Yankees fans in Wakefield and throughout Bronx, NY are preparing for the coming season. Spring training is right around the corner as the Yankees prepare for their first game against the Philadelphia Phillies on February 24. If you're a die-hard fan, Safeguard Self Storage has a few tips for celebrating the Yankees' return to the grass this spring.

Celebrate Spring Training With These 5 Tips

1. Subscribe to a Major League Baseball package.

Can't make it to the Yankees spring games in Tampa? No worries. An MLB cable package will keep you up to date on all of the action. Alternatively, you can subscribe directly to MLB. com and watch spring games on your computer, phone, tablet, or any other compatible device.

2. Throw a spring training party.

Watching the spring games is more fun with some friends around. Plan a spring training party for when the Yankees meet the Phillies. You can supply a few snacks like bags of peanuts, pretzels with dip, hot dogs and other treats to satisfy everyone's hunger for food and a winning season in 2017.

3. Coach a Little League baseball team.

Coaching makes you part of a team and gives you a chance to teach kids how to play the game with sportsmanship. When the Yankees aren't playing on TV, you can stay immersed in baseball by coaching a Little League team in your area. If you have kids, get them involved, and help them develop their skills and an appreciation for the game.

4. Get out and toss the ball around.

If it's been a while since you visited a baseball diamond, why not take a trip back in time and re-live your childhood? Put on your glove, grab a bat and a few baseballs, and head to the nearest ballpark in Bronx, NY. You can play a pickup game with friends or share your love for America's pastime with your kids.

5. Convert a room into a sports den.

Need your own personal space for watching the games? Turn an unused room into a sports den. Make room for sports memorabilia, cushy chairs, and more with a self storage unit.  

Happy Spring Training, From Safeguard Self Storage

Celebrate Yankees spring training with Safeguard. If you need a place to store your gear, check out our local storage units. We have units available in all sizes for storing your baseball gear or any other belongings taking up space in your home.

It seems like winter break only began yesterday, and now students must, again, focus on classes. For those attending Temple or other surrounding colleges in Philadelphia, PA, now's the time to start the new semester off right. Safeguard Self Storage wants to help students get off on the right foot this school season.

10 Ways to Getting Better Grades

1. Get Up, and Show Up

It's hard to get up after sleeping in during the break. The best way to learn the material and score better grades is to get up and go to class. If you can sacrifice your nightlife a few days a week, waking up early will be much easier.

2. Take It Head On

College is difficult. If you slack off, your grades will fall much quicker. Take charge, and put forth the effort – it will be worth it.

3. Know Your Limits

Overloading is never a good idea. Only take the hours you need. Otherwise, you might take on too much and get overwhelmed.

4. Research Correctly

Thank goodness for the internet. Learn some Google search tips to find what you’re looking for more efficiently. And skip out on the Wikipedia reference.

5. Invest In a Planner

With so much going on at college, it's easy to forget prior commitments or specific details of events. Get a calendar, and keep track of everything.

6. Choose Your Priorities

It's fun to hang out with friends, but if you have an important test the next day, skip the party. Figure out which parties you can go to and which you’ll have to give a rain check for.

7. Take Notes

Whether you work best on paper or on your computer, take notes to retain information. While writing notes is important, it’s not important to write down every word. Figure out how you learn best and only write down what you need to jog your memory. Class will be a lot less stressful, and you’ll actually remember more than you think.

8. Stay Positive

Having a positive attitude goes a long way. If you believe in yourself and your ability, you'll have the confidence to make better grades.

9. Use Your Textbook

Textbooks are dense with information and hard to read. But often, your professor chooses the textbook because it will actually help you grasp the concepts. Studying really does help.

10. Declutter your dorm.

A messy room causes distractions, and for many, causes environmental anxiety. Clean up your room and designate a specific place for studying. You’ll learn better in a fresh space.

Become the Best Student You Can Be

One of the best ways to start off the semester right is to organize your space. Consider moving your clutter to local storage units, where your items will be easily accessible. Our storage units in Philadelphia, PA come in a variety of sizes for packing away your clutter and helping to reduce your distractions this semester, so you can focus on getting your schoolwork done. 

When it comes to New Year's resolutions, only 9.2 percent of people feel successful in achieving their goals. That's not a statistic anyone wants to hear when making a resolution for a new year. For those living in Thornwood, NY, it's easy and fun to keep your New Year's health resolutions thanks to the Graham Hills Park biking trails and the ease of Safeguard self storage.

