Restaurant Brings Community, Art, and Great Food to College Town
March 7, 2010 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · Leave a Comment
I moved to Provo, Utah nearly 20 years ago to go to college at Brigham Young University. At that time, students were hard pressed to find decent restaurants and had to drive to Salt Lake City if they wanted fine cuisine or culture of any sort. It’s amazing what a difference 20 years can make.
Since I first moved to Provo, culture has sprung up everywhere. It abounds in Utah County with many museums, theatre, and yes! even amazing dining choices. One restaurant in particular has taken it upon itself to offer both cuisine and culture.
On Tuesday, March 9, Communal Restaurant will host its inaugural Dinner Club, bringing an idea to downtown Provo that will celebrate both art and food with a fixed four-course menu of Communal’s critically acclaimed food and an exhibit by renowned Utah artist Brian Kershiznik.
Dinner Club will be a monthly tradition at Communal. The purpose and format of March’s Dinner Club is a first for downtown Provo, not just for the style of dining but for blending a local artist’s work into the evening. Patrons will have an opportunity to meet the artist and all of the paintings on exhibit will be for sale and on display at the restaurant for a month after Dinner Club.
I’m not sure what the March menu includes, but after enjoying a long lunch there with these four fabulous gals and trying nearly everything on the menu, I can assure you it’ll be tasty! If they have soup, make sure to ask for a double bowl. Super YUMMILICIOUS!
March’s Dinner Group price is $42 per person, with wine pairing available for an additional $18. Reservations are available at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. To reserve your seat, call 801-373-8000.
Photo borrowed from the lovely Black Eiffel site. Check out this post for more delicious pictures from Communal.Giveaway! Kraft Bagel-fuls Prize Pack for Two Winners ($200 ARV)
February 4, 2010 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 227 Comments
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Break up your breakfast routine this week by entering to win a Kraft prize pack.
Prize
Two winners will receive a Kraft BAGEL-FULS prize pack, including the following items. (Each prize has an approximate retail value of $200.)
BAGEL-FULS Branded Toaster- Tassimo Coffee Maker and Coffee
- Reusable Travel Coffee Mug
- Projector Alarm Clock
- Five BAGEL-FULS Vouchers
Entry Requirements
To enter for a chance to win the Kraft prize pack giveaway, you must Click here to visit the Bagel-fuls website, review the Bagel-ful flavors, and leave a comment here listing the kind you’d most like to try. If you have already tried Bagel-fuls, simply list your favorite flavor!
Terms and Conditions
No purchase necessary to enter. No more than one entry per person via each of the methods listed in the Giveaway details. The odds of winning a Giveaway depend on the number of entries. Winners will be selected randomly by Mom It Forward. All decisions of Mom It Forward are final. Employees of Mom It Forward and the Giveaway sponsor are not eligible to participate. All entries received after the Giveaway closing date and time will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Winners will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If the winner does not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants who are residents of the US 18 years and older. Void where prohibited. Taxes on Giveaways are solely the responsibility of the winner. Winner agrees to permit Mom It Forward and the Giveaway Sponsor to use her or his name, voice, photo, or likeness for reasonable promotional and marketing purposes for up to 90 days after the end of the Giveaway. Mom It Forward and Sponsor are not liable for late or misdirected entries, entry errors, or transmission problems. Mom It Forward reserves the right to terminate the Giveaway in the event of technical problems, or to correct typographical or technical errors, or to amend these rules. All participants should review the Mom It Forward disclosure and privacy policies. By entering, participants agree to release and hold harmless Mom It Forward, Sponsor, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with a Giveaway. Mom It Forward will provide the name of the winner for any Giveaway, upon request, for 90 days after that Giveaway’s entry period ends. Unless otherwise provided by the Sponsor, no substitution, transfer, or assignment of prizes is permitted. Non-winning entries from one Giveaway are not carried forward to future Giveaways.
Join #gno Tuesday on Twitter for Delicious Breakfast Tips
February 4, 2010 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 12 Comments
Are you the type that makes breakfast from scratch every day or relies on a quick and easy fix as you’re rushing to your home office, to tend to your kids’ needs, or as you head out the door? Have any special breakfast plans for Valentine’s Day? Is this making you hungry for some yummy conversation?
Then click here to join the #gno gang and Kraft this Tuesday, February 9 from 9-11 ET (8 CT, 7 MT, and 6 PT) as we share tips on the most important meal of the day—breakfast!
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- What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, February 9, 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
- Where: Party with us here on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #bagelfuls.)
- Topic: Breaking Up Your Breakfast Routine With Kraft Bagel-fuls
- Who: @ashleyspohn @cookingwcaitlin @dineanddish @goodlifeeats @fujimama @makeandtakes @mommyskitchen @southernplate @sthrnfairytale @tokissthecook
- Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win this week’s giveaway. Deadline: 2/10
- RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jyl_momIF). If you would like to include your blog, please enter it next to your name. Make sure to include your twitter URL in the URL line. Please do not enter your blog URL there.
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Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.
The Grand America Hotel & The Melting Pot Give Moms a Much Needed Time Out
December 10, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
When you think of taking a time out, do you think of a place children go or a space they take when they are in trouble? I know I do. But, isn’t the concept behind time outs more about kids needing a break from others, their surroundings, or even you, their mom?
Having some alone time gives perspective, breaks up the routine, and enables kids the opportunity to reflect before jumping back into a situation. And isn’t the same true for adults? The only difference is no one is there to force us to take these much needed breaks.
Last weekend, I experienced as close to that as it comes, but it wasn’t for being in trouble and it provided 100% of the break that I needed.
The Grand America Hotel and Spa offered me and four of my friends (Carina, Marie, Janet, and Allison) the opportunity to stay at their five-diamond hotel overnight to check out their digs and take advantage of their spa treatments. Then, The Melting Pot, which happened to be located right across the street, offered to treat us to dinner. I’d put myself in time out every day if this is what it would be like! And, the weekend put me just in the right spot to return to life in general better prepared to tackle the upcoming week, be a better mom, and deal with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
The Experience
Three things in particular made this the best time out evah: X
- Friends. Sharing common experiences makes life so much richer. When you do that with quality people—people who are uplifting, inspiring, and amazing individuals—it adds to the experience and makes you strive to be a better person as well. While the hotel and restaurant couldn’t have provided this element, they did provide an environment where friendship could flourish. The Melting Pot didn’t wince when our dinner turned into a 4-hour affair. The servers had personality, accommodated our many and varied requests, and didn’t make us feel like we had extended our welcome. The Grand America offered a generous suite and an extended check-out time so we could stay up all night talking and sleep in (and we did both!).
X 
Food/Drink. The Melting Pot’s Alpine Ridge dinner for two (drooling as I think of the cheese fondue!) and The Grand America Garden Restaurant’s buffet didn’t leave us hungry, but who were we to turn down the welcome basket of treats The Grand America left for us or the sparkling lemonade waiting as we exited our massages? What’s a girl to do, right?
X- Massage. I’ve had a lot of free massages in my life for one reason or another, so I am comparing apples to apples when I write this next statement. The duet massage at The Grand Spa was the BEST.MASSAGE.OF.MY.LIFE. I don’t even know how to put into words what this experience was like. To describe it briefly, two massage therapists work on your body in tandem. Some times, they are doing the exact techniques on opposite sides—one on the right arm, the other on the left, for example. And at other times, they are working together but on different parts of the body—one on the head, the other on the feet. It is a complete trip, a total escape, allowing you to deeply relax. Talk about stress reducing. Suffice it to say that the duet massage was worth every ounce of time spent this weekend and I’m plotting ways to cover the $210 for future appointments (yes! that was plural!).
How You Can Take an Amazing Time Out at a Discount
And right now for the Holidays, The Melting Pot in Salt Lake City, UT is offering an amazing dining deal. Guests who purchase $100 in Gift Cards get a Holiday Gift of four $25 cards that may be used quarterly throughout 2010. But you must come in to the restaurant for purchase, call 521-MELT or email tj@utahmeltingpot.com. (They have extended Holiday hours!)
And if that’s not enough to tempt you, check this out! Use this discount code for your next stay at The Grand America. Follow this link for and exclusive room rate of $100 off! Or mention “Social Media” at the Grand Spa and get 20% off your spa treatment. Hopefully this will help you enjoy a fabulous spa getaway without breaking the bank. Here’s to a much needed time out for all of you and a relaxing holiday season!
