Feature: 61 Ways to Get It Done

Lets face it: Life can be overwhelming. Who has the time to get the car fixed, spring clean like your grandmother, figure out how to properly install a car seat, plant a vegetable garden? Well, you can relax. all over town, pros are poised to help. we dug deep to find some of the best and most innovative personal services available. Set them to work, and all you’ll have to do is cross things off that to-do list.

PERSONALSERVICESGet the services you need conveniently in your own homeWardrobe organizerYour favorite standby sweater is beginning to unravel, and your little black dress is two sizes too small. you need Susie Prets, a professional wardrobe organizer who has a degree in fashion merchandising and 18 years of retail experience at Nordstrom. West Seattlebased Prets will whip your wardrobe into shape (do you really need that blouse from 1995?), put together outfits for you from your remaining clothes and accessories, then shop for you and instruct you on fit and what works best for your body type. Suddenly, missing what not to Wear doesnt seem like a tragedy.Susie Prets $125/hour 206.228.1812 sprets.com

In-home hair and makeup stylistOn your big day (or that of your daughter or best-friend), lower the stress level a little by having a Salon Maison consultant (we recommend Heidi) come to you. Voted best Wedding Hair and Makeup service by Seattle Bride in 2008 and 2009, Bellevue-based Salon Maison will execute your previously created beauty plan at your home, hotel suite or venue so you dont spend your wedding day frantically running between appointments. Once your hair and makeup are gorgeous and your bridal party is taken care of, the only thing left to worry about will be those pesky I dos. Salon Maison 425.223.3278 salonmaison.net $325 covers trial run and wedding day

In-home spray tannerAvoid the embarrassing reveal of pasty winter skin this spring (and the risk of skin cancer) by having Green Lakebased Divine Sunless Tanning come to your home and spray your cold winter hue into a warm bronze glow. Owner Wendy Smith has eight years of experience creating colors tailored personally to each individual, and for groups of two or more, she will pop up a spray-safe tent in your living room for tanning parties. before your spray, Smith can also treat you to a mani-pedi, makeup application or sugaring session to complete your mobile makeover. Divine Sunless Tanning 206.240.7883 divinetan.com $48/full body tanning session

In-home personal trainerIts never too late to become physically fit, says certified instructor and local fitness guru Victoria Scott of the Maple Leafbased Body Electric Fitness Company. she knows of what she speaks. Scott made the transition from an overweight, unfit smoker to one of the oldest women to make the U.S. rowing team for the 1991 Pan American Games. Shes also a USA Triathlon coach. Even if you have no interest in an Ironman, Scott will come to your home or office and create a custom fitness program to help you shed a few pounds and firm upand then guide you through the workout. Body Electric Fitness Company 206.235.1948 bodyelectricfitness.com $75/hour

Personal errand runnerWest Seattlebased Nicole Rummers personal concierge service, GoFetch4U, specializes in freeing up time. one call to her and the dog will be walked, the groceries bought, the duplicate gifts returned and the thank-you notes mailed. especially attractive are the relocation package, with which all home utilities are set up after your move (no more waiting for the cable guy!), and the new mom package, which can include services such as arranging for meal delivery, running errands and even planning babys first birthday. GoFetch4U 206.947.1875 gofetch4u.com $30/one hour $135/five hours

Find more personal services in the March online issue of Seattle magazine

INSIDETHEHOMECheck out our guide to spruce up your spacePersonal art curatorAspiring art collectors can find out what type of art looks best in their home by renting a favorite work of art from Seattle Art Museums SAM Gallery, which has a large collection of works by Northwest artists available for rent or sale. Should you decide to purchase, at least half of your rental fee will be applied to the sale. Anyone can purchase from SAM Gallery, but only Seattle Art Museum members may rent art; memberships start at $30. In-home consultations are also available at no cost to help you assess your needs. SAM Gallery Downtown, 1300 First Ave. 206.343.1101; seattleartmuseum.org $150 (on average) for three-month rental period

Conquer your clutterThe professional clutter conquerors at Mount Bakers empty your Nest Professional Organizing are dedicated to clearing out the past and making room for the future. Owner Amy Gray is a professional organizer, a certified health education specialist and a feng shui expert, and she and her team help clients with ADD/ADHD, hoarding, and chronic disorganization challenges. but never fear, those of us with only mild organizational issues can still get help with our overflowing offices and inefficient kitchens. Gray and her associates will even address the energy and flow of your space with feng shui for a Zen home. Empty your Nest Professional Organizing 206.719.7525 emptyyournest.com $80$90/hour

