Small Business Spotlight: Rust Belt Love

"Some people cringe when I tell them I work primarily with brides, but I don't think I've worked with a single bridezilla!" Owner of Rust Belt Love Alyson O'Connor told me.

Rust Belt Love, a local full service design firm, has found its niche within the wedding industry in Buffalo and Western New York. "We are really about creating the specific look and feel our customers want for their events. It's great to sit down with our clients who don't know what they want or the styles they like, and after our initial meeting be able to put their ideas into drawings. We have an extensive proofing process because we want to make sure we create exactly what our clients want."

For Rust Belt Love, the design process starts with the invitation. "It is the usually the first thing your guests will see, and sets the tone for everything after that." Alyson always encourages her clients to think outside the box by picking a few different styles to start with, even if it is something you don't think you will like. Over the past few years, Rust Belt Love has worked with clients who really loved one style, but during the design process, and after looking at samples, ended up going with something totally different. In addition to invitations,  Rust Belt Love will create place cards, menus, programs and more. They can also consult on centerpieces, ceremony design, favors, bouquets and other event necessities!

Beyond weddings, Rust Belt Love works on corporate events, birthday parties, baby showers/announcements and other special events.

The concept for Rust Belt Love was created about three years ago by owner Alyson and her sister Megan. The pair had helped design weddings for family and friends and decided to take it to the next level. After Megan finished up her Master's degree and found a full-time job, Alyson's husband Nick took over the business side of things. Last year Alyson and Nick welcomed a baby girl, Samantha, and Alyson quit her full-time job in advertising to be able to work from home and focus on running Rust Belt Love. "It is truly a family business. I couldn't do it without the support of everyone around me, both of our families, and we are so lucky to do what we love in a city where not everyone gets to find their niche."

When talking about Buffalo and the WNY area, you could tell the passion for the city they share. After moving back to Buffalo close to seven years ago, Alyson and her husband moved into an apartment in Allentown and fell in love with the area all over again. "The people, the arts scene, the night life, the fierce loyalty of other ex-pats, we knew we were home! The name of our company says it all, we truly have so much love for the rust belt, we couldn't imagine being anywhere else!"

Rust Belt Love also has a store on Etsy where they sell cards, gift tags and drawings. If you need thank you cards or have friends having a baby it is THE place to shop! Check out the "Congratulations on your bean" card and the "Congratulations on two peas in the pod" card! Absolutely adorable!

Some fun facts about Rust Belt Love: they have a 100 year old letterpress that they use for all their cards on Etsy and a 100 year old guillotine paper cutter they use to cut all their paper with. The studio is housed on the third floor of their Elmwood Avenue home, and is filled with furniture that has been passed down through the generations. 

If you are interested in learning more about how Rust Belt Love can take your design dreams and make them a reality, you can find all their contact information on their website (which is also full of samples). Consultation appointments can be set up, and once you meet with Alyson, you will start to feel the wedding/event planning stress disappear. They offer packages to accommodate different budgets and can work within your price limits. 

You have hundreds of options when deciding how to spend your wedding/event budget, but Rust Belt love is more than just a number on the budget sheet! They will give you an experience, a theme, and a memory you will never forget!

Alyson O' Connor, owner of Rust Belt Love, working hard

Small Business Spotlight: Bella Kids - WNY

If you are a parent with little ones, you probably have a closet or drawer full of clothes that no longer fit, or toys that no longer get played with. Bella Kids offers a great option to sell gently used items and help you make a sizable profit! 

"In today's economy, nearly all families could use a little more money in their pockets." Owner, Kristi Mora told me. "Our twice-yearly sale allows WNY's growing families the opportunity to sell their outgrown, unwanted items for extra money earning up to 75% sales profits on their brand name toys, clothing, strollers, baby gear, etc.  This adds up to a nice sales profit check back at the end of our four day sale."

If you have ever tried to sell something on Craigslist, or had a garage sale on your front lawn, Bella Kids offers an extremely easy way to literally hand over your items, with your price tag on them, and get a check sent to you after the event is over. 

Kristi was introduced to the idea while living in Orange County, CA. After 13 years of living in California, Kristi moved back to Buffalo to raise her family and brought the concept back with her. After a little tweaking to the idea, she created "Bella Kids WNY", named after her daughter Isabella. 

If you are looking to sell items, the sign up process is as easy as 1-2-3! First, register to be a consignor on their website ($9 fee), then enter your items into their inventory system (you choose the price), and finally print and attach the price tags to your items. You drop off the items to them right before their event and then receive a check about 7-10 days after the event. 

Start cleaning out your closets now because the next big event will be held March 21 - 24, 2013 in the Premier Plaza in Williamsville at 7980 Transit Road. Registration for consignors will be open soon. The best way to stay in the loop on all the happenings is to join their mailing list, which is located right on the front page of their website. You can also stay connected through Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. 

Bella Kids is also great for new parents, and parents on a budget! "Our consignors understand our guidelines and abide by our standard, "Gently used, excellent quality". It's all done in a retail store setting so our shoppers don't feel like they are at a rummage sale. It's clean, organized and everything is in fantastic condition!" Kristi said. 

In addition to the consigned items for sale, Bella Kids offers a few other options for shoppers! At each event they have a Bella Kids boutique, which allows local artisans the chance to sell their hand made clothes and accessories. For soon to be moms, they have a great maternity section with prices 50 - 80% off. They also have a "closeout" section with NEW brand name merchandise that is discounted 40 - 80% off. Items in the past have included Melissa and Doug toys, strollers, high chairs, car seats and more!

Each event also brings an opportunity to help out local charities. "We want to give back to the community and help those who need it most. We choose local not-for-profit organizations that have a connection to growing families."

Kristi is a huge Buffalo supporter and is so happy to be back in the area to raise her family. After 13 years in California, she really grew to appreciate everything about WNY." Our true sense of community, the beauty and history in our architecture and city streets, our diverse cultures & foods, and commitment to family values were all things calling me back home.  And once I had my children, I knew where we needed to be. I believe in WNY and our economy.  I believe in small business and knew the community would support and embrace something new! It is truly unbelievable!" 

With new reports out every few months about how much it costs to raise a child, Bella Kids is the place to go to! For more information, contact Kristi at info@bellakids.com, or give her a call today at 716-565-KIDS! 

Happy selling (and shopping)!

                          
                                                   

Small Business Spotlight: The Home Stylist

As the holiday season gets into full swing around Buffalo, I decided to sit down with Julia Dana from The Home Stylist to talk holiday decorating!

The Home Stylist is a Buffalo based interior decorating/home staging company. Julie offers home owners with a do-it yourself approach that empowers families to make the changes they are looking for without breaking the bank. 

When it comes to holiday decorating, Julie says to keep the color palate simple. "Work on picking out two or three colors and then all your accessorizing around the house will come together easier." So how do you pick which colors to choose, "Start with colors already in your house and work off of those - try to not to pick colors that clash like introducing red accessories into a burgandy palate."

Julie also noted that people feel pressure to have all the nooks and crannies in their homes decorated, but she said to pick three main focus areas in your rooms and decorate those. "Choose the mantle above the fireplace, sofa/coffee tables and the archway of doors. Your staircase is also a great place to choose. If those areas are decorated, it will feel like your whole house is without cramming different items in all over the place."

Julie has owned The Home Stylist for ten years after family and friends encouraged her to get into the business. "I was always decorating for my family and friends, so why not get paid for what I love to do!" Julie told me. "I love empowering home owners and helping them spend their money properly so they maximize their outcomes." 

Julie is also the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Staging and Selling Your Home" In addition to interior decorating, Julie focuses on helping homeowners stage their homes. It is a buyer's market out there, and Julie says that what will set homes apart that are around the same price is how it is staged! Many homeowners will opt for lowering the price of the home before properly staging it, and while that can cost you thousands of dollars in the end, a properly staged home would cost so much less (Julie's staging plan costs $150). Julie shared one of many great success stories with me, "I worked with a client that had their home on the market for two years. They took the home off, I worked with them to stage it and once we put it back up, it sold 16 days later!"

"It can be overwhelming to homeowners on how to decorate and especially on how to sell their house. Making mistakes can cost money, and my goal is to make sure my clients spend the money they can allocate properly and give them a plan that is easy to follow!"

Julie's rate is $85.00 per generous hour, and most design plans can be worked up in an hour to an hour and a half. Julie also offers a 3 for $30 option on her website where you send her a photo of the room you are working on and she will create three great solutions to improving the room. 

Once we wrapped up talking about the business side of things, our conversation moved to Buffalo! While Julie is not a native Buffalonian (she moved here from Michigan over 20 years ago for love), she has found a home in Buffalo and can't imagine living anywhere else. "There is so much to do here! Western New York has it all; culture, arts, museums, kayaking/canoeing and great parks to explore. It is a great place to raise a family too!" Julie is also a docent for the Roycroft Campus and resides in East Aurora. 

Home decorating can be a lot to take on so make things simple and give Julie a call today! She will give you the practical and economical advice that will pay off for years to come!

Rolly Pollies of WNY

In a time when the national obesity epidemic is talked about on a daily basis, it is important to get kids active at an early age. Rolly Pollies of WNY aims to start kids as young as six months to instill a healthy and active lifestyle. 

The infant program is just one of many programs offered at Rolly Pollies, but was one that I could tell owner Jim Fleckenstein loved to talk about. The program aims to help infants build their gross motor skills and strengthen their core for balance as they begin to explore walking. The group classes that include Mommy and/or Daddy often open parents eyes to what their young ones can do.  

All classes (offered at various age levels) are non-competitive and usually run in 9 week sessions with a specific curriculum. Class size is kept fairly small, working with a 6:1 ratio of students to instructors. Most classes max out around 20 participants to allow staff the chance to work with each student. 

In addition to all the gym classes offered for ages 6 months - 12 years, Rolly Pollies offers music and creative arts programs. During school breaks they offer short sessions to keep the kids moving, and offer other specialty classes & workshops throughout the year. They also have open gym hours where parents can bring their kids to play with any of the equipment in the gym ($10 - $15 per hour depending on age, $5 for each additional hour). 

One other great option for parents are their birthday parties.  Instead of trying to find a few hours worth of activities to keep a group of young ones occupied, Rolly Pollies offers the open gym and staff to help them with the equipment. 

They truly offer programs for all levels and work hard to not only give kids the time to exercise, but teach them about muscle groups, nutrition, and learning how to make healthy choices. Each class ends with a homework assignment where students are asked to keep track of healthy choices they made and then share them with their friends next week. 

I visited the East Amherst facility on Transit Road (they also have another location in Orchard Park) and was impressed by the colorful gym filled with so many wonderful pieces of equipment. Kids have the chance to work on the balance beam, trampoline, zip line and more. Rolly Pollies isn't your traditional gymnastics program, they offer so much more for students and parents. 

"Rolly Pollies has really become a tight knit community." Jim told me. "Families quickly become friends outside of the gym. Getting to watch kids come in when they were infants and still be with our program now makes them a part of our extended family." 

For owners Jim & Danielle Fleckenstein, owning a business in Buffalo was an easy choice, it was home. After living around the country, they both wanted to move back to Buffalo to be around family and to start a family of their own. There were no other gyms offering the services they could provide in Western New York, so they moved back and have continued to grow for the past seven years!

You can find out about all the programs they offer on their website and stay in touch with them on their Facebook and Twitter pages. 

If you have children and want to get them on the right path to an active and healthy lifestyle, a call or visit to Rolly Pollies should be on the top of your list! Now, especially as the winter months tend to leave us indoors more, Rolly Pollies can open a whole new world for the young ones in your lives. 

Pictures from around the gyms

Dana Saylor & Old Time Roots

I'm a history nerd. One of those real annoying ones who has a comment to make whenever something historical can be brought up. On a recent trip to DC with my boyfriend, his six year old son, and family, I often gave long explanations on the history of monuments and little known facts about Presidents. I expected a captivated audience, because who doesn't want to know who James Kilroy was during World War II? However, I quickly was talking to the back of a six year old's head as he thought to himself, "here she goes again" and ran off in the other direction. 

Fast forward a few weeks later; I'm sitting at my desk in my office at work when I receive a phone call from Dana Saylor, a local historian  and genealogist wanting to visit the archives at St. Mary's School for the Deaf to research for a client. She came in to meet with me a week or so later, and I was absolutely fascinated by what she did for a living. 

After that initial meeting with Dana I often thought about what she did and how important it is to this area. There are so many things that impress me about Buffalo, but I love how important tradition and "roots" are to the people of this area. 

I contacted Dana, and asked her if we could chat some more about her business Old Time Roots. Old Time Roots is a small business based out of Buffalo that helps clients go back in time and learn about the history of their family or property. Old Time Roots offers professional genealogy research as well as property research. Once a consultation appointment is set up with clients, Dana can determine how much time she will need to research, and can price quote based on the depth of the project. She typically charges around $25 per hour for her services, but package deals can be worked out during the consultation appointment. 

Dana, who grew up in Sterling, NY, studied Studio Art and Art History at Oswego College and graduated in 2001. While studying art history, some of the classes had to do with architecture, and Dana really enjoyed learning about the history behind buildings. After graduating she really wanted to learn more about "where she came from" and traveled to Italy to do some research. After finding out so much on her family and enjoying what she did, she decided to start up the business Old Time Roots in 2009. 

Dana loves a new challenge and says the most satisfying part of the job is finding out that piece of information her clients have been looking for. Putting together the pieces for her clients can be difficult, and there can be many roadblocks, but Dana is very creative in finding answers. 

"Clients should hire me because I love history. I live for research and finding out information about this area. While I love researching online and using the newest technology, I am well versed in traditional research methods so my clients get the best of both worlds. I am dedicated to each "mystery" I am trying to solve. " Dana told me.

I could tell the passion in Dana's voice as we spoke and was thrilled to see another Buffalonian deeply rooted in this area. While Dana didn't grow up in Buffalo, within a few months of moving here she found a great community of people and felt like she had lived here her whole life. Dana and her husband are also artists, and Buffalo is a great spot for artists to independently work and be successful. 

As is the case with most of the people I interview, we quickly start talking about the city and when I asked Dana what her favorite thing about Buffalo is, the answer was easy, "The people! The people in Buffalo make it all come to life here. They are so open hearted and willing to help. I'm always blown away by how incredible the people are here. It makes my work so much easier and enjoyable!" 

As I wrapped up my interview with Dana, I asked her how one would get started if they wanted to begin property research or diving into their family history. Her suggestions included checking out your attic or basement for old photos or documents you may have tucked away in a box. Many pieces to the puzzle could be sitting in your home, or could be discovered by chatting with some of your relatives, or even neighbors. 

Once you start to find some of the pieces (or if you aren't sure where to start), you can contact Dana at (315) 525-7474. Her website is www.oldtimeroots.com and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Dana inside Thin Ice on Elmwood

Brian Nesline and Faces of Buffalo

About five years ago I was introduced to Brian Nesline, who came up with the idea for Faces of Buffalo and ran with it, despite being turned down for a grant proposal he submitted to Buffalo State College. Before I get to that though, I need to back up a bit! Brian came to Buffalo on a leap of faith in his early 30’s to attend Buffalo State College and earn his BFA in Communication Design. He appreciated the fact that the city of Buffalo truly valued the arts and with a low cost of living, he knew it would be a good fit to let his creative juices flow.

After taking a class at Buffalo State called Introduction to Creative Studies, he came up with the idea for Faces of Buffalo and entered it into their summer grant contest for creative research projects. As I previously stated, his grant proposal was turned down citing, “it was too ambitious for the students’ skills at this time”, but Brian didn’t let that stop him. He thought, “I’m going to do it anyway!” After graduating he made his dream of being an artist reality an unveiled the first set of mosaic prints in 2003.

The project was an instant success, validating all the hard work and risk Brian took continuing with the project after it was initially shot down by the grant team. When I talked to Brian about his drive to make it a reality he said, “They were right to turn me down. The skill I lacked was faith. Their decision put me in the best position to develop this vital skill, and for that I am forever grateful.” Brian’s mosaics have been featured in galleries throughout the area and been showcased at the Buffalo Home & Garden show and inside The Buffalo International Airport.

If you are not familiar with Faces of Buffalo, it is one of the coolest art projects I’ve seen in the city. Brian goes around to various community events with blank portrait forms and gives residents of Buffalo (and the surrounding areas) the chance to draw their self portrait. Once complete, the portraits are put into a pile, and Brian’s creative genius goes to work! In the end, each self portrait is shrunk down and mosaic drawings of Buffalo architecture, flowers, sports, etc…are created. Typically, new mosaics are released once a year, and anyone who submitted a portrait is e-mailed (as long as they put their e-mail on their portrait when it is turned in) which mosaic drawing your portrait is in.

What makes this project even more awesome is that it is the first of its kind, another great project that stemmed from Buffalo. It allows people the freedom to “be a kid again” using crayons and pencils to hand draw their self portrait. Above that it gives the people living in the city a “Face” and the opportunity to all come together to create art!

More recently, Brian has ventured out to different communities to create the mosaics, and is looking to expand the “Faces” brand in other parts of the country and world.

Being someone totally invested in helping out organizations and charities in the Buffalo area, I cannot write about Faces of Buffalo without talking about all of Brian’s charitable efforts. While expanding the “Faces” brand, Brian created “Faces for Fundraising” which is designed to benefit local not-for-profits. Since Faces of Buffalo was unveiled in 2003 Brian has raised more than $50,000 for groups throughout the area.

Brian is always expanding out to different projects and recently added the Buffalo Alphabet Project to his products. On his website, besides the mosaic prints (most run about $29.95 before tax and shipping), Brian sells t-shirts, note cards and magnets. They are truly a great addition to any home in Buffalo and the perfect gift for the “Buffalover” in your life!

If your organization is interested in utilizing “Faces for Fundraising” you can contact Brian at 716-854-5033 or e-mail him at facesofbuffalo@hotmail.com. You can also find out more about the Buffalo Photo Alphabet on their Facebook page.

If you have been to my house before, my walls are filled with so many of these mosaic prints and I’m stoked to purchase his newest mosaic of the city skyline. While speaking with Brian about this blog, we decided to partner together to help out one of the organizations in my “12 Missions in ‘12” campaign. During the first week in April, 40% of ANY online purchase made at www.facesofbuffalo.com will go to support Hospice Buffalo! So for every mosaic print about $12 will be going to Hospice! If we can get 100 people to buy a print during the first week of April, that’s around $1200 for a great organization…not to mention YOU get a pretty awesome piece of art. If you own a business in Buffalo, they are a great piece to have hanging in your office, as well!

Check out some of the mosaics below and the first week in April be sure to order your prints online. As an added bonus, everyone who purchases a print will be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card for Brodo Restaurant in Amherst.

Newest mosaic

Mosaics of City Hall, the 2011 Buffalo mosaic and a football! Just a few of the MANY options!

Tea Leafs WNY in Williamsville

For Valentine's Day my very thoughtful boyfriend bought me a practical gift I've been wanting for months; a Teavana teamaker and tea! (Random side bar for boyfriends in general - if you listen to what we say in passing, and let us know you were listening, we kinda eat that stuff up!) Anyway, while I love, love, love Teavana, and all their teas and products are fabulous, right now they are a little pricey for my budget. So, like I do for many things in life, I posted a status update to Facebook asking people if they knew of other places I could get tea. A few people responded and that's how I ended up at WNY Tea Leafs on Klein in Williamsville last Saturday.

If you can't remember last Saturday, it was a windy, snowy morning/afternoon and the perfect day for some tea. Within seconds of walking into the store owner Sydney Hoffman greeted us and told us to get a cup of tea (what a warm, literally warm, welcome)! I tried the Citrus Sorbet and really enjoyed it.

The store, located in the Dash's Plaza on Klein, is small and cute. One wall is full of all the teas they offer in canisters for your "smelling" pleasure. They have an area where you can sample the teas of the day and a spot to sit down. They also have various tea pots, tea coasters and all the accessories for tea making for sale in store. The teas vary in price (most that we purchased were between $4 - $6 per ounce, but some of the teas are a little more expensive than that). Compared to Teavana and other tea places I have found, they are considerably cheaper and perfect for my budget.

Both the owner, and the younger girl working behind the counter were extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and I enjoyed chatting with them and getting their "advice" and suggestions.

When all was said and done we walked out of there with four different kinds of teas to enjoy (that didn't break the bank), and I've enjoyed trying them all out this week. My personal new favorite tea, that I can't seem to get enough of, is the Roasted Almond they offer, although the Bourbon Street Vanilla is a close second. They have a punch card that is good for a free ounce of tea after your card is fully punched and we almost earned a free ounce on this visit alone!

The owner, Sydney Hoffman sends out an e-mail newsletter periodically, and I signed up for it and already received one. What a great, friendly read! It's clear that Sydney Hoffman knows about tea and if you drink numerous glasses a day like me, it's a MUST GO to spot. Shop local, and support small business in Williamsville the next time you are in the area.

"Embrace The Difference" by Robyn Zimmer

"I love Buffalo because it is small enough that there is always a connection to be found!" - Robyn Zimmer e-mailed me after perusing my Facebook page and realizing that my boyfriend taught both her kids English in high school.

I had been put in contact with Robyn a week or so earlier when I was investigating her "Embrace The Difference®" jewelry line available at Reeds Jewelers. Since the initial contact we had been exchanging e-mails for a few days, and it didn't take long for me to see what an incredibly successful and giving woman Robyn Zimmer is. Not to mention, a LOCAL talent!

But first, let’s talk about Embrace The Difference®! As a Board Member for danceability Inc., I am always looking for ways to help fundraise for the organization. Someone mentioned that Reeds donated a portion of a jewelry line to charities so I hopped on the site and contacted them immediately. Robyn was thrilled to have danceability Inc. join.

When I spoke with Robyn she told me more about the Embrace The Difference® line of jewelry. “Embrace The Difference® is an idea close to my heart. I came up with the idea because my son, Sam has grown up with disabilities. I realized along the way that Sam was lucky enough to have many people who accepted him for who he is. The people that have “embraced” Sam’s differences have made all the difference in his life. Everyone should have the same opportunities. I designed this jewelry to show acceptance and support no matter what difference someone has, and to help raise funds for many charities in the community.”

The original symbol for Embrace The Difference® is interlocking circles connected by a square. The square represents the difference. As Robyn said, “It doesn’t matter what difference we have, we are all linked together.” The line includes pendants, rings, earrings, bracelets, tie tacks, lapel pins and cuff links. They range in price from $95 - $175. (There are also a few all gold and diamond pieces for $795). When a piece is purchased, the buyer is asked to choose a charity from their list (currently there are 24 charities) and $30 of the purchase is donated to the charity. For the big ticket pieces, $100 is donated.

So who is the lady behind Embrace The Difference®? Robyn Zimmer, grew up in Roslyn, Long Island (alright, so she wasn't BORN in Buffalo, but she chose to make it her home and raise her kids here so she's LOCAL enough for me!). In 1978, she went to UB and then Buffalo State College. After graduating in 1982 she returned to NYC with a degree in design. She came back to visit a friend in 1985 and was introduced to her husband, Jeff Zimmer. After six months of dating she packed up her apartment and moved to Buffalo and has been living here since! Robyn and Jeff also have a daughter, Rachel who is 18 in addition to their son Sam, who is 21.

Robyn’s passion has always been to create products that solve common problems. She has invented many products and just signed a licensing agreement to have her first patented product manufactured and brought to the market. The product, Window OrigamiTM was featured on the television show "Homemade Millionaire" with Kelly Ripa.

Our conversations quickly turned to Buffalo, (as they do with most people I talk with for this blog) and I asked her what her favorite parts about the city are."People from Buffalo are genuinely nice! People have good, down to earth values. When I first moved here from NYC I went into a Wilson Farms to buy a newspaper. The cashier said, "have a nice day" and actually meant it. I wasn't used to that living in NYC!"

Robyn recently completed the Leadership Buffalo program and was amazed to learn so many new things about Buffalo. She said she can't get enough of the architecture and historical sites, and the restaurants here are "amazing".

Robyn's husband Jeff is the owner of Reeds Jewelers. Reeds Jewelers and Jenns Decor combined their stores and jointly own the property. 2012 is a big year for Reeds Jewelers! The family business will be turning 100 year this!

One of the greatest parts about the City of Buffalo, to me, are the people. This blog has put me in contact with so many great people like Robyn, and I plan on sharing more of their stories throughout the coming months.

If you haven't checked out the Embrace The Difference® line, please visit www.embracethedifference.org today! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, purchasing a piece for a loved one will not only support a local family, but help out a great WNY organization as well.

Small Business Spotlight - Sweet Tallulah's

If you are in the minority like me, holiday baking is one of my favorite things to do. I love decorating cookies and making the traditional pierogi stuffed with Farmer’s cheese or sauerkraut, but for most of the general public, they try to stay as far away from the kitchen as possible.

If you are looking for the “homemade” taste this holiday season, but don’t want to spend hours baking in the kitchen, place an order with local business Sweet Tallulah’s.

Ten years ago Linda Lund started baking items for her clients at the hair salon/spa she owned. She’d put up a flyer a month or so before the holidays and before she knew it, she was flooded with orders for pies, cookies and pierogi.

Two years ago, Linda’s sister Cheryl Krygier joined forces with Linda, and Sweet Tallulah’s was created. Using many old family recipes and adding some new twists to them, Sweet Tallulah’s offers cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies, cheesecakes and over ten varieties of pierogi.

As young girls, Linda and Cheryl baked with their Mom & Grandmother using old family recipes. They learned to make everything from scratch from them. Every year at Christmas time they still get together with friends & family to make several hundred pierogi.

“We take pride in everything we make & have a lot of passion for baking & cooking.” Linda said.

Growing up eating Polish food, I am always impressed about the different pierogi options Linda & Cheryl cook up in the kitchen. They offer the traditional Farmer's cheese and sauerkraut options but also have added in Buffalo wing, reuben and sweet potato, to name a few.

You can find menus, contact information and a full price list on their Facebook page (click here).

Depending on where you live, orders may be delivered or picked up at either Linda or Cheryl's houses or Linda's hair salon in Amherst.

As the holiday season gets closer, and you run out of time to fit baking in, get your order in with Sweet Tallulah's and enjoy the holiday season without the hassle of the kitchen. They offer many different platter options (which are great for office parties and family get togethers) and seasonal items with the flavor of the holidays.

Contact them today! I promise you (and your stomach) will be glad you did!!

Small Business Spotlight - Indulge: Home Spa Parties

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." - Sydney Harris

Though the holiday season brings a lot of joy, it often is very hectic and busy. THIS December, take some time out of the hustle & bustle and treat yourself to some "me" time!

Looking for a different twist to the yearly holiday party? Why not book an Indulge: Home Spa Party and enjoy the holidays with those you love while relaxing!

Indulge: Home Spa Parties is a new business that offers spa parties with massage, pedicure, manicure and waxing services.

The company is owned by WNY natives Nicole McKeone and Stacy Phillips.

Nicole became a licensed massage therapist in 2006 and worked for a local salon/spa for over three years before branching out on her own. Nicole runs the business Kneaded By Nikki, in addition to doing the massage therapy for Indulge: Home Spa Parties.

Stacy became a licensed hair stylist in 2003 and received her nail technician license in 2006. In addition to being the co-owner of Indulge: Home Spa Parties, Stacy currently works at a salon in East Amherst.

Nicole and Stacy had the idea for the business a couple years ago while they were working at a salon together in Amherst. They started off small doing parties for family and friends and the feedback was great! After generating a "buzz" locally, they decided to take it a step further and became a legal business in May 2011.

If you put the words, "spa", "massage", or "pedicure" in any sentence, my eyes automatically light up, but I absolutely LOVE the concept of Indulge: Home Spa Parties. An awesome feature to this business is that they come into YOUR home and set everything up. All you need to do is provide a private space for the massages and the guests. It is perfect for girls night with some wine and appetizers, a great gift for your bridal party before your wedding, a fun bonding activity with family, or just an excuse to get pampered with your girls.

Not only are Nicole and Stacy friendly and outgoing but their prices are extremely competitive with local spas and salons (check out the website below for the costs). It is so convenient to have them come to you, and gives your party a much more intimate feel then you would get at a spa/salon.

For parents with little girls out there, they offer kids parties as well. What a fun way to "pamper" the little divas in your life.

They are offering an AMAZING Black Friday deal!

(Please mention you saw these specials on this blog!)

Check them out:

Contact us between 10am and 10pm on Black Friday (11/25) to reserve a party date and you will receive a $75 hostess credit towards your party (with minimum of 4 guests), PLUS each person at your party (including you) will receive a $10 gift certificate to use at future parties with no exclusions!

**First 10 people to reserve a date that day will be put into a Raffle to receive a FREE SPA PARTY that will include up to 4 guests. (Each guest will have $50 credit to use and is responsible for remaining fees after that.)

**This offer may not be applied to existing parties.

**Full $75 must be used at your party and may not be split into multiple parties.

**This special cannot be used towards kids parties. Feel free to contact us through call, text or email before Black Friday if you have any questions or concerns about booking a party, however, we cannot reserve a date for you until 11/25.

If you can't book your party on Black Friday, please contact them about their other "hostess" credits.

"Like" them on Facebook and find them on the internet at: www.kneadedbynikki.com - click on the tab at the top for Indulge: Home Spa Parties.

Take some "me" time this holiday season because you deserve it! You will feel refreshed and it won't cost a fortune!

Stacy Phillips (left) and Nicole McKeone (right)

Small Business Spotlight - Jenny Lynn Photography

I'm obsessed with pictures. There's rarely a day that goes by that I don't pick up a camera and take a picture of something or someone. It's gotten to the point where my family and friends don't even bring their cameras to events anymore because they know I'll be snapping away at get togethers. My family and friends suck it up, smile for the pictures and roll their eyes saying "we already took 30 other ones" because they love me. It wasn't until I met local photographer, Jennifer Stauffer, that I found someone who shared my passion for photography!

Jenny Lynn Photography is a one woman business started by Jennifer Stauffer of Getzville. She's a young, up and coming photographer who really takes photographing your family and special moments to a whole new level!

Jennifer was inspired to start her own photography business after helping her cousin, photographer Karen Koslowski at weddings in 2009. She instantly fell in love with capturing the special moments of Karen's clients and started to branch out and do sessions for friends and family. The feedback from her early clients was incredible and Jennifer decided to give photography a real shot as a part-time job.

Jennifer offers photography packages for weddings, engagements, families, couples, pregnancy, children, pets and events/special occasions. The cost of packages are extremely competitive with Buffalo area photographers and ALL packages include a high quality CD with edited images for their own personal use. Jennifer never requires a printing order with her packages to make them as affordable to her clients as possible, however clients can order prints after sessions are done.

In addition, Jennifer will also take any old pictures you have, scan them in, set them to music and create a slideshow for you. I've seen some of her slideshows and they are definite tear jerkers and make awesome gifts (Christmas, Hannukah, etc...are coming up!!)

Recently, Jennifer has started to really build up a prop collection to add a fun twist to pictures. Right now she has an amazing collection of baby props and is looking to expand into more props soon. After looking at some of the props (many for different holidays, Disney characters, etc...) I've been blown away by the added dimension they bring to the pictures. My two favorite recent additions are using Scrabble pieces and the crocheted baby slings.

There's many gifted photographers in the Buffalo area, but for me, Jennifer Stauffer stands above them because she really take the time to get to know her clients so she can capture the moments and shots that matter the most to them. She spends time prior to each session discussing what her clients want, and really devotes countless hours after each session to perfect and edit the pictures taken. The amount of time and energy that goes into each session's final product makes her the biggest steal locally price wise.

"Just watching people have a good time and capturing their memories is an experience I truly enjoy." - Jennifer said.

You can truly see that joy come out if you spend any time with Jennifer. She has an outgoing, bubbly personality that is infectious and her love of photography and her passion for the art of photography comes out in every picture she takes. Each time I see new pictures she posts on her Facebook page she finds new and fun ways to capture moments. I'm a pretty emotional person in general, BUT so many of her pictures have brought me to tears; many are simply breathtaking.

Jennifer started off small and currently only advertises by word of mouth, but once people started seeing her finished products, business started booming. In 2011, she added numerous weddings, family portrait sessions and more recently baby photos to her calendar. Her calendar for 2012 is already starting to fill up! This is truly a testament to her skills!

Right now Jennifer is offering some amazing deals for the holidays.

Newborn - 6 Month Session: $125 for a 2 hour session and the photo CD with copyright release to print your photos for personal use ($175 Value). Must book session no later than December 31st, 2011.

$25 Slideshows - A selection of your photographs from your session with Jenny Lynn Photography set to music. Must book session no later than December 31st, 2011.

"I consider myself a serious amateur photographer due to the fact that I'm self taught and there is still so much out there that I would love to learn. One day I hope to go back to school for photography." - Jennifer said.

Jennifer does have a full-time day job, so she is mainly available on the weekends and weeknights after 6pm for photo sessions. Though she does not currently have her own full scale studio, clients love choosing a personal location for their sessions to make it even more special.

If you have a special event coming up, just got engaged or have been dying up to update the family picture hanging on your mantle from 10 years ago, please contact Jenny Lynn Photography today. It will be money well spent!

Here are some samples of her work (you can find so many more on her Facebook page):

To find out more about Jenny Lynn Photography here's all her contact information:

Phone: (716) 444-4598

E-Mail: JLPhotography2009@hotmail.com

Website: www.jennyphotography.webs.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennylynnphotog

Twitter: @JennyLynnPhotog

Buffalo MRI

Okay, so it's not everyday you post about a facility that does MRI's and other testing, but I had a pretty awesome experience at Buffalo MRI and felt I needed to share it.

Buffalo MRI is located at 4925 Main Street (near the 290/90). The place is absolutely gorgeous when you walk in and if you are nervous at all about the test you are getting, you are put at ease right away.

I was early for my appointment but they took me pretty much right away so I had no wait time. All of the staff I encountered was very helpful and pleasant. The place is very clean and they really put customer service and care as their number one priority.

If you need to get an MRI, CT Scan, X Ray, Ultrasound, Mammogram, etc...they have it all housed in the same facility. They also are very sensitive to the needs of younger kids who may be scared and go above and beyond treating them.

They also have pretty amazing hours - you can schedule appointments between the hours of 7:00am and 10:30pm Monday - Friday and 9:00am - 4:00pm on Saturdays. Not all the tests are available at all these times, but they are pretty accommodating.

The reason I went there was because the place I usually go for MRI's could not fit me in for at least a week. I called Buffalo MRI and they got me in the next morning!

If you need to have a test done I'd really consider trying out Buffalo MRI.

Give them a call at 716-839-3333 to set up an appointment.