My Buy of the Week: A Summer Scent

So if Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears wear it, should you wear it too? Uhhhhh, let me clarify: if it’s Ed Hardy’s new “Tattooed Fruity Floral” scent, you should. The celebs above have been spotted wearing Hardy’s lifestyle line (designed by Christian Audigier) like hoodies, hats and tees with Hardy’s signature tattoo style (skulls, flowers, bulldogs, serpents). But Hardy’s scent (which I have tried) is surprisingly soft, sweet and refreshing—not at all heavy like you’d expect it to be.
The description reads: “The fragrance opens with top notes of apple soufflé, mango, wild strawberry and ruby red grapefruit leading into subtle hints of mid-note freesia petals. The sweet fruity opening warms with the skin to give rise to the bottom notes of warm amber, vanilla pudding and tonka bean …”
Yum. Pick it up at Macy’s.
Macy’s, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. 232-2525. macys.com

Events

We all love the Farmers’ Market downtown, right? Well, Madison’s got a lot of other farmers’ markets around the city. Take the Middleton Farmers’ Market at Greenway Station. An alternative to the Saturday morning downtown market, Middleton’s market is on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market opens next week on May 8. Find it in the parking area next to Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Another place that’s fast becoming a “lifestyle center” (a la Greenway Station) is Hilldale Shopping Center. Lifestyle centers aim to provide shoppers with an all-encompassing experience: shops, entertainment, dining and access to more basic needs, like grocery stores. What’s great about Hilldale is that it’s got local stores (Fair Indigo, Therese Zache, Jan Byce, Woldenberg’s, etc.) in addition to national chains (Anthropologie, Macy’s, Bath & Body Works, L’Occitane). It’s that valuable mix that draws shoppers in, whether they’re coming to check out a sale at Macy’s (hey, let’s be honest!) or a cool event like this weekend’s Artistic Accessories Show & Sale on May 3–4. According to a show press release, it’s “a show and sale of artistically inspired jewelry, clothing and accessories, unique one of a kind handbags, scarves, textiles, hats and wearable art.” There will be thirty-five-plus exhibitors, including some local artists like Jane Miller (East Side Bags), jeweler Diane Dohm from Dane and Vicky Kusyk Handbags.
Hilldale Artistic Accessories Show & Sale, May 3–4, Hilldale Shopping Center, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. (information: Loretta Dooley, 271-7472).

The Bohemian Bauble always, and I mean always, has stuff going on! This near-south-side gem showcases local artists’ wares in beautiful vignettes and has the friendliest staff. Find bath and body items, jewelry, vintage stuff and much more in this little enclave. This weekend is The Blossom sale on May 2–4. You can’t argue with the entire store being fifteen percent off! Owner Tami Beirne also says there will be a lot of new things for sale, and everyone’s favorite—giveaways.
Also stop by for Gallery Night on May 2 from 5–9 p.m. and get free snacks and drinks and of course, fifteen percent off.
The Blossom Sale May 2–4, 10–4.
The Bohemian Bauble 404 W. Lakeside St. 333-BOHO

One of State Street’s newest shops, Anthology, has declared May as Mom’s Month in the store. From May 1–10, drop in make mom a card for only one dollar. Can’t beat that! Plus, mom loves homemade stuff, right?
Later in the month, drop in to make a button (May 11–16), see a plaster cake demonstration (May 17) or make a comb-bound mini-notebook with stamped pages (May 19–31).
Anthology 218 State St. 204-2644.

One of my favorite stops is Lady Moxie for affordable and gently used clothing. Owner Elizabeth Wewerka always has something special (and new!) for shoppers when they stop in. Speaking of new, Wewerka recently took a trip to California where she met with some fabulous designers that she’s now carrying. Effie’s Heart is a line of comfy cotton items (I like the cute tiered, short sundress) that can be dressed up or down; Melanie Renee features crisp sundresses dressed up in vibrant colors in large exploded (and somewhat retro) prints; Evarize is a line of stretchy knit dresses.
Lady Moxie 6706 Odana Rd. 826-4268. Ladymoxie.com

Who hasn’t been to Dazzle by now? Well if you haven’t been, now is the time to go! The designer-inspired jewelry and accessories boutique just received a large shipment of new items last week. Owner Valerie Martin always is on top of the trends with her items; the last time I was there I spied animal-print items, chunky bangles, lots of metallic items and oversized clutch handbags.
Dazzle 8426 Old Sauk Rd. 826-4455.

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and The Guild has got you covered for gifts. If you’re shopping inept, don’t have a lot of time, or just plain like online shopping better, check out their Mother’s Day Gift Guide on the artfulhome.com website. You can even narrow down your shopping choices even more with tabs like “$250 and under,” “for the jewelry lover,” “for the nature lover” and “more artistic gift ideas.”
theartfulhome.com
theguild.com

Green News

Green is now the buzzword when it comes to our lifestyle. We can buy organic denim, drink organic wine and buy jewelry out of recycled materials. Because we’ve become so familiar with ways to be green we’re constantly evolving what it means to be green and developing new ways to be green.

Take Make it Mine magazine. I have written about this publication before, and its focus is on how to customize pieces in your wardrobe like jewelry and clothing. Instead of discarding an old bracelet, for example, Make It Mine suggests revamping your bracelet into a new, hip style with just a few crafty items. They even suggest taking old costume jewelry and making wine charms out of it. In fact this magazine subtly pushes the green idea by taking old items and fashioning them into new, exciting pieces.
makeitminemag.com

Speaking of making old into new, Green Wine Bottles takes, well, old wine bottles and makes them into fuctional art. Artist David Guilfoose makes vases, candlesticks, bells and lamps out an item that you or I discard when it’s finished. The beautiful pieces make it hard to imagine that vase was perhaps a Cabernet or Merlot. Check out their booth at the Going Green Expo on May 2–4.
greenwinebottles.com

Macy's is rolling out Organic Frango mints in honor of Earth Day on April 22. According to a company press release, "Each premium variety is rich in flavor, grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers, and made from more than ninety-five percent certified organic ingredients such as organic milk chocolate, organic cane sugar and organic vanilla."
macys.com

Macy's Magazine

Speaking of Macy’s, did you know that the department store came out with a new magazine appropriately titled M? I checked it out and I must say that I was impressed with the clean layout, fashion spreads, useful tips and product features. Although the pub peddles items only available at Macy’s, the magazine doesn’t feel like it’s, shall we say, a walking advertisement for Macy’s (even though it is).
Fashionistas will appreciate “What Not to Wear” advice from the Style Network’s Clinton Kelly and mini profiles on hot new designers that the department store will carry at its flagship State Street location in Chicago.
The magazine will be put out quarterly and will be available at Macy’s North stores (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and will also be mailed to 500,000 Macy’s customers this month.
Macy’s, 702 N. Midvale Blvd., 232-2525. seeMonline.com