Spark Joy - Episodes Tagged with “Home Improvement”

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

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.

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.

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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 155 | Emergency Preparedness at Home with Cari Butler

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

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 138 | Downsizing 101 with Marni Jameson

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 84 | Joyful Living with The Design Twins

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

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 78 | KonMari Your Move Part 2 with Scott Marschall

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.