When the weather gets like this, the question isn’t whether or not get soup, it’s where to get it and what kind to go for. Ali always votes for the ever-classic Soup Kitchen, while Maeve leans toward the more contemporary Big City Soup. Like almost any arrangement, one of us has to compromise.

Lucky for us, they’re both good choices with similar price points. Here’s our take on our two favorite soup houses in Salt Lake.

The Soup Kitchen seems like it’s been around forever, a sort of Salt Lake landmark. It’s practically impossible to stroll around Sugar House without stopping in for a cup what is quite possibly the best creamy tomato soup ever. Seriously. Sure, the digs might not be the newest or hippest (or nicest) you’ve ever laid eyes on or feet in, but as Elaine and Jerry learned, one sip of a very homemade-tasting Vegetable Beef or Split Pea makes it easy to see beyond dinginess, not to mention difficult personalities. Just get your tray, order and step to your left.

The Soup Kitchen also serves up delicious, homey sandwiches (Ali loves the veggie sandwich with its heavy dose of avocado) and simple rectangular breadsticks in garlic, cheese and wheat. They’re the ideal dipping complement to the cup or bowl of brothy goodness. It’s also nice to take home a pint of soup and a bag of breadsticks for a quick, affordable dinner.

Big City Soup, on the other hand, is all about flavorful exotics. It’s like a Baskin Robbins (actually, more along the lines of Gelato Classico) for soup-lovers—feels like there are 31 flavors to choose from, and you’ll get to sample before your tastebuds settle on just one. Favorites include Thai Chicken Noodle, Lobster & Golden Pepper Bisque and Happy Jack’s Chicken Curry. Like the Soup Kitchen, you can also pick up salads and sandwiches.

The Big City chain is a well-oiled machine with nicer premises and customer service. You get to pick from three different types of bread/rolls to polish off your bowl with, and even better, you get a wrapped wedge of cheddar cheese. Big City also dishes out vegetarian (English Pea) and dairy-free (Tomato Basil) options.

You can try the Soup Kitchen’s Creamy Tomato at 1411 S. Redwood Road, 1185 Richards Street, 15 W. 3300 South and 422 N. 600 West, but we recommend the 2012 S. 1100 East location.

You can pick up Big City Soups at 235 S. 400 West, 234 S. Main Street, and 65 N. Medical Drive in Salt Lake. We like the roominess of the Gateway District location.

So, tell us, what’s your favorite? Or where should we head to mix things up?—as if decisions weren’t already difficult enough to make.

This is a sushi roll fit for young and old, fish-lovers and fish-haters, alike. It’s fun to eat and fun to make, and it’s not bad for eye candy, either.

To make Maeve’s candy sushi, you’ll need butter, marshmallows, Rice Krispies, about a half bag of chocolate chips or a bar of your favorite chocolate, and brightly colored licorice ropes—we prefer Starburst licorice, but Twizzlers Rainbow Twists are sometimes easier to find.

Start by making Rice Krispy treats and melting the chocolate. Lay out a piece of wax paper, approximately 18 inches long. Spread a generous layer of melted chocolate over the wax paper (to reach approximately 12 inches by 6 inches). Then set aside.

Spread Rice Krispy treats on a separate sheet of wax paper, pat to make flat and even.

Cut licorice ropes in half length-wise and lay them in rows on top of the Rice Krispy treat layer. Maeve recommends using 3 to 4 different colors to resemble the fun, colorful parts of sushi rolls.

Roll the Rice Krispy layer together length-wise and pack tightly to eliminate any air pockets. Then remove the Rice Krispies from the wax paper and place on the chocolate sheet.

Like rolling sushi, roll the sheet of wax paper around itself with the chocolate ends coming together. Twist the ends of the wax paper and place in the freezer to set.

After 20 minutes, remove from freezer and remove wax paper. Cut into rolls while frozen for the cleanest cuts, and display on your favorite Asian-inspired serving tray.

Enjoi!

The workweek is a whole lot easier to get through with a set of headphones as your BFF. When your iPod’s batteries are on low and you’re tired of your latest collection of mix CDs or testing out handfuls of songs on MySpace (not to mention reliving your chatty cubicle-mate’s latest dramas), here are some some sites to tune into for easy listening and speedier workdays.

