Nestled within The Shops at Riverwoods is a one of kind shop in Provo, Utah: Zion’s Mercantile Co. No, this isn’t ZCMI. It isn’t even a department store. It is a place where you can get unique gifts, art and home décor…all with a historical LDS twist.

The Sassies recently had the chance to visit Utah County and take a tour of the beautiful Zion’s Mercantile. And we were treated to more than what we expected. The manager Sheri—in fact all the employees—are so knowledgeable about the store history and items. Ask them a question about the artist of a painting or the replica rifles and they will know the answer. You can’t find that at a big box store.

Sheri and her sons actually became familiar with Zion’s Mercantile when they ran the store located in Nauvoo, IL. When they returned home to Utah they were asked several times to help start and manage a store here. And thankfully she agreed or we wouldn’t have our own Zion’s Mercantile here in Provo.

Zion’s Mercantile IS the place to buy gifts for anyone who is interested in early Utah history, Nauvoo, or who just wants something a little different. There is gorgeous artwork, historical replicas, cookbooks, toys, dishes and much, much more—all things you won’t find in other local stores.
Check back on Wednesday and Friday to see the scoop on Zion’s Mercantile and find out if Kim decided to stay in touch with her inner pioneer…forever.

But if you are like me and just can’t wait, feel free to visit:

Zion’s Mercantile
4801 N University Ave. #350
Provo, UT 84604
801.802.6064

Blog & site: zionsmercantile.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/zionsmercantile

If you live in Utah you likely have heard about The Pie Pizzeria. From the perfect crust to the layers of gooey cheese… it’s a legend around these parts.

The Pie is more than just a legend of delicious pizza. They have a great story:

Just a few steps off the University of Utah campus and your nose starts to tingle from the rich aromas of garlic and fresh baking Pie pizza dough. The mixed aromas pick you up, swirling you past colorful murals and old brick walls dressed in graffiti. The candle lit room filled with college students and professors seems neither crowded nor uncomfortable as people flow in and out for their Pie fix of the day. The University dine in location is open until 3:00 am on weekends, The Pie’s full motion Internet camera gives the world a peek at late night Pie junkies eating, drinking and sometimes even studying. The epitome of all college hangouts, you are now in what all Salt Lakers know as simply THE PIE!

In 1980, The Palmer family had a vision to turn the establishment into a great place for college students to relax, enjoy great food, study and listen to music. An immediate success, students came by the hundreds and The Pie grew from one location to five restaurants spanning Ogden to South Jordan and is still 100% family owned and operated today.

The Sassies recently had a chance to become part of The Pie’s rich and tasty history when we visited their new South Jordan, Utah location.

We learned The Pie is so much more than just pizza. They also have mouthwatering pasta, salad, wings, and subs on their menu.

You too can become part of The Pie’s history by visiting one of their five locations:

• The Pie Underground: 1320 E 200 S., Salt Lake City, UT 801 582-5700
• The Pie Salt Lake Delivery: 275 S. 1300 E., Salt Lake City, UT 801 582-5700
• The Pie Midvale: 7186 S. Union Park Ave., Midvale, UT 801 233-1999
• The Pie South Jordan: 10627 S. Redwood Road, South Jordan, UT 801 495-4095
• The Pie Ogden: 1225 E. Country Hills Drive, Ogden, UT 801 627-1920

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See what they are serving up on:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThePiePizzeria
• Urbanspoon: http://www.facebook.com/ThePiePizzeria
• Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-pie-pizzeria-salt-lake-city-3
• Website: http://www.thepie.com/

…
Come back Wednesday to see if the Sassies and our guest Evonne succumbed to the inches of cheese at The Pie.

Another cupcake shop?

Yes!

That is what I thought when One Sweet Slice opened up by my house and I proceeded to tell to my husband that I was getting a bit sick of cupcakes. The shop opened up nearby on 10600 South and Redwood Road in South Jordan.

But then on a day that I needed sugar I went into the shop and was beyond impressed with the customer service, sweet owner, taste of the cupcakes and selection. My husband (who usually thinks cupcakes are dry, lack flavor and are a bit of a bore) found the cupcakes to be moist, flavorful, inventive and the perfect treat.

My favorite has always been the Raspberry Chocolate.

So I quickly changed my mind and was grateful and a little nervous to have this cupcake shop close to my house. I mean, I bet that shop has added to holiday weight quite a bit. Oh, but it is oh so worth it.

Then I had them do my daughter’s personalized sculpted cake and once again was just blown away with the attention to detail, technique, taste and the magic of the cake.

I knew I had to get the Sassies in there to check it out and to review on our site.

