Tempe Symphony Concert

image from here

Tempe Symphony is a volunteer orchestra. It is now in it's 35 year and boasts a roster of 100 musicians. A few years ago, my sister and cousin were in this orchestra and I enjoyed going to support their performances. My sister called and reminded me that it is once again concert time.

Tempe Symphony Orchestra is having their Holiday Concert tonight, November 30th at 7:30 PM. The concert is at:

McClintock High School

1830 E. Del Rio Drive

and is a FREE event. No tickets are necessary, so seating is first come, first serve. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

For more information on the Tempe Symphony go here

APS Fantasy of Lights Opening Night Parade

image from here

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and then without a chance to breathe, we are into the Christmas season. So many wonderful activities await to bring out a little more joy in our lives.

APS Fantasy of Lights Opening Night Parade

Friday, November 27th

6:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Tempe (Mill Avenue)

Enjoy marching bands, floats and the arrival of Santa Claus for FREE.

Parade starts at 6:30 on 3rd and Mill and runs south on Mill to 7th Street where it turns west a little and loops back north.

information from here

Hubbard Family Swim School Party

Saturday was the Hubbard Family Swim School party and we had a good turnout. We missed some of you due to sickness or last minute priorities, but I was happy to see and meet others. Between taking care of my own children and the fact that I'm a little shy when it comes to introducing myself, (can you tell I wasn't the Student Body President of my high school or that I like to hide behind my blog?) I didn't get a chance to meet and visit with everyone. I hope all attendees still had a good time and consider Hubbard Family Swim School for their swimming needs. (And I hope I at least shared a smile with everyone.)

Here are my observations of the Hubbard Family Swim School:

- I loved the facilities. Convenient clean bathrooms, dressing rooms and showers. Good set-up and great pools. I'm a native Arizonan. I get cold easily, so the warmer water was welcoming. Very child/family friendly.

- I loved the lessons. I was able to observe my older twins in a lesson. The smaller class sizes gave my girls the chance to get more one-on-one attention. The teacher was great and quickly learned every students' name. Later during the party, the teacher (I sure wish I learned his name), came up to my niece and said, "Hey Mallory, you did a great job in your lesson." What a boost of confidence for a 4 year old. The teacher was also aware of the students' feelings and different needs. In the class my girls were in, one child got a little sad. I thought the teacher did a great job of getting this child to feel comfortable and more confident. As a parent who has been able to observe different swim teachers and teaching styles, I was impressed with the quality of care and lessons that my children received. I didn't get a chance to take the parent/baby class because my baby twins stayed in the lobby with Grandma (it would have been a bit too much for my husband and I to care for baby twins and twin 3 year olds in the pool), but my nephew who did take the class with his dad, seemed to really enjoy it.

So once again, thank you Hubbard Family Swim School for hosting this fun party for us. My family had a great time. And thank you to everyone who was able to come and enjoy some free swim. I hope your family had an equally great time.

(And here is where I insert pictures of the party. My camera broke last week, so I borrowed my mother-in-laws camera for a few quick pictures. However she still has the pictures at her house and I must admit, I'm not exactly the person who would enjoy seeing a picture of myself in a swim-suit on a blog. Plus I know some of you have private blogs so you might not want your kiddos on here either. So I borrowed a happy picture of a random child from Hubbard's website. Just imagine many other children doing this same thing.)

Sunland Village Garage Sale

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 21st, check out the Sunland Village Garage Sale.

This community garage sale begins at 8:00 AM and last until 2:00 PM (no earlybirds please).

Sunland Village is a community with over 100 homes and is located at:
754 S. Portland, Mesa 85206
Entrance between Southern and Broadway on Greenfield Road

Probably not the sale to go to for kids stuff, but a great place to find collectibles, antiques, furniture, books and tons more. Happy shopping.

Hubbard Family Swim School Party

Saturday is almost here. The day of our Hubbard Family Swim School Party. If you still want to come, but never e-mailed me, don't fret. We had a few cancellations so we have a few spots still left on a first come first serve basis. Send me a quick e-mail with how many adults and children will be attending. I'll send you back a confirmation e-mail to let you know that you are in.

