Thanksgiving Point Membership Giveaway

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Why not give something that can be enjoyed for an entire year?

A Thanksgiving Point Annual Membership offers access to all venues, from the always popular Dinosaur Museum to the award-winning gardens and even $5 movies on the XanGo movie screen. It’s the perfect gift for your best friend and her family, your favorite neighbor or even yourself.

This pass will come at the perfect time of year! They have a lot going on this holiday season at Thanksgiving Point, some for a minimal cost, lots with a discount if you are a member and some of them FREE:
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• Holiday Lights: It is the 9th year of the holiday lights, the outdoor lights have more than one million sparkling lights set to holiday music, artwork by Simon Dewey and a reading of “The Christmas Story.” One year we took a carriage ride through the lights and it is a night my girls will never forget. Entry is $8 per car or $4 per car for Thanksgiving Point members. Guests can also see the lights on the trolley ($3 per person, $75 for a reserved trolley of up to 30 people), by wagon ($3 per person, $90 for a reserved wagon of up to 30 people), by carriage ($40 by reservation only) or by private bus ($25).
• Breakfast with Santa: Santa’s annual breakfast is at Thanksgiving Point’s Show Barn on three December Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. Joined by Mrs. Claus, his elves, Buddy the Elf and the Gingerbread Man, Santa will host a fun family breakfast. Tickets purchased in advance are $15 for children 12 and under and $20 for kids and adults age 13 and older.
• Voice Male Christmas Performance: Utah’s award-winning a cappella group Voice Male will perform its annual Christmas concert in the Show Barn on Dec. 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are reserved seating and are $14 in advance or $17 on the day of the event. Thanksgiving Point members will receive a 10 percent discount.
• Live Reindeer and Christmas Trees: From Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, two of Santa’s reindeer, Comet and Cupid, will be at Thanksgiving Point’s Water Tower Plaza Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.  Children can feed and pet the reindeer while the family chooses a freshly cut evergreen to bring home. My girl’s eyes just light up when they see these reindeer and I love that it is FREE!!
• Photos with Santa: Christmas photos with Santa Claus are a must have every single year. Santa will be at Thanksgiving Point on Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Water Tower Plaza.
• Ice Sculpting Demonstration: See the fascinating art of ice sculpture on Monday nights in December. Each evening will feature an artist transforming a 300-pound block of ice into a holiday-themed design or character. Come watch this amazing piece evolve on Dec. 5, 12 and 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Water Tower Plaza. This event is free to the public.

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Thanksgiving Point is giving away a one-year membership to one lucky reader ($175 value).

To enter, leave a comment on this post.

For extra entries:

~ Link to this post on your blog and be entered twice (leave a second comment telling us you blogged about it).

~ Tweet about this giveaway and/or Facebook about this giveaway (leave additional comments if you did so)

~ Like Sassy Scoops on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sassyscoops

A winner will be chosen at random on Dec. 18th. Good luck!!!

The Sassies recently visited Sammy’s Cafe in Pleasant Grove. And after reading about our visit I am sure you are already DROOLING over the thought of fry sauce and cupshakes.

We visit a lot of local businesses because we truly LOVE local. It is always wonderful to hear about how the owners support local too. Sammy actually uses local cupcake shops at all 3 locations for his cupshakes. How awesome is that? Local supporting local? It’s like the circle of life… business life. (I wonder if you say local too many times in one paragraph if you won’t go to heaven. Just like AIN’T.)

The Sassies discovered how to make sweet potato fries dinner and DESSERT all at once. Sammy’s will give you a side of caramel sauce that makes your dinner a sweet treat. I am pretty sure Lindsey smuggled some out under her shirt. (This may be her casual “I have caramel sauce dripping down my shirt” face)

So… what are you waiting for? Get hungry… grab the family… go to Sammy’s Cafe. They have locations in Rexburg, ID, Provo, UT, and Pleasant Grove, UT for your pie shake eating pleasure.

Sammy’s is all about getting locals to try local so they’re giving away two prize packs!

Prize pack #1: $30 in Sammy’s Cafe gift certificates; 3 “free shake” cards; 1 Sammy’s trucker hat

Prize pack #2: $20 in Sammy’s Cafe gift certificates; 2 “free shake” cards

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below telling us which which shake you’d most like to try. You can view the menu here.

