Hinda Salutes Our Veterans!
On this Veterans Day and every day, Hinda remembers those who have served and continue to serve in order to keep our country great!
Happy Veterans Day!
We thank you for your service.
Merchandise Midweek: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Shopping Season!
We know you’re not quite recovered from your sugar coma, but the end of Halloween signals the three Ss of the holiday season - shopping, shopping and shopping! Before you head out in the cold and snow to hit the hot and crowded malls, take a peek at what we’re anticipating being some of the most popular items and categories of the 2014 season.
From fashion and fragrances to fitness and fun (yes, there are a lot of Fs) you’ll find something great for everyone on your list – all ages, interests and price points! And remember – while you’re busy running around, making lists and shopping ‘til you drop, there’s no harm in picking up a little something special for yourself! Hey, you earned it!
FASHION
Citizen® Ladies' Two-Tone Stainless Steel with Swarovski® Bezel Watch
Add some sparkle this season with the Swarovski® Bezel Watch. It features a two-tone stainless steel bracelet, a round 26mm case with Swarovski crystal bezel, mother-of-pearl dial with gold-tone stick indices, minute track, day and date window and luminous hands.
Citizen® Men's Black Dial Stainless Steel Watch
Industrial detailing sets a masculine tone on this watch by Citizen®. It features a stainless steel bracelet, round 38mm case, black textured dial with silver-tone Roman numerals, date window, stick indices, three hands and logo, quartz movement and is water resistant to 100m.
FITNESS
Fitbit® Flex™ Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband
Drop those holiday pounds with Fitbit® Flex™. Wear this slim, stylish device all the time and get the motivation you need to get out and be more active. It tracks steps, distance and calories burned and shows you how you’re stacking up against your daily goals.
Garmin vívofit™ Fitness Bracelet
vívofit™ learns your current activity level, then assigns an attainable daily goal. As you meet your milestones, vívofit will adjust your goal for the next day, gradually nudging you toward a healthier lifestyle. Earn virtual badges and view your progress at the Garmin Connect™ online community.
FRAGRANCE
Georgio Armani Acqua Di Gio 1.7-oz. Men's
This fragrance for men is a scent of freedom, full of wind and water – perfect harmony of salty sea water and sunny Mediterranean warmth play on the skin. Bitter citrus, rosemary and spices are softened by a woody base with a warm, musky trail.
Marc Jacobs Daisy
Always elegant, always enchanting, but not too serious, Daisy is a sparkling floral bouquet, spirited and fresh, wrapped in comfort and warmth with vintage edge. Sophisticated with a touch of whimsy, violet captures the eclectic, timeless flavor of Marc Jacobs' groundbreaking feminine designs.
FUN!
Bose® QuietComfort® 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones
Enjoy your favorite holiday tunes like never before with Bose®. Proprietary Active EQ and TriPort® technologies give the music you love a deep, clear sound. At the same time, noise cancelling technology monitors the noise around you and cancels it out, helping you focus on what matters.
iLive™ Bluetooth® DUO Wireless Headphones + Speaker
Fill your head – and the world – with music. With the flip of a switch, Duo transforms from headphones into a portable speaker system. Listen wirelessly with Bluetooth® or attach the included audio cable to listen to non-wireless devices, offering amazing versatility.
LG 49/55-inch Smart 3D LED UHDTV with WebOS, 2160p
Watch your favorite holiday classics on the 49” or 55” Smart 3D LED UHDTV, which pairs the stunning clarity of ULTRA High Definition with elegant Cinema Screen design. Witness the breathtaking quality of both 4K and near-4K: the Tru-ULTRA HD Engine converts your SD/HD video to near-4K resolution.
Loopdeedoo™ Spinning Loom Kit
Design friendship bracelets and make them in minutes with the Loopdedoo™ spinning loom. It's fast, easy and fun. Just wrap the threads around the Loopdedoo device, turn the knob, guide the thread and minutes later it’s done! Make necklaces, anklets, belts and more for almost instant holiday gifts!
Playvisions® Sands Alive! Deluxe Set
Consisting of all-natural ingredients, the sensation of Sands Alive! is similar to cookie dough yet totally dry to the touch. Pack it hard to make roads, then lift it up and watch it flow. Mold it into hard, durable shapes and with a soft touch, it will break apart and appear to move, almost as if it were alive!
Your Monthly Check-Up: A Healthy Me is Drug-Free!
Have you been seeing an abundance of red ribbons this week, perhaps pinned to a coworker’s shirt or displayed at your local school? That’s because it’s Red Ribbon Week! The National Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people from October 23-31 each year.
Organized by the National Family Partnership (nfp.org) in 1985, Red Ribbon Week has grown to become a national celebration honoring the importance of educating America’s youth about drug use. While it initially served as a response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, the campaign has since reached millions of children and families across the US.
