Main Street Baskets & Gifts Opens in Bloomingdale

Are you looking for something different to give to a friend for a birthday or anniversary? Well Main Street Baskets and Gifts might be the answer to all your worries. Owned by Terry Hedley, the store offers gourmet foods, gift items such as collectables, mugs and frames and pre-made baskets for all occasions.

Customers can come in and purchase a pre-made basket or select items from the store for Hedley to arrange.

"If you have something special at home you want to include in the basket, I'll add that too," says Hedley, who owned a similar company in North Carolina before moving to the area. "When I moved here I did basket in my friend's home, but then decided to open the store to offer my services to everyone."

The store is located behind Port City Java at 2226 E. Bloomingdale Ave. and is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Consign Dezigns Buys and Sells

Can't find the perfect spot for your old coffee table in your new home? Or did you receive a beautiful vase from Aunt Sally for your birthday that just doesn't go with your home décor? Fear not, Consign DeZigns, which recently opened on Lithia Pinecrest Rd. consigns quality pre-owned home furnishings.

"We are here to help residents who don't want to sell their items with the hassle of classified ads," says owner and Riverview resident Maria Gomes. "If a certain piece doesn't looks good in their new home, they can bring it here and we'll sell it for them."

The store is arranged like a designer showroom so customers can see how certain items will look in a fully furnished area.

Consign Dezigns is located at 3322-5 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., next to Port City Java, and can be reached at 685-5053. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Olivia's Closet Offers Organic Toys

A new type of toy recently made its debut at Olivia's Closet, an upscale boutique located in the River Hills Shopping Center. The brand is miYim and the toys are completely organic, made with organic cotton fibers and natural dyes from plants and minerals.

According to Olivia's Closet owner Susan Maryanski, the toys, which have been featured in Family Circle, Child, Women's Day and Parents magazines, are the winner of the iParenting Media Award & the Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center.

Olivia's Closet is located at 4387 Lynx Paw Trl. and can be reached at 655-3727.

Flowers For All Occasions

A Flower Shop is another new florist that recently opened in the Brandon area at 129 E. Bloomingdale Ave.

Owned by Bill and Robin Marshall, previous owners of Robin's Florist which previously occupied the same location, the store offers an array of beautiful flowers, live plants, gifts, baskets and décor items in a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. 

The Marshalls explain that family circumstances caused them to close Robin's Florist a few years back. Bill says, "Now, we have returned to what we love, creating beautiful things and touching peoples' lives." 

Robin adds that the store is a reflection of how they want customers to feel when they visit. She says, "We want our customers to feel here, welcomed and at home. You will see the beautiful flowers filling the coolers and the live plants sitting all around just waiting for someone to take them home."

In addition, the store also offers gourmet items by "Homemade Gourmet," another family operation run by the Marshalls' son Jon, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. Homemade Gourmet offers catering for events or private dinners, plus a line of goodies.

"There is no doubt in anyone's mind that knows this family:it is a family business," Bill states. "We grew up in the Brandon area, and have raised our children in the Brandon area, and are now helping our children to raise their children here. It is truly our home. We are blessed and we hope that all of our neighbors come by and see us here at A Flower Shop - a fresh approach."

Worldwide delivery is available through Teleflora Florist. Hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sunday deliveries and extended holiday hours are available.

For more information, call 681-4444.

English Rose Florist Blossoms With Business

Whether you are searching for the perfect arrangement or live plant for graduation or any other occasion, take a trip to the newly opened English Rose Florist located at 232 Oakfield Dr.

"We had a very busy Mother's Day," comments co-owner Lee Newey who owns the store with her sister Becky Shakespeare. She adds that while the sisters are new owners of the shop that has offered flowers to the Brandon area for 30 years, they are also in the process of opening a sister shop down the street, currently called House of Flowers, and will add to the inventory to offer gifts and home décor items.

Store hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Delivery is available.

The English Rose Florist can be reached at 685-4949 and a Website is under construction at www.brandonenglishrose.com. 

Goin' Postal Helps With Mailing Needs

Goin' Postal, a low cost franchise alternative to the UPS Store, recently opened at 932 W. Lumsden Rd.

Owned by area residents Jim and Jenny Griffin, Goin' Postal offers a variety of services including UPS, FedEx, DHL, faxing, color copying, laminating, packaging, notary, mailbox rental and more.

