In mid-June, Chicago hosts the Green Music Fest, an environmentally conscious festival that features green vendors, food and biodiesel bicycles. You'll also discover Remix Chicago, a festival of repurposed crafts and eco-friendly workshops. However, you don't have to wait until these events to go green in Chicago, IL. In fact, you can get started right away and help protect the environment even in the big city. Safeguard Self Storage has all the tips on going green!

Make a Difference on World Environment Day

World Environment Day happens annually on June 5 and raises awareness for protecting the environment. It started in 1974 and has since gone global as more than 100 countries now celebrate this event. You don't have to join a flash mob or hand out pamphlets on the sidewalks to participate. No matter how small, you can do your part and still help the planet in a big way.

1. Reduce

Don't throw away unwanted tools, clothes, toys or other belongings. Instead, donate them to charity. You'll help others in need and reduce the amount of garbage in the landfills. Buying in bulk can also help reduce packaging and help you save money at the same time.

2. Reuse

Buy used items such as clothing, books and furniture at consignment shops and thrift stores. Used items are normally less expensive than new items and serve the same purpose. Repair your belongings instead of throwing them away. You can also borrow or rent items when you need them.

3. Recycle

You can recycle almost anything and help conserve natural resources such as wood and water. Recycling also reduces the amount of greenhouse emissions that occur when factories produce more goods. If you recycle your glass jars, plastic bottles and cardboard, you'll also reduce the amount of waste in the landfills.

Daily Tips for Going Green

• Turn the lights off when you leave a room.
• Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth.
• Separate recyclable items from your trash bin.
• Unplug electronics when they're not in use.  

Go Green This June in Chicago

You can make room in your home by reducing the clutter and either donating the items to charity or hosting a yard sale. As you collect more items, you can use one of the many storage units available at Safeguard Self Storage to organize everything in one place. In the end, you will have helped people in need, reduced excess waste in the landfills and created more space in your home.

What could be more entertaining than celebrating summer festivals in the Big Easy? How about being a part of the scene with a booth for your amazing artwork? From Greek Fest and Cinco de Mayo to the Bayou Boogaloo, festival opportunities in New Orleans, Louisiana are wide open. Get organized now with equipment, displays and storage lockers for arts and crafts success.

Pitch a Portable Tent

Before you get started, always check event guidelines for covering booths and tents. That canvas enclosure is your festival home for several days, so you want something sturdy and weather-proof. The best setups are lightweight and easy to transport from self storage units to festival locations. That portability needs stability in case of windy weather, so include weights and bungee cords in your tent-pitching inventory. You'll also need sturdy tables, quick-mount shelving, lighting and extension cords.

Show Off Your Best

Your festival booth serves as a gallery for your very best work, so plan a layout that really shows it off. Raise your goods in the public eye by elevating table legs with PVC piping. Display framed art and photography against neutral-colored walls, and showcase pottery and sculpture on pedestal displays. Position larger pieces of everything at the back of your booth to draw in appreciative buyers. Keep exhibitions customer-friendly with plenty of aisle space that encourages browsing without creating foot-traffic jams.

Invite Them Inside

You want the festival crowd to know what you offer with a quick glance at your inviting booth. Make it happen with signage that reflects your artistic style. Express a vintage take on jewelry with the right font, or announce contemporary quilting talents with bold colors. Catch the attention of people with colorful fabric and natural textures inside your booth. If the weather behaves, throw down patterned carpets that entice visitors into your creative domain. Make them feel welcome, and they will respond by making you their newest favorite artisan.

It's fun to turn your talent into a revenue stream, so go with the festival flow, and launch your success in the Crescent City. Whether you wow crowds at the Bastille Day Fete or show off your best at the French Film Festival, keep it all organized with our convenient, affordable self storage units. You can always depend on Safeguard Self Storage here in New Orleans to keep your artistic endeavors festive. 

The food trucks at ArtsPark serve as your inspiration every Monday. You love the food, the atmosphere and the idea of being your own boss. Now it's time to turn your own unique recipes into the next delicious thing on wheels. All it takes is a great truck, a solid plan and a secure Hollywood, FL self storage unit.

