Blog Posts

Weekend in Phoenix Part II

This month the Liv Northgate Blog is writing two posts on one of our favorite cities in Arizona — Phoenix! In our last post, we highlighted five of our favorite restaurants in the city. In this post, the Liv Northgate Blog is featuring two of our favorite places in Phoenix, AZ: the Phoenix Zoo and Castles n’ Coasters. We hope that you have a wonderful month here in Gilbert, AZ. Phoenix Zoo The Phoenix Zoo is a great place to spend the weekend! Visit a few of the 1,400 animals that currently call the Phoenix Zoo home. Animals at the zoo include the African lion, the Asian elephant, the Bornean orangutan, the Mexican gray wolf, and the Sumatran tiger. You can learn more about the animals at the Phoenix Zoo here . Want to know what the Zoo’s ferrets are up to? The Phoenix Zoo has a live ferret cam , so you can always see what they’re up to. We love the programs at the Phoenix Zoo! Programs include photography walkabouts. The description for this events reads , “Tips, tricks and technique guidance abound in this casual walkabout program led by one of the Zoo’s expert volunteer photographers. This program is entirely focused on practicing skills, getting instant feedback and having fun while capturing great images at the Zoo. While some dates may have a specific focus, participant interest shapes each class making this a dynamic and social experience for all. Whether your camera is professional quality or simply a phone camera, there is a walkabout program for you!” You can find more information about classes at the zoo here . Castles n’ Coasters Castles n’ Coasters is perfect for a fun evening out with friends. This awesome amusement park includes a mini golf course, thrilling roller coasters, an awesome arcade, bumper boats, and go karts. Roller coasters at Castles n’ Coasters include Desert Storm, Free Fall, Patriot, and Sky Diver. You can find a full list of the rides at Castles n’ Coasters here . What’s your favorite ride at Castles n’ Coasters? What’s your favorite exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Weekend in Phoenix Part I

This month the Liv Northgate Blog is featuring two posts on one of our favorite cities: Phoenix, AZ! In this post, we are highlighting five classic Phoenix restaurants that we think you should check out in September, including a classic institution from the 1950s and 60s. Each restaurant suggestion is accompanied by a review from Google. We hope that you have a fantastic month here in Gilbert, AZ. Bobby Q 8501 N 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85051 Brandon Stout : “ Enjoyed one of the best dining experiences ever tonight. While vacationing in Phoenix, my wife and I chose to eat at Bobby-Q this evening. Food was absolutely great and the service was even better. Huntley was our server and he provided the best service we have ever had. He was very informative and gave spot on suggestions. We were also checked on by the GM/Owner (not sure of exact title), he took time to have a pleasant conversation. Overall an amazing experience.” La Santisima Gourmet Taco Shop 1919 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006 Matthew Butters : “ This is a great hole in the wall Mexican restaurant, complete with a full bar as well as a self-service salsa bar, with close to a dozen fresh salsas to choose from. The service leaves a little bit to be desired but the food more than makes up for it. Extensive menu. Moderate to expensive. Some of the best guacamole in town. Can't wait to go back!” Durant’s 2611 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Carle Kahle : “The atmosphere was one of a kind. Entering through the kitchen made me question my restaurant selection, but the hustle and bustle once inside made me realize that not just travelers eat here...so do the locals. “The service was impeccable and the grilled scallops and mashed potatoes left me wanting nothing else but to leave room for dessert. We ended the evening with creme brulee and Irish coffees.” True Food Kitchen 2502 E Camelback Rd #135, Phoenix, AZ 85016 Cathy Ross : “My absolute favorite restaurant. Everything is organic, fresh and delicious. I have tried everything in the menu and I have always been happy with my choice, I could honestly eat here everyday and never get tired of the food.” Different Pointe of View 11111 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020 Marilyn Mance : “ One of my all time favorite restaurants in the Phoenix area. The food, wines, service, selection, and of course the view are all impeccable! When visiting one must go onto the terrace outside the adjacent lounge. There you will be able to appreciate their one of a kind, patented fountain. It's uniqueness arrives at the startling way live fire dances atop the water as it's flowing down. All this amidst the glorious back drop of a Arizona sunset. Truly fabulous!” What’s your favorite restaurant in Phoenix? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Deal with Boredom

The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring three of our favorite ways to deal with boredom, in this post. Take an online class, read a good book, or play a game sometime this September. We hope that you have a wonderful month here in Gilbert, AZ. Take an Online Class You don’t have to leave your comfortable apartment to take a fun class. There are online classes on every subject and websites like The Great Courses® and The Great Courses Plus give you access to an amazing catalog of courses. Want to learn how to cook? America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School is an awesome place to learn how to make everything from cheesecake to lobster to steamed rice. Go at your own pace and learn how to put together a delicious, mouthwatering meal before the month is through. Take a picture or two in September. The New York Institute of Photography offers online courses in professional photography, digital photography, portrait photography, photoshop, and much, much more. You can learn more about their classes here . Read a Good Book Read a good book this September. We’ve featured reading and book clubs before on our blog. Reading is an excellent way to escape into another world and alleviate boredom. We are featuring a book recommendation below. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway “ The story of Robert Jordan, a young American in the International Brigades attached to an antifascist guerilla unit in the mountains of Spain, it tells of loyalty and courage, love and defeat, and the tragic death of an ideal. In his portrayal of Jordan's love for the beautiful Maria and his superb account of El Sordo's last stand, in his brilliant travesty of La Pasionaria and his unwillingness to believe in blind faith, Hemingway surpasses his achievement in The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms to create a work at once rare and beautiful, strong and brutal, compassionate, moving, and wise.” Play a Game There are plenty of classic games online. You can play Tetris , Pac-Man, and solitaire online. The rules for Tetris are “t o score score as many points as possible by clearing horizontal lines of Blocks. The player must rotate, move, and drop the falling Tetriminos inside the Matrix (playing field). Lines are cleared when they are filled with Blocks and have no empty spaces. “As lines are cleared, the level increases and Tetriminos fall faster, making the game progressively more challenging. If the Blocks land above the top of the playing field, the game is over.” You can learn more about this game here . Do you have any tips for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Summer Treats in Gilbert, AZ

