So what did our Sassies and their families think of Smashburger? Is it the must-eat burger joint in Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Camille: Catchy name, clean facilities, friendly service. I could make Smashburgers a regular part of my eating-out experience!
Emily: The name is tantalizing for sure and when I walked in the door I loved the crisp, clean, shiny colors and stainless steel everywhere. The customer service was A+ from the moment you walked through the door.
Evonne: A little over priced for something I thought was like a “fast food” joint.
Kalli: Didn’t seem like a burger joint but more of a hipster/casual sort of place.
Michelle: Looks nicer than your average burger place. When Jared saw that you could add an egg to your burger it jumped above all other burger places in the area.
Quinn: Fun environment; loved the typography on the walls and the big windows showing off the mountains in the background.
Stephanie: How bright and open the store was. I love good lighting in restaurants. For some reason it seems to make the food look and taste better.
Vanessa: Clean and modern design, warm and friendly staff and a very user friendly menu. I love booths and I am glad they fit in quite a few of them! Their food is beautiful, picture perfect, and quite tasty as well.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Camille: Eating there made me reminisce of summer BBQ’s in my parents’ backyard: grilling burgers made with real meat, and the same hospitable family-friendly atmosphere!
Emily: Their flash-fried veggies (carrots, green beans and asparagus) were really yummy and their smashfries were also super tasty. (They were my daughter’s favorite part of the meal!) My kids thought the shakes were super tasty and probably ate their weight in ice cream!
Evonne: I loved the pickles on my sandwich and the awesome bun!
Kalli: The fries and the wedge salad were seriously good, also I liked the bun on my burger. Friendly managers and staff were eager to please and quick to clean up.
Michelle: I am not usually a burger person, but my Classic burger was really tasty and well dressed. We liked that you could build your own hamburger just how you like it for the same price as a normal burger. We also really like that the napkins were on the table not by the drinks. It was convenient and cuts down on waste because you only take the amount you need.
Quinn: I loved my kids’ chicken strips. I’m a bit picky with chicken strips and these were perfect: crunchy, crispy, tasty breading on the outside with nice, tender meat on the inside. I also loved the asparagus spears in the veggie frites and the smash sauce on my Classic Smashburger. My husband loved his smashfries and loved the milkshakes.
Stephanie: The grasshopper shake. I am a huge fan of mint shakes and that did not disappoint. And you can tell they use high quality ice cream in their preparation.
Vanessa: The beef patty on the burgers—it was the perfect thickness, done-ness, crispy but moist. The buns! They are egg buns and fabulous! I would snack on those just on their own! My girls were absoluely loving the milkshakes; it was actually quite scary how much they consumed. My husband swears by their fries; he loves that they have olive oil and rosemary on them.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Camille: That I saw so many other menu items catching my eye after I ordered! Good excuse to go back…
Emily: I’m a big fan of a good, spicy burger or chicken sandwich but the Spicy Baja burger was so spicy it totally drowned out the taste of the actual burger. The chipotle bun had some serious kick baked right in; that combined with the pepper jack cheese and a spicy chipotle sauce was too much for even these spice-lovin’ tastebuds.
Evonne: Their burgers had way too much sauce.
Kalli: My burger was a bit meaty for my personal taste, but I’m sort of a weirdo. I should have taken them up on the offer for more BBQ sauce too.
Michelle: I wish you could get the veggie frites without the carrots. I am not a cooked carrot person. Jared thinks the fry sauce could have been better. {I might have to agree with Jared on this one; not my fave fry sauce.}
Quinn: It was a bit fatty for my tastes (roughly 1000 calories – half of those from fat – per burger). I’m not a big fan of tons of sauce and juice dripping out of my burgers, so next time I’d order it with the sauces on the side. The prices seemed a little high for their burgers/sandwiches, especially considering they don’t come with sides. It would cost about $8-11/person to get their choice of burger and fries/side. However, the meat they use seemed to be of excellent quality, so maybe that’s where the price comes in (the hamburger meat was REALLY good). The kids meal pricing was just right, though, and you got a lot of food for $3.99.
Stephanie: It is probably a little more expensive than I would normally spend to take my family out for burgers. But the price definitely matches the quality which is A++.
Vanessa: They really need a veggie burger option on the menu, salads for vegetarians don’t cut it. Their veggie frites (“fries”) need to cost as much as the regular fries; don’t up the prices on healthy items! The “Smash” sauce that comes on the burger is actually quite good and the burger holds it really nicely BUT a few of us got way too much on our burgers so be sure they don’t do that to your burger too! Their chicken sandwich didn’t impress us too much either.
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QUESTION

Would you visit again?