Roll on Older Wheels

Very few first-timers buy a brand new truck off the showroom floor. If your budget insists on something used, take advantage of older wheels that adapt to custom work. Many food trucks were delivery vans in a previous life, and these sturdy vehicles are easy to gut and retrofit. Apply the cash difference between old and new to the steam tables, warming ovens and refrigeration units you'll need to equip your truck.

You Just Need One

All you need is one irresistible dish that you prepare better than anyone else. Leave full-course menus to restaurants, and concentrate on something that makes you stand out from all the other food trucks. Whether you're serving gourmet burgers or handmade chocolates, figure out the logistics of your specialty. Identify the best suppliers for ingredients, calculate food costs and factor in your time and labor.

Cook Up Smart Marketing

Marketing is as simple as putting up flyers, and it's as involved as monitoring social media channels. Both strategies bring in business with minimum impact on the budget. Maximize your professional profile by supplying local charity events with tasty support. Barter for things like printing and web design by offering to cater in exchange for services. Save the expense of traditional advertising by cooking up smart, money-saving marketing plans.

Include Seasonal Storage

It's easy to feed all those appetites on the boardwalk during the high season, but be sure to include downtime in your plans. When the crowds thin out, you want to make sure you have a secure site for parking. Ask about drive-up indoor storage with enough extra space to double as a staging area when you're ready to roll next season. That food truck is your investment in the future, so it deserves a climate-controlled home base.

When you start your own business, the menu for success has to incorporate smart planning and plenty of determination. Safeguard Self Storage applauds the entrepreneurial spirit that drives your food truck dreams. We're always here to support your hard work with the best storage solutions available across all of Broward County.

If all the bikes in Philadelphia, PA hit the streets at the same time, you'd have the world's biggest pedal-powered urban safari. The City of Brotherly Love always welcomes bicycle lovers, so get your wheels out of self storage and ready to explore the best cityscape in Delaware Valley.

Baby Your Bike

Before you hit Philly's 435-mile network of dedicated lanes, baby that bike in your storage unit. Give it a good sponge bath with a biodegradable cleaner, inspect the brakes, and gauge tire pressure. Enlist a buddy to help test the drivetrain by raising and spinning the rear wheel while you shift gears. Take your well-tuned bike for a quick run around the block to be sure that it's ready for tour-adventure duty.

Make Fitness Fun

Bicycle for fun, but do it with fitness in mind. Our city's flat terrain makes it easy to navigate all 57 miles of trails that wind through Wissahickon Park. Take a relaxing ride on the healthy side of fun along Ridley Creek, or lap up the landscape as you pedal along the Schuylkill River Trail. The scenery is terrific, and the ride offers some of the best exercise you can get in 60 minutes.

Coast Through History

Explore Philadelphia's historic Revolutionary War sites from the comfort of your seat as you pedal through Valley Forge Park. Go solo, or join an organized tour that starts at Independence Mall and cruises past more than 10 celebrated city sites in just a few hours. Coast by Ben Franklin's home on your way to the Liberty Bell, and marvel at how much better history looks when you're riding a bike.

Sizzle Down South Street

Whether you're thirsty for a bike-fueled pub crawl or hungry for a fabulous food tour, South Street is your road to authentic Philly fun. Go with the gang, or conquer it alone, but start by exploring local taverns, favorite pubs and craft breweries. Bike responsibly, and then park for a hearty hoagie, choice cheesesteak or square pizza. Be sure to order some potato candy to snack on as you pedal back home.

You never run out of places to go and things to do when you bike around Philadelphia. You also never run out of great storage options for those wheels when you pedal to the nearest Safeguard Self Storage location.

From Germantown Avenue to Hunting Park, we're proud to be a part of your favorite bike-loving cityscape. 

Finding the right time to sell your Chicago, IL house can be overwhelming. But, there are tons of potential benefits to downsizing and finding a new place to call home. All that equity is tempting, and the right move could save miles off your commute. Make this next transition the smoothest one yet with the right plan and the right self storage unit to help you get from showing to closing.

