Super Bowl Foods

With the Super Bowl this Sunday I thought I would post my top picks for what I will be snacking on {I hope Morgan isn't reading this post today!}

1. Guacomole - its easy to make and is one of the "healthier" options

2. Pizza! My favorite is cheese and banana peppers! Yum! Did you know delivery sales of pizza spike the most during close Super Bowl games - just a little fun fact thanks to {http://pizza.com/fun-facts}

3. Chicken Wings! If you're from Buffalo and aren't eating chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday than I'd like to meet you!

4. Soft pretzels {with little to no salt} and cheese.

5. Beer and for you whiskey drinkers {Jack Daniels}

What are some of your must have food and drink items to have during the Super Bowl? Whatever you're doing for the big game, be safe, don't drink and drive and have fun!

Go Broncos!

-B

#BfloBridalExpo14

This past Sunday, the Seneca Niagara Casino and Event Center were hosts to over 3,000 brides, grooms and bridal parties from all over Western New York. The Buffalo Bridal Association held their ninth annual Buffalo Bridal Expo from 11-6pm. Florists, limousine companies, photographers, deejays, health and fitness vendors and bakeries were just some of the vendors in the wedding industry represented at this great event.

The Buffalo Bridal Association {BBA} was created over 25 years ago by Key Video Production owner, Michael Fantaske to do one thing, provide quality products and vendors to the brides. Brides go through three stages; 1. Excitement 2. Planning and 3. Fear. The BBA takes the fear out of the planning and brings the excitement back. All members of the BBA apply to be a member and go through an application process. You have to be the best of the best and if excepted into the association you sign a code of ethics, easing the brides mind knowing she can trust your services.

BBA's Bridal expo is the largest expo in the Northeast with 20 staff working around the clock to make this event the best it can be for those in attendance {that doesn't include the casino's staff and the BBA volunteers}. The BBA is there to tell you and provide you with the people you CAN trust, their the liaison between the brides and the vendor.

While walking around, each and every vendor was engaged with the potential "new" customer. They were inviting and sociable, handing out take home gifts and offering discount services if you signed up with them.  The event overall was informative and entertaining. Some of my favorite booths were;

• Toy Bros (Jeff and his team do amazing work!)
• Key Video Productions
• Zoladz limousine
• Floral Accents
• Status limousine
• Sweet Melody's
• Creative Beginning's Wedding décor
• Statler
• Ohlson's Bakery

You can find a complete list of vendors {over 150} that are members of the BBA here. Also, make sure to mark your calendars on August 24 for BBA's summer expo at Salvatore's Italian Gardens. And make sure to catch Wedding Planning Weekly on Sunday evenings on the CW 23.

-B

{ 2 fashion shows took place, showing off bridal gowns from Bridal Chateau and tuxedos from Tuxedo Junction }

{ Table centerpieces }

{ There was a masquerade theme at this expo }

Get A Clue - Buffalo Museum of Science

Friday Night the Buffalo Museum of Science was revamped into the well known board game- Clue! A handful of rooms on the second level of the building had volunteers holding clues to solve the mystery. Teams ran (some did) from room to room trying to figure out the murder mystery to win tickets to Beerology or Star Lights (both are Buffalo Science Museum events). The event was a lot of fun and had 200 people in attendance. It was an event out of the box, not a same old thing you would attend and you got to walk around the science museum, check things out and have a couple drinks to kill the time.

My only suggestion is letting teams chose times when they register, we arrived at 6pm thinking we would get to start the game right away and we had to wait until the 7:45 spot. Overall though it was a fun night out and our team; Buffalo's Solving Justice League Kids were close to winning!

-B

{ Buffalo's Solving Justice League Kids - #Teamname }

Friday Favorites {Buffalo}

Happy Friday! Here are some of my favorites from this past week. Beer, people and surprises... Enjoy your weekend!

-B

I love this wall inside Cretaceous Clothing - so happy to have met Zach and Jeff this past week! Two awesome guys!

Behind this beer truck downtown this week Buffalo has a lot of great brewery's

Speaking of beer, I enjoyed my EBC Blueberry beer the other night. Just wish I was in Ellicottville for it

Surprise? I wish when I opened it, it was a certificate for a million dollars, but instead it was a fake tattoo... maybe next time.

#BuffaloLinks

I started #BuffaloLinks on my blog to do two things, 1. showcase different Buffalo businesses through their websites and 2. to showcase upcoming events coming up within the following week. Here are this weeks links to check out!

-B

1. I'm super excited to head back to Bike Or Bar on Elmwood this weekend to take their CrosSpin class. One of the best places in town if you're looking for a good workout!

2. Friday night the Buffalo Science Museum is hosting the Get a Clue event. I can't wait to check out the event and am hoping my team comes out with the Win ;) {a little competition never hurt anyone..right?}

3. I was asked to cover the Buffalo Bridal Association's, Bridal Expo at the Seneca Niagara Casino on Sunday. While I'm not getting married anytime soon, I'm looking forward to meeting with vendors and guests in attendance!

4. More and more we are hearing in the news about young and innocent children being abused. I have little tolerance for child abuse and believe we as adults need to step up to the plate. Child and Family Services is a great organization that can help if you or someone you know needs assistance.

{People Who Move Buffalo} Cretaceous Clothing & JK Media

One of the best ideas I have had to date was my {Women Who Move Buffalo Series} sharing with you women who have made the choice to stay in their hometown and pursue their dream. This year while I will continue that series, I am also expanding on it and introducing {People Who Move Buffalo} - sharing both men and women's stories of success and dreams all while staying local. With that being said, I'm very excited to kick off 2014 sharing two amazing guys stories with you. Zach Patton from Cretaceous Clothing and Jeff Kress from JK Media. Both driven, creative, ambitious, talented, hard working, the list could go on and on. These two men portray amazing personalities and work ethics that most people strive for.

Read more of my interview with them below.

-B

When did you go into business?

• Zach Patton (ZP): May of 2009 Cretaceous Clothing opened
• Jeff Kress (JK): November of 2012 JK Media opened

What made you go into the field you're in?

• ZP: I was a trendsetter back in high school and always enjoyed fashion so I opened my own clothing company. {95% of the clothes in his store are his very own designs}
• JK: Six years ago I picked up a camera and started shooting. Thought it was fun and self taught myself. I love the people I've met along the way.

What do you like best about Buffalo?

• ZP and JK: We both like the diverse group of people in the area and the diverse scenes around town.

How did you two meet?

• ZP and JK: In June of 2013 at the Vault through a mutual friend Jamie Catania. We started talking and throwing ideas back and forth and have been friends ever since.

What makes you stand out from your competition?

• ZP: Nobody does it the way I do, I have more to offer, hidden talents that you can't find anywhere else especially in the hip-hop scene.
• JK: I stop at nothing, I will always be there.

When I sat down with Zach and Jeff I immediately knew their life is their work. Two passionate guys who take the time to create quality clothing pieces and capture beautiful photos. Coming in February they will be selling a calendar that offers pictures (taken by Jeff) of clothing that Zach designed while showcases other local businesses ads throughout the months of the year.

Zach offers custom services for clothing - so if you're looking for a place to go for custom wear Zach and his co-worker Goose are the guys to visit. And if you have a special event, paintball tourney, wedding or anything you want captured contact Jeff with JK Media. He also helps in digital art and social media optimization {Both men are from Buffalo, NY}.

Cretaceous Clothing {2630 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo}

Cretaceous Clothing Website

Cretaceous Clothing Facebook

JK Media {Follow on Twitter @JKMedia716} 

JK Media Facebook

{ From L to R: Goose, Zach {Cretaceous} and Jeff {JK Media} }

{ JK Media Photography}

{ I am in love with this photo. Beautiful shot of City Hall in Downtown Buffalo }

{I think its pretty cool to have a photographer shoot a paintball tourney}

{ I love Zach's creativity and inspiration that portrays in his clothing;      "Lead Never Follow" }

Savoy Buffalo

Classy, cool and a little mysterious; those are words I would use to describe Savoy Buffalo {149 Elmwood Avenue}. I've been meaning to check out this place for a while now, so Lacey and myself had dinner and drinks their on Saturday night. While it is smaller than what I expected it, the décor, staff and live music were great! We sat right by the window so we could people watch on Elmwood while sipping on our wine and Jack and ginger's. It was a relaxing atmosphere, reasonably priced...my Jack and ginger was $6 - I thought it was going to be more like $10, so that was a nice surprise. If ordering food try their Deviled Eggs {that's what their known for}. Lacey had the pulled pork sandwich {which she said was good} and I ordered the chopped salad {picture is below}and mac n' cheese. Savoy is definitely a place I would go back to for drinks and a good time.

-B

{Savoy on Facebook}                 {Savoy on Twitter}

{Artwork}

{Live music - these guys were really good!}

{I ordered the chopped salad and mac n' cheese}

{Guests enjoying themselves at the bar}

What are you doing for others?

While some may have the day off for Martin Luther King Jr. their are a variety of things you can do around town. Check out the Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza, go tubing, visit the Aquarium in Niagara Falls, catch up on chores you may not have gotten to over the weekend, or simply relax.

Whatever it is you do ask yourself this question;

"What are you doing for others? That is life's most persistent and urgent question {MLK Jr.}"

-B

Friday Favorites #Buffalo

"With all that bad stuff lies opportunity, even if you don't realize it right now"

I definitely needed to hear this from a friend this week. It wasn't the best week I've had, but it could have been worse. Here's to a weekend of catching up with friends, meeting new people and focusing on the opportunities. Enjoy your weekend Buffalo!

-B

{Me watching my car get lifted onto the tow truck- not one of the best days and not one of my favorite moments this week}

{One of my new favorite places on Main Street in Williamsville - Break' N Eggs}

{Not the best picture, but saw this Buffalo Statue inside the Ellicott Small Animal Hospital while at a red light the other evening - I like the polka dots}

{Very lucky to have friendships that I know will last a lifetime}

#BuffaloLinks

Here are this weeks links to check out;

1. Betty's Restaurant {370 Virginia Street}- I've never been, but have a lunch date in the next couple days. Super excited, I've heard great things!

2. I see a happy hour special almost every day or every other day on Facebook at the Gypsy Parlor. It looks like a cool place to go for drinks- definitely on my list of places to check out!

3. If you're a new bride or know someone who recently got engaged check out this event at the Century Grill tonight; Emerald City Cocktail Party

4. If you want to be hands on with your wedding make sure to check out the Boutique Bridal Party's Crafts & Cocktails on 1.22.14 at the Mansion on Delaware. Trust me you will learn new things, meet great vendors and have an awesome time!

A taste of the WEBB

Over the weekend I attended my sister's work party at the Webb, which is an additional venue to Pearl Street Grill & Brewery. I have been to the Webb venue before {it was a venue choice of mine for an event I was possibly going to do}, so when I found out I was attending an event there I was excited to see how the general flow would be, along with trying there food/drink and customer service. Overall, I love the venue, it is rustic with a little bit of elegance. It was spacious and I feel in a convenient location. If you're looking for a more intimate and private setting this is the venue to use {if interested in Pearl Street}. The food - from hors' oeuvres to the buffet was really good. It was a step up from what you would get if you went to dinner at Pearl Street.

The only thing I wasn't to happy about was the bar service. There were two bartenders which was an adequate amount, but the first time up to the bar the bartender was a little standoffish, making me feel like I was inconveniencing them. As the night went on it went down to one bartender, leaving the bar a little busy. I did like the use of an old piece of furniture they used to re-vamp and display the draft beers on tap, it was a nice touch and fit in with the décor.

All in all it was a nice night and I was happy to attend an event that was "in place" there.

Its a great addition to the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery family.

