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2017 in Review Best Movies

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog, where we write posts for residents living in our Phoenix, AZ apartment community. With the recent release of the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie, we thought it’d be fun to take a look back and highlight a few movies that are definitely worth seeing. Check them out below! Dunkirk “Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German Army, and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.” Goodbye Christopher Robin “After leaving London for the English countryside, writer A.A. Milne starts to spin fanciful yarns about his son's growing collection of stuffed animals. These stories form the basis for Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner , published respectively in 1926 and 1928. Milne and his family soon become swept up in the instant success of the books, while the enchanting tales bring hope and comfort to the rest of postwar England.” The Lost City of Z “At the dawn of the 20th century, British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon, where he discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment, which views indigenous populations as savages, the determined Fawcett, supported by his devoted wife, son, and aide-de-camp, returns to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case.” War For the Planet of the Apes “In War for the Planet of the Apes , the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.” IT “Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, are about to face their worst nightmare -- an ancient, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on the town's children. Banding together over the course of one horrifying summer, the friends must overcome their own personal fears to battle the murderous, bloodthirsty clown known as Pennywise.” Wonder Woman “Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.” What movies did you love watching this year? Share in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

2017 in Review Best Books

2017 has been a great year! We’ve had a few awesome movies (check out the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie this week), brilliant new music, and great books — a few of which we’d like to focus on in today’s post. That’s right. We’re sharing a few of this year’s best books with residents living in our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, AZ. Check them out below. The Golden House: A Novel “Set against the strange and exuberant backdrop of current American culture and politics, The Golden House [marks] Salman Rushdie’s triumphant and exciting return to realism. The result is a modern epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinvention—a powerful, timely story told with the daring and panache that make Salman Rushdie a force of light in our dark new age.” Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter Series #3) “For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, ‘He's at Hogwarts . . . he's at Hogwarts.’” New People “Heartbreaking and darkly comic, New People is a bold and unfettered page-turner that challenges our every assumption about how we define one another, and ourselves.” Things That Happened Before the Earthquake: A Novel “Mere weeks after the 1992 riots that laid waste to Los Angeles, Eugenia, a typical Italian teenager, is rudely yanked from her privileged Roman milieu by her hippie-ish filmmaker parents and transplanted to the strange suburban world of the San Fernando Valley. With only the Virgin Mary to call on for guidance as her parents struggle to make it big, Hollywood fashion, she must navigate her huge new public high school, complete with Crips and Bloods and Persian gang members, and a car-based environment of 99-cent stores and obscure fast-food franchises and all-night raves. She forges friendships with Henry, who runs his mother's movie memorabilia store, and the bewitching Deva, who introduces her to the alternate cultural universe that is Topanga Canyon. And then the 1994 earthquake rocks the foundations not only of Eugenia's home but of the future she'd been imagining for herself.” Share your favorite books from this year in a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Great Gift Ideas

Welcome back to the Liv Ahwatukee Blog! As December rushes in, many people are rushing to the stores to buy gifts for family members, friends, and coworkers. If you didn’t make it out to the stores on Black Friday or are still trying to find that “perfect” gift, we might have a few ideas to help. We’ve compiled a few gift ideas that you can purchase without leaving your Phoenix, AZ apartment. Fishing Pole Campfire Roaster While for many people this gift would be better suited for summertime, it works perfectly well in Arizona. “We once toasted a marshmallow THIS BIG. Hook and roast your favorite campfire food with this fishing pole–inspired skewer. Made of powder-coated steel and finished with a maple handle, this flipping-fun roaster will occupy a prime spot in your camp tackle box. Find a comfy spot in front of the fire, then jig the pole to flip your snack so it's evenly roasted on all sides.” The Mug with a Hoop Dunk those marshmallows into a cup of steamy hot cocoa. “‘The world would be better if we could play with our food!’ That's the maxim of Max, the kid entrepreneur and sports fan who created this functional and fanciful basketball Mug With a Hoop™ at the tender age of 8 in his art class. Now you can slam dunk some oyster crackers in your soup or shoot a 3 pointer of mini marshmallows in your cocoa.” Yoga Joes Do you know anyone that loves to do yoga? These figurines would make a perfect stocking stuffer for them. “This troop's mission? To keep inner peace. Designer Dan Abramson looked to a favorite childhood toy to help inspire grown-ups to get into yoga. Armed with a general knowledge of the practice, this platoon of posing servicemen show off their secret weapon: major strength and flexibility.” Maki Socks You probably know someone who is obsessed with sushi. If so, these socks are the perfect gift! “Get ready to look good enough to eat. Wear your love for Japanese cuisine with these soft cotton socks. Packed and rolled to resemble the traditional maki treat, they'll stand out in your sock drawer. Unrolled, they reveal an artful, color-blocked pattern that'll stand out in your 9 a.m. meeting. Don't keep this sushi secret to yourself, though—they also make a perfect stocking stuffer.” Tricerataco Holder Of course, sometimes you need a dinosaur to hold your uneaten taco. “Known for its hard shell and spicy disposition, Triceratops roamed the earth millions of years ago. This taco-toting beast is back for a blast of mealtime fun. The durable, dishwasher-safe dino holds two hard shell tacos until you make them extinct.” What gift stands out to you? Share in the comments below. Happy holidays!

