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 }

#FridayFavorites

{ Me and a few friends attended Taco Vino hosted by the Social Media Club of Buffalo. Good times all around at Salumeria Belsito }

{ "Creativity is maximized when you are living in the moment" }

{ The margaritas at Cantina Loco are simply amazing, pair that with great friends and its a wonderful night out }

{ Enjoying my favorite wine #RosebudWhite from one of my favorite winery's  Niagara Landing Wine Cellars }

{ Post holiday winter wonderland - Let it snow }

{Post Holiday} Shopping Picks

Christmas has come and gone and now its time for the post holiday returns, exchanges and a little shopping for yourself. I have picked 5 places around town that I could quite possibly be at over the next couple days.

1. Research and Design in Orchard Park, NY {RD}. Rani and Dennis have awesome clothing and accessories - I'm sure you can find a New Year's Eve outfit there if you still need one!

2. The Winter Flea is happening at Room Buffalo {Room 2. Baby Room. Sprout} - for those looking for home and office furniture and décor make sure to check out one of their stores - you're sure to find something you will love for your home.

3. Free People of Buffalo {Galleria Mall} is having a post holiday sale. Take an additional 25% off on sale items.

4. While the mall is going to be insanely busy the next few days, down a few store fronts from Free People of Buffalo in the Galleria is Anthropologie, they to, are having a sale of an additional 25% off sale items.

5. I couldn't not end my picks to shop without adding my favorite boutique on Elmwood Ave. I can always find something at Anna Grace. Whether its pants, tops or accessories their is always something that catches my eye.

While some of you may be "shopped out" some stores are offering great sales that you can't pass up. Now's the time to enjoy the discounts!

Happy Shopping!

-B

Merry Christmas

One of my favorite things to do around the Holidays is spend time with the ones I care about the most and give back to the community. I'm looking forward to the next couple days; relaxing, seeing friends and family from out of town and enjoying each others company.

Whatever it is that you do, have a very Merry Christmas!

xo

-B

Festival of Lights

In its 9th year the Festival of Lights has grown into a winter activity that anyone can go to and enjoy. While they are open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5-9pm to drive through and see over 1,000 Christmas lights along with hosting activities in a variety of the buildings, the Festival staff have opened up the grounds on Wednesdays and for $5 you and a group of people can walk or even snow shoe through the grounds and enjoy the lights - you can even stop at one of the fire pits they have on hand to warm up.

Last night we saw husky's on a dog sled running around (it was like we were in Alaska) ok not really, but it was still pretty cool to watch. Overall it was a nice night to take a walk and check out all the different characters done up in lights and it was at an affordable price.

-B

#BuffaloLinks

1. Saturday the Buffalo Bills will host a " Day Out with Santa" at the Adams Mark Hotel. Enjoy games, petting zoo, pictures with Santa and more.

2. Friday and Saturday enjoy a Holiday Celebration down at the Canalside with a tree lighting, Santa arriving on sleigh and activities for the kids in heated tents. Food trucks and Liberty Hound will also be around selling food during the event.

3. Kuni*s on Lexington is a cute seafood restaurant that I attended last week. If you're looking for an intimate or cute and cozy place to have dinner check them out.

4. I'm looking forward to next Monday when the Social Media Club will be host to Taco Vino IV

#FridayFavorites

{ Love the guys here at Certo Brothers #helpinghandsinthecommunity }

{ Homemade cheesecake just like my Grandma used to make #childhoodmemories }

{ Love this view #cocacolafield #solucky }

{ Welcome to #BuffaloNY #whiteout #snow }

{Holiday Activities, Gifts and Ideas}

We are full swing in the Holiday season and while we try to pack in every little thing over these last couple weeks below are some ideas, activities and crafts you may benefit from.

Instead of buying every single person something how about going out for a nice dinner or going ice skating at Rotary Rink or skiing at Holiday Valley or Kissing Bridge. Doing activities with the ones you care about are more important than purchasing a gift that they may not need or want.

Hosting a holiday party? Looking for a cheap and creative centerpiece idea? Or ways to decorate without spending a fortune? How about filling a jar with fruit and/or candies - it provides color, it's festive and if you want it can be a take home gift for your guests too! Or take those extra ornaments that aren't hanging on the tree and fill a vase or jar with them and display them on bookcases, coffee tables or anywhere you have the space.

#BuffaloLinks

 

1. In the Spring of 2014 downtown Buffalo will be seeing a new upscale seafood restaurant on E. Huron St. called Oshun Seafood Restaurant. Offering an new place for people to gravitate to, I for one am looking forward to them opening!

2. Research and Design is an awesome retail store located in Orchard Park. While the building is in the shape of a barn, this place is amazing inside, from the wood features to the art and clothing they carry, its one of my favorite locally owned shops in town.

3. The Fairgrounds are currently hosting their annual Festival of Lights. Hours of operation are 5-9pm during select days. This makes a great holiday activity especially for little ones who like looking at the Christmas Lights. New this year are Walk Around Wednesdays where you can lace up your show, bundle up and walk the nearly two miles and enjoy the lighting display. Check their website to see when they are open.

4. Beakers and Beers is an event that the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus offers to employees and the public. Enjoy a neat networking experience for free.

5. One of my favorite events of all time is the Catwalk for Charity that Ryan Miller hosts for the Steadfast Foundation. Taking place at one of my favorite venues the Town Ballroom, this year the theme is Cirque du Sabres and I'm looking forward to attending.

#DTH13

Saturday night the Knox Mansion in East Aurora was home to 200 people who attended the Deck the Halls for Main St. Runway holiday fashion show, all to benefit the Hunter's Hope Foundation. The evening included hair and make up artists from a variety of suburbs helping glam our models for the main event. Food from a variety of local East Aurora eatery's including the wonderful Swirls, Taste, Rick's on Main St., Del Arueo's, Medici House and Arriba. Also, participating in the event were a variety of vendors. A special thank you to Total Tan and TT New York for all that you did.

The evening was kicked off with the Foxy Diamondz performing dance numbers for the crowd. Once started Crista Botticello, owner of Ooo La La Boutique and Lauren Hall from Winging It! Buffalo Style co-hosted the show. Fashions were seen from Cameleon, Ragamuffinz, The Walk In Closet, {guest boutique} Abalie Lingerie, The Dress Shop and Ooo La La Boutique with a special section of recycled material designs from the students at Villa Maria College.

The night was a huge hit that brought a community together during a busy holiday season to raise awareness about an important cause that is close to a lot of Buffalonian's hearts. It is really rare to see people in this day and age put aside differences, but on Saturday night the East Aurora community did just that. There is power in numbers and I have noticed myself saying this a lot more lately, but one person can lead by example. It only takes one. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we had more people working together than working against each other? I guess I can always hope.

In the meantime, if you attended the event or want to see pictures check out all the social media outlets and search for the #DTH13 and Ooo La La Boutique.

-B { Ooo La La Boutique }

#FridayFavorites

{ Rest in Peace Paul Walker - one of my favorite celebrities }

{ Birthday Parties at the Buffalo Zoo are awesome! }

{ Vodka from a local Buffalo Distillery - Lockhouse Distillery }

{ #DTH13 is tomorrow and the swag bags are ready }

{ Have you seen the Festival of Tree's this holiday season }

{ "A winner is a dreamer who never gives up" - rest in peace Nelson Mendela }

A distillery in our backyard

Located in a somewhat spacious area on the third floor of the Great Arrow Building Lockhouse Distillery {formerly Eight Buffalo Spirits} opened its doors for business this past weekend and with a great turnout sold out of there one-of-a-kind vodka within just a couple short hours. The distillery is the first one to open in Buffalo, NY since the Prohibition time. Made with quality and local ingredients I can attest its delicious and I was lucky enough to get there in the right amount of time to take a bottle home with me.

-B

{Walking up to the third floor}

 {I arrived to a line of people waiting outside the distillery for their bottle of vodka}

{Inside the distillery}

{Samples while you waited for your purchase}

{"What has fallen we've rebuilt, what was outlawed we revived"}

                               -The quote on a wall inside Lockhouse Distillery

Words for Wednesday

This quote pretty much speaks for itself...

#BuffaloLinks

Deck the Halls for Main St. Runway - an event bringing together the local East Aurora Community - a night filled with fun, fashion, friends and more.

The Polar Plunge takes place on Saturday to benefit the Special Olympics - if you're looking for something fun and unique to do take a dip in the "chilly" water at Woodlawn Beach

Looking to get your holiday Christmas tree? Check out Jurek Trees in Clarence, NY.

