Pittsburgh Marathon: Highland Park's E2 is THE place to be!

 

So, tomorrow is marathon day here in Pittsburgh, 

and I have the distinct honor of being at E2 in Highland Park!

Here's a description of the restaurant from the E2 website:

"Located in Highland Park, E2 Pittsburgh is the first restaurant of Chef Kate Romane.

The first-floor dining room is cozy and casual with only 10 tables and 28 seats.  Additional outdoor seating is available during the summer months on a small patio right out front.  The downstairs can accommodate up to 60 people and is available to rent for your next event."

Take a moment to visit E2 and you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that this restaurant uses an amazing list of locally-sourced foods. E2 is described as "rustic Mediterranean fare" with a constantly evolving menu, making each visit a unique experience.

I cannot WAIT to set up shop there tomorrow during the Pittsburgh Marathon...

won't you please come and join me?

14 Local Organizations to Love: 5 Kid-Loving Causes

ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA provides autism support across the state of Pennsylvania. They offer autism support to parents, including autism support groups, autism resources, and autism conferences and events. They also provide information on the signs and symptoms of autism, getting an autism diagnosis, and applying for medical assistance and health insurance. Finally, they help people with autism by providing information on autism treatments, links to autism research studies, and support groups for people on the spectrum.

Do you have a child newly diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder? Please contact them. They will help you receive the services you need 1-800-827-9385 support@AutismOfPA.org.

The Children's Home of Pittsburgh, established in 1893, is an independent, non-profit licensed organization whose purpose is to promote the health and well-being of infants and children through services which establish and strengthen the family.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh can help. They’ve been there for thousands of woman and men in unplanned pregnancies – to listen, to provide support, to help you with your choices, your rights, and to help you find the resources that are available to you.

The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center is located at 5324 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Contact them at (412) 441-4884.

The Children's Institute is dedicated to promoting the well-being of children, young people and their families and to providing services that meet their special needs. The vision of The Children's Institute is to become a center of excellence in the region and in the nation. The hallmark of The Children’s Institute’s legacy will continue to be an unwavering commitment to children with special needs and their families.

The Children’s Institute
1405 Shady Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15217-1350
Phone: 412.420.2400

If you have a specific question please review the following Frequently Asked Questions areas of the site; The Hospital FAQs, The Day School FAQs, and Project Star FAQs.

PittsburghKidsPrograms.org now offers Allegheny (and surrounding counties) a one stop shop for parents to use when looking for summer camps and children’s educational programs. They have established a number of programs to help decrease the summer “achievement gap” and alleviate the some of the financial issues faced by Pittsburgh families.

The Scholarship Assistance Program is an advisory program established to assist parents with the camp scholarship application process. Furthermore, they help lessen the obstacles of transportation and meals (for low-income parents.)

The Community Outreach Program is designed to bring educational outreach opportunities to community centers in distressed neighborhoods, and qualified public housing facilities.

The Summer Camp Scholarship Program provides summer camp scholarship opportunities to qualified, low-income students.

They are seeking the support of individuals, public organizations, and private corporations to help finance the above programs. Donate today to help out this wonderful cause!

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is all about preventing problems among youth by getting to kids early, before destructive behaviors can take root. When a positive, supportive mentor – someone with a different background and perspectives – gets involved in a child’s life, the child often discovers a potential they didn’t know they had. And the child always feels better knowing that someone cares for them. In fact, the rewards are often mutual for both the mentor and child.

They are located at 5989 Penn Circle South, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Contact them at (412) 363-6100, via email at biginfo@bbbspgh.org, and online at www.bbbspgh.org, and "Like" them on Facebook.

February Fun: 14 Local Organizations to Love

"Love" banner, Party Paper Scissors

Wow, friends, we're already into February! Days are getting a tiny bit longer, spring styles are starting to creep back into the stores, and thoughts of summer vacations are slowly becoming solid plans.

