A Day Trip to Rochester - Part Two - Beer, Tacos and Margaritas

The Lost Borough Brewing Co. Drink Local

The Lost Borough Brewing Co. 

Drink Local

Part two of my day trip to Rochester post is highlighting places that I never heard of, but Arica took me to. One was a neat brewery call the Lost Borough Brewing Company. The Apple Pie Ale was very good and bonus if you have a dog they are welcome into the building (I'm not sure how that passes health codes, but its nice to know you can bring your furry pup with you on the trip if you want). Overall it was a cool place to go watch a sporting event and have a few beers. Its small, but when we were there we were able to snag a table so it was all good.

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Dorado 

serve me up a margarita 

 

The last stop on the day trip to Rochester was this very, VERY small Mexican restaurant called  Dorado on Park Ave. Arica and her friend Tyler warned me that it is very small, but I didn't realize as soon as you walk in, the bar is right in front of you and then there is seating on the side and that's really it. In a crazy way I loved it though, it was cozy and the food was really good. The margaritas were delish too! Arica was telling me in the summer they use the patio outside to add more seating, making for a great place to go on a warm summer night. 

This is the El Plato Grande DishI got it with Chicken, and it comes with chips sour cream, beans, rice, cheese and guacamole

This is the El Plato Grande Dish

I got it with Chicken, and it comes with chips sour cream, beans, rice, cheese and guacamole

 

Overall my day trip to Rochester was a blast and featured an variety of different local places to visit. While some of it was planned I loved the surprise of the two places Arica just thought I would enjoy and we ventured around. Life is about experiences, living in the moment and enjoying it. I look forward to more experiences and just living more in the moment this year and I hope you do to. 

-B

 

 

A Wedding Experience Like No Other

photo courtesy of Actors Anonymous Theater Company  

photo courtesy of Actors Anonymous Theater Company  

Celebrating their 17th year, Tony n' Tina's Wedding is one of the longest running interactive shows in Western New York and that is something the Actors Anonymous Theater Company (AATC) should be proud of. When John Pirrone of AATC reached out asking me to share this on my site, I couldn't be happier.

I remember going to this show when it was held at Shea's with my best friend at the time. We were in high school and I didn't know what to expect. As I look back on it now, it was a great experience to be a part of. Not only were there a lot of laughs, but it was a night out where everyone (whether you knew each other or not) you were a big family, just enjoying your time out. 

Running January and February of 2018, Tony n' Tina's Wedding gives guests a special treat. Not only do you receive dinner, drinks and live music, but guests have the opportunity to be a part of some aspects of the wedding. 

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding is being held at the Lancaster Country Club from January 26, 2018 through February 17, 2018 on Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm.  

Tickets for the show are $40 for VIP, $35 per person or $32 each for groups of six or more. Tickets can be purchased at www.aatc.net or by contacting the box office at 716-633-4355. 

If you are looking for something to do in the upcoming weeks I really recommend attending. Its a unique experience that will bring some laughter and joy into your life.

If you'd like to learn more about the AATC please contact John Pirrone at ActorsAnonymousTheatreCompany@gmail.com

-B

p.s. thank you John for letting me share this! 

 

A Day Trip to Rochester - Burgers, Arcade Games & of course..Wine!

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Let's Have Some Fun

Swillburger THE PLAYHOUSE

Sometimes you just need to get out of town and change the scenery. Right before the New Year I went back to Rochester to visit my friend Arica. There were a bunch of places I wanted to check out and I asked her to go along for the 'adventure.' Today I'm sharing two of the four stops with you.

The first one was Swillburger, a burger and arcade playhouse. First the burger are delicious and the homemade ketchup - not bad! The beer choices are nice and finally the arcade games. Pac Man, Tetris, Jarassic Park, Pinball, I can go on, its so much fun and I highly recommend if you're looking for something to do during these winter months! 

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LIVING ROOTS 

Wine & Co.

 

Next on the list of places to visit is Living Roots Wine & Co. (my friend Colleen told me about this place and when I looked it up I right away put it on my list of places to go, thanks Colleen!!). Its definitely a place I would visit frequently. Offering an array of wines from the Finger Lakes and Australia and cheese boards, its a place to go with your girlfriends or on a date I would think. The one suggestion I have is to add a few more tables and some stools at the bar. They have the space and I think it would get people to stay a little longer. 

