One of the most impactful books I’ve read is ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing‘ which is a best selling book by Marie Kondo. Her philosophy is only keeping what brings you joy and she walks you through steps on how to simplify and declutter your life and living space.
This book was kind of perfect for me because I hate clutter, but usually have little areas around the house that seem constantly cluttered. I love the feeling of de-cluttering and getting rid of things that are broken, I don’t use, don’t wear or that have served their purpose, but at the same time I like keeping things like souvenirs that remind me of my childhood or places we’ve visited. I reread parts of her book when we were preparing to move and we donated at least 20 large bags. I couldn’t believe how much we accumulated in just the 4 years we lived in our previous rental.
Some of her key points that helped us declutter were:
-Only keep the items that bring you joy. Don’t just look at things in a closet, pick them up and see how they make you feel.
-Donate items that have served their purpose, think about how someone may be looking for that item or it may be very useful for someone whereas it’s just been sitting in your house.
We were very motivated to declutter because we didn’t want to have to pack and move things we didn’t really need. When we moved to our current house, it was much easier to unpack and everything had a place, there was no room for a junk drawer, room, closet or bookshelf. It was a lot of work, but well worth it.
Click here to download the full PDF: 
This month’s health tip is guaranteed to help you feel better and someone else! If you’re feeling down, a great way to feel a little better is to reach out and compliment someone. While you may not see the impact of your compliment, the recipient will remember it. Focusing on others is something that helps me to see outside my own needs and usually gives me a better perspective on any problems I’m having.
for years. It’s been very solid and was affordable, I’ll probably have it for years to come.
, they don’t slide down or move around while exercising.
– staying hydrated is so important to your overall health and I’m still loving my 
) to the gym to hold my water, towel, keys, and diapers.
– Still one of my 
– I found this foot roller at Homegoods for around $5. It’s a great, cheap massage for the arch and ball or your foot. You just roll it under the sole of your foot (while sitting in a chair) and apparently you can use these cold or hot although I’ve only tried at regular room temperature. I love using it when my feet feel sore, especially after a long day of walking.
– This blender bottle is perfect for making protein drinks. I’ve still been using the strawberry protein powder I posted about 
. 
Jen Holtkamp 