Our Best Advice

MEMORIAL DAY

Saturday, May 16th, 2009 | Our Best Advice | No Comments

VINTAGE POSTER OF MEMORIAL DAY

MEMORIAL DAY was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the holiday, electing to honor their dead separately until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). Since legislation passed in 2000, it is now celebrated in every State on May 30. Several southern states have an additional separate day (for honoring the Confederate war dead).

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, but there is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. Memorial Day has become a national holiday much removed from its origin to honor those who died in service to our nation. Now it’s mostly a break from work and school to play. Our TIP and hope is for all people everywhere to bring warring to an end in every corner of this planet. Take this holiday to envision a new beginning. If you are experiencing discord in your life with someone, please make every effort to reach a shared state of peace and harmony. Take a vow of commitment towards compassion, and refrain from engaging in adversity of any sort. Remember to honor all people who worked so hard to bring us to a better tomorrow, which is today, and our obligation to ensure another better tomorrow obtains for all children everywhere. Honor the dead, and celebrate the living. Not just on Memorial Day, but every day, let us remember men and women who passed bravely into the night were also children with dreams of a better tomorrow.

In our domestic help field, taking care of children often falls to a housekeeper, nanny, governess, baby nurse, or other staff that often does double duty when children are involved. Children evolve with our love and compassion they learn by example, more then any other means. From all of us at ISA domestic help agency, we wish you and your family a peaceful and meaningful Memorial Day weekend.

HAVE A HAPPY SUMMER!

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: Baby Nurse, Decoration Day, Domestic Help, domestic help agency, Domestic Staffing Agency, governess, Holiday, Holidays, housekeeper, housekeeper-childcare, ISA, Memorial Day, Nannies, nanny, national holiday, Peace, staff, TIPS, women

PET GUEST – Best Behavior

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 | Our Best Advice | No Comments

Charlotte Reed has written a great book on pet etiquette (Miss Fido Manners) we found helpful and charming. Opinions vary on what constitutes Pet Manners in different countries. Paris being one of the most dog friendly restaurant places in the world is famous for pet hospitality. People and public places policy may not have the same cultural interest in animals as you when travelling with your pet. Be sensitive to where you travel and factor in their cultural leanings. We paraphrase and embellish upon a few of Reed’s recommendations to make them more universal and work whether visiting someone here or abroad.

· Only ask a close family member or friend if you can bring your dog along for a visit to their home, and only if your dog is very well behaved.

· If your host does not offer your pet an invitation, don’t try to change her/his mind; if you are invited, discuss how to make the visit comfortable for
everyone.

·       Pack your pet’s possessions, including an odor eliminator and stain remover if the visit is local or on a road trip, in case of an accident. Bring a few small toys to keep your pet comfortable with familiar items but don’t take the entire array of their “favorite play things”.

· Take care when introducing your pet to other dogs/cats in the household.

· Balance your dog’s needs with the household activities/schedules. Plan ahead. For instance, who will look after your pet if you and your hosts are going out when staying over a weekend or longer.

· Be careful when introducing your animal to children and staff members of your hosts who live or work in the house. Animals can be more nervous in foreign countries and languages with words they don’t recognize. Although “No” may be known in most Latin based languages, the word Niet (Russian) or Nein (German) means nothing to an “English speaking” dog.

· Walk your dog around the neighborhood as a means of spending some time with your pet alone, giving them exercise and possibility of meeting new dogs and their owners.

· Be prepared to replace or repair any items destroyed by your pet. Immediately offer to do so in case of an accident.

· Thank your host for the invitation with a gift before and at the end of your visit. Include a personal note of appreciation with animal themed cards or stationery. Award winning wine bottles with portraits of dogs offered by muttlynchwinery.com make great gifts for when you arrive. Bring something for dog or cat lover that is a themed product to leave your hosts, their pets or their children at the end of your trip. Give thanks from you and your animal for the good time experienced. Factor in age, breed, sex and size of your hosts pet if your gift will be for them. If buying treats, only purchase those made from fresh ingredients with no chemicals or preservatives.

Antique Dog

Toys, treats, wine, books on pets and their care, stuffed animal, or a framed photo of you and your pet make great gifts to leave with your hosts as hello, goodbye and thanks.

This advice brought to you by your friends at www.isastaffing.com – The leaders in Domestic Staffing in Los Angeles.

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