Just to prove that I do more than reviews...

...I'm posting this.

I'm glad to be done with my Riverwoods reviews. It was a fun event. It was goodto see friends and eat yummy food and score some swag, but I am SO glad to be done with reviews. I've learned that I couldn't have the kind of blog where I only did reviews or plugs for businesses. I need my blog for ME.

I had this whole paragraph about all the things in my life that prevent me from blogging, but now those things are pulling at me and I don't have time to blog.

Since I know I won't be blogging tomorrow, I leave you with a short list of things I'm grateful for:

* My kids

* My wonderful husband

* Sitcoms

* Girlfriends

* Excedrin Migraine

*FB statuses that make me laugh:

Every time a Christmas tree is lit before Thanksgiving,

an Elf drowns a baby reindeer.

Holidays should be kept in order. (Just.saying.)

---courtesy The Shark

Blickenstaff's: Give the toys from YOUR childhood to your kids and grandkids

Have you heard about Blickenstaff's in the Shops at Riverwoods? It is the coolest vintage toy store EVER.

Doesn't it look like a wonderland?

It is. It's a Utah toy store full of fun, hard-to-find vintage toys, games and candy. They've done all the legwork, collecting these items into this magical store. Walking in is like walking back into your childhood.

Check it out -- Lincoln Logs!!!

Blickenstaff's has a huge selection of vintage candy.

One wall of non-chocolate candy, one wall of chocolate. (Not pictured.)

Girl toys!!! So excited that Miss Marvel is getting old enough for dolls and all things pink.

MASSIVE selection of games.

While touring the Blickenstaff's with the group from CBC, I won a vintage lunch box. They had a large selection of comic book characters (which I was sorely tempted by) but I decided on this Star Wars vintage lunch box.

I also purchased a Slap Time watch for only ten dollars. TEN DOLLARS for a cute watch. It's pink, mostly waterproof, and I love it!!!! (My kids love it, too.)

Blickenstaff's is doing a really fun giveaway during the 12 days of Christmas. Find and "like" Blickenstaff's on Facebook to find out what toy they are giving away each day. On the first day of Christmas, they're giving away a toy to the 12th customer in the store. On the second day of Christmas, they're giving away TWO toys to the 12th and 24th customers in the store that day, and so on.

How good are you at math? That means on the 24th of December, they're giving away 12 toys, and the last one goes to the 144th customer that day!!!

But you don't have to live in Northern Utah to buy toys at Blickenstaffs. YOU CAN ORDER ONLINE!!!

Head to Blickenstaff's today!!!

All photos (but the last one) courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography

(I was given a half pound of candy (which I ate all by myself) and a vintage lunchbox in exchange for my honest review.)

I like Ike's Ice Cream Shop -- they even wear retro hats!

Want to know where the best ice cream in Utah is? It's at Ike's in the Riverwoods. They sell the best ice cream -- Blue Bell ice cream. I recommend the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor.

Don't you just LOVE the retro decor?! Red and white sparkly, bouncy seats. Chrome accents and a vintage Coke machine.

Check out the bar! It took great restraint on my part not to spin like a 4-year-old on those bar stools.

The ice cream was delicious. The atmosphere was authentic and immersing. Loved this little carousel. I'll be bringing my kids here soon!

Ike's is located in the Provo Beach Resort in the Shops at the Riverwoods. Have you guys heard about this place? I had heard about it previous to my going there, but I was still unprepared for the awesomeness of the place.

Not only can you buy the best ice cream there, you can catch a wave. Seriously. There is an indoor flowrider. (It's one of only 3 in the entire state.)


You can go SURFING. In the dead of winter. In UTAH. There's a ropes course. Bowling lanes. A golf simulator. A croquet course. (Did you love croquet as much as I did when I was a kid?)


An arcade. A pinewood derby track. A stage where they do plays and choirs perform.

The Provo Beach Resort would be a great place to go with your entire family. I'll definitely be taking my family there in January or February when we're all suffering from the winter blues, but of course you can go year round. The Shops at the Riverwoods are beautiful right now with all the Christmas lights.

Head to the Provo Beach Resort for fun for the whole family and the best ice cream in Utah!

