Everything She Wants

If you need delish munchies for your next holiday party, ALDI  (the nation's leading low-price grocer) has got you more than covered.  Sparkling cider, check .  Festive tortilla chips, sweet potato chips and salsa, check . Holiday cookies, check . Stoneware baking dishes, mixing bowls, candles and decorations, check . The store's helpful website provides yummy  party appetizer recipes . And for your Christmas Day feast, ALDI also has a quality selection of poultry, dairy products and fresh produce. At ALDI you pay .25 for a shopping cart and get it back when you return the cart. You can bring your own shopping bags or purchase ALDI's sturdy, reusable bags for a small fee. Over Thanksgiving, I used a gift certificate from ALDI to shop at a market in my hometown of Baltimore City. Being the snack queen that I am, I was honestly impressed by all of the healthy and tasty options from ALDI-exclusive brands including SimplyNature ( awesome soy milk ), ...

In this season of consumerism, the true meaning of Christmas and the holidays is often overlooked.  So purchasing a charitable gift is a lovely way to honor this spirit of giving. And when you purchase a tasteful costume jewelry piece from Ann Taylor's Hope.Strength.Love Collection   and the Elephant Jewelry Collection , until the end of December 2014 and January 2015 fifty percent of each item will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, respectively. Pricing starts at $39.50. So here's your chance to pick up an eye-catching ring, necklace or bracelet with a bit of bling that will make both the giver and the recipient feel good. Elephant ring set, $39.50 Elephant Charm Bracelet, $49.50 Elephant Necklace, $49.50 Hope.Strength.Love bracelet set, $75

What do you give the girl who has everything?  How about a gift that's suited to her interests and personality type and a gift that you'll be proud to give. From the health and fitness enthusiast to the Zen mama, here are Everything She Wants ' feel-good holiday gift guide picks  For the health and fitness buff Women's MT Topo shoe for the trail, $100. Topo Athletic (from $100) footwear was created by and for athletes. Each of the comfy, lightweight shoes with a broad, zero drop platform for stability and multi-directional traction are designed with a tailored function in mind, whether it's walking or running on the trail, the road or at the gym. For the hip book worm Bill Duke's acclaimed  Dark Girls documentary encourages women of color with a darker hue to be proud of the skin they're in.  The companion coffee table book ($25) celebrates dark and lovely African-American women such as actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, celebrity hair sty...

Me in my ugly-cute Christmas sweater. Thanks to all the swappers who came out to make  Everything She Wants' Secret Santa Swap  at ClosetDash Shop  -- the first and only place to swap or shop the designer fashions you love -- a sold out success.  A special shout out goes to ClosetDash Shop owner Jennifer Lee, and to Megan, Adena, Loren and Jill S. for swapping with us. We swapped, shopped, sipped egg nog and festive cider spiked with sparkling wine and noshed on Christmas cookies and yummy Mediterranean Snacks. Guests received gift bags with beauty swag from SheaMoisture and mark cosmetics. And, of course, we exchanged Secret Santa gifts. The event was so much fun we're thinking of hosting another swap (in Brooklyn this time) in the new year! So stay tuned.   Photos courtesy of Everything She Wants

It's a Secret Santa Swap Party! Dec. 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at ClosetDash Shop (30 E. 20th Street, Suite 402, NY, NY) Bring in a wrapped present (value between $5-$10) to swap with other anonymously wrapped presents! Dress up in your ugliest Holiday Sweater and get a goodie bag with products from SheaMoisture and mark cosmetics ! Also bring your quality clothes, shoes or bags to swap with the  ClosetDash Shop  inventory! Your first 5 items are free to swap (usually $5)! Click the link to register -- only $5 to swap, sip and get beauty swag! Hosted by  Everything She Wants  &  ClosetDash Shop     Sip on Cocktails and Nosh on Holiday-Themed Snacks! ( Select snacks courtesy of Mediterranean Snacks )  What is the ClosetDash Shop? The ClosetDash Shop is a brand new concept shop dedicated to quality second-hand shopping and swapping! Come shop and swap quality, name brand women's clothes, shoes and ba...

This holiday season, shoppers can help save young lives by giving unique gifts from UNICEF. From beautiful greeting cards and home décor to jewelry and children’s toys, a portion of each card or gift sold benefits UNICEF’s work to protect and improve the lives of millions of children in more than 190 developing countries. To shop online or to learn more about UNICEF programs, visit www.shopcardsandgifts.unicefusa.org . Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins and UNICEF UNICEF boxed cards (from $10 to $20) are available for purchase online and at Pier 1 Imports and IKEA stores. Individual holiday cards (ranging in price from $2.50 to $5.99) are also available at Barnes and Noble and select Hallmark Gold Crown stores and retailers nationwide. For all UNICEF cards purchased in Pier 1 Imports and IKEA, the retailers will donate 100 percent of the purchase price of each holiday card pack. IKEA will also donate an additional $1 per pack sold. UNICEF Inspired Gifts offer a ...

