Planning for 4th of July

Whether you’re staying home or going away for the weekend, the 4th of July is time to spend with loved ones. Planning ahead is still crucial to enjoying your day to the fullest.
If you’re going away: Make a list off everything you’re bringing,; check and double check it, and pack it with you. For a list of most forgotten items packed, read my blog post here.
If you’re staying home: If you’re hosting the party, give everyone some jobs around the house to do to get chores done faster. Also, hit the grocery store early for ingredients. Lastly, make sure to take a step back, and enjoy who you’re with. Being a great host also means spending time with your guests.

11JGOISGC7.jpg

Graduation!

With summer comes graduation parties. No matter what they’re graduating from: middle school, high school, or college, there are ways to prepare for it. Here are 3 tips for making it through:
1.    Buy “Congrats Grad!” cards in bulk Buy a bunch of neutral graduation cards that you can hand out like it’s candy since there will most likely be several parties. Then, you don’t have to keep making trips back to the card aisle.


2.    Moolah Skip the goofy little presents, especially if you aren’t really close with the recipient. If you don’t know what they like or need, then just give money. It’s still appreciated, and now they can decide what to put it towards (like tuition).

3.    Make it special Invite more than family - the graduate’s friends too. Chances are several of them graduated too, so spread the “Congrats!” to everyone.

The Most Common Things People Forget to Pack for Vacation

Sometimes no matter how much you plan, you still forget essentials. When it comes to vacationing, the last thing you want to do is spend an exorbitant amount of money on something you’ll only need for a couple days.
Below is a list of the most forgotten items. They tend to be essentials and can really create a headache if you forget them.

DC0D6EDB2B.jpg
Sunglasses Don’t forget to grab these as you head out the door. If they’re prescription, then you’re definitely in trouble.

Sunscreen No matter where you’re going, don’t forget this.! Sunburns feel terrible, and they’re so preventable.

Bandages It’s easier to prevent something from happening in the first place than deal with the rough consequences. Bringing a small first aid kit will prevent you from being dragged down by cuts, scrapes, and blisters.

Snacks It’s Always a great idea to have some snacks on hand because some things you just can’t control - like if your plane will take off on time. Healthy snacks will hold you over until you can get some real food in your system.

Chargers for phone, laptop, etc Despite being constantly attached to our technology, chargers made the list. Charge things the night before, and pack the charger as soon as you unplug it.

Extra memory card This is a huge one. Do not underestimate how many photos you will be taking. Bringing an extra one won’t cause you any harm but being short one will. Capture all your special memories.

Leave space for things you purchase on your trip This isn’t so much an item that people forget but something to be aware of. You’re bound to buy some stuff on your trip so save room within your bags to be able to pack your new purchases.

4 Things People Most Often Forget to Do Before Leaving for Vacation

Vacations are for relaxing and taking a breather from your busy schedule. Many people forget these four easy chores to do before they go, which can make your vacation not so relaxing.
1.    Pay bills Make sure to go through your bills before you leave to prevent that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach - and late fees. A lot of banking has gone digital, but why bother worrying about bills when you’re on vacation? Plan ahead so you can have the relaxing vacation you’ve been working so hard for.
2.    Clean out the fridge and put away the dishes Avoid coming home from vacation to do chores. If there is any food in the fridge that won’t be good by the time you get home, then toss it before you go. And, putting away dishes doesn’t take much time, but it’s more of a hassle when you come home.
3.    If going international, call your bank and let them know Don’t get bogged down by the bank calling about international charges. Tell them ahead of time so they’ll be expecting it.

4.    Unplug electronics to conserve energy and save money Don’t pay for something you’re not using. Unplug electronics that don’t need to be on while you’re away, and save money on your electricity bill.

Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things

Many of you may know The Minimalists; they blog, they speak, they write. Mostly, about making a simpler life for themselves and others. Something I strive to help my clients do on a daily basis. Recently, you may have heard about the documentary they helped make, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. I had the opportunity to see a screening of the film a couple weeks ago, where the Minimalists spoke and introduced the film. I came away with two major thoughts:

We're doing it all wrong. Well, most of us, at least. The examples of consumerism and the bigger-is-better attitude that many Americans espouse are pretty nauseating when shown in the film. I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't be buying things or creating new items to market or anything like that. What I took away from the film was how much we've managed to let it rule our lives and equivocate it with our self worth. Our families' self worth. Our status is our stuff. And, as shown in the movie, it's leading to a worn out planet, a worn out people and a whole lot of waste.

Some of us are trying to get it right. The documentary explores multiple ways how creating a life of less stuff allows those who were showcased on screen to have more purpose to their life. They all shared a sense of deliberateness in their daily lives, a stronger sense of community and much more appreciation for the things they do own. I hope that the work I do helps those I work with to create a better sense of what they want in their space, and in their lives. Getting rid of all the excess gives us more time to enjoy relationships and experiences. Certainly stuff is a part of that, but it doesn't need to be the focus of it. We don't have to strive for a higher salary, a bigger house, just to get more and more. We can strive to own things we love and use, a space that fits our lifestyle appropriately and a life fulfilled.

Site design by Ryan G. Wilson Amy Trager, © 2006-2015