Last week we ordered our America the Beautiful Pass from the Tonto National Forest. Right now because of COVID you can't buy your pass in person but you can order over the phone. I spoke with Kyle who was super helpful from the Mesa Ranger District. I ordered our pass and he had it in the mail to us that day and it arrived the next morning. If you are unfamiliar with the America The Beautiful Pass it is a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands pass that allows the public to access some fee areas without additional charge. This is a very cost effective way to see multiple sites across the United States. We purchased our pass mainly for use in the Tonto National Forest when we go paddle boarding. In hindsight we should have bought a yearly pass over the summer because we spent $8 on a day pass each time we went to the river and lake. Had we bought one at that time it would have well over already paid for itself. Tonto National Forest only allows you to use this … [Read more...]
Using Our America The Beautiful Pass In The Tonto National Forest
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
We ventured to Boyce Thompson Arboretum for the first time this month. When we left I was already trying to figure out when we could visit again. I loved it and can't believe I have never visited this gem before. And I wish I would have taken more pictures. This place was so pretty. We saw a few other people meandering about but for most of the two hours we felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. We brought our double jogging stroller for the two little ones and the older two walked with us. There are two parts on the main trail that narrow and our stroller wouldn't fit but we still felt like we were able to see a good majority of the arboretum. If you are going with toddlers I would recommend a stroller. It was helpful to be able to contain Jesse at times, especially by the Cactus Garden. He walked a good portion of the time we were there but it was nice to have the stroller. The day we went we had just finished a week of study in Genesis 1:1 learning about what God … [Read more...]
2018 East Valley Family Fun Summer Guide (That Won’t Break The Bank)
Local blog readers, last year I did a post that contained free or inexpensive activities around the East Valley. It was one of the more popular posts on the blog last year and I thought I would bring it back for 2018. I have lived in this area for 27 years and I feel I have a pretty good idea of the local spots that are fun, free/inexpensive, or air conditioned to hit up during the summer months. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but this is a list of things that our kids enjoy or we think they will enjoy this summer, we enjoy doing with them, and also do not cost much money. Without further delay here is the updated list for 2018! EAST VALLEY SPLASH PARKS Our community has so many splash parks! Many master planned neighborhoods are featuring these in the parks surrounding new homes. I know there are probably many more that I could have included in this list. CHANDLER Spray pads operated by the city run 9am-7pm May through August and 10am-6pm September through … [Read more...]
Burn Boot Camp Review
I recently discovered there is a Burn Boot Camp 10 minutes away from my house. I might have even squealed a little bit as I drove by and noticed the sign on the building. When you have taught group fitness classes and are also a personal trainer/nutrition coach this is what gets you giddy. I immediately came home, went online, and discovered they were offering a 30 day Groupon for $33. With the Groupon purchased I made plans to redeem my voucher the following week. Burn Boot Camp had been on my radar for years thanks to Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers and also friends in Tennessee who are members. The location that is so close to my house opened last year and once I started my Groupon discovered that several of my friends are members. I am pretty sure this never came up in conversation because I had just had my third baby and exercising was the furthest thing from my mind. I am on the last days of my Groupon and ready to give my honest review on Burn Boot Camp. THE … [Read more...]
Mint Body Review + Two 30 Minute Workouts
I love reading reviews on different fitness studios and trainers and find it especially helpful when deciding if it would be worth my time and money to plan a visit. I have been trying to motivate myself to workout after giving birth to Jesse and one of my favorite ways to do this is to try new workouts! So you might be seeing more of these types of reviews on the blog. This review was not sponsored. MINT BODY GILBERT Mint Body is a small studio fitness facility that offers personal training and open gym memberships in a welcoming and friendly environment. I had been following their Instagram page and discovered that they had recently started offering an open gym style membership, Mint Body Express. I drive by the Gilbert location all the time and was immediately intrigued. Minty member express is an open gym style membership that includes their exclusive minty weekly workouts posted daily. This membership is perfect for people that want to come at their own pace, but still have … [Read more...]
