And Baby Makes FIVE - Part 2

The Youngs live in a two-bedroom apartment in East Trinidad. The layout is fairly common in Trinidad and the apartment is reasonably sized. However, with the exception of the kitchen, the apartment has NO storage. And with two (soon to be three) children - they have out-grown their space.

When we got to the home it was obvious that they needed our help. 

Both parents work  - Mr. Young runs a small business and Mrs. Young had a full-time gig in addition to assisting her husband in the business - and they have two young children. So between running a business, and running between school, baby-sitter, and the children's extra-curricular activities - housework is the last thing on anyone's mind. And then add to that mix the fact that you have no space to store your things.

The first time we saw the space all we saw was clothes, clothes and more clothes. The living room was over-flowing with bags of clean laundry. The place needed cleaning as well as decluttering and it REALLY needed to be reorganised. However, the main focus was to get the space clean for the School of Midwifery's inspection and that is what we set out to do.

Clean room right? But look at the foot of the bed

A close-up

So we cleaned and folded and packed and by the end of the week the house was absolutely clean. But as you can see in the pictures. Even though the place was clean - it was not very comfortable. They have stuff (not even a lot), but no place to put it. And we had to be innovative in creating storage space for their things. 

A home should be a sanctuary. It should be a space you enjoy. So AFTER the cleaning we asked the Youngs if we could tweak the space just a bit to make it even more enjoyable. And we assured them that, with their help, the changes we make could benefit their household until the new baby is about three years old.

So AFTER our Deep Cleaning we - AND the Youngs -  set to work. And THOSE before and after pictures can be seen in next week's third and final part of this series!

And Baby Makes FIVE - Part 1

The Youngs are expecting their third child. And they have decided to make a choice that you don't see too often in this day and age - they decided to deliver their newest addition at home. It is this decision that brought them....and their home... into our lives.

Mrs. Young did not enjoy her last experience at one of our local hospitals and when she found out that they were once more expecting - she decided to explore what were the other options available to her and her family. "I thought about delivering using a private facility - but the cost was more than we were willing to accommodate. I was at my health centre and chatting with the midwife about our dilemma when the subject of home delivery came up."

"The process is simple, the people are SO helpful and what's more there is no charge!" 

Firstly, the delivery can only be for between the mom's second to fifth child. If on your second child - the first birth must have been normal delivery with no complications. Secondly, mom must go through ante-natal care, either privately or via your nearest heath centre. However, at 36 weeks there is a hand-over by your doctor to the midwife at the health centre. This hand-over consists of a medical examination and a review of your medical records up to that point. The mom is not the only one subjected to a review - so too the dad and the home.

"My husband had already gone through the Lamaze training at Mt. Hope Maternity Hospital (another free service) so the midwife chatted through what he should expect, what could happen and just to make sure that he was up and ready for the challenge."

Next, the midwife then contacts the School of Midwifery who will assign a student midwife to the mom. It is this student midwife, along with their student supervisor, who will actually deliver the baby. The student midwife meets with the mom and basically becomes her best friend over the next few weeks.

"They also come to your home to make sure that it is fit for delivery. The place must be clean - and not just clean but spartan. It must be easily accessible and it must be able to accommodate an ambulance."

"We are purchasing a kiddie pool. And what we need is Heavenly Hands to come and thoroughly clean our home."

That's where we came in...

Why Lord? WHY?

I woke up today in an absolutely FOUL MOOD. 

Sometimes I wonder what have I got myself into? Or why am I doing this again?

We just finished a house and the client was not happy with the work done. Why should this get me angry? Okay well let's see shall we?

Firstly the house had been left abandoned for THREE YEARS. This is NOT an exaggeration. No one has lived in that house for three years. And before being abandoned the tenant living there (a relative of the client) had gone a little loopy and had started hoarding TONS of stuff, whilst NOT CLEANING the house.

Have you ever tried not cleaning your home for a week? Imagine not cleaning it for a year. 

Then add to that image your husband coming home each day with an item of garbage he found during the day. He does that for one year.

Now add to that image the "little" termite problem you've been trying to ignore.

Now leave that untouched for three years....

THAT'S what we walked into! 

At the Site Visit it took everything in me not to begin feverishly scratching my hair.

