Fun Free Fridays *The Box Girls

Do you remember when I told you all about this great get to know you better game. The Box Girls sets are so much fun. They are boxes of questions that you answer in your group to bond with your friends families and even you bunk mates at camp. I really love the Family Dinner Set. Who doesn't need to get to know there family a little bit better. They have all sorts of fun Sets like Sleep Over, Girls Night, Thanksgiving, Christmas to name a few. Such a great hostess gift as well. We are giving away three of these great Box Girl Sets to three of you. Be sure to tell everyone about it!

A little something for everyone Put in the code SLV10 to get 10% off your order at The Box Girls

{To Enter to Win one of three Box Girls Games}

~ Send me an email with Box Girls as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

~ Answer the question of the week: Which set would you like to win? Click Here to see them all

~ Include your name & address-open to anyone is the U.S

~ You have until midnight Thursday July 10th enter this giveaway.

~ Don't forget to *get extra entries !

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry.1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry2.They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2} Write about our giveaway on your blog myspace or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry

3} Add a link on your blogroll myspace etc and get an extra entry (if you are linked to us you get an extra entry in every

{Congrats to Tia W. she is our winner of the Baby Rock Giveaway!- thanks to random.com for helping us choose our winner}

Happy Fourth of July !

Happy Fourth of July~ Independence Day! I am jetting off to Vermont tonight. The land of Maple Syrup, Green Mountains, Cabot Cheese, Lake Champlain, Church Street ,notches rather than canyons and Ben & Jerry's Ice cream. It is truly a charming place. Catching the red eye with the kids. I will be posting here and there about our adventures and of course we will have our Fun Free Friday Giveaways too so be sure to check in often. Don't forget to enter to win a copy of our July Book Club read Comfort Food. I will try to post this week's winner of the Fun Free Fridays Giveaway and the new giveaway from JFK in the morning Have a great Fourth!

Other Stuff * Vermont & Photography

{image by me}

I have one more photography session available for those of you who live in Vermont or who will be in Vermont over the next couple of weeks. You can email me at sweetlifeimailto:sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com or aprilatwater@gmail.com See you there.

Happenin in The Valley * Downtown Gallery Stroll {a day early}

Tonight!

Downtown Provo Gallery Stroll
Thu. July 3, 2008 6-11 pm

The month of July is special in that the first Friday falls on the 4th of July. As such, the Stroll will be moved back one night, to Thursday, July 3. Utah County Art Gallery will hold their opening reception Mon. July 7.

Debuting at the Sego Art Center is “Brandon Boulton,” a solo sculptural installation. An amorphous cloud like plume takes over the entire room and reconsiders the gallery space. Minimal in its themes, Boulton’s installation deals with time and space, material and environment.

The Utah County Art Gallery is pleased to announce their annual Children’s Freedom Art Show, a juried show featuring art by more than 100 local children. A special Awards ceremony will be held at 7 and 8pm, Monday, July 7.

Cassandra Barney spearheads a group show, “Night Music” at Mode Boutique featuring works by herself, her husband Dan, and another couple, Zack and Brenda Taylor. The group has envisioned a fresh new concept for this show, creating all new works dealing with dreams in different media.

Coal Umbrella will also have a new artist, Ike Bushman, presenting new paintings, with an opening reception from 6-11pm July 3rd.
Sego Art Center, 169 N. Univ. Ave. segoarts.org

Mode Boutique, 45 N. Univ. Ave. modeboutique.net

Utah County Art Gallery, 151 S. U. Ave. utahcountyartgallery.com

Coal Umbrella, 157 N. Univ. Ave. coalumbrella.com

For more details, contact Ryan or Rebecca Neely, Gallery Stroll Coordinators: 801-836-5326, modeboutique@gmail.com.

*NEW BLOG gallerystroll.blogspot.com

My Favorite Things * Linen Suits & The Sartorialist

{images from The Sartorialist}

The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman is one of my favorite fashion blogs. He is a stunning handsome man with an eye for all things beautiful and photographing fashion on the streets. These two men are people who happened to be on the street in Milan wearing on of my favorite things the linen suit. They remind of a character someone would write for a movie. So much personality. Wonderful lovely styles with people who have character and just enough imperfection to make them perfect. When my boys are fully grown I am buying them a linen suit. I also noticed a gentleman at church this past Sunday wearing a linen suit. We do have style in The Valley!

