Packing for Poland

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If you know me, you know I love to travel, but the one thing I absolutely dislike is packing. I am not good at it, nor have I ever been, I always over pack and put it off until the last minute. Normally I wouldn't mind packing a couple more pairs of shoes or an extra purse, but because I am headed over to Europe tomorrow I want to only bring what is essential and won't take up space. I started on Sunday and still have some last minute things to throw in my suitcase, but I think after a few days of going back and forth, I finally feel comfortable.

{the beginning - clothes all over the place}

{almost done}

I will say if they have professional packers I may consider hiring one the next time I go on vacation.

do widzenia

-B

 

Roost Buffalo

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Nicole and I hit up a new restaurant on Niagara Street this past Thursday. Roost located on the street level of the Crescendo building is A-M-A-Z-ing! Offering great shareable plates and a huge bar this place is on our high list of places to return to. The beautiful decor and our waiter Tanner helped win us over too. If you haven't been definitely try it out, maybe check out their Saturday Brunch!

-B 

{our wine, garden salad & asparagus with bacon}

{fig pizza}

{birthday dessert}

{part of the bar area}

{fitting piece of art}

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

St. Patrick's Day - the year of 32

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St. Patrick's Day, - March, 17, 2017. Today I turn 32. As I've done the past two years, I reflect on the year and what I've accomplished, what I've failed at and where I want to go in the future. 31 was a great year, I was given an amazing work opportunity that not only challenges me, but also showed me that hard work really does pay off, you just can't give up. I still have a long way to go, but I'm headed in the right direction.

31 also taught me a lot about who I want in my life and who I don't. I've learned a lot about relationships - with my family, with my friends, with my co-workers. Some of it not so pretty and some of it great, but at the end of the day its something that I had to learn and go through. 31 was also the year I lost my cousin Nathan who touched my life in such a tremendous way with his positive and courageous attitude. Losing Nathan was one of the worst moments of this past year. I still struggle with his passing and keep my feelings about it bottled up, it just shows me life just isn't fair sometimes.

So what's in store for 32 - who the heck knows!  What I do know is that I want to be more present, I want to take in as much as I possibly can and learn as many new things as I can. I don't want to be fearful in certain situations and when I am I want to take that leap of faith. Each day is truly an opportunity to be the best you can and to enjoy each moment with those you love and care about.

One thing Nathan taught me and that I will carry with me, is everyone is going through something, it can always be worse. So on those days that I feel like everything is going wrong and falling a part, I want to take a step back and put things in perspective. As I enter this year of "32" I look forward to what it brings, the good and the bad.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

-B

 

My Shop Luck Pals

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{my friends}

What better way to enjoy a Friday fish fry than with people you enjoy being around. Last Friday my co-workers/friends joined me at Wiechec's for their "famous" fish fry. We got there just in time and didn't have to wait no more than maybe 5 minutes for a table of 7. The service was quick and the food was good. Everyone enjoyed their meals and it was another lunch where we shared stories and laughed a lot. As I write this, it makes me very thankful to be able to go into work everyday and call the people in the picture above my friends. To my "shop luck" pals thank you, for being you and for putting up with my craziness every. single. day! xoxo

-B 

{Wiechec's fish fry}

"That one little step can change your Life"

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"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" - Augustine of Hippo

One of my favorite things to do is travel and I honestly think if I could afford it, I would travel way more than what I have been recently. As a teenager I was presented a great opportunity with a student ambassador program to travel throughout Europe for three weeks. In that three weeks my life had changed and it opened my eyes to a whole new world. Since that trip I have been lucky enough to travel throughout the U.S and over to Japan {another lifetime experience}.

A few years ago I was lucky to meet Stephanie Brochey Zarbo. Her and her husband Brandon started a travel blog called We Must Dash, which just recently turned into an adventure travel company. When I read the news I was super stoked! Not only is it a local company providing great, unique experiences, but We Must Dash provides group travel  to a number of different countries, including Thailand, Iceland, Costa Rica and more! Each Country provides you with different experiences - from visiting an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to whale watching in Iceland, there is so much they offer you.

{Khoa Sok - Thailand}

{Luang Prabang-Laos}

When I sat down with Stephanie I honestly was in awe of how awesome she is. To be able to pursue what she loves to do and to travel the world is amazing! So below I've compiled a short, but strong list of facts about We Must Dash and why you should contact them if you're looking to travel and have a fun, memorable experience.

