Marilyn Monroe once said, “I’ve been on a calendar, but never on time.” If, like the great Marilyn, you’re destined to be fashionably late, you best pull it off with the help of any of these cool/chic/whimsical wall or desk calendars.

Follow the image links below to ring in 2007 on the right foot—one that’s as fashionable as it is functional.

Happy New Year from Your Heart Out. We’ll see you on Tuesday.

Sale! Sale! Sale! ‘Tis music to the ears, whether you didn’t get your holiday shopping done on time or you’ve got gift certificates or checks from grandma burning a hole in your new wallet.

Online merchants like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Forever 21, Target, Pottery Barn, even overseas Topshop (which is now shipping stateside!) are throwing screamin’ deals our way … and we’re shouting it from the rooftops.

Some favorite pieces and prices include a knee-length jacket for $19.99 (reg. $39.80) from Forever 21, city-chic cowboy boots for $199 (reg. $285), a cool geometric-patterned tufted-wool rug from Anthropologie for $29.95 (reg. $78), a too-cute embroidered owl pillow from West Elm for $9.99 (reg. $19), a mod plate from Crate & Barrel for $2.95 (reg. $4.95), a voluminous mustard jacket from Topshop for £12 (reg. £25), a tuxedo-ruffled shirtdress from Target for $24.49 (reg. $34.99), and a pretty art deco mirror for $99 (reg. $129).

Three cheers for after-holiday savings!

After a much-needed long winter’s nap (and a wedding), we’re back. Hoping all had a very merry and fabulous holiday.

The week that follows Christmas is a fun, slower-paced one—unless you work in an office where you are expected to make up for a “lost” day of work. When you tire of playing with new gadgets and planning new outfits, may we suggest a cheap and easy winter craft for your finally!-no-more-shopping-to-do downtime.

As we said earlier, there’s a cozy for everything this winter. We applaud the winter-friendly, all-soft ambience these warmers of all sorts provide.

When we saw candlestick cozies in the Anthropologie “Gift 2006” catalog early in December, we vowed to create our own. Granted, they’re probably triple-marked-down at the store right now, but ours was practically free and truly homespun—therefore, a make-yourself-proud original.

Maeve popped by the D.I. on her way home from work one afternoon, purchased a besmirched wooden candlestick and a small, striped sweater. She trimmed off the narrowest part of a sleeve, and pinned the excess portion so the cozy would be nice and snug. Using a glue gun, the sweater fabric was wrapped around and adhered to the now-pretty candlestick. She then stitched up the side, bringing the two sweater-ends together. Voila! We’re pleased with the results, but, like most things, we agree that it could use a friend.

Also recommended is a pair of crystal candlesticks covered in a thin, ivory sweater with cream sequins attached at random. Maybe next time….

We headed to the Park City Tanger Outlets on Wednesday, searching for last-minute Christmas presents for the boys in our lives. The Vans store was our initial destination—what guy couldn’t use a new pair of slip-ons?

We de-carred, shivering as we hurried toward the teen hangout. Despite our hustle, something beautiful caught our eyes: BCBG Max Azria. There were sighs, jaw-droppings, cheers of joy, and other physical manifestations of disbelief and utter happiness.

Only a week old, the BCBG Max Azria outlet is a Utah discount shopper’s dream come to Park City. The store includes the most comprehensive and stylish collection of evening wear (if you have a special affair to cameo on New Year’s Eve, we are jealous. The dresses here are red-carpet cute and priced fairly) and well-designed separates from the BCBG, Max Azria, BCBG Girls and To The Max lines—shoes and jewelry included.

Favorites include a tailored leather jacket that nods to the ‘80s with puffed sleeves, but feels so-right-now given its grayish/brown “clay” color, and an empire-waisted pinafore dress with tightly-pleated chiffon that stretches to the knees.

We will be frequenting, often … after we rebound from breaking the holiday budget.

FYI: BCBG didn’t replace Vans. It replaced the sunglasses store that sat next door. Vans has relocated to the newer addition (south of the original structure) and sits next to Harry & David.

