Open House Tuesday April 1st

Know someone looking to relocate and to live in one of Weymouth's best communities? We are very excited about our brand new town homes! Remember, we do offer flexible lease terms, too!
  
Perks included are 2 free parking stickers, access to our brand new state-of-the-art fitness center, Wi-Fi business lounge, club house, seasonal pools, grills, and tennis court.  You can not beat the features in the town home itself; wood flooring, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, upgraded closet organizers, wainscoting, crown molding, subway tiles, full-size washer and dryer. 

24 hour on-call maintenance emergency and a Leasing Center at your service 7 days a week.  Not home to have a package delivered?  No problem.  We accept packages on your behalf where they are kept secure until you can pick them up!  Snow removal in the Winter and award-winning landscaping in the warmer months, all for you to enjoy effortlessly. 

We ask only for a half month's deposit to take the town home off the market (credit pending).  To move in, only a prorated first month's rent and $25 key deposit ($50 fitness key optional). Sorry, no pets!

We hope to see you on Tuesday!

Let's Hit the Road!

Hey Faxon Commons residents! Whether you’re a mechanic, a driver, or just a fan of cars, here’s one event you can’t miss out on. The World of Wheels Auto Show is sure to re-ignite your love for the Auto Industry.  The event features auto heavy hitters such as super mechanic Gene Winfield, who is known for his legendary customizing skills, who will be working his magic live during the show all weekend.

The show also features Moto-Rama, featuring some of the most traditional car parts such as rods, customs and bobbers. The show also has Craig Dolan’s classic 1954 Chevy 3100 pickup on display, cleverly named “Rustardo.” The event’s biggest guest appearances include: WWE Wrestler Sheamus, Wrestling superstar Shawn Michaels, and Kate and Dale, co-hosts of History Channel’s American Restorations. The event even features a pin-up girl contest!

The World of Wheels Auto Show is March 28^th-31^st at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center. Student career day is Friday with a $10 discounted admission for students ($15 w/ lunch included) from 3pm – 10pm. Regular admission for adults is $18 ($5 for children age 6-12), and the event is begins at 10am on Saturday and Sunday. So if you’re looking to see some of the hottest cars in New England to enjoy your weekend, check out the World of Wheels auto show! 

Something Yummy to Help Forget the Cold

Despite it being the first day of spring last Thursday it looks like the New England is going to be hit with another snow storm today. It’s okay though! This storm will give you a chance to experiment with some warm, yummy dishes in your crock pot! Here is a recipe that combines three perfect ingredients; meat, pasta and cheese. This Crock Pot Cheesy Pasta and Beef Casserole is perfect for a weekday dinner and you can even save the leftovers for work the next day or tomorrow night’s dinner.

Here is what you need:

1 tbsp canola oil
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp Worcestshire Sauce
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 8oz cans tomato sauce
14. 5 oz can diced tomatoes in basil, garlic and oregano
1 pound penne pasta
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Here is how to make it:
Step 1: Heat oil in a large skillet and brown beef
Step 2: Transfer beef to crock pot, stir in onion, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes
Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours
Step 4: Cook pasta on stove top according to directions
Step 5: Stir cooked pasta into beef mixture just before serving
Step 6: Top with Cheddar cheese

Step 7: Enjoy!

Find more of our favorite crock pot recipes at http://www.tammileetips.com

How to Save Money on Grocery Shopping

Living at Weymouth Commons has many perks including our fitness center, tennis courts, and seasonal swimming pools. One amenity that is often taken for granted is the kitchen right inside your apartment. With your own kitchen there is no need to spend extra money going out to eat. Instead you can cook home-made gourmet meals in the comfort of your home. Cooking at home can save you large amounts of money, especially if done properly. Here are some tips on how to save money while grocery shopping!

Start couponing.

Couponing can seem like a daunting or pointless task sometimes but what is better than saving money just by cutting paper? You can find coupons in your weekly Sunday paper and can save them up for one big trip a month or cut them out each week based on what you need.  By cutting and saving coupons you can save upwards to $100’s of dollars. So when you receive this week’s Sunday paper don’t recycle the coupons. Instead see if there are any coupons for food you need for upcoming meals or weeks and start saving!

Make a list.

The reason most people end up over spending when they go grocery shopping is because they roam the grocery store aisle by aisle and discover items they don’t need. These impulsive purchases can add up though. Therefore before leaving for the grocery store make a quick list of the items you really need for this week’s meals. This will also help you effectively grocery shop. If you come across an item you forgot on your list don’t worry, but with a list at least you can leave the store and won’t get home to realize you forgot to pick up milk.

Buy bulk when it makes sense.

There are certain items in every household that are consumed almost every day. Whether its pasta, soup or even snacks for some reason these items can’t stay in your pantry. When these items are on sale this is your time to bulk up. You never know when the next sale will be and this is a chance to save money on an item you know you will eat. This is especially important with non-perishable items or paper products. Make sure you always consider the amount of space in your apartment though because you don’t want to be living in a grocery store of your own.

