Thoughts on the Move and Reviewing the Printables

The move was crazy!  Crazy exciting, crazy stressful, crazy planned... and now that it's over it is slowly becoming a distant memory, and before it completely dulls and loses its hold on me I wanted to share what worked, and what didn't work.

As you probably already know, I made up a bunch of printables to help keep us organized through this move, and I'm happy to report that, for the most part, they worked just like I hoped they would.  My original plan had been to put them all into a binder with neat, orderly sections ... yeah that one didn't happen.  I ended up putting most of them at the front of my HMB.  Despite not having a home all their own, they worked so beautifully for me, that I wanted to share my thoughts on them with you.

First up, the packing kit I put together I cannot say enough how happy I was with this.  

At first I thought I was just being a little on the OCD side of trying to organize our packing, but it really helped to make things that much easier.  (the post on that is here, if you want to check it out)  A quick summary of what was in it:

• Clipboard:  for holding labels once they're made, and the packing list
• Packing List:  because, this time, I'm determined to have a good idea of where everything is
• Pen: 
• Permanent Markers:  for the labels and/or writing on the box
• Packing Tape:
• News Paper:  for padding
• Plastic Bags:  I use them to cover dishes and breakables before wrapping in newspaper.  Makes it soooo much nicer when unpacking!

It made packing so easy, I could move from room to room, and I had just what I needed with me.  No hunting for anything.  The only thing I didn't end up using was labels.  I ended up just writing on the boxes.  

QUICK TIP:  Label to top right corner on all sides of the box, including the top.  This way, no matter how it is stacked, you can always see what is in it!  Thanks so much for that tip Dad!  It really saves the day!!!!

Next up, was the only real failure of the bunch, the Project List! 

 (find post here)  It was a great idea when I was organizing the house, and I've used it in the new house already for projects I want to tackle.  But when it came to the move itself, it didn't help at all.  

Then I had the Change of Address form.  

This was great, I didn't have to try to remember what was being cancelled, what was being transferred and so on.  And, it's a good thing I had this, because when we were up north at the old house, I looked at it and realized I hadn't called the utility companies to hook up the new house!  Eeek!  Thanks to the form, I had all the information I needed to get it done.  Whew!

QUICK TIP:  If you're thinking about moving, it's a good idea to double check cancellation and transfer policies for all the companies you deal with.  Some might require up to 30 days or more notice.  It's always a good thing to check that out.  Also, if you had to pay a deposit, find out how you go about getting that back.

Move-In Day Checklist!  What can I say about this little baby?

It helped!  Alot! (see post here) We had brought a fair amount of stuff with us to my parents, and thanks to them (I will never be able to thank them enough for their love, support, and for how much they helped us.  I am truly blessed with the best parents in the whole universe!!!) we were able to leave much of it with them when we headed back up north to do the final pack and move.  This little checklist helped me make sure I packed only what we needed to bring.  It also helped with the final packing, and unloading.  I was able to have what I needed at my finger tips!

And finally, we have come to the STAR of the show!  My Packing List! 

I'm going to be super honest here.  When I made this one up, I was thinking in my head, "This is going to be a waste of time for me, but maybe, someone out there will get use from it."  Ha!  The packing list was, by far, the best printable of the bunch. (see post here)  I kept a detailed list of what got packed where, or in what.  I numbered the boxes from each room as I packed, so the higher the number, the greater priority it was to us.  (with the exception of the summer shoes, they didn't get listed on this, an oversight on my part!)  It came to the rescue more than once.  Especially when the inevitable "Do you know where this is?" happened when got back up north, or the "Did you already pack that?"  There were a few times when we needed an item I had already packed, and I was able to quickly find it on my list, we were able to retrieve said items with relative ease, and put them back with no problems. When it came to unpacking, oh my, it was so nice to have an idea of where everything was.  And it was soooo handy to know, just by looking at the list, what boxes could wait to be unpacked, and what ones we needed right away.  Because of this handy dandy little printable, I was able to whip up a simple lunch on unloading day, and not have to resort to paper plates!  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  I will use it over and over, and not just for moving.  I plan to use this to help keep track of what is stored in the garage, in the garden shed, and under the stairs, if we ever decide to use the crawl space, I'll use it for that too.  If you have a storage unit, something like this would be perfect for keeping track of what you have it in.

And there you have it!   My review of the printables I made up.  All in all, I'm quite happy that I took the time, not just to make them, but to use them.  I hope that some of you find them helpful too, after all, that's a big part of the reason I share them here.  Right now they're scattered through the blog in various posts, and I was thinking that maybe they need a page all of their own, what do you think?  Would it be easier for you if the printables were all in one spot?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  In the mean time, if you would like the full "moving" package, (all of the printables you see in this post)  leave me a comment, (make sure your email is either linked to your comment, or in your comment) or send me a note to:  scatteredsquirrelblog@gmail.com  and I'll send you a copy of all them!  

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Friday!  Have a safe and happy weekend, and I'll hope to see you here on Monday when I'm going to be sharing a new free printable with you!

New Spaces, New Challenges

Our New Home

Welcome to our new home!  Isn't she pretty?  As you can tell, I haven't really had a chance to jump in and decorate the front porch type area yet, we just put out a couple of chairs for now.  My focus has been more on the inside rather than out.

I have officially reached the unpacking phase where I am sick of unpacking.  It's not really unpacking anymore, it's more "finding a home for the last of the odds and ends".  I say odds and ends, but most of the items left to find homes for are items that are needed and useful, and frequently called upon.  Mostly I just need to get motivated, find a place to put them and call round one of organizing this place done!  What better way to get my butt in gear and find that motivation than to share it with you fine folks! (the house, not my butt!)

Our New Front Door .  No wreath yet, but I'm kind of liking the sunflowers.