Remember when you had a crush on that boy in high school, and the first thing you did when you got your driver’s license was drive by his house, like, five times each night? Ah, we recall the classic “drive-by” affectionately; it was the safest, most mild form of stalking.

At Your Heart Out, we’re still vulnerable to a crush or two, though these days, they take different forms. Our latest crush is on a store—and call us shallow, but the attraction stems solely from a pretty face.

The Light Spot (2927 S. Highland Drive) has our favorite window display in town. We find ourselves driving by regularly, and the shop isn’t necessarily on the way home, if you know what we mean.

We’ve learned that the Light Spot’s crushable ways are twofold: not only is it good to look at, it’s smart. The savvy shop brings us the hard-to-find (and fit in the budget) products you see featured in the pricey but well-designed spreads of Metropolitan Home and Architectural Digest. The first time we saw the infamous Louis Ghost Armchair “in person” was in its sexy, vast windows.

Currently, they’ve got a cool wintery-night/oversized snowflake thing going on, a display made from unique pendant lights they carry. We do our best to provide good photos, but as with most good things—like Hawaii in December—it’s best to see it in person. If your old “drive-by” ways see a rebirth, we won’t hold it against you.

Just because we can’t pronounce it doesn’t mean we can’t love Athenaeum Press.

Salt Lake letterpresser Peder Singleton is keeping it real and keeping it local—and we feel a sort of affinity with him because he has the same fascination with antiquated structures and old signage that we do.

And he’s doing that old stuff a service that we applaud. Singleton is preserving bits and pieces of Salt Lake on paper, giving them new light with mixed ink and lead type. His latest undertaking is to complete a print of each letter in the alphabet, each pulled from dated business signs around the valley—the kind that would flicker with neon light or hum at night.

We also love Singleton for admitting “The [letterpress] machines alone were amongst the sexiest things I had ever seen.” Sometimes, you just know. So Singleton did, and luckily, we can all have a piece of his art. Check out his online store here. You can learn more about his process here.

The current Winter Wonderland weather has us looking for more than a cup of Christmas cheer. We’ve also got a yearning for a big, fat cup of something else: chocolate.

In the blustery haze of Saturday afternoon, we headed to Cocoa Caffé (282 E. 900 South) seeking shelter and sweets. Both desires were met: Maeve, naturally, had to try the hot chocolate ($3.35 for small)—this is Cocoa Caffé, after all. Ali veered off path, falling for the description of caramel apple cider (cider with caramel drizzled over a dallop of homemade-tasting whipped cream, $3.15).

It’s fair to say that the hot chocolate is more of a dessert than a warm drink; it’s one step away from homemade chocolate pudding—in flavor and texture. It’s not overly sweet, nor is it bitter. It’s creamy, and collectively, we found it tasty.

Cocoa Caffé’s insides are as warm and welcoming as a Starbucks, minus the bucks. It’s not overcrowded and there’s plenty of seating room. A sweet, coffee-ish smell and an asking-to-be-curled-up-by fireplace are added bonuses.

The hot (chocolate and coffee) spot also offers more metropolitan options like hazelnut-, caramel-, coconut- and mint-flavored frozen cocoas ($3.30 for small) and lunch items like a tomato mozzarella panini ($5.95) and a green apple and brie dish ($6.95). None of the above fit into our diet plans for the afternoon; we did our best to stay true-blue to our initial warm-drink craving, and were happy we didn’t stray … at least not too far. The cider isn’t to be turned down.

It’s clear from a jaunt through the Spring 2007 designer collections on Style.com and a prompt from WhoWhatWear that mustard is the condiment, err, complement for the spring ensemble—as these ready-to-wear designs from Chloe and Jenni Kayne and others from Undercover prove.

We’re more than up for sporting the golden goods (hoping that they will bode well with differing skin tones), but not laying down heavy designer cash. Rest assured, Salt Lakers, one local store is bound to give us a headstart on the trend. Gadzooks (actually a Forever 21 store) in Fashion Place Mall (6191 S. State St.) has a bevy of tempting, deep-yellow delicacies—all at a happy, wallet-friendly price. Though not quite as smart or structured as Chloe, you could try Forever 21’s sweater tunic ($27.80), a Jackie O-inspired knit sweater ($29.80), or this fun ruffled knit top ($19.80)—and be sitting pretty and ahead-of-the-trend.