Monday Morning WrapUp

Another weekend has come and gone and we're back to Monday. It was a nice 4 day weekend; Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and my niece's birthday party. It all went by to quickly, but some of the highlights were my book came in the mail - Just a Blonde in Buffalo (from blog to book), Lockhouse Distillery had an amazing opening - selling out of 800+ bottles of vodka made right here in Buffalo, NY (I got there just in the knick of time to get one of the last bottles), people came out and shopped local on Saturday supporting stores in East Aurora, Buffalo and Main St. And ending the weekend out with a birthday party at the Buffalo Zoo for my niece. Who knew petting a lizard with a blue tongue and chinchilla's would top my list of pretty cool experiences. Oh and let's not forget the Buffalo Bills in Toronto - the Beach Boys performing during halftime let's just say that's a lot better than Psy performing again this year.

-B

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Western New York! Good luck to all the turkey trot runners out there today as the YMCA celebrates the 118th year of the race. Don't forget to bring your canned food donation for the Food Bank of WNY.

I am wishing all of you a wonderful day with the people you are most thankful for. I personally, have met so many wonderful people this year and have had some wonderful opportunities that I will never forget. Not only today, but everyday I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends and the blessings and lessons I have learned.

Have a wonderful day!

-B

Words for Wednesday

With Thanksgiving tomorrow I found this quote on Pinterest and think it's appropriate for this time of year. We should always live by the words we say - be thankful and appreciate your blessings all year round, not just during this holiday season. JFK was a wise man.

-B

#BuffaloLinks

This week is all about local businesses and supporting them.

1} Love the zoo and want to celebrate Luna and Kali (the polar bear cubs), then come out to their birthday party on Saturday and enjoy a variety of activities during the day all while celebrating their special day.

2} Opening on Small Business Saturday the Lockhouse Distillery will be open from 12-8pm on Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday season. Come out buy a bottle of vodka and get a tour of the place.

3} Saturday is Small Business Saturday, get out there and shop small and shop local. Money spent in local business stays local. Hit Hertel, Main St. in Williamsville, East Aurora, Orchard Park, Elmwood Ave., Allen St. and see what local businesses have to offer.

4} Black Friday is crazy with stores having tons of deals. Make sure you get out to Ooo La La Boutique's turning Black Friday Pink! early to get 50% off anything in the store from 7-7:30am. And throughout the day enjoy other discounts that you won't be able to pass up!

Monday Morning WrapUp #PushGo

Today on the Monday morning recap I'm talking fashion and local business from the Elmwood Village. Over the weekend I attended the Mass Appeal show at the Pierce Arrow Building. It was my first time attending the very popular fashion event that I've always heard things about. It was also my first time inside the Pierce Arrow Building; it was a neat building I liked the look of it and it fit with the theme of the show, urban trendy, it had an old factory look type thing going on.

I thought the overall show was good, it was like any other fashion show I've attended, it was entertaining and creative, but it didn't "wow" me. I thought the VIP area was minimal and could have been more elaborate, but I did like the displays of designers work on manikins and the fact that you could talk with the designers about it. I also do like the comradery from the Elmwood Village- boutiques, designers, restaurants all coming together to put on an event to raise money to better their neighborhood. It shows the sense of community in the area and its a night for everyone to showcase their talents, put aside any differences and support each other. After the show buffaBlog hosted an after party - we didn't stay to long after the show ended, but we were able to catch the aerial acrobatic person who was performing over the stage. It was a nice touch to see when walking out.

If you attended what did you think? Did you enjoy, not enjoy, let me know your thoughts.

-B

{ VIP Area }

#FridayFavorites

I've been in a little bit of a "hibernation" mode this past week and half or so. I'm working on a pretty big project that I can't wait to finish and share with everyone. Here are some of my favorite things that stuck with me from this past week. -B

{ quote I found on lululemon's Instagram }

{ honoring the Armed Forces at the Bills game on Sunday is always one of my favorites from the pregame festivities }

{ though there is a typo - I didn't graduate from the University at Buffalo - I graduated from Buffalo State - it was pretty cool seeing my name in the paper - I work for a great place and am honored for this opportunity }

{ its the Holiday season so what better way to give then to give a Buffalo Bisons Holiday Pack }

{ well what are you waiting for - Deck the Halls 2013 to benefit the Hunter's Hope Foundation is on 12.7.13 at the Knox Estate. Get your tickets at any one of the participating boutiques (check out the event page on facebook) you aren't going to want to miss this }