Personalize Your Christmas Gifts

We are now officially in the holiday season.  People are preparing for Thanksgiving gatherings, shopping for Christmas gifts and decorating their homes before the guests arrive to celebrate.  The holidays represent different things for different people. One thing for sure is we all like to spend time with family and friends as well as give gifts to those that are a big part of our lives.  Whether big or small, gifts should come from the heart.  It’s not about how many gifts you open or the size of the package. You work hard for your money so why not purchase gifts that the recipient will enjoy rather than something they will end up storing in a closet.  It’s important to have a budget and practice a little self-control.

Something we are all guilty of is to buying too many gifts for people on our list.  The temptation is there as the local and online merchants are marketing more and more merchandise. Create a holiday list and stick to it no matter what.  Next to each person’s name list the amount you plan on spending on that person. This year decide to give a gift with thoughtful meaning to that person and really personalize it.

Here are some ideas of for what to get everyone on your holiday gift list, grandparents, parents, children, friends and co-workers.

Gift certificate to their favorite restaurant

Photograph Memories Book

Gift certificate to your local stage theatre production

Gift certificate to a music concert

Family day excursion

Movie Day

Family Vacations

Home Dinner Invitation

Magazine Subscription

Concert Tickets

Tickets to a baseball, football, hockey or other favorite sports game

Great for children- Pay for guitar, dance, piano, art, gymnastics, karate or ski lessons

Perfect for college students- Gift cards for their local grocery store, restaurants, gas cards, laundry money, a portable electronic device charger.

Neighbors and friends. Baked cookies or breads, a favorite bottle of wine, plan a homemade dinner/game night at your home.

Co-Workers- Give a lunch out to their favorite restaurant, coffee gift cards, Barnes & Noble gift card or Amazon gift card.

The Gift of Time is the perfect gift for someone that is hard to buy for.  If you have someone on your Christmas list that does not need material gifts though could use a gift that could help free up some of their time or an aging parent that needs some in home assistance.

Take the time to personalize your gifts.  Think about each person on your list, what are their interests and needs. Happy shopping and happy holidays!

Time Saving Holiday Recipes

Thanksgiving Morning Scones

As the holidays approach I am always looking for time-saving recipes that I can make ahead and freeze. A couple of weeks before the holiday I like to make these scones so I have something ready made for breakfast Thanksgiving morning, while I do all my last minute prep work for the Thanksgiving feast!  We have enjoyed these scones for years, I hope you do as well!

2 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 C Sugar
2 1/2tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
6 TBL. Cold Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1/2 Cup Frozen Fruit

I have even used dried cranberries which is one of my favorites!

Mix to first 4 ingredients in mixer. Add butter (chopped) and mix into a meal mixture. Add cream and mix. Add fruit and mix. Place onto flat surface and form a circle. Sprinkle with sugar and cut into wedges. Place on baking sheet and bake at 425 degree oven for 15 to 17 minutes.

Add a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!

Source: FoodNetwork.com

The Perfect Holiday to Say Thank You

It’s Thanksgiving Show Your Appreciation!  The holiday season generally brings us closer to others though it can be a stressful time as well. What can you give back to the people who are there for you? Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to show our appreciation.  The friend that is always there for you, the staff member that works overtime so you don’t have to, the neighbor who lends you a helping hand with a home project or a family member you can call for advice no matter what time of the day it is.  How can you show your gratitude to the people in your life?  This month begin writing down all the people who make a big or small difference in your life. Thanksgiving is just seven weeks away so I am here to give you some simple yet meaningful ways to say thank you during the month of November.  Here are some ways to say thank you.

To Your Neighbor:

• It’s the holidays so make them fresh batch of cookies or a homemade pie.
• If you enjoy your neighbor’s company invite them over for dinner.
• The old fashion thank you, a handwritten note.
• The gift of your time.

Company Staff:

• Organize a staff appreciation lunch.
• Consider sending them a Thanksgiving card instead of Christmas.
• A personalized hand written note.

Family:

Do you have family members that live long distance or for some reason will not be with you for Thanksgiving this year?  A nice Thanksgiving gift for those that will not be celebrating the holiday with you is to make a video of the day.  With today’s technology it is easy to make a family video with you Smart Phone or IPad.  Include messages from each person and either email the video or burn  it onto a DVD.  What a fun way to show family you are thinking about them.

 

Organizing/Planning = More Time

How can you improve the quality of your life, find more time for yourself, meet your deadlines at work and complete all those tasks in between?  It’s easier than you think it just takes a little planning.

With the kids back in school and the holidays on the way having a plan for how you use your time is important. The reason most people can’t find enough time for what is important to them is because they do not plan that into their week.  Let’s start with your calendar. I personally have one calendar for work and a separate calendar for personal. Whatever you use to keep organized, your smart phone or a traditional calendar, begin each week writing in the tasks for each day and don’t overload yourself, have realistic expectations.  Choose how you will spend your time and who you will spend your time with.  Write in one thing outside of your work/family responsibilities, something just for you. It may be getting to the gym, lunch with a friend, reading that book you never get to or getting away for a day trip on your weekend.  If you don’t write it down it won’t happen.

When you make excuses for not having enough time you will NEVER have enough time. Working through your lunch break every day is not going to make you more productive.  Running errands on your lunch break or after work will get those things off your to-do list, though it also will waste energy you could have used in other areas of your life.  It will leave you feeling tired and frustrated because you don’t have time for what you would rather be doing.  Making better choices for how you spend your time will improve the quality of your life in a big way. Wouldn’t it be great to meet with a coworker or friend on your lunch break, go straight home from work at night rather than spending additional time in traffic and in the grocery check out line AND have time for doing fun things on your weekend?

Make the decision to start doing more for yourself and organizing your week so that the rush of all the other responsibilities flows more easily.  Yes there are those weeks that throw us a curve ball and challenge our ability to focus. Try delegating those tasks that others can assist you with.  Hire a personal assistant for grocery delivery if that is one thing on your to-do list that you don’t enjoy doing and takes time away from important tasks.  You will be surprised at how much time you will free up in your day. I challenge you to try this for one week.  Use your calendar to organize your week for all areas of your life and delegate. I am sure you will see a change in your mindset as well as more time for the things that matter most.

What is a Personal Concierge?

 

What is a “Personal Concierge”?  A personal concierge assists anyone looking for more time in their schedule.

We all feel overwhelmed every now and then with the demands of life.  Parents juggle their jobs, children, aging parents and everything in between.

Over the sixteen years we have assisted individuals we have seen lots of change.  We are now receiving requests for many new services.  Because of the hectic lifestyles people live today home owners don’t have time to research, hire and oversee home contractors and that’s where we step in.  In 2013 requests for local painters, handyman service, a plumber, housecleaning, professional window washing service, pet sitting and senior services has increased for It’s About Time.  Who takes care of the family pet during vacations or during the work day?  Doing the research to find a reliable, credible company takes time which makes it challenging for busy on the go families.

Many people travel out of state for work which leaves little time for weekly tasks and errands.  More families live long distance the good old days were when family helped family, when you needed a helping hand.  Calling on neighbors is more a thing of the past as well because they are also struggling with work/life balance.

So who do you turn to?  Your local personal concierge company.  Saving time for busy people.

Spring Home Maintenance

What is on your home repairs to-do list this month?  There is always more to do once spring arrives and no one wants to be doing projects once summer is here.  Time is always a factor. Finding a company you can trust to oversee a home maintenance project is the first step.  Are they licensed and insured?  How long have they been in business?  Do they have quality references? What is the quality of their work? There are many time-consuming up front tasks before you decide to hire a contractor. Scheduling a contractor for a job quote and taking time off from work to meet with them is not always convenient.  Some of this months projects our clients’ have us assisting them with are; window washing service, deck power washing, exterior home power washing and interior painting touch ups.

Home maintenance sustains your home value and it is easy to put off home repairs. Prevent minor repairs from becoming much larger, taking care of it now it will save you money, frustration and add value to your home.

