How to survive the holidays without exploding

Cyla Weiner and her sister Helen Kestler know a thing or two about the female form--and the next installment in their Bras and Brunch series, "Surviving the Holidays Without Overeating," couldn't be more timely. Janet Zalman of The Zalman Nutrition Group will speak from 10:30 to noon while attendees brunch and sip. If the tips don't work, there's always our friend, shapewear. When Cyla says shapewear is better than ever, we listen. "Goodbye visible panty lines and hello to shapewear rescue," she says.  "There is the popular cami, full body briefer, control panty, girl short, high waist brief, long leg brief, control hosiery, shaper bras, and slips." So there you go. The holiday squeeze. The Bras and Brunch event will be held Sunday, Dec. 5 from 10:30 am to 12 pm. Register at http://sylene.eventbrite.com/.

Weekend Update

Give it up for some good causes this weekend.

Eat, drink, discuss and shop: Sylene Lingerie Boutique in Chevy Chase holds another installment in their Bras and Brunch series this Sunday to benefit the Humane Society. A $15 donation gets you a $20 Sylene gift card and helps a furry friend in need. DC style expert Lauren Rothman of Styleauteur will discuss spring fashion trends and must-have pieces while you enjoy mimosas and a light brunch. 10:30-noon. 4407 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase. RSVP required: http://sylene.eventbrite.com or call 301-654-4200.

Donate and shop: B Scene boutique in Cabin John Shopping Center is holding a spring clothing drive as it celebrates the launch of One Life One Legacy (OLOL) philanthropic T-shirt company on Sunday. One Life One Legacy is a unique company that sells T-shirts honoring everyday heroes and donates one tee to a child in need for every shirt sold. Bring in used clothing from 12-3 to get a 10% discount on all B Scene merchandise. Proceeds go to the Interfaith Clothing Center of Montgomery County.

Vote: One Life One Legacy (OLOL) has been chosen to compete in the Pepsi Refresh Project to Change the World. If OLOL gets enough votes to make it into the top ten, the company receives a $25,000 grant. To vote, go to www.refresheverything.com/onelifeonelegacy. Voting continues through April 30.

Watch: New Galaxy Theatre Company holds a benefit show for Haiti at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Georgetown Sunday at 2 and 6. 100% of the proceeds benefit Haiti. Click here for details and ticket info.

Brunch,Lust & Lingerie

This insane Washington snow is disrupting not only power, warmth and sanity, but also wreaking havoc on fun events scheduled around town. Most appropriately rescheduled from Feb. 7 to Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, is the "Love, Lust & Lingerie" fete at Sylene lingerie boutique in Chevy Chase from 10:30 to 12. A don't-miss for the hitched and single alike, the event features champagne (YES! I've been cooped up waaay too long), mimosas, light brunch nibbles and an inspired panel in place to answer all of your lust and love questions. Andrea Rodgers who advises the lovelorn on her Ask Miss A website (and who is also featured in February's Washingtonian magazine) will team up with Cathy Alter, whose hilarious memoir Up for Renewal offers a way up and out of the horrible love/lust choice rut; Jess McCann, who reveals the successful sales pitch to snag scores of men in You Lost Him at Hello (love that title); and Kerry Reichs, author of the always-a-bridesmaid bildungsroman, The Best Day of Someone Else's Life. Don't worry, shy ones; you can write your questions anonymously on little pieces of paper and the panel will share their fabulous insights with you. ANY advice from these participants is sure to be not only wise, but extremely witty. Attendees also enjoy a 20% discount off sexy sleepwear.

RSVP REQUIRED. RSVP at 301-654-4200 or http://sylene.eventbrite.com/

Extra-special holiday surprise

Know a special girl who deserves some top-of-the-line pampering this year?? Cyla Weiner and her sister, Helen Kestler, the lingerie experts of Sylene in Chevy Chase, are offering an exquisite holiday gift to two lucky women this year. The sisters' shop is best known as the "go-to" place for lovely lingerie, post-surgery bra fittings and expert advice. Now they're willing to come to the recipient's home, sort through her intimates, tell her what works and what doesn't, and what she should toss or keep. After a glass of bubbly she'll be whisked away to Sylene for a private fitting and shopping spree, where she'll enjoy champagne and hors d'ouevres as she browses through luxurious lingerie from La Perla, Eres, Simone Perele, Hanky Panky, Cosabella and many more. The lucky lady will receive all the store's trademark "S Factor" bras: seamless, sexy, strapless, sport, spa, specialty, three undies, two shapewear pieces, one sleepwear ensemble ....and a swimsuit! After the shopping spree, a driver whisks this lucky shopper back home to revel in her new lingerie. Have just the right person in mind? Perhaps yourself?? Contact Cyla Weiner at Sylene for all the details: 301-654-4200.

Literature meets lingerie

Tuesday was my book club, Saturday is a bridal shower, Wednesday was listening to Kerry Reichs discuss The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life, her book about the many weddings she's attended (at least 70 - on several continents) - a perfect mid-week bridge between events, accompanied by champagne and a smorgasbord of sweet treats and bites of salmon, chicken and crunchy shrimp (by J. Jackson of Entree Metropolitan) at lingerie and swimwear boutique SyLene (where you can also hold a bridal shower). Andrea Rodgers (blogger “Ask Miss A”) and store owners Cyla Weiner and Helen Kestler were our hosts as Kerry (daughter of writer Kathy Reichs) discussed her book, the act of writing and how she left a fast-track law career in DC to go on sabbatical and write this book. Though she said, “I had no idea what I was doing” she did have a subject (lots of weddings) and a sense of humor. But Kerry didn’t have to make it all up. She says much in the book is true. Even the parts that were cut. She actually attended a wedding in which a turtle was the best man. Sometimes it seems the truth is too strange even for fiction. There are lots of DC-area references in the book, which add to the fun. Though Kerry says there’s a focus on “the path not taken” in the book, the show must go on in life. I turned to the display of shower gifts for my Saturday-shower bride-to-be in preparation for her very Best Day. Look for Kerry's new book in the U.S. early next year.

www.kerryreichs.com
www.sylenedc.com
www.askmissa.com
www.entreemetropolitan.com