Vacation Research and Planning 

There are a lot of moving parts that comprise a great vacation: Lodging, dining, activities, and good service, and I can help research and pull together all of these components to coordinate your vacation so you can really relax and enjoy your precious free time.  Whether researching desitinations and negotiating great rates or booking hotel, dinner reservations, spa treatments, and special activities and excursions, the effort and attention to detail I'll put into your trip will help to create a great experience.  Additionally, I'll pull together important documents and paperwork and produce a clear, detailed calendar of events, so you'll have all the information you need, right at your finger tips!  

 

Gourmet Boston Food Tours

Are you visiting Boston and want to know where to get the best almond croissant or the most interesting locally-produced chocolate or the best cup of coffee (brewed "pour-over") style?  Let me plan a culinary adventure for you that will have you day-dreaming for years to come about the food and beverages you enjoyed on your excursion.  Depending on how much time you have (2-hours, 4-hours, all day) and the type of foods you are interested in exploring (best restaurants, best cheese shops, best locally-produced food items), I will create a custom itinerary that will have you going to the best of the best when it comes to food in Boston (and Cambridge and Brookline, etc.).  I will create an itinerary with a map, or if you'd like to have a guided tour, I will accompany you for an additional fee.  E-mail me at anne@livingwellboston.com for pricing and additional details.

 

Household Management, Personal Assistance & Travel Preparations

This weekly or bi-weekly service is designed to help you keep your household and personal life running smoothly.  I come to your house and complete any of a wide range of activities including:

• Managing the inventory of household supplies
• Preparing healthy meals for up to a week ahead
• Researching products and services
• Meeting and supervising the repair people and other household service providers.
• Planning and coordinating travel details (researching and booking air, hotel, spa appointments, dinner reservations, special activities)
• Completing important forms and paperwork
• Computer work and help (both Mac and PC; proficient in Quicken, MS Word, Filemaker, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Updating the family calendar             
• Calling Greendimes and the DMA to have your name taking off bulk mailing lists
• Sorting mail and paying bills 
• Setting up online and autopay as requested.
• Completing household paperwork
• Errands to dry cleaner, pharmacy, grocery, etc.

Rate: Starting at $60 per hour (4 hour mininum)

 

Neighborhood Errands

Each week, on the home page, I will post a list of areas in Boston, Brookline and Cambridge where I will be running errands.  If you would like me to run an errand in one of these areas, just call me at 617 642 1169, e-mail me at anne@livingwellboston.com or fill out the online Help Request Form, and I will pick the item(s) up for you while I am out.  Here are some examples of the types of errands I do:

• Buying loose-leaf tea from Tealuxe in the (Back Bay)
  
• Picking up a prescription at CVS (Back Bay)
• Returning clothing item at Lord & Taylor (Back Bay)
• Picking up eye glasses at Coolidge Corner  Opticians in (Brookline)
• Buying a baby gift at Magic Beans (Brookline)
• Picking up a book at Porter Square Books (Cambridge)
• Buying imported chocolates from Cardullo's (Cambridge)
• Dropping off blouse for one-day drycleaning at Dependable Cleaners (Back Bay)
• Picking up special ingredient at Whole Foods (Beacon Hill)
• Buying fresh fish at Savenor's (Beacon Hill)

Rate: $30 per hour

 

Personal Errands, Personal Shopping & Gift Buying

If you have an errand that needs to be done at your convenience or a task for a specific date and time (having your car inspected, taking your pet to the vet, exchanging a broken mixer at Williams-Sonoma), you can make special arrangements with me to schedule errands outside of my posted locations/schedule. 

Sometimes, you need a gift at the spur of the moment or you just can't think of the right thing for that special person.  That's where I come in.  Let me know the age and gender of the person you are buying for, and give me a few details about his or her preferences, and I will research options and present them to you for your selection.  Then, you can either buy the item yourself, or you can have me buy and wrap the gift and deliver or mail it.  As soon as you get that next party invitation, give me a call, and I'll get on the case.  Additionally, I can keep a log of your important birthdays/occasions, and remind you a month ahead of time, that it is time to start looking for that special gift.  

Rate: $50/hour

 

Party Planning and Assistance

Whether you need an extra pair of "hostess" hands to manage things and help get things done on the night of your party, or you want someone to research, plan and coordinate every detail from the invitation list to the clean-up, you've really come to the right place.  I have 15 years of corporate and private event planning experience including 300-person formal dinners, large corporate cocktail receptions in NYC, Philadelphia, and Boston, private cocktail parties for 100, casual brunch buffets, and intimate private dinner parties.  Additionally, my creativity and cooking skills have made it possible for me to carry out many of the private events without a caterer.  My creativity, sense of style and attention to detail ensure all of my clients' events are stellar. (And I clean up after the party, too!)  Be a guest at your own party, and call me the next time you are planning an event.

Event Planning Rate: $60 per hour (no minimum); $45 per hour for day-of event management and/or assistance.

 

Healthy Meal Preparation

Many people know what to eat but they just don't have the time to make foods that will help them achieve and maintain a healthy body.  Whether you are following a specific healthy eating program such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet, the South Beach Diet, the Mediterranean diet, or Weight Watchers, or you just want to start eating a healthy, balanced diet, I have several personal chefs who I can recommend who will prepare meals that you will love!

Alternatively, if you would like to have someone do the cooking prep work (i.e., wash and chop vegetables, measure the ingredients, etc.) so you quickly and easily pull together a healthy dinner, that is also an option.  These chefs can also work with you as you prepare meals together.

Samples of meals:

• Braised fish with tomato reduction and roasted fennel
• Apple cider chicken sauteed with apples and caramelized root vegetables 
• Sesame chicken with snow peas and apricot sauce 
• Roasted pork loin with thyme, garlic and glazed pears
• Rustic Italian tomato stew 
• Sweet potato, kale and white bean stew
• Spicy carrot soup
• Roasted butternut squash with brown sugar and cinnamon
• Curried seitan and vegetables
• Roasted sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and cauliflower
• Organic crudites and home-made healthy dips 

Rate: $55 per hour (no minimum)

 

Cookie of the Week!

Each week, I'll post the "Cookie of the Week" which will be available for purchase for $10 per dozen.  

During the holidays, I will be making my famous (okay - famous among my friends and colleagues) chocolate chip cookies, pecan shortbread (incredible!) and my chewy ginger molasses cookies (sugar and spice).  All holiday cookie orders are gift-wrapped in simple, elegant holiday packaging.  I am taking orders now for the holidays.

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payment

Payment is due at the time services are rendered.  I accept personal checks and cash.  For errands and gift buying, expense reimbursement or credit card payment is needed in advance for all items costing more than $50.