Relationship expert Angela N. Holton joins us to share Conscious Dating strategies that focus on self-love and connection, even in the midst of social distancing and quarantine. Angela N. Holton, is an International Dating & Relationship Expert, Speaker, Author and Founder of Love Sanctuary, an online spiritual and personal development site centered on helping women and men create more love in their lives from the inside-out. She is the Creator of The Conscious Dating Method, a modern and revolutionary approach toward dating and relationships and the author of The Conscious Dating Method Workbook Journal. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy (https://10to8.com/book/fortheloveoftidy/189638) Join The Spark Joy Club today! (https://www.patreon.com/sparkjoy) In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Angela became an international dating coach Angela's definition of self-love and why it's so important as we date How to build self-love into our homes, schedules, and routines The Conscious Dating Method - how to become what we are seek How letting go is a common theme across both tidying and dating Tips for navigating dating during quarantine and beyond Social distance dating ideas How to make dating a priority when there are other things fighting for our attention Tips (do's and don'ts) to help you make online dating spark more joy and how to get started Angela's favorite dating tip: Have fun and date with curiosity. What sparks joy for Angela: Waking up and sharing her gifts. To connect with Angela, you can find her at lovesanctuary.com (https://www.lovesanctuary.com/) and on instagram @angelanholton (https://www.instagram.com/angelanholton/). You can also pick up Angela's book, The Conscious Dating Method Workbook and Journal (https://www.lovesanctuary.com/conscious-dating-method-workbook). Gems: "Relationships begin and end with relationship with self." "We are naturally wired for connection." "How are you learning how to be in a relationship if you're not dating?" You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/) Special Guest: Angela Holton.

David Allen, master personal productivity specialist, joins us to explore the intersection between his famous Getting Things Done Method and KonMari. “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. We should be looking toward a world of no problems, only projects.” After decades of in-the-field research and practice of his productivity methods, David wrote the international best-seller Getting Things Done (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity-ebook/dp/B00KWG9M2E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=David+allen&qid=1588634544&sr=8-1). Published in over 28 languages, TIME magazine heralded it as “the defining self-help business book of its time.” Today, David is considered the leading authority in the fields of organizational and personal productivity. The David Allen Company, run by David and his wife Kathryn, oversees the certification academy and quality standards for Global Partners offering Getting Things Done courses and coaching around the world. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy (https://10to8.com/book/fortheloveoftidy/189638) Join The Spark Joy Club today! (https://www.patreon.com/sparkjoy) In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -David's journey to becoming one of the most important names in increasing productivity -Learn what the Getting Things Done (GTD) method is all about and how you can use it to increase your productivity and gain more time that spark joy -Practice with David using the GTD method to something as simple as receiving a wedding invitation -David has worked from home since the early 1980's and he shares his tips for WFH that sparks joy -David shares what is meant by "ambient anxiety", an "external brain", and the "two minute rule" -What are Open Loops and how they impact your productivity -Find all of David's books and guides here: David Allen on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/David-Allen/e/B001ILIG4C?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1588634544&sr=8-1) -Learn some of David's time honored tips to increase your ability to Get Things Done with joy! David's favorite productivity tip: "Your head is for having ideas and not for holding them. Stop using your head as your office." What sparks joy for David: David's new video series "Two Minute Tips for Turbulent Times" coming soon. And, walking his little Cavalier Springer Spaniel in the park! To connect with David, you can find him at GettingThingsDone.com (https://gettingthingsdone.com) and on Twitter at GTDGuy (https://twitter.com/gtdguy) Gems: "If you think about something twice, then you are paying it to much attention." "You have to decide what the thing means to you to decide what to do with it." "You need a discreet space to do your work, answer your email and focus. It's best if there is no other activity in that space . And, it should be a place where everyone in the home knows you are "on the job" even if you need to put yellow caution tape around your workspace!" "What has your attention?" "Your head is for having ideas, not holding them. Stop using your head as your office." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/) Special Guest: David Allen.

We can’t predict, but we CAN prepare. We’ve invited Emergency Preparedness Expert Cari Butler to the show to you KonMari your emergency needs to protect you, your home, and those you care most about. Cari is the owner of Emergency Cafe, L.A.'s Premier Emergency Preparedness Concierge Service. She has over 15 years of experience educating and empowering her clients to be prepared and provides personalized consultation services for individuals, families and businesses. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/konmari-tidying-lesson/tidy-a-z-what-to-expect-from-a-konmari-virtual-tidy/) Join The Spark Joy Club today! (https://www.patreon.com/sparkjoy) In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How the Universe put all of the resources Cari needed to support her path to becoming an emergency preparedness concierge, which started 15 years ago - The three steps to getting started getting prepared: 1) Get your supplies 2) Create a plan 3) Practice your plan -Who needs prepare for emergencies and the different levels of preparedness you can embrace -How to organize and store important items in case of an emergency - How to distinguish "what sparks joy" vs. "what should I grab in an emergency" - The difference between a grab and go bag vs emergency kit and what is typically in each - The essential items that is often overlooked or left out of kits - The importance of sharing legacy information Cari’s favorite organization tip: Filing paper into throw away, keep, and file Emergency organization tip: Keep everything together and set a reminder on your calendar to make sure everything in the kit is fresh What's sparking the most joy for Cari: Spending time with her kids as they attend college virtually from home Contact Cari via emergencycafe.com (https://www.emergencycafe.com/) and on Instagram @emergencycafe (https://www.instagram.com/emergencycafe/) Download Cari's top emergency preparedness tips here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/jn1tc4z5a5hkuuh/TOP%20TIPS.pdf?dl=0). Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, enter the code "SPARKJOY10" when shopping on emergencycafe.com (https://www.emergencycafe.com/) Gems: "The Universe knew that this was my path." "The people who hire me are the people that really understand the importance of being prepared." "Bottom line...GET OUT! The joy is going to be that you are alive! Everything can be replaced." "It's fight or flight." The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes! Win one of three bundles consisting of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a fifty dollar gift certificate to the KonMari Shop (https://shop.konmari.com) to select your own Joy Sparking gift, and a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy! Three lucky winners will receive a bundle of all these prizes! To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for detailed instructions on how to leave a review via iTunes. Once there, follow the Apple Podcast instructions to leave us a rating and review in iTunes to help us reach more ears, minds, and hearts. Most important step: Send an email to: contact@sparkjoypodcast.com letting us know you left us a review and what screen name you left it under. This will act as your official entry. Don’t forget this step! It is the only way we can officially log you as entered into the contest. Submit your star rating and review by November 24, 2020. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 1st. **Contest runs from September 1 to November 24, 2020.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2020 show on December 1, 2020*** You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/) Special Guest: Cari Butler.

Ashley Barber, Houston's first KonMari Consultant, shares tips on how to align your KonMari tidying event and lifestyle with your fitness aspirations. Our guest today is Ashley Barber, founder of Simply Maven. She’s Houston’s first certified KonMari Consultant. With over a decade’s worth of experience in group fitness, Ashley blends her health and wellness knowledge with the KonMari Method to teach her clients the best ways to declutter their possessions, organize their homes, and create their best lives. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - Ashley's path to KonMari and the launch of her business - The ways fitness and KonMari intersect under the umbrella of health and wellness - How to spark joy in your fitness routine - what you need to joy check (type of activity, level of intensity, gear, environment) - Ashley's suggestion for Kristyn's 2019 health-focused 90 day goal - Karin's workout evolution - The Kickstarter campaign that inspired Kristyn's goal calendar - The best workout for your body: plank - The ways we can align our home with our goals for fitness and wellness while we are walking through the KonMari categories - Tips for those just starting their KonMari event and looking to shift their attention to health and wellness - How do do a perfect day exercise, going through your day in extreme detail - The timer trick - Ashley suggests for finding a fitness program that works best for you - How ego is a factor when it comes to group exercise Ashley's favorite tidying tip: Take the time to visualize where you want to go. Don't skip this step! What Sparks Joy for Ashley: Her kids. To connect with Ashley Barber, you can find her at simplymavenhtx.com or on Facebook and Instagram Just for Spark Joy listeners, Ashley is offering a 10% discount on active tidying sessions in Houston when you contact her and mention Spark Joy podcast. Gems: - "Mindset is really a key player in successfully completing a tidying marathon or a physical marathon or whatever your goal may be." - "We all have the skills to be 1) a tidy person 2)a fit person. It's just a matter of taking the time to do it and thinking of ourselves that way." - "The trick to find something you can stick with is to find something you enjoy." - "Are you feeling good about what you're wearing to work out in?" - "It's so important to find a routine that evolves with you." - "Sometimes consistency is more important than intensity." - "If there is one exercise that you're going to do everyday, I'd make it a plank." - "If I'm going to do an in home workout, I try to take it to one of the more energetic areas in my home." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Ashley Barber.

Fellow KonMari Consultants Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem share what it was like to work behind the scenes as assistants on Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo." Tricia Fidler is the consultant behind Heywood Park Collective, working with clients in San Diego and the San Francisco area. Jane Grodem is the founder of Spark Joy Bay Area, focusing her practice in the San Francisco bay area. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -Learning more about the Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo -Karin and Kristyn reviewed the Netflix series on Spark Joy Episode 67 Review of Netflix's Tidying Up with Marie Kondo -Jane and Tricia’s roles on the show as subject matter experts -Tricia worked with the Tidying Up families featured in: - Tidying With Toddlers, Episode 1 - Sparking Joy After a Loss, Episode 4 - Breaking Free from a Mountain of Stuff, Episode 6 - Empty Nesters, Episode 2 -Jane worked with Tidying Up families featured in: - Empty Nesters, Episode 2 - Getting Ready for Baby, Episode 7 -Learn about the reports that Tricia and Jane completed to update Marie and show producers on tidying progress -What stood out for Tricia and Jane watching Marie work with the families -Some of the difference between the different cast families -The most memorable part of the show for Tricia and Jane Tricia’s favorite tidying tip: When doing your sentimental category, don’t feel pressured to give things up. Keep the things you love carefully. Tricia calls this the Art of Keeping. Jane’s favorite tidying tip: When you are joy checking, you should be mindful that keeping things with confidence is a good and valid choice. What Sparks Joy for Tricia: This work. It's such an honor to be able to practice KonMari. Also, travel! Tricia loves planning trips now that her home is tidy! What Sparks Joy for Jane: The KonMari vision to “Organize the World” Jane is excited that so many people are learning about KonMari and sharing so many great photos and experiences on social media. Their parting words of wisdom: The three E’s: Empathy, Empowerment and Encouragement. Empathy in your living environment goes a long way toward helping others in your home move toward interest in tidying their own things. Empowering others is also a way to lead others to thinking about making positive choices. And, Encouraging others to surround themselves with things that spark joy leads them to living their best lives. To contact Tricia, visit: heywoodpark.com or on Instagram @heywoodpark_collective To contact Jane, visit: sparkjoybayarea.com or on Instagram @sparkjoybayarea Both Tricia and Jane have a special offer for Spark Joy listeners in honor of the Tidying up with Marie Kondo: Tricia is offering 20% off her 20-hour package for residents of San Diego County package. Visit heywoodpark.com and use the code: newyearnewjoy Jane is also offering a special 20% off a 20-hour package. Visit sparkjoybayarea.com and mention the code: hearttrending Gems: -"We were really there to work with the cast families and to help the families with their homework in between visits with Marie." -"Then language barriers and the cultural difference just seemed to fade away when Marie was interacting with the families." -"The families actually did complete all the categories. Those parts just didn’t make it on the show." -"We really felt it made us better consultants. It taught us more about staying focused on the process as well as the vision." -"The emotional impact Marie made on the families was real. She’s just so calm and compassionate." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guests: Jane Grodem and Tricia Fidler.

[SPOILERS INCLUDED] We review the premiere of Netflix's original series "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo," covering episodes that sparked joy and sharing thoughts on the show from the KonMari Consultant perspective. “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” officially premiered on Netflix New Year’s day. Millions are watching around the world. Tidying Up is taking over Netflix at the top of year and many are getting acquainted with KonMari and falling in love with Marie Kondo. We are very pleased with show and with the response! Joy Checks: - Karin's sleep tracker! Here are the apps she is using: AutoSleep and SleepWatch Kristyn's New Year resolution inspired by Episode 66: The Art of Manifesting and the Harmony Within with Laura Kessler- wake up at the same time every morning SPOILER ALERT! We recommend you stop listening or reading and head over to Netflix to check out Tidying Up with Marie Kondo In this episode, you’ll enjoy: An overview of "Tidying Up" - The debut moment - Feedback from viewers and fans - What we learned about Marie Kondo Our thoughts on what sparked joy about the show from our perspective and hopes for a Season 2 A review of episodes: - Empty Nesters - The Downsizers - Sparking Joy After Loss - From Students to Improvements The reality of reality TV Episode 25: KonMari Myths and Missteps Episode 13: Does it spark joy? How to tell if it's time to hire a professional to help you tidy up and find joy (see Spark Joy Episode 33: How to Become a KonMari Consultant) Gems: - "Marie Kondo has officially experienced, in America, the biggest pile of clutter ever," #mountwendy - "You didn't get to your level of clutter overnight and it's not going to be resolved over night." - "Everyone, now is going to be greeting and thanking and appreciating their home." - "Maybe it will be launched on New Years day every year?!" - "KonMari never says 'this is what should spark joy.' It's much more about how the spark of joy feels." - "Please do not ever feel that you have to suffer in silence. There is help." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Master life coach Laura Kessler helps us manifest our intention and step into our power in the new year through realistic, holistic goal setting, themes, and personal manifestos. Our guest, Laura Kessler is a Communications Expert and Master Coach who helps her clients find their voices literally and figuratively in life, so they can manifest their greatest potential. She’s also a certified Executive Life Coach, which makes her a Triple Threat Master Coach for Life Skills, Career Image and Personal Creative Expression. Laura applies many of the KonMari principles to life coaching, and has a special offer to help you launch 2019 powerfully so you can manifest your intentions. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - The common threads across Laura's diverse clientele - How to have the best year by taking an annual outlook and visibility calendar - How to change your life by asking yourself one question: "What is the one thing that could change everything?" - How to plan your year in a realistic and holistic way to keep you in balance - How to avoid becoming a victim of perfection by creating bare minimum as well as cadillac goals - How to free yourself from negative self talk and be your #1 advocate by having a theme - How to declutter your time management, physical body, your mindset, etc. - How to develop a personal manifesto to track your progress and prevent overwhelm - The difference between "good selfish" and "bad selfish" how they align with our boundaries of time and space in alignment with your values Laura's favorite productivity tip: Gratitude. What Sparks Joy for Laura: Helping people step into their power. Laura's parting words of wisdom: Be seen. Be heard. Be powerful. Be beautiful. To connect with Laura, you can find her at yourvoiceinbusiness.com and on Facebook and Instagram. Laura applies many of the KonMari principles to Life Coaching, and has a Exclusively for our Spark Joy listeners, Laura is providing free worksheets and the option to invest in a private session with her to help you launch 2019 powerfully and manifest your intentions. Gems: "Stage fright is selfish." "You have to be the master gatekeeper of your life." "What is the one thing that you could accomplish that would change everything?" "All or nothing people will end up doing nothing because there is no 'perfect.'" "If your problems today were your prayers before, you know you're on the right track." "How we do anything is how we do anything." "You can do anything, but you can't do everything." "Really generous hearts will drown in the milk of female kindness." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Laura Kessler.

