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Family Friendly Restaurants in Sevier Utah
Are you heading through Utah anytime soon? Maybe you’re driving through to visit Vegas, or all the way to Disneyland, or perhaps you’re coming to Utah for a little summer vacation on one of our many lakes – Fish lake, Bear Lake, The Great Salt Lake.

When we first moved to little old Salina, UT I was so sad to see the small choices of restaurants. Not that we go out to eat a whole lot, but I love a good dinner date with Mark, and the special occasion outings with the kids. I have been pleasantly surprised that our date nights have not had to be Subway or McDonalds over and over again. In fact, after living here for awhile, I found some hole in the wall type places that have been very good.

Located just off I-70, and 45 minutes North of Fish Lake you’ll find a variety of family friendly places to eat.
We’ll begin our tour in Salina, my current home town. Stop by and say hi if you’re driving through!
- Mom’s Cafe
Truly the Best Food in Town. Although not five star quality, Mom’s is what it claims to be – home cooking like you’re own mom would set on the table. When Mark and I were looking for a home in the area, we ate here, and enjoyed our food as we people watched Main street…though there weren’t too many people around. Later I took Princess R out for a Mommy Daughter date when she successfully potty trained. We sat at the long bar and ordered an ice cream sundae topped with a cherry.
- El Mexicano Restaurante
If you’re looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant, El Mexicano is the place to go here. Delicious burritos, chimi’s, and perfectly cooked rice and beans on the side. For dessert, try the fried ice cream! It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside it is well taken care of with a friendly staff. The kids love coming here, and so far no one has said anything about our rowdy bunch.
- The Hot Spot
The Hot Spot Drive-In is the place to go for malts, milkshakes, and good old hamburgers. Although they also serve salads, burritos, and chicken strips – I really just stick with their malts. For a fun treat I will sometimes take the kids and get the baby cones – the tiniest little cones I’ve ever seen with the perfect amount of soft serve for kids in the car. If you don’t feel like waiting in the drive through, go ahead and park, and enjoy the tables under some shaded trees.

If none of these sound like your fare, just head 20 minutes more west on I-70 and check out what Richfield has to offer. A slightly bigger town (with a Walmart!) your food choices here are a little more diverse.
- South China Restaurant
For Princess C’s birthday in February, she requested Chinese. There is another Chinese buffet in town, but we decided to try out The South China Restaurant. With a beautiful interior job, and one of the friendliest waiters I’ve ever had, we really enjoyed our meal here. Princess C was adventurous and tried some Gyoza, but stuck with a chicken pasta for her main meal. The food was delicious. If Chinese cuisine is your craving, definitely try them out.
- Little Wonder Cafe
Although I haven’t had the pleasure yet of dining at the Little Wonder Cafe, local friends have told me it is great. Driving past, it often reminds me of Luke’s Diner in the Gilmore Girls. I’ll have to get over there one of these days before we move.
- “Out Ta Lunch” Deli
You would never know Out Ta Lunch existed unless you are walking by on the street, or someone tells you about them. I happened across Out Ta Lunch (isn’t that the cleverest name) on my search for some Fenugreek. The local pharmacy didn’t carry it, but told me about the Health Essentials store on Main in Richfield. Off I went to get my Fenugreek, and what do I find but a cute little deli as well. Out Ta Lunch is located right inside the Health Essentials store, and as they say serving “nutritious and delicious” food. They would have to I would assume since it is also the health store. You won’t find greasy foods here.

Just south of Richfield is Monroe where you’ll find two more places to eat
- Sagebrush Grill
At the sagebrush grill, you might want to dress up a little, and leave the kids at home. With an upscale atmosphere, and a not so kid friendly meal, you’ll still enjoy wonderful food in this one of a kind restaurant. Perhaps for our anniversary I’ll get Mark to take me here.

If you continue west from Monroe towards I-70 you may want to stop for lunch in Elsinore
- Mooney’s BARN
Mooney’s Barn truly will be a unique dining experience as it is actually an Animal Shelter! I’m not trying to lead you astray, don’t worry, because on Friday’s and Saturdays Mooney’s serves lunch! Where else can you eat lunch and leave with an adopted pet? From dogs to horses to peacocks, this would be a fun adventure for a kids lunch date.
*This is not a sponsored post. I am participating in a Restaurant Blog Hop with the Collective Bias Community. No compensation has been given for this post*
July 9, 2013
Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

I have so many books. SOOO many books! I also have a very hard time getting rid of books. Thankfully I have been able to receive many books for review that I may never have otherwise picked up. I have found so many good books this way, but have also read some that I didn’t particularly care for. Then there are some that I read, enjoyed, but don’t feel the need to hand onto any longer.

