Pure Essential Oils for your Headache * PastTense

Let me introduce you to my life saver. It's the doTerra PastTense- a blend of pure essential oils I use for my headaches. For me it works fast and better than pain killers. I carry it in my purse AT. ALL. TIMES. I am writing this post because I just used it on my head and the back of my neck because I had a headache coming on and wanted to stop is right way! If you get headaches give it a try.

Is there something you like to use for your headaches?

This is what doTerra has to say about it.

"PastTense dōTERRA's proprietary blend for tension and the discomforts associated with headaches, provides calming comfort with the strength of CPTG essential oils of wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, marjoram, roman chamomile, basil, and rosemary. Packaged for convenient application in a roll-on bottle. For aromatic and topical use."


p.s. I am an independent doTerra distributor but as always unless I believe in something and really love it I write about it other wise it wouldn't be on my blog. All opinions are my own :) 
I decided to sell doTerra pure essential oils because first, I tried them and love them and got hooked on using them for everything from making my own cleaners to adding them to my recipes to helping my headaches.  I needed to support my addiction. Second, I needed something to keep Sweet Life in The Valley thriving as in an income since I am a single mom doing it all on my own.

My Favorite Things * Movies

I Love Movies- Part 1
A four part series of my must have movies. They are movies I've bought more than once because they were either first on VHS and we needed to upgrade to DVD or once up graded to DVD watched so much they were scratched and we needed a new one.
Watch them when you are sad, sick, need a lift or just because-chick flicks:
{my go to movies I have watched a hundred times, know the lines and will watch a hundred more!}

Sleepless in Seattle {1993} -
One of the best things that came out of the 90's is "Sleepless in Seattle." There are sooo many things about this movie that make it great.  Love Nora Ephron {director}. She is amazing at creating an enjoyable romantic comedy. I love that Sam {Tom Hanks} is an architect, swoon. Love his house on the lake in Seattle. Love Seattle period. I love that Annie {Meg Ryan} takes a wild chance at finding true love to the point that she flies across the country. From the fireworks over the lake to the cute valentine in the window display "Sleepless in Seattle" is a movie full of pretty and charm.

While You Were Sleeping {1995}-
Charming sweet romantic comedy.  I think this is still my all time favorite performance by Sandra Bullock. The entire cast of actors  created a believable sweet family that you to " fall in love" with just like Lucy did and confesses at the alter. I love the old Chicago neighborhood were the Callaghan's live. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. It reminds me of many of the older well established neighborhoods. Clean, sweet, romantic and makes you believe true love could be waiting for you anywhere.

You've Got Mail {1998}-
The first movie to take us into the world of the internet, online dating and messaging,  Nora Ephron {director} hit it out of the ball park again with "You've Got Mail." Of course, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's chemistry on screen as down to earth believable characters played a big part too. One thing I absolutely love about Nora Ephron's movies is the set decorating. Each of the characters homes are true to their personality. Each setting is perfectly created so you want to jump into the movie and be in the places she creates. My dream- to take a tour of the charming places in the movie around New York City.

Sweet Holidays * It's Autumn Time!

Fall is here! I really enjoy the changing of seasons. When I was a little girl growing up in the Chicago suburbs the fall air was cool and smelled like burning leaves. Everyone would rake their leaves into piles by the side of the road and burn them. One of my greatest pleasures was walking home from school and crunching the big piles of the brown super crispy leaves with my feet. A few things I love about fall...

-harvesting herbs from my garden and knowing I will use them in my Thanksgiving Dinner
-Thanksgiving!
-gathering pumpkins to line our front walk
-gathering seeds, pine cones and leaves with my kids for fall art projects
-harvest foods such as corn chowder, winter squashes, apple pie, pumpkin pie and beef stew
-crisp cool Autumn air
-woolly blankets
-sweaters, I have always loved sweaters
-caramel apples
-fresh apple cider
-crunching fall leaves

What are your favorite things about fall?

Fun Free Fridays Giveaway * Sycamore Street Press * Letterpress

This week I received a beautiful letterpress print in the mail for Sycamore Street Press. I thought it was pretty on their site but when I opened the package I was delighted at the beauty. It is one of those things that fills you up each time you look at it. Letterpress is lovely anyway but this La Vie en Rose print is so perfect from the cabbage rose to the pink & green to the tactile nature of the letterpress. Every time I look at it I start humming the song La Vie en Rose.
This week on our Fun Free Fridays Giveaway we are giving away one of these lovely La Vie en Rose prints to you.
Be sure to look at all of the Sycamore Street Press's pretty prints.

