My Story

When I was growing up, there was nothing more exciting than a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. Without fail, a visit from them meant swimming in the hotel pool, long games of cards, and a new shirt from the JCPenney store. It was magical. However, there was always some stress in the days leading up, as my mother frantically scrambled to put our house in order. My siblings and I would be clearing the dinner table, putting away clothes, and wrangling toys at lightning speed in an attempt to make the home presentable. On occasion, this would take so long that it chipped away at our visit time. And even as a kid I remember looking at that (temporarily) tidy and organized home and thinking, “wouldn’t it be easier if we just kept it this way?”

I’m happy to tell you that it is indeed significantly easier and less stressful. If a friend found themselves in Plano, Texas unexpectedly, I would welcome them inside my home without a bit of hesitation. Now, when I have company over I only worry about some light cleaning- emptying the garbage, sweeping, etc. - but never about putting things away or organizing. Admittedly, I have always been a very clean and organized person. While my siblings were often just asked to clean their room, I was given extra duties because I voluntarily kept my room clean. But until a few years ago, I hadn’t figured out how to help OTHER PEOPLE organize. (Seriously, my version of “helping” my little sister organize was to take all of her junk that was cluttering our shared bedroom and hiding it in a box. And then accepting bribes to tell her where her stuff went.)

In 2015, my mom gave me a copy of Marie Kondo’s “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” I devoured the brief volume while out of town over Christmas, and it took enormous will power to not start tidying the AirBnb where we were staying. I couldn’t wait to get started. While my things were pretty well organized, I had no idea how MANY things I owned until I applied the KonMari method in my own home. Unlike some traditional organizing advice, the KonMari method preached keeping those items that “sparked joy,” regardless of their practical implications. The book also instructed to tidy by category (clothes, books, papers, Komono (Japanese for miscellaneous), rather than location. The difference in strategy was groundbreaking. I filled up my Corolla three times with items that no longer “sparked joy”- zebra print club clothes from college, kitschy kitchen appliances that only do one thing, and stacks upon stacks of unread books. I was hooked.

Shortly after applying this decluttering method in my own home, I wanted to learn how to teach others the same. I knew KonMari Consultant training seminars happened once a year, but the travel and cost associated were prohibitive. So I kept working my day job (general manager of a restaurant) and waiting. And in 2020, a virtual consultant training program was offered (a silver lining of the pandemic!) Now I am completely certified and ready to help you create a home that is calm, organized and serene. And a place that your grandparents can stop by anytime they like!