Sunrise Park Resort Fall Colors Lift Rides

Remember last year when I told you about going to see the fall colors and to enjoy the lift rides at Sunrise Park Resort here? (Sunrise is the ski resort just past Pinetop, in northern Arizona. It's about a 4 hour drive away.)

Well, we went. It was cold, windy, rainy, and the lift had to close down at one point due to lightening. HOWEVER, this trip was awesome. The fall colors were breathtaking. The view amazing. Eventually we were able to ride the lift and we weren't disappointed. I wouldn't change a thing. We have been looking forward to October 10th since last year.

Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Lift Rides: Adults $10, Children 12 and under $5

While there, take advantage of this offer:

Kids 12 and under can receive a free season pass to Sunrise by completing the following:

- take a scenic lift ride

-recite one skier/snowboarder responsibility code found here

-bring a can of food for the food drive

-present proof of age and have a parent sign release of liability

So, start planning your road trip now. Get out the coats and prep the car.

*And if you are wondering how my family does it-

We plan to stay in Pinetop for Friday evening and then Saturday morning head to Sunrise to ride the lift up to the top. We get off, walk around on the trails, drink some hot chocolate and eat skittles at the store. Then after riding the lift down, we like to take a drive through aspen country to see the gold that appears to be growing on the trees. We stop at Big Lake and enjoy our breath of fresh air. After some time, we bottle up as much of that fall feeling and bring it home.

I'm not proclaiming these images to be the best quality. Some were taken while driving in the car and others while holding tight to my kids on the lift. Due to it being overcast, the lighting isn't the best. However, they are real and unedited photos to try to give you a hint at the beauty up north. (But, these photos hardly do it justice.)

information from here

The Pumpkin Patch at Mother Nature's Farm

image from here

It’s Fall! And have you looked at the forecast for this weekend? Shout your hurrays. Cooler weather rolling in just in time to get out to the Pumpkin Patch at Mother Nature’s Farm, rated Arizona’s best in the New Times.

Opening day is October 1st, 2009 and the patch will be open through November 6th, 2009.

Pumpkin weigh-off will be October 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 AM.

"Our Pumpkin Patch is stocked with fresh pumpkins daily, ranging from 1 ounce to 500 pounds! Shop at Maneau's Market for great fall decorations and the best pumpkin accessories. We also have a great selection of Gold Canyon Candles, specialty “treats” and a variety of flavored honeys."

And if you want the whole pumpkin farm experience, for $7.00 per child, your child gets:

- an OZ pumpkin

- decorate your pumpkin

- the air bounce

- hayride

- straw bounce

- feed the animals

- Alexander Adventure Maze

Adults are $3.00 to tag along and ride the hayride.

"Bring a picnic lunch and your friends. We have picnic tables, grassy fields, big shade trees and PLENTY of room for the kids to be kids! Food is available at Maneau’s Munchies; hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, drinks and much more. Mother Nature’s Farm is a family owned and operated farm. We started as just a pumpkin patch and over the years with your support we have become a Children’s Discovery Farm."

information from here

Museum Day

This just barely in: Tomorrow is Museum Day

Get free admission for you and a guest to one of the following museums tomorrow, September 26th, 2009

Go here to get your free admission card for you and your guest.

Participating Museums in the valley:

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park
4619 East Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034

Heard Museum
2301 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park
1300 N. College Ave.
Tempe, AZ 85281

Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008

Mesa Historical Museum
2345 N. Horne
Mesa, AZ 85211

Day of Play

Image and information from here

"Mesa was recently selected as a 'Playful City USA' by KaBOOM!, and to celebrate this award Mayor Smith announced a 'Day of Play' for September 25, 2009. Come out and take advantage of all the fun and FREE things to do."

Open Gym & Youth Activities

2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Jefferson Recreation Center

120 S. Jefferson St.

Webster Recreation Center

202 N. Sycamore

Rock Wall & Open Gym

3:30 PM - 8 PM

Free admission for kids 5-15
Red Mountain Multigenerational Center

7550 E. Adobe

Family Movie Night

BOLT (PG)

Doors open at 5:00 PM, Movie starts at 6:45 PM

Free bounce houses for the kids and craft activities presented by the Arizona Museum for Youth
Mesa Amphitheatre

201 N. Center St.

Thanks Roccy for making us aware of these fun FREE events.

Best Letterpress

We are pretty lucky here at iheartmesa to have help and input from a wonderful graphic designer, my very talented sister-in-law. SeeSaw Designs, her design business, has won "Best Letterpressers" of Phoenix.

Check out the words from the Phoenix New Times:

"Now that Phoenix has 'made it,' we're all searching for the little things to help round out our city's Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. And See Saw is here to deliver. Run by six young and talented designers and boasting two massive old-school letterpresses, See Saw is more than an Urban Outfitters-style paper factory. Its cards and calendars capture a clean, minimalist design that stands out in a very powerful but understated way. And it's a heavy hitter, to boot. Boasting a client list that includes the much missed Palatte restaurant and Mayor Phil Gordon, these designers are quickly establishing themselves as the people to go to in Phoenix for hip and unique cards, invitations, or branding. Their blog is pretty cool, too."

Need some design inspiration? Check out their SeeSaw blog here.

Want in on some of the awesome and original letterpress designs? Check out their shoppe here.

And if you want to contact them to do something amazing for you, such as one of a kind baby announcements like the ones I will be sending out, then go here. (If I wasn't already married to her older brother, I would have her do our wedding announcements too :)

I tell you, Mesa produces good and creative people. Congratulations SeeSaw. We always knew you were the best.

