This weekend, I moved from an old apartment into a new, bigger, WONDERFUL town home. Just like any move, this one wasn't very fun. No matter how many times I do it, there are always an infinite number of sentences beginning with "I wish I'd...." or "It would've helped so much if we'd...."

This move, I realized that the moving process needed to be organized like a scientific experiment. There are materials you need, there's a procedure to follow. The result? You finish moving, and can settle comfortably and un-stressed into your new home. Today we'll look at the first stage of moving:

STAGE 1: Packing

Materials needed: several good, big, black permanent markers; lots of paper to wrap your breakables in; masking tape; friends or people who owe you favors; boxes; boxes; boxes; boxes; more boxes.

Procedure:

1. Buy the markers from your grocery store. Click here to print out a full STUFF YOU'LL NEED LIST and get everything your going to need for the move in one trip.

2. Get your boxes: After you shop for your moving supplies, check behind the store. Most stores will have a plethera of great boxes (unless someone's beaten you to them). If you're moving around the beginning of the school year, you might make a call to a nearby school. Every year, teachers get in new book shipments, so they usually have tons of extra boxes.

3. Get packing paper: If you're living in an apartment, there's usually a "paper only" recycle bin next to the mail boxes. Raid this first, and then gather up old newspapers.

4. Convince your friends (or those who you've helped move in the past) to come over and help you. The more people you have, the faster things will get done.

A few tips before you start filling boxes:

# Get everything on your AFTER THE MOVE LIST and put it in the bath tub of your new place. Why the bath tub? Because it's just about the only place you won't be shoving boxes into, and it's usually already clean.

# Do not pack things in trash bags.... especially if you have a lot of people helping you move. Someone will throw the bags away.

# Don't just mark boxes KITCHEN, or BEDROOM. Break things down into sub-categories. It's easy to do and makes unpacking a breeze. For example you might have KITCHEN - Dishes and Silverware; BEDROOM - Sheets and Comforter, etc.

# When you move boxes, you'll be stacking them, so don't just write the contents on the top of boxes, write them on every side.

# Wait as long as you can to pack your stereo or T.V. You'll want entertainment while you're packing.

# To protect glasses from breaking, wad up paper to shove inside and then wrap the glasses in several sheets of newspaper.

# Don't foget to wad up paper to shove between breakables.

Pack 'til you can't pack any more!

Hopefully, these little tidbits will help you pack for your next move.