Meet Victoria, I Heart Salt Lake Contributor

I’m Victoria, a.k.a. obSEUSSed.  I have 3 children and love books and family friendly places, which Salt Lake is full of. I’ve lived in Salt Lake for 14 years. I came here from Wyoming to attend the U of U and plan to stay forever.

When visitors come to my house, here are my “Best Of Salt Lake” recommendations:

Our favorite local family restaurant is Cowboy Grub off of Foothill. My kids won’t get off the electric horses and I can’t get enough of their pot roast sandwich.



My favorite local fast food restaurant lately has been Mo Bettah Steaks, their Hawaiian pork and huge shaved ice treats pull me in every time I need to stop by Sam’s Club. It is much better than a Sam’s Club pizza slice any day.

I love stopping by thrift stores and vintage consignment shops like Emilie Jayne, Now and Again, Home Again and Abode.

We love checking out the parks around the valley and one of our favorites it the Veteran’s Memorial Park in West Jordan. The huge wooden fort is so unique, the kids spend hours there.



Because I’m obSEUSSed, you’ll often find me at bookstores, one of the best is Central Book Exchange on 2017 South 1100 East. I have a big credit to use from trading in my books. I also love grabbing books at D.I., Savers and Thrift Town. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite locally owned bookstores soon on IHSL.

I Heart exploring Salt Lake.

I Heart Salt Lake Contributor- Tavia McGrath

Meet Tavia, she is a contributor on I Heart Salt Lake.

How long have you lived in Utah:   All my life

Favorite local restaurant:   Long Life Vegi House

Where are your favorite places to shop in the Salt Lake Valley: The Sugarhouse shopping district

Best thing about Salt Lake/Utah:  I love Salt Lake for the diversity that you can’t find in a lot of other areas in Utah.  I realize that Salt Lake isn’t as diverse as cities in other states, but relative to other areas in Utah, it’s quite diverse.

Anything else you want to add:  We need to support our local, independent businesses now more than ever.  I’m devastated by how many of my favorite local restaurants and shops have closed recently.  My neighborhood, Sugarhouse, has always been know for it’s large selection of local, independent businesses, but lately many of those businesses have closed and been replaced by national chains.  Our local businesses need our support in this tough economy.  Buy local!

I Heart Salt Lake Contributors- Katie and Carlie

Meet Katie and Carlie. They are contributors here on I Heart Salt Lake

You might know them as Miss Hazel Bloom Photography

How long have you lived in Utah?

KH: Ten years

CR: Off and on for 29 glorious years!

Favorite Local restaurant?

KH: Red Rock Brewery is delicious, they have a great selection of delectable delights. 

CR: I too love Red Rock, particularly their stuffed mushroom and fried green tomatoes!  I am also a lover of Mazza and The Himalayan Kitchen.

Where are your favorite places to shop in the Salt Lake valley?

KH: Orson Gygi is awesome!  I can’t say enough about it…the end.

CR: I love The Frosty Darling on Broadway.  Truthfully we both love most any of the shops found on that stretch of Broadway.  Also, Ken Sanders’ rare bookstore pretty much completes me.

Best thing about Salt Lake/Utah?

KH: Good people, good food, adequate parking!

CR: Retro/Vintage apartments, the downtown library, the abundance of coffee shops, the summer festivals, and all of the weirdos those festivals tend to attract.  I just love SLC!

Anything you want to add?

D’bolla has the best bubble teas, Gourmandise has delicious desserts, and Emilie Jayne has it all!

I Heart Salt Lake Contributor- Jaqueline

We want to introduce you to one of our contributors, Jaqueline T Miller. 

She is the genius behind the Utes party printables.

Jacqueline works as a communication and design consultant. 

You can find some of her work here.

Time living in Utah?
11 months

Favorite local restaurant?
Left Fork Grill

Favorite places to shop in the Salt Lake Valley?
Wasatch Front Farmers Market
The Store
Hip & Humble

Best thing about Salt Lake/Utah?
Good balance of outdoors and city

Anything else you want to add?
Favorite bars: The Garage and Bar X
Favorite Salon: M. Scott Salon

We Heart Locals- Jo Zumbrunnen

By Carly Kerby of Living the Scream

I wanted to tell all of the I Heart Salt lake readers about a fabulous Salt Lake City native Children's author, Jo Zumbrunnen who has just published her 2nd children's book. She also just happens to be my Mom which could make me a little bias but I don't think so.

Introducing Hairietta Hairison The One, The Only Me

It's an adorable Children's book with a great moral. It's about a little girl who loses her hair but does not care. There are too many other important things going on in her life.

Here is more about the book in the author's words.

"Introducing Hairietta Hairison, a modern day Pollyanna with the locks of Rapunzel. I wrote this story for my granddaughter who has Alopecia. (simply put the hair follicles are attacked and baldness can occur)  I have seven granddaughters and I want all of them to have a Hairietta attitude. While getting this book ready I had three friends diagnosed with breast cancer.  They all went through their own hair-oic challenges. We all have a hair story and for sure a bad hair day. This book appeals to the ages of 3-101. It’s a little girlie but when my grandsons read it they laughed their hair off..(just kidding). This is my second children's story that has made it to publication. The Journey to get this far isn’t always easy but Hairietta's message made it well worth it."

The illustrations and graphic design are done by my brother and his wife who also live in Utah, which truly makes this book a family affair.

Introducing Hairietta Hairison The One, The Only Me is sold at Salt lake City book store The King's English.
You can also purchase it on her website www.jozybooks.com. I Heart Salt Lake readers will receive 30% off. Use code iheartsaltlake.

Jozy Books. Facebook. Twitter

We Heart Locals- Simply Utah

As you know, we love supporting all things local. The same goes for Simply Utah, a local website that recognizes and spotlights the creative talent in our state.

Simply Utah was launched in February 2010 by two sisters, Lyndsay and Leslie. They wanted to create a place where Utah's talent could easily be found in one place. Each Week they feature new companies and products. The best part is, the featured company offers a discount to Simply Utah readers that day.
 
One of my favorite things about Simply Utah is their event list. there you will find a big list of Utah boutiques and craft shows. Where else can you find such a thing?

You can stay up to date with Simply Utah by liking them on Facebook.

We Heart Locals- Ay Ay Ay

Christina Nations Johnson, owner of Ay Ay Ay.

After returning from a long trip to Chile, Brazil and Spain Christina decided to stop working for someone else and go out on her own.  She was very interested in the fun styles of workout clothing she saw abroad and decided to create her own unique fitness apparel line.
With a name like Ay Ay Ay you know the clothing line has got to be fun!

 

Christina runs Ay Ay Ay from her apartment, here in Salt Lake and everything is manufactured in the United States, which we think is pretty cool. 

We love the energetic vibe of the line and think it would be a great way to spice up your current fitness wardrobe. You can purchase from Ay Ay Ay online, through at home parties or special events. 

 Ay Ay Ay online

Ay Ay Ay on Facebook

Years living in Utah: I've lived in Utah since 2002

Favorite local restaurant: Being raised in Michigan, I have a place in my heart for Lebanese food, so Mazza for sure. But I also love Red Iguana, Michelangelo's, My Thai, Chicken Empire (Rico Pollo), and Eva. 

Favorite place to shop: Name Droppers and Apt. 202

Favorite thing about Salt Lake/Utah: How often the sun is out, great economy, high elevation, super safe, diverse for its size and I have a lot of friends and loved ones that live here.

We Heart Locals

We like to think the people of  Utah are a big part of what makes our state so great. 

There are so many talented and remarkable people and we think you should know them too. 

If you know someone that should be featured send us an email.

For our first local

Meet Vanessa Brown

Vanessa is a busy mother of two girls (plus a baby on the way) she is also the face behind INeverGrewUp.net, AKickIntheBuzz.com, MomsMakeMoneyBlogging.com.and co-owner of SassyScoops.com

At I Never Grew Up you will find Vanessa blogging about art project ideas to do with your kids, crafts, family recipes, how to stay young at heart and do fun things with your kids and thoughts on motherhood.
She also stays busy helping businesses around the country with their social media  through her company, A Kick In the Buzz.
Vanessa also runs Moms Make Money Blogging which is a 7 month course to teach others how to set up, drive traffic to, network with and make money with their blogs. 
She is also the co-owner of  Sassy Scoops where a group of women get together to feature and review new local places in Salt Lake or Utah County.

Vanessa has lived all over the U.S. but she now calls Utah home. 

Years living in Utah: If you totaled all the years up since I was a baby...7-8 years.

Favorite local restaurant: Este Pizzeria and Moochies

Favorite place to shop: Oopsie Daisy Children's Boutique and the Children's Hour

Favorite activities in Utah: Exploring Nature, every season my girls and I try to explore 5 of the main canyons here in Utah. I also love the museums, I am very excited for the new Utah Museum of Natural History and also love the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.