Blog

Pamper Yourself at One of These Goodyear Salons

How’s your hair looking? How about those nails? With closures and stay at home orders in place, most of us have gone a long while without a hair cut or manicure! And while not much has changed since the start of the stay at home orders and businesses closing their doors, we are seeing some hope. If you’re long overdue for a day of pampering or a fresh new haircut, here are three Goodyear salons that are open. And to our men readers, stay with us! You deserve a nice beard trim and a pedicure too. Supreme Barbershop See fellas, we told you this post wasn’t just for the ladies! We know quarantine has likely affected your hairstyle too, and if that’s the case, you’ll be happy to know that the Supreme Barbershop is right across the street from Acero Estrella Commons! This barbershop is open, operating, and ready to help you get a clean hair cut anytime between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Given that you are likely not the only gentleman in need of a fresh cut, be sure to give them a call ahead of time to schedule your appointment, and to make sure they are still open (considering the fluid environment of businesses being open or not!). Twizted Manez Beauty & Barber Summer in Goodyear, Arizona is hot! And the last thing you want to be worrying about is your hair making you even hotter. Give your lushes locks a summer refresh with a hair cut from Twizted Manez Beauty and Barber ! Similar to the Supreme Barbershop, this local hair salon is only a few minutes from Acero Estrella Commons! You can’t beat the location, and if the location isn’t enough to make you schedule an appointment, maybe their 4.3 stars and nearly 150 Google reviews will! With the health of their customers in mind, Twizted Manez requires salon-goers to wear a mask, and are operating by appointment only. Give them a call today and block off a little bit of “me-time” this week! Q Nail Bar Ladies and gentlemen, times have been tough. It’s perfectly fine to crave a little sense of calmness and relaxation. And we’re here to tell you that you can get both with just one visit to the Q Nail Bar . Let the talented nail technicians treat you to a calming hand massage, as you sit back in the oversized massage chairs in the cool air conditioning. Sounds nice, right? There’s no need to daydream about this experience! The Q Nail Bar is open and is walking distance from Acero Estrella Commons. Consider this your summer 2020 vacation! As we’re sure you already know, we simply want to remind you that the status of these salons is subject to change any day. Extend grace to local business at this time, and be sure to call ahead prior to your appointment to confirm they are still open and operating. We look forward to seeing your fresh hair cut on Facebook or Instagram , and the next time your reading our Acero Estrella Commons blog posts , maybe it will be while you’re getting a pedicure. See you then!

Bar Cart Styling 101: Bring Happy Hour Home!

