Blog Posts

Books to Read for National Humor Month

The month of April marks National Humor Month, and this year on Liv Avenida Blog we’d like to help you celebrate! While there are plenty of hilarious comedies to watch or stand up sketches to enjoy on YouTube, we’d like to focus on a few entertaining books. This month, we invite you to pick up a humorous book when you have a minute to relax in your Chandler, AZ apartment. Consider reading one of the following: Calypso by David Sedaris Known for his hilarious collections of stories and essays, David Sedaris has once again hit the mark with his latest book Calypso. This time, Sedaris has created an articulate description of middle age and growing old in a way that’s personal, painfully universal, and still absolutely hilarious. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh Allie Brosh, known for her famous blog Hyperbole and a Half, has become a #1 New York Times Bestseller with her first ever print release. An even mix of new content and popular blog posts, this full-color mix of text blurbs and goofy cartoon drawings will have you saying, “I can relate to that!” while laughing your head off all along the way. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams If you’re interested in the intersection between science fiction and fantasy, then this bestselling book is perfect for you. Read this description from Amazon: “Seconds before Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. “Together, this dynamic pair began a journey through space aided by a galaxy of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian (formerly Tricia McMillan), Zaphod’s girlfriend, whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he’s bought over the years. “Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? For all the answers, stick your thumb to the stars!” Have a happy National Humor Month!

Movies to See in the Next Few Months

Are you ready for quarter two of 2019? This week on Liv Avenida Blog, we’re here to get you excited to dive into this next chapter of the year by reminding you of some of the most anticipated cinema coming out between the months of April and June. Whether you are looking forward to the next quarter or not, take a few minutes today to get excited to see some entertaining movies near your Chandler, AZ apartment. Shazam! “Two years after the events of Justice League, Billy Batson, a troubled 14-year-old orphan living in Philadelphia, is set up to move into a new foster home – his seventh in a row – with the Vazquez family and their other five foster kids. One day, Billy gets on a subway car and finds himself transported to a different realm where an ancient wizard gives him the power to transform into a godlike adult superhero by uttering the word ‘Shazam!’ Billy and his new foster brother Freddy Freeman must learn what Billy’s new powers are and how to use them in order to stop the villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana from wielding powers of his own.” Rocketman “The film tells the story of Elton John’s life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music, through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin, as well as his struggles with depression, substance abuse, and acceptance of his sexual orientation.” Men in Black International “The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.” Toy Story 4 “Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his owner, whether that is Andy or Bonnie. So when Bonnie's beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), declares himself as "trash" and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family's road trip excursion, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost girlfriend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts). After years of being on her own, Bo's adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they are worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that is the least of their worries.” We hope your second quarter is filled with plenty of accomplishments and, of course, good cinematic experiences!

Five Delicious Freezer Meal Recipes

Last week on Liv Avenida Blog, we brought you a few simple tips to make meal prepping quick and easy in your Chandler, AZ apartment. As a follow up to that post and in honor of National Frozen Food Month, we thought we’d share with you a few of our favorite freezer meals this week. Try these recipes out sometime in the next few weeks; we think you’ll love them! 1. Homemade Frozen Pizzas from The Kitchn Forget about store-bought frozen pizzas! Make your own for a fraction of the cost and then pop them in the oven for an easy meal on a busy night! This recipe makes one large or two smaller individual pizzas. 2. Bacon Turkey Burgers from Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish Use this recipe to make turkey burgers ahead of time. Freeze them for a great tasting and quick meal that you can reheat when you don’t have time to cook a full meal. 3. 25-Minute Comforting Veggie Soup from Kitchen Treaty Not all soups do well after being frozen and reheated, but this recipe passes the test! This all-veggie soup tastes amazing and is also great for you. Prepare it on a slow day and then reheat when you’re ready over the stovetop until warm throughout. 4. Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos from Kim’s Cravings Freezer meals aren’t just for dinner! They’re perfect for breakfast, too. You don’t always have time to whip up a healthy sit-down breakfast, so these sweet potato breakfast burritos are a great alternative. Assemble them ahead of time, wrap them up, and freeze them. Reheat quickly in the microwave for a taste and healthy on-the-go breakfast that will leave you feeling full longer than those empty carbs in sugary cereals. 5. Three Cheese Zucchini Stuffed Lasagna Rolls from Skinnytaste Ever had completely vegetarian lasagna? We highly recommend giving this recipe a try. Don’t want to try it right away? Freeze it and save it for later! What are your favorite make-ahead freezer meals? Share them with us in the comments so we can try them, too. Thanks for reading. Enjoy some great food this month — even with your busy schedule — by meal prepping!

