Saturday, April 30, 2016

The "Last Box."

After watching the moving truck pull away for the 9th time in 14 years of marriage......yup.....part of being married to this crazy football life๐Ÿ‘ฐ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’๐Ÿˆ. I realized all of our moves had something in common. The "last box."๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ“ฆ

Being extremely organized, I like to label every box and what room it is designated to go to. I will even go so far as to label "open immediately" for the urgent items (like my wine opener for instance ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿท๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿป.)

But as it leads up to the last hours with the moving truck parked outside.......organization.......all goes out the window. With every move I think.....I am ready.......I got this๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ.......this isn't my first rodeo ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿด. Then the movers are getting ready to close their truck's door and I miraculously find another box to fill with just about any random item you could imagine. It's like panic mode๐Ÿ˜ฑ......thinking.....I MUST get more on the truck ๐Ÿš›๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผ.

A random toy that was trapped under the couch, laundry in a bag that I washed and dried up until the last moments of the day, the few last packaged  pantry items you thought you would use, tools....packing tape....& sharpies (items that I have been using daily up until the move.), a magnet that had been trapped under our fridge, and pretty much any other random item that's still lying around. 

I guess no matter how "prepared" or "organized" I think I am.....on moving day things "get real".....often really quick ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿš›

I have to be honest......I really dread opening that "last box." I hate seeing all the "last minutes" and having to find appropriate homes for all of them. Plus it's usually not just one box.....one turns into two.....and a couple nights ago it turned into 3 "last boxes" ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ“ฆ.

I know, the next few days, will be hard....who am I kidding......it's been hard since February. I have 4 kiddos, and with all the craziness of that in itself (two ear infections, the flu that spread like wild fire, appointments before you're insurance has to change, basketball games, school concerts, etcetera), packing fast just doesn't happen.....especially when you're packing on your own (my husband had to leave in February to start his new coaching job at SDSU.)

I, also know, the days ahead we will have long drives, staying in hotels (NOT fun AT ALL with a seventh month old BTW), and living out of suitcases with 4 babes (kiddos) in tow. Then there will be the unpacking.....did I mention the 4 kids.....unpacking fast won't happen either.

With all that said, I probably will never like opening the "last box(es)," but I do love the feeling of finally being able to take a deep breath when we are all crammed in the car headed to our new football adventure. Even with Toy Story blasting behind me, the smell of boys and fruit snacks in the air, and being asked "how much longer?" more often than I would probably like.

Really, moving in general,  isn't easy......but I am looking forward to our new journey at South Dakota State University.......home is where football takes us......GO JACKS๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿˆ.....WE got this๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ซ.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Moving......AGAIN!!!!!!

If you didn't know already.....I am a football coach's wife......GO JACKS๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฐ. I have moved A LOT!!!!! I was even recently called by another coach's wife-the ultimate football gypsy ๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐ŸผLOL. Most of the moves we have had have not been by choice. A head coach gets fired and a new coach comes in and "cleans house" ๐Ÿšฎ(gets rid of most if not all the assistants). It's just part of the football life. This is my 9th move......and only 2/9 have been fully paid for. When they're fully paid moves it's amazzzzzzing because you don't have to pack.....it's all done for you๐ŸŽ‰ ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿš›. But I will say, as I am packing for our next journey to South Dakota, there are some benefits to having to box up a house yourself......really.

First.......you get rid of things you don't want or need. I hate clutter and moving around has taught me to purge and be organized. The movers will seriously pack your garbage if you let them๐Ÿ˜–.

Second, you can take the time to sell things you don't want or need. Many times, I will have a garage sale before a move and sell our old gear (maybe keep a few faves.) You can make good money on it and my loyalty is always to the team my husband is coaching for❤️๐Ÿˆ. Also any furniture that won't work in your new place or maybe you don't need anymore. If you don't like garage sales there are almost always great ways to sell on Facebook through your town. You usually have to be accepted as a member, but I have been selling things like that for years. Especially big items.

Go through and pack room by room. I go through and update picture frames, go through closets, and pack all the things you can live without for a couple months (I start early because I have four babes (kiddos). Anything I don't think is worth selling I donate and get a slip for our taxes.

I have my kiddos help go through toys, little ones can test markers (throwing out ones that don't work), and help out packing......we are in this together and there is no "I" in team right ๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ?

I also save every single receipt for things I buy for the move (tape, packing paper, etcetera.) to deduct as moving expenses on our taxes. I try not to buy boxes. Usually you can find someone moving into town.......even one of the new football coaches. A little awkward, I know,  but it's a business and you need the boxes. Plus they'll have all the wadrobes and nice dish packs. It's probably a good idea to save a few dishpacks and wardrobes when your move is over-for a rainy day (a lot can happen in a season.)

As far as packing paper goes......I often utilize blankets and pillows for fragile items. Another coach's wife also gave me a great tip (thanks Kristi M.) Go to your local newspaper and buy their unused end rolls. WAY cheaper than buying packing paper and it's nice and convenient having it on a roll.

Lastly, and an important one,.......LABEL your boxes. I will label what room it goes into and the importance of opening. What do you want to open right away (bedding, towels, coffee maker, wine opener, shower curtains,.....did I mention wine opener๐Ÿท).

After having boxed up homes for  7/9 moves.....I pretty much feel like I could be a professional mover LOL. So hopefully you can use any of these tips for a move(s)........and don't forget to wait on packing that wine opener till the end.....in your labeled box of course ๐Ÿ˜‰



Sunday, April 17, 2016

Beauty, babes (my babies), and ball (football)

I decided to start this blog because of my three loves......Beauty๐Ÿ’…๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘  (makeup, fashion, accessories.....you name it.) Babes ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ(aka: my four kiddos). They are my heart and soul.....and I feel pretty proud/lucky to have made such amazing little people. Lastly, Ball.....short for football. It makes up a large part my life considering I am married to a football coach.......GO JACKS!!!๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿ’™

I have a degree in fashion marketing and Cosmetology Degree and spent years selling cosmetics (from Clinique, Lauder, and Mary Kay.) So, I like to think, I have some good input on beauty secrets and tips. Plus with four kiddos.....all mamas out there need quick ones.......right!! We are not some celebrity that can devote hours in a makeup chair.......this is real life people. I have learned fast everyday tips for us mamas on the go and I have plenty to share. Plus spending years around department store cosmetics and even being a consultant with Mary Kay I have learned there are great products everywhere.......even the Dollar tree๐Ÿ˜ณ(yes, I am serious!!!!) You don't have to spend a fortune to feel and look beautiful.

My four kiddos.....Quentin, Jaxton, Palmer, and our baby Maverick........make up a HUGE part of my life. I have good, bad, and in between days as mom of four boys......but I wouldn't trade the craziness of it for anything. I have learned a lot from my 13+ years of experience. From nursing, colic, teething, after school sports, and the list goes on. Actually I am still learning as I go LOL. I have had to learn to pinch pennies for cleats and find my own ways to work around a fussy baby. Being a mom is a tough job.....some of my closest friends are the ones that have kids......we just get the chaos.

Football. A sport I knew NOTHING about till I met my husband. One of the first things I said to him was that he chewed gum like a coach. It was love at first sight from that point on. Kind of like in Jerry McGuire when she says "you had me at hello." Corny... I know LOL. Being a coach's wife hasn't been easy. We are moving for the 9th out of state move in 14 years of marriage......its crazy I know....I have been called a football gypsy๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿˆ. From moving tips, packing tips, tailgating recipes, what to feed big groups (feeding 25+ offensive players at one time is no joke๐Ÿ˜ณ), and great tips on what to wear for games......you don't always have to shop at the bookstore ladies. Have you ever seen how the women in the South dress for games.....they know how to bring it in the stands ya'll. Plus plenty of tips and funny stories from lugging around these 4 babes to all their Daddy's football games (thank god for fruit snacks and hot wheels.) Yes, this mom feeds my kids "fruit" snacks........ I didn't say I was perfect LOL.

So as I am lying here in my bed staring at a room full of boxes, with plenty more I need to pack ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ™„(BTW), and a baby that is waking up from a nap๐Ÿ˜ซ (and not a good one at that)......I am thinking I am surely not busy enough LOL.......so why not start this blog. I think there may be someone out there that can relate to this or even find it helpful. From beauty......babes.....to ball........and how you can try and do it all ๐Ÿ˜‰(or at least fake it till ya make it).