Spark Joy

Encore! Ep 136 | Love in the Time of Corona - Conscious Dating with Angela N. Holton

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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 and on instagram @angelanholton.

You can also pick up Angela's book, The Conscious Dating Method Workbook and Journal.

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Angela Holton.

Encore! Ep 131 | Getting Things Done with David Allen

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

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.
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.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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

-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 and on Twitter at 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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: David Allen.

Encore! Ep 127 | Taking a Look at Why It's All Too Much with Peter Walsh

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Veteran professional organizer and TV host Peter Walsh joins us to uncover the deeper meaning behind our clutter and share tips to help you create comfort and joy at home during these challenging times.

Peter starred in the popular organization and design series Clean Sweep with Peter Walsh on Discovery’s TLC Network. The series produced over 120 episodes and has run almost continuously since 2003.

He is the author of six best-selling books on the subject of organizing including How to Organize (Just About) Everything; It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff, and Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?

His new book is Let It Go, Downsizing Your Way to A Richer, Happier Life.

Peter was a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show where he was dubbed the “Get Your Life Organized Guy” which led to his own series, Extreme Clutter with Peter Walsh on OWN.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Peter got his start-you’ll never believe what he WASN’T interested in doing in the beginning
How it all came together for Peter and organizational design became his great passion
The importance of humor and empathy in working with people who are experiencing guilt and shame over clutter
Peter’s take on why we accumulate so much-the hope of chasing a dream life through acquiring more and more “stuff”
How Peter shocks his clients with his plan for discarding 70-80% of their stuff-but they find he was on the money!
What Peter thinks of Marie Kondo. Peter and Marie on the Rachel Ray Show
Stories about what often gets edited from reality organizing shows. To go behind the scenes of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo check out:

Ep 67 | Review of Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo"

Ep 68 | Behind the Scenes: Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" with Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem

Suggestions on how to manage the uncertainty of life during the pandemic
Peter’s annual challenge on his YouTube channel. Peter Walsh's 31 Days to Get Organized
How to play Trash Bag Tango!
Peter’s great ideas for turning family organizing into learning games while we are staying home
The importance of a schedule and maintaining a sense of routine while social distancing and staying at home
Peter’s own experience surviving the coronavirus

Favorite organizing tip:
“Retreat into quiet at least 5 minutes a day. Although it may not seem to be a tidying tip, it will help you center yourself and to give you the space to step back into the busy world.
Also, take a media break!”

What is sparking the most joy for Peter:
“We are seeing what is happening in the world could be a massive reset button. Staying connected with those we love and getting back in touch with those people who are most significant in our lives.”

How to get in touch with Peter:
Peter Walsh Design
Peter’s Books
Extreme Clutter with Peter Walsh
Clean Sweep with Peter Walsh
Peter’s very active FaceBook community
Peter's YouTube channel

Gems:

“I’ve discovered over nearly 20 years of doing this that we are all human and all in the same boat. We all go off the rails occasionally!”

“At the end of the day, you are stronger than your stuff.”

“Stuff is associated with happiness. People buy things thinking that they are buying happiness but they are really buying a shadow of happiness. Instead of buying a product, we are buying a promise.”

“What is the vision you have from the life you want? Does the stuff you own help you get what you want from this room?”

“If you don’t respect your space, if you overload it, it’s the same as dishonoring as person, you are dishonoring your space. You will never be happy in that space.”

“Stuff is a distraction. Issues around clutter are about loss and trauma and neglect and abandonment.”

“The issue is really, ‘How do I deal with the fear and the anxiety we are all facing at the moment.’ And, people are looking to organizing as a way of feeling some control.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Peter Walsh.

Encore! Ep 119 | Minimalist Shopping Habits That Spark Joy with Sarit Sela

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Sarit Sela, fellow KonMari Consultant, shares her favorite minimalist inspired buying and shopping strategies that can enhance your KonMari journey and help you maintain a clutter free lifestyle.

Sarit Sela is a minimalist mom, Bronze certified KonMari consultant and visual storyteller.
She is an Israeli living in Stockholm, Sweden for the last 8 years and is the founder of Minimalist Me, Her mission is to bring a creative, visual world of minimalism, scandinavian design and KonMari to her clients.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning how and why Sarit became a KonMari Consultant

How minimalism has played an important role in Sarit’s personal journey and in her work with clients
What minimalism means to Sarit. It’s not what you may think!
Sarit's method of working with her clients using the KonMari Method and minimalism
How it's not about the number of things you own in any category. It's important to not focus on the number but on the joy and use of the items to YOU
The challenges, and JOYS, of being a mom in our consumerist culture and how to help your children be more focused and mindful
How Sarit has navigated setting up her business in both Sweden and Israel and the differences in both cultures when it comes to tidying
What makes a good KonMari Consultant in Sarit’s view

Sarit's favorite tidying tip:
"It's important that when you open your wardrobe and feel that it is pretty to look at. It's not about the number of clothes but that you put things around you that spark joy."

What sparks joy for Sarit:
"Soon, I will be in Tel Aviv to lead a workshop on minimalism. It's going to be one of the biggest events I have done so far."

Sarit’s parting words of wisdom:
"Many people are concerned with the habits of others in their homes. But I have found that if you change your habits, you will be able to help others."

To connect with Sarit, visit her websits and blog Mimialist Me or follow her on Instagram

Gems:

"You will know exactly what you need and don't need. It must work for you."
"Combining the two things, KonMari and miinimalism, was something that felt unique."
"Who needs five boxes of pasta at any one time?"
"I think there are two things to teach kids. The first is to learn to tidy and the second is to carefully chose the things they want in their lives."
"It's so important for a KonMari Consultant to have compassion."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Sarit Sela.

Ep 161 | Best of 2020: Joyful Show Highlights + Giveaway WINNERS

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 01:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the 2020 Spark Joy highlights show! Make sure you listen all the way through because we share an important announcement towards the end.

This year was a wild one and really unlike no other, so we look forward to highlighting some positive moments of joy for the show and announce and celebrate our giveaway winners.

Our show wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of you…. our listeners...many whom have been with us from day one.

YOU spark the most joy! We are so grateful for your thought-provoking questions, inspiring stories of tidying highs and lows, and your dedicated listenership over the past 3 1/2 years.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

But first, a Joy Check!

What Sparked Joy this year for Karin:
As hard as this year was, I have been inspired by the perseverance and determination of people everywhere. That has helped me to keep going and has helped me see what I gained and learned this year. Hopefulness!

What Sparked Joy this year for Kristyn:
Leaning on the Spark Joy and For the Love of Tidy communities as we collectively got stuff done during a trying season.

Joyful Show Highlights 2020

Spark Joy Ep 131 | Getting Things Done with David Allen
Spark Joy Ep 144 | Essentialism with Greg McKeown
Spark Joy Ep 127 | Taking a Look at Why It's All Too Much with Peter Walsh
Spark Joy Episode 132 | Where Does all the Stuff Go with Secondhand Author Adam Minter

The 3rd Annual Spark Joy Giveaway!

Each of our three winners will receive a special KonMari Prize Bundle that includes:

• A signed copy of Marie Kondo’s tidying sequel, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

• A fifty-dollar gift card to the KonMari Shop on konmari.com

• On behalf of For the Love of Tidy, a 2-hour Virtual Tidying Lesson

And here are our winners!

Vapeters
A Yooper Learning to Let Go!
Spark Joy is the only podcast I listen to weekly - others that I have found around simple living or minimalism either is too much of just a general conversation that I get bored, has too many ads or clearly their agendas are to sell and pitch their guests books etc.

I love that Kristyn and Karin have guests that have skills and professions that cover a range of topics and I appreciate their style of asking them specific questions about what they do. I live in the Midwest and would love to hear more from people who live in areas with extreme weather and how they deal with their tools, winter equipment and wardrobe etc. Keep up the good work and inspiration!

KerieSue
New Listener & Ready to Let Go!
"I only discovered this podcast recently. I reluctantly subscribed thinking, “Oh, goodie. ANOTHER decluttering podcast.” *eye roll

After the first 5 minutes, I realized, it was SO MUCH MORE than that. The advice offered here by the hosts, combined with the interviews is absolutely priceless! I am hooked and fully intend to “binge-listen” each and every episode as I begin my KonMari journey."

Kimmykannonz
So informative!
Despite having read Marie Kondo's books and watched the Netflix show, I wanted more KonMari content as I completed my Tidying Festival. Kristyn and Karin are so kind, and I love their variety of guests. I have learned a lot from the episodes, and have been able to carry the lessons into my own life.

Congratulations to our winners!

The Spark Joy Podcast is saying goodbye...

After three years, 161 episodes, over 95 hours of KonMari themed tips and over 2.5 million downloads, we’ve decided to end this run of the Spark Joy podcast.

Your dedication to our mission has been absolutely incredible.

While new episodes are paused, our mission continues.

Here are some ways you can continue to listen while you tidy and access our show and community:

• All 161 episodes will remain live and available to you during your tidying event. You can revisit your favorites or start from Episode 0 to binge-listen all of our episodes.

• The Spark Joy Club will remain active and live! You can request to join by heading over to sparkjoypodcast.com and clicking Join the Club to gain exclusive access to the community, The Tidy Home Joy Journal, monthly live videos, accountability, advice from organizing experts, and inspiration from hundreds of active tidying companions.

• If we have updates about the show in the future we’ll announce them via Spark Joy's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, so make sure to follow us on your favorite platform. You can also join our mailing list or reach out to us directly at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com

Karin and I will continue to serve clients in-person and virtually through The Serene Home and For the Love of Tidy, respectively.

Make sure to connect with us via our individual social media accounts, subscribe to our mailing lists, or reach out to us directly so we can continue to address your burning tidying questions.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 160 | Organizing Your Legacy and End of Life Plan with Karen Purze

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Karen Purze of Life in Motion Guide joins us to discuss a sensitive, but very relevant aspect of home organization - managing your legacy including vital information and end of life planning.

Our guest helps families make end of life plans and decisions so they can focus on what truly matters in the end - people not paperwork.

She is creator of lifeinmotionguide.com. When Karen’s parents both got sick suddenly and simultaneously, she helped them make difficult choices about health, housing, finances, and everything else as they gradually lost their independence. She is on a mission to make it easier for others to get their personal information organized.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Karen's personal experience with helping her family make end of life decisions during an emergency inspired her brand, Life in Motion, which helps others who don't know where to start or what to do first
Reasons why it's important organize vital information and plan the end of your life
The KonMari clutter category that intersects with legacy management
Kristyn's quest to reach the end of her personal to do list
Where to start: planning for an emergency (medical and household)
A review of Karen's Life in Motion Guide - the binder Kristyn is actively using to manage her important information (see exclusive discount code below)
The inspiration behind Karen's guide and how it differs from other resources that help you make plans
The importance of recognizing the process of life planning is in motion, with information that evolves over time
How to securely protect your passwords and other important codes
The most essential things to focus on first when organizing your legacy
Reasons people resist pulling this information together and common myths and mistakes. Karen's decision matrix to the rescue
How to help loved ones organize their legacy and end of life plans
Maintenance: how often you need to revisit the information you've gathered and shared

Karen’s favorite legacy organizing tip:
Don't think of this as something you're doing yourself. Do it for the people you love and trust the most

What's sparking the most joy for Karen:
Moving back to her apartment in Chicago after a four month long construction project

Connect with Karen at lifeinmotionguide.com

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, pick up a copy of Karen's Life in Motion Guide binder using code SPARK15 for a 15% discount.

Gems:
"It's our responsibility as adults to not leave a mess for other people to clean up."
"The average person in the US and Canada is likely to live over nine years in poor health."
"Being organized facilitates prolonged independence by making it easier for others to help us."
"It's not enough to just gather this information or store it...you also need to share it."
"We can't predict, but we can prepare."
"I created [Life in Motion Guide] for the feeling I had when I was done."

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 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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Karen Purze.

Ep 159 | Black Girl, Lost…Keys! Thriving with ADHD with René Brooks

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

René Brooks joins us to discuss organizing her home while managing a late in life diagnosis of ADHD.

René is living and thriving with the diagnosis and empowering others to do the same. She has taken a late in life diagnosis and used it to uplift others.

René is the founder of Black Girl, Lost Keys, a blog that empowers black women with ADHD, helping them to live well with the disorder.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learn what ADHD is and the symptoms related to this category of challenges. Here is a well-known symptom checklist for ADHD self testing: Adult ADHD Self Report Scale
Remember only an MD or a qualified health professional can give you an "official" diagnosis.
René shares her own experiences in getting diagnosed and treated.
We learn more about the special challenges facing women of color in address this disease.
Hear René solutions for managing the day, your work and your life with techniques for overcoming barriers.
Listen to our conversation with Craig Selinger in Ep 105 | Hope for Kids and Adults with ADHD
René shares her tips for paper and content management.

René’s favorite organizing tip:
With the holidays coming up, make a plan to keep gifts in the car until you are ready to wrap them! This way, they won’t get lost or forgotten in a closet. Out of site is out of mind, which can be a trap for someone with ADHD.

What's sparking the most joy for René:
René loves her active, engaged Twitter community. You should definitely check it out!

Follow René on her website at blackgirllostkeys.com

On twitter @blkgirllostkeys

And FaceBook @BlackGirlLostKeys

René recommends her book, Clean Up the Trash, as very relevant to our listeners!

Gems:
"When you are having difficulty organizing your thoughts and your things, you find that increasingly run you out of time to do anything. In fact, starting to get organized and then stoping part way through is very common!"

"When you look over your life, you begin to see the patterns of ADHD didn't just happen overnight.
There are many pieces to the pie, but black women with ADHD are very isolated because they don't have a place that they fit in."

"If I don't have a time set for myself to look at email, it's not going to happen."

"You have to be willing to look at the goal of completing something and not worry too much about the method you used to accomplish it. The things that work change over time."

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: René Brooks.

Ep 158 | Practical Meditation at Home + Guided Mindfulness Exercise with Rachel Kanarowski

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 02:30:00 -0500

Rachel Kanarowski, certified Meditation Coach, shares simple science-based meditation tips to enhance your focus, increase your emotional intelligence, and release stress.

Be still. Focus on your breath. Reflect.

Today we explore meditation. A practice with deep cultural history and widespread contemporary relevance. A great complement to your KonMari practice and lifestyle.

Today’s guest is Rachel Kanarowski. Rachel is a certified meditation coach based in Chicago who ditched her blazers after more than a decade in high-stress marketing and media jobs.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How a podcast inspired Rachel to be kinder to herself and embrace Sharon Salzberg's Loving Kindness through tough times
How Loving Kindness is different from breath or transcendental meditation formats and leads to structural changes in our brains that make us more compassionate
Three common myths and misconception that show up around meditation and mindfulness practices
What to beware of when integrating KonMari with meditation at home
Tips for meditation first timers or those who are struggling to maintain a consistent practice
Rachel's favorite meditation apps: Unplug, Headspace, Calm, 10% Happier
Guided Meditation: 36:03 - 42:41 min. mark

Rachel’s favorite wellness tip:
Make a plan to feel the way you want to feel

What's sparking the most joy for Rachel:
Taking pictures outside to observe the seasons changing

Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelkanarowski

To book a private mindfulness meditation experience for yourself or your company contact Rachel via rachelkanarowski.com.

Her future podcast: The Year of Living Better (coming soon!)

Gems:
"I immediately started to feel a really big shift in the relationship I had with myself."
"I call myself a no beads, no incense, very science-based meditation coach."
"May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease."
"[Loving Kindness meditation] helps you refill your own cup...and it helps that cup get bigger."
"You're creating the habit by choosing an activity that occurs on a reliable basis and stacking meditation or mindfulness practice with whatever that other thing is."
"My practice helps me be kind to myself when everything isn't perfect or isn't sparking joy."

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Rachel Kanarowski.

Ep 157 | KonMari Quick Tips: Your Burning Tidying Questions

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

We asked the members of the The Spark Joy Club to send us their burning tidying questions and respond they did!

The Spark Joy Club is home to over 200 tidiers in the process of organizing their own home and finding joy in all aspects of their lives. They are our own tidying laboratory and we all find solutions to so many issues we all share along the way.

We want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club!
Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Spark Joy Club member Question #1
Katie Grosskopf asks: “Tips for when you get stalled or stuck in the tidying process- how do I jump start my momentum!”

Vision is key and we discuss this all the way back in Spark Joy podcast Ep | 5 How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment

Planning is ALSO key and We discuss this in Spark Joy podcast Ep | 73 How to Plan Your KonMari Tidying Journey

Spark Joy Club member Question #2
Rosemary J. writes: “I'd like some quick win ideas, to something short and sweet and easy to finish.”

We call this sorting the low hanging fruit. Those categories or subcategories are ones that you can accomplish quickly to give yourself an enthusiasm boost. Take a listen for our tips on how to accomplish a quick win.

Spark Joy Club member Question #3
Paige Adelle asks: “I'm interested in how to joy-check furniture. Do I move it? Do I take everything off my shelves? Do I leave furniture in sets or do one item at a time?”

For the most part, consider the use of the room and whether the furniture in that room supports it.

Does the furniture in your dining area support nourishment and family gathering? Or is it just in the way? We discuss how to tidy the Komono category of furniture.

Spark Joy Club member Question #4
Melinda Nina De J writes: “How do we gift experiences instead of things when many places are closed for Covid?”

We discussed some options for safety during the summer, and many of them do apply all year round. Check out Spark Joy podcast Ep 139 KonMari Quick Tips: Safe Summer Fun 2020

Spark Joy Club member Question #5
Christine Mundis writes: “Holiday decorations! I tend to hold onto decorations I’m no longer using, just in case. How do I sort holiday decorations?”

This Komono category is very closely attached to the sentimental category, so we suggest considering this category of seasonal items adjacent to sentimental. Listen for more tips on this subcategory.

Thank you to all our Spark Joy Club members who submitted questions! If we didn’t get to yours on the podcast, keep tuning in and follow our journey in The Spark Joy Club.

We are pleased to introduce the following new members of The Spark Joy Club, joining at the Joy Sparker level:

Welcome!
Vivian Baker
Susan Shirk

Join over 150 serious Tidiers who are making 2020 their very last year of being disorganized. We welcome you to extended conversation around taking action, living, and maintaining a tidy lifestyle.

Please join the conversation by visiting sparkjoypodcast.com and selecting "Join the Club."

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 156 | Virtual Home Organizing with KonMari Mom Kelly

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0400

Client Kelly shares how working with For the Love of Tidy for 12 hours total 100% virtually (through screens) helped her achieve an organized warm minimalist home.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

With a few incomplete tidying attempts behind her, Kelly recalls her path to KonMari
How Kelly was inspired by the Minimalism documentary, Courtney Carver's capsule wardrobe (Spark Joy Episode 39), and seeing Kristyn speak about KonMari during an event at Room & Board
Kelly's vision of a decluttered basement with a lot of open space
How Kelly handled the days when she felt less enthusiastic about following through with the plan
How the 12 hours Kelly spent actively decluttering virtually with Kristyn compared to the years she spent accumulating and managing clutter
Why Virtual KonMari Tidying Lessons worked best for Kelly's goals and circumstances
How Kelly embraced the "thank you" and found value in taking the time to make thoughtful decisions
How decluttering helped Kelly relax, read more, clean more efficiently, and gain clarity about her design taste
How Kelly's progress impacted her kids, as she gifted two hours of her sessions to her teenager and modeled the change she wanted to see for them

What sparks joy for Kelly
Riding the high of finishing her KonMari event and welcoming a new puppy into her space!

Gems:
"There is something special and different about actually going through The Joy Journal while you are in a Virtual Tidying Session."
"I wanted to free up my mental space to think about other things."
"There was a to do list around that basement that brought a certain level of weight to my day."
"I wanted to make it a habit and really commit to keeping it that way."
"If you're going to tidy virtually, you really have to make that commitment. Show up for yourself."
"I have struggled over the years with clutter. I can say it now. I don't have to hold my head down in shame because I did something about it."
"Having a decluttered space plays a big role in helping to remain calm throughout this stressful time."
"It took dedication and work."

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 155 | Emergency Preparedness at Home with Cari Butler

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0400

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.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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 and on Instagram @emergencycafe

Download Cari's top emergency preparedness tips here.

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, enter the code "SPARKJOY10" when shopping on 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!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Cari Butler.

Ep 154 | Why It's So Hard to Let Go of Stuff

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:45:00 -0400

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.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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 and her TEDx Talk: Confronting Your Online Order History is the New Self-Care
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:

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!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 153 | Even More Fantastic Failures! The Benefit of Getting It Wrong with Luke Reynolds

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 02:15:00 -0400

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.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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

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!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Luke Reynolds.

Ep 152 | Member Spotlight: Using KonMari Tools with Jennyfer Vargas-Fernandez

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:15:00 -0400

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.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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. Ashley is featured in Episode 69 of Spark Joy
Jennyfer's favorte episodes of Spark Joy: 69, 74, and 131.

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!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jennyfer Vargas Fernandez.

Ep 151 | Minimalism and Mental Health with Ivanka Siolkowsky

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 00:45:00 -0400

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, 34, 39, and 119
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?"
Ways Ivanka adopted a zero waste lifestyle over the last two years and her favorite recycling tip
The blogger 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

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!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Ivanka Siolkowsky.

Ep 150 | From KonMari Client to KonMari Consultant: Tidying with Your Family with Kadra Pixton

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 05:15:00 -0400

KonMari Consultant Kadra Pixton joins us to share how she tidied her family of seven with the help of another consultant, which inspired her to become one herself.

Kadra loves helping overwhelmed families transform their homes into peaceful spaces that facilitate connection. She is a Certified KonMari Consultant as well as Mama to 5 young daughters ages 3-10. She is a writer, an artist, and she loves exploring nature near her home in the Pacific Northwest.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Kadra’s home went from a “disaster” to Joy Sparking!
Managing the challenge of 5 children, a job and a busy home.
Kadra’s work with a KonMari consultant using the Marathon Method-doing the tidying festival within a very short amount of time.
Why Kadra decided to become a KonMari consultant.
How Kadra brings joy to her clients in unexpected ways.
Kadra’s tips for tidying with kids.
How to set a spatial limitation on kid’s belongings.

Kadra's favorite organizing tip:
Everyone should have a power spot. Create a space that you control and maintain. If you have a space that’s just yours, a small spot that energizes you, it can begin to spread throughout your entire home.

What's sparking the most joy for Kadra:
Simplicity-the pandemic has forced us to KonMari our time and our relationships. We have become more thoughtful about the time we spend and who we spend it with, because we had to. It has helped us think more clearly.

Kadra's parting words of wisdom:
Make the investment in yourself-find an accountability partner OR better yet, consider a life-changing experience with a KonMari consultant.

You can find Kadra on Facebook
and
Instagram

Gems:
“We did the KonMari marathon 7 hours a day for 9 days with a KonMari consultant!”
“There’s a lot of fear over not having enough lately, but if we focus on abundance and love, we will have what we need.”
“It’s important for the parents to do the process first. Because then you will understand the method more and will be less likely to get overwhelmed.”

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Kadra Pixton.

Ep 149 | Green Home Living for Our Health, Wealth, and Soul with Melissa Rappaport Schifman

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 00:15:00 -0400

Melissa Rappaport Schifman, author of Building a Sustainable Home joins us to discuss the impact a green home has on our health, wealth, and soul.

Our guest today is Melissa Rappaport Schifman. Melissa is the founder of Green Intention LLC, where she writes, speaks, and advises clients on healthier and more sustainable homes and workplaces. She has her MBA and MA in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband and two daughters.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Melissa's personal and professional green home journey
How Melissa defines green building and sustainable home
The benefits to moving into a more sustainable home environment on your health, wealth, and soul
Busting the myth that a sustainable home always costs more - the longer term impact of green living on our lives and the planet
The lifestyle and mindset change required to live more sustainability and how it intersects with getting organized
The aspects of a sustainable home that you'll never see

Melissa’s favorite home improvement tip:
Filter your water.

What sparks joy for Melissa
Decarbonizing her home.

EXCLUSIVELY for Spark Joy listeners:
email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with interest in receiving a copy of "Building a Sustainable Home" and a 30 min. cost benefit analysis with Melissa to think through a sustainable home improvement project

Gems:
“If we don't take care of the earth we don't get to drink, eat, or breath."
"Start with your own home. It's the one thing you have control over."
"Every action does make a difference."
"For our health, our wealth, and our soul."
"Clean water, clean air, and clean house."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Melissa Rappaport Schifman.

Ep 148 | The 3rd Annual Spark Joy Podcast Anniversary Give-A-Way!

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 01:00:00 -0400

*Spark Joy podcast is THREE years old! *

In celebration of our anniversary enter to win one of three prize bundles of three great gifts each to mark this major milestone.

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 to select your own Joy Sparking gift, AND a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy.

Enter before November 24, 2020 for your chance to win!

Details on how to enter below.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Spark Joy podcast has been downloaded over 2.3 million times! At this point in our first year, we had just hit a quarter of a million downloads, last year we hit 1.5 million, so this has been quite a year for growing our audience.
Not only is Spark Joy two years old, but this is also our 148th episode! Thank you to our listeners for all your support and encouragement.
Our goal for the show remains to introduce guests to our audience who have interesting perspectives and inspiring journeys related to organizing and living a life of joy. So far, we have interviewed nearly 110 guests and presented over 44 episodes focusing on KonMari specific topics.
This year, we have also presented four episodes related to the pandemic on staying safe, healthy and managing during this difficult time. We are so grateful to be able to help each other during this time.
Last year we launched The Spark Joy Club on Patreon and the response has been amazing! We hoped our listeners would consider joining, but we never imagined we would now be 200 members strong, supporting each other along their tidying journeys.

A special welcome and Thank You to our newest Spark Joy Club members:

Christine Mundis
Tina from Berkeley
Sarah Laubacher
Katherine Grosskopf
Kelsey Ross
Talia Saunderson
Inken Brough

Thank you for your support!

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

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 1st, 2020***

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 147 | Finding Wellness with Scout Sobel

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Scout Sobel joins us to discuss mental health and creating a life that sparks joy while facing symptoms that work against your serenity.

Scout started Scout's Agency with an emphasis in podcast PR. Most of her clients are women and she loves helping them find their voice in podcasting and other media.

This did not come without her own trials and tribulations.

Scout has been living with a severe case of bipolar disorder for 14 years. She once was unable to hold a job, go to school, or function in today's society. These experiences led her to host her own podcast, SCOUT, a podcast about mental health with a dose of entrepreneurship.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Scout’s journey to entrepreneurship and branding in podcasting and other media spaces with an emphasis on helping others find their voices in her PR business
Learn about Scout’s mental health diagnosis. You’ll learn about bipolar disorder: what it means, and what it doesn’t
How just looking for help can start the journey toward wellness, even if you aren’t feeling much hope in the moment
The ways that Scout brings joy into her work life
How organization has helped Scout make her work life work
How to find a good therapist

Scout’s favorite tidying tip:
“Look at something in your life, it can be anything, and ask yourself the yes or no question, ‘Does it bring you joy?’ if it doesn’t, it’s out. Set that as the standard for your life.”

What sparks joy for Scout
“I have been able to connect with women and have conversations around things that really mean something to people while also connecting with other women who are out there doing incredible things and spreading incredible messages.”

You can find Scout on Instagram: @scoutsobel

And be sure to check out her podcast: Scout on Apple Podcasts

Gems:
“Everything goes into a calendar. Every little thing: every call, every task, every email I need to send..I don’t want to have to remember anything at all and I don’t want to think about what I have to do until the day before.”

“I just write, write, write until I can drive the negative energy out of me.”

“Be clear on what your goals are for the future.”

“This is your life, these are the cards that you are dealt and you can take responsibility for your recovery.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Scout Sobel.

Ep 146 | Tara's KonMari Self Discovery

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 11:00:00 -0400

Tara Latta shares how working with For the Love of Tidy for 17 hours enhanced her KonMari tidying experience and instantly impacted her health, relationships, and career.

Tara Latta is Kristyn's client, a For the Love of Tidy Graduate of Tidy. They've tidied for 15 hours over a four months plus a recent two hour Virtual Tidy used to address sentimental items.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What initially inspired Tara to head down the KonMari path and find a "magic bullet" organizing solution
What led Tara to move from DIY decluttering to hiring Kristyn/For the Love of Tidy
Tara's small space (1,000 sq ft Chicago high rise) and her favorite storage boxes
Tara's vision and anchoring word "spacious"
How reframing Tara's narrative around paper help free her to complete the process
Moments where Tara felt blocked or ready to give up, that were remedied by finding community in The Spark Joy Club, Reddit, Discord, and Saya Hillman's Cross it Off Day
- The questions Tara would ask herself when she felt overwhelmed:
  - Is there too much clutter out for this round of sorting?
  - Is the workspace clean?
  - Am I maintaining the categories that are finished?
New habits that emerged after decluttering
How KonMari impacted Tara's relationship with her weight, family, and career path
What it was like to tidy with a KonMari Consultant in-home and virtually as Tara transitioned to quarantine at home
Tara's advice for those on the fence about hiring a professional home organizer to help them dig out and choose joy

What sparks joy for Tara
Summer in Chicago!

Tara's apartment and journey was also featured in Bloomberg: Purging Your Stuff Is the New Conspicuous Consumption

Gems:
"Because I had started KonMari and stopped at the paper category several times over the years, I accepted I really needed support and accountability."
"The process took me nine months, so I like to tell people I birthed a home of joy."
"Everything has a home and everything I see brings me joy."
"There is space within the space."
"As you let go of items that not longer serve you, you make the physical and mental space to become who you want to be."
"Every session I felt motivated and inspired with nuggets of wisdom and customized ideas of how to sort through and organize my belongings."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Tara Latta.

Ep 145 | Home, Space and Reason with Kristina Browning

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Kristina Browning, home functionality coach, shares tips to help you mold, craft, and shape your home to your family's values and needs.

Kristina is a licensed Realtor in Portland, Oregon. She is also a Home Functionality Coach and Podcaster. Her passion is helping people create a home that thrives, not just for today, but for the long haul.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Kristina became interested in the concept of home space design
What's motivating home owners these days and what to consider when you're thinking about making a change in your home- renovation, re-decorating, tidying, or moving
How to make the most of the home you want with the space you have
How to make renovations part of the fun of home ownership instead of a chore
Surefire ways to add value to your home
Simple upgrades that will make your home spark joy for you
Learn about Hygge. Kristina finds this philosophy very inspiring The Little Book of Hygge-Danish Secrets to Happy Living

Kristina's favorite tidying tip:
Buy the storage solution for the gift you are giving-consider that as part of your gift as well! For example, a pretty box for jewelry, or a lovely planter for a plant.

What sparks joy for Kristina:
Vertical grow wall. It sounds amazing! Read about them here: New York Times: Vertical Gardens

You can find Kristina over at spaceandreason.com and on Instagram at @spaceandreason

Check out her podcast: Home Space and Reason

Gems
"I ask my clients what their passions are and if the home is supporting those passions and those values."
"Take bite size pieces of a project without getting overwhelmed."
"Plants humanize our surroundings."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Kristina Browning.

Ep 144 | Essentialism with Greg McKeown

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:15:00 -0400

Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism: The disciplined Pursuit of Less joins us to discuss how his philosophy can complement your KonMari journey.

Our guest Greg McKeown has dedicated his career to discovering why some people and teams break through to the next level—and others don’t. His New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller,
“Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” has frequently been the #1 Time Management book on Amazon. The book challenges core assumptions about achievement to get to the essence of what really drives success.

Greg also hosts a podcast called Essentialism with Greg McKeown.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The personal and professional, experiences that led Greg begin to pursuit the essential
Essentialism boiled down
Essentialism's connection to our personal energy management
How to build life by design instead of default
Essentialism's impact on Greg's family culture of "resounding yes" clarity
The difference between Essentialism and "No-ism"
The first episode of Essentialism podcast with Greg's wife Anna
The short cut to Essentialism and how it impacts projects at home
How to explain Essentialism to children
How to journal like an essentialist
Greg's tips for reevaluating what's essential as we navigate this pandemic
Essentialism 21 Day Challenge

Greg's favorite tidying/productivity tip:
Discard one thing right now.

