Celebrating International Women's Day

Today is International Women’s Day and 2022's theme is Break the Bias. From the International Women’s Day website let’s:

Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

I have met some remarkable women over the years, especially when it comes to my blog interviews. Today I wanted to highlight some of them because in my eyes they are shining a light and making an impact on people and in the community. Most of these women are people who I’ve worked with, some are friends, and I’ve seen first hand the work they are doing and the positive influence they’ve had in my life.

Kristen Cronyn from Meet and Eat Charcuterie - Kristen is all about community and collaboration. She’s always there to connect with other businesses and celebrate others through her work and I admire that about her. It’s not about competition but about building each other up and being each others cheerleader.

Amanda, Colleen and Rachel from Revolution Buffalo - These women have always been about creating a positive community through their studio since the day they opened their doors. A place where everyone is welcomed and seen equal and I admire the positive atmosphere they continue to create and the work they do to give back to their community.

Kate from Hope Rises - In a world where there is so much negativity, Kate finds the good and shares those stories that offer hope. That is one thing we all need a little more of right now.

Catie, Sarah and Zhi from Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy - These three women are creative, kind and care about the community they live in and they show that through the work they do for our Buffalo Parks. In my opinion without this amazing development team our Buffalo Parks would be as enjoyable to park users. They help raise the funds needed to keep the parks clean and safe throughout the year.

Melissa from Winkler + Samuels - Not only can she recommend a great bottle of red (or white) she offers fun classes for customers to learn more about the wine they drink, the region its from and the local winemakers that make it. Some of her classes also benefit local charities which is another win in my book.

Kate and Dusty from WNYMMA - I don’t know much about WNYMMA or these two women but they offer free self-defense classes for women on Sunday’s at 11am (I took a class a couple weeks back). This community is strong and kind and I love that there is a business in WNY that takes pride in wanting to help teach women to defend themselves if they ever needed to.

Jess Kelly - Jess is a native Western New Yorker who travels around the country and shares her experiences on her social platforms and with national publications. Not only is Jess a caring and kind human, she reminds me to live life in the moment and to enjoy the world, to take risks and have some fun.

Carrie from Rusterior and Buffalo Boss Babes - Carrie is not only a local business owner but she created Buffalo Boss Babes, a women run blog and social media feed that features talented women in the WNY community. She hosts fun, laid-back networking events that are meant to empower creative women who are helping to build Buffalo.

Dionne from UPward Design for Life - she founded this organization to “restore hope by transforming empty spaces into homes.” By volunteering I have seen the work Dionne does by taking an empty space and turning it into a home and changing peoples lives for the better. If I had an ounce of her talents and energy I would be a better person. We can all learn something from Dionne through her hard work, passion and drive, it motivates me to not give up on my dreams.

Mandy from Big Big Table - I haven’t met Mandy but she is the founder and chef of this new community café where everyone can enjoy a good meal and not have to worry if they can afford it or not. The idea is all are welcome, everybody gives and everyone matters.

From The Water Straight To Your Plate - Fresh Oysters & More from Shuck Shack

A few weeks ago a couple friends and me paid a visit to one of the newest restaurants in town, Shuck Shack. Located at 301 Ohio Street, right on the water, Mike Tobin (owner) and his team have created something real good in Buffalo. Bringing fresh oysters straight from the water to your plate, you can’t go wrong. There are a handful of seafood and beverage options to choose from, and if you aren’t into the oysters, clams or ahi tuna to name a few, they have classic American food staples like burgers, fries and hot dogs.

Shuck Shack on IG

With the deliciousness of the food you really can’t go wrong. You get the high end quality of food without paying those typical high-end prices. When I went with my friends we got a bunch of items and shared them.

Our Order || 2 dozen oysters | the classic, french fries | shrimp cocktail | and the ahi tuna poke special

Everything was so dang good! Those lobster claws looks pretty good too, and are on my list to try during my next visit.

The atmosphere was great - I mean you can’t pass up a place by the water, with good food and drink, it screams summertime good vibes and in my opinion is one of hottest places in town right now. The staff were very personable, attentive and were doing everything they could to accommodate their guests. They were cleaning, social distancing and had face masks on the whole time I was there. You could see safety was top of mind, which is nice to see during the times we’re living in.

