Everything She Wants

With all the shopping and socializing,  the holiday season can take its toll on us emotionally and physically. Here are five helpful tips from EmpowHer , a leading health and wellness website for women, to help us de-stress and get in the holiday spirit: Prioritize: Your company is throwing a really cool holiday party in mid-December, and so are two of your closest friends, three sets of neighbors and four relatives.  While you may or may not wish to to attend them all, nothing can wear you out faster than too many social engagements. Give yourself permission to attend a certain number of holiday functions, and graciously bow out of the others. Try something new this holiday season./Photo by Tracy E. Hopkins Let go of tradition: We all enjoy receiving holiday cards, but we also completely understand not having the time or inclination to send them.  Just like holiday parties, pick and choose a few traditions that you truly enjoy doing, and leave the rest behind, at least for

It's the most wonderful time of the year, so why not share the love and give to those who are less fortunate? Everything She Wants will drop off a swag bag of toiletries and beauty products to Eve Salon (55 West 8th Street) in Manhattan's West Village nabe. Eve Salon (@evesalon), along with Haven Spa (150 Mercer Street, @HavenSpaSoho) in Soho, has partnered with New York City's Women in Need to provide women and their families with new, everyday necessities in order to live a healthy and hygienic life. New and unused toiletries of all kinds will be accepted including soaps, shampoos, sanitary napkins, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, razors, hair care products and children's bath products.  Additionally, Eve and Haven will donate one toothbrush for every three products donated.  The holiday toiletries drive begins Tuesday, Nov. 29 and runs through Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. If you're looking for other holiday giving opportunities, check out

If you missed the Black Friday deals at your local mall or just can't get enough retail therapy, today you can catch all the Cyber Monday sales on the world wide web (Note to self: save all your gift cards next year and use them online for greater savings). Image from GeekSugar.com Here are a few standout sales that landed in Everything She Wants' inbox: Save 40% on everything site-wide at  Esprit.com . Save 30% on your purchase at Athleta , Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy . And save 20% at Piperlime. Enter HUGECYBER at checkout. Save 30% on regularly priced merchandise on SA VA's website .  Plus, all sale items are still $25 at my favorite indie Philly retailer. Enter CYBER30 at checkout. Save up to 75% off the original price on classic Norma Kamali styles, only on the designer's website . Plus, free ground shipping. Quantities are limited. Save 20% on any item on fashion jewelry destination,  Jewelista.com , from 11 a.m. EST until 3 p.m., plus fre

'Tis the season to watch your holiday spending, and Everything She Wants ' believes in quality over quantity.  So here are five great stocking stuffers for under $20: Artistry Light-Up Lip Gloss Artistry Light-Up Lip Gloss ($15.30): Turn heads   with this shimmery gloss with an LED light on the applicator and a built-in mirror. The lip gloss comes in shades to complement any skin tone. To purchase, find an Artistry salesperson in your area. Pan Oceanic Eyewear (from $6.99): Get these celeb style shades sold at bargain fashionista prices at Target, Urban Outfitters and Forever 21. Since I wear my sunglasses year-round (not at night though), I'm putting chic cat eye sunglasses on my holiday wish list. Eat your heart out Rachel Zoe. Pan Oceanic cat-eye sunglasses Demeter Fragrance Library  (from $6): Let the sweet and sentimental scents of the season linger on your skin with Demeter's new holiday fragrances.  The scents -- made with 95% natural ingr

If Forever 21 's Spring 2012 preview is any indication, the season will be marked by several strong trends carried over from previous seasons.  For spring, Forever 21 fans can expect to find fun, flirty and feminine frocks; bold colors and pastel prints; Boho and mod dresses and accessories; romantic lace and girly jewelry; vintage-inspired looks and a bevy of cross-body bags. Here are a few of Everything She Wants' favorite looks: Forever 21 flirty frocks, feminine jewelry and cross-body bags. Forever 21 romantic blouses and lace tops. Forever 21 spring trend: Bold colors and soft silhouettes. Forever 21's vintage-inspired looks. Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins

It's a bit early to be thinking of spring, but Juicy Couture's spring 2012 preview gives fashionistas something to look forward to.  Forget the booty-branded tracksuit that made the label a household name. Juicy Couture is all grown up and with a nod to tennis and LA-inspired color, the spring collection reflects the brand's renewed commitment to design, quality and fashion. Because we love stripes the way that Rachel Zoe loves sequins, there were plenty of casually chic, preppy and whimsical looks that caught my eye. "We've incorporated elevated fabrications and sophisticated details for a fresh, sexy take on classics," says LeAnn Nealz, Juicy Couture President and Chief Creative Officer. "This is such a fun and creative brand to work on and this collection is just the beginning of an exciting future for Juicy Couture." Photos courtesy of Everything She Wants.net.

Versace for H&M goes on sale tomorrow (Nov. 19) at select stores in New York City (the flagship store on 51st and Fifth Avenue will open an hour early at 8 a.m.).   Are you ready? Versace for H&M window display./Tracy E. Hopkins Even though  Everything She Wants wasn't invited to the star-studded launch party where Prince performed, H&M is still my favorite store.  I won't be around to capture the early morning madness at the Versace for H&M sale, but in case you plan to to brave the crowd, here are a few helpful tips from Racked.com : 1) Get there early: H&M's shopping system makes it especially crucial to beat the rush, since the stores are giving special access to the first 280 women in line.  For last year's Lanvin collab, an hour before the Fifth Avenue flagship store opened, there were already around 250 people waiting.  So show up at least 90 minutes in advance. To get early access, you'll need a color-coded bracelet. H

Are you planning to have friends and family over this holiday season?  If so, remember that a laid-back host is a fun host. Image courtesy of Crate & Barrel To make your holiday shindig a success, here are a few simple tips that Savvy Mommy blogger Victoria Pericon shared with Everything She Wants at a home event sponsored by Delta Faucet : Pick a theme: Picking a theme makes it fun for everyone and easier to plan. Try a movie night theme and play your favorite '80s flicks.  Or pick a food theme like Mexican or fondue. Keep it simple: Send an Evite or email to invite guests.  Don't stress too much.  Pick a signature cocktail and prepare food ahead of time. Delegate responsibility: Designate a photographer so you don't have to worry if fun snapshots are taken; then share the photos on Shutterfly or Flickr.  Hire an assistant to watch the food, set up kids' tables and activities and help you assemble goody bags for guests to take home. Special touch

Spice up your bath time with new, vampire-inspired products from Honeycat Cosmetics . Created by Theresa Spruill, Honeycat Cosmetics are all-natural (no animal testing) and take a sensual and playful approach to skin care. Blood Sudz, $25 For a limited time, Everything She Wants' readers will receive 20% off any Honeycat Cosmetics purchase.   Just add the discount code, ESWT20, at checkout.  One lucky reader will also get the chance to channel her inner Bella and win one of these new vampire-inspired products (see below for details on how to win): You Gotta Be Kitten Me Shower Gel ($16): This new pomegranate shower gel is rich, thick and loaded with skin nourishing ingredients such as Shea butter, sweet almond oil and cocoa butter.  A little goes a long way with this moisturizing gel. Lather up and enjoy endless bubbles as you shower. This is a great way to enjoy the luxury of bubbles even when you don't have time to take a bath. You Gotta Be Kitten Me Shower

