The Grand Opening of Groom Service Beauty & Dry Bar

While I am sad I won't be able to make the grand opening I'm super excited its down the street from where I work, so I can pay a visit.. multiple times! Check out the details on the Grand Opening below!

Thank you Media Giants for the invitation!

-B

Groom Service Beauty & Dry Bar is opening the doors to its flagship boutique on the ground floor of the recently renovated Hotel Lafayette in Downtown Buffalo. Join co-founders Myriah Jaworski and Katie Ambrose and the curated Groom Service team of artists as they celebrate with a posh grand opening event on Friday, March 27 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Guests are invited to mingle in the chicly-designed hotel lobby where the new Public Expresso + Coffee Bar is also celebrating their grand opening party. A special ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 5:15 p.m. sharp, at the door to Groom Service.

Groom Service provides lavish beauty services in-store, in-room at the hotel, and on-location. All Groom Service brands are retailing in downtown Buffalo for the first time!

Down at the Market

The Broadway Market - a staple on the East side of Buffalo. I remember heading to the market often as a child when I lived on Fillmore, now I find myself visiting during the Lenten season and maybe once every other month. I hate when places that have so much potential get a "bad" rep because the area they are located in may not be the greatest. The only thing is, the market is open during daylight hours and is probably safer to visit than some other popular places in town that are open late into the night. I have a lot of childhood memories at the market and I'm looking forward to visiting in the upcoming week for Easter. If you've never been or haven't been in a while you should definitely pay a visit, with vendors like Gridlock Lacquer and Hands and Paws Cookie Treats  its bringing a new life back into an historic building.

-B

St. Stanislaus

A place that I grew up in and till this day a place that I love is St. Stanislaus. I attended grammar school there and even after I left that school, I would attend Church there. Every year I head there during Easter to get the Easter basket blessed. The Church is so beautiful and even though it is located in a not so great area of the city, it brings a light to that part of town.

-B

Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square - a place where I spent a lot of my Thursday's listening to music and drinking some beers at Thursday in the Square. Now that it has moved to Canalside, the square is still pretty lively - with the new Buffalo Niagara Visitor's Center, Hotel Lafayette and the Hilton Hotel, I'm glad to see people still coming to that part of downtown.

Happy Saturday!

-B

St. Patrick's Day Parade

In honor of the St. Patty's Day parade that is taking place today, I thought it would be appropriate to share my favorite memories of the parade in years past. Its one of the most fun, insane and memorable parades to go to.

-B

Flying Tigers

One of my favorite memories is when I was a little girl, I remember my godfather taking me to Flying Tigers for my birthday. I would be so excited to go. We would always get a table by the window and see the planes getting ready to take off. I remember trying to listen to the pilots over the headset as they were getting ready to leave. While Flying Tigers is no longer open whenever I drive over by Aero Drive, it takes me back to a childhood memory I'll always enjoyed.

-B

Down by the Water

A lot has happened down at Canalside and the Naval Park over the last few years and you can't not feel the "Buffalove." Its one of my favorite places to go any time of year. I'm curious to see how their Scavenger Hunt goes this Saturday. For more info on the event click here.

-B

Animals!

The Buffalo Zoo and Aquarium of Niagara Falls are two of my favorite things in Western New York. I love animals and to be able to learn more about them and visit them in our area is pretty cool. Some cities aren't lucky to have a zoo and/or aquarium, so when I hear some people say these places aren't as great as other big cities, we should be thankful we even have any in "our backyard." If you take the time the next time you visit the zoo or aquarium you will see they actually have more to offer than you think.

-B

Hello, March!

Hello March! Since its my birthday month I've decided that I'm going to share at least one of my favorite things about Western New York for the next 30 days. Yes, I know March has 31 days in it, but since I'm turning the "big" 3-0 in just a couple shorts weeks, I thought it would be the theme for this month.

