It's such a treat to feature Caitlin Roberts as a Connoisseur -- she was the first Certified KonMari Consultant in Southern California, and one of the very first Master level consultants in the world. She connects to her clients on a personal level with empathy to truly understand who they are and what they want for their spaces, and we think that's just the loveliest thing. Read on for more about Caitlin (and her *phenomenal* lists)...

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You were the first Certified KonMari Consultant in Southern California and are now a Master KonMari Consultant - wow! Tell us a little about your background and how you developed your expertise. 

After college I actually wanted to be a talent agent, but as I was pursuing that dream I learned that I was more passionate about the quality of the work environment and overall employee happiness. This experience led me to pursue a degree in Organizational Leadership and I shifted my focus to improving the internal processes and culture in the workplace. After stumbling upon Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up I had a “light bulb moment.” I quickly realized that our home environment could impact our level of happiness prior to even arriving at work each day. This started my journey with the KonMari Method(TM) and I never looked back. I became educated in the method in 2016 and launched my consultancy, Minimize With Purpose, at the start of 2017. I was overjoyed to be named the second Master KonMari Method consultant in 2019. Over the thousands of hours I have spent tidying I can confidently tell you that everyone needs a little bit of help with their home -- even the minimalists out there! 

"Over the thousands of hours I have spent tidying I can confidently tell you that everyone needs a little bit of help with their home -- even the minimalists out there!" 

Your expertise has appeared in several publications - what would you say is your unique point of view when it comes to tidying?

The majority of my work has been in the Los Angeles area, so I had the unique opportunity to work with clients from a wide range of backgrounds. In a service-based business you always want a niche, but for the first few years of my business I kept an open mind and worked with anyone that was interested in my services. This experience has gifted me with a great understanding of a variety of life scenarios and living situations. 

What are some of your favorite ways to get inspiration and recommendations?

When I am interested in an idea I go “all in.” I always start with a basic google search and see where it takes me. I find inspiration from personal blogs, youtube demonstration videos, Pinterest boards, and facebook groups. I have made a lot of friends in the KonMari community, so that has also been a wealth of knowledge. I can always ask my friends on other continents for their take on a topic or for personal suggestions. My friend Gemma Quinn in Australia loves to discuss the differences between the US and Australia - so she is always a great resource. 

How have you found new ways to cultivate new experiences in 2020 and beyond?

Absolutely, I have really cherished this time of slow(er) living. Over the past year I have done a lot of reading on hygge and creating a magical environment at home. Both my spouse and I work from home, and we have two little ones under 3, so our home is the foundation of our family. We put a lot of focus on enjoying our home and safely adventuring in our neighbourhood. One area of life that I have greatly improved on in 2020 (and now 2021) is a focus on me-time. I have started to learn about sewing and even made my first small quilt. This is definitely a challenging hobby, but I have enjoyed working with my hands and being creative. Tidying has always been a hands-on creative outlet for me, so this has been a nice replacement as we now tidy-up over zoom. 

You just moved to Portland (congrats!). Do you have any tips for moving, especially since you just went through it?

My husband and I are moving pros. We loved moving around Los Angeles and trying out different neighborhoods, so we were not intimidated by the move to Portland, Oregon. I would always recommend decluttering as much as possible prior to a move. As you pack, keep like-items (categories) together. This will make unpacking a breeze. Clearly label each box and include a note of which room you intend on storing the items. This may change once you arrive at your new home, but for the most part you will be ready to unpack and store your spark joy items immediately. I suggest prioritizing unpacking as swiftly as possible. You don’t want to be living with boxes for months or years -- which is far too common.  

"I suggest prioritizing unpacking as swiftly as possible. You don’t want to be living with boxes for months or years -- which is far too common."

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Thanks so much, Caitlin! Your To Organize list is a treasure trove of amazing finds.