Month 3 (March 2014)— My something new I did in Phoenix, Arizona

March I did 2 new things also.

I went to the Cubs new Spring Training stadium, even though I’ve been to a bunch of spring training games this one is in the new Cubbies Stadium in Mesa, AZ.  I like sitting in lawn seats when I go, bring a pool towel and some sun screen… watch baseball, work on my tan and hang out with friends. always a great time.  I did forget my hat this game so I had to cheat on my AZ Diamondbacks and got a Cubs visor.

 

 

The 2nd new thing I did in March, I went to the Luke AFB Airshow.  I grew up going to Airshow (AF Brat); but I haven’t been in YEARSSSSS and this was the first time I have ever been at Luke.  What’s better then guys in uniform, the smell of airplane fumes and seeing an awesome show 🙂   It was nice to go and walk around/ see the airshow. Not sure if I’ll go again, yes it was Free to get in but it took us 2 1/2 hours to go 3 miles so we could park. also all the lines inside were extremely LONGGGGG. next year I’ll find a place close by the base and sit outside and watch the airshow.

 

 

Chihuly at the Phx Botanical Garden

Another amazing place to visit is the Phoenix Botanical Gardens; and right now is even better time to go since they have glass art on display from Chihuly.  You only have until May 18, 2014 if you want to see his art on display. which is amazing. I have gone a lot the past few months. Different times of day for the lighting on the glass, in the early morning, at sunset, at night with the pieces lighted up.

The Botanical Gardens are absolutely beautiful place to visit. the plants, flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds and amazing views.

 

http://www.dbg.org/events-exhibitions/chihuly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Adventures in February

February I did a few other new things besides the Heard Museum/Hoop Dance Competition. I also hiked a new trail at South Mountain, Morman Trail / Fat Mans Pass.  I love hiking and finding new trails is always FUN. This trail has been on my list for a while and finally went for my birthday weekend 🙂 This is a fun hike; beautiful views; and there is a tunnel you can go in and explore. and then when you get to Fat Mans pass there is a spot you can slide thru, its really smooth when you go thru it. If you don’t want to, you can go around it. ALWAYS remember to bring water and if its in the summer GO EARLY! Here are the directions how to get to the trailhead. Mormon Trail Driving Directions: 8610 S. 24th St., Phoenix, AZ. Drive south on 24th st. from Baseline road, 24th st. will curve to the left, then parking lot on the right (south) side of road is the Mormon trail parking trailhead. The Mormon Trailhead, located at the base of South Mountain near 24th Street and Valley View Avenue (south of Baseline Road), offers a short but challenging hike for those wanting to connect with the National Trail or Mormon Loop.  From this junction, hikers may proceed east on Mormon Loop toward Pima Canyon, or south and then west on the National Trail to access Fat Man’s Pass, Hidden Valley, and the Natural Tunnel. Distance: 1.2 miles (to Mormon Loop Junction), 1.5 miles to National trail junction Difficulty:  Moderate to difficult Elevation Change: Approximately 1,000 feet.   I live pretty close to South Mountain in Phoenix, so I do love exploring the new trails. I do not know of any trails/parks in the Phx area that you have to pay for, which is awesome.  But if they did ever charge I’d gladly pay a year fee to keep the parks beautiful!!!!  Here is a link to the Phoenix Parks website: http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/south/hiking/

Month 2– My something new I did in Phoenix, Arizona

For Month 2 my new place I visited was the Phoenix Heard Museum

2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 252-8840        http://www.heard.org/

tickets for the Heard Museum are $18 for adults, but you might be able to get a PHOENIX  CULTURE PASS at one of the public libraries.

http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/ServicesForYou/Unique%20Collections%20and%20Services/Pages/Culture-Pass.aspx

A little about the Phoenix Culture Pass, gives library customers FREE admission for 2 people at participating arts & cultural institutions.  They are available on a first come, first serve bases.

Back to my new adventure for the month, visiting the Heard Museum.  my friend and I went on the weekend of the Hoop Dance Competition.  (which we had planned on seeing as well).  The Heard museum is one of the worlds finest destinations for learning about American Indian arts and cultures.

To top it off we enjoyed watching some of the Hoop Dance Competition. I am planning on going back next year and hopefully spend the full day watching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Month 1 (Jan 2014)— My something new I did in Phoenix, Arizona

For January I accomplished 2 new things….

1st I took a knitting class. it suppose to relax you and keep you calm. but I don’t feel that way when I’m knitting, I’ve done about 10 minutes a day for a month after the class to see if I would like it. I just don’t feel relaxing while I’m doing it.  I feel stressed, that I’m not doing a good job. if I mess up.  and then I feel like I’m wasting my time attempting to knit. oh well at least I FINALLY have a chance to cross it off my bucketlist.. maybe I’ll like crotchet better when I take a class 🙂

 

(I have a picture just on my spare hd; i’ll add it later)

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Also in January I went hiking with some of my friends at Fort Mcdowell Adventures

14821 N Hiawatha Hood Rd
Fort McDowell, Arizona 85264
480-816-6465 x2

found an awesome deal on groupon and went on the 1 1/2 hour guided tour in Arizona beautiful landscape and even crossed a river a couple times.  Saw bald eagles/nest and wild horses. It was absolutely beautiful and so much fun wearing my purple cowgirl hat, purple tu-tu and sparkly purple shirt 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

2014 will be filled with Glitter, Smiles, Laughter & Fun Adventures

I’m always excited about a new year. new adventures. new memories. the hopes for awesome things happening to me. even though i think this way every new month, and a little every new week. but just something extra special and magically about a NEW YEAR!!! i had a great 2013. but i know 2014 will be AWESOME!!!