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THE SCOOP

Camille: I have to try the smashwedge so the answer would be YES!
Emily: For sure! My husband couldn’t make it and I’d love to let him try it. He’s a big fan of the egg on the hamburger thing like Jared so he’d love that fun little perk. Plus those smashfries are rather addictive!
Evonne: I would go back, but probably just with my husband.
Kalli: For the fries? Yes.
Michelle: Yes, the burgers were good and so were the prices. Plus, you can get a half pound burger!
Quinn: Yes, but not regularly as our family doesn’t eat that type of food much. The smashchicken supposedly has quite a few less calories than their burgers, so I’d go with that next time. One of the local representatives was talking it up and it sounded really yummy! It would be a fun place to go for a girls’ night, date night or a family birthday outing. {Um, better see Vanessa’s comment above on the smashchicken…}
Stephanie: Yes. I have been to one of the other locations before and now there is one closer to home so I will surely be back!
Vanessa: Yes! Lots of times I don’t enjoy burgers because of the way the beef patties are but Smashburge’s I find absolutely perfect. I would definitely go there if I was craving a burger and fries. They have just enough options for their kids menu and my husband craves Smashburger quite frequently. It is a great family dinner spot for us.
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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

Camille: 100% angus beef smashed on a grill to seal in so much flavor – my idea of a great burger! www.smashburger.com
Emily: Ready for a fry addiction? Try @smashburgerUT’s smashfries w/ rosemary & olive oil. CRAZY good! #utah #burgers
Evonne: @smashburgerUT is the place to go for a delish burger, and awesome fries.
Kalli: Love your burgers? Give Smashburger a whirl, don’t forget the fries!
Michelle: Build a great burger & include an egg if you please. Smashburger is smashing success for us! While you’re there grab a malt for me!
Quinn: For a fun, yummy date night in #slc, check out the new @smashburger in #draper – be sure to get a window seat for gorgeous mountain views!
Stephanie: Burgers, shakes, and fries OH MY! @smashburgerUT does burgers right!
Vanessa: Have you tried @SmashburgerUT yet? They serve up the most perfect beef patty on their burgers, it is a must try in #Utah! Our family is a huge fan!

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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Smashburger.
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Atmosphere	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on Smashburger!

We just might have a GIVEAWAY for SassyScoops.com readers!

“Utah has welcomed Smashburger with open arms,” said Smashburger’s president, Scott Carne. “We can’t wait for Draper residents to taste Smashburger’s ‘better burgers’ and become the city’s favorite place for burgers.”  Smashburger just opened theirfourth location in the area on March 3rd, and the Sassies (along with husbands and kiddos) were invited the day before to check it out!  The Sassies met with all of the owners, employees, press team, etc. to learn how Smashburger came to be, what it will bring to Draper, AND most importantly, HOW IT TASTES!

So what are they bringing to Utah? To represent the tastes of Utahns,Smashburger put together a special Beehive Smashburger made with US in mind. The Beehive Smashburger starts with one-third or half-pound 100 % certified Angus beef burger which is then topped with honey BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and haystack onions on a toasted egg bun.

I KNOW.

Not a red meat guy or gal? The have a Beehive SmashCHICKEN version. They also heard that out here in Utah we like shakes.  The grasshopper flavor was a bit new to them, but when they heard about it,they made sure to add a grasshopper mint shake made with Haagen-Dazs ice cream t0 their menu.

FAB~U~LOUS!

Smashburger promises…

“Dedication to creating the best-tasting “cooked-to-order” burger, with 100% Angus Beef, smashed, seared and seasoned on the grill, placed on a butter-toasted artisan bun and topped with the highest-quality cheeses, freshest produce and condiments.”

“A place that is close to home and affordable. Where the energy is comfortable and relaxed. Where the food is served to you quickly and on a plate – not in a bag. In-store, online, or call ahead — Smashburger is the better way.”

Did they live up to their motto? Were the Sassies impressed? What about all of our kids and husbands?

You’ll have to check back on Wednesday to read our “official review” ofSmashburger!

The last company I hired to clean my carpets sent to my house a dirty yellow van, and a guy with long, greasy hair wearing a baseball cap and headphones.  He looked like the bus driver from the Simpsons, I kid you not.  He “cleaned” my carpets, charged me a decent chunk of change, and didn’t even manage to get rid of ANY of the stains or spots on my carpet.  There was no mention of guaranteed satisfaction, and no semblance of customer service.  When he finished they looked just as worn and dirty as they did before he even started.  Needless to say, I was not impressed.

Enter Anchor Water Damage and Restoration.

After a few friendly phone calls from Kris, Frank showed up at my house on the appointed day not only on time, but 15 minutes early (impressive!).  I directed him to my stairs which were in dire need of some attention and he quickly set to work.  Frank’s equipment was well maintained, his manner was extremely professional, and I absolutely noticed and appreciated all of the “extra mile” effort he put in to ensuring my carpets would not only be cleaned well, but that I would be happy with the result.  Frank even warned me about some potential water damage that could be caused because I didn’t unhook my outside hose properly during the winter time and had no qualms about the extra step of hooking his equipment up through the bathroom sink instead which I’m sure was less convenient for him.  When he finished, my stairs looked as good as new and Frank left a parting gift of spot cleaner, referral incentives, and CHOCOLATE!  Demonstrating exemplary customer service, Kris made sure to follow up with all of the Sassies who’s carpets had been cleaned a few days later and that is service we can appreciate!