The NFP’s drug prevention outreach is threefold:
- Awareness via the annual Red Ribbon Week
- Advocacy by bringing the concerns and agenda of America’s parents and families to policy makers on local, state and national levels
- Resources in the form of up-to-date literature regarding the Red Ribbon Campaign, Red Ribbon Certified Schools™, Lock Your Meds® and Safe Homes/Safe Parties™
According to a statistic on RedRibbon.org, “Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.” But what can we do to increase this percentage and increase the number of children who steer clear of the dangers of drug use and underage drinking?
As it turns out, there is a lot we can do! Just a few of the activities going on across the country this week include Wear Red Week, a “Just Say No” magic show, wearing shirts backwards to “turn your back on drugs,” visits from local police and K-9 units, creating lists of what you’d rather be doing than drugs, plastering red ribbons all over town to create awareness, taking various pledges to be drug-free and so much more. Many of these activities are occurring at schools but similar events can be organized at other community outposts as well.
But most importantly, since Red Ribbon Week is just that – a week – we must remember that any time is a good time to talk to your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends about the destruction that drug use can cause. Check out RedRibbon.org and nfp.org for ideas and resources about talking to kids about drug and alcohol abuse and remind them that “The BEST you is a drug-free you!”
Merchandise Monday: A Nightmare on 34th Street
Colorful leaves are scattered all over the ground, the sky is gray and there’s a chill in the air. That can only mean one thing: it’s time for Hinda’s annual round-up of Halloween(ish) merchandise! The only nightmare here is the thought of having to pick which of these items is the best – they’re all so great! Treat yourself to a few of these and have a happy and spooky Halloween!
Acu-Rite® Digital Weather Station with Forecast/Temperature/Clock/Moon Phase
Plan your trick-or-treating with confidence using this handy tool! Keep track of moon phases, weather forecast, temperature and more with the wireless weather station. Using patented Self-Calibrating Technology, the weather station provides your personal forecast of 12- to 24-hour weather conditions generated from a wireless sensor in your backyard, giving you the most accurate weather forecast available for your exact location.
Eureka® Lady Bug Girls 30-degree Sleeping Bag
No creepy-crawlies here! She’ll be snug as a bug in a rug this fall when she cozies up in the Lady Bug sleeping bag! It’s constructed of a durable polyester taffeta shell and liner with a Number 5 non-locking self-repairing zipper. It features a double layer off-set multi needle quilt construction and is rated for a temperature of 30-degrees F. Includes a stuff sack.
LEGO® Duplo® Super Heroes Batcave Adventure
Everyone’s favorite superhero, Batman™, is always ready for Halloween! Enter the Batcave and get ready for some exciting adventures! Park the Batwing and get to work with all of the amazing Batman gadgets, but watch out – Catwoman is sneaking about! Kids will develop creativity and building skills with this iconic, easy-to-build set featuring lots of extra bricks for extended play.
Namco Bandai Games Pac-Man™ and The Ghostly Adventures for PS3® and Xbox® 360
Pac is back in an all-new experience for a whole new generation of fans. The story begins as the menacing ghosts escape from the creepy Netherworld to invade PacWorld. These frightening ghosts cause nothing but trouble wherever they go! Pac and his two best friends, Spiral and Cylindria, rise to the challenge of protecting their home in a big, bustling, bonkers world of action, adventure and just plain wackiness!
Razor® Jr. Monster Kix™ Scooter
Turn your little tyke into a little monster with the spook-tacular new Razor® Jr. Monster Kix™. The extra wide deck and 3-wheel frame help young riders stay on their feet as they build coordination and balance, while the detailed hand grips kick start young imaginations for some monster role play!
Razor® Jr. Zombie Kix™ Scooter
Get ready for an outbreak of infectious fun and laughter with the all-new Razor® Jr. Zombie Kix™. Designed for little monsters still building their coordination and balance, this awesomely spooky ride lets kids play the starring role in their very own park or playground zombie invasion. But beware – this scary scooter is tons of fun long after Halloween is over!
Merchandise Monday: Pink is the Color of October, Part II
On Monday, we brought you Part I of our annual round-up of pink items benefiting breast cancer research. Here are a few additional items from our collection – a selection from Wilson®’s Hope® line for the sports nut!
Wilson® Hope® Golf Glove
This ladies' glove is made with a super soft leather palm and thumb. With every purchase of a Hope® golf glove, a donation is made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.
Wilson® Hope® Harmonized Putter
Harmonized putters feature a great-looking grip and micro-injection face insert that produces superior feel and accuracy. Ladies’ right hand. A portion of proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.
Wilson® Hope® Mini-Size Football
The miniature Hope® football features a waterproof sponge rubber cover. A percent of all sales is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.
Wilson® Hope® Pink Golf Balls - One Dozen
The ladies' golf ball generates a double dose of virtue with every swing. With a high-quality construction that drives straight and true while playing soft on the green, these balls are responsive and powerful.
Wilson® Hope® Tennis Racket
A diamond edge design provides for lightweight power and maneuverability. It measures 27” L with a 113” head size and 16x19 string pattern. A portion of the proceeds go toward breast cancer research.
Wilson® Hope® Triple Racquet Bag
This sporty and stylish pink racquet bag holds up to three rackets and includes a shoulder strap. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.
Merchandise Monday: Pink is the Color of October, Part I
Every October, we like to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month by highlighting a few of our “pink” items. While not necessarily pink in color, when you redeem for these items a portion of the proceeds go toward breast cancer research. You benefit twice – by receiving a great new item and by feeling good about supporting a worthy cause.
Carolee Jewelry BCA Pink Pearl Charm Bracelet
This charm bracelet features a sterling silver toggle closure with breast cancer ribbon, pink pave heart and pink freshwater pearl charm. It measures 7.5". Ten percent of sales from this item are donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Freshwater pearls are not symmetrical in shape.
Mobile Edge Komen Tote Pink Faux-Suede
Here's the tote that does it all! This gorgeous faux-suede tote radiates style while offering an efficient sanctuary for your notebook and all your essentials. As part of Mobile Edge’s Caring Case Collection™, 10 percent of the retail price will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
Pandora® Pink Ribbon Charm
The Pink Ribbon Charm has pink stones that glitter on an inspirational ribbon that dangles from a shiny silver charm. Pandora® will donate five percent of the retail sales for the special pink ribbon beads to Susan G. Komen for the Cure with a minimum guaranteed donation of $1,000,000.
Pandora® Pink Ribbon Murano Charm
Use this sterling silver and murano glass charm to show your support and love for those with breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds for this beautiful and inspiring charm benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure in support of its mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever.
Presto® 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
Pressure cooking preserves flavors and nutrients while cooking food three to 10 times faster than ordinary methods. Cook chicken, fish, meat and vegetables to perfection and tenderize economical cuts of meat. For each redemption, $5 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
South Bend® Ready 2 Fish Spin Cast Combo with Kit
Made especially for the lady angler, this combo includes everything you need to start fishing today. It features a 6’, 2-piece medium action fiberglass rod, size 10 reel with one ball bearing, all-metal body and dual handle. A portion of the proceeds go to the Bright Pink organization.
But that’s not all! Stay tuned this Wednesday, October 1, for Part II of this series!
Your Monthly Check-Up: September is National Cholesterol Education Month
Cholesterol. A funny word with a bad reputation. A waxy, fat-like substance that floats around in your blood. Sounds icky, but it’s something your body actually needs. The problem is, too much of it can cause serious problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
There are two kinds of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL is also called "good" cholesterol. LDL is called "bad" cholesterol. When we talk about high cholesterol, we are talking about "bad" LDL cholesterol.
Seventy-one million American adults have high cholesterol, but only one-third of them have the condition under control…Too much cholesterol in the blood is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and stroke—two leading causes of death in the United States. One way to prevent these diseases is to detect high cholesterol and treat it when it is found.
High cholesterol has no symptoms so you won’t know if you have it until you get a screening. A simple blood test will tell you what your good and bad cholesterol levels are and doctors recommend people ages 20 and over get their cholesterol screened every five years.
Sometimes, if certain risk factors are at play, your doctor may recommend more frequent cholesterol screenings. For example, if your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher, you’re a man older than 45 or a woman over 50, your HDL is lower than 40 mg/dL or you have other risk factors for heart disease or stroke, your doctor might want to check your cholesterol more often.
The good news is that if you have high bad cholesterol or low good cholesterol, there are things you can do to get yourself more in balance. Making a few lifestyle changes will help lower your LDL. These include:
- Eating more fiber and avoiding saturated and trans fats
- Engaging in moderate exercise for 2.5 hours weekly
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
Coincidentally, making these changes to help lower your LDL can also help raise your HDL. It’s like a two-for-one with regard to your health! According to the Mayo Clinic, incorporating healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats – the fats found in olive, peanut and canola oil – can also help raise your HDL, as well as drinking alcohol in moderation – up to one drink per day for women or two for men. However, if you don’t drink, it’s not a good idea to start just for the purpose of raising your HDL. Go for the many other options instead! Additionally, if you are on cholesterol-controlling medication, take as directed according to your doctor.
See? Cholesterol isn’t all bad – and you’re required to eat fats to keep it in check! Why not celebrate your health this month by adopting a few of these healthy habits and treating yourself to a cholesterol screening? Your heart will thank you, and you’ll no doubt start to see other positive changes, as well!