Blog Posts

How to Write Poetry Part I

Liv Northgate is happy to bring members of our Arizona apartment community fun and informative blog post each week. This month, we thought we’d through some creativity into the mix and share a series of posts about writing poetry. That’s right, poetry. Don’t be scared, with our step-by-step tips, we will walk you through writing a series of poems the easy way. To get started, we want to start with this quote about poetry: “Poetry, like jazz, is one of those dazzling diamonds of creative industry that help human beings make sense out of the comedies and tragedies that contextualize our lives.” ― Aberjhani* Each week this month, we will include directions and examples for you to write poetry. Who knows, you may discover a hidden talent! Let’s get started with an easy, fill-in-the blank form tied to the five (or six) senses. Senses Poem Simply fill in the blank after each statement to create a poem. I see _______________________________________ I smell ______________________________________ I hear _______________________________________ I feel (touch) _________________________________ I taste ______________________________________ I think _____________________________________ The poem you end up with may look something like this: I see the Eye, a giant orb, commanding the nighttime sky in reddish hue I smell the Thames river, a distinct smell slapping my face with vigor I hear a busking guitarist’s music drifting through the breeze, notes rippling across the pavement I feel the painted wood as I mount a carousel steed, knees clamped, I retreat to childhood magic I taste spicy goodness as mulled cider slips down my throat warming me through I think random thoughts which swirl as I inhale the Houses of Parliament across the river. Take it to another level by taking away the sense words, stripping it down to the essence of creativity. Now our poem looks like this: The Eye, a giant orb, commanding the nighttime sky in reddish hue Beside the Thames river, a distinct smell slapping my face with vigor A busking guitarist’s music drifts through the breeze, notes rippling across the pavement Mounted upon a carousel steed, knees clamped upon wood, I retreat to childhood magic Spicy goodness envelops me as mulled cider slips down my throat warming me through Random thoughts swirl as I inhale the House of Parliament across the river.

Organization 101 for Apartment Living

Cleaning and organizing your Gilbert, Arizona apartment at Liv Northgate may feel like an insurmountable task, but it doesn’t have to be. We have some ideas about how to successfully get it done that won’t leave you tearing your hair out. So let’s get started. Planning is the key. Taking a few minutes before you begin to plan what you need to accomplish, and approximately how long it will take, will save you time in the long run. Plus, like other goals, writing it down is half the battle. List each room as a heading and then under each heading list what needs to be done. Be as detailed and specific as you like. Your plan may look something like this: Kitchen Pantry Cupboard 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Bedroom 1 Closet Furniture Arrangement Misc. Stuff Bedroom 2 Closet Furniture Arrangement Papers/Office Misc. Stuff Bathroom Vanity Towels Cleaning Supplies Livingroom Decor Furniture Storage Misc. Movies/Books Closet Once you have a list of what needs to be done, you can break tasks down into doable chunks of time. For example, perhaps you only have fifteen minutes to start cleaning. In those fifteen minutes, you can clean out a drawer or cupboard, etc. If you have an afternoon, you can do a whole room. Having a list and crossing off finished items creates motivation too; there is something inherently satisfying about seeing work being accomplished. As you organize, get rid of the clutter. Designate items as 1) to keep, 2) give away, and 3) throw away. Give yourself a time limit to dispose of the giveaway items, so that they are not sitting in a pile by the door next month. For the items you are keeping, choose a place to keep them. There is wisdom to having a designated place for everything. Another strategy for reducing clutter is to follow this formula: for every item you bring into the apartment, two items must leave. Following these tips will help you get your apartment cleaned and organized in no time! What tips do you have for organizing your apartment? We would love to hear. Please share in the comments.

Celebrate National Pretzel Day

April 26th is National Pretzel Day. Here on the Liv Northgate Blog, we didn’t want to miss out on this super tasty holiday. In today’s blog post we’ll be sharing some delicious soft pretzel recipes for you to make in your apartment. We hope you enjoy your month here in Gilbert, AZ! Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzel Bites from Like Mother Like Daughter For a sweet and soft pretzel, try out these pretzel bites. You’ll need instant yeast, warm water, salt, brown sugar, butter, flour, an egg, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon, cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Watch their video by clicking on the link above and make these tasty snacks for friends and family. Cheddar Bacon Stuffed Pretzel Buns from Yammie’s Noshery These cheddar bacon pretzel buns are mouth-wateringly delicious. Once you see the images in the link above, you’ll want to make them right away! You’ll need these ingredients to get started: milk, active dry yeast, brown sugar, butter, all-purpose flour, salt, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, baking soda, water, coarse salt, minced garlic, smoked paprika, and fresh herbs (they used oregano and parsley). Pretzel Dogs from Buns in My Oven These pretzel dogs bring soft pretzels to a new level. Here’s what you’ll need to make them: warm water, sugar, kosher salt, active dry yeast, flour, butter, vegetable oil, baking soda, an egg, pretzel salt, and hot dogs. German Soft Pretzel Sticks from Gather for Bread Dip these pretzels in a tasty cheese sauce or mustard for the perfect snack. To make these soft pretzel sticks you’ll need light brown sugar, warm water, active dry yeast, canola or vegetable oil, all-purpose flour, baking soda, an egg, salt, and butter. Do you have a favorite soft pretzel recipe? If so, share it with us in the comments below. Thanks for reading the Liv Northgate Blog and be sure to visit again soon!

