Posting has been light this week, & I’m sure most of you can figure out why. Right now, my entire house looks like a tornado came through, took everything off the walls & out of the cabinets, and dumped it onto my table & floors (so really a nice, polite tornado). My momma has been over for the past 2 nights, helping me wrap all my breakables in bubble wrap & newspaper, & Cio is coming over tonight to help make some more progress. I work better when there’s someone else around, 1. because there’s more pressure for me to keep working & not get distracted, & 2. there’s more pressure for me to not be such a perfectionist & PACK THE DANG BOX ALREADY. Not all the green things have to go in the same box, Lauren. Also there’s less opportunity for me to get sidetracked looking at old pictures or whatnot & end up under a pile of packing tape, bawling my eyes out. This really is an emotional process.
It’s not that I don’t want to move, it’s just a LOT of change at once. We listed our house on March 28th, had a contract on April 28th, & will close on May 28th. I think that’s shorter than the amount of time it would take to watch Avatar & all its special features. I’m feeling excited, scared, anxious, emotional, sad, happy… and that’s before breakfast. Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I want this move. I want to get out of this area for a few years & live in a new place with my husband. I want to support my husband & his dream of going back to school. I want to meet new people, try new things, decorate a different house. But that doesn’t mean I won’t get a little weepy over leaving all our family (both sides), some very dear friends, and our first house together.
Right now, the thing causing me the most stress is packing. I work full-time, so packing all day is out of the question. My goal is to be 100% (or at least 98%) packed by Sunday night (we close next Friday & I don’t want to depend on work day evenings for packing). This is where y’all come in. Let me have it. I know most of you have had to move at some point; many of you have moved multiple times & under more stressful circumstances (how my parents moved 4 children under the age of 13 is BEYOND ME). Tell me every tip & trick you have up your sleeve. Bubble wrap vs. newspaper? Is there a way to transport all of my clothes without having to take them off the hangers (please please please)? How did you keep from breaking everything? How did you stay sane?
Y’all, help. Because I’m currently staring at 24 + 31 years worth of STUFF, combined with 2.5 years of marriage, and stuffed into a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house. I can tell you right now… it’s not going down without a fight.
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Nora says:
I always leave my clothes on the hangers, then either take the giant packing plastic and loop it around the hangers once and the clothes once (just a loop, not totally covered) keeps them together and from slipping/sliding.
I’ve always used newspaper for my dishes & glassware with extra stuffed in for padding and that seems to work just fine.
Also, if you see something you don’t see the point in packing that probably means you either a) can take it as it is or b) don’t need it anymore, so chuck it/donate it and lighten the load a little bit.
Good luck! Drink plenty of wine the next few days and turn on some good tunes. Always makes moving a little bit easier for me!
Heidi-D says:
For clothes on hangers – I always put them in my version of a garment bag. A heavy duty garbage bag with a hole in the bottom so I can shove the hanger hooks through. It keeps the clothes from getting dirty and also gives you the option of hanging them up in your vehicle. They take up less room that way and you can keep them grouped as you would in your closet (his/hers, work/dress/casual – I know, I’m a freak but I organize my closet that way).
I use newspaper not bubble wrap. It saves space AND money – plus you don’t feel so bad throwing the newspaper out when you unpack. I always feel bad throwing out perfectly good bubble wrap (again, I’m a little OCD).
Be sure you label your boxes with more info than just “kitchen”, “bathroom” etc. It makes unpacking SO much easier. If you are using plastic bins in place of cardboard boxes – I find that writing my labels on masking tape is the best way. They come of cleanly so you can relabel them later on when using them for storage.
I am wishing you the best of luck! I would totally volunteer to offer you my OCD packing skills if I lived anywhere near you!
