We're Back!

Hey all my friends! It has been pretty busy here lately. As you know, I went on vacation to Niagara Falls, and on to Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll hall of fame. I had a great time in both places, but the real highlight of my trip was to visit my son in Rochester. It's nice to see one of my own kids for a change!

Then I took another day off and saw Bob Dylan in Saratoga. Now you know why I haven't been around for a few days.

I had a very nice chat with the CEO of the Oriental Trading Company. Seems like a real nice guy who has a few kids of his own. There was more I wanted to say about what the children in Ghana go through, but I get a little shy with people, unless I am cutting their hair! Boy, I'd love to go visit them. I am looking forward to hearing more about what is in store for those wonderful kids in Ghana from the Oriental Trading Company. Also, what's in store for me!

I was thinking, it isn't that our kids have too much, it is that all kids should have too much! By too much I don't mean the things money can buy, although a nice, secure, comfortable, home and food should be a right too! I mean the loving and security, the holding and comforting, a chance to learn...too much should be a right for every child. But the most important thing is an adult or pair of adults that a child can rely on, that will not hurt them. That is the key.

A very good friend once said to me "we can only be truly independent if we know we have someone we can depend on." Think about it. That is what children need.

So till I have something else to say...
Talk to you soon!

We Will Be Closed Sunday August 17th!

Sorry! But we will reopen Wednesday the 20th! Call us after 10:00 on Wednesday to make an appointment!
See you then!

Here I am again! I'm back and the phone keeps ringing and ringing! Thank goodness!

I want to thank you all for your congratulations and good wishes about me winning the Oriental Trading Company's contest, Make the World More Fun. As I said, I emailed many of you about this contest, and so many of you have told me how impressed you are that Oriental Trading Company is taking part in ths wonderful mitzvah! After all of these years of buying things from them, it is nice to see that they appear to be a very nice company.

I still do not know what is ahead now that I've won, but I sure hope it will be fun! I'm waiting to hear more from them.

If you want to come in for an appointment, please give me a call first, we will be very busy this week, and I will not be here Sunday.

Thanks again

Hey all! I've been away for a few days, but don't worry, I'll be back for more hair cutting starting Wednesday August 13th. Call me then to make an appointment.

I want to inform all of you...

I WON THAT CONTEST

from the Oriental Trading Company!!! Those great kids in Ghana who used to be slaves, and the children that are still slaves and are yet to be rescued will be getting $5,000 worth of Oriental Trading products and $5,000 CASH. I could never afford to do this on my own!

THANK YOU Oriental Trading!!!

I also want to thank all of the people that I have been driving crazy for votes. Of course that will stop now. My customers to whom I have spoken of nothing else, People on the street that I grabbed, some that I really did not even know, All the Yahoo groups that I sent emails to asking for votes (and members really did vote) My old high school friends, and their friends , my wonderful local friends and my relatives and their friends, EVERYBODY who helped me out with votes on the Oriental Trading website, I thank you all!

The people who work with the children are already making their orders, and I know that there will be a ton of publicity, local and national, but I have to fill out a few forms first to get the ball rolling and then I guess it will be splashed all over their website!

What a vacation I am having!
Thanks again, all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to VOTE!

Two very important items...TODAY, August 4th is the LAST day to vote for my story on Oriental Trading!!
Please do! If I win, those former slave children in Ghana will get $10,000. $5,000 in Oriental Trading products, and $5,000 in CASH.
Voting is going on until 5:00
Vote Here!

For more information about what is going on with these children in Ghana, see my June 10th entry.

ALSO it is always best to make an appointment at the shop. I am the only one cutting hair and I would hate to have anyone wait. Not only that, people come from so far away to get haircuts from me, I would really hate to be too busy to even get to you! Always call ahead if you can!

I Am A Finalist In A Contest and I Need YOUR Help To Win!

Many of you already know that Someplace Special has been very active in helping children who are, or have been, slaves in Ghana. Well now something very special has happened to Someplace Special, and I need your help!

A couple of months ago, I entered a contest held by The Oriental Trading Company, a toy catalog that many of you have heard about. The challenge was to write an essay telling about a person or an organization that you believed could use a little more fun in their lives.

