Isn't it wonderful, when you walk into a closet and can see everything ever so perfectly so that you can make a clear and quick decision as to what you want to wear at that particular moment? Here are some tips on how we accomplish having an organized closet.
1. Take everything out and start from scratch. Sounds daunting, but that is the best way to start, begin section by section. Before you putting anything back, sit down with a piece of paper and pen and design what items you want to keep in this closet and how you want them placed. Pretend you are the architect and designer hired to make this closet beautiful and functional. Go through everything you have and see if you actually have used it in the last 5 years. The likelihood is that there will be many things in your closet that you didn't even remember you had because it has been way too long since you last used it.
2. Let's assume you are a woman with many necessary things to make you look fabulous: shoes, handbags, dresses, skirts, pants, blouses, sweaters, tops, gym wear, shorts.....and then there are the undergarments and accessories. We need a place for our underwear, bras, stockings, socks, shawls & scarfs, bathing suits, and jewelry. Not everyone has enough room to neatly place everything in its separate compartment. We may find it necessary to consolidate things. That is why having a plan on paper is a good way to start. Put things in an order so that you are making the best use of space. Place together the things that you rarely use on the bottom drawers and shelves with the most frequently used things more reachable. Everyone's plan will be slightly different.
3. Be sure to use the right hangers for everything. Getting the cushioned hangers for sweaters and dresses is best. Use wood hangers instead of wire. Invest in a great set of hangers and use the same ones for each section of your clothes. It makes the clothes look better in the closet and protects the clothes from having funny hanger marks. If you are concerned about moths, get moth balls and place them in strategic places in the closet. Try not to keep your clothes in plastic since the oil in it tends to damage the clothes over time. If you want to cover your clothes, use cloth covers.
4. Beginning with my favorite thing of all "shoes & handbags": you can place shoes in their boxes and label them according to style, color and whether you would wear them in a more formal or casual setting. You could also take them out of their original shoe boxes and put them in new plastic clear boxes so you can see what is in there. You can also take them out and show their beauty in full form by placing them on a shelf or shoe rack - which makes it the easiest way to choose what you want to wear at that moment. Handbags like shoes are used with specific dresses, on specific days, depending on the mood, the weather, the event, the need. Oh it gets so complicated when it comes to handbags, there just aren't enough of them. So what do you do with all of these purses that you can't let go of under any circumstances. Begin with the ones you use only in the evening with formal attire and place them together on the higher shelf in soft handbag covers. Try to keep the covers for every handbag since each will serve as a label for the bag. Put the bags you use most often together. If you prefer keeping your bags out the handbag covers, then color coordinate the bags and/or put them along side each other according to size or style.
5. If you love dresses like I do, you may have as many as you do pants. I like to keep my evening dresses separated from those I wear to work in the daytime. If you can, try separating your dresses between those you wear during the Spring and Summer months from those you wear in the Fall and Winter.
6. Skirts should be in their own section or along side dresses all together, always separating them by color, fabric and style. Blouses can be kept close by to the skirts so that you can see which ones go best. Put the blouses in order of fabric, short vs. long sleeves and casual vs. formal.
7. Pants like jeans can be folded 3-ways like they do ever so neatly in the stores, or you can hang them up along side your other types of pants. Again, color-coordinating them is always a good idea. You may also want to hang your sweats all together or fold them up.
8. Tops and sweaters need their own domain according to style and color. Keep your heavier Winter sweaters either in separate sweater boxes up on top of the closet and exchange them for your Summer sweaters depending on the time of the year. Tops may be used more readily all throughout the year so keep them handy and color coordinated. I like to hang my cardigans on cushioned hangers in a separate section with other short jackets and zip up sweat tops.
9. Neatly fold your bras and underwear according to color and mood. Oh yes, ladies there are those sexier ones, and then there are those comfortable ones. Whatever you do, make sure that your drawers have both!!
