i heart mesa.

Things to Do This Weekend

2012-05-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

Here are a few events if you are looking for something to do:

On Friday night it's Motorcycles on Main again. Head to downtown Mesa to check out the bikes, browse some shops, and have something to eat.

Of course there is the monthly First Friday Art Walk in downtown Phoenix. Take shuttles around to tour art galleries, for free. There are multiple routes for you to choose depending on your style.

At Kiwanis Park in Tempe you can see their free monthly Movie in the Park. This Friday night's feature is "Happy Feet 2." Movie will start at dusk, or about 7pm.

For some vintage shopping, head to Westworld in Scottsdale on Saturday for the Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market. You can get more details of this event and see some preview photos on their Facebook page.

And for Saturday, here are a few Cinco de Mayo Events:

NOTE: The event posted for Cinco de Mayo in Mesa is NOT accurate. The information was from a previous year. Sorry for the confusion!

Check out the Chandler Cinco de Mayo Festival and Chihuahua Races.

For other ideas, here are a couple of articles from AZ Central that you might want to check out:

Top Cheap Taco Parlors
Big List of Cinco de Mayo Events
18 Restaurants to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Have fun!

Earth Day and National Parks Week

2012-04-23T09:40:00.002-07:00

Happy Earth Day yesterday. We may have had record heat, but, I hope you still found a way to show love for our Earth. I've always been an advocate of recycling and the last few years I have come to learn how to truly reduce and reuse. It takes some creativity, but, it's quite freeing to know we can live with less and use what we already have to create something new. Not to mention our budget loves it too.

Also in celebration of Earth Day, last week at K-Mart (the one on Lindsay and Main) I picked up some small potted plants that were on sale for $1.60. I grabbed a few of these Fishhook succulents, because I love greenery but I knew we needed plants that required little watering. They would be replacing the wheat grass pots around our home that we grew for Eater, but had let die off. The wheat grass was beautiful and green for the holiday but needed to be watered everyday and we didn't master the water everyday skill. We planted the succulents in some terracotta pots I've had for years and now they make a great addition to my 5 year old twins' bedside table. (I got the bedside table for $1 at Goodwill and I spray painted it and let my girls put blue stickers on it. The headboard was from the second hand furniture shop The Shabby Shack in Mesa and I refinished it. We made the bed frame and my sister-in-law was getting rid of the pillow. How is that for reusing.)

Now, if you want to get out and enjoy nature, all this week, April 21st -29th, National Parks are FREE. Check out nearby parks in Arizona here.

Or help the community and reduce your library fines by donating canned foods to the Mesa Public Library through April 28th. Information here.

(Thanks Zane and Rachel for the reminders)

Also, don't forget these events we have already posted about, going on during April:

Start looking ahead to summer by checking out classes offered for adults and children from the City of Mesa. Registration is open. Here's a great idea--Fit Kids, a fun program for kids 9-12 designed with exercise and nutrition in mind.

Fun in the Sun
Bring your little one out to this free event hosted by the City of Mesa next Wednesday morning, April 25th at Countryside Park. Includes activities, parachute play, storytime, Mesa Fire Department and more. Sounds like a fun way to spend the morning with your favorite preschooler.

Would you like an opportunity to volunteer for your community? City of Mesa is looking for people for this event held Saturday, April 28th.

My Nana's Salsa Challenge is Saturday, April 28th. For one reasonable price you get admission which includes all-you-can eat chips and salsa from over 80 contestants. Tickets are $10 at the event or $8 in advance from any Fry's store. Children 12 and under are free which includes a fun zone with free games. If you love chips and salsa you can't miss this event!

Have a great week!

Do you know of something going on not listed here? Please share it in the comments!

Two More Last Minute Events TODAY

2012-04-21T08:22:00.001-07:00

We have two more wonderful events going TODAY!

First off is a dance festival featuring the popular dance styles of the last 100 years of Arizona history. Held at Mesa High School's football field, over 1200 youth with be showcasing their love of our state and celebrate the centennial through dance. The festival performances will take place at 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Go here for all the details. It sounds amazing.

Second is a performance at Westwood High School celebrating their 50th anniversary. If you are a fellow alumni who participated in the performing arts, it's not too late to come be a part of this concert. I wasn't a very good violinist. I loved hiding in the back of the 2nd violins with my friends. So, 12 years later I will still be tucked in the back of the 2nd violins. If you played for Westwood and want to come join me, practice is at 5:00 PM and the performance is at 7:00 PM. Music and more information can be found here. AND, if you just want to come and listen to a great community concert for free, anyone is welcome to come and enjoy regardless if you went to Westwood. Performance schedule found here.

So I hope you can add these events into your last minute plans. I'm thinking that if I perform at the Westwood Concert, I might still be able to make it over to Mesa High for the dance festival.

Spring Cleaning: JAWS cleaners

2012-04-19T14:28:00.001-07:00

Spring has come and seems to be leaving all too fast. But, spring cleaning has been on my mind and on my to-do list. I thought I would take a few posts to share some ways I've tried to add a dash of sparkle to my home, while saving a little money.

