We are in the ‘throws’ of packing up. In fact, just finished 85% of the kitchen and almost all the bathroom yesterday! I feel decent about the studio and garage space, with just some bigger pieces that need dismantling.

I’m attempting to use color coding on boxes, via round colored stickers, for ease in knowing where they go when we arrive. And based on her new blue dot, Lily is apparently going to be establishing herself in the den 😆

We are storing and moving our things with a large POD container, that arrives today! We’ll fill it up with just about all (hopefully) of our things. Then they pick it up Wednesday, to transport to CO for us! The road-trip necessitates and house plants will be in our two vehicles.

It’s going to take us about 6-7 days to make our way from MA to CO. To keep safe on the road, my best friend Mallory is tagging along and will take the wheel if Jake or I need a break 🙏 The first leg we’re staying in hotel for 2 nights. Then make our way to my in-laws, in St. Louis. We’ll visit for 2 more nights there, before the final push of 1.5-ish days to Colorado!

Also, it’s a bit surreal to know we purchased a home, and I’ve yet to get to physically step foot in it! Talk about ants in my pants! Though, we’ve appreciated the time before the move to be intentional in considering paint colors, furniture placement, etc. so we can be as productive as possible, as soon as we arrive! Right now, just trying to wrangle the last bits in our apartment kitchen 🥴

SELF-CARE on the road…

As a migrainer, you learn to always be prepared for the unexpected. I’ve spent many years learning and studying my unique “triggers”, so I can establish my own set of tools. Some triggers are unavoidable, like barometric pressure shifts, or food ingredient sensitivities if you can’t prepare your own…

Aside from my meds, and being resourceful/avoiding eating out as much as possible, here are the other tools in my toolkit I’ll have for the drive:

• Maintain a somewhat regular/routine sleep schedule

• Frequent water bottle fill-ups, and patience with bathroom breaks 😆

• Heating pad for easing neck and muscle tension before bed

• Daily 15min. session using my electro-stim device (Cefaly)

• Rub-in topical ointments and stretch before driving

• Ear plugs and sunglasses to diminish stimuli that are too magnified

• My nature journal, for some quiet time and stillness 💚

Do any of you travel with tools to manage chronic illnesses? I’d love to hear what works for you and why!

STUDIO excitement…

There are three bedrooms in our cute little home. Two of which, are close in size to each other. We are going to turn one of them into the official studio/workshop for n’GRAINED! Plus some space for Jake to get his hands on more small wood projects 🪚🪵

I’m eager to setup my space with more functionality, which means having more of my tools in one place. Specifically, having my computer, Cricut, printers, etc. close by. This will help me really gain productivity! I plan on being resourceful and up-cycling additional surfaces and storage solutions I can find locally, whenever I can 🪚🪛

Of course, I’m bringing my studio notebook on the road with me, so ideas have a safe place to land while this (in Ayurvedic perspectives) very much Kapha girly is having to find regulation with a Vata-like way of existing for 2 weeks 😆

Thanks for stopping in to read 💚 I’ll share updates in my IG stories as this all unfolds!

Hugs from the east (for now),

H