Blog Posts

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!

Tips on Disconnecting

Social media has its benefits for everyone that uses it, but it can be a detriment and a time waster as well. During the summer, it can be hard to see others on tropical vacations while you’re at home in your Chandler, AZ apartment, and there may be times when it’s better to disconnect. In this week’s Liv Avenida Blog, we’ll share with you some simple tips on how to step away from your technology and appreciate the things around you! Make Your Bedroom a Technology-Free Space How many times have you decided that it’s time for bed and then ended up on scrolling mindlessly on your phone until you finally decide you have to get to sleep past midnight? Choosing to keep technology — and especially phones — out of your bedroom is a good way to ensure you actually sleep. Keeping your tech out of sight will help to keep it out of mind. The common argument for keeping technology close by (especially your phone) is being in reach in case of emergency. This is valid, but if you are expecting emergency phone calls, you can keep your phone charging away from where you sleep, preferably in a place where you have to get up out of bed to retrieve it. Read a Book Even though we often do plenty of reading on our smartphones and computers, we tend to shy away from picking up a book and reading these days. Make a goal to pick a book and read it cover to cover, whether it be a fantasy novel, thriller, or biography. When you do, put your phone in another room, turn the TV off, and go to a quiet spot so you aren’t distracted. Let yourself be free of distraction and really get invested in what you’re reading. Leave Your Phone Behind For people who are particularly attached to their devices, one good way to disconnect is to leave your phone at home when you go out. Whether you’re only leaving the house for a short period of time or you’re headed out with friends, leave your phone at home and focus on whatever you’re doing and whoever you’re with. Once you get over the initial withdrawal, you’ll find that without the distraction of your mobile device or the social crutch of ignoring everyone else for your screen, you can more fully enjoy the company of the people that are with you. Disconnecting can be difficult, but it’s also a healthy and refreshing thing to do. Do you have any tips on how to disconnect? Let our apartment community know what you do to disconnect from technology and connect with your friends and family in real life by leaving a comment below!

Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas

For those of you who haven’t found the right Father’s Day gift yet, we get it. Life gets busy, and it can be hard to find something your dad will actually use! This week on Liv Avenida Blog, we’re here to help you out with a few of our favorite last-minute ideas that any father is sure to love. Whether you’ll be with your dad this year here in Chandler, AZ or you just plan to send him something to show your love, check out these ideas today! Wallet Ninja Are you looking for something inexpensive that will be just as appreciated as anything else? The Wallet Ninja is a great option. This multitool fits easily in your wallet just like any credit card would, yet it can be used for eighteen unique purposes! The next time someone needs a screwdriver, bottle opener, ruler, can opener, or ruler, your dad will be able to both surprise and impress everyone by whipping his new Wallet Ninja right out of his pocket. Hydro Flask Does your father have an insulated water bottle yet? They are game changers! Hydro Flask makes the best bottle we’ve seen yet, guaranteed to keep liquids as cold as when you put them in for 24 hours or piping hot for 12. Choose between 20, 32, and 40-ounce bottles, depending on how serious of a water-drinker your dad is. The best part? These bottles have a lifetime warranty! Magic BBQ Rub If your dad can be found out on the patio grilling meat all summer long, then this spicy barbecue rub will surely hit the spot. He’ll be even more impressed to know you mixed it together by yourself. Head over to a local grocery store like WinCo that sells spices by weight, and get just enough of each spice for a double or triple batch. Pick out some sort of container to put it in, and your gift is ready! Buckshot Pro: 3-in-1 Outdoor Tech Gadget The Buckshot Pro is the perfect gift for dads who love both technology and the outdoors. It’s a Bluetooth speaker, a portable device charger, and a flashlight, all in one device! On top of that, it’s water resistant, so you won’t have to worry about it if it gets a little bit wet. This is also an ideal gift for any bikers out there because it comes with an accessory to mount this gadget on bicycle handlebars. Have you already picked out your gift? Help the rest of our apartment community get some ideas by sharing it in the comments below!

