7 Tips for an Organized Move

We’re not quite sure whether it’s a buyer or seller’s market, but ‘tis the season for moving all the same! And from first-hand mastery when I had to pack up and move with a 2-week-old in tow, YOU CAN DO THIS! Check out our 7-steps to get you there.

7 tips for an organized move

1. Collect all your “tools” in one place at the onset — scissors, tape, permanent marker, color-coded stickers and inventory sheet (strongly recommended, but not required)

2. Create a schedule. If you see it written down, you’re more likely to stick to it, particularly when those overwhelming thoughts start to encroach. Even if you have to pull out the stops to finish “Playroom by Monday”, you’re more motivated to do it to keep Tuesday’s agenda on track.

3. Work one room at a time. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, staring down the barrel of the whole house, so block it out by room. It will force you to keep your focus and give you a real sense of accomplishment.

4. Keep a Donate, Toss, and Sell zone in each room. Get rid of the things you don’t use or need on the front end, so you don’t have to deal with it on the back end. Yes, it might making packing more involved, but we promise, it’ll make the unpacking and “living” run so much smoother!

5. Shut the door when it’s done. Dovetailing on #3, shutting the door to a packed and finished room will keep reminding your flustered “move brain” that “'ok, that room is DONE, I don’t need to bother going in there anymore”.

6. Get the kids out. Kids are awesome, but they can be a real drag on productivity. And they ALWAYS have something to say about ALL the things. Packing and moving is stressful enough, considering your own thoughts and goals. This isn’t the time to give them a voice (unless you have Julie’s magical unicorn child that file folds and ROYGBIVs her books on her own accord).

7. Consider hiring a professional. If all else fails, or if you just know yourself well enough to know you don’t have the time or energy to make this bold change on your own, outsource. We loooooove to do this stuff, for real! And recognizing your own strengths/limitations is, frankly, just good business!

Seasonal Switch-Up

With a seasonal switch-up in full bloom (see what we did there?), now’s the time to ready your closets and drawers for spring and summer. It’s hard enough to find the perfect outfit that fits AND makes us feel good, so what we definitely don’t want to do is waste time simply trying to find what’s right for the season.

Bring your sandals, wedges, and flip-flops to the front, while pushing your boots, mules, and Uggs to the back.

While we love a good ROYGBIV color system, make sure you’ve sectioned it — tanks, short-sleeves and shells, longsleeves, cardigans and sweaters, etc. These sections should work for your lifestyle, but at least you know when you go to grab a white tee, you’re not having to weed through a wool sweater to get it.

In the midst of shifting, sectioning, and ROYGBIV-ING, this is the perfect time to purge and donate. If you haven’t worn it in 2 years, it’s lost its shape because of frequent washes, or it just doesn’t speak to you anymore, let that shit go!

Toss the Crusty Mascara, No Really!

To everything there is a season, and so too it goes with makeup. We know these products aren’t cheap and the idea of purging any of it doesn’t feel good, but it might feel better than an eye infection from aged mascara or an acne breakout from dated foundation.

We’ve put together a guide to help you keep track of what products are worth holding onto, and when it’s time to [bedgrudingly] toss and replenish.

A general rule of thumb: If it comes in a pot or a tube, it’s going to have a shorter shelf-life than a pencil or powder. The former is a breeding ground for bacteria, and if you’re not always on top of cleaning your application brushes (cough, cough, what??), then you’re constantly “poisoning the well”.

• Powders: 2 years

• Mascara: 3-6 months. This is likely our most coveted product, but also the most likely to need replacing. If our eyes are windows to our soul, they’re also easy places to get contaminated.

• Eyeliner: 6 months (liquid and gel) -1 year (pencils).

• Primer and Foundation: 6 months - 2 years depending on the packaging, but again, pots will go to pot quickest.

• Lipstick: Up to 2 years, but toss if the color, consistency or smell changes.

Time Management for Spring Break Readiness

Getting it all done in a day’s work is pretty darn near impossible in the best of times, but when we add in an extra layer, of say, an impending family trip where packing “all the things” is required, it can be daunting, if not damn near paralyzing! Avoid the last-minute, late-night scurry to get it all done with our easy-to-manage schedule for packing it all in, pun intended!

3 weeks prior to trip: Go through yours and the kids’ drawers and closets and see what you’ve got and what still fits. Use this week to hit up your favorite spots (in-person or online) and get what you need. With three boys with zero interest in shopping, it’s easier for me to Target and Amazon (yep, I’m using those words as verbs) their stuff, have them try it on at home, and then I’ll keep/return what works/doesn’t. But you do you!

2 weeks prior to trip: Keep a running list in your Notes app, so it’s always with you, and jot down things you know you’ll be needing as you think of them — sunglasses, goggles, sunscreen, pool bag, wine opener, chargers, swim shoes, Tums, magnetic hooks, retainer cleaning supplies, visor, vitamins, et. al). Yes, this list will be long and random AF, but it’ll be a huge help to have it altogether when packing time comes.

1 week prior to trip: Be on top of the laundry so you’re not wondering where things are; and where possible, stage what you’re going to bring for easy transfer to a suitcase. When you lay it all out on a dresser, you’re able to see what you’ve amassed and decide over the course of that week, what you’re missing or aren’t actually going to need (the latter more likely, in my case). This is also the time to make sure everyone’s prescriptions are filled.

3 days prior to trip: Check the weather of your destination and make sure you’re prepared with ponchos, scarves or sandals. Assess your toiletry and travel meds situation — replace what’s running low or expired and always, always, always bring one of these. Pull together all your identification papers (passports, birth certificates, Covid negative test results, etc.) and place in your carry-on bag.

1 day prior to trip: Load up the suitcases with all the stuff that’s been laid out on your dresser, and, again with the Notes App, make a list of the last minute things you need to remember to throw in the morning of departure (contacts lenses case/glasses, daily serums, watch chargers, snacks, etc.).

Did we miss anything? What’s on your to-do list that didn’t make ours?

What's So Great About File Folding?

Let us tell you…

I’ll be honest, I didn’t always used to be a file folder. I used to be a “stacker” — neatly folded clothes, stacked on top of one another in the drawer. The problem with that is you can’t see what you have without lifting/moving/tossing what’s on top to see what’s below. It very quickly becomes a big mess and defeats the whole point of folding to begin with.

With file folding, you never have to wonder what’s clean or what’s actually in the drawer, because you can see it all in one glance.

Another benefit to file folding is it takes up considerably less space. Your drawers and baskets will be much better optimized, and don’t even get us started on the optimization of suitcase space (stay tuned for our upcoming spring break packing post)!

File folding can be done almost anywhere — dresser drawers, linen closets, kitchen linen drawers, suitcases, the list goes on. And if you don’t have drawers, baskets and bins can still make great showcases for all that fabulous file folding you’re about to embark upon.

Still not convinced? Head over to @roomreset to see some of our tutorials!

Our Accessory Go-Tos

No matter your size or shape, accessories always fit! Earrings, bags, hats…these are the things that make an outfit go from “Meh” to “Wow!” So having all those things organized and easily accessible will help you start the day feeling stylish and, most importantly, confident!