If you are one of the lucky ones that will be coming, please double check your calendars now and make sure you are still available. We would hate to miss out on anyone. If you have had a major conflict come up and won't be able to make it, please let me know ASAP.

Remember,

November 21st, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Be looking for an e-mail to come sometime tonight. It will have a few details of what you can expect at our day of swim.

See you there!

Toddler Cruise at Usery Pass

With cooler weather, it's so nice to get out and enjoy Arizona, any time of the day. Usery Mountain Regional Park is always a good place to go. Well kept trails and several organized events throughout the month. November 20th, 2009 at 9:00 AM Head out to Usery Pass for "Just for Kids Toddler Cruise." This event starts at area 6 and the cost is $6 per vehicle (this is the standard cost to enter the park)

Maybe you'll spot one of these. Photo of this Usery Pass squirrel from here

"This one-mile hike is designed for parents and grandparents with small children ages 3 - 6 years old. Along with Miss Lynn, the kids will howl like coyotes, do the “bobcat crawl” and learn how to hydrate by counting gulps of water on their fingers. We will explore the desert from the comfort of the well- manicured Merkle Trail, designed to be barrier-free and offer universal access. The hard-smooth surface of this trail will accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. After completing the hike, kids will receive a Junior Ranger badge. Please bring water and hats." Information from here

Girls Night Out Boutique

image from here

Girls Night Out Boutique: One night, great gifts, food, and fun.

Tuesday, November 17th

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

4186 E. Page Ave. (Northeast corner of Recker and Elliot)

Free make and take paper ornaments and other crafts for a small fee.

Come for gift buying or for just food and fun.

Featured items:

- "The Gathering of Friends" Cookbooks written by a mother/daughter team. One of a kind recipes with notes. Published and sold in stores. Come meet the chef and try some of the tasty recipes. For this night only, buy 3 cookbooks, get 1 free.

- "Peppermint Pantry" Get an adorable apron to pair with your new cookbook. Makes a complete gift package.

- "The Corner Boutique" Custom frames and memo boards

- "Tuft Love Fabric Interiors" Buy fabric or get the contact for future affordable custom fabric projects

- "Scentsy" Get refills or a new kit. Fill your home with the warm smell of fall.

- "Heritage Makers" Personalize gifts with affordable paper craft kits.

Also available: hair clippies, jewelry, and home decor.

Information from their flyer.

Gilbert Days

image from here

I've said it once and I'll say it again: One of the reasons Mesa is a great place to live is because we are so close to other great cities, Gilbert being one of them. If you missed your opportunity at a parade on Wednesday, fret no more. This weekend is the Gilbert Days Parade.

The parade starts at 9:00 AM this Saturday, November 14th, 2009

The theme this year is Rock N' Rodeo

The parade route begins at Juniper and Gilbert Road and then travels 1 mile south along Gilbert, ending at the Gilbert Public Schools Education Building at 140 S. Gilbert Rd.

After the parade, make sure to check out the "After Parade Party" at the Gilbert Town Square. There will be food, entertainment, shopping and a carnival.

Information from here

2nd Friday in Downtown

Read the flyer, get excited, go.

Get out and celebrate this Friday the 13th in Downtown Mesa.

Veteran's Day Parade

It's parade time again. This Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 is the annual Veteran's Day Parade in Downtown Mesa. I'm not going to lie. I took my girls last year. It was pretty long and boring at some points. But I cried when they represented the soldiers lost in battle and seeing all the veterans who have fought for my family's freedoms made me proud. Plus, my girls still point out the parade route when we pass the library. So once again, we will be going and I'm excited about it. It's a PARADE and I want to show my support of all of our veterans.

The parade starts at 11:00 AM and will begin at Center Street and 3rd Place and will travel south on Center Street to 1st Avenue.

After the parade, head to the Theater District at Mesa Riverview for the 1st Annual Veteran Invasion. This event runs from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Admission to this event is FREE, however, donations of $15 per family gets you a pass for all day rides and games. Plus, if you bring 10 cans for the canned food drive, you will be registered to win a super NASCAR experience.

Just some of the activities:

-National Guard Rock Wall, Humvee, and Arm Wrestling

- Vendor Booths

-Mesa City Council

- Arizona Veterans Memorial Competition

- Dunk Tank

- "GI Obstacle Course"

- Honor Guard and Ceremony honoring Veterans

- US Army Humvee and football toss

- KNIX Monster Truck

- Games, rides and activities for kids of all ages

- Live music at Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar and Grill" including Hair Force and Coal Train.

information from here

The Proof is in the Picture

Remember the Lloyd Zeffler photo shoot giveaway? The results are in. Once again, Zane delivered wonderful pictures and I know Kara was very pleased. I hear Zane was great to work with and made it a comfortable and fun shoot. (Who wants a photographer that they can't connect with or that is awkward? Not me.) We will leave these up for your weekend viewing pleasure.

Also, Zane will be in northern Arizona November 22nd-29th. Click on the Lloyd Zeffler button to the right if you want to schedule a session.

Just a little note: I've never met Zane in person, I've just stalked him on his blog and his wife's. Just a few things I've noticed - He is very supportive of his wife. Zane will shoot "donations only" photo shoots to earn money for Heart for Africa, an organization that he and his wife are very passionate about. And it's hard not to notice that he is a great father. I love looking at the pictures he snaps of his son. You can see the love shining through the photos. Thank you Zane, for offering photo shoot giveaway.

Mesa Old West Days Festival

Just another reason to make sure you are in downtown Mesa this weekend:

Mesa Old West Days Festival
November 7th: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

and

November 8th: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Here is some of the "and more"...

- various vittle vendors and refreshments

- western merchants and artisans

- dutch oven cook-off

- blacksmith demonstrations

- the Mormon Battalion

- Western music

- Magician and ventriloquist

-poets, authors and speakers

Come celebrate Mesa's "rich pioneer and territorial history."

Information from here

***We still have a few spots left for the swim party. We have a really good turnout so far, but can fit a few more. It's gonna be fun.

BLISSFEST 2009 - the details

Sorry about earlier today. Like most people, I have limited blogging time. 2 babies and 2 three year olds take up the bulk of my day and during my allotted computer time this morning and evening, I went from thinking all my documents were lost, to none were lost, to most were lost again, to just some were lost. It's been a yo-yo on the emotions, so sorry for the short post. Let me try to do better at outlining the details of the festivities for this weekend.

BLISSFEST 2009:

The party starts

Friday, November 6th from 6:00-10:00 PM at Inside The Bungalow.

48 N. Robson Mesa, AZ 85201

Guests are invited to dress up in vintage western masquerade and join in the fun for live music, shopping, silent auction, costume contest, stagecoach rides and more. Admission is a $10 donation, if you choose not to dress up, so FREE if you do dress up. 100% of the money raised at the door and during our auction goes to our charity for this year, JDRF or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. You won't want to miss out on the special guests for the evening, Stephanie and Christian Nielson. They will say a few words and will then be available for a meet and greet. Allison Tyler Jones will have a fun photo booth at her studio that evening and Domestic Bliss will be open for business with live music too. Inside The Bungalow will have lots of great Cowboy chow available for purchase as well.

Then as if that's not enough...

Saturday, November 7th

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

at Domestic Bliss

166 W. Main Street

There will be over 50 talented artists, boutiques and vendors at this year's BLISSFEST. They will have lots of fun make and takes for the kids, facepainting, balloons, live music and goodies! Stagecoach rides all day as well for only $5.

Visit the blogger lounge with special guest bloggers such as Heather Bailey, Stephanie Nielson and Jaimee Rose. Tara Frey is flying in from Pennsylvania to do a book signing and meet and greet with her book Blogging For Bliss.

To check out all the fabulous loot available for purchase or any of the vendors that will be there, go to the BLISSFEST 2009 blog here.

Thanks Kristen for making sure we had all the details.

Blissfest 2009

Last Monday we started the week off great by announcing the Hubbard Swim Party (which, by the way, it is still not too late to sign-up), so I figured we better announce something good this Monday so that you can be excited all week. I specifically saved this one for today because I think it's just the right thing for a post-Halloween Monday: BLISSFEST 2009

More details to come soon. I'll just post this flyer for now as a little teaser. (I spent the last half hour thinking I had lost all documents on my computer. After a few tears and finally finding them, it's time to step away from the computer and enjoy some fresh air.) Check back tonight.