Blog Posts

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.

Movies Coming Out this December

Get your winter entertainment on by watching your favorite holiday movie in your apartment here at Liv Avenida. If you need to get out of the apartment, though, head to your favorite theater in Chandler, AZ and catch one of these great new films that are hitting the big screen. December 15th Star Wars: The Last Jedi — Action, Adventure, Fantasy “Having taken her first steps into the larger Jedi world, Rey joins Luke Skywalker on an adventure with Leia, Finn and Poe that unlocks mysteries of the Force and secrets of the past.” Ferdinand — Animation, Adventure, Comedy “After Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure.” December 20th Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle — Action, Adventure, Comedy “Four teenagers discover an old video game console and are literally drawn into the game’s jungle setting becoming the adult avatars they chose.” December 22nd Pitch Perfect 3 — Comedy, Music “Following their win at the world championship, the now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices.” Downsizing — Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi “A social satire in which a guy realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself.” December 25th Phantom Thread — Drama “Set in 1950’s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.” What movies (on or off this list) are you looking forward to seeing this month? Let us know in the comments! We hope you enjoy these and any other movies you watch this December.

Five Steps to Becoming More Thankful

Thanksgiving was last week, but it’s still November, the month of giving thanks. If you were too preoccupied with preparing for Thanksgiving to make an effort toward having an attitude of gratitude (or if you simply want to be grateful all year long), try these tips. They’ll make a difference in your Liv Avenida apartment community, out in Chandler, AZ, or anywhere else in the world! Write down what you’re grateful for every day. Get in the habit of expressing gratitude for your blessings. It will make you more mindful of your blessings throughout the day, which will help you look for and notice positive things always. Change the way you speak. If there are areas you think your speech could improve, make those changes. Changing how you react verbally to something helps you control your temper and be more of a happy, calm person. That attitude will help you see other people and life challenges as not things that threaten you but as things you can learn from and appreciate. Stop comparing yourself to others. You are a good person because of who you are, and the same goes for others. However competitive life seems, remember that we’re all going through life together, so we should make it enjoyable. Help friends and coworkers succeed. Celebrate victories and encourage others. Be happy for others and for yourself. You deserve it, and they do, too. Live in the moment. Life is here for you to enjoy, so don’t let it pass you by. Find something to be passionate about at work, school, or home. Gain confidence in yourself by trying a new hobby or practicing an old skill. Spend more time with the people you love, and be all there when you are. Own up to your mistakes, forgive others, and try to improve interpersonal relationships. This seems like a lot, and it is. But we have a whole lifetime to practice it all. Serve others. Looking outward and serving others can help you see new ways to love and appreciate them. Service humanizes those you interact with and makes you more affectionate toward them. It makes you think of what they need and how you can fill those needs. Even if others don’t seem grateful for you, you can be grateful for the chance to help them, improve yourself, and add some good to the world. How do you train yourself to be more thankful? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading! Good luck!