Blog Posts

Summer Fun Day Trips in Phoenix

Summertime is traditionally the time to head out of town for a vacation, but sometimes that is simply not possible. However, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on interesting sights, adventures, and opportunities! If you will be in town this month, plan some staycation destinations and make a day of it. Today we have suggestions for how you can do so here in Phoenix, AZ. Take time to visit places you’ve always meant to go to. Try out a new theater or club, check out a museum or water park, or drive to the other side of the city to see what they have to offer — essentially, play tourist. This list of The Top 10 Things to Do in Phoenix from Trip Advisor can help you get started. It will be an adventure. As a bonus, you can sleep in your own comfortable bed at Liv Ahwatukee at the end of the day. Specific Tips for Successful Day Trips Clean your car before you go. Get rid of the gum wrappers and napkins under the front seat, and the receipts stuffed between them. Vacuum it out and put in a new bag to collect trash from the upcoming day trip. You’ll be glad you did! Prepare the night before so you can get an early start. Make sure you have everything you will need: directions and tickets, for example. Take water and snacks — sometimes mealtime gets delayed. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Many places you visit require lots of walking to take in the full experience. Take a jacket and umbrella in case you encounter rain. Take some cash with you. There are often souvenirs or deals you may want to take advantage of during your trip. If your day includes multiple stops, check a map app beforehand to determine how much time you will need to allow for traveling. Take into account the time of day, traffic, and possible road construction delays. Be sure to take lots of pictures and share them on Facebook, highlighting your staycation this summer. Where is your favorite place to visit in the Phoenix, AZ area? Feel free to share in the comments.

Frozen Summer Treats

Last time we posted about a summer reading challenge for members of our apartment community here at Liv Ahwatukee with some awesome book recommendations. We hope that’s going well! In today’s blog post we are switching gears a bit and sharing some frozen treats that are easy to make and fun to eat (perhaps enjoy one while you peruse your next book). It’s amazing how quickly simply eating something that is cold can help us cool down. Try one of these recipes the next time the mercury rises here in Phoenix, Arizona. Frozen Pistachio Pie This frozen pistachio pie recipe from the Cutestuff Cooks blog features the distinctive taste of pistachios with a creamy frozen dessert that is sure to please. The chocolate drizzled over the top adds just the right touch. Frozen Juice Bars Frozen treats don’t have to mean unhealthy. Try these healthy fruit and cream bars for a good-for-you option. Recipes include both strawberries and cream and peaches and cream. Yum! Slush A slushy punch recipe is a classic treat that’s sure to hit the spot on a warm day. These can be prepared ahead of time, too. We like this recipe for a banana and pineapple slush punch version from Our Best Bites. Lemon Sorbet Lemon is about as refreshing as it gets, and lemon sorbet takes it a step further, producing a fresh, exciting, cooling, flavorful treat. Sorbet has more sugar than ice cream, but less fat, and it’s non-dairy, too, making it a good choice for those who have lactose issues. Here is an easy Lemon Sorbet recipe to try. Frozen Hot Chocolate Hot chocolate is normally something we drink to warm up in the wintertime, but this Frozen Hot Chocolate sounds perfect for a hot summer day. We love that it looks like hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream on top. If making frozen treats yourself is not on your list of things to do this summer, perhaps a trip to the nearest ice cream shop is in order. Doc’s Artisan Ice Creams, Baskin Robins, and Cold Stone Creamery are all within about three miles of Liv Ahwatukee Apartments, making an ice cream run convenient and fun! Let us know your favorite recipes or ice cream shops in the area by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading today’s blog post.

Summer Reading Challenge - Read a Book This Month

Many residents of Liv Ahwatukee Apartments enjoy reading. In honor of that, and because summer reading is a great tradition (especially for the summer), we’ve put together a list of books that can easily be read in a month, over a weekend, or for an avid reader, in a single day. We hope you get a chance to read a new book or read one of your old favorites. So head on over to our local branch of the Phoenix, AZ Public Library and check out one of these books soon. Holes by Louis Sachar Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Using the simple, powerful language of a fable, Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey The success stories speak for themselves in this book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health. A bit of research, (simply type in “bookstore” in the Search Neighborhood box on our neighborhood map page) unearthed about twenty bookstores near the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments area. Check out one of them soon. We have some additional recommendations from last summer that may take a bit longer to read but are worth the time. What are your favorite summer reads? Let us know in the comments! Happy reading!

Yoga Tips

Welcome back to Liv Ahwatukee’s blog. In our post today we’re sharing some ideas for taking advantage of our on-site fitness center! Yoga is something that can be practiced anywhere, even from home. It is very low impact and it can be a great addition to your evening routine. Since little equipment is required, you don’t have to have a ton of space. Near your Phoenix apartment are a few establishments where you can attend a yoga class. The American Osteopathic Association has a ton of information as to why yoga is beneficial for you . It says, “Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind.” It then quotes Dr. Natalie Nevins, a physician in California: “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.” The Liv Ahwatukee fitness center is a great place to try your yoga routine. A great workout starts with great gear as well. We suggest Lululemon athletic wear for your exercise needs. Their pieces are great for yoga because they breathe well and will hold up no matter what pose you’re doing. Along with your workout we suggest a great yoga mat and a water bottle to accompany your workout. Swell water bottles come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit your needs. If you’re looking for something more formal, check out these suggestion from Yelp for yoga studios and classes in the Phoenix area. These tips will help you get a great start with yoga. Have fun trying a new workout this month. Thanks for reading the Liv Ahwatukee blog.

At-Home Game Night

In our post today we’re sharing some of our best ideas for hosting a game night in your Liv Ahwatukee home. Your apartment is a great place to host your friends. Having friends in your home is a fun way to entertain and make some memories! If you’re on a budget, a game night is definitely a fun and cheap idea for having fun together. Read today’s blog for some games you can try. Fishbowl — This game is perfect for a group, and it doesn’t take a ton of practice to be good at it! Fishbowl is a fun and easy game that you can play at any party or group gathering. It’s great to either break the ice with people who are unfamiliar with one another, or even go in depth with close friends and family. Throughout the game, two teams will compete to guess phrases, created by each player, in three rounds that pose different challenges. Minute to Win It — This is based on a game show. It gives contestants one minute to do different tasks. Try Happiness is Homemade’s 10 awesome minute to win it ideas for a ton of different ways to play. The site says “These 10 Minute to Win It games were perfect for all ages (we had guests from ages 4-55 playing these games, and everyone had a blast!) – challenging enough for the older kids and adults, but still simple enough that the younger children could play as well.” Providing snacks is integral to any successful game night. These seven-layer bars are a great hand-held treat to serve at your game night. With no utensils or plates necessary, your guests will be able to enjoy their treats and the game at the same time! We hope you enjoy hosting a game night in your home! Thanks for reading Liv Ahwatukee’s blog.

Weeknight Dinners

In our post today we’re sharing some ideas for making dinner this week. Thinking up an idea for dinner every night can be a little taxing, and if you don’t plan ahead effectively, you’ll be more tempted to hit the drive-thru than the grocery store for those missing ingredients. But your Liv Ahwatukee home is the perfect place to make a delicious dinner. Below, we've taken all the guesswork out of dinner this week. Find links to the recipes as well for more detailed instructions. Monday: Start with something comforting like this homemade baked macaroni and cheese from Tablespoon.com. The site says that this “creamy, cheesy baked macaroni and cheese is a true crowd pleaser! This southern-inspired comfort food packs a home-style flavor that both kids and adults will love.” Tuesday: This Taco Bake comes from Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen. As a bonus, this dish is also gluten-free. Customize this with your favorite ingredients and celebrate Taco Tuesday casserole style! Wednesday: Chicken Pillows are an easy dish that takes very little time and skill to prepare. There are lots of variations on this recipe, but we found this delicious looking one that looks about as comforting as your real pillow! They pair really well with a fresh vegetable or a salad. Thursday: Try breakfast for dinner! This recipe for blueberry pancakes comes from Sweet Pea’s Kitchen and promises to be the very best, so try it for yourself. The site says, “Making these pancakes is actually really simple. Just combine the bowl of wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and pour on the griddle. Super simple and incredibly delicious!” Friday: Tonight, try a delicious homemade chicken noodle soup . This easy 30-minute recipe comes from Averie Cooks. Pair this with a fresh bread or roll recipe, whatever you prefer! The site says, “I don’t have time to watch a boiling pot for half the day and this version is easy, ready in 30-minutes, and has all the comforting qualities you want in classic chicken noodle soup. To save time, use store bought rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken that you have on hand. Of [course,] you can roast or pan sauté chicken if you’re so inclined.” What are your favorite recipes for the week? Feel free to comment your ideas so we can put them on our menus!