As it turns out, I have been notified that I am among 10 finalists picked from thousands of entries. At this point, I need all of you to go to this website, www.maketheworldmorefun.com and vote for me (one vote per computer). The children in Ghana will receive $10,000, half in cash, and half in product from Oriental Trading Company , If I win.

For more information about the situation that now exists in Ghana, please read my blog and watch the video I have posted in the June 10th entry. You may also check out the organizations that will get the money and distribute it to the children, the IOM and the US arm of the organization, USAIM.

Thanks so much, and please go and vote, you will be doing the children and the world a big favor! Only one vote per computer will be allowed!

This is the entry that put me in the top 10

In Ghana is a group of children that has lived their early years in slavery. Poor parents, overwhelmed by their child's needs, sell them to fisherman as apprentices, not realizing the children will become slaves as young as 5 years old. They dive into freezing water to untangle fishing nets and herd cattle. They are beaten often, eat little, and get no medical care. I have been dealing with an organization called the IOM (international organization for migration), which buys back these children and sends them to school. They try to give them a secure life, food, clothes, shelter, and an education.

When I found out about the children, the store I own had a party and donated money spent on art projects to the organization. My customers decorated gold cardboard crowns we bought from you, with all kinds of collage materials we bought from you, and made $500.00 for the organization. Then I thought they needed fun in their lives and ordered blow up vinyl animals and sport balls from you along with tootsie pops. The kids were thrilled. I see so many things I would like to send them in your catalog, but I just cannot afford to do all I want even though you have wonderfully fair prices. My business still makes very little profit. PLEASE HELP THESE KIDS HAVE FUN!!! They have had so little in their short lives. I pray you will show them that people really do care. Soon another group of children will be rescued. The IOM has to keep returning for more. Show them all you care!
Photos of the children are Courtesy of the IOM

Hey All, It's My Birthday! July 5th

This might be the very first time I have ever closed or not worked on my birthday, unless I was already scheduled for day off, but since it is a long weekend, I figured that I'd take a break! Of course I will be back to work on Sunday, so call after 10:00am to make an appointment.

I thought you might think this was kind of cute!

Child Slavery in Ghana

As you know, I have decided to do my part fighting against child slavery. Take a look at this video and see why the problem has touched me so deeply.

Here is a link to a very interesting article about the problem. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/mar/22/sarahleft. You will have to copy and paste if you want to read it, as I haven't quite figured out how to make links yet!!

The IOM, International Organization for Migration, needs money to help buy back the children who are enslaved. The only way the slave masters, as they call themselves, will let the children go is if they are paid. To that end, I will be selling plaster pieces, princesses, dinosaurs, trains, and other items that you and your children can take home and paint. I will also give you two colors of paint, all for $5.00. The money will go to the IOM.

I have also made up 500 rubber bracelets with the name of one of the children Someplace Special sponsors. His name is Welcome, and I thought that was a nice sounding name to make a charitable contribution to. The bracelets will be $3.00 to $5.00 or more, whatever you are comfortable giving, and they come in adult and kid sizes.



Welcome is a bright 12 year old boy who has spent much of his life in slavery. Now he is in school and doing well. We also sponsor a boy named Selassie. He is only 5 years old, and has already lived through the horror of slavery.

Recently I sent a box of toys to the children, you can see them blowing up the assorted vinyl toys I sent. Since I am also used to giving children lollipops, I sent a bunch of those too! Whatever I can do to make them happy, Just like I do with your children, I will, but I need your help!

Please remember to pick up some bracelets and some plaster pieces to paint, make a kids life just a bit happier.

Thanks everyone, and I will try to keep the posts a bit lighter now! After all, Someplace Special is a happy place!

Someplace Special Gives Back

I've been thinking a lot about the kids in Ghana who are used as slaves by the fishermen on the Volta river.

These kids at 5 years old are up at 6AM to help the fishermen get the nets ready, make sure that the nets are not ripped, and then plunge into the freezing water to unstick stuck nets and help catch the fish. When they are done fishing hours later, they herd the cattle.