10. Remember, you don't want clothes and things that you don't use taking up space. Take out and give away anything that hasn't been used in at least a year unless you promise to use it within the next 6 months. Coordinate things by matching fabrics and styles and colors so that you can see everything easily and choose what to wear quickly. Keeping things in order means putting everything back where you found it each and every time. If things tend to get messy over time, take an hour or two and re-organize and fold everything to make it look perfect.
http://www.martaperrone.com
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Overtime Law for Housekeepers & Nannies
Breedlove & Associates is a great resource for learning about tax and payroll laws for housekeepers and all other household workers. They are the leading company for this in the nation. The question of Overtime Law and how this affects Household Workers is a subject that they get frequently asked. Here is how they respond:
"Household employees must be compensated according to the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which provides the framework for federal and state wage and hour law. The FLSA classifies household employees as non-exempt workers, requiring that the household employment industry provide overtime pay. Here is an outline of what you need to know in order to structure your household employment relationship successfully:
1) The standard workweek is defined as 40 hours in a 7-day period.
2) An employee's hourly earnings must be equal to or greater than the federal minimum wage at the time. Some states have higher minimum wage which bumps the federal rate.
3) Overtime must be paid 1.5 times the regular hourly rate - and it must be paid for all the hours worked over 40 in a week.
4) Overtime is not required for holidays worked.
5) No limit is placed on the number of hours worked in a 7-day workweek, as long as the employee is fairly compensated.
6) Live-in household employees do not have to be paid overtime but are entitled to the regular hourly wage for every hour worked.
7) Additional overtime requirements can be imposed by the state."
It is recommended that salary, as well as the regular rate and overtime rate, be addressed in writing in order to protect both employer and employee. When overtime is not explicitly stipulated in an employment contract for salaried employees, the law will side with the employee in an overtime dispute. More importantly, a critical relationship may terminate over a wage issue that could have been handled correctly and easily at the time of hiring.
"Household employees must be compensated according to the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which provides the framework for federal and state wage and hour law. The FLSA classifies household employees as non-exempt workers, requiring that the household employment industry provide overtime pay. Here is an outline of what you need to know in order to structure your household employment relationship successfully:
1) The standard workweek is defined as 40 hours in a 7-day period.
2) An employee's hourly earnings must be equal to or greater than the federal minimum wage at the time. Some states have higher minimum wage which bumps the federal rate.
3) Overtime must be paid 1.5 times the regular hourly rate - and it must be paid for all the hours worked over 40 in a week.
4) Overtime is not required for holidays worked.
5) No limit is placed on the number of hours worked in a 7-day workweek, as long as the employee is fairly compensated.
6) Live-in household employees do not have to be paid overtime but are entitled to the regular hourly wage for every hour worked.
7) Additional overtime requirements can be imposed by the state."
It is recommended that salary, as well as the regular rate and overtime rate, be addressed in writing in order to protect both employer and employee. When overtime is not explicitly stipulated in an employment contract for salaried employees, the law will side with the employee in an overtime dispute. More importantly, a critical relationship may terminate over a wage issue that could have been handled correctly and easily at the time of hiring.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Unlicensed Drivers Get More than Just a Fine
What it must feel like to be out on the road every day knowing that you could be caught in some traffic violation and be thrown out of the country. There are 4.5 million unlicensed drivers in the United States; only three states New Mexico, Utah and Washington actually issue licenses without proof of legal residence. Many states have adopted tough new laws to prevent illegal immigrants from driving, while expanding immigration enforcement by the state and local police. As a result, at least 30,000 illegal immigrants who were stopped by for common traffic violations in the last 3 years have ended up in deportation. These numbers reported by Homeland Security are increasing rapidly.
The real concern is obviously the overall immigration issue. Many housekeepers, nannies and other household workers have come to this country to fill a need in our workforce. In the years past, less importance was given as to whether these workers were actually legal. There would be these sporadic celebrity cases that brought attention to the matter; yet since most household employers were less interested in providing payroll to their employees, it wasn't a matter of grave concern. Immigration issues in the last 5 years have increased awareness in the public turning household employers' attention to the need to hire legal workers. Yet, the desire to place them on payroll is still not preferred. This partial commitment to the issue of hiring properly is part of the problem.
