Getting Ready for NFR

Getting ready for NFR is quite a process, even more so when you will be gone for 10 days away from your usual job. So unfortunately blogging has been on the back burner.  I will try really hard to blog while I am down there, but if not stop by and see us at The Convention Center (Booths 115-1615), The Mandalay Bay (Booths 927/1027) and The Sands (Booth 718)

I Am Thankful For...

It occurred to me that it has been close to a year since I began blogging on The Cowboy Way.  It has been an experience that I am truly grateful for.  I know I have a lot to learn and a way to go before this blog is where I would like it to be, but it is making progress.  I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be a part of the Burns Team.  I truly love coming to work and thoroughly enjoy my job.  I am grateful for the opportunity to meet new people, experience phenomenal products, participate in change and interact with the rest of this awesome team.  I hope to improve upon this blog in the up coming year and hope that everyone continues to follow.

Survivor

There is not much to report other than the fact Miss Whitney has an opinion about a lot of things and we tend not to have the same opinion.  It will be most interesting next week when the Upolu tribe has to finally start making the hard decisions about who stays and who goes. That will be fun :)

Boot of the Month

The boots (yes boots again)  I have chosen for this month are inspired by the Footloose remake. In my opinion the remake is as good as the original and that is hard to do.  And obviously by the movie reference my boot choice has to be a fantastic red boot.  These boots are an original and a remake and like the movie the remake and the original are both amazing.

The original features a new leaf wingtip, heel foxxing, and inlay with a greer collar. This boot is absolutly gorgeous and so incredibly sassy.  It has been a favorite since it s released

The new version features the same color combination with a Claire overlay giving it the same gorgeous and sassy feel with a whole new look. 

For more information you can find these boots on our Burns Cowboy Shop Website

Friday Feature

Another great custom gift would a hand tooled breast collar. 

This Burns Saddlery Custom Floral Hand Painted Breast Collar features full floral tooling, double tugs, in a classic four piece roper design.  It has a removable girth strap for ease of adjustment and replacement.  You can work with one of our talented leather artists to design your own amazing and unique gift. 

Survivor

Sorry I missed last week, I was out of town, but I did manage to catch the show and all I can say about that is holy crap, Rancher Rick survived by the grace of a nerd.  I was eager to find out how it all played out this week and here goes. Cochran has secured his safety for the time being, much to the distaste of his former tribe members.  In a surprise to us, there were 2 tribal councils held sending Ozzy then Jim to Redemption Island with Keith.  Obviously the plan is to pick off the Savaii Tribe members one by one, but once they are gone, then how will they determine who stays and who goes????Also perplexing us just a bit is how they are going to do eliminations from Redemption Island with 3 people being there.
We can't wait for next week.

What to Wear Wednesday

We have a new favorite line of jeans in the store, Rock 47 by Wrangler. These are definately not what you think when you think Wranglers.  These jeans are fabulous, with a great fit. They are an 11.5 oz denim with 1% spandex for that little bit of give that a good jean should have. The rise is low to ultra low with an exaggerated boot cut.   There are several fun styles, including the Salina Jewel that we are most fond of.

Friday Feature

For the horse lover on your Christmas list, how about a Burns Custom Headstall, made especially for them.   

With several combinations of exotic leather inlays and unique concho accents, you can put together an original, one of a kind gift.  This gorgeous headstall features black stingray inlays with black and pink svarwovski crystals on the buckles and antique berry conchos.  You can see other fabulous custom  headstalls made by our leather experts at Burns Saddlery on our website click here.

Survivor

After a tough tribal, it is clearly apparent that not everyone on the Upolu tribe is as on the same page as they want everyone to think.  Brandon's unpredictable nature is catching up to him, which is good for our local Rancher. Stability is a good thing to have in an alliance.

The two returning Survivor alumni each made some interesting and bold moves this week.  Coach's decision to bring out the idol shortly after he and Brandon led prayer to find it, did not impress. It is hard to be impressed by someone that is being dishonest and misleading people, especially when one of them is the one you are rooting for.  Although, Rick is smarter than Coach thinks, so hopefully he was onto him.   Ozzy's decision to sacrifice himself to Redemption Island was  a far more impressive move. It looked as if he may go back on his "worst case scenerio" move, but he held true to his word.  For his sake, we hope it was the right decision. 

If the merge is on the horizon, we are sincerely hoping this will be Rick's time to shine and finally let everyone see the personality that we know & love :)

What to Wear

Today it is cold and wet. Winter is knocking on our door and what every girl needs for winter is a pair of Bogs.  If you are unfamiliar with Bogs, they are the best outdoor boot ever, they keep your feet toasty warm and dry in addition to giving you the traction you need.  They have traditionally been functional with a fun twist with bright colors and patterns, but we just recieved in a shipment including this sweet, fashionable boot.

The Mckenna is as fashionable as it is functional.  It is constructed with leather over a Neo-Tech upper to protect your feet from the elements.  They have a non-slip, non-marking, self cleaning deep lug  outsole for optimum traction. It is rated for temperate to sub-zero making it a great winter boot choice.

PBR

This week finds us on the road again at the PBR Fan Zone & Market Place at the fabulous Mandalay Bay in lovely Las Vegas.  We will be there from Tuesday through Saturday showcasing our collection from Lucchese.  We have boots from the Cowboy/Cowgirl Collection, Charlie One Horse, Resistol Ranch and Classic lines.  We also will have our fit and design center where we can size your foot and put together a boot that is uniquely you.  Plus you can't beat visiting with Braydan and Jake :)

Friday Feature

For the next few Fridays, I will be featuring ideas for custom holiday gifts that you can only get at Burns Saddlery.  We have several different items that we hand make in our saddle shop that would be thoughtful and unique gifts.  This weeks suggestion is a custom filigree belt with initials.

The belt shown features a simple stem filigree on a black distressed Hermann Oak Leather. The end of the belt features a unique and classy personalization of initials.  A stone washed inlay completes the look.  There are 5 colors of leather avaliable and over 20 solid and metallic colors for the inlay, making it easy to find a combination that fits anyone on your Christmas list. 

