Why you need a Personal Assistant!

When is it time to hire a Personal Assistant? The answer is...anytime really! If you are feeling overwhelmed with your job, motherhood, your household, not having enough time to do the things that make you happy, these are just a few examples of how our lives can get out of control and cause us to feel the anxiety and stress on any given day. My team and I are here to help you live a better life! 

I created this concierge style business for you to pick and chose the areas you need help in. I wanted to design a unique company after personally experiencing all of these feelings myself. I remember thinking, "I wish I could just have some help regularly."  Throughout my career, I was a Personal Banker, a Direct Sales Superstar, a Mom, an Executive Assistant, and a home owner living in 1200 square feet (between our family of 4). I am passionate about helping people to have less stress and more time to live a more satisfying life!

I am so proud to offer help to all different types of people! Here are some examples:

Small Business Owners: Are you needing help running the business? What if you could have an Administrative Assistant come into the office (or Virtual) to take care of phone calls, calendar control, schedule travel, filing, check emails, bookkeeping, data entry, etc? What if you don't need someone full time, but just when things are hectic? 

Seniors: Do you need help downsizing? Organizing your home? Getting everything set up with Utilities, doctors, what about running errands, or just help in general because your health isn't what it used to be? Maybe you don't want to overwhelm your kids and need someone else to assist you?

Household Management: Are you having a hard time finding things? Have you been putting off projects you've been wanting to do because you are so focused on work and your family? We can help you to keep up with it all! Professional Organizing, House Sitting, Pet Sitting, directing contractors on renovations or repairs while you are at work. We can help grocery shop, prep, and plan your meals for you. We can run any type of errands too. What if you need your car serviced? We can do it for you!

Wanting to sell your home? Well we can definitely help you here! We can pack, stage, and organize your home so it will sell fast! We can help with the improvements and make everything run smooth before the big day! 

Event Planning: We can do it all! Work Parties, Office Parties, Retirement Parties, Cocktail Parties,  Conferences, Seminars, Dinner Parties, Birthday Parties, Bridal/Baby Showers, Weddings!

To see more services we have to offer please visit; My Full Service List

Here's a Social Media Package we offer businesses!

Here's a link to some of our work:

Before's and After's

Please give us a call to set up a FREE consultation!

Time to Get Kosher!

As personal assistants and professional organizers, we work with people from all walks of life to relieve stress and states of overwhelm. Recently, I had the honor of helping a local Jewish family, prepare their home to host a large Orthodox Passover Seder. Which if you know— you know. It’s a huge undertaking to abide by the strict kosher protocols and to cook for so many people. I jumped at the chance to help and learn more.

My client, who is an incredibly dedicated, busy mother and wife, taught me the whole process of “turning over.” She had separate bins stored in the garage with all of her cookware and utensils for preparing meals just for Passover. There was a bin for cooking Parve (coded green for non animal products), a bin for cooking dairy (coded blue) and a bin for cooking meat (coded red). I set up some large folding tables in the garage and unloaded each of the bins onto the tables so an inventory list could be created.

She explained to me the reasoning behind keeping dairy and meat separate. “It has to do with respect for the animals… that it is cruel to cook or eat an animal in the very milk that was intended to nourish it,” she said. According to Kabbalah, meat represents gevurah (the Divine attribute of Judgment) and milk represents chesed (the Divine attribute of Kindness). These two opposing characteristics are not to be mixed together; through cooking or by consumption.

“We are even supposed to empty out our purses and clothing pockets to make sure no dirt or breadcrumbs are left behind,” she said. Any trace of leavened bread must be removed in the home to prepare for Passover. The biblical narrative relates that the Israelites escaped Egypt in such haste that they could not wait for their bread dough to rise, so they brought flat bread with them instead. On the one hand, matzah eaten during Seder represents redemption and freedom. On the other, it’s also referred to as ”poor man's bread,” serving as a reminder to be humble and to never forget what slavery was like.

After taking inventory, I began to wash all of the parve, dairy and meat cookware and utensils. A separate sink from the main kitchen was used, along with brand new liquid soap and 3 sponges designated for each category. Each time a batch was finished, it was laid out on the kitchen table to dry on an absorbent disposable table cloth. I then drained and cleaned the sink out and refilled it with fresh, hot soapy water for the next cookware category.

I was absolutely fascinated by the process and the symbolic nature of every act. I found myself steeped in ritual during what some would consider a mundane task. I had no idea the amount of work that went into preparing the home, cookware and food so that everything remains kosher. As I dried each cookware item, I stacked like with like on separate shelves on a unit near the kitchen. Next to it was another shelving unit for all of the kosher food items that would only be used to create meals during Passover. As I unpacked and organized all of the beautiful kosher food items I was flooded with memories of when I was five years old and attended my very first (and only) Seder meal.

Growing up, our family friends had an apartment not too far from us and invited us over to join in their seder meal one year. When we arrived we were greeted with big smiles and such hospitality and warmth. I remember being entranced by the table placement and all of the unique dishes and food items on the table. As the ceremony began, I could sense the solemn discipline and how it created such a thick air of sacredness in that small apartment dinning room. Even at my young age, it was palpable.

I was excited to do something new and was absolutely fascinated by the reverence of Passover… the Hebrew blessings, the lighting of the candles, the pouring and drinking of the wine, the washing of the hands and the ceremonious dipping, breaking and nibbling of special foods on special plates. Everything was explained and every single act had some greater meaning. Some greater purpose… just like my small acts of service during this job. It holds a much greater meaning.

All of these tasks that we do at Felicia’s Best may seem menial. However, handling these tasks for our clients has such an amazing impact on their lives and emotional states. I know that the “turning over” I did for this family will ensure that they have a Passover that is simpler and filled with ease. And that brings me so much joy. There is so much sacredness in order and all of us at Felicia’s Best strive to remove that weight from your shoulders.

-Chag Sameach!

Written by Emily Jones,

Team Member and Lead, Felicia's Best Personal Assisting

Sheet Pan Meals for the win!

I am constantly looking for new ideas on how to feed my family nutritious meals that are affordable, easy, and fast! Sheet Pan Meals have been a game-changer for us! You literally put all your ingredients on 1 pan and cook in the oven. Most meals are averaging $10-$15 each. It's such a great way to stretch the dollar!

This meal was a chicken and veggie recipe:

Chicken thighs

Seasoning

Baby carrots

Green beans

Garlic and Onion

Drizzle olive oil over your ingredients, season, and mix with a spoon. Choose the quantity and sheet pan size based on your family size. Make 2 sheet pans if you'd like leftovers for the next day.

Bake in the oven for about an hour at 350. You seriously can't mess them up!

I took these photos back in the fall (as you can tell by my decor) but found that now is a great time to share this concept since we are all needing new ideas during COVID-19.

Aussie wanted to jump in the photo. He loves to see what comes out of the oven.

Here is my Pinterest Board of more Sheet Pan Meals.

https://www.pinterest.com/feliciasbest/sheet-pan-meals/