5 Tips for a Gardening Beginner

Moving to a new house is the perfect time to give gardening a try. As you settle into your new home, planting gardens is a great way to give the house curb appeal and make it a welcome outdoor space for your family to enjoy. If you moved from the city to the ‘burbs, you finally have more space to test our your green thumb. If you’re a gardening beginner, now is the time to get your hands dirty in your new yard!

 5 Tips for a Gardening Beginner

1. Decide What You Want To Grow

Like moving, a good plan is crucial to a gardening beginner.

Decide what you want to get out of your new space—and keep in mind that there are different levels of care for different types of gardens. If you’d like a no-hassle project that adds beauty to your backyard, consider a low-maintenance perennial spread. If you’re interested in a bigger challenge with tasty rewards, try out a bright vegetable garden.

2. Know Your New Yard

If you’ve made the jump to move farther north or south, research your new region. Hardiness zones help define which plants thrive in your climate. These are just guidelines, but they can be very help when selecting which plants will brighten up your new home. Check out the USDA’s Hardiness Zone Map.

3. Rain Is A Gardening Beginner’s Best Friend

If you have made the move from a dry climate like Phoenix to a damp climate like Seattle, keep in mind that your garden probably won’t need to be watered as much in periods of heavy rainfall or high humidity.

Protect your plants from over-watering. If your plants are wilting from too much moisture, try to plan your watering schedule around the weather—or befriend one of your new neighbors and ask a local gardener for advice.

4. Dry Heat? Fertilize!

Vice versa, if you’ve moved from a wet climate to a dry climate, you might need to take steps to help your new garden grow. Adding water-retaining fertilizer to your soil can assist even plants that are watered daily in dry, hot climates.

5. You Like Moving, But Your Plants Don’t!

Plant placement matters! While you are growing roots in your new home and community, your plants are doing the same. Observe your yard before planting to ensure plants are positioned to best meet their light, space, and soil needs.

If you have indoor plants that you are considering moving, be sure to check out our advice on moving plants.

If you’re thinking about listing your home, planting gardens, like home improvement, is also a great way to boost the curb appeal and price of your property!

Considering moving to a home with great gardening potential? Contact Olympia Moving and Storage at 800-222-4744 or get an instant moving estimate!

Moving to Boston? The 5 Best Ice Cream Spots

Moving to Boston? Whether you’re moving in the sweltering heat of the summer or in the dead of winter, it’s essential to know the best ice cream spots in Boston. Here are the top 5 joints in town:

Rancatore’s

Newton, Bedford, and Lexington

After helping his brother Gus create Toscanini’s, Joe Rancatore went off on his own and founded Rancatore’s. Ranc’s grew to become a local favorite, boasting sundaes, creamy, quirky, creative flavors, and dairy free and sugar-free alternatives. Visit a location to get a 1-scoop micro or even a quart of freshly packed ice-cream.

Toscanini’s

Central Square

Founded by Gus Rancatore, Toscanini’s has been in business since 1981. With “‘The Best Ice Cream in the World'” – New York Times” plastered across their window, Toscanini’s attracts customers from all over.  Toscanini’s makes all their ice cream and baked goods in house (or purchased from local bakery Iggy’s), and pulls inspiration for new flavors from around the US and the world.

 

The Cookie Monstah

Danvers shop, Roaming Food Truck

The Cookie Monstah was created by Missy Gale. After almost 2 decades of work in the baking industry and many trips to find the perfect chocolate chip cookies, she started her food truck. The truck roams around the Boston area and was featured on the travel channel and NBC Boston for its famous ice cream and cookie sandwiches.

[FoMu]

Boston

Created in 2011, [FoMu] is the healthiest choice on this list. [FoMu] is a completely plant-based company, and their signature blend is made with coconut milk. All of their products and toppings are non-dairy and vegan. They also have soy free, gluten free, and kosher products. They make their ice cream in Watertown, MA and have stores in Allston, Jamaica Plain, and the South End.

J.P. Licks

Across the Boston Metro Area

J.P. Licks started in 1981 in Jamaica Plain (“J.P.”) by Vince Petryk. The small business has 14 locations, and has won over 400 awards for their ice cream and coffee. All of their products are Kosher, and they have delicious frozen yogurt varieties as well. This spot is a favorite of college students and locals, and will consistently deliver delicious cups and cones of your favorite flavors.

 

When you get to the city make sure you check some of these spots out, and figure out which you think is the best ice cream in Boston. Save us a cone!

If you’re ready to make the move to Boston, give us a call at  800.222.4744 or fill out our form for a free moving estimate! 

