Blog Posts

Healthy Eating Tips from Liv Northgate

In this post, the Liv Northgate Blog is featuring our favorite healthy living tips. The fall holidays, and soon the winter ones, are coming up, and now is a good time to focus on healthy eating to establish or re-establish good habits before all the goodies appear and threaten to consume you. We hope these tips help you eat a little healthier during the upcoming holiday season. Tip 1: Add more fruits and veggies to your diet. An easy way to make your meals healthier is to eat the proper servings of fruits and vegetables. Have a banana or blueberries with your breakfast, a salad for lunch, and a side of broccoli with your dinner. Apple slices and grapes are great snacks any day of the week. Incorporate fruits and vegetables into the dishes you make every day. Tip 2: Cut back on the sweets. It can be difficult to cut sweets totally out of your diet, but it’s always possible to cut back on your sugar intake. Keep your desserts to a minimum. Have dessert with just one meal a day, and have a fresh serving of fruit with your other meals. Tip 3: Get out of the house. Visit the local gym, take a walk around a park here in Gilbert, take the stairs, or start a soccer or baseball league with your friends. Get out of the apartment sometime this month to get some exercise and fresh air now that it’s starting to cool down a bit. Tip 4: Avoid juice. It’s better to get your fruit servings from fresh fruit. Avoid drinking fruit juice — it’s often loaded with sugar anyway — or even choose to squeeze your own instead! Drink plenty of water and milk. Drinking water can help you quell your appetite, and milk is an essential source of calcium. Do you have any health tips for us? Give us your best tip in the comments. Thanks for reading! We hope you have a great month full of healthy living here in Gilbert, AZ!

Recommendations for Comic Book Day

In our post last time we briefly highlighted National Comic Book Day coming up on September 25th. We thought it would be fun to follow that up with some comic book suggestions for members of our apartment community to enjoy here at Liv Northgate. These days, comic books are seeping into all sorts of media. From movies to television to fine art, their stories and characters are icons of international culture. If you haven’t picked up a comic book since you were a kid (or ever at all), we’ve gathered together some of the greatest titles available. You should be able to find these at the Maricopa County Library District or Samurai Comics , neither of which are too far from Liv Northgate in Gilbert, AZ. Check them out soon! Lex Luthor: Man of Steel Superman has been called many things, from the defender of truth, justice and the American way to the Big Blue Boy Scout. In LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL, he is called something he has never been called before: a threat to all humanity. Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo--the acclaimed team who brought you the best-selling JOKER--deliver a bold story in which readers get a glimpse into the mind of Superman's longtime foe. MAN OF STEEL reveals why Luthor chooses to be the proverbial thorn in the Man of Steel's side: to save humanity from an untrustworthy alien being. Gwenpool, the Unbelievable 2015's overnight internet sensation takes center stage in her own series! Gwen Poole used to be a comic book reader just like you...until she woke up in a world where the characters she read about seemed to be real! But that can't be, right? This must all be fake, or a dream or something, right? And you know what that means...NO CONSEQUENCES! Could Gwenpool truly be Marvel's least responsible and least role-modely character to date? She can if she tries! Skullkickers: 1000 Opas and a Dead Body Mashing monsters is a messy business, but these two hard-headed mercenaries know that it serves a noble purpose: getting them paid. Just don’t stand in their way. Oh, and Skullkickers comes with a bonus that the other comics we mentioned don’t… you don’t have to pay to read it. That’s right — the whole series is available for free, in its entirety, online. Go check it out here ! What is the next superhero movie you are planning on seeing? Let us know in the comments. See you in the funny papers!

Celebrate in Gilbert This September

Welcome to this month’s blog brought to you by Liv Northgate, our apartments for rent in Gilbert, AZ. Our blog post this week is all about ways to appreciate the month of September because there’s more to celebrate than just Labor Day weekend! So if you want to celebrate a national month long holiday or you’re up for a day to focus on thinking positively or reading comics, we’ve got the info you need. Plus we have movie suggestions for what’s on the big screen this month. Classical Music Month Classical music isn’t just good for your baby; it’s good for you , too! Whenever you need something to soothe you, put you to sleep, relieve pain, add happiness to your life, boost your memory, or spark creativity in your mind, try putting on classical music you enjoy. Check out the classical music playlists on Soundcloud to find something you love! Positive Thinking Day Give yourself permission to love life this Positive Thinking Day (the 13th) and always. While there is much in life to get upset, frustrated, and indignant about, be sure to allow room for positive thinking, too. Check out this complete guide to positive thinking techniques to find healthy ways to adapt a more positive mindset. National Comic Book Day Whether you’ve been reading comic books since you were a kid or your interest has only been piqued since the surge of superhero movies taking over the movie theaters, National Comic Book Day on September 25th can be a day for you. Head to a comic book store in Gilbert, AZ or even to a bookstore or thrift shop near you to find your next read. September Movies Check out movies coming out this month at your favorite Gilbert theatre (with movie descriptions from Movie Insider ). Get tickets by ordering online ahead of time. Here are a couple of previews: Peppermint Have you seen Peppermint yet? Check it out in theaters beginning Friday, September 7th. Here’s the premise of the movie: “Peppermint is a revenge story centering on a young mother who finds herself with nothing to lose, and is now going to take from her enemies the very life they stole from her.” The House with a Clock in Its Walls Immerse yourself in a world of magic and intrigue come September 21st with this new fantasy film. Here’s the synopsis: “A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.”

