I used to say that “everyone knows someone who’s moving.” Whether, you are planning a move across town, placing your possessions in temporary storage, moving across the country or internationally, this book discusses how to prepare for an estimator if the plan is to use a Van Line or self-move. In addition, it provides tips on packing your own moving boxes, storage options, valuation (not insurance), and terms often used by movers. This book does not try to steer a reader into a Van Line or self-move because, ultimately, it is the decision of the family that is, relocating. Hopefully, you will enjoy the stories (all true) that I have witnessed over a fifty-year span. Obviously, all names are changed since the name of the person isn’t relevant; it’s the story. Movers have a personal relationship with customers as they not only move their furniture but all their possessions, including clothing, books, kitchen items, etc. It is important for the mover to form a rapport with the family so they can be trusted. I always remember standing next to a woman whose furniture had just left in the van when she said, “That’s everything I own.” That is a big responsibility.

Twelve-year-old Shari Tucker isnt the happiest girl on the planet. She doesnt have many friends, has no brothers or sisters to play with, and is pretty lonely. But then something strange happens: a cute boy, Robby, actually asks if he can hang out with her! But thats just the beginning. After Robby talks to her, Shari suddenly gains a new best friend in Holly, and more than one boy starts talking to her. Suddenly, shes something she always wanted to be: popular! But then, she is invited to a nerdy girls birthday party, a move that really doesnt work well for her new popular-girl image. Shari reluctantly goesand then comes up with the idea to pretend to sprain her ankle so she can go home. Once at home, though, she receives the shock of her life: her family is moving! Her parents secretly adopted a baby girl but accidentally got one from Spain, and their doctor advises the entire family to move to Spain to help the baby adjust. Shari thinks this whole baby thing is pretty suspicious. With the help of her new friends, Shari determines to discover the truth about her new baby sister.

When Mom and Dad tell Little Critter® they have exciting news, he thinks they mean they're getting a new dog—not moving to a new house! Will he be able to bring his sandbox? What if he has to go to a new school full of bullies? What if his new next-door neighbors are monsters!? Eventually, Little Critter learns moving is not so bad after all. . . .

When Mom and Dad tell Little Critter® they have exciting news, he thinks they mean they're getting a new dog—not moving to a new house! Will he be able to bring his sandbox? What if he has to go to a new school full of bullies? What if his new next-door neighbors are monsters!? Eventually, Little Critter learns moving is not so bad after all. . . .

A comprehensive, upbeat guide to help you survive the moving process from start to finish, filled with fresh strategies and checklists for timing and supplies, choosing which items to toss and which to keep, determining the best place to live, saying farewell and looking forward to hello. Moving is a major life change—time consuming, expensive, often overwhelming, and sometimes scary. But it doesn’t have to be! Instead of looking at it as a burdensome chore, consider it a new adventure. Ali Wenzke and her husband moved ten times in eleven years, living in seven states across the U.S. She created her popular blog, The Art of Happy Moving, to help others build a happier life before, during, and after a move. Infused with her infectious optimistic spirit, The Art of Happy Moving builds on her blog, offering step-by-step guidance, much-needed comfort, practical information, and welcome advice on every step of the process, including: How to stage your home for prospective buyers How to choose your next neighborhood How to discard your belongings and organize your packing How to say goodbye to your friends How to make the transition easier for your kids How to decorate your new home How to build a new community And so much more. Ali shares invaluable personal anecdotes from her many moves, and packs each chapter with a wealth of information and ingenious tips (Did you know that if you have an extra-large welcome mat at the entrance of your home, it’s more likely to sell?). Ali also includes checklists for packing and staging, and agendas for the big moving day. Whether you’re a relocating professional, newly married, a family with kids and pets, or a retiree looking to downsize, The Art of Happy Moving will help you discover ways to help make your transition an easier one—and be even happier than you were before.

The NATIONAL BESTSELLER from the author of YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL “A meditation on kindness and hope, and how to move forward through grief.” —NPR “A shining reminder to learn all we can from this moment, rebuilding ourselves in the darkness so that we may come out wiser, kinder, and stronger on the other side.” —The Boston Globe “Powerful essays on loss, endurance, and renewal.” —People For fans of Glennon Doyle, Cheryl Strayed, and Anne Lamott, a collection of quotes and essays on facing life’s challenges with creativity, courage, and resilience. When Maggie Smith, the award-winning author of the viral poem “Good Bones,” started writing inspirational daily Twitter posts in the wake of her divorce, they unexpectedly caught fire. In this deeply moving book of quotes and essays, Maggie writes about new beginnings as opportunities for transformation. Like kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with gold, Keep Moving celebrates the beauty and strength on the other side of loss. This is a book for anyone who has gone through a difficult time and is wondering: What comes next?