Move to Boston: Top 5 Fall Activities

Thinking about a move to Boston? Fall in New England is one of the best times to live in Boston. Olympia Moving & Storage is lucky enough to headquarter in Boston, MA, so we have experienced everything fall in New England has to over. If you just relocated to Massachusetts, or are looking to move to Boston, here are our top 5 must dos in the Boston area this autumn.

Move to Boston and Enjoy Fall as a Local

1. Explore Boston’s Green Spaces

The Boston Common and the Public Gardens are a little dose of nature in the middle of downtown Boston. Steps away from scenic Beacon Hill and the bustling theater district, the parks are full of statues, bridges, and benches. Whether you take a stroll or pack a picnic, be sure to stop by the green spaces to enjoy the fall foliage!

2. Spooky day trip to Salem, MA

If the supernatural is your thing, head to the north shore and visit Salem! The town where the Salem Witch Trials took place in 1692 is the best place to celebrate Halloween. Visit The Witch House, where Jonathan Corwin, a judge in the Witch Trails, lived. The structure is the only remaining building with direct ties to the trials. Judge Corwin, his brother, and other significant people involved in the trials are buried in local cemeteries, which are open to the public from dusk to dawn. Salem, MA also has many excellent restaurants and fun store fronts to enjoy during your visit. 

3. Visit a New England Apple Orchard

There are over 50 farms in the Boston area that offer apple picking. Many farms also have a farm store with cider donuts, apple cider, and other baked goods and treats. Interacting with the farm animals is a highlight at Russell Orchards in Ipswich, MA. Plan a perfect autumn day trip, complete with a scenic drive! If you’re planning on baking a pie with your freshly picked apples, check out this Yankee Magazine article on the best types of apples for pie.

4. Walk around Walden Pond in Concord, MA

This famous Massachusetts state reservation is known for inspiring writer Henry David Thoreau. It was also a favorite spot of transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Walking around the pond is a 1.7 mile stroll, and you’ll be impressed with the varying foliage color in the fall months. While you’re in town, visit the Ralph Waldo Emerson Home and the Concord Museum only 1.5 miles away.

5. October Baseball at Fenway Park

The Red Sox in the playoffs is one of the most exciting events in Boston. The crisp air, earlier sunsets, and bright stadium lights bring a special atmosphere to the 107 year old Fenway Park. Boston Red Sox fans are among the most loyal, and frequent the park even in unsuccessful seasons. Grab a soda and a hot dog and settle in for one of the most resilient teams in baseball.

 

 

Looking to enjoy fall in New England as a local? Contact Olympia Moving & Storage to plan a move to Boston. Fill out our form online or give us a call at 800-222-4474 for a free estimate.

8 ways to use empty cardboard boxes after your move (that kids will love!)

After you are moved into your new home and unpacked, you will to find yourself with an abundance of cardboard boxes! Before you break them down and leave them out for recycling, here are some fun ways to keep the kids happy when you continue to unpack (and a few for you too).

1. Mini house competition

Channel the inner creativity, set out two boxes with some materials such as markers, clip ons, and rubber bands – the most creative designer wins! For more decorating tips, check out our blog on building a box fort!


2. Design your own treasure chest

Decorate the outside and let the kids put their own personal treasures inside.

3. Halloween costumes

Everybody knows most creative wins the best costume competition. Robots and gumball machines, oh my!

4. Puppet Stage

Decorate boxes to use as a back drop, add a blanket or curtains, and put on a show!

5. Puzzle making

Paint a nice picture on the box then cut the pieces up for the kids to put together

6. Attic organizational system

Once everything is put away use the boxes, labeled, as an alternative storage system in the attic, basement, garage, or closets. If you start the organization right away it will avoid problems down the line when you can’t find the Christmas table cloth.


7. Homemade Stationary

Cut up cardboard boxes to make your own post cards. Use ink stamps to decorate and write a message. No envelope needed!


8. A Natural Embellishment

Dress up a cardboard box with a design of your choice, line it with a plastic bag, poke several draining holes, and you have a new home for a small plant!

Still have leftover boxes? Check out our blog on recycling or repurposing boxes.

Allston Christmas 2016 and Why We Love It

Another year, brings another September 1st and another one of our favorite holidays… Allston Christmas. Allston Christmas is the time when hundreds of thousands of college students move into and out of apartments in the area, leaving their belongings strewn about streets in student-rich sections of the city.

According to Urban Dictionary, Allston ‘Christmas’ refers to the bounty of “new” stuff that one can easily acquire free of cost simply by walking down to the sidewalk and running off with it back into your own apartment. Much of the items that are left on the sidewalk are free to take because people can’t fit them into their new apartment or don’t have enough space in the truck to move them. However, many of the items are simply left on the sidewalk temporarily and are rummaged (read: ‘stolen’) by the neighbors in the chaos that is the city of Boston on September 1st.

With over 70% of leases ending on September 1st, it’s no surprise to find the city alive with moving trucks and to find discarded belongings on every corner. What is surprising is the types of things you’ll find.

This year in honor of Allston Christmas, we at Olympia decided to pair with Flutter to give one lucky winner the gift of a free move. And,while Bridget didn’t have to deal with the stress of heavy lifting during her move, these people weren’t so lucky.

Whether you love it or hate it, here are some of our favorite accounts of Allston Christmas 2016:

allston santa

You know it’s Christmas when Santa shows up!

allston santa police

but an Allston Christmas wouldn’t be the same without an appearance from the BPD… bad Santa.

 

When you know you shouldn’t even bother trying to drive through Allston…

allston christmas traffic

traffic allston christmas

 

but you still appreciate the holiday’s roots!

allston christmas carol

allston christmas shoppingallston christmas campus

allston christmas moving

Allston Christmas is a deep rooted tradition that you won’t soon escape, even if you aren’t living in the area anymore.

missing allston christmas first allston christmas

Because despite all the frustration…

allston christmas drinkingallston christmas disssemblyallston christmas ikea

at the end of the day you (hopefully) have a new, furnished apartment, with some street finds and maybe a bedbug or ten…

allston bean bag allston bed bugs

allston christmas porch amy winehouse allston

and minimal damage,

allston christmas snow

or insights into the reality of how your neighbors live…

allston christmas csi

 

But most of all, it wouldn’t be Allston Christmas without the fun.

allston christmas elves allston christmas pups

Until next year, Boston!

merry allston christmas

If you’re planning a move and you’d like to save yourself some stress, give us a call at 800-222-4744.

 

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Introducing The Video Move Survey

cd14221f-bb58-47f2-9105-50b0ddbe876fSo you’ve made the decision to relocate. You’re doing your due diligence by getting estimates on what it’s going to cost to move. Let’s be serious, you’re busy. You don’t have time to put your life on hold to plan your relocation.

Olympia Moving & Storage knows that, so we made move planning easier with the option of getting a free moving estimate via video surveys. If you can’t change your schedule and turning your week upside down to meet with one of our moving consultants in-person, we can easily connect with you at your convenience and do a move planning walk through with just a few clicks on your phone or tablet.

As a premier moving company, Olympia Moving & Storage is always looking for ways to reach our customers in innovative and creative ways and what better way than to make your survey fit more easily into your schedule?

Sounds hard? Think again. If you opt for the video move survey option to inventory your home it’s as easy as a Facetime:

1. Intro call with an Olympia moving consultant to get an idea of the nature and specifics of your relocation
2. Our moving consultant will offer to review your move and belongings in person at your home, on the phone, or through a video survey Olympia
3. The Olympia consultant sends you an email invite to your video move survey via a link
4. You download the Crater app & connect with your Olympia consultant
5. Your Olympia Moving consultant will guide you through the walk through to discuss the specifics of what you’ll be moving

The other option for those interested in a video move survey option is to request your video survey directly from olympiamoving.com. Use the request an estimate form in the right-hand header of this page and click “request a video move survey” to schedule a video survey for a time that is convenient for you.

1. Choose your home type apartment video estimate
a. (studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom)
    b. single family home
2. Preferred date of video survey
3. Preferred time of video survey
4. Some basic contact information so we can contact you
5. The option to add the video move survey to your personal email calendar

The video move survey option gives you the freedom to get your move-specific estimate at your convenience instead of re-arranging your life to meet with a sales representative. The best part is that the entire survey is recorded and saved, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything – you can easily review your survey and inventory afterward.

In the event that you aren’t able to set a time that works with both you and your salesperson, you can also do a self-survey that will also be saved and accessible by both you and your salesperson. Getting an estimate has never been easier!

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Helpful Moving Apps

Moving is tough and apps are convenient so it makes total sense that developers would create a moving app to help you through your relocation. We went ahead and reviewed 3 free moving apps that might help make your relocation easier…in addition to using Olympia Moving & Storage, of course.

anthropoligie platesortly folders

Sortly:

Aesthetically pleasing and easy to use, Sortly is an app that helps you do exactly what it sounds like.. sort your life! The moving app offers folders to narrow down your needs and work from specific lists in order to keep you more organized. Even better, within each folder you can create sub-folders for each room in your house, making it easier to sort and eventually find your belongings.

