Martha Stewart's Tips for Successful Packing

1. Avoid mixing things from different rooms in the same box; it will make unpacking more time consuming.

This stuff is all in the same room, so it's cool if I just sweep it into a box, right?  Martha?

2. Refrain from noting anything valuable, such as silver, on the outside of a box.

So don't let on that this box is full of awesome.  Got it.

3.   Wrap small items that can be easily lost in brightly colored tissue paper before placing them in boxes.

What if I want them to get lost?

4. How to pack a lamp:

• Remove the bulb, harp, and shade.
• Pack the base of the lamp in an upright position in a well-padded box.
• Wrap the shade in tissue paper (never packing paper) and place it upright in a separate box,  lined with crumpled tissue.
• Wrap the harp separately and affix it to the inside of the box containing the shade with a piece  of tape.

Martha, you lost me at "harp."
I think I'll just roll the whole thing in newspaper (NOT packing paper) and put it in a box with this birthday gift bag and a random mix of laundry (clean laundry! I'm not an animal!).

5.  Most electronic equipment is best moved in the manufacturer’s original packaging. If you don’t have it,  double-box them.

Um.  Is that a jar of homemade apricot jam?
Yes.  Yes it is.
Martha would be so proud.

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