What to Leave Out...What to Put in

First let me just say, you're gonna be uncomfortable for awhile.  That's why what you pack first really matters because as soon as you get a few boxes packed, someone will say, "Have you seen my ...?"   There begins the un-taping of boxes and the search.  I ha-ate that!   It's very difficult to avoid it but here are some ideas (learned through the sweat of my brow so you don't have to sweat):

• Pack only non-essential items first ... Knick knacks and that sort of stuff - things that are only there to please the eye.  It is SO refreshing to have all the stuff of life put away in a box and neatly stacked in a corner.  The things hanging on the walls can definitely go.  The move has begun!
• Pack the kitchen last. 
• For children, pack their boxes and do not tape them up until the last day (that way if you need to find something for them, you're not going crazy ... Well, you're not going too crazy-it's still annoying as crap).  
• If you don't already have one, buy a big duffle bag or a tourist case for your essential bathroom items which you'll take with your personal stuff.  This is necessary even if you're moving down the street.   You will want your toiletries handy and it's impossible to find them any other way.  
  
• Have a backpack for each child or pet in which you'll pack their essential items such as special toy, blankie ... Well, you know.   My husbands backpack contains all those things he sets on his nightstand and all those things he can't live without for a few days (or however long it takes to move and unpack), like the book he's reading, his electrical cords (placed in separate baggies) and his precious imported chocolate bar.  Lol.  
  
• Label the first box you pack - 1st box (and description, i.e., knick knacks living room).  Label the last box you pack - last box (this will be the box you'll probably want first when you get to where you're going) probably.  
• If you are using a packing service, some of the above still applies.  I'm gonna have to have a whole separate thing on what to do when movers help because I'm pretty sure you don't want to unwrap a big box at the other end and find out it's your garbage can (filled with rotting garbage).  Yes folks, it has been done.  

Packing first things first

I think because I haven't finished my advice on moving, I have been cursed by the powers that be.  I am having to move ... Again.  And so let us continue.  It is important to pack the non-essential items first and so I begin with the knick knacks and the smaller wall hangings.  Grab one of your smaller moving boxes that you've collected.  If your box has been flattened, you will tape the bottom across the open seam and then criss cross the other way.  Come up the sides of your box a ways to assure sturdiness.   

Start with a larger knick knack item such as a clock, or two large-ish items, wrapping them in a towel and placing in the center of you box.  Use the rest of the space for smaller items.  Wrap each item in newspaper or whatever packing material you have.  Knick knacks are susceptible to breakage so wrap everything separately with the larger items on the bottom.  

I can double darn guarantee you that if you pack a heavy item (such as marble) with a fragile light item, the light item will get crushed and broken. I can also guarantee broken glass in picture frames if you pack frames that have glass in them with anything else.  Be sure and go through the house finding anything small and pack the box full-it's better if it's jammed full so that things can't shift around.  

A great way to pack up and keep safe your delicate, breakable items is to use small boxes like soap boxes or jello boxes.  You wrap your fragile item and put it in a small cardboard box and then put that in your packing box.   According to the number of knick knacks and small wall hangings you have chosen to keep, you will end up with several small boxes which you've taped shut and labeled: knick knacks living room ... And knick knacks family room, etc.  

There are a couple of different ideas I have for where to keep the boxes preparatory to moving day.  If you have a garage that you don't need to use, you could stack the boxes there.  However if you live in an area where there are bugs in the garage, there's the possibility they will get into your boxes and you will move them to your new home.  Another place to stack them is in a corner of your dining room or family room.  I like to stack them to the height of the dolly that the guys will be using.  

The Beauty of Wardrobe Boxes

I usually buy about one wardrobe box per walk-in closet and one for every two regular sized closets (unless there's tons of clothes).  These are the boxes I won't give away after the move because I know I'll need them again.

Besides the fact that you just move your clothes from hanging in your closet to hanging in the box, you use the bottom of the box, too. 

The empty space in the box is great for large wall hangings, lamp shades, extra clothes hangers, yard stakes or yard lights, mirrors (but wrapped well) and pillows.  Basically anything large but light-ish.

