Happy Halloween, ghoulfriends! Remember to put on your scariest face and pull out your old reliable copy of “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” (Definitely the inspiration for our spooky graphic, if you couldn’t tell.)

Find haunted houses and spooky goings-on here.

Find cornmazes here.

Find one-time programs like KUER’s Radio Hour here.

Get ideas from Martha here.

Or head to the 9th and 9th area today between 4 and 6 p.m. where you can enjoy Halloween tunes, a pet costume parade and free apple cider … while you shop for items not on your last-minute costume cheklist. Or, try making some chicken tortilla soup before you stick that knife through the pumpkin.

Admit it. You love a good dress-up, even when it’s not Halloween. To step outside of yourself and feel what it’s like to live behind someone else’s skin is invigorating. And as long as you’re considering costumes, you might as well go all-out-glamour and consider wrapping your waist with one of Cynthia Wadell’s gorgeous aprons at Heavenly Hostess.

These haute couture coverups are constructed with satins, velvets and organzas with all the trimmings. Practically pretty enough to wear beyond the walls of your own home, let alone your own kitchen. Imagine the fiesta you could brew up in this little number.

Sure, they cost upwards of $30 to $80 and everything in between, but you have to admit that even your most practical self wants one. Are any bakeries hiring?

Many more designs (halter, gardening, chef, bib), gawking opportunities and purchasing available from the website.

Salt Lakers: Here’s your next destination lunch locale. South Valley-ites: Step inside your vehicle with your BFFs and prepare for cute/tasty/homespun goodness overload. Right now. (Except it closes at 4 p.m.)

We headed to Draper’s Food For Thought with high hopes. We had heard about the quaint Old Town Draper location and homemade desserts at this “luncheon boutique,” as it’s called. But we didn’t expect such flavor and fun as we enjoyed. Food For Thought is parked on the corner of a charming park and sports an old-timey facade, darling display cases and handfuls and handfuls of tasty seasonal delectables. (You’ve gotta see the them: click here.) Hot chocolate is served in a sizeable latte bowl, for heaven’s sake, and topped with a homemade custom-flavored marshmallow.

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The menu is stocked with signature salads like Strawberry Chevre (strawberries, chevre, mushrooms, toasted almonds with raspberry vinaigrette, $8.95) and Caramelized Pear and Gorgonzola (Gorgonzola, pine nuts, caramelized pair in balsamic, $8.95). We opted for the Executive Lunch because we like to mix and match. It weighs in at $10.95 and includes half of any salad paired with a choice of quiche, cup of soup, or half-sandwich with a mini dessert and a fountain drink or iced tea. They forgot to mention the roll that comes with when you order soup, and which shouldn’t be passed. They are perfection, in both flavor and texture.

Desserts include Pear and Almond Tarts and Triple Berry Cobbler. Dessert Bites included Raspberry Bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies, Lemon Bars, Mini Eclaires and Mint Brownies, to name a few.

The best part is how everything feels and tastes so very homemade. And how you can take a tissue paper-topped jar of Chinese or Pasadena salad dressing home with you and trick your friends into thinking you’re the mastermind behind it.

{See It To Believe It:}

Food For Thought
12640 S. Fort Street
Draper
(801) 576-9161
Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.foodforthoughtutah.com

If you couldn’t tell from the headline, we have some really splendid news. The kind you’ll flip for. The kind we’ll flip for, too, though it doesn’t necessarily apply to us. That would be cheating.

Since letting y’all know about sassy Soel Boutique in Orem’s Riverwoods, the Soel crew has decided to offer up a $75 gift certificate to just one lucky Your Heart Out reader. You might take comfort in any of this hot spot’s fall inventory—substantial and stylish sweaters, trendy turtlenecks and tunics, and chic shoes from the likes of Ella Moss, Free People and French Connection. We could get lost in all we love about this place. There’s even shopping to be done for your wee ones, stationery for your top drawer and jackets for your main squeeze.