If you opt to order online (we can’t guarantee these items will still be available at Gadzooks though it “gets new shipments daily”), you can currently free yourself of shipping fees if you spend $75 or more, thanks to an Internet promotion that lasts through midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

The neighbor gift: The sometimes problematic but good-spirited gesture of neighborly affection. Even when neighborhoods agree to put an end to the round-robin of gift-giving and invest in a charity instead, a knick-knack or fruitcake is sure to arrive on the doorstep—and we don’t mean your crazy uncle.

If you’re still scouting out or trying to brew up the perfect token of appreciation, you could just try any of these five things, sure to brighten any holidayscape or warm the belly.

1. We’re conjuring up memories of sharing a sliced “Apple Pie” caramel apple with friends and family. A sweet experience you can pass on. (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 602 E. 500 South, $4.50)
2. A peppermint candy that chews and melts in the mouth, complete with a vintage-inspired, reusable tin. (Chewy Peps at Hip & Humble, 1045 E. 900 South, $15)
3. We love Utah’s-own Stephen’s Hot Chocolate, especially in French Vanilla and Chocolate Mint Truffle. The gift of hot beverage gives the recipient a sweet treat they can turn around and share with others on cold nights … or hoard for themselves. (At local grocery stores, around $4.99 for one-pound can.)

4. Tried and true, the pretty ornament is an old reliable. A safe but sparkly variety should blend in nicely with any holiday theme, be it Candyland or White Christmas. (Walls, 1465 S. 700 East, $4.50)
5. A cookie cutter as pretty as Mrs. Pots? Yes, please. (Sur La Table, 10 N. Rio Grande St., $4.95)
6. There is such a thing as too much FM 100. And there’s nothing quite like hearing your favorite artist cover Wham’s “Last Christmas.” The Christmas mix never gets old. Check out songs featured on Woxy’s Holiday Mixer. (Thanks, Lacey).

Everyone loves a discount. As the postcard that arrived in the mail yesterday reports, Modern Materials (2815 S. Highland Drive) is holding a holiday “Deck The Halls” sale on Friday and Saturday (Dec. 15-16). The flier says “Bring this postcard in to save 20% off entire purchase.” But the scrolling banner at the store’s front is advertising the sale too, which makes us think that mention of the postcard might do the money-saving trick. It also says something about free hot chocolate and cookies, which shouldn’t go uneaten.

Aside from sleek, modern furniture, rugs and pendant lights, Modern Materials carries shelves-ful of fashion-forward home accessories like sofa pillows, bedding, containers, vases and serving trays. See for yourself, and save a few bucks.

You know what they said about the Grinch (nasty, wasty skunk, heart full of unwashed socks, etc.). Better summon some spirit for the season. These festive activities are guaranteed to bring out your inner Tiny Tim or help you get your Santa on.

Ski Like Santa: The Canyons is offering a free day of skiing on Saturday to anyone willing to don Santa’s cap, beard, and infamous red velour getup. And yes, the full costume is a must; a lack of costuming effort will result in the lack of a free ticket. Passes go to the first 50 Santa wannabes. Find more info here.

Nativity, Florida-Style: A street in the Aves goes all Miami on us this time of year with its pinked-out nativity scene. We mean pink as in pink flamingos. Each house on the street dresses up a plastic garden bird to contribute to the collective nativity scene (or so the story goes). One of our favorites is covered in cotton balls … it’s a sheep, you see? Gifts of the Magi include Chinese takeout and Cuban cigars. The flamingos are so clever and funny, you’ll want to take them home, but remember to be respectful. The newest addition to the display is a sign posting the “11th Commandment:” Thou Shall Not Steal Thy Neighbor’s Flamingo. See it on 10th Avenue between K and L Streets.

All Griswalded-Out: Eat your heart out, Clark. This Murray home is so decked out, it has been featured on HGTV. The homeowner has a website, on which he says, “You won’t believe your eyes … or ears.” It’s true. He has streamed music for your viewing and hearing pleasure through 99.9 FM. See the work of a truest holiday fanatic at 5631 S. Whispering Pine Circle (5631 South 820 East). For more ideas of where to see light displays, get suggestions from the lighting connoisseur, himself.

There’s nothing like a good cup of holiday cheer to make you want to pull up your sleeves and expose your inner Martha.

You’ve still got twelve days to make the holidays craftily complete. We searched the world (wide web) for our list of DIY favorites. These are the projects that made the cut, so to speak.

This little knick-knack shelf from craftster.org is the answer for displaying the ambush of tidings of great joy, i.e, cheery, yearly updates from friends and family. Perfect for an entryway, and even cuter if made in duplicate and stacked.

We’ve made these danglies before, and the blogger couldn’t be more correct; these earrings are super duper easy to construct.

Put a twist on the concept by employing the same technique to create a sparkly mini garland for your mantle or shelving, or create a ring around candle groupings … any place that could use some holiday glitz. Fancy beads would also dress-up a wreath with a little holidazzle.

Though you’ll need some knitting foreknowledge (stitch one, pearl two….), these whimsical slippers would set any toes a’twinkle. We love the ballet-inspired “laces.”

A wonderfully intricate snowflake takes the typical origami project up a notch. Make three and use them as ornaments, or if you have the time and patience, make a batch of differing shapes and sizes and string them above your kitchen window (if you’re lucky enough to have one).

These little wreaths are all over online, but we love the playful, mixed-media look of this one. This post offers the most direction—and an adorable creation (and that fabric isn’t bad either).

Somehow, everything’s more fun when miniaturized, stockings included. Leave it to Martha and crew to come up with something so criminally cute.

These days, there’s a cozy for everything and anything. Even headphones. A thoughtful/kitschy offering for the friend who never leaves home sans iPod.

PS: Check out Domino’s pretty, new site. You’ll see their handful of DIY holiday gift ideas here.

Row 1 (left to right)

1. A cool day planner kit would make deadlines so much more manageable. (Artichokes & Co., 1790 S. 1100 East, $39)
2. Whether used as wall decorations or to serve salads, regal crown plates feel so deliciously Marie Antoinette. (Artichokes & Co., 1790 S. 1100 East $38)
3. Barbara Bestor offers an insider’s look at the stylish California Silver Creek neighborhood in “Bohemian Modern.” Connoisseurs will go crazy for the grainy hardcover. (In store at 116 S. Rio Grande St. and online at Anthropologie.com, $34.95)
4. The gift of paper gives re-decorators and other creative minds a great start on a new project. (Wallpaper from Walls, 1465 S. 700 East, $38 and up)
5. An organizable Home Maintenance binder helps new home owners stay on top of matters in the nest: a gift that keeps on giving. (Artichokes & Co., 1790 S. 1100 East, $33)

Row 2 (left to right)

1. A beautiful Rococo Noir scalloped pedestal makes the perfect stand for the baker of mini cupcakes in the family. (Artichokes & Co., 1790 S. 1100 East, $33)
2. Two gifts in one: a really big coinpurse and ladylike, handheld clutch. (HouseAndWear.com, “Lucky Breaks Online” price: $32, just enter “Lucky” at checkout. Thanks, Lucky!)
3. A cute little soap-and-dish combo makes washing hands a lot more fun, and keeps sink spaces looking cheery. (Hip & Humble, 1043 E. 900 South, $29 for soap and dish, sold separately)
4. A candle with a jar so elegant, it will be kept long after the wax has melted. (Mor Fig and Olive candle, Anthropologie.com, $28)
5. Any combination of Ceramic Egg Vases in lovely shades of green and blue will give a home a nice, little dose of nature. (WestElm.com, $19, $16 and $12)

Row 3 (left to right)

