Rachel Anne Jewelry GIVEAWAY

Last weekend I cruised Etsy like State Street on Saturday night. I was yet again amazed at all the local talent. If you haven't used the local search engine, you must try it!

Rachel Anne is one of those talented locals and just barely opened an Etsy shop to showcase her stylish accessories. I love the jewelry in the Rachel Anne shop because it is feminine, beautiful and features unique details. Even though every piece is handcrafted by the shop owner, it is amazingly well priced. I love the way she combines tiny {and authentic} pearls with different versions of gold chains. Some are more classic, some more modern, but all are lovely. There is certainly something for everyone. I think the 24" pearl necklace (and it has nothing to do with the name I promise!) or the pearl bracelet would make perfect Mother's Day gifts. The sentimental nature of jewelry and the simple designs of these pieces make them sure to please. She'll even ship directly to the recipient for a timely arrival!

To celebrate her grand opening, she is offering up one piece of jewelry to one lucky winner. It can be for you, for your Mom, for your sister, for your aunt, or for your grandmother. You pick! How does that sound for a pre-Mother's Day giftie? It wouldn't be a bad idea to order something for your Mother now and then if you win the giveaway, you can keep something for yourself!


To enter the giveaway, please peruse the Rachel Anne Etsy shop and choose your favorite piece of jewelry. Tell us why it's the perfect choice for you. The lucky winner will receive whichever piece of jewelry she mentions in her comment.

Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 5 days to enter this giveaway (closes Sunday, May 4th).
- Make a comment on THIS POST to enter. Make sure you include the information outlined above.
- One entry per person please.
- All anonymous comments will be ignored.
- The randomly chosen winner will be announced Monday, May 5th.
- Winner must respond by Wednesday, May 7th to secure prize.

Good luck narrowing it down to one piece! :)

Herb Crusted Salmon

I made this fantastic recipe from now-defunct Blueprint mag {insert sobbing} last night and loved it. The best part? it's so easy! The recipe calls for cooking the salmon in the oven but I'm not a huge fan of stinking my house up with any kind of fish, so we grilled it in an aluminum "tray". This recipe is a true crowd pleaser; my kids gobbled it up so fast I'm not sure they even noticed the shock on my face. Although, L. did tell me I was nice and pretty during dinner so I'm thinkin' this recipe is pure magic!

Instead of serving it with the roasted lemons I served the salmon with roasted potatoes. For some reason I love eating fish dishes with roasted potatoes. They seem to compliment each other well. Throw in a simple garden salad and some fresh fruit and voila, you have a meal nice enough to serve company...and you didn't even have to slave all day in the kitchen either!

Click here to view the original recipe.

Note: For those of you not familiar with panko (the recipe calls for 1/4 cup), it's a Japanese style breadcrumb. I must say I highly prefer it over our American version. Panko is light, flaky and of the perfect texture in every way. You can find it in the Asian section of your local grocery store or at an Asian market (in SLC try Oriental Market on 7th east and Southeast Asian Market on 9th south).

Grow Your Own Herbal Tea

I know this is planning ahead a little bit but...

Cactus & Tropicals, my favorite indoor oasis, is hosting a free "Grow Your Own Herbal Tea" class on June 21 at 10:00 a.m.

Sign up by calling 485.2542 x102. Reserve your spot now for this free! class.

P.S. If you join their "Garden Club", you'll receive postcards, coupons, and a birthday present too!

Let the Entertaining Begin

Once the warm weather hits (around here it seems like it'll be forever snow), let the outdoor entertaining begin! I love these two fun outdoor party ideas from the latest PB catalog--conjured up by those talented stylists no doubt (I've seen their trucks, their goods, and watched them work their magic). Talk about a fun job, no?

I love the toothpicks with a label wrapped around them indicating the type of sandwich. So easy! I also love all the fun drinks complete with floating garnishes. I'm so ready for Summer to arrive. Heck, I'd even take Spring at this point. Hear that snow? Hail? We want you both out.


* If you're in the market for a pretty, less expensive drink dispense, head to Crate & Barrel's site. They offer one up for half the price of the PB version.

Orange Drop Cookies

The other day I felt a little nostalgic for my teens. Kind of weird I know. But I wanted to badly to listen to the Judybats, hang out at Village Thrift with Kandell & Co., have a sleepover with Ali, and feel the humidity of a Ohio summer on my skin.