Hang in there… Hugs! I know this is hard, but you have SO many exciting things coming up! You’re starting a great adventure!
mediumcrazy says:
I just moved recently too, though my move was only a half hour away so it wasn’t as traumatic as yours. We made a lot of trips back and forth. But we had a LOT of stuff. I’m trying to think of what might be hellpful from my packing experience. This may not be an option, but I always kept all the plastic thingys that pillows and blankets came in when I bought them, and it was nice to have those to pack up pillows and bedding in to keep them clean. We used huge trash bags for everything unbreakable. You’re probably going to have to give up that dream about keeping the clothes on the hangers, sorry. Packing stuff in all our trash cans was actually quite useful since they held a lot and were mostly spill-proof. I really get your very sweet attachment to your current home but you will move on so quickly and your new place will be your new world. GOOD LUCK LAURENFROMTEXAS!
thedailychelle says:
For the clothes… there are also special boxes you can get that have a little bar in them so you can just hang your clothes up in the boxes. Moving companies usually bring them so I’m sure you buy them somewhere… although I’m not sure how expensive they are. Maybe that “wrap in a layer of plastic” idea is more cost effective :-)
Stephanie says:
Uhaul actually sells wardrobe boxes that come with a bar for your hangers. They are a must have for whenever my husband and I move. Check those out – they will probably make you very happy! :)
Rachel says:
I just put the clothes on the hangers in boxes, just get a large box and fold the clothes in halfish so they fit. It’s not neat looking but it works and my clothes weren’t wrinkled. Also use all your suitcases for clotehs. That way when you get to your new house you can easily find the suitcase instead of looking through a billion boxes!
THEStephanie says:
How far are you moving? I would suggest the wardrobe boxes you can purchase from Uhaul, or if it’s just an “across town” move, just lay them in your car.
My parents moved a million times when I was younger. I do not envy them or know how on earth they did it. I hate moving!!
Good luck!
Grace says:
I second the wardrobe boxes! You can also buy them online at a far cheaper rate if you’re willing to wait a few days for shipping.
My mother’s secret to success in moving 5,000 sq. ft. worth of house a couple of times over the past decade has been plastic, see-through boxes ($5 each at Home Depot/Lowes). They allow you to easily see what’s in each box and makes unpacking infinitely easier. For the regular cardboard boxes, she labels each box with a number and keeps a notebook where she meticulously documents what is in each box.
And when you’re tired and frustrated and the clock is ticking, my fail-proof way has always been stuff everything into garbage bags!
abby says:
I’ll tell you what saved my sanity… I hired a moving company! They were only $150/hr for three guys and a giant truck and it only took them like 4 hours to load up my 1500 sqare foot house and unload it! And nothing was damaged or scratched! They even transported my hanging stuff ON HANGERS by putting a rope across the back of the truck and hanging everything! Having someone else move the big stuff is a HUGE relief. My hubby didn’t believe me until he saw how wonderful it actually was. They even hooked up our washer/dryer and put our beds headboards together!
Also, Lowes sells packing paper and I loved it! It’s clean (unlike newspaper) and it’s great to wrap decorations and plates and things in. That way you don’t have to get to your new house and wash all your dishes all over again!
Suburban Sweetheart says:
The garbage bags plan for clothes is the best – leave ‘em on the hanger, & you can literally just hang them all right back up as soon as you unpack them. Makes things really easy, & you can fit TONS inside one bag!
Good luck…………
( <3 )
becca says:
for your clothes, it’s completely worth the money to go to your closest uhaul store and buy the wardrobe boxes. they come with a metal rod that you can just hang your clothes on. you’ll probably need several, but it’s by far the easiest way to move clothes.
since we just moved, i’ll mention this. we thought we were good; just a few odds and ends lying around. and come closing night, it was like there were things everywhere. we were so tired and trying to clean on top of it all. so do your best to really have everything packed. even if it seems like just a couple of odds and ends; it adds up.
play some music and enjoy it though too! best wishes!
Samantha says:
I agree with others about the wardrobe boxes. We’ve used those pretty much every time we’ve moved (even if we had movers pack us), and they’re great. I’ve also used Space Bags for clothes. (They have ones for clothes on hangers as well as for clothes that are folded up, like pajamas and sweaters and whatever else.) I’ve also used the Space Bags for bedding, blankets, and pillows. They save A LOT of space, obviously.
I’d use newspaper or packing paper (even a few towels for extra support) for packing glassware and other fragile items. As long as you wrap everything well and fill them with a little extra paper, you’ll be fine. Bubble wrap can get expensive.
I always make sure to label boxes or bins in detail (room and category) so that I know exactly what’s inside, making it easier to unpack.
I wish you the best! It’s a stressful time laced with some sadness, but I think you’ll get through it just fine. And like you said, it’ll be fun to have a new house to decorate from scratch just how you want!
RootsAndRings says:
I don’t have tips. I haven’t moved much.
