You were thrilled when your partner announced a new job. You both couldn’t wait to find a new home closer to work, and you felt excited about the upcoming move.

But what’s this? Even more good news! Your pregnancy test came back positive. You can’t wait to meet the newest member of your family, and you know your new home will have plenty of room for your family to grow.

Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Just when you need to pack, plan, and prepare, you can’t pull yourself away from the toilet. The queasiness and nausea hit you in unpredictable waves, and you never know when a scent or a food will trigger another round of vomiting.

 

How can you make your morning sickness more manageable for your upcoming move?

1. FIND THE FOOD THAT WORKS FOR YOU

When you feel sick to your stomach, the last thing you want is more food. Even your favorite spicy, greasy foods kill your appetite rather than whetting it.

However, low blood sugar exacerbates morning sickness and leaves you feeling exhausted and light-headed.  So to keep the nausea at bay, consider nibbling small meals throughout the day.

Although tolerable foods vary among mothers, many find that bland carbohydrates work well to settle the stomach: crackers, dry toast, cereal, pretzels, and potato chips. Others recommend citrus candies, ginger, and herbal teas.

As you test different foods, keep a journal of what works best for you, and be sure to have these snacks on hand on moving day.

 

2. TAKE YOUR TIME AND MOVE SLOWLY

If you have to pack up your entire home and move within a few weeks, you may feel rushed to finish your lengthy to-do list. For example, you may feel pressured to wake up early, pack, tape, and label each box before noon, and then pick up change-of-address forms before dinner.

But many women find that sudden movements can bring on a fresh wave of nausea, much like motion sickness. So take your time and move with slow, careful precision.

In the mornings, nibble a few crackers, and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes rather than jumping out of bed. Participate in light, meditative exercise such as prenatal yoga or walking during the evening (or vice versa if you feel more nauseous at night). And, if necessary, extend your moving date so you have more time to leisurely pack and organize your items.

 

3. DRINK SMALL SIPS TO STAY HYDRATED

Vomiting several times each morning (and throughout the day) contributes to dehydration. Dehydration, in turn, often contributes to nausea, resulting in a vicious cycle. Some cases of morning sickness can lead to dehydration so severe that the mother requires hospitalization for IV fluids.

If you feel up to packing and moving heavy boxes, keep in mind that excessive sweating can also lead to dehydration. And when you have to move in hot, humid weather, you can suffer from overheating and overexertion, which also worsen nausea and dehydration.

To keep you and your baby safe, keep a water bottle on hand and take frequent sips. If you struggle to keep bland tap water down, consider adding a spritz of lemon or mint to settle your stomach. Avoid flavoring your drinks with too much sugar, as it can make your blood sugar levels spike and make you feel worse.

 

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP

Mothers feel varying degrees of morning sickness. Some women only feel faintly queasy, while others may vomit multiple times a day for weeks on end. Although the above tips can help you control some of your symptoms, don’t feel embarrassed to reach out for help if your morning sickness seems unmanageable.

Your doctor can recommend medication and lifestyle changes to keep your nausea at bay. Your partner and extended family members can watch your children when you feel too queasy to chase after them. And your moving team can pack up and load your clothes, appliances, and furniture without you ever lifting a finger.

In the past, Salt Lake City, Utah might have seemed like an odd place to move. But Utah has one of the fastest-growing job markets in the country, which means more and more people are moving to this unique state to pursue job opportunities, raise a family, or join the start-up craze.

Whether you’ve accepted a job offer at a company in Utah’s growing “Silicon Slopes” or you want to relocate to an area with fantastic outdoor opportunities, your move to Utah can be a positive experience. Once you’ve scheduled a move with our capable movers, read through the rest of our blog to learn how to maximize your opportunities in the Beehive State.

1. FIND THE BEST EATERIES

Once your movers have unloaded the van and you’ve unpacked your boxes, it’s time to start living like a local. Utah might not be renowned for deep-dish pizza like Chicago or spicy Cajun cuisine like Louisiana, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find delicious restaurants with exciting dishes.

If you live in Salt Lake County, don’t pass up a night out at one of these restaurants:

  • The Red Rock Brewery. Along with their delicious craft beers, the Red Rock Brewery features dishes like locally sourced, farm-raised rainbow trout with lemony browned butter.
  • Mazza. If Middle Eastern cuisine is your passion, try this authentic, high-end restaurant. Indulge in a seasonal dish, like their pumpkin kibbeh, or stick to a traditional dish like handmade falafel and smooth hummus.
  • The Red Iguana. You’ve eaten Mexican food before, but you’ve never tried a dish as delicious or unique as those served up at the Red Iguana. They’re world-renowned for their moles, such as the mole coloradito (which has pine nuts, chile poblano, and Mexican chocolate served over pork).