We must solve this immigration concern for the millions of illegals who continue to work hard in this country. The question of where to draw the line between those who have arrived 5, 10, 15 or 20 years ago and still have not been granted work permits must be addressed. We cannot have undocumented workers continue living in fear of deportation. We also cannot have more immigrants here where there is little work for them. In these very tough economic times, we have less jobs available for workers of every type. Illegal household workers feel the brunt of this lack of opportunity more than those who are documented. They have to wait out these times just like other Americans who are struggling. If household workers, legal or illegal, are here serving our needs and there are jobs and employers willing to have them in their homes, then we must find a way to put them through the due diligence process so that they become part of our system. Employers must also take on the responsibility of hiring them legally so that they may receive the benefits that working legally in this country provide all workers.
The real concern is obviously the overall immigration issue. Many housekeepers, nannies and other household workers have come to this country to fill a need in our workforce. In the years past, less importance was given as to whether these workers were actually legal. There would be these sporadic celebrity cases that brought attention to the matter; yet since most household employers were less interested in providing payroll to their employees, it wasn't a matter of grave concern. Immigration issues in the last 5 years have increased awareness in the public turning household employers' attention to the need to hire legal workers. Yet, the desire to place them on payroll is still not preferred. This partial commitment to the issue of hiring properly is part of the problem.
We must solve this immigration concern for the millions of illegals who continue to work hard in this country. The question of where to draw the line between those who have arrived 5, 10, 15 or 20 years ago and still have not been granted work permits must be addressed. We cannot have undocumented workers continue living in fear of deportation. We also cannot have more immigrants here where there is little work for them. In these very tough economic times, we have less jobs available for workers of every type. Illegal household workers feel the brunt of this lack of opportunity more than those who are documented. They have to wait out these times just like other Americans who are struggling. If household workers, legal or illegal, are here serving our needs and there are jobs and employers willing to have them in their homes, then we must find a way to put them through the due diligence process so that they become part of our system. Employers must also take on the responsibility of hiring them legally so that they may receive the benefits that working legally in this country provide all workers.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Holiday Bonus for your Housekeeper or Nanny
Household employers are confused about what to give to their housekeepers or nannies during the holiday season. The question is whether to give a gift AND/OR a bonus check or nothing at all. Here are some guidelines to assist:
1) During the holidays, it is very nice for all household employers to acknowledge their employees even if by a very small gesture.
2) If your employee has been with you several years, a bonus check AND a gift is definitely the right thing to do.
3) If you just hired an employee, you may not want to provide a bonus check, but a gift of some sort would be in order.
4) The bonus check is normally equivalent to 1 week's pay when the employee has been with you for 1-3 years. Anything above 3 years usually turns into 2 weeks worth of pay and can work itself all the way up to 4 weeks pay depending on the number of years worked.
5) If money is tight and a bonus check cannot be provided, then perhaps splurging a bit more on the gift would be appropriate.
6) If your employee is leaving you after the holidays and the employee/employer relationship has ended, it would still be appropriate to give the employee something to show your appreciation for the years of service.
7) If you are ending your relationship not on good terms, then my advice would be to find a way to mend these ill feelings so that in this holiday season, everyone moves forward in a positive manner. (This may be easier said then done, but still worth the effort.)
Giving during the Holiday Season is part of what Christmas and Hanukkah is all about: showing others in your life just how much you appreciate them. Your appreciation cannot always be measured by the gift - sometimes just the gesture is enough!
1) During the holidays, it is very nice for all household employers to acknowledge their employees even if by a very small gesture.
2) If your employee has been with you several years, a bonus check AND a gift is definitely the right thing to do.
3) If you just hired an employee, you may not want to provide a bonus check, but a gift of some sort would be in order.
4) The bonus check is normally equivalent to 1 week's pay when the employee has been with you for 1-3 years. Anything above 3 years usually turns into 2 weeks worth of pay and can work itself all the way up to 4 weeks pay depending on the number of years worked.
5) If money is tight and a bonus check cannot be provided, then perhaps splurging a bit more on the gift would be appropriate.
6) If your employee is leaving you after the holidays and the employee/employer relationship has ended, it would still be appropriate to give the employee something to show your appreciation for the years of service.