Window cleaning is one of those dreaded

Window cleaning is one of those dreaded all day tasks. Free up your time for other things and take this spring cleaning household task OFF your to-do list. It’s About Time has partnered with one of the leading window cleaning companies in the area. Schedule to have your windows sparkling clean. Call 603-472-8422. http://ow.ly/jlCzB

Spring Projects Made Easy

Have you been putting off home projects and would like to get them off your to-do list before the warm weather arrives?  Have you been waiting to give a room a fresh coat of paint, refinish hardwood floors, have windows cleaned or have the gutters cleaned out. Finding a company that you can trust, does quality work and is reliable is why many homeowners put off home repair projects.  It’s About Time works with local business owners through word of mouth referrals.  We only use companies that we have used or others have suggested and check references before hiring.

When to Hire a Personal Concierge

It is interesting how people reach out for personal assistance when life challenges present themselves.  It might be the stage of life they are in or a particular circumstance that brings them to a place where they need someone they can trust to lessen the stress in their life.

It’s About Time is celebrating sixteen years of serving the public, I have seen changes in what people are in need of, some of the requests are continual and some are unique.  Many senior citizens call us when they get to that point that they are having difficulty with every day tasks or family is long distance.  Busy professionals, boomers and parents want a work/life balance and appreciate it when there is someone there to lessen the load so they have more time for the other things they enjoy.  If you are thinking now might be a good time to hire a personal assistance or errand service most companies offer a free consultation.  Here is a short list of some of the requests we have received over the years.

1. Organizing medications for a sight impaired client.
2. Grocery shopping for a client that was on a special diet to help them reach their goal.
3. Year  round holiday shopping is one of my favorites.  Searching for that perfect clothing item in a specific size, color and quality and shopping the specialty shops before a holiday party.
4. Purchasing of computers, printers and trouble shooting for equipment when needed.
5. Trips to local charities come in the spring and fall when clients are cleaning out their closets getting ready for the next season.
6. Vacation services are becoming more and more popular for those that want home sitting while they are away, pet sitting and grocery delivery before they arrive back home.
7. Rehabilitation facility delivery of items from home and personal care products.
8. House cleaning service.
9. Pet sitting service.
10. Mail management.
11. Hired a home repair service.
12. Hired a home project contractor.
13. Local college care package, creating and delivery.
14. Drop off/pick up dry cleaning.
15. Closet de-cluttering.
16. Corporate food delivery for office parties.
17. Senior companionship/check in for family.
18. Long distance family requests for family members living in New Hampshire.
19. Arranging transportation for seniors for appointments.
20. Errand service for family with disabled child.

Helping Others Going Through Change

Do you have a family member or friend that is going through a life change?  When a person is physically limited, is going through health changes, demands from their job or just needs a break from whatever stresses are going on in life taking one day at time makes a difference.

If you have an aging parent, neighbor or friend going through change being there to listen or lend a hand is something they will appreciate.  Seniors citizens do not want to ask for help.  Giving up their independence is difficult.  Putting yourself in their shoes is the best way to find the appropriate words when approaching a senior in need.  Kindness will open doors to helping a senior and the way you speak to them is key.  Helping them find quality resources to keep them living independently as long as possible is like giving them a gift.

When someone has a change in their health having someone to call on for long or short-term assistance can make a positive difference in each day.  Household tasks, errands, getting to and from appointments and meal assistance are some of the things they may need.  Over the years some of our clients have requested personal items and supplies for short-term hospital or rehabilitation stays.

Demands from a job make getting all those in between tasks done a challenge.  If a have a friend, family member or business associate that travels often for work the weekends are when they end up doing their weekly tasks and errands.  Pet care, house cleaning and grocery shopping seem to be at the top of most of our busy client’s lists.

Today we have more everyday stresses.  People are going in so many directions that having time for the little things in life is a luxury.  Whether caring for an aging parent, demands from our jobs or family responsibilities, there are resources that can make life a little easier.

Make a difference today.