It's no secret moving is stressful. From getting organized to packing and unpacking (and unpacking some more), the entire process ranks up there with some of the most high-pressure events in our lives. In fact, a survey by SpareFoot found that 31 percent of respondents said they had their worst arguments with their significant other while moving.
According to the same study, 58 percent of respondents said moving with a companion is a bigger challenge than planning a wedding. Knowing this, take some of the stress out of moving and arm yourself with a plan to eliminate as much stress as possible.
Here are five crucial things you need for your new home to make moving a success story:
1. Signature Furniture
Buying furniture for a new home is more than just buying a couch or bed and calling it a day. Instead, you should be making intentional and careful choices about your new pieces and focus on signature furniture. Your seating area, dining area and bedroom all require a selection of furniture you will likely live with for years.
With this in mind, make it count by choosing stylish furniture that is both easy to clean and offers some added functionality. For example, an ottoman or bed frame with additional storage adds more organization to your room. Likewise, a sectional sofa can add more seating to a smaller room. Just add a colorful rug to anchor your new look in vibrant style.
2. Lighting
Whether we're reading or dining with loved ones, having the right lighting in our homes not only helps us get through the day, but it can also dramatically impact our moods. According to research and reporting by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, being around natural light in the morning and evening can decrease depression as well as improve mood, energy, alertness and productivity.
Additionally, blue-enriched light bulbs can also help boost our moods if natural light isn't available. Optimize your new home’s lighting by choosing window treatments that welcome the light or add mirrors across from windows to create the illusion of more light. Once your natural lighting strategy is in place, choose plenty of lamps and overhead fixtures that allow for optimal light to flood into your home.
3. Organizational Tools
A carefully curated home full of your favorite decor and furniture only goes so far. Conversely, a cluttered, disorganized home can make your space look uninspired and chaotic. Focus on building out those core organizational tools and pieces around your home to keep your rooms looking fresh.
For example, carefully select side tables and shelving units, and showcase your keepsakes and books without letting clutter take over. Grab baskets, bins and other organizers that look like part of the decor to hold those extra blankets, board games and kitchen gadgets without overwhelming your space.
4. A Deep Clean
Treat your new home to a deep clean that gives your space a total refresh. From top to bottom, ask your cleaning team to pay attention to cabinets and baseboards to ensure all dust and moving grime is removed.
Additionally, get your windows sparkling clean to let in as much light as possible, and get rid of moving boxes and litter to make your home look organized. Finally, take advantage of your deep clean and throw a housewarming party to show off your new space without stress.
Don't have time to clean? Consider using a cleaning service! If you are living in Manhattan and looking for a cleaning service in Manhattan you can use Planet Maids! Find them HERE!
Don't have time to clean? Consider using a cleaning service! If you are living in Manhattan and looking for a cleaning service in Manhattan you can use Planet Maids! Find them HERE!
5. Emergency Kit
Moving comes with a multi-page to-do list that never seems to end. But don’t forget to add those essential post-move-in items like an emergency preparedness kit. Grab a bin or basket and add a first-aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, bottled water and protein bars in case of a long-term power outage or emergency.
It’s also wise to keep a copy of your utilities and credit card information in a safe place. After all, when the Internet goes down or an emergency pops up, you’ll have all the information you need at your fingertips to get the issue resolved.
Make Moving a More Positive Experience
With the right mindset and plan in place, moving doesn’t have to be so stressful. From choosing the right furniture to preparing yourself for anything, turn your next move into a positive experience.
*contributed post*
Hello friends! It is so delightful to be back in this space with you after a couple of weeks! I have truly missed this community and am excited to be back! Thank you so much to each of you that have been connecting over on Instagram these past few weeks while I was in Alaska and then on a very special cruise with Holland America Line!
As I greet this new day and get back to work, writing here again on the blog, and start an exciting new adventure (more on this later this week!) I wanted to just share a few thoughts about the cruise trip specifically.
As background: Anytime I have had the beautiful opportunity to travel (near or far) I have always been inspired and changed...but this past week was a sweet blessing in the midst of some very difficult days and a true treasured gift.
When I was invited to be part of a press trip with Holland America Line I was honored and humbled and as the details came together I knew it would be extremely special. What added a very personal component to the trip was my mom being able to travel with me and it was an incredible blessing.
As some of y'all know we left for the trip the day after (what would have been) my parents 50th wedding anniversary and on the day we were to have a special 50th party for them that I had been planning for nearly 2 years. Approaching both of these dates had been difficult and devastating for obvious reasons.
