Blog Posts

Tips for a Better Sleep

Keep an eye out for your personal health this month and always by paying attention to your sleep patterns! Your Liv Avenida apartment here in Chandler, AZ is a great place to relax. Get a better sleep by remembering these tips. Prepare your sleep situation. Some of us may be in the habit of washing and changing our sheets weekly, like we should. For others, it’s all too easy to let that chore slip out of our fingertips week by week. Take time to do it this week if you haven’t already. There’s nothing quite like slipping into warm, clean sheets to soothe your tired body after a long day! Remember also to prepare your whole room for bed: Clean your room, remove clutter from your bed or the floor that can cause you physical stress or pain, and turn off all lights. Use an alarm clock if that helps you focus on sleeping rather than keeping your phone nearby, which can disrupt or totally postpone your sleep. Make time for it. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to procrastinate your nighttime routine because you want to make the most of your evening. The night is young, right? Give yourself deadlines for what is acceptable for your nighttime outings so you can get home and start getting for bed early enough that you get the sleep you need, without rushing. Wake up earlier so you can finish your daily tasks earlier and get to bed earlier, without missing out on anything! Relax yourself. It’s not a great idea to get a full- on workout in right before bed, as it can raise your heartbeat and keep your body awake and alert. Instead, try a 5-minute before bed yoga routine to get your mind and body relaxed and ready for sleep. Address problems. This could mean writing down your worries before you get to bed so you can physically put them aside, knowing you can address them in the morning. Or it could mean going to a doctor to see if you can prevent problems like insomnia, sleep apnea, or another condition that may be causing unrest. Get a better feel for what you need by keeping a sleep diary or using an app on your phone or smart watch to track your habits. What other tips do you have for getting better quality sleep or for making time for sleep? Share your ideas with the rest of us by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading. Good luck, and sleep tight!

Place Settings for a Stunning Valentine's Day Dinner

Valentine’s Day is this week! Now is the time to finalize your plans with your loved ones here in Chandler, AZ. Make those reservations if you haven’t already — or skip the hassle altogether and make a delicious dinner in an intimate setting at your Liv Avenida apartment! Whether you’re cooking for one, two, or many, spice things up by putting together a table setting. Try one of these ideas! Woodsy Romantic Valentine’s Day Setting from DigsDigs Who says a table setting has to be formal, dark, and stuffy? This setting gives an airy, light feel to the table, and it doesn’t have to cost you much of anything! Mimic the idea by getting a pink tablecloth, paper plates, branches for a clear vase or mason jar, mini wood logs, and some Scrabble pieces to spell out a fun message. Top the setting with a folded napkin and a note tied with string for a relaxed but still put-together look. Blooming Place Card Setting from Martha Stewart The 14th slide in Martha Stewart’s slideshow for Valentine’s Day flowers is simple, sweet, and personal. As the site describes, “fold a 3-by-8-inch piece of card stock in half, inscribe it with a name, and cut a small hole in the crease. Trim a rose stem to 2 ½ inches; slide it through the hole. Place in a plastic floral tube.” This idea also works if, instead of a one-on-one date, you’re hosting a get-together with friends and you want to add a touch of fanciness to the table. Very Very Valentines Table from Purple Chocolat Home Go all out for someone who loves the romance of Valentine’s Day by decking your table in red-handled silverware, red plates, red glasses, red napkins, and a box of chocolates to welcome your guest or date to the table. Layer in some white plates or napkins to add contrast to the setting, and add white or red candles in differing heights to amp up the romance! What are your favorite ways to decorate for Valentine’s Day? Are you staying in for the big night? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine's Day Cards Perfect for Anyone

Welcome to February, the month of love. Whatever your plans for the upcoming holiday here in Chandler, AZ, it’s always a fun idea to express your care for someone through a card. Make your own Valentine’s Day card in your apartment by trying the suggestions in today’s blog. All the Fish in the Sea Valentine Printable from Oh Happy Day If you want to give a treat with your card, try this idea. It’s as easy as “one, two, three”! Just download the printable , print it out on your favorite colored paper, cut and fold, and tape or glue a bag of goldfish crackers in the hand. If you’re careful about how you cut around the fingers, you can even make it look like the hand is actually holding the bag. If your recipient doesn’t like goldfish crackers, try some Swedish fish, or other fish-themed candy. ASL I Love You Craft from Busy Mommy Media This card is great for anyone, especially someone who knows American Sign Language. If you plan on pasting the hand to a card, it’s probably a good idea to trace the hand of a child with a smaller hand so you can have an easier time making it the size you want. Cut out the hand, fold down the middle and ring fingers, and glue to secure! Puzzle Piece Valentine’s Day Card from Real Simple For the minimalist in you or the person you’re giving to, try this idea. All you need is some cardstock, glue, and spare puzzle pieces. Take from a puzzle you don’t mind stealing from. It’s a great way to make use of a puzzle you no longer use or a puzzle with pieces already lost from it! Write in your best penmanship the words, “We just fit” under pieces, and be sure to write a more personal note on the inside to make it extra meaningful. Share any links to or descriptions of your own favorite Valentine’s Day cards with the rest of the Liv Avenida community by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading. Happy crafting!

