Colorado Christmas

Hey blog readers! With the new year already well begun, it may seem silly to address Christmas. However, much has happened for me personally in the interim. While I was home for what seemed like a minute, I managed to take some pictures with my new camera (Santa was very kind) before returning to chilly New York, my first New Year's away from home, much moving to be done and a new apartment without internet until yesterday. I'm certainly enjoying my new digs and even braved the hell that is Ikea to order a new bed and dresser. It's my first non-student apartment and I am indulging my slightly more mature decorating tastes that do not revolve around pink and former dorm room items.  It's my second move already while having this blog and I'm gathering experience and patience by the handfuls! My internship has started back up and I'm excited to return to the museum. I'm loving what I'm doing and love all the friends I've made and will continue to make. I also have some exciting things planned for the blog in the coming year.

As far as these pictures go, these were taken Christmas afternoon on a walk with my sister, dad and one of our dogs, Truman. We hiked "The Butte", a very large hill near my parents' house that I used to run with my dad in preparation for the high school cross country season. The top has great views of the front range, downtown and the surrounding area. It was a warm December and I enjoyed the opportunity to get outside while I was home. While I love the city, it doesn't offer the kind of scenery that my Colorado home does.

For these times, they are a changin'

Hi guys! Sorry for the long blogging absence. Major madness has ensued as I have recently had some life changes I wanted to share with you all! As I have previously talked about on here, I was set to move out of my apartment at the end of August. I had planned to move back into my parents' house to continue my job search.

However, on the 16th of August I had some fantastic and unexpected news! I was offered an internship position at a museum in New York City, doing what I love: archeology. In my personal life I remain as beauty and fashion-obsessed as ever but professionally I adore archaeology and all it entails. There was one challenge though...I had to be in New York by August 28th!

With tons of support from my parents and friends, I managed to move out of my old apartment and pack the absolute essentials to take with me. I will be in New York until the end of December at the very least, so three seasons had to be accounted for! I flew out last Monday as some of you may have seen on Instagram to start a week of madness.

This past week has entailed figuring out the subway, finding an apartment, starting my internship, moving into my apartment, grocery shopping for the first time, and Labor Day/birthday festivities. Hence, the radio silence...

Regular blogging will commence tomorrow but in the meantime I wanted to update you guys and share some pictures from my first week here.

Happy Labor Day! May friends, food, and fruity cocktails be in store for you!

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!

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!