Blog Posts

Summer Songs to Rock Out to All Season Long

Summer is the perfect time to listen to your favorite hits — both new and old! Whether you’re looking for something cheerful to add to a summer drive playlist or something with a great beat for your workout playlist, today’s your lucky day. The Liv Avenida Blog has ideas for summer hits you’ll enjoy listening to all season long in or out of your apartment here in Chandler, AZ. Summer by Calvin Harris This song can carry you through the warmest days and the coolest parties. As the leaves turn brown and the skies turn blue you’ll have something to dance to — or at least bop your foot along with — all season long. Cool for the Summer by Demi Lovato With a music video that not only features Demi Lovato enjoying a cool summer drive but also hitting up the clubs and having a great time, this song will empower you to live life unfiltered, and to have a blast while you do it! Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles Another must-have for your summer music playlist, this song is another one to bring a smile to your face and lift your spirits. Whether it’s the steady beat or the easy melody that you connect with the most, we’re glad to have a song to remind us that “it’s all right” — no matter the season! Umbrella by Rihanna featuring JAY-Z Remind yourself of cooler days with this iconic song by the queen of fashion and ferocity. This tune will never get old! For some extra fun, check out Zendaya and Tom Holland battling it out to 24K Magic, Singing in the Rain, and Umbrella . Tom does a great job paying tribute to this song! What are your favorite summer jams? Leave your recommendations with the rest of us in the comments so we can add them to our playlists! Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy these songs, no matter what you’re doing this summer.

Ice Cream Shops in Chandler

Welcome back to the Liv Avenida Blog! Last week we offered up a few tips for cooling down in or out of your apartment here in Chandler, AZ. Of course, in addition to following all those great tips, you can also cool down by grabbing a frozen treat near your apartment. Visit one of these ice cream shops this month! Plan your visits by checking out these reviews and driving times from our community. Kokomo Frozen Yogurt (4 mins) “Very tasty coconut gelato! Cream, fresh and loaded with shredded coconut! Friendly staff as well. I'm impressed!” — Diane M. on Yelp I Roll Thai Ice Cream (12 mins) “I’d heard of rolled ice cream before but we don’t have any near us. You can pick your ice cream flavor, mix ins, and toppings. I chose the original flavor with almond butter and pecan mix ins. I chose the mini chocolate chips and mochi on top. I wasn’t entirely sure how it would all go together but was pleasantly surprised. It was fun watching them make it and it was delicious. I’d like to go back and will definitely check it out if something similar opened nearby. 5 stars.” — Christina M. on Yelp McMahon’s Ice Cream (13 mins) “Life changing ice cream made with passion and care and love. The flavors are inspired and pure, so you can taste every ingredient. Any other ice cream moving forward will always be compared to this brilliance. Plus the owner... can we just have a group hug.” — Angela A. on Yelp Popbar (13 mins) “First ever Popbar experience and I LOVED it! They should open these everywhere !!! They had a little board with popular combinations and thank god for that! There were so many options and possibilities so it was nice to have it narrowed down for me :)" “The staff was nice, the concept is great and what they're serving is top tier! Cannot wait to come back !!” — Zoe J. on Yelp What are your favorite places to get a frozen treat near you? Share your recommendations with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy any of these shops or others this summer.

Cool Down Tips

Any resident of Arizona is no stranger to the heat. Average high temperatures are supposed to reach above 100 degrees ! Today on the Liv Avenida Blog we have suggestions for impactful ways you can cool in or out of your apartment this season. Drink plenty of water. Water is vital to not only giving you life but keeping you hydrated and feeling fresh, physically. Staying hydrated keeps your mind sharp and your energy levels high, so be sure to replenish the fluids your body releases throughout the day by drinking up! Invest in a good reusable water bottle to cut down on waste. Ice your pulses. Greatist encourages you to “ pamper your pulses ” if you need to cool down fast. Invest in a few ice packs if you get hot easily and apply them to your pulse areas to decrease your body temperature and relax the heart rate quickly. Wear sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Protect your skin, not just in the summer but all year long! Invest in makeup with sunscreen, if you wear it, to make it more natural to you. Wear a hat and clothes made of lightweight, breathable fabrics that allow for proper ventilation throughout the day to give your body a break. Encourage good airflow. Air flow not only keeps your body cool but also your apartment! Use fans to encourage this, and block the harsh, hot light of the sun from warming up your apartment by using blackout drapes or curtains. Switch out your dark, silk, or polyester sheets for lighter-colored cotton ones to stay cool while you sleep, too. How do you stay cool in the summertime here in Arizona? Share your wisdom with the rest of us by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading! We hope these and any other tips you come up with this month help you stay cool, fresh, and full of energy in the upcoming months.