Book Club & Giveaway! * Comfort Food * Enter to Win a Copy

For the month of July we will be reading Kate Jacob's newest book Comfort Food. Comfort Food is about Gus Simpson a Cooking Show host who is about to turn 50. She is a windowed mother of two girls and strong confident women who has worked hard and loves what she does but all this is has a twist. As in The Friday Night Knitting Club Kate Jacob's puts together a group of many layered characters. As you read this month you can check out Kate's reading guide here and a faux Cooking Channel website here complete with recipes.This month we are doing something a little different for the Book Club. We are giving away a copy of Comfort Food our book club read of the month. Please send in your favorite comfort food recipe along with a photo and we might just share it!

{ To Enter Win the book Comfort Food }

~ Send me an email with Comfort Food as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

~ Answer the question of the week: What is your Comfort Food? We would love it if you sent in a recipe and photo of it too...

~ Include your name & address-open to anyone is the U.S

~ You have until midnight Monday July 14th enter this giveaway NOTE: giveaway runs for two weeks!!!

~ Don't forget to *get extra entries !

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry.1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry2.They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2} Write about our giveaway on your blog myspace or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry

3} Add a link on your blogroll myspace etc and get an extra entry (if you are linked to us you get an extra entry in every giveaway -be sure to let me know you added it)

My View of the Movie * On My Top 10 List * You've Got Mail

When I watch a movie I am often attracted to a few things. One is the set design and decoration. It must be my background in interior design. I notice the details. I really love the set decoration on You've Got Mail. I love the contrast of the feminine and masculine in the Kathleen ( Meg Ryan) and Joe ( Tom Hanks) apartments. I really want a desk and chair like the one Kathleen has in her home. I love that chair. The back is low but not too low. The desk is simple and classic. I had a basket for my magazines just like the one she has at the end of her sofa. Next the actors in this movie are some of my favorite. I do enjoy the chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. But there is also Greg Kinnear ( I have a little crush on him) -recently seen on Baby Mama- and Parker Posey ( charming funny actress in goodies like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind among others) These two as supporting actors make this film complete. I am voting for another film to come out with Nora Ephron Director, producer and writer teaming up Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan again. We need a good fun romantic comedy to add to You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. If you are reading Nora, Meg or Tom please consider.... Meg Ryan does have a new movie coming out soon. The Women coming out September 12th. This movie has the most amazing line up of actors. I am excited to see her again. You've Got Mail is on my list and will always remain near the top. It is one of my comforts like good home made food. " Don't you just love New York in the fall.. it makes you want to buy school supplies.."

Fun Free Fridays Giveaway * Baby Rock Apparel

So many of you have asked for a giveaway for the boys. I must tell you finding stuff for the boys has been hard but Baby Rock Apparel has some pretty darn sweet stuff for your boys and girls. Baby Rock Apparel is "hip children's wear with an edge." Their tee's onesies and hoodies say things like " Mommy Rocks, Honor Thy Mother, Drama Queen just like mommy, and Royal Highness the Queen but you can call me sweetheart." Such fun sassy stuff made out of quality 100% soft cotton for your little ones. They also have a fun collection of Cd's. My favorite would have to be the Lullaby Renditions of Bob Marley. This week we are giving away a tee or onesies of the winner's choice.

A little gift to our readers enter sweetlife for 15% off of any item online at www.babyrockapparel.com valid until July 24th.

{To Enter to Win from Baby Rock Apparel}

~ Send me an email with Baby Rock as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

~ Answer the question of the week: Which tee is your favorite? Click Here to see all the Baby Rock Apparel

~ Include your name & address-open to anyone is the U.S

~ You have until midnight Thursday July 3rd enter this giveaway.

~ Don't forget to *get extra entries !

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry.1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry2.They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2} Write about our giveaway on your blog myspace or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry

3} Add a link on your blogroll myspace etc and get an extra entry (if you are linked to us you get an extra entry in every giveaway -be sure to let me know you added it)

{the winner of our Lime Ricki Swimwear is Ashley O. remember our little gift of 10% off your order when they use the code SWEETLIFE when ordering online at Lime Ricki -thanks to random.org for helping us choose our winner}

Sweet House Keeping * Antique ~ Vintage Wire Potato Basket

{image via Ruby Lane}

I need one of these Vintage Wire Potato Baskets. I saw one a few years ago at an antique store but didn't buy it. Now I wish I did. My potatoes end up staying the plastic bags they come in. This potato basket would look oh so much better and keep them fresher longer as well. The one pictured is pending sale at Ruby Lane. I need to head over to Cat's Cradle in Provo and see if they happen to have one. If anyone has seen one please let me know.