When adding items to your folders, Sortly gives the option of adding the quantity of items as well as value AND a photo.  So, if you’re worried about keeping track of the condition of your belongings in the case of damage or missing items, you’re all set!

Sortly also includes a great moving checklist with the option to mark tasks as “irrelevant” or “done,” so you can be sure to get all of your prep work done before moving day. Handy!

If you’re feeling fancy, another added bonus of using Sortly is the option to make your own QR labels. If you aren’t the tech-type and this doesn’t appeal to you you can always stick with our free printable labels and still stay organized.

A moving app like Sortly would definitely be helping when planning your move, think estimating the number of boxes you’ll need and putting together an inventory to get a quote, and would be a huge help when unpacking your belongings once you’ve moved into your new home. Learn more about Sortly here.

MoveAdvisor:

MoveAdvisor is different than Sortly, but it’s a great moving app option if you’re looking for moving companies in your area. It’s user friendly and is sort of like playing a Sims game with your belongings.

By clicking and dragging items, you can easily obtain a general idea of the weight of the items you’re looking to move, and everything you need to plan is in the palm of your hand. MoveAdvisor can be found here.

moveadvisor appmymove inventorymove details

My Move:

mymove menu

It seems like the developers of this moving app haven’t quite worked out the bugs. MyMove does ask for your origin zip and destination zip, but the app bases your approximate weight on the type of house you live in but doesn’t take your actual belongings into account, which means you’ll want to give a more detailed idea of your belongings when speaking with moving company.

Unfortunately, the “calculate moving cost” button brings you to a secondary page asking for your origin and destination again but doesn’t allow for destination state selection so this moving app isn’t the most useful if you’re looking for an accurate estimate for moving services.

The MyMove moving app would be most useful if you’re looking for moving checklists and  moving tips.

After checking out these three moving apps, we would suggest trying both Sortly and MoveAdvisor. Each moving app carries their own list of benefits and helpfulness but a mixture of the two could be even better. When planning a move it’s always better to speak to a professional about questions that are specific to your relocation. Moving apps are certainly helpful when organizing, but more information is better to get an accurate idea of your moving costs. Find more resources on MyMove here.

Ready to plan your move? We’re here to help.
Call us at 800.222.4744 today for your free estimate or request an estimate online.

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The Best Instagrams from Allston Christmas 2014

Allston Christmas has come and gone, but our memories of this year’s Boston Moving Day will stay with us via the Instagrams Boston residents shared from the scene. From the piles of trash, to the weird finds, to the traffic, we compiled the best Instagram pictures from Allston Christmas 2014. If you’re currently suffering through unpacking, just take a moment to be thankful that this wasn’t your moving experience!

By bostontweet
By brandonbowser3
By codysonofsteve
By daggums
By dj_nicholas_minaj
By erinelaine06

By hernewleaf
By jmkurisko
By karypary
By kemead
By kimbixby
By kimieye
By ltfinklelstein
By p1koh
By radiosthesia
By paulnshapiro
By paulsmithrichards
By radiosthesia
By spnkmffn
By ttttimmy
By uber_bos

We’re guessing these moves would have gone smoother if this was the picture in front of your house on moving day:
_KES6629_resized

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The Best Tweets of Allston Christmas

Our Comprehensive Moving Resource Center
Video of Our Crew in Action
Free Printable Moving Box Labels

The Best Tweets from Allston Christmas 2014

The city of Boston has survived yet another Allston Christmas. This unofficial holiday is definitely best enjoyed at home, enjoying the tweets from the miserable folks on the scene.

Boston does what they do best and livetweeted the moveageddon. We rounded up the best tweets from Allston Christmas 2014. Thanks for making us laugh Boston! Until next year!

The Questionable Moving Practices

Continue reading “The Best Tweets from Allston Christmas 2014”

Listen for Olympia in the web-series Allston Xmas

Olympia knows all about the drama surrounding moving on September 1st in Boston, after all, we’ve been doing it for 20 years! When we heard that a web-series called Allston Xmas was being made about this infamous moving day in Boston, we had to check it out.

David from the Allston Xmas crew stopped by the Olympia warehouse for an unusual purpose: to record the sounds of our trucks to be used in the sound mixing for the series. Olympia mover Dan helped by operating a truck to produce the sounds that David needed. Not a usual day on the job for our movers!

The web-series is described on their Facebook page as “Anthology web-series that follows a few dozen young people as their friendships, relationships, and attachment to material things are put to the test on moving day in Boston.” Appropriately enough, the series will be released online starting September 1st! Be sure to check it out, and keep an ear out for the sounds of the Olympia trucks!

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