Salt Lake Magazine

Just Checking in. How’s Your Skin this Winter?

Taking care of your skin in the dry, cold winter months is a big task. Luckily, local expert and Coco Art & Spa owner Amy Hartman has swooped in to share tips, tricks and product recommendations for preventing damage, healing and caring for your skin, which can be especially problematic during winter months. 

No. 1: Sunscreen and Hydration

“My number one rule for winter skin maintenance is sunscreen and hydration.” Hartman mentions these two things in unison to combat the misconception that sun exposure decreases during the winter. To boost hydration and protect against sun damage, Hartman recommends Image Skincare Sunscreen and Solar Gel.

No. 2: Vitamin D Supplements 

Taking a vitamin D supplement can be beneficial to your skin. Hartman explains that a “high number of Utahns are Vitamin D deficient…Talking it over with your provider and maybe checking a lab to see where your level is, is really important since all Vitamin D is absorbed through the skin.”

No. 3: Cool It With The Hot Showers 

In the winter it can be a habit to turn up the temperature in your shower, “Extremely hot showers can also strip away our skin’s natural oils.” Hartman suggests taking nice-warm showers, but not to overdo it with the heat; and that goes for when we’re washing our hands, too. 

No. 4: Give Your Hands a Facial 

Dry, cracked hands are a common occurrence during the winter. Hartman suggests giving your mitts a boost with a hand facial. After cleansing, use a serum like the Vital C from Image Skincare which will “noticeably lock in hydration with the use of hyaluronic acid and reduce fine lines and wrinkles,” says Hartman. Then, follow up with a moisturizer. Coco Art & Spa carries the entire Image Skincare Vital C line and is used in their 50-minute Vital C Hydrating Facial; all facials and manicures come with
a hand treatment. 

No. 5: Serums instead of lotions

For those who hate the thick, sticky feel of lotions, Hartman suggests swapping out for a serum instead. “It won’t leave any irritating residue, and will get absorbed faster into your skin.” Her go-to product is Osea Undaria Algae Oil.

For the past few years, Cara Fox and The Fox Group team, a design and architecture firm, have been honored with the project of designing and decorating the halls of the Utah Governor’s Mansion on South Temple. When all glammed up for the holidays, the Governor’s Mansion transforms into a glittering, festive interior as if, well, pulled from the pages of a magazine. The tradition of decorating the mansion for the holiday is almost as old as the Kearns Mansion itself, built more than 120 years ago for Thomas Kearns and his family. 

Fox works annually with the governor’s First Lady to design a Christmas tree and mantel décor around a predetermined theme. For instance, the theme for 2023 was “A Storybook Christmas,” and the theme for 2022 was “The Roaring ’20s,” celebrating the beauty of the past and present coming together, as well as a revolutionary decade—much like the 1920s. 

Over a months-long planning process and a full day of festive installation, Fox and the mansion’s team paired pearls and plumes, feathers and other fashionable Golden Age baubles to grace the 12-foot holiday tree and two stone mantels in one of the home’s front rooms.

“One of the mantels features a pair of really valuable Liberace-style marble statues, so to avoid moving those too much we kept that mantel simpler,” Fox says. “The other, we decked all out with plumes, all sorts of ribbons and different types of garlands.” But, as we all know, come Christmastime, the tree is the centerpiece of any home’s decor. 

To get a designer look for your own tree, Cara Fox shares her insight in creating a photo-worthy Christmas tree. Just like the holiday décor for the Governor’s Mansion, Fox suggests choosing a theme for your own home’s decoration, whether it’s a color palette or a unifying concept, a theme makes the result more cohesive. Choosing a theme can give your tree an elegant appearance while keeping it from looking cluttered and overstuffed.

A theme can offer the chance to surprise with the decorations. As with adorning the tree in the Governor’s Mansion with pearls and feathers to complement the First Lady’s “Roaring ’20s” theme, Fox says, “Put something unexpected on your tree.”

Be sure to avoid the common mistake of forgetting to decorate the backside of the tree. Filling and adorning the whole tree equally—using greenery fillers like eucalyptus leaf twigs to add depth and texture where needed—is a straightforward way to step up the design. Ribbons and bows can also help add interest and fill space on a Christmas tree.

When it comes to lights on the tree, Fox says, “Warm white is our favorite because it adds a cozy sparkle while allowing the other colors to shine.” A good rule of thumb is 100-150 lights for every 2 feet of the tree.

On that note, don’t forget something sparkly. “We love having at least one sparkling element like simple tinsel or glitter ornaments to make the tree shine even more,” she says. 

Trees need accessories as well. A tree skirt adds color and personality to your tree, and an appropriately sized tree topper “Let the top of the tree stand out so it brings the eye upward,” says Fox. 

Finally, Fox says you should also have a personal touch on the tree, “like an heirloom ornament or a monogrammed item.” 

It’s a way of adding something meaningful to you and your family.  

Holiday Tours of the Governor’s Mansion

Each year, the Utah State Governor invites citizens to tour the official governor’s residence, the Kearns Mansion on South Temple. This year’s holiday open house and tours will be held on Dec. 11 and 18. Admission is free, but registration is required through Preservation Utah at preservationutah.org.

For 2024, The Fox Group, in collaboration with the First Lady of Utah, envisioned a celebration of the Utah winter landscapes. “This year’s tree and accompanying décor feature representations of the state’s wildlife,” Fox says. “Playful foxes, wise owls, industrious beavers and bounding rabbits lend a delightful spirit to the décor and remind us of the vibrant life that thrives in Utah’s woodlands.”

