Blog Posts

What To Eat After a Workout

Last month we talked about some tips for making New Year’s resolutions. If your goal is weight loss this year, we want to help you along your journey. Setting goals for yourself is the perfect place to start. That way you can measure your progress, whether you’re in or outside of your Liv Ahwatukee apartment in Phoenix or not, and have benchmarks to know just how you’re doing along the way. When working out, it is important to keep track of what you’re putting in your body. This list from Ambitious Kitchen has some great ideas of what to eat after a workout: Apple and peanut butter. Because apples are the best snack. They provide energy, fiber and a sweet crunch. Slather on a tablespoon of peanut butter and you’ve got yourself a great snack. Trail mix/granola. Granola is wonderful because it provides healthy fats, carbs (from the oats) fiber and a good source protein. Try my Superfood Coconut Oil Granola mixed with 1/2 cup of greek yogurt. Veggie omelet. You truly can’t go wrong with eggs. I love 1 egg and 2 egg whites mixed with a variety of veggies. Greek yogurt with fruit. If you’re going to eat greek yogurt, aim for an organic version. And you don’t always have to go for fat-free! Try a low-fat greek yogurt with fresh berries or banana. Cheese and crackers. I’m not an intense cheese lover like some people I know, but if you are then this is a great time to get your cheese fix in! Eat an ounce of cheese with a few whole grain crackers. Protein shake or fruit smoothie. I usually make a smoothie with a scoop of protein powder, fresh fruit, a little nut butter and almond milk. Peanut butter and banana toast. OH HECK YES. Probably one of my go-to post workout snacks because … NUT BUTTER, duh. Opt for 1 slice of whole grain toast, 1 tablespoon of nut butter and half a banana. We hope you enjoy these delicious snacks and find just what works for you. Good luck!

New Year, New You

Take some time this month to set all your goals for 2017. January is the time for resolutions and making a change. Time to clean out your space and all the junk in your life you just don’t have time for. Adopt some of the principles in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up . The book mentions “Start by discarding. Then organize your space, thoroughly, completely, in one go.” With principles about cleaning and decluttering, this book will help you go through your things and decide just what you need or do not. Four questions the author suggests you ask yourself while cleaning are — Does it spark joy? Is it necessary? Does it work? Does it have a designated place to live? Answering these questions will help you filter through things you just don’t need. Declutter your mind by eating nutritious meals, drinking water, and exercising. Doing these things will help you think clearly and accomplish your daily responsibilities without feeling sluggish. If hitting your local yoga studio for a super sweaty workout, try some of these easy moves at home . A great way to feel more in control and less stressed in your life is learning to say no. This isn’t necessarily refusing to do things for others, but it’s about taking inventory about all you have going on in your life. Some tips from Fluent Land helped us understand this concept a little better. Lauren Conrad gives some great advice regarding this subject. She says, “Just know your boundaries. Like you can say, Listen, I would love to take on this project, or I would love to get involved with this, but I just simply don’t have the time right now. And that time includes scheduled time for yourself.” We hope you’re able to declutter your space a little bit this season. These tips should have helped you get thinking about just what areas of your life can use a little sprucing up! Thanks for reading Liv Ahwatukee. We hope you have a great week here in Phoenix, AZ.

Phoenix Eats

With the holidays coming up, we think this is a great time to explore the area in which you live. There are some really amazing places to eat here in Phoenix, and we think you’re going to love them! Don’t be afraid to do some research before trying new restaurants. Check website like Yelp for honest reviews from people who have eaten there before. Ask friends where they like to eat. Once you’re at the restaurant, check with waiters to see what are the most popular options and try to check on what other people are ordering to see what you should expect! The first restaurant we are featuring is The Stand burgers and tacos! One review says “Great burger! I would say it's much like a In&Out burger. But local and just as delicious. French fries are always fresh and super yum and their shakes are as well. Tacos were okay. Stick with the burger and you won't regret coming here.” The milkshakes are highly recommended, as well. Waffle Luv is a sweet treat we love indulging in. These waffles are pretty dessert perfect for sharing! Waffle toppings include Bischoff (a peanut butter-like topping that’s actually made from gingerbread flavored cookies!), Nutella, bananas, strawberries and more! The Red Wonder is always a favorite! If you’re looking for a new favorite coffee shop, try Be Coffee+Food+Stuff ! Their site says, “We feature coffee from both "local" roasters in Arizona + from across the United States. Our coffee bean selections rotate frequently + we often carry multiple roasters. Just like our coffee, both our hot + iced tea selections vary throughout the year as well.” The menu offers items like the be-reakfast Sammy’s, a breakfast sandwich with eggs, cheese, avocado and other yummy toppings. We also think the Toscano Salami sandwich would make a great lunch paired with an iced coffee! Have fun exploring these restaurants and let us know which ones are your favorite! Thanks for reading the Liv Ahwatukee blog.