All pretty pics courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography. The un-pretty pics are mine.

Disclaimer: In exchange for my fair and honest review, I was given a sample of Blue Bell ice cream.

Zion's Mercantile -- like a museum

When I went to the Shops at the Riverwoods, I stopped in Zion's Mercantile. It's a lovely little store full of gorgeous artwork, yummy bread and one-of-a-kind finds for an LDS bookstore.



Also: it's like a museum.

They have a replicas of the gun that Porter Rockwell carried. (Those things weighed a ton, BTW.)



They have an actual uniform worn by a soldier in the Nauvoo Legion.


There's a stone from the original Nauvoo, Illinois temple. (You'll have to actually go there to see it.)


While at Zion's Mercantile, Robert A. Boyd came to speak to us briefly. If you're like me, you may not recognize his name. But you'll probably recognize this:


Robert Boyd is most well-known for his temple artwork. (Click on that link Seriously. His work is incredible.) He told us that this piece is his favorite. I think it's stunning. And did you know that he has puzzles with various temples? They were just the right size and difficulty for my boys to put together. Fun Sunday activity! Zion's Mercantile has several of Boyd's pieces available, as well as work from various other artists.

If you're looking for a Mormon bookstore with goods reminiscent of Nauvoo, Illinois, then this is the place for you. (No pun intended. Ha. I'm so funny.) Look for them in the Shops at the Riverwoods in Provo!

(In exchange for my honest review, I was given small samples of Boyd's artwork)

La Jolla Groves aka Home of the Best Potatoes in the multi-verse

I had the ultimate pleasure of dining at La Jolla Groves in the Shops at Riverwoods a few days ago. I went with other bloggers and we sampled several menu items. I'll be honest: I mostly went for the company, but came away thinking the food was far superior. (KIDDING, Melissa. You know I love you.) But that food was MIND-BLOWING.

The head chef at La Jolla Groves is one of the top 33 executive chefs IN THE WORLD. And he's got a restaurant in Provo, Utah. (Miracles happen, folks.) He's really nice and talked with us through part of our meal about his background. Apparently, he used to be all about the butter, as most chefs who want their food to taste good are. Then he hit 40 and realized that if he wanted to be AROUND to enjoy his family and food, he had better change his ways.

Enter the cuisine at La Jolla Groves.

Several succulent salads. Mouth-watering soups. (I'm still daydreaming about their Potato & garden-fresh Leek soup.) A salmon filet with cilanto butter, served over basmati rice -- one of my faves.

Artisan cheese, fresh fruit & hearth breads, served with a healthier fruit dipping sauce.

I LITERALLY could not get enough of the raspberries. I ate every one I could find without looking like a raspberry hog.

Lemon-roasted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. The potatoes were to die for.

Everything I ate was delicious. Succulent. Sumptuous. Mouth-watering. FLAVORFUL. All of that and more. The restaurant uses fresh produce, locally-grown as much as possible. And you can tell from the taste. I was charmed by the atmosphere, too.

Don't even get me started on the desserts. Since most of the menu is full of healthy choices, you can splurge on dessert.

Berries and ice cream.

Lemon Cake with caramel glaze.

Chocolate Mousse.

This meal was a complimentary one, in exchange for my honest review. When I was there, I remember thinking that I'd better eat everything I could, because I could never afford to come back.

I was wrong, my friends.

I looked up their menu so that I would have the item descriptions correct. Their prices are comparable to The Olive Garden or Outback! Very inexpensive food for the quality of it. They even have a kids' menu!

Pair one of the best restuarants in Utah with the Shops at Riverwoods, and you have got an incredible evening. Especially if you can go tonight, Nov. 18, from 6-9 pm for the lighting of Riverwoods. Jon Schmidt will there. Blickenstaffs is giving away a really fun toy.

So consider La Jolla Groves and the Shops at Riverwoods as a sophisticated and more rewarding choice to the new Twilight movie tonight.

Oh, who am I kidding. You know I'll be seeing the movie. But I'm going tomorrow, so I can enjoy tonight at the Riverwoods.

(all photos courtesy Bryce Olsen Photography)