by Kara | Feb 14, 2024 | General, Outsourcing
When you hear the term “personal assistant,” you might immediately think of someone in an office, taking notes, forwarding phone calls, or bringing coffee to the executive meetings. Similarly, the title “household manager” could inspire grandiose thoughts of large estates where the household staff includes chauffeurs, personal chefs, and maids.
These are accurate connotations, but the tricky thing is that these are also words used to describe who we are at Pepper’s Personal Assistants. While personal assistant, household manager, and concierge are all titles our team can proudly claim, Pepper’s Personal Assistants is a service designed for the average individual during their busy day-to-day life.
Here’s What Pepper’s Does Differently
The goal of Pepper’s Personal Assistants is to give professional individuals their personal time back, whether to indulge in self-care, catch up on some well-needed sleep, spend time with loved ones, or simply take a moment to themselves. We are made up of a team of thoroughly vetted, trained, and talented individuals who all have one thing in common: we thrive on providing excellent service.
When you hire a personal assistant from Pepper’s, you can delegate certain household tasks and assignments to them to help you get organized, tackle projects, and get ahead of the game. Think of Pepper’s Personal Assistants as the additional pair of hands you always needed, or the solution to wanting a few extra hours in the day after you get things done to relax.
After you choose from one of our two service packages, a dedicated member of our personal assistant team will come to your home to support you with a variety of tasks depending on your specific needs and the time allotted.
From grocery shopping and meal prep to bill paying, pet care, and laundry—we can handle it. Our goal is to know what you need before you do, to help you reclaim your time, and bring you peace of mind.
Our Service Packages
Pepper’s Personal Assistants offer two different service packages depending on your unique needs and time requirement, the Task Assistant package and the Personal Assistant package.
Whichever service package you choose, we’re happy to help you get some things off your plate and free your time up for what’s more important.
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Successful People Need Support
We get it. You’re a hard-working professional who might be struggling with balancing work, tasks at home, your social life, and the ever elusive “me” time. Asking for help can be hard, but with Pepper’s Personal Assistants it doesn’t have to be. We care about your wellbeing and health, which can be negatively impacted by stress and a heavy mental load.
Contact Pepper’s Personal Assistants Today
Find out more about our unique service packages, the types of tasks Pepper’s can take care of, and our onboarding process on our service page. Reclaim your time and get back to living your best life. 
and find your ideal assistant.
by Kara | Apr 28, 2021 | General
This last year has been rough. The unexpected and widespread introduction of the coronavirus and COVID-19 in March of 2020 kicked off a difficult year of uncertainty, loss, and isolation. With stay-at-home orders, working and attending school from home, families everywhere have struggled to deal with a “new normal.” Now, as vaccines are being distributed and we begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s important to understand how hard some people have had it.
Mother’s Day is coming up, and we can all agree that moms have gone through a very stressful pandemic. Balancing keeping a clean and organized home and working remotely with helping their children through new routines and virtual learning is not easy in the least bit. Not to mention the mental load and depression that has the opportunity to really sink in during the last year—Motherly reports that 74% of mothers say they feel mentally worse since the pandemic began.
Luckily, Pepper’s Personal Assistants can help.
How Pepper’s Personal Assistants Can Help
Whether you are a mom or are looking to help a mom you know, hiring a personal assistant from Pepper’s is a great solution. Our personal assistants can help with common household tasks and tackle to-do lists, allowing moms to feel a bit of well-deserved reprieve.
Here are just a few of the many things we can take care of:
Organize Your Schedule
Doctors appointments, new back-to-school schedules, work meetings, grocery pick-up, and even distanced coffee dates with friends can clutter up Mom’s calendar and cause undue stress. Our personal assistants can organize calendars, scheduling important meetings and social dates ahead of time to make sure nothing’s double-booked.
[Related: All About Pepper’s Personal Assistants – And How We Can Help]
Grocery Shop and Meal Prep
With everyone in the house constantly, making meals at home night after night can be exhausting. Pepper’s can relieve some of that meal time stress by grocery shopping or online ordering, as well as meal prepping and planning for the future.
Clean and Tidy the House
Studies show that a clean and organized environment can improve your mental health and help you feel happier. Give Mom a break from the constant tidying and eliminate the dreaded occasional deep clean by hiring a personal assistant to regularly clean the home—keeping everyone happy!
Plan a Family Vacation
Now that people are getting vaccinated and we can see somewhat of an end to quarantine, it may be time to plan a much-needed family vacation for the future. Instead of allowing the brunt of the research, cost-comparisons, and booking to fall on moms, Pepper’s Personal Assistants can assist in planning the perfect future getaway for the whole family.
[Related: The Most Stressful Life Events and How a Personal Assistant Can Help]
Give the Gift of Time
Our different service packages allow moms to have more time to themselves. Whether they use that to practice self care, spend quality time with their partners, participate in activities with their family, or simply catch up on sleep—moms deserve it.
Contact Pepper’s Personal Assistants Today!
This Mother’s day, give the mom in your life (or treat yourself to) the gift of time. Our team of experienced, talented, and friendly personal assistants are ready to relieve the stress of the last year by offering their helping hands. Read more about our service packages or contact us today to get started.
by Kara | Nov 20, 2020 | General, Parenting
As a business owner and mother of two, I’ve experienced my fair share of stressful events. Acknowledging this stress – as well as the lack of resources available to truly help manage it – led me to start Pepper’s Personal Assistants eight years ago.
When a major life event occurs, people often provide a singular idea to help. “Hire a cleaning person,” they say, or, “order your groceries online.” These are valid ideas, but often don’t provide the type of solution that brings real relief. Stressful times call for a resource who can find and manage the housecleaner, as well as other home maintenance providers (e.g., gardener, handyman). They also call for someone who can go the extra mile – not just buying the groceries but also prepping meals and cleaning up. Our team of personal assistants manages these tasks for clients every day.
Here’s a list of the most stressful events where we’ve come in to assist clients. Are you or those in your network experiencing any of these? The right level of support can make a difference – here’s how:
- Moving – We all know this is a difficult process, regardless of the distance between your old and new homes. It’s especially tough if the new home is in an area where you don’t have a network of family and friends. We help clients by screening moving companies; managing day-of-move; and organizing the sale and donation of unneeded items. Our assistants also assist clients who are purchasing or selling vacation homes.
- Family Changes – Marriage, a new baby, divorce, and death all usher in major changes in the home that require adjustment and resources. Two additional changes in 2020 have increased the burden on parents: Having the entire family at home all day as we work/learn remotely during the pandemic, and making space for adult children who return to the nest. According to Pew Research, the majority of young adults – 52 percent – now live with their parents, an increase of 5 points this year. Our assistants organize workspaces; source desks and other furniture; and handle extra meal prep and chores for these full households.
- Injury and Illness – Recovering from a health issue can be easier with the right help. Our assistants prepare healthy meals, run errands, and can arrange the home so it’s easier to manage. The team follows strict Covid-19 protocols for safety and cleanliness.
- New Career – Landing a new job is an exciting change, but it often means devoting more time to work in the first few months so you can get acclimated and make an impact. Having a personal assistant handle daily household tasks means you can focus on your career without distractions. It also means that your free time is just that: You can spend it on hobbies, with loved ones, or whatever else you’d like, instead of tracking a long to-do list of chores.
- Travel – It’s easy to worry about your home while you’re away, and think about all the things that need attention. Your personal assistant can line up and supervise contractors for a variety of projects (e.g., painters, repairmen), as well as tidy your home and have a meal ready for when you return. Recently, we helped a client by sending items they forgot to pack via overnight delivery and clearing the rain and debris that blocked their outdoor security cameras.
- Holiday Season – Assistants can handle gift shopping, mailing, and decorating tasks. We recently helped a client with holiday cards – from buying outfits for each family member to selecting the photographer, scheduling the shoot, and ordering the cards. All they had to do was show up for the picture!
Pepper’s Personal Assistants is on standby to help you out and relieve stress in your life. Book your consult call today to find out how we can help you in this busy season.
by Kara | Oct 13, 2020 | Business, General, Outsourcing, Parenting, Small Business
Many great business leaders share a common belief: Employees are the main contributor to an organization’s success. These leaders know that when they hire great people and treat them well, these employees will provide clients with an excellent experience, and help the business thrive.
In 2012, I started Pepper’s Personal Assistants, with this same approach. I focused on building a culture of “togetherness.” While our assistants work directly in client homes, we hold in-person meetings and social events throughout the year to continue building on our solid culture. There’s certain energy we gain from these face-to-face gatherings, and it reminds us that we’re all part of one team that likes to share successes, solve problems, support one another, and have fun.
Covid-19 forced us to cancel these meetings and shift to Zoom and other online forums. We truly miss connecting with each other in person. Our business faced many challenges, as our assistants were unable to perform work within client homes for nearly three months. As we worked to create a path forward for our team and our clients, we continued to focus on our core approach. Our employees needed support and not just at work, but for the uncertainties, they were facing in their personal lives as well.
I was honored to be included in this Wall Street Journal story: Battling Pandemic Blues: How Managers Can Rally the Troops. Here are a few additional thoughts I have on how to manage effectively and keep your focus on employees:
- Show grace – This is an unprecedented time, and employees are facing a number of different fears and uncertainties – for their own emotional and physical health and that of their families; stress from their children’s online learning; and isolation for those living alone or facing loss. Focus on supporting each employee as a whole person, not just a worker. Be patient and kind, as you may be the only source of stability and understanding in their lives right now.
- Continue offering pay and benefits – During the time when we could not visit client homes, we were fortunate to be able to continue paying our employees and offering benefits, thanks to many of our clients generously continuing with reduced packages. This helped alleviate worries about financial stability during the shutdown. Team members were grateful and wanted to be productive during this time. We scheduled a number of online training sessions so they could build their skill sets in different areas. Our team also helped clients with tasks remotely, like doing online research and preparing children for remote learning.
- Get in front of issues – Before the governor issued shutdown orders, we were already creating a plan and talking with employees and clients. We did the same when we were allowed back into client homes with safety protocols. Being transparent with my team is a central part of how I manage the business. Sharing challenges and approaches also means I’m open to the team’s input, ideas and support, all of which are integral to success as we move forward.
- Provide a sense of purpose – Give team members projects that will stretch their skills and enable them to contribute in a meaningful way. One of our household managers, for example, is an excellent cook and gave our team a Zoom training on cooking techniques during the shutdown. Everyone loved it and learned from it. This employee gained new skills in planning and presenting a training to the team. She’s also now the “go-to” expert for questions on recipes and meal prep.
- Hold meetings that aren’t focused on work – We’ve held Zoom meetings focused on self-care, with each employee offering a tip to their colleagues. I call employees regularly without an agenda, just to check in and ask how they’re doing and how I can support them. I want my team to know that I genuinely care and want to help them through this time, even if it’s just to listen or provide some encouragement.
This continues to be a challenging environment, but I’m proud of how our team continues to work through uncertainty and support one another. Communicating frequently, being transparent and treating your employees as people first will help keep your culture strong. Investing in your team will bring huge benefits: Once the pandemic is behind us, you’re likely to have a stronger and more cohesive team than ever before.
by Kara | Oct 3, 2020 | General, Home, Parenting, Residential
Halloween is a festive, fun time of year, but it can also come with a lot of planning and preparation. From setting up decorations to organizing a spooky party, there’s plenty to do! Luckily, hiring a personal assistant in Seattle can help you enjoy the season without the stress. Here are some creative ways a personal assistant can make your Halloween easier and more fun.
1. Decorating Your Home
Whether you’re going for spooky or stylish, a personal assistant can help come up with ideas, purchase decorations, and set everything up inside and outside your home. From hanging ghosts to creating pumpkin displays, we’ll make sure your house looks spectacular. Once Halloween is over, we’ll even organize the decorations into bins for easy storage, saving you time and effort. Learn more about our household management services.
2. Picking Up Costumes and Candy
Running around trying to find the perfect costumes and stocking up on candy? Let your personal assistant handle it! We’ll ensure that your family has exactly what they need for Halloween night, whether it’s a specific costume, the best candy, or special supplies for school events.
3. Planning a Halloween Party
Thinking of hosting a Halloween party? Your personal assistant can help you plan every detail, from creative party themes to setting up decorations, finding Halloween crafts, and even preparing goodie bags for your guests. We’ll also help create a Halloween-inspired menu with spooky desserts, drinks, and snacks.
4. Cooking Halloween-Inspired Foods
Whether you’re hosting a party or just want to surprise your family with festive treats, a personal assistant can handle the food. We can help plan and cook Halloween-themed meals, from pumpkin-inspired dishes to spooky desserts and drinks. You’ll have more time to enjoy the holiday without the stress of meal prep.
5. Organizing Family Halloween Activities
From pumpkin patches to haunted houses, Halloween is filled with fun activities. A personal assistant can find and book the best Halloween events for your family. We’ll take care of all the details so you can focus on making memories. We can even help you organize a scary movie night with snacks on hand to complete the spooky experience.
6. Wrapping Up the Season
When Halloween is over, the clean-up begins. Let your personal assistant handle taking down decorations and putting them away in storage bins for next year. We’ll ensure everything is neatly organized, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
This Halloween, take the stress out of the equation by hiring a personal assistant. From decorating your home to planning the perfect party, we’ll ensure you have more time to enjoy the fun parts of the season with your family. Don’t wait—contact us today to schedule a consultation and make this Halloween your best yet!