But I read a few of these tips and I think you should listen to Abby… splurge on packing paper. Newspaper is nasty and makes your fingers feel gross. You don’t need to feel gross in your highly stressed out state. Plus, you’ll have to rewash all your dishes and YOU DON’T HAVE A DISHWASHER. Packing paper, my friend. Do it.
Alena says:
I didn’t read all the comments so IDK what they said. But you can buy garment boxes for clothes on hangers, and some moving trucks have a bar you can hang clothes on.
I have moved more times than I can count and the biggest thing we’ve learned is put the stuff you’ll want right away in the truck LAST so that you can get it out first in case you aren’t wanting to finish unpacking the moving truck right away.
Kaci says:
Don’t pack the toilet paper until the minute you leave. Seriously.
And for real, don’t spend money on the garment/clothing boxes – I’ve NEVER done that, and I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to my clothing. Heavy duty garbage bags work just fine and then you won’t have buyer’s remorse when you’re all moved into your new place going “why the hell do we have these stupid boxes again?”
Nikki says:
I have moved quite a few times across the state of Texas from east to west through college and now being married, and the best thing I have found for hanging clothes is a blanket or comforter. Just lay it out on your bed or floor, lay the clothes down switching directions with the hangers so it doesn’t get too bulky on one end, and then wrap them up like a burrito! Then you don’t have to worry about getting rid of any boxes later.
I agree that towels are great for packing stuff as well.
Good luck! After my husband & I moved into our house, we decided that the next would be done with the help of movers!
Darla Baerg says:
Lauren-
Bill and I moved from Dallas to Nashville so he could get his MBA at Vanderbilt. I felt exactly like you. Excited for the adventure … and a little nervous too. Best thing we ever did. Everything we owned was in a little UHAUL.
I’m excited for y’all.
sarah says:
Get the moving people to give you the boxes with the rods in them. Then nothing comes off hangers. Piece of cake.
Sara says:
Okay so I read some comments and I’m like really jealous because I’m about to drive from NY to TX and stay there for 2 weeks, then when the boy flies down, we’re driving to CA from TX. Because we’re trying to save money, we basically have to make sure we can fit everything in one small SUV for and a few boxes to be shipped. Oh if only a wardrobe box could work for us.
Best of luck packing, I think everyone gave good advice! It’s hard for me to stay focused on packing, but it seems to help to make a list of areas to tackle just so I can cross things off :)
Cio says:
You call a friend who LOVES packing ;)
Love you!
Jill says:
There are boxes you can purchase that turn into “wardrobes” so you don’t have to take all your clothes off the hanger. The good thing is that there is room in the bottom to put things, also, but do light things like pillows and stuff because it will get very heavy :)
zburrows says:
So I didnt read the other commments. But the wardrobe boxes (although expensive) will save your sanity. I promise!
I suggest that you pack room by room. Dont try and wonder around putting random stuff in boxes.
I also suggest you pack a suitcase like you are going on a weeklong vacation. (one for you and one for Michael) That way you dont have to stress about finding things once you get there. And you can take your time to unpack.
Also, you will need 2-3 boxes for random crap that you forget to pack.
These are my thoughts. i wish i could be there to help. I am an awesome packer. I have way too much experience.
Judy (Mom) says:
Hey Owen-
Just thought I’d let you know I was on your blog today… wish I could think of something profound to say, but you have all the writing skills!
My moving advice: Don’t grieve over the packing. Before you know it, you’ll be undoing it all! Life is like that.
I love you,
MOM
BTW- Since you have so many followers, I thought I’d plug the Campground! http://www.MyFavoriteCampground.com
Stephanie~Little Insights says:
Lauren…
Remember that this is only the first leg of the move. Won’t you be moving to the 2nd rental in six months or something? Be sure you label all of the boxes and only unpack the things you really need/want out when you arrive at destination number one, so you can leave the other stuff in the garage at your new location. Don’t forget to buy roach/ant bait and even a few mousetraps! The last thing you want are pesky little icky things getting into your boxes of “storage” stuff.
When you store the excess boxes in the garage make sure you leave a little space (maybe 5 inches between the boxes and the walls so you can change/check traps (Or rather so your husband can handle that part!) :-)
When you are loading your moving vehicle of choice be sure to pack un-needed things first (so that they are the last off of the truck). If you have room for them, great….if not, it is into storage they go!