My resolution this year was going to be a new hiking trail a month, but with my breathing issues i decided against it. i’ll try to go exploring some new trails cause thats always fun too, but getting my breathing figured out and under control will be the best gift for me!!!

So my resolution this year was to go once a month to a new place in Phx, like museums, tours,  art galleries, parks and events AND/OR try something new.

so here is a list so far of what i’ve found of places i have not been to yet:

Heard Museum      completed Feb 2014

watch Indian Hoop Dance —completed Feb 2014

Musical Instrument museum

    hike camelback

    hike to the top of squaw peak  completed Feb 2014

    az capitol museum

        Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West

        Tovrea Castle

        Rawhide Western Town

        phx art museum

        az science center

        hall of flame museum of firefighting

        the rosson house

         wrigley mansion

        phx police museum

        adobe mountain railroad park

        pioneer telephone museum

        cave creek museum

        az doll & toy museum

        dorrance planetarium

        scottsdale auto museum

        az historical society museum

        challenger space center

        commemorative air force arizona wing aviation museum

        pueblo grande museum and archaelogical park

        shermer art center and museum

        smoca

        superstition mountain lost dutchmans museum

        Civic space park

        mccormick stillman railroad park

        sealife arizona

        cerreta candy company

        queen creek olive mill

        adobe dam recreational park

        bearizona wildlife park

        buckeye hills regional park

        desert outdoor center (lake pleasant)

        Take a Knitting Class   — completed January 2014

        Take a crochet Class

        Take a Cake Decorating Class

        estrella mountain regional park

        lake pleasant regional park

        mcdowell mountain regional park

        Horseback Ride with friends  — completed  January 2014

        out of africa wildlife park

        usery mountain regional park

        salt river tubing

        desert belle cruise on saguaro lake

        dolly steam boat

        Phx Herpetological Society Tour  —- completed April 2014

        Garden of Jesus Suffering & Resurrection

        Spring Training Game in Cubs new stadium — completed March 2014

        Luke AFB Airshow   —- completed March 2014

I know theres alot more then 12 here. so i might go see more then 1 a month. now i need to research and find when they have free days, if they are on the Culture Pass, or i find discount coupons for the places.

Also one of my other main goals is to pay off my credit card and save more money. i came up with an action game plan on how to save more money. just need to keep focus on that.

december

its almost Christmas time. but December is one of my fave months. all the Christmas music, the yummy smells of freshly baked cookies, fudge & desserts. lots of sparkles and glitter. the color red every place you look. the extra giving of random people.  the only thing i really do miss is my family.  i try and volunteer to keep myself busy. the busier I am, the less time i have to think about missing my family. maybe one of these years soon i’ll be able to spend it with my family.

 

Lost Duchman State Park in Arizona

went on another beautiful and amazing hike this weekend with one of my friends. I’m sooo going back soon and hiking all the way to the top at Flatiron (which is 4861 ft).  Did the Siphon Draw Trail to the Basin which is at 3100 ft.

It is 2 miles to the Basin and another mile to Flatiron.  soo will be 6 miles total.  thinking about going back in the next few weeks.  just as long as my breathing gets better.   i did get some amazing pictures 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

been too longggggg

wow i can not believe i haven’t written anything on here in MONTHS!!!  its not like i was too busy. all i have been doing is working, working, working.  getting a lot of hiking in also 🙂 I did go home to see my family for a week in the summer.

but just not sure why I have been slacking off on here. i’ll have to make it a goal/resolution for 2014 to write more!!  i have so much things i want to do already for the new year. even though i should start now 🙂  The next few days i’ll come up with a game plan/ a plan of attack and get all my thoughts down on paper.

I HAD been doing good on eating better and working out. but lately i have been slacking on that too. my health needs to be my #1 goal.  then the rest of everything. also i need to keep reading more books on self growth and personal development.  and saving money and paying off my debt is another one of my HUGE goals for 2014 (and all of these i can start this coming week in november) never hurts to start early and get a jump start on my resolutions.

i did get one of my goals this year, was to buy a bedroom set 🙂 after i have been saving for a year and looking for almost 2 years. im happy to say i finally found the perfect one!!! they had to order it since i wanted a dark cherry color.  It should be available in the middle of november to be delievered to me. so im excited about that too!!!

Humm what else has been going on with me…… I’m signed up for a lot of volunteering for 2 toy drives this year. so that makes me extra happy!!! these next 2 months are MY happy months!!!  🙂

Here are a few of my hiking photos from South Mountain 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

thinking….

The past few days all I have been thinking about is the ocean/beach. some place tropical. coconuts. fruity drinks. cool breeze. the smell of the salt water. the sand between my toes. sea shells. dolphins. bright colors. colorful sunsets. tropical flowers. sweet & juicy fruit.

I LOVE anything that has to do with the tropics. I need a vacation or to move to the coast. how beautiful would it be to go walk or run along the coast on the sand every morning.  hiking while overlooking the different colors of blue on the water and the sky.  sitting on the beach reading a book. riding my bike along the boardwalk. picking seashells. day dreaming. writting postcards while sitting in the sand. picnics.

Everything just sounds magical.