I am moving in three weeks. ALL the way across the nation, to a small town in Indiana. My little family is off for an adventure as my husband fulfills a dream of studying at Notre Dame. Well, it was all butterflies and sunshine until I realized I needed to pack up my house. UGH. Where in the world does a girl start?!
Not knowing how to start packing, I turned to our Facebook page and asked the 14,000 of you who came to my rescue. The conversation was full of brilliant ideas and techniques on how to get ‘er done. Your advice has me ready to attack my 1,300 square feet of chaos. If you have ever moved, or will ever move, you need to read these comments. Here are a few of my favorites:
Jennifer Orenstein said, “Oh, girl. I just moved across the country. I feel for you. You have some really good advice already. Take this time to get rid of all the things that only clutter up your life. Go one room at a time and pack up decorations that don’t really serve a function. Label carefully and make sure to keep an “Open Me First” box with essentials like a set of sheets for each bed, bathroom necessities, etc. Good luck!”
Stephanie Davis made it sound so simple! “Easy. I start with packing each person a suitcase with a week’s essentials: Towel, clothes, toiletries, medications, toys, etc. (like you’re going on vacation, but this time in your own house!) Once that’s done then you can pack EVERYTHING but the kitchen and cleaning supplies…leaving that last so that you can still cook and function. This way too you are producing minimal laundry-Only the weeks worth that you have packed!!! I’ve been there done this so many times it’s a Science now!”
Samantha Reed Anna summed it up, “All good advice. I can only echo: purge, Purge, PURGE!!!! And label, Label, LABEL!!!!”
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How about this fun random conversation we had a few weeks ago “I love to save money whenever I can, but there are certain products (like my shampoo and soap) that I can’t skimp on. I can tell a HUGE difference when I use the cheap stuff. Do you have any particular items you splurge on?” I loved reading what your SPLURGE items are.
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Alysha recently asked the what we all want to know. “Okay ladies. I need some help! I’ve had permanent dark circles under my eyes for the past year. (Huh, my daughter just turned a year…coincidence?) I think not! Does anyone has any tips for me? Besides get more sleep? I’m tired of looking like a raccoon!”
My favorite answer of the bunch: Becky Knudson Weech who said, “Hate to agree, but I’m 41 with 5 kids, hemorrhoid cream is the right answer. Maybe a Nanny too?!”
How did you all get so informative?! You are like walking, talking, wikipedias! 😉 A few times a week I have a question, a problem, or just need some girly advice and I always get my answers from our Facebook friends. We are going to be posting our most interesting discussions from Facebook, here on our site, once a month. Make sure you are in on the conversation. We have so much fun! Thanks to all of you who pipe in on Facebook. We truly love getting to know you.
Lynn from For Love or Funny says
Best wishes as you prepare for your move!
Kristi says
Am moving overseas this summer- not only do we have the move, but we have the “stuff we’re carrying in suitcases”, the “quick air shipment”, the “stuff we’re sending overseas” and the “stuff we won’t see for three years”. After our last move, may I HIGHLY recommend that you put all the items you are taking with you and LOCK THEM in your bathroom or other room that will not be packed. Put a big No! on the door and tell everyone they are not allowed in that room AT ALL. If you have kids that can open the door, remind them that if it leaves that area, it will be packed away.
Yes. Yes, we did learn this the hard way. Why do you ask?
Diane {Created by Diane} says
Oh I feel for you and all that packing, I moved 3,000 miles and said I’d never move again. We’ve been here 10 years now 🙂 I packed everyday for a month. Kept a list of what was in each box, didn’t know how long it was going to be before I unpacked.(buying new house and all) that way I knew which items were in which boxes, not just a general description. Every box was numbered. Yea I’m nuts that way! Happy Moving! Can’t wait to hear how it all goes once you are settled in.
Peggy says
Good luck with your move! We moved from Alaska to Indiana just over a year ago! So we will be “neighbors”! Well sorta, depending on where you will be living in Indiana. We are just an hour north of Indianapolis. and yes we drove the whole way in winter pulling an enclosed trailer with the average temperature of -25. 2 teens, 1 tween, 2 dogs, and 2 adults on the road for 11 days, averaging 8 hours a day driving well over 3000 miles.
As for the move I concur with Kristi! I have moved 12 times in close to 30 years and many more as a young child where I was not involved with the moving process. Yep you guessed it… military family. Most of the time professional packers have moved us but we still had to do all the purging ourselves. And trust me professional packers WILL pack anything to include the trash in trash cans. Trust me WE DO NOT want to go there, ugh!
Purge and label!! Both key words! Good luck and enjoy the trip! Make a holiday of the drive! Trust me it was one of the things which helped us keep our sanity… we saved coupons for months in advance and planned our route so that the guys could enjoy special treats!
Once again good luck!
Lisa in Indiana says
Take Labeling to the next level – Assign each room in the house a COLOR. Put strips of tape on the corners of that room’s boxes. When you arrive at destination, put a sign on each door that indicates which color corresponds with thast room. Example: My son’s bedroom was coded as BRIGHT BLUE. I got BRIGHT BLUE electrical tape and applied to opposite corners of all of his boxes (so that no matter which way the box was held, the tape could be seen). I put a sign on his door with the same BRIGHT BLUE tape on it so everyone knew any boxes with BRIGHT BLUE tape on it went into that room. I bought Home Depot out of every color they had. It was a great system.
Also – Peggy – I’m an hour north of Indy as well – Lafayette … where are you? I want to learn how to blog! Hope to hear from you soon.
Erin says
Good luck! I went to Notre Dame for undergrad– and they’ve done a lot of cool things in South Bend since I graduated. You guys will have a great time there – the winters leave something to be desired, but overall you will survive!!
Catherine says
We haven’t spent much time in South Bend, but we were in Bloomington for 3 years while my husband was in law school, & we seriously LOVED Indiana. Everyone is so darn nice! Watch out for how they drive though. You might be sitting at stop signs for awhile. College towns are so much fun to live in! You’ll love it. Good luck with the move!
Brandi says
Good luck with your move Shelley! My family and I live in Indianapolis and love it. I have twin two year old boys and a one year old daughter. I know South Bend is a bit far from Indy but both Indianapolis and Chicago are great cities to visit. Indy has a lot to offer without being too “big city” and Chicago has a ton to offer but you do have to battle the big city crowds. 🙂 As a kid I thought I couldn’t wait to move out of Indiana and go somewhere “better” but now as an adult I realize how blessed I am to live here and raise my family here. As another reader put it, “everyone is so darn nice!” I grew up near Purdue University so I can also attest that college towns are really fun to live in. As far as packing advice goes – I do not have any great ideas for you. We have only moved a few times and it’s always been craziness! Good luck and be blessed!
Lindsey says
Shelley my family is moving to Notre Dame in 3 weeks too!!! My cousin follows your blog and sent me this link. You girls are all so talented!! We are moving from Utah and could use a few tips too!!
Peggy says
Wow I must have been asleep when I read your post earlier! I just now realized you are moving to South Bend… Good luck and enjoy!
Holly says
I just bought my first home and move in two weeks… so if you have any decorations or furniture you need to get rid of you, you could send it my way. haha 🙂 Good luck on your Move. That sounds very intimidating. You have a lot of support and advice though, and I am sure you will do great.
Heathyr Harkless says
Shelley- Great to see you are moving to the area! I teach at Indiana University South Bend and live in Elkhart/Goshen area. Feel free to connect with me via email if you have any questions about the area or need anything! Happy moving and safe travels! Go IRISH! : ) houseofharkless.blog.com
Erin says
SOUTH BEND!!! I love it!! I lived there for a year and my sister and her family have lived there since 1991. I do hope you enjoy it! Notre Dame is fantastic, really unbelievable. And the Bend and surrounding areas are so fun, so much to do! Yes, the winters are rough (lake effect snow!!!), but the spring, summers and especially falls (FOOTBALL!) are fantastic. Try to explore lots of the small lake communities just past the Michigan state line (St. Joseph, Dowagiac, etc). Here’s a link: http://swmichigan.org/entertainment/fairs-a-festivals.html
There is so much to do in the upcoming seasons! Plus the public library system in SB is really great, do explore it! I’m all giddy for you, moving to one of my favorite towns!! Enjoy!!
joanna says
What an adventure! So excited for you! Ok, and a little bit for me. I live about 20 min. from Notre Dame in Granger. Seems like all the blogs I follow are all from the West Coast area. It’ll be nice to have someone from nearby!
Pamela says
We are moving from Arizona to Michigan in two and a half weeks! I am packing by scheduling it all out: Monday- everything off walls and the livingroom; Tuesday- kid’s bedrooms; Wednesday- my bedroom; Thursday- family room, bathrooms, laundry room; Friday-kitchen; Saturday- office. Then next week I will spend my time packing the garage and outside and cleaning! We will then be moving the next Wednesday. The moving truck will come on Monday and we will load everything up and sleep on the floor! Then on Tuesday I will do last minute cleaning. Then we will leave bright and early Wednesday morning! So far I am right on track with my schedule so it should work great! My biggest problem is trying to pack with a husband in medical school and my 3 year old and 1 year old trying to UNpack what I have already packed!
Pamela says
Oh, and as I pack each room, I am pulling things that we haven’t been using and putting them in a yard sale pile and pricing them as I go. I’m having the yard sale on Saturday. Anything I don’t sell will be immediately put in the car and donated to Goodwill! There is no point bringing it cross country with us if I haven’t even been using it here!
susan says
I too am excited to see you are moving to INDIANA!!! I’m east of Indy, so a little drive from South Bend, but want to welcome you to our state and wishing your family much luck in your new adventure! I’ll be anxious to see what you discover here that you can share with the rest of us~
Susan
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Jenna says
Last year, I packed up my family and moved from Florida to South Bend (Granger) so MY husband could fulfill his dream of studying at Notre Dame! I clicked this link because we’re starting to pack again, and I am always seeking additional tips. 🙂 Being at Notre Dame has been a wonderful adventure – You’re in for a treat. This is a fantastic area, especially for families. The only thing I’d change is the weather! But the summers are beautiful: strolling the campus, Michigan beaches, the Potowatomi Zoo… I’m sad to leave. 🙁 I wish you and your family a fantastic adventure and best wishes to your husband with his studies!
P.S. Not sure how long you’ll be in the area, but to remember our year here, I created a scrapbook page for each month. 🙂
Alison says
Oh this was a fun time:) Love finding these old posts!