Feng shui home healerElizabeth Schermer, founder of Fundamental Feng Shui, uses phrases like healing your environment in her holistic approach to arranging interior spaces. the Greenwood-based practitioner combines the principles of feng shui with a variety of healing traditions, such as Reiki and space clearing, to create positive harmony in your home. Schermer will help you rearrange your possessions (a desk facing the door creates positive energy), recommend color changes (a soft green wall to induce serenity) and clear clutter to improve your homes energy flow as well as the functionality of each room. Fundamental Feng Shui Greenwood, 8406 Sixth Ave. NW 206.605.2506fundamentalfengshui.com20-minute phone consultation, free; One-hour in-home diagnostic consultation, $175

Home energy auditorGreen up your home with a little help from Charlie Rogers, the Seattle-based Habitat Home Energy Specialist. a building analyst professionally certified by the Building Performance Institute, a national training and certification organization, Rogers will inspect your home for missing insulation, identify air leaks and heat loss, and prepare a report of recommendations for improvements (such as sealing windows, changing light bulbs and minimizing appliance usage), including an explanation of government tax credit incentives and utility rebate programs ($285 and up). in this business, Rogers says, small changes can mean huge benefits for a homeowner. Habitat Home Energy Specialist Capitol Hill, 1631 Belmont Ave., Apt. 205206.390.3348; habitataudits.com; $285-$565 for home energy audit

DIY home energy conservationThe City of Seattle, in cooperation with Seattle City Light, publishes a step-by-step guide for performing your own energy audit and provides links to a wide variety of conservation topics (e.g., efficient lighting, efficient appliances, weatherizing and tips for reducing your energy bill). Help line: 206.684.3800; seattle.gov/light/conserve/resident/Find more inside the home services in the March online issue of Seattle magazineTRANSPORTATION Check out our customized and at home automotive services

Mobile mechanicDarwin Richard, who has specialized in on-site automotive services since 1992, takes great pride in bringing his expertise to your door (at home or the office). the Renton-based owner of mr. Mobile Automotive Services can handle the full range of service and repairsfrom lube and oil change to brake pad replacement, transmission services, drivetrain problems and more. just think, no more need to arrange for rides or plan how to while away the hours in a waiting room. And next time your car breaks down on the roadway, would you rather call a stranger at AAA, or your own personal mobile mechanic? Richard handles roadside repairs, too. Weve traveled to Olympia, Everett and even Snoqualmie Pass for our customers, he says. Mr. Mobile Automotive Services 206.930.7788;mrmobileauto.comRepairs, $80/hour; service calls begin at $20Personalized van tour serviceYour house is brimming with visiting relatives, and you want to treat them to a special outing, like a wine-tasting tour. do it in style by using Butler Transportation and its fleet of biofuel-powered Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. Brothers Jeremy and Stuart Butler offer customized tours of Woodinville Wine Country complete with private tastings, barrel sampling, gourmet food (picnic style or restaurant) and, if you like, a personal sommelier. And when your out-of-town guests buy a bottle or two of Washingtons best, Butler Transportation will arrange to ship it back home, making airport security a breeze. not a wine aficionado? Theyll work with you to develop a customized tour. Butler Transportation 425.883.0850 butlerseattle.com from $350/first three hours; $75/each additional hour

Find more car services in the March issue of Seattle magazine

REPAIRSERVICESEven in our throw-away society some things are worth preserving, and these repair services will help you fix what’s broken

Sharpen your knivesIf, like Daniel O’Malley, founder of the Epicurean Edge, you believe the knife makes the meal, you know the value of a scary-sharp cutting edge (in the lingo of blade connoisseurs). When it is time to have your treasured chefs knife sharpened, dont run it through an electric sharpener. instead, wrap it up and run it over to Kirkland, where OMalley will put the edge back on. Bonus: the gallery-like display of beautifully crafted knives in the Epicurean Edge showroom is worth the trip. The Epicurean Edge Kirkland, 107 Central way 425.889.5980;epicureanedge.comFrom $2.25 per inch, or about $20 for a chefs knife

Fix your favorite vintage jewelryWith more than 13 years in the jewelry business, Lisa Esztergalyos is sure to appreciate your vintage pieces as much as you do. she can recut stones, fit a ring to your finger and bring new luster to well-loved bracelets, necklaces and watches. for examples of her work, visit her Web site or pop in to her downtown gallery. Lisa Esztergalyos Downtown, 424 Fourth Ave., Suite 100; 206.447.5747 lisaesztergalyos.comFrom $24 to size a ring smaller; from $40 to size a ring larger