What sparks joy for Greg:
Making a list of twenty things that spark joy for you.

You can find Greg over at essentialism.com and sign up for the 21 day challenge.

Gems
"[Essentialism] is the anecdote to the undisciplined pursuit of more."
"Non-essentialism is a con...it doesn't deliver."
"I want to do the right things, at the right time, for the right reasons."
"Anything less than 90% important is at least questioned, or in fact entirely discarded."
"Essentialism is about becoming more of who you really are and less and less of who you really aren't."
"Is it essential?"
"Protect the asset."
"You can design essential activities to be fun or you can design them to be awful."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Greg McKeown.

Ep 143 | Quarantine Friendly “Someday” Projects for Today!

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

This episode will help you catch up! If your circumstances allow, now is a GREAT time to get things done during this difficult season, so we can land on our feet on the other side.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What's sparking joy for Karin: Outdoor dining
What's sparking joy for Kristyn: TEDxNorthbrookLibrary | Saturday, August 1 | RSVP here
We previously address "someday" tasks and unfinished business in Spark Joy episode 115

Top “someday” turned “today” projects that our clients frequently uncover during their tidying event:

Post-KonMari "Act Now" pile
Selling - Spark Joy episodes 42-44
Mending, cleaning, fixing - Spark Joy episode 29 and 125
Shredding, throwing away, recycling, donating, gifting - Spark Joy episode 89 and 132
Read Someday Books - Spark Joy episodes 57 and 75
Unsubscribe from Mailing List - Spark Joy episode 45
Digital Clutter: Files from old laptop/camera/external drive & email inbox - Spark Joy episodes 54 and 109
Sentimental items: photos, scrapbooks, albums - Spark Joy episode 55
Aspirational hobbies (gardening, cooking, knitting, sewing, writing, etc.)
Home Improvement Projects & Gardening - check out nine episodes about how KonMari intersects with design in our Spark Joy Podcast Episode Map/Listening Guide

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 142 | Member Spotlight: Jen's Tidying Journey

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Spark Joy Club member Jen Kobrick joins us from Florida to share her KonMari journey.

This year, we’re trying something new. We’re bringing on listeners from our Spark Joy Club for a special Member Spotlight!

We’re dedicating a few episodes to shine the light on all of the tidying progress our Spark Joy Club members have made while listening to Spark Joy Podcast and leaning on the community.

Jen Kobrick is a homeschooling mom to two delightful little people and the wife of a space geek in central Florida. She loves adventure, travel, scuba diving, spending time in nature, ballet, and knitting. Her other passion is supporting parents in finding more joy and connection in family relationships as a Holistic Family Consultant with The Consciously Parenting Project.

Jen has been a Spark Joy Club Member for the past 6 months and is now officially done with her items and her entire family has nearly completed their KonMari tidying journey, once and for all.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What made Jen decide that she and her family was ready for her Konmari journey
How Jen approached her Tidying Festival with two small kids and a busy family
The layout of her home and the challenges she faced in managing the categories
Learning about some of the things that worked didn’t work as she got organized
Some misconceptions that stood in her way and how she overcame the pursuit of perfection to work toward her vision for her home.
Jen’s inspiring and joyful hints for making your KonMari journey work for you and your home

Jen’s favorite KonMari tips:
Consider hiring a “Mother’s helper”: a sitter or care giver who can entertain the kids while you are tidying.
Do super small subcategories when you have small children and cannot devote a large period of time.

What sparks joy for Jen:
“My kids!”
“The joyful new design changes that we have made in our bedroom space inspired by our KonMari journey.”

Gems:
“Leave the kid’s stuff aside. It is much easier if you do your things first.”
“Support can come in many forms.”
“Let the things that bring you joy become the lens of your life.”
“It’s not about the stuff”
“I was looking for a clean counter, but instead I got in touch with my authentic self.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jen Kobrick.

Ep 141 | Brother-Sister Tidying Duo with Sheila and Kevin Carroll

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Brother-sister tidying duo Sheila and Kevin Carroll share the lessons they learned while spending over 20 days organizing Kevin's home in Connecticut.

Kevin is a game inventor and Spark Joy podcast fan from Connecticut. His sister Sheila is a certified KonMari Consultant with Moreganize in Vancouver who helps people find more happiness in their life by organizing their homes and workplaces.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How a move from California to Singapore sparked Sheila's interest in the simplicity and led to her becoming a certified KonMari Consultant
How Kevin's crowded dresser planted the organizing seed that led him to call on her sister for help
How Sheila and Kevin tidied for a total of 20 days, with Sheila traveling from Vancouver to Connecticut
The size and scope of Kevin's home/project in his Connecticut cottage
Kevin's vision: get rid of the clutter and lighten up his stress level
The pros and cons when it comes to tidying with family members
How organizing KonMari style impacted other areas of Kevin's life more broadly
How tidying has impacted their brother-sister relationship
How Sheila's work with her brother impacted her work with clients

Sheila's favorite tidying tip:
70% is full

Kevin's favorite tidying tip:
What do I want to keep rather than what do I want to get rid of.
Put felt pads on the bottom of appliances so they slide easily on countertops

What sparks joy for Sheila:
Gardening

What sparks joy for Kevin:
Inventing a new game with his son

To connect with Sheila Carrol, visit moreganize.ca and on Facebook

To connect with Kevin and learn more about TENZI visit ilovetenzi.com

Exclusively for Spark Joy Listeners:
Sheila and Kevin are offering a TEN-TEN special! 10% off a Morganize session PLUS a FREE game of TENZI!

Gems:
"Only take it if you love it or you need it.
"I called clutter my kryptonite. It just paralyzed me."
"When I work with a client, you get a combination of gentle and powerful."
"By having less clutter around, I just feel more efficient with my time I'm not caught up in looking for things and getting frustrated I can't find them."
"I'm now much more conscious about what comes into the house than I was before."
"Going through the process brings up lots of stories...our experiences growing up and what we've shared."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guests: Kevin Carroll and Sheila Carroll.

Ep 140 | Your Color Guru with Jeannie Stith-Mawhinney

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Jeannie Stith-Mawhinney of Color Guru helps us shop efficiently by understanding what colors work best for us in our KonMari wardrobe.

Jeannie is obsessed with helping real women look and feel amazing in their clothes. She is the founder and CEO of Color Guru, where she helps women create the wardrobe of their dreams by analyzing their hair, skin, and eye color in order to give them their ideal color palette for clothing.

She teaches an online course called "Style Secrets for Everyday Women." Jeannie is a wife and mother of two girls in Arden, DE. Her work has been featured on the Design Mom blog, This Organized Life Podcast, and Philadelphia Style magazine.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning what a color palette is all about and how it can help you find more joy in your wardrobe
Can a color palette help you in your KonMari journey? Yes!
How Jeannie became the Color Guru and how she works with her clients
What are the different color “families” and how do they differ?
Jeannie and Kristyn go in depth about the revelations Kristyn learned from her own color consultation with the Color Guru
Discover new ideas and great tips for how to make your colors work for you

Jeannie's favorite tidying tip:
“I have arranged my clothes in order of color instead of type. I love that my colors all work together.” *If you follow Jeannie's suggestion that you should only buy things that work with things already in your closet, this will help you easily pull outfits together!

What sparks joy for Jeannie:
Jeannie has been thrilled with her blooming Peonies in her garden this year.

To connect with Jeannie, you can find her at YourColorGuru.com
And, she’s on Instagram @yourcolorguru

Just for Spark Joy Listeners:
The Color Guru is offering you 10% off of any color consultation or gift color consultation! The coupon code to use is “SparkJoy”.

Gems:
"It’s not our fault that we have trouble knowing what works for us colorwise, we are all just guessing."
"Wow, I don’t wear these colors, but they are in my home."
"We get so many messages about what we should want to buy, that we stop trusting our own intuition."

"Understanding your shape and style is important as well. Color and style all work together"
"Does this purchase work with at least five other things in my closet?"

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jeannie Stith-Mawhinney .

Ep 139 | KonMari Quick Tips: Safe Summer Fun 2020

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Today’s KonMari Quick Tips episode is about having Safe Summer Fun in 2020.

Summer means fun outdoor activities, events, markets, vacations and an easier, more relaxed way of life. At least-that’s what summer usually is all about. But, this is a summer like no other for most of us. No matter where you are in the world, it’s likely that you’ll be much more mindful about where you’re going and how you’re spending your time. If you are looking for ideas, this episode is for you!

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

KonMari Quick Tips:

Be mindful of good, preventative actions that will keep you and your family safe.
Explore your Vision for a safe Summer. Let your vision be your guide!
Look into Thrillist.com and consider one of their local newsletters for up to date activities-virtual and in person. Karin loves the NYC newsletter that arrives every Friday morning. You can select your own town to get one just for you!
Learn a new skill. Kristyn recommends:
Dabble
I Can't Podcast - virtual workshop on July 9
Share your voice in your community. Check out virtual town hall and city hall meetings and get involved. Most are virtual now and it’s an easy way to know what is going on.
Find your favorite musical artist online. Many of them are hosting virtual events on Instagram and YouTube. (examples: @dnice and @verzuztv
Explore your local parks and nature centers. Bonus points for visiting ones you have never been to before.
Consider getting into one of your “someday” activities. Have you always wanted to start painting or cross-stitch? What about catching up on your reading or movie list? Maybe explore new methods of photo organizing (see Spark Joy Episode 55.
Support your local businesses! They need you and will be glad to welcome you back.
Begin that big organization or home renovation project you have always wanted to do. You may have a better idea of how your home can best serve you and your family now, and this would be a great time to make changes that will bring you more joy at home

We are pleased to introduce the following new member of The Spark Joy Club, joining at the Joy Sparker level:
Welcome!

Jessica Shepard

Join over 180 serious Tidiers who are making 2020 their very last year of being disorganized. We welcome you to extended conversation around taking action, living, and maintaining a tidy lifestyle. Please join the conversation by visiting sparkjoypodcast.com and selecting Join the Club

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 138 | Downsizing 101 with Marni Jameson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Marni Jameson, author and columnist, joins us to discuss the difficult, emotional journey of downsizing your home or your aging parents' home.

Marni is a nationally syndicated columnist, author, journalist, TV guest, speaker and America’s most-loved home and lifestyle expert. Her weekly column “At Home with Marni Jameson” appears in papers nationwide reaching millions of readers. An award-winning journalist, Marni is also the author of five books, including Downsizing the Family Home and Downsizing the Blended Home.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The personal event that sparked Marni's interest in writing about the process of downsizing her family's home
Where to start when it comes to downsizing and the emotions attached with the activity
Questions to ask yourself (beyond "does it spark joy?") when you're deep in legacy management
How Marni made decisions about childhood memories
- Spark Joy Episode 7 - Design and the Future of Minimalism
The importance of keeping the end game in mind
The difference between an antique and a valuable antique - it's all about what the market wants!
Tips on compromising about what to keep/discard when you are downsizing a blended home
How Marni knew when to lean on professionals during the process
- Example: Everything But the House (feat. in Spark Joy Episode 44 or Maxsold
Marni's tips for those those who are downsizing

Marni's favorite tidying tip:
-Two phrases that are off limits in her household: "for now" and/or "later"
-Clear counters - put it away! (visual harmony and peace)

What sparks joy for Marni:
Her yard and backyard oasis

To connect with Marni Jameson, you can find her at marnijameson.com

Just for Spark Joy Listeners:
1) Email Marni at marni@marnijameson.com using the subject line "Spark Joy Special"
2) Within the email indicate which book you'd like to purchase ("Downsizing the Family Home" or "Downsizing the Blended Home") through Marni's team
3) Receive your book plus a FREE copy of Downsizing the Family Home: WORKBOOK, which retails for $15 (offer available for 10 lucky Spark Joy listeners!)

Gems:
"You want to honor the family legacy, and memory and history, but you can't take it all with you."
"When everything is important, nothing is important."
"I have enough. They are alive in my heart."

"It's important for parents to not be a storage locker for their kids."
"You can't hold on to everything and you have to learn to evolve and roll forward and be present in who you are now."
"Has it served its useful life?"
"It's freeing to let things go and realize they have served their purpose."

"I love stuff. I just don't want to have something that's not me anymore, that's not useful to me anymore, or not who I am today."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Marni Jameson.

Ep 137 | Meet 1/3 of the First KonMari Podcast in Spanish, guest Luīze Ratniece

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Luīze Ratniece, KonMari Consultant, introduces us to Orden a Tres [Order by Three], the first podcast dedicated to the KonMari Method in Spanish.

Luīze Ratniece is Latvian, and she’s lived in Spain for more than 10 years. She holds a PhD in sociology and is a textile sustainability activist. She wanted to be a fashion designer as a child, and is now channeling that wish through professional organization, ideal wardrobe workshops, and clothing
swaps. Luīze is a fellow KonMari consultant, certified since 2019 and ⅓ of the first podcast dedicated to the KonMari method in Spanish: Orden a Tres [Order by Three].

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Luīze's KonMari journey
The benefits of being in conscious relationship with the objects around us
Why Luīze enjoyed Marie Kondo's book "Spark Joy" over her debut best seller "The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up."
The KonMari book controversy, addressed in Spark Joy Ep 75
How Luīze practices extreme empathy when working with our clients
How KonMari and professional organization is received in Spain
Luīze's KonMari podcast Orden a Tres - "Order by Three" in Spanish

Luīze's favorite tidying tip:
Nothing beats finding a place for each thing.
and KonMari Lite, also referenced in Spark Joy Ep 94

What sparks joy for Luīze:
Launching an app for wardrobe tracking.

To connect with Luīze Ratniece, you can find her at Un Armario Verde. Check out her podcast Orden a Tres.

Gems:
"Bringing the 'keeping what sparks joy' logic into our lives beyond the very immediate object."

"We are now looking into creating more synergies among the spanish speaking [KonMari] Consultants and exploring this cultural richness that we can access thanks to a common language."

"There is no better way to make your wardrobe more sustainable than wearing what you have."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Luīze Ratniece.

Ep 136 | Love in the Time of Corona - Conscious Dating with Angela N. Holton

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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 and on instagram @angelanholton.

You can also pick up Angela's book, The Conscious Dating Method Workbook and Journal.

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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Angela Holton.

Ep 135 | Checking In with The Spark Joy Club

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Celebrate tidying progress with The Spark Joy Club members who are actively tidying during quarantine and beyond.

We’re lifting the curtain to encourage you to connect with others who’ve made the same commitment to a clutter free life of joy as you move from KonMari practice to KonMari lifestyle.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learn what The Spark Joy Club is all aboutand how it started. (Episode 70 where we introduced the The Spark Joy Club)
How The Spark Joy Club evolved to over 175 members as of May 2020

The benefits of the two tiers of membership in the Spark Joy Club:

Joy Riser Tier Benefits:
- A personal thank you for your support that will be mentioned during a Spark Joy podcast and in the show notes during the month you join.
- Access to the Custom Spark Joy Episode Map and Listening Guide which is updated following every episode.
- The Joy Riser Tier is $3 per month.
Joy Sparker Tier Benefits:
- All the benefits of the Joy Riser Tier.
- Full membership in The Spark Joy Club on FaceBook.
- A copy of The Tidy Home Joy Journal created by our very own Kristyn Ivey of For the Love of Tidy.
- The Joy Sparker Tier is $5 per month.
What our Spark Joy Club members been doing during the pandemic? They've been very productive and joyful!
Episode 121 featuring our Spark Joy Club member, Monica. Member Spotlight: Monica’s Tidying Journey
Learn about the great KonMari victories of our Spark Joy Club members Jennyfer, Evlyn and Betsy.

A very warm welcome to our new Spark Joy Club members:

At the Joy Sparker Tier:
Emily Dyson
Nancy Fleischauer
Jenny Nix
Dani Cihak
Megan Wood
Sooz Sovern

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 134 | Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life with Co-Author Scott Sonenshein

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Scott Sonenshein, co-author with Marie Kondo of Joy at Work joins us to explore how our work life is evolving and the importance of productivity and organization in our professional life.

Scott Sonenshein is the Henry Gardiner Symonds Professor of Management at Rice University. He holds a PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Michigan, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and a BA from the University of Virginia.

As an author, he is best known for his work Stretch and, most recently, he co-wrote Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life with Marie Kondo.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Scott’s time in the wild west of the dot.com boom and what he learned during his work at a startup.
Hear our review of Joy at Work here: Ep 128-Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein.
How Scott met Marie and how they worked together on the book.
How to organize time, networking, and productivity using the KonMari Method.
How to function and thrive in an uncertain environment.
The usefulness of applying what you are learning in your home environment to your workplace environment once life has returned to the new normal.

Scott's favorite organizing tip:
“The practice of gratitude goes a long way in KonMari’ing your professional life.”

What sparks joy for Scott:
Scott is studying our new work environment and he’s finding that people are finding joy even in troubling times.

Scott’s daughters have been hosting a restaurant night for Mom and Dad each week. They are going all out with a menu, decorations, a theme! (We loved this!)

Connect with Scott on his website and find his books here

Gems:
“Focus on the urgent and the important task.”
“Activity clutter’ is doing things that are not making that much of a difference.”
“It’s really a good time to be focusing on what we are doing with our lives.”
“Clutter can really spiral out of control.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Scott Sonenshein.

Ep 133 | Build an Unapologetically Thrifted Sustainable Wardrobe with Kaitlin Stewart

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 May 2020 00:15:00 -0400

Kaitlin Stewart, Eco-Stylist, shares her love for secondhand fashions and helps us incorporate thrifted items into our wardrobe in a way that sparks joy.

Our guest Kaitlin Stewart is a New York transplant residing in the Windy City for the past 8 years. She is an avid thrifter and eco-stylist who helps her clients build a more sustainable and budget friendly wardrobe by styling them with secondhand pieces. She believes in being a conscious consumer and an unapologetic thrifter!

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How generations of inherited vintage pieces influenced Kaitlin's passion for thrift
The benefits of choosing thrift/consignment/resale over fast fashion, including the environmental impact
The difference between thrift, consignment, vintage and resale
Stories behind our favorite thrift store finds
What's in high demand at thrift stores
How to decide what to take to a consignment store vs. a donation drop off based on current trends, seasons, and date of purchase
Kaitlin's go-to shopping strategies
How to set boundaries while shopping consciously

Featured stores:

Goodwill
Buffalo Exchange
Crossroads Trading Company
Brown Elephant
Mount Sinai Resale Shop

Featured stores (online):

Kaitlin's favorite thrift shopping tip:
"Try everything on." Wear leggings and a tank to make things easy.

What sparks joy for Kaitlin:
Planning her sustainable wedding and sourcing thrift decor

Connect with Kaitlin on Instagram or Facebook or book an eco-styling session with her at windycitythrfter@gmail.com.

Gems:
"I've always thought of thrifting as treasure hunting."
"Fast fashion is the largest form of pollution."
"Fashion is cyclical, so it's all coming back."
"If it looks cool, but isn't going to work with what you already own, it's not going to serve you."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Kaitlin Stewart.

Ep 132 | Where does all the stuff go? with Secondhand author Adam Minter

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 May 2020 00:45:00 -0400

Downsizing. Decluttering. Discarding. After you’ve decided what sparks joy and donated the things that don’t serve you - what happens to all the stuff after it’s been KonMari’d?

Guest Adam Minter is a columnist and author based in Malaysia. For nearly two decades, his journalism has focused on waste, recycling, stuff - and the hidden global world that it inhabits. His first book, 'Junkyard Planet,' was a best-selling dive into the recycling bin. His new book, 'Secondhand' is a global journey into what happens to our stuff after we no longer want it.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The personal experience that sparked Adam's interest in figuring out what happens to the things when they go through the donation door that spanned 12 countries
The number of items that on average thrift store sells off the shelves
The items that are highest and lowest demand and most exported for second use
Why used clothing traders prefer Canadian clothing
What to do with antiquated media formats and electronics
How Goodwill employees sort and price items based on the quality of the goods
What happens to undergarments and socks
Three unexpected items that Goodwill turns away
The storage locker industry and the true cost of rentals
The impact of Adam's research on his family

Adam's favorite productivity tip:
"Buy better. Buy more durable."

What sparks joy for Adam:
"My son."

Gems:
"If you're a thrift store the last thing you want to do is toss something into a landfill or an incinerator"
"Some of us are spending more money to store our stuff than to store ourselves."
"There is more storage locker space in the U.S. alone than the square footage of Palm Springs, California. "
"Buy better. Buy more durable."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Adam Minter.

Ep 131 | Getting Things Done with David Allen

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

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.”

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

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

-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 and on Twitter at 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."

"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
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: David Allen.

Ep 130 | Love Your Work with David Kadavy

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 01:45:00 -0400

David Kadavy, author and podcast host, joins us to explore ways we can design our work-life and productivity during quarantine and get the most out of our creative energy.

David Kadavy is a writer who helps creatives get more out of their energy. He’s author of two books, The Heart to Start and Design for Hackers, and host of the Love Your Work podcast. His third book, Mind Management, Not Time Management debuts in the fall of 2020.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

David's journey to becoming a writer and figuring out where in the world he gets his best work done
How the concept of "loss aversion" helped David sell most of his posessions and move from Chicago to Columbia and make space for the future
How designing his life to include a "behavior shaping contraint," living in South America, allowed David to stop living by his to-do list and pay closer attention to his energy
How Episode 136 of David's podcast "Love Your Work," where he explores The Art of Staying In and how it applies to quarantine
Our relationship with time and how it's actually more productive to save our time for less productive activities
Trevor Noah meme
Spark Joy Episode 128 Book Review: Joy at Work, Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein
What to do next when we DON'T love of work
The guest that we happen to be bringing on Spark Joy next week that inspired David's productivity

David's favorite time management tip:

Have a weekly review on Sunday afternoon and set alarms for appointments on your phone while keeping it on silent for the week

What sparks joy for David:

David's hammock

To connect with David, you can find him at kadavy.net and on Twitter and Instagram at @kadavy

With so many people working from home, writing is an even more important skill. David shares 14 tools he uses to hone his focus and quadruple his writing output. Download it here.

Gems:
"It hurts twice as much for us to get rid of something as it does feel good for us to get something."

"It is about not so much having the time to do something, but having the energy to do something."

"What mood do I need to be in to get this thing done?"

"One of the nice things about quarantine is it takes away some of that FOMO a little bit."

"When you save time, keep it!"

"What discomfort are you willing to endure to have some future sparking of joy?"

"When you have a place for things, then all the natural creative state that you experience as a human has space to flourish."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: David Kadavy.

Ep 129 | Calendar Clutter: How to Tidy Your Time with Laura Vanderkam

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Laura Vanderkam, author and productivity expert, joins us with tips and strategies to help you KonMari your calendar.

Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Juliet’s School of Possibilities, Off the Clock, I Know How She Does It, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. Her work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune. She is the host of the podcast Before Breakfast and the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the podcast Best of Both Worlds. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Laura became a student of time and a time management expert
The quote from Laura that summarizes time management in a nutshell
What to do first when it comes to figuring out exactly where your time goes and how it's similar to the KonMari Method
The questions you should ask yourself when taking inventory of your time and tips that help you protect that time while tidying
Laura (mom of FIVE!) shares her tips for working moms trying to manage their time and make time for what matters
How avoid chasing a "typical" week when time tracking
Laura's podcasts Before Breakfast podcast and Best of Both Worlds

Laura's favorite time management tip:
Plan your week on Fridays.

What sparks joy for Laura:
Her bar height set of tables and chairs for her deck.

To connect with Laura, visit her at lauravanderkam.com and download her free Time Makeover Guide.

Gems:

“Time is the ultimate non-renewable resource."
"We often blame time for things that aren't really about time at all."
"Saying 'I'm too busy' or 'I don't have time' puts the responsibility somewhere else."
"If anyone wants to spend their time better the first thing they should do is figure out where their time is going now."
"What do I like about my schedule?"
"What do I want to spend more time doing?'
"Don't bring it in if it's just going to be schedule clutter."
"Anytime someone asks you to do something in the future, ask yourself if you'd do it tomorrow."
"Start thinking of your life in terms of a week instead of a day."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Laura Vanderkam.

Ep 128 | Book Review: Joy at Work, Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode we review Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein’s new book, Joy at Work, Organizing Your Professional Life.

In Joy at Work, Marie and Scott use the KonMari method to bring more efficiency, productivity and even joy to the work place.

The book was released during probably one of the most monumental events in modern times, in the middle of a life altering pandemic, which has found most of us re-defining our roles in our community, at home, and at work.

Joy Checks:
Karin discovers Google 3D animals
Kristyn invites you to join her weekdays at noon central at her Tidy Up Office Hours via Facebook Live

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What we learned in the new book, Joy at Work, Organizing Your Professional Life.. We talk about what surprised us, what we loved, and what we found didn't spark quite as much joy
The new and fascinating ancedotes we learned about Marie’s life
How Marie applies the categories to the work place
Learning about new clutter categories and organizing content both digital and hard copy
The category of time and how it can be organized to spark joy while networking and in meetings

Spark Joy Podcast episodes we mentioned in the show:
Ep 87 | KonMari Joy at Work with Christina Jurges

Ep 5 | How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment

Ep 109 | Book Review: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

Ep 123 | KonMari Quick Tips: Social Media Joy

Ep 107 | List-Making Your Way to Your KonMari Vision with Paula Rizzo

Ep 91 | How to Motivate Others to Tidy Up

Ep 85 | KonMari Approved Storage Solutions

Ep 86 | KonMari Your Friends and Relationships with Vanessa Van Edwards

Gems:
"Marie shares more about her personal life than ever before."

"Vision plays a part even at work and I'm glad it got ample attention in this book."

"What you chose to keep can give you important insight into your value in your work."

"When it comes to the basics of the Method, you may not find a lot of new information."

"We both thought it was a good read while we are navigating the new reality of our work from home lives."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 127 | Taking a Look at Why It's All Too Much with Peter Walsh

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 06:15:00 -0400

His new book is Let It Go, Downsizing Your Way to A Richer, Happier Life.

Peter was a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show where he was dubbed the “Get Your Life Organized Guy” which led to his own series, Extreme Clutter with Peter Walsh on OWN.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Peter got his start-you’ll never believe what he WASN’T interested in doing in the beginning
How it all came together for Peter and organizational design became his great passion
The importance of humor and empathy in working with people who are experiencing guilt and shame over clutter
Peter’s take on why we accumulate so much-the hope of chasing a dream life through acquiring more and more “stuff”
How Peter shocks his clients with his plan for discarding 70-80% of their stuff-but they find he was on the money!
What Peter thinks of Marie Kondo. Peter and Marie on the Rachel Ray Show
Stories about what often gets edited from reality organizing shows. To go behind the scenes of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo check out:

Ep 67 | Review of Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo"

Ep 68 | Behind the Scenes: Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" with Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem

Suggestions on how to manage the uncertainty of life during the pandemic
Peter’s annual challenge on his YouTube channel. Peter Walsh's 31 Days to Get Organized
How to play Trash Bag Tango!
Peter’s great ideas for turning family organizing into learning games while we are staying home
The importance of a schedule and maintaining a sense of routine while social distancing and staying at home
Peter’s own experience surviving the coronavirus

Correction: In this episode it was cited that Americans make up 50% of the world's population. As of 2021, Americans make up 4.25% of the total world population.

How to get in touch with Peter:
Peter Walsh Design
Peter’s Books
Extreme Clutter with Peter Walsh
Clean Sweep with Peter Walsh
Peter’s very active FaceBook community
Peter's YouTube channel

Gems:

“I’ve discovered over nearly 20 years of doing this that we are all human and all in the same boat. We all go off the rails occasionally!”

“At the end of the day, you are stronger than your stuff.”

“What is the vision you have from the life you want? Does the stuff you own help you get what you want from this room?”

“If you don’t respect your space, if you overload it, it’s the same as dishonoring as person, you are dishonoring your space. You will never be happy in that space.”

“Stuff is a distraction. Issues around clutter are about loss and trauma and neglect and abandonment.”

“The issue is really, ‘How do I deal with the fear and the anxiety we are all facing at the moment.’ And, people are looking to organizing as a way of feeling some control.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Peter Walsh.

Ep 126 | Freshly Organized with 2020 NAPO President and Professional Organizer Amy Tokos

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 08:15:00 -0400

Meet the Amy Tokos, 2020 President of NAPO, the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

Did you know that there is a national professional organization for Professional Organizers? If you follow our podcast, you know that KonMari Media Incorporated trains and accredits consultants in the method but there is also NAPO, the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

Amy Tokos is a Certified Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant. She is also the President-elect of NAPO for 2020.

Amy’s background is in engineering and she previously worked making manufacturing processes simpler and more efficient. In 2008, she started her company, Freshly Organized, and began bringing the lean thinking to the homes and offices of her clients.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning about the concept of Lean Management and its origins in the Japanese manufacturing community.
How Amy transitioned from corporate management to home and business organizing.
Her early organizational influencers and how she became involved with NAPO. National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals
How Amy incorporates Lean management into her organizing style.
The book, In Praise of Wasting Time.
The importance of using technology to support our goals.
Learn about NAPO and the benefits of the combined wisdom of thousands of organizers.
How you can use the resources of NAPO to help your own organizing process.

Amy's favorite organizing tip:
“Hold an informal family meeting once a week. It’s a great way to catch up, make plans and to make sure there are no last-minute surprises.”

What sparks joy for Amy
"Today, I have tulips that are blooming in a pot on my dining room table."

Amy's parting words of Wisdom
"Keep in real. Relax, don't worry about living in staged environment."

To connect with Amy, visit her website at Freshly Organized and her Instagram: Freshly Organized.

Gems:

"People are overwhelmed by the stuff in their space and also stuff in their heads and their calendars."

"Lean is just basically minimizing processes and steps to gain efficiency."

"We are missing out on the benefits of just wasting time."

"Some of the things that are designed to simplfy our lives just add more complication."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Amy Tokos.

Ep 125 | Spring Cleaning Joy with Marcela Barraza of MB Green Cleaning

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Cleaning X Tidying. Cleaning professional Marcela Barraza joins us to explore the intersection between two essential household tasks that pair well to create a space that sparks joy.

Marcela Barraza is the founder and owner of MB Green Cleaning. She is a graduate of the hospitality administration and hotel management program. After working for an airline for more than 10 years, Marcela started in the cleaning industry in 2004 and she was inspired to switch to “green” cleaning after experiencing a series of maladies, including irritated skin and debilitating migraines, that she traced to the harmful chemicals in the cleaning products she used in her home. She then made it her mission to help others safeguard their environment so they can enjoy the comfort and contentment that comes with a clean and healthy home.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What led to Marcela’s start in the home cleaning business
The idea of Green cleaning and the benefits of going green
Learning why cleaning is such a challenge for most people
How cleaning and organizing differ and why someone who is well organized may not necessarily be good at cleaning and vice versa!
Discovering the cleaning style or schedule that will work best for you
Spring cleaning as a way to welcome the season
Managing cleaning with children. Teaching them good habits and skills
When it makes sense to hire help for your cleaning needs

Marcela's favorite cleaning tip:
“Clean as you go and make sure you have the right tools.”
“Use concentrated products and refillable bottles because they waste less packaging.”

What sparks joy for Marcela
“Being on the Spark Joy Podcast! It’s such a joy to share my passion for green cleaning with others.”

To connect with Marcela, visit her website at MB Green Cleaning. You can find lots of cleaning tips on her blog MB Cleaning Blog and YouTube channel MB Green Cleaning YouTubeand her Instagram:@mbcleaning.

Gems:
"When deciding which products to use, you have to try several to find the ones that work best for you."

"Cleaning is not a super fun thing to do. It's not like anyone wakes up and says, 'Yea, it's cleaning day!'"

"Asking for help is not a bad thing. It can be anything from a cleaning person every week to just a few times a year."

"Get rid of the clutter first and then do the cleaning. No matter how much time we spend cleaning it won't help is there so much stuff."

"If you commit to only one thing, make your bed every day."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Marcela Barraza.

Ep 124 | KonMari and Staying Healthy at Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:30:00 -0400

Physical and mental health safety considerations and our top 5 KonMari Tidying Tools to help you and your family declutter while social distancing and working from home.

If you’re listening to us today it is highly likely you’re inside your home, working from home, social distancing or even self-quarantined.