Let me tell you a bit about the store and the sweet owner:

The owner, Janell, started doing wedding cakes when she found she had some extra time and an itch to do something creative after her first child. Her business grew and grew and she has made beautiful wedding cakes for numerous people. Three more children later, Janell decided she needed a storefront! But she needed to add something for walk-in customers just wanting a sweet treat.

CUPCAKES!

Janell thought that she would just simply put her perfected and delicious cake batter in the cupcake tins and it would be just as perfect. But she quickly learned that it was a totally different arena with cupcakes. She took six weeks to perfect all her NEW cupcake recipes. *And let me tell you, boy, does it show!*

Her store has been open for not even a year yet and so far it has been successful and enjoyable. They have new flavors they are trying out all the time as specials. And if the special does well enough, they put it into the regular rotations. They also do frozen drinks, hot chocolate, cake pops, brownies, smaller circle cakes for get-togethers and custom cakes for weddings, parties and birthdays.

The shop itself is adorable, a fun place to sit and eat a sweet treat. They also hold birthday parties in the back for younger children and also older children teaching them to do cupcakes or cakes for a party. I am excited that soon they are going to hold cake decorating classes (the owner used to teach Wilton classes back in the day) to offer to their grownup customers.

One Sweet Slice

1644 W. Towne Center Drive,  Suite D6

South Jordan, UT 84095
(801) 727-4275

http://www.onesweetslice.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/onesweetslice

Twitter: http://twitter.com/OneSweetSliceUT

But wait…here is the thing…

I have learned that people’s preference in cupcakes are a lot like finding “The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie” because it is a bit impossible. Everyone likes certain things in cupcakes just like they prefer cookies that are totally different than everyone else!

So what did the Sassies think of One Sweet Slice? Were they impressed as I have been? Or do the tastes of the cupcakes not mirror their personal likes and dislikes? We shall see! Stay tuned for the official review on Wednesday!

We all know that all-natural is best when it comes to products we put on our bodies. Whether we’re slathering on lotion, soaking in an oatmeal bath or simply washing our hands, the ingredients in your bath and body products really do matter. And just because the ingredients list includes aloe or shea butter or coconut oil, that doesn’t mean you’ll find much of that natural ingredient inside.

We learned all about ingredients lists and skin care products (the good, the bad and even the ugly) from the gal behind Spotted Owl Soap and Body Products.  (It was awesome, that’s all I’m saying.) She is a serious study when it comes to what goes into her natural bath and body products, and I love it because someone should be looking out for my skin!

Natural skin care isn’t complicated, it’s really simple. Instead of formulating for maximum shelf life or using cheap fillers, we developed our soaps and lotions for maximum benefit. We use only the best quality ingredients and every ingredient is there for a purpose. We use only natural oils derived from plants – no animal fats or petrolatum. We feel our natural skin care products strike the perfect balance of what nature and science have to offer your skin.

Doesn’t that make you want to pamper yourself—and your skin—with her products?

Spotted Owl Soap and Body Products offers a collection of soaps, lotions and butters, bath salts, scrubs, lip balms and fabulous gift sets. In fact, they’ll have some really awesome gift sets for the holidays—perfect for gifting to friends!

During our review we tried a sampling of products…and we may have even made our own scrubs. What did we think of Spotted Owl’s decadent shea butter or her fabulously silky lip balm? (Wait, did I just give it away?…) Return to SassyScoops.com on Wednesday to find out!

Spotted Owl Soap online: http://www.spottedowlsoap.com/

Spotted Owl on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spotted-Owl-Soap-and-Body-Products/109146739152147

Spotted Owl on Twitter: http://twitter.com/spottedowlsoap

When was the last time you had your picture taken by a photographer you really love? I am not talking about a studio but an actual photographer, one who shoots on REAL film and captures moments you didn’t even expect? Well look no further.The Sassies recently discovered Sharon Johnson Photography…and now we will share her with you.

Sharon isn’t your typical photographer. She is an artist at heart and that shows through in her work. I loved hearing her tell the story of how she became a photographer. Working at a big photo studio and being fired because she wanted to connect with the people she was shooting and Nnt just focus on (as they call it) the “money shot.”

Since then Sharon has been on a path that led her to where she is today, running her own successfully business where she connects with people and captures their lives one moment at a time. And isn’t that what photography is really about…freezing that one special moment it time?

Sharon loves to turn your life into beautiful art. Be it family photos, birth stories, baby’s first pictures or maybe some special grandkid pictures for grandma. Those special memories will come to you beautifully packaged and printed on gorgeous linen paper, smudge free for those with little sticky fingered friends.

