Blog Posts

Recipes for a Delightful Thanksgiving Dinner

Welcome back to the Liv Avenida Blog! We hope you’re having fun going on our fall journey this month as you prepare your apartment and your schedule for Thanksgiving here in Chandler, AZ. This Thursday is the big day, so if you don’t have your menu ready for the big dinner, try one of these suggestions. We have great ideas for sides anyone will love. The Most Amazing Oven Roasted Corn Skip the canned or boiled corn and go for simple, flavorful corn on the cob. Do as the author of this recipe does and cut the corn niblets off any leftovers to use in salads or homemade chicken pot pie recipes. This will give your plate and your palate a distinct fresh, flavorful break from all the thick gravy. Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes Everyone has their favorite way of making mashed potatoes. If you haven’t found yours yet (or if you simply want to try something new), try this recipe! As the author says, the “whipping cream and butter provide a rich creaminess that will make your potatoes stand out.” You’ll be proud to bring this dish to the table. Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler Pumpkin, pecans, and cobbler are each by themselves a stellar fall classic. Combine them all together in this well-thought-out recipe for the “ultimate fall dessert.” Top the cake with ice cream and dig in to discover the hot caramel sauce on the bottom — and the pecans on your way there! My Favorite Sausage Bread Stuffing Get the perfect blend of flavor, moistness, and crispiness in a stuffing by trying out this blogger’s favorite — the one she always ends up going back to. With just the right amounts of bread, poultry seasoning, Italian sausage, yellow onions, celery, butter, eggs, sage, chicken stock, and salt, this may become a new favorite for you. What are your favorite Thanksgiving dinner sides or recipes? Share with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment. We hope you have a fantastic holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Crafts to Grace Your Apartment With

Last week on the Liv Avenida Blog we talked about keeping your apartment in order for the holidays. We mentioned that decorating your apartment should be an art so you avoid cluttering up what you’ve just cleaned. Try some of these ideas from bloggers all over the internet if you want to create a fall vision for your apartment here in Chandler, AZ. Fall prints and graphics This idea isn’t necessarily a craft, but you can craft a beautiful art aesthetic for your home by incorporating one or more of these prints, pillows, mugs, and blankets in your apartment. Oftentimes simply switching out a summery looking throw blanket with a warm-toned one can be all you need for a transition to a new season. Check out these products for inspiration! “Give Thanks” mantel Add rustic charm to a shelf or bookcase in your apartment by mimicking this look and color scheme. The author of this blog post used burlap to make the “GIVE” banner and mini white pumpkins for the “THANKS” focal point. She used empty brown frames, cream pitchers, wheat bundles, ribbon, cardstock, and extra pieces of burlap to pull it all together. This is a great way to create something that nicely blends in with the rest of your apartment decor and gives your home a nice touch of fall. Thanksgiving table setting Make Thanksgiving dinner the star of your home decorating by copying the ideas in this getup. Use butcher paper and paint for the table runner. Make it extra long so you can paint “give thanks” on the bit hanging over the end of the table’s short side. Then put together a short flower arrangement and bust out your best dishes, warm-toned napkins, and mini white pumpkins for the place settings. It will make your guests feel like they’re dining like fall harvest royalty! What are your favorite color schemes or fall decoration ideas? Let us know by leaving a comment so we can get inspired in our own decorating! Thanks for reading. Have fun!

A Guide for Keeping Your Apartment in Order During the Holidays

We hope you’re enjoying the fall season here in Chandler, AZ this month. November is the month of Thanksgiving, and the rest of the year’s holidays will be here before you know it! Stay prepared for the chaos that often ensues by keeping your Liv Avenida apartment clean and orderly all throughout the next few months. Today we have tips for doing just that! Start with the big cleaning tasks. Get this out of the way before you’re consumed with preparing for holiday dinners and hosting guests! Take a day (or a few, depending on the state of your apartment) to clear your home of clutter, putting papers in folders, clearing away decorations from the past holiday, and giving each item a home in your apartment tucked out of sight or proudly where it can be seen and appreciated. Then you can focus on doing the deep cleaning that will ensure your home feels fresh all month long. This includes cleaning the kitchen, clearing out the refrigerator, scrubbing the bathroom, wiping down tables and countertops, vacuuming or sweeping your floors and rugs, dusting blinds, cleaning your sink and disposal, and doing anything else you can think of. Be strategic in your decorating. It can be tempting to want to just let a metaphorical bomb of decorations explode throughout your apartment. But this can often lead to your home feeling cluttered. If you’re decorating for fall, keep your aesthetic clear by incorporating colors, textures, and shapes that work well together and create a unified look. Next week on the blog we’ll offer some ideas and suggestions for crafts you can make to do this, so be sure to check in again! Clean up small messes every day. Of course, living creates messes. Set aside just 10 or 20 minutes before you head to bed each evening to sweep up, wash dishes, or wipe down things that have accumulated grime over the day. On busier days when you’ll be making more messes (for example, while you’re cooking or decorating), keep this principle in mind and clean as you go so the big messes don’t accumulate as easily. What are your best tips for keeping your apartment clean and orderly during the holidays? Let us know by leaving a comment. Good luck! Remembering these important basics will help you feel better as you navigate your to-do list and your apartment this month and next.

