Chocolates on MY Pillow

Get Organized - Free Your Mind!

2011-10-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

Tell yourself that no matter what, some level of clutter with a child is going to happen.
Begin with messes and clutter that you see every day. Organize your kitchen, garage, and family room before your hallway closet.
Use drawer dividers for socks, underwear, lingerie, and tiny items, to keep them separated and organized. Use this same principle to organize your silverware, with clearly defined places for every fork and knife, or drawers for ties and socks or, underwear. Think in this same way for every aspect of your home. This will save many hours of searching for things. It will dramatically cut down on the clutter of items left out "for now" or "until I find a place for it." Develop a new mantra: everything has its place and a place for everything!
Allocate everything in your house a place. This way your family will know exactly where to find it and where to put it away, when they search for something they need.
Keep items that are used frequently in places where you can reach them without stooping or bending, and store them close to the place they will be needed.
Establish one defined place in your house for storing library books, and end a house-wide hunt when it is time to read or return them.
Hang hooks for your keys and purse at the entry to your home, so each time you walk in, you can hang them up.
Get rid of all junk drawers, or allow yourself just one that you clear out once a week or more. When you establish certain items are being used repeatedly, designate a drawer for those.
Enlist a new rule: throw out one old thing for every new purchase that enters your home.
Make a mental note to observe what things pile up in your house and where they cluster, and then come up with a place nearby that becomes the official home where those things will reside. For this purpose baskets, shelves, and folders will work well. Set aside one basket for you and your partner for incoming mail, bills, and receipts and letters.
Never go up or down empty-handed when using stairs. Always grab some items that belong to upstairs rooms and quickly put it away while you are there.
Create a number of brightly marked folders for discount coupons, invitations and directions, and other time-sensitive papers that just clutter your counters.
Things you don't need any longer:
- Expired medications.
- Clothes you no longer wear.
- Extra paper or plastic grocery bags.*
- Makeup and samples you have never worn.
- Sunscreen that's expired or more than one year old.
- Organize your coupons and throw out all that have expired.
- Cookbooks you rarely use. Cut out your favorite recipes only.
- Magazines you meant to read but have never taken the time for.

You will free your mind to remember your daily chores by getting rid of your clutter and organizing your home top to bottom. Be vigilant about cleaning about once a month and you will find it much easier to keep up, week-by-week.

*Stuff your crumpled plastic bags from your grocer inside a cardboard roll like a hand towel roll. Keep under your sink.

How an errand assistant can make your life easier by giving you the freedom to spend your time doing the things you enjoy....

2011-09-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

How many times have you heard yourself say "if only there where more hours in the day" or "I wish I had an extra pair of hands", with all the tasks that need to be taken care of life can become very overwhelming! A personal errand service can relieve the stress and give you the freedom to spend your time doing whats most important to you.

Take a minute to think about how many errands that need your attention, taking away your time from family and work. Grocery shopping, personal shopping, servicing your vehicles, pet appointments, child care transportation, after school activities, scheduling personal or professional appointments, bill paying, organizing, prescriptions, movies, books, to go meals, dry cleaning and the list goes on! Now imagine having a personal errand assistant who has taken care of your shopping and put the items away, picked up your children and accompanied them to their after school activities, scheduled your appointments, paid your bills, your vehicle has been serviced and returned to you with no interruptions to your day, your pets are back from the groomers or veterinarian, and all of the "little things" have been picked up and dropped off, all you have to do is enjoy your free time! Whether you choose a customized package or just need help with something specific such as planning a wedding or event, help with the holidays, making travel arrangements, or house sitting while you are on vacation, a personal errand assistant can take care of it all and more!

A professional errand service is also an excellent resource for senior citizens. As we all know, life becomes more challenging as we get older. You deserve to have some help with everyday tasks, your personal assistant will schedule and drive you to and from all of your appointments, stock your refrigerator, organize your weekly medications, accompany you to your favorite activities, they can even help with your grandchildren so that you can enjoy every priceless moment you have with them!

Article Source:
Title: Errand Services and Personal Assisting can give you back your free time
Summary: How an errand assistant can make your life easier by giving you the freedom to spend your time doing the things you enjoy....
http://www.pubarticles.com/article-errand-services-and-personal-assisting-can-give-you-back-your-free-time-1314896927.html

FROM THE CONCIERGE'S DESK: June in Chicago

2011-06-03T14:04:00.001-07:00

There's so much to do in Chicago during the summer months especially. I always say, "Chicago is one of the best places to visit when it's warm." Below are just a few suggestions that I have for you to consider.

57th Street Art Fair
Once again, during the first full weekend in June, artists and art lovers will reunite at Chicago’s oldest, juried art fair in the historic neighborhood streets of Hyde Park for a true celebration of. Come participate in the popular Art Buying Boot Camp, a guided tour through the fair with art buying experts.
Date: June 4 – 5
Time: 10am – 5pm
Location: Dorchester & Kimbark Ave. 57th street
www.57thstreetartfair.org

Sausage Fest Chicago
This Wrigleyville Festival, formerly the Lake View Music Fest, will feature live music and arts and crafts besides the meat it is now named for.
Date: June 4- 5
Time: 12pm-10pm
Location: 1000 W. Addison
www.chicagoevents.com

June Jam
The event will feature kid free entertainment, food, game, local venders, contest and other fun activities.
Date: June 4-5
Location: 3500 N Hoyne
Time: 12pm-10pm
www.starevents.com/events/june-jam

Rib Fest Chicago
Averaging over 50,000 pound of ribs and BBQ from 2 dozen restauranst and rib contest will be judged on Sunday.
Date: June 10 -12
Time: 6/10 5pm-10pm 6/11/6/12 12pm-10pm
Location: 4000-4135 N Lincoln Ave.
www.ribfest-chicago.com

Party at Mike’s
With the Old Town Art Fair, features a beanbag tournament and three days of live music, including headliners Maggie Speaks, Hairbanger’s Ball and 7 heaven.
Date: June 10-12 Friday
Time: 5pm-10pm Saturday 3:30pm-10:00pm Sunday 3pm-9pm
Location: 1633 N. Cleveland
www.st-mikes.org

Just For Laugh
Five nights 12 venues and dozens of comedians
Date: June 14-18
Location: Chicago Theatre
Time: various times
www.justforlaughschicago.com

Chicago Blues Fest
Tribute performers include David “Honey Boy Edwards”, Duwayne Bernside Micheal “Iron Man” Burks, and many more
Date: June 10-12
Location: Grant Park Jackson Blvd. & Columbus Drive
Time: 11am-9:30pm

