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 PODS has school spirit! I’m not talking about your run-of-the-mil business that merely buys a vinyl sign to hang on the football field fence or stops by campus to wash a dirty truck when the students are hosting a weekend car wash. Oh no. I am talking about School Spirit with two capital “S’s”!

PODS Moving and Storage is a favorite on our high school campus because they assist our students, teachers, sports teams and PTA all year round! My friendly local PODS manager, Bob, is a great guy who is on a first name basis with our principal and PTA president, knows the stats of our star football players, attends our drama department’s performances and says “YES” every time someone from school calls and asks for help. Bob doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk!

Thanks to Bob, our sports teams now have enough storage for their uniforms down on the sidelines, our snack shack committee can safely secure sodas and snacks between football games and our marching band has a convenient place to store their trumpets, tubas and our beloved mascot, Bobby the Bulldog’s costume.

PODS® storage containers come in three different sizes, making them perfect for storing items both large and small. In addition, PODS® containers are weather resistant, so our marching band director never has to worry about anything raining on his parade. On top of that, every PODS customer puts his or her own lock on the PODS® container – making them safe and secure but always accessible at a moment’s notice.

Last year, the PTA fittingly honored Bob with an Honorary Service Award – an award our parent/teacher association gives out once a year to an individual or business who goes above and beyond for our school. PODS isn’t just a local business, they are part of our school community. And Bob, he isn’t just another school booster, he’s our #1 fan!

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The paparazzi pounced when they recently noticed PODS^® containers dropped off in front of divorcing celebrity couple Katy Perry and Russell Brand’s Los Angeles house. Soaring above the massive, seven bedroom, three-story $6.5 million mansion, photographers snapped shots of PODS^® containers lining the circular drive way. Can you tell we’re jealous? 

Perry & Brand are now busy divvying up the community property that they collected during their 14 months of wedded bliss. You read it right, 14 months folks.

Celeb or not, don’t let the stress of moving weigh you down. Check out these tips for all of our VIP movers out there:

1. Don’t forget the supplies! Moving boxes, tape, labels; make sure you’ve got all of the necessities before packing up your life.
2. Make a game plan! Try to map out where items will go before you move into your new pad. This will help you to pack like items together.
3. Plan ahead! Set aside the bare necessities so when you arrive at the new home, you have the essentials available. 
4. Pack the priceless! Make sure to carefully pack up your irreplaceable and fragile items separately and with care. During travel, these items can shift and break if not protected correctly.

It may be tricky for Tinsletown newsmakers to keep the knot tightly tied but using PODS^® containers are a simple, straightforward solution when it comes time to go your separate ways.

Comic George Carlin was right in his sketch about people having too much stuff. If you’ve never seen this particular routine, search for it on the Internet and you’ll get what I’m saying: We have too much stuff. I’m guilty of this sin and no matter how hard I try, it keeps piling up. I’m out of closet, garage and attic space. Stuff is overflowing and it’s creating chaos.

I need to donate or sell or trash (I mean, recycle) a lot of my stuff but I’m not ready for that yet. What I am ready for is extra storage, but I live in a private condo community and there is no extra garage or space to install a portable shed or anything like that.

Recently, I came across an advertisement for PODS®. These portable containers can be packed and stored in a local warehouse and not on my property. What a great solution!

When I called my local PODS office a nice lady explained how PODS works. Apparently, I am not the only person who has too much stuff. The technical term used in the industry she said is “de-cluttering.” There is a term for having too much stuff? Apparently! Great, more guilt.

In a nutshell, PODS provides a hassle-free solution to short or long-term storage that begins with the delivery of a PODS® container. The customer is responsible for filling it up and calling for back-up (I mean pick-up) and it’s off to the storage center for safe-keeping until I want all of my old stuff back.

Traveling can be highly stressful not only for you but your animals, too. With thoughtful preparation, everyone can have a comfortable trip and arrive safely at the new destination. Be sure to keep whatever pet supplies necessary for your animal(s) and not pack them away.

The ASPCA offers tips to help prepare for a safe road trip with pets.

1. Use a well-ventilated crate or carrier. It should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. If your pet has not used a carrier before, get them used to one at home before your trip.

2. Provide a light meal 3-4 hours prior to departure. Avoid feeding in a moving vehicle, even on long drives. Take advantage of rest stops whenever possible.

3. Never leave animals alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, the inside temperature can rise to triple digits. In cold weather the opposite may occur and drop to freezing inside.

4. Make sure your pet has a microchip and wears a collar with a tag imprinted with home address, temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information.

5. Don’t allow dogs to hang their head outside open windows while on the road. This is a dangerous situation with potential debris that can harm your pet.

6. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date. If you are traveling across state lines, include rabies vaccination records as some states require this proof at certain interstate crossings.

7. Keep water your pet is used to drinking in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area pets are not used to could result in stomach upset.

8. Even the most family-friendly pets can snap and bite in defense. Be prepared for a change in behavior along the way. Upon arrival at your new home, acclimate your pet to its new surroundings. For some animals it may take weeks to be comfortable with new sights, smells and people.

For more information on pet safety, visit http://www.aspca.org

Deliver. Pack. Store. Move!

We deliver an empty PODS® container at your convenience. You fill the container your way, at your pace, and call us when you're ready for pick-up. We then can store your PODS® container in one of our secure Storage Centers for as long as needed or transport your PODS® container across town, or across country to your new destination.

PODS®, The Best Moving & Storage Idea EVER!™

I had about 10 minutes before my work shift started so I parked under a shady tree to finish my morning coffee, until the obvious happened.

No, I didn’t spy a PODS^® truck or container. It was instead a transport truck loaded with a faded yellow and very well-traveled shipping container on the back bed that caught my attention. Maybe it had just come off a freighter fromMozambique.