Survivor

He speaks!!!!!  Not surprisingly enough, he gets the finger for the first thing we've heard from him in a while :).  To say Christine is bitter towards her former tribe mates may be a bit of an understatement.  But the girl is hanging in there defeating Elyse in her 4th Redemption win.

The dissension in the Savaii tribe is short lived, as Ozzy throws a fit, pouts and gets over being blindsided by the last tribal council in a hurry.  Probably a good idea as there is another immunity challenge coming up and going to Tribal Council again might be quite unpleasant.  What a challenge it was, much like my beloved Dallas Cowboys the Upolu tribe has a fantastic start and a huge lead thanks to the great teamwork by Rick and Brandon, but blows it in the second half of the challenge when Coach and Mikayla can't seem to get their coconuts to fly, giving Savaii tribe immunity. 

Strength and loyalty seemed to be the theme of the day dividing, Coach, Brandon and Edna against Albert, Sophie and Mikayla leaving Rick to be the deciding vote. Each side has a strong argument about who should go and why and it is obvious Rick is the swing vote.  As he so eloquently put it "You are damned if you do and you are damned if you don't". Truer words were never spoken, but in the end you have to do what you feel is best for your own survival and loyalty won out over strength sending Mikayla to Redemption Island. 

What to Wear Wednesday

Here are a few of the fun styles that we got in from the Cowgirl Tuff Holiday collection.                         

This great hoodie and tee both come in a soft cotton-poly blend thermal.  They each feature unique screen print and crystal detailing. They would look great together or separate.

More Personal Style Thoughts- Making Good Choices

It has been a while since I have ventured into thoughts on personal style.  Mostly because I am still struggling with mine.  It has been nice with the change of weather to be able to bring out some of the other things hiding in my closet.  Which brought me to a thought on personal style, it is well worth the time it takes to pick good pieces to have in your wardrobe.  While going through my winter wardrobe, I realized that there are just some pieces that were good purchases, while others were quite foolish to be honest.

The pieces that I felt were good purchases have attractive styling, a flattering fit (no matter if I have gained a few pounds), quality fabric and are in a flattering color.  The things that I couldn't believe were hanging there were mostly things that once they had been washed, they had lost their shape,  their coloring had faded making them less than attractive or the color was not all that great to begin with.

Since I began working at Burns Saddlery I have become a lot more aware of my choices when it comes to purchasing clothing.  It takes a little more than a "that is cute" for me to buy an item.  I look at how it hangs on the hanger, I feel the fabric, and I try it on.  More often than not, the things hanging in the closet that don't get worn are those things that I didn't take the time to try on.   Not only does trying clothing on give you a sense of the fit, but how the coloring of the item either flatters you or detracts from you. 

It is difficult to tell if something will hold up in the wash, but it pays to do a little research.  Get a feel for quality fabric.  The best way to do this is take the time to search out quality items, even if they are not in your budget, you can get a feel for quality with a little examination. Hold the fabric up to the light and tug the threads in opposite directions (gently of course) Are there a lot of threads per inch, does the fabric "give" and how much light can you see? A thin, cheap cotton will give and let a lot of light through. Run your hand over the fabric and feel for quality and smoothness.  Scratch it with your fingernail to see if it pills or comes up.

Also take a little time to read the tag, natural fibers, such as cotton, wool and cashmere tend to be better quality and hold up better than synthetic fibers, such as nylon, polyester and acrylic.  A good majority of clothing is made in a blend of natural and synthetic, and it is always better to have a higher content of natural fibers in any blend. 

Taking the time to not only develop your style, but to educate yourself on quality will help you fill your closet with pieces that you will find yourself wearing for years to come.

Survivor

I do not know where this week went, but it is over now.  I know I am a day late with my Survivor spill, but here it is.  Stacey's trip to Redemption Island was short lived, but she made sure to not waste any time giving the other tribe an earful on what was going on over at Upolu.  Beaten in the duel by her friend Christine, Stacey said good bye to Survivor.

By far the most disgusting challenge ever, but squeaking by was Upolu, giving our local rancher another week for us to watch.  He did have a little more to say this time and was genuinely thrilled with the challenge. Lucky for him Mikayla picked up the piece of meat that he dropped, it was surely the 2 ounces that put them over the top.

We all agreed the blindside made by the Savaii tribe was classic.  Poor Elyse & Ozzy had no idea what was up. I guess laying in the hammock all day keeps you from catching onto the buzz going around the tribe.  Cochran has become quite the puppet master or so he thinks.  You have to hand it to the kid, he knows how to play the game. 

We are excited to see what happens next week :) it should be good.

Survivor

So Rick does say something, by his own admission it was lame, and unfortunately we have to agree.  But, we are also well aware of strategy, strategy, strategy and insulting your tribe members is not part of a good strategy.  However, it does not help those of us that know Rick and know what a great personality he has look like we know what the heck we are talking about.  But the point of the game is to survive until the end and he is there for another 3 days, so that makes us happy. 

We all agree we would like to see Brandon go, we all get a chuckle out of Cochran, and they made the right decision in tribal council.  It will be interesting seeing Christine and Stacy face off on Redemption Island next week.  Once again, we can only hope that our local rancher's strategy keeps paying off.

What to Wear Wednesday

Utah has some pretty extreme weather, one day it can be a warm and sunny 90 degrees and the next day the bottom drops out to a cold, windy and wet 40 degrees.  Living here we have to be prepared with our wardrobe for the ups and downs. This week we recieved in two Cruel Girl Tops to cover those highs and lows.

Both of these great v-neck tops have the same classic color combination of  black and turquoise .  They each feature unique screen print detailing around the neck and shoulders. The short sleeve tee has accents of gold and the screen print continues on the lower back for an added touch of flair.  The long sleeve tee has clear sequin detailing over the top of the screen print giving it an additional touch of fun. Both of these tees will definately cover the highs and lows of the fall season.

