The Maids of NH: Happy 2011!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Happy 2011!

It's a brand new year, and here at The Maids we are more committed than ever to meeting the needs of our customers and their homes and providing the most trusted and reliable house cleaning service in NH.
Innovation is the name of the game for us this year! We will be focusing on more extensive and detailed training for all of our Team Leaders - strengthening their leadership skills and ability to focus on each of their customer's needs.
We look forward to meeting new customers this year and continuing to develop relationships with those who have questions or feedback regarding their service. Call our office and Jennifer, Tara or Kristina will be happy to speak with you! We will also be extending our office hours to some nights and weekends to assist customers with changes to their service or estimates for cleaning their homes.
We are looking forward to expanding our Bedford and Somersworth offices and we are excited about our growing customer base in those areas.
You may have noticed some of our newly detailed cars around town - visit our web site at www.maidsnh.com and check out our new look for 2011!

As usual, The Maids will continue to get involved with our community again this year. 2010 ended with 3rd prize for our Gingerbread Beach House, which was on display at Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth. It was a record year for us at collecting toys for Toys for Tots! Because of the generosity of our customers, we donated boxes and boxes of toys and goodies to families in need this Christmas. From hosting blood drives and sponsoring local sports teams to working with Cleaning For a Reason, we truly love being able to meet new people and help make a difference. For four out of five years we have been the top corporate sponsor in our area for the Multiple Sclerosis MS Walk. We will have another enormous group walking again this year. In April, our very own Jennifer Hilton will run the Boston Marathon to raise funds for The MS Society! Call our office if you'd like to sponsor Jennifer and help her contribute to a great cause.
Happy New Year from The Maids! We look forward to speaking with you.

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Seven Safety Tips for Cooking Outdoors

#1 Never use gasoline, alcohol or kerosene to light a charcoal grill - doing so could cause an explosion.
#2 Do not add charcoal starter fluid to warm or hot coals - flames could flare up.
#3 Keep a fire extinguisher or a big jug or spray bottle filled with water nearby for fire emergencies.
#4 Use heat-resistant cooking mitts and long-handled utensils to prevent burns.
#5 Never wear flowing or loose garments when you grill - the fabric could brush across the cooking area and catch fire.
#6 Place the grill far away from the picnic table and seating areas.
#7 Unwashed racks can harbor bacteria that could contaminate food the next time you use the grill. Before you store the rack, clean it well, using a brass-bristle brush to remove all debris.

Great Gift Ideas for Frequent Flyers

If you're heading to the Galapagos Islands or the South of France or even a beach siesta in Maui, chances are you are on vacation and the prospect of flying seems glamorous and exciting.
Most frequent flyers, on the other hand, are traveling for business purposes and usually have two things on their mind: to get to their destination and arrive back home safely and with as few annoyances and discomforts as possible and with all their faculties intact.
What could possibly be that bad about traveling for work, you might ask.
Many a frequent flyer can usually spin a tale of woe about waiting in long lines, getting delayed, getting squashed, jet lag, germs, unexpected layovers in the middle of nowhere, bad food, lost luggage, being homesick, outrageous prices at airport restaurants, red-eye flights, second-rate in-flight movies, eardrum blasting changes in air pressure and the occasional lunatic in seat 24B.
Here is a list of gift ideas that will help make flying the friendly skies a more pleasant experience for frequent flyers.
Sleep Sack - This is a small, unique gift that will help the busy traveler de-stress and catch some sleep in the air. Find a small, soft sack or pouch at the local health food store and drop in some sub lingual melatonin, which is a natural, pleasant tasting tablet that is placed under the tongue before drifting off to sleep. Add some Breathe Right Nasal Strips, a sleep mask and some therapy oils. And don't forget the ear plugs!
Journals - Journals make great gifts, especially for on-the-go travelers who would like to take a few minutes to organize their to-do lists and busy schedules. Writing a letter or drawing is always a calming distraction and stress reliever. Why not write your own letter on the first few pages as a pleasant surprise?
AMEX Gift Cards - These will come in handy for the frazzled traveler who may have forgotten something they cannot love without and need to make a quick purchase before hopping on the plane. They can spend the balance at their leisure and won't have to worry about having cash on hand.
Wallet Sized Photo Book - This will make a great gift for the frequent flyer who suffers from homesickness. Stuff it full of photos of family, friends and pets and it's bound to bring a smile and a feeling of comfort while traveling far distances.
Distinctive Tags for Luggage - Anything bright or with an unusual pattern will help the harried air traveler grab the right luggage off of the conveyor belt the first time it comes around. This will also prevent another traveler for mistaking the luggage for his own.
Audio Books/Portable CD/MP3 Player - For the frequent flyer who does not want to sit through a tenth showing of When Harry Met Sally, this gift is a must-have. You can also record your own personal message on a CD for their amusement.
Stress Doll - This handy item makes a great gift for under-pressure flyers who want to simply squeeze their way to serenity.
Whatever gift you choose, just remember that being comfortable and keeping the mind occupied are two things that most frequent travelers strive for. And certainly we can all agree that the greatest gift for any traveler is the sight of a loved one's smiling face upon arriving home.

PET CORNER

Keeping Your Hot Dog Cool This Summer

Summer is fast approaching and we are all looking forward to getting out of the house for some summer fun with our families. And for a lot of us, this means taking along the family pet to join in the festivities.

Just as we take precautions to protect ourselves during the summer season, there are also ones we can take to ensure the safety of our four-legged friends. The last thing any pet owner wants is to have their summer fun spoiled by an unexpected emergency or illness. Let's face it - hot weather can make us all a little cranky and uncomfortable - and when you're feeling hot and bothered you can bet your pet is feeling the same!