Halloween Safety Tips

We hope you’ve been enjoying our past few blogs helping you prepare for Halloween! With all the fun going on, it’s especially important to remember to take proper precautions for being safe, whether you’re staying in your apartment here at Liv Avenida, going trick-or-treating with the kids around Chandler, AZ, or heading to a party nearby. In any case, remember these Halloween safety tips! Have a buddy. Whatever your plans for the night are, it’s a good idea to have someone with you. Not only is it a great way to encourage you to have fun, but it’s also helpful in case you’re taking care of kids and need an extra set of eyes, or if you think you might need a designated driver coming home from a party where alcohol was served. Plan ahead. Having an idea for what the night will hold will help you take simple steps toward having a smooth, stress-free evening. For example, if you’re going trick-or-treating, map out your route and only include stops at houses of people you know. If you are going somewhere by yourself but you think you might need a designated driver, have a phone number for a taxi service, Uber, Lyft, or another service in your phone and ready to go. And if you’re handing out candy, have an idea for when you’ll stop so you don’t have to worry about it or stay up too late when the time comes. Remember road rules. The world doesn’t stop just because it’s a busy night on the streets! If you’re driving around town, be extra mindful that people (especially in their sometimes dark costumes) may blend in with the night — and especially remember that sometimes, no matter how attentive an adult is, children can forget themselves and dart into the road. So drive slowly around neighborhoods and watch closely. And if you’re walking, follow the rules. Walk on the right side of the road and on sidewalks. Cross only at cross streets or traffic lights. Look both ways before crossing a street, and teach children to do the same. Be aware of allergies. If you’re the parent or guardian of a child with allergies, you don’t necessarily need reminding to beware of the treats your kids get. But if you’re handing out treats, it’s always a great idea to be considerate and to provide a variety of treats (maybe even some cheap toys) so everyone can feel welcome and have fun. Remembering this, especially if someone asks you, can make someone’s night. What other important Halloween safety tips do you think we should all remember? Let us know in the comments so we can all benefit. Thanks for reading. Have a great Halloween!

Clever Halloween Costume Ideas

Dressing up for Halloween doesn’t have to just be for the kids! If you’re not already a fan of putting together a costume, read today’s Liv Avenida Blog. Today we have ideas for clever costumes you can throw together or put a little bit of extra time in for a look you’ll love. Man Cut in Half This mind-blowing costume is sure to be a show-stopper at any Halloween party you attend! Give everyone around town something to scratch their heads over by simply buying a few extra items of clothing and the other material listed in this tutorial. Then practice how you’ll wear the costume so you can perfect the look. Instagram Filter Make your Halloween getup Instagram-ready by dressing up as your favorite filter! With cardboard, construction paper, and a bit of artwork, you can make this and have fun posing for your social media post at the same time. Hairy Potter Sure, donning your best wizard’s robes and grabbing a wand to dress up as a Harry Potter character will definitely be a hit. But if you don’t have the materials for that, try this variation for a punny costume. You’ll just need a spare apron you can splatter with paint (or clay) and a wig. Use some old eyeliner to draw strokes to make your face or arms look extra hairy. Costumes with Makeup If you’re handy with a makeup brush, you can make a truly outstanding costume without too much fuss. Check out how this person channeled Scar , try this pop art makeup tutorial , follow the directions for this mermaid makeup tutorial , or get inspired by this pixelated image art for a look everyone will be fawning over. What are your favorite clever Halloween costume ideas? Share them with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment! Then head out into Chandler, AZ to a craft or thrift store for the supplies you’ll need to put together a winning costume.

Essentials for Throwing a Halloween Party

Welcome back to the Liv Avenida Blog! For the next few blogs of the month, we’re here to help you figure out and plan your Halloween celebrations! If you’re hoping to throw a Halloween party in your apartment here at Liv Avenida, remember these tips for making it one everyone will enjoy. Decorations It doesn’t take much to turn your beautiful apartment into a temporary haunted mansion. Head to your favorite craft store for some orange, black, and white party decor. A few colored streamers, balloons, and tablecloths can set a great tone for a rockin’ party. Hang up some stretchable spider webs for a finishing touch. Games and Activities Depending on what you’re hoping to do for your party, you can be as creative as you wish. Play some classic board games or card games, make it more socialize-friendly by keeping the music down, or try some of the many Halloween games from Pinterest to involve your guests in some fun. If you think your games, activities, music, and chatter might bother your neighbors, make efforts to accommodate them and their comfort. Check in with them and let them know your plans. Be willing to end the party at a reasonable hour or keep the music low. Treats Treats aren’t just reserved for the trick-or-treaters! Whether you just want to put out a bowl of Halloween candy on your table or you want to go all out, your guests will appreciate the effort. Try these Halloween muddy buddies for a cute twist on this delicious snack. You can also easily add a bit of Halloween fear into your refreshments by making these chocolate chip spider cookies or these adorable mummy pumpkin cookies . Costumes Encourage your guests to come in their best Halloween getups to make it extra fitting for the holiday. Have a costume contest and give away treats or prizes for the best costumes for extra incentive. Or you can simply have a cowboy hat, feather boa, or other props handy for those who don’t have a costume. Next week on the blog we’re going to offer you a few clever last-minute Halloween costumes, so if you’re not sure what you want to be, stay tuned for some ideas! What are your best tips and tricks for throwing a great Halloween party? Share them with the rest of us in the comments. Have fun!