Unpacking After A Move

Hey, guess what? I had this awesome chat with my good friend Laurie Palau, you know, the amazing host of This Organized Life Podcast and the brains behind Simply B Organized. We dove deep into the topic of unpacking after a move, and let me tell you, I spilled some simple tips that anyone can totally use! You seriously can't afford to miss this episode!

Contemplating a DIY Move? Grab My Free Moving Checklist Below!

Need Help With Your Next Move?

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Chaos in Nashville

Did you know that we travel?

Last week, we worked in a client’s home in Nashville, Tennessee getting them unpacked and ready to move in!

Here’s a few pictures of our time in Nashville:

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All Things Dorm and Preparing Your Student for the Big Move

AGGHHHH! My son is heading to college and moving in the dorm. I’ve got to start thinking about the dorm essentials he will need. Good news, I’ve done this once already. Easy peasy right? Not so much. In 3 short years things have already changed a bit. Not to mention, the girl versus boy thing is very different. (My son could care less about matching his bedding with his roommate’s bedding and doesn’t need the cutesy headboards, matching towels or monogrammed anything! Lucky me! ) So, I did what I do best and found good resources to gather information and advice. I already had a fabulous list given to me three years ago by a mom of four (Thank you Kathy!) so I had a really great baseline to start. Next, I contacted my parent friends with kids who did this just last year-very helpful! And my secret weapon, an LSU Resident Assistant who has been in the dorm for the past three years. Her job is to help dorm residents thrive and survive so this was really helpful!

My updated checklist is in PDF printable form on the Free Printable's section of our website. Here is the link to that.

In addition to that list, here are a few other tips.

•  Read your “Living on Campus” handbook for your school. Each school will have varying rules about what they allow.

•  GET A MATTRESS TOPPER! The beds are uncomfortable. If your student is going to be in a humid climate, the RA suggested getting one with a case or getting a waterproof mattress cover to put between the topper and the sheets. She said that there have been cases where the mattress topper absorbed water when the rooms were not climate controlled (Holiday breaks) leaving all of the students bedding wet for a period of time.  

•  Command hooks are great. Some schools want you to use push pins instead. (Command hooks can pull paint off the walls if not installed correctly.)

•  2 power strips cannot be put together. (Power strip plus extension cord) because it’s a fire hazard. Order a power strip with a long cord if you plan on raising the bed high. 

• Get lightbulbs that stay cool to the touch to prevent fires.

• Fairy lights are a great way to spruce up a room as well as gently light up a space without bothering a roommate who is sleeping. There are even some that sync to music or sound.  

• A first aid kit with cold meds, allergy meds, acetaminophen and other non-prescription medicine is important to have on hand. Living with new people and new germs means more minor sickness.

• Tell your son/daughter to get to know the RA. This person can be a much-needed ally if there are roommate or neighbor issues.  

• A carpet or rug and a bulletin board of some sort to hang photographs can make the place feel much more like home. Rugs also give friends a softer place to sit when they visit.  

• Get a hanging bathroom caddy if they have a hall bathroom. That allows them to hang the caddy on a hook versus sitting it on the floor where it gets wet.

• Collapsible storage or under bed drawers are great for holding food or extra clothes. If your child can’t come home to swap out seasonal clothing, these containers are extremely helpful for storage.

• Steamers or wrinkle release spray to help when they need to look presentable. 

• Furniture with storage is also great. My daughter had a stool to climb into her bed that also stored her shoes.

• Your son/daughter will want a card holder that sticks to their phone, so they don’t forget their room key! Here are a couple of options.  

Some schools give these out free on the first day!  

• It’s a great idea to pack everything in large storage bins and label the bins. Bring a dolly and/or wagon to help get the bins from the car to the dorm room.

• Patience is a MUST because things move slowly on move in day. 

• Pack water and snacks too.

Some other advice that might be helpful.....

 Please don’t get your feelings hurt when they want to unpack and “nest” on their own. Remember, this is the first time they’ve had their very own space! It doesn’t mean they don’t love you when they push you out the door. (Can someone please remind me of this when I bring my son to his dorm? I have a lump in my throat already!) Kids let your parents help a little. It makes us feel better knowing there are sheets on your bed (even if you don’t sleep on them!)

 Make a deal with your son/daughter that you won’t call them every day. Instead, set up a time and day that they check in and let you in on what’s going on. I was so relieved when my daughter would text me and just say, “I’m alive.” My son will most likely not check in as often as I would like so I’ll have to be satisfied with once or twice a week.  We Mama’s worry....Sigh.

Leaving my daughter at school was the hardest part for me. Plan something fun to do that night such as a nice dinner out or visit with friends (if we can!) It helps ease you into them being gone. And trust me, when they come home for the holidays and bring their mess and laundry back with them, you will be counting the days until they go back to school. HA!   

