Blog Posts

There’s an App for That!

Screens are an integral part of our lives; from how we order pizza to listen to music, to access entertainment, screens deliver it all. Here at Liv Ahwatukee we offer online rent payment as just one of our amenities , which you can pay right from your phone. Your phone. We call it a phone, but it’s so much more than a device for talking to others. Essentially our phones are mini-virtual computers we carry around in our pockets. (Those teachers who made you memorize your times tables because “you won’t be carrying a calculator around with you in your pocket” were wrong!) Today we’re sharing some phone-accessible apps we think are awesome. For Your Car/Travel Needs GasBuddy Taking the guesswork out of where to find the best price for gas is what this app delivers. Gasbuddy posts local gas prices so you can see at a glance the best place to fill up. It shows what grades are available including diesel. Available for iOS, Android, and Blackberry. Repair Pal It happens to all of us, that weird sound our car starts to make, or the intermittent service engine soon light popping on then off, or an unfortunate accident and we’re in the market for a mechanic. But how do you budget for the repair? How do you know what you should expect to pay? Repair Pal to the rescue! Instead of calling around for repair quotes, let Repair Pal do the legwork for you and give you a localized estimate of what you can expect to pay. Available for iOS and Android. In the Kitchen Gojee In the mood to cook but too cozy for a run to the grocery store? This app finds recipes that match the ingredients you already have. So if you’re trying to figure out what the heck you can do with a bag of cereal, a salmon, and kale, this app is your only hope. Substitutions From allergies to food preferences, this comprehensive app gives you substitution ideas whenever you need them the most. Whether you want your recipe to be low-sodium or gluten-free, you just flat out hate dairy, or you want to switch things up, this is the app for you. Staying Organized Due An easy-to-use app that helps you remember when everything is due. Add to-do items quickly and the app will remind you to get it done — multiple times if necessary. It’s customizable to with just a few taps. Check it out! Pocket Do you keep a to-read list? Let pocket help you organize all the things you want to read/view. Save articles, videos, stories, etc. from online publications, pages, and apps. “Save content from everywhere.” What are your favorite apps? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for taking a few minutes to read our blog post today. We’re happy you’re a part of our Phoenix, AZ apartment community.

How to Display Family Heirlooms

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog! We’re back this week with ideas for how to display family heirlooms or the treasures you’ve brought home from your antique-shopping adventures. Whether it’s a signature piece of furniture, a collection with personal meaning, or a shelf of cherished books, pull them out of the closets and boxes and proudly display them in your apartment. Here’s how! Small Items Many small items, like collected thimbles or spoons, can be displayed in specially designed display shelves of course, but thinking outside the box, why not use another piece as a display — your great-grandmother’s silver serving tray, for instance, could become the home of her needlework tools, sitting atop a table or chest. A curio cabinet is another good option to display items in a safe, tasteful contained way. Shadow Boxes Shadow boxes are a wonderful way to display items. Gather things based on a theme or that are an important part of a person’s life, or are mementos of a trip or once-in-a-lifetime vacation, and put them together in a shadow box, which can then be hung on a wall or placed upon a shelf, where the objects can be admired without being lost or ruined. Larger Pieces Use an antique piece as the focal point for a room. A rocking chair, next to an antique wrought-iron basket holding of in-progress handwork is decorative and practical at the same time. Different time periods and styles can work together — just be careful how you tie them together — one way is to use the same set of colors throughout. Read more about mixing furniture styles when decorating from this post from My Domaine. We hope these ideas will help you find a new way to display your treasured pieces in your Phoenix, Arizona home. Thanks for reading our post this month.

Top Tips for Buying Antiques

Liv Ahwatukee Blog is back with more information about antiques, vintage items, and collectibles. Now that we’ve covered what they each are and where to find them, we want to take a look at things to keep in mind when you are shopping for antiques. Remember the guiding principle about value, essentially that the value of an item is based on what you’re willing to pay for it — but balance that with your time, budget, and space. Here are some tips to help you do that. — When you can, shop in person. While pictures can be good representations, there is nothing quite like seeing an item for yourself to judge its condition, color, and patina. — When it comes to furniture, some key things to note are whether or not the piece is well-built if it has a sense of character — a patina built up over time and does it suggest a sense of history. — If you are shopping online, the more information you have, the better. Ask for additional information before you buy if you aren’t certain about something - exact measurements, maker’s marks, labels, etc. Things to Look for in a Great Piece Do you like it? If you don’t, what’s the point of getting it? Many pieces may speak to you. . . . Consider the investment a bonus. . .. check to see if the piece is well constructed. Has it been cared for? Note things like cracks, broken parts, stains, loose joints. Ask the seller about the history of the piece and if the provenance is known. Gifts If you are looking for a gift, keep your intended recipients’ interests in mind as you shop. One of the best things about shopping for vintage items and antiques is that they are generally one-of-a-kind. Be sure to find out the return policy of the shop or vendor and if a gift receipt is available. Regardless of whether a gift receipt is available, always get a receipt, even for a cash purchase. The receipt should include the age of the item, the material it’s made from, any damage or restoration, its value, and the price. Are you ready to hit the Phoenix antique shops? We bet you’ll find something perfect to add to your Arizona apartment! Let us know how it goes in the comments.