Purchase in season fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, they are expensive in general, especially in off seasons. Therefore, in order to save money purchase fruits and vegetables based on the best seasons for production. For example, strawberries have the best flavor during the spring and summer. In result, they are more expensive and aren’t as flavorful in the winter months. By purchasing your produce during the peak seasons you will not only save money but also experience the most tasty fruits and vegetables.

Time your trip wisely.

If you are trying to save money while food shopping, you should avoid shopping during a meal time or even worse on an empty stomach. Shopping for food can result in impulse buys and will distract you from what you really came to buy. Shopping around 10 a.m. is a perfect time because you’ve probably already eaten a meal and beat the afternoon crowds promising for a less expensive and stressful grocery trip. If you ever have the urge to shop on an empty stomach try to stop yourself because it will likely end in your spending extra money and indulging on the food you just bought when you get home.

Grocery shopping can be an expensive part of life, but with these tips and tricks you can help manage your money and maybe even save up for a weekend getaway from Weymouth Commons in New England!

Here is a list of local grocery stores to check out in the area! From specialty stores to supermarkets, you will definitely want to check out all the stores have to offer. Don't limit yourself to just one store- find your best deals and where the best places to splurge actually are. With that, it's time to get shopping! 

1. Foodmaster Super Market 

10 Pleasant Valley Rd, South Weymouth, MA 02190

2. Whole Foods Market 

94 Derby St, Ste 200, Hingham, MA 02043

AND 35 Pleasant St, Weymouth, MA 02190

3. Cumberland Farms 

767 Main St, South Weymouth, MA 02190

4. Shaw's Supermarket 

610 Middle St, East Weymouth, MA 02189

5. Trucchi's Supermarket 

858 Bedford St, Abington, MA 02351

6. Russo's Food Market 

7 Union St, Weymouth, MA 02190

7. Trader Joe's 

1775 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339

8. Hannaford Market 

10 Washington St, Norwell, MA 02061

This St. Patrick’s Day, Savor The Luck of the Irish—One Tasty Treat At A Time

Who needs traditional corned beef and cabbage with a side of soda bread this St. Patrick’s Day? It’s easy to have bring a little Irish fun into the kitchen. Whether throwing a St. Paddy’s themed bash or making fun treats with the kids over the weekend, here are a few recipes that will put a smile in your Irish eyes!

BREAKFAST

Shamrock Pancakes

Forget green eggs and ham! Start off your St. Paddy’s day morning with bright green pancakes. This recipe is gluten-free, but any instant pancake mix can be used.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Bisquick Gluten Free mix (or mix of your choice)
• 1 cup rice milk (or other milk of your choice)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• pinch of cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• green gel food coloring until you get the desired green color

Directions:

1. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or to 375°F. Grease griddle or skillet with oil or butter.
2. In large bowl, stir all ingredients until well blended.
3. For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle. Cook pancakes until bubbles form on top and edges are dry. Flip and cook until golden brown.

(Recipe and photo courtesy of TwentyOne No Gluten)

SNACK

St. Patrick’s Day Popcorn

Give this simple snack a sweet Irish twist with a drizzle of a brown sugar mixture and a few drops of green food dye. This is a great recipe if you need something to bring to a party or, cut the recipe in half if you want a festive bowl of popcorn to share with your family.

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts popped popcorn
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter
• 8-10 drops green food coloring

Directions:

1. Place popcorn in a large roasting pan; keep warm in a 250° oven. Meanwhile, in a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugars, water, corn syrup, vinegar and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 260° (hard-ball stage).
2. Remove from the heat; stir in butter until melted. Stir in food coloring. Drizzle over warm popcorn and toss to coat. Cool. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Taste of Home)

DESSERT

Green Velvet Cupcakes

These cupcakes are certainly more fun than rum-raisin rice pudding—and take less than an hour to prepare and bake!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups oil
• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon green food coloring
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Combine eggs, sugar, oil and vinegar in bowl.
2. Mix well.
3. Sift flour and baking soda together.
4. Add to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing well after each addition.
5. Blend in vanilla and food coloring.
6. Pour into 3 greased and floured 8 " cake pans.
7. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
8. Cool
9. Frost with a frosting if your choice—and for some extra luck—top with edible gold dust

(Recipe courtesy of Food.com)

DRINK

Shamrock Shake

For some, March means McDonald’s has brought back the popular Shamrock Shake. You can make this minty concoction in your kitchen. All you need is a blender! (For lactose-free shakes, substitute milk and ice cream with soy or rice products.)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1 ¼ cups 2% low-fat milk
• ¼ teaspoon mint extract
• 8 drops green food coloring

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
2. Stop blender to stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend ice cream.
3. Pour into 12-ounce cups and serve each with a straw

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food.com)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

Operation: Closet Cleanout

Spring cleaning starts with washing the baseboards and windows, dry cleaning the curtains and wiping down the blinds…but eventually, it is time to get serious about that closet of yours. Yes, we’re talking about making room for shorts, bathing suits, and tank tops. To get there, we must complete the dreaded task of emptying drawers and arranging hangers. Since all of us have to do this, we might as well make a difference by donating all of our unneeded items to charity!

