Blog Posts

Great Movie Soundtracks

With so many great movies coming out every year, it’s no surprise that we’ve listened to a lot of great music. Today, the Liv Ahwatukee Blog is sharing what we think to be some of the greatest soundtracks in recent years. Whether you’re cruising around Phoenix, AZ or chilling in your apartment, get some great listening in with these soundtracks. Dunkirk One of the things that Director Christopher Nolan always gets right in his movies is his choice of music. Dunkirk is a visually breathtaking masterpiece with an equally stirring soundtrack. After seeing this movie, you won’t be forgetting the imagery or great music anytime soon. Baby Driver If you’ve seen Baby Driver, then you’ll know just how important the music is to this movie. Not only is each track a driving force in moving the story forward, but an important element that gets noticed, and discussed, by the actual characters themselves. With high-energy chase sequences seemingly choreographed to memorable nostalgic tracks from the 1970s, there are plenty of songs that everyone will enjoy listening to over and over again. Swiss Army Man Much of the beauty of the indie film Swiss Army Man comes from its enchanting soundtrack. In our opinion, one of 2016’s most compelling and daring films was also one of the most rewarding listens. That was Swiss Army Man. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 It was no surprise that Guardians of the Galaxy 2 had great music. Much similarly to Baby Driver, Guardian’s soundtrack is a throwback to past generations. The music is upbeat, catchy, and tugs on the heartstrings of memorabilia and nostalgia. Whether you want to dance or just listen, this soundtrack is one of 2017’s best. Wonder Woman DC movies have always had great music, and Wonder Woman is no exception. With each track a new layer of emotion is added, building Wonder Woman’s story along with a great experience for the audience.

Embrace the Amenities of Liv Ahwatukee

At Liv Ahwatukee Apartments, we put luxury living first by offering high-end, resort-style amenities in individual homes and in community areas. Residents of our community in Phoenix, AZ have the opportunity to enjoy the ease and comfort of living in a place designed specifically for them. Take a look at the extensive list of our amenities below. We have something for everyone. Community Amenities Concierge recycling and trash Electric car charging stations Fully enclosed bark park Liv Simply concierge services Outdoor BBQ and lounge areas 1-mile jogging path around the community 24/7 access to The Hub with business center, media room, and gaming systems 24/7 emergency maintenance services Award-winning on-site maintenance team Saltwater heated pools and spas Smoke-free community Social events every week for a wide variety of interests Splash pad Playground Private garages and covered parking Wi-Fi throughout all amenity areas Apartment Amenities Air Conditioning Ample storage space Barrier-free units Ceiling fans Controlled access Dishwasher Full-size washer & dryer Gourmet kitchens with granite countertops Private patio/balcony Private wireless router in each home Programmable thermostat Range Stainless steel, Energy Star appliances Thoughtfully designed layouts USB outlets in each home Walk-in closets Are you a resident of Liv Ahwatukee? If so, what’s your favorite feature of our apartment community? If not, take a moment to decide what amenities are important to you in an apartment community. A final note before you leave… Amenities may add incentive for you to move into an apartment community, but there are other things to consider like location and price. Once you’ve decided on a place, we recommend checking out this apartment checklist by Updater . Even if this isn’t your first apartment, this checklist is definitely worth looking over. Thanks for visiting the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog. We hope you have a great month in Phoenix, AZ or wherever you might be!

What You’ll Need for the Perfect Picnic

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog. July is the perfect month to head to your favorite picnic spot near your apartment in Phoenix, AZ. Enjoy these great tips to get your picnic season underway! What You’ll Need — Picnic blanket — serving utensils — plates, cups, cutlery, napkins — tasty food — drinks — cooler — condiments & spices — Picnic basket Helpful Tip: Use this picnic packing list from Real Simple to be sure you don’t forget any picnic essentials. The Food Sandwiches have a well-deserved reputation as picnic food. Here are some tips for making, packing, and eating sandwiches: — Butter the bread before adding the filling. The butter acts as a barrier, and the bread won’t get soggy. — Pack the sandwich fillings in separate plastic bags and assemble the sandwiches on site. This allows individuals to build a custom-made sandwich. — Invest in some packets of mayo and mustard; this reduces the chance of spoilage. — Leave the sandwich partially in the wrapping while you eat it. If it drips, the wrapping will catch the drips. — Think outside the breadbox for sandwiches. Serve chicken salad with croissants, fill pitas with tuna salad, and make lettuce or tortilla wraps. On the other hand, spending some time in your fabulous apartment kitchen to make a delicious, old-fashioned, satisfying meal of fried chicken, potato salad, fruit, and dinner rolls is a great way to welcome in the warmer summer months. These foods can be packed up and taken to the park for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to take a chocolate cake for dessert. Of course, portable food is one of the key factors when preparing a picnic. You could also try something a little different: take some fresh salsa and chips for your picnic. We have a tasty salsa recipe from Allrecipes.com for you to try. Other Essentials Don’t forget the paper plates, utensils, cups, and a tablecloth! Once the food is planned, the next step is deciding where to go. If you don’t have time to prepare a picnic, simply stop at your favorite deli and pick up food to take to your favorite park. The point is to eat outdoors and enjoy time with friends and family.

Mashed Potato Heaven

To finish off our month of blog posts, we’re sharing a few sensational mashed potato creations. Last week we focused on one of our favorite sweet treats. Today we go savory! Curtis’ Stone’s Baked Mashed Potatoes with Pancetta The first recipe in our list was posted on Rachael Ray’s website. This recipe for has so much good going for it that it’s making our mouths water just thinking about it. Combined with the potatoes, pancetta, whole milk, sour cream, mascarpone cheese, and black pepper. Top it all off with parmesan cheese. Talk about yummy! Mashed Potatoes with Soft Cheese and Herbs Also from Rachael Ray’s website, this recipe calls for potatoes, Boursin garlic-and-herb soft cow’s milk cheese, milk, parsley, chives, thyme, lemon zest, and garlic. The end result looks delicious. Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions Caramelized onions are already a good idea and can be paired with so many different foods. What about mashed potatoes? This recipe is so simple to make, it only requires a few ingredients. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes If you’re needing to plan ahead with your meals, check out this recipe. From the website: “You can prepare [these] a day or two ahead of time, refrigerate them, then bake them on the day of. It’s a great time saver, and these mashed potatoes are absolutely incredible. Creamy and buttery, with a slightly crunchy golden crust on top. These make-ahead mashed potatoes are truly heavenly.” You can do so many things with mashed potatoes: add caramelized onions, mix in different types of cheese, eat with bacon and other types of meat… We love them! What’s your favorite way to eat this classic comforting dish? We at Liv Ahwatukee Apartments would love to hear about it! Leave a comment below for residents of our Phoenix, AZ community. Thanks for reading!

Move Forward with Forgiveness

If you are harboring a grudge against someone, no matter the reason, we hope that today’s blog post will help you let go of those negative emotions. Before we share a few ideas to help you focus on forgiveness, we’d like to acknowledge that grudges are normal; it’s natural to have the urge to protect oneself, especially from further hurt or harm. What we fear are the negative effects that grudges can cause after those feelings have grown deeper. Holding onto ill feelings toward someone or something can negatively affect both physical and mental health. So before we get too far into the summer season, let’s see if there’s something positive that you can do moving forward. Here are a few tips that we think can help you let go of a grudge: Put on a different pair of shoes: Put yourself in the shoes of the person, group, or thing that helped cause or add to your pain. You can learn a lot by focusing on their point of view, trying to feel what they feel or think about how they thought when things went south. Empathy is powerful in helping you move forward. Acknowledge what you are feeling: Take time to identify the reason you are feeling the way that you are. You might decide to write down these thoughts in your journal or record them out loud. And don’t worry; no one needs to read it or listen to it but you. Allowing yourself to identify the root issue behind what you’re feeling can be a comforting move on your part, giving you the chance to process those emotions and move forward. Choose to move forward: By choosing to let go of the negative feelings, you’re making room for more positive feelings in your life. We’re not suggesting you forget about what happened, but we are suggesting that you acknowledge what happened and choose to learn from it. Mentally accepting your situation, even if tentatively, can give your mind a positive energy boost to work toward full forgiveness. Thanks for visiting the Liv Ahwatukee Blog! We hope you have a great month in Phoenix, AZ. If you have any further tips about letting go of a grudge, feel free to share with our apartment community by leaving a comment below.

Delicious Ice Cream Recipes

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a spoonful of homemade ice cream on a hot summer day. Enjoy reading about a few of our favorite ice cream recipes, including delicious creations like Cookies & Cream Nutella, Snickerdoodle, and Pistachio Cherry. Cookies & Cream Nutella If the classic combination of cookies and cream isn’t enough to put a smile on your face, try adding Nutella to the mix! You’ll need heavy whipping cream, chocolate milk, Nutella, sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and Oreo cookies to make this sinfully delicious treat. Snickerdoodle Are you a fan of snickerdoodle cookies? If yes, then you’ll love this frozen alternative: snickerdoodle ice cream. This sweet treat is packed with sugar, cinnamon, and whipping cream. Simply mix all the required ingredients together, cover and chill in the refrigerator for two hours, and you’re on your way to making one of our favorite ice cream flavors! Butterbeer Harry Potter fans will love this! To make Butterbeer flavored ice cream, you’ll need butter, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, cream, egg yolks, white sugar, and one bottle of British Ale. If you’ve tasted the Butterbeer ice cream at Universal Studios, let us know how this recipe compares. Avocado Combine coconut milk, heavy cream, avocados, lime juice, and vanilla for this surprisingly flavorful dessert. “Avocado ice cream” might sound like an unusual flavor, but it sure hit all the positive notes of our taste buds. Pistachio Cherry To finish off our list of favorite ice cream recipes, we’re sharing a flavorful combination of cherries and pistachios. You’ll need the following ingredients: heavy whipping cream, unsweetened coconut milk, sugar, almond extract, cherries, and ground pistachios. Thanks for visiting the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog! Let us know what type of ice cream you love to make in your Phoenix, Arizona apartment. We hope you have a great rest of the month!