The comforter as most things worth having started its history in Europe. In the 1700s the French came up with this year-round bed cover that didn't gain popularity in the US until the 20th century. This is when a bed began getting complicated as it took a good 10 minutes to make a bed with all its 14 pillows, quilt, blanket, sheets, bed skirt and comforter. A bed began with all of these components to give it a look that was inviting and "comfy". Now, decades later, down critics see this look as being "lumpy and untidy". Nathan Turner who is in interior designer and shop owner proposes to keep things simple and super-tailored with just 2 pillows. This look still requires a good housekeeper and laundress to make the sheets look crisp and perhaps a few lessons from The Professional Housekeeper to learn how to tuck things perfectly and smoothly.
Truthfully, the new look while clean and simple, is not for me. I like taking the time to put those 14 pillows on the bed along with a quilt and comforter to create a look that is yearning and makes me want to flop into it every time. I want to have fluffy down around me to keep me warm on those cool nights and love the fact you can change your down with a light weight one for Summer months so that you can enjoy the coziness and texture without being overheated. It may mean hiring a housekeeper to help me lay those 14 pillows and put the comforter into the duvet cover. Either way, rest assure, down comforters are not going anywhere but on my bed.
http://www.martaperrone.com
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Thursday, January 06, 2011
What If Automated Cleaners Replace Housekeepers
What would you think if all housework could be completed simply by an automated system made to work magic completely on its own? Let's enter that world for one minute to see what it would bring us.
*First of all, we would not worry about whether the housekeeper arrived on time, because time only relates to the moment we program our automated cleaner to work. Just like a coffee maker, you could simply set it up the night before.
*No need to argue with your housekeeper as to why she/he is not accurately doing the job...well, you could argue, but no one will be answering. Eventually, your family member will be wondering about these screaming matches you are having with the automated cleaner.
*You won't need to negotiate prices and salary increase,nor vacation time, nor over time, because the automated housekeeper simply doesn't care about those things.
*It won't be necessary to replace the housekeeper when she/he has personal issues or is ill, because the automated cleaner is always available and never says "I can't be there for you".
Well, sounds good to me so far. There are just a few problems with this robot that is here ready, willing and able to replace the human housekeeper.
Does it pick up the newspaper and make you coffee in the morning?
Does it greet you with warmth and ask you if you would like breakfast?
Does it help you get the kids ready and off to school?
Does it strip the beds, organize the rooms and start the laundry?
Does it clean every room from top to bottom?
Does it put fresh flowers in vases around the house?
Does it grocery shop, make dinner and set the table?
Does it organize your closets, drawers and cabinets?
Does it get into the crevices and corners of every room and clean thoroughly?
Does it fluff up pillows, straighten rugs and pictures and attend to every detail?
Does it leave a home sparkling clean?
Well, until it does, I suppose the good ole fashion "human housekeeper" will have to do.
*First of all, we would not worry about whether the housekeeper arrived on time, because time only relates to the moment we program our automated cleaner to work. Just like a coffee maker, you could simply set it up the night before.
*No need to argue with your housekeeper as to why she/he is not accurately doing the job...well, you could argue, but no one will be answering. Eventually, your family member will be wondering about these screaming matches you are having with the automated cleaner.
*You won't need to negotiate prices and salary increase,nor vacation time, nor over time, because the automated housekeeper simply doesn't care about those things.
*It won't be necessary to replace the housekeeper when she/he has personal issues or is ill, because the automated cleaner is always available and never says "I can't be there for you".
Well, sounds good to me so far. There are just a few problems with this robot that is here ready, willing and able to replace the human housekeeper.
Does it pick up the newspaper and make you coffee in the morning?
Does it greet you with warmth and ask you if you would like breakfast?
Does it help you get the kids ready and off to school?
Does it strip the beds, organize the rooms and start the laundry?
Does it clean every room from top to bottom?
Does it put fresh flowers in vases around the house?
Does it grocery shop, make dinner and set the table?
Does it organize your closets, drawers and cabinets?
Does it get into the crevices and corners of every room and clean thoroughly?
Does it fluff up pillows, straighten rugs and pictures and attend to every detail?
Does it leave a home sparkling clean?
Well, until it does, I suppose the good ole fashion "human housekeeper" will have to do.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Baby Obesity Through Cow's Milk
Formula from cow's milk may actually cause more weight gain. A study done at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadephia assigned 32 mothers to give their babies a formula based on cow's milk and asked 24 mothers to feed their babies another formula with a smaller and pre-digested proteins that are easier for babies to digest. These formulas are called "Protein Hydrolysate Formulas (PHF)". They have 35% more protein and more free amino acids than cow's milk formulas.