The timing of this cruise provided a beautiful opportunity in the midst of extreme pain and each day of this trip held so many lovely moments, and the care by each and every person we encountered went out of their way to make us feel like family and the atmosphere of Holland America Line is laced with a genuine compassion and attention to the smallest detail so that you truly are completely blessed. No one knew our story as we went in it was just the way that they are.
When I was invited to be part of a press trip with Holland America Line I was honored and humbled and as the details came together I knew it would be extremely special. What added a very personal component to the trip was my mom being able to travel with me and it was an incredible blessing.
As some of y'all know we left for the trip the day after (what would have been) my parents 50th wedding anniversary and on the day we were to have a special 50th party for them that I had been planning for nearly 2 years. Approaching both of these dates had been difficult and devastating for obvious reasons.
The timing of this cruise provided a beautiful opportunity in the midst of extreme pain and each day of this trip held so many lovely moments, and the care by each and every person we encountered went out of their way to make us feel like family and the atmosphere of Holland America Line is laced with a genuine compassion and attention to the smallest detail so that you truly are completely blessed. No one knew our story as we went in it was just the way that they are.
In addition to this our dinners with the entire press group were a gift that I will always treasure. For hours each evening (and different times throughout the day) we were met with lively discussion, incredibly inspiring stories, AMAZING people, and lots of laughter over a variety of different things and conversations that lasted well into the late evening.
Thank you Holland America Line for an opportunity to experience the beautiful ship and excursions, but most of all the care and love and genuineness of the entire staff in all areas. I can't wait to share more on the blog over the next few weeks about this entire adventure in more details (although words will never be accurate enough to describe perfectly!).
Thank you again to each person who made this possible, to Anna for your tireless efforts in leading this trip, to our dear new friends, and most of all to Holland America Line. I can't wait to sail with y'all again in the future, and this special cruise will always have a dear place in my heart.
Happy Monday friends! I hope that you have a wonderful day and start to this new week!
You love to live your life a certain way and that way brings you much happiness, peace and tranquility. You’re not into the hustle and bustle of cities and shopping outlets but rather find inspiration and solace in the quieter parts of life. That’s why when you decide to get married, you’re going to have a wedding that reflects who you both truly are and not a wedding that forces you into wearing or being somewhere that makes you feel uncomfortable and decidedly not you!
In this blog, we’re taking a look at low-key weddings. How to make the best day of your life go the way you want it, what to avoid and how to keep some of those costs down.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
DIY
When you’ve got some clear strengths, why not put them to good use in the run up to your big day? If you’re a green-fingered type, you’ll be happy to choose the flowers you want to carry and feel comfortable being able to decorate the church, chapel or room you’re choosing to get married in with a simple but bright collection of flowers.
Let out the artist in you by designing your own wedding invites and having them printed, creating a unique invitation and saving on expensive design costs.
Ask Friends
Your friends too probably have a lot of skills between them so whether they sing in a band or play instruments you might be able to persuade them to provide your evening entertainment of else find a band on this page that catches your eye. Have someone write and read a poem in your ceremony for a truly personal touch.
If you’re hoping to avoid a big wedding reception and formal sit-down dinner, then look around at venues that offer a more low-key approach. You might even find someone with some land that would be willing to let you erect a marquee for an afternoon and allow you to break out a hog roast and turn the field into something of a mini festival by way of celebration.
Of course, if even that seems too much then a simple ceremony followed by a meal in a quiet, romantic restaurant might just be the antidote to large, overblown weddings that send chills down your spine.
At the end of the day your wedding is unique as the two of you and however you choose to get wed will be entirely down to the pair of you. Forget family expectations, forget the “norm” and plan a day that you’ll recall fondly for many years to come.
Start by ruling out all the elements you don’t want before you focus in on what’s going to make you happy. Put your very considerable artistic skills to the test and create artwork and invitations that really tell the story of the two of you as a couple. Rope in friends and family for a fun, happy, love filled celebration without the expense of a large scale wedding and without feeling that you’ve compromised on your dreams.
Picture by Leninscape
What most of us have in common is that we want to be fit and able when our retirement date strikes and we want to be alive and well so that we can see and look after our children as they grow up. Sadly, aging is something that all of us will endure. A few signs of aging may have even been brought to your attention already. Such as, your vision may have begun to change and you may notice that your hair is changing as the texture and color are something new to you. Not to mention the energy you once had seems to have dissipated into thin air. Although mentally, we may still feel like we’re 21 years old, our bodies slowly tell us that we can’t physically do the things we once did with ease or without effort anymore. How quick your body ages, however, is mostly down to several factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and your environment.
Not to labor too much over what areas of our body begin to show deterioration, as it’s not particularly riveting or comforting to read about, but the changes in our digestive system for one is something most of us can resonate with past 30 years old. The food we eat in our early twenties, now happily sits on various places of our body if we’re not careful and refuses to budge. Our skin deserves a mention too. Being the largest organ in the body, it holds us together and is continuously working to keep us protected from bacteria, pollution, and the sun! As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and doesn't produce as much oil as it once did. Meaning our first defense to out of body threats becomes weaker, and because of that, we are susceptible to becoming ill.
However, all of this talk about our aging bodies isn’t the be-all and end-all. It’s never, ever too late to start taking care of your aging body. Here’s what you need to do to keep you in good health and full of beans.
Regular Exercise
Picture by Arek Adeoye
Before you skip to the next step, with an ‘I know this one already’ look, exercise doesn't have to be the dull workout in the gym you’re imagining. When exercise is made out to be a chore, it's challenging to stick to it. And so, if at-home workout videos and power walks around the park make you cringe (if they don’t then, good for you), there are so many other areas of exercise to explore. Like passive exercise! Such as gardening and cleaning. Hoovering your home and scrubbing the floors takes energy and action! And pushing the lawnmower around and plowing the soil in the garden gets you moving too. Furthermore, going to the park with your children or grandchildren, and playing tag, or football - is social, fun, and is bound to work up a sweat. But, amongst all this, don’t overdo it! We all have our limits, and there’s no point straining yourself to the point you experience an SD hernia, meaning that you can’t move for the next three days. Take it easy and start small by getting active.
Checkups
Avoiding the doctors' polite invitation for a checkup is a no go. Since you were born, the nurses and doctors have been on your case about vaccinations, BMI assessments, and any aches and pains you may be experiencing and so forth to check you are healthy and able. That doesn't stop when you get older, it’s just as important to see the medical professionals. Whether to see what's going on with your blood pressure, or that wheezy cough that you’ve not been able to get rid of for the past few weeks. It's also an opportunity for you to bring worries up at the doctors appointment and changes in your body you've noticed, such as restless nights and cold sweats you've been experiencing lately. We should never assume that we know everything about our body or just shrug unusual changes off as okay. Not to mention, it's quite nice to have some peace of mind when the nurse or doctor agrees that you are in fact all okay.
Sleep Schedule
Speaking of sleep. There were those times that you could happily forgo sleep and STILL have energy the next day. Where did that time go? And now those days are long gone, caffeine may be a regular friend of yours just to keep you awake on a typical working day. The solution (well part of it) to your fatigue is simple, cheap, and effective - it’s sleep, and it’s incredibly overlooked. To the point that some of you may have just had a sudden realization that you don't actually sleep as much as you probably should. It’s understandable to a point, as we get older, we take on more commitments to build the life we want meaning our career, family, hobbies sap up our time and then sleep is sometimes put on the back burner as an ‘I'll do it later’ task. The fact is, your sleep shouldn’t wait for anyone or anything (if you can help it). It should be at a set time each night, without technology and bright lights, but with sleep masks and the aroma of lavender oil to soothe you into a deep healthy sleep. Our sleep is our bodies time to experience heightened relaxation and recovery. Without it, diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or a heart attack is the threat that looms of those with chronic sleep deprivation. To give your aging body a fighting chance of keeping healthy, try to sleep for at least 8 hours of sleep per night.
The human body is a remarkable vessel. When we think about the capacity of what it does without our prompting. From the digestive processes to warding off illnesses, and regulating our body temperature, a lot of us can probably agree that we’re not making a conscious effort or active approach to give our bodies what it needs to stay in good health. So make an effort to attend your medical appointments, workout what exercise fits into your lifestyle and prioritize your sleep to help take care of your aging body.
You find that you spend so much of your time on your family, work and home, that there is often very little time left over purely for you. You don’t mind, you love putting your children first, you love your job and you like to invest in your home. Does all of this ring true? We know, so many of us feel the same. However, from time to time, it is worth giving yourself your full attention, which is where our ‘5 things to do for you today’ list comes in. We are sharing a few suggestions that should help to reinvigorate you and to ensure that you are being looked after too.
Try something new
Trying and learning new things is a brilliant way to look after yourself. What would you love to learn?
You might have always fancied learning modern calligraphy, so book yourself onto a course or spend some time watching tutorials and give it a go. Perhaps you have your eye on joining a local sports team, then do it, give them a call. Maybe you want to learn a new language, then start trying that one today.
There are so many benefits of attempting new things, from improving your brain function through to boosting your confidence, along with having an additional skill under your belt.
Surround yourself with nature
Grab yourself a drink and a packed lunch, pop on some comfortable clothes and footwear, and head to your nearest nature spot. You might end up strolling around a picturesque lake, hiking up into the mountains or ambling through woodlands.
Getting out into the great outdoors and closer to nature is proven to be good for you on several different levels. It can ease away your tensions, you’ll be out in the fresh air and sunshine, nature is calming on your nerves and you will be exercising as you walk.
If you feel like combining it with something a little more physical, you could try an outdoor sport whilst you are out there. You will return home invigorated and energized.
Spend time with loved ones
Time goes by so quickly, and sometimes you look up and realize that you have not caught up with your old college friend for several months, or you haven’t managed to get together with your sister for a few weeks. It happens, everybody is busy.
This is something that you are going to need to make time for, as you know that the people around you are the most important things in life. Call them today and arrange to meet up, as you know that it will be an evening well spent, lifting your spirits and reconnecting you.
Look into health supplements and alternative treatments
It can be all too easy to put up with ailments that we are struggling with as we get used to having them. They start as little niggles and before we know it, years have gone by and we are still suffering. So this one is on the list to prompt you to do something about that niggle today.
It might be that you need to make an appointment with your doctor, or perhaps you are going to look into supplements and alternative treatments. Maybe you have been meaning to give reflexology a go to help with your back pain or you want to try CBD Hemp Oil to alleviate your stress and anxiety.
Whatever it is that you need to do, you should prioritise your health, so make that appointment today.
Indulge in your favorite pastime
Now this one is going to be completely personal to you. So take a moment right now to think about what you would like to do if left to your own devices for a few hours. We don’t mean, in an ideal, lottery-winning world, but just what you would do if you had a free afternoon and no chores and pressures to take on.
Whatever came into your mind then and had you smiling, that’s it, that’s your thing. We now want you to carve out some time to do it.
Maybe it’s a long hot bath, maybe it’s an afternoon with a good book and endless cups of tea or perhaps it’s a trip to the cinema complete with a huge tub of popcorn.
Decide what you would love to be able to do and make it happen. Look at your diary and book it out if you need to. Once it is in black and white, you will make it happen.
What will you choose to do for yourself today?
This trip comes at a unique time in this season that we find ourselves in... my emotions are mixed as it is difficult to leave home with the loss of my precious daddy. I know some of you understand and I do appreciate your prayers as I step out in courage.
I hope you will please take a moment to read about the #10000in7days campaign (click HERE) that I am hosting this year as part of this trip and donate as the campaign will be soon closing! Thank you so much for considering donating to this!
Happy Monday friends! I hope that you had a restful and restorative weekend. It is hard and almost impossible to believe that we are finishing up the last few days of July and approaching August right in front of us.
The last couple of weeks for us have been filled with some very difficult things and decisions my mom had to make. Anyone who has lost anyone understands the overwhelming emotions that are faced in times like this and the stress of how it affects everything. In this past week mom and I also committed even more to fight for defiant joy...and among the tears there have been some incredibly beautiful moments as we have fought to look for them.
I have marveled that there are certain situations where for whatever reason people may not be able to step up and embrace the season that you are in the way you wish or thought they would...this is hard. There are really no other words for it and if you let it, it can cause a bitterness that runs deep...but if you defiantly look for joy there are people who have met us in deep dark painful moments where texts and calls (thank you so much Traci, Tammy, and Zoey) have allowed my tears to flow freely.
We have been beautifully embraced and fed by honesty, intimacy, and love this past weekend in a variety of different ways. Starting Thursday evening with the most lovely dinner invitation (thank you again Donny and Debbie so so so much!), then visitors chatting for hours with us under the cozy white lights in comfy chairs with loved ones, friends who come at a moments call to help with situations that feel overwhelming, Jeanne and Leanne and your listening and encouraging words and time, Susie and Bob for keeping us laughing and so many others who have brought light into our hurting hearts. Thank you to those of you who are making us feel fiercely protected and loved...my heart is incredibly grateful for the kindness and compassion.
"I’m not talking about cooking as performance, or entertaining as a complicated choreography of competition and showing off. I’m talking about feeding someone with honesty and intimacy and love, about making your home a place where people are fiercely protected, even if just for a few hours, from the crush and cruelty of the day."
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