Additional entries:

1 entry ~ “Like” SassyScoops on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ “Like” Sammy’s Cafe Pleasant Grove on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ Follow @SassyScoops on Twitter and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ Tweet about this giveaway with @SassyScoops and a link to this post and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

1 entry ~ Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

Giveaway ends Friday, October 21st.

All SassyScoops winners are notified via email.

So what did the Sassies think of Sammy’s Cafe in Pleasant Grove, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Love the fun location just off Center Street. It has an old-town Main Street feel to it—perfect for a pie shake parlor! I did notice it was pretty tiny, though, with limited seating. Kinda felt a bit claustrophobic, so I was glad they had a funky little back room for us and the kids.
Kim: I noticed and loved the hole-in-the-wall feel. I think the best restaurants are ones such as these. I loved the welcoming hand painted sign out front talking about pie shakes. I had no idea there even was such a thing! I was surprised to walk in and find additional seating in the back of the restaurant which had vintage desks and a table that I am sure used to be my aunt’s.
Lindsey: This place is small. Are you sure we are all going to fit in here with our kids? Oh wait, they have a back room. Cool. And what’s this? Cupshakes? Have mercy!
Stephanie: I walked in and thought it seemed a little small. But then I looked at the menu and it made up for the lack of size.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Emily: The battered fries were delicious as were the sweet potato fries (perfectly seasoned). Their unique fry sauce was super yummy; I might have wanted to take a gallon home with me. I also thought the “create your own burger” was a great idea, and my kids loved their shakes. (They loved them so much they forgot to share with me. Guess I need to return for my own!)
Kim: Camilla and I loved our cupshake. We may have even fought for it and over it. I personally loved the sweet potato fries and the concoction that made up the fry sauce was incredible. I learned later that the special ingredient was ranch dressing. Who would have thought? I really liked that I could make my own burger. I love that about other restaurants and I loved that I could pick and choose what I wanted on mine. I ended up with 4 different kinds of meats and even put an egg and spam on mine. It was delicious. I suggest you try it when you go.
Lindsey: I thought the hand-cut fries were delicious and the fry sauce was the perfect blend. I love that the potatoes come from Rexburg! I also really enjoyed my cupshake. I had the carrot cake cupshake and loved getting bits of frosting in the shake. I was also really impressed that they use cupcakes from local bakeries at each of their 3 locations.
Stephanie: I really liked my chicken sandwich. The chicken was tender and juicy. Chicken is typically dry and overcooked at most places. I also liked the fry sauce. Not your typical mayo and ketchup. It had some zing. I like zing. Plus there is a backroom that would work well for families or a bigger group of people.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: My kids weren’t super impressed with the chicken fingers. They looked like something frozen and reheated and were rather dry. My chicken sandwich was missing the pepper jack cheese, so it didn’t have nearly the kick I would have liked. But again, the fry sauce sort of distracted me from my disappointment. I would have liked a bit more seating as well. When the weather gets chilly, it’s going to be a bit cozy in there!
Kim: There was really nothing I didn’t like.
Lindsey: The mix in my soda was off.
Stephanie: The regular fries were a bit soggy but the sweet potato fries and battered fries were fabulous. I would also be really concerned about seating if I went during a lunch or dinner rush. I think it is more of a place I would get take out from.
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QUESTION

Would you refer Sammy’s Cafe to a friend?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: If they were in the area, I totally would! Who doesn’t want/need a cupshake or pie shake once in a while (or more often)? And their fries and fry sauce are delicious!
Kim: Certainly. It is a fun place to go after the kids’ soccer game. For a fun little treat to celebrate a new karate belt, or a great place to go to get some pie flavor in a jiffy.
Lindsey: Yes! I think it’s a great place to go and lounge with friends or get a treat after a movie on date night. I want to try all the cupshakes and pie shakes!
Stephanie: Yes. In fact I have many friends that have referred me to Sammy’s. People love it. And after tasting the food I can understand why.
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Cupshakes and pie shakes truly exist! You better do your own research @SammysPG. Don’t forget battered fries & fry sauce on the side!
Kim: @SammysPG for local pie shake goodness. Don’t know what a pie shake is? Well, now is the time to find out.
Lindsey: Go get introduced to dipping sweet potato fries in caramel at @SammysPG. It is seriously delish.
Stephanie: Burgers, and chicken, and pieshakes OH MY! @sammyspg and @sammyscafe IS your new burger joint.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Sammy’s Cafe in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on Sammy’s Cafe!