If you love beauty products but don't want to pay full price, then let your fingers do the clicking over to MyHabit.com . Today, Amazon's membership-only fashion destination (membership is free with an Amazon.com account) expands into beauty and  offers a tailored selection of luxury sales in beauty categories including skin care, hair care, cosmetics and tools, priced at up to 50% off with fast, free shipping on US orders.  Dr. Hauschka Skin Care available on MyHabit.com. Beginning today at 9 a.m. PT / noon ET , customers can shop across MyHabit's men’s, women’s and children’s departments to discover limited-time sales from coveted beauty brands. Recognizing a true beauty buff’s need to be in-the-know, MyHabit provides detailed product pages with in-depth descriptions including specific claims, key ingredients, directions for use and any product precautions. Beauty products will also be presented with upscale photography and a zoom feature for up-close detai

Attention Kmart shoppers! If you haven't taken a trip to the superstore lately, now is the time. Everything She Wants  recently shopped 'til I nearly dropped at a Kmart store in New York City. Photo credit: Tracy E. Hopkins Before Black Friday, the stores are hosting a holiday preview sale with fashions from attention, Route 66 and the new Sofia by Sofia Vergara line on sale for up to 25 percent off. So that I could properly give you the scoop on the chain's hottest fall fashions, Kmart sent me a gift card to shop. After browsing and trying on garments for at least an hour in the Herald Square store, I made my selection -- a  black velvet tuxedo blazer (Sofia by Sofia Vergara, $44.99); a gray, striped wrap cardigan (attention, $18.99), and a bohemian, blue peacock-reminiscent print blouse (Route 66, $14.99). Look for even more savings on Kmart.com : Until 11/12, save 40% on outerwear for the entire family and an additional 15% off apparel with the code  WARM

Everything She Wants is always on the lookout for a bargain.  So to my delight, I received an email from Evan Carraway Wortman, owner of an online women's jewelry and accessories boutique called Mimi's the look for less . Mixed Metal Square Studs,  $22 The family business was launched nearly two years ago by Evan and her Mom.  And from statement necklaces to eye-catching stud earrings, most items on Mimi's are under $45. "Accessories are so expensive, and if they were decently priced they usually looked cheap," explains Evan.  "We wanted to give women great looking things that weren't crazy expensive." The site was named after Evan's great aunt, Mimi. "She was so cute and loved jewelry," she says.  "Even in her 90s, she wore fun jewelry." To introduce Everything She Wants ' readers to Mimi's, I'm giving away a trendy, Large-Face Silver Watch (retail value, $30) .  The watch has a band that can be adju

It's hard to put your best face forward when your acne flares up. And for women like me, who are way beyond their teen years, adult acne is particularly pesky. So what's a girl to do? e.l.f. Mineral Blemish Kit For a long-term acne solution, it's best to see a dermatologist or skincare specialist.  But in the meantime, Everything She Wants suggests picking up a good over-the-counter acne remedy and concealer. Luckily, my favorite budget makeup brand, e.l.f. (eyes, lips, face) has several options: Heal and hide breakouts with the e.l.f. Mineral Blemish Kit ($8), a translucent powder with natural acne fighting ingredients like sulfur, tea tree and willow bark.  The kit treats acne and prevents future breakouts while penetrating into the pores to control blackheads. Use the sheer powder day and night with the handy concealer brush included. E.l.f.'s weightless mineral concealer ($5) comes in five shades from Fair to Deep, and all the colors seamless

Your smile is your calling card (just ask Lindsay Lohan ), so it’s important that your teeth always look their whitest and brightest.  In the quest for whiter teeth, the options on the market seem limitless. Teeth whitening products./Photo by Tracy E. Hopkins While some prefer to take a more medical route to whiten their teeth, and consult dental professionals or websites like topdentists.com , others prefer to take a do-it-yourself approach at their local pharmacy. Here are a few teeth whitening suggestions from Everything She Wants to help you get ready for your close up: 1) Be aware of the foods and drinks that stain your teeth and cause them to yellow . For example, soda, coffee, red wine, blueberries and tobacco products can gradually build up stains and cause your teeth to yellow. Conversely, other foods such as those rich in calcium, Vitamin D and some citrus fruits like strawberries can whiten, strengthen and fortify your teeth's enamel. 2) Use   over-t