Posted on Tue, Feb 14, 2012
It’s the most romantic month of the year and the signs are everywhere. Paper hearts decorate windows, stuffed bears take up residence at the front of grocery stores and a seductive snack shines in the spotlight: chocolate.
Chocolate is a Valentine’s Day staple for men and women of all ages. Whether it’s simple squares of milk chocolate or a box of every chocolate treat imaginable, you’ll probably have a surplus of the sweet after the holiday. Storing chocolate can be tricky. If stored improperly, chocolate can pick up the flavors and aromas of nearby items (you don’t want that).
First, chocolate should be stored in cool temperatures, somewhere between 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and in a dry, dark area. When chocolate is exposed to heat or direct sunlight, gray-white streaks will appear called bloom. Bloom is the result of the cocoa butter “rising” to the surface. If chocolate has bloom, it can still be used for cooking, but is not recommended for direct consumption.
If you live in a warmer climate, chocolate is best kept in the refrigerator or freezer. Seal the sweet in an airtight storage container to protect it from moisture and humidity. When it’s time to thaw frozen chocolate, always begin the process in the fridge. Chocolate that warms too quickly will condensate and the moisture may affect the chocolate’s texture.
When stored properly, milk chocolate can last up to a year, and dark chocolate can last for more than two years. However, if the chocolate you want to store has multiple fillings, topping and cream, it is more difficult to preserve. Since variable fillings have variable shelf life, it’s safer to just eat them as soon as possible (we know, it’s difficult).
Storage Post Self Storage loves its customers and does its best to provide custom storage solutions to make your life easier. If you’re a customer who loves Storage Post, please review us on Yelp, Google Places or Yahoo!Local. If you’re not a customer, what are you waiting for? We provide multiple sizes of storage units, 24-hour video recording and a free truck and driver so you can have the space you crave with minimal hassle.
(Also, do not store any chocolate in a storage unit. It just ends badly.)
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Posted on Tue, Jan 10, 2012
Did your new year’s resolution include living healthier and exercising more? Here are some storage tips to lose the weight without spending tons of money and giving up your extra space.
Committing to an exercise regime is difficult at first, especially considering the costs of equipment, gym fees, necessary accessories and buying a suitable wardrobe. But, whether you live in an apartment or home, there are space-saving exercise equipment and storage options available, so you can skip the gym fees.
If you only have a few feet to spare, or don’t want to give up living space, try some of these options:
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A variety of exercise equipment now comes in portable and foldable sizes for easy storage. Fold-up elliptical trainers, treadmills and stationary bikes are widely available. Some can fold down small enough to slide under your bed, or prop up in a closet.
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Dumbbells or kettle bells are great options for small spaces, and innovative storage options are available to keep them tucked away when not in use. Vertical racks and shelving can save space and provide easy access during your workout.
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Smaller accessories can still help whittle your waist, such as resistance bands, jump ropes and medicine balls. These items store easily in storage containers or in hanging racks.
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Balance trainers are great for working on your core during strength training. They are also fairly flat, easy to store and don’t take up a lot space.
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Pilates and yoga exercises require only enough space for you to fully stretch out on the floor.
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And, even without equipment, you can work up a sweat through varied cardio exercises in your living room like running place, hopping, jumping jacks and more.
We wish you luck in achieving your goals for 2012 and hope you have all the space and storage you need. Happy New Year!
Storage Post self storage helps you streamline your life to make room for your goals and new resolutions. We offer 24-hour video recording, state of the art security technology and different storage options to suit your needs. Visit www.storagepost.com to see how we can help you reclaim your space.
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Posted on Wed, Dec 28, 2011
Jingle bells, mistletoe, garland and lights may deck your halls, but where do they go come January? Whether you’re a retailer or a homeowner, your festive adornments can be kept safe and secure in storage.
How you store your holiday decorations is just as important as where you store them. We’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you pack your decorations for next year’s enjoyment.
Wrapping Ornaments & Other Delicate Items
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Use ornament boxes and lots of bubble wrap. You can create makeshift ornament holders by cutting cardboard into grid patterns and layering cardboard between layers.
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When a box is packed, fill the remaining crevices and gaps with packing peanuts and additional paper. If you can hear clunking noises when you gently move the box, then your items are not yet secure. Close and tape the box firmly to prevent unintended spilling or box breaking.
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Clearly mark the outside of the box “fragile” so you know to take extra care when placing the box in storage with your other decoration. When loading the boxes into a vehicle, be sure not to stack heavy items on top.
Storing the Synthetic Holiday Tree
After the holidays, the largest and bulkiest item to put away is usually your synthetic tree. To disassemble the tree, clear it of ornaments and remove the sections from the top down. Once each section is removed, gently shape the branches back toward the center to make them smaller.
