Just 5 YouTube Favorites

October 7, 2022 nk330Leave a comment

I’ve always been one to go to YouTube for tutorials: how to do a certain crochet stitch correctly, how to style my curly hair, how to… you get it. Anything I needed visual assistance with. Once in awhile I would get sucked down the YouTube rabbit hole of recommendations but not very often. That all changed when I found one of my favorite organizing authors on YouTube. I got pulled down into the decluttering/organizing/cleaning abyss. Once in awhile checking out YouTube is a little bit of a time suck, but often? I get a huge burst of motivation to get stuff done. Sometimes I get new ideas. Other times I just like to sit and listen. But I’ve also started using these inspirational ladies as my cleaning/organizing buddies. If I’m not excited to clean something? Put a YouTube video on, and now I’m cleaning “with” someone encouraging. If I have to delve into the Room of Shame and make some serious progress? Here’s a YouTube “friend” to help motivate me through the process! So today I want to share 5 of my favorites and why they’re at the top of my list.

ClutterBug

You may know Cas Aarssen from her books on organizing or maybe from her show on HGTV: Hot Mess House. I first discovered her through her book The Clutter Connection. Her breakdown of organizing types blew my mind. I mean, I read her book and thought, this woman is a genius. I happen to be a pretty typical organizer (Hello, I’m a Cricket), but reading about her clutterbug types really helped me understand how other people may prefer to organize (like my husband and my kids). Finding better ways to make our house work for us and not trying to replicate the beautiful organization I saw on Pinterest was a big shift for me. While I highly recommend The Clutter Connection, I also really enjoy organizing my things with Cas in the background. She has great energy, good tips, and a very relatable personality and story.

Dana K White

Here is another name that you may know from popular decluttering books. I first “met” Dana K White through her book How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind. This was another book that really spoke to me and shifted my ways of thinking about my home and all of my stuff. When I found her on YouTube, I discovered that she was really nice to declutter with, because she’s so normal! She doesn’t hide her mess, she’s honest about her decluttering journey, and she talks you through her methods all the time. Dana has lots of Q & A videos on so many different topics: how to deal with sentimental items, how to handle your craft stuff, how to deal with stuff that isn’t yours to declutter, etc. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but she gives straightforward advice in an understanding way.

The Minimal Mom

Now here is someone that I wasn’t sure would resonate with me. The word “minimal” made me think she was not going to be relatable for me. I would say I have lofty goals of being minimal, but in all honesty, I’m not sure I’ll ever really get there! After watching a few of Dawn’s videos, I realized that the minimal aspect of her videos was not necessarily the main message. I mean, she’s a mom of four kids: she’s battling the cleaning/organizing beast on the daily! Dawn is very down-to-earth and relatable; while she chooses to be very minimal in most areas, she’s never forcing it on her audience. She is someone I like to listen to when I need that extra push to get rid of something or significantly declutter a space. I appreciate that Dawn is encouraging but never overbearing, and she’s always got a smile on her face.

But First, Coffee

She had me at coffee. Not really, but Kallie Branciforte is like that first cup of coffee in the morning: she wakes you up, gets down to business, and gets stuff done. I think she first got me hooked because she’s a mom of young kids. My boys are older than her littles, but I could instantly relate to the “how do I do it all” aspect of her videos. I find that Kallie is another person who gives me that push to get things done. She’s very energetic, motivated, and… key word here… relatable. While she covers a range of topics, I gravitate toward her videos on decluttering, organizing small spaces, and getting the most out of your days/time management.

Honeyjubu

My most recent YouTube find has been Honeyjubu, a housewife in South Korea. This one is pretty different from the other YouTubers: she doesn’t show her face, she doesn’t speak, and she doesn’t really give much advice. So why do I watch? It’s refreshing to see someone wholly embracing her role: she seems to truly enjoy caring for her home and her family. I’ve never gotten the feeling that she sees her cleaning and cooking as chores. Watching her clean is relaxing. Seeing the care she puts into her cooking and food presentation makes you look at meals in a completely different light. I feel like watching Honeyjubu go about her days, her routines, and her joyful moments gives me a hearty dose of gratitude for my life and motivates me to want to take more time and care with the things I “have” to do every day.

