As you may have noticed, I haven’t posted on SLD in quite some time. I’m currently focusing on my little one, and I’m not sure when I’ll start posting regularly again. If you need to get in touch with me, use the contact link above.

After randomly watching “The Business of Being Born”and “Born in the U.S.A.” early in my pregnancy (my husband and I are Netflix documentary nerds), I became intensely interested in having a natural birth experience. I should note that I wasn’t always so interested in intervention-free birth – quite the contrary. I had always assumed I would go the “normal” route and opt for inducing labor and having an epidural. Heck, even the idea of a C-section sounded nice to my uneducated mind (considering the alternative – pushing a watermelon-sized object out of my hoo-ha!). In fact, you might say I was scared to death of giving birth.

Well, they say that becoming a mom changes everything…and…the prospect of it definitely did for me.

I won’t get into the complicated/controversial reasons that more and more women are choosing out-of-hospital births. You can read more about that here. Suffice it to say that once I did my own research, I was convinced that the hospital experience wasn’t for me and my growing family. Of course, I was open to medical assistance if some complication arose, but I knew that most births go without much of a hitch. That’s what I was aiming for.

With that, I began researching my options online, and I was happy to discover BetterBirth. This group of local midwives and their students serve the entire Salt Lake Valley, and they attend both home births and births at their Bella Natal Birthing Suites in Salt Lake City and Orem. My husband and I opted for the student program which cost a total of $1,600. YES, $1,600. That’s less than the deductible/co-insurance on some insurance plans, and it included prenatal care, the actual birth and two postnatal visits for my daughter and me. (The regular, non-student package will run you $2,600). The only thing it didn’t include was a mid-pregnancy ultrasound (and any other ultrasounds that one might choose to have – each costing $150 through BetterBirth). SOLD!

Upon meeting the midwives, I was extremely impressed. They answered all of my questions in our visits, and I never felt rushed or pressured. They constantly reassured me that I was mentally, emotionally and physically capable of doing what my body was made to do. So, after 40 weeks and 4 days of what I considered to be a miserable pregnancy (nausea throughout, 50-pound weight gain, body aches, insomnia, chest pains, intense fatigue, you-name-it), the time came for me to give birth to my sweet Harper.

I’ll share my birth story a little later, but FIRST, I have to show you these great photos of Bella Natal Birthing Suites!

The exterior of the building

Reception and waiting area

Kitchen for making snacks during labor...or for keeping unruly visitors at bay.

One of the exam rooms for prenatal visits

Education room for birthing classes

Yep, Harper was born right there...in the tub!

The room where I got to know my little girl for the first time

Aaaaaand, my birth story! (Scroll to the bottom for more photos!)

On the morning of Sunday, June 5, I woke up at 3:20am to what felt like menstrual cramps. I had been having some stomach discomfort for a few days when I woke up, so I didn’t think too much of it. Just to be safe, I pulled out my iPhone and starting using the Stage 1 app (free – and it was super helpful to me) to time everything. After a few 45- to 90-second-long contractions at only a couple minutes apart, I realized things were getting started pretty fast and furious.

I lay in bed for a couple hours monitoring the contractions before I woke up my husband. The contractions had slowed but intensified, and I wasn’t sure what I should do. We called the midwife, and she didn’t seem to think that I was quite ready to come in yet. In fact, my contractions slowed to only every 7-9 minutes for a little while, but they were growing more painful (yes, painful, I admit it) by the minute. The midwife had me get into my own tub for 30-45 minutes while my husband ran to our new house to grab the camera (which never made it out of the bag – thank goodness for the iPhone again!). By the time I had been in there 40 minutes, I knew it was time. Everything was leveling out and getting more and more consistent. We called the midwife back, and she said to meet her at the birthing center at 8:15am.

Side note: I often see women asking what contractions feel like on this board, so I wanted to share what kept growing through my head during my earlier (pre-transition) stage of labor. I kept imagining a woman on a diving board (a little above my pubic bone) diving toward my back. As she plunged through the “water,” the surge intensified until hit my lower back (the “ocean floor” or whatever). At that point, she morphed into two divers who diverged and plunged back up by way of going around my hips and back to where the original diver started. I know, I know…kind of abstract. But that kept going through my head over and over. Sometimes I would even imagine the diver finding a pearl at the bottom – and that was what motivated her to dive again.

By the time I got to the birthing center, I was in a decent amount of pain. I didn’t want lower-back massages…or any touching…or any talking…I just wanted to hum and breathe in silence. I lay on my side for a couple hours doing just that until they came in to check me. I was quite annoyed when they found me to only be 2cm dilated (90% effaced). I started thinking this was going to be harder than I had imagined…

At that point, the midwives wanted me to get up and walk around. Well, I would make it about two steps before I would lean over the bed, hum, and dry heave. However, the few steps I made felt like they made a difference. After resting on the bed a little longer, they checked me again and said I was at about a 4 (I think – the numbers got a little hazy at this point). I was still a bit disappointed. I asked if I could get into the tub, and they began filling it for me…

So, into the tub. I labored a while on my back in there until the contractions felt like they were one on top of the other. There was a point where I was getting no relief. Again, they checked me and said I was about 4-6cm. Devastated. That’s the point where I started to think I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t imagine it getting any worse, and I found myself thinking that I was going to write home afterward with one of those “traumatic” birth experiences.

At that point, the midwives discussed the option of breaking my water manually. I heard my husband asking them the pros and cons, and mid-contraction, I just started waving my hands and shaking my hands, NO. I was committed to doing this naturally, and I didn’t want ANYTHING to come in between that. They told me breaking my water would speed things up, but it might also intensify things. I couldn’t imagine anything more intense. At that point, I hunkered down and kept up with my deep breathing and humming.

Another side note: I did not take any classes or read any books about how to breathe, hum or deal with the pain. I kind of winged it. My husband was amazing. He left me alone when I wanted to zone out in my own world, and he coached me when I needed reassurance.

Shortly after the “devastating” news that I was only 4-6cm dilated, the midwives and my husband encouraged me to use the bathroom or at least sit on the toilet for a little while to open me up a bit. While getting out of that tub and onto that toilet seemed like the hardest thing I ever had to do, it was worth it. I’m not sure, but I think my water broke a little while I was sitting there, and things got really intense once I was back in the tub (I never had a definite water breaking – but I felt a couple warm gushes while in the tub after that). A couple times I cried a little and said I was just too tired. I truly felt like I couldn’t go on. I swore up and down that I would never do this again.

A short while after, they checked me and found me to be COMPLETE. COMPLETE!! YES!! COMPLETE! Even though I pretty much wasn’t responding to anyone or anything at that point (other than my body), I was doing the most exuberant happy dance you could ever imagine in my head.COMPLETE! That’s all I needed to know…

Soon, my body kind of started involuntarily pushing at the end of my contractions. I was overjoyed when they said I could start pushing. From reading other birthing stories, I thought it would provide much-needed relief. Well, yes…and no.

Lying on my back in the tub, I pushed several times with what seemed like absolutely no results. It just didn’t feel like it was “catching” if that makes sense. I couldn’t feel any progression. I got up on my hands and knees to push a little more, and still, no progression. Back to lying on my back in the tub, I needed a rest. Still no progression. Meanwhile though, baby’s heart rate stayed in the 120s-140s the entire labor. She seemed to be taking her time and enjoying the suspense. NOT MOMMY!

Finally, I got into what seemed like a strange position to me. I had my back against the long side of the jacuzzi, and my legs were bent in front of me pushing against the opposite side of the tub. I was kind of in a frog position. Over my head, there was a metal bar that I grabbed onto. The midwives and my husband coached me to pull down on the bar like I was doing a pull-up. Finally, something felt like it was working. I pushed like that a few times and truly wore myself out to the point of utter exhaustion. The ONE drug I guess you could say I had during the labor was right then – a shot of a caffeine energy drink.

A few pushes later, they told me to reach down and feel her head. I honestly wasn’t sure what I was feeling in there, but it was enough to give me that final jolt of energy I needed to meet my daughter. My husband kept saying, “You’re about to meet Harper. You’re about to meet your daughter.” In about four sets of four pushes (deep breath, hold, push X4), She was OUT! First she crowned, then the head was half-way, then the head all the way (so they checked her cord – not wrapped around her neck), and finally the shoulders and rest of her body. Midway through those pushes, I said, “Yep, there’s that ring of fire!” I couldn’t be happier though. Everyone always worries about tearing and feeling the horrible pain of actually pushing the baby out – but it was nothing to me at that point. I just wanted to meet this perfect little being!

The best way I can describe that last pain of getting her out was the ultimate release: yes, it hurt…but it didn’t hurt as bad as the contractions, honestly, and I knew that I was SOOOO close. The feeling when she finally popped out was one like no other. I wouldn’t have missed that for the world. In that moment, it was like all the bad memories of the labor were gone, and I knew everything had gone exactly how it should have. She lay on my tummy (short cord – wouldn’t make it to my chest) while they let her cord stop pulsing.

Finally, my husband cut the cord and I brought her to my chest where she was alert and calm. They suctioned a little fluid out of her nose/mouth, and she was so happy and content to lie there with me in the tub. She got an 8 for her initial APGAR because of her bluish tint and her fluid in the mouth/nose. (She was later a 9.)

A few minutes later, my husband took the baby while the midwives helped me out of the tub. I was dirty, sweaty and exhausted, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to hold my baby and look at her. My husband brought her to me where she quickly began breast feeding. I was absolutely amazed that nature could design such a perfect system! I instantly fell in love, and I even saw my husband in a whole new light. He’s now not only my best friend, but he’s Harper’s daddy and he’s my absolute and unwavering support. He is so wonderful.

The rest is what you would expect – I did have a tear (2nd degree), so the midwife and one of her students sewed me up while another student did the full exam of the baby. I smiled and ignored what was happening to me while I looked over at my husband’s giddy smile while holding our precious bundle. When they finally finished getting me situated, I took the most glorious shower and quickly returned to my little one. She was sleeping peacefully and did so until we got home and nursed again. That night, we all lay in bed and were a family together for the first time.

Labor stats:

• So, total time in labor: 12 hours, 38 minutes
• Total time pushing: almost 2 hours
• Total time at the birthing center: approximately 12 hours
• How long at the birthing center after birth: roughly 5 hours

Baby’s stats:

• Weeks pregnant: 40 weeks, 4 days
• Born 3:58pm, Sunday, June 5
• 7 pounds, 8 ounces
• 20 inches long
• APGAR: 8/9
• Hair: YES! Full head!

Holding Harper for the first time after getting out of the tub - one of the most blissful moments of my life.

Getting ready to head home from Bella Natal.

Snug as a bug in a rug! First car ride.

Daddy with Harper at our 6-week postpartum checkup

Happy girls at our 6-week postpartum checkup!

So, in case you haven’t figured it out, I HIGHLY recommend Bella Natal Birthing Suites and the amazing midwives at BetterBirth. I absolutely couldn’t have done this without them, and it was great getting to know each one of them through my pregnancy.

BetterBirth and Bella Natal Birthing Suites
3538 S Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Phone: 801.225.5668 (call to schedule a free tour and initial consultation!)

Sewer line replacement. Very exciting stuff, right? Not really, I know. However, if you live in one of the thousands of hundred-or-so-year-old homes scattered throughout Salt Lake City, it’s probably something you’ve pondered.

A couple months ago, my husband and I found the PERFECT home for our growing family. We loved the location, the size, the style, the decor and the price. The only problem? The basement was flooded with…well…poop. After some investigation, we found that our 1917-era, cast-iron and clay sewer line was buckling in multiple places underground. To make matters worse, the line was shared with our neighbor. Yep, you got it. Neighbor’s sewage. Flowing. Into. Our. Basement.

The odor and sewage in the home were only the tip of the iceberg. We checked into getting a liner placed in the existing line (a much cheaper alternative to getting a full sewer line replacement), but it wasn’t an option because of the condition of the line. Next, we looked into replacing the shared line as is, but the city no longer allows shared lines (the old ones are grandfathered into the system, but if you replace a line, you have to have separate ones for each house).

The only option was to split both homes off the shared line, remove it, and install two completely new lines from the homes to the city sewer in the middle of 1700 South. Booger.

So, we did it. And honestly? We couldn’t be happier. We worked together with our awesome neighbors to hammer out estimates from four different companies, and we both agreed to get new water line put in, too, since we had to rip up the neighbor’s driveway (might as well get everything done at once, we figured). For our house, we also replaced the main stack since it was an old cast iron pipe with a couple large cracks in it. My husband did that work himself, but Anchored Excavation had to run it under our foundation to give him a new tie-in. Speaking of Anchored Excavation; I couldn’t recommend them more highly. We worked with Jeff Bowcutt to get the estimate and work done, and he was with us every step of the way explaining the process and helping us to deal with the city permitting department (another booger).

Here’s what I learned from the process:

• Sewer lines are not cheap. We could have bought a small, new Volkswagen with what we spent on ours. And that’s only our half. (The neighbor’s paid almost the same, minus the new stack tie-in placed under the foundation of the house.)
• Sewer liners are a great, inexpensive (relatively) fix for a sewer line with minor problems. Ours had major problems.
• It’s good to have great neighbors. We wouldn’t have purchased the home had we not known our neighbors would cooperate with us on this repair.
• Cast iron and clay should not be used for sewer pipes.
• Anticipate the worst when having a sewer line replaced. And be flexible. There’s no way to know what lurks below the dirt until you dig it up.
• Get several estimates. And if you don’t feel like a company can handle the job, they probably can’t. We felt super confident with Anchored and were not disappointed.
• Be prepared for the job to take twice as long as you were originally told.
• Take photos of the street before the job is done, especially if it is damaged. Otherwise, the city might hold you liable for cracks (presumably) caused by the heavy equipment used in your repair.
• Consider getting permits from the city yourself. Some sewer line replacement companies will charge you an arm and a leg for this. Anchored didn’t, so we let them handle it.  They didn’t even charge a markup. The city permits should cost around $500.
• There are all kinds of city code requirements that must be followed in order to have a “legal” sewer line. Make absolutely sure the company you choose to do the repair is familiar with all these specs. There are far too many for me to remember or go into in this post, but trust me…you want someone else to know these. Anchored was great about getting all the answers we needed in order to pass inspection.
• Having a sewer line put in on your baby’s due date probably isn’t the best way to follow the “no-stress” orders from one’s midwife. Oh well. We all survived!

Here are a few photos I snapped with my iPhone during the repair (sorry that the quality isn’t awesome):

The view from my front porch on the day the replacement commenced.

Bringing in the big boys! Okay, maybe not. But it had to fit between our houses...

Neighbor's driveway...gone...

The trench in 1700 S to access the city main.

Accessing the main stack tie-in of my house.

Me. Helping. Clearly.

Ensuring the sides of the trench don't kill anyone.

The beautiful new line!

New cleanouts for both our neighbors and us.

After that, all that was left was to repour the neighbor’s driveway. Easy!

Anchored Excavation
Contact: Jeff Bowcutt
801-293-9332
jeff@anchored.biz

It’s that time of year again…no, not the time when it rains (snows?) for weeks on end (although that has been the case this year)…

It’s time for all the farmers/craft markets to begin! Yeah! (Plus, all events are free unless otherwise specified!)

Farmers Markets

Pioneer Park (Downtown)
The 2011 Farmers Market provides an opportunity for the community to support local on both Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings. The Market—with over 200 vendors—offers a unique variety of farmers, growers, bakeries, prepared food and beverages, packaged foods and local artisans.

Alongside the Downtown Farmers Market, the Downtown Art & Craft Market features Utah artists and crafters who create all categories of handmade, non-imported crafts and visual arts; including original paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, household wares, leather goods, dried flowers, bath products, furniture, and one-of-a-kind gifts.

Downtown Saturday Farmers Market
June 11 – October 22
Saturday mornings: 8am-1pm
Historic Pioneer Park (300 South & 300 West)

Downtown Tuesday Farmers Market
August 9 – October 25
Tuesday evenings: 4pm-dusk
Historic Pioneer Park (300 South and 300 West)

Sugar House
The Sugar House Farmers Market is taking place on Monument Plaza in the heart of the Sugar House Shopping District.  The side street on the south side of 2100 S at 1100 E will be closed off, allowing space for 24 vendors. The market will operate every Friday from July 9th until October 15 from 3 pm until dusk.

West Side – People’s Market

This year’s People’s Market market will run June 12, 2011 – October 23, 2011 and is held Sundays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Vendors can be farmers, home gardeners, local artisans, processed or prepared food vendors, nonprofit organizations, local businesses, or youth entrepreneurs.

Craft/Art Markets

In addition to the farmers markets listed above, Salt Lake City has several opportunities to check out locally made crafts and art:

Utah Arts Festival
June 23-26
Library Square & Washington Square, 200 East 400 South
Ticket pricing

In 2011, the Festival will open its gates for the 35th time. What started out as the Salt Lake Festival of the Arts for three days in June of 1977 featuring 55 visual artists, 43 performing arts groups and 8 food artists on a three block section of Main Street has blossomed into a 4 day event, featuring 140+ visual artists, 100+ performing arts groups, 18+ culinary artists and drawing 80,000 patrons each June to Library and Washington Squares.

The Utah Arts Festival is the largest outdoor multi-disciplinary arts event in Utah. Having garnered numerous awards internationally, nationally and locally, the event remains one of the premiere events that kicks off the summer in Utah each June.

Craft Sabbath
First Sunday of every month
Main Library at 210 East 400 South

Craft Lake City
August 13, 2011
Gallivan Center Plaza

Craft Lake City is an outdoor arts festival that will showcase hundreds of local artists, specializing in handmade goods. Affordably priced items like silk-screened posters, reconstructed clothing, knitted items and jewelry will be available. Entertainment will be provided throughout the day and will include craft demonstrations, street performers, dancers and musical acts. Craft Lake City is modeled after alternative national craft festivals like the Renegade Craft Fair and the Bazaar Bizarre. The event is sponsored by the Gallivan Center and hosted by SLUG Magazine.

What other markets and street fairs will you be attending this summer? Leave your answer in the comments below so we can add it to the list!

PS – Sorry, I’ve been a little lazy at 39 weeks pregnant! This week’s post photo courtesy of the Downtown Alliance.

My mother-in-law, an interior decorator, recently paid us a visit. Upon seeing the home we’re purchasing later this month, she told me that I just had to have some old stained glass windows to put on display over the fireplace. And of course, she knew exactly the place. (Even though she lives in West Virginia, she’s spent quite a bit of time perusing our local antique stores on her many visits.)

So, off to Euro Treasures we went. Did we find any stained glass? Um, yes. I think we looked through about a thousand pieces…

There are lots of…ahem…interesting items at Euro Treasures. Being that I am almost 9 months pregnant, I found this one somewhat appealing. New mantlepiece, perhaps?

This book was in pristine condition and had lots of good tips for children. My favorite was how “certain things are private” and one should not share with anyone except his mother and father if he has eaten too much ice cream and is feeling ill. Perhaps I should have re-read that little lesson before eating that cake batter ice cream with an extra scoop of chocolate flakes today!

Some of the items in Euro Treasures date back to the 1700s. You absolutely cannot imagine the craftsmanship and carving on these pieces. Here is one such example:

Unfortunately, there were no chairs to be found at Euro Treasures. *sigh*

So. Take your coat (it gets pretty chilly in this big warehouse). And put on your tennis shoes (you will need them – or maybe that’s just my 40 extra pounds talking!). Get over there, and get over there now!

Euro Treasures (on the web)
470 W 600 S (right off the 600 S exit of I-15)
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Phone: 801.364.6390

Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm

Green garage.

It’s a bit of an oxymoron, right? Surprise, surprise – not at Clark’s Auto! It is true that carpooling, buying more fuel-efficient cars, using public transportation and riding one’s bike are all ways to reduce the damage of our gas guzzlers on the environment. Well, now, there’s another way to add to the list: take your car to Clark’s Auto on 1700 S and 500 E.

Clark’s Auto really IS different than other automobile maintenance outfits. First, they recycle everything they can from the plastic bottles and packaging in which their supplies arrive to tires they’ve just replaced. Second, they strive to use biodegradable and/or earth-friendly cleaning solvents to keep the place in tip-top shape. And finally, they offer a revolutionary service called the EcoPower Oil Change.

According to the EcoPower brochure, it is environmentally-friendly because:

• Making new, highest-quality oil from reclaimed oil conserves valuable, non-renewable resources.
• A recent Department of Energy study has determined it takes up to 85% less energy to produce re-refined oil compared to oils made from crude oil.
• Reclaimed oil is either re-refined into new oil or blended into fuel oil and is burned. When made into new oil, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by more than 80%.

THE BEST PART? Clark’s Auto has teamed up with SaltLakeDenizen this month to offer TWO FREE EcoPower Oil Changes! Check out the photos below, and then click-through to enter.

Clark’s Auto Service (on Facebook)
Phone: 801.485.2858

506 East 1700 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Hours: M-F, 8am-5:30pm

Remember to call ahead to schedule service!

Without fail, every time I receive or see someone else receive an AMAZING gift, it comes from Hip & Humble. Nestled just off the beaten path at 9th & 9th, Hip & Humble has been a favorite local fixture for over 10 years. It’s easy to see why this treasure trove is so beloved…

Meet Andrea. She’s one of the awesome staff members at Hip & Humble who will greet you with a freshly baked cookie and a water or soda. Seriously.

Aaaaaand as IF I needed another reason to buy more baby stuff! This has to be the best place for a last-minute shower gift for the mom- or bride-to-be. They have great stuff for housewarming parties, too.

Rugs are to a turn-of-the-century bungalow owner as ice cream is to an 8-month-pregnant woman. I could devour each and every one of these.

Housewares, anyone? How badly does your kitchen need a bright yellow colander? Badly, I’m sure. Add to it the adorable tea towels, and you’re ready to make dinner in urban, retro style.

I admit it. I am (still) a little obsessed with owls. I don’t care if the “in” thing is now deer. Or fox. Or some other rodent or vermin that I haven’t even heard about yet. I still like owls. Especially when they are felted wool.

And what good is an owl without a few birds? Absolutely love it.

Oh yes, they have an amazing selection of shoes and women’s clothing, too. I will be all over this place as soon as my feet aren’t swollen and I don’t look like I swallowed a small person.

The next time you’re in the area of 9th & 9th…or whenever you need a gift for anyone with good taste, head to Hip & Humble. From their inviting, fuchsia door to…well, pretty much every other thing about the place, you really can’t beat it. I could spend an hour drooling over every single room.

Hip & Humble (on the web)
Hip & Humble (on Facebook)
1043 E 900 S
Salt Lake City, UT
Phone: 801.467.4130

Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm
Sat: 10am-6pm
Sun: 12pm-5pm

There is almost nothing as satisfying as getting a hand-written note or card in the mail (except for eating a half-box of Girl Scout Do-Si-Dos…maybe). Wait, I take that back. The most satisfying thing one can do is DEFINITELY to read a hand-written note WHILE eating a half-box of Do-Si-Dos. I know this because I’ve done it this week. Twice.

(Sorry, pregnant women shouldn’t be writing posts about colorful, printed, paper things while surrounded by boxes of half-eaten cookies. Trust me.)

Okay. So. Back to the post.

The Write Image is an absolutely fabulous stationery store in Salt Lake City. Located conveniently on 2100 South (2205 East), the store features a great selection of high-end stationery, more affordable notecards and notepads, albums, greeting cards, gift wrap and more. They also specialize in helping you create custom invitations and announcements for special events like showers, weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations.

Here’s a great shot of Niki with Lauren (not me, a different Lauren!), one of the friendly faces you’ll find eager to help you at The Write Image.

Ahhhh…the prints….the colors…and the recycled paper! Love it!

Notes That Stick. Perfect for decorating your desk, marking your spot on a knitting pattern…or you know, writing a note. That sticks.

Unique gift wrap ideas, anyone? Use twine! It’s so sweet and special.

I absolutely adore Paper Source products. They use recycled papers and have beautiful, modern prints. Lots of them to choose from, too.

The Seven Year Pen. Use it to write a love letter when you get the seven-year itch. Sometimes adding a little romance is all you need to fall right back in love. (Seriously, where do I get this stuff? I blame the hormones.)

Beautiful rolls of gift wrap. Use it for…you know…gifts. OR, better yet, pull out the Mod Podge and get crafty!

And last but not least, the token black & white shot. I’m sure I get bonus points for having the word “letterpress” somewhere in there.

On a more serious note, The Write Image has all you need to make a good impression. The best part is that shopping for beautiful stationery has this way of making you feel sophisticated, happy and refined. We all need those moments (especially me, since sweatpants are the new black right now in my house)! So, get thee to The Write Image, and start making a list of everyone to which you’ll send a fabulous letter.

The Write Image
2205 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT, 84109

Phone: 801.485.1909
Email: customerservice@twio.com

Hours: M-F, 10am-6:30pm; Sat. 10am-5pm

The Write Image on Facebook
The Write Image on the Web
The Write Image on Twitter

If you’re even the slightest bit of a public radio junkie like I am, you’ve undoubtedly heard Steven Rosenberg and his “Hey, Eat!” slogan for Liberty Heights Fresh. I’d heard it so many times, I kind of felt like my husband had just spoken to a celebrity when he called the store to join the Sustainably Farmed Food program.

Located at the corner of 1300 South and 1100 East, the Liberty Heights Fresh building started out as a gas station in the 1920s. It wasn’t until 1993 that Steven Rosenberg purchased the place and proudly named himself CEO – “Chief Eating Officer” (How do I get in line to climb THAT corporate ladder?!). According to the store’s website, Steven “truly believes that what we put in our mouths makes a difference for our bodies, our souls, and our planet.” This philosophy shines through in everything from the way the store is merchandised to the amazing flavors that dance around your taste buds with every bite.
Liberty Heights Fresh is known for its amazing selection of cheeses and charcuterie (translation: prepared meat products), but you’ll keep going back for so much more. They have chocolates from around the world (MY personal favorite), tons of seasonal, organic produce, organic sodas and alcoholic beverages, an incredible selection of olive and other oils, pasta, fresh flowers, baked goods and so much more. You simply have to visit to see all the goodness that can be put in this small package.

The market also offers catering, party platters, concert picnic bags (for the Red Butte Concerts in the summer) and the incredible Sustainably Farmed Food program. In this program, members choose from a variety of options including the Vegan, Vegetarian and Omnivore selections. My husband and I just picked up our first bag last week – and we’ve been amazed at the quality of this food. The price is super economical, too (especially considering what you get). In addition to the bag of goods, you get weekly recipes and shopping lists to help round out your menu and make healthy, delicious meal planning a breeze.

I can’t say enough good things about Liberty Heights Fresh. Check out the photos, and then go see it for yourself!

Liberty Heights Fresh on the Web
Liberty Heights Fresh on Facebook

Address:
1290 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84105

Phone:
801.58-FRESH (801. 58-37374)

Hours:
Monday – Saturday 8:30am-8:00pm
Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm

Niki and I have this great client who recently suggested we meet at Cafe Solstice to sign some documents. I had heard of the place before, but since it’s a little off the main drag, I hadn’t actually been inside. I was happy to add this to our repertoire of business meeting places because it is truly a gem!

Cafe Solstice is actually nestled inside of Dancing Cranes Imports. Funny thing is, I had been searching for a store like this (not very hard, apparently) since I moved to Salt Lake City four years ago. They carry all sorts of imported goods including clothing, incense, candles, textiles (tapestries and panels), scarves, wind chimes, stationery/cards, gifts, plants, home decor, jewelry and more. I even spotted a pair of Thai fisherman pants! (I purchased several pairs of these in Thailand, and these days, they are all I can get around my burgeoning preggo belly!)

I have heard it called the “hippie mall” before…and I hate to say it, but that’s really a good way to describe it! The place is huge – not one of these tiny shops that pops up and has a tiny selection of a few clothing items and some incense. No, Dancing Cranes Imports and Cafe Solstice are a bustling smorgasbord of colors, textures, smells and tastes.

Another really cool thing about Dancing Cranes Imports (if you’re into this sort of thing) is that they offer Deeksha blessings, Kundalini yoga, astrology Q&A, tarot readings, palm integration and massage. There is something going on at the store every day, so you can just stop by or check their calendar here.

So grab a chai from the cafe and browse around the store. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

Dancing Cranes Imports on the Web
Dancing Cranes on Facebook
673 East Simpson Ave. (2240 South)
Salt Lake City, UT, 84106
(801) 486-1129

Hours:
Mon. – Sat.: 10am-7pm
Sun.: 12pm-5pm