Blog Posts

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!

November New Releases

That fall chill is in the air and we’ve moved our weekend fun indoors. No more weekend BBQ’s or outdoor fun, but that doesn’t have to mean boring! There’s a season for everything, and fall is the season for cozy nights inside under fuzzy blankets! One of our favorite activities is heading to the local theater! We’ve got reviews of this month’s newest flicks. Releasing on November 4th is Hacksaw Ridge : “WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Based on the incredible true story. Hacksaw Ridge is directed by veteran actor-filmmaker Mel Gibson, who has previously directed the films The Man Without a Face , Braveheart , The Passion of the Christ , and Apocalypto . The screenplay is written by Andrew Knight, Robert Schenkkan and Randall Wallace. Lionsgate will release Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge in theaters everywhere starting November 4th.” Rules Don’t Apply comes out on November 23rd, and it “tells the unconventional love story of an aspiring actress (Lily Collins), her determined driver (Alden Ehrenreich), and the eccentric billionaire (Warren Beatty) who they work for. It's Hollywood, 1958. Small town beauty queen and devout Baptist Marla Mabrey, under contract to the infamous Howard Hughes, arrives in Los Angeles. At the airport, she meets her personal driver Frank Forbes, only two weeks on the job and also from a religiously conservative background. Their instant attraction not only puts their religious convictions to the test, but also defies Hughes' #1 rule: no employee is allowed to have an intimate relationship with a contract actress. Rules Don't Apply is both written & directed by legendary actor-filmmaker Warren Beatty, who hasn't directed anything since Bulworth in 1998; as well as Dick Tracy, Reds and Heaven Can Wait . Fox will release Rules Don't Apply starting November 23rd.” What is your favorite theater in Phoenix? Which of these new movies is your favorite? Let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading the Liv Ahwatukee blog!

Hosting Guests

The holiday season is fast approaching. Here at Liv Ahwatukee we love that our apartments have the space so our residents can easily host guests. From oversized patios to our clubhouse, our homes make a great spot for celebrating the season. We’ve gathered a few tips to help with the stress that may sometimes come with hosting others in your home! Follow some of these tips from First Home Love Life to take away the stress— and give you more time to spend with your loved ones! Don’t be afraid to learn from trial and error here— some guests feel most comfortable using their own toiletries while others might appreciate a spare toothbrush upon arrival. Keep a few of these essentials on hand for your guests. Even if they don’t use them, they will appreciate the gesture. The website author mentions “I know I personally don’t like to feel like I’m intruding when I’m staying with someone, so I always try to think ahead when we have guests. What does this person like? What could they need? What would make them feel most at home while they’re staying with us? I really don’t think that there’s a cookie cutter explanation or example since everyone’s guests will differ and have different needs, but I thought it would be fun to show you what I stocked in our guest room to give you a few ideas for when you have guests staying with you! I guess you could call it the guest room essentials, at least for now…” The list consists of: —magazines —bottles of water —little snacks for those night time munchies —moisturizer —lip balm —hand sanitizer —hand cream —mints —tissues Follow the link above to the site for more tips and information. Feel free to tailor this list exactly for your guests who are coming to Phoenix to visit. Happy holiday hosting!