If tidying falls on your to-do list during this time, we designed this episode just for you. Today we’re going to review physical and mental health safety considerations and our top 5 KonMari Tidying Tools to help you and your family put decluttering your home behind you so you can shift 100% of your focus on navigating this challenging season.

We want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club!

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

Center for Disease Control safety tips
Here is what you can do to keep yourself and others safe:
• Wash your hands frequently with warm water for 20 seconds

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

• Stay home when you are sick

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

• Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed or for potential changes at your workplace

• Remember to take additional precautions for those at highest risk, particularly older adults and those who have severe underlying health conditions

• Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a checklist for individuals and families to help get your home ready for what’s to come. The list includes tips like:
• Check in with your neighbors, especially the older or physically challenged, to see what their plan will be.

• Keep surfaces disinfected.

• Gather emergency and community phone numbers and emails so that you can stay in touch.

• Choose a room in your house that can be used to separate sick household members from others.

During a pandemic it’s important to store a two week supply of water and food and periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home. For details visit ready.gov

***Keep in mind that the most up to date information may be found via your local government websites.

Here are a few suggestions that may help with your emotional well-being:

• The phone and FaceTime are social distancing friendly! You could do a group chat with Skype or Zoom. This is a great way to check in with your older relatives.

• Check whether you are more irritable with the people who share your home. This is very likely to happen when you combine stress, uncertainty and boredom. Forgive yourself and much as others.

• It’s ok to check into your social media accounts and little more than usual to stay current on the news, but avoid 24/7 news watching if possible.

• Volunteer! If you are symptom free, you could offer to pick up things from the store for your neighbors or even set up a phone-calling tree to make sure everyone in your social circle is doing ok.

• Take a walk! Taking a walk can be a great way to relieve stress and get some fresh air. Just remember to practice social distancing during your stroll.

• Don’t forget the basics. Try to maintain as much of a schedule as possible, even though things have changed. Getting dressed, making your bed and maintaining meal schedules can make a real difference.

• Reach out for help. Consider a virtual call with a therapist-or see if your current therapist will visit with you over the phone. Visit the American Psychological Association for resources.

Get Social At A Distance.
CNN released a great article listing creative ways to get social while limiting your contact with people and avoiding groups: CNN: What to Do This Weekend

You can:
• Take a virtual museum tour.
• Learn a new language.
• Get takeout to support your local and small businesses.
• Make a new recipe.
• Catch up on your self-care.
• Last but not least they suggest doing the tough stuff. This may include your KonMari tidying event!

Tidy Tools:

Tidy Tool #1: The Spark Joy Podcast.
Our podcast is designed for you to listen to while you tidy. If you’re new to Spark Joy we recommend checking out our most popular Episode 1: KonMari 101.
Now, more than ever, the importance of having a plan is very clear. So head over to Episode 73: How to Plan Your KonMari Tidying Journey before you dive in too deep.

Also, as extreme cleanliness remains top of mind, check out Spark Joy Episode 82: KonMari Quick Tips on Spring Tidying.

For a limited time, we are making our coveted Spark Joy Episode Map available for a limited time to help guide you through your listening experience.

Tidy Tool #2: The Spark Joy Club.
Now is a perfect time to lean on crowd sourcing with a virtual tidying community committed to providing you with a safe space to address your unique tidying challenges.

To join the club visit [sparkjoypodcast.com](sparkjoypodcast.com) and click join the club.

Tidy Tool #3: The Tidy Home Joy Journal - Your #1 Tidying Companion
Written by co-host, Kristyn Ivey, this Amazon Best Seller is available to be delivered to your door to help guide your Tidying Festival.

You can also recieve the Tidy Home Joy Journal by joining The Spark Joy Club at the Joy Sparker level. A copy of the journal is included with your membership. One of the many reasons you should join the club!

Tidy Tool #4: Virtual Tidying at For the Love of Tidy.
Virtual Tidying at For the Love of Tidy is a germ free alternative to in-home KonMari tidying lessons that also moves you towards your goals.
Here are some of the highlights:
• During video calls we walk through vision mapping and a plan.

• Take a virtual home tour.

• And address decision-making or storage related tidying challenges.

To get a taste of what virtual tidying is all about, follow For the Love of Tidy this month on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn as I broadly share KonMari-themed tips you can implement in your home in 15 minutes or less

To instantly book your two hour KonMari Virtual Tidy which is accessible worldwide.

Tidy Tool #5: Virtual Organizing at The Serene Home.
The Serene Home Program includes:
• A home assessment and home tour
• Face-to-face virtual work
• Written step-by-step follow up following each session
• Motivational emails to help you over any bumps in your progress

The Serene Home newsletter: This can be delivered directly to your inbox later in the week with some additional ideas for making the most of this time. You can sign-up at The Serene Home Mailing List.

Special thanks to Spark Joy listener Kristine Rustia-Jourdan for suggesting we cover this important topic today.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 123 | KonMari Quick Tips: Social Media Joy

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Today’s KonMari Quick Tips episode is all about building a healthy relationship with social media.

From Instagram to Facebook to Snapchat to Tiktok - whatever platform you use, there’s no denying social media is here to stay. We dive into 5 tips that will help you KonMari your social media, by viewing your activity through a lens of joy.

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

KonMari Quick Tips:

Envision your ideal social media lifestyle
Gather social platforms together
Let go of social media accounts that don’t spark joy with a “thank you”
Add joy to your feed by curating joyful connections
Maintain a healthy social media relationship by setting usage boundaries

We are pleased to introduce the following new members of The Spark Joy Club, joining at the Joy Sparker level:
Welcome!

Vicky Peters
Stacey Locke
Laura Eichman

Join over 150 serious Tidiers who are making 2020 their very last year of being disorganized. We welcome you to extended conversation around taking action, living, and maintaining a tidy lifestyle. Please join the conversation by visiting sparkjoypodcast.com and selecting Join the Club

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 122 | Shelly Sorts Through Decades of Treasures Over Two Weeks to Find Joy

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:45:00 -0500

Shelly Fuerte walks through how her 15 hour KonMari tidying experience with For the Love of Tidy impacted her family and the benefits of working with a KonMari Consultant along the way.

Shelly Fuerte is an arts administration consultant. She works with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to program their non-classical concerts and travels the globe as a road manager for various artists including Jane Lynch and many other Broadway vocalists. Her husband Art, is an elementary music teacher and together they direct and perform with an LGBTQ community Latin Band.

Shelly...is also one of Kristyn's clients! They tidied for 15 hours over a few weeks, so she is a For the Love of Tidy Graduate of Tidy. Today we will take a deep dive into her KonMari tidying journey and the impact it’s had on her life.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How lunch with a friend who recently hired a KonMari Consultant inspired Shelly to seek out Kristyn's help in Chicago
The moment Shelly knew it was time to seek out professional support
What suprised Shelly the most during the tidying process as she tidied with Kristyn
Shelly's vision for her workspace/workout room and her whole home
Shelly's home: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, detached garage (~2,000 sq ft)
How Shelly made time for tidying in the midst of a incredibly busy work travel schedule
How Shelly consciously let go of items and finish unfinished business: - Old media (VCRs) - DVDs - Old plaques/awards
How tidying paid Shelly back $$$ on multiple occasions
Shelly's husband's surprise find
How Shelly added joy to her wardrobe and living room by using Gwinnie Bee and Modsy
How Shelly's experience impacted her tidying maintenance
How Shelly progressed through The Tidy Wheel of Impact
What happened when Shelly met her style icon - Stacy London! Watch here

What sparks joy for Shelly
Shelly's adorable new puppy Stevie Wonder! @stevie1der.ontour

Gems:
"I knew I needed to do something to make my workplace more consistent and productive."
"It was kind of a graveyard of projects from the past that just didn't get completed."
"It always gets worse before it gets better."
"Every item has a purpose."
"You do have to touch every piece and say thank you and then toss it...you just don't know what hidden treasures could be in there."
"We got rid of four bookcases that at the end of the tidying process had nothing on them."
"Now i definitely think twice about bringing anything into my space. I definitely want things to have intention and purpose."
"A lot of things are easier because I know where things belong."
"You can tackle a big project if you figure out a timeframe, give yourself a deadline, and write a plan to get there."
"Just like in other parts of my life, I just needed a professional to help me."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Shelly Fuerte.

Ep 121 | Member Spotlight: Monica's Tidying Journey

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 01:45:00 -0500

Spark Joy Club member Monica Ruiz joins us from Mexico to share the impact of her solo KonMari tidying adventure.

This year we’re trying something new. Welcome to our first ever Spark Joy Club Member Spotlight! We are dedicating a few episodes this year to shine the light on all of the progress our Spark Joy Club members on their tidying while listening to Spark Joy Podcast and leaning on the community.

First up is Spark Joy Club member Monica Ruiz:

Monica worked in Product Development for Corporate America for 15 years, after which she decided to pursue her passion start cooking school before retiring in Central Mexico. Currently she’s a mom of an amazing 15 yo girl and can always be seen with yarn and needles for creativity, relaxation, and learning.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How and when Monica first
The size of Monica's home, volume of her clutter, and her vision
The very first item Monica kept that helped her understand what "spark joy" meant to her
Monica's KonMari timeline (including some starts and stops!)
Tools that helped Monica crowd source information she needed: Udemy KonMari course, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, Spark Joy Podcast, The Tidy Home Joy Journal and the The Spark Joy Club
All the Monica was able to accomplish once Monica closed out her event after 2.5 years
How Monica has adopted KonMari into her lifestyle and its larger, long-term impact

Monica's favorite styling tip:
When tidying Komono, start with sub-categories that are bothering you the most

What sparks joy for Monica:
Her yarn collection, prepariing food, and music.

Gems:
“I really wanted a home that would be much more beautiful to look at."
"I wanted to capture that feeling of peace and happiness."
"It's real people doinig real tidying and finding real challenges, and somehow from a distance, cheeting you on!
"I breathe easier. I am more focus. I have more dicipline keeping things tidy, putting things away, even doing more self-care."
"Now I know that it is possible improve and to change and to be happier."
"What life takes, music restores."
"Share your enthusiasm with anyone that will listen."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Monica Ruiz.

Ep 120 | Joyful Style for Every Body with Style Coach Joanna Lovering

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Joanna Lovering, Style Coach, shares tips and tricks to help you make the most of your closet as you build a style that sparks joy.

After a successful weight loss journey in 2011, Joanna founded Copper + Rise, a New York City-based style coaching service dedicated to personal and professional empowerment. A passionate stylist and trained executive coach, Joanna pairs her seasonal sensibilities with leadership development techniques to help clients rise to the next level.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Joanna made the jump from organizational psychology to fashion styling
Joanna’s personal transformation that led to her style philosophy
The importance of closet editing as the first step in building a wardrobe that sparks joy
How letting go of clothing that doesn’t fit or doesn’t work for you turn getting ready in the morning from stress to joy
Learn fashion tips from Joanna that will help you find the perfect clothing items regardless of your body type
Learn about "The Line, The V and the Rule of Three!"

Joanna's favorite styling tip:
“If you chose to wear something voluminous on the top, wear something tighter on the bottom and vice versa. And if you wear pants that are cropped, your top needs to be shorter as well. It’s all about proportions.”

What sparks joy for Joanna:
"I’m planning an event in New York for curvy girls. It’s important to me to show women that they are not tied to some traditional concept of fashion. It’s important to me that all women are recognized.”

To connect with Joanna, visit her website at Copper and Rise and her Instagram @CopperandRise

Gems:

“My ideal client is someone who just doesn’t have the time to think about what they are going to wear that day.”

“When you think about your closet, what percentage of your clothes that you actually wear?”

“My thought is that if you want to keep that sentimental dress, then let’s get a nice box and call it your ‘Nostalgia Box’! “

“How you feel and how you want to make other people feel should be the only consideration when it comes to what you decide you wear.”

“As Tim Gunn always says, “That’s a lot of look!”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Joanna Lovering.

Ep 119 | Minimalist Shopping Habits That Spark Joy with Sarit Sela

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Sarit Sela, fellow KonMari Consultant, shares her favorite minimalist inspired buying and shopping strategies that can enhance your KonMari journey and help you maintain a clutter free lifestyle.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning how and why Sarit became a KonMari Consultant

How minimalism has played an important role in Sarit’s personal journey and in her work with clients
What minimalism means to Sarit. It’s not what you may think!
Sarit's method of working with her clients using the KonMari Method and minimalism
How it's not about the number of things you own in any category. It's important to not focus on the number but on the joy and use of the items to YOU
The challenges, and JOYS, of being a mom in our consumerist culture and how to help your children be more focused and mindful
How Sarit has navigated setting up her business in both Sweden and Israel and the differences in both cultures when it comes to tidying
What makes a good KonMari Consultant in Sarit’s view

What sparks joy for Sarit:
"Soon, I will be in Tel Aviv to lead a workshop on minimalism. It's going to be one of the biggest events I have done so far."

Sarit’s parting words of wisdom:
"Many people are concerned with the habits of others in their homes. But I have found that if you change your habits, you will be able to help others."

To connect with Sarit, visit her websits and blog Mimialist Me or follow her on Instagram

Gems:

"You will know exactly what you need and don't need. It must work for you."
"Combining the two things, KonMari and miinimalism, was something that felt unique."
"Who needs five boxes of pasta at any one time?"
"I think there are two things to teach kids. The first is to learn to tidy and the second is to carefully chose the things they want in their lives."
"It's so important for a KonMari Consultant to have compassion."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Sarit Sela.

Ep 118 | KonMari Quick Tips: Apps and Tools That Spark Joy

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Today’s KonMari Quick Tips episode is all about tracking habits that spark joy.

Tidying is a self-care activity. But, unlike heading to the spa or grabbing a box of chocolates, your KonMari tidying event is intentionally a bit uncomfortable, launching you into a layered growth journey that extends well beyond your closet.

This is where habit tracking comes in! Once you’ve tidied A-Z, literally making thousands of decisions about all of your greatest treasures, you officially enter maintenance mode.

Post-KonMari is the perfect time to start to take a more critical look at the behaviors that lie beneath the clutter. This includes both good and bad habits you’ve accumulated over time.

We want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.
To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club!
Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

KonMari Quick Tips:
Analog Tools that Kristyn uses:
- Wall Calendars: Decorative/inspirational; Monthly, Yearly
- Dot Journal

Why Karin doesn’t use analog.

Karin’s Favorite Apps:
- Calorie Counter by NutraCheck
- SleepWatch by BodyMatter
- Ratuken
- Peapod
- Acorns by Acorns Grow
- ZocDoc

Kristyn’s Favorite Apps:
- Google Suite
- YNAB
- Oprah and Deepak Chopra
- Five Minute Journal
- Instagram
- Citymapper
- GroupMe
- Honey

Apps we both love:
-ATracker by WonderApps
-Instacart
-Notes App or Reminders App - come standard with our iPhones

We are pleased to introduce the following new members of The Spark Joy Club, joining at the Joy Sparker level:
Welcome!
April Krantz
Laura Vaughan
Andrea Griffin
Cynthia Page

And joining at the Joy Riser Level:
Welcome!
Mun-mun Anderson

Join over 130 serious Tidiers who are making 2020 their very last year of being disorganized. We welcome you to extended conversation around taking action, living, and maintaining a tidy lifestyle. Please join the conversation by visiting sparkjoypodcast.com and selecting Join the Club

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 117 | The Art of Home Staging with Linda Leyble

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 01:15:00 -0500

Guest Linda Leyble, founder of A Beautiful Staged Home, explores the intersection of a clutter free staged home and KonMari and shares tips to help you stage to sell.

Our guest today is Linda Leyble. Linda has been in the home staging business for over 20 years. The owner of A Beautiful Staged Home, she specializes in creating warm and inviting homes for new construction builders and realtors. She also helps home sellers who still live in their homes by re-arranging and editing these homes to appeal to the target buyer in their area.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Hear how Linda got her start in home staging and how she founded A Beautiful Staged Home.
Learn the difference between decorating and staging and how the design choices you love may not spark joy for a potential buyer.
Linda shares the importance of decluttering a home before staging. Buyers want to see that there is plenty of storage for their family and it’s a challenge if there are cramped closets and overloaded cabinets.
What are some of the things that buyers are looking for when they are shopping for a new home?
The importance of neutrals and muted tones. How to create a soothing environment that will appeal to the most potential buyers.
How professional home staging, much like professional organizing, can be well worth the cost in time saved and the increase in your home’s sale price.
Check out Dr. Phil’s wild home décor:
Dr. Phil's Wild Home Decor
What are some of the things that distract from a home’s appearance?
The differences between occupied and unoccupied stagings
What taste-specific decorating is?
What kinds of things can someone do to make their home more sell ready on their own?

Linda’s's favorite home staging tip:
“Think as a buyer would think when looking at your home. Could a buyer imagine themselves and their family living in your home?”

What sparks joy for Linda:
She is excited about staging this gorgeous home. Take a look:
Linda's latest favorite staging

To learn more about Linda and A Beautiful Staged Home, visit A Beautiful Staged Home and on FaceBook: FaceBook: A Beautiful Staged Home

Gems:

"You may love your style and taste, and that's wonderful, but a buyer may not and it could keep your house from being sold."
"I was so excited that my father-in-law's home sold so quickly after my staging. I knew it was my calling."
"Be sure to stay true to the overall style of your home when you are planning the decor."
"Neutrals are always a good bet. Light colored walls make a room light and airy."
"People are sometimes surprised at the cost of staging. But their home will almost always sell faster and for a higher price with good staging."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Linda Leyble.

Ep 116 | Meet Kiki & Jax Co-Author and Illustrator Salina Yoon

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 01:45:00 -0500

Kiki & Jax co-author and illustrator Salina Yoon joins us to discuss her collaboration with Marie Kondo, exploring the intersection of tidying and friendship for kids.

Salina Yoon is a Geisel Honor-winning author/illustrator of over a dozen picture books and nearly 200 innovative novelty and board books for young children, with over 4.5 million books sold worldwide. Today she will share insights about her latest release, Kiki and Jax, the life-changing magic of friendship, which is a picture book she co-authored and illustrated with bestselling author and queen of tidy, Marie Kondo.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Salina's passion for art, which led her to creating books for young children and storytelling
Why Salina's first book, Penguin and Pinecone, published in 2012, was so special and sparked her collaboration with Marie Kondo
Saliina's favorite topics to explore
How Salina navigates the challenge of translating big ideas like friendships and tidying up
The reason behind choosing as owl and a squirrel as the main characters in Kiki & Jax
Favorite easter eggs to look out for while you are exploring the illustration
The challenge of illustrating clutter
How Salina's childhood influenced some of the tidying activities represented in the book
What it's like to collaborate and work with Marie Kondo
How KonMari tidying has impacted the Yoon household

Salina's favorite tidying tip: Finding more gratitude for each item by having less.

What sparks joy for Salina: Her family and creating books that spark joy for other families.

To connect with Salina, visit salinayoon.com or follow her Twitter or Instagram.

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, Salina is giving away a copy of Kiki and Jax that is signed by herself and Marie Kondo! This special copy also includes a how to fold the KonMari way origami guide! To win this special edition, email contact@sparkjoypodcast.com by January 28, 2020 with Kiki & Jax Giveaway in the subject line. The first listener to email us receives this special gift that sparks so much joy!

Gems:

"I think relationships are so important for the development of children's emotional being and social being."
"I think friendships are vital for simply growing up."
"Books can help build a child's self confidence, their self esteem, their social confidence."
"Nothing sparks more joy than friendship."
"Tidiness comes from the parents first."
"This book has both her heart and mine combined."
"Find the joy in each other more than from things alone."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Salina Yoon.

Ep 115 | Someday: Aspirational Items and Unfinished Business

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 06:45:00 -0500

Today, we explore the mindset and reasoning behind holding only things because they represent a particular dream, goal, or investment that has been left unfulfilled or incomplete.

We call these items “unfinished business” or “maybe someday items.” Things that represent an ideal, aspiration or a dream that you had about the kind of person you wanted to be.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning what unfinished business looks like KonMari category by KonMari Category.
Understanding why and how unfinished business accumulates and why it’s so hard to let it go.
How the unfinished business in the Clothing category can fill your closet with things that need to be mended, tailored or ironed and what to do about it.
We revisit Ep 75 | Exploring the KonMari Book Controversy with Robin Mitchell Cranfield to discuss letting go of unread or unfinished books.
Three additional categories of paper to consider.
How hobbies and aspirational do it yourself projects can cause us to purchase supplies that are often never used or partially used. These items are classic “maybe someday” items that pile up in drawers and closets.
How to use sentimental items so that they are not just hidden in boxes and never appreciated. We encourage you to get creative and either use these items or consider why you are holding onto them.
How donations and discards are unfinished business until they are out of your home. Your tidying is not finished until things are on their way to their next life.
The importance and value of your time when deciding whether to reduce, reuse or recycle items. This can be a stumbling block toward getting things on their way.
A solution! Consider the Five D’s:
- Do
- Diminish
- Delegate
- Defer
- Delete

We all have unfinished business. It’s just a part of life!

Here are Karin’s:
- Deciding about some closet storage upgrades. “I can’t decide!"
- Doing some home maintenance. “There’s always something that needs to be done."
- Recycling used candle jars.
And, Kristyn’s:
- Photography organization project. “I’m committed to get this done in the next decade.”
- Recipe compilation project. “My friends want some of my great family recipes!”

Gems:

"When your KonMari tidying journey is over, you’ll have the time, resources, and energy to pursue these passions. So, it’s important to make sure every second of that time counts by filling it with high value activities edited down to just the things you love and intended to complete in your lifetime."
"Buying craft supplies can become the hobby. Those yarn and fabric stores are so tempting!"
"It’s really ok to decide something is just not for you or maybe what you DID accomplish with a hobby was just the right amount."
"What is the point of keeping those things hidden away and could you make a different plan? What are some of the options?"
"Sometimes your unfinished business and “someday aspirations can literally stand in between you and your goal of a clutter free lifestyle."
"We’re human and it’s ok to make mistakes. We’ve all invested our time, energy, and money on things that didn’t work out for whatever reason. Trial and error is a necessary part of learning, growing and adulting."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 114 | Vision 2020: The Power of the Board with Arika Clark Alejo

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Arika Clark Alejo, founder of ThriveEpic, joins us to help us vision board our way into the new year!

Our first guest of 2020 is Arika Clark Alejo. Arika’s on a mission to help people be leaders in their own lives and be happy. So, while her official title is Founder and CEO of ThriveEpic, she likes to think of herself as a Chief Happiness Officer. She spreads messages that help people thrive through being a life and leadership coach, dynamic speaker and event facilitator.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Arika's journey from career burn out to a coach who helps people move beyond the status quo
Why vision boarding is Arika's favorite thing to help people design
How vision boards help you align with your goals and learn more about what you have and also what you're missing
The best time of the year to create a vision board and where to start
Non-visual vision board alternatives
Arika's favorite vision board
What not to include on your vision board
How to ground your aspirations in reality
Where you should hang your vision board and when you should refresh it
How to course correct and fail forward when we veer away from our vision
What Arika has on her vision board in 2020

What sparks joy for Arika: Getting ready to prepare for her big Summit!

To connect with Arika visit thriveepic.com

Don’t forget to sign-up for Arika’s free virtual Intentional Empowerment Summit, January 31-Feb 2, 2020.

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners Arika is also offering $100 off her 2020 retreat that will be announced soon. Contact Arika at arika@thriveepic.com and mention Spark Joy.

Share your vision board with us via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

Gems:

"I found coaching and it changed my life. It helped me understand what it means to be a leader in my own life."
"You are a leader for yourself."
"It's really hard for things to manifest if you don't put it out there."
"Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? What do you want to have?"
"Be proud of [your vision board] and look at it with intention."
"Be proud of who you are and the dreams that you have."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Arika Clark Alejo.

Encore! Ep 85 | KonMari Approved Storage Solutions

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Co-hosts Kristyn and Karin share KonMari inspired storage solutions and tools you can use to uplevel your space and honor the things you love.

We chat about how to store and organize after you’ve completed your KonMari Tidying Journey one signature clutter category at a time.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Joy Checks
-Karin is speaking at the invitation of Eli Lily and Co. during the
ASCO International Conference

-Kristyn has committed to writing 30 blog posts in 30 days as one of her Tidy Mastermind goals. Connect via fortheloveoftidy.com to follow her progress

-Review the importance of tidying by category instead of location in Spark Joy Ep 9 | Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake

KonMari Storage Tips
-Organize items that spark joy so they are visible within a designated space
-Things are stored so that they are easy to put away and easy to get out
-Storage should bring you a sense of order and calm
-Reuse and repurpose wherever possible. Shop your home
-Save your bins and baskets until you’ve joy checked the very last item
-Storage is fluid
-Reduce visual clutter

KonMari Tidy Tools
-Your calendar
-The Tidy Home Joy Journal - Join The Spark Joy Club to receive your copy and exclusive access to the SJC community
-Your Vision (see Spark Joy Ep 5 | How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment
-Trash bags: Glad Large Drawstring Recycling Bags
-The Spark Joy podcast! Listen while you tidy!
-Label Remover
-Tape measure

Clothing Category Storage
-Principles of KonMari clothes hanging:
-Rise to the right
-Lighter, shorter, more delicate things on the right
-Heavy, longer, darker things toward the left
-Always, like things go together

-Hanger options:
-Velvet Hangers
-Wooden hangers

-Bins for clothing storage:
-Bins for open shelving to create drawers
-Underbed Storage
Note: Following Feng Shui principles can be done if you are so inclined, so be sure to review our episode Ep 71 | Feng Shui with Master Laura Cerrano
-Future donation bag/box

-Three closet essentials:
-Hamper
-Step Stool
-Trash Can

-Drawers for clothing storage:
-Soft Sided Boxes
-Drawer Dividers

Books Category Storage
-For a review of how to sort books head over to Spark Joy Ep 75 | Exploring the KonMari Book Controversy with Robin Mitchell

-Book Ends**

Paper Category Storage
-For a review of the three types of KonMari paper categories, go to Spark Joy
Ep 45 | KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter

-Tools for paper storage:
-Locking File Box
-Fun File Folders
-Label Maker
-Slice Precision Cutter
-Fireproof Box

-Virtual paper storage
-Dropbox
-GoogleDocs
-Evernote

Komono Category Storage
-Spark Joy listener Angela submitted a question about managing charging stations and office items:

“I’m starting this journey but the area that bothers me the most is how to organize an office/charging area. These both tend to lend way to the kitchen for ease of use and accessibility. We are a family of five so we have a lot of devices.
How would you suggest maintaining an area in the kitchen that could mainstream both of these purposes (paperwork and device charge/overnight storage) without cluttering the counters?”

-Cord solutions:
-Kitchen: Mesh Stackable Shelves
-Kitchen: Shelf Liners
-Kitchen: SCUBB Ikea Boxes

-Toiletries: Kristyn's favorite Soap Dispenser and Soap Refill
-Make up: Acrylic Makeup Organizer
-Holiday decor: wrapping paper holder and ornament holder

Sentimental Category Storage
-The importance of making your sentimental storage thoughtful, meaningful and safe
-Milestone Binder - Full "how to" video available with Spark Joy Club membership
-Review methods for digitizing your sentimental items in Spark Joy Ep 55 | Digitizing Sentimental Items

Gems:
-"We want you be more mindful of the things you’re keeping before jumping into finding the perfect place for your things to be stored. Stuff over storage."

-"Storage should bring you a sense of order and calm, whatever that means for you."

-"Their real joy is based on being able to see them and to acknowledge what they represent to us."

-"Is this a chance to highlight your legacy, who would be happier if I keep this?'

-"In some ways, the organizing step is really the most fun and it serves as your reward for all of the hard work joy checking and editing that will takes place in your home."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Encore! Ep 74 | Happiness, Joy, and Order with Gretchen Rubin

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin debuts her latest book, "Outer Order, Inner Calm," as we explore the intersection of happiness, joy and order.

Gretchen Rubin is one of the most influential writers on habits, happiness, and human nature. She’s the author of many books, including the New York Times bestsellers "Better Than Before" and "The Happiness Project" and she’s debuting her newest book, "Outer Order, Inner Calm" today!

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Gretchen's thoughts on defining happiness vs. joy
Gretchen's interview with Marie Kondo and why she gave Netflix's Tidying Up a gold star on a recent episode of the Happier podcast
Tips on tidying up while managing emotions around other's messiness
Why every office should have a Chief Clutter Officer
How your clutter comfort level is way more important than achieving perfection
Gretchen's new book "Outer Order, Inner Calm"
How to avoid fakework and makework
How to get those little things done by leaning into a power hour
The tension that comes along with "procrasticlearing"
The deeper meaning behind someday, someone-based decision making
The difference between underbuyers and overbuyers

Gretchen's favorite tidying tip: The one minute rule.

What Sparks Joy for Gretchen: The Bandoleir

To connect with Gretchen Rubin you can find her and her new book "Outer Order, Inner Calm" at gretchenrubin.com/books

Gems:
"Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I love it?"

"One of the worst things we can do is to do well something that we don't have to do at all."

"Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time."

"The stewing is worse than the doing."

"The best way to anticipate what's going to happen in the future is what's happened in the past."

"There's an unwillingness to accept that things are worth only what people will pay for them."

"So much of clutter really is about delaying decision making."

"The more we can decide now, the easier it gets latter."

"Anything you can do in less than one minute, do it without delay."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Gretchen Rubin.

Encore! Ep 73 | How to Plan Your KonMari Tidying Journey

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0500

How to plan and organize the activities associated with tidying up. If you started to tidy, tackled clothes clothing or other categories, but quickly found other life priorities got in the way, then this is the show for you!

Tidying up KonMari style is a one-time, special event that requires consistent effort and prioritization. It’s a project. A series of steps that need to be executed in an efficient series in order to shift behaviors you may have had all of your life. So, the less glamorous or obvious first step is to PLAN your tidying event before digging too deep.

So now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club!

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in and we hope your day, sparks joy.

Joy Checks:

Karin loves staycations so she can indulge in her passion for the hotel room aesthetic. Here are some great hotel rooms and ways you can incorporate these ideas in your own bedroom.
Hotel Room Ideas to Use in Your Bedroom: The Contemporist
Kristyn is excited that the The Tidy Home Joy Journal is an Amazon #1 best seller across multiple categories! It’s beginning to arrive in the homes of early buyers and the reviews are amazing, 5 Stars!

You can get yours by joining The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The question from listener Anne that prompted today’s show after listening to Episode 56: How 60 Hours of Tidying Lessons Changed One Single Mom's Life Forever
The three factors that determine the length of time of your tidying event:
- The size of your home
- The volume of your clutter
- The anticipated pace of your decision-making
How a KonMari Consultant can help in this process as we discussed in Spark Joy Episode 49: Why Hire a KonMari Consultant?
Factors that slow down, or speed up your tidying event
How to make tidying a short-term priority in order to gain from the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up!
Confronting your calendar to get your priorities and values in order
The suggested length of time for each tidying appointment, the length of time in between tidying appointments, and the length of time the entire process should take according to our experience and best practices
The benefit of a little urgency in the process. As we discussed in Spark Joy Ep 68 | Behind the Scenes: Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" with Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem something like a reality show can help move the process into overdrive!
How the 5 D’s: delegate, delete, defer, delay, or diminish, we learned about in Ep 16 | Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson can help you plan your tidying event
What contributes to KonMari Fatigue and how to overcome it

Gems:
"The average American home has over 300,000 items."
"It can take anywhere from 15 to 30+ hours, but not all at once!"
"Make it a priority for the short-term in order to make true change in the long-term."
"Plan your work and work your plan!"
"This will require you to temporarily delegate, delete, defer, delay, or diminish some of the priorities filling up your calendar."
"KonMari Fatigue can reduce focus and limit your best ability Joy Check items."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Encore! Ep 67 | Review of Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo"

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0500

[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

Ep 113 | Best of 2019: Joyful Show Highlights + Giveaway WINNERS

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:45:00 -0500

Welcome to the 2019 Spark Joy highlights show! Thank you again for listening and we're looking forward to sparking more joy in 2020!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-What's Sparking Joy for Karin: A productive stay-cation in Atlantic City.