Plan a Summer Day Trip

Summertime is traditionally the season for vacations and with the peak of the summer over the weather will start to cool down, which makes it the perfect time to plan a day trip. We’ve rounded up some tips for planning a successful day trip to help you get ready. Day Trip Tips to Get You Out the Door Prepare as much as you can the night before heading out from your apartment at Liv Northgate. Make sure you have everything you will need for the day. If possible, purchase your tickets to any attractions or venues you will be visiting ahead of time using online ticketing services. Take extra cash for souvenir purchases and other incidental expenses. As you are planning your trip, read up on the places you will be visiting. Knowing the history in advance makes an in-person visit that much more interesting. And you can impress your family/friends with your knowledge. Plan your route. Using an app like Waze can make this easier. Check out the driving route in advance and plan for traffic, construction, etc. Also, check the weather forecast, and have a contingency plan in place of inclement weather (switch to an indoor option instead of an outdoor one, for instance). Plan for some downtime during your day. Remember it’s supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable and if you are rushing from one thing to another, that defeats the purpose. Wear sturdy shoes for walking and comfortable clothes. Consider wearing layers which you can add or remove according to the temperature. Take an umbrella and a jacket. Wear a hat and apply sunscreen before you leave if you’re out and about on a sunny day. There are any number of places to plan to visit in the Gilbert area or expand your range and visit other nearby Arizona cities which all have fun attractions. Check out Discover Arizona for ideas. Do you have some tips for day tripping? Please feel free to share in the comments.

Enjoy a Game of Pool at Liv Northgate

Here at Liv Northgate apartments in Gilbert, AZ we are pleased to provide our residents with a range of amenities , both in our individual apartments and in our wider apartment community. One of our popular amenities is our gaming and pool tables in The Hub. Today we are highlighting the history of pool/billiards in our blog post. A Brief History of Pool Pool is one variation of what is collectively termed “cue sports” or “billiards,” as in a billiard (pool) table. Billiards games of all varieties are derived from outdoor stick-and-ball games such as trucco, croquet, and golf, dating back to medieval times. It is believed that the term “billiard” may have evolved from the French word billart or billette , which means “stick.” Or it might have come from the French bille, meaning “ball,” and “cue” from the French queue — all French words, which is not surprising, as the French nobility popularized the game in their courts. No one knows exactly who, when or where the first billiard table was built. The earliest documented record of a billiard table was made in 1470 according to an inventory of the possessions of King Louis XI of France. His table was said to have contained the following: a bed of stone, a cloth covering, and a hole in the middle of the playing field, into which balls could be driven. From this distant history, billiards has enjoyed a long run and is played around the world, in bars, pool halls or poolrooms, and billiard rooms. The term “poolroom” now means a place where billiards is played, but in the 19th century a poolroom was a betting parlor for horse racing. Billiard tables were installed so patrons could pass the time between races. The game of billiards and the poolroom became connected in the public’s mind. Today, the two terms are used interchangeably. The Billiard Shop website (where our information came from) provides more in-depth details about the History of Billiards (or Pool) for those who are interested in learning more. Have you taken time to get in a game of pool at Liv Northgate lately? Head on over to The Hub soon to enjoy a game of eight ball!

Beat Arizona Heat at the Theatre, The Hale Centre Theatre

We all know that Arizona summers can get extremely hot and that sometimes you just need a night out — but what to do that’s out of the heat? Why head to the theatre of course! Today the Liv Northgate Blog shares the info on what is happening at the Hale Centre Theatre in August. In addition to plays, the Hale is also hosting concerts these days. So catch a play or the concert this month! About the Hale Centre Theatre One of five theatres in three different states, Gilbert’s Hale Center Theatre has been bringing professional theater to Arizona audiences since 2003. Owner Dave Hale, a grandson of the original owners of the Glendale, CA theater, enjoys bringing professional theater to Gilbert, Arizona audiences. Playing in August: Sister Act: A Musical Comedy — Running through August 18th From the website: “When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, Sister Act will leave audiences breathless.” The Scarlet Pimpernel — August 24th - October 6th From the website: “Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this dashing and sumptuous Broadway hit will thrill you like never before! Tons of fun ensues as Sir Percy and his band of patriots use disguises and wit to rescue the innocent from certain doom! A soaring score, a beguiling romance, and stunning costumes make this the must see show of our season. Come “catch” The Scarlet Pimpernel!” August Concert The John Denver Tribute Show — August 27-28, 2018 For two nights only, catch this tribute show featuring the talented Ted Vigil performing music from the repertoire of folk legend, John Denver. The evening will include Denver’s 1970s hits including Rocky Mountain High , Take Me Home Country Roads , Thank God I'm a Country Boy , among the evenings line up. Purchase tickets at the box office in person, by phone, or online. Season tickets are also available with a choose your own shows option. If you have thespian leanings (and the time), open auditions for upcoming productions are posted regularly, so go ahead and break a leg! We hope you enjoy a play or concert this month! Thanks for reading our post this week.