So today I'm kicking off my first favorite thing - Buffalo Indie Weddings! Nope, I'm not married or engaged, but the ladies behind these fun DIY bridal parties are Ali {Made by Anatomy} and Erica {City Lights Studio}. They are creative and fun, offering a fresh take on those regular bridal shows that take place. I always love seeing what new things they come up with and more importantly I love meeting new people at their events {a majority of the vendors are local!}.

-B

{Check out their event today at the Foundry}

#BuffaloLinks

Aficionado - a networking event taking place this Friday at the Lafayette Hotel from 6-9pm. It looks pretty neat, anyone else attending?

Heal Bflo - bringing the community together, local businesses together and creating a positive atmosphere.

Steak Stone and Sushi - a restaurant in Lockport, NY that I want to check out soon!

A new distillery that just opened and another new place to check out! Black Squirrel Distillery

Nail Polish Named After Buffalo Favorites!

Yesterday, I featured nail polish remover from EXO Supply Co. so it only makes sense for me to feature nail polish today. Hand mixed, Buffalo themed nail polish to be specific, from Gridlock Lacquer! You may have seen my post back in December on Lisa from Gridlock Lacquer {click here for the post}, but her product is so awesome that I'm featuring her again this week. Not only is business going great for her, she is prepping for the busy Easter season at the Broadway Market and expanding her product to Pittsburgh! If you haven't checked out her nail polish make sure to stop by her stand at the market or online!

-B

Women Who Move Buffalo {Elyse, from EXO Supply Co.}

{I love the samples Elyse provided me with! Thank you!}

Ladies have you ever thought to yourself – why does nail polish remover have to be so potent and harsh? Even the ones that say they are "sensitive" still have a distinct smell when you open the bottle. Well not any more. Elyse from EXO Supply Co. created a nail polish remover that is eco-friendly, smells beautiful {think the smell of lavender} and is plant based.

Learn more about her and EXO Supply Co. below!

 -B

When did EXO Supply Co. launch?

Since April of 2014

What products do you offer?

Outside of the nail polish remover {Pure Remover}, look for an all-natural coconut cleanser that can be used on hands, body and face coming this spring!

What is EXO Supply Co.?

Branching off from her father’s business at Griffin Chemical Company, Elyse worked hard to develop, produce and market a product that is clean, organic and not harmful. Pure Remover is so gentle it makes it the perfect product to use on children’s nails.

Pure Remover is on the higher end of nail polish removers {think of OPI nail polish}, but once you use this product you will know why - its high quality!

Where can you find EXO products?

You can find EXO at a handful of places - the Lexington Co-Op, Gridlock Lacquer, Tony Walker and Co., the list goes on! {For a complete list, click here}.

If you travel internationally you can find EXO products in Ontario, Canada {Niagara on the Lake} and the Philippines.

Want to know what fun promotions, events, activities Elyse has coming up?

She is prepping for a huge event this weekend – the Pre-Party Expo at the Oscars on Saturday. EXO, Koukla Cosmetics and Her Story Boutique will be hitting the red carpet and promoting their brand with the stars!

On top of this awesome opportunity this weekend, Elyse was excited to share with me that EXO has recently lowered their shipping costs online. Making it even more appealing to order online!

Make sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to catch the latest promotions, events and products!

When I asked Elyse what she loves best about Buffalo she said the people. "Interacting with other business owners is welcoming and it’s not like other places." When I met with Elyse for this interview I could tell how proud, passionate and excited she is on what EXO Supply Co. stands for and where it is going in the future. She has an awesome product and I hope you test it out!

{Please note: photos courtesy of EXO Supply Co.}

Tuesday's Talk with Christina at Koukla Cosmetics!

  {The goodies I received from Christina! I've been using the primer and bronzer for about a week and I love it!}

Today’s beauty feature is a woman who has faced some pretty big obstacles in her young life, but through them she is living her dream and is an inspiration to us all. Christina Sergakis from Koukla Cosmetics (Koukla meaning Doll in Greek).

So how did Koukla Cosmetics get started you ask? Read Christina’s story below.

-B

{Chris from Streamline Designs put Christina's vision on paper and created her new logo}

Having her parents move from Greece to Western New York is where it all started. Christina would spend 3 months out of the year in Greece and spend the rest of her time in WNY, until she was 17, that’s when her life changed.

