Blog Posts

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!

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!