Summer in Utah: Required Reading Material to Survive the next 90 Days

Before you start blowing up the backyard swimming pool and digging through the garage for the bug spray and water weenies, might I suggest you kickstart your summer by adding Wumpsee.com to your favorite bookmarks?
No, really. Right now.

It happens every summer. One of your beloved offspring will begin recounting how they haven’t done anything all summer except be forced to read, babysit, mow the lawn …You fill in the blank. When this happens, let Wumpsee.com do all the work of finding things for your family to do throughout our great state. It is like having your own personal event planner. Say goodbye to summer boredom.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

JUNE
June 11: Dino Day Camps begin
(Camps run throughout the summer and offer activities for different ages)
June 17: Father’s Day—free admission for all dads
Celebrate the beginning of summer by stepping back into the prehistoric age at the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park located along the beautiful Ogden River Parkway. Your own little monsters will dig the opportunity to hunt with an Utahraptor, play hide and seek with a triceratops, and enjoy lunch with a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The park features more than 100 full-sized creatures, thanks to robotics, artistic detail, and an impressive sound system.
June 9: Get Outdoors Day — Free Entrance into Utah’s National Parks
Utah is not only the Jell-O capital, it is America’s national parks capital. Breathe deeply, pack trail mix and sunscreen, and go have fun. Writing their “What I Did During Summer Vacation” essays will be a breeze for your little thrill seekers when you take advantage of one of the five national parks located in our amazing state. Parks include: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.
June 15-16: Chalk Art Festival at the Gateway in Salt Lake City
If you have never experienced this event, hit the pavement and commit. A grand event benefiting the Utah Foster Care Foundation, the Chalk Art Festival features more than 120 artists who transform Salt Lake City’s Rio Grande Street into “Utah’s largest live art gallery.” Breathtaking family-friendly art, live entertainment, and the opportunity to cool off at the Olympic Legacy Fountain are all provided. Come be one of the nearly 20,000 spectators who have grown to love this event each year.

JULY
July 21: Pioneer Festival at the American West Heritage Center
Unplug your children and give them some old-fashioned fun at the American West Heritage Center in beautiful Wellsville, Utah. Attractions include: a Shoshone encampment, a mountain man/fur trader camp, pioneer family settlement, and a 1917 farm. No need for the Wii when you have the opportunity to milk cows, learn woodcarving, and learn the way of the mountain man. Celebrations include: living history activities, contests, music, and gun-fighting demonstrations.
July 14: Ice Block Day at Hogle Zoo - Nobody wants sweaty, grumpy kids. Come chill out at Salt Lake City’s Hogle Zoo and enjoy an extraordinarily “cool” tradition. Animals experience a bit of arctic paradise as they enjoy things like food frozen in ice pops and giant 300-pound ice blocks. Animal “ice enrichment” will happen regularly between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ice-themed contests and games will be set up in the Oasis Plaza. Then, go home and have children fold clothes. Call it “laundry enrichment.” Genius.
July 30: Chocolate Lovers Night at the Utah Botanical Garden
Sure, you can bring the children, but maybe you should set this one aside for yourself. After all, at this point you have made it halfway through the summer while being an educator, taxi driver, referee, and sandwich-making specialist. A local candy maker and the owner Pa’s Chocolates, Shirl Shepherd will demonstrate how to do magical and savory things with chocolate. Oh, and you can make a delectable treat of your own. Like I said, movie night for the kids, chocolate night for mom. You must register for this event.
July 30 – August 4: 26th Annual Springville World Folkfest
With gas and airfare prices, shall we say, uncomfortable, cancel the trip abroad and stay closer to home to enjoy what is said to be the “largest festival of folk dance and music in the United States.” More than 300 performers from around the world will bring their culture through music and dancing right into downtown Springville. Don’t forget to sample some of the enticing treats at the international food booths. What a great way to breathe a little culture into a summer of swimming and sleepovers. Does it get any better?

AUGUST
August 24 – 25:  Dancing Under the Stars - Orem will host this annual tradition of talented, professional and nationally-recognized dancers and musicians. Relax in the beauty of this outdoor venue while swaying to the music and choreography of jazz, ballroom, hip-hop and more. It’s for every kid who has a dream, and for those of us who are content to be amazed by someone else’s flexibility and rhythm.
August 11: View the Perseid Meteor Shower at Bryce Canyon
If you haven’t done much camping this year, consider planning a trip around, oh, I don’t know — a meteor shower! Come see the orange-glazed beauty of Bryce Canyon while extending your knowledge of astronomy. Get your tent upright, roast those hot dogs and get your brood to the lodge at Bryce Canyon. The show starts at 9 p.m. I will bring a very, very thick sleeping pad to put on top of my own personal air mattress, just so you know.
August 31-September 3: 2012 Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Trial Championship – Any excuse to take a drive through the alpine meadows and reaching streams of the majestic Heber Valley is justified. The world’s most impressive border collies come to Utah in what has been called “positively the foremost trial in the world.” The event will also have plenty to do for the little ones including the Bow Wow Luau Dog Acrobats, Wild Wonders Animal Show and the high-flying Dock Diving Dogs Championship. Enjoy Scottish music throughout the day and divine food from cultures around the world. But they will not train your children, so don’t ask.
I should provide a disclaimer that Wumpsee.com cannot guarantee a summer without bickering, quarreling, and biting. Wumpsee.com does not have a laundry service or a dinner delivery program. However, your kids will be so busy doing educational and fun things that they just might forget to fight. That’s my dream anyway.

This giveaway is now closed.
Congratulations to our winner Cynthia W.

