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Becky Sturm is owner/founder of StormSister Spatique, a local beauty boutique.  StormSister Spatique has been featured in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, METRO Magazine, Minnesota Monthly, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and various blogs.  Once you cross over the Smith Avenue High Bridge, it sits next to Capital View Cafe.   At first glance, you might miss this small storefront located on the West Side of Saint Paul.  Once you step in, you will see why it’s a gem — product junkies beware!  StormSister is filled with comforting products for your skin, body and mind — all products that Becky stands behind.  With warm weather upon us, its time to buff, exfoliate and cleanse.  What are you waiting for?  See below for comments from StormSister owner, Becky Sturm on why she loves Saint Paul and her recommendation for summer products!

Being a small business owner, it very important for me to spend money with other small businesses in my community.

Most of my weekends include: the Saint Paul Farmer’s Market in Lowertown and a stop at my favorite bread bakery, located on the West Side, BC2 Bakery — their sourdough could certainly compete with the original in San Francisco.

I have been a resident of the West Side for 22 years; my husband and I have raised both of our sons here.  I love living so close to the river and to downtown.  It is the perfect community.

My oldest son Brett, recently graduated from College of Visual Arts and my youngest son, Bailey, is a high school student at River’s Edge Academy.

Living on the West Side with its large Hispanic population, has given me the opportunity to enjoy some of the best, authentic Mexican cuisine available in the U.S.  Just head down Cesar Chavez Street and you will find several!  I have a weakness for guacamole, so I always have a hard time deciding between the ones served at Barrio and El Burrito Mercado.

Living just over the river from downtown, it’s a quick five-minute ride to amazing museums, theaters, and one of my favorite dining establishments — Meritage.

A stroll downtown wouldn’t be complete without a stop into Candyland.  Oh Candyland, you and your tantalizing Chicago mix (caramel, cheese, and real buttered popcorn)!

Finally, that beacon of light on West 7th, Mickey’s Diner — the perfect middle-of-the-night cultural experience after much imbibing.

Having grown up in my grandmother’s beauty shop and then spending 23 years in all aspects of the salon/spa industry, it was time to follow my true passion, retail.  So, I took a break and started StormSister Spatique online in 2005.  Then, late in 2006 I had decided I really missed that intimate relationship I had with my clients and opened up StormSister Spatique’s storefront in my neighborhood on the West Side.

What’s the deal with StormSister Spatique and PEZ?  Click here to learn why!

My head-to-toe beauty must-haves for summer include:

Greenbody Greenplanet haircare by local hairdresser, Lorri Weisen.  When you use organic, chemical-free ingredients you not only enhance your own well-being, but the environments!

NONTOXIQUE hand and footcare by local manicurist, Sheila Mossberg.  NONTOXIQUE will help you get your hands and feet looking more youthful and glowing with their age-defying ingredients.

Organic Tinted Lip Balms by Badger.  These shimmer lip balms will keep your pucker moist and colorful during the hot summer days.

I heart Saint Paul!

StormSister Spatique is located at 635 South Smith Avenue in Saint Paul, combines luxury spa products in an artsy boutique setting.

Phone:  612-716-5480

Alright, we are back with our 65FUN pic of the week!  If you are lucky enough to be the first person to e-mail me the correct answer, you will win $10 in Grand Ole Creamery gift cards along with a $25 gift card to Rosedale Center.

e-mail: stacy@capcitypartnership.com your correct answer

Well, enough chatter, let’s begin!

We were at Candyland on Wabasha in St. Paul.

Congrats to our winner!  Make sure to check back in next Thursday at 9am!

Tasty news on the Foodie front: Saint Paul Classic Cookie reopens this weekend, Rosedale’s Dinner and Dunk promotion kicks off, and other sweet treats just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Saint Paul Classic Cookie reopens
Saint Paulite baker Katie Novotny claims she learned her trade at the “Food Network college,” but a successful run with her own bakery for three years shows that’s nothing to scoff at. After closing her downtown shop in April of last year, the self-taught baker reopens her Saint Paul Classic Cookie shop at University and Raymond Avenues with a space that’s twice as big with ample parking. The bakery features cookies, muffins, cupcakes, cakes, brownies and bars, with scones, pies and rolls to be added in coming weeks. (2386 Territorial Rd., St. Paul. 651-646-0551.)

See’s Candies Opens in Rosedale
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, See’s Candies has opened a new location at Rosedale. The San Francisco-based company previously operated kiosks at various malls in the Twin Cities, but those were only open during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. Founded in 1921, See’s makes more than 100 varieties of candies, and is most famous for its signature Milk Chocolate Bordeaux. (Rosedale, 1595 Hwy. 36 W., St. Paul. 651-633-0373.)

Cake Eater arrives in St. Paul
One of our favorite Minneapolis bakeries, Cake Eater Bakery, is now offering its goods the St. Paul Cheese Shop. The adorable, tasty cupcakes make regular appearances at many a hip happening in the Twin Cities – and disappear quickly. (St. Paul Cheese Shop, 1573 Grand Ave., St. Paul. 651-1698-3391.)

Amore Coffee to open second location
St. Paul’s Amore Coffee is known for its tasty coffee, pastries, and cookies, and cozy indie coffeeshop ambiance. They just announced that they will be opening a second location in West St. Paul in the next couple of months. Hopefully the new Smith Avenue digs will be as homey as the current location. (917 W. Grand Ave., St. Paul. 651-222-6770.)

More St. Paul sweets:

Twin Cities chocolate shop Chocolat Celeste is perhaps best known for combining its chocolate with bacon. Even if chocolate-covered bacon isn’t your thing, you’re sure to find something here to satisfy your sweet tooth. Chocolat Celeste has won awards for its beautifully-decorated chocolates and delectable truffles. If that’s not enough, Meryl Streep and Rachael Ray are fans, as is Al Franken, for whom the “Almond Al” is named. (2506 University Ave. W., St. Paul. 651-644-3823.)

Find all kinds of sweets besides chocolate at Regina’s Fine Candies. Homemade “carmellows” are Regina’s specialty – they come wrapped in yellow wax paper, like an old fashioned candy shop would. (2073 Saint Clair Ave., St. Paul. 651-698-8603.)

Just Truffles, of course, is known for their decadent truffles. Countless flavors include everything from Kahlua to peppermint, and they’re always adding new flavors and unique combinations. (1326 Grand Ave., St. Paul. 651-690-0075.)

Golden Fig Fine Foods carries everything from the hugely popular baked goods by Salty Tart to chocolate and toffee. Unique sweets include chocolate covered Wheaties, mocha macademia chocolate bark, and Salty Tart’s take-and-bake brownies and fresh-fruit tarts. (790 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-602-0144.)

Cookie and gift shop Two Smart Cookies specializes in custom iced cutout cookies with home-baked flavor. The Minnesota State Fair award-winner bakers Melanie Danke and Patty Mathews also carry a small selection of gluten-free cookies. (181 Snelling Ave., St. Paul. 612-384-1069.)

For the past 25 years, Candyland has been an institution of the Twin Cities. The downtown St. Paul location is lined with old-fashioned glass case counters full of candy and chocolates, the store carries perennial favorites such as chocolate-covered potato chips, plus caramel corn, lollipops, licorice, fudge and jawbreakers. (435 Wabasha St. N., St. Paul. 651-292-1191.)

Special offer: February Dinner & Dunk Promotion at Rosedale Center
Through the month of February, if you spend $25 or more at one of Rosedale Center’s seven restaurants, you can receive two free tickets to the Minnesota Timberwolves game on Sunday, March 28. Simply bring your February food receipts from a Rosedale restaurant to Guest Services. Tickets are values at $35-50 each. (Feb. 1-28. While supplies last, one offer per person, alcohol not included.)

I hail from a small town about an hour and a half north of St. Paul called Willow River.  A lot of my friends still live in the area and when we’re really lucky and really good with our calendar we can get our families together.  The stars aligned this past weekend and my best friend was able to come down to visit for a day with her two daughters.  When I heard she was coming I knew the perfect place to go with four kids in tow…Como Zoo!

We started our day at Como Zoo around 10 am meeting by the flamingos right outside the Conservatory doors, after that we spent an hour strolling (literally strolling two kids at a time) the pathways.  We saw everything from an adorable baby orangutan hanging on for dear life to his momma, to what I believe is the largest tiger I’ve ever seen.  From there we enjoyed the Sparky the Seal show, giraffes, sea lions and zebras.  By then we had worked up quite the appetite so we stopped into Zobota where we got the best park food I’ve ever had.  I’ve been to plenty of zoos and amusement parks in my life, but the food you get at Zobota’s is delicious and borderline gourmet!  I had the Hickory Burger after debating if I should get it or the San Antonio Club sandwich, which was topped with a chipotle mayonnaise sauce.  As you can probably tell, I’m still wondering if I made the right choice, I guess I’ll just have to go back and compare!  My girlfriend got a freshly topped salad that was so big, it was falling over the sides. On another note, Zobota’s also offers free wireless, which I didn’t use, but I thought it was a cool feature.

Now, hind sight is 20/20, but I probably should have hit up Como Town and all the fun rides there with the kids before lunch.  There were no catastrophes though, so, we’re safe!  But seriously, make sure if you get your kids onto the new Tornado ride, there’s a responsible kid at the helm, because we had a wild child spinning the cup and we had 4 extremely queasy kids walk off.  Here’s a great deal to tell you about too.  This week Como Town is doing a fun promotion called the Family Fun Economic Stimulus Package.  All the rides will be free starting at 4 through Friday night.  With all the money you save, you can buy quite a few bags of their mini-donuts, which are the best outside of the State Fair.

Finally we ended our day with a trip to Candyland on Wabasha Ave. in downtown St. Paul.   Their carmel corn popcorn is so delicious, you won’t believe your tastebuds.  You have to make sure you go in and get a fresh order though because it’s still warm and literally melts in your mouth.  Also grab a few of their Pecan Snappers just because it would be a tragedy not to.  I would suggest you grab the goodies and head over to a movie in a park.  Comcast is going to be showing a movie in different St. Paul parks throughout the summer.  This Friday, June 12^th they’re showing RV with Robin Williams at Griggs Recreation Center, but my girls are excited because on Friday, July 17^th they will be playing the movie Igor at the Arlington Recreation Center.  The movies usually start at dusk.

See, this is just a few of the reasons that every time I have guest visit from out of town we head to St. Paul.  There are so many hidden treasures throughout the city that a lot of times, we’re discovering new things to do right along with the friends we’re in charge of showing the town.

Rebekah Wood is an anchor on EYEWITNESS NEWS mornings from 5-7 a.m. and Midday from 11a.m.-noon.