Summer on the patio – food and drink recipes!

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The weather is getting nicer, and aside from a few days of rain and cloudy skies, there are still many days of potential sunshine left to enjoy on a patio or deck outside! To stay organized when hosting family and friends over, or just enjoying an evening outside on the patio, try these appetizer and drink recipes that are easy and time-efficient to put together and serve.

Time spent outside should be as easy and stress free as possible – don’t make more work than is necessary. Enjoy the summer while it’s here! [INSERT TWEET THIS LINK]

Not only are these Antipasto Skewers from Dinner at the Zoo easy to make, they also have just about everything in them, and the recipe can be adapted to include ingredients that a person may already have on hand:

Ingredients

• 12 kalamata olives
• 12 small balls of fresh mozzarella (get the marinated type if available)
• 12 slices of thick cut salami
• 12 pimento stuffed green olives
• 6 whole jarred cherry peppers, halved
• 12 small pepperoncini peppers

Instructions

Take 12 7-inch skewers and thread one of each ingredient item onto each skewer. Serve immediately or store, covered, in the fridge for up to 1 day.

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Enjoy this delicious summer appetizer with a refreshing pitcher of Sparkling raspberry and lemon-aid.

Ingredients

• 12 oz fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice, chilled
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (or to taste)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 liter (33.8 oz) sparkling water or club soda, chilled
• Fresh mint and ice, for serving

Directions

• Place raspberries in a food processor and pulse until well pureed. Force raspberry puree through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl.
• In a large pitcher (if you don't have one large enough you may need two) whisk together water and sugar until sugar has dissolved.
• Pour in honey and mix until blended.
• Stir in raspberry mixture and lemon juice then pour in club soda and stir once.
• Serve with ice and fresh mint.

Unpack to Organize - The Office

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An office room can be made up of multiple parts and items will all need to be unpacked and placed in the right spot after moving. From computer cords and accessories to paper clips and pencils, unpacking an office may seem like a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be!

-       First, take stock of all of the items you have, and make sure that each item is necessary and will have a place to go. This is your chance to purge old or damaged supplies, or donate unused items.

-       Next, plan out your office space. Before moving in desks and shelves, make sure you know where everything is going. Also, determine what drawers, shelves, and cupboards will store what items, what files and folders will go in what cabinet, and if any other shelving materials need to be purchased. This plan will help relieve a lot of stress when it comes time to put office supplies away!

-       Once all of the furniture and larger pieces are put in place, it’s time to tackle the electronics. Computers can have a lot of attachments and wires, so don’t rush this step. Make sure everything is connected properly, and that cables are kept neat and organized to prevent anything from catching on them. Other electronics like a phone, printer, and lamp, can also be set up.

-       Start unpacking your office supplies with the frequently used items first, like pens, pencils, paper, and calendar. Use drawer organizers to help keep all your office supplies organized. Try to tackle only one box at a time – don’t get overwhelmed!

-       Filing cabinets and bookcases can then be unpacked, because the items typically aren’t needed right away. Any paper weights or office decorations can be added too, but remember, try to keep the decorations to a minimum, because a lot of them only invite more clutter into your space.

Creating a plan for your office space, and knowing what items need to go where before you start unpacking your boxes will make unpacking into an organized space a lot more feasible. There are a lot of different components that go into an office, so unpack step by step until the space is complete!

Moving Tip - label your electronic cords Before you take them apart. It will help you know what cord goes with each device!

Emergency Preparedness – Getting Organized

In light of the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, it’s important to make sure that you and your family are prepared in the event of an emergency. It can be hard to get organized and come up with a plan in the moment, so it’s a good idea to be prepared and organized beforehand.

The Alberta Government has a fantastic document from the Emergency Management Preparedness Agency. It is a great resource for families, and will help you plan what to do in event of an emergency. Included are suggestions on establishing meeting places, creating emergency kits, and more. It is a great place to start when getting organized and prepared for an emergency situation.

First, determining what emergencies you should be prepared for is important. This will help determine the next steps, like establishing a meeting place and creating a plan of action in the event of an emergency. This plan should be made into a hard copy and stored with the emergency kit. Emergency kits with all the necessary items needed for each person in the family should be created. These kits, along with a hardcopy of the emergency plan, should be stored in a place that all members are aware of and can access easily.

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency encourages residents to prepare a 72 Hour Emergency kit that includes items such as food and water, bedding and clothing, light and fuel, personal supplies and medication, personal documents and money (stored in waterproof containers), and other necessary equipment like a radio (with extra batteries), rope, and basic tools. Small toys and games are also good items to include in an emergency kit to provide entertainment. For a more detailed list of recommended items, go here. It is also important to update the items in your emergency kit every few months.

The Alberta Emergency Alert App provides current information on any potential natural disasters or emergencies from communities in Alberta, and is a great resource for residents.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you! WE CARE#YYMFIRES #FortMcMurray Tweet that!