Blog Posts

Make Your Own Cereal

In today’s post, we’re inviting you to spend some time in your kitchen in Phoenix, Arizona. For many of us, a bowl of cereal is what gets us started each day. Instead of heading out to the grocery store and purchasing your favorite boxes of cereal, why not try to make your favorites in your Liv Ahwatukee apartment? This week, we’re highlighting recipes for a few classic bowls of cereal. Reese’s Puffs What could be a more exciting breakfast treat than your very own bowl of homemade Reese’s Puffs? Not much. While the recipe yields about two cups of cereal, the result is filling — even if you’ve been known to eat a lot of cereal each morning. Yes, this recipe should make enough for you. Lucky Charms This one can be quite the challenge for many, but if you’re up for diving in then go for it! This is a breakfast that you aren’t sure to forget anytime soon. While shaping the marshmallows to the shapes of your choice is a fun idea, it takes a lot of hard work to finish. The result, however, makes the hard work worthwhile. It’s a colorful accomplishment that anyone would be proud of attaining. Cheerios Making a cereal that has been people’s favorite for generations is actually quite remarkable, and each spoonful is delicious. While the process of making homemade Cheerios is tedious — rolling tiny balls, poking a hole through each of them — it’s very enjoyable and, dare we say, therapeutic? We think so. Yes, just like making any of these cereals, it might take quite a bit of time out of your morning before you’re finished, but the result is worth it. Homemade Cheerios are a bit larger and puffier than the ones you’ll find in the store, but the flavor and crunch in each bite are great. Cocoa Puffs Here’s another breakfast favorite. Included in the ingredients are flour, cocoa powder, salt, honey, and greek yogurt. They take about 15 minutes to bake and should be good for about a week. Heather, of Well Floured , said, “The puffs are very chocolatey and slightly sweet; if you like a sweeter cereal simply add a few tablespoons of sugar to the dough. I should have made a larger batch because these didn’t live to see morning.” If you like chocolate, you might want to make more than this recipe calls for. Apple Jacks From preparation until completion, this recipe takes about an hour to complete. Enjoy the flavorful combination of freeze-dried apples, cinnamon, and sugar. Corn Flakes Many recipes (not necessarily for breakfast) require corn flakes. Instead of going out to buy a whole box of cereal, of which you’ll only need to use a cup, why not make some? This recipe is a great reimagining of the classic breakfast cereal. We hope you enjoyed these recipes. Do you have a favorite breakfast cereal? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Top Places for Hot Chocolate in Phoenix

Even though it’s warm, it’s the perfect time of year for a sip of melted chocolate. Looking for the best places to find hot chocolate in Phoenix, Arizona? Hopefully, we can help. Our team at Liv Ahwatukee has compiled a list of the top places for hot cocoa. Don’t travel far to get a cup of something rich, smooth, and chocolatey. These places are located just 10 minutes or less from your Liv Ahwatukee apartment, so you’re never too far away from a delicious cup of winter’s favorite drink. Starbucks Located just 5 minutes away is this classic staple. While coffee and tea are the popular selections when it comes to Starbucks, there’s something special to be said about their signature hot chocolate . This European-style drink is topped with sweetened whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. Cracker Barrel Sometimes it’s the classic American breakfast that makes a cup of hot chocolate taste even better. Cracker Barrel provides a simple cup of winter’s favorite drink with America’s favorite foods. Located just 3 minutes away from your Liv Ahwatukee apartment, this is a great restaurant to stop in for a great drink and dining experience. Pomegranate Cafe While this vegan restaurant doesn’t have hot chocolate on the menu, it does offer a variety of flavorful juices as well as hot drinks. With handcrafted syrups, a Coconut Caramel Latte, 100% organic fruit juices, and more, there’s a lot to be excited about when entering the Pomegranate Cafe. Located just 6 minutes from Liv Ahwatukee, this tiny neighborhood spot is a great place to meet new friends while enjoying a refreshing drink. If you’d like to add your favorite place to buy hot chocolate, or if you have a few hot chocolate recipes you’d like to share, leave us a comment below. Thanks for taking the time to read our blog this month. We wish you a happy New Year!

2017 in Review Best Movies

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog, where we write posts for residents living in our Phoenix, AZ apartment community. With the recent release of the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie, we thought it’d be fun to take a look back and highlight a few movies that are definitely worth seeing. Check them out below! Dunkirk “Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German Army, and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.” Goodbye Christopher Robin “After leaving London for the English countryside, writer A.A. Milne starts to spin fanciful yarns about his son's growing collection of stuffed animals. These stories form the basis for Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner , published respectively in 1926 and 1928. Milne and his family soon become swept up in the instant success of the books, while the enchanting tales bring hope and comfort to the rest of postwar England.” The Lost City of Z “At the dawn of the 20th century, British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon, where he discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment, which views indigenous populations as savages, the determined Fawcett, supported by his devoted wife, son, and aide-de-camp, returns to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case.” War For the Planet of the Apes “In War for the Planet of the Apes , the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.” IT “Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, are about to face their worst nightmare -- an ancient, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on the town's children. Banding together over the course of one horrifying summer, the friends must overcome their own personal fears to battle the murderous, bloodthirsty clown known as Pennywise.” Wonder Woman “Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.” What movies did you love watching this year? Share in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

