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Before the gifts, decorations, and toys start piling up, let’s make a little space. And no, I’m not suggesting a massive weekend decluttering spree. Instead, I’m sharing three categories that actually make sense to declutter right now, not just because they’ll free up space in your home, but because other people are looking for these items now. In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, we’re talking about seasonal decluttering, the Great Toy Edit, and why timing matters when it comes to letting things go. Pre-Holiday Decluttering Checklist: * Dress-Up Clothes & Holiday Outfits (before Halloween and holiday parties) * Winter Gear (before the first cold and snowy day of winter) * The Great Toy Edit (before you open any new holiday toy gifts) The goal isn’t to declutter everything at once. It’s to thoughtfully assess what you have, make space for what’s coming, and pass things along at a time when someone else can actually use them. You can download our family’s Decluttering Calendar HERE, and it also includes a blank decluttering calendar you can fill out with your own categories if you prefer! More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tidy Dad welcomes bestselling authors Jo Piazza and Christine Pride to discuss their new novel, I Never Knew You at All, a thought-provoking story about secrets, betrayal, family relationships, forgiveness, and the consequences of uncovering the past. Together, they explore why we keep secrets, whether protecting someone can justify withholding the truth, and how decisions made decades ago can shape families for generations. Jo and Christine also share a behind-the-scenes look at their collaborative writing process, the inspiration behind the novel, and why they intentionally leave readers with complicated questions rather than easy answers. Plus, with the holidays approaching, they tackle an important question: Is Thanksgiving dinner really the best time to reveal a family secret? It’s a conversation about morality, marriage, parenting, forgiveness, and the messy business of being human, with plenty of laughs along the way. Read I Never Knew You at All ____________________________________________________________________ Behind the Stories Part 2: Men ‘s Holiday Gift Guide - A roundup of my top picks for men across the following categories: wear on repeat, fresh kicks, signature scents, face value, good hair days, sip & savor, health kick, get moving, and life made easier. And if you’re shopping for kids, check out Part 1: Kids Holiday Gift Guide! _____________________________________________________ Connect with Jo Piazza: * Instagram: @jopiazzaauthor * Podcast: Under the Influence * Substack: Over the Influence * Also read Jo’s books The Sicilian Inheritance and Everyone is Lying to You Connect with Christine Pride: * Instagram: @cpride * Also read Chrisine’s book All The Men I’ve Loved Again More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

Want to read more books but can’t seem to find the time? Between work, parenting, and never-ending to-do lists, making time to read can feel impossible. In this solo episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tidy Dad shares how he makes room for books as a father of three, full-time NYC public school teacher, and marathon runner. From his five-minute morning reading routine to swapping bedtime scrolling for a good book, he’s sharing practical ways to read more without adding another chore to your to-do list. Plus, a special announcement about a new chapter for Tidy Tidbits! Books mentioned in the episode: * I Never Knew You At All: A Novel * My Friends * The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise * Open Book: Jessica Simpson This episode is sponsored by TOBIQ. Our family loves their organized, compartment-style bags for travel, school, and everyday adventures. Save 15% with code TIDYDAD. More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

What if the goal isn’t to finally finish your to-do list, but to accept that you never will? In this episode, I’m talking with Jess Ekstrom, author of Making It Without Losing It, about the never-ending to-do list, why accomplishment rarely gives us the feeling we expect it to, and how to decide what actually deserves our time and attention. I also share my word for the year and ask Jess: Is that selfish? If you’ve ever thought, “Once I get through this, then I can relax,” this conversation is for you. More from Jess Ekstrom: 📚 Read Making It Without Losing It 📸 More from Jess: jessekstrom.com More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

The planning. The decision-making. The meals. The work. The parenting. The exercise. The endless list of things you’re somehow supposed to fit into one day. In this solo episode, I’m taking my own advice from Tidy Up Your Life and revisiting one of my favorite ideas: Stop Doing All the Work. When life feels like too much, there are three ways to lighten the load: eliminate it, share it, or outsource it. I’m sharing examples of how I’m doing all three right now, from school lunches and household chores to meal planning and marathon training. If life feels like A LOT right now, this episode is your reminder: tidying up your life doesn’t always mean figuring out how to do everything more efficiently. Sometimes it means realizing you don’t have to do it all. More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

Tidy Tidbits #77 - How to Stop Buying Things You Don’t Need In this episode, I’m talking with Eric Atlas, the author of Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness―and How to Take Back Your Life. His book is about the psychology of understanding why we want new things and how to make better informed decisions about the things that we bring into our home. It’s not about never getting anything new again, but Eric shares about the idea of “adding friction”, which is some sort of delay between seeing the item that you think you need and actually buying it. We need to consider how purchases of things align with our personal values and remember that while businesses aren’t necessarily our enemies, they aren’t necessarily our friends either. Businesses have a bottom line. If you want to take a more intentional approach to the flow of new things into your life, this conversation is your reminder that you don’t have to stop buying new things completely, but you can simply get better at deciding what’s worth bringing home. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack. Read the book: 📚 Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness―and How to Take Back Your Life More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

