Boise

Memorial Day 2020: How to Honor & Remember During This Time

While many traditional ways to celebrate Memorial Day have been cancelled, you can still observe Memorial Day in different ways. Some cities are even offering virtual events.  Here are ways you can remember those who served and fought to protect our freedom:






Visit , reflect and show respect at one of the local cemeteries:




Idaho State Veterans Cemetery

Source: Idaho Veteran’s Cemetary Faebook

Source: Idaho Veteran’s Cemetary Faebook



Location: 10100 Horseshoe Bend Road in Boise and is co-located with Dry Creek Cemetery.

Open: morning to dusk





Morris Hill Cemetery


Source: City of Boise

Source: City of Boise

Location: 317 North Latah Street, Boise

OPen 10am to 4pm

No Civil War reenactment this year






Pioneer Cemetery


Soure: City of Boise

Soure: City of Boise

Location: 460 E. Warm Spring Avenue 








Fort Boise Military Reserve

1101 N. Mountain Cove Road







Eagle Field of Honor


Source: Eagle Field of Honor Facebook

Source: Eagle Field of Honor Facebook

Location: Reid Merrill Park, 1101 N. Mountain Cove Road.











Live/Virtual Celebrations:




Idaho Public Television in partnership with Office of the Governor & Idaho Veterans Services will have a special recorded message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aszwa-VUAOI&feature=youtu.be




City of Nampa 

Virtual Memorial Day ceremony

Starting at 9am

Watch on Facebook page HERE: https://www.facebook.com/cityofnampa.us





American Legion 113 Rock of Honor Memorial 

Julius Kleiner Park

Event is closed to the public, but will be broadcast on City of Meridian’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MeridianIdaho/








Warhawk Air Museum Flyover


Saluting veterans and front line care providers

warhawk museum flyover.jpg

Will include WWII era planes

Flyover begins at 11:10am from Warhawk Museum 








This year, I encourage you to  safely honor and remember all those that died while serving our Nation during this unprecedented time.

5 Ways to Spread Joy This Holiday Season

Happy December 1st!

It’s the official holiday season, and a countdown to Christmas. It’s also a time to share joy throughout our community. The holiday season is a time to acknowledge our blessings and uplift those around us.





Here are 5 Ways You Can Spread Joy in Boise This Holiday Season:




1. Donate Food to a Food Pantry.

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Boise has a share of food pantries that you can donate to including the Idaho Foodbank, Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, St. Mark’s Food Bank, St. John’s Food Bank, Calvary Chapel of Boise, and St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank. For a complete list of food banks, please click HERE.





2. Volunteer at a local non-profit.

Boise is home to hundreds of local non-profits , each doing amazing work in the community. You can help care for animals at the Idaho Humane Society. Organize a group of friends & prepare a dinner for families at the Ronald McDonald House. Volunteer for the Boise Senior Center & plan events. Checkout the list of Boise volunteer opportunities in Boise HERE.





3. Pay It Forward

I remember this happening to me last year — my cup of coffee was paid for by the person in front of me. The memory is so vivid because it brought joy to my day (and my life) more than that person would know. It was surprising yet comforting to feel this sense of joy in my heart. You can do the same, especially this holiday season. You can pay for the coffee, bring a friend food while he/she is working hard (studying for finals, burning the midnight oil at work, etc.), or buy lunch for a colleague.

pexels-photo-834894.jpeg





4. Leave Inspirational Messages to People

Put your Pinterest skills to good use by looking up inspirational messages & print them out. You can place them all on a sheet of paper, cut them up, and place them in areas where they’ll likely to see it. Most likely, this will brighten up their day.





5. Smile & Give Compliments

I can say that when I first visited Boise for my job interview, I noticed how many people genuinely smiled. Eye contact, warm smile, and then proceeded with a greeting of some sort (good morning, hello, or how are you?). Continue the #BoiseKind way by smiling and complimenting someone. Whether it’s the stranger in line & you like their winter hat or your co-worker who achieved a task — freely share your compliments.






This year, Idaho Lottery is encouraging others to spread joy in their community with their #JoyWorthSharing campaign. Their new holiday scratch games are fun gift ideas that’ll bring joy to someone’s life. Even if the scratch game doesn’t win, they can still mail the card to be entered to win one of five $1000 gift packages. If you head to Idaho Lottery social media pages & tag them as you share joy, you can also be entered to win a prize package.

For me, this holiday season I want to give fun yet enjoyable small gifts to my friends, colleagues & family members. Next week I’m attending a gift exchange for work. I can’t wait to see how my co-workers enjoy the scratch games, especially the scented ones! Maybe they’ll scratch & win in front of me. I’m also hosting a FriendsMas post-Christmas with my friends. These scratch games will be PERFECT for each guest as part of small partying gift bag.

Merry Moose Multiplier Scratch Game

Merry Moose Multiplier Scratch Game

Idaho Candy Cane Cash

Idaho Candy Cane Cash

This post was sponsored by ID Lottery. All opinions are my own.

5 Apple Picking Orchards to Cross Off Your Fall #BoiseBucketList

5 apple orchards.png

One activity you should definitely cross off your Fall Boise Bucket List is Apple Picking.

It’s an incredible fall activity that you can do with friends and family. Here is a list of must-see local apple orchards:


Source: Candy Apple Orchards

Source: Candy Apple Orchards



Candy Apple Orchards

Location: Emmett, ID

Website: www.candyappleorchard.com

Regular hours: Sunday through Friday, 8:30am to 6:30pm (closed on Saturdays)






Source: Tyler’s Rocky Point Orchard FB Page

Source: Tyler’s Rocky Point Orchard FB Page

Tyler’s Rocky Point Orchard

Location: Emmett, ID

Website: https://www.tylersorchard.com/

Regular Hours: M - Tues. (9am to 5pm); Wed. - Sun (7am to 8pm)








Source: Anderson Apple Ranch Website

Source: Anderson Apple Ranch Website

Anderson Apple Ranch

Location: Emmett, ID

Website: http://www.andersonappleranch.com/

Regular hours: Friday & Saturday (10am to 7pm)










Source: Williams Fruit Ranch FB Page

Source: Williams Fruit Ranch FB Page

Williams Fruit Ranch

Location: Emmett, ID

Website: https://williamsfruitranch.com/

Regular Hours: 9am to 6pm (Mon. thru Sat.) 10am to 5pm (Sun)












Source: Cabalo’s Orchard & Gardens FB Page

Source: Cabalo’s Orchard & Gardens FB Page

Cabalo’s Orchards and Gardens

Location: Kuna, ID

Website: http://www.cabalosorchard.com/

Regular Hours: Fri- Sat (9am to 6pm); Sunday (1pm to 6pm)



Make sure to tag me in your adventures when you apple pick! Use the hashtag #BoiseBucketLIst or tag me in your photos.