The Thankful Times: Gratitude List from UtahValley360 Staff
Dear Utah Valley, thanks a lot! We’re grateful and happy to tell your story all year long. While we’re all thankful for our families, our faith, our jobs, our country and “raindrops on roses,” here’s are some more “favorite things” of the Bennett Communications staff — creators of Utah Valley Magazine, Utah Valley BusinessQ, Utah […]
Long Haul: 20 years sharing stories with Bennett Communications
[pullquote] Bennett Communications Address: 424 West 800 North Suite 201, Orem Phone: (801) 802-0200 Site: UtahValley360.com [/pullquote] Twenty years ago, Jeanette Bennett was a new mom with a love for journalism and a desire to be with her baby boy. She had earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU in journalism/communications, and she had walked away […]
Cover design, magazine content and more: Utah Valley publications recognized with SPJ Awards
Bennett Communications received seven awards from Utah’s Society of Professional Journalists in the 2018 contest, which honors work completed by newspapers, magazines, TV/radio stations and online entities during 2017. “As trained journalists, we value recognition from our peers in the industry,” said Jeanette Bennett, editor and co-owner of Bennett Communications. “We are proud of the work […]
Utah Valley Hospital’s Heart & Sole combines heart entertainment and education
Heart and Sole, you’ll fall in love with heart health. Formerly known as the Race for Red, the Heart & Sole race is Utah Valley Hospital’s new venture to teach Utah Valley residents about heart health and provide a fun, family-friendly event. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women and men in the […]
8 Utah Valley locations to get your Cinco de Mayo eats
Look out, Utah Valley, it’s Cinco de Mayo! And if you missed eating tacos on Tuesday, don’t worry because today is the perfect day to get your Mexican eats on. Chow down on these eight great places and celebrate the culinary victories of Utah Valley. Los Hermanos This is a crowd favorite, as our readers […]
5 classic pairings of holiday films and food
Looking for a fun family activity on a cold winter’s night? How about dinner and movie, holiday-style? If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the week before Christmas, may we suggest the following five food and film pairings? The movie: “White Christmas” The food: Vanilla Snow Ice Cream, Snow Angel Cupcakes […]
5 ways to make the North Pole Express the ride of your life
Mark Nelson, executive director of the Heber Valley Railroad, likes to joke that his favorite part of the North Pole Express is “when it’s over.” The themed holiday train ride is a massive, complicated — and quite impressive — undertaking for the historic railroad. More than 150 employees and community members work to transport guests […]
5 outrageous things moms aren’t supposed to do
Spend a little too much time on social media, and you’ll realize that Mom Shaming is both real and sad. Here are just a few of the ridiculous things moms have been getting in trouble for doing lately: 1. Brexting Yes, this really is a thing, as in a laughable term for texting while breastfeeding. […]
10 critical safety tips for Halloween night
Here’s a holiday fact that’s really scary: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to the Washington, D.C.-based organization Safe Kids Worldwide. To keep your little ghosts and goblins safe this spooky season, follow this advice […]
10 ways to help picky eaters
Tired of mealtime drama? Sometimes picky eating is more than just frustrating behavior: Children who are intensely picky (or selective) eaters are more than twice as likely to develop depression and anxiety than those with normal eating habits, according to a study published in August in the journal Pediatrics. While only about 3 percent of […]
15 books (and series) for boys who hate to read
If your son hates to read, don’t despair, say local librarians. Maybe he just hasn’t found the right book (or series!) yet. Here, three Utah County librarians give their top picks for books that will spark literary love in reluctant readers. FOR GRADE-SCHOOLERS Picks by Joella Peterson, children’s services manager at the Provo City Library […]
#SquadGoals: 6 things BYU football should focus on during Fall Camp
This spring and summer the #SquadGoals hashtag has been dominating social media. For those not in the know, Urban Dictionary defines Squad Goals as, “An inspirational term for what you’d like your group of friends to be or accomplish. Used best when placed at the end of a directional statement.” As fall camp approaches, I […]
Utah Valley Parade of Homes Playhouse Giveaway
To celebrate the 2015 Utah Valley Parade of Homes, we’ve decided to be “Edgey” and give away, not 1, but 5 playhouses! If you want to take a look at the playhouse, you can see it at Home #22 (designed by Edge Homes) in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes from June 4–20. But you get […]
15 ways to disguise summer learning as fun
Here’s a little parenting secret: Your kids don’t want to do math worksheets right now. Summer, in all its popsicle-and-pool-party glory, is calling. Good luck getting your kids to think about parallelograms and the periodic table. But the cruel thing about it is, children need to keep learning in the summer. Otherwise, they face a […]
6 ideas for thoughtful teacher presents
School is almost out, but there’s still time to earn an “A” in one elective: gift giving. When thinking about what to give that special teacher in your child’s life, think useful and thoughtful. Although it’s easy to run out a scented lotion or a mug filled with candy, try to focus on personal gifts that won’t clutter […]
