Blog Posts

Create a DIY Escape Room Adventure

The end of the month is here, which is the perfect time to plan a party — an antidote to the post-holiday letdown that sometimes happens in January. Why not go all out and turn your Gilbert, AZ apartment into an Escape Room for a group of your closest friends. Yes, you could go to a local escape room, but if you are creative type, there is great satisfaction in coming up with a unique adventure. In today’s Liv Northgate Blog we’ve got the scoop on what you need to take into account to create your own escape room. Consider the theme. Whether you want to go with a whodunit, a time-pressure escape, or the seemingly impossible, coming up with a theme is the place to start. Is there something unique about your community that you can build a theme from? What about ghost stories or local landmarks? Do you have a favorite book or genre? All of these could be a springboard for your escape. This list of Wacky Escape Room Theme Ideas may get your creative juices flowing. Gather the supplies. Next, take a look at the layout of your home as well as checking to see what you may already have on hand that you could use for your escape adventure. Do you have a locking briefcase or other lockable containers? What about locks? Because, of course, you will need several different kinds of locks to use for your escape room — from alpha-numeric locks to combination locks to padlocks, and even a hasp lock. Other supplies you need are the items that will create your escape room staging. Choose items that speak to your chosen theme (or choose a theme based on the items you have on hand). What about a clock, a map, or a globe, an old-school camera, an old-fashioned ornate key? All can be a part of your set. Clues can be highlighted for each one of these items. Some other items you will want to include a set of pens to write clues that will show up with a UV flashlight and notepads for your guests to keep track of everything. Puzzles work well for an escape room, put the puzzle together, flip it over and write your message/clue on the back. Use normal things in a new way. Have fun figuring out your set pieces and how they fit into the escape. Come up with the riddles, puzzles, and clues. Once you have all of the pieces, it’s time to put it all together. Figure out clues that lead your detectives from one clue to another, or to another key or riddle. In the end, once they solve everything, they will have all the pieces they need to escape the room or solve the main riddle/question. Do a test run-through. After you’ve done the run through (invite a select group over to do a test run), refine your experience and send out invites for your escape room party! If a complete DIY is not your cup of tea, another option is to purchase an escape room kit that has everything you need to do an escape room party. Have you been to a commercial escape room? What was your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for taking time to read our post.

Celebrating President's Day at Your Apartment

Did you know that President’s Day always falls on the third Monday of February? In today’s Liv Northgate Blog, we are providing a few suggestions for different ways that you can celebrate in your apartment here in Gilbert, AZ. Read on to get some ideas on how you can be a part of this patriotic holiday. Red, White and Blue Popcorn This patriotic snack is perfect for enjoying while staying in and watching a patriotic movie such as Independence Day, The Patriot, or Pearl Harbor. Rekindle your appreciation for living in the U.S. by watching one of these great films concerning the fight for freedom. Build a Mini Log Cabin This fun idea from Martha Stewart Living is also edible! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States was born in a one room log cabin in Kentucky. A National Park now exists at the Sinking Springs Farm where Lincoln spent the first few years of his life. Dress up as a President Dress up as your favorite U.S. president. These kids costumes from Amazon are pretty cool, but you don’t have to buy a costume. Just head to your favorite local Gilbert, AZ thrift store to get all the props and clothing you will need. Patriotic Bingo These patriotic printable bingo cards from Makoodle were originally made to be played on the 4th of July, but we think they also would be the perfect activity to play on Presidents’ Day as well! Use red, white, and blue M&Ms or buttons as spot markers. Presidential Trivia Take this fun quiz from World History Project to test your knowledge about the past and present leaders of this great nation. It may take you by surprise how many of these facts you didn’t already know! How do you plan on spending your Presidents’ Day? Let us know by leaving a comment on this post. Thanks for reading this post and we hope you have a great month here in Gilbert, AZ!

Make Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies at Your Gilbert Apartment

In case you hadn’t noticed, The Liv Northgate Blog is excited about Valentine’s Day, coming up this week! And what says it’s Valentine’s Day more than heart-shaped everything. One of quintessential images of Valentine’s Day is the heart-shaped, decorated sugar cookie, so we found a recipe to share from Allrecipes.com. This recipe creates a moist, tender sugar cookie . The submitter of the recipe says, “Rich and delicious cut-out cookies - wonderful for special holiday celebrations! These are the best cut-out cookies the long line of bakers in our family has ever found.” Check out these ideas for how to decorate your heart-shaped cookies .There are so many clever (and delicious) ways to say I Love You via cookies! If you want to dry a different type of frosting or icing, these options will be a good place to start. Pair your cookies with a flower or balloon bouquet and deliver the bundle to your favorite valentine! Just for fun, we have some Valentine’s Day trivia questions from HobbyLark for you to enjoy. You may want to brush up on your history about the origins of Valentine’s Day first! — ‘Valentine’ was the name given to which kind of early Christian? Martyrs. — What was St Valentine being executed for? Performing marriages in secret, against the wishes of the emperor. — What kind of flowers are traditionally given to symbolize love? Red roses. — Which Roman god was either depicted as a plump cherub with a bow and arrow or as a handsome teenager? Cupid. — If you’re quick to show your feelings, where do you wear your heart? On your sleeve. — Which symbol does New York’s Empire State Building illuminate on every Valentine’s Day? A heart. We want to wish everyone in our apartment community a Happy Valentine’s Day here in Gilbert, AZ! Thanks for reading the Liv Northgate Blog today. See you next time.

