Our Best Advice

FIREPLACE CARE

Sunday, December 27th, 2009 | Our Best Advice | No Comments

Cinderella Suite with fireplace at Disney World. Photo copyright: Disney 2007

This is the time of year where everyone with a fireplace uses it actively. Who can forget Cinderella’s fireplace with all that cleaning? Remember to have a Chimney Sweep check out the one you use, which should be done annually. Tell A Friend Chimney Sweeps inspect and clean out the chimney, make minor repairs, and replace the interior lining. TIPS: When they clean, ask them to install a metal grid to mitigate birds and debris floating in. Fires of long duration may cause expansion of the masonry such as the cement crown, facial wall, and exterior chimney, resulting in clean breaks in the masonry. Our Best Advice cautions that holes and mortar bond breaks may be found in the smoke chamber and the chimney cover may be warped or damaged. Make sure its investigated thoroughly, burn only eco friendly products, then tuck yourself around the fire for warmth that cuts back energy bills.

modern fireplaces without wood still need care to ensure their safety

Some of my best memories are of those around the campfire and remarkable fireplace chats I’ve enjoyed with clients. I know my sustainable green friends won’t like this, but I won’t give up using a fireplace of hearth and home (and probably won’t live in a home without one). I have seen some of the most beautiful fireplaces in the world, a dying art form. In the future, we’ll tell kids about the days when fires were still allowed to burn in our homes. If you have one, don’t take yours for granted, new ones are not allowed to be constructed. Read your favorite books by the fire to also save on lighting. Our neighbors, Ann and Skipper (well into their nineties with Skipper just a couple years shy of 100) maintain a fire all winter long to help with energy bills. They’ve been living in the same home over sixty years watching in disbelief as energy costs rise, spiraling out of control.

When I run across an irresistible video it becomes a TIP, and this one is about another favorite subject that goes with fireplaces: books. It’s great viewing several times to enjoy the animation. Buy books! Publishers are having a really tuff time with sales dropping. You can find amazing deals for used books online, which keeps it eco friendly and further supports publishers. Use books lovingly around the fire, then give them away as gifts to others. If you live in Los Angeles visit the used bookstore at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore our friends own. Forward Our Best Advice link for more great TIPS to household care and our ISA staffing services.

Serving Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Torrance, Hancock Park, Laurel Canyon, Los Feliz, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Melrose. Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills, Topanga Canyon, Westwood, Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, San Mareno, Santa Barbara, Orange County, Ventura County, California, New York, & the greater United States…

Our Best Advice has been brought to you by www.ISAstaffing.com, renowned Best of The Best in Household Work and Domestic Help staffing. Visit often for other great ideas, use our Tell A Friend featured link to this blog, and our Domestic Staffing website to pass our HOT TIPS and renowned services. THANKS!

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HOLIDAY EVENTS

Monday, December 21st, 2009 | Our Best Advice | No Comments

The year ending is about celebration with compassion for the travail and anguish many have suffered we must not forget. Do not solely celebrate a religious holiday event you identify with. Although we know our holidays are deeply meaningful for billions, broaden your world to include gratitude based on compassion, without a denominational orientation.

Our TIP for this holiday events season: The Charter For Compassion is an important declaration with membership partners growing worldwide quickly. Originally created out of Karen ARmstrong’s wish after receiving the TED PRIZE in 2008 (she’s the woman narrating the video above), check their site out and get involved. If you’re a Chef or Cook, see if there isn’t some probono work you can do to assist as I know many of you are already doing. Take an action today and add yours to the growing list.

Yves Behar and his team (see  fuseproject) designed a plaque which will be hung throughout the world in secular locations. Detailed in the Charter’s words, the plague’s design is made from sustainable maple in an isometric perspective of a book. The laser engraving and unique iconic design is reflective of Karen Armstrong’s message, hand crafted by Thomas Duffy, a superb designer/craftsman. Even if you order and send it to arrive as a gift after the holidays, you’ll be glad you did. You can email the charter or visit their website for more details.

iconic 1937 film Lost Horizon

One of my favorite films to watch during the holidays is a classic by Frank Capra, Lost Horizon (see trailer below). It’s a huge heart opener. Whether you watch it with those you love, give it as a gift (makes for a great last minute present), or use it as a meaningful story to serve foods creating a theme around spiritual awakening, take an action to introduce compassion into your life daily.

We are committed at ISA to act compassionately and work hard to find everyone work, getting people back to work, or help find jobs to make ends meet until an ideal one is available. We know some of you are sending money to family’s in some of the hardest hit economic areas domestically and abroad, with many of our clients working hard to assist bringing relief to areas of inhumane conditions worldwide. We share your effort and compassion.

This year I’m using a large vessel filled with evergreen branches along with willow and herbs from our garden in a mode to celebrate winter solstice and all the holidays combined. A large branch that needed to be cut now stands against the wall at the front door as our welcome to guests. After the holidays we’ll recycle it and use dried fragrant leaves thrown into the fireplace. TIP: Make sure not to use candles with a lead wick and burn only beeswax or soy to be eco friendly. We generally don’t use anything but candlelight at night to save on energy, and because it’s simply more beautiful light. The house is warm, the mood “tucked in”, the fire is on, and I like to burn fragrant candles both day and night to set a special experience, a reminder of illumination we all share. We offer our prayers of gratitude and appreciation from all of us at ISA, including to you, as we do daily. Thank You for your patronage, we value you greatly in our lives! Please come visit us in our new location we’d love to chat about jobs with you, or email us at our contact address.

HAVE A LOVELY, JOYOUS, AND COMPASSIONATE HOLIDAY SEASON!

Serving Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Torrance, Hancock Park, Laurel Canyon, Los Feliz, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Melrose. Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills, Topanga Canyon, Westwood, Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, San Mareno, Santa Barbara, Orange County, Ventura County, California, New York, & the greater United States…

Our Best Advice has been brought to you by www.ISAstaffing.com, renowned Best of The Best in Household Work and Domestic Help staffing. Visit often for other great ideas, use our Tell A Friend featured link to this blog, and our Domestic Staffing website to pass our HOT TIPS and renowned services. THANKS!

Tags: beeswax candles, Beverly Hills party events, Catering, Charter For Compassion, CHEF, CHEFS, Cook, Cooks, energy, fuseproject, Holiday Events, Holidays, illumination, ISA Staffing, Karen Armstrong, light, Lost Horizon movie, Parties, party planning, Party Staff, Party staffing, Recycle, soy candles, TED, TED PRIZE, Thomas Duffy