Now I know what you are thinking: how much does all this cost? This is where you will be pleasantly surprised. A session with Sharon Johnson Photography only costs $75. Yup… you read that right. $75 for an experience you will remember. That includes a pre-session consultation with Sharon to iron out all the details and alleviate some of the stress. It’s like having your BFF take your portrait. I know she had the Sassies giggling when she recently snapped our headshots.

Photos start at $15 a print or you can get a portrait package starting at $450. And don’t worry, she offers payment plans because she knows that the collections are irresistible.

Sharon Johnson Photography services the Wasatch Front.

Visit Sharon online at http://www.sharonjohnsonphotography.com/.
On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Sharon-Johnson-Photography/.
Or call Sharon to book your session today at 801.603.2837.

For our Fall Girls Night Out we are having a Halloween Party!

Let us start off by saying there are only 50 spots so if you would like to come you will need to secure a spot by emailing Vanessa at inevergrewup at gmail dot com.

If you want more information on it and want to secure a spot please let us know! And if you are attending you can adorn your beautiful blog with any of these graphics:

Shall be spook-tacular. What could be better than supporting breast cancer, attending a Halloween costume party, socializing for hours and free food & drinks?

Remember secure your spot today by emailing Vanessa at inevergrewup at gmail dot com!

Last week’s review night was an awesome one. It was an evening of women-run endeavors: photography, all-natural bath & body products and gift baskets. But the gift baskets weren’t your run-of-the-mill gift basket. These were something unique; something very, very special. And something that truly touched our hearts. But we’ll have to save that side of the feature for Kim’s Friday post. Today I bring you the background.

Birth Mother Baskets (or {bmb}) is a non-profit organization that delivers gift baskets to birth mothers who have recently placed their babies for adoption. Gina, a birth mom herself, started bmb to help her heal after placing her own Little Butterfly 11 years ago. We met Gina. She is amazing, simply AMAZING.

Every basket includes a journal and the My Little Butterfly poem; other items are added (depending on what’s been donated) that are perfect for pampering: candles, lotion, bath salts, jewelry, inspiration books, perfume, CDs, makeup, magazines, slippers, nail polish, journal and even gift certificates for spa treatments. Each basket is different with an effort to tailor it to the specific needs of each birth mom.

These gift baskets hold so much more than just the tangible items inside of them. They are filled with LOVE, warmth and support. bmb provides a loving voice saying, ‘you are not alone, you are loved, you are brave and yes someone has felt this unbearable pain before.’

The baskets are free, though donations are always welcome to keep the baskets filled. Birth Mother Baskets relies 100% on donations (money and basket items) and has donated 400 baskets so far, even shipping to states like Ohio and California.

The stories of these courageous birth moms are touching and inspiring just like Gina’s story.

“Our hope is that they will for just a moment, feel that ache disappear by placing a bmb in their arms. Please, help us support these brave women who truly give the greatest gift of all… selfless LOVE.”
~ Gina

To keep up to date on everything Gina is doing with her baskets and her life (now happily married and the mother of three), visit Birth Mother Baskets online. You can also find bmb on Facebook.

To learn how you can donate, check out the Donate/Items Needed page on the bmb blog.

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

…
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

The Sassies had the opportunity to surreptitiously visit a local vegan bakery, City Cakes & Cafe, in the downtown Salt Lake City area. We put on our “We Hate Eating Animals or Their Byproducts” t-shirts and made a visit on the sly.

City Cakes & Cafe is well known for their vegan baked goods. As well as being a bakery, they are also a coffee shop and full espresso bar, and they make vegan and traditional wedding cakes.  City Cakes & Cafe opened in 2010 and has been receiving rave reviews from the vegetarian, vegan and meat eater communities. The bakery makes all of their items from scratch, and they also provide organic coffee an tea. The bakery also provides gluten free items and can accommodate other allergies.

City Cakes & Cafe is open for breakfast providing freshly made waffles, and for lunch with a Soup of the Day to satisfy your lunch time needs.

City Cakes & Cafe makes homemade vegan brownies, cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, fruit tarts, muffins and scones, and even at 8 PM at night, had a fairly large selection left in their case. They offer free Wi-Fi and comfy sitting areas so you can stay and lounge while eating your delicious goodies.

City Cakes & Cafe is open Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 9 PM; Saturday, 8 AM to 9 PM; and Sundays, 9 AM t0 4 PM. They are located at:

282 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-359-2239

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

None of the Sassies are vegans, nor vegetarians, and were a bit wary to try baked goods that didn’t have  butter, eggs or other animal-y goodness in them. Stay tuned for the reviews on Wednesday to see if they met our somewhat low expectations or exceeded them!

Two Sassies tell you in under 30 seconds if they would tell you to check out The Copper Onion or not:

Who are you going to listen to? Have you already been? What did you think? We want to hear!