7) If you are ending your relationship not on good terms, then my advice would be to find a way to mend these ill feelings so that in this holiday season, everyone moves forward in a positive manner. (This may be easier said then done, but still worth the effort.)
Giving during the Holiday Season is part of what Christmas and Hanukkah is all about: showing others in your life just how much you appreciate them. Your appreciation cannot always be measured by the gift - sometimes just the gesture is enough!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Holiday Giving while Organizing your Closet
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Holiday Giving while Organizing your ClosetThere is so much excess in most of our homes.If you don't think so, then open a closet and begin to look at everything carefully. When was the last time you used it, wore it or even remembered you had it.The likelihood is that most of the things we keep are rarely used on a regular basis. There are however many people in need, especially now with present times so difficult. Here are some thoughts on how you can make cleaning your closet a charitable act during this holiday season:
1. Begin with your clothing closet - try on every garment and see if it even still looks good on you. Does it fit? Maybe it is not stylish. Perhaps, it would look better on someone else. Start a pile of things that you really won't ever wear again.
2. Go through your handbags and see if any of these have been take out?
3. Go through your shoes...have they all been out for a walk recently.
4. Check out the entry closet where you might keep jackets. This is most needed at winter time.
5. Now move on to the linen closet where you keep blankets and towels. Are there any that could be shared with someone needy?
6. Check your pantry for food that could be taken to the Mission or soup kitchens in town.
7. Go through your child's room and see if there are toys that have not been touched for months.Perhaps your child is growing up and no longer needs those legos or barbie dolls. Surely there is a child you could make smile.
8. Step into your garage and see if there is sports equipment or other things no longer used.
There is so much that can be recycled to a family or institution in need. Just put aside one hour and gather what you can so that you can make someone's Holiday bright.
Happy Holidays!
Holiday Giving while Organizing your ClosetThere is so much excess in most of our homes.If you don't think so, then open a closet and begin to look at everything carefully. When was the last time you used it, wore it or even remembered you had it.The likelihood is that most of the things we keep are rarely used on a regular basis. There are however many people in need, especially now with present times so difficult. Here are some thoughts on how you can make cleaning your closet a charitable act during this holiday season:
1. Begin with your clothing closet - try on every garment and see if it even still looks good on you. Does it fit? Maybe it is not stylish. Perhaps, it would look better on someone else. Start a pile of things that you really won't ever wear again.
2. Go through your handbags and see if any of these have been take out?
3. Go through your shoes...have they all been out for a walk recently.
4. Check out the entry closet where you might keep jackets. This is most needed at winter time.
5. Now move on to the linen closet where you keep blankets and towels. Are there any that could be shared with someone needy?
6. Check your pantry for food that could be taken to the Mission or soup kitchens in town.
7. Go through your child's room and see if there are toys that have not been touched for months.Perhaps your child is growing up and no longer needs those legos or barbie dolls. Surely there is a child you could make smile.
8. Step into your garage and see if there is sports equipment or other things no longer used.
There is so much that can be recycled to a family or institution in need. Just put aside one hour and gather what you can so that you can make someone's Holiday bright.
Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Green Cleaning - Microfiber Cloths
Quickie Green Cleaning Microfiber cloths is my cleaning product of the week review. They are produced from high quality yarn and woven to very high densities. The best part to these cleaning cloths is that they are tailored to clean specific surfaces which maximizes their effectiveness. GREEN CLEANING - Microfiber cloths are for every possible cleaning. It isn't just about the cleaning liquid, you have to have good cloths for each surface. In some cases, you can clean a surface without using any fluids. They are color-coordinated and offer tags with their specific use in case you forget. Once used, throw them into the washing machine to be re-used. Green Cleaning makes five types of microfiber cloths:
1. Kitchen & Bathroom - enhanced to absorb oily liquids
2. Glass & Windows - enhances water absorption for a streak free finish
3. Dusting & Polishing - has a magnet like effect on dust
4. Stainless Steel- formulated to easily remove fingerprints and smudges
5. Electronics - for plasma/LCD and flat screens with a soft suede like weave that leaves a sparkling clear shine without streaking, linting or damaging sensitive surfaces.