Tricks to Teach Your Pet

Liv Avenida is proud to be a pet-friendly apartment community here in Chandler, AZ. Today on the blog we’re featuring a few ideas for having some fun with your pet — namely, by teaching them tricks! Try these ideas with your pet to encourage discipline and healthy interaction between you and your pet this summer. For Cats Acing the Shell Game This game is perfect for cats because of how smart and naturally adept at hunting they are. It’s also great for exercising and honing their mental skills. Start with a cup and a treat, associating them together so they know to look for the object under the cup. Add in other cups and switch out the treat for a ball or another small object to get them to guess the right cup, every time! Using the Toilet Getting rid of a litter box can seem like an unattainable dream, but it’s possible, and you may be surprised at how well it goes for you! Just be patient and slowly walk your cat through the process. After about three months, your cat can learn how to sit on the edge of the toilet. Just be sure to flush (or teach them to pull a string to do it on their own)! For Dogs Waving For an easy trick that’s sure to help break the ice when introducing your pet to a new person, try teaching your dog to wave. It’s surprisingly easy. Just keep on stock your dog’s favorite treats and a clicker if you are using clicker training. To complete this trick, your dog should first know how to shake paws. Follow the rest of the tutorial at The Spruce. Opening a Door This can come in handy for all sorts of situations. Choose a door that is appropriate for the weight of you pet. A more lightweight door will work better for a smaller dog, for example, than a heavy door would. This is a moderately difficult trick but it’ll be great to show off to any visitors to your apartment. What are your favorite tricks to teach your pet? Share any tips you have for accomplishing these or any other tricks by leaving a comment. Good luck! We hope you have a great time bonding with your pet this summer.

Ideas for Avoiding Excess Heat at Your Next Barbecue

May is here, and it’s National Barbecue Month! We know that firing up a grill may not be appealing here in sweltering Chandler, AZ. But you can still participate in the fun of a classic barbecue by trying these ideas and tips, in or out of your apartment here at Liv Avenida. Start Later Arizona is always hot, especially during the summer, but it cools down slightly in the evening! Make the most of that fact by starting your barbecue later in the evening. It can make a big difference. Cook and Eat Inside Cooking, naturally, brings heat. But with central air conditioning and ceiling fans, you can keep your home at a temperature you’re comfortable in and avoid venturing out into the stifling heat to find a park with a grill and eat. You can also even grill on your private patio, if you have one, to air out your apartment. Ask anyone attending your barbecue to contribute dishes and sides to take some of the load off your shoulders and to lessen the amount of time your oven has to be on. Try Water Games If you are hosting your barbecue outside, water games are great way to combat the heat and keep you energized. Games are also perfect for keeping people engaged and encouraging fun. Try a water balloon relay or even a DIY slip and slide for some fun in the sun. (Just don’t forget the sunscreen!) Head to the Pool Liv Avenida provides a must-have amenity for any home in Arizona: a pool! It’s a perfect spot for hanging out, relaxing, or even working on your fitness goals, if you’re a fan of swimming. When everyone’s ready to freshen up, jump in for a great way to end the day. What do you think? Are barbecues worth the heat? Share your tips for making a great one here in Arizona by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading! We hope you have a good start to the summer at our apartment community this May.

Spring Cleaning Week 4: Minding the Details

Deep cleaning your home in Chandler, AZ can be a big undertaking, but if you’ve been following along with the guides on the Liv Avenida Blog, we hope you’ve been able to pace yourself reasonably. It’s now time to tune in on the details. Take each of these areas a day at a time to make it more manageable. Clean appliances and furniture. If you didn’t clean these parts of your home while you were completing other chores, now is a great time to do it! Follow this checklist for cleaning kitchen appliances for making sure you clean them safely and thoroughly. Don’t forget smaller appliances, too. Unplug and turn over toasters to empty out crumbs and clean out your microwave. And take out the cushions of your furniture to deep clean those, as well, removing anything that can’t be vacuumed up and then vacuuming or cleaning your upholstery as needed. Disinfect touch points. Your hands touch plenty of things throughout the day, so it’s important to not only wash them often but to disinfect spots of your home that you regularly (or even not so regularly) touch. These areas include doorknobs, blinds, light switches, cupboards and handles, your phone, and more. Dust. Dust gathers everywhere, so clean those spots you may overlook, like tops of ceiling fans, blinds, frames, lights, shelves, baseboards, and anything else you can think of. Your house will sparkle and you can rest easy knowing you’re breathing clean air once you’re finished! Detail the floors. The appearance and state of the floors in your apartment can have a big impact on how your home looks and feels, so make them shine this week. Vacuum the edges and corners of the room, take care of stains, and mop surfaces to keep them sparkling and clean. Upkeep your home. Of course, living leaves a mark — and that’s ok! Do what you can to stay on top of upkeep by setting and sticking to a schedule of when you’ll clean these and other areas of your home again so dirt and grime don’t build up and so you can easily spot clean as you go. Rest. So this isn’t an area to clean, but it’s important to remember! You’ve done a lot of cleaning this month, so treat yourself to something fun or enjoyable, like a movie or your favorite dessert, and rest up so you can enjoy your home. What other details are important to give attention to while you’re focusing on spring cleaning? Let us know what we’ve missed by leaving a comment! Thanks for following along with our guide to spring cleaning. We hope these tips and ideas make deep cleaning easier and more effective for you all year long.