Anchor Water Damage and Restoration has this to say about their business:

“We have built Anchor Water Damage & Restoration on a high level of integrity. We believe that integrity is not receptive to compromise nor does it come in different shades of gray. We stand on the integrity of our company, our skilled professionals and on our word. In a business like ours integrity means everything. When you call Anchor Water Damage you will talk to the same people time and time again. You will be serviced by the same caring and courteous individuals.”

and truly they stand behind that promise.  If I have any say in it, I will never use another company to clean and service my carpets!

Anchor Water Damage and Restoration is the company to go to for not only routine carpet cleaning, but any and all Water Damage emergencies.  They are on call 24/7-365 and typically can arrive within the hour to help address and minimize any damages.  Anchor Restoration not only has top-notch customer service, but is licensed and insured, will bill your insurance company, and guarantees your satisfaction.  How many carpet cleaning and damage restoration companies do that?  Plus you can email Kris at kris@anchorrestoration.com for a free report on “How To Select A Professional Carpet Cleaning Firm”.

BONUS!  Anchor  Water Damage and Restoration is also offering a wicked sweet giveaway to one of YOU, our Sassy Scoop readers! Anchor will come to your home and clean 3 rooms for FREE (valued @ $129.00. L-shaped rooms count as 2. Offer is for average size rooms 12×12 or smaller) A FREE spot remover (value 12.00 FREE refills for life, save the bottle:) and FREE Magic Moving Sliders (helps make moving heavy furniture easier $20.00 value).

For the chance to win this giveaway you must:

-Comment on this post once

-For 5 extra entries tweet about this giveaway

-For 10 extra entries facebook about this giveaway

-For 15 extra entries blog about this giveaway

Good luck! This giveaway ends Friday, March 19th at midnight!

If you aren’t our winner, you can still come out of this on top.  Frank and Kris will be giving 15% off their services for mentioning “sassyscoops”.  You can find them online at www.anchorrestoration.com or on facebook with helpful tips and deals!  Contact Kris for an appointment at 801. 269.0343 or via email, kris@anchorrestoration.com .

So what did our Sassies think of Anchor Restoration? Did their carpets go from frumpy to fabulous in 50 minutes? (Okay, maybe not 50 minutes but you gotta keep the alliteration going!) Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Emily: Very, very impressive customer service. And if you read Monday’s post you already know what impressed me the most: corner protectors!
Kalli: Mr. Clean! I like a bald man who knows how to vacuum. Can I say that?
Michelle: Frank was really nice and got right to work. I felt totally comfortable with him there not like some of those men who you don’t want to let in your house without your husband home.
Quinn: Frank wasn’t only on-time, he was 15 minutes EARLY. I was frantically trying to vacuum our carpet before he got there and our vacuum belt kept breaking. Frank not only offered his help and worked to try to fix my vacuum, he then suggested that he could pick up most everything off my floor with his machine. He did this and even got down on his hands and knees to suck the crap out of the corners in between the carpet and the walls.
Stephanie: How friendly and informative Frank was. He explained how my high pile carpet would react to the cleaning and how to keep it looking it’s best.
Vanessa: Clean looking truck and equipment, no longer worrying about what they are going to track in! Very professional, friendly—I have never had that from a carpet cleaner service before!
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I love that Anchor Restoration uses steam rather than chemicals to clean and sanitize. I love all the experience they have and that they’re restoration/water damage specialists. Nothing like have the best of the best clean your carpets!
Kalli: Kris and Frank are a dynamic duo. He gets it done, she is wonderful at follow-up and making sure that you are happy with the services provided.
Michelle: That I did not have more rooms cleaned while he was here.
Quinn: I loved how relaxed Frank was and how thoroughly he worked to clean our carpet. He spent a lot of time on stain areas and even took the time to talk to me about snags in my carpet that should be taken care of before they get worse. I also really appreciated how he took the initiative to also clean the carpet on our stairs, attached to the carpet he was already cleaning. The corner protectors were great; I didn’t worry about his hoses and equipment bumping or scratching the paint on our walls. Fabulous customer service. I’m blown away.
Stephanie: How clean my carpet was afterward. I mean it went from drab to fab. It may actually compete for the 8th wonder of the world.
Vanessa: The quality of the work, the price and those bumpers he put down on all of the corners. If I could count the number of chips on my corners from different services…drives me nuts. With those bumpers I did not worry!
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Hmmm…that’s a good question. Their pricing seemed pretty competitive, though I’m not sure if it’s as competitive as those specials you see in your ValPak or other mailers. Of course are those cleaners as experienced/licensed/friendly as Anchor Restoration?
Kalli: That my hose had frozen water in it making it more difficult for Frank to get his job done. But he was such a good problem solver, and even made sure I didn’t have water damage to my house because of it.
Michelle: That I did not have more rooms cleaned while he was here.
Quinn: I wish the pricing for vent cleaning were more affordable since we really do need that service, but have SO many vents that it would cost us an arm and a leg. I’ll have to talk to them more about that, though, as I possibly misunderstood the pricing model.
Stephanie: Thank they only cleaned one room. I wish all of my carpets could look as amazing as my family room does now.
Vanessa: A carpet guy I used in a different state had some sort of mild fragrance that he put in the carpet cleaning mixtur. I haven’t been able to find that out here! It was mild but a wonderful smell that kept the carpets smelling fresh for months. They should figure out what that is and offer it!