Today’s giveaway get’s me excited for summer.  I mean really excited!!  It’s brought to you by the Ivy Cottage, which is a quaint little company that specializes in vinyl, wood, and metal decor.  And what I’m finding I love most about the Ivy Cottage is how fun their products are.  Take one look at the products in their shop, and you can’t help but fall in love.

What says summer time better than a glass of cold lemonade and your favorite pair of shades?  You will love this oh so darling original wooden kit from the Ivy Cottage! It’s so much fun to make and looks great in your favorite summer colors!!!  So while your friends are still stuck in spring, you can day dream of soaking up some sun while making this darling kit.  We promise your friends and family will go crazy about your very cute creation!  This fun kit is valued at $26 and we are so excited to give this away to one lucky person – best of luck to you all!

You can enter to win this giveaway up to 3 times…

1. List your first name and last initial

2. LIKE Simply Utah on facebook

3. Visit the Ivy Cottage and let us know what your favorite products are

Winner will be announced Friday – good luck!

This giveaway is now closed.
Congratulations to our winner Audrey M!

In case you somehow missed our feature last week on the amazing daily deal site Plum District, today we want to entice you with a fantastic little giveaway so that you’ll never miss a deal from them again!

“Plum District provides daily offers moms love. It is By Moms For Moms – a community of moms sharing deals from local and national merchants for other moms to enjoy. Plum District puts Mom first by connecting her with products and inspirations that make her life easier. We know moms are looking to indulge, explore, nest, nibble, play, splurge and give – our goal is to make Mom’s day, by offering her great values for her and her family.”

Today Plum District is giving away not 10, not even 25, but 50 plum dollars to one lucky person! That’s right, to win the $50 credit to use on ANY plum deal you see (minus the ones already labeled a “steal”), you just need to have a Plum District account…but I’m sure you’ve already got one of these because they’re FREE, and that’s how you know about their amazing daily deals, right?  If for some reason you don’t, we won’t judge; just run on over to Plum District and get signed up!!  That way they can deposit the credit right into your account – doesn’t get much easier than that.

You can enter to win this giveaway up to 3 times…

1. List your first name and last initial

2. LIKE Simply Utah on facebook

3. LIKE Plum District Salt Lake on Facebook

Winner will be announced Wednesday – good luck!

This giveaway is now closed.
Congratulations to our winner Nicole R.

Today’s giveaway comes from the unique company ShutterBooth.  Looking back, I would have LOVED to have a photo booth at one of my high school dances (yes, to remind me of how big of a geek I was!), my wedding, or even a work holiday party – it would have made for some good blackmail material!!  So now that these types of products are more mainstream and readily available, ShutterBooth wants to give away an amazing coupon to make your next event the best one yet!

ShutterBooth Utah provides awesome photo booth fun to entertain and capture the moment while providing cherished keepsakes and memories that will last a lifetime. As the winner of this giveaway, you will receive 35% off the package of your choice! All of our packages are by the hour (minimum of 2 hours) and include: unlimited photos (1 print per use), a live host to assist guests, color | b/w | or sepia prints, an online gallery, a high resolution DVD of all images, and a logo for the bottom of the photo strips (click here to see our gallery).  Also, our booths fit 10-12 guests, making for some great pics!

So what are you waiting for?  You can enter this great giveaway up to 3 times:

1. List your first name and last initial

2. LIKE Simply Utah on facebook

3. Visit ShutterBooth and let us know what event you’d like a photo booth for

Winner will be announced Tuesday – good luck!

***Does not apply to current clients, bookings over holidays, and is subject to availability. This only applies to the ShutterBooth Utah office***

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER NANCY DENTLER!

As we wrap up our week of daily deal sites, we thought what better way to end than by doing a fantastic giveaway from a great company that is ALWAYS a deal! SexyModest Boutique is the sponsor, and if you haven’t had the pleasure of checking out their products yet, let’s start with having you watch this hilarious spoof, SEXYMODESTBACK!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNvw79fJYAg

SexyModest is now YOUR answer to the question that you ask yourself everyday… How can I dress cute or “Sexy” & still be “Modest.”

SexyModest Boutique spends many hours every week selecting the most adorable “boutique” style clothing just for YOU. Everyone loves to dress, look, and feel cute, but not all of us want to pay the $100+ “boutique” price, for an article of clothing. Which is exactly why every item… All their JEANS, TOPS, DRESSES, PURSES, JEWELRY, CARDIGANS, CAPRI’S, SCARVES, HATS, SHORTS… (you get the point) IS ALWAYS UNDER $50.00! The best news for you is, you don’t have to wait for a sale – your new favorite boutique is on sale 24-7!

What I also recently learned about SexyModest Boutique is that you can shop right from their FB page, and shipping is ALWAYS free!  Pretty fantastic if you ask me!  And now to the exciting giveaway details I know that you’r just dying to hear: one lucky person will receive any clothing or jewelry item they choose from SexyModest Boutique – that means any dress, purse, pair of jeans, top, skirt, ANYTHING YOU WANT…you can have! Dang, that is so awesome!

You can enter this giveaway up to 3 times:

1. Like SexyModest Boutique on Facebook.

2. Leave a comment on SexyModest’s Facebook wall so that they know you entered,stating you’re coming from Simply Utah for the giveaway.

3. Share SexyModest Boutique’s quick video commercial SEXYMODESTBACK with your friends on your Facebook wall with some sort of caption (i.e.”Just became a FAN of this adorable clothing boutique. This is hilarious.“)

Good luck, and the winner will be announced on Monday!