Blog Posts

How to Host a Dinner Party for the Holidays

Today, the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog has a few ideas for hosting a dinner party in your apartment here in Phoenix, AZ. Whether you’re dining with friends or family, these ideas are sure to help. Check them out below! Prepare the setting. If you’re bringing people into your home, stay proud of your beautiful environment by getting some cleaning done before the big day. If you need to deep clean, start today to get it out of the way so that you can focus on upkeep in the days leading up to the party. Decorate as you clean so you can keep the apartment fitting for the occasion! Add some flowers, winter scents, warm blankets in your favorite colors of the season, tablecloths, and photos that bring back the nostalgia of the season. Of course, think about how people will use your area, too. Be sure to have ample seating for everyone and even options for more (in case unexpected guests arrive). Keep the apartment at a comfortable (but slightly cool) temperature so people don’t heat up too quickly. Also, have Wi-Fi login information handy in case anyone asks. Communicate what the party will entail. Before people arrive, they should already know the basics of what to expect: how hungry they should be, how they should dress, and whether they should bring any games or treats to share with others. As you’re inviting everyone, let them know the answers to these questions so they can feel comfortable, excited, and ready for the festivities. Be friendly and personable. Create a welcoming environment for everyone by greeting each guest personally and talking to them throughout the night. Have conversation starter topics ready if you’re worried about things not flowing well. Ask about people’s lives and be willing to genuinely listen to what they say. Keep things non-controversial yet meaningful and easy. And be open to ideas for playing group games, if that’s how things go when the dinner talk is over. What are your best tips for hosting a holiday dinner party? What are your best tips for getting things clean and ready in time? Let us know in the comments so we can all benefit. Thanks for reading our post today. Good luck, and happy holidays!

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers Month

November is the month for great food! You don’t even have to wait until Thanksgiving to treat yourself. November is also National Peanut Butter Lovers Month! In honor of this designation, the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog is bringing residents suggestions for celebrating, right in your apartment: try one of these recipes that use peanut butter as a main ingredient. Scotcheroos from Tastes Better From Scratch The scotcheroo is a favorite no-bake treat of anyone who loves the genius combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Gather up some rice crispy cereal, white sugar, corn syrup, peanut butter, butterscotch chips, and semisweet chocolate chips to make this delectable, chewy treat. Healthy Peanut Butter Mousse from Desserts with Benefits Need some weekend plans? Try this recipe for a healthy twist on this classic treat. Here’s what the author has to say about it: “It’s all-natural, refined sugar-free, low-carb, high protein and totally nutritious. Don’t worry, though, it doesn’t taste like broccoli or anything. This super easy four-ingredient mousse is super rich, super creamy, perfectly sweet and packed with peanut butter flavor. After you get a little taste you won’t believe that this is actually good for you.” Vegan Peanut Butter Milkshake from Loving It Vegan Another option for those looking for a healthier treat that incorporates your favorite ingredients, this recipe will have you itching for more. It’s sure to hit the spot. As the author says, “Oooooh this peanut butter milkshake is soooo good. It’s actually ridiculous how good it is. Don’t make this unless you’re ready for some serious indulgence.” We love that all it takes is vegan vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, non-dairy milk, and crushed peanuts! What are your favorite recipes that include peanut butter? Share your favorite ways to make use of this classic, thick, creamy (or crunchy!) staple with the rest of the apartment community here in Phoenix, AZ by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy these recipes this month!

Things to Be Grateful for this Month

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog! As we make our way into a new month, it’s time to start preparing for a new holiday. November’s biggest holiday is Thanksgiving, so today we’re focusing on gratitude. Make a goal to record in a journal or another meaningful place, social posts for instance, the things you’re grateful for. Get your creative gears turning by getting inspired by these suggestions for things you can be grateful for. Something about the world. There’s a lot of sadness and destruction and downright despicable things that happen in the world. But there’s a lot of good, too. Find something beautiful you’re grateful for, whether it’s something human-made or a natural wonder right here in Phoenix, Arizona — or beyond. Your favorite food. You don’t have to be a foodie or a chef to love food. Write about, buy, or make your favorite dish and relish every bite. Pay attention to how every aspect of it combines to make it something extraordinary. Share it with someone to spread the love! A teacher who has left a positive influence on you. Teachers and mentors have immense power to shape us and empower us to take on the world. Take a second to think about someone who has done that for you. Go a step further and write a thank-you note to send them, or send them a quick email or Facebook message telling them you appreciate their dedication to this noble profession. It will mean a lot! Your favorite quality in a friend. Appreciate the unique qualities in those around you this season. This is also a good way to keep a positive attitude toward someone who you may occasionally disagree with. Remember what makes them special and good for you to be around. And tell them what makes them great! Giving and receiving sincere compliments can be meaningful for each party. What other things should we remember to be grateful for? Share with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading! Enjoy focusing on gratitude this month!