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QUESTION

Would you have them visit again?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: For sure, especially if they offer a special. (I’m all about the specials!) They also do upholstery cleaning which we desperately need for our microsuede couch so I might be giving them a call soon!
Kalli: Absolutely. If I have a say in it I’ll never use another carpet cleaning service.
Michelle: I am usually pretty cheap when it comes to carpet cleaners since you can find great deals out there, but there was a noticeable difference with his work!
Quinn: Yes, yes and yes. I thought their service was outstanding and my carpets have stayed really, really clean ever since. I’m very impressed with working with Frank and Kris and feel like they truly care about their customers and maintaining their positive reputation.
Stephanie: Is it appropriate to say “HECK YES!!!”? If not, then just regular yes. I have already recommended them to several friends and family members. And I’m planning on having my stairs and hallway completed soon.
Vanessa: Yes I plan on using their services again. Very professional, clean equipment, came on time and will give you an exact time on when they plan on coming…not a huge slot like the other places.
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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: Crappy carpets due to winter weather and/or life w/ kids? Anchor Restoration is THE company to call. Seriously. #utah #cleanyourcarpets
Kalli: Anchor Restoration, use them and only them for your carpet cleaning and water damage emergencies.
Michelle: Anchor Restoration did wonders on my family room. Let them help you with your carpet cleaning needs.
Quinn: Looking for the best carpet cleaner in #slc? You’ve GOT to try Anchor Water Damage and Restoration! They’re AMAZING!!!
Stephanie: Is your carpet sad and dreary? Call Anchor Restoration and make it cheery.
Vanessa: I finally found a fantastic carpet cleaning guy! I didn’t even know I should have been accepting this high of quality and professionalism!

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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Anchor Restoration.
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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 Anchor Restoration!

We just might have a GIVEAWAY for SassyScoops.com readers!

With a family of six and a mother who often lets her kids take food outside the boundaries of the kitchen (gasp!), we keep local carpet cleaners in business. But a good, affordable carpet cleaner isn’t always easy to find, and one that doesn’t use chemicals yet still manages to get your carpets looking new, can be even harder.

Anchor Restoration is a local Utah company that prides itself on quality work and exemplary service. Their services include:

• 24/7/365 Emergency Flood Service
• Commercial Carpet Cleaning
• Residential Carpet Cleaning
• Upholstery Cleaning
• Air Duct Cleaning
• Dryer Vent Cleaning
• Sewage Clean-up
• Wet Carpet Drying
• Structural Drying and Dehumidification Services
• Anti-Microbial Treatments

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If this were a Follow-up Friday post I’d fill you in on my experience, but let’s just say I was really impressed with Frank and Kris, husband and wife team and owners of Anchor Restoration.

Here’s a little story about Frank, Kris and Anchor Restoration from Kris herself:

Frank decided 10 years ago to quit his current job at a local meat plant in SLC after 22 years (he started when he was 15). We had two young children and let me tell you how scary of a decision it was! (“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt). Frank chose a commercial cleaning franchise and within 2 1/2 years became the third-largest franchisee in Utah with 16 employees.

With the economy going the direction it was and commercial cleaning becoming a saturated market it was too cut-throat. We had already purchased a truck-mount extraction machine for our commercial carpet cleaning accounts and decided water damage emergencies and residential carpet cleaning would be more rewarding. We can be there for our clients during a devastating time and help them get their lives back together. So far it has been just that—rewarding. We have met some of the neatest individuals and so many of them are now our friends.

Has it been a struggle owning our own business? Oh, yes, but well worth it. We wouldn’t be where we are today if we wouldn’t have made that huge decision. We love being in charge of our destiny. What a Magical Journey it has been the last few years and we can’t wait to see what 2010 brings. We wouldn’t be here without every single client who has chosen to do business with us. We are so, so, so appreciative for all of the support and blessings we receive!

As you can easily believe, Kris was wonderful to work with when setting up the appointment and her fab customer service came through in her emails. And Frank? He is the first carpet cleaner I’ve ever seen place bright orange corner protectors around every corner with which the hoses came into contact. You’ll get to see those on video in Friday’s post. For now let me tempt (or more likely not tempt you) with this before-and-after photo of our stairs, which I begged and pleaded Frank to clean (and yes, we vacuum them weekly):

Yum! Don’t you want to come right over for a visit? I had NO idea my stairs were that bad. Ignorance is bliss sometimes… (By the way, my daughter just walked in and asked, “Is that how it was before and then after? Eeeeew! I just thought that was shade!” Nice.)