First up: JAWS cleaners

I was asked if I would like to sample these cleaners in return for a review. When I heard the cleaners would be sold at Basha's, which I love is locally owned, I was in. I think the glass cleaner works just as good as Windex and I've been using the green cleaner on my counters and the orange cleaner to get the grime off my cabinets. They don't miraculously clean my house by themselves, but my favorite part is that these are a just add water line of cleaners. These 4 little cartridges will make 4 more bottles of cleaner. I keep the same spray bottle and reduce my cost and my waste. That sure beats the gallon bottle of Windex I bought from Costco and have been storing under my kitchen sink (not one of my smarter purchases). Now I have a good supply of cleaners and I'm not using up much space in storage.

If you wanted to check out these cleaners for yourself, right now they are on sale now until the 24th at your local Basha's. The price is regularly $4.99 for the cleaner bottle with the included refill, and $3.99 for the two-pack of cartridges. The sale price is $2.50 for the cleaner bottle with refill and $2 for the refill pack of two cartridges.

These are the cartridges that will then make 4 more full bottles of cleaner.

The bottles came with the cartridge clip attached. I didn't really like it attached, so we just popped it off.

If you want to start with just one kind to test it out, I would go with the blue, the glass and hard surface cleaner. My next favorite is the green one which is used as a disinfectant and degreaser.

Things to Do This Week In and Around Mesa, AZ

2012-04-18T06:00:00.001-07:00

We are back with an event post this week. Here's our list:

From Classical to Broadway
This concert by the East Valley Mormon Choral Organization is held this Friday, April 20th at the Mesa Arts Center at 5 pm and 8 pm. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here. Concert attire is expected and children 5 and up are welcome to attend. The choirs and orchestra are made up of over 700 members total, with several children's choirs and a massive 250-member adult choir.

Ballet Under the Stars
This is a local dance company's version of Ballet Under the Stars. Studio R Ballet is putting on this free community concert which will feature pieces from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Carmen, and Esmeralda. Production held at the Bella Via Community Amphitheatre near Warner and Signal Butte in Mesa. Check out their facebook page for directions and more info.

Arizona’s Centennial Celebration at the Southeast Regional Library

Saturday, April 21, 1-4 p.m.

Grind corn, practice roping, play games from the 1800s, learn dances, and talk with costumed historians. There will also be an interactive living museum including original artifacts, period replicas, artisans and performers. 775 N. Greenfield Rd. in Gilbert.

Above the Influence
There are a couple of events for kids on Friday, 4/20 to celebrate being drug free- You can check out the one hosted by the City of Mesa or this one at Skateland.

Survive the Hunger Games event at Bookmans Mesa this Wednesday.

Native American Pow Wow this weekend, Friday night through Sunday at ASU on the band practice field.

Try a picnic and some live music in Scottsdale this Sunday.

Start looking ahead to summer by checking out classes offered for adults and children from the City of Mesa. Registration for Mesa residents opened today! Here's a great idea--Fit Kids, a fun program for kids 9-12 designed with exercise and nutrition in mind.

Fun in the Sun
Bring your little one out to this free event hosted by the City of Mesa next Wednesday morning, April 25th at Countryside Park. Includes activities, parachute play, storytime, Mesa Fire Department and more. Sounds like a fun way to spend the morning with your favorite preschooler.

Would you like an opportunity to volunteer for your community? City of Mesa is looking for people for this event held Saturday, April 28th.

Personally, my calendar has been marked for months for next Saturday, April 28th. It's the My Nana's Salsa Challenge. For one reasonable price you get admission which includes all-you-can eat chips and salsa from over 80 contestants. Tickets are $10 at the event or $8 in advance from any Fry's store. Children 12 and under are free which includes a fun zone with free games. If you love chips and salsa you can't miss this event!

Have a great week!

Do you know of something going on not listed here? Please share it in the comments!

I Heart Mesa: Best East Valley Bloggers

2012-04-15T15:24:00.003-07:00

Today I Heart Mesa was named the Best East Valley Blog by the East Valley Tribune. I was quite surprised because we never campaigned for this award. We are honored and appreciate all those that have supported us over the years. We look back at this last year as we were able to produce two guides to Mesa that were viewed by thousands, we donated $350 to the Diving Lady fund, remembered our state on it’s 100^th birthday, gave $50 away to two deserving families, and added to our vast resource of ways to love and live in Mesa, Arizona. We received notes from “snowbirds” thanking us for giving them the gift of memories with their grandchildren. A college student wrote to let us know that we help her in her job of providing respite care. Several moms have let us know that we have increased their awareness of family friendly activities going on here in the East Valley. We’ve seen young couples use our site to help plan date nights and so forth. My husband and I know first hand the impact of this economy. Our income is much less than it was 4 years ago. So we are pleased when we can pass on ways to enjoy living here, without spending oodles of money. We enjoy promoting local businesses and the local economy, not for profit, but simply because we know how important it is to bloom where you are planted. Happy citizens make for a happy, healthy and thriving community. We realize that Mesa might not have some of the historic buildings like Boston, or allure of the night life in New York City. We aren’t evergreen like Portland. This is Mesa, Arizona, our home. We are just your average citizens letting you in on ways we have found to enjoy loving and living here. We realize we might not post everyday like we once accomplished, recently we have missed whole weeks, but we hope you can still come to our site to enjoy the years of research we have done for our community. Thanks again for the honor.