-B

A locally owned Creperie

Love breakfast food, but tired of ordering the same old thing; eggs, pancakes, French toast? Locally owned, Break' N Eggs Creperie  {located at 5235 Main Street in Williamsville} offers a small "diner like" feel with a touch of country flare to the décor. Having been my first time there, my friend Kate and I went mid- morning and there was a 25 minute wait, but it was worth it. This restaurant is the perfect place to go if you're looking to switch up your breakfast spot. You have the opportunity to create your own crepes or you can order one that has a variety of meat, salmon or fruit fillings.

If you're one who doesn't do well with change don't fret, they do offer traditional items such as eggs, pancakes and other sides like sausage and bacon, but if you do pay a visit I highly recommend trying the crepes- live a little, I mean, what's the point in going to a creperie if you don't have a crepe.

Enjoy!

-B

{ I loved the yellow coffee and creamer mugs }

{ Create your own crepe; mine - sweet crepe with banana's and walnuts }

Friday Favs #Buffalo

Here are some of my favorite things from this past week in Buffalo. Enjoy your weekend!

-B

{ The Blizzard of 2014 }

{ Wine always makes a good gift }

{ One of my favorite places on Allen }

{ They have so much wine and at a reasonable price }

#BuffaloLinks

Offering a variety of apparel from office, to athletic to a night out - Turnstyle Designs has something for everyone.

All the chocolate lovers out there have to check out Choco Logo, Downtown Buffalo's only chocolate factory and shop and they have everything from corporate gifts to custom favors.

Visit Buffalo Niagara is full of information on everything going on in the region and new developments happening in the area. Make sure to check their site out from time to time. #BuffaloforReal

I can cook!

I will say I can cook a few generic things - mac n' cheese, soup, and eggs to name a few. I can even make a good salad and sandwich, so when I found this recipe on A Beautiful Mess I thought I should try it, especially because it is very easy clean up. Here are the ingredients you will need:

• 1 box linguine {I used regular spaghetti noodles}
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 sprigs basil leaves
• 3 cloves of garlic minced {I used pre minced garlic in a jar}
• 2 cups Vegetable stock
• 2 1/2 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes {Add a little more if you like it spicier}
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• salt + pepper

In a large pot add all of the ingredients together excluding the feta cheese and salt and pepper.

{ A combination of all the ingredients together }

Once in the pot, bring to a high boil and stir occasionally. After about 5 minutes on a high boil bring down to a low boil and stir occasionally for another 5-7 minutes or until noodles are al dente. Most to all of the liquid should be gone. Stir one last time to get all the flavors mixed together. Top with feta cheese and salt and pepper.

You can serve warm or cold. If you'd like, add chicken to get some protein in your meal as well.

This recipe was super easy, I had leftovers for days and it was easy clean up. If you're like me you will enjoy this dish.

Enjoy!

-B  

January Activities

For the new year I have decided to break things down a little bit- let's face it there are a lot of things I put down on my "to-do" list to accomplish, so to be realistic I thought I would break it down into activities for me to accomplish each month. If I get to do more great, if not, I will be happy with accomplishing the things I have down for each month.

So this month I have put together winter activities I would like to accomplish {if the weather cooperates with me}.

First up - Rotary Rink - I've only been ice skating a couple of times and by no means am I good at it, but I would like to check out the downtown ice rink and get in on the winter fun that everyone has down there.

On deck is Colden Tubing and Kissing Bridge - I remember going to the Thruway Mall {a long time ago} when I was a kid and sledding down the snowy hills in the parking lot. As I've gotten older I've had the chance to go tubing in Colden, I'd love to here from you - what other places are good to go for sledding and tubing? I'd love to try and hit the slopes or lets be real the bunny hill and try to learn to ski too!

Third on the list is to check out the Burchfield Penney Art Center - I have yet to check this place out and I have driven past it multiple times since its been open.

Finally, on the January list of activities I was told about Horsefeathers winter market on the west side -  vendors of all kinds line up and sell fruits, jams and more on Saturday mornings.

What winter activities do you like to do?