Meet and Greet the Animals of the Sonora Desert

Once upon a time when I told an old friend about iheartmesa, she asked, "Can't people just get that information from AZCentral?" Although azcentral.com has fun finds, they don't have it all. But yes, I have to admit that todays' feature is basically a cut and paste job from here. Enjoy.
"Meet and Greet the Animals of the Sonora Desert" with Krya Perry

7:00 PM Friday, Saguaro Building Lobby, MCC's Red Mountain Campus



Learn about some of the amazing animals of the Sonoran desert and their incredible adaptations to desert living. Perry is eager to share her knowledge of the animals that reside inside the terrarium of the college's new Saguaro Building on the Red Mountain campus. Community members who attend her free lecture will see invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles up close, in a safe environment.



The Saguaro building is located at MCC's Red Mountain Campus, 7110 E. McKellips Road, Mesa.

Mothers of Multiples Yard Sale

(image from here)

I've been a fan of yard sales since childhood when my dad would wake me at the crack of dawn to drive to Timbuktu to search for treasures. (I thought it was Timbuktu until I got married and bought a house in Timbuktu and realized it was really called east Mesa. But as a child growing up in west Mesa, Stapley Road seemed far away.)

But, back to the real reason for this post. It's yard sale time and I hear this one is going to be good. I met many of these wonderful moms last Thursday and they have been preparing for this for awhile. Good stuff in an organized setting. You won't be disappointed.

Busy Bee
Mothers of Multiples
Semi-Annual Sale

Baby and children clothes, toys, high chairs, car seats, strollers, cribs, crafts, adult clothes, kitchen items, decorations and LOTS more!

Don't miss the humongous Fall Blowout Yard SALE!
Friday, September 25th & Saturday, September 26th, 7:00 am – 12:00 pm

2414 E. Pueblo, Mesa
NE corner of Pueblo and 24th Street
between Southern and Broadway; between Gilbert and Lindsay

Ballet Under the Stars

image from here

It's that time of the year again. Things are cooling down, well, at least at night, so it’s time to pack up the lawn chairs and head to the ballet. This week, Thursday through Sunday, is Ballet Under the Stars.

"Spend a relaxing evening under the gorgeous Arizona sky as Ballet Arizona continues its annual season opening tradition with "Ballet Under the Stars". Bring the entire family and enjoy a combination of classical and contemporary works in a casual setting for FREE.

All performances begin at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, 9/24: Fountain Park, Fountain Hills
12925 N. Saguaro Boulevard

Friday, 9/25: Tempe Center for the Arts Park, Tempe
700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Amphitheater
The Amphitheatre is located on the East side of the theatre complex.

Saturday, 9/26: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
3rd Street and Indian School Rd.
Parking is suggested in parking lot furthest North and the stage will be set in the Amphitheatre Area just to the West of the parking lot.

Sunday, 9/27: Sahuaro Ranch Park, Glendale
59th Avenue & Mountain View Road
Recommended directions: take 59th Ave to Mountain View (between Northern & Peoria). Turn West into driveway through black metal gates. Performance held on the outdoor stage in front of the Historic Fruit Packing Building.

Includes a performance of George Balanchine's Stravinsky Violin Concerto, excerpts from Swan Lakeand excerpts from Don Quixote"


It's a little sad there are no performances in Mesa, but for a short drive you can enjoy a free night at the ballet. Information from here

Restaurant Week

I'm a hotdog loving, nacho eating kind of person. I'm good with the cheap stuff. However, something has happened to me over the last 5 years and I'm realizing how nice fine dining can be. I've grown to love foods that I never thought I would even taste. Food that can only be described as heavenly, crafted by some of the very best chefs in the valley. Now like most people, our money tree does not allow us to enjoy this experience as often as we would like. However, if you have been craving some fine dining or have wanted to try out a new restaurant, and would like to do it at a discounted rate, Restaurant Week might be for you.

"Arizona Restaurant Week is an exciting event developed to showcase the outstanding culinary scene throughout the state of Arizona.

The second annual Arizona Restaurant Week is Arizona’s most highly anticipated culinary event of the year and a must-attend for residents and visitors alike. Guests of the event are able to partake in Arizona’s finest fare at a special discount price. Each restaurant will offer a three-course dinner menu of signature dishes for $29 per person or $58 per couple, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity."

Click here for a list of restaurants in the Phoenix area.

Information from here

Back Again

(photo compliments of my husband)

Finally - another post.

My babies are 3 months today. We are all healthy and happy (except for some annoying allergies that have sprung themselves on our household today). Life of course is more busy and I keep it together by not taking on too many responsibilities other than family. I've thought over these last months if I've wanted to continue on with iheartmesa. I don't make any money with this adventure, it does take up already valuable time, and sometimes I feel like a bad blogger who doesn't keep up with e-mails or with certain posts. However, I truly do heart mesa. My great grandparents farmed here. My grandparents were born and raised here, as was my mom. I was born and raised here. I went to the same elementary, junior high, high school and college that my mom went to. I've never called anywhere else home. Now I'm raising 4 beautiful girls here*. This is our community. I want more people to heart Mesa. I want my girls to be raised in a community where people take pride in it and enjoy it. And so, although I can't promise that I can dedicate time to this blog like a professional blogger with daily posts and quick responses to every e-mail, we are continuing on. Because more people need to heart Mesa. Spread the word. Iheartmesa is back.

* Technically I can't say they were all born in Mesa. My oldest girls were born at Banner Mesa. But my younger girls were born at Banner Gateway, which is just inside Gilbert city limits. Gilbert is a great town as well, but it does make me a little sad that it doesn't say Mesa on the birth certificate.