Blog Posts

Coolest Tech Gadgets

In today’s post, we’re focusing on cool tech gadgets! As we researched what to write, we came across a few unique tech gadgets that we think everyone living in our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community should check out. Keep reading to learn about which tech items you might want to purchase to upgrade your life with in Phoenix, Arizona. One of the coolest tech items that we found is a remote control color-changing light bulb . This light bulb contains 16 different color choices, a variety of settings, and is perfect for parties or finding that right ambience. If you’ve read or seen Harry Potter , you’ll be familiar with Wizard’s Chess, an enchanted version of Chess where the pieces move seemingly by themselves. Well, the Square Off Chess Set brings this fantastical game to a much closer reality than we’ve ever seen. “Square Off is all set to redefine the world of board games, starting with chess. Bringing to you the world’s smartest, most connected and the most evolved chess board. It enables you to play your favorite game against a fellow chess enthusiast from anywhere in the world. The automated board is designed to reflect the move of your opponent with precision. Not just that, you can challenge the artificial intelligence of the board too.” One of the most popular toys of 2017 is now also a practical tech item. There are many versions of fidget spinner phones all across the internet, and here’s an article by The Verge that sheds light on this unique phone with a 1.4-inch screen. According to ABC NEWS, your keyboard might be dirtier than a toilet . As we read about this disgusting and alarming news, we thought we’d find a solution to this ever-so-present problem (since, you know, many of us use keyboards on a daily basis). This glass keyboard by Bastron is for the clean freak, or anyone looking for a Sci-Fi aesthetic piece of tech that looks like it came straight out of a Star Wars movie. Plus, it’s waterproof and easy to clean. What’s your favorite tech gadget? Visit the blog next week to read about more impressive keyboards we think are worth the purchase. Thanks for reading!

Fun Ways to Say I Love You

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog! Last week, we shared a few songs for our residents who aren’t particularly fond of Valentine’s Day. Today, we’re reaching out to those who are excited to celebrate the most romantic day of the year. Whether you’re planning on celebrating in your apartment or around Phoenix, Arizona, here are a few fun ways to say “I love you.” Check them out below: — Surprise them with their favorite dessert. — Hide a bunch of “what I love about you” notes all over the apartment (some in plain sight and others not so much). — Put on their favorite movie or CD. — Clean their car. — Send a box of chocolates (or their favorite candy) to their work. — If they drink coffee, get their morning cup for them just the way they like it. — Plan a fun date. — Write “I love you” in pasta noodles or other food on their dinner or breakfast plate. — Make a scrapbook of your memories. — Spend a few hours together without checking your phone. — Surprise them with their favorite takeout. — Make them breakfast, lunch, or dinner. — Watch movies they love (even if you don’t enjoy watching them). — Make reservations at a special place. — Volunteer to help with a project they’ve been wanting to complete for a while now. — Take care of an errand or chore that they hate doing (laundry or dishes, anyone?) — Name a star after them. Then go stargazing and reveal what you’ve done. — Make a puzzle of the place that you met. — Write a detailed love letter. — Give them something that represents their favorite movie, television show, or book series. — Make a list of “Things I Love About You” and share it with them line by line throughout the day via text messages. Thanks for reading! We hope you have a fabulous Valentine’s Day.

Anti Valentine's Day Playlist

While Valentine’s Day is often a celebration of love and enjoyment for many people living in and around our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, Arizona, we understand that not everyone shares that enthusiasm and joy for this particular holiday. With that in mind, we thought it would be a great idea to reach out to those who aren’t fond of what is considered to be the most romantic day of the year. In keeping people in mind who are single or who have had a recent breakup, or generally do not like to think about the topic of love and romance, we’ve compiled a list of anti-Valentine’s Day-themed songs to create the perfect playlist. Instead of cuddling with some special individual while watching a romantic movie, enjoy listening to musical artists like Justin Timberlake, Kayne West, Carrie Underwood, TLC, Byoncé, Taylor Swift, and more. Check out some of our favorite picks below: “Love Stinks” by J. Geils Band “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake “Heartless” by Kayne West “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood “I Hate Everything About You” by Three Days Grace “My Heart is Broken” by Evanescence “So What” by P!nk “No Scrubs” by TLC “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift If you’re tired of all the romance and love that surrounds this yearly celebration, we hope that these 11 songs become apart of your anti-Valentine’s Day tradition. Shout out loud like P!nk and Three Days Grace, or perhaps write your own anti-Valentine’s Day song. Who knows? Perhaps your feelings toward this holiday should be shared with others through the sound of music. Share your favorite (and not so favorite) Valentine’s Day stories and any songs you’d add to our list in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Make Your Apartment Smell Great

