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A Random Smattering


Lately I’ve had a hard time concentrating. I have a bunch of blog posts in draft, but I just can’t seem to sit down long enough to type them out adequately. Forgive my random smattering of photos, songs, and other things that have been making me smile (or making me ponder) lately. Taylor is not […]

Sabotaging Myself Through My Food Blog


…or how I gained 50 pounds in one year through “blogging”… When I started Nicole Rates It, I thought that I would use it as a platform to review the foods I love, promote local restaurants, record my travel adventures, and lose weight. Lose weight with a food blog? I have several friends that have […]

Utah County I-15 Construction


Via KSL.com: UDOT to begin massive I-15 rebuild in Utah County March 29th, 2010 @ 9:26pm UTAH COUNTY — Utah County commuters will soon be dealing with 24 miles of freeway road construction, from Lehi Main Street to Spanish Fork Main Street. Drivers can be sure to expect delays: the HOV lane will be gone […]

Vegas Getaway


Have you missed me? Have you worried since my last downer post? Please forgive my recent blogging slackerdom. I’ve been swamped with many things from awful to awesome. Right now I’m in Vegas with my lovely sidekick Heather ( @utahsheather). When I’m home with a proper internet connection, I promise to blog about… My Biggest […]

FourSquare Cheater Rant


One of my favorite iPhone apps is FourSquare, aka #Foursquare and #4sq on Twitter. FourSquare is a location-based social networking website, software for mobile devices, and a game. Registered users can update their location and connect with friends via mobile application (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Palm, etc). FourSquare gives you the option to connect to  Facebook […]

Giveaway: $10 Restaurant.com Certificate


I am a total foodie, but in the most equal-opportunity way. I love home-cooked meals, greasy spoon diners, upscale bistros, BBQ joints, fish houses, sushi bars, fancy steakhouses, taco stands, and hole-in-the-wall ethnic spots. I post many of my reviews on my food blog, www.nicoleratesit.com. Unfortunately, my budget doesn’t keep up with food addiction. I […]

Sue’s Bloggy Brunch


One of the perks I’ve enjoyed while being back in Utah has been the opportunity to meet so many wonderful bloggers in the area. Do you realize how many of the top mommy bloggers in the country live within an hour of me? I’m not exactly sure how many, but it’s a LOT. One blog […]

MRI Results: Spinal Cysts? Or Junk in the Trunk?


For those new to my blog, I injured my lower back shoveling snow on December 9th. Then within the next two weeks, I slipped and fell on ice TWICE. Since then, I’ve gone to countless physical therapy appointments,  had a series of traditional and alternative medical treatments, rationed out my Lortab conservatively to not become […]

The Bachelor: Jake’s an Okay Guy


The Reality Show I Love to Hate A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about Jake Pavelka, AKA “The Bachelor.” I’ve only watched a handful of seasons of The Bachelor, so I knew the basic premise, the cattiness of the girls who “really think they’ve fallen in love,” and the awkward situations that […]