(If you’re unsure of what we’re talking about, you can get your fill right here. We won’t tell.) And just in case you don’t win, you should consider using this 10 percent-off coupon before it expires tomorrow.

{Doorprize Details} To secure this $75 gift certificate in your back pocket, just leave one comment on this post by Monday, November 5 at 10 p.m. One of you is gonna walk away looking and feeling awfully good.

Thanks, Soel!

Soel Boutique
4801 N. University Ave. #410
The Shops at Riverwoods, Orem
(801) 426-9644
Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
www.soelboutique.com

Spotted: Lots of pretty ribbon

Good For: Special events, hanging stuff, pretty presents, stylish forget-me-knots

Where: Floribunda (920 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City)

How Much: Prices vary….

Tradition says that Halloween calls for feel-good cuisine like traditional chili and homemade breadsticks. This season, we’re gonna try mixing it up with a creamy tortilla soup … and tortilla chips. And salsa, too, with a side of avocado.

Here’s a rich-and-creamy favorite recipe with traces of no-nonsense ingredients like half-and-half and butter, as well as fresh ones like salsa and cilantro. And like we said, avocado and a side of limes make good garnishes and tasty toppers.

You can click here to download recipe card.

Here’s a glance at what’s inside.

Ingredients:

3 cloves minced garlic
1 onion, chopped
3 T. butter
2 T. flour
3 (14 oz.) cans chicken broth
4 c. half-and-half
1 (10.75 oz.) can Cream of Chicken soup
1 c. salsa
1 (15 oz.) can creamed corn
6 boneless chicken breasts
2 t. ground cumin
1 (1.1 oz.) pack fajita seasoning
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro
Tortilla chips
Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

Saute garlic, onion and butter for 15 minutes. Then add flour and cook 1 minute. Add broth and half-and-half, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. (Don’t overcook or it will separate.) Add soup, salsa, corn, cooked diced chicken, cumin, fajita seasoning and 2 T. cilantro. Serves eight. Garnish with remaining cilantro and cheese.

Aside from the goings-on we told you about here and here (and also here), here’s what else is on the play list for the coming week:

Vowell Sound: Regular contributor to everyone’s favorite radio show (This American Life, of course), Sarah Vowell—who was also the voice of Violet in The Incredibles—will be reading from her collection of essays and short stories at the Capitol Theatre this very evening. Get your tickets and your smile on right here.

At The Movies: The Darjeeling Limited finally makes a stop in SLC starting tonight at the Broadway, as well as Lars and the Real Girl, playing at Trolley’s Regency Theatres and Jordan Commons. Tickets and showtimes here.

Fro, Yo!: The grandaddy of healthy frozen yogurt, Red Mango, is set to open four retail locations across the Wasatch Front in the following months: two inside the Energy Solutions Arena (why two?), one in Cottonwood Heights, and another in Provo. Just don’t forget about Spoon Me. Read more here.

In the Arts: Head to the Salt Lake Art Center to see found materials morphed into masterpieces at SF Recycled and Masters of the West Coast Assemblage and Collage. Both exhibits are open through January 26.

In Mmmusic: This week’s options for listening in include Tiger Army on Friday evening, Architecture in Helsinki and Menomena on Saturday night. Get the details via the Music Guide.

It’s been a big month over here at Your Heart Out. We’re so thrilled about our latest publicity stunts, we thought we’d let you in on the “news.”

First, check us out in the November issue of Salt Lake Magazine, a pub we’re growing to love more and more for its hipper-than-ever-before styleguide and fresh content. Your Heart Out got a li’l mention on page 56, happily sharing space with such Salt Lake luminaries as the Mode Boutique duo and writer Shannon Hale. You can see the spread here.

Second, Your Heart Out made its TV debut and was featured on Tuesday afternoon for a “Smart Woman” piece with Candice Madsen of KSL. Of course we were nervous at first, but had a lot of fun and we’re pleased-as-punch with our fifteen minutes. You can’t even tell that Ali was as sick as a dog during the whole thing. Click here to see the newscast.