  • They can help find ways to accommodate your interests. If you are one a strict budget or can only take limited time off from work, they can create a vacation that works within your means.
  • They make their packages fun and safe and also keep it flexible.
  • Their trips are affordable and accessible, they are fun and not daunting.
  • They have trips for everyone.

At the end of my conversation with Stephanie, I asked what is one thing she would like her travelers to get out of their experience and she said its to push beyond your comfort zone, that one little step can change your life. All you have to do is get through that one moment and you literally can do anything. Its empowering and you have great stories to tell.

{We Must Dash in Vietnam}

{We Must Dash in Bangkok}

If you are looking to take a unique trip, take that trip with We Must Dash. Stephanie and Brandon are full of so, so much knowledge in this field they won't steer you in the wrong direction. You can find out more information on all of their trips and itineraries at WeMustDash.com

-B

{Photos in this blog post are all courtesy of We Must Dash}

Stemworks Craft Roastery in Lockport

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Last week I attended the Buffalo Blogging Network's monthly meet up and it was held at Stemworks in Lockport. New to the area this quaint coffeehouse is located at 51 Canal Street. I brought my friend Ben {also known as the Voice of the Bisons} with me to the networking event. He is a coffee lover and I knew he would tell me his honest opinion. I love coffee to, but I don't know the science behind it with beans and pour overs, I just order, haha.

Anyways, he enjoyed his cup of joe and I enjoyed my ginger lemon tea. I definitely need to make it back there to explore. Stemworks is located right  by the Canals so you can literally grab a cup of coffee and walk around checking out what Lockport has to offer. Or if you prefer a place to just go and hangout, they have shelves of board games, making it a place to go if you're looking for a relaxed day or night out.

{mark where you've come from on this map}

My night was made not only because our monthly meet up was in a cool coffeehouse, but because I was surrounded by amazing and talented people who came together to talk about our blogs and ideas on how we can make them better. It was really a great night out.

-B 

 

 

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

Polar Bites Tonight!

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Tonight the Buffalo Zoo along with the Pro Zoo Board will be hosting Polar Bites, the annual winter fundraiser for the Zoo. Tickets are still available at the door, so come sample some delicious foods from some of your favorite restaurants in town. See you there!

Harlie and Me - 1 year

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{the first day I got Harlie}

It was 1 year ago that Harlie came into my life. I won't forget the day I went to pick her up from the foster family with my brother, I was excited and nervous. It had been forever since I had a puppy and I didn't want to do anything wrong or make any mistakes. I constantly thought am I doing the right thing. The first few weeks I remember hating to leave her because I didn't want her to think I wasn't coming back. I would come home from work during the day just to check on her and make sure she knew that I would always be here.

As this past year unfolded, I learned a lot about Harlie and I think its safe to say she has learned a lot about me. As I'm writing this post she's laying next to me napping while soaking up the sun.

She reminds me of both my family dogs - she has Sabre's goofiness and she has Wallace's "cuddleness". She knows how to test me, has at least one temper tantrum a day, but also gives me the security I need.

You see buying my home and moving out was one of the most accomplishing things I can say I have done with my life, but it was also a struggle for me to go from being surrounded by people at home to coming home to an empty house. Add that on to my anxiety of being alone at night, having a dog was the solution to my worries. Growing up with dogs in my house since I was little is a part of me. It was choosing the dog that was right for me and Harlie was it, she is like my best friend. Even on my worst days she is always there to cheer me up.

Some people who may read this won't understand, but I really don't care. As Harlie and I celebrate are 1 year anniversary together as a family, we will celebrate with maybe an extra dog treat for her and a glass of wine for me. A special thank you goes out to my friend Kate who helped me with finding Harlie and another thank you goes out to Diamonds in the Ruff for the amazing work you do each and every day.

Until next time.

-B & H

 

TO Light Fest

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{evergreen brick works}

Lacey and I took an adventure up to Toronto this past weekend to check out the Toronto Light Festival and Evergreen Brick Works. Leaving in the middle of the day we didn't hit any traffic at the Peace Bridge nor on the QEW {surprisingly}. Are first stop was at Evergreen Brick Works just because of timing purposes. A neat urban area where they took old abandoned industrial buildings and use the space as a community gathering space. Hosting a farmers market, public art pieces and small kiosks for food and recreational activities, its definitely a place that helped inspire me for work ideas. If you ever have a chance to visit I highly recommend it.

