Guest Post: Moving with Kids (Part 2 of 2)

Mommy blogger, Allison Stanton, of Ally's Helpful Hints for Mommies, recently moved with her two preschool aged children in tow. Ally shares her moving experience and organizational tips to make moving with kids easier. 

Thanks to Carolyn for letting me guest post!  She asked me to share some tips with you on moving with small kids. Check out last week's post for tips on preparing for moving day. 

The last couple of days before moving I packed up everything except what we would need for a couple of days. It was like staying in a hotel. I had as much as I could in our dining room after moving our table out of the way and stacked it all up in one spot so it was easy to get at.

This made room in the bedrooms to take apart the beds as much as we could before our help showed up to load it all up. We allowed several hours to disassemble beds, to pack up bedding and to pack last minute items before our help came.  

We also sent the kids to the grandparents house the morning we moved and the first night in the new house so we could get everything set up. If Grandma and Grandpa can take the kids longer than that I would recommend it!

To save the cost of a moving company, we got help from our church. The volunteers did a good job with minimal damage on the big items.  Make sure to have a small treat and drinks for your helpers. :)

One tip I have for unloading is to have one person telling everyone where to put the boxes.  It can be overwhelming with them coming in two doors or a bunch at once, but this way 80% of your items will be in the right room. I stood and told everyone where I wanted items and the boxes that were not labeled well I made a pile in our living room and went through it right away and put things where they needed to go.  

I am still going through things and giving items away to downsize pots, extra bowls, decorations and the like. It really helps to keep things simple. I still have a room that has some boxes in it but we are slowly organizing and putting things in place.  

The biggest thing that has helped me is to not hold on to items thinking "I may use this one day". If you haven't used it in awhile and do not think you will use it again soon, get rid of it! You can find yard sale groups on Facebook and Craigslist in your town. 

Happy moving!  What is your biggest tip when it comes to moving?

Who is Ally? My name is Allison Stanton and I am a stay at home mom of two boys: 5 and 2 years old. We live in Ormond Beach, Florida. I love connecting with other mommies and helping each other out. I pass along hints for mommies and I receive help at the same time.  You can find me at my website at http://www.allyshints.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/allyshelpfulhintsformommies.  

Guest Post: Moving with Kids (Part 1 of 2)

Mommy blogger, Allison Stanton, of Ally's Helpful Hints for Mommies, recently moved with her two preschool aged children in tow. Ally shares her moving experience and organizational tips to make moving with kids easier. 

Thanks to Carolyn for letting me guest post!  She asked me to share some tips with you on moving with small kids. 

We only moved a few miles away but we still packed up everything really well because we had help to do it. 

I started out a couple months before the move date going through as much as I could and getting rid of items we did not need anymore. I gave clothes my youngest did not wear to a friend. Other items we no longer used were given away to friends that wanted them and things that were not usable were dumped.   

I boxed up a bunch of things in the beginning that we did not use everyday to get a head start on packing.  This included decorations, pictures and extra clothes. It was basically anything I knew that we did not need right away. I stacked boxes in corners of our small apartment and had a wall in my boys room that was stacked up to get things out of the way.

As I was packing I made sure to label the boxes to find things easily after moving.  It does pay to mark the boxes on all sides as this helps the guys bringing in boxes know where to put them.

Next week I will share more tips to prepare for moving day. 

Who is Ally? My name is Allison Stanton and I am a stay at home mom of two boys: 5 and 2 years old. We live in Ormond Beach, Florida. I love connecting with other mommies and helping each other out. I pass along hints for mommies and I receive help at the same time.  You can find me at my website at http://www.allyshints.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/allyshelpfulhintsformommies.  

Book Review: ADHD

Book Cover Courtesy of www.hazelden.org

We all get distracted from time to time, but for folks with ADD or ADHD getting and staying organized is a major challenge. 


Some of my clients have been diagnosed with Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Other's have children that have been diagnosed and think they might have it too. And in a few instances, I have had the pleasure of working with children and teens diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. 


In order to further my personal education on the subject, I recently read Kevin Roberts' new book Movers, Dreamers and Risk Takers: Unlocking the Power of ADHD. 


Of all of the books on ADHD that I have read, this is the most personal and entertaining account of how to maximize the benefits of a mind that functions differently. 


Roberts shares many anecdotes from his own life growing up and attending 12 years of Catholic school. It is interesting to note that he was not officially diagnosed with ADHD until 1997, as an adult. Roberts is also a recovered video game addict and the author of Cyber Junkie: Escape the Gaming and Internet Trap. 


In Movers, Dreamers Roberts goes into great detail on techniques that he uses to help coaching clients and the members of the study groups he administers for students. Of the many gems, I was happy to learn that changing the venue is one of the recommended tips. When working with with ADHD clients I implement this tip by taking paper piles to an outside patio or another area of the home. 


The information in this book is backed up by solid scientific research that is well documented throughout the work. Movers, Dreamers is a great reference for ADHDers, the people who love them and individuals in the helping professions. 


Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life" and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

An Easy Decluttering Project

Photo courtesy of www.ewashtenaw.org 

Over the years, several clients have expressed their desire to properly dispose of collections of old paint (typically stored in basements here in Michigan). Letting go of old paint can be a really easy decluttering project with the potential to free up a large amount of space. Every house I have ever lived in has had paint cans in the basement, many left from previous owners.

If you do not plan on using extra paint around your space, please be sure to dispose of it properly to protect our environment. Check the label on the can to see if the paint you want to get rid of is latex or oil/solvent based.

Most household paint used these days is latex based. To dispose of latex based paint simply leave the lid off (away from pets or children) so the remainder dries up. Alternatively, you can add kitty litter to the can. The kitty litter will soak up the remaining paint and solidify. Once the latex paint is dry you can dispose of it with your household trash.

However, if you have oil or solvent based paint, stain or other household toxins, you will need to dispose of these properly at a collection site in your community. In Washtenaw County, Michigan, there is a collection site for residents on Zeeb Road just north of I94 (see photo above). From April through November 2012, the home toxins collections center is open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon the first three Saturdays of every month (excluding holidays). For more information in Washtenaw County, click on the Home Toxins Reduction Program.

If you have other common household items that you are ready to part with, but are not sure what to do with, please feel free to contact me for some ideas. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life" and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here.