It’s always a challenge to pack sensibly for a #summer road trip; you need to prepare for planned stops and unseen eventualities while maximizing space and comfort inside the car. Reset Your Nest suggests having a water bottle for every person in the car, preferably ones that fit in a cupholder and avoid spillage. You will need also need a cooler for canned beverages and any fresh snacks such as cheese and fruit. A roll of paper towels is a good idea, as is a trash bag (or two). You’ll want to bring or subscribe to a selection of your preferred music/podcasts, since rural areas tend to have few radio stations. And finally, pack some activities for the kids or memorize the rules to a few road trip games. #SummerRoadTrip
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Start Planning Your Summer Road Trip
Is there anything more all-American than a #summer #road trip? If you haven’t started planning one, start now. First, decide on the time frame: Will it a weekend, a week, two weeks or more? Next, pick your destination(s): Will it be national parks, the beach, city sightseeing, visits to friends and family, or all of the above? Settle on the locations you’ll target, and limit driving to a maximium of six hours per day to allow for unexpected stops, new discoveries and leisurely lunches. Use an app such as Roadtrippers to chart your course, flag must-see attractions and find lodging. And as with any summertime activity, carry plenty of water and snacks! #SummerRoadTrip
A Dad’s Guide to Decluttering
Father’s Day is June 15, and — like most people — #dads sometimes need a little help with #decluttering. Whether they’re #minimalists when it comes to extra #stuff or irrepressible #packrats, there’s always room to streamline.
Of course, every dad is different. Some are juggling family, kids and career in starter homes with little space to spare, and others may be dealing with the weight of a lifetime of accumulated paperwork and other #stuff post-retirement.
His hobbies will have an effect on the level of #clutter. If Dad is a woodworker, mechanic or tinkerer, he may have hundreds of tools and parts to #organize. He may even have duplicates! Help him sort out his favorites — the ones that really get used — and #donate or sell the rest.
If he’s an avid athlete, sportsman or musician, he will probably have more than one piece of specialized equipment that takes up a lot of space when not in use. And even if Dad just likes to read or listen to music, chances are he has a lot of accumulated books, papers and media.
Young dads with kids may not have as much stuff of their own, but struggle to keep the family #organized. Brooklyn’s Tidy Dad believes that #decluttering, #cleaning and #organizing responsibilities should be shared in a household, since everyone contributes to the #clutter and mess.
His advice? Know what makes a space seem #messy and #cluttered. Reassess the “hypothetical someday” to determine what’s really in use. Find a balance of possessions, space and everyday life. Schedule #decluttering on the calendar. And make #tidying tasks manageable and routine.
Ultimately, he says, #tidying is more than decluttering — it’s a way to create space for every part of your life. Young or old, the idea is for dads to have “just enough” #stuff and systems in place to make it easy to maintain an equilibrium.
Once you’ve helped Dad declutter, tidy up and organize, contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. He’ll be happy you helped, and in turn, happy to help the nation’s #veterans with his donation. #DadsDecluttering
Decluttering Can Be a Great Summer Project
One #household project that’s good to perform no matter what the season is #decluttering. Outdoors or indoors, rain or shine, your #home life will be healthier and less stressful if you don’t have a bunch of #junk you don’t need in the way of the #stuff that you use. Taks advantage of the warm summer weather to clean the #garage — or use a rainy day to #organize the basement. You’ll probably find lots of old #clothing, tchotchkes and other things you don’t really need that you can #donate to ClothingDonations.org. Call or click for a #free #pickup, and contribute those items to fund valuable #veterans programs! #SummerProjects
Summer Is a Great Time to Renovate the Kitchen
#Summer is a great time to do a #kitchen renovation, LifeHacker says, because you can cook food on the outdoor grill for a week or two while the new appliances go in or schedule most of the work while you’re out of town on a road trip. Other good projects to get started on now include #outdoor living renovations (to make the most of the nice weather) such as a deck and heating maintenance (so your furnace is ready when you need it most). Projects you won’t want to tackle under the hot summer sun include roofing and flooring projects. #SummerProjects