Boot(s) of the Month

I thought it would be fun to have a his & hers boot of the month.  This month I am featuring these great chocolate hippo boots by Lucchese.   Hippo is an absolutely gorgeous leather.  It is so unique and makes a fantastic boot for either casual or dress.  Hippo is one of the most durable leathers avaliable with its natural water resistant properties.  Hippo leather is only avaliable when a hippo dies of natural causes, making it a difficult leather to acquire. We carry hippo boot designs in black, tan and chocolate.

The Ladies boot features a chocolate hippo vamp accented by a  dixie wing tip with a mahogany tool pattern and oakley heel foxxing.  The quarters are a sanded goat with a cream colored rios inlay and a greer collar.  This boot is 10" high making it a great option for boot cut jeans, skinny jeans and skirts or dresses, each item will give the boot a different look.

The mens boot features a chocolate hippo vamp, a tan burnished ranch vamp with a mayela stitch pattern and a chocolate collar.  This boot looks great with jeans and dress pants.

For more views and information you can find these boots on our Burns Cowboy Shop website.

Friday Something or Another

Ok, so I have miserably failed at Friday Favorites, mostly because I forget to ask my co workers what their favorite thing is in a timely manner in order to get a blog post written.  So I am going to try Friday Features and see how far I get with that, I should do fairly well as we give product presentations 4 days a week :)

This week we are featuring our Burns Personalized Honey Shotgun Chaps.  These chaps serve as the background in our ad featured in the November 2011 issue of Western Horseman Magazine.

All of our custom chaps are hand made.  They are hand cut, tooled and assembled and we use only the highest quality leather and hardware in our chaps giving you a product that we are proud to put the Burns name on.

The Burns Saddlery Custom Personalized Honey Shotgun Chaps feature

• Honey chap leather
• Hand tooled arrowhead basket yoke
• Chestnut buck stitch accent
• Unique design and tooling
• Fringe on side
• Special selected, hardware

Also notice that these particular chaps include the client's brand on the waist, which is a unique feature that we can incorporate into any of our custom chaps making your chaps one of a kind.

Survivor Recap

I am not sure I understand the spoken word, but after an extremely interesting and rather long rendition from Semhar, the first dual to remain on Redemption Island began, ultmately sending Semhar and her words home. 

Once again our local rancher stunned us with his silence.  Of course it would be difficult to get a word in with Brandon and all of the drama spilling out of his mouth.  For someone who does not like drama, the guy can sure create it.  It is unanimous we all think he needs to go. 

As for Rick, he was awesome at the challenge, as was the entire Upolu tribe earning themselves immunity from tribal council.  As for the Savaii tribe, it made for some rather entertaining television with Papa Bear trying to trick his tribe into thinking he had the hidden immunity idol by running around all sorts of crazy like and going so far as to make a package to stuff in his pants that resembled an idol. By far the best comment of the night came from Cochran along the lines of Papa Bear returning to camp with " a rather large bulge in his pants". Bulge or not, no one seemed to fall for the fake idol scheme, ultimately sending Papa Bear to Redemtion Island to face off with Christine. 

Here's keeping our fingers crossed we at least hear SOMETHING from Rick next week :)

What to Wear Wednesday

I have been looking for a fun dress to show off my boots and this cute cap sleeve knit dress from Panhandle Slim fits the bill.

It features a smocked waist, and is shirred at the shoulders with a tie at the back of the neck.  It is available in 5 great colors, black, purple, rust, maroon and brown.  It provides a flattering fit and is extremely soft and comfortable. A great and versatile addition to your wardrobe. 

Uniquely Us

As we approach a new year (yes, technically it is only the end of September, but for us our "year" begins the October 1st) the Burns family of stores are working very hard to bring you quality products that are exclusive to us.  We are placing added emphasis on our custom built saddles, chaps, belts, and other leather products. We are very pleased with the time and effort put into each one of these products to make sure that the end result is a unique, well crafted, top of the line item that we are proud to put the Burns name on. 

We are also excited to announce the Burns Custom line of hats.  They are built at our Salina location allowing us to provide you with a unique, quality hat that is designed by and built especially for you. 

And as always we are working closely with Lucchesse Boot Company to design unique boots with the Lucchese quality that you have come to expect.  The vast majority of the Lucchese boots that we carry in our stores have been designed by one of the members of the Burns Team and are only avaliable through us. 

Watch for more in depth posts on all of our exclusive Burns items in the months to come.

Homecoming Part 2

I really meant to post this Wednesday, however with a daughter that is a cheerleader and president of her class, I have been running around like a crazy woman.  I have attended 2 assemblies, ran her all over the north end of the county to hang signs,  run home several times to get this or that she forgot and take it to her, paint signs for a float, and line up supplies for the float. Needless to say Homecoming has taken on a life of it's own at my house.

So I was going to share with you the many activities that we have in our little town. Tuesday was the King & Queen contest, guys and girls from the senior class pair up and run together.  This year they did a skit, modeled personality wear and answered an on stage question.  Still no word as to who won, I will remember to ask :) Tuesday night was a home volleyball game that everyone was encouraged to wear blue.  The boys really get into this one painting their faces blue and the whole 9 yards.

Wednesday brought the lip sync.  There were some pretty funny skits, but as usual the faculty stole the show with their "Mash Up" of the 1980's.  Thursday was the pep assembly led by our cute cheerleaders,

Friday brings the parade, tail gate party and the big game.  The best part of the entire week, Go Wolves!!!!  Saturday will conclude the week with cleaning off the windows and the Homecoming Dance.  Then once again, our little town will back to "normal", if that is at all possible.  It is great to have traditions to look forward to and make memories of.

Rancher Rick- Under the Radar

Just so you know, that is the least we have ever heard Rick Nelson say.  Now I understand this is a 1 hour show and it is several hours of film edited to make it a 1 hour show, but seriously knowing Rick,  I would have expected a little more.  I also understand strategy, and I am certain that Rick knows how to play the game and keeping just enough under the radar in the beginning is a good plan.