I look forward to this hop hosted by Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer since it gives me the chance to clear some space, and you the chance to win some books! Right now, I need all the space I can get too. We only have 2 bookshelves, since the rest broke in our move. I have yet to get around to replacing them, and well – I have 18 boxes of books just hanging out in my basement. Not how I like to see my books. So I’m clearing my shelf, so I can pull a few more out. Isn’t that nice of me?

Did I get a little winded there? So sorry. Here is what ONE lucky reader will win from moi

The Freedman and the Pharaoh’s Staff

by Layne Heymont

This is a review copy I was sent for free. I wanted to bad to delve into this book, but emotionally I couldn’t. It is strong from 2 very opposing sides. I hope whoever wins will be able to enjoy the historical content in this book, and see the view the author was trying to display in so dramatic a work.

GPS Your Best Life

by Charmane Hammond & Debra Kasowski

I enjoyed this book. I felt like I gained some insight into how I want my life to turn out, and what I need to do to go there. Now it’s time for someone else to map their best life!

ec·o·nom·ics: a simple twist on normalcy

by Kersten L. Kelly

I read this book about a year ago. It was a very interesting read, and helps bring economics into your daily life, on a level most people can actually understand. Read my full review.

Racing from Death: A Nikki Latrelle Racing Mystery

by Sasscer Hill

I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but there was just too much horse racing talk I didn’t get, and romance and drugs for me to enjoy.

The Lake House
by Marci Nault
I want to like this book so bad! Review will be on the blog early next week, but here’s a quick inside view – New England Lake House, living around friends and family, love and heartache.
I’m giving this book up, because the love border lined on the not my kind of reading side. Which is too bad, because if it was just a bit cleaner, I would’ve loved this book so much.

The Path of the Fallen
by Dan O’Brien
This is a BIG BOOK! Just so you know. But a fun YA novel that explores another version on life, death and the beyond. Read my full review.

Roost
by Jasmine Winterson
This tale was just too unbelievable for me, and since it was set in modern day America, it made it that much harder to connect and believe I was in the story. Read my review.

THAT IS NOT ALL THOUGH! The winner will also receive my very last Home Maid Simple branded Book Bag: sporting Home Maid Simple’s button and the phrase “Turning Your House Into A Home”

OPEN to US and CAN residents.

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May 7, 2013
Springtime Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Springtime Giveaway Hop

hosted by Weidknecht.com

I can’t believe I’m late getting this post up! I’ve been pretty excited to share this giveaway with you! See over the last year, I’ve slowly collected items from events, reviews, and free samples that I was getting a little overwhelmed. I knew I needed to do a giveaway, but wasn’t sure when to do it. While Spring cleaning the last few weeks, I realized right now is the best time. So of course I joined a hop, so you can keep hopping around and enter a bunch more giveaways as well.

What do I have for you? Well let’s take a peek shall we?

I kid you not! This is no April Fools joke. One very lucky reader will win

– Bratz Cloe Fashion Boutique

– Bratz for Nintendo 3DS

– 2 packages of Deo Perfume Candy

– 3 Toothbands

– Tidy Tots, toilet training seat liners

– All Beach Ball

– Game Rating Foam Dice

– 2 Pine Bros cough drops

– Coupons for toddler formula

– and other product info and swag items.

Of course you’ll get to keep the Home Maid Simple Tote as well

Now to the nitty gritty details:

Fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter. This giveaway is open to US and CA.

All entries will be verified, so please make sure you did them before claiming.

This giveaway will end at11:59PM on April 7, 2013.

Don’t forget to hop on to the other bloggers for more giveaways! Linky is found under the rafflecopter.

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April 2, 2013
Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

hosted by Kathy at I am a Reader not a Writer.

Part of spring cleaning, means going through our bookshelves (construction has helped with this too). Throughout the hop you’ll have many chances to win gently used books from some pretty avid readers.

Here on Home Maid Simple one winner will win the following 4 books

Water For Elepahnts by Sara Gruen

Evangeline’s Miracle by Lisa buie-Collard
(signed copy!)