Taste of Randolph
You can explore handcrafted and merchant goods along with live entertainment and cooking demonstrations.
Date: June 17-19
Location: 900 w. Randolph
Time: June 17, 5pm-11pm, June 18 2pm -11pm, & June 19 2pm – 10pm

Grant Park Music Festival
Guest conductors and musicians session the Grant Park orchestra versions of songs from Brahms to Broadway
Date: June 15 – August 20 every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday expect for 6/29
Location: Pritzker Pavilion and Millennium Park Address 201 E. Randolph
www.grantparkmusicfestival.com

Custer’s Last Stand
Art festival with food venders commercial stands from 150 local business live music and an eco-village that features healthy cooking demos and eco- friendly vendors.
Date: June 18-19
Location: Main & Chicago, Evanston, IL
Time: 10am -9pm
www.custerfair.com

6 Corner’s BBQ Fest
This new Portage Park Festival offers music, a market, and meat.
Date: June 16-19
Location: 4050 N Milwaukee
Time: Saturday 12pm -10pm, Sunday 12pm-8pm
www.sixcornerschicago.com

Everyone needs more hands and more time.

2010-12-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

There are only 24 hours in a day, everyone needs sleep, and time flies! We all have had an experience of not being able to complete all that we needed to do in a day and thus we dealt with frustration.

Dual income families, executives, lawyers, senior citizens, busy professionals, commuters, and others are all candidates for outsourcing many of their mundane errands. The mere idea of an errand preoccupies thoughts and actions during the course of a work day. A balance needs to be found between work and life. It is in the best interest of the employer to adopt work/life strategies based on the evidence of positive returns to the bottom line, the positive returns to employees, their families, and to society. It’s been found that work/life programs helped reduce turnover, lateness, and absenteeism on the job.

There is no invisible wall between work life and home life. Business success depends on strategies that enable employees to succeed in both arenas. Work/life is a win-win strategy for all parties involved. Some statistics: 1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce families and Work Institute revealed 88% of employees said their job required them to work longer hours and 68% complained of having to work at faster speeds. In 2000 Americans worked 1 month longer than the Japanese and 3 months longer than the Germans according to the International Labor Organization. Another 64% of Americans reported time pressures on working families are getting worse according to the National Partnership for Women and Families in a Family Matters Survey in 1998; An unprecedented 70% of working fathers and mothers reported they did not have enough time with their children as reported by the 1997 Study of the Changing Workforce, Families and Work Institute.

There is no doubt that both business and personal outsourcing will be a definite part of the future. There are more responsibilities with careers, children, family members, and household chores. There is not even enough time to take care of personal concerns. Meeting all the demands placed on time is becoming virtually impossible. The work/life balance is askew and there is no immediate solution, except for outsourcing to help solve the problems.

Concierge and Errand opportunities are appearing nationwide to meet the growing demands on time. In 1985 there were only 50 concierge and errand businesses, whereas, in 2004, there were over 5000 such businesses and the numbers keep growing as the demand for the services increases and people wise up to the help that is available.

Within the Chicago area, Chocolates on MY Pillow is open for business and available to service all needs. To contact the owner, Tisha Littlejohn, call 800.883.8713 ext.1 or visit www.chocolatesomp.com.

Art Loop Open Launches With A Loop Art Crawl

2010-10-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Chicago’s inaugural Art Loop Open, a major new art competition judged by the public, will launch with a festive Loop Art Crawl throughout the downtown area, Friday, October 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On display at the 10 official Art Loop Open venues will be 191 pieces of artwork by Chicago talent: Block 37 (108 N. State St.), Hard Rock Hotel Chicago (230 N. Michigan Ave.), Hotel Burnham (1 W. Washington St.), Macy’s (111 N. State St.), Merchandise Mart (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza), French Market/Metra Mart (131 N. Clinton), Palmer House (17 E. Monroe St.), Hotel Allegro (171 W. Randolph St.), theWit Hotel (201 N. State St.) and W Chicago-City Center (172 W. Adams St.).

During the Art Crawl participants are encouraged to visit each venue and begin voting for their favorite artworks, while enjoying specially priced “Artini” cocktails and other offerings. Many of the artists will be on hand that evening to discuss their works.

If you can’t make it on the 15th, don’t fret! Voting for the First Round of Art Loop Open is open through October 21. On Friday, Oct. 22, the top ten vote-getters will be announced and will compete in a week-long final round of voting, at which time each person gets to only vote for their top selection.

The three winners with the most public votes will be announced on Friday, Oct. 29, and will receive $25,000 (1st), $15,000 (2nd) and $10,000 (3rd), in addition to other prizes presented by organizations including the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, theWit Hotel, Palmer House, 3Arts, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., Hard Rock Hotel and the Chicago Art Dealers Association.

Join us to Visit.View.Vote. in Art Loop Open October 15 – 29!

For more information, visit ArtLoopOpen.

Chicago’s Pitchfork Festival 2010 Boasts Can’t-Miss Bands!

2010-07-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

Pitchfork Fest is this weekend! It’s Lollapalooza’s little hipster cousin, although it’s not so little anymore. Over the years the acts have gotten much bigger, as have the crowds. Yet, it is definitely more manageable than Lolla, not as stressful and better for people watching. That means more neon sunglasses, tiny clothes and fedoras galore, to say the least. As far as the performers this year, here are some highlights:

The Tallest Man On Earth (Friday @ 4 p.m.) – This Swedish folk singer wowed many with his 2008 album “Shallow Grave” and wowed even more so during his tour. The obvious comparison is to Bob Dylan, but of course there is nothing wrong with that because he pulls it off with real talent and in a refreshing way.

Broken Social Scene (Friday @ 7:20 p.m.) – Not sure how I can call myself a fan of indie music if I still haven’t seen them live, but oh well. I plan on making it happen this year. The Canadian ensemble of many individual talents is fresh off of their new album and I’m looking forward to seeing those performed as well as the great collection of songs they already have. New tracks “Sweetest Kill” and “Texico B*****s” are addicting.

Titus Andronicus (Saturday @ 3:20 p.m.) – These guys have exploded onto the scene and have proven they not only can put on a show but that they have some deep sense of purpose going on behind the punk sound they are often letting loose. See them.

Wolf Parade (Saturday @ 6:15 p.m.) – I have been a fan of these guys from the start and love their music. I love them live as well. I would be hard-pressed to say how they plan on fitting all of my favorite songs into their set, and I’m sure they won’t, given that they now have an impressive third album to add to their repertoire. Yet, their time on stage will be a true highlight for me this weekend.

LCD Soundsystem (Saturday @ 8:30 p.m.) – Done and done. They’re awesome. Their new album is awesome. And their show at Metro last month was the best show I’ve seen this year. It’s nothing but fun, and the ever-entertaining and ego-centric lead singer James Murphy will surely pack a punch.

