Everything She Wants

Besides being a great place to shop for deeply discounted brand name clothing and accessories, Goodwill stores are stocked with housewares and knick-knacks that can spruce up any college dorm or apartment. Many of the New York City stores have an assortment of picture frames, decorative pillows, rugs and wall art. And skilled bargain hunters will notice new housewares items donated from Target. On a recent visit to the Goodwill in downtown Brooklyn on Livingston Street,  Everything She Wants  picked up four brand new rectangular dinner plates from Ikea for just $1.99 each.  We also purchased an adorable cat trivet at the Chelsea store. Below is a sneak peek at the treasures we found. We encourage you to visit a Goodwill store near you for home decorating inspiration. And check out the  A Good Look by GoodwilNyNj  blog ( Everything She Wants is featured!) for more budget style tips. Cute cat trivet, $.99 (from the Chelsea store)...

Everything She Wants is all about shopping for a good cause.  For Mother's Day, UNICEF has some great gift ideas for Mom that assist the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's mission of reducing the number of daily, preventable deaths of children under age five from 19,000 deaths to zero.  Here are a few of the lovely gifts ($5-$50) available at UNICEF online .   Peacock Bangle  (18.00) –  A symbol of grace, joy and beauty, India’s national bird stars in this exquisitely crafted, exclusive design.   Cast Iron Lanterns in  Yellow  ($45.00),  Orange  ($25.00) and  Blue  ($40.00) –  These beautiful hand-forged and durable cast iron lanterns in vibrant colors, made in India, will surely light up the season. For use with flameless candle (available for $10.00).      Mother and Child Sculpture  ($50.00) –  In Léogâne, Haiti, carver Jean Claude Dumas and his team of artists hand carve these scul...

I've flipped through a Land's End catalogue and browsed the brand's swim wear and luggage online, but I'd never taken an up-close-and-personal look at the brand (sold in Sears ).  So I was pleasantly surprised by Land's End's recent spring/summer 2011 preview in New York City, which showcased classic American style with a few twists. For women, the collection offers plenty of swimsuits in a variety of colors, and forgiving, figure-flattering options.  From my personal fave -- the tankini -- to bikinis, one-piece suits, and swim dresses, Land's End has a bevy of fun styles with all-over and tummy-control. Additionally, the spring/summer line includes versatile pieces like high-waisted sailor pants, striped tunics and sweaters, wearable wedge sandals, and an army green jacket (second photo) I've got on my shopping wish list.  Basic tees in fitted, shaped, and relaxed silhouettes are also a staple. Land's End also has clothing for men and k...