In a pinch.

Hours before going on a four day trip, the dog walker calls to say she can’t walk and check on the dog that day. The earliest she can come will have to be the following morning. Almost 24 hours of not being let out or visited is too long for a dog to be left alone. What to do? Call Just Be Personal Assistants.

This is the scenario that our client, Mr. Clayton experienced. He was in a tough bind and needed some help with short notice, but who to call? Fortunately, his realtor knew who to call. Mr. Clayton called Just Be three hours before boarding a plan to ask if a Just Be assistant could come to his home, walk his dog – Otto, feed him as well as play with him. In less than 20 minutes arrangements were made to have a Just Be assistant at Mr. Clayton’s home at 5 p.m. that evening. It was that easy. Just a phone call away and all of Mr. Clayton’s worries had disappeared.

At Just Be, we try to accommodate our client’s needs with 24 hours notice or less, but to ensure our availability we highly recommend calling to have a consultation and to set up an appointment with more than 24 hours notice. Depending on your needs a consultation may take an hour, and to assign you with the right personal assistant can also take some time, but it is well worth it.

If you are ever in a pinch or are in need of assistance with tasks and projects on a regular basis contact Just Be Personal Assistants. Just Be is here for you, so you can do what you do best, and let us handle the rest.

Dear Just Be: Yikes- father's Day is this weekend- any fun recipes you can share?

Yes, the summer holidays started a few weeks ago with Memorial Day and how quickly now Father's Day is upon us!

Celebrate your dad's special day with a few of these recipes:

1. Start off with perhaps French Toast for breakfast. You can spice up typical french toast by adding cinnamon, nutmeg and/or vanilla into the batter. Slice up various fruits as toppings and it becomes a gourmet breakfast (serve with a side of eggs and coffee) for a complete meal. If you want to go one step further with gourmet French Toast, try this recipe:

Stuffed Pecan Pie French Toast
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1 loaf Cinnamon Swirl bread
1 c. milk
2 eggs
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
confectioners sugar

Heat oven to 350. Heat the butter and brown sugar in sauce pan over medium heat until boiling. Remove saucepan from heat, stir in pecans.
Grease a baking sheet with butter. Place bread slices on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until bread is lightly toasted.

Beat eggs, milk, vanilla and sugar in medium bowl. Dip 8 slices of bread, one at a time, in mixture and place on baking sheet. Spread about 1 tablespoon of pecan mixture on each slice of bread. Dip the remaining bread slices into the milk mixture and place on top of other bread slices with pecan mixture to form sandwiches. Bake for 20 minutes or until sandwiches are golden. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Next, Dads love barbeque, right? Try these two recipes for him:

Reuben Hot Dogs
4 all beef big franks
4 tsp spicy brown mustard
12 slices deli pastrami
4 sourdough French rolls halved horizontally & toasted
4 slices of Swiss cheese, sliced diagonally
1 c. sauerkraut
Thousand Island salad dressing

Set grill to medium heat and oil grate when ready to start cooking. Spread each frank on all sides with 1 teaspoon mustard. Wrap three slices of the pastrami around each frank.
Grill pastrami-wrapped franks on hot oiled grill. Cook for 12 to 16 minutes or until heated through turning frequently. Serve franks hot on toasted French rolls with sliced cheese and sauerkraut. Top with Thousand Island salad dressing.

INDOOR METHOD: Prepare franks as directed. Preheat broiler. Place franks on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet or broiler pan. Cook 6 to 8 inches from heat source for 12 to 16 minutes turning frequently. Serve as directed.

And serve with Grilled Mango:
1/2 c balsamic vinegar
2 ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch thick slices
Non-stick cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a small saucepan over high heat, boil the balsamic vinegar for 5 minutes to reduce by half. Cool 10 to 15 minutes.
Heat a grill over medium-high heat. Coat the mango slices with a thin layer of the cooking spray and sprinkle with salt.
Grill the mango in batches on a lightly oiled grill rack, turning once, until browned and slightly softened (about 5 minutes total). Drizzle with balsamic syrup and serve.


Hope you and your loved ones enjoy Father's Day this weekend!

Dear Just Be: You've been sharing great Colorado destinations each week- what do you suggest for this week?

Yes, we do love this state of ours- such a fabulous playground of sorts to take advantage of anytime of year. This week, we'd like to highlight Steamboat Springs, located in the Yampa Valley.

Just an easy 3 hour drive, or 157 miles northwest of Denver, Steamboat can be a destination for a long weekend get away. From Denver, take I-70 west to Silverthorne, Exit 205 (67 miles). Take CO 9 North to Kremling (37 miles), then West on US 40 to Steamboat Springs (53 miles).

Steamboat Springs was home to the Ute Indians, long before white men traveled through the area in the early 1800's. The name Steamboat Springs is said to have originated in the late 1820’s when three French Trappers, traveling along the Yampa River, heard a ‘chug chug’ sound. Thinking they had reached a major river, one yelled, “a Steamboat, by gar!” Upon further investigation, they discovered the sound came from a natural mineral spring, to be named Steamboat Springs. The Steamboat Spring still sits at the far end of town; however, it ceased to ‘chug’ when the railroad bed was laid above it in 1908.

