Blog Posts

Summer Movie Marathon

Summer days in Phoenix, Arizona can get pretty hot. During the month of July, consider staying inside your Liv Ahwatukee apartment to watch a few movies with the AC on full blast. Today, we have four movie suggestions for you to enjoy. Take a journey through time and watch these timeless movies for a good time. Bringing Up Baby (1938) “All David (Cary Grant) wants is to secure a million dollar donation for his museum from a Mrs. Random and find the last bone needed to complete his Brontosaurus. He’s getting married tomorrow (to the sour Alice Swallow), and it is imperative that he get everything done before the big day. Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn) and her leopard, ‘Baby,’ interrupt his life and his plans in this screwball romance for the ages.” Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) “Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) wants to skip school one more time before graduation. He takes Chicago by storm with his girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara), and his best friend, Cameron (Alan Ruck), while his sister and the Dean of Students frantically try to bust him.” Roman Holiday (1953) “All Princess Anne (Audrey Hepburn) wants is a day of freedom from her royal responsibilities. While on a diplomatic tour in Rome, she escapes her country’s embassy for a day of fun with the opportunistic journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). This classic romance is sure to make you laugh and cry.” Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) “India Opal Buloni (AnnaSophia Robb) finds an energetic Berger Picard ‘Winn Dixie’ in her small town’s local grocery store. During one memorable summer, with the help of her faithful dog, Opal learns about love, loss, and friendship.” What movies are you watching for your next movie marathon? Let us know in the comments! We hope you have a great month at Liv Ahwatukee Apartments.

Summer Reading List

Summer is a season for reading! Here on the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog, we’re highlighting some great books that you should check out. Spend a quiet afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona and pick up a book perfect for summer. The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 12) by Jeff Kinney “Greg Heffley and his family are getting out of town. With the cold weather and the stress of the approaching holiday season, the Heffleys decide to escape to a tropical island resort for some much-needed rest and relaxation. A few days in paradise should do wonders for Greg and his frazzled family. “But the Heffleys soon discover that paradise isn't everything it's cracked up to be. Sun poisoning, stomach troubles, and venomous critters all threaten to ruin the family's vacation. Can their trip be saved, or will this island getaway end in disaster?” Oathbringer: Book Three of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson “The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Words of Radiance , from epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson at the top of his game. In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.” The Midnight Line: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child “#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child returns with a gripping new powerhouse thriller featuring Jack Reacher, ‘one of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes’ (The Washington Post). “Reacher takes a stroll through a small Wisconsin town and sees a class ring in a pawn shop window: West Point 2005. A tough year to graduate: Iraq, then Afghanistan. The ring is tiny, for a woman, and it has her initials engraved on the inside. Reacher wonders what unlucky circumstance made her give up something she earned over four hard years. He decides to find out. And find the woman. And return her ring. Why not?” Enjoy these books and have a great month here in Phoenix, AZ!

Create a Summer Calendar

Summer is here and we’re excited to make summer calendars with all of our Liv Ahwatukee residents. Start the season off right by making a calendar to help you stay on top of your busy schedule (work, adventures, and vacations included). We have a few DIY calendar ideas to help you get started. Follow one of these tutorials or be creative and make your own. We hope you enjoy the new season here in Phoenix, AZ. Washi Tape Calendar This washi tape calendar is a super easy DIY project from Modish and Main . All you need is washi tape, a marker, and sticky notes. At the beginning of each month just switch out the sticky notes and you’re good to go! This DIY calendar also won’t require any holes in your walls, which is great as a renter. Click on the link for detail and images. DIY Chalkboard Calendar The chalkboard look is very popular and a great addition to a rustic- or modern-style home. This project is from Sincerely Sara D . You’ll first need a chalkboard; she used an old mirror and painted it with chalkboard paint. You’ll then need the following materials: printed lettering (get free printables from the link above), a semi-permanent chalk pen, and regular chalk or chalk pens. DIY Desk Calendar This calendar is a great item to put on your desk or nightstand. This project comes from Home Made by Carmona . “I’m in love with this project—not only is it ridiculously easy, it also combines two of my favorite things: watercolors and ombré. C’mon, who doesn’t want a pretty little desk calendar in their office? And don’t worry—you don’t need to be an artist to pull off this project. If you can hold a paintbrush, you can paint ombré! You may need to practice a little beforehand (I definitely wasted about 5 gift tags before I figured it out), but once you get the hang of it it’s quite simple.” DIY Glass Calendar This glass calendar is so pretty and fun to add to your apartment. This idea comes from My Humble Abode . To make this you’ll need a picture frame, chart tape, spray paint, a dry-erase marker, alphabet stickers, a screwdriver, a ruler, and scissors.

Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen

Keeping your kitchen clean can be a difficult task, but here at Liv Ahwatukee Apartments, we want to help you out! We’re sharing a list of helpful tips and tricks to make this process easier. We hope you have a great and clean month here in Phoenix, Arizona. Cleaning the fridge. Cleaning out the fridge doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task. Apartment Therapy shares an article that gives tips on how to clean your fridge in less than 30 minutes . Removing hard water stains . Hard water stains can be a pain to get rid of. Click on the previous link to read some practical tips and ideas on how to get rid of hard water on faucets. “Start by mixing half water and half Vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture in your tub and shower [or on your faucets] and wait a few minutes before wiping clean.” Wiping down the range hood. The following tips will work for any greasy surface. Simply use a spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol. After you’ve sprayed your greasy surface with rubbing alcohol, simply wipe away the grease with a paper towel — no scrubbing required! The Creek Line House shares some pictures of the process. Use a soapy washcloth for any remaining grease. Cleaning the oven. These ideas from The Pioneer Woman show how to simply clean out your oven using baking soda, vinegar, and water. Click on the link for details on how to complete this process. Don’t overestimate granite. Granite is a great substance because it can take a lot. But as with most things, tender love and care are important for keeping your granite in tip-top shape to ensure long-term quality. Avoid these common pitfalls of interacting with granite : Don’t use harsh or abrasive cleaners or sponges, Windex, acidic cleaners (such as vinegar, lemon, lime, or anything with ammonia or bleach).

Filling Salad Recipes

Summer is finally here! Celebrate by making one of these tasty salad recipes that will fill you up. The next time you have guests in your Liv Ahwatukee apartment in Phoenix, AZ, indulge in one of these delicious recipes. BLT Balsamic Chicken Avocado & Feta Salad from Cafe Delites Salads don’t need to be boring or flavorless, and this dish is definitely not either of those! For this salad you’ll need bacon, mixed lettuce leaves, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, feta cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Marinate the chicken fillets in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, water, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, honey, and salt, and then cook it. Fruit Salad With Sweet Lime Dressing from Valerie’s Kitchen This recipe calls for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, green grapes, mangoes, and kiwi, so you’re sure to get a range of crisp and juicy textures and flavors. The sweet lime dressing uses lime juice, powdered sugar, and chopped fresh mint for garnish. Texas Style New Potato Salad from She Wears Many Hats This potato salad is so tasty and a great picnic or barbecue addition. Ingredients include red potatoes, red onion, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, oregano leaves, minced serrano chiles, chopped cooked bacon, fresh cilantro, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and coarse black pepper. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad from Spicy Southern Kitchen Pasta and salad join forces in this delicious side dish. Here is everything you will need to make it: diced chicken breast, mayonnaise, sour cream, pressed garlic cloves, lemon juice, cooked penne pasta, minced anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, sliced romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, green onions, shredded parmesan cheese, ground black pepper, and croutons. Cucumber Tomato Salad from Country Living This refreshing veggie salad is the perfect healthy side for your next picnic. To make it you will need red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, fresh cilantro, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, olive oil, and fresh cilantro.

3 Things for a Guaranteed Best Game Night

If you’ve always attended and have never hosted a game night, you’ll find out real fast how hard it can be. We don’t mean that hosting game night is as difficult as taking a math test or solving a world crisis. What we mean is that knowing where to begin can be challenging when it comes to hosting a great game night. Sit back and read along with residents of Liv Ahwatukee Apartments as we share some great tips for hosting a game night in your Phoenix, Arizona apartment. 1. Snacks Unless previously planned, don’t cook a huge dinner for game night. Keep it simple and provide snacks that can be quickly grabbed between turns. While chips are a popular choice, keep in mind that you may not want people handling greasy foods and touching game components. Keep hand sanitizer and napkins readily available or try other popular snacks, such as pretzels, crackers, M&Ms, and other treats, that won’t leave much residue on cards or game pieces. As for drinks, punch is always a classic. Check out some of these tasty punch recipes . 2. Games When planning a game night, it’s important to keep in mind the players. Unless you’re planning your evening around a group that all loves one type of game, it’s a good idea to have a variety that people can choose from. The last thing you want is to have a game that takes an hour to explain. Choosing board and card games like Tsuro and We Didn’t Playtest This At All are great not only because they’re simple to learn, but they work with a lot of players. It’s always a good idea to have games that work well for six or more players. 3. Seats and Table This really depends on the games you’ll be playing. Some games require a lot of standing, some are in an open area, and some are required to be played at a table. The most important thing is to make sure the seats are comfortable. Odds are people will be sitting quite a bit during the evening, so get something that you’d feel comfortable sitting on for a few hours. Keep plenty of pillows available, too! It’s also important to make sure that you have a big enough playing space. If you need a table, choose one that is big enough so that everyone can sit around comfortably — you won’t want to be sitting so close together that the person next to you can see everything in front of you, especially if you’re attempting to hide information during a game. We hope you have a fun and successful game night this month in your apartment. Let us know what games you’ll be playing by sharing a comment below. Thanks for reading!