Bravo’s “Project Runway” makes its highly-anticipated comeback on Wednesday night, complete with Heidi, Michael, Nina and best of all, Tim (thank goodness). You can eye the designers’ potential here.

Finally, something to look forward to on Wednesday, aside from “Pushing Daisies.”

p.s. Just received confirmation that URBN is set to open on Thursday. First 300 customers get a free UO/SLC tote. Not exactly sure what this is, but we like free stuff.

Ever wanted to take part in a vast, collaborative photographic event? Or get you and yours documented in history … or at least the pages of a coffee table book? IKEA, a partner in “America at Home,” has invited you to partake. Here’s the deal, and we quote:

This week only (Sept. 17th – 23rd), millions of amateur photographers and 100 of the nation’s leading photojournalists will capture the rituals, emotions, intimate moments and events that transform your house into a HOME. Over this single seven-day period, you are invited to help document the harmonies and paradoxes of home life across America.

All you have to do is take photos and upload them to the site. Monday is obviously already over and it’s probably too late to carry out Tuesday’s assignment, but you can see the rest of the week’s schedule by clicking right here.

“America At Home” is open to writers too! See here.

Ever wondered what’s going to happen to your blog on that ill-fated day when the Internet (or Google’s server) crashes and burns? And all your rambling thoughts, family photos, magazine inspiration and best Internet finds get flushed down the drain?

It’s more than likely that neither will happen, but there is a certain sense of ease that comes with having a “hard copy” of something. Especially if it’s your online journal. That’s where Blurb comes in. Blurb’s software (which you can download right here, right now) is making the hard-copy route not only more settling, but also much more appealing. And with the help of Blurb’s publishing services, you can print your blog in book form, to be tucked away in keepsake boxes, cedar chests, book shelves and coffee tables. Or maybe even sold at bookstores.

First, you download Blurb’s BookSmart software. Then you choose the kind of book you would like to make. Next, add your text and photos—even your comments—and you’re done. You’ve got 440 pages to work with.

Check out all your options here.

Check out pricing here.

See what others have done here.

Cool, huh?

Every once in a while you stumble upon a site that’s a bit after your own heart. Or accidentally come across a project that simply rings true to you. And it doesn’t hurt when it’s perfectly vintage-, arts/craft- or girl-centric. (Sorry, guys. Though we’re sure you’re invited, too.)

That’s how we felt when we came across the homepage for Art Nest, a local art retreat that takes place in the mountains near Heber. Artists Julie and Candice, who put these wonderfully orchestrated retreats together (complete with catered dinners and lodging), have been pals for nearly a decade and share a love of vintage stuffs, collage work and documenting personal histories.

Just last week, Art Nest released the date of their second retreat taking place November 15-18, 2007, this time with a “vintage” holiday theme. Here’s a little taste of some of the workshops that will be offered, in Julie’s words:

• Candice is teaching a nostalgic book-of-days class that focuses on using interesting tape techniques to build a base for collaging and journaling.
• Cerri has designed a Christmas-under-glass class that uses your own family images to create a little wintery scene. Her holiday bird nest is going to be filled with vintage tinsel, glass garland and rhinestones.
• Sherri has a collection of vintage buttons that she has used to make molds. She will be teaching how to shape and mold the clay into silver charms.

Julie herself will be teaching a class about constructing vintage-esque Christmas villages. As you can see, the projects are uniquely inspired, and we trust they’ll be even better once given your personalized dose of creativity: whether your book pages will contain the typed-out lyrics of your favorite Cure song or Holga images from your wee babe’s first winter holiday.

Check out some images from the last Art Nest retreat right here. You can gather up all the details right here.

If you had one wish, what would it be? Eternal sunshine? Neverending cash flow? A trip to the French Riviera? Extra-high metabolism? The job of your dreams? The ability to afford your rock-and-roll lifestyle?

Local girl Mindy Relyea is the kind who keeps others in mind. Her answer, which would undeniably put the rest of us to shame, would be something like “health and happiness” or “world peace”—and she’s the type with enough determination and heart to get the wheels in motion in making those aspirations become reality.

An art major and lover of textiles, Mindy opened an online gift boutique called One Wish World that carries products like sassy dishtowels, thoughtful journals and homemade skirts—all nearly one-of-a-kind and handcrafted by Utah artists, perfect tokens of appreciation for almost any occasion whether it’s your niece’s graduation or your best friend’s birthday.

Several items on One Wish World feature an image of a cherub. Proceeds from these products (like this colorful tote and this classic t-shirt) will be used as charitable donations—helping children with autism and conquering malnutrition in Africa. The One Wish World artists hope to “do good while sharing our gifts and talents,” says Mindy. Learn more about the causes they’re interested in here.

