what i know
July 10, 2013
Here’s what I know:
- The movers are coming to pick up our things tomorrow. I’ve realized – again – that I live with two hoarders who keep taking things out of the “Goodwill” pile when I turn my back.
A trip to Manhattan Beach…before we trade one Manhattan for another.
- Thus far Ali has filled 2 giant wardrobe boxes, 3 large boxes, a variety of suitcases, and several garment bags with clothes. His closet is STILL 1/3 full. This could be because he fills his boxes with useful things like pairs (the plural is not a mistake) of free Virgin America earphones and restaurant mints of indeterminable age.
- Maya is no better with her stash of Trader Joe’s stickers, rocks, and assorted smashed and melted candy.
Procrastination tactics: homemade blueberry muffins, a tea break at the Montage, a Greek salad at Petros, and oatmeal at Le Pain Quotidien.
- Halfway through packing I realized that in many instances it makes sense to buy new stuff instead of packing old stuff. So I gave away 90% of our dishes, cutlery, pots, pans, books, toys, and half of my clothes.
- Then I got even more lazy, rationalized even more new purchases, and gave away all of our DVD’s, our mattress and sheets, about half of our furniture, and a wide variety of other items.
Moving boxes…everywhere. And a cute going away gift from my sister-in-law.
I’ll probably regret this once we get to New York and have nothing to eat off of, nothing to sleep on, and nothing to read, wear, or watch.
But it’s 90 degrees today and it’s day #2 of Ramadan and I haven’t yelled at anyone or broken anything. So I’m thinking I’m doing pretty well.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
Amina – the regret will melt away once you have shiny new New York stuff !
I thought moving was bad enough when it was just me – cannot imagine what it’s like with a partner and a child with the hoarder gene……but I don’t have to imagine as you’re explaining it pretty well !
Those blueberry muffins look delish !
I wonder how much easier a solo move would be, if it was just my minimalist self that I needed to shift east. 🙂
You’re moving, its hot, AND its Ramadan. You need a fricken medal. I wouldve lost my sh*t ages ago. Even if it is only day #2. 😉
You leave the funniest comments…made my very early morning. Thank you!
couldn’t get past the blueberry muffins.
Ramadaan Kareem
Ramadaan Kareem to you as well Anita!
You had time to make blueberry muffins in between all the packing???? Brava 🙂
The muffins were a fantastic procrastination technique!
I’m mastering procrastination thanks to my husband. LOL
I live with hoarders too. I cleaned out my hope chest last week. I was able to convince my husband to finally throw out his grammar school report cards-thank you mother in law for saving them and giving them to us. I also got my daughter to throw out magazines that were 3 years old. She wasn’t happy. She’s like, can I at least keep my pins from Canada as if I’m evil and making her part with beloved stuff. Me, I get rid of tons of stuff (mine included) all the time. It’s easier if you just don’t tell them. Good luck with the move! And happy shopping for all new stuff.
Wow…grammar school reports. For your husband? Crazy. I won’t even save Maya’s stuff if it’s not necessary.
And really, not too much is necessary, much to Ali’s dismay…
Thanks for the comment Seana!
A cross-country move during Ramadan??? Yikes…you really are a glutton for punishment! I don’t think I would survive all the challenges to my patience that would entail on low blood sugar. Good luck!!
Not the ideal time for sure but at least the days are going fast!
Ahhhh a fresh start! How exciting! New shiny pretty things!!
I’m excited about a new start as well! Funny how I realized that only after I start getting rid of / packing old stuff…
Wait, you gave away furniture?! Once again, super bummed we don’t live closer because I would have carted all your gorgeous furniture away! Ramadan Mubarak friend and safe travels!
And if we were closer I would have been thrilled to give it to you!
Ramadan Mubarak to you as well A!
Awwww.. you gave away a lot Ameena.. I am a hoarder too, but I would keep my pots and pans. Give you so much credit to do all this during Ramadan.. hopefully you don’t think about food too much. I can’t fast for my life.
Good luck!!!
I kept a few of my pots and pans…the bare minimum though. Our new kitchen has about half the space we have now!
Very excellent ! Love you writing. A fresh start is always exciting ! I read each od your post and I am in love with your blog now ! big time fan of yours…xx
Thanks Lala…really appreciate the comment and the compliment! Thanks for reading. 🙂
Keep going 🙂 I will read always ! xx
What is it with kids hoarding melty candy?! And rocks?
I have no idea…it’s like they just love small things that ruin the washing machine?
Your partner sounds exactly like me, I am so guilty of hoarding freebies like headphones and mints. Haha.