Many thanks to our devoted readers who have no doubt helped get our name out. You guys are the best.

Spotted: Cool, colorful and contemporary knee-high socks

Good For: Cold ankles, drab outfits, Cher-wannabes, hot dates

Where: Lolabella Boutique (Fashion Place Mall, Salt Lake City)

How Much: $9 per pair

Alright. We gave you a list of spook alleys and another of freaky corn mazes. Of course, there are some one-time bashes and scary hours worth sitting in or tuning into. Here they are, ghoulfriends:

Trolley Square Pumpkin Drop: The pumpkins drop (literally) from the water tower at Trolley Square today at 11 a.m. Land yours on the bullseye and win unnamed prizes. Spectators supposedly get a discount to lunch at a Trolley eatery. Learn more here.

Monster Block Party: All ghouls and goblins (little ones, too) are invited to this bash at the Gallivan Center on Saturday, Oct. 27. There will be pumpkin-decorating, trick-or-treating booths and more. Get the details here.

Halloween Hi Jinks: Head to Abravanel Hall for spooky tunes, Utah Symphony-style. The sound goes down on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Costumes encouraged. More here.

Radio Hour: There’s nothing like a good ghost story. On Halloween Day, tune into FM 90 at 11 a.m. for two dramatizations of Utah ghoulish tales, as performed by Plan B. Learn more on the KUER site.

Some of our picks from Classifieds, this week. Just follow the image links to start your shopping.

A fire-engine red locker console could be just what your mud room is missing.

Four pretty-as-a-pearl Karim Rashid chairs for $125. Maybe the seller would split them up?

Get organized for only $30.

This Pottery Barn pretty is said to retail at over $1000 but is now just $325.

A little on the pricey side but these streamlined bar stools might be worth a second look.

Turn your kitchen into a malt shop with these classic lookers.

Four chairs and a table for $300 isn’t a bad deal.

Few places do a corn maze better than the Beehive State—OK, maybe with the exception of Nebraska. Here are some picks from this year’s roster:

Cornbelly’s Corn Maze: Thanksgiving Point whips up a mean, classic Halloween extravaganza. Head to Lehi to trench through a 13-acre cornmaze, bundle up for a hayride, or take a hard day’s work out on an enormous jumping pillow. Learn more about Cornbelly’s here.

Crazy Corn Maze: Bigger and better this year, check out a “maize” from the company with a record-number of “corny” creations. You can get a dollar off this West Jordan puzzle by visiting the website.

Black Island Farms: Hayrides, bonfires and a garden stocked with pumpkins, squash, carrots and more are part of this affair, located in Syracuse. Learn more here.

Hee Haw Farms: Things get extreme at this Pleasant Grove hideaway with the “Cornevil Corridor” alongside the hayrides and less-evil, run-of-the-mill maze. Get times and prices here.

Did we miss any?

Spotted: Oversize ricrac

Good for: Trimming the tree, cute dog leashes, creative minds

Where: Whimsy Cottage (4647 S. 2300 East, Salt Lake City)

How much: $1 – $1.10 per yard

You’re never too old for a good scream or a cheap thrill. Here’s a quick list of some of Salt Lake’s ongoing Halloween and harvest events, to be referenced as little or often as you deem reasonable. We think the Ghost Tours look the most intriguing.

Ghost Tours: Get the scoop on haunted cemeteries and buildings with Salt Lake’s paranormal experts. Dates and times here, Ogden tours included.

Thriller: Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Halloween variety show is playing at Kingsbury Hall through Oct. 31. It’s a great blend of homespun props and professional dancing. But our favorite part is the signature living dead girls, ready to steal your seat … or your brain. Tickets and showtimes here.

Garden After Dark: Head to Red Butte Garden for “Magic in the Garden After Dark,” complete with magic shows, fire cauldrons and hot drinks. Sounds like a fun one for the kiddos. Here are the details.

Night of the Living Zoo: You get a whole spaghetti dinner and up-close-and-personal experiences with some of the zoo’s nocturnal animals. Sounds scary enough. More here.

Frightmares: Haunted amusement park? Yes, please (but only on weekends). Get more information here.

Haunted Canyon: Bundle up and cuddle up on the Heber Creeper’s version of a spooky train ride. The ghostly image on the site is enough to scare our pants off. Gather up the info here.

Or if a classic haunted house with chainsaws and campy displays from The Exorcist and Poltergeist, and teens running about in “Scream” masks are more your thing, here are some of those:

• Castle of Chaos (Salt Lake)
• Nightmare on 13th (Salt Lake)
• Haunted Village (Salt Lake)
• Reapers Keep (Ogden)
• Dark Night Haunted House (Layton)
• Richmond Mansion (Richmond)
• Haunted Forest and Haunted Hollow (American Fork)
• Corpse Nightmare and Field of Screams (St. George)
• Asylum 49 (Tooele)

Does anyone have a favorite?

Hip hip hooray for Ellen C., whose comment on the Harvest Boutique Giveaway post won her an overflowing goodie basket. Hurrah! We’ll be contacting you with more information, Ellen.

Thanks again, Harvest Boutique divas! Looks like the boutique was a smashing success. We can’t wait until the next one.

Some people head to the Dodo for the Toll House pie. We’ve followed this bistro from location to location for its Smoked Turkey Sandwich.

Why, you ask? First, the turkey comes thinly-sliced and stacked high on a soft, warm roll. Second, the no-frills sandwich is served with an unexpected wedge of cantaloupe and a light side of salad. But, let’s get serious: The secret is in the sauce—barbecue sauce, to be exact—which you should dip your sandwich in generously. It has tangy undertones of molasses, pepper—perhaps some brown sugar … we’re not sure.

What we are sure about is that this sandwich is good. Good enough even to get by at $8.95, though we wouldn’t mind paying a dollar or two less for it. But, at this point, you might as well top it with Swiss cheese for an additional 30 cents. It’s a move you won’t regret.

{See For Yourself:}

The Dodo Restaurant
152 S. 400 West
The Gateway Mall, Salt Lake City
801-456-BIRD
www.thedodo.net

The Big Cheese: Word on the street has it that Cheesecake Factory is opening its doors to Salt Lake City dessert-lovers as soon as November 1. The Tuscan-inspired, slightly-out-of-place structure is going up at the southwest corner of Fashion Place Mall. Guess it’s about time the nation’s ninth-largest restaurant chain made its way here.

Sweet Nectar: Hip little Nectar boutique invites all YHO readers to hone their personal style by dropping in today between 2 and 6 p.m. or tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for free one-on-one consultations with image stylist Auretha Callison. You’re apt to get friendlier feedback than what Stacy and Clinton would serve up, bless their hearts.

Harvest Time: Nothing beats a homemade gift. Feast your eyes, stock up for the holidays and rub shoulders with some of your favorite bloggers at the Harvest Boutique, taking place in Draper tomorrow. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for your chance to win the goodie bag.

Book Sale and Bake Sale: Tonight at Frosty Darling, things get yummy at the boutique’s Bake Sale. Cakes, cookies and cupcakes are on the menu to compliment the evening’s gallery stroll. And Friends of the City Library are hosting a big ol’ Book Sale starting Saturday at 7 a.m. Children’s books, teen books, travel books and movies will be up for grabs, and everything is priced at less than a dollar. (Not a bad investment, eh?) Hours vary so be sure to check the sale times here.

Sale! Sale! And Sale!: The money-saving opps are high this weekend. Hit up ONEiTY’s 3-4-2 Sale through Saturday. Or head to Shade Clothing and get 20 percent off everything through Sunday. And that’s not all. Model Citizen is holding a gallery stroll Early Bird Sale tonight from 6-8 p.m. where you’ll get 25 percent off your entire purchase. Suh-weet!