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Disclaimer: The Sassies were treated to a sampling of Sammy’s Cafe’s menu including their famous pie shakes and cupshakes. Some of us are still dreaming about the fry sauce.

You’ve heard of putting Oreos and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in shakes. Heck, you’ve probably even had a shake with mix-ins like hot fudge, mini M&Ms and fresh fruit. Question is, have you ever had a shake made with a slice of pie? Or one made with a locally baked cupcake? My guess is no, which means you have yet to visit one of the three Sammy’s Cafe locations: Provo, Rexburg and their newest location in Pleasant Grove.

Though Sammy’s Cafe offers a full menu of cafe-style savory items like burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, onion rings and fries (hand cut using Idaho potatoes; both regular and sweet potato), they’re famous for their shakes. On the menu you’ll find pie shakes like:

• Banana Cream Pie
• Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
• Mint Oreo
• Chocolate Cream Oreo Pie
• Coconut Cream Pie
• Fruit Cheesecakes (strawberry, blackberry, pineapple, raspberry)
• Peach Cobbler
• Apple Cobbler
• Blueberry
• Cherry

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You’ll also find cupcake shakes like key lime and strawberry shortcake. Not cool enough for a pie or cupcake shake? Try a traditional shake or malt in 15 different flavors. And they even come in half sizes for the kids (or kids-at-heart who are watching their waistline for some silly reason).

Speaking of waistline, Sammy’s Cafe offers a side of caramel with your sweet potoato fries. Yes, I said caramel. And their handmade fry sauce is delicious. (Wait, should that have been in Wednesday’s review? Oh well. It is really, really good.)

The new location in Pleasant Grove opened a week ago this last Saturday to lines out the door and live music in the air. Though the cafe locations in Provo and Rexburg have more of a college feel, the new location in PG lends itself to more of a “family” crowd.

What did the Sassies and their kids think of their visit to the new Sammy’s Cafe? Did any of the Sassies taste test one of the cafe’s famous pie shakes? Tune in Wednesday to find out!

Sammy’s Cafe
25 West Center Street
Pleasant Grove, UT

Sammy’s Cafe online: http://sammyspieshake.com/

Sammy’s Cafe blog: http://sammyscafe.blogspot.com/

Sammy’s Cafe (Pleasant Grove) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SammysPG

Sammy’s Cafe (Pleasant Grove) on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Sammys-Pleasant-Grove/100002683244155

Thanks to our fabulous friend Rachael over at TodaysMama.com and the good people at Kraft Lunchables, the Sassies were able to take their families on a family field trip to Boondocks Fun Center in Draper. Unfortunately, life happens (often) and by the time the scheduled date rolled around, only Kim, Lindsey, Kristina and I were able to do the field tripping. But we still had a blast and so did our kids from age 2 to 14.