Celebrating National Best Friends Day

Liv Avenida Blog welcomes you to the month of June! In addition to summer vibes, this month also brings something you might want to celebrate this year: National Best Friends Day! This year, the designated day to commemorate the relationship you have with your dearest friend is Saturday, June 8th. To help you make this day special, we’re giving you four simple ideas you can try out to show your best friend how much you care about them. Whether they live here in Chandler, AZ or whether they’re halfway across the world, consider one of these ideas today! Plan a Surprise Outing A great way to show your best friend that you’re thinking of them is to plan a day filled with activities you and your best friend love doing. Let them know that they should plan on spending the day with you, but then tell them that the specific plans are a secret! Do you have a favorite place to eat when you’re together? A hike you’ve been on that you enjoyed? What about a bar or a nightclub where you two have a funny memory? Whatever you choose to do, fill your day with all of your favorite things to do as two friends. To go one step further, dress up like your best friend, and tell them to dress up like you! Make a Playlist Another idea for National Best Friends Day is to spend time creating a playlist just for you two. If you’ve spent enough time together, chances are, you have specific songs that remind you of one another. Preserve all these tunes by putting them on a playlist so you and your best friend can listen to it when you’d like to recall some of your favorite memories. If you need help filling up your playlist, check out this list of best friend songs . Send a letter Finally, a personalized letter will always make your best friend smile. This week, set aside some time to sit down and write a sincere and thoughtful letter to your friend. Draw doodles in the margins or throw in a funny picture of the two of you to make them laugh while they read it. Make sure to mail it in time to get there on or before June 8th! What do you plan to do for your friend on National Best Friends Day? Let our apartment community know in the comments below.

Last-Minute Memorial Day Ideas

Happy Memorial Day from Liv Avenida Blog! We hope you are enjoying the day off from school, work, or whatever other commitments you usually have on a typical Monday. If you don’t already have plans for the holiday today, we’re here to share with you four last-minute activities you can do to make today enjoyable. Try one of these out near your Chandler, AZ apartment sometime before the day is over: Visit a Cemetery Do you ever take a trip to a nearby cemetery on Memorial Day to place flags or flowers on the graves of loved ones? If not, consider making it a Memorial Day tradition; you can start this year! If you have any loved ones buried nearby, you can use it as a moment to honor their names by thinking of memories you have about them. If you don’t know anyone buried in a local cemetery, consider going with flowers anyway, and looking for graves that don’t yet have flowers on them. Try to identify a grave of a veteran that hasn’t had any visitors yet, and pay tribute to the service they did for our country by leaving a flower near their headstone. Pack a Picnic If you’re looking for a fun way to have lunch today, why not pack a picnic and take it somewhere pretty? You likely eat lunch inside every day, so take advantage of the day off and the warm weather by eating a simple meal you enjoy with people that you love. Make sure to pack some sunscreen, as it might get pretty hot outside. If you find some shade, you might even try taking an afternoon nap in the open air after you finish eating. Take a Day Trip If there is a small town outside of Chandler that you’ve been interested in visiting, or if there’s a nearby hike or outdoor sight that you have wanted to check off your list, Memorial Day might be the perfect day to do it! Benefit from the freedoms you have — both because today is a day off, and because of the rights you enjoy as an American — by going somewhere of your choosing on a day you have open. You don’t have to travel very far to have an adventure. Plus, sometimes the most enjoyable experiences are to be had in our own backyard. Get Ready for Summer Maybe you’d prefer to spend the day inside today to catch up on organization or cleaning. There are plenty of things you can do inside your apartment to make today worthwhile. Because summer is right around the corner, it’s time to get ready for it! Start by unpacking any summer clothes, beach towels, and pool toys that you may have stored away. To save space, you could use those same boxes to store any winter clothing or decorations that you still have out. If you’d rather take it easy, consider brainstorming a few ideas for a weekend trip you’d like to take later in the summer. Whatever you choose to do to welcome the next season, it will likely get you in the summer spirit. Thanks for reading our post, and have a happy Memorial Day!