Anchor Restoration has some pretty dang impressive credentials:

• Licensed and Insured
• Member of Buy Local First Utah (money spent with us stays in your community)
• Member of the South Jordan Chamber of Commerce and Chamber West
• A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau
• IICRC Certified (Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Restoration Certification)

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And I love this bit: “When we receive your water damage call, ‘Your Emergency Is Our Emergency’ [and] we answer our phones live 24/7/365.” (And it goes on to say they typically arrive within one hour–ONE hour!) Does your current carpet cleaner have those qualifications and that kind of awesome attitude? Hate to break it to you but I doubt it.

Anchor Restoration also sends out a monthly newsletter with the latest info about the company, helpful cleaning tips and tricks, customer feedback and even a “Chef’s Corner.” To sign up for the newsletter send an email to kris@anchorrestoration.com. (They will have a sign-up on their site soon but it’s not ready just yet.)

Okay, I couldn’t wait until Friday’s post to show you those super cool corner protectors, so here you go!
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The Sassies had the wonderful opportunity to sample Anchor Restoration and the company’s carpet cleaning prowess and I had a chance to video Frank in action. Visit us on Wednesday for our official review and then again on Friday for some fun video and a fab giveaway!

If you have never been to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, plan on it this summer. I was a little hesitant to go not knowing what to expect, but I am here to tell you that it was one of the funnest date nights we have had in a while! My husband described it as being better than a comedy club because they take you on a roller coaster of emotion. One minute you are laughing and then you take a quick turn to heartbreak. It is amazing how storytellers can draw you in and make you feel a part of their lives in such a short period! When we returned home well after 11 p.m. it was like we had some sort of euphoric runners high. We were both wide awake and so, well, happy.

I was so pleased to meet Carol Rice, the President of Cherish Bound. From the minute I met her she had this wonderful glow about her and you could tell she was completely at home at the festival. She was so excited to share the experience with us, and now I know why! Storytelling has such a power. It takes a moment in time that could be lost forever and through its writer or teller is transformed into an outpouring of her soul, truly a walk in her shoes. Capturing these moments and treasured family tales is what Cherish Bound is all about.

The Storytelling Festival comes around a couple of times a year, but Cherish Bound is here with an entire line of amazing products to help you find, capture and share your story anytime of year. They truly do have something for everyone whether you want to document the lifetime experiences of your ancestors (or yourself) or just get a conversation started at the dinner table.

One of my favorite ideas from Cherish Bound is the tribute book from the family collection. With Mother’s Day coming up what could be a more beautiful way to show your love and honor your mother than to express to her the intangible gifts she has bestowed. My siblings and I made Tribute books for both my mother and father and they were by far some of the most treasured gifts. They are proudly displayed in their front room for all their guests to see.

Another product I wish I had known about earlier is the Birth to 18 Months book from the early childhood collection. I really tried to keep a journal throughout pregnancy and wanted to document my son’s birth story but quickly became frustrated with the details and gave up on the part where I was in labor. I did not even document my feelings about his birth! Pitiful, I know. The Cherish Bound Story Starter covers the first 18 months of life and truly is a must for every new parent. It breaks it down for you and helps you know where to start. Carol the owner of Cherish Bound shared this insight into the early childhood story starters, “even when you’re writing in hindsight the Story Starters bring the memories back
like it just happened.  I wrote a book for my kids using that exact Story Starter when my “baby” was 8 and using it I remembered things I hadn’t thought about in years.” So it is never too late!

All in all, I am truly joyful that I was a part of this review. I was exposed to the amazing and powerful art of storytelling for the first time and got to meet Carol who encourages  me with her mission to capture those inspiring and timeless tales one family at a time.

So now that you are all motivated, what better way to start than with a fun GIVEAWAY!

You can win your very own Family Yearbook with the story starter and book from Cherish Bound by commenting on this post!

This Story Starter is filled with ideas for writing about every member of your family, your favorite pastimes, foods and activities from the year. It will help you identify trends and celebrate the “everyday” of your family.

For the chance to win this giveaway you must:

-Comment on this post once

-For 5 extra entries tweet about this giveaway

-For 10 extra entries facebook about this giveaway

-For 15 extra entries blog about this giveaway

Good luck! This giveaway ends Friday, March 12th at midnight!

So what did the Sassies, guest Sassy Shannon and their families think of The Timpanogos Midwinter Storytelling Festival? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Michelle: The festival staff were so kind and went out of their way to help us find our tickets. I was impressed with the level of service.
Jared (Michelle’s husband): The waiting area seemed like a sci fi con minus the props and booths. There were a surprising number of people of all ages there.
Jane (aka “Shannon”): My high school didn’t have a fancy auditorium like this!
Sally (Jane’s daughter): This is going to be cool.
Tom (Jane’s husband): I wonder who the other storyteller is.
Stephanie: I was so impressed with the storytellers. I didn’t expect to be so captivated.
Brian (Stephanie’s husband): I was a bit worried that my 2 sons (12 and 14yo) would not enjoy it. By the end of the evening, they seemed to be enjoying themselves even more than I did.
Josh (Stephanie’s son): I thought it was very interesting that the stage wasn’t set up like when you see plays or musicals.
Xander (Stephanie’s son): Should be some good classic stories. I think these people have had a fun past!