Keeping your Liv Ahwatukee apartment clean is about more than just appearances. How your living space smells can make the difference between a comfortable place where you and visitors can relax and a place where no one wants to be. Whether it’s old food, dirty laundry, or something else, getting rid of the source of the stench is only part of the battle. Back in April, we wrote about finding that perfect home scent. Seeing that it’s a new year, we thought it’d be a great idea to not only revisit this topic but to piggyback off of last week’s post about following a cleaning schedule. Read below for a few simple low-cost ways to make your apartment in Phoenix, Arizona smell great! Simmer or bake something. Simmering water that’s mixed with a few slices of oranges and lemons, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves is a recipe for a great scent. Check out these 5 Simmer Pot Recipes that are bound to be some of your favorites! Baking something like bread, brownies, or cookies is also a great way to fill your apartment with a delicious scent. Light a candle. Lighting a candle is probably the first thing that comes to mind when people want to “freshen up” their apartment with a good clean scent. Candles come in a variety of yummy scents and can be surprisingly affordable. While they’re generally pretty small in size, candles pack a powerful aroma. One candle can fill a room and even more with its flavorful scent. But candles are for more than just a good scent. The flicker of light from a candle can create a wonderful ambiance to any room. Make your own reed diffuser. These are fairly simple to make since you probably have almost everything lying around your apartment. All you need is a glass or ceramic container with a narrow opening (do you have a vase that you’re not using?), essential oils, mineral oil, and reeds or bamboo skewers. For complete instructions, take a look at apartment therapy’s article titled How to Make Homemade Reed Diffusers . Reed diffusers are a popular trend in apartment fragrancing. After the reeds or bamboo skewers are placed in the container, the scent of the oil inside disperses naturally into the air. These “flame-free candles” are quite effective and look great. We hope you found these suggestions helpful. What’s your favorite way to keep your apartment here in Phoenix, Arizona smelling great? Thanks for reading!

Follow a Cleaning Schedule

This week, we’re focusing on helping you keep your apartment in Phoenix, Arizona clean. We’ve put together a cleaning schedule of tasks to do daily, weekly, monthly, and periodically. If you tend to put cleaning off to the side, then a cleaning schedule is what can make all the difference. Of course, this guide is brief, and ultimately it’s up to you to determine what needs to be cleaned and how frequently it needs to be done. We hope, however, that this helps you keep things under control and that your apartment at Liv Ahwatukee is kept just the way that you want it. Daily Cleaning — Make bed — Do dishes — Do laundry, as needed (or simply sort and treat stains and odors) — Sweep kitchen floor — Sanitize and wipe down sinks and surfaces Weekly Cleaning — Mop floors — Vacuum carpet — Scrub bathroom and kitchen surfaces and appliances — Clean mirrors — Dust — Wash bedding Monthly Cleaning — Dust blinds — Clean light fixtures — Clean large appliances (dishwasher, washing machines, etc.) — Wash vents Periodic Cleaning — Garbage disposal: These can be cleaned by putting ice (frozen water, frozen lemon juice, or frozen vinegar) down the disposal. This will help get rid of bacteria under the plastic ring. — Exterior kitchen cabinets: These can be cleaned using Dawn dish soap to remove greasy stains. — Curtains and furniture: Use your vacuum to clean off dust and dirt from these fabrics. — Light switches, doorknobs, and baseboards: These areas can get dirty and dusty. Use a wet washcloth or a dryer sheet to clean and sanitize them. — Window screens: Take out the screens and wash in warm soapy water. You’ll be surprised at the difference it will make. Cleaning your apartment is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, cleaning that is postponed can start to affect more than just the ambiance of the place — it can affect your schedule heavily. Stay on top of the cleaning by following a cleaning schedule. Doing so will make sure that things never pile up too much. What cleaning habits work for you? Let everyone know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

World War II Movies

Last month, we shared what we thought were the best movies of 2017. Among those was Dunkirk . Back in July, Award-winning director, Christopher Nolan, released this masterful film which was based on historical events that occurred during WWII. With big name actors including Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Kenneth Branagh, Dunkirk impressed audiences all across the globe. As we’ve reflected on this emotional movie, we wondered what other emotional movies we love that take place during World War II. By no surprise, there were quite a few that stood out. Take some time this month to watch a few (if not all) of these touching movies that are too good and too important to pass up. Whether you’re watching them in or out of your Liv Ahwatukee apartment in Phoenix, Arizona, don’t forget the tissues. Life is Beautiful “When an open-minded Jewish librarian and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.” Schindler’s List “In German-occupied Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazi Germans.” Saving Private Ryan “Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.” The Great Escape “Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.” Unbroken “After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he’s caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.” The Boy in Striped Pajamas “Set during WWII, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.” Have you watched Dunkirk yet? Share your favorite WWII movies in the comments below to let everyone know. Thanks for reading.