"Weekend" Chores

"Remember when you were a child and weekend meant a mini vacation? Or at least a break from the mundane so you could enjoy yourself and take part in fun activities, those Barbies and Legos weren't going to play with themselves but, I digress... Do you find that now, as an adult(ish) person, your weekends are full of running errands and chores?

Image courtesy of Hyberbole and a Half

Me too... which is absolutely lame when you think about it; you spend all week at work doing whatever it is that you are an amazing girlboss at and then you spend the weekend catching up on other things. Organizational experts talk about "Work Life Balance" but, I think the real key is "Life Integration." As the lines between the workplace and home blur due to our heightened state of connectivity, it is important to tweak our behavior accordingly and maximize the times when we are focused on being productive so that we can truly enjoy and be present in our periods of relaxation. There are some of the things that I have tried to implement so I can take my weekends back from the shore monster and enjoy myself. Do you have any good tips to add?

• De-clutter one room a night. I don't know about your but, new things come into my home or items move from room to room and then next thing I know my office is looking like a mail room or my kitchen is looking like a staging ground. It's very manageable to work in one room at a time picking a few things up and putting them in their proper place whether that is the shredder, a closet, or another room altogether. You could even pass a vacuum over the carpet and wipe down the surfaces... ok, ok I'm getting ahead of myself. But, tackling one room a night makes the process more manageable. 
• Do laundry during the week(days.) If you have access to a private washing machine/dryer you can run a load of laundry through the washer while you are at work, throw it in the dryer when you get home, and separate/fold it after dinner. Honestly, it's one of my one of my "favorite things" to do and was a huge transition after moving into a house. If you don't have access to a washer/dryer where you could leave your clothes all day it might be worth investigating the option of dropping it off at a local laundromat. If not, you could always visit somewhere after work and tackle that chore during the week   

• Do dishes while you are at work. In the same vein of the laundry, load your dishwasher after you eat breakfast and run it during the day while you are at work so you can empty it when you get home. I don't know about you but, I feel like I am always doing dishes especially if I cook the evening prior. Growing up without a dishwasher I don't know how I could live without one (Dramatic? Maybe...) and I love utilizing it to it's maximum level of effectiveness. 
• Run errands after work. Sometimes you need to run to the store and pick up a face cream you ran out, get a massage, or drop something off which can be challenging outside of normal business hours especially if you are in the burbs which means they get pushed to the weekend. What is important to realize is that sometimes it's totally feasible to tackle these errands after work because stores and other business are staying open later and later or working around your schedule. 

A photo posted by Iris (@260daysnorepeats) on Oct 4, 2014 at 11:02am PDT

• Delegate one weekend day for completion of chores if you must. Maybe you need help from someone else and that is the only time they are available or perhaps that store really doesn't stay open late enough for you to head there after work those jerks... For me it's easiest when hubby has to work on Saturdays, which happens often occasionally, and on some level it's great because I can move any unresolved errands to that day and "work" on those things so we have Sunday free and clear to do whatever I we want which is really the point of your weekend! 

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Brunch Best Practices/Avocado Toast

Weekends mean freedom from work, time to relax, and a chance to get some chores out of the way... Weekends in spring and summer are even better! Why? Because, the time we spend relaxing is feels longer with the sun setting later and later; even chores can feel less mundane... One of the best things about the weekend, in my opinion, is the opportunity to eat the magical in between meal that is brunch. Heading out to one of the many restaurants nearby that serves brunch is simple enough. I might be a little spoiled though, as most restaurants in the vicinity of New York City have next level brunch menus. Patrons will come year round and resign themselves to the hostesses whim waiting for a table or for their full party to show so they can be seated and not lose what their coveted reservation. In the summer it's even crazier/nicer without door tables and the opportunity to eat al fresco. While brunch in Manhattan is a New York City institution, most of the times the experience is marred by long lines, watered-down cocktails, and heat lamp eggs. Yuck! Which of course leads me to to wonder, "Why not do this at home?"

You can absolutely achieve the same delicious amalgam of breakfast and lunch at home. It's lovely when you can have a few friends over to enjoy it with you. You don't have to send out formal invitations, a quick email/evite or text message will do. Also, It doesn't have to be an extravagant affair; you can find stylish coordinating tablecloths, napkins, and place mats at bargain stores like Christmas Tree Shops or Home Goods. Most of the items shown on my most recent impromptu brunch table come from the former...   

A brunch menu is always very eclectic but, I find egg based meals to be the most popular overall. An uncomplicated scrambled egg and bacon or sausage or tofu chorizo with toast is always a winner. Which would you prefer? In terms of what I served this time around it seemed appropriate to put together the most popular brunch item right now; that's right I am talking about avocado toast. There are many different variations of avocado toast but, I like to keep it simple.

While everything is better with bacon, I feel like I don't have to explain the process of cooking it but, here is what my version of avocado toast looks like...

Ingredients:

(serves 5)

• 10 slices of bread (gluten free if preferred)
• 10 eggs 
• 3/4 ripe avocados 
• cilantro

Place all the eggs in a sauce pan, cover with water, and bring to a boil.

While the water is getting to boiling temperature slice open the avocados and scoop out the insides into a medium bowl with a spoon, discard the skin and pits. Mash the avocado until it is a spreadable texture and set aside. 

Also while the water is getting a boiling temperature rise the cilantro and pat dry. Separate some leaves and set aside. 

When the water reaches a rolling boil set a timer to 4 minutes and lower the flame to medium high. That is approximately how long it takes an extra large egg to reach a medium boiled state but, this is to you preference; maybe you want them a little more or less done.

While the eggs are boiling start toasting your slices of bread.

When the timer goes off immediately remove the eggs and drain the boiling water. Fill the pot with cold water so you can start peeling the eggs. When all the eggs are peeled it is time to start making your avocado toasts!

Take a piece of toast an spread avocado on it. Take cilantro leaves and sprinkle them on top to taste. Using an egg slicer slice one egg and spread the slices over your avocado and cilantro. Sprinkle liberally with salt.

Repeat and Refect and Enjoy!

I was NOT compensated for this post the opinions are all my own. This post contains affiliate links.