Pink Elephants

Part Time Nanny Needed in Carlsbad!

2011-06-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

Amazing Part Time Nanny needed in Carlsbad!

She must be a self starter, neat and tidy and willing to take initiave! We are looking for someone who is available around 25 hours a week to drop off and pick up two pre-school aged kids from school, make meals, and supervise play time activities.

Hours:

Monday -Friday 6:30am-9:00am & 4:00pm-6:30pm

Duties:

Make kids lunches

Make kids breakfast

Get kids up and ready for school

Take both of them to their respective schools

Pick both of them up from school

Make snacks

Supervise playtime

Make dinner for the kids

Supervise bath time

Clean up after meals and play time

Help fold laundry

Qualifications:

Must be available all hours listed

CPR/First Aid ( or willing to obtain)

Trustline Certified (or willing to obtain)

2 years childcare experience

MUST be neat, tidy and a self starter

Speak fluent English

Have a safe and reliable car with a valid drivers license, insurance and registration

Must be willing to cook

Looking for someone long term

Compensation:

$12-$14 an hour based on experience

Email your resume to Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com for more information.

Experienced Infant Nanny Needed in Del Mar!

2011-05-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

We are currently seeking a responsible, patient, and loving nanny for a 3 month old baby boy! She must have at least three years of experience as a nanny, and must have at least one year of experience with infants. The family is looking for someone who will be part of the family and be around long term.

Hours:

Monday through Friday

7:30am- 1:00pm (some days, hours will need to be flexible)

Requirements:

Must be able to start no later than June 6th.

Have a completed background check

CPR and First Aid Certification

Speak excellent English

Bilingual a plus

MUST have newborn and infant experience

Know age appropriate activities and developmental milestones

Know how to child-proof and be willing to take initiative to eliminate dangers around the house

Have a reliable car, insurance and registration

Clean driving record

Non-Smoker

Must be a self starter

Be very loving, patient, caring, compassionate and competent

Duties:

Changing diapers

Bottle feeding

Reading, singing, playing, interacting

Changing baby's clothes

Making sure he is safe at all times

Childproofing the house

Washing bottles

Keeping things tidy around the house

Unloading the dishwasher

Preparing dinners

Eventually making baby food when he starts to eat solids

Eventually taking trips to the park etc.

Compensation:

All wages will be taxed.

~ $400 weekly salary (take home)

**If you meet ALL the above requirements, please send your resume, at least 3 employment references and 3 character references, and why you think you would be a great candidate for this job to Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com**

Part Time Nanny Needed in Encinitas!

2011-03-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

We are looking for an upbeat, energetic, positive nanny for two young boys (7 and 8 years old)!

Hours:

Wednesday and Thursday- 2pm-6pm

Friday- 12:45pm-6pm

Saturday- Flexible, roughly 3-4 hours in the afternoon.

Occasional overnights and travel

***During the Summer, when school is out, this position will be almost full time***

Prime candidate...

CPR and First Aid Certified

Pick boys up from school

Valid Drivers License Reliable car with insurance and registration

Help with homework

Keep the boy's stuff tidy (video games, school work, etc)

Cook dinner for the boys

Be excited to go outdoors and take the boys to the beach, around the neighborhood etc.

Willing to do occasional overnights and traveling

Positive Energy, Healthy eating and living habits

Be a great example and have fun!

Please email us at Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com for more information!

Another day in paradise.

2011-03-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to an absolutely beautiful Spring day in San Diego. I feel so blessed to live in this gorgeous county! It got me thinking of all the great things to do in San Diego...Particularly, free things, and mainly outdoors. So I've compiled a short list with some links. If you know of some great things to do that I haven't listed, please feel free to comment and share it with everyone!

Parks and Playgrounds!

Here is a favorite! Check out some of San Diego's great parks!

There is a list on the left side of the site for you to choose which area in San Diego you would like to find a park. This site is great because it offers extensive park information, as well as reviews from people who have visited!

http://sdplaygrounds.com/

Here is Moonlight Beach Park...

This is Mission Bay Park...

The Beaches!

Of course, we are in San Diego right? I've lived here my entire life, and some of these beaches are foreign to me!

Here is a great list of the best beaches!

http://www.sandiego.org/article_set/Visitors/5

This is La Jolla...

This is Del Mar...

Balboa Park Museums!

This website lists when San Diego residents get in free to the Balboa Park Museums!

http://www.balboapark.org/visit/tuesdays

The New Children's Museum!

Did you know that on the second Sunday of each month the new Children's Museum in downtown has free admission? The museum is fun for all ages, so take the family!

http://www.thinkplaycreate.org/index.html

Seaport Village!

