Baremineral Party - such a fun night!

Here is Maria, our BareMineral rep, she was kind enough to come and give us more educational tips! Along with introducing us to some new products, SO exciting, what is being released is good stuff!

Everyone was hard at work, all the Bijou girls and all our guests had a great time!


Jennifer, learned about "eyes", from our expert, Samantha!
Courtney and Linda both gave complimentary mini facials to prep the skin. Such a treat!

From our Skaneateles Chamber - After hours! So much fun!

What a wonderful day!

Today was our Baremineral Party! Of course I made too much food, but what can I say? I'm German, my mother brought me up to feed guests and that part I do very well:)

This was our first party and what a blast we had, we had no learning curve to go by, but that was okay, it was just a bunch of girls eating chocolate, cheese & crackers and drinking various wines! How perfect!

Everyone started in the facial room, cleansing their face, used a hot towel to remove the cleanser, tone and then moisturize. Then on to foundation, cheeks and eyes! Samantha rocked the eyes, then she had to leave so Courtney jumped in! Stacy was on lips and that group seemed to laugh the loudest! Lori even joined in and Michele was there for Moral support:) It was, as usual a great feel in the salon!

This morning, while checking my emails, I read Susan Major's blog, as soon as I get an email from her blog, I'm always quick to read it, I just love it! Today's post really touched me, partially because it was what I needed to hear. She is a lovely writer and is known for her insight into thoughts that are sometimes so crowded and hidden under lives...she see's it and writes about it and for that I adore her! There are so many of her posts that I just sit and read, sometimes two or three times. I encourage you to go to her blog and read through the archives...Today's was one of my favorites...here is another one of my favorites..they both "speak" to me:) (don't forget to click on each highlighted sentence..it will take you "there":)

Major bithday party!

A very special group of girls...
The most girliest girls you could find!
Feather boa's around their necks and plentiful shades of pink gracing their toe's!
Polka dots, stripes and flowers on their fingers...
Singing all the words to their favorite Hannah Montana songs, with a splash of frosting on their nose!
What a wonderful afternoon it was with such energy and spunk!

Just another wedding party at Bijou in Skaneateles!

Grand Opening Re-cap!

Kim and Lori...starting the party~

Our new friends we met..they just walked on by and strolled on in:)

Treats!

Our Salon coordinators...aka..cruise directors~

The Lovell family...2 little ones missing, they were busy mingling ;)

Plenty of friends...

Plenty of foood...

Plenty of gooodies!

Plenty of drinks..

Plenty of fun!

Our grand opening couldn't have been better. Okay I was a little stressed before-hand and did not know how I would get it all put together...Did I have enough food...enough drinks...would enough people come...would they forget???

Well silly me, I didn't get all the food out on time...but we did eventually get it out...we had plenty of drinks..and plenty of desserts and plenty of people! Thank you to everyone who came, Thank you!!! We were able to raise $200 for the John Dau foundation from the evening...We donated 10% of our sales, including Gift Certificates! Dr. Barb Connors and Judy Lindsay were able to join us for the evening, which was wonderful!

Thank you to the Bijou girls, who all ran around and helped the hour before and then came with their families..looking beautiful:) Thank you to Dylan, Chase and Thomas who cooked and prepared and ran all over Auburn to get last minute things...Thanks Shel for once again for coming through with all the extra stuff I needed and hadn't thought of:) Thank you Sherie for generously giving us hypnotiq and champagne..even though you didn't get to enjoy it..We'll make it up to you! Thanks Ros for taking care of the yummy things from Cheryl. Thank you Dina for baking up a storm and lending your tornado Victoria to keep things under control! Thank you Joelle and Alain from Joelle's bistro for the wonderful flowers and enchanting foods! Thank you Ryan, my sweet nephew for making your specialties to serve! Thank you Thea for providing us with beautiful boquets of flowers, they were awesome! Thanks James and Amy for keeping us there so late and laughing with us:) Thanks to our new friends for stopping in and getting to know us, we can't wait to see you next week! I'm sure i've missed so many thank you's..but if I did, trust me when I say it is not any less heartfelt..it's only because my mind is close to being kaput! ;) Now that the expansion is over...prom is over..the party is over..I can get balance back to my life:) Until the next thing that is~!

Don't worry if you missed it..there is another chance to Party! We are hosting the chamber after hours in June:) Invitation to follow, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter!

okay now for serious topics! Well kinda ;)

Most importantly!

Some things heard in the shop this week....