1. “ReadyMade: How to Make (Almost) Everything” is the big answer for the ultimate DIYer on your list. (Anthropologie.com, $25)
2. A desk planner fit for soccer moms, working gals and other office queens. (Hip & Humble, 1043 E. 900 South, $24)
3. Ceramic made-in-Japan kitchen goods by Bee House will animate and re-animate countertops. (Blue Cockatoo, 1506 S. 1500 East, $20-$24)
4. A hostess can put sweets or soaps on a pedestal with these so-cute glass canisters. (Hip & Humble, 1043 E. 900 South, $22 and $14)
5. Bijou Candle Holders give off year-round glam. (WestElm.com, $4.99, $11.99 and $14.99)

Row 4 (left to right)

1. T-shirts mocked up with original designs by artists are truly the most wearable form of wearable art—even printed in limited quantities. (Threadless T-shirt, Threadless.com, $20)
2. Let your friend wake up to her favorite musician with the cutest, coolest and cheapest poster of any of-the-moment band. (TheSmallStakes.com, $20)
3. Give the power to personalize walls, t-shirts and pillows with wrestling masks, turntables and spray cans. (Stencil1 stencil kit, Blue Cockatoo, 1506 S. 1500 East, $23.95)
4. Damask-patterned drawer liners scented with Vanilla Pear keep the dresser’s insides pretty and its contents smelling pretty irresistible. (Gianna Rose Atelier liners, Walls, 1465 S. 700 East, $20)
5. Who wouldn’t want to wipe their mouth with a napkin this cute? (Set of six napkins, Hip & Humble, 1043 E. 900 South, $16)

Row 5 (left to right)

1. A gift of giving: your sister can keep her gifts looking customized throughout the year with rubber stamp and tag kits from Cavallini & Co. (Blue Cockatoo, 1506 S. 1500 East, $16)
2. Practically one-of-a-kind alligator-skin (actually paper) bracelets give the jeans-and-t-shirt wearer a spoonful of hip-ness; (http://evlovedesigns.blogspot.com, $15)
3. At-once simple and ornate, a Vintage Bluette Bobby keeps growing-out bangs tucked stylishly away. (Darlybird.com, $4)
4. Pulled-back hair never looked so good with embellished elastics by Hunkin Bunkin. (Blue Cockatoo, 1506 S. 1500 East, $10-$14)
5. A delicate flower votive gets the gardener through winter. (Hip & Humble, 1043 E. 900 South, $12)

Row 6 (left to right)

1. Keep your friend looking cute and feeling comfortable despite her toothache with the help of an amusing Vintage Ice Bag. (ContainerStore.com, $11.99)
2. The sweetest hair clips by Chaffinch; made with delicate vintage fabrics. (Blue Cockatoo Gallery, 1506 S. 1500 East, $7-12)
3. A cheery, layered ring warms up cold fingers. (Etsy.com, $10 and up)
4. No wrapping necessary with these nicely-packaged and tasty caramels by V Chocolates. (Emigration Market, 1706 E. 1300 South, and Vchocolates.com, $7.99.
5. Post-its never looked so dainty; the perfect gift for the cube-mate. (VictorianTradingCo.com, $7.99)

Thanks to interior designer Brittney Wallman, an old Sinclair Oil station on 7th East is now a hip little home design/decorating/furnishings shop, and the colorful conversion took her just four months to complete.

Wallman has filled her store, fittingly named “Walls,” (1465 S. 700 East), with little treasures like Gianna Rose Atelier soaps, starburst mirrors, pretty lamps and Michelle Varian pillows. Walls also carries the coolest customizable area rugs by Creative Accents and sophisticated custom-upholstered bedframes—the kind of stuff the likes of Salt Lake hadn’t seen even six months ago.

Our favorite feature is the selection of wall coverings, which includes a full array of hard-to-find designer wallpaper with looks that range from the so-right-now flocked pattern to ethereal koi designs. Walls also has its own line of paint—with colors perfect for accent walls—as well as home consultation services.

Walls has kindly offered Your Heart Out readers a 20 percent discount on home accessories and a 25 percent discount on Walls Custom Paint through the month of January, with a coupon you can download here.

Happy shopping!

Good news to kick off the weekend! Contrary to reports yesterday, tickets to see the super-talented British vocalist/producer/music engineer Imogen Heap, just nominated for Best New Artist Grammy, are still available here. The show starts tonight at 6 p.m. at In The Venue, 579 S. 200 West, with rumors of Kid Beyond (who we know very little about) as the opener, though nothing has been confirmed.