Phoenix Antiques: Where to Find Them

In our last post, we explored antiques, vintage items, and collectibles, sharing information about how to identify them, what to look for and how to determine value. This week, the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog is taking a look at places to shop for antiques in the greater Phoenix area. Arizona has a rich history and we’re sure you’ll find something worth taking home as you venture out in search of the perfect antique item! Brass Armadillo Antique Mall According to their website, “The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall® is a unique chain of antique malls showcasing antique and collectible merchandise from more than 3,500 antique dealers. With eye-catching malls conveniently located on major interstate highways, we bring the advantages of mega mall shopping to the quaint business of selling antiques and collectibles.” Camelback Antiques “Camelback Antiques is a 7,500 square foot multi-dealer antiques mall located in the historic heart of Phoenix, AZ! We offer a wide selection of vintage and antique goods. We’re the perfect place to find an overlooked treasure for your home or business. Stop on in and see what our always-changing inventory has to offer you!” Rare Lion Antiques & Jewelry “With over 33 years experience and expertise in assessing Antique & Estate Jewelry, our appraisal services are sought after by Estate Liquidators, Attorneys, Accountants, Trustees, Insurance Companies, Heirs, Individuals, and many others. We pride ourselves in providing extensive, detailed, and accurate appraisals, filling the particular needs of each and every client.” For other antique dealers in the area, check out this list from Yelp . We hope you have fun heading out to our local antique shops or finding deals online. Let us know about your finds in the comments. Next time we will share tips about what to look for as you’re shopping.

Do You Know the Difference? An Antiques Primer

Now that it’s starting to cool down a bit here in Arizona and people are more inclined to be out and about here in Phoenix, the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog is taking a look at antiques, vintage items, and collectible items this month. First, let’s take a look at the basics. Key Definitions Antiques are items that are at least one hundred years old, generally speaking. (For cars, it’s twenty-five years old, and for technology, things are typically outdated within five years.) Vintage refers to items that are at least twenty years old. Collectibles are popular items that people like to collect. They may or may not be vintage or antique, but they often are. Retro is something (particularly clothes) that looks out of style for the current time period. Provenance is the written history or proof of a piece’s authenticity, and it is most often found with more expensive items. It is a paper trail for an antique and may include purchase receipts, marketing materials, documents from auctions houses, and even photographs of the piece that establish or prove its history. On Value A general concept in the antique community regarding value is summed up with this adage: A piece is worth as much as you’re willing to pay for it. This concept encompasses the idea that following your heart when it comes to shopping for antiques is okay — just be sure to balance the desires of your heart with your budget. Receipts When it comes to antiques, receipts are important. Always get a receipt, even for a cash purchase. The receipt should include the age of the item, the material it’s made from, any damage or restoration, its value, and the price you paid. Be sure to find out the return policy of the shop or vendor in case you need to return an item. Next week we will highlight various places in the area where you can find antique, vintage, and collectible items. We hope you enjoy the cooler weather this month! Thanks for reading our post today.

Back to School Tips

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog! Not only is it National Golf Month, but this time of year is also the time when many students are starting or preparing to get back to school. Today our apartment community is focusing on helping these students and anyone who will be a support system for them this school year here in Phoenix, AZ. Read on for some back-to-school tips everyone should keep in mind for a successful year. Know the logistics. The first step to feeling confident and capable while you or your student is at school is to first know when it starts! Then you can get a better feel for when you need to be done shopping for school supplies and planning proper sleeping and play schedules. Check your or your school website and event calendar so you can put important dates on your calendar. Tour the school. Learn about each school for you and your household by touring them specifically. This is especially important for anyone new to a school so they can familiarize themselves with the new environment and map out in real time a route they’ll need to follow every day. Even doing this with returning students is useful, for example if the school went through any changes, or if they simply just need to re-orient themselves to the school. Shop for supplies. This can be a fun part of school prep for you and your children, so bring them along and let them choose any items they’ll need, like specific styles of notebooks, binders, pencils, a backpack, and more. This will help them feel confident and prepared for the school year, which goes a long way! Practice a routine. Getting into a more strict routine can be difficult for some kids, so make your efforts now to transition them into going to bed early, waking up early, and setting aside specific times for work and play. Especially if they’re rowdier children, walk them through sitting still, raising their hands, getting along with others, and waiting for their ride home so they are prepared for these important tasks. Encourage and empower them and they’ll respond well!