If you would like to check out other people, businesses and things to do that were voted the best, please check out the East Valley Tribune list here. We love that Superstition Farm received three honors!

This picture was taken on Saguaro Lake last month after a storm that brought snow to Four Peaks. My dad bought an old beat up boat several years ago and we often teased him that it would never float. Well, after years of work, it finally floated and my 4 girls and I had an enjoyable day on the lake fishing with grandpa.

Things To Do in Mesa, Arizona for last week of March

2012-03-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

We've rounded up a few more events going on this weekend:

- Falcon Field Open House this Saturday, March 31st from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Admission and parking are FREE. Enjoy a aircraft displays and more. Information from here.

- Powwow at Westwood High School this Saturday, March 31st from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Enjoy dancing, drums, food and vendors. Admission is FREE.

- The Renesaince Festival ends this weekend, but have you heard about the Estrella Wars out at Schnepf Farms? It's "Medieval glory, honor, and chivalry." Read all about it here. The event runs now through April 1st.

- Another HUGE annual event in downtown Mesa - the Easter Pageant located at the LDS Temple grounds. Live performances of the Easter story start tomorrow night, March 28th, and runs every night, except Sunday the 1st and Monday the 2nd, until April 7th. The performances begin at 8:00 PM and last about 65 minutes. This Friday and Saturday night are the Spanish performances. Expect a crowd, so arrive early, bring some blankets to sit on if you would rather not deal with the provided chairs, and of course, bring a picnic and treats to enjoy. The performance is FREE and donations are not accepted.

- Or maybe you want to check out a carnival. Go here to see all about Red Mountain High School's carnival running this Thursday to Sunday, complete with mini-motorcycles, tilt-a-whirl, ferris wheel, the zipper and more. Entertainment is free, pay for food and attractions. Or Ishikawa Elementary School will be having a carnival this Friday, March 30th from 5:30-8:00 p.m. It will be held at Ishikawa Elementary located at 2635 N. 32nd St. on the south fields. There will be food, games, bounce houses, prizes and tons of family fun!

Enjoying Arizona - Sunflower and Bushnell Tanks

2012-03-26T09:55:00.001-07:00

Honestly, sometimes I feel really sad for those people that say there is nothing to do in Arizona. What a miserable life they must be living.

These pictures are from a backpacking trip my husband took our older set of twins on over Spring Break. They went to Sunflower/Bushnell Tanks which is 45 minutes from Mesa. I think we have been enjoying our explorations, and maybe even inhaling too much orange blossom smell, to take the time to write lately. We hope you have been caught up in living life as well.

More Things To Do During Spring Break

2012-03-09T10:26:00.002-07:00

We posted our March Things To Do Guide here, including events like Mesa's Creativity Festival, Gateway Open House and a Civil War Reenactment. Looks like we have a few more, especially for this Spring Break week:

- High School plays are such a wonderful way to bring the arts more into your life, without spending too much money. TONIGHT and tomorrow night at 7:00 PM, head down to Westwood High School, 8th Street between Country Club and Alma School Road, for their production of Willy Wonka. Kids 6 and under are free! It is 2 hours long with an intermission too, making this a perfect option families with younger children. Performance is in the Westwood Shepherd Auditorium. Tickets in advance are $5 and tickets at the door are $7-$10.

- The Flow Rider is open for Spring Break. We've tested it out ourselves and this is a sure hit with the young and the old(er) :) Spring Break is a great time to test it out for yourself as lines have historically not been as long. $5.50 for youth ride session, $11 for adult. Open this Saturday and all next week from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Go here for more information.

- Make sure to get your last hurrah at the old Riverview Park (Dobson and 8th Street) before it closes April 2nd for construction. Do some urban fishing, have a picnic.....I have made many memories here during my growing up years, fishing with my dad and watching my sister accidentally get a fish hook stuck in her foot, playing co-ed soccer, softball, and even some of my high school powder puff games. I think we are going to go and say one last goodbye to the place before it looks nothing like this anymore:

Riverview at night

- 1/2 off Day at Riverview Golf Course on March 17th-18th. Enjoy the 1987 price of $10.50 for a round of golf and 1/2 off range fees. Go here for details.

- Spring Training! It's that time of year again. Go here to see if you can catch a game.

