Practice a Random Act Of Kindness This Holiday Season

All of us at The Maids would like to ask a favor of its blog followers and clients. We would like each of you to do one or more Random Acts of Kindness this holiday season. After you've done your Random Act, we'd like you to come back and share your experience with us! It can be a small act, like smiling at your grumpy neighbor or paying the toll for the next car behind you at the toll booth...or perhaps something bigger! We don't care, we just want to hear your stories and share them with you. And please don't be timid about sharing the smallest of kind acts...it's the little changes that make the world a better place!

~~~~Kindness Ideas~~~~

1.) Offer a couple hours of free babysitting to parents

2.) Clean up graffiti

3.) Donate used books to the library

4.) Give carepacks to the homeless

5.) Make a new friend

6.) Study with a class mate

7.) Pick up groceries for a neighbor

8.) Give directions to someone who is lost

9.) Talk with a homeless person

10.) Pick up trash

"Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness."
-Kahlil Gabron (1883-1931); poet, artist, author

Dazzled, not Frazzled by Holiday Gatherings

If you are planning a holiday or New Year gathering, all the preparations may be leaving you feeling a bit weary or anxious. Take heart, it isn’t as difficult as it may seem. The effortless tips below will help you to prepare for a holiday dinner party and make sure you get the most out of your big affair:

**** Create a menu ensuring guests don’t have any allergies to particular foods. Then gather recipes and create a grocery list.
**** Head to the store 2 - 3 days in advance of the party. This ensures produce and ingredients are fresh, but any frozen foods, like turkey, will have time to thaw in the refrigerator. Try to get everything you need in one trip.
**** Wash any linen like tablecloths, placemats or napkins you’ll use as part of your table décor.
**** Schedule a clean from The Maids the day before the party to get your home guest-ready. We guarantee you’ll love our holiday presence!
**** Prepare foods early, if possible. Desserts can often be made in advance.
**** Set and style your table the morning of the party. You will be glad this is complete before the afternoon becomes hectic with cooking and preparing final details for your guests’ arrivals.
**** Remove extra items from the counters in the kitchen to give it an open feel. Find extra space in the refrigerator where you can quickly put leftovers.
**** Create areas for extra seating, where guests will gather. This often is in the kitchen, so plan ahead.
**** Be sure the coat closet has room for extra coats, or designate a bedroom for coats.
**** If you have a dishwasher, make sure it is cleaned out before guests arrive so you can stash dirty dishes inside to keep up on the cleanup.
**** Have a “cleaning bucket” ready for cleaning emergencies. Make sure to include carpet cleaner and an absorbent cloth. A spot from a spilled drink is easy to clean if you are prepared for the possible accident.
If time is a factor, consider eliciting the help of others or hiring services to help you prepare for your dinner party. Don’t get too caught up with the details – a dinner party should be enjoyable for you too. Remember to take time to slow down and take pleasure in your time with friends and family.

Yes Virginia, The Maids really do hand wash floors!

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and The Maids really do hand wash floors. And beyond, dusting, scrubbing, straightening, disinfecting and vacuuming, they will also leave you with sparkling clean, germ-free doorknobs, light switches and phone receivers. Believe in the home service that is recommended to friends and family by 96% of customers, and invite The Maids over for a thorough holiday cleaning this season.

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Your personal four-person cleaning team will clean your home four times as efficiently, so they promise not to overstay their welcome. Just long enough to take out the dirt, dust, allergens, and pet dander, and give you a deep clean like you've never seen before.The Maids clean under the couch, in between the cushions, on top of your ceiling fans and in places you did not even know there was dirt. Their attention to detail is unmatched in the industry.

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And, yes Virginia, each team is bonded and insured to guarantee you get the best clean imaginable. No wonder The Maids score more referrals than deals on Black Friday. Give yourself a gift for a change- it will feel like a miracle.

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Merry Christmas Virginia!

Are you having a hard time thinking of that perfect gift to give your loved one or special friend? How about giving the gift of time? A gift certificate from The Maids is the perfect answer! This promises to be your best idea yet!!! Why not give the gift of time, so that your loved one can sit back and relax and know that their house is being taken care of. Give the gift of a service that has one spotless reputation- The Maids is the answer this holiday season!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from The Maids

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

From all of us here at The Maids, may you have a joyous and festive Thanksgiving!!