Blog Posts

Tips for Making Friends

Anytime is a good time to make friends, but it can seem difficult to know where to start. Now is a relevant time, though, to prepare for making friends. A new school year is approaching, Friendship Day is on August 6th, and Friendship Week is the third week of the month. Today the Liv Avenida Blog has some basic important tips to remember as you go about trying to make new friends, in or outside of our apartment community in Chandler, AZ. Respect others. This is important whether or not you’re actively trying to make friends, every day of the year! Remember that while you’re trying to connect with someone, the other person may or may not actually want to reciprocate — and that’s okay! Respect others’ choices and personal space. Be respectful in how you speak to others. That’s simply the right thing to do, but you’ll also find that people will be more open to being your friend and reaching out if they feel they can trust you. Make it natural. Make an effort to reach out to someone you think could be a good friend, but don’t force it. Start with simple, pleasant conversations and try to find something you can bond over. Be yourself and let others be themselves. If it doesn’t click immediately, that’s ok. You can still be a friendly acquaintance. If you do feel like you want to spend more time with someone, invite them to do something or go somewhere with you, or find a way to do something nice for them. Be open and honest about your intentions so they can know what to expect. Use your resources. Liv Avenida is a great option for a comfortable, convenient apartment living. We also provide a few options for socializing. Our resident amenities and social events can give you a chance to talk to someone you never would’ve before. Invite a neighbor to go with you if you want some company or just an opportunity to do something with them. Take the opportunity to interact with others at our community garden, jogging path, group exercise classes, or weekly social events. Connect with other pet owners at the bark park, too! We hope you have a good time using these and other resources to make the most of our community and the great environment we provide. What are your favorite ways to make friends? Share your wisdom with the rest of us in the comments so we can try them out.

Refreshing Summer Smoothies

Last week on Liv Avenida Blog, we shared with you some of our top suggestions for staying hydrated this summer. This week, we’re here to help you feel relaxed and refreshed by bringing you some smoothie recipes fit for the season! Consider making one of these delicious drinks in your Chandler, AZ apartment — either alone or with others! Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Shake This recipe is one of our favorite ways to pack in the nutrients and make a quick, easy, tasty meal you can take out the door. It pairs the classically delicious combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and banana to make a sweet but healthy shake. If you have a few overripe bananas you’re hesitant to throw away, this is a great way to make use of them and naturally bring out the sweetness. Healthy Pineapple Smoothie with Banana With only five ingredients, you can make a healthy and vegan smoothie recipe that anyone is sure to love. All you need is fresh cut pineapple fruit, bananas, carrots, orange juice, and water for a smoothie that looks like sunshine! The sweet and tangy flavors of orange, pineapple, and banana balance out the healthier carrot taste, so it’s a good way to sneak something healthy into your day. Raspberry Peach Smoothie This thick and creamy smoothie is a perfect addition to any picnic or summer barbeque. Another healthy way to fill you up and cool you down, this smoothie just requires frozen raspberries, fresh peaches, vanilla Greek yogurt, and vanilla almond milk. Metabolism-Boosting Blueberry Smoothie The blogger of this recipe says she likes to start her day off with this smoothie because she gets the nutritional benefits of the antioxidant blueberries, and there’s only one kitchen appliance to clean! Throw in the fact that it’s delicious and it’s a perfect breakfast. Invest in some protein powder for this shake and others you make in the future so you can get yourself ready for many days of clean eating. We hope you enjoy these smoothies! Let us know of any other great ones we should make by leaving a comment with the recipe.

Swimming Pool Safety

Last week on Liv Avenida Blog, we shared with you some of our favorite games to play in the pool. In today’s post, we’re featuring a few important swimming pool safety tips everyone should follow! Invite your friends and family to have an afternoon of fun while swimming, chatting, or relaxing on the sundeck just outside of your apartment here in Chandler, AZ Horsing around may be fun, but there are plenty of ways it can lead to getting hurt or bothering someone else, especially in a crowded pool. Remember that there are other people in the pool, so keep the splashing to a minimum if you’re close to someone, and practice having fun without getting into a stranger’s personal space. This not only is polite, but it can help you avoid accidents. Even if you’re an experienced swimmer, there’s never a better time than now to brush up on your knowledge of CPR and basic swimming first-aid procedures . Know the importance of wearing sunscreen , and make it a habit! If you have kids or will be looking after any kids who will be swimming with you, take the time now to teach them the basics of what you’re learning! Having this crucial knowledge will help you and the little ones conquer fears and approach the pool with confidence. Of course, there are also many small ways people can get hurt at the pool. Wet pavement can lead to slips, bruises, and scrapes — if not worse — so practice walking, and not running, with your kids. Teach them to stay away from suction outlets and drains to avoid getting hair or clothing caught in them. Always swim with a buddy, and know where those you’re swimming with are at all times. If you know the potential for danger, you and your children can easily avoid it. Accidents, however much we try to prevent them, sometimes do occur. Helping yourself and anyone else around you feel calm, even if an accident happens, is important because it will ease the stress and allow everyone to think clearly and react responsibly. Chaos can often make people prone to even more accidents, so let your preparation come in handy and help you stay empowered to be safe. This month, we hope you can be smart and avoid accidents at the swimming pool by making safe decisions. Let us know what you love most about swimming by sharing a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Summer Swimming Pool Games

