Jim Bowen featured Florida photographer

Today I am super excited to announce that we have received a nice delivery of Florida photographer, Jim Bowen’s fabulous pictures. All are matted prints on archival paper and only using the finest inks. This means no fading, yellowing or other signs of aging. These are museum quality images!

A little about Jim…
This guy is just a super nice, down to earth, “Floridian”. Those of us who live, breathe and exude that casual, life is too short attitude, know exactly what I am talking about. While Jim is always pressed and dressed in coolness, often he is sun kissed and in flip flops. His love of birds genuinely shows in his images.
If you are looking for that special “piece” that embodies this relaxed way of life for an office, den or living room, please stop in and see these fabulous photos.
We also have a limited selection of notecards, boxes of 10 for those special events.

Feifish – New Made in America, Florida fun jewelry

We all know the trouble and tribulations America is facing economy wise.  With that said, at Scentsations, we are focusing more this year on offering Made in America gifts for all occasions.

Today’s feature is a line of fun, trendy, nautical, very Florida jewelry line that offers, bracelets, necklaces and even earrings.  All of the items are made in the USA by hand!  You heard me right.  Priced at $20-$50 for necklaces, these are a steal.  The charms are all handmade pewter.

They always fly off the shelf when I unpack new deliveries.  Locals and tourists love them.  With the turtle being the symbol of Vero Beach, anything uniquely turtle goes fast.  We have some gorgeous handmade, precious stone items and fabulous handblown glass…irridescently fun necklaces.

Check out the pictures below.  I have most of the bracelets & necklaces online at www.scentsations-online.com

If you are one of my blog followers and note that in your order, we will honor free shipping on any jewelry order over $40.

Choose from dragonflies, seahorses, turtles, manatees, sail fish, dolphins, manta rays and even octopus necklaces. Take a sneak peak…they are divinely fun!  As many of you are aware, I love diving.  I just got some new necklaces in with mask, snorkel, fins and fish charms.  needless to say, I am now sporting one.

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Bogg bags – Perfect for the Beach

I had to do a quick little write up here.  From a personal, many of my customers know that diving is my out of work passion.  I watch and wait and watch and wait till the water warms up here in Florida and the swell and wave conditions reach that perfect trifecta for shore diving.  Don’t get me wrong, boat diving is awesome too, but we just don’t always get that much time off.  Vero Beach all the way down too Miami has one of the largest coral reef systems in the World and most of it is close enough to shore dive.  For my non dive customers, this means, close enough to walk in with the tank on your back and submerge into the wild blue yonder.

This week, I got an opportunity to do two days of shore diving, Monday & Tuesday.  One off RioMar in Vero Beach and one off Pepper Park in Fort Pierce.  With shore diving, you have to think about the gear and what to do with it.  Rio Mar was straight forward, chuck it in the back of the jeep.  Pepper Park bit more challenging, no showers where we parked and we wanted to sit on the beach.  We stripped down and chucked the wetsuits and wet stuff in the BOGG BAG and chilled on the beach for a few hours.  The BOGG BAG floats so you can take it in the water and rinse gear.  It has about 4″ on bottom where there are no holes.  This was nice after when we found the showers to use as a dunk tank for camera and gear in freshwater.  I have to tell you, this is my last Beach bag I will be buying!

We are getting low in our store for these but I have another huge shipment arriving Friday or Monday.  Customers are buying one and coming back and buying multiples for friends as gifts.  Only $59.95, it is the perfect price range for a unique hostess gift in this area.  Don’t miss out on these!  I am telling you, for the little space they take up in the car, you can get so much in it.  For wet gear, 2 wet suits, 3mil, 2 pairs of fins, 2 snorkels, 2 masks, gloves, hoodie, camera, lights and still had room for the empty garbage from the beach.  It was light carrying back up and it cleaned up in no time.  Rich chose a red BOGG BAG to match the jeep and it is permanently in the bag of the jeep for stowing stuff so it does not slide around.  Even Lily Winnail from Hunger Games has her trendy Tangerine Tango one! For you golfers out there the BOGG BAG has also been seen on the PGA tour.  I even had one lady that bought two bright colors to use as Easter baskets for her college gals!  She said they could use it for laundry after.  How unique!

30 days 35+ ways to wear a scarf (Day 23) Bikini top

Another absolutely fabulous day in sunny central Florida.  For those who also read my dive blog, fingers crossed shore diving in Vero Beach on Monday & Tuesday.

So, inspirational ditty today was to use a colorful scarf as a top.  Today I am featuring how to wear your scarf as a bikini top.  This would also look fashionable with a flowing casual skirt of khaki shorts.

Step 1:  Fold scarf in bias band fold.

Step 2:  Place center of scarf at the middle of back

Step 3:  Next pull ends to the front by your tatas.  Tie ends into a knot in front between breasts.  Make sure to tie it tight as you don’t want any embarassing moments (or thrilling, depending on how you look at it!)

When to Wear:
Wear with shorts, flowing culotte or yoga pants, a pareo, or be daring, and wear under your business suit to work as a bandeau top!

30 days…30 ways to tie a scarf ( Day 15) Chain of Knots

Well we are 1/2 way through our journey this month on learning fashionable, fun and easy new ways to wear a scarf.  When I came up with the scarf instructional concept, I had no idea it would be so difficult to choose which ones I wanted to feature.  Fun way to accessorize a boring outfit.

For today, I have chosen the chain of knots scarf.  I did so because this one looks a lot more elegant than the time required to pull it off.  Took me about 1  1/2 minutes to do it with one of my longer scarves and the outcome made me look like a million bucks.  I even had a customer at Scentsations in Vero Beach, Florida comment on my pretty scarf.  Of course I undid it and showed her quickly how to reknot for the end result.

Ok, ready…

Step 1:  First put the scarf around the back of your neck so both sides hang down in front.  One on each side.

Step 2 :  Tie the ends together, making multiple, parallel knots partway down the length of the scarf.  I pull the knot through  the back.

Step 3:  This will create a pattern. Tie as many knots as you’d like.  I like 4-6 in a longer scarf while 3 knots will do it in a shorted one.  Adjust the knots to get desired space between knots.

I wore a classic dress the other day.  No buttons just fit tight along the bodice and flared at the bottom for a comfortable, natural look.  Adding the chain of knots really gave the dress a boost of color.

2012 new Spring color trends for fashion & home

I am seeing the same colors from fashionable scarves to home decor.  If you have not heard Pantone, they are the leading experts in all things color.  We all know that Tangerine Tango was chosen as the color of the year 2012 from my previous fashion blogs and it was not an unintentional choice.  An electric orange red color is uplifting, and energizing! It’s also been noted to look great with almost every skin tone. You will definitely see a lot of great examples of using this energizing color in any type of furniture line, finishes and materials.  Tangerine Tango and Cockatoo look divine together.  Very South Beach!

At Scentsations, as we become more involved with helping our customers find the right accessory or handbag, I feel that it is very helpful to make sure we listen to our customers need and help them to incorporate the new color trends with their existing wardrobe.   We tend to be a little more flexible ith color here in Florida.  Whether it is a bright scarf added to a basic business suit or a handbag statement to make heads turn, I feel it is important to educate them on staying current.  I find that many of my customers just thought if it was a color they saw alot, that meant it was hot.  Not true, while Neon is showing up in plenty of chain stores, you just can’t tell me that you are going to get a timeless, classic look with that.   A neon bangle however added to a classic starfish capri and a tangerine tango top is FUN!  I just can’t consciously set my ladies who are now able to relax and enjoy their lives in a Neon orange pair of capri.   Remember, it is all about building a wardrobe.

For spring 2012 designers are inspired by diverse influences, showcasing a range of styles and lifestyles, from free and playful and light and breezy, to contemporary classics. Colors likewise reflect these differing moods, encapsulating vivid brights, soft muted tones and fun-loving pastels.
“Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute^®. “They
have learned how color can help them alter a mood and provide the vitality and enthusiasm that enables them to experiment with new looks and color combinations.”

Let’s break these colors down a bit…

Provocative Tangerine Tango:  This juicy orange, is a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this spring. Make me want to take a bite out of life!

Solar Power:  A bright radiant jolt of energy that  exudes warmth and cheer.

Bellflower:  This distinct ornamental purple, exudes uniqueness and creativity.

Cabaret:  The name says it all.  sassy, sexy and voluptuous.  Scintillating and sexy, Cabaret is a sensual and intense rosy-red — an excellent
choice for summer clothing and cosmetics.

Sodalite Blue:  This is  classic maritime hue that brings order and calmness to mind.  Like the cool breeze in your hair on a sailboat.  This color like an anchor is dependable and will hold down most other colors in this palette.

Cockatoo:, This tactile blue-green, is sure to make your spirits soar. This unusual hue adds a whimsical touch to the palette and will surely make a statement this spring.  Love it with Tangerine Tango.

Margarita:  This piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow.

Sweet lilac:  Reminiscent of a blossoming garden on an early spring morning, fragrant Sweet Lilac evokes the fresh scents of summer. This delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance and femininity to any wardrobe.

Driftwood:  Natural versatile neutrals add practicality to this season’s brights. This beige and grey blend adapts easy with other colors with a slightly weathered feel.

Starfish:  Perfect warm summer neutral, complement all colors featured in this season’s top 10.

For an ultra-bold vibrant look this spring, try mixing Bellflower with Tangerine Tango and Cabaret. Combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Cockatoo for a subtle
alternative, or combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Driftwood for a more practical variation. Solar Power is best juxtaposed with Sodalite Blue. For a safer
bet, add a natural neutral like Starfish to the mix.

again, look at the color pallete and how they flow together.

30 days…35 ways to wear a scarf (Day 9) Bandana wrap

Ok, so I will apologize for this not being early today as usual.  I had to work in the shop (Scentsations) in Vero Beach today and the one I had loaded did not launch.

With that said, I have changed today’s to a classic simple one in honor of Bike Week here in Florida and the start of Spring Break for colleges.  On my ride down to Vero I couldn’t help but notice all the bikers enjoying the fabulous weather here in Florida.    This style is easy and with the step by step directions you can go from bike to beach to lunch in a breeze.

Tip 14 for those of you counting, not including the 4 freebie basics and one bonus for total of 19 but still 21 more to go!

Step 1:  Fold a square scarf diagonally until one end meets the other, making a large triangle.

Step 2:  Placing the scarf on top of your head, bring  the middle of the longest side to the middle of the forehead so that the pointed end is towards the back of the head. Hold.

Step 3:  Bring the ends to the back and tie them in a single or double knot, whatever is more comfortable for you.

Step 4:  Adjust on forehead so that the scarf lies where you want it.

A slight variation would be to tuck the ends in up under the back for a sleeker, more sophisticated look.  Imagine taking it off to let your longer hair flow after you got off the back of your super sexy man’s bike!  And for those feminists out there, imagine Joe Biker watching you pull up on your Harley and letting your locks fall out.

On a side note, I have numerous ladies who have had chemo and cancer issues, give me a shout out and thanks for featuring sexy, colorful scarves in our store.  I appreciate that and thank you for opening my eyes to making all women feel a little more glamorous not matter why.