Yes! Can you imagine, 5 year olds! And 6 and 7 and so on.They are hardly fed and never taken to doctors, and many are beaten regularly and they never go to school. They are truly slaves!

I cannot ignore this situation. Here I am working with your wonderful, beautiful, happy, kids and you all know that my goal with my customers is to make them as happy as possible during their haircuts. TV, toys and anything it takes. They deserve it!! I love it, and that is why I do it. But these other kids so far away in Ghana deserve it too! So do all children in the world, New York, Myanmar, everywhere. Even just the basics! They don't even have that.

These days I am in contact with some great people in Ghana who are helping these kids, and I am going to set up a fund. The Welcome fund, so named for the 12 year old boy that this store sponsors with the money made at our 5th birthday party. A very bright 12 year old named Welcome, who was BOUGHT BACK (yes, I said BOUGHT back! That is how the organization in Ghana gets the children to safety). Now he attends school and lives a free life.

I will be selling off my plastercraft items that we used to use at parties and paint for $5.00 for each plastercraft piece and 2 paint colors. That money will go to the IOM, The International Organization for Migration (slavery is considered forced migration). Please help me save another child.
Thanks everyone!
Suzanne
PS, as if this all wasn't enough, I will also have my little Kiva piggy bank out to collect pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, to help people with micro loans around the world!

Some Cute Pictures

Just thought you might like to see a few of my sweet customers. I cut the hair of alot of girls too, I just do not have any pictures of them right now.

If you have any pictures you would like to send me, please do!

Someplace Special is always SOMEPLACE SPECIAL!

Great New Products in the Shop

Things are really busy at the shop now. It is definitely a good idea to make an appointment! And not only are people coming in for haircuts, they are also coming in for the many toys we are selling now. All kinds of things like Zoosticks, great beginning chopsticks for those little sushi lovers out there
And bubbles bubbles...LOTS of bubbles!


I really cannot believe how many nice things I am surrounded by now in my new store.I have tried my best to pick out things you will all like. California Baby products, Anti Lice shampoo from Circle of Friends, realistic looking animals from Schliech and adorable tiny baby dolls. I also have the greatest finger puppets. Please come in and take a look! GREAT things to fill a party bag with.
As always, I invite you to come in and play with my Thomas the Tank Engine Play Table any time!

A Little Bit About What I Do

Wow! Today a family who had been customers and moved to Georgia stopped by so their child could get a haircut.

I am always so flattered when that happens, and it happens a lot! Of course they came to visit friends and family and found a chance to fit me in, but recently a family came all the way from Maine JUST for a haircut! Of course I am sure they visited some friends too, but the haircut was the original reason for the visit!

Both of these families are wonderful people.

Now the child from Maine is really NOT a big fan of haircuts, but I did my best as I always do.

Over time I have developed a large following of kids who love haircuts, kids who are typical developing but hate haircuts and special needs kids. I am always happy to try my best. I can be mighty silly, and am able to distract many kids so they get a good haircut. Unfortunately for some kids only the tight grip of a parent will make it possible for me to do the job. For 99% of these extra sensitive children, as soon as I stop, they are fine. I like to think of them as having a strong sense of self preservation.

I can never guarantee that I will make a child who hates haircuts happy, but I seem to have a lot of success, and I get the job done 99 out of 100 times.

So if you have a kid who hates haircuts, try me out! I will do my best to make your child as happy as possible with bubbles, puzzles, and skill!

OH YEA, I almost have the new store set up the way I want it, thanks to some wonderful friends and customers. Dina (who runs a great art class Wednesdays and Fridays)Dave, Bonnie, Jodie, Norm, Maria, and others. Forgive me if I left you out... It's been like an Amish barn raising...you're all wonderful!

Check out these Cuties!

Here is one guy whose hair I cut for the first time a few years ago, and still do. He always comes in with the most beautiful long blond hair and we cut it all off and start again! Too bad his face doesn't show here! he's just gorgeous!



Here is another baby who is truly a miracle! Just take a look at him! Another gorgeous kid!

Send me your photos! I'd love to post them! Just email to someplacespecial@aol.com

Remember To Make Appointments! It's Getting Busy These Days

As you know, Passover is just about here! Before passover, April 20th, is the last time Orthodox Jews can get their hair cut because as it says on the Chabad website, "

"The seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot are a time of anticipation and preparation, during which we retrace the Israelites' journey from the Exodus to Mount Sinai. As our ancestors did more than 33 centuries ago, we count these 49 days and refine the 49 sefirot ("attributes" or characteristics of the soul) associated with them.

But the Omer weeks are also a time of sadness. No marriages are conducted during this period; like mourners, we don't cut our hair or enjoy the sound of music. For as the Talmud tells us, it was in this period that thousands of Torah scholars, disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva, died in a plague because "they did not conduct themselves with respect for each other."

So, if you want to get a haircut before April 20th...make sure to call and make an appointment. I am sure to be super busy before then!

There is enough time to get to ALL of my customers, as I will be opening early and closing late, and maybe working a couple of Mondays and Tuesdays, which I never do! I am also taking alot of vitamins these days!!!

See you ALL soon!

My Changing Table Is All Hooked Up! And Please...Try To Make An Appointment (not for the changing table!!!)

Yippee! My new changing table has been installed, in the bathroom, just like it is supposed to be, so I will not need to put a curtain around it like I planned! I am so happy to have it (it is the little things in life!) and I invite everyone with kids to come in and use it any time. My bathroom is your bathroom!

A thank you to Peter Kelly, my contractor...if you need one, I'd be happy to recommend him!

I want to warn everyone that this is a very busy time for haircuts at Someplace Special. PLEASE make appointments early. I am really sorry to have to do that, but if you call first, there will be room for everybody. I will be starting early, and ending late so everyone can look beautiful for their holidays and beyond.

Lots of toys and workbooks in the store. Come and get 'em!

Shop locally! You'll have more time for everything else!

A New Changing Table, a New Neighbor, and Some Thoughts

For those of you interested, there will be a new changing table put up in my store! You all know I'm all for convenience for my customers! Unfortunately in the new store a regular changing table did not fit in the bathroom so I bought the type that folds against the wall. It will be put up right by the bathroom. Eventually I will put up a curtain too so you will have a bit more privacy.

As a matter of fact, I know exactly where I will get that curtain! Right next door to me, a new store is opening. It is called Three Brothers Upholstery. The owner is a real nice guy named Edgar, and I am thrilled because it has been a bit too quiet on my block. Now I have company! Please visit Edgar for your upholstery, refinishing furniture and drapery needs. He can even recover your car seats. Tell him I sent you!

There are a couple of very worthy charities I have been wanting to tell you about. One is a wonderful organization called the IOM. The International Organization for Migration. It is a wonderful organization helping enslaved children in Ghana. This organization actually rescues them and reunites them with their families, along with educating and helping the families stay together.

Another is Kiva. Kiva is dear to my heart because it is set up to help people trying to run their own businesses and climb up out of poverty. I know how it is to need that few extra dollars, so it is wonderful to be able to help people in similar situations at a level that is comfortable for you.

Please take a look at these organizations!

And come in and change your baby any time!

The New Space is Coming Together

Right now, we are almost finished with our big move, and big things are happening even if our space is actually a little smaller!

First of all, the new space is really starting to feel great! Lots of friends coming in to wish me good luck, and lots of toys being delivered to keep me busy putting them away in between doing what I love, haircuts on kids!

There are so many toys in the store now. I have really adorable finger puppets, flying pigs, mice in baskets, all kinds of bubble blowers and Alex Bathtub toys. One thing I found when I went to the toy fair this year was an ORGANIC play dough compound that feels like play dough but is made of high quality organic ingredients that are blended when ordered so they are fresh! Come try out a sample! It comes in all different colors.

I am also working on an order of California Baby products. If anyone has any requests, let me know. I am going to try and discount the products...

Which leads me to this...ALMOST no toy in my store will be over $10.00! Maybe only a special purchase here and there, but right now ALL but one toy, a bubble blower that a baby can operate by themselves ($19.99) will be $10.00 and under. Including all of the Melissa and Doug puzzles I have that originally cost more.

So until next time...Come on in!

Remember, even if you are not getting a haircut you are welcome to play in the store with our Thomas train set up!