An Idaho adventure plus exploring craters of the moon

Hello, my bucket list friends! I’m very happy to say that I made it to Idaho three times this year to visit family. I had a good time like I usually do but I also went on a really fun day trip that I’m very excited to tell you all about. If you want to go right to the part about my adventure at craters of the moon go to the paragraph labeled Monday. Now let’s get to it!

Friday – This was the day we left for Idaho we took an earlier flight then we normally do. I was very happy about that because we had more time in Idaho. I was also very happy because we got Starbucks at the airport. Our plane landed earlier then we thought it was going to so we had some time to go to my favorite store in the airport. I got some Idaho souvenirs and a snack at the store. Yes, I have a lot of souvenirs from Idaho but I still like collecting them. After my grandparents picked us up from the airport we went to lunch before going to their house. I was very happy to see Jewels (their dog) and she was very happy to see me. That evening we went to Walmart I was very happy to see that they had a lot of Christmas items out already. I got a Christmas ornament as well as some other fun things including a Barbie and some Barbie pets blind bag toys. It was a relaxing and fun first day of the trip.

Saturday – On the first full day of this trip we started the day by going to breakfast. It was pretty good but after breakfast we had to get a new car battery. It was a little stressful but it all worked out. After dealing with the battery problem it was time to go thrift shopping. At the first thrift store we went to I found a few things such as two TY Beanie Babies, a 101 Dalmatians toys and a large Barbie book that still had one of the toys that came with it. However I was really hopping to find more things to add to my collection so we went to the Goodwill. I really like the Goodwill that we went to. I’ve gotten some really cool things at that location before so I was excited to see what I would find this time. I’m happy to say that I got a bunch of fun items including some TY Beanie Babies, a Barbie doll, My Little Pony toys and a Starbucks hat. After thrift shopping we went to Starbucks and no, I did not wear my new hat. Our next adventure of the day was going to get pumpkins to decorate my Grandparent’s porch with. The first pumpkin patch that we went to didn’t have what we were looking for but there were some really cool planes flying overhead and I some good pictures of them. The next place that we went to was more like a roadside fruit stand then a pumpkin patch. However they had a pretty good selection of pumpkins and we got what we needed for decorating the porch. After all of that adventure we went back to my grandparents house and relaxed for a while. We also had some time to visit with other family members before we went on a nighttime adventure to Fred Myer. I wanted to get bath bombs and I was happy to see the large selection of bombs they had. I’m happy to say that I got bath bombs that had prizes in them. I also got a Barbie doll here. Then I took a bath with bath bombs sometime after midnight.

Sunday – We started our Sunday with a trip to Starbucks after that we went to lunch at my one of grandparents favorite restaurants. If you ask me Starbucks and Mexican food are a good way to start the day. I got veggies fajitas and they were amazing! We spent a good part of this day at a family member’s farm. I loved seeing the baby pigs and the other animals. I very was happy to see one of my favorite horses again! However I was not happy that I got stung by a yellow jacket. So after we left the farm we had to stop by Walmart to get some cream for my sting. Of course that’s not all I got. I also got some fun things including more Barbie pets blind bag toys and another Christmas ornament. I also took at bath that night with bath bombs.

Monday- This was our last full day in Idaho plus it was also Halloween. It turns out that Halloween is a good day to vist a national monument. After about a three hour drive we arrived at Craters of the moon national monument. When we arrived at the visitor center I was happy to see that there were not many people here today. I guess most people’s Halloween plans do not involve a trip to craters of the moon. I enjoyed the visitor center there were some good displays there as well as a gift shop. We got some souvenires at the gift shop but my mom and I also got free bat buttons. It was a good way to start our adventure at the national monument. After The visitor center we paid the entrance fee to the park and then went exploring. There are a lot of amazing things to see at craters of the moon. I don’t know if the pictures I took accurately depict the beauty of this place. However I really enjoyed the views, the hikes we went on, and the unique look of this amazing place.There is something so special and unique about being surrounded by volcanic rock. It truly feels like you are on another planet. I don’t think I will ever forget what it felt like to climb to the top of a black hill. At the top it was windy but so uniquely beautiful. I highly recommend adding this place to your bucket list. I wish that I would have had it on mine because it was definitely deserving of a spot. After a truly breath taking adventure we made the trip back to my grandparents house where I spent the evening passing out Halloween candy. It was a wonderful way to wrap up this trip to Idaho.

Thank you for reading about my latest adventures in Idaho

Rock On – Christina Epperly

Things I love September 2022

Hello,my bucket list friends! I’m truly amazed at how fast this year has gone by. How are we in October right now ?? Anyways it’s time to look back at the adventures I had in September of 2022.

