Well I have been here a few weeks now and it has been quite a whirl wind. I am learning so many new things everyday. It has been a bit overwhelming at times, but I am determined to get everything down and get more comfortable in front of the camera. The days just fly by and I have really enjoyed getting to know everyone. Everyone here at the station is so friendly and helpful….this is going to be a fun year.

Until next time…
Laura

Hello all! Well gee, it’s fall!

The start of every fall season means plenty of great things, changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes,  and of course, fall fashion!

The fall fashion season kicked off here with Mercedes Benz of Buffalo Fashion Week which showcased some amazing designers from around the country. Then came fashion week in New York, and with the start of new fall shows, it is fun to see what trends are catching on this year. Trends often make their debut on Gossip Girl and 90210, and this year the girls are wearing tons of very do-able styles!

I’m really loving some of the latest fall trends, and I’m about to tell you why!

1. Dark Maroon Lips.

Bold lips, a MUST for Fall

Little J's been wearing them forever!

While the classic red is always great, any time of year, dark burgundy is the must have lip color right now. I’ve been rockin’ this shade since the summer, and I am totally in love with it. I find it is flattering on basically everyone and can be tweaked to be really dramatic, or soft, like you just ate a few too many blackberries.  I hope this trend lasts!

2. Red Pants

Serena with bright bottoms

I sometimes sport a pair at work

Red pants are a recurring fashion must-have, but this fall they are out in full force! The best part about this trend is you can dress em up with a blazer and a pair of heels, or dress them down with flats and a white tee.  Either way you go, you’ll be sure to turn a few heads!

3. Is it 1996 again?

Beach-y Grunge?

Bodycon dresses and booties

Using days gone by as fashion inspiration is a sure-fire way to look great this fall. While the 60′s and Mad Men fashion is big, and the neons of the 80′s and early 90′s have had their day in the sun, long skirts, crop tops, shredded jeans, combat boots and plaid pants are back! I recently donned a pair of faded jeans with a rip in the knee and a midriff baring sweater, only to have my boyfriend tell me I looked like DJ Tanner’s best friend. I have never felt more stylish in my life.  It looks like the 90′s are in,  so grab your walkman, and your Nevermind CD (if it isn’t too scratched up) and consider yourself the coolest of fashionistas.

Besides these three highlighted trends, Fall fashion is so accessible this year. Chunky knits, copper painted nails, faux fur galore. There is sure to be a fun new trend for everyone. So snap a pic of yourself in your trendiest outfit, and feel free to share it on our facebook page!

‘Til next time, with a burgundy smile,

-Allie

Well, not for me, but for many people out there!

As I wandered around the gorgeous shops and restaurants of Elmwood this past weekend, I couldn’t help but wonder why so many people were out on a Friday night. Friday’s are usually quite busy, but the city teemed with excitement and my favorite local institutions were positively packed!

After a few minutes of bewildered amazement, it dawned on me, school is back in session! We sometimes forget how much the student body of the city of Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs has on us post-graduates. There is an energy like no other at the end of August and beginning of September, and it seems to make life in general more exciting.

So whether you are headed back to school yourself, sending a kiddo off to class, or just observing it all, take a minute and get wrapped up in the back to school hype. Its thrilling.

Along with this school-fueled excitement, there are plenty of places to go and exert your September enthusiasm. The Wing Festival starts this weekend and is sure to be a great time, as usual. Who will be this year’s wing eating champ? You’ll have to show up to find out. I’ll be there Saturday, so say hi if you get the chance! Labor Day is also this coming Monday, one last day of freedom before our minds declare it Autumn.

As the fall begins, so do new TV shows and the return of our old favorites. I’ll be highlighting a few of our shows right here on my blog the day they premiere. And really, don’t we all love looking forward to nights at home in our comfies nestled up on the couch in front of a great show?

So much ahead, I absolutely cannot wait!

‘Til next time, with a brand new box of Crayola’s and a preppy sweater,

-Allie

Not quite.

Buffalo’s bravest stopped by Winging It on Friday. Buffalo Fire Department Ladder #2 was at the station, along with their truck. They were here to cook, but we couldn’t resist taking a ride in “the bucket.” The bucket is used to get firefighters into and out of high-rise buildings, but it can also provide a great view of the city from up high.

Myself, Joe Arena, our Winging It producer Lauren Hall and Wake Up producer Zak Kineke all hopped in the bucket and rose up, up , upwards almost 100 feet into the North Buffalo sky.