We’re big fans of KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Electic” whose daily lineups can include everything and everyone from Dean Martin, Bjork, and M. Ward to Damien Rice and Of Montreal. Nic Harcourt proves an amiable host with a crushable accent, and brings on up-and-coming and time-proven artists like Beck, Brazilian Girls, Roseanne Cash and The Bird and The Bee for live sessions in its “recent show” listings. You can also catch “Morning Sounds Eclectic” on iTunes radio or catch the daily podcast. A list of upcoming shows is available here.

There’s also Pandora.com, a site that allows you to customize radio stations according to your very own artist preferences. You can build Wilco stations, Bjork stations, Cat Power and Imogen Heap stations—the idea being that if you like Imogen Heap, you might also like Delays, The Flaming Lips, The Anniversary and Pedro the Lion—because that’s what other Imogen Heap-likers are listening to. You can rate songs (thumbs up or thumbs down) and tell Pandora whether or not you can take more of an artist you’ve been introduced to, or if you would rather never lay ears on a certain voice again.

Lacey recently introduced us to Finetune.com, a site similar to Pandora in that it helps you build a personalized station by entering a band or artist’s name. Though the library might not be as vast, the major draw here is that you can build a playlist and share it with others, as long as you can whip up a list of 46 songs. (Don’t worry, the site offers help, if needed.)

Reader Ecce also recommends WZLY, Wellesley College’s and the oldest all-female deejayed radio station. She’s heard Mirah, Blow and Joanna Newsom, and recommends calling the girls for requests and questions at (781) 283-2690.

And if all else fails (and you work on a Mac or a compatible PC) you can always turn to the hundreds of iTunes radio stations pre-built in to your library. We prefer the “Indie Pop Rocks” station under the “Alt/Modern Rock” category.

If you have any favorites, let us know what you’re tuning into to help Friday roll around a little quicker. It’s only Monday!

The streets surrounding 2100 South and 1100 East are probably the closest thing Salt Lake will ever have to neighborhoods like San Francisco’s Haight Street, the bay city’s eclectic hub for vintage fashion and kitschy fun. Despite a string of big box retailers, Salt Lake’s Sugarhouse neighborhood is our go-to place for everything from cups of tomato soup, cool vintage clothing, high-end denim (for men) to consigned furniture and, of course, the best selection of gifts for bachelor/bachelorette parties.

Our favorite stop in this walk-and-shop nexus is the Green Ant (179 E. Broadway, Salt Lake City), approximately 1,500 square feet of cool mid-century designer furniture that includes hard-to-find Tulip Chairs, the ever-popular Wassily chairs, Bertoia’s iconic Diamond wire-basket chairs, as well as Knoll settees and fiberglass sofas and office-like pieces from Herman Miller.

Before you get turned off by a 30-year-old bench that costs as much as $350, it’s important to know exactly what the sticker price includes: Green Ant is packed with original designer furniture from such heavy architectural hitters as Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, and Poul Kjaerholm. While some pieces might require a little TLC—a sanding or a new coat of fresh white paint—many of Green Ant’s originals are in near-mint condition. While some of the pricier items are true originals, it’s important to note that there are less costly imitations, as well.

The inventory is the kind of stuff that can give any transitional Salt Lake home a chic accent or an object of interest, putting a nice twist on safer catalog looks. Green Ant is also home to colorful vases, abstract prints, geometric-patterned dishes and poppy prints. You’ll also see vintage cameras, radios and record players.

The Green Ant isn’t a consignment shop. Owner Ron Green hand-selects each and every piece from high-end collectors and auctions. So, how does he decide on a price? “I look around at what everyone else, including eBay, is charging,” he says. “And then I mark mine lower.”

Sure, it might take a little vision to see each item’s potential, but that’s half the fun. If you ever score a deal on a Wassily chair and find the perfect spot for it, we want to hear about it!

Thursday’s welcome arrival means it’s time to start thinking about Friday. And Saturday and Sunday. Before you get stuck eating popcorn at home and watching “King of Queens” reruns, think about heading out to any of these three events, going on this weekend in Salt Lake.

The Animation Show: Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m.; Capitol Theatre, tickets $10 at ArtTix. This touring show features an award-winning lineup of this year’s best in animation, and includes film festival favorites and awards show nominees. We’re looking forward to Game Over, which pays a claymation-esque homage to Frogger and Space Invaders, and the birth of the a now billion dollar video game industry. We also think the art behind Bill’s search for the meaning of life in “Everything Will Be OK” looks A-OK too. See some of the other animated shorts to be featured here.

Les Ballet Africaines: Saturday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.; Kingsbury Hall, tickets $19.50-$29.50 at KingTix. The University of Utah is bringing in “Madinka Memories,” as part of Black Awareness Month, which includes 28 performers. A true cultural gem, this other kind of ballet shows some of Africa’s arts with exotic costuming, fast footwork and complex drumming.

Othello: Now through March 3, 8 p.m. on weekends; Pioneer Theatre, tickets $20-$49 at company website. See Shakespearean tragedy take the stage as the Moor of Venice and his Desdemona find themselves in the wake of Iago’s destructive path, yet again, as reinvented by the Pioneer Theatre Company.

Were you tempted but too scared to pull on a pair of Urban Outfitters’ blue, yellow, green and red skinnies promoted last month? We loved the colors, but are more comfortable sticking to the more flattering tones like sleek blacks, cool grays and muted blues when it comes to denim.

That isn’t to say we’ll be boring come spring, when fashion takes a turn for the bold and eye-catching beautiful. We tracked down some fun starter pieces for a color-accented spring. We recommend wearing these pretties separately; they’ll work best as nice little jabs of brightness, as opposed to a technicolor knock-out.

Follow the image links to taste the rainbow.

We like to think of Brad, Maeve’s husband and our wonderful site admin, as something of a pizza connoisseur. It was Brad who spied-out Este, our preferred take-out joint, when he was scrubbing down his vehicle at a nearby carwash. He recently sniffed out a new favorite pizza spot; it’s almost as though he has an inner pizza compass, like he can sense the right recipe from miles away.

We benefit from his innate pizza-hunting abilities. We headed to Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana (260 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City) yesterday thinking it couldn’t quite live up to what he prophesied. We waited a while to be seated, and to get our food—turns out they ran out of their unique dough, and wouldn’t move forward until a new batch was given adequate time to rise. We didn’t mind, the atmosphere was nice, and when it comes to pizza, we like a place that takes a little pride in their work. We wanted them to get it just right, too.

The Settebello pizza experience is unlike any other around here. It’s authentic, served unsliced with fresh mozzarella. The Settebello mantra goes as follows: “Our pizzas adhere to the strict standards set forth by the Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN). The VPN was established by pizza makers in Napoli, Italy to protect the origins and integrity of pizza as it has been made in Napoli for over 200 years.” If that doesn’t prove they take pizza-making seriously, we don’t know what does.

Settebello is a sit-down restaurant with a menu that includes salads like Caprese (fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and basil for $6.99) and Grande (insalata with fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, roasted mushrooms, olives and pine nuts for $7.99). But it remains wholly dedicated to pizza as the bulk of the menu. We recommend keeping it simple and opting for the Margherita (crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, parmigiano reggiano, extra virgin olive oil for $8.99). But optional toppings include prosciutto, pancetta, pine nuts and arugola.

The dough is neither thick nor thin, though it yields easily to a softer inside, and it’s unusually sweet. The fresh-tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil toppings are melted to perfection, which is why we think take out at Settebello wouldn’t be such a good idea. Go in—wait a while if you have to—but we promise Settebello will deliver.

We love to give props to a new little site we happily but accidentally happened upon. This one called Ruby Republic is cute and cozy yet fashion-forward and inspired.

Though it looks like much of the inventory is still in-the-making, Ruby Republic has the potential to be a one-stop shopping locale for cool artsy t-shirts. We love one called “Growl” that has a big, red tiger’s head plastered on the chest for $24, and another that features an adorable sketch of an owl for $20.

We suspect that the folks behind Ruby Republic may have their roots in the skateboarding industry, in which case, we applaud them all the more for branching out of the typical Southern California stuck-on-Vans and heavy-fonts vibe.

Check out Ruby Republic’s gallery which hosts fun and often affordable artwork by the likes of Art Dump’s Andy Jenkins as well as Eric Anthony, Misato Suzuki, Megan Baltimore and cool giclees by Tony Larson. You can learn more and see works by some of the artists on this blog.

And don’t miss the sketch book, loaded with photos that give you a good feel for what the Ruby Republic aesthetic is, but also works nicely as an inspiration gallery.

We’re expecting good things in the future from this little promising gem.

Around here, when one finds herself in a musical rut, she asks Lacey for a mix and voila, passion is rekindled and faith is restored in the current music scene. (Maybe those bands with too much punctuation in their names do know what they’re doing—even if they seem to be products of Garageband). Lacey’s a born passionate music lover of the fullest kind—and not only does she have great taste, she keeps her hip little finger on the hippest new bands. Here’s a glance at what’s in store for Salt Lake showgoers and TV watchers from Your Heart Out’s resident music buff (we die over this chart she drew up for us, complete with links for sampling music):

Music has never been more accessible what with iTunes, MySpace and dramatic TV shows (we’re thinking of you, “OC”) that supply a never-ending stream of music (except for you, “OC”). Sometimes, though, this only makes it more overwhelming to find the band you utterly adore.

A good way of weeding through potentials is to hear them play live. Lucky for us, we’ll be treated to a handful of bands as they make their way through Salt Lake, Park City and Provo this month and next.

If you missed out on tickets to see The Shins tonight—a favorite made popular by “Garden State”—hopefully these prospects can smooth things over.

From Ireland, the now-popular Snow Patrol (thanks to a very emotionally-wrought scene from “Grey’s Anatomy”) will be playing at Saltair on Monday, March 5. Although their iTunes live session sounds a little off-pitch, a live viewing could prove their talent once and for all. And if you’re a big fan, you shouldn’t pass up on this chance. Who knows? They may never be back.

Remember the movie “About a Boy” starring Hugh Grant? The soundtrack was piano-infused, sing-a-long friendly and enjoyable. The mastermind behind it is Damon Gough of Badly Drawn Boy. Three albums later, BDB has released “Born in the UK. Luckily, I saw him play seven years ago, a show that easily became a favorite. A friendly Damon, who was candid with the audience, passed around a photo of his baby girl while conversing openly with the crowd. And they sounded great, too. I’m hoping for a similar experience on Monday, March 19 at Urban Lounge.

Other bands you may have heard in TV Land: Gomez, Pete Yorn, Midlake, Rocky Votolato and TV on the Radio will also be making their way through the Beehive State. If going to the venue isn’t your thing, there’s always late night television to give you your live music fix. Interbridge.com lists all musical guests for the upcoming week.

Watch for the Thermals on Carson Daly (tonight), Explosions in the Sky on Conan O’Brien (Feb. 20), Gomez on Jay Leno (Feb. 20) and Cold War Kids on Jimmy Kimmel (Feb. 21).

And finally, if that song you heard on a favorite show just won’t leave your head and you don’t have the slightest clue who it could be, try Tunefind.com.

For someone who used to be a regular at live shows, and who has somewhat retired from that scene, I have to say that this prospective list has made me feel like a 21-year-old again. I’m ready to get my hand stamped, smash toilet paper in my ears, and sing along word-for-word to every lyric. Hopefully you will too.

Finn’s opened at the peak of Parley’s Summit in 1950 and is now open for business in Sugarhouse. As both of our parents have said, “Oh look, Finn’s is open again.” It’s a welcome reopening: We love a restaurant with a great location, a little legacy, and an authentic/American menu—all packed in a sharp little Art Deco-inspired building, topped off with classic wooden floors.

Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Finn’s is currently more of a luncheonette. We’re big fans of their Norwegian Waffles (with lingonberries and sour cream), for $6.50. But the Basil Tofu Scramble, $6.50, Pyttipanna (tidbits of beef with potatoes and fresh vegetables topped with a poached egg), $7.50, and Jule Kake French Toast, $7.50, are on the list for next time. Yep, next time.

For lunch, you can try a class Wiener Schnitzel, $8.50, or a Reuben sandwich, $8.50. We also think Greta’s Lemonade, $2.50, and a strawberry, apple and live smoothie, for $3.50, sound tasty.

And be sure to take an apple as you leave.

Here’s a good Valentine’s Day scenario. It’s one you all know: girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, boy proposes, girl accepts, girl plans wedding and finds the gown of her dreams at Target.

That’s right, Target. So maybe we didn’t know the whole story, but we’re thrilled at its ending. After debuting home decor and women’s fashion lines at the fashion-savvy big box retailer, celebrated American designer Isaac Mizrahi will debut eight gowns as part of his wedding collection—all priced around $150. The exclusive bridal line, which will also include cheap-yet-chic bridesmaid’s dresses and accessories for men, will debut at Target stores nationwide on May 1.

