March 2010 Edition

As I write this in the wee hours, fresh from the BSBPA Annual Community Meeting and Mixer, I find it very easy to focus on the “Green” theme of March associated with St. Patty’s Day and the coming of Spring time.

You see, the featured speaker this year was Karen Totino, long time resident and newer business owner of Green Conscience Home and Garden, who provided a darn interesting presentation about “Goin’ Green”, some of the items from her retail store and ways (and why) we should remember why becoming a sustainable community really matters.

What really impressed me, as always does with people of strong convictions that are homegrown, was how she started in her business when out for a walk with her children. I’m certain all in attendance would agree that her eyes sparkled with what I bet was the same enthusiasm, as that first moment, when she had her “light bulb moment” (I imagined an energy saving one floating above her head).

Karen spoke of flooring and clay wall treatments that absorb the floating dust we see in our homes on bright, sunny days and even contributed door prizes: plant potters that appear to be plastic however, are compostable in your garden once you tire of using them. She reminded us all of the receptacles, at all of our school locations, at no cost to the schools and free for us to use, that are placed for our newspapers, magazines, phone books, etc. that actually provide funds back to our school district.

In a few short moments, Karen provided inspiration and a proactive presentation that was a fun and fitting kick-off to the Spring renewal time in our community, that we all tend to look forward to, after a grey, snowy winter.

And she exemplified another shining example of a resident, a volunteer and a small business owner wrapped into one package that makes up the fabric of Our Towne.

C’mon Spring!
Angela McFarland
Publisher

Featured Business: Make Me Fabulous

Q. Describe your business and how you got started.
Well, I guess I got started when I was in High School. I would do hair and makeup at slumber parties. Sometimes girls would then sneak away to meet their boyfriends! I also remember “trying” to color and cut my cousins’ hair in those days. We would then wake in the morning and try to ‘fix’ it!

But officially, after my son Cameron was born in 1997, I decided to leave my full time job as a sales rep for TRW, now Experian, to be a full time mom and follow my dreams of being a makeup and hair artist.

Since then, I have grown into a wedding day, special event and commercial makeup, hair, and wardrobe stylist now for more than 18 years. I now work with politicians, newscasters, celebrities, models, actors and brides from clean and classic…to hi fashion…to blood, sweat and tears…I’ve done it all!

I now divide most of my time between print and video projects, the Boutique and off-site wedding requests.

Q. Are you known for anything special?

When I was with Clinique, many called me “the eye queen.” I still really love to bring out my clients eyes.

I’m also very excited to have been just recently rated one of the HOT 100 Salons in the Country by Beauty Entertainment Magazine.

Q. What do you want the community to know about you?
Recent projects include styling for guests of the Rachel Ray and Larry King Live Shows, a national ad appearing in Martha Stewart Weddings, NY Giants Training Camp, national print for retailer AJ Wright as well as three editorial features in WellWed and Vermont Vows Magazines. I am also the ongoing makeup artist and consultant to NBC News affiliate WNYT.

Frequently, I am asked the question “What are you doing in Ballston Spa?” I have had opportunities to work in other areas but I thought about it alot and really wanted to work where I was close to my roots, my home and my children.

Q. Anything else?

Owning our own business has been is one of the hardest endeavors my husband and I have ever taken on . You make mistakes. It takes passion and belief in yourself and your product to overcome and move on. You are always learning, improving, making it better. That is also one of the biggest rewards as well. I always want to please my customers and give them the best I have to offer. Instilling my staff with this philosophy has become our focus in the past year and will continue in 2010.

Oh yeah, and anyone who leaves the boutique, has a wedding or a photoshoot must feel “fabulous” We have to… its in our name.

Business Name: Make Me Fabulous
Address: 102 Milton Ave. Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Phone: 885-2929
Website: www.makemefabulous.com