Furniture Storage Options for Your Apartment

As spacious as your apartment at Liv Avenida is here in Chandler, AZ, it’s easy for your home furnishings and items to expand as time goes on. Make room for each item to have a home by trying out furniture storage. Today on the blog we have a few ideas you can try to add a bit of extra space, functionality, and style to your apartment. Bookshelves A bookshelf is a classic way to display not only your books, but also other trinkets and even framed photos or small art you want to display. There are plenty of ways you can do this, from choosing an interesting, unconventional bookcase that is a decoration itself to mixing up the book placement, arranging the books by color, or adding something natural (like a plant) to a shelf. Design Sponge has 10 homes that get styling a bookshelf right that you can gain inspiration from. Ottomans These are great because they (just like the other items on this list) are multi-functional. You can use an ottoman to complete the design of a room, provide space to put your feet, give extra seating to a room, and open up a place to put blankets and pillows you don’t have room to keep on the couch. Wayfair has more than a thousand storage ottoman options you can check out, whether you’re ready to shop for one or you just want some ideas. Armoires and Wardrobes These are great additions to your home to add a finishing touch and extra storage space. You can even move some clunky shoes, jackets, or sweaters from your apartment’s bedroom closet to the armoire or wardrobe so you can make room for your summer clothes. Armoires are also a good place for things like scrapbooks, movies and CDs, and even more fragile ornaments and decorative items you don’t want out in the open. Of course, if you’re not in the market for buying new furniture, try other hacks for opening up space in your home. For example, we love Nifty’s video about how to find space in your small kitchen . Try any of their ideas and you’ll be pleasantly surprised! What are your favorite ways to add space or storage to your home? Let us know your ideas for other furniture storage options by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading. Good luck!

Workout Tips for the New Year

Last week on the Liv Avenida Blog we talked about one common new year’s resolution, reading more, and offered a few suggestions for books to read as you work on that goal. Today we want to talk about another classic resolution: working out! Try these tips to help you achieve your fitness goals this year, whether you’re exercising at our 24/7 fitness center or elsewhere in Chandler, AZ. Make it part of your routine. It’s easy to give up on a goal when it doesn’t feel like a natural part of your life. Make the process part of your daily life by focusing on the habits. For example, your ultimate goal might be to lose weight, but if you make establishing healthy eating and exercising habits the focus, the process will mean much more to you. This will make it something you’re dedicated to working on, even when it gets difficult. Have a goal in mind. Focusing on establishing good habits is great for starting out, but having a goal can also give you extra motivation once your routine is established. A goal can make your workout exciting and interesting, and give you ideas for how to work out. Reaching a goal can give you confidence in yourself and can put you in the mindset of constant (reasonable) improvement, which makes for a healthy lifestyle. Be aware of the weather. Odds are you probably want to get and stay in the habit of being active throughout the year — even when the Arizona weather gets unbearably hot. The thought of working up a sweat when you’re already feeling the heat can make exercise less appealing than it might already be. So be aware of how uncomfortable it may be, and do what you can to protect against and get through it! Invest in workout clothes in light colors that reflect the sun (as opposed to darker colors, which absorb the heat) that are roomy enough to let you move comfortably while still not being too heavy. Work out inside where there’s air conditioning — or, if you really like exercising outside, wear sunscreen and gravitate toward shady spots. And remember to always stay hydrated! What are your best tips or pieces of advice for keeping your fitness goals for the new year? Share with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading. Good luck!

New Books to Put on Your 2018 Reading List

“Read more” is one of those classic new year’s resolutions that is found on many people’s to-do lists, and we support that idea wholeheartedly! The benefits of reading can help shape you into a better, more empathetic and sharp-minded person. Today the Liv Avenida Blog has some book suggestions that are coming out this month that you can get started on in your apartment or at a library here in Chandler, AZ. Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed “A searing #OwnVoices coming-of-age debut in which an Indian-American Muslim teen confronts Islamophobia and a reality she can neither explain nor escape--perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Adam Silvera. “Maya Aziz is torn between futures: the one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter (i.e.; staying nearby in Chicago and being matched with a "suitable" Muslim boy), and the one where she goes to film school in New York City--and maybe, just maybe, kisses a guy she's only known from afar. There's the also the fun stuff, like laughing with her best friend Violet, making on-the-spot documentaries, sneaking away for private swimming lessons at a secret pond in the woods. But her world is shattered when a suicide bomber strikes in the American heartland; by chance, he shares Maya's last name. What happens to the one Muslim family in town when their community is suddenly consumed with hatred and fear?” You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone by Rachel Lynn Solomon “When the results come in, one twin tests negative for Huntington’s. The other tests positive. “These opposite outcomes push them farther apart as they wrestle with guilt, betrayal, and the unexpected thrill of first love. How can they repair their relationship, and is it even worth saving? “From debut author Rachel Lynn Solomon comes a luminous, heartbreaking tale of life, death, and the fragile bond between sisters.” The Forgotten Book by Mechthild Glaser “A Jane Austen-inspired YA tale about a sixteen-year-old girl who finds a magical book—and discovers that anything she writes inside it comes true.” What books are you most excited to read this year? Leave your recommendations with the rest of us in the comments! We hope you enjoy these and any other books you check out this year.