Words to Live By: Book Recommendations from Liv Northgate

Reading is good for the soul, mind, heart, and brain! Make reading every day — or at least regularly in some way — a goal to improve your life . Reading has a ton of awesome benefits including a better vocabulary, stress relief, and it can even make you a happier person. One benefit you might not know about? Reading can help you see through other’s eyes and comprehend what other people are thinking and feeling. Today the Liv Northgate Blog has several book suggestions to put on your reading list to keep you informed, enlightened, and entertained in your apartment or anywhere else in or out Gilbert, AZ. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World Spend a week with authors Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama XIV, and Douglas Carlton Abrams as they discuss how their life experiences and studies have taught them to seek joy. In a nutshell, the book’s takeaway according to Goodreads, happens as “two great spiritual leaders share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.” The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell “Gladwell, a New Yorker staff writer, offers an incisive and piquant theory of social dynamics that is bound to provoke a paradigm shift in our understanding of mass behavioral change. Defining such dramatic turnarounds as the abrupt drop in crime on New York’s subways, or the unexpected popularity of a novel, as epidemics, Gladwell searches for catalysts that precipitate the ‘tipping point,’ or critical mass, that generates those events.” — Booklist The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz provides four guiding ideas that can make life more manageable. Gather some wisdom with these quotes from the book . The four agreements are: Be Impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best. What books are on your reading list? Which ones have you loved? Share your reviews and recommendations with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment below. Happy reading!

Out and About: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Birthday at Butterfly Wonderland

Welcome back to the Liv Northgate Blog, bringing you topics of interest about apartment living, Well-known and random holidays, and Arizona venues. A while back we shared a post all about Butterfly Wonderland , and today we are excited to add information about a limited-time event that is taking place there that you won’t want to miss! This exhibit is all about the 50th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar , a delightful book by Eric Carle. According to the website, “Butterfly Wonderland is proud to partner with Penguin Publishing and acclaimed author Eric Carle to bring this one-of-a-kind exhibition that celebrates the 50th birthday of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This limited time exhibition will dazzle and delight guests of all ages with live caterpillar exhibits, larger than life storybook pages, photo opportunities with colorful character backdrops, special character appearances, and storytimes on selected dates, and lots more. See why this lovable caterpillar has captured the hearts of millions of children across the globe as the book comes alive at Butterfly Wonderland!” Special activities included in the exhibit include Live caterpillars (plus other creatures that are part of the story) Enormous storybook pages from the book will be included in the conservatory Take a selfie with character backdrops from the book Storytimes and movies with The Very Hungry Caterpillar (check for selected dates) Get your face painted on a weekend visit Shop an extensive selection of Eric Carle books and merchandise We hope you take time out to visit this fun, interactive exhibit sometime this month. Now for some fun facts about butterflies. Butterfly Facts Did you know that the average lifespan of a butterfly is often just one month? The longest living species in the world is the Brimstone Butterfly – up to thirteen months! There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies in the world, according to the North American Butterfly Association. During their migration, Monarch butterflies travel up to 100 miles per day! Butterflies don’t sip their food with their proboscis; the long, straw like “tongue” serves to absorb the food instead. Instead of tasting with this “tongue,” they actually taste with their feet where their taste sensors are located. What do you know about butterflies? Have you been to this Gilbert, Arizona exhibit? We love to receive feedback, please feel free to share in the comment section of the Liv Northgate Blog.

Springtime Treats

Welcome back to the Liv Northgate Blog! We are continuing our streak of spring-themed topics with a post on treats that are perfect for springtime before it gets to hot here in Arizona.Get inspired to whip up something sweet this month by reading this post. These treats and desserts would also be just the thing to bring along to a picnic, potluck, or garden party here in Gilbert. Creamy Berry Pie Nothing says spring better than fresh berries! Try this sweet recipe from Parents Magazine sometime this month. Ingredients include unsalted butter, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, salt, unflavored gelatin, water, cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla extract, strawberry jelly, raspberries, blueberries, fresh strawberries, white chocolate, and vegetable oil. Strawberry Shortcake Trifle This super simple recipe comes from I Heart Naptime and only requires five ingredients. You will need fresh strawberries, pound cake or angel food cake, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Layer the cubed cake, strawberries, and whipped cream in clear glasses or a large clear bowl and serve. Springtime Chocolate Covered Popcorn from Cooking with Curls This pastel colored chocolate covered popcorn is perfect for spring! Munch on it while you watch your favorite spring-themed movie. You will need popped popcorn, white candy melts, decorative sprinkles, candy melts in pastel colors, and spring colors M&Ms. Springtime Rice Krispie Treats from Two Sisters Crafting Are you a fan of rice krispy treats? You will love these adorable and tasty spring-themed ones! Here’s what you will need: Kellogg’s Rice Krispie Cereal, mini marshmallows, butter, food coloring, cookie cutters, and Ghirardelli white chocolate melting wafers. Mini Fruit Tart Cheesecakes from Crazy for Crust These mini cheesecake tarts are perfectly sized for easy consumption. To make them, you will need graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, unsalted butter, cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla bean paste, lime juice, cornstarch, and fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or blackberries). What are your favorite springtime treats to make and enjoy? Share your ideas and recipes with everyone in our apartment community by leaving a comments. Thanks for reading our post!