Giving up on mom-perfection
I wanted to be that mom. You know the one. She makes homemade fruit snacks. Her kids are always sporting the trendiest clothes and the cutest hairstyles. She sews skirts and headbands. She’s heavily involved in her kids’ classrooms. She throws extravagant, themed birthday parties. She bakes fresh bread for everyone who moves into the […]
8 New Year’s resolutions moms should never make
Maybe we’re still mesmerized by the magic of the holiday season. Maybe we’re still in that notorious Christmas sugar coma. But for some reason, many of us moms mistakenly see January 1st as a magical switch we can simply flip on to leave behind all of our flaws and bad habits and become everything we want to […]
The 10 worst neighborhood gifts to receive
Opening the door to a plate full of holiday treats in the weeks leading up to Christmas is a highlight of the holiday for our family. Delivering our own homemade treats is a family tradition that we look forward to and that brings us closer to our neighbors. But every year, there are those neighborhood […]
Recipe: Andrea Clarke’s mixed berry and banana smoothie
James Clarke’s favorite beverage is also from his favorite first investor — his wife, who let him start Clearlink from her basement on a card table. “I promised her that by the time she had our first child, I would be turning a profit,” Clarke says. “Her investment in the business didn’t just pay off […]
Soup’s on! 8 great bowls to try in Utah Valley
It’s beginning to look a lot like autumn in Utah — the new school year is well underway, temperatures are dropping, and the leaves are turning. And there’s no better way to ring in the season than to sample a bowl of one of the Valley’s best soups. Here are our top eight picks to […]
The one thing moms should stop doing — comparing
Mothers juggle a lot of things — keeping children dressed, fed and healthy and raising them to be respectable members of society while somehow also caring for their own physical and emotional needs. But juggling motherhood would be a whole lot simpler and more enjoyable if mothers would stop doing one thing: comparing. We went to a […]
5 food storage-friendly recipes
Food storage is meant for when times are the worst, but sometimes a busy schedule can prevent you from getting to the store. If you have a collection of dry goods, canned goods, camp stoves and generators stored away on your shelf, you always have a backup meal. But difficult circumstances doesn’t have to mean disastrous meals. Here […]
8 Utah Valley donut shops you need to indulge in
Lest you think this is just some Google-searched article by an indifferent donut commentator, I should tell you that I consider myself a donut aficionado. I come from a long line of donut lovers, and a delicious donut has long been my weakness and my best friend. From sleeves of hostess powdered donuts from the […]
Not so Pinterest perfect: Popular Utah Valley mommy bloggers share the truth behind the pretty pictures and success
Utah Valley is home to some of the nation’s most popular bloggers, and most of them are moms. That’s no surprise. Research shows that moms are 20 percent more likely to use social media than the general population, and 1 in 3 bloggers are moms. While these women see social media as a way to […]
10 killer workouts for bored exercisers
Not feeling motivated to work out? Don’t sweat it (just yet). Switching up your exercise format or starting something new altogether is often enough to get you excited about working out again. Whether you like to work out solo at the gym, in a group fitness class or in the comfort of your own home, […]
15 New Year’s Resolutions from the prophets for 2015
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from around the world prepare for the new year, many are setting goals for their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development. While these goals may be inspired by any number of sources, prophets and other Church leaders mentioned during the October 2014 General Conference some specific […]
16 of Utah Valley’s juciest ‘guilty pleasures’
This list of guilty pleasures goes to show just how tame we really are round here. Our dirty little secrets are pretty darn clean. 1. Drinks (other than coffee) from Starbucks A cozy steamer? A super fattening smoothie? Pick your poison. 2. Eyelash extensions Get your lashes made professionally luscious, then bat them for an […]
BYU co-eds have lower chance of developing eating disorders
Incoming Brigham Young University co-eds have good grades, high ACT scores … and a lower-than-expected chance of developing an eating disorder while in college. In the United States, 20 million women will suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their lives, according to the New York-based National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). […]
The sweet rewards of a sugar fast
Recently, my two oldest boys and I gave up sugar for a month. And when I say “sugar,” what I really mean is happiness, because people who have to turn down soda and cupcakes and candy at every turn are sad. Different people have different reasons for going sugar-free, and some are more hardcore about […]
8 vegetables that will flourish in your Utah Valley garden
The last frost of the year is mere weeks away, and Utah County’s garden centers are bustling as residents make plans for their summer gardens. Whether you’ve got a solid green thumb or can’t tell the difference between a weed and a seedling, these expert ideas will get your garden growing. Here are eight vegetables […]