Not much to really share today, just the entry and linen closet, and perhaps the world's most boring before and after pics.  (no, seriously, they are boring!)  But why take my word for it?  Come on in and see for yourself....

This is what you're greeted with when you first walk in.  That little table is actually our old baker's rack, I just asked Travis to remove the upper shelves.  It's working ok in here for now, but I have plans to change it out down the road.  

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Just a closer look at the decorations.  The flowers and leaf garland are from my wedding, the little basket is from around the house.  The book is life's contribution.  Time will tell how this set up will work.

This is one of the things that I really love about our new home . . . the stairs!  Not just because two levels means more room, but the stairs themselves are open and bright, and I just really like them.  lol  That closet you see there?  That's the linen closet!  Remember the one we left behind at our place?  (Here)  It was more like a cupboard.  The extra space is really nice, and it is going to take a little thinking and using before I figure out how best to organize it and keep it organized.  

When we first moved it, I just quickly put stuff in there, to get it put away and out of the way.   Over the last few weeks I've noticed that it is really easy for me to just sort of toss things in, and this is what it was looking like.

Kinda Empty, Kinda Messy

There is no rhyme or reason to how things were put away.  I think I was trying for a system but I'm not quite sure.  As you can see there is LOTS of space, and it helps that it was linen laundry day, so it's more empty than normal, ha ha ha.  Are you ready for the after?  This project literally took me ten minutes.  Making up my wish list took longer than the actual organizing did.  

Nice and neat once again!  It really didn't take much.  Refolding a few things, grouping like items with like, you know the drill.  And wasn't I right about the boring before and afters?   Boring or not, it felt good to get it sorted out.

I've got things loosely organized for now.  Top shelf is sheets, pillow cases, mattress pads, and a few things like vacuum bags, frilly curtains that belong to the house, but totally could not stay hanging up in the "man cave".  

Next shelf, is towels.  Again I have them loosely organized.  The boys' towels on the right, ours and guest towels on the left, and hand towels and face cloths in the middle.  The shelf underneath has no real purpose yet, though part of it could be used for extra bathroom supplies down the road.

Finally, spare blankets!  It's really nice to be able to store everything together, I plan on using part of this shelf for guest items, like sheets, blankets etc... Now that we have the room, not just for linen's for the guest room, but room for guests, I can't wait to start putting together stuff to help make guests feel at home.

Though I am thrilled with the extra space in our new home, I'm realizing that more space doesn't really make organizing any easier, it just presents different challenges that need to be overcome.  Willy nilly stocking of the linen closet is just one example.  And I now realize that having systems in place are just as important in larger homes as they are in smaller ones.  To help me keep focused on staying organized, I made up a wishlist for items/ideas for the linen closet, so that over time I can slowly get it set up and prettied up.  They are, in no particular order:

• Clear bins/containers for smaller bathroom extras
• Labels, labels and more labels
• Shelf dividers to help keep folded items contained.  
• Pretty baskets to hold items for guests
• Small cubbies or wine rack for hand towels and face clothes.
• Cleaning caddy for upstairs cleaning  (more on that in a different post)
• Hooks or other wall mountable solution for holding a broom/dust mop

I can't wait to slowly start making this new home more suited to our needs.  Being renters presents nice challenge of working with what we have and getting creative and thinking outside the box when it comes to decor choices or organizational solutions.  

And that concludes the tour of the entry way and linen closets.  I know it's not much of a sneak peak, but I'm hoping to add more and more pics up as I finish up spaces.  Has anyone else tackled a small project lately?  Or a large one?  Any tips for not accidentally creating drop zones in our new home?

We're Hoooome!!

Good morning.  How are you this fine Monday morning?  We are doing great.  We're enjoying our second morning in our new home, and I couldn't be happier!  The move itself was full of ups and downs, which I think is to be expected.  I thought I would give you a brief overview of what happened.

We got back to our house in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, and discovered that the yard was extremely out of control.  Travis and our teen spent most of that day working on the yard, while I spent it packing up the inside stuff.  Friday was busy, busy, busy.  We had most of the loading to do, and still some packing.  Thank goodness I had already packed up most of the house, or it would have taken us a few more days to get it all done.  There were only a few minor disasters.  I ripped open my pinkie finger on a loose staple on the love seat, bashed my hand on the door while moving boxes and dropped my phone in the toilet.  (after I just cleaned it! Thank goodness for that). So, if you were following along the Facebook page or on twitter, that's why there was sudden radio silence. 

Saturday was spent in the vehicles coming down to our new house.  It was a longer than expected trip, but we finally got our new house around 4:30 am, Sunday.  We crashed hard for a few hours then got started unloading.  One of Travis's friends came to lend a hand, and words cannot express how thankful I am that he came down here to help.  The boys have their rooms almost set up, the kitchen is half unpacked, and I'm looking forward to taking some time to set things up.

My Mom and Dad are heading down here today, and I really can't wait to see them and show off our new home.  When things are a little less crazy I'll do up a post with pics of the new place.  And my oh my, there are going to be oodles of organizing projects that i can share with you.  I cannot wait!

For now, I'm going to finish my coffee before diving into the cleaning and unpacking.   I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  And I wish you a fantastic week!

Back at the House!

Well, we made it back up to the house last night.  It was a long trip, but we're here!  If you follow along on Twitter (@ScatterSquirrel) or Facebook ( Scattered Squirrel ) then you're already up to date on what's going on. 

We came home to a jungle in the yard.  A slightly major hitch in our time line.  We were hoping to spend the morning packing, the afternoon and evening loading and then hit the road tomorrow morning.  Instead it was all hands on deck to help tidy up the yard, and I've been working away in the house.  But, we have the truck now, and I'm getting ready to kick it all into high gear to get as much done today as I can.  I'm updating the twitter and Facebook page when I take a break, and when possible I'm throwing some crappy pics from my phone up as well.