Sweet Tip of the Week * My Favorite Find * The Love Story

I came across this company Epic Motion in Michigan via Snippet & Ink. I love these videos. They remind me of the interviews on When Harry Met Sally. Everyone one should tell their love story. Wouldn't you just love to have a your grandparent's or your parent's Love Story recorded. I love love love the idea of recording your Love Stories. When I get married again I am doing this! They are also giving away a Free Love Story video. Click here to see a couple of their Love Stories & details about the giveaway.

Sweet Music * Jazz

I love to listen to kuer 90.1 in the evenings. They have their Nighttime Jazz program. You can even listen to it live on the Internet-great for those of you who want to listen on your laptop or those who don't live in The Valley. They have a nice mix of Jazz. It is so relaxing to sit on summer evening with the radio playing Sweet Jazz.

Sweet Shopping

{Sweet deals of some Sweet Goods}

Midweek Giveaway * Winners

We have our winners of the Grill Charm sets. Congrats to Judith G. & Betty D.! Have fun grilling. If you have won on our Midweek Giveaways or our Fun Free Fridays Giveaway be sure to send us a picture of you with your prize for our winner's gallery.

Other Stuff * A Little Lime Ricki Gift for You

Many many of you said that you want to buy a Lime Ricki swim suit if you don't win one. Well here is a little gift to you get 10% off your order when they use the code SWEETLIFE

Happy Summer!

Find of the Week * Hats * Summer

{hats & images from Hats in the Belfry}

Lately I have not been going out much during the day. I go for my walk at night. In the late evening I garden. For the most part during the day I stay inside. You would think I was a vampire or something. I decided it is because I don't like the sun in my face so I decided I need to get more hats. I am so glad there are some lovely hats these days. The hats from the 80's and 90's were for the most part just bad! I came across Hats in the Belfry online shop. They have a pretty good selection in styles for most even men. The ones above are the ones I liked best.

{Some places in The Valley to Find a Good Hat- that I know of }

Kaleidoscope at the Riverwoods Mall Provo

Mode Boutique Downtown Provo

Board of Provo Downtown Provo

Be sure to add your good hat source -if know of one- in the comments.

Photography * New Pricing * Now Scheduling Sessions in Vermont

{Weddings}

I really love what I do! Being a photographer is so much fun. Over the weekend I was thinking about my pricing and what I could do to make my wedding photography affordable to every budget. Every girl deserves some great photos of her wedding day. So with that in mind I have decided to start my pricing at $300 for basic coverage. I will still offer more starting with the basics and going up to full day coverage with an additional photographer, flush mount albums, canvas wrapped prints and Cd's for the bride & groom as well as Cd's for each of the parents. I also do a pre-wedding consultation with every bride even with the basic coverage. Don't worry if you are from out of town we can do our pre-wedding consultation online if needed. I am sure we can come up with something that fits every budget. Send me an email at aprilatwater@gmail.com if you would like to schedule a consultation.

{Vermont Scheduling}

I will be available for limited photo sessions in Vermont from July 6th-15th I am available for family, wedding, engagement, or what ever you can think up. Send me an email if you are interested. aprilatwater@gmail.com

My Favorite Finds * Metromint Flavored Water* Weekend Edition

I LOVE this drink. Metromint has something good going on! I just happen to pick up a bottle at Good Earth on Thursday while out shopping. The Chocolate mint was the first flavor I tried. It is my favorite so far. I was expecting an OK tasting flavored water. You know the kind that we see around all the time But NO OH NO this water is AMAZING! You have to give it a try. A perfect drink for those who don't want the calories or artificial sweeteners but want a ton of flavor. I am going to go broke buying it because it is my new addiction. These are the comments from my kids " the flavor is the after taste it is so good!" "can we just go buy a whole case of this stuff ?!" Wow mom I thought this was going to be gross like that other water stuff you buy." So far we have tried the Orange Mint Chocolate Mint Spearmint and the Peppermint. I can't wait to try the Cherry Mint and the Lemon Mint. Click here to see where you can buy it in your city. Here in The Valley you can find it at Good Earth Harmon's and Albertson's (if they have a natural food section). It is a perfectly refreshing water perfect for summer! Try it you will be very surprised.

P.S. No I am not getting paid to write this, it really is that good!

UPDATE: Harmon's has the four packs on sale this week.