Put the ‘fun’ back in the ‘family fun’

Jenny Foth has worked as the catering manager, event-coordinator and general culinary magic-maker in some of Salt Lake City’s biggest restaurants. You could call her a “jill of all trades.” But she is also the friend who hosts the neighborhood backyard barbecues in the summer, throws showers during wedding season and is the go-to for impromptu friends’ get-togethers. Not only that, as a mom, she hosts a family-friendly holiday party that include both kids and adults. And she does it with grace and a sense of adventure.

Here are her tips for hosting a successful holiday party that involves the whole family (without driving herself crazy).

Be Realistic

Figure out just how much time and budget you have. It’s important to prioritize and easy, fun experience over perfection. Even a party on a smaller budget can still be impressive and enjoyable, especially with kids. “When I was less experienced, I was trying too hard. It would stress me out, and it was no longer fun.” Jenny says. “And so I’ve gotten good at asking those questions. ‘Realistically, how much time do I have?’ Yes, I want to prep, but do I have time to prep for hours to throw a party? ‘What can we do on a smaller budget that’s just as fun and just as impressive?”

Offer simple, crowd-pleasing foods

Use a variety of easy-to-make foods that appeal to kids and adults. It’s okay to mix pre-made food or purchased foods with a couple of showstoppers you make at home. For an all-ages party, avoid getting too fancy and focus on hearty, fun meals for everyone. Jenny loves setting up a “build your station.” These can be as simple as a taco bar with a few meats and a variety of toppings and salsas or a soup station with two-three soups in crockpots. When planning the menu, Jenny says, “Kids and adults like cheese, we like chips, and we like things we can do with our hands.”

Create kid-friendly spaces

Chaos happens when kids are involved. So anticipate and manage the chaos by reserving kid-friendly zones. Keep the activities simple and self-sufficient so kids can enjoy themselves with less hands-on time for the adults. It is even better if there is a draw for them to keep them absorbed. “I have a basement with no breakables,” Jenny explains, “So when I host parties with kids, I’ll blow up 40 balloons and throw them downstairs. You’d be surprised how much fun a room full of balloons can create. The chaos and noise are expected, but it’s all part of the fun.”

Add a kids-only food station with finger food that isn’t too messy. Think chicken tenders or taquitos, and they will stay entertained for hours.

Put the kids to work

Get your kids involved in party planning and setup. It gives them a sense of ownership in the event and turns them into instant mini-hosts for all the kids showing up. “If I get the kids involved in their particular activity, they take ownership of it,” Jenny says. “I’ll even get their ideas. A lot of the ideas aren’t mine. They come from the kids.”

Separate drink stations

Set up different spots for adult and kid beverages But be sure to make the kids’ drink station just as fun.

Jenny likes to add fun juices, sodas and fun, kid-friendly creative garnishes like gummy bears so kids can make their own unique drinks.

“I keep the station for adult beverages in one corner,” she adds. “And the kids’ table is in a completely different area. That way, if you see a kid at the adult station you know he’s not supposed to be there. Or use specific type of cup, a kind only found on their table.”

Her biggest tip? Practice makes perfect, but no party with kids is ideal. So just start hosting with your kids and embrace the chaos to enjoy the party.

Tracey Thompson of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits – Entertaining Lessons Learned

As the President and CEO of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits, Tracey Thompson is involved with many events throughout the year. But that’s in her official capacity as a wine maven and spirit whisperer. She prefers her unofficial capacity during the holidays, focusing on creating relaxing and elegant gatherings for the people she loves the most.

Cook less, enjoy more

Tracey loves to cook and she spent her early hosting days, even with young children, laboring and fretting over complex, multi-course meals for formal sit-down dinner parties. “But I finally saw the light,” she says. “I look back now and go, ‘what was I thinking?'”

She still loves to cook, especially with her daughters, who have inherited their mother’s culinary entertaining genes, but she long ago dispensed with formality. “We always cook, but it’s something we can serve buffet style.” Tracey backstops her cooking by ordering items for the meal from “people who do things I would never attempt.” For example, last year for New Years Eve, she ordered a selection of buns from Romina Rassmussen’s Xao Bao Bao. “I bought four bags of buns and just we put a steamer on the stove. It was so easy and fun and everyone loved it.”

Don’t be a bartender

“I am not a mixologist,” she says.. “The point of holiday parties is being with the people I love the most and clinking glasses together.” To that end, she sets up a drink station with basic spirits and mixes and perhaps the makings for one special cocktail that’s easy to prepare, like a negroni. And of course, as a wine expert, she will curate a selection of whites and reds, and “always rose and bubbles.” Over the years, she says, non-alcoholic options are growing part of the beverages she offers. “So many people are moderating more or more conscious of drinking” and there are so many new non-alcoholic options out there.”

Guests: Come and go as you please

During the holidays (or any day it seems) it’s hard enough to get people together for a single event. Make it easier for everyone and just entertain with an open house format. “Want people to enjoy, come in and have a drink without the anxiety of popping into a seated dinner,” she says. “It lends itself to a much more relaxed atmosphere.”

Put your feet up

“If I’m not relaxed my guests aren’t relaxed,” she says. The day of the party she makes sure she has at least an hour before guests arrive to put her feet up. “I don’t do rushing to the finish line anymore.” sometimes things won’t be perfect, she says, it’s more important that the occasion is joyful and full of “love and light.”