The last time you went away for the weekend, what kind of bag did you use? A.) A full-sized rolling suitcase you regretted taking because you packed it full of clothes you didn’t wear? B.) Several small bags jammed so full that you felt disorganized and unprepared?

We at CupCase love the Weekender bag. It’s a style, not a brand, of bag that’s not too big and not too small. It’s just right. There are all different styles of Weekender bags made of different fabrics and finishes from leather to canvas. They range from those you carry using a comfortable shoulder strap to those you can roll using a retractable handle.

As an in-between-sized bag, the Weekender is meant for just a couple day’s worth of clothing for one person, and most bags have lots of little pockets inside and out for stashing accessories and toiletry items. Don’t forget to put your bras in a CupCase and toss it in, too!

The Weekender bag is the perfect size for a carry-on if you’re jetting off for the weekend. It’s also a great bag to toss into the backseat for a quick getaway; kind of like they do in the movies where a starlet tosses a bag into the backseat of a convertible, jumps into the driver seat and drives off with the wind in her hair.

Here’s a bunch of Weekender bags to choose from at Amazon.

Leave a comment below, or better yet send us a postcard from your weekend getaway, to let us know which Weekender bag is just right for you!

While perusing eonline.com recently, we had to LOL because of the headline: “Cleavage Alert!” The story was about Madonna’s new fragrance called Truth or Dare, and the pictured advertisement for the fragrance had, well, a lot of cleavage in it.

Madonna has never been afraid to flaunt it and we have come to expect nothing less. When you see the Material Girl, chances are you’ll see her bra too. During her Like a Virgin tour, she wore a lace wedding dress with a bustier that showed off her ample assets. Then she wore those cone bras during her Blonde Ambition tour in the 1990s. She’s pretty much worn it all and showed it to us. She’s even designed a line of bras for her Material Girl collection, a junior’s line she created with her daughter Lourdes.

As you may know, Madonna will perform at the halftime show for Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (where CupCase is based!) Feb. 5, 2012. There’s all kinds of speculation swirling around about what she’ll sing and of course what she’ll wear during her 15-ish minutes on stage.

We’re going to bet that she’ll be wearing a bra that everyone can see! Maybe we need to send her a CupCase…

If you have an old bra you no longer wear that’s in good shape and working condition, or a new bra you’ve never worn but no longer need, don’t throw it out. CupCase has a suggestion: Recycle it.

CupCase discovered an organization in Arizona called The Bra Recyclers which takes new and gently used bras and redistributes them through exporters and organizations to developing countries around the world. Through a Bra Recycling Ambassadors program, bras are provided to deserving women with used or unused bras as they transition back to self-sufficiency.

To them, a Used Bra means: Using Simple Encouragements to Develop, Blossom and Renew positive Attitudes and Self-Esteem.

Their website says, “On the surface, foundation garments are not necessarily thought of as an esteem booster. But ask any woman and they will tell you that a well-fitted bra gives you the confidence to go anywhere and do anything you want to do.”

Well said.

The Bra Recyclers are in need of bras in good condition, with functioning clasps and straps, all sizes and styles, special needs bras including post-surgery bras and maternity bras.

If you’d like to send them a donation, follow these steps:

1. Wash all bras.
2. Fill out Bra Recycling Form.
3. Place your bras and the form in a box or large envelope.
4. Mail it to to: 3317 S. Higley Road, Suite 114-441, Gilbert, AZ 85297

You can also click here for drop off locations, including one here in Indiana in Knox at the Starke County Environmental Management District.

If you’ve been trying to decide if you should buy a CupCase or not, here’s a reason to sway you toward yes: $12 off!

Dec. 19 & 20 we’ve posted a deal through Plum District Indianapolis to offer $12 off your CupCase order. That’s almost a 50% savings!

Hurry and buy before the deal is gone. Happy holidays!

You’ve probably worn a bra nearly every waking moment since puberty, but, do you really know what you’re doing? According to a September 2006 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra. So chances are you’ve got it all wrong.

Fear not. New York City-based fashion expert Jené Luciani is here to help. Jené recently wrote The Bra Book: The Fashion Formula to Finding the Perfect Bra, published by BenBella Books. It contains all kinds of advice for choosing the right bra, getting a fitting, as well as style tips.

CupCase has teamed up with Jené for a special Bosom Buddies holiday giveaway. This is your chance to treat yourself. The gift pack includes a CupCase (color of your choosing) and an autographed copy of The Bra Book.