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities and supporting them is a great way to help fuel the local economy. According to research, eighty-nine percent of consumers said they believe that small businesses contribute positively to their local communities. So remember to Shop Small® on Small Business Saturday today on November 24th. As an incentive, American Express cardholders get a one-time $25 statement credit when they use their enrolled card to spend $25 or more in a single, in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location.  To enroll your Amex card and for more information about participating small business locations, go to www.shopsmall.com . 

If you're scrambling for a last minute Christmas gift or getting a jump on finding a glam outfit for New Year's Eve, check out ModaListas at  the Limelight Shops (656 6th Avenue at 20th Street), a three-story collection of independent shops and eateries. Monica Phromsavanh, Creative Director of ModaListas. Recently, the shopping emporium was remodeled and looks like a hip department store reminiscent of Barney's.  And ModaListas (in Spanish it means fashion list), a shop that started with less than 100 square feet has expanded to take over most of the first floor. "We were the strongest tenant," co-owner Monica Phromsavanh says of ModaListas. "With this economy, the recipe for success is to follow what the audience and public wants. Obviously we want to [cater] to high-fashion and higher end lines. But people are looking for fashion at lower prices, and we have a lot of options for under $100." What the women who shop at ModaListas want ...

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 th...

Many thanks to everyone who read my blog this year and helped it grow.  I look forward to entertaining (hopefully) and informing you more in 2011.  Until then, I hope you get everything you want for Christmas!

Check out my first televised segment, for Brooklyn Independent Television (now Brooklyn Independent Media/ BRIC ), on crafty, creative and cheap holiday shopping finds in Brooklyn.  Hmm , since Oprah is taking a bow, maybe there's room for me on the tele : )

Although this blog is dedicated to everything stylish, thrifty, and eco-friendly women want in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, occasionally I like to share gift ideas for the men in our lives. So, whether they're hipsters, techies, or metro let's here it for the boys... at least for one post . Friend or Foe John Coltrane tee, $45 Friend or Foe 's licensed Blue Note cover art tees are the perfect gift for the music loving man on your Christmas list.  Feed your soul with one (or several) of these ultra luxe cotton t-shirts featuring legendary jazz and blues artists John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, John Lee Hooker, and Frank Sinatra. Whether they know it or not, men need a daily skin care regimen too.  Bullocks for Men products from the exclusive Soho House's Cowshed Spa are a good place to start.  The paraben-free Pocket Cow Bullocks sampler is a smart travel set that contains 20 ml tubes of body wash, facial scrub, shaving cream, and s...

It's Cyber Monday.  So let your fingers do the clicking. And in the spirit of Small Business Saturday, you can still support small online businesses. Vintage Shaun '80s ethnic necklace, $30.80. Vintage Shaun '60s cross body snakesskin clutch, $50.80. My friend, Shaunya Hartley, has a fab vintage shop on Etsy called  Vintage Shaun  and through Wednesday she's offering 15 % off!  Just add the coupon code SHAUN at checkout. Tracy's Pop & Shop Too retro top, $22. Tracy's Pop & Shop Too knit maxi dress, $40. While you're on Etsy, check out my vintage shop, Tracy's Pop & Shop Too .  I've added some new pieces that will spice up your retro holiday wardrobe.  Since I'm feeling festive, I'll include a gift with every purchase.

Take a break from the mall and mainstream stores, and show local and small businesses some love. During the first ever Small Business Saturday , American Express cardholders who signed up will get a $25 credit on their billing statement when they spend $25 or more at a small business today. Even if you don't have an AMEX card, many local businesses are still offering deals and discounts.  Here are five Small Business Saturday incentives I found: F.N.U.E. founder Halley Barney. F.N.U.E. (From Now Until Eternity) by Halley Barney is a romantic, whimsical jewelry line fashioned from sterling silver, 14-karat gold, 18-karat vermeil, and precious gemstones.  Get a piece of her lovely collection, like the Cloud No. 3 bracelet ($195), for $20 off with the code "LOVE." Andrew Clark's Wishbone earrings, $15. Katrin Reifeiss Spiderweb scarf, $47.50. AC AGATES designer Andrew Clark is known for unusual handcrafted jewelry.  I discovered the Brooklyn craft...

Every Black Friday, my best friend Cindy rises early with her brood and heads to Best Buy, Sears, and other major chains for door busting deals on electronics and housewares.  I'm always tempted to join her on her 5 a.m. budget shopping jaunt... then I roll over in my PJs. Photo from Black Friday 411.com Eventually I make it to Target or the mall around nine or ten in the morning and find that when it comes to clothes and accessories, there are still plenty of sales.  And to be honest, I already did some bargain hunting this week ($57 boots from Banana Republic and $7.99 Tucker for Target blouse).   But I'm sure I'll be lured to shop some more on Black Friday (not to mention the first ever Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday incentives).   Here are a few deals I found in my inbox: I'm dreaming of a Norma Kamali sleeping bag coat for Christmas. Today (Wed, Nov. 24) through Black Friday at the  Norma Kamali  store (11 W. 56th Street...