Blog Posts

How to Relax in Heavy Traffic

In the book SeinLanguage , Jerry Seinfeld shares a few hilarious thoughts on different experiences that we all have to go through in life. One of these is traffic. He makes the argument that instead of sentencing someone to go to traffic school when they’ve received a speeding or other ticket, they should actually be sentenced to a certain number of hours in traffic. Each time you get in the car, four people would be assigned to drive on all sides of you at five miles an hour. Wouldn’t that be awful? Yes. Would it work to help people slow down and abide by driving laws? Probably. That’s because driving in traffic can be one of the most stressful experiences that we have to deal with. The Liv Ahwatukee Blog is sharing a few tips to stay relaxed no matter the driving situation. We understand the frustration of leaving your apartment and getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, especially when you’re trying to get somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona. No matter what you do, sometimes it is impossible to avoid traffic, especially with the holidays coming up. So why not prepare yourself for the worst so that you can actually try to enjoy it? The first tip we have for you is to make sure you have a good stereo. Good sound with music that you love, satellite radio, audio books, and even podcasts, are essential for a relaxing time during a traffic jam. Yes, you might have comfortable seats, but if you don’t have good music then those seats might get uncomfortable fast. Today, many cars are able to sync with mobile devices, so why not set up a “traffic jam” playlist for those unfortunate moments? Of course, if you can do your best to avoid the traffic situation, then that is the best option. Depending on your work, adjusting your schedule is possible to avoid the extremely busy times on the road. Keeping a positive mental attitude is a step in the right direction for dealing with traffic jams. Banging on your steering wheel, using obscene gestures, shouting curse words, and making silly faces is not a very effective way of dealing with traffic—it might make you feel better to vent, but in all honestly you won’t get to your destination any faster because of it. Remember: this hour in traffic will eventually pass. Make a plan to distract yourself with something, instead of throwing a fit. Mentally planning to avoid those feelings of anger during your next traffic jam might be hard to do, so prepare some thoughts to help. If someone is going slow in front of you, think that maybe they are going through a very hard day—how would you know it? Or, if you’re in the car with loved ones, be grateful that you get to spend more time together. If you like cars, you can also use this time to identify how many makes and models you can recognize; the same thing goes with license plates. What things do you do to stay focused and relaxed during a traffic jam? Let us know in the comments by sharing below. Thanks for reading today’s post!

Enjoy a Movie in Phoenix

Throughout this month, our blog posts have focused on the adventure side of Phoenix, Arizona. We’ve invited you to go on a virtual trip around the world, to take a bite out of the ocean, and to dive into your own creative world with a pen and piece of paper. Today, the Liv Ahwatukee Blog is continuing the call for adventurers. Will you answer it? Here are a few of the exciting movies that were released this month. We invite you you take a movie-going adventure to different countries, worlds, and time periods. A few hours out of your apartment will do you some good. Battle of the Sexes “In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world.” Kingsman 2 “Kingsman: The Secret Service” introduced the world to Kingsman - an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. In “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded.” Stronger “A victim of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 helps the police track down the killers while struggling to recover from devastating trauma.” The Lego Ninjago Movie “Six young ninjas Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane and Nya are tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they're gifted warriors, using their skills and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they're ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy: high school.” American Assassin “AMERICAN ASSASSIN follows the rise of Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien), a CIA black ops recruit under the instruction of Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). The pair is then enlisted by CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy (Sanaa Lathan) to investigate a wave of apparently random attacks on both military and civilian targets. Together the three discover a pattern in the violence leading them to a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent (Shiva Negar) to stop a mysterious operative (Taylor Kitsch) intent on starting a World War.” What movie was your favorite this month? Leave a comment below to let us know. Thanks for reading.

Explore Writing in Your Apartment

Everyone has a story to tell. Whether you’re writing down real life experiences or making up a fantasy story with dragons and knights, there’s something magical about watching your words come to life. In today’s post, the Liv Ahwatukee Blog is sharing two creative writing exercises. We’ve been focusing on taking adventures around Phoenix, Arizona all month, and today we thought we’d invite you to take an adventure in your own apartment. See which writing exercise works best for you. Describe Your Surroundings This is a simple exercise. Take a look around the room and write down what you see. The challenge is to use descriptive language. Instead of writing something like, “I hear the birds chirping through the windows,” you could say something like, “I sit quietly in in my chair, absorbing the peaceful chirping as I watch the birds through the western facing windows over the patio.” Food Ingredients This is a fun exercise that will help you stretch your ideas. First, select a packaged food item and write down the ingredients (Baked Potato Chips: contains dried potatoes, corn starch, sugar, corn oil, salt, soy lecithin, and corn sugar; Snickers: contains milk chocolate, peanuts, corn syrup, sugar, palm oil, skim milk, lactose, soybean oil, salt, egg whites, and artificial flavor; and Teriyaki Beef Jerky: contains beef, sugar, water, soy sauce, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, monosodium glutamate, garlic powder, guar gum, polysorbate 80, caramel color powder, and sodium nitrite). After selecting a food item, begin to write a short story. It can be about anything that you want, but it must include the ingredients from the selected food item. At least three of these ingredients need to be the names of your characters. Set a timer for ten minutes and write until the time is up. Strive to fit the ingredients in a creative way, especially those with unique sounding names. We hope that these writing exercises send you on an adventure of your choosing without even having to leave your apartment. Share in the comments what your favorite writing exercise is, or even share a short story of your own. Thanks for reading!

