Fall Pumpkin Patch and Family Activity Guide

Just because the summer is coming to a close doesn’t mean that having fun in the outdoors has to as well. There are so many fun and family friendly things that you can do this fall in the Treasure Valley. For today’s blog, we’ve picked out some of the most fun and exciting family friendly pumpkin patch tours that you can start working into your busy schedule today. Have fun out there and remember to pack an extra thermos of hot cider! You can never have too much cider. 

Cherry Hill Farms. Caldwell

If you haven’t heard of Cherry Hill Farms then that’s ok because this is only their second season open to the public. Last year they kicked off a tremendous opener with their inaugural run. Even though they are a bit of a drive from Boise, it is well worth the trip. They have so much on offer and they are eager to please. Here is a little taste of what they have in store for you:

Lowe Family Farmstead. Kuna

A tried and true staple, the Lowe Family Farmstead is the pillar to which all other pumpkin patch farms aspire. They have a ton of great attractions and are adding new and exciting things to do every year. We suggest taking at least two trips during the fall each year. A September trip to see all of the beautiful flowers blooming in their you-pick flower fields and again in October at the height of Halloween and harvest festival season for the ultimate corn maze experience. It’s also a good idea to try planning a visit for a Tuesday afternoon or evening since tickets are half off! Here are just a few of the amazing things to do at Lowe Family Farmstead this year: 

The Berry Patch. Caldwell

The Berry Patch isn’t as big or flashy as some other working ranches around the state, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in variety and charm. Here you can definitely enjoy a large pumpkin patch and catch a genuine hayride on a genuine tractor, but you can also pick other fall delectables like sweet corn, berries (like blackberries and blueberries), and even things like winter squash! They have so much to offer and it’s right there for the picking, literally. More information on their website here. 

For The Road

Planning your family’s recreational outings in the fall is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

How To Prepare Your Home For When You Are Away On Summer Vacation

Vacation time! It should be a time of deep relaxation, fun, and a way to generate lifelong happy memories with friends and family. But, in order to even get to the point where you are finally on the beach sipping a cold drink with a tiny umbrella, you have to put in some footwork, especially when it comes to preparing your home. Before you go, especially if you’re going to be gone for two weeks or more, your home will need to be prepared to operate without you for that length of time, which is actually more of an undertaking than you would have imagined. In today’s article, we’re going to cover some of the basic and even not so basic best practices that you can deploy the next time you and the family get to hit the open road on vacation. 

Secure Food And Trash

Before you leave, make sure that you dump all of your home’s trash cans and make arrangements for your large trash cans to be taken to the curb and brought back in while you’re away. You will also want to go through your fridge and pantry and either throw away, give away, or consume any food that may spoil while you are out of town. The last thing you want to do is come back to a house full of rotted food.

Around The Yard

The outside of your house can be just as important to secure as the inside. Make sure that your lawn gets mowed just prior to your leaving so that it doesn’t get too overgrown while you’re away. Also make sure that your sprinklers are on a good schedule that allows for your lawn to stay green and healthy. 

Do a perimeter check around your house and make sure that there are no branches or trees that have grown in such a way that would allow a burglar to have access to a window or upper deck. Trim any trees that are this way and feel free to trim any tree branches that may get overgrown or shabby while you are away too. 

Clean your gutters in order to ensure that they won’t overflow or spill water during a storm while you are gone. That could lead to other problems down the line as well. 

In the garden, make sure that you either arrange for someone to come by to water your plants and trees or to set up an automatic watering system for when you are away.

Inside The House

You will want to clean your house before leaving so that you can come back to a nice clean home that won’t stress you out once you finally get back from your travels. 

Clean out your garbage disposal and make sure it isn’t clogged before you go. Empty the dishwasher and leave the door cracked open slightly so it can dry out while you are gone. You will also want to ensure that all of your laundry is clean and that your washer and dryer are empty before you go. You don’t want to leave dirty soiled clothes in the hamper for a few weeks and you definitely don’t want to accidentally leave wet clothes in the washer either! 