Did you catch that part about getting back to the house?  I have a whole other post coming about what's been happening these past few months.  Now that Moving Day is upon us, I thought I would let you all in on the secret, we haven't been at home for quite some time.  That's why updates on house stuff suddenly stopped. It's part of the reason posts have been so few and far between.  It's also why I talk about packing and loading as though they are happening on the same day ... because they are!  I promise, when I can sit down at the computer and type it all up, I will share all the whys, whats, and hows.  For now, I'm using my phone and it's not so much fun, and i really should get back to packing.

Have you ever done a quick move?  Any tips, tricks, advice, or what not to dos that you'd like to share?  I'd love to hear them!

More Back to School, and a Free Printable

I feel as though there is so much to do and so little time, and there really aren't enough hours in a day.  My life also seems to be full of cliches lately too!  It really is getting hectic.  I had all sorts of things on my to do list that I haven't gotten to yet.  Things I wanted done before the boys start school, that may just have to wait until after, because tomorrow we begin the move.  There is so much to share about this; challenges that we're facing that I didn't exactly forsee when we started this journey, memories that will last a life time, insights into how to make the best of the situations life throws you into.... so much and more it seems.

For now though, it's getting rather late, and tomorrow is the first of some very long days to come.  I'm not sure when I'll have a chance to get back on and blog.  Everything hinges on how long it takes us to get a little settled into our new home.  On top of packing, loading, traveling, unloading, unpacking, and settling in, there is still the matter of getting the boys all ready for school.  I'm trying to be very mindful about events outside the move.  I don't want it to take away from mile stones and special days.  Liam is starting school for the very first time!  How exciting is that?!?!  Our teen is entering his last year of middle school, equally exciting in my mind!  And his birthday is at the beginning of September.  I want these special moments to shine in their own light, not be overshadowed by moving and getting set up.

To help me stay on track, and make sure I don't forget anything, even the simplest thing like, First Day of School pictures, I created a check list.  This way I can stay on top of everything without having to worry about it.  As I was writing it up, I got to thinking about how nice it will be to have the list already done up for future years.  While I'm sure every summer won't be quite as hectic as this one, it's nice to have a list of what you need to do in the month or so leading up to the start of the new school year.  AND that got me thinking that perhaps, some of you might like a copy of your own.  So, I took my handwritten list and turned it into a printable to share with all of you.  (I took pity on your eyesight, and typed it up, no having to try to decipher my handwriting)  Here she is, in all her simplicity!

Mom's Back to School Checklist

Just a simple checklist, with some pretty generic to-do's on it.  Things that would translate year after year.  As with all my other printables here on the blog, just click the link in the caption to download.  If you have any problems downloading the file, please send me an email, the address is on the right side bar.  I will gladly send you a copy.  

I hope you find this helpful in the next few weeks.  For now I'm signing off, but I will be back as soon as I can.  I'm super excited to share some pictures of our new home.  It's been a long 4 months, and I can hardly believe that the end is FINALLY in sight!  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer!

Do you find it easier to plan for things with a checklist?  Do you have any special back to school preparations or traditions?  I'd love to hear about them!

Operation Move! Full Stream Ahead!!

I disappeared again!  I know, I know, I know, but we set ourselves a very strict deadline for Operation Move, and I'm here with an update!  Remember waaaaay back when, when I first posted this?  Well guess what .....

I cannot believe it is finally happening.... it feels like forever since we first started this journey.  (almost 4 months now!)  And this time, when I say moving, I mean we're actually doing the move!  The truck is booked, the papers and all that other fun stuff are signed and taken care of, and our new home is awaiting us.  How did we get to this point?  Well, earlier this week Travis and I took the boys on day trip to our new home town.  (This planner was a total life saver) After weeks of virtual house hunting, we had our list narrowed down and we were ready to start actually looking at the homes.  Ummm... you know what they say about the best laid plans right?  Well, we got into town, and phoned all the people who had said to call when got to town to set up viewing times.... NO-ONE called us back.  Seriously, no joke here, we drove all the way there, and no-one we had previously spoken too was available, and not one of them returned our calls.  Part of the problem is that the rental market moves pretty quick down there, but still a call to say they'd already rented it would have been nice.

While killing time, waiting for the call backs that never came, we decided to drive by some of the houses and get a feel for the neighbourhoods.  The last place we drove by was on a nice quiet cul-da-sac, great family friendly neighborhood, good schools close by within walking distance.... it was great.  It was almost 4 pm at this point, and still no call backs.  As we drove by this last house, 4 doors down I noticed a "for rent" sign on the lawn.  We took a chance, gave the number a call, they met us at the house later that evening, and as quick as that we had ourselves a home!  All that work, stress, endless hours on the internet searching the rental ads, endless calls to landlords, property management companies, and in the end, it was one simple little sign that we wouldn't have seen if we hadn't had time to kill.  Isn't it strange how life works out some times?

The house itself is perfect for us.  A little on the older side, but a nice sized yard.  Enough room to spread out, and find quiet time, but still small enough that I'm not spending a ton of time keeping it clean.  I will most definitely be posting some pics after we get this move done.

When is this happening?  Well, next week!  As I mentioned above, we've got the trucked booked, time off arranged, and next weekend we'll be unpacking and setting up our new home!  I am so excited about this. No more living in separate towns, no more long commutes for Travis, the boys will have some time to get settled and familiarize themselves with the new neighborhood before school starts.  We'll have time to get them registered for school, and I should have time to get some of our systems of organization back up and running.  Oh, I can't wait for that part either!  I'm eager to organize and play around with our new set up.  It's going to be a busy few weeks, but I really can't wait.