Stay Fit and Have Fun at Graham Hills Park

Graham Hills Park stretches across Westchester County and features 10 trail miles. You can load up your bike and reach the park in less than 10 minutes as it sits just 4.8 miles from Thornwood, NY. Once there, you're greeted by spans of beautiful trees and winding trails for adventuring in the Great Outdoors.

Named for Dr. Isaac Gilbert Graham, a Revolutionary War army surgeon, this park is the go-to place for those who enjoy biking in the wilderness. You can ride along these single-track bike trails in both directions as they lead you through diverse habitats. You can either bike or walk the trails and even bring your dog along for the journey.

The Benefits of Biking

Biking through the trails in Westchester County have many health benefits, including the following, among others:

• Burning calories
• Strengthening muscles
• Improving endurance
• Boosting energy

Cardiovascular exercises like biking improve heart health and reduce your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. Biking is also gentle on your joints, so you can exercise for longer without feeling aches and pains in your legs and feet.

Happy Biking From Safeguard Self Storage

If getting in shape is your New Year's resolution, biking the trails at Graham Hills Park is a great way to get fit while having fun. However, don’t let your space constraints at home get in the way of your health goals. Store your bike and biking gear at Safeguard Self Storage. With convenient, nearby storage units, our facility is perfect to store your bike while you’re not on the trails.

As an active member of the military, you know better than most how to pack up and move in a hurry. You also know how to make the most out of tight quarters, especially at our nation's largest Navy training station in Addison, IL. We're proud to serve our country’s heroes with our nearby Safeguard Self Storage facilities.

Storage Units for Home and Deployment

When you share living and working spaces with 23,000 other people, you understand the value of staying organized. It's always nice to have extra space for everything from working gear to seasonal clothes. The same goes for when you're looking at deployment. You can start packing and finalizing plans, without worrying about how or where to park your belongings while you’re away serving our country. 

Strategic Tips for Military Self Storage

 Because your job keeps you on the move, you know your way around storage facilities. To get the most of your storage space, take these tips into consideration:

• Protect your belongings from Chicago's freezing winters and sizzling summers in a temperature-controlled unit. This type of storage also helps you comfortably weather the seasons as you move things in and out. 
• Use our handy online Space Estimator to figure out how much square footage you need. It does the math to help you choose the right unit size for your storage needs. 
• Share facility information and access codes with a trusted friend or family member. They can take care of anything that might come up while you're away on deployment.
• Don't use the same boxes over and over. Cardboard eventually wears out, gets moldy or invites insect invasions. Treat yourself to fresh storage boxes every few years.
• Keep personal items, bedding and important documents at the front of your unit for quick, easy access. Operate on the principle that last in is last out, and always leave clear paths between stacks. 

Amenity Packed, Convenient and Affordable

 With three convenient locations south of the base, our modern facilities feature a wide selection of storage units. We offer affordable space, from just a few boxes to bikes, boats and cars. Trust your belongings to our high-tech, digitally recorded video and individually alarmed units, and have the flexibility to manage your account online – anytime, anywhere.

Backup You Can Count On

Whether you're calling the base home for now or positioning for future deployment, our Safeguard teams are always here to back you up. Stop by, and visit with our friendly staff at the Palatine, Darien or Addison, IL self-storage facilities. You have plenty to take care of, so count on us to help make your job a little bit easier.

It's liberating, but it can be a big job. You're excited, but you aren't sure where to start. Your plans include making the move from your current home to something smaller in Mountainside, NJ. With nearby self-storage and a little pre-planning, retirement downsizing is easy to manage and simple to maintain.

You've Made a Great Choice

Mountainside, NJ earns its place on the short list of great retirement areas for so many reasons. You’ll enjoy classic suburban living, tree-lined streets and some of the friendliest neighbors in the Garden State. It's an excellent location for downsizing because the area offers a wide range of housing options and plenty of affordable storage units. Whether you're relocating from outside Union County or transitioning from a larger home, here in the borough, life is good just east of the Watchung Reservation.

You Need an Easy Plan

 Downsizing your way into this lovely community means making decisions about a lifetime of personal belongings. From furniture to holiday decorations, you’ll have to figure out what to do with everything. Successful moves always start with a plan, so consider these simple downsizing strategies:

• Take care of arrangements for leasing a storage unit before you start relocating. This gives you space to transition more easily from the old address to your new home.
• Get things done more efficiently by taking inventory, one room at a time. Compare square-footage differences between old and new living spaces.
• Be honest about what you want to take with you, and turn the rest into cash. Gently used items and furnishings that won't be moving with you will move at a weekend garage sale.
• Belongings with higher resale values often find new homes through upscale consignment shops. Check with different outlets and antique stores in the Mountain Avenue retail district.
• Talk to local charities about their needs, and match their list to things that you need to part with. When you know your donations are helping someone else, letting go becomes a little easier.

