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/

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is always a hit with my family and friends! And given the deluge we've been having in the Northeast this spring, I thought it fitting to share with you. You can make Chicken Tortilla Soup the laborious way, from scratch, or you can whip it up in minutes with this sure to please recipe!

Ingredients

• 1 jar salsa verde (my favorite is the Stonewall Kitchen brand)
• 1 15 oz. can canellini beans
• 1tsp - 1Tbsp cumin, depending on taste
• 4-5 cups chicken broth (I prefer to use low sodium & add a little sea salt at the end)
• 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (I rarely end up using the whole chicken and save some for chicken salad)
• sea salt (preferably coarse)
• fresh cilantro (chopped)
• fresh scallions (diced)
• sour cream

Directions

1. Simmer salsa verde on medium low to low heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally
2. Drain canellini beans & add, simmer for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally
3. Add cumin
4. Add chicken broth and simmer on medium for a few more minutes
5. Shred chicken and add, allow to simmer stirring occasionally for approximately 30 minutes over medium to medium low heat
6. Add sea salt to taste
7. Add fresh cilantro just before serving, to taste
8. Serve with fresh cilantro, scallions & sour cream

ENJOY!

Special Treats for your Pup

My Concierge is still making dog treats! Just a few flavors we've made in the past...

Pumpkin

Gingerbread

Apple Cinnamon

Minty

Don't hesitate to let us know if you have a special request. We make all of our treats in dog bone & fire hydrant shapes, wrapped in doggy bags, and baked with love. Let us know what your dog craves!

Tips from your personal concierge...

At My Concierge we love, love, love this website! Whether you're planning a wedding, having a baby, moving into a new home, or just want people to be able to access your running wish list - it's the perfect choice! One website, one list, and you can register for anything from any online store. It even gives you the option of linking registries that you have at other stores. Makes registering even easier!

www.myregistry.com

give thanks for peace of mind

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and My Concierge wants to help you take the guess work out of hosting, (or attending) the festivities. Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, and relaxing with family and friends. But too often you end up stressed to the max over all of the details. That’s where we come in. We will...

· Create the perfect Thanksgiving feast menu complete with tradition and creativity

· Shop for all of the supplies: food, flowers, décor, etc.

· Do all of the prep-work: table setting, flower arrangements, we’ll even cut the veggies!

· Not hosting? Not a cook? No worries, we’ll whip something up that’s sure to impress the host.

· And so much more…

Thanksgiving should be a time for everyone to enjoy. Let us do all that prep-work and give you the peace of mind you need to just sit back and give thanks for all of your blessings.

who doesn't love a discount?

I love a discount, and I am constantly thinking of ways to save my clients money. This website (GROUPON) was referred to me by a fellow business owner that I met recently, and I just can not get enough of it. What a great concept! Each day there is a different coupon for a restaurant, shop, service, etc. in your area. If a certain number of people buy the coupon then everyone gets it, and the deals are great! Check it out!

http://www.groupon.com/boston

p.s. Let them know you want My Concierge to be featured so that I may offer you and others a discount on their site. :)