Boo! Halloween-Themed Treats Make Good Eats

Last week we shared ideas for decorating your Liv Ahwatukee apartment for Halloween, this week we are following that up with some fun Halloween-themed treats to try. Make up a batch of one or two to have on hand or take to your holiday gathering. We know you’ll love ‘em, so head to your favorite Phoenix grocery store to pick up any ingredients you don’t have on hand, and start cooking! Halloween-Themed Treats Monster Munch from Our Best Bites This white chocolate covered popcorn featuring roasted peanuts, Reese’s Pieces, and candy corn makes the perfect sweet that your guests will love to munch on. Cobweb Brownies from Delish These brownies are topped with a melted marshmallow icing that creates the illusion of cobwebs. Get your chocolate fix with these festive brownies. Gourmet Caramel Apples from Lauren’s Latest These gourmet caramel apples are so much more than regular caramel covered apple. These apples feature pretty much any possible topping you could think of. Discover your artistic side and create a glorious edible masterpiece! You will need apples, caramels, cold water, shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, mini M&M’s, mini marshmallows, crushed cookies, chopped nuts, sprinkles, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, and any other toppings you desire. Mini Jack-o-Lantern Pies You don’t need to be a pie-making extraordinaire to make these adorable and satisfying mini pumpkin pies made to look like jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin Dirt Pudding Parfaits from Neighbor Food Don’t worry, there is no actual dirt in this dessert. The pumpkin pudding is layered with crushed Oreo cookies to look like dirt and topped with a Milano cookie to look like a miniature gravestone. Halloween Candy Bark from I Heart Naptime This candy bark is super easy to make and is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. To make it you will need vanilla or chocolate almond bark, M&M’s, candy corn, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, nuts, crushed pretzels, candy eyeballs, and any other leftover Halloween candy you want to throw in the mix. Whatever your favorite treat may be, we hope you have a happy Halloween here in Arizona this year.

DIY Decorations for Halloween

October is here, which means it’s time to get ready for everyone’s favorite spooky holiday. Get your home ready for Halloween by making simple but fun themed decorations. So clear out a spot in your Liv Ahwatukee apartment and pick a decoration to fill it! We’ve got ideas to inspire you. Vinyl Wall Silhouettes These were originally designed for garage doors, but you can make them work on your wall just as easily. All you need are some sheets of adhesive vinyl, a pair of scissors, and a little bit of time! Cut out a majestic buck looking out over a pumpkin patch while a colony of bats soars into the sky behind him — or whatever you like! Bewitching Halloween Pumpkin If you’re not a fan of carving pumpkins, decorate yours another way! This idea is adorable because it matches the theme of the season and is simple to create. Buy a green pumpkin at a craft store or even a local pumpkin patch. See what you can make from your own materials for the hat and the face or head to the store for a few simple pieces to bring your witch to life. Haunted Terrariums This is a fun idea that adds a festive twist to a decoration you may already have on a shelf or counter. Find a jar you like to make it and fill it with greenery and sticks from a store or outside. Make a ghost with tissue paper and make your own scene with the other materials listed in the post for a look you’ll love. Floating Halloween Ghost You’ve made your haunted terrarium and filled it with a mini ghost; now put a life-size one in an unobtrusive spot of your apartment for extra effect! Do you have any favorite homemade Halloween decorations of your own? How about a favorite store here in Phoenix, AZ where you purchase decorations? An upcoming event we shouldn’t miss? Let us know in the comments!

Fall-Themed Movies for a Night In

October means temperatures have started to cool down here in Arizona, but before you head outdoors to enjoy the cooler temps, plan a movie night this weekend. We’ve got some suggestions for fall-themed movies we think you’ll enjoy at your Liv Ahwatukee apartment. Fall-Themed Movies Dead Poets Society Prep school and uniforms and autumnal scenery in Delaware. This inspiring movie is a classic way to connect with the majestic surroundings of fall. Honing in on an unconventional teacher that helps his class connect with what they’re learning outside of their textbooks. Robin Williams gives an outstanding lesson in bringing what we learn to life. And with his recent passing, this is a great way to look back on his emotionally moving career. Rudy Football is about as fall-centric as you can get. Notre Dame’s campus and football team are at the focus of this story as our main character Rudy—as played by Sean Astin—tries his best to overcome the academic, financial, and physical limitations that would keep him from playing the game he loves for the school of his dreams. You can’t get a more satisfying ending than this one. October Sky East Tennessee’s fall colors help tell the story of a group of boys journey to build a rocket—and what one of them will do to escape a life of working the local coal mines. After being inspired by a satellite in the sky, this movie follows the struggles and odds that work against the par for the course in this rural town. And it just goes to show what it means to stick with your dreams. The Blind Side Sandra Bullock plays a wealthy, no-nonsense Southern mom who takes in Michael Oher — a homeless football prodigy (Quinton Aaron) who eventually becomes a first-round NFL draft pick. The movie is a compelling account of actual events about Oher’s debut in football, but it is also about what it means to be a part of a family. We hope you have an awesome autumn. Thanks for being a part of our Phoenix apartment community.