Self Storage Keeps Downsizing Simple

 Downsizing doesn't mean giving up everything, and that's where a storage unit fits into your retirement plans. Keep sentimental treasures, seasonal items and extra bedding in a temperature-controlled unit. Park bikes -- for riding around Echo Lake Park -- next to fishing gear, saved for afternoons on Lake Surprise. Our Mountainside location offers 24 hour digitally recorded video surveillance, individually alarmed storage units and easy-to-use online account management. The extended access hours also provides extra time for you to access everything in your storage unit at your convenience.

It's All Yours Now

This northern slice of the Garden State offers so much, and it's all yours when you retire in Mountainside, NJ. Our Safeguard Self Storage family extends a warm hello and an invitation to visit our local facilities. Welcome to the neighborhood. We know you're going to love downsizing here.

With spring semester right around the corner, it's time to move back into your college apartment. Consider living in an off-campus apartment for more room to yourself, but it also means having to fill up your space with the essentials. Before you head back to college in Bronx, NY, use our checklist to help keep track of what you'll need for the semester ahead, and what can stay in storage.

10 Must-Have Items for Your College Apartment

1. Desk Organization

Though you could study on your bed, it's better to have everything organized at a desk. Furnish your desk with a lamp, an ergonomic chair, a dry-erase board and a couple of desk-side storage spaces for an ideal study nook.

2. Dining Room Essentials

If you want to eat, you'll need utensils. An affordable 8- or 16-piece dinner set with matching flatware will keep you and your guests fed. Some glassware, salt and pepper shakers and placemats will complete the look.

3. Living Room Entertainment

Futons are inexpensive and make great furniture for college apartments. You'll also need a TV, a DVD or Blu-ray player, speakers and maybe a video game console to complete your entertainment setup.

4. Closet Storage

Make the most of your closet space by organizing things on hooks. You can also get some stacking drawers, dividers and organizers to help take advantage of every inch of your closet space. Self-storage is also an affordable option to alleviate your closet restraints.

5. Bedroom Comforts

You'll need more than a bed and a few pillows. Make sure to pick up an alarm clock, a nightstand and a lamp. A wastebasket, fan and a full-length mirror are also must-have items to ensure your comfort.

6. Bathroom Necessities

Don't forget the hand and body towels, a soap dish and a wastebasket. Having a plunger on hand will help in case of emergencies.

7. Kitchen Supplies

Unfortunately, you can't order out every night; so fill your kitchen with small, affordable appliances. Invest in a microwave, blender, toaster oven and a coffeemaker, and don't forget the odds and ends like dish towels, utensil trays and a trash can.

8. Laundry Items

It's nice to have a laundry basket or a tote to transport your clothes to the laundry facility. You should also consider buying an iron or a steamer to remove the wrinkles from your clothes before class.

9. Cleaning Products

A clean apartment is a happy apartment, so don't skip out on the cleaning products. All-purpose cleaner, a vacuum and a mop are all important items.

10. Home Safety

Apartments come equipped with smoke detectors, but you should also keep a fire extinguisher within reach. Keeping a first-aid kit on hand is also a good idea.

Safeguard Self Storage Welcomes You Back to College

If your college apartment is short on space, store your belongings with us. We have storage units in Bronx, NY that are perfect for seasonal items, giving you enough room to store extra school supplies, home decor and clothing for the coming spring semester.

With the new year, it's only natural to start thinking about a clean slate and how you can make the next 12 months even better than the last. For many, the new year means getting in shape and improving their overall well-being. Make it your resolution to take up yoga. Although there are many studios from Little Havana to Palmetto Bay, FL, something closer to home may be an even better idea. Make space for your Zen and turn your spare room into a yoga studio. 

Transform Your Spare Room into a Yoga Studio

Having a yoga studio at home gives you the freedom to practice anytime you want. You’ll save money, without expensive fees for a trainer or using up gas driving through the Miami Design District. At home, you won’t feel intimidated by the yoga pros who can somehow balance on their elbows. With a bit of work, a pinch of motivation and some help from self-storage, you'll go from lounging on the couch to the warrior pose in no time.