"This place is so happy, the customers are happy, the help is happy, the owner is happy...Can I live here??!" ~ Alice Gordan, happily stated that while meeting her a new friend who was also getting a pedicure! The two of them left saying they would book their next appointment together so they could chat! ( I am so happy to say, I see this SO often and it pleases me the most!)

A curly haired client, with a fresh new Deva cut by Courtney said.
"Can I just say Thank you, thank you for having this product, thank you for changing my life, with the product and the cut, I feel like I finally have a haircut that shows off my curly hair, Thank you!"
~ This person came in from a referral from another curly haired girl, she had purchased the curly girl book, but never had been taught how to officially use it. We very easily and simply showed her how to use it and she left looking fabulous and most of all comfortable with her hair that looked beautiful in ringlets, instead of a frizziness!

One of the little girls from a birthday party we had said..."This is the best day of my entire life, I wish I could come here everyday of my whole life!!"

So on one other note, please stop by for our RE-Grand opening, we would love to celebrate with you and treat you to some delectable treats from some of our favorite places!!! WE can't wait to see you!

Searba's Birthday party and salon takeover!!!

What you are looking at ladies and gentleman...is the future owner of Bijou!

Let me tell you a little story...Here is my cute little friend, you see, I knew her before she was even born...I've done her Mommy's hair for 12 years! Little Gracey here, has been to an appointment or two of her Mother's! I do believe that in her Mommy's tummy, she paid very close attention during those visits. You see for a very long time she has pretended to be a stylist and masseuse, doing hand massages, foot massages and styling Mom and Dad's hair. Her name when she is a stylist is "Searba"! How cute is THAT?!?!
So for "Searba's" 9th birthday, she came to Bijou. Look what a good little representative of Bijou she is...she wore our colors!!!!
The girls got their nails done, their hair styled and colored (don't worry, it washes out:) and glittered to the max! I bet there was some dancing and cat walking too! It was a dream B'day party for her!
So "Searba" whenever you want, come in and see us Bijou girls again, we'll even have an extra apron for you to wear. You can be our helper for a day:) We would love it!!

Happy Birthday Gracey! Chase said he thought you looked really pretty in those colors! (ahem, they may get married one day you know..hmmm I wonder if Gracey knows that is a sure fire way to own Bijou?;)

Just a taste of what is at Bijou in Skaneateles!

Fresh coffee and Parisienne Macarons!!!! Oooh La-La:)

We have given away at least 18 28 free eyebrow or lip waxes...How fun this is! I wonder if we should make a goal, to give away 100 (maybe 200:) free waxes!!!

It's so fun to give!!!!!

Bijou salon in skaneateles turns one today!!!! Hip hip hoooray!!

Now were talking....

I've got your full attention now, don't I?!

You want to know, what is with all the macarons, and what the heck are macarons anyway??

Have I been to Paris to eat these famous Macarons?? Nope, but I've read so much about them, that I sometimes dream about them in my sleep!

I mean really, they are beautiful, bright, colorful little treats. When I tend to dream about things, they eventually happen, I'm lucky like that:) I mentioned my obsession to my dear dear friend, the one who makes such wonderful cakes.

She informed my that she could make those, I was shocked, down right shocked! I knew she was talented, but were talking...making something I've only seen in magazines or on the Internet...apparently they are relatively (heh, heh) easy (heh, heh, heh) to make. They are almond meringue (droool) and ganache or various fillings.

So to celebrate my 1 year anniversary of Bijou salon in Skaneateles....I would like to share these little gem of treats with everyone that stops into Bijou during the month of September!! I am so grateful for every ones support and this is the least I could do...share some macarons!!! ( I only hope that I can keep my lovely girls from scarfing them down, okay and fine, as well as myself;) wink wink!

I would also like to mention as our way of saying a big grateful thank you...For the first half of the month (so, until the 15Th of September) anyone and everyone, man, women or child;) we are offering free eyebrow waxing or lip waxing. So if you have not had the luxury of trying it, come on in and let us work our magic! It will be our pleasure...our next little treat for the 2ND half of the month (starting on the 16Th - 31st) we will be offering free upgrades on our pedicures to the SPA PEDICURE!! Our hot towel cabi is just begging to be used!!

Coming soon will be our single use paraffin mitts, no more dipping into a large communal bath of paraffin wax, you will get your very own mitt that you can dispose of after you are done! Winter is coming and this will be perfect for those dry skin days!

Thank you everyone who has helped spread the word about Bijou, we are all so grateful to you and are so happy to be able to share our little gem with you! Thank you for the kind comments and affirmation, that Skaneateles needed a gem of a little salon, like we dreamt of!

I personally would like to thank in the best order I can. (sorry to be a bit dramatic, and go on like the academy awards, but thank yous are necessary:)

Thank you to my parents for giving me such warmth as a child, that I have been able to pass on to others, always taking care of elderly friends gave me such compassion that I cannot thank you enough. Thank you for telling me you think I could do this (even when you don't think I can drive from NY to IL all by myself) If you would have said you thought it as a terrible idea, I would have probably not done it. Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you to Thomas, my wonderful better half who believes me 100% and with such conviction, I could never doubt myself. You took out the equation that worried me the most, the books...I could not survive without your dedication, waking up early every Sunday to do the week long book work for the salon. Thank you for everything you do, I cannot thank you enough or list all the things you bring into our lives!

Thank you to my little (okay, fine little and one high schooler;) boys, you made this all so easy, you are the most patient little guys in the world, you sweep up for me, you run my errands and you never complain about spending too much time at Bijou. You guys are champs and my greatest source of pride!

Thank you to Gloria from Angels by the lake and all the angels inside of 6 Jordan street. You gave my dream a space a real live space, instead of just in my head (it was getting so crowded in there and I kept changing my theme too much;) You are the best!

Thank you to Chris Gary for making me look my excuses in the eyes and tell them to get on with it, call about the place and take hold of my dreams and have no regrets!! You pushed me, I needed that, I'm grateful for that, you are a great business women, I am so thankful I have you as a sounding board!

Shelly Kennedy, my virtual decorator and cherished friend. How many times had we done a salon in our head. You kept me focused and kept me on task. It could have never turned out so unique and wonderful without your magic touch. You made it all so easy, we just pointed and picked and didn't stress, it just happened like magic. You are magic!

Dina Sakal and Dee Vounas, my two Greek goddesses. You both are my big sisters that I dreamt of, you are always there to support with me with your ears and advice, I am so blessed to have such strong women as friends! I love you both and Thank you for all the help throughout the year with the boys and dinners and making sure we all don't work toooo hard.

Joe and Tom, Thank you for the beautiful floors, and for helping us pack up everything and lend a hand in moving:) You guys are true friends!

Thank you to Ros Schwartz and Betty Congel for entertaining Thomas while he was working all alone at the shop during construction, and thank you for all these years of telling me I should follow my dreams. Your faith in my means the world!

And last but not least (and I'm sorry for those of you I might have missed, but this could go on for days, if I don't let my brain rest:) Thank you to my strong girls at Bijou! Kimberlee, thank you for believing me when I said you would be successful in this town, thank you for being you, thank you for your wit and somewhat dry sense of humor that has me cracking up all the time...thank you for your loyalty and thank you for taking the chance at Bijou, I knew you would be an immediate success, you're awesome! To Jackie, thank you for reading about Bijou in the newspaper and peeking through the windows and getting all excited about there finally being a salon worth your while in this town, I'm so honored to have your expertise and knowledge and I adore your professionalism! To Michele for adding such a colorful spark to Bijou, for singing out loud to yourself (and talking to yourself:) and for taking such gentle care with some of your elderly clients, thanks for your extended hours and coming to work with such zest after a long day at the hospital, you do great work and make people feel good about themselves! To Connie, for feeding me more and more knowledge about Young Living oils and for being such a source of info for all of us what will we do, thanks for hopping so eloquently right into your position and joining in the fun we have, you add so much to Bijou and have been such a wonderful spirit to work with, we hope to see you next year and will miss you dearly when you return to TN. To Courtney "June", you are a go getter and have wonderful people skills, you always throw in extra hours and help everyone, your team work is so appreciated and we are so glad to have you with us at Bijou! To my longtime friend Lori, who I have worked so harmoniously with for many years, thank you for asking that fateful question that day, telling me that I didn't need to answer right away, that I could think about it, I knew my answer the moment you asked me! I'm so happy to have you hear, with your expertise and precision styling and awesome updo's. It is my privilege to have you with our team, you completed a great team for me, you added that last little puzzle we were missing, thank you for transitioning so gracefully and adding so much to the Bijou team! And to Rachel, our newest part time girl, just graduating from beauty school, with so much other accomplishments, licensed massage therapist, licensed esthetician and now licensed cosmetologist. I know you will do great and you will bring us so much knowledge and ideas. We are glad to be able to assist you in training and look forward to getting to know you!

Gee, I am so sorry this turned into such a long post, however when it comes out onto the computer from my fingers typing, it must be said, I could not delete:) Hopefully some of you will make it to the end, so that I can say..."Now stop reading and come on down to Bijou at 6 Jordan Street for some delicious Parisienne Macarons!!!"