2017 in Review Best Books

2017 has been a great year! We’ve had a few awesome movies (check out the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie this week), brilliant new music, and great books — a few of which we’d like to focus on in today’s post. That’s right. We’re sharing a few of this year’s best books with residents living in our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, AZ. Check them out below. The Golden House: A Novel “Set against the strange and exuberant backdrop of current American culture and politics, The Golden House [marks] Salman Rushdie’s triumphant and exciting return to realism. The result is a modern epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinvention—a powerful, timely story told with the daring and panache that make Salman Rushdie a force of light in our dark new age.” Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter Series #3) “For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, ‘He's at Hogwarts . . . he's at Hogwarts.’” New People “Heartbreaking and darkly comic, New People is a bold and unfettered page-turner that challenges our every assumption about how we define one another, and ourselves.” Things That Happened Before the Earthquake: A Novel “Mere weeks after the 1992 riots that laid waste to Los Angeles, Eugenia, a typical Italian teenager, is rudely yanked from her privileged Roman milieu by her hippie-ish filmmaker parents and transplanted to the strange suburban world of the San Fernando Valley. With only the Virgin Mary to call on for guidance as her parents struggle to make it big, Hollywood fashion, she must navigate her huge new public high school, complete with Crips and Bloods and Persian gang members, and a car-based environment of 99-cent stores and obscure fast-food franchises and all-night raves. She forges friendships with Henry, who runs his mother's movie memorabilia store, and the bewitching Deva, who introduces her to the alternate cultural universe that is Topanga Canyon. And then the 1994 earthquake rocks the foundations not only of Eugenia's home but of the future she'd been imagining for herself.” Share your favorite books from this year in a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Great Gift Ideas

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog! As December rushes in, many people are rushing to the stores to buy gifts for family members, friends, and coworkers. If you didn’t make it out to the stores on Black Friday or are still trying to find that “perfect” gift, we might have a few ideas to help. We’ve compiled a few gift ideas that you can purchase without leaving your Phoenix, AZ apartment. Fishing Pole Campfire Roaster While for many people this gift would be better suited for summertime, it works perfectly well in Arizona. “We once toasted a marshmallow THIS BIG. Hook and roast your favorite campfire food with this fishing pole–inspired skewer. Made of powder-coated steel and finished with a maple handle, this flipping-fun roaster will occupy a prime spot in your camp tackle box. Find a comfy spot in front of the fire, then jig the pole to flip your snack so it's evenly roasted on all sides.” The Mug with a Hoop Dunk those marshmallows into a cup of steamy hot cocoa. “‘The world would be better if we could play with our food!’ That's the maxim of Max, the kid entrepreneur and sports fan who created this functional and fanciful basketball Mug With a Hoop™ at the tender age of 8 in his art class. Now you can slam dunk some oyster crackers in your soup or shoot a 3 pointer of mini marshmallows in your cocoa.” Yoga Joes Do you know anyone that loves to do yoga? These figurines would make a perfect stocking stuffer for them. “This troop's mission? To keep inner peace. Designer Dan Abramson looked to a favorite childhood toy to help inspire grown-ups to get into yoga. Armed with a general knowledge of the practice, this platoon of posing servicemen show off their secret weapon: major strength and flexibility.” Maki Socks You probably know someone who is obsessed with sushi. If so, these socks are the perfect gift! “Get ready to look good enough to eat. Wear your love for Japanese cuisine with these soft cotton socks. Packed and rolled to resemble the traditional maki treat, they'll stand out in your sock drawer. Unrolled, they reveal an artful, color-blocked pattern that'll stand out in your 9 a.m. meeting. Don't keep this sushi secret to yourself, though—they also make a perfect stocking stuffer.” Tricerataco Holder Of course, sometimes you need a dinosaur to hold your uneaten taco. “Known for its hard shell and spicy disposition, Triceratops roamed the earth millions of years ago. This taco-toting beast is back for a blast of mealtime fun. The durable, dishwasher-safe dino holds two hard shell tacos until you make them extinct.” What gift stands out to you? Share in the comments below. Happy holidays!

Digesting After Overeating

After eating Thanksgiving dinner, did you feel stuffed? This is common and often leads to discomfort for up to a few hours. While we can’t help with the aftermath of your Thanksgiving feast, we can teach you what to do in future situations. If you know you’ll be overeating on another occasion (maybe at Christmas or New Years?), then let us help! Also, if you have any friends living nearby our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, Arizona, share this information with them. The following tips come from PopSugar and LifeSpa : Before the Meal If you know you’re going to eat a huge meal, it’s a good idea to eat something before it. Of course, we don’t mean that you should eat a huge breakfast or lunch, but you should at least eat something light and balanced. Coming to a dinner while starving is an invitation for overeating, and you probably won’t be able to avoid it. Drink a tall glass of water 20 minutes before starting a meal. As LifeSpa says, “This will pre-hydrate your stomach wall, which is lined with an acid buffer that is 80% water. The more water, the better the buffer and the more acid your stomach will produce to enjoy more food. Studies show it helps reduce weight.” The Meal Digestion is the strongest during the afternoon, so avoid having a huge dinner late at night. When you eat, take your time. LifeSpa points out, “The more time you give yourself to chew and relax, the more your stomach will gracefully expand and allow you to comfortably continue to enjoy your Thanksgiving (or other) meal without over eating.” Also, avoid drinking cold or ice water with this meal. Drink before and after. If you must drink during, sip on a warm drink. After the Meal While it might sound tempting, lying down after a huge meal can be unhealthy; if done the wrong way, it can cause indigestion as well as acid reflux. If you need to lie down, there “is an old Ayurvedic strategy to lie on your left side for 10 to 15 minutes after a large meal. This is not an all afternoon siesta, but a short rest on the left side to allow the stomach to empty gracefully and effortlessly,” according to LifeSpa. Also, make a cup of herbal tea. Ginger, chamomile, and peppermint are all great options that help improve digestion. We hope these tips come in handy the next time you face a huge meal. Take advantage of these tips by applying them. Thanks for reading!