The CWS is Coming to Town!

We're just days away from the first pitch of the 2010 College World Series! The sporting event gets underway on Saturday, June 19th for the final time at the legendary Rosenblatt Stadium, but the party starts on Friday with a opening ceremony featuring music and fireworks.

No matter who you are rooting for this year -- Arizona State, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, TCU or UCLA -- Trocadero has a rainbow of accessories so you can color coordinate with your favorite team. Baseball caps and t-shirts are so passe. There's no reason why you can't be chic while watching the game! Show your Bruins pride in a pair of turquoise DV sandals. Rather than sweating in a giant foam finger, wave your red, blue or yellow patent Anya Hindmarch clutch in the air to cheer on your favorite players.

Here are some of our favorite accessories in this year's CWS teams' colors.

Maroon/Red: Anya Hindmarch patent clutch, Red Flower Blood Orange candle, Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Chinoise, Matt Bernson Barracuda sandal, Harajuku tote, Kara by Kara Ross bangle and enamel ring, Crocodile Creek bib

Yellow/Gold: Anya Hindmarch loose pocket, Anya Hindmarch patent clutch

Royal Blue/Baby Blue: Anya Hindmarch loose pocket, Anya Hindmarch patent clutch, DV sandals, Marvis aquatic mint toothpaste, We Are Happy To Serve You ceramic deli cup, Flip and Tumble reusable bag

Purple: Marvis jasmin mint toothpaste, Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Purple Haze, Seychelles sandals, Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace perfume, Kara by Kara Ross enamel ring

Orange: Bond No. 9 Little Italy perfume and candle, TDM tie-dye bamboo scarf (not shown)

In the three years I've lived in Omaha, I've yet to go to a CWS game. I think I need to experience at least one at Rosenblatt before it moves to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha next year. I'm not partial to any of the teams playing (go BU Terriers!), so I'll probably pick one based on their uniforms, which is what I did when I was a little girl. I do love purple and orange...

Special Deliveries

After I attended the LA Gift Show, I actually picked up some new vendors to carry at the Troc. So far it seems like my picks have been rather popular. For one these Haute Diggity Dog chew toys with tongue-in-chic names like "Chewy Vuiton," "Sniffany & Company" and "Chewnel No.5." There's also the "Bark Street Journal" and a vintage suitcase with retro stickers.

We've also had quite the response with our Flip & Tumble totes. They make great stocking stuffers or a housewarming gift.

This week we just got deliveries of some great classic children's books. Titles like Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Mad About Madeline: The Complete Tales, Madeline Says Merci and Winnie the Pooh's ABC board book. And our popular "I Never Forget A Face" matching game is back in stock as well.

If you're looking for a unique gift for someone special, check out our new blank notebooks from Attic Journals. Vintage and library hard back books are rebound to include the front pages of the original book and then filled with blank, white pages. Perfect for sketching, journaling, recording memories.

TOTE-ally Eco, TOTE-ally Chic!

I remember being a little girl and running around the Laiki, meaning "popular market" with my mother every Wednesday in our neighborhood in Athens, Greece. Local merchants came with their goodies of fresh fruits and vegetables to sell with apples as big as your hands and watermelons large enough to feed a family of six. Ok, maybe that's exaggerating, but it was a treat. The wonderul thing about this market here is that you can taste before you buy. The merchants actually encourage this to prove that they are the best in the venue. Many Greeks prefer to get their fruits and vegetables at a market than at a grocery store because there is more to choose from. I prefer getting my fresh oregano here for my Greek salad. I find the whole Laiki trip a wonderful experience. Much more fun than just roaming around the same aisles at your local grocery store. Not only was the food plentiful, but you get more for your buck. Many Greeks also carry their own, personal tote for their purchases. Which begs the question: With all the styling and care we do for ourselves, why shouldn't shopping for food be just as fashionable as well as Eco-friendly ??

Whether you are shopping at the Farmer's Market or at your local grocery store, reusable totes are definitely the way to shop nowadays. Besides, who needs all those crumply, plastic bags hanging around? Even if the thought of carrying a tote sounds annoying to you, there's always the option of carrying pocket size totes that fold up easily in the palm of your hand.

Anya Hindmarch, known for her lady-like style, started a huge craze with her chic, reusable bags simply titled: I'm NOT A Plastic Bag. Now, she expanded her reusable idea into other clever Reusable Totes, each with its own use. Separate your food with these cute totes by putting your eggs in your dairy bag and your chicken in your poultry bag. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "I need a luxury reusable tote like I need a hole in my head," but according to the Wall Street Journal, America' s consumption of bags is estimated at 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually, that's an estimated 12 million barrels of oil required to make that many plastic bags. So a little luxury isn't so bad, especially when you know that you're doing your part in being responsible. So go ahead, treat yourself.

Want a more portable option? Ty these Flip & Tumble Reusable Bags. These recyclable and reusable bags roll up in a little ball and fit in the palm of your hand. Now you have no excuse for not bringing your own tote. Just drop it in your handbag and pull out when you do your shopping. They can be used for just about anything and the great thing is, you won't have to worry about leaving a tote at home or in the car because this handy little thing will always be with you for that impromptu pick up at the market. And don't worry about ripping them. These bags are made from ripstop nylon (parachute material) and can carry up to 25lbs. Just toss the bag in the washing machine when they need it and when they are no longer usable, send to it to Flip & Tumble to recycle it. They fit comfortably on your shoulder and come in really cute designs and colors, so there's no need to worry about carrying a boring, bland bag.

Fashionable or Functional, there's something for everyone.

TOTE-ally available @ Trocadero.

Farmer's Market Saturdays

Last week we received our first shipment from a new vendor...Flip & Tumble eco-chic foldable totes. Their name describes the way these lightweight ripstop nylon bags fold up and turn into a convenient ball to stow in a handbag, tote, glove compartment, suitcase, etc. At the Troc, we carry them in bright, cheerful color combinations as seen in our window, expertly decorated by PJ and Kate. Do you notice the gorgeous cut out fruits and veggies that Kate painstakingly created for our windows? Who said an intern's job was thankless? We also have two cute patterned ones: this brown tote with an image of a pink bicycle and another brown tote with the image of little birdies. With both the plain and patterned totes priced under $15, these are great gifts to give and receive. And, the perfect carryall for local farmer's market shopping. Or a trip to the pool. Though today it looks like Omaha's weather is not cooperating with either. Torrential rain and thundershowers this morning woke me up at the crack of dawn. Which makes me think about those See by Chloe rain boots we have on order (see August 11th's post). Too bad Italy is closed for the month of August! That means we won't be receiving our shipment of boots until September. If you don't have a proper (and cool-looking rain boot), definitely stop into the Troc to pick up a pair of See by Chloe ones. They'll make you wish for rainy days.