Blog Posts

Hiking Tips and Tricks

Explore the great outdoors this month by heading to a state or national park for a summer hike. Find a park you want to visit by visiting the National Park Service’s official website . Heading on a hike in Arizona in the summertime might be a little too hot, but you could save a visit to any of these parks for cooler months if you’d like. Of course, the most famous place to hike in Arizona is the Grand Canyon. The official website states, “ Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep. Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size.” If you are planning on hiking The Grand Canyon, we would advise heading out in October, when temperatures are cooler. The National Park Service has a whole page of tips and tricks. Our favorite tip? Drink plenty of water. Don’t force yourself to drink, but drink whenever you feel thirsty. Also, remember to eat plenty of food to keep your energy levels up as you hike. Before you head out, check your shoes! Make sure that you are wearing the appropriate footwear. The American Hiking Society writes , “For a short day hike that doesn’t involve a heavy pack of technical terrain, trail shoes are great. For longer hikes, carrying heavier loads, or more technical terrain, hiking boots offer more support.” The American Hiking Society offers an extensive guide advising hikers on everything from preparation, outdoor skills, gear, safety, first aid, and trails. You can find their guides here . Interested in heading on an international hike? Try one of these hiking trails from National Geographic . We think that the Tour du Mont Blanc, Overland Track, and the Long Range Traverse all sound like excellent hikes. These hikes are appropriate for more experienced hikers, so be sure to train before you go. What’s your favorite hike in the area? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

The Desert Botanical Garden

Head to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ for a stroll through one of the most beautiful gardens in the country or to listen to your favorite tunes at their Music in the Garden series. Take a tour of this amazing garden before the month is through. The Desert Botanical Garden is just thirty-three minutes away from the Liv Northgate in Gilbert, AZ. The Desert Botanical Garden offers several tours throughout the year. This month the Desert Botanical Garden is featuring Garden Flashlight Tours. Their official website states, “See, hear and feel the desert at night in a self-paced stroll along the Garden trails, perfect for all ages. Bring a flashlight or purchase one in the Garden Shop.” This tour will be held on Thursdays and Saturdays from 7-9:30 pm. This tour is the perfect summer adventure. Another great tour is the Birds in the Garden tour. This year-round tour is held on Mondays. Bird experts will point out any birds on the trails. Wake up early (the tour is held at 7 am in June), pack a pair of binoculars, and head to the Desert Botanical Garden for an unforgettable morning! Follow this link for information on all the tours at the Desert Botanical Garden. This month several artists are coming to the Music in the Garden series. We think that you will really enjoy attending one of their many events. Wes Ringel, Scott Dunlap, and their dueling pianos are coming on J une 23rd. “ Two pianos and two voices will energize Dorrance Hall with an unforgettable clap along, sing along experience. Enjoy a fun-filled evening of dueling pianos played by two of the Southwest’s most dynamic musical entertainers. Wes Ringel and Scott Dunlap will take every request the audience can throw at them, from Sinatra to the Beatles to Katy Perry and more. Between sets, step outside to Boppart Courtyard to enjoy the evening air and sounds of the Garden at night, then head back in for more good times.” You can learn more about this event here . Find the full schedule for Music in the Garden here . Have you ever been to the Desert Botanical Garden? What should we see while we’re there? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Take a Picture in June

The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring a few of our favorite photo tips to help you snap a picture or two before the month is through. Get out of your Liv Northgate apartment and explore Gilbert, AZ! Create your own photo tour of the city and take pictures of all the people and places that matter to you this month. We hope that you have an excellent June here in Gilbert, AZ! When you’re first starting to take pictures, don’t worry about spending too much money on your camera equipment. Master the basics of photography on your basic point-and-shoot, and then buy more expensive equipment once you feel like you’ve mastered what you’ve got. Photographer Abby Krim writes , “I love gear, but I feel bad when I hear photographers say they feel limited by their beginner gear when, in reality, they should probably just get out there and shoot more.” Find more tips from Improve Photography here . No one likes snapping a picture only to discover that it’s blurry! Avoid those blurry photos by using this tip from Exposure Guide. Exposure Guide writes , “ Camera shake or blur is something that can plague any photographer and here are some ways to avoid it. First, you need to learn how to hold your camera properly; use both hands, one around the body and one around the lens and hold the camera close to your body for support. Also, make sure you are using a shutter speed that matches the lens focal length. So if you’re using a 100mm lens, then your shutter speed should be no lower than 1/100th of a second. Use a tripod or monopod whenever possible. In lieu of this, use a tree or a wall to stabilize the camera.” Make sure your camera has enough support before you snap your next picture. You can find a full list of tips from Exposure Guide here . Do you have any photography tips for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Get A Good Nights Sleep

The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring several tips and tricks to help you relax and get a better night’s sleep this month. This month we are featuring sleep tips and sleep apps that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep this month. Sleep Advice The National Sleep Foundation has plenty of great advice for anyone who wants better quality sleep. It’s important to make sure that you are getting the right amount of sleep each night. Most adults need six to ten hours of sleep each night. Remember to schedule your day around the sleep you need. Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary. Dim the lights an hour before bedtime, turn off any electronic devices, and use calming scents for your bedroom. The Sleep Foundation has an excellent guide to inside your bedroom . Sleep Apps Calm Sleep Stories Calm is a meditation app that is now featuring sleep stories. “Sleep stories are soothing tales that mix music, sound fx and incredible voice talent to help you drift into dreamland.” If you ever have trouble sleeping, just turn on one of their relaxing stories and drift off! Sleep Cycle alarm clock Sleep Cycle is one of our favorite sleep apps. “ Sleep Cycle alarm clock tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up during light sleep. Waking up during light sleep feels like waking up naturally rested without an alarm clock.” Your Sleep Cycle app can help you regulate your sleep in a healthy and natural way. Mattress Stores in the Area Buy a brand new mattress if you need a better night’s sleep this month. There are several Mattress Firm stores in the area, including a Mattress Firm Clearance. Find a mattress that feels right — this often means testing the mattress in store. You can find a map of all of the mattress stores in the area here . Do you have any sleep tips for us? Leave your best advice in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Spring Meal in Gilbert

In this post, the Liv Northgate Blog is featuring a few of our favorite spring recipes. Take advantage of the beautiful kitchen in your Gilbert, AZ and make a delicious meal (or two...or three) before the month is through. We hope that you get the chance to enjoy a filling and mouth-watering spring meal. Seriously Amazing Cheddar Mashed Potatoes from Little Spice Jar These seriously amazing cheddar mashed potatoes are seriously amazing. You’ll love the rich, creamy taste of these potatoes. Use sour cream, garlic, butter, cheddar cheese, half and half, and chopped chives to season these impossibly delicious potatoes. Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili from The Chunky Chef Combine chicken, onion, garlic, broth, beans, green chiles, and corn in the slow cooker. Season your chili with salt, black pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne powder, and fresh cilantro. Finish it all off with sour cream and half and half. Top it with your favorite chili toppings and enjoy it with a side salad. Southern Macaroni and Cheese from Oh, Sweet Basil There’s nothing like a bowl of cheesy macaroni and cheese after a long day of work. Sour cream, whole milk, butter, and cheddar cheese make for the thickest cheese sauce we’ve ever tried. Finish it off with a sprinkle of salt, and you’ve got a great spring meal. Slow Cooker Beef Carnitas from The Recipe Critic These slow cooker beef carnitas are seasoned with the best spice rub we’ve ever tried. Make the spice rub by mixing together chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Serve it up with a dollop of sour cream, your favorite salsa, and a side of beans. Lemon Bundt Cake from Love from the Oven This lemon bundt cake can be made with lemon cake mix, sour cream, instant lemon pudding mix, oil, eggs, warm water, lemon zest, and lemon extract. Top it all off with cream cheese frosting flavored with lemon extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Enjoy the tart sweetness of this amazing dessert. What are your favorite spring recipes? Leave your favorite recipe in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Celebrate the Theatre

The Liv Northgate Blog is celebrating the theatre this month! We have theatre etiquette tips and information about how you can see and read a play this month. We hope that you have a wonderful (and theatrical) month here in Gilbert, AZ! Theatre Etiquette Refrain from eating during the show. No one wants to be distracted by the sounds of you eating during the play. Instead, wait to buy refreshments at intermission or, better yet, eat a full meal before you see the show. Also remember to refrain from checking your phone, turning on your phone, or recording during the performance. Most shows are illegal to film (also, it’s better to focus on the experience of a live performance rather than trying to preserve it so you can watch it later). New York Show Tickets has a whole list of Broadway etiquette tips that we think could apply to any performance you might attend this month. Watch a Play Live We’ve featured the Hale Centre Theatre on our blog in the past, but it’s an excellent place to see a show here in Gilbert, AZ. This month they are playing Aida, a show by Elton John and Tim Rice. You can find a nice blurb about the show and information regarding purchasing tickets here . Read a Play Sometimes reading a play can be a great way to experience the theatre. We are including the summary of one of our favorite Shakespeare plays below. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare “ Much Ado About Nothing includes two quite different stories of romantic love. Hero and Claudio fall in love almost at first sight, but an outsider, Don John, strikes out at their happiness. Beatrice and Benedick are kept apart by pride and mutual antagonism until others decide to play Cupid.” Watch a Play at Home My Fair Lady (1964) “‘My Fair Lady’ is the best and most unlikely of musicals, during which I cannot decide if I am happier when the characters are talking or when they are singing. The songs are literate and beloved; some romantic, some comic, some nonsense, some surprisingly philosophical, every single one wonderful. The dialogue by Alan Jay Lerner wisely retains a great deal of ‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw, himself inspired by Ovid's Metamorphosis .” What are your favorite plays? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!