In 1998 when Gina Pizzini was ready to expand UpClose from Richmond/Rosenberg into the Sugar Land area, she called on Sharon Ballint. Sharon says, “Back then Gina would take one side of Highway 6 and I would take the other, calling on local businesses and explaining the UpClose concept. In 2005 I took a break to spend more time with my daughter and husband (who had been working out of state)...and 10 years went by. Late last year, Gina called and asked if I would come back. I was thrilled to help with our expansion into Katy. UpClose itself is a small business built from the ground up...so we can really relate to the needs of our local business community.”

Wow, May, 2015 is here! How is your 2015 home transformation coming along? For Grand Windows and Interiors’ clients the first half of the year has been bustling with gorgeous and exciting bath and kitchen remodels, robust color changes, and ingenious design for better use of space. April showers bring May flowers, but Grand Windows and Interiors’ new April showers are bringing May showers!

“Most people don’t have a concrete problem, they have a dirt problem,” says Rich Faust, owner of Southern Concrete Raising. “Water intrusion and inadequate backfill causes soil erosion, wash-out, and voiding. Your concrete tells you this by tilting and sinking, causing dangerous trip hazards and unsightly standing water. And then it cracks...until finally it breaks.”

“Realtor Paula Rucky and I were neighbors many years ago,” says Amy Schuelke. “As our kids entered school we became friends and fellow PTA members (Paula’s an honorary lifetime member of the Texas PTA). When my husband Greg and I decided to move from our two-story house in Cinco Ranch to a one-story home, we knew Paula was the perfect choice to make our dreams come true!"

Are you made self-conscious or uncomfortable by the appearance of your scars? Are you looking forward to sleeveless tops and shorter hemlines this summer, or are you already worried about exposing your scars? Dr. Lance Campbell, Pharm.D., R.Ph. at Campbell’s Compounding Pharmacy in Sugar Land says, “We believe deeply in solving problems for our patients whether we’re compounding an anti-nausea cream, filling a prescription for blood pressure medication, or offering an over-the-counter product designed to address scarring like Advanced Praxi-Gel.”

When Tom and Denisa Ballard were ready to put a pool, deck and spa in the backyard of their home, they wanted to make sure they picked the right company to do the job. “We ended up getting four bids,” says Tom, “and one was from Bratton Pools, referred by my neighbor. Mike Bratton’s bid won out for a variety of reasons. The bid was competitive while including top quality products, and Mike did an extremely good job of explaining the pool and all of the amenities available. And I just trusted him immediately.”

Local mom Cathy Dorris wants only the best for her kids. Her son Trey and her seven Clumber Spaniels are her heart and soul! “Our area is rich in opportunities and experiences for our human kiddos, but I knew plenty of pet owners wanted more for their four-legged kids!” And that’s exactly what Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming provides! Cathy says, “We offer the highest quality food, treats, accessories, and spa services for the four legged members of your family. We really want them to feel special...we promise all of our clients Five Paw treatment, a true heaven on earth!”

When you walk into Russo’s you walk into a cozy corner of Tuscany. With brick framed arches and vino inspired decor, Russo’s takes its cues from traditional Italian family dinner tables….a sense of warmth, conversation and belonging mingled with the pleasures of food and drink. At the Bella Terra location of Russo’s New York Pizzeria, Paola Ferro and her team have created a beautiful restaurant dining experience with attentive servers, cheerful tablecloths, and a full service bar.

John and Tanya invited True Fix and one other company out to give a quote. John says, “The other company sent a rookie salesman who just wanted to switch out our old units for new ones...nothing more. Gerald said our house was too warm because of the amount of glass...huge windows on one entire side of the house. As an engineer in oil and gas myself, I really appreciated the way he measured everything and did a heat/cool energy analysis. We told him we had cold spots and hot spots in the home. He suggested moving some thermostats, doing an extra duct run and adding an extra return in our game room. Then he carefully explained our various options for a new high-efficiency Trane.”

One of Dr. Bright’s star patients writes: “We recently moved to Texas from Florida and I was looking for an orthodontist who would meet the performance of our previous one. Dr. Bright and his staff surpassed our expectations! My daughter was a new patient, so when we walked in for our appointment and were welcomed with a personalized sign just for her, we were pleasantly overwhelmed! It was an awesome experience for us to be taken on a personalized tour of the office and to be treated like royalty! On top of that, the Bright Bucks were just a bonus! I would definitely recommend this office to all of my family friends!