Adventuring with Anna Grace

Editor's Note:

Anna Grace is a contributing writer for Adventure Unraveled and an aspiring Content Creator. She and her family are dear friends of ours and I have had the privilege of watching her grow up from preschool age to the talented, creative, inspiring young woman that she has become. Anna Grace and her family have lived in and/or traveled to various parts of the US, and her mother has traveled internationally on many occasions. I invite you to journey with Anna Grace and her adventures as she begins a new life in Arizona, developing and pursuing her creative passions. Look for her name beside her blog posts and let's see where her journey takes us --J

I am Anna Grace, a traveler, a writer, an artist, a photographer, a yoga lover, a fur baby mama, and an esthetician student. I am an only child raised by a strong powerful mother who follows her heart and goes with the flow of life. At age 12 my mom and I were blessed to have had a wonderful man come into our lives and adopt me. I now call him dad. I am 20 years old but have an old soul. I find myself most at peace in the presence of Mother Nature surrounded by all of the many landscapes. I have lived in so many, and they all have a calming sense. I might just be a fairy. I love creating--creating art, creating memories, and creating cozy and calming environments. What defines me are my passions, my experiences, my drive, and my motivation for creating.

I want to create a space here where my essence is captured. A place where I can share my experiences and love for exploring. I want to help empower people to take that leap of faith. So join me on my blogging journey.

Let's begin with a little essence of what has been a big part of my life and helped form my being... Moving and living in new places. My recent cross-country move to Arizona has inspired my first blog post and I learned a few things along the way, that I thought I would share with you: Do's & Don'ts of Moving

Moving is definitely a stressful event, whether you’re moving alone, with animals, your family, just down the street, or to a completely new state. You’re packing up your life into cardboard boxes and transporting everything you’ve ever owned to a new unfamiliar space. At this point in my life, I should be a pro at moving since I have done it a handful of times since the age of six. I have lived in multiple different states and houses, and the moving process doesn't get any easier the more you do it (at least for me). However, after my most recent move to Arizona with my two kitties I have learned a few do’s and don’ts along the way that makes the process a little less chaotic and stressful.

• Do start months before your actual moving date This is an important step in moving especially if you have a crap ton of crap haha. Starting is always the hardest part so start with the things you aren’t currently needing or using, for example, holiday decorations, seasonal clothes you currently aren’t wearing, the bathroom stuff that’s just sitting under your sink, the extra towels or sheets. Those are good places to start and will make you feel like you have a stable foundation.

• Don’t keep everything Some people are naturally good at decluttering their space or life but not me, I tend to hold on to things and have multiple junk drawers or piles. This last move, I really put into perspective, how important it is to know how much stuff will fit into your new space. Of course, you can keep the things that have a place in your heart but maybe start by going through your closet and getting rid of the clothes you haven’t worn in months or that don’t fit anymore. Tackle those junk drawers and piles and sell or donate any extra furniture that you can’t take with you.

• Don’t say no to boxes, you’ll never have too many boxes There is no such thing as too many boxes while moving, you always can get rid of them once everything is packed up. Collect as many boxes and before you spend money on any boxes at a shipping company or a moving company, ask your friends or family for any of their boxes from packages, ask the ABC store or grocery store in your town if they have any boxes, and you can always visit your towns recycling center if they have one.

• Do try to keep your boxes organized and labeled This will help you in the unpacking process and will help you know what's in what box and what area in your new home to unpack them in. Organize all of your home decorations together. As well as your towels, sheets, and pillows together. Put all the bathroom, shower, and beauty products together, and so on. The categories to organize are kind of self-explanatory but don’t obsess about everything being in a “certain” box, it's okay to have random boxes too; just try to label what is in them so you know. Be sure to label your boxes “fragile” or “breakable” if they are, just so you know if you need to be more careful with how you handle them or where you place them.

• Don’t be afraid of the kitchen even though it is the hardest The kitchen was the most intimidating place to start packing because everything is different shapes and sizes and fragile. Find newspaper or bubble wrap to wrap your dishes and don’t be scared to do multiple layers to be safe, especially if you are moving a far distance. Another more environmentally conscious packing tip is using dish towels to wrap your dishes. Again try to keep things organized and with certain groups, such as plates in one box and cups and mugs in another.

• Don’t pack your moving truck or truck randomly Try to keep everything you’ll need the first night or days before completely unpacking easy to access so you don’t have to rummage through everything. I learned the hard way and put my mattress in the very back of the moving truck so we had to move everything around the first night of driving to get to the mattress so I had somewhere to sleep. Other important things may be sheets, your shower curtain, pillows, clothes, bathroom supplies (toilet paper, tissues, or just hygiene products), and towels.

• Do plan ahead if moving across the country with animals

If you are doing a big cross-country move with animals (I have done this many times) there are some extra things you need to consider such as animal-friendly places to stay, potty/stretch breaks for the doggies, keeping the car cool during the summer months, and making sure they have a safe comfortable environment to travel in. When looking at places to stay with animals you might feel like your options are limited but they aren’t. Don’t only look at hotels but also explore options such as campgrounds or hosted stays such as hostels or short-term rentals. Always double-check that they are in fact pet friendly. When you do arrive at your place for the night I would recommend taking a look around the room, cabin, or house to note all the possible hiding spots or if there is a way for them to escape.

Try to schedule into your drive potty/stretch breaks for your puppies. A good time is when you stop for gas, food, or for you to use the bathroom. Just be careful and make sure they are secure on their leashes. Don’t be alarmed if they don’t potty a lot while traveling, it’s also a stressful unfamiliar situation for your furry friends.

When you are stopping for breaks make sure you roll down your windows. Better yet if you have a travel buddy take turns going inside so you can stay in the vehicle with the air conditioning on so your animals can stay cool.

All I can say is moving is most definitely an experience, to say the least, take it one day at a time and try to enjoy the process as much as possible. I hope these few Do’s and Don’t’s help you out and give you some peace of mind in the process of moving.

Safe travels, love, & bliss -

Anna Grace