Everything She Wants

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Lupita Nyong'o. How do we love thee?  Let us count the ways. 1. You are showing Hollywood that beauty comes in all hues and hair textures. We already knew.  But the award-winning  12 Years a Slave actress is a red carpet testament that black is beautiful, baby.  2. Your personal style is amazing. Buzzfeed counts down the " 22 Times Lupita Nyong'o Proved She's a Flawless Fashion Genius ." Brilliant. 3. Your natural hair rocks! So if you also wear your hair short and au natural, here are a few tips from Everything She Wants ' favorite natural haircare and bath and body line, SheaMoisture , that will help you re-create Lupita's regal Golden Globes look: This textured asymmetrical style can be achieved by first misting hair with  SheaMoisture Hold and Shine Moisture Mist  to   refresh your texture while reducing frizz. Then generously appl y SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie  to damp hair to enhance and hold the hai

It's cold outside.  So instead of splurging on some overpriced prix fixe dinner or lame singles event, this Valentine's Day stay home and get cozy with a romanic movie and a hot, healthy cup of tea .  Our pick?    Palais des Thes. Everything She Wants is a fan of the Parisian brand, and the limited edition Les Amants Miniatures gift set ($27) is its latest declaration of tea love. Four mini tins come in a bright red box ($27). Three of the tins contain variations of the seductive Lovers' Tea, a spicy blend of apple, cinnamon, almond and vanilla, warmed with a hint of ginger, combined with green tea, black tea and caffeine-free rooibos teas. And the fourth tin contains red sugar hearts to make tea time a 'lil sweeter, whether you're sipping it with your honey or solo (don't worry, Ryan Gosling, via The Notebook , will be there for you).

For Valentine's Day, online handbag brand Emilie M. is giving away one of its super stylish handbags plus an Essentials Box to one lucky Everything She Wants reader! The winner of the "Love My Bag" Emilie M. Valentine's Day giveaway will get to choose from an assortment of trendy hobo bags, messenger bags, shoulder bags and totes. And the Essentials Box includes a matching set of 5 beautiful accessories: Wallet with Detachable Shoulder Strap ; Cosmetic Case ; Scarf ; Umbrella with Pouch ; and Key Ring . Here's how to enter to win: 1. Follow me on Twitter @TracyEHopkins 2. "Like" Emilie M. on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EmilieMStyle) 3. Comment on this post with your first name and tell me why you'd like to win an Emilie M. handbag and Essentials Box for yourself or to give as a Valentine's Day gift. The giveaway offer ends midnight, Monday, February 17, 2014. One entry per email address, per household. Good luck!

Men are often overwhelmed when it comes to picking the perfect Valentine's Day gift.  What they don't seem to realize is that most women really do adore simple, thoughtful gifts like a stuffed teddy bear, flowers and best of all, a sentimental piece of jewelry. If you notice, we left out the requisite box of chocolates.  But cupcakes are always welcome. To give your guy some guidance, here are a few last minute Valentine's Day picks. Get her a candle from the Sitota Collection  ($40 and up), a luxurious fragrant candle line inspired by the travels of founder, Yvette Davis Gayle.  The collection brings the exotic scents of Havana, Aigyptos, Blue Nile and Coco Noir to your home. Build your own gold or silver locket with an inscription and photograph on  Pictures On Gold . In additional to a lovely bouquet, give her a little token of your affection with these KITSCH Crazy In Love Hair Ties ($12).

In September 2013 supermodels Iman and Naomi Campbell and former model agent Bethann Hardison wrote to the major fashion councils of New York, London, Milan and Paris about the lack of racial diversity in the fashion industry and specifically on Fashion Week runways. "The absence of people of color on the runways and photography reinforces to our young girls that they're not people enough, that they're not acceptable enough," Iman told CNN . "The diversity that we live in, the world that we live in, is not what is shown on the runway. That to me  is the concern. It's bigger issue at large than just about runway and models." A model walks the runway at the Georgine fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014 Photo by Arun Nevader/Getty Images Amen to that, Iman.   A shamefully self-absorbed essay recently published in XOJane was a glaring example of how black women in particular are often judged and marginalized in our society.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week . Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night will keep fashion insiders and spectators away from this biannual fashion fest in New York City. Here's a sampling of the literally red hot runway looks from Day 1 (February 6) of the Fall/Winter 2014 shows, which run through February 13th. A model in Marissa Webb. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz  A model in Tadashi Shoji. P h oto by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz A model in Mark and Estel. Photo by  Arun Nevader/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Champion skier Lindsey Vonn at The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection show wearing Cynthia Rowley.  Photo  by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes at The Heart Truth Red Dress  Collection show wearing Dolce and Gabbana. Photo  by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

Gabrielle Douglas made us proud in the 2012 London Olympics. Now the gold medalist's triumphant story has been turned into a book, Grace, Gold & Glory , and a Lifetime biopic that airs February 1. The Gabby Douglas Story  details Gabby’s rise against overwhelming odds to become the first African American ever to be named Individual All-Around Champion in Artistic Gymnastics at an Olympic Games.  A refreshingly Christian-toned script and endearing performances by Sydney Mikayla ( Whitney ), who portrays Douglas during her childhood, and Imani Hakim ( Love Reign Over Me ), who portrays her teenage and young adult years, make this a must-see TV event for families and aspiring athletes of all ages. The real-life Gabby Douglas appears in the film, which also stars Peabody Award-winning actress Regina King ( Southland, Ray ) and Golden Globe® and Emmy®-winner S. Epatha Merkerson ( Law & Order ). A prodigy from a very young age, Gabby originally made her mark on the wo