Best Toy Store, Dental Care, Boutique & Beadery

Dr. Joe Harris, D.D.S.

When every person who walks through your door has a natural dislike of you and your profession, making friends isn’t easy. Edmond dentist Dr. Joe Harris meets that challenge head-on.

Harris admits that the hardest part of being a dentist is simply that most people don’t enjoy having dental work done. So he goes overboard to make patients comfortable.

“It’s a reward for me to see someone with high anxiety about visiting dentists feel comfortable having dental work done,” says Harris.

For Harris, his work is about more than just fixing teeth. He also treats the person attached to the teeth. “With a person that’s self-confident about their smile, treating their teeth is about giving them confidence,” says Harris. “Changing their confidence can change their life.”

Harris emphasizes prevention with his patients. To communicate his diagnoses, he shows patients their teeth – on TV. With intraoral cameras, Harris shows dental problems on a screen over the patient’s chair. He also shows them the results he brings.

Harris Dentistry is located at 16145 N. May Ave. For more
information, call 405-513-3100 or visit www.harrisdentalokc.com.

Eve’s and Lulu D’s

Wondering what to wear with your new outfit? What to do with your hair for that special occasion? If you haven’t visited Eve’s & Lulu D’s since it became two shops in one, you’re in for an uplifting, fun-filled experience. This contemporary boutique and hair salon indulges customers like no other shop in town. “We have a lot of fun,” says owner Vicki Clement.

Vicki and her staff are all about customer service. “When you’re having trouble putting an outfit together we’ll help,” says Vicki. “You can be trendy without spending a lot of money.”

She points out brands such as M.E.K., Miss Me and It Denim, along with the latest shoes from Yellow Box and Naughty Monkey. The Ed Hardy line of perfumes, watches and sunglasses are also a big hit with shoppers. The boutique carries clothing for tweens, juniors and ladies – and now men – as well as a large variety of accessories for any occasion.
Vicki’s passion is seeing customers step out of the dressing room with big smiles and improved self-esteem. Mothers and daughters can shop together at this moderately priced boutique.

“Helping people is gratifying,” says Vicki, a retired corporate executive. She used to wear suits and pumps to work, but now she’s a small business owner who loves keeping up with the latest fashions — including M.E.K., the coolest in men’s and women’s jeans.

The salon has a massage therapist, an esthetician, a nail technician and eleven hair stylists. Each stylist is up to date on the latest coloring and haircutting techniques. It also specializes in airbrush tanning, full body waxing and hair and
eyelash extensions.

Eve’s & Lulu D’s is open Monday from noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursdays, the store is open until 8 p.m. by appointment. For the boutique, call 405-340-4546 and for salon information, call 405-359-9909.

Kidoodles

Where do you find that perfect gift for the perfect child? Look no further. On April 18, Kidoodles celebrates the Grand Opening of its new store in Kickingbird Square.

“We’re moving to Kickingbird Square because we feel like we’d be in the heart of Edmond. We’re the only full-fledged toy store in Edmond and we feel like this would make us more visible to its residents,” says owner Sandy Samuel.
Kidoodles carries a wide variety of toys – from hand painted Breyer collectible horses to colorful, kid-sized fitness equipment. Visitors often find the couple’s children, Amelia and Adelaide, dancing around the store, giggling and laughing. They perform critical roles as play-testers. “We even take our kids with us to the Dallas market and let them play with the toys there to see what they like,” says Marjorie.

Kidoodles specializes in the highest quality toys. They shoot for well-made toys, such as Playmobil sets, that will last for years.

The Samuels also place high value on safety. The store has never carried a toy that had to be recalled.

Educational toys are another priority for Kidoodles. When the Samuels’ daughter, Amelia, was three, they gave her a chalkboard with the alphabet printed on it. “Now she traces the letters really well,” says Sandy. “I can see the difference these toys have made with her learning.”

Kidoodles offeres a full selection of Rokenbok’s educational toys. Set your kid loose on kits for building everything from robots and monorails to conveyors and forklifts. They’re so fun that kids don’t even recognize that they’re learning while they play.

Other favorites at Kidoodles include Baby Stella, Fancy Nancy dolls, Groovy Girls and realistic Corelle dolls that have won more than 30 international awards for play excellence.

Look for the Kidoodles Webkinz Extravaganza in May. This year’s Extravaganza will feature the same games and prizes that made last year’s such a success.

Kidoodles is located at 1309 E. Danforth and open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 405-562-4554.

Alouette

Loretta Nelson never considered herself an artist. Now she owns her own chain of bead stores, Alouette.
Formerly a government employee, Nelson’s venture into the world of beads started with a simple lanyard she made to hold her government I.D. badge. When fellow co-workers began to request similar lanyards, Nelson realized she might be on to something.

It wasn’t long before Nelson was crafting her own jewelry and selling it to designers out of her home. Six years ago she decided to expand into retail and opened her first Alouette bead store in Midwest City. Three more – in Tulsa, Norman and Edmond – followed. While she’s proud of all of her stores, the Midwest City store is the jewel in her crown.

Nelson carries everything a serious beader needs to practice the craft. Nelson herself travels the world to find the most exotic, unique beads available – and her selection is unparalleled in Oklahoma. Each store is stocked floor to ceiling with beads. Crafting tables are available for beaders that want to work on site.

Alouette’s beads range from gold, silver and pearls to Japanese seed beads, Tierra cast and Czech glass. Nelson even carries Byzantine beads dating back to 400 BC. One of her favorites is a set of Roman art glass cut into beads.

“I love to have the unusual and different,” says Nelson, who always stays on the lookout for beads requested by customers.

All Alouette stores offer beading and weaving classes for beginners and advanced crafters.

“There’s something addictive about beading,” Nelson explains. “You get started and you want to keep going because you know you’re going to finish something beautiful soon. If you really search, there are so many treasures to be found.”

Nelson’s Edmond store is located at 306 S. Bryant and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. The Midwest City Alouette is located at 2150 S. Douglas Blvd. For more information, email alouette40@cox.net or visit www.alouetteonline.com.