2011 Veterans Day Sales & Shopping Support for Soldiers

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Thursday, November 10th, 2011

(Shutterstock/Sergey Kamshylin)

Hello there, shoppers! It’s almost Veterans Day Sale time, and just wait until you get a load of some of the deal details already divulged, below. But while embracing all of the fabulous discounts this weekend, let’s not forget what the meaning of this holiday is in the first place, to honor those who have given our country their all, whose sacrifices have protected our precious freedom.

As I mentioned earlier, one very cool way to send a little love to our soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is to take part in Skincando’s Operation Sand Flea. When you purchase Skincando’s Combat-Ready Balm ($12.50), Combat-Ready Lip Balm ($5), Combat-Ready Bath Bar ($4.25), or a combination set ($25) to be sent to  our soldiers, Skincando will pick up the shipping and include a special note from you. (You can even request that the donation be sent to a specific soldier.) According to Skincando, our troops can’t say enough good things about the Combat-Ready Balm, especially, as the only cream that both soothes and calms incessant sand flea bites, sunscreen and sunburn.

Now for those sales, a few of the standouts:

First, it’s Friends & Family time at Gap (save 30 percent on your entire purchase today through Sunday, Nov. 13, with the code GAPFRIENDS), Restoration Hardware, including RH Baby & Child (save 20 percent on everything today through Monday, Nov. 14 with code FFP2011) — and last, but CERTAINLY not least,  Nicole Miller (save $100 through Nov. 13 with the code FF100, excluding accessories)!

Also, Cusp has a First Cuts sale going on, featuring up to 40 percent off on regular-priced apparel.

Tomorrow through Sunday, Nov. 13, at Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, there will be all sorts of discounts on top of the everyday savings, like 50 percent off fall collections at Benetton, 50 percent off all men’s and women’s sweaters at Calvin Klein and an additional 30 percent off at Coach.

Steve Madden is doubling its everyday military discount on Veterans Day, from 15 percent to 30 percent — must show military I.D. for discount.

Periwinkle of Alexandria is hosting a Beija-Flor denim trunk show today through Sunday, with an opportunity to meet the designer behind the seams, Emilie Whitaker, tomorrow.

And just about every major retailer will be doling out similar savings. One place to keep up on those is veteransdaysales2011.com.

Happy shopping! And thank you to all of our heroes.

–Natalie Kaar

Operation Sand Flea

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, November 4th, 2011

Combat Ready Balm ... Help Operation Sand Flea get this skin saver to our soldiers. (skincando.com)

Hello there, shoppers!

Want to do something that’ll make you feel far better than shopping sales this Veterans Day? Help Operation Sand Flea, chosen by Oprah as the best philanthropy program in the beauty biz, and help our troops take care of their skin this 11-11-11. Operation Sand Flea is a nonprofit donation campaign that sends care packages of the skin saver Combat-Ready Balm from Skincando Inc. to troops in need in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Make a small donation to Operation Sand Flea, and Skincando will pay for the shipping expense and include a personalized Thank You note to a soldier serving our country.  If you have a family member serving overseas, Skincando will even send a Care Kit directly to them.

Visit skincando.com/donations or call Skincando at 202-215-8991 to make a donation.

Over 6,500 Operation Sand Flea Care Kits have been sent to date. The company’s goal is to send another 500 by 11-11-11.

Happy shopping! Let’s show our troops how much we care.

–Natalie Kaar

Spring Break Apparel Guide: Help Haven Haiti

Posted by Eunice / Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

With Spring Break for college students—and worker bees ready for a respite—just around the corner, it may be difficult to determine exactly which items are a perfect fit for your traveling needs. Not to worry, vacationers everywhere can breathe easy knowing that we have your must-pack items for six of the most exciting and popular Spring Break destinations.

Destination: Help Haven (Haiti)

By Amanda H. Millward

For those people who want to spend their spring break responding to the needs of the Haiti earthquake survivors, we have compiled a list of must-haves in order for the sweet souls to be safe and healthy:

www.eddiebauer.com

Cotton Cargo Pants
While helping the misfortunate in Haiti, rescuers must also protect themselves from the environment. Wearing the appropriate clothing, such as cargo pants, will help reduce the risk of contracting a disease. / Eddie Bauer, multiple NoVA locations; www.eddiebauer.com; women’s $49.95 – $54.95; men’s $69 – $79.

www.groominglounge.com

Combat-Ready Balm
This is a great tool in the skin care arsenal. Put the balm on dry patches, bites, scrapes and sunburn, and it will heal the skin. A little goes a long way. / Grooming Lounge, Tysons Galleria, 1732-U International Drive, McLean; www.groominglounge.com; 1.25 oz for $5, 2 oz for $25 or 8oz for $60.

www.redcrossnca.org

First-Aid Kit Station
Since medical supplies are scarce, the CDC recommends that everyone traveling to Haiti should carry a first-aid kit. This one has over 200 items to help you while working to help others. / American Red Cross; 8550 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax; www.redcrossnca.org; 703-584-8721; $51.