Week of Valentines: Day One

I usually never have one of those things called a "significant other" around Valentine's Day, but I still enjoy the holiday. Why wouldn't I like a holiday where I have an excuse to buy chocolate and watch cheesy chick flicks. Besides I like the color red (maybe it has something to do with my hair color). This week I hope you enjoy a little more Red (me that is) as I post a daily Valentine's treat. Treat meaning any snippet of Valentine's joy I find or make.
Today I'm starting out with a little love note in the form of a spoon. I love these.

Give a listen to The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars' new album, Barton Hollow was just released this week. It is a must buy and I am sure it will be on my best of 2011 list. Check out songs "I've Got This Friend" and "Dance Me to the End of Love."

Joy Williams and John Paul White meet at a writers workshop and I am very good they did. Their voices seem made for each other. It is a delicious blend like rich creamy cheese cake with a little dab of raspberries and chocolate. They have so much fun on stage, you can tell they really enjoy performing. The Civil Wars played at The State Room here in Salt Lake City two weeks ago. Performing songs from their EP, their new album and even did a few classic covers (check out videos below).

Joy has an infectious smile and bright personality. She instantly connects with the audience. You feel like one of her best friends. Her voice is so beautiful and rich and she had us laughing the entire evening.

Johnny Depp or John Paul White?

I loved watching John Paul sing. He had a way of moving his lips and mouth almost exaggerating the motion with little affect to the sound being produced. The best way I can explain it is yawning. When you yawn your face, mouth and lips expand, but no sound is coming out. The sound coming from White's mouth didn't match the motion of his mouth which made him even more interesting to watch perform.

I would highly recommend grabbing The Civil Wars album Barton Hollow. Take a listen to the title track.

Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars Videos

Giving you a glimpse of the concert check out these 2 videos...
First, a sweet cover of Billie Jean (not filmed at The State Room, but you get the idea).

Second, a song I grew up singing, "You Are My Sunshine", but The Civil Wars put a deeper dark twist to it.

The Civil Wars MySpace

Climbing Dream Chris Sharma

How do you celebrate turning 30 when you are a super famous, super rockin' rock climber? prAna creates a website dedicated to your life as a climber.  If you know climbing you probably know the name Chris Sharma. If you don't know climbing or Chris Sharma, here is your opportunity. Chris Sharma has been climbing for 17 years of his 30 year life and he is pretty good at it. As a little birthday gift prAna (one of his sponsors) created a Chris Anthology to collect videos, photos and articles published about him.

Isn't he darling

And hardcore

If you ever had a crush on a climber it would be Sharma (I do). You could spend hours watching the videos, reading the articles and ogling over the images of his climbing muscles (which I did). And luckily it wouldn't be a waste of time. Watching Chris climb will get your heart pounding and hands sweating.
Check out this video of his skills.

Or this 2010 bouldering competition

Happy Birthday Chris.  See more on prAna's Chris Sharma Anthology page. Also see a list of his big ascents on Wikipedia and Rock Climbing for Life.

Eating in SLC: Rusted Sun Pizzeria

Remember that lunch buddy who shared the joy of The Park Cafe. Well, he is back for round two. Needing a place to eat close to my work (around 2100 South in Salt Lake) and craving dough and sauce, we stopped in The Rusted Sun Pizzeria. We have eaten there twice and we ordered the Buffalo Chicken pizza both times. Warning this pizza is hot. Lathering the pizza with ranch can help, but if you toughen it out you will be rewarded.

No room for pizza when you eat

Don't skimp on the appetizer. What you really must order is the Killer Cheese Dip. It really is killer. I could have made my entire meal out of that cheese dip (I love cheese really). I was awkwardly close to picking up the bowl and licking it clean, but it was hot so I opted to save my tongue and my friend from embarrassment.
I would say prices are on the higher side for pizza, but I will be heading back. I have my eye on the pesto pizza.

The Killer Cheese Dip has been devoured

Check it out and let me know what you think.

The Rusted Sun Pizzeria
2010 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
(801) 483-2120

See their full menu on Urban Spoon

Red's Gear Review: Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket

The traditional puffy coat is not cute. You see people in puffy coats all over Utah. The person is so lost under all that fluff it inspires the line, "I can't put my arms down" from A Christmas Story and my urge to punch them just to see if they can feel it (and yes they can) kicks in. My number one complaint about puffy coats is that they are generally only attractive on a select few (myself not included). This is why a new non-traditional puffy has evolved, the down sweater. You won't struggle to lower your arms to their proper place at your sides. And amazingly you can still maintain some girlish curves (or masculine muscles) while staying comfortably warm, which is a big deal for a girl who is almost always cold.

