Blog Posts

It's National Game Puzzle Week

Did you know that this week is National Game and Puzzle Week ? We have a few board games that we’d like to share with you! Whether you play on Thanksgiving Day or you wait until the weekend, these games are great for every occasion. If you don’t have enough players, invite a neighbor at our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, Arizona to join in on the fun! We know that Halloween just passed, but Broom Service is really fun! Each player assumes the role of a which delivering potions. Along the way, obstacles will arise and the tension will grow. Enjoy this card-based game that combines luck with skill, promotes bluffing, and challenges your better judgment. Do you have what it takes to deliver potions to the four corners of the map? Another game that we love is Takenoko . Just like we all get to feast this week, so does the panda in this tile-laying board game. “In Takenoko , the players will cultivate land plots, irrigate them, and grow one of the three species of bamboo (Green, Yellow, and Pink) with the help of the Imperial gardener to maintain this bamboo garden. They will have to bear with the immoderate hunger of this sacred animal for the juicy and tender bamboo. The player who manages his land plots best, growing the most bamboo while feeding the delicate appetite of the panda, will win the game.” Being one of the highest earning games ever launched on Kickstarter, Exploding Kittens is a hilarious version of Russian Roulette. Take turns drawing cards, but be careful! If you draw an exploding kitten, you lose! If you like racing games and Pirate-themed movies, then Jamaica is for you! Join the world’s most infamous pirates as they race around the island of Jamaica, collecting treasures and starting battles along the way. Who will be first to round the island and make it back to Port Royal? Who will go after the cursed treasure? Who will attack enemy ships and steal their loot? What are your favorite board games? Share the titles in the comments below. Thanks for reading. Happy celebrating!

Thanksgiving Dinner Hacks

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, we thought it’d be beneficial to share a few hacks to help with Thanksgiving dinner. We invite all the residents of our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community to read and apply these game-changing strategies for the Thanksgiving dinner menu. If you have guests from Phoenix, AZ joining you, they’ll never forget these timeless yet simple cooking hacks. Our first hack is about mashed potatoes. Want to make your mashed potatoes extra fluffy? Add a pinch of baking powder. While mashing, add the baking powder and that’s all! The powder works with the heat and actually forms air pockets, helping make the potatoes extra fluffy. Thanks to Lifehacker , now we know! Having a dishwasher in your apartment is a priceless amenity that can actually help you with your Thanksgiving dinner preparations. In this list from Huffington Post , potatoes are listed as the #1 surprising thing you can put in the dishwasher. Don’t use detergent, of course. When they’re finished washing, peeling will be incredibly simple. Did you know that chicken broth can save an overcooked turkey ? “After you slice the meat off the bird, place it in a shallow baking dish, cover it with chicken or turkey stock, then put it in a 250-degree oven for about 10 minutes. While this won't totally eliminate the dryness, it will add more moisture to the meat, and most importantly, it will prevent it from drying out even more.” If you want to keep your gravy warm but don’t have a gravy warmer, use an insulated coffee carafe . This will result in fewer spills and (as expected) warm gravy. You can find an assortment of coffee carafes on Amazon.com . What are your favorite cooking hacks to help with Thanksgiving dinner preparation? Leave a comment below with your ideas so that we can all apply them. Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Favorite Thanksgiving TV Episodes

November is filled with things that we love: an incredible meal, friends, and television. We thought it’d be fun to share a few of our favorite Thanksgiving TV episodes with residents of our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, Arizona. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving episode? Scroll down to see if it made it in the comments. Gilmore Girls Episode: “ A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving ” Premiere Date: November 26, 2002 Rory and Lorelai have to endure four Thanksgiving dinners, one of which involves turkey and gallons of peanut oil. If you’re thinking about deep-frying a turkey this year, watch this episode to gain some inspiration as well as a few laughs. Cheers Episode: “ Thanksgiving Orphans ” Premiere Date: November 27, 1986 Synopsis : Thanksgiving is approaching and no one has anything to do except Diane, who is among a select few graduate students one of her professors has asked to spend Thanksgiving with his family, celebrating in the pilgrim’s tradition. Diane suggests that the rest of the gang spend Thanksgiving together in Carla's new home. Carla agrees to a potluck dinner, with Norm in charge of the humongous turkey. WKRP in Cincinnati Episode: “ Turkeys Away ” Premiere Date: October 30, 1978 Mr. Carlson decides to launch his own Thanksgiving promotion which turns into a hilarious catastrophe. Friends Episode: “ The One With All The Thanksgivings ” Premiere Date: November 19, 1998 The gang remembers and shares their worst Thanksgiving stories. Oh yeah, and Monica puts a turkey on her head. How I Met Your Mother Episode: “ Slapsgiving ” Premiere Date: November 19, 2007 Synopsis : Marshall warns Barney that the third slap in their “slap bet” will be coming on Thanksgiving night. Meanwhile, Ted and Robin sleep together on the night before Thanksgiving. Seinfeld Episode: “ The Mom and Pop Store ” Premiere Date: November 17, 1994 Synopsis : George buys a convertible he thinks was once owned by Jon Voight. Kramer tries to save a small shoe-repair business. Elaine answers a radio quiz, enabling Mr. Pitt to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Meanwhile, Jerry tries to solve the mystery of whether or not he's invited to Tim Whatley's annual Pre-Thanksgiving party. Didn’t see your favorite Thanksgiving TV episode on our list? Share the title of the show and episode in the comments so that we can enjoy it with you. Thanks for reading. Happy Thanksgiving!

Three Incredible Science Experiments

Science experiments are fun ways to introduce scientific concepts to people of all ages. The Liv Ahwatukee Blog is featuring three safe DIY experiments that you can conduct in your apartment. Invite a few of your friends in Phoenix, Arizona over to watch glass turn invisible, water freeze instantly, and “magic mud” come from a potato. With just how magical these experiments appear to be, there’s no better time of year than now to try them out for yourself. Our first experiment comes from Head Squeeze . For this experiment, you’ll need a large glass bowl, a small glass bowl (at least small enough to fit inside of the large bowl), and vegetable or baby oil. Simply, fill the large bowl with oil. Then, hold the smaller bowl so that it is inside of the larger one, without filling it up with oil. From first glance, you’ll be able to see the smaller bowl through the side of the larger one. Then, placing the smaller bowl inside the larger one, completely filling it up with any extra oil that you might have, you’ll see the smaller bowl turn “invisible.” This is a really neat science experiment with the potential to make jaws drop. Check out the video from the link above to see the experiment in action, along with an explanation of how this works. You’ve probably seen videos online of water bottle freezing instantly. Check out what we’re talking about by watching this science experiment by Grant Thompson . “When purified water is cooled to just below freezing point, a quick nudge is all it takes for the water to instantly freeze.” This is a great experiment that can take some time to prepare, so be ready by placing bottles of purified water into your freezer about two hours before your friends come over. You can even surprise them by handing them a bottle, only to make it turn to ice before their eyes. Our third science experiment is also from Grant Thompson. Check out this video about turning your regular potatoes into a goop that he calls “magic mud.” All you need is a potato, something to chop it up with, and a few containers. As you’ll see in the video, the result is next to mind-blowing. We hope you enjoy experimenting in your apartment with these safe DIY science experiments. Let us know which one is your favorite by sharing in the comments. Thanks for reading today’s post!

Dessert for Breakfast

Thanks to Halloween, life is sweeter in Phoenix, Arizona. To celebrate this wonderful and exciting holiday, we’re inviting you to make your breakfast a little sweeter. The Liv Ahwatukee Blog is featuring a few decadent dessert-for-breakfast recipes you can enjoy in your apartment this month. Dip your tongue into the rich filling of cannoli stuffed French toast, breathe in the amazing aroma of cream cheese muffins, and sink your teeth into a sweet snickerdoodle doughnut. Whatever your venture is this month for breakfast, enjoy it with one of these five recipes. Brownie Batter Breakfast Bake Have you ever had brownies for breakfast? Tomorrow morning could be the perfect opportunity for you to dig into this tasty recipe. Loaded with fiber, plant-based protein, and chocolate flavor, you’re sure to love a bowl of this 20-minute breakfast treat. Baked Snickerdoodle Donuts As the title of this recipe states, these donuts are baked instead of fried. With only 8 minutes in the oven for miniature sized donuts, and 11 minutes for large ones, this is a quick cinnamon and sugar treat worth making in your kitchen. Chocolate Crepes with Peanut Butter Marshmallow Filling The main highlight of this recipe is the caramelized bananas used to top what is already an ultimate breakfast treat. While crepes are already a great go-to breakfast favorite, the addition of the ingredients here makes this a decadent dive into something anyone would be happy to have come dessert time. Cannoli Stuffed French Toast Creamy ricotta filling, two slices of French bread, chocolate chips, powdered sugar… Should we keep going? Raspberry-Cream Cheese Muffins Each bite of these delicious little treats will have anyone wishing for more. Taking only 25 minutes to make, these raspberry-cream cheese muffins are an easy go-to breakfast that’s sure to be a great start to anyone’s day. If raspberry isn’t to your tastes, switch them out with your favorite fruits! We hope you enjoy sweetening up your breakfast this month with some of these tasty recipes. What’s your favorite sweet breakfast treat to make in your apartment in Phoenix, Arizona? Let everyone know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Get Crafty this October

With the holidays just around the corner, the Liv Ahwatukee Blog invites you to get crafty and make some memories with these DIY photo projects! Enjoy some of these awesome DIY activities in the comfort of your apartment here in Phoenix, AZ. What are you waiting for? Grab some of your old favorites from a picture album or use ones that you’ve taken recently, and then get crafting! Personalized Photo Map This one is sure to grab people’s attention when they see it! All you need is a large map, a foam board, pins, and photos. Enjoy cutting the pictures to match the shapes of the states that you visit. Have a photo that you love from an out-of-state trip to California or Utah? Cut and pin it to your map! It’s simple and it looks great! Lego Picture Puzzles These are great for any age. Plus they’re a blast to make, and they’re fun to build once finished. Candle Other than an embossing heat tool, this craft is pretty simple. Put pictures on your candles for a quick project with a great result. While these are perfect for your living room or bedroom, they also make great wedding or birthday gifts. That’s definitely something to think about with something that looks this good! 5-minute Coasters Invite guests to set their drinks on different pictures. These are great for gifts. They’re pretty unique, too. There are endless possibilities for ways you can personalize them. They’re also very simple to make. Photo Collage Letters “Spell out your memories” with this awesome craft! All you’ll need is Mod Podge, a paintbrush, your choice of wooden letters, scissors, and photos. The result of overlapping pictures looks great. You can spell out a name and choose pictures specifically of that person, which makes this project even cooler! Calendar This flip calendar is a fun alternative to what you might have hanging on your wall. Each year you can either keep the same photos or change them out to stay updated — it’s up to you! We hope you have fun in your apartment with crafts this month. Check back for a follow-up article with new activities for you to try. Thanks for reading!