The big game is right around the corner. Whether or not your favorite team is in the running, it’s always a great time to get together with friends and enjoy each other’s company. It’s the one time of year where the commercials end up meaning more to a lot of people than the actual game. 

Bars all over the US will be packed with loud and rowdy fans that can sometimes get out of hand. Times when you want to avoid these types of crowds and just want to hang at home to enjoy the game; hosting a super bowl party may be the answer. To help you host a successful gathering, here are some tips to make sure you and your guests have a great time.

The Set Up

It’s important to have everything in the room (chairs, tables, couches, etc) angled towards the television screen as this is the focal point of your party. Make sure the coffee table is filled with everyone’s favorite appy’s and that it is accessible so no one has to go too far to get their fixings Let’s face it, no one wants to miss anything for those few hours and we all know there are some big appetites during this event . Don’t forget it’s essential to make sure you have enough seating for everyone and their friends. You don’t want them leaving your party because they don’t have anywhere to sit.

Decorate the house in the colors scheme of the team you’re cheering for. You may even consider wearing all the paraphernalia you can to really show your support and dedication to the team. Plus you may end up being the topic of conversation which is always fun in this type environment. “Go team!”

The Game

Now when I say “The Game,” I’m referring to a few things here. Obviously the first one is the football game. Make sure you tune in on time and have the volume set so people can hear the game and commercials, but also so people can have conversations without screaming.

Keeping in mind that not all of your guests may be supporting a team, side games are fun to have as well. Before the game starts, have everyone in the room write down who they think will win and what the final score will be. You might want to consider giving out fun and wacky prizes at the end for those who come closest to the final score. 

Not interested in football? That’s OK. Play Super Bowl Commercial Bingo! There are a few versions you can print out online or if you’re feeling creative, make your own.

The Food

It’s a great time of year to pig out on tons of snacks made just for watching sports. If you want to have a potluck style party, remember to let your guests know in advance. 

The best foods for watching the Super Bowl are finger foods and smaller portions. They’re easier to eat and you can have a little bit of everything. However, including a couple of 6 foot long subs are always a crowd pleaser. Keep in mind any dietary restrictions people may have. Having a mix of vegetarian snacks is always a good idea. Again don’t forget to have all the food laid out on a table within sight of the TV.

If you’re looking for some fun recipes to try out take a look at this jalepeño popper dip, burger-potato bites, and Super Bowl deviled eggs. For more fun hosting ideas check out our Host with the Most Pinterest board.

We hope your new year is getting off to a happy, healthy, and organized start. If not, perhaps we can help – at least with the organization part. Read on for the first installment of the new monthly newsletter from your friends at PODS: a guide to banishing clutter.

Start smart.

We’ve all been there. You open a kitchen cabinet, only to unleash an avalanche of plastic containers. Or you trip on those shoes (yet again) as you’re trying to rush out the door. We’ve all felt that frustration – and come to the same conclusion. We know we need to “get organized,” but … where to begin?

Decluttering and organizing a house can be an overwhelming task. So sit down, take a deep breath, and create a plan of action.

It’s best to start with a small, well-defined space like a closet or pantry before diving into the big stuff. Give yourself a bite-sized goal and a specific time limit for making it happen. Don’t forget to budget time to take overflow to a charity or storage unit. (Decluttering won’t do much good if you just move stuff from room to room.)

Put clutter in its place.

Parting with possessions isn’t easy. Some items hold sentimental value. Others are things we like to keep “just in case.” As you sort through your belongings, ask yourself these questions to determine what can stay and what should go.

Questions to ask yourself as you declutter:

Do I need this item? Does it make my life easier, happier, or fulfill an essential need? Be brutally honest with yourself: If the item disappeared today, would you even notice it was gone?

How many of these do I have? (Do I really need six pairs of scissors? Five table runners? Three dozen ties?) Gather all duplicate items together, then choose just one or two to keep.

When was the last time I used this? Do I plan to use it again soon? How often would I need to use it (or wear it, or read it, or bring it camping) to make my storing it worthwhile?

Where else could I keep this item? Does it make more sense to store it in another part of the house? If it’s a seasonal or future-use item, would it free up some space to store it off-site?

Am I emotionally attached to this item? Silly as it sounds, it often helps to remind yourself that a sentimental item is not the same as the memory it represents. You can give up the former while keeping the latter. And fond memories take up absolutely no space.

Would someone else benefit from this? Could it be donated to a charity? Is it something a friend could use? Often, giving things a “good home” makes parting with them easier, more rewarding, and even fun.

Keep it clean.

Congratulations. You’ve cleared out some clutter to create a comfortable, organized living space. Now comes the hard part: keeping it up. Moving forward, you’ll probably need to reevaluate what you’re bringing into your home and set up some routines and systems to keep the clutter at bay.

Adopt the “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, commit to getting rid of something similar. This means that for every new waffle maker, you’ll retire a meatloaf pan. For every new scuba wetsuit, out goes that old prom dress.

Create a schedule of daily, weekly, and monthly decluttering tasks (e.g., fold laundry, file bills, attack “the pile” in the basement) – and add them to your calendar for the year.

Recruit children and other family members to help keep your home clean and clutter-free. Develop a family “chore chart” and put it on the fridge or in another prominent place.

Finally, share your success. Set a date for a dinner party or invite some relatives for a weekend visit. The event will be motivation to keep your place tidy. So, too, will be all the compliments you’re bound to receive.

Remember the big picture.

Decluttering takes time, energy, and can even be emotionally draining, but we promise your commitment will pay off. You’ll feel calmer and more clear-headed. You’ll be able to find things quickly when you need them. Most importantly, you’ll have the space to enjoy the activities, pets, and people that truly make life rich.

“For more organization tips and tools click here”

For the Kitchen:

This tip is a great one for the kitchen (and probably other areas of your home too) Pots and pans are obviously very clunky and jamming them into one cabinet isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Solution: Install some drawers in your biggest cabinet and fit twice the amount of pots and pans while keeping everything easy to reach.

For the Garage:

Clutter in your garage, anyone? Cleaning the garage is probably one of the most daunting tasks around. Adding extra storage space to the ceiling is a great way to not only organize your garage, but also to make sure everything is out of sight.

For the Office:

Or better yet, here’s a great place to store everything for the office you may not have. Using a chest for important papers, a bulletin board, and office supplies. When you close it, stack some pillows on top and it’ll look like just an average bench. No one has to know your organization secrets!

If you like tips and tricks like these, check out our Pinterest page and we’ll keep them coming!

The Hamblins moved in on January 7th and were very excited to be moving into a home with such a fun background story.

“A lot of things fell into place that directed us toward the ‘Up’ house in Utah and it has been a life changing experience,” said Hamblin. “We plan on growing old in the house and creating memories for a very long time.”

We couldn’t be more excited to have helped this family move into the house of their dreams. Transitioning from California to Utah (especially in the winter) may take some time, so we were more than happy to be there and help out.

“We were so excited when we received a call from Mr. Hamblin regarding helping him to move into the ‘Up’ replicated home,” said George Spowart, chief marketing officer of PODS Enterprises, Inc. “This definitely goes on the list of one of the most interesting moves we have ever done…”

For Small Objects & Ornaments:

• Egg cartons are perfect for this. Each item will have its own individual spot to avoid any scratches and major damage. If they’re good enough for eggs they should be good enough for ornaments, right?
• Another option for objects that may be a little too big for the egg carton is plastic containers/Tupperware. Rubbermaid has so many different options with varying shapes and sizes. Pick the one that’s right for you and make sure to wrap everything with tissue paper to avoid any dings.

For Holiday Lights:

• I’m sure most of you have cardboard rolls at your disposal. Saving the roll from paper towels or aluminum foil couldn’t be more helpful for this storage idea. Just neatly bundle up your lights and carefully put them in the cardboard roll. Prepare a slit on one end of the roll and slip the wire closest to the plug into it. This will keep all of the wires in place.
• Another approach is wrapping the wire on the outside of the cardboard roll. Again, cut a slit into the ends of the roll. Each end of the wires should be places into the slits to keep the coil in place. For this approach, it’s best to wrap the finished product in bubble wrap to make sure the lights don’t break. Both approaches should end with putting the cardboard roll into a shoebox for extra safety.

There you have it. Some pretty simple tips that will go a long way. If you’ve already put your holiday decoration away, save these tips for next year.

Another year has gone by and the holiday season is here again. Time for you and your family to get together and celebrate any way you know how. Whether you’re staying at home or traveling around the globe, there’s no wrong way to celebrate this time of year.

We’d like to thank all of our customers, past and present, employees, drivers, and partners for a great year. May you all enjoy this time with your family and friends.

There are a few ways you can go about figuring out what secrets your house may hold. This is a great article from TLC that outlines all of the easiest ways to get the answers you want.

Here are two interesting examples of how normal homes can have unexpected histories:

• A traditional looking cabin in the Adirondacks was once a silo for nuclear missiles.
• A slideshow of homes that are fit for a spy.

Would you let a house’s history have a significant role in deciding whether or not to live there?

Lists, lists, lists.

Once you start packing up and your PODS container is ready to go to your new location, it’s convincing to rush to the finish line. Instead of rushing, take your time and do everything right the first way around. Here’s a list of  tips you may want to follow before you ever open up a box:

• Take a walk through of your new house. It may have been a while since you last saw it. Refresh your memory and see where all the rooms are located. Make sure everything is in good condition and make a list with photos of anything that may not be up to par.
• Here’s a list within a list. Keep a list of your belongings that are in each box. Color coding the boxes by room helps you see them quickly while you’re organizing. When you place the boxes in their appropriate room, you’ll know exactly what is in each one.
• What rooms are on your priority list? Those are the rooms you’ll want to have set up and ready to go first. A word of advice: start immediately with the bedrooms and the bathrooms. Once those are set up you’ll feel more at home. Leave rooms like the den, family room, basement, etc. for last.
• Manage your time and strength. If you have multiple floors in your home, remember that walking up and down stairs with boxes will tire you out. You’ll want to avoid moving everything upstairs towards the end of your move when you have less energy.
• Once the majority of your boxes are in your new home, it may be easy to misplace things. Make sure your crucial items like medications, chargers, toiletries, etc. aren’t lost in the confusion.
• Have a playlist ready. This may not be the most crucial on the list, but it can help you reduce stress while you get everything in its right place. Try not to play anything that will make you feel too sluggish.

Can you think of any other tips to add to your list before you ever open up a box?

Participating in a home exchange is a really interesting way to take a vacation and act as a local instead of a tourist. It might also be an good way to get a better idea of a new location if you’re planning on moving, especially abroad. The idea that you can take a practice run in a new city or country seems like a great way to get acclimated before you ever even make the move.

(And don’t forget, PODS can help you with some international moves!)

Would you open up your home to a home exchange? Where would you want to go?