Those First-Night Boxes...

...Were a Godsend.  We had 2, mostly because I really wasn't sure how long it would take to get EVERYTHING unpacked, and I wasn't sure how clean the new house would be.  I'll call them "Kitchen" and "Bedroom" for simplicity's sake, but in reality one was upstairs(bedroom) and one was downstairs(kitchen).

Kitchen:
-Cleaners and things to clean with:
     Dish soap and rags
     Paper Towels
     Dish Towels
     Window Cleaner(I use white vinegar)
     AP Cleaner(I use Mrs. Meyers Clean Day)
     broom
-a box of trash bags... for all that paper when you unwrap your dishes
-a bottle of champagne and flutes to celebrate(I wrapped mine in those dishtowels)
-toilet paper
-paper plates/disposable utensils
-list-making paper
-all charging cables and bricks

Bedroom:
-clean sheets, pillows and blankets
-towels, shower curtain
     Don't be like me.  Remember the curtain rod and the new liner.  Luckily, the old resident left theirs behind.
-Pajamas
-hand soap

We also packed a suitcase each to last for a week, as if we were going on vacation.  Laptops, journals, bibles and such were in a "personal item" bag and everything else was in a "carryon" and I think this is the thing that made the biggest difference.  Next time I would add laundry supplies to that kitchen box too... If you use clothes to pack dishes(which I suggest) it's nice to be able to start washing them.

I made this list mostly for myself, but I will go ahead and post it just incase it could help somebody.

Blessings and peace!

Moving lessons learned

We are packing in high gear at my house these days... and I have learned a few things while packing up our stuff, and moving our household.

1.  Label everything.
I have color-coded, because we will be moved into our new house by members of Jon's new congregation... But I just bought the pastel pack of index cards for that, and used clear tape to attach them to boxes.

2. Make a list of all that stuff you're labeling.
If for no other reason then because people are human, and therefore make mistakes, lists will be our friends in this move.  And then, after we move everything and need to set up renter's insurance, we will already have a list of things that need insuring!

3. Cull before you pack, then cull as you pack.
Ya.  We've been semi-embracing the Marie Kondo movement, but found even more things to cull as we packed all the boxes up.  It's a good feeling.

4. First Night Boxes.
I'll post what's in ours after I make them and use them, so the stuff I wish I'd had makes the list too.

5. Don't hesitate to have people over to say goodbye before you leave your old home.
If they love you, they will not mind the boxes.
This has been a real teaching moment for me, because I had to let go of the idea of showing off the perfect house in favor of time with friends who love us because of our mess and in spite of it.

6.  It will happen.