{Make a Wish:} Mindy and One Wish World have kindly offered a dreamy gift package for one lucky Your Heart Out reader. Leave just one comment on this post by 10 p.m. on Monday, July 16 for your chance to win all of these goodies:

• A cute and stylish gathered One Wish World logo T-shirt
• A funky and good-spirited woodblock lady painting by Ann Gardner
• A Blue Lily candle (we’re intrigued by the “Summertime” scent)
  
• An adorable set of matching mother/daughter (or son) aprons by Jill Hansen (see pictured)

Some of these items are so new, they haven’t even made it on the site yet! Thanks for the sneak-preview, Mindy. And for giving us an opportunity to give back through your shop.

You’re a master of illusion. You passed off your Banana Republic belt as vintage and your knockoff Prada bag as the real deal.

That’s why we tracked down this perfect-for-you hostess trick. Any gal who’s spent a little time in the kitchen (or crying over the mixing bowl) knows that the perfect cupcake mix isn’t easy to whip up. Especially when you’re up against cupcake masters like Bevery Hills’ Sprinkles, which commonly mixes things like Callebaut chocolate and pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla into its recipe.

What’s that you say? You don’t have Callebaut on hand? Well, no worries, Houdini. You can order a Sprinkles mix for your next party—and no one will need to know.

Sprinkles mix flavors include dark chocolate, vanilla, lemon and red velvet, if you please. At $14 a pop, you can order by e-mailing eat@sprinklescupcakes.com or calling (888) 220-2210, or by visiting Williams Sonoma. It’ll even come complete with Sprinkles’ signature “Modern Dot” decorations. Ta da.

Now, if only the Big Apple’s varieties (Magnolia, Billy’s, Sweet Sugar Sunshine, Buttercup) would do the same. Until then, try out a cookbook or two.

We also think Ina Garten’s recipe is pretty genius, as well as Sprinkles’ cupcake trays. And if anyone wants to send a giftbox our way, we won’t complain.

Who can say no to a balloon? Anyone who knows Ali knows she can’t turn down the whimsical and colorful things. For the last few months, she’s been on a search for super-round balloons: fun for photo shoots, keeping kids occupied and providing company, when necessary.

So when Maeve showed up on her doorstep with three of the huge-est, roundest balloons the human eye has ever laid eyes on, you can imagine Ali’s surprise and excitement. Leave it to Maeve to track down the balloon of Ali’s dreams.

If you ever need a good backdrop for a family photoshoot or maybe just something to stand-in as someone for a practice photo portrait, this balloon will keep you humored.

Gather inspiration from Patricia McDonough and this sketchbook from Ruby Republic. Then go buy your own batch of seriously-huge balloons at this site. It’s not easy to navigate, but start by selecting the yellow balloon at the top of the page that says “balloons,” then scroll down to “Balloons By Shape or Character” and browse the gazillions of pages for the colors you like. Make sure the balloons you select look round; you can tell by looking at the teaser photos—the balloons you want will be truly circle-shaped. You can also try Zurchers (389 W. 1830 South #300 and 1102 E. Fort Union Blvd), where they are available in limited quantities.

Have a happy weekend.

It’s funny how you can come to adore a 28mm by 70mm piece of paper—especially one that wasn’t anonymously tucked under one of your windshield wipers telling you how beautiful you are.

Ever since a smart, compact package of mini contact cards arrived in Maeve’s mailbox a couple days ago, we’ve grown to have a bit of a crush on Moo MiniCards. To put it simply, they’re genius: cool, cropped versions of your favorite photos with your personal info on the flipside. A new kind of personalized “business” card.

But that doesn’t mean you have to be a genius to figure out how to get some Moo Minis of your own. All you have to do is visit the site, select photos from your Flickr account, tell Moo how you’d like them cropped, enter the contact information you’d like to share, hand over $20, and voila—two weeks later you have 100 mini contact cards to give out to all your new friends/classmates/potential clients/workmates you dare share your personal e-mail address with.

They’re so fun you might not want to part with them. Then again, it’s only $20 for 100 more.

The expected sunshine this weekend might have you ready to pull out your picnic blanket or flip flops, but we recommend you stay inside and reach for your less-exciting Eureka. Throw open the windows, shake out your rugs—embrace your inner rubber-glove god/goddess to rid your place of all its winter skeletons (or spiderwebs).