Declutter With Purpose 

Don't look at surplus stuff as something that you have to haul off. Declutter with purpose by giving to one of Chicago's charitable organizations. Your gently used items will be appreciated, and you can often use the donation as a tax write-off. If you need a little help funding downsizing plans, turn high-end clutter into cash at a consignment shop. Weekend garage sales and online auctions are also great venues for converting extra stuff into extra pocket change.

Stage to Sell

Imagine looking at a South Loop condo with an eye to making it your new home. You picture favorite color schemes at play and start arranging every room. The prospective space appeals to you because it's been staged. Apply this simple, effective sales strategy to your home by packing away personal items like photos and keepsakes. Clean the house from top to bottom, flood each room with natural light, and create an environment that lets prospective buyers paint their own interiors inside your beautifully staged home.

Downsize and Store

Downsizing and self storage are perfect partners. Use the extra space for things that you don't want to donate or sell. When you start staging, stash sentimental items in your storage unit. Organize belongings that you don’t need now for easy retrieval when you’re ready to move into your new Chicago home. Climate-controlled units keep everything from personal records to electronics in good shape while you finalize relocation plans. It’s easy to take advantage of self-storage benefits with online tools that let you choose the perfect space, manage lease options and take care of payments with 24/7 convenience.

From Northside Lincoln Park to historic Bridgeport, homeowners are enjoying the upsides of downsizing. When you want to back your plans with space that fits, we have just what you need. Safeguard Self Storage stands ready to help you make the move of a lifetime with convenient storage units all across Chicago and its suburbs. 

Brooklyn, NY boasts the SeaGlass Carousel, a huge crystal nautilus shell that takes people on a ride through a world of luminescent fish. Though it's a big hit with the kids, even adults get caught up in the wonderful world of the sea. When the ride ends, you don't have to leave your underwater adventure at the park. By putting together your own fish tank, you can recreate the experience right at home. Safeguard Self Storage is showing you a few simple ways to get started today!

Finding the Perfect Spot 

Before you can set up a fish tank, you'll have to find the best spot in your house for viewing. Whether you set up the tank in the living room or your bedroom depends on the look and feeling that you're trying to achieve.

• Living room: Setting up the tank in the living room gives everyone in your home and those who visit a chance to see the fish whenever they want.
• Master bedroom: You can create a cozy, intimate setting with a fish tank in the master bedroom. The bubbling sounds may also help you fall asleep faster.
• The children's room: Placing a fish tank in your children's room will boost their underwater imaginations. However, it's more difficult to watch the tank and prevent accidental damage as your children play.

Setting Up a Fish Tank

Once you have a spot picked out, it's time to gather the equipment. You can buy all the parts separately or purchase a beginner's kit with everything included. In case you opt for separate pieces, you'll need:

• A beginner's 10-gallon glass or acrylic tank
• A heater
• An air pump
• Prime and biological filtration booster
• Nets, gravel, fish and plant and rock decor

Follow the directions in the boxes for putting your system together, and slowly add the fish last. Great starter fish include swordtails, guppies and mollies. Talk with your local pet store for additional recommendations on the best starter fish for your tank.

Make Space for Your New Aquarium

If you lack space for a new aquarium or need more room to store extra supplies, Safeguard Self Storage can help. Our storage lockers provide the right amount of space to keep aquarium supplies and accessories stored away until you need them. We also have larger units available for storing any excess furniture and making space for a new aquarium at home. 

Miami celebrates Poetry Month in April as numerous venues host live poetry readings throughout the city. Poetry Month started as a way to introduce poets and poetry to as many kids, students and adults as possible. Today, it's an annual celebration and a great time to read or recite poetry from your favorite poet. Even better, you could host your own poetry night at home. Safeguard Self Storage is showing you four easy ways to get started today!

How to Host Your Own Poetry Night

1. Pick a spot.

Your garage, den or living room make great spots for hosting a poetry reading. By having it in the garage, you can open up the door and invite the night air inside. If you have a furnished attic, it could also serve as an ideal location for hosting the event. 