For The Road

Making sure your home is ready for when you go on vacation is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Father's Day Activity Guide For The Treasure Valley

It’s almost time for Father’s Day this year and we want to help you make this year’s extra special. We’ve put together a guide to some fun activities that you and your dad (and the whole family!) can do on the special day to make it awesome. Whether your dad is at home in the great outdoors or in his favorite comfy chair, we have some ideas that will be great for you and your pops. Sound off in the comments with your favorites from our list or your own ideas from years past. We can’t wait to hear from you. 

Movie Night/Day

Since it is smack dab at the start of the summer each year, Father’s Day is an excellent day to catch the latest summer blockbuster. Treat your dad to a fun day at the movies with an exciting double feature of two films that you know he’s been dying to see but has been too busy to make time for. Or, you can get together for a fun dinner and then see a later feature to top off the night. Either way, your dad will appreciate you thinking of him and will love to spend the time together with you. If your dad is less interested in the latest blockbusters, search out your local arthouse cinema and see if they have something on offer that he will like. The bonus to going to that type of theater is that they typically serve hot food and cold beer, which dad’s typically like, or so we hear… 

Round Of Golf Or Driving Range Fun

Heading out to the links is a great way to spend Father’s Day together and to get some much needed sunshine and exercise. Try one of the valley’s excellent golf courses, like Warm Springs Golf Course off of Warm Springs Ave. in Boise or snag a reservation at the driving range instead. You can have high quality food and drinks brought right to your private golfing booth over at TopGolf in Meridian. Fun for the whole family!

Hike Cervidae Peak

One of the best things about living in the Treasure Valley is that the hiking trails close to town are second to none. We have tons of fantastic hiking and biking trails to choose from, you really can’t go wrong. For Father’s Day, we recommend a trek just outside of town to the Lucky Peak area in order to hike the scenic and rewarding Cervidae Peak trail. It offers some of the best views of the valley and is home to many species of wildlife that you can photograph along the way. Make sure to bring some refreshments or snacks since having a meal at the top of the peak is a true treat. 

For The Road

Putting together a fun and memorable Father’s Day is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Camping Gear Checklist

Now is the perfect time to start planning your family camping adventures for this year. Whether you’re a first time camper or you’re a seasoned pro, it may help to have a quick camping gear checklist for your first trip out this year. Getting a family ready to go to the supermarket is hectic enough, let alone trying to pack a family for an overnight camping trip. We’ve created a list that is a good start to putting you and your family on the right track for having the necessities for your next camping excursion. Let us know in the comments if we forgot something or if you have had success with other list additions!

Trial Run To Get Your Bearings

If you don’t have time for this, then that is fine, but doing a trial run in the weeks leading up to the official leave date can do wonders for your packing preparedness level. Gather the supplies you think you will need for an overnight stay and set up the tent and cooking area in your backyard. Go ahead and try to cook dinner out there as well! A test run will tell you just about everything you will need to know before you actually get on the road. Pay attention to the little things that you need like aluminum foil, extra napkins, and water, etc. 

Sleeping Gear

We like to split our camping supplies into separate categories like sleeping, cooking, personal hygiene, and others. For sleeping gear you will need (for starters) the following:

Cooking Gear

For cooking gear, you can really be all over the proverbial map. Some people bring pre-made and pre-packaged food and only use their fire for warmth and light at night while others will turn their campfire into the equivalent of a Michelin star restaurant. Here is a good starter kit for someone wanting to cook basic meals like eggs, steak, and burgers.

Clothing And Hygiene Gear

One mistake that a lot of novice campers will make is not packing enough cold weather items, even when camping in the middle of the summer. In higher elevations, the night can get brutally cold, especially when you are camping at the beginning or end of the camping season. Make sure to pack extra clothing like socks, long underwear and blankets!

For The Road

Putting together a family camping trip in the summer is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Treasure Valley Easter Activities Guide

This Easter, why not try something a little different than just the traditional dinner or brunch with friends and family? We love to support other local businesses around the Treasure Valley so we’ve put together a list of fun family friendly activities that you can do between now and Easter Sunday this year (2023). Whether it’s seeing the sights at the zoo or having a fancy brunch at a thriving local restaurant, there’s something for everyone. 

Explore The ‘Hoppinings” At The Zoo!

Zoo Boise is nothing if not reliable for a great holiday celebration. You can always count on them to be celebrating just about every kid friendly holiday, and Easter is no egg-ception. This year at Zoo Boise, they are pulling out all of the stops in order to bring in your hops. On April 8th only, they are going all in on Easter. They will have the Easter Bunny there for photos and he will be passing out candy and high-fives to all the kids who see him. There will be face-painting booths, special treats for the animals, fun activities, local vendors, and so much more! Check out their website for more details. 

Biscuit&Hogs, Fancy Brunch

One of the best parts of Easter is the chance to have craveable food in a brunch time setting. We’ve got a great new restaurant to recommend called Biscuit&Hogs that will knock your proverbial socks off! See, you know it is a fancy place if their name is difficult to put into a search engine. They have dishes that frankly put a lot of other brunch spots to shame. Here are a few hand picked favorites (view the full menu and schedule at their website here):

 

Handmade Chicken And Waffles

Served with sharp aged cheddar, and adorned with a fried egg and a hot honey bourbon maple syrup. 

 

Biscuit French Toast

A buttermilk biscuit halved and fried golden brown, topped with huckleberry compote, powdered sugar & home made whipped. Served with two eggs and their signature pork belly bacon strips.

 

Smoked Brisket Eggs Benedict 

Slow smoked and thick sliced brisket topped with smoky bacon hollandaise, poached eggs, crispy onion straws and drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce all on top of a grilled homemade biscuit.

Tree City Church 5K And Easter Egg Hunt Party!

This is a unique blend of competition and fun that will have the whole family jumping (or hopping) for joy! Participate in a fun springtime 5k run that begins at 11am. At 12:15pm, you and the kids are welcome to the Easter Egg hunt event that kicks off a whole block party that lasts the rest of the day. Here are some of the featured attractions:

For The Road

Easter is a fun time to get together with friends and family for fun and good food. With a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

What To Do On New Year’s Eve in the Treasure Valley

New Year’s Eve is fast approaching. If you don’t have any plans thus far or are maybe open to changing or adding to your current festivity plans, then you’re in the right place. In today’s article we are going to show you some of our favorite New Year’s Eve events and activities happening in and around Boise, Idaho. Don’t worry, we absolutely included the famous Great Idaho Potato Drop. We even included some activities that you can do to celebrate the coming of the new year from the comfort of and warmth of your own home. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

The 10th Annual Great Idaho Potato Drop

The granddaddy of them all. The Great Idaho Potato Drop. This is the premier event of the Treasure Valley’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. Come on down to the steps of the Capitol building just outside of downtown Boise and you will get to hear a free concert featuring Andrew Sheppard, Boise Rock School, and Cassandra Lewis among other great entertainment. Be sure to also check out the live Urban-Air 2022 Ski and Snowboard Exhibition. It is a custom built course designed by top Olympic Snow Park engineers. Truly a sight to behold! There will also be food and snacks from local vendors as well as a beer garden. More info here: https://idahopotatodrop.com/

The Noise Reggaeton New Years Party

Drop on by the new venue at the corner of State and Collister for this year’s hottest Reggaeton concert. The biggest reggaeton party in the state is hitting Boise once again! Playing the best in reggaeton, dembow, HipHop and more. Featuring Idaho's biggest DJs- Knick Knax, Armada & AlexTop. Ticket’s start at $15 and the doors open at 10pm. More info here.

New Year's Eve Farm-To-Fork Dinner

Head on over to the other side of the Treasure Valley for this event. Found in Nampa, this delicious five course dinner will be served with specialty paired cocktails, all inspired by the native foods and cuisines of Idaho. Tickets are $75 per person. Full details here. 

Stay-Cation Celebration At Home

You can have a blast at home with your loved ones or with a few friends as well. Make sure to have some festive food and drinks on hand. You can even do a theme for your food like “enchanted evening” or “everything must be green”. The sky’s the limit! Here are a few more activities to get your party roaring:

In Conclusion

This New Year’s Eve is going to be great! It all just comes down to how you schedule it. We hope that you were able to get a little inspired by today’s article. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Best Places in the Treasure Valley For Fresh Produce

It’s one thing to shop local. That is definitely important when it comes to supporting your local community, but we don’t always think about getting our produce locally because the average grocery store just has such an abundance of great fruits and vegetables all year round that it just becomes background noise. Well, Idaho is such an amazing state for us locavores because we have some of the best and most fertile farmland in the world. Let’s explore a few of the local farms and orchards that you can frequent in order to get your fill of fresh local fruits and vegetables. 