Lehi Days 2012

2012-02-29T21:47:00.002-07:00

I've received several e-mails asking for details on Lehi Days. Well I Heart Mesa reader Abbie came through big time for me on Lehi Days information. She e-mailed over the flyer and so I figured the best way might just be to post it here. I'm thinking one of these years I need to sign my girls up for the mutton riding or at least let them compete in the greased pig chase. Maybe this year we will just watch and then next year they can join in.

(Click to enlarge the image)

Things To Do in Mesa, Arizona During March

2012-02-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Leap Day everyone. I know a lady (she grew up down the road from me in West Mesa) who shares her leap day birthday with her daughter. Talk about one in a million!

So one extra day today and then we are already into March. Here are some events we have been hearing about around town:

- Friday, March 2nd from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM: MCC's Southern/Dobson Campus Planetarium show. Free tickets are handed out at the door on a first come, first serve basis. All the details here.

- Saturday, March 3rd from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Transportation Day at Little Light Preschool located at 6659 E. University Dr. Explore a hot air balloon, police car, ambulance, fire truck, construction vehicles, motorcycles, speed boat....for free. You can pay to also enjoy games, bounce houses, food and there will be a rummage sale. Information from here.

- March 1st - 3rd, 8th - 9th at 7:30 PM and March 10th at 2:00 PM: MCC's performance of RENT. Tickets start at $9. Details here.

- Saturday, March 3rd at 9:00 AM: Auction at Auction Empire in downtown Mesa. Check out their online catalog here.

- Saturday, March 3rd : Lehi Days Rodeo. Sadly, there is no information online that I can find. I have put in some calls, but will have to post later when I hear back on all the details.

- Thursday, March 8th from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Home Schooling Day at Mesa Grande. I don't home school, but my girls are done with Kindergarten by this time and it sounds like a wonderfully educational event. Learn about the Hohokam, learn from real archaeologists how to work a authentic site, enjoy games and crafts. Cost is $2 for members of the Arizona Museum of Natural History or $6 for non-members. Call 480-644-3553 for more information or to register.

- March 9th from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Spring Wellness Festival as part of 2nd Fridays in downtown Mesa. Enjoy free yoga and back massages. Learn ways to help the environment. Over 70 vendors and stores stay open late.

- March 10th from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Gateway Aviation Day. Aircraft display, food and entertainment and Kids' Zone. A fun way to check out Mesa's expanding airport.

- March 9th and 10th: 150th Anniversary of the Engagement of Picacho Pass. "Experience three fascinating historic battle re-enactments complete with lifestyles of the soldiers in the southwest during the 1860s. More than 200 re-enactors come from many states and will camp at the park with their authentic Civil War camping gear. Food and beverage concessions are also available. Vehicle Entrance Fee: $10 (a vehicle) up to 4 persons. Each additional person is $3. Individual Entrance Fee is $3 for walk-in or bike. Gate Hours are from 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM and entry to park is permitted only during Gate Hours. Event hours are from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM." Information from here.

- March 9th - 18th: Mesa's Festival of Creativity. Trying to figure out how spend spring break? This sounds awesome. Walk through MIRAZOZO - another creation by Alan Parkinson that is like walking through a world of stained glass. Check out sidewalk chalk art installation, interactive art displays, performances, workshops....you must go here to get all the details. There will be a fee for some of the workshops and a $5 fee for MIRAZOZO, but everything else is free.

- March 17th from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: 3rd Annual Mayor's Cactus League Hot Dog Challenge. Try out the best hot dogs, watch a Mesa vs. Glibert Polic and Fire department softball game and enjoy activities for the kids. More information here.

Ongoing:

We just heard about the Humana Guidance Center in Mesa. They offer free Ballroom Dancing classes, movie days, Wii games, quilting, Tai Chi, Bunco....Check out their March calendar of events here. No need to belong to the Humana insurance group, these free services are available to anyone. Sadly they used to have bikes available on loan to the public, but they discontinued that service.

Enjoy family story time, Infant Lapsit and Toddler Time at the public libararies. Or join the Lego club, take advantage of wellness classes, book clubs and more. Library calendar of events here.

There are still plenty of classes offered through Mesa Public School's Parent University. All classes are free and you do not need to be a parent of an MPS student to attend. Class schedule found here.

Thursdays: Free Spring Out to Lunch Concert Series at the MAC and SuperFarm Famers Market at Superstition Farm from 4:30 - 7:30 PM.

Fridays: Yoga in the park. 9:00 AM at Rendezvouz Park (adjacent to the Mesa Farmers Market on Center St. and University). Free classes provided by Floating Lotus Yoga Studio. Do some Yoga and then pick up some fresh fruits and vegis at the Farmers Market.

Saturdays: MACFest 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Enjoy this "made by me" cultural event.

And for your enjoyment, here is a video of the Emerson Bell Choir performing at the Mesa Public School's board meeting. I was an Emerson Bell Choir member many years ago. So many good memories of performing in Downtown Mesa and Phoenix.

