What I learned from moving

After spending a lot of time and effort apartment shopping, Brian and I finally found our new home for the next year! This is going to be our first apartment together, though we are technically already living together at his parents house now, it really isn't the same as having your own space. I'm excited about finally having our own space and can't wait to move in and start decorating/make it feel like home!Today I want to share 2 tips that I've picked up thanks to moving around so much, and hopefully these tips will help you with your future moves as well!Stay organized:I used to just put everything in boxes until they're full and tape them up, after so many times of not able to find what I needed before I finished unpacking (especially when I'm in a hurry), I've decided it's time to come up with a system to help me keep track of everything.  Not only do I number each boxes and write down the general categories packed in it, I started listing the individual items in the boxes.  I find this especially helpful when it comes to things that are seasonal like shoes and clothes, as I know exactly which box I need to unpack first and which one can go into storage for another 6 months.  It's also helpful when you are looking for a specific item because it helps you narrow down the search area.On top of writing the items down and making a list, I also color code them by groups - things that stay upstairs in the living area and things that are downstairs in the storage. I know this seems a little excessive and slightly ridiculous, but sometimes things aren't perfect and you have to shove a few pairs of sandals in your winter shoes box, and when you take out one item from the box but put the rest downstairs, it could get confusing when you are looking for something on the list thinking they're still in storage when they're actually somewhere in your room.  I also do this because I like filling up my to do list in my notebook and make everything look organized, this is definitely not an everyday thing, but I feel that occasionally I can get a little OCD when it comes to organizing, haha.Downsize: I thought I did a pretty good job getting rid of the things I no longer need when I moved from Atlanta to DC, but when it's time to move again I still found a lot of stuff I don't need... It feels like a never ending purging game. I was not the best at keeping everything minimal, I like having options and I like to shop. I think starting the Capsule Wardrobe challenge really helped me a lot when it comes to limiting myself and gaining self control. I now think twice if not three times before purchasing an item, I sit on it for weeks before deciding if I really need it. But I don't think that's enough yet, as I still have so many things in my "storage" that I no longer wear/need that are just sitting there taking up space.When packing for this most recent move, I sorted out 2 more bags of clothes to donate on top of what I already donated and sold online, and have now limit down my winter clothing to one box (not including jackets) and spring/fall to another. I don't have a lot of summer clothes other than a few tank tops and short sleeves tees, this is definitely a closet that's lacking some love, which I'm hoping I'll be able to add a few quality pieces this season and replace some old beat up target tees I've had for years.  I'm also considering enforcing the one in one out policy for everything, I've already started doing so for my shoes but I think there are still room for improvement in the other categories as well.  The closet purge/improvement process is going to take a while, but I am confident and excited because I'm seeing progress and think I'm heading in the right direction. I can't wait to streamline my closet even more!