Tyler's Rocky Point Orchard

This is a great place to stop by for some fresh apples if you’re in the Caldwell area. It is completely self-serve (if you want, there are attendants you can speak with as well) and allows you to pick your fill of several varieties of apples all for a flat fee of $20 per five gallon bucket. They have Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Fuji apples among others right now. They are open from August through the end of December. Full details here: https://www.tylersorchard.com/

The Berry Ranch

The name may say berries, but they have so much more! The Berry Ranch offers a full array of different fruits and vegetables for you to pick and enjoy almost 365 days a year. You can pick your own pumpkins, blackberries, raspberries, and winter squash. They also sell honey and farm grown beef, lamb, and chicken. Check out their website here: https://www.theberryranch.com

The Boise Farmers Market

An Idaho institution if there ever was one. For years and years, the Boise Farmers Market has been one of the most exciting things about waking up on a Saturday morning. The market typically sports more than 50 local vendors, most of whom are also local farmers that actually grow the food for the market. During the colder months, they move the street marketplace inside from November 5th through December 17th. The indoor market is located at 610 South 8th Street, in the old Foothills School Building. Website. 

Local Food Inspired Recipe: Local Veggie Beef Stew

Just in time for fall and winter dinners! This hearty, unctuous, and mouth-watering beef stew is packed full of flavor and fresh local vegetables. It features things like carrots, onions, red wine, potatoes, and parsnips, all of which can be bought locally at the Farmer’s Market or other local venues. Here’s the full recipe. Enjoy! 

In Conclusion

Shopping locally feels good and it does actual good for your community around you. We hope this guide was a great start to your holiday shopping journey. Let’s be honest, it’s also a good excuse to get out of the house during the coming months.

Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Best Places In The Treasure Valley For Family Friendly Halloween Activities (A Guide)

Month after month, there is always something fun and exciting going on in the Treasure Valley, and this month is no exception! For Halloween this year, it seems like a lot of local businesses and event coordinators have pulled out all the stops and really put forth an incredible effort to make this year a Halloween to remember. There are all sorts of family friendly activities and events going on that it’s hard to keep track of the best ones. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top family friendly activities around the Boise area that you and your family can enjoy. Let us know if there are some we should add to the list or if you attended one and want to share your experience. Either way, we can’t wait to hear from you. 

Take The Kids To Trunk or Treat

This excellent event lets kids and parents safely trick or treat in an organized manner without all of the hassle of canvassing a neighborhood. Simply walk around a single parking lot and gather loads of candy at each parked car station. There are dozens around the Treasure Valley happening this year, so we wanted to include an interactive map that will help you find the one closest to you, find that map here. We wanted to highlight one specific Trunk Or Treat event that will be happening this year at JUMP downtown. Hop on over to JUMP Or Treat this Saturday, October 22nd 2022. Full details here. Enjoy!

Trick Or Treating Along Harrison Boulevard

A classic Boise tradition! Trick Or Treating along Harrison Boulevard is a right of passage for some growing up in the Gem state. It’s truly a sight to see. Some estimates say that about 3,000 to 4,000 trick or treaters surge up and down that famous boulevard each year. The homes are typically decked out in an abundance of decorations for the holiday and the candy (the most important part) is typically a cut above other neighborhoods. Foot traffic opens up at 4pm. Get there early to beat the crowds because the candy can run out fast. 

The Monster Mash Monster Bash At The Children’s Museum Of Idaho

Head on over to the Children’s Museum Of Idaho this Saturday, October 29th for their annual Monster Bash family extravaganza! Starting at 4pm, kids and their parents can head on down to the museum at 790 S Progress Ave, Meridian to enjoy a museum experience that is 100% Halloween. Wear your costumes and enjoy treats, crafts, and fun games. A great time for the whole family. Tickets available here. 

In Conclusion

It’s such a fun time of year and this year will be no exception! Halloween can seem a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a good excuse to get your house looking great for the coming months and the candy is an excellent bonus.

Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Back to School 2022

Back to school. Three words kids like to hear less than “eat your broccoli” or “Disneyland is closed.” Yes, going back to school is a necessary part of growing up, but it doesn’t have to be all bad! Just in time for this time-honored tradition, we decided to put together some tips and strategies that you can deploy this year to help make the back to school transition as good as possible for both you and your little ones. Let us know in the comments how you like to gear up for back to school time each year or if there is something that we left off the list you think we should add!

Buy School Supplies Together

No, you’re not wrong. It does seem like school supplies seem to be getting more and more expensive each year, but aside from that, it can be a fun and engaging experience for you and your kids as they get ready for the new school year. Take your child to the store with you to purchase school supplies and engage with them as you pick out each item. Let them have a say in each individual supply so that they can feel a stronger connection to and appreciation for the items. They may even be excited to use their new things and show them off to their friends. This will help them more positively frame the back to school experience. 

Introduce Your Child To Their Teacher Early 

These days, about 99% of all parent to teacher information is completed online. If your school has a website that shows the names, photos, and bios of each teacher, then pull it up for your child so that they can learn more about their new teacher and what they look like. If they have some concrete information on who will be their new homeroom teacher, then it won’t be so scary and nebulous in their mind. 

Read Books To Help Prepare For The New School Year

Unsurprisingly, this is a topic that has been widely addressed in children’s literature and as parents we can take advantage of this! Here are a few books that you can pick up and read with your child that will help them better deal with their new school year anxiety. https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/top-11-books-to-ease-back-to-school-jitters.html

Take A Tour Of The New Classroom

If possible, see if you can get into their new classroom a few days or weeks before school starts again. Many schools have an orientation session in which they will be able to meet their new teachers and learn about what changes the school year will have in store for them. Make sure to take your child to these orientations and to see if they can see their new homeroom before having to scout it out in the chaos of the first day back. You’ll be happy you did!

In Conclusion

Going back to school isn’t always on the top of your child’s summer fun activities list, but it doesn’t have to be a total drag either. With these things in mind and a little luck, you will make this year and every year a great back to school experience.

Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Family Movie Guide Summer 2022

With summer in full swing, it can be daunting to think of new ways day after day to beat the heat. You can only go swimming so many times before your hands and feet feel like prunes and your ears feel like they have half the ocean in them. Well, one place that we know that has the best air conditioning in town along with the most comfy seats and tasty snacks is your local neighborhood movie theater! A great and time-honored way to beat the heat and have a great time doing it. Heck, with all the great movies coming out this summer, you might just be tempted to sneak into another showing. We’ve put together a quick little guide for your summer movie enjoyment. 

Top Gun: Maverick (May 27) PG-13

Talk about a throwback! This much anticipated and asked for sequel is torching off an already jam packed summer of great blockbusters. You won’t want to miss this classic that already has the critics raving and fans flocking. 

Jurassic World Dominion (June 10) PG-13

That’s right, it’s hard to tell whether it’s the 90’s or the 2020’s sometimes because both Top Gun and Jurassic Park are in theaters right now, but we promise you, you haven’t been sucked into a time portal. It’s just that those loveable folks in Hollywood can’t help but make great reboots of family loved classics. Go back to Jurassic Park this summer and beat the heat with some great special effects and fast paced dinosaur action.

Lightyear (June 17) PG

Buzz Lightyear has a special place in the hearts of any kids who grew up in the 90’s and early 2000’s. This movie explores the story behind the toy in an imaginative romp through infinity and beyond!

Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 1) PG

Although it is a sequel, it isn’t a reboot of a beloved 80’s or 90’s movie. But, that’s ok because nobody’s perfect. The Minions are back and funnier than ever with this latest adventure. Come for the comedic pratfalls and stay for the family friendly warmth. 

Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8) PG-13

While this isn’t quite as big as 2012’s The Avengers, this newest Thor standalone sequel has an epic scale and an all-star cast including Natalie Portman (Léon: The Professional), Christian Bale (Empire of the Sun), and Russell Crowe (The Crossing), and many others. You will want to bring lots of snacks and drinks because this one is a tad on the long side at 1HR 59MIN, but it is worth being in the cool air conditioned theater with good friends and snacks. 

In Conclusion

This summer, prepare to conquer the heat while having a great time at your local movie theater. Let us know what you thought of one or all of these great family friendly movies. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!