(This is me clicking my heels after a fun outing in downtown Mesa last week. Hope you can plan some fun outings also.)

Presidential Debate in Mesa, Arizona

2012-02-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

I didn't really want to post last week after my Arizona post. I was too content just staring at beautiful pictures every time I logged on. But, new week, new posts.

As you are most likely aware, there will be a Republican presidential debate at the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday evening. We stay clear of getting political here at I Heart Mesa. We feel there is a time and place for politics, just not here where our main goal is to build a sense of community - not take sides. But, regardless of your political views, we feel it is pretty exciting to have an event with national attention such as this take place in downtown. Many businesses are excited and have special offers.

The debate runs from at 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM and will be televised on CNN

If you plan to head to downtown tomorrow night, maybe check out:

- The city of Mesa will be setting up a 14' by 20' screen on Main between Center and Sirrine in order to view the debate. There will be music and food vendors. The event runs from 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM. More information (though not much more) found here.

- Queen's Pizzeria and Evermore Nevermore are teaming up for a political art and debate event called the Republi-con 2012 from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Enjoy pizza and politics presented in art form. You can also view the debate from Queen's. More information from here.

- Sweet Cakes has said Main and Center streets will be closed for safety and security, but there will be plenty of parking behind their store. They will have $1.00 hot dogs, their regular menu, and you can view the debate in their restaurant or on the nearby jumbo screen that the city is setting up.

AND if you are curious about parking or just want to avoid the event and all the road closures all together, check out this map.

Happy 100th Birthday Arizona: 100 Years of Beauty

2012-02-14T16:41:00.003-07:00

I loved Saturdays as a kid for two reasons: This Old House and Martha Stewart. Even as a little kid I loved the idea of a good DIY project. But, This Old House and Martha Stewart were mostly filmed on the very green and historic east coast, which led my little mind to believe that Arizona was not beautiful, that the only kind of beautiful was rolling hills with oak trees.

And then I grew up and truly fell in love with Arizona.

I fell in love with the Superstitions where my husband and I were engaged.

And ASU where we both graduated in 2004.

I fell in love with road trips that took me from saguaros to Ponderosa pines in just a little over an hour.

And farms and valleys.

I fell in love with the vast expanse of nothingness.

And with the mountains to the north and south.

I fell in love with the hot and the cold and the beautiful in between.

I fell in love with taking the long route.

And exploring old mining towns.

I fell in love with this view of where my dad grew up.

And watching my little girls make new memories of Arizona.

I fell in love with Arizona sports teams and rejoiced during those winning seasons.

I fell in love with camping on the Mogollon Rim for weeks at a time.

And I well with anger every summer there is a new forest fire.

I fell in love with odd structures.

And jungles in the desert.

I fell in love with fishing and playing in creeks.

I fell in love with cabins by the lake.

And a view from above the desert.

I fell in love with monsoons.

And sunsets.

Oranges and blossoms.

I fell in love with rolling hills and even oak trees.

I fell in love with historic, and really historic.

I fell in love with the Grand Canyon State.

Yes, I love visiting other places, but I'm thrilled to call Arizona home.

We hope you found a reason to celebrate today. We will continue to celebrate 100 years of Arizona the entire year through!

(I am yet to fall in love with these though.)

Happy 100 years Arizona!

(All of the pictures were taken by either me or my husband since we were married 10 years ago. It was hard not posting even more.)

Oh Wait...There are Even More Events This Weekend

2012-02-09T21:35:00.001-07:00

We couldn't forget these events also going on in Mesa this weekend:

- Mesa Takes Flight: Friday, February 10th - Sunday, February 12th, 2012 at the Mesa Arts Center. There will be a paper airplane contest, an original play about the Wright Brothers, concerts, an interactive art show, mobile game truck....go here for all the good details.

If you plan to head to downtown Mesa, don't forget that it's 2nd Friday in Downtown. Swing dance lessons, sweetheart photos, artwalk....

- Also the Centennial Ride with the unique Copper Chopper leaves Mesa Riverview at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 11th. If you would like to witness thousands of motorcycles, or even be a part of this ride, go here for the details. I bet the sound of all those motorcycles revving at once would be pretty awesome. Watch the motorcycles and then check out Bass Pro, or even grab yogurt at Yodipity.

-If you plan to spend the weekend cleaning, take advantage of Mesa's shred-a-thon at the Center Street Facility, 2412 N. Center St. from 8:00 AM - Noon.

And finally, the Renaissance Festival starts this weekend. Maybe this will be the year I finally get out there.

Enjoy! I know I will. We are celebrating my grandmother's 86th birthday (she was born and raised in Mesa) and our designer, Angela Hardison's, soon to arrive bundle of joy. And of course I will see what events we can make it out to.

Arizona's Centennial Celebrations

2012-02-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Throughout the year, we will keep you posted on events celebrating 100 years of Arizona statehood.

