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Boost Your Day with These Goodyear Smoothie Spots-image

Spring is right around the corner, which means freshly squeezed juice will taste even better in the Arizona sun! Lucky for us, there are several delicious smoothies shops just up the street from Acero Estrella Commons that will satisfy our sweet and fruity cravings. Check out some of our favorites:    Robeks Juice | Dine-in, Takeout, or Delivery | 2 minutes away   Just minutes away from Acero Estrella Commons you will find freshly made smoothies, açai bowls, and juices that come with many health benefits at Robeks Juice. Consider tasting their Queen of All Greens smoothie which comes with fresh kale, spinach, pineapple, banana, and apple juice. Looking for something more fruity? The Berry Beneficial smoothie is also another great choice! If you are searching for something more filling, try out one of their bowls listed on their menu . You honestly can’t go wrong with what you choose.   Jamba Goodyear Centerpointe | Takeout or Delivery | 3 minutes away   Easily pick up some Jamba while you are on the go with one of their locations just up the street from our community. Whether you are looking for a tasty smoothie or treat, Jamba has you covered with all things delicious. Check out their menu and order today!   Tropical Smoothie Cafe | Dine-in or Curbside pickup | 7 minutes away   Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s menu offers bold and flavorful smoothies, like the Lean Machine or Sunrise Sunset that come with a healthy appeal. At this shop, you can also enjoy toasted flatbreads, wraps, sandwiches, quesadillas, and bowls that suit your tastes. What are you waiting for? Walk on over and enjoy a fun and relaxing atmosphere with a tasty treat.  This is only a short list of local smoothie shops in Goodyear so let us know your favorites on Facebook or Instagram , and keep following the blog here for more neighborhood spots to check out.

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Wineries To Explore Near Goodyear-image

Wine tasting is one of our favorite things to do at Acero Estrella Commons. If you are new to our community or are curious about places to visit near Goodyear, we curated a list of our top three favorite Arizona wineries within 35 minutes away! Whether or not you are ordering to go, curbside pickup, or enjoying tasting room experiences, spend this weekend discovering some local wine blends and exploring more of Phoenix.   Winery 101 Peoria 16 minutes away | Dine-In, Grab and Go, or Curbside Pickup    Just a couple of minutes away, enjoy sipping on a glass of handcrafted wine at Winery 101’s original location. At this winery, you will discover a variety of white, red, and unique wine blends. Learn more about how you can have an exceptional experience at Winery 101 with the link above.   Su Vino Winery 35 minutes away | Reservations and To Go    Explore downtown Scottsdale by immersing yourself in Su Vino Winery's urban wine tasting experience. This winery offers customers award-winning house-produced wines served in a stylish and memorable tasting room. Carlson Creek Vineyard  34 minutes away | Reservations or Curbside Pickup    Carlson Creek Vineyard is a family-owned winery located in Southeastern Arizona, with three different tasting rooms in Cottonwood, Scottsdale, and Willcox. The Scottsdale tasting room is the closest location to Acero Estrella Commons. Use the link above to reserve a table and experience tasting a variety of blends thoughtfully paired with delicious food.    Of course, this is only a small selection of wineries just right outside our community that are open. Feel free to share your favorite local tasting rooms in the comments below!  

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Ways to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week-image