2. Create some invitations.

Get those invitations out well before the event. You can write a small poem in an email blast and send it to your friends or simply text everyone using your smartphone. Create a poetic invitation to send on social media, and make sure to include the date, time, location and a required RSVP.

3. Gather your supplies. 

You'll need a microphone and speakers if you want everyone to hear you loud and clear. You can rent a microphone and speaker from a local rental company or purchase a cheaper on-the-go system from a retail store. In addition, make sure to provide enough seating, beverages and food for your guests.

4. Host the party.

With the date set, the seating ready, the microphone hooked up and the food on hand, it's time to host your party. Test the microphone ahead of time, and get the volumes sorted out. Start with a cheerful introduction, and give people time to get acquainted with one another before the poetry reading begins. 

Celebrate Poetry Month This April

While you wait for the next Poetry Month to come around, store all of your supplies at Safeguard Self Storage. Our climate-controlled storage units will protect your speaker system and provide enough room for your chairs and other supplies. When it's time to host another event, your items will be right where you stored them and ready to go. Get started by contacting us today! 

All across the Bayou, from Harvey to Marrero to Metairie and beyond, spring has sprung – and that means one thing for many folks around here: It’s time to bust out the mops, brooms, dusters and rags and get to scrubbing every surface in our home neglected over the cooler months. As you spend days going from room to room, cleaning out the closets, emptying drawers, going through those old boxes in the attic, you realize pretty quickly that you need to do something about all of the extra stuff lying around.

Some of it can be discarded, but what about the things that are too important to get rid of? You could dust off your book of spells and craft an enchantment that creates extra space in your home from thin air. Or you could forget the magic for now and settle your space issues with convenient nearby self storage. 

A storage unit, it is. Let’s get started on finding a unit and prepping your things for storage.

How to Spring Clean Your Items for Storage

The first step to getting your things prepped for storage is to figure out how much storage space you really need. Our handy Space Estimator works with our Unit Size Guide to help you figure that out. And of course, our friendly staff is more than happy to lend a hand, too.

Once you’ve reserved your unit, turn your attention towards your items. Since you are using climate-controlled storage, you won’t have to clean you things after you put them in. But giving them a good scrub now will ensure they come out of self storage looking just as good as they went in. Use this checklist to help you clean and prep the most commonly stored items.

1. Start with Dusting: Wood, metal, plastic, paper – you have it, it needs to be dusted. Use a quality duster instead of a rag. Not only will this help keep all the dust in place, but dusters are soft enough that you can use it on just about any surface without harm.

2. Clean and Polish: Climate-controlled units will prevent damage to your sensitive belongings, but it’s still a good idea to give them a little polish before you store. Wood polish is perfect for your furniture and wood decorations. Saddle soap will clean and protect all of your leather pieces like belts, shoes, furniture and gloves. Warm water and dish soap works well for metal objects like wall décor.

3. Protect Everything: Moving items, no matter how carefully, can result in damage. Prevent this by wrapping your furniture in moving blankets, using plenty of bubble wrap on your breakables, and sticking support tape in the shape of an ‘X’ on your glass mirrors.

4. For the Fabrics: Keep your fabric-based items fresh by following a few guidelines. Don’t hang heavy clothes, as hangers can imprint them after time. Wash all of your clothes and treat for stains prior to storing. Place tissue paper in between your stacked clothing to keep it wrinkle-free.

Since you’re using climate controlled storage, you won’t need to take extra steps such as placing cedar chips throughout. But you can add dryer sheets or other scented items throughout your unit to keep it fresh no matter how long you store.

Now that you know what to do to prep your items for storage, it’s time to get started! Before you move it all in, check out our other space-saving and packing tips to get you here with ease. We look forward to serving you and your storage needs! 

For those who love to try new delicacies, you don't want to miss the food festivals going on in Chicago this month. Whether it's Bacon Fest, the Artisan Food Festival or the Taste of the Gold Coast, there are plenty of chances to fill your belly with delicious treats all month long. However, if you're unable to make it to the festivities, don't worry. You can host a special Around the World Festival right at home!  