Fun Free Fridays Giveaway * Lime Ricki Swimwear

Happy first day of Summer everyone! To celebrate this first day of summer we are giving away a swimsuit from Lime Ricki. I must tell you there are a few things I love about these suits. First they come in a wide range of sizes from XXS to XXL. The XXS & XS will fit your tween girl and will let her look like a girl. The thing is it also looks great on a twenty or thirty something too. They have a cute selection on tops and bottoms to go together. The fabrics are thick and they line the fronts of the tops and the bottoms. The lining in the cups are much better than most of the swimwear out there. I got the Emily top pictured in the middle for my 12 year old daughter along with the brown boyshorts. They are so sweet on her. She is modest but still stylish. We are giving away a swimsuit set to one lucky winner this week. Happy Summer!

{To Enter to Win a Lime Ricki Swimwear Set}

~ Send me an email with Lime Ricki as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

~ Answer the question of the week: Which set do you like best? Click Here to see all the Pretty tops and bottoms

~ Include your name & address-open to anyone is the U.S

~ You have until midnight Thursday June 26th enter this giveaway.

~ Don't forget to *get extra entries !

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry.1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry2.They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2} Write about our giveaway on your blog myspace or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry

3} Add a link on your blogroll myspace etc and get an extra entry (be sure to let me know you added it)

{Our four lucky winner's of the Cupcakes Couriers are Melody N. Becky W. Leslie D. and Linda G. Congrats ladies I hope you love you Cupcake Couriers as mush as I do!- thanks to ramdom.org for helping us choose our winner. }

One Great Recipe * Banana Bread

{image by me}

We often have bananas that get too ripe too soon. This is what we do with ours. This is by far the very best recipe for Banana Bread. It has been in the family as long as I can remember. In fact I ate a whole loaf of it by myself when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Enjoy!

{ The Best Darn Banana Bread Ever }

• 3 mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 shortening or butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups flour- you can do 1 cup wheat flour & 1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts(walnuts or pecans)

Cream bananas, shortening/butter, brown sugar- then add eggs vanilla salt & baking soda mix in flour and nuts then pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 min then check every 5 min 'til done.

Book Club & Other Stuff * Twenty Wishes

I never had a chance to tell everyone about our Book Club read for the month of June. Twenty Wishes is fun book about a group of windowed women of all ages. Out of a get together the concept of writing down Twenty Wishes becomes the theme of their lives. I have written down a few wishes of my own but I am not yet to twenty. One of my wishes is to lay on my back on the cobble stone streets in Boston and look up at the city and take in the history that happened there as I think about what had happened right in that spot and who could have walked right were I am laying.

I would love to hear some of your wishes and it would be great if you all started a Twenty Wishes list of your own. Feel free to share I would love to hear some of your wishes. Dream big and have fun! Read the book you will like it. You can post your wish on the comments or email them to me at sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

Click here to see Debbie Macomber's website. Debbie is also doing a readers contest click here to see the prize and how to enter.

Midweek Giveaway * Grill Charms

Ok you ask your self what is a Grill Charm? A Grill Charm is this cool little button type grilling accessory that you put in your meat before you cook it to show if that piece of meat is mild medium or spicy but they can also show if the piece of meat is rare medium or well done etc. It is a way to keep your meat organized on the grill so you don't give that spicy meat to the person who wanted the mild etc. It is a fun gift for those avid grill masters in your life. I personally love to grill. In fact one time my neighbors asked one January afternoon if my oven was broken I said no why? He said because you are always grilling and it is the middle of winter. No I replied I just love to grill. For our Midweek Giveaway we are giving away two sets of Grill Charms.

{To Enter to Win a Grill Charms Set}

~ Send me an email with Grill as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

~ Answer the question of the week: Which set do you like best?Click Here to see all the Grill Charm Sets

~ Include your name & address-open to anyone is the U.S

~ You have until midnight Monday June 23rd enter this giveaway.

~ Don't forget to *get extra entries !

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry.1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry2.They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2} Write about our giveaway on your blog myspace or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry

3} Add a link on your blogroll myspace etc and get an extra entry (be sure to let me know you added it)

Other Stuff * Twitter

If you haven't noticed I added a twitter feed in the right hand column. I will post on it randomly throughout the day about little things like this lovey bit that happened on Saturday:

"we just had a snake in our kitchen!!!!!! I HATE snakes!"

It is for fun and you can follow people's twittering on your cellphone as well as post a twitter post from it. There is a place on right that you can click if you want to follow me on twitter.

