Congratulations on your new home! Moving can be an exciting time- a time of new beginnings and fresh starts, but can also be a source of stress for many people. To help alleviate that stress here are some pointers for your next move:
1. Plan ahead and get ample supplies. Get more boxes that you think you may need - you can sometimes find good, sturdy boxes (with lids or flaps to close) at grocery or liquor stores. If not you may inquire at shipping stores or with your moving company about purchasing boxes. Also have bubble wrap and/or newspaper on hand, a spiral notebook, pens, markers and colored stickers.
2. Create a packing log in your spiral notebook. The log can be a simple 3 column list. The first column in the box number, so go ahead and start numbering down the left side of the page; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..... The second column is the room in the new house the box belong in and the third column is a brief but detailed description of what is in the box. It is also helpful to create a color-coded system for your boxes and have this legend on the packing log, i.e. green=kitchen, blue=living room, etc. A you complete your log it will read something like, Box 1, Green/Kitchen, party trays, platters.
3. Create a packing area if possible - this is where you will store your packing supplies and boxes as they are packed.
4. Start packing early. Pack those items you don't need now or right away after the move, such as summer clothes in winter time, Christmas decorations if you are moving in March, etc.
5. As you pack, put like items in boxes together, i.e. lamps with light bulbs, cords with appliances. Also keep things together that will go into the same room in your new home.
6. Once a box is packed, seal it with tape,put the a color sticker on it- corresponding to the room it is to go into, i.e a green sticker for kitchen supplies, and log the box in your packing log. Also, with a marker, write the box number on ALL sides of the box.
Having a color-coded system can assist movers identify where to place the box in your new home, without having to have access to the packing log or read difficult handwriting. Keeping a log, numbering all of the boxes, allows you account for each box as it is delivered.
7. If you have a chance, clean your new home BEFORE you move in, so it is move-in ready on moving day. Sweep and vacuum floors, dust of shelves and clean out drawers. It is easier to do this before your new home is filled with boxes and furniture.
8. Place signs around the various rooms of your new house as to where you'd like boxes to be stacked. If possible make notes on walls/floors as to where you'd like your furniture pieces to be placed.
9. Keep a few boxes aside for last minute items, toiletries, clothes you may need right away, etc. Consider moving these things yourself in your own vehicle so you know where they are at the new location. (You may also want to keep important documents with you, such as birth certificates and passports, keys to both homes, contracts for the properties, recent bank papers, etc.) Also, keep aside cleaning supplies so that you can clean your old home after you've moved everything out.
10. As you are packing be creative with space - use your luggage as a container to fill, along with buckets, trashcans, laundry bins, etc.
Hope you find these tips helpful and we wish a happy and easy move to your new home to you!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Dear Just Be: My friend mentioned something about a Restaurant Week, what is that?
Many cities host what is called a Restaurant Week. It is a way to showcase and celebrate the restaurants and culinary scene that make up that city.
In Denver this event has become so successful that it has expanded from one week to two weeks. This year it will be held starting this Saturday, February 20 to March 5, 2010. During this time you can eat really well (at least three-course meals) for not a lot of money - $26.40 for one person, $52.80 for two people (get it, 5280 – the distance for a mile – Denver is the mile high city). Tax and gratuity are not included in the amount. But not a bad deal overall.
Check out the link below for Restaurant Week to see if that restaurant you have been dying to try is participating. There is no better way to experience a restaurant than through Restaurant Week!
http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/
In Denver this event has become so successful that it has expanded from one week to two weeks. This year it will be held starting this Saturday, February 20 to March 5, 2010. During this time you can eat really well (at least three-course meals) for not a lot of money - $26.40 for one person, $52.80 for two people (get it, 5280 – the distance for a mile – Denver is the mile high city). Tax and gratuity are not included in the amount. But not a bad deal overall.
Check out the link below for Restaurant Week to see if that restaurant you have been dying to try is participating. There is no better way to experience a restaurant than through Restaurant Week!
http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Dear Just Be: When and what is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday occurs forty-six days before Easter and is better known as the first day of Lent. The practice dates from the Middle Ages, and is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, and many Lutherans. It was also adopted by some Methodists and Presbyterians in the 1990s.