We love the peacefulness and natural beauty of this area. Not only can you take advantage of just about every activity during your stay, you can also choose to stroll through this western town and relax at the end of the day at one of Steamboat's fabulous hot springs!

Nowadays, Steamboat Springs in one of Colorado's more idyllic playgrounds- complete with activities for everyone anytime of year. In the summer you can hike, rock climb, fish, play a round of golf, take a gondola ride to the top of Mt. Werner, mountain bike, raft, horseback ride and more.

Steamboat Springs also offers a wide range of entertainment and dining- from music festivals to art shows and rodeos. You can grab a quick bite to eat or enjoy a brunch with a view after taking the gondola ride. There are even gourmet hiking treks available.

So the next time you are planning a fun, or peaceful, get away in Colorado, think of Steamboat Springs!

Dear Just Be: I want to climb a 14'er this year, but need some difficult training hikes. Can you suggest some that aren't too far from Denver?

Good for you- that is a great goal for this summer! Did you know that Colorado has 58 mountains over 14,000 feet (4,266 meters) in height but only 53 are noted as '14ers'? To qualify as a 14er the peak must be 300 feet higher than saddle of an adjacent peak. A notable exception is North Maroon Peak so 54 has become the 'official' number.

One great training area is to climb or run the stairs at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.

If you want to get into the mountains though we suggest the following two hikes; one is moderate and the other is more difficult. It is good to know your own fitness level before heading out.

1. Jaque Peak- Moderate Hike
Distance: 4.1 miles to summit. 1.4 miles back to trailhead (loop)
Time: Up in 145 minutes. Down in 55 minutes.
Elevation Gain: 2,225 feet

Directions: Drive south from I-70 at Copper Mountain towards Leadville on CO-91 for 4 miles. Turn off CO-91 onto a paved road going northwest for .9 miles. Then take the dirt road going to your right and ascend northwest for 3.4 miles. Park at an open area on your left at a sign saying, "Searle Pass Parking Area." This road is passable for normal cars.

The Hike: You will start out on an old mining road heading up Searle Gulch. Follow the pink ribbons on the trees, which lead you to Searle Pass. After the pass, you will head east over grassy slopes heading up to the right of a subpeak to the true high point which is marked by a cairn and registry in a jar. You will descend steeply downward in the southwest direction over tundra and through trees and end back at your vehicle.

1. Bandit Peak- More difficult hike
Distance: 5.0 miles to summit. 3.2 miles back to trailhead (loop)
Time: Up in 214 minutes. Down in 122 minutes.
Elevation Gain: 3,246 feet

Directions: From US 285, 2.7 miles northeast of Bailey, or 4.5 miles wouthwest of Pine Junction, drive north and then northwest on Park County 43 for 8.3 miles to Deer Creek Campground, and then .8 miles further to a parking area and a trail sign nearby. Park here.

The Hike: Take the trail to the right labeled, "Tanglewood Trail." Hik ealong Tanglewood Creek and at the fork, one mile up from the trailhead, take the right fork.. You will pass Rosalie Peak on your left and several rocky knobs roughly at 2.25 miles. The trail continues north and down to Roosevelt Lakes and Beartrack Lakes. Leave the pass and the trail by going to the west (left) and south around the cirque for about 1.5 miles to the north ridge of Bandit peak and ascend to the south easily to the top where there is a cairn waiting for you. Descend by going south over the tundra and through the trees to meet up with Rosalie Trail which parallels Deer Creek. Turn left (east) on this trail for about 2 miles to return to the trailhead.

Remember to dress appropriately, bring plenty of water, tell someone where you are going and have fun!

Dear Just Be: I need some Father’s Day gift ideas.

It is rumored that Father’s Day was first thought up by a woman named Sonora Dodd in Spokane, Washington in the early 1900s. Dodd was raised by her father after her mother died and she felt her father needed to know how special he was to her for all that he had done and sacrificed. She organized the first Father's Day celebration on the 19th of June 1910, because June was the month Dodd’s father was born. From this idea and first celebration, the observance expanded across the country. In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. In 1956, Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress, and then in 1972, President Nixon created a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.

To honor and recognize the fathers in your life, below are just some gift ideas to give this Sunday. These gift ideas range from the traditional to the more unique.

1.) Gift certificate to spend the day doing whatever the father in your life likes doing (i.e. playing golf, going hiking, watching sports, going fishing, etc.)

2.) Microbrew of the Month subscription

3.) Shirts (casual or professional)

4.) Tickets to a sporting event or concert

5.) Ties

6.) Family or personal photographs and frame

7.) Gift certificate to his favorite restaurant

8.) A hammock

9.) Tools/Gadgets (drills, iPhone, grilling thermometer etc.)

10.) Book(s)

11.) Movies or Music (CD, DVD, iTunes card)

12.) Magazine subscriptions