After a fantastic start to the new year reviewing 31 of the most fantastically inspiring people I know, I am looking to continue the blog trend with something extra-special. February is the month of love, so I have decided to feature 14 different local organizations/charities to share with you. Each week you'll see 2-3 different organizations that are right here in Pittsburgh, and I'll tell you all about their fantastic missions and how you can support them. I hope that by the end of the month, you will have learned a lot and fallen in love with at least one charity/organization here in our hometown.

So, friends, buckle up and get ready to open your hearts to 14 of my favorite charitable groups!

January 27: East End Fashion Magazine

Take a peek at the fantastically fabulous East End Fashion Magazine, and you'll find fashion, style, advice, and everything chic and stylish. Pretty standard for a fashion magazine, right? Well, what you don't know is that all of this loveliness is produced right here in Pittsburgh! Abby Gleason and Cassie Rusnak, two local chicks with an eye for design, have been producing this online magazine since Spring 2011 and they haven't looked back. bel monili was contacted by EEFM this past summer, and we are pleased to announce that you will be able to see fantastic new bel monili pieces in the February 2012 issue of EEFM!

The idea of EEFM developed between two friends with common passions for local and independent businesses, fashion and photography. Wanting to have a fun way to create beautiful pictures and involve other Pittsburghers of the same mind, Abby Gleason and Cassie Kay Rusnak developed a concept that is now developing here, as you see it, as East End Fashion Magazine.

East End Fashion Magazine serves the Pittsburgh, PA area with focus on the neighborhoods in the East End. EEFM believes in local and independent and will support those businesses by getting the word out through fashion photo spreads, a directory listing, advertisements and social events. By existing only online, EEFM is able to add and update photos and content more often than a print magazine, is easily accessible to everyone, and is better for the environment.

Shirt, Garbella, Bike Chain Bracelets, Erra Creations

 January 2012 Issue

EEFM is always looking for new people and businesses to join its passion whether it is aspiring or experienced models, photographers, hair stylists, makeup artists, fashion designers and stylists, boutiques, locations for shoots and events, and collaborators. If you would like to be considered as new talent, or have a place you think would be awesome for a shoot, please contact us!

Make sure you check out EEFM online, follow them on Twitter,  and "like" them on facebook so that you can keep up with what's happening in style and trends right here in the 'Burgh!

January 25: Angela Todd, AngelLeighDesigns

 

As a member of the Steel Town Etsy team, I have had the great opportunity to meet some of the most amazing artists and crafters in our city. Much to my good fortune, that is how I made acquaintances with Angela Todd of AngelLeighDesigns. During a regular monthly online team chat Angela had brought up the idea of flyering somewhere to promote small businesses and local handmade products. Seemed like there were no takers...except bel monili! Angela and I shared discussion, and a few weeks later she and I were together pounding the pavement in a local neighborhood. I had never done anything like that before and, to be honest, really haven't done it since, but it was a fantastic experience. The day was cold, so we did a little bit of walking but quite a bit more driving. I had a fantastic time walking, talking, laughing, and learning all about Angela and her amazing story. I'm not sure how much business I earned from my efforts, but I am so happy to say that I definitely gained a friend. 

Angela, adorable in one of her creations!

 Angela says that she is old enough that her rural Maine potato farm family did all this DIY stuff before it was a movement!  But, Angela's politics followed her background, and decades later in this urban setting it hurts her to see some of the wasteful habits we're all in.  Angela is an old leftie, and feels strongly about handmade products in two ways.  First, about the items themselves: the waste that bothers her comes from mass production -- we don't treat handmade items so casually.  In addition, handmade items, with their individuality and sometimes quirkiness, encourage real self-expression and thinking new thoughts.  Handmade objects come from practices of recycle upcycle reuse – further spurning commodity culture and its waste. They come from history, tradition, and human hands.

What WOULD Yoda Do? $25, Etsy

Second, Angela feels strongly about the theories behind handmade, and about social conditions around consumption: with handmade items, producers get the power of production and creative control. Consumers are offered not just the illusion of choices (Smucker’s or Welch’s grape jelly), but real choices (homemade mango jam).  Societies benefit with engaged producers, somewhat leveled playing fields, less dominance more engagement and hopefully less waste. Angela's purchases feed artists and families, not corporations.

Mnamana Tee, $25 Etsy

But, her actual shop started thanks to Angela's library job at a major university.  After years of wage freeze, Angela decided to follow the farmwife tradition of starting a little side endeavor. AngelLeighDesigns will be two years old in May 2012!  The shop has taken Angela to places she never thought she'd go -- craft shows mainly.  She has meet some really great people through Steel Town Etsy, the Travelling Pittsburgh Craft-a-tron Machine, the Rivers of Steel Heritage Center, Handmade Arcade, and I Made It! Markets.  But, it has also helped Angela to hone her real skills and lofty ideas.  It was lovely to discover how happy handmade items make people.  Whether it's a gentleman buying a hat for that woman with the beautiful voice at his church, or a new mother-in-law buying a pair of tees for her son and new DIL.  Angela was surprised by other folks' giddy joy, and it feeds her!  Angela's kids do some modeling and lots of free consulting. Angela's SigOther, Cliff Gearhart, and she have collaborated on the tee shirts in the shop, which has been a fun shared endeavour. 

Women's hat with upcycled vintage tie band $40, Etsy

Angela plans to return to the Rivers of Steel Heritage Center market at the Pump House in Homestead (at the Waterfront) this summer, and encourages folks to come on down to check out local artists, but also to contemplate Pittsburgh's industrial history.

You can find some of Angela's fantastic items online and in her Etsy shop. Make sure you "like" her on Facebook to keep up with what's new at AngelLeighDesigns!

January 22: Robin Cepikoff, Flirt Boutique

I had the good fortune to meet Robin last year through a mutual business friend, and shortly thereafter Flirt Boutique began to carry bel monili items. Today, Flirt Boutique carries a wide variety of items from local designers to famous European design houses.

Robin and Lisa, the brains behind Flirt Boutique

Robin Cepikoff of Flirt Boutique has been right on the edge of the fashion and style since opening the doors in November 2009. This sweet little shop is truly the gem of the Monroeville area, offering stylish, affordable women's accessories that are trendy, chic, and unique. Flirt Boutique hosts events and specials often, making it your go-to for fashion AND fun. If you are a fan Flirt Boutique on Facebook, you will find that they have fantastic web-only offers that you can cash in on when you stop by to shop!

Looking for info on the latest trends? Make sure to like Flirt Boutique on Facebook to see what is new and exciting in the shop!

January 18: Greta Falvo, SOYIL

You know, when I am writing these blogs and taking stock of who I know and how I know them, I have been continually surprised at the facts. Greta Falvo of SOYIL is an excellent example.

I met Greta while I was an undergraduate student at Duquesne University. She and I had some friends in common, and after graduation, we each went our own way and lived out happy little lives. I would see her from time to time when a mutual friend of ours would visit or have an event, but Greta lived out of town and I was back in graduate school.

SOYIL hand-poured soy candles

In September 2011, I went to an event in Sewickley to support my friends at Spoiled Chics the Boutique. The event was a street fair of sorts, focused on pets and pet products. As I walked up the street, I kept noticing a surprisingly fantastic smell. It was noticeable because it was so pleasant, and also so unexpected for an event centered around animals. As I strolled past the booths, I spotted a tent with beautiful candles and a clean, fresh display and made my way over. I was so enthralled by the scent that I hadn't taken the time to look at the person behind the table...it was Greta! We chatted for awhile, caught up on life and business, and then exchanged information so that we could be sure to keep in touch. I walked away with a gorgeous new candle, happy to have reconnected with an old friend.

Today, Greta and I play "Facebook tag" and share ideas and questions about being small business entrepreneurs. I enjoy following her many successes, and my only complaint is that I cannot seem to catch up with her long enough to snag another one of those candles!

SOYIL collection

Greta first fell in love with soy candles a few years ago and has been hooked ever since! There are many benefits of burning soy candles but overall it’s just a nicer, cleaner burn, and soy candles do not release toxins in the air that have been known to kill small animals in the household! Soy candles last longer than paraffin candles. Soy wax is made from soy beans so it helps support our local US farmers, which is another awesome reason to use Soyil candles. Unlike paraffin, soy is a biodegradable resource. Soy is also much easier to clean and has far less black soot than a paraffin candle. Soy is simply better for you, your family and your environment. 

Greta started hand making candles for fun and as a hobby, then all of a sudden she had this huge demand for her Almond and Cozy Home (my personal favorite) scents that it eventually became a business! She wasn’t really sure where she was going with it and is still not completely sure as she loves to get creative! See how/what Greta can create that is completely brand new and exciting in the candle word. After seeing all of the ugly jars and labels out there, Greta knew exactly how she envisioned her product and SOYIL brand---Clean, Eco-friendly, affordable and fabulous! She wanted to create a simple, chic and style friendly candle that would look fabulous in any décor. There are so many candles out there that you buy at the store to bring home and burn and it has no smell. Greta tests each and every one of her scents to make sure they are strong and true to scent. If one is a dud or doesn’t get great feedback, she removes it from her collection.There are a ton of candles out there, but finding a quality candle like a SOYIL candle is unusual. Besides dull scent, most of the candles out there are covered in tacky labeling and unflattering jars, so Greta wanted to make a stylish, soy candle that was actually affordable. 

Custom created SOYIL favors

You can purchase SOYIL candles in a variety of sizes, shapes, and scents at these fine locations:

Alexa’s Salon Off Grandview  www.salonpittsburgh.com
Loova www.loova.com
Gifted Hands www.giftedhands.com
Jacqueline’s Salon www.jacquelinesnews.com

Custom order SOYIL candles for showers, weddings, or other special occasions. Follow SOYIL on Twitter and "like" them on Facebook to keep up with new products, events, and exciting opportunities!

January 15: Burgheoisie

Recipient of the Pittsburgh Pop-up Project, the Steel Town Craft Co-Lab came together to bring local artists & craftsman a boutique to showcase their wares in the Cultural District. Burgheoisie became the store name to describe a vision of downtown residents redefining what type of consumers buy hand-made & simultaneously invests in their community. All inclusive, Burgheoisie is a boutique with creative culture for everyone!

Items available at Burgheoisie, perfect for Valentine's Day!

Burgheoisie offers a variety of artisan, hand-made wares like jewelry, fashion apparel & accessories for men, women, and children, bath & body products, original art works, and custom home-goods. Our member makers run the store so that you have direct access to the creator for personalization of the product. bel monili is one of 12 local artists selling wares here, so you can be happy knowing that shopping at Burgheoisie is supporting your local economy.

206 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

 

Additionally, there are Workshop Wednesdays, where we stay open until 9pm so that residents & visitors alike can enjoy an educational, crafty experience. See our website for future scheduled events and keep up to date on our events by liking our Facebook page.

You are sure to find something you love!

Send your requests for your specific workshop interest & make the most of the talented individuals who make our store happen! We also cater private shopping parties. Email us for more details or come by the store to speak with us in person. Many of us view our mission to spread joy through our work and welcome the opportunity to have a place where you are able to find it.

Stop in today and say hi!

Burgheoisie will be having an event during The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Gallery Crawl on Friday, January 27, 2011. Stop by after 5pm to find fantastic items hand-crafted by local artists, pick something up for your special someone, or treat yourself to a locally-made goodie! Make sure to "like" Burgheoisie on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up with all of the exciting new items, events, and workshops.