Beach House (Sunday @ 3:20 p.m.) – A no-brainer. Despite the heavy competition in a fantastic Sunday schedule, this is a must-see. Man, can she sing and their show is amazing from beginning to end. Not to mention, their album “Teen Dream” is probably in my top ten of the decade. I’m serious. Don’t tell the guys.

Surfer Blood (Sunday @ 4:45 p.m.) – I really like these youngsters from Florida. They have a great summer, beachy sound as you can probably tell from their name. I am excited to see them live for the first time. I’ve heard good stuff.

Major Lazer (Sunday @ 6:15 p.m.) – I know I will be needing some high energy after a long day and even longer weekend, which is why I will see this duo of Diplo and DJ Switch over Neon Indian. It won’t be an easy choice though.

Sleigh Bells (Sunday @ 7:40 p.m.) – They must’ve picked up even more steam than I thought to get this time slot. Their music is loud and sometimes repetitive but it seems made to be enjoyed live in an outdoor party setting. It’s another difficult choice as I will have to miss Big Boi, but I look forward to this show as I expect them to really end my festival weekend with a bang. And although I have always liked their music, I think by this time I will have a limited desire to see Pavement, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t!

Have fun!

From http://blog.conciergepreferred.com

Five Balancing Acts for New Business Owners

2010-04-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks http://www.corporatejourney2u.com/business/five-balancing-acts-for-new-business-owners.html for this post.

There are five different services that could be providing some balancing acts for new business owners:

1. Family Care
2. Health
3. Meals
4. Office Help
5. Errands Services

When it comes to family cares matter, all parents of small children should have a backup plan for child care options. There has been many websites that sprung up online to serve parents across the world offering parents an easier way to find child care, elder care and even pet care by area. In most large cities, 24-hour day-care centers are popping up to cater to employees or business owners with odd work hours.

Walk-in clinics,24-hour vets, or pediatric pharmacy windows are some of the health options you can look for if you don’t want the waiting hours in a physician’s office.

Make-and-take meal assembly stores are the rage with dozens of chains, franchises, and stand-alone stores around the country, providing meals for working parent in getting dinner on the table. If you prefer those order on demand food, the Internet has made it easy for workers to order meals online and have it delivered to their door.

Virtual assistants will be a good office help to your small business. Virtual assistants can give administrative support remotely without the cost of a full-time employee. For example, the use of a Small Business Answering Service will save you quite some costing while having the same services as provided by a full time employee.

For your information, most virtual assistants work from their home offices and receive their project instructions by phone, fax, e-mail or even instant message. Other than secretarial services, some virtual assistant may also specialize in marketing, graphic and Web design, IT support or even translations.

Errand services will do the small things (buying pet food, plant watering, post office runs) or the big ones (personal shopping, travel coordination, party planning. There are a few hundred personal concierges throughout the United States.

You should find some creative solutions to conflicting demands, and new strategies to juggle responsibilities from time to time as the business environment is ever evolving with the advance of technology. Whether it is about becoming a millionaire, having multiple streams of passive income, or retire young retire rich, it is important for you to be living a purposeful life.

In summary, an unresolved conflict between partners, joint venturers, shareholders, or limited liability company members may destroy an otherwise promising endeavor. So it is very important to take care of the five balancing acts for new business owners to ensure a bright future for business and successful personal life.

We helped save Easter!

2010-04-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

For the last 3 years Chocolates on MY Pillow has provided services to the employees of RSM McGladrey. RSM McGladrey offers our services as a benefit to their employees. Being a leading tax firm, the employees have their hands full the first half of each year. That’s when we step in to offer personal assistance when they need it.

Chocolates on MY Pillow’s owner, Tisha Littlejohn, recently received a thank you email from one of the employees who we recently assisted. Because of our assistance, she said she was able to have family over for Easter dinner. It’s a good feeling knowing we helped someone to that degree. That email put a smile on all the faces of the Chocolates on MY Pillow family.

"We remind you how much you value your time."

Facebook vs. Twitter For Business: Social Media Marketing Strategy Study

2010-03-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks to http://www.onlineprnews.com for this article

SEO Social Media firm compares the business and entrepreneurial benefits of Twitter verse Facebook from an Internet and viral marketing perspective.

Online PR News – 02-March-2010 – SEO Social Media Internet Marketing firm analyzes Twitter and Facebook to determine which Social Media Marketing strategy or platform is best for businesses and online entrepreneurs. The analysis focuses on Twitter and Facebook strategies from a Viral Marketing, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, and niche perspective. What follows is an extremely condensed version of the original study.

The 1st category focused on Traffic and User metrics including but not limited to the following:

Facebook US and Global traffic ranking: 2
7 day Average daily time on Site by Users: 32.2 minutes
Twitter US and Global traffic ranking: 12
7 day Average daily time on Site by Users: 7.8 minutes

Facebook was declared to have the advantage due to its sheer size, traffic volume, and metrics such as Time on Site.

The 2nd category involved a comparison of both platforms as an online destination for potential clients in the Business to Consumer market.

Facebook was declared to have the advantage because its format allows for the inclusion of photos, detailed information, multiple outbound links, videos, and other business to consumer applications. Facebook also facilitates the building of a large network of followers in the shortest amount of time to help market a consumer product or service.

“The intention of this study was not to declare who was better because they both provide invaluable Social Media Marketing benefits. The goal was to try and determine which platform was the best fit for a particular business application or niche.”

The 3rd category involved a comparison of both platforms as an online destination for potential clients in the Business to Business market.

Twitter was declared to have the advantage because the study indicated it provides more Viral Marketing flexibility while requiring less followers. Viral Marketing is a core business to business social media application for service recognition and other benefits. Popular industry related Tweets are redistributed creating a domino effect even if you don't have thousands of followers.

The 4th category involved a comparison of their market research benefits.

Twitter was declared to have an advantage because its search features can be efficiently used to monitor what people are saying about your company, service, product and even your competition. Twitter is also effective for tracking increasing or declining trends.

The 5th category involved a comparison of internal Viral Marketing benefits.

Facebook was declared to have an advantage because it's much easier to build a larger following. Additionally, Facebook's community 'wall' feature is much more interactive than Twitter’s internal communication features.

The 6th category involved a comparison of external Viral Marketing benefits

Twitter was declared to have an advantage because it has greater external Internet reach. Google's 'Real Time' search feature often streams live tweets. Additionally, a comparison of the number of Tweets an independent article/release receives verse the number times they are shared by Facebook accounts appears to strongly favor Twitter.