How to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holiday Season
November 29, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 3 Comments
The holidays are infamous for adding to our waistlines. It happens to the best of us. But we can take some preventative measures, so that we don’t have to go shopping for a bigger size during the New Year. I asked Leah @bookieboo, who heads up the Mamavation Sistahood—a group of moms losing weight and learning a healthy lifestyle together—to share some tips on how to enjoy healthy living during the holiday season. Here are some of the tips they shared:
1. Move more.
Get extra movement in any way you can. Turn the music on and dance. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Run up and down the stairs more. Studies have shown that adding extra steps to your day will burn more calories and keep your metabolism higher.
2. Get a support group.
Find a group of women that will support you in your healthy goals. If you are in need, we welcome all moms to the Mamavation Sistahood. You only need to have a desire to learn about healthy living and a positive attitude. We can be reached any time of day on twitter by using #mamavation.
3. Offer to bring a food item to the party.
Whether it’s a preschool party, family get-together, or office party, offer to bring a healthy alternative. Then bring something you can eat, like salad, fruit, or a low-fat appetizer.
4. Do your food research.
Know what it is you are eating. Do research and find out what the average calorie/fat count is to a certain food you like. Then ask yourself what you want to eat and what you want to skip. Don’t cut out everything, but cut out things you know aren’t worth the calories. For instance, did you know you will have to do over 2,000 jumping jacks to work off every cup of homemade stuffing?
5. Don’t drink your calories.
The holidays bring the best drinks of the season, but It’s very easy to drink your calorie allowance for the day without even knowing it. Check the nutritional count on what you are drinking BEFORE you drink. Wouldn’t you rather blow your calories on food instead? Dropping soda for the month is an easy way of cutting out a grip of extra calories. Stick to coffee, tea, red wine, and water. And for the diet soda lovers out there, studies have shown diet drinks actually make you gain weight, not lose weight. So don’t bother.
6. Control your portions.
Don’t get out of control. You can eat your favorite foods by using sensibility and portion control. Sometimes it is better to eat what you want and limit it, rather than deny yourself and overeat later.
7. Get a shoe that supports your needs.
Get a shoe this month that allows you to burn more calories as you are walking, like Earth Footwear. With a tool like this, you will be able to go about your life and the shoes will do a lot of the work for you.
8. Have a plate strategy.
When you load up your plate, fill half with veggies, ¼ protein, and then samples of whatever else you want. That way you aren’t depriving yourself and will feel full at the end of your meal. Another strategy is to use a smaller plate. You might be eating less, but you will feel more satisfied.
9. Add in more fruits and vegetables to every meal.
Make a conscious effort to eat more vegetables and fruit this month. Think about more ways you can incorporate them into every meal. Filling up on veggies will keep you satisfied and full and the end of your meal.
For more tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle and incorporate that in your family life, join the Mamavation Sisterhood.
Picture courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography.
Thrift-Store Shopping How-To’s From a Nordie’s Gal!
November 15, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 11 Comments
I am proof that you can swear undying devotion to Dillard’s and still rock it when it comes to thrift-store shopping. What’s the key to my success, you ask? My uber stylish friends (USFs) who just so happen to love all things vintage and make sorting, frugality, and thrift-store shopping an amazing art instead of the crazy chaos I thought it would be.
Looking to find a stylish steal of a deal and have fun while doing it? Don’t take it from me, learn a few tips from the pros, my USFs—Allison from Petit Elefant or @petit_elefant, Carina from Jet Set or @jet_set, and Melissa from Isly or @melissapher.
Here is what I learned this past weekend while thrifting in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah!
1. Get Organized and Connected!
While the actual shopping was fun (yes! I admit it!), the whole thrifting experience would have been void without friends. Sharing your finds is half the fun, so having one person organize the event—invite people, create a schedule, e-mail information—was extremely helpful. Before the outing, I loved knowing who was going, getting pre-shopping tips, organizing carpools, and chit chatting back and forth on e-mail to generate excitement.
