sugarboo photo box color chart

All of Sugarboo’s photo boxes can come in any of these color selections.  Click here for an enlarged view of this palette.

luci & flair light up the rochester location

Even though the stores are decorated for Christmas, Dena & Susan still had a grand time dressing up as our famous firefly mascots Luci & Flair for the trick-or-treaters last Saturday.

Needless to say, their costumes didn’t miss a beat … complete with sparkly names, glittery eyes, shiny wings and wiry antennas… right down to their balloon butt lights.  Pretty impressive!

Of course when Samson found out there was a party going on, he insisted on making an appearance.  Sticking to the ‘bug theme’ he sported a very stylish bee costume.

Fun times are always to be had when you visit catching fireflies!

french grooves with phoenix

I was first turned onto these guys after I heard their song If I ever feel better on their United Album and have been a fan ever since.  They have a very unique sound and can be quite addicting.

Here’s what the pros say:

"The band’s been relentlessly eclectic since they formed in the late ’90s; they make hybrid music, an electronic-flavored rock that’s impossible to describe without using up half a dozen hyphens in the process.  Their records are effortless-sounding, mini-masterpieces that mix art song elements with delightful retro-pop."  -Mike McGonigal

fanciful fenton michigan

If you live in the metro Detroit area and want to take an afternoon road trip, I’d recommend exploring Fenton.  It’s a quiet little town filled with some charming shops and a delightful restaurant called The French Laundry. 

Some of the shops I like to peruse include The Iron Grate, (shabby chic gift boutique with a great atmosphere) Sweet Variations, (old time candy shop) and Barefoot Thyme.

There is also this quirky antique shop called Yesterday’s Treasures that is filled with lots of curious finds.  I’m not a huge antique collector but I do enjoy seeking out unusual & interesting goodies.

I loved looking at all their silly salt-n-pepper shakers.

comfy cute clogs

Indigo has come out with more cute clog styles for this fall.  I bought my first pair after I spotted them on my cousin at a Christmas party last year and I just love them.

Why they’re the best… comfy, cool color combos, fun details, great quality and they add an additional 2.5" to your height (always a plus in my book)

a great girls night out

Lots of ladies came out to enjoy a fun filled evening at both catching fireflies locations last Thursday at our ‘girls night out event’.  We served up sweet cider and delicious doughnuts as shoppers scoped out handsome handbag deals.

Eric Fritts played some groovy acoustic tunes for two and half hours without a break at our Rochester location and the ladies just loved it! (thanks for rockin’ the house Eric) In fact one birthday girl lucked out and Eric played and sang Happy Birthday while the rest of the crowd joined in… what a special treat.

Creating fun and festive memories is just one of the many reasons we love to host ‘girls night out’.  Thanks to all of you who visited us and made it a wild success!

humane society mega march 2006

Meet team catching fireflies… Steve, April, Danielle. Loribeth, Angela and of course Samson. With the help of your generous donations we raised $750 for the Michigan Humane Society at the Mega March in downtown Detroit on October 8th 2006.  Thank you so much for your support.  We had lots of fun struttin’ Samson around town and would like to share some fun photos we took throughout the day.

 

Samson is ready to get the party started and is eager to meet some new doggie friends.

Being we were downtown the day after the Tigers beat the Yankees, we spotted quite a few canine fans.

 

There were dogs of all sizes, personalities and breeds… big ones

…pocket sized ones

…just plain goofy ones

… the divas

… and we can’t leave out the kids and one brave cat!

Samson was star struck by local celebrity Jay Towers of Fox News and 97.1 FM (who by the way is a big fan of bulldogs… he even took a photo of Samson with this phone)

Samson had no problem trotting the 2 mile loop… but some dogs had deluxe transportation.

At the end of the walk, two rows of cheerleaders congratulated all the dogs.  Samson celebrated by indulging in some frosty paws ice cream.

Afterwards Samson stretched out and enjoyed the sunshine… then took a very long Sunday afternoon nap.

quaint downtown rockford, michigan

Since I was in Grand Rapids for a friends wedding over the weekend, I thought it’d be fun to spend some time with my mom and head to the cute little town of Rockford.

My sister-in-law also lives here and has raved about the wonderful fall harvest weekends they put on each year.  In addition to the cute shops & restaurants it definitely is a great place for family fun activities. 

Some of my favorite boutiques are Jade and Paper Doll.  They both carry a wonderful assortment of fabulous frocks, bags and accessories.

Aunt Candy’s is a must stop for a HUGE assortment of unique toys & goods for kids of all ages.

My art fair friend, Apryl Lea recently opened an artsy shop cleverly named Pawsitive Vybe.  She offers an eclectic assortment of goodies for all dogs & dog lovers and also does dog training.  In fact just in the short time I visited her I got some awesome training tips for our dog Samson.

After an afternoon of shopping my mom and I dined at the classic Corner Bar… where you have to get their famous chili dog with all the fixins.  It was a perfect way to finish off a fun day about town.

tyson the talented bulldog

I love how cats and dogs can brighten your day. Whether it is a steady purr or cheerful bark, it usually doesn’t take much to lighten the mood.  Well… Tyson the talented skateboarding bulldog does that and a whole lot more.  If you’re in need of a good laugh or genuine smile, this silly site is the perfect prescription.

the best pumpkin cheesecake

Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake

Instead of the traditional pumpkin pie this fall, give it a little twist with this delicious recipe

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
whipped cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Make the crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and 1 tablespoon sugar in a medium bowl. Stir well enough to coat all of the crumbs with the butter, but not so much as to turn the mixture into paste. Keep it crumbly.

Press the crumbs onto the bottom and about two-thirds of the way up the sides of a springform pan. You don’t want the crust to form all of the way up the back of each slice of cheesecake. Bake the crust for 5 minutes, then set it aside until you are ready to fill it. In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth.

Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and continue to beat until smooth and creamy.

Pour the filling into the pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. The top will turn a bit darker at this point. Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool.

When the cheesecake has come to room temperature, put it into the refrigerator. When the cheesecake has chilled, remove the pan sides and cut the cake into 8 equal pieces. Use dental floss to make a clean cut.

Serve with a generous portion of whipped cream on top.