Evermore: The Immortals Book 1 by Alyson Noel

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal

Most of these I’ve read. I struggled with Water for Elephants, so I didn’t finish that one. Evermore and Evangeline’s Miracle I won from other bloggers, and truly enjoyed them, but want to pass them on. Transcendent I read and reviewed (follow above link for my review). It is filled with lots of great short stories.

Giveaway is open to US residents only
(sorry shipping is just too much!)
To enter use the Rafflecopter form below
After you enter here, make sure to hop to all the other blogs for more books to win!

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March 20, 2012
Making a House a Home: All about the Attitude

As my blog title states, I’m striving to turn our House into a Home. For me this means, it’s not just a dwelling, a roof over our heads and beds to sleep in (though I have recently taken up residency on the couch, darn pregnancy pains). A home is a place full of love, laughter, family and friends. A place anyone can feel welcome in as soon as they cross the front doorstep. To help with this in our front room we have this quote painted on the wall.

Last week as I pulled into the driveway after picking Princess V up from school, she declares “I hate this house. It’s a big mess. We need a bigger house.” Thank goodness I was already parked, because I was floored by this 5 year old’s statement. I LOVE our house. I DON’T want a bigger house (this one’s plenty big to clean as is!). Why would she say something like that? After talking it over with Mark we decided it came down to attitude. Was I displaying an attitude of love for our home? Was I showing our home love and teaching the Princesses how to love our home? I’m guessing not. Actually, I’m not guessing. I wasn’t. Being 8months pregnant and emotionally and physically drained, I just didn’t have it in me to show as much love and caring to our home as I would like. Instead, I realize I showed more frustration and anger with the constant messes that I just couldn’t keep on top of. No wonders she thought she hated our house, she was associating it with the mess, which is exactly what I was exemplifying to her!

On a recent trip to visit Mark at work, I saw a sign he had hung on one of the doors. I really liked it, and decided I needed to incorporate it into my daily thoughts.

So how do I turn this around? How do I change my attitude. The messes still frustrate me, especially as it gets harder and harder to bend over to pick things up. How do I teach my kids that we can love our home, by keeping it clean?

First, I have to change my attitude. From now on, if there is a mess, instead of becoming frustrated, thinking I’m the only one who cares (come on, you know you’ve thought it before too), I need to kindly ask for help. I need to pull out that little reservoir of energy to put a smile on my face, and get to work. Then once we have the mess clean, I can show the Princesses the type of fun we can have in a clean home. There is so much we could do, but I never do, because of the messes. We could have so much fun, if only we clean up after ourselves, and all pitch in.

Once we have our home clean, I am feeling the need to make each room enjoyable for everyone. There should be some element in each of the rooms that will make it home for us all. Here’s some ideas I’ve put together, and begun to incorporate into our home.

Front Room – I’ve added an art wall. Although our front room is mostly used for visiting with friends. It’s a place I always strive to keep clean and free of toys. But it also seems to be where we spend the most family time. Having an art wall to display the Princesses work has been both fun and enjoyable for all of us. For some, the front room could be your family room, your game room. Whatever room you spend the most time in. Try to keep it simple, with elements for each member of the family. By doing this it can bring the family closer together while still giving that individuality.

Kitchen – Our kitchen is very small, and is more like a hallway. Really, to get to the rest of the house you have to walk through the kitchen first. To change the attitude in our kitchen I’m planning on involving the Princesses in cooking each day. Besides getting some more time with them, it will also teach them life skills, and responsibility. For the smaller one, I have our tupperware drawer available for her to play in. The older girls love playing in it too, and they have many pretend parties with tupperware strewn across the floor. Allowing them this space lets them feel apart of the kitchen happenings.

Dining Room – Now that it’s remodeled, we all love our Dining Room more! We went for a Venetian theme with the color and decor. After Princess V’s declaration though, I wanted to make it more child friendly as well. So the play kitchen came out of the toy room, and into the Dining Room. I haven’t seen them play so much with their kitchen in forever! Just today after lunch they sat around it getting “drinks and ice” from the little fridge. While they did that, I was able to clean up lunch. What a joy this brought into our home, as the 3 girls played nicely together without any fights or tantrums.