It’s been a messy week. We made the switch from Pennsylvania back to NYC, I officially started year 19 of teaching, and our three kids started back to school. In this episode, I’m sharing three simple things I’m doing to make the transition feel more manageable: tidying what I can control, putting on my own oxygen mask first, and asking what actually matters to our family right now. When life feels messy, the answer doesn’t always have to be a massive reset and getting back into a rhythm doesn’t have to mean getting everything back in order. Sometimes you just need to make sense of the mess, tackle a few things, and move on. This episode is sponsored by TOBIQ. Our family loves their organized, compartment-style bags for travel, school, and everyday adventures. Save 15% with code TIDYDAD. More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is sponsored by Plantifique. Emily and I both turned 40 years old this summer, so quality skincare has been on the mind. Plantifique is a female-founded, Korean-developed skincare brand built on one idea: feed your skin barrier, don’t fight it. You can head to plantifique.com/tidydad and use code TIDYDAD20 for 20% off an order + a FREE gift. What should our kids be eating? Should we be adding more protein? Should every meal be perfectly balanced? Should we sneak vegetables into foods they already love? And is there even such thing as a should? Today I’m joined by Jennifer Anderson, nutritionist, mom, and the creator behind Kids Eat in Color, to talk about her new book, Feed Them Well. Jennifer shares one of the most important lessons she’s learned: stop “shoulding” yourself when it comes to food. Because all that pressure, anxiety, fear, and guilt can make feeding ourselves and our kids feel a whole lot more difficult than it needs to be. We talk about Jennifer’s simple formula for building a balanced meal: protein + fat, carbohydrate, and color, and why she thinks of protein + fat foods as “sanity foods” that can help keep kids full and fueled. If feeding your family has started to feel like one more thing you’re supposed to be doing perfectly, this conversation is your reminder: you don’t have to. More from Jennifer Anderson: 📚 Order Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Life 📸 Follow along with Jennifer on IG: Kids Eat in Color More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

I was standing on a beach in Bermuda in my butterfly swim briefs when my sisters broke the news via text: Dolly Parton had passed away at the age of 80. Butterflies had always been a symbol for Dolly, and for my 40th birthday, my sisters had given me a Dolly “Cup of Ambition” mug, a nod to her iconic song “9 to 5.” There was something especially poignant about learning of Dolly’s death the same week I’m sharing my conversation with Amil Niazi, author of Life After Ambition: A Good Enough Memoir. Ambition can have such a hold on us. But what if this school year, and this season of our lives, didn’t have to be about doing more? What if it could simply be… good enough? In this episode I talk with Amil about ambition, parenting, back-to-school pressure, and what happens when we stop believing that more is always better. Dolly had her own definition of ambition. Amil is asking us to reconsider ours. Maybe instead of constantly asking, “What’s next?” we can occasionally look around at the life we already have and say: “This is good enough.” FREE Download: My Teacher’s Favorites - to inspire small gift giving opportunities More from Amil Niazi:📚 Order Life After Ambition: A Good Enough Memoir 🗞️ Amil’s Column for The Cut and on Substack📸 Follow along with Amil on IG More from Tidy Dad:📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook)🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

What does tidying up your life have to do with becoming a clown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Apparently, more than you might think. Tyler Moore (Tidy Dad) shares how a childhood tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Kentucky eventually led to attending the parade with his own kids in New York City, becoming a Ronald McDonald balloon handler, touring Macy’s Studio, and now applying to become a clown in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And The New York Times broke the news before he did. Tyler takes you behind the scenes of his experience as a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon handler, including a 3:30 a.m. call time, wrangling Ronald McDonald through Manhattan, crouching underneath the Bluey balloon, and learning how the floats, balloons, costumes, and props are handmade at Macy’s Studio. Tidying up your life isn’t only about decluttering your home, creating better routines, or getting everyone out the door on time. Sometimes it’s about making space for something that serves absolutely no practical purpose, except that it brings you joy. The question is, “Are we leaving enough room in our ordinary lives for the extraordinary?” Maybe even becoming a clown. Read Tyler’s SIX features in The New York Times (in the episode I mentioned four articles, but while I was grabbing the links, I realized there were a couple more!) * 2017: In Queens, a Rent-Stabilized Family Compound * 2024: Crowds Turn Out for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Despite Rain * 2025: The Easiest Way to Feel More Organized * 2025: 5 Organizing Books to Bring Order to Chaos * 2026: In This Housing Market, the Second Home Comes First * 2026: The Influencers’ Thanksgiving More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

