Blog Posts

Winter Reads

In August we wrote about books you can put on your summer reading list; this week we want to help you make the most of your December by offering you some books that you can cozy up with in your Liv Avenida apartment. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens This story is a great one to read or watch any time of the year, but especially during the winter, when it takes place! Go on an adventure with Ebenezer Scrooge as he travels to Christmases past, present, and future to learn valuable life lessons about being a good, charitable person. Before, after, or while you’re reading the book, be sure to check out this article about 10 things you might not know about A Christmas Carol to see how this classic came to be. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott While this book may not be a strictly winter-focused book, it has some great scenes in it that take place during this time of the year, and it’s a must-read story that you might find yourself relating to. Follow sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March in their many adventures as they grow up while their father goes to war. Take part in their wild imaginations, creative plays, heartbreaking struggles, and quiet triumphs as they each come to age and find their purposes in life and family roles. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry This short story is about a young married couple, Della and Jim, in New York who have so little money to buy each other gifts that they each sacrifice their most valuable possessions so they can buy the gifts. Learn the heartwarming lesson this couple learns about the value of selfless sacrifice and the miracles that can come of it. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson You’ve probably never seen a Christmas pageant quite like this one, so pick up this quick read and enjoy it with a friend or family member this holiday season. The Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke, swear, and hit other kids. They take over the annual church Christmas pageant and wreak havoc in the process, making it quite the memorable one. What are your favorite reads to welcome in this wonderful time of the year with? Share your suggestions in the comments so we can add them to our reading lists! Thanks for reading!

Five Eggnog-Inspired Treats and Drink Recipes

With the end of Thanksgiving comes the transition, however slowly or quickly you decide to make it, from fall to winter. With that transition comes the blessing of new recipes to try out in your Liv Avenida apartment in Chandler, AZ. Since eggnog is a longtime holiday favorite for many, this week we’re blogging about eggnog recipes you can try. If you don’t like the traditional drink, don’t worry! We have four other eggnog-flavored treat recipes that you’re sure to love. Homemade eggnog Drinking eggnog is a staple for many once November or December start, so start making your eggnog recipes by making or learning how to make the classic drink. This recipe does not require you to use raw eggs or alcohol, so it’s ok for everyone, from your next-door neighbor to your seven-year-old cousin to your eighty-year-old grandma, to drink. Eggnog cinnamon bread This quick, easy recipe has you making three things: the bread, swirl topping, and icing glaze. The bread and the glaze have you using AE Classic Egg Nog, so you don’t even have to make the famous drink. The baking bread will infuse your home with delicious smells, making this recipe a sure favorite for family and friend gatherings and holiday celebrations. Christmas eggnog pie recipe Thanksgiving may be over, but who said that means you can’t eat all the pie you want? This eggnog-, nutmeg-, and rum-flavored pie is quick to make and tasty enough to satisfy your pie and eggnog cravings. Make it for the holidays or just when you want some delicious pie. Eggnog ice cream with hot buttered rum sauce In “ this season’s version of a hot fudge sundae ,” you get to experience the custard-based, creamy texture of eggnog, but in ice cream form. If you like rum in your eggnog, try out the rum sauce, which also utilizes the sweet flavors of butter and caramel. If you don’t, try out the Merchant Baker’s buttermilk caramel sauce, which is linked to in the article, or your other favorite ice cream topping. Dairy free eggnog french toast casserole Prepare for your favorite December traditions (and finish off your November ones) by adding a delicious, easy breakfast recipe to them! Soak your french toast casserole in almond nog, pumpkin spice eggnog, or soy nog for the taste that fits you and your fellow breakfast diners. Treat yourself this year with the moist, soft, sweet, donut-like texture, as the blogger describes it, and eggnog flavored casserole. The world of eggnog treats is wide open for you to explore. Check out this article for 23 other eggnog treat recipes if you’re dying for more sweet, creamy, eggnog-flavored treats. Let us know which ones are your favorites in the comments so we can try them out!

Five Tips for Traveling for the Holidays

It’s Thanksgiving week, so if you’re traveling anywhere outside of your apartment in Chandler, AZ, for Thanksgiving or December’s holidays, it’s a good time to start preparing. You can throw things together last minute, but if you follow the Liv Avenida blog’s tips for holiday traveling, you can have a better chance for a seamless trip. — Prepare your schedule. Having a schedule can ease traveling stress by guiding you during your trip. It also makes you think of how to travel smartly. Try not to start driving right when traffic gets bad unless you have the time to be patient, for example. And while Arizona still has nice, easy-to-drive-in weather, your destination might not so take that into account. You don’t want to miss out on Thanksgiving dinner or being with your loved ones because of timing issues. Also, if you’re flying, keep a schedule that will make it a little easier to sleep on a plane . — Prepare your home and finances. If you’re leaving your apartment empty, lock doors and windows and keep your key safe with you. Clean before you leave so you can come home to a place you can relax in. Turn off appliances, lights, and other electronics so you don’t waste electricity and rack up your utility bill. See this article for more tips. Also, make sure that your bank knows if you’re traveling anywhere far so they don’t put any holds on your account for seemingly sketchy activity. — Know what to pack. Avoid under- or over-packing by remembering the basics of what you’ll need, like clothing, hygiene and beauty products, and chargers. Use a checklist to help you keep track. If you’re staying with people you can borrow items from or near stores you can buy things at, don’t fret if you forget something. Just make sure you have enough money to cover these and other expenses. — Charge your devices. If you’re taking your computer, phone, or other mobile devices with you on a trip, charge them all the night before you leave — and remember to pack those in the morning. You don’t want to fight with strangers for airport outlets if you don’t have to. If you’re driving, bring a car charger, especially if you’re using your phone’s GPS. — Bring games and snacks for the trip. Traveling is almost equal parts busy and slow, but it doesn’t have to be a total bore. If you’re traveling with someone, make the trip fun by going with some form of entertainment. Keep it small and manageable in case you don’t get around to using it, but make it enjoyable, whether it’s a book, sudoku puzzle, or deck of cards. Also, here’s a list of healthy snacks you can bring on a plane or on a drive to keep you awake. What traveling tips do you have? Let us know in the comments. Happy traveling!