Meal Prepping Tips

Take the stress out of making dinner by preparing all your meals for the week in advance! This practice will help you stay on top of your busy schedule and save you time when you don’t have enough time to cook a full-blown meal. Read on for some meal prepping tips from Liv Avenida Blog that just might make your life feel a little less hectic. Make a Plan The most important part of meal prepping is planning. Find recipes, get all the ingredients, and set a menu for what you will eat for dinner each night. It can be a lot of work, so plan a day when you can take time to prep everything for the upcoming week. Pick a day like Saturday or Sunday when your schedule is less busy and you can find time to get everything put together. Stick to Your List When you go out grocery shopping in Chandler, AZ, make sure you stick to your list and only get the items you absolutely need. This is easier to do if you avoid going grocery shopping when you are hungry. If you are hungry, it is often easier to impulse buy things that look good that you don’t actually need. Invest in Food Storage Containers If you are serious about meal prepping and you plan on sticking with it, then it might be a good idea to invest in food storage containers. Pick containers that close well, that are durable, and that will be easy to clean. Good quality storage containers will help keep your food fresh for longer. Clean and use them together so pieces don’t get lost or mismatched. Freeze, Reheat, and Enjoy! One of the greatest things about meal prepping is how quickly it makes putting a meal together when you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. All the food is already cooked, so all that you need to do is defrost and reheat it and you have a complete meal! Be aware that some foods are better for this than others that dry out easily. Stay mindful of expiration dates, as well. What is your favorite thing about meal prepping? Let us know in the comments. If you haven’t given meal prepping a shot, try it out this month in your apartment to see what you are missing!

Tips for Unplugging

The first Friday of every March is the National Day of Unplugging . While this day has technically already passed, we here at Liv Avenida Blog think it’s always a good idea to evaluate your media use. Try these simple suggestions to unplug from electronics when it’s right for you. It may not be the easiest task in the world, but it’s a good idea to do it to be more present in or out of your Chandler, AZ apartment. Start the Day with Intention How often do you scroll through your phone upon waking up? This month, make your first action of the day something intentional that will benefit you personally. Rather than immediately checking your inbox, turn your alarm off and meditate. Or go on a quick walk around the block instead. Whether you have enough time to complete an entire workout routine or you only have a few simple minutes to breathe or wash your face, start your day with something that makes you feel good. Go Outside It’s no surprise that in the age of endless streaming options and constant digital distractions, it takes more deliberateness to spend time outside. Make a conscious decision to spend time outside of your apartment rather than sitting in front of a screen. Go on a specific outdoor adventure — like a hike or camping trip — or just take a walk around your neighborhood. Ground yourself in your surroundings. Get outside your apartment and into the fresh air. Bring Along a Book If you’re anything like us, we suspect that any time you take public transport or wait in line, you rely on your social media feeds to pass the time. Since doing this actively destroys your ability to focus, so why not bring a book along with you wherever you go to pull out and read? These moments may seem short and insignificant, but you’ll be surprised how much reading you can accomplish if you seize each moment as they come. Unplug Around Others Last but not least, we invite you to create an experience where both you and your friends spend some time together, collectively unplugged. Without notifications, memes, and Instagram stories, you’ll be able to connect with the people you care about in a deeper and more meaningful way. This doesn’t mean you always have to put your screens away around others, but it will likely be a good experiment that will help you reevaluate how you use electronics amid company. Thanks for reading our post today! We hope you have some beautiful moments away from your phone this month here in Chandler, AZ.

Comparing Online Mattress Brands

Have you recently been bombarded with ads for mattress brands selling their beds online? One company may sponsor your favorite podcast while its competitor shows up on your social media feeds. Since in theory, you spend about one-third of your time in bed, it makes sense to invest in a high-quality mattress. The question is, which one should choose? This week’s Liv Avenida Blog post is dedicated to helping you find the mattress that’s right for you without even having to leave your house. Purple The Purple mattress is by far the most innovative option when it comes to materials used to help you have a comfortable night’s sleep. Purple is known for its top layer, which is made of purple elastic material; they claim it helps you stay cool without compensating the support you need and the pressure relief you deserve. The layers underneath are made of foam; the mattress seems to be slightly firmer than its competitors while remaining comfortable enough to sleep on. Casper When it comes to current popularity, the Casper mattress takes the cake. Their standard option has four layers of foam that vary in firmness in order to offer the optimal level of support and comfort. While the price of this mattress is average in comparison, Casper offers an essential model with one less layer of foam for an even better price. If you’re looking for a mattress that is well loved by many, Casper may just be your best bet! Tuft and Needle Tuft and Needle has two major selling points, in our opinion: It is the lowest price of the online mattress companies, yet it still has the most reviews on Amazon! While their standard mattress only has two layers of foam, they claim that their layers are higher quality than their competitors. As you can read on their website, “If the foam doesn’t improve the feel or airflow, you won’t find it in our mattress.” Helix Are you looking for an option that is a bit less “one size fits all?” If so, then Helix has something for you! The company sells nine different mattresses according to what you need, and six of those options come in an upgraded luxe version, as well. Before you scroll through each option, take the simple sleep quiz they offer to find which one is best for you in terms of your sleep position, your preferred comfort level, and your preferred amount of support. Now that you know what sets each company apart, it’s time to make your decision! Nervous about ordering a mattress before trying it out? Don’t worry! Each of these companies has a 100-night sleep trial with free returns, no questions asked. On top of that, each company — with the exception of Tuft and Needle — offers financing options so you don’t have to break the bank to get the quality of sleep you deserve. Here’s to a better night’s rest every night in your Chandler, AZ apartment!