CraziBeautiful * Valentine's Day

This week on CraziBeautiful:
~For the Love of Chocolate
~How to Get the Butterflies Back
~Valentine's on Etsy
~Valentine Love
&
~ Beautiful Phyllo Cheese Tarts

Happenin in The Valley * Cocoa Bean Cafe Grand Opening * Haiti

We would like to thank our newest sponsor the Cocoa Bean Cafe. They had some many of our great Sweet Life readers stop into the shop they decided to be one of our great sponsors.
This week for their Grand Opening in Provo they are donating 100% of the  proceeds to All His Children, a local charity gathering medical supplies to deliver to Haiti. So be sure to stop in try some treats and cocoa drinks while giving to those in need.

Sweet Valentines * Etsy

A few sweet Valentines for your sweethearts. All found on Etsy...

{Dear Valentine by Sarah Jane Studios}

Hanging Hearts by dean penn & paper

{Reasons I Love by PaperEclectiques}

{Folk Heart Botanic by Sycamore Street Press}

 

 

 

 

 

Happenin in The Valley * The Chocolate * Ladies Night

 {photo by Jonathan Canlas}

The Chocolate dessert bakery is now having  Ladies Night Out on Wednesdays until 11pm. Stop in, have some cake, cookies, bars or one of their other yummy desserts and get a free cup of milk to go with it. They have a wonderful comfy room upstairs in the historic building they now have their shop. It is the perfect place to sit and chat and catch up with your friends.

The Chocolate Dessert Cafe
212 South State in Orem
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thechoco
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheChoco
Blog: www.thechocolatedc.com/blog

Sweet Living * A Bit of Inspiration for Your Day

This week so far I have some across both of these amazing messages. Both lifting us up with their messages. I know you may have seen both of them already but in case you didn't, Enjoy!

Find of the Week * Cute Camera Bags

Found this cute camera bag for dlsr cameras on Caroline's blog. I have always wondered why someone hasn't made a more stylish bag for the girls who like to take pictures. I have even thought about making myself one. This one is from Ketti Handbags Etsy shop.

CraziBeautiful Online Magazine * Call for Contributors

I am the new co-owner and editor on CraziBeautiful.com We are an online magazine for women {Bringing Women Together} through gifting, education and friendship. We are in the midst of re-designing CraziBeautiful with new and exciting things coming soon, we are looking for contributors to our site in the following areas:

CraziBeautiful Creating- All things Creative from crafts, to art, to photography and more.

CraziBeautiful Living- All things related to Beautiful Living from interior design, trend setting in fashion, apothecarie skin care and spa, and all things related to home & garden.

CraziBeautiful Honoring Womanhood- Stories and inspiration

CraziBeautiful Cooking - recipes and all things in the kitchen

We would love to have you as a one time featured writer or a regular once a month featured contributor. If you feel you have something to offer please let me know more about you, your talents and which area you would like to contribute to.
Please email me at sweetlifeinthevalley@ gmail.com with CraziBeautiful as the subject
For now this is not a paying position since we are a new start-up but we hope to offer more for our contributors over the coming months and would love to link to your blog, business or site.

Thanks!

Sweet Relaxation * Giveaway * Sanctuary Day Spa

I had the pleasure to visit Sanctuary Day Spa for a relaxing day of massage, facial and pedicuring. For those who have never had the spa experience I highly recommended it. I was in the South Towne Mall location and once I entered past the doors there was no way to know I was in a mall. As you enter Sanctuary Day Spa you change into a plush roomy robe then you are seated in a relaxation room. You are greeted with a drink and snack followed by a warm foot bath  by one of the friendly staff. Sanctuary Day Spa goes above and beyond to create a relaxing atmosphere. The pedicure was one of the best I have even had. The massage started off with an aromatherapy session. The facial included even more relaxing massage and aromatherapy.
Guess what? We are giving away a one hour {60 minute} relaxation massage to one of you to experience the relaxation of Sanctuary Day Spa.

Massage Giveaway Enter to Win:
- fill out this form Spa Massage Giveaway this giveaway is now closed

-get extra entries by tweeting, posting Facebook update with link to this post, posting on your blog about this giveaway with link to this post -be sure to include a link to our giveaway in your posts!
-giveaway ends Wednesday February 3rd 2010 at midnight


Sanctuary Day Spa at The Gateway
42 South Rio Grande Street
Gateway Plaza
Salt Lake City, UT
801.456.2375
Sanctuary Day Spa at the Fashion Place Mall
6191 South State Street,
Murray, UT
801.747.3801
Sanctuary Day Spa at the South Towne Mall
10450 South State Street
Sandy, UT
801.495.9252




Given sample by vendor/agency/brand to review

Find of The Week * Scrappy Cook Etsy Shop

{Double Poppy Satin Headband Bright Pink}

Years ago when I living in Vermont I knew a fantastic girl who sang. All these years later I found her living in Minnesota and creating some things of pretty. She blogs, creates, bakes and takes lovely pictures. She has some wonderful items in her Etsy shop. They are my Find of The Week.

{ Scrabble Tile Necklace Keep Calm and Carry On }

Design * Apartment Therapy and other's I love

 {Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan's Big Window Challenge design}

My dream conference was this past week- Altitude Design Summit. I had lovely conversations with some of my favorite design bloggers. I nice finding out how wonderfully friendly Victoria from sfgirlbybay is and how Maxwell from Apartment Therapy is down to earth and that I have a fun high school connection to Bryan Mason who is Maggie from Mighty Girl's husband.
It was enchanting to listen to Maxwell tell us about his Big Window Challenge design "The Writer's Romantic Supper."  I love hearing the story behind all the books in his display and the portraits on the wall. It is a charming window.

It was if I was home talking with all these wonderful designers & design bloggers. I can't wait for next year.
Go vote for Maxwells' window "The Writer's Romantic Supper."  You can vote everyday.

Good Eats * Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe

A new cupcake cafe is in town. The Cocoa Bean Cafe has been a favorite of locals in Rexburg, Idaho and now they have a location here in The Valley right between BYU and UVU. The perfect location of students. The owners are a brother and sister team, Gloria Mugleston & Gary Rasmussen. The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe stays open later and they have Wi-Fi which is also great for those of us who are up late and of course the schedule of the students near by.

Joanie and I had a chance to try a few of the favorites. I am always a huge fan of lemon and lime flavors but to my surprise my favorite was one of the chocolate cupcakes. It was Joanie's favorite too! It has a great name to fit the experience " There's a party in my mouth". It is a chocolaty gooey perfectly balanced cup of cakey goodness!

 The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe also offers a nice variety of tasty hand crafted drinks. The unique drink they offer is a roasted cocoa bean drink like this drink I told you about.

 
The Cocoa Bean Cafe

1774 North University Parkway
{Brigham's Landing}
Provo, Utah
801-356-9493
8 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon-Thur
8 a.m.-midnight Fri-Sat
Twitter: @TheCocoaBean

My Other Sweet Places this Week...

Today we have a great new post from Becky about her favorite treats at Disneyland:
Out and About with the Family *  6 Favorite Treats at Disneyland

On CraziBeautiful learn how to make yummy bread, a ribbon bouquet brooch, and add an everyday luxury to your bathroom- Rain Shower Heads- plus more!
 CraziBeautiful.com

 

Favorites in The Valley * Thompson Orthodontics Orem Utah

 {click on the image above to print coupon}

I mentioned a little while back that my twins were getting braces. We found the best orthodontist here in Orem. He is kind and praising with his patients, has a fun atmosphere in the office and offers great incentives to keep the teens brushing and flossing in between visits. He also offers a great incentive for the parents. He has a great word of mouth referral program where your friends and family get $100 off their treatment and the person (you) who refers their friends also gets $100 off their treatment. Everyone wins! He told me there has even been some who have paid their entire treatment with referrals. The thing that is even better is his prices are great ,the payment plans are great and we have been very pleased with the progress both of my teens have seen in their teeth so far.Dr. Thompson offers a FREE consultation and won't pressure you into getting something you don't need.

Dr. Wade Thompson
Utah Orthodontist
380 W. Center St.
Orem, Utah 84057
Phone: 801-375-7088
Thompsonorthodontics@gmail.com
WadeThompsonOrtho.com
Twitter: @ThompsonBraces
Facebook: Thompson Orthodontics 
 

Living The Sweet Life * KettleWorx Exercise

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be more active everyday. I have been looking for some exercise videos I can put in when I have a spare moment. I tried this new to me program called KettleWorx. I was impressed for a few reasons. One of my biggest challenges with exercise videos is that I get bored quickly. Loved that the KettleWorx changes from one exercises to the next right as I am on the verge of boredom with the repetition. You use a small weight called a Kettle Ball to tone and balance as you do your repetitions. It is just the right amount of weight to tone without bulking up. The program also does it's exercises in sets so if you are in a hurry and have less time you can choose to do one or two sets if needed. They also offer 10 minute quick work-out sessions too. I love it because it's quick thorough and doesn't bore me. All winning qualities in a good workout. What is one of your favorite workouts and why?

Sweet Crafty Creations * CraziBeautiful Crafting * Tea for You

Learn how to make this cute card on CraziBeautiful.com by me!

Favorites in The Valley * Communal in Provo

We would like to welcome one of our new Favorites in The Valley Communal restaurant. If you haven't had a chance to try their food please do. Everything from the beautiful wood floors and the custom tables to the locally grown food Communal is one of The places to eat in The Valley. You can see my review and more pictures here: 
Communal* Good Eats in Provo

Communal
100 North University Avenue
Provo, Utah 84601
801.373.8000

Hours Of Operation
Dinner..
Tuesday through Saturday
5:30 pm to 10 pm

Lunch..
Tuesday through Friday
11:30 am to 2:30 pm

{Communal Blog}


If you would like to be considered for our Favorites in The Valley listing please contact me at sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

Team CraziBeautiful * April and Joanie

Joanie and I decided to enter the Samsung Mobile Explorers contest to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February. We would love it if you would vote us 5 stars and tell all your friends and family to vote for us too!
Check out our video here: Team CraziBeautiful
Thanks!
xo

One Great Recipe * Beignets

While at Disneyland for the Christmas Holiday celebrations Stephanie told us about the amazing Beignets at the Jazz Kitchen. I have never really been a fan of donuts or fried scones but I decided to give Beignets a try. They are amazing! If you haven't tried beignets before please try this recipe. They are light crisp pillows of heaven in your mouth. We decided to make it a New Years Day tradition to make a big batch of beignets for New Years  Day brunch.
Here is the link for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen's Beignets recipe. I changed one thing. I used butter rather than shortening. It is a great recipe. Be sure to use the canned milk it does make a difference in the flavor. You must also dump a ton of powder sugar on them right after you take them our of the oil. Enjoy!
Beignets Recipe



please let me know if this is your photo so I can link back to you thanks ;)

Crazi Enrichment * Sweater Pillow Cover

Check out my up-cycled sweater post on CraziBeautiful.com Learn how to use an old sweater for a cute winter cozy to cover your pillows. Be sure to look at the other great things posted this week on CraziBeautiful Women too.

Laughing at Your Mistakes and Fudge

I just read the post I wrote for New Years Resolutions. I had so many typos that I had to post an oops! post. Writing a post after very little sleep, while your kids are talking to you, the tv's on, and there is a house full of nieces and nephews without having someone else read it first is a big mistake. I do know the it is "write" rather than "right" and "family's" rather than "families" among the ca- gillion other misspelled words :D It's a good thing we can laugh at our mistakes!
We are making fudge today. The recipe is really easy. Give it a try.
Microwave Fudge Recipe

Happy New Year!
xo

New Years Resolutions

I have three simple resolutions this year that will be attainable and enrich my life.

Do something active everyday.

Rather than choosing to loose weight or go on a diet I think choosing to be active everyday is more realistic and emotionally healthy

Learn something new.

I love learning and since this is such a broad goal it could be anything I think would be interested and I could continue it throughout the year.


Expect a miracle every single day & then give thanks for it.
If you are new to Sweet Life I wrote about our family's expect miracle jar last year. You can read more about it here Expect Miracles Jar.I added to the expect miracles jar our gratitude jar where we write down the miracles we have received.


What are your New Years Resolutions this year for 2010?

Happy New Year!

I hope you all have a wonderful successful peaceful- Happy New Year!
xo

Find of the Week * Herban Essentials Towelettes

I always carry anti-bacterial wipes in my bag to wipe down shopping carts and clean my hand while out and about. I have done very well keeping my family healthy this winter. I have been looking for an all natural alternative and found it! Herban Essentials makes these orange towelettes that are naturally antibacterial and antiseptic with orange essential oil. They smell so good. They also come in lemon, lavendar, peppermint, and eucalyptus.




Given sample by vendor/agency/brand to review

Merry Christmas!

xo

Happy Holidays Giveaway * Faryl Robin Shoes or Boots

Christmas is almost here and New Years Eve parties are just next week. I love Faryl Robin's Venus shoes. The little bit of silver shine are perfect for New Year's party wear. The Harlow boots with a sassy skirt and leggins would be great for those going from party to party. For our last Happy Holidays Giveaway we are giving away a pair of Faryl Robin shoes or boots of your choice to one of you!

Happy Holidays Giveaway Enter to Win:
- fill out this form Faryl Robin Giveaway Entry {This Giveaway is now closed}
-get extra entries by tweeting, posting Facebook update with link to this post, posting on your blog about this giveaway with link to this post -be sure to include a link to our giveaway in your posts!
-giveaway ends Friday Christmas Day December 25th at midnight



Thanks to Faryl Robin for sponsoring this giveaway