So what did the Sassies think of Boondocks Fun Center in Draper, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I actually had my first impression a couple years ago when Nathan and I went to Boondocks for a date. We had so much fun racing each other on the go karts and trying out out par each other in mini golf. This time I did learn it can be a little tricky with groups if you don’t call ahead and fill out the appropriate paperwork so things are ready when you arrive, but Boondocks did their best to accommodate us and were fabulous even with my lack of planning.
Kim: Bright lights, music, beeps, the kind of place one could get lost in a world of fun.
Kristina: The environment is really fun and energetic. There are many different activities, a place to eat, and it was all rather easy to navigate.
Lindsey: Honestly, my first impression was how very loud it was. Then I looked around at all these families laughing and carrying on and I knew why. My family fit right it.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Emily: The group-rate packages. They were seriously a great deal, and most require only a minimum of 10 people. Our family is more than half that number! Our faves were also the amount of fun activities outside the arcade: laser tag, mini golf, go karts, a slick track, bumper boats, and this cool mini theater that made it feel like you were riding a real roller coaster!
Kim: LOVED the 4D theater. I liked that they had a few different lines and each line was a different coaster experience. My kids wanted to keep going and going on it, and I obliged. However, I think in my old age I am getting motion sick. We also loved winning tickets; I thought it was especially nice when one of the workers stopped to give us tips and tricks on how to win MORE. My kids loved picking out a little prize at the end, and we even had enough for the baby to get a prize too. Dad and I? We got stuck with the 1 ticket erasers. :) Also, the pizza was pretty darn delicious, something that surprised me.
Kristina: I really loved all the different available activities. There was laser tag, miniature golf, batting cages, bumper boats, arcade games, etc. And the pricing was very reasonable. The food was also excellent. I was rather surprised by the quality of the food.
Lindsey: I love that they have the classic Mrs. PacMan arcade game. I love a throw back game. But for the whole family, I am going to have to say laser tag. My husband and I took our toddlers in to play and had a blast with them. Turns out using a 3-year-old as a human shield to block your front censor really boosts your score! My boys had a blast in what they thought was a real-life Star Wars extravaganza.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: The super long wait for the go karts and even longer wait for the slick track. But then again, once you’re in the car you like how long the ride goes! Oh, and the ever painful cashing in of tickets for treasures. Why does that always take my kids so long? I did think the mini golf at night was way too dark. It was really hard to see the balls and the course. They definitely need a lot more light.
Kim: Hmmm, I can’t really think of anything I didn’t like. I might have wished I left the baby with a sitter so that I could have had more fun with my older kids. She is 2, and while she enjoyed some of the things, many were just too old for her.
Kristina: My husband and I played a game of miniature golf, where, of course, I dominated and kicked his butt. However, about 5-6 holes were unlit and all the lights were out. Some were so dark; we literally could not see the ball on the course. This also prevented me from cheating.
Lindsey: The food was better than I thought it would be, but it still wasn’t really great. I also had a hard time breathing (it was stifling!) in the room where you prep for laser tag. (That presentation of the rules, etc. is kind of long for antsy kiddos.)
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QUESTION

Would you refer Boondocks Fun Center to a friend?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Definitely! I think it would be a great place for a birthday party, family night or group date night!
Kim: I certainly would. We have been to similar places in California, so it was refreshing to have such a fun place close to home where we could literally spend hours and have unlimited amounts of fun.
Kristina: Definitely. We come here often and have brought family members with young children. There is something for every age to do.
Lindsey: Yes! We had a great time even though we had littler kids than most. Aside from Mrs. PacMan and laser tag, the mini golf course is fantastic (a fire-breathing dragon at the end!), the go karts are always a highlight and their indoor playground is the best I have seen. In fact, my kids wanted to spend most of their time on the playground pretending to be Indiana Jones.
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: @BoondockFunCntr is THE best place for family night or date night! Go karts, mini golf & laser tag, oh my!
Kim: @BoondockFunCnter for a whole family night worth of food, fun, and prizes. My kind of place.
Kristina: {not a tweeter}
Lindsey: For a fun, no-planning family night, head to @BoondockFunCnter where it’s ok to use your children as human shields in laser tag.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Boondocks Fun Center in Draper.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Disclaimer: Today’s Mama provided the Sassies with VISA gift cards thanks to Kraft Lunchables to use toward a local family field trip. We chose Boondocks—and what a great choice it was! Even though all that fabulous family fun was comped, the opinions are all ours and 100% honest.

A couple weeks ago TRAX invited some of the Sassies to be part of the first group to ride their newest line. You can read the news story here on that. But let’s first share what some of us thought of it. Then (most importantly), we’ll announce the giveaway!

