Everything She Wants

Champagne and chocolates are nice. But to help you think outside the heart-shaped box this Valentine's Day, here are a few unique sweet treats for you or your Valentine. Palais des Thés Sweet tea sampler set ( $29) features five tubes of yummy whole-leaf tea including green, black, and rooibos   varieties with indulgent flavors such as chocolate and vanilla. Whether you're going on a romantic date or planning to paint the town red with your girlfriends, I Smell Great   (from $28) eau de parfum and scented water mist, soft body whip, reactive lush lip and hair fragrance will do exactly what the name suggests. You'll smell great thanks to playful scents like Candy Crush, Beach Babe, Wild Honey and Angel Cake. Nubian Heritage's  Patchouli & Buriti Collection   ($4.49-$12.99) includes bar soap, infused body butter and bath, body & massage oil.  The scent is s weet, spicy and uplifting to the senses.   Patch...

50 Shades of Grey stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. The countdown has begun for the cinematic juggernaut, 50 Shades of Grey , which debuts in theaters just in time for Valentine's Day on February 13th.  In the meantime, you can get your steamy story and tawdry tale fix at EverAfter , the first app exclusively dedicated to romance ebooks. The free app is compatible with Apple and Android devices and is available for download at Apple's app store and the Google Play app store.  EverAfter features more than 100,000 titles for purchase from leading romance publishers like Harlequin, Avon, Kensington, Diversion and Samhain, and indie publishers. It also offers flash sales and thousands of free ebooks. Readers will find bestselling authors like Grey 's E.L. James, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Robin Carr, Sylvia Day and Nalina Singh, as well as up-and-coming authors, in EverAfter's "Books We Love" category. So get ready for the weekend, and downlo...

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).

Whether you're planning a romantic date night or to paint the town red with your single ladies, wardrobe stylist Gen Bell shared a few style tips with Everything She Wants that will help you put your best stiletto-ed foot forward. Wardrobe stylist, Gen Bell The biggest V-Day fashion faus paux ? "Everyone rocks red on Valentine's Day. Avoid this cliche color," advises the stylist who has worked on a production set with J-Lo. "  Instead, a little black dress paired with red accents goes a long way." A full floral skirt paired with a form fitting top is also a winning combination. And the Chicago native says red is A-okay for lingerie. Bell adds it's important to dress appropriately for your V-Day activity. A casual date like bowling calls for "your best fitting jeans with a sexy top." For a romantic date, heels are a must; they  elongate your legs and make your silhouette sexy.  Lastly, she says, "don’t reveal  too  much beca...

Jewelry is usually at the top of every girl's Valentine's Day wish list.  But let's think inside the box for a minute.  With all the fine and costume baubles, charms, statement pieces, studs, hoops and chandelier earrings we've accumulated, we need a pretty place to store them.  So a jewelry box ( or few )-- like the decorative-yet-practical Jewellery Boxes from H. Samuel -- is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. Everything She Wants is partial to stackable jewelry trays  (photo below) that fit neatly inside a dresser drawer.  This is a great way to organize your jewelry by type (bracelets in one tray and earrings and necklaces in their own trays). And for a dresser top, nothing beats your Mom's classic,  multi-section jewelry box  (top photo) that will store all your jewelry stash with ease. If you have a bigger bedroom or closet space, you can fit most of your collection in a stand-alone  jewelry armoire. ...

Since our fellas usually need a few helpful hints when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts (I more than hinted to my hubby that I'd like a little bling), here are Everything She Wants' pretty picks: She'll always have change -- but not a change of heart -- when she carries this funky, retro-looking "Love" coin purse ($20) by Lisa Perry . Express your love with an Amour signet ring ($36) by lia sophia in silver or gold. Set a romantic mood with this Diptyque limited edition Rosa Mundi (Rose of the World) candle ($65). Bring sexy back with this lovely Josie by Natori Sleepwear Women's Lolita Flower Chemise ($68).

During Fashion Week, I've noticed a lot of African-American women wearing red lipstick.  Beauty blogger extraordinaire Felicia Walker Benson of This That Beauty , for example, knows how to rock a fierce red lip. Stylist Shaunya Hartley. Beauty blogger Felicia Walker Benson. But I never thought red was a shade that would work for my cocoa complexion.  I usually prefer neutral and nude shades of gloss.  Chatting with Felicia at a fab  Shiseido  press luncheon and stylist Shaunya Hartley of Vintage Shaun  in the Tents, however, has inspired me to become a lady in red. But I need your help. Which brand's shade of red do you like best?   Red-lipped models outside Lincoln Center. A fashionista flaunts her red lipstick.

Whether we like to admit it or not, every woman loves to receive flowers, chocolates, and gifts on Valentine's Day. And yes, we do have a soft spot for cheesy heart pendants.  Take the Jane Seymour "Open Hearts" necklace from Kay Jewelers for instance.  While the design is questionable and my husband and I laughed out loud at funny man Will Arnett's spoof on the necklace, I can't say I'd be unhappy to unwrap a similar heart shaped trinket.  Of course, I'd be more thrilled with a token of affection encased in  a little blue box . For years I watched my father shower my mother with overpriced fine jewelry she didn't need on Valentine's Day, and at the time I thought it was wasteful spending.  Now that I'm a grown-up, however, I kind of like the tradition of receiving a new trinket each year. Tiffany Notes letter pendant. I still don't believe in overspending on V-Day gifts ( or on anything for that matter ).  So when it comes to roma...