Blog Posts

Holiday Traditions to Start This Season

Many people have traditions that they do every year that help to remind them why they love being together during the holidays. What do you do when you haven’t really established any traditions? Or you’re in the mood to change things up? Now might be the time to start new traditions! At Liv Avenida Apartments, we’re here to help you choose a new holiday tradition if you’re in the market. Try out these ideas in your Chandler, AZ apartment this month! Order Takeout Oftentimes, major holidays are stressful because it is often expected that there be a festive and extravagant meal during the month of December. Since you just had Thanksgiving last month and you might be having a big dinner in a week or two, why not start a tradition to eat something fun like Chinese takeout instead? You might use this as an excuse to order your favorite dishes — maybe you’ll even splurge and get some of your favorite sides that you usually skip out on. Whatever you choose to order, you can have fun together knowing you all chose to eat something a little unconventional this year. Have a Competition Since it’s possible that you’ll be around more people this month, why not host a competition of your favorite activity? Maybe you want to create a bracket and have a table tennis tournament. You might take advantage of the occasion and play a few rounds of a card game you’re all invested in. Perhaps you’ll even have a dance-off! Whatever it is, get everyone hyped up about it so that when the time comes, everyone is ready to put all their energy and excitement into it. Start a White Elephant Exchange If it’s been a while since the last time you participated in a white elephant gift exchange, you might want to head up one of your own! Set the parameters, like whether you want everyone to buy a used item or not and a price limit. That’s basically it. Whatever rules you choose, a white elephant gift exchange adds extra fun because people are bound to be a little more invested in bringing gifts that are funny or have a story behind them. Get a New Pair of Pajamas For many people, it’s tradition to receive a new pair of pajamas this time of year. Some people prefer to order the same print for everyone in the family or group, while others want to individualize each pair according to each person’s preferences. Either way, it’s a great opportunity to get a comfy new pair of pajamas and take a group picture wearing them! Hopefully this post gave you a few new ideas for traditions you can start as soon as this year. Thanks for reading and happy holidays!

How to Prevent Driving Under the Influence

This week on Liv Avenida Blog, we’re helping you stay safe by encouraging everyone in our apartment community to observe National Impaired Driving Prevention Month! We’re sharing a few things that you can recommit to this month and throughout the upcoming new year. As you attend various celebrations serving alcohol, these tips will keep yourselves, as well as anyone else driving on Chandler, AZ roads, a little bit safer. Consider Using Another Form of Transportation Though driving probably seems like the most convenient option to get to your holiday parties, there are plenty of other options to get you where you need to go. Check public transportation routes and schedules to see if there is a bus nearby that takes you to your various destinations. If there isn’t, try using a ride service like Lyft or Uber to drive you to and from your event. It might cost you a little bit of extra time or money to use a form of transportation other than your own car, but you won’t regret it when you wake up safe in your bed the next morning. Decide on a Designated Driver If you decide that alternative forms of transportation just won’t work and you have to go by car, make sure to choose a designated driver before leaving the house. This could be inconvenient; you may have to arrange a carpool, but doing so is responsible and it will protect both your own life as well as the lives of other drivers and passengers. Choosing a driver who has opted not to drink alcohol during the festivities means you have to plan ahead. Trust us. You’ll be grateful you did. Detect and Report Drunk Drivers Because it isn’t possible for you to guarantee that all other drivers will be driving sober this month, it’s important to be able to identify drunk drivers on the road. In the case that you spot a driver who is taking too long at a stop light, making overly-wide turns, braking unnecessarily, driving with no lights at night, driving on the wrong side of the road, or getting dangerously close to cars or other objects, there’s a decent chance that they are driving under the influence. If you see a drunk driver, get out of harm’s way, pull over, and report them to 9-1-1. It would be easy to just take a different street and avoid them. However, by calling the police, you could be saving someone’s life. We hope these tips helped you to know how you can personally prevent impaired driving this holiday season. Thanks for reading, and may your holidays be responsible and safe!

