Thrift Shop Reviews

For our date this week we decided to visit a few different thrift stores and give you some reviews of them. We had a great time going around and seeing what we could find.

The first place we went was the Bonneville Humane Society Thrift Store (444 North Eastern Avenue, just down the street from the Museum of Idaho). It closes at 5pm; we barely made it, so be aware of that. We didn't have much time to look around but it seemed clean and well kept. The selection was a little bit sparse but it seemed good quality. They also only take cash or check.

The 2nd place we went was Idaho Youth Ranch downtown on Shoup (which is open until 6). We were really impressed with some of the things here. If you are on the search for some furniture or home appliances this is for sure the place. They had some beautiful furniture. We left here with a game, some fabric, and a video. When you come in here take a look they usually have a certain colored tags that mean 50% off. It makes for some great deals.


I'm not sure what the official name is but there is a little thrift shop across the road from Deseret Industries (DI) which is where we headed next. It seems tiny when you go in but make sure to head downstairs. If you are doing something like a date where you pick out funny clothes for the other person to put on this is the place to go. Everything downstairs is $4 for everything you can fit in a bag- definitely the best deal on clothes, but you may have to do some searching for the quality that is at some of the other stores. They also only take cash or check here.

Last stop, DI (450 E Street). We by far spent the most time here- but I think it was because we knew we could take more time because we didn't have to make it any other store. Clothes here can cost anything from $1 up to $6 for a t-shirt or pants. I have found that Deseret Industries is pretty hit and miss, I always check out the games section and I look for sheets to sew with. The amount of clothes here almost overwhelms me and I tend to not take the time to look through them. We did find some great deals though!

Happy Hunting!

Birthday Weekend Extravaganza!- free things for your birthday

Last week was the husband's birthday so we did a weekend full of stuff that we got discounts for because we signed up for birthday emails and such. It was really fun to get to do all sorts of things on the cheap. Here are a bunch of ones I know about. If you don't like your inbox getting cluttered you can get a different email address to use just for mailing lists, just make sure to check it every once in a while for discounts.

Red Robin: if you sign up for their email list you get a free burger when you sign up and also one on your birthday. The coupon that you print is good for a week before and a week after your birthday. If you go on your actual birthday you will also get a free ice cream sundae.

Cold Stone Creamery: On your birthday (if you sign up on their website) you will get a free 'like it' size with one mix in.

IHOP: again with the email, with their coupon you get a free Rootie Tootie breakfast or something of equal or lesser value. My husband said that although it didn't look like much theh Rootie Tootie filled him up.

Denny's: Free grand slam on your birthday- no sign up required, just prove it is your birthday. (I'm not 100% sure on that, you could sign up for the email club just in case)

Arby's: email club, you get a shake- but you have to buy something else when you go to get your shake

Old Navy: when you sign up for their email club you get $10 off when you spend $50, on your birthday you get the same deal

Kmart: only kids can get this deal but if you sign up for their emails and input your kids birthdays they will get $5 to spend at Kmart for their birthday

Krispy Kreme: most locations give you a free dozen dougnuts on your birthday, you can call ahead to double check, but no email needed

Noodles and Company: with the email you get a free noodle bowl

Texas Roadhouse: with email you get free appetizer or a sidekick of ribs

If you have any other favorite place to eat or shop check online ahead of time and see if they have an email club it is pretty set that you will get something for your birthday. Happy Birthday everyone!

Love at First Bite Bakery

Love at First Bite bakery is located in Snake River Landing.When we walked in everything looked so so good. We had planned on getting cupcakes but it wavered when we saw all the other delicious choices. They had candy, drinks, and treats (like cheesecake) that you could get dipped in chocolate. We did get cupcakes though, we tried chocolate raspberry and animal cookie. They were super good and priced around $3. Love at first bite also had candles, decor, and jewelry on sale. It's a great little place to stop into for a treat.

Even baby loved them!

Olive Garden and Panda Express

This past week we went out to dinner twice- I'm sorry that neither were locally owned but we had reasons for going where we did.

Thursday we went to Panda Express because it was my sister-in-laws birthday and that's where she wanted to go. Again my problem with restaurants kicked in and I ate before taking pictures, but here is a picture from their website of one of my favorites- Beijing Beef.

We had a good time at Panda Express and enjoyed the food there. My husband loves the orange chicken and there were a lot of options that we could give our little baby pieces to try. I wouldn't say that it's traditional Chinese Food by any means but very good none the less.


Saturday to celebrate Valentine's Day we went to Olive Garden- it's another one of our favorite places but we don't go there very often (we happened to have a gift card). It is very good. The meals come with unlimited salad and bread sticks and I would defiantly take advantage of that so you are full enough to have plenty of leftovers to take home.
I had the chicken alfredo pizza (shown above) and it was so so good, the alfredo dipping sauce that came with it was amazing, it looked small but I could only eat 1/3 of it after all the salad I had eaten. My husband's favorite is the Ziti but he tried something different (lasagna rolls) but still reccomends the ziti.

Kiwi Loco- Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt

On the corner of Hitt and Sunnyside is... you guessed it, Kiwi Loco. Self serve yogurt places seem to be the new trend- popping up all over the place; one has even popped into Idaho Falls. The way it works is you go in and grab a bowl (a couple different size choices) and then fill it with any mix of frozen yogurt that sounds good to you. Then you top it. You pay by the ounce so the amount is totally up to you. Kiwi Loco's price is $0.39 an ounce.



We enjoyed Kiwi Loco- the first reason was because you walk in and smile because of the bright fun look of the place. The choices of yogurt were good (the husband recommends fruit flavors) and the topping variety was amazing (over 50 choices). There were sugar free options and also a dairy free yogurt option that, as you can see by her little mustache, the baby enjoyed too.

Jazz Big Band Dance - Skyline Band - Elks Lodge

I'm so excited about this, but I'm still trying to convince my husband to take me. Skyline High School Jazz Band and The Jazz House Big Band are putting on a big band jazz dance to support the Skyline Music Program. It is Saturday night 7:30 at the Elks Lodge there is a recommended donation of $5 per person or $8 per couple. If you don't know how to dance you can go at 6:30 and swing dance lessons will be going on until the dance starts.

The Snakebite Restaurant - Downtown Idaho Falls

The husband and I were given a gift certificate to the Snakebite in Idaho Falls and were glad for the excuse for the opportunity to try it out. This restaurant is located downtown on the corner of Park and A. Mondays and Tuesdays they are only open for lunch but the rest of the week they are open until 9.
We went on a Friday evening around 6 and all the tables were full but the wait wasn't long at all, but plan on waiting a bit for your food as well. We thought it was worth the wait but my in-laws four year old son did not.

The majority of the menu is pretty basic American food, but fancier- My husband and his brother both got hamburgers which they raved about and they were priced comparable to Red Robin or other places like that. I got a chicken burger with avocado on it. It was also so good. We all enjoyed our food. They also had pastas, steaks, and seafoods. Which by the looks and smells seemed like they would be great too.

It's a little unrelated but I thought it was so cute I had to share- after we got seated it got a little busier and there were three couples waiting for tables, a table for four opened up and it was given to an older couple that looked like they were out for their anniversary or something. They invited the next couple waiting to sit with them and share the table. I thought that was so nice.

Anyway- the food was great, I can't wait for an excuse to go there again.