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People have asked me to share things to do during the winter months on my blog, so while its about an hour to hour twenty minute drive you can make a day of it. Whether you have young kids and are looking to get them out of the house, Swillburger is a fun place for all ages and on Saturday afternoons there were a decent amount of families there. Living Roots is a good place to go to catch up with friends, go on a date and just chill. 

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be sharing more activities to do and places to visit during this winter season. In the meantime have a great weekend!

-B

 

 

Harlie's 2nd Birthday Adventures

Harlie after are snowshoeing adventure 

Harlie after are snowshoeing adventure 

Harlie turned 2 last week and this year we celebrated by snowshoeing and spending time with my friends Kate, Brian and Rob and their dogs. Harlie met back up with Natalia {who was the first dog she ever had a puppy play date with} and she met some new friends - Lexy, Brody and Jesse. All of them had a great time and at the end of it all Harlie didn't want to get in the car to go home. 

Snowshoeing was fun too! See the pics below. A special thank you to Kate, Brian and Rob for letting us be a part of your afternoon adventure last week. XO

-B

 

Fun times! Lexy, Jesse and Natalia has a stick in her mouth 

Fun times! Lexy, Jesse and Natalia has a stick in her mouth 

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follow the leader, in this case its Rob

follow the leader, in this case its Rob

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Brody

The silly Natalia playing in the snow

The silly Natalia playing in the snow

Gangs all here, Kate is behind the scenes 

Gangs all here, Kate is behind the scenes 

Let's give these things a try! "It's just like walking" lol

Let's give these things a try! "It's just like walking" lol

Blog-versary Celebration

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On the last Friday of 2017 I celebrated with some of the most important people in my life at the Barrel Factory. 5 years ago I began this journey into the "blogging world." Not knowing what I was doing {and sometimes I still don't know}, but enjoying every minute of it. I've learned so much and have been lucky to have the opportunity to experience a lot of new things and meet some amazing people I otherwise wouldn't have.

While I have some ideas for where I would like the next 5 years of Just a Blonde in Buffalo to go, I know things don't always go as planned and am just going to enjoy it day by day. Here's to more adventures, more experiences and meeting some more amazing people. 

To everyone that showed up on Friday at the celebration and to those who were there in spirit thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Cheers to 2018! 

I hope you like the new site! 

-B

xo

Here are more photos from the blog-versary party. 

 

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5 years blogging

A lifetime of support

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Steve Balesteri performing 

Steve Balesteri performing 

The Happiest of Happy Hours at the Strong Museum of Play

Just a couple weeks ago my friend Arica and I along with some of her co-workers attended the Happiest of Happy Hours (an after hours, adult event at the museum). Even though I was there for a special event, the museum was so much fun.

Maybe its just because I was excited to be attending an event at a place I haven't been before, who knows, but they had many exhibits for people to explore. I can't imagine you not having a good time, kid or adult there is something for everyone. So if you're looking for something fun to do while on break this week? Take a fun day trip to the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester.

-B

Kitchen Remodel, Post 3 - New Floors

Its been a while since my last post on my kitchen and the reason for that is because my contractor who was planning to install had an accident right after Thanksgiving and it pushed the schedule back. After painting my kitchen cabinets I was going to attempt to put a floor down myself, but didn't want to get in over my head, which I knew I was going to do. My parents had left over flooring from re-doing a room in their basement that I thought would go nice in the kitchen so it helped with some cost savings. Todd is the contractor from Craftsman Renovations that I hired {he has done a lot of work for my Dad, so I know he does a good job} was great. He came this past week and was done in two days. He left the place spotless and I would recommend him to others moving forward. See below for before and after shots and catch my short Instastory on Instagram.

I'm going to take a break from the kitchen remodel until after the new year. Next up on the kitchen project is putting in new butcher block counter tops and a farm sink {I've always wanted one of those}. If you have any places I should check out for counter tops or sinks, send me a message!

-B 

{before photos}

{after photos}

Christmas in Canada

This is such a busy time of year and the days just seem to blend together. Last week, the girls from work and myself went up to the Toronto Christmas Market to check out the lights, decorations and just get in the holiday spirit. We left in the early afternoon {and didn't hit any traffic, yay!}  walked around for a few hours, going in and out of shops in Toronto's Historic Distillery District.

{Campbell's soup to warm you up!}

We grabbed some drinks and a bite to eat before seeing all the lights on once the sun went down. Even if it was just for a few hours, listening to the Christmas music, being around friends and getting out of town for a little bit was one of the best things to happen to me over the last few weeks.

The Toronto Christmas Market is one of the best Christmas Markets in the world and its literally in our backyard. It runs until this Saturday, December 23rd... while that's just a couple days away, if you don't have plans or want to do a quick day trip, its worth it.

-B 

{just a blonde in buffalo photos}

USS Little Rock Commissioning

If you've been down by Canalside over the last week or so you may have noticed the USS Little Rock LCS 9 stationed at the dock. This coming weekend it will be commissioned right here in Buffalo. Some of you may have tickets for tours and others may have plans to just come down to see the festivities.  Regardless, the ship is a true beauty, very advanced in technology and one of a kind. 

Last week a handful of co-workers and myself took a tour of the ship and below {and above} are some of the pictures from that. Anyone that is taking a tour this weekend, I'm sure you will enjoy it very much.

-B

Women Who Move Buffalo - Lindsay from Nickel City Pretty

Last week I met up with the wonderful gal, Lindsay from Nickel City Pretty. We met at her awesome studio {Black Box Studio} on Exchange St. and chatted about all of the exciting things she has accomplished and new ventures she is going to tackle in the future. It is one of my favorite interviews to date. Read more on Lindsay and all the fun things she does below.

What made you start Nickel City Pretty and the Buffalo Blogging Network?

Nickel City Pretty started about 5 years ago when I was looking for a hobby to help get me out of a funk. I always liked writing so as a new years resolution I began my venture into the blogging world. When I began I focused a lot on fashion, but over the years have branched out and now talk all about Buffalo and the great things taking place here. From there I began the Buffalo Blogging Network, a place where I could create a sense of community for other local bloggers to come and talk to others about the same interests. I host monthly meetings and networking events for bloggers to meet with one another, collaborate and just bounce ideas off each other. Since the inception there are now about 80 bloggers and vloggers in the network.

{part of her studio space}

On top of working a full time job, running a successful blog and blogging network, this past summer Lindsay opened up her own studio - Black Box Studio located at 567 Exchange St. so I asked her what made her want to open her own studio. 

Her response - I was itching for a bigger office, a place where I could come and put my full attention to my work. One thing I learned from Lindsay when we met is she loves old buildings and the architecture in and around Buffalo and with Larkinville being an up and coming area, when she found out the space was available her and her friend Heather {who is a photographer} jumped at the chance and did a complete reno. Having a studio space allows for me and Heather to bounce ideas off one another, to rent the space out to other people who are looking for a temporary spot to study, work, or hold a photo shoot to name a few things. My take away on the studio - it is super cozy, yet hip and I love everything about it! 

What is one thing you want people to take away from all of your initiatives and what do you enjoy most about each of them? 

Down the road I would love to see Black Box Studio grow and be a place for people to shoot videos, do more photography, host make up classes {Lindsay is a make up artist and still does classes, lessons and books for special occasions} and pop up shops and creative things. The studio is the missing piece to my puzzle. What I enjoy most about each thing I do - her blog - I love interacting with so many cool people, creating my "Nickel City Gritty" series and asking fun questions to get people to see those I features, real personalities. Just being able to work with Visit Buffalo Niagara {VBN} and local business owners and to go out and do all these cool things and be in the community is exciting. With the Blogging Network I love forming friendships, making people interact with one another and to see the collaborations created and the community that is forming is pretty awesome. Meeting Heather and having my own space and being inspired each time I walk into the studio is really exciting.

What do you love most about Buffalo? 

I love how friendly Buffalo is and how we help each other out. I love the old with the new, the architecture and old buildings and history with the new restaurants and technology. I also love how proud people are living here and of course the food. One thing I can say is Lindsay is apart of creating history here in Buffalo, her passion for her blog, the network and studio exude in everything she shares with the public. And I am so lucky to know her and am humbled to be apart of the network and learn from her. 

What is one thing people don't know about you? 

I was supposed to be on a Fisher Price box as a kid, but a few days before the photo shoot I fell and sliced my eyebrow open and needed stitches, needless to say because of that I didn't end up on the box.

Out of all of your initiatives is there one thing you enjoy more than another? 

I enjoy blogging, its my baby. And to be honest it is because of that, that it spawned me into these other ventures. It keeps growing, I enjoy being busy and working on new projects, like my Public Art Page.

What motivates you to keep going? 

The City - the vibrancy, my family and the people that I get to interact with everyday, Everyday life, that's what motivates me and keeps me going. Its all been fun and its a hobby and a job and my passion.

Lindsay is passionate about Buffalo, she gets inspiration from friends who own their own business and are living their passion. She loves local, small business and she screams Buffalo and just wants to show her love for the City in everything she does and I think she does a damn good job at it. The creativity out of Buffalo is amazing, but the dedication and love Lindsay has in everything she does is equally amazing and she inspires me and for that I am so grateful to know her. 

If you are or know of any business that would like to work with Lindsay or know of any person who she should feature on her Nickel City Gritty series contact her here.

{she is always working}

Fun Times at the Albright

Don't ask me any technical questions about art because I won't have the answer for you, but what I can tell you is that the newest exhibit at the Albright Knox, Out of Sight! Art of the Senses is pretty fun for any age.

{oh hello}

{I could have walked through these beads all afternoon}

Running from now until January 28, 2018 it is something I would suggest you put on your list of things to do over the holiday break. In my opinion you don't need to know a lot about art to be able to enjoy this exhibition. Below are photos from my trip there with my friend Kelsey and if you follow me on Instagram, check out my Insta- story.

B

{folding table & chairs}

{Without Beginning & Without End}

{the Carousel, yes me and Kelsey went on this!}

{Takashi Murakami}

{Mirrored Room}

Fishing in the Lower River

Brisk air and cooler temperatures made way for a new fishing experience for me yesterday up in Lewiston.  When Ryan from Brookdog Fishing Co. asked if I wanted to get back out on the water, I jumped at the chance and said of course! Not only was it fun this past summer when I went on an excursion with him, but I have never fished in cooler temperatures and honestly didn't know it was a thing to do until recent.

{out on the water}

There is something about just being on the water that makes you put things in perspective and clears your mind. Right off the bat we caught some steelhead and lake trout. What was the most exciting part of the trip, outside of sharing stories with Ryan and ease dropping on other boats conversations, was the fight of reeling in the fish when we caught them. The second favorite was holding the fish, I don't know why, but even when the fish fell out of my hands and I screamed like a little girl, it was fun.

Overall, its just a great experience and something different to do in the fall and winter time. Again, Ryan goes above and beyond providing all the amenities for the trip, including coffee and a mini space heater to warm your hands from time to time. I can't say enough positive things about this company, it is truly one of a kind and I'm already looking forward to the next trip. Thanks Ryan!

-B 

{rise and shine, its fishing time}

{holding the biggest fish I've ever caught}

{it was quite the experience}

{and I enjoyed every second of it!}

 

Meet Me At Rowhouse

Last month me and gals from work decided to check the new Rowhouse Bakery + Restaurant at 483 Delaware. Scroll down to see the handful of reasons why its one of my new favorite places in town.

{everything from the ground up in this building is amazing}

1.The Bar or Cocktail Lounge {when you walk in and head down a couple stairs its to your right} its like a secret hangout and I love everything about it.

2. The Bakery {this is enough reason alone to check out the place} you don't need a reservation to pay a visit, you can grab a coffee, baked good or quick snack from the marketplace on your way into work or on a short lunch break.

{the Bakery & Marketplace area}

3. The decor is BEAUTIFUL, each room is amazing. The building has so many unique features that it makes you want to explore {well it made me want to at least}.

{shots of the space}

{so.many.floors}

4. The food is delicious, fresh and many ingredients come from local WNY farms, many of the dishes pass through the wood fire oven as well.

5. Rowhouse is a place to explore, meet up with friends or a loved one and enjoy a day or evening out in downtown Buffalo. If you want to dine in, I recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

{we split a couple wood fire pizzas and wine}

#digiPlaySpace

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my Insta story last night on the newest exhibit to come to the Buffalo Museum of Science, digiPlaySpace. Open to the public beginning tomorrow {11/18/17}  digiPlaySpace is made for both kids and adults and is so.much.fun!!

The exhibit produced by TIFF {Toronto International Film Festival} is an interactive playground for everyone. Guests of the museum can explore new media technologies, get hands on with the 14 interactive digital installations and the Buffalo Museum of Science is only the third museum in the U.S. to host this exhibit.

If you're looking for something to take the kids to over the Holiday break or looking for a fun date night or just something to get you out of the house, I highly recommend checking digiPlaySpace out. It's on exhibit until April 22, 2018. 

A special thank you to the Tweet Team, Visit Buffalo Niagara and the Science Museum for inviting me to the preview night!

#travelBUF

-B 

 

 

Women Who Move Buffalo - Finishing Touches by Caitlin Krumm

{photo on Finishing Touches by Caitlin Krumm facebook page}

It was about a year and a half ago when I met Caitlin Krumm {now Mrs. Ring}, I met Caitlin through a mutual friend and helped organize her wedding, it was at that time that I was introduced to Caitlin's talent of art, but what I didn't know was that she has been an artist for a while. Back in 2007 she began creating pieces for fun, but always had a passion for it and in college took every art class she could.

She participated in the Elmwood Arts Festival for a number of years and built a customer base, she then began her Trendy Buffalo prints {I love them!} that started off as 4 originals and now she has up to 24. From there she participated in solo shows in pop up locations and created pieces for her clients. Fast forward to today and Caitlin is gearing up to open Finishing Touches by Caitlin Krumm, a pop up space inside the beautiful Ellicott Square Building that provides a purpose.

The concept is pretty simple, its to get art in the public eye, including her Trendy Buffalo prints, but also provide accessory basics such as scarfs, scented candles, wine tags and home decor items to complete your look for both your outfit and your home. And everything is $45 and under so you are getting a quality item for an affordable price.

When I asked Caitlin what her favorite piece of work is and why, she mentioned her Trendy Buffalo pieces. The reason why? They are fun to create. What I admire about Caitlin is her persistence and will to not give up. When she explained to me she will put in a full days work to create multiple pieces on top of working her full time job and still having personal time, it is quite impressive. Caitlin is genuinely a beautiful person inside and out, she has a huge heart and puts a ton of her passion into everything she does.

When I asked her my classic "What do you love about Buffalo?" question, her response -  I love Buffalo because of the people and the interaction and response I receive from my work. What she hopes people get out of her new venture at Finishing Touches is exposing people to her art by having it be part art gallery, part boutique, but also provide a convenience to those who are looking for unique pieces.

Store hours will be Wednesday's 11:30-7pm Thursday's and Friday's 11:30-3:30pm and available by appointment. There is a soft opening this coming Friday {11/17} from 4-7:30 pm.

To follow along, follow Caitlin's social media pages ---> Facebook Instagram

Thank you Caitlin for sharing your talent with WNY. xo

-B 

Kitchen Remodel - Post # 2 - Painting Kitchen Cabinets

{part of the mess, my anxiety was so high}

Well this past weekend I took on the project of painting my kitchen cabinets. I went into this scared shitless because all that went thru my head was if I screw this up what am I going to do {haha}, needless to say I moved forward.

{it continued..}

I probably didn't do this the professional way { I know I didn't do it the professional way, I did it the "Beth" way} and I certainly didn't paint the cabinets the way my Mother would have {her response when she walked into my house Saturday afternoon was "oh my, I would have done it ..."}. I tried taking off all the doors, but some of the screws were in so tight that I didn't have the strength to take they down so I improvised {this is where a handyman would have come in play, but that's ok}.

While the color of the cabinets looks more blue to me than light grey, I'm happy with the way the turned out. My kitchen looks a lot brighter and "fresher." I'm still getting used to the new look, but I'm overall happy with the way they turned out.

Next on the list, a new floor. I'm hoping to have that done in the next few weeks if possible.

{this is right before I hit my head on the ceiling like 10 times}

Because I'm trying to do as much of this on my own to save costs, stick to a budget and for some silly reason, to prove to myself that a single female who is living on her own can handle a project like this {it's all about empowerment and telling myself I can do this} I've been trying to cut costs as much as possible. So far for the paint, paint brushes, primer and sand paper my total costs have come to around $70.

{after photos}

{ I painted the bottom half of this wall a navy blue, which I am in love with!! I have an idea for an art mural sort of project for the top portion, but before I commit to that idea, I'm going to keep it like this for right now}

Until the next task is complete... if you have any advice on flooring send them my way!

-B 

November 2017 - Harlie's Adventures

Its been a long time since I posted about Harlie and what she's been up to. I can't believe she will be turning two in just seven short weeks.

Since this summer, Harlie has definitely grown into what I'd like to call a confident, spunky pup, who even when around other dogs sticks to herself most of the time and loves to explore.

{exploring with friends}

{one of her favorite places is Knox Farms.. btw how cute is my friend Jen's daughter Aila!}

While Harlie has made leaps and bounds since I got her, she still jumps and gets really excited when people come over, so that's a work in progress. I'm hoping as she gets older that will get out of her system.

Since her last update, she is no longer crated {I am so happy about that, I think she is too!}, she loves walks more and more, she cuddles right up against you no matter where you are, she sun bathes, if there is sunshine, she's basking in it. And she continues to destroy her toys, even the toughest and most durable, she finds a way to tear them a part and put holes in them.

{its a tough life}

Each day my love for her is stronger and stronger, even when she pushes me to the side when my brother and Dad are around. ;)

Until the next adventure, xo

Harlie & B

{she loves this alligator}

BuffBOXes

{one of my favorites}
Passion is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion. Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. When you combined these two feelings what you get is indescribable. Why am I bringing this up? Because just the other day I was lucky enough to meet with two Western New Yorkers who exude this with their new hobby. Heidie and Adam Buffomante recently started BuffBOXes which is a combination of unique items put together that create a beautiful, simple and functional style.
{Adam and Heidie - the masterminds behind BuffBOXes}
BuffBOXes launched a few weeks ago as a passion project. Heidie has always loved styling her home and pairing things together so her and Adam decided to team up and make this an experience that they enjoy together. They visit locally owned stores {I love that!!} for items as well as department stores {to keep costs down} making it a truly unique gift to give someone.
When I asked what some of their favorite local stores were they had a solid list - Modern Nostalgia, Scout & Cedar, Bkindcity, Mintberry, Molly & Kate, and Tattered Tulip. After adventuring out to stores for a day and building relationships with business owners, they come home and start the pairing process. One may think they would be exhausted after a full day out and about, but Heidie says she's eager to dive into the creative process!
When I asked the couple my classic question of what they love about Western New York they said the people. They shared how genuine, fun and committed the new people they have met are and the great pride they have in Buffalo. Heidie also mentioned you get to see how dynamic everyone is too, like the deep missions they have to build up our city.
There are two things that stood out for me when I spoke with Heidie and Adam, the first is how passionate and happy this project makes them. I have met a number of people through this blog and I can say Heidie is humbled that people put trust in her and Adam to create something special for them. The other thing that stood out is how much Adam loves Heidie and seeing her smile as she creates the BuffBOXes. When I asked what they love most about this, Adam said he enjoys seeing how happy it makes her.
BuffBOXes price points range anywhere from $20-$65 depending on the box. Each buffBOX is created with love and includes items that evoke joy and comfort. Follow them on Instagram to stay up to date @buffboxes and @buffalove_heidie to see the hustle. Also, know they do custom buffBOXes as well.
To Adam and Heidie - thank you for opening up your home to me and sharing your story, but more importantly thank you for sharing your passion and joy you have in each buffBOX that you create.
xo
-B

It's About Taking Care Of Yourself

I've been feeling more stressed and defeated lately than normal, so when my friends over at gifts.com reached out to me about their 92 Self Care Ideas, it was perfect timing. With our busy lives, it can be SO easy to forget to do little nice things for ourselves and it can even sometimes feel selfish! With work, family and friends it's hard to prioritize making some time for you. It feels like something we can easily put off, even though we shouldn't. There are tons of different ways to treat yourself, you can sort the ideas based on whether you need mental, social, physical, emotional, and practical self care so you can really personalize your self care day.

Check it out!

Kitchen Remodel - Post #1 - Wallpaper removal

I'm entering the third year in my house and I have wanted to redo my kitchen for a while so I finally decided to start this remodel today. If you're a homeowner you know there are always projects for you to work on {unless you're a millionaire and purchased your dream home, but I'm not there yet, so I have to keep dreaming} and the kitchen is probably one of the biggest remodels you can do to your home.

First up was taking down wallpaper above my kitchen sink and cabinets {wallpaper is the worst, the WORST}. A few hours later and the first project is complete. Next up on my list is to sand, prime and paint the cabinets...

{kitchen before pictures}

Because its easy to just call a contractor or hire someone to do these things for you, I'm determined to do as much as I possibly can myself. They say challenging yourself is a good thing, so I'm going to challenge myself to get through these next few weeks as I tackle each project one by one.

If you have any tips or suggestions please pass them along my way! And follow along on my Instagram {@bybuffalob} and FB accounts as I tackle these projects.

-B