If Heap’s not your thing, you could try Denver-based powerpop quartet Dressy Bessy who play Sunday at Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $6(!) at the door.

Enjoy your days off! See you on Monday.

What better way to play “getting to know you” than with a list of our favorite things? The collection isn’t one hundred percent comprehensive (how could it be?) but we consider it a great jumping-off point. Here’s Your Heart Out’s best-of-the-bests in Salt Lake, in no particular order.

1. Hip & Humble, {1043 E. 900 South}: Step inside and the world slows down. H&H holds alluring delicacies—from candlesticks and serving trays to laundry soap and dishtowels. Ne’er home to your everyday, run-of-the-mill item, this shop is packed with vintage appeal and up-to-date charm, all wrapped in mint-green goodness.
2. Big Cottonwood Canyon vs. Little Cottonwood Canyon: One formed by a river, the other by a glacier. Both packed with ski resorts and natural splendor. It didn’t seem fair to choose one.
3. Este Pizza, {2021 S. Windsor St.}: Home to the perfect pie: dough that’s thin yet soft and chewy, with the ideal sauce-to-cheese ratio. Just don’t ask for pineapple or ranch.
4. Broadway Theater {111 E. 300 South}: As tickets get more and more difficult for locals to get their hands on, we rely on the Broadway to bring us the best of Sundance and all the other fests we can’t get to. We just wish it could offer its fair share celeb sightings, too.
5. Salt Lake City Library, {210 E. 400 South}: It’s “A dynamic civic resource that promotes free and open access to information, materials and services to all members of the community to advance knowledge, foster creativity, encourage the exchange of ideas, build community and enhance the quality of life.” And a real beauty, inside and out. Also voted Library of the Year.

6. Les Madeleines, {650 S. State St.}: Nothing spells an afternoon with the girls like a Madagascar cupcake with cream cheese frosting and white chocolate sprinkles, a passion fruit truffle or meyer lemon meringue tartlette. We’ll take two. Of each.
7. Nordstrom Rack {2236 S. 1300 East} vs. Park City Tanger Outlets {6699 N. Landmark Dr.}: How does one choose between bargain Nordstrom and discount Calvin Klein? We’ve found our favorite Joe’s Jeans and Marc Jacobs shoes at the Rack, but we’re huge fans of Stella McCartney and vintage Adidas gear at Tanger, as well as the Stila-, Mac-, and Bobbie Brown-carrying Cosmetics Company Store.
8. Cactus & Tropicals, {2735 S. 2000 East}: Everything blooming, rosy, natural and sweet-smelling; a true gardening phenomenon. A favorite place to gather supplies and collect inspiration, with new digs in Draper {12252 S. Draper Gate Dr}.
9. Ninth and Ninth {900 South and 900 East}: Not only does the boutique-haven hold local-only favorites like Floribunda, The Children’s Hour, Koo de Ker, Charlotte’s, Hip & Humble and new sneaker shop, Ten, the cross section just got a healthy dose of makeover, making it the most chic walk-and-shop locale.
10. Farmers Market vs. Gallery Stroll: Both are hubs for local artisans-of-sorts, though one employs spices and the other, pastels. The Market kicks off summer with berries and buds, while the Stroll gets us through winter with colorful abstracts and letterpresses.

Oh good, you’re here. We’re so glad you made it.

Welcome to Your Heart Out dot com, a daily blog dedicated to shopping, dining, decorating, entertaining and traveling—generally living your heart out in Salt Lake City. The Your Heart Out concept has been milling around in our brains for some time—too long, honestly, and so we should say that we’re glad that we’ve finally arrived, too.

Bookmark us. We’ll be busy snooping out new restaurants, where to see your new favorite band, the best place to find discount designer jeans, and sweet deals on spa treatments. We also stand to offer reminders of old SLC favorites like turkey club sandwiches at Emigration Market and short hikes to Lake Mary under a full moon.

Your Heart Out will find the best stuff available to big city appetites in a cool little city with a buzz of its own.

Eat your heart out.