Closet Joy Part 3 of 3. Our guest, Tara Button, helps you curate a mindful life of less throwaway that extends well beyond your closet, ultimately impacting the environment and the global community. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is part three of a three part series dedicated to closet joy. We’ll talk to three guests who are revolutionizing the way we view fashion and style. Tara Button, founder of BuyMeOnce, is at the forefront of the global movement to change the way we shop and live forever. In 2013 Tara went from depressed spendthrift to fulfilled entrepreneur, using a technique she calls ‘mindful curation.” Her new book A Life of Less Throwaway, teaches the steps to master this lifestyle change. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How a cooking pot inspired Tara to get out of debt, change her spending habits and champion a buy it once culture and platform How the "mindful curation" technique featured in Tara's book, A Life Less Throwaway, helps you find out what's meaningful to you Why we need to notice the preassures of advertising and recognize things are typically not made to last a lifetime, perpetuating the cycle of buy, use once, throwaway How you can "take stock" of the things in your home to focus on how you accumulated your stuff and how to find things that help you live your life's purpose How Tara's book helps you get off the trend treadmill and decide what kind of person you want to project to the world Celebrities that are trending for repeating the same outfit on multiple occasions How longevity (buying things that last longer) has the biggest impact on the planet (bigger than recycling!) How looking at your past Amazon purchases can help you confront your consumerism and shopping patterns How Tara is not a naturally tidy person, but was able to apply decluttering techniques and be more discerning about the things she purchases How identifying what makes you happy and what gives you purpose helps you understand how to make certain things in your home accessible The connection between mindful curation and finding your purpose and priorities, while focusing on the things that matter. How thinking about what you want people to say about you once you're gone helps you understand what you really care about How researching and writing down colors, styles, fabircs, and brands before you start to shop will help you be more mindful and sustainable when you shop The system that determines what products land on BuyMeOnce Mindufully curated closet maintenance tips, including the Guppyfriend Washing Bag How to properly "do your colors" to get a sense of which ones bring you alive Examples of items in Tara's home that she's only bought once Gems: - "The whole world is trying to persuade you to buy mindlessly." - "People don't talk about longevity when it comes to the planet." - "I now don't bring anything into my home that I'm not going to have for a decade or so." - "When it comes to things that are going to make us happy in the long term, it's all about our community and relationships." - "The fashion industry is the second most poluting industry in the world, after the oil industry." - "As humans, we know we need things to survive. Not shopping is not an option." - "Buy things that will make you feel good in the long term." - "Write a list of the things that you don't need in your life and you'll feel a surge of gratitude for everything you have." Tara’s favorite tidying tip: Start with items that are not emptionally resonant. Start with your pants! What sparks joy for Tara: Taking a moment out of her day to be creative by writing children's books. You can find more about Tara by visiting www.buymeonce.com. Be sure to pick up Tara Button's book, A Life Less Throwaway, and follow her on Instagram (@tara_button) and Twitter (@tarabutton) You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Tara Button.

Our guest, Saya Hillman, helps us answer the question “why not?” instead of “I can’t?” in order to live a Life of Yes℠. Today’s guest challenges us all to think beyond fear and embrace a Life of Yes℠. Saya Hillman started Mac & Cheese Productions℠ in 2004 after she got fired from her last full-time job and had no idea what she wanted to do. Being fired turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. Mac & Cheese Productions℠ is now a lifestyle business that provides creative solutions to common problems through its Life of Yes offerings. At its core, is the belief that the segments which make up our lives shouldn’t be sources of stress, but sources of joy and ease. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - Saya's journey from wanting to feel invisible in order to avoid sticking out in a crowd to unapologetically embracing a life of yes - How Saya came up with her memorable business name, Mac & Cheese Productions - How Saya's networking events break the mold and reflect who she is - How sharing each other's vulnerabilities connect her guest "Cheese-Its" together - How you can get further in life by being experience focused instead of results focused - How Saya helps people transform by embracing productivity, public speaking, sales and other things that cause people stress and pain to be filled with ease and joy - How you put the hardest tasks behind us by eating a frog at the beginning of the day - How Saya makes her every day life easier and more productive by staying within her Life of Yes radius - How sharing a spontaneous moment of sharing her vulnerabilities helped Saya relate to her audience during - How the Spark Joy paper clutter episode connects to the path of digitizing our life - A travel hack Saya and her husband use to avoid getting overwhelmed with digital clutter - How Saya manages her "to reads" - How letting go of productivity systems that ultimately don't spark joy will set you free - When it is the right time to go nuclear on your inbox - How Feedly helps let go of subscription guilt - Why Saya decided to go completely paperless when it comes to her business and how she cleans her "digital closet" - How bulk work can help you handle your work and not hate your life - How the simple act of silencing push notifications can help you feel in control when it comes to technology and incoming information - Why improv was the top three adult choices Saya made as an adult that changed her life Saya's favorite tidying tip: Digitize all of your sentimental items What sparks joy for Saya: Travel hacking her way to Japan with a $250 first class ticket To connect with Saya visit www.macncheeseproductions.com . You can also find her on Twitter or Facebook . Gems: - "What makes you different are not things to be ashamed of, but to hold up to the light." - "I want my business to reflect my personality." - "We set ourselves up for disappointment when we are results focused as opposed to experience focused." - "Do you have a source of stress that is self created?" - "You should set up your life in the way you want it to be lived." - "My way isn't the right way. The right way is what works for you." - "Such magic can happen when you do voice whatever it is that is causing you any type of negativity in your life." - "The perfect time unicorn doesn't exist. You need to do that thing you need to do, and do it now." - "I'm completely paralyzed because I know i have a problem, but it's so overwhelming I'm not going to do anything." - "Are you spending a lot of time spinning your wheels?...and if you are, how can you stop that?" - "Have your default be yes instead of no and why not instead of I can't." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Saya Hillman.

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn, talk about 17 obvious and hidden costs associated with living with clutter that is slowly stealing your joy. In this episode, we attempt to uncover and put a price tag on the hidden costs associated with delaying your KonMari tidying event. Like many common lifestyle challenges (losing weight, getting out of debt, finding a new job) the longer you wait to get started, the more the issue compounds and slowly steals your joy. So it’s time to get real and talk about the physical and emotional costs associated with keeping clutter around. Now we want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin surprises her mom in Kansas City and Kristyn finds joy on the 606 running trail in Chicago. We breakdown 17 costs associated with clutter: The cost of storing your clutter outside of your home The cost of not using everything that you've purchased The cost of having unutilized space within your home Clutter Cost Formula The cost of buying/renting a bigger home to accommodate things that don't spark joy The cost of the clutter damaging your home over time Calendar clutter: time and energy Refer to Ep 30 | Simply B Organized with Laurie Palau The cost of clutter getting in the way of you finding what you need The cost of clutter getting in the way of things you truly need to do Book: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Refer to Episode 16 | Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson The cost of negative thinking or self talk The cost of ignoring your own reality The cost of using shopping to cope Refer to Episode 31 | Shopaholic No More with Dr. April Benson The cost of linking your self worth to a certain type of collection of things or a particular lifestyle The cost of clutter that blocks your ability to execute certain physical activities The cost of clutter that limits your ability to make healthy choices Refer to Episode 3 Face Your Stuff with Dorothy The Organizer The cost of clutter that limits relationships and your quality of life with your friends and family The cost of clutter that prevents you from accessing information critical to uncovering the reality of your finances, preventing you from reaching true wealth/abundance Refer to Episode 6 Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks The cost of clutter that locks you into consumption patterns that lead you to having no choice in the type of job situation or career choice - even if it’s not ideal Refer to the the ChooseFI community The cost of clutter that prevents you from pursuing your life purpose/feeling fulfilled, understanding what true joy means to you Don't worry, we end this episode on a joyful note! We discuss the many ways decluttering can pay you back to counter some of the clutter costs. Gems: "Having a storage locker is like going to visit your past mistakes." "Your space itself is way more valuable than your stuff." "Is this space honoring what's being stored within it?" "Is this space supporting the ideal lifestyle that I desire?" You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Today we walk through how we process and joy check paper using the KonMari Method and also how to stop paper that doesn’t spark joy from crowding your mailbox. Are you terrified of the paper in your home? Marie Kondo is known for her progressive stance on paper. As quoted from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up : “My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away.” We understand that this may be uncomfortable for most people and, as always, we aren’t here to insist that you live a paper free life. But we definitely believe you can live a much more joyful life with a lot less paper. In this episode we discuss the Paper Category, which is the third category within the KonaMari Method. If you're just getting started with KonMari or need a refresher, we recommend you head over to Episode 1: KonMari 101 prior to listening to this episode. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin- I’m upgrading my medicine supply cabinet with some pretty new containers - A tidy home style upgrade! Kristyn- I was featured on the ChooseFI podcast where I got to discuss my path to Financial Independence and its overlap with tidying. Here are a couple of upcoming Netflix series to look forward to: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Playing with Fire News about the KonMari App Hear listener Sharon’s email question about the paper category, which inspired today’s show. Review our episode on the importance of tidying by category: Episode 9: Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake Learn about Delete, Delegate, Diminish, Defer: Episode 16: Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson Find all the manuals you’ll ever need: Manuals Online Review our discussion on keeping paper and other clutter categories under control for the long-term: Episode 41: How to maintain a Tidy Home Post Konmari Learn about shredding services: Shredding Services at Staples Shredding Services at Office Depot Identity Theft Protection Stamps Kristyn's favorite paper storage solution: Locking File Chest Learn about scanning options: Cam Card Cam Scanner Artkive App Google Drive Evernote DropBox How to get off mailing lists: Catalog Choice DMA Choice Hear about DMA choice on: Episode 8: Make Bold Moves with The Traveling Organizer Holly Southerland Opt Out Prescreen PaperKarma App Gems: “My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away.” "Paper is really not that scary and completing the category has the potential to free up so much space in your mind and home." "When thinking about the paper you have stored now, how often have you needed to get something out of your paper storage?" "What necessary documents do you have that are available in another format?" "Keep paper where you will use it." "I have an amount of paper that I’ve deemed reasonable to the point where I can sift through it easily, so it doesn’t require a lot of micro-organizing and labels, and again, additional attention." "My square footage is valuable and I don’t want to waste precious activity space on something that has a limited amount of joy like the paper I’m required to keep." " We promise you’ll be amazed by how little paper you actually need in your life." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Come along with your hosts, Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci as we explore some of the most common KonMari myths and missteps in today’s Spark Joy Podcast episode. As the KonMari philosophy has become more and more mainstream, blog posts, magazine articles and videos have come out viewing KonMari through a critical and challenging lens. These perspectives are sometimes based on misunderstandings or misreadings of Konmari concepts and sometimes these misinterpretations occur as missteps while practicing KonMari. In this episode, we will discuss our thoughts on these myths and provide some practical tips on how to avoid falling into these missteps. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you'll enjoy: Joy Checks! What is Sparking Joy for Kristyn today: a very cute For the Love of Tidy branded onesie for her niece who is due any day now. What is Sparking Joy for Karin today: restoring an antique wooden doll bed for her niece’s birthday Learn about some common KonMari myths: Konmari equals minimalism/minimalism is KonMari Konmari is a selfish activity, fundamentally concerned only with material possession KonMari encourages to you to throw out everything you own to the point where you are either left with nothing or you need to immediately buy new things Learn about some common KonMari missteps: Skipping the step where you envision your ideal lifestyle and living environment Forgetting to honor and acknowledge items for their usefulness especially when you are letting them go Not completing all the categories Thinking about storage and organization before the sorting is completed Being overly concerned with the clutter of other people See what Marie Kondo’s home really looks like: Correction: It has come to our attention that the original article and photograph listed here was a parody article written for April Fool's Day and NOT a house tour of Marie Kondo's apartment. Photographs of Marie Kondo's home have not been made publicly available. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. Read about what some critics say about the KonMari Method: Why Decluttering Guru Marie Kondo is Wrong Why I Absolutely Refuse to KonMari My Life Does It Spark Joy is the Wrong Decluttering Question The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F* Review the importance of the vision statement in Spark Joy Episodes: Episode 1 KonMari 101 Episode 5 The KonMari Lifestyle Our advice to a listener who asks how to address categories when you have items within a category in hard to get to places. Does not being able to completely sort by category mean you are not doing KonMari correctly? Gems: “There’s no right number of things a person should have.” “You can keep ALL of the shoes!” “Time is the most important commodity as opposed to things.” “You’re saying goodbye in a respectful way and you’re putting a positive message out there.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Welcome to the 2018 Spark Joy highlights show! Thank you again for listening and we're looking forward to a 2019 that will Spark Joy! We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -What's Sparking Joy for Karin: The benefits of living a simpler life, gratitude for good health and an appreciation of modern medicine. Keep going, Scientists! -What's Sparking Joy for Kristyn: The joy of living a W-2 free life, the excitement of pursuing her passion and the good health that has come along with it all. -Best of 2018 Highlights. Hear clips from our favorite, and most impactful shows, of 2018: - Ep 39: Closet Joy Part II: Build Your Capsule Wardrobe with Courtney Carver Ep 47: Nailing DIY with The Nestrs Ep 48: Living Life in the Front Seat with Jessica Butts Ep 59: Help for the Chronically Disorganized with Kristi Meyer -A look forward: We'll be releasing encore episodes each Tuesday in December for you to enjoy during the holidays. -Spark Joy Podcast Contest Winners! Spark Joy has been running a contest for a signed copy of Marie Kondo’s “Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up” Tammy [T_Steinbeck] Dustin [Dustin Sherrill] Elisabeth [Elisabeth Swim] Monica [moniru123] Lynn [Hopefilled] CONGRATULATIONS to all our winners! If you are one of our lucky winners, you'll be receiving an email soon and your book will be on the way. -The Spark Joy Podcast Membership Community! We are launching an exclusive community for Spark Joy Podcast listeners! This will be a way for you to support the podcast as well as gain access to some amazing premium features. We are working out all the details but there will be tiers of support that will allow you to become a more involved part of our community, unlock exclusive content and even access personal coaching. Stay tuned to learn more! Gems “We love helping KonMari work for you!” “It helped me get clear on the differences between minimalism and KonMari.” “Why do you want to get organized? When I have clients who don’t continue the process it’s sometimes because their “Why” wasn’t big enough.” “Singular focus around your business and having a point of view. I need to get through one thing at a time.” “I applied this idea of zeroing-in on just 3 goals in 90 days.” “Pick out the books that you consider your friends. Now, I’d like for you to pick out the strangers.” “What a great supplement this podcast is to the KonMari books. I spent time over the summer going through the KonMari process and was feeling great, but, not I feel like I need to revisit some things.” “I love listening to this show while I am going through my KonMari process…keep calm and KonMari on!” “Having heard almost every episode of Spark Joy podcast, my life is completely different. I have a better sense of what I need in my life and what is no longer supporting my values and vision for the future.” “If KonMari were a religion, Spark Joy Podcast would be my morning prayer (wake up and be awesome). Every episode is pure gold, the inspiration I need not only to keep my tidying festival going, but to know I can do something towards my vision: Be Better Every Day." “If Spark Joy can do what they did and are still doing, I can do MY thing.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