Top Rated Sushi Restaurants Nearby

This month, Liv Ahwatukee is focusing on taking adventures in and around your apartment in Phoenix, Arizona. Today, we’re talking about flavorful seafood rolls known as sushi. Check out this great article from Quick Easy Cook , about everything we need to know about this seafood favorite. Step outside, get into your car, and head on over to these delicious seafood restaurant favorites that are just minutes away. Sushi Ken “If you are looking for real traditional Japanese food, Sushi Ken is in the Ahwatukee neighborhood. I was so so surprised to find this place, I just hope people in this area know what traditional Japanese food is and appreciate it” — YELP reviewer . With over 130 options to choose from, Sushi Ken has endless combinations for you to enjoy. Enjoy a variety of rolls, entrees, and tasty Japanese desserts just five minutes from your apartment. Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet “We've been coming to Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet for a few years and this might be my favorite place for sushi. The All You Can Eat Buffet includes a made-to-order sushi station and prime rib and crab legs are served for the Dinner Buffet. I would suggest coming with a big appetite and taking your time, as there are many different types of dishes to try, including seafood, traditional Chinese favorites, and a made-to-order Mongolian stir-fry station. We usually bring the kids on Tuesday evening, as that is when kids eat free with each paying adult” — YELP reviewer . Ginban Sushi “Wonderful variety of rolls and outstanding main course options. Sushi bar and kitchen both do a great job of quick, fresh preparation. Love the volcano roll and Snow White. They also have a very good selection for Happy Hour” — YELP reviewer . We hope you enjoy some time out of your apartment as you adventure around Phoenix, Arizona this month. Let us know your favorite sushi place by leaving us a comment. Thanks for reading.

Go on a Virtual Reality Adventure

Last month, Liv Ahwatukee Blog discussed how to make your own virtual reality glasses in your Phoenix, Arizona apartment. To follow up, we thought we’d talk about an exciting place you can spend your afternoons or free time: VR Junkies . “Paint a masterpiece in Rome, explore robotics and technology in The Lab, or fight zombies in the apocalypse. This all-inclusive experience can take you around the world without leaving the studio. We are Arizona’s premier arcade for single, cooperative, and multiplayer Virtual Reality.” VR Junkies is a great place to experience the wonders of virtual reality. With multiple options for adventures, there’s no shortage of fun. It’s also affordable. For five minutes of playing time, it costs $5. For ten it costs $10. For thirty it costs $25. For an hour it costs $45. There are also a bunch of discounts and promotions. Check their website for more information, or call the number 480-458-8033. Heather, a reviewer on YELP , said, “Excellent service and really great gear. Highly recommend. The guy who helped us was really knowledgeable and patient. We had a great time and will definitely be back.” If you’re looking for further virtual reality adventures in this great state, Visit Arizona has been the center for incredible experiences. VisitArizona.com shared some great insight into the virtual adventures available for everyone: “Arizona was made for hardcore adventure, with endless heart racing, pulse-pounding activities all around the state. Whether you’re eager to dive right in or just want a taste from the safety of your armchair, we’ve got the next best thing—two fully immersive, incredibly vivid virtual reality film experiences.” “We partnered with pioneering adventure filmmakers MacGillivray Freeman Films—creators of 2016’s top-grossing documentary, National Parks Adventure—to bring you so close to the action, you can practically feel the wind in your hair.” Grand Canyon Skydiving Look around and take in the stunning bird’s eye view of this remarkable wonder. Sedona Mountain Biking Get a first-hand glimpse at this mountain biking paradise and watch the (virtual) dirt fly as you race across trails surrounded by Sedona’s striking red rock cliffs. What virtual reality experience is your favorite? Share in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Go Retro with these Awesome DIY Toys

It’s fun to look back and imagine life as a little child: the world is so big and filled with wonder, everything just out of reach of your tiny hands. Today, Liv Ahwatukee Blog invites you to experience life as a child with these toys that you can make in your apartment in Phoenix, Arizona. If you have kids, they’re sure to love them too! Yo-yo The first historical mention of the yo-yo was in the year 500 B.C., which is probably a lot further back than you expected. These toys are fun and engaging, and they’re just as simple to play with as they are to make. In order to make a homemade yo-yo, you’ll need a couple of plastic bottle caps that are the same size, a few screws, double-sided scotch tape, a ball of yarn, and ten to twenty minutes to spare. For the full instructions, check out this article: How to Make a Homemade Yoyo . Slinky This is a fun take on the classic metal toy. Made with paper, this origami slinky is a fun, colorful 4-step project. If you own a classic metal slinky, check out this awesome project where someone made a slinky escalator . Propeller Toy This vintage toy is simple to make and fun to play watch fly. With only seven parts, you’ll have a lot of fun with this hand-powered propeller toy . View-Master First introduced at the New York World’s Fair in 1939 , the View-Master became a popular device which showcased classic television characters. Today, View-Masters are still popular, but the possibilities are wide open. Create custom reels in your apartment. Then, order them in addition to your very own viewer. This is a great gift for any occasion, or just keep it for yourself if you want! Keep in mind that these can get pretty pricey, so if you have some extra money to spend why not go for it? We hope you have fun with these DIY retro toy projects. Let us know what one is your favorite by sharing in the comments. Thanks for reading!