{ To Enter to Win }

you must follow all the steps to be entered to win

-Send me an email with Sycamore Street Press as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

-Answer the question of the week: Have you signed up for our email updates? Click here to Sign Up If you haven't please do!

- Include your name & address (so we can send you your prize if you win)

-Open to anyone is the U.S

-You have until midnight Thursday September 3rd 2009 to enter this giveaway

BONUS Entries:
1} Refer someone & get an extra entry 1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry 2. They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters

2} Post this Giveaway on your Blog

3} Twitter about it include @sweetlifeinthe in your tweet

4} Post on Facebook
5} Put our Sweet Life button on your blog


{If you have a product or service you would like considered for review or our Fun Free Fridays Giveaway click here for our giveaway/review policies }

My Favorite Finds * Zoobie Pets

Do you have a little one headed to pre-school? A Zoobie Pets is the perfect blanket/pillow for quiet time at Preschool or Kindergarten. They are also the perfect travel companion. Each cute Zoobie Pet is stuffed with a cozy blanket. It goes from stuffed animal to pillow to blanket. Plus they are cute!
Enter the coupon discount code sweetlife for a 10% discount on all Zoobie Pets

Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley

Have you checked out our Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley lately? Our Favorites in The Valley listing is a list of some of our favorite businesses here in Utah Valley.

The Chocolate

Pizzeria 712

Cupcake Chic

Winder Farms

Real Salt

Flour Girls & Dough Boys Artisan Bakery and Cafe

Metropolitan Salon

Provo Farmers Market

If you know of or have a great shop, business, orthodontist, eatery, spa or great local business you think would be great to list please let me know. Send an email to Sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com with Favorites as the subject.

My Favorite Things * Badger Lip & Body Balm

Have you ever used Badger Balm? I love it. They only use the best all natural and organic ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, pure essential oils, and honey scented golden yellow beeswax. It is great for the lips as well as your hands, cuticles or other dry skin areas. In Utah we all know about dry skin and cuticles. I even rub a little on my dry heels. I keep a tin of it in my purse. Try it.
You can get it locally at Harmons, Good Earth, Sunflower Market and other stores that carry natural skin care products.

My Favorite Things * Cabot Clothbound Cheddar Wheel

As I walked into the local Harmon's Grocery I was pleasantly surprised to see this luxurious treat right here in Utah. They were sampling Cabot's clothbound cheddar. I lived in Vermont for a few years so I know that Cabot's cheeses are wonderful but I have never tried their cave aged cloth bound cheddar. I am in heaven. It is aged in cloth for 10-12 months to create a rich strong cheddar that is meant to be savored. They are produced in 35 pound clothbound wheels in Vermont. It is then cut into wedges. Once you taste it you will not be surprised to learn that is was the Gold medal winner at the World Cheese awards in London. It has a rich nutty caramel flavor. I eat it bit by bit as a special treat. It is also great paired with fruits.

Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley * Flour Girls & Dough Boys

{click to enlarge}

We would like welcome Flour Girls & Dough Boys to our Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley. An artisan bakery and cafe Flour Girls & Dough Boys is one of our very most favorite places to go for a snack or lunch. We always pick up a loaf or two of bread. I love the jalapeno bread. My daughter's favorite is the lemon bars. They have a large assortment of bread, treats, cupcakes, soups and sandwiches. It is well worth the drive from anywhere across The Valley to visit.

Flour Girls & Dough Boys Artisan Bakery and Cafe
35 N. Barratt Ave (150 West)
American Fork UT
801-763-9232


See some of our other Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley:
The Chocolate Bakery
Pizzeria 712
Cupcake Chic
Winder Farms
Real Salt
Metropolitan Salon
Provo Farmers Market

Check back often for even more Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley!

If you know of a great business or own a great business you think we would love. Send me an email with Favorites in The Valley as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

Some of our favorites from Utah- Orem, Provo, American Fork, Lehi, Spanish Fork, Springville, Payson, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Alpine, Highland and all across Utah Valley!

