Posts Tagged ‘kids’

Back-to-School Traffic

August 21st, 2019 | By Claudia Moreno

School sure starts early these days – in Phoenix, anyway. Moxie Girl, the Valley’s Vacation Rental Specialists would like to take the opportunity to remind our busy vacation rental homeowners (and our own Vacation Rental Assistants) of a few safety and time-saving tips!

 

School Zone Speed Limits Are No Joke!

 

Many school zones in and around the Phoenix Metro area limit speed to 15 miles an hour and enforcement of these speeds is always more aggressive in the first few weeks that school is in session. So be safe, not sorry! 

School zone speeds are considered “zero tolerance” areas, so it IS possible to be ticketed for driving 16 mph in a 15 mph speed limit zone. School zone speeding tickets also come with a fine of $100 or more, plus a few points on your driver’s license. 

What Time Is It?

 

Never give yourself the incentive to speed in the first place. Be aware of school start dates in your areas of travel and check out your route via GPS at least an hour before you THINK you need to leave. It’s a good idea to add 10 minutes on to the GPS travel time during school hours, just to be safe. (We’re pretty sure Google Maps isn’t calculating the extra time you might need to actually get your kid into the drop off zone at school – only the time it takes to reach the address you’ve entered!)

A few quick checks on your route, while you’re preparing to leave, might allow alert you to leave earlier or adjust your route, if needed, due to current conditions.

 

Expect the Unexpected!

 

Always – but especially NOW – be on the lookout for excited kids on bikes, skateboards, scooters. Even if they are just on foot, kids can be completely unpredictable and momentarily forget any knowledge of street safety they may have.

 

Drive defensively and within the speed limit at all times – the safety of our community’s children depends on it!

 

Moxie Girl is Here to Help!

 

Moxie Girl leads the way in experienced cleaning and care of vacation rental homes throughout the Phoenix area. We care for over 100 vacation rental properties all over the Valley of the Sun!

CLICK HERE to find out how Moxie Girl can help you maximize the potential of your vacation rental home while helping to minimize your stress levels! 

Are you fit to be a Moxie? We are rapidly growing and would love to hear from you! Our Moxie Girl Vacation Rental Assistants enjoy flexible work hours and a supportive team environment while earning, learning and keeping fit! CLICK HERE to tell us about yourself – you could be our newest Moxie!

Moxie Girl Gives Back

August 14th, 2019 | By Claudia Moreno

In an effort to give back to our community, Moxie Girl, the Valley’s Vacation Rental Specialists, recently organized a shoe drive to benefit Esperanza Prep. The school, located in Tempe, Arizona, offers a complete circle of care model to about 180 students, according to its Facebook page .

 

Esperanza Prep helps provide kids in need with necessities such as clothes, shoes and personal hygiene items – even a place to do their laundry – with the belief that if basic needs are met, these kids are able to focus more thoroughly on learning.

The Moxie Girl team began collecting new and gently-worn shoes at the beginning of June, and were able to deliver 68 pairs to Esperanza Prep by mid-July, just in time to help students and their families get back-to-school ready!

Esperanza’s complete circle of care model also includes a food pantry, counseling services, and medical and dental care, so there are plenty of ways to donate to their cause and help dramatically increase these students chances of a successful school year.

Amanda & Catherine delivering dry goods for Esperanza prep food drive.

Check out the Maricopa County Regional School District website for more details about the services Esperanza provides!

 

Moxie Girl is a leader in the care of vacation rental homes, providing service to over 100 vacation properties throughout the Valley of the Sun. CLICK HERE to find out how Moxie Girl can make your life as a vacation rental homeowner easier than ever!

Have you thought about life as a Moxie Girl Vacation Rental Assistant? Our Moxies enjoy flexible scheduling, a very supportive team environment and plenty of opportunity for personal and career growth! Sound good? CLICK HERE to tell us about yourself!

 

 

Is Your Vacation Rental Home Kid-Friendly?

July 23rd, 2019 | By Claudia Moreno

Since traditional schools are on a three-month break, summer months are often the first choice in seasons for family vacations. Vacation rental homes are very popular for those traveling with children. Let’s face it, taking the whole family on the road can be expensive, especially when it comes to mealtimes. Staying in a vacation rental – with a KITCHEN – not only keeps the family unit together while providing everyone privacy but preparing family meals costs a fraction of the expense of dining out 2 or 3 times a day!

 

Moxie Girl is always enthusiastic about making your guests experience is great. On top of being certain your vacation rental home is well-maintained and sparkling clean upon their arrival, there are dozens of “little ways” to add to your guests comfort and make them feel cared for! Today, we’re focusing on kid-friendly items, but check out our blog “That’s a Nice Touch!” for adding general awesomeness all around your vacation rental home!

 

There’s Always Room Under a Bed

 

Unless you specifically market your vacation rental home to families with children, you may not want to have any ‘kid stuff’ visible on a regular basis and parents are generally going to pack up and bring whatever they deem necessary to care for the kids. But the good news is there are lots of small items that you can have on hand in your vacation rental home that can make a positive impression on the whole family. 

 

And the GREAT news is that all these things can be corralled under a bed when not in use! Just be sure to let your guests know where to find this trove of treasures for their little ones. If you’re feeling really creative, you could even turn the experience into a treasure hunt game!

 

What’s in the Box?

 

A plastic ‘sweater storage’ box (these are usually large-ish and rectangular, about 6” deep) with a lid makes for a perfect fit under most beds and can hold a lot of kid-friendly fun! Most, if not all of these things are readily available at your favorite dollar store:

 

Coloring/Activity/Puzzle Books

Drawing Paper Pads

Crayons/Pencils

Board Games/Playing Cards

Small Inflatable Pool Toys (new in package, please!)