I’m not afraid of heights, but having only three pieces of steel between you and the ground can be slightly terrifying.

We drew in a bunch of station spectators, as well as got a few beeps from passers by.

One thing is for sure, as if I didn’t appreciate the work of our city’s firefighters already, the lengths they go to to keep people safe and fight fires is astounding. These men must be truly fearless and I hope that I gained a little of their courage, just through proximity.

Check out our sky ride on facebook, or with these pictures.

I looked down... EEK!

Joe Arena and Zak Kineke in the Bucket

On the ground, safe and sound!

‘Til next time, with new appreciation,

-Allie

There is one carnival/festival/fair food that gets me every time. Fried Dough. For those of you who watch Winging It, you may have seen my on-air dough obsession. Everything about it is amazing. As a rule, I try to steer clear of fried foods in general. They give me a bit of a stomach ache and I feel as though if my arteries had a choice, they would veto anything soaked in oil. But fried dough, is just too good to pass up.

You can only imagine my delight when my first interview at the fair this morning was a fried dough stand, Gobblin’ Gourmet. What makes this location on 42nd street different from all other fried dough stands, are their varieties. Strawberry shortcake, pecan turtle, red velvet, and more.

While it is far from healthy, this indulgence made me weak in the knees, and reminded me that fair food, while not suitable for every day, is truly a delicacy worthy of appreciation once a year.

Also when it looks this good, how can you resist?

Turtle Fried Dough

Its just too good!

‘Til next time, with elevated blood sugar levels,

-Allie

It’s time we all faced facts. It’s August.  Summer is coming to an end.  For the first time since the spring, I rode my bike to work in the dark. The days are getting shorter, and we are are getting a little bit desperate for more of this wonderful season.

As a last ditch effort for some concentrated sun, I spent the most of last week on a glorious beach vacation. It was everything I’d hoped it would be, and more.

While it can be easy to dwell on the sadness of summer’s final days, it is healthy for us to remember there is still plenty of summer fun left in these last few weeks, Most notably, the fair! While it marks the end of our sunny season, the fair is always full of great food, rides and plenty of good, old-fashioned fair fun! I will be at the fair for Channel 4 day on Thursday, the 11th, and hopefully a few more times after that. This year I want to have the best possible fair experience, so let me hear it from you, what would you consider to be the fair’s finest? Best food? Best rides? Best place for a souvenir? Best Show? Let me know, and I’ll try to include it in my jam-packed fair agenda!

We also have events such as Carly’s Crossing and The Elmwood Art Festival coming up, so the summer fun isn’t over yet! So grab your sunscreen and your shorts, because you still need them, and check out some of Buffalo’s great August Events! While you’re at it, send pics our way, we’d love to see them!

‘Til next time, with every ounce of summer spirit I’ve got left,

-Allie

Too long some may say.

In case you haven’t noticed, we launched a new show! Winging It! Buffalo Style is Western New York’s newest and, in my opinion, coolest morning show.

The past few months have been hectic, but they have been a blast! From clogging, to ropes courses, to sailing,  to re-taking my road test, I have gotten to do a lot of really great stuff for the show. The best thing about it is discovering everything Western New York has to offer.  We live in a great city, and I feel fortunate to be able to show it off!

Now that things have calmed a bit here in CW23-land, I’ll be back to blogging, which means everyone will get to know a bit more about what goes into each show, as well as what they can expect coming up.

I may have already dropped a little hint, but tomorrow I will give teens and parents of teens a few tips on how to pass your road test, while re-taking the exam myself! Will I pass? Well you can only find out tomorrow on the show, or on www.wingingit.tv.

I am also going to check out some of Darien Lake’s new features later in the week, so stay tuned!

It has bee great catching up, I have missed this thing!

‘Til next time, with more insider info,

-Allie

The cold won’t slow me down!

This year will be my first year participating in the Shamrock Run. I have wanted to do this race for years now, but something else always seems to get in the way. Luckily, this year appears to be free and clear, so my Saturday, March 5th, will be spent running five miles (well more like 4.97, and hopefully it won’t take the whole day).

In all races, I like to go out and try my best, but this year I have extra motivation. Some people I know, who are not exactly avid runners, and have delusions of grandeur, think they will be crossing the finish line first. I am running, not only to prove them wrong, but to give them a well deserved “good try” high-five when they stumble to the end of the race. By then I’ll have already finished, eaten some oranges and enjoyed a post-race beer.  Spite is hardly a good reason to do anything, but I find it can be excellent motivation.

In the spirit of healthy competition, I look forward to seeing all my readers out and about on the 5th! If you pass me along the way, please don’t hesitate to shout a few words of encouragement, though hopefully I’ll be leaving others in my dust, and not vice-versa. Plus, the race benefits the Old First Ward Community Center, and there is an option to partner with Roswell’s Team Cure Challenge, so you will not only benefit yourself, but others. Win-win situation if I’ve ever heard one!

I’ll be sure to post pictures of my victory, and invite you all to share the same on the CW23 facebook page!

‘Til next time, with a personal victory,

-Allie

What is this? A warm nighttime breeze accompanied by sunny days? But it’s only February! We are months away from Spring!

These are the thoughts that have been running through my head over past few days. Its hard not to get a jump on springtime excitement when the weather creeps ever closer towards the 50 degree mark.

I can’t help but be a realist, however, and remind myself that this warm spell won’t last. before the week is through we may have a few snow showers and be right back at a bone-chilling 20 degree high.

I am not upset by this! As proven last weekend at both the Powder Keg and Winterfest festivals, snow and ice can provide a great deal of fun! As Buffalonians, we pride ourselves on our uncanny ability to stick out the winter, and find a little fun in it as well.  After over six hours spent roaming the streets and parks of Buffalo, enjoying the weekend festivities, warm beverage in hand, I feel confidant in my ability to welcome back the cold with open arms.  Care to join me?

Lets remember the joys of winter and hold off on Spring for a few more weeks. We can do it. These pictures will hopefully inspire some pleasant wintertime thoughts!

‘Til next time, with a heart full of snowflakes,

-Allie

On the Rugby Pitch at Winterfest

Watching a little Turkey Bowling at the Powder Keg

Some Pond Hockey

Extreme Snow Wrestling... or Rugby

Well Prepared for a Day Outside

The holidays are over and in this past week, you can really feel winter start to set in. The excitement of first storms and snowdays has passed, and we need no longer dream of a white Christmas, it was snowy indeed. Now all we are left with is a few more months of winter, which can feel a bit… dreary.

There is no need to hunker down and choose to hibernate until April, however. There are plenty of indoor, and outdoor winter activities to fight off the gloom of gray days and early-onset nights.

If you’d rather not brave the cold and prefer to spend your wintry days indoors, there is a ton of stuff to keep you occupied! Game nights are a favorite of mine. All you need are a few friends willing to travel to your living room, and a slew of board games, or for those more technologically inclined,  video games that groups are meant to play. I was given Wii Jeopardy, The Michael Jackson Experience and DDR for Christmas this year, and cannot wait to invite friends over to try out all three.

Movies are another great way to spend your time. With awards season just around the corner, you can get a head start on 2010′s nominated films.

If you like to be active, but hate subjecting yourself to hours of semi-numb extremities, there are loads of indoor activities that will get you up and moving. It is always fun to try taking a new fitness class, and programs such as Zumba barely feel like exercise! Lasertron is a fun late-night or weekend activity, though family crowds can be a little overwhelming. For more of a grown-up game, try going after 9pm. The Niagara Climbing center also offers inexpensive access to dozens of rock climbing walls. These are fun, challenging, and wholly exhausting, plus its fun to be an extreme outdoorsman for a day.

If you are a fan of outdoor winter activities, you are well aware of WNY’s MANY ski hills and resorts. For those who have yet to strap on a pair of ski’s or a snowboard, perhaps this is your year! Rentals at most locations are very reasonable, and almost all resorts and ski hills offer beginner lessons for people of all ages.

Then there is the timeless winter wondersport that has entertained people for centuries: SLEDDING! I have been a huge fan of Chestnut Ridge’s sledding hills since I was in the single digits, and my fondness for their mayhem-inducing hills has yet to waver. With their toboggan chutes now open, the hills that overlook Buffalo and the lake have gotten much more intense. If you aren’t the type that likes to carry your own sled, Colden Tubing and Polar Waves tubing take most of the work out of a downhill slide, and both are a short drive from Buffalo.

There are also plenty of showshoe and cross country ski trails all around WNY. Cross country skis and snowshoes can be rented from most winter sports stores, or if you plan on winter hiking for many years, buy a pair and get exploring!

If none of these are your cup of tea, you can always run a big bubble bath and relax with a big cup of hot chocolate, hopefully that will warm you til the spring!

‘Til next time, with a minor case of frostbite,

-Allie