Play Room – If you have a place specifically for toys, that is great! After our flood last fall we were able to remodel and make that space. Don’t forget to add elements for the adults in this room. Yes the room is built for the kids, but you want to be able to get down and play with your kids. When we first made the room, there was no seating in it. I realized soon that I needed something down there so I could be with the kids, but still be an adult as well. So down went our little IKEA couch. The problem we have with this room now, is keeping it picked up. It seems like an impossible chore, but it isn’t. My first idea, is to create some game art. My kids love their board games, but don’t know how to play by the rules yet. This causes pieces of different games to be left spread around the room. I saw this brilliant idea on Pinterest, and plan on adding it to our play room. It keep it fun for the kids, and clean for the adults.

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Adelina on Pinterest

Once we have the rooms set up, as the adult I need to set clear rules and boundaries. For some it may be “Food stays in the kitchen”, or “Shoes stay by the door”. Decide what’s most important to you in your home, and what is possible for your life situation. For us, we mainly keep food in the kitchen, but we often enjoy a fun “picnic” in the front room. It breaks the same old, and keeps the Princesses entertained. I do prefer no food downstairs though. I just haven’t made that a clear rule; one with consequences for being broken. Once you have your rules decided on, if you have kids, talk about consequences and rewards for obeying. We do a Daddy Dollar and Mommy Market system that our kids love! They’ll do just about anything to get a Daddy Dollar, and they know we mean business if one is taken away. At the end of each week they get to shop the Mommy Market.

Now this whole post started because of what Princess V declared. So I’d like to end with another of her declarations, a few days after the first

“Mom, I love this house. I love the seat here, with my blanket and pillow and watching Avatar”.

Let me give you a little bit of a view into what it was exactly that she loved.

Amazing what a little change in attitude can do.

*This post is part of Blogelina’s 100 Blog Comment Event.

March 1, 2012
Looking for Charity Sponsors

Come the end of March I will be participating in this wonderful blog hop hosted by I am a Reader not a Writer, Reading Away the Days, and Reading a little bit of Everything.

I’ve chosen to feature the Children’s Alopecia Project as my chairty.

I am looking for businesses to sponsor a giveaway here on Home Maid Simple to help get the word out about the Children’s Alopecia Project. There is no minimum prize value.

If you would be interested in sponsoring the giveaway please contact me at

familyroom2@gmail.com

January 30, 2012
Foodie Friday

Welcome To Foodie Friday!

Home Maid Simple has teamed up with Diane at Simple Living to bring you a new weekly blog hop.

Each week we will be posting a recipe. We’d love to have you all join us by linking up your recipes below.

I love food. I’ve mentioned it before, but I have a hard time making the same recipe twice, even if it was amazing, because I always want to try something new. Pinterest hasn’t helped with this food love either.

In fact, my first recipe for you comes from pinterest!

I bring to you this week

Chick-Fil-a nuggets

(original recipe found here)

My recipe has been altered for a dairy and nut allergy!

3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

6 eggs

4 cups flour

6 TBS powdered sugar

6 tsp salt

3 tsp pepper

canola or vegetable oil

Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Whisk eggs in large bowl. Add the chicken to the eggs, and let marinate in the fridge for about 2 hours.

Mix flour, sugar, salt and pepper in another large bowl. Heat about 2-3 inches of oil in a pan over medium heat until when you sprinkle water on it, it sizzles. Once the oil is ready, remove the chicken from the egg mixture and coat in dry mixture. Do about 10 pieces at a time, depending on size of your pan. Add coated chicken to oil, and cook until golden brown. We checked the largest piece of chicken in each batch by cutting it in half to make sure it had cooked all the way through. Serve with your choice of sauce. I personally prefer some BBQ, but the kids like Ketchup and Ranch.

Source: mynameissnickerdoodle.com via Adelina on Pinterest

We’d love to see what what’s cooking up in your kitchen. Link up a recipe below!

January 13, 2012
New Years Resolution Blog Carnival

Hauling & Trucking, Medical Transcription Source and Makobi Scribe Present New Year’s Resolution Blog Carnival.

My New Year’s Resolution is to continue making our house a home while balancing family life and all the duties that come along with that.

To help you achieve similar goals in your home life I’ve got 3 wonderful books to Giveaway!