Sassy Vanessa Brown took her three girls and these are some of the things she had to say. “The girls love TRAX. It is a special treat for them to ride “the train” to downtown and do something fun. It is even better when we invite some friends to come along. Obviously at this time in my life I don’t use TRAX for commuting but I really hate driving downtown when it is super busy AND even though I’m a grown woman, I still cannot parallel park so the TRAX line is well needed sometimes in my life….I really do wish that the TRAX stop was closer to the Daybreak “downtown.” That really would have been nice for the restaurants and shops to have people closer to support those businesses. I also have an issue with how I *thought* TRAX was too expensive for our family. But it turns out that I have been buying tickets for my kids for 5 years that I didn’t need to be buying. Yep, that is right. You don’t pay for kids 6 or under…I have always had a good experience with TRAX. It’s always kept very clean and always runs on time.”

Sassy Emily Hill shares her fun experience: “I admit I don’t use public transportation as much as I should. I’m guessing it has to do with taking a bus to and from work during college. The trip took nearly an hour one way and I was only traveling a handful of miles. That combined with an experience years later (two kids plus newborn plus stroller in a packed TRAX train during the holidays) has me nearly breaking out in hives when I think of boarding a train going anywhere…But thanks to a recent UTA Mom Aboard event, I got my butt out of my minivan and took the kids on a test ride of UTA’s new Mid-Jordan TRAX line…The only thing I thought odd was how far away the Daybreak Parkway Station was from SoDa Row. It would be a long haul with or without kids in tow, but perhaps they’ll install moving sidewalks from the station to the shops….Even without the taffy, train hat and train whistle, I’d have been impressed with the new TRAX line and the serious effort UTA is putting into connecting north, south, east and west in our great state of Utah. I may even attempt a TRAX ride with the kids to the Salt Lake City Library…”

A Past “Guest” Sassy Rebecca Wright said, “I love public transportation with all my heart.  I realize that’s a strange thing to love (and even stranger to love it with all my heart) but it’s true….I have used TRAX several times when going downtown, but that’s really all I’ve used it for because, well, it didn’t really GO anywhere else!  But that’s all about to change in a couple days.  I am so excited to know I have the option to take public transportation to more places and I am sure I’ll use it more often than I do now.  Riding the train is quite fun, you know….I still wish public transportation would take me anywhere I want to go like it does in New York City, but until that day happens, I’ll watch with excitement at all the new things UTA is making happen.  This is only the beginning and I’m excited to see where it goes!

“Retired” Sassy Evonne Sell had this to say about the event: “When UTA asked me to come ride the new Mid-Jordan TRAX line I couldn’t resist saying yes…my daughter has been talking about riding the bus ever since her school field trip in May, and I can’t remember the last time I took her on TRAX…It was fun making memories with my kids and it helped that the train stopped at one our favorite hot spots where we had lunch!  I am definitely a fan of public transportation, and since they are making TRAX in my neck of the woods now…there will be a lot more train trips!

RIDE UTA is giving away one pass for 4 people to ride TRAX for free!

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below.

Additional entries:

1 entry ~ Follow @SassyScoops on Twitter and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ “Like” SassyScoops on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ Tweet about this giveaway with @SassyScoops and a link to this post and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

1 entry ~ Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ “Like” Ride UTA on Facebook

Giveaway ends Saturday, August 5th, at midnight.

All SassyScoops winners are notified via email.

P.S. On August 3rd (prior to its grand opening on August 7th), the public can ride the new Mid-Jordan and West Valley lines. UTA is partnering with the Utah Food Bank to “let food be your fare” that day. Those boarding at one of the new stations will be encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item. Rides will begin at 9:00 a.m. and both lines will offer 15-minute service for the entire day in addition to other festivities at the stations.

So what did the Sassies and guest Sassies Joanie and Shannon think of their second visit to Smashburger in Draper, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I am a super duper big fan of Smashburger and eat there often, so I’m not sure I could give a first impression other than I was glad to be walking through those Smashburger doors!
Joanie: Clean restaurant, nice and simple menu, not too many choices. Good burgers.
Kim: Loved the modern and fun decor. I love places that embrace the modern and this place is happening. I hope it is something they strive to keep up and keep going as the years go by. Very important that the ambiance of the restaurant matches the food. Well done.
Kristina: The restaurant is modern and inviting. I like that almost every seating area is either a booth or is attached to a booth. I don’t think anything really stood out to me as being unique or different than other burger places, but there was nothing that I didn’t like about it, either.
Lindsey: Very clean. It smells delicious. I liked the tile behind the register. The menu was easy to understand with those cute little icons. Then there was the shock that they use real Häagen-Dazs ice cream in their shakes and floats. I respect that.
Shannon: All cool and modern, a clean, stainless steel space with yummy smells.
Stephanie: I was so happy to see that Smashburger in Draper was still as bright, clean, and delicious smelling as my first visit about a year ago. Plus there is plenty of seating for large groups which is always a must when the Sassies get together.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Emily: Honestly, the Mushroom Swiss is my most favorite burger on the menu. Just throw in a side of fried pickles and it’s heaven on a plate! I’m also a huge fan of the Baja Cobb salad—delicious! Oh, and I almost forgot…I love how involved Smashburger is with the community. They do a lot to support local causes.
Joanie: I liked the Classic Smashburger and the Avocado Club Smashchicken best.
Kim: THE BURGER. Oh my goodness, I am a burger snob and as far as burgers go, this is truly almost at the top of my list. I also adored the cookies and cream shake. If you know me, you know I have one almost weekly and this one, again, is almost at the top of my list. DELISH. Let us not forget the chipotle sauce…I could eat it by the spoonful.
Kristina: I loved the fried pickles. They were well battered and their Smashsauce is delicious. I was also very excited to see that they offered blue cheese as a cheese option. The stinkier the cheese, the better. My husband is very appreciative of that. The Veggie Fries were also great. Anything that can make vegetables unhealthy works for me.
Lindsey: Honestly, my burger was delicious. Coming from me, that means a lot. I make no bones about being a Five Guys Burgers and Fries girl. (Hello! I’m a Virginian!) But, my burger was very juicy and ridiculously flavorful. I had it with American Cheese and a fried egg—kind of different for me to not have a billion toppings, but in this case, less was really more.
Shannon: The flash-fried asparagus. Oh, the asparagus. SO GOOD. I might have to go there today now to get some more. SO GOOD. (Did I already say that?)
Stephanie: Getting a backstage tour of the kitchen. It was so much fun to see where the magic happens. Plus learning more about the smashing process and that it doesn’t take all those delicious juices out of your meat. And… Smashing a burger was pretty darn fun.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Hmmm…honestly I like pretty much everything on the menu, though the buffalo sauce is a bit spicy, but that’s just buffalo sauce in general. Oh, I know! The one thing I don’t like is you can’t get the Team Awesome burger at this location.
Joanie: I did not like the fries that everyone else loves ONLY because I don’t care for sweet potatoes OR rosemary. I do like their regular fries though.
Kim: The fried pickles. Although I did not even try them. I just hate pickles and therefore feared them. However, my pickle-loving fellow Sassies enjoyed them heartily.
Kristina: I’m not a big fan of sweet potato fries in general and these were no exception. They were crunchier than the ones I’ve had, but I still wasn’t a huge fan. I also do not like that they don’t do call-ahead orders. I work up the street from the Draper location and generally choose places I can call ahead or pick up through the drive through, so I don’t know how likely I would be to visit.
Lindsey: The fries are not my favorite. I think I will still stick with Five Guys for those.
Shannon: Honestly, I liked it all. Not sure if there was a kid’s menu? (Probably there was and I was just concentrating on stuffing my own face.)
Stephanie: That I couldn’t eat. Stupid diet. But that is over now and I plan on going in shortly and getting some of those fried pickles. Who’s with me?
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QUESTION

Would you refer Smashburger to a friend?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I have. Lots and lots of times. And I’m planning to take my dad when he comes out for a visit in July.
Joanie: Absolutely.
Kim: Most definitely. In fact, I did indeed treat one of my good friends to dinner at Smashburger recently and had to endure her “oooh my goodness this is so good” for a good hour, but I didn’t mind because I was saying the same thing to her.
Kristina: Yes. I was impressed with some of their changes. In the past I wouldn’t have recommended them because I felt like they over-sauced their burgers. I once ordered a burger with mustard, and that was all I could taste. They have seem to really eased up on the sauce. Their salads are great and their burgers are quite tasty.
Lindsey: Totally! In fact, I took my husband back a few days later to have him try the same burger I had to compare it to our beloved Five Guys. He thought it was delicious too!
Shannon: Yes, especially the fried asparagus. Oh, and the burgers.
Stephanie: Yes! I actually have referred many people there. I am constantly telling my husband to take some of his work friends to the Orem location. The burgers and fries are perfect for healthy man (hey… and woman) appetites.
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I think you need to smash, sizzle & savor with me @SmashburgerUT. We can share a Mushroom Swiss & side of fried pickles–YUM!
Joanie: Really diggin’ the burgers @Smashburger! Just tried the Avocado Club Smashchicken too. Sooo good! www.smashburger.com #utah
Kim: @Smashburger for all of my PMS red meat, and ice cream cravings. I am a new woman. #tmibutidontcareihavepmssowatchout
Kristina: The new menu at @Smashburger is a smashing success! Try some of their fried pickles and haystack onions.
Lindsey: When craving hits for a really juicy burger w/ loads of flavor & shake made w/ real Häagen-Dazs you can find me @Smashburger.
Shannon: @Smashburger is The Place for juicy, juicy hamburgers with awesome toppings, oh, and THE BEST ASPARAGUS EVER.
Stephanie: Get smashed… @smashburgerut has just the food to help.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Smashburger in Draper.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Here’s the scoop on our guest Sassies Shannon and Joanie. We’d consider it a real treat if you’d visit their super sweet blogs!…

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Shannon (aka “Jane”)

I blog (under the name Jane) at Seagull Fountain, where I recently vowed never to use the words “good” and “bad” in the same sentence as “mother” again. I’m married to Mr. Bennet (not his real name) and have three girls: Sally, Susan & Spot. I think most TV is highly overrated (esp. that Glee show and the new series Buffy the Vampire Slayer which I just discovered on hulu.com) but love House, Castle, Burn Notice, Bones, and The Office. I don’t have time to read. (Just kidding). Kinda. I think it was really awesome of the Sassies to let me tag along. I’m free most weeknights if you guys are ever reviewing, say, Thai Drift or Bombay House, or, you know, Chick-fil-A.

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Joanie

I blog at Keeping Up With M.O.M. – where the M.O.M. stands for “Mediocre.Outlandish.Me”. I mostly post about the ridiculous things I say or do as a wife and mother as well as funny stories about my children. I also do reviews and giveaways on my blog. I love networking online and in real life and had so much fun being a guest Sassy. I hope to do it again soon!

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on Smashburger. We will have a super “sweet” giveaway for our readers!

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Disclaimer: The Sassies were treated to a tour of Smashburger, a try at “smashing” and a taste of their menu in exchange for a review on SassyScoops.com.

This week you’ll hear about the Sassies’ experience at Mini’s Cupcakes in Salt Lake (downtown location). Owner Leslie Fiet claims to have been the one to bring the cupcake trend to Utah. In her journey of varied, past personal pursuits, she’s found herself in the arena of making and selling cupcakes, a role she seems to be enjoying.

Stepping into the bakery, it’s clear that Fiet has a preference for retro design and culture. The artwork, the furniture, the Donny & Marie dolls sitting under the flocked Christmas tree decorated in pink . . . all are representative of the owner’s interest in creating a unique atmosphere. Have a seat to watch one of the televisions (one showed The Jetsons while another featured episodes of Gilligan’s Island) while you eat your cupcakes.

Ah yes, the cupcakes. Visiting Mini’s Cupcakes during the Easter season gave us opportunity to see a variety of pastel-decorated treats, but what Fiet stresses is what’s inside the cupcakes: unbleached flour, unsweetened applesauce, eggs, cream, and other simple ingredients. Staying local is important as well—Fiet buys flour from Lehi Roller Mills and dairy products from Meadow Gold, purchasing products made locally and regionally. Having pure ingredients in her cupcakes is very important to her.

What did the Sassies think? Did we enjoy the mini cupcakes at Mini’s Cupcakes? Would we recommend the all-natural, ingredient-filled cupcakes? Stay tuned to find out later this week!