So, please forgive me if I'm not around again!  I haven't forgotten this little ole blog of mine, I've just been a little busy with life.  I have a few more days of down time before the move begins in earnest, and I'm hoping to take that time to get a little more prepared for the upcoming school year.  So, stay tuned for a couple more printables popping up on here between now and Wednesday!

Anyone else ever have things work out in the most unexpected of ways?  Anyone ever had their "plans" back fire on them?

Dashed Hopes and Changing Plans: An Update and Explanation

This was supposed to be THE post!  The one I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to share,  "Where, oh where, have I been hiding?"  Instead, I'm here with an update.  I'm sure THE post will come at some point, but today is not that day.  So, what's been going on and why haven't I been around more?

We received and accepted an offer on our house ... yaaaaaay....(if you only could hear how feable that yay sounded like in my head.  It's probably closer to yaaaaay)  Don't get me wrong, the offer was very reasonable, everything was ticking along nicely.  The closing date was a short time away, but we didn't mind that.  I was scrambling to get everything lined up, planning the last of the packing, figuring out what extra days Travis's needed to take off, looking for a home to move to, and all that other wonderful stuff.  We were just waiting for the approval date (I'm sure that's not the technical term, but you know it's that "upon completetion of home inspection, upon approval of financing" date written into the offer) and let me tell you that was nerve wracking.  I feel. as though I have spent the last few weeks trapped in a strange limbo, ready to jump at the go signal but yet unable to really and truly move forward.  I haven't been able to really focus on much of anything, as the waiting consumed my thoughts.  Instead I focused on the boys, and on allowing myself the time to zone out, knowing that in a few short weeks I would need to be at the top of my game, focus wise, to pull this move off.


My stomach was in knots for days, and then weeks, as our buyers asked for an extension The significance of the new approval date didn't click in until it came and went with no word.  July 9th, is now in the running for my least favorite date this year.  Why is that date so significant?  Well, I'm sure my Canadian family and friends will understand without further explanation (especially if they are in the process of buying or selling a home) but allow me to explain.  Our federal government has decided that Canadian household debt is too high, and to help lower that they made some changes to the rules for mortgages.  Those rules took effect on July 9th, and our buyers got caught in the crossover.  (Personally, I don't think that was fair, and my heart really and truly goes out to them)  

Here's a general idea of what kind of new rules we're looking at now.  They lowered the amortization period from 30 to 25 years.  Home buyers now need to come up with 20% down, (first time home buyers are at 10%) for more info here are a couple links to articles about it:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/07/09/bmo-mortgage-housing.html

http://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/canadian_mortgage_trends/2012/07/new-mortgage-rules-kick-in.html

So, what happened next?  Well, our buyers still wanted to go through with it, so they looked at the options they were given and tried to get it all straightened out.  We got the news yesterday that it wasn't going to happen.  :-(  Not totally surprising, but still upsetting.


We've now entered the fourth month of living apart.  Travis and I are both weary of the situation, heck, we're just weary.  I'm tired of living from phone call to phone call, then desperately trying to cram quality time, not just couple time but family time as well, into the brief time he's home.  I want to be able to put a plate in the fridge for him every night, go to bed knowing that if he's not home when I go to sleep, he'll be there when I wake up.  I miss all the little, simple things of life together.  And so, the time of hoping is at an end; it's time for action now.  We can no longer wait for the house to sell before completing this move.  August is almost here, the boys are both starting school in September, we need to get this done and over with before then.  I'm not entirely sure what this new plan will look like.  We've been discussing it off and on for a while now.  What I do know, is that it means a lot of new changes, and I've been spending some time trying to get it all figured out in my head.

In the mean time, I'm going to be hopping back into the world of blogging - no more hiding my head in the sand- and I'm already working on a printable (or three!) to share with you all.  The HMB has been put on hold for a little while, but everything else will continue along.  And, keep your fingers crossed, hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be able to share some more moving tips with you, and I'm hoping to share some "sanity saver" ideas with you all as well!

I hope that these last few weeks have been really good for all of you, and that you are enjoying your summer!


Take care! <3

Next Time I'll Know Better ;-)

Do you ever have one of those moments when you realize you have vastly underestimated something?  When your stomach seems to drop out of you, adrenaline begins surging, and you fly into a tizzy in a desperate attempt to compensate for lacking of planning?  That was me at 9 am this morning!

Today was our first realtor's tour, and I thought I had everything well in hand.  I did most of the cleaning last night, leaving just my usual morning things, plus the floors to worry about this morning.  I figured, not a problem, I could breeze through that stuff.  The floors didn't really need to be cleaned, just a quick go over to get foot prints up off them and make them shine.  

Ha ha ha ha .... was the joke ever on me this morning.  Liam and I were up around 7:30 this morning.  I don't like mornings, or rather, I don't like busy mornings.  It takes me a bit to reach functioning level.  This morning was no exception to that.  I was up late last night, Liam is sick with a bit of a cold, our Teen also has a cold, and I'm starting to feel under the weather.  So, I was really dragging my butt this morning, but I was managing to putter around, Liam must have been feeling tired too, because he was taking his time over everything.  It's a very yucky day up here, it's snowing!  And it really is just one of those days to curl up with a hot drink and get all cozied up with the ones you love, not running around cleaning an already clean house.

Around 9, I got Liam to get dressed so we were ready to head out the door as soon as our realtor called to say she was on her way.  I decided to wash my hair before tackling the floors and breakfast clean up.  No word of a lie, I was just getting ready to rinse out the shampoo when my phone rang.  I was hoping it was Travis, calling before he headed out on his shift, but no .... that was not my luck today ... it was our realtor calling to tell me we were number three on the tour, and they would be here in 20 minutes!  TWENTY MINUTES, and I still had floors to sweep and mop, breakfast stuff to clean up.  I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet.  So I flew into a tizzy, flicking on lights, turning up the heat (she said to do that to make it feel cozy) I was trying to sweep, mop, and dry my hair all that same time.  I was sooo not ready for it to happen quite that fast.... my mistake!  A BIG mistake.  But what can you do?  Fifteen minutes later, I got the call saying they were heading our way, I quickly ran around opening drapes, grabbed a clip for my hair(didn't have time to brush it), got Liam dressed in coat and boots, and out the door we went.  There were already realtors in our driveway when we left.  

