Lifestyle Blog - Amanda's Avenue

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November 1, 2021

Utah in October – the season of fall foliage

Happy Halloween! Spooky season is currently upon us! As some of you may know, Evan, Comet, and I moved to Utah from California in June, as I was presented with a job opportunity at Utah Valley University advising first-year students. So far I have enjoyed what outdoor and event opportunities Utah has to offer. Of course, there is always some give and take with every place you move to, but I am just soaking in all there is to offer in this mountainous state. Life is too short, so why not liv[...]

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October 3, 2021

Homemade Tortilla Soup – A recipe for cooler weather

Happy October 2nd! Cooler fall weather is upon us! I also realize it's been a minute since I last posted. Essentially, I took a summer vacation off as I moved to Utah and got situated in a new apartment and job. But what better way to return to the blog, then to write a post on homemade tortilla soup? I found a recipe on tortilla soup on Pinterest years ago, and since then I have perfected the recipe based on what I thought tasted good. This soup is ideal for those mild fall and winter days[...]

Lifestyle Blog

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May 8, 2021

A peony for your picnic

A few weekends ago my boyfriend Evan and I celebrated our 28th birthdays (Evan's birthday is April 15th and mine is the 18th) with a picnic in the park. We drove up to the Santa Barbara Mission lawn early in the morning to set up and get the party started! This was probably the most elaborate picnic I've ever put together, and I owe a lot of this creativity to Pinterest. I went for a more boho look and I was happy with the end results. Hit me up for all your party planning events! That being sa[...]

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April 10, 2021

Comet the Corgi turns one!

A year older, a year bolder!Happy Barkday Comet! Hi All! It has been a minute since I last posted. Work has been keeping me busy and I just haven't found the motivation for extra screen time. Plus, I have been feeling lazy on my weekends off, as I'm sure many of you can relate to. So, I am a few weeks late on posting about Comet's first birthday party, but better late than never, am I right? Mr. Comet the Corgi turned ONE on Sunday, March 28, 2021. He is an Aries baby, just like hi[...]

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January 1, 2021

Out with the old and in with the new Year!

Is it really the last day of the year?? 2020 was a lot of things, and I think it is safe to say, I am among the millions, if not billions, who are looking forward to the 2021 New Year. I started working from home in March when the Covid-19 Pandemic became a national concern (at least for those who believe in science), and both myself and Evan lost a family member to the virus (which forced Evan and myself to make the responsible decision to stay home this holiday season). Not to mention, there[...]

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December 20, 2020

surviving the holidays 101

Holiday Hardships I don't think it comes as a shock that the holidays can be a joyous time full of love and laughter, but that it can also be a time where greater anxiety, depression, and trauma surfaces and/or re-surfaces. Some individuals may not have intact family relations. So when it comes time to paying the family a visit during the holidays, greater anxiety may result, which can have an impact on mental well-being. Of course, 2020 looks a lot different with quarantine/lockdown orders in[...]

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December 7, 2020

How-To holiday DYI Ornaments: Eight Ornament Designs

This holiday season I decided to craft my own Christmas ornaments. I've always felt the best gifts are those that come from the heart. Meaning, Christmas is not about the quantity of the gift, but rather the quality of it. Does the gift mean anything to you or them? Did you put thought, time, or effort into it? Will the gift bring a smile to the recipient's face? Is it something they will cherish and perhaps reuse in the coming years? The holidays have looked a bit different for me, and man[...]

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October 5, 2020

Happy Fall Y’all!

Can you believe it's already October, aka spooky season? I know I can't. Summer seemed to disappear in a blink of an eye, but I honestly don't mind. In fact, fall is my favorite season of all! I know this year looks a little different with a global pandemic and the chaos that's unfolded with 2020, but we can still celebrate what fall has to offer in a responsible/social distancing way, right? Right! Or at least we can make the most of it while we prepare for an election and hopefully receiv[...]

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August 30, 2020

Comet and me – Becoming a Dog mom

"Before you get a dog, you can't quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can't imagine living any other way." -Caroline Knapp May 23, 2020, I became a dog mom to a happy and healthy Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy (I totally sound like a new mom, huh?). Evan and I drove to Montecito, about 15 minutes from our apartment in Santa Barbara, and took Comet home. We paid roughly 2k, and while that may sound like a pretty steep price for a dog, it was totally worth it (tha[...]

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June 7, 2020

Pin It! Pinteresting my Perfect Future Home

Originally Published May 10, 2020 Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through Pinterest to save pins for your picture-perfect home? Well I have. And lately while quarantining in a stuffy small apartment, I have found myself thinking about how I would want to design and furnish my future residence. Feel free to follow along as I paint a picture and take you on a tour of my humble abode. Watch out, interior designer coming through! The Type of Home I would love to have a bright[...]