Here I am, fifteen plus years later, a mother of 3 and dealing with some considerable responsibilities (aren't we all?). It's overwhelming at times and perhaps that's why I found myself wishin' for the good ol' days :) Do you ever experiences waves of nostalgia too?

I consoled myself by making a cookie I enjoyed as a teenager. It's been YEARS since I've enjoyed an Orange Drop Cookie and I thought it high-time I whipped out a few dozen :) This recipe is fairly easy to make and calls for ingredients you are likely to have on hand.


Orange Drop Cookies

1-1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1 tablespoon fresh orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup buttermilk (click here for a substitution)

Cream brown sugar and margarine. Add eggs, orange peel and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, alternating with buttermilk. Drop by teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Frost while still warm.

Frosting:

1 tablespoon orange zest

4 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice

3 tablespoons butter

Powdered sugar

Cream the butter and orange zest in a mixer (paddle attachment). Add 2 TB of the orange juice and about 3/4 to 1 cup of powdered sugar. Add the remaining orange juice. Continue mixing. Add enough powdered sugar to make it the desired consistency.

Perfect Pencil Skirt

One would think that finding the perfect black skirt would be simple...I mean, aren't there black skirts everywhere? Ironically, I find it quite difficult to find a skirt that isn't ill-fitting, and made of easily-maintained material (as in not a cotton/spandex mix). Does anyone else have this problem? Perhaps my expectations are too high, even for a wardrobe staple such as this.

But I think I found something that might work:

{fun detachable belt with patent leather buckle included}

So Obvious

There were obvious signs:

1. a pair of jeans wouldn't button up last week

2. a dress didn't fit on Sunday resulting in a wardrobe change

3. we were asked to join the frequent cupcaker wall

But, I talked myself out of all of these things until my daughter informed me that the reason I was sick last week was because 'I ate too many cupcakes at So Cupcake'. 'The sugar', she said, 'was making me sick'.

Hmmm...time to cut back?

Deal-io at the Bellagio

Last summer on a vacation to Northern California, my family camped for several days before rewarding ourselves with 1 night at a restored boathouse on the shores of Tomales Bay. It was a bit of a squeeze for our family of 5; but after making use the large bathroom (portable crib), window seat, and a car seat for baby, we managed to all experience a good night's sleep. Boy did we appreciate that outdoor shower after several days of no shower! Although I've only tasted it a maybe two times in my life, I now understand the allure of nice lodging.


If you're in the mood for a little splurge, then give the Bellagio in Vegas a whirl between the dates of May 21 and September 4. You can snatch up a 5-star deluxe room for a 3-star price of $149 (use coupon code: SU149D). I've seen Best Westerns more expensive than that!

You can book online here.

* Make sure you hit the yummy patisserie and gelateria in-house if you go!

Coming Out

April's Domino featured 10 up and coming designers. Surprisingly, few of them had formal training. I found this incredibly inspiring.

These two rooms are my favorites amongst the 10...complete with the designer's head tacked on :) Sorry, I couldn't find any images sans cheesy photos and my scanner is on the fritz.

Planning Meals

Since the Husband and I were in the process of finishing up college when we married, we were definitely on a "student budget"--which translated into a miniscule grocery budget. I found that in order to eat fairly well, I needed to meticulously plan out all our meals.

We continued this method of planning meals while living in San Francisco, while in graduate school in Boston, and even today. It has its benefits I tell ya...like saving money...and not experiencing the 4/5 o'clock panic of what to make. It's a win-win situation in my book!

Here is how it works:

1. Peruse your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer; take an inventory of what you have. What needs to be used up first? What are you feeling like eating this week?

2. Peek through your recipe binder, your cookbooks, your favorite online recipe source (mine include Epicurious and MyRecipe). Which recipes call for the ingredients you already have on hand?

For example, if your pantry stocks copious amounts of canned diced tomatoes, consider making a pomodoro sauce over pasta that week. Dress it up with some grilled shrimp and some grated Parmesan-Reggiano perhaps.

If a recipe you want to make calls for one tablespoon of fresh cilantro, and you don't want to waste the rest of the bunch, then find another recipe that calls for cilantro. For example, if you make a Southwestern Salad, which only requires a relatively small amount of cilantro, then perhaps make a Thai soup that week, or a curry, or a batch of tacos or fajitas. Are you seeing how this works?

