Stay on top of the million-and-one details of your next move.

With moving season about to kick into high gear (more than half of all moves take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day), we thought it was the perfect time to bring a digital version of our popular Moving.kit online.

The Digital Moving.kit is a comprehensive set of instructions, checklists and forms that will guide you through the process of moving step-by-step. We help you close up your old house, plan the move itself, and get you settled in your new home. We’ve worried about, stressed over, and obsessed about every possible detail so that you don’t have to.

With this digital moving kit, you can organize your entire move (in Adobe Reader) & print it out OR print it out first and fill out by hand. However you use it — it’s bound to help maintain your sanity while you pack up, move out, travel…and move in!

Only $24.95!

Click here to buy

Do you have good intentions of making photo books for each of your big travel adventures? I know I do…but somehow once you’re back in “real life,” the task of putting one together can seem daunting.

That paralyzing feeling of “overwhelm” is the main reasons we’ve put together the Photo Organization Boot Camp. Because really, you CAN get your photos off of your hard drive and into the real world where you can enjoy them even if all you have is 15 minutes a day. The key is daily, bite-sized steps (and someone holding your feet to the fire to get it done).

Of course, it also helps to have some smart organizational shortcuts up your sleeve too — like these travel keepsake kits.

The genius team at Martha Stewart (who else!?) have a great idea for creating a displayable keepsake kit to hold maps, ticket stubs, and other fun mementos is an awesome alternative. Easy, gorgeous, and practical.

How do you organize your travel mementos and photos? Got any tricks or good project ideas?

How do you pack for a trip?

Everyone I know thinks that women pack too much for a trip – whether it’s overnight or for an extended vacation. Or is it just me?

I’m not talking about ‘mom’ packing or trips with the kids. Those trips you need to make sure you have all your stuff and the kids’ stuff and you need to pack for contingencies (Johnny spills juice on his clothes, Mary gets ill on hers, it gets cold, it gets hot, etc.). No, I’m talking about packing just for me.

Now, I thought I had learned over the years to pack well when on a business trip with mix and match outfits and I even have a couple tank tops that are reversible to get more mileage out of my wardrobe.

I was wrong; I really didn’t learn anything.

Enter the packing expert, my husband. Seriously. I saw what my husband packed for an overnight business trip and I laughed, then he opened his bag and I stopped laughing.

Below is the bag he carried on – the only thing he carried besides a binder with his work in it! Yep, it’s pretty small, but he managed to get a change of clothes, his toiletries and even some items for work in it (camera, pens, papers)! (It’s only 12” wide x 17” long x 2.5” deep)

No way could I ever pull that off. I mean, there were no choices, no extra shoes, no casual clothes but what he wore, no bathrobe, no mix and match anything!

Yes, it was for an overnight trip, but still…

Maybe I’m a luggage clutterer, an overpacker. I went on a recent business trip with the Buttoned Up team. The trip was for three business days and two casual days. I realized I had packed enough clothes for eight business days and three or four casual days.

What was I thinking?

“I like to have choices” is what I tell myself. It’s my excuse for ‘luggage clutter’ as I will now deem it. Yes, I needed the make up and the scandals and I had the casual outfit I wore on the plane, and enough clothes for the three days of meetings, but the rest? It just took up space and made my bag weigh a ton. I worked up a sweat hauling the bag through the airport and I actually needed someone to help me get it into the overhead on the plane (she said turning red faced).

After looking at my husband’s tiny bag, it has convinced me that I am indeed a luggage clutterer – there – I admit it. Is there a support group out there for women like me? Am I alone in this malady?

Here are steps I will take to get over my malady and questions I can ask myself when packing:

1. How many days will I be gone – only pack outfits for those days
2. Forget choices on the road – choices will be made before I pack
3. Pack one pair of shoes; wear one on the plane
4. Ten pairs of underwear for four days is too extreme – pack the undies with the outfit
5. Ask myself where I will be going – do I really need socks in Arizona?
6. A bathrobe? Really? Who’s going to see you?

I feel lighter already.

Do you over pack? Could you ever pack an overnight bag like my husband did?

You’ve got your crib, changing table and nursery decor all set. What else do you need? The answer is: a lot!

Nesting is so much easier (and less stressful!) when you have a list to guide you. That’s why we’ve put together this printable – so you have all the little details buttoned up for that magical moment when you bring home baby.

