UV Index: No Gloom With Loom
Lehi’s Kim Christenson has a common name but an uncommon passion for mindfulness and journaling. “I’ve kept journals since I was 5 and have filled more than 30 of them,” says this mother of 3. “These books of my life, thoughts and raw writing are so precious to me.” Kim’s daily writing […]
How to find more joy in motherhood by saying yes to less
I watched — almost as if I were out of my own body — as my son melted down in front of me over my refusal to buy him a new game on the iPad. The week had only just begun, and I was already feeling overwhelmed by the constant cycle of technology monitoring, meal […]
How deleting my Instagram account helped me let go of my social media addiction
I deleted Instagram for a month to focus on writing my first book, but I got so much more out of it than that. It took me awhile to actually delete the thing. Months, in fact. I knew a break was in order. I was getting too caught up in sharing there and spending too […]
DIY Halloween costumes for the non-crafty and last-minuters
Halloween is ghoul sorts of fun until it’s the night before the big day and you realize you still have to get your family’s Halloween costumes together. Don’t be so spooked! We went to DIY experts Megan Mecham and Stephanie Simmons, the sister duo behind the popular Do it Yourself Divas blog, for DIY Halloween costume […]
5 tips for creating connection from a couple who overcame addiction and affairs
Ashlynn and Coby Mitchell are a happy couple from Orem, Utah, but it wasn’t always that way. The Mitchells have suffered through the effects of Coby’s addiction to pornography, two affairs, and the molestation of their two daughters by a family member. “We lived in the weeds for 14 years of our marriage,” Ashlynn says. […]
Utah’s best summer staycations for families
When summer hits, many Utah families plan to get far away from home and their busy school-time schedules. But instead of skipping the state, why not stay in Utah? Staycations are easier on your wallet, and Utah has some of the most beautiful, family-friendly destinations in the nation. We hit the road and checked out a few […]
Top 10 tips for traveling with kids
Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling. In fact, a U.S. Department of Education study shows that kids who travel (regardless of the destination) do better in reading, math and general education than their peers who don’t travel. It doesn’t need to be an expensive or exotic getaway. What’s important is […]
Baby shower power: Utah Valley’s best baby shops
It’s no secret that Utah County is booming with babies. In fact, Bloomberg reports that more babies are born in Orem/Provo per 1,ooo people than any other metro area in the United States. So, it’s no surprise that The UC boasts some of the best baby boutiques around. Whether you’re prepping to welcome your own […]
New retreat provides a place for modern Mormon women to share struggles of discipleship
Elise Curtis of North Salt Lake created SALT LDS Retreat because she saw a need. A need for modern Mormon women to come together and find strength through being open about their struggles with living the gospel. “We go to church, but sometimes we just don’t get a ton out of it,” Curtis said. “Last […]
The problem with ‘How many kids do you want?’
As women, we are often judged in relation to our family status. Are you dating? If not, why not? If you are, when are you getting married? If you’re married, when are you having kids? If you’re not having kids, why not? If you have kids, how many more are you going to have? As […]
7 ways to be a more present parent
Have you ever noticed a mom who was brushing off her children while staring at her phone? Or who seemed constantly overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of her kids? It was probably me. One day, I realized how bad it had gotten. I was going through the motions of motherhood, and it felt like I […]
5 ways to have fun with your kids when you’re stuck inside
Sure, winter is magical. The snow, the Christmas music, the holiday treats and twinkling lights. What’s not so magical is when you’re stuck inside with a houseful of stir-crazy kids and you’re all on the verge of a catastrophic meltdown. Sound familiar? I decided to take this wintertime quandary to my friend Jamie Cook, a Utah mom […]
8 things your child should know by 8 years old
During a family reunion, my sisters and I (all with different family sizes) got into a discussion about what we should teach our children before they turn eight years old. What do you think is important to teach a child (or at least start a conversation about) before they’re eight? Here’s our shortlist: 1. Teach them about […]
Double Purple Heart Marine vet talks about holding his dying friend, being captured by the enemy and living with PTSD
The Korean War may not be discussed much in schools, but it’s not something Marine Corps veteran William Baucom of Pleasant Grove, Utah will soon forget. William “Bill” Baucom, now 87 years old, was starting college as a freshman quarterback for Fresno State College when he was called to active duty in July of 1950. […]
10 things we’ve learned in 10 years of marriage
We’re no experts. That’s for sure. But we’re happy most of the time, and that counts for something. Here are some marriage lessons my husband and I have picked up in our 10 years together: 1. Go to the bed at the same time. Moving through our nighttime routines and hitting the hay together encourages […]
Books are better: 6 ways to encourage kids to choose books over technology
With all of the fun games and apps available to kids today, its no surprise reading often takes a backseat. But according to research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), “Reading is the single most important skill necessary for a happy, productive and successful life. A child that is an excellent reader […]
Have kids, will date: 7 creative date ideas to keep your post-kids marriage alive
My husband and I were married for three and a half years before kids came into the picture. While our children have brought so much joy and fulfillment into our lives, getting out on dates takes a lot more effort and planning than it used to. But getting out on those dates […]
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 […]
6 delicious summer reads by local authors
With summer coming to a close (don’t hate us for saying it), there’s only a little bit of time left to squeeze in those summer reads. With so many celebrated Utah Valley authors, you don’t need to look further than your library’s “local author” bookshelf to find your next favorite read. We went to reading guru […]
Why I don’t give my kids 100 percent
Being a mom requires a lot. By the end of the day, I feel like I’ve been tugged on, sucked from and sneezed on so many times that I just want to scream “give me some space!” Sometimes I do. The days of working on something without interruption or even finishing a sentence during […]
7 tools to help you through postpartum depression
Approximately one in seven women in the U.S. experience some form of postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum OCD or postpartum anxiety, which may be more common than PPD. And these mood disorders don’t necessarily only come right after a baby is born — they can hit up to a year postpartum. Sadly, many women suffering from postpartum […]
Golden together: True love stories and advice from some of Utah’s oldest (and cutest) couples
There’s just something compelling about the tried and true love of an older couple. Here we highlight the love stories of a few local senior couples and share their secrets to lasting love: SooYoung and OckJa Choi City: Provo Married: 42 years “My dad proposed to my mom three times and was rejected each time. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Utah Valley Magazine named best magazine in Utah; UV360 earns 8 awards from SPJ
Utah Valley Magazine was named the best magazine in the state for 2014 by the Utah chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at last night’s banquet. Bennett Communications, which publishes Utah Valley Magazine, also claimed second place in the best magazine category with Utah Valley BusinessQ. In total, Bennett Communications earned 14 awards at the annual event. “I […]
10 things I learned while being filmed for HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’
“House Hunters” is the top show on HGTV. My husband and I discovered it last year when we were looking to buy our first home and thought it was fun to watch other people going through the same process. We decided on a whim to apply for the show, and we were excited and surprised […]
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 local activities to make you forget its winter
Utah Januaries and Februaries can be downright dreary. Lack of sunshine and the post-holiday blues can have us dreaming of being anywhere but here. Fortunately, Utah Valley has some spots where you can leave your winter blues at the doorstep and step inside to a summery wonderland. 1. Heat things up with Bikram Yoga It […]