5 Moving Day Tips to Ease Stress:

Moving is hard work, but it doesn't have to be stressful. Try these 5 tips to reduce stress for the whole family.

No matter how much you prepare for moving day, transporting your entire life from one house to another is stressful for both parents and kids. Add a few lost boxes or uncooperative pets into the equation, and the anxiety level skyrockets. To help ease the tension surrounding the actual move, try planning some ways to help your kids through this big change.

Here are five moving day tips to keep everyone happily on track:
 

1. Explain the Plan Before Moving Day
   Your kids will want to be part of this monumental event, so why not plan a family meeting and go over the plan of action for move-in day? Hold the meeting a few days before the big move and make it a festive atmosphere -- order a special treat like pizza, or serve a silly dinner like pancakes paired with mashed potatoes (bonus: use this as an excuse to clean out your cupboards).
   
   During the meeting, go over the moving plan and assign age-appropriate jobs to each child. Rather than sitting and watching the boxes and furniture be removed from their home, kids might feel better about the process if they're given some responsibility. Sorting toys and clothes for donations is one way to keep them busy, suggests Dr. Lori Woodring, a psychologist and author of "My Very Exciting, Sorta Scary, Big Move."
    
2. Allow Kids to Pack an "Open First" Box
   While you're throwing those last items in a box on move day, kids may also want to get involved with packing. Have them pack an "open first" box with their favorite toys and books. You can also let them decorate the already packed boxes containing their personal items. Keep them busy with stickers, markers and crayons.
   
   According to licensed professional counselor Lisa Remey, who has moved frequently as a military mom, "Not only will this allow children to be part of the process, it will also give them a visual to identify their own boxes coming on and off the truck."
    
3. Give Kids a Break By Planning a Fun Activity on Move Day
   After the initial excitement of seeing the moving van pull up wears off, kids may begin to grow bored with the work of carrying boxes in and out. If you're working under a deadline and need to devote some serious time to executing your move, plan some fun activities for your kids to keep them occupied during the less exciting parts of the day.
   
   At your old house, use tape to mark a hopscotch board in the first room you empty, or set out empty plastic bottles for a game of bowling.When you're unpacking in your new home, try scoping out local activities. You can use theBig Tent app to ask local parenting groups for entertainment advice. Plus, if your kids are excited about a new experience, it may take their minds away from the move.
    
4. Bring Along an Extra Surprise
   As moving day draws to a close and the impact of the big change starts to settle in your kids' minds, ease their anxiety with an extra surprise. Dr. Woodring recommends offering them something small like a new book, game or video which can be easily carried with you during the move day.
   
   This may also be the time to think about bigger surprises that you were planning to eventually purchase anyway -- wouldn't it be fun to have a new swing set in the backyard when your kids pull up to their new home?
    
5. Allow Kids to Say Goodbye
   Before you leave your old home, Dr. Woodring suggests allowing kids to walk through the house one more time when it's empty. This will help give them an all-important sense of closure. Dr. Woodring also suggests leaving a special mark or memory behind, like carving your kids' initials into a tree, planting a flower or painting a stone in the garden.

How To Move A Fish Tank: Your Step-By-Step Guide:

It should come as no surprise that some household items are considerably harder to move to another home than others. This idea becomes clear relatively early in a house move, usually during the preparation stage filled with risk assessment techniques on different levels.

For example, the task of moving your book collection to your new home feels pretty straightforward and much less complicated compared to say, moving an aquarium to a new house.

How to move a fish tank to another house is an excellent question whose answer includes a fair amount of move related difficulties, a number of major risks for your delicate fish, your breakable tank,  and the property you’re about to leave soon. And unless you have a clear understanding of what it takes to prepare to move your fish tank, and then to actually relocate the aquarium and your lovely fish in a perfectly safe way, you may even encounter real dangers while handling that challenging relocation project.

What is the best way to move a fish tank to a new house? Find it out below.

What to know when moving a fish tank

Before you enter the preparation stage, there are a number of important things you should know before you make up your mind to move your fish tank to another house. Some of these specifics you will know, while other details may actually surprise you a little bit.

Freshwater aquarium fish are not only graceful, but they are also very sensitive to even minor changes in their already established environment. So, considering that the process of moving your fish to another home includes transferring these delicate creatures into several containers and prolonged stay out of their comfort zone, aquarium fish can be so stressed out from that relocation affair that they can cease to eat and some never make it to their new destination either. This is important to know as it can influence your decision to move your fish and your aquarium in the first place.
Most fish tanks are rather fragile and you need to handle them with extra care if you wish to get them safely to their destination. The glass home of your pretty fish is usually glued together and designed to rest on a perfectly flat surface without any uncharacteristic movements or irregular vibrations. Find below some great tips for keeping your fish tank safe throughout the house move.

