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To-Do lists…they can make life more manageable by helping us remember everything we need to complete. The catch is that To-Do lists can be a nightmare to properly create and manage. All too often we scribble an idea here or there and have a pile of To-Do notes rather than an organized list. Creating and keeping a proper To-Do list can help you to complete your tasks in a timely manner, relieve stress, and open up free time. Here are some tips for creating the best To-Do list for you.

1. Know what works for you. How you create and use a to-do list should be tailored by your personality. While many people use online organization tools, others still prefer to keep a physical list on paper. What you choose should reflect your daily routine and preferences. If you’re not online often, it may be best to continue carrying a list with you.

2. Use action verbs. Using actions verbs will help motivate you to take action and organize your To-Do’s. By categorizing your list with verbs such as “to buy” and “to contact,” you will have a better idea of tasks that you can consolidate and complete together.

3. Make time in your schedule. Make sure that you set aside time in your schedule to organize your To-Do list and chip away at tasks. You need to make time in your life to work on your To-Do list so that it doesn’t accumulate to an unmanageable level.

4. Limit yourself. When you have a long list of things you need to complete, it may be tempting to put the list aside rather than tackle a seemingly never-ending job. If you limit yourself to three or four tasks in a day, getting things done can become a part of your routine. Designating a specific amount of tasks to complete can also help you to feel accomplished when you are done rather than feeling overwhelmed by what is left.

5. Share your list. If you use an online To-Do manager, share it with loved ones who many be willing to lend you an extra hand.

A Knight in Shining Armor

It was like a dream—serendipitous, some might even say. From the moment my Blackberry eagerly buzzed in its black leather holster on my belt, I knew this one was my Dream Task: simple, easy to accomplish, yet one of those routine chores that sender Susie S. simply didn’t have time to accomplish—picking up the necessary groceries to make that evening’s family dinner. Call it animal instinct, but this task had my name written all over it.

It was clear from the start that sender Susie S. was a seasoned veteran sender, based on the nearly flawless state of her posted task. “I’m stuck at home with a sick toddler, “the description began. What a bummer! “I need someone to please run to the nearest Whole Foods and pick up about eight grocery items so I can still make a tasty supper for my spouse and children tonight. Must be assigned by 1:00 p.m.  Must be completed by 6:00 p.m.  My address, phone number, and e-mail are listed below. Cash reimbursement on delivery. Make a bid!”

I was putty in this task’s lovely, digital hands; it had me at “New task alert.” A clearly described task? A helpless sender in distress who obviously understood the difference between “must be assigned by” and “must be completed by?” A complete set of contact information? Enter runner extraordinaire Greg Z. to save the day! A more perfect combination couldn’t exist.

Susie S. had wisely left my Dream Task open for bid, so I offered a price of $20, what I felt was a fair price for an hour of simple work. Unseen by me as the runner, she had actually placed a maximum bid of $25—she had a deal on her hands! Within minutes, Susie accepted my bid, I was notified by e-mail, and I was jumping onto my noble steed (also known as my Jeep), off to the Whole Foods just about a five minute drive away.

Once at Whole Foods, I pulled up Susie’s list of groceries and went to work. While she had left two ways to contact her with any questions, Susie had so clearly described every one of the eight items she required that I found myself with no questions. After fifteen minutes of easy shopping, I was off to the checkout and back in my Jeep.

Ten minutes later, I pulled up to the side of an adjacent street and carried Susie’s two bags of groceries to the address she had given me. I gingerly rang the doorbell, and moments later a petite, middle-aged, and evidently frazzled woman warily opened the door.

“Hello, are you Susie?” I cheerfully greeted her.

“Why, yes, hello Greg!” she sighed. “Thank you so much for doing this…there’s no way I could’ve made it out to the store today.  You’re a lifesaver….and I’ve told all my friends about the site, too.”

“No problem at all!” I replied. “I’m just happy I could help. No problems finding your items…here’s your receipt. It came to $41.29.”

“Alright, great! Here you go,” she said, placing a crisp $50 bill in my hand.

I reached into my back pocket for my wallet to give her some change, but she stopped me. “Don’t worry about it…I’m just to so glad somebody could help me out.” I smiled, thanked her again, and walked back to my Jeep.  From there, I accessed the TaskRabbit website through my Blackberry and marked the task “complete.”  Moments later, I arrived home to find that Susie had just as quickly marked it complete on her end, placing $20 into my TaskRabbit account.

Later on that day, I couldn’t help but reflect on how easy my Dream Task had proceeded from start to finish, how grateful Susie had been that TaskRabbit had been there to help her, and how good it really felt to be the runner who delivered that help.

Run rabbit, run.