-What's Sparking Joy for Kristyn: Hitting the milestone of 80 tidying related speaking engagements over the last three years.

-Best of 2019 Highlights. Hear clips from our favorite, and most impactful shows, of 2019:

-Spark Joy Giveaway Winners! Usernames

kellyconfusion
shen valley listener
easzymc
joyy66
gadgetgirlCA
BAMR

CONGRATULATIONS to all our winners!
If you are one of our lucky winners, you'll be receiving an email from us soon.

New episodes will resume January 7, 2020. Until then, we'll be sharing encores of our most popular episodes of 2019.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 112 | KonMari Quick Tips: Mindful Shopping and Gift Giving

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:00:00 -0500

Today’s Quick Tips episode will prepare you for the busiest shopping days of the year by shifting your focus on mindful shopping and gift giving.

Before listening to this mindful shopping and gift giving episode, please note, this one may not apply to you this season.

If you are actively managing your finances and shopping habits, head over to Spark Joy Episode 31 with Dr. Benson, as an alternative. In that episode we explore the intersection of KonMari and shopping. In the show notes, Dr. Benson shares a great quiz that can help you flag any unhealthy shopping behaviors that could be weighing you down.

KonMari Quick Tips:

Ask yourself the following question before you make your next purchase:
- Why am I here?
- How do I feel?
- Do I need this?
- Can I wait?
- How will I pay for it?
- Where will I put it?
Step 1: Have a vision and refer to it regularly.
Step 2: Shop your home first.
Step 3: Be present when buying presents. Recommended Gift: Spark Joy Club Membership!
Step 4: Buy nothing.
Step 5: Have fun!

Kristyn's Shopping List:

Karin's Shopping List:

Bathroom Renovation Project
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions in NYC!

We are pleased to introduce the following new members of The Spark Joy Club, joining at the Joy Sparker level:

Welcome!
Kadra Pixton
Paige Allen
Jen Kobrick
Laura Panopolous

We continue to welcome our listeners who are serious about extending the conversation around taking action, living, and maintaining a tidy lifestyle. Please join the conversation by visiting sparkjoypodcast.com and selecting Join the Club

And don’t forget to enter our Anniversary Giveaway!

As announced during Spark Joy episode 100, we have KonMari-themed gifts ready for you to claim by entering into our giveaway, celebrating our two-year anniversary.

The prizes include:
• Marie Kondo’s tidying sequel, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by the Queen herself
• A Virtual KonMari Tidying Lesson provided on behalf of For the Love of Tidy
• An honorary membership to the Spark Joy Club at the coveted Joy Sparker level!
• And finally, a copy Marie Kondo’s highly anticipated new children’ s book, Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship, which will be officially released later this year.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of six prices we have for our listeners this year.

You have until November 26 to enter and we’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 111 | Holiday Entertaining Tips That Spark Joy with Christina Lustig

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 00:45:00 -0500

Christina Lustig, Founder & Lead Planner of To The Nines Events, joins us to explore tips for sparking joy when it comes to holiday entertaining.

Originally from a suburb of Detroit, Christina spent 7 years in NYC working in fashion, a year in Boston and now lives in Chicago's Wicker Park with her husband, John, and dog, Drake. Christina lives basically in spreadsheets, on blogs, Pinterest, and the phone when it comes to planning her clients' big days

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Christina's path to "eventification"
Tips on avoiding stress and choosing joy when preparing for the holidays
Christina's love of simplified listmaking (a strategy that is also featured in Spark Joy Episode 107)
Our favorite gifts for hosts and gift list making strategies
The essential components of a great holiday event:
- A great scent
- An inclusive playlist
- Fun interactive touches
How to be a great guest!
- RSVP promptly
- Join in on the fun
- Ask how you can lend a hand or if you can bring anything
- Bring a host gift as a nice gesture (here's an example: Kristyn's favorite host gift)
- Include a thank you card with a mindful gifting message: "If this gift does not spark joy in any way, please feel free to let it go with gratitude and a "thank you."
Christina's plans to enjoy her first Christmas in Chicago

Christina's favorite tidying tip:
Pencil and paper. Writing things down and labeling.

What's sparking the most joy for Christina:
The turn of the season and excitement about the holidays!

You can find Christina on Instagram @totheninesevents and totheninesevents.com

Mention “SPARK JOY” if interested in working with To The Nines Events to receive 10% off any planning package of your choice.

Gems:

"Whether it's your gift list, decorating your home, or planning your holiday party, you really need to start early."
"Have faith over fear. You can do it!"

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Christina Lustig.

Ep 110 | Modern Frugality with Jennifer Smith

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 00:15:00 -0500

Jen Smith author and creator of modernfrugality.com explores how to follow your journey to paying off debt and reaching other big financial goals.

Jen Smith co-hosts the Frugal Friends Podcast and author of Amazon best-selling book, "The No-Spend Challenge Guide" and latest book "Pay Off Your Debt for Good."

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learn more about the ideas behind frugality and debt management including the Financial Independence or FI movement.
The philosophy behind Modern Frugality
The growth of the Modern Frugality platform and movement
It’s not about being cheap!
Learn about the Four Pillars of Modern Frugality:
-Value based spending
-Minimalism focused
-Environmentally friendly
-Simpler and cleaner
Learn about Jen’s KonMari journey and what she and her husband learned along the way
Why Jen is a big fan of KonMari folding
The importance of focusing on the Big Four of expenditures: housing, transportation, bills and food. Focusing on these big expenditures and making changes will make a bigger difference in getting rid of debt than cutting back on small things that you love, things that Spark Joy!
Be sure to check out Ep 6 | Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks and Ep 58 | KonMari + Financial Freedom with House of FI for more ideas finance and debt management

Jennifer’s favorite tidying tip for people wanting to live a life of modern frugality:
“Clear your surfaces. If you can clear your coffee table, your TV stands… your cloud of clutter will begin to lift.”

What is sparking the most joy for Jen:
“I’m a new mom and watching my husband become a dad has really warmed my heart.”

Parting words of wisdom:
“Find the brand of financial freedom that works for you.”

You can find Jen at modernfrugality.com

She’s on Facebook and Instagram at @ModernFrugality

Her podcast can be found here: The Frugal Friends Podcast
and you can grab a copy of her book on Amazon: The No-Spend Challenge Guide: How to Stop Spending Money Impulsively, Pay off Debt Fast, & Make Your Finances Fit Your Dreams

For Spark Joy Podcast listeners, go to modernfrugality.com/debtfreeworkbook and get the free workbook that walks you through each activity in her new book, "Pay Off Your Debt for Good".

Gems:

“Having control over your spending and having the confidence that you are spending money on only the things that you WANT to be spending your money on.”

“Learning a little bit about everything and finding what works for you. The radical middle!”

“If you try it for just a little while, you will be surprised at the things you learn about yourself. And I think that in itself if work the practice.”

“I follow "values-based spending" which is essentially spending without guilt on things that spark joy and eliminating or lowering spending on everything else.”

“So many things came to light while we were paying down our debt, I wanted to write a book about it.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jennifer Smith.

Ep 109 | Book Review: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 01:15:00 -0500

How would your life change if your digital world were clutter free?

In today’s episode we explore the philosophy of digital minimalism - the belief that less can be more to our relationship with digital tools. This idea stems for Cal Newport’s book “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World.”

We’re trading in the question “does it spark joy?” for the question “is this the best way to use technology to support my values?”

Joy Check

What's sparking joy for Karin: Vernado fan cool NYC fall breeze, windows open!

What's sparking joy for Kristyn: Creative winter months. Collaborating with an artist on a new For the Love of Tidy production

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Spark Joy's previous book review of "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, " Spark Joy Episode 21
"Deep Work," Cal Newport's previous book that sparked a discussion that led to the release of Digital Minimalism
The Pros. What we loved about the book:
- The way it was organized
- Insights about the Slot Machine Concept
- The Three Principles of Digital Minimalism
- Stories shared from his Digital Declutter Survey
- Cal's views on personal transformation
  - The Cons. Things that didn't spark joy:
  - The thesis style format and technical writing style
  - A large amount of focus on the value of solitude
  - The Digital Minimalism Plan:
  - Set aside a 30-day period during which you will take a break from optionial technologies in your life.
  - During this 30-day period break, explore and rediscover activities and behaviors that you find satisfying and meaningful.
  - At the end of the break, reintroduce optional technologies into your life, starting from a blank slate. For each technology you reintroduce, determine what value it serves in your life and how specifically you will use it so as to maximize this value.
  - Similarities with a capsule wardeobe - Spark Joy episode 39: Closet Joy Part 2
  - Practical tips that Cal recommends leaning on as you work through the three steps of your digital minimalism plan
  - FI (Financial Independence) references: Spark Joy Episode 58
  - Tips on "filling the void" left when you break from your devices
  - How Karin and Kristyn have applied Cal's tips and more to make some big changes when it comes to digital clutter

Gems:

“Is this the best way to use technology to support my values?”
"Because of technology I’m a better human being than I ever was before."
"Minimalists believe that the key to thriving in a high-tech world is to spend much less time using technology."
"The average user spends 50 minutes per day on Facebook products alone."
"In my experience, gradually changing your habits one at a time doesn’t work well."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 108 | Let’s Talk About Hope + A Year-End Tidying Progress Check

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400

We know the process of getting organized can be discouraging at times and sometimes you may feel like giving up. If this sounds like you, or if you just want to get some additional encouragement and support as you tidy up, this episode is for you.

We want to give you hope and leave you with a practical year-end evaluation that will help you assess your progress and take clear action or course correct moving forward.

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Hearing about KonMari organizers feeling overwhelmed at sometimes!
Positive and negative motivators are can work hand in hand. Feelings of guilt and frustration may motivate you to “do something” about your disorganization, but positive motivators are needed for the long term.
In KonMari, positive motivation initially comes from your vision statement. Your vision is your hope-filled inspiration for your best life going forward.
The success of your tidying as you go through the categories will keep you going. That is one of the reasons why clothing, the initial category, is first. Completing clothing gives us such a visual success; we feel empowered to continue on.
Journaling will help you capture your feelings and thoughts as you go through the process of organizing your home. The act of writing on paper is an exercise of respect for what you are experiencing on your tidying journey.
Hope is strengthened by the actual successes you will experience in your tidying and, also, it can be fortified by the positive results and successes of others. It can help a great deal to have support from others who are also on this path.
We suggest you let go of negative self-talk. Find the one place in your home or life where you actually are organized, disciplined, or reliable. Start to shift your language and attention on the positive. If you are like most of our clients, you have accomplished great things in other areas of your life. Focus on the things you do well and recognize that no one excels in everything!
Here are some of the challenging emotions you may encounter during your tidying work. Prepare for them and recognize that they are all part of making systematic and sustainable changes in your life:

-Memories of the past: grief, loss and disappointments keep you from wanting to look at things that will remind you of painful things.

-Discouragement about having to confront clothes that don’t fit and things you bought that didn't work or that were a waste of money.

-Anger that you never lost those 10lbs or that heel that broke on those shoes after wearing it once, or that single earring that reminds you that you were careless.
KonMari takes time, but it won’t take forever. We suggest you commit to a steady and consistent time frame, but that you practice good self care along the way

Year End Progress Check!

Grab a pen, paper or journal and your favorite calendar, it’s time to evaluate your progress! Feel free to pause the podcast at any time or between questions to make sure you leave ample room for reflection.

1- How long has clutter been a burden in my home or life?

2- When did I make my first attempt to tidy up KonMari style?

3- How many false starts or restarts did I make since beginning?

4- How many signature KonMari clutter categories/sub-categories have I addressed thus far?

5- Which categories/sub-categories have found a comfortable click point? 

6- Which categories are causing me the most pain or making me feel stuck? 

7- When was the last time I made time to joy check a category?

8- How many hours have I spent tidying up? 

9- Is completing my tidying event priority this year?

10- How much time can I dedicate moving forward to tidying?

Gems:
“That conviction and confidence that we will get where we are going and achieve our vision for our best life going forward, is really what hope is all about.”

“Change requires hope. Hope that things can be different and that there’s a way forward.”

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” Anais Nin

“To remedy this, we offer two contradictory solutions: do it as quickly as possible and take as much time as you need!”

“I always tell my clients that if you have 10 sweaters and let go of 5, the saving of space is pretty apparent, but if you have 10 pieces of paper and get rid of 5, it doesn't seem like that much even though it was the same number of decisions! “

“Take breaks, step away, forget about tidying for a few days, celebrate your progress, but remember that you are honoring your higher self and your vision till the very end.”

“Know that we’re here for you. There is a way out. There is hope you can live a clutter free life of joy this year and for years to come.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 107 | List-Making Your Way to Your KonMari Vision with Paula Rizzo

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 00:30:00 -0400

Paula Rizzo is a best-selling author and Emmy-award winning television producer. She’s produced health, wellness, and lifestyle segments with a range of top experts in the health and wellness field.

Paula created the productivity site ListProducer.com and she’s the best-selling author of "Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Highly Successful and Less Stressed", which has been translated into 12 languages AND was one on Oprah.com’s list of “Self Help Books That Actually Help.”

Her latest book, "Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You", was just published!

Paula shares how to create lists that spark joy to move you closer to your vision.

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Paula’s interesting career path and how she became interested in list building
The health scare that motivated Paula to change her world view
Revisit our Episode 39 | Closet Joy: Build Your Capsule Wardrobe with Courtney Carver
How Marie Kondo influenced Paula in her work. Turns out that Paula and Karin were at the same talk with Marie!
The stress reducing magic of getting things down on paper
How your vision will help you set your priorities and learn to say no to things to things that don’t align with your goals
The connection between your environment and productivity
How to make sure your list is manageable so that you don’t set yourself up for failure

Paula’s favorite list making tip:
Make your list the night before.

What is sparking the most joy for Paula:
“Being very purposeful about how I spend my time. Talking about my work has been very rewarding for me”

Parting words of wisdom:
"Don’t be so hard on yourself. Take time for self-care and put things on your list that are just for you."

You can reach Paula on her websites: listproducer.com and paularizzo.com

She’s on Facebook and Instagram at ListProducer.

And you can grab a copy oft her new book on Amazon:
Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You

As an added bonus, Paula has a List-Making starter kit available on her website. Just go to List-Making Starter Kit and sign up!

Gems:

“The need for good time management that I learned in TV production, built my appreciation of lists.”
“How do you not only put the right things on your list, but that you also make time for things like self care?”
The second you write something down and get it out of your head your stress levels will begin to fall. You notice, ‘Oh I didn’t really have that much to do!’ “
“If you know what your priority is then you know instantly what you are going to say yes and no to.”
“The things that go on the list need to be very specific. You need to know that you have the resources and the time to accomplish the list.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Paula Rizzo.

Ep 106 | KonMari Quick Tips: Creating a Great Daily Routine

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Today’s Quick Tips episode explores kids, home, work and daily routines!

Now that school is well underway, you may be experiencing a lot more daily chaos at home.
Kids or no kids, fall usually finds us back in a routine that’s a little more rigid than the lazy days of summer.
So today, we share strategies and tips for setting up good daily routines using Konmari principles.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club! Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

KonMari Quick Tips:

The key to a great morning routine is to start it the night before
Wake and start your day with mediation, exercise, or catching up on the news. OR, you may prefer to sleep as long as you can and then jump up and be on your way!
Start your day with gratitude. Put each foot on the floor while saying “Thank” and then, as the next foot falls “You.” (Out loud of course!)
Reduce the amount of children’s clothing items that aren’t suitable for day-to-day school wear
Special occasion, weekend and play clothes should be separate from everyday school wear or uniforms. The same is true of your day to day work wear as well
Select clothes the night before or invest in a clothes valet
Create a Command Center: This may consist of a bulletin board, calendar, whiteboard or chalkboard on a desk that is central to the home
Use your Command Center as a place for you and your family to schedule appointments and to-do’s
Consider one “daily item” basket for each family member: keys, chargers, action items, homework, etc. live there
If possible, designate a spot by the door for a system to keep things centrally located at all times. One hook, one bin, one backpack or bag for each person is a good way to think of it
Keep only the current seasonal things near the front door in the coat closet whenever possible
- KonMari Lite this area often! It will be much easier if the day-to-day clutter is limited to one area of your home instead of scattered on all available surfaces. For more on how to KonMari Lite, check out Episode 94: Quick Tips KonMari Lite
Homework, business, and mail should come out of the bag and be sorted each day: stuff to do, stuff for parents, stuff to put away or relocate, stuff to discard. Avoid delayed decisions!
When it comes to paper clutter, encourage your school to communicate via email whenever possible
- Remember three high level paper categories: an act now pile for urgent decision, “Keep temp” files for things that are time bound and Keep forever items for emergency or legacy. For more on how to address paper clutter, head over to Episode 45: KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter
Homework and business work stay in a central place until done, try to establish a set homework schedule and a zone to complete work with a clear, flat surface. As soon as it’s ready, completed work goes in the school bags the night before
Consider what you can prepare for tomorrow’s meals the night before. Can the coffee machine be set to a timer? Lunch prep? Items added to the shopping list? This is also a good time to check the inventory. Are things in the fridge old or unused?
What about a thoughtful evening conversation with the family members? Maybe you could share three things you want to accomplish the next day as one of many table topics. Questions like “Do you have what you need to make that happen? How can we help each other have a good day tomorrow?

We are pleased to introduce the following new members of The Spark Joy Club, joining at the Joy Sparker level:

Welcome!
Jan Atkinson
Heather Arsenault
Kate Bunch
Louis St-Amour

And don’t forget to enter our Anniversary Giveaway!

As announced during Spark Joy episode 100, we have KonMari-themed gifts ready for you to claim by entering into our giveaway, celebrating our two-year anniversary.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of six prices we have for our listeners this year.

You have until November 26 to enter and we’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 105 | Hope for Kids and Adults with ADHD: Craig Selinger of Themba Tutors

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:45:00 -0400

Craig Selinger is a New York State licensed language therapist and founder and CEO of Themba Tutors, providing accessible tutoring and executive functioning coaching for all learners in their home, school and work environments.

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Hear about how Craig founded Themba Tutors and how working with kids became his great passion.
Learn about the diagnoses of ADHD, which is one of the most common mental disorders, and some of the symptoms:
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
- Executive Functioning
- ADHD affects:
- % 8.4of children
- % 3.5 of Adults
Skills related to executive functioning:
- Improving information retention
- Spending more focused time on tasks (and completing them)
- Decreasing procrastination
- Organizing schoolwork
- Managing time more effectively
- Learning to think carefully before acting
Craig’s thoughts about a very controversial topic: screen time!
What’s the number one factor for IQ growth between ages 0-36 months? It’s pretty simple for parents to do!
How to find the right coach or tutor to help address attention and focus related problems whether for yourself or your child.

Favorite tidying tip: Make sure that all the things you need to access often have a designated place to live.

What is sparking the most joy for Craig: Simple things: his, kids, the changing seasons and cider donuts!

Parting words of wisdom: A Madonna quote! “No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you come from, you can always change. Become a better version of yourself.”

To learn more about Themba Tutors, you can find them at ThembaTutors.com

On their website you can set up a free call to discuss your concerns and see how they Themba tutors
could help you reach your full potential.

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, Craig has compiled some awesome productivity organizational apps to help you with scheduling and planning for students and adults.
Dowload Themba Tutors Helpful eTools here

Gems

“Once you find that all objects should have a place to live, it creates an organizational system and it creates predictability.”
“We get to learn about the family systems and how they live. We get to see dynamics between the parents and the kids. And, we get to see the kids being kids! And that way, we get a real organic raw lens of them and then we can give them strategies for becoming optimal learners.”
“If a child or adult is only having problems in school or just at work, and nowhere else, that is not usually diagnosable as ADHD.”
“The difficulty is in the execution of the task. And there’s often an emotional piece to the avoidance of the action.”
“Poorer countries are doing better academically than we are right now.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Craig Selinger.

Ep 104 | Raising Kids by Trusting Your Judgement with Meghan Leahy of The Washington Post

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Today, we speak with Meghan Leahy; author, parenting coach and Washington Post columnist about raising your kids with confidence, patience and even joy!

Meghan Leahy is the mother of three young daughters, a certified parenting coach, and a columnist for The Washington Post, writing about all things parenting! She is the author of the upcoming book, "Parenting Outside the Lines: Forget the Rules, Tap into Your Wisdom, and Connect to Your Child."

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Meghan’s path to discovering that parent coaching was her passion just by chance, hard work and perseverance.
Learn about Dr. Gordon Neufeld of the The Neufeld Institute and the attachment-based developmental approach.
The struggle of setting boundaries for parents and the commonly faced organizational concerns.
How the constant influx of stimulation impacts children’s ability to focus, maintain their attention and, ultimately, learn.
Hear about Meghan’s new book about how parents can examine their preconceptions and to be empowered to follow their own way.
Kids need boundaries and how to determine how to set them.
Learn what “Silent Compassion” means. It’s a great technique for expressing understanding and love along with boundaries.

Meghan’s favorite tidying tip: Clean the kitchen every evening for a much better start for the next day. (We love this one!)

What sparks joy for Meghan: The amazing things on TV these days and relaxing with her kids around great TV shows. And, MAKE UP! On top of everything else she’s juggling, Meghan is training to become a make-up artist!

To connect with Meghan, you can kind find her at mlparentcoach.com. mlparentcoach.com

You can sign up for Meghan’s free ebook, From A to Zzzz: How to Get Your Kids to Sleep on her website.

You can also sign up for her online parenting class, "From Conflict to Cooperation: Understanding and Preventing Power Struggles with your Children" here

You can more of Meghan’s’ tips via the Washington Post as the Parenting Expert in the “On Parenting” column.

Gems

“Parenting is not an automatic thing, it’s a learning on the job kind of thing.”
“My job was to illuminate why kids were struggling which is the first step to understanding how to get it right.”
“So starts an avalanche of ‘Screw it, I’ll do it myself.’ which leads to resentment.”
“There’s a lot of books about parenting skills..in my view all these these books are true and untrue…I didn’t want to write a book where parents had to ascribe to a theory…instead it’s about paying attention to your actual child and your actual life.”
“It can be positive and fun, but when it falls apart, you just pick up and go on.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Meghan Leahy.

Ep 103 | How Tidying Pays You Back

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Co-hosts Kristyn and Karin explore how investing in tidying up pays you back in obvious and unique ways that impact your life and your legacy.

We want you to get the most return on your investment of going on this journey with us and point out ways you can lead with gratitude and abundance.

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Unique ways tidying can pay you back:

Sound gratitude practice
Awareness of your personal values and consumption patterns
Opportunities to give/donate
Opportunities to define your family legacy (also discussed on Spark Joy Episode 21)
More time (your most valuable asset)

Tidying can also pay you back financially in the following ways:

CASH
Checks
Returned items
Selling items of value (also discussed on Spark Joy Episode 42-44)
Letting go of subscription "boxes" or other monthly commitments
Letting go of monthly payments for external storage units
Saving on moving or staging expenses (also discussed on Spark Joy Episode 77-78)

A short-term tidying event also has a longer-term impact on your financial goals, paying you back in the following ways:

Better habits/patterns around consumption/shopping
Shifts in your money mindset (see Spark Joy Episode 6 and Episode 58 )
Decision making that stems from a place of abundance, rather than scarcity (redifining what "enough" means to you)

Gems:

“Tidying is an investment...it is a skill and it has a goal."
"You're shifting and refining your purpose and legacy, which will have an impact on those around you."
"How much money can I find or how big of a return can I get from all of this effort?"
"As you tidy, you're becoming more aware and more appreciative of what's around you."
"When you tidy up, you are moving towards spending less time looking for things you can't find."
"Time is a limited resource and it is finite."
"It’s important to honor and respect money in all forms to attract financial abundance."
"Make sure that the time that you put towards selling something is reflective of and appropriate for its value."
"You become more discerning about what you buy and what you wear."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 102 | How to Use Music to Boost Your Mood, Memory, and Productivity

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Cami Galles, singer-songwriter and performing artist, explores the fact that music is sound organized in time and universally impacts our mood, memory, and productivity in so many different ways.

Today’s guest helped us unpack how music impacts our mood, memory and productivity. Cami Galles' alluring voice is matched only by her charismatic personality. The Kansas-raised singer-songwriter spent nearly a decade in new your city cultivating grit and a unique sound before calling Chicago home. Cami’s mesmerizing delivery imbues her music with a bold empowerment, and her singular “Future Blues” style melds Blues, Pop, and Jazz with uptempo dance beats. Her electric, must-see live performances have dazzled iconic Chicago venues, and she will soon embark on a national tour in 2020.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Cami's experience and talents in sales, marketing, real estate and more influenced her unconventional path to becoming a performing artist
Cami's easy hack to exploring music all around the world in 30 minutes
How music can impact everything from healing muscles and stimulating brain cells
The impact of classical music and upbeat music has on your stress level
How sad songs actually help you connect and bond and other tips on how you can spark joy with music
The ideal frequency to even out and sooth brain activity and reception to information
The unique difficulty artist experience when shaping sad songs when conveying their authentic first hand experience
The inspiration behind Cami's latest hit: "Liar." Check out the FULL VIDEO here!!

Cami's favorite tidying tip: Pick a room in your house, turn on your favorite song and see how much tidying you can get done in that time and then treat yourself.

What sparks joy for Cami: Her new vacuum from Simplicity

Stay up to date on all things Cami: her shows music & more: at www.camigalles.com

While you’re there, subscribe to Cami’s website & you'll receive a special song that hasn’t been released yet exclusively for Spark Joy listeners. Head over to https://camigalles.com/contact-cami/ for that special gift.

Gems:

"You have to be your own patron."
"There are some songs that are written to give people courage."
"You have to be able to tell the story and be who you are authentically."
"Don't let the barrier of entry to music be high."
"Find little ways to introduce music into your life and early in your day to drastically change your mood."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Cami Galles.

Ep 101 | Conscious Parenting 101 with Tia Fagan

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Tia Fagan introduces us to Conscious Parenting, a philosophy that encourages parents to wake up so to speak and ask themselves "why are they trying so desperately to control their child’s destiny?"

Certified Conscious Parent Coach Tia Fagan helps parents create deeper connections, increase communication, and improve their relationships. We dive into a parenting method Oprah Winfrey called a revolutionary approach, that can change parenting as we know it. We first learned about the philosophy of Conscious Parenting while listening to OWN’s Super Soul Sunday podcast. The approach stems from the ideas of Dr. Shefali and her Bestsellers "The Conscious Parent" and "The Awakened Family."

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Tia defines of Conscious Parenting
Tia's path to becoming a certified Conscious Parenting Coach, which including civil engineering, motherhood, professional organizing
How Conscious Parenting impacted Tia's family, her two daughters from middle school on, including the moment she went from confronting her fear to sitting beside it
Three of the most common challenges parents face: disrespect, not listening, and screen time battles
Two of major parenting myths that serve as the foundation for Conscious Parenting
Practical steps you can implement today to test drive Conscious Parenting
How Tia manages clutter associated with toys, artwork, and kids clothings, through a lens of concious parenting

TIa's favorite parenting and tidying tip: Connection, connection, CONNECTION!; Sit with each object and honor them and then go through them again latter (time and practice).

What sparks joy for TIa: Her daughters entering the next chapter - their first year at college!

To contact Tia Fagan visit tiafagan.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram @tiafagancoach
Tia is based in Madison, WI. she’s offering $50 off a virtual or local 4-Session Coaching package or $100 off a 10-Session Coaching Package. Mention "Spark Joy" to receive this discount.

Gems:

"We're able to notice how we as parents influence the relationship we have with the children."
"We accept [children] as they are, not how we wish them to be."
"Parenting ourselves first is where we need to start."
"When we're curious, we're more likely to look at things without judgement."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Tia Fagan.

Ep 100 | The 2nd Annual Spark Joy Podcast Anniversary Give-A-Way!

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Spark Joy podcast is two years old! In celebration of our anniversary enter to win one of several prizes to mark this major milestone.

Win one of three copies of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy, a membership to The Spark Joy Club at the Joy Sparker Level, or a copy of Marie Kondo’s new children’s book, Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship , which will be released this Fall.

Enter before November 26, 2019 for your chance to win! Details on how to enter below.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Spark Joy podcast has been downloaded over 1.5 million times! At this point last year, we had just hit a quarter of a million downloads, so this has been quite a year for growing our audience.
Not only is Spark Joy two years old, but this is also our 100th episode! Thank you to our listeners for all your support and encouragement.
Our goal for the show remains to introduce guests to our audience who have interesting perspectives and inspiring journeys related to organizing and living a life of joy. So far, we have interviewed nearly 70 guests and presented over 30 episodes focusing on KonMari specific topics.
With well over 5,000 hours of active tidying with clients between us, this year Karin became the first Master level certified KonMari Consultant and Kristyn achieved Platinum level!
This year we also launched The Spark Joy Club on Patreon and the response has been amazing!
A special welcome and Thank You to our newest Spark Joy Club members: --Fisher Woodward --Liezl Copham --Elisabeth Blount --Melinda Dejesus

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

To celebrate the two year anniversary of Spark Joy we’re giving away copies of Marie Kondo’s tidying sequel, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up to three lucky Spark Joy podcast listeners! These books are very special because they are signed by the Queen of Tidy, Marie Kondo.
Additionally, on behalf of For the Love of Tidy, Kristyn will be offering a 2 hour Virtual Tidying Lesson to one lucky Spark Joy listener. This includes an overview of KonMari fundamentals, vision mapping to identify your ideal lifestyle and ideal living environment, and tidying advice to address your most pressing clutter challenges.
We’re also giving away one honorary membership to The Spark Joy Club at the coveted Joy Sparker level!
And finally, we’re giving away a copy Marie Kondo’s highly anticipated new children’ s book, Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship which will be officially released later this year.
- To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews 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 26, 2019. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 3rd.

**Contest runs from September 3 to November 26, 2019.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2019 show on December 3, 2019.***

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 99 | Single Mom Uses KonMari to Make Room for Her Daughter to Grow

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Single mom Amy DeCillo walks through how her 15 hour KonMari tidying experience impacted her family and the benefits of working with a KonMari Consultant along the way.

Amy DeCillo is a single mom of her 12 year old daughter who has some mild special needs. She works fulltime in healthcare and she’s working on an MBA in Public Health. She enjoys a good workout, organizing her home, and doing puzzles with her daughter.

Amy is one Kristyn's clients! They tidied for 15 hours together over a period of three months and she is a For the Love of Tidy Graduate of Tidy. Today we will take a deep dive into her KonMari tidying journey and the impact it’s had on her family.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Netflix's Tidying Up with Marie Kondo sparked Amy to find a KonMari Consultant in Chicago to help her organize
How knowing Kristyn was returning Lesson after Lesson was the perfect amount of tidying accountability to keep Amy motivated
Amy's original vision: quick maintenance, workouts, and time with daughter and family without worrying about cleaning at home
How Amy made tidying a priority for three months, politely saying no to social events to stay on track
Amy and Kristyn's most memorable moments
Amy's favorite post-tidying event maintenance strategies
Other areas of Amy's life that she can seamlessly navigate now that her tidying journey is complete
How Amy plans to guide her sister and other family members get organized, now that she has this new life skill

What sparks joy for Amy:
Surprising her daughter Sophia with a phone!

Final Words of Wisdom:
I would highly recommend anyone going on this journey to hire a KonMari Consultant and follow the steps and plan they suggest for you.

Gems:

"I did not think that we were going to get as much as we got done in the 15 hours that we had together."
"I was just amazed at how motivating it was to keep going."
"Don't stop. It's OK to thank things and move on."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Amy DeCillo.

Ep 98 | The KonMari Twins! Meet the Staub Sisters of Clarity Home Detox in Switzerland

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Eliette and Marieke Staub of Clarity Home Detox join us to discuss the joy of tidying and their role as official lecturers and educators for KonMari Media, Inc.

Eliette and Marieke Staub are Swiss twin sisters and founders of Clarity Home Detox. In the Summer of 2016, they took part in the first ever KonMari certification course outside of Japan. The twins are both master level consultants as well as official lecturers and educators for KonMari Media Inc. Eliette and Marieke live mindful, and joyful lives respectively in Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-Learn how they both discovered KonMari and their journeys toward becoming KonMari Consultants

-How KonMari was life changing for both of them and the dramatic changes that led to their decision to become business partners.

