Downsize Before Making a Move

Moving can be more hassle-free if you have less “stuff” to move. Downsizing before a move can minimize the amount of material to be packed, moved and unpacked. It also may give you the freedom to update some of your furnishings after move-in.

Plan Ahead

Most of the stress of moving results from the lack of proper planning. As soon as you know a move is in your future you can begin by packing off-season clothing and items you know you won't need throughout the transition period. Begin making arrangements with a mover and planning for all utility changes.

Decide How Involved You Want to Be

Do you want to take on the responsibility of packing, labeling and transporting your belongings, or should you consider professional help? This can depend on the number of items you will be moving, your budget, and how much work you want to put into your move. You can literally “go it alone” or have a professional moving company take care of everything from packing to the moving. It is always best to unpack your own items.

Ask for the Guidance of Your Apartment Building Manager

Perhaps nobody knows more about the ins and outs of moving into your new apartment building than that of the building manager. Make sure you have the proper dates aligned and know about how and where to use the building's facilities like elevators and entranceways. Know where to park vehicles used in your move and any other pertinent information.

Focus on the Benefits, Not the Process

When you begin to focus more on how nice your new space will be, how convenient it is and how you will enjoy its beautiful park, lake, and city views, many of the hassles of moving will quickly dissipate. Do you know of someone in search of exceptional apartment living in Chicago? Spread the word. Tell them about The Belden-Stratford.

The post How to Make a Move More Hassle-Free appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.

One-Pan Dishes to Make Dinner Really Easy

• Bratwurst in a Blanket: Preheat oven to 375°. Glaze baking sheet with olive oil. Roll 5 bratwurst in Swiss chard leaves, placed seam side down. Keep them close together to keep the leaves rolled up. Place 1 pound small red potatoes, cut in half, next to sausage. Lay 2 pounds peeled and diced yellow beets next to potatoes. Sprinkle salt and pepper over beets and potatoes. Toss 2 tsp caraway seeds over beets. Drizzle olive oil over beets and potatoes. Gently coat. Roast until potatoes and beets are soft, about 40-50 minutes.
• Muffin pan deep dish pizzas: Preheat oven to 400°. Coat wells of muffin tin with cooking spray. Divide dough into 12 balls. Grease hands with olive oil and press each ball of dough into the bottom and sides of each well.  Top with mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, and more cheese. Add any additional toppings you desire. Bake about 12-15 minutes until cheese is melted. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
• Egg roll skillet: Everything you might find in an egg roll, in a skillet. Heat vegetable oil in skillet. Add 1 pound ground pork, and 1 chopped yellow onion to pan. Cook until meat is cooked through. Toss 3 cloves minced garlic and 1 tbsp minced ginger in pan and cook for one minute. Add 14-oz coleslaw mix and 2 tbsp soy sauce to pan and cook until cabbage is brightly colored and crisp-tender. Remove the pan from heat and add 1/4 cup scallions, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 1 tsp vinegar. Toss to combine. Add salt and pepper to flavor.

At The Belden-Stratford Apartments in Chicago, IL, living is easy. With fully equipped kitchens, grilling stations on rooftop sundeck, separate dining areas, on-site restaurants, and everything in between, it's never hard to find or make a delicious meal any time of day or night. Call us today to find out more about the many services we offer and our amazing floor plans. 

The post One-Pan Wonders appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.

If you're struggling to fit well-balanced meals into your schedule, rest assured, you're not alone! Here are a few tips to help you out.

Embrace Make-Ahead Sundays

If you do a ton of meal prep upfront, the rest of the week is a cinch. Look for foods you can prep ahead of time and store in the fridge or freezer. That way, they're ready to pop in the oven as soon as you get home. As an added bonus, you won't have a ton of dishes to do throughout the week.

Learn to Reuse Your Leftovers

Bringing your lunch to work every day can lead to boring meals pretty quickly, but if you learn to use last night's leftovers in a new way, you can still have tasty dishes that are good for you, too. Make sure you include veggies and proteins as those are the elements that'll get you through the day without making you feel sluggish when the midday hours roll around.

Befriend Your Blender

Smoothies are a stellar source of nutrition, and they're perfect for on-the-go people such as yourself. When it comes to smoothies, the options are endless. If you need a little more iron, add some dark greens like spinach or kale. If you need a protein boost, don't be afraid to pop some tofu into your blender. Have you been feeling a little muddled down by the cold weather lately? Maybe you need to opt for fruit smoothies that are packed with vitamin C. 

Be Okay With Snacking

Snacking isn't a bad habit. In fact, when you do it right, it can help you squeeze in those vitamins, nutrients and essential food items that may otherwise be lacking in your diet. Keep an arsenal of cheese sticks, almonds and clementine oranges on hand so you can quickly satisfy any cravings you have without going overboard or depriving your body of the fuel it needs to stay strong and healthy.

The Belden-Stratford is a premier apartment community that boasts beautiful kitchens that make meal planning easy. Stop by our community to look at the kitchen that's calling you home!

The post How to Fit Nutritional Meals Into Busy Schedules appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.