. Old prints or art you haven’t hung in years
Consider selling or giving them away on Facebook Marketplace. Someone else may love that funny print you picked up on a trip to Europe years ago!
3. Conference name tags, badges, and swag bags
Practice the art of saying “no thank you” to the goodie bag next time. It might earn you a weird look, but future you will be grateful.
4. Office supplies you never use
White-out, random paper clips, post-it notes, and old paper files (are we not fully paperless yet?). As for the three staplers you haven’t touched in years…unless you’re a teacher, you probably dont need them.
5. Lidless Tupperware
The bane of my existence. Nothing is more frustrating than finding the perfect container and no lid. Sure, you could use tin foil—but why would you?
6. Paper bills that are also in your email inbox
If it’s already in your inbox, do you really need the physical copy? Toss it in the recycling bin.
7. Dead pens and dried-out markers
This includes dried-up Play-Doh, broken crayons, hardened clay, and crusty paint. If it doesn’t work, it’s just taking up space.
8. Socks with holes
Or really, any clothing that’s developed unintentional holes. (Ripped jeans get a pass—sometimes you just need a little breeze on your knees.)
9. Old books
I know, this one hurts. I can feel Leigh burning a hole through my head as I write. I confess I keep all my design books for reference, but not every book needs to be a forever book. Especially kids’ books—they outgrow them, and preschools and local libraries are happy to accept donations.
10. Product boxes
Looking at you, iPhone boxes. For some reason, we keep them way too long.
This week, I want to share a little about the art of bed making—not just pulling the covers up, but how to style your bed. I’ll show you my favorite examples that achieve that full, cozy, finished bed look without a million pillows (yes, it can be done!).
When I think back on the evolution of my own bed over the years, it honestly makes me laugh. I vividly remember my sophomore year of college, proudly outfitting my bed with red sateen sheets and a silky purple comforter. And yes, I could—and did—slip right off that shiny purple beauty. Here’s some photographic evidence for you:
These days, my bed design skills are more elevated, to say the least. But I also want to acknowledge that there are many different styles of bed-making, and I love all of them! Here are some of my favorite examples.
Leigh: For a single year in college, Reika and I were roommates (photo evidence above), and we were great roommates.
If I had a dollar for every time she’s said to me, “You get crumbs everywhere,” I’d be a wealthy woman, but in general, we were aligned on how a home should be run: Keep things tidy, and make your bed every day. Preferably in one of the styles above, although we weren’t quite there yet.
Seriously, I’ve been making my bed every single day for as long as I can remember. When my husband and I first started dating, he quickly learned that daily bed-making was a dealbreaker. I think it’s something everyone should do, and at the risk of sounding like a 2010s Buzzfeed listicle, here’s why:
It’s the fastest way to make your space look neat
So, your bedroom is a mess. The chair is covered with clothes you might wear again before you wash them, there are three water glasses on your nightstand, and the surface styling on your dresser has fallen into disarray.
Before you do anything else, make your bed. Think about it: Your bed is the largest surface area in your bedroom, so making it will completely shift the look and feel of the room in two minutes. This might motivate you to bring those glasses to the dishwasher, throw all the chair clothes in the hamper (face it, that was going to happen anyway), and straighten your picture frames.
It gives you a feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning
Contrary to popular belief, humans have limited willpower. Thankfully, there are a handful of tactics for building healthy habits and accomplishing health goals that sidestep willpower, and I’ve learned dozens of them throughout my career as a health and wellness editor. One is checking something off your to-do list immediately, as that sense of accomplishment can give you the energy and confidence to tackle other, more difficult tasks.
One of the easiest ones? Making your bed.
You’ll sleep better
Seriously! You may think there isn’t a difference between diving into an unmade bed and one with crisp corners and fluffed pillows, but a Sleep Foundation study found that people who make their bed every day or almost every day are more likely to get a good night’s sleep than those who don’t.
I’m not saying making your bed is a cure for insomnia, but it’s worth a shot.
That’s all for today! If you’ve gotten this far, we just want to say thanks for reading, and hi to all our new subscribers! There are now 750 of you following along here, and we’re so grateful to every one of you.
Xo,
Leigh & Reika