I realize that all of these recommendations are very “homemaker”-centric, but these ladies of YouTube have given me a lot of encouragement, motivation, and so much food for thought. Even if you’re not living the stay-at-home-mom lifestyle, I think we all have those “tricky spots” in our homes (clearing out the clutter, getting into a good daily routine, needing help organizing, learning how to clean things) that these content creators could really help with. Hope you enjoy checking some or all of them out!

Books & Movies

Knowledge is Power!

January 12, 2015 nk3302 Comments

During my pregnancy, I really only read books about pregnancy. I was not worried about taking care of a newborn (what was I thinking?!), but right at the end of the pregnancy, I ordered a couple of books about newborn care. For Andrew, since he was concerned about it. Well, when we got home from the hospital with Gerrit, I had a million questions about every topic possible! I was very unsure of myself and had no idea what was “normal” or how to do things the “right” way. I ended up poring through the books I had gotten for my husband anytime I had my hands free! Both books that I got ended up being very helpful, and I’m so glad I got them.

1. Heading Home with Your Newborn

This one was probably the one I went to with questions and concerns the most in that first month. It’s written by two pediatricians who are also parents, and this one just seemed to reassure me more for some reason. I think part of it is just because it’s more conversational than the other book I got. It really covers all of the basics in a way that is concise, but also extensive enough to alleviate all your worries.

2. What to Expect the First Year

I like this one because it covers everything regarding the newborn phase, but it also goes month by month through the first 12 months. I also like that there are questions by parents throughout the book, because I often have the same questions! This one really covers everything you might have concerns about, but I feel like it reads a little more “seriously” if that’s a good way to put it. I always have Gerrit’s current month bookmarked so that I can look to see how much he should be sleeping, how often he should be eating, and milestones he may be hitting.

Once we got the hang of caring for a newborn (for the most part), then we started thinking about parenting philosophies and schedules for babies. I didn’t really buy any books about this while I was pregnant, because I really wasn’t sure what kind of parent I would want to be! And I’m glad I didn’t, because I’ve surprised myself with my approach to parenthood. No matter what kind of parent you want to be, I think the following two books are very good:

3. The Happiest Baby on the Block

I started reading this before I really started implementing the techniques that are discussed. I’m reading and re-reading parts of it again now (Gerrit is 10 weeks old), but I wish I had picked it back up several weeks ago! But honestly, when Gerrit was being particularly fussy, I didn’t have much time for reading. This book is helpful for calming any baby, but especially good for a baby suffering from colic. Gerrit seems to display symptoms of mild colic, so the techniques described by Dr. Karp work well for us.

4. The Wonder Weeks

This is another book that any parent can use and find helpful. Physical growth spurts are frequently discussed by doctors, parents, and websites, but cognitive growth spurts really aren’t. This book describes these mental “leaps” in detail, and it also offers ways to help your baby through them. It includes a chart to visually show when and how often you can expect the fussy, clingy days and weeks to happen during a child’s first 2 years. These leaps are based on your baby’s due date vs his/her birthday, so I’ve had to keep that in mind for Gerrit, who was born nearly 3 weeks early. It still is helpful to have a rough idea of when to expect his “stormy” weeks and see the checklist with new skills to look for.

These are just a few books that I read. I know people say that you should rely on your mommy instincts when dealing with your child, and I do. These instincts are what I follow when I look for books to help me. For instance, I skipped buying On Becoming Babywise, which encourages a parent-led schedule, because I lean more toward a baby-led schedule. Instead I found books that promote a combination schedule where I can follow Gerrit’s lead a bit more. Unfortunately, I didn’t think I would have enough time to get these books in the mail before we travel back to the States, so I’ll give opinions on those when we get to my sister’s house. 🙂

Books & Movies

Movie Day!