Holiday Events Near Chandler, AZ

The Liv Avenida Blog welcomes you to the month of December! The holidays bring a variety of festivities like seasonal foods, time spent with loved ones, and annual events. If you’re looking for something to do near your Chandler, AZ apartment to bring on the holiday cheer this year, you’re in luck, because today we are bringing you a couple of events you won’t want to miss. Keep reading to find out about a holiday-themed activity near you! 12k’s of Christmas Annual Run For those who enjoy running for fun or competitively, you won’t want to miss this run! It’s an annual 12k held nearby in Gilbert that has been held for the past ten years. A portion of the proceeds goes to help local animals through organizations like Maricopa County Animal Care and Control and The Arizona Pet Project. This fun run is a way to join with others in a spirit of the holidays, and to help out your community at the same time. You can even dress up in a holiday-themed costume to do it if you want! Christkindlmarket Holiday markets have been an annual tradition in Germany since as early as 1384. Luckily, you won’t have to travel across the world to experience one because the Arizona Center for Germanic Culture is hosting one less than an hour away in Cave Creek! Spend the afternoon browsing through this open-air market with vendors who sell handicrafts and holiday decorations, as well as traditional holiday market foods like bratwurst and hot cider. Don’t miss this year’s market on December 8th and 9th! A Christmas Carol Watch Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday tale come to life on stage at the Hale Centre Theater! Follow the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the king of all misers, as he is taken on an unexpected journey on the night of Christmas Eve through seasons past, present, and future to learn about love, kindness, and the true magic of the holidays. Catch this production through December 24th this season! Thanks for reading our post today! May your holiday season be filled with excitement and exciting events.

Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Now that Thanksgiving is over, you’re probably wondering what to do with all the leftovers. If you’re tired of feeling obligated to relive the same meal for the week following the big feast, you might consider using the leftovers in a fun new dish! This week’s Liv Avenida Blog is serving you some of our favorites from Food Network’s list of best Thanksgiving leftover recipes . Grilled Turkey, Brie, and Apple Butter Sandwich with Arugula While you may be used to leftover turkey sandwiches after Thanksgiving, we’re sure you have never had one quite like this. Adding flavors to your sandwich that weren’t a part of your dinner like soft brie cheese and spicy Arugula leaf will keep things tasting new and fresh. For these sandwiches, you will need rye bread, unsalted butter, apple butter, turkey, brie cheese, and arugula. Eggs in Purgatory Since microwaved mashed potatoes never taste quite as good as the first time around, try using them in a different way this year. These potato pancakes, atop a warmed marinara sauce, topped with a fried egg, and sprinkled with grated parmesan, are sure to get you excited about leftovers again. Vegetable Samosas Put your leftover green beans to good use by adding them to these vegetable samosas! Using leftover mashed potatoes, leftover cook vegetables, frozen peas, curry powder, cilantro, mint, ginger, salt, cayenne pepper, and puff pastry, turn what was left of your feast into delicious triangular dinner pastries! You may even try mixing yogurt with cranberry sauce for a delicious dipping sauce. Day-After Dip Did your Thanksgiving dinner leave you feeling stuffed, even the next day? Make this simple snack using your leftover sweet potatoes. Put them in a food processor with white beans, olive oil, grated parmesan, salt, and pepper, and top with toasted nuts. If you place this dip next to crackers, it is sure to be gobbled up quickly! Waffled Leftover Thanksgiving Brunch Brunch is the perfect time for a post-Thanksgiving meal. Transform leftover stuffing into crispy waffles by adding eggs and chopped parsley! Serve these waffles next to a slice of turkey and some warm gravy. Try these dishes and more in your Chandler, AZ apartment this year and your Thanksgiving leftovers will be gone before you know it! Did you find another favorite recipe from Food Network’s list? Share what made in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Must-see Cinema This Holiday Season