So, Liam and I went for a walk, and not even ten minutes later we watched all the realtors leave!  Oh my goodness, so much stress and rushing for TEN minutes of their time.  And you know what I discovered when we got home?  I forgot to open the blinds in our room.  I forgot to take the garbage with us when we left, I opened the drapes on two of the three windows at the front of our house, but on the the third one the drapes weren't fully open.  My wonderful son, went behind me turning off lights, even though they were supposed to be on, and his cereal bowl, glass, and my coffee cup were sitting beside the sink, not in it!  Oh, and I had the washing machine going, because that's what I do, I throw a load in first thing in the morning.  And OMG I didn't even notice until we got home that I didn't sweep under Liam's bed.  You could see toys and a stray sock under it, from all the way down the hallway.  

And now that it's all done and over with, all I can do is chuckle about it, and make a note to get EVERYTHING done the night before.  

In other news, Travis was home for a couple days this week.  That's one of the reasons I haven't been on here.  I didn't want to lose even a single moment with him.  The boys both really enjoyed having him home. I don't know how much more of this commuting stuff we can take.  I was told the house will sell faster with us still in it, but I think we might have to find a compromise to that.  Aside from how hard the commute is on Travis, Liam really isn't handling all the changes well, especially not having his Daddy around, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that the house sells fast ... I don't know what else to do.  I'm brainstorming right now.

Have you ever had one of those moments that seems to throw everything into a whirlwind?  Or one of those "why didn't I think this through better" moments?

I hope that you all are having a fabulous day!  

Small Project and a Printable

Wow!  I am tired!  The house is slowly getting there, bit by bit.  I'm loving watching everything come together, though I still feel overwhelmed by the amount of work to do.  I have to keep reminding myself that step one is to declutter and pack up all the non essentials and get the house organized for showing.  Step 2 will come later. I keep getting ahead of myself in my head, and that does nothing to help my stress level.

Today, my mission is just the main area.  Getting it tidied up.  I think it is really going to go a long way to helping me feel more in control once I get the living room and kitchen/dining area all put to rights.  Wanna see what our dining area has been like for the past week?

Behold the chaos of renos, packing, cleaning ... UGH!

I told you I'd keep it real for you!  lol  Yeah, the table has been acting as catch all, desk, temporary home for items to get packed, and well... a general mess.  The kids have been loving this because it means dinner time is a picnic in the living room.  Not ideal, but I will say this, it's had the effect of turning dinner time into family fun time.  This Mommy, however, is ready to start eating at the table again.  To do that, I had to tackle a few other areas too.  I needed to repurpose the desk from here:  and that meant moving more things around.  I'm REALLY going to have to rethink where to put the printer.  I can't pack it yet, because our Teen still has to have access to it, and I know I'll have things that I need to print.  I'm toying with some ideas.  And the book shelf that was holding all my craft supplies is getting a new home in the boys room, possibly.

To deal with the MESS!  I started by putting things back where they belong, or finding new temporary homes for them.  The bathroom stuff got put back into the bathroom, even though I still need to paint in there, I decided that it was best to get each room functioning again.  I can clear it out again when I'm ready to paint.  The tools got rounded up and I put them in the addition, I'm sure I will need them all again soon.  The rest was just damage control.  I moved out everything that wasn't needed at the moment, (like the empty boxes) and packed the items that were waiting to be packed.  All in all, it was an easy project, and I feel TEN times better for having it done.  It didn't take long, I sort of puttered through it.  I needed to take a day to just take my time.  I'm burning out pretty quickly, and that won't help in any way, shape, or form.  And here is what I am left with!

Yep!  Now I am a happy Mommy again!  The table is cleared off, the floor is not only clutter free, but mopped clean.  As you can see I packed up some of the office stuff to make room for the microwave.  I'm still undecided on whether it's going to stay or if I'm going to move the whole lot out to shed.  We hardly use the microwave, but I will wait and see on that one.  I do need to address the sad excuse for a window treatment.  It was one of those, "Quick, I need something for the windows!" fixes.  Since the dining area is in the kitchen, I'm thinking that I might make something to match the kitchen window.  Perhaps a cafe style treatment, or something . . . I don't know.

Next up for tonight is the living room.  I have two book shelves that need new homes, and some more packing to do.  Little projects.  And while I'm thinking about it, I'll add taking before pictures to my to do list, lol

Aside from moving stuff, it's life as usual here.  Which can be really hard to keep going with normal stuff, when there are sooo many projects waiting for me.  Staying organized with my time is really important as I talked about yesterday.  One of the things I use help me out, is a meal plan.

Weekly Meal Planner

I just fill it out every Saturday night, and I'm set for the week.  I don't think about meals, just check the list and set out what I need.  It's been such a HUGE help.  If you would like a copy of your own, just click the link under the picture!  :-)

Now I'm off to try to figure out the book shelf issue, and get dinner started!  I hope you all had a great week, and I wish you a wonderful weekend!!!

Budgeting Time!

We started the yucky part of this journey at the beginning of the week.  Travis is already down in our soon-to-be new home town, and he's already working at his new job.  That last weekend he was home was a busy one, and it really made me realize how important it is going to be to budget my time during this process.