Click here to download

Who needs whipped cream?! Peeps are the perfect accompaniment to hot chocolate (or coffee) Via: Ohdeedoh

Craft-challenged? You could always rent out the “egg bot” created by GeekPhysical to decorate those eggs.

Martha Stewart’s silver bucket with decorated twigs would make a great centerpiece. Rather than using expensive decorative eggs, you could use small chocolate eggs (attach loop of string to egg w/glue gun) or small bags of colorful jellybeans.

Use mini baskets filled with chocolate eggs or jelly beans as place card holders…or…on a larger scale, as a quick and easy centerpiece. (Via: Pottery Barn)

Cover a kid’s table with a paper roll and sprinkle these adorable rabbit crayons liberally. They won’t want Easter dinner to end! (Via: Earth Grown Crayons on Etsy)

I happen to agree with a few men bloggers on this one: I’d rather celebrate love all year, not just on one day.

It takes time and a little organization to keep the love going. So in that spirit, why not use the next 14 days to get yourself buttoned up so that you actually follow through on your good intentions throughout the rest of the year?

Here is a day-by-day plan:

What are your favorite ways to keep the love going beyond Valentine’s Day?

This year I have my act together for Valentine’s Day, thanks to ProFlowers.com. I’m proud of myself that I ordered flowers for my Mom for Valentine’s Day already – but I had them delivered early. I know she’ll get bombarded and wanted MINE to be there first. (No, not competitive at all!)

I ordered the flowers through ProFlowers.com which has something for everyone. You can shop for him, her, wife, husband, kids, housewarming, Easter Baskets (yeah, already!), thank you gifts, edible gifts, desserts – you name it, they have something for you to choose from!

I ordered her a dozen Sweetheart Roses, because she really is a sweetheart and I’m crazy about her! BUT I also opted for the added package for $19.98 which included a Damask Vase – it has all those pretty hearts and confetti on it and I knew she’d love it; Rocky Mountain Chocolates, I KNOW she will like, a Lavender Spa Trio and the ‘I Love You’ Pick. I had the Roses delivered on Friday 2/8 so they would last a week and she could then make room for the blooms sure to arrive from my siblings.

Her response: She was blown away. She said she had run out of her Lavender items and was thrilled to get the spa trio, and the Chocolates were calling her name. She said the Roses were just starting to open. Mom is very social and was having a group over the following day and was excited to have a centerpiece to show off. And I know she’s going to brag too – who wouldn’t?

Item Description:
These Sweetheart roses are a great way to convey a sweet expression. Such as “I think you’re sweet.” Or “I love you.” Or “Marry me.” Or “I think you’re sweet and I love you. Will you marry me?” Send this bouquet of roses fresh from the fields and your sweet expression is guaranteed to last at least a week.
12 pink, red and white roses
Stands approximately 16″ tall
Item #30043943

Now I’m not completely thoughtless when it comes to my dear sweet husband. I thought of getting something edible for my husband, but his sugar levels are out of control right now, so no chocolate or fruit, so I decided to get something for myself that he could enjoy too!

I was given the chance to review a complimentary product from ProFlowers.com, totally free to me! So I chose to use it on the Sweetheart Tulips – 15 are on sale for $24.99 and you could upgrade to 20 tulips for an additional $4.99 or upgrade to 30 at $14.99, which is what I chose. The pretty Damask Vase that I chose for my Mom’s bouquet (pictured above) is available for the 15 or 20 count, but not the 30 count. I chose no vase since I have plenty and didn’t need another one. But the other choices were the Cherry Red vase for $12.99, perfect for Valentine’s Day, the Class Tulip vase for $9.99, or no vase. I’m really glad they offered it without a vase for those of us with little storage space and enough vases (but it was tempting!).

Item Description:
Celebrate any occasion with beautiful Dutch Tulips! We’ve managed to grow these early to be enjoyed all through the colder months. You’ll feel like it’s Spring already. To allow these beautiful flowers to last much longer, they are shipped fresh, budding, and ready to bloom.
20 red, pink, and white tulips
Stands approximately 14″ tall
Item #3507

The Tulips arrived in a box, as do all of ProFlowers Bouquets. Honestly the secure way they wrap the flowers really tells a lot about their company and wanting to please their customers! I had my vase all ready out and on my table waiting for the Tulips, but forgot Tulips don’t have really long stems – so I thought I should have ordered the vase, then I remembered the one pictured – perfect.