After 2 1/2 to 3 months, the babies that had the cow's milk had higher weight per length and weight per age than babies on PHF even with all the babies starting solid food at the same time. The researchers surmise that the reason for less weight gain is the "free amino acids in PHF do a better job of stimulating receptors in the mouth and gut that signal to the brain that the stomach is full and it's time to to stop eating.
http://www.martaperrone.com
After 2 1/2 to 3 months, the babies that had the cow's milk had higher weight per length and weight per age than babies on PHF even with all the babies starting solid food at the same time. The researchers surmise that the reason for less weight gain is the "free amino acids in PHF do a better job of stimulating receptors in the mouth and gut that signal to the brain that the stomach is full and it's time to to stop eating.
http://www.martaperrone.com
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Housekeeping: Benefits of Being Paid Legally
The nanny and housekeeping profession provides higher salaries than any other segment of the childcare industry which includes daycare, in-home childcare, preschool and even sometimes teaching. Each of these forms of childcare is considered to be paid "on the books". Yet this seems to be regularly avoided until something serious causes an employer or employee to change their position. Breedlove & Associates is a tax and payroll service company for Household Employers. They are the leading company in the nation for this type of service. Here is what they have to say about the "the benefits of being paid legally".
1) The benefits of being paid legally are numerous, and you really can't afford to be without them. As a professional, you should expect nothing less. Once you take a look at the benefits, you'll agree that being paid legally is the way to go!
2) Employment History. Being paid legally creates an employment history that is critical to daily life. If your employment is not documented, it is as if you do not work. An employment history is required for a car loan, a mortgage, a student loan, a credit loan, a credit card application, a health insurance application, an auto insurance application and all future job applications.
3) Unemployment Insurance. When paid legally, you are entitled to receive approximately 50% of your salary up to six months if you lose your job due to no fault of your own. This benefit is free to you as your employer pays the cost of the program.
4. Social Security/Medicare Benefits. For many, taking advantage of these benefits is years away, but consider these tax withholdings as a good investment.
5. Disability Benefits. In many states, you pay State Disability Insurance as a part of the taxes withheld from your pay. If you must take the time away from work due to nonoccupational illness or maternity leave, you are entitled to benefits while you are away from work.
6. Negotiating Salary. Negotiating salary "on the books" can have a positive result, if you are prepared. Your employers are professionals and are used to negotiating before tax salaries, not take home salaries. Talking in gross terms is important as you look at the entire benefit package.
Being legal is not only the law, it also provides great benefits, which you as the professional richly deserve.
1) The benefits of being paid legally are numerous, and you really can't afford to be without them. As a professional, you should expect nothing less. Once you take a look at the benefits, you'll agree that being paid legally is the way to go!
2) Employment History. Being paid legally creates an employment history that is critical to daily life. If your employment is not documented, it is as if you do not work. An employment history is required for a car loan, a mortgage, a student loan, a credit loan, a credit card application, a health insurance application, an auto insurance application and all future job applications.
3) Unemployment Insurance. When paid legally, you are entitled to receive approximately 50% of your salary up to six months if you lose your job due to no fault of your own. This benefit is free to you as your employer pays the cost of the program.
4. Social Security/Medicare Benefits. For many, taking advantage of these benefits is years away, but consider these tax withholdings as a good investment.
5. Disability Benefits. In many states, you pay State Disability Insurance as a part of the taxes withheld from your pay. If you must take the time away from work due to nonoccupational illness or maternity leave, you are entitled to benefits while you are away from work.
6. Negotiating Salary. Negotiating salary "on the books" can have a positive result, if you are prepared. Your employers are professionals and are used to negotiating before tax salaries, not take home salaries. Talking in gross terms is important as you look at the entire benefit package.
Being legal is not only the law, it also provides great benefits, which you as the professional richly deserve.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Setting a Table - Step 3 to Planning a Dinner Party
Setting a table is the most fun for me because I enjoy the creative process of choosing and combining china, place mats, napkins and glassware. The party I was planning was for my husband's birthday. Since the focus was his birthday, I decided to choose colors that I knew he would like (gray, black with an exciting plum accent). Here are some tips that I use when setting a table:
1. Set the table either the night before or several hours prior to grocery shopping and cooking. You do not want to be rushed when being creative.
2. Choose the colors that work well with your theme. If there is no particular theme, but maybe just a special occasion, then choose colors that you think would be appealing for the guests. In this case, it was my husband's birthday, and I wanted colors that would be pleasing to him. With his gorgeous head of white hair, I thought of gray and wanted something that had those shades. I chose gray, black and plum as an accent.
3. Begin with the place mat (or table cloth). Choose a color that works well with the china. If your china is complicated, it may be best to choose a place mat that isn't as busy. My plates were simple, so I chose a mat with more design.
4. Pick out a charger that matches the china you are using. With gold rimmed plates, choose a gold, brown or black charger. The charger serves as a liner to the dinner plate, and the salad plate as a liner to the soup bowl.
5. Pick a napkin with color to accent the plates and mat. Napkin rings are fun and make the napkin look great. Open up the napkin and pull the napkin through the ring from the center of the napkin.
6. Take your silverware and set the cutlery from outside in depending on the course you are serving first. Example: the salad fork is on the outside of the dinner fork because it is used before the dinner fork.
7. Glasses come next - consider how many glasses of wine you are serving for each course and place them to the right of the dinner plate. Put each wine glass on the right side of the water glass. The order of glasses would be from left to right: water, white wine, red wine.
