Relocation Tips-Just for Kicks

I am no professional mover, believe me.  If you had been with me while unpacking you would have been so confused.  Most boxes were marked random because when you are packing but living in the house at the same time it all doesn't go in at the same time.  It would start with a theme, like, bedroom and then I would get to the top of the box and have a bunch of room.  So, then I would go for a walk around the house and look for the perfect thing to fit at the top of that box or in a little nook and cranny.  Often times it was a drawer from the desk or some random things from the kitchen.  Here are how a lot of our conversations have gone:

J: Where are the supports for the bed?

M: In a box.

or...

J: Where are the towels/sheets/silverware/telephone?

M: In a box.  I can't tell you which one because the label means nothing really.  I checked KITCHEN but really it could be the sheets!

So, like I said I learned a lot from this move.  Number one being I would very much like to not have to pack anything if we do it again.  But let's not.

Here are a few things I did learn, or things that I could not do without that helped me and might help someone else out there.

1. Lots o' boxes.  Go to Home Depot every week and buy more because you are always out of the size you need
2. Scotch Brand Tape and a tape dispenser.  The generic stuff comes off and you will cry when your favorite dishes go crashing to the floor.  
3. Permanent Markers.  More than one, especially if you share your house with anyone remotely crafty you won't be able to find it when you need it.  This comes with experience, buy a couple, maybe three.
4. More boxes.  Again, if there is a crafty person they may need to build forts, buses, fairy houses, mouse houses, rat houses.  Provide more markers and also promise that when you get to your new house they can build the biggest castle ever with all the empty boxes.  
5. Family and Friends.  You need these like the air you breathe.  They provide a voice of wisdom when you can't decide what to pack next.  They also can provide you with a drink every now and then.  ;)
6. Redbox.  If you have kids and the drive is long and you have a laptop/DVD player then stop at a Redbox, they are nationwide and you can return your selections in New Mexico even if you rented it in California…AH-MAZING!
7. ABF.  For a long distance move we made the best choice in selecting ABF Freight.  Every one of their customer service representatives and drivers has been exceptional!  They were funny, they were helpful, they were just plain awesome! From beginning to end this was the best choice for long distance moving, hands down.

Works For Me Wednesday-Nature Bag

I am hoping in all the chaos of second grade this year to do some nature study using this great book:


and these:
So to make things bit easier when we are on the way I put together this bag! It has a supply box for each of the kids with {colored pencils, crayons, glue, tape...}, a sketch book and some of the above mentioned books. I purchased a canvas bag at my friend Joanns and had the kids decorate it with fabric markers.All the stuff goes in and then when we are leaving I don't have to scurry for pencils, crayons, sketch books, etc...just grab and go. OH! But don't forget the camera...I thought about getting them each their own disposable camera but that will cost more $$$ and time than I am willing to part with so the digital goes with.


Go here for more tips! WFMW :)

WFMW: Felt Food :)

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Maleiah needed food for her kitchen, I looked online and found a few sites where people were selling felt food. For the breakfast meal they wanted $20.00. I couldn't see spending $60.00+++for a days worth of play food so I asked my friend Amanda (my pretend sister) if she thought we could make some, I would come up with the ideas and do the cutting and she would help with the sewing. We made a good team and here is the "fruit", mainly vegetables of our labor.

MENU

Breakfast (Eggs-Sunny Side Up, Bacon, Pancakes and an Orange)

Lunch (Cheese Sandwich)

Pizza

For the more health conscious: Pizza with Salad

Dinner (Spaghetti)

Dinner (Spinach Ravioli's, Fish and Carrots)

Total Cost of Food: $14.00

I love this stuff! And we still have a few more things we can make...cookies, burgers, french fries...Maleiah likes flipping the pancakes the best. :)

Works For Me Wednesday

We are library addicts so we started a Library day each week. Caeden already has Library day at school on Tuesdays but he and I go on Mondays in the evenings. We started doing this because then I always know that the books are due back on a Monday instead of having all these different dates throughout the week. We were spending way too much time going back and forth.

We also have a Library basket near the door so we know where to find those library books come time for there due date. We tend to have lots of books to pick up when we go thanks to the book request feature online so we can't even hold them in our arms so we have a Library bag/Car bag that we carry all the books in. I had a bag that actually broke because of all those books and I was blessed with a new, sturdy one for Christmas.

Works For ME Wednesday

Let's see....what works for me?

Freezer Cooking! Surprisingly, I really like it even with the extra work. It has been a lifesaver on the busy days and I discovered yesterday with a sick baby in the house and an empty freezer that it would have been nice to have a meal ready to go instead of heading out to the burger joint to pick up something not as good for the family.

Here are a few of my favorite places to go to check out the world of cooking for my freezer....

Recipe Zaar Freezer Forum

Freezer Chicks

This past month we had Meatloaf, Chicken Pot Pies, and Spanish Chicken & Rice Wraps. Right now I am in the testing phase of a lot of recipes. I have always thought this seemed overwhelming and to be honest the thought of cooking for an entire day doesn't sound like a party BUT the idea of having meals already prepared and ready to go is exciting. SO.......filling my freezer and saving money, WORKS FOR ME!