Mend that sweater or jacket The next time you discover a hole in a favorite sweater or a tear in your jacket, you dont have to drop those items onto the reject pile. take damaged dresses or sweaters to Phyllis Brown at the Alterations and Reweaving Center in Wallingford. With more than 50 years of experience, she can mend tears and holes to look like nothing ever happened. Alterations and Reweaving Center Wallingford, 1601 N 45th St. 206.632.8791; reweave.com$18$45

Revitalize your photosIf your old family photos are looking worse for wear, PixSavers can restore them to their original luster. Owner Steve Lehman, a former Microsoft engineer, has more than 30 years of photography experience, and the store will repair photos damaged by fire or water, improve contrast and lighting, and remove stains or fading. because the Shoreline office has limited space, it is closed to customers, but PixSavers offers free local pickup and delivery or accepts photos by mail outside the delivery area. PixSavers 206.337.2020; pixsavers.com Prices vary. Copies are $5, archival gold CD or 128 megabyte flash drive included

Reupholster your furnitureThe staff at Gabels Custom Refinishing & Upholstery, owned by David L. Gabel, understands just how much wear and tear some furniture suffers. their Greenwood store has been in business since 1945, and they will repair antiques, help you choose the right upholstery and apply durable finishes to keep your heirlooms in their prime for generations to come. Gabels Custom Refinishing & Upholstery Greenwood, 344 NW 85th St. 206.784.2305 gabelsrefinishing.com from $250 for refinishing a dining room side chair; from $900 for upholstering a sofa

Un-fry your computerThe folks at Progressive Tech of Seattle make house calls for ailing Macs and PCs. their technicians will restore and recover data, set up wired and wireless networks, and tune up your computer to optimize its performance. Theyll even install new computers and peripherals. what sets us apart, founder Richard Roth says, is our commitment to client satisfaction. Progressive Tech Roosevelt, 6319 Roosevelt way NE; 206.525.8324 progressivetech.com $120/hour for on-site visits, in-store prices vary by project

Find more repair services in the March issue of Seattle magazine

FORKIDS from college prep to diaper service we have a list of services that will simplifyBaby ProoferEven the most attentive parents can overlook potentially dangerous domestic corners where curious youngsters can wriggle their way into trouble. Owned by a pair of grandmothers, Sherri Albert and Janis Grusz, Kirkland-based Safety for Toddlers has been helping parents eliminate these threats since 1991. their method involves room-by-room consultations identifying the hazardssuch as electrical outlets and products in cabinetsand providing necessary safety products that parents can install.Safety for Toddlers 425.487.3460safety4toddlers.com; $62 for in-home consultation plus on-site visit cost, $110 $185

Kids Lunch MakersPressed for time (and what parent isnt?), but still want to send a quality sack lunch to school with your kids? Fantazimo, an Edmonds-based food service, will deliver a fresh and healthy sack lunch (made by Gretchens Shoebox Express) to many public and private schools in the greater Seattle area. Interchangeable entressuch as a barbecued chicken wrap and a turkey and Swiss sandwichflanked by side dishes such as fruit cups, apple wedges or carrot sticks, are among the wide variety of menu items offered by Fantazimo. just dont blame them if your child still decides to trade it for a classmates Lunchable (some things never change). Fantazimo 866.824.9981; fantazimo.com $4.99$5.43

Diaper ServiceUsing a disposable diaper is easybut is it good for the environment? Disposable diapers contain harmful toxins, take more than 200 years to decompose and have been linked to male infertility. Baby Diaper Service provides this info but, more importantly, it offers an alternative. for a monthly fee, the Seattle-based diaper rental service, in business since 1946, will make weekly deliveries of fresh cloth diapers to and pick up the soiled ones from your home. Baby Diaper Service 206.634.2229 seattlediaper.com from $67.67/four weeks

College Prep CounselorKidsand parentswho have an eye on admission to a highly select collegeturn to Robert Dannenhold, founder of Lake Unionbased Collegeology for help in the application process. High school students start working with the Collegeology team early in their junior year with an advising package that includes guidance on researching colleges, visiting schools, writing college essays, completing applications and making final choicesall with an eye toward improving admission odds. Type as can jump-start prior to their junior year with counseling sessions that help them set academic goals, review planned classes and evaluate the best extracurricular activities or summer job opportunities.Collegeology Lake Union, 927 N Northlake way, Suite 300; 206.633.0443;collegeology.com Advising package: $4,000; counseling session, $150/hourFind more kids services in the March issue of Seattle magazine

PETSERVICESOur list of services to make loving your furry friends even easier

Condo pet patchNot all dogs live in houses; some are urban condo dwellers, just like their owners. but nature inevitably calls, which is where Condo Pet Pals comes in. every week or two, this Monroe-based service will bring a fresh roll of grass-covered sod to your home and place it in a 2-by-5-foot sod pod (custom sizes also available). its like having a miniature backyard on your balcony, only your pooch probably wont bury any bones in it. Condo Pet Pals 425.736.1077; condopetpals.com; $65 per month for the bimonthly service, $110 per month for weekly service

Mobile dog groomerFor those reluctant to embrace the sudsy carnage of grooming their dogs at home (fur in drains, flooded bathrooms) but still concerned with Fidos appearance, Greyt Grooming makes it so neither you nor Fido has to leave home. Greyt Grooming owner Sheila Parr, a member of the Washington Alliance of Groomers (which proves that there is an alliance for everything) will drive her Auburn-based mobile dog salon to your home and groom your dog (provided he or she no heavier than 70 pounds) in her spa-on-wheels. Full treatment includes bathing, clipping and brushing. Greyt Grooming, 253.804.9460, greytgrooming.com $55$120

CAT FINDERWhen cats go missing (and they often do), Amy Adams, a Missing Animal Response Technician from Bothell, is the woman for the job. not some Miss Marple wannabe, Adams has made a living of finding lost pets and estimates an 85 percent success rate. her search methods include deductive reasoning and behavioral profiling, along with high-tech equipment such as search cameras and listening devices. it is so wonderful to work with people who love their pets and want to find them, Adams says. And, like any good sleuth, she has a sidekick; in this case, its Harley, a mutt with a well-honed nose for lost cats. Lost Pet Resources. 425.877.0229. lostpetresources.com. $50 for a profile session/phone consultation, $250 for a three-hour search with dog

DOG-POOP SCOOPERAs loyal and lovable as they are, dogs tend to make a mess and, well, somebodys got to clean it up. if youd rather that person be somebody other than you, youll want to call the folks at Pooper Trooper. run by the husband-and-wife team of bill and Nicki Walters, this Lynnwood-based clean-up crew will perform a thorough removal, sanitizing the area when theyve finished. They stress just how important it is to pick up after your dog, because a dogs feces can carry a variety of viruses and worms. And, of course, because its feces, for crying out loud. Pooper Trooper. 888.364.9278. poopertrooper.com. Rates vary; $17 per visit for regular customersFind more pet services in the March issue of Seattle magazine

OUTDOORSSERVICESCheck out our outdoor services for help with your garden or tree maintenanceDo you long for fresh organic vegetables grown in a garden of your very own, but arent sure how to make it happen? With a combined 15 years of experience in organic farming and sustainable agriculture, Colin McCrate and Brad Halm of Seattle Urban Farm co. will help you cultivate your green thumb. Theyll come up with a multi-year plan for your garden and then be there every step of the way, showing you how to prepare the soil for planting, install and tend your vegetables. still want more? Theyll harvest the fruits of your labor, too. Amy Pennington of Go Go Green Garden offers all the aforementioned services, plus support in the kitchenensuring your harvest doesnt go to waste by providing tips on how to store, preserve (think canning, drying and freezing) and prepare (with recipes or brief cooking lessons) your bounty. a lifelong lover of food with eight years of experience in the restaurant industry, Pennington has been adding a culinary flare to gardening since 2007.

Tree doctor and trimmerIf your favorite tree looks seriously bedraggled since our last windstorm, consulting arborist Scott Baker and his colleagues at Wallingford-based Tree Solutions inc. are the doctors who can help. Baker, a 30-year industry veteran with multiple certifications, and his team combine practical experience (they like to climb really big trees) with the latest technology (their toolbox includes something called a Resistograph drill). their expertise in diagnosis, risk assessment and management (they inspect some 3,000 trees a year) will help determine if your patient is on life support or just needs a trim. for routine annual checkups, we recommend John Hushagan and the 10 arborists at Lake Citybased Seattle Tree Preservation, all certified by the International Society of Arborists. their pruning, tree-bracing and cabling services have been maintaining the health and beauty of Seattle trees since 1987. And if your tree does need to be removed, they have the skills (Seattle Tree Preservation is one of the few local companies capable of removing especially large trees) and equipment to do it safely. Seattle Tree Preservation. 206.367.4048 $450 and up for pruning a moderate-size tree. $750 and up for removal of a moderate-size tree. Tree Solutions inc. 206.528.4670 treesolutions.net $90$125/hour

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