Spending Labor day weekend in Idaho – Early on in the month I went to Idaho for a family reunion. It was so much fun! (You can read about it HERE)

Winning an American Girl doll – I won an American Girl doll at a raffle this month! I’m so happy that I won her! ( You can read about it HERE)

Lots of thrift shopping – As I looked Through my pictures so I could actually remember what I did this month I was surprised to see all the thrift shopping I did. I mean I know I usually do a good amount of thrift shopping each month but it seems like I did more then I normally do. You can read about some of it HERE, HERE and HERE

Shopping at the Dollar Tree with my friend – I had not seen my friend since June it was so good to see her again and we got to go to the Dollar Tree together! ( You can read about it HERE. )

Having a weekend sleepover with my friend – I also had a whole weekend with my friend this month we needed to make up for not seeing each other for so long! ( You can read about it HERE)

Going to a new Target store – On the Friday of the weekend I spent with my friend. There was a special opening of a new Target location! I had so much fun exploring it! ( You can read about it HERE)

Writing articles for Vocal Media- I’m happy to say I wrote posts on Vocal Media this month! ( if you want to take a look just click HERE, HERE and HERE.)

Thanks for reading about this month’s highlights!

Rock On – Christina Epperly

Idaho family reunion!

Hello, my bucket list friends! I hope you all  had an amazing Labor day weekend! I spent the holiday weekend in Idaho for a family reunion. It was really great to have everyone all together again. It had been years since everyone was all together. It felt like old times. We had a family photoshoot together and it was so much. It was a weekend filled with laughter, good food, and some adventure as well. In addition to spending time with many different family members, I went thrift shopping at a thrift store that we don’t have locally. My favorite thing that I got while thrift shopping was a Barbie puzzle from the 90s. I also went river rafting on the Boise River. I had a fun time going river rafting. I found this rafting trip to be very relaxing! There were a lot of dogs playing in the river, they were all so cute! This was my second time going River rafting and I hope I get to do it again someday. It was a fun trip to Idaho and I hope to make to back soon!

Rock On- Christina Epperly

A summer weekend in Idaho

Hello,my bucket list friends! Last weekend I went on a little getaway to Idaho. I have family that lives there. I try to go a few times a year. However, this weekend was the first time I was able to go this year. It was a short visit but I was able to do a good amount things before it was time to head back home. I can’t wait to tell you all about it so let’s get to it!

Friday- On Friday I worked a half day, then after a quick stop at Best Buy to get a headphone adapter,I went to the airport. After I got checked in and made it through security, I still had some time before my flight so I went to the store and got some souvenires from my home state. I know it’s far from perfect but I do love California! Anyways,after that it was time to head to Idaho. The flight was normal and uneventful. When I landed I stopped and got some Idaho souvenires. After that I got my luggage, met up with my mom and went to my grandparents house. It was great to see them and their dog again. After talking with them for a while. My mom drove me to get something to eat because I was hungry after a day of working and traveling. We ened up going to a restaurant that neither of us had been to before it was called smoky mountain Pizzeria grill. There was a bit of wait but the food was really good so it was worth it. There was also a vending machine that gave out random toys for a quarter each so that was pretty cool. After dinner we went to Walmart to get a few things. A few fun things I got were a squishy strawberry toy,Barbie stickers, and and Idaho button. It was a pretty good way to start off my weekend in Idaho.

Saturday- I was really looking forward to Saturday because I had bought tickets for a museum in Boise. We got Starbucks before going to the museum. I had been to this museum before but they host different exhibits so it was going to be different then it was before The main exhibit they had this time was Sue the T.rex. I  had seen Sue before but it had been a very long time ago. It was nice to see her again. There was also a small exhibit about the moon. My favorite part of that exhibit was the moon themed art work. The next part of the museum was a hands on area that was closed the last time I visited the museum. My favorite part of that area was this machine that made beautiful works of art. Also in the museum there is another T. rex named Tinker. It  was nice to see that T. Rex again too. After exploring the museum,we went to the gift shop on the way out. My favorite thing that I got was a Sue keychain. After the museum my mom and I went to a Idaho gift shop that we had visited once before. I was excited to go shopping for more fun Idaho souvenires. My favorite things that I got are two Idaho shaped Christmas ornaments that you paint. I can’t wait to paint one of them. I got two of them so my mom can paint one also. After our fun in Boise, we went to a restaurant to celebrate a faimly members birthday. It was great to see even more family and to celebrate together. Later on that day I went to Goodwill. The prices at this Goodwill are lower then at home. I was happy to find some Barbie dolls, a Lion King coloring/ tracing book, and two My Little Pony toys. I also got some books. I’m happy I managed to do so much in one day.

Sunday – This was my last full day in Idaho before flying home the next day. We went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant that is a favorite of my faimly that lives in Idaho. I got some very yummy vegetarian Mexican food. After lunch my mom and I went to visit another family member. This family member has a farm. I love going there and seeing all the animals. I got to see a very cute calf that I had not seen before. I also got to meet some super cute kittens! I loved taking pictures with the animals and I can’t wait to see them again. Later on that evening my mom and I went swimming! There is a community pool in my grandparents neighborhood. I’ve been swimming at this pool before and I love it. I love that it has a fountain. I’m very happy to say that I’ve gone swimming four times this summer.

Monday- This was the day we went back home. If I’m being honest I really didn’t want to leave. It had been a great trip but it was pretty short. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. However, it was time to go. Usually we get nonstop flights to and from Idaho However, this time we were not able to and we had to stop in Utah first. We didn’t have a lot of time before our second flight but we didn’t have any problems getting to the flight on time. It was a very quick but very fun trip to Idaho and I’m excited to go back!

Rock On – Christina Epperly