She decided to pack her bags and head to Greece where she continued her studies in the cosmetology field. When she was 19 she had a health scare. Being diagnosed with Guillaine Barre Syndrome, Christina was paralyzed and left in the hospital for over 3 months – recuperating. During this time she kind of lost sight as to who she was and was starting to find herself again. Realizing she may never be able to do to hair and makeup for clients she thought she could teach and sell her products to clients.

Through this time she did research, taught herself the ins and the outs of the business and slowly, but surely she bounced back. Christina saw the opportunity that was given to her father when he came to America and new this was her time to come back to the states and pursue her goal.

Once back here, she continued her research in the various fields of the cosmetology world – working for MAC Cosmetics, NeoStrata Exuviance Skin Care and a handful of other companies, she was able to learn all areas of the business.

Recently, Christina left her space at Imagine Salon where she sold her cosmetic line, did hair and makeup and hosted Make up and Martini parties and is focusing solely on her cosmetic line. She still offers private makeup technique classes and services for you and your girlfriends {You can find a complete list here}.

Christina’s line is custom blended, skin sensitive, fragrance free, mineral based, with no added fillers, or preservatives. In addition to her mineral collection Christina offers a full line of high end cosmetics that are hypoallergenic, allergy tested, & oil, making you feel beautiful inside and out!

Each product from Christina’s line is made with love and connects to her in some way. For a complete list of Christina’s products {including beard oil for men!} click here.

One of the biggest things that separate Koukla Cosmetics from other cosmetic lines is its customizable!! Matching almost any color of makeup that may have been discontinued or pairing that perfect eye shadow with a dress you have, she can create it!

Christina has some exciting upcoming events that you should check out if you can. Partnering with Her Story Boutique she will be at the Dress Her Up event at Savoy tomorrow doing makeup demo’s for those who are interested. And then this weekend Koukla Cosmetics, Her Story Boutique and EXO Supply Co are heading to the Oscars where they will attend the pre party expo with the stars the day before the awards show…Great Risk = Great Reward.

{Photo courtesy of Koukla Cosmetics-  Booth for Pre Party Expo at the Oscars}

When asked what is one thing she loves about Buffalo she said the people – “Buffalo is friendly” people want to talk to you and know your story – it’s not like NYC or Seattle. A lot is happening in this area and it’s great to see more women owned businesses that support one another.

Make sure to stay up to date on all the promotions, products and events Koukla will be a part of in the near future by liking them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

Thank you Christina for sharing your story and inspiring us all to pursue are dreams!

Monday's are for Pretty Manicures with So Gloss Nail Wraps!

This week I'm kicking off a week long feature of local beauty businesses in WNY. Each day I'm featuring a woman who pursued her dreams in the beauty industry and is helping make women in the WNY area feel beautiful inside and out!

Today I'm starting my week long feature with Jesse from So-Gloss Nail Wraps. I LOVE nail polish, but I, like most women are to busy to find the time to sit and wait for their nails to dry. I also can't stand when I paint my nails and an hour later I find I chipped the nail polish off already. That's where So-Gloss nail wraps come in - they are so convenient for a person who is on the go.

Want to know why - check out my interview with Jesse below!

-B

How did it all get started? How did your brand come about?

I lost my dream job as a fashion buyer & merchandiser 6 years ago due to a company wide down sizing. Unfortunately, there are not many fashion buying & merchandising jobs in Buffalo, so it forced me to think outside the box and provide myself with a job. I was selling nail wraps for 4 years before I got "discovered". One day my phone started going nuts with the cha-ching noise my phone makes when I get an order. Refinery29 had featured So Gloss on their landing page, twitter feed & facebook page. I got a years worth of orders in ONE DAY!!! The orders have been rolling in ever since!

What is So-Gloss? Is it affordable for everyone? Who is your target audience?

