Monday Margaritas for a Marvelous Cause

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Monday, September 26th, 2011

Hello there, shoppers! Fresh off the heels of the Washington, D.C. Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, where I was inspired beyond measure over the three-day, 60-mile journey — from lacing up 4 a.m. on Friday morning to dancing in celebration on the Washington Monument Grounds late yesterday afternoon — it’s my pleasure to share another special opportunity to help area cancer patients.

Next Monday, Oct. 3, neighboring Vienna businesses Valerianne and Bazin’s on Church will be hosting a festive soiree in celebration of a very special new cancer center, The Sharon Nicolaisen Appearance Center, soon to open at the Dewberry Life With Cancer Family Center, aka “Carolyn’s House.”

The new center will serve as a one-stop shop to help cancer patients understand and cope with the appearance-altering aspects of their disease and treatment, helping to restore their self esteem and enhance their quality of life.

The event, taking place from 6-9 p.m., will begin at Valerianne where guests will enjoy margaritas and small bites from Bazin’s new Mexican concept while also enjoying the musings of Segen Laird Scott from NYC’s LAFCO, sharing the wonders of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Then, the party will move downstairs to Bazin’s where its owners will preview menu items from their new venture (cash bar).

If able to attend, please RSVP by Sept. 30.

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

Next Week’s Bake (and Shop) for Hope

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Hello there, shoppers! Well, we’re almost there, the weekend, and not just any weekend but a weekend with 80-degree weather! Hallelujah!

While I’m sure your heads are spinning with all of your plans for your fabulous days of freedom, there’s actually a reason to look forward to Monday as well (in addition to Gossip Girl).

Bake for Hope, a grass-roots national event consisting of volunteer-run bake sales that support Susan G. Komen for the Cure local affiliates, is hosting a bake sale on Monday, May 3, at Sport & Health on Greensboro Drive in Tysons. The hours: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and  5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Yes, this is especially awesome news for those of us who work right down the street. See you there. One of my dearest friends is going through chemo for breast cancer right now; I can’t wait to bring her some treats. If she reads this, I hope she clears some counter space!

Thanks to Vienna Bake for Hope organizer Faith Boettger, there will be a second bake sale in Vienna next Friday, May 7, too. The second sale will take place at Pear Tree Cottage, on Maple Ave. in downtown Vienna, from noon to 5 p.m. Pear Tree Cottage will also donate a portion of the day’s sales.

Local businesses may still join in and donate a percentage of proceeds for the day or the week, or donate products to the Vienna bake sale. If interested in getting involved, contact Faith Boettger at fablondon@gmail.com or 703-281-0349.

Of course, don’t forget about tomorrow evening’s fashion show at Caribbean Breeze, also benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. By the way, if you don’t follow Northern Virginia Magazine on Twitter, you may not have seen that you can win a pair of tickets to that event. All you have to do is be the first person to request them today! So, Tweet fast!

–Natalie Kaar

Images of Salon Bleu’s “Cuts for the Cure”

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Good morning, shoppers. As I announced yesterday, the Salon Bleu staff was successful in raising $8,000 for the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Sunday! For those of you who were unable to attend the inspirational first “Cuts for the Cure,” here’s a little peek at what you missed and can look forward to being a part of next year.

(All images courtesy of the salon)

Lenore Koors, development director of Komen Maryland; Colette Banet, guest relations coordinator at Salon Bleu; Yvonne Saa and Jennifer Pham, salon directors

Salon Bleu staff members looking forward to some serious fundraising (Row 1: Sarah Arnall, Jennifer Pham, Yvonne Saa, Ruth Kim, Jenny Nava, Anne Landry, Jocelyn Johnson, Samia Ayoobi; Row 2: Karla Ferrel, Colette Banet)

Senior Stylist Henry Mont concentrating on providing a perfect cut

Some of the tasty delights provided by Entyse and Maggiano's

I’m told the Bleu shampoo team, inspired by the tunes Bose was spinning, had a dance-off at one point! I’m so sad I missed that! Do any of you have photos of it or were you too busy enjoying those free chair massages from the folks at Equinox?

Ps. Look forward to a whole bunch of Columbus Day Sale goodness tomorrow! And, to tide you over until then, how about checking out the special sale taking place at ralphlauren.com? Through Oct. 12, the site is offering shoppers 25 percent off and donating 10 percent of proceeds to a choice of two cancer charities: the Pink Pony Fund (use code “PINK”) or the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center for Cancer Care and Prevention (use code “RLCCP”).

Pss. Don’t forget to comment here by 8 a.m. tomorrow for your chance to win a pair of goodie bag tickets to Shecky’s Girls Night Out D.C.!

Salon Bleu’s Cuts for the Cure Coming Up This Sunday!

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, September 28th, 2009

(Shutterstock)

Good morning, shoppers! Here’s hoping you all had a great weekend despite some disappointing football. Should you still be sad over the Redskins’ loss, or like in my case, the losses of both Penn State and the Steelers, I wanted to remind you of just the event to perk you up:  Salon Bleu’s “Cuts for the Cure” coming up this Sunday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!

At the event, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, the salon’s impeccable stylists — I seriously pray that Bleu’s Melanie never stops doing hair and makeup — will be providing haircuts and blow-drys at their usual prices, and donating 100 percent of service proceeds to the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a cause very close to the hearts of the Bleu team. Clients will also be invited to purchase tickets for a variety of raffle baskets with winners to be announced at the end of the day.

Salon Bleu’s pink-themed fundraiser will also feature refreshments and treats from Entyse Restaurant and Maggiano’s, while Bose will have a DJ spinning. Plus, the salon will be offering complimentary chair massages and makeup applications. (By the way, one of the best parts of the Salon Bleu experience is the head massage you receive when getting shampooed. Heaven!)

While walk-ins will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, I suggest making an appointment (202-333-2538, ext. 4). For one, the schedule is filling up fast. Also, all clients who schedule appointments for the event will receive an exclusive “Cuts for the Cure” gift bag from Salon Bleu, which will will include fabulous prizes from partnering retailers.

Can’t make the event? You can still make a donation. Call the salon for details.

Ps. In other hair news, T3 is celebrating five amazing years, offering special savings at several beauty-related retailers through the end of this week.

Friday Shopping Fix

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, August 28th, 2009

Tim Gunn, to appear at Tysons Galleria on Saturday, Sept. 19 for "All Access: Fashion" (papermag.com)

Good morning, shoppers! Don’t you just love Fridays?! Me too, especially when I have a whole bunch of juicy shopping news to share! Then again, it can be hard to know where to begin in writing this blog.

I suppose I’ll start with some of today’s simply irresistible sales:

Is it time to shake up your beauty routine or stock up on all of your favorite beauty products? Skinstore.com is offering 20 percent off sitewide through Sept. 1 with the code “20AUG” at checkout.

Dying to buy a new fall trench or some fall dresses? Lord & Taylor is offering the opportunity to save big-time on such purchases during the store’s BIG sale. With the promo code “BIG” or this savings pass, you’ll save 15 percent on regular and sale items, 25 percent on clearance merchandise.

Looking for fabulous freebies? The Georgetown Cusp is offering a free gift with every Alice & Olivia purchase tomorrow.

Thinking your handbag collection has lost some of its luster? Today is the last day to save up to 75 percent on Kate Spade handbags and more, plus score free shipping, during the Sample Sale.

Been missing Bath & Body Works’ aromatherapy body mist? The store has brought back the much-loved product in five of its most popular scents — Lavender Chamomile, Lavender Vanilla, Jasmine Vanilla, Eucalyptus Spearmint and Black Currant Vanilla. Another reason to visit B&BW now: the Stock Up and Save event.

Does no store bring a smile to your face like Bloomies? During the Black & White Sale, going on now through Sunday, you can save up to 40 percent off and help the store benefit amfAR.

Other need-to-know-now shopping news:

Sept. 17-19, Tysons Galleria will host “All Access: Fashion,” a sure-to-be-fabulous charity event benefiting YouthAIDS, to include runway shows featuring luxury apparel from Galleria stores, in-store trunk shows, wine tastings, makeovers and much more, including special appearances by fashion icons including Tim Gunn from Project Runway and Frederique Van der Wal! I cannot thank the awesome Melanie Amoss of Salon Bleu, who will be doing hair and makeup at the event, enough for sharing the scoop.

Speaking of Salon Bleu, you’re going to want to clear your calendar now on October 4 and call the salon for an appointment: 202-333-BLEU (2538). Why? That’s when the remarkable salon will host “Cuts for the Cure,” a very special event to raise funds for the Maryland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which directly benefits area residents. The charity, very close to the hearts of the Salon Bleu staff, will receive 100 percent of proceeds from the cut-a-thon! Don’t want to get your hair cut? You can still help the cause. Schedule a blow-dry and styling or make a donation.

And, finally, the Cash for Clunkers program may have been scrapped for now, but according to the A Girl Must Shop blog and Business Week, come fall we’ll welcome Cash for Refrigerators, a program to encourage shoppers to purchase high-efficiency models, which is already receiving a lot of criticism.