We all have those friends, the ones who tend to make everything a little more beautiful. When they set a table, decorate a mantle, or wrap a present, it is just a little more special than what others attempt. They also tend to be people who get ready in the morning and don't walk around in exercise clothes. Hair and nails are done, and they "put their face on," as my grandmother would say. For me, this perfectly describes my friend Torun Walker. Everything she does just has that little extra touch. And this magic extends to all she is and does.

Our mutual friend Tricia and I laugh that when she comes to visit me at our cabin on the Chesapeake Bay, my hair is in a knot and hasn't been washed for days; I am wearing a ratty old t-shirt, and as I open the fridge I yell at her husband and ask if he wants me to toss him a beer. Yet when she goes to visit Torun at the beach, it is a different story: Torun, a vivacious Southerner with the hospitality gene, has on a beautiful cover-up, she has actually brushed her hair specifically anticipating guests' arrival, and when they enter her home there is a cocktail ready and lunch is served on an actual plate. So perhaps I should not take offense to the fact that even my husband gets tongue-tied around Torun - who wouldn't?

When I needed a Christmas topper for my tree, another fellow friend, Ashley of Ashley Plants (follow her on Instagram) mentioned that Torun had started making beautiful bows for some of her clients. I could not dial her number fast enough. What she did to my Christmas tree was truly breathtaking. My tree never looked better. Fast forward a month, and over lunch with friends, Torun mentioned she was ready to turn this skill into a business.

I am pleased to announce The Little Bowtique has arrived in Old Town. If you ever look at your sad wreath and wish you could repurpose it for another holiday, this is your solution. Just get a new bow. It is that simple. Or what about when you go to a friend's house for dinner, and you dig out a sad wine bag you got two years ago and toss it in there, and you hand it to your friend with your head hung a little in shame. Stop doing that, get a bow, and make it beautiful. What is that saying? You never get a second chance to make a first impression? Well, impress them with a beautiful bow.

Really when it comes to gift-giving, it is all about the packaging and presentation.  How many candles or soaps have you bought because you like how the box looked? I am here to tell you a lot - because we have sold a lot on that premise. To help launch Torun's new business, she will have her beautiful bows at The Shoe Hive on February 12 to help make your Valentine's Day gifts the most beautiful you have ever seen. Any gift you buy that day will come with a special Valentine's Day bow from The Little Bowtique. You can also message her on Instagram if you would like a custom bow for a wreath. Think St. Patrick's Day or Mardi Gras. It is time to make all of our doors festive. Maybe you have a child graduating - wouldn't it be cute to have bows made for gifts with their high school or future college colors? You can do so many different things to make a gift extra special.

So stop by and see us on February 12. Alexandria is going to be more bowtiful than ever (sorry, I couldn't resist).