This weekend is the Arizona Best Fest held Saturday, February 11th from noon to 10:00 PM and Sunday, February 12th from noon to 6:00 PM at the Arizona State Capitol Mall and surrounding area along Centennial Way. There will be music, educational pavilions, food, family zones, arts and crafts and more. This is one of the main events of the celebration, so it should be fun. Besides, it's kind of sad to say I haven't been down to the Capitol in years and it's time I took my girls!

On Statehood day (and Valentine's Day) from 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, there will be a few activities at Phoenix City Hall and the Capitol. Entertainment including Wayne Newton, food trucks, birthday cake, reenactments.... Go here for more details.

Also, on February 14th, National Parks will be having a fee free day to celebrate. Go here to find a park you would like to visit. I know we have enjoyed visiting several parks this year, including Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument.

Flor De Michoacan

2012-02-07T17:00:00.002-07:00

Remember this mystery picture from a few weeks ago?

One of Julie's favorite spots to enjoy in Mesa is Flor de Michoacan located at 734 E. Main St. Julie said she goes, "for their Mexican ice cream bars. Whenever we go there the husband and I stock up by buying a huge bagful. I think the owner recognizes us and gets a big kick out of it!"

I've passed this store multiple times and always wanted to try it out. So, after Julie's recommendation, I knew it was time to finally stop in. I loved the clean store with the bright colors. Of course we enjoyed the Mexican popsicles with a wide variety of flavors, guava, mango, jamaica, and bought a few extra for family that were visiting for the holidays. I hear the ice cream is also fantastic so we will have to get that next time. Another highlight for my girls was getting to meet this dark haired Rapunzel. They couldn't take their eyes off that beautiful long hair.

Locally Made Cupcake Toppers

2012-02-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day and Arizona's 100th Birthday is fast approaching. I just might make a cake to adorn with 100 candles for February 14th. My cake probably won't be so pretty, so, if you are looking for something cute, we love these cupcake toppers made by our friend, Julie Herbert. I've known Julie since the days of playing summer t-ball for Mesa Girl's Softball. You can check out her Etsy shop here or her blog here. If you see anything you like on Etsy or her blog, just contact her personally for a local order. You might as well save on shipping. I think my little Leta would just die over these cute elephant cupcakes and this farewell cake is so creative.

Things To Do in Mesa, Arizona for the First Week of February

2012-02-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Events:

The Spring Out to Lunch Concert Series begins this Thursday, February 3rd. Enjoy a free concert every Thursday from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM at the MAC's Wells Fargo Garden. This week is the Salt River Brass Quintet.

Show your support of diversity. Participate in the Unity Walk. Several cities from around the valley will come together this Saturday, February 4th from 10:00 AM - Noon. "Mesa residents should arrive at their assembly point by 10 a.m. at the Tempe Center for the Arts parking lot. The one mile walk to Tempe Beach Park begins at 10:30 a.m. Walkers are encouraged to wear turquoise or teal-colored shirts. There will also be free T-shirts available at the assembly point on a first-come basis. The walk will be followed by the Unity Walk Festival at Tempe Beach Park with entertainment and food." Information from here.

This Saturday, February 4th, we will be heading down to the Phoenix Zoo to participate in the Tillamook cheese "Loaf Love Tour." The first 100 guest to arrive at the zoo wearing bright orange will get into the zoo free. Everyone else wearing orange after the first 100 get $1 off. We are excited to sample their tasty cheese (we LOVE cheese), get coupons, meet Loafy, and participate in the scavenger hunt. "Free entry starting at 9:00 a.m. until limit reached. Participating fans may check-in at the Tillamook Baby Loaf bus located outside the Phoenix zoo main gate." I hope you are one of the first 100! The fun lasts until 5:00 PM. For more information, go to Tillamook's website here.

If you don't get in to the Phoenix Zoo for free wearing your orange, maybe you can if you are a Bank of America Customer. Go here to learn more.

As always, Motorcycles on Main is this Friday night, February 3rd, in Downtown Mesa. Come and meet one of the Simpsons' animators at Gotham City Comics and Coffee. Information on FB here.

Also on Friday night is MCC's monthly Astronomy Night from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. This is a free event at the Southern and Dobson Campus. Enjoy use of their telescopes and a planetarium show. Fun for a date or for the whole family. Information from here.

And if you want something really unique, check out Circus Vargas going on right now through February 6th at Arizona Mills Mall. This is truly a big top circus. Forget the animals, this is all about humans doing amazing and entertaining tricks. You can read another blogger's first hand experience and enter for a chance to win tickets.

As part of First Friday's in Phoenix, adults can enjoy the Arizona Science Center for free this Friday, February 3rd from 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Leave the kids at home and enjoy all the exhibits yourself. My husband and I have been meaning to make a date night out of this. We plan to ride the light rail to downtown, enjoy the center and grab a bite to eat. Information from here.

And of course, don't forget the Fiesta Mall free entertainment each weekend.

Enjoy!

And the Winner Is.....