{toddler garden}

The next stop on the trip was to the Distillery District in downtown, Toronto. Having been there for the Toronto Christmas Market, I stumbled upon the Toronto Light Festival on Facebook. A fun way to lift your spirits if you have a case of the winter blues. The public art installations are showcased throughout the district for people to take pictures in front of, to gaze at and to just be amazed.

{neon door a + in my books}

{rings of light}

It is a pretty cool festival that runs through March 12th. What is even better is outside of the gas and parking fees, the light festival is free. If you combine dinner and drinks or other activities to your trip it can add up, but it was a nice way to spend a Saturday with our neighbors up North and with one of my favorite people.

{my thinking pose}

{my Angel pose}

After the fact, I found out one of the installations at the Toronto Light Festival was also featured in Biz Bash {one of my favorite event resource websites} as a best idea of the week.

Until next time..

-B 

Photos in this post are Just a Blonde in Buffalo's

Rock On..at the Guitar Exhibit at the Buffalo Museum of Science

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Last week, I joined the Tweet Team for a night at the Science Museum. We had the chance to meet with the amazing staff and check out the new {and so cool} exhibit Guitar. Going on until May 7th the Guitar exhibit showcases the history of the instrument, all the different types of guitars and the famous people who played them and so much more!

If you're not one that likes crowds or can't make it on the weekend the Science Museum offers extended hours on Wednesday evenings until 9 pm. And this Saturday the Museum is hosting Get Out Your Guitar Day, a national holiday, in celebration of guitars and guitarists, so if you're looking for something to do, this will be a great event to attend, for both kids and adults!

-B 

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

Marble + Rye

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A few weeks ago for our monthly get together Nicole and I headed to Marble + Rye downtown. Prior to this get together I was only at M + R once before and had a glass of wine at the bar, so I was looking forward to checking out there food menu. Known for the burgers I decided to go with the M+R burger and for an app Nicole and I shared the spaghetti squash. The The burger was delicious so I can see why they are known for them. The spaghetti squash it was so{ooo} good! I highly recommend that as well.

{spaghetti squash}

The night was fun, we had great conversation {like we always do}, the wine and food were good and the vibe inside the restaurant was nice. I would put this on anyone's list of places to check out if you have not been before. It is a good date night spot, a nice place for meetings and also just a place to go for a nice night out.

Until next time...

-B 

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream - Opening Night

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Walking into the Key Bank Center last night, a lot of what you saw was little girls dressed up in their favorite Disney princess dress, some with tiara's on their heads and others with a light up wand in their hand. Growing up I think almost every girl has a dream to be a princess {I know I did}. Last night, thanks to Feld Entertainment, I was able to attend Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream with my 6 year old niece, my sister and my cousin Lisa. It made for a fun girls night out and was an absolute blast.

From Tiana opening the show, to the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and my favorite Princess, Cinderella, the end of the show was the best. Rapunzel was a show stopping piece ending with a celebration of all your favorite Disney Princesses and Disney Characters out on the ice. My niece got so excited seeing Princess Jasmine and Princess Aurora.

{Princess Tiana}

During the show the message was the same, Dare to Dream. Each Princess that was on the ice had a dream and it came true. I think that is something that makes Disney Princesses so magical, each Princess has a story and they never give up on their dream, making it a wonderful message to pass along to young kids in the audience. If you're looking for something to do this weekend tickets are still available {click here}.

Here are some of my pictures from last night. 

{Cinderella's Carriage}

{Cinderella and her Prince}

{Rapunzel and Flynn}

Thinking Warm Thoughts at the Botanical Gardens

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A couple weeks ago my niece and I went to the Botanical Gardens to attend their Dollar Days promotion along with checking out the new exhibit. My friend Jen and her daughter Aila came with us. Because tonight is the Lumagination Launch Party and tomorrow kicks off the almost month long special event, I thought I would share some of my photos that I took from my visit.

I attended Lumagination last year {see that post here} and it was a great event and a different and fun way to see the gardens. To learn more about the event, including dates, times and admission prices click here.

-B

{All photos in this post - Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

 

Supporting Explore Buffalo

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This past Saturday if you follow me on any social media platform you know that my Dad and I attended the Grain Alley Gala hosted by Explore Buffalo. This was one of my Dad's Christmas presents this year, since we had such a good time at last years gala at Sheas, I thought I would keep the tradition going. The gala was taking place at the Barrel Factory, a venue I have not been in up until Saturday night and need to go back to, to explore. Snowy Owl Kombucha!, Elevator Alley Kayak and Lakeward Spirits are all tenants inside the building {see my post on Lakeward Spirits soon!}.

{The Erie Mule}

The gala was nothing short of great, from the live music, selfie station, tour of the distillery from Adam, the specialty cocktails and great auction items {my Dad and I went in and put a guaranteed bid on cocktails and a tour of the SS Columbia Project for up to 6 people} we couldn't have had a better time and all for a great organization!

{Look at how dapper my Dad looks at the selfie station}

As I approach this year, I'm focusing more on the "adventures" {big or small} that I can take with the people that mean the most to me.

Until next time...

-B

{Above photos all Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream - Activity Sheet

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A celebration of royal proportions is coming to town in Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream at the KeyBank Center from January 26-29. Get your tickets today at disneyonice.com or tickets.com. You can also get ready for the show with these fun activity sheets.

{photos from Feld Entertainment}

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream - Coloring Sheet

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Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream is coming to the KeyBank Center January 26-29. Get your tickets today at disneyonice.com or Tickets.com, and experience a spectacular princess-packed adventure. Check out this fun Disney On Ice coloring sheet! #DaretoDream #DisneyOnIce

{photos from Feld Entertainment}

 

Pie-O-Mine/Greens - A Salad Lovers Dream Place

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{A large salad at Greens, my Mom and I split this and still couldn't finish it all. They offer two sizes small and large}

While visiting New York City a few years ago, I fell in love with Chop't ,a chain restaurant located throughout the Northeast. Every time I go back to the City I have to make a stop there at least once. Chop't is a creative salad company, basically its a place where you go for super delicious custom salads. The closest place I could find to this here in Buffalo, is Newbury Street,  that was up until a couple weeks ago!

My Mom and I were having a casual conversation one day when she started to tell me about this place that has custom salads and personalized brick oven pizza's. After a few moments of processing what she was telling me, I asked her what was the name of the place, and she said Pie-O-Mine and Greens. Located on Transit Rd. in East Amherst, this place is locally owned and operated {which makes me love it even more}. So, of course I met my Mom and her friend Kelly for lunch last week to compare and check it out. Outside of the pizza option, it is the exact same concept as Chop't. You may be thinking this isn't a big deal, but for those who eat salads often or just want to spice it up, having a custom salad restaurant that can suggest different items to try or pair together is great!

{we also split a pizza too, because I wanted to see how they were. Those are delicious as well}

I am so happy to finally find a place that I can go to here at home. I do wish there was another location closer to home or downtown however {haha}. In the meantime, I will make due with taking a 20-25 minute drive when I need to fill my taste buds with a really good salad option. Thanks Mom and Kelly for introducing me to this place!!

Until next time...

-B

Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream - Discount Code!

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Join us for a hair-raising, jazzed up, unforgettable adventure with the Disney princesses at Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream at the KeyBank Center from January 26-29. Save $5 off on select tickets to the show. Use code MOM16. Tickets at market pricing. No double discounts. Restrictions, exclusions and additional fees may apply. Offer expires on 1/15/17.

To purchase tickets click here

 

 

 

 

 

{All photos are from Feld Entertainment}

Harlie's "unofficial" First Birthday

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{the pictures on the left are from Harlie and me on Christmas and last night, the photo on the right is her a couple days after I brought her home at 10 weeks old}

Last night my family and I celebrated Harlie's 1st birthday. I don't know her exact birth date, all I know is she was 10 weeks old when I picked her up and it wasn't stated on her paperwork the DOB.  I am guess it was between last week and this week. Because she has a sensitive stomach I didn't get her a dog cake because I didn't want her to get sick, so I gave her a couple extra treats instead.

I think she was really happy running around the house with my niece and nephew and spending time with the people that love her most. I posted this picture {see above} on my Instagram account last night, unless you are an animal lover, you really don't know how much a dog is a part of your family. They may not be able to talk to you, but there are other ways that they communicate with you. Harlie has helped me in such a short period of time and I can't imagine my life without her.

Until next time...

-B