Blog Posts

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.

Things to Check in Your Home For a Successful 2018

Welcome to Liv Avenida’s first blog post of 2018! We hope you’re ready for a great new year. In our last blog post we talked about how you can get yourself in the right mindset for success. Today we have a few ideas for things you should check in your apartment and other areas of your life here in Chandler, AZ to keep things running smoothly this year. Finances Financial problems plague many, but they don’t have to trap you forever! Take the new year as a chance to start fresh and responsible. Keep track of every incoming and outgoing dollar with a budget. Use an app like Mint or create a Google spreadsheet. Find a method that works for you so you’ll actually look at it throughout the year. As you’re budgeting, make it a priority to save money for an emergency fund and a separate savings fund. Simply getting in the habit of saving can make a huge difference, and saving for something separate will help you spend on fun things without feeling guilty about it! Home & Transportation On-site management and 24-hour maintenance ensure you’re taken care of here at Liv Avenida, but you need to be aware of your apartment and how things should be running so you can communicate to maintenance employees what isn’t working. So clean your apartment and keep an eye out for broken smoke detectors, leaking pipes, or anything else that’s a problem. As you’re clearing the clutter, go through your documents and put important ones, like tax documents, in a safe space. Back them up online if you need to as well! Now is also a great time to check up on your car. Take it to a mechanic or check for things like loose tubes or broken bits yourself. Get an oil change if you need to, wash your car, and be aware of how it normally runs and sounds so you can address any irregularities that arise before they become too big of an issue. Health Your health is important, so evaluate your current status. Get a checkup, and while you do, get an overview of your insurance plan and all that comes with it, such as copays or deadlines. Now is also a good time to have anyone you’re living with (including pets!) get a checkup. Remember your daily health, too. Start a plan for working out and adjust your schedule so exercise can more seamlessly fit into it. Make a method for keeping track of your meals, grocery lists, or other meal prep efforts. What other things in your life do you check periodically, especially this time of year? Let us know in the comments so we can all benefit. Thanks for reading. Good luck! We hope these ideas help!

Tips for Starting Your Year Off Right

The new year is the perfect time to embrace the freedom that comes with a new beginning. Set some goals and help yourself make the most out of the upcoming year by remembering the tips and ideas in today’s Liv Avenida Blog. Evaluate the now. It’s difficult to know what you want to do or change about your life when you’re not sure how you feel about where you’re at currently. Help yourself decide where you want to start your goal-setting by taking a good look at different aspects of your life today. Find something meaningful for you to work on so you’ll actually want to work on it in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. Find your motivation. Motivation, determination, and resilience will all be resilient to helping you achieve whichever goal you decide to set. As you’re choosing something to work on, don’t forget to evaluate the reasons why you want to focus on this specific thing. Why does it matter now? What do you hope to get from it — physically, mentally, and emotionally? How will this improve your life, your self-image, or your relationships with others? Why do these things matter to you? Focusing on the most meaningful “why” to you will do much more to inspire you (especially when it gets difficult) than a checklist-sort of item on your New Year’s resolution list. Set some goals. As you’re setting goals, remember the aspects you’ve probably heard time and time again about effective goals: Start small and make your long-term goal and your short-term efforts manageable so you can actually do what you set out to do. Make it fun by doing it with a friend or using your skills and creativity to document your progress. And prep your mindset today : Be forgiving of yourself. Encourage yourself. Know that it’s your life. Do what’s best for you. Practice positive self-talk to make the entire process as positive as possible. What are your best tips for starting off fresh the best you can? How do you get yourself motivated for positive change? Fill the rest of the apartment community in on your thoughts and wisdom by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading. Good luck and happy celebrating the new year in Chandler, Arizona.

Ways to Decorate a Holiday Tree

If you enjoy decorating your Liv Avenida apartment for the seasons or the holidays, you’re never too late to get started. Whether you have your decorations up already, you’re looking for new ideas for festive finishing touches, or you want to add some cheer to another room you’re visiting, continue reading for holiday tree decoration ideas. Chandler, Arizona just got a little more cheerful and bright! Gingerbread Tree Martha Stewart features this beautiful tree that showcases a village within its branches. This is a fun way to add a bit of rustic charm to your tree. Bake some gingerbread cookies (Martha Stewart suggests creating different hues with honey and molasses) and hang them up for a look at a new world. Arts and Crafts Tree from House Beautiful This idea takes craftiness to an elegant level by using “artfully hung” Chinese silk pincushions and silk flowers for decoration. But if your idea of arts-and-craft ornaments is more along the lines of an ornament made of popsicle sticks and your elementary school picture, go for that! Make your holiday tree crafty by embracing the nostalgia and making use of your old ornaments or making your own with your friends and loved ones. Chalkboard Tree from HGTV If you don’t have much space for the evergreen of your dreams, never fear! You can create the look in your home (or even make it a portable one) by simply purchasing a frameless chalkboard and using your skills to draw your own. Get inspired by the photo in this article and make your own pom pom garland, or use different colored chalk to decorate as you wish. Teepee Foliage Tree from Homeology Make your tree easily storable and unique by trying this clever idea. We love how visually interesting the homemade teepee structure and wrapped foliage captures the essence of a green thumb in the home. Try it out and let us know how it works! What are your favorite ways to decorate or make your own holiday tree? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy these ideas!

How to Give a Great Gift

It’s officially the biggest season of giving, so today the Liv Avenida Blog is here to give you ideas on how to make the most of this great tradition. However you spend your season, if you’re giving a gift to someone in or around Chandler, AZ, remember these tips and ideas for making your gift one your recipient will love and appreciate. Make it personal. Gift giving is fun because it prompts the giver to consider the wishes and needs of the recipient — this could be something fun, practical, and enjoyable. Every gift that is either store-bought or homemade, expensive or completely free, can be a hit if it shows the recipient that you care about them and their needs. Have someone in mind? Think back to your experiences with this person. Make the gift you choose to be one that is nostalgic and preserves a memory. Or, rack your brains for any passing mention they may have made relating to what they want. They’ll appreciate that you noticed and remembered. Keep it simple. Of course, as you’re seeking to personalize gifts, remember that your gift doesn’t have to be the best or most creative gift in the world. A great guideline is to give someone “something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.” This covers about everything, so just get the logistics sorted out and make sure it suits their tastes and you’ll be set! Be upfront. If you’re still stuck in finding just the right gift, remember that many people may even prefer that you ask them straight up what they want. If you’re going to be spending time, money, or other resources to give someone something, they should actually want it! Ask them what is on their wish list, and don’t be afraid to ask who else they may have given this information to so you can collaborate and avoid giving repeat gifts. If you’re concerned about the lack of a surprise, don’t fret! The surprise can still be there if you don’t tell them what you’re getting. And even if you are totally transparent, they’ll still appreciate you for considering their wishes and going through the effort to fulfill them. What are your best tips for giving a memorable, personal, thoughtful gift? Share your ideas with us in the comments. Good luck choosing the perfect gift and enjoy the holidays in the comfort of your apartment.