Aquarium fish don’t really enjoy it when they are taken out of their comfort zone.
Your best chance for the survival of your fish is to minimize the period of time that they will spend out of their normal environment. In other words, your aquarium should be one of the very last household items that you prepare for moving, and of course – the very first thing to set up as soon as you walk over the threshold of your new house or apartment.

How long will your relocation trip last? If you plan to move a fish tank long distance and you assess that the survival chance of your precious fish is too slim, then you have a couple of much safer alternatives: 1) to give away the fish to friends who have suitable aquariums, relocate only the fish tank as a structure, and then purchase new fish when you settle in your new home, and 2) leave the entire fish tank behind with the fish and all, and then purchase a brand new aquarium and new fish after the relocation.
What to do before moving your fish aquarium

The preparation stage of your fish tank moving project is essential for the success of the entire operation. Keep in mind that you can’t just start draining your fish aquarium without having completed some important preparation steps first. Well, actually you can do it, but it’s very likely that you won’t like the results.

Here are the preparation steps you should follow to get your fish tank ready to be transported safely:

Step 1: First and foremost, get hold of the proper supplies that you will need during the move itself. Prepare several 5-gallon buckets which are clean, leak-proof, largely opaque, and equipped with lids. Also, get your fish net ready, as well as a siphon hose, a few cardboard boxes with thick walls, a stack of packing paper, and a roll of bubble wrap.
Step 2: If possible, inspect your new home to find the best place for your aquarium after the move. Remember that it’s a top priority to set up the fish tank as soon as you can so that the stressed out fish can begin the acclimatization period almost immediately. Look for a spot with easy access to electricity, with good protection from direct sunlight, and one with ample space for the aquarium structure and all its accessories. The piece of furniture on which you will place your fish tank should be absolutely level, firm, and strong to withstand the weight of the aquarium when the latter is full with water.
Step 3: It’s best if you don’t feed your fish one full day prior to Moving day – don’t worry, your fish friends will be just fine. This precautionary step will keep the water relatively free from waste, and besides, your pets won’t be too keen to eat due to the upcoming stress anyway.
Step-by-step guide on how to move a fish tank by yourself

How do you move a fish tank to another house? To transport a fish tank to another house should not be underestimated. Now that you know what to expect when you have to move with your fish and you have completed the 3 preparation steps described above, it’s time to actually learn how to move a fish tank by yourself. Just follow the following step-by-step guide closely to finish the job quickly, easily, and most importantly – SAFELY!


Just a thoughtful reminder for your cat.
Step 1: With the help of your siphon hose, drain some water from the tank into the buckets until the containers are roughly two-thirds full. Do not fill up the buckets to their brims to avoid possible spills later during the move. Be mindful that you cannot move a fish tank with water in it, at least not to another home altogether. If you were moving a fish tank to another room, then yes, it’s possible to move your aquarium without emptying it first.

Step 2: With the help of your trusty net, catch with caution each and every fish you own and place them gently into a bucket. If you have a large number of pet friends, then you may need to split them between two moving containers. There isn’t a set rule here so use your common sense to decide when, if at all, to do it.
Step 3: Count out your fish friends to make sure all of them have been safely transferred into the transportation buckets. Inspect your fish tank closely just in case.
Step 4: Close the buckets with their own lids but make sure fresh air still gets inside them. You can even poke small holes in the plastic lids if you deem it necessary. Consider providing additional oxygen through air pumps if your fish will need to spend a lot of time in their temporary habitats.
Step 5: Remove any types of decorations (rocks, live plants, castles, etc.) and accessories (pumps, heaters, light fixtures, tubes, filters, etc.) you may have in the glass aquarium. Dry them as best as you can, pack them safely with soft packing paper or bubble wrap, and then store them in a cardboard box.
Step 6: Drain completely the remaining water from the tank. Remember that any amount of water left inside might compromise the integrity of your aquarium as soon as you try to lift it.
Step 7: If your aquarium has sand or gravel on its bottom, it’s time to get rid of it as well as its extra weight could cause the glass structure to break. Don’t throw away that sand or gravel though but keep it in a spare bucket so that you can return it inside the fish habitat after the relocation is over.
Step 8: Once the aquarium is thoroughly empty, use plenty of bubble wrap to cover it completely and secure the air-filled protective material with tape. Then, wrap the glass structure again with thick moving blankets. For larger tanks, enlist a few good friends to give you a hand to transport and load the fragile structure into the moving vehicle. Regardless of its size, keep your fish tank as flat as possible during the haul.
Step 9: The moment you reach your new residence, you should immediately get down to setting up the fish tank so that your poor fish can finally get back to their normal living conditions. Forget about unpacking those boxes! Tend to your loyal finned friends first.
Step 10: Carry the wrapped up aquarium to its final resting spot and place it there carefully. Check to see if the surface on which you’ve just positioned it is flat, stable, and will easily support the weight.
Step 11: After removing the bubble wrap with caution, return the gravel back to its bottom, and then set up the pumps, heater, filters, and any light fixtures to their original places. Do NOT turn them on yet as there is no water inside the tank!
Step 12: Place back the decorations inside the tank and start filling the habitat gradually with its original water that you just transported with the 5-gallon buckets.
Step 13: Use your net once more to catch all the fish from the bucket(s) and release them gently into the already set up aquarium.
Step 14: Pour all the remaining water from the bucket or buckets into the fish tank, and fill it up with tap water that’s already been de-chlorinated.

