It’s more than just to keep you warm!

Scarves are one of the easiest, most affordable ways to completely change the look of an outfit. There are, oh, about a bajillion ways to wear them, but here we’ll share some of our favorite fresh new styles to add to your wrap repertoire.

1. Belt It: Place the scarf around your neck, wear a blazer or cardigan on top and wrap a belt over the whole thing. Leave space between the ends if you don’t want to completely cover up your top.

2. Knot It: This necklace-like style works especially well with long scarves.

3. Loop It: Makeshift an infinity scarf by wrapping it around your neck and tucking in the ends.

4. Wear It as a Headscarf: Wrap a long, thin scarf around your head to instantly transition from “bad hair day” to “boho fab”.

5. Wear It as a Skirt: Warning — we recommend only wearing this style over an actual skirt or dress to avoid a potentially-embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. That said, when done properly it’s a perfect way to get a Grecian draped effect.

6. Keep It Classic: Wrapping a scarf around your neck balances out a lower-cut top, but it can be worn with just about anything.

What’s your favorite way to wear a scarf?

Between late nights “networking” with our retailer friends from all over the country, so-not-early mornings (obviously due to the late nights) AND a hotel with no internet!  WTHeck!  It’s 2011, Wyndam.  Get with the program.

So before we hit the Center today, I wanted to share with you some exciting finds for Spring. (we haven’t even began to tackle Christmas, yet!)

Maybe it’s the gray sky and the brown grass, but I’m in love with all the bright colors this season.  These BRIGHT leather cross body bags are so soft, and the perfect size for all your essentials.   Great for Spring Break travel, and at only $19.99 you’ll need one in every color!!!!

You won’t be “Tardy for the Party!” with our new Real Housewives of Lake Travis tee.

Calling all Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Muffin fans…you’re gonna love this line!  I’m a total sucker for bath products!!!  And this one had me at hey-low, with their farm fresh bath yummies made in TEXAS!  A Oprah favorite, budget friendly, totally all natural, made in Texas….so yummy, you’ll have to stop yourself from eating them up.  The Whoopie Cream is thick and rich, like a cream pie.  And the Blueberry Bath powder smells like yummy hot blueberry pancakes.

Cheers!

Just not in that order!

The blizzicane of 2011 didn’t keep us from heading to Atlanta for the January Gift Show.  With 12 hour delays, I was the last (and only for 2 days) flight out from Austin on Tuesday night.  With ground transportation to a halt, we heard horror stories of people stranded in the Atlanta airport for days, with no food (since they weren’t able to receive deliveries).  Mom and I packed snacks, and brought blankets to camp out in the airport.  Thinking at least we’d be that much closer to the Market Center.

But things were looking up when we were able to take the Marta to our hotel, only to have to drag our 100 lbs of luggage up hill…over 3 inch thick ice!  Cars and trucks were sliding all over the streets…it was nuts!!!!

(Feeling sorry for us, yet) 

These are  just a few of the crazy things we retailers do to find new stuff for our stores.  The freezing temps continue, so the city is still pretty iced over outside.  But inside the Market, it’s the warmth of bright Spring colors blossoming all over the new FABULOUS merchandise…making our adventure so worth it.