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Setting out to create
the ultimate holiday
wish list, we anticipated most people would have visions of baubles
dancing in their heads. Maybe a guilty lust for
a pair of the latest
Uggs or an ostrich-skin laptop case. Not so.
It seems that for many
of us, holiday wishes
are based on one
simple need: TIME.
STORY BY jENNIFER pAPALE RIGNANI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD KELLY
We sent an unofficial e-mail to dozens of men and women who run the gamut of incomes and lifestyles. The question: What do you wish for this year? The response was unanimous. These Pittsburghers all wished for more time. But how can you get more time, that elusive beast that nips at our heels every hour of the day? The answer is simple: Hire someone to do
your chores.
When you stop and think about it, there is a wide
variety of people in this city who can be hired to perform a vast number of services. The
following is a mere sampling. For more services, a good source is Angie's List, a fee-based organization that provides personal recommendations from fellow members. Another reliable tool for finding help is Craigslist Pittsburgh. All of the services mentioned here can be purchased in time for holiday gift-giving. Read on, because no matter how busy you are, we cannot advocate paying someone to read for you.
 Decorate My Home
About 15 years ago, noted Pittsburgh floral designer Michael Jacobs of Blooms Florist LLC was asked by a busy client if he would decorate her home for the holidays. He did, and a trend was born. Blooms now does private parties throughout the year, and no theme is out of reach. "My favorite was a husband who bought the service for his wife," says Jacobs. "We went into a great home and transformed it from French country to a winter wonderland with pine, holly, silver glitter and icicles. The look on her face made it worth all the hard work." When buying Blooms' decorating service for someone else, you must first decide your budget (fees range from $1,000 to $10,000 and up). Then, the shop will send
a note and floral arrangement announcing the gift,
and a consultation is arranged. For Thanksgiving or Christmas, Blooms needs at least three weeks' notice. "We'll decorate everything from the mantel and tree to the whole inside and outside of the house with a combination of things we bring in and your own decorations," explains Jacobs. The best part? Jacobs' team comes back, takes it all down and stores it for you until next year.
Blooms, Michael Jacobs, 800/481-6009
 Drive Me to Work
Not that sitting on Route 376 isn't a time for reflection,
but wouldn't it be nice to read the paper on your way
into work instead of gripping the steering wheel with
white-knuckled rage? Hiring a car and driver is still a bit of a luxury at $45 per hour with a three-hour minimum at most companies, but it can be done. Jeanne Molyneaux of Carey Pittsburgh/Allegheny Limousines Inc. says it's becoming more common so people don't have to waste time driving or hassle with parking. "We can stay with you for a week,
a month, whatever," she says. "Sometimes couples just want to add a special touch to a night out or a long weekend."
Or, you can hire a driver to take you to various places while the driver waits outside. Imagine holiday shopping this way. Molyneaux says the latest trend is to hire a car driver if you need to go out of town and you're sick of the airport: "Customers have hired us to drive them as far as Chicago and Florida, and we drop them straight off at their family's door," says Molyneaux. "Sometimes it's a lot easier than a plane."
Carey Pittsburgh/Allegheny Limousines Inc. 412/731-8671
 Clean My House
In the season of crazy schedules and pop-in relatives, what better way to find more time to stop under the mistletoe than to hire a cleaning service? Pittsburgh is home to many of these services, including the larger chains such as Merry Maids and Affordable Maids. Each will visit your home to do a walk-through so you can be informed just how deeply it needs to be cleaned. The first time is usually the most costly, as the smartest route is to have everything cleaned from the inside of your refrigerator to your windows. Prices are based on the number of rooms and hours it will take to make it all sparkle.
Merry Maids, 412/931-5260
Affordable Maids, 412/366-3000
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