On the weekends enjoy free entertainment, hours of window shopping, and the beautiful sunshine along the water. The area is great for the family to run around, explore and see all the happenings of the harbor.

http://www.seaportvillage.com/

There are SO many more things to do...

Here are a couple websites that have GREAT info on tons of stuff to do in our wonderful county!

(Love this one)

http://www.sandiego.org/50FreeThings

(This site offers info on things to do in San Diego, some free and some that cost)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60750-Activities-San_Diego_California.html

A two year old and a four month old.

2011-03-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

For the past week, day and night, I've been taking care of Landon, the boy I nannied for before I was a momma myself, and my little babe Logan.

Landon is what I call my "trial child." I started watching him when he was just 5 weeks old. I stopped being his regular nanny in July of 2010 when he started preschool. That precious little boy is now 26 months old and is talking up a storm. This past week I have been continually surprised at the things that come out of his mouth. Kids really do say the darnedest things! He made me smile and laugh even when we were awake together at 545am.

With mini garbage trucks, "milk babas", a child sized Black & Decker tool bench, two bath times, diaper changes, car seats, burp clothes, "pacis", cartoons, snot, coloring, getting a two year old to eat anything at all, and the never ending hilarious "kid-isms" it's been a fun and challenging week.

Managing to nurse a four month old while simultaneously reading aloud Handy Manny's book, "Tools for Sale" (with all voices included), to Landon, is something I have mastered over the last week. Keeping two children entertained and happy is something I would have to say I have been pretty good at as well. Packing the boys up in car seats, getting then into the car, making sure we have babas, sweatshirts, diapers and toys, etc is something I am now semi well versed in. But, getting a two year old, extremely picky eater, to eat...I am at a loss. He would only eat milk, raisins, muffins, gold "fishies", grapes and an occasional chicken nugget! Even though the eating was a challenge, he loved being a big boy and helping with "Baby Logan."

This week has been perfect practice for what life will be like with two little munchkins. Without my husbands help, I might have had a mini melt down.

So all of you mommas out there with two children who are less than two years apart...I salute you. I don't know how you manage to shower daily, keep your house clean, have clean laundry, remember to pay your bills on time, remember to eat, know what's going on in the world, and have a strong loving marriage. You all are really something.

Luke + Katelyn = Logan Nash Gerhardt

2010-11-29T12:45:00.000-08:00

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
- Elizabeth Stone

Today Logan is 39 days old.

On April 5th I went to work like any other ordinary day. I had no idea I would end up taking a pregnancy test, and discovering I was, in fact, pregnant! That morning I was talking with a friend about the previous days events. We had had an earthquake the day before that sent me searching for a toilet because it made me horribly nauseous. Prior to that I had fainted in the shower. As I was telling my friend these two things, she stared at me and said:

"Katelyn, you're pregnant."

WHAT?? Never had it crossed my mind that this would be a possibility. She said she would run to the store and pick up a pregnancy test. Sure enough, about an hour later I found out I had a precious little "lentil" on board. His due date was Thanksgiving, November 25th.

In June we found out our little "lentil" was a boy!!!! We all had a feeling that this was the case, but our wonderful doctor confirmed the news at our 16 week appointment. (We couldn't wait until the 20 week ultrasound, we HAD to know)
We had already decided on a name, Logan.

We then began picking out bedding, decorations and a room color. The nesting began and pretty soon we had transformed our guest room into a beautiful jungle themed nursery.

Through out the next couple months, all check ups were normal. I was having a great pregnancy- uncomplicated, and dare I say, almost enjoyable.
Everyone kept saying that Logan would make his appearance early. Luke thought Logan would arrive on November 11th, others said he would come just days before his due date.

Well, they were all wrong! Logan decided he couldn't even wait until November. He arrived 5 weeks early on October 21st. He weighed 6 lbs 5 oz. and was 20 inches. After delivery he was taken to the special nursery as he was not breathing. They had to intubate him and transfer him to a hospital that could better care for him in the NICU. He ended up spending 6 days in the NICU, due too his prematurity and his lack of lung development at birth. Those 6 days were the most trying days of our lives, having to visit our precious little baby boy in the NICU. Never did I think my baby would be in a place like this! He was supposed to come on Thanksgiving, healthy, crying and all ready to come home with his mom and dad after an overnight stay in the hospital, all together. This however was not the case, and our plans were forced to be flexible.

Everyday he spent in the NICU he got better and all the news we received was bright. Logan came home on October 27th, and has been growing bigger and stronger everyday! He now weighs around 9 lbs and is quickly growing out of his newborn clothes.

Becoming a mom has been the best thing to ever happen to me. After spending so much time around children for over 9 years professionally, I couldn't wait to have children of my own. I can now really sympathize with my clients, and every mother out there. I can understand the concerns of parents, and how it feels to love your child more than anything in the world. I never knew a love like this existed until I met my beautiful son. Thank you all for letting me care for your precious children as it has given me a taste of what motherhood is like.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new."
- Rajneesh

It's Back to School They Go!

2010-08-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's back to school time! After keeping those kiddos busy all summer with those fun activities it's time to hit the grind again. Make sure you have someone great to pick your kids up from school and run them to all those after school activities...Not to mention someone wonderful to help them with homework, book reports, and those tedious projects that are soon to be assigned!

We want to help you out. We are offering something great for back to school!

Right now recieve 30% OFF any Nanny Placement
OR
50% OFF any Nanny Membership

Our Nanny Memberships are great for occassional help, date nights, or emergencies.
Our Nanny Placement is awesome for consistant help that is needed on a weekly basis, long term.

Call or Email to get your Back to School Deal!

760.845.8476

Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com

How do we find a good nanny?

2010-07-05T20:20:00.001-07:00

I get this question a lot.

I'd have to say that finding a good nanny will take some time. You can go through a ton of interviews without finding someone who your family is compatible with. Believe it or not, this is a new relationship that your whole family is going to have to enjoy. You must make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the new nanny.

The thing I stress the most would be to check references. CHECK REFERENCES! Did I mention you should check all the nannies references!! She only provided a couple? Ask her for more, in fact ask her for around ten. It sounds excessive, yes, but this is your families potential nanny, someone who will care for your children when you are not there and you should know a bit about her before you hire her.
Ask her for not only families she has previously worked for, but friends, neighbors, literally anyone she knows. You learn so much about a person by what other people will say about her.

I would also ask to see her CPR/First Aid card, if you feel that is a requirement, which I do recommend. A background check is also a great way to find out more about the potential nanny. You may interview a candidate that looks perfect on paper and interviews very well, but may have a record of some sort that may make you uneasy. Trustline provides a wonderful background check that is required for all nannies working through any California agencies. A TB test is also another precaution to take in ensuring that your children are as safe as can be.

Think about doing a trial week once you have found a candidate you like. This gives each of you a chance to "try" each other out. She needs to make sure she is happy with the job duties, and the kids she will be taking care of. You need to make sure you feel comfortable with her and the quality of her work.

This person should be someone you could be around on a daily basis and feel comfortable leaving alone in your home for hours. Make sure you gut instincts are giving you the thumbs up sign, so to speak, about this nanny. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. More often than not, they are right! If you don't feel 100% comfortable with this nanny, I would strongly advise you to keep looking. It may take some time time but be persistent and don't settle for something just because you are in a bind. Make sure you take the time to get to know the nanny as much as you can before she enters your home.

Things to ask a former employer reference...

Was she punctual?
Did you ever pop in on her unannounced and see what she was doing with the kids?
How much she charge an hour?
Did you feel this was a fair price for the work she did?
What were her duties?
Does she take pride in her work?
Was she flexible?
What was her best quality?
What would have changed about her work technique?
Would you hire her again?
Were there ever any emergencies while she was watching your children?
If so, how did she handle them?
Did she perform any other duties other than watching your children?
Why did she leave/or why was she terminated?

Things to ask a friend/other reference...

How long have you known her?
How do you know her?
Describe her in three words.
What are her best qualities?
Have you ever seen her around children?
Would you rely on her to follow through with her word?
Do you know she is applying for nanny positions?
If you have children, would you trust her to watch your own children?

Happy Birthday...Happy Anniversary...Happy Mothers Day

2010-03-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

What's the hot new item to get that mom who just needs a little break?

A Pink Elephants Nannies Gift Certificate!!

Every mom could use a little break from her kiddos, and what a better way to help her do that than provide her with excellent childcare?

Our custom made gift certificates come ready to present, wrapped in a beautiful bag, complete with a "to and from" card. You get to choose whether you would like to purchase the gift certificate in hours or in monetary denominations.

Call us at 760.231.7182 or email at Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com to order your gift certificate!

Winning isn't everything. Or...Maybe it is.

2010-02-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

How does a romantic night out with your husband sound?
How does a night out with the girls sound?
What about a little YOU time?

Pink Elephants wants to give you 3 FREE, yes FREE, hours of our nanny service!

How you ask?

Right now when you sign up for an On-Call Nanny Membership, recieve 3 FREE hours of our amazing nanny services PLUS 20% OFF your total membership cost. And when you refer a family to check out our On-Call Membership services and they sign up for an On-Call Membership, you automatically get your 3 hours FREE and the family to sign up will receive 20% off their total membership cost!!

You could be getting 6 hours of FREE nanny service...That is a $90 value!!!

Make sure you tell them to mention your name when they sign up.

If you have any further questions don't hesitate to e-mail at Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies.com

We can't wait to provide you with 3 hours of FREE service with one of your amazingly qualified nannies.

Let's give em' something to talk about.

2010-02-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

I've been asked a few times just recently,

"So...What exactly does the membership get me?"

The On-Call Membership fee is what you pay monthly (or you can pay a year in full at a discounted rate) to know that a qualified, experienced, and safe nanny will be there to watch your children when you request a service. We have three different On-Call Memberships, that fit different lifestyles and any budget. The Platinum, Gold and Silver Memberhips are outlined with examples below.

If a family subscribes to the Platinum On-Call Membership they would be required to give Pink Elephants 12 hour notice of their need for a nanny. If they called at 8AM on Monday morning and needed someone at 8PM Monday night, one of the Pink Elephants On-Call Nannies would be there promptly at 8PM. Platinum Members also have the luxury of requesting nannies for overnight stays, when the parents are out of town, or simply want to stay out late (or heck, even sleep in a bit!) This is the only membership that provides use of an overnight nanny.

The Gold On-Call Membership allows a family to give Pink Elephants 2 day notice. Should they call on Thursday and need a nanny on Saturday, one of our wonderful On-Call Nannies would be there at the time requested.

The Silver Membership requires 4 day notice. If a family calls on Tuesday and needs a nanny on Saturday, one of our nannies would be there at the time requested.

Platinum Membership: $55/Month or $550/Year
Gold Membership: $45/Month or $450/Year
Silver Membership: $35/Month or $300/Year

Each Membership can be paid monthly, or in full for the year at a discounted rate. The On-Call Memberships are year contracts, however, if there is a problem you can always cancel your memberhship.

We are currently offering $50 off any Membership, when paid in full.

Please e-mail Katelyn@PinkElephantsNannies or call with any questions at all! 760.231.7182

Many hands make light work

2010-02-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

The Hope for Children of Haiti Charity Event was a great success! I am amazed at how many people showed up to show their support for a great cause. Everyone had so much fun with the Mobile Photo Booth, enjoying cupcakes by Kate and Kaylies Confections, listening to the music of DJ Aesthetix, getting their caricatures done by Jennifer West, watching the beautiful girls walk down the runway in all the Henning boutique clothes, and of course bidding on all the awesome silent auction items and winning all those raffle prizes! We are so glad we had Stacey Dixon Photography there to capture all of the days wonderful events! We are truly greatful to everyone who attended and donated.
We raised over $3,000 to help with all the relief efforts in Haiti!!! We couldn't have done it without all of our amazing sponsors and every person that so graciously attended.
We are looking forward to opening our own non profit agency, and having many more charity events. We hope to see you all next year at the Hope for Children of Haiti Event, as we are making it an annual event! Haiti will most definitely need our help now, 3 months from now, in 6 months, and in many years to come. Thank you to everyone who attended and all of our sponsors! The event has also made the top stories list on The Coast News website! Check it out :)

Come help us spread the love.

2010-01-25T14:30:00.001-08:00

Come be a part of something amazing. We are hosting our first ever fundraiser, Hope for Children of Haiti, to raise funds to help all the relief efforts. Join us for a silent auction, raffle, DJ, fashion show, appetizers, bar, mobile photo booth, caricaturist, and face painter. How many of you could use a massage? How about a round of golf? Maybe a romantic getaway for two to the Cardiff by the Sea Lodge? How about a family portrait session at the Carlsbad Flower Fields? These are just a few of the things that will be auctioned. Please come help spread the love by helping us raise funds to donate to the American Red Cross.

What is a Nanny?

2009-12-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

What is a nanny?

Pink Elephants believes a nanny is someone who has the utmost patience, a heart that beats to see children thrive and knowledge to implement such growth, a mind that can multi-task, a presence that breeds trust and safety, a genuine care that puts parents and children at ease, and creativity that invites children to blossom.

Think about what you want in a nanny, or already have in a nanny. What are her most important qualities? Does she meet all your expectations?

This is a huge question that many parents should spend some time thinking about. A nanny will literally become part of your family since she is with your children for a large portion of time during the week. It's hard for kids to transition between numerous nannies and child care providers. It's important to remember that your children can get attached to a nanny very easily, so it's crucial to pick someone who will not only connect well with your family, but someone who is passionate and committed to being there for a set amount of time. There are so many amazing nannies out there that are ethusiastic about their work, and encompass' all that Pink Elephants believes is a nanny.