-How their business got underway, the amount of work involved and how their underlying desire to help others propelled them forward.

-The principles of KonMari that they believe are the most important in their practice.

-Hear about the differences in European homes when it comes to practicing KonMari.

-And, the challenges of working as a KonMari consultants in Switzerland.

-Why seeking help from a KonMari consultant can actually create a greater measure of efficiency and produced a more satisfying result.

-Our episode 94, KonMari Quick Tips: KonMari Lite, we discuss the importance of ongoing joy checking.

-The twins discuss what it’s like to train potential consultants in their work with KonMari Media, Inc.

-Hear what they believe are the primary factors in becoming a good KonMari Consultant. And, you can review episode 33, How to Become a KonMari Consultant

Clarity Home Detox is happy to offer a 10% discount on all of their services for any local listeners! Please use the code Spark Joy Podcast for your discount.

You can reach Clarity Home Detox at Clarity Home Detox

Favorite Tidying Tips:
-Remember to first focus on sorting before you begin to think about organizing. Focus on what sparks joy for you. Be patient!

-And, when you have completed KonMari, consider buying less in the future. Invest in yourself instead of things.

What sparks joy for Eliette and Marieke:

-The trust that their clients give them by allowing them to enter their lives.

-The Twins are also excited that they will be speaking at a TEDx presentation in Switzerland later this year. It’s a big honor!

Final Words of Wisdom:
“Just take it easy, move forward and never try to be perfect.”

Gems:
“I knew that my life was forever changed.”

“The method is not just about organization, but about choosing joy.”

“What you surround yourself with really defines your life.”

“It’s never perfection, it’s always progress and we each define the steps toward progress for ourselves.”

“Empathy is the most important ingredient in becoming a successful KonMari consultant.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Eliette and Marieke Staub.

Ep 97 | The KonMari Method and Organizational Stress Reduction

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 00:15:00 -0400

Co-hosts Kristyn and Karin explore how disorganized environments contribute to stress and anxiety AND how stress and anxiety contribute to disorganization.

KonMari is designed to confront some of the causes of organizational stress by working toward a home and work place that is intentional and supportive of your best life going forward.

Joy Checks
-Karin is excited about concluding her backpack search with a couple of awesome finds. Here’s the day pack: KAVU Rope Sling Bags
and here’s her travel back pack: Raf Simons and EastPak Collab

-Turns out Kristyn loves backpacks also! Her favorite backpack is from Topdrawer

-Sparking Joy for Kristyn: Her No Buy, No Spend strategy with toiletries.
She is evaluating her products, using up what doesn’t Spark Joy, and then buying exactly what works best for her.

-Caution! KonMari is not a substitute for professional help. Here are resources if you are suffering from symptoms of anxiety. Help is available! Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and National Alliance on Mental Illness: Anxiety Disorders

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-Learning the difference between stress and anxiety

-Some of the signs of stress related to disorganization

-What Karin’s days were like before KonMari

-What Kristyn’s days were like before KonMari

-The book that defined "drift" for Kristyn: Design Your Future: 3 Simple Steps to Stop Drifting and Take Command of Your Life by Dominick Quartuccio

-The emotional consequences of being disorganized

-Look back at Ep 5 | How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment

Practical tips you can use today to manage your stress

-Send your stress reduction strategies to us via @sparkjoy_podcast on Instagram

Gems:

“Working the KonMari Method is not the same as working with a mental health professional by any means.”
“If only you could get organized once and for all, things would be so much better, right? “
“Certainly, achieving a tidy home will not 'cure' clutter anxiety, but it may help reduce the out-of-control feeling that many of us experience before tidying.”
“By thoughtfully pulling together the idea of what you would like for yourself going forward, you will be able to structure your method. It IS your method, after all, everyone’s idea of what they want for themselves is different.”
“Coping with stress requires some trial and error. You will find that certain ideas work better than others for you and that some techniques will leave you cold. The only way to know is to give them a try!”
“What is the future use of this item?”
“Hope pushes back against stress.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 96 | Thoughts Create Results with Laura Swartzbaugh

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Laura Swartzbaugh of Laura Scout Coaching shares the secret sauce to living a meaningful, engaging, and joyous life.

Laura works with female entrepreneurs who KNOW they are on the brink of success, but they can’t break through. She helps them become unstoppable, make real money, and create the business of their dreams.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Laura's path from high school teacher to life coach, which began when she turned 52
The reality that we've created exactly where we are and we also have the power to change everything
How to harness the power of loving ourselves through a challenge or a goal
How to harness the power of our prefrontal cortex to get things done
The importance of deciding what's going to happen tomorrow, today
How to handle procrastination that delays our tidying activities
The difference between our circumstances and our thoughts
The importance of self-love and compassion when it comes to getting back on plan
How to set yourself up for success for the next round
The importance of allowing ourselves to genuinely feel our emotions

What sparks joy for Laura: Seeing her children growing up and adulting; Growing her business.

To connect with Laura or read her binge worthy blog, visit www.laurascout.com and Facebook @laurascoutcoaching.

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, Laura is offering a 1 hour free virtual consult call. To apply, email her at laura@laurascout.com and tell her Spark Joy podcast sent you!

Gems:

"Everything that we create in our lives is based on our thoughts."
"Our brains are so plastic. They can really be trained."
"As humans, one of our greatest privileges is that we can think about our future and we can plan."
"Make decisions today about what you are going to do tomorrow
"Circumstances are not the same things as our thoughts."
"If we didn't have sadness we wouldn't have joy."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Laura Swartzbaugh.

Ep 95 | Conscious Wardrobe Transformation with The Fashionologist, Ania Schwartzman

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Ania Schwartzman, PhD, The Fashionologist, helps us understand the value of using the clothing we wear as a vehicle to align ourselves with who we are at this very moment in our lives.

Ania is a licensed clinical and school psychologist working for nearly two decades with children and adults. She founded The Fashionologist to help women align themselves with who they are at this very moment. She combines her expert skill as a therapist, passion for clothing, and solid research to back up her understanding of the value of clothes in order to provide a personalized, simple, and strategic experience with each client.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning about feeling “powerfully confident and in control” when it comes to your fashion choices

-Clothes Cognition Theory is a thing!

-Hear about studies that demonstrate the importance of clothing in our mood and in our daily interactions. Here are two studies that Ania spoke about: Enclothed Cognition and the White Lab Coat and Informal Clothing Effects Negotiation

-How Ania uses her background in psychology in working with her clients

-The importance of good closet organization in feeling empowered about your clothes

-Learn some simple tips for recognizing if your closet is working for you or against you

-Listen to previous episodes on fashion in our series, Closet Joy:
- Ep 38 | Closet Joy Part I: Find Your Style with Jessica Louie
- Ep 39 | Closet Joy Part II: Build Your Capsule Wardrobe with Courtney Carver
- Ep 40 | Closet Joy Part III: Buy It Once with Tara Button

Ania is at TheFashionologist.com

You can also find her on Instagram @TheFashionologistNyc

Ania has a special offer for Spark Joy Podcast listeners! Mention you heard her on the Spark Joy Podcast and get 20% your first Mindful Closet Edit

Ania’s favorite closet styling tip: “Have only your seasonal clothes either in your closet or at least keep the things you can wear in the front...and, hangers! They should be good solid ones. Good hangers show respect for your clothing.

What sparks joy for Ania: Her kids and being able to spend some good unstructured time with her kids over the holiday.

Parting words of Wisdom: Ania’s favorite quote comes from Coco Chanel: “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

Gems:

“Clothes have a systemic influence on the wearers psychological processes and abilities.”
“I function as a coach; as a wardrobe strategist.”
“It takes a lot of courage to invite me into their closet and I take that very seriously.”
“My job is not to toss out items they don’t need, but to shift their thinking toward what is working for them.”
"People don’t always realize what they are projecting out into the world with their clothing.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Ania Schwartzman.

Ep 94 | KonMari Quick Tips: How to KonMari Lite

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 00:45:00 -0400

Today’s Quick Tips episode will focus on a strategy for post-tidy maintenance we call KonMari Lite.

The beauty of Marie Kondo’s Method is your KonMari tidying event, when executed properly, gets you to a place where you are surrounded by only the things that spark joy. So what happens when down the road your joy changes? Your maintenance strategy may be in need of a KonMari Lite. Today we’ll walk through scenarios where KonMari Lite is appropriate after your initial tidying journey comes to an end and how to approach this transition.

Note: We also discuss tidying maintenance in Spark Joy episode 41: How to Maintain a Tidy Home Post-KonMari

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club! Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

NOTE
The strategies we cover are advanced, and should only be applied once you’ve reached a click point in your home. Everything has a place. Everything that crosses the threshold of your home sparks joy for you and you are a confident decision maker. This one of the many reasons why it’s so important to implement KonMari quickly and all at once the first round. As months or even years go by before completing the next clutter category vision may become a moving target and you may be at risk of taking two steps forward three steps back.

Are you just getting started with your tidying journey? Head over to Spark Joy Episode 1: KonMari 101 for the fundamentals.

Reasons why you may need to KonMari Lite

If the vision of your ideal lifestyle or ideal living environment has changed significantly (See: Spark Joy Episode 5 | How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment)
When you invite someone into your home or send them a fond farewell as they move out
If you are a parent of young children, you may need to KonMari Lite fairly regularly
If the boundary of your space changes (See: Spark Joy Episodes 77 and 78)

KonMari Quick Tips:

Keep tidying up on your radar by engaging with the tidying up community.
KonMari your existing vision
Take an overall joy inventory by category to determine which category of items are in most urgent need of a joy check
Evaluate what sparks joy?
If at any time during this process you feel like you’ve reached a tidying plateau, reach out to a KonMari Consultant (See: Spark Joy Episode 49 why hire a KonMari Consultant

We are pleased to introduce new members of the Spark Joy Club.

Welcome!
Joy Sparker: Katherine Ko
Joy Riser: Linda Paxston

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 93 | Imagination Creates Reality with Jerry Emeka

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Who do you have to be in order to live a clutter free life? Guest Jerry Emeka joins us to share how to harness imagination and creativity while letting go of limiting beliefs.

Jerry Emeka is a keynote speaker, performer and facilitator who enjoys lighting a spark in people’s eyes. He helps you conceive the man or woman that you’re truly here to be and realize that in order to make a change in the world you must first reimagine your conception of self and hold that as if it has already happened.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Jerry's path to public speaking, which included acting, singing, dog walking, and more!
How to become aware of how much you imagine and how to use your imagination to create your reality
How to imagine yourself in a tidy space:
1. Know what it is that you want
2. Devise a scene that implies that the desire is fulfilled
3. Every night, replay the scene that implies the wish is fulfilled to program your subconscious mind
How Jerry used imagination to manifest his dream home
How to be aware of imposter syndrome and let go of limiting beliefs
Imposter syndrom core competencies
1. The perfectionist
2. The Superwoman/man
3. The Natural Genius
4. The Soloist
5. The Expert
How to check in with how awesome you are! To connect with Jerry, visit www.jerryemeka.com .

If you want to make the

What sparks joy for Jerry: His two-year-old son

Gems:

"Even before you can have a thought, you have to imagine something."
"There's not one thing that exist in this world that wasn't first imagined."
"It is within before it is with out."
"Do these beliefs that I hold actually spark joy in my life?"
"Who would you have to be in order to live a clutter free life?"
"There's no way you got to this point in life had you not been an awesome person."
You can't just take actions coming out of a place of fear because you are only going to perpetuate more of the thing that you don't like."
"Reimagine who you are and step into that reality and let that objectively show up for others to see."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jerry Emeka.

Ep 92 | Meet the Contest Winner of Netflix’s Got Joy with Marie Kondo

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Meet Jennifer Vaughn-Estrada, a mom who won a tidying Lesson with Marie Kondo!

Our very special guest today is Jennifer Vaughn-Estrada. She currently works as a college instructor in Economics and is passionate about promoting the social, economic, and emotional wellbeing of multiracial and multiethnic individuals.

Another reason she is so special is that she was the winner of the "Got Joy" contest hosted by Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo! She is one of the select few people on this earth who’ve experienced what it’s like to welcome Marie Kondo into their home to tidy up.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning what compelled Jennifer to enter the contest.
What she posted on Instagram that caught the attention of the contest and led to her winning!
What some of the categories Marie Kondo and Jennifer worked on while Marie was in her home.
Find out what surprised Marie about Jennifer’s home.
What were the tips Marie gave Jennifer on the different categories.
Relisten to the Spark Joy Podcast episode 45 on the Paper Category: Ep 45 | KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter
How Marie focused on the importance of keeping things visible when they discussed.
Hear more about the importance of visualization in Spark Joy Podcast episode 5: Ep 5 | How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment

Jennifer's favorite tidying tip: : “Starting the journey by being clear on your ideal life style is so important. Don’t skip that step!”

What sparks joy for Jennifer: “So happy to have gotten back good news about my health recently. Tidying is important, but good health is the most important thing to me right now.”

Gems:

“Are these your husband’s items?”

“I’m moving on! This served me well and now I don’t need it any longer.”

“She was very understanding. She said, ’Ok you are in the process and you’ll do whatever you need to do to get it done!’”

“It’s easier to part ways with these items because I have a clearer vision of what’s important to me now.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jennifer Vaughn-Estrada.

Ep 91 | How to Motivate Others to Tidy Up

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Co-hosts Kristyn and Karin take a deep dive into how to motivate others to tidy and the importance of considering the role of others you share your space with during your KonMari tidying journey.

"Don’t force people to tidy if they don’t want to. Only when we accept unconditionally people whose values differ from our own can we really say that we have finished tidying." - Marie Kondo

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Joy Checks

Kristyn introduces Spark Joy listeners to For the Love of Tidy Power Partners
Karin's collaborations in the area of fashion and interior design
- The importance of tidying things you take ownership of
- How to avoid "tidy shaming"
- How to lead with respect, empathy and patience when encouraging others to tidy
- Top tips to help you motivate others to tidy:
- Prime everyone who is impacted by the goal of getting tidy
- Shine by living a KonMari life of joy
- Start with asking about their vision for the space
- Share an episode of Spark Joy podcast or Netflix's Tidying Up
- Offer assistance when they show interest organically
- Focus on your own space to quiet anxiety
- How to navigate the delicate circumstance of suggesting tidying up to a loved one you don't live with to get organized

Gems:

"Tidying is a self-care activity."
"KonMari is intentionally designed to help you reestablish the boundaries of your items in your home."
"When you've reached that point where you feel everything in your life is sparking joy, then it's time to switch your attention to other people."
"It's not your decision to make."
"You should only be making decisions on the things you own."
"Don't create the narrative for the person without giving the activity a fair chance."
"Shine by living the lifestyle."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 90 | The Evolution of Your Authentic Self with Michell Domke

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Michell Domke, KonMari Consultant joins us to discuss how we can show up in the world as our authentic self every day.

Today we’ve invited Michell Domke, Ohio’s first KonMari Consultant, to explore authenticity and how we can channel, discover, and work within it during the tidying process. Michell’s currently based in Columbus and she fell in love with creating a life based on joy and wanted to support others in creating joyful lives.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Michell's KonMari story
How Michell defines authenticity and how it influences her business and clients
Correlations between lack of authenticity and clutter
How the question "does it spark joy?" helps us choose what we love without judgement
Why it's important to make choices based on the feeling and vision we are trying to achieve rather than logic
Tips for those struggling to be confident in their own choices and decision making, including Jenn Davoust's Tune Into You Meditation podcast
Why you may want to try not creating a "maybe" pile while you're tidying
The one thing KonMari and authenticity have in common
How to embrace what you have now

Michell's favorite tidying tip: "Organize last." Withhold the urge to buy before making choices about what to keep/let go

What sparks joy for Michell: Her clients.

To connect with Michell, visit www.michelldomke.com and on Instagram and Facebook.

Mention hearing Michell on Spark Joy in her contact form or on the phone and receive $25 off a virtual KonMari session or $50 off when you book an in person package of three or more sessions.

Gems:

"Clutter really comes from that conflict between who we think we should be and who we actually are."
"Authenticity means being true to yourself."
"It's an active choice to choose what you love."
"Accepting it into your life by choice, not by default, is really important."
"Choosing a life of joy is really a radical idea, and it's also one that's worth pursuing."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Michell Domke.

Ep 89 | Behind the Scenes with 1-800-GOT-JUNK

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Brian Heiser of 1-800-GOT-JUNK discusses what to do with all those big, bulky discards that just aren't going to fit into a few bags for donation.

Brian grew up in rural upstate New York. He holds two degrees in management and one in Math and Physics. Brian is a volunteer fireman on Long Island and was the Director of Operations for an electronics manufacturer for 15 years before starting the first 1-800-GOT-JUNK franchise in the New York area in 2002.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-How to get rid of things that are big, bulky or don’t have an obvious donation option and keep them out of the landfill
-Learn what 1-800-GOT-JUNK does with all the discards
-How Brian got started in the business
-How one person’s junk can Spark Joy for someone else!
-The oddest thing Brian has ever seen in a home
-How to make better decisions about what comes into your home in the first place

Brian’s favorite tidying tip:
“Start with the small stuff.”

What sparks joy for Brian:
"Family is always first, but I love having a growing business that is helping liberate people from the burden of excess stuff."

Parting words of wisdom
“Start small but start now.”

To connect with Brian and 1-800-GOT-JUNK you can call or visit 1-800-GOT-JUNK

Gems:
“Once it gets in the truck, it could end up in one of several places.”
“We try to donate first, if it can’t be donated, we take it to recycling, if it can’t be donated, it might end up in the landfill. However about 70% of things stay out of the landfill.”
“To see the appreciation from our clients when we are solving a problem for them is very gratifying.”
“We see the power the people really confronting their things.”
“Embrace the space! You don’t need to fill empty space. Just enjoy it”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Brian Heiser.

Ep 88 | KonMari Quick Tips: Packing Joyfully for Travel

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Today’s Quick Tips episode focuses on packing joyfully for travel year round, no matter the length or purpose of your trip.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club! Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

KonMari Quick Tips:
-Tip: It’s all about the list! Create a master travel list that contains just about every type of item you want to consider when packing for any type of trip. As per good KonMari practice, break it down into categories: clothing, shoes, accessories, necessary documents, toiletries, medications, and technology. Make it as detailed as possible for your particular travel needs.
You certainly won’t be packing all these things for each trip, but it’s a good idea to review each time you pack.

-Tip: A good strategy is to make copies of the list and put a copy in each suitcase. Having a copy of the list right there forces you to look at it and think through what you are packing without relying solely on your memory (while charging). store in plastic or laminate. If you forget something on a trip, write that item down on the packing list to continue to customize and remember frequently left objects.

-Tip: Anyone who takes The Tidy Pledge receives a copy of an illustrated KonMari folding drawer liner and bonus travel KonMari Packing list, also available here.

-Tip: Timing is key. Don’t wait to pack at the last minute. Especially if it’s a fun trip, it’s so much nicer to get ready in advance so you are relaxed on your journey. Scrambling around the night before a big trip is no fun.

-Tip: Have your toiletries bag packed and ready to go. This is one time that having a few duplicates can be helpful. Your toiletries bag set up and in your suitcase can save lots of steps in packing. Just be sure to restock your supplies after each trip.

-Tip: If you are trying to pack lightly, think in terms of “If I need this, could I get it there?” Most hotel bathrooms have all the basics stocked and some hotels now provide workout gear for you to borrow at many of their locations.

-Tip: If you are sensitive to certain skin care products or someone who is very loyal to my favorite brands, please do invest in reusable toiletries bottlesthat you can fill with liquids.

-Tip: The Serene Home in the New York Times regarding those bottles and their impact on the environment: NYT: Those Tiny Hotel Bottles are on Their Way Out

-Tip: Pack outfits, not items. Think: top, bottom, socks, shoes accessories for each outfit. Don’t pack a top unless you know what bottoms, shoes, and accessories you will wear with it. Avoids getting to your destination with incomplete outfits.

-Tip: Conversely, don’t pack outfits you probably won’t need. “What if” outfits can eat up lots of space. Yes, there might be a sudden unexpected cold snap, but pack for the “probably” and not the “maybe.”

-Tip: Packing cubes can be very helpful in keeping things orderly. Buy a different colored set for each member of the family. In most cases, you’ll pack a cube based on type of object: socks in one, undies in another, tee shirts in another. Or, you can pack each one with a different complete outfit if that idea appeals to you.

-Tip: Carry on packing: If your luggage doesn’t arrive with you, could you charge your phone, find your hotel, get your rental car, take needed meds, have enough money/credit cards to buy what you need? Those are the items that for sure should go in your carry on.

With a little preparation, travel can be one of life’s greatest pleasures, full of memorable adventures and perfectly packed suitcases. Happy Travels!

We are pleased to introduce the new Joy Sparker members of the Spark Joy Club.

Welcome!
Julia Franco
Kate Hudson
Helen M Richie
Maile Shoul
Soraya Rudofsky

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 87 | KonMari Joy at Work with Christina Jurges

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 01:30:00 -0400

Christina Jurges, fellow KonMari Consultant, helps us explore the intersection between KonMari and the our workplace.

Our guest, Christina Jurges takes the KonMari Method to the corporate world by coaching businesses and professionals on how to create room to grow. She helps you create an environment that fosters personal and professional development and growth by teaching you how to remove mental and physical obstacles. She helps her clients increase their creativity, focus & motivation and live their best lives.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Christina's path to KonMari
Why it's so important to create room to go in the office
How to shift our work environment towards one of joy and gratitude
The importance of removing both physical and mental clutter at our desk
The connection between a cluttered home and office
How to turn your office into the KonMari Power Spot
Where to begin when it comes to making your office more joyful
The KonMari categories that don't apply to the workplace

Christina's favorite tidying tip: Be the gatekeeper of your own space.

What sparks joy for Christina: Coaching people to help them live a life they love.

To connect with Christina visit, organizedbychristina.com on on Facebook

If you are excited about embarking on you personal KonMari journey but unsure where or how to start, Christina is offering Spark Joy listeners a free pdf kit which includes a vision sheet template and a few exercises to give you the best start in creating your clutter-free life of your dreams. You can download your kit here.

Gems:
-"Clear space, without obstacles. The room to grow."
-"Our workplace can either support us or hold us back."
-"We generally want to move in spaces that energize us, and support us, and help us become our best selves."
-"A clear space helps you create a clear mind."
-"Your desk is not a museum."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Christina Jurges.

Ep 86 | KonMari Your Friends and Relationships with Vanessa Van Edwards

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 28 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Vanessa Van Edwards, bestselling author of Captivate, joins us to navigate friendships and relationships that may or may not spark joy.

Vanessa Van Edwards is Lead Investigator at Science of People — where she unlocks the formulas and patterns behind human behavior for hundreds of thousands of students in over 200 countries. She is the national bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding With People, available in 14 languages around the world.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Vanessa's path to the study of human behavior from being a self-described recovering awkward person
Vanessa's interview with Tom Bilyeu that addresses how fake or ambivalent friendships can steal your joy just as much as toxic ones
The connection between your relationships with people and your KonMari journey
Vanessa's tips on how to break up with a friend that addresses how fake or ambivalent friendships can steel our joy just as much as toxic ones
The only personality trait study backed by science. Take the free OCEAN personality quiz here to see where you land and share your results with us!
How being labeled neurotic can work in your favor and is a part of how your body responds to worry
Vanessa's Ted Talk and research on how our hand gestures influence the way people digest the information
Internal and external considerations that will help you get motivated to tidy by considering if it's a pain pill or a vitamin
Why it's very important to fully explore how you worry and how you self calm

Vanessa's favorite tidying tip: Allowing herself to only watch trashy TV while she is actively tidying.

What sparks joy for Vanessa: Her newborn daughter Sienna.

To connect with Vanessa, visit www.scienceofpeople.com . While you’re there, sign-up for People School. All the soft skills you wish you’d learned in school.

Gems:
-"You should be in control of every single relationship in your life."
-"There are people in your life who you're constantly wondering, 'is this person good for me?'"
-"Our hand gestures add depth to our ideas, and our thoughts, and our personalties."
-"Our hands are our notes along with our words."
-"Everyone deserves to have relationships that make them feel good."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Vanessa Van Edwards.

Ep 85 | KonMari Approved Storage Solutions

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 21 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Co-hosts Kristyn and Karin share KonMari inspired storage solutions and tools you can use to uplevel your space and honor the things you love.

We chat about how to store and organize after you’ve completed your KonMari Tidying Journey one signature clutter category at a time.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Joy Checks
-Karin is speaking at the invitation of Eli Lily and Co. during the
ASCO International Conference

-Kristyn has committed to writing 30 blog posts in 30 days as one of her Tidy Mastermind goals. Connect via fortheloveoftidy.com to follow her progress

-Review the importance of tidying by category instead of location in Spark Joy Ep 9 | Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake

-Hanger options:
-Velvet Hangers
-Wooden hangers

-Three closet essentials:
-Hamper
-Step Stool
-Trash Can

-Drawers for clothing storage:
-Soft Sided Boxes
-Drawer Dividers

Books Category Storage
-For a review of how to sort books head over to Spark Joy Ep 75 | Exploring the KonMari Book Controversy with Robin Mitchell

-Book Ends**

Paper Category Storage
-For a review of the three types of KonMari paper categories, go to Spark Joy
Ep 45 | KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter

-Tools for paper storage:
-Locking File Box
-Fun File Folders
-Label Maker
-Slice Precision Cutter
-Fireproof Box

-Virtual paper storage
-Dropbox
-GoogleDocs
-Evernote

Komono Category Storage
-Spark Joy listener Angela submitted a question about managing charging stations and office items:

-Cord solutions:
-Kitchen: Mesh Stackable Shelves
-Kitchen: Shelf Liners
-Kitchen: SCUBB Ikea Boxes

-Toiletries: Kristyn's favorite Soap Dispenser and Soap Refill
-Make up: Acrylic Makeup Organizer
-Holiday decor: wrapping paper holder and ornament holder

Gems:
-"We want you be more mindful of the things you’re keeping before jumping into finding the perfect place for your things to be stored. Stuff over storage."

-"Storage should bring you a sense of order and calm, whatever that means for you."

-"Their real joy is based on being able to see them and to acknowledge what they represent to us."

-"Is this a chance to highlight your legacy, who would be happier if I keep this?'

-"In some ways, the organizing step is really the most fun and it serves as your reward for all of the hard work joy checking and editing that will takes place in your home."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 84 | Joyful Living with The Design Twins

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 14 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Design Twins Heather and Heidi of Joyful Living join us to discuss their TV Show and book filled with interior design tips that spark joy.

As long as they can remember, Heather and Heidi have always had a passion for interior design mixed with a passion of writing. They love to combine these two things to tell the stories of their clients through design.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning how Heidi and Heather went from designing jewelry and accessories to their focus on interior design.

-They both have a houseful of little ones! Learn how their kids keep them on their toes and looking for more ways to find joy in the everyday.

-Their shared belief that joy is found in the overall experiences of life, including the good, bad and indifferent, and how this philosophy has helped them in challenging times.

-Finding out more about their TV show on The Design Twins on UpTV!.

-Discuss their new book Joyful Living and listen as they share some great tips on interior design in a busy home: Joyful Living.

-Learn about their favorite storage solutions along with their great and practical design tips.

-Listen as Kristyn finds the perfect accent piece for her home!

Heather and Heidi’s favorite tidying and design tip:

-Use fresh scents with candles, home sprays or fresh herbs to brings a peaceful mood to your kitchen.
-Don’t be afraid to use color and use it purposefully!
-And, the Roomba is magically!

What sparks joy for Heather and Heidi:
-Their children are their greatest joy, of course!
-Exploring their talents and stepping out of their comfort zone has brought both of them great opportunities in their home and business life. Be yourself!

To connect with The Design Twins, visit www.joyfullivingco.com and find them on Facebook.

Heather and Heidi are offering a discount on their Joyful Living book! Use coupon code “sparkjoy” for 20% off their Joyful Living book found on JoyfulLivingco.com.

Gems:
“Recognizing that the journey is what living joyfully is all about. Experience the moment.”

“Outer organization creates inner peace.”

“With kids, you can either learn to laugh or cry at times. And laughing is always a greater success.”

“The more you engage, the less chaos there will be.”

“Amplify white in a room as the wall color for a great way to lighten up a space.”

“Bringing living things into your home make an enormous difference.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Heather and Heidi, The Design Twins.

Ep 83 | Buying or Selling a Home of Joy with Kim Howard

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 07 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Kim Howard of Howard Homes Chicago helps us turn our attention from the possessions within our homes to the special relationship we have with homes we buy and sell.

Our guest Kim Howard is a top-producing Chicago real estate agent with Howard Homes Chicago – Keller Williams, that she co-founded with her husband Joe. They focus on both the city of Chicago and select suburbs, and have implemented a mindset of gratitude in their daily practice that helps them spark joy in both their personal and professional lives.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The moments Kim took risks and stepped into the unknown as she grew closer to realty
How to handle the things that are out of your control as you buy or sell by shifting your attention to your mindset
The critical first steps for home buying that sets you apart from your competitors
The reality of reality TV
How to get your financial home in order before you shop for homes
How to stage a home through a lens of joy
How to find and attract your target buyer

Kim's favorite tidying/staging tip: Keep it open and neutral and highlight the good stuff. Have a plan.

What sparks joy for Kim: Living in the moment (being present)

To connect with Kim Howard, visit www.howardhomeschicago.com and on Facebook.

Gems:
"At the end of the day, the whole thing is unpredictable."

"Who you have on your team matters."

"The unknown is hard, but just being excited for the end goal is huge."

"Buyers want a blank canvas so they can envision themselves there."

"Your property is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it, not necessarily what's inside it."

"Sparking joy, in terms of your personal life, will only lead to better things in the real estate world."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Kim Howard.

Ep 82 | KonMari Quick Tips: Spring Tidying!

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

KonMari Quick Tips! Every few weeks, we dedicate an episode to quick tips around a particular topic requested by a Spark Joy listener.

This week’s KonMari Quick Tips episode is dedicated to Spring Tidying! This is an annual review of your home to address those minor repairs and little improvements that can be made to keep you home and belongings in joyful condition.

We are OVERJOYED to announce that we have surpassed 1 million downloads of the Spark Joy Podcast! We are so grateful for the support from all of our listeners. Thank you so much!

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club! Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

KonMari Quick Tips:
-Tip: Take a tour of your home interior and exterior condition subcategory by subcategory. Inspect the walls for paint touch up, especially the woodwork and doors, which get a lot of dings. Wipe down any fingerprints or splatters.

-Tip: Review the floors and carpets for cleaning needs or repairs, check to see if tiles need repair or re-grouting.

-Tip: Review your plumbing and electrically systems: need some new light bulbs or could you change to higher efficiency bulbs? Could your drains use a good cleaning?

-Tip: Consider all the things in your home that have a filter such as your heating and cooling systems or your humidifiers. The spring is a great time to replace them.

-Tip: Take a look at your furniture and furnishings including your drapes and curtains. Does anything need cleaning or repair? Have you decided that something you once loved no longer sparks joy? Remember your taste and needs change over time and things wear out.

-Tip: Inspect your kitchen cabinets and your overall home storage. Could your shelves benefit from new shelf liners? Do they need a good wipe down?

-Tip: The exterior of your home: Have the gutters cleaned out, paint touched up and windows and doors properly sealed. Consider the springtime activities associated with your landscaping including making sure that your lawnmower and garden tools are clean and in good repair.

-Tip: To get started on the annual project, do a walk through inspection first, making a note of everything that needs action.

-Tip: Make a project plan: Do you need to purchase supplies? Do you need to delegate a task? Enlist your family and friends or look to hire the right professionals. Give yourself a reasonable time line and address each item in turn. A well-maintained home will bring amazing joy to you and your family!

-Tip: Take a look at your Fall and Winter specific items. As always, review by category. Do you have heavy winter clothes, including coats, sweaters, boots or skiwear? Did they bring you joy this winter? Is the future use of these items clear, for example, do you see yourself wearing them again when fall comes? Do they need to be repaired or cleaned?