Okay, if you know you aquarium fish so well, which one of these clownfish is Nemo?
Step 15: Before you turn the heaters on, you’re advised to let the fish tank sit for a few hours so that the room temperature and the water temperature can equalize.

Step 16: Turn on the heaters and pumps, and check how things are doing on a regular basis. Make sure you fish are doing okay too after the stressful relocation.
Step 17: Find a good pet store in your new town or city, and speak with the experts there should you have any problems or concerns about the well-being of your pretty fish.
Do you feel up to the relocation challenge? Do you honestly think you can handle the details of moving a fish tank to a new home in a way that will guarantee the safety of both your precious fish and the costly aquarium?

If you can’t bear to leave your favorite fish tank behind but you know you won’t be able to have it relocated on your own, then it seems like the logical solution is to check how much a professional mover will charge you for that particular job. Get free price estimates and see how much you will have to pay to have the peace of mind you want. In fact, you may actually be pleasantly surprised by the price offers you will get – after all, we’re talking about the safest way to move a fish tank long distance.

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Move to a New Home:

Rob Lewine/Image Source/Getty Images. 

By Diane Schmidt

Moving Expert

 

 

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There are many of us who get restless with our current lives and think that maybe a major change, such as a move, will solve whatever problems we might have. While in some situationsmoving may help, it's a good idea to think through your decision before you hire a mover or pack the kitchen.

1. What Will I Miss? 

This may seem like a straight-forward question, however, having been (and sometimes still am) that restless soul who looks to the future, thinking that things are better somewhere else, I recommend making a list of all the things in your life that are attached to where you live.

Think about the people you'll miss, the sports or work team you're involved with or the quiet neighbors who are always there when you need them. Write down the great things about the city or town or your neighborhood you live in that you love, such as theaters, a great rep cinema, a bakery within walking distance or a coffee shop where they know what you like before you even order.

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All these things matter and it's up to you how much they should be counted as part of your decision to move. 

What about family - do you have close relationships that you'll miss if you move? What about support you may provide to an elderly family member - is there someone who can replace you? What about the support you might receive from family, such as child-care, home repairs, emotional support etc... How often could you afford to return for visits?

2. What Don't I Like About My Present Situation?

If you're restlessness has to do with your current job or a current relationship, then ask yourself if your unhappiness would be solved by changing employers or ending that relationship. If the answer is "yes" then perhaps a move is not needed.

Look at what is in your life now that you are not happy with then think about whether that problem can be solved by making some major changes, such as finding a new job, starting a new career or finding a new social circle - most of these changes can be done without packing a single box.

3. If You Move, What Will Change?

When I'm trying to decide if a move is in my best interest, I always make a list of the positive things that the new city/town/neighborhood will offer such as a larger or smaller city, a safer neighborhood, a better cost-of-living, better schools, more access to recreation, better weather, etc...

These factors can only be decided by you.

For me, weather is a big factor as well as an affordable city with access to outdoor recreation. I then rank, in order, what is most important to my (and my family's) happiness, after which I look at my present situation and determine if some of these factors can be found where I currently live. If not, I reassess their importance and look at the overall picture and not just the immediate picture, but what our life might look like a year, two years and five years down the road.

Long-term planning is important since moving is a big commitment and requires a lot of energy, patience and financial resources. Will your family be better off (physically, emotionally, spiritually) in future? Is moving right for your family right now? What if you delayed it for a year or two? How would this impact your current situation? Could you afford to move in future?

