Occupation: I am a professional organizer and owner of The Organized Hive, which is based here in Newtown. I help clients who are feeling overwhelmed by their stuff and by their spaces. I help them to eliminate clutter, simplify spaces, and streamline their systems so that we can make room and time in their lives for what matters most to them.

Family: I have a wonderful husband, Luke. We met at Keene State College and have been married 27 years this September. He’s a teacher in Region 15 at Memorial Middle School. We have two boys. My older son, Joel, just completed his freshman year at Ithaca College, and he is in the combined Bachelor’s-Master’s degree program for occupational therapy. My younger son, Kyle, just graduated from Newtown High School. He will be attending UConn at Storrs in their School of Business in the fall. My mom still lives Croton Falls, N.Y., where I grew up; my sister lives in Patterson, N.Y.; and Luke’s brother and his family live in Sandy Hook — though we moved here first. They moved down from Montreal to join us.

Pets: I have a 10-year-old cat named Meg. She likes bins and boxes, just like I do.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved in the fall of 1997, so it’ll be 22 years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to do anything outdoors. We go hiking in the woods, camping, and play tennis. Most recently, I started a new hobby, in preparation of being an empty-nester in the fall, of trying to watercolor. I’ve been watching videos of artists online, and I've been doing tutorials.

Do you have a favorite author? I’ve read a lot of Carl Hiaasen. I think he’s hilarious, and he always writes with a message.

What is your favorite travel destination? We go to Hilton Head, S.C., frequently, but pretty much my only criteria is that it has a beach. Anything with sunshine, beach, and waves and I’m happy.

What is the best part about Newtown? The quaintness, the people, the schools, the restaurants — there’s a million things great about Newtown. We have everything.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? Luke. He has been my best friend for all these years. He encourages me to do things I wouldn’t be brave enough to do on my own — like quit my corporate job and start my own company. He’s really supportive and loving.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? My dad, Art Outhouse. He passed away before I opened my business and was always an organized guy.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I’ll listen to almost anything. I like the band The Script.

Do you have a favorite TV show? We don’t watch very much TV, but what my husband and I do is watch anytime there is a tennis Grand Slam. When the kids are watching TV, we’ll watch with them and it’s usually The Office, Modern Family, and Frasier.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? I was talking with my college roommate, Tracey, when we were both starting to have families, and she told me, “You’ll likely work for the majority of your life, but your kids will only be young and with you for a fraction of that time, so plan accordingly. If you prioritize work over kids, you’ll miss out and can’t get that time back.” That mindset really guided me in my decisions, like when I was working in corporate and negotiated for part-time and working from home.

What is something you cannot live without? Jokingly… my label maker. More seriously, I’d say the things that keep me warm. I am always cold, so I appreciate fleece, heated car seats, my wood stove, and a hot cup of coffee.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Raising two kind boys! Also, having the courage to leave corporate, start my own business, and have it be a successful, viable business. I wish I did it a long time ago.