Hosting a Food Festival at Home

1. Pick the themes.  

An Around the World Festival should include several foods from different parts of the world. Consider your favorite foods and places that you like to visit. You could include Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Japan, and serve a dish from each location.  

2. Select the dishes.  

Pick one dish to represent your selected countries. For example, you could serve pizza from Italy, marzipan from Spain, brats and kraut from Germany, crème brûlée from France and hibachi steak from Japan. Choosing these foods gives you three main meals and two desserts, treating your guests to a taste of sweet and savory.

3. Invite the guests.

Pick a date and a time that's good for you, your family and guests. Afterward, start inviting everyone at least two weeks ahead of time. Spread the word on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. You can also call ahead or text everyone before the big event.

4. Prepare the meals.

• Chef Emeril Lagasse has a delicious pizza recipe for your festival, including how to prepare and serve it.
• You'll need blanched almond flour, powdered sugar, almond extract, food-grade rose water and an egg white to make marzipan. This recipe will put you on the right track to pleasing your guests.
• You can pick up a pack of brats and a bag of sauerkraut at your local grocer for a quick and easy meal plan.
• It takes about 10 minutes to prepare crème brûlée and another 30 minutes to bake it. This delicious recipe will make you look like a professional chef to your guests.
• Sautéing the steak with veggies is the key to making great hibachi steak. Follow this recipe for an authentic taste of Japan.  

5. Set up sectioned themes.

Make your home festival livelier by sectioning off different areas for each location. You can split the kitchen down the middle and have France on one side and Germany on the other. Devote the den to Spain, the living room to Italy and the patio to Japan.  

Enjoy Your Around the World Festival

When it's time to clean up, store your decorations, chairs and tables in storage bins at Safeguard Self Storage. We'll keep everything safe and secure until your next big event.  

Spring has finally arrived in Lyons, IL and with it brings blue skies, yellow sunshine and warmer temperatures. For those who have counted the days since winter first began, now's the time to jump for joy and put your winter clothing back in mini storage. Whether it's planting new bulbs or playing with your kids outdoors, we're sharing a few ideas to help put the spring back in your step this season. 

1. Plant a flower garden.

Welcome in the spring air with a colorful garden filled with pansies, daffodils and tulips. These spring flowers have vibrant petals and create a wonderful fragrance in your yard. You can tackle the project over the weekend or knock it out in a day with some help from your kids. When you’re done with the project, just store all the heavy-duty gardening tools in your nearby storage unit so you don’t clutter up the garage. 

2. Make a handcrafted bird feeder. 

Create wonderful memories by crafting spring projects with your kids. To craft a homemade bird feeder, you'll need: 

• A paper towel roll
• Peanut butter
• A bowl of bird seed
• A butter knife

Spread the peanut butter on the paper towel roll, and spin it in the bird seed. You can then hang the bird feeder on a tree branch and watch the birds swoop in for a treat.

3. Practice yoga in the yard.

Take advantage of the nice weather with some yoga in the backyard. You'll stretch out your muscles from their winter dormancy and feel more alive and ready to take on the rest of the year.

4. Enjoy a walk around the neighborhood.

If the winter kept you bundled up indoors, now's your chance to get some exercise. Get out your spring clothes from your storage unit, put on your comfortable sneakers and make your way outdoors. A walk will help you burn off those calories from the holidays and get you in shape for summertime on Lake Michigan.

5. Play outdoor games with your kids.

Whether it's "Red Rover" or "Simon Says," playing outdoor games with your kids shakes off those winter blues. You can play hopscotch on the sidewalk, shoot hoops in the driveway or bring out the jump rope for some old-fashioned fun. 

Enjoy a Pleasant Spring in Lyons 

Safeguard Self Storage wishes everyone in Lyons, IL a happy spring! When it's time to put away your winter clothing, we have heated and air-conditioned storage lockers equipped with computer controlled access and individual door alarms designed to keep your items safe and secure until the next season. You can also use our storage units to help clear out some space once it's time to spring-clean your home!