5 Healthy Back-to-School Snacks for Kids and Moms

It's almost time for the back-to-school rush (I know, where did the summer go?).  So it's important for working girls, Moms and kids to find some healthy munchie options.  Everything She Wants loves to get her snack on, and here are a few great snack ideas that will satisfy your taste buds without a load of calories:

Mann's Snacks on the Go! are convenient packages of fresh-cut fruits and veggies in multiple combinations ($1.99 - $2.99). Each portion-controlled snack item is washed and ready to eat.  The snack packs easily fit into a backpack, lunch box, work tote or gym bag.

Pineapple SoyJoy is a baked version of a protein bar with all-natural ingredients.  It's the only bar made with the unique combination of real pineapple and ground whole soybeans. With only 140 calories, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein and gluten-free carbs, SoyJoy is a great afternoon pick-me-up.

Deep River Snacks are all-natural, gluten-free, kosher and don't contain trans-fat or cholesterol.   The snack varieties include distinctive flavors of Kettle-Cooked Potato Chips; Multigrain Tortilla Chips; 100 Calorie Pack Baked Fries in Mesquite BBQ and Jalapeno & Cheddar; and Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn.

California Raisins are a childhood lunch box staple and an important part of the 5 to 9 servings a day of fruit and vegetable recommendation. One serving of raisins (1/4 cup or 40 grams) provides you with essential antioxidants, fiber and potassium. We heard it through the grapevine that raisins also contain catechins (also found in grapes and red wine), a family of readily absorbed antioxidants which research shows may decrease cancerous colon tumors.

Kopali Organics Dark Chocolate and Fruit Treats are 100% organic and natural treats harvested from the Costa Rican rain forest. The snacks are made with organic dark chocolate and the fruits used are picked fully ripe and then tried immediately -- with no sugar, sulfites or oil added.  Every bag of Kopali purchased directly supports thousands of farmers, their families and communities in countries all over the world. Available at Whole Foods.

Bold & Bright Colors Trendy for Holiday 2011 Fashion

The heat may be on, but the holiday season is only a few months away.  To get you ready, Everything She Wants has identified one of the hottest trends for the holiday season.  Bright colors.

And not just the requisite Poinsettia red.  We're talking hot pink, royal blue, emerald green and pretty shades in between.

Color popped at LOFT's Holiday 2011 preview.

Colorful skirts, sweaters and pants from LOFT.

 

A rainbow of chic accessories from Talbots. 

Sophisticated lady wardrobe staples from Talbots.

Sebago updates its classic, preppy Docksides in bright colors.

Photo credit: Tracy E. Hopkins

White Jeans, a White Hot Summer Fashion Statement

I haven't worn a pair of white jeans since high school.  And even then, I never felt completely comfortable in the color. I've always been too preoccupied that my white clothing would get dirty, or that I'd sit in something and have a stain across my backside like a woman I once saw defiantly wearing her soiled white jeans at a rooftop party.

But when Everything She Wants was offered the chance to try out a pair of Not Your Daughter's Jeans (NYDJ), I figured it's about time I shake my white jean phobia.

While wearing them on a hot Saturday afternoon, I felt totally cool.  Not only are the jeans figure-flattering because of the brand's Tummy Tuck technology that lifts in all the right places, but the light color reflects heat and compliments my complexion.

And let's face it, when you're over 35 who wants to buy jeans in the junior's department?  With NYDJ, it's nice to know there's an option on the market for women who no longer feel comfortable wearing jeans that hang too low or fit too tightly.

NYDJ come in an assortment of styles including chinos and traditional blue denim.  They're ideal for casual Fridays in the office or weekend wear, and are available at select retailers including Nordstrom and Zappos.com.

Photo credit: Tracy Hopkins/NYDJ

Fall 2011 Fashion Preview: Animal Prints Still Stylish

Everything She Wants has been pounding the pavement from one fall/holiday 2011 preview to the next.  And one of the trends I've noticed is that animal prints remain an evergreen fashion statement.

While I'm not a fan of wearing the look from head-to-toe, a bold animal print shoe, bag, jacket, scarf or pair of gloves is a stylish way to incorporate the trend into your seasonal wardrobe.

Here are a few eye catching signature pieces (Via Spiga shoes are in stores now; other styles available this fall):

 Bag and accessories from Cache

Jacket from LOFT

Working girl statement pieces from Talbots

Stiletto heels from Via Spiga

Funky flats from Via Spiga

Chunky heels from Via Spiga

Travel accessories from Iman Global Chic for HSN

Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins

Giveaway Alert: Switch Gear Interchangeable Jewelry Set!

If you've ever wanted to make your own jewelry, then try Switch Gear. The patent-pending, interchangeable jewelry sets let you play designer and assemble your own accessories.  

Switch Gear comes in five different kits.  And Everything She Wants is giving away the Chickit Jewelry Set ($75 value) -- which offers 100s of earring and necklace options -- to one lucky reader.

The Chickit Jewelry Set includes:

1 pair sterling silver lever back earrings

1 sterling silver venetian box chain necklace

6 pairs of interchangeable hoops, loops, drops, and chains that fit on the necklace and the earrings 

Made of sterling silver, red agate, silver pewter, glass, brass, vintage and industrial materials. 

Switch Gear was invented by Lisa Monahan, a metalsmith who has designed jewelry and sculptural metal works for 18 years.  The Boston native works with quality metals and precious and semi-precious stones.  Her work is available online and in select galleries and museum shops.  Five percent of the profits from the sale of Switch Gear Interchangeable Jewelry Sets are donated to survivors of domestic abuse.