I've seen professional movers throw shoes in the bottom of the box, as well but I wouldn't want to use the space for something that could easily fit in a smaller box.

After you've moved, you can store extra clothes in the box (keep it in the attic or the basement).  It's also big enough to store Holiday things like Christmas trees.

Rolo Cake

Today I started making a Rolo Cake from a recipe I found out there.  It was messed up so I tweaked it a little and the result was great.

This cake is super moist.  You can taste peanut butter, caramel and chocolate.  We are eating it without frosting but you could use frosting if you want - a cream cheese frosting would be good.

  

1st Layer:

Cake mix (I used yellow but you could use any)

5 oz evaporated milk

1/4 cup butter (not margarine, please)

12 oz bag Rolo Candies (unwrapped & cut in half)

You will want to have the Rolo candies all ready so unwrap them and cut them in half.  Then set them aside.

Put all of the ingredients above (except the candy) in a mixer and mix well.  You get a thick, sticky mixture.  Press it onto the bottom of a 9x13 greased pan.  (An easy way to press dough is to slightly dampen your hands and press, re-dampen as needed.)  

Set aside.

2nd Layer:

Melt together in pan on medium heat:

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter

While you're waiting for the peanut butter mixture to melt, use your mixer and mix together:

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

After that is mixed, stir in the peanut butter mixture from the stove.

Now add:

2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla

Beat until smooth.

Bake layer #1 at 350 for about 8 minutes or just until barely set.

Press the Rolo candies into the dough.

Pour Layer #2 over the 1st layer and continue to bake about 25 minutes more or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

My Westinghouse Mixer

I love my new Westinghouse Mixer.  Some of the best things about it are that it suctions to the counter so it doesn't move unless I want it to.  Another way it's different from other mixers is that the beaters go around and not the bowl!  You hardly even have to scrape the sides because it gets everything mixed up so well.

The mixer comes with three beaters:  a whipping one; a dough hook; and a regular K beater.  You can actually make bread with this mixer.  It has the power and it doesn't fly all over the counter like normal mixers do.

It comes with just the one bowl so you can't make huge batches of dough but I've done a 2 loaf recipe - a few different ones, actually and they turned out great.

This is a really nice mixer for the price.  I got mine off Amazon and it was around $60 which beats the Kitchen Maid price all to heck.  I mostly wanted a mixer that would mix bread and found reviews on this one.  I am happy with it especially for the price.

Moving: Packing the Kitchen

I'm writing this in blue to soothe you.  Is it working?  I've packed us so many times I figured I'd better share my great wisdom with everyone who needs it.  Along the way I've learned by my mistakes and I've learned by watching professionals do it (when we've had that kind of move).  I hope some of the ideas I have here are helpful.

Two weeks before your move start saving small boxes from your kitchen or bathroom.  It's helpful to have soap boxes, spaghetti boxes, cereal boxes, things like that.  I'll explain below.

The kitchen packing is generally done near the end.  I have found that about 3 days before the move is perfect.  That way, you have a BIG job done (the kitchen is one of the places where a lot of your stuff is).  Whatever you do, do NOT wait until the bitter end to pack your kitchen because you think you'll want to prepare food for everyone or you might need something from the kitchen.  It's too big of a job to wait til the end.  You are working yourself to death anyway and need a break from cooking and cleaning.  Trust me.  Plan on eating out or ordering in for your last 3 days at your old home.  Be looking for coupons for pizza or restaurants before your move - that way you can save a few dollars.  Buy some paper plates, bowls, cups and a set of plastic silverware.  It's easy to have breakfast even when you're packed up.  Just have cold cereal (using your paper bowls) or yogurt (using your plastic spoon).  

You'll need packing materials (such as newspaper, magazine pages, tissue paper) and boxes for the kitchen. You'll want to use your smaller, sturdier boxes for most of the kitchen items.  I've made the mistake (many times) of packing what my husband calls "bone crushers".  Too much heavy stuff in a big box equals unhappy husband.  In the kitchen, you can use your bigger boxes for light, large items like cookie sheets, cutting boards, toaster - things like that.  