(From left: Allison, Marie, Emily, Carina, and Melissa)
2. Prepare an Itinerary.
Receiving a schedule of the thrifting events was awesome, because it gave us a play-by-play of the day’s activity. That way, if we had to arrive late or leave early or only had a certain amount of time we could be there, we could plan accordingly.
3. Provide Pre-Shopping Tips.
For non-thrift-shopping gals, receiving a few helpful pre-shopping tips like these made the whole experience easier:
- If you’re looking to buy furniture, measure the space in your house and bring the dimensions with you so you don’t buy a piece that is too large or small for the space.
- If you’re looking to buy clothes or shoes, wear clothes that can easily be removed and put back on.
4. Choose Vintage Stores Close in Proximity But With a Variety of Products.
When shopping with 10+ gals, especially on a snowy day, make sure to schedule your stops close together. We went to several stores within walking distance and then drove to another two also within walking distance. I loved the diverse mix of products in each of the stores. I bought a red hat in Retro Rose and a cute silk dress at The Green Ant. Other stores sported bottle collections, furniture, a vintage Jack-in-the-Box, and extensive jewelry collections.
5. Tempt the Palate.
What’s an outing without food? Starting and ending on a delicious note not only kept everyone’s tummy’s full and happy, but also provided an extra opportunity for socializing.
Choosing the eateries also played a role in both setting the tone and wrapping things up in savory style. We went foreign for breakfast with Belgian Waffles from Bruges and to Gormandise Bakery “famous for its spectacular desserts” for lunch.
6. Open Your Mind and Your Pocketbook, But Not Before Haggling.
Being a non-thrifting gal myself prior to this event, part of its success for me was simply being open minded. I didn’t think the silky number would fit and wasn’t in the mood to try things on. Peer pressure got me into the dressing room and out of the store with a cute dress perfect for me at a great price ($20 folks!). Of course, I had to be willing to pull out the pocketbook. Frugal isn’t free! But, I did learn the price is always up for negotiation—a little friendly haggling!—one thing I wouldn’t dare do at Nordie’s.
7. Capture the Event!
One of the funnest parts of the experience was taking pictures as we went from store to store. Check out the entire activity on Whrrl by clicking here!
A seasoned thrifter? New to the game? Leave a comment with your tips, questions, or advice.
RSVP to Share Family Togetherness & Meal Time Tips This Tuesday on Twitter
September 12, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 47 Comments
Stop for a second and think about your most favorite meal time experience with your family. What made it fun or meaningful? What did you eat? What did you talk about? What was it that helped you connect and grow closer as a family?
Now think for a second about what gets in the way of achieving that on a regular basis. If you’re like me, quick and simple meals are never quick or simple enough, meal times are rushed, and while I’d love to have all sorts of meaningful conversations with the family during meal time, we are usually lucky to get a home-cooked meal and even luckier to get conversation with it.
But… statistics show the importance of family togetherness during meal times. So, this Tuesday, we are fortunate to have Libby’s and Feeding America along with other #gno gals to share with us their fabulous tips for making the most of meal time. Have lots to share? Want to learn? Or, want to connect for a little girl power? Then, join us this Tuesday for #gno.
And, don’t forget to enter to win one of our amazing giveaway going on this week.
- What: Libby’s is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, September 15, 9-11 p.m. EST
- Where: Party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtag #gno.)
- Topic: Family togetherness and meal times
- Who: @feedingamerica @goodlifeeats @hannahkeeley @janemaynard @savorthethyme @rockinmama
- Party Favors: Click here to check out this week’s giveaway sponsored by Libby’s.
- RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.
Touch Other’s Hearts by Going Through Their Stomachs!
July 12, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 24 Comments
10 Delicious Ways to Make a Difference This Week
Service doesn’t have to be bland or boring! Spice it up. Sweeten the pot. Make it delicious. Think of people that need a little love and touch their heart by going through their stomach during this week’s Summer of Service Challenge, sponsored by Campbell’s. How? By making and sharing a tasty treat, including one or more of the 10 ideas listed below!
For more ideas, join us for a great Girl’s Night Out (#gno) on Twitter this Tuesday night. And, please share a comment on this post with other ways to serve others by sharing a tasty treat.
