Marta Perrone

Saying thank you is second nature to most people and we tend to take this simple expression of gratitude for granted. However, because it’s so common, a thank you left unsaid becomes a glaring omission. Parents who don’t teach their children to say thank you are doing a great disservice to their children. People think kids who don’t say thanks are just plain rude. Here are 10 common reasons you should teach your kids to say thank you. Manners – First of all, it’s just good manners to say... Read Full Story

LONDON: Attention, job seekers! Wanted: A housekeeper for the British Monarch . Place of work: Buckingham Palace. Salary: 14,200 pounds a year. Perk: To rub shoulders with the Queen and Prince Philip. Yes, the Buckingham Palace is seeking to appoint a housekeeping assistant, one of whose jobs will be to put in the plug, turn on the tap and check the temperature of the water when the bath is full. The successful candidate for the 14,200 pounds-a-year post will be "committed to achieving... Read Full Story

The safety of children used to be primarily the concern of the parents. Today, toy makers have to be more concerned with the safety of their toys than they were in the past. Toys are made with warning labels to protect the manufacturers from liability if parents allow them to be used inappropriately. Some toys that kids love the best also happen to have a measure of danger involved with their use. Here are ten of them that are very popular. Skateboards – The simple fact that skateboards are... Read Full Story

_ Our homes are made up of many things that we utilize to function daily, but what if we looked at parts of our home and thought of ways to create romantic moments: 1)   The Bedroom – traditionally the place where we intertwine with our loved ones, but what about taking this passion outside of the bedroom and finding a new place to tangle. Create a bed of rose pedals elsewhere. 2)   The Bathtub – run a relaxing bath with bath oils, candles, music and a couple of glasses of champagne. 3)   The... Read Full Story

After so many years of working as a domestic agency, many of my clients would request a caregiver for their parents or themselves. When my mother-in-law recently had a stroke, it became a personal matter. Most elderly people that suffer a set-back are first sent to the hospital and must remain there for at least 3 consecutive days to qualify for transfer to a rehab center. It is never pleasant to be in a hospital, but a Rehab center (which in this case was more like a Nursing Home) is worse... Read Full Story

Latinos make up 15% of the total labor force in the United States.  Their share of selected occupations and industries are 22% in Hotel and Food Services and 17% in Private Service (Home and Health Services).  Many Latinos got slammed by the recession which wiped out about 2 million construction jobs. As the economic recovery improves, Latinos are scoring more gains than most other demographic groups. They are the only demographic group that whose employment numbers have returned to pre... Read Full Story

_ This weekend we had a Table Setting class in my home. We served a cup of tea/coffee and some delicious cake as we sat down to discuss the various types of table settings (both formal and informal) and methods for serving.   The attendees being from various countries each shared what they knew about planning a meal and creating a table.  It was interesting to hear about the cultural differences. We then studied various set-ups at the dining room table.   Each student then had an assignment... Read Full Story

I will never forget when Charles McPherson in his charming manner belted out, "...and please do not tell me that the Swiffer gets floors clean!"  Right he was as I have never been a fan of that mop.  Their "wetjet" system is just far too wet for any wood floor and it is simply not cost effective to have to keep buying replaceable pads. For several years, I have been an advocate of the Bona System and have given it a full page in my Household Training guide because this is the mop that has it... Read Full Story

Buying lettuce in pre-washed bags makes my life easier as I rush home from a long day at the office to prepare a home-cooked meal. However, the concern over E-coli continues with all growers and the debate about re-washing is confusing.  There are safety scholars who insist that leafy greens in sealed bags with the pre-washed label from a properly inspected facility do not need to be re-washed unless the label directs it. Food testers at Consumer Reports have urged consumers to be wary, "Even... Read Full Story

People gather their clothes weekly taking them off to the dry cleaners; and in many cases paying a fortune at the end of the month.  The only items that go to the dry cleaners in this house are special dresses, like evening gowns made of delicate fabrics along with my husband's suits.  Although clothes may say on the label "DRY CLEAN ONLY" and be made of silk or wool like these four dresses you see hanging in the picture, all of them were washed in my Whirlpool washer on the "handwash/wool... Read Full Story