The long-awaited holidays are here! Whether you are spinning the dreidel, awaiting Santa Claus or the birth of Jesus, celebrating the solstice, or creating new traditions, there is a sense of anticipation, of the miraculous unfolding. For a few short weeks, people of all beliefs and political leanings come together to celebrate innocence. We treasure [...]
The first snowflakes have fallen, and the nights are longer. Shops are decorated with bright lights, and the lines at the Post Office are becoming intimidating. It’s a time of year when the focus shifts to childlike enthusiasm over stars, trees, and holiday parties. Although neither Hanukkah nor Christmas begin until the end of the [...]
As the furor over the national elections wanes, our thoughts can again turn toward home, gratitude, and the approaching season of holidays. In another week, families across the country will gather around tables full of traditional foods of turkey, squash, mashed potatoes, and many kinds of pie. And while the Plymouth Colony, with Pilgrims and [...]
Little ghosts and goblins have come and gone, with St. Nicholas safely weeks away. Now is the time to breathe into the slower pace of fall as you relax with your family before the revelry of the holiday season begins (or, perhaps before-or after-you head out to the polls this Election Day). Here are a [...]
It's hard to imagine cool weather is just around the corner. Carving pumpkins in 80 degrees seems almost sacrilegious, a pagan flaunt to the weather gods. Yet Jack-o'-lanterns have lit the way for trick-or-treaters and religious observers alike. Before there were pumpkins, there were turnips. And beets. And large potatoes. Irish and Scottish children carried [...]
Though fall has just arrived, cold weather isn't far behind. Here are a few things you can do now so you aren’t caught off guard this winter. 1. Check windows for leaks and calk or seal them now Before the cold air arrives, check your windows for any gaps or new cracks which could allow [...]
Fall begins September 23 and soon enough the leaves will be changing colors, it will be time to put away all the beach clothing and pull out the sweaters, to stow away the barbecue and get the fireplace ready. It’s also the time of “les vendages” (grape harvest), and the making of fine wine. Happily, [...]
Washing in direct sunlight or in the heat of the day. This can leave streaks on the windows. Instead, make sure to choose a cooler part of the day and a time when the sun is not directly shining on the window. Using paper towels to clean with. This can leave residue and debris on [...]
Labor Day weekend is upon us; the back-to-school jubilation of parents is almost as palpable as the looming desperation of children wishing to hold on to summer. Closing up your summer Hamptons home or cleaning your weekend home can be a snap, using our checklist below. Assemble an easy-carry bucket of cleaning supplies. This should [...]
Summer seems to have flown by. As the Hamptons season rushes to its Labor Day close in just over two weeks, residents are scrambling to take advantage of one more day in the sun, one more social event-"One More Day," in the words of Jean Valjean. (How fitting that movie man Hugh Jackman, who portrayed [...]
For more than 20 years, the team at A Votre Service! has been leading the way in ensuring local properties shine. It all begins with organization. AVS founder and local resident, Jocelyne Ranucci, offers unique insight into corporate and residential housekeeping services. “It’s not only the physical clutter, but also the psychological. It’s natural for [...]
There are no words to illustrate our feelings for what took place in Nice at a time that should have been a joyful celebration. Our love, our hearts, our thoughts unify with the people of Nice, of France, and all over the world. Amitiés, Jocelyne
Summer brings out the child in all of us, with time to play and escape the grind. For youngsters, summer means endless fun and exploration, but potentially endless mess making. Rather than dread the extra cleaning from having children underfoot, parents can use the summer to teach five basic cleaning rules that will help instill [...]
Ever look in your grill with fear that the “peeling paint” under the top hood might be a sign you need a replacement? It is most likely only a buildup of carbon from the accumulated smoke and grease of using the grill, according to RealSimple.com. Instead of tossing, it is time to clean your grill. [...]
In a race to predate each other, two staples of modern Hampton life—cheese and wine, run neck in neck for the claim. Evidence of wine production has been uncovered in excavation sites from 6000 BC in Georgia, 5000 BC in Iran, and 4500 BC in Greece. There is even evidence of rice-and-honey wine on pottery [...]
Nothing says “summer” like Memorial Day! Break out the whites, throw open the windows, warm up the grill. With the official start of summer, the Hamptons buzz with regulars and tourists alike. Kicking off the weekend are the Southampton Artists Association Memorial Day Art Show (opening reception from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, [...]
With Memorial Day just around the corner, are you ready to begin a full season of hosting in the Hamptons? Here at A Votre Service! Hamptons Property Management we’ve found natural cleaning solutions using white vinegar to help you clean those pesky out-of-way problems before guests arrive. We bet some just might surprise you! White [...]
With only four weeks to the official start of summer, May 1st paints the scene for parties, celebrations, and holidays. Are you ready? Beginning with La Fête de Travail (known as National Labor Day in France, also La Fête du Muguet or Lily-of-the-Valley Day), or May Day as it is commonly called, we give Muguet [...]
April showers and taxes got you down? And which came first, the proverb or the income tax? Commonly recited as “April showers bring May flowers,” the English Dialect Society in 1886 called this “one of our oldest and commonest saws”: March winds and April showers bringeth vo’th May flowers. [Elworthy, Frederick Thomas, West Somerset Word-Book [...]
Let the feasting begin! Restaurant Week in the Hamptons for 2016 runs April 3 through April 10, followed by Long Island Restaurant Week April 17 through 24. What better way to check out the newest and greatest menus while beating the summer crowds. At $27.95 per three-course meal, make your reservations now to try all [...]
