Summer is here and in a big way! We have finally made it to consistent high 80’s and 90’s, which after a recent trip to Phoenix I am actually feeling grateful for. I am definitely a person who enjoys avoiding the heat, but I do have a love for a lot of summer activities. So, I decided to write another checklist. I had a lot of fun writing my spring checklist. It was really great considering ways to celebrate the season.

Here is my list to help you squeeze the most out of your summer!

• Go on lots of walks with my pup, Willow (Especially now that she isn’t a fool on her leash all the time thanks to Scotch Pines Dog Training!!)
• Eat all the ice cream
• See the fireworks show at Snake River Landing
• Go listen to the live music happening outdoors all summer ( My favorite is the Live United concert series)
• Shave ice ( I really dig the Tiki Hut off of 25th)
• Try something new ( I’m taking Hip Hop and Latin classes with Kenia at Motion Dance Academy 🙂 )
• Ride my bike everrrrrywhere
• Go on a hike (Last year we went up around the Palisades area)
• Go camping
• Make some of my go to summer recipes

Mexican Street Corn Nachos

Knock Ya Naked Margaritas That’s what my mom calls them! 😂 We sub the water for 7-up and it gives it a lil somethin extra.

• Try this boozie popsicle recipe
• Cook something over a fire This is such a cool idea!
• Watch a movie outside
• Drink on a patio ( Tap N Fill after a bike ride or Sandpiper where I can people watch near the river are my faves)
• Eat some delicious BBQ
• Stroll at the farmer’s market
• Get my tickets to see The Offspring at the Eastern Idaho State Fair
• Go on a roadtrip
• Go to a festival ( We are going to Reggae Rise Up in Heber City, UT in August!)
• Keep my lawn alive! Luckily, I have found The Yard Butler to help me out this summer.
• Date nights downtown. Downtown is perfect for date nights! My husband and I like to ride our bikes down grab dinner at any of the wonderful restaurants, go to a movie at Centre Twin theater, and then grab a drink or ice cream at Pop’s!
• Move my bod outside (Have you checked out Ashley Curry’s Zumba on the pier? You should!!)
• Reread Wild. It’s the perfect summer-time read full of adventure and self-discovery.

I hope you all have an incredible summer and make tons of memories!

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Recently I had the pleasure of attending a Scotch Pines obedience class. It is a 9 week course that covers everything from sit to off-leash exercises around a live goat!

I really enjoyed the trainer, Sarah Crozier, who was incredibly knowledgeable and easy to work with.

The class was definitely a challenge. Our pup is a year old hound/collie/shepard mix, so high-energy is her game! But with all the practice and awesome training advice from Sarah we have actually been able to walk her on a leash without constant pulling! It’s truly amazing considering where we started (my arm felt like it might fall off).

Scotch Pines class gives you the tools and the help that you need to successfully train your dog. I am so happy that I took our pup Willow there and plan on stopping by again to keep up with the progress we made.

Check out Scotch Pines on Facebook to know when their next classes are and get any information you need to enroll.

I grew up in Blackfoot, so “The Fair” has always been a big part of my end of summer activities.

I really loved going as a kid. We had early days off from school and spending all afternoon into the evening eating buttery scones, drinking limeades, and being peer-pressured into getting on rides was a way I made lots of memories.

My favorite thing to do at the EISF is eat. I mean what else would it be! So I am sharing with you my TOP 5 favorite fair foods in no particular order.

1. Dutch oven food from Let’s Go Dutch

The dinner plate from Let’s Go Dutch is a no brainer. It includes BBQ chicken, cheesy potatoes with or without jalapenos (WITH!), and green beans. I think the only time during the year where I am blessed with dutch oven food is during the fair, and IT’S SO GOOD. It also helps that it doesn’t make you feel as junky as most of the other things you will come into contact with at the fair!

2. Scone Nuggets from Kiwanis Club

Scone nuggets are so closely tied to all my fair experiences. It was always tradition to have them and for good reason. They are DA BOMB. Pieces of sweet dough covered in cinnamon sugar and dripping with honey butter. Ain’t nothin better than that!

3. Literally Anything from Fresh Lime

I remember blowing most my money at this booth when I was younger. I was hooked on those cherry limeades! I still love the fruity beverages that Fresh Lime serves up and it is a fair MUST.

4. Funnel Cakes from Snappy’s Funnel Cakes

Fried dough, sugar, and covered in fruit. What could go wrong with that!? My favorite funnel cake booth is across from Let’s Go Dutch. They have strawberry, peach, mixed berry, etc. funnel cakes, and you can get them with a side of whipped cream or ice cream. YUM!

5. Teriyaki Bowls from Good Wok

Definitely one of my fair go tos! The chicken teriyaki bowl is always delicious, and the service is so friendly!

Only picking five fair foods is so hard! There are so many others that I enjoy and others that I haven’t even tried yet (like those turkey legs!). I am especially excited to check out the new ice cream baked potato and peach churro donuts. Photos to come!

What is your go to fair food?

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Keep up with the Eastern Idaho State Fair.

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I’ve been camping in the Swan Valley area ever since I was a kid. One of my favorite memories of this time was stopping by Rainey Creek to get square ice cream. It was the first SQUARE ice cream I’d ever had and there was definitely something special about it.

This is still a tradition for me, and I love to stop by and get a waffle cone when I am in the area.

They have many different flavors from Huckleberry Cheesecake, Caramel Caribou, Moose Tracks, and one of my favorites Lime Rickey. I fully recommend getting your choice in a waffle cone. They put whoppers in the bottom of the cones which is such a delicious surprise!

2997 Swan Valley Hwy; Swan Valley, Idaho 83449

Rainey Creek Facebook

Congrats to Paige Aitchison for winning the National Ice Cream day giveaway to Reed’s Dairy! Follow Live a Little Local to participate in our next giveaway.

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Week 2 of #IdahoIceCreamSundaes! I’m very excited to tell you about this wonderful ice cream shop.

Forty miles outside of Boise is the quaint little town of Idaho City (‘city’ being a misnomer). Idaho City is surround by national forest and beautiful mountain scenery and within the town is the cutest ice cream and gift shop called Sarsaparilla.

Sarsaparilla scoops up to five flavors on a cone, and they make their waffle cones in house! They’ll also mix you up a milkshake, or you can order a deliciously rich brownie sundae topped with hot fudge and peanut butter. There are around 16 different flavors of ice cream to choose from, including maple nut, butter pecan, cotton candy, and (my personal favorite) black licorice. You’re welcome to sample any of the flavors before you buy, but it’s going to be a tough choice! It’s the perfect treat to enjoy on their spacious front porch on a sunny summer day!

101 Montgomery St suite 2, Idaho City, ID 83631

Sarsaparilla Facebook

Many thanks to Sharece Mecham, fellow Live a Little Local writer, for this piece.

Do you live a little local?

Have you seen our new t-shirts? Soon to have tank tops and tote bags!

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Hey all! Did you know that July 15th is National Ice Cream day!?

I really dig these national days for food, and could there be a better way to celebrate than a waffle cone?

There are way too many wonderful ice cream places to let all the recognition fall onto a single day. So, we will be using the hashtag #IdahoIceCreamSundaes to celebrate one or more shops every Sunday in July.

This post is a two-fer!

The STIL (Boise)

The STIL (The Sweetest Things in Life) in downtown Boise is the place you’ll want to be when that craving for something sweet hits. This ice cream shop offers unique, vegan, and booze-infused flavors so there’s something delish for everyone. Flavors rotate often, but I recommend Picnic in the Park (raspberry+goat cheese+walnut), Idaho Wilderness (berry+local lavender from Red Chair Lavender), or Pool Days (mint+lime+rum+mojito). The STIL also gives you the option of pairing your ice cream with local and regional beer and wine options OR you can have them scoop you some ice cream onto local cookies from Sugar Whipped and Gluten Free Galaxy for an ice cream sandwich! Cookies also come in vegan and gluten free options.

786 W Broad St, Boise, ID 83702
ilovethestil.com

STIL Facebook

Reed’s Dairy (Idaho Falls and Meridian)

Oh, the whole-milk goodness. This is not the shop to go to if you are looking for almond, soy, alternative ice cream, ok? This shop houses fresh, flavorful, and creamy treats that are sure to bring a smile to your face. You’ll be sure to see flavors like strawberry or huckleberry any time of the year. However, watch out for some rotating flavors that aren’t always in shop (coconut almond fudge, honey comb crunch). Honey comb crunch is definitely one of my favorites! It’s a blend of cinnamon, chocolate pieces of honey comb, and graham cracker.

Milkshakes with local strawberries, brown cows (ice cream and chocolate milk floats), and grilled cheese sandwiches are other items you don’t want to miss.

If you can’t stand to leave without taking some deliciousness home —don’t worry! Reed’s also offers tubs of ice cream to take home, milk, and cheese from their farm, or you can have milk delivered to you!

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Reed’s Dairy has locations in Ammon, Idaho Falls, and Meridian. (In Idaho Falls you can visit the farm.)

http://reedsdairy.com/

Reed’s Facebook

Many thanks to Sharece Mecham, fellow Live a Little Local writer, for her contribution to this piece.

Do you live a little local?

Have you seen our new t-shirts? Soon to have tank tops and tote bags!

Make sure to follow Live a Little Local on Facebook and Instagram (livealittlelocal) to keep up with fun things going on in our community!