Crank up the iPod, tie up your hair, and with your dust mop at your side, prepare to wage war on winter dust with any or all of these usually-skipped-over tasks:

• Dust/vacuum your baseboards, heating vents, windows sills and bookshelves.
• Get serious about cleaning out your piles of saved magazines and newspapers. Make an inspiration folder for ideas and looks you plan on getting around to, and a keepsake folder for snippets of things you can’t throw out. Then toss your winter stack in the recycling bin.
• Polish your drawer pulls and doorhandles—a quick and easily-overlooked spreader of germs. Make them twinkle. You should also wipe down your light switches and spot-clean your walls.
• Remove each trinket from its proper place and dust everything: shelves, coffee tables, nightstands, mantles, and don’t forget your light fixtures.
• Clean out your closet—know when enough is enough. Donate older items to the Deseret Industries, and put other still-kinda-cute pieces on eBay, or tote them to a new-for-someone-else store like Name Droppers (2350 E. Parleys Way) to see if you can’t rake in a little extra dough for spring shopping.
• Put new sheets on the bed; wash your linens. Pull off your blankets, mattress pads and pillows and run them through the dryer on the “air fluff” cycle. You can also do this with your curtains or drapes.
• Windex everything: all glass surfaces including interior windows and mirrors.
• Clean out the fridge; get rid of all those un-used jars of scary-looking syrups.
• Vacuum, and of course, mop. And then give your sink a good, hard cleaning.
• Replace your furnace filters.

Here are some of our favorite cleaning products for the day-to-day and seasonal scrub-down–the kind that might have even the crankiest cleaner whistling while he/she works:

Lemon oil: The typical furniture-polisher is also great for cleaning tiled bathroom showers and bathroom fixtures.

Method’s Tub and Tile Spray: A tough everyday cleaner with a fresh eucalyptus scent you won’t have to worry about washing off your skin.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes: Great for occasional bathroom and toilet wipe-ups.

Clorox Clean-Up Spray: Deep down cleaner is the ultimate germ-killer; it is the smell of super clean.

Greased Lightning: Use this for de-greasing appliances, stoves and countertops. We prefer the “Lemon Blast” scent.

Bar Keepers Friend: Especially great for porcelain and stainless steel sinks as well as cast-iron cookware, this product scrubs without scratching unlike powder-form cleansers. Williams Sonoma Kitchen Scrub is also a good option.

Mr. Clean Magic Reach: Great for a day-to-day wipe up, this little guy gets behind awkward and hard-to-reach areas. Though Mr. Clean provides his own wipes, a Clorox wipe will usually do the job, too.

Sprayway Class Cleaner: A truly streak-free cleaner; its foamier consistency makes it easy to see where you’ve scrubbed and what spots you might have missed.

Now, tell us, what are some of your favorite tricks and cleaning products?

As the sun shines down on snow-covered Salt Lake (pretty as a picture), we’ve forgotten about fancy hot chocolates and gourmet teas. The sunshine puts another taste on our list of cravings, and this time, it’s the sweet and savory nectar of lemons. Good lemonade is like summer in a bottle.

We tracked down our favorite “pink” variety at Tony Caputo’s Market (314 West 300 South). From France-based Lorina, the 24.5-fluid-ounce bottle is cute and vintage-like with a metal lever lid that can easily be topped with a colorful bow for a housewarming gift or a fancier-than-normal beverage to bring to a barbecue.

The Pink Lemonade ($5.99 at Caputo’s) is a nice blend of tart and sweet, though it goes down a little dry—giving it a little authentic boost. The pink in the Pink Lemonade is a light and sweet color, making the beverage that much more attractive. It also comes in smaller, handheld-size 11.1-fluid-ounce portions that are perfect for complimenting a sandwich (Caputo’s, preferably) or sticking in a cooler.

If you’re willing to head to Park City’s World Market (6400 North Highway 224, next to TJ Maxx in Kimball Junction), you can pick up any of Lorina’s other five flavors: French Lemonade, Traditional Lemonade, French Berry Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade, or Traditional Orangeade for as little as $3 to $4 per 24.5 fluid-ounce bottle. It’s also spotted from time to time at local Target stores at a similar price.

As spring fights her way in, keep your eyes open for this little dose of summer. It’s sure to brighten your day.

Remember the first time you saw Method’s lovely dew drop bottles gracing the aisles? Never before had you seen unabashed, counter-worthy bottled soap. We’d grown accustomed to too-soapy-smelling $5 varieties, that, outside of the grocery store, you’d only see basking sink-side in public restrooms and dentist’s offices.

Method gave us an entirely new option, but didn’t raise the price. It was love at first sight. The great thing about Method is that it can take something as un-cool as plastic-bottled handsoap and make it sexy. In terms of design, it’s brought on Karim Rashid, an industrial designer known to “make plastic dance.”

Check out the new duds on Method’s “Creamy Hand Soap” in white tea, olive leaf and almond flower fragrances. It’s got us tapping our toes and twiddling our now-clean fingers. Our hands are soft, too, thanks to infusions of Vitamin E and jojoba oil.

It gets better. Method products are totally earth-friendly. Don’t throw away your cubed-out container once its contents are used up. All Method containers are 100 percent recyclable.

This soap’s feel-good qualities are threefold: cool countertop, soft hands, warm heart. You can pick up this little guy at Target for around $5.