Health-friendly grocery stores like Whole Foods (and that fab Co-Op in Cambridge) carry many pastas, grains, legumes, spices, etc. in bulk form. Since spices can be especially expensive, I've been known to purchase a tablespoon of turmeric just to save myself from having to buy the $5 bottle.

3. As you choose meals, write them down on the back of a piece of paper. On the other side start your grocery list indicating the items you still need to purchase to make the meal complete. Don't forget side dishes, lunch items, etc.

I tape my menu for the week inside a kitchen cupboard where it is easily accessible. When 4 p.m. comes around I check out my list, decide what I'm in the mood for that night and hop to it. I know I have all the ingredients on hand so I don't find myself agonizing about not having one essential ingredient. Since this is the time of day I often refer to as the "witching hour", it's nice to not have to spend an hour trying to figure out what to make before finally resorting to a frozen meal. You'll be amazed at how thirty minutes of planning makes your week (and your mealtime) exponentially easier and more enjoyable.

Fabulous Dresses at La Redoute

I'm diggin' this one, this one and this twenty-dollar special too. Each one is such a bargain too~

* Take $20 off your purchase of $80 or more with coupon code: LRSAVINGSHP

Modern Planters

Square planters--a hip way to jazz up your front porch or back deck. Love the look. Love the price.

Click here to view.

$1 Ribbon

Head to your nearest Michaels for fabulous deals on high-quality embroidered ribbon~

The local Michaels Arts & Crafts here has a stand near the cash registers holding only $1 ribbon; and this isn't just cheap ribbon. I found grosgrains, embroidered ribbon, wired ribbon, etc. Here's the stack I came home with last week...and all for a dollar per spool if you can believe it!

Art Market Spring 2008

Grab the calendar and write down this important date! There is soooo much good stuff at Art Market.

Spring Art Market
Friday, May 9 from 11 to 6 p.m.
Saturay, May 10 from 10 to 5 p.m.

Sugarhouse Garden Center
1602 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City
801.244.7275

Birth Announcements

I've seen some lovely birth announcements lately and thought I'd share a few pretties:

Clockwise starting at top left:

Tiny Prints

Prentiss Douthit

Blonde Designs

Gracie Girl on Etsy

B-I-N-G-O

A few months ago, Jordan over at Oh Happy Day posted about a vintage bingo set she found on Ebay. I started thinking how much fun it would be to host a bingo night, complete with a buffet dinner and prizes. Recently I noticed Paper Source carries a vintage-inspired bingo set for only $20; so now I'm thinking I just might have to make this idea happen.
Click here to view the Paper Source version.

Click here to view vintage sets on Ebay.

Anthropologie Sale

Two good reasons for me to hit Anthro tomorrow:

1. I have a babysitter and that counts as a "special occasion" in my book :)

2. Sadly, I have to return a sweater. I should've been more particular when choosing it darn it! Lesson learned.

But I am hoping I find one of these goodies in store because they are all cute and they are all on SALE! Alas, if they are not adorning the racks of my local Anthro, I will save the store credit for another "special occasion" and continue on my merry way...to lunch...with myself...because I have a babysitter! I'm just a little bit excited, can you tell?

Healthy Muffins

This month's Living magazine featured a few recipes for healthy muffins. I LOVE muffins so I immediately clipped out each recipe. This morning I made the Banana Blueberry Cornmeal muffins. They were so tasty I ate 5 throughout the morning. I enjoyed them guilt-free too because the recipe calls for zero butter and zero oil. However, somehow the muffin manages to stay moist and is of the perfect density. Go figure.

I can't wait to try out the other two recipes featured. I'll keep you posted....

Click here for this morning's recipe.

To Do SLC: Summer Camps for the Kiddies

Last summer my oldest daughter attended a couple of summer camps at Red Butte Gardens. She didn't know anyone going into the camps but she found herself excited to go each morning to see all the other kids and enjoy the Great Outdoors. I feel it's important to expose my children to situations that are a little out-of-the-box--it's good for 'em :)

I know in other states summer camps are all-day affairs, but in Utah you can find little camps for only 2 or 3 hours per day. We found these short bursts ideal because we still had a good portion of the day ahead of us after morning camp concluded; and, while Miss E. was off exploring bugs and butterflies, I was enjoying one-on-one time with my two youngest.

Here are some fun places around town to consider. Spaces still available!

