About the Business

5 Reasons to Hire a Dog Walker!

Have you ever thought about hiring a dog walker?

Do you work long hours leaving your dog at home alone all day? Is your life so busy that you have trouble finding the time to take your dog for an actual walk around the neighborhood? Or maybe you just brought home a new addition to your family and are worried about what is happening when you aren’t at home!

Here’s 5 of our top reasons why you should let someone like us at Everyday Helper assist you with dog walking!

1. Your dog needs walked regularly to stay healthy– No matter the age, exercise is as important to your dog as it is to us humans. Better health means a longer and healthier life for your dog!

2. Companionship and Socialization- If you leave your dog alone for long periods of time, your dog becomes lonely, hyper, or ornery. Dogs need companionship and socialization just as us humans do!

3. A tired dog is a good dog- Do you ever come home from work at the end of the day to find your dog full of energy when you’re exhausted from a long day? Having a mid-day dog walker means that you get to come home to a tired dog!

4. You don’t have to worry if you don’t have time to walk– Maybe you’re a busy student at the University here in town, or you’re a busy professional putting in extra long work days, or you’re raising a growing family and constantly on the go. Whatever the situation may be, finding the time to walk can be stressful. We offer dog walking 7 days a week at Everyday Helper- the perfect solution!

5. Peace of mind- one less thing to worry about in your busy life. You don’t have to worry about squeezing in that walk before or after work when you’re tired and it’s dark out. You don’t have to worry about coming home to any surprise accidents. And, when you use someone such as Everyday Helper you can rest assured knowing that your dog walker is fully insured and highly experienced!

Having a dog walker is a win-win solution for you dog and for you. Want to know more about how we could help you out with your dog? We’d love to chat! Send us a message on our website and let’s connect!

Kelly’s Best Cleaning Tips

Kelly started Everyday Helper with services like companion care, errand running, and pet sitting. However, soon the business expanded to include other services including house cleaning. House cleaning is now one of the most popular services that Everyday Helper offers, so we are sitting down with all of the Everyday Helpers to ask them for their house cleaning tips!

Kelly’s Cleaning Tips

Kelly’s favorite cleaning product to use is vinegar mixed with water. It is a simple but powerful way to clean and it gets a lot done. In terms of the areas most important to clean regularly, Kelly says the kitchen and bathrooms are most important to keep them sanitary. However, she

also suggests cleaning the floors regularly because they are constantly being walked on.

When it comes to decluttering, Kelly has some great tips. She says if you can’t decide whether to keep something or to throw it out, you should throw it out. If you really need or want something, it should be very clear that you want to keep in. Also, in terms of decluttering and organizing, Kelly tells us to start small. Starting with a simple task and finishing that task completely can help you build momentum and feel accomplished.

How often should you do a deep clean of your home? Kelly tells us at least twice a year, but if you have Everyday Helper to help you out, once a month would be great because it would keep your home cleaner and more sanitary.

Next, Kelly was asked for her best tips on keeping a home cleaner for longer. She said, “Keep up with the cleaning. Set a schedule that works for you whether that means doing a task or two daily or all of your cleaning weekly.”

Kelly’s final cleaning tip is to make use of Everyday Helper. At Everyday Helper, we have house cleaning services that can help you out every week or even every once in a while. Our house cleaners can help you stay on top of your chores and give you some free time back.

How Does Our House Cleaning Service Work?

For our house cleaning services, we offer a free cleaning consultation. At this consultation, you will be able to show us your home and let us know your specific needs when it comes to cleaning. We can show you our cleaning checklist, and customize it to your needs. Then, we will set up your first cleaning. We can come to clean your home weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or as needed. Our cleaning service is customizable to your needs because our goal is to offer you a little extra help when you need it.

Are you interested in our house cleaning services? You can email kelly@youreverydayhelper.com to learn more about our house cleaning services or to set up your free cleaning consultation today. We look forward to meeting with you!

Our Companion Care Services

Many people are familiar with Everyday Helper because of our house cleaning and pet sitting services, but we offer several other services as well. One of those other services is senior companion care. Learn more about how Everyday Helper began and how senior companion care became so important to us below.

How Everyday Helper Started

Did you know that senior companion care was one of Everyday Helper’s very first services? Kelly

Sedlacek founded Everyday Helper in July of 2015 just after her grandmother passed away. Her late grandmother inspired her to start a business to provide affordable services to help the everyday person. Kelly started this business all by herself with the services of companion care, errand running, and pet care.

However, since then, Everyday Helper has grown significantly. In 2017, Everyday Helper became a team of two, then three. Now, Everyday Helper has more than 12 helpers, and we offer even more services. We have added services like house cleaning and organizing, event planning, child transportation, and personal assistance.

What is Companion Care with Everyday Helper?

Through our senior companion care service, we are able to come into your loved one’s home to spend time with them, make sure they are eating and taking their medications, help prepare their meals, and assist with house cleaning and other household tasks. We also take clients out into the community to doctor appointments, to run errands, and to socialize with friends.

We understand that life can be demanding and it is not easy to spend all the time with our elderly family members that we would like to. That is why we offer a companion care service. We want to help you and your loved ones in any way that we can.

Why Choose Us for Companion Care?

Simply put, we are passionate about helping you. That is why we do what we do. Kelly started this business with the companion care service, and it is still one of her favorite services.

Kelly explains, “I’m a big believer that we all have a story to share and that we can all learn so much from one another. My companion care clients have lived through many decades and have many stories to share and many lessons to pass on. I love the conversations that I get to have with my clients and always learn so much from them.”

Are you interested in learning more about our senior companion care services? If you are, you can reach out to us today. We would be happy to discuss your needs in terms of companion care. Let us know what we can do to help you and your loved ones!

In Case You Didn’t Know!

In case you haven’t heard, Everyday Helper is expanding to the Cedar Rapids area. Everyday Helper started in July of 2015 serving the Coralville area, and now, we are expanding to Cedar Rapids. The services we will have in Cedar Rapids will include senior companion care and house cleaning. However, if you are in the Cedar Rapids area, and you are looking for another one of our services, reach out to us at kelly@youreverydayhelper.com to see if we can help!

Helping Out with Holiday Traditions

The holidays are a magical time. They give us a break from our everyday lives, and they give us a chance to focus on friends and family. You probably have favorite holiday traditions that you enjoy doing every year with friends and family, or maybe you just enjoy the break from work and school.

Our Holiday Traditions

Our helpers have some great holiday traditions that may be similar to some of the traditions you enjoy every year.

Erika – Our family always spends Christmas up in Minnesota with my grandparents. We also like to go to the movies on Christmas Day every year.
Contessa – We have a tradition of my family hosting a Christmas party every year for my Mom’s Family on Christmas Eve.
Jenny – My family has a lot of traditions like baking and decorating Christmas cookies, putting up holiday decorations together, and watching Christmas movies—like Christmas Vacation and It’s a Wonderful Life—as a family.
Megan – Our family decorates the Christmas tree together and makes cookies on Black Friday instead of shopping.
Judy – I enjoy the tradition of Christmas Eve mass with family and friends every year.
Kelly – We all decorate my parent’s Christmas tree together, and we always do a big family meal for the holidays.
Cathy– My family doesn’t buy gifts for each other. We go as a family and do something big like the water-park in Dubuque for a few days with the grand kids right before Christmas. Then on Christmas day we all gather at my daughter’s house to eat, hangout, and enjoy each other’s company all day!

Whether you have a family tradition where you host a holiday party or you make a big meal for your immediate family, we can help make it easier to complete your traditions this year.

How We Can Help with Your Traditions

The holidays are great, but they can also be stressful with presents to buy, food to make, and houses to clean. Whatever you have planned for this holiday season, we can help make your holidays less stressful with some of our services. Let us help make your holiday traditions the focus instead of your endless to-do list.

At Everyday Helper, our goal is to make your everyday life easier, and that includes the holidays! We offer errand running, house cleaning, and party planning services that can help your holidays run more smoothly.

If you are having family or friends over for the holidays, let us help you out with our house cleaning services. We can do a one-time cleaning of your house to take some of the chores off your list. If you are having a party, we can help you plan your party or we can pick up supplies and run errands for you. We also offer you pet sitting and dog walking services if you will be traveling to see family for the holidays. Reach out to us if you would like more information on our services. You can email kelly@youreverydayhelper.com for more information.

How to Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas

You have probably already put up your holiday decorations and cleaned the house. You’ve purchased gifts and food for the holidays. But, does your home smell like Christmas? If you are looking for some clever ways to make your home smell like the holidays, check out our list below.

Trim Your Tree – If you decorate with some real greenery, your home could smell of freshly cut pine trees. You can even use tree trimmings as natural air fresheners by putting them in old fabric scraps.
Create Scented Pine Cones – Are there some pinecones in your neighbor’s yard? You could borrow a few and create some scented pine cones. All you have to do is collect some pinecones and spray them with a cinnamon-scented oil.
Spread Out Your Baking – Most of us do some baking over the holiday season. Instead of doing all your baking in one day, spread it out so that your home smells like Christmas cookies for days.
Use Essential Oils – Essential oils are another way to make your home smell great for the holidays. If you have a diffuser and essential oils like peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, orange, and clove, you can create some amazing holiday smells. You can make your home smell like gingerbread with a few drops of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg oil. If you want your home to smell like spiced cider, you can combine orange, cinnamon, and ginger.
Make Your Stovetop Simmer – If you have a pot, some orange peel, and cinnamon sticks, you can make your home smell like Christmas. All you have to do is simmer some water on the stove and add aromatics like pine, orange peel, or cinnamon sticks.
Light Holiday Candles – I know this is an obvious one, but a nice holiday scented candle can make your home smell divine. Some of my favorite holiday candle scents include Frasier fir, Christmas cookies, and spiced cider.
Mull Some Wine – Making some mulled wine can be a great way to make your home smell great and to treat yourself at the same time. Combine red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. You can also add some oranges and a sweeter to taste. This could be a great option for a holiday party that will keep your guests happy and your home smelling great.

Phew! Now, that your home smells like the holidays, you can sit back, relax, and… do all the other things on your holiday to-do list–

We get that the holidays can be a hard and stressful time to be an adult, and that is why Everyday Helper is here to help out.

If you need some extra help around the house recovering after the holidays are over, you can reach out to Kelly at kelly@youreverydayhelper.com. We can provide you with house cleaning help, pet sitting services, errand running, event planning, companion care, and more.

What is the Best Gift You’ve Ever Received?

Since the holidays are approaching, it is time to talk about presents! When you’re a kid, the best part about Christmas is getting gifts. It is magical to open presents and get new toys to play with. As an adult, gift getting/giving changes a bit.

When you are older, you have to think about what gifts to give others. As most of you would probably agree, it is the thought and meaning behind the gift that matters more when you are older. However, it can be hard to find the right gifts for the people in your life. To give you a little inspiration for your holiday shopping, the Helpers are going to share some of the best gifts they’ve ever received.

The Best Gifts We’ve Received

Erika explains that the best gifts she’s ever gotten were ones that completely surprised her, but were also something she really wanted. She says it was like people knew exactly what she wanted without having to ask. For example, when she was younger, the year her parents got her a cell phone was special because she really wanted it, but she didn’t see the gift coming.

The best present that Megan has ever gotten was a Yorkshire Terrier. Her parents got this dog for her and her siblings. They named the dog Jax, and they love him dearly.

The best gifts that Jenny has received were things she loves, but didn’t even know she wanted. She has been given quilts made by her mother, artwork from friends and family, and other things that make a house a home. She either didn’t know she wanted these gifts or she wouldn’t have spent the money on herself, but they were great to receive from others.

Kelly says she has received a lot of amazing gifts in her life, but the ones that are her favorite are gifts that people put a lot of thought into and those gifts that hold meaning like the Willow Tree Angels that she collects.

Is it cheesy to say at Everyday Helper the best gift we’ve ever gotten, is you? Maybe it is cheesy, but we are thankful that we get to work at a business that is built on the idea of helping others. We love helping people with errands, house cleaning, dog walking, and more. We have had more than one client thank us for helping their family out during a busy time period in their life.

Give the Gift of Time

If you want to give the gift of more time to those that you know and love, you can give these people an Everyday Helper gift certificate. We are happy to help people with house cleaning, dog walking, and much more so that they can have the time for the more important things in life. Gift certificates are available in the Everyday Helper store, and you can click here to learn more.

Also, be sure to let us know: what is the best gift you’ve ever received?

December Pet of the Month: Bella

Meet Bella!

Bella is helping us wrap up 2018 as our final pet of the month!

Bella lives with her furry brother, Oliver, whom was our August pet of the month earlier this year. Bella however is quite the opposite of her brother!

While Oliver loves to sleep and can sleep through almost anything, Bella is full of energy! Bella loves to play fetch, go for walks, and sniff around the yard. She also loves to just sit and relax with you when you’re watching tv or reading a book.

Bella is very well trained and can go out in the yard without a leash. She knows when it’s time to go into her kennel and she knows how to sit still and be a good girl for a treat…or two!

We love having Bella as part of our Everyday Helper family!

6 Tips for Enjoyable Holidays

The holidays are a great time to take a break from work and spend quality time with your loved ones. However, often before you know it, the holidays are over and its back to work. That is why we have come up with some tips for you so that you can make your holidays more enjoyable.

Spend Time with Loved Ones – If you’re like most people, you probably don’t see your family as often as you would like to. The holidays are a great time to catch up with family members and spend time with those we love. Be sure to take some time to connect with your family members whether it is playing a favorite family board game, watching a football game together, or preparing holiday food with each other. The holidays are truly about spending time with those you love, so be sure to remember that!
Unplug from Technology – Unplugging from technology can be a great way to enjoy the holidays more fully. You don’t have to throw away all of your electronics for the holidays, but try to put the phone away and spend quality time with friends and family as much as you can. You may even find that time moves slower when you are away from your electronics because you are fully in the moment.
Forget About Work – Hopefully, you can take a day or two off around the holidays. If for some reason you can’t, try to manage your work so that you can still enjoy some holiday time. Remember, working is important, but family and friends are more important. Your work will be waiting for you after your holiday break.
Do Something Memorable – Make this holiday season one to remember by doing something that you won’t forget. You could start a new tradition with the family or you could start some sort of family competition, but make it something that will be a great memory to look back on!
Treat Yourself – This holiday season, be sure to treat yourself. You could treat yourself to a slice of your favorite pie or you could treat yourself to a movie you have been dying to see. Whatever you decide to do, give yourself a little extra love this holiday season.
Remember to Be Grateful – If you are reading this blog post right now, that means you have access to technology and the internet, which probably means you have a lot of things to be grateful for this holiday season. Take a moment to think about all you have to be grateful for and remember those things when life gets stressful.

Are you ready to enjoy the holiday season? We hope these six tips will help you have more enjoyable holidays, and if you need some extra help over the holidays, you can always call us at Everyday Helper. Everyday Helper has the goal of making your life easier by helping you with everyday tasks. We have services like House Cleaning, Errand Running, Pet Sitting, and more. Let us know if we can help you!

Help Decorating for the Holidays

There’s no place like a beautifully decorated home for the holidays. When you watch a Christmas movie, the decorations always look perfect. The Christmas tree is decorated with lights, tinsel, brightly colored bulbs, and a beautiful star. The Christmas stockings are hung above the fireplace, and the mistletoe is in the perfect spot.

In a movie, every inch of the house sparkles and spreads the holiday spirit, but what the movies don’t talk about is how much work it takes to decorate your house for Christmas. You have to pull out boxes of decorations and make sure the lights still work, you have to clean the house and take the time to put all the decorations in the right spot. Who has the time for that?

When you are an adult, the holidays can be stressful. This stress comes from shopping, decorating, cleaning, cooking, and family (family is great, but let’s face it, they can also be stressful). The holidays expand your to-do lists and make it hard for you to enjoy the moments with friends and family.

That is why Everyday Helper offers you some help over the holidays. We provide services like help with holiday decorations because we know there is a lot to do over the holidays. We can help you decorate your tree and decorate the house so that you are all ready for the holidays. Reach out to us, and we can set up a time to help you with your holiday decorations.

Also, check out some other holiday-related Everyday Helper services below:

Holiday Party Planning – Do you need some help planning and preparing for a holiday party? Everyday Helper offers party planning and prep services to help you out.
Errand Running/Grocery Shopping – Is your family coming into town and you need some help getting everything done? We can help take some things off your to-do list before they get into town with our errand running and grocery shopping services.
House Cleaning – Do you need a little extra help cleaning before your mother comes to visit for the holidays? Don’t worry, we can help you out!
Pet Sitting – If you know you’ll be going out of town for the holidays, you may need someone to watch your pets. Everyday Helper is happy to provide pet sitting services for you this holiday season.

At Everyday Helper, it is our goal to make your life easier. The holidays can be a magical time, but they can also involve a lot of work and stress, so let us help you out. We can help you by putting up your holiday decorations, cleaning your house, running errands for you, and more. Reach out to us, if you would like to learn more about what we can do for you.

What We Are Thankful For

It is that time of year again—we are gearing up to have a great Thanksgiving and we hope you are too!

You probably learned in school that Thanksgiving started when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast in 1621. This is one of the first Thanksgivings that occurred, but it wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated every November.

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to spend with friends and family eating good food and celebrating all the good things in life. At Everyday Helper, we want to celebrate Thanksgiving by telling you all about what we are thankful for this year.

What We Are Thankful For

Everyday Helper is made up of some great people. Kelly started Everyday Helper in July of 2015, and Judy and Erika were the first people she hired on to help her in the summer of 2017. Since then, the Everyday Helper team has grown to 12. Learn more about our team and what we are thankful for this holiday season.

This Thanksgiving, Erika is thankful for her growing relationships with family and friends as well as her job and her massage clients. She is also thankful for the two kittens she has had for the past year.
Contessa tells us, “I am thankful for all my friends and family. I have such a great life in Iowa City, and I am blessed with some pretty amazing people and opportunities (including Kelly and Everyday Helper)!”
Helper Megan is thankful for her supportive family, friends, and church.
Judy is thankful to have her health and her family this Thanksgiving season. Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday because it is a wonderful time to gather with family and reflect on all of life’s blessings.
Helper Jenny is thankful for the love and support of her friends and family, and all of the opportunities she has had throughout her life.
This year, Kelly is thankful for Everyday Helper and her awesome helpers as well as her health, her family, and her friends.

All of the helpers at Everyday Helper have a lot to be Thankful for this year, but we are also very thankful for you, our clients. We are thankful to be working jobs that allow us to give back and help others. We hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving from all of us at Everyday Helper, and we hope you have a lot to be thankful for just like we do! Happy Thanksgiving!

About the Business

5 Reasons to Hire a Dog Walker!