To contact Mini’s Cupcakes:

Two Locations

Mini’s Downtown
800 South 14 East (between Main and State Street)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
(801) 363-0608

Mini’s Sugarhouse
1751 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
(801) 746-2208

Online:

www.mini-cupcakes.com

twitter.com/miniscupcakes

facebook.com/pages/Minis-Cupcakes

email: leslie@mini-cupcakes.com

Thanksgiving Point is EXTENDING their annual Tulip Festival to May 7th and they want to give *YOU* the chance to go! Thanksgiving Point is giving away a family4-pack of passes to one lucky reader! By extending the Tulip Festival a full extra week now we ALL can enjoy the 250,000-plus tulips sprawled across its 55-acre gardens.

An added celebratory closing event will be held Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a Tulip Princess Tea Party hosted by the winners of the April 15 Tulip Princess Pageant. The Tea Party will serve lemonade and cookies to visitors and is included with the gardens entry admission. The event will also feature a mini fashion show with tulip-inspired outfits and kids games. RSVPs are appreciated at publicevents2@thanksgivingpoint.org or (801) 766-5018.

In addition to the colorful blooms, Thanksgiving Point’s Tulip Festival will include music from local bands, bagpipers and string quartets, craft vendors and food every Friday and Saturday including the extended weekend of May 6-7. Other family-fun activities will take place throughout the festival:

• Old Dutch Store’s Dutch Day will be held on Saturday, April 23, with Idlewild and the Accords performing authentic Dutch tunes and celebrating the Holland experience.
• Guest photo contest will be judged by Thanksgiving Point Facebook fans. The winning photo will be published in the Thanksgiving Point Gazette and the winner will receive an annual membership to Thanksgiving Point.
• An exhibit featuring photo contest entries and winners from 2010 will be on display throughout the festival.
• Daily garden tours and demonstrations are included with admission.

Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival is included with regular Gardens admission. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Saturday, through May 7. Entrance is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $6 for children aged 3-12 and free for Thanksgiving Point members and children under 2 years. Tickets can be purchased at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens, over the phone at(801) 768-4900, or online at thanksgivingpoint.org.

NOW for the part you have been waiting for . . . the GIVEAWAY!

ONE lucky SassyScoops.com reader is going to win a family 4-pack of passes to Thanksgiving Point’s Tulip Festival!

Entering is super easy. Just leave a comment on this post!

You can earn EXTRA entries too:

1 entry ~ “Like” Sassy Scoops on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

1 entry ~ Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

3 entries ~ Blog about this giveaway and include a link to your post.

Happy entering! This giveaway will end on Saturday, April 30th at midnight MST.

All SassyScoop giveaway winners are notified via email.

Play dates or meeting with friends for a snack or lunch is the perfect escape from a long day. We want somewhere clean, inexpensive, fun, kid-friendly and offers a yummy treat.

Could Yogurtland in Orem be the NEW hangout for moms?

Is it clean? Check! Inexpensive? Check! We still can’t believe the bowls for our kids ranged from $1 to $1.50 and our bowls ranged from $3 to $4. Who knew it was so affordable? So triple check on that one.

Is the place too “fancy” or “trendy” to bring the kids? A place where eyes will be rolled and things could be broken with a small bump? Nope, not at all, so another check for that one!

Lastly is it a yummy treat? I think this picture can give that one a big…

…check!

We also loved all the non-fat, sugar-free and gluten-free options and that they use local fresh fruit they prep themselves. Of course we weren’t the only ones who loved Yogurtland…our kids did too!

So click on the image below to print your coupon (expires April 30th) and then check out the address to try it out. Let us know what you think!

534 E. University Parkway
Orem, UT 84097
801.225.5440

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And now for the GIVEAWAY!!!

Yogurtland in Orem is giving away a $20 gift card to one SassyScoops.com reader!

Entering is super easy. Just leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite froyo flavor.

You can earn EXTRA entries too:

1 entry ~ Follow @YogurtlandOrem on Twitter and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ “Like” SassyScoops on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ Tweet about this giveaway with @SassyScoops and a link to this post and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

1 entry ~ Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

Happy entering! This giveaway will end on Friday, May 6th at midnight MST.

All SassyScoops giveaway winners are notified via email.