Blog Posts

Butterfly Wonderland

The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring one of our favorite places in Scottsdale — Butterfly Wonderland — in this post. Butterfly Wonderland is just thirty minutes away from your Gilbert, AZ apartment and is the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon in late August. Their exhibits showcase some of the most beautiful butterflies we’ve ever seen. We hope that you get the chance to visit sometime this month. Butterfly Wonderland is a great place to spend a summer afternoon, and it hosts some of the best events in the area. Events coming to the Butterfly Wonderland this month include Rainforest Reptile Talks, Concerts in the Conservatory, Bee Talks, and more. You can find their full calendar here . Click the link for the dates and times for their next summer event. The newest exhibit at Butterfly Wonderland is called Rainforest Reptiles. Rainforest Reptiles offers exhibits that highlight the rainforests of the Amazon, Asia, and Madagascar. Walk through their exhibits to see lizards, snakes, frogs, and more. Learn more about this exhibit by following this link . The Butterfly Pavilion is the centerpiece of Butterfly Wonderland. It is described as “the largest indoor rainforest conservatory in the United States. More than 3,000 butterflies from around the world flutter among the lush tropical plants and flowers, landing for just long enough to capture the perfect photograph. The flowers, trees and plants within the atrium have been chosen precisely for the butterfly species within.” We know you’ll love the magic of the Butterfly Pavilion. Follow the Butterfly Wonderland blog for updates and to learn more about the butterflies and events at the Butterfly Wonderland. Have you ever visited the Butterfly Wonderland? What was your favorite exhibit? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post and have a great month here in Gilbert, AZ!

Stay Safe in the Summer Sun

In this post, the Liv Northgate Blog is featuring a few tips to help you stay safe in the sun this summer. Arizona summers can be merciless. While the weather in Gilbert, AZ is perfect most of the year, summers mean long, hot days and the threat of heat stroke and sunburn if you’re not careful. We have the tips you need to stay safe, cool, and hydrated this summer. Read on to learn more. Summer Skin Protecting your skin during the summer should be a priority. Remember to wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun, and wear a hat and sunglasses outdoors. Limit the time you spend soaking up the sun. A little vitamin D is good, but too much time out in the sun can lead to sunburn, irritation, and (at the very worst) skin cancer. Stay safe this summer. Hydrate It’s always important to stay hydrated, but especially during the summer. Keep a water bottle nearby and drink whenever you feel thirsty. WebMD recommends getting your water from foods and drinks like hamburger, chicken breasts, soda, Jell-O, smoothies, and watermelon, as well. You can find their article on ways to stay hydrated here . Need a new water bottle this summer? Check out the 13 Impressive Water Bottle for Workouts and Daily Use from Best Products. Have Fun Indoors There are plenty of ways to have fun and stay healthy indoors during the summer. Summer is an opportunity to read a good book, catch up on your favorite Netflix show, hang out with friends, and explore restaurants around the city. Take advantage of the gaming and pool table in The Hub at the Liv Northgate and enjoy 24/7 access to the Liv Fitness Center. Enjoy lounging in your air-conditioned Gilbert, AZ apartment and turn on the ceiling fans if you want a breeze. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Gilbert, AZ in the summer safely! Do you have any summer sun tips for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Thrifting in Gilbert, AZ

The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring several tips and tricks to help you thrift shop this month. Thrift stores have the reputation of selling items that are old, worn out, and out of date, but that’s not true! Thrift stores are treasure troves of vintage and classic items — you just have to be willing to search. Read on to learn more. Tip One: Budget Many people think that budgeting for a thrift store excursion is unnecessary. Because everything is so cheap, it can be easy to overspend on items that you don’t really want or need. Setting a budget is an easy way to prevent any unwanted purchases. Bring your budget in cash on your thrifting trip. Don’t go over the limit you’ve set for yourself. Most trips should only warrant fifteen to fifty dollars in purchases. If you intend to buy bigger items like furniture or vintage designer items, expand your budget. Tip Two: Alter Items Don’t be afraid to creatively alter the items you find at the thrift store. Turn old sweaters and sweatshirts into quilts, cut the shoulder pads out of a blazer, or refinish an old bookshelf or dining room table. Use old books to create a unique wall decoration or turn old magazines into a collage. There are plenty of ways to use the items you find at your local thrift store to express your style and personality. Tip Three: Have Fun Remember to have fun while you shop! Take a break for lunch at your favorite diner here in Gilbert, AZ or play a game. Bring a friend and see who can find the strangest item in the thrift store. The person who wins gets free lunch or dinner. Try on a crazy outfit or explore the inventory, looking for the oldest item on sale. Bringing a friend thrift store shopping will give you a solid second opinion and help alleviate the tedium of looking through the racks. Do you have any thrifting tips or tricks for us? Let us know in the comments. We hope that you have a great month here in Gilbert, AZ. Thanks for reading our post!