Hang in there! Soon you will be making wonderful meals and memories in your “new” place and this will all seem like a dream!
Think……”Little Engine that Could”!
Stephany says:
I have moved so many times in my life that packing is a cinch for me. I do use newspapers for dishes/fragile stuff because it’s just easier. I don’t want to take unnecessary trips to places to buy fancy packing gear when I could use that time to pack. Moving is never easy and it’s always stressful but I just love coming to a new home and putting my mark on a new place and town.
E.P. says:
I leave my clothes on hangers and put them in suitcases or just stack them in the back seat of my car. On my move from MS to Nashville? They took THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT. Almost up to the ceiling!
I also try to organize the boxes so unpacking is more organized. (Though I’m sure you already have this covered.) Kitchen boxes, bathroom boxes… but even more organized than that — more details.
Good luck with the packing! It’ll all be OK, and you WILL get everything done!
Jacqueline says:
When I moved this past Dec., I single-handedly pared down the 13 year contents of a 3-floor, 5-bdrm, 2 bthrm house. I gave away, sold and had a junk removal company eliminate all but essentials and things I truly loved. The result: the equivalent of furnishings for a one bdrm apt!
Just as you’ve experienced, this was a HUGE physical and emotional undertaking. Alsolike you, my first move was temporary! So, the only tidbit I’d underscore, is “Stephanie – Little Insights” suggestion: unpack only that which is absolutely necessary to allow you to feel comfie, and have your familiars around you. You’ll be surprised to discover what you can live without; simplifying is good for us all! And you know what? The second move will be SO much easier on you both — promise!
All other suggestions are brilliant. Keep it simple: garbage bags, and newspapers baby! And take the time to label the outside of boxes with detail: Sharpies are your buddies. When you get to the new nest, try and set boxes down in the approximate place you’d like the contents to go. It really minimizes the box-catapulting in the days ahead!
You can do this!! xxx
Denise says:
I take my clothes and use either rubberbands of one of the 300 ponytail holders I have and wrap it around 7-10 hangers. then I take a trash bag and either pull it up and tie it around the clothes or poke a hole in the bottom and drape it over the top.
For strange shaped things like decorations that are breakable, I use my kitchen towel and all bathroom towels to wrap those things up.
Separate the must haves and the things you can live without for 6 months. I did not need all 300 pieces of Tupperware and so half is still in a box in the garage till our house is done in July.
And free boxes from Spec’s liquor. if they can hold 12 bottle of liquor they can hold my stuff. Plus all new neighbors think y’all are party animals ;)
I also color code with different color sharpies different rooms, IE blue= living room, green=master, etc. Makes it easier for other people to move the boxes and you know from a distance where it needs to go.
Melissa says:
The sanity in my recent move came from purging. There is something emotionally refreshing about getting rid of stuff, and it saves you the energy of packing, transporting and unpacking things you don’t need! I used spare boxes and an extra laundry hamper as my “give away” pile and then made a few consecutive trips to the thrift shop.
Get rid of:
-Things you’re keeping “just because”
-Things that you’re pretty sure have sentimental value but you can’t exactly remember what it was…
-Things you haven’t used in a year
-Things that someone else gave you that you’ve never used
-Things that are inexpensive, easily replaced and tend to accumulate in a household (like cheap cutlery and dishes, basic candles, office supplies, etc.)
My other superstar tip is to ask grocery stores for apple boxes. They are incredibly sturdy, have built in handles, and every store I’ve ever asked willingly gives them up for free.
Lauren says:
I’m sure lots of people have already left these suggestions but here I go anyways:
1) Throw things away. Seriously. Do it. I guarantee you won’t miss it. If you do, you can replace it.
2) LABEL BOXES WELL. Unpacking is fun if you pack well. Unpacking is hell if you don’t pack well.
3) Pay a bit extra. It’s worth it. Does your moving company have a bonus package? Do it. Can you hire someone to come in and help you? Do it. I know that Michael is going back to school and finances might be tight but sanity is mucho importante when compared to money.
4) Vacuum bags work. Use them.
5) Use sheets, towels, blankets whenever you can. It is stupid difficult to get rid of boxes once you have all of them!
6) Treat yourself afterwards. Wine! Wine! Wine!