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

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

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

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. Now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How 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 TidySpecial Guest: Dr. April Benson.

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. Now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -How 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 TidySpecial Guest: Laurie Palau.

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. 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 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

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 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: 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 TidySpecial Guest: Brodie Welch.

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. 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: 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 TidySpecial Guest: Yuno Imai.

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 TidySpecial Guest: Sarah Williams.

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