Blog Posts

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.

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!