In Mmmusic: This week’s options include Pinback on Saturday, Augustana (with Dashboard Confessional) on Tuesday, and Caribou on Wednesday. Architecture in Helsinki is on the hotseat for next week. Get the details over here.

Good news, fellow shoppers. Remember the cute, local-based children’s clothing line we told you about a while back called ONEiTY? We have an itsy bitsy crush on it, with its cute-as-a-bug apparel, wanting-to-give-back mode of operation and oh-so-friendly price points. You can only feel good about shopping this store.

Well, ONEiTY is holding its first-ever 3-4-2 Sale today, tomorrow and Saturday, which means when you purchase two ONEiTY items, you’ll get a third one of equal or lesser value FREE. And what is it that they say … good things come in threes?

As an added bonus, when you stop by the shop anytime between now and Saturday and mention that Your Heart Out sent you, you’ll be gifted with a $10 ONEiTY coupon in the mail in the coming weeks. Hurrah!

So go shop your hearts out for your wee ones. We know you’ll love what’s on the racks, as well as that $10 kickback. Thanks, ONEiTY!

{Get Your Sale On}

ONEiTY 3-4-2 Sale
ONEiTY
4010 S. 2700 East
Salt Lake City
Today and Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Oh, Lindsey Lohan, how are you, your fresh blonde locks and new boyfriend doing? We hear you’re bunked up at Sundance’s swanky Cirque Lodge, so hopefully things aren’t too bad—what with the alpine views and gourmet eats. According to Access Hollywood (or was it Entertainment Tonight?), your only shopping options in the Orem/Provo, Utah area are Smiths Food and Drug and University Mall’s Nordstrom.

Though Nordstrom is undoubtedly the better choice (and the best department store in Utah), we would like to set the record straight. We think you would be happy to know about these boutiques during your shopping adventures, too.

Stop No. 01: You might want to pop by Kaleidoscope in the Riverwoods for boho dresses, cosmopolitan pinafores and empire-waisted frocks by the likes of Trashy Diva, Deborah Sweeney, Violette and Odd Molly. Or you can slip your toes inside pumps and wedges from lines like Poetic License, Klub Nico and our favorite, Faryl Robin.

Stop No. 02: Just across the street, slide into Soel to get either your downward dog or your Diesel on. Soel is both high-style yoga and clothing boutique, at once. You might like Soel’s trusty selection of supersoft Ella Moss basics, French Connection smocks and Splendid tees. Or maybe you’ll opt for a pair of Frye boots for fall.

Stop No. 03: Next, head to Mode to pick out a cool custom tee for you and yours. He’ll like the selection of jeans from James, Nudie and Cheap Monday. This locale undoubtedly has the hippest assortment of stuff for guys from jackets to hats to wallets. And don’t skip the sneakers.

Stop No. 04: Pick up your favorite Paige denim at What’s Hot. The wall-to-wall selection of blues (and grays) is seriously impressive. Or maybe you’ll opt for a pair of Marc Jacobs flats or Coach hightops. (We think they’d look good on you.) And tell them Your Heart Out sent you, and you’ll even get 10 percent off.

(On a side note, have any of you Utah County-ers made any Lohan sightings?)

Chelsea wrote in looking for a good consignment exchange for her still-cute but gently used sartorial goods from chains we love like Boden, Banana and Anthro. We know handfuls of shops for furniture and other home goods, but clothing consignment seems to be a little more slim pickins.

The only three we can recommend—if you can call it that—are 1) Namedroppers, 2) Plato’s Closet and 3) Pibb’s Exchange. We’ve only shopped Namedroppers racks but hear that as far as picking up inventory goes, they’re pretty picky—which can be both good and bad. Plato’s Closet is known to carry great basics but skip over the designer-label drop-offs. Pibb’s is entirely unpredictable. But as anyone who has stepped into its walls knows, they’ve got a thing for retro, and we’re guessing that right now it’s more of a costume outlet. We’ve also heard of Cassandra’s Closet, but have no real knowledge of what’s inside.

Anyone have any feedback for Chelsea?