Blog Posts

Planning Out a Perfect Home Theater

Have you been wanting to take that courageous first step of making your own apartment home theater? If youre one of the brave souls that wants the entertainment ecosystem you fully deserve, you might not know where to start. Add to that the desire to keep things under budget, and maybe that wonderful dream of yours starts to slip away. But hold on a sec! Thanks to trending DIY hackery, that dream is now more feasible than ever. So where should you go to map out your master plan? Here are some great resources to help you out! 1. IKEA Hackers IKEA is well known for their stylish and modular furniture thats sold at affordable rates. And youre not the only one thats seen the inner Lego in their design. This website is perfect for taking advantage of the hidden flexible nature of even their available furniture. Whether you want to turn a bookcase into a projector mount, or transform a coffee table into a speaker stand, a simple search on their site will provide you with some highly useful results. 2. Instructables Looking for something outside the realm of IKEA? This site provides a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Everything from acoustic panels to projector shelves is featured on this site . And because its a part of the DIY scene, most of their projects often utilize items you might already have in your home. Plus, once youre done with your theater, youll even be able to find the perfect recipe to accompany you on your theaters maiden voyage. If youre looking for tips on how to set up projectors, speakers, and what to look for in equipment, lists like this can also be resourceful. Just remember to take out any of their suggestions that wouldnt work in your apartment! Do any of you have experience with building your own at-home theater? What tips and tricks worked best for you? What advice do you have for our readers? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

Stocking Your New Pantry at Liv Ahwatukee

One of the more surprising difficulties of moving into a new apartment can be filling that big, empty pantry. Since most people tend to buy food and ingredients on an as-needed basis, it can be tricky to remember all the items that you need to purchase when youre buying them en masse. At Liv Ahwatukee, weve got your backweve gone through and put together a list of the necessities youll need to cook just about whatever you want. Grains, Rice, and Pasta: Cornmeal, rolled oats, cous cous, and bread crumbs are some handy grains to have around (panko bread crumbs make great breading!) in addition to your favorite flours; rice options include wild, brown, and white Jasmine; and some of the most common and useful pastas include spaghetti, fettuccini, and penne. Baking Essentials: Beyond flour, youll want to consider baking soda, baking powder, yeast, vanilla, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, and any of your favorite sweetenerssugar (brown, white, or powder), honey, molasses, maple syrup, or chocolate chips. Herbs and Spices: Some of the most useful include the classic salt and pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, paprika, chili powder, cumin, dill, coriander, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and any of your favorite seasoning blends. Dont forget the bullion, either. Nuts and Beans: These are great for some extra protein and energy in any dish, as long as you dont have any nut allergies. Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and almonds are all common in recepies; for beans, theres pinto, black, kidney, garbanzo, and baked brown. You can also check out useful seedssunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, as well as lentils and green split peas. Canned Goods: Beyond your favorite fruits and vegetables, there are also sauces, broths, and spreads. Tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, vegetable broth, beef broth, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, peanut butter, and salsa are all great for baking. Oils, Sauces, and Vinegars: Pick your favorite oilsolive, peanut, coconut, vegetable, grapeseed; your favorite vinegarswhite, balsamic, white wine, red wine, apple, or rice; and round it off with your favorite saucesworchestershire, ketchup, mustard, tabasco, hot sauce, or sriracha sauce. What do you keep in your pantry that we forgot? Let us know in the comments!

Best Hiking Trails around Ahwatukee

One of the best things about living in Arizona is that you can go out to exercise and enjoy nature all year round. Whether you like to walk, hike or ride your bike, you will find great urban and mountain trails within a short distance from Liv Ahwatukee. To get you started, here are a few great trails near Liv Ahwatukee: (these will have links) South Mountain Park is close to Liv Ahwatukee, with plenty of trails for both easy and difficult hikes. The Superstition Mountains are to the east, full of exciting hiking trails. Camelback Mountain is further north in the Scottsdale area. Piestewa Peak is just beyond that. and the San Tan Mountains are to the southeast beside the San Tan Valley. Before you go out, make sure that youre prepared for your trip! Wear good walking or running shoes no sandals, heels, or flip-flops. Be nicer to your feet than that! Stay hydrated get plenty to drink throughout the day before you leave and be sure to take a water bottle with you. Even if it doesnt seem warm out, you can still get faint and dehydrated. Make sure someone knows where youll be The last thing you want is to slip and fall when youre all alone. Let someone know where you will be or better yet, take a friend along. Good company and beautiful hikes go together like peanut butter and jelly. Dress for the weather Sometimes, Arizona weather can surprise you. Bring a long sleeved shirt for higher elevations with unexpected drops in temperature during your hike. If it looks like it might rain, bring a jacket along and be sure to wear appropriate clothes to keep you dry and comfortable. Have any favorite trails around Liv Ahwatukee that we didnt mention? Tell us about them in the comments!