Happy hours sure have changed this year! Staying home and self-quarantine has helped us find new and creative ways to indulge in some of our favorite activities. Whether that be home workouts, re-creating your favorite restaurant dishes, or shaking up your own happy hour cocktails. Since your Acero Estrella Commons apartment has likely transformed into your new favorite “bar”, we thought now would be a great time to get crafty with your very own bar cart! Grab a cocktail and a notebook; this is bar cart styling 101. Find the Perfect Bar Cart It all starts with the cart. The bones of your beautiful bar cart are just as important as the delicious beverages that will come from it! The Goodyear Pottery Barn Outlet is less than 10 minutes from Acero Estrella Commons and is sure to have a variety of bar carts for you to choose from. Even better? You can browse them online, here and have it delivered right to your door. While picking your cart, here are a few things to consider. 1.) Color and style. Take a look around your apartment and see what colors, textures and tones you have most. Try to match your cart to what you already have! 2.) The theme of your cart. Are you planning on having stemmed glasses? Wine bottles? Determine what you’ll likely have on the cart, and find one that fits that theme. 3.) Size! Pay extra attention to the dimensions of the cart that catches your eye to ensure it will look nice wherever you decide to have it in your apartment. (Photo by @PotteryBarn) Fill and Assemble Your Bar You’ve got your cart, now it’s time to fill it with the ingredients of your favorite drinks! Bevmo! , Total Wine and More , and the We Olive & Wine Bar are right up the street from your apartment and have more spirits, liquors, wines and mixers than you could ever imagine. The easiest way to prevent feeling overwhelmed by what to get for your cart is to, once again, create a theme. What drinks do you favor when out for happy hour? Do you like clear spirits or are you a whiskey person? Decide what you enjoy the most, the ingredients that go into those drinks, and make a list before you head out. If you like whiskey sours, find what goes into those, and add those ingredients to the list. Maybe margaritas are your love language; if that’s the case, you won’t want to forget the sweet and sour. (Photo by @mariamanuscript) Add Glassware and Decor You’re almost done! You’ve got the cart, you’ve got your ingredients, now it’s time to add a little flare. A few things your bar cart should have: a cocktail shaker, a stir stick, four or more of your favorite cocktail glasses (we recommend having a variety of sizes and styles to match different drink types), straws (metal or glass are a great way to reduce your single-use plastic waste!) and general decor. A nice touch for your bar cart might include a cocktail recipe book, a couple of candles, or even fresh flowers. A splash of decor paired with your drinking utensils is the perfect recipe for a well-rounded bar cart. (Photo by @Blondebutterflyhome) Sounds easy enough, right? We hope you found this bar cart styling guide helpful. While this is a general overview of how you might style your bar cart, remember to get creative with it and add your own unique changes! Tag Acero Estrella Commons in your final bar cart photos on Facebook and Instagram , and be sure to keep following the blog here for more posts like this one. Cheers!

Master Your Own DIY Ice Cream Creation This National Ice Cream Day

National Ice Cream Day is this Sunday, July 19th; so it’s time to spruce up your dessert-making skills and celebrate the occasion from the comfort of home in your Acero Estrella Commons apartment! Whether you’ve made ice cream once before as a science project in school, or you’ve never tried, today we’re highlighting a few simple DIY ice cream creations you can make with limited ingredients right at home. Vegan Banana Ice Cream You only need one simple ingredient for this tasty vegan banana ice cream recipe; frozen bananas! Of course, you can add much more to this recipe to customize it however you’d like, but in essence, all you need is bananas. That’s it! Peel and freeze a couple of bananas. After a while, remove them from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for a few minutes. Add the frozen banana chunks to a food processor and blend until you reach your desired consistency. When blending you can get creative and add flavors like vanilla extract, maple syrup, cinnamon, and maybe even a splash of almond milk. The possibilities are endless with this easy vegan banana ice cream! Ice Cream Sandwiches Since most of us are spending a good amount of time at home these days, you might prefer to make your own ice cream sandwich rather than head to the store or an ice cream shop for one! Put that last bit of ice cream in your freezer to good use this National Ice Cream day and make your own ice cream sandwiches. All you need is a couple of cookies (homemade or store-bought) and a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Scoop the ice cream onto a piece of parchment paper. Then, fold another piece of parchment paper on top and flatten the scoop of ice cream. Finally, sandwich it between two cookies and place in the freezer for a few minutes. Ta-da! You’re all set. Homemade Freezer Bag Ice Cream Alright, the first two were pretty easy, and this homemade ice cream recipe is easy too but requires a tiny bit of science. Don’t worry, you aren’t being graded on this. Making homemade ice cream can be as simple as a freezer bag filled with ice, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt. That’s it! Fill a gallon-sized plastic bag with ice (crushed or cubed) and ⅓ cup kosher or coarse salt. Then, combine 1 cup of milk (or half-n-half), ½ a teaspoon of vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a smaller ziplock bag. Place the bag of milk and sugar inside the bag of ice and seal. Shake for about 5 minutes and watch as the ice cream forms before your eyes! After shaking, let the ice cream sit in the ice for a few more minutes, then scoop and enjoy your ice cream with any of your favorite toppings! Did we mention that July is ice cream month? Not only is National Ice Cream Day this weekend, but really this entire month is meant for enjoying this tasty frozen dessert. Give these DIY ice cream recipes a try and let us know how they turn out by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram ! That’s all for now. Keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for more blogs like this one. See you next time!