Farewell, Winter! We knew thee well! (Too well, if you ask me.)

Let’s kick off Summer the right way: Let’s BARBECUE!

Whether it be a tailgating party at your favorite sporting event or a cozy barbecue on the beach at sunset,  you’ll need the Official TaskRabbit Guide to THE PERFECT MEMORIAL DAY BBQ!

1. Create the Guest List: Don’t be shy. The more the merrier! And this is a great time to invite your neighbors over for a casual meet and greet. (We like to use Eventbrite.com to send out invites. It’s Earth-friendly and helps us stay organized with RSVPs.)

2. Plan the menu: Don’t worry about having to fork over a grand to pay for all of the food. BBQ’s are a great time to have a potluck. Ask all of your guests to bring their favorite foods to throw on the bbq. This way, everyone gets to try new foods and no one has to foot a BIG bill.

3. Compile a shopping list of things you’ll need early: You WILL forget things. This is inevitable. But being prepared ahead of time helps everyone stay organized.

4. Don’t forget the details: Things like sunscreen for guests, citronella candles, ice, straws, toothpicks, etc are all hard to keep track of. Don’t stress out if you forget a few things. TaskRabbit Runners are standing by for last minute store runs on the big day.

5. Take pictures! Parties create great memories that you won’t want to forget. Take some fun pics for posting online later.

6. Relax! Have Fun! It’s tough work being a host/hostess. You’ve got to man the grill, chat with guests and make sure the iTunes list keeps rockin. But don’t let the day get away from you! Take time to relax and put your feet up and enjoy your awesome weekend.

As always, TaskRabbit has over 300 Runners on call throughout the Greater Boston region. We have expanded to the North Shore and MetroWest as well, so whether you need more mustard for your hot dogs or sunglasses for your pooch, we’ve got a Runner to help.

TASKRABBIT GIVES BACK

Use promo code NFBMA or ELLIEFUND to get $15 off of your first task, and for every promo code used, TaskRabbit will donate $5 to The National Federation of the Blind – MA or to The Ellie Fund!

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Follow the fun: Facebook.com/TaskRabbit

@TaskRabbit

@TaskRabbitRun

Leprechaun Kobe trades beads for kisses!

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

In true RME style, we’ve got leprechauns running errands all over the city today! (Please don’t step on them!) If you see one of them handing out beads and freebies today, tweet where you saw us and there may be a pot of gold in it for you!

@RunMyErrand

We will be in various locations today handing out goodies. Look for us around Boylston, Newbury Street, Kendall Square and Government Center.

Keep a sharp eye! Those leprechauns are fast!

Also, stay tuned this week for updates on our extremely popular Polka Dog Bakery Replenishment Program and our new Runner Incentive Program! WOOT!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May the sun shine brightly on your face and may the wind not blow your kilt up at an embarrassing moment!

CHEERS!

Are you following us on Twitter and Facebook? Join us now so that you don’t miss out on all the fun!

As a recent bride myself (144 days in office and the popularity polls are holding steady) I only just caught up on my sleep and unwound from the fury of wedding planning. I did it all by myself and was super proud of having done so. But behind every frazzled bride is a team of BFFs, bridesmaids, parents and bloggers to help her along the way. No bride is an island!

RunMyErrand.com is very proud to announce that we will be offering Bridal Planning assistance to area brides! Whether you are a DIY bride who doesn’t shy away from a glue gun, or a busy bee bride who doesn’t have enough time in her day to troll the wedding websites and retailers, we can help you.

From picking up BM dresses at Priscilla of Boston to compiling planning timelines to just offering ideas and support, RunMyErrand has a team of bridal planning specialists and errand Runners available at all hours. No need to hire a bridal planner (save that thousand bucks and put it toward the honeymoon!) when you’ve got RunMyErrand here to help.

You can pick and choose which planning tasks you need help with along the way without any commitment- or – You can choose from a package of 10 services that we will be compiling (like today, that’s on my to-do list) for a flat fee.

No car? Hire a Runner to take car of those wedding errands that you can’t do on foot.

No time? Hire a Runner to help you prioritize and work through the mountain of details.

Small budget? No worries. Most wedding errands cost $10-$15 (and you get your first errand free, up to $15.)

Bridal Planning packages should not cost you an arm and a leg. We can make great vendor recommendations and get you well on your way to having the most perfect wedding day ever. Take it from me. I’m a wedding planner myself, and I, along with the other planner Runners, are at the helm of this crazy bridal planning ship ready to help!

A. More time in your day to spend with your family.

Save time, spend it with your family!