2012-01-31T06:00:00.002-07:00

Wow, the hardest part of a giveaway is picking a winner. Random is always easier. I loved everyone who said that they pass on word of I Heart Mesa to neighbors and friends. I was happy to hear of e-mails being forwarded, conversations being started, tweets re-tweeted, and venues being told that you found out the information from I Heart Mesa. But, in the end, when you can only choose one, we went with....

"One Happy Family"

I loved how this mom (nameless because I can't peak on her private blog to find an identity) said she took her girls and "spread the heart of I Heart Mesa by making and sticking little notes around. They said, "Looking for something fun to do? Check out iheartmesa.blogspot.com! And have a HAPPY day!" We had fun finding creative places to hide them like... inside some books at the library, in the dispenser of a vending machine and photo booth, and taped to a park bench. :)"

I'm sure they will have a fabulous time at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater and then Nielsens' Frozen Custard. I've yet to make it to the theater, but I can tell you by experience that Nielsen's is tasty. Congrats and thanks to everyone who entered.

I did enjoy all the great ideas for places to explore and we hope you keep your ideas handy for our next giveaway. In the meantime, we are working on a few projects for Arizona's 100th Birthday and so, if you have a place in Arizona that you would like to write a guest post on, please let us know at iheartmesa@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading!
(If you are "One Happy Family" please e-mail us so that we can get you your check.)

Things To Do in Mesa, Arizona for the Last Weekend in January

2012-01-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

We love all the entries so far for our $50 in Arizona Giveaway! Keep them coming. Just remember, entries are judged on how you will spend the money in Arizona AND how you are spreading the word of I Heart Mesa. If you forgot that last part, just leave a separate comment and we will put 2 and 2 together.

As we have said before, any profit we have made from this website, has gone back into it. 100%. That's why it was time for another giveaway. We have a vision to make Mesa better and we realize we are only as effective as our reader base. (Besides a bigger reader base equates to bigger and better giveaways for you!) So, spread the word about I Heart Mesa and keep sending us suggestions of events we can post about. Our e-mail is iheartmesa@gmail.com.

Now, onto some events:

- Are you aware of all the upcoming shows at the Mesa Arts Center? Get tickets for the National Geographic Live! Speakers series. My husband, who loves photography and has taken many of our I Heart Mesa pictures, and I attended one a few years back. It was very interesting listening to the stories and lives behind the pictures. Or, what about tickets to My Fair Lady for this Tuesday and Wednesday? Make sure to add a dash of culture into your life this year.

- Mesa may have lost the Royale, but you can still check out some cult classics in Tempe on Mill Avenue at MADCAP Theater. Back to the Future will be playing Friday night at 9:00 PM. Don't miss your reunion with Marty McFly. More information here.

- Fiesta Mall has free entertainment every weekend. This weekend you can enjoy Polynesian entertainment, folklorico dancing, mariachi bands and more. Go here for a list of the entertainment scheduled for this weekend. Also at Fiesta Mall tomorrow, try to win 20,000 frequent flyer miles from Spirit Airlines. Read this article for more information.

- The last Friday of every month, from 6:00 PM - 8:45 PM, Gilbert's McQueen Park Activity Center at 510 N. Horne, Gilbert, AZ 85233 plays host to "Family Fun Zone." Watch a movie, enjoy family friendly activities, even compete against other families. Cost is $1.50 for residence and $2.25 for non residence. Go here for all the details.

- This Saturday, January 28, 2012 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Tempe Marketplace is "Real Snow Skate Show" with skate demos, giveaways, signings with Billy Marks and Aaron "Jaws" Homoki, music and more. Go here for more information.

- We have reminded you over and over about the Historic Home Tour this Saturday. Don't forget to also check out the Flea Market set up on the greenbelt on 2nd Street and Robson. Everything from Domestic Bliss will be 28-50% off!

- Also, don't forget the EVIT Expo on Saturday as well. That cake walk sounds fun.

And...do you know where this picture was taken?

$50 in Arizona Giveaway

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Remember our $50 in Arizona giveaway? It's back! (You can go ahead and do your little fist pump now.)

Our last winner, Coralee, used the $50 towards a fabulous anniversary trip with her husband to nothern Arizona. They started out with bowling and a movie in Prescott, then stopped at Montezuma's Castle and Tuzigoot National Monument, ate at the Javelina Cantina in Sedona, stayed in Cottonwood, and then enjoyed a drive through Oak Creek Canyon to see the first snowfall of the year. They loved and recommended everything they did and I'm sure they won't mind if you copy their itinerary for your next quick getaway. (We know the $50 didn't pay for all of that fun, but we were glad to help.)

To enter, you must leave a comment on this post or on Facebook telling us how you would spend the $50 in Arizona AND how you are spreading the word of I Heart Mesa. Get creative because our winner will be chosen from whoever comes up with the best idea(s) for spending the $50 and the best way(s) of spreading the heart of I Heart Mesa. (Just please no face tattoos of our I Heart Mesa logo. That might be awkward.)