- Make some baked goods—cupcakes, cookies, bread, muffins, etc.—and take them to a neighbor.
- Take a meal to someone in your community that is sick or needs a night off from kitchen duty.
- Spend one-on-one time with your children by having a cooking class with them to prepare dinner for the family! For a special treat, do a craft activity beforehand to make paper chef’s hats.
- Have a family activity where you make a tasty treat together, such as suckers, decorated sugar cookies, chocolate-dipped strawberries and pretzels, etc.
- Have a couple’s night in! Invite your closest friends over with their significant others for a fondue party. Play the newlywed game no matter how long everyone has been in their relationship.
- As a family, choose another family that needs some love or an act of kindness/service. Drop off an anonymous treat on their doorstep with a nice card telling them how much you love them.
- Organize a girl’s night out with your closest girlfriends and have a progressive dinner where you rotate houses during the meal, starting with appetizers, moving on to salad, heading to the main course, and ending somewhere else for the dessert.
- Treat your spouse or close friend to a dinner at his or her favorite restaurant!
- Make your family’s favorite meal and decorate the table special just for them. Devote the evening to family time by turning off phones, TV, etc.
- Make your children’s favorite cookies, making a different batch once a week until you’ve made all of their favorites. Don’t forget to include your favorite as well!
How Will You Give to Others This Week?
- What other ideas do you have for sharing a tasty treat?
- How has touching other’s hearts by going through their stomach made a meaningful difference this week for you? For others?
How Else Can You Make a Difference This Summer?
Make a meaningful difference this summer by taking the Summer of Service (SOS) Challenge. Here’s how you can participate:
- Commit to do one act of kindness/service based on the week’s challenge.
- Leave a comment with ideas relating to the week’s challenge as well as your experience(s) performing it.
- Grab the SOS button in the sidebar and put it on your blog or social networking site.
- Enter to win each week’s giveaway. Check out this week’s prizes from Campbell’s.
- Join #gno this Tuesday on Twitter to connect with other Mom It Forward moms about the challenge.
RSVP—#GNO Shares Simple Summer Meal Ideas Tues on Twitter!
July 12, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 25 Comments
With everything going on during the summer months, sometimes it’s hard to put together quick, easy, and healthy meals in minutes. Join #GNO here this Tuesday where we can all share simple summer meal ideas!
- What: Girl’s Night Out (What’s GNO? Click here to find out!)
- When: Tuesday, July 14, 9-11 p.m. EDT
- Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtag #gno.)
- Topic: Simple Summer Meals
- Who: @bowlher @citymama @mombloggersclub @erikalehmann @plussizemommy @rachelferrucci @scrappinmichele @thinkmaya
- Party Favors: Remember to check out this week’s giveaway sponsored by Campbell’s.
- RSVP: Enter your twitter URL/ID in the list below (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).
BowlHer ‘09 Giveaway—Campbell’s Gift Basket & FLIP Camera
July 12, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 351 Comments
Campbell’s is excited to reward one Mom It Forward community member with some fun products that make simple summer meals fun and easy.
The Prize
One lucky winner from this site will be selected to win a Campbell’s gift package, including the following:
- A FLIP camera
- Campbell’s Cooking Companion Cook Book
- Thermos
- Green Bean Casserole Dish
- Campbell’s Products
Entry Requirements
To enter to win, you are required to do the following three things:
- Leave a comment on this post, including your e-mail address.
- Join the BowlHer ‘09 Facebook Fan Page!
- Post one of these messages on your Facebook wall or on Twitter:
Going 2 @BlogHer in Chicago? RSVP 4 @BowlHer ‘09 party—Sat 7/25, 8 pm @ http://bowlher.com. PLS RT
GIVEAWAY! Win a Campbell’s gift basket, including FLIP camera http://bit.ly/IF6ov PLS RT
Leave an additional comment for each of these extra entries (for a total of five extra entries):
- Join the Mom It Forward Friend Connect (in right sidebar).
- Join the Mom It Forward Flickr Group.
- Join the Mom It Forward Facebook Group!
- Click here to join the Mom It Forward Facebook Page. (This is different than the group!)
- Take the Summer of Service Challenge this week and comment on that post.
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Collective Bias and Campbell’s employees and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, July 19 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.