And we only had SIX DAYS to undo the damage of years!

But it gets better...

The client's relatives did not give us access for a full two days - which cut our time down to FOUR DAYS. Four days to undo six years worth of damage.

We spent the first two days just clearing rubbish from the front of the house...it was one of the worst jobs ever undertaken.

And yes it was worse than the time we did the house that had a fire. And worse than the time that we did the house that had a dead body for a week. And YES it was worse than the time we did the house that had a flea infestation. It was worse than ALL of those houses! 

Why? Because it had all the stains and difficult cleaning found in the fire damaged home COMBINED with the smells from the dead man's home COMBINED with the itchy-crawliness of the flea infested house.

But we finished it! Yep - ON TIME - by working until 10 every night.

But the client was not happy. He expected MORE.

Sometimes I think people forget we use dust cloths and toilet brushes not BULLDOZERS!!!

Kitchens 101: The G-Shaped Kitchen

See how the Peninsula is used as the "eat-in" function?
Can also be used as extra counter space.

THE G-SHAPED KITCHEN, also called a Peninsula Kitchen, is a U Kitchen with an island or peninsula added in at one of the ends. Usually the island acts as an eating area and therefore connects the kitchen to the dining room/space because of this common function (eating). It is also a great use of space for those who want an eat-in kitchen but cannot accommodate a full dining/breakfast set. Because the kitchen is almost completely enclosed traffic CAN build up – so not too many chefs in this layout.

SIDE NOTE: In case you were wondering what is the difference between an island and a peninsula? An island is stand-alone and unconnected to the other storage areas and counter tops, whilst a peninsula is connected to the other storage areas and counter tops.

Kitchens 101: The U-Shaped Kitchen

U Kitchen Layout and the Work Triangle in one image

THE U-SHAPED KITCHEN has all appliances and counter-tops laid out in the shape of the letter U, therefore the mom/chef is physically surrounded by the kitchen. Also, if space allows an island is often included in this kitchen.

In this layout the work triangle is easily executed, storage is at a premium and more than one person can be accommodated. The best deal for making a West Indian Sunday Lunch!

In my previous post I mentioned that the L shaped kitchen is the third most popular kitchen that I have seen in Trinidad, well the U is the most popular! Once space is tight most Trinis opt for the One Wall, but once space is not an issue the - U is the go-to layout.

Kitchen 101: The L-Shaped Kitchen

THE L-SHAPED KITCHEN has all appliances and counter-tops laid out in the shape of the letter L. This layout requires more space than the One Wall and the Galley but the design is really great, in that it allows for more than one person to work in the kitchen at the same time. There is TONS of counter space and the work triangle is easily executed – no disruptions because of foot traffic.

Like the One Wall this is popular in Trinidad. In fact it is the third most popular kitchen layout that I have seen in my exploits over the last four years. 

Kitchens 101: The Galley

THE GALLEY also known as the Corridor is the second simplest kitchen layout available and like the One Wall, is often used when space is limited.  It consists of two parallel work spaces – with a counter and sink on one side and the appliances on the other – with an aisle 

running between them (or some similar arrangement). This layout is named after the style of kitchens found aboard ships, trains and aircrafts.

In this layout counter space is very limited and you can usually have only one cook in the kitchen at a time. On another note, strange but true, although I have seen a host of One Wall designs in Trinidad – the Galley is not as popular, even in smaller spaces. Most builders simply opt for the One Wall. Maybe because as Trini we do not encourage a FLOW of traffic through our kitchens – we get in and we get out. Do any of you have galley kitchens? Please feel to send me your pics!

Kitchens 101: Layout

This week we are going to talk about my favourite spot in the home - The Kitchen!

Specifically we are going to chat about Kitchen Layouts and the Work Triangle.

Simply defined - the KITCHEN LAYOUT is the shape that is made by the arrangement of the countertop, major appliances and storage areas. This floor plan creates the kitchen's WORK TRIANGLE, i.e. the path that you make when moving from the refrigerator, to the sink, to the stove to prepare a meal.

There are several types of kitchen layouts. This week we will feature the top 5 most popular layouts – the One Wall, Galley, L, U, and G. This will help you identify what is your current layout as well as what may be best suited for your space (in case you’re thinking of renovating).

So keep posted!

Be Strong And Courageous

So here I am sitting in my brand new office space extremely excited... and extremely scared out of my wits!

It's been over three years since I started this journey and there has been so many ups and downs. From staffing issues, to finances, to getting the product just right.

When I began I had a vision of creating a company that could help two sets of persons. 

On the one hand I wanted to provide a professional, reliable, quality cleaning company that could help meet the needs of busy working moms who couldn't seem to get it all done in one day. I wanted to provide cleaning, food preparation, laundry services and even care services for their loved ones. Freeing them to continue the climb up the corporate ladder as they met a need within themselves to create and pursue something outside of their family life.

On the other, I wanted to help a distinct class of women who found it difficult to earn a living to support themselves and their loved ones. Women whose lack of qualifications made it difficult for them to find an 8-4 job that they could go only Mondays to Fridays and have the weekend and evenings free for them to take care of their loved ones. Rather than being stuck in shift work, or working six or seven days a week to make ends meet.

Needless to say that has been harder than it looks. 

Those same ones I have been trying to help have been also trying to help themselves. I have had clients solicit my staff to get the service cheaper. I have had staff solicit clients to see if they can get a better deal for themselves. And I understand this...I think. But each time it happens I feel very discouraged, because I pour so much of myself into recruiting and training staff, and into building relationships with clients. And I keep thinking, "What are you doing?! You're missing the big picture here!"

Still I press on. And it's been slow - but there has been progress.

Right now as I write all this I can see that we've grown and learned so much. Right now as I write all this I feel sad and discouraged as we have lost another staff and client. Right now as I write all this I wonder "Is it worth it?"

I have been using Joshua 1:9 as my inspiration: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I even have a little token with the scripture given to me by one of my lecturers on my desk. And I glance at it at least 12 times per day. Still... it's hard being strong and courageous when you feel that no one but you sees the vision of what you're trying to build. It's hard being strong and courageous when you don't know if it's all going to work out.

UGH!!!

Yesterday was a day of days... ugh! It was one of the worst days that I have had in a long time (and trust me - I have had some bad days). It involved cranky children, loss of a client, reaching late for EVERY appointment, a car accident and a failed presentation.

NOTHING went as planned. TONS of unforeseen circumstances. And to top it off I have the flu so my coping mechanisms were - well - let's just say I was not coping very well.

At the end of the day I couldn't bring myself to deal with NOTHING ELSE (not even proper grammar). I left my poor husband to deal with the house and the children and slinked off to hide under my covers, feeling defeated and sorry for myself.

Goodnight cruel world!

I wish I could give this story some amazing superhero ending where I burst out from under my covers, the S blazing on my chest, ready to face anything else that life threw at me. Alas, this is not the case. I stayed there all night and only came out this morning because my husband forced me. He has threatened to cut off my food supply - and a girl needs her coffee.

NOT ME!

Sigh...

So here I am today again world. Please be gentle with me - I  bruise easily.

The Balancing Act

One of the reasons that I started this business a couple of years ago (yes, it's been two years! How time has flown) was so that I could have a more flexible schedule and spend more time with my four children - especially my last two. At that time they were soon-to-be two years old and soon-to-be four years old. So it seemed that this working from home thing would meet my needs.

I even felt that I could help more working mothers spend more time with THEIR little ones - it was even a tag line on some of my Facebook ads - "Come Home to a Clean House". The idea being that you came home and there would be nothing to do but homework with the children and getting in some much-needed quality time with your family (maybe even catch some of that elusive thing called SLEEP).

Well, as I said it's been two years - and so many changes have taken place that I felt the need just to purge and talk. And I know it's just between us - so I am safe to talk right?

I have had to learn how to be firm, how to be gracious, grateful and humble no matter the situation and I have learned that life really can be a juggling act.

You see in the last two years I have acquired three more children. And yes I mean acquired as they did not come from my womb. So my house is now bursting at the seams with SEVEN children (and NO this is does NOT include my absolutely awesome husband as some like to joke and add).

Additionally, the business has grown, amazingly so. I suspected, but never fully realized just how many families needed a service like Heavenly Hands. And I have been happy to meet those needs. It is that joy that has kept me going through the MANY frustrating moments.

Frustrating because the balancing act has begun. In the circus I prefer the lion tamers - juggling clowns and those who walk the tight rope have always left me feeling anxious. But now I am becoming them - I am walking the tight rope and I am balancing.

Balancing between the visions I have in my head for my company versus the reality of the resources at my disposal. Balancing between my desire to be with my wonderful family versus my growing obsession with my business. Balancing between the "me" I am versus the "me" I need to be.

Starting this business has made me come face to face with my personal shortcomings. Being a "visionary thinker" and "artistic" doesn't help you balance the books. Or keep a proper schedule. Or plan for the year ahead, or the month ahead - heck even the week ahead. So I have had to buckle down and master tasks that make me feel like pulling my eyes out - I am now the queen of scheduling and filing (my girlfriend V would be proud).

Starting this business has also made me realize how others see me (trust me when I say that people who live in their own heads do NOT have a realistic picture of what others think of them). You want to know how people see you - try taking their money.

Starting this business has brought me face to face with what prioritizing REALLY means - I have three hours, should I: go over the schedule for next week... make that call I've been meaning to for the longest while... spend some time with my 16 year old (or any of the seven for that matter)... spend some time with my husband... sleep?

I recently attended a workshop on Multitasking. And even while the facilitator was speaking I was thinking "Lists! Doesn't she know I am the QUEEN of lists?! I have lists on what lists I need to make!".

But really, all joking aside - I realized I needed to pare down.

I have been living and thinking in compartments.

It's time that my family and my Ministry is incorporated into my business. 

I spent this first week since school has closed using my older children as members of staff - and they have been LOVING it! They come home tired but satisfied - and I am able to spend time with at least five out of the seven. We laugh, we talk, we clean.

I have also decided to set aside at least two days a month to help some of the moms who may not be able to afford my service.

I have worked out what I hope is a great schedule with my husband in how we spend time with the two little ones.

But it's only Wednesday.

I think it's working because I managed to get some sleep and I found the time to chat with you guys - so it's working right?

Right?

Life After Death

I felt it only fitting to write this post now - at this time - coming out of the Easter holiday. 

I know I have not posted a blog or anything to my Facebook page for a while but this is because I recently suffered a great loss in my family - my youngest brother passed away - snatched from us too soon and too suddenly.

Following this tragedy I found it difficult to work, to write - to breathe. It's been a little over a month and the pain is as fresh as if I had only received the call today.

However, life goes on. And I must go on. And as a Christian I feel comforted knowing that Jesus conquered death so that we may have life eternal. And it is from this knowledge I draw my strength.

I know I sound sad - and I am. I think that this sadness will occupy the part of my heart that I had saved especially for him - alongside all the wonderful memories of his laughter, his smile and his love. But he was living proof that great things can come out of ANY bad situation - and I intend to follow his example of optimism.

So we press on because there IS life after death - and life goes on - even after the death of a loved one.

Fridge Placement 101

Here I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out what would be latest and exciting new 4H (Heavenly Hands Helpful Hint) to share with the world... AND I WAS STUCK!

So I look across at my husband and brother and asked what THEY thought should be the topic of my newest hint - pets, toys, storage? They rolled their eyes because they felt that all my hints were catering for women (hmm housework and women - what's the connection I wonder?). So my brother felt I should share about Refrigerator Placement!?!?

Until he said it I never knew that it mattered where you placed your fridge! I always thought that you placed it where it can fit and still allow you to have access to its contents. My brother went into GREAT  DETAIL about why and where one should place one's fridge. I have shortened this into the pretty little hint below.

Bottom line, proper placement of your fridge not only allows it to operate more efficiently - but it also extends the life cycle of your appliance!

So to my male followers out there - I hope you found this post more to you standards.

GO OUTSIDE!!!

I haven't written a blog entry for quite awhile. Reality is - trying to balance home and a new business whilst trying to create a social media presence is harder than I thought.

But no worries! I'm gonna play with my kids today! Cheers to the weekend!

Hope you enjoy yours too ;-)

Whap Cocoyea!

I spent the lat few weeks researching what folk remedies or traditions there are with regard to cleaning, and discovered two things. 

Firstly, from my research via the internet it would appear that the four major ingredients used to clean were vinegar, baking soda, lemon and salt! That will be another posting altogether.

Secondly, from my research interviewing our older local population those ingredients were seldom used at all! In fact the most popular tools or ingredients were a cocoyea broom, a scrubbing brush and blue soap! 

Today I will deal with the cocoyea broom.

The cocoyea broom is a broom made from the centre spine of the leaves from a coconut tree branch. These shafts or sticks are tied together and so make a broom. The average household would have two types of brooms - one soft (not very dry with the curls at the end) and one hard (very, VERY dry). 

The soft broom was used for cobwebbing and sweeping the (oftentimes) wooden floors of the home. However the broom could also be used quite safely on tiles and terrazzo floors. The hard one was used for scrubbing - mats, bathrooms and anything that needed a little pep and vigour. The brooms were also used to maintain the exterior of the house - so the yard, roof and walls of the house were also subject to the ministrations from the cocoyea broom.

However, there were other reasons that a cocoyea broom was so popular in the average home - apart from its duties as an essential household tool - it was also used for spiritual and disciplinary measures.

Many a Trini child would've found themselves at the punishing end of a cocoyea broom wielded by his mother, aunt, grandmother or godmother (or as we say here "he mudder, tantie, granny or nenen"). And of course the broom in question would NOT be the soft broom. 

Often times there would be a disciplinary ritual to be played out (and over seven of my interviewees confirmed this ritual). The child in question would be sent to fetch the broom before the punishment was administered - and this going to get the object of your punishment was used as a sort of torture or punishment in and of itself.

The man who found himself in the centre of a series of unfortunate events would also be subject to a beating from a cocoyea broom - administered most times by the self same individuals identified above - if it was home remedy. Sometimes the person would go off and find the nearest Obeah Man (witch doctor) who would use the cocoyea broom as part of the cleansing ritual to rid the person of bad luck. The Mighty Shadow (a local calypsonian) sang a humorous story about the ritual here.

However, if his mudder, tantie, nenen or granny found that things weren't going to well with Johnny she would decide to administer the home version of the ritual and would prepare herself by prayer and fasting and plan for the day of the beating.

It was always important that Johnny never knew of the plan and that he be caught off-guard - usually just as he entered the home. Then his mudder et al would subject him to a furious beating about his body after which he needed to take a cleansing bath - either in the sea or with blue soap - but that's tomorrow's post. 

Thank You!

Sometimes a little support goes a long way...

A lot of the times we don't know how that smile, that hug, that phone call can carry a person through the roughest of times. Sometimes I think we can underestimate or even take for granted the love and support we get from friends and family - even from our dedicated clients who stick with us and go through those teething problems with us - helping us to get it right.

I just wanted to take a little time out to say thank you to my supporters out there - especially Merrell, Priscilla, Michele, Melissa and Vanecia.

Thanks guys for taking time out to let me believe that the impossible CAN happen!

I hope the rest of you take time out to tell your favourite people "Thank You" for their love and support.

And if you didn't see your name here - don't worry you are in my heart.

There Is Only One Me!

For those of you who grew up on daily installations of Sesame Street - you will know that the title of this blog is really a song from (my favourite) childhood show. However for the month of March this phrase became my lament! To say March was hectic is like asking if the sea has salt!

Coming out of it I was reminded why HHCS came in to existence in the first place - we business owners need help! If only there was someone to take care of some of the little details of my life so I could just do my thing!

Well here's your chance guys - until April 30th, 2012 - business owners living in Trinidad have the opportunity to save on their First Time Cleanings with us.

I know it will not cure Cancer - but for a lot of us a clean home goes a long way :-).

After the Fete is Over

Carnival has just come to a close here in Trinidad and though I did not take part in the festivities – there is so much post-event cleanup to do.

Many Trinis who were not out on the streets taking part in the revelry would have chosen to go to a Carnival Camp, took a mini-vacation or may have fallen into the same category as I did – had friends and family over to your home for the entire long weekend.

For those of us in this category – I am sure that Ash Wednesday meets your home looking as if there was a World War fought – especially the bathrooms. Here are some great tips to quickly put your home to rights:

Woman At Work! Post Carnival Clean Up!

1. Call Heavenly Hands and set an appointment for us to do your post-Carnival cleanup! But seriously, here’s how to tackle what appears to be a mountain of work:
2. Go through your guest rooms and strip all the linens and leave your mattresses bare. Open the windows and give all the rooms a chance to air out.
3. If you had tons of nieces and nephews who were bunking with your progeny, let the progeny get involved. Have them strip their beds and open the bedroom windows before they leave for school ( if they are not going to school Ash Wednesday – or if you are saving this for the weekend – better for you – many hands make light work… and a hoarse voice).
4.  Once you have the bedrooms airing out – go straight for the bathrooms. Pick up all the mats that were in use over the long weekend and place them in the wash. Wipe all mirrors and clean the bathroom sink. Make a solution of bleach and water and use this to spray your shower walls – let this soak on the walls while you tackle your other tasks.  Clean out your toilet bowl. Sweep and mop your floors (you can use whatever is your favourite floor cleaner – I prefer those with that have a mild and pleasant scent).
5.  While waiting for the bathroom floors to dry, pop into the kitchen and do your dishes and wipe down the counter tops. Wipe down the refrigerator door, wipe out microwave and stove top (this is all that we are doing for now – a deeper cleaning can be done on the weekend). Sweep and mop those floors and go back to the bathrooms.
6.  In the bathrooms, rinse out your shower stalls from the bleach and water solution. Then place fresh mats on the floor. Go back to the bedrooms.
7.  In the bedrooms, place fresh sheets on the bed and sweep and mop the floors. And you are done!

This is by no means a deep and comprehensive cleaning – but I have found over the years that my entire home feels light and airy after I complete these tasks (and I have had up to 14 children ranging from ages 2 to 16 years in my home at the same time… and at least eight of them are boys!) And these tasks take no more than two hours of your time – three hours of your home is really large or really untidy.

But if you can’t see yourself going through all of this there is always point 1!

Perseverance + Passion – The Makings of A Love Story

This is the week of love (Happy Valentine’s Day!), so I felt it only fitting that I should share about what drives me – what makes me go on – what causes me to persevere:

Perseverance is an amazing thing, that determination to finish what you started. But what causes us to persevere? What makes us go on even when others have given up or say it won’t work? What makes us able to stand alone, despite negativity thrown our way?

I know for me it is passion. It is a deep love for what I do and the lives that I touch whilst doing what I do. This passion is what drives me, what fuels my day – it is what moves me to act. To act even when others would not. To act even when others say I should not.

Passion is defined as “an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something”. Aside: did you know that the word passion comes from the ancient Greek verb pashko which means to suffer?

So is it that I have a deep love for cleaning? By no means! What I have is a deep love for serving people, for helping them.

When we first began this journey, we wanted to create a business where women in at-risk environments would be able to access an honest and safe means of financially supporting their families. So we began with staff in mind. But in the few months since we started so many things have changed, including the perspective. It’s not about staff – it’s about everyone!

We had a client - an older woman, she was over 90 and said she needed help at home. What we actually gave her was love and support in her final days. She told us over and over about her trips to Africa. She gave us endless stories about growing up in Tobago. She regaled us with the different escapades she enjoyed with friends, most of whom, had already passed away.

It was one of our girls who was with her when she collapsed. It was our girl who rushed her to the hospital. It was our girl who had to inform her relatives of her passing.

So we persevere. We hold on and take it one day at a time. Not for the finish line, not for the bottom line – but for the now. For every person whose life we can touch right now, for every family to whom we can minister. This is our passion. This is our great love. This is why we persevere.

For anyone who has just begun or is in the middle of a great journey – I will tell you to persevere. You never know whose life you will touch. Happy Valentine’s Day people!

Superheroes Anyone?

I was recently inspired by my girlfriend Shelly R’s recent post:

“Wishing I had a clone of me... there is soooo much to do, so little time and only me to get it done, today I'm gonna have to pull out my red velvet cape and get my super woman on... :-)”

I am sure many of us (men included) feel the need to whip out our inner superhero in order to make it through the day/week.

So my next promotion is dedicated to all the superheroes out there: