Utah Finds: My Favorite Chocolate Treats

Pictures By: Bailey Winters

 Hi guys! I tell you what... this time of year I have the hardest time not stuffing my face with every chocolate heart I see. I like chocolate normally; but when it's EVERYWHERE I go and it's wrapped up so nice and cute and the chocolate itself looks so pretty it is hard to resist. And I although I'll eat pretty much any type of chocolate I do have my favorites. Here are some of my favorite chocolate treats here in Utah...I could probably do 3 more posts on my favorites; but these will do for now.

S'more Chocolates: Mrs. Cavanaugh's in Bountiful

Oh. My. Lands. These chocolates are my favorite! My mom gets them for me twice a year, Valentine's Day and Christmas. They taste like the perfect s'more! The marshmallow to chocolate to graham cracker ratio is perfect. Plus the chocolate just melts in your mouth... go try them ASAP!


Chocolate from The British Pantry 

I looooove European chocolate. I don't care what anyone says, it tastes different than American chocolate and it is so much better! (Don't get me wrong, I am proud to be American I just wish some of our chocolate was better.) Anyway, go to the British Pantry (There is one in Sandy and one in Salt Lake) and get yourself an Aero Bar, a Double Decker, Minstrels and a good old fashioned Kit Kat. You won't be dissapointed.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries from V Chocolates

If you are from around these here parts you probably have tried some sort of treat from V Chocolates.  You really can't go wrong with anything from this place... but I have two favorites, the chocolate covered strawberries and the milk chocolate pretzel caramels. The chocolate is so smooth and yummy... I am drooling just thinking about it. T.M.I? Sorry.

Hot Chocolate from Hatch Family Chocolates

So this next chocolate treat isn't straight chocolate... but it's so good I had to put it on my list. The Hot Chocolate from Hatch Family Chocolates is so rich, creamy and delicious it can change lifes. Obviously I am kidding but it is SUPER delicious.

Chocolate Cake from Porcupine Grill  

The bummer about the Chocolate Cake at the Porcupine Grill is that it's a Special... so you might have to call ahead and ask if they have it before you drive up. Or call and see if they have a schedule for when they make it. It is good man, it is just plain good. It has three layers of delicious cake and scrumptious frosting. I usually don't love chocolate cake (I know that's weird for chocolate lover but it's the truth) but this one is an exception.

So those are just some of my favorite chocolate treats! Tell me if you have tried/or are going to try them! And I love to hear your favorites!

Utah Finds: My Favorite Mexican Resturants

The weekend is here! And I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to do on the weekend is go out to eat. That says the weekend to me... heading out with family/friends and eating good food and laughing our heads off. Anyway, whenever it's up to me I usually go for Mexican food. I just love it! Here are some of my top picks in here in good old Utah!

Via Alemexo

1. Milagros
This. Place. Is. The. BEST! Oh my lands above, I have told lots of people to go here and every time someone goes they have nothing but great things to say. Their salsa is divine and so is their queso. I usually order their chicken chimichanga, but the mango salad is a delicious as well! I crave this place constantly.

870 W 800 N   

Orem, Utah 84057

2. Cantina

I like this place mostly because of the salsa bar. YES a salsa bar. You go up and get your chips and as much salsa as you want. There are so many choices! I like the mango salsa and the green-not-hot one. Haha, I wish I knew what it was called... but you'll figure it out if you go!

296 N. Main Street

Layton, UT 84041 

3. The Red Iguana

If you are from Utah you knew this choice was coming. I love mole and that is what they are famous for. My favorite is the Mole Publano.

736 W North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116 

and

866 W South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116

4. Alamexo

So bloggers have been instagraming this place like crazy. I went there with my mom and it's actually pretty good! If you like guac you will love it! They make it at your table, dinner and a show! (Lame joke). At the end of dinner they bring you churros. free dessert? Sounds good. PLUS their queso is yummy too... if a place has a good cheese dip I am a fan. Alamexo closes in between lunch and dinner so make sure to check the times before you visit!

268 South State Street,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Satisfying a Sweet Tooth! RubySnap

I loooove sweets. There is something about them that just make ya happy. To be honest I try to only eat them on the weekends...but every once in awhile I just need a mid-week pick me up. One of my favorite places to go to satisfy my sweet tooth is RubySnap.

RubySnap is a cookie shop in Downtown Salt Lake and I adore it. Each cookie is name after a woman... like Audrey, Betty Darby etc. And each one has a picture to go with it, an old school fifties picture that makes the shop have kind of a vintage vibe.

The cookies are thick and scrumptious and every bite is full of flavor. My favorite is "Suzie." The cookies is made with vanilla dough, then tart cherries and milk chocolate chips are added. It is drizzled with milk chocolate and a little bit of pink sparkle.

The fan favorite at RubySnap is "Penelope." A peanut butter cooked dipped in chocolate. Simple but oh so delicious!

Hungry yet? Go check 'em out!

770 S 300 W

 Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Your Best Tan

It is that time of year where everyone craves that sun-kissed glow. I know I love it! I feel like I look skinner and my eyes pop more and spring colors look better on me. Anyway, my mother is the type that reminds me that I need to take care of my skin. So I figured spray on tans were the best bet for me. BUT I have seen some spray on tans that have looked so bad I want to give the recipients "I'm Sorry" cards. However, a bit ago I interned with a bridal magazine and I had to do a piece on tanning. I found the best place! Its called Bella Tanning Salon. They do an AMAZING job! Anyway, here is the article I did on it. If you need a healthy tan, give them a try!

First I made an appointment online.

 (You can call, but online is just so much easier!)

Then I picked the tan I wanted, I went with the “full body” but there are a couple of other options.

The options include a simple “face tan”, “half body”, and if you want to get really fancy try the “contour tan”.

The “contour tan” highlights your muscles and makes you look like a lean mean bronze machine.

After you choose your tan the lovely people from Bella send directions on what to do the day before to make your tan stay extra long.

The steps are pretty simple.

You need to exfoliate your body really well, and use a regular washcloth to get all that dry skin off.

Besides exfoliating make sure you soak in a warm bath for 20 minutes, shave your legs, and use A LOT of lotion.

(I basically bathed in lotion, but my tan stayed for a little over a week!)

The next day I went to the Salon, where the owner of the salon, Amanda, greeted me as if I was an old friend.

Then she took me back to the “air-brush room”.

Some people go topless, but I was more comfortable wearing some clothes.

She came back in after I was all situated and made a perfect air-brush color for my skin tone.

After finding the perfect color for me, Amanda sprayed away!

Unlike those awkward spray tan machines, Amanda sprayed everywhere and sprayed evenly so it looked like an actual tan.

The actually airbrush process did not take very long, it took about 15-20 minutes.

Then I dried myself off with a blow dryer and Amanda sent me on my way!

It took a couple of hours for the tan to fully show but when it did...

WOW! I loved it!

I got getting comments like:

“Your skin looks nice and tan.”

“Have you been laying out?”

“Your tan looks really good... what have you been doing?”

And who doesn’t love compliments?

BUT remember, after you get your tan stay AWAY from the water for at least 8 hours.

Amanda suggest you take an attitude to water like the Wicked Witch of the West would...but after 8 hours its fine to shower again.

Now, I know all the steps I mentioned may seem a bit overwhelming, but trust me it is totally worth it.

And I can tell you one thing...

I definitely will be going back!

You can make you appointment at http://www.airbrushtanningutah.net/

Or Call!

Pricing and descriptions can be found online.