Style It Up With a Scarf!

I have been on the scarf bandwagon for a couple of years now, and I am so glad that they continue to come out with bright and bold patterns season after season! I always get asked about how in the heck you are supposed to wear scarves, and technically there are TONS of different ways to make them fit both your outfit and personality! Several of our boutiques have been bringing in new scarves each day, so I thought I would share a few of my favorites here with ya'll!

From Left to Right: Coral Crinkle Scarf from Windward Trading, Black Lace Scarf from Flax Legacy, Bright Tribal Scarf from Grae, Black Floral Scarf from Faux Pas

Now for all of you scarf rookies out there don't be afraid to push the envelope and try something new every time you wear a scarf! I find it amazing how just changing how you wear your scarf can completely transform an outfit! Here are some tricks and tips on how to wear all your fantastic Brownstone scarves!!

Robin







Just Call Me Grammy!

I am a very fortunate GRANDMA, better known as "Grammy", and I LOVE IT every time I hear one of my granddaughters or grand-nieces and nephews call it out! I have 3 granddaughters, ages 6,5 and 2, who are the best things that have happened to me in a very long time. We get to spend a lot of time together and it is always fun-filled no matter what we do. I have been privileged to be apart of their lives always and I love rocking, reading and saying prayers with them as they fall asleep.

Whether they are playing dress-up, going with me to the grocery store or a restaurant, or we are just doing some fun artwork it is all good for me and they always keep me laughing. I love to sit and just listen to them talk and play together and sometimes I even join in! We love to swim in the summer and play in their playhouse in the fall. I try to spend time with them all together, but I also love the special time I get to spend with them one-on-one, it makes them feel EXTRA special and it is also much easier on me!

They all three love to ride horses and I must admit that it is the my FAVORITE activity to do with them. Claire and Cainlee compete in rodeos and play days and Logan would love to do that someday. I grew up in the rodeo family, so this is very special to me. They are learning to ride and compete and I hope this is something that they continue to do.

I would have to say that of all the jobs I have had, being a GRAMMY and working at The Shoppes at Brownstone Village, of course are the best ever!!!

GG



Luck & Love

For the last few Valentine's days, Brownstone has hosted an event known as Luck, Love and Laughter. At this event we hand out scratch-off cards allowing customers to try their luck at a lottery amount.

This year we mixed it up and made our own scratch-offs. It turned out so remarkably cute that I decided to make scratch-offs for all my Valentines. Because of course there are dozens of them and it can get quite expensive to buy gifts even with my Brownstone employee discount :)

First of all, I designed a triple heart scratch-off in Excel. Over the years Taylor has managed to convert most of us into thinking of the program as an art tool rather than the program of spreadsheets.

Below I have included a link so you don't have to design your own, but you have the option to write in your own prizes {mine were simple things like breakfast in bed or a foot massage}. This gives you the option to change the prizes for each individual recipent making this as simple or as SPICY as you wish. Just be prepared to follow through on whichever prize that special someone chooses to scratch!

Next, you will need to mix up some paint. All it takes is a small bottle of metallic acrylic paint {gold or silver} and a little Dawn. Pour 2 parts paint to one part Dawn and mix together in a small cup. This will be your scratch-off paint. Now paint an area on clear contact paper and allow to dry {you will repeat this one or two more times until the message is no longer visible} the soap with delude the paint so it doesn't cover as well as usual.

On the template you will notice the three hearts below the scratch-off {you will use these to help guide you} place each over the area you painted on the contact paper and cut out all three hearts. After you have finished cutting out the hearts remove the paper backing from the contact paper and place them over your written prizes on the scratch-off.

Congrats you should have a finished scratch-off, now all you have to do is get a pretty envelope and stick a penny in it and you are ready to make someone's day!

Happy Valentine's Day and Good Luck!!

Jennifer

Click here for the scratch-off TEMPLATE!

Valentine's Bouquet Winners!

Our winners for the Facebook contest are Heather Hilton and Missy Zahn! Congrats ladies your arrangements will be available at Brownstone anytime after 5:30 today!!



Happy Valentine's Day EVERYONE!!

Robin

Luck Love & Laughter Winners

We hope everyone had a blast at Luck, Love and Laughter and we want to THANK EVERYONE that came out!

Here are our winners for the drawings we did for the night:

$100 Gift Card Winner- Laura Prestridge

Custom Guitar Winner- Dianne Lofton

Love Guitar Winner- Susan Hunt

Thanks again to everyone that came out!

Robin

Lovin' these Layouts!

I just thought I would share this awesome info I just found! It shows great ways to showcase pictures and art!! Whether they are funky frames or art you got from Brownstone ;) or it's your own homemade creations these are some helpful layout that would look great in everyone's home!!

Robin

Painting with a Twist Girls Night Out

I started taking art lessons when I was in the second grade. So I've long been aware how calming and relaxing putting a brush to canvas can be. When the world gets to be too much, I can always take my frustrations out in paint.

But until this last Monday, I had forgotten how much FUN painting can be. The fun came back when the girls of Brownstone decided to spend the evening at Painting with a Twist in Arlington! About 10 of us girls donned our aprons and painted some adorable love birds. Our hosts provided all the canvases, paint, brushes and even some instruction.

As you would expect, we started with the background. Our teacher, Amy, helped everyone blend our sunset, making sure to show each color at it's brightest, and taught us how to clean our brushes without ruining the bristles {we also learned not to clean our brushes on our neighbor, a lesson Christi wishes GG would have learned sooner}!

While waiting for our background to dry, we did what Brownstone girls do best: EAT! Multiple dips, taco popcorn, and brownie bites were washed down with beer and wine. Stories were told, and laughs were abundant. We were having such a good time when we went back to our canvases that Amy had to remind us not to dip our brushes in our wine :)

Drawing and painting our birds had to be the most fun, because even with the step-by-step instruction each of us managed to create birds with their own personality {Norma's male bird was sporting a wicked pompadour hairdo}! But most importantly that all came out looking BRILLIANT...including those of the group that had never picked up a brush before.

If you have yet to visit Painting with a Twist in Arlington, it is a must to try at least once! To see their calander for February click here!

And have fun!

Jennifer