The winner will receive a $50 check from us and is required to submit a few pictures that are okay for posting of how the $50 was spent.

Giveaway ends next Monday, January 30th at midnight. Winner announced next Tuesday.

Thank you Coralee for the beautiful pictures and for thinking of such a fun getaway! Wishing you many more years of happiness in your marriage.

Mesa Historical Museum

2012-01-23T16:08:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago my husband and I decided to finally check out the Mesa Historical Museum. We enjoyed doing some research for an I Heart Mesa history project, we laughed and reminisced at the Wallace and Ladmo exhibit, thought about all the service men and women in the WWII aviation exhibit, dreamed of Mesa yesteryears, and of course I loved being in a historical building. The building is the old Lehi School. It started as a one room adobe school house and then the larger building which houses the Mesa Historical Museum was built in 1914.

The Mesa Historical Museum is located at:

2345 N. Horne (North of McKellips)

and is open Thursday - Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children (those under 3 are free).

The Mesa Historical Museum also has a room and an auditorium for rent if you are planning an event. Go here to view pictures and for more details. I have been to an event in the auditorium and it can fit up to 400 people and is home to some fun murals. Makes for a unique place for an event.

Tips: I wouldn't recommend bringing small kids. They will be bored. There is not much for them to do and the museum is full of things to read. You can't sit and read if your kids are scattering to other rooms. This is not a huge museum and taking a tour won't take you long at all. And don't worry about crowds. We went on a Saturday and we saw only one other patron.

Finally, if you wanted to view the museum, but wanted more bang for your buck, buy tickets to the Historic Home Tour this Saturday, January 28th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Tickets are $15 and include the full home tour around downtown and admission to the museum. Tickets can be purchased here. (I know I'm not the only one in town that likes to see how other people have decorated their homes. Should be a fun day.)

Dinner Tonight: Unlimited Food Foodtrucks

2012-01-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a last minute idea for dinner tonight: Superstition Farm is hosting "Pop Up, Pig Out." For $20 enjoy ALL YOU CAN EAT from four local food trucks. This unique event takes place from 4:30pm - 7:30pm tonight, January 19th, during the Super Farm Market at Superstition Farm. An a-la-carte menu is available for children at the Super Truck and free petting zoo and $1 hayride!

Tickets are limited, so go here to purchase tickets.

Superstition Farm is located at:

3440 S. Hawes Rd. Mesa, AZ 85212

602-432-6865

Also, don't forget other events coming up next weekend:

- EVIT Expo

- Mesa Historic Home Tour

Yes, the mystery picture from last week is the white horse on Stapley and Brown. I remember being a little girl and watching so intently for the horse every time we went to the bank. I've heard stories of how it originated, but am unsure of the validity of them. I'm trying to track down some answers, but does anyone out there know how that horse came to be?

And finally, thought you might enjoy this video from Tough Mudder that took place last weekend in Mesa. (You can skip the first minute.) To watch video, go here. Yay for teamwork!

Happy 100th Birthday Arizona: 100 Years of Beauty

2012-01-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

As we recoup and get back into the swing of things after a round of flu at our house, please enjoy these pictures from the southern part of our state. My husband took all these pictures a few days after Christmas. Arizona is such a wonderful place to explore and we promise to continue to post her beauty as we celebrate an amazing 100 years of statehood!

(P.S. Arizona doesn't need Photoshop to be beautiful.)

Park of the Canals

2012-01-13T10:49:00.003-07:00

So awhile back we asked if you knew where this picture was taken:

Yes, it is The Park of the Canals. In December, Marily and I had the privilege to write a few articles for the Gateway to the East Valley Magazine. The editor, Megan Sterling, has always been a great support to us here at I Heart Mesa. When she asked if we could write on a local gem, we knew Park of the Canals was a good fit. And here is why:

The Hohokam people lived in the Salt River Valley between 300 BC and 1450 AD. In order to grow crops of beans, squash, corn, agave, and cotton they used primitive and basic tools to dig an elaborate canal system, spanning hundreds of miles. (Just dig one hole in your backyard with a modern shovel and you will realize how difficult that must have been for the Hohokam people.) After lying dry for over 400 years, in 1878 Mormon pioneer settlers with the Mesa Company began the work of clearing out part of these impressive canals in order to irrigate their own crops in the dry desert. These canals are the reason that Mesa was able to thrive in the desert.

Today what is left of these canals can be seen while visiting the 31 acre Park of the Canals located at 1710 N. Horne in Mesa. The park literally sits at the edge of the mesa for which this city is named. While at this park, take in the centuries old history of the area while walking amongst the canals, visit the quaint Brinton Desert Botanical Garden, play on the newly remodeled playground equipment, participate in the compass course, or enjoy a meal at the park by using the available grills and ramadas. I know my family enjoyed a sunset picnic here.

In 1975, Park of the Canals was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Park of the Canals in located on the West side of Horn between Brown and McKellips.