What Is In Your Handbag?

The Handbag or purse as it is referred to in American English dates back to the 14th century when both men and women would attach pouches to their girdle. The pouch would vary according to the fashion, status, and lifestyle of the wearer. Not much has changed over the past 600 years, with the exception of the contents. I had a fun experience with the contents of my handbag recently and thought it would be great to find out what the top 5 must haves for the Burns Girls are in theirs. So drum roll please, the top 5 things are: 1. Lip Gloss, Chapstick or Lipstick 2. Wallet (with lots of money of course) 3. Gum 4. Ibuprofen or some type of pain reliever 5. Lotion Of course this wasn't everything, just the 5 that were mentioned the most. Here are some of the other things we carry: knife or leatherman tool, feminine products, diapers & wipes (definitely from our mom of little ones), keys, cell phone, mirror and planner. The most interesting reply came from Wendy our Marketing Gal Extraordinaire, ropes, rope gloves, bell boots, dally rubber and a water bottle. Stay tuned and we will bring you some pretty amazing handbag options to carry all of your necessities in.

Choosing a Roller Bit for Your Horse

We would like to thank Trist for submitting her question for our bloggers challenge:

Do you have any good roller bits?

Trist, We carry some great roller bits manufactured by Tom Balding in Sheridan Wyoming. I have 2 bits in stock with rollers. The first one has Ace of Spades w/ roller on a switchback shank… this bit sets the horse down in the rear and break at the poll, its soft and easy for a finished horse. View more information and purchase Tom Balding's Switchback Ace of Spades Bit, click here.

The second bit has an Equalizer w/ roller mouthpiece and a Sheridan 7 shank….this bit gives a lot of feel and rate for the finished horse. I have included pictures for you to see the bits. View more information and purchase Tom Balding's Sheridan 7 Equalizer Bit with Roller, click here.

Let me know if you are interested in one of these bits or if we could assist you with another style or brand.

Check out more of our western roller bits online by clicking the link below:

http://www.burnssaddlery.com/ItemRelations.asp?GROUP=87&CHOICE=239;Tp=

Thank You,

Amanda Baxter

Customer Service

Amanda@burnssaddlery.com

435.529.7484 Ext-401

Submit your question to our bloggers challenge and receive Free Shipping on your next order at http://www.burnssaddlery.com/. Click here for more information.

If The Boot Fits

Another weekend in Park City, and I am still so amazed at how many people comment on the fact that they already own cowboy boots and don't wear them because they hurt their feet.

It is so important to be fit properly. With boots, size is a guideline, you cannot get stuck on the fact that you have always worn a certian size. You have a size range, most of us that own several pairs of boots, have several different sizes and widths of boots depending on leather and style.

Wearing boots is different than wearing a tennis shoe, it is more like wearing a slipper or clog. Your heel should slip when you put on a new pair of boots. It is perfectly acceptable to slip up to 1 1/2 inches. The slip will subside once you have worn the boots several times and the boot begins to conform to your foot.

A boot should never be tight, pinch or pull any on your foot. If it does, the boot is too small and you will own a pair of boots that you do not want to wear. Your foot should feel comfortable when you try on the boot and you shouldn't assume that it will "stretch" so you need a smaller size. It is true some leathers will give but only a little and not enough to justify buying a boot that is too small.

At the Burns family of stores, we want your boot to fit. All of our associates are trained in the proper fitting of a boot. We want you to proudly and comfortably wear the boots that you purchase from us. We want you to love your boots as much as we do.

A Great Shopping Experience

Since I've been at Burns Saddlery, I have really become interested in what makes a great shopping experience. I have become more aware of the experience I have when I am the customer as well as how I act when I am the one serving the customer. I am very aware of how I feel when I walk into a store and I take special note of how the displays in the store are set up. I am much more aware of the quality of the merchandise, I am not so focused on the cost if the quality is high. I am certianly more choosy in my purchases on the functionality and versatility of the item I am looking at. I am always taking notes on how I am approached and treated by the staff.

At Burns Saddlery and Burns Cowboy Shops we want to provide our customers with an outstanding shopping experience. We are always striving to give the very best service and provide the very highest quality products. We want to be a place people tell their friends to visit. We always welcome suggestions on how to better our service and product. Don't be afraid to let us know.

Cowgirl Apparel

I read the best article on CowgirlDiary.com (see link at right for blogs & websites we love, the article is dated February 26th). It's called Cowgirl Apparel, the author has been having a lot of the same musings that I have lately. What makes people choose the clothing that they do?

This was big on my mind last week as I placed a job posting for a sales associate for the store. In the requirements I included "attire appropriate for the western industry". I did not have as many responses as I did a few months ago to another listing that did not specify any attire. This is the only thing I could think of that would make much of a difference.

So what exactly is cowgirl apparel or western attire? It really depends on where you are and what you are doing. To me appropriate western attire definately includes boots. Of course my 5 toe Lucchese Classics might not be the boot for a girl taking her horse for a ride, but they do look pretty great running around the store. It also includes a favorite pair of jeans. It doesn't matter what brand, what cut, or what style as long as you feel amazing in them. Then what ever top you are in the mood for be it a t-shirt, a plaid button down, or a light peasant top.

Western attire has definately evolved from the roper and brushpopper days. It is all about comfort, style and individuality. There is no right or wrong item to include, just what suits your personality best.

Facebook Fun

If you haven't already, check out our facebook pages for Burns Saddlery and Burns Cowboy Shop. We will be having some fun contests as well as some great information. There will be information on products and upcoming events. Let us know what you like as well as what you would like to see.

Fashion Friday

Today's outfit was put together by Emily. It features a brown long sleeved henley tee with a distressed coral screen print by Cruel Girl. This top features custom hardware accents and buttons. Paired with a coral tank, it is a fun pop of color for spring.

Also featured are the Cruel Girl Shawna jeans. The Shawna features heavy, wicked embroidery details all over this stretch jean. Cream and Khaki toned saddle stitiching accents the yokes and pockets. Whiskers and baked creases add flair to the rinsed denim. Finished off with an eye catching back pocket, these jeans can be your favorite for riding or going out.

This is definately a great transition outfit from the blahs of winter to the fun of spring.

Marching into Spring

I must admit I LOVE SPRING. It is by far my most favorite season of all. There is so much promise in spring, warmer weather, green grass and trees, blossoming flowers, longer days, I could go on and on. One of the best things about spring is being able to get out a whole new wardrobe (at least here in Utah). One thing about our climate is we have 2 distinctive wardrobes to accommodate the extreme changes in temperature.

I thought it would be fun to have different members of our team put together outfits from head to toe for Fashion-Forward Fridays. We can showcase some of the new items we have in and how to put them together for a fun fashion- forward look. So check us out every Friday and see what we have come up with.

In or Out

In or Out?? This is a big question on my mind lately, do I wear my boots in (under my jeans) or out (over my jeans)? I have always been a boot under my jeans girl, but the quarters (tops) of most of my boots are so cute, why not show them off?

Obviously there is the matter of what type of jeans you have on. If you are wearing boot cut jeans, it is a given that your jeans go over your boots. It's difficult to pull off the boots tucked in with the extra denim at the bottom of a boot cut jean. And of course with skinny jeans, boots outside will only work, because of the lack of denim at the bottom.

Really there should be no problem then, pick your jean and wear it accordingly. A couple of the girls at our Cowboy Shop often wear their boots out and it definately gives the boot a new look so I did just that. I will admit it felt a little strange at first and my 14 year old daughter wasn't sure that it was a good idea to leave the house that way, but I figured what the heck.

So for the first day out, I chose my triad cut mosaic caimen boots with the bronze quarters, my most flashy boots. I was at first a little self conscious, but quickly became comfortable with the look. To me it was a little more fashionable look, and that is somewhere I am excited to go. I am thinking boots in are a little more casual and comfortable, boots out are a little more fashionable and edgy.

It's so much fun being able to experiment with different styles and being able to get two styles out of one item.

Ariat Denim

Burns Saddlery is excited to be carrying the Ariat line of denim for men and ladies. The design is focused for the rider to have a great riding jean as well as a fashionable jean.

The ladies jean comes in 2 fits as of now, Ruby which is a low rise slimmer fit, and Turquoise that is a mid rise with a slightly more relaxed fit. In the fall, they are coming out with the Amber fit that is between the two fits avaliable now. We were lucky enough to have our Ariat Apparel rep here and try on the sample. They are great.

Ariat denim is built to hold up, with 100 % ringspun cotton , comfort inseams that lay flat to prevent irritation, anchored belt loops, true fit waist band, high -quality zippers and hardware, no see pocket lines as well as slimming back pockets. Ariat designers work to provide a fashionable jean that will take you from the saddle to out on the town.

Check them out on Burns Saddlery's website .

March Feature Boot

Each month we feature a boot or boots in Cowboys & Indians magazine. I thought it would be fun to feature the boots on the blog with some fun ways to wear them.

This months feature boot is the precious metals boots. They are a metallic python print on goat skin. This gives the boot the look of python, but the durability of the goat. They come in two sizes, a short side zip and a taller regal construction. The regal construction features a seam in the back of the quarter of the boot rather than on the sides. Also there are no pull tabs. This allows for a great, smooth line when wearing your jeans in or with skirts.

These boots would definately make a statement worn with leggings or jeggings. Peeking out of a boot cut jean would give you just a hint of excitement. They would give a black skirt a huge pop at the hemline.

With the warm gold and cool silver all in one boot, you can definately use your jewlery to accent which ever hue you desire.

If you are looking for a fun and catchy addition to your wardrobe, these could be the boots for you.