8. Choose flowers that pick up the colors of the table, but always include accent colors to give the table a punch. Keep your flowers low so that your guests can see each other. Add fruit or stones in your vases to make it interesting.
9. Lay votive candles all around the table surrounding the flower arrangements. I found these great crystal holders that made the candles look beautiful.
10. Final step is to go around the table and be sure that everything is evenly positioned. Place mats straightened, dishes in the center of each other, cutlery straight, napkins pulled through the napkin rings evenly and fluffed, votives and flowers evenly positioned throughout the table.
http://www.martaperrone.com
1. Set the table either the night before or several hours prior to grocery shopping and cooking. You do not want to be rushed when being creative.
2. Choose the colors that work well with your theme. If there is no particular theme, but maybe just a special occasion, then choose colors that you think would be appealing for the guests. In this case, it was my husband's birthday, and I wanted colors that would be pleasing to him. With his gorgeous head of white hair, I thought of gray and wanted something that had those shades. I chose gray, black and plum as an accent.
3. Begin with the place mat (or table cloth). Choose a color that works well with the china. If your china is complicated, it may be best to choose a place mat that isn't as busy. My plates were simple, so I chose a mat with more design.
4. Pick out a charger that matches the china you are using. With gold rimmed plates, choose a gold, brown or black charger. The charger serves as a liner to the dinner plate, and the salad plate as a liner to the soup bowl.
5. Pick a napkin with color to accent the plates and mat. Napkin rings are fun and make the napkin look great. Open up the napkin and pull the napkin through the ring from the center of the napkin.
6. Take your silverware and set the cutlery from outside in depending on the course you are serving first. Example: the salad fork is on the outside of the dinner fork because it is used before the dinner fork.
7. Glasses come next - consider how many glasses of wine you are serving for each course and place them to the right of the dinner plate. Put each wine glass on the right side of the water glass. The order of glasses would be from left to right: water, white wine, red wine.
8. Choose flowers that pick up the colors of the table, but always include accent colors to give the table a punch. Keep your flowers low so that your guests can see each other. Add fruit or stones in your vases to make it interesting.
9. Lay votive candles all around the table surrounding the flower arrangements. I found these great crystal holders that made the candles look beautiful.
10. Final step is to go around the table and be sure that everything is evenly positioned. Place mats straightened, dishes in the center of each other, cutlery straight, napkins pulled through the napkin rings evenly and fluffed, votives and flowers evenly positioned throughout the table.
http://www.martaperrone.com
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Are Tech Savvy consumers ready for a laundry room upgrade?
We all think about relieving the tedium of everyday chores, just the other day I wrote about the new automated floor cleaning system Mint.
Now news just out from Whirlpool that their new top loading Vantage line ($4000 for a washer/dryer pair) has 33 settings for clothes, blankets and even shower curtains all on a very cool iPod like touch screen.
Bosch, Sears Kenmore brand and LG are among an array of manufacturers coming out with new machines making the laundry room the next battleground for your already stretched credit/debit cards.
My 5-year-old Kenmore’s have 23 settings (I counted) so you can see how the ante is rising. I have at times even gone adventurous with my machines, washing items that claim Dry Clean Only, only to find them cleaned perfectly minus the $10+ cost per item at my local Dry Cleaner.
My laundry room is not the first place I bring guests when they come over, but if you have a need for blackberry or lemongrass shaded appliances I have an avocado side by side fridge just waiting for my Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks to thaw out.
Now news just out from Whirlpool that their new top loading Vantage line ($4000 for a washer/dryer pair) has 33 settings for clothes, blankets and even shower curtains all on a very cool iPod like touch screen.
Bosch, Sears Kenmore brand and LG are among an array of manufacturers coming out with new machines making the laundry room the next battleground for your already stretched credit/debit cards.
My 5-year-old Kenmore’s have 23 settings (I counted) so you can see how the ante is rising. I have at times even gone adventurous with my machines, washing items that claim Dry Clean Only, only to find them cleaned perfectly minus the $10+ cost per item at my local Dry Cleaner.
My laundry room is not the first place I bring guests when they come over, but if you have a need for blackberry or lemongrass shaded appliances I have an avocado side by side fridge just waiting for my Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks to thaw out.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Drunk with Kids in the Car
When a Nanny or Housekeeper wants to work with a family, it is imperative that she/he provides the family with a driving record. Can you imagine putting your child in a car with a Nanny who has a DUI or speeding tickets, accidents and other violations? Recently in Phoenix, the worst nightmare happened to a couple who had their nanny pick their children and take them to a pool party where she proceeded to drink large amounts of alcohol. She then struck a car and instead of stopping, she fled the scene of the incident. When the police finally caught up to the car, the nanny resisted arrest. The Nanny's blood alcohol level was .201 - triple the legal state limit. The Nanny now faces 3 felony counts of aggravated and extreme DUI. The due diligence you do on every candidate is extremely important. A Nanny may be wonderful, experienced and well-referenced; however, you must still do the driving check, criminal check, and complete background investigation before signing an employment agreement.
http://www.martaperrone.com
http://www.martaperrone.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