Healthy Treats to Bake for your Dog

We all know how expensive dog treats can get, especially if your pup has any food sensitivities or allergies. Here are a few great homemade treat recipes you can make for your dog! All of these recipes are simple, easy to make and healthy alternatives to store bought snacks. Frozen Popsicles Ingredients: cup peanut butter (unsalted/no sugar added) cup plain yogurt 1 ripe banana 1 teaspoon ground flax seed (optional) Splash of unsweetened almond milk Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into ice cube trays or small bowls Freeze until solid. Remove from freezer 5-10 minutes before serving to soften. Chicken Wild Rice Treats Something a little more savory: Ingredients: 1 cup wild rice, mashed (may sub with another rice) 1 cup chicken, diced fine or shredded 3 Tablespoons rice flour (I used Bob's Red Mill) 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, diced 1 egg, beaten Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 deg F. Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir until well incorporated. Using a spoon, press mixture into each cavity, packing tight and filling nearly to the top. Bake for 25 minutes or until top begins to turn golden brown. Let cool completely before serving. Notes: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (or freeze). Mint Buckwheat Dog Biscuits Ingredients: 1 cups buckwheat flour 4 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped 2 Tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped 1 Tablespoon pure honey 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 egg, beaten water (approx. 1-3 tsp) Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir buckwheat flour, parsley and mint leaves together until combined In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and honey. Pour olive oil-honey mixture into the flour and stir. Add egg and stir until well combined. Knead dough with hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients together. Add a teaspoon of water at a time to help the dough come together. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to approx. " thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie dough cutter. Place biscuits onto a nonstick baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Notes: Store biscuits in an airtight container in the fridge to keep fresh. These recipes were made by Sarah Lukemire; you can find these and more at her site lolathepitty.com . If you have any more great doggy treat recipes, let us know in the comments!

Sweet Shops in Ahwatukee

Summer is over and the cool weather we have all been waiting for is finally here! The fall season brings many exciting things and sweets are up at the top of the list. Here are a few places near Liv Ahwatukee where you can satisfy your sweet tooth this fall. Local sweet shops Cookie Pantry : This little bakery features more than just cookiesyou can also find pastries and other delicious baked goods. Nothing Bundt Cakes : Featuring a fantastic variety of delicious cakes made with the best ingredients. The pecan praline is next on our to-try list. Pomegranate CafÃ© : If youre one of those people who feels that desserts belong after dinner, then this is the place to go. With a full soup, salad, and sandwich menu, this cafÃ© can cover all your bases. Frozen Yogurt Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt : Self-serve frozen yogurt with your choice of toppings. Plus, sugar-free and dairy-free options are available. Yoasis : Have a gluten intolerance? Yoasis is the place to check out for some great gluten-free options. Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt : Want a small portion? A large one? Zoyo features pay-by-weight frozen yogurt, so you can get as much or as little as you want. Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt : Their frozen yogurt is great, but their smoothies and freezes are even better. And you can wash it down with some of their fresh-squeezed juice! Did we miss any spectacular treat shops? Let us know in the comments below!

Tips for a Great Community BBQ in Phoenix

One of the biggest benefits of living in a luxury apartment community like Liv Ahwatukee is the opportunity to interact and connect with the people around you. We offer a wide variety of amenities throughout the community for you to get outside and have fun with your friends, family and neighbors. Living in a beautiful apartment community can make it even more fun and convenient to enjoy a Phoenix summer BBQ! Here are some tips to help make your BBQ party a success when using one of the community BBQs at Liv Ahwatukee. Make it a potluck Ask everyone you invite to bring a side dish, dessert, drinks, etc. That way, you can be the grill master and let the rest of the meal come to you so you have more time for fun! Invite some of your Liv neighbors Have you always wanted to talk to the nice couple two doors down? Or socialize with the family downstairs but havent had the chance to introduce yourself? A community BBQ is a great way to meet your neighbors and interact with your community at Liv Ahwatukee. Pay it forward and invite someone who lives around you so you can make new friends. Bring games What BBQ would be complete without a few games? Bring a few grass games with you so your guests and kids can have a blast while you prepare the grub. Games such as Corn Hole, Bocce, Horseshoes, and Croquet are a few great options you can easily pack up and bring along to keep your family and friends entertained. Try new recipes Grilling is so fun and easy, its always a great opportunity to try new recipes. Prepare your foods in your apartment kitchen before heading down to the grill so you have less to do when you are outside. Check out the Liv Ahwatukee Liv Healthy Pinterest board for some easy, healthy and delicious grilling recipes. Get there early If you plan to have a BBQ party on a beautiful, Saturday afternoon, remember that many of your neighbors may have the same idea as you do! Be sure you get down to the grilling area early to ensure you can secure a space and a grill for your BBQ. Or better yet, plan a group BBQ with your neighbors in advance so you can all grill together! Know what type of grill you will be using Liv Ahwatukee offers both propane and charcoal grills so be prepared for either type of grill prior to bringing your food down to cook. If you plan to use one of the charcoal grills, dont forget to bring your own lighter, charcoal, and lighter fluid to get the grill nice and hot for cooking. Dont forget: Here is a list of some items you wont want to forget to bring to your BBQ: A BBQ tool set will be a lifesaver and includes just about everything you need for your BBQ! Plastic bowls and platters to carry your food Aluminum foil to cover your cooked food can also be useful to cook foods on the grill Cooking spray Oven mitts bring a few of these down from your kitchen in case you need to grab something fast that may be too hot to handle Meat thermometer to ensure your meat is cooked to the correct and safe temperature Plates, napkins and utensils (if you plan on eating at one of Liv Ahwatukees outdoor picnic areas) Safety First! Be aware of your surroundings and use caution when using any BBQ grill. A responsible adult should be designated to heat the grill and cook the food. A heated grill must never be left unattended and children should be kept at a safe distance from the heat of the grill at all times. Please be sure to fully extinguish any flames from a charcoal grill before departing from the area. Clean the grill before and after use Keep in mind that you want the grill to be clean when you arrive to cook so cleaning up after you grill is equally as important to ensure that your neighbors can enjoy a successful BBQ too! Have fun and well see you at the BBQ!