-Tip: Storing Winter gear: We both believe that all your clothes should be kept together regardless of the season, but for many of us, this is just not practical. It’s fine to pack away your seasonal items if necessary as long as you can say for sure that they spark joy!

-Tip: Getting ready for Summer! Start by revisiting your vision. What are your hopes and aspirations for the upcoming spring and summer? What activities do you see yourself participating in and enjoying? What are your goals for living your best life this spring and summer? When you get your summer wear out, make certain that all your things are clean and ready to be used. Do you have lawn furniture or summer sporting goods to bring out of hiding?

-Tip: Use any outdoor space to do your sorting and joy checking!

-Tip: Bring fresh air inside! Marie Kondo talks about opening the windows and letting the fresh air in everyday. This can be really great during the spring mornings as a way to greet the day.

-Tip: Spring is a great time to bring fresh flowers inside. Treat yourself!

-Tip: After your annual Spring Tidying, invite people over for game nights and barbeques. Plan a capstone event to work towards!

We are pleased to introduce the new Joy Sparker members of the Spark Joy Club.

Welcome!
Tania Rutini
Kristen Munro
Lindsey Hardegree
Brooke Curran

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 81 | Intuition-based Decision Making + Guided Visualization Exercise with Caitlin V. Neal

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Caitlin V. Neal, sex and relationship coach, helps us tap into the power of intuition when making minor and major decisions about our home and our life.

Our guest, Caitlin V. Neal, is a sex and relationship coach who helps men and women have the best sex of their lives. She’s based in Chicago, and works with clients all over the world on experiencing greater pleasure, knowing exactly what they want, and feeling confident in their relationships. She helps us understand how we can leverage our intuition when visualizing our tidying event and making decisions about what sparks joy.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Caitlin's journey from a Masters in Public Health to sex and relationship coaching
How to practice using our intuition to speak to us on various levels while we're making decisions
Caitlin's KonMari journey - ways we can use the KonMari Method to unmute our connection with our intuition
Why it's so important to not lose track of the joy
How to distinguish intuition from stubborn determination
How deeply intuition is connected to your overall wellness

Guided Visualization - starts at the [26:33 min.] mark

Caitlin's favorite tidying tip: Tidy in cycles or seasons

What Sparks Joy for Caitlin: Working with a personal trainer

To connect with Caitlin, check out her podcast The Oral Report with new episodes each and every Friday and her YouTube channel viewed by millions youtube.com/caitlinv.

Just for Spark Joy listeners Caitlin is offering a free 30 minute consultation call. You can sign up by heading to bettersexcoach.com and click on “contact” to set up your call.

Gems:
"Where have you been ignoring your intuition?"

"Intuition is sort of like a friend that you haven't called in a long time...it may be a little hesitant to jump in and start speaking loudly."

"These things that I've accumulated are not the key to my survival. In fact, I am the key to my survival."

"Intuition can speak more loudly in stillness and in quiet."

"Fear is going to exist. Trust is the opposite of fear."

"We are the sum total of the stories we tell about ourselves."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Caitlin V. Neal.

Ep 80 | Tidy your Mind and Cultivate your Passion with Brad Stulberg

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Brad Stulberg, author of The Passion Paradox, turns our attention to how we can KonMari our mind and our calendars to improve our performance and more intentionally explore our interests.

Our guest today is Brad Stulberg. Brad researches, writes, and speaks on health and human performance. He is an award winning author of the new book The Passion Paradox and the bestselling book Peak Performance. Brad caught our attention when he wrote an article for Outside entitled Use the KonMari Method to Tidy Your Mind.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Use the KonMari Method to Tidy Your Mind
How a moment of workplace burn out impacted Brad's health and inspired him to study high performance from an evidence based perspective
The damaging impact of "busyness" and how to KonMari our way out using three key steps
The alternative phrase we can use to replace the classic "I'm busy" response to set boundaries - being a minimalist so you can be a maximalist
How to stay on top of behavioral addictions that end up being time and energy vampires
How to be OK with saying "no"
Brad's new book The Passion Paradox, that explores both the positive and negative sides of pursuing your passion
Tips on how to avoid obsessive passion and lean into harmonious passion
Why having a sense of community is so important for your mental health
Why people rarely stumble upon a passion
The three things to seek in interests that set themselves up well for passions

Brad's favorite tidying tip: Take the intertnet (social media and email) off of your phone

What Sparks Joy for Brad: His 13-month-old who is learning how to walk!

To connect with Brad Stulberg, visit, bradstulberg.com or follow him on Twitter

Gems:

"What percentage of your time and energy are you spending doing things that align with your core values?"
"I am not prioritizing this with my time and energy."
"To be really be good at something, you have to do very few things to go very deep."
"It's exactly when it feels like you don't have control, that it's time to exert your control."
"It's very hard to be balanced at the same time you're passionate."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Brad Stulberg.

Ep 79 | Live from New York, it's Spark Joy!

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Spark Joy co-hosts cover the 2019 KonMari Consultant Meetup as Marie Kondo and her team greets hundreds of certified KonMari Consultants and trainees gathering for a joyful weekend in New York City.

Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, we are sharing special, joyful moments we captured on consultant meetup day when certified Consultants and trainees gathered in NYC from all over the world.

Marie Kondo did made multiple appearances throughout the weekend. She shared some statistics about the impact certified consultants have had on the world. We’ve officially logged over 12,000 tidying sessions, impacting 4200 clients across 30 countries.

We’re excited to give you rare access to the stories of joy behind all of these tidying hours, shared by those closely connected to the KonMari movement.

This episode features stories from the following certified KonMari Consultants:

Miho Armacost | KonMari Media Inc. | Personal Assistant to Marie Kondo and KonMari Consultant Community Manager
Christina Cheadle | KonMari Media Inc. | Community and Events Manager
Caitlin Roberts | Minimize with Purpose | Los Angeles, CA
Eliette and Marieke Staub | Clarity Home Detox | Switzerland
Ivanka Siolkowsky | The Tidy Moose | Canada
Pilar Fernández | Neat Edit | Mexico
Ana Paula Bezaury | Mexico

and KonMari Consultant trainees:

Brenna Kinkaid | Charlotte, NC
Maria Ordal | Seattle, WA

KonMari Consultant favorite tidying tips:

Use a white sheet to lay Komono on while you're evaluating your items - Heather Young | Mississippi Gulf Coast
Evaluate where in your home your personal sanctuary is - Caitlin Roberts
Always remember to lead with the practice of gratitude - Ivanka Siolkowsky
Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect, just do your best to find a balance - Pilar Fernandez

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 78 | KonMari Your Move Part 2 with Scott Marschall

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Scott Marschall of Morgan Manhattan Moving shares tips and strategies for making your move less stressful. Listen as we combine his years of experience in the moving industry with KonMari principles.

Scott first began at Morgan Manhattan over his high school summers as a moving helper where he fell in love with the industry and its clients.

Following a career in the corporate world, he currently works in operations giving him the opportunity to work closely with all aspects of the company along the 5th generation of the Morgan family.

He says his favorite part is helping customers during some of their most stressful days knowing that they are working with the best, and oldest, moving company in the area.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning about the moving industry and how Morgan Manhattan works with families moving in and out of new homes
-The biggest mistakes that people make when they are getting ready to move.
-How professional organizers can help you make your move easier and more efficient.
-Moving Tip: Give yourself enough time. Moving takes time and moving companies get really busy at the end/beginning of the month and holidays.
-The benefits of the KonMari forward looking vision in preparing for a move.
-How to determine if your old things will work in your new home. Really important when thinking about furniture.
-The most rewarding aspects of the moving business: helping families with feeling overwhelmed about a move.

Scott’s favorite moving tip: “Be prepared, give yourself time and be sure you trust the professionals you have hired.”

What Sparks Joy for Scott “The happy families after they move into their new homes and some of the special projects we are involved in that really make a difference in people’s lives. And, I’m training for the NYC Marathon!”

You can reach Scott at Morgan Manhattan: Morgan Manhattan

His email is: smarschall@morganmanhattan.com

Gems:
“People don’t think about all the stuff they have in all their spaces when they are thinking about how long a move will take.”

“If you aren’t using it now, it’s highly unlikely you will use it in your new home.”

“When in doubt, leave it out.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Scott Marschall.

Ep 77 | KonMari Your Move Part I with Becky May

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Becky May, fellow KonMari Consultant, helps us explore the best ways to make your next moving experience spark joy.

In this episode, we explore the very necessary task that everyone loves to hate - Moving. We invited certified KonMari Consultant Becky May to help you make your next move organized and stress free.

Becky is based in San Francisco, where she runs her business, Tidy With Becky. She loves helping people tidy the clutter that weighs on their homes and minds, so they can live lightly.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Becky's KonMari journey across the pond
Becky's personal moving experiences
How you can tweak the KonMari process to smooth your move
What moving and KonMari have in common
Why it's so important to honor this significant moment in your life with your time and attention
The importance of leaning on the KonMari categories to reduce overwhelm and stay true to the process
How to make the unpacking process more joyful while you take time to get to know your new space
What to do when something doesn't quite fit your new space
How much time you need to KonMari before a move

Becky's favorite tidying tip: Keep your moving boxes to use as temporary storage.

What Sparks Joy for Becky: Having a home that's a sanctuary that she shares with her husband.

To connect with Becky May visit, tidywithbecky.com . Becky has an online tidying program called The Tidy Home Program

Gems:

"KonMari had really given me the courage to listen to my intuition in all areas of life."
"KonMari, when it comes to moving, turns it away from being a daunting experience to a joyful one."
"Everyone wants a tidy life, but for lots of people it's only when they're moving that they actually confront their stuff."
"The blank canvas of a new home really lets people open up about 'what do I dream of creating in this new phase of my life?'"
"The hope is that you're excited to unpack on the other end of your move because you know that there's no clutter that's followed you into your new phase of life."
It's a lot easier to unpack when you know you just have things that bring you joy."
"What role did this item play in my last home? What does it mean in this new space?"
"Moving house does not have to be stressful."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Becky May.

Ep 76 | KonMari Quick Tips: Tidying with Kids

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

KonMari Quick Tips! Every few weeks, we dedicate an episode to quick tips around a particular topic requested by a Spark Joy listener.

This week KonMari Quick Tips episode is dedicated to tidying with kids! KonMari’ing with kids presents its own special opportunities and challenges, but it can be done and can even be fun!

So now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club!

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in and we hope your day, sparks joy.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-The question from listener Heather that sparked our Quick Tips episode.
-How to determine whether to tidy your kids clothing after your own.
-Be mindful that all your child’s things may feel sentimental to them. Respect this, but guide your child in making choices.
-The importance of age and ability in guiding your child’s tidying experience.

KonMari Quick Tips:
-Tip: Utilize your kid’s natural love of their toys in teaching gratitude for the things they keep and the things they let go.
-Tip: Use a Thank You box as a means to create a physical boundary around the sorting process.
-Tip: Your kids will have different lengths of time they are able to focus. Keep sessions short.
-Tip: For artwork, consider using services such as Artkive to consolidate and preserve the most special things. Artkive
-Tip: Work with your kids to get rid of old broken crayons and paints in favor of things that encourage creativity.
-Tip: When organizing, encourage your child to consider that space is a precious commodity and consider which item is in it own space.

We are pleased to introduce the new Joy Sparker members of the Spark Joy Club.

Welcome!
Elisabeth Swim
Jonathan Perry
Janice Mellon
Melissa Woody
Robin Porter
Marte Rieser
Marla J. Williams
Rosanna Sutherby
Chelsea Lewis

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 75 | Exploring the KonMari Book Controversy with Robin Mitchell Cranfield

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Robin Mitchell Cranfield, a graphic designer and illustrator who specializes in book design for art galleries and children’s books, shares her thoughts on the KonMari book category.

Her work has been recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the Alcuin Society, and How Magazine. Robin teaches typography & book design at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning about the KonMari Book category controversy.
Washington Post: Keep Your Tidy Spark Joy Hands Off My Books

The Guardian: What We Gain From Keeping Books

-We discuss some of the reasons that people have reacted to the books category with a lot of emotion.

-What Marie Kondo has actually said about books.
Book lovers, Relax: Marie Kondo is not coming for your books

-The unanticipated benefits of the KonMari process in the books categories.
Learn about Kenya Hara and the book as a physical object.
The Hara Design Institute

-About tokimeku.
The Japanese Translation of Spark Joy

-How Robin has sorted and organized her own books.

-If you are tidying your books and looking for more details and tidying advice, check out our original book discussion via Spark Joy episode 57 | KonMari Books Category: Building a Library of Joy.

Robin’s favorite tidying tip: “Feel free to discard book jackets. The jacket can be visually distracting to some people, so feel free to let it go if you want.“

What Sparks Joy for Robin: Google images! Uses images as a means to discover new wonders in nature with her son.

Robin’s book recommendation:
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School

You can reach Robin at robinmitchellcranfield.com or on Twitter at @robincranfield

Gems:
“There’s been a panic in the book publishing world about the death of the book. However, people have been panicking about the death of books since they went from hand writing books to the printing press.”

"It's interesting that people who are otherwise live-and-let-live are really quick to tell people how they should feel about books!"

"Books are physical objects that hold not just the written contents, but the experience of holding the book itself. That is why Marie Kondo's tapping of the book to "wake it up" is so interesting to me."

“Marie Kondo’s metric is to suggest that you find your own metric.”

“Tidying the books in my home opened up my awareness of new types of books to explore.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Robin Mitchell Cranfield.

Ep 74 | Happiness, Joy, and Order with Gretchen Rubin

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin debuts her latest book, "Outer Order, Inner Calm," as we explore the intersection of happiness, joy and order.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Gretchen's thoughts on defining happiness vs. joy
Gretchen's interview with Marie Kondo and why she gave Netflix's Tidying Up a gold star on a recent episode of the Happier podcast
Tips on tidying up while managing emotions around other's messiness
Why every office should have a Chief Clutter Officer
How your clutter comfort level is way more important than achieving perfection
Gretchen's new book "Outer Order, Inner Calm"
How to avoid fakework and makework
How to get those little things done by leaning into a power hour
The tension that comes along with "procrasticlearing"
The deeper meaning behind someday, someone-based decision making
The difference between underbuyers and overbuyers

Gretchen's favorite tidying tip: The one minute rule.

What Sparks Joy for Gretchen: The Bandoleir

To connect with Gretchen Rubin you can find her and her new book "Outer Order, Inner Calm" at gretchenrubin.com/books

Gems:
"Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I love it?"

"One of the worst things we can do is to do well something that we don't have to do at all."

"Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time."

"The stewing is worse than the doing."

"The best way to anticipate what's going to happen in the future is what's happened in the past."

"There's an unwillingness to accept that things are worth only what people will pay for them."

"So much of clutter really is about delaying decision making."

"The more we can decide now, the easier it gets latter."

"Anything you can do in less than one minute, do it without delay."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Gretchen Rubin.

Ep 73 | How to Plan Your KonMari Tidying Journey

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

So now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life.

Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys.

To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club!

Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in and we hope your day, sparks joy.

Joy Checks:

Karin loves staycations so she can indulge in her passion for the hotel room aesthetic. Here are some great hotel rooms and ways you can incorporate these ideas in your own bedroom.
Hotel Room Ideas to Use in Your Bedroom: The Contemporist
Kristyn is excited that the The Tidy Home Joy Journal is an Amazon #1 best seller across multiple categories! It’s beginning to arrive in the homes of early buyers and the reviews are amazing, 5 Stars!

You can get yours by joining The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The question from listener Anne that prompted today’s show after listening to Episode 56: How 60 Hours of Tidying Lessons Changed One Single Mom's Life Forever
The three factors that determine the length of time of your tidying event:
- The size of your home
- The volume of your clutter
- The anticipated pace of your decision-making
How a KonMari Consultant can help in this process as we discussed in Spark Joy Episode 49: Why Hire a KonMari Consultant?
Factors that slow down, or speed up your tidying event
How to make tidying a short-term priority in order to gain from the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up!
Confronting your calendar to get your priorities and values in order
The suggested length of time for each tidying appointment, the length of time in between tidying appointments, and the length of time the entire process should take according to our experience and best practices
The benefit of a little urgency in the process. As we discussed in Spark Joy Ep 68 | Behind the Scenes: Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" with Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem something like a reality show can help move the process into overdrive!
How the 5 D’s: delegate, delete, defer, delay, or diminish, we learned about in Ep 16 | Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson can help you plan your tidying event
What contributes to KonMari Fatigue and how to overcome it

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 72 | Solo Traveling with Gemma Thompson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Taking to the road alone is a brave decision. We're exploring solo traveling with award-winning writer, podcaster, and solo female travel specialist Gemma Thompson.

Today's guest is Gemma Thompson. Gemma is an award-winning writer, podcaster and specialist in solo female travel. In 2014, she published the popular anthology ‘A Girl's Guide to Travelling Alone’, and has also recently launched a podcast of the same name.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Gemma’s favorite adventure: The Great Barrier Reef
Why it’s a good idea to try solo traveling at least once
How to stay safe while traveling solo:
-- Be aware of cultural differences
-- Be aware of civil unrest
How a door wedge can keep you safe: Security Door Wedge

Tips for a great solo trip:
-Make sure the things you want to do most are accessible from where you are staying
-Plan your route beforehand at least from the airport to your hotel
-Make sure you have a couple of alternative routes to the hotel just in case
-Have the address and route written out on paper in case your phone doesn’t work
-Have a currency conversion chart and common words translated ("please," "thank you," "how much?")

Tips for eating alone:
-If you want to go to a fancy place, lunch is a good option to feel a little more comfortable
-Don’t overthink it. People aren’t really paying attention to you
-Research spots first to find the most solo friendly places
-It’s ok to take a book
-But, try not to look at your phone the whole time

What Sparks Joy for Gemma:
Her daughter!
The joy of waking up in a new country.

To connect with Gemma Thompson, you can find her at:
girlsthattravel.com or on Facebook and Instagram

Gemma's podcast: A Girl's Guide to Travelling Alone

Gems:

"The best things happen when you're just wandering around."

"Doing the research is absolutely key when you're traveling alone."

"You have to respect the culture of the city or the country you're going to."

"Once you've eaten out on your own a couple of times it gets easier and it doesn't feel awkward."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Gemma Thompson.

Ep 71 | Feng Shui with Master Feng Shui Expert Laura Cerrano

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Feng Shui Master, Laura Cerrano shares her expertise in bringing your KonMari tidying in alignment with the principles of Feng Shui.

Today’s guest is Feng Shui Master Laura Cerrano. Laura shares her expertise in bringing your KonMari tidying in alignment with the principles of Feng Shui. Laura received her Feng Shui certification through the Proven Feng Shui School in NY under the guidance of her mother and mentor certified Feng Shui Master, Carole Provenzale.

Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-Learning about the importance of the decluttering step of Feng Shui to set up a vision and game plan for the practice

-Hear about the history of Feng Shui

-Learning the difference between “space clearing” and decluttering

-The fundamental principles of Feng Shui and the Five Elements

-How Laura started her company with her mother

-How to incorporate Feng Shui into your own home

-Myths and missteps in Feng Shui. You can hear about Myths and Missteps in KonMari here

-Are you holding on to the very things you need to release in order to realize your vision?

-How a small adjustment near your front door can help you "ring in the money"

-How to Feng Shui your bedroom and what not to keep in your bedroom

What Sparks Joy for Laura: "Traveling and spending time with family."

To connect with Laura Cerrrano you can find her at:
fengshuimanhattan.com

She's on Facebook at: Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island and on Instagram at: Feng Shui by Laura Cerrano

Gems:
“To get started in Feng Shui, you need to have a clean canvas to work with.”

"What do you not need, use, or love?"

“What is the function of each room in my house?”

“Your bed should have a commanding position.”

"The headboard is an anchor of support when you're heading off to dream land"

"Energy flows around over through..it goes through everything."

"Depending on the objects that you have under the bed, they convey certain messages to the unconscious mind."

"Does the composition of the overall room present a balance and a sense of harmony?"

"Live in the present moment. Enjoy life to its fullest."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Laura Cerrano.

Ep 70 | The Spark Joy Club

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Spark Joy podcast co-hosts release a very special tool for listeners to extend their tidying experience!

It’s been a very exciting time for the Spark Joy podcast! Our audience has grown so much since the beginning of the year and the release of Netflix’s “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.”

As KonMari Consultants, we’ve received so much positive support and feedback from clients, colleagues, family and friends as well as you, our listeners. In today’s episode, we have a very special announcement.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-What’s Sparking Joy for Karin: Weekly flower delivery from a real florist and not just picking up any old flowers from the deli!

-What’s Sparking Joy for Kristyn: The Life Changing Magic of Instacart!

-What’s Sparking Joy for both of us: Spark Joy hit 700,000 downloads and is growing by the day!

-Media outlets and events both Karin and Kristyn have been featured in recently

Karin has been featured in:

Money/Time Magazine: Marie Kondo KonMari Method Consultant Certification
NY Magazine: How to Declutter Your Book Collection
6Sqft City Realty: Meet New York City’s Master KonMari Consultant

Kristyn has been featured in:

HuffPost: 6 Lessons From Marie Kondo’s Netflix Show You Can Apply To Work And Career
You Need A Budget/Wander Wealthy Podcast
And the Chicago Tidy Tour | KonMari 101 continues!

-Our special announcement:

Introducing The Spark Joy Club!

-Spark Joy podcast announces two levels of membership:

The Joy Riser Tier

At this tier, you'll receive:
A thank you shout out during an episode of Spark Joy and in the show notes during the month you join
Access to the custom Spark Joy Episode Map and Listening Guide, which is updated following every episode

This tier is $3 per month

The Joy Sparker Tier

At this tier, you'll receive: Everything above, plus…
Full membership in The Spark Joy Club on Facebook Mix and mingle with our clients and fellow listeners and get support and feedback from us as well as the community
A copy of The Tidy Home Joy Journal via Amazon

This tier is $5 per month

-Learn more about The Tidy Home Joy Journal

-Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club!

Gems:
"This is a brand new membership only group."
"We are looking forward to seeing you in The Spark Joy Club."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 69 | KonMari + Fitness with Ashley Barber

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Ep 68 | Behind the Scenes: Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" with Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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.

Ep 67 | Review of Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo"

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 02:00:00 -0500

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

Ep 66 | The Art of Manifesting and the Harmony Within with Laura Kessler

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 16:30:00 -0500

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.

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.

Encore! Ep 40 | Closet Joy Part III: Buy It Once with Tara Button

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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.

Encore! Ep 54 | A Productive Digital Clutter Free Life of Yes with Saya Hillman

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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.

Encore! Ep 37 | The True Cost of Clutter

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

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

Encore! Ep 45 | KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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

Encore! Ep 25 | KonMari Myths and Missteps

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

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

Ep 65 | Best of 2018: Joyful Show Highlights + Giveaway WINNERS

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0500

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!

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:

-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

Ep 64 | KonMari Around the World with Gemma Quinn

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 06:30:00 -0500

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.

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.

Ep 63 | Homeopathy at Home with Frank Molignano

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 02:15:00 -0500

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.

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:
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.

Ep 62 | Leaving the Past Behind Toward a Goal Focused KonMari Future with Marina Wakil

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0500

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.

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.

Ep 61 | KonMari Komono Category: Confronting Miscellaneous Items

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:15:00 -0400

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

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

Ep 60 | Joyful Interior Design with Laurel Bern Interiors

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 59 | Five Unconventional Rules for the Chronically Disorganized with Kristi Meyer

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 58 | KonMari + Financial Freedom with House of FI

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 10:30:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 57 | KonMari Books Category: Building a Library of Joy

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:30:00 -0400

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?

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

Ep 56 | How 60 Hours of Tidying Lessons Changed One Single Mom's Life Forever

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 10:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep 55 | Digitizing Your Sentimental Items with Bonnie Shay

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 14:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 54 | A Productive Digital Clutter Free Life of Yes with Saya Hillman

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 08:30:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 53 | Spark Joy GIVEAWAY + Anniversary Show

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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

Ep 52 | Meet the Mom of Four that Built a House of Joy Using YouTube | Cara Brookins

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 51 | Five Minutes to Fearless with Kay "Ideaignator" Richardson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 09:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 50 | The Future Is Beautiful with Amisha Ghadiali

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 49 | Why Hire a KonMari Consultant?

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 05:00:00 -0400

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.

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

Ep 48 | Living Life in the Front Seat with Jessica Butts

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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:

-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.

Ep 47 | Nailing DIY with The Nestrs

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 01:30:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 46 | A RV Life of Joy with Brenda Massei

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 45 | KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 06:00:00 -0400

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.”

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.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

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."

"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

Ep 44 | Sell Your Clutter Part III: Virtual Estate Sales with Everything But the House

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 43 | Sell Your Clutter Part II: eBay with Linda’s Stuff

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 42 | Sell Your Clutter Part I: Luxury Goods with The RealReal

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 41 | How to Maintain a Tidy Home Post-KonMari

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0400

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

Ep 40 | Closet Joy Part III: Buy It Once with Tara Button

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 39 | Closet Joy Part II: Build Your Capsule Wardrobe with Courtney Carver

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 29 May 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 38 | Closet Joy Part I: Find Your Style with Jessica Louie

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 22 May 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 37 | The True Cost of Clutter

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 15 May 2018 00:15:00 -0400

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, 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

Ep 36 | The Tao of Self Confidence with Sheena Yap Chan

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 08 May 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 35 | How to Launch an Organized Business with Alaia Williams

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 01 May 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 34 | Incremental Minimalism with Stephanie Seferian

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 33 | How to Become a KonMari Consultant

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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

Ep 32 | Transcending Joy: The Global Impact of Clutter with Evan Zislis

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

Ep 31 | Shopaholic No More with Dr. April Benson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Dr. Benson, a leading expert in compulsive buying disorder, joins us to discuss the connection between clutter, consumption, and addictive shopping behaviors.

No matter how intentional you are with your spark joy decision making, excessive shopping can severely compromise your ability to either finish your KonMari tidying event or maintain a tidy home and lifestyle long term. Therefore, it is important to address any compulsive or addictive behaviors that you may have uncovered around shopping and consumerism.

Our guest, Dr. Benson, is a nationally known psychologist specializing in the study and treatment of compulsive buying disorder. Author of To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop, she offers individual, evidence based coaching and a comprehensive website - www.shopaholicnomore.com - filled with information and effective strategies.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How the closing of her favorite store led Dr. Benson to explore her own shopping behaviors, which led her to transition from working with people with eating disorders to working with people with shopping disorders
Why compulsive buying is often referred to as the "smiled-upon addiction"
The three cardinal signs someone is suffering from an addiction
The common reasons why we overshop
The primary and secondary consequences of shopping addiction (emotional, financial, physical, etc.)
How to confront a compulsive buying disorder, along with certain questions to ask yourself to determine if you're a shopaholic
Six major shopping magnets and tips to deal with these triggers
Extended tips on avoiding impulsive online shopping
What to do if KonMari tidying triggers compulsive shopping behaviors used to fill an emotional or social void
Take the evaluation: Who Needs Help? 3 Ways to Know, Are you an Overshopper?
Six questions to ask yourself before you make your next purchase: Why am I here? How do I feel? Do I need this? Can I wait? How will I pay for it? Where will I put it?
Take the Values in Action Character Strengths evaluation

Gems:

"Create a pause between the impulse and the action."

"Shopping is a short cut solution to issues related to how someone feels about themselves."

"You can never get enough of what you don't really need."

What sparks joy for Dr. Benson: A collection of passion flowers in her greenhouse, dog-sitting, and a love of learning Russian and the piano.

Parting words of wisdom: Effective help is available. [Compulsive buying disorder] is something you need to be serious about.

To connect with Dr. Benson visit www.shopaholicnomore.com.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Dr. April Benson.

Ep 30 | Simply B Organized with Laurie Palau

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Laurie Palau presents an insightful approach to organizing with an emphasis on the emotional aspects of clutter along with her practical tips for managing the things in your home.

Is your home a hot mess?
If the answer is yes you’re going to enjoy today’s guest organizer Laurie Palau of Simply B Organized in Pennsylvania.

Laurie is a speaker, author, and host of the podcast, This Organized Life, where listeners get a glimpse into her not-so-perfect world as a wife, mom and professional organizer. Her book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is a must-read for anyone looking to streamline clutter from their life.

With over nine years of organizing under her belt, Laurie is another industry veteran here to share her unique perspective on getting organized along with road tested practical tips.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-How Laurie found her true calling as a home organizer when she identified that organizational principles were part of the solution to feeling anxious and overwhelmed in the home.

-Laurie discusses the 3 types of clutter that she finds with her clients:
Physical, emotional, and calendar clutter

-Learn about ArtKive, Laurie’s recommended app that will help you organize your kid’s artwork online:
ArtKive

-Your dominant clutter source and how it impacts your home organization.

-Organizing diagnostics: reviewing your current clutter situation.

-Learn about the ESP Method: Empty, Sort and Purge.

-The Four Purge Piles: Donate, Reuse, Recycle, Discard.

-How Laurie defines the cost of clutter.

Gems:

“Clutter doesn’t just have to be the physical stuff. It can be the burn out. How you end up snapping at your kids or spouse because you are just spread too thin.”

“How much time and money do we waste buying things we already have that we can’t find?”

"Most people if given the choice would rather live in an organized space."

"I’ve relocated kitchen items outside of the kitchen.”

“The average US citizen wastes an hour a day looking for lost or misplaced items."

Favorite Tidying Tip:
Open the mail every day and make a decision.
Mail should fall into three categories:
Action, Reference, Recycle

What sparks joy for Laurie:
Laurie covets her quiet time in the morning!

Parting words of wisdom:
Start small. Just wanting to make a change is a huge hurdle that you’ve already accomplished.

To connect with Laurie you can find her at www.simplyborganized.com

Listen to her podcast:
This Organized Life Podcast

Simply B Organized on FaceBook
Simply B Organized on Instagram
Simply B Organized on Twitter

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Laurie Palau.

Ep 29 | Tidy vs. Clean

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Karin and Kristyn explore the relationship between tidying and cleaning - two activities that help you restore your home to a place of honor and joy.

In this episode, we usher in spring by discussing the rituals of cleaning and tidying. We also explore the similarities and differences between these two common domestic activities and how they complement each other and your KonMari lifestyle.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Joy checks! Karin just purchased a new Chemex and Kristyn finished moving #studiotidy (For the Love of Tidy headquarters) to the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago
The difference between cleaning and tidying
How tidying makes many aspects of cleaning that are often deemed challenging, much easier
How decluttering exposes areas of your home in need of attention
Tips from Marie Kondo's Guide to Spring Cleaning
How the act of spring cleaning can trap you indoors during the warmest season
The importance of tidying before you clean
How to bring your clothing out of hibernation
Kristyn's favorite Foldable Storage Bag
How to conduct a spring time version of the KonMari home greeting
Three unconventional tips for moving your tidying and cleaning forward
How the Mel Robbins' 5 Second Rule can help push you beyond procrastination and into action
Our big announcement: 100,000 downloads!

Gems:

"Tidying addresses objects, while cleaning addresses dirt."

"By tidying you're confronting yourself. By cleaning, you're confronting nature."

"It's easier to clean your home when it's already tidy."

"[Decluttering] lifts the spirit of the home by waking up dormant items that haven't received attention."

"I appreciate things better because I can see them year-round."

"Spring is the perfect time to plan or begin your KonMari tidying event."

"Action breeds motivation."

"Clutter is finite."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 28 | Health and Wellness: Self-Care and Chinese Medicine with Brodie Welch

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Living your KonMari lifestyle includes a focus on health, wellness and self-care. Our guest today is Eastern medicine practitioner, Brodie Welch.

Brodie Welch is a Licensed Acupuncturist, board-certified herbalist, Chinese Medicine expert, holistic health coach, and self-care strategist.

She’s the founder of Life in Balance Acupuncture in Corvallis, Oregon, where she has been treating patients since 2003.

Brodie has helped thousands of clients with a regular body/mind practice and leads self-care boot camp programs helping women put the principles of self-care into practice.

She’s also the creator and host of A Healthy Curiosity: the podcast that explores what it takes to be well in a busy world.

You can find more information about Brodie and her practice at Brodie Welch and follow her on FaceBook @brodiewelchlac

Brodie has provided Spark Joy listeners with a collection of healthy living resources that will definitely spark joy.

You can find:

Right to Take Care of Yourself Manifesto:
Brodie Welch
Calm and Centered Bundle
Free 5-minute breathing meditation: Breathing Break

In this episode, you'll enjoy:

How Brodie decided to pursue her interest in Eastern Medicine.
Check out this article on self-care: This is What Self Care Really Means
How health issues are connected to broader social and environmental concerns.
Brodie’s definition of self-care. It can be difficult and uncomfortable at times, but the results can be amazing.
How to recognize when you are entering the “unbalanced zone” that gives rise to physical symptoms.
How Acupuncture can help and how to find a great Acupuncture practitioner in your area. Check out the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine:
NCCAOM
What happens and what to expect during an acupuncture treatment.

What sparks joy for Brodie:
Watching people transform.

Gems:

"If it’s not connecting us to our own vitality, it’s not self-care.”
"Positive attitude brings positives things in life."
"That issue will keep coming back unless you teach the body to do something differently."
“Have your environment reflect your highest values.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Brodie Welch.

Ep 27 | Meet KonMari Translator Yuno Imai

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Yuno Imai shares what it's like to translate for Marie Kondo and what inspired her to write a children's book based on her joyful life experiences.

Our guest, Yuno Imai, is a Japanese food and travel writer and copy editor based in LA. In addition to being one of the original translators for Marie Kondo and her team, she’s now living a life of joy and focusing on publishing a children’s book.

You can find out more about Yuno by visiting www.iknowyouknowyuno.com. Updates on the launch of her first children’s book will be made available there and you can track Yuno’s adventures and joyful lifestyle via instagram @iknowyouknowyuno.

In this episode, you'll enjoy:

How Karin and Kristyn met Yuno during KonMari consultant training
How a fascination with American movies and culture inspired Yuno to pursue translating; the most challenging job she's ever had
What it was like to observe the message of the KonMari Method while it initially spread
How Yuno studied up on KonMari to prepare for her big translation gig
How translating allows Yuno to experience many industries and bridge Japan and America
Tricks Yuno uses to memorize her client's words and provide seamless translation
Why the gym doesn't spark joy for Yuno and the joyful way she achieves the same results
How life, death, prison, and food inspire Yuno's writing projects
Yuno's favorite children's books: The Red Shoes and The Rainbow Fish

What sparks joy for Yuno: Creating her children's book, Trevor and Me, based on real events in her life. Themes: friendship across generations, death and reincarnation.

Gems:

"I just follow what I love."
"Positive attitude brings positives things in life."
"Do what makes you happy and go after your joy!"

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Yuno Imai.

Ep 26 | If It Doesn't Challenge You, It Doesn't Change You with Sarah Williams

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Join us as we speak with Sarah Williams of Tough Girl Challenges about her journey, her work and get her take on how to move toward being the person you want to be.

Sarah is the founder of Tough Girl Challenges, which is an amazing platform for women who are taking on physical challenges and overcoming obstacles.

Sarah started her professional life in finance but found it lacking and wanted to do something more in line with her interest in the sporting life and Tough Girl Challenges was born.

As she built up her platform, she found that her blog, public speaking, coaching and podcast, along with three books, was beginning to grow a community of girls and women who were motivating each other to reach their goals and achieve great things.

She's based in the UK, but reaches women all over the world.

In this episode, you'll enjoy:

-You’ll learn how Sarah made the transition from a career in finance to building the Tough Girl Challenges platform.

-Her commitment to showcasing the stories of women who overcome obstacles both physical and mental to achieve their goals.

-Hear about the common experiences of girls and women in setting goals, preparing and implementing a plan to achieve the goal.

-Listen as Sarah shares her story of hiking the Appalachian Trail.

-Her technique for breaking down potential barriers into small, approachable steps.

-Learning the goal-setting strategy of trying different things to find the perfect fit for you.

-Follow the stories of 7 Women, 7 Challenges on Sarah’s podcast:
Tough Girl Podcast

To connect with Sarah, you can visit her at her website:
Tough Girl Challenges

She's on Twitter: @_tough_girl, Instagram: toughgirlchallenges and Pinterest: Tough101

Her facebook is:
Tough Girl Challenges

Her YouTube Channel :
Tough Girl Challenges on YouTube

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week's show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

What sparks joy for Sarah:
She loves Mondays! She loves the start of new things and the adventure ahead. Sarah is excited about the inspirational stories of women she is able to bring to her audience.

Gems:
"If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”

“People will rise to occasion to help you achieve your goals.”

"She continues to go back, every single week.”

“Nine times out of 10 it’s the mindset of how you chose to look at things.”

“If you want to do something, please just go and do it.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Sarah Williams.

Ep 25 | KonMari Myths and Missteps

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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

Ep 24 | Possessed: The Artist Who Painted Joy with Jaye Schlesinger

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Artist Jaye Schlesinger paints the 380 objects that remained after committing to decluttering her home and life for her exhibit "Possessed."

Our guest, Jaye Schlesinger, is an award winning artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who specializes in oil paintings of common objects and abstracts. Her recent solo exhibit “Possessed” caught our attention. It includes 380 individual paintings of all of her possessions inspired by minimalism and simplified living. It sparks joy for Jaye to explore the metaphorical possibilities of painting the mundane.

Jaye gave us a peek into the lifestyle change that inspired her creative process and story.

To connect with Jaye, visit www.jayeschlesinger.com. While you’re there, peruse her portfolio and contact her to purchase high quality reproductions of her artwork in a variety of sizes.

In this episode, you'll enjoy:

How the movie Tiny, The Minimalists Podcast, the documentary Minimalism, and experiencing a flood in her home inspired Jaye to start letting go of her personal possessions
What Jaye's parameters for joy are, which include usefulness and beauty
How being led to paint the items that sparked joy kept Jaye accountable during the decluttering process
How Jaye divided her possessions from her husband's, followed by discussions about the "ours" items
How Jaye enjoyed the structure this project provided within her studio time. Each painting took 2-3 days to complete and the project extended over two years
How painting things gave Jaye a chance to meditate and connect to the true meaning behind some of the objects, especially the ones that were deemed sentimental
Why Jaye continues to return to the still life painting
How seemingly ordinary objects connect us
How Jaye's husband reacted to her ruthless minimization
What Jaye did to help her minimize regret

What sparks joy for Jaye: Jaye's two grandchildren and three custom end tables she's building for her new home

Gems:

"These things of everyday life connect us. But, they are so overlooked. We take them for granted."
"Less is more."
"When you decide to keep a few things, they become stronger in some way."
"It was always more about being deliberate than being minimal per se."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jaye Schlesinger.

Ep 23 | FamilyPrenuer! Raising Business Savvy Kids with Meg Brunson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Meg Brunson, multi-passionate mama and former Facebook employee shares tips on how to provide a better life for her family through entrepreneurship.

Our guest today is Meg Brunson.

Meg is a multi-passionate mama living in Phoenix, AZ with her husband and 4 young daughters. She is a serial entrepreneur and a former Facebook employee, striving to provide a better life for her family through entrepreneurship.

She is the founder of EIEIO Marketing, the host of the FamilyPreneur Podcast, and recently helped her 10 year old launch her first business.

In this episode, you'll enjoy:

-You'll learn how Meg started her business and her motivation for becoming an entrepreneur.

-Meg's tips for teaching your children critical thinking skills.

-How she and her daughter drilled down to find the perfect value statement that created Story Time with Kiki: Story Time with Kiki

-The importance of the calendar in managing a busy household with kids.

-How Meg and her husband support their girl's passion for learning.

-Meg's strong passion for helping kids set and achieve their goals.

-Using setbacks and challenges as a way to help kids be resourceful and resilient.

-Meg's favorite resources for building a great business:
A CRM platform: Dubsado
A scheduling platform: Acuity Scheduling

-And, hey, we all need a good resource for relaxing!
Winc

To connect with Meg, you can visit her at her website: www.megbrunson.com
Or her marketing website: www.eieiomarketing.com

She's on Twitter: @themegbrunson, Instagram: themegbrunson and Pinterest: themegbrunson

Her facebook is:
Meg Brunson on Facebook

She's the editor at: Phoenix Kids Out and About

And Kiki's website is: Story Time with Kiki

What sparks joy for Meg:
Her kids "those happy moments, their smiles and giggles" The freedom of working from home and being able to spend spontaneous moments with the kids while pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams.

Gems:
"We should be paving additional paths for our children."

"Drill down to the thing you know the best and find the value proposition within that knowledge."

"Turn their questions back on your kids. Get them to explore the question themselves."

"If you are passionate about it, I really believe you can make it happen."

"I'm going to have those good resources. I'm just going to have to build them out myself!"

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Meg Brunson.

Ep 22 | Inspire Someone Daily: Broken Little Pieces with Kizmat Tention

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Kizmat Tention, super mom by day, super wife by night, helps us take off our masks to find our authentic self.

Super mom by day, super wife by night, and invisible all of the time.

This is what happens when you retire the Superhero cape, remove the masks, and begin the journey of, "Who am I? How did I get here? And how long will it take to pick up all of the broken little pieces of my life?"

Our guest today is Kizmat Tention.

Kizmat is a life coach and author who has been making big waves with her new book, Broken Little Pieces: Invisible.

Since then, she's been touring and speaking about her work and sharing her very powerful message of finding your authentic self. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children.

In this episode, you'll enjoy:

You'll hear how Kizmat began to recognize that she had been given, and had taken on, identities, roles and masks throughout her life that had keep her from her true self.

How masks are passed along to us and how they can damage not only our true selves, but also our relationships and those around us.

The role that birth order can play in our development. Kizmat talks about her "middle child" position and Karin shares an "oldest child" memory!

Here's a good article on birth order theory:
How Birth Order Affects Your Child's Personality and Behavior

Learn how to begin moving away from our masks and our toxic identities AND how this fits in with the KonMari Method.

How clutter reflects our emotional space. Kizmat talks about the "revolving door of emotion" within our homes, going back and forth from obsess orderliness and giving up on it all.

To connect with Kizmat,you can visit www.brokenlittlepieces.com and follow her on FB at Broken Little Pieces: Broken Little Pieces on Facebook,or on twitter @kizzymat on Instagram at Kizmat Tention.
Her book, Broken Little Pieces: Invisible, can be purchased here: Broken Little Pieces: Invisible on Amazon

What sparks joy for Kizmat:
"When people are brave."
She loves inspiring others to be a light in the world via her FaceBook group and her online community.

Kizmat's final words of wisdom:
"Don't be afraid to go and create your own lane."

Gems:
"It's a journey to take all of the pieces to create the mosaic of your life's mural."

"Marriage multiples what is already there."

"How long have I felt invisible?"

"Regret and perfectionism are companions. We fear having regrets, thus propelling our mindset into the ways of perfectionism."

"What am I holding onto and why? What reward are you getting from it?"

"Change the dialogue of failure."

"You see their glory, but you don't see their story."

"Inspire someone daily."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Kizmat Tention.

Ep 21 | Book Review: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Karin and Kristyn explore the Swedish art of death cleaning and how it integrates with the KonMari lifestyle.

In this episode, we review The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson. Instead of “does it spark joy,” we explore the question “will anyone I know be happier if I save this?” We review what parts of Death Cleaning sparked joy and what left us wanting more, as we compare this tool to the KonMari Method. We also apply both death cleaning and KonMari to answer a listener's question about managing clothing and papers.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Joy checks! Karin consolidated her storage locker space in NYC and Kristyn is moving to a new neighborhood in Chicago
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
How "Dostadning," Swedish for "dealth cleaning," focuses on disposing of things prior to passing on
How Marie Kondo feels about death cleaning
Margareta Magnusson's background and experience death cleaning after her parents, husband, and mother-in-law passed away
Questions that you can use to spark conversation around death and possessions across generations
Why you shouldn't assume your loved ones will have the time and energy to examine your items after you've passed
The age when you should start death cleaning
The exception you may need to make while you're walking through KonMari clutter categories in order
What we wished death cleaning included to aid in decision making
Our advice for a spark joy listener who struggles with maintaining her tidy when it comes to clothing and paper
Practical tips on how you should properly organize or give away your sentimental and valuable possessions before you pass

Gems:

“Will anyone I know be happier if I save this?”
“If you can’t keep track of your things you know you have too many.”
“If I don’t know the names of the people in the photos, nobody else in the family is likely to.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 20 | Hot Mess Organizers: From Client to Consultant with Alex Erickson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Karin's client, Alex Erickson, found a new career path amongst his clutter and is now a practicing KonMari Consultant trainee.

Today’s guest is Alex Erickson. Alex is a personal fitness trainer in the process of completing his KonMari consultant certification. Prior to this, he was a professional model.

Alex and his husband, Edgar, decided to tidy their new home together using the KonMari Method after their recent wedding.

Alex enlisted Karin to help him with the KonMari process in their Brooklyn home (they've recently moved to Manhattan). Not only did he do an amazing job with the process and was delightful to work with, he was so inspired by the KonMari Method, that he decided to pursue becoming a consultant on his own. He recently completed the KonMari consultant training seminar last October and is now working on his practice sessions towards certification.

In this episode, follow Alex along his journey toward tidying his home with his husband, Edgar, as they learn about themselves and each other. He'll also share how he decided to become a consultant and what he has experienced with his first clients on the way to certification!

To connect with Alex, you can find him on his new Instagram @hotmessorganizers.
His email address is: alexandererickson@yahoo.com
His new KonMari Consulting business is called Hot Mess Organizing. Website coming soon!

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Alex decided he was ready for the KonMari Method and why he decided to hire a KonMari Consultant
How Alex got his husband on board and how they faced their fears and challenges together.
How Alex used Marie Kondo’s quote,“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.", to help motivate him to move forward with the process.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
How Alex used a Big Box to help with the sorting process. It really worked!
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
How this quote helped Alex decide to become a KonMari Consultant himself: “The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order.”
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Alex’s Favorite Tidying Tips:
Designate a temporary area for things that need to be sorted as you are working through the process.
Keep in mind that any item in any category can feel sentimental, so save them for last.

What sparks joy for Alex:
Our big Chinese Good Luck cat!
But, most importantly, my husband, Edgar!

Gems:
“As long as you have a somewhat open mind, you will be perfect for the KonMari method.”

“You’re getting rid of a safety blanket. I had to let go of a lot of false security.”

“It forced me to hold myself accountable for my own actions. I can make sure that my own items are tidy.”

“When you face the clutter in your house, you are facing yourself.”

“I did a fearless inventory of the material items I possessed.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Alex Erickson.

Ep 19 | Don't Forget to Breathe with Dr. Melva Green

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Dr. Melva Green, author, psychiatrist, and spiritual healer as seen on A&E's hit show “Hoarders” discusses the importance of making breathing room as you declutter mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Dr. Melva Green is best known for her work on the critically acclaimed A&E series Hoarders. She is a psychiatrist and spiritual healer specializing in REAL LIFE living. Dr. Green is the co-author of Breathing Room: Open You Heart by Decluttering Your Home, a wonderful blend of personal stories interwoven into a clear, practical guide on decluttering.

In this episode, Dr. Green discusses the importance of slowing down, taking a breath, and leading with compassion before we jump into the clutter. We also discuss the do's and don'ts associated with identifying and treating someone with a hoarding disorder and associated signs and resources.

To connect with Dr. Green, you can find her at www.drmelvagreen.com as well as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube at @drmelva. Dr. Green is offering our listeners a discounted, signed copy of Breathing Room using the following link: http://bit.ly/2qM2pVB

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 email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What led Dr. Green to take a leap of faith, close her practice, declutter, and move to Costa Rica
The moments leading up to Dr. Green getting the call to be an expert on A&E's Hoarders
How Dr. Green's book, Breathing Room: Open Your Heart by Decluttering Your Home evolved into a collaborative project with co-author Dr. Lauren Rosenfeld
How Dr. Green's spiritual approach to therapy broadened her client's experience and given client's permission to pursue another path and reduce shame
The role anxiety plays in disorganization
How being kind to yourself can shift the heart space to the self love and tenderness required to start the process
How the SLICE method (Stop & Listen, Intend, Clearing the Energy), a three step process described in Breathing Room, can help you jump start your journey to organization
Signs a loved one's life may be impacted by hoarding
Why common statistics tracking hoarding disorder misrepresent the scope of the public burden due to the "hidden" nature of the problem
How trauma is often at the core of a hoarding crisis
How in over 14 years, only two of Dr. Green's clutter clients were so resistant to change they couldn't be helped
How the support system of family can help hoarders successfully dig out and recover
How Dr. Green listens to her clients and reminds them to stop and breathe to hold a clear space
Dr. Green recommends resources on wwww.hoarders.org , including a scale to help you determine if you meet the clinical criteria for a hoarding disorder

Dr. Green's favorite tidying tip: Breathe...

What sparks the most joy for Dr. Green: Her son starting at Stanford University!

Gems:

"Most of our clutter is unconscious."

"The mess is not IN the way, it's PART OF the way."

"Clutter is the external manifestation of what's going on in our internal space."

"When we stop and breathe we're able to get a sense of what needs to go and what needs to stay."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Melva Green.

Ep 18 | Life KPIs: Measure What Matters with Patty Morrissey

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Patty Morrissey, KonMari Consultant, shows us how to start the year defining and tracking success on our own terms by combining the power of KonMari, Ben Franklin Circles, and life key performance indicators (KPIs).

Our guest, Patty Morrissey, is a certified KonMari Consultant based in Huntington, NY. Patty is dedicated to helping people throughout her dynamic career as a nanny, social worker, college student affairs administrator, corporate social responsibility manager, non-profit director, and entrepreneur. She is a lifestyle and organizing consultant, who believes our homes should “Spark Joy” and that our own definition of success is the only one that matters.

In this episode, you'll learn about life management tools that complement your KonMari path and help you spark joy where it counts! Patty shares how to keep score of what matters by applying key performance indicators (KPIs) (commonly used in corporate environments) to your own life. We also explore the impact of Ben Franklin Circles, which help people improve themselves and the world by practicing 13 timeless virtues.

To connect with Patty, visit www.pattymorrissey.com and follow her @pattymorrissey on Instagram and Facebook. For more information on Ben Franklin Circles, visit www.benfranklincircles.org.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How reading The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up during a four hour commute led Patty to leave corporate america to become a KonMari Consultant
How Patty was left with a physical and emotional void after completing her KonMari tidying event that she continues fill more intentionally
How Patty rationalized letting go of a majority of her journals and kept reflection papers to share on the Mortified podcast one day
How Patty's brave clients encourage her to continue to revisit certain clutter categories
How a ruthless focus on key performance indicators at her corporate job led Patty to take a step back and track what was going on in her own life
Patty's Life KPIs: Meals with my family; Visits with friends; Walks in nature; Dates with my husband; New experiences
How you can start developing your own life KPIs: Key Performance Indicators for Life
How Ben Franklin's 13 virtues (created over 300 years ago) apply to modern life, serve as the foundation for the Ben Franklin Circle community, and complement your KonMari tidying event
Ben Franklin's Virtues: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Chastity, Tranquility, and Humility
How Ben Franklin Circles create a safe space and permission to be honest about what's going on in your life
How Patty's Spirit Walk project satisfies many of her life KPIs
Why we all agree David Allen's Getting Things Done system continues to helps us lower our mental RAM
How Patty's Today show appearance for being "messy" 12 years ago was the start of her trial-and-error filled journey to order
How peak levels of consumption has created a new problem for our generation that's led us to examine our relationship with stuff and change our habits

Patty's favorite tidying tip: Sit down with your spouse and write down your individual home responsibilities/tasks on notecards to assess how much you actually have to do. Revisit and redistribute responsibilities accordingly to ensure a healthy distribution.

What sparks the most joy for Patty: All aspects of planning, preparing for, and anticipating her daughter's halloween costume and anticipating the experience

Gems:

"Personal growth does require some element of discomfort."

"Papers really represent undone tasks."

"It was not my employer's responsibility to make sure I'm living my best life, it was my responsibility."

"The magic of the Ben Franklin Circle is the observation of the daily review."

"Recognize how much you actually have to do and realize it's impossible for you to do it all."

"Find your group that you can be you with and safely change within."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Patty Morrissey.

Encore! Ep 1 | KonMari 101

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn, talk KonMari basics.

In this episode, Spark Joy co-hosts take a look at KonMari basics and share their experiences as KonMari Consultants.

The history of the KonMari Method along with basic concepts of KonMari organization are covered.

Marie Kondo developed this organization methodology based on her experience as a professional organizer in Japan. She found that tidying could be completed thoroughly and that relapse could be avoided by following a particular order and focusing on whether an item sparks joy.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning how Marie Kondo created the KonMari Method, as found in her first book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up
Interesting facts about Marie and the beginnings of the KonMari Method
How Marie’s childhood factored into her role as a future organizer:
Marie Kondo Remembers
How the KonMari mission to “organize the world” has expanded into a worldwide the training program to certify KonMari Consultants
Fundamental Concepts of KonMari:
- Tidying by category instead of location
  - Clothing
  - Books
  - Paper
  - Komono (miscellaneous items)
  - Sentimental
- Sparking Joy
- Once and Forever Event
- The Power of the Pile
- The Folding Method
How Konmari can impact other areas of your life such as your health, finances, and maybe even your love life!

Gems:
“You don’t have to get rid of everything that doesn’t make your heart swoon.”

“It’s important to pull everything from everywhere.”

“Transferring love respect and gratitude through the palms of your hands.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 17 | Best of 2017: Joyful Show Highlights

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Karin and Kristyn wind down the year with a look back at some of the shows that made the biggest impact on them and on you, our listeners!

During the show, we play some of our favorite clips and talk about the impact they have made on us and how they influenced our work as KonMari consultants.

Creating a podcast that focused on the KonMari Method has been our shared vision since the very end of 2016. We spent the first half of 2017 researching, preparing and putting all the pieces together and finally launched on August 31st.

We are so grateful to all of our guests for their talents, wonderful stories and the amazing tips and tools they shared with us.

Our listeners have been amazing. We have learned so much via your questions, comments and feedback. Thank you for being a part of Spark Joy!

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 email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

Before we get to our highlights, we ask, “What have sparked the most joy this year?”

We would love to hear what sparked the most joy for you!
Email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com and share your most joyful moments of 2017.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

We share big news: Spark Joy Podcast has been downloaded over 40,000 times!

Two listeners sent us great questions:
Sara asked about how to apply KonMari principles to the ongoing struggle of paper management in a busy family.
Ep 9 | Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake
Spark Joy Episode 9

Kimberly’s question was about how to determine what sparks joy when it comes to seasonal items, in this case, Halloween costumes.
Ep 13 | Does It Spark Joy?
Spark Joy Episode 13

And now, on to our favorite clips!

Ep 2 | Meet Marie Kondo’s First Employee Jenny Ning
Jenny Ning, Marie Kondo’s first employee in the US, shares what it’s like to work for the Queen of Tidy and her journey from KonMari super fan to Bay area home organizer.
To connect with Jenny Ning, you can visit her at www.jennyning.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@jennyorganizes).
Spark Joy Episode 2

Ep 3 | Face Your Stuff with Dorothy The Organizer
Dorothy Breininger, author and veteran professional organizer as seen on A&E’s hit show “Hoarders” sorts out the mind-body-home clutter connection and related addictions.
To connect with Dorothy Breininger, you can visit her website, www.dorothytheorganizer.com for free tips, videos, newsletters, organizing resources for your life, home, office, and relationships. Be sure to check out her book “Stuff Your Face or Face Your Stuff” via her website or Amazon. Also, check her out on the hit show “Hoarders” on A&E.
Spark Joy Episode 3

Ep 6 | Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks
Tess Wicks, personal finance coach and educator, breaks down the journey to financial independence into key actions and makes the connection between our priorities, the things we acquire, and our life vision.
To connect with Tess Wicks visit www.wanderwealthy.com and join the Wander Wealthy community on Facebook and YouTube. Also, check out Tess’ podcast Words and Money.
Spark Joy Episode 6

Ep 7 | Design and the Future of Minimalism with Lloyd Alter
Lloyd Alter, architect and design editor of Tree Hugger magazine, helps us understand our changing relationship with our possessions and how the upcoming generation will view design and functionality.
To connect with Lloyd, you can visit Treehugger, https://www.treehugger.com, Mother Nature Network, https://www.mnn.com, or follow him Twitter @lloydalter and Lloyd Alter on Facebook.
Spark Joy Episode 7

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Ep 8 | Make Bold Moves with The Traveling Organizer Holly Southerland
Our guest, Holly Southerland is a professional organizer who has been traveling nationwide since 2008 helping families and entrepreneurs get unstuck and find peace in their homes.
To connect with Holly Southerland, visit Waco Home Organizers (www.wacohomeorganizers.com) or email info@wacohomeorganizers.com. You can also follow her on Facebook or Instagram at @holly_southerland
Spark Joy Episode 8

Ep 11 | [Tidy] Like a Mind Reader with Jonathan Pritchard
Jonathan Pritchard, professional mind reader and author, opens his psychological toolkit to help us apply the predictive art of mind reading to reach personal goals across all areas of our life.
To connect with or hire Jonathan, you can visit www.likeamindreader.com. His book Think Like a Mind Reader is available on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2yb9WwC).
Spark Joy Episode 11

Gems

“We are proud to announce since we launched Spark Joy on August 31st of this year we’ve received over 40,000 downloads!”
“It starts as just a means to get the house in order, but I don’t think most of us really expect the snowball effect!”
“The clutter never lies and the truth is often in the clutter.”
“I remembered resistance I receive from clients around trying something a new way because obviously my way isn’t working.”
“This idea that we honor the item by showing appreciation for what it meant to us, and making sure the item goes on to it’s next useful life.”
“I believe that organizing is really just lots and lots of small steps and lots and lots of small decisions.”
“It’s ok if every rule in the book is not a perfect fit for your life! If you even apply 50% of the method you’ll notice an improvement in your lifestyle, so it’s not an all or nothing deal.”
“We’ve got an amazing line-up for 2018, more guests who exude joy and embody the KonMari lifestyle that we’ll share them with you each-and-every Tuesday.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 16 | Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Amanda Jefferson, KonMari Consultant, shows us how to Delegate, Defer, Diminish, and Delete our way to a stress free holiday season.

Our guest, Amanda Jefferson, is a certified KonMari Consultant who serves the western suburbs of Philadelphia. After a successful 20 year career in academia, corporations, and non-profit leadership, Amanda now channels her passion for helping others by creating homes that are peaceful, stress-free and efficient.

In this episode, you'll learn how to navigate the holidays using the 4 Ds. Amanda also shares tips on how to manage paper organization with three simple tools. This episode is less about getting more done and more about having less to do!

To connect with Amanda, visit www.indigoorganizing.com and follow her on Instagram @indigo_organizing.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How a mid-life crisis that Amanda lovingly named a "Creative Renaissance" led Amanda to shift gears to professional organizing
How tackling the "Paper" KonMari category made Amanda want to run and hide
How career threads such as helping people, making operations more efficient, and an interest in positive social psychology and energy/time management tie into her KonMari practice
How to apply the Four Ds to declutter your holiday experience and fill it with joy: Delegate, Defer, Diminish, and Delete
Amanda's Worksheet: Getting from Stress to Joy with the 4Ds
Ways you can spark conversations that change traditions and shift attention to fewer better things and more experiences
The three tools you need to manage all of your paper
Apps that incorporate a scan feature: Google Drive , Evernote , Dropbox
How to make paper management fun by finding office supplies that spark joy
Independent scanner apps: Tiny Scan , Genius Scan , CamScanner

Amanda's favorite tidying tip: Keeping things bite-sized. Set a timer for 1 hour and dive into one category (or subcategory)

What sparks the most joy for Amanda: Making Chatbooks - Photo books for people that don't have time to do photo books

Gems:

"Having a home that runs efficiently is really the difference between sanity and total burn out."

"If your friends think you're crazy, you're doing something right."

Delegate: "Make all of your holiday meals potluck."

Defer: "Send New Years cards instead of holiday cards."

Diminish: "Don't go all out with holiday decor. Buy a simple wreath and set white lights on a timer."

Delete: "Don't exchange gifts as adults. Only exchange gifts for the children."

"There should be a very, very high bar for an actual sheet of paper that stays in your home."

"What is the action associated with this piece of paper?"

"When in doubt, scan."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Amanda Jefferson.

Ep 15 | Men KonMari Too with Doug Marshall

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Doug Marshall hesitated to start tidying his closet, but immediately noticed profound changes taking place in his life as he moved through his KonMari tidying event.

Our guest, Doug Marshall, is an entertainment and lifestyle writer, on-camera host, and social media content strategist. He recently had an article published in Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine on how to KonMari your closet and participated in a follow-on TV segment with Fox9 in the Twin Cities.

Doug is a Spark Joy fan who KonMari’d his closet over 10 days in preparation for a big move from New York to Minneapolis. The impact the process had on his life still shines through his spirit and he sparks joy by continuing to share his story via media outlets, blogs and social media.

In this episode, we discuss KonMari from the male perspective, how Doug KonMari'd his closet over ten days and the impact the process had on his life. We talk about ways to get over the initial hurdle of getting started, and some physical and emotional challenges to anticipate. We also discuss how Doug has attracted opportunities to continue to share his closet transformation, which has inspired others to let go.

To connect with Doug, you can find him on Instagram @theworldofdoug or visit him at www.theworldofdoug.com.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Doug went from saying "I will never do that [KonMari]" to writing a blog article about the impact the tidying process and appearing on Fox 9's The Jason Show
How the KonMari Method helped Doug move from New York to Minneapolis
The highs and lows of executing KonMari in the span of 10 days
How Doug's body reacted to anxiety related to preparing for the decluttering process
How Doug related to Marie Kondo's use of organization to feel safe in a world she had no control over
How by examining his relationship to what stayed made room for Doug's style to be revealed to him
How Doug's shopping habits are way more deliberate post-KonMari
How Doug's husband reacted to his tidying quest
How Doug attracted opportunities that helped him establish his voice
How KonMari serves as a gateway to new beginnings and creative projects

What sparks joy for Doug: "Opportunities like this!"

Gems:

"I'm a big believer that if you put something out into the universe, the universe shows up for you."

"I trust her [Marie Kondo], I can do this."

"There was so much stuff in my closet that wasn't sparking joy, that I couldn't see the stuff that did."

"By the time I got rid of what didn't spark joy, my style revealed itself to me."

"I don't buy anything in a store now if it doesn't spark joy."

"I want to feel clean, free, grounded, and on time."

"Whatever you get rid of will come back to you in a different form."

"My mind is more clear and I'm open and available for more opportunities."

"There is literally nothing in my life right now that does not spark joy."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Doug Marshall.

Ep 14 | From Chaos to Calm with Christine O'Brien

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Christine O'Brien's mission is to help mom's create calm and joyful lives.

A Certified Simplicity Parenting Coach and KonMari enthusiast with over a decade of experience, Christine coaches women to create home environments that support harmony and connection.

Christine coaches from the heart, using joy as a guide and her clients find so much peace in having less, doing less, and editing their lives and their homes with intention.

In this episode, Christine will share her unique approach in helping moms find their own path in creating an intention-filled life. Christine transformed her space with the support of her husband and their young, spirited daughter.

You can follow Christine on her website, Creating Calm Coach, on Facebook at Christine O'Brien Coach or on Instagram @creatingcalmcoach. Download her Free Creating Calm Checklist.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Christine’s private Facebook group community, KonMari Method: Life-changing Magic for anyone working through the KonMari tidying process
Christine’s virtual consulting program, From Chaos to Calm, which consists of group and individual support for making joyful transitions
How Christine combines two powerful schools of thought to inform the way she supports moms to relax into full presence with their children: Simplicity Parenting and the KonMari Method
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
Re-occurring KonMari related pain points that may sound familiar:
1) feeling too overwhelmed to start, 2) getting stuck at some point in the middle of the process, and 3) uncertainty regarding doing KonMari with a family
How to guide a family through the process and how to find the joy click-point when you have growing kids
How speaking to your items can “soften” and facilitate letting them go
How focusing on the positive and the joy can apply to your vision for fitness and diet
Learning about Brene Brown , who says that gratitude creates Joy

Christine’s favorite tidying tip:
“Tune in to your intuition and trust your joy checks.”

What sparks joy for Christine:
Her family and the transformation she has witnessed as a result of this process. She’s joyful about sharing this way of living!

Gems:

“The toys she’s interested in change all the time.”

“As you get more in tune with what brings you joy, more space develops for experiencing joy.”

“Put your oxygen mask on first and make sure you complete your tidying first before you move on to your children.”

“Different personalities come out for display when you do KonMari with a family.”

“What? Talk to my clothes? Say thank you and goodbye?!”

“The process is about connection and not perfection.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Christine O'Brien.

Ep 13 | Does It Spark Joy?

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Karin and Kristyn discuss the fundamental KonMari question: Does it spark joy?

In this episode, we discuss what "spark joy" truly means and how to apply it to your tidying event. We share practical tips on how to build your own personal awareness of joy and how to apply this concept to your decision-making. The term will start to become part of your vocabulary and you’ll see joy everywhere.

But first, we begin by sharing what's sparking joy for us today. We also answer a great question from a Spark Joy listener about how to determine what sparks joy when it comes to seasonal items, in this case, Halloween costumes.

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, email us at  contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, or on Twitter at @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning the Japanese language origins of the phrase, "spark joy." The Japanese translation is Tokimeku ときめく, which means "to flutter with a little thrill" in the same way that we describe how our hearts can flutter with joyful emotion when something makes us happy or excited
How Marie Kondo demonstrates what sparking joy looks like while interacting with possessions. See videos below:
-- Marie Kondo: Organize the World: Design Your Life to Spark Joy - SXSW 2017
-- Marie Kondo explains Spark Joy
How to avoid getting caught up in how many things you're keeping or discarding instead of focusing on the joy
Being reminded of the importance of vision, as discussed in Episode 5, to keep your thoughts future-focused and in tune with the quality of life you envision for yourself
How to set a high joy bar by developing a criteria for what stays and what goes
How considering the passage of time and your evolution as a person can help you understand whether something is part of your future or just hanging out from the past
Marie Kondo states, “When we really delve into the reasons for why we can't let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.”
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
"If it makes you happy, then the right choice is to keep it confidently, regardless of what anyone else says."
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

Gems:

“The practice is to pay attention to how your body reacts when you’re holding your possessions.”
“You want to be able to live in harmony with your things.”
“Does this item spark joy AND fit into of my vision for the quality of life I’ve envisioned for myself in the future?”
“This is an area I really do want to invest in instead of buying the cheapest things to just make do.”
”Keep your joy bar high!”
“Objects like having a job to do.”
"If it makes you happy, then the right choice is to keep it confidently, regardless of what anyone else says."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 12 | One Mom's KonMari Summer

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Diane Arias, wife and mom of three, strides through the highs and lows of her summertime KonMari tidying event, and shares the life-changing impact it had on her family.

Our guest, Diane Arias is a true KonMari mom and one of Kristyn's former clients. After a decade of raising her three girls (one age 14 and two twin thirteen-year-olds), Diane found that her belongings, along with her home, looked run down and unloved...and so her KonMari Summer began. She tidied for up to 2-3 hours at a time across her 3,000 square foot home. The results? A space filled with love and joy that will take her family of five into the next phase of their life.

In this episode, we will show you it is possible for busy moms to get tidy too! Follow Diane through every phase of the KonMari process, as she applies the method in the presence of her growing family. Look forward to tips on how to plan, pace, and reward yourself during your tidying event to avoid hitting a wall.

You can follow the final stages of Diane’s tidying journey by connecting with her on Instagram (@diane_arias_2017).

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

The article that inspired Diane to pick her tidying back up after reading the The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up after working through clothing three years ago
How Diane course corrected her original plan after confronting the sheer number of things in her home
How Diane's vision reflected the part of her that she wanted to reconnect with to be the best model for her daughters
How Diane leaned on her experience training for marathons to push through moments of overwhelm to get to a point where her surroundings were supporting her
How an intentional reward system helped trigger Diane back into gear during moments when she needed extra motivation to finish Komono (miscellaneous items)
The "warning" Diane thinks should come with Marie Kondo's books
How each member of Diane's family reacted to her decluttering and how they supported her in their own way
Diane's advice to busy moms that are ready to dive in
How tidying has helped Diane be more in tune with her husband's values and motivations
How Diane's children taught her the KonMari signature fold after watching YouTube videos!
How Diane's family adjusted to the big changes taking place in the shared spaces and pushed through a few uncomfortable moments

What sparks joy for Diane: "Having headspace...and a true, full presence for my daughters."

Gems:

"This is definitely something I want to do. I just need to have the timing show up for it."
"I had no idea how much stuff I actually owned."
"My own joy for my own life is what was missing."
"I truly feel my home is a reflection of me."
"A home that is full, and vibrant and joyful and truly supporting me and my family."
"I would not be able to put into words what I was wanting for my children...but I've found it through this method."
"You truly have to detangle yourself from someone else's belongings."
"I've plugged myself into every single person's belongings in the house, meanwhile, not really taking care of my own."
"These t-shirts look like someone cares."
"I can be the kind of mom I wanted to be."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Diane Arias.

Ep 11 | [Tidy] Like a Mind Reader with Jonathan Pritchard

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -0500

Jonathan Pritchard, professional mind reader and author, opens his psychological toolkit to help us apply the predictive art of mind reading to reach personal goals across all areas of our life.

Our guest, Jonathan Pritchard is a mentalist who appeared on America’s Got Talent, entertained US troops stationed overseas, performed on Vegas main stages, cruise ships, and more. He also helps people discover the magic of connecting. He helps companies connect with their employees during networking events and sharpen their marketing skills to be able to grab prospective clients. And now, he's the author of a new book, Think Like a Mind Reader: Improve your business, strengthen your relationships, and solve your problems.

In this episode, we explore applied psychology-based strategies, approaches, and techniques you can use to change your life. Jonathan teaches us how push the limits of our understanding to realize we can do a lot more than we think we can.

To connect with or hire Jonathan, you can visit www.likeamindreader.com. His book Think Like a Mind Reader is available on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2yb9WwC).

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Jonathan made a living on stage by making others think he could read minds
How a shy kid used magic to relate to people and make them think he was naturally outgoing
How people are wired to make magic possible and universally accepted
How Jonathan uses the skill of professional people meeting to help businesses highlight their products and connect employees with their teams and customers
A tip that will help you be unforgettable during your next networking event
How post-live show conversations inspired Jonathan's new book: Think Like a Mind Reader: Improve your business, strengthen your relationships, and solve your problems
Why Think Like a Mind Reader is only offered as a printed/hardcopy rather than an e-book
How the book itself can be used as a mind reading trick
Why you should hand write notes instead of type them
Why everybody needs a coach
How the story you're telling yourself about a problem may actually be the problem
How to install new mental models to change your behavior
The one statement Jonathan loves to hear his coaching clients make

What sparks joy for Jonathan: "A quiet night home with my sweetie."

Words of Wisdom "Fail faster."

Gems:

"How would your business be better if you could actually read minds?"

"When the whole world is zigging, I like to zag."

"What action are you going to take that really makes or breaks your success?"

"Most people fail to solve their problems because they don't understand what the actual problem is."

"Even the highest performers still need coaches."

"My life goal is to trade up to more and more interesting problems every year."

"Our environments influence and affect us just as much as we influence and affect our environments."

"Your brain runs on as much energy as the light bulb in your fridge."

"Magic shows walk you up to the limit of your understanding, and then point out into the distance and go 'that's where I live.'"

"Fail fast. The only time you learn is when you're uncomfortable and learning something new."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jonathan Pritchard.

Ep 10 | The Beautiful Struggle with Lanecia Rouse Tinsley

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Lanecia Rouse Tinsley of LAR Art Studio shares her passion for expressive and transformative art forms within the art of Wabi Sabi.

Our guest today is Lanecia Rouse Tinsley. She is an abstract expressionistic artist whose work includes photography, painting, teaching, writing, and speaking. She is the owner and creator of LARArt Studio and works out of Studio D at Hardy & Nance Streets Studios.

In addition to her own work as an artist, Lanecia partners with the Holy Family Church in Houston, TX, serving as their Artist-In-Residence, as a Spiritual Director and Consultant for the Arts for Project Curate.

Lanecia has been exploring the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi and the related art forms within her own work and the work of her workshop participants. Lanecia hosts workshops exploring the related art form of Kintsugi and has written about that experience on her blog. Wabi Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy that honors the imperfect, the humble, the hand-made and the impermanent. It seeks to embrace the beauty found in the changing of seasons, things, nature and in our own lives.

To connect with Lanecia, you can visit www.larartphotography.com and follow her on Instagram, and Twitter @larartstudio. You can also purchase her work online by visiting www.society6.com/larart

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning about the Holy Family Church HTX in Houston, TX
Hearing how Lanecia asked for love to show up while she grieved a painful loss
How the LAR Art Studio was envisioned and grew over the years
How Lanecia discovered the art of Kintsugi:
Essential Information on Kintsugi
How Lanecia teaches the Wabi-Sabi expressive art form during her workshop:
The LAR Art Studio Mended Wabi Sabi Pottery Art Experience
How Lanecia's work with her students has surprised her and informed her work
How Mark Nepo uses poetry to express feelings of being broken open
How the process of breaking pottery into pieces and putting it back together as a new object is a powerful exercise
How the workshop process enabled some participants to make significant life changes
The parallels between the ancient philosophy of Wabi Sabi and the newer KonMari philosophy

What sparks joy for Lanecia: All the precious moments she spends with her husband, Cleve! Working with her camera and exploring photography as well as listening to music.

Her Parting Words of Wisdom: We all have the capacity to create beauty.

Gems:
“Art was big enough hold my tears and also to hold my vision and hopes for what could be.”

“I’m just throwing out into the universe the dreams that I have.”

“In living, life is going to break our hearts.”

“We are all more powerful and capable than we believe.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Lanecia Rouse Tinsley.

Ep 9 | Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:30:00 -0400

Karin and Kristyn discuss how organizing by category can help you keep your home organized and prevent a return to clutter.

In this episode, we begin by sharing what is sparking joy for us today. We discuss the work of Mel Robbins, of The Five Second Rule fame, along with some aspirational travel goals!

We take a look Marie Kondo’s famous quote, “Tidying by location is a fatal mistake.” What it means and how it guides the practice of KonMari. We talk about the concept in practical terms, with some real life experiences sprinkled throughout, so that you can apply the concept to your own Tidying Festival.

We also answer a great question from a Spark Joy listener about how to apply KonMari principles to the ongoing struggle of paper management in a busy family.

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, email us at  contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook or on Twitter at @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
• Learning about the Mel Robbin’s course that Kristyn is enrolled in and it’s ground breaking, action focused plan for success: The Power of You

Mel Robbins first came on the scene with this TED talk on the Five Second Rule: The Five Second Rule

• Hear about Karin’s holiday wish for a yoga retreat in Thailand. Here is one of the retreats she is considering: Absolute Sanctuary
And here is a good resource for doing yoga retreat research: Yoga Journal

• We review the KonMari categories we described in Spark Joy Podcast, Episode 1 | KonMari 101

• Why processing each clutter category, completely and in order, is critical to long-term success

• As a review, here are the categories:

Clothing
Books
Paper
Komono (miscellaneous items)
Sentimental

• Hear more about why the Clothing Category is the first category and how it builds your ability to determine what sparks joy

• Learning how coming to terms with the amount of things you own will help you hone your decision making process

• Why revisiting your vision statement is a helpful next step when you are struggling with a particular category. We discussed this in Spark Joy Podcast, Episode 4 | The KonMari Lifestyle

• Discover tips on how to deal with paper clutter:

Stop paper at the source
Use available tools to keep it from coming into your home in the first place
Use flat surfaces for activities and not for storage
Rethink your self-talk about time: manage your priorities and expectations

Gems:
“When items are dispersed throughout the home, you can never fully grasp the overall volume and get discouraged before finishing.”

“What does my clutter say about me?”

“Buying more organizational tools such as file folders is not always the best solution.”

“Flat surfaces are for activity not for storage.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 8 | Make Bold Moves with The Traveling Organizer Holly Southerland

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Holly Southerland, traveling professional organizer talks taking risks and making bold moves.

Our guest, Holly Southerland is a professional organizer who has been traveling nationwide since 2008 helping families and entrepreneurs get unstuck and find peace in their homes. Her team, Waco Home Organizers, based in Waco Texas, helps individuals and businesses with decluttering and creating organizational systems that fit their personal style. She is passionate about helping people move forward by cutting out the clutter that stands in the way. In this episode, Holly discusses the life of a travelling organizer, what it’s like to pursue an entrepreneurial dream, and some of her best insights into organizing using practical and obtainable systems and methods. Holly also shares her thoughts on being an introverted entrepreneur, the differences in American homes state-to-state, and her thoughts on the connection between clutter and depression.

Holly is offering Spark Joy listeners a Two-Day Declutter Blitz an investment in yourself, your home, your peace, your productivity, and your sanity. https://goo.gl/sLkXNp

To connect with Holly Southerland, visit Waco Home Organizers (www.wacohomeorganizers.com) or email info@wacohomeorganizers.com. You can also follow her on Facebook or Instagram at @holly_southerland

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How personality type can influence your comfort level in communicated both at work and socially. You can take your own
Myers Briggs Personality Test
Holly's experience working with a variety of homes and the challenges of order regardless of the size
How clutter and depression are related as she discusses in her blog post
The great method of managing all the accumulated paper in your home that she teaches in the Sunday Basket Workshop
How having a mentor and coach made such a huge difference in planning for her new business. Holly's coach: Lisa Woodruff, Organize 365
Helpful hints for dealing with spam mail by visiting DMAchoice.org
The adventures of travelling around the country, organizing homes for all sorts of families
The benefits of organizing in a concentrated blitz

Holly’s favorite tidying tip: “Do it right now!”

What sparks joy for Holly: Her baby nephew

Gems:

"My test for buying a new piece of clothing is: Do I want to wear this everyday?”
“Space is a vacuum. You don’t get organized by getting a bigger space.”
“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by big plans and big ideas, but take action on something small that’s right in front of you.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Holly Southerland.

Ep 7 | Design and the Future of Minimalism with Lloyd Alter

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Lloyd Alter, architect and design editor of Tree Hugger magazine, helps us understand our changing relationship with our possessions and how the upcoming generation will view design and functionality.

Lloyd Alter is design editor of TreeHugger, a prominent media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability to the mainstream.
Living in Toronto, Canada; He has been an architect, developer, inventor and prefab promoter.
He contributes to Mother Nature Network at MNN.com, The Guardian, and Azure magazines, and is Adjunct Professor teaching sustainable design at Ryerson University School of Interior Design.

In the course of his work developing small residential units and prefabs, Lloyd became convinced that we just use too much of everything- too much space, too much land, too much food, too much fuel, too much money, and that the key to sustainability is to simply use less. And, the key to happily using less is to design things better.

Recently, Lloyd has been writing on family heirlooms and the changing culture. I found his work while researching solutions for clients who are confronted with managing the possessions of generations while downsizing. His direct approach to working with our elder parents along with his prolific writing on a lifestyle focused on less stuff and better design, was a great fit for us!

To connect with Lloyd, you can visit Treehugger, https://www.treehugger.com, Mother Nature Network, https://www.mnn.com, or follow him Twitter @lloydalter and Lloyd Alter on Facebook.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning about the relationship between medicine, science and minimalism. How the fear of germs led to the minimalist movement.
Hearing about how Lloyd confronted the generational shift in thinking about “things” within his own family.
Discussing how our mobile lifestyles have changed the quantity and quality of things we acquire.
Looking at the reality of emotional value vs. financial value.
Suggestions on how to decide “who gets what” when a previous generation downsizes.
How Lloyd used Marie Kondo’s concept of Spark Joy when deciding what to keep when downsizing.
How Lloyd and his family held an Open House, allowing young adults to come in and take things they needed to start their own households as a means of thoughtfully discarding things.
Discussing how to find the “right new home” for things that you are letting go.
Learning how Lloyd defines a minimalist lifestyle.

Read Lloyd's article, "On Decluttering, Downsizing and Surviving a Green Renovation", Tree Hugger Magazine, here: https://goo.gl/cnbFvr

What sparks joy for Lloyd:
Lloyd shares his joy at looking out over the lake in his Canadian cabin, sitting at his amazing dining room table and the significant back story the table holds.

Gems:

"Big Brown furniture: Nobody has room anymore!”
"That furniture had absorbed the memories of our entire family."
"You don’t know if you are an architect or a marriage counsellor."
"Start talking to your older family when they are willing to share the history of things."
"Do not keep anything that you don’t know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”-William Morris.
"We are moving to multi-family and walkable communities and less stuff.”
"You just have what you need.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Lloyd Atler.

Ep 6 | Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Tess Wicks, personal finance coach and educator, breaks down the journey to financial independence into key actions and makes the connection between our priorities, the things we acquire, and our life vision.
Our guest, Tess Wicks, is a personal finance coach and educator. She is the founder of Wander Wealthy, an online community for women in their 20s and 30s to get inspired and achieve their personal development, money, and travel goals. Tess creates video content on her Wander Wealthy Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and is the host of the Words and Money Podcast. Tess wants to empower women to get smart about their money while still being able to spend it on the things that bring them joy. In this episode, Tess discusses her personal finance philosophy and practical tips you can use to achieve financial success one small step at a time. We also explore why talking about money (and clutter at home) is so taboo and how having those uncomfortable conversations upfront with yourself of your partner is the only way to achieve lasting change.

Tess is offering Spark Joy listeners Free Anti-Budget Training. It's a budgeting method for people who hate budgeting. It simplifies financial management down to one simple number to use every day and is available at: www.wanderwealthy.com/AntiBudget

To connect with Tess Wicks visit www.wanderwealthy.com and join the Wander Wealthy community on Facebook and YouTube. Also, check out Tess’ podcast Words and Money.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

What improv, kettle bell and playing the violin have to do with personal finances
How having financially responsible parents led Tess to be a cautious spender who avoided debt
How to live outside of your comfort zone while taking calculated risks
How Tess desires to be a minimalist and frugalist in most areas, but leans most towards Essentialism
How prioritizing what is essential to you and deeming the rest "clutter" helps build awareness around spending
How important it is to exercise your "saying no" muscle
The lesson your sunk costs teach you
Feeling financially overwhelmed? Tess suggests:
1) Commit time to sit down and look at your finances
2) Calculate your net worth (everything you own - everything you owe)
3) Set realistic short-term goals you can accomplish in three months
How having multiple bank accounts actually helps you avoid being caught off guard by financial surprises
Why talking about money is so taboo
How to initiate tough conversations about finances
How wealthy women put their money to work for them
How Tess pre-saves for splurges and treats herself, including the five things she won't give up

What sparks joy for Tess: She's finally living and breathing what her brand (Wander Wealthy) is by finding her freedom, taking adventures and enjoying her life while living within her financial means.

Gems:

"I identify places where I need to grow or challenge myself and I dive into it."
"If it brings you joy, make room in your budget to spend on that thing."
"Separating the essential few from the trivial many."
"Net worth = everything you own - everything you owe"
"You don't want to be with someone who can't accept you for your flaws."
"Anyone can achieve financial independence. The hardest part is taking action."
"Commit and take action for one hour to decide to declutter your financial life."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Tess Wicks.

Ep 5 | How to Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle and Living Environment

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Your Vision: defining your ideal lifestyle and living environment, KonMari style.

In this episode, Spark Joy explores how you can clarify your vision of the kind of life you want to lead and why it’s important step, but often overlooked, in the KonMari journey.

We discuss the why and how of identifying the vision of your ideal life and how it can help you complete the KonMari process to greater success. Your life vision will help you clarify why you want to tidy and how your life will look once the tidying is completed.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Tips for how to begin identifying your vision, making it specific, focused and intentional
Learning how to break down identifying your ideal life into manageable parts:
- What is your ideal day?
- Your ideal moment that would spark joy? Picture yourself doing something delightful.
- Begin with gratitude and appreciation - what is currently working for you in your space and in your life?
- Imagine how you would be living your life today if money, time and obligations were not a constraint?
- Take a holistic look at how you’re doing in each area of your life: Career, Relationships, Hobbies, Spirituality, Health, Finances, Community.
- Check out the The KonMari Wheel of Impact
- List the first five life goals (long- or short- term) that immediately come to mind as they relate to those categories.
- Close your eyes and imagine you’ve reached the end of your tidying journey. Describe in detail how you envision your home to look and how you feel
We share our own visions and visions of some of our clients from all stages of life: single people, families, couples, downsizers and empty nesters
How to create your own Vision statement!
- Get it out of your head and onto another media: diary, Pinterest board, website, blog, Facebook post, anything.
- Establish a new tradition of creating a vision board and display it proudly in your home

Example of Vision Boards and Statements:
A Goal Setting Strategy That Sticks

Gems:
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life”

“I just want things to be different instead of thinking about what that different looks like.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 4 | Find Your Inner Voice with Kelly Covert

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Kelly Covert, inner voice coach, helps us lay down lifelong habits to help us break free from the past.

Our guest this week is inner voice coach, Kelly Covert. She is the host of the popular podcast, "In Her Voice", which explores ways in which women can begin to love themselves fully every single day.

Kelly Covert has a passion for helping women lay down their lifelong habits of perfectionism and chronic overachieving, so they can listen to their inner voices and break free of the past.
Through her coaching, online programs, writing and speaking, she is creating a movement of women that are practicing “worthy now” instead of “worthy if or when”.

Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, The Elephant Journal, YourTango.com, and she has been a featured guest on many podcasts.

In this episode, we talk with Kelly and learn about how coaching has allowed her to exercise her dream of helping women while teaching her so much about herself. She shares how her inner voice work has allowed her to grow as a woman, a partner, a mom and a musician!

To connect with Kelly, you can visit www.kellycovert.com or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @kellycovert

You can also learn more about Symphoria here! Symphoria

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

-How Kelly found her voice and decided to help others via individual coaching Inner Voice Coaching and group coaching Inner Voice Group Coaching

-Learn about the Worthy Collective on Facebook:The Worthy Collective

-What to look for in a personal coach to meet your own goals.

-Kelly’s evolution as a podcaster and her new podcasting project, In Her Voice. In Her Voice

-How Kelly has practiced KonMari and how tidying has made a difference in Kelly’s home and family

-Kelly’s tips for balancing life as a mother, as a professional and as a creative person

What sparks joy for Kelly: Coffee! The ability to take a long, hot bath in the morning and working on my new podcast!

Kelly's parting words of wisdom:
“You are worthy right this minute. You do not have to do one thing to earn that. You were put on this earth with beautiful gifts that you need to share. And the only way that you can share is to believe that they are there and that you are good enough. So, get shining because we are waiting for your light to shine brightly!”

Gems:

“Create a space to access accountability.”

“We don’t have to do anything to be worthy. It’s just there.”

“It comes from the action. That is how we embody that joy.”

“It’s about knowing who you really are and being 100% ok with that.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Kelly Covert.

Ep 3 | Face Your Stuff with Dorothy The Organizer

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Dorothy Breininger, author and veteran professional organizer as seen on A&E's hit show “Hoarders” sorts out the mind-body-home clutter connection and related addictions.

Dorothy Breininger, aka “Dorothy The Organizer,” is known to millions as the fearless-yet-endearing problem solver on A&E’s Emmy-nominated hit TV series “Hoarders.” She is the author of seven books, including Stuff Your Face or Face Your Stuff. Dorothy is featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, O Magazine, and appears on the Today Show, Dr. Phil, the VIEW, The Doctors, QVC and PBS.

In this episode, Dorothy helps us make the connection between the clutter in our homes and addictions we may have in other areas of our life (food, alcohol, gambling, shopping, etc.). We explore some of the barriers that prevent us from making the choices we know are best for us and how to overcome them. Dorothy also shares her first hand experience working with clients suffering from hoarding and some of the resources available to help those with this condition.

Dorothy is offering Spark Joy listeners:

A Free Guide on “How to Banish Clutter Creatively”
A Free Cancer Concierge ebook that can help you learn how to organize yourself and your life in the face of a cancer diagnosis

To connect with Dorothy Breininger, you can visit her website, www.dorothytheorganizer.com for free tips, videos, newsletters, organizing resources for your life, home, office, and relationships. Be sure to check out her book “Stuff Your Face or Face Your Stuff” via her website or Amazon. Also, check her out on the hit show "Hoarders" on A&E.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Dorothy's three life-changing experiences that helped her manage her own clutter
What Dorothy learned about other culture's relationship with clutter after backpacking across 30 countries
How Dorothy climbed out of $360,000 of inherited debt
How Dorothy's work on Hoarders helped her realize her own addictive behavior around food
Netflix documentaries: Forks Over Knives and What the Health
Why we are looking to stuff to decide where we are going as a society
How food addiction is similar to alcohol or gambling addiction and leads to a perverse sense of self care
How living with an addiction or mental illness impacts our ability to make conscious choices
The three most common barriers we create between us and the problems we face and how to overcome them
Stuff My Face, Face My Stuff is available on Amazon and includes examples of over 30 different types of Twelve Step Programs
Landmark Education
How to apply a questioning method from Byron Katie's process, The Work, can tell you about what your clutter is saying about you
Lessons Dorothy's learned from working with extreme hoarding clients
The power of apologies
How to identify someone who hoards and common indicators
The connection between perfectionism and hoarding
What it was like to spend a night in a hoarder's home
What happens during a hoarder's aftercare and its similarity to a food addiction maintenance plan
Where to turn for hoarding help: Turn to www.dorthytheorganizer.com for tools and resources including a virtual therapy group for hoarders

Dorothy's Favorite Tidying Tip: "Left to right, top to bottom."

"Even if you feel sure you are right, never assume you know what’s best for another in terms of stuff. Simply re-arranging someone else’s stuff or worse yet getting rid of it without permission truly breaks the bonds of trust (especially with children)."

What sparks the most joy for Dorothy: Surprising friends, family, and strangers.

Gems:

“What does your clutter say about you?”
“We all have stuff.”
“I got rid of the stuff so that I could create something bigger for myself.”
“People hoarded stuff in their homes, but I was hoarding sugar and flour on my body.”
“We’re looking to stuff to decide where we are going as a society.”
“We are teetering near 14 million people who hoard.”
“Barrier to facing our stuff: We blame others.”
“Barrier to facing our stuff: We refuse to look at our own mistakes.”
“Barrier to facing our stuff: We isolate instead of reach out for help.”
“Overcome the barrier: Dare to admit we are fully responsible for the things that we own."
“Overcome the barrier: Take a fearless moral inventory of yourself.”
“Overcome the barrier: Be with a group of like-minded people to help you get out of isolation.”
“Apologies created the path to clearing out the clutter in their house.”
“Even if you feel sure you are right, never assume you know what’s best for another in terms of stuff.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Dorothy Breininger.

Ep 2 | Meet Marie Kondo's First Employee Jenny Ning

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:30:00 -0400

Jenny Ning, Marie Kondo's first employee in the US, shares what it's like to work for the Queen of Tidy and her journey from KonMari super fan to Bay area home organizer.

Our guest, Jenny Ning, was Marie Kondo's first employee in the US, and helped to grow the KonMari brand from mid-2015 to the end of 2016. In this episode, Jenny recalls her instant attraction to the KonMari Method and how confronting her clutter at home combined with some passionate persistence helped her attract a position on KonMari team. Since moving on from working for Marie Kondo in 2016, Jenny is now a practicing home organizer in San Francisco, and continues to introduce people to the life-changing magic of the KonMari Method. Driven by a desire to improve the status quo, Jenny also founded the startup Tummymom that helps connect all parties within the surrogacy community, making the ideal matching process easier.

To connect with Jenny Ning, you can visit her at www.jennyning.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@jennyorganizes).

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Why Jenny calls The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up her bible
How the KonMari Method shifted Jenny's attention to what she wanted to do with her life, rather than what she should do with her life
What led Jenny to question if her job sparked joy and how the answer to that question inspired her to quit 5 months later
How being a super fan and strategically inserting herself before the KonMari team helped Jenny land her dream job
What steadily grew the KonMari fan base and the passion behind the followers
How the KonMari team is inspired to make business decisions based on what "sparks joy"
How planning the first US based KonMari consultant seminars inspired Jenny to commit to formal training
Why cluttered living is a challenge in the Bay area, considering notoriously high rent and tight living spaces

Jenny's favorite tidying tip: 1) "Sometime means never." - Marie Kondo. Accept who you are right now. 2) The 20/20 rule: if you can replace something in 20 minutes for $20 or less, then you can give yourself permission to let it go

What sparks joy for Jenny: Her startup, Tummymom (www.tummymom.com).

Gems:

"KonMari helped me step back and reevaluate my life."
"With that question, does it spark joy?, you can't really avoid the answer."
"Jenny Ning: Marie Kondo, I'll quit my job to work for you."
"The KonMari team uses the KonMari Method to make business decisions."
"Examining your relationship to things provides a lot of clarity about life."
"Stop and pay attention to whether the things in your life align with your vision of what you want your life to be."
"Even an average amount of possessions can make a tiny space feel cluttered and chaotic."
"Are you willing to let things go in order to feel better?"
"Sometime means never."
"20/20 rule: if you can replace something in 20 mins for $20 or less, then give yourself permission to let it go."
"Life truly begins only after you have put your house in order."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jenny Ning.

Ep 1 | KonMari 101

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:15:00 -0400

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn, talk KonMari basics.

In this episode, Spark Joy co-hosts take a look at KonMari basics and share their experiences as KonMari Consultants. The history of the KonMari Method along with basic concepts of KonMari organization are covered. Marie Kondo developed this organization methodology based on her experience as a professional organizer in Japan. She found that tidying could be completed thoroughly and that relapse could be avoided by following a particular order and focusing on whether an item sparks joy.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Learning how Marie Kondo created the KonMari Method, as found in her first book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up
Interesting facts about Marie and the beginnings of the KonMari Method
How Marie’s childhood factored into her role as a future organizer:
Marie Kondo Remembers
How the KonMari mission to “organize the world” has expanded into a worldwide the training program to certify KonMari Consultants
Fundamental Concepts of KonMari:
- Tidying by category instead of location
  - Clothing
  - Books
  - Paper
  - Komono (miscellaneous items)
  - Sentimental
- Sparking Joy
- Once and Forever Event
- The Power of the Pile
- The Folding Method
How Konmari can impact other areas of your life such as your health, finances, and maybe even your love life!

Gems:
“You don’t have to get rid of everything that doesn’t make your heart swoon.”

“It’s important to pull everything from everywhere.”

“Transferring love respect and gratitude through the palms of your hands.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Ep 0 | Who Are We and What is KonMari?

contact@sparkjoypodcast.com (Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci) — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:00:00 -0400

Welcome to Spark Joy! The podcast dedicated to the KonMari Method and the transformative power of surrounding yourself with joy, and letting go of all the rest.

In this inaugural episode, co-hosts and certified KonMari consultants Kristyn Ivey of For the Love of Tidy (www.fortheloveoftidy.com) and Karin Socci of The Serene Home (www.theserenehome.com) introduce themselves and the Spark Joy podcast to the world! Kristyn is based in Chicago, Illinois and Karin serves New York City.

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, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

How Karin developed a passion for creating peaceful and beautiful environments, inspired by generations of organizational enthusiasts in her family
How KonMari helped Kristyn uncover her true passion in life, start a tidying business, and move from Virginia to Chicago
How Karin and Kristyn met and the moment they realized there weren’t any podcasts that were solely dedicated and centered around the KonMari lifestyle
What the KonMari Method is all about and the book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, that sparked the KonMari movement
How the KonMari Method is fully integrated and referenced in pop-culture
Fun facts about Marie Kondo and what it was like to meet the Queen of Tidy
What the Spark Joy podcast is all about, including featured guests, consultants, clients thought leaders and game changers who put KonMari principles and lifestyle into action

Gems:

“The podcast celebrating the KonMari Method and the transformative power of surrounding yourself with joy; and letting go of the all the rest.”
"Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy