Wisdom Wednesday: Friendship

Happy Wednesday! With Wednesday comes the inevitable "hump day" blues, sense of disillusionment, exhaustion, and longing for the weekend. Like a good shot of espresso, an inspiring quote can often inspire and perk me up, ready to take on what the rest of the day and week holds. Each Wednesday here on notsosimplestyle features a few bits of wisdom on varying topics, in the hopes you may find humor, inspiration, solace and affirmation.

This Wednesday is all about friends and friendship. During especially turbulent periods of our lives, friends can pick us up and make us laugh. I am particularly thankful for my friends and all they do for me. Sometimes being a friend isn't as easy as it seems. True friendship demands sacrifices, just as any form of love, but the rewards are certainly worth it. Here are some quotes about those people that make us laugh, love us no matter what, and sometimes drive us crazy.

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
                ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

True friends stab you in the front.
                ~ Oscar Wilde

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.
                ~ Jean de La Fontaine

My God, this is a hell of a job. I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends, my goddamn friends. They're the ones that keep me walking the floor nights.
                ~ Warren G. Harding

She is a friend of my mind...The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order.
                 ~ Toni Morrison

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
                  ~ Oprah Winfrey

It's so much more friendly with two.
                  ~ Piglet

Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.
                   ~ Octavia Butler

Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if only they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky.
                    ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself--and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to--letting a person be what they really are.
                      ~ Jim Morrison

Hope you enjoyed the quotes! See you later this week!

Moving Madness Diary: Week Four To-do's

The moving madness continues! The last week has been busy on the job-search front, as well as getting back into the swing of things nannying. Having accomplished everything in the last moving-related blog post, this week has seen some further progress. With only about a month until moving day, I was able to actually begin packing and cleaned out some further spaces. Let's keep moving!

Gather your supplies

Having reserved your UHAUL, movers and/or cleaning service, it's time to buy some moving supplies. I have some boxes left over from the last time I moved, so I will be re-using the ones I have. If you don't have boxes already, investigate each room and guess how many boxes you think you may need. Buy this many boxes to start with, along with plenty of tape and Sharpies. While I am using the same tape for all my boxes, you may consider buying tape in multiple colors, if you have a larger space you are moving. Assign each room a different color and tape the boxes from that room with the specified color. This will save time moving into your new place, as you will know what goes where without having to read a handwritten label or open the box. Having color-coded the boxes, write a quick summary of the contents of each box on the lid, along with the date. If you need to find something that is already packed, it's then easier to figure out what box it is in.

Clean the Forgotten Spaces

Continue the cleaning this week with spaces that are usually forgotten, or gather a lot of clutter. This week I tackled my makeup and body care collection, the linen closet, and the bathroom. I tend to save makeup and beauty products long after they should be thrown away, so moving has offered the perfect opportunity to assess what I have. While you may not be a product hoarder like me, focus on a group of items that need to be pared down. Throw away what you don't need anymore. Keep out the items from that collection that you foresee yourself using in the next three weeks. I have kept out my makeup bag with some favorites and packed or purged everything else. In the bathroom, I focused on throwing out expired or unused medication and old hair products. The only things left under the sink or in the medicine cabinet are those that will continue to be used until moving day. Pretend you are going on a trip and only leave out the products you would need for the 3-week duration. 

Start Packing...

With your supplies in hand, start packing everything you don't foresee yourself using before moving day. This should include the toiletries and bathroom products from the to-do above. After tackling the bathroom, I began packing my books and DVDs. While I have left out a few to use until moving day, the majority of the collection can be packed now. Be realistic with yourself about what you will actually use. If you feel unsure about packing something, leave the box untaped and see how it goes. If it hasn't been used by the end of week 4, tape that box! Try to pack one box a day, at minimum. Beginning the packing slowly will ease you into the process and prevent you from being overwhelmed as moving day looms closer.

Stay tuned for my progress during Week Three and further tips. Have a good week and happy moving!

Wisdom Wednesday: Determination and Drive

Happy Wednesday! With Wednesday comes the inevitable "hump day" blues, sense of disillusionment, exhaustion, and longing for the weekend. Like a good shot of espresso, an inspiring quote can often inspire and perk me up, ready to take on what the rest of the day and week holds. Each Wednesday here on notsosimplestyle features a few bits of wisdom on varying topics, in the hopes you may find humor, inspiration, solace and affirmation.

This Wednesday is all about determination and drive. As I continue on my job search, I have continually reminded myself to have patience but also to not give up. A sense of determination in the face of challenges can be applied in many situations but has been particularly apropos for me lately. Below are some quotes that have inspired and consoled me.

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.

                        ~ Tommy Lasorda

Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.

                       ~ Matt Biondi

Nothing befalls a man except what is in his nature to endure.

                       ~ Marcus Aurelius

Our strength is often composed of the weakness that we're damned if we are going to show.

                       ~ Mignon McLaughlin

Those who live are those who fight.

                       ~ Victor Hugo

Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else.

                       ~ Tennessee Williams

If you really want something, and really work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, and never give up, you will find a way.

                      ~ Jane Goodall

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

                      ~ Walter Bagehot

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dare believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances.

                      ~ Bruce Barton

There's a wonderful story. There was little sparrow, lying out on the ground with his feet up in the air. Somebody asked him what he was doing, and he said, "The sky is going to fall." And this person said "What do you think you can do about it?" And the little sparrow said, "One must do what one can."

                       ~ Elizabeth Layton

Hope your Wednesday is going well. See you later this week!

Moving Madness Diary: The First Step

Moving is the ultimate test of organization, planning and sanity. Hopefully my tips and tricks can help save someone else from major moving anxiety. I will be moving in about 4 weeks and I thought that I would take you guys along with me as I prepare. I am moving out of my apartment and back into my childhood bedroom at my parents' house (temporarily). While not the ideal I'm-a-20something situation, job searching is difficult even in the best of times and I have not found my "big girl" job just yet, since graduating college in June. I would like the ability to relocate regardless of the position and so have not committed to a new apartment. With that said, I will be taking you guys through my moving process right now, and again when I find my new apartment. Below are the steps I recommend accomplishing prior to a month before moving day. Let's get moving!

2 months out:

Tackle the Forgotten Food

Having decided to move, 2 months out is the time to set yourself up for success. While moving day may seem like ages away, starting the process early, in small chunks, will decrease your stress down the road. Start assessing your food, especially the pantry and freezer. Anything you will definitely not use in the next two months needs to go. Cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving? That weird cereal you bought and then hated? Anything you are unsure about can wait a little longer but should be reassessed as moving day gets closer. Condiments tend to build up in my fridge in particular. Does one really need a leftover smidgen of 4 different kinds of Ranch dressing, because they impatiently opened a new bottle without throwing the old one away? No, they don't. If the product is unopened, not expired, and you don't want to throw it away, consider giving it to a friend, neighbor, or food bank in your area. Even if you have a busy schedule prior to moving day, tasks like cleaning the pantry/freezer/fridge can be accomplished quickly on a Saturday, saving you time later.

Give it to Goodwill

Having made progress in the kitchen, the next place to start is the closet. Everybody's closet needs to be revamped occasionally and moving provides the perfect opportunity. Honestly assess every item of clothing you own. I often have trouble deciding what to keep and will recruit my friends/mom/sister to provide some reality. While you may be sentimentally attached to that ratty old t-shirt, you don't want to  spend time and energy moving something you never wear. Start a bag with all of your "no's". Start another bag for items that need to be dry-cleaned or tailored. Oftentimes I find items that I can make work in my wardrobe, but are in need of some TLC. Anything that is truly disgusting i.e. stained, ripped, or super worn should be thrown out. All "yes" items can be re-hung in your closet. Your wardrobe is now ready to move! 

Is it Seasonal?

This section can be interpreted in multiple ways. As I usually spend the holidays at home, I have very few home decorations. However, I do tend to organize my clothes seasonally. Start by packing any item of clothing that is truly season specific for the climate in which you live. As I am moving during the summer, all my sweaters, heavy coats, boots, and the majority of my pants have been packed. I use large plastic tubs from Target and find these work the best for me. As the seasons change, you can rotate the items in the bin. This method frees up space in your closet and encourages you to reassess your clothes throughout the year. If you do have home decorations, give your collection a good look. Have you used that particular item consistently for every holiday? Are the Christmas lights tangled and beyond repair? Are your items stored in the most-efficient manner? While I do not have a yard, lawn care and hardware supplies can also be sorted at this time. Regardless of the type of item, if you do not want to take the time or effort to move it, it needs to go. 

6 Weeks Out:

Plan for Success

Start a calendar and to-do list for the 4 weeks prior to moving day. I keep both items on my Macbook/iPhone. Because each device is synced with the other, I can update my schedule and tasks on the go. For scheduling purposes, I like to use Calendar, but use Wunderlist to keep track of moving to-do items. You could also use Outlook or a similar productivity program. Things I need to accomplish often come to me when I'm on the treadmill or lying in bed, away from my computer or pen and paper. Keeping a digital list, that can be easily updated anywhere, ensures I never forget something. 

Recruit the Help

With your planning underway, now is the time to address logistics. Contact whomever you would like to assist you in the move: friends, family members, significant other etc. Tell them your moving plans and ask about their availability for your planned moving day. While family may be willing to stick around all day, friends may have other plans already. Try to spread the work around if possible, with a morning "shift" and an afternoon "shift", giving everyone the opportunity to help without committing a huge chunk of time. Does your brother have a truck for hauling furniture? His assistance may be more beneficial in the initial stages, while your best friend may be more interested in helping you unpack and arrange the kitchen. Get on their calendar now to ensure their availability come moving day.

Reservation, please...

With your moving help secured and your plan in place, now is the time to make appointments with various companies for moving day. I recommend having all furniture and personal items moved the day before you have to be "out". With everything removed, you then have a completely empty living space to clean, as opposed to one still filled with boxes. Reserve a UHAUL and any professional moving help you may need NOW. Reservations tend to fill up towards the end of the month, as that is when many leases expire. While you may be tempted to move everything yourself, if you have any large furniture items: queen-sized bed, sectional sofa, or a large home entertainment system, consider investing in movers. If it is in your budget, rent a steam cleaner or schedule a carpet service for your last moving day. With all the furniture removed, deep-cleaning comes much easier. That stain from six months ago that never really came out? Clean it now and save yourself the security deposit. 

With only a month to go until my move, I have already accomplished everything above. Stay tuned later this week for "4 weeks Out" tasks and my moving progress. Happy moving!