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.