Try one of the above restaurants to treat yourself to something adventurous.

2. TRY LOCAL WINES, BEERS, AND COFFEE

Before you move to Salt Lake City, your friends might warn that you won’t be able to find good alcohol or even good coffee in the area. But if you do drink alcohol or coffee, you’re actually in luck. It might have fewer coffee shops and microbreweries than in Portland or Seattle, but Salt Lake City creates some of the best drinks in the state. Treat yourself to one of these beverage joints once you’re settled:

  • The Rose Establishment. This coffee shop has the culture and class you’d expect to find in the Northwest with deliciously flavored coffees, treats, and teas you’ll only find in the West.
  • Squatters. Squatters uses environmentally friendly, local ingredients to produce some of the finest ale in the area.
  • BTG Wine Bar. Try a series of wine flutes or order by the glass or bottle. You can also pair your wine with a selection of small bites or add a cocktail to your order.

Two of the restaurants we mentioned above, Mazza and the Red Rock Brewery, also offer a fine selection of wine and beer.

3. LEARN ABOUT UTAH’S QUIRKS

Like any region, Utah has a few quirks that might take some getting used to. Here’s an insider’s guide to a few things to prepare yourself for:

  • Traffic. Utah’s stretch of the I-15 is constantly under construction. Download traffic apps or drive during off hours to avoid rush hour.
  • Alcohol laws. Grocery stores in Utah are only allowed to sell beer. Children can’t sit at the bar in most restaurants, and restaurants are required to have panels (colloquially known as “the Zion curtain”) to separate bartenders mixing drinks from the patrons who order them.

Of course, not all quirks are bad. You’ll enjoy some of the following traits and features:

  • FrontRunner. Utah’s high-speed train takes residents from Provo in the south to Ogden in the north. You can use the FrontRunner and TRAX to quickly and easily connect with the Salt Lake International Airport and multiple destinations along the Wasatch Front.
  • Friendliness. Sure, Utah drivers might tailgate, but in general, Utah’s residents are friendly and upbeat. No matter where in the area you move, look forward to visits and homemade goods from your new neighbors.

Finally, only true Utahns know this unique spelling quirk: in spite of what the dictionary says, it’s spelled “Utahns,” not “Utahans.”

LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR MOVE

When you move to Salt Lake City, you can look forward to a vibrant culture with some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world. Try some of the tips and enjoy some of the traits we listed above and you’re sure to love your new home.

Most elderly individuals start to need help with daily living as they age. To get help with daily tasks, seniors often move in with a family member or into an assisted living center.

When your elderly family member needs to move, the process involves more than simply setting a moving date. Many seniors need help handling the physical and mental stress that moving often causes. If you are helping a senior move, you can make the process easier by helping your loved one settle into his or her new home.

Here are some ways family members can help seniors adjust to life after moving.

Make Unpacking as Easy as Possible

You might put unnecessary stress on your loved one if you rush through the unpacking process. Your older family member may have decades’ worth of possessions to sort through. Take time to help your senior family member sort through his or her possessions as he or she unpacks.

As you sort, focus more on helping with the physical needs of moving rather than advising on what to keep and throw away. Your loved one may have placed sentimental value on items that may not make sense to you. If you pressure him or her to throw away these sentimental items, your loved one may become anxious or upset.

You’ll also benefit from hiring a moving company to handle the packing and moving. This way, you and your loved one can take the necessary time to unpack and sort through items.

Acknowledge Their Feelings of Loss

Many seniors live in the same home for many years before moving. Even if moving was your loved one’s idea, he or she may still deal with feelings of loss.

Acknowledge your loved one’s sadness after the move. Do your best to help your loved one cope with these feelings and try to help him or her focus on the positive reasons for moving.

Help Decorate

A great way to help your loved one feel at home is by helping unpack and decorate. When family members are involved in the decorating process, they can help their senior family members feel more excited about the change. On the other hand, seniors who are left alone to unpack in their new space may feel lonely right out of the gate.

Encourage your elderly family member to decorate with personal items that have significant meaning, such as pictures or medals. Some items may bring back memories for your family member, and he or she may want to share stories with you. Be kind and listen to your family member’s stories as you unpack and set up various items.

As you decorate, be simple and specific with decorating choices to avoid overwhelming your family member. For instance, present decorating options with questions like, “Would you like the red curtains or blue?” rather than “Should we put up curtains?”

Encourage Your Loved One to Socialize and Get Involved

One of the most frightening parts of moving for seniors is feeling unfamiliar with new surroundings. You can help you loved one overcome unfamiliarity by helping him or her feel welcome and involved in the new home.

