shouldn't everyone have an entourage?

Recently my husband and I had friends over for dinner and they were admiring the photos that we have adorning our walls of our beautiful 8 month old daughter. When they asked us who did them, I responded by telling them in great detail the love that I have for "my photographers." When they asked in response if I truly have "my own photographers following me around," I of course responded with a resounding "YES!"

Felix Rust is currently working on a book chronicling my daughter's first full year of life, as well as photos for updates to my website. (Website update coming soon.) Simply put, Felix is not just a photographer he is a magician. Somehow he manages to make our life look so appealing that I want to be the people in the photos. And then I realize, I AM!

I'm sure you are enticed enough at this point that you too would like to have an entourage all your own. Then call him. Email him. Go to the website. You know you want to.

Felix Rust Photographers

http://www.felixrust.com/

latest project

Take a look at the link below for pictures of our latest project! Interested in selling your home? Then let us stage and organize it! In today's real estate market a little TLC can go a long way in getting the most for your investment. Or, maybe you'd just like us to make it "picture perfect," while you continue to live there. We can do that too. Everything from furniture rearranging, to wall hanging placement, right down to cleaning out and organizing your neglected basement closets. We're not afraid to get our hands dirty!

http://www.newenglandmoves.com/real-estate/property/11-nod-hill-rd-newton-ma-02461/single-family-home/mls-71206850/1214611#/real-estate/property/11-nod-hill-rd-newton-ma-02461/single-family-home/mls-71206850/12146113Ftab=0

like peanut butter, oatmeal AND chocolate chips?

Then you will LOVE these.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies

beat cabin fever!

I don't know about you, but I get cabin fever pretty quickly. And this winter is definitely giving us it's share of "snow days," keeping us cooped up inside. The first one is fun. Making cookies, drinking hot chocolate and snuggling under a blanket feels all warm and cozy. By the third snow day though it's a whole different story. You're pulling your hair out, fighting with your spouse because you're both working from home, and the dog is pooping in the bathroom because you just don't feel like going outside. Not quite so cozy.

There is hope for surviving what looks like a long and dreary winter ahead. Here are some tips for beating those winter blues.

1. Get Out - Bundle up and take a walk. Even if it's bitter cold, let the sun hit your skin for even ten minutes and you will feel better.
2. Get Moving - Do yoga, join a spin class, jump and down in your living room! Avoid the tendency to lay around and move your body instead.
3. Eat Well - Avoid the temptation to bake cookies and eat them all and opt to make a salad instead. Continuing to eat well through the winter months will make you feel healthier and more motivated to get out and get moving!
4. Don't Isolate - We all tend to hibernate when the days are shorter and colder. Instead, make plans with friends and plan your parties indoors where there is light and temperature control! You can also accomplish 1-3 with friends!

Stay warm, and remember every season comes to an end. In a few short months we will all be complaining about the heat.

sticking to your resolution

Happy New Year!

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? If so, do you ever stick to them? If you're like most people, your answer to that question is no. Here are some tips for making simple resolutions that you're more likely to keep and can potentially make a big difference in your daily life.

1. Keep it simple! You don't have to resolve to completely change who you are, just change one small habit. Instead of committing to a gym membership for a year, commit to taking the dog for a long walk at least a few times a week. Or, just park further away from door every time you go somewhere. Small changes can reap big rewards.
2. No repeats. Don't torture yourself by making a resolution that you've failed to keep in the past. Making an attainable goal that you actually follow through on might be just the motivation you need to reach that "unreachable" goal you've set in the past.
3. Don't give up. Don't bail on your plan just because you stumble. If your resolution is to save more money and you don't do it one week, just jump right back into it the next week. Good habits take time. Give yourself a break when you trip up.
4. Be accountable. Tell someone your goal and ask them to check in with you on your commitment on a regular basis. Just having someone to motivate you might be the little boost you need to stay on track.
5. Reward yourself! Give yourself a treat when you're successful at sticking to your plan. If your resolution is eat less sugar, let yourself indulge once a week when you've successfully passed on the sweets. But be careful not to slip back into the habit.

Good luck sticking to your resolution!

organizing your move

Moving can be a stressful time for most people. Whether you do it yourself with a group of friends in a weekend, or you hire professionals, most of the organization and coordination ends up falling in your lap. At My Concierge we have quite a bit of experience coordinating and organizing both local and distance moves. Here are a few tips from your personal concierge to help streamline your next move:

1. Start by sorting & purging. Take this opportunity to get rid of anything you don't need or won't work in your new space and then have a moving sale and/or donate these items before you begin packing.
2. Create a moving binder. Use this binder for all of the necessary paperwork for the move. (i.e. estimates, receipts, inventory list, change of address info, etc.)
3. Get packing! Start with the storage areas such as the closets and garage, and work your way back to rooms and items that you use on a daily basis. This should be easier now that you've cleaned out the junk! Make sure to label with enough detail to make unpacking go more smoothly.
4. Choose a mover or recruit willing and able family and friends. Make sure to schedule the date & time for the move and reconfirm a week or so before.
5. Do a change of address. This can be done in minutes online. And make sure to ask a willing neighbor to check for any straggling mail that didn't get forwarded. Check in with them a couple of weeks after the move.
6. Reconfirm with your moving crew and make sure everything is packed before they arrive. This will make moving day much easier.

And as always, if all of this coordination sounds overwhelming give My Concierge a call! We'd be happy to help you navigate through your next move.

Natural Skin Care

At My Concierge we strive to live "green." In fact, I have been living "green" long before it became chic. It can be a daunting task to find the right products to make this a reality. Food items, cleaning products, skin care, etc. - the list can go on and on. So, I like to share great products with my clients to make living a natural lifestyle easier and more cost effective.

The latest product that I'm crazy about is Dr. Hauschka Skin Care. It can be difficult to find a skin care regimen that is safe for you (chemical free) and actually leaves you feeling clean and fresh. I HIGHLY recommend these products. Like other lines they have something for everyone, but they work with your skin's natural rhythms to leave you feeling clean, moisturized and nourished. And they don't contain any ingredients that could potentially harm you or irritate your skin.

Give them a try! You can pick up a start kit at Whole Foods to decide which products work best for you. To learn more check out their website.

http://www.drhauschka.com/