About

Welcome! The Small Stuff Counts is a medley of inspiration for fueling your creativity, decorating your home and organizing your life. Your projects don’t have to be huge – even the small stuff counts! My name is Emily, and I’m so glad you found your way here.

Is This Blog For You?

Check all that apply:

• Creative projects always bring a smile to your face, and you wish you had more time for things like journaling, crafting, decorating and letter writing.
• You need practical, affordable ideas for transforming your uninspiring house into a perfectly curated home filled with creativity and character.
• You need a better system for organizing your schedule and to-do lists. Those sticky notes scattered everywhere and your out-of-control inbox are just not cutting it anymore.
• You yearn to be that thoughtful person that always gives unique gifts. You want to send colorful snail mail to family and friends, but almost always forget until the occasion has passed.

If you said ‘yes’ to any (or all) of the above, this is the right place for you. I’m here to help you. This blog is like a giant bowl of savory ice cream filled with inspiration for adding creativity and organization to your everyday life, and drizzled with advice on curating and decorating a home you truly love (no matter how small your budget may be). Add colorful sprinkles of snail mail, gift ideas and happy thoughts on top, and you have a place you can turn to for inspiration to live a beautiful, creative, organized life.

Since we just met, I’d love to give you a gift. I created this free course to help you organize your weekly routine:

I hope you’ll join me on this journey to live a beautiful, creative, organized life that’s uniquely YOU. Please, be my guest and stay a while.

Have We Met Yet?

My name is Emily Counts. I am a cheerleader for all things creative, be it organizing, home decor, craft projects, or gift ideas. This blog is my happy place, the place I share ideas and projects that I hope will inspire and motivate you.

I’m sort of strange in the fact that I really enjoy those ice breakers where you share fun facts about yourself (there’s a reason I was an orientation staffer in college!), so here are some things you may find interesting:

I am a classic oldest child who loves lists and organizing.

I am the oldest of four children, two younger sisters and one brother. I grew up with my many cousins nearby, and I will never forget the canoe trip we took one summer afternoon. Without realizing it, the oldest siblings ended up in one canoe and the middle children ended up in another. Guess which canoe had a smoother, more relaxing afternoon? My canoe capsized and I got stuck holding onto a tree branch for dear life (did I mention I can’t swim?). As an oldest child, I like to be in charge. I love to make to-do lists, grocery lists, goal lists, lists of lists even. I’m an obsessive organizer, to the point where I rearrange my husband’s shampoo bottles every time I shower so they’re evenly spaced with the labels facing out.

My heart melts over pretty office supplies.
No joke. I spend way too much time admiring the colors in the stationary aisle, and I could gush over pretty storage containers for hours. Pretty file folders and glam paper clips are my jam.

I’m an introvert, although you may think I’m an extrovert when you first meet me.
I don’t mind public speaking, I organize big events, and I often find myself at public social gatherings talking to strangers. Many people think I’m extroverted when they first meet me, but I need a lot of alone time to recharge in between those things. I manage marketing and tourism projects for the chamber of commerce in my town, which means I often find myself in the center of public happenings. I can keep that energy up all week, but my idea of a fun Saturday afternoon includes unwinding at home writing some snail mail, hanging a gallery wall, and binge-watching Gilmore Girls.

My house is my happy place.
We bought our first home in November of 2014 and I’ve been decorating it ever since. I incredibly enjoy spending my free time personalizing our little house and making it a relaxing and beautiful place to spend our time. This house will never be complete, but that’s okay. I enjoy the process of tackling one little thing at a time.

I’m the classic hard-working Iowa farm girl.
I grew up on a family dairy farm in northeast Iowa. I was extremely involved in 4-H and FFA and spent my free time doing chores and working on projects for the county fair. I was once a dairy princess and have a tiara to prove it. Although I now live in town and don’t get to the farm nearly enough, a big piece of my heart is still in the country and I wish every kid had the chance to grow up on a farm. I don’t talk about farming on this blog, but if you have any burning questions just let me know!

This blog has grown into something bigger than I ever dreamed.
I started out as a girl who just loved to write and would ramble about random thoughts. The Small Stuff Counts has since morphed into a place where I’m able to inspire and teach thousands of people. If I can make you smile or ignite your creative spark, then my job is complete.

What Now?

You may want to check out some of these reader favorites:

Fueling Your Creativity

Finding Inspiration Beyond Pinterest
Tips For Sending Thoughtful Snail Mail
How To DIY A Brush Stroke Scarf
Give the Gift of Pre-Planned Dates

Decorating Your Home

“Happy Everyday Garland”
Bold Blue Dining Room Makeover
One Room Challenge: Craft Studio Makeover
How To Hunt For Thrift Store Holiday Decor

Organizing Your Life

Resolve To Get Organized Series
How I Organized My Week For Maximum Productivity & Focus
My Secret Weapon For Keeping My Email Inbox Under Control
Simple Scarf Organizer

Wow! I can’t believe you made it all the way to the bottom. I cannot thank you enough for being a part of my blog, and I hope you like reading it half as much as I enjoy writing it. If you’re ever in central Iowa, let’s grab coffee!

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