To enter to win the gift pack, simply go to The Bra Book Facebook page and get the name of one of the celebrity fans Jené has listed. Then enter that celebrity’s name along with your information back on the CupCase Facebook page. Be sure you’ve “liked” both pages.

CupCase will pick a winner from all the correct answers on Dec. 20. Note: Only one entry per email address.

Jené’s book has taken the fashion world by storm and celebrities are raving about it. Kathie Lee Gifford, Jane Krakowski, Sherri Shepherd, Kat Deluna, Jill Zarin, Cindy Barshop and Maggie Rizer all are fans of the book. Even Oprah has chimed in and said, “It’s an important book for women.”

You might have even seen Jené on a recent episode of Bravo’s Mad Fashion, where she wore the world’s first couture bra dress. Chris March designed the dress and used 200 bras to create it.

Now that’s how you wear a bra! ;o)

Any time of year, but especially around the holidays, if you attend a party or are invited to stay at someone’s house, a hostess gift is usually in order.

Admittedly, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what’s appropriate to give as a hostess gift. If it’s an office-related party, consider giving an ornament or a candle. If it’s a dinner party, maybe give the hostess a nice bottle of wine or champagne. Someone told us once that they stock up on hostess gifts when they see something nice at a good price. Picture frames, scarves, gloves, bath sets, coffee, tea and even wine charms make nice hostess gifts, as well.

If you’re buying a gift for someone you know well, we suggest the CupCase, a stylish protective travel and storage case for your bras! And right now is the perfect opportunity to stock up, because for a limited time, you can save when you purchase five or more.

CupCase is regularly priced at $24.95 each. But right now, if you purchase five or more, each CupCase is just $19.95.

The CupCase is the perfect hostess gift because it’s light weight, has a smooth satin finish and an easy zip closure, and it’s incredibly unique. You can be sure the hostess doesn’t have a CupCase yet! The diamond studded zipper pull also adds elegance to this well-designed travel accessory. It comes in four colors and two convenient sizes, A/B or C/D, and it holds up to three bras, plus accessories.

A hostess gift is a wonderful way to say, “Thank you for your hospitality.” We can tell you from experience, the generosity is not lost on the hostess and is most appreciated. Not to mention, your mother, and Emily Post, would be very proud…

Travel experts are telling us it’s still possible to find good deals on flights and travel with ease this holiday season. The keys to success are to be informed, organized and to travel at the right times.

Travelocity says domestic airfare is up 5% and international airfare is up 6% from the 2010 holiday season. It also says prices are up too – bummer! Even so, if you still need to book a flight and can be flexible with your dates of travel, you may be able to save money and avoid the crowds. Sounds like a win-win to us!

Experts suggest avoiding peak travel dates such as Dec. 23, 26 and 30. They also say to choose an early morning or late night flight because they are less popular and cheaper. Purchasing a so-called “red eye” flight also may save you some bucks.

Just be aware that some airlines charge surcharges around the holidays, which drive up fares. Travelocity says holiday travel dates with surcharges are: Dec. 22, 23 and 26, and Jan. 2.

There’s an App for That

The Transportation Security Administration actually has a free mobile application called MyTSA for travel tips and information. Use the app to find answers to all kinds of FAQs about flying, including what you can put in your carry-on luggage, approximate wait times at TSA security checkpoints, weather conditions, airport delays and more.

Have Fruit Cake, Will Travel

It’s the holidays and we know you’ll be traveling with presents and maybe even fruit cake! But, be warned, TSA has rules for all that, too.

• The TSA recommends that passengers do not travel with wrapped packages. In order to determine if the contents of a package are a threat, a security officer may need to unwrap and inspect the item. Snow globes of any size are not permitted in carry-on bags because officers cannot accurately determine the volume of liquid. TSA recommends passengers pack these items securely in checked baggage.
• Food items, such as pies and cakes, are permitted but may require further inspection. If travelers are not sure if a food item is considered a liquid or gel, it’s best to pack the item in checked baggage or ship it to a destination in advance.

For more information on these and other helpful tips, please visit www.tsa.gov.

Happy traveling this holiday season and we hope to pass you in the airport proudly carrying your CupCase!

A quick show of hands: How many of you out there organize your lingerie drawer? And how many of you have a jumbled mess of underwear, bras and nighties? Uh-huh. We thought so.

Don’t worry. We’re guilty of underwear drawer mumbo jumbo, too. But in our quest to organize and conquer, we’ve discovered some handy suggestions for getting your underwear in order and keeping it that way. Here are a few tips for fast and easy organization:

Step 1 is to edit. Take everything out of your lingerie drawer and separate the tattered, ill-fitting and uncomfortable items from those that look good and feel good. If it’s scratchy, too big, too small, ripped or only has one hook left out of three, break down and toss it. Make a list of the things you need to replace.

Step 2 is to group and fold. Sort your underwear by type (bikini, brief, thong). Group your bras by straps, strapless, bandeau, sports, etc. Fold everything nicely.

Step 3 is to section off your drawers. Purchase inexpensive drawer dividers and insert them. They come in plastic and paper varieties. In a pinch, we’ve been known to use shoe boxes.

Step 4 is to begin filling in the drawer. Now it’s time to put all your underwear back. Take each neatly folded item and place it in each individual section. You can take this one step further and organize items within each category by color. Extra points for that one!

We hope that by following these simple steps you can bring order to your life, or at least your lingerie drawer. By giving every item its own place, you will not only be able to easily find what you need, but it will also help protect your lingerie and help it last longer.

For centuries, women have been wearing garments that were designed to retain, shape or support their breasts. Some did the job, some didn’t. And if you look at sketches of the contraptions our ancestors wore, you will quickly become thankful for the options we have today.

The Uncomfortable Corset

The bra as we know it has evolved from corsets stiffened with whale backbones and steel rods that were tightened with laces and pulleys. These devices not only restrained or enhanced breasts, depending on the era, they also were known to simultaneously squeeze the size of an adult woman’s waist to an unnatural and unhealthy 13 inches or less. Yikes!

We must all give thanks to a woman named Mary Phelps Jacob, who in 1913 was headed to a social event. She bought a silky, sheer evening gown to wear, but the lines of her whale-bone corset were visible through the dress. So, as the story goes, “two silk handkerchiefs and some pink ribbon later,” Mary had designed an alternative to the corset.

The Rise of the Brassiere

Mary’s new design for the brassiere (derived from the French word for upper arm) was a hit and complemented the fashions at the time. She had the design patented in 1914, but the socialite did not enjoy running a business, so she sold her patent for a light weight, soft garment to the Warner Brothers Corset Co. in Bridgeport, Conn., for $1,500. During the next 30 years, Warner Brothers Corset Co. reportedly made more than $15 million from the patent.

In the early 1930s, designers began creating bras with “cups,” and in the mid-1930s, U.S. designers introduced bras with different cup sizes A, B, C and D. Starting to sound familiar?

It’s worth noting that there was an actual shortage of bras in the 1940s, due to the wars. Women had to order bras and wait until manufacturers could get fabric to make them. If they couldn’t wait, women often made their own bras using parachute silk or satin taken from their wedding dress.

Bras Today

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. Bras are now available in any style, shape and color you can imagine, and you can buy them at almost any store you enter. Kinder, gentler corset-style bras are still available and popular for brides and special occasions, like prom.

We’re lucky in so many ways, and we often take things for granted. That’s why we must remember that even though we still “suffer for fashion,” at least we don’t have to use laces and pulleys to tighten a whale-bone corset every day before we head out the door. And we can thank Mary Phelps Jacob for that one.

We all want flawless, radiant skin and with every season of the year seems to come its own set of hurdles. During the summer, we’re hot, sweaty and oily. During the winter, we’re dry, cracked and pale. But the focus always seems to be on our face and we too often forget about the tender skin on our neck and décolleté.

We’ve discovered a few tips that will help you revamp your skin care regime to include these two important areas so they can be flawless and radiant, too, no matter the season.

Protect your skin – Apply sunscreen about 20-30 minutes before you leave the house. Sunscreen should shield your skin from UVA and UVB rays and should be worn throughout the year. Choose a sunscreen for your face, neck and chest that not only protects, but also nourishes your skin with vitamins and minerals.

Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize from your forehead to your chest –  Experts recommend using the same products you use on your face on your neck and chest, too. Some may think it’s a waste of money to use these often expensive products anywhere but on your face, but if they’re great enough for your face, they’re great enough for your neck and chest.

Seek special products made for the neck and chest – There are creams and serums that target —we hate to say it — drooping and sagging in your neck and chest areas. Other products can help even skin tone (from sun damage) and protect against signs of aging.

Indulge your skin – Yes! We give you permission! Drop a hint that a spa day would be a perfect holiday gift. Then, treat yourself and your skin to a luxurious facial and massage. You can also try an at-home treatment using massage oils with vitamins A or E or rich creams that will leave your skin soft, smooth and replenished.

With holiday season upon us, and lots of cute dresses and tops in the stores that will expose your neck and décolleté, now is a great time to include these neglected areas into your skin care regime and start looking fabulous!