One of our favorite things to do at Acero Estrella Commons is giving back to our community in Goodyear, especially during Random Acts of Kindness Week! Spend some time this week supporting local businesses, volunteering, or doing small things to make someone's day brighter with the list of ideas we put together on ways you can celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week below.    Volunteer or Support a Local Nonprofit There are many ways you can support local nonprofits in person or from a distance.   Here are some local nonprofits you can support near Goodyear:    SunValley Animal Shelter | 12 minutes away The SunValley Animal Shelter is a no-kill animal shelter that is always looking for donations, volunteers, and a permanent home for their pets! Find out more information with the link above and find out ways you can support them during this time.   Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank | 10 minutes away  The Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank is always accepting volunteers, funds, and food donations. There’s more information at the link above, including their efforts to slow the spread of Coronavirus while also doing their part.   The Salvation Army | 9 minutes away Find out how you can help support your local community with The Salvation Army website, which offers help to people in need. The Salvation Army accepts donations, non-perishable food items, clothing, and so much more.    Support Local Businesses That Give Back to The Community Locally owned businesses are facing many challenges unlike any they have faced before with mandatory closures and modified hours. Here is a list of some businesses near Goodyear that are giving back to the community you can support:    Sweetly Unique Boutique | 20 minutes away This unique shop donates its time and materials to make masks for hospital workers. One mask is donated for each one that is purchased.    Boyer Bakery | 18 minutes away  Boyer Bakery helps provide needed items including donating treats and making goods for local hospitals. Head to their page and see how you can get tasty treats and support this local business.   Enroute Coffee and Tea House | 4 minutes away Enroute Coffee and Tea House is open for dine-in, curbside pickup, and delivery. They have been donating cold-brew beverages to those who need them the most during this time! Check their Instagram out with the link above and get some fresh brewed coffee or tea.   Spread Random Acts of Kindness to Lift Spirits   The small things always make someone smile! Whether you are helping deliver food to your neighbor, sending a card to healthcare workers, or simply reaching out to loved ones, a little gesture always goes a long way.    Whether you are volunteering, donating, supporting local businesses, or doing a kind act for someone, let us know how you are celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week in the comments below!   

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How to Prepare A Delicious Valentine’s Day Cheese Board-image

  Who doesn’t love wine and cheese? Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and there is no better way to celebrate with a simple cheeseboard to share with your special person. Continue reading to learn about local places to buy your ingredients, where to buy wine to go, and the key steps to preparing a delicious Valentine’s Day board to recreate in your Acero Estrella Commons home.  Local Places in Goodyear to Buy Your Ingredients   Cheese, Fruits and Vegetables, and Base items Here are several shops near Goodyear that carry all the core ingredients in a cheeseboard: Safeway | Curbside pick up, or No contact delivery | 3 minutes away  Fry’s Marketplace | In-store shopping, Curbside pickup, or Delivery | 6 minutes away Food City | In-store shopping, Pickup, and Delivery | 7 minutes away Sprouts Farmers Market | In-store shopping, or Curbside pickup | 8 minutes Murray’s Cheese | In-store shopping | 13 minutes away Chocolate Along with the stores listed above, here are chocolate specific shops in the area: Edible Arrangements | Curbside pickup or Delivery | 9 minutes away  MAE Fine Foods | In-store shopping and pickup | 10 minutes away See’s Candy | Takeout | 15 minutes away Wine   There are several wineries near Goodyear, but below you can also find local shops that allow you to get wine to go:  BevMo! | In-store shopping, Curbside pickup, or Delivery | 3 minutes away Total Wine & More | Delivery or Curbside pickup | 7 minutes away  Tap Savvy | In-store shopping, Takeout | 11 minutes away   The Key Steps to Preparing a Delicious Valentine’s Day Cheese Board    Step 1: Pick Your Cheese Cheese is one of the main attractions of a cheeseboard. Choose your favorites according to the taste and aesthetic you are going for. Usually, a mix of hard and soft cheese is a good way to go!    Step 2: Add Fruits and Vegetables Some ideas to make the board more festive would be strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, or pomegranate seeds as your fruit components. Add pickles, olives, or cashews to make the board saltier and hummus or sundried tomato tapenade for dipping.    Step 3: Add a Base The final step to creating a cheeseboard is piling on your meats, crackers, and other items to fill in the remainder of the board. For example, you could use whole-grain crackers and artisan salami.    Step 4: Chocolates Sweeten your board with some of your favorite chocolates! Sea salt caramels and dark chocolate pair really well with any type of cheese.    Step 5: Pair with Wine Finish off the cheeseboard with some tasty wine from local wine shops! Usually a crisp white wine or a very light red wine like a Pinot Noir pair really well with charcuterie boards.    Now that you have picked up your ingredients and followed our steps, get ready to put one of your own together in your cozy Acero Estrella Commons home and share the final product below!   

