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

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

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. 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: 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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