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Lucy Leyva

Is Your House Scary?

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During this time of the year, many of us decorate our homes to reflect the fall season and Halloween. If the intention is for your house to be scary, that’s cute, but it’s not cute if there are things in your home that may be dangerous or costly. Let’s look at some of the things that are not cute about a scary house.

Dirty or Damaged Fireplace

Fireplaces that are not maintained on a regular basis can have creosote buildup that can cause a chimney fire. Wood burning fireplaces without the proper screen can have embers pop out into the home and create a fire. Have your fireplaces checked for safety.

Alarms

Fire, carbon monoxide and gas detection alarms should be tested often and new batteries installed each year. This is easy to forget, but essential for your family’s safety.

Tripping Hazards

Clutter in a home can create an opportunity for a devastating fall. An estimated 9,500 deaths of older Americans are associated with falls each year. Clear your traffic areas of loose clutter, keep things picked up off the floor and if you have rugs, make sure they are secure and that the corners and edges are not raised.

Mold and Mildew

The corners of showers, shower doors and frames, window tracks in and around the kitchen and bathroom sinks, under the sink, refrigerator doors and seals, ceilings and walls above the shower are all places that mold can grow. Mold is the culprit for many of the illnesses we suffer from such as allergies and asthma. Have these areas thoroughly cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.

Old Food

Do you remember to check the dates on the food in your fridge and freezer? It’s easy to think that if it is frozen, it is probably okay, but there is an expiration date on everything. A good time to check all the dates is when you have a complete clean-out of the fridge and freezer.

Pet Waste

As much as we love our pets, their waste can carry disease and germs. If you have a pet who is not house trained well, the urine can get trapped in the carpet and flooring and create a very unhealthy environment. Make sure kitty boxes are cleaned daily and sand changed out often. Have carpets cleaned by a licensed professional and train the dog.

Inadequate Lighting

How many times have you stubbed a toe while finding your way around the house at night? Whether it is inside or outside, make sure there are plug-in night lights or solar walkway lighting to prevent running into something, banging your head or tripping.

Emergency Kit

It doesn’t take a lot of money, time or space to create a three-day emergency kit with first aid, non-perishable food, a change of clothes, flashlights, medicine, candles, radio and water. It all fits nicely in a trash can on wheels in case you need to get out of your home quickly in a storm, earthquake, fire evacuation, loss of power or any other emergency.

 

These are just a few things to consider when deciding if your house might be scary. Enjoy the fall season safely and make sure the only things scary in your house are the decorations. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

 

Pets: Part of Our Heart, Home

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Here at Prescott Maid to Order, we know how important our furry friends are to our clients.

We see it every day in the homes of the people we serve. Often we find that the kids are all grown up and the companionship of the pets in these homes is paramount to the lives of our clients. Because of this, we offer pet sitting as part of our list of services and have designed a program called Prescott Maid to Order’s Forever Home Program. I’ll talk a little more about the program in a minute. But first, here are a few interesting facts about the health benefits animals bring to their humans. Owning a pet:

Decreases stress
Lowers blood pressure
Eases pain and anxiety
Lowers cholesterol
Improves mood
Helps people socialize
Prevents strokes
Monitors blood sugar levels for diabetics
Prevents allergies and improves immunity
Helps children develop

Our Forever Home Program is in conjunction with Yavapai Humane Society. The website “Mighty Cause,” states, “Every day, 9,000 pets are killed in American shelters. However, the Yavapai Humane Society bucks that trend. YHS is the safest shelter in Arizona and among the safest in the nation, with a lifesaving rate of 97%.” What a great opportunity to serve.
In an earlier article a year or two back, I talked about community service in business, stating, “While trying to grow a business, many companies locally and nationwide are seeing the value in serving their community and the world at large. Whether it is on a large or small scale, the value of volunteerism, contribution and service is of unlimited worth.” We are involved in several causes in our community, with this being just one.

So, what is the program about?

We will feature a dog or cat (sometimes both at the same time) and post an ad anywhere we can get exposure for it, on our Facebook page, our website and several community pages. Often, it will be a pet that is older, maybe has been there longer or may not be the one that will get adopted quickly. We will post and repost as long as needed to try to get the word out, not only about that particular pet, but the cause of finding homes for any of the pets in YHS. When someone responds to one of our ads, either to us directly or to the Humane Society and then adopts our “featured” pet, we will in turn sponsor the fees. How fun is that! We ask people to “share” the ad to their page and to their friends so that the word will spread.

Our homes not only put a roof over our heads, but house and protect those we love, including our critter kids. It’s where we make memories, enjoy our quiet time, recuperate from a long day at work, celebrate with those we hold dear and much more. If you have been considering the companionship of a new pet, we encourage you to check out our Forever Home Program on our website or Facebook page and visit the Humane Society. We love our clients and we love our pets! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

Understanding the Customer, Home

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When I visit a home to find out how we can help someone with cleaning needs, I will usually ask, “How can we help you?” I may need to change my approach because often the response is, “Well, I want my house cleaned.”

As simple and obvious as it may sound, there are actually a lot of variations in types of cleanings, houses, people and their specific needs. For example, a single gentleman living alone with no pets may want the very basics and with little frequency. “Just do my floors and clean the bathrooms.” My next visit may be someone who wants a more frequent, very detailed cleaning, and with a lot of instructions. Some may not even know what they are looking for, but just know they need help.

We have to take into consideration that some people may like or want to do certain things, like dusting their prize collection of knickknacks, figurines, glass vases or statues. It’s important that a cleaning crew knows the specific needs and wants of each individual person we serve. Specific instruction as to how they want a surface or room cleaned is valuable. The customer should feel confident that there will not be damage and that the surface, such as a high quality wood floor or a special type of kitchen counter, is being properly cleaned and treated with care. This is their home, it’s personal. Very few services out there are as personal as someone coming into your home on a regular basis, being around your children, pets and touching your stuff.

Giving up a job such as house cleaning is sometimes difficult for someone who has taken pride for many years in the work he or she has done to make the house a home. It’s uncomfortable to admit to needing a little help, unlike all the years before. With that in mind, a cleaning crew needs to be aware of and place importance on the requests and desires of the customer.

So, what are the basics? A good cleaning of the bathrooms including toilets, counters, sinks, showers, tubs, glass doors, mirrors, light fixtures and floors. In the kitchen, all the outside surfaces, counters, sinks, outside of appliances, stovetop and inside the microwave. In the living areas and bedrooms of the house, dusting of the furniture and cleaning the floors.

How about the deeper stuff? Along with all of the above, someone may want all the fans cleaned, the baseboards scrubbed, the light fixtures cleaned and shined, the cabinets oiled, the blinds cleaned, the inside of the oven and the refrigerator cleaned, the pot shelves dusted. How about the tops of those kitchen cabinets?

Regardless of the depth and instruction on the particular job, the company that does that job needs to understand the customer, understand the instructions, genuinely care about the home and take pride in the work.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

Enjoying a Happy Summer

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Our theme this month at Prescott Maid to Order is, “Enjoy every day this summer and leave the cleaning to us.” As the weather turns warmer and we come into vacation season, I automatically feel happier. People are out and about, enjoying our beautiful area. It is a time when kids are out of school, family often comes to visit or you take that much-anticipated vacation.

Here at our company, we encourage our friends and community to enjoy the season and let the professionals take some of the tasks that they normally do off their list and lift a weight off their shoulders. We encourage our employees to be happy and we strive to make our clients happy as well.

I recently came across this list whose author I am not aware of, but is worth passing along:

Ten Things Happy People Don’t Do:

They don’t worry a lot about what other people think.

They don’t waste time doing things they dislike.

They don’t try to manipulate or change other people.

They don’t get stuck in the past.

They don’t obsess over what might happen in the future.

They don’t strive to achieve absolute perfection.

They don’t forget to be thankful.

They don’t value material possessions over experiences.

They don’t seek fulfillment in the wrong places.

They don’t stay in a negative situation long.

Why would I include this list in an article about cleaning? Because many people I run into feel guilty if they do something for themselves or accept help. They may worry about what other people think if they seek help. They get stuck (like in No. 4 on the list), not knowing where to start on a project or a move.

It sometimes seems overwhelming when there is a life change like the passing of a loved one, a divorce or a house sale. A recent client called when her aunt had passed away and it was now her responsibility to get the house ready to sell. This was almost more than she was able to comprehend completing because of the condition that the house was in. After an initial day of cleaning and professional carpet cleaning, she tearfully thanked us for taking some of this huge task off her plate. What a great feeling to provide a service that contributed to someone’s happiness today!

We hope your summer is filled with good days and happy times. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

Recalling the Way Mom Used to Clean

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In this Mother’s Day month, our thoughts are turned to our own moms and grandmothers. I think about how things were in their day. How did mom do things differently from what we do today? How did grandma do things differently from mom?

Just for fun, I wanted to take a look way back at how “clean” was viewed and accomplished through the different eras. In the Victorian era, the luxury of a regular bath was reserved for the upper class. Family members would share the same bath water and so, as it got used over and over, by the time it got to the last family member, the baby, it was murky, so murky you could possibly lose someone in it. Thus came the birth of the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

In 1400, the Chinese invented toilet paper; thank you, China. The first electric powered vacuum cleaner was invented in 1901, and not widely used until later than that. Today, we have central vacuums, Rumbas, amazing cleaning products and polishes that make things sterile and shiny. Thankfully, most of us are able to shower or bathe regularly without having to share the water.

Do we think about all the conveniences we have now to help us with keeping clean and keeping our homes clean? I know that I am thankful that I don’t have to take the rug out to the laundry line and beat it to death. One thing I can remember was a great aunt who would wrap each clean folded towel in wax paper and carefully place it in the linen closet along with the other individually wrapped clean towels and linens.  On that same note, does anyone remember the plastic couch covers in the ‘60s? It was a terrible invention in my eyes, but nonetheless, the standard of clean in those days.

Before commercially produced cleaning sponges were invented, they would actually use sponge from the sea. Wood ash, pork fat and also lye were used to make soap. Some natural resources used then for cleaning are still popular today, such as vinegar and lemon.

The one common denominator from then to now is good old elbow grease.  Cleaning is hard work – it was then and still is now – but the reward is great and makes us feel good.

I guess, regardless of how they did it through the years, the fact is: they did it. Our great grandmothers, grandmothers and moms worked tirelessly to keep things clean and in order. I think about my own mother and how hard she worked all her life. I thank her and all of the other moms this Mother’s Day for all they do for us.

From everyone here at Prescott Maid to Order, thank you to all of the moms who came before us and all the moms here today. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

Spring Cleaning for a Healthy Home 

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With all of the snow and cold weather ending, we are ready for nice weather. Our homes have been closed up, air recirculating, fireplaces burning and heaters running almost non–stop. The air that we have been breathing hasn’t been the healthiest. Dust and allergens lurk in hidden areas. As we start to open up for spring, it’s time to clean things up. 

A deep spring clean on the interior of the house will make your home feel beautiful, it will look well cared for and will contribute to healthy living. The ceiling fans, vents, light fixtures, fireplaces, baseboards, raised panel doors, pot shelves, cabinet fronts and many more areas collect dust and grease over the months. Your general vacuuming and dusting just doesn’t get all of those areas. Many people are sensitive to the dust that collects in these areas and sometimes do not even realize the effect it can have on their health. Mold and bacteria can grow in areas that are difficult to reach such as high window sills, corners, ceilings and shower door frames. 

In the kitchen, there is a danger of cross contamination when unwashed plates with food left on them are piled in the sink or discarded food piles up in the trash can. Dirty ovens can create smoke that is released into the air when the door is opened. Mold and bacteria can form in washing machines, fridge doors and seals, dish washers and other appliances that can then be transferred to foods and utensils 

The winter has played havoc on our windows. As the rain runs down the glass and the snow piles up on the outside sills, dirt and debris collect in the tracks and frames. This makes it difficult for the windows to open, close and seal correctly. Besides wanting your windows to be sparkling clean so you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors, it is important that they are working properly. Check the weatherstripping and seals for cracks and breaks and repair or replace. Spring is a good time to check all the screens for holes and tears that might let insects or pests in. Keeping your windows and screens in good working order will help to keep unwanted dust, dirt, allergens and pests out of your home. 

Curtains, bed skirts, valances and comforters are all places where allergen producing dust mites, mold and pet dander linger, exposing your family to and increasing the possibility of asthma and other related symptoms. 

A dirty bathroom is the culprit of an array of possible threats. Bacteria and parasites that collect in “unchecked” areas of the bathroom can lead to E. coli and Staph infections. A good scrubbing and disinfecting of the areas around the toilet, shower corners and frames, all handles and fixtures and medicine cabinet where you store such things as toothbrushes and medicine, will help to alleviate these threats. 

A clean home will reduce illnesses and accidents from falls. It has also been studied that a clean home reduces stress, and we all need less stress. Have a beautiful, happy and healthy spring! QCBN 

By Lucy Leyva 

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order LLC. 

Making Your Home Beautifully Clean for Spring

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While taking a walk in February on the trails at Watson Lake, I looked all around at the dark, cloudy skies and the barren, cold trees. As I looked a little closer, there was a hint of green on the very tips of the Cottonwoods. Could it be? I examined the trees up close and sure enough, there they were, little green sprouts on the tips of the branches. Well, now, it is March and the first day of spring this year is March 20. As do many people, I absolutely love spring. Everything is so fresh and beautiful. Things start to bloom and the overall feeling is that of energy and renewal.

As we move into this new phase of the year, we can look a little closer to home, explore the possibilities of rectifying any negative effect that the winter has had on our home, prepare for the upcoming warmer weather and plan projects to improve our homes and yards.

The last several months have brought in dust and dirt from wet roads, wind and rain. Your home has most likely been closed up for a while, without a lot of fresh air. Heaters and fireplaces have been running. It’s time to clean things up and start fresh.

If you have a fireplace, it is a good time to get it checked out and cleaned by a professional. The same applies to the duct work in your house that circulates the air from your heater and air conditioning unit. There are several companies in the area that can check out the ductwork and make sure it is clean and nothing has come loose during the winter months. Another money-saving idea is to have the ductwork sealed after it is cleaned so that it is energy efficient. This is also a good time to have your air conditioning unit checked out. If you wait until the hottest month (usually June) and something goes wrong, you may have to wait in line for someone to come fix it.

Consider power washing any drainage areas in your yard, around your house and clearing out the gutters of debris. Power washing can also clean your driveways and walkways much better than just sweeping or rinsing down with a hose. It is also a necessary step in preparing for any painting fixes or projects you may have on the outside of your house. It will strip away the dirt and loose, peeling paint so that your new paint will look beautiful and last longer.

My favorite thing to have done once spring comes is to have all of my windows professionally cleaned, including all the screens and tracks. It feels so good to have all of that dirt and buildup cleaned away so that I can clearly see the gorgeous weather and views that our area offers. Having crystal clean and clear windows makes the whole house feel newer, cleaner and fresher.

Have carpets, rugs, upholstery and tile cleaned. There’s been a lot of traffic trampled all over your floors. There have been holiday parties, food spills, wet boots, dog paws, sweet but muddy kids and who knows what else going in and out of the house, bringing in all the dirt and grime onto your floors and furniture. Having the carpets and upholstery cleaned will also help to extract any unwanted odors that have been lurking.

Enjoy your spring and make your home beautifully clean. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

Spreading the Love in Business 

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February is all about love. We give gifts to our one and only and seem to have the spirit of cupid all around us. How in business can we love our clients, our employees, our colleagues, our community and even our competition? I think that business owners or professionals have to look at their business from a personal perspective and give it personality, understand its purpose and realize that anyone that the business touches deserves a certain amount of attention, respect and, yes, even love. 

As business professionals, we need to love our community. Feeling like a part of a larger entity like our community gives us an identity and pride in being involved in what is happening around us and the people we serve and come in contact with daily. Our community is what keeps our businesses flourishing and give us purpose. As we take part in community events and causes, we can grow our love for the area and for the people. How can you not love Prescott, Prescott Valley and the surrounding areas? We are blessed with so much here. 

Becoming involved in networking groups, chambers, industry events and organizations helps us to grow mutual respect and admiration for others that are also striving to be the best at what they do. They, too, are working toward the same goal as we are, to serve their customers and provide great products or services to their clients and customers. As we learn more about them, we can develop long lasting relationships professionally and personally. We can create a large circle of individuals that we can count as friends, neighbors and business partners. 

Within each company large or small, there are the people who make it happen, from management to each and every employee. Their importance and value to your success is paramount. Realizing each person’s value is essential in acquiring and keeping loyal hardworking individuals to help you succeed in your professional goals. The people you hire should not be viewed as a means to an end, but more the heart and soul of your business. Love your coworkers and employees. We strive to make sure our employees feel valued because they are valued and we appreciate each one. 

A business or company shows love to its customers by being there when the customer needs them, by providing a good value and a quality product of service. By providing stellar customer service and by having people in your business who really do care about each customer, you are able to convey that love and respect to your clientele. Going the extra mile and doing more than expected should be the norm, not the exception.  

This month, the month of love, show your love and respect for your community, your family, your employees and coworkers and, of course, your customers. At Prescott Maid to Order, we love our clients. Have a great Valentine’s Day! Spread the love. QCBN 

By Lucy Leyva 

Lucy Leyva is the owner and CEO of Prescott Maid to Order. 

Cleaning up, Clearing Out, Starting Fresh 

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With the New Year, we are usually motivated to do better, feel better and be better. Does it last all year? Sometimes, it does. It is a good time to look at our daily lives and see what we can do to make each day better, how we can make a difference, how we can improve health and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. Whether you have a large family or live alone, there are things we can do this new year to achieve our goals and make them last all year long. 

Cleaning up, clearing out and starting fresh can apply to both material things like in our homes, but it can also have a broader meaning.  Here are a few thoughts I have to share. 

Count your blessings: Take stock of what is important to you. Take five minutes each morning to review what you are thankful for and spend time appreciating those things. We all have something to be thankful for and often get too busy to recognize those things. Your day will be less stressful when you take the opportunity to look at the bigger picture. 

Let go: If there are things that are bringing you down that you cannot change, let them go. Let go of past failures, maybe you didn’t lose the weight last year, or get the dream job or paint the house. Whatever it is, you can’t change the past, so let it go and move forward with renewed resolve. 

Don’t set your resolutions too high: If you are a “New Year’s resolution” type of person, make sure that you set attainable goals. Little tiny steps that you achieve will do much good for your esteem. It will motivate you to move forward. Expecting too much and not achieving will have the opposite result. 

Clean up: Deciding to clear out the “stuff” and clean up for the new year often has long lasting emotional and health benefits. It feels so good to get rid of the things you don’t need and are creating clutter in your life. Do a closet at a time, a section of the garage or one dresser at a time. Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer need. Do a deep clean or hire a professional to help with the big stuff, windows, carpets, ovens, blinds, baseboards. What a great feeling! 

Commit to better well–being: Decide what would make you feel better this year. Maybe eat a little healthier, walk a little more, take up a hobby or sport, dance a little, sing out loud (even if you’re tone deaf) and do what you can to get enough sleep. Whatever you have not been doing, make a conscientious effort this year to improve your well-being. 

Learn to treat yourself: You deserve to allow yourself some luxuries. In our industry, we find that at a certain point in life, many people who have worked very hard for many years finally come to the realization that they deserve some help with things like the cleaning of their home. Hire someone to do the things you don’t like to do. Maybe schedule a massage, or just allow yourself some downtime. 

Serve others: Such an important concept. Small acts of kindness will lighten your own burdens and lift others. What a way to start the new year. 

As we venture forward into 2019, it is our wish that each day brings you joy. Happy New Year! QCBN 

 

By Lucy Leyva 

 

Maintaining Sparkle for the Holidays 

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Your home is where memories are made. Relationships with family and friends are renewed and grown within the walls of your home and you want this season to be wonderful. Here are some tips for making your home feel comfortable and homey for the holidays for friends, family and guests. 

Keep up on the little daily chores during the holidays so that they don’t grow to be projects. Set a 20-minute timer to do the little stuff, make sure the bed is made and dishes are done. Keep mail in a designated place so that it doesn’t get strewn around the counters and pick up the clothes off of the floors. 

In the kitchen, do a quick check in the fridge to get rid of older leftovers and unneeded extra food just taking up valuable space. Don’t worry about cleaning the oven, save that task for after the holidays.  Make sure that you have all the kitchen tools you will need and that they are in good working order.  Sharpen knives and have plenty of large serving spoons. 

Do a safety check around the house for possible hazards to young children and the elderly. Replace batteries in your smoke detectors and test them to ensure they are in good working order. 

Declutter and remove any unnecessary items from the guest rooms, countertops, in the entry and on the floors. Less clutter equals less stress and creates a relaxed and clean feeling. Clear out space for guests’ coats and make room in the guest room for their items. 

Each room that your guests may encounter should have a night light so they can find their way easily. Make sure outdoor walkways and the address are well lit.  

Make the entry or the first room people see organized and pretty. This is where people come in, say their hellos, give big hugs and it is the first impression. Make it special and warm and welcoming. 

Get help when needed. Don’t feel guilty that you are so busy during this season. Your time is precious, so spend it with the ones you love, doing the things that contribute to the joy of the season. Schedule professional carpet cleaning, window cleaning and house cleaning to free up your time and reduce stress. 

NOW, decorate to your heart’s content. Some like a lot of decorations and some like a minimalist approach. Either way, make it yours, show your style and have fun! 

Finally, have something cooking that smells wonderful and festive as you entertain. Even “cut and bake” cookies baking or cinnamon potpourri simmering on the stove will do the trick. You’re all set! Your guests will feel comfortable and cozy, your house will feel like home and SPARKLE. Have a safe, and love-filled holiday season! QCBN 

By Lucy Leyva 

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.