4. What About the Practical?

The decision-making process wouldn't be complete without taking into consideration the practical aspects of moving. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:

• How much will it cost to move?
• Can I/we afford to move right now?
• If you have children, is it okay to move during the school year?
• How much will this upset their academic performance?
• Is this a good time of year to find a job?
• Am I (and my family) emotionally stable right now in order to handle the stress and changes that a move brings?
• What is the availability of housing in the new city/town?

In the end, if you've determined your priorities and answered the practical questions, then you're probably a lot closer to making a final decision about moving, knowing if it's the right time and the right thing to do for you and your family.

INSIDE CORNER LASHES:

Those tedious. little inside corner lashes ... The bane of our existence right?! As frustrating and challenging as they are, they're absolutely essential when it comes to creating a gorgeous shape! 

Check out the difference in these two sets of volume lashes. 

While the lashes look good, they stop abruptly just shy of the inside corner, creating an un-natural, unfinished look. 

By finishing those inside corners you get a more natural, beautiful, finished look. 

So how do you get to those pesky little lashes that are so quick to hide away onceyou've placed your tape or eye pads?

Use your fingers to gently pull the outside corners away from the nose and tape. Doing so will spread out those inside corner lashes making them more visible and easier to isolate. Pulling the skin just under the brow bone up and taping will also bring those little lashes out of hiding and make them easier to see. 

Mastering the inside corners will not only make your sets look more beautiful, it will truly set you apart as a lash artist. Because they're so tricky, and because you can still product a pretty set of lashes without covering all the inside corner lashes a lot of lash artists continue to avoid them. There are still a lot of lash artists who haven't mastered the art of shaping, or who don't see the need for it. Be the lash artist that goes above and beyond for your clients! Strive for fully completed sets and mastering the art of shaping. You're sets will look SO much better and your business will thrive because of it!

Commercial and Office Moving:

Fairprice Movers specializes in relocating offices, and industrial moves, of all sizes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond! Our efficiency and professionalism are unmatched, allowing your company little downtime from the move, getting you to your new location faster whether it be local or long distance. We offer free visual estimates onsite and competitive rates to fit your budget.
Our friendly sales associates can help you with specific requirements from landlords such as movers waivers, and special named insured certificates free of charge as well.
We offer a wide range of services to meet your needs including:

• Office Movers – From offices with 1 employee, to thousands, we can help!
• Business Movers – Is your entire business moving? We can help coordinate the moving of each location.
• Industrial Movers – Do you have an office, as well as a yard or warehouse of equipment to move? Let us do both!
• Modular Furniture Installation – Whether it’s a one-time need, or an account with us you’re after, we’re here to help!

We operate in :

Cupertino, Fremont, Gilroy, Livermore, Los altos, Los gatos, Manteca, Menlo park, Merced, Modesto, Morgan hill, Mountain view, Palo alto, Pleasanton, Redwood city,Sacramento, San francisco , San jose, San mateo, San ramon, Santa clara,Santa cruz, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Tracy, Walnut creek

Fill out our online inquiry form, or call us today to get starting information, set up a free visual estimate, and get quoted for your specific move!

Skyrocketing Prices Drive Single Mom to Rent San Mateo Garage for $1K a Month:

Lori Moon, Diana Torey, Barbara Caylor and Emily White, from left, residents of the 40-year-old Forest Glen townhouse development in Mountain View, Calif., pose for a portrait on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

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• Aug 4:
• Bay Area rental crisis squeezing out middle class

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Seven years ago, Lori and Alan Moon moved to Forest Glen Street, a shady lane of townhouses where their son, Michael, has grown up with his friends, playing capture the flag and building forts in the bushes.

"I've got a photo of all the kids," Lori Moon said, reminiscing in her kitchen, "six of them sitting on the front stoop, just being stupid, having fun."

But life is changing in "our little world," as she called the neighborhood. It is a story playing out all over Silicon Valley as high prices push out existing residents of older neighborhoods.

Lori Moon, a resident of the 40-year-old Forest Glen townhouse development in Mountain View, Calif., poses for a portrait on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group) (Josie Lepe)

In March, the 24 townhomes that line the lane were sold to the San Mateo-based Prometheus Real Estate Group, and residents say they have been left in a state of limbo about the new landlord's intentions. Fearing that their leases won't be renewed or that rents will significantly increase in a town where rents already have gone through the roof, four families have left, and others say their own departures seem inevitable.

"It's too much stress," said Emily White, another tenant, who came by Moon's home to discuss the situation. "People are leaving. People are emotionally detaching from each other."

"I'd just like to get my kid through the eighth grade," said Moon, whose son attends the neighborhood middle school. "But what are we going to do when we have to leave? Because Mountain View's out of control."

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About 60 percent of Mountain View's residents are renters, and Forest Glen is a microcosm of the city, where hiring by Google and other tech companies is ratcheting up competition for a severely limited inventory of rental units. The result is that new two-bedroom luxury apartments can fetch between $5,000 and $6,000 monthly, while comfortable but older two-bedroom units -- including the 1970s-era townhouses on Forest Glen and 14 more on nearby Granada Drive, also purchased in March by Prometheus -- often cost $2,600-$2,900 and up.

"Middle-income people who have roots in the community are being priced out and are moving away," said Councilman Lenny Siegel, who has met with Forest Glen tenants and Prometheus executives, who say higher rents are needed to recoup investments when older buildings are upgraded. "The source of the problem is that we have too many good jobs, that Google and others are hiring at a rapid rate" and that construction of new residential housing isn't keeping pace.

Even as the council considers proposals to build several thousand additional units over the next few years, he added, "naturally affordable housing" is vanishing, as existing units are purchased and upgraded by developers, including Prometheus.

An exterior view of the Forest Glen Townhomes in Mountain View, photographed on Aug. 5, 2015. Residents are fearing costs to cover planned renovations will be passed onto them. (Josie Lepé/Bay Area News Group)

"It's nuts," said Diana Torrey, a senior manager with a biotech firm, who with her boyfriend rents a three-bedroom Forest Glen apartment for $2,995. "I have lived in Mountain View almost my entire life. My kids have been going to school here since kindergarten. This is our home. I make six figures. And it really bothers me that my ability to provide a stable living environment for my children is out of my control because of greed."

Forest Glen's tenants include teachers, nurses, a vice president of marketing, a Google software engineer and a NASA Ames environmental engineer who serves on the Mountain View Environmental Planning Commission. Moon has been a hairdresser in Mountain View for 25 years, and her husband works in purchasing for a tech company in San Jose. Many have household incomes in excess of $100,000, but making rent still can be a struggle, even at existing levels.

Many three-bedroom apartments in Mountain View list for between $3,400 and $4,500, according to Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a nonprofit that helps clients navigate the Silicon Valley rental market. Because landlords typically ask tenants to prove income that's triple the rent, a $3,400 apartment requires a minimum annual income of $122,400, while a $4,500 apartment requires income of $162,000. Torrey lamented that she also has seen her share of three-bedrooms on Craigslist for $6,000, requiring $216,000 in income.

Emily White, a resident of the 40-year-old Forest Glen townhouse development in Mountain View, Calif., poses for a portrait on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group) ( Josie Lepe )

Jonathan Moss, executive vice president and partner at Prometheus, acknowledged that the "demand is clearly outstripping the supply" of available units in Silicon Valley and that the result is an "untenable situation where the cost of housing is far more than people can afford to pay." He said Prometheus has a general policy of capping annual rent increases for its 7,000 existing units around the valley at 10 percent. While rents have yet to increase at Forest Glen and Granada, he said, renovated units would go for "somewhat more than 10 percent" above current rates.

Prometheus must recoup the cost of renovations, likely to start in late April or after, he explained, ballparking them at $50,000 or $60,000 per unit.

The Forest Glen affair began shortly after Prometheus purchased the townhouses on March 18. Tenants were invited to a "meet and greet" with their new landlords at Prometheus's Madera apartments in downtown Mountain View, where luxury two-bedroom apartments can go for $5,300-$5,800. Tenants reported being told by a company representative that they should expect to receive 30- to 90-day notices by August, that large-scale renovations would begin in October, and that the renovated units would rent for "whatever the tech market can bear."

A number of local news reports followed, and a crew from ABC's "20/20" even flew in last month to film interviews for a possible segment.

But Moss said in July that those early comments were "confusing" and marked by "some misinformation" -- and that the Prometheus representative who made them has been replaced. Eviction notices will not be sent out, he said.

Ultimately, he said, Mountain View must address the imbalance between job growth and housing inventory. Only then will housing prices settle down. And until then, he said, just as single-family homeowners want to sell their houses at market levels, landlords will want to set rentals as the market dictates.

And the tenants of Forest Glen will likely continue to look for new homes in other cities.

Emily White, a social worker and startup veteran who moved to Forest Glen a year ago, walked down the shady lane the other day, pointing out the empty units.

"These people are gone," she said, "and this guy's leaving over here. And this couple -- she's a physician, and he's an IT guy, and they have a new baby, and they've decided they just can't make a life here. Our Shangri-La is unhinging."