So Gloss Nail Wraps are heat activated and applied directly on to your nail, you get instant results. Just heat, stick & file your way to awesome nails. The nail wraps are made of vinyl, so they don't chip or smudge like nail polish {even better!}. So Gloss Nail Wraps are $8 for 24 wraps, they last 4-14 days on your finger nails and 2 MONTHS on your toes! My target consumer is girls ages 2-40.

If people want to learn more, where can they go to get information?

sogloss.com

Do you have general products that anyone can purchase, do you make customizable products?

I wish I could customize products but at this point I don't have the machine to do it.

Has anyone ever done private parties with a bunch of their girlfriends? 

I used to do parties but with 2 kids and a booming internet business I just don't have the time.

Do you offer any specials, promotions? Or would you like to share any fun events you have coming up?

I sell on daily deal sites like  zulily.com, jane.com & groopdealz.com and I have a buy 4 get the 5th free deal!

How did you land in Buffalo? Are you originally from here, what made you stay? What do you love best about this area?

I have lived in Buffalo all my life. My husband and I have a farm in Clarence with horses & chickens. There aren't many places in this world where you can live in the "country" and yet have major shopping centers just a few miles away.

To find Jesse's products Like her page on Facebook and check her page out on Etsy! Thank you for letting me share your story!  {Photos all courtesy of Jesse @ So Gloss Nail Wraps}

Because the Makers are Gonna "Make, Make, Make"

{Picture above: Photo credit - Makers Buffalo}

This past Sunday I attended my 3rd Makers Buffalo class. This time it was being held at Revolution Buffalo and it didn't disappoint. We were making DIY workout shirts! My sister came along with me and we created shirts that I can't wait to wear.

The class was $28 and included all of the supplies - screen printing {we got to do this ourselves}, shirts and all the other craft materials we needed. The wonderful ladies at Rev provided champagne {delicious mimosas to go along with Sunday Funday!} and healthy snacks - salsa, chips, hummus and fruit!

It was a fun Sunday afternoon. If you haven't taken a Makers class yet, you should, I haven't taken a class that doesn't disappoint yet!

-B

{Getting the shirts prepped for screening}

{Gretchen from Makers, showing us the next steps to take}

{My shirt choice}

{My sister's shirt choice}

{Putting the finishing touches on the shirts.. stamping it with the word Rev}

#Itsjustfun My Ellicottville Day Trip!

This past Monday my friend, Annette and I took the day off and decided to make a day full of fun in Ellicottville. We knew we were going to grab brunch at Katy's before heading to Holiday Valley to try out the ski boards. As we got closer to the date, we decided on either doing cross country skiing or tubing to save a couple bucks {because I'm "living on a budget" more now a days}.

{I love these coffee mugs at Katy's}

When we arrived in Ellicottville it was a little later than planned {this was my fault because I arrived late to Annette's house}. Katy's only serves breakfast until noon {note to self if you plan on doing the same thing}. So we grabbed lunch which was pretty good {I had the Firecracker Panini and Annette had the Tannenbaum Panini} and then decided to go to tubing.

{Holiday Valley Tubing - Open Thursday thru Sunday}

We went down the street {because Holiday Valley tubing isn't located on the main resort that the skiing and snowboarding is on}. When we arrived, the parking lot was plowed, but no one {I mean NO ONE} was there. To our surprise they are closed Monday thru Wednesday. Yes, I say to our surprise because I assumed it was open the same hours as the main resort is {don't ever assume}. So we decided to head to the main lodge and get an adult beverage and then decide if we wanted to hit the slopes. When we arrived, the bar was closed {we literally laughed out loud at this point}. We then decided to just head back in to town and grab some drinks at EBC {Ellicottville Brewing Company}.

{Some of the slopes}

{The view was so pretty}

{Beer flights at EBC! I found some new beers I like beside my go to Blueberry Wheat}

While the day didn't go as we planned, we still made the best of it and had a fun day off { #itsjustfun - Holiday Valley's tagline}.

As much as I dislike and never really post anything negative about places I go on my blog, I am always honest with what I share and share my opinion, so here it goes... I love Holiday Valley, I think its a great place to go, but I do think that their website is a bit confusing and isn't as "straightforward" as it could be. I feel like it takes multiple clicks and pages to get to the information you are looking for.

I will also say, it seems {comparing to my last year's snowboarding experience} that weekends and nights are their busiest time, so instead of having coupons geared for more of the Canadian clientele or offering coupons for your peak hours, why not offer coupons or discounts for those "off peak" hours. There wasn't nearly as many people on a Monday afternoon as compared to a weekend.

I understand Holiday Valley is ranked in the top 10 for best resorts in the East, but for those people on a budget and not as experienced in skiing or snowboarding {like me}, it can be expensive and steer people away. While are plans for a adventure packed Monday didn't go as we had planned, we still made the best of it and have new memories we made.

Until next time.

-B

#BuffaloLinks

Kicking off this Saturday for a limited time, Curious George at the Buffalo Museum of Science. The exhibits portray buildings and locales from the book - Let's Get Curious. Definitely something I'd like to take my niece to.

A new restaurant {to me} on Connecticut Street that makes me want to check it out - The Black Sheep

LP Ciminelli is celebrating Black History Month with a Black Tie event on February 27, 2015 at the Tralf. For tickets and more information click here.

#BuffaloLinks

{ A local pizza place on Grand Island that I'd like to check out. Why you ask, because of the comic book café! Say Cheese! Pizza Company}

{Another place to add to the thriving "Beer Boom" in Buffalo... the World of Beer {based in Florida} announced they will be opening a location at the Walden Galleria Mall}

{An event I wish I could attend this coming Saturday at Larkinville - the Ice Festival. Offering a variety of activities for friends and family!}

A Saturday Morning Well Spent!

Over the last couple of years I've grown more "in love" with farmers markets in the area. Being that we live in Buffalo and it would be difficult to hold one during the winter, outside, I have had on my list of places to go, The Winter Market at Horsefeathers. What an awesome place! A couple weeks back my Dad and I took a drive down to Connecticut St to experience the indoor market. From fresh eggs at Prudom Farms to delicious pierogi and polish sausage from Betty Crockski. Maybe its the unique building and the unique concept of bringing local farmers and vendors {like The Public, Lockhouse Distillery and Public Espresso} inside each week that make it a neat place to check out, I'm not sure, but its definitely a place to go on a Saturday.

The best way to stay up to date on what's going on each week is to follow on social media. Facebook  Twitter  & Instagram

-B

{Green Heron Growers}

The Broadway Market

Growing up on Fillmore Ave, the Broadway Market has been a permanent staple in my life since I was a child. While it was more of a "booming" neighborhood when I was younger, now it is only a hot spot to go during the Easter season. People {I lose that word loosely} are scared or have a bad perception of the area where the market stands in their head. While I will agree that the neighborhood has deteriorated as I've gotten older, the market still has a lot to offer. The last few weeks I visited the market to pick up some essentials, such as meat from Lupus Meats and homemade pierogi's from Pott's Deli. Not only are these staples that have stood still at the market for years, there are also wineries that offer wine sampling, Gridlock Lacquer offering handmade nail polish for sale and Hands and Paws Cookie and Treats that offer doggie treats for man's best friend. There are also a handful of other local stands that sell seasonings, baked goods and misc. items.

Its sad to see what I think is a staple in Buffalo, falling apart and not being able to get the funding it needs to replace the roof or fix the cracks in the floor. Sometimes you need to put a little more into a building than just a coat of paint. I think the City of Buffalo should put more than just a few hours of their time into this Buffalo staple and market the Broadway Market as a place to go throughout the year and not just at Easter time...

Its great to see all the great things happening down at Canalside, but in my opinion there are other areas we should focus are attention on as well and not just half ass it {excuse my language}. The Broadway Market is just a short trip away and my hope is that people can see the life that it still has and what it could be if it just got a little more TLC.

Broadway Market on Facebook and Twitter.

-B

{Those are some big pickles!}

{A look inside the market}

{They have plenty of horseradish if you need any}