Regardless, there was a little bit of drama in the Upolu Tribe that made for some really interesting TV.  We are so over the entire Brandon is Russell's Nephew. Really, Who Cares?????  We did find it rather humorous that he is so incredibly freaked out by Mikayla, its not really her fault that she is the cutest girl in the tribe and he can't handle it.  It would be a foolish move to vote out the strongest female player for nothing other than being attractive.  Luckily, Coach put the little white lie Brandon told him about Stacey and Christine voting for Mikayla out on the table and it backfired :) Funny how Brandon didn't end up putting Mikaylas name down either.  However, in the end, Christine getting voted out was obviously the best move.  And all the while during this tribal council, not a word from Rick, unusual for sure.

Here is hoping next week our local rancher has more to say so that everyone can get to see Rick the way that we do :)

Homecoming

As the west is rich in traditions, so are the small towns.  In our small town of Salina, the location of our flagship store, Burns Saddlery, we are celebrating Homecoming this week. Hopefully everyone is familiar with homecoming, the tradition of welcoming back former residents of an area or alumni from a school.  I was curious where this tradition originated so I went to my favorite place to find out, Bing and did a search.  Of course Wikipedia was there with an explanation as always.

According to Wikipedia the first official homecoming game was the University of Missouri's 1911 football game in which alumni were encouraged to attend. It was the first annual homecoming centered around a parade and football game (which if my math is correct this is a one hundred year old tradition).  The history leading up to this game, dates back to 1891 when the Missouri Tigers first faced off with the Kansas Jayhawks which is the oldest college rivalry west of the Mississippi.  The intense rivalry took place on neutral sites for many years, until a conference regulation announced intercollegiate football games be played on college campuses.  To renew excitement in the rivalry, ensure a good turn out for the game and celebrate the first meeting of these two teams on the campus in Columbia, Missouri, the athletic director invited alumni to "come home" for the game.  Along with the football game the celebration included a parade and spirit rally with a bon fire.

As with many homecoming celebrations, there are many different activities going on. It is tradition that the classes along with the organizations at the High School paint the windows on the local businesses. 

The cheerleaders generally paint the windows of Burns Saddlery.  They are always so clever and the windows turn out great.

The cheerleaders also make signs for all of those students participating in the fall athletics, football, volleyball, cross country, golf and soccer.  They hang them on the houses of the athletes so everyone knows that it is the "Home of a Wolf".

Stay tuned tomorrow for a run down of the rest of the weeks activities. I love small town life :).

Friday Favorite

I am going a little off the beaten path with this Friday's Favorite. It is football!!!!! At Burns Saddlery we love football, from High School to College to the NFL.  This may not seem all that important and exciting until you factor in that 75% of our working population here at the store are women.  We love our teams. From our local high school, to the Runnin Utes and BYU cougars, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts. 

We all have our favorites and can't wait for them to play again. Then we have such a great time talking about the games and analyzing them.  Football is by far our favorite sport!!!!

Survivor

Hopefully everyone saw last night's premier of Survivor: South Pacific.  We only got to see a glimpse of Rick's personality and humor, but we got to see what a hard worker and competitor he is with the immuity challenge.  He definately shined and did his part helping his tribe win immunity. 

He also was included in the 5 person alliance with Albert, Brandon, Coach and Sophie.  According to Coach, having a strong 5 will take you far and first day alliances are the strongest and it has been proven time & time again.  Sweet, this is right where we want our rancher from Utah to be :)

What to Wear Wednesday

If you live in Utah, it would have to be a jacket of course.  Fall has made an appearance and the mornings and evenings can be a bit chilly.  But no need to worry, Cruel Girl and Cinch have it covered.  These bonded jackets will keep you warm, the wind off of you and keep you looking great in the process.



The ladies jacket is a great color blocked charcoal grey with royal blue lining and black accents.  It features zip pockets as well as an MP3 pocket, adjustable and windproof cuffs and lining. It is finished with the Cruel Girl logo and custom zipper pull. 

The men's jacket is a black with red lining and accents. It also features the zip pockets and zippered MP3 pocket. The cuffs are adjustable as well.  It is topped off with the Cinch logo uniquely running vertically along the zipper.

Check out these great jackets as well as the other great outerwear we have on our website www.burnssaddlery.com.

Sometimes You've Got It and Sometimes You Don't

If I had it, I think I've lost it.  Sometimes I can be so organized and on the ball, I have my posts all planned out, written, scheduled to post and on top of everything. Then sometimes I can forget all together I am suppose to be responsible to post on a blog.  It occurs to me late at night and by that time, I am fresh out of ideas.  So obviously the past few weeks, I don't have it. 

It could be that as a mother of 2 freshmen, 1 in high school and 1 in college I have gotten a little preoccupied in trying to be super mom. Or it could be that it is getting close to the end of our fiscal year at work and that means time to evaluate the past year and prepare for next.  It might be that I need to invest in some Ginko Biloba to improve my memory as it seems not to be working as efficiently as it once did. Excuses aside, I need to find it and quick.

I guess all of that said, I am human and I am bound to drop a few of the balls that I am juggling.  I'll try to do a better job of keeping this one in the air from now on :)

A New Look

We have been waiting for this for a very long time and it is finally here, the new and improved Burns Cowboy Shop Website.  The girls in Park City have been working very hard to get this up and running.It is definitely worth the wait, and they have done a fantastic job. The new site is more interactive along with a cleaner and sharper look.  They will continue adding inventory so check it out and check back often  www.burnscowboyshop.com

The Interview Hat

Beginning next Wednesday, the entire staff of Burns Saddlery in addition to several of their customers will be glued to the television for the premier of Survivor: South Pacific.

We are so excited to see one of our funnest customers, Rick Nelson, battle it out to become the next Survivor.  It will be easy to spot Rick as he is wearing one of 2 hats from Burns Saddlery in the show. We  call this one the "interview hat" as he has been wearing it on the interviews and meet the cast spots that have been on.