Talking to your tween: 7 surefire ways to connect
Ah, the tween years. Even the name is angst-y. If you’ve got a daughter who is, as Britney Spears put it, not a girl, not yet a woman, you may be wondering what on earth to do with that lovely (strange!) creature. Utah County residents Rachelle J. Christensen and Connie Sokol know a thing or […]
3 common (scary!) childhood illnesses that can often be treated at home
Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series about children and the emergency room. Fever, vomiting and diarrhea, a snotty cold: There are a few common illnesses that sometimes make parents panic unnecessarily, according to emergency room doctor Randle Likes. He’s been in practice for 13 years and has worked at Timpanogos Regional […]
Doctor’s orders: 5 ways to keep your kids out of the ER
Kids. They’re into everything, ready to grab a stool and dump all the flour the minute you turn your back. But while some kinds of mischief are merely annoying, others are dangerous. Utah Valley 360 talked to Dr. Randle Likes about common childhood injuries he sees in the emergency room, and what you can do […]
5 Utah County daytime activities for parents and tots
No park? No problem! When it’s too cold to comfortably play outside, Utah County offers a number of toddler-centered classes and activities perfect for whiling away the winter hours. Whether you and your child like to read, roll, jump or kick, there are plenty of local activities to keep you both occupied for a morning. 1. Jump on It Mom […]
5 amazing Utah spring break destinations for families
Move over, California. If you’re looking for the perfect vacation spot for this spring break, it may be closer to home than you think. Check out these beautiful, family-friendly destinations in the Beehive State. 1. Moab If you like beautiful red rock scenery — and who doesn’t? — Moab is a hiker’s paradise. About 190 […]
Dirty secrets: UV360 survey shows how often readers clean
If you’ve ever wondered whether the amount of laundry you do is excessive, or how often other people really change their sheets, the answers may surprise you. Utah Valley 360 conducted an online poll of readers’ cleaning habits, asking how frequently people did things like vacuum, mop, clean toilets and fold laundry. The survey found […]
10 simple ways to help your kids eat more fruits and veggies
What if getting kids to eat more produce was as easy as switching up their schedules? A new study published in the journal Preventive Medicine studied 2,500 Orem elementary school children and found that those who had recess before lunch consumed 54 percent more fruits and vegetables than those who had it after. Sometimes it’s […]
A two-letter word that means ‘yes’ for your kids
Like maybe all women ever, I have a hard time saying no. Want me to sell 400 pounds of cookie dough for a football fundraiser? Hand paint 29 bunnies for the class Easter party? Perform that clogging solo when the actual dancer caught the flu? Call me, send an email, pass around a clipboard and […]
Mom’s secret Christmas wish list
As a mom, you get some great gifts for Christmas: Crock-pots, Popsicle-stick Christmas tree ornaments, aloe-infused socks. But some of the most precious, meaningful presents are things that can’t be placed in a stocking or wrapped up with a bow. Family, if you are stumped by what to get me this year, I’ve got a […]
10 free-to-cheap ideas to fight young children blues this winter
It’s November, the first snow fell a few weeks ago, and already I can feel cabin fever setting in. Yesterday, for example, my 6-year-old broke a living room window by throwing his little sister’s purse in the air. How do you break a window with a purse? I don’t know. But it’s the kind of […]
When parents have homework …
This year when my oldest son started fourth grade, I joined a book club, of sorts. It was not of my choosing. Because my son gets to do a “creative” monthly book report, I’m reading all kinds of kid literature so I can help him. A stronger, more confident parent might simply butt out. And […]
Name that Apostle: See if you can match biographical information to the correct LDS Church leader
They were lawyers, educators, surgeons, nuclear scientists and car-dealership owners by profession, but this special group of men also had members who cleaned library bathrooms, announced high school basketball games and repaired cars for the Union Pacific. One thing is certain: The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the […]
Are your kids getting ripped off?
Earlier this year, I paid my 8- and 6-year-old kids $20 each to give up sugar for a month. It was agonizing for them to pass up sweets at every turn, but they were motivated by what they thought was a crazy amount of money. Then one day, my older son’s friend said this: “Twenty […]
Scripture power: 10 ideas for making family study work
Busy schedules and wiggly kids can sometimes make having family scripture study feel like a challenge of biblical proportions. Yet Elder Richard G. Scott of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the practice as one of the “essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home.” “Without […]
How to lean in to your career AND motherhood
Who says it’s hard to work from home when you have little kids? Days like these are a piece of cake: 6:40 a.m. Today is the day! Big interview. Not one to name drop, but am interviewing famous celebrity who has played everything from animated talking dog to murder detective. Have spent hours preparing and have […]