-B

Friday Favorites

{ Belsito on Hertel Ave. }

{ Cheers to the new year }

{ Sparkling wine ...because you can only call it champagne if it came from Champagne, France }

{ My new business cards came in for Ooo La La Boutique and Ooo La La Fashion Truck, its never to early to plan your shopping parties! }

{ Women & Children's Hospital in Buffalo, we are so lucky to have amazing medical facilities in this area }

#BuffaloLinks

Its the second day in the new year and with that comes a lot of people {hopefully} still sticking to their New Year's resolutions. Some of the common ones are losing weight, being healthy or being more organized. I think some of the links this week can help you stay on track with your resolutions.

1. Black Dot Record Boutique - I don't know what it is, but I enjoy record shops and boutiques. Something about the "hipster" and "old-school" feel makes me enjoy looking around at what music they have to offer.

2. I am a big list person - I have lists of multiple things - goals, to-do lists, etc. One place on the must check out list this year is going to Vera Pizzeria. I've heard multiple reviews some good, some bad, so I want to check it out for myself and see how it is.

3. I will be the first to admit {& so will my family and friends} when I say I have to learn to relax a little bit more. With that being said I want to incorporate more yoga into my exercise. I tried it once last year and thought it was ok, but I definitely want to check out Bikram Yoga in Williamsville, I've heard a lot of positive things about this place.

4. Let's face it, we probably all could be a little more organized in our lives, whether its paper documents, clothing and shoes, pictures or toys having the right storage and organization system would help us alleviate time we take to search for things and do things we would rather enjoy doing. Creative Storage of Buffalo has a variety of services and organization tips to help any of us get more organized in 2014.

5. Another goal of mine {& maybe yours as well} is to run a little more this year. I ran my first 5k race last year and I would love to complete a half marathon this year, so a great website to help me prep for this is Buffalo Runners. They have a list of races {from 5ks to marathons} that will help me prepare for my goal this summer.

Whatever your goals or resolutions are this year, I wish you the best of luck to sticking to them.

Have a great Thursday!

-B

When the clock strikes Midnight...

A new year for some is a way to start a clean slate, change things you aren't happy with or simply continue to make things better. I'm not a big fan of New Year's Eve, I never have been and have always thought if you want to "start fresh" you can do so anytime throughout the year, but in any case last year I rang in 2013 in Toronto, Canada with some amazing friends and had a wonderful time. This year is going to be tough to beat as I stay low key and enjoy my time in my hometown.

Regardless of where you're attending your New Year's celebration, whether it be the Ice Ball at the Statler, going to First Night at the Buffalo Convention Center, attending the Great Gatsby at the Hotel Lafayette or celebrating it on a more casual scale at home with friends and family ring in the New Year with the ones you love and make sure when the clock strikes at Midnight to kick it off on a good note!

Cheers to a New Year!

-B

Cheers to the New Year!

2013 was a year full of many things. There isn't one thing that represents this year, rather a handful of events, from new opportunities, meeting new people, going to new places, to facing some of my fears. All of these things combined have made 2013 a year that I will remember for a very long time.

In 2014 I am going to try to take more time to do the things I love and enjoy, try and focus on myself and learn that its ok to say no from time to time. I also am looking forward to checking out new places, meeting new people and building on my blog.

Thank you for being along for the ride and following along. Cheers to a healthy and prosperous New Year!

-B

Let's take a look down memory lane with some highlights for this past year;

{ My favorite restaurant and bar on Chippewa opened its doors this fall ... The Lodge }

{ First edition of Just a Blonde in Buffalo {Picture Book} }

{ #DTH13 }

{ Ellicottville - Fall fest 2013 }

{ The guys from Wishful Inking }

{ Old Fort Niagara }

{ Buffalo Bills 2013 }

{ Gabby from After 5 events }

{ Hands down one of the best weddings I was a apart of this year ( Mehltretter Wedding ) }

{ Kayaking and Silo tour on the waterfront }

{ Jamestown NY for the I Love Lucy festival }

{ My first 5k race }

{ Larkinville }

{ Seabar }

{ Dyngus Day at the Central Terminal }

{ Just a Blonde in Buffalo Launch Party }