There is something to be said about these high polyester microfiber threads.
http://www.martaperrone.com
1. Kitchen & Bathroom - enhanced to absorb oily liquids
2. Glass & Windows - enhances water absorption for a streak free finish
3. Dusting & Polishing - has a magnet like effect on dust
4. Stainless Steel- formulated to easily remove fingerprints and smudges
5. Electronics - for plasma/LCD and flat screens with a soft suede like weave that leaves a sparkling clear shine without streaking, linting or damaging sensitive surfaces.
There is something to be said about these high polyester microfiber threads.
http://www.martaperrone.com
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Entertaining Guests
Entertaining guests means being a gracious host or hostess from the moment your guests enter the door throughout the evening.You want them to feel as though they are at home. Here are some tips:
1) Before they arrive, check your lighting and perhaps the fireplace lit to add ambiance and warmth to the room.
2) After a warm greeting and offering to take their handbag and/or remove coats so that they feel comfortable, you then offer them a drink. This is why it is important to know in advance what your guests drink so that you have exactly what they enjoy.
3) Let them know where the powder bath is and place guest towels in it for their use. As your hors d'oevres are laid out bring your guests to a comfortable seating area where everyone can enjoy the cocktail hour. Keep the cocktail hour exactly as it is referred to - 1 hour - prior to serving dinner. You never want to rush guests from the door to the table.
4)As cooking has its timing so does entertaining. When it is time for serving dinner, bring your guests to the table assisting where they should be seated. You may have prearranged named place cards if you prefer certain people together or decide to let your guests sit wherever they feel comfortable. It is my preference to announce where my husband and I are seated and then invite my guests to sit where they would like in between. If you see hesitation on their part, then guide them.
5)While seated, remember to always check for refills with water, wine and bread. If there is an opportunity to serve seconds, then offer this to your guests. Remember to remove plates only when all your guests are finished with that particular course. Pass the butter if you think they need it; offer the salt and pepper; pass the bread if their bread plate is empty. Muster conversation that includes everyone.
6)Wait a little in between finishing the main meal and serving dessert. Offer coffee or tea (be sure to have cream or milk, low cal sweetner, sugar, and lemon, available.
7)Offer to leave the table to another room where you can serve after-dinner drinks and continue the conversation until your guests are ready to depart.
Your attentiveness to your guests' every need is the most important part to "entertaining" properly.
1) Before they arrive, check your lighting and perhaps the fireplace lit to add ambiance and warmth to the room.
2) After a warm greeting and offering to take their handbag and/or remove coats so that they feel comfortable, you then offer them a drink. This is why it is important to know in advance what your guests drink so that you have exactly what they enjoy.
3) Let them know where the powder bath is and place guest towels in it for their use. As your hors d'oevres are laid out bring your guests to a comfortable seating area where everyone can enjoy the cocktail hour. Keep the cocktail hour exactly as it is referred to - 1 hour - prior to serving dinner. You never want to rush guests from the door to the table.
4)As cooking has its timing so does entertaining. When it is time for serving dinner, bring your guests to the table assisting where they should be seated. You may have prearranged named place cards if you prefer certain people together or decide to let your guests sit wherever they feel comfortable. It is my preference to announce where my husband and I are seated and then invite my guests to sit where they would like in between. If you see hesitation on their part, then guide them.
5)While seated, remember to always check for refills with water, wine and bread. If there is an opportunity to serve seconds, then offer this to your guests. Remember to remove plates only when all your guests are finished with that particular course. Pass the butter if you think they need it; offer the salt and pepper; pass the bread if their bread plate is empty. Muster conversation that includes everyone.
6)Wait a little in between finishing the main meal and serving dessert. Offer coffee or tea (be sure to have cream or milk, low cal sweetner, sugar, and lemon, available.
7)Offer to leave the table to another room where you can serve after-dinner drinks and continue the conversation until your guests are ready to depart.
Your attentiveness to your guests' every need is the most important part to "entertaining" properly.
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