It’s wise to decide which charity or homeless shelter you will donate your items before digging into the closet. This eases the tough process of whether that sweater you wear once a year or your significant other’s tweedy jacket is a ‘keeper’ or goes into the ‘donate’ pile.

To help get you started, we have compiled a list of local charities in the Weymouth area that accept donated items, including some that will arrange for pickup of items at the Commons. (See the list at the end of this post.)

OK, so what’s the best way to make the tough closet calls? Here are a few simple questions to help you decide.

• Ask yourself, “How often do wear I wear this?” and “When was the last time I wore this?” If the answers are “once in a blue moon” and “two years ago?”, the item is perfect for donation. Keep in mind the 2-year rule: Haven’t worn it in 2 years = Get rid of it!
• Ask yourself, “Do I like the way I look in this?”
•  Ask yourself, “Is this item too worn to be useful?” When the answer is yes, be sure to dispose of it. Charities need useable wardrobe items, not rags.

Once these questions are done, it’s time to finish the job. Set up donation pick-ups immediately so that you don’t have second thoughts that send you diving into your neatly organized donation pile the next day.

Once your closet is clear of clutter, it’s time to organize. Start by splurging on hangers.  Your closet will never look neat and organized if you rely on a mishmash of dry cleaner and department store hangers.  Padded hangers or wooden hangers are durable, better for clothing and best for organizing. Be sure to arrange by silhouette, color and most importantly, items (i.e., keep your pants together, skirts together, work shirts together).

Remember: making your closets clean and accessible makes for smoother mornings – and provides an added bonus of helping others. That’s a win-win we all can appreciate!

Weymouth area charities:

• Big Brother Big Sister Foundation – collects all gently used clothing and small house-ware items.  Call (800) 483-5503 to schedule a pick-up.
• Epilepsy Foundation – collects gently used clothing, small furniture and household items.  Call (888) 322-8209 to schedule a pick-up.
•  American Red Cross – a clothing bin is located at Bridge Street Tire at 322 Bridge St.
• Cradles to Crayons – accepts children’s clothing and adult sizes small and medium, as well as shoes, coats, books and diapers.  There is a drop-off location in Quincy at the Hannaford Supermarket on Hancock Street.

*Charities expect your donated items to be free of stains, holes, pilling and overall signs of wear.  They also ask that they be clean and ready to be worn by the next person.

St. Patrick’s Day in Weymouth and Boston

As a resident of Massachusetts you should be preparing for one of the best holidays in our state. With a population of over 23% Irish residents St. Patrick’s Day is a day full of celebration, great food and fun! We want to help our Weymouth Commons residents find the best way to celebrate so we’ve compiled a list of festive activities!

Cure Me I’m Irish 2014

Are you looking for a way to give back while celebrating the holiday? On Saturdays March 8^th at 8PM BeatNB Cancer Foundation with present Cure Me I'm Irish 2014. This is the 7th annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration that includes an exciting night of celebrating St. Paddy's day while helping save Kids with cancer. The night includes music from Downtown Fever, bagpipes, and seisiun music, as well as raffles & auction items. All proceeds benefit the fight against childhood cancer and a ticket includes admission food, complimentary beer & wine as well as beer tasting samples from local brewers. So why not get a head start on the holiday while giving back to the community?

  St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Are you looking to celebrate the holiday like a true Irish person? The Knights of Columbus are hosting a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner on Saturday March 15^th. It will be held at 25 Chauncy St. in South Weymouth. The night will include a cocktail hour from 6:30-7:30 PM and a dinner that will be served at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15 per person. Don’t miss this chance to indulge in the culture of St. Patrick’s Day before the holiday has passed!

2014 St. Patrick’s Day Road Race presented by the South Boston Boys and Girls Club

The South Boston Boys and Girls Club is hosting a 5K road race on Sunday March 16th, 2014. The race will start at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club. The race benefits the South Boston Club’s Keystone Teen Leadership Program which keeps teens off the streets. By running this race you can contribute to you’re the Massachusetts community and not feel guilty about all the fish and chips you will consume the next day! Register Now Here!

South End Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade

If you have never been to the South End St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston you are missing out, and if you go every year then convince your neighbor to experience it with you this year! With the MBTA Commuter Rail just a few minutes away you can take a day trip into Boston to enjoy the Irish culture and celebrations. The parade starts at 1 PM and the parade route can be found here. The South End is also filled with cool Irish bars where you can continue the celebration after the parade!

Staff Profile: Julie Nasser

As we get ready for spring and more people moving into or community, we thought it would be a great opportunity for all our residents at The Commons to learn more about our staff! First up? Julie Nasser! We know you’ve seen her infectious smile around the Weymouth Commons – and now it’s our turn to show her some love!

This diehard Boston sports fan considers herself the “fantasy football queen,” she loves to dance and some say she laughs way too much – but we’re not complaining.

How long have you been working at The Commons

3 years

What's your favorite part of working at a Corcoran property?

The people I get to work with

Best thing a resident or coworker has ever brought into the office (snacks, stories, etc)!

Cupcakes J

Favorite Movie

Remember the Titans

Favorite thing to do when not at work?

Dance

What three words best describe you?

Spontaneous, Athletic, Spunky