Here are some tips to make sure your pet stays safe and comfortable this summer.

Dogs and Cars - Most people know that leaving a pet locked in a car on a hot, humid day can be deadly to the animal. But even on the mildest of summer days, it is important that you do not leave your pet alone in a parked car for even a minute! Cars heat up quicker than you can say "woof" and leaving pets locked in can kill them in a matter of minutes! If you ever happen to see a small child or animal in a parked car on a hot day, do NOT hesitate to take action and call the police or fire department - time is critical!

Heat Stroke - If you think your pet is in distress, look for signs of heat stroke. Excessive panting, bright or dark red tongue and gums, staggering, stupor, seizures and vomiting are all signs that your pet needs immediate attention. Shrt-nosed breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs, heavily-coated breeds, and pets with heart or respiratory problems are more at-risk for heat stroke. If you suspect heat-stroke, get your pet to the hospital immediately. Use cool water (NOT iced water) to cool the animal. Offer iced cubes for licking until you can reach the clinic. Just because your pet seems to cool off, do not assume everything is fine. Heat-stroke can cause many problems (liver, brain, kidney damage) so it's best to bring him in for blood tests and an examination.

Jogging and Exercise - Is your pampered pooch also your exercise buddy? Does he jog with you or run alongside your bike while you work out? Remember that you have the ability to change or shed clothing - your pet does not. You also have the ability to sweat more. Dogs are still essentially jogging with their winter gear on! They can only cool themselves by panting and they sweat a very small amount from the pads of their feet. And unlike us humans, dogs will never complain when they feel like quitting s- they will simply push on - no matter what - to keep up with you! Do Fido a favor and don't put him through unnecessary stress this summer. Try altering his exercise routine by going out for a brisk walk in the early morning or evening hours. Also try a simple stay-cool tactic by soaking a bandanna in icy cold water and then putting it on your pet before going for a walk.

Housing - If you keep your pet outdoors, make sure he has access to shade and fresh water at all times. Provide him some relief (and a little fun) by hosing him off with cool water before you leave for work in the morning, or at other opportune times throughout the day. If you are able to supervise your pet while outdoors, he may enjoy romping around in a child's wading pool filled half-way with cool water.

Water Safety - Despite popular belief, not all dogs are expert swimmers by nature. Consider protecting your pet the same way you would a member of your human family: with a life preserver. Even the best of swimmers can drown due to sheer exhaustion and not being able to figure out how to get out of a pool. If boating with your pet, a life preserver can save him if he falls overboard or becomes tired from swimming in choppy waters or a strong current. You can buy decent, inexpensive life jackets for your pet at your local pet supply outlet.

Backyard Safety - Make sure to restrict your pet's access to lawns and other parts of your backyard that have been recently sprayed with fertilizers or insecticides. These can be toxic to your pets. Be diligent about keeping them away from your garage, or the spot where you park your car to keep them from licking up any antifreeze. During the warmer months, your car may leak this fluid, and it's sweet taste may be alluring to your pet. This is also highly toxic and ingestion could prove fatal. Try and look for propylene glycol, which is a much safer alternative to the normally used ethylene glycol antifreeze. It costs a bit more than the regular kind, but the extra pennies can add up to a whole lot of peace of mind. If your pet has ingested antifreeze, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Parasite Prevention - As anyone who has ever taken a walk outside on a cool summer night knows, mosquitoes come out in droves during the summer months. They carry heart worm disease and can be detrimental to your pet's health. Also keep an eye out for ticks, fleas and other nuisances. Make sure your pet has the proper vaccinations and medications to ward off illnesses due to those pesky parasites.

Summer Travel - If your family vacation includes Fido, make sure to check out the areas you're visiting on-line and make a list of veterinary clinics located in the areas you are visiting. You are much better off being prepared for an emergency rather than having one and not knowing where to turn.

What Not to Feed Fido

Before assuming that the foods we find pleasing to the palate are safe to feed Fido, remember that not all human foods are safe for our four-legged friends. Here is a list of ten common groups of foods that could prove fatal if ingested by your dog.

CANDY - Candy - especially sugar-free chewing gum, can be especially harmful to dogs because it usually contains a sweetener called Xylitol. Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures.

GRAPES and RAISINS - Even extremely small portions of these fruits can cause kidney failure in dogs.

APPLES, CHERRIES and APRICOTS - The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which can be fatal if ingested by your dog. Unlike humans, dogs will usually devour these fruits, pits and all.

AVOCADO - Both the fruit and the pit are toxic to dogs, with ingestion resulting in respiratory distress and heart failure.

ONIONS and ONION POWDER - Onions contain sulfoxides and disulphides which can kill red blood cells and cause severe anemia.

WALNUTS and MACADAMIA NUTS - These nuts contain toxins that may affect your dog's muscles, digestive system and nervous system.

PIZZA BREAD DOUGH - Any yeast based dough can expand in the dog's stomach, causing bloat that may lead to death.

BONES - Bones from foods such as chicken, turkey and beef can splinter and cause the dog to experience internal bleeding.
FRIED and FATTY FOODS - The animal fat in these foods can cause pancreatitis - which can stay with your pet for life.

MOLDY, SPOILED FOODS - If you wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to your dog. Moldy foods contain a myriad of toxins that can cause serious health concerns.

For more information on how to make sure your furry best friend won't eat something he shouldn't, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association's web site at http://www.avma.org/.

The Maids of NH

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Happy 2011!

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~Recommended Reading for June~

~June~

Seven Safety Tips for Cooking Outdoors

Great Gift Ideas for Frequent Flyers

PET CORNER

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