My husband’s response: “Nice” Honestly, he liked them but I was thrilled since I love Tulips and they remind me of Spring. I don’t know where you live, but this winter has been more like a cold Spring without the blooms!

I’ve ordered from ProFlowers before and have received plants and bouquets from them and LOVED them. They were always packed securely and the plants were well protected and the flowers came in bud form and slowly opened and lasted more than a week. I hope this bouquet lasts too.

When the flowers arrived they looked a little droopy – but since they traveled from Ohio to Michigan in the cold, I understood. They were just thirsty. By the next morning they were perky and stood tall and strong. Only one flower stem broke, and honestly, I think I did it! Aren’t they lovely? I’m SO glad I ordered the 30! They are in the dining room, but I stole a couple of blooms for my office and it really cheers up the place – but then flowers always do!

It’s nice to know about the companies we do business with so here’s a few facts about ProFlowers you may not know:

• They have have been offering fresh-from-the-field flowers since 1998.
• ProFlowers started with a single farm in California, shipping just 500 rose bouquets for Valentine’s Day. 10 years later, they serve more than 7 million customers with 185 fresh cut varieties from eight different countries around the world.
• At each one of their farms, employees and experts nurture the flowers from bud to blossom, ensuring only the best-of-the-best get picked for your bouquet.
• Once hand-picked, the flowers are delivered directly to you. Others take a longer route through brokers, middlemen and, finally, a florist’s shop. By the time they reach the recipient, their best days are long gone.
• ProFlowers employees have one job: to make sure you send or are sent the highest quality flowers. That’s why when people order ProFlowers, they continue to come back. Never hesitate to call if you have a problem.

As I said, I’ve used ProFlowers before and absolutely have so much faith in them that I continue to use them! I’ve never been disappointed! To help make your dollar stretch, use their coupon codes when you order. They change monthly with different deals, so be sure to check them out!

Disclosure: I was given a $65 gift code to use to purchase anything on the ProFlowers site; all opinions are my own

When you’ve been together with someone for awhile, like say coming up on 13 years (eek how did the time pass so quickly?), planning date nights – especially Valentine’s Date nights – can seem more like a chore than they’re worth.

So, it’s pretty easy for “date night” to devolve into sinking into the couch after little people are asleep and watching the latest episode of Downton Abbey or something along those lines. Fine enough once in awhile, but it’s not exactly relationship-building material either.

That pretty much sums up the rut my husband and I are in.

And yet we know that happily ever after doesn’t just happen. We learned early on in our marriage (two workaholics unite!) that when you don’t grow together through new, shared experiences, you can find yourselves adrift, having grown apart without even realizing it.

But what’s a busy couple to do? When you’re both sprinting through each day at work, racing home, cooking dinner, putting kids to bed, etc. weeks fly by. Before you know it Friday and Saturday are upon you and if you haven’t had time to plan…well, the couch beckons.

If that sounds a little familiar – why not join us in a little challenge we’re throwing for ourselves to celebrate Valentine’s Day over 12 different date nights in 2013? Why 12? No real reason other than we knew we weren’t going to shift from 0 date nights a month to 1 a week in a flash. So we thought we’d work our way up into a better habit gradually – picking one night a week.

We found a local high-school girl that we’ve tested out as a babysitter and have pre-booked her for once a month for the remainder of the year and twice during month of June (our anniversary month).

That’s step #1!

Once you have a standing order for a babysitter, it’s time for a little planning. Here are our thought-starter ideas – I’d love to hear yours! Share your thoughts in the comments.

1. Feb: Sit down at a bar (preferably w/a fireplace) and pretend we’re just getting to know each other

2. Mar: Take a Salsa dance class (Westchester Ballroom in Pleasantville)

3. Apr: Go see an arty film at Jacob Burns

4. May: Go on a bike ride together

5. Jun: Go to a wine tasting

6. Jun #2: Create a photo album that captures the best of our 13 years together

7. Jul: Romantic Picnic on Rye Beach

8. Aug: Mini golf championship of the world

9. Sept: Play a rousing game of tennis at the local town courts at twilight

10.Oct: Go to the driving range with another couple