Winter Outings

As always, we’re taking advantage of the perfect weather this time of year. Without icy roads and winter weather to deal with, we can really soak up all the holiday activities in the area! Just because your backyard isn’t a winter wonderland doesn’t mean you have to skimp on any celebrating. Glendale Glitters Through December 19th “Glendale’s award-winning holiday lighting event has become a family tradition across the Valley and Arizona. The stunning display of 1.5 million lights will illuminate sixteen blocks of Historic Downtown Glendale, making it the largest free holiday light display in Arizona. Free admission makes this award-winning festival, now in its 23rd year, one of the best-loved events for Arizona families year after year. In fact, the event was named azcentral.com’s Critics’ Choice for the Best Kid Event in the state in 2012. Visitors of all ages will delight in holiday entertainment, delectable food, hand-crafted holiday gifts, a children’s snow field and petting zoo, shopping and, of course, visits with Jolly Ol’ St. Nick.” ZooLights November 23-January 8, 2017 “Join the Phoenix Zoo at the Valley’s brightest holiday tradition: ZooLights presented by SRP! Celebrating 25 years, ZooLights shines with millions of lights, a three-story-high holiday tree, hundreds of glimmering light displays and lakeside music-in-motion shows. ZooLights is open to the public Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, January 8, 2017.” Visit the site for more information regarding hours and event details. Nightly Snowfall at the Tempe Marketplace “This holiday season, Tempe Marketplace is bringing the thrill of snow to the desert without the chill! Experience snowfalls each evening, starting November 23 through December 31 (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) at 7pm and 8pm for 8 minutes within The District at Tempe Marketplace. Plus, enjoy snowfalls every hour from 11am - 6pm on Christmas Eve. Out of thin air, flakes of fluffy white snow will float down from the sky, transforming The District Stage at Tempe Marketplace into a living snow globe. Just as mysteriously as the snow appears — it disappears without a trace, leaving behind magical holiday memories.” Grab a warm drink and enjoy your winter here in Phoenix, AZ! Are there any events that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Holiday Decor Ideas

At Liv Ahwatukee, we love any excuse to celebrate. Decorating for the season is a great way to bring the holiday spirit inside your space. There are ways to brighten up every room of your home with holiday-themed items. No matter what room of your apartment you’re decorating, we’ve got some ideas. Kitchen: Festive mugs and plates are a fun addition. A holiday themed apron while cooking or baking does double duty as decor and protection. We think this Hot Chocolate Station would be so darling to wake up to each morning this season! Bathroom: Switching your regular towels out for holiday themed ones adds a festive touch to any bathroom. This DIY for a holiday soap dispenser is a fun and useful craft. Fill it with a seasonal scented soap for an extra touch. You could even make a couple to give as gifts! Bedroom: Wake up to something festive every morning! We like the idea of lots of holiday pillows and even some sparkly paper snowflakes hanging by the window. Try to make your own using these instructions here. Front door: This is the first thing your guests will see as they arrive at your home. Add a wreath or holiday door mat for an extra touch. Our favorite ideas are here . Experiment and see which ones are your favorite! We think some of these could be adopted to be left up all year long. Candles and fresh pine boughs can really enhance the atmosphere of your home and bring the holidays to life! Lots of lights and anything sparkly make the season feel special. Playing holiday-themed music and watching winter movies are another way to get into the spirit of the season. Remember to save anything you create or purchase this season to use for next year! We hope you have so much fun decorating your space this season. Let us know about any holiday events coming to Phoenix in the comments!

Air Travel Tips

Whether it’s your first or fifteenth time flying out of Phoenix, it’s always useful to find tips to help save time and money. At Liv Ahwatukee we’re all about sharing helpful advice. The more you travel you’ll figure out what works for you and what you just don’t need to bring along with you. For those less-seasoned travelers, we’ve found a list of must haves when packing your carry-on bag. These tips come from Brownell . Eye Mask & Ear Plugs Drown out the light and sound so you can rest. 2. Scarf Comfort + style join together in a scarf. Plus, it can double as a blanket if you get chilly. 3. Water Staying hydrated is so important when traveling, especially on a long flight. Bring a reusable water bottle through security, and fill it up in the terminal. 4. Hand Sanitizer and Wipes Keep your hands and area clean of germs. 5. Earphones For listening to music or watching movies; noise-cancelling ones are ideal. 6.Snacks The food on the flight is packed with sodium; bring a few travel snacks to avoid bloating. 7. Change of Clothes Bring a comfortable outfit to change into during the flight. Be sure to pack warm socks to wear if it gets cold. (Bonus! If you’re baggage is delayed, you’ll have something to wear at your destination.) 8. Toiletries Being able to brush your teeth and hair can make all the difference when it’s time to land, and lotion will keep your skin moisturized. 9. Eye drops Flying dries out your eyes so refresh them with eye drops 10. A good book A long flight is the perfect time to step away from a screen and read a book (a real book!). We also liked this useful information from Ehow on how to pack your liquids in a TSA approved way. What are your travel must haves? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading!