S.W.A.G
Valentine’s Gift Guide: For the One You Want to Date
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
Roses are red, violets are blue, and if you drop a hint for the one you like this Valentine’s Day, maybe cupid will chip in a little help too.
www.tenthousandvillages.com
Radiant Ribbons Scarf
Keep your crush warm with a thoughtful gift. Let them wrap up in this handmade, hand-dyed scarf, and know that you have given back to the worldwide community. / Ten Thousand Villages, 915 King St., Alexandria; 703-684-1435; www.tenthousandvillages.com; $34.
www.shoptreat.com
Rebecca Minkoff Matinee Satchel w/ gold dot foldback
Most ladies probably don’t own a red purse, but she’ll be sure to thank you when she receives one wrapped in a bow. / Treat, 103 S. Saint Asaph St., Alexandria; 703-535-3294; www.shoptreat.com; $385.
www.tenthousandvillages.com
Melt My Heart Candle or Cinnamon Pillar Candle
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. / Ten Thousand Villages, 915 King St., Alexandria; 703-684-1435; www.tenthousandvillages.com; $12/each.
www.etsy.com
Custom Recycled Vinyl LP Album Journal Notebook Sketchbook
A customized notebook made with his/her favorite vinyl is sure to show the writer, musician or sketch artist in your life how well you know him/her. / Sande Edwards, Arlington; www.sandeedwards.com; $15.00.
www.tenthousandvillages.com
Cotton Messenger Bag
It’s not a murse, and it’s not a purse; it’s a messenger bag and any guy or gal would rock it well. / Ten Thousand Villages, 915 King St., Alexandria; 703-684-1435; www.tenthousandvillages.com; $38.
www.letache.com (Photo: Sarah Jones)
Edible Candles and Packaged Assortment of Lotions and Body Scrubs
Share a gift and hope they get the hint. / Le Tache, 210 King St., Alexandria; 703-299-8430; www.letache.com; $21.95/candles, $36.95-$49.95/lotions and body scrubs.
–Sarah Jones
For more Valentine’s Day gift ideas, click here.
Shopping Simplified: iShoes and iBags
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
(Apple)
While mega shopping sites like zappos.com and department stores sites like saks.com each have their own tempting selections of shoes and bags, you still have to jump from site to site to explore the full bounty of beauties available. Well, that used to be the case before sites like shopstyle.com — and two very cool, free, iPhone apps that allow you to hold the world of shoes or the world of bags in the palm of your hand: iShoes and iBags.
Through iShoes, explore over 50,000 pairs, and through iBags, over 20,000 bags (both powered by shopstyle) — either randomly or via your style/brand preferences. Create wish lists and purchase directly from your phone with just a few simple clicks.
Just don’t blame me when you start ignoring those chores of yours.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Valentine’s Gift Guide: For Your New Flame
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
If you’ve just starting seeing someone new, don’t let Valentine’s Day put a speed bump in your fun. You may not yet know all of your new flame’s likes and dislikes, but not to worry. Try these simple, yet clever, gift ideas that show you care, while keeping the relationship light and flirty.
By Shannon McNeely
www.cuisinecuisine.com
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Who doesn’t love chocolate with a twist of fruit? Available in dark chocolate with white chocolate drizzle, this gift ultimately screams fun and playful with a no-strings-attached attitude. / Bittersweet Café, 823 King St., Alexandria; 703-549-1028; www.bittersweetcatering.com; $24.
www.gifts.com
Scrabble Valentine’s Day Card Kit & Game
What do you get when you intermingle some romance and vocabulary creativity? The perfect Valentine’s Day board game of course! This beloved classic has provided hours of entertainment for years, and is now available in a heart-shaped edition. Share some laughs and spell out secret messages with your partner. / www.gifts.com; $22.75.
www.shop.barkleysquarebakery.com
Gourmet Peanut Butter Cup Dog Treats
Why not start things off right by catering to your new flame’s pet? These mouth- watering, doggy favorites are sure to inspire a lasting friendship between you and your flame’s much adored canine. / Barkley Square Gourmet Dog Bakery & Boutique, 2006 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria; 703-548-3644; www.shop.barkleysquarebakery.com; $1.
www.zazzle.com
“It’s A Chocolate Thing” Graphic T-shirt
Show him your comedic side by giving him something wearable and witty. Displaying the skeletal formula for chocolate on the front side, this is a comfortable gift that is sure to be a Valentine’s Day favorite for any guy with a sense of humor. / www.zazzle.com; $17.95.
For more Valentine’s Day gift ideas, click here.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, January 31st, 2011
Restricted Suede Over-the-Knee Boot, now $55 before additional savings (southmoonunder.com)
You know how the song goes … “wish it were a Sunday.” That’s my fun day, too, but there is no reason to hate a Monday when it involves deals like this one does.
