Shopping in North Bethesda

Unlike your special lady's cucumber-melon rain-sprinkle lotion, the Combat-Ready Balm soothes razor burn and the effects of eczema and psoriasis, removes the itchiness from bug bites and scratches, and relieves sunburned, dry, or irritated skin. The balm has even seen combat while serving the dermal needs of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Skincando products, with their no-frills packaging and intense bold labels, not only mean business, they mean war.

Like the olive in a martini or the MSG in Funyuns, accessories are more than a simple garnish on your fashion plate: they're the essential spice that kicks couture into gear and makes even last night's wrinkled dress look stylish today. Whip your toes, wrist, collarbone, and elbow nook into shape with today's Groupon: $25 get you $50 worth of shoes, handbags, and jewelry at ShoeFly, the award-winning house of accessories that area shoppers voted Best Indie Shoe Store and Best Boutique for 2009. Though your Groupon is not valid for online purchases, you can get your hands on sale items and style-savvy finds at any of ShoeFly's convenient locations in DC, Arlington, and Bethesda. Stuff your sartorial stockings with today's Groupon or grab a pair of Fryes to stuff your stockings into.In 1798, a young American named Wilton Chamberlain invented what closely resembles the modern shoe, made out of ultra-plush designer leather and fastened with rope made from copper pipe. As Wilt invested more time perfecting the shoe, he began experimenting with designer fabrics and alchemy, eventually creating expensive shoes that could be worn to galas, balls, and outdoor rock concerts.

One can convey secret messages of love, friendship, and heartbreak through the symbolic colors and species in a flower bouquet. Send coded messages to fellow spies with an enigmatic mix of white daisies and pink roses in a cube vase ($32.95+), plus a small box of chocolates ($9.99+) to provide sustenance during a stakeout. Pair a dramatic yet simple arrangement of red tulips in a clear glass vase ($35) with three Mylar balloons ($14.99), or a pale pink glass vase with carnations, monte cassino, and lisianthus ($29.95+) with a medium stuffed animal ($19.99). Otherwise, use your Groupon to make an extravagant statement with a dozen red roses ($95) or an exotic arrangement of miniature bronze callas, with equisetum stalks styled in the vase ($234.95+) fit for an elegant spa. Ask Convention Floral about its flower-of-the-week special on seasonal flowers.

A well-placed splash of sparkle from Ice can transform even the dowdiest duds into formal wear while drawing the human eye to any place you want it to go. Draw attention to your slender wrists and away from your third eye with a 925 bangle studded with clear cubic zirconias ($52) or a large stone bracelet ($50). Likewise, you can show off the toned earlobes you worked so hard to achieve at boot camp with some platinum-bonded hoop earrings shining with Austrian crystal ($48). And nothing says "Hey, look, décolletage!" like a five-flower, cubic-zirconia necklace ($52). You can also get a two-tone black onyx pendant ($36) or square and round stackable rings ($32) without breaking your bling budget. The website offers only a sampling of what you'll find in-store, so be ready to browse, just like when you spent two hours at the pet store because you couldn't figure out which puppy took your wallet.

Since 1945, this family-owned landscaping business and garden center has helped locals transform their yards into lush landscapes and bountiful gardens. The company's secret to longevity is enlisting a staff of passionate expert gardeners and cloning them to populate future generations. Among its members, the landscaping team shares almost 200 years of collective experience, with foremen holding between 12 and 20 years apiece. Company president James Campbell began cultivating his love of all things flora on a farm crew at age 14. In college, he studied ornamental horticulture and then spent four decades working at Campbell & Ferrara, ascending from crew member to foreman to president.

You might get lost in the meandering paths of the indoor-outdoor garden center with 8 acres of trees, shrubs, and seasonal flowers. Thankfully, horticulturists and garden experts roam the grounds, ready to offer you directions and advice. To deter pests, for example, they'll tell you to plant a border of marigolds or a handful of sacrificial Skittles. Hand them a picture of your yard, and they'll predict which plants and flowers will likely thrive there. They also make DIY-ing easy by arranging over 1,000 trees and shrubs into user-friendly categories such as privacy screening, Virginia natives, and four-season. For customers who prefer an expert's help, landscapers offer degrees of assistance, ranging from installing customer-selected plants to completely redesigning yards with putting greens, outdoor kitchens, or waterfalls.

From green gifts to handcrafted treasures, Nest houses original and environmentally friendly wares. Selected inventory includes sustainably sourced fabrics by Earth Creations, recycled glassware by Fire and Light, and charming pottery from Mudworks. Read the gripping origin stories of some of Nest's vendors here. With this Groupon, naturally scent the home with a large soywax candle ($20), pull on an organic cotton T-shirt ($26–$30), or sip from a tumbler crafted from recycled wine bottles ($10.99). Nest supports fair-trade, organic cotton, recycled, handmade, and environmentally friendly goods.