Summer Camps at Wheeler Farm

Utah Museum of Natural History Dino & Insect Camps

Summer Camp at Hogle Zoo

Etiquette School at Protea Cottage (lads & lassies)

Tracy Aviary Summer Camps

Better Shopping

Although I only end up purchasing about 5% {or less} of the things I spotlight on this blog, it's fun for me to dream a little...like any girl! As I've become more financially savvy over the years, I've learned a few things about the shopping experience as a whole. I thought I'd pass them along to you here. Be sure to share any thoughts or advice you might have in the comments section at the end of the post!


1. If you have children, don't bring them if you can swing it. If you're like me, you'll just end up making bad decisions on what to buy or not buy.

2. If you are even a little unsure about whether or not to purchase an item, don't. Put it on hold and think about it for a day or two. You'll either decide you can or can't live without it and likely save yourself the return/exchange hassle.

3. Set a monthly budget for "fun" purchases

4. When considering purchases, ask yourself, "Do I LOVE it?" and "Will I USE it?". Only fill your life with things you genuinely love or use.

5. Don't make shopping a weekly "recreational sport". Meaning, avoid going shopping every Saturday just for the sake of going shopping. You'll save a lot of money over time!

6. Fill your life and time with activities that don't cost money. For example, head to the gym, take the kids to the park, organize a closet, enjoy a free exhibit, do something nice for someone else or try a new recipe. These activities are fun, productive, and are the kind of thing that will bring real value to your life--quality time, a clean space to live, added cultural knowledge, etc.

So there ya have it...my two cents :) Does anyone else have any tips to share?

On Being a Mom

Awhile back my friend Holly emailed me this essay by Anna Quindlen, an author and columnist in Oprah magazine. Her essay speaks to me so much at this stage in life and is yet another reminder to enjoy my small children while they are...well, small! Granted, it is difficult to mother three little kids, (I'll never deny it); but, it is also so much fun. I already see the time passing too quickly. My new goal is to enjoy this stage of my life (and their lives) more and not wish it away for a moment. Not a single moment.

Today this mantra came back to me when my son said to me, "thank you mommy for sharing your car with me". Later in the day, "thank you for sharing your house with me". I have to relish these moments because someday they may wish we'd never shared a house at all! (I'm so not looking forward to teenagers!) Thank heavens I have a good chunk of time left before that stage. Until then, here's to goldfish crackers, pants on backwards, and reading the Saggy Baggy Elephant a hundred times a week.

You can read Anna Quindlen's full essay here.

photo taken last week while my two oldest danced to Earth, Wind & Fire's "September"

Getting Me Through the Day

If anything is going to get me through this day, it's this cup o' goodness. I woke up feeling super lousy so after I cancel all plans for the day, I'm going to whip up a cup of licorice spice herbal tea from Stash.

We discovered this yummy herbal tea in Montreal while perusing a fine foods market in Outremont--one of our favorite neighborhoods. Luckily, it's made in Portland so it's readily available in the US too at nice grocery stores (locally you can find it at Harmons). The flavors are unique and more concentrated than what you'd find in say a Celestial Seasonings tea.

You can also find Stash herbal tea online here. It's fun to try the sampler pack and determine your favorite flavor.

Night Music

It's night. The kids are in bed. It's quiet.

Love it.

During this magical time of night I like to put on soft music like Miles Davis or my Samba Blim album (thanks Kris for both!). My opera playlist, which admittedly includes more Puccini than anything else, is also a favorite in the evening. Somehow this special ritual makes dinner recovery or folding laundry more relaxing and less mundane. Given the chaos during the day I've come to appreciate these moments in the evening. Hence my transition from early bird to night owl.

What do you listen to when you're alone and it's quiet?

Mudroom Makeover

photo via Crate & Barrel

Once upon a time after looking at a layout like this (see above), I decided to embark upon a mini makeover in my own mudroom. I realized that coming home to a tidy space would be far less overwhelming than walking into what appeared to be a mini-landfill. Although some days this room slowly reverts back to its landfill-roots, we (I) try to keep it relatively junk-free.

I use this basket to schlep shoes and other things upstairs. One
of the kids' little jobs is to return the shoes to their rightful closets.
I find that we need to do this about 2x per week. I also found since
having 3 kids, I need a clock in the mudroom so I can see exactly
what time I {need} to leave and what time I'm arriving home. Things
are a little more hectic around here these days needless to say!

