The Bump and Beyond, a baby planning and concierge service, was recently started by Lake Highlands and East Dallas residents Aryn Self and Angela Huston. Designed to guide their clients through the entire process of planning for a baby, services range from organizing the nursery, ordering baby announcements, and medical and baby assistance referrals to planning babymoons and baby showers. Self and Huston, lawyers by trade, were working for the same law firm when they discovered they were both pregnant with due dates only three weeks apart. After learning first-hand about all that goes into baby-planning and prep, the first-time moms saw an opportunity in the Dallas area with this burgeoning business model that’s becoming popular in some other large markets, and launched the new biz just a few months ago. Visit
to get more information and check out a list of services (all of which can be ordered a la carte if that’s your preference) or call 214.662.8656 and set up a complimentary consultation.
Jackie and Bill Marra opened On Wheels Computer Repair a year and a half ago in the old Hollywood Video Store on Northwest Highway and Plano Road. Bill Marra has been in the computer-fixin’ biz for himself for the past 18 years. The couple have been Casa Linda residents for the past 10+ years and opted to open a store-front in the area to accommodate their expanding client base. Customers can bring their computers to the shop, or the Marras offer a convenient in-home repair service if the thought of unplugging all those computer cords is enough to give you an anxiety attack. Jackie Marra explained that one of the most requested services is their virus scan and clean, which is priced at $95. Advocate readers can visit
and click on “specials” to get a coupon for $15 off the popular service.
Cuzco Latin Cuisine is “coming soon” to a 3100-square-foot spot at 9220 Skillman near Audelia in the shopping center that was once home to Flavor restaurant. In that same area, there’s a new sandwich joint, Samich’s Sandwiches, which has taken over a spot that was a Quiznos back in the day. The new eatery has a fairly wide variety of sandwiches, soups and salads. The owner, Arturo, who hails from Chicago, is a friendly, outspoken chap, who is very optimistic about his new biz. He offers free Wi-Fi and plans to feature live music and entertainment in the coming months.
Lake Highlands resident Cindy Serine, owner of Cindy Serine Photography, started her home-based photography business eight years ago. After 15+ years of shooting commercials and fashion photography that was featured in national pubs including Modern Bride and Elegant Bride, Serine wanted to take a break from shooting on location and stick closer to home. Now, Serine spends most of her time working on weddings, family sessions and senior photos. You can see samples of her work at cindyserine.com, and contact her at
or 214.893.6640.
Lake Highlands resident Amy Schroeder developed a passion for cards, invitations, stationery and gifts while working part-time at Ann’s Hallmark, formerly at Skillman and Abrams (closed down in ’96) while attending Lake Highlands High School. “After entering the business world and particularly after my husband and I had our first son, my search for quality paper products was often frustrated by not being able to find good customer service … I chose to embark on my childhood passion and Sunshine Paperie was born.” Sunshine Paperie offers a variety of paper products and gifts including fun invitations, sippy cup labels, placemats, enclosure cards, note cards and loads more products that are a hit with lots of busy moms. Schroeder (a.k.a. Amy Bennett from LHHS Class of ‘91) wants to give a little something back to fellow LH residents and is offering Advocate readers 20 percent off their purchase at
; use code ADVOCATE20 at checkout.
Women’s Health Boutique (
), a store for health-related merchandise staffed by women and catering primarily to women, opened a few months ago at 8499 Greenville Avenue (Suite 99). Owner Vicki Jones, who is based out of Longview and staffs the original boutique there, opened the second location in Dallas, and she has her longtime friend and local resident Cindy Brungart managing the shop and her daughter, TCU grad Crystal Jones, handling marketing and sales. The store carries a variety of health-related items including supplies for cancer survivors, new moms and lymphodema patients. Everyone at the shop is also a certified fitter for all the items they carry (undergarments, wigs, etc.), and they pride themselves on providing a personal and dignified experience for their customers.
