Everything She Wants

We love to share inspirational stories about women who step out on faith and start their own businesses. And that’s exactly what Efe Cierkowski did when she left behind a lucrative corporate job and opened A Sip of Art , a charitable BYOB painting class studio in West Orange, New Jersey that's perfect for holiday parties. Born in Ghana, Cierkowski was inspired to become an entrepreneur after her second daughter was born prematurely and she needed more control over her schedule.  Efe Cierkowski, owner of A Sip of Art. “Maya was born prematurely at 27 weeks and spent two months in the [hospital] in New Jersey. I spent the majority of my maternity leave there and not long after she came home I had to return to work at my corporate job," Efe explained. "That was the moment I knew I wanted more control and flexibility of my time and life, but fear of replacing my income was the biggest thing holding me back.” The 37-year-old continued: “In 2015 it finally click...

Just in time for the holiday season, it's also cold and flu season. Yay! And if you're on the fence about the flu shot, there are tried-and-true drugstore remedies like  Chloraseptic® ,   the #1 sore throat relief, that we count on every year for relief from nagging symptoms.  Chloraseptic ®  lozenges and sprays provide fast-acting relief for sore throats and mouth pain. But the rest is literally up to you. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to stay healthy and germ free during the holidays from  Chloraseptic®  expert Maria M. Mantione, Associate Clinical Professor at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Services. Stay home:  The holidays mean parties and gatherings – and many people attend even when they are sick. Do your best to avoid others who are sick – and if you have a cold, stay home. Get some fresh air:  Ventilate as best you can if the weather allows it. During the winter...

It’s New Year’s Eve.   You want to have a good time. But you don’t want to regret having too much of a good time, in the morning.   Image courtesy of WebMD/Getty But forget the hangover cure myths like the hair of the dog (drinking more alcohol to cure your hangover) or drinking lots of coffee (you will become even more dehydrated and make your hangover worse).   From the online consumer research service, LabDoor.com , here are a few proven tips on how to treat your New Year’s hangover. And since a hangover is a bunch of symptoms, not just one, make sure to treat each symptom specifically, if: 1. You have a headache Say yes to Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Take it before drinking prevents your body from releasing pain-inducing chemicals. Its effectiveness peaks in 4 hours. A small cup of coffee can also make the ibuprofen even more effective.   But say no Acetaminophen (Tylenol). When your liver metabolizes alcohol and acetaminophen at the sa...

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. Speci...