Find of The Week * Scotty's Cruisers * Bikes

Love this find of the week! If you happened to make it to the Bijou Market this past weekend you saw these beautiful cruiser bikes by Scotty's Cruisers. I saw several people riding away on one of these beauties and for a good reason. They are even better in person than in the pictures. I test drove one and I am in love. It's a nice smooth ride. I will be ordering one for myself and one for each of my kids. You can choose your frame color, rim color and tire color. These cruisers are also a great price too. Who would have thought such a great bike could be less than $200. That's right they start at less than $200!!! Scotty's Cruisers also has great bike baskets and bells too. Time for a family ride.

My Favorite Things * Redmond Real Salt

I would like to introduce a new Sweet Life Favorite in The Valley. I have used Redmond Real Salt for years. It is the only salt I use in my every day cooking. Their salt is pure, all natural, Real Salt from the earth. There is no heat processing, chemicals or additives to their salt. It has over 50 trace minerals we need for health. And it's from Utah! Did you know they also have a line of organic season salts? You can buy it in pouches to refill your shakers or salt keepers too. I love it. Salt is one of my things and this is a good one.

Check out more of our Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley.
If you have something you think is special and would like to have it listed as one of favorites email me at sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com with the subject favorites.

An Introduction * Favorites in The Valley * Sweet Life Market

Some of you may have noticed the new buttons in our side column. Let me introduce you to our new Sweet Life Market. The Sweet Life Market is our place to go for discounts on some of our favorite things. We currently have discount code coupons for our Sweet Life Readers on:

{Gigi's Apparel which has Lacy Leggings, Flower Headbands & Hats for your little girls}

{Mod Mum baby slings for stylish modern moms}

{ Award winning Zoobies pets the cutest blanket-pillow great for traveling with your kids}

*If you have a product and you would like offer a discount to our readers email me with Sweet Life Market as the topic sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com to be consider.


The other button we have added to our side column is our Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley. Here you will find tried and loved Sweet Life Favorites.

The Chocolate is one of our Favorites in the Valley. Remember I told you about their Cupcake Cart at the University Mall complete with birthday cupcakes. They also have other yummy treats & cakes to order.

The Metropolitan Salon in Provo is another one of our Favorites in The Valley. These guys and gals know what they are doing. Their technique is up to date. After going to Clint or Mike your cut and color will be your favorite ever. I only trust my hair to them. They have clients that come from out of state. Now that says something.


I love everything about Pizzeria 712. If someone asks me where we should meet for lunch or dinner Pizzeria 712 is always the first that comes to mind. Colton and Joseph created a small beautifully designed Pizzeria that would make you think you were in San Fransisco. Their foods are sustainable, fresh, and locally grown when ever possible. They use a wood fired brick oven. You will love it.


*If you would like to be considered for our Sweet Life Favorites in The Valley listing you can send me an email at sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com with Favorites in The Valley as the subject.



FREEBIES reminder:

~Don't for get to print your Coupon for a free Layer $10 gift certificate. Hurry! They only have 250 for our Sweet Life readers.

~Print your coupon for a free Summer Tote from Blend Fashions only 50 will be given out so hurry!

~ Enter to win one of four Swimsuits from Layers Clothing, Shade Clothing, Down East Basics & Mod bod!

My Favorite Things * House Beautiful

I notice magazine covers; the layout, the colors, photos and the placement of the photos in relation to the the text. The June issue of House Beautiful has one of the best covers I have ever seen. They have created a beautiful, true to it's name, symmetrical layout that matches the symmetrical photo with a perfect color choice for the text. It is simple formal and pleasing to the eye. It draws you into the magazine which should be the goal for any magazine cover. They also achieve the goal of creating the feel of June but it doesn't stop with the cover. House Beautiful features a dreamy 1930's Malibu house on the ocean, recipes from the Chris Stone's new cookbook Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone and a great section of Everybody's Favorite Everything from designers. House Beautiful is one of My Favorite Things.

My Favorite Things * Country Living Magazine * Michael Devine

{Photos by Lucas Allen for Country Living}

Country Living is one of my favorite magazines. With Sarah Gray Miller as the new Editor in Chief the May 2009 issue is filled with wonderful features like this garden transformation by Michael Devine. Michael took simple items and created a wonderful inviting garden space. Michael also has a blog The Devine Life . Go to his blog for the before and after photos. Every single feature in this months issue is a true inspiration. Now I am off to look for things to redo my front porch much like the cover photo.

