We are "down-sizing" AGAIN and I just have to post this. I am a "contractor's daughter" so I really know about moving a lot. Daddy would find new ideas to put into his custom homes, build it out and then move us in and put a FOR SALE sign out front. (A story in and of it's self.)
BUT on this move two of our son's were coming over straight from work to help with a truck load of furniture one of them was taking up to Utah with him the next day for distribution to two of our families up there. I wanted to serve them a good dinner before they (my Danny & Timmy) had to do all the heavy lifting for us.
Sooooo, since my hubby and I are empty nesters and I don't seem to be able to cut back on my cooking I've, in the past few months, started to do things that have really come in handy.
I make a mean meat loaf, if I do say so myself (but don't ask my brother-in-law Dan E) so rather than just make it for two I always double the recipe I used when we had 7 children at home. Divide the batch into four meat loafs, put in bread pans and freeze individually. The next day I empty out of my bread pans, place individual loafs into individual freezer bags and write directions on the freezer bags and put back in the freezer.
Long story short I took out a couple to defrost, cooked them up along with baked potatoes and veggies and had a hardy dinner for our helpers and kids without having to stop in the middle of packing and getting our things ready to move out.
I also had yummy cookies I recently learned how to make from my "roomies" daughter on Modern Honey blog, to serve for dessert because of my recently added habit of freezing extra cookie dough into my mini muffin tins and then dumping out the cookie dough balls into a freezer bag to cook up what I needed quickly.
I've shared this before but not here on my blog. I've made (out of old cloth place mats the kind of Home Depot aprons so I can carry my packing tape, perminent wide marking pen, tape measure, note cards, pen and small sissors, plus my phone on vibrate when needed. This way I am not always looking for items I need when boxing up for a move. BarB-Q aprons with their big pockets work well also. This way I don't get my clothing dirty when I have to take off to go get more tape or boxes or just to get out for awhile.
Another tip is on the month before your move start collecting in a note book (put in an easy place to access that someone won't accidently pick up and pack away). Every address for bills you pay each month need to be entered so that you'll have them to call for address change notice for the FINAL pay on all bills. (EXAMPLES: Homeowners Ins., Life Ins., Individual Ins., Gas, Water, Trash, House Payment, Internet, Banking, Savings, ect. Accounts
Another tip is to pack in mostly small and medium boxes. Most of us can't heft big, heavy, arkward boxes. (BOOKS should NEVER be packed in anything bigger than SMALL boxes.)
MARK all boxes as to content and room to be placed in when you are going to unpack the box.
Two types of "dollies" should be available as well as moving blankets to protect furniture. Also keep handy any old pillows, blankets, rugs, sheets ect. that the movers can use to help as props to keep furniture safe while in a moving van. Also wratchet straps come in handy to hold blankets on furniture or heavy wide tape over the blankets (NEVER on the furniture its self).
I highly recommend reading "Clutter's Last Stand" BEFORE you organize a move. It's funny and very informative and helpful to get one organized and get moving forward for the upcoming move.
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