A Guide to Staying Cool Amidst the Arizona Heatwave

It’s no surprise that temperatures continue to rise here in Goodyear! Along with July comes the Arizona heatwave, and whether you’re new to the area or have lived here all of your life, 108-degree temperatures can be a shock to anyone. Let’s look at a few ways you can stay cool, healthy and happy even as the summer temperatures continue to rapidly rise. Drink Plenty of Water Even when the average temperatures don’t exceed 100-degrees, any Arizona native knows the value of staying hydrated during the summer. Despite scorching hot weather, the Mayo Clinic and The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggests that adults should drink about 11.5 - 15.5 cups of fluids per day. Most adults have likely heard the rule of thumb, “drink 8 glasses of water a day” and this remains an easy way of measuring how much water you should be drinking. Some of us, however, might find ourselves drinking less water than is suggested, and when you live in Goodyear, Arizona, it’s important that you drink as much water as possible. This will help your body to stay hydrated and cool while both indoors and outdoors. Exercise Indoors Our home is an absolutely beautiful place, so it’s no surprise that you’d prefer your morning run to be throughout the neighborhood rather than on a treadmill in the Acero Estrella Commons fitness center . However, when even the early morning and late evening temperatures continue to linger around 100 degrees, it is with your overall health in mind that we recommend exercising indoors during this Arizona heatwave. The COVID-19 pandemic has already increased the popularity of at-home workouts , and given the powerful air conditioning in your brand new apartment, it’s easy to squeeze in that workout without putting yourself at risk of overheating while you’re at it. Crank the air conditioner, turn on your favorite tunes, and workout from the coolness of your apartment or the fitness center until temperatures begin to level out. Avoid Dark or Tight Fitting Clothing It may seem like a no brainer, but a friendly reminder never hurts! It is commonly said that dark clothing, such as a black t-shirt or dark washed jeans tends to absorb heat, where in contrast, light clothing reflects it. While science agrees with most of this, there are loopholes here and there as to how true this concept really is when it comes to keeping you cool. But we’d like to think anyone living in Arizona would agree that when you live in a place that often has extreme heat, and you’re planning to be outside at all, it’s best to wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Flowy shirts, shorts and general attire not only allow wind to help cool you down by flowing through the fabric, but it also aids in comfort when the heat leaves you sweating. Arizona heatwaves are just something you come to embrace when you live the desert, and the best way to endure them is by staying cool in every way possible. Drink lots of water, stay inside and avoid dark clothing are just a few tips. If you found this reminder helpful as Goodyear temperatures continue to rise, share this blog with your friends and family on Facebook or Instagram ! And while you’re at it, stay tuned for more blogs like this one here, on the Acero Estrella Commons blog .