When packing my precious dishes, I put layers of towels or dishcloths or wash cloths or rags or pillow cases or sheets or fabric from my stash between each plate.  This way you are also packing some of your linens.

1) Lay "packing material" (i.e., towel) out flat and place a plate (or bowl) on top the towel on the end of the towel.  
2) Fold the towel over the plate.  
3) Place your next dish on top of the folded towel.   

4) Get another towel and place that on top of the first dish.
5)  Put your next plate on the towel
6)  Fold the second towel over the second plate and so on.
My dishes have not broken using this method.  You can use the same idea for your cups and glasses, too.  It works for curios as well.  Anything breakable is well protected with good padding and packed carefully.

When you pack plates into boxes, do not turn the plates on their sides, lay them flat.  Do not pack any other heavy object with your breakables.  To fill in the little bit of extra space remaining in your box once the plates are in it, look for small, light-weight items such as a curio or paper items like napkins.  If you pack heavy things with breakable things, they shift and crush the breakables.  

Label your box:  Kitchen.  Then write what is in the box.   For instance I would write everyday dishes or good dishes.  I would write drinking glasses.  Be specific.  This is very helpful when it comes to unpacking and finding the box that has the thing in it you need most.  And this will happen.  There's nothing more frustrating than having to open every box to find the can opener.

Pots and pans don't have to be wrapped in anything.  Just be careful not to create a "bone crusher".  Don't overload the box.  Add other things to the pots and pans box like your extra paper towel rolls or small, unbreakable wall hangings.

Put silverware in a small box (like an empty spaghetti box or cereal box) and then pack it into the bigger box.  Don't even try keeping the silverware in a silverware tray.  Doesn't work.  I like to pack all of my silverware and cooking utensils into one box.  That way when you are unpacking, you are able to be more organized.  Items like spatulas and wooden spoons and egg turners can be wrapped together in a towel and laid flat in the box.  Pack your knives with care.  I would try to fit them into a smaller box first (like a cereal box or spaghetti box) and then place them in the big box.  If you don't wrap them in something, they can stick through the box and poke someone.  Or cut a hole in the box!

Most small appliances have to be packed separately.  If they are light enough and you have a box that is the right size, you can pack a couple of them together.  Be sure to stuff enough packing material around the appliance so it doesn't rattle around.  You can always put small items in the corners of the box or on top of the appliance (as long as it's not heavy) to fill in the spaces.

Think of the box like a puzzle.  You have to find pieces that fit together in the box utilizing as much space as you can.  

Packing food.  Ugh.  I call a friend and give away all of my refrigerator and freezer food if I am doing a long distance move.  You don't want to be hauling it around in a cooler and most likely it won't keep anyway.  Ask your friend for help with your move in exchange for free food!  Or just give it away.  It's a chance for a new condiments start! Yay!  If you are doing a short distance move and the food won't have a chance to thaw, you can pack your freezer food into a cooler and your refrigerator food into another cooler.  

Canned and packaged foods (non perishable) are packed into a small, sturdy box.  They don't have to be wrapped unless they are glass.  This is where liquor store boxes come in handy.  That's because they come with dividers!  If you can't get those, you can pack glass bottles just like you do your dishes.  Wrap them, layered in cloth.  Or wrap them with packing or newspapers.  It really worries me that you're going to have a broken jar and spaghetti sauce running out of your box onto your other boxes!  Just be really careful and remember not to pack anything heavy with glass items.

Honey.  Oh my goodness.  You haven't lived until you've opened a moving box and honey is coating everything in there.  Whew.  This is where careful packing comes into play.  Remember, remember not to pack breakable bottles with non-breakables.  Your stuff is being manhandled into a truck; your stuff is shifting at every turn the truck takes; your stuff is being bounced to kingdom come with every bump and curb the truck drives over!  I personally would just give the honey (or like item) away.  You can totally tell I've been traumatized, huh?

Pack spices into smaller boxes so that if they pop open, they won't get all over everything else.  Use packing tape to tape down anything that might come open - like your salt box or your cocoa powder tin (yes, yes that's happened to me as well).