Start a Book Club Read

Start your own book club this month. The Liv Northgate Blog has book recommendations and book club tips, in this post. There’s no better time to read than during the summer. Stay out of the heat by relaxing with a good read in your Gilbert, AZ apartment. Escape from the summer sun by exploring other worlds in an excellent book. Read on to learn more. Book Recommendations Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris “ Written with a sharp eye and ear for the bizarre, the beautiful, and the uncomfortable, and with a generosity of spirit that even a misanthropic sense of humor can't fully disguise, Theft By Finding proves that Sedaris is one of our great modern observers. It's a potent reminder that when you're as perceptive and curious as Sedaris, there's no such thing as a boring day.” M Train by Patti Smith “ M Train begins in the tiny Greenwich Village café where Smith goes every morning for black coffee, ruminates on the world as it is and the world as it was, and writes in her notebook. Through prose that shifts fluidly between dreams and reality, past and present, we travel to Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Mexico; to the fertile moon terrain of Iceland; to a ramshackle seaside bungalow in New York’s Far Rockaway that Smith acquires just before Hurricane Sandy hits; to the West 4th Street subway station, filled with the sounds of the Velvet Underground after the death of Lou Reed; and to the graves of Genet, Plath, Rimbaud, and Mishima.” Book Club Tips & Tricks Start your own book club this month! Before you start your club, there are some questions you need to ask yourself. Where will you meet? What kinds of books will you read? How many people will you have in your group? When will you meet? How will you decide which books to read? Who will lead your book discussions? We recommend asking and answering these questions before you start your group. Have your friends invite their friends to your group. Smaller groups (five to ten people) will be able to meet in your Gilbert, AZ apartment. Larger groups may want to consider heading to their local library or their favorite coffee shop. Resources like Book of the Month and Goodreads can help you choose which books to read each month. Book of the Month provides synopses, reviews, and excerpts for readers to peruse before they choose which book to read. Their judges determine the five best books to read each month and allow members to choose one book to read. You don’t have to be a member to take advantage of their excellent reviews. Create an account to see their wonderful resources. Goodreads allows you to read reviews by fellow readers, poll members of your group on which book to read, and connect with authors. Track your progress and keep in touch using this excellent website. Do you have any book club tips for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Independence Day in Gilbert, AZ

The Liv Northgate Blog has everything you need — foods, fireworks, and fun — to celebrate the Fourth of July in Gilbert, AZ. The Fourth of July is our favorite summer holiday. Celebrate this month by making a delicious meal, heading out to watch the fireworks, and having some fun. We hope that you have a wonderful Fourth of July! Food Berry Orange Spinach Salad with Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette from Yay! For Food Try something summery and light for the Fourth of July. The delicious citrus balsamic vinaigrette can be made with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mandarin orange juice, and honey. You can find the supplies needed to make the salad at your local farmers’ market or a local grocery store. Brownie Flag Recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen Make your own brownie flag on Independence Day! Sweeten up this summer confection with sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips. Head to your local farmers’ market for the blueberries and strawberries necessary for the “flag” part of this brownie flag dessert. Click the link to learn more. Fireworks Watch the fireworks at Higley High School. Fireworks will start at 8:30 pm, but the event begins at 6. Visit one of the food trucks at the event for a refreshing ice cream cone or a delicious summer meal during the event. You can learn more about this event here . Activities It’s no secret that the Fourth of July in Gilbert, AZ is hot. Really hot. Stay indoors with a movie marathon consisting of your favorite patriotic of Independence Day themed movies. Slather on the sunscreen and spend the day at the pool at the Liv Northgate. In the evening, head to your favorite park to play a game of outdoor scrabble, cornhole, or a water balloon fight. Brit + Co has a list of 50 Outdoor Games to DIY This Summer . If you’re brave enough to face the heat, try them out. Just remember to drink lots of water while you play. Are there any other Fourth of July events we should know about? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Treat Yourself

Kick back, relax, and treat yourself this month. Let go of your weekday worries and let yourself relax, take a breath, and enjoy some much needed “me” time. This month we are featuring spas, at-home luxuries, and the pool here at the Liv Northgate in Gilbert, AZ. We hope that you get the chance to let go of your worries and spend a day (or two) soaking up all the relaxation and rest your heart desires. Spas in Gilbert, AZ Lucky for us, there are plenty of great spas in Gilbert, AZ. Yelp has a great guide to The Best 10 Day Spas in Gilbert, AZ . Touch of Tranquility Massage has excellent reviews. One reviewer writes , “ This day spa was absolutely wonderful! The reception area is beautiful and peaceful. There is flavored water for you to enjoy while you wait. I had the tranquility package and it was to die for! All of the tables are heated so it was super relaxing. The massage was awesome! Amanda is great and does an incredible job with deep tissue. The facial by Ashley was so relaxing and my skin feels amazing! I will definitely be back.” If you need to relax, head to one of these day spas near the Liv Northgate. At-Home If you don’t want to head to a spa this month, try an at-home facial. Basin offers natural, fresh facials, face washes, shampoos, conditioners, and more. We recommend trying their vanilla lip scrub to get rid of any dry, dead skin that might pop up during the summer months. All of Basin’s lip scrubs are edible, so don’t worry about getting a little bit in your mouth while you scrub. Also consider using their peppermint tingle face scrub , one of their many bath bombs , facials , or milk baths , as well. Relax by the Pool Spend the day swimming in the Liv Northgate’s saltwater heated swimming pools. Swimming in a saltwater pool offers many benefits, including a lack of chlorine and cleaner water. Cool off by taking a dip in the pool at the Liv Northgate this month. What’s your favorite spa in Gilbert, AZ? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!