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7 Activities to Do When the Summer Heat Is Too Hot

As Summer is coming to a close, you may have had enough of the heat. Have fun while staying indoors with some of these activities!

See a movie

Avoid the spoilers by being one of the first to watch a new film! Watching a movie at a movie theater can be a fun activity for date night, a family activity, or an outing with friends. Sitting on your couch watching a movie doesn’t compare to the movie theater experience, not to mention the movie theater popcorn!

Do crafts

There are plenty of locations that offer crafting classes for your kids and you as well! Attend a local kid-friendly crafting class where you can create art with your child. You can also go purchase art supplies and create something from home as well. Often times, you won’t even need to buy supplies; the materials you have at home can be pieced together into a fun craft. For an evening craft activity, check out a wine and painting class closest to you.

Go ice skating

Many people may forget that ice skating rinks are open in the summer! This makes it the perfect opportunity to go because you will not have to worry about dealing with a crowd!

Go bowling

Bowling is the perfect, inexpensive activity to do for some fun out of the house. People of all ages can have fun bowling so make the most of it!

Go to the aquarium

The aquarium is the perfect balance of fun and education for your kids. They get to learn about various sea creatures, all while having fun doing it! Plus, you get to have some quality bonding time with your children while you all have fun.

Play board games

Don’t spend a dime by staying in for game night. Play any of your favorite games for a whole night of fun. Turn it into family bonding time or invite a few friends over for some food and fun.

Tidy up your home

If you are really this bored, use some of your free time to clean your house. Although it may not be one of the most fun activities, you will feel very productive and clear of mind afterward. Start with easy locations such as your closet or kitchen with these simple tips!

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Best Activities to do for Memorial Day Weekend

Get outside and spend some time with friends and family this Memorial Day weekend with these activities!

  1. Attend the National Memorial Day Parade

The National Memorial Day parade takes place in Washington D.C. on Memorial Day at 2 pm. This is the largest Memorial Day parade in the country, featuring marching bands, floats, performers, and veterans themselves all throughout our nation’s capital.

2. Visit Arlington National Cemetery

Get a group and volunteer to help lay flowers to honor hundreds of thousands of our servicemen and women’s graves.

3. Go to the beach

Enjoy your long weekend and take a trip to the beach! Have some fun outside in the sun, and get to enjoy some fireworks at the end of the day. 

4. Go to a local rooftop bar

Check out this list of the best rooftop bars in the country to see if there is one nearby you to visit.  Any outdoor restaurant or bar will make the holiday enjoyable.

5. Backyard BBQ

Spend Memorial Day with a classic holiday bar-b-que, grilling out with neighbors and friends.

6. Go to the pool

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the start of when all of the outdoor pools open up, so go put on a bathing suit and go to your local pool!

7. Play lawn games

Get the whole family outside and set up some lawn games.  Everyone from all ages will love lawn games like corn hole, horse shoes, spikeball, frisbee, football, kan jam, and so much more! 

Whether you’re out with friends or relaxing with family, Zippy Shell wishes you a happy Memorial Day weekend!  Contact us for any of your moving and storage needs!

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Top 10 Reasons to Move to the Buckhead Neighborhood

If you are planning a move, whether you are upgrading, downgrading, or just looking for a change of pace, consider moving to the Buckhead neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia for these reasons.

  1. Sporting events

Home of the Atlanta Falcons, Braves, Hawks, and United FC, Atlanta has a team you can cheer on in almost any sport.  These stadiums are located right outside the Buckhead area, allowing for an easy commute to the games.

2. Historical significance

Atlanta has many historical landmarks that you can visit and learn about.  You can see the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr., the historic Oakland Cemetery, the Smith Plantation Home, and much more.

3. Beautiful homes

If you are considering moving to the Buckhead neighborhood, you will know that it is home to some of the most desirable homes in the country.  No matter what the size of the home you are looking for, Buckhead will have a gorgeous home suited for you.

4. Piedmont Park

Being one of the most amazing parks in the country, this is definitely a site to see.  Piedmont Park hosts hundreds of events each year including fitness activities, dog parks, farmer’s markets, and much more!

5. Restaurants

Downtown Atlanta has numerous trendy restaurants ranging from all types of foods to satisfy your cravings.  Whether you are in the mood for a fancy sit down meal, or a quick bite on the go, Buckhead has plenty of delicious options for you.

6. School District

Buckhead has plenty of good schools nearby to give your children a great education with many well qualified teachers.

7. Universities

The Atlanta area has multiple exceptional colleges for you or your children to attend, including Georgia Tech, Emory University, Georgia State, and many more.

8. Zoo Atlanta & the Georgia Aquarium

Being so close to Zoo Atlanta as well as the Georgia Aquarium provides for amazing opportunities for you and the whole family to go see a variety of magnificent animals.

9. Weather

Georgia gives you a nice range of temperatures, that don’t stray too high or too low.  Summers are hot; averaging in the 80’s (degrees Fahrenheit), while winter’s only drop down to the 50’s.  Spring and fall both are nice warm temperatures ranging from the 60’s-70’s.

10. Lenox Square

This upscale shopping mall is the perfect location to go to buy whatever you are in need of.  This mall contains almost 200 varying stores including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus.

When planning your move, have Zippy Shell of Atlanta 
https://www.zippyshell.com/locations/georgia/atlanta-storage help move your belongings or store your items for the duration of your move. 

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Winter Activities for the Whole Family

Whether you are trying to stay warm inside or enjoy the snow outdoors, here are just a few activities your family can partake in this winter.

Go snow tubing
Visit your local ski resort to go snow tubing. The whole family can enjoy this thrilling snow activity without the risk or skill required for snowboarding or skiing.

Play board games
If it is too cold and windy outdoors, have a family game night indoors with your favorite board games!

Go bowling
Enjoy a day or evening at the bowling alley as a fun way to enjoy a cold winter day.

Go ice skating
Enjoy a fun winter activity that doesn’t require the weather to be a nice winter day at the ice rink!

Sledding
Once the snow falls, go enjoy a day of sledding outside. Make sure to stay safe and have fun!

Bake cookies
In order to stay warm from the cold outdoors, bake your favorite treats during this holiday season. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and more! You can even try making some homemade hot chocolate.

Arts and crafts
Enjoy some time inside by making snowflakes, snowmen, and other winter characters out of paper or cardboard.

Happy Holidays!

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Fall Activities

Try out one of these activities with the whole family on a nice fall day!

Apple picking

Go apple picking to get some of the freshest apples of the season.  Once you have all your apples at home, use them in a classic fall recipe, such as candy apples or apple pie.

Have a bonfire

Build a bonfire in your very own backyard using a fire pit or a safely dug out hole surrounded by stones or bricks.  Roast marshmallows or cook hot dogs and enjoy a cool night.

Hiking

Don’t let the cold weather stop you from getting outside and exercising.  Enjoy the crisp fall air with a nice hike at your local hiking trail.

Hayride

Hayrides can be a fun fall activity for anyone to enjoy.  Take your kids out for a fun day or have a date night with your significant other.

Make a holiday decoration

Using fallen leaves from your backyard you can create your very own holiday decoration.  Attach them to a circular ring to create a festive fall wreath to hang on your front door!

Go to a football game

Tailgate at your favorite football team’s game with friends then enjoy cheering them on at the game!

Make sangria

Spice up your typical sangria with cinnamon, apple slices, and/or caramel to turn your normal sangria into a festive drink!

Drive through fall leaves

As the leaves are changing color, go get a sight of them before they fall.  Take a drive down any local road that is full of large trees to get to see the beautiful fall leaves.

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School Supply Shopping Tips

Summer has gone by quick, and school is quickly approaching now. Soak up the sun and enjoy the pool for a few more days before it is time to do schoolwork! Before sending your children off to school, remember to do some back-to-school shopping. Follow these tips for a smooth back-to-school shopping experience.

  1. Keep your eye out for deals! Many stores will have deals and special sales on back-to-school gear. Whether it is backpacks, notebooks, pencils, or paper, always try to take advantage of the end of summer deals!
  2. Look for coupons. Look for coupons in magazines, newspapers, websites, and more! Coupons can help you save big and can save time deciding on which materials to buy.
  3. Make a list. Don’t go into the store blind. Try and make a list of the supplies you need to purchase before you leave for the store. This will make your shopping more efficient and less stressful.
  4. Try to hold off on shopping for clothes. Everyone child wants to have the coolest outfit on the first day of school. However, studies have shown that the end of the summer isn’t the best time to shop for clothes. Prices will generally be higher and the clothing isles will be more crowded. Try shopping for clothes a few weeks after school starts!
  5. Start shopping when the stores first open! Arriving at the store when the doors have just opened is often the best way to breeze through back-to-school shopping. You won’t have to wait in lines and you can find supplies more easily. Easier said than done but try to be an “early bird” for the day!
  6. Next summer, start back-to-school shopping earlier in the summer! It is often hard to think about, but consider doing some back-to-school shopping in order to avoid the large crowds. If you have a free day in the summer, use it to get some shopping out of the way!

 

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8 Tips to Save Water in Your Home

Save money and energy by limiting your water consumption, all while helping out the environment!

  1. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

It may not seem like a long period of time for the water to be running while brushing your teeth, but if you continue to have it running every time you brush your teeth, this adds up to a lot of wasted water.

  1. Defrost naturally

Defrost your frozen items by moving them into your fridge or let them sit out for a couple hours to naturally defrost instead of running them under water.

  1. Don’t use your toilet as a trashcan

It can be tempting sometimes to just throw your trash into the toilet and flush it.  This is a huge waste of water as well as unsafe for where the trash will end up after being flushed.

  1. Limit your shower time

Every once in a while everyone needs a long relaxing shower, but often try to limit the time you spend in the shower.