Omni-Heat Reach the Peak Down Jacket

Columbia has hit the market with a down jacket of their own. Columbia's Omni-Heat jacket is stylish and it isn't puffy in the Christmas Story way. The 700 down fill Omni-Heat Reach the Peak jacket keeps you super warm. Adding a twist to their puffy jacket is the Omni-Heat technology. The heat comes from reflective cells on the inside of the coat. The idea is that these cells reflect your body heat keeping your warmer then a traditional winter coat. Blonde and I have been testing the jackets for over a month now and we can testify it is warm, even in below freezing temps (check out our frozen hair).

Blonde and I rocking Omni-Heat jackets

Columbia got it right with the design. Very slim and a great fit. The sleek design is really flattering and the technology makes sure you don't lose anything on warmth. A great jacket for hitting the resorts, backcountry adventures or just hanging around Salt Lake City. But nothing is perfect. My two complaints are both dealing with pockets. First, two snaps close the side pockets which is neither easy to open/close nor protective for any gear such as camera or phone you might put in them. Second, there is no internal pocket. In almost all my outdoor coats there is a internal chest pocket. I find this mandatory to keep my camera warm, prolonging the battery life and protecting the camera from unforeseen snow due to being tackled and whitewashed (which never happens to me).  Overall, I give the Omni-Heat a 4 out of 5.  Great style and very warm, but the pockets really dock you some points for outdoor functionality.

LOVE

Slim design

Color (We tested grey)

Elastic sleeve cuffs

Warmth

Stuff sack (it works)

Lightweight
Quality

DIS-LOVE

The snap pockets

No internal chest pocket

Gear Tested - Women's Reach The PeakTM Down Jacket

Check out Columbia's Omni-Heat technology

Seed Swap

This could possibly be the most interesting thing I have heard.  The People's Market have hosted a Seed Swapping event in Salt Lake City for the last 5 years.  This year's event is Saturday from 6-8PM.  I might have to go and check it out.

I an not sure exactly how this works, but according to their website, you can come with or without your own seeds.  If you have seeds you can trade with other gardeners for seeds you want.  If you don't have seeds, they will give you some.

Salt Lake City Seed Swap goes down Saturday, Jan 29 from 6-8PM  at Mountain Valley Seed Warehouse (455 W 1700 S).

Light Love

Light Writing Proposal from Derick Childress on Vimeo.

Sent to my inbox today was this sweet and creative proposal  by Derick Childress for his soon-to-be bride Emily. Check out how he did it here.

The Civil War Etsy

Did I really use the word "effective" in yesterday's post? I'm a dork. But I guess the watch does tell time, so that makes it effective.
Last night I saw The Civil Wars in concert at the State Room. It was so great. It is rare that two voices match so well. It was as if their voices were designed for this specific duet.  Keep your eyes and ears open for my full review next week.  But today I wanted to dedicate my Etsyness to them.  I present The Civil Wars.

Ash Ring

Canon Necklace

Abe Lincoln

Custer

Confederate Flag Pen

Simple and effective wristwatch

I am over my sorrow about yesterday's post about Alt Summit and now I am moving on to shopping (a girl has to cope somehow). These super sleek and simple watches are my new favorite. I think I could accessorize anything with one of these. Designed by Laboratorio Quattro for Fullspot, the O'Clock is on my birthday wish list.

I love these colors

The O'Clock come in almost any color

Even the packaging is cleaver

First seen here Daily Grommet

The Sartorialist

Have you heard of The Sartorialist? If you haven't make your way over to the beautiful blog by Scott Schuman who previously employed by the fashion industry, started a photography blog documenting street style in 2005. It has gone on to be named one of the top 100 design influential blogs by TIME magazine.

Photo Credit: Christopher Peterson

I recently stumbled upon this documentary about the man himself. Check it out, and thank me for adding a blog to your reader that you are bound to visit everyday. He shows how fashion is real, not something for 10 ft, 100 lb models on runways. Its in the streets. Check it out: