Posts Tagged ‘Natalie Kaar’
Maternity Fashion Show Aims to End Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
(Photo: Shutterstock.com/Lorelyn Medina)
According to The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS), each year there are as many babies (40,000) born with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) as there are new cases of autism. And FASD occurs more often than Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) combined.
The good news: FASD is 100-percent preventable if women are educated about the risks of consuming alcohol while pregnant and avoid the risks.
“I went to the doctor at 32 weeks because I was experiencing contractions with pain, and the attending resident, who was also pregnant, told me that a glass of wine might help me relax,” says Katia Delrahim-Howlett, a member of the event planning committee whose Ph.D. studies focused on FASD before she became involved with NOFAS. “Because of my studies, this type of comment is not as harmful to me as it could be to a woman who does not have all the facts about FASD, and the risks associated with just one drink during pregnancy.”
While incidences of FASD are prevalent and facts about it not as widely known as what NOFAS would hope, federal funds to spread awareness as well as prevent and treat FASD are declining. Working to change the conversation about the sticky subject of FASD and maintain the support that’s necessary to stop it, NOFAS is looking to engage expecting mothers in new ways.
Says Kate Boyce Reeder, NOFAS board chair, “We are stepping up outreach on many levels and engaging women to become more involved in FASD prevention by focusing on the hopeful goal we all desire: the birth of happy babies.” One fun new way comes in the form of a “Smart Moms, Healthy Babies” fashion show on May 20.
The invite-only event — to request an invitation, email Brianna Montgomery at montgomery@nofas.org — will be held at the home of Shaista and Ray Mahmood, with NBC-4 Morning News anchor Eun Yang presiding as Mistress of Ceremonies. In addition to the fashion show, which will feature apparel from Destination Maternity, festivities will include an early dinner, a silent auction and non-alcoholic cocktails created by a mixologist from Georgetown’s Peacock Cafe.
Honorary hosts include Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) as well as Senator Mark Warner (D-VA); General (Ret.) Eric Shinseki; House Members Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Jim Moran (D-VA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Norm Dicks (D-WA), plus numerous former members of the Senate and House.
Tickets are $250 per individual and $150 for expecting mothers.
–Natalie Kaar
Marvelous Gifts for New and Expectant Moms
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
(Photo: Shutterstock.com/Inge Schepers)
It’s estimated by Kaiser Family that approximately 300 women give birth each day in the D.C.-Metro area. Should you be celebrating a new or expectant mom this Mother’s Day, we’re here with a bit of assistance.
After all, when it comes to honoring a woman on her first Mother’s Day as a mom, gift giving can be especially intimidating. Not only are you celebrating an incredibly joyous, momentous occasion; here’s guessing you want to help relieve any new mom worries she may have, strike a sentimental chord that melts her to mush, and give her something that she’ll treasure forever and ever.
Those are some lofting aspirations. But with a little help from SWAG, and by going with your heart, we’re anticipating all smiles all around.
Help She Won’t Ask for But She’ll Assuredly Adore
(Photo: Shutterstock.com/Yuri Arcurs)
While new and expectant moms are absolutely smitten with their new little peanuts, they’re also running a bit low on sleep and, especially in the first case, totally devoid of downtime. But wouldn’t you know, they aren’t about to ask for help. When help arrives unsolicited, however, they’re incredibly appreciative.
Speaking from experience, as a new mom, you can’t put a price on a prepared meal that a friend drops off when you’ve been so busy feeding your baby that buying or making food for yourself is the last thing on your mind. And being told that you’ve been given even just an hour to yourself for a pedicure as your hubby holds down the fort can make you feel like a new person. Have date nights arranged? We’re talking total ecstasy.
You could present this incredible gift in all sorts of creative ways — design free passes, type up a kicking-back calendar, etc. — no shopping required, except for art supplies or a printed card, perhaps.
A Special Spa Experience for Moms Who Give Birth on Mother’s Day
Here’s a heads-up for those of you who know a prego mama who is due on Mother’s Day, May 13: Serenity Day Spa is honoring new moms in the D.C.-Metro Area who give birth this Sunday, May 13, by giving them a gift certificate to be redeemed in the future for a luxurious spa treatment of their choice. Find out more about the Serenity Stork Surprise by calling the spa at 703-549-9212 (Alexandria location) or 703-709-6596 (Herndon location). Serenity also has several indulgent Mother’s Day packages with multiple treatments available for purchase that any mom would love.
Personalized Jewelry from Etsy
Fingerprint charm necklace by Etsy designer EarthshinesDesigns1; $60 (Photo: etsy.com)
Ladies love jewelry, and when jewelry tells a story, all the better. That makes personalized baubles for new and expectant moms pretty close to a sure bet. And there is perhaps no better place to search for such pretties as Etsy.
From hand-stamped initial necklaces and brag bracelets to personalized lockets, engraved earrings, handprint- or footprint-molded charms and more, there are plenty of stylish, sentimental gifts she’ll sport again and again, and always hold close to her heart.
A few favorite Etsy shops and specific gifts in this category:
Fingerprint jewelry (note that these orders will not be ready by Mother’s Day)
Chew Beads, Fashion Accessories That Work Overtime as Teethers
Chewbeads 3-Cornelia Bracelet Gift Set, $36.50 (Photo: Chewbeads.com)
Boy or girl baby, no matter the gender, babies love to play with their momma’s neck baubles, and soon they become their chew toys. That poses two problems.
One, there are safety issues to consider; materials used in jewelry many times aren’t meant to be put into the mouth.
Second, Mom’s baubles are probably not up to the challenge; all that spitting and tugging can’t be good for the shiny stuff.
The stylish solution: Chewbeads, baby-safe necklaces and bracelets that come in a wide variety of fun colors (especially awesome for spring and summer) and several different styles, with prices starting at just $12.50.
Part teether, part fashion accessory, this gift works overtime and pleases the whole newly formed family.
Something to Help Mom Continue Celebrating With Baby Throughout the Year
Etsy Designer Purple Possom's onesie stickers, $9 (Photo: etsy.com)
A few ideas she’ll love:
Hire a professional photographer to take newborn photographs. Even if a new mom or her other half is a great photographer, this gives both parents more of a chance to just adore, adore, adore. And the photos taken will be treasured forever.
Hire a professional photographer to take maternity photos. Whether the expectant mom you’re celebrating is bold enough to go the Demi Moore/Jessica Simpson route or more subdued (prefers to be photographed in clothing), she should enjoy capturing this most special time in her life. And, no doubt, she’ll look back in amazement after she gives birth and reflects on all that her body is capable of doing.
Buy onesie stickers to help Mom celebrate monthly milestones. Etsy, especially PurplePossum, has oodles of adorable options.
Purchase a baby book; Mom’ll love bragging about each new development at every spare second — speaking of spare seconds, remember to give her a few. These books from Rag & Bone Bindery, available at Apple Seed in Alexandria, are especially adorable.
One thing’s for sure, with any gift for any mom, it really is the thought that counts.
Happy gift giving. And Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there!
–Natalie Kaar
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Monday, May 7th, 2012
TREAT, with affordable lovelies like this Aryn K. dress, $132 ($165 retail), will be sorely missed in NoVA. (Photo: shoptreat.com)
A store closing always stings for its loyal customers. And with news this morning of Old Town Alexandria’s own sample sale shop, our beloved TREAT, packing up and moving to San Francisco this summer, no doubt many tears were shed among NoVA shoppers.
While this TREAT customer is thrilled for store owner Jennifer Donahue, who will be relocating to the Bay area this summer with her family, to continue her dream on the West Coast, the OTBD is certainly losing a gem unlike any other.
The St. Asaph store is to close at the end of May. Fortunately, TREAT’s website will stay up in the transition, so we can still shop the store’s amazing, affordable apparel online.
And another bright spot in all of this comes in the form of a Moving Sale to start this week. Donahue promises details on those deals this Wednesday.
To TREAT’s continued success!
–Natalie Kaar
Troop Support Leads to Savings at The Dandelion Patch
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Monday, May 7th, 2012
(Photo: Shutterstock.com/Maria Dryfhout)
We all have our troops to thank for our freedom, but all too often we fail to show them our appreciation. This month The Dandelion Patch, along with A Million Thanks, is working to rectify this situation, and doing so in a way that’s right up any shopper’s alley.
All five locations of The Dandelion Patch are accepting letters for our troops through May 28, and for each letter a customer writes, he or she will receive 20 percent off one full-priced item (promotion excludes custom orders, Troll Beads; outlet letters receive savings at other Patch stores).
The Dandelion Patch is even picking up the postage. What’s more, the always-helpful Patchettes will go so far as to provide the paper to anyone who wants to write a letter in-store.
A few things to keep in mind: The stores are asking for letters, or kids’ drawings with parental note, only — no envelopes. Also, all correspondence must be patriotic and positive.
Happy shopping — and letter writing! Let’s help The Dandelion Patch surpass its goal of sending 3,000 letters to our troops by July 4.
–Natalie Kaar
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, May 4th, 2012
Gold Cup is just a day away, and there will be plenty of big brims bouncing around Great Meadow tomorrow — if still searching for a proper topper, see our 2012 Gold Cup Hat Guide – but outside of the horse race scene, the focus for many a fashionista is the fedora. It’s easy to understand why the perennial favorite continues to have a big following, especially given this season’s fresh takes on the topper — lots of color, feathers and other fun embellishments.
And fortunately your penchant for pretty hats doesn’t have to cost you a pretty penny. A few of our favorite fedoras at equally fabulous prices:
This is one of those great hats you can stuff in a bag again and again then whip it out, and it still looks fabulous.
Free People Star Straw Fedora, $98, available in other color combos. (Photo: freepeople.com)
Loving the overall classic style with a big pop of color that’s so very current. The bonus: This is a real bargain.
Color Band Straw Fedora, $26, also available with pink band, South Moon Under. (Photo: southmoonunder.com)
Perhaps nothing looks better than an almost-white fedora. Kate Spade’s definitely keeping it classy.
Kate Spade Dunes Lane Straw Fedora, $78, also available with pink ribbon. (Photo: katespade.com)
Meanwhile, Anthropologie totally brings the party.
Blue Bunting Fedora, $48, Anthropologie. (Photo: anthropologie.com)
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Local Sales Sure to Have Shoppers Smitten
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Enjoy anniversary savings on upholstered furniture through June 3 at The Nest Egg. (Photo: The Nest Egg)
You’re already stoked about the weekend, what with Gold Cup and summer-like weather in the forecast, but here at SWAG we highly suggest penciling in time for some retail revelry as well. The sales outlined for our area and online are big and bounteous.
A few of the standouts:
In celebration of the store’s 8th anniversary, The Nest Egg at Fairfax Corner is offering an additional 10-percent discount on upholstered furniture pieces from Lee Industries or Talbott Furniture when three or more upholstered items are purchased from the lines through June 3. This means total savings of 40 percent off MSRP.
Tomorrow, May 4, through Sunday, May 6, The Shoe Hive in Old Town Alexandria is hosting an ASHA trunk show and sale. Receive 20 percent off the New York-based line of jewelry designed by Georgetown University grad Ashley Dodgen-McCormick featuring contemporary, sophisticated designs that showcase fine gemstones as well as other top materials at affordable prices.
Also in Old Town, Treat is hosting local designer Ruth Barzel and her latest lovelies. Enjoy 15 percent off all spring jewelry designs plus giveaways, sweet treats and more this Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6.
But that’s not all the jewelry deals. Yet another favorite NoVA boutique is hosting jewelry trunk shows at two of its locations tomorrow. Periwinkle’s National Harbor shop is having a Simple Girl trunk show and offering 25 percent savings, while the Potomac Green location is having a mollybeads trunk show, offering free earrings with purchase.
Attention shoe girls: Now through Monday, May 7, Bloomingdale’s is having a Spring Shoe Sale in stores and online, offering up to 30-percent savings on all sorts of stellar shoes from sandals to flats to pumps.
Through the end of today, May 3, a 15-percent discount is being doled out on all Restoration Hardware outdoor collections.
The Real Deal Sale is still rolling at Neiman Marcus with savings of up to 40 percent on contemporary, shoes, handbags, etc.
And it’s Spring Sale time at Calvin Klein, with 50 percent off everything site-wide.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
PS. And let’s not forget dozens of NoVA deals from Specialicious.
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
With just a quick button bush on the Door Monkey, out of little ones' reach, the door is free to open. (Photo: Natalie Kaar)
If you’re on round two of baby proofing your abode to keep a far-reaching, exponentially growing, amazingly adventurous toddler from trouble, door guards are probably priority number one. Easy enough, right? Not really.
Many of the door-locking contraptions that involve covers on door knobs either get figured out all too quickly by little ones who watch their parents’ every move, get broken by kiddos using trial and error in an effort to escape, and/or frustrate parents and older children to no end — feeling like they have to jump through hoops all around the house to get anything done.
Enter Door Monkey, a door lock and pinch guard that is placed out of toddlers’ — and pets’ — reach, is super easy to maneuver for parents and older kids, and allows air to circulate in what would otherwise be closed-off spaces. But that’s not all, the handy little apparatus, just $12.95 on Amazon, is great for travel (for Grandma’s house, beach houses, etc., that are anything but baby proofed).
When you attach the device, the door is left slightly open. One one side of the door, you just push a button and pull back on the device; on the other side, you just pull away the hook from the door.The Door Monkey website has lots of photos to illustrate exactly how the Door Monkey works.
It really is a breeze to handle. My family uses one on the main-level door in our living room that leads to the basement stairs. Not wanting to leave the space totally open with a gate — for sound travel and appearance purposes — we love the versatility the device provides. If we want to watch a loud movie in the basement while our daughter is sleeping upstairs, we just take it off the door for a bit. And I plan to have the Door Monkey working overtime this summer with trips to relatives’ houses and the beach.
But if you don’t believe moi that the Door Monkey is a master at preventing monkey business, check out its stellar shout-outs on Amazon.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Must-Buy Tickets to Give Mom Big Thanks, Big Laughs
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
The D.C. Listen To Your Mother Cast, excluding photographer Cindy Green (Photo: listentoyourmothershow.com)
Shoppers, if you’re still shopping around looking for the perfect gift to give your mom this Mother’s Day, great news: Next week on SWAG, we’ll be doling out gift ideas daily. Yes, sometimes procrastination pays, but don’t tell Mom.
And for those of you who don’t want to leave it down to the wire when it comes to showing Mom how much you appreciate all that she does and all that she is, we may just know of your golden ticket. That is tickets ($18 plus $1.98 fee each) to this Sunday’s “Listen To Your Mother“ (LTYM) at Crystal City’s Synetic Theater, beginning at 2 p.m.
The national LTYM series features live readings from local writers sharing the humor and heartbreak that go hand and hand with motherhood. This year the show will make its debut in the DMV after highly celebrated 2011 shows in Madison, Wisc., where LYTM began as a single show in 2010; Spokane, Wash.; Austin, Texas; Los Angeles and NW Indiana.
The D.C. performance, sure to have its audience laughing until they cry and crying until they laugh, is produced by local blogger Kate Coveny Hood, who I’m proud to call a friend, and directed by actress, comedian and writer Stephanie Stearns Dulli. The local cast is loaded with everyone’s favorite mommy writers as well, women who aren’t afraid to talk about everything from finding poop under the fingernails to dealing with the unimaginable pain of losing a child.
Chrissy Boylan
Sarah Braesch
Nicole Crowley
Anna Whiston-Donaldson
Stephanie Stearns Dulli
Lindsay Felix
Lis Fogt
Devra Gordon
Cindy Green
Kate Coveny Hood
Monica Sakala
Elena Sonnino
Sue Wagner
Jean Winegardner
To get an even better idea of what to expect, there are videos of last year’s readings on the LYTM website as well as Q&As with the D.C. cast.
While it would be impossible to thank our mothers adequately for all their love and sacrifice, this show, to which they’re sure to relate, could be a good start.
–Natalie Kaar
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Monday, April 30th, 2012
ASOS shift dress in tiered lace, available in three different colors, $34.54 before additional 15 percent off. (Photo: us.asos.com)
Hello there, shoppers!
The weekend may be over, and more rain may be in the forecast, but discounts upon discounts all but promise to rid us of our Monday mopes.
How tempting are these sales?
ASOS is having a mid-season sale through 1 p.m. PST tomorrow, May 1, with deals up to 70 percent off, but, even better, use the code EXTRA15 to score an additional 15-percent discount.
Barenecessities.com is offering two Calvin Klein bras for $40 today (regularly $30-$38 each) plus free shipping with the code FREESHIP4U.
Shoes.com is offering 10-percent savings with the code TAKE10 through May 4.
Mypublisher.com is offering up to 75-percent savings on all kinds of photo gifts for Mother’s Day through the end of the day today with the code LUVMOM.
And Sephora is now selling a Sun Safety Kit, featuring 17 top products in sun safety and self tanning plus a reusable train case (value: $193) for $30. If you’re wanting to test-drive the latest and greatest in all things sun and skin, this is it. You’ll score must-haves from Kate Sommerville, Tan Towel, St. Tropez, Fresh and more.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, April 27th, 2012
This weekend don't miss the Tory Burch Friends & Family sale to save 25 percent on stunners like this wildflower caftan. (Photo: toryburch.com)
Hello there, shoppers!
While earlier this week we filled you in on some great Friends & Family deals (some still in effect), today it’s our pleasure to send you more of those plus scores of new ways to save. Many of the sales you’re soon to read about bring amazing deals for days and weeks to come. Enjoy!
Cusp–Save 20 percent on select regular-priced handbags and shoes in stores and online through April 30.
The Dandelion Patch–Save 25 percent off your entire full-priced purchase today through Sunday (not valid at the Outlet or in Georgetown, excluding Trollbeads).
Tory Burch–Speaking of friends and family deals, use the code FRIENDS12 to score 25 percent off sitewide at toryburch.com this weekend.
Michael Stars–Likewise, use the code FRIENDS this weekend to score 25 percent off sitewide at michaelstars.com.
And introducing OTBD Mother’s Day deals …
Through May 13, save 20 percent at Mystique.
May 1-15, score 15 percent off at Gossypia.
May 6-13, snag 25-percent savings at Pretty People.
May 11-12, enjoy 40-percent savings at Monday’s Child.
May 10-12, delight in a 10-percent-off deal at Apple Seed.
Happy bargain shopping!
–Natalie Kaar