Loose Cannon
Did you know we help families declutter and pack/unpack for their move?
Two weeks ago, my team helped two families with their moves.
Each Move experience had important issues I wanted everyone to know to protect themselves.
- Triple check your movers! The movers may pass your interview, but have you checked Google reviews and Better Business Bureau? Have you called several of the references provided? My client endured undo stress and hardship from the movers. Movers were supposed to do 2 day move. The movers took 3 days, causing a postponed walk through. My client and her husband have injuries and were not able to move items. These movers showed disrespect and vulgarity to my client and her family. Every item was marked, and the rooms were marked by coordinating color. The movers just dropped majority of boxes and mattress in the foyer. After lots of redirecting, some items were moved. The 3rd day the movers were still putting furniture in the wrong places but having the head mover there helped with redirect of this items. The worst was the movers disregarded my client’s stuff. 2 boxes of dishes were broken when the boxes were dropped down the steps. The movers never told the client that items were broken. Witnesses to the crash dishes told the family. Remember We have a list of accredited movers we were work with.
- Family crises happen all the time. When it happens to you its tackle one day at a time. When 4 siblings in 4 different states get a call that their loved one fell and previous health conditions exacerbated from the fall making living at home impossible. The daughter reached out to Life Simplified. We were able to come up with a plan to have antiques and auctioneer appraisers come evaluate the items. The realization that the father’s collections of war memorabilia were going was too much for the kids to bear. The family decided to pack all the items with care and be moved. Our team made sure to pack the antiques in its special way to protect from damage.
Doing the walk through with the family I noticed several antique guns. The family did not know that these guns are registered with the ATF and need to be moved by a gun specialist. Which usually is an off-duty cop. Also, my knowledge of war memorabilia was off since my 14 yr old son saw a picture of one item that was going be packed and informed that it was not an old telescope but a old ww1 machine gun or Cannon. I reached out to a retired military friend who informed me that it was WW1 Cannon I it’s an artifact it may be packed if it’s the real deal the family needed to obtain a permit from the ATF to move the item, otherwise jail time.
If you or a family member have a collection, start discussing what will happen to it. If you need a move manger, we would be happy to help you out.
Hello friends, When the calendar flips to January, we’re suddenly flooded with possibilities of fresh starts, clean slates, and promises to ourselves that this is the year we’ll finally get organized. Organization isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating systems that make your life easier, calmer, and more intentional. 1. Start with on small space Instead of tackling the whole house, choose a single drawer, a nightstand, or a pantry shelf. Small wins create momentum. 2. Set realistic, measurable goals Replace 'Get organized' with specific, achievable goals. 3. Do a quick purge of everyday clutter Spend 10 minutes collecting items you no longer need. Immediate relief! A visual timer helps. See link below for a timer recommendation: https://a.co/d/jjDKhoB 4. Create homes for your most-used items A home for everything keeps chaos away. 5. Simplify your daily routines Prep the night before. Make mornings calmer. 6. Embrace the ‘One In/ One Out’ rule Maintain clutter-free spaces all year. 7. Use Visual Systems Labels, clear bins, color coding - especially helpful for kids and busy families. Kids do well with pictures and word labels. Link for products below: https://a.co/d/8uFMLzw 8. Schedule your organizing time If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen. Consistence is key! 9. Ask for help when you’re overwhelmed Support accelerates success! 10. Celebrate progress, not perfection Every organized drawer is a success! Here’s to a simpler, lighter, more organized year ahead! Life Simplified is here to help you every step of the way!
Don't stress! Follow these helpful hints to stay organized and enjoy your time with family and friends. Hosting Holiday Meals Ask your guests to help Lists! Lists! Lists! (grocery, menu, etc.) Remember the batteries Use disposable pans & Plates as much as possible Consider Grocery delivery Service Also, support any local farmers markets or farms by buying any produce from them! Stay focused, Hydrated & keep that protein level up! Have 10 quiet minutes? Wrap a present! Grab a glass of wine Turn on a Christmas movie Be sure to have your camera ready but don’t forget to sit back & enjoy the moments Set the coffee to automatically brew. You'll love having a hot cup of coffee to start your day! Most Importantly... Enjoy this time with your family and friends . Yes, it can be stressful; yes, it can be overwhelming, but it can also be fun! Allow yourself to enjoy it - stress and all!
How long do you leave your holiday decorations on display in your home? We hear from a lot of people that they continue to enjoy their holiday decorations well into the new year . We’re all for squeezing every last drop of joy out of the season and we think you should leave your decorations up as long as you’d like! However, when the time comes to un-decorate, we highly recommend that you downsize holiday decorations: take the time to sort and organize them before you put them away. Always edit your collections before you store them. This concept is harder than it seems, but if you decorate your home for the holidays and still have more decor in storage, you may want to donate or re-home anything you didn’t display this year . If you’re ready to apply this principle, try this method: 1) Pull out ALL of your holiday decor and supplies at the start of the season. 2) Decorate your home and set up your gift wrapping area, holiday supplies etc. 3) Box or bag anything that didn’t make the cut this year for decor and supplies. 4) Retain any storage containers that could be useful to better organize the items you want to keep for next year. The pros recommend clear containers so you can see what’s in there! If you’re downsizing or short on space, consider: Choose unbreakable and easy-to-store options when you can. Fragile decorations that need a lot of protection take up a lot of space in storage. We know some downsizers who have chosen to go all-natural (as much as possible) with live garlands, wreaths, tree trimmings, floral arrangements, etc. so that there is less to store at the end of the season. You can always choose fewer areas to decorate , focusing on the spaces where you will most enjoy your holiday trimmings. When it’s time to store: Use the right container for the job . Specialty ornament containers may cost more, but they will protect delicate items. Consider off-site storage . We’re seeing more and more specialty storage solutions for small-space dwellers, including services that will pick up and deliver your holiday supplies on demand.