New BYU president doesn’t mean new policy about caffeine
BYU students who were hoping that a change in president would bring a quick change to the no-caffeine policy on campus are going to be disappointed. Kevin J Worthen takes over as BYU’s president on May 1 when Cecil O. Samuelson will be released. But Worthen has already told students in a recent interview with […]
A weighty issue: Poll reveals what locals think about their weight
In a UV360 poll, 80 percent of Utah Valley residents said they’d like to lose weight. Forty-two percent said “a lot of weight,” 38 percent said “a little weight” and 13 percent said “I am my ideal weight.” Seven percent said, “I need to gain a few pounds.” At a national level, 69.2 percent of […]
Cahoots Fitness: New Orem fitness center provides moms with a guilt-free way to work out
Fitting in a workout can be tricky for a mom. Sure, you could always wake up at 4:45 a.m. and fit in a turbo spin class before the husband and kids wake up. But if you’re anything like me, those hours of sleep are far too precious to sacrifice. There are home workout DVDs and […]
Relief for what’s ailing you: Local doctors give their RX for chronic pain
According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, chronic pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined and costs Americans $560 to $635 billion annually in health care costs and loss of productivity. While many people suffer from temporary acute pain, such as burning a finger, chronic pain persists over months or […]
6 local substitutes for your favorite indulgences (INFOGRAPHIC)
10 ways to be healthier without exercising
Losing weight is at the top of the list for most resolution-making Americans this year. Unfortunately, more than half of those people will fall short of their goals within the next six months. Instead of the usual (and near impossible) “lose weight” goal, consider making some of these goals to improve your overall health. And […]
New research says a Mediterranean diet can lower risk of dementia
A Mediterranean diet can improve mental health, according to a September study by the University of Exeter’s Medical School. The study is the first systemic review of existing research involving the Mediterranean diet’s effect on the brain. The research team found that individuals who strictly adhered to the Mediterranean diet, a diet high in fruits and vegetables, […]
Four foods to prevent colds and flu during this winter season
Cold and flu season, which typically starts in August, is rising now until it peaks in February. So if you didn’t become ill during family gatherings over the holidays, consider yourself fortunate. The experts at Veria.com, meanwhile, are suggesting four foods as the best natural medicine to make it through the last half of winter […]
Happy New You: 5 tips for resolutions that stick
I’m a goal-setting junkie, so when New Year’s Eve rolls around, I get giddy as I pull out my pen and paper and start listing the things I’m going to do differently this year. With all of my hypothetical improvements contained neatly on paper, I feel better about myself already. So do the other 45 […]
10 local seasonal treats to up your holiday cheer
Hints of pumpkin, gingerbread and peppermint have started wafting out of Utah Valley’s restaurants and bakeries. Follow your nose to one of these local spots for some of our favorite holiday treats. 1. Magleby’s Fresh Oh, you thought eggnog was just for drinking? Not so. Magleby’s Fresh is now serving eggnog french toast so you can drink […]
9 hot indoor exercise crazes and where to try them
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says 80 percent of Americans don’t get enough exercise. The U.S. government recommends that adults get at a minimum of 2.5 hours of aerobic activity every week or a consecutive one hour and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise each week, or a combination of both. Adults should also […]
How to not gain weight this holiday season
Healthy eating during the holidays can be tough — especially when you’re faced with once-a-year temptations like grandma’s famous pumpkin roll or your mom’s secret-recipe stuffing. Letting yourself go for just a couple of days during the magical holiday season doesn’t seem like such a crime, until you step on the scales and realize that your […]
Governor Herbert pardons turkey at Thanksgiving Point
Utah Governor Gary Herbert pardoned “Tommy Boy,” a 51-pound Norbest turkey today at Thanksgiving Point. Tommy Boy will live out the rest of his days at Thanksgiving Point. Governor Herbert said we have need to give thanks for many reasons, particularly our agricultural industry (85,500 jobs, 14 percent of Utah’s economy, and rural heritage). This […]
Thankful for … restaurants
Ah, Thanksgiving — a time of family, friends, gratitude and … dirty dishes aplenty. Even for the most accomplished, kitchen-loving cooks, Thanksgiving dinner can be daunting. If you’d rather let someone else worry about the planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning this year, then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a roundup of eateries in […]
Food for thought: Why we don’t eat out with our kids
For the past seven years, I’ve worked from home as a freelance writer and editor. I have three kids, so I do most of my work in my home office (read: desk in our spare room) in my yoga pants when I should probably be in bed. Occasionally, I get assignments that require me to […]