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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 8 November 2019
Marie Kondo's doing what she can to make your kids tidy

By LEANNE ITALIE With Kondo's Netflix show
Associated Press came a move to Los Ange-
NEW YORK (AP) — Not even les with her husband and
Marie Kondo can follow all daughters, ages 4 and 3. It
her rules for tidying all the was her second time living
time. in the United States — the
"Of course, when things get first was a stint in San Francis-
very busy, I need to let go co. The families she helped
of some of my standards on Netflix were all in the
and methods, and I think Los Angeles area, includ-
that's a completely natu- ing Wendy and Ron Aki-
ral thing," the decluttering yama. She said the empty
guru, Netflix realty star and nesters posed the greatest
mother of two told The As- challenge during the eight-
sociated Press. episode season with their
The soft-spoken Kondo mountain of clothes, out-
was tight-lipped on exactly of-control Christmas deco-
what she lets slide, besides rations and boxes stuffed
leaving her house slippers in with thousands of baseball
the middle of the floor oc- cards. "There was so much
casionally, but one thing's stuff," Kondo said through
for sure: When it comes to a translator during a recent
Kondo, the emphasis is on interview. "I've tidied up a
busy these days. lot of messy homes in Ja-
Kondo has amassed an pan, but they tended to be
empire by urging the world quite small. On this Ameri-
to decide if their belong- Author and television personality Marie Kondo poses for a portrait to promote her children's book can scale, and especially
ings "spark joy" and has "Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship" on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in New York. the amount of things in the
expanded her reach yet Sonenshein on a new book wins. While discussions she'll start selling some of garage, it was quite shock-
again with her debut chil- due out in April, "Joy at are underway for a sec- the things that spark her ing." For now, Kondo is pro-
dren's picture book, "Kiki Work: Organizing Your Pro- ond season, she has slowly own joy at home but are moting her picture book.
& Jax: The Life-Changing fessional life," aimed at sort- gone about dispensing ad- made by others, such as The story of Kiki, a squirrel
Magic of Friendship," co- ing out desks, schedules vice on a broader range of her favorite incense and with a hoarding problem,
written and illustrated by and inboxes. lifestyle topics, from know- rice cooker. And in the last and Jax, a meticulous owl
Salina Yoon. Kondo and the first season ing when a relationship no year, she has expanded who loves to sort, is a sweet
For grown-ups who fight of her Netflix series, "Tidy- longer sparks joy to making her network of KonMari- extension of the best-seller
chaos on the job, she has ing Up with Marie Kondo," the perfect bento box for certified consultants to that led to her global influ-
partnered with organiza- were nominated for two kids. Later this month on about 300 in more than 30 ence, "The Life-Changing
tional psychologist Scott Emmys this year, with no her website, Konmari.com, countries. Magic of Tidying Up."q

Shakira plans a Latin tribute at upcoming Super Bowl

By RENATA BRITO carried risks. Shakira chose at the closing ceremony
Associated Press not to have it, and her of the Davis Cup tennis
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — voice slowly recovered. tournament in Madrid on
Colombian music star Sha- But it meant she couldn't Nov. 24. Shakira has in the
kira says she will pay hom- speak for long periods of meantime witnessed tur-
age to Latin culture along- time — a real challenge moil in the city she calls
side Jennifer Lopez at the for a mother of two young home in Spain's northwest
2020 Pepsi Super Bowl Half- children. "I healed miracu- region of Catalonia.
time Show in Miami. lously, really, because the The conviction of Catalan
Speaking Monday in Bar- doctors were convinced separatists over an illegal
celona, Spain where she I needed a medical pro- independence referen-
lives with her long-term cedure," she said, adding dum has sparked massive
partner, Spanish soccer that without support from and sometimes violent
star Gerard Piqué, and her fans she wouldn't have street protests.
their two children, Shakira This Aug. 10, 2018 file photo shows Shakira performing in been able to return to the Shakira says the issue re-
told The Associated Press concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. stage. "I felt so much grati- quires dialogue between
she was fulfilling a dream Associated Press tude, so much joy to be the separatists and Spain's
which also had "a very im- turns 43 on Feb. 2, the day European part of the tour able to sing again," she national authorities. Piqué
portant purpose." of the Super Bowl, is cur- due to a vocal cord hem- said. "I think at some point backs the right to a vote
"To celebrate that culture, rently promoting a docu- orrhage. in my life I had taken it for on the region's indepen-
to showcase it in a country mentary and live concert "That was probably one granted." But the singer dence. "I think that in a
where Latinos have also album from her 2018 "El of the most difficult times has not slowed down since country where there are
struggled a lot," she said. Dorado World Tour," to be of my life. It was really a releasing last month a re- clearly disagreements and
"I feel really humbled and released worldwide on nightmare," she recalled. mix of the song "Tutu" with differences like this one,
with a great responsibility Nov. 13. "I didn't know if I was ever singers Camilo from Co- the best would be to try
in my hands to represent In late 2017, Shakira left going to sing again." lombian and Pedro Capó to build bridges and listen
the Latino community." fans worried after she was At the time, doctors rec- of Puerto Rico. Shakira is to each other," Shakira
The Grammy winner, who forced to postpone the ommended surgery that also scheduled to perform said.q