  1. Reuse leftover drinking water

Instead of dumping out the last little bit of water left in your cups after a meal, put all of the water into a pitcher.  Use this leftover water to water your plants or boil it next time you are cooking.

  1. Use your dishwasher when you can

If you don’t have to hand-wash your dishes, don’t.  Dishwashers use significantly less water by washing multiple dishes at once.

  1. Compost

Instead of using your garbage disposal, try composting your trash.  This limits the water used to flush your food down the drain.

  1. Strategically time when you water your lawn

Try to water your lawn when it is cooler outside, so in the morning or evening.  This will prevent water loss due to evaporation.  Also, don’t water your lawn when it is windy out so you don’t lose water from it being blown away.

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Activities to do in Atlanta

Moving into the Atlanta area?  You need to try out some of these activities to get to know your city a little better!
Atlanta Braves Game
Everyone can enjoy a baseball game with friends or family.  Go watch a game to support your new home team!
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Learn about all the different aspects of history including dinosaurs, cultures, hands-on science adventures and more!
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park
Learn all about the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and his leadership in the civil rights movement.
Piedmont Park
Enjoy a nice walk through a forest while staying within your city.  Sightsee, get some exercise, take your dog to the dog park, get local produce at the farmer’s market and more!
Six Flags Over Georgia
Channel your inner adventurer with dozens of rides including roller coasters, water rides, and rides for the kids too!
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta
Shop at over 60 designer stores and boutiques for all the latest new trends.
Zoo Atlanta
Visit for activities such as learning about the animals and their conservation efforts, zoo yoga, treetop climbing trails, and more!
Atlanta Nightlife
Check out all the fun festivities Atlanta has to offer at night.  This includes restaurants, bars, concerts, and so much more.

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Fun Activities for a Rainy Day

With all this rain we have been getting this summer, try out one of these activities with the whole family on a rainy day.

Build a blanket fort

Use sofa cushions, pillows, chairs, and blankets to make a big fort for everyone to play in.

Visit the library

Get a few good books to read to learn about something new or read an interesting story.

Game night

Play cards games, board games and more to pass the time.

Make a mini movie theater

Grab some popcorn, a lot of blankets, and pick out some of your favorite movies to watch together.

Bake

Baking is a fun activity to do with everyone, plus you get to enjoy a sweet treat at the end!

Perform a play

Odds are that your kids would love to create and perform a skit for you.  Don’t forget to take pictures!

Make art

Whether it is coloring or painting, set up an art station for your kids to create masterpieces.

Indoor scavenger hunt

Make a list of items that can be found throughout the house and have your kids see who can find the most!

Photo albums

Whether you are making a photo album of current times, or looking through old ones, both will be enjoyable.

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10 Refreshing Summer Drinks

Enjoy a hot summer day with one of these invigorating cocktails!

  1. Mango-peach Sangria

In a pitcher, combine 1 cup orange liqueur, 1 bottle of white wine, 2 peaches cut into thin wedges, 1 chopped mango, and ice.

  1. Classic Mojito

Combine 8 mint leaves, 2 ounces white rum, ¾ ounces lime juice, 1 ounce simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker.  Finish with a splash of club soda.

  1. Strawberry-lemon Mojito

In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 ounces rum, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ½ ounce sugarcane syrup, 1 strawberry, 2 lemon wedges, and ice.  Top it off with more strawberries, lemon wedges, or mint sprigs.

  1. Watermelon Sangria

In a blender, puree 1 pound of watermelon until liquid.  Transfer the puree into a pitcher and add 1 bottle of white wine, 6 ounces vodka, 4 ounces Triple Sec, and 4 ounces citrus syrup.

  1. Blackberry Cabernet

In a pitcher, combine 20 blackberries, 12 ounces orange liqueur, 4 ounces Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 ounces orange juice, 2 ounces lime juice, and ice.  Top with fresh orange or lime slices.

  1. Cucumber Margarita

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 ounces cucumber-infused tequila, 1 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce simple syrup, and ice.  Garnish it with a slice of cucumber.  Dip the margarita glass in water and line the rim with salt.

  1. Pineapple-raspberry Refresher

Combine 1 ounce coconut water, 1 ounce pineapple juice, 2 ounces light rum, 2 tablespoons raspberries, and ice in a cocktail shaker.  Top off with a mint sprig.

  1. Long Island Iced Tea

Fill a cocktail shaker with 1 ounce gin, 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce white rum, 1 ounce tequila, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ cup iced tea, and ice.  Shake well and top it with a lemon wedge.

  1. Pina Colada

Combine ½ cup diced pineapple, 2 ounces pineapple juice, 2 ounces coconut cream, 2 ounces white rum, 1 ounce dark rum, and 1 ½ cup ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Place a pineapple slice on your glass to finish it off.

  1. Spiked Root Beer Float

Combine 2 ounces bourbon with 2 dashes of orange bitters in a tall glass.  Fill the glass halfway with ice.  Add ¾ cup root beer.  Slowly add 1 ounce heavy cream and watch it float to the top.