AWESOME Alternative to Color Me Mine

I love Color Me Mine. Painting and creating is so soothing and in my personal opinion a great way to spend an afternoon... or three. I once had to take 3 trips to Color Me  Mine to finish my mug. But my date did too so it worked out just fine.
The downside of Color Me Mine is the cost. It takes all my budgeted "fun"money to paint for an afternoon. And for 2 people it can break the bank. So I have FINALLY found an amazing substitute for Color Me Mine. Per usual, most of my amazing ideas are supplemented by Pinterest, so find several tutorials and other decorating ideas here.

Supplies: (for a one stop shop, go to Walmart)

1.  Oven bake clay such as sculpey. Or air-dry clay.
2. Cookie cutters, large circle or other shapes. You can also use items found around the house
3. Bowls to mold your clay
4. Paint Brushes
5. Acrylic or other types of paint. If you are using the bowls for eating make sure you get non toxic paint.
6. Glaze paint- also non toxic, dishwasher safe.

Process:

1. Roll the clay into a ball and then roll it out with the rolling pin. Uniform thickness
2. Press in cookie cutter to create your desired shape
( if you have any lace, or stamps you want to use now is the time)
3. Place the circular clay in the bowl to conform the clay to the bowl shape. Allow dry for 20 minutes
4. Carefully remove and let the clay dry the rest of the way in the oven. Optional to sand paper the bowl at this point.
(If it is air dry...just let them dry....)
5. Paint and glaze!

Upgrade to an Experience:

Make an in-house studio. Make stations with different brushes and paint. Make signs for each station. Play music in the background.  Have matching aprons.

While waiting for the pottery to dry you can make dinner or desserts.
Go to Barns and Nobel and read books
Get Hot Chocolate or other yummy drinks
Sing and Dance to Pocahontas's "Colors of the Wind"
Play Twister
Go to an art Gallery: Moa, Springville Museum, Provo Library Art Show

Viva Peru

I love themeing everything. It makes dates, fhe's and activities more memorable. Its pretty easy to start the theme with a movie, because movies have endless themes. And everyone likes watching movies. So here is a themed idea centering around PERU.

First of all choose the movie. I'm thinking Emperors New Groove or the Road to El Dorado, but any type of Aztec, Peruvian movie. You can add more details depending on the movie, I'm going to base this experience around Emperors New Groove.

To start you can go on a llama tour at the Utah Valley Llama Farm.  The farm is in Spanish Fork there may be a minimum number of people in your group, but give them a call and see what you can work out.

After visiting with the llamas, go to Se Llama Peru in Provo. This restaurant has the BEST Peruvian Food around. I highly recommend the ceviche.

Once you are done eating, or before you go to the restaurant. You can make sand art. Peru is famous for the Nazca Lines. Images carved into stone. But sand is easier. Find a place that has sand, a volleyball court, a beach, a sand box and use your feet or rakes and make an image in the sand. If possible make a design that you can view from above to admire your handy work. Get inspired with some ideas here.

Finally, retire to your abode and put on Emperors New Groove and admire the fact that you too have touched llamas, eating interesting Peruvian food, and experienced a little bit of Peruvian culture.

Paddle Boarding

  I know it's been raining a lot lately. That may be an understatement. It has been raining A TON lately. And that makes it hard to think of summer and the sun and all the fun activities you can do in the warmth of summer. But when summer does finally decide to show it's face, you should go Paddle Boarding!
You can rent a paddle board and drive it to a lake, or if your car is not big enough just rent a board from Utah lake or Deer Creek Reservoir. Soak in the sun and play with your friends, or your soul mate.

$ 15 an hour Utah Lake Marina 
$20 an hour Deer Creek Marina 
$30 a day Outdoors Unlimited
$45 a day Runoff River Adventures 
$65 a day UVU 

Experience Upgrade:

Pack a Picnic
Try some Paddle Board Yoga
Build Sand Castles Afterwards
Bring Pool Toys to Swim with After
Watch a Beach Movie (Surfs Up/ Soul Surfer/ Endless Summer)
Paint Sea Shells
Learn to Hula Dance
Have a BBQ
Snorkel

Chocolate Factory Tours!

Did you ever watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and wish you could go on a crazy chocolate tour (minus kidnapping squirrels and being turned into a blueberry). There is a chocolate factory in Salt Lake that lets your tour the facility for $1. The tour includes samples (of course!!!) and you get to see how they make their sugary goodness. Link to their website here.

Upgrade to an Experience:

Watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after the tour
Try your hand at making your own candy
Make your own Chocolate Tasting

Soap Factory

I love Color Me Mine, but it is little pricey. The Soap Factory is a similar set up. Come in and create your own soap. Choose from scents and ingredients to make your perfect blend. And it’s only 5$. Pay for an experience and a product. The perfect combo! Get directions and more details here. 

$5 for lab fees per person

Ingredients $0.05/ gram

Upgrade to an Experience:
Hand Massages
Create a theme of "clean" and buy groceries  at a farmers market for a "clean meal"
Add to the soap theme and blow bubbles