The 7th category involved a comparison of using each platform for direct Internet communication.

Facebook was declared to have an advantage because it has an instant message feature that allows you to communicate with other users globally.

The study concludes that in order to maximize your Social Media Internet marketing results it's best to create a presence on both. However, if trying to decide which one you want to engage first, or where to spend the most amount of your available time. It's important to perform basic Internet Market research, apply the findings to your Target Audience, and weigh the strengths of each platform.

What on Earth is a Personal Concierge????

2010-02-04T04:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to http://detailscovered.blogspot.com for this blog.

You may have used a concierge at a hotel….or at least looked at them as you walked through the lobby. Maybe you were offered the use of the concierge at the real estate company you were using to buy or sell your home. But what on earth is a personal concierge and what type of person would use one?

Hopefully this will clear it up for you!

If you haven’t figured out how to clone yourself, odds are you could probably use the services of a personal concierge once in a while! We all lead busy, hectic lives and most of the time it seems our to-do lists are so long that they will never be completed. Some of us have been lucky enough to manage to keep all the balls we are juggling in the air. That is, until something unexpected happens (i.e. an illness, an unexpected visitor, a big project at work or school, an accident, a minor or major disaster at home). Suddenly, a few of those balls get dropped. Others of us haven’t been so lucky and need to try to find a way to bring everything into balance. That is where a personal concierge can step in.

Here are some examples of what a personal concierge can do for you:

Errand Services:

Ship packages
Shop for party supplies
Make bank deposits
Return movies and/or books
Dry cleaning drop-off or pick-up
Deliver forgotten lunches to school

In-home Waiting Services:

You no longer need to take off work to sit at home waiting for a repairman; while something gets installed; while a contractor works up an estimate; or waiting for something to be delivered. We’ll make sure that what’s supposed to happen is what happens and we’ll make sure everything is in good order and that your home is locked up when we leave.

Gift Service:

Do you need a hostess gift or a present for a birthday, holiday, or anniversary? Just tell us what you’re looking for and what you want to spend and we’ll get the gift, get it wrapped, and have it delivered or deliver it to you in time for the occasion.

Modified House Sitting:

We can check on your home while you are out of town to water plants, bring in the mail and the papers, and make sure that all is well while you are gone. All you have to do is let us know what you need and we’ll see that it gets done. You will have our cell phone numbers in case you need us to check on something you’ve forgotten while you are gone and we can call you if something unexpected happens or if there is an emergency. If something unforeseen were to happen in your home while you were gone we could act as your liaison until you arrive home and if you desired we could start the process of getting any issues resolved.
Spend the winter in a warmer climate but wish you had someone who could drop by your house on a weekly basis? We can be that someone. We will visually inspect the interior and exterior of your home for vandalism and forced entry. We will check doors and windows and throughout your home for evidence of flooding from burst water pipes or a failed sump pump. We will check for evidence of rodents and insects, bring in any mail, newspapers, or flyers, and water plants. We can flush toilets and run faucets to clear stagnant water and run your dishwasher and washing machine through a cycle each week to make sure seals don’t dry out. We will also reset and timers and check on appliances in the event of a power outage. Additionally, we can turn on lights and furnace (or A/C) prior to your arrival home for added comfort.

Something you think should be on the list but isn’t?? Just ask us!!

A personal concierge can do a lot of different things to make your life just a little bit easier. Our job is to help you lead a more balanced life. So whether you’re taking a long trip or you’ve just gotten a little overwhelmed, give us a call and let us lighten your load.

Visit Chocolates on MY Pillow today.

27 Fun Things To Do in Downtown Chicago

2010-01-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks chicagofree.info for putting this list together!

What are the fun things to do in downtown Chicago?

Find a great Chicago hotel in downtown Chicago to set up as your headquarters.
Pull out your wallet and shop morning to night along Chicago's Magnificent Mile, a roughly eight-block stretch of North Michigan Avenue offering every kind of store imaginable.
Slowly make your way through Millennium Park, an extraordinary testament and home to world-class art, music, architecture and landscape design.
Take your kids to the Chicago Children's Museum, with three floors of engaging and educational exhibits.
Enjoy one of the world's greatest art collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, especially when free on Thursday nights from 5-8.
Come see all the fishes and more at the world-class Shedd Aquarium.
Go cheer for one of Chicago's two Major League Baseball teams. Watch the Chicago Cubs (now under new ownership – yea!) at one of America's oldest, smallest and best-loved stadiums, Wrigley Field. Or catch the Chicago White Sox at the modern U.S. Cellular Field.
Visit the trendy boutiques of Oak Street or venture to revitalized State Street to browse through historic anchor Marshall Field and other fun shops.
With jogging paths and plenty of water sports, everyone will want to spend time on Lake Michigan.
Sail off into the sunset on one of Chicago's dinner cruises like the Odyssey or the Spirit of Chicago.
For an awe-inspiring view of the city from above, go out on the ledge at the Sears Tower Skydeck or the Hancock Observatory.
For family entertainment from the famous Ferris wheel to free public shows, Navy Pier is a fun place to visit.
Take your kids to the wild side at the free Lincoln Park Zoo.
When you're feeling blue, stop by one of the longstanding favorite haunts for blues music: Blue Chicago, Buddy Guy's Legends, House of Blues or Kingston Mines.
Get jazzed! Chicago is home to some fabulous Chicago jazz venues like Andy's Jazz Club, The Back Room and Joe's Be Bop Café & Jazz Emporium.
Soak up the sun while you lie on the beach, inline skate or play sand volleyball at the Oak Street Beach, a popular spot to see and be seen.
Where can you find a WWII German submarine, a baby chick hatchery and the Apollo 8 Spacecraft? At the Museum of Science and Industry, the oldest museum of its kind with more than 800 exhibits and 2,000 interactive units.
Stroll through Grant Park, Chicago's most prominent and beloved park, where you can enjoy an outdoor concert or throw a penny into Buckingham Fountain.
Imagine what the world was like when dinosaurs roamed the earth when you visit the Field Museum of Natural History, home to the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Check out a concert happening — a visually stunning and musically powerful performance by the Blue Man Group at the Briar Street Theatre.
Chicago is home to a vital, vast and varied Theatre District where you can enjoy everything from traveling Broadway hits to experimental theatre to world premieres from up and coming theater companies.
Test your luck at one of the local casinos and gaming establishments like the Horseshoe Casino.
Walk around and admire one of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpieces, the Robie House, a premier example of his Prairie School style.
Chicago pizza is a complete dining experience. That's why a visit to the legendary Pizzeria Uno is a must for Chicagodeep-dish lovers. Our favorite for deep-dish Chicago pizza is fresh ingedient king Edwardo's Pizza
History buffs and architecture enthusiasts will love the Tribune Tower. The facade is constructed of a collection of stones from other famous edifices, like the Parthenon, St. Peter's Basilica, Notre Dame, the White House and the Berlin Wall.
Girls of all ages will love American Girl Place, a special boutique shop with the complete line of American Girl dolls.
Embark on a culinary adventure to Chicago's finest restaurants. Guests are chauffeured around the city in a stylish coach bus to enjoy Hors D'oeuvres served at the first restaurant, the Main Course at a second restaurant and Dessert at a third restaurant. This Progressive Dining Tour offers a unique, fun and exciting way to experience Chicago dining.

A Great Way That Very Busy Individuals Can Have More Time By Taking Advantage of Errand Service Companies

2010-01-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the "Dealing with Difficult People Blog" for this post.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you for once could wake up one weekend after a long day at work and not need to run any errands? Now there are errand services that are run all over the country to help folks manage their time in a more efficient way. Errand services are a like a personal assistant, but they became more popular in recent years. Many homebody mummies are opening up errand services as a home based business to stay with their children and work at the same time.

Errand services are for busy people who wish that there were 1 or 2 more hours in the day. The services that are offered by these corporations are varied, but theyare generally separated into two different types of services, depending on your demands.

The private services can help with jobs like: food and household shopping, gift shopping, dry-cleaner drop off and pick up, post office and drugstore errands, library or video returns, package and gift delivery, appointment scheduling, home organizing, and special events help ( garage and estate sales too ). The professional services offer all the above-mentioned things, but with things included like : posting open house signs ( set up, etc . ), meeting and special event planning ( in-house or off-site ), delivery of packages containing documents, and all copying or banking needs.

Many of us are compelled to run their errands on the weekends or perhaps during their lunch breaks. Hiring somebody to do all of these jobs for you would reduce your levels of stress, while at the same time having somebody trustworthy you can count on for explicit needs. The price levels for these services vary substantially typically because the businesses are run regionally, and costs are according to local demand and cost of living indexes.

If hiring an errand service is something that seems of interest there are some questions about qualifications that should be posed to potential workers. You need to learn if the person that you are hiring is good with cut off dates. If you need a prescription picked up by a certain date each month, you would like to be sure that the person that is handling your errands is capable of remembering something that might not be as important to them as it is to you. Also, you should usually ask for references and really check them. Errand running is an easy start-up business and it requires no license, education, or qualifications. The person that you hire must be trustworthy, responsible, and organized. Sometimes, ambition can cloud folk’s understandings of what they are really capable of achieving. Finally, you need to discover how many clients the service caters to. An errand service which has too many clients will have too many tasks to accomplish in a single day, week, or month. Somebody’s list of to-dos must be put on a back burner, and you do not want that somebody to be you.

Letting somebody do your busy work can be hard because it does involve a fair amount of trust. If you think resolutely in the adage, “if you would like something done, you must do it yourself”, an errand service is not for you. However, On the other hand, if you can’t find sufficient time in the week to accomplish everything that you want to finish with no need to sacrifice sleep, this suggestion might be your answer.

Give Up Control to Get Control

2010-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is an excerpt from a article on http://ldkid.com/npb/?p=1105.

For some reason, Americans think they have something to prove by doing it all themselves. People say to me all of the time, that someone else just can’t do for them, the things that are on the “to do ” list. Well, that is not only a ridiculous statement, but one that can be proven wrong over and over again. We all strive to appear in control. However, you cannot be in control if you are constantly struggling to juggle events and lists. So give up some of the control. I know that is a scary thought, but do it. By having professionals handle the items on your list, you will amaze your friends and family by having more time to enjoy life and you will seem more in control than ever. Don’t worry. We don’t expect you to do this cold turkey. We are going to give you tips on accomplishing this daunting task after we shock you into reality.

Don’t Be A Statistic!

Here are the facts……I think the expression is “read ‘em and weep.” I know I wanted to when I saw these numbers.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average U.S. family works between 105-115 hours per week. So let’s run the numbers.

168 hours in a 7 day week x2 (if 2 people are working those hours) = 336

Less 110 hours for work

Less 112 hours for sleeping

Less 28 hours for eating

Less 15 hours for commuting

So what’s left……..71 HOURS!!! That is 71 hours for both workers total. Look like a big number of hours? Keep running the math. (If you are single that leaves you with 35.5 hrs - cut everything in half)

Now what do you have to do in that 71 hours? Remember, if you are doing something as a family (both workers), you have to double the hours used when you subtract from the 71.

Spend time with your family
Run/attend children’s activities (i.e. soccer, music lessons)
Run errands
Visit friends/relatives for special occasions
Make purchases - clothing, gifts, daily needs

Anyone feeling exhausted yet? I am ready for a nap…oh that’s right…no time for that. Well here is some advice from the BusyB herself on taking back your life.

Remedying the Problem:

First evaluate the numbers that we provided above and adjust for your particular family. Some of you may work more than 110hrs, commute more, sleep less, etc. Also, stay at home moms count as working members of the family in our book so don’t forget that their hours count too!
Make a list of all of the things you do that take up the 71 remaining hours (or whatever number you now have).
Sort the tasks by type of activity. Feel free to make up your own categories.

Family
Home Repairs/Maintenance
Errands/Shopping
Social Activities
School Activities
Other

Star the ones you would rather not do (and sorry your job is one of those adult requirements in life so don’t star it - you don’t have a choice).
Estimate how much time it takes you to do each task (per week).
Now make a list of all of the things that are on the perpetual “to do” list that never seem to get finished. Sort this list as well. Having things that are constantly waiting to be completed, does nothing but add stress to your life.
Now here comes the difficult part. Giving up control to get control. You are really going to have to put on your positive change attitude to make this work. Ready? Circle the items that can be hired out. The possibilities are endless. If you are serious about change, then you will not be making excuses at this point as to why someone else cannot do the job. Do NOT, use money as an excuse at this point. You can’t afford to do that. This is your life you are talking about. Here are some suggestions:

Lawn Care
Home Repair Specialists (painters, handyman etc)
Errand Service
Personal Shopper/Concierge
Nanny/Babysitter
Car Specialists
Financial Specialists

Make another list of things you would like to do but never have time to do.
If you successfully completed Step 7, you should now be able to make a new list of things to do each week that include your “wants.” Can you replace the “have to” items with the “want to” items? If you answered yes, you did a great job and are well on your way to taking back control of your life. If you answered no, then we still have some work to do.

Now some of you are probably saying, this is easy for her to say. Well, no it isn’t. I have been where you are and it took a major life-altering situation for me to realize what is really important. Do not put yourself in the same situation.

Stop now and take stock of your life and priorities. You may find that when you reprioritize you only need some reorganization and a little help from a life management consultant or you may have bigger problems and you need to schedule time each month for professionals to help you sift through the chores.

Get your life back but appear more in control. You can do it

Are Personal Concierge Services Worth it?

2009-11-18T08:24:00.000-08:00

There is no reason to wait until the next time you're staying at a luxury hotel to enjoy outstanding concierge service. Many companies around the country offer personal concierge services and the ever-helpful Cranky Consumer column in the Wall Street Journal put a few from all over the country to the test. And with a name like "cranky," you might assume that there would be some complaints about some of the service they received, but there were really none worth making.

The upshot of their personal concierge trials was that the companies were all very professional and very helpful. They did everything from playing with pets when the owners were out of town to locating kosher caters for an upcoming party. Having a concierge service available is an indulgence, but when life gets busy or stressful, they can accomplish a whole to-do list in just hours. And with rates ranging from $25 to $50 per hour, the tradeoff is well worth it.

Time saving tips

2009-09-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Set limits: You don't have to serve on every committee and your child doesn't have to be involved in every sport. Decide what is important to you and your family, and get rid of the rest. If you want your child to experience the benefits of playing a team sport, then talk to your child and decide which team sport he or she wants to play.
Setting limits isn't about saying "no," it's about being selective about saying, "yes."

If you can't say no, delegate.

Lost time is never found again.

2009-09-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Franklin once said “Lost time is never found again.” The personal concierge is born out of an ever-growing need for more free time. Today’s hectic lifestyle places an ever-increasing demand on the limited number of hours in a day to accomplish what needs to be done. Personal concierges are problem-solvers with the know-how to get anything done from running errands, arranging a special function or occasion, to home and office organization. They provide hands-on assistance for those who are short on time.

Concierges are most commonly thought of as exclusive assistants for the rich and famous or as staff to an exclusive hotel or posh resort. This is a misconception; concierge services are no longer too expensive for the average person.

Today’s concierge serves everyone from the single parent to the overworked professional who is in need of assistance or time-strapped and willing to pay for what is known as “lifestyle management.” By contracting personal concierge services, one can devote their precious time to what really matters to them. The stress and guilt associated with getting something done vanishes and peace of mind is reclaimed.

Outsourcing one’s “to-do-list” or special project to a personal concierge is often more cost effective then taking time-off from work to do it yourself or paying overtime to staff. The value of a personal concierge is in their resourcefulness, organizational ability and disposition for multi-tasking.

Personal Concierges are not nannies or housekeepers; yet they may help their clients locate these services. Unlike an exclusive personal assistant under contract to one client (24 hours a day – 7 days a week), a personal concierge has a number of clients and dedicates only a few hours a week to that client or project. Since every client has his or her own unique to-do-list, personal concierges offer a variety of specialized services. The touchstone used in the industry is that if the request is illegal or immoral, the concierge will not oblige. Otherwise, most requests for services can be accommodated.

If you find yourself too busy, stressed-out and overworked to “do it all” perhaps outsourcing your to-do-list is the answer.

by Alicia Wright - http://hbmag.com/personal-concierge/

Contest Rules

2009-08-28T10:05:00.001-07:00

Earlier this week we introduced a new way to enjoy our services, Chocolates on MY Pillow Monthly Membership (click here for details). And today you can WIN a 30 day Concierge Membership (click here for details).

New Concierge Membership Program

2009-08-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL: The first month is $20 for the first 20 who sign up by 8/31/09!

FREE MEMBERSHIP: Later this week we will also be giving away a concierge memberships to 4 of our Facebook fan page members. Join.

When people first hear about our company and the services we provide most think it’s a wonderful ideal but are not sure how to use it. So we started sharing how others use Chocolates on MY Pillow’s services via blogs, emails, and social media. While sharing how our services are being used we found out that many requests didn’t require leg work (which our current fee structure is based on). Actually, most requests are for concierge services. These services include but are not limited to the following:

Finding hard to get tickets
Restaurant reservations
Travel arrangements
Collection calls for businesses
Wake up calls
Research (we can find just about anything)
Confirming appointments
Gift ordering
PDF Conversions (as well as many other file conversions)
Service referrals (personal chef, handyman, landscaper, housecleaner, car services, mobile spa services, and more)

So we decided to create a membership program offering concierge services for a small monthly fee, $32.95/month.

What exactly do you get?

Access to one of our representatives during regular hours
15 requests (which can be made via an online request, email or phone call)
VIP status (making you a top priority client receiving prompt services and 20% off all other services we provide)

This is also ideal for small business owners. This membership will support your professional presences and help you work more on your business than in your business.

To find out more, contact Tisha Littlejohn, at 800.883.8713 or email info@chocolatesomp.com.

"We remind you how much you value your time."

Recent requests...

2009-08-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

For Madeleine’s daughters wedding, we took care of all the little details like packing the gifts and decor at the end of the evening.

Chocolates on MY Pillow created, printed and mailed invitations for a 20th anniversary high school reunion committee.

We coordinated a trip schedule for a Texan client who will be vacationing in Chicago later this month.

During the time we were assisting Mark in find an office manager, a Chocolates on MY Pillow representative helped around his office until the new office manager started.

Eric was looking to create a memorable father’s day for his dad and hired Chocolates on MY Pillow to located a item he was having trouble finding; we found the gift within a day, purchased it and had it delivered it to his home.

Chocolates on MY Pillow stocked the refrigerator and picked up packages for a clients senior parent.

We searched apartments for Matt that included finding matches according to his specification and calling the owners or property manager for more details.

Laura and her fiancé was leaving the country for a few weeks to get married leaving their cat alone, Chocolates on MY Pillow visited the pet regularly during the time they were away.

We assisted Julie by packing delicates for her upcoming move.

Ron hired us to create a memorable evening for his 11th wedding anniversary, it included locating tickets to a sold out event and scheduling a personal chef who's specialty is Ron's wife’s favorite to cook for them.

Spotlight Service For The Week

2009-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Over 1/2 off New Monthly Membership Package

August 10th - August 15th, 2009

Take Advantage of this OUTSTANDING SERVICE before WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCH IT! We've added a new way of using our services, The Monthly Concierge Services Membership package includes 20 request points* and discounts on our errand running and virtual business support services. The cost is $32.99/month. Mention this blog and receive your first month for just $15.

*Requests include but are not limited to the following - referrals, travel arrangements, wake up calls, confirming and scheduling appointments, research (we are very resourceful), finding hard to get tickets, booking services, key date reminder services, setting up vacation itineraries, gift ordering, making dinner reservations and more.

