Back to School Shopping Day at the Countryside Marketplace

It’s back to school shopping time! Have you taken your children back to school shopping yet? We look forward to back to school shopping every year but this year it was very important to make the experience extra special since both of my children are staying home this year until further notice. I knew taking them on a special trip to the Countryside Marketplace in Menifee, California would get them excited to start school soon. It made for a very special and fun family day to end summer vacation and transition to fall with hope, anticipation, and excitement for school to begin. With over 50 shops, restaurants, and specialty stores, there is something for everyone at Countryside Marketplace! We were so excited to be hosted for the day!

 

 

We started our afternoon having lunch at Bushfire Kitchen. Started in 2012, Bushfire Kitchen is a local family owned-and-operated restaurant. We have been to some of their other locations but this was our first time at Countryside Marketplace. It has been one of our favorite restaurants for years because of their quality of food and ingredients. In fact, their ingredients are always free of preservatives, food colorings, flavor enhancers, and GMOs. Their produce is also locally sourced when possible, and all meat is humanely raised without antibiotics or hormones.

 

 

 

Many of their options are organic and gluten free as well! They offer salads, sandwiches, burgers, and other various entrees. Everything I have tried has been delicious, but my favorite dish is the Chicken Bowl. This dish has seasoned free-range chicken breast on top of brown rice with freshly grilled vegetables. And I always get their teriyaki sauce on top! It is incredible!

 

 

My husband ordered the Trip Tip Plate with baked sweet potatoes and grilled vegetables. This dish is made with 100% USDA grass-fed tri-tip topped with their housemade chimichurri + any two sides. He shared a few bites with me and it
was also amazing! Sides can also include grilled mashed potatoes, roasted squash, roasted curry cauliflower, French fries, or rice!

 

 

They also have an extensive children’s menu! My daughter ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese. This dish is spaghetti served with their housemade bolognese sauce and topped with parmesan & Italian parsley. She ate all of it so I know it was good!

 

 

My son usually orders the grass fed burger, but today he ordered the cheese quesadilla, which is basically cheddar & jack cheese inside a flour tortilla. This dish also comes with a side and he ordered French fries!

 

 

The staff was friendly and helpful and the patio we ate in outside was very spacious! The tables are spread apart and they even had misters to keep it cool!

 

 

After lunch, we went to Tilly’s for some back to school shopping! My daughter was excited to go shopping in an actual store for some new shoes, a new backpack, and some new clothes! They had a large selection of backpacks and clothes in my daughter’s size. She ended up picking out some hair accessories, some new shorts, tees, and some overalls! She felt like such a big kid and we felt very safe inside. Everyone was wearing masks and there was plenty of space to be physically distant.

 

 

 

 

 

After some shopping we went to Painted Earth Pottery and Art Studio to pick up a Pottery To-Go Kit for each of my children. You can still paint in the studio, but space is limited and they recommend you make a reservation due to the limited space. When making a reservation you will need to give a $10 deposit, but you will get it back once you arrive. Masks are to be worn at all times inside. You also have the option to sit outside on the patio if you prefer, just make sure to give them an hour from when you order to give them time to put everything together before you come pick it up. But we wanted to pick everything up and bring it home for a later time and I am so happy they have this as an option! You can even order the to-go kits online and pick them up curbside if you want!

 

 

 

 

The pottery to-go kits come with the ceramic piece of your choice, 3 paint colors, 2 gently used brushes, and a place mat. Prices depend on the piece you pick out, but both of ours were roughly in the $20 range, each. They are open 11-6 and also have a studio in Temecula. Once you are done painting your piece you can bring it back to either location to have it fired. It takes about a week before you’ll come pick up your completed piece to display at home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were so many pottery piece options to choose from and the kids had so much fun picking out their unique piece! Then they had fun picking out their colors from a palette with over a dozen different colors! Then when we arrived home, they had a really fun time painting their piece and we can’t wait to go back to get them fired!

 

 

 

 

 

Our last stop of the day was to Whimsical Frozen Yogurt and Gelato! It was a hot day, so sitting outside and enjoying some delicious frozen yogurt was the best way to end the day. We sat by the outdoor fireplace but there is also a pond area with plenty of outdoor seating as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you arrive you are given a glove and a cup. You put your glove on and self serve the flavor(s) and amount of frozen yogurt you want. Then you give your cup to the employee who puts your topping choices on your frozen yogurt. Then your cup is weighed, you pay, and then sit outside to eat it! There were a lot of yummy flavors, but my favorite is cake batter!

 

 

We had a very special day at the Countryside Marketplace. Thank you again for hosting us for a special back to school family day!