November and December Movies Not to Miss

This week the Liv Avenida apartments blog in Chandler, AZ, recognizes the need we all have at times, especially the holidays, to sit back, relax, and enjoy a good show. If you’re looking to see a new movie for the holidays, be sure not to miss these blockbusters coming out in November and December. November Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them November 18, 2016 Get your wands ready as you prepare to immerse yourself in the wizarding world once again. This movie isn’t a story about the Boy Who Lived; it’s the beginning of a new era, set in 1920s New York. Follow Newt Scamander (the author of the textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , which Harry Potter and his friends later use) and his adventures with American wizards, witches, and non-magical folks (called No-Majs) finding the beasts that escape Newt’s mysterious magical suitcase. J. K. Rowling wrote the script, so it’s sure to be good. Moana November 23, 2016 Experience history as you watch Disney’s first Polynesian princess, Moana, set sail to find a demigod and save her family and her village. Adventure is sure to come in spades in this story: while the ocean is itself a character and a friend to Moana, there are many dangers she and the legendary demigod, Maui, experience in their epic journey across the ocean. December Rogue One: A Star Wars Story December 16, 2016 The latest Star Wars installment keeps up with the tradition of (sort of) being a prequel, but this time it’s a spinoff, and the events happen chronologically before the old movies, episodes four through six. The events take place before episode four, A New Hope. Rebel fighter Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star so the Rebellion can later destroy it. You won’t want to miss this exciting addition to the Star Wars universe. Passengers December 21, 2016 Aurora and Jim (Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt), two passengers aboard a spacecraft, awake from their hibernation 90 years too early in the middle of their journey to life on another planet. They must work together to save the thousands of other sleeping passengers when they find out their ship is in danger. These, of course, aren’t the only movies coming out in November and December. What movies are you most excited to see? Leave a comment with your suggestions so we can put them on our list!

Four Events in Chandler This Month

November is here, which means it’s time to celebrate the last full month of fall by having some fun outside of your beautiful Liv Avenida apartment. Chandler, AZ, offers plenty of options for events you can attend that will help you appreciate your country, city, and the holiday season. Here are four such events we’ve found for you to check out. Let us know how they are! Film & Forum - On Two Fronts: Latinos and Vietnam November 9, 2016 from 6 pm to 8 pm Learn about history and culture by checking out this event, which follows the Latino experience during the Vietnam War. A film will show various personal stories that “reveal the cost and impact of the war on families and communities in Arizona and beyond,” according to the website, so it’s a great way to prepare for Veteran’s Day on the 11th. Participate in a discussion after the film. Letters Home November 12, 2016 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm Learn more about the American soldier experience by watching this play, which features actors reading real letters from soldiers serving in the Middle East. The Chandler Center says the play “without politicizing gives audiences a powerful portrait of the soldier experience in the ongoing war.” 7th Annual Achen-Gardner Construction Rock the Block! November 19, 2016 from noon to 10 pm If you’re looking for an exciting night on the town with various entertainment options, check out the Rock the Block event in Downtown Chandler. You have the chance to see live entertainment on multiple stages and watch the “Chandler’s Got Talent” competition. Browse local restaurants, food trucks, and arts and craft vendors to bring the night together. Ballet Etudes: The Nutcracker November 25 - 27, 2016 and December 2 - 4, 2016 at various times Watch young Clara go on fantastical adventures and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy as you take in the experience of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet coming to life this month. It’s a great way to herald in the winter season and be thankful that you never had to encounter life-size mice like Clara did. What events are you most excited to attend this month? Let us know in the comments so we don’t miss them!

Theater Etiquette

Last week the Liv Avenida Blog featured four shows coming to the Hale Center Theater in 2017. You know what shows are coming to the Hale, and you’ve got your tickets ready for next year. This week we have a few etiquette tips to ensure that your trip to the theater go as smoothly as possible. Tip One: Get to the theater on time There’s nothing more embarrassing than arriving at a show late and not being able to get in. Make sure you arrive a good thirty minutes before the show begins. Arriving on time will ensure that you will make it into the theater in time, get your final bathroom break in, and settle into your seat before the lights lower and the curtain rises. Tip Two: Turn off your cell phone. Theater is an immersive experience. The actors need to be able to focus on getting into character, and the audience needs to be able to focus on becoming submerged in the story. A ringing cell phone (or even an audience member sending texts from the front row) is an unwelcome distraction. Tip Three: Wait for the end At concerts it may be appropriate to clap after every musical number. During a theater performance, it is usually discouraged. Clapping is usually reserved for the break before intermission and the end of the show. Remember to reserve your applause—no matter how fantastic the musical number or monologue. Tip Four: Save the snacks for intermission You should not be bringing your own snacks into the theater. Eating during a performance (unless you’re seeing a show at a dinner theater!) can be extremely distracting. Instead, wait for intermission. The theater will usually serve snacks and drinks for you to enjoy before the show begins again. Tip Five: No talking, please This should go without saying. Talking during a performance is always a no. Please save any and all conversation for after the show, when you will be able to discuss the show, characters, and your favorite musical numbers at length. Do you have any theater pet peeves? Let us know about them in the comments. If you would like to learn more about theater etiquette, you can look here or here . After seeing the show, relax with dinner at your favorite restaurant in Chandler, AZ! Thanks for reading!