Unless you can put your cleaning liquids into the back of your vehicle, leave them or give them away.  They are not allowed on moving trucks (it's against the law because they can explode?).  Most people that move are kind and leave their cleaning stuff in a box on a shelf in the garage.  That way the new move-ins have cleaning supplies (before they unpack).  By the way, leave a roll of toilet paper in the bathrooms, too.  Works both ways, so be generous.

Remember that you can use the inside of things you are packing for packing space.  Like you can put smaller items inside a large pot or a toaster.  If you are bringing your garbage cans, clean them well (or you'll be sorry) and then pack stuff into them.  

House plants are also not allowed on moving trucks (that's the official trucks).  If you are doing a short move and they will live, you can put them on last in the back of the truck.  Just be sure to wedge them in so they don't tip over.  I have a couple of plants that I won't give up.  They go in my vehicle.  In an emergency, you could uproot your plant and place a bag around the roots, tying or taping the bag closed.  It will be very traumatic for your plant but I've been known to keep a few that way ... in my vehicle.

Kitchen table?  If you can take the legs off tables, that is safest.  Otherwise they might get broken off.  Also be aware that moving is often the time that wood gets scratched or rubbed.  Your wood furniture should be padded from being rubbed against anything else - like the side of the truck or other furniture or boxes.  That's where rugs or blankets come in handy.

Kitchen rugs should be laundered as well as all other throw rugs in the house.  Save them in a stack for moving day.  They can be used for cushioning.

Don't forget to check the dishwasher!  The most famous place for leaving stuff behind.

Last piece of advice on packing the kitchen:  don't take any chances with your precious thing.  I have this pig.  He's been with me since I was 12 and my parents bought him at an auction.  He's special and he knows it.  He is wrapped alone and heavily at that.  Most times he rides with me.  

Dehydrating How To Specifics

Recipes for What I've Dried (So Far)

Cantaloupe:  Gut, cut up and peel.  Slice thinly.  (The thicker your slices, the longer the drying time).  The slices should be less than 1/4 inch thick.  But you don't have to be exact.

Peaches:  I did white peaches yesterday. Just peel and slice thinly or you can even dice.  Next time I do it, I am also sprinkling a little Stevia on to sweeten it up.

Bananas:  Bananas are my personal favorite!  You peel them, of course and then slice them less than 1/4 inch thick or I actually like them better cut into finger sizes.  You cut the banana in half and then you quarter each half.  They turn out more chewy and candy-like.  Some recipes say to add honey, but bananas are so sweet anyway, I don't do that.

Apples:  These are fun!  Wash the apple and then slice it like bread from the stem down.  You get nice apple circles with a cute star shape in the middle.  I've seen wreaths made of dried apples and they are beautiful.  Again make sure your slices are thin.

Mango:  I believe these are probably the most popular one with my husband.  Who ever knew mangoes taste so freaking good?  I didn't.  You wash the mango, peel it and then slice off thin wedges.  You'll get down to the pit only by slicing carefully.  I get all I can get off the mango by slicing and then I lean over the sink and eat the rest while juice drips down into the sink.  Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Sun-Dried Tomatoes:   I kept asking, "what will we use dried tomatoes for?"  Dum, dum, dum, dum!  They are fantastic eaten alone or on a pasta or on some salad.  I can't tell you how dang tasty they are, you've just gotta try it!  And they are super expensive at the store but cheap, cheap, cheap to do at home. Roma tomatoes are the best but you can use any kind.  Wash them, core them and then slice thinly.  Throw out the bottom part.  I then spread them out on a plate and brush with olive oil.  Then sprinkle with basil and oregano or with Mediterranean Sea Salt (which is a mixture in the spice aisle).  After you have them all sprinkled, put them olive oil side down on the drying tray.  Be sure and put tomatoes on the bottom tray so the spices don't drip down onto your fruit (yuck).

FRUIT LEATHER:  Now to the best fruit roll-up ever (and inexpensive) AND no preservatives.  You know EXACTLY what's in there.  I think you could make any kid you could dream up.  My first was banana/pineapple.  You just put your fruit in a blender (fill your blender about 1/3 in total).  You will probably have to add a little liquid (I use apple juice) to get the blend going.  Blend well and then pour it onto your sprayed special tray.