If you are helping your senior family member move into an assisted living center, help him or her talk and make friends with other residents while he or she is with you. Your loved one will have more people to socialize with if you help him or her make friends. If your loved one is moving in with you, encourage him or her to get involved in local senior activities.

Avoid getting pushy with your loved one if he or she seems uninterested in socializing or making new friends. He or she may need time to adjust before becoming social in a new setting.

Stay in Touch

If your loved one is moving into an assisted living center, make sure you visit often, especially in the first week after the move. When you visit your loved one, you can help him or her feel less alone.

Talk to your loved one and go with your instincts on how frequently you should visit. Your loved one may also enjoy visits from other people, like friends, siblings, and children, so encourage other family members to visit often.

Use these tips to help your senior family member adjust after moving. You can also check out our other blogs for more ways to make the moving process easier on your loved one.

Tagged in: Downsizing, moving, Seniors

Maybe you’ve finally landed your dream job, or perhaps you just want a change of scenery. Whatever the reason, you’re packing up and moving to a new place.

To save yourself some cash, you may be thinking of taking on the move by yourself with the help of a few trusted friends. But without the proper equipment or experience, handling your own move can be problematic.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the issues involved in a DIY move.

Damaged Property

If your belongings aren’t packed with enough padding or protective blankets, you may find yourself with scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged items. While you can restore some of those items with a little refinishing, you may need to replace others entirely, which can be both a nuisance and a financial burden.

And when you’re moving items in or out of the house, you could easily scratch up the woodwork, walls, and floors if you’re not careful.

To keep the living area and your possessions safe from damage, professional movers will wrap furniture in blankets and put floor runners down. Because they’ve been handling relocations for years, they can easily maneuver bulky furniture and keep the wall corners and banisters from getting nicked and scratched.

Failed Plans

Reserving a rental truck for moving day may seem simple enough, but even with a reservation, the rental truck may not be there when you need it. A less trustworthy company could arrive late or double-book a truck during your scheduled time. If everything hinges on the rental truck being there that morning, you may find yourself in hot water.

If you can’t find a replacement truck, you’ll have to reschedule the moving day and coordinate with your buddies all over again, adding undue stress to an already difficult situation.

And if you’re unlucky, some of your friends may have to cancel last minute, leaving you with a ton of boxes and few hands to carry them.

However, moving companies can provide their own trucks with handy features for keeping your items safe. If something happens to one of the movers, another can easily step in to pick up the slack.

Injuries

Experienced movers use a series of techniques and tools to reduce strain on the body. They’ve also developed the strength necessary to move heavy furniture past awkward obstacles.

If you don’t have the know-how, equipment, or strength, it can be easy to pull a muscle in your back, legs, or arms. When there’s enough strain on your body while lifting, you can even develop a hernia, which would cost you a pretty penny to repair. And if you lose your footing, you might have a bit of bruising or other injuries to deal with.

While injuring yourself is already an unpleasant possibility, the situation could be even worse if a friend hurts himself or herself during a move. If he or she was injured on your property, you may be held responsible for the medical bills.

Unnecessary Stress and Lost Time

Thinking about a move, a new life, and a new job can make you nervous. But handling a move all on your own can add an unnecessary burden, creating a highly stressful situation and negatively affecting your health, your mood, and your focus.

You’ll also have to sacrifice a lot of time preparing for your move and committing to the relocation itself. Without experience and an extra set of hands or two, it can take you hours or days to pack up all your belongings, and it may take you a little extra time to figure out how to get the couch through the front door.

With the help of moving specialists, your move can go quickly and efficiently, so you can focus on more important things and dedicate your time to other matters.

Extra Expenses

Most people handle their own moves to save money, but in actuality, hiring a professional moving service will actually cost the same, if not less. When you’re moving, you have to take into consideration the cost of gas, lodging, packing supplies, and a rental truck. And if the rental truck is damaged during the move, you may find yourself facing extra costs.

You may also want to consider what you’ll have to pay for damaged possessions and property and also the risk of having to pay a friend’s medical bill if something goes wrong.

When you pay for a moving service, the movers brings their own equipment with them. They also instantly reduce the risk of scratched, dented, or crushed belongings, meaning you won’t have to worry about repainting the walls or repairing a bit of drywall.

No matter how many belongings you have, moving can be a real hardship, but it doesn’t have to be. Call on of our professional moving agents. We can help you pack, load, and move your possessions swiftly and carefully. Just give us a call, and we’ll get to work.

Tagged in: DIY, Moving on your own, Problems