Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Northwest Premier Services! It is that time of year again where it's time to get organized. As you are making your New Years resolutions, please keep us in mind for helping with all of your needs. We take pride in adding convenience and free time to our clients lives and if you have yet to sign up with Northwest Premier Services.....it might be something to think about.

Best wishes for 2009!

Are you ready for no power?

I know that our weather reports can be way wrong around here, but when I was watching the National News and they were saying that Seattle has a, "Very Dangerous Storm coming," I figured I should take some action. I wanted to post a quick couple reminders of some things to do. For storms like this, it is always best to assume the power is going to go out. Wouldn't you rather have supplies and no storm than have a storm and no supplies? When I was younger we didn't have power for 10 days, and that was a nightmare

1. Fill your car(s) up with Gas. With no power, the gas stations don't work. With our freezing temperatures, and no power, your car might be a good place to warm up. Also, if you are out on the roads and get stuck, you want to make sure you have plenty of gas.
2. Candles? I suggest the small candles in the metal/tin dish. These candles are cheap and you can buy them in bulk. They are good to put around your house and give you enough light. If you forget to blow one out when you are done with it, its ok because they don't usually last as long as another candle would and they are relatively safe.
3. Heat? If you have a wood fireplace (as opposed to gas) I would suggest getting a box of duraflames to get the fire started and then keep the fire going with wood. (that you can buy at the store as well) The wood is less expensive and works the same as long as you have the fire started.
4. Food? No stove, no microwave, no oven, and no hot water. So I would suggest some food that is ready to eat, ie muffins, power bars, chips, etc. Also remember, your refrigerator will keep your food cold for a while but not forever. Try and limit the amount of times you open and close it.
   
5. Batteries? This might be a good opportunity to restock your battery supply. Maybe for a radio and flashlight.
6. Finally, make sure you know where everything is that you might need access to. The last thing you want to do is be searching for a flashlight in the dark.

I hope this helped. Good luck and Stay warm.

7 Tips on How to Stick with your New Year's Resolutions

With the New Year just around the corner, it's time once again for those New Year's resolutions...Here are a few tips to help you stick to your goals.

1. Focus on positive self-talk. Congratulate yourself every time you take a step towards your resolution goal. You'll be amazed at how powerful being positive is.
2. Avoid berating yourself if you should fall back or break a resolution. Just brush yourself off and start over again.
3. Stick to your resolution by considering it a promise to yourself, not a test of your willpower.
4. Avoid situations that put you in temptation's path, meaning if you're on a diet, don't go take the kids to the drive thru.
5. Keep a sticky note in a prominent place so that you see it every day, reminding yourself of your resolutions. (i.e., on your bathroom mirror, next to your bed, on the visor of your car, on the refrigerator, or set a reminder on your cell phone)
6. Be realistic. Make sure your plan is a realistic one that can fit into your lifestyle. Will you really have the energy to work out before going to work? Make changes as easy and convenient as possible.
7. Be sure to give yourself the time you need to achieve your goals for the New Year.

At NWPS we wish you the best of luck on your New Years resolutions and a happy and safe 2009!

Car Wash Update Introduction

If you are wondering what days are good days to wash your car, then I am here to help. Subscribe to this post and it will be updated on all days that I recommend getting your car washed. Living in the Northwest, you have to time washing your car perfect to maximize the amount of days of a clean car after either spending the money to get it cleaned or taking the time to clean it yourself. Northwest Premier Services offers Car Washing at your home if this is something you are interested in.

Today, Tuesday December 16th 2008, is an ok day to wash your car if it is really dirty. It is not good to have dirt sit on your car or wheels without any cleaning over long periods of time. It ruins the finish and makes your car look old.

The weather report calls for snow in the next couple days so you might be thinking that its a bad time to wash the car. The thing is, even though we are suppose to get snow, it is not suppose to warm up for another week or so. The snow will not turn into water which usually the main cause for your car to get dirty. I would suggest to have your Car washed Friday Morning if you are in desperate need of a wash. If not, then I would hold off until after Christmas and keep checking back with Northwest Premier Serivces.

Merry Car-istmas!

Today was a pretty fun day! We had the opportunity to help deliver a brand new Ferrari Scuderia for one of our clients. Here are a few pictures from the experience. Remember that Northwest Premier Services is always there for you. Whether it's helping you pick up that new car or simply picking up your dry cleaning...

In the showroom - checking it out.
Out on the streets...Picking up some speed!

A new home...

Save Time and Money (w/christmas lights)

Here is an easy way to save some time and money this holiday season: use automatic timers on your Christmas lights. A timer can be purchased at the hardware store, the grocery store, or the drug store for around $5 dollars and they are very easy to set up.

1. set the local time
2. set what time you'd like the lights to come on
3. set the time for the timer to turn off

It's as easy as that. You can use timers on your exterior lights as well as your Christmas tree. I have my timers set to turn on at dusk and turn off at midnight. These automatic timers are a very simple idea and they are quite the time-savers. There's no need to turn the lights on, and your electrical bill will be smaller because you won't risk forgetting to turn the lights off at night.

First sign of snow in the Northwest

With the first sign of snow here in Seattle and Bellevue, we wanted to share a few tips for driving out in this cold weather. The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. But if you must hit the roads, just be careful and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.

It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

And remember, if you ever need anything, whether it be groceries, your car jumped, or just some hot cocoa and fresh cookies, don't hesitate to call northwest premier services @ 425.533.0911