Digesting After Overeating

After eating Thanksgiving dinner, did you feel stuffed? This is common and often leads to discomfort for up to a few hours. While we can’t help with the aftermath of your Thanksgiving feast, we can teach you what to do in future situations. If you know you’ll be overeating on another occasion (maybe at Christmas or New Years?), then let us help! Also, if you have any friends living nearby our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, Arizona, share this information with them. The following tips come from PopSugar and LifeSpa : Before the Meal If you know you’re going to eat a huge meal, it’s a good idea to eat something before it. Of course, we don’t mean that you should eat a huge breakfast or lunch, but you should at least eat something light and balanced. Coming to a dinner while starving is an invitation for overeating, and you probably won’t be able to avoid it. Drink a tall glass of water 20 minutes before starting a meal. As LifeSpa says, “This will pre-hydrate your stomach wall, which is lined with an acid buffer that is 80% water. The more water, the better the buffer and the more acid your stomach will produce to enjoy more food. Studies show it helps reduce weight.” The Meal Digestion is the strongest during the afternoon, so avoid having a huge dinner late at night. When you eat, take your time. LifeSpa points out, “The more time you give yourself to chew and relax, the more your stomach will gracefully expand and allow you to comfortably continue to enjoy your Thanksgiving (or other) meal without over eating.” Also, avoid drinking cold or ice water with this meal. Drink before and after. If you must drink during, sip on a warm drink. After the Meal While it might sound tempting, lying down after a huge meal can be unhealthy; if done the wrong way, it can cause indigestion as well as acid reflux. If you need to lie down, there “is an old Ayurvedic strategy to lie on your left side for 10 to 15 minutes after a large meal. This is not an all afternoon siesta, but a short rest on the left side to allow the stomach to empty gracefully and effortlessly,” according to LifeSpa. Also, make a cup of herbal tea. Ginger, chamomile, and peppermint are all great options that help improve digestion. We hope these tips come in handy the next time you face a huge meal. Take advantage of these tips by applying them. Thanks for reading!

It's National Game Puzzle Week

Did you know that this week is National Game and Puzzle Week ? We have a few board games that we’d like to share with you! Whether you play on Thanksgiving Day or you wait until the weekend, these games are great for every occasion. If you don’t have enough players, invite a neighbor at our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community in Phoenix, Arizona to join in on the fun! We know that Halloween just passed, but Broom Service is really fun! Each player assumes the role of a which delivering potions. Along the way, obstacles will arise and the tension will grow. Enjoy this card-based game that combines luck with skill, promotes bluffing, and challenges your better judgment. Do you have what it takes to deliver potions to the four corners of the map? Another game that we love is Takenoko . Just like we all get to feast this week, so does the panda in this tile-laying board game. “In Takenoko , the players will cultivate land plots, irrigate them, and grow one of the three species of bamboo (Green, Yellow, and Pink) with the help of the Imperial gardener to maintain this bamboo garden. They will have to bear with the immoderate hunger of this sacred animal for the juicy and tender bamboo. The player who manages his land plots best, growing the most bamboo while feeding the delicate appetite of the panda, will win the game.” Being one of the highest earning games ever launched on Kickstarter, Exploding Kittens is a hilarious version of Russian Roulette. Take turns drawing cards, but be careful! If you draw an exploding kitten, you lose! If you like racing games and Pirate-themed movies, then Jamaica is for you! Join the world’s most infamous pirates as they race around the island of Jamaica, collecting treasures and starting battles along the way. Who will be first to round the island and make it back to Port Royal? Who will go after the cursed treasure? Who will attack enemy ships and steal their loot? What are your favorite board games? Share the titles in the comments below. Thanks for reading. Happy celebrating!

Thanksgiving Dinner Hacks

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, we thought it’d be beneficial to share a few hacks to help with Thanksgiving dinner. We invite all the residents of our Liv Ahwatukee apartment community to read and apply these game-changing strategies for the Thanksgiving dinner menu. If you have guests from Phoenix, AZ joining you, they’ll never forget these timeless yet simple cooking hacks. Our first hack is about mashed potatoes. Want to make your mashed potatoes extra fluffy? Add a pinch of baking powder. While mashing, add the baking powder and that’s all! The powder works with the heat and actually forms air pockets, helping make the potatoes extra fluffy. Thanks to Lifehacker , now we know! Having a dishwasher in your apartment is a priceless amenity that can actually help you with your Thanksgiving dinner preparations. In this list from Huffington Post , potatoes are listed as the #1 surprising thing you can put in the dishwasher. Don’t use detergent, of course. When they’re finished washing, peeling will be incredibly simple. Did you know that chicken broth can save an overcooked turkey ? “After you slice the meat off the bird, place it in a shallow baking dish, cover it with chicken or turkey stock, then put it in a 250-degree oven for about 10 minutes. While this won't totally eliminate the dryness, it will add more moisture to the meat, and most importantly, it will prevent it from drying out even more.” If you want to keep your gravy warm but don’t have a gravy warmer, use an insulated coffee carafe . This will result in fewer spills and (as expected) warm gravy. You can find an assortment of coffee carafes on Amazon.com . What are your favorite cooking hacks to help with Thanksgiving dinner preparation? Leave a comment below with your ideas so that we can all apply them. Happy Thanksgiving!