In the show he will mostly be wearing a black 20X hat that we also set him up with. He will be easy to pick out ,in addition to the fact that he is just so likeable and we are all predicting that he will be a favorite (of course we are a little biased). 

I can't wait to see how things play out and recap the show every Thursday starting next week. So set your DVR's!!!

Boot of the Month

Since I am a little in to retro this week, this month's boot is reflecting that. This great 1960's inspired boot comes from Boulet. The vamp is a great oiled aztec taurus and the quarter has a fun hippie flower print. The boot also features a medium square toe and a stockman heel. This boot is a great "blast from the past" addition to any wardrobe.

What to Wear Wednesday or Not

I usually save Wednesday for What to Wear, meaning things that are new and fun, however today's what to wear is a blast from the past. Let me preface the what to wear with a little background history. There were some of us visiting at the hat bar about this and that and the conversation turned to some of the outrageous things that we have worn (hence yesterday's post on Tenny Lamas) Well, who could forget the leisure suit of the 1970's. That was a gem for sure. Bill, our Serratelli Hat Guy and all around fashion guru proceeded to tell Kody and I about his best leisure suit.


Imagine if you will, a navy blue double knit blazer with a slight white and red plaid pattern. Silver buttons that Bill paid big bucks for. Fire engine red, double knit, bell bottom slacks. White full quill ostrich cowboy boots with the absolute most pointy toe you can think of. Completing the look a high 7" tall crown cowboy hat with a rounded front. And imagine all of this on a man that is 5' 3" if that.

Now I totally believe that Bill was rocking the leisure suit, because he is a very nice dresser. But the entire idea of the get up had Kody and I almost rolling on the floor. Now I'm sure the idea of me in my "totally awesome" valley girl get up of the 1980's would probably cause Bill the same reaction.

I am loving the nostalgia that we brought back for that little bit of time this weekend. It makes life fun to look back, think of the things we've worn because they were the style and laugh our heads off :)

Tenny Lama's

I got an education this weekend, I had never heard of these. Tenny Lamas, tennis shoes that have a boot top. Really?? No Way, Oh Yes Way!!!


I pulled this picture from the internet, (hopefully it will help the guy trying to sell them on ebay) because I could not believe it. Where was I when this was the "in" thing? Apparently Braydan had a pair in High School circa mid 1990's and Kody always wanted a pair for PE Class. I'm not sure that this was an absolute "in" thing, so I went on a www. search to see what I could find out.


On page 4 of my bing search I did find at Yahoo! Answers, that Tony Lama produced a pair of boots for singer Willie Nelson that were inspired by a pair of sneakers. Other than that nothing, not even on Tony Lama's website. So I submitted a question. I will let you know if I hear back.

MIA

Sorry I went blog missing again. Things got a little crazy with the Barrel Race this weekend and I was unprepared. I do have some great posts coming up this week with things that happened and stories told that I hope you will find as entertaining as I did. Stay tuned :)

What to Wear Wednesday

Here is the top from the August Cruel Girl collection that I was telling you about last week. I have such an adoration for baseball style tees. This one features a great combination of a burn out watermelon body and gray raglan sleeves.

The collar has rhinestone and custom stud detailing for that extra touch of fun. Simple but eye catching.

End of an Era

I've sat down to write this several times, each time thinking that I am not quite getting it right. It is a privilege to me to have the opportunity to pay tribute to an absolutely amazing woman. On August 9th, Donna Burns made her last seat cover, ending a 40 year tradition of custom Indian Blanket seat covers made by Burns Saddlery.

This chapter of the Burns story was made possible by one hard working, creative, outstanding woman, Donna Burns. When asked over the last few weeks if we are going to replace her, I always reply that "Donna is irreplaceable" and it is so true. Donna taught herself to sew and with her meticulous eye and high sense of perfection she built a quality product that has retained it's unmatchable reputation. Donna has touched every seat cover that has ever left the building.

I asked Donna where she came up with the idea for the seat cover she told me that Uncle Don Burns approached her about repairing a seat in his pick up. She thought it would work out better just to cover it. It took her a full day to figure it out, but that she did and within 1 week she had 7 orders, of which she could tell you the names of those 7 people. She related to me that the first seat cover she made was orange and what do you know the last seat cover she made was also orange.

It didn't take long for people to realize what a gem the Burns Custom Seat Covers were and business boomed. At one point in time there were 20 sewers working shifts around the clock to keep up with the demand. And for 10 years there were no other Indian Blanket seat covers offered anywhere. When word spread that Donna was going to retire, the calls flooded in. She was swamped with orders for 2 months straight, with some people ordering multiple sets.

Over the years several people have come and gone, adding their talents to the seat covers, but 1 remarkable woman has been by Donna's side since the age of 18. Sue Williams has sewn more seat covers that any employee. This dynamic duo has run the show for the past 15 years with the help of James Sorensen. James comes in at 5:30 am to cut and sew ends and keep things running smooth. Sue and Donna just worked together so well, they just had a flow about them and made an unbeatable team.

It is with sadness that we close this chapter, but with sheer awe, amazement and appreciation that we pay tribute to a woman that has accomplished and contributed so much to the legacy of Burns Saddlery.

Friday Favorite

I asked our cute road guy, Denton what his favorite thing we had in the store is and he promptly replied, "Anything hornback is always cool. " So here are 2 of our most popular hornback boots that are in the main store.

They come from the Lucchese Cowboy Collection. Both the Cigar and Black boot feature a full hornback vamp with a coordinating elephant heel counter for durability. The quarters are a matching goat with a heavy silk stitch pattern. Both very cool looking boots for sure.

Personal Style

Last week, I began my journey into personal style. I have a little story to share. I often check out our vendors facebook pages to first see what they are doing and what is new and second to get ideas. I happened to be on the Cruel Girl facebook page and they had just posted their August photo album. (The August line is darling by the way, I have a shirt we got in that I can't wait to post.) Anyway, back to the point, there was a comment left about the model wearing high heels and Cruel Girl being a western brand along with a comment about the big bracelet that the model is wearing.

This gave me a little insight when it comes to personal style. Who is to say that girls that wear western branded clothing don't wear heels or chunky jewelry? Or girls that wear heels and chunky jewelry don't wear Cruel Girl? There are a lot of girls that lead a "double life" as quoted by our Miller International Rep., Shane. He was referring to those girls that work in an office during the day and are cowgirls in the evenings and on the weekend. And it makes perfect sense to me that the two can overlap.

It is no secret that I am not a cowgirl, but I love my boots and jeans that are made by "western" brands. I like combining different "styles and brands" for instance I am wearing a baby doll top from Buckle, my skinny jeans by Rock & Roll Cowgirl and flats by Roxy today. I think the overall look is great. All I need to do is change one component of the outfit, such as swap my flats for boots and I have an entirely new and just as great look.

So the point of my post being, don't limit yourself in thinking that because an item comes from a certain brand of clothing that it must be worn in conjunction with only articles of clothing from the same "style or brand". Combine components of an outfit in a way that you like, and change them up for an entirely different look.

What to Wear Wednesday

Here are 3 great tee's from Rock & Roll Cowboy. Each features a unique screenprint design for the guy that is a little country and a little Rock & Roll.

Friday Favorite

Today's Friday Favorite is a storewide favorite. Dan Post Cowboy Certified and Cowgirl Certified Socks.



They feature reinforced toes, low profile flat seam, ribbed comfort fit arch support, reinforced heel, added support on the calf and a certified stay up top.

They come in 3 lengths, Over the Calf, Crew and Quarters. And also 3 styles, Men's, Ladies and Youth. One great thing for us girls is that the Cowgirl socks are specifically designed for a woman's narrower foot so they are less likely to slide or bunch up in the toe area.

They are made from a combination of the finest quality cotton and Sorbatek to keep the feet a more consistent temperature and to absorb, move and release moisture away from the skin. As well as Lycra to ensure the sock keeps its shape and continues to fit well. They also feature AntiMicrobial Yarn that permanently inhibits the growth of odor causing bacteria,

With all of the technical stuff said, these socks rock. They are comfortable, fit well, don't fall down and help keep your feet from getting smelly. A definate must for anyone wearing boots.

What to Wear Wednesday

We have been getting in a lot of new things for fall the past week , and these two from Rock & Roll Cowgirl caught my eye.

I love the look of baseball tees and these are both a great take on that style. With the black burnout raglan sleeves and bright screen prints, both shirts add a fun and funky touch to your wardrobe. Perfect for back to school.

Personal Style

What is a personal style? I know in a previous post some time ago, I examined trends and how they come and go, but I am now thouroughly interested in developing a personal style.

Style as defined by my friend dictionary.com is a mode of fashion, as in dress, especially good or approved fashion; elegance; smartness. The definition doesn't help much, so I went to my next best world wide web friend Bing. I typed in How to develop personal style. This was a little more helpful.

According to wikihow, which is toted as a how to manual that you can edit, there are some pretty reasonable tips to developing your personal style. Here are a few.

*Be observant of fashion, both around you and inside of you. Your interests can lead you to clothing choices that can work for you.
*Don't let trendy things scare you off.
*Don't force yourself to wear something that you are not comfortable in
*Find a few style muses, allow someone elses quirkiness or elegance inspire you
*Most importantly, wear your clothes with confidence- don't let them wear you.

Pretty good tips for beginning a personal style development. I think I have already begun by being observant of fashion, hence my sudden interest in personal style. However I am going to become more aware of the fashion around me. I am excited to share my observations and thoughts with you and hope you'll share yours :)

Friday Favorite

I thought it would be fun to spotlight a customer favorite. By far we sell the Wrangler 13MWZ Western Cowboy Cut Original Fit Jean more than any other single style of men's jean.

The 13MWZ is a heavy weight, broken twill denim, made from 100% sanfordized cotton which is treated to resist shrinking. It is the official Pro Rodeo Competition Jean and is worn by 8 time world all around cowboy, Trevor Brazile. It comes with a one year warranty on defects in materials and workmanship as do all Wrangler products.

Just a few random fun facts about Wrangler

*The first pair of Wrangler Jeans was made in 1943

*In 1947 Wrangler Authentic Western Jeans, designed by celebrity tailor, Rodeo Ben are introduced to the American Consumer. Professional rodeo cowboys Jim Shoulders, Bill Linderman and Freckles Brian wear test the 13MWZ and endorse the Wrangler name for durability.

*In 1974 the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association officially endorses Wrangler Jeans

* In 1996 1 out of 5 pairs of jeans sold in America features a Wrangler label.

Wrangler is also having their Everything Wrangler Sale. For every 2 pieces of Wrangler Apparel you purchase over $14.95 each, you can get a $10 rebate from Wrangler by Mail from August 5th to August 28th. So stop by and stock up on your Wranglers for back to school.

Boot Fit Tips

Back to school always includes new shoes, and for some lucky ones, boots. Here are a few tips on proper boot fit.

The socks that you are wearing make a difference. I tell you this from experience. I have the Dan Post Cowgirl Certified Boot Socks and there is no way I can wear them with my caimen or lizard boots. They make them a little too snug as the lizard and caimen do not "give" as much as my buffalo or goat. Instead I wear a Thorlos liner, which is a lighter weight sock, making them a perfect fit. Always try on boots with a sock that is the thickness that you normally wear. Or if you are like me, adjust your socks as needed.

The next step is gauging fit. When putting your foot into a boot, it should "pop" in from the throat of the boot. If you struggle through the throat or your just foot falls in, the boot is likely not a good fit. It is also important that you try on both boots. Most people have slight differences in the size of their feet. It is always important to fit your larger foot. In some instances if the size difference is more noticeable, we have had to custom order two different sizes and widths of boots.

When the boots are on your foot should stand and gauge 3 things.

1. A properly fitting boot should be snug but not tight across the instep of your foot. The leather should not be extremely tight nor should it be extremely loose. You should be able to look down at your foot and see the welt stitching. If your foot is "falling" over the welt stitching, the boot is most likely not the correct width. Also, if your foot is sliding all around in the boot, the width is probably not correct. Your toes should have plenty of room to move comfortably and should not be cramped in any way, nor should you have room to slide your foot back and forth.

2. When you walk, there should be some slippage in the heel and up to 1" is perfectly fine. The heel slippage will subside once you have worn the boot and the boot becomes broken in. Slip in the heel seems to be a big concern to people that are new to boots, some heel slippage is not an indication of ill fit.

3. The boot should feel comfortable. If the boot does not feel right when you try it on, it is likely that it won't become comfortable after you wear it. It is possible to try on 2 pairs of boots made by the same company and have a completely different fit from each boot.

A pair of boots is a great addition to your wardrobe and can be your favorite go to for years to come. I highly recommend shopping for boots when you have the time to get properly fitted, because it makes all the difference.

What to Wear Wednesday

I can't believe it is August already, time for back to school. For the month of August I am going to focus quite a few of the posts this month on the things we have in that would be perfect for school. I am going to start with things for the teenage girl (since I have one of my very own :)

The first look comes from Cruel Girl. It features this darling v-neck, cotton- poly burn out tee with a sublimation print. It is lightweight and adorable layered with a white tank.

The Alysa Jean is constructed with a universal medium stone wash, lightweight 10 oz. denim. It is accented with baked creases and whiskers. This low rise, boot cut jean has metallic embroidery detailing that can be dressed up or down.

This look is by Rock & Roll Cowgirl. This jersey knit tee shirt has an all over distressed print. The front has the RR logo over feathers and foil swirl art. The back has a star over feathers and foil swirls. It is finished with crystal stones and rhinestuds.

This Rock & Roll jean is low rise, boot cut with a light wash. It is accented by heavy stitching and hematite rhinestones on the front and back pockets. There is heavy saddle stitching on the side seams and the jean is topped off by gun metal shanks and rivets.

Both of these outfits would be a fun addition to any girl's back to school wardrobe. Stop in and see all of the other great things we are receiving in daily.

Boot of the Month

The boot of the month for August comes to us from the Lucchese Cowgirl Collection. It is a red orly calf featuring a brown wingtip, heel foxxing and collar and on the quarter is a cream inlay. The entire boot has been stone washed for a unique, worn look. The stone washing process also gives the leather a soft, supple broken in feel.

The boots also feature the popular "W" toe and 8 heel, with the color combination that is very versatile this boot is perfect for riding, working and a night out.

Friday Favorite

I am back on track and here with a Friday Favorite. I decided to pick my favorite thing in the store this week. I'm sure if you read this blog on a regular basis you know there are a few things I'm in love with and Cowgirl Tuff is one of them. We recieved their newest jean, Girls Night Out in this week and once again I am so thrilled.
This is one darling jean. My favorite with a dark wash, heavy black and silver blue stitching, black leather on the flap pocket with just the right combination of rhinestones and studs. With the classic Cowgirl Tuff fit, you can't go wrong with this jean for your "Girls Night Out"

Las Vegas Cutting

The show is once again on the road. Burns Saddlery is at the fantastic South Point Hotel & Casino in sunny Las Vegas for the RECHA Summer Spectacular Cutting, July 28th - July 31st.

We will be featuring the Lucchese Cowboy-Cowgirl line of boots and our very own Burns Custom Cutting Saddles, which we have several to choose from. We will also have Resistol Hats, Burns Custom Hats and tack items.

The show is free to the public and well worth checking out the event as well as the vendors.

What to Wear Wednesday

I know it is still a little warm for this, but this adorable jacket just came in and with fall just around the corner, this is a great item to add to your wardrobe.


This granite colored, cotton blend fleece jacket by Ariat features a double button down closure and attached hoodie. And you didn't read that wrong, yes the same Ariat that makes boots. It is the perfect light weight and fashionable jacket for a cool fall evening.

Local Talent

One of the great things about living in a small community is that you get to know quite a few of the people in the area. I am so impressed with the talents of two local ladies, that I can't help but sing their praises on the blog. I must say I am becoming quite enthralled with photography. I am so impressed by those that have "the eye" for it, because I don't. So I do appreciate an amazing photographer and these two are both amazing.

I have added their blogs to our Favorites, they are Capturing Dawn and Photography by K'brina. I encourage you to check them out, and I'm confident you will agree that these girls are talented. They each have an amazing eye and unique style, both in their photography and editing. It is so fun to see people excel at something that you can plainly tell that they love.

Way to go ladies, we can't wait to see the incredible things you come up with next.

Friday Favorite

Boy, the days are sure flying by. Here it is 1:30 in the afternoon and I realized I hadn't done a Friday Favorite. I'm quite distressed at how long it is taking me to get back in the swing of things after being gone. I guess I'd better either learn to plan way ahead or just stay home :)

So for my Friday Favorite this week, I definitely think my favorite thing in the store is my fellow co-workers. I love being a part of the Burns Team. It is my absolute pleasure to come to work every day. While I was gone, I missed the camaraderie that we have, it is great to be able to have such a good relationship with the people I spend a majority of the day with.

We have some really great things in the stores, but the people that are here really make the Burns stores, exceptional places to shop and to work.

Boot of the Month

I really am loosing it. I realized that I didn't even pick a boot for July. I am choosing this great Cognac Safari Elephant. It comes from the Cowboy Collection by Lucchese. This is such a versatile and fantastic looking boot. It features a full elephant vamp and heel counter. A distressed black ranch quarter with orange and turquoise silk stitching. The quarter appears almost blue due to the distressing.

Elephant is a durable and rugged leather and this boot will give you years of great wear.

What to Wear Wednesday

Wednesday is upon us again and I can't seem to keep up :) I thought it would be fun to choose something for our little cowgirls.
This darling hot pink button down with daisies and horseshoes by Cruel Girl is perfect for your little rodeo princess.

Amazing

This link was shared via Facebook and I am truly inspired. Amberely Snyder talks about how she has overcome the obstacles in her life. What an amazing young woman with such a positive attitude. It is definitely one of those stories that make you stop, think and change your outlook.

Here is the link Amberley Snyder: Overcoming Obstacles, I hope you are as truly inspired and amazed by her story as I am.

What to Wear Wednesday

We have 2 great new styles of Cowgirl Tuff jeans in the store that arrived while I was gone. The Black Wild & Wooly is a great dark rinsed jean. It is a blue that has been rinsed in black then sanded and creased on both the front and back giving it a unique look. They are finished off by the fun bucking horses on the pockets. The RNR jean is the jean for rest 'n relaxing. With the signature Cowgirl Tuff barbed wire on the pockets and a little flap over of the opposite side of the jean, the pockets on this jean are extremely fun and attractive. The medium rinse with a little sanding and scratching makes these jeans already have that broken in look and feel.

Glad to Be Home

Being on the road is fun, but I am sure glad to be home. I have a lot to catch up on, but I have missed my work. I am looking forward to getting back on my own schedule and back to blogging regularly. I'll have some fun posts for you soon :)

Barrel Racing in Vegas

Well the race is officially in full swing. We have met some really great people this morning and I am so tickled that our saddles have such a great reputation. I have heard nothing but praise for them. Everyone that owns one loves it and those that don't want one for sure. They comment on how incredibly comfortable they are, as well as are impressed by the amazing details, quality and story behind the company.

Wendy has rocked the floor with the boots and I haven't done half bad with jeans & shirts. I've even sold a little jewelry today. Not too bad for the book keeper. On the road is definitely a different ballgame from what I am used to, but I welcome the opportunity. I will say though, everyone is asking for Scott & Danna. They love them so their presence is definitely missed. We have such great leaders at the helm and we have big shoes to fill.

Good luck to all of those barrel racing this weekend both in Vegas and in Salina. I'll check back with more adventures tomorrow :)

On Location

I am on location this week in sunny Las Vegas at the NBHA Vegas Super Show. We spent yesterday and today putting up our store on the road. This is the first show I have had the opportunity to see from start to finish. There are just 2 of us girls and my 14 year old daughter and it was pretty amazing to quite a few people were surprised that us girls could get the booth put up so quickly. But what can I say, "we rock" and thanks to our amazing leaders and the diagram they drew for us. I'm excited to keep you posted on my first road show.

History of Barrel Racing

Another Xtreme Barrel Race is upon us this week and I thought it would be fun to do a little research into the history of Barrel Racing. Barrel racing was originally developed as an event for women. While men roped or rode bulls and broncs, the women barrel raced. In early barrel racing, the pattern alternated between a figure-eight and a cloverleaf pattern. The figure-eight pattern was eventually dropped in favor of the more difficult cloverleaf.

The 1931 Stamford, Texas Cowboy Reunion, a weekend rodeo, decided to add girls, sixteen years and older, that were sponsored by area businesses and represented the community from which they came. The girls would lead the parade and participate in various minor rodeo activitiesand be avaliable to visit and dance with the cowboys at the social events each evening. The following year the young ladies were given prizes for the best mount, most attractive riding outfit and best horsemanship. The horsemanship was demonstrated by riding in a figure-eight around barrels. In 1935 the Stamford event changed the barrel racing to a cloverleaf pattern, but it was not judged strictly by the shortest time until 1949.

It is believed that Barrel Racing first saw competitive light in the state of Texas. The WPRA was developed in 1948 by a group of women from Texas who were looking to make a home for themselves and women in general in the sport of Rodeo. When it initially began, the WPRA was called the Girls Rodeo Association, with the acronym GRA. It consisted of only 74 members with as little as 60 approved tour events. The Girls Rodeo Association was the first body of rodeo developed specifically for women. The GRA eventually changed its name and officially became the WPRA in 1981. The WPRA still allows women to compete in the various rodeo events as they like, but Barrel Racing remains the most popular event competition.

The Xtreme Barrel Races are held at the Blackhawk Arena in Salina, Utah and Burns Saddlery is a proud sponsor of the series. To find more information about Xtreme Barrel Racing click here.

Independence Day

The 4th of July is only days away, I can't believe it, we are midway through the summer. I thought it would be fun to share a few "fun facts" about our Country and her Independence Day.

2.5 Million
In July 1776 the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation

311.7 Million
The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth

$3.2 Million
In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.

$486,026
Dollar Value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $256,407 worth

$190.7 Million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2010, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported.

31
Number of places that have "liberty" in their names. The most populous one as of April 1,2010 is Liberty, Missouri (29,149) Iowa with 4 has more places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty, and West Liberty.

35
Number of places that have "eagle" in their names. The most populous is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).

11
Number of places with "independence" in their name. the most populous one is Independence, Missouri (116,830).

9
Number of places that have "freedom" in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pennsylvania (4,464)

5
Number of places with "American" in their name. The most populous one is in our very own home state American Fork, Utah (26,263).

All of these fun facts can be found on the US Census Bureau Website. Have a happy & safe July 4th.

What to Wear Wednesday

It is a wonder I am able to take home a paycheck with all of the cute things that we get in. This week is no exception I absolutely adore this Slub Jersey Top by Adiktd. It features a cap sleeve, with a raw neck edge, soft screen print, and stones. It definately falls in to the 3F category, Feminine, Flirty and Fun.

Help Get 1,500 People to Like Us

We are having a great contest on Facebook. All you have to do is let all of your friends to go on and like us and leave your name in the comments under the post. For every person that leaves your name in the comments, you will be entered to win a $100.00 gift certificate that is good in the store or for you to call in your order. Tell your friends to tell their friends too, the more likes we get, the more chances you will have to win. Contest ends June 30th and results will be posted Friday July 1st.

Friday Favorite

This week, Sherry our boot gal galore, picked her favorite item and it is the Justin Gypsy's. She has her own so she knows, they are so comfortable and wear very well. The Justin Gypsy comes in several color combinations and styles. This is an excellent boot choice for someone just starting out wearing boots.