My Favorite Things * Persimmon & Pink Prints

Look what arrived in the mail. Fresh spring colored prints from Persimmon & Pink. Charity Never Faileth is a truth I like to remember often. It is also the motto of the women's Relief Society organization at my church. Now that I have it in this lovely print form I can place it as a daily reminder. Now to decide where to put them. I may hang the I am a Child of God print in the hall between my children's rooms. Persimmon & Pink also has other prints such as the Give This Our Day Our Daily Bread, Peace Be Still and Love One Another.

Sweet Things to do in The Valley * Spring Skiing Sundance Ski Resort

I remember, as a college student, admiring the snow on the mountains above Provo while I was lounging at the pool. It’s one of my favorite things: that the valley can be warm while there’s still snow in the mountains. The mountain snow will melt, though, and soon. So take advantage of some of the last snow days, by hitting the slopes. My favorite place? Cross country skiing at Sundance Resort. Sundance offers perfectly groomed trails for all skill levels, reasonable rates, and rentals if you don’t own your own skis. You can try classic or skate skiing. There are also snowshoeing trails. Another plus? Even the porta-potties are heated. Visit Sundace Resort for more information.

I am really loving my wool lined Kaska Boots by Sorel. Ever since I bought my first pair of wool lines boots it is all I will wear now. They keep your feet so cozy and warm even in the most freezing weather. They are the perfect pair of boots to wear around Sundace when you head up to the slopes or the cross country trails or even just for a stop for dinner at one of their great eateries.

My Favorite Things * Vintage Ornaments & Christmas Trees

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I have always loved the vintage glass ornaments on my Grandma Bohman's Christmas tree. When I had a family of my own I started collecting German & American made glass ornaments. I bought those cute feathery mittens a few years ago. The yellow honey combed piece was from a local antique shop~ my treat from last year. I got two whole boxes of those wonderful pink & red striped balls a while ago at thrift shop. They are one of my favorite finds. The glittery heart details on the red & green ornament adds a little love to our tree. My tree is full of my glass Christmas treasures. Yes I have a real tree. I love a real tree. The day after Thanksgiving my son when up on the mountain on our family's homestead and picked out the very prettiest pine. Our family has picked their Christmas trees from our land since the 1800's. My Grandfather took his children just as he and his brothers all did every year the day after Thanksgiving. There is something that warms the heart in a tradition that has been passed on for generations. It make the Christmas season all that more merry.

Merry Christmas,

Finds of the Week * Baby it's cold outside!

{the pumpkin on our porch this morning-photo by me}

{Luxury plush slippers Restoration Hardware}

{Yogi Tea Cocoa Spice}

{Chappy's lip balms at Feather Your Nest}

{pretty pink cashmere throw by pieces}

The weather is chilly & it's snowing in The Valley. I chose some of my long time favorites some new finds & some luxury to keep us warm. The Cocoa Spice tea by Yogi Tea is sooo good. All three of my children love the Yogi Teas and the Cocoa Spice goes quickly in our home. Yogi Teas add stevia a natural sweetener to their teas which make them even better. Every winter we all need to carry a stick or tin of lip balm to prevent chap lips. Chappy's Lip balm is all natural and comes in mint, berry and my favorite lemon. I have to have a blanket on the sofa during the cold months for reading a book, chatting with a friend or watching a favorite show to keep me cozy. This extra luxurious cashmere throw would be perfect & a just for mom item. I get cold feet so I have a variety of fuzzy slipper socks and slippers in my closet. These luxury plush slippers from Restoration Hardware will be a nice addition. Keep warm & cozy cause Baby it's cold outside! I love it!

My Favorite Things * Soulful Minds Together

Charles Schultz & Vince Guaraldi

When these two guys got together some real magic happened. Vince Guaraldi is one of those people I would love to have met in person. His touch on the piano is smooth rhythmic jazz that stirs the soul. His Grammy's agree with me too. If you have only hear his music from the Charlie Brown movies search out more of his work. You will fall in love. Charles Schultz humor talented drawing and the portrayal of childhood transcends time and age. When my children need to calm down the talents of these two bring calm to our home. Vince's soothing tones and the leisurely conversation of the Peanuts gang creates a wonderful setting for family memories for each holiday season. Happy Fall everyone!

P.S. Be sure to get the real Vince Guaraldi playing his own songs. Nothing compares!




Buy them all. Your family will love them!

& more!

{Sarah E is the winner of the Startup Princess Event Tickets & Joan B. is the winner of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen giveaway-thanks for random.org for helping choose our winners!}