Things to Do in Goodyear this Fourth of July

This weekend’s forecast: BBQs, red white and blue, and sunshine. The fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year and the city of Goodyear has re-imagined how to honor the birth of our nation while respecting social distancing recommendations. The annual firework display at the Goodyear Ballpark will now be drive-in style , with a live stream of the show on social media for those who plan to stay home! Given that celebrations look a little different this year, here are a few ideas for how you might consider spending this July 4th, from Acero Estrella Commons or from your car! Drive-in Firework Show at the Goodyear Ballpark The main event this weekend is without a doubt the Fourth of July firework show at the Goodyear Ballpark. With a bit of a twist this year, you can now drive to the park and enjoy the fireworks show, your favorite snacks, and coordinated music from KNIX 102.5 in the comfort of your car! The show starts at 8:30 p.m., and if you plan to attend, you’ll want to get to the park early as parking is anticipated to fill up fast, considering cars will be positioned one space apart. Given that Acero Estrella Commons is practically neighbors with the Goodyear Ballpark, you will likely be able to see the show from your apartment! So if that sounds like a better plan, get cozy on the balcony and admire the fireworks spectacular from home. Go for A Bike Ride Nothing says Independence Day like a bit of fresh air! Grab your helmet and hit the road for a bike ride this 4th of July. While COVID temporarily impacted access to local trails, most are now open with the recommendation of social distancing and other safety precautions while out exploring. Start your day with an early morning bike ride at the Estrella Mountain Regional Park , or maybe take a late afternoon ride along the Agua Fria River. Take a Dip in the Pool In case you missed the news, the Acero Estrella Commons swimming pool has re-opened! And we couldn’t think of a better way to spend this Fourth of July than poolside with your shades, a refreshing beverage and some sunscreen. Make this July 4th weekend one for relaxing with a dip in the pool at Acero Estrella Commons. Make Red White & Blue Lemonade Get festive with your beverages this Fourth of July! Add some fresh fruit to your lemonade and find yourself with a tasty drink that likely matches your Independence Day-inspired outfit. Slice some fresh strawberries from the Goodyear Fry’s Market Place, then drop in a couple of blue and blackberries and you have a red white and blue, berry lemonade! Make it boozy with a splash of your favorite vodka, or make it a spritzer and top with sparkling water or soda. Cheers! We encourage you to make the most of this Fourth of July weekend with these fun things to do around Goodyear. Whether you're celebrating from the comfort of home with a refreshing beverage, taking a dip in the pool, embarking on a morning bike ride, or watching the fireworks show at the Goodyear Ballpark, share your celebrations with us on Facebook or Instagram ! While you’re at it, stay tuned for more on the Acero Estrella Commons blog, here . See you next time!

Simple Ways to Brighten Up Your Outdoor Patio

Summer in Arizona means mornings, lunch breaks and afternoons spent on your Acero Estrella Commons patio! Whether you’re enjoying your coffee, reading a book, basking in the sun or sipping lemonade on a sunny afternoon, your private patio is the place to do it. Given how much time you’ll spend on the patio this summer, it’s important to make sure it’s a space that you’ll not only love to spend time in, but one that also reflects your unique style! Today we’re highlighting a few simple ways to brighten up your patio just in time for summer. Add An Accent Rug Not only will an accent rug bring character, color and texture to your outdoor space, but it also helps keep your feet safe from the scorching hot Arizona sun! If your patio gets lots of sun during the day, and you’ve ever stepped out without shoes on, you know exactly what we’re talking about. While a rug will still absorb that heat, it will help to keep your feet from burning. Plus, you have the creative freedom to decide what your rug will look like! It’s easy to brighten up any space with a rug full of bright color, or even a neutral rug that boasts a unique or eye-catching design. This is the first step in making your patio a place you’ll never want to leave and family and friends are sure to adore. Pot Some Plants Plants breathe life into any space they are added to. Whether it’s your bedroom, kitchen, living room and even the patio, greenery brings a sense of serenity and relaxation to any room or corner of a space. Recognizing the heat we get here in Goodyear, we recommend starting with more desert friendly plants, such as cacti or succulents, which can handle the heat better. Aloe plants are another family of sun-loving patio plants that would make a great addition to your Acero Estrella Commons patio! Plants are also a fun way to make your private patio even more private! Depending on the size and placement of your plant, you could find yourself both brightening your area, and making it just a little more secluded at the same time. String Some Lights One of the simplest ways to, quite literally, brighten up your patio is by adding some outdoor lighting! While the most common addition might look just like warm white lights, you can always get creative by adding colorful lights, lights that have different shapes or designs, solar lights or even strings of lights that can cover an entire wall rather than just some parts of it. Think outside of the box and you’re sure to be pleased with the unique appearance that you can create with the addition of outdoor lighting on your patio! With these Goodyear temperatures rising by the day, there’s no doubt about it that summer is on it’s way. We hope you found these outdoor patio decorating tips helpful and find yourself implementing them on your Acero Estrella Commons patio! And if you do, tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can see how it turns out. Keep following the blog here for more, and we’ll see you next time!