July 4th Weekend Plans? Don't forget to Make Your List!

For many of us this will be a busy weekend, full of picnics, fireworks, family reunions and fun! This was a 4th of July weekend at our farm 3 years ago. My hubby was helping the triplets to make and paint their own birdhouses. We went canoeing, picked black raspberries and cooked out. Great time.
But busy weekends also entail planning things out so you do not forget to bring the brownies you promised!

Get out Your Paper and Pen and start your list for what you will need to have this weekend.
1)Cooler
2)Ice - Make your own ahead if there is time!
3)Food/Drink
4)Place settings/cups
5)Napkins/paper towels
6)Trash Bags
7)Bug Spray
8)Sun Screen
9)Lighter
10)First aid kit

Ok...now you add on to it. Think through what you are going to be doing for that day.

Check it off as you get it packed in the car.

Your day/weekend will go much smoother if you have it planned out and aren't forgetting half the things you need.

Moving? Make that List!

There are so many things going on when you are getting ready to move. You have to pack, you have to arrange transportation to your new home, rather it be a rented truck and professional movers. New jobs, new schools, new utilities, new house, new friends, and the list goes on.
Trying to keep track of everything that is going on and you need to remember can be a lot to handle.
Do yourself a favor: KEEP A LIST!!!
Get a notebook (spiral one is fine) and label it MOVING.
You can have one central location for all your information.

Write your lists in this book. What list you may ask?
Here are just a few examples of things you may need to keep.

1) What needs to be done before the move.

2) Change of Addresses: (pick up a packet from your post office, it is helpful in
reminding you of things to change addresses for. There are many, and most of
them are the routine, magazines, utilities etc.....don't forget things that do not
happen monthly such as:

*professional licenses or anything related (RN, MD, etc...)
*Child support system or any court related situation if applicable
*HS or college reunion committees
*Veterans information
*Financial situations: Investor, broker, Banker, Lawyer, Insurance

There are many more..but rack your brain for those "not so often" items that
will need to be changed.

3) What your plans are for setting up the new house.

4) Keep measurements (if you can get them) for the new house so you can get
needed curtains, blinds etc.. and have them with you when you are out.

5) Phone numbers for new places you are discovering. Notes with times and dates
of when you contact companies to change services.

There are going to be many more things you can keep in your notebook, but the main objective here is that you have ONE CENTRAL LOCATION for all your moving information.
You can also find sources out there that have done a lot of the "grunt" work for you in remembering what you will need to remember!
Here is one of them. Buttoned up has many different notebook formats for things in life. This is their Moving Guide.
This would be a great investment and is laid out to help you organize your move step by step.
But if this is not an option for you, at least keep the spiral notebook to keep everything in one place.

Organizing for a Vacation

Heading out of town for spring break? Taking a vacation this summer? Once you get to your destination it is great, but the days before your vacation can be headache filled and stressful.
Break it down.

Give yourself a schedule of what you need to get done and by when.

Make sure your laundry is all clean the day before you need to start packing.

Make a list of what you need to pack. Make up individual list so the kids can help. Write them out a list of the clothing items they will need. Just have them lay it out in their rooms, so you can check to be sure they really have the 7 pair of underwear you told them to pack, not just their one favorite pair! Use the list yourself to help keep you on track as to what you will need.
If there is a washer/dryer where you are going. Take advantage of it. You won't need to pack nearly so many clothes.
Be sure to check out the forecast of your destination site for conditions so you know what to pack.

If you are driving and have to stop part way over night on your way there, pack one family overnight bag. This way you won't have to unload the entire car to get everyone's bags out for the one night.

If you are flying or driving with children, be sure to pack them activities. If they can have their own backpacks or bags with things that can keep them occupied, it is much easier. If there is room for a little basket for them with their things, that would be ideal to keep everything within reach.
If you have a DVD player in your vehicle, be sure to pack something with the videos in it so they aren't all over the car which of course would probably end up with broken DVD's.

Pack lunches so that you do not have to pay so much for meals along the way.
Keep a trash bag in the vehicle so that trash doesn't build up in the car. Empty each time you stop for gas.

The more prepared you are before you start packing with a list of what you need to remember will help you in the long run. You won't have to worry about forgetting the camera or directions to Aunt Kathy's house. Preparation is the key to less stress in the pre-vacation week.

Have a safe trip and start those lists.