Call 800.883.8713 today!

"We remind you how much you value your time."

Chocolates on MY Pillow Martini

2009-08-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Chocolates on MY Pillow Martini

1 part vodka or vanilla vodka
1 part cask & cream
1 teaspoon of melted chocolate

Drizzle melted chocolate in chilled glass. Combine first two ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into martini glass.

It's unwise to pay too much...

2009-08-07T04:32:00.001-07:00

"It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money — that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot — it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better." ~ John Ruskin

More hours in the day

2009-08-04T05:24:00.000-07:00

A business associate told me once that it wasn’t fair that I get more hours in the day than he do. He has a good sense of humor. He is well aware that we are all given the same number of hours each day. So, why does it seem that some are able to accomplish their daily goals, while others wonder at the end of each day where the time went?

One of the best tips I can give you so that you can move toward joining the some who are able to accomplish their daily goals is to EVALUATE.

A lot of Chocolates on MY Pillow clients come to use feeling overwhelmed with the current project they are working on. We first tell them to take a closer look at how they spend their time. Purchase a special appointment calendar. Then for a week, write down in this calendar each and every little thing you do throughout each day. For example, if you spend one hour checking and responding to e-mail correspondence from 8am to 9am, mark this in your calendar. If you spend half an hour looking for a file from 2:15pm to 2:45pm, jot this down in your calendar as well. If you are occupied with a staff meeting, write it in your calendar. By the end of the week, you should be getting a clear picture of exactly where your time is really going.

Now you can clearly evaluate the way you are spending your time each day. Take a good, hard look at the ways you may be contributing to your hectic schedule. Are you wasting time checking e-mail or voice mail numerous times throughout the day, when checking once or twice a day would be sufficient? Depending on your circumstances and responsibilities, you may be able to limit yourself to checking e-mail and voice mail once in the morning, once after lunch and once at the end of the day. Are you interrupted throughout the day with telephone calls? Perhaps you can set aside a block of time each day where you will work undisturbed and allow all non-urgent calls to be transferred to voice mail. These and other simple changes can transform your days!

And as always, we at Chocolates on MY Pillow are ready and willing to assist by providing personal concierge services and virtual business support for those who have more to do than they have time for. Visit our website!

Recent request...

2009-08-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

During the time we were assisting Mark in find an office manager, a Chocolates on MY Pillow representative helped around his office until the new office manager started.

25% off Virtual Business Support

2009-08-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Now thru August 8th receive 25% off Virtual Business Support. Call 800-883-8713 ext. 1 for more details.

To the small business person the Virtual Assistant can mean the difference between failure and SUCCESS.

Unlike the larger corporations the smaller business seldom has the space or resources initially for the extra employee to take the weight out of their ever-increasing work-load.

A Virtual Assistant will handle your reports and administration and enable you to spend more time marketing or enjoying the extra hours available to you.

You don't have to do it all, just contact Chocolates on MY Pillow (800) 883-8713 for all you virtual assistance needs. We cater to the needs of various business owners locally and globally. Our clients ask for assistance in various areas from general office support to contact management to website designing to social media marketing.

Virtual Business Support services include but are not limited to:
• Data Entry
• Project Management
• Email Marketing
• Creating/Editing letters, forms, etc
• Contact & Client Management
• Graphic Design – Logo creations, print ads, flyers, etc
• Custom Website Design

Spotlight Service For The Week

2009-07-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

25% off Bedside Helping Hands services, July 26 thru August 1st.

This is a new service. If you or a family or friend is schedule for surgery, Chocolates on MY Pillow's BHH are available to assist.

Our Bedside Helping Hands department was conceived when we noticed the value our concierge/errand running services provided those needing assistance with preoperative preparations and postoperative care. The BHH team which consists of housekeepers, caregivers, errand runners, medical staff, and beauty specialist is carefully selected; they are highly qualified to offer you efficient peri-operative services. Read more...

Some much going on!

2008-06-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

This year we have gotten so much more exposure. From February to the end of May we have a contract with a company that offers concierge services as a benefit to it's employees. Business was busy and our associates gained a lot of experience. Currently we are in the process of establishing a relationship with a company that manages luxury condos and rental residence. This is very exciting!

Our website design department has stayed busy as well. We created a really dynamic website that took five months to complete - www.mbcircle.com. Please check it out and sign up. It's a good resource for business professionals.

My goal is to post at least once a month so check back soon.

I learn from others mistakes or short commings.

2007-07-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

It's 1pm and I'm waiting on my independent contractor/assistant to email me a important file. I've had to reschedule two meetings with perpective clients because a client is expecting a project completed today. This is the first time this assistant has worked on this type of project for me so as long as I get it today I will use him again. I just hope he sends it to me today.

I had planned to hire a permanate personal assistant but the office building that I'd planned to rent office space from changed the agreement after reassuring me our agreement was set. The office manager acted as if she had the final word but she didn't. Why do people do that? The time I spent buying furniture and interviewing an assistant could have been put to better use. But as a small business owner I should expect setbacks like this, right?

I learn from others when they let me down and it's a valualable lesson. I will have plan B the next time I have a project due and will set that due date for the assistant a day or two before mine. Also, I will follow my instincts so when someone tells me a agreement is good and I feel somethings now just right, I will furture investgate.

As a small business owner, once can't take to many set backs.

Cross your fingers for me!

2007-05-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

I'm having a wonderful time creating websites. Click here to view the latest.

I plan to add music to the intro. It's something extra I'm doing for the client. They have a wonderful organization. The Kidz Korna Organization help abused children and more. All of their focus is on supporting children. They even produce a Christian TV show.

I'm hoping to win two new contracts. I just found out today that I have competition so I have my fingers crossed.

What do you think of my designs? Do they all look too similar? I never use templates but I think I have a similar style. I'm hoping to add variety to my portfolio with these two accounts. Cross your fingers for me!

Thank you for the referral!

2007-04-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

I'm very excited because recently three individuals have referred Chocolates on MY Pillow services to others. It means a lot when someone tells me how unique and valuable my business is. But it means even more when they show me.

Keith Glover referred a friend to me who needs event planning assistance. Thank you so much Keith. We've had a good time so far planning the event. If you are not there, don't worry, we are going have lots of pictures taken and a video made which will be displayed on a website.

Rick Williams referred a friend to me who I've meet before but at the time didn't need business support but now he do. I'm not sure if it's going to work out but I appreciate Rick for keeping me in mind.

And finally Laurie Folino of My Go2Gal, LLC who is in the ICEA association and an internet networking group with me, THANK YOU. A friend of hers wanted to buy a gift certificate for a friend in Lake Forest, IL. Her friend is having a baby and the gift certificate will be a baby shower gift. Laurie passed on the business to me because Lake Forest is way out of her territory. Laurie, don't worry they are in good hands. I hope to return the favor one day.

KEEP THE REFERRALS COMING.

Websites Websites Websites

2007-04-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Recently, Chocolates on MY Pillow have been asked to create websites. And it's a lot of fun. I enjoy creating websites that have a unique look. I try not to make them all look alike.

This started after a potential client asked me who my web designer is. I told him I did it. And so he asked how much I charged and I told them no, I only designed it for myself. He asked if I'd make an exception and design his. I told him I'd take a stab at it but for him to remember I'm a graphic designer who is familiar with website coding and software. He still wanted me to go for it. Click here to see the result. Beware there is some shady lyrics in the song playing on the home page.

After the first website I decided I really enjoy creating in this way so I casually told a few clients that I was now creating websites at a very reasonable rate because I'm building my portfolio. A few was unhappy with the boring designs of their current websites so they hired me to create something new and exciting. Click here to see another website I created.

It's very interested creating something so important to someone else. I can't take total credit for this last website (click here) because the company was very specific and at times I resisted their changes but after I made the changes I realized together we created a better website. Thanks Tia for standing strongly by your vision.

If you like what you see and you want a unique website created. Email webmaster@ChocolatesOMP.com. Comments are also welcomed.

Take care,

Tisha Littlejohn

helloWorld

2007-03-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

I added a new service to support Chocolates on MY Pillow's marketing needs. helloWorld supplies video media solutions to small businesses. Once upon a time, only big businesses and movie house had access to video streaming. Video streaming is simply adding video to the internet - email, websites, and more.

Check out www.ChocolatesOMP.com to see how I've integrated it into my website. Or email me at tisha@helloWorld.com and I will send you a video email. This is a wonderful tool. For the low price of 9.95 per month one can use the tool as I have as well as have a video conference with three other people and put together a live webcast.

Anyway, please let me know what you think of helloWorld. Email me if you'd like to be added to the mailing list and you will see how I use it for marketing Chocolates on MY Pillow.

What I look like?

2007-02-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of me at a fashion show with a client whose fashions were featured.
I can't wait to get a good headshot.

What a wonderful day....

2007-02-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day to stay inside and work on business matters that are overdue.

Today's goal was to do just that. So far I've added the Chocolates on MY Pillow website to a bunch of search engines including Google. I'm also applied the company in the Google Ad program. The biggest project I started and completed today was a new press release. Following is the press release -

The Perfect Solution for Busy People during the Winter Months

Personal Concierge Services provide assistance with winter related issues will you rest.

During the winter months the demands on life become much more difficult. Managing work and family, running errands, home maintenance, and a social life is stressful enough, but now we have to get it done in shorter days. Sure we still have 24 hours to work with but with less daylight and longer commutes the days definitely feel shorter. In addition, more is added to our to-do list, like snow removal, winterizing the home, and winter car maintenance.

Thanks to personal concierge companies our winters don’t have to be as stressful. The purpose of these companies is to help those who have more to do than they have time for. This new industry developed in the mid-nineties due from a demand from people who are overworked, stressed out, and need help dealing with life so that they can spend their free time nurturing themselves and their families. Personal concierge companies do everything from arranging a special evening for a couple to waiting in line at the DMV to personal shopping.

Chocolates on MY Pillow, a Chicago based personal concierge company, acknowledges that winter is a great time for their business. During the cold time of the year, they receive more calls from their regular clients needing assistance and interested individuals with inquires thus they offers special winter promotions. “Most people need a service like ours but are on the fence, so we offer discounts during the time of year that they need us most, giving them an extra push. Once our clients start enjoying the benefits of using our services, they tell us they wish they would have found us years ago,” said Tisha Littlejohn, Chocolates on MY Pillow founder. You can find out about the Chocolates on MY Pillow’s special winter promotions by visiting - http://www.chocolatesomp.com/.

Though during the winter months companies like Chocolates on MY Pillow receive many request to arranging snow removal and proper winterization of the home, it’s important to note that the increase in business is mainly due to clients requesting errands to be run because they’d prefer not going out into the cold themselves. Why not hire someone else to fight though cold while you sit at home sipping hot chocolate in front of the fireplace?

To find our more about personal concierge services and receive a free consultation contact Chocolates on MY Pillow at info@chocolatesomp.com or 800.883.8713. For those outside the Chicago area, find a personal concierge company by visiting the International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA) at http://www.iceaweb.org/.

Please email me and let me know what you think - tisha@ChocolatesOMP.com.

The rest of the day will include submitting the press release and finding out how to improve the ranking of my website.

Enjoy this winter day!

New Website!

2007-02-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about my new website. The hosting company called today and informed me that, of all concierge company's websites they have viewed Chocolates on MY Pillow is the best.

I'm very proud because I created the website. I've added web design as a service to my clients.

Adding video to the website didn't work for me. I found this new company, helloWorld, and they offer video streaming but there were a lot of glitches. I've decided to accept my losses and move on. I will still include a video on the about us page. Be looking for it in a month or two.

Good day,

Tisha Littlejohn

What's New!

2006-10-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I'm excited today because Chocolates on MY Pillow's website will be completely revamped by October 16th. It will include a video feed of me giving a summary of Chocolates on MY Pillow. Also, I've made a progressive move - Starting October 4th all of my emails will be sent in a video format. So visit our website and enjoy my emails, all feedback on these two new upgrades are very welcome.

September was a great month for Chocolates on MY Pillow. Four more clients were added to our client list. One of the clients contracted our services until February and maybe longer; this is a big account involving national event coordinating. Due to our growth we plan to bring in an additional team member. An introduction will be made once the candidate is selected.

Finally, I'd like give thanks for all the encouragement and support we have received from all our clients, prospective clients, colleagues, families and friends.

Sincerely,

Tisha Littlejohn
Chocolates on MY Pillow President
www.chocolatesomp.com
800.883.8713

Introduction

2006-08-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

I'm excited to tell you about Chocolates on MY Pillow first rate concierge service. This business functions as a personal assistant to busy individuals and businesses.

We run errands and arrange services for busy individuals so that they can spend their free time doing what that like.

We assist businesses with marketing, project coordination and general office task. These businesses are small with limited staff and understand the value in hiring a consultant vs. a permanent employee.

Each client receives first class treatment. They are catered too much like when dealing with a concierge in a luxury hotel.

Get ready for a 5-star experience!

Successful Communicating!

Tisha Littlejohn
President
www.chocolatesomp.com