First up is

Happy On Purpose by Diana Fletcher
I had the opportunity to review this book earlier in the year and I love it. Her tips on how to choose to be happy are so straight forward and true. As I’ve put some to practice in my life, I have found myself in general a happier person. As one who’s dealt with depression and seen family members deal with depression, I would consider it a must read for anyone looking for ways to find more happiness in their lives.

Next up is

31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way by Sarah Mae
(available in Kindle, Nook or PDF format)
This is not a book I have personally read…yet! It is on my wishlist, and once I get Mark’s ok, I’ll be purchasing the PDF format. The story of Mary and Martha has always been one I understood from the Bible. Martha wants a clean house, and can’t relax and enjoy company, even that of Christ, without having a clean house first. Mary is the opposite. I find that both sides have so much good, and finding the balance between good and better, is hard for many. I’ve read some rave reviews of this book, so I know it’s going to be good!

Last but certainly not least is

Clutter Rehab: 101 Tips and Tricks to Become and Organization Junkie and Love it! by Laura Wittmann
Once again, I have yet to read this book, but I oh so desperately want to! Laura blogs over at I’m an Organizing Junkie, where she offers tips and tricks to help organize your home. My favorite is her Menu Plan Monday’s. Before finding Laura’s blog I oftened found myself stressed and paniced over what we were going to eat for dinner each week. I tried menu planning, but it always fell through. With her weekly link ups (sometimes with giveaways!) I have been able to keep up with menu planning and saved my grocery budget from getting too high. I can only imagine what the rest of her book could teach me.

There will be 3 winners, open to US and Canada. One winner per book. If you don’t win, make sure you check out all these books on Amazon! Good luck and Happy New Years!

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January 3, 2012
Get to Know Me Better

Get to Know me better is a meme hosted by Kathy at I am a Reader Not a Writer.

This weeks questions are:

1. Pet Peeves? Shoes, socks, coats. I hate them laying all over the house. There are places for these things to go, and I’ve tried hard to make them easily accessible for all! I should not be tripping over 5 pairs of shoes every day.

2. Give us a glimpse into a typical day in your day starting when you wake up till you lie down again.

You really want to know? Ok! None of my days are the same, really I have a different schedule each day of the week, and it’s crazy!! So my most typical day goes as follows – 6am wake up. Read scriptures and Happy On Purpose. Eat a little breakfast, or start making the kids breakfast. Browse online, check emails, etc, while kids eat and get dressed. 9am princess C’s preschool. 11am get home do some dishes and start on lunch to eat around 12. Eat lunch, have kids do chores like clean their room, and take Princess V to preschool at 1:30pm. Naptime/quiet time for Princess C and Princess R. I read or browse online some more, maybe do laundry or more dishes. Pick Princess V up at 3:30. Check menu plan and start on dinner, while doing more dishes. Eat at 5pm. Relax with the kids. Although during December after dinner each night we have an advent activity. Kids in bed at 8pm, Mark or I (Mark more lately) read to them until they fall asleep. I hold Princess R until she falls asleep. Mark and I get time together finally, and watch any of the following shows – Psych, Bones, House, or Vampire Diaries. Hopefully we’re in bed before 11pm. Depending on how tired, I will read a little more from one of the many books I’m reading, until I fall asleep and start the cycle again.

3. Pizza or Pasta? definitely pizza. I’m not a huge pasta fan.

4. Finish the sentence – one book I wish I had written is….. LOL! None. I much prefer reading books, because there are so many more creative people out there than me, that can really weave a story and develop the characters.

5. Favorite sport? Now that’s a hard one. I really like a lot of sports, although I much prefer playing them. Baseball is probably on the top, then football, then basketball for playing. The only sport I really enjoy just watching is Hockey, and I do enjoy watching Hockey!

December 8, 2011
I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be participating in Hauling and Trucking, Medical Transcription Source, and Makobi Scribe’s

New Years Resolution Blog Carnival

Lots of blogs have already joined this hop, and each one will be giving something away from Jan 3-10. If you’re a blogger, you still have time to sign up! Sign ups for this hop will close Dec 20th. The awesome thing is, there will be a prize for one of the bloggers, KINDLE, at the end of the hop as well!!

I’m looking for sponsors!! If you would like to sponsor a giveaway here on Home Maid Simple, I’d love to feature you!!! I’m looking for anything to help families and homes kick off the New Year. Please contact me, Adelina, at familyroom2@gmail.com

December 2, 2011