Soap Bubbles/Bubble-Blowing Tools

A Night-lite, if your vacation rental doesn’t already have them in the bedrooms

 

And let’s not forget about personal amenities. Yes, we did say parents are likely to bring whatever products they require for the kids but show us a 5-year-old who wouldn’t love an unexpected bubble bath using that little bottle of bubble bath liquid and rubber ducky they found in the box? There’s a kid-version of most things – tissues, lotions, shampoo, and soaps – that will make the little ones feel treated just as special as the adults!

 

These, Too, Shall Fit Under a Bed

 

Two small pieces of very helpful (and often left at home) equipment when it comes to dealing with kids are a booster seat and a step stool – and they’ll fit under the bed with your ‘kid box’, too! Parents are resourceful – do you WANT toddlers propped up on your fancy throw pillows

while eating tomato soup? Didn’t think so…but it could definitely happen “in a pinch.”)

 

A step stool for the kiddies can help in the bathroom for sure. It’s HARD not to make a mess brushing your teeth if you’re shorter than the sink! Young ones may also find a step stool to be a fun way to climb into the adult-sized bed they may be sleeping in while at your vacation rental.

 

Pool Time!

 

If your vacation rental home has a pool, Moxie Girl has posted a number of blogs that could be helpful to you. Be sure to check out our Moxie Blog, “5 Sizzling Summer Tips for Vacation Rental Homes with Pools”!

 

 

We mentioned perhaps providing some small, inflatable pool toys in the ‘kid box’. Providing these items, new in-the-packaging, is best. Not only is someone going to have to put them to their lips to blow them up, but there are also pre-printed consumer warnings already on the packaging…such as ‘This is not a life-saving device!”…in case there was ANY question about whether or not it’s safe to leave a 4 year old in the pool alone with this beach ball mom is about to inflate.

 

Don’t forget about the “No Glass Near the Pool” rule you SHOULD have posted at your vacation rental! The dollar store is again your friend here. There are dozens of choices for colorful, pool-safe drinkware for everyone – and some, especially for kids!

 

Don’t Forget!

 

Be sure your guests know where to find the kid-goods! The ‘kid-box’ effort is pointless if no one knows where it is.  A card left with the box could contain a special welcome note to the kids as well as any simple ‘rules’ you may have regarding the contents of the box. You know, “please return all puzzle pieces, crayons, games pieces, etc. to the box for our next mini guests to enjoy!”

 

It should go without saying that this little box of treasures – and any kid-equipment – should be inspected, replenished and sanitized between guests, just as you would with any adult guest amenities. (Okay, maybe EXTRA sanitation on the kid stuff. Just sayin’.)

 

Moxie Girl is Your Phoenix-Area Vacation Rental Specialist!

 

Whether you own a vacation rental home or are looking to be a Vacation Rental Assistant, Moxie Girl may be the answer for you. We specialize in the care of over 100 vacation rental homes, Valley-wide!

 

For vacation rental homeowners, Moxie Girl takes the worry out of between-guest turns, giving them more time to spend in other areas of their lives! Our vast experience with vacation rentals and our reliable service can give you the peace of mind you crave while ensuring your guests are enjoying the best experience possible in your vacation rental. (Great experiences = great reviews = more bookings = more profit for you!) Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION! 

 

 

Our Moxies (boys AND girls) stay in shape making our client’s vacation rentals fresh, clean and guest-ready while enjoying a flexible schedule and a supportive team environment! If Moxie life sounds like a fit for you, please CLICK HERE and tell us about yourself! We are always looking to welcome our newest team member!

 

 

Moxie Girl Celebrates Moms Everywhere!

May 10th, 2019 | By Claudia Moreno

As Mother’s Day rapidly approaches, have you ever wondered how Mother’s Day came about in the first place? It all started with a woman named Anna Jarvis (who actually never became a mother herself.)  Anna was born in West Virginia in 1864, and was the ninth of eleven children born to Granville E. and Ann Maria (nee Reeves) Jarvis.

In 1908, Anna completed a movement that her mother had started.  It had been a dream of Ann Maria’s to create a special day to recognize other women for all of their hard work in and out of the home, in the course of raising their families.  Anna’s mother had passed before everything was approved to officially create the holiday.  Anna’s drive to finish what her mother started was strong and with the help of President Woodrow Wilson, Mother’s Day became a nationally recognized holiday.

 

In it’s early days, Mother’s Day was recognized with flowers and giving mom “the day off.” Traditionally, the carnation is the signature flower of the holiday with red and pink carnations recognizing mothers still living and white carnations memorializing those who had passed. Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in many different ways. Children and husbands give flowers, cards and perhaps treat mom to a special meal or a gift certificate for a day of pampering at her favorite spa.

(Moxie Tip: If you ARE planning to take mom out for dinner in celebration of her special day – you might be wise to choose a day right before or right after Mother’s Day Sunday. Mother’s Day is usually the #1 busiest day of the year for most restaurants (followed closely by Valentine’s Day) and although staffing can be at a maximum, everything else is too. Wait times to be seated can be long and service may suffer under the strain of a continuous and heavy stream of patrons, so you might not be treating mom to the very best experience she deserves.)

Moxie Girl would like to give a big shout out to all of the mothers around the world who work hard and raise families. Many of us Moxies are also moms, so we know it is one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Moxie Girl!

 

Moxie Girl is the Valley’s vacation rental specialist! Vacation rental home owners – get a FREE CONSULTATION and see how much easier it is to be a successful vacation rental home operator with Moxie Girl taking care of the turns! Moxie Girl is always looking for just the right fit to add to our reliable and motivated team – APPLY HERE. We’d love to hear from you!