Going Places is a series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.
Born and raised in Johnson City, Tennessee, Margaret Longhouser first fell in love with travel while tagging along on her father’s business trips.
“My dad traveled a lot for work, and our family often went with him,” she shared. “I learned from an early age how to adapt to new places—and that travel meant being flexible.”
The flexibility she learned early in life continues to serve her today, whether it’s while traveling, parenting, or progressing in her career. Margaret holds a Master’s degree in childhood education—and while teaching was once her passion, she pivoted careers when she became a mom.
“I’ve always been an organizer, so when I stopped teaching, it was very natural for me to start my own business helping other people get organized,” she said. “It’s so hard to reset your own space, and I love to help people do that. I get a lot of joy and satisfaction from my work.”
Earlier this year, she pivoted once more: from a solopreneur to joining forces with her business partner, Kylie. Together, they formed Organizing for Life with Well Placed Donations with the mission of transforming cluttered spaces into organized and functional areas, tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients.
“We’re a great team,” Margaret shared. “And while we’re based in Tennessee, we love to travel to clients—and we help clients get ready to travel, too! Need help packing, or getting organized after a trip? We’re here for you.”
Girls just wanna have… organized travel plans
When Margaret and her friends decided to take a girls’ trip to Napa, it came as a surprise to no one that she took the reins on planning it.
“I love the trip-planning process, so I tend to take the lead,” she said. “But that was a trip with a lot of reservations: flights, hotels, vineyards, restaurants. TripIt made it so simple by creating a seamless itinerary. Plus, I could share it with everyone on the trip, so they were always in the know about our plans.”
That meant a stress-free trip for everyone, including Margaret. “With TripIt, you get to enjoy being on a trip, instead of worrying about the details.”
Related reading: How to Actually Relax on Your Next Vacation
And she knows a bit about stressing over a trip. “I like to over-plan a trip,” she confessed. “But there’s a difference between over-planning and over-scheduling.
“A few years ago, I planned a mother-daughter trip to New York City. I booked everything in advance, and completely over-scheduled us. We were both exhausted by the end of the trip. I learned my lesson: It’s okay to make a ton of reservations, but give yourself the flexibility to change your mind and go with the flow.”
But you still need to do the prep work, Margaret advised, like booking (flexible) reservations and packing with intention.
On the packing front: “I always tell my clients to keep a bin near your suitcase, and stash all your travel-related things in it: extra headphones, travel-sized toiletries, passport holder, and so on. That way, when you need to start packing, you can go to your bin and quickly pick out what you need for this trip.”
She also swears by packing cubes and bag inserts with dividers. “Traveling with two teenagers, I’m always on the lookout for ways to keep all of our stuff organized.”
New places, shared spaces
On the subject of raising teens, Margaret shared that she wants her girls to experience the beauty—and lessons—she did while traveling.
“I’ve loved seeing how they change when they get to travel to new places,” she told me. “They’re more relaxed, more flexible. They’re trying new foods, even though they’re typically picky. Their eyes are wide open to the whole experience.”
Right now, Margaret’s goal is to make as many memories with her family as she can. And that often means a multi-generational trip—parents, grandparents, and kids. But planning that kind of trip comes with its own unique challenges, like finding the right accommodations.
Naturally, I had to ask: Hotel or vacation rental?
“Vacation rental, on the water, near the golf course, with access to outdoor activities, and close to restaurants. I need a place that has something for everyone—including space to be together, but also separate rooms for the teens to get their alone time.”
Lately, Margaret has been satiating her waterlust by heading to lakes of North Carolina or the beaches of Florida. But her dream trip? “Greece. My girlfriends and I want to take all of our kids there. It would be the ultimate girls’ trip—all of my best friends and my girls. What could be better?”
Follow Organizing for Life for more ways to stay organized—before, during, and after your trips. And catch up on all Going Places features to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more.