Classic Romantic Movies for a Valentine's Day Date Night

February is here, heralding in Valentine’s Day soon, and the Liv Northgate Blog has some suggestions for a classic romantic movie* night. It’s a perfect way to celebrate this day focused on love! Make a Valentine’s Day treat to eat during the movie or stop by your favorite Gilbert, AZ chocolate shop for a box of your favorites, and settle in for an evening of classic romance and comedy with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars from decades ago. Classic Romantic Movies Roman Holiday (1953) Starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, this story of an overwhelmed, bored and sheltered princess who escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome is a wonderfully funny, romantic tale. Houseboat (1958) Cary Grant stars as a government attorney who can’t seem to shake his bad fortune. Living on a houseboat, widowed and left with three unruly kids, he hires Sophia Loren as a governess; and the sparks fly in this cheeky, urbane comedy. Father Goose (1964) Cary Grant stars in one of his funniest roles as a boozy beachcomber sitting out WWII in peace until the Allies recruit him to be a lookout on the South Pacific isle. During an enemy attack, he answers a distress call and discovers a beautiful French schoolmarm (Leslie Caron) and her seven girl students. And so begins a hilarious battle of the sexes between the messy American, the prim mademoiselle, and seven mischievous little girls. Who will win is anybody’s guess, but you can be sure that Father Goose delivers plenty of romantic fun and adventure along the way. Teacher’s Pet (1958) Movie legends Clark Gable and Doris Day headline a comedy with class! Gable plays Jim Gannon, a school-of-hard-knocks newspaperman who despises journalism schools. . . until he sees who’s doing the teaching. Attracted to the lovely professor Erica Stone (Doris Day), he masquerades as a novice in her class. Soon he’s her prize pupil, all the while trying to make her his own prize. Who will come out on top? If old fashioned movies aren’t your idea of a good time, may we suggest heading out to your favorite theater and catching the latest on the big screen? Movie Insider will provide you with the latest updates on what’s opening when. Don’t forget the drinks and the popcorn! Thanks for reading today’s blog post. Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone in our apartment community. *Movie descriptions are from the original marketing materials.

Car Cleaning Tips from Liv Northgate

Cars can get dirty and cluttered very easily, especially if you’ve been taking any road trips during the recent holiday season. Clean out your car this month with the tips we’re sharing in today’s Liv Northgate Blog. We hope you enjoy a clean car and a great month at your apartment or while you’re out and about here in Gilbert, AZ! Organize with Boxes Certain items need to be kept in our cars, so rather than letting them roll around in the back seat or in the trunk, use plastic bins or cardboard boxes to keep things organized. Storing a garbage bag in your car is another way to keep things organized. It will keep trash off of the floors and maintain a clean car for longer. Shampoo Regularly Whether you want to take your car somewhere to get it shampooed or do it yourself, shampooing your seats and floor mats regularly will keep things looking and smelling fresh. Check out these ways to shampoo your seats from WikiHow. Clean Your Headlights You can purchase headlight cleaners to keep them shiny or you could try using toothpaste as an alternative cleaner. Toothpaste is a mild abrasive cleaner that works well to make your headlights shine again. Use a cloth to rub the toothpaste around, then wipe it clean. Dust Surfaces Your car can get very dusty, especially if you’re using the air conditioner or heater frequently. First, wipe off surfaces with warm water and an interior car cleaner. Dust may still be lurking from the cloth you used or from dust in the air. Use a coffee filter to wipe up that dust. They’re lint-free and can catch the dust easier than you might think! Keep them in your car to dust when necessary. For those small spaces in your car like the vents or in between seats, use a can of compressed air to blow away the dust. What other tips or ideas do you have for cleaning out your car? Share them with us in the comments below! Thanks for reading.

Checking In On Your Financial Health

It’s the beginning of the new year here in Gilbert, AZ and for many, that means taking the time to review the past year and set some goals for the new year. One topic that is often overlooked in all of the reviewing is a financial review. Yet our finances play a huge part in the kind of lifestyle we enjoy, from the apartment we live in to the vacations we take to the food we eat. Today, the Liv Northgate Blog has some ideas for taking a look at finances and planning for the upcoming year. If you don’t already know where you stand, financially speaking, find out. Before you can move forward, you have to know where you are currently. Start by reviewing last year’s bills, expenses insurance, investments, retirement funds, and then build a budget based on that information. If you have tried budgeting in the past and it never seems to work, try tracking your spending for several months to see where you are actually spending. This takes dedication. Track everything, down to the soda you stop for on your way home. Once you have the data on what you are actually spending your money on, build your budget. If you need to make changes, you will be able to more accurately see what can be adjusted. Having a way to track and build a budget is important. We like this article which takes a look at five budgeting apps that are designed for that purpose. Make it a point to get out of debt and to save every month. A good rule of thumb is to have an emergency fund that will cover at least three month’s expenses (six months is even better!). Having an emergency fund also relieves stress related to unexpected financial needs cropping up, and saves money that may have otherwise gone to interest payments on a loan. First build up an emergency fund to cover one month’s expenses, then turn your focus on getting out of debt. Once you are out of debt, continue to build your emergency funds until you have money for at least six months’ worth of expenses. Learn how to live on less than you earn. If you follow this advice, no matter what your income is, it will be enough. It takes discipline, planning, and hard work, but the resulting peace of mind is worth the effort. What are your tips for staying in good financial health? Please share in the comments so we can all be enlightened.