Sounds kind of weird to be talking about budgeting time, but I believe that it is just as important as budgeting our money.  Change is hard; big changes even harder, and everyone reacts differently to them.  On top of the move, our boys are dealing with Dad not being here and Mom being a crazy woman on a mission.  While our Teen is coping rather well at this point, Liam is feeling really out of sorts.  So much activity in the house, big brother went back to school on the same day Daddy left, Mommy frantically trying to get everything done as quickly as possible ... it's a lot for a little guy to take in.  It's times like these, that the kids need more from us.  (Why does it always seem to be that they need more when you feel stretched so thin?)  And I don't want either of them to feel lost in the chaos.  To help combat this, and to also help me stay on task when I need to, I've started budgeting my time.  When I plan out my day, the first thing I do is set aside time for the kids.  Liam is at home with me all day, so I schedule in play breaks, outside time, and probably his favorite, I figure out what he can help me with.  He loves to help, and this way, I can accomplish what I need to, and still be spending time with him.

Our teen gets home at 4pm, just in time for me to be wrapping up and getting dinner going.  I make it a point to be available to him as soon as he gets home.  Some days he wants to sit and talk, most days he just wants to decompress on his own.  But I'm there if he needs me.  I try to keep projects to minimum during the chaos that ensues between 4pm and 8pm.  We sit and eat together, we clean up the kitchen together, and the kids know that I'm theirs until bed times.   I make sure that whatever I have planned to do between the time Liam goes to bed, and the time our Teen does, is something I can do while hanging out with him.  Our Teen is usually doing his own thing, but I like knowing that I'm there if he needs me.  He's been handling everything really well, but I know that he has his own worries and fears and insecurities about moving to a new town, starting at a new school, making new friends ... if we could spare him that, we would.  On the other hand, he is totally excited to be closer to his grandparents and aunts and uncles, and he's super excited about all the new things we'll be able to do.

Since Travis's schedule isn't set in stone yet, setting aside time for him is a little more complicated.  He calls when he has a moment, or we might spend a few minutes texting back and forth.  Taking time out to grab those moments with him are so very important.    We're the kind of couple who like spending time together, so being apart is not something we enjoy.  Those little "interruptions" are most welcome to me.  They remind me of what I'm working towards, and why I'm spending my days go, go, going from sun up to sun down. They bring me joy, make my heart happy.  I make sure that I take the time to connect with him when we have the chance.   It might mean interrupting something else, but that's ok, because we NEED those moments.

Aside from making sure I have time for the kids each day, and allowing for interuptions, I plan out my projects really carefully.  I pick a focus and stick with it for the day.  That way I don't have too many of those moments my husband call my "OOOh Shiny!" moments.  I pick either one kind of job, like washing windows, or a room and that's my focus for the day until it's done.  I made up a list of everything that needs to be done . . . ok, I admit it, I have more than one list lol, but I'm only working on one right now.  It lists all the big projects, and I pick one each day.  When that one is done, I move onto to the next one.  And I'm getting pretty close to being done the list.  

And last but not least, I make sure to make time for me before I go to bed.  It might be vegging in front of the tv, or reading for half an hour.  Usually it's just enjoying the quiet before turning in.  Catching a few moments to decompress is important for my sanity.

And that's how I do it!  I looked at what I NEEDED to do.  Time with the kids, and time with Travis come first.  End of story, they are what matter most in this world to me. Next up, was the MUST DOs, or the house projects, because the sooner we sell, the sooner we're all together.  Daily cleaning and cooking are scheduled in there too, because they are things that must be done.  And I'm happy to say that the end of the craziness is in sight. I only have a few more projects to finish up and then it's all just maintaining it from there on out.  Thank Goodness!  lol

I will be back later, either tonight or tomorrow with some posts and pictures about the projects we've done so far!  Until then, I wish each and everyone of you a very fabulous day!


How do you handle stressful and busy times?  Do you "budget" your time?

Missing In Action

Hi there Everyone!  I'm so sorry I've been missing these last few days.  It was a busy long weekend here.  On top of the Easter holiday, it was also Travis's last weekend at home before starting his new job, and we were tackling a couple big projects that need to get done before we list the house.  It was BUSY!  In between the projects we tried to carve out as much family time as possible, which meant a couple of movie nights, plus a whole morning off of work, for Easter.

And now, we're at the part I wasn't looking forward too.   I don't mind packing and cleaning by myself, I don't even mind doing the painting and finishing up the projects on my own, but I miss my husband!  And he's only been gone for a few hours, lol   But, it will all be worth it to move!  Or so I keep telling myself. :-)

So, what kept us so busy.... we put in a new surround for the tub, patched a couple holes in the walls, packed more stuff, and Travis and the boys hauled it all out to the shed for now.  Cleaned up the deck and the yard, scrubbed walls, rearranged our room, made BIG messes everywhere, (renos suck at times) and shopping.... I think we had to hit every hardware and paint store in town to get all the supplies we needed.  That was a painful experience.  Thankfully I had already decided on an off white for the bathroom and mudroom, and that was an easy pick.  I'm not going to fiddle with testing a few different colors, I picked one, and that's what it's going to be!  A little crazy, but I figured there isn't too much room for error with a white.

Anyway, that's what we've been up too, aside from cramming in lots of family time with the boys.  So, what's up for me this week .... more wall scrubbing, more packing, more organizing, and then, hopefully, a visit from the realtor to tell me what else to do, where to focus our energy, and to get the ball rolling on getting that for sale sign put up!  Woo hoo!!!!

I will try to get a few more posts up with some pictures of the projects we did.  Taking pictures was the furthest thing from my mind this weekend, so most of the projects are missing good before pictures.  Sorry about that, I just didn't think about it until half way through.

For now though, I'm off to get more stuff done, and I think Liam and I will be making a donation run later on.  I think that is my favorite part of this process, seeing the things we no longer need, love, or want leave the house never to return.  I've been as ruthless as I can, and have managed to collect a few boxes and bags to go to new homes.  :-)  That makes me soooo happy!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and I wish you a fantatstic day today!!!

And so it Begins!

Sort. Toss. Pack. Clean. Repeat!  This is going to be my new routine for the next, however long it takes to sell the house and move!  I have to be honest, packing is not my favorite part of the moving process, and it always feels like there is so much left to pack at the last minute, no matter how far ahead I start.  So, I'm jumping in early, and getting as much done NOW as possible.  I'm sure the kids and I can manage with just the minimum for a while, and I'm sure with careful planning, I can make the last minute packing so much easier.

To help the process along, I've assembled a packing kit!  This way I have only to grab it, bring it to wherever I'm working, and get to work!  Ok, ok, it's easier said than done, but I'm hoping if I keep tell myself it's easy, then eventually I'll believe it. 

Packing Kit

So, let's see what I've got here:

• Clipboard:  for holding labels once they're made, and the packing list
• Packing List:  because, this time, I'm determined to have a good idea of where everything is
• Pen: 
• Permanent Markers:  for the labels and/or writing on the box
• Packing Tape:
• News Paper:  for padding
• Plastic Bags:  I use them to cover dishes and breakables before wrapping in newspaper.  Makes it soooo much nice when unpacking!

And they all tuck into the bag, ready and waiting for me to tackle the packing.

Just Grab and Go!  

It's not a job I'm looking forward too, but at least I'm not fully prepared to tackle it.   Having the packing list might be adding a little more to the job, but when it comes time to unpack, I know I'm going to be glad I have it.  It's something I mean to do every time we move, and never get around too.  Then we get moved-in and start unpacking, and no matter how carefully the boxes are labeled, we always end up having to open two or three to find one item!  This way, I can just check the list and find the box!  Here's what I did:

Packing List

And of course, I have two copies for you, because it's so much fun to share!  

Packing List (holes on left)

Packing List (holes on right)

The packing lists doesn't just have to be used for moving.  You could use it to keep track of seasonal decorations. Or how about hand-me-downs waiting for your little one to grow into them?  If you have items stored in an offsite storage unit, you could keep track of what you have with the list.  Whatever you use it for, I hope you find it useful!

Anyone have any tips for keeping your sanity while packing?  Any tips on balancing the chaos of packing and the need for order for showing the house?  (I could REALLY use some advice on that front)  Leave me a comment, or send me an email (address is on the right hand side of the blog)  I would LOVE to hear from you!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day!  For now, I'm off to get started on packing what I can in the kitchen, oh joy!  ;-)  

We've Got News

Yep, that's right!  We're moving!!!  We found out yesterday that Travis's transfer was approved, and now we're kicking things into overdrive.  To say we are over the moon with delight, is an understatement.  There's a lot to do, and for the most part, I'll be tackling much of it on my own, as Travis will be heading down there ahead of us.  He'll be home for his days off, which is soo nice, but it won't give us much time to work with.  We're both hoping to sell the house quickly, so that the kids and I can head down there too!

I have to admit, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.  I know it will pass, but to-do lists keep running through my head, and I'm making myself feel like I'm behind, before I've even started.  My around the house idea, is still going in full force, but it's changed somewhat.  Instead of just organizing our things, I'm going to be packing as well, as getting the house ready for showing.  The sooner I get that done, the sooner we can list and get the show on the road.  

Since I'm still battling this cold, and the kids are now under the weather again, today I've decided to just focus on getting the lists done, and working on the normal, every day house work.  The plan is to walk around the house and make a note of what needs to be done in each room, then I'll probably go over those lists and make a plan of attack.  And I'll probably spend some more time working on the Move Management Binder.  So far I've got my projects lists, the move-in check list, and change of address sheets for services (like hydro, cable etc..)  Wanna see those?  Well, here they are!!!

Just like with the project planner, I made two files with the intention that they could be printed back to back to one another, and the side margin allows room for three hole punching!  Here they are:

Change of Address: Services (holes on left side)

Change of Address: Services (holes on right side)

On a side note:  When I checked the links, Google said that they cannot generate a preview, but the files downloaded fine!  

I hope you enjoy!    Are there any other printables you would like?  Leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!!

Wish you all a very wonderful day!!!

Move-In Checklist Printable

Hi there!  This cold is still making the rounds around our house.  I find myself tiring really easily, but I'm antsy at the same time.  I want to be up doing ... something ... anything... but my body has other ideas lol.  So, I decided to put some of that desire to good use, and whip up another printable.  I can't believe I didn't think of this yesterday, but then what would I have done today?

So, yesterday I shared with you my "Move-In" kit.  Today, I decided to take it one step further and put it all together into a checklist that I can tuck into my MMB, and I'm sharing it with you.

Move-In Checklist

It's a little more specific than my list yesterday, I added a few more items to the list as I thought of them.  The page is, as always, set up so that it can be three whole punched.  

Is there anything I missed on the list, that you think should be there?  Would anyone like a list done up for a family size greater or less than 4?  Let me know, and I'll see what I can do!  :-)  

I hope you all are have a fantabulous day!!!  

Recovering From the Weekend

Don't you just hate colds?  It seems like our whole house got hit with one this weekend.  Liam handled it in his usual way, ran a fever for around 24 hours, threw up a couple times, and then was pretty much fine.  The rest of us are either battling coughs, sore throats, plugged sinuses, or a combination of them.  It wasn't much of a relaxing weekend.  We did manage to get the birthday and Easter shopping done.  I can't believe, that in less than a week, my little baby is going to be 5.  Where ever does the time go?