I use these galvanized steel bins from IKEA to store gloves, hats, umbrellas, etc.
One bin is for the kiddos and one is for the {sometimes} grownups :) There is room
for everyone to store one or maybe two pairs of shoes downstairs; same with
the coats--one or two coats per person. Other, lesser-used coats are stored in the
official "coat closet". I love the stainless steel board (from here) because
it is functional and provides a nice clean look. On the board I clip fun pictures, pretty
cards, important papers for my kids and inspiring quotes. The latest addition was the
grass-covered letter press card from Marilyn I received in the Spring Swap.

MomME Planner

I love using this planner every day. It is the perfect organizer for me at this stage of life. I'm so happy to have finally found something I actually use!

Click here to view.

Etsy Pick of the Week: Craft Pudding

I'm noticing a trend lately in my Etsy posts...hand-crafted stamps. I discovered Craft Pudding recently and am LOVING them.

I think the little girl stamp would be fun for my oldest daughter to incorporate into her many paper crafts. And that sock monkey stamp? Don't get me started!

Can you believe these are hand-made? Wow.

Check out Craft Pudding stamps here.

Hip Spring Mama Look

Love this look. It's cute, it's child-friendly (sorry white pants) and it's made to be on-the-go. Just look at the model, she's goin' somewhere isn't she? :) It's also perfect over a t-shirt on those slightly chilly Spring days.

Click here to view the jacket. Add your favorite pair of dark bootcut jeans and a pair of wedges and you've got the look!

P.S. I hope she didn't have to stand in that exact position for a long time like these people did in Grand Central Station!

Tablecloth Trick

After years of struggling with my iron and a can of starch, I finally figured out how to obtain a crease-less tablecloth:

Place your clean tablecloth in the washer on the shortest cycle in order to make it thoroughly wet (trying to wet it under the sink doesn't work...I've tried it!) Anyway, after the cycle concludes, place the tablecloth in the dryer for 8 minutes on medium heat (I always set the kitchen timer so I don't forget--timing is key here). Take out the cloth and lay over the table. It will be slightly damp but not damp enough to harm the surface in any way. It'll take about an hour to dry completely but you can still set it while it is in the drying process. In fact, when you set the table, use the dinner plates, which tend to be heavier, to pull the tablecloth perfectly taut. It will literally appear as flawless as the tablecloth in this picture. No joke.

Three cheers for not having to iron, to starch, and for saving yourself a good 30 minutes!

Note: if your tablecloth is anything less than a size large, lower the drying time by about 2 minutes.

photo via Williams Sonoma

Announcing...

The winner of the Paper Pixie Giveaway is:

Sam and Josh who said, "I love these tags and I am always looking for something to put on little gifts for friends."

It looks like you'll soon receive more than a few gorgeous tags to put on those little gifts! Lucky you Sam. Please email me your contact info so we can send off those tags to you asap.

The rest of you should take advantage of her great sale prices here.

Denyse Schmidt Quilt

I've never thought of myself as a quilt-kind-of-gal but for sometime now Denyse Schmidt designs have been changing my mind. Typically her quilts are pricey but she does offer a lower-priced line here too. I love this quilt picked up by Sundance recently. It looks cozy but could very easily be modernized too in a different setting. I'm thinking it would be perfect thrown across my couch. Maybe it'll go on sale? {wishful thinking I know}

Last Call!

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the last day to sign up for the Paper Pixie Giveaway. Be sure to enter a comment on the original post if you haven't done so already. This is the booty :) Think of all the possibilities....

To view the Paper Pixie Etsy shop click here.

Vintage Fern Tees

Look what the talented Ms. Amy over at Vintage Fern created for my oldest daughter. This little bird you see on E's tee is Amy's trademark design...isn't it sweet?

You can find more of her goodies here. I really love her cards and dishtowels...oh, and the children's aprons too. Pretty much everything she makes is fabulous! Look for her at the next Art Market (May 9-10--save the date!)

White Dishes

What is in your cupboard? 6 salad plates? 2 dinner plates? 1 bowl? 2 mugs?

Well, that is what I used to have in mine after nine moves...and more than a few broken dishes :)

I found these simple and sturdy white porcelain dishes at Target and words cannot express how much I love them--really I do. There is something about white dinnerware that makes food look that much more enticing. I thought it would be nice to have matching dishes so I sold any random pieces of Williams Sonoma Basic White I had left in my cupboards (read above) on Ebay and put the proceeds towards these babies. They are very well-priced (cheaper than similar versions at IKEA) and of great quality (so far).