Into the pool everyone! It’s time for some summer fun, and we’ve got some games to liven things up. Our guess is that everyone has participated in Mermaid Races, Dolphin Races, or any other names there might be for swimming underwater to see who can go the furthest, but have you tried any other games? We here at Liv Avenida Blog have some other game suggestions to keep your summer pool time exciting: Shark in the Pool How about a tag game? Shark in the Pool is a favorite. The shark is “it” and tries to tag the other players when they are in the water. When the shark does successfully tag another fish (swimmer) that fish becomes the shark. Another variation is to have the fish line up on one side of the pool with the shark out in the water. The goal for the fish is to reach the other side of the pool. The goal is for the shark to catch the fish. Once a fish has been tagged by the shark, that fish becomes a shark too, and then together they try to capture the other fish. Wash, rinse, repeat. Treasure Hunt You can never go wrong with a round of this game. Simply get a roll of quarters, or even dollar coins if you are feeling generous, and toss them in the pool a few at a time. Swimmers compete to get to the coins first, and the winners keep whatever treasure they get to first. Another variation of this game is to gather a collection of diving toys, each one with a corresponding prize. Prizes can be listed beforehand, or they can be a surprise. This is a fun pool party game. Marco Polo What kind of pool party would it be without a game of Marco Polo? The game is essentially Blind Man’s Bluff, played in the pool, with the person who is “it” closing their eyes and calling out “Marco,” to which the other players answer “Polo” while the blinded Marco tries to find them. For anyone who can’t remember the specifics of gameplay, take a second to glance over these Marco Polo rules . Thanks for reading this week’s post. May your summer afternoons at the pool be filled with fun here in Chandler, AZ! It’s time to get out of the apartment and enjoy the sun!

Ingredients for a Cool Summer Sleep

Welcome back to Liv Avenida Blog! In April we offered a few reminders for things in your apartment to remember to clean as you’re getting to spring cleaning, and we mentioned the importance of keeping your bedroom and bed clean for a good sleep. Today we have more tips related to enhancing your sleep quality as we transition to summer here in Chandler, AZ. New Sheets Not only is regular washing vital for your health, but changing them is also important to staying cool in those warmer summer nights. Switch out warmer sheets for cooler ones that help wick away sweat. Bustle has suggestions for the 10 best sheets to keep you cool all night . Look into them for suggestions! Choose lighter colored sheets if your bed is near a window so the rays of the sun don’t heat up your sheets unnecessarily. Yoga Yoga is a great combination of stretches and meditation that can help you relax your mind and body, letting you fall asleep more easily at night. Your body can get stiff and tired from working or being busy with tasks all day, so try this to unwind and relax. Find a yoga routine you like and practice it each night. You’ll see great results. Try out Yoga with Adriene for a great night time sequence . Solutions to Problems Sometimes what’s preventing you from a restful night is something that’s going under your radar, or something you’re used to dealing with that you don’t necessarily have to. 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 smartwatch to track your habits. What other tips do you have for improving the quality of your sleep in your apartment? Share your ideas and things that have worked for you by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading! We hope these ideas help.

Escaping the Heat

Summer is upon us, and the sun is out. The heat can fluctuate, but it’s generally going to be hot — and specifically here in Chandler, it’s often as hot as 105 at this time of year! This week on the Liv Avenida Blog, we’ll share with you some tips and ways to beat the Arizona heat. Hit the Pool What better way to cool off than by taking a dip in the pool? Spending a day near the water is a good way to stave off the heat. If it starts to get too unbearable outside, you can just jump into the refreshing water! Don’t forget to prepare for a day at the pool by packing sunscreen, towels, and an emergency first-aid kid (just in case). Go to the Movies Have you ever been to a movie theater in the summer? Not only is it a great way to spend an afternoon during the heat of the day, but it’s also typically well air conditioned! Rather than trying to brave the heat and do an activity outdoors, take some time to go to a film you haven’t yet seen. Grab Some Ice Cream If you need something to take your mind off the heat, head to a local Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone Creamery to snag yourself a delicious frozen treat! From shakes to cones, you can find something to enjoy that will hit the spot. Pick from dozens of flavors and combinations to create your perfect dessert! Getting ice cream is a great idea because it will cool you down from the inside. Just watch out for a brain freeze! Stay Inside Even though summer is usually a time to get out of your apartment and do things, there are still times when it’s just too hot to go outside. Turn up the air conditioning, throw on a movie, or invite some friends over and gather around the table for a board game. There are plenty of things that can be done while staying in; you could enjoy yourself, or you could take advantage of some extra time to be productive by doing some cleaning. Either way, if you’re sick of the heat, staying in can be beneficial. What are some ways you beat the heat? Let us know in the comments section below!