At Goin' Postal, stamps, office supplies, greeting cards and other items also may be purchased.

Launched in 2002 with a single store until 2004, Goin' Postal is now a chain of more than 200 retail shipping and receiving stores that has its corporate headquarters in Zephyrhills, FL. The company's philosophy is based on a foundation of great customer service, fair rates and attention to detail within its extended business family

"We are looking forward to meeting our clientele, serving their needs and involving our store in community projects and activities," say the Griffins.

"Please come on in, meet us and find out how we may serve you," adds Jenny.

 Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Call 681-2289 for more information. 

Orange Holds Ribbon Cutting

Orange Home Accessories, which opened late last year in Valrico's Plaza Bella, held a Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting in early June. Approximately 40 chamber members and local residents had the opportunity to browse the store which offers a variety of unique home accessories and furnishings with a modern twist.

"We try to search for things that you can't find just anywhere," says owner Debbie Ploor, who has lived in the Brandon area for 20 years. "The ribbon cutting was a great opportunity for us to invite people into the store to see what it is all about, because it is so hard to describe."

The store is located at 1046 Bloomingdale Ave. and is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 12 Noon-4 p.m. For more information, call 681-8686. For a virtual tour of the store, visit www.orangehomeaccessories.com.

Scrapbooking Fans Head To Creative Cottage

Creative Cottage, Inc. recently opened at 1975 W. Lumsden Rd. Stop by and check out the huge selection of scrapbooking and stamping supplies, home décor and more. Products at Creative Cottage include everything from paper, albums and embellishments to tools, adhesives, storage and more. 

Creative Cottage's Website and easy-to-use catalog allow customers to browse products or search for a particular product easily from the comfort of home.

Store hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sunday 12 Noon-4 p.m. For more information, call 643-7800 or visit www.creativecottageinc.com.

DayDreams Opens Second Location

DayDreams Day Spa of Brandon recently opened a second location at Lakeside Village in Lakeland in order to serve its clientele that have been driving from that area to visit their Oakfield Drive location since 1999.

"We are thrilled to open our second location at Lakeside Village Shopping Center in Lakeland to widen our range and serve our loyal customers that have been driving to Brandon to enjoy our facility," say owners Chris and Jan Jordan, who are proud to have been voted the number one day spa and massage by the Brandon community in both 2005 and 2006. Additionally, Daydreams was featured in Southern Baby magazine for its mother-to-be services and Renew magazine, which is a national publication that features the top day spas throughout the United States.

"It was our dream to start our spa business in Brandon years ago," says Jan.  "We built our business with an open mind and always looked for ways to improve on what we started eight years ago. We wanted to offer a true day spa experience by exclusively performing spa services and not offering hair care services. People constantly compliment us on how truly relaxing the environment is because of that."

The Jordans say that it wasn't an easy task but the new spa in Lakeland is a "must see and experience" facility with over 4,000 sq. ft., making it the largest exclusive day spa facility in Lakeland. 

"We created the atmosphere to be elegant, quiet and relaxing. Once you walk into one of our spas, we want to be sure you leave everything stressful behind," say the Jordans.  "When we say 'Escape to Tranquility,' we really mean it." They say though they have spa manicure and pedicure services set up with state-of-the-art comfort chairs and equipment, their focus is based more on well being for their clients by providing the best products and services for skin and body care as well as advancing better health for body and mind.

Both locations also offer various gift ideas for all occasions. Gift certificates for various level spa services are obtainable throughout the year and are very popular, especially around the holidays. 

For information, reservations and gift certificates, visit Day Dreams Day Spa in Brandon on Oakfield Dr. or call 657-2992.

You can also visit their new location at Lakeside Village in Lakeland or call at 863-686-5859. For complete information on services, locations and directions and to purchase gift certificates online, visit www.DayDreamsDaySpa.com.

Melanson Moves Companies

Michael Melanson, previously of American Home Mortgage, is pleased to be part of the team as a mortgage broker with Mortgage 1, Inc.

"Moving to Mortgage 1 allows me to be much more competitive with rates and to offer some products that were not available with American Home Mortgage. Although I am here in Florida, I can lend virtually anywhere in the U.S.," says Melanson.

Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA and loans for Reverse mortgages, for purchase, refinance, debt consolidation, for primary, second home, investment property and commercial, bad credit or no credit  are all available at Mortgage 1.

"We have it all," states Melanson. "We have a roster of more than 40 lenders and we are a Correspondent Lender with many of them. This means we underwrite and fund these loans."

For more information, call 767-9766.

Waffle Debut at Dairy Queen

Just in time for the summer heat, Dairy Queen (DQ) is introducing its new, freshly baked waffle bowls and cones. They can be ordered plain, or chocolate coated, then filled with Dairy Queen's soft serve ice cream.

DQ will also be offering waffle bowl sundaes that come in three flavors: Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Turtle and Fab Fudge, or the customer's own creation.

"Our freshly baked waffle bowls and cones could become as big as our Blizzard brand," says Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen. "We are setting the gold standard for waffle bowls and cones and creating a 'wow' experience and product. We think we've hit a home run and can't wait for DQ fans to come in and enjoy something new and different on the menu."

Dairy Queen launched an online contest that will run through July 27. Customers 13 and older can submit creative photos of themselves enjoying waffle bowls and cones at their local Dairy Queen. The best photo will be selected daily by Dairy Queen and the winner will receive a daily prize of five hundred dollars. Photos may be submitted via camera phone or computer at www.freezeclickwin.com.

Waffle bowls and cones are just a few of the new menu items Dairy Queen will debut. Waffle bowl sundaes will sell for $3.50 and waffle cones will sell for $2.60.

For more information, visit www.dairyqueen.com.

Get In Shape At Boot Camp

If you are looking to reduce body fat, lose weight, increase strength and improve endurance, The Xtreme Boot Camp may be just what you need. Certified personal trainers Bob Clarkson and John Farina says the program is intended to bring people together to have fun while getting into shape.

The four-week outdoor program to be held in Brandon, Riverview and FishHawk will offer fitness instruction, motivational training and nutritional tips and ideas in a group setting. Clarkson promises it will be filled with excitement and power activities geared toward helping each individual reach his or her goals.

"It doesn't matter what your size or fitness level is now," states Clarkson, who has more than eight years of personal and group training experience. Previously, he launched the Xtreme Boot Camp in Dallas, Tex.

"I love to help people, and I wanted to come up with something that everyone could afford and would still see the same results, if not better. I started an outside boot camp (The Xtreme Boot Camp). This has been a very successful and rewarding journey," he says. "The Dallas Boot Camp is still running successfully and I am currently running several boot camps in the Tampa area with my partner John Farina."

Farina is a Certified ACSM Personal Trainer/Nutritionist with 16 years of sports and fitness experience. In addition, he has several years of retail management and youth coaching experience.

"Helping people achieve their goals has become a way of life, not just a job. Sculpting smiles on their face through the art of personal training gives me no greater joy," says Farina.

Xtreme Boot Camp is open to anyone age 15 years or older. Training will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at a time to be determined.

Participants should expect to participate in calisthenics, stair climbing, military exercise drills, free weight training and more.

Clarkson adds that in addition to all of the obvious benefits of attaining a healthy body, the program can also help people improve their sleep and gain self confidence.

For more information, call 951-7488 or visit www.thextremebootcamp.com.

Chick-fil-A Helps Local Schools

By Christina Johnson

When students at two local schools head back to the classrooms in August, they will have something else to be proud of. In May, Jeff Jones, operator of the East Brandon and Valrico Chick-fil-A restaurant, presented Nelson and Mango elementary school with the company's 2006 Core Essentials Award.

The schools were two out of 10 in the nation to earn this distinction and were awarded $250 and an honorary plaque for their determined efforts in character education.

Chick-fil-A maintains partnerships with more than 1,100 elementary schools in an effort to provide schools with the core essentials program, a turn-key curriculum designed to give teachers and parents the necessary tools to educate children about character and values.

"Chick-fil-A's goal is to assist teachers in communicating morals and character education to children and Nelson and Mango Elementary work closely with us to instill these values in their students," says Jones. "It's my privilege to honor these schools for working hard to teach students moral lessons as well as scholastic ones."

The award goes to the top 10 Core Essentials Schools in the country. To be considered for an award, participating schools submitted a nomination form to their local Chick-fil-A operator.

The chain has awarded more than $21 million in college scholarships and has co-sponsored fundraisers, reading programs and other school-related initiatives.