Here's how to win (you must complete all three steps to be considered):

1) Retweet this post

2) Leave a comment with your first name and age and describe your fave piece of jewelry.

3) Follow me on Twitter @TracyEHopkins or follow this blog via Google Connect.

The giveaway ends Sunday, July 17 at 11:59 p.m.  Good luck!

Shop for a Cause With Ella B Jewelry

Everything She Wants loves to support designers who champion a good cause.  And with its tree silhouette necklace, Ella B Jewelry supports the Amani Children's Foundation, an organization that works in Kenya to help orphaned-and-HIV-positive-babies get the care and medical attention they need and eventually find adoptive families.

Ella B tree necklace in sterling silver, $32

Ella B tree necklace in gold plate, $32

Ella B Jewelry is designed by Elizabeth Bradburn, who studied jewelry design and started selling her accessories online in 2010 after being asked to make pieces for brides and private clients.

"I've been making jewelry for as long as I can remember," the 29-year-old says.  "Starting a complete line had always been a dream of mine, and it seemed like the universe was telling me to go for it."  Having an online business also allows Bradburn to stay at home with her almost two-year-old son.

The Indianapolis based artisan fashioned the tree silhouette necklace after the organization's logo.  The $32 necklace comes in sterling silver and gold plate and Bradburn donates 100% of the profits to the Amani Children's fund.

So don't delay, shop for a cause today.

Summer Accessories Under $40 from QVC!

Whether you're traveling to a Caribbean hot spot or soaking up the sun in your backyard, you always need new accessories to spice up your summer wardrobe.

Here are a few nicely-priced designer fashion statements exclusive to QVC that Everything She Wants can't wait to take on her next summer getaway:

ISAAC MIZRAHI LIVE! Floppy Straw Striped Sun Hat, $27

Joan Rivers Style Icon with Crystal Accent Sunglasses, $39.96

ISAAC MIZRAHI LIVE! Sparkle Canvas Open Tote with Patent Trim, $38

Whole Foods Market New Natural Feminine Care Line, Azalea

Azalea, a new line of natural feminine care products, arrived in my mailbox right on time.

Admittedly, until recently Everything She Wants hadn't given much thought to where the cotton in her panty liners and pads came from.  But get this -- did you know that the conventional cotton used in non-natural brands is sprayed with pesticides that could be linked to cancer?

So using Azalea, a product made with 100% organic cotton, is a simple solution to protecting yourself against harmful chemicals.

Named after the flower symbolic of femininity, Azalea's tag line is "take care of yourself."  In addition to being chemical-free, the dermatologist-tested products are hypoallergenic and perfume-and-chlorine-free.

Even though Azalea's pads come in a smaller quantity than I usually purchase (Ultra Thin Super Absorbency pads come in a package of 14, $7.99*), they're a wise investment in every woman's health and for convenience hopefully Whole Foods will double the amount per package.  Azalea pantiliners come in a plentiful pack of 24 ($5.99), and for tampon users, the Regular Absorbency tampons come in a package of 16 ($6.99).

Look for Azalea at a Whole Foods Market near you (*prices quoted are for New York City and may vary at stores across the country).

Jean Paul Gaultier Montreal Exhibition Celebrates Couture

Everything She Wants was in Montreal recently to see Sade (the concert was so brilliant we're traveling to Chicago to bask in the glow of her enduring, sorrowful beauty again in August). While I was visiting the bustling, European-reminiscent city, I also checked out the awe-inspiring Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" celebrates the outlandish French designer's 35th anniversary in fashion.

From the iconic cone bras and corsets he designed form Madonna's "Blonde Ambition" tour to daring red carpet gowns, the exhibition highlights Gaultier's eclectic and irreverent sources of inspiration through 120 haute couture dresses and ready-to-wear for men and women made between 1976 and 2011.

If you're planning to visit Montreal, don't miss this exhibition, which runs through October 2, 2011. Visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts website for more info and watch the sneak peek video we compiled (yes, the mannequins are talking).

Photo and video credit: John Carluccio

Make Your July 4th and Entire Summer Eco-Friendly!

Happy holiday weekend!  Here are a few easy ways Everything She Wants has discovered to make your July 4th weekend green:

Fashion

Threads 4 Thought proves that sustainable apparel can also be fashionable. To make its trendy tops, shorts, and rompers, the brand uses organic cotton and recycled polyester fashioned from discarded water bottles. Threads 4 Thought garments are made in fair trade factories and are available online and at select Whole Foods' stores.  A portion of every sale is donated to charity.

Beauty

Get primped for your July 4th barbecue or party with totally vegan Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics.  The Pure Cosmetic Pigments (see above images) come in festive red, white, and blue shades. But since they are pure colors, they should be used sparingly or mixed with other natural cosmetic bases such as moisturizers or primer.

Personal Hygiene

Put on Pure Pitz to keep fresh all summer long. Unlike mainstream deodorant brands, Pure Pitz is made with certified organic ingredients and aluminum-free baking soda.  The small but powerful natural deodorant effectively neutralizes odor with a subtle fragrance of pure essential oils.

Cooking

In case you plan to prepare your burgers and franks indoors on the 4th, consider using the Original Green Pan.  This non-stick, scratch-resistant aluminum skillet has an interior coated with Thermolon Endurance, which is completely free of chemicals.