We have a pretty phenomenal team here at Room to Breathe, so we figured it would be time well spent to take a moment and formally introduce everyone - sharing a bit about what they love, and uncovering some of the behind-the-scenes magic that makes Room to Breathe thrive.
Shannon is such a gem! She's an avid knitter, outdoor enthusiast, and fierce lover of local food! She is also a truly gifted professional organizer, leading the Room to Breathe team in Calgary.
Join us in spending a few moments getting to know Shannon!
What do you love about organizing? How did you get started?
It takes a lot of trust on the homeowners’ part to open your drawers, closets, and cupboards. Each time I’m invited in to help someone create a calm, comfortable and functional home, I feel honoured. It’s very rewarding work.
I worked in advertising and public relations for over two decades. It’s a high-stress, fast-paced industry, which I absolutely loved. The day eventually came when I realized it no longer gave me joy. I wanted a big change, but my new job needed to allow me to help people, use my creativity, and not have two days ever feel the same. Organizing ticks all those boxes and is very rewarding. I’m grateful to have met Indianna and the Room to Breathe team.
What’s your favourite space to organize? Where does your organizing light shine the brightest?
I love when clients show me the “junk drawer” or the room “where things get put for now”. It’s very satisfying to sort through items with the purpose of implementing an organized system so that all those things have a designated home.
What’s your best organizing tip/life-hack?
Paper piles up fast for many people. One small change that makes a big impact is to walk from the mailbox directly to the recycle bin. Recycle the flyers and items you don’t need, immediately open important mail, recycle the empty envelopes or things you don't need to keep, and put the important papers in either a “file pile” or an “action pile”. From there, make it a habit to reduce those piles regularly. It could be weekly, bi-weekly or even once a month. Staying on top of it shrinks the overall task time. You can also take steps to reduce the amount of paper coming into your home by signing up for e-bills and setting up either automatic bill payments or recurring bill payment reminders on your e-calendar.
What’s your favourite way to unwind? What do you do for self-care?
Getting out to the mountains is a fun way to unwind. If it’s winter I cross-country ski or snowshoe. I also love curling. When it’s time to relax I like to knit or read a good book.
What are some of your favourite local businesses?
We’re lucky to live in the Ramsay/Inglewood area in Calgary near many fantastic locally owned options— Inglewood Apothecary for essential oils, The Next Page for books, Stash for
knitting supplies, Ol’ Beautiful for beverages…I could go on and on.
My husband is a chef so we are always trying lots of different foods—my current favourites are a short stroll away—fries from Inglewood Drive-In, Mamma’s Meatloaf at Spolumbos, Blue Store chicken and Ari Sushi rolls. I will also shamelessly plug my hubby’s barbecue meats from Wade Made BBQ (my personal fave is the jalapeno popper appetizer featuring house-made bacon jam).
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
It used to be to try parachuting, but I’m revising my list!
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
I’ve been reading books from a “must-read classics” list and I recently enjoyed The Heart
Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