In the parking lot the customer waited for her belongings to be delivered, just so she could unpack the steel contraption and put everything in a self-storage locker. Huh? She packed, was getting set to unpack and would no doubt have to (one day) pack and unpack again! 

I wonder if she knows self-storage places are not climate-controlled for heat or humidity or resistant to theft or water damage. If she did, she might think twice about stuffing her stuff inside. She might choose PODS^® instead (or rather, she should).

Thankfully, PODS provides the perfect solution. Each PODS^® container  is sturdy and secure with storage centers in 48US states that are climate-controlled and monitored with security for peace of mind for you. For who? YOU!

It’s like the perfect cup of coffee on a sunny morning, even if it is a work day.

So… one lump or two?

--The Moving Diva

One of the rising stars of car storage today are car pods, large cargo trailers delivered to your home and placed on the property.

A bit of an eyesore, don’t you think? I think so too.

That’s why my neighbor Walt came up with a brilliant solution to keep his classic 1965 Triumph convertible save and secure – and off of his driveway.

Walt took a few measurements of his little red beauty and determined it would fit quite nicely in a PODS^® moving and storage container. Indeed, it did.

Since PODS are only about 7 ½-8-feet feet wide, large cars or trucks will not fit inside. However, the Triumph is a smaller European car, so this scenario works.

Off of his property, Walt’s little red Triumph is safe and secure at a local PODS^® storage center a few miles away. When the sun returns he will drive it out of the storage center and cruise around the village with his comb-over blowing in the breeze, smiling ear to ear.

I know it is earlly November, but the holidays (specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas), are just around the corner. Are you ready? I am not.

I just found out I got the short end of the stick this year to host Christmas at my house.

The dreaded call came yesterday: Cousin Brad is coming with his wife. And three kids. And Aunt Myrtle if they “swing throughSalt Lake Cityon the way down.”

It’s like my very own cult movie based loosely on ‘Christmas Vacation.’ Except my last name is not Griswald and my husband is notClark.

Because of these unexpected events, I need more room. I need a PODS^® container to store my stuff for a few weeks until my guests depart. I figure if I store two desks from the office, our pool table and arcade games from the den, our oversized sofas and chairs and the trampoline from the backyard I can accommodate everyone.

At least we will have room to pass the cranberry stuffing!

--The Moving Diva

movingdiva@gmail.com

As exciting as the idea of a newly remodeled home might seem, the process can be unpredictable and overwhelming when construction begins.

PODS^® is a great solution for homeowners since the storage containers can be placed onsite as close as your driveway. Why is this important? Because it allows immediate access and eliminates trips to an offsite storage facility, saving you time and money!

5 Tips:

1. Plan ahead and do plenty of research. Tour homes and showrooms for ideas you might like to incorporate into your remodel. Keep a file of clippings you like.

2. Prepare for the unexpected by leaving extra money in your budget and additional time for unforeseen problems, because they always do. 

3. Rely on the experts. Major reconstruction requires a licensed contractor to ensure your home is compliant with building codes. Contact your local association or union for referrals.

4. Since PODS is the best moving and storage idea, ever -- rent a PODS^® container  to store your personal belongings and household items during the renovation.

5. Keep and open mind during the remodel process. Remember, soon you will be able to relax and enjoy all of your hard work!

The Moving Diva

movingdiva@gmail.com

Although PODS offers service to more than 250 million people in 48U.S.states, we want to know how this innovative moving and storage solution has helped you.

Using PODS is the right way to store or move for homeowners, renters, business owners and realtors who are staging, decluttering or remodeling a home or office and need additional space short or long-term.

Here are a few tips to get started:

1. Staging and Decluttering. An essential process when placing a home on the market and may help to capture a higher selling price on the property. A PODS^® container can securely store belongings removed from the home until ready.

2. Downsizing. Need to downsize and don't have space in your new home? PODS^® solves this problem with safe and secure long-term storage solutions. Simply pack the PODS^® container and your precious belongings will be transported to a local climate controlled PODS Storage Center.

3. Building a Bridge. Many people find themselves in a period of transition, leaving one residence before another is ready for occupancy.  In these cases, PODS serves as a real estate bridge. Have a short escrow yet your new home has a longer one? This gap of time is where a PODS^® container comes in handy for Realtors and homeowners - storing belongings securely until the move date.

4. Local Moves

Realtors and homeowners count on PODS for quick, hassle-free local moves. No more worries about renting a truck and rushing on moving day because PODS allows you to pack and move at your own pace.

5. Long-Distance Moves. Packing an entire residence takes time. With PODS, there is no time limit, allowing containers to remain onsite as long as needed. PODS will transfer the container to your new home, anywhere in the country – on the day you need it!

To reserve a PODS^® container and schedule delivery to your door, call 1-800-776-PODS (7637) or visit the Web site at http://www.PODS.com

--The Moving Diva

movingdiva@gmail.com

You know how some people go all-out to decorate their home for Halloween? I am not one of these individuals, but are YOU? If so, PODS Moving and Storage wants to know. Come on, we dare you to trick us!

Entering is simple: Like us on Facebook and email me a photograph of your haunted Halloween house for the chance to enter and win $25 to Target.

Four winners will be selected by an esteemed panel of witches and warlocks. We will announce the winners on Facebook, so make sure you’re a fan of PODS^®!

Entry deadline is Oct. 29, so hop on your broom and start clicking!

If you don’t have a trick for us, but are in need of a sweet treat, PODS can scare up a spooky deal for your moving and storage needs. Call 877-770-7637 or visit http://www.PODSus.com.

--The Moving Diva movingdiva@gmail.com