We have attached the only photos we’ve found because we decided that not-so-good photos are better than no photos at all. So please accept our apologies. We can tell you that, according to a press release, the dresses will come in white, ivory, and even black, and that a tulle princess dress, a silk charmeuse cowl neck sheath and a silk faille trapunto bell gown are just some of Mizrahi’s handiwork. Sounds fancy, no?

A bride-to-be will also have a choice of polishing off the look with satin peep-toe pumps or lacey high-heel slingbacks. She’ll also have the option to outfit her maids-in-waiting with matching clutches and her beau’s best men with coordinating cummerbunds.

We’re not planning any weddings, but we think any black tie-ready ensemble priced at $150 is worth celebrating—whether it comes in handy for a prom or a gubernatorial dinner. But any brides might want to consider waiting it out until May. If she can make it til then.

Ah, we love to spread good news. And we love Target for making said news-spreading so much easier to do.

We’re really excited about The Guild of Book Workers 100th Anniversary Exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (410 Campus Drive). Unlike those we featured yesterday, you can get involved with these books without ever having to crack a cover!

In truth, the exhibit seems like a book- and collage-enthusiast’s dream come true. It features recent creations from America’s best bookbinders and book artists, and the works include leather, aluminum and PVC binding methods as well as a collection of pop-ups that range from traditional to sculptural. The content is produced with “varying printmaking methods, calligraphy, photography and digital output,” according to the UMFA website.

The exhibit runs through March 19. The UMFA is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Even better, admission is free on the first Wednesday of every month, which means that you can catch the exhibit on March 7, free of charge.

The museum is hosting an Art of the Book evening for educators on Feb. 21 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for any and all teachers out there. (You are our heroes!) The workshop is designed to assist teachers in incorporating book art activities in the classroom: “Workshops include a demonstration of the UMFA’s Art-in-a-Box program, a workshop on pop-up books, a demonstration of the Treasure Chest on the History of Books from the Marriott Library and a workshop by book artist Sue Cotter.”

Sounds like good, educational fun.

As the weather takes a turn for the wetter, we thought it might be time to introduce some bookworm-friendly material. First, we’re excited about this revolutionary bookmark Maeve thought up: Print out this cute and functional Your Heart Out magnetic bookmark, and never lose track of your page number again. It’s practically life-changing. Just be sure to print it out on cardstock, and follow the (easy) directions. Click here to download.

As for books, We think it’s safe to say that if you like Dave Eggers, you will love Jonathan Safran Foer. You’ve got to be up for a broken heart, though—the kind that’s more tender and tragic than Staggering Genius will throw at you.

Foer delivered his first National Jewish Book Award- and Guardian First Book Award-winning novel at the ripe old age of 25. Called Everything is Illuminated, it’s the story of a 20-something New York writer looking to retrace his Jewish roots in the Ukraine. Along the way, sad and ancient histories unfold, though heartwarming and hilarious friendships give birth.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is Foer’s second novel, released in 2005. Though his first work is nothing short of brilliant, the follow-up is a little less intense and a little more accessible. This is perhaps because of its main character: nine-year-old Oskar, who has a larger-than-life imagination (the kind you wish you still had), a thing for French idioms, and who also lost his father in the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. Oskar’s on a mission through New York’s boroughs to track down the one and only key that will unlock a mysterious box left behind by his dad. He thinks it’s all he has left.

In the jacket, Oskar is also described as an “inventor, Francophile, tambourine player, Shakespearean actor, jeweler and pacifist.” If you’re interest still hasn’t sparked, Cynthia Ozick’s review goes as follows:

“Is there a novel that, in a fit of envy, Holden Caulfield, Huck Finn, Harriet the Spy, and Krazy Kat—all of the above—might long to enter? And would feel at home in? Yes! Jonathan Safran Foer’s funny, tender, tragic, ingeniously imaginative Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has all the kick and brio of a child’s wild vision and a child’s wild hurt. Foer’s nine-year-old Oskar Schell, confronting the cataclysm of our time, is an American original.”

Oskar is funny in that smart-but-naive little kid kind of way, and throughout your reading, you’ll find yourself wishing he would realize so you could give him a big hug, or at least have him recount the story of his first and last jujitsu class for you, in person.

You’ll see that Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is dedicated to “Nicole, [Foer's] idea of beautiful.” Nicole is more commonly known as Nicole Krauss, also an author who penned an equally amazing and in-the-same-vein novel called The History of Love.

Ali has a signed copy of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close that you will never see for sale on eBay.

To see what else Foer has been up to, check out this link and this site.

After carrying out a totally random drawing (we wish we could offer tickets to all, but there’s only so much chocolate to go around), Holly M. and Andrea H. will be headed to the Chocolate Carnivale tomorrrow night, courtesy of The YWCA and Your Heart Out.

Congratulations! Save some cream puffs for us.

So we’ve never participated—especially not as a band, though Maeve can sing alright and Ali knows three chords on the guitar—but we think this sounds like a lot of fun.

After you’ve gotten all the chocolate you can handle on Saturday night at the Carnivale, head over to The Depot, where local bands duke it out for City’s Weekly’s Slammy Awards. Bands on the ballot include St. Boheme, The Rubes, Alex Boye and Medicine Circus.

The best part? You decide on the winner! Just like American Idol! OK, not quite the same, but you will decide who’ll be runner up and receive $1000 in recording time, and who win top prize and get $1000 in cash and an all-expense-paid trip to Austin, Texas, where they’ll participate in the indie-band event of indie-band events: SXSW (South By Southwest).

$7 cover charge to get in. The sound goes down at 8 p.m.

We’ve come to know and love Design Public, and there’s certainly a lot to get familiar with. We could spend way too many on-the-clock hours meandering through the many nooks and crannies of its online inventory. This little site is a web all its own.

Not that Design Public is hard to navigate; quite the contrary, in fact. Whether you’re looking for a modern desk to give your home office a fashion-forward edge, some cool options for spiffing up your tabletop or looking to find a room- or wall-worthy coat rack, Design Public is undeniably your guy.

Say it’s a new, colorful rug you’re after. All you have to do is click on “Rugs” in the sidebar, and you’ll be directed to a page displaying which rug lines it carries. Let’s say you opt for “Angela Adams.” You’re then directed to a page of all Angela Adams floor covering. That’s where many a website would stop, but not these guys. You’ll also see that they’re wiling to entertain and inspire you with quirky scenarios and solutions, with articles and helpful customer testimonials.

We love their “shop by room” option, where re-decorating or new-home purchasers can see what’s available for every type of room in the house, like fun seating options for kids bedrooms and cool modern furniture for nurseries, as well as nightstands fit for Manhattan lofts.

Design Public has it all, without employing that typical, too-matchy, catalog-ish feel. It allows you to mix and match designers and color schemes, and encourages you along the way. As it says, “Be yourself. Discover. Learn. Create. Take an active role in personalizing your space and be happy dwelling in it. We get a thrill in helping you along your journey.”

Though some of it’s the kind of stuff you have to really save up for, we get a thrill from Design Public, too.

Eliminating racism and empowering women become less daunting tasks when coupled with chocolate. Chocolate has the magical ability to lighten any load. Which is why the women behind Salt Lake’s YWCA are geniuses.

The YWCA Chocolate Carnivale, Salt Lake’s very own grandiose chocolate extravaganza, will be held this Saturday, Feb. 10. The party starts at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake Hardware building (two blocks north of the Gateway mall), and includes chocolate fountains with fresh fruit, cream puffs, brownies, fudge and delicacies from the likes of Faustina, Maxfield Chocolates and more. Drooling yet?

Treat your spouse or make it a night with the girls, who undoubtedly share your chocolate fixation. Tickets with pre-registration are $10 for YWCA members, and $15 for non-members. A one-year YWCA membership, admission included, is $35. Sign up for membership, and gain access to exclusive goodies like free psychic readings and chair massages, and the chance to win prizes from Shade Clothing, OC Tanner, Z Pizzeria, Seraph Stationery (which is totally worth checking out) and Red Rock Brewing Co., among others. Imagine all this, drizzled in chocolate. (Except the pizza; pizza and chocolate do not mix. Chocolate and OC Tanner jewelry, on the other hand…)

All proceeds will benefit the Salt Lake YWCA. To learn more about how it helps women and children who are escaping family violence, aids children who are victims of family violence, reaches out to teen mothers, and other ways the YWCA works to generally bring about world peace and happiness, click here.

