The Circle

For the ultimate in wedding trends you need look no further than through the doors of Bellisimo. I have spent several months interviewing dozens of professionals to identify the best in the business as my fusion partners for this special project.
Bellisimo now presents................
"The Circle at Bellisimo"

My concept for The Circle was to enable our bridal & event planning clientele to shop in one convenient location that could fulfill all their needs, wants & desires.







If you missed our launch party-here's a peek!

The spectacular cakes from our

launch party - compliments of

Shelley's Cake Studio

The entrepreneurs of The Circle are women who "get" Bellisimo's promise to provide superior customer service & the latest trends for those discriminating patrons.

Bellisimo now offers a complete menu for all your social events!

Hotel Amenity Baskets Bridal & Event Planning Custom Invitations Trendy favors
Attendant's Gifts Bridal Jewelry
Make Up Artists Entertainment

Friendship Bread

I had an artist paint a wall at Bellisimo that reads "Entrare il bellisimo come uno straniero, un congedo come un amico" translation "Enter Bellisimo as a stranger, leave as a friend" It is part of the magic of the shopping experience at Bellisimo! Our atmosphere is warm & inviting, and truly a space for friends to gather.

I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people who have come into my boutique, and have since become my friends. My friend Margaret is one of those special people and she is the most kind-hearted woman I have had the pleasure of meeting.

She recently brought me Amish Friendship Bread as well as the starter for the bread to make my own which is a 10 day process. The idea is to bake 2, keep 1 & give the other to a friend along with the recipe & the cycle continues. It is a sweet cinnamon flavored delight! If you are not familiar withh this tradition, anthropologists say people like to share things they have invested their time in. It is the notion of giving something of yourself. The bread as well as the gifts from Bellisimo have much in common, we love to create & share beautiful things.

Thanks to the magic of Bellisimo & compliments of my dear friend you will find the recipe below.

P.S. It's in the oven as I write!

Starter Ingredients
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
3 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups milk

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 thru 9; stir only.
Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2.

Friendship Bread
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Grease 2 (9x5 inch) loaf pans.
In a large bowl, combine the Amish bread starter with oil, eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well. Pour into prepared loaf pans.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"
— Audrey Hepburn
Yes indeed I'm a big Hepburn fan. Who else has ever that style, grace & wit? Audrey said if you want to look more attractive, to speak kind words & that people, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. I am going to read these words every day (at least for a while.)

In business & in life, it sometimes seems that there are many things impossible. People say it's impossible to please all your customers & clients but I say I know differently thanks to Audrey!

Are You a B-Girl?

As Co-Founder of the professional women's networking club; "Are You a B-Girl?" I have had the opportunity to meet thousands of amazing women over the last 3 1/2 years.

What a journey this has been! Thankfully, the vast majority of members/prospective members I have come in contact with understand the B-Girl's mission to connect, inspire, motivate & support, one another. That is where our club differs from so many, we are here for each other. What a concept! This is not the club to join if you are simply in it to see what you can get......... B-Girls are givers not takers and we B-lieve that you "get" what you "give." Most importantly, don't "B"come a B-Girl if you do not like to laugh. We may B serious about our businesses, but we want to have fun in the process & our meetings are filled with laughter & positive energy.

www.areyouabgirl.com

Bellisimo + Concepts in Bloom = Everything Wedding!

I am thrilled beyond words to announce that Bellisimo has partnered with Kathy Valdez of Concepts in Bloom!

Concepts in Bloom and Bellisimo have fused to create a truly all things weddings shop! Kathy will B on-site for all your wedding /event planning needs. Bellisimo now offers floral, gourmet chocolates, unique party favors, fabulous gifts, custom invitations, personalized stationery, and beautifully hand crafted jewelry, and above all exemplary customer service, all for you in one convenient location.

Bellisimo Smells Pink

My goal for Bellisimo was to create a shopping experience-not just a place to shop. It has become an ever evolving project & I am enjoying every second.
A little girl came into my store this weekend, she was probably about 8 & was grinning ear to ear upon entering. She looked at her mom & declared that my store "smelled pink." I haven't been able to get that observation out of my head-she was right-Bellisimo does indeed "smell pink!" Pink is Pretty, Pink is Girly, Pink is Happy! Pink is exactly how Bellisimo smells :)