The name is derived from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers as a sign of repentance. The priest, minister, marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally keeps until it wears off. The practice imitates the ancient Middle Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one's head to signify sorrow before God. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and remorse—a day of contemplating one's transgressions.
An interesting fact, in Ireland, Ash Wednesday is National No Smoking Day. The date was chosen because quitting smoking ties in with giving up luxury for Lent.
The name is derived from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers as a sign of repentance. The priest, minister, marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally keeps until it wears off. The practice imitates the ancient Middle Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one's head to signify sorrow before God. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and remorse—a day of contemplating one's transgressions.
An interesting fact, in Ireland, Ash Wednesday is National No Smoking Day. The date was chosen because quitting smoking ties in with giving up luxury for Lent.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Dear Just Be: I found several bottles of vinegar in my home- can you think of any good uses for it?
Many typical everyday household items have multiple uses and they can be more cost effective than their counterparts. For instance, vinegar can be used as a house and car cleaner, works wonders on tough stains and in your laundry, can help our pets, keeps our bodies healthy inside and out, assists in the garden and of course can be used in our cooking!
CLEANER
1. Tired of buying scouring cleansers? Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent and add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture to make your own.
2. Can't get rid of the smell in your kitchen sink? Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
3. Coffee drinkers---Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.
4. Going on a date and want the car to sparkle? Polish your car chrome with full-strength white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth.
5. Tired of winter sticking to your car? Rid the windshield wipers of road grime by wiping them with a white distilled vinegar-soaked cloth.
LAUNDRY
1. Do your clothes stick together? Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle.
2. Have a tough mustard stain? Before washing garment, dab with white distilled vinegar. Attack spaghetti, barbecue, or ketchup stains with a white distilled vinegar and water solution.
3. Forgot that you left wet laundry in the machine and it now smells moldy? Pour a few cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and wash the clothes in hot water. Then run a normal cycle with detergent.
PETS
1. Does Rex need a doggy bath but you're tired of paying at the pet store? Give your dog a gleaming coat by spraying or rubbing with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 quart water.
2. Is your dog scratching its ears? Wipe the ears out regularly with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
3. Is company coming and your worried about the cat box odor? Remove cat litter odor by pouring ½ inch of white distilled vinegar in the empty litter box. Let it stand for 20 minutes, swish it around, then rinse with cold water.
4. Still trying to train your dog not to bark? Stop a dog from barking with a spray bottle filled with equal amounts of water and white distilled vinegar. When the dog barks, spray the vinegar water in its direction but NOT in the face.
HEALTH
1. Dreading spring & summer because of bees and mosquito bites? Stop insect stings and bites from itching by dabbing them with a cotton ball saturated with undiluted white distilled vinegar.
2. Need a quick and easy antiseptic for cuts and scrapes? Use white distilled vinegar as an antiseptic.
3. Tired of paying high prices for specialty mouthwash and teeth whiteners? Eliminate bad breath and whiten your teeth by brushing them once or twice a week with white distilled vinegar.
GARDEN
1. Did you have ant problems in your yard last year? Stop ants from congregating by pouring white distilled vinegar on the area.
2. Have you received flowers? Preserve cut flowers and liven droopy ones by adding 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to a quart of water in a vase.
3. Want to spice up your soil that can be sandy or full of clay? Increase the acidity of soil by adding white distilled vinegar to your watering can.
COOKING
1. Are you grilling tonight? Tenderize meat with white distilled vinegar. Use it in marinades or when slow cooking any tough, inexpensive cuts of meat.
2. How about eggs for breakfast? When poaching eggs, add a little white distilled vinegar to the water. The whites stay better formed.
3. Can't eat your vegetables fast enough? Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water containing a spoonful or two of white distilled vinegar.
4. How does Italian sound? Make pasta less sticky and reduce some of its starch. Add just a dash of white distilled vinegar to the water as it cooks.
CLEANER
1. Tired of buying scouring cleansers? Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent and add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture to make your own.
2. Can't get rid of the smell in your kitchen sink? Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
3. Coffee drinkers---Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.
4. Going on a date and want the car to sparkle? Polish your car chrome with full-strength white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth.
5. Tired of winter sticking to your car? Rid the windshield wipers of road grime by wiping them with a white distilled vinegar-soaked cloth.
LAUNDRY
1. Do your clothes stick together? Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle.
2. Have a tough mustard stain? Before washing garment, dab with white distilled vinegar. Attack spaghetti, barbecue, or ketchup stains with a white distilled vinegar and water solution.
3. Forgot that you left wet laundry in the machine and it now smells moldy? Pour a few cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and wash the clothes in hot water. Then run a normal cycle with detergent.
PETS
1. Does Rex need a doggy bath but you're tired of paying at the pet store? Give your dog a gleaming coat by spraying or rubbing with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 quart water.
2. Is your dog scratching its ears? Wipe the ears out regularly with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
3. Is company coming and your worried about the cat box odor? Remove cat litter odor by pouring ½ inch of white distilled vinegar in the empty litter box. Let it stand for 20 minutes, swish it around, then rinse with cold water.
4. Still trying to train your dog not to bark? Stop a dog from barking with a spray bottle filled with equal amounts of water and white distilled vinegar. When the dog barks, spray the vinegar water in its direction but NOT in the face.
HEALTH
1. Dreading spring & summer because of bees and mosquito bites? Stop insect stings and bites from itching by dabbing them with a cotton ball saturated with undiluted white distilled vinegar.
2. Need a quick and easy antiseptic for cuts and scrapes? Use white distilled vinegar as an antiseptic.
3. Tired of paying high prices for specialty mouthwash and teeth whiteners? Eliminate bad breath and whiten your teeth by brushing them once or twice a week with white distilled vinegar.
GARDEN
1. Did you have ant problems in your yard last year? Stop ants from congregating by pouring white distilled vinegar on the area.
2. Have you received flowers? Preserve cut flowers and liven droopy ones by adding 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to a quart of water in a vase.
3. Want to spice up your soil that can be sandy or full of clay? Increase the acidity of soil by adding white distilled vinegar to your watering can.
COOKING
1. Are you grilling tonight? Tenderize meat with white distilled vinegar. Use it in marinades or when slow cooking any tough, inexpensive cuts of meat.
2. How about eggs for breakfast? When poaching eggs, add a little white distilled vinegar to the water. The whites stay better formed.
3. Can't eat your vegetables fast enough? Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water containing a spoonful or two of white distilled vinegar.
4. How does Italian sound? Make pasta less sticky and reduce some of its starch. Add just a dash of white distilled vinegar to the water as it cooks.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Dear Just Be: Why do we celebrate President’s Day?
It was President Chester Arthur who set the day aside in 1885 and called it Washington’s Birthday. He created the day to honor the “father of our country,” George Washington. Depending on what calendar you go off of, Washington’s birthday is February 11 of the Julian calendar or February 22 of the Gregorian calendar. In 1960 it was proposed that the name of the holiday be changed to President’s Day so as to honor another great president, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s birthday is February 12.
Each state celebrates the day differently. Some states include honoring other presidents that were born or lived in their state. Community and city celebrations use this day to honor government workers. The reason for celebrating this day is different for everyone, but the one thing that is true for nearly everyone is the name. The proposed name change of 1960, President’s Day, was never officially changed, so we are incorrect in calling this day President’s Day. It technically still is Washington’s Birthday.
Each state celebrates the day differently. Some states include honoring other presidents that were born or lived in their state. Community and city celebrations use this day to honor government workers. The reason for celebrating this day is different for everyone, but the one thing that is true for nearly everyone is the name. The proposed name change of 1960, President’s Day, was never officially changed, so we are incorrect in calling this day President’s Day. It technically still is Washington’s Birthday.
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