Just a few of the sales waiting to make you melt:
Today is the last day of the Semi-Annual sale at Nicole Miller, with up to 70 percent off!
Smartbargains is offering 30 percent off or more on a third item when you buy two dresses or pairs of shoes today.
The Apple store is offering double cash back (two percent) on purchases made through My Lucky Rewards this week.
Baby Moon pillows to help prevent flat-headed babies are half off at babysteals.com today.
Specialicious is offering 42 percent off a dinner buffet for two at Korshi Korean Buffet today and tomorrow.
Gap is offering 20 percent off must-have tops for men and women today through Wednesday.
Today is the last day of the Restoration Hardware bath sale, with 2o-percent savings on towels, fixtures and more.
Old Town’s Treat is offering some seriously stellar Final Sale items online today.
And today is the last day to save an extra 25 percent off sale prices at South Moon Under in Clarendon and Reston, as well as online.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Sure Things: Rabbit Wine Opener by Metrokane
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, January 31st, 2011
Hello there, shoppers! While more slick stuff is to be on its way, at least it’s almost February. Not that February brings great weather, but we’ll be one month closer to spring. Certainly cause to celebrate if you ask me! Should you agree and plan to have your celebrating involve a little vino but have one problem — you’re oh-so-klutzy with corks — get ready to rectify the situation.
In this latest installment of Sure Things, I present a wine opener that makes the opening process as smooth as silk: The Rabbit by Metrokane.
It’s seriously the no-stress entertainer’s secret weapon. I have tried all kinds of other openers, including automatics, and this one is by far the favorite. It’s super easy to use, super fast, and the cork always comes out super clean. Plus, the set includes a foil cutter that saves the nails.
While nothing is perfect, I’d say it’s pretty darn close.
Want to snag one for yourself? You can buy the Rabbit at just about any wine store as well as at various department stores, amazon.com and a host of other online retailers. The best price I’ve found, roughly $35, is through the main link above and at Walmart.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Winter Extravaganza and Other Weekend Sales
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, January 28th, 2011
Chandelier Artwork (shopthenestegg.com)
The work week is almost through! Woot woot! But before you sign off and sail out the door, below are a few sales to keep in the back of your mind. It’s looking like a bargain-filled weekend around NoVA, kids! Plus, did you see that Anthropologie is unveiling a wedding line on Feb. 14?! As my buddy Laura said, “Time for a re-commitment ceremony!”
First, Hysteria and The Shoe Hive in Old Town are having a Winter Extravaganza sale. Today through Sunday, take an additional 20 percent off sale prices that are already 50 percent off original prices!
Also, don’t forget about the White Sale at Vienna’s Valerianne, through Feb. 6, featuring 20 percent off custom orders and up to 65 percent on in-stock comforters, towels, sheet sets, placemats and more. Similarly, there’s still time to enjoy the bedding sale at Old Town’s Red Barn Mercantile, though not much; 20-percent savings on in-stock and custom orders of designer bedding end Jan. 31.
And for those of you who don’t really care about deals, you just want something to get you out of the winter dumps, check out the new inventory at The Nest Egg in Fairfax. (If my Valentine is actually reading this … ideas, ideas, ideas.)
Oh, and speaking of Valentine’s Day, if your dude digs a great shave, this weekend you can grab a Friends & Family 20-percent-off deal at The Art of Shaving.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, January 28th, 2011
RedLaser UPC price-comparison app (redlaser.com)
Hello there, shoppers! Happy Friday! While I can’t take away the white stuff that’s been making a mess of your commute, not to mention your plans, I’m once again hoping to help make your shopping decisions a little simpler. In this the latest installment of Shopping Simplified, it’s my pleasure to share the love for one of my favorite shopping apps: RedLaser (free!).
While I’m holding out for the Verizon iPhone, I’ve been kidnapping my hubby’s iPhone for years, to help out with all sorts of stuff, and frankly don’t like shopping without it. RedLaser, also available for Android, has a lot to do with that. Talk about comparison shopping made cake-y!
Not sure if the price you’re looking at paying for a certain item is really a good deal? Look for the UPC barcode or serial number, pull up RedLaser, take a pic of the code with your iPhone (just keep the code between the lines) or enter the serial number, and you’ll suddenly see a range of competing prices online.
I can’t tell you how much money this app has saved me or how very simple it is to use. This video will show you, though, if you’re not already seeing Red.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Ps. Speaking of saving money, does it get any better than a bargain on an hour-long massage?!
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Percy Crossbody Bag, on sale for $138.60 (bloomingdales.com)
Hello there, shoppers! Already tired of being tucked indoors? Overly excited kiddos driving you crazy? Serve yourself up some sanity with these sales:
–Twenty-percent savings on apparel and home items during the Last Chance sale at ralphlauren.com
–Thirty to 65 percent savings on select winter items at bloomingdales.com
–from noon-2 p.m. today, 30-percent savings and free shipping site-wide with the code TIMEOUT at thelimited.com
–Fifteen-percent savings on all drapes at potterybarn.com
–Thirty percent off your entire order at bananarepublic.com with the code BRJAN30
–An extra 30 percent off wear-now sale items at piperlime.com with code WARMUP
–Twenty percent off and free shipping on photobook orders over $75 with the code LOVEMP at mypublisher.com
–Thirty percent off your entire order at bananarepublic.com with the code BRJAN30
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Sorry, no pun intended.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Sure Things: T3 Tourmaline Hairdryers
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Hello there, shoppers! While I can’t recommend a snowblower to everyone — wish I could given what’s fallen from the frosty sky — it’s my pleasure in this next installment of S.W.A.G. “Sure Things” to share my love for the hairdryer of my dreams: the T3 Tourmaline Featherweight.
T3 Featherweight (Sephora)
Our story goes back several years, and while it’s painful to recall my hair days before my beloved T3, here goes … You see, when I first started buying my own dryers, I would go to Wal-Mart or Target and get your standard run-of-the-mill dryer costing about $20-$30 — seemed a reasonable price to pay. That was until I realized that the whole buying-a-dryer thing started happening over and over again, just about every four to five months or so. And always at the most inopportune times — not that there ever wasn’t an inopportune time at which I didn’t really care about taming my freakishly curly (trust me) tresses. Buying new dryers was becoming a habit. But what was a girl to do?
Fortunately, my habit of reading fashion and beauty magazines came to the rescue. I believe it was Allure that first led me to my love. I read an article, or maybe it was an ad, for a new dryer that boasted cutting drying time in half while keeping stands remarkably healthy. It sounded too good to be true, but I had to try it. And fortunately Santa made my wish come true (it was $200, out of my price range at the time), and I’ve been sold ever since.
The T3 Featherweight really does cut drying time dramatically — I’d say it cuts my drying time from 20 to 12 minutes — and my hair is soft and healthy even though I get highlights ever six to eight weeks. The best part: The T3s last — that is at least a year and a half in my experience. And thankfully with T3′s warranty program and kick-butt customer service, it still doesn’t mean shelling out the dough for another. They send you a new one when your old one breaks, and sometimes they even throw in new styling products, like dry shampoo, too!
I love T3 so much that one time when I was waiting for my replacement, I actually bought the lesser-priced T3 Pro so I didn’t have to use a “regular” dryer in the meantime. Sounds ridiculous, but I figured I’d always have a back-up on hand. Turns out I now have two Featherweights, as one time when my Pro broke, they sent me an upgrade to the Featherweight because the Pros were out of stock. *As for the Pro, I still preferred it to a run-of-the-mill dryer, but I like the heating of the Featherweight better.
Stellar customer service.
If you wish to cut down on getting-ready time while keeping your hair healthy, note T3s are as close as your nearest Sephora.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Ps. Last call for mo’ Moe’s for your money!
Yet Another Reason to Clean That Closet: Soles 4 Souls
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
(Soles 4 Souls via actionalexandria.org)
Hello there, shoppers! While the winter weather continues to bring the chill, I have some news to share that should really warm your hearts — and make the Type As in your abodes very happy. You know those shoes piled way back in the corner of your closet or in big bins somewhere in your basement, the ones that are in perfect shape but no longer your preferred style? Now’s the time to give them another run on the feet of someone less fortunate (and make room for those shoes that are the “new you”).
Soles 4 Souls Inc., a charity that gives a pair of shoes to someone in need every seven seconds, and Tomorrow’s Black Men Inc., which helps make a positive difference in the lives of troubled young men, are collecting gently used shoes in Alexandria through Jan. 30. The donations will help provide assistance to individuals in need, whether they are victims of a natural disaster or subject to living in extreme poverty.
Since 2005, Soles 4 Souls has given away nearly 12 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Haiti, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.
Ready to help? See actionalexandria.org for the numerous drop-off locations.
As for those new-you shoes, don’t miss the huge sale at shoptheshoebox.com. Maybe you can add a little newness to that donation as well.
Happy shopping — and helping to bring a spring to someone else’s step!
–Natalie Kaar
Ps. Love the Southwest flavor of Moe’s and wish you could get more mo’ Moe’s for your money? Done. See Specialicious.