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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Michelle: I loved how through their stories they could take you from laughing to heartbreak at the turn of a hat. Their stories were so descriptive that you really felt like you were there with them. It was like they were creating a movie in my mind. I questioned whether I would enjoy the evening, but it was surprisingly fun!
Jared: I liked how their story would move toward the climax from multiple directions. The storyteller would approach the climax from one direction, but instead of just going straight to it, they would back up and move toward it again from another direction. It was like a three-dimensional story.
Jane: I loved everything. You have to be a bit patient with storytelling. It doesn’t start with a bang like most movies or TV. You have to trust the storyteller during the setup and the background, and then the story sneaks up and wallops you. Mary Gay Ducey’s story about her librarian mother and her father who would come get her anytime made me cry. Donald Davis had me rolling, as usual. Loved the story of his neighbor’s flashy new girlfriend, and how young Donald scared her away.
Sally: The guy, Donald Davis. His stories were funny; I laughed the most when he got the rocket car down the driver and it landed on The Smith’s doghouse.
Tom: Donald Davis. He’s a master storyteller. I don’t even know why his stories are that engaging—they just are. From start to finish I’m mesmerized.
Stephanie: The stories. They were so magical. It was amazing how they could take something as simple as a neighbor or a car ride and convey it in such a fascinating manner.
Brian: I like Donald’s stories the best. The way that he was able to paint a picture and lead you on a journey was very entertaining.
Josh: The stories were very funny.
Xander: The story about when the guy was experimenting with his chemicals and made gunpowder!

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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP:

Michelle: The seating was really squished. It was in a high school so you can’t expect much, but poor Jared was literally being leaned on by a rather husky fellow who could not fit in his own seat.
Jared: The seats. They were small and there was a very large man sitting next to me.
Jane: I didn’t want it to end. But somehow, it would be nice if you could lie on the couch while listening.
Sally: Nothing. I didn’t like nothing. {couldn’t have said it better myself}
Tom: Davis’ second story was a bit didactic. Stories should stand by themselves without squeezing a moral out of it.
Stephanie: That it ended. I wanted to hear Donald and MaryGay tell me stories all night.
Brian: I am tall. The seats in the high school auditorium were very small, but nothing they could have done about that.
Josh: The seats and how far it was from my house.
Xander: NOTHING!! It was awesome!

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QUESTION

Would you visit again?

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THE SCOOP:

Michelle: For sure! I would love to go to the summer festival and hear more. I loved how the storytellers took me on an emotionally charged trip through their childhood adventures!
Jared: Yes, I wish there was an email list so I could know the dates of the summer festival.
Jane: Thanks to Cherish Bound, we experienced the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival last summer for the first time, and I am a convert. I love it and will go back every chance I get. When I was asking Sally these questions, she first said “the washboard lady” was her favorite part, and I had to tell her to pick something from the mid-winter concert, not from this past summer. We still find ourselves, even Spot the three-year old, singing songs from the stories this summer.
Sally: Definitely. I loved it!
Tom: Most certainly.
Stephanie: YES! I am already planning on the summer event. Or maybe “anxiously awaiting” might be a better term.
Brian: Yes I would definitely go back again and bring some other people with me too.
Josh: Yes. I think my Mom said she is taking us this summer.
Xander: Yes!

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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:

Michelle: Want to depart from the ordinary & enter the extraordinary for date night? Let your imagination soar at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
Jared: Hey, I went and listened to these awesome stories. It was better than I expected. {I’m thinking Jared doesn’t quite get the concept of tweeting just yet.}
Jane: The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival should be Utah’s sixth national park. It’s that awesome.
Sally: The stories are amazing and you should really go. The storytelling festival is the best festival I’ve had.
Tom: The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival is important (and fun) because stories are what give us meaning.
Stephanie: The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival transports you into the amazing world of the storytellers.
Brian: I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival was. I’ll be back next year.
Josh: The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival has funny and inspirational storytellers. Great for kids 12 and over.
Xander: Go to the Timpanogas Storytelling festival this Summer! It’s GREAT for family trips!
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival’s Midwinter event.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Here’s the scoop on our guest Sassy Shannon. We’d consider it a real treat if you’d visit her super sweet blog!…

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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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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday. You won’t want to miss our Follow-up Friday post! It’s always entertaining when the Sassies (and guest Sassies) get together!