You can find them in stores but if you want to buy more than a few sets, buy them online here.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head

...or rather, snow. Yes, in April. Strange I know. The bizarre nature of the weather patterns used to bother me when we first moved here 3 years ago, but now I appreciate the changes and the way it keeps things interesting. You never know what you're gonna get on any given day.

In case of showers, however, try these. These umbrellas are both stylish and budget-friendly:

(from top left going clockwise)

1. fabulous Marimekko pattern
2. sweet spectrum
3. people umbrella
4. non-budget friendly option (sorry, I couldn't resist this print): from Orla Kiely
5. polka dots and pink
6. clear bubble umbrella with blue trim

Menu of the Week

Pasta w/Pesto, Potatoes & Green Beans

Red Curry Chicken over Jasmin Rice (never made it last week so here we go again!)

Wild Mushroom Risotto, Butter Lettuce Salad, Crusty Bread

Corn & Cheddar Chowder, Red Lettuce Salad w/Cucs & Peppers

Garlic & Pepper Marinated Steak, Sauteed Haricots Verts, Baguette

Since I've been munching on cupcakes from here as well as Girl Scout cookies all week, I am not planning on making any desserts. But, that doesn't mean I won't have a weak moment....:) I'll keep ya posted.

Hillestak Chair

Love the design of this Hillestak chair from the 50's. It too would make a fun accent chair in almost any living space. However, this chair is much more difficult to find than the Eames Plywood chair I love so much. I wonder if DWR would ever pick this up. Ebay doesn't currently carry any but never say never with Ebay. Anyone tried out their email search option? Type in a search, save it, and opt to have an email sent to your inbox when the item surfaces on Ebay. Pretty sweet.

I found one here but since I'm not a "member", I have no idea regarding the pricing. Knowing her luck, she'll find one on Craigslist in Seattle!

Good Weather

Yesterday we experienced a true Spring day, which is much appreciated around these parts given that it's been snowing well into Spring. I think everyone in the valley was outside taking advantage of the warmth (my little family went on a picnic for lunch). IF I didn't have a little family, I'd be off riding on a bike like this into the countryside; up front I'd be toting this pretty little basket to carry my lunch (baguette, good salami & cheese, olives, fruit and chocolate!).
I'd better awake from dreaming here because:

1. I don't live in the countryside
2. I don't own a bike (let alone one like this)
3. ...nor this pretty little basket
4. I don't have the luxury of eating lunch by myself :) I get to eat with them!

But that's okay....that's what vacations with the Husband are for...and I wouldn't have it any other way :)

P.S. I think this little bike basket may come in a regular basket version too. I swear this little candy store on Chestnut St. in San Francisco had about 50 of them lined up against a wall full of sweets.

Date Night

For about a month and a half before and after a weekend getaway we tend to forego our date nights. We do this to both save money and to take care of other things in our busy lives so we CAN get away. This strategy seems to work well for us. By the time we split for the airport, we are very much ready to be together and to enjoy our precious time away.

Last weekend marked the its-about-time-we-went-out-on-a-date-again moment (Netflix nights at home excluded) so we secured a babysitter and decided to try out a new restaurant, Caffe Niche. Lucky for us they offered free live jazz too! The menu is very limited but the offerings are tasty. I would say the food is mostly Italian (at least the dinner) with a few other Mediterranean offerings mixed in for good measure. We ventured out early-ish (around 6) and by the time we left at 7:30, the entire restaurant was full. I love seeing a new {and tasty} restaurant "make it". Let's hope it sticks, unlike this little gem. Where am I to go for a delicious chocolate fix? sigh.

After Caffe Niche we headed to Barnes & Noble to research our family vacation to the City of Lights. The most important aspect of our research revolved around things to do with our kids in a not-so-kid-friendly city. Or maybe it is...I guess I am not sure. I've never been with kiddos in tow. Does anyone have any tips?

Before heading home at the early hour of 9:30 we opted for a gelato fix here. The place was packed! The passion-fruit gelato really hit the spot with a bit of coconut alongside. Yum. I'm seriously addicted to this passion-fruit/coconut duo. I find it creeping up everywhere...like here and here. Next time we decided to opt for the pint...you receive more ice cream for a cheaper price than two individual gelatos. Anyone want to come? :)

Vintage Furniture & Accessories

If I were Sara, I'd make a stop at Hawthorne Vintage in Portland. What a gold mine! Although I am not into decorating exclusively with vintage goods, I do love the idea of mixing it up a bit with a piece or two.