1. Get rid of the clutter.

Yoga requires a lot of room to perform the variety of movements. You can't expect to go through the warrior poses when a dresser or a bed blocks your way. For a pure yoga space, you’ll need every inch of your spare room, which means moving almost everything out. For a temporary or permanent storage solution, move your belongings into one of our affordable storage units.

2. Decorate with intent.

Try not to make the space look too busy. The point of decluttering is to create a space in which you can move about without distractions. A few candles, soft lighting and maybe a muted color for the walls can help set the mood and inspire your meditative journey.

3. Gather your supplies.

Having a few yoga supplies can improve your performance. A yoga mat places you in a focused space and keeps you from sliding around. Invest in a yoga towel to wipe away the sweat, a yoga block to help you balance during difficult moves, and a meditation pillow to cushion your head during savasana, or corpse pose. You should also have water on hand to stay hydrated as you work your way through an entire session.

4. Begin your yoga journey.

After removing clutter from your yoga room and placing it in a storage unit, your supplies on hand, and the mood set, it's time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Keep in mind that you're making this your own space, a sort of retreat from the real world. So every time you enter your sanctuary, leave your problems behind and focus on improving yourself, your health and your overall well-being.

Start Your Yoga Journey With Safeguard Self Storage

Sticking to your New Year's resolution is never easy, but if you can, it will change your life for the better. If you're ready to turn your space into a yoga room, store your belongings with us. With convenient storage units available from the Miami Design District all the way to Palmetto Bay, FL, keeping your stuff out of the way has never been easier. 

Sometimes it's nice to poke fun at something and completely get away with it. If you enjoy mocking what you see on TV or the Internet, don't miss the King Mango Strut parade in Coconut Grove on December 31. This annual event draws people from Little Havana and all of South Florida to watch people dress up, sing and perform acts while making fun of local and national celebrities, politicians and more. Your local self storage experts at Safeguard Self Storage have the scoop.

How the Parade Started 

When it comes to diversity, you'll find it in Miami, FL. Everyone has their own way of doing things and the freedom to express themselves. Take Glenn Terry and Bill Dobson, the founders of the King Mango Strut. Back in 1982, their marching band wanted to enter the King Orange Jamboree parade. However, they were denied entry because they were playing kazoos and conch shells and using garbage cans as drums.

They decided to form the King Mango Strut as a parody that same year. Since the parade's foundation, it has grown in popularity and includes participants of various races, creeds and cultures. Nothing is sacred at the parade, and most anyone or any issue is a potential target for lighthearted lampooning.

Tips for Participating in the Parade 

Want to make fun of the people in the news? Have something funny to say about the election? Come on down to Miami, FL, and join the fun at the King Mango Strut. You don't have to go through a stringent entry process or need to pay an entry fee. Don't worry if you lack a special skill; just fill out the entry form to get started.

You don't need a long trailer to tow in the parade. Some participants walk in the King Mango Strut while others turn the back of a pickup truck into a float. If you're creating a float, you'll need plenty of supplies like glittery fringe, table skirts and gossamer to create a variety of effects. Balloons always attract attention, and jumbo streamers can accentuate a float in a big way. Consider picking up a bag of assorted candies to toss out into the crowd. It'll make the kids happy and make you stand out from the rest.

Store Your Supplies With Safeguard Self Storage

If you lack the space at home for your float supplies, Safeguard Self Storage has convenient and spacious storage units available in the Little Havana area of Miami. You can use the self storage units to store your supplies before and after the parade. The air-conditioned units will protect your float supplies in the South Florida climate until you need them again at the next King Mango Strut.

It's that time again when the annual Christkindlmarket comes to Chicago, IL. This winter event brings in more than 1 million people, including residents here in Uptown and West Rogers Park as well as visitors from across the country. This is the 21st year of this cherished tradition and features numerous vendors offering everything from toys to delicious German chocolates. Your local self storage experts at Safeguard Self Storage are here to show you what you’re missing.

Discover Christkindlmarket This Year in Chicago IL

This annual event began as an idea to promote trade between the USA and Germany and was first held at Pioneer Court in 1996. The event was moved to Daley Plaza a year later and has become an anticipated tradition in the area. Because it has become so popular, the Christkindlmarket committee has set up a second location in Naperville about an hour from the Lake View and Beverly areas of Chicago.

