National Doughnut day, Mountain High Games and Free Fishing

As I work on events going on all summer, I thought I would quickly posts the events that I have found for this weekend:

June 1st is National Doughnut Day. Receive one free doughnut of any variety from Mesa’s Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. According to the e-mail from Krispy Kreme that I received, National Doughnut Day was established to commemorate the tasty treat the Salvation Army “doughnut lassies” would give soldiers during World War I. Information also found here.

The Mountain High Games in Payson are this weekend, June 1st – June 3rd. If you want to participate in any of the trail runs, cook-offs, demolition derbies, pine cone toss, atv races, etc. you can still sign up to participate the day of the race onsite. If you just want to watch, it’s all free excepting the ATV rodeo and the demolition truck derby on Friday and Saturday night. For all the details, go here.

June 2nd - Free Fishing Day at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood from 8:00 AM - Noon in recognition of National Fishing and Boating week. You must check in at park office, but this is free fishing – no license is required for this event. Fishing poles and bait will be available. Try to catch a catfish in the stocked lagoon. Event sponsored by: AZ Game & Fish, Prescott National Forest, and Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Information from here.

A Summer with Heart: An East Valley Water Guide

This year we will be posting our updated “A Summer with Heart: A guide to loving and living in Mesa (and the East Valley) when the temperatures rise” as individual posts instead of an e-book. We want to make this more interactive this summer and hope that if you have an idea you want added, or you want to link to a post you have personally done on a particular venue or event, just leave us a comment or send an e-mail to iheartmesa@gmail.com. I will then update each section as needed and make a notation at the top of each post as to when the last update was. We know that this summer guide can be an even greater asset to our community with your input. 

Last updated: 5-29-12 

Water 

Golfland/Susplash 

There is an online deal (maybe a limited time only) for a Sunsplash season pass for $64.99. Regular admission is $26.99, so it won’t take long to make a season pass worth it. This would be great for teenagers to give them something fun to do this summer. Golfland also offers FREE birthday parties for up to eight people. See website here for details. 

Salt River/Saguaro Lake 

Mesa residents get to enjoy that the Salt river and Saguaro lake just minutes away. If you would like to enjoy some time at these bodies of water, make sure you stop by a gas station on your way out to the river to buy a Tonto Pass. The cost is $6 for the day. The Tonto Pass replaces the pay stations at the parks on the Salt River. The Chevron on Ellsworth and Brown sells them. Or you may purchase passes online here. 

How do you get to the Salt River? Go north on Power or Ellsworth. When you get about 5 miles out of town, you’ll start seeing faded brown signs with names like Coons Bluff or Phon De Sutton etc. Turn onto the paved road, park in the parking lot and enjoy some time on the Salt River. It’s really just minutes away. The river isn’t just for tubing down.

Read about other Arizona lake visits: 

Willow Springs

Fish Hatcheries

Arizona is home to 6 fish hatcheries. They are fun to explore, learn and feed the fish (only at the Page, Canyon Creek and Tonto Creek hatcheries). My personal favorite is the Canyon Creek hatchery down the Young Road. Feed the fish and then take some time to play in the nearby Canyon creek. TIP: take quarters for the fish feed. Read about our personal visit here,

Pools and Splash Pads 

Mesa’s Aquatic Centers

Pay $4 for adults and $2 for kids for the aquatic centers and $2.50 for adults, $1.25 for kids at the pools (Fremont and Taylor.) You can also get punch cards or season passes to reduce the price per visit. Most pools include splash pad, slides, diving boards and zero entry pools. Monday nights from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM is ½ price family night at the aquatic centers Tip: all Mesa pools have special event days throughout the summer. Make sure to call your local pool or go pick up a calendar of scheduled special events. 

FlowRider 

FlowRider is a place to get your surf on without leaving the city. Located at the Rhodes Aquatic Complex: 1860 S. Longmore in Mesa (Baseline and Longmore). Rhodes pool is complete with a zero depth (beach like) entry pool, diving boards, normal pool (8 lane lines), splash pad and of course, the FlowRider. Those over 42” can try their skills at boogie boarding and those over 52” can try surfing. Tips: don’t wear jewelry and make sure your clothing will stay in place to account for the very fast moving water. Also, make sure to have your liability waiver signed and ready to go (especially for minors leaving their parents at home.) Read our detailed post here.  

Chandler Aquatic Centers 

Admission of $1 for kids and $2.25 for adults with amazing facilities: waterslides, lazy rivers, and more.  Check out dates and times for free swim or $1 family swim at the various Chandler pools on page 18 of this brochure. 

Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center

Located on Southern between San Marcos and Ironwood Dr. Daily Fees are $1 for those 17 and under and $2 for adults. Slides, play area, lazy river and more.  

Kiwanis Wave Pool

Indoor double spiral slide and wave pool.  Admission is $5 for age 2-12 and $7 for those 13+.

Hubbard Family Swim School

Enjoy free baby splash classes at Hubbard Family Swim School for babies ages 4 weeks to 5 months. You can get your child used to the water early on and enjoy the benefits that water has on your baby’s development.  Hubbard is located in the Riverview shopping center. Call to check on availabilities: 602-971-4044.  

Splash Pads (Free Admission) 

TIP: We like to bring disposable plastic cups to splash pads to dump and throw water with.

Fountain Hills has a splash pad at Fountain Hill Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd. It is open 9:00 AM til sunset. We love this one because the kiddos can watch the fountain erupt every hour from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM.  

Tempe Beach Splash playground located at Tempe Beach Park at Rio Salado and Mill Avenue. Open every day from 10:00 AM-7:00 PM. Lots of fun, but very busy. 

These other three in Tempe are smaller splash pads that are open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM: 

Jaycee park (5th St and Hardy), Esquer park (101 and Apache) and Hudson park (Apache between Rural and McClintock.) 

Chandler has three spray parks open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily-  

Chuparosa park Spray pad at 2400 S. Dobson Rd., between Queen Creek & Germann. 

Desert Breeze park Spray animals at 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd. between Rural Rd. & McClintock Dr. and Ray Rd. & Chandler Blvd. 

Espee park Spray pad at 450 E. Knox, between Arizona Ave. & McQueen Road. The splash park is right next to the playground, so kids can go back and forth between the two. 

Gilbert Water Tower Park: In downtown Gilbert there is a splash pad by the water tower at 45 W. Page Avenue. You could even go on Saturday and check out the farmers market 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, bring the kids and let them play in the water after you shop. 

Shopping Centers That Have Splash Pads

Riverview shopping center at Dobson and the 202 has a fountain to play in right in front of the Cinemark theater. We’ve gone on a Friday afternoon and no one was there. Great for water without worrying about other people.  We've gotten yogurt from Yodipity and then chips and salsa to go from Matta's and enjoyed watching the kids play. 

Tempe marketplace also has fountains in the District, on the north side of the marketplace. 

Or, check out the children's water play area at San Tan mall at Williamsfield Rd and the San Tan Freeway. Located near Dillards and open during mall hours. Covered splash pad and soft play area. We like to visit the next door Dairy Queen after a fun playtime. 

Enjoy your water time and make sure to ALWAYS keep your eyes on those kiddos.  

Things to Do This Weekend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.