Besides The Green Ant in Sugar House (I sold them some pieces a few years back--great place), is there a place like this in SLC ?

Paper Pixie GIVEAWAY

Need a cute tag? Look no further than the Paper Pixie shop on our favorite arts & crafts website, Etsy. Kelly, designer behind the Paper Pixie, offers up darling gift tags at darling prices. This particular Etsy shop boasts a considerable selection so there is something for everyone and every occasion. Kelly also creates custom tags so if you already have an Etsy shop or some other type of business, contact the Paper Pixie herself! I think these tags would be cute on a simple white or kraft brown favor box (or bag) for a little girl's princess party:


I love all of these tags featured in the giveaway (she was kind enough to include me in on the selection process) and can think of so many ways to use them--gift wrapping, around a bouquet of flowers and for organization purposes (labeling boxes and whatnot). The winner of this giveaway receives a package of all the pictured tags--that's five sets!

You know you want 'em...and all you have to do is leave one comment to enter.


* Bonus, the generosity continues: if you don't win this giveaway grab some tags anyway at a killer price. As of a few weeks ago she is also including a "bonus" gift with every purchase over $15.

Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 6 days to enter this giveaway (closes Saturday, April 19th).
- Make a comment on THIS POST to enter.
- One entry per person please.
- All anonymous comments will be ignored.
- The randomly chosen winner will be announced Monday, April 21st.
- Winner must respond by Wednesday, April 23 to secure prize.

Have fun and good luck!

Guest Blogger {the Husband}: Music

Something about Spring makes me want to shake off some of the same old music I’ve been listening to for a while and try to discover something new to listen to. Luckily these days we no longer have to spend hours in dusty music stores listening to the CDs with covers that catch our eyes, hoping that the music within will also catch our ears. No, today is the age of iTunes where we can sift through celebrity playlists and lists of top selling music.

That being said, if you’re like me, despite all the new technology and convenience, occasionally you feel like you’re still ending up with the same old perspective shared by the local radio DJ. Enter iTunes international. Go ahead, click on that button at the bottom of the iTunes store that let’s you see what other countries are listening to!

Sometimes you can find different versions of the same songs, or you can discover music in different lists that you would have never found in the regular old iTunes USA store. If you get discouraged that you can’t purchase any of the songs on those stores, head on over to eBay (I go to ebay.fr) and see if you can’t find a screaming deal on some iTunes credit redeemable on the iTunes store for another country!

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of these, but here’s the latest playlist I came up with for my wife including some songs discovered with the assistance of iTunes France:

If I Ever Feel Better, Phoenix
1973, James Blunt
Paper Aeroplane, Angus & Julia Stone
Be Still (Radio Edit), Kaskade
Your Love, Jo Bisso
Apologize, Timbaland featuring One Republic
Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park
I'll Be Waiting, Lenny Kravitz
You're Beautiful, James Blunt
Suavecito, Malo
Clocks, Coldplay
On s'attache, Christophe Mae
Yellow, Coldplay
All I Want, Jehro
Des que j'te vois, Vanessa Paradis
The Sweet Escape, Gwen Stefani
The Way I Am, Ingrid Michaelson
Such Great Heights, The Postal Service
Closer, Travis

Note from the wife: I LOVE my new playlist!

Comin' around the Mountain?

Good news...we may be seeing one of these in SLC in the hopefully not-so-distant future. My fingers are crossed this joint becomes my occasional indulgence by 2009. Hopefully the people of St. George treat In N' Out sooooo well that they want to see what the rest of Utah has to offer. I know there are a few of you out there ready to treat yourself to a good ol' burger, "Animal Style" :)

Click here for the full range of "secret" burger styles...not on the menu of course so you'll look like hot stuff when you order.

Simple Vase

Love this pretty (and very affordable) vase over at cb2. It really is the perfect shape for a smaller arrangement (i.e. not a dozen roses).

Koo de Ker and Hip & Humble SALE

Koo de Ker and Hip & Humble (both of the trendy 9th and 9th shopping district) are co-hosting a spring fashion show on Saturday, April 12th at 3 o'clock. If you can make it, great! If not, still enjoy 20% off any purchases made on Friday, April 11th or Saturday, April 12th.

P.S. If you go, jump on their mailing list so you receive notifications of all their sales a few weeks in advance, like I do :)

P.S. for more sale action hit Art.com (code: "GETART20") or Allposters.com ("20APC") and receive 20% off any purchase.