To be honest when the Sassies were invited by Carol Rice of Cherish Bound to my first Timpanogos Storytelling event, I had no clue what to expect.   I know several of the other Sassies had been to prior events and enjoyed them immensely but I had no experience to speak of.  Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised as was my family.  If you assume your tweens and teens wouldn’t be interested in hearing stories anymore, you would be completely wrong.  The storytellers are animated, lively, and invite you into their lives to the point you feel like you were actually there.

That is why the Sassies are so thrilled that  company like Cherish Bound exists.  You can turn your own memories into stories for your family to enjoy for years to come.  They provide you with the tools to help create amazing family books with stories to tell for generations after you.  With Spring, Mother’s Day, and even Father’s Day fast approaching, think of all the memories you will be creating.  Capturing those memories is what Cherish Bound is all about.  Taking your quality family time and allowing that to be shared over and over again.  You never know what will be important to them in the future.  Even a simple car ride with their father can create an amazing tale 50 years later.

Telling stories sparks old memories, new thoughts, and most importantly a conversation amongst friends and families.  Find out what conversation the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival sparked in the Sassy’s review on Wednesday!

Where do I even begin when talking about such a unique, fun place like Anastasia’s Attic?  I have experienced Gardner Village multiple times and had never ventured that far down the path to this cute little shop.  With so many different things to look at, it is definitely a place I will need to go back to for more browsing.

The owner, Tara Starling, is so passionate and enthusiastic about her shop.  It makes you love all of the gems inside Anastasia’s Attic that much more.  All of the products that fill it up are put there with lots of thought and love.  It is nice to see someone care so much about their business and customers…it makes you want to support it that much more.

Besides finding a bracelet with my new motto “Expect Miracles” on it in the shop, I found something that has made every day a little bit better and more enchanted in our house.  Anastasia’s Attic sells fairy dust.  It makes my little princess feel extra special each morning we put it on her, and even makes big girls like me feel a little more young and special too.  It was the perfect gift to bring home to her, and definitely a gift that I would give to any princess that we come across!

Have you ever been to Anastasia’s Attic?  What would you say was your favorite thing?  Was it the chocolate, inspirational thought, or maybe your favorite things was the fairy dust too? If you’ve never been, here’s a “taste” of the chocolate and fairy dust experience:
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And because it wouldn’t be a Follow-up Friday post without some true behind-the-scenes action, here is our gag reel from the evening:
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If you’ve never been to Anastasia’s Attic in Gardner Village but would like a tour, we have a virtual one for you! Click on the links below to see what treasures this Attic holds:

Virtual tour of Anastasia’s Attic, Part 1: Old World, Ode to St. Valentine, Enchanted Fairy Glen & Jewelrytopia

Virtual tour of Anastasia’s Attic, Part 2: Personal Luxury, Pirate Land & the Rose Room

And ONE lucky commenter can win a $50 Gift Certificate to spend any way you’d like at Anastasia’s Attic!!!

Also, any Anastasia’s Attic shopper who mentions “SassyScoops” before March 15, 2010, can get 20% off all regular priced items!  Woot!!!  So head on over to Gardner Village and snag some treasures for yourself and your loved ones!

So what did our Sassies and our fabulous guest Sassies Kami and Brooke think of Anastasia’s Attic? Is it truly magical, whimsical and wonderful? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Brooke: That I had entered into a magical fairyland! It was warm and cozy and smelled good, and I loved the chocolates and of course being sparkled with fairy dust.
Emily: I’ve actually been inside Anastasia’s Attic a few times and am always struck by how so many unique, girly, feminine, random things can come together so well in one, tiny shop. It is like an oversized treasure chest but just for girls!
Evonne: Lots of fun different items, great gifts, and a unique place to find that perfect something.
Kalli: This is definitely a store for the big girls (and some little girls). If I brought my 18-month-old in here he’d have the place torn apart in 3 seconds. Too many “pretties” for him!
Kami: My first impression was that I loved how every corner had a theme. If one area of the store was not your style, then just turn around.
Michelle: It was like walking in to another dimension where women are treated like precious royalty. It smelled delicious.
Quinn: Simply magical. I love the setting of Gardner Village anyway, but Anastasia’s Attic was truly like walking into another world where the sweet things in life are savored and celebrated. It has such a great atmosphere and the fact that they give you a chocolate and stamp your face with fairy dust upon walking in is a sweet bonus, getting you in the mood right away to enjoy their shop.
Stephanie: It was very whimsical. And it smelled fabulous.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Brooke: I loved that you could spend an hour in the shop and feel like you still needed more time to uncover countless treasures! I loved how there were different nooks with different themes, I loved the decor, the water fountains, the whole ambiance. I loved Tara’s whole philosophy and passion for her place.
Emily: How about being greeted with a chocolate (dark, of course) and fairy dust when entering the store? That’s a given, so other than that I loved the decadent skirts and jackets and the jewelry…oh, the jewelry!
Evonne: I loved the fairy dust, because there is something magical about it.You leave feeling a lil’ younger. {Guess I didn’t get enough of that fairy dust!}
Kalli: Tara was so friendly and so passionate about her store.
Kami: I loved the selection of jewelry. Anastasia’s Attic has pieces that you just don’t see everywhere else.
Michelle: I loved that there were a variety of areas within the store with different themes: Medieval, Fairy, Royalty, Rose Garden, even Pirate. Each one had a wonderful story and beautiful and intriguing pieces.
Quinn: There were sooooooo many things to like, but I can’t get the pots of flowers that have lights in them out of my mind. I have plans to go back and buy a few pots of them for my home. I also loved all of the sterling silver bracelets with inspirational sayings on them. I came home with a gorgeous journal that I fell in love with.
Stephanie: The fairy dust. Having all boys I don’t get many “fairy” moments at my house.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Brooke: I can’t even think of one thing I didn’t like. I loved the whole experience and could have stayed longer!
Emily: Once when I visited Anastasia’s Attic the rose scent in the store was a bit too strong for me. This time it wasn’t quite as strong, thank heavens. The store does have a lot of treasures (i.e., breakable things) so I wouldn’t bring a child under the age of, say, 8 with me unless her hands were duct taped to her side and she was on a very short leash!
Evonne: I wouldn’t dare take my 5 year old in there in fear of breaking something.
Kalli: The smells and fragrances were a little overwhelming for me. {Are you saying I smell bad, Kalli?}
Kami: The aroma of the room was a little overpowering.
Michelle: Sometimes it was difficult to maneuver around all the wonderful displays with ten of us wandering about.
Quinn: Some things are definitely not my style and don’t fit my tastes. I definitely couldn’t come home with just anything from the store, but there’s enough variety that there really is something for everyone (and plenty for me to love).
Stephanie: Oddly enough, the smell. While it was wonderful at first it got overwhelming.
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QUESTION

Would you visit again?

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THE SCOOP

Brooke: I already have. I needed more bracelets, one of those Bee Bars, and I wanted my 2 little daughters to be sprinkled with fairy dust. They loved it!
Emily: Obviously since I’ve already visited a few times. I love stocking up on her silver inspiration bracelets. At less than $5 a piece they’re great gifts for girlfriends. I also have my eye on a jacket I’ll purchase if she reaches her Facebook goal of 1,500 fans (everyone will receive a 50% off one item coupon!).
Evonne: Yes, I would go back.
Kalli: To find a birthday gift for my niece I would, she would love fairy dust.
Kami: Yes! I would love to go back!
Michelle: Yes, I would love to go back if only to smell that wonderful fragrance again. I think I need some of those inspiring quote bracelets I put back at the last minute.
Quinn: I loved Anastasia’s Attic and plan to go back often, especially when I need to find gifts for people in my life.
Stephanie: Yes. I have to buy my niece some fairy dust for her birthday.
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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

Brooke: For a shopping experience that’s unique and full of fairytales and whimsy, visit Anastasia’s Attic!
Emily: @TaraStarling’s Anastasia’s Attic (Gardner Village) is a treasure chest full of fairy dust and pretty things!
Evonne: We are enjoying our fairy dust from @TaraStarling. It makes a little girl and even big girls feel extra special.
Kalli: Anastasia’s Attic, for your inner girly girl you must shop here!
Kami: Anastasia’s Attic is the place to go for unique gifts.
Michelle: Need a little magic in your life? Take a walk through Anastasia’s Attic where whimsy meets royalty. They will treat you like a princess. {okay, this is my favorite tweet so far}
Quinn: Get swept away in the magic of Anastasia’s Attic, created by the fabulous @tarastarling! Go there NOW.
Stephanie: Visit Anastasia’s Attic to bring out your inner fairy.

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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Anastasia’s Attic.
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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 Anastasia’s Attic!

We just might have a GIVEAWAY for SassyScoops.com readers!

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Here’s the scoop on our guest Sassies Kami and Brooke (Brooke’s actually a repeat guest Sassy–we love her!). We’d consider it a real treat if you’d visit their super sweet blogs.
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Kami

Kami Bigler is the thrifty maven who runs the blog: no biggie—a montage of all her favorite things, including crafting, cooking, and thrifting. Her interests include portrait and tabletop photography, paper crafts, decorating and experiencing the thrill of the thrift find. She graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Public Relations. She loves to spend her non-blogging hours with my husband Kyle, their two children and one little puppy-faced dog. No Biggie is updated daily… week-daily.
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Brooke

I’m a stay-at-home mom with 3 beautiful children who keep me hopping all day long! My husband and I met when we were 14 and we’ve been happily married for more than 9 years. We love our little family of five. I graduated with a degree in Nursing from BYU and worked as an RN for several years but currently I’m not working as a nurse. I love music, having little dance parties with my kids, being with family and friends, photography and digital scrapbooking—I feel like I have to something a little bit creative every day or I’ll go insane! I love to try and create fun memories with my family. I love learning new things. I wish I loved cooking. You can read more about my creative adventures at Little Wonders.