RunMyErrand can save you time in a million different ways. Here are some ideas:

4. PARTY PLANNING - Let an RME Party Planner plan your child’s next birthday party, bar/bat miztvah or any fun event. We have loads of party planners on board who are ready to help. Try using us for a birthday party or sleepover (we’ll do the invites, food prep, even transportation.)

3. NUTRITIONAL MEAL PLANNING – You’ve got so much to do, meal planning is tough!  Let a Runner do your grocery shopping & make smart nutritional choices based on your specifications.  THEN, have your Runner create a custom menu for your family for the week! No more running around.  We’ll do that for you & deliver wholesome food right to your door!

2. TRANSPORTATION – How much time do you spend shuttling the kids around? Our Runners are background and safety checked and many are parents themselves! Why not hire a Runner to take Timmy and Susie to piano practice, soccer practice and tutoring twice a week so you can enjoy a little down time?

1. DAILY TO-DO’s – Pick up the dry cleaning, take the dog to the vet, return those shirts to the mall, buy diapers, drop off the donations and take the car in for an oil change. What do these chores have in common? They all take lots of time!  So why not give your to-do list to an expert Runner while you enjoy down time with your family?

RunMyErrand is so easy to use. Just sign in, post your errand and put your feet up while someone else handles the chores! It’s as easy as pie (that you and the kids baked together and took pictures of to send to the grandparents!)

Dog Food Delivery From RunMyErrand!

RME is very excited to announce that we will now be offering a Pet Food Delivery Program through Polka Dog Bakery (located in Jamaica Plain and in the South End.) Now you can have your pet food delivered directly to your door at regular weekly or monthly intervals for just $10!

So say your household pets are the following:

Fifi Von Fluffystuff (cat)

Genevive (Yellow Lab)

and Cuchi-Cuchi (mini Dachshund.)

Let’s say that you are a busy individual who is far too busy playing with said pets and watching the Puppy Bowl to leave the house to take the T across town, in the snow, uphill BOTH WAYS, to pick up nom-noms and LARGE bags of food for said pets. Having to do all of this every 2 weeks is, as the French say, LAME.

Let us do the heavy lifting! Simply fill out an order slip (available at Polka Dog Locations, stop in or call). Fill in the types of dog food Genevive likes, the exact cat food and cat litter Fifi loves and the little extras that Cuchi-Cuchi enjoys (chewie nom-noms). Then tell us how often you want this delivered and POOF! An RME Runner will deliver everything right to your door every week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks or 6 weeks, depending on how much Cuchi-Cuchi eats.

Your credit card is kept on file and delivery is only $10. Orders over $75 get 10% off of their entire order.

Polka Dog Bakery offers loads of brands of dog and cat food, such as Solid Gold, Nutro and Wellness, as well as cat litter, dog treats and waste bags. Don’t miss out on time that could better be spent at the puppy park. We’ll handle this chore for you.

Raise your paw if you like this idea!

So maybe you don’t like Valentine’s Day. Maybe you would rather not be the lucky recipient of a 2lb box of off-brand laxative-like chocolates this year. Maybe Cupid never returned your phone calls. Whatever the reason, we’re here to help. Let us be your Cupid this year!

Top 5 Ways to Treat Yourself on Valentine’s Day:

5. If you are a parent on-the-go treat your little munchkins to a Valentine’s Day gift from Magic Beans at their new location in Cambridge. While you’re there, enter their Raffle for loads of awesome prizes. The bonus? All Raffle winners get their prize delivered directly to their door by an RME Runner!

Cost: Free Raffle.

Pamper Level: You are your child’s first Valentine.

4. Take your pooch to Polka Dog Bakery to buy him or her a much deserved Valentine treat. Go hang out with the other dog-lovers that pop in and out of the puppy bakery. And who knows, you never know where you might meet a new Valentine. While you’re there, sign up for the RME Pet Food and Treats Replenishment Program to have dog food automatically delivered right to your door. Fido and Kobe need their nom-noms.

Cost: $10 for delivery of nom-noms.

Pamper Level: You’ll get loads of sloppy puppy kisses.

3. For a little something special, stop off at Essence on Newbury Street to make your own custom-blended perfume, or choose from the essential oil version of any popular fragrance. What’s better than a unique scent that you’ve created? Master Nose, Julian Harding, will help you blend a long-lasting fragrance. 1/4 ounce bottles (when used every day will last approximately 1 year) cost $20-$80 depending on how many ingredients you use. But you know that Shirley from the office will be green with jealousy over your one-of-a-kind scent.

Cost: $20-$80.

Pamper Level: The sweet smell of success + lavender + white tea = a very high pamper level.

2. Have flowers delivered to yourself from Twig in the South End a la Cher from Clueless. Select a gorgeous arrangement and have it delivered to your office on Friday with some pomp and splendor provided by a Runner Cupid. The water cooler will be buzzing about how popular you are. Use promo code RME2010VAL for 20% off your Valentine arrangement.

Cost: $95.

Pamper Level: In full bloom.

1. Book a Spa Treatment at Equinox at Back Bay or Franklin St. You deserve a nice deep tissue massage at the hands of an expert masseuse, followed by a Purifying Deep Cleansing Facial and an Upper Lip Hair Removal Wax Treatment (Hint, hint.) While you’re there, check out their state of the art facilities. We love the chilled Eucalyptus towels that we always get upon arrival. It helps keep our sweating problem at orange level.

Cost: $260.

Pamper Level: Very high, but you deserve some TLC.

This Valentine’s Day, let RunMyErrand pamper you. We’ll handle those lamo chores and you can use that extra time to indulge yourself on something special. We’ve kept meaning to ask this, but we are a bit shy….will you be our Valentine?

Don’t worry. I’m going to address this from both angles.

Let us be your Cupid!

For the Valentine’s Day lovers among us, I’ll post the Top 5 Valentine’s Day Errand Ideas for your significant Shmoopy.

Tomorrow’s blog post will feature ideas for the Anti-Valentine’s Day sentiment that is alive and well out there. I’ll be posting the Top 5 Ways To Treat Yourself.

Top 5 Valentine Gift Ideas from RunMyErrand for Valentine’s Day Lovers:

5. Hire a Runner to pick up a selection of desserts from the top local Boston bakeries for your hunny. Might we recommend a Cherry Crumb Tart from Petsi Pies in Somerville/Cambridge, a few Red Velvet cupcakes from KickAss Cupcakes in Davis Sq., and a few mini Boston cream pies and mini Tiramisu from Finale in Harvard Square.

Cost – approximately $30.

Taste Level – Extremely High.

4. Set up a Chocolate Tasting at Aroa Fine Chocolates in the South End. Aroa Chocolatiers will walk you and your Shmoopy through an exquisite tasting of a variety of various truffles, Pate de Fruits and Caramels. Chocolate IS an aphrodisiac, you know.

Cost – $10.

Taste Level – Exceptional.

3. Hire a Runner to pick up and deliver a bunch of gorgeous flowers from Central Square Florist. Perhaps your Runner will also help you compose a beautiful love sonnet a la Cyrano de Bergerac? Use the promo code ValDay2 for $5 off your delivery. Might we suggest a nice bunch of Cala Lillies for your Shmoopy? Why Cala Lillies? Because I like them. That’s why.

Cost – $55.

Taste Level – Personalized and Memorable.

2. Hire a Runner to cook a fine dinner for you and Shmoopy. Put your feet up and relax! Let a Runner pamper you! We have loads of culinary experts at the ready who will create an exquisite menu from organic and local ingredients, like duck,  purchased at Whole Foods. What would you like prepared? How about a warm goat cheese salad with pears and walnuts, a delicate Rack of Lamb with Herbs de Provence, and an indulgent Venezuelan chocolate mousse with mint. How can you say no to that?

Cost – $150.

Taste Level – Major Yum.

1. Have a Runner put together a sexy mixtape for your Shmoopy. NOTHING says endless love like a mixtape featuring the likes of Milli Vanilli, Air Supply, ABBA and Styx.

Cost: Some would say $7-$10. I would say “priceless.”

Taste Level: Dubious at best.

Use promo code ValDayRME first time users for $15 off your first errand! And feel free to take all the credit for that mixtape idea.

Well, it happened. The dreaded cold/flu season came and took a victim in me. Hi, it’s Rebecca, Marketing Guru at RME. (Picture, by the way, as I write this I am taking 5 minute breaks to lie down.) I have been lucky. I am not one who gets sick often (knock on wood). And so, when I started to feel my head get heavy, my throat scratchy and my nose tingly, I thought by the morning my body would have fought off the virus. No such luck.

One of the challenges with not getting sick often is locating medicine when you need it. It is amazing how much you need on hand when sick. Just being on the couch or in bed requires tools and supplies. Here’s a list of the items that have kept me going for 3 days:

- chicken soup
- cold medicine daytime
- tissues
- tomato soup
- tea
- vapor-rub
- cold medicine nighttime
- oatmeal
- airborne
- left over Halloween candy

Besides the candy, none of this was on hand 3 days ago (or at least none that had not long been expired). Is there anything worse than going out to the pharmacy or supermarket when you do not feel well? Bright lights. Musak. Long lines.

Stock up now. Save yourself. Or, if you find yourself sick and in need of life-saving supplies, reach out to a friendly RME runner who will gladly run to the store for you.

What are your favorite cold remedies?