Props to Mike for his hustle, passion and dedication to bring something special to Buffalo. You hit it out of the park.

-B

Shuck Shack Hours are Friday’s & Saturday’s 12-9 p.m. & Sunday’s 12-6:30 p.m. If you don’t feel comfortable venturing out you can also order online and take home.

A Sign Of Hope & Good Things To Come

The reason I’m sharing this story is because as a country I feel like we are failing miserably and not learning from those mistakes.. Each day there is more bad than good that is shown on the news, internet, etc… And we are all facing very hard times right now and during these times we should lean on whatever faith we have to keep going each day. Imagine if we all tried to lead our lives with a little more kindness and love how much better we may feel right now. Eventually good things will come.

At the beginning of 2020 before the pandemic hit the U.S. my Mom and our family were hit with the news that my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. While I’ve been going back and forth trying to decide if it’s right or wrong to share this story, I’m following my gut.

I can only offer my viewpoint because I have never been diagnosed with cancer, however both my parents have been and I can solely speak on the experience I have had from a child/loved ones point of view. I can’t imagine being told you have cancer, and yet there are many in this world who hear those words and go through the difficulties of dealing with the disease each and every day, throw a global pandemic into the mix and that does not help those who are already going through a pretty significant life obstacle.

As a child it’s hard to see your parents go through difficulties in life. I mean we grow up looking up to our parents and all that they do to protect us and make us feel better when we are sick or going through a difficult time. When my Dad was diagnosed with cancer I was in high school and I only remember certain things here and there. Today, as an adult and seeing what my Mom has gone through has been hard. Seeing her try to stay tough and do her everyday activities, work and just live the life she has been given was what seemed to be daunting at times because of the harsh chemicals that have been put in her body to combat the disease. And all we wanted to do as a family was help and make her feel better and sometimes we couldn’t. At times we would all feel helpless in a sense because all we could really do is listen and let her know we were there for her.

BUT with the bad comes the good. During the last 7 months we as a family have seen and gone through are ups and downs but what I would like to say has gotten us through it all is our love and faith. As cliche as it is all you can do is take it one day at a time because there is constant change that you go through. Each one of us in the family went through it. To help distract from the negative we focused on the positive. We created a chemo countdown chain and on each link there was something different. A different question each day, like what was my Mom’s favorite song, or favorite subject in school. Other links had drawings on them or simple messages like we love you. Now I’m going to take those answers to the questions and put it in a family book that we can all have.

To celebrate her last chemo treatment that was yesterday, we released butterflies (they are her favorite). It was a fun experience and to us, a sign of hope and good things to come. As she was going to her last appointment a butterfly flew by her, and even after we released the butterflies there were images of butterflies showing up on the television. Some may not buy it, but I’m a believer in being given signs that good things are on your way. While my Mom still has to go through radiation next month I think as a family we can say we are happy that this chapter is behind us all.

A big thank you to Dr. Soniwala, all the nurses and the staff at Windsong Radiology for being the best there is. To my Mom, you have shown us all how strong, resilient, brave and tough you are. Thank you. Thank you for continuing to teach me every day.

-B

Impact Cycle

Smoothies and Spin, what could be better...

Motivation, Strength, Courage - these are just three things IMPACT Next Level does for anyone who steps foot inside their doors. IMPACT is located inside the HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo. While they have been around for a few years, whats new to the streets is their IMPACT Cycle and IMPACT Yoga classes that began last month. :) 

Thanks to my very good friend, Kelsey I was able to take a cycle class with Jason Jerome last night. If you know Jason you know how passionate, dedicated and encouraging he is and his ability to push you to do your absolute best goes above and beyond anyone's expectations.

The cycle class was fun, encouraging and challenging {in a good way}. So for all my fitness friends and/or friends that work in the downtown area, if you're looking to check out a new place or change up your workout, pay a visit to IMPACT. 

If you are taking a class note the cycle and yoga studios are located right next door to the Healthy Scratch {perfect for a post work out smoothie or meal ;)}. To see snippets of my class from last night check out my insta-story on Instagram at @bybuffalob. 

IMPACT also offers more than just cycle and yoga classes. To learn more check out impactnextlevel.com for class schedules, pricing and more. 

-B

Happy Dyngus Day!!

The weather is supposed to be beautiful and what better way to celebrate a Monday - than to drink some Tyskie and Zywiec beer and listen to polka music in the historic Polonia district in Buffalo, where Paderewski Drive will be bustling with people later today. It's been a couple years since I've celebrated this day, but I'm looking forward to showing some of my co-workers what Dyngus Day is about and meeting up with some of my friends that I haven't seen in a while. For more info on maps, places to go, etc. check out dyngusday.com for all the info.

-B 

March Madness

March Madness is happening in Buffalo and it has nothing to do with basketball, but a lot to do with fun events to look forward to the rest of this month. Here is my list of "things to do":

Buffalo Home & Garden Show - March 6, 12, 13

Roller Skate Nights throughout the month of March at Buffalo Riverworks

Shamrock Run - March 12

Limoncello Tasting at Amherst St Wine & Liquor - March 12

Weaving Workshop with Makers Buffalo - March 12

Barre @ the Bar - Pure Barre at Lockhouse distillery - March 15

DIY Wall Herb Garden - March 15

Mini Makers Easter Egg Dying - March 19th

MessFest at the Buffalo Museum of Science - March 19

Maple Weekend - March 19-20

St. Patty's Day Parade - Old First Ward - March 19

Buffalo Bisons Open House - March 19

St. Patty's Day Parade - Delaware Ave - March 20th

Soap Making with Zandra and Makers Buffalo - March 23

Guided Tour & Candlelit Yin Yang Yoga at the Darwin Martin House - March 26

Dyngus Day festivities - March 28th

Putts & Pints for First Tee WNY - March 30

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of the West Side Neighborhood: Tipico Coffee

Calling all Coffee Lovers! Have you been to one of the newest places on Buffalo’s West Side? Tipico Coffee opened a few short months ago and it is A-Mazing!!!

I was lucky enough to sit down with the owner Jesse Crouse and talk about how he got started and what made him open a coffee shop in the heart of the west side neighborhood.

From coffee to lattes to tea and more, Tipico rotates their coffee on a regular basis and on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays they have pastries from local vendors such as Breadhive and Butter Block, they also have an ever so tasty and popular avocado toast! Jesse started his passion for coffee while he was studying poetry in Chicago. Down the street from him was Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, a high end specialty coffee shop that drew him in and over the last 5+ years he has worked with coffee farms studying the supply aspect of the business.

After having children, Jesse and his wife Kristen {originally from Western New York} were trying to find an affordable place to open a business and decided to move to the area, after being on the west coast for a while. "Buffalo felt right" The couple along with Jesse's in-laws wanted to help influence and shape the community they are living in. Their love for making food and the idea of homesteading offers a unique gift to customers as well. Bringing in 80-90% of their produce and milk from New York State their menu may be small, but is nice and compliments the drinks they serve. Jesse's goal is to offer a revolving menu once the spring time comes and host more casual gatherings and events throughout the year.

Having the largest masonry stove, an iced coffee window that will be offered in the warmer weather months, being one of the first walking destination businesses in the middle of the West Side's residential neighborhood, hosting brunches from time to time {the list goes on}; if you think you're going to walk into the same old coffee shop, you're wrong - Tipico is not your average café, its more than that. It's a place where you go and the staff remembers your name, says thank you for stopping by and see ya soon when you leave. During my interview with Jesse he said hello and goodbye to every person that walked in and out of the door. That is what a small business owner in my opinion is. They know their customers, care about them and want to build a relationship with them.

Starting on a shoe string budget, Jesse thought of doing a pop up shop, but just so happened to stumble upon his current location through his landlord. Everything was built out and the only thing he had to focus on was the equipment, putting a menu together and finding employees. It took 2 months to open and it wasn’t an easy process, but when you have passion for something you care about so much, it helps get you through. When I asked Jesse what he loves about the area, he said he loves the community. The warm welcoming he receives from the customers and community is what he and his staff give back to the area. The West Side of Buffalo is turning into the walking side of the community and having it be a walking destination gets people who may not be familiar with the area, out and about, seeing all the great things taking shape.

Tipico is really in the heart of the west side of Buffalo - the "hidden gem" in the neighborhood. To me, seeing a business like this in an area that is developing is really exciting. As someone who enjoys going to new places, it's nice to meet local business owners who have a passion and believe in the area they work in. To see them excited, makes you get excited to see the growth of the community. If you enjoy coffee you should definitely make a stop to Tipico. And if you aren't a coffee lover you don't have to worry, Tipico also carries a wide variety of teas for tea lovers. It really is a one-of-a kind café in the area.

-B

{Latte- YUM!}

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

A Nice Way to Watch A Film

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}

Did you know that when Shea's opened in 1926 it was actually built to show silent films?!?  Sunday my Mom and I attended the silent film Sherlock Holmes there. When I first got the tickets I thought it was a play, but then my Mom was quick to point out that it was a silent film {note to myself to read better} ...like no words just a pianist playing scores throughout the films 90 minutes. I was a little skeptical, I'm not going to lie. I was thinking I would want to leave halfway through the film, but it was actually amazing! It was like I experienced something from back in time - a black and white film with no words, just music. It was a nice change of scenery and something different. I highly recommend attending a short film at Shea's if you ever can. It makes for a nice indoor activity to do when the weather isn't so nice out outside.

{A brief welcome and introduction before the film started}

Oh and the best part - it was free! A free film in a beautiful building that celebrated their 90th anniversary this weekend. That's pretty cool Buffalo. Oh and for those who like popcorn and candy to munch on when watching a movie - Shea's had their concession stands open, selling sweet treats {the popcorn and twizzlers cost $8 - that's cheaper than a movie ticket now a days}. Just putting things in perspective, its nice to have a beautiful venue like this offer nice {casual} events like this.

For a calendar of events taking place at Shea's click here

-B

Burgers and Beer at A.B.V.

{I loved the neat salt and pepper shakers on the table and the custom beer glasses}

A couple weekends ago, Shanna was in town and we wanted to go some where "Buffalo" {this is a harder decision to make with all the new restaurants, bars and breweries opening now and I love it!}. We decided on Allen Burger Venture on Allen St. Let me tell you it was pretty cool! All sorts of people came into the place during the couple hours we were there.. young and old, hipsters and not.

It is a small place and if you're at a table near the bar it does get a little crowded, but the girls night out catch up date we planned was great, the hamburgers were yummy {and huge!} and there was a large beer selection to choose from and it was served cold which is always a positive.

I give this place two thumbs up and if you haven't been or have people visiting from out of town its definitely a spot to hit up.

Until next time..

-B

{I ordered a regular burger #4 and Shanna got the Turkey burger}

{Just one half of the beer menu above the bar}

{Wall Art - definitely fits the vibe of Allentown}

{My girl Shae Shae enjoying her beer! }

{Until my next visit #Cheers}

Na zdrowie! Dyngus Day 2015

Dyngus Day is right around the corner! It's one of my favorite holidays and I'm looking forward to this year's celebrations.

Below is a list of the complete schedule of places that are celebrating thanks to Dyngus Day Buffalo. Also, here is the website to check out as well!

-B

YOU Are Beautiful

You are beautiful. That was the theme this past Saturday at HEAL BFLO’s event. {H.E.A.L standing for - Health, Energy, Art and Love}. The yoga retreat and wellness event was much different than other health and wellness events that take place. It was more intimate – offering an all-day yoga retreat for those who wanted to participate and on the other side a vendor based event open to the public featuring local boutiques and businesses.

While I didn’t attend the yoga retreat {looking back I wish I did}, when I walked into the Foundry you immediately felt a calmness and community bond at the event. Over 30 vendors participated and the venue was packed with positive energy.

To learn more about HEAL BFLO and the ladies behind the event click here and here.

-B

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}

Thursday :: Tone : Tighten : Tuck at Barre Centric

Continuing with my favorite fitness places in Western New York, today I'm highlighting a place I featured a few months back, Barre Centric. Offering two locations, one in Clarence and one in Buffalo, Rachael and her team offer a wide array of classes to help strengthen, tone and tighten your physique, all while making it enjoyable! Their studios are very clean and time flies when you take a class. If you haven't taken a Barre class, Barre Centric is the place to go. Check them out!

-B

Tuesday Toughness!

Today's fitness center I'm featuring is a pretty popular one. Catalyst Fitness has 4 locations located throughout Western New York and offers more than just group fitness classes. They have cardio areas, weight training, juice bars, personal training, a child center for children to hang out in while you work out and much more. I've been a member at Catalyst for a number of years and outside of being clean, I love that the staff is personable and friendly.

While I would only take a group class here and there, now I find myself wanting to take more and the one and only reason being, Morgan is the Group Fitness Director. Yes, I may be showing a little {or a lot} of favoritism, but she is one of the best. I know I will get a good workout and I won't get bored with it. It helps that she has a great outlook on life and it rubs off on you when you take anyone of her classes too.

For more info on Catalyst check out their website and see what they have to offer! And make sure to follow Morgan on Instagram! and Sweat Buffalo!

-B

Friday Favorites!

Well the first full week of January in WNY has been a very cold one! But that shouldn't come as a surprise to Western New Yorkers. While we move to the weekend I hope everyone enjoys whatever it is they may have planned. Here are a few things that made me smile this past week. -B

{Its just a simple piece of mail, but the way its addressed is what makes it special to me}

{Bringing life back to the Broadway Market during the winter months. I'm hoping to stop by this event next weekend}

{I was finally mentioned in one of my favorite blogs by one of my favorite people. Check it out Forty74}

{Nothing beats reading books on a rainy Saturday and a lit candle by Linwood Candle Co.}

{Reading Business First this week and I love this picture I came across. Main St. in Buffalo during its hayday}

Saying Goodbye to 2014 and Hello to 2015

It's the end of the year and like a lot of people we all take time to look back and reflect on this past year. I feel like I tend to do this more often throughout the year, not just at the end of December. 2014 was a year of growth for me... building relationships, facing fears and living outside "my shell." I learned to snowboard, ran my first half marathon, climbed ropes and cables in trees and expanded my courage more than I thought I ever would. 2014 wasn't all great things though, I experienced hardships with the loss of loved ones, felt defeated at times and just wanted to give up. I guess one of the good things about reflecting back on your year is that even if you think you haven't grown or made improvements somewhere in your life, you do, sometimes you just may not see it.

While I'm happy with what 2014 brought me, I look forward to what 2015 holds not only for me, but for Buffalo as well. I'm not one to make resolutions, but I do constantly make goals for myself throughout the year and am looking forward to challenging myself to be a "better me."

Thank you for your continued support of Just a Blonde in Buffalo this past year. Until next time!

xxoo

-B

Here are some photos of mine throughout the year:

{The cranes down by Harbor Center January 2014}

{My snowboarding adventure in February at Holiday Valley}

{My 29th birthday at Paint on Tap with some of the best friends I could ask for}

{A visit to the Hamburg Brewing Company and interview with Jeff at Resurgence Brewery were just a couple highlights from April}

{My first rock concert, a makers class and much more kicked off the month of May}

{June was a great month full of living life and completing my first half marathon}

{July was about some of the biggest events I've done so far in my career}

{August was a month I will remember for a long time. Receiving a 30 under 30 award was one of the biggest highlights from 2014}

{September I faced another fear of mine.. heights and among the ropes course we kicked off the football season, visited restaurants and enjoyed the almost fall season}

{October was a trip to Disney, an introduction to new non-profit organizations, turning the falls pink with my Mom and picking pumpkins}

{November was a month of unexpected snow, a new addition to our family and prepping for the holidays}

{December was about enjoying friends and family during the craziest of times. It brought with it events, craft classes, a trip to NYC and much more!}

{Women Who Move the City} Lisa, Gridlock Lacquer

Today I'm featuring a woman who I have followed since she opened her business in 2013. Lisa from Gridlock Lacquer began mixing, combining and creating nail polish with a little Buffalo love and since her business began she has only expanded and is doing bigger and better things. Check out my interview with Lisa below. -B

How did Gridlock Lacquer get started?

It was started when I started noticing how major nail polish and cosmetic labels were re-branding the way products were sold. Instead of "sunset pink" or "mauve" nail polish, the major brands starting naming their polishes things like "I'm Not Really a Waitress" or "Topless & Barefoot" or "It's Raining Men". Women started to buy the products almost as much for the name as they were for the color. I thought it would be fun to bring that idea to a local level and create a collection based on things, events and history of Buffalo.

What is the thing you enjoy the most about owning your own business?

I own the successes and I own the mistakes. If the product is poor, that's  on me but if it's great then I know I'm doing something right. It also allows for dreaming much more than a traditional career. I'm only limited by myself and the only people I report to are my customers.

What is one thing you want people to know about you and Gridlock Lacquer, that they may not know?

Gridlock Lacquer is hand mixed! This means hours and hours have been spent blending colors, dropping mixing balls, filling bottles, adding brushes, twisting caps and labeling. It's a labor of love and very time intensive. I love that this is a hand mixed product and that it is made in Buffalo. It's my own tiny contribution to the re-shoring of American manufacturing haha j/k.

Where can they find your product?

-Online at gridlocklacquer.com

-At the Broadway Market on Saturdays from now through Easter

-At a bunch of retail stores in Buffalo, Rochester and Cleveland. The list can be found on the website if you're looking for something in your area. {Click here for the list}

Do you host private parties for those who want to make their own nail polish?

YES and it's so fun! I've only done a couple but people have had a blast and come up with some really creative colors! Eventually I hope to get to a place where I have a location that allows me to host the events myself and then people can just sign up when they'd like to participate instead of needing to assemble a group.

What is one thing you love about Buffalo?

Just one? Buffalo is such an underdog story. Everyone loves to root for the underdog and watch it come out on top.

Any other info you’d like to provide? Upcoming events you’ll be at? Promotions you are doing, etc?

Keep an eye out for coupon codes on social media!

Follow on FB, Instagram {@GridlockLacquer}, Twitter {@GridlockLacquer} . They've got all the updates on location, events, sales and new products. All are listed as: gridlocklacquer

I'll be at the Broadway Market on Saturdays, extra days around Christmas and 2 full weeks before Easter with a fresh set of Spring colors. The market is super fun and a really important piece of Buffalo's history, so stop by!

I stopped by the Broadway Market on Saturday and picked up a bunch of gifts for the holidays, the nail polish makes great stocking stuffers!. Check out some of my photos below. Thank you Lisa for believing in Buffalo and helping keep Buffalo moving forward, in a stylish way!

I love the names!

Other accessories to go with the nail polish, nail decals, soaps, nail polish remover

Queen City Market

Tis the season to shop! Being that I'm a big #ShopLocal gal I decided to head to Karpeles Manuscript Library on Saturday to get a chunk of my Christmas shopping done at the Queen City Market event. First things first, what an awesome venue this event was held in, the architecture is beautiful! Second, so many local vendors were on hand, some that I never even heard of before {that made for great networking opportunities} and they offered unique finds. This event had variety, something that you don't always find at some events. It was nice to walk around and not see the same thing on each table. Another great thing on my list, it was affordable! Some of the items I purchased at this event I would have paid double at if I went to a large retail store.

I know that if the event is held next year, I would definitely go back. There are to many reasons on my list not too. To see a list of who was there click here. Below are pictures of some of my favorite vendor tables and shots of the venue.

-B

Friday Favorites!

This week has been a challenging one for me mentally. I like to see progress in everything I do and when nothing changes over a period of time you have to walk away from it, even if its something you don't want to do. Being the bigger person in some situations isn't always the best thing, but its the right thing. I'm hoping a weekend with family, Christmas shopping and football will relieve some of my stress. In the meantime here are a few photos that made me smile this past week.Enjoy! -B

{Deck the Halls this past weekend}

{A classic car and white Buffalo on Main St. in Buffalo}

{The Ellicott Square Building is beautiful without any decorations, so having this tree set-up makes for a stunning display}

{Anyone up for some "snow" ball. A snowy Coca-Cola Field}