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The Basic Steps on Making Candles at Home-image

 If you are someone who is crafty and is looking for a way to spruce up your home decor or something   to make as an early Valentine’s gift for your loved ones, DIY candles might be your answer! Candles can be so fun and easy to make because you can control what goes into them, such as your favorite scents, colors, or designs! Now, get your supplies ready and read the list of steps we crafted on how to make candles at home. Supplies: 1 package of candle-making soy wax 1 package of large candle wicks 1 bottle of fragrance oil 1 Spatula 1 heat-proof container 1 double boiler, hot plate, or electric stove Thermo meter A pair of Chopsticks or pencil   Step 1: Measure Wax Make sure you have a clean, flat surface to work on and protect the area with newspaper or paper towels. Next, measure out how much wax you need to fill your container, then double that amount.    Step 2: Melt Wax Set up a pot over a heated source, such as a double boiler, electric stove, or hot plate. Then, s lowly pour the wax into your and let it melt for about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure to stir frequently during this step.    Step 3: Add Fragrance Oils and Colors of Your Choice Simply pour the fragrance and colors you choose into the melted wax and stir for a few seconds. The measurements for how much fragrance to add should be on your wax package.    Step 4: Attach The Wick Attach the wick to the bottom of your container before you pour in the wax. The best way to attach the wick is by dipping it in the melting wax and quickly sticking it to the container. Let the wick sit for 5 minutes to harden.      Step 5: Transfer Wax Before you pour the wax into the container, make sure the temperature on the thermometer is at 140 degrees. When it is ready, slowly pour the wax into the container while you hold the wick in place. Make sure to leave a small amount of wax in the boiler for topping off your candle later!   Step 6: Secure the Wick Instead of letting the wick sway in the melting wax, secure it in place with two chopsticks across the top of the container and sandwich the wick in between so it stays centered while the wax hardens. Let the wax sit for four hours at room temperature.    Step 7: Add More Wax If you notice cracks and holes in your candles, reheat and add your remaining wax, and let it harden.    Step 8: Cut the Wick The wick should be shorter than half an inch long. A good way to test wick length is by lighting the candle. If it clickers or has a tall flam, trim the wick.    Now you have completed all the steps to creating candles at home! Feel free to add your own unique touches, like creating floral candles with dried petals from your favorite flower, or making colorful candles with chopped crayons. Let us know what your favorite fragrance is in the comments!    

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The 4 Essential Steps to Having a Spa Day at Home-image

When days start getting more and more stressful, sometimes all you need to do is sit back and relax while you do some self-care at home! Don’t know where to start? We thoughtfully crafted 4 essential steps to creating an at-home spa day at Acero Estrella Commons.     Prepare It is very important to have everything you need beforehand so you can be in the moment and make the day all about self-care.  So here are a couple of things to keep in mind:    Decide what you want to accomplish  ​ Commit to a time ​ Plan for what you need beforehand   Set the Tone   Consider all the times you have had a spa and easily recreate that experience at home!  For example, make a relaxing room with candles, towels, and cozy blankets to sit on, pick the perfect scent from local candle stores in Goodyear , and set the mood with music by making your own playlist.      Treatments Whether you enjoy creating your own products or buying locally, sit back and treat yourself to a nice body scrub, and soothing skincare or facial routine.   DIY  Green Tea Sugar Scrub Ingredients: 2 tea bags green tea ½ cup hot water 1 cup brown sugar  ¼ cup coconut oil, melted Directions: First, add tea bags to hot water and let the tea steep until it cools. Next, add brown sugar to a bowl and mix in the coconut oil. Once the tea has cooled, add the sugar mix. Make sure you have the right consistency, if it too crumbly add more coconut oil or if it's too soggy add more brown sugar to the mix. Once you have made your desired consistency, spoon the scrub into a jar and get ready to have smooth and fresh skin!   Homemade Oatmeal Facial Mask   Ingredients: ½ cup hot water ⅓ oatmeal 1 egg 2 tablespoons plain yogurt  Directions: Combine the hot water and oatmeal together and let the water settle. After the water settles, mix in the plain yogurt, honey, and egg. Next, apply a thin layer to your face and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Now you have a fresh face to take on the rest of your day!   Where to get Skin Care Products:  Walgreens | 4 minutes away Ulta | 6 minutes away SEPHORA | 7 minutes away   Grab Drinks and Snacks   What's better than relaxing with a cool drink and tasty treats? Pour yourself a glass of wine while you snack on a cheese board or enjoy some tea cookies with a hot drink.    The beauty of a spa day if you can create one however you want! Feel free to use these steps or comment below on how you do a spa day at home!   

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