Holiday Hoorah in a Hurry!

Every time a long weekend comes along, I literally wait until the last minute and then decide that I want to host a cook out, or invite friends over to sit by the pool... why do I do this to myself every time?  I'm convinced it's because I live in New England, in a beach area, and the weather is so very unpredictable... who wants to host a cook out in the rain? 
So of course, when I heard the weather forecast for the next few days I did what I always do... I started thinking about who else might not have plans and would want to come veg out poolside with me on Saturday? 
After making a few calls, now I'm faced with what am I going to feed these people on such short notice?  I'm working tonight, so I don't really have the time to prep a bunch of snacks...
So here's my plan; I will go to the grocery store and stock my cupboards with marinades, sauces for dipping, and other necessary condiments.  On the menu will be the basics- hot dogs, burgers, and grilled veggies... Easy enough to throw together some burgers, and foil up some seasoned veggies and throw them on the grill!
In lieu of having any real time saving tips, I'm offering up some recipes that are super easy, and sure to be a crowd pleaser for your holiday hoe down!

Seasoned Grilled Veggies
*Seasonal veggies work great- I love to use purple onion, red, yellow, and green peppers, summer squash, zucchini, and mushrooms, a clove or two of garlic, and maybe even a few tomatoes!  Sliced up, or chunked into bite sized pieces, and put onto a sheet of tinfoil. I then drizzle the veggies with Italian dressing, a bit of pepper and a touch of salt, bring the ends of the foil together- so it makes a little package... make sure to leave a small air hole for venting, and put it right on the grill for 10-15 mins!

*This also works great with potatoes... but make sure you cook the potatoes as they are a denser veggie!

*Try the same foil method with corn on the cob, but instead of Italian dressing, add butter and shredded Parmesan cheese!

Spiced Up BLT Burgers
I love trying out new recipes when burger meat (you can substitute ground turkey for beef for a different flavor, and a leaner meal!)
This weekend I'm going to be adding a bit of hot sauce, some raw chopped up bacon, and shredded provolone cheese to my ground meat... working all the ingredients together before making up my patties! 
And of course, adding lettuce and tomato to the cooked up meat!

www.errandsetcetera.biz

StacyM@errandsetcetera.biz

This little piggy went to market...

So, you've gone and made the dreaded trip to the grocery store, and the first thing you do when you get home is just to put everything into the pantry, cabinets, and fridge... Well, here are a few time saver tips for you!  It might take a little more time when you get home, but I promise will save you time after work in preparing for dinner!
Let's start with produce; give them a quick shower, and cut them up depending on how you are going to use them (ex. green beans- cut off the ends, tomatoes- dice up for salads, or slice for sandwiches, etc).  Put them in see through containers that will keep them fresh, easily visible, and ready to munch!
Next up is the fruits; again, give them a quick bath so that you can just reach in the fridge and grab a plum, or handful of grapes on the go!
Moving right along to the meaty part of this project; I get my meats and fish from the deli, so when I get home I divide it into serving sizes and freeze everything.  The night before, or morning of dinner, it's super simple to just pick a bag out of the freezer, and not worry about portion sizes... I can always increase the serving size with another piece!
Keeping cabinets clean and organized is another great tip- when things are accessible and easily seen, you know what you have, and things aren't going to waste, or forgotten!  I try to clear out my cabinets with every season change.
There are times that I venture out to the grocery store without a list, and wind up making all sorts of impulse purchases, mostly because I've forgotten what I have at home, and seeing certain foods make my mouth water (this happens frequently in the ice cream, and fruit section!)... so washing and preparing fresh foods is a necessity for me- it helps me remember what I have at home when I'm thinking "What's for dinner...."  Taking that extra time really is huge for me and I hope it works for you!

http://www.errandsetcetera.biz/
stacym@errandsetcetera.biz

Supper Time Time Savers!

A great deal of my clients are (obviously) strapped for time, and coming home, trying to create something "different" for dinner is more than they have the energy for.   This blog highlights a few tips and favorite things that make making dinner less of a hassle and more of a pleasure!

1. Breakfast for dinner!  When I was a kid, this was a real classic! Scrambled eggs, toast, and either sausage or bacon.  Won't take more that 20 minutes from start to finish, and will leave you feeling more than satisfied!

2.  Anything in the crock pot!  I got a crock pot for my birthday in September, and I can't tell you how many times it's saved my life!  From making soups, to sauces, for full dinners- this is my go-to favorite appliance!  I love few things more than coming home to a savory smelling home, and dinner ready to dish out!

3.  Don't forget about your grill- this is also a great go-to tool- the only problem with mine, is it's a community appliance and a bit of a trek through the parking lot to get to!  Grills are essential because the flavor is so intense, while clean up is minimal at best!  I love to marinate chicken, or steak in italian dressing, along with a bit of  hot sauce and some other secret ingredients all day long to really intensify the taste!  Another great tip- stab meat with a fork in several different places to let the marinade "sink" in! Wrap veggies up with some seasoning and oil in a foil packet and place it right on the grill!  Veggies still have that crisp bite, and keep their flavor, while not tasting too "charcoal-y." 