Although Christkindlmarket is known for its vendors, it's also the ideal place for teachers to take their students. German students can practice their skills at the market, which features many German-speaking vendors. The students can also take part in scavenger hunts and sing German holiday songs. Christkindlmarket really gives students a feeling for German traditions without having to leave the country. If you're a teacher from Lake View, West Rogers Park or anywhere in the Chicago area, consider a field trip to Christkindlmarket as a fun and educational gift to your students.

So Many Vendors, So Little Time

Christkindlmarket lasts from November 18 to December 24, so you have a little more than a month to visit the event. With so many vendors, it can seem overwhelming as you shuffle through the crowds and become entranced by the dazzling lights above the vendors' shops. You can purchase most anything from the vendors, like hand-blown and painted ornaments for your Christmas tree. Some German vendors sell nutcrackers and cuckoo clocks while others offer toys, jewelry and clothes.

You can buy German home decor and handmade crafts; you can even watch a wood carver make goods for sale on the spot. Try not to get hungry while you're making your way through the crowd as the tempting aromas from strudel, spiced wines and roasted nuts fill the air. You can stop at any time and quench your thirst with a German beer or fill your belly with sausage and potato pancakes.

If you're looking for unique gifts for the holidays, you can find them at Christkindlmarket. Whether it's toys for your children or beer steins for your friends, this annual event gives you a way to find something eclectic and original for those you love during the holidays. 

Keep Your Gifts Secret With Self Storage 

Don't let your trip to Christkindlmarket get ruined because your family and friends discover their presents early. Whether you're from Uptown or Beverly, Safeguard Self Storage has convenient storage units available close to home. We have affordable monthly plans, so you can invest in a short-term self storage solution for keeping your presents hidden from prying eyes. With temperature-controlled storage units and around-the-clock security, your gifts will remain a secret until you're ready to hand them out on Christmas Day.

Santa Claus stores his Christmas gifts with Safeguard Self Storage, shouldn’t you?

Long Island has produced some amazing things and people over the years, from Billy Joel to the historic Long Island Rail Road. It's the largest island along the contiguous U.S. and would rank No. 1 in terms of population density as a state. It has abundant and diverse neighborhoods and helpful, hardworking residents all the way from Flatbush and Flatlands to Massapequa. Besides your local self storage experts at Safeguard Self Storage, nothing has worked harder than the Long Island Rail Road.

Safeguard Self Storage Celebrates the Long Island Rail Road

With the rise of the automobile, many railroads across the country have closed over the years, but the Long Island Rail Road continues to carry passengers as it has since the 1830s. In fact, it's the oldest railroad in the U.S. that still operates under its original name and charter.

The track stretches for more than 700 miles and has 124 stations along the way. Nearly 340,000 passengers travel the railroad on a single weekday, making it the busiest passenger railroad in North America. On top of that, it runs 24/7 and provides year-round service to everyone on the island.

Overall, the Long Island Rail Road has 11 passenger branches and three main truck lines: the Atlantic Branch, the Main Line and the Montauk Branch. These three lines branch off into eight smaller branches, each of those lines branch off into different sections to serve specific areas. The main passenger lines are the: 

·      Main Line
·      Atlantic Branch
·      Montauk Branch
·      Oyster Bay Branch
·      Far Rockaway Branch
·      Port Jefferson Branch
·      Central Branch
·      Long Beach Branch
·      Port Washington Branch
·      West Hempstead Branch

The LIRR: First at Almost Everything

When it comes to innovation, the Long Island Rail Road has led the way since 1832. Today, railways across the country use hooked track spikes, but the LIRR was the first to implement them in 1836. It was also the first railroad that featured a locomotive with a steam whistle. By 1905, it was the first to have an all-steel passenger car and main line electrification.

Through the early 1900s, the LIRR became the first to have remote-controlled electrical substations, to use a diesel locomotive and to install electronic rail defect detectors for spotting flaws along the rails. In 1958, it installed the first automatic inventory control system and changed how railroads handle their logs.

The LIRR updated to automatic systems thanks to the successful installation of a fully electronic and automatic speed control system in 1951. As the railroad continues to thrive, it adopts technologies and sets an example for all other railroads in the country.

Take a Ride on the LIRR

If you've never taken a ride on the LIRR, it's not too late to hop aboard. Whether you live in Flatbush or plan to move to Flatlands or Massapequa, the LIRR can get you anywhere on the island, including a trip to Safeguard Self Storage. We're only a train ride away when you need affordable and convenient storage units for your belongings. Like the LIRR, our storage units are open and available year-round to serve customers in Long Island.