August 25, 2013 nk330Leave a comment

I recently flew back to the States for the upcoming weddings of not one, but two, sisters! I originally thought I would want to sleep on the flight, but when I thought about it, it made more sense to stay awake so I could actually sleep at night once I got to my parents’ house. Thankfully, the Delta flight I took offered a LOT of movie options. There were a lot I wanted to watch, but with less than 9 hours, I had to narrow it down to four of them.

1. The Odd Life of Timothy Green

It was cute. “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” was a sweet story about an infertile couple who are basically told that they will not conceive a child. After receiving the devastating news, the husband, Jim, convinces his wife to help him make a list of various qualities their child would have had. They enjoy their evening coming up with their “perfect” child, then put the pieces of paper in a box, and bury it in the garden. Out of this comes a child. From the garden. Literally. After that it’s the story of this strange child that has come into their lives and changes them. Again, very sweet. I teared up at the end (not what you want on a cramped flight). I’m glad I saw it, but it’s obviously unrealistic and sweet at best.

2. Revolutionary Road
I had forgotten that I had wanted to see this! It’s from a few years ago, but I was excited to finally watch it. It’s the story of a 1950’s couple, April & Frank, who get pulled into the normal American Dream life when they marry and get pregnant. While they are considered a perfect couple, and then a perfect family, both April & Frank yearn for a more exciting life. They both had dreams for more, but settled into the typical life only to discover boredom and desperation. While the couple has two children, the children are rarely seen and the focus is much more on April & Frank. April suggests a plan that involves Frank quitting his job, the family moving to Paris, and April working a secretarial job to support the family while Frank finds what he is passionate about in life. They begin to make plans for their big move, shocking all of their friends and co-workers. Things get complicated when Frank if offered a promotion and April discovers she is pregnant again. The whole film is a bit depressing with all of the yearning for more and general unhappiness with everyday life. But Kate Winslet & Leonaro DiCaprio are excellent in their character roles, and you can relate to both of their wants and needs. I highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a serious film.

3. Parental Guidance
I needed a comedy after the drama, so this was the one I picked. What can I say, I like Billy Crystal & Bette Midler. 🙂 It was a fairly typical comedy but easy to relate to. It’s the story of a set of grandparents being asked to come babysit for their three grandkids, who are parented by your current day helicopter A-type parents. I had to laugh when Marisa Tomei’s character suggested they say, “Use your words,” because I say that ALL the time! You can’t help but roll your eyes at all of the “good parent” phrases of the day. And shake your head at the lack of…well, any negativity. I mean, they play baseball with limitless outs and a tie at the end of every game. It’s a good movie, and a nice family ending.

4. Stoker
After contemplating several thrillers, I settled on “Stoker.” I knew I couldn’t handle any of the “Paranormal Activity” films, mostly because I don’t want to shriek in the middle of a crowded plane. Anyway, I was pretty pleased with my choice. I always enjoy a good psychological thriller. But be warned: it’s weird. If you enjoy cinematic symbolism, general creepiness, and a highly dysfunctional family, this is the movie for you. The acting is superb. The big name is Nicole Kidman, but you may also recognize Mia Wasikowska from Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Wasikowska plays India Stoker, whose father dies in an accident on her 18th birthday. Kidman is her cold and distant mother, Evie, who has a strained relationship with her daughter. You can see from an early point that India connected primarily with her father, especially when you see that she is a quiet, sullen social outcast at her school. At her father’s funeral, mysterious Uncle Charlie shows up, a man she had no knowledge of until that point. While Charlie is charming and nicely dressed, you feel a general wariness right off the bat. And it only grows when you see him trying to seduce Evie (Kidman) and possibly India as well. The family secrets and tension within the house build up the suspense, but it’s surprise after surprise in this film. Every time you think you’ve connected to a character, they seem to change. Apparently, this is mostly a coming-of-age film… but it will be the strangest one you’ve ever seen.

Hope you enjoyed my “movie reviews”… I’m hoping for this many movie options on my return flight as well! 🙂