Hysterical…at least Ali now knows he is not the only one Kate!
Thanks for the comment. 🙂
I’ll leave/give up everything for moving back to LA from Dubai next yr! 🙂
You are moving back to LA? Not a fan of Dubai?
I went to Dubai once and it was great. Reminds me a bit of Las Vegas (minus all the gambling!).
I was wondering how you were doing with the move preparations and Ramadan. Keep up the good job!
Thank YC! At least moving makes the time go pretty fast…
Oooh fun! It’s like starting fresh. You can just eat out until you get plates! I’m a hoarder. I get it from my mom. Mj has to take stuff from me when I’m not looking.
At least you admit your hoarding problem…Ali and Maya point their fingers at me and say I’m the one addicted to getting rid of things!
Ah I hope fasting and moving isn’t tiring you out too much…especially as it’s getting darker much later lately! Those muffins look fab- care to share the recipe?
Sure, I will post the recipe on my recipe page when I get through this move! They are super easy and healthy. Definitely worth making!
Love living vicariously thru you, Ameena.
Why do you get to travel so much? LONDON & NEW YORK!! How blessed you are.
I am super lucky to be able to travel so much…it’s definitely the best gift ever!
Wow, you are really good at getting rid of stuff! That’s a good characteristic to have – being attached to material things is not good.
I agree! And the more you give away the easier it gets.
Oh my. You are a saint in my book if you pull this whole thing off without a nervous breakdown.
So nice of you to say Andrea…so far so good!
The movers are coming today so I’m crossing my fingers that I keep it together. 🙂
Ramadan Mubarak. oh day 2 and still going strong kudos 😀 hope you have a safe moving trip to NY. Muffins look delicious.
Thanks Eddie! A Ramadan Mubarak to you as well!
You gave away so much. I hope you enjoy furniture and household item shopping when you are in New York! I guess next post you will have moved?!
Our stuff will be in transit for 2 weeks so we’ll be staying with family until then!
We’re getting closer…. 🙂
Whoa. I am amazed by your ability to do the Ramadan eating schedule and get as much done as you do. And I am amazed you had the patience to give stuff away and not just trash it like a lot of people might do. You deserve a NYC shopping spree once you get there.
Such a nice comment Ellen! The Ramadan part is actually the easiest at the moment as the days are flying by with so much going on.
And I am all about giving stuff away…very little goes in the trash around here.
Thanks for the comment as always! 🙂
I’m so excited for you, Ameena. I’m trying to rid myself of as much as possible. At least you know when you’re going and so you know when you’ll be getting your new stuff. I’m getting rid of most of the furniture we have prior to our departure. I only have to pack up the “stuff” which is why I’m getting rid of as much of that as possible! Stay calm, Stay strong…you’ll get through this!
Thanks Fran…and I wish you a ton of luck in your packing and moving as well! I think that getting rid of stuff is the best way to go. 🙂
So exciting…. leave your clothes in LA, NYC climate and style is so different you will not be able to use them anyway. As for the dishes you can always use paper plates for a while and having no dishes to wash while you are unpacking. Wait does NYC charge you extra for more garbage?
I have lots and lots and lots of coats coming to NY with me. 🙂 I believe I need to learn about layering?
And I don’t think our building charges us extra for garbage but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough!
First off, I’m tickled you’re moving to the est coast. You KNOW I’m going to holler at you when we are coming over to NYC for the weekend. I EXPECT you to do the same when you’re heading to D.C. girlfriend!
I don’t know how you possibly managed baking those lovelies in between the boxes. What an exciting time in your life and I cannot wait to hear all about the new stuff you’re going to buy to replace the old stuff. Best part of the whole darn move. Wishing you Ali and Maya safe journies ahead!
chow 🙂 Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Thanks Devaki…when I make it to DC next (which I LOVE) I will definitely look you up. Maybe we can have lunch? (Zaytinya is one of my favorites by the way!)
There must be something in the air because I just started doing a massive purge of all of my stuff this morning – it feels good. Good luck with the move!!
Maybe there’s something about summer that just makes you want to get rid of stuff?
Thanks Megan!
Good Luck with the move! Having just moved from TX to CA myself, can tell you you’ve done the smartest thing! Keep the sentimental ones and get rid of the rest. You’ll buy stuff more suited to your new home / lifestyle anyway. Also the stress & costs saved are HUGE!
I agree…doesn’t make sense so stress too much about moving stuff, you know? I realize that more than ever!
Oh I hope you get through this without too much stress! And I realized that I still have smashed and melted candy lying around myself. I need to change that! And I agree with you- sometimes it’s better to buy new stuff than lug the old!
Maybe I can send Maya over and you guys can chat about your misshappened candy? LOL
How do you make that photo collage? And purge away, you will not miss anything. Let’s shop when you get here.
InstaCollage…it’s an iPhone app which I love.
And yes, we will have to shop! Can’t wait Lauren.
Manhatten beach brings back memories for me. A great beach and so ironic that it’s right next door to Compton. 🙂 Well, if you can do it, buying new things is probably easier. I”ve moved once and it was almost thirteen years ago. I barely remember it but we’ve helped so many people move and I want no part in it. The packing and unpacking part that is.
Ameena, I’ve missed some posts, so busy. Did you find a place to live and do you love it? Hope to hear from you soon,
Love,
Shauna xo
We did find a place to live and can’t wait to move in…just 2 weeks to go! Thanks for the comment Shauna. 🙂
I’ve moved a number of times over the past year, but it’s mostly always been just me. And I was never in one place long enough to accumulate much stuff. I can’t imagine moving a family across the country…and during Ramadan at that! You’re doing just fine, my friend! Good luck with everything!!!
Thanks Parita! I know you just moved too so it’s nice to know someone can relate to the stress!
Happy Ramadan friend. Kudos for all that moving and baking – looking out for the recipe 🙂 I am very good at throwing things away so I can understand the pain living with hoarders.
Thanks for the comment Dixya…I will try to get the recipe up on my very neglected recipe page. 🙂
Happy Ramadan Ameena 🙂 You’re about a month ahead of me and fortunately I have only myself to pack, but I’m also finding that giving away (almost) everything is much easier than packing and shipping. A fresh start in a new place deserves fresh new things too! Part of the fun of settling into a new city is discovering where the treasures are, so you are making room for new treasures in your life!
Thanks Elaine! Wishing you loads of luck with your move as well! So excited for you. 🙂
The last time we moved I ditched so much stuff it was unreal. Where does all the stuff come from?! 🙂 Good luck on the move!
I have no idea where the stuff comes from…around here it’s definitely not me! 🙂
We definitely didn’t purge enough before our cross-country move so the more you can do, the better! I can’t believe all of the STUFF we didn’t need that came with us…
I agree…no need to move junk, right? Especially if you are downsizing, like we are, and have no place for stuff!
I live with two and a half hoarders, so I completely understand your “pain”. One of them is finally letting go of all they stuff she’s collected over the years since she’s going off to college.
I actually think it’s great your letting go of so much stuff. Gives you a chance to start anew again in NY :D!!
Two and a half hoarders…I love it. I guess I technically live with one and a half hoarders? LOL
Hope its not too late to wish you Ramadhan Mubarak Ameena! So not envying you moving AND fasting, all the best! I totally hate moving, have done that so many times and the worst was London to Singapore- its been over a year and 12 out of my 18boxes of ‘rubbish’ are still sealed!
12 / 18! Wow. That’s a lot of stuff.
And thank you for the Ramadan wishes…it’s now day #8…we’re making progress! 🙂
well good luck with Ramdans.
Iam already going crazy with 15 hours, kids, h.w etc.
Hope the transition gets easier.
It will.
xo
I hope it gets easier for you too Z! I think I have an easier time going to work than taking care of kids. 🙂
Wish you & your family a happy Ramadhan Ameena. Good luck with the move. I think you made a good call about the furniture, especially moving cross-country like that. Plus, it’s fun to furniture-shopping. A confession, I’m the hoarder in my family, I can’t seem to be part of things. I know, sad, isn’t it?
I’m actually not a fan of furniture shopping at all!
Sorry to hear you are a hoarder Lydia. 😦
That beach looks pretty sweet, I would love to be there right now, this hot weather is CRAZY!
It’s pretty nice here…I will definitely miss the mild LA summers!
Where in NY did you decided to get a place? Somewhere in Manhattan or somewhere else?
We are moving to Manhattan! I’m thrilled. 🙂
wow thats a lot of giving away but guess shopping for new is even ore fun and the solemn promises that new place should not be overcrowded (at least I do always) … bestiess for shifting 🙂
Thanks Asma! I always appreciate your comments. 🙂
I would far rather give away all my stuff than move it. Moving sucks enough as it is, there’s no need to make it harder. In fact, I’ve already decided that most of my stuff is just going to be sold off on Craigslist. It’s just easier that way.
Craigslist and Ebay are the way to go. Out with the old….
I think I want to know where the closest Goodwill is that received all your nice things…:)