Having the right dorm essentials helps your student feel as if they have a home away from home. I hope this list helps answer some questions and eases your worry a bit.  You’ve done a good job getting them to this place, they will be great. Time to let them fly!  

 Preparing our kids to move into their college dorm and sending them off on their own can be emotional and a hard thing to do. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, give us a call so we can help you get organized and prepared at 225-205-6400.

Remember to hug those kiddos a little tighter this weekend, and have a Happy Father’s Day!

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College Dorm Evacuation Tips and Solutions

“Mom, I have 24 hours to move out my dorm. They are closing school and moving classes online. What do I do?”

Did you get this call this week? My sister did and panic set in because my niece is in school 16 hours away.   Quick decisions had to be made.

Does she drive home with all of her things? Does she fly home and only bring the necessities? How long will she be home before she needs to head back? Weeks, months? There is so much unknown!

I know many of you are facing the same issues so thought I would share our solutions.

My sister decided to store my niece’s non-essential items in her college town. (In my barn!). We got lucky because my niece is at LSU and all of our family lives here giving her lots of options. I know many of you do not have a barn option so you may need to get a small storage unit, or a borrowed a garage, attic or basement.

The storage unit might seem extreme, but you can rent these by the month. They typically cost around $100 a month for a climate-controlled unit.

For storing and transporting items, I recommend 56-66 quart bins. If your child is packing and moving on their own, they might want to choose smaller bins that they can easily carry, but they will need more since less will be stored in them. Plastic is a better option than cardboard because cardboard attracts bugs. If you use portable plastic drawers in the dorm, wrap them in plastic wrap (available near packing supplies in stores.) or use painters’ tape to make sure they stay closed during transport.   

Here is our advice on how to pack those bins:

        Pack items that will not be used at home separately from the essentials they will need. Essentials mean clothes, makeup, hair items, shoes and any perishables. (If your child is flying home, have them give perishables to a friend.) Text books, notebooks and the outrageously expensive calculator need to be easily accessed when classes begin again.

Separate what you put into the bins by use:   

• Linens (Bedding, curtains, towels.)

• Kitchen items(coffee pots, dishes, utensils, pots, pans, plastic ware.) 

• Accessories and decor 

• Clothes and personal items that they will bring home.

If your child isn’t returning to the dorm, they might consider selling or giving the dorm items to someone that will need it. (Dorm fridge, twin xl bedding, etc.). We have been passing dorm items down from one cousin to the next.  My son is next on the list and we are so appreciative to already have these items!

Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way during this difficult time. Your student will be stressed and possibly anxious. We hope this helps give you some guidance and a little peace in the chaos. 

We can be reached at info@chaosorganizing.com 

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Letting Go is Hard to Do

I started out with a blog calendar and then I had that client that made me want to write because her struggle is a struggle with so many, even me.

Letting things go is HARD! 

For many of my clients, the emotional attachment to THINGS is really strong. While my clients differ in the WHAT, the emotions behind it are usually similar.

So here are some simple strategies to let things go!

1. Purge regularly. I suggest once a week for 15 minutes. Whether it be clothes, paper, collections...it doesn’t matter. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Start with areas that you have less attachment to and work towards the areas that are the most difficult. Adding your declutter session to your calendar will help you do it regularly, making it easier every time.

2.  Write down your goals. List 3 things that are leading you to declutter. This will help you because you can look at the items and decide is this "Helpful or hurtful" to my goals. My 3 things are: Less stress, more time to do what I love and, surround myself with things that I LOVE and make me smile. For me that joy comes from the people inside my house, so my house is really clutter free compared to average. My love language is time.

3. Designate a space for items. When the items outgrow that space, it’s time to purge. This goes for anything....magazines, stuffed animals, Legos, jeans, books....whatever you’re hanging onto.

4.  Get rid of the guilt of unfinished business. Barbara Hemphill states, "Clutter is the result of postponed decisions." Many people hang on to things because they want to "give it to someone" "read it" "use it" and yet years go by and the item, book, article gets buried amongst other things. You haven’t missed it yet, let go of the item and the guilt that goes along with it. By donating it, you are blessing others! If it was truly important, you would make the time.

5. Focus on small spaces. Do not overwhelm yourself with an entire room or closet. Start with a drawer, a folder, a shelf. And again, set a timer. 15-20 minutes. 

6. Go with your gut. This is where having an organizer, friend, or anyone that can keep you accountable helps. If you don’t love it or use it, LET IT GO. I know personally how hard that is! My great-grandparents lived with me and I loved them like parents. Anything that was theirs is like a treasure to me....even if it’s ugly. Lol

So, I had to remember my goals and let some things so. Things that stayed in a cabinet or attic that I was only keeping because it was theirs needed to bless someone else. That was hard, but I don’t miss or even think about those items anymore. 

Letting go is something you can definitely do if you are ready.

If you need someone to help you through the process and make you accountable, please give us a call.

225-205-6400

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