4.  Avoid calling for delivery!  Pillsbury makes a great pizza dough- you just roll it out and bake it with your favorite toppings for about 15 minutes- fresh, simple, and cheaper than delivery!

Dinner doesn't always need to be extravagant, expensive, or complicated and time consuming... but it should be healthy and delicous!

http://www.errandsetcetera.biz/

Franklin Covey is My Hero

I don't know what I would do without my Franklin Covey Planner. If you've seen me anywhere in public, at a networking event, coffee shop, working with a client, or out running errands (no pun intended), you've probably seen my purple planner, if not commented on how massive it is. True story, at a BNI meeting this morning, a woman rubbed it, saying "Ha, this looks pregnant, rub it's belly for good luck!"... sad part is, she's exactly right.




I'm a very hands on, tangible, see everything in front of me kind of person. I write down everything from doing a load of laundry, to getting gas, to when my bills are due. My planner holds extra business cards of mine, rewards cards for places like Office Max, and Best Buy, my monthly calendar- then broken down into days, address book, client booking info, emails I'm currently following up on, paperwork I'm reviewing, and anything else that I feel I need to carry around with me at the time.



How do you keep track of appointments and your "To Do" List? Do you have a planner, do you use your iPhone, or blackberry to record your schedule, do you just have scraps of paper around your life, or do you just commit to memory and hope not to forget? Well my faithful reader, I'd like to challenge you... for one week, write down all major tasks (work, dinner with the In-Laws, mortgage due, etc), as well as the smaller errands (bank, gym, change insurance, etc)- and see if there's a change in your life. Perhaps you will find that you are more motivated to check off things that you've done... or maybe you will realize how much you need Errands Etcetera in your life to get to all those things you didn't get to- though, I can promise, I will NOT be going to dinner w the In-Laws for you, or going to the gym in your place!



I'd love to hear what you do to keep track of your life- send me an email or leave a comment here!

Internet Info Overload!

This morning, I have given myself the delightful task of booking a serious last minute weekend getaway- last minute meaning, I'd like to escape Quincy tomorrow evening around 5, and return Sunday afternoon.

I know that I'd like to stay somewhere in New England, I'm looking for somewhere pet friendly, and with scenic benefits to add to my pleasure. So, I turned to my good friend Google to search for those things.. In no particular order.

WOAH! Information over load in full effect! This B&B has special deals for specific dates & AAA members; another one offered free tickets to a local amusement park; yet another one had a mini bar and fridge in the room (something my traveling partner would be a fan of). So, how do you find the best bargain without getting info overload, and not just settling?

Here's what I did...

1. Put on a double pot of coffee- this is clearly something that is going to take a bit of time, and need my attention.

2. Pull up mapquest and print out a map of desirable locations- this is easy... as long as you know where you'd like to end up... Me, I have 3 maps printed!

3. Get a fresh notebook, or some blank sheets of paper, and get ready to take some notes. Helpful things to record: Name of Inn, or Hotel, Price Rate, Check In/Check Out Time, Special Discounts, Phone Number & Address, nearby attractions, any other misc notes- do you need to request a fridge for medical purposes? Are pets allowed? Do they have continental breakfast, or will you need to budget that into your vacation funds?

4. Now, once you've recorded your information, and narrowed it down, a great tip is to check out what other's are saying about a place before you go there and hope for the best! Sometimes the website will post people's testimony, or you can check out http://www.yelp.com/. It's a public forum, where anyone can post their experience with a business- I love to use it to check out restaurants, and my competition!

5. Also, instead of making your reservations on line, it can be helpful to call the establishment and ask any questions, and see if there are any special activities going on that you should know about- I once went to dinner at a very large waterfront restaurant that was booked by the local American Sign Language School- being one of the only "speaking" tables at the establishment was something I've never done before... and may have thought twice about going had I known about that!

These tips can be used for any type of internet research, just adjust the words a bit to make sense and enjoy surfing the internet waves!

5 Chores You Can Get Done in 5 Minutes- or Less!

Do you have 5 minutes? Well, here are 5 chores that you can probably get done in 5 minutes or less, and feel good about!

1. Sorting through recyclables- make it easier, have a system; one container with two dividers, or if space allows, 3 seperate bins... Have on section for paper, one for plastics, and one for bottles and cans that can be brought to the redemption center (enlist the help of a child for this chore, and let them keep the change from the bottles and cans! Everyone wins!)

2. Sit down at the same time each month, or once a week- depending on your situation, and match your check book to your on line, or paper statement. While you're at it, pay some bills so you aren't waiting to the last moment!

3. Open up the fridge, and instead of getting a snack, do a quick scan of what seems to have been in there forever... are you really going to use that old bacon fat that's been there since you made brunch last month, get rid of anything expired, or questionable!

4. When you get home from the grocery store, prewash all fruits and veggies... it will save time when making dinner, or looking for a quick bite!

5. When making out your grocery list, instead of mindlessly listing items, try and sort them out by where to find them in your store- it will make for a quicker trip, and make you less likely to forget an item out of place!