The holiday season is consistently packed with anticipated new movie releases, and this year is no different! Whether you are in the mood for a Christmas-themed cinematic experience or you are just looking for a Blockbuster hit, this November and December selection of new releases will not disappoint. Here are are a few that we at Liv Avenida Blog think you might enjoy. The Nutcracker and The Four Realms Drawing inspiration from E. T. A. Hoffman’s classic Christmas tale, The Nutcracker and The Four Realms follows a young girl named Clara as she finds herself in a magical and mystifying parallel world in search of a key that will unlock a special gift. On her journey, she enlists in the help of a soldier named Phillip, a group of mice, and the leaders of the various realms. Don’t miss this holiday hit! Coming to theaters on November 2nd. The Grinch You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch! In this computer-animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s beloved story, the Grinch brews up a plot to steal Christmas away from the cheerful town of Whoville. Along the way, he comes across Cindy Lou Who, a sweet young girl trying to meet Santa Claus, and she unknowingly throws a wrench in his plans. See it in theaters on November 9th! Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Here comes a new installment of J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts” series. In this chapter, dark wizard Grindelwald has suddenly escaped custody, and the beloved magizoologist Newt Scamander is called upon to help stop his plans. You will not want to miss the most recent tale in the Harry Potter Universe! Coming to a theater near you on November 16th. Robin Hood This holiday season brings you the latest adaptation of the tale of Robin Hood. Come see a well-known riveting rebellion against the crown on the big screen, and this time in live action! It was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, starring Taron Egerton as Robin and Jamie Foxx as Petit Jean. See it as soon as November 21st. Mary Poppins Returns Don’t miss the most magical return of the century! Long after she came to town the first time, Mary Poppins makes a grand re-entrance into the Banks children’s lives. This time, Michael and his children are facing troubled times, and everybody’s favorite magical nanny is here to help them get through them. Coming to theaters on December 19th We hope this post got you in the movie-going spirit! Find a showtime near your Chandler, AZ apartment to ensure that your holiday season be merry, bright, and of course, digital.

Get Your Turkey Trot On!

Looking for a Thanksgiving morning activity? Consider running in a turkey trot this year! After the dinner itself plus snacks and dessert, a typical American is likely to consume around 4,500 calories on this one holiday alone! This week on Liv Avenida Blog, we’ve got answers to all questions you may have as you’re preparing for your pre-feast calorie burn at a turkey trot near your Chandler, AZ apartment. What? As its name suggests, a turkey trot is a family-friendly race that takes place either around or on Thanksgiving Day. While turkey trots may have gotten popular as a way to shed a few calories before indulging in the year’s largest feast, they have evolved into a fun and lighthearted event. Many runners even dress up in funny Thanksgiving-themed costumes to invite the Thanksgiving spirit. How Far? The standard distance for a turkey trot is five kilometers, but depending on where you run, you might find a bit of variation. There are, however, a number of races up to eight miles long. At one point, there was even at one point in time a marathon in Atlanta on Thanksgiving, making it the longest race in turkey trot history! Why Run? If burning calories doesn’t motivate you to participate, know that many turkey trots partner with both local and national charities to provide families in need with Thanksgiving dinner, as well as other hunger-related needs. Some even donate 100% of their proceeds! The turkey trot is a great way to build a sense of community as it is not only a way to commemorate a holiday together as a city, but it helps the local hungry as well. Where? Looking for a turkey trot near you? The Strut Your Stuffing 5K takes place Thanksgiving morning in Chandler, and the race is partnering with the local Harvest Compassion Center to fill an on-site truck with donated food. If you’re closer to Gilbert, the Gilbert Turkey Trot has agreed to donate 100% of the proceeds to local charities AzBrainFood and Families Fighting Blindness . Whether you decide to run or come along to cheer others on, attending a turkey trot this year is a great way to start off your Thanksgiving Day. Thanks for reading!