Wrap the tree’s sections with twine to keep the branches in place and prevent damage. If you still have them, place the protective caps on the end of each section’s center pole.
Once disassembled, place each section in the original box, or use a tree storage bag. Storing the tree in a box or bag prevents dust, pests or moisture from damaging the synthetic materials or lights. Be sure the storage environment has a manageable humidity and temperature level to best protect the tree.
Packing Up Santa’s Suit
Use a padded hanger and cover the suit in a garment bag. Or, for more storage space, place the costume in a wardrobe box. If you prefer to box the costume, find an appropriately-sized storage container with an airtight lid. Carefully fold the costume, layering acid-free tissue paper between the folds, and place cedar in the container to ward off pests.
Launder the suit before placing it in storage and spritz it with fabric freshener to keep it smelling fresh until its next holiday event.
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Posted on Thu, Dec 01, 2011
Did you eat more than you should have this Thanksgiving? What if you had to choose between eating a good meal and keeping a roof over your head? For thousands of families in Louisiana, that dilemma is an everyday reality.
One in eight people in Louisiana struggle with hunger, with 20 percent of children lacking basic nutrition. Almost 74 percent of the Greater New Orleans population lives at, or below, the national poverty line.
To help stop hunger in Louisiana, Storage Post has teamed up with two food banks: the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
As you shop for holiday gifts and plan family meals, take a moment to consider the children who don’t get the nutrition they need. If you purchase just one can, box or bag of non-perishable food to donate every time you grocery shop, it could make a big difference to a family this year.
Drop food donations at any one of Storage Post’s four New Orleans storage facilities, or our Baton Rouge storage facility. The food drives will take place from Thursday, December 1, 2011 through Saturday, December 31, 2011.
Donate food at your local Storage Post to help up stop hunger in Louisiana this winter.
About Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is leading the fight against hunger in south Louisiana through food distribution, education, advocacy and disaster response. Annually, Second Harvest serves approximately 263,000 people through 240 nonprofit and faith-based agencies across 23 south Louisiana parishes – from the Mississippi border to the Texas state line. To learn more, visit www.no-hunger.org.
About Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
Each week, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, distributes food to over 7,300 people who require basic nutrition and emergency assistance. Its goal is to feed the hungry of Baton Rouge, and surrounding parishes, through education, food distribution and partnering with other local groups. To learn more about how you can help the people of Louisiana, visit www.brfoodbank.org.
Posted on Thu, Nov 17, 2011
Do you plan to be one of the early-birds who get the discounted merchandise on November 25, 2011? Our advice to you: be prepared or pay full price. Below are seven tips to help you prepare:
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Plan Ahead: Organize a binder with ads, stores maps and your gift list – check it twice! To prepare for “out-of-stock” signs, write down three specific gift options, and their stores, for each person on your list.
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Get Up Early: The early bird gets the discount, so don’t hit snooze if you plan on saving money on Black Friday. This year, some stores will be opening Thursday evening, so products may disappear faster than normal.
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Pack Snacks: It’s likely that you’ll leave early to shop…so early that you may not have slept. Keep a good supply of granola bars, water bottles and other filling snacks to keep your energy up throughout the morning. (A bottle of aspirin couldn’t hurt either.)
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Dress Comfortably: Comfortable clothes for shopping consist of sturdy walking shoes that won’t kill your feet in a line with a three-hour wait, and layers you can remove as the crowds get bigger and the temperature rises.
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Bring A Friend: Recruit a close friend or family member to be your sidekick for the day. It would be lonely to have no one to talk to when you’re surrounded by strangers. Friends will make the day more like an outing and less like a chore.
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Check Online Before Shopping: Some stores offer better discounts online the day or week before Black Friday. Look at store social media sites for additional offers if you “like” the company and check websites that offer sneak peeks of store offers (try here and here).
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Create Space for Gifts: The most important tip to consider before jumping into Black Friday sales is determining where you’ll store all of your awesome purchases. With new gifts and your wrapping accessories, a closet may not provide enough room. Make space in your guest bedroom or back den by moving some items into a storage unit. (While you’re there, grab your holiday decoration.)
What is the big fad for 2011? (Remember Furbies and Tickle-Me-Elmo?) Whatever it is, with these tips your chances of getting your hands on it are a lot better.
Storage Post self storage delivers the quality and savings you crave every day, not just once a year. With advanced security, custom storage solutions and friendly storage specialists, Storage Post is the stress-free choice to help you create extra space. Visit www.storagepost.com for more information.
Posted on Tue, Nov 15, 2011
Have you procrastinated cleaning out your closet? We have just the event for you.
For the holiday season, Storage Post has joined forces with two donation collections: New York Cares’ 23rd Annual Coat Drive and Jersey Cares’ 16th Annual Coat Drive. Can you spare a coat to warm a heart?
Storage Post is excited to pitch in this year, with all of our New York and New Jersey locations acting as official drop-offs for these coat drives. Plus, with our storage capacity and moving trucks, we are also providing drop-off and delivery services for other local groups collecting coats.
Organize closets to find extra coats that you can to donate to this great cause. In New York and New Jersey, thousands of families and individuals do not have the protection they need in the winter months.
New York Cares and Jersey Cares are committed to providing coats for as many people as possible. New York Cares’ 2011 coat collection goal is 100,000 coats, while Jersey Cares’ goal is 50,000. How many coats can you contribute?
Help us spread the warmth this winter in New York and New Jersey!
Additional Details:
New York Cares’ 23rd Annual Coat Drive
Coat Drive: November 15, 2011 – December 31, 2011
Every Storage Post New York location is an official drop-off for New York Cares’ 23rd Annual Coat Drive. Click here for a list of our storage facilities and directions.
Jersey Cares’ 16th Annual Coat Drive
Coat Drive: November 15, 2011 – December 15, 2011
Storage Post’s Linden and Jersey City storage facilities will act as coat drop-off locations for the Jersey Cares Coat Drive. Click here for more information and directions.
Posted on Wed, Nov 09, 2011
Storage units are a quick and easy way to lessen your stress when moving, downsizing, upgrading or de-cluttering. We know you’re busy enough dealing with bubble wrap, box sizes, moving plans, to-do lists and re-decorating – not to mention everyday life.
No matter how busy you get, Storage Post makes sure your stored property is protected. Storage Post’s storage facilities have state-of-the-art security, including 24-hour video monitoring, individual door alarms, secure entry points and resident managers. Nevertheless, we like to think that it’s best to be over-prepared rather than overwhelmed.
Fire, riots, vandalism or the zombie apocalypse can strike anytime, so plan ahead and be prepared with the Tenant Elite Protection Plan. When you rent with us, you’re automatically eligible for the protection plan, and it costs only a few cents per day.
Why Sign Up?
What’s not to love about quick, easy and affordable protection for your stuff? If you’re on the fence, here are a few more good reasons to call 1-888-716-6412 today.
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One low price for hassle-free protection.
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You pay only one bill (online, in-store or by mail).
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You’ll never have to speak with a corporate claims adjuster. If something happens, just talk with us. (And we’re very friendly!)
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No deductible required for loss or damage that falls under the protection plan.
Storage Post self storage has locations across the eastern United States. Visit www.storagepost.com for resources like storage tips and a space calculator, and to learn more on how we can protect your items at our storage facilities. Storage Post also provides painless online bill pay, accessed from any internet connection, 24 hours a day.
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Posted on Wed, Nov 02, 2011
Some of you remember the invention of the microwave, while other can’t comprehend a world without Facebook. Whether you are an online addict or an occasional browser, no one can deny that the internet has made our lives easier. We’ve put together our top 10 reasons why life is easier with the internet:
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Avoid the holiday craziness (and leaving your house in general) with online shopping. Shop for hours, or for minutes, without having to change out of your pajamas.
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Learn about anything you want to know, immediately. Want to know the proper plural of platypus or how yachts are assembled? You can be an expert in a matter of moments.
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Organize files easier and faster with digital storage. No need to keep paper recipe clippings when they are always accessible online. Cut the clutter and organize better with the internet.
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Get directions to anywhere. Need a 24-hour dry cleaner, within walking distance from your hotel and attached to a shoe repair? Find it in a snap.
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Communicate with family and friends through email and video – even if they live several time zones and an ocean away.
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Entertainment: Want to read something? Go online. Want to watch something? Go online. Want to create something? Go online.
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Vacation planning is much easier with the internet. You can plan your entire trip, on your own, no agent needed (which means no agent fees).
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The internet makes research simpler, not just the history-of-ancient-Rome-essay-writing-research, but consumer research as well. Pick the best cell phone for you, right after writing an “A” paper.
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Independent entrepreneurs have more opportunities to start businesses with the advent of the internet. It’s cheaper for a start-up company to work from an online office (i.e. home) to save money in the first months.
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And, the final, most amazing way the internet makes life easier…you can pay your Storage Post bill anytime, anywhere! Log in to your secure Storage Post account at www.storagepost.com to pay your monthly rental bill, update your account information and reserve storage units.
