Shopping Tips Archives - Premier Concierge

November 19, 2016 by Misty Keown

Make the Holidays about Joy and Peace of Mind!

The Holiday Season is here so make sure YOU are part of the celebration this holiday season and enjoy quality time with your family and friends.

Plan Ahead and Simplify

The secret to having everything run smoothly this holiday season is to plan ahead and keep things off your agenda that really don’t belong there.

Make a list of all the activities that you would like to participate in this holiday season.

Include your preparation time such as gift shopping, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry and other preparations if you have guests coming for a few days. Be sure to add travel time if you are going to a party or visiting family out of town.

Evaluate your list and decide which tasks and activities are a “must” and which ones can be left off your calendar and then SCHEDULE everything! Are there tasks that you can delegate or outsource? Most importantly, just say “NO” to anything that will not enhance your holiday!

Get your Daily Exercise & Quiet Time

We all know that exercise is one of the best stress managers. However, when the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes along, it is the first thing we skip. Do not compromise on your exercise! Also, make time for “quite time” such as Yoga, Meditation or just sitting in a quiet place. Make the time for exercise and quiet time and you will breeze through the season with a new energy. Your family and friends will thank you!

Shop from the Comfort of Your Own Home

The internet has made holiday shopping simple! It is so nice to get most items off your various lists without fighting the crowds. By shopping early, you give yourself peace of mind and free up time for all those other little things that make the holidays so magical.

Keep Your Priorities Straight

Remember – – the holidays are not about perfection, they are a time of celebration! It’s a time of letting go and truly enjoying the ones that make your life the special gift that it is.

The best gift that you can give your family and friends this holiday season is YOU! So make sure to slow down a little this holiday season and make lasting memories. Cheers!

Happy Holidays 2016!!

October 1, 2014 by Misty Keown

Fall Closet Organization

We always talk about spring cleaning, and organizing our closets, but there’s something to be said for doing a little sprucing up for fall, too. This is the ideal time to clean out your summer wardrobe and replace it with your winter wardrobe. Check out a few tips below:

Keep what works; toss what doesn’t. This is a great time to take stock of what you wore, what you didn’t, and what’s worth keeping for next year. Donate items in good condition; toss anything that’s not.

Take your winter clothes/furs/coats out of storage, and put your summer things into storage. Or, if you have hidden winter clothes on high shelves, in hard-to-reach places, now is the time to take them down and hang or fold them in more accessible places.

Organize! Having your clothing in sections will make finding them a breeze. If you are feeling ambitious, you can organize by color – but just having separate pieces organized will make a difference.

Tackle your folded items. We tend to wear the same things over and over again, which means clothes at the bottom of the drawers often do not get the same attention. Clean out your drawers to make sure you still want and will wear those items; otherwise, donate or toss them.

After reading these tips, do you still need help organizing your closet? I recommend The Container Store to help improve the organization and appearance of your closet. Even with their boxes, bins, and bags, you still need TIME to do the organizing. This is where Premier Concierge can really help you. Organization is our specialty!

August 11, 2014 by Tricia Bartlett

Banish the Back-to-School Busyness!

August means end-of-summer barbeques, hot weather, and long, lazy days. But it also means Back-to-School Time! Don’t let the worry of school days take away from your late summer fun. The best way to avoid the stress is to be prepared:

-With the help of your kids, make lists of essentials. What has to be replaced from last year? School supplies, backpacks, school clothes/uniforms, and lunchboxes should all be evaluated. If they need replacement, shop local store ads and online for the best deals.

-August is the time for deals on all sorts of school supplies! Consider which things you will need multiples of and buy them on sale now. Notebook paper, pencils, crayons, spiral notebooks and highlighters can be purchased in bulk while on sale and kept in a “school supply” closet. No need to run to the store when a school project comes up in the Fall!

–Be sure everyone has tried on their school shoes and clothes. Kids seem to grow by leaps and bounds over the summer! Don’t wait until the last minute to find those replacements.

-Designate a specific area for each child’s supplies. Use a shopping bag or shelf labeled for each child so everything is ready for the first week — No Stress!

-Talk to the kids now about what you expect during the school year: Do they need to lay out their school clothes every evening (let’s avoid the early morning “lost sock” hunt!)? Do backpacks have a special hook/shelf so they aren’t scattered around the house? What is the after school routine (snack/homework/sports)? If everyone knows the plan, the school day routine goes smoother and stress free!

–Be sure your children have all the necessary vaccines, checkups and paperwork required for school and sports teams. Call now for those appointments as they fill up fast!

When you’ve taken all that off the list, go back to enjoying the last few days of summer. You’ll enjoy them so much more when you are ready for the new school year!

March 31, 2014 by Misty Keown

TIPS FOR SAFE ONLINE SHOPPING

Online shopping is a convenient way to buy gifts, clothes and even daily necessities such as food, paper products and other household items. You can choose from a wide array of stores and purchase items without leaving the comfort of your own home. However, this convenience is not without risks. Every time you buy something online, you are giving out personal and financial information that can be used by others to steal your identity, drain your bank account or max out your credit cards. Find out how to protect yourself without missing out on online deals.

Use a Credit Card

Many shoppers prefer using debit cards because the money is taken out of their checking account. They do not have to worry about an enormous credit card bill at the end of the month. However, one of the good things about using a credit card is that it offers many protections.

For example, if the website turns out to be a fraudulent one and the scam artist uses your credit card information for his or her own use, then you can file a claim with your credit card company and dispute the charges. You likely won’t be liable for any of the charges. With a debit card, on the other hand, you won’t be let off the hook so easily. You could be held liable for all fraudulent purchases – which could total thousands of dollars.

Look for Signs of a Secure Site

Most website addresses start with http, but a secure site will have an “s” at the end: https. You should also see a padlock in the address bar. If you use Internet Explorer, the address bar will also be green. You should also see verification from third-party websites, such as the Better Business Bureau or TRUSTe. When you click on these logos, they should link to the organizations’ websites. If not, then the merchant probably copied them from another site without permission. If you do not notice any of these security signs on the merchant website, click out of it and do your online shopping elsewhere.

Be Aware of Signs of a Scam

A reputable merchant will have an attractively designed website. If a page looks weird or has numerous spelling and grammatical errors, stay away from it. A fraudulent website will also have multiple pop-up windows and may even ask you for your Social Security number at checkout. Don’t EVER enter it. A reputable merchant won’t require it.

Do Your Research

If you shop online at a well-known national retailer, such as Amazon or Nordstrom’s, then you can skip this step. However, if you found a great deal on website but have never heard of the retailer before, you should do some research before making any purchases. Search for reviews to assess the experiences of previous customers. Look for the store’s contact information and make note of it. If you make the decision to proceed with the purchase, be sure to print receipts and guarantees in case a problem arises.

Learn more at http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0001-avoiding-online-scams.

March 23, 2014 by Misty Keown

Supporting Cure Search for Children’s Cancer

Please join me in supporting Cure Search for Children’s Cancer. By viewing a few items of clothing, for possible purchase, a donation will be made to this wonderful non-profit.

Cure Search for Children’s Cancer funds and supports targeted and innovative children’s cancer research with measurable results, and is the authoritative source of information and resources for all those affected by children’s cancer.

How to Participate:

Allow Closet & Curator to ship a no obligation “trunk” of clothing to you for review. (A box of 10 or fewer items)
Just for viewing the items, Closet & Curator will make a $5 donation to Cure Search for Children’s Cancer.
If you like any of the items, great, if not, just use the free return label and ship it all back. Either way, a donation will made to Cure Search for Children’s Cancer.
Important, you are not charged unless you decide to keep an item.
If you prefer to meet in person, we can schedule a visit to our Dallas location and we will double our donation to Cure Search for Children’s Cancer.

This is a limited offer for the month of March! Please contact Emily at Closet & Curator to participate or schedule your visit.

January 9, 2014 by Misty Keown

De-stressing After the Holidays

We are excited when the Holidays are approaching but did the holidays get the best of you? Sometimes all the stress form time lines, people issues, standing in line for exchanges, parking lot traffic can leave us tired and glad the Holidays are over. So let’s get 2014 off to a great start by prioritizing what is most important and what can wait or be done by someone else.

Exchanges: Do you have returns and exchanges to be made? Our first tip is to be sure to check the store’s policy on returns. Most stores list their return policy no their website or give a quick call before you leave. Tip two is to bring your receipt along to make it easy.
Thank You notes: To ease the stress or Thank you notes, write them a few at a time and they won’t seem so overwhelming. Place your resources on a tray (notes, addresses, stamps and pen) so they will be together but can be set aside for a break
Decorations: As you take down the holiday decorations, purge those that are broken or worn. Be sure to buy replacements now that the discounts are up to 90% off.
Calendar: Start the year off by updating your calendar with major events such as weddings, vacations, school dates and work dates. Remember to add time for you for medical and workouts.
January Activities: Look ahead to the January birthdays and anniversaries and purchase those cards now. You can also write them at once. Following these tips will save time and money.

If you have ideas on making 2014 better we would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below, send an email (info@PremierConcierge.net) or call us( 972-788-1587).

November 11, 2013 by Misty Keown

SAVE YOUR SANITY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Plan Ahead and Simplify

The secret to having everything run smoothly this holiday season is to plan ahead and keep things off your agenda that really don’t belong there.

-Make a list of all the activities that you would like to participate in this holiday season.

-Make sure to include all of your preparation time such as gift shopping, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, added laundry and preparations if you have guests coming for a few days. Be sure to add travel time if you are going to a party or visiting family out of town. Check out these helpful travel tips from the Travel Channel.

-Evaluate your list and decide which tasks and activities are a must and which ones can

be left off your calendar and then SCHEDULE everything! Simplify or delegate whenever you can. Most importantly, just say “NO” to anything that will not enhance your holiday!

Get your Daily Exercise

We all know that exercise is one of the best stress managers we have. However, when the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes along, it is the first thing we skip.

Do not compromise on your exercise! Make the time for it and you will breeze through the season with a new energy. Your family and friends will thank you!

Shop from the Comfort of Your Own Home

Keep Your Priorities Straight

Remember – and this is so important – the holidays are not about perfection, they are a time of celebration! It’s a time of letting go and truly enjoying the ones that make your life the special gift that it is.

The best gift that you can give your family and friends this holiday season is YOU! So make sure to slow down a little this holiday season and make lasting memories. Cheers!

Happy Holidays 2013!!

Make the Holidays about Joy and Peace of Mind!

Fall Closet Organization

Banish the Back-to-School Busyness!

TIPS FOR SAFE ONLINE SHOPPING

Supporting Cure Search for Children’s Cancer

De-stressing After the Holidays

SAVE YOUR SANITY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

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