Building on Episode #70, “Back-to-School Isn’t a Day, It’s a Season,” this episode is focused on the routine I’d address first. It’s small but surprisingly complicated: getting out the door and then getting everything put away when you come home. Using strategies from my experience as a teacher, school administrator, and dad of three, I’m sharing my simple routine framework that actually works. The goal isn’t a picture-perfect entryway or a flawless morning routine. It’s to design a routine that makes an ordinary part of your day a little smoother. Notice the moments when your family gets stuck and ask: What is making this more difficult than it needs to be? Sometimes the solution is as simple as moving the socks. Mentioned in this episode: * Episode #60: What to Do With All the School Papers * Episode #70: Back-to-School Isn’t a Day, It’s a Season * Large backpack hooks with adhesive strips * 5-tier file organizer for incoming school papers More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

In episode #55 of Tidy Tidbits, I asked, “When was the last time you actually used a cookbook? Not your phone. Not a blog post. A real, physical cookbook with a spine, pages, and a table of contents.” Ever since then, my family has been cooking from Caro Chambers’ cookbook, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, almost every day. Her brand new cookbook, Make It Fast, is filled with simple 15-minute, 30-minute or “walk away” recipes that make getting dinner on the table feel a whole lot more manageable. We’ve been trying out an early copy, and this is the cookbook you need for back-to-school season!! In this special episode, my middle daughter, Matilda (age 9), joins me as my podcast co-host for a conversation with Caro about favorite recipes from her cookbook, strategies for the pickiest of eaters, and creating simple routines that help take the stress out of dinnertime. Sometimes tidying up your life starts with making mealtimes just a little bit simpler. More from Caro Chambers: 📚 Order What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking and Make It Fast 🗞️ Subscribe to Caro on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Caro Chambers More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tidy Dad (Tyler Moore) shares a simple mindset shift that’s helped him navigate nearly two decades in education, as both a teacher, an administrator and a parent. Whether you have school-age children or you simply feel the shift that comes with a new season, this episode offers a calmer approach to one of the busiest times of the year. Instead of adding more back-to-school hacks to your to-do list, focus on a simple reminder: back-to-school isn’t a day, it’s a season, and a practical exercise that helps families prepare for change without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re packing lunches, shopping for school supplies, adjusting to new schedules and routines, or simply preparing for the transition from summer to fall, this episode will give yourself and your family permission to ease into it. Tidy Takeaway: Back-to-school isn’t a day, it’s a season. More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook) 🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This episode is sponsored by TOBIQ. Our family has used their duffel bag backpacks for years, and now we’re adding their everyday backpacks to our collection. With thoughtful compartments, durable materials, and comfortable straps, TOBIQ bags are built for school, everyday life, travel, and weekend adventures. If you’re looking for quality bags that will last, check out Tobiq. Use the code TIDYDAD for 15% off. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

Six months ago, I started a simple 30-day experiment: no checking social media or news between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. That one change created more time, more mental space, and eventually led to another experiment: moving my workouts to the early morning. But jumping straight from sleep into an intense workout wasn’t easy, so I added one more habit: a short morning yoga practice while my coffee brews. What began as an experiment has become a daily routine that helps me feel calmer, stronger, and more intentional before the day even begins. In this episode, I’m joined by Dean Pohlman, founder of Man Flow Yoga, to talk about the benefits of morning yoga, improving mobility, building strength, and creating a sustainable fitness routine. We also discuss why yoga isn’t just for flexible people, how men can benefit from yoga, and simple ways to build a practice you’ll actually stick with. If you’ve been looking for an easy morning routine, beginner yoga tips, or practical ways to improve your mobility and flexibility, this conversation is a great place to start. Connect with Dean from Man Flow Yoga - Instagram: @manflowyoga - Podcast: The Better Man - Website: manflowyoga.com - Membership: Man Flow Yoga Membership - Tidy Tidbits listeners get $20 off an annual plan (the equivalent of getting 50% off our monthly plan over the course of a year) and a free 7-day trial to test the Members' Area & App before committing to a year. - My morning workout video on YouTube More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Tidy Up Your Life - If you preorder the paperback edition of Tidy Up Your Life, you can also receive one FREE year of paid access to The Tidy Times Substack, including every resource, essay, and “Behind the Stories” post. Register your order here! 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

What if the traditional path to homeownership isn’t the only path? This week I’m joined by my friend, fellow Astoria Queens neighbor, and host of the Second Home First podcast, Katie Cline. Katie and I both rent our apartments in New York City as our primary homes, while owning vacation properties outside the city. We talk about the realities of owning and managing short-term rental properties, and our conversation also explores what “home” really means. Is it the home you “own”? Where your family gathers? Where your stuff is? Or simply where your life unfolds? If you’ve ever wondered whether you have to follow the traditional financial roadmap, or if you’ve ever dreamed of creating a different kind of life for your family, this episode is a refreshing reminder that there’s more than one way to build a home. Connect with Katie Cline * Instagram: @bykatiecline * Podcast: Second Home First * Substack: Second Home First * NY Times Article: In This Housing Market, The Second Home Comes First More from Tidy Dad: 📚 Tidy Up Your Life - If you preorder the paperback edition of Tidy Up Your Life, you can also receive one FREE year of paid access to The Tidy Times Substack, including every resource, essay, and “Behind the Stories” post. Register your order here! 📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe