Systems & Techniques Archives | Page 21 of 22

Moving Monday::New Routines

by Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

We’ve been here for about 3 weeks now and it’s funny how some new routines have already been established and some old one’s have maintained. One routine I’m having a hard time re-establishing here is blogging so bear with me in my absence please!

We are now officially residents of South Carolina having made multiple trips to the DMV, courthouse and Social Security administration. You wouldn’t believe all the documentation required to prove you are who you say you are here! Anyways, that’s behind us and I’m looking to plant my feet as firmly in the sand as I can now. Hum, sand shifts around a lot and that’s a perfect analogy for how I’m feeling about settling in here. I’m not quite there yet!

I miss my three times a week yoga class, my monthly meetings for volunteering and organizing, my regular client appointments and visits with friends and my local food/farm sources. I’m loving my new routine of going to the beach in the morning to watch the sunrise, write in my journal and walk. I’m not doing this daily but a few times a week so far. I also love going to watch the sunset on the Waccamaw river.

I’ve scouted out a few sources for locally grown food, one road side stand is just a few minutes from our house. I’ve already got my local library card and checked out a stack of books. I’ve made contact with the local NAPO Charleston chapter and plan to attend my first meeting next week. I’m also currently working on getting involved with the local Master Gardener program.

I think it’s funny how easy it is for some routines to follow you wherever you go and other routines are more difficult to re-establish. I’m looking forward to both establishing new routines and carrying on with the best of the old ones.

Moving, Lists and Inventory

by Filed Under: Move Management, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 2 Comments

When it comes to moving, lists and inventory are essential tools! Another week into the moving progress and we’ve got over 24 boxes packed! We did a little calculation and determined that if we pack 4 boxes a day on average (6 days a week) then we will have over 90 boxes packed in the next few weeks. When we moved here 6 years ago we had over 90 boxes, my goal is to have less this time!

I prefer to pack a little bit at a time rather than try to cram it all into the last week or so.

With this strategy like break down packing into categories so this week I’ll be packing linens, china, un necessary kitchen items, some home accessories and some clothing.

Here’s how I go about creating Moving, Lists and Inventory

Each box is numbered and assigned a code according to size (A, B, C) then
I list a short inventory of the contents making special note of valuable (sentimental or monetary) items.

With this system, you will have a very good idea of what’s in each box, where it goes and BONUS, this inventory can serve insurance purposes if needed.

Now for the exciting news, fingers crossed we very well might have someone to rent our house!! We will know for sure soon but it looks promising and this will allow us to determine our exact date of departure. I’ve been secretly hoping for a specific date and it seems like things might just be pointing in that direction.

Moving Monday::Where to Begin with Packing (hkpowerstudio.wordpress.com)

Moving Monday::Where to Begin with Packing

by Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 2 Comments

Okay, it’s time for my weekly check in on our moving progress. I’m excited to share that the house is on the market and has shown a few times. It’s got to be kept spic and span which is a challenge in this state of affairs but it’s kind of nice! I’m enjoying having things looking neat and clean for our last amount of time here.

A few more items have made their way onto Craigslist and the flea market is behind us now. It was a wash out but we made a little money before it started pouring and the remaining non valuables went directly to donation. So, what’s the next step? Packing of course! When it comes to packing I wanted to share a little of my strategy. I have a list week by week of what I will be packing by category. I’m sure there will be a little overlap but it’s a plan and it creates weekly goals for our packing which will help keep us on track and feeling less overwhelmed.

Pictures and artwork, especially personal photo’s (those came down before we started to show the house). Next, all the small artwork come off the walls. I pack smaller photo’s and artwork in medium size boxes with newsprint wrapped around each and bubble wrap or cardboard between them.

Small decorative non function items. Otherwise known as Nicknacks:)

Formal china, stemware, crystal and serving pieces. I’m not planning to do any formal entertaining before we leave so these things won’t be needed. We don’t have a lot of it but what there is will go in boxes this week.

Any books I know I won’t be referring to.

By next week it will begin looking a bit more bare around here. This is the part I don’t like very much but I’m hoping to embrace the empty space and enjoy the simplicity of living with less.

Moving Monday::6 Week Countdown (hkpowerstudio.wordpress.com)
Moving Monday::House Tour (hkpowerstudio.wordpress.com)

Follow this Friday::Reuse and Organize

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 2 Comments

Here are a few favorite things I found this week that fall into the categories of reuse and organizing. You can’t beat that combo!Suitcase Side tables from Cupcakes and Cashmere

Crate’s are popping up everywhere and here are a few ideas for their use.

Crate Side table from Neet Magazine

Crate Shelves from Design sponge

Various shelves and organization by way of re-purposed crates, suitcases etc from Recreate

To see more ideas for re-using everyday stuff check out my Pinterest Re-Use It board. If you would like to follow my boards click Here.

There is a lot of discussion these days about how images collected on Pinterest are attributed, in my case I always try to link back to the original makers. In some cases, these items are for sale but may not be available. In other cases, they are simple ideas that no one would mind you reusing in your own way. In any case, I hope you will give credit to the creative makers who inspire us with their DIY inventions!

Save

Moving Monday::6 Week Countdown

by Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 6 Comments

It’s official and I have not announced this in person to several of my clients but we found out today that we will be able to leave the DC metro area by the end of October. This is about a month sooner than we anticipated but honestly it’s PERFECT! It seems like things are really falling into place, that this move is meant to be. I can’t wait to move forward but right now I’m looking at all OUR STUFF thinking, “I hate moving”. That is not going to be the case, this time I’m embracing it and I’m going to love it! I’m going to try to love it at least. I’ll be checking in each Monday here on the blog telling you about the process. So this week being the first week here is what we are doing to plan and organize for our move:

Start a “Moving” binder or file folder to keep all the important information in one location. Keep everything related here. I’m opting for an expandable file folder with several tabs to keep things sorted by category (i.e. the moving info itself, donation, sale and give away, storage, lodging and other information for the destination location).
Use up food, cleaning supplies and any other perishables or consumables that you don’t want to move.
Check pricing on moving companies, moving trucks, storage facilities and be ready to book in 1-2 weeks. There are several options here, DIY, hire a service or a hybrid (you pack, they move). In our case we have done all of the above in past moves and we are opting for total DIY this time. We made this decision to save money and we’ve had quite a bit of moving experience.
Make decisions about large items to sell, donate or give away. Collect items to get rid of (for donation, sale or throw away) throughout daily routines; keep an empty box and bags in one location and place items to get rid of here.
Research hotels or other temporary housing and book as needed.
Enlist or hire help for the day of the move.
Locate and purchase boxes and other packing supplies. Determining the quantity of boxes needed is a bit tricky but an moving supply company can help you calculate this based upon how many household members and how large your home is. Supplies will include the following:

Boxes in various sizes as well as specialized wardrobe boxes, china and silverware boxes, flat boxes or cardboard for artwork.
Equipment such as dollies and hand carts will make moving large items much easier and safer.
Packing tape (and guns), markers, labels, box cutters (or other such knives), bubble wrap/packing peanuts and newspaper (or unprinted newsprint which is much less messy).
Packing pads, blankets, sheets (the old one’s you don’t need anymore) and plastic shrink wrap (which is not very eco friendly but sometimes is VERY helpful!).

Since the move is going to be taking up a lot of my time I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to commit to blogging but I’ll be popping in to share our progress and any other helpful or interesting things that come up. I am SO excited!! Can you tell?