Celebrate the end of summer with five delicious summer desserts. We are featuring our favorite sweets for the summer, including cheesecakes, s’mores, shortbread, and ice cream cakes. We hope that you get the chance to gather up your friends, head to your favorite park here in Gilbert, AZ, and enjoy a treat or two before the month is through. Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes from Six Sisters’ Stuff Mini blueberry cheesecakes are the perfect summer snack. The creamy cheesecake and sweet blueberry filling blend for one of our favorite summer sweets. Hot S’more Dip from Spend with Pennies Hot s’more dip is the perfect addition to any summer party. All you need to make this decadent dip is milk chocolate chips (you can use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips instead, if you’d like), milk, marshmallows, and graham crackers. Make a lot — it’ll go fast, especially if you make it for guests. Strawberry Shortbread Ice Cream from Domestically Speaking All you need to make this dessert is heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, shortbread cookies, and sliced strawberries. We recommend going to your local farmers’ market for the strawberries you need to make this treat. You can also top this ice cream treat with blueberries, raspberries, and bananas, if you’d like. Caramel Toffee Ice Cream Cake from Carlsbad Cravings Make the cookie crumble with brown sugar, flour, old fashioned oats, salt, butter, and pecans. Finish it off with your favorite ice cream, candy bar, and caramel sauce. You’ll love the crunchy-sweet taste of this delicious summer treat. Frozen Caramel-Apple Crunch Cake from Tbsp. This dessert is perfect for the transition from summer to fall. We recommend making it at the end of the month, just as it begins to feel a little more like fall. Use Nature Valley™ Crunchy Granola Bars to add some crunch to this amazing summer-fall recipe and sweeten it up with cinnamon and brown sugar. What’s your favorite summer recipe? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Manage Your Time

In this post, the Liv Northgate Blog has a few tips to help you make the most out of your days in August. It can be difficult to know how to balance everything you have to do—work commitments, projects, errands—without sacrificing anything you want to do. This month we have a few tips on how to work through your to-do list with time left over for friends and fun. Tip One: Take Inventory of Your Schedule Before you reinvent your schedule, you have to know where you spend your time. Keep a “time diary” for a couple of weeks. Write down when you surf the internet, go to work, eat, sleep, wake up, shop, and hang out with friends. Make a thorough record of your days and see where you’re wasting time. Spending hours a day watching Netflix? Cut back so you can take that cooking class or learn how to fix your car. Whatever your goals are, we’re sure you’ll be able to find the time somewhere in your busy schedule. Tip Two: Make a List There’s nothing more satisfying than checking something off your to-do list. Write down everything you have to do during the day and check things off as you accomplish them. Writing down the things you have to do each day ensures that you don’t forget anything you have to accomplish. Tip Three: Have Fun Sometimes you’ll slip up. Instead of doing your laundry or working, you’ll go out for dinner with friends in Gilbert, AZ or binge watch that new series on Netflix or Hulu. Don’t sweat it. Everyone needs time to relax and your to-do list shouldn’t get in the way of the time you need to unwind and relax. Remember to schedule some time for fun each day. Do you have any time management tips for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Podcasts

The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring our favorite podcasts in this post. Liven up your daily commute with a good podcast. There are podcasts on every topic imaginable; if you don’t like our picks, there’s probably a podcast that fits your interests, you just have to search for it. We hope that you find one that suits your tastes this August! The New Yorker: Fiction Ever wanted to hear one of your favorite authors read and discuss a short story by one of your other favorite authors? Well, your dreams are about to come true. The New Yorker: Fiction invites famous writers like Colm Toibin, Junot Diaz, Jonathan Franzen, George Saunders, and Miranda July to read their favorite New Yorker stories. Click the link to hear more. Modern Love Love is complicated. Modern Love gives listeners a glimpse into other people’s most important relationships with heartfelt stories submitted to the Modern Love column in the New York Times . The Modern Love podcasts features famous actors reading these heartwarming tales. Chances are, your favorite actor has read one of these stories on the air. Search their archive to find out. Stuff You Missed in History Class Stuff You Missed in History Class explores the events, people, and histories you probably didn’t learn about when you were in school. Learn about obscure (but deeply interesting) topics and people by listening to this astounding podcast. 10 Minute Writer’s Workshop The 10 Minute Writer’s Workshop features famous writers and authors giving listeners their best writing advice. Need advice on how to finish that short story? They’ve got it. Their advice can be applied to more than just writing. Use their tips on how to keep going with a project (even when times get tough) to help you accomplish your goals. What’s your favorite podcast? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll check it out. Thanks for reading our post and have a great month here in Gilbert, AZ!