Background: Life Guides

Tips:

Valet- $5

Car wash- $3

Coat Check- $2 per item

Hotel porter- $3

Housekeeping Staff- $5 per day

Barber- 20%

Nail tech- 20%

Massage therapist- 20%

Babysitter- 20%

Nanny- cash

Personal trainer- $100 during holidays

Bartender- 20% on a large tab, or $2 bucks per drink

Barista- $1-2 per drink

Personal assistant- Cash

Building Concierge (Doormen)- $100 per concierge

Building Super- $100 

Building Porters- $50 per porter

Kids teachers- Gift Cards

1. Buy whatever you use frequently in large quantities. It will save you tons in the long run.

2. Eat dinner with your family every night. It will bring you closer together and you will appreciate it far more than anything in the future when everyone grows up.

3. Label the linen closet shelves. If you do this, you'll never mix up the double and queen sheets again. Empty shelf space will remind you when it's time to do a load of laundry.

4. Organization is key. Stay organized and you'll hardly ever have to clean.

5. My rule with guest bedside tables: They deserve to have beautiful things from your personal collection to use. It shouldn't be just any old thing from the five-and-ten store. Keep the latest magazines in drawers, but leave one drawer empty for your guests things. Everything should be not only be pretty, but useful. A pincushion. A magnifying glass. A stash box. Do not buy clutter.

6. What is your design mantra? There are no rules in design. Good design should be timeless. Buying pieces should be relevant and last you forever.

7. If you are living in a house without books, you have nothing.

8. Arrange your pantry with the products you use most often in the front and with rarely used items in the back with labels. Get rid of cardboard boxes and use OXO Stainless Steel Bins https://jet.com/product/detail/bb05c805d4464bbf9af73ff7fc7c1eef?jcmp=pla:ggl:NJ_dur_Cwin_Home_Decor_a1:Home_Decor_Home_Storage_Organization_Trash_Cans_Recycling_Bins_a1:na:PLA_786096677_41410022552_aud-318601411816:pla-306635616168:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786096677&is_retargeting=true&clickid=4e7d90cb-6788-4ccf-b795-2548cd106aa3 or the Weck Jars https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DHNTEGS/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_19?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AAS4S0QRLHZE6.

10. Choose signature colors that you use for everything and load up on wrapping paper and ribbon. People will pick out your present in the pile at the showers and remember your taste. 

11. Keep a drawer of Petty Cash. If something runs out, it can be replaced immediately. Ask the one who uses it (Husband, Housekeeper, Babysitter) to leave receipts. I started doing this after one of my first boyfriends in New York had this in his apartment. I have loved it ever since!

12. Keep a stack of foreign currency in your safe. I always keep Euros, Pounds, and Won. Going to the bank before a trip is a hassle and getting cash at the airport means you're asking to be ripped off. Even better, go to a local ATM when you arrive, but sometimes you need ask immediately upon arrival. 

14. Create a list of all emergency contacts, plus those for workmen, babysitters, etc. as well as wifi username and passwords and leave it on your fridge. 

15. Make a catalog of every major household job and which month to do it in. For instance, Spring cleaning should happen in March.

16. Create a list of staples (food), organized by supplier, then make copies to stick on the fridge.

17. Host Tea Parties with proper china at 4pm.

18. Wardrobe: We all know the standard wardrobe foundations, the perfect trench coat, white button down, grey cashmere sweater, black pencil skirt and dark wash denim, so I’d like to suggest the next layer to add, let’s call them the enhancements.