BECKY SHER | Hype No sweat: You can buy an attitude

Remember a couple of years ago when rubber-band bracelets were all the fashion? You'd see NBA players sporting them on the court, and mega-watt celebs wearing them to concerts and premieres. Well, Wordstretch, the company that helped catapult an unassuming office supply to high-fashion status, is taking on another simple accessory: sweat bands.
Much like their rubber-band cousins, Puffies are embroidered wristbands with sassy sayings like "Foxy Lady," "Rock Star" and "Princess." They're fully capable of soaking up sweat, but it seems like it would be an awful waste to wear them in gym class. Instead, slip one on with a denim jacket, and you'll be the height of '80s chic. Or wear them with your favorite sweat shirt for a touch of athletic cool. The point is, you can wear your attitude on your wrist, for the whole world to see. Each Puffie (there are about a dozen catchy messages) sells for six bucks, with a matching rubber-band bracelet to share with a bud. Look for Puffies at gift shops and sporting-goods stores, or order them online at www.wordstretch.com.
Wonderful wake-up
School is back in session, and long days of baking on the beach are over. Sigh. No more sleeping late and sitting down at the breakfast table only to find out that lunch is being served. Sigh again. If you're anything like us, it's going to take more than a blaring alarm clock to get you in fighting form this fall.
Luckily, we've found our savior -- Grapefruit Peppermint Exhilarating Sugar Scrub. The gooey exfoliating scrub is one of the latest creations from Bath & amp; Body Works, the chain that gave the world shower gel and body lotion in every scent known to the nose. But the scoop on this sugar scrub -- part of B & amp;BW's Aromatherapy Awake line -- is the burst of mind-clearing fragrance when you unscrew the lid. The citrus-mint combo provides some major pow -- talk about a wakeup call! Plus, its gentle exfoliators buff your skin ultra-smooth. And if the sugar scrub isn't enough to shock your system, stock up on other aromatherapy products in the Awake line, like restorative body oil, invigorating body wash and refreshing facial mist. Look for the products, which range in price from $10 to $20, at a Bath & amp; Body Works store near you.
XBecky Sher writes Hype for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. You can write to her at bsher@krtinfo.com.