So, today I'm playing catch up, and I'm taking full advantage of Spring Break and getting our Teen (who wishes to remain anonymous) to help out.  Both the kids have been great at pitching in.  We're just taking our time, doing a little here, stopping for a bit, doing a little there, and stopping again, lol  During my breaks I'm working on planning for the move.  We still don't know when we're moving, but I'm using this time as best as I can to get prepared.  Today I started putting together my moving kit. 

What's a moving kit you ask?  Well, for me, it's basically the essential things we'll need easy access to once we move.   Maybe Move-In Kit is a better name for it?  This is the stuff that either comes in the car with me, or are the last things loaded into the truck, so we have access to them right away.  Using all I've learned from our other moves, here's what I've put together:

Alli's Move-In Kit

Cleaning Supplies:  

• All Purpose and Disinfectant Cleaners
• Dish Soap
• Rags
• Mop and Mop Heads
• Broom and Dustpan
• Vacuum
• Rubber Gloves
• Garbage Bags (big black ones and normal kitchen ones)
• Paper Towels

These are some of the last things to be packed.  I'll put a new garbage bag in our kitchen garbage can, and fill it with all the cleaning supplies that will fit.  That way, when we get to our new place, not only do I have everything handy, we have kitchen garbage all set up and ready to go.  

Meals and Beverages:

• Paper Plates, Bowls, Cups and Plastic Cutlery
• Dish Towel or two
• Dish Cloth or two
• Easy to grab snacks
• Juice Boxes

From previous moves, I know I can easily plan on the first three meals being a little chaotic.  You just never know how much cleaning you'll have to do before you can unpack, and having the disposable dishes can really help.  The kitchen is usually the second area I tackle, and this gives me a little breathing room where the dishes, and daily clean up are concerned.  Easy to grab snacks and juice are mainly for the kids.  Usually the food stuff is easy to get to anyway, but better safe than sorry. 

Misc. Household Stuff: 

• Move Management Binder  
• Home Management Binder
• Important Documents (my accordion file)
• Paper and Pens

You never know when you might need access to certain information.  I think this pretty much covers all the bases.  And having paper and pens handy are great for making out lists and recording any information you want to remember.  Between the MMB and HMB I'll have all the files and info I need to keep the household running.  

Personal Items:                  

• Toilet Paper
• First Aid Kit, (compete with Tylenol and cold medicine, just in case)
• Hand Soap
• Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash
• Personal Hygiene Items (tooth brushes, deodorant etc...)
• 2 changes of clothes per person plus pjs.
• Hand towel, face cloth and bath towel
• Bedding
• Some toys, books, and other entertainment items for the kids

First things that get set up are the beds.  I give the frames a wipe, vacuum the mattresses and then get them made up.  Having somewhere to lay our weary heads at the end of the day is really important.  Most of these items either go in a small bin, or a few suitcases.  Having a couple changes of clothes at the ready gives me an extra day of breathing room before having to unpack the clothes.  

There you have it, my must haves for Move-In day.  I'm really excited about this move. Our last few moves, I've either been pregnant, or had a baby, then toddler to worry about.  lol  And now that our oldest is ... well... older, Travis will have two sets of hands to help!  That's going to be such a nice treat for him!  With both the boys being older this time, they'll each be able to help a little more in their own ways.  Liam is really looking forward to that, and to being able to "organize" his stuff.  :-)  He's a kid after my own heart!

Wow!  I just scrolled up and realized that this is a long post, which means I should probably end it now (and stop putting off the rest of the housework).  I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday!  

Got any tips for being move in ready that you want to share?  Did I forget something important in my list?  Just want to say hi?  Please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

One Down, a Million to Go!

First, I would just like to say I'm sorry I didn't get these posted on Friday.  I got hit with a nasty migraine that afternoon, and got busy with the family during the weekend.  But I did get my first "Operation Move" project finished.  I opted to start with the Paper Crap, lol, and this is what I was starting with.

Before

I removed all the random items, and put them in their proper homes.  Then I sorted through all the papers in the bottom pic, and put them back in their proper homes, since these are ones I use frequently, their homes are usually close at hand.  Next up, I went through all our files, and weeded out anything that wasn't needed. Good bye old outdated bills, if I can find the info online, I don't need to keep it.  Other than current bills in our "Finance" binder, all the other ones are in the shred bag, and non important items are in the recycle pile.  So what did I end up keeping:

6 years worth of tax records, plus this years stuff, marriage and birth certificates, medical records, financial and legal documents, and the home insurance policy.  Basically, the important, keep forever or at least keep for as long as you have _____, stuff.  These are files I don't need access to on a regular basis, but might need access to for one reason or another.  Here is what I was left with:

After

All our important papers are contained into one accordion folder.  I LOVE that!  I use sticky notes to label the sections, since this is where I'm keeping our tax records, I wanted the labels to be flexible.

Remember my file crate from the before pics?  Here it is!  So much room left.  The stuff on the left side of the crate is stuff my Grandmother wrote.  It's awaiting a document box.  And that mess up front is all of the owners manuals for what we own.  I'm working on an idea or two for dealing with those, but for now, while not pretty, they are contained, and again, in one spot!

And finally, here are the drawers and the basket.  Pretty much empty, except for empty hanging files and some folders.  I was going to toss them out, but we have a teen who is going to be needing to set up his own file system soon, and I have plans for some of the other ones.  We do have a small file cabinet that can store these.  Right now it's not in use, and I'm thinking our teen might light it in his new room when we move.

And that bring us to the end of the files.   Other than these one I have my short term files store in a small file box, but I think that is another post for another day.

I sure hope everyone is doing great!!!  We've reached no conclusion on the job offer yet..... wish us luck on that one.  I have a feeling it's going to be part informed decision part of leap of faith if we take it.  While I'm on that topic, the MMB (Move Management Binder) is slowly coming together.  I'll share some pics later on this week, and if all goes well, another printable too!  :-)  

Have a wonderful week every one!!!!