Storage Post self storage and the internet are a dynamic duo dedicated to providing hassle-free services when you need them. Storage Post also has a mobile website that can be accessed from your fancy smartphone, and offers a variety of convenient online resources like storage tips and a storage unit size calculator. Visit our website to reap the benefits of quality self storage online
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Posted on Fri, Oct 28, 2011
Whether your kids are trick-or-treating around the block or you’re passing out candy from your front door, you will likely have leftover Halloween candy come November 1. Below are tricks for using and storing these extra treats.
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If you have kids and they happen to bring home 10 pounds of candy, it may be in your best interests to stealthily take a few handfuls from the stash. With that stored candy supply, you can pass it out slowly over the year to reward good behavior (or to use as bribery).
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Save some candy to be stuffed into holiday stockings. Be sure it’s generically wrapped—kids will notice if the candy has witches and ghosts instead of reindeer and snowflakes.
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Donate the extra candy to nursing homes, women’s shelters or the children’s ward of the local hospital. It will be enjoyed without being wasted.
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Make a package of cards and candy for the U.S. troops overseas. They would love to receive their favorite treats from home during the holiday season.
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If you don’t want to (or can’t) eat all of the candy in your house, take it to work and share the sugar. Coworkers won’t mind the afternoon energy boost.
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Use leftover candy to fill a piñata for a child’s birthday party (or an adult’s party –age doesn’t diminish the love of sweets).
In addition to all of these great uses for extra candy, you can get creative with your leftover chocolate and Halloween goodies. For instance, a mason jar filled with colorful candy can act as both a decorative centerpiece and a holiday gift. The bright colors of jolly ranchers, gummy bears and M&Ms are perfect for the coffee table.
Candy can also be used in holiday crafts, including one-of-a-kind wreaths, garlands (lifesavers!) and gingerbread houses. Plenty of recipes call for candy, including these adorable turkey cupcakes. If you plan on having holiday parties, then this drink made from skittles is a fantastic, and unique, party option.
While using candy in creative ways can be fun, nothing is as wonderful as getting to enjoy a piece every now and then. So, for those of you who just want an easy-to-reach candy storage container, check out these options.
Storage Post self storage is your source for self storage solutions, storage tips and packing supplies. Besides candy, we love: helping our customers, finding the perfect sized storage unit, crunching bubble wrap and parallel parking our moving trucks (OK, maybe not that last one…). If you need storage, you won’t find a facility that is as friendly, informative and secure as Storage Post. Visit www.storagepost.com for more information.
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Posted on Wed, Oct 26, 2011
As Americans become more aware of their energy and resource consumption, they are turning to alternative ways to travel. Public transportation and bikes are gaining popularity, but nothing beats the convenience and speed of a car.
Car manufactures are providing alternative car options, with vehicles that generate and store energy, like electric cars and plug-in hybrids. An electric car is a vehicle powered by an electric motor with batteries, rather than a gas engine. A hybrid car has both a gas engine and stored energy in batteries. A variety of electric and hybrid options are being released in the next few years, so we’ve listed a few of the contenders below.*
| Make |
Type |
Miles on Full Charge |
Top Speed |
Recharge Time |
Price |
| Chevy Volt |
Hybrid |
25-30 battery, 300 gas |
100mph |
4 hours |
$41,000 |
| Wheego LiFe |
Electric |
100 |
65mph |
5 hours |
$33,000 |
| Coda Sedan |
Electric |
90-120 |
80mph |
6 hours |
$44,000 |
| Nissan LEAF |
Electric |
62-138 |
90mph |
7 hours |
$33,000 |
| Prius Plug-In |
Hybrid |
15 battery, 490 gas approx. |
62 mph on electric |
3 hours |
$32,000 |
Advantages of electric/hybrid transportation include:
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Zero-emissions
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Substantially lower annual costs – pay for electricity costs rather than gasoline
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Quiet engine, with less noise pollution
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Regenerative braking converts energy from braking into battery energy, so even when you're slowing down, you're charging up
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Wiring rather than engine plumbing, which means less maintenance and less parts to replace
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Federal tax credits for buying new electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles can reach up to $7,500
Storage Post self storage facilities offer car storage and vehicle parking, so you have a place for your old gas-guzzling ride. Our storage units are protected by 24-hour video surveillance, resident managers and secure entry points so your JEEP is well taken care of in car storage while your electric car takes care of your bank account. Visit www.storagepost.com for more information on climate controlled storage and Storage Post’s security features.
*Storage Post does not endorse these vehicles or their manufacturers, nor does it make any claims regarding the specific features and capabilities of these vehicles.
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Nissan to make plug-in hybrid in eco-car push (news.cnet.com)
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Nissan strives for selling 1.5 Million Zero-Emissions Cars by 2016(inautonews.com)