Spruce up that Home Office

Missing the structure of your office cubicle? A curated home office space can help you feel more organized! Try and set up your desk away from your bedroom to avoid disrupting your sleep schedule. Another way to make sure your new office is primed for productivity is by having your workstation by a sun-facing window! Need more suggestions? This list should help you out!

Work From Home with a Set Schedule

It’s important not to lose track of your daily routine when you’re working remotely. Keeping a set schedule while working from home will keep you on top of your regular tasks and can help you feel more balanced. Waking up at the same time every day and getting dressed for work whether or not you leave the house are some examples of how to stay motivated!

Take Regular Breaks from your Remote Work

With more free time in the day, you may feel the temptation to fill your schedule. Try not to overdo it! Taking breaks when needed will make your remote work much more enjoyable in the long run. To refuel your body and refresh from the grind, always take a lunch hour. Pausing for some strengthening yoga poses can provide a boost of energy. And to prevent eye strain from your computer screen, make sure you’re sticking to the 20-20-20 rule!

After creating your daily home office schedule, you may find yourself enjoying the work from home experience more than you would have thought! How are you planning on structuring your remote work routine? Let us know in the comments!

The post Hot Tips on Working Remotely From Your Apartment appeared first on Churchill on the Park Blog.

Here are some easy ways in which you can start going green in Dallas. 

Bike to work!

Over 10% of our Carbon Dioxide (CO2) gas emissions come from road traffic. If your commute is not significantly long, consider investing in a bicycle! You can start by biking a few days of the week. You can also combine public transportation and biking if you live a little further away from work. By using your car less, you will be significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money on gas!

Invest in a reusable water bottle.

One of the quickest ways of using less plastic is by avoiding the purchase of bottled water. Plastic bottles release chemicals that are bad for your health, plus not all of them get adequately recycled and only add to the waste that keeps getting collected in our oceans and lands. Use a water filter at home and refill your bottle every day. You will stay hydrated, and feel better by knowing you are not creating more waste. Here are some tips on how to choose a reusable water bottle.

Buy from your farmers’ market!

By buying from your local farmers’ market, not only you are supporting local business owners, but you are also helping to reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing vegetables and fruits that are in season and that have not traveled far to get to your city. Most of the food products in farmers’ markets are organic, and it is always fresher than the ones in grocery stores. Going to a farmers’ market is fun! Some of them have arts and crafts by local artists and live music. The Dal-Rich Towne Square Farmers’ Market happens on Saturdays and it’s only ten minutes away from Churchill on the Park! They have many vendors that sell tasty food. Don’t forget to bring your reusable bags!

Mind your energy usage.

Turn the AC off as you leave home. There’s no use in keeping it on if no one is there! About 11% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the CO2 generated by buildings’ AC units. It is best to avoid it altogether. To keep your house fresh, you can leave the windows open, or shut down the blinds. If you have electric fans, consider using these instead when you are home. You will lower your energy bills and cut down on pollution!

Which of these tips do you already apply? At Churchill on the Park, we care about the environment and our community. What are some ways in which you participate in the eco-friendly movement? Share your tips with us in the comments!

The post Going Green in Dallas: Some simple tips for busy people. appeared first on Churchill on the Park Blog.

Seasonal Vegetables and Fruits in Texas As you begin looking for summer recipes and ideas to cook on your next barbecue, keep in mind the best thing to do is buying according to season. Seasonal vegetables and fruits are healthier since they haven’t been frozen and they have just been harvested by farmers, making them also fresher and tastier of course! Also, they haven’t traveled too far to get to your shopping cart and thus, you are helping the environment by reducing transportation pollution.

And now, a tiny list of seasonal foods in Texas:
Figs. Fig trees are plentiful with this sweet and fleshy fruit, ideal for pies or to bite into directly as a whole!
Brambles. Also known as blackberries, blueberries, marionberries… All the berries! Charged with antioxidants, they’re the perfect sweet and healthy snack for all ages!
Carrots. Whether cooked or cold and raw, they’re the perfect filler for any dish and contain a lot of essential vitamins, particularly for our vision health.
Sweet potatoes. They’re as versatile as their other potato cousins! Their main perk: you can turn sweet potatoes into dessert!
Sunchokes. They look like ginger roots but they’re not! They’re actually related to sunflowers and they taste like a mix of artichoke and potato!
Chickpeas. Once boiled, you can salt them, roast them, or make them into a hearty soup. See the recipe we’re including below!

Let’s support our local farmers' markets and independent grocers!
Richardson Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays only, but they have a great selection of organic fruits, vegetables, and arts and crafts.
Georgia’s Farmers Market is an independently-owned store in Plano open daily, and it is less than fifteen minutes away. They have the best jellies, nuts, and they also sell houseplants!

Texan Seasonal Veggies Soup.
And now… A Chickpea Soup recipe inspired by allrecipes.com*:

Ingredients:
15 oz of boiled garbanzo beans
5 oz of red and/or yellow bell peppers
5 oz of green beans
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons oil 1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tomato, chopped
3 cups of vegetable (or chicken) broth
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon of paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a saucepan, warm oil over moderate heat. Add onion, garlic, and sweet potatoes; saute 5 minutes.

Stir in broth, bay leaf, basil, thyme, and paprika. Salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover. Simmer until vegetables are tender but not mushy, about 15 minutes.

Stir in tomato, green beans, and chickpeas. Simmer uncovered until tender, about 10 minutes more. Serve hot.

Prep time 25 mins. Cook 35 mins. Ready in 1hr.

*We switched the package of frozen vegetables for green beans and corn.

For more ideas for Texas summer recipes, visit EdibleAustin.com

Ready for some summer cooking?
So which summer fruit is your favorite? If you would like to share any seasonal cooking ideas, post them in the comments!

The post Summer cooking in Dallas: A mini-guide appeared first on Churchill on the Park Blog.