Sweet Family Life * Compost

Every time my kids empty their plates into the trash I cringe. Every time I am chopping veggies for salad or dinner and I have to empty my trimmings into the trash I let out a deep breath because I wish I had one of these really nice Nature Mill Composters to put it in so I can add it to my garden soil. We don't have the best soil here and I try to build it up with what ever I can. What i really like about the Nature Mill Composters is they don't have an odor and create the nicest organic compost for your plants as wells as fit under your counter. You can put the following green and brown items in it: sawdust, wood shavings bread, rice, pasta, grains nuts, nut shells, straw dry flowers, small yard leaves coffee grounds, paper filters fruit, vegetable scraps meat, chicken, fish fish bones, shrimp tails cheese, eggs, egg shells tea leaves, tea bags grass & plant clippings. All to turn in to a rich dark brown soil. Doesn't it sounds just great?!

Giveaways & Reviews

Question:
April do you get paid to review or post about products you feature on your blog?
Answer:
No, but I do require a company business etc to send me samples of their products so I can experience them my self or I have seen them in person. And some things are just on my wish list. I want what I have to say about a product to be true sincere-no pay to post here. All of the items we giveaway on our Fun Free Fridays & our Midweek giveaways are things I like and I am passing them on to you. I love to do our giveaways. It makes me happy to give my readers a little gift. If you have any items you think would be great on a giveaway let me know. Send me an email at sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com If I feel like it is something you all would like and is true to Sweet Life in the Valley I will pass it on to you in a giveaway.

Fun Free Fridays Giveaway * Cupcake Courier

Ever since my twins were in kindergarten the one thing I have tried to do is to be a part of all the class parties and field trips. For any of the mothers out there who have done this knows how hard it is to transport 30 plus cupcakes to school from home or the bakery without them ending up stuck together and ruined. I came across this very perfect Cupcake Courier that holds 36 cupcakes- three dozen. I knew I had to tell you all about it and do a giveaway too. It holds enough cupcakes for the kids and the teachers! I love the sturdy yet light weight design. It comes in the nicest colors. You can use it for bakes sales, church activities, birthday parties, or just any where you want to take your pretty cupcakes. But wait- there is more- the trays inside are removable so you can take a cake or a casserole or eclairs or any other type of food for your event without it ending up all over the car. I hope you love these as much as I do.

{To Enter to Win a Cupcake Courier}

~ Send me an email with Cupcakes as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

~ Answer the question of the week: Which color Cupcake courier is your favorite?Click Here to see all the Cupcake Courier colors

~ Include your name & address-open to anyone is the U.S

~ You have until midnight Thursday June 19th enter this giveaway.

~ Don't forget to *get extra entries !

1}Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry.1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry2.They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2}Write about our giveaway on your blog myspace or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry

3}Add a link on your blog myspace etc and get an extra entry

{The blogging referring and posting has surely been a success. Our winner of the Layers Swimwear referred 13 people and posted about the giveaway on her blog Congratulation Jacy C. and thanks to everyone who told their friends and family about the giveaway!-thanks to random.com for helping us choose a winner}

{click to enlarge image}

Don't be sad if you didn't win the Layers Swimwear. This next Friday June 20th we are giving away a lovey Swim Suit from Lime Ricki Swimwear to celebrate the first day of summer!

Here is a sneak peek at some of our up coming giveaways on our Fun Free Fridays & NEW Midweek Giveaways. VedaPure Organic Skin care for mommy & baby- Sundance Ski Resort- Box Girls Games-Baby Rock Apparel-Grill Charms perfect for the Father who loves to grill and many many more!

Happenin in The Valley {almost} * Sundance Children's Fest

Sundance Resort Summer Children's Festival is Saturday June 14 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Just up Provo Canyon on the Alpine Loop.

" Set beneath the majestic Mt. Timpanogos, this year’s Children’s Festival offers activities that are both fun and educational. Entertainment will take place on Ray’s Lawn and will include a Kayak demonstration, interactive kid’s yoga demonstration, a clown, and the Sundance avalanche dogs. Children will love the pony rides with the Sundance Stables, scenic lift rides, face painting, crafts from the Sundance Nature Center and Art Shack, a youth bike course, a petting zoo, and a real fire truck and ambulance to climb aboard and be able to talk to a firefighter. "

There will be vendors with yummy food and fun things for your family.

Admission to the festival is free. We all like free right!