Netflix: Tidying Up With Marie Kondo

This morning GMA (Good Morning America) covered a story on a Netflix Original that has just begun! If you already know, or don’t, Marie Kondo is a Japanese best selling author. She is known for her expert advice on all things organization and I just so happen to have a deep love for all things organized. And this Netflix Original Series is based on the ‘KonMari’ method which is from her best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I also had written the post titled, The KonMari Method + Clutter Free Home, so if you haven’t read it, please do!

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The plot behind this newly original, Marie Kondo lends a helping hand to people in need of decluttering their homes.

In the interview linked below with Marie Kondo, one of the things that struck a cord with me is when she is asked, what is wrong with American’s, why do we have so much stuff, to which she responds, that the homes are huge. Which only got me thinking about the homes I’ve visited – those smaller spaces and large, and how every inch of the home is covered in stuff! Have you been there?! Perhaps it’s because I live with chronic pain, but living in a space that is begging to be cleared is not something that is appealing to me. Either way, my hope is that this inspires you to declutter your home to make it a more loving and inviting space for yourself and your loved ones.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/embed/60227303

I’m excited to watch and see how she transforms lives, one home at a time.

A-

The KonMari Method + Clutter Free Home

The KonMari method is a category-by-category organizing system created to simplify your life. These books were written by Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo. In her books she seeks to help you organize your home by decluttering it. She gives you tips to make it easy to detach yourself from items you don’t need. This has come hand-in-hand with both of my diagnosis because it’s helped me be able to see which material things are important versus those that are not. She suggests to surround yourself with things in your home that spark joy. These are two of Marie Kondo books and they both relate to the KonMari method The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

 

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Since my surgeries for my rare disorders In 2013 Life Began with Chiari + Syringomyelia looking back overtime it’s all given me a chance to be present and to live in the moment. I like to keep things that have significance to my family. While minimalism isn’t for everyone, I think that to a certain extent we all want to free ourselves from the chaos that clutter can create. The KonMari method also suggests that you begin with your closet. This is all in an attempt to encourage you to begin to simplify and organize your home. She mentions starting with your closet, but I think it’s just a matter of starting somewhere! I also think the truth behind our attachment to things may be emotional or sentimental. What I like to do with my little ones is to only keep clothes they will benefit from in the short months to come. Otherwise, I’ll pass it on to someone else or take it to my local Goodwill. So, once something has served it’s purpose in my home, anything from toys no longer being played with, it’s donated and out the door. Also keep in mind the intention for why something came in to your home, does it continue to serve a purpose in your home?

The older kids and I will also go through toys multiple times a year, such as before and after birthdays. As occasions like these can bring lots of new things that can cast a shadow over our older belongings. Also holidays or a move can be a great time for cleaning out clutter. At times even things that are given to the kids as gifts that are not necessary or they already have, will instead be given to a child in need. My little ones will be fully aware and this serves as a teaching lesson in giving back.

It’s simple …

⇒ declutter your home

⇒ change it to simplify

⇒ organize it

⇒ leave only those things that spark joy

⇒ get rid of old/bad habits + turn your home into a clutter-free space

It’s changing your relationship with things you own, taking control and freeing space in your home and your life. I believe this method will help you process things as being just that, things. I also remind myself to remove the guilt that can come from letting things go and see them as something that no longer serves purpose in my life. Once you begin to change this behavior of surrounding yourself with stuff, you’ll shop more consciousness and truly surround yourself with meaningful objects. Otherwise you will continue to label things as “necessary” and never let go of anything.

Hope you’ve had a great weekend.

-Ana

 

Top 8 Kitchen Essentials For Large Families

I like my home to be as close to clutter-free as possible. So, in the kitchen I like to have things that serve dual purposes for instance, a toaster oven that can toast and bake. There are many kitchen appliances that can help large families to accommodate cooking in larger quantities which is what you’ll find below, my top eight kitchen essentials I own and that you should too. Although these will make cooking in large quantities easy, this will also help any size family.

This KitchenAid Mixer and Beater Blade attachment can help you make anything from banana bread to cake. A few years ago we began to make the children’s birthday cakes using this mixer.

This Hearth and Hand with Magnolia large footed tray can be used from displaying cheese to a cake stand.

The Rachel Ray 12 1/2 inch non-stick pan makes cooking and frying in large quantities such a breeze.

This is our Presto Griddle, it’s a multi-use griddle, it’s non-stick and heats up quickly.  I can make anywhere from 6 to 8 pancakes at one time.

This KitchenAid Convection Countertop Oven helps toast up to 8 slices bread to waffles. The convection feature just means it heats up quicker than a conventional oven.

So for time sake, I use this Black + Decker to cook rice.

This is our KitchenAid Blender. We make anything from the babies puree to milk shakes.

And lastly this one is not a gadget but still a kitchen must have. This is an over the door hanger, storage and bag holder. Tip: Get one to match the color of your kitchen cabinets.

– Ana

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