We share four reasons why it’s hard to let go and tips to help you release your possessions that are not serving you anymore with confidence and gratitude. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today! (https://www.patreon.com/sparkjoy) In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - What's sparking joy for Karin: Blankets made from recycled sari fabric - What's sparking joy for Kristyn: Cataloging 550 clothing items in my closet using the Stylebook App (https://www.stylebookapp.com/) and her TEDx Talk: Confronting Your Online Order History is the New Self-Care (https://youtu.be/SbgT9Q8_xzs) - Four common reasons it's hard to let things go: - Because it's sentimental - Because just in case I need it "someday" - Because I don't want to be wasteful - Because it's valuable - Emotions that surface that prevent us from letting go: guilt, shame, fear, anger - References to Spark Joy episodes: - Ep 21 | Book Review: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-21-book-review-the-gentle-art-of-swedish-death-cleaning) - Ep 55 | Digitizing Your Sentimental Items with Bonnie Shay (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/ep-55-digitizing-sentimental-items) - Ep 42-44 Sell Your Clutter series (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/ep-42-sell-your-clutter-part-1-luxury-goods-with-the-realreal) - Ep 143 | Quarantine Friendly “Someday” Projects for Today! (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-143-quarantine-friendly-someday-projects-today) Thank you to our newest Spark Joy Club members, at the Joy Sparker Level: - Rachel Maloney - Brian Crimmins Join over 200 serious tidiers who are making 2020 their very last year of being disorganized. We welcome you to extend conversation around taking action, living, and maintaining a tidy lifestyle. The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes! Win one of three bundles consisting of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a fifty dollar gift certificate to the KonMari Shop (https://shop.konmari.com) to select your own Joy Sparking gift, and a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy! Three lucky winners will receive a bundle of all these prizes! To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for detailed instructions on how to leave a review via iTunes. Once there, follow the Apple Podcast instructions to leave us a rating and review in iTunes to help us reach more ears, minds, and hearts. Most important step: Send an email to: contact@sparkjoypodcast.com letting us know you left us a review and what screen name you left it under. This will act as your official entry. Don’t forget this step! It is the only way we can officially log you as entered into the contest. Submit your star rating and review by November 24, 2020. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 1st. **Contest runs from September 1 to November 24, 2020.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2020 show on December 1, 2020*** You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/)

Australia’s first certified KonMari Consultant and Evaluator shares stories tied to her experience of KonMari around the world. Our guest, Gemma Quinn, is Australia’s first certified KonMari Consultant, but she also practices worldwide! She's also a KonMari Consultant Evaluator and works with future consultants during the certification process. Her KonMari approach is informed by over 15 years of experience in business operations and human resources management within the design and creative industries. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -How Gemma's grandfather sparked a love of thoughtful organization. -Gemma's introduction to the KonMari Method and how it changed her life. -Find a book that spoke to Gemma from the Tim Ferris Book Club review here: The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday -How Gemma helps her clients determine what sparks joy even if it involves a mundane household object -What a KonMari evaluator does and how she works with KonMari Consultants to ensure that the quality of the Konmari practice is consistent -Gemma’s international practice as a traveling consultant -How Gemma conveys the guiding light of the KonMari practice to clients regardless of where they live. (Spoiler alert: she doesn’t believe it really changes from place to place -Gemma shares home and lifestyle differences around the world including the confusion around baking ingredients and how many blankets should be on the bed -Read a blog about duvets in Germany! Two Duvets are Better than One! Sleeping the German Way Gemma's favorite tidying tip: "Grow your sensitivity to knowing what sparks joy for you. It will change your life. And... use boxes! Try to get to the point that every item in your house has a box." What Sparks Joy for Gemma: "People! The engagement of people in my life and work. They bring me so much joy." Gemma's parting words of wisdom: "Start by writing out your list of categories and subcategories and just get started with the KonMari Method. We are here to support you!" You can find Gemma at: Gemma Quinn or on instagram and Facebook at: @gemmaquinn.konmariconsultant Gems: “The act of joy checking and thinking about my ideal life allowed me to connect and engage with my belongings far more than I ever had.” "The risk was minimal because being able to help someone lead a life of joy was a risk worth taking." “We are there to help them manage that risk and to be a supporting hand guiding them to help them through this so that they know they are not alone.” "Knowing what will bring you joy does change from culture to culture." "Engaging with other peoples and other cultures personally brings me a huge amount of joy." "Some cultures have more difficulty expressing their feelings. So I try to help clients find ways to be truthful, but still will bring them joy." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Gemma Quinn.

Frank Molignao helps us to explore the alternative practice of homeopathy as we explore ways to infuse our KonMari homes with more health and wellness. Our guest, Frank Molignano, has worked extensively in the mental health field as a homeopath, biofeedback specialist and reiki master. He facilitates a deep connection to well-being, integrating unresolved trauma, and through his practice, supports individuals in moving from contraction to expansion, and from limitation to freedom. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How Frank's father inspired him to look into alternative practices as a teen - The difference between homeopathy and home remedy - The Homeopathy credentialing process - How Frank put Homeopathy to the test to heal himself after being diagnosed with Lyme Disease - The history of Homeopathy - How Homeopathy shifts your attention to holistic health management rather than symptoms-centered care - Homeopathy related common myths and misconceptions (common KonMari myths are featured in Spark Joy Episode 25) - Risks associated with Homeopathy - The importance of consulting a professional alternative practitioner - Where conventional treatment vs. Homeopathy may be more or less appropriate - What well known remedies should be in your Homeopathy first aid kit in your home - How to find a Homeopathy practitioner near you via: - Council for Homeopathic Certification - National Center for Homeopathy - The North American Society of Homeopaths - What makes you a good candidate for Homeopathic care What Sparks Joy for Frank: Minimize the amount of sugar in your diet and drink more water Frank's parting words of wisdom: Homeopathy! To connect with Frank, head over to The Healing Narrative, and find him on Facebook and Instagram. Exclusively for our Spark Joy listenters, check out Frank's Cold and Flu Homeopathic Remedy Chart. Frank is also offering a 25% discount off his initial two hour consultation. Be sure to contact Frank at thehealingnarrative@gmail.com and reference that you heard him on the “Spark Joy” podcast. Gems: - "For as big as the branches are, so too the roots are deep. If your prune back one of the branches, it's not treating the whole." - "This is about cultivating and reclaiming wellness." - "It's not homeostasis. It's really a more dynamic state of health and wellness." - "I think we all have a moment along our wellness or healing journey when we start to question our results." - "Is there a better alternative?" - "The homeopathic model really honors and respects the body and mind in a way that there is an inherent state of balance that we can all come back to." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Frank Molignano.

Marina Wakil hired Karin to help her execute an intense tidying event for her studio apartment in NYC to make room for her to pursue her passion for culinary studies and journalism. Our guest, Marina Wakil, is a college student at NYU and a recent culinary school graduate. She lives in NYC, by way of Venezuela and Miami, in a modern apartment on the Upper West Side. She’s 20 years old and she’s an aspiring food journalist or maybe a food policy writer. While on vacation last summer, she made a decision to reorganize her entire apartment with a KonMari Consultant to meet her changing goals and her upcoming academic plans. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - The moment Marina reached out to Karin and made the commitment to tidy her NY studio apartment with a KonMari Consultant within a period of three weeks prior to starting at NYU - How Marina found a KonMari Consultant after her mom introduced her to KonMari style organizing - How setting a specific, clear goal date helped Marina stay focused and purpose driven - How walking into to the process with a high level vision of what she wanted helped Marina remain intentional when 1) completing homework assignments 2) donating/selling/consigning things quickly - How Marina remained mindful, even though she was executing her tidying event at a rapid pace - How she creating themes within her closet and her kitchen to align with the things she loves to do - The most difficult category Marina had to tidy - How the KonMari signature folding technique made a lasting impact on Marina Marina's favorite tidying tip: Everything you fold, fold it into rectangles!; Check in by asking yourself "Why?" to see if the chaos is attributable to your home or inherent to you. What sparks joy for Marina: Winters in New York Gems: - "When my apartment is hectic, I'm hectic." - "I really just wanted to come to a place where I was really happy with where I was living and that the environment allowed me to create the way I wanted to and be focused." - "It's so beautiful to honor the things you have by giving them a space and giving them place in your home." - "If it's there, it has a purpose." - "I was taking advantage of the space I was at, as opposed letting it take over me." - "This is an object, but it still kind of has it's own little life of it's own." - "My clutter taught me how many things I'd been emotionally holding onto that I hadn't been ready to let go up until that point." - "My clutter taught me more about myself because it was a reflection of where I was at that time." - "Our spaces are so much a reflection of us and who we are as people at the time in which we are inhabiting them." - "Find what makes you happy and believe in yourself!" You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Marina Wakil.

Komono, or miscellaneous items, is quite often the largest clutter category volume wise, so we help you break it down in a way that it manageable and most joyful to explore. Before you continue, if you’re just starting your tidying journey, or in need of a refresher on how categories work in the KonMari Method, listen to Spark Joy Episode 1: KonMari 101 and Episode 9: Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin: The Serene Home was featured in Oprah.com! Kristyn: For the Love of Tidy is tidying up its virtual home! New website launch (with special surprises) coming very soon. Komono Subcategories: CDs, DVDs Skin care products Makeup and perfume Valuables (passports, credit cards, etc.) Electrical equipment and appliances Household equipment (writing materials, sewing kits, linens) Household supplies (medicine, detergent, tissues) Linens Kitchen items Emergency supplies Hobbies Gifts Seasonal items Home decor/furniture Spark Joy listener Lisa submits a question about Komono and craft spaces We help you answer the tough questions: What if I need this someday? Can I keep this as a backup? What if I need this in an emergency? The importance of grounding our miscellaneous item decisions in the vision of our ideal life and living environment We review how to handle the nuances Komono category with care (while keeping your sanity!). For example: Small items Mixed bins of items The "mess” Kid’s stuff Sentimental items (see Spark Joy Episode 55 for more on digitizing your sentimental items) Gems: "Miscellaneous items play a super important role in everyones life. They are sometimes the supporting character in everything that we do." "It might be time to put a hobby in the past, as it may not be something you see as part of your vision moving forward." "It's important to keep like items together to understand the extent of your active supplies and materials vs. materials you are just stockpiling." "Unlike clothing books and paper, Komono category is so broad and everyone will have different subcategories in their miscellaneous." "If everything is important, nothing is important." "What in your home is in such abundance that it's not really feeling important, even though it is a 'must keep' or 'must have'?" "Miscellaneous items often include things that lean more utility than joyful." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Laurel Bern, award winning New York Interior Designer and blogger, shares important and joyful considerations when decorating your home. After 21 years as the principal designer in her firm Laurel Bern Interiors, she has turned her focus to blogging as a full-time occupation. Her award winning blog, Laurel Home has drawn a large following due to her candid style of writing, useful information and warm community of readers. In addition to designing and blogging, Laurel has authored four helpful online interior design guides, for professionals and design enthusiasts alike. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Learn how Laurel got started in the design business. Hear what Laurel sees as the major change in the design business over the last 20 years. Laurel shares how the usual approach to designing your home can be a real “minefield.” Find out more about Laurel’s Design Guides, including her indispensable shopping guide, “Laurel’s Rolodex”- Laurel Bern's Design Guides Hear about some of the most important considerations when decorating your home. Discover Laurel’s love of blogging and how her blogging audience has grown over the last six years: Laurel Bern Interiors Blog Hear Laurel’s suggestions for how to develop your own eye for a design style that you love and that works for your home. Find out about the importance of balance in designing your home. Laurel's favorite tidying tip: Hire a professional! :) What sparks joy for Laurel: “The art of classical ballet. I even take ballet lessons and absolutely love going to performances.” To connect with Laurel, reach her directly on her website, Laurel Bern Interiors, where you can subscribe to her blog and check out her design community.. and even send her a question! Laurel is on Pinterest at Laurel Bern on Pinterest Gems: “I get calls from people who have just bought a couch and can’t get it up the stairs.” “We don’t live in museums.” "Things like scale, shape, color, proportion… it’s like a puzzle. All these things work together.” “I had some professional organizers come to my house and it was the best thing I ever did. It’s a completely different skill!” “I’ve seen some beautiful design ruined by too much clutter.” "Picking a color shouldn't be the first thing you do. It might even be the last decision you should make." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Laurel Bern.

Kristi Meyer, KonMari Consultant, shares tips for the chronically disorganized on how to adapt the KonMari Method in a way that results in lasting change. Have you ever said to yourself: I’ll never be organized. I’ve been this way all my life. I always struggle to keep things tidy I’m such a hoarder! Why can’t I be and stay organized like everybody else? Our guest, Kristi Meyer of Simple Surroundings Consulting. Kristi is a certified KonMari Consultant and a Certified Professional Organizer based in Charleston, SC. She is also an Institute for Challenging Disorganization Specialist in Chronic Disorganization, Hoarding and ADHD and a longtime member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. For the last ten years, Kristi has been helping her clients achieve dramatic change that forever transforms the way they feel and function in their homes. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How Kristi's love for teaching organizing skills to her K-8 students branched into a professional organizing and KonMari practice - The similarities and differences between Kristi's conventional organizing experiences and her KonMari practice and journey - The "aftershocks" that led Kristi to revisit certain aspects of the KonMari Method - More information about how to nail the vision of your ideal lifestyle and living environment - Spark Joy Episode 5 - Hoarding experts featured on Spark Joy Episode 3 and Episode 19 - Kristi's definition of chronic disorganization and hoarding disorder and the tell tale signs of each - How Kristi keeps the basic rules of KonMari intact when working with the chronically disorganized with some adaptations - How Judith Kolberg's book, Conquering Chronic Disorganization influenced Kristi's practice - Kristi's Five Unconventional Rules for the Chronically Disorganized: - Make it social - Overpersonalize - Make it emotional - Adapt to your individual learning and organizational style - Set up a maintenance plan - Kristi's top resources for those who may be struggling with chronic disorganization or hoarding - The Institute for Challenging Disorganization - Dorothy The Organizer - Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding by Tolin and Frost with accompanying workbooks - Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring by Michael Tompkins - Children of Hoarders - Therapists, professional organizers, or certified KonMari Consultants Kristi's favorite tidying tip: Simplicity. The less detail the better. What sparks joy for Kristi: The KonMari Consultant community and her daughter. To connect with Kristi, visit www.simplesurroundingsconsulting.com . While you’re there take, her free quiz "How Organized Are You, Really?" Gems: - "...academic performance could really be correlated to how organized a student was." - "I wanted to have a really huge impact on their physical space and also their mental space." - "I started to realize other stuff around me that seemed to really change my outlook and my thoughts about what I wanted for the future." - "If you find that [clutter] really undermines your quality of life, then that could be considered chronic." - "Talk out loud. Whatever you're thinking in your head, vocalize it out loud." - "Find your treasures. Find the things you absolutely love." - "If you keep [maintenance] very simple simple, it's also going to lead to more relevance to your current self." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Kristi Meyer.

Co-hosts of House of FI podcast join us to explore a simpler path to wealth, shifting our awareness and mindfulness from the pursuit of more stuff to the pursuit of financial freedom. There’s one thing we know for sure. We put our time, energy, and our money towards the things that we value. But what happens when our values are incongruent with our consumption behaviors, placing us in danger of missing out on the freedom associated with living the life of our dreams? Here to help us explore the intersection between the KonMari Lifestyle and Financial Independence are co-hosts of the House of FI podcast - Wendy and Timika. House of FI helps families who dream of retiring early, but are unsure how to do so AND raise a family, figure out a plan. Their guests share their journey to financial independence, early retirement, and debt freedom. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - The true definition of Financial Independence (FI) or Financial Independence Retirement (FIRE) - What led Wendy and Timika to start down the path to FI - Common myths and misconceptions associated with FI - Timika's marathon KonMari tidying experience with Kristyn and how it relates to her financial journey - The "eels" that attach to us, as mentioned on John Roderick's podcast - The end goal: How do you know when you've reached FI? - How influencers such as Mr. Money Mustache or The Dough Roller have calculated fees associated with actively managed retire accounts - How to the get over the getting started hurdle when it comes to FI - The importance of using a tool like Personal Capital to track and manage your net worth - How the FI community handles healthcare coverage - The importance of taking and celebrating the small steps - Podcast's that House of FI recommended to extend your FI community: Journey to Launch and ChooseFI Wendy's favorite FI tip: Tracking your fixed and discretionary expenses Timika's favorite FI tip: Wendy's meal planning tips; Refinance your mortgage to a lower rate when appropriate to free up money for debt pay off; Get a roommate, move from a single family home to a multi to generate rental income, or buy a car that's not brand new. Use travel credit cards to generate reward points. What sparks joy for Wendy: Launching House of FI! What sparks joy for Wendy: Launching House of FI!! To hear more from House of Fi, check out their podcast via houseoffi.com or connect with them on Facebook. After catching up on their latest episodes, leave a review of House of FI on iTunes for a chance to win a copy of Kids Money Habits by Amy Koit. Gems: - "...essentially, setting yourself up so you're in a position to have choices." - "People are also beginning to think more about how to optimize their lives so they can do more things that bring them joy on a regular basis." - "The idea that you have to be extremely frugal to the point of deprivation is one myth." - "When you add it all up, you see the huge mound of money that's exiting your bank account; just like I saw the huge mound of clothes that my three year old climbed on top of when we put it all in one place and went through it one by one." - "What is it that you're doing this for? What are you going to retire to? What does financial independence look like?" - "It's really being more intentional about our money...the balancing of each financial decision..really sticking to the goal." - "Don't be an island. Make sure that you're connected with other people and a community." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: House of FI.

Books form the second signature KonMari Method category. We discuss sorting, organizing, and discarding books and all the challenges and joy along the way. If you are just starting out, or want a refresher on how categories work in the KonMari Method, listen to: Episode 1: KonMari 101 and: Episode 9: Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake These two episodes of the Spark Joy podcast will give you the background you need, in addition to reading Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up , to tackle the books category. Books are special and cherished items for many people, but there’s no denying the fact that physical books can take up a lot of room. Plus, in many cases, once the book is read, the actual book is placed on a shelf and is never used or read again. How can you approach books in such a way that honors the contents, respects the value and importance of books but also enables you to surround yourself with only the things that spark joy? We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin: I practiced KonMari gift giving for my 5th wedding anniversary! I got my husband a returnable gift, in case it doesn't bring him joy...and it's something that is designed to honor books, which totally bring him joy! Kristyn: I was invited to The Jam TV morning show in Chicago to talk about the KonMari paper category. Tips from For the Love of Tidy on How to Cut Down Paper Book Subcategories: -General Books -Practical Books -Visual Books -Religious Books -Sentimental Books How to sort books you have already read. How to sort books you haven't started or started, but haven't finished The challenges involved in letting go of books: -Our attachments to books -Our desire to honor the contents of books -Our attraction to the beauty of books as objects -Concerns about discarding them properly --Listen to Spark Joy Episode 21 on this issue: Book Review: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Options for disposing of books properly: -donations -selling -recycle Summer Brennan's blog post on the challenges of letting go of books: On the Heartbreaking Difficulty of Getting Rid of Books Gems: “Do I really need to take all these books down from their shelves?” “You should use subcategories to view each book in relationship to other similar books, but remember you are evaluating each book on its own merits.” “The goal is not to overwhelm you with the piling part of KonMari…” “Who are you keeping these books for?” “It’s important to honor your books with joy, keep them visible, especially those that are being kept to read 'someday.'” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Single mom Beth Walker walks through her 60 hour KonMari tidying experience while discussing significant changes in her life and the benefits of working with a KonMari Consultant along the way. Today's guest, Beth Walker, is a single mother of three boys and a recent "empty nester." She currently works full time as a Technology Consultant, a career she began out of college, took a break from to raise her boys, and has since gone back to. Beth believes in hobbies and passions outside of her job, the most recent being a keyboard player and vocalist in local rock bands playing throughout the suburban area. In addition to music, she has a passion for all things domestic - knitting, crocheting, cooking and baking...and now tidying! In addition to being a Renaissance woman Beth is one of Kristyn's clients! They've tidied for over 60 hours and are almost to the finish line. We take a deep dive into Beth's journey as she shares the benefits of living clutter free. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How Beth's life coach's suggestion to read The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up led her to seek out to find the support of a KonMari Consultant (Kristyn) Beth's vision of her ideal lifestyle and living environment that grounded her process How tidying has significantly impacted Beth's life in the following areas: Health Career Finances Relationships Community How Beth experienced significant shifts in her ability and confidence to maintain her tidy space How Beth found the accountability and customized support Kristyn provided to be mission critical to her success The temporary sacrifices Beth made to ensure tidying remained a priority and to keep her momentum going Spark Joy Ep 49 | Why Hire a KonMari Consultant Gems: "I've been a hopeless organizer and I could never find that one way to keep it up." "It's so easy to think about what you don't want." "I thought I was shooting for the moon to be honest but, I can tell you I absolutely live that life right now." "This isn't just organizing, it's coaching. It's sitting down...goals, values, how do you want to live your life, let's do it." "Overall, with KonMari, it's allowed me to focus on other goals in my life." "This is the way my house is and this is the way it's going to be and this is who I am now." "It definitely spreads from your physical world to your energetic and spiritual world in ways that you almost can't explain." "It's shown me so me parts of myself I didn't know were there. Or, I wanted to be there." "It was so much work, but so much fun." "...You don't realize you are changing as you're doing it. You don't have to change in order to do it." "I'm not doing [KonMari] because I'm supposed to or I want to. I do it because there is this part inside of me that doesn't want to do it any differently." "You think you're hiring someone to hold to you accountable to a process in a book. what you're really doing is hiring a coach that helps you change your life." What sparks joy for Beth: Having the time freedom to focus on goals and other aspects of their life beyond tidying. You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Beth Walker.

Our guest, Bonnie Shay, breaks down solutions for organizing, digitizing, and preserving your most sentimental items. Do you have boxes and boxes of printed photos/movies/slides/memorabilia that you haven't done anything with? Are you overwhelmed with a huge quantity of digital photos and videos you’ve collected on your computer, camera, tablets, and smartphones? Today we’re dedicating this episode of Spark Joy to one most high anticipated and feared signature KonMari Categories - Sentimental Items. Bonnie Shay joins us today to talk about managing our digital legacy. Bonnie is the founder and owner of Mariposa Photo Organizing established in 2007. She’s managed a photography business for over 20 years and is a Certified Member of the Association of Personal Photo Organizers. She currently curates family photo and video collections that are, shareable, enjoyable, manageable, safe and secure, both now and for generations to come. NOTE: We should remind our listeners that the Sentimental clutter category is the absolute last category to declutter. It should be handled with care and only after you warm up by addressing Clothing, Books, Paper, and Miscellaneous items in that order. If you still have some tidying work to do, we suggest heading back to Spark Joy Episode 1: KonMari 101. Also, if you’ve paused your KonMari progress after addressing miscellaneous items - then this is the episode for you. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How Bonnie believes she was genetically predisposed to making order out of disorder - How Bonnie's 20+ experience in both general residential organizing and photography triggered her current business of curating family photo and video collections - How Bonnie discovered the Associate for Personal Photo Organizers - The tipping point for sentimental clutter in our home and why quality over quantity is important - Reasons why we delay processing sentimental clutter - How you should get started curating your collection and selecting things that spark joy - How to "pile" your digital clutter and some unexpected places it could be hiding - Marie Kondo approved Sentimental item tips - How to grab your content from antiquated media formats - The two ways you should organize digitized sentimental content - How focusing on your intent helps you shape your digital legacy - How to handle inherited collections or digital files that are "trapped" on antiquated machines/formats - Why you should start locally to find a archival service via APPO Partners APPO Partners or Save Your Photos - A backup related rule of thumb Bonnie's favorite tidying tip: Set a timer that gives you a sense of urgency and celebrate at the end What sparks joy for Bonnie: Her dog's morning happy dance :) Bonnie Shay can be found at www.mariposaphotoorganizing.com . She has a special offer just for Spark Joy listeners. Visit www.maraiposaphotoorganizing.com to sign up for Bonnie’s newsletter and receive the Top 12 ways to curate your photo collection. You can also connect with Bonnie on Facebook and Twitter Gems: - "Let's look at the best of the best that tells your story and focus on that." - "Any pile of stuff...represents a pile of decisions left unmade." - "We don't necessarily want the item, but you want to remember the sentimentality of it." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Bonnie Shay.

Luke Reynolds, author of Even More Fantastic Failures!, shares stories of successful people whose past challenges positively impacted their path to success. Luke is a passionate believer in the power of stories to transform lives—especially stories that help us understand that we all fail and flounder sometimes. Luke has been a public-school English teacher at both the secondary and middle school levels, and he currently is an assistant professor of Education at Endicott College. He completed his PhD at Boston College and focuses on teaching, writing, and reading as three crucial paths towards compassion, kindness, and connection. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/konmari-tidying-lesson/tidy-a-z-what-to-expect-from-a-konmari-virtual-tidy/) Join The Spark Joy Club today! (https://www.patreon.com/sparkjoy) In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - Luke tells us about his book, Even More Fantastic Failures, and how he decided to write about how failure can define our later successes. - We discuss how failure can be an important part of learning who we are and what we want in our lives. - Learn techniques to learn from past failures in order to get on a path to success while tidying. - Hear Karin’s favorite story in the book about President Obama. - How to use failure and setbacks to get back on track. - Learn about the universal experiences of failure that Luke found in common with many of the people he writes about. Luke’s favorite organization tip: Luke recalled the story of Alan Naiman. Alan Naiman was a very modest and humble person, but saved all his life to leave a legacy of millions of dollars to his favorite causes. “Focusing on small moments and simple acts of love and connection can make a big difference in the world and create a profound legacy.” What's sparking the most joy for Luke: “Luke is grateful for his very organized wife! He says he can always tell when she’s been in a room, because it always feels better for her being there. (Wow, what a compliment!) Learn more about Luke and his latest book release, Even More Fantastic Failures, at LukeReynolds.com (https://lukewreynolds.com/) And, exclusively for Spark Joy podcast listeners, Luke is giving away a copy of the hardback edition of his book! To win, be the first to email contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with “Even More Fantastic Failures” in the subject line. Gems: “I know there’s a lot of failure that happens that redirects someone to getting where they want to be.” “Even when people achieved some great thing, it didn’t mean that the struggle is all over.” “All of that path, all of that letting go, prepared us for what was really for us.” “Nothing is wasted, it all matters.” The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes! Win one of three bundles consisting of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a fifty dollar gift certificate to the KonMari Shop (https://shop.konmari.com) to select your own Joy Sparking gift, and a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy! Three lucky winners will receive a bundle of all these prizes! To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for detailed instructions on how to leave a review via iTunes. Once there, follow the Apple Podcast instructions to leave us a rating and review in iTunes to help us reach more ears, minds, and hearts. Most important step: Send an email to: contact@sparkjoypodcast.com letting us know you left us a review and what screen name you left it under. This will act as your official entry. Don’t forget this step! It is the only way we can officially log you as entered into the contest. Submit your star rating and review by November 24, 2020. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 1st. **Contest runs from September 1 to November 24, 2020.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2020 show on December 1, 2020*** You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/) Special Guest: Luke Reynolds.

Our guest, Saya Hillman, helps us answer the question “why not?” instead of “I can’t?” in order to live a Life of Yes℠. Today’s guest challenges us all to think beyond fear and embrace a Life of Yes℠. Saya Hillman started Mac & Cheese Productions℠ in 2004 after she got fired from her last full-time job and had no idea what she wanted to do. Being fired turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. Mac & Cheese Productions℠ is now a lifestyle business that provides creative solutions to common problems through its Life of Yes offerings. At its core, is the belief that the segments which make up our lives shouldn’t be sources of stress, but sources of joy and ease. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - Saya's journey from wanting to feel invisible in order to avoid sticking out in a crowd to unapologetically embracing a life of yes - How Saya came up with her memorable business name, Mac & Cheese Productions - How Saya's networking events break the mold and reflect who she is - How sharing each other's vulnerabilities connect her guest "Cheese-Its" together - How you can get further in life by being experience focused instead of results focused - How Saya helps people transform by embracing productivity, public speaking, sales and other things that cause people stress and pain to be filled with ease and joy - How you put the hardest tasks behind us by eating a frog at the beginning of the day - How Saya makes her every day life easier and more productive by staying within her Life of Yes radius - How sharing a spontaneous moment of sharing her vulnerabilities helped Saya relate to her audience during - How the Spark Joy paper clutter episode connects to the path of digitizing our life - A travel hack Saya and her husband use to avoid getting overwhelmed with digital clutter - How Saya manages her "to reads" - How letting go of productivity systems that ultimately don't spark joy will set you free - When it is the right time to go nuclear on your inbox - How Feedly helps let go of subscription guilt - Why Saya decided to go completely paperless when it comes to her business and how she cleans her "digital closet" - How bulk work can help you handle your work and not hate your life - How the simple act of silencing push notifications can help you feel in control when it comes to technology and incoming information - Why improv was the top three adult choices Saya made as an adult that changed her life Saya's favorite tidying tip: Digitize all of your sentimental items What sparks joy for Saya: Travel hacking her way to Japan with a $250 first class ticket To connect with Saya visit www.macncheeseproductions.com . You can also find her on Twitter or Facebook . Gems: - "What makes you different are not things to be ashamed of, but to hold up to the light." - "I want my business to reflect my personality." - "We set ourselves up for disappointment when we are results focused as opposed to experience focused." - "Do you have a source of stress that is self created?" - "You should set up your life in the way you want it to be lived." - "My way isn't the right way. The right way is what works for you." - "Such magic can happen when you do voice whatever it is that is causing you any type of negativity in your life." - "The perfect time unicorn doesn't exist. You need to do that thing you need to do, and do it now." - "I'm completely paralyzed because I know i have a problem, but it's so overwhelming I'm not going to do anything." - "Are you spending a lot of time spinning your wheels?...and if you are, how can you stop that?" - "Have your default be yes instead of no and why not instead of I can't." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Saya Hillman.

Win a signed copy of Marie Kondo's tidying sequel "Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up" as we celebrate the one year anniversary of Spark Joy podcast! Giveaway runs September 4 - November 13, 2018. We’re so happy to celebrate the one year anniversary of Spark Joy! To thank our faithful listeners, we're also launching a special giveaway that will run through November 13, 2018. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Spark Joy podcast has been downloaded over a quarter million times! The history of Spark Joy podcast Our big giveaway 12 lucky Spark Joy listeners have a chance to win a SIGNED copy of Marie Kondo's book Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up! To enter visit http://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for instructions on how to leave us a star rating and written review. After you've submitted your review, send an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your screen name to be eligible to win. The difference between Marie Kondo's books: The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up Five of our top reviews on iTunes Contest runs from September 4 - November 13, 2018. Winners will be announced during our Best of 2018 show on November 27, 2018. You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Bestselling author Cara Brookins isn't afraid to think big. Learn how building a 3,500 square foot house with her four children using YouTube helped her change her life and help others reach their highest potential. What’s standing between you and your biggest goal? What’s standing in the way of your highest potential and true success? If you’ve let the barrier of lack of time, energy, motivation, or lack of skill stop from completing your tidying event or achieving any other major goal in life….this episode is for you. Today’s Spark Joy guest is Cara Brookins. Not only does Cara live in a tidy 3,500 square foot house of joy that’s beautiful and intentionally designed..she built that house with her four children by hand over nine months using YouTube videos as her guide, overcoming many obstacles along the way. Her bestselling book Rise: How a House Built a Family launched her career as a keynote speaker and media personality. She now helps people understand that reaching your highest potential isn’t just about how hard you work, but about adjusting your mindset and strategy to take full advantage of the hours you’re putting in. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - The events that led Cara to come up with the audacious goal to build her own house in 2008 and her children's reaction to this idea - How YouTube tutorials married with Cara's DIY mindset solidified her plan to build her 3,500 square foot, two-story home - How Cara convinced a bank to secure a loan and a local builder to sell her supplies without a contractor license - The initial reaction Cara received from friends and family when they heard about her goal - How Cara balanced the build with a fulltime job as a computer programmer - The challenges that showed up and the family communication that thrived - How anticipating and considering the worst case scenario helped the Brookins family alleviate fear of the unknown - How Cara determined when it was time to call on building professionals during different phases of the build to complement her DIY efforts and ensure her family's safety onsite - The history of the name of Cara's home - Inkwell Manor - For a peek inside the Inkwell Manor, head over to Spark Joy Instagram Spark Joy Instagram - How Cara intentionally only kept things that she loved in her home and separated nostalgia from joy - The impact this entire experience had on Cara's four children - The transition of Cara's story into a feature film - How Cara's experience with domestic violence led her to be the voice for victims, keeping their safety as the primary concern - The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1−800−799−7233 - The history of Cara's story going viral and her transition to pubic speaking as an extension of her passion for writing Cara's favorite tidying tip: (DIY tip) Everyone needs a cordless drill that you keep in the house. (Tidying tip) Anytime you go in a room, leave it better than when you went in. What sparks joy for Cara: Sharing a message in front of an audience and getting to listen to their stories To connect with Cara visit www.carabrookins.com . You can also find her on Facebook or Twitter and check out her book, Rise: How a House Built a Family. Gems: - "Day after day, it felt impossible and there was no evidence that we would succeed." - "I had to show up every day motivated and determined and positive and certain we could complete it because I had to be that person for the kids." - "Any kind of fear of a new circumstance can become absolutely paralyzing." - "If you don't take a step forward, you'll stay there forever." - "...identify what is the worst case scenario of this thing I'm about to try and can I live with that. If the answer is yes than there is absolutely nothing to fear." - "Never hold onto something because it meant something to someone else." - "Failure at something [the children] try isn't attached to their own self worth." - "Look at yourself. Value yourself and your kids." - "Don't wait until it's the right moment, because it never will be...Start doing it now." - "Tidying has to come not just in your home, but in your mind." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Cara Brookins.

Kay “Ideaignitor” Richardson shares how to gain confidence and overcome shyness no matter what you’re working towards. Our guest, Kay "Ideaignitor" Richardson describes herself as an ordinary girl from South Florida, but her career has been anything but ordinary. Kay built her first successful businesses in her 20's as an ergonomics consultant and occupational therapist. As a self proclaimed shy person, Kay realized that success was not about just being good about something, she knew she would have to do more than just good, she had to learn to overcome her fears and learn to promote herself with confidence. She’s the owner of Clients Who Say Yes as a coach and trainer and hosts the Five Minutes to Fearless podcast. She’s also the author of the book, What a Woman’s Gotta Do. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -How Kay made the transition from an occupational therapist and ergonomics consultant to business marketing and client development coaching. -The shyness that Kay experienced in her early life.. and how she has been able to overcome it and now is able to speak in front of hundreds of people! -Real life stories about overcoming fear by reaching back into their past. -Practical steps to moving past fear in order to becoming more successful in your business. -How to address our tendency to second-guess ourselves. -Kay’s ergonomic tips! - You must a good ergonomic adjustable chair. - Red light-green light method - Don’t have your monitor too high - Always try to be hands free, especially with your phone. -Kay’s ergonomic chart! Get the great chart Kay spoke about here: Kay’s Ergonomic Chart -Listen to Kay’s podcast: Five Minutes to Fearless on Apple -Read Kay’s book: What a Woman’s Gotta Do What sparks joy for Kay today: “Having the opportunity to help individuals with really simple tips to work through their fears so they can tidy up their homes…and their space can be awesome! Working with entrepreneurs who are ready to step into it and not allow fear to interfere with making their way into the world. And my two handsome men!” Final words of wisdom: “Wake up and take action!” You can reach Kay at: Clients Who Say Yes She's on Instagram at: Ideaignator on Instagram and on FaceBook: Ideas to Income on Facebook Kay has a special offer, just for Spark Joy listeners! She is providing a free coaching consultation by emailing her with the subject line: Spark Joy Podcast Moving Past the Fear here: Kay’s Coaching Offer Gems “The more you grow the more you will come back to (fear.) But if you have an idea about where it comes from the more you will be able to change the story.” “That bold move to transform everything that’s there and create something new.” “Are you not feeling good enough or worthy or capable of making this happen?” “There are things in our pasts that are keeping us from being who we are meant to be.” “What will make them say “Yes” to you?” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Kay Ideaignator Richardson.

Our guest today is Amisha Ghadiali. She is the founder and host of The Future is Beautiful podcast and the author of the book by the same name. She also holds retreats combining yoga, meditation and mindfulness. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -Hearing about Amisha's work in politics and the creation of the Ballot Box initiative that she founded: Think Act Vote in Dazed -The amazing story of Amisha’s life changing events that made such a difference in her world view and motivation to make a difference. -How she has found courage to grow her community and her work as an activist. -The Framework of how to put your values into action: (?!X) - Think: Vision - Act - Vote: Support -Watch Amisha’s Ted X Oxbridge talk: Ted X Oxbridge -Listen to her podcast: The Future is Beautiful podcast on Apple -Learn about her community: The Future is Beautiful Community -Take a look at Amisha’s books: The Future is Beautiful Books -The common theme within the stories of the guests she interviews on her podcast: it’s courage! -How we can move toward a beautiful future during this time of turmoil. What sparks joy for Amisha today: "A re-love of healthy eating! Feeling that I’m really nourishing myself." Final words of wisdom: "Don’t let anyone tell you there’s anything you can’t do, the more people I talk to and the more stories I hear, the more I realize that a lot of the limitations that we face are our own, but we really can find our courage and we really can find beauty in the world.” Amisha has a special offer for our listeners. She will provide a complementary intuitive therapy consultation by contacting her on her website here: Amisha.co.uk and be sure to mention you heard her on the Spark Joy podcast. You can find Amisha at The Future is Beautiful and at Amisha.co.uk She’s also at The Future is beautiful on Instagram: The Future is Beautiful on Instagram and Facebook: The Future is Beautiful on Facebook Gems “When we connect to our hearts and minds, and what unites us, our innate goodness and beauty, we find so much possibility, so much opportunity. This is the revolution.” “I had become very academic, and I had become very hands on, volunteering but I wasn’t making things for myself anymore. I wasn’t doing things that were a pure expression of who I was.” “It’s been messy along the way. The process of finding courage and the process of using trauma and tragedy to grow and give is not an easy one.” “Most of us just want a world where we can feel safe where our children can thrive and where we have resources. That’s our common thread.” “I think that we have to take one bit at a time and to not feel that we have to take it on all at once or that all of it is our responsibility.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Amisha Ghadiali.

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn take a deep dive into the value of hiring a KonMari Consultant to help you get organized for good, save time and money, and avoid general headaches that can come with trying to figure this tidying thing out on your own. The KonMari Method is a practice that you can definitely apply to your home independently without the help of others. For those of you who were able to KonMari their space on their own based on the techniques that Marie Kondo outlines in The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, which was published in 2014, Congratulations! That brings us to this: if it’s possible to tidy up on your own, why isn’t everyone already living clutter free life of joy? In this episode, we discuss hiring a KonMari Consultant. Why, and when, it might be the right choice for making a great success of your tidying festival. If you're just getting started with KonMari or need a refresher, we recommend you head over to Episode 1: KonMari 101 prior to listening to this episode. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin- My client this week had a baby today! This family had just moved from an apartment to a new home under an accelerated time frame. We KonMari’ed their things prior to the move and we worked this week on organization in their new home. And, today she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! Kristyn- I’m in the middle of a radio tour to be followed by presenting the KonMari method to 24 libraries throughout the Chicago area. For dates and times, check out the For The Love of Tidy events page: For The Love of Tidy Events Page -Learn why getting and staying organized can be learned. Even if you have never been an organized person, KonMari is a life changing skill that can be learned and applied. -Marie Kondo’s quote regarding learning how to tidy in Cosmopolitan Magazine Cleaning Celebrity Marie Kondo Thinks We Should Learn How to Tidy in School: “One thing that I do think about is perhaps including tidying in education. Not necessarily that it should just be part of education, but it's really about creating a place where everybody knows how to clean. And so that could be in schools — or, of course, it could also be taught at home. But one thing is that in Japan, most schools have home economics as a class. And so to add more cleaning and more tidying and organizing tips into these home economic classes.” -When it may be time to hire a KonMari consultant - Analysis Paralysis - Stutter Stepping - Joy is just not clicking into place -A refresher on how NOT tidying could be costing you money: Spark Joy Podcast Ep 37 | The True Cost of Clutter -Some of the things our clients say to us about how hard it is to reach out for help. -The one thing we hear from almost all our clients. P.S. It’s never true! -The misnomers clients hold onto that hold them back from taking the step toward hiring a KonMari Consultant. -The benefits of hiring a KonMari Consultant: - Accountability - Physical and emotional support - Project and time management - Customized guidance and tools - Real time, objective feedback - Resources - Expertise and experience that extends beyond the realm of organization -The different types of services available from a KonMari consultant: - Initial, free of charge phone consults - In person consultations: - Individual sessions - Consulting packages - Virtual consulting - Workshops and presentations -Here’s Kristyn’s Services page: For The Love of Tidy Services -Here’s Karin’s Services page: The Serene Home Services Page -How to find a consultant in your area: KonMari Certified Consultants Gems: “I actually am a firm believer that it's just about whether you do or don't know the ways that you can declutter. It's not genetic.” "There’s a societal norm that assumes we should all be able to keep our homes tidy-that it's just part of being an adult." "Why isn’t everyone already living a clutter free life of joy? "The good news is there are tons of information out there to help you change your story." “Isn’t this the messy home you have ever seen?” “I know I should be able to do this myself, but I have accepted that I just can’t.” "If you’ve gathered information about KonMari from any and everywhere and you’re still looking for the best way for you to finish this journey once and for all, consider reaching out to a certified KonMari Consultant." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Today’s guest, Jessica Butts, is CEO and Founder of Front Seat Life where she helps people be unapologetically who they are in their life, love and business. Jessica is a retired psychotherapist, life and business coach, author of two popular books and international speaker and trainer. She shares her Front Seat Life methodology all around the country in her super sassy and entertaining manner. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -Learn how the Myers Briggs can teach you about your behavior patterns, both good and not-so-good. -Hear about her work in her two (so far!) books: - Don’t Do Things You Suck At - Living Life in the Front Seat -Learn the three tiers of Jessica’s coaching work: - Who are You? - Where are you Going? - How are you going to Get There? -Understand the 3-S’s to getting yourself and your life settled around you - System - Structure - Singular Focus -Find out about the personality types of the Myers Briggs Scale and how you can you use this information to make better choices: Myers Briggs Scale -Hear about the 4 people in your car and how they influence your behaviors - The Front Seat Driver - The Copilot - The Drunk Uncle - The Baby in the Back Seat -Jessica shares the importance of journaling. And, you learn more about her journal here: Be Unapologetically Who You Are: A Journal from Jessica Butts What sparks joy for Jessica today: Jessica is excited about going back out into the dating world. Good luck, Jessica!! Final words of wisdom: “Figure out your side of the net.” Gems “I was so ridiculously uninspired.” “Our circumstances change but our personality doesn’t change.” “There are four people in the car and each one represents a different part of your personality.” “The first step of any change is awareness.” “Go travel by yourself!” “Be unapologetically who you are” Take Jessica’s quiz here: Front Seat Life Personality Assessment You can reach Jessica at: www.jessicabutts.com On FB at: Front Seat Life On Instagram at: Front Seat Life You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Jessica Butts.

Sarah Karakaian is all about maximizing the design and function of spaces, especially small ones! For Sarah, it all started on the road as a world-traveling performer in hit Broadway musicals, where the only constant was her thoughtfully compartmentalized suitcase. In 2014, Sarah teamed-up with handy hubby, Nick, to create beautiful spaces full-time at Nestrs a professional organizing, design, and handyman company. Sarah and her husband are Airbnb Superhosts and their work has been featured on the HGTV television series, Beach Flip. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - Why enthusiasm is so important for a small business owner working with clients. How Sarah went from theatre to professional organizing. Learn about the intersection between the work of organizing and work in doing renovations When you should do DIY, Do It Yourself, and when it’s between to leave it to the professionals. Learn about a great DIY project that will make a huge impact. What it was like to do a very cool beach project on BeachFlip, the HGTV show. Here is their episode: Sarah and Nick on BeachFlip To connect with Sarah, visit Nestrs.com Follow her on instagram at: @nestrs and Facebook at: The Nestrs Sarah's favorite tidying tip: “Think up! There’s a lot of under utilized space up high that you can make use of and maximize your space.” What sparks joy for Sarah: Sarah and her husband have a new renovation project in Ohio that she is looking forward to diving into! Final words of wisdom: “Being organized is so important. It saves us time, it saves us money, it keeps our stress and anxiety levels under control. And, it can be fun and creative.” Gems: “Is the time spent doing a project enjoyable for you?” “We were there sometimes until midnight demo’ing a space. And there would be times when I just wanted to cry.” "When you work together, it's important to have a way to deal with the stress and tension that will inevitably come up." “We both love transforming spaces and helping people achieve what they want in their homes.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Sarah Karakaian.

KonMari Consultant Brenda Massei, joins us to discuss what it's like living in an Airstream RV and how her family of four sparks joy in a tiny space. Have you ever considered what it would be like to travel the country in an Airstream, living an RV life of joy? Today’s guest is Brenda Massei. Brenda is a fellow certified KonMari Consultant who has been blogging since 2010 about her family’s Airstream living adventures across Illinois, Tennessee and, Wisconsin. She currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin surrounded by cornfields and soybeans and launched her KonMari business, Zen Tidy, in 2017. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - The moment Brenda decided to sell her home and start a long adventure with her family and how KonMari influenced that transition How Brenda was well prepared for this major lifestyle change because of her family's previous travel experiences How Brenda's love of national and state parks influenced the necessary items her family brought on the road The realities and challenges of RV living, especially with kids (hint: it's not always as joyful as it looks on Instagram) How Brenda's family embraces the lack of privacy in an RV by exploring the outdoors How Brenda cleans her RV and manages her children's toys and collectables Brenda's new "fixed" home Wisconsin that she built with her husband over 5-6 months The one thing that Brenda missed when she didn't have a traditional home Brenda's favorite tidying tip: Get a library card. What sparks joy for Brenda: Growing her own garden. To connect with Brenda, visit www.zentidyhome.com and follow her on instagram at @zentidy. Gems: "The things you really love at home that provide new experiences for you, you don't need to bring any of that along because every day is a new experience." "Definitely think necessity before you think anything else." "If you can get through a day with a little bit less..why not try another." "Just go for it...you can learn on the road." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Brenda Massei.

Today we walk through how we process and joy check paper using the KonMari Method and also how to stop paper that doesn’t spark joy from crowding your mailbox. Are you terrified of the paper in your home? Marie Kondo is known for her progressive stance on paper. As quoted from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up : “My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away.” We understand that this may be uncomfortable for most people and, as always, we aren’t here to insist that you live a paper free life. But we definitely believe you can live a much more joyful life with a lot less paper. In this episode we discuss the Paper Category, which is the third category within the KonaMari Method. If you're just getting started with KonMari or need a refresher, we recommend you head over to Episode 1: KonMari 101 prior to listening to this episode. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin- I’m upgrading my medicine supply cabinet with some pretty new containers - A tidy home style upgrade! Kristyn- I was featured on the ChooseFI podcast where I got to discuss my path to Financial Independence and its overlap with tidying. Here are a couple of upcoming Netflix series to look forward to: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Playing with Fire News about the KonMari App Hear listener Sharon’s email question about the paper category, which inspired today’s show. Review our episode on the importance of tidying by category: Episode 9: Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake Learn about Delete, Delegate, Diminish, Defer: Episode 16: Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson Find all the manuals you’ll ever need: Manuals Online Review our discussion on keeping paper and other clutter categories under control for the long-term: Episode 41: How to maintain a Tidy Home Post Konmari Learn about shredding services: Shredding Services at Staples Shredding Services at Office Depot Identity Theft Protection Stamps Kristyn's favorite paper storage solution: Locking File Chest Learn about scanning options: Cam Card Cam Scanner Artkive App Google Drive Evernote DropBox How to get off mailing lists: Catalog Choice DMA Choice Hear about DMA choice on: Episode 8: Make Bold Moves with The Traveling Organizer Holly Southerland Opt Out Prescreen PaperKarma App Gems: “My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away.” "Paper is really not that scary and completing the category has the potential to free up so much space in your mind and home." "When thinking about the paper you have stored now, how often have you needed to get something out of your paper storage?" "What necessary documents do you have that are available in another format?" "Keep paper where you will use it." "I have an amount of paper that I’ve deemed reasonable to the point where I can sift through it easily, so it doesn’t require a lot of micro-organizing and labels, and again, additional attention." "My square footage is valuable and I don’t want to waste precious activity space on something that has a limited amount of joy like the paper I’m required to keep." " We promise you’ll be amazed by how little paper you actually need in your life." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Spark Joy Club member Jennyfer Vargas-Fernandez joins us from Texas to share her KonMari journey. We’re shining the light on all of the tidying progress our Club members have made while listening to Spark Joy Podcast and leaning on the community. Jennyfer Vargas-Fernandez has been a member of The Spark Joy Club since January 2020 and has worked with a KonMari Consultant in Houston, Texas. Her goal in joining The Club was to finish her KonMari tidying journey, once and for all. Jennyfer is a Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse in The Woodlands, Texas. She is currently working on her Master of Science degree in Nursing Administration. She is married with two daughters ages 9 and 2. She enjoys spending time with her family, bike riding, and singing. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/konmari-tidying-lesson/tidy-a-z-what-to-expect-from-a-konmari-virtual-tidy/) Join The Spark Joy Club today! (https://www.patreon.com/sparkjoy) In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - What motivated Jennyfer to get tidy - How Jennyfer managed her family, KonMari event and work on the front lines of the pandemic - The most important tools Jennyfer depended on while completing her tidying festival - Why hiring a KonMari Consultant to meet her mid-way through her journey worked out very well for Jennyfer! She worked with Ashley and Jane at Simply Maven (https://www.simplymavenhtx.com). Ashley is featured in Episode 69 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-69-konmari-fitness-ashley-barber) of Spark Joy - Jennyfer's favorte episodes of Spark Joy: 69 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-69-konmari-fitness-ashley-barber), 74 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-74-happiness-joy-order-gretchen-rubin), and 131 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/ep-131-getting-things-done-with-david-allen). Jennyfer’s favorite tidying tip: “Do it now!” What's sparking the most joy for Jennyfer: “Riding my new bike!” Parting words of wisdom: “Don’t be hard on yourself. Go ahead and get that help!” Gems: “We just filled everything up and said GO GO GO!” “I had a closet full of clothes that I had just never worn before... it was quite a shock to put it all on the bed and see how much was there.” “I renamed my junk drawer to my everything drawer because of Kristyn!” “What really kept me going was the influence it had on my kids.” The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes! Win one of three bundles consisting of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a fifty dollar gift certificate to the KonMari Shop (https://shop.konmari.com) to select your own Joy Sparking gift, and a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy! Three lucky winners will receive a bundle of all these prizes! To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for detailed instructions on how to leave a review via iTunes. Once there, follow the Apple Podcast instructions to leave us a rating and review in iTunes to help us reach more ears, minds, and hearts. Most important step: Send an email to: contact@sparkjoypodcast.com letting us know you left us a review and what screen name you left it under. This will act as your official entry. Don’t forget this step! It is the only way we can officially log you as entered into the contest. Submit your star rating and review by November 24, 2020. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 1st. **Contest runs from September 1 to November 24, 2020.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2020 show on December 1, 2020*** You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/) Special Guest: Jennyfer Vargas Fernandez.

Part 3 of 3. Jacquie Denny and Brian Graves introduce us to the world of virtual estate sales, a global marketplace of sellers and bidders acquiring and letting go of their belongings at fair market value. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is Part 3 of a three part series dedicated to Selling Your Clutter. What do you do with those items that no longer spark joy? We’re dedicating three episodes to how to make your clutter pay you back. Everything But the House is the world’s premier online estate sale and consignment marketplace. Through a global community of buyers and sellers, EBTH has transformed the traditional consignment and estate sale model while preserving its fundamental charm: the thrill of discovering something special. Our guests Jacquie Denny and Brian Graves co-founded Everything But the House in 2008. As Chief Development Officer, Jacquie brings 20 years of experience at the helm of a Cincinnati-based estate sale business called Sorting It Out. As Chief Learning Officer, Brian uses his extensive knowledge of history, auctioneering, and antique valuation and authentication to help maximize value for EBTH clients. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How Everything But the House has transformed the estate sale process for those going through a minor or major life transition The birth of EBTH from 20 years of estate sale experience where customers needed a partner through the process as well as a way facilitate sales in an accessible, efficient way The growth of EBTH’s virtual reach from 300 bidders to over 1,000,000 worldwide Options for in-person consultations with the EBTH team in the following cities: Baltimore, Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Columbus, and Dallas How EBTH determines present market value as compared to retail value, while managing client’s expectations What happens to the few items that don't sell How all bids on EBTH start at $1 Unique items that EBTH has sold, including a Cessna, a Tiny House, and various historical memorabilia The difference between vintage, antiques, and collectables How to list an item via sell.ebth.com Gems: “We have the largest generation in history, downsizing at the same time.” “Keep what has a place in either your home or your heart.” “[EBTH] is this ecosystem that allows everyone to engage and discover something that’s rare and unique to them." "Photograph it as though there isn’t a description and describe it as though there isn’t a photograph.” What Sparks Joy for Jacquie and Brian: Brian: A job that he didn’t expect to have, but one he has fallen in love with. He enjoys taking the burden of too much stuff away from families. Jacquie: The joy of meeting families at a point of stress and helping them pivot to a place where they can begin to move on. Jacquie and Brian's parting words of wisdom: Jacquie: “Give grace. We all need grace.” Brian: "Focus on what’s important in life.” Visit www.ebth.com for more information, and follow EBTH on Facebook and Instagram You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guests: Brian Graves and Jacquie Denny.

Part 2 of 3. Linda Lightman, walks us through the evolution of eBay and how she became the go-to seller for eBay consignments, leaving us with savvy selling tips to help you profit from your items that no longer spark joy. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is Part 2 of a three part series dedicated to Selling Your Clutter. What do you do with those items that no longer spark joy? We’re dedicating three episodes to how to make your clutter pay you back. Our guest today, Linda Lightman, is the founder and CEO of Linda’s Stuff. A former attorney, Linda took a leap of faith in 2001 and became an innovator and an entrepreneur as a go-to seller on eBay for consignments. Linda presides over a company that has grown to become the largest, most successful consignment seller of designer fashion on eBay in the world. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - Hear how Linda found her passion in online consigment following her career as an attorney. Learn the history of Linda's Stuff and how Linda's company evolved along with eBay. Learn the types of people who are buying and selling on eBay and what the process entails. How to consign things on eBay with Linda and how the comission structure works: How to Consign with Linda's Stuff Linda's take on how to find and sell things in your home that no longer Spark Joy! What items are selling and what items are in demand. How KonMari has changed the consignment world. Tips for getting the most out of your consignment. Finally, Listener Jenn sends in a great question about whether Craigslist or eBay is the way to go when discarding things that no longer spark joy. Linda gives her some great feedback! Gems: “Start small, go around your home and find the things that no longer spark joy…walk around with a different eye and look for the things that will bring you money.” “I began by selling my own clothing and accessories. And so, a business was born.” “We have a 140, 000 unique items on our site every day.” “Accessories are one size fits all item and they always sell the best.” “I think Marie Kondo did a lot for women going into their closets. Does this item bring me joy or should I think about getting rid of it?” “I believe that all of us have, on average, 53 items we could sell from our homes and make $3,000!” “Women tend to wear 20% of their clothing, 80% of the time.” “Make sure everything you sell is authentic.” What Sparks Joy for Linda: “My family life. My husband and I work together we have too great sons and a soon to be new daughter in law. And, it’s that time with my family. I just cannot say enough about that!” Linda's parting words of wisdom: “Do what you love, and love what you do, and you’ll never feel like you’re working.” You can reach Linda at Shop Linda's Stuff Her instagram account is @shoplindasstuff And, Linda's FaceBook is at: Linda's Stuff on Facebook You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Linda Lightman.

Part 1 of 3. Skye Lehman, tells us about the world of luxury consignment with The RealReal, how it all works, and how you can make some money with luxury goods that no longer spark joy. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is Part 1 of a three part series dedicated to selling your clutter. What do you do with those items that no longer spark joy? We’re dedicating three episodes to how to make your clutter pay you back. Skye Lehman is a Luxury Consultant for The RealReal, country's largest authenticated luxury consignment marketplace. With the company four years, Skye meets with her clients in their homes to help them make the most of items they are no longer using or wearing-ranging from Handbags & Jewelry to Fine Art. She lives in New York City with her dog, Jax. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How a chance encounter led to Skye’s career in luxury consignment. What Skye’s day is like as the luxury consignment manager at The RealReal. What popular consignment items are most sought after and which items will result in the biggest return. Tips for deciding what items to consign and how to determine what something might be worth. How The RealReal hunts down amazing things and helps buyers find the things that truly spark joy. They have between 10,000 to 50,000 items on the site at any given time! Why handbags and jewelry are usually in higher demand than other items. Learn about the process for consigning items with The RealReal. How to Consign at The RealReal Some of the life-changing moments Skye has witnessed while helping her clients let go of items they no longer love. Gems: "I don't take anything from a client to cosign unless I know the client is 100% ok with it." "Those items that notoriously don't go on sale or which are very iconic items..have consistent high resell value." "The money really lies in their handbags, jewelry and watches." "You can just get the checks as they roll in!" "It makes me feel so good to be recycling items and not over consuming." What Sparks Joy for Skye: Being able to be here and talk about what I do and hope to change more lives. Helping people know what is worth letting go of and finging value in the process" Skye's parting words of wisdom: Everything in your home and around you should spark joy. I talk to people about it each day, but Its much harder to do it for yourself. So to remember everyday what we do for ourselves and others. And to take it back with you and bring it home! Skye has a special offer for our listeners. She is available for a complementary virtual consultation to discuss your consignments with you. You can even send her photos for her review! It’s a great way to learn about the potential value of your items and if there is demand for those items in the second-hand market place. You can contact Skye at Skye.Lehman@thererealreal.com To learn more about The RealReal, check them out at therealreal.com The RealReal You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Skye Lehman.

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn, answer common questions related to maintaining a tidy home and lifestyle. In this episode we'll explore the maintenance aspect of the tidying process and reassure you that permanently tidy home is not only a possibility, but certainly attainable with some hard work upfront. Note: We recommend you listen to this episode if you're at the tail end or end of your KonMari tidying journey. We're providing these recommendations with the assumption that you’ve completed tidying across all categories. This is when the magic of maintaining the lifestyle truly shines! If you're just getting started with KonMari or need a refresher, we recommend you head over to Episode 1: KonMari 101 prior to listening to this episode. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin prepares for an upcoming long weekend in PA and Kristyn's parents enjoy visiting her new tidy apartment in Chicago. We answer five common questions associated with maintaining a tidy lifestyle: My KonMari event is complete. What now? Ref: Episode 5: The KonMari Lifestyle What should you do when your home feels cluttered all of a sudden and you feel like you’ve relapsed? Ref: Episode 39: Closet Joy Part II: Build Your Capsule Wardrobe How do I handle items I come across that, over time, seem to be losing their joy value? What do you do when things are crossing the threshold of your home and they don’t have a designated place rest? Ref: Episide 31: Shopaholic No More How often should I joy check? We conclude this episode with five tips that will help you get back to KonMari basics: Recall and reconsider the vision of your ideal life and express appreciation for items that no longer serve your vision and send them on to their next life. Reset your home to zero by setting everything back into place and make adjustments as needed Consider whether the items you love and use are stored in their best permanent home Ensure your shopping decision making criteria isn’t conflicting with your ability to handle any influx of new clutter Joy check as needed or desired based on the natural life cycle of items in your home Gems: "Celebrate and appreciate the joy that surrounds you and the vision of your ideal lifestyle." "We hope that post-konmari, you're able to happily allow family and friends to enjoy each other and create happy memories. "The reality is, things in your home will get out of order KonMari or no KonMari." "Rebound is the state where things without a designated storage place begin to crowd your home all over again." "Establish a pattern of expressing appreciation as you finish using or wearing an item." "KonMari is a method or approach or mental model that you can always fall back on in times of transition." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Closet Joy Part 3 of 3. Our guest, Tara Button, helps you curate a mindful life of less throwaway that extends well beyond your closet, ultimately impacting the environment and the global community. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is part three of a three part series dedicated to closet joy. We’ll talk to three guests who are revolutionizing the way we view fashion and style. Tara Button, founder of BuyMeOnce, is at the forefront of the global movement to change the way we shop and live forever. In 2013 Tara went from depressed spendthrift to fulfilled entrepreneur, using a technique she calls ‘mindful curation.” Her new book A Life of Less Throwaway, teaches the steps to master this lifestyle change. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - How a cooking pot inspired Tara to get out of debt, change her spending habits and champion a buy it once culture and platform How the "mindful curation" technique featured in Tara's book, A Life Less Throwaway, helps you find out what's meaningful to you Why we need to notice the preassures of advertising and recognize things are typically not made to last a lifetime, perpetuating the cycle of buy, use once, throwaway How you can "take stock" of the things in your home to focus on how you accumulated your stuff and how to find things that help you live your life's purpose How Tara's book helps you get off the trend treadmill and decide what kind of person you want to project to the world Celebrities that are trending for repeating the same outfit on multiple occasions How longevity (buying things that last longer) has the biggest impact on the planet (bigger than recycling!) How looking at your past Amazon purchases can help you confront your consumerism and shopping patterns How Tara is not a naturally tidy person, but was able to apply decluttering techniques and be more discerning about the things she purchases How identifying what makes you happy and what gives you purpose helps you understand how to make certain things in your home accessible The connection between mindful curation and finding your purpose and priorities, while focusing on the things that matter. How thinking about what you want people to say about you once you're gone helps you understand what you really care about How researching and writing down colors, styles, fabircs, and brands before you start to shop will help you be more mindful and sustainable when you shop The system that determines what products land on BuyMeOnce Mindufully curated closet maintenance tips, including the Guppyfriend Washing Bag How to properly "do your colors" to get a sense of which ones bring you alive Examples of items in Tara's home that she's only bought once Gems: - "The whole world is trying to persuade you to buy mindlessly." - "People don't talk about longevity when it comes to the planet." - "I now don't bring anything into my home that I'm not going to have for a decade or so." - "When it comes to things that are going to make us happy in the long term, it's all about our community and relationships." - "The fashion industry is the second most poluting industry in the world, after the oil industry." - "As humans, we know we need things to survive. Not shopping is not an option." - "Buy things that will make you feel good in the long term." - "Write a list of the things that you don't need in your life and you'll feel a surge of gratitude for everything you have." Tara’s favorite tidying tip: Start with items that are not emptionally resonant. Start with your pants! What sparks joy for Tara: Taking a moment out of her day to be creative by writing children's books. You can find more about Tara by visiting www.buymeonce.com. Be sure to pick up Tara Button's book, A Life Less Throwaway, and follow her on Instagram (@tara_button) and Twitter (@tarabutton) You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Tara Button.

Closet Joy Part 2 of 3. Our guest, Courtney Carver, shares minimalist wardrobe tips centered around 33 pieces that will help you be more with less. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is part two of a three part series dedicated to closet joy. We’ll talk to three guests who are revolutionizing the way we view fashion and style. We’re going to learn how to be more with less from one of the minimalism movement’s veterans - Courtney Carver. Courtney changed her life by simplifying it after a devastating diagnosis in 2006. She’s the founder of bemorewithless.com and minimalist fashion challenge Project 333. Her new book Soulful Simplicity was published by Penguin Random House. Carver shows us the power of simplicity to improve our health, build more meaningful relationships, and relieve stress in our professional and personal lives. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: The documentary about Minimalism that featured Courtney's story How a health scare in 2006 led Courtney to explore her wardrobe to reduce stress and improve her overall well-being The origins of Courtney's personal challenge, Project 333, that focuses on paring down your wardrobe to 33 items or less for three months How Courtney connected her shopping behaviors to dissatisfaction in other areas of her life How tucking excess clothing away, out of sight instead of immediately discarding allowed Courtney to experiment with having a capsule wardrobe without evoking unnecessary stress How you may already be practicing Project 333 without even knowing it! Why you don't have to have exactly 33 pieces to simplify your wardrobe. (hint: there's no magic number!) How to handle laundry, occasional wear, and goal clothes when simplifying your closet How Project 333, KonMari, and frugality don't promote suffering or deprivation. The methods are meant to be helpful, stressless and value add The Be More with Less courses, virtual community, and Tiny Wardrobe Tour How dressing with less has helped those in Courtney's community lose weight and recover from depression and anxiety disorders Courtney's steps to minimalism for beginners: Dress with Less Write it Down Discard the Duplicates Declare a clutter-free zone Travel lightly Eat Similar Meals Have an Emergency Fund Why you have to have a good "why" to shape a compelling reason to change How Courtney followed Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover to get out of debt in three years and establish an emergency fund The importance of creating a clutter free KonMari Power Zone The future of Be More with Less Gems: "I didn't know what enough was." "Your workout clothes have to workout." "I didn't know what I loved." "It's just interesting to really notice what you're actually wearing." "This isn't a project in suffering." "In the history of my life, a smaller size has never gotten me to where I want to be." "Choose clothes that fit you today." "I wanted one area for the family that would inspire us to declutter other areas." "Don't discount the tiny steps, because that's what big change is." Courtney’s favorite tidying tip: Reset to zero. What sparks joy for Courtney: Her daughter's golden doodle puppy Stanley. To connect with Courtney Carver, visit Be More with Less and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you’re interested in Courtney’s book “Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More” she's made a free copy of Chapter 1 available for Spark Joy listeners. You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Courtney Carver.

Closet Joy Part 1 of 3. Our guest, Dr. Jessica Louie, is an entrepreneur, critical care pharmacist, and assistant professor. She is the founder and CEO of Petite Style Script and Find Your Script. Today’s episode of Spark Joy is Part one of a three part series dedicated to closet joy. We’ll talk to three guests who are revolutionizing the way we view fashion and style. Dr. Jessica Louie is an entrepreneur, critical care pharmacist, and assistant professor. She is the founder and CEO of Petite Style Script and Find Your Script. With a broad background of experiences, she centers her focus on sparking joy and inspiring confidence in life. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -How Jessica became interested in KonMari and then went on to start Petite Style Script -Along with fashion, Jessica is an advocate for pharmacists with her blog and website at: Find Your Script -She found that focusing on fashion helped her convey her confidence and her competence in her field. -Learn how Jessica went through the KonMari process and how the process was key in helping her discover her calling in both fashion and advocacy. -Jessica’s take on capsule wardrobes and how she has made it work for her. The work that she does in -Her focus on using the clothing items you have more effectively and adding in your own personality to the decision making process. -How Jessica sees the role of KonMari in developing a sense of style that brings you joy! Gems: “There were times when I just laughed out loud in my car while listening to Marie Kondo because it resonated so much with me.” "I wanted to hold myself accountable for my shopping going forward.” "I wanted other to own clothing that they love and that they invest in quality pieces because it’s really about quality over quantity.” "This isn’t minimalism, I don’t talk about any definitive number of items to own.” “I focus on people who are re-building their wardrobes after KonMari or after a major transition.” Jessica’s favorite tidying tip: “Learning how to fold. It seems very simple but getting your clothes off your hangers and learning how to appreciate and fold them properly really makes a big difference, I think!” What sparks joy for Jessica: “A canvas painting of New York City that is up on my kitchen wall exactly where I can see it. It brings make great memories of visiting New York and is very inspirational.” To connect with Jessica visit Petite Style Script Jessica is on Facebook at Petite Style Script on Facebook Jessica's Twitter: P Style Script on Twitter Here is Jessica’s info on Seasonal Capsule Wardrobes: Seasonal Capsule Wardrobes On Jessica’s blog she offers capsule wardrobe style tips and a free kit for starting your own capsule wardrobe: Capsule Wardrobe Starter Kit Each season Jessica conducts a virtual Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: Spring Capsule Wardrobe Challenge And, Jessica is becoming a Certified KonMari Consultant. Yay, Jessica! Jessica’s KonMari Page You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Jessica Louie.

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn, talk about 17 obvious and hidden costs associated with living with clutter that is slowly stealing your joy. In this episode, we attempt to uncover and put a price tag on the hidden costs associated with delaying your KonMari tidying event. Like many common lifestyle challenges (losing weight, getting out of debt, finding a new job) the longer you wait to get started, the more the issue compounds and slowly steals your joy. So it’s time to get real and talk about the physical and emotional costs associated with keeping clutter around. Now we want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy Checks: Karin surprises her mom in Kansas City and Kristyn finds joy on the 606 running trail in Chicago. We breakdown 17 costs associated with clutter: The cost of storing your clutter outside of your home The cost of not using everything that you've purchased The cost of having unutilized space within your home Clutter Cost Formula The cost of buying/renting a bigger home to accommodate things that don't spark joy The cost of the clutter damaging your home over time Calendar clutter: time and energy Refer to Ep 30 | Simply B Organized with Laurie Palau The cost of clutter getting in the way of you finding what you need The cost of clutter getting in the way of things you truly need to do Book: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Refer to Episode 16 | Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson The cost of negative thinking or self talk The cost of ignoring your own reality The cost of using shopping to cope Refer to Episode 31 | Shopaholic No More with Dr. April Benson The cost of linking your self worth to a certain type of collection of things or a particular lifestyle The cost of clutter that blocks your ability to execute certain physical activities The cost of clutter that limits your ability to make healthy choices Refer to Episode 3 Face Your Stuff with Dorothy The Organizer The cost of clutter that limits relationships and your quality of life with your friends and family The cost of clutter that prevents you from accessing information critical to uncovering the reality of your finances, preventing you from reaching true wealth/abundance Refer to Episode 6 Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks The cost of clutter that locks you into consumption patterns that lead you to having no choice in the type of job situation or career choice - even if it’s not ideal Refer to the the ChooseFI community The cost of clutter that prevents you from pursuing your life purpose/feeling fulfilled, understanding what true joy means to you Don't worry, we end this episode on a joyful note! We discuss the many ways decluttering can pay you back to counter some of the clutter costs. Gems: "Having a storage locker is like going to visit your past mistakes." "Your space itself is way more valuable than your stuff." "Is this space honoring what's being stored within it?" "Is this space supporting the ideal lifestyle that I desire?" You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Self confidence is one of those things that some people seem to be born with while others struggle and struggle, feeling confident some days and completely defeated the next. It can feel very elusive, but our guest today absolutely that believes self confidence can grow and flourish in all of us. Our guest, Sheena Yap Chan is a blogger, podcaster, consultant, author and speaker whose sole purpose, drive and passion is to help build women’s self confidence from the ground up. She currently inspires women everyday through her podcast called The Tao of Self Confidence where she interviews various women about their inner journey to self-confidence. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -How Sheena made the decision to launch her platform, The Tao of Self Confidence -Some of the amazing stories of women who have overcome great obstacles to achieve their goals shared on Sheen’s podcast The Tao of Self Confidence Podcast -The common traits of women with high self-confidence. -How the process of visualization helps grow self-confidence. -How Sheena’s adventures living on the beach for two years gave her an appreciation for a simpler, more meaningful life. -How limiting herself to wearing only three colors has made a huge difference in the things Sheena’s focuses on. Gems: "I never felt there were enough platforms to celebrate women.” "They all have a huge purpose. A purpose that is bigger than them.” "Learning to figure out things along the way. As women, we can do that.” "Having that mindset of abundance. You’ll attract more things into your life." "Surrounding yourself with great people…will give you feedback on what you can improve on." "How do I see myself if I were this confident person?” Sheena’s favorite tidying tip: “I wear just three colors to make my life a lot easier. It helps me focus on other, more important things.” What sparks joy for Sheena: My podcast! I love helping women…and if I can help one person, I have done my job. It’s all worth it if someone out there hears it and thinks, “If its possible for one person, its possible for me.” Parting words of wisdom: Behind every great woman is herself. You are what creates success. To connect with Sheena Yap Chan visit The Tao of Self Confidence Facebook at Sheena Y. Chan Twitter The Tao of SC on Twitter Sheena's YouTube Channel:The Tao of Self Confidence on YouTube Also, check out her podcast atThe Tao of Self Confidence Podcast Sheena is offering free self talk tape for Spark Joy listeners on her website - Building Self Confidence You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Sheena Yap Chan.

Alaia Williams, business systems analyst, shares tips on calming any chaos that exists in your business so you can make more money while focusing on the things you love. Our guest, Alaia Williams takes her clients from stuck, stalled and struggling with overwhelm and helps them get to a place where they can run their business with a greater sense of calm, clarity and confidence. Alaia started her professional life as a professional organizer and this has informed her work as an organizer of business systems. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Alaia accidentally stumbled upon entrepreneurship when she realized she needed to confront mental clutter that manifested as physical clutter How working with her first organizing client taught Alaia how to lead with empathy when organizing both closets and businesses Why our shared personal decluttering experience best prepare us to relate and help clients grow The impact the recession and feedback from existing clients had on the direction of her business offerings The similarities between being attached to your physical clutter versus attachment to your business The importance of taking time (even a few minutes) to plan every day The five essential systems that every small business needs Alaia's podcast -One Organized Business Why even if you aren't "born" organized, you can learn how to be organized with practice How tiny steps and habit change is the key to lasting change How Alaia was introduced to minimalism when studying the quaker culture, which sparked her continuous quest to live more simply across all areas of her life The benefits of small space living and outsourcing tasks that don't spark joy Gems: "If we don't take time to plan, we walk through every day with our blinders on." "You can spend your entire day marketing and still not make any progress." "The business side is not that different from the personal." "Yesterday was better than today. Today's better than tomorrow." "A small space with good storage is all I need." "Anything that doesn't bring you joy that you can delegate...do it." "Just make the space around you feel good." "Do one tiny thing to move yourself forward." Alaia's favorite tidying tip: Start where you are and start with something small. What sparks joy for Alaia: Simplifying things and keeping everything in her life as simple and harmonious as possible; Having joyful work relationships. Parting words of wisdom: Don't beat yourself up and start where you are right now. To connect with Alaia Williams visit www.alaiawilliams.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram (@oneorganizedbusiness) and Twitter (@alaiawilliams). Also, check out her podcast and At the Helm women's conference Alaia is offering a free guide to Spark Joy listeners: How to Organize Your Home Office for Maximum Productivity You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Alaia Williams.

KonMari Consultant Ivanka Siolkowsky shares how her love of minimalism and environmentalism intersects with KonMari and her mental health advocacy. Our guest today is Ivanka Siolkowsky. Ivanka is a former Elementary School Teacher whose life was transformed when she began learning the many benefits of minimalism and organization! Although she was always considered a tidy individual, after decluttering, and applying minimalism to her surroundings, it was as if the pieces of her life puzzle all fell into place. It is because of these life-altering improvements that Ivanka decided to become a full time Professional Organizer - to help others find that same inner peace in their daily lives! She is a Master KonMari Consultant with The Tidy Moose, which is based in Toronto, Canada. How Ivanka went from KonMari reader to trainee practically over night Spark Joy podcast episodes about minimalism: 7 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-7-design-and-the-future-of-minimalism-with-lloyd-alter), 34 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/ep-34-incremental-minimalism-with-stephanie-seferian), 39 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/episode-39-closet-joy-part-2-build-your-capsule-wardrobe-with-courtney-carver), and 119 (https://www.sparkjoypodcast.com/ep-119-minimalist-shopping-habits-spark-joy-sarit-sela) Ivanka's take on minimalism and how it shows up in her work and life How Ivanka's shopping habits weighed down her mental health and was the catalyst for a year of no shopping How Ivanka determines the number of things to keep in her home and an inspiring TEDx Talk: "How many towels do you need?" (https://www.ted.com/talks/rose_lounsbury_how_many_towels_do_you_need?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare) Ways Ivanka adopted a zero waste lifestyle over the last two years and her favorite recycling tip The blogger (https://www.businessinsider.com/zero-waste-woman-2016-5) that fit a year's worth of waste in one jar How organizing her classroom had a direct impact on Ivanka's mental health and her student's ability to learn What's sparking the most joy for Ivanka: Practicing gratitude Ivanka's favorite organizing tip: Organizing in rainbow order (red, organge, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) What's sparking the most joy for Ivanka: Practicing gratitude Touch base with Ivanka on Instagram: @tidymoose (https://www.instagram.com/tidymoose/) Gems: "Not just surrounding yourself with things that spark joy, but surrounding yourself with only the things that you need." "There is a huge physical weight having these items around." "I really had to focus on what joy meant to me, not who I was trying to impress." "The less you have the less you have to focus on organizing and keeping organized." "Only 10% of what we donate ends up on the floor of the donation center." "The more I do it the better I feel and the more money I have in the bank." "When I work with my clients I'm really trying to help them get their life back from a mental health standpoint." "I've got everything that I need and nothing that I don't." The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes! Win one of three bundles consisting of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a fifty dollar gift certificate to the KonMari Shop (https://shop.konmari.com) to select your own Joy Sparking gift, and a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy! Three lucky winners will receive a bundle of all these prizes! To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes​ for detailed instructions on how to leave a review via iTunes. Once there, follow the Apple Podcast instructions to leave us a rating and review in iTunes to help us reach more ears, minds, and hearts. Most important step: Send an email to: contact@sparkjoypodcast.com letting us know you left us a review and what screen name you left it under. This will act as your official entry. Don’t forget this step! It is the only way we can officially log you as entered into the contest. Submit your star rating and review by November 24, 2020. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 1st. **Contest runs from September 1 to November 24, 2020.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2020 show on December 1, 2020*** You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home (https://www.theserenehome.com/) You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy (https://fortheloveoftidy.com/) Special Guest: Ivanka Siolkowsky.

Living a responsibly sustainable life while raising a young family is definitely a challenge. Join us this week as we learn about one mom’s journey to a joyful, minimalist home. Our guest this week is Stephanie Seferian of Mama Minimalist. Stephanie lives just outside of Boston with her husband and two daughters. She podcasts and blogs weekly about how the themes of minimalism, sustainability, decluttering, low-waste living and parenting intersect. Her podcast, The Sustainable Minimalist, features eco-friendly tips and incremental strategies for cutting through clutter as a means to more fully enjoy life's sweetest moments. Now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -How Stephanie decided to pursue a minimalist lifestyle after becoming a busy mom. -Her Three Dimensions of Minimalism: Aesthetic, Experiential, Sustainable. -How going down the minimalist path gave her more time to be present for her children. -How our tendency to buy, declutter, and buy again impacts the environment. -The challenges of having young children and maintaining a minimalist household. -How to manage the influx of gifts that come into the home. -Recycling old cellphones at Best Buy: Best Buy Recycling Program -Learn about Cellphones for Soldiers: Cell Phones for Soldiers -The struggle of letting go of a beloved wedding dress! Brides Against Breast Cancer Gems: “We are destined to being constant consumers of technology.” “We had the normal parent thoughts of 'When we have a yard, things will be better. When we have a place for our daughter’s stuff, we will be more relaxed.'" “There’s no one path to minimalism.” “It’s about getting out and getting living.” “We emphasize experiences over stuff in our home.” What sparks joy for Stephanie: “The simple and often overlooked moments with my daughters and husband.” Parting words of wisdom: “Just take one small step toward simplification. And if it feels right, take another.” To connect with Stephanie, you can find her at MamaMinimalist.com @mamaminimalist on Instagram and Twitter The Sustainable Minimalist on Facebook: Listen to her podcast: Sustainable Minimalist Podcast You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Stephanie Seferian.

Karin and Kristyn share their insights on the KonMari consultant certification process. Listen as they discuss how and why they became consultants and whether the KonMari consultant life is right for you. In this episode, we discuss how we discovered KonMari, how we became KonMari Consultants and what it’s like to have a KonMari consulting business. Now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy checks! Kristyn sold her starter condo and rental property in Virginia and is now completely settled as a Chicagoan. Karin loves Springtime in New York City! How Karin and Kristyn tidied their own homes and started down the path of certification More examples of KonMari fans becoming KonMari Consultants: Consultants Share the Moment KonMari Changed Their Lives NOTE: This episode was published on April 17, 2018. Any of the information shared regarding training guidelines and procedues is subject to change as the program evolves. On August 27, 2019, Spark Joy Podcast received this update from KonMari Media, Inc.: "Starting this fall, due to Marie's very tight schedule, she is no longer available to take individual photos with each attendee." The Steps to becoming a consultant: -Step 1: Read the Marie Kondo Books -Step 2: Tidy Your Home KonMari App -Step 3: Attend a Seminar -Step 4: Join the Community -Step 5: Submit Tidying Reports -Step 6: Complete the Exam -Step 7: Apply for Certification What it’s like to meet Marie Kondo A day in the life of a KonMari Consultant The business considerations associated with being a consultant Why Clients Hire Consultants Tools to help prospective consultants and trainees: The Tidy Mastermind and an open letter to KonMari Consultant Trainees On the fence about becoming a consultant? Schedule a Joy Call with Kristyn to discuss your unique situation Gems: "Her Mission, which is Organizing the World!" "All different walks of life can bring things to KonMari." "The fact that I was very sure that I had chosen the right thing to do totally trumped any fear I had about entrepreneurship." "Everyone at the seminars is super passionate about tidying and living their best lives." "It's important for you to believe that you have something to provide that's valuable to people because you are." "I never know what to expect when that door opens." "As much as I love KonMari, if I didn't feel I could create a sustainable business around it, I would have have had to let go of the idea." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Evan Zislis, professional organizer and social entrepreneur, sparks a clutter free revolution by looking at consumption through a lens of fair trade, social justice, and environmental sustainability. How does your personal clutter impact the world? Today’s guest on Spark Joy is Evan Zislis. He is a professional organizer and bestselling author of Clutter Free Revolution. Evan helps people focus on the things that matter most: who we love, what we do, how, and why we live…because everything else is just stuff. Currently, Evan is the founder of Intentional Solutions, a business focused on organization, operational systems, time and task management and more. We want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Evan's diverse list of job experience all had a theme of organizational leadership that tied it all together and led him to helping people organize their life The free services Evan provides to public school teachers and classrooms How Evan gives back to the community on his terms through 1% For The Planet How Evan's book Clutter Free Revolution picks up where KonMari drops off Products and companies that empower local communities through fair trade and socially just practices: The Good Trade ; Pact The ridiculously simple three step process - simplify, clarify, and inspire - that makes up Evan's organizing philosophy How Evan builds his client's sense of self efficacy and confidence by focusing on incremental successes while incorporating a bit of tough love Evan's lid-on-a-box helps accumulators with little to no self control Why Evan believes, in some cases, your joy is not enough your joy is not enough The technique that Evan uses to get his daughter to voluntarily clean and honor her room daily, without fail What monks and mountaineers have in common Why "The Velveteen Rabbit" is the Zislis family's favorite book A thank you to Evan's friend Dr. Melva Green (Episode 19) who inspired this interview Gems: "Need less." "Abundance is having a sense of gratitude for having that which is needed when it is needed and not a single item more." "Was anyone harmed in the making of this item?" "Things are easy to find and convenient to put away." "Proximity equals urgency." "You don't love it, you don't have a place for it, and storing it is an inconvenience for you." "This sense of joy can be transcended [by] this sense of purpose." "The things that I need..support the idea of generosity, and compassion, and philanthropy." What sparks joy for Evan: Working on his new book project "Good Company" that highlights entrepreneurs that support fair trade, social justice, and environmental sustainability. To connect with Evan Zislis, visit www.clutterfreerevolution.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: Evan Zislis.