The Salt Lake YWCA has kindly offered to grant two Your Heart Out readers with VIP guest bags (with two free tickets, each!) to the party. Be sure to enter your name in this exclusive Your Heart Out giveaway!

We didn’t know what we were up for when we set out to put this stylish-yet-bargain-filled post together. However, we were relentless in our Internet searching: We refuse to shy away from a challenge! We will not be discouraged by hefty price tags!

The hour has come, and here’s our first installment of “Two Outfits For Under $200:” one ensemble put together by Maeve, the other by Ali. We hope you enjoy the budget silhouettes we tracked down.

Outfit 1

Outfit 2

To be sure, pregnancy is a charmed stage of life. Well, maybe depending on whom you ask. A little miracle takes place inside a gal, she totes around a jumbo shrimp-sized (and growing) friend, and nine months later, she makes a best bosom buddy—with an emphasis on the bosom.

Though some women boast of increased libidos, others don’t claim to feel they’re at their sexiest. We disagree. Though these brave souls sacrifice their regular physiques for new, rounder ones, it’s a silhouette that’s impossibly cute. So cute, that many a Hollywood starlet doesn’t mind trading in her waif-like bod for the curvier variety, if only for a few months.

A boutique in Sandy makes the move to maternity even more attractive. Granted, fashion has been kind to maternal profiles as of late (perhaps thanks to the above-mentioned celebs) with super-long tees, empire waists, cropped jacks, and flats.

When two Salt Lake sisters opened a maternity boutique last May, they promised to keep their fingers on the hip, pregnancy fashion scene. Nearly ten months later, they have delivered (pun intended). They’ve created a sort of Anthropologie for pregnant ladies, similar in both price point and selection.

Though not realistically in the budget of the average, young mom-to-be, Expected (7694 S. Union Park Ave., Sandy) is full of goodies for a special occasion or a need-to-feel-good treat. The shop is stocked with cute dresses, smart blouses and trousers, and fashion-forward tees and tops by the likes of Maternal America, Chiarakruza, Tummi and Bumpkin Joy.

Expected also carries pregnancy-ready designer jeans by Seven For All Mankind, Habitual, Joe’s Jeans, Bella Dahl and Citizens of Humanity. Friends tell us it was their one pair of designer duds that got them through their pregnancies—that, and a hefty body pillow.

We’re also lovin’ outfit-worthy baby slings, paisley-patterned car seat covers and nice-smelling lotions for ever-stretching bellies.

Shop at Expected or no, we consider you all to be hot mamas.

Kermit told us it ain’t easy being green. But at least one designer is making it much less difficult.

We went gaga for the Graphic Bee Console in Anthropologie’s latest, now-monthly catalog. A little research showed us that console-designer Michael Iannone of Iannone:Design has a vast selection of attractive modern furniture, many made with acrylics or laminates combined with bamboo or Kirei board.

Granted, the Iannone stuff isn’t necessarily affordable. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t inspiring.

Zebra-wood lookalike Kirei board is essentially a wood substitute made from leftover Sorghum plant stalks. (Learn more here). Usually formed in panels, its applications include tabletops, cabinets, and of course, furniture. Use it, and give your home a modern edge, and save a tree or two in the meantime.

Or turn to wood’s other feel-good cousin, bamboo, which is actually a grass that’s left unaffected by the harvesting process. A flat-grain cut features the visually-interesting zigzag lines that typically characterize bamboo. There’s also a vertical-grain layout that mimics contemporary maple with long, sleek lines.

The Green Building Center (1952 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City) allows Salt Lake building- and design-enthusiasts like you to be earth-friendly and fashion forward. Owner Ashley is not only passionate about preserving natural resources, she’s friendly and helpful, and has packed her shop full of Kirei board and bamboo by Teragren, as well as subway tiles made of recycled glass, attractive reclaimed hardwood, eco-friendly paints, and many how-to-be-green handbooks.

You might not be Iannone, but you can create a buzz of your own, and feel good about it, too.

{Totally off-subject reminder:} Save up over the weekend. Proenza Schouler in Target stores on Monday!

{Update!:} Proenza Schoulder was spied on the racks Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. MST at the Fort Union location. Check your local Target now!