Everything She Wants

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. I t's an opportunity to appreciate and bask in sunlight and to nurture your inner glow.   Yoga is a great way to tune inward and tune out the internal and external chatter. To help you focus,  Carolan Hoffman, yoga instructor and f ounder of  Hot Spot Dupont  in  Washington, D.C., offers five  yoga poses you can do throughout the summer, to stay uplifted and inspired. 1.  Triangle Pose  - Grounding yet energizing. Stimulates and invigorates the spine.  How : Stand with legs open and arms stretched out. Wrists in line with ankles. Bend knee and lower hips. Place elbow at the inside of knee and both arms stretched apart.  Heart is open, torso stays lifted. Breath calmly through the nose. Hold the pose for 20 seconds. Repeat on left side. 2.  Chair Pose  - Exhilarating and stabilizing. Promotes a harmonious inner glow. How : Stand with feet hip width...

" My Adidas w alk through concert doors, an d roam all over coliseum floors ."  My adidas Outdoor sneakers*, on the other foot, have helped me traverse through the flora and fauna in El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico; hike to the steep (almost) summit of Mount Beacon in Beacon, New York; and most recently gave me the stamina to complete a two-hour climb up and down Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. Whew, that was a doozy! Me and my hubby, climbing Camelback Mountain in Phoenix./ESW Believe me, I couldn't have done any of these hikes without my trusty  adidas Terrex Tracerocker W , trail shoes for fast and light hiking.   The sneaker features include: Mesh and synthetic materials in upper for light weight and outdoor durability Comfortable textile lining Lightweight EVA midsole for long-term cushioning TRAXION™ outsole for optimal grip in all directions Superhigh-traction rubber outsole for optimal grip Professional rock climber Nin...

We usually think of honey as a sweetener.  But did you know that manuka honey is a natural anti-inflammatory that protects against oxidative damage, kills bacteria ten times more effectively than regular table honey, helps wounds heal and eases common digestion and stomach issues? Sourced from the Manuka super plant, it can also be used topically as a healing face mask. Here's a DIY mask recipe from the  Melora manuka honey brand: 1 teaspoon of manuka honey 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon of rose water Mix the ingredients. Wet your face lightly to make the application easier. Apply the mixture all over your face with clean fingers. Leave it on for a minimum of 20 minutes of more. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. If you have sensitive skin, skip the cinnamon. And when mixing Melora manuka honey with tea or water for ingestion, let the water cool to a warm temperature before adding.  Boiling or extremely hot water will kill off most o...

If you’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians, you know that Kim K. has had a rough week. You also know that Blac Chyna is expecting a baby girl with Kimmie's little brother, Rob.  But here’s a head-scratching detail. The blushing bride to be, who currently stars with her on-again-off-again boo in their spinoff reality show, says she wants to gain 100 pounds during her pregnancy.  “Imma tear it up, then Imma snap back,” she told US Weekly as she snacked on chips.  But why?  Pregnancy should not be used as an excuse to eat all the junk food you want. “Too much weight will increase the risk of pelvic floor disorders and postpartum and later in life,” a Los Angeles-based Ob-Gyn told Us . And binging on sugary and salty foods can also put you at serious risk for gestational diabetes.  Besides, according to the National Institutes of Health, a woman of average weight should gain only 25 to 35 pounds during her pregnancy. ...

Chips. Cookies. Crackers. They're hard to resist. But we all know that everything that tastes good isn't always good for us. Thankfully, these days it's pretty easy to replace "junk food" with healthy, wholesome and yummy snacks.  For example, since the beginning of the summer I eliminated most dairy and white sugar products from my diet. Adieu, Maison Kayser. Instead, my new regimen includes lots of water, berries, Greek yogurt, raw almonds, salmon, salads, avocados, pickles and hummus. And I dropped nearly 12 pounds in three months. But I'm not totally munchie-free. And when it's time for a "treat" I opt for healthier snacks. Here are a few of my faves, courtesy of the Editor's Showcase Snack Attack and the Fancy Food Show: Garden of Eatin' Blue Chips : It's hard to eat just one of these delicious, natural and organic blue tortilla chips. Great with guacamole, salsa or straight out of the bag. Brownie Brittle : Only 120 ca...

Whenever I travel, Kimpton Hotels are always my first choice.  They  are centrally located, with art-and-fashion forward decor and stellar customer service.  And with a complimentary wine happy hour every day, what's not to love?  Mason & Rook rooftop pool./Kimpton Recently, on a girlfriend getaway to Washington, DC, I stayed at the new Kimpton Mason & Rook in Logan Circle near the hot U Street corridor full of trendy shops, bars, restaurants and music venues.   The boutique hotel even has a Shinola Watch Butler program, where guests can borrow a stylish watch during their stay.  So If you are planning a visit to the nation's capital this summer here's a package you don't want to miss. Sip, Sun & Soothe” Package   at Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel Live the high life and enjoy the newly opened rooftop pool at Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel. Sit poolside with inventive cocktails in hand from the team at Rad...

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...

If you're like us, Thanksgiving is the holiday where you load up on carbs like gooey mac and cheese, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, and plenty of pumpkin and pecan pie.  You'll notice we left out the requisite turkey and ham, and pig tails are sauerkraut which is an oddly popular side dish in our family.  Since we don't eat poultry, pork or red meat, unless we bring grilled salmon and a salad with us, we're left with the calorie-filled carbs.  A meatless Thanksgiving? Image by Ohmyveggies But maybe there's a way to get your family and ours on board with a healthier and happier Thanksgiving holiday. Here are  a few tips f rom C ertified Holistic Health Practitioner and Lifestyle Coach Vanessa Chamberlin: Have fun planning a menu.  Don’t limit yourself by thinking only of traditional foods. If you’re cooking for a larger group and they’re expecting their holiday favorites, there are ways you can emulate those foods with a healthier recipe, l...

It's that time again.  During the annual Spa Week , October 12-18, 2015, you can treat yourself to  facials, massages and alternative health treatments for just $50!  That's right, just $50. But appointments fill up quickly, so book yours today. Essential Therapy L&Y Spa is participating in Spa Week, October 12-18, 2015. Everything She Wants was invited to preview a treatment at Essential Therapy L&Y Spa   (122 E. 25th Street, 212-777-2325) in New York City, one of many participating spas. For Spa Week, Essential Therapy offers: a 50 minute Custom Organic Facial with Pumpkin Masque and Extractions; Eyelash Extensions from Synthetic Mink; and a 50 minute Pumpkin Spice Massage with choice of deep tissue or Swedish technique. I recently pulled a muscle in my neck and my upper back, and I needed a massage, big time. So the timing was perfect. Essential Therapy is conveniently located near Gramercy Park and the Flatiron Distri...

Now that school is back in session, make sure your kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and leave home with a fresh and healthy lunch.  So skip the sugary and sodium-filled snacks and pack a lunch full of wholesome goodies from ALDI.   ALDI offers so many choices and low, low prices./ESW If you haven't heard of ALDI ,  its a chain of affordable, quality supermarkets owned by the same parent company as Trader Joe's. And guess what? It's just as good, if not better, with many items a fraction of the TJ's price.  W e shop at ALDI when we visit family in Baltimore, and t he  SimplyNature Organic Soy Milk ($2.19) is our favorite. So check out at an ALDI near you . To help you revamp your shopping list and plan healthy, kid-friendly meals and school lunches, here are a few dietician-approved product picks from the ALDI Advisory Council.   Tara Gidus, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN :   “My picks are all about products that prov...

On Superbowl Sunday, most of us will load up on chips and dip, nachos, pizza and other calorie-filled munchies. But you can offset some of the toxins you accumulate from poor dietary habits and the environment with o il pulling--a n ancient Ayurvedic practice based on the idea that self healing can be achieved when the three mind-body types known as  doshas ( Vatta, Pitta and Kapha)  are balanced.  Doshas  are  derived from the five major elements of air, water, fire, earth and space, and they  express unique physical, emotional and mental characteristics.  D ating back more than 5,000 years, the practice of oil pulling removes toxins which themselves are oil soluble. Oil pulling is most effective when a pure and dosha-balanced oil is gently swished in the mouth for a required period of time. We received a sample of GuruNanda pulling oil (oral oil detox)  ($14.99), which pulls toxins and harmful  bacteria  via the salivary glan...

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...

The holidays may be wrapping up, but you still have time to enjoy some sweet and savory snacks.  And  barkTHINS , a delicious line of snacking chocolate, is one of our   fave new treats. They're chocked full of real, wholesome ingredients and believe us, they're delish. For the holiday season, the brand unveiled its  Limited Edition  Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel , which b lends indulgent slivers of dark chocol ate with seasonal peppermint and salty pretzel. Designed in a breakable format, barkTHINS allows snackers the permission to indulge guilt-free. barkTHINS are also   Non-GMO Project Verified, Fair Trade Ingredient™ Certified and contain no artificial colors or flavors . Available at Target, Amazon, Costco and Whole Foods Market, other creative varieties include Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed , Dark Chocolate Blueberry Quinoa with Agave and Dark Chocolate Almond with Sea Salt .   So what are you waiting for?  Pick up a b...

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 ), ...

Who doesn't like Sara Lee? And who doesn't like stuffing on Thanksgiving? To help you with your Turkey (or Tofurky) Day spread, here's a savory stuffing recipe from the fine folks at Food Network Magazine for which you can easily use heart healthy  Sara Lee Delightful white, wheat, healthy multi-grain or oatmeal bread. Waistline watchers will be happy with this news--each variety is full of fiber with no trans fat and just 45 calories per slice. Directions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Melt 1 stick butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cups each diced onions and celery, 2 chopped apples and 1 tablespoon each minced sage and thyme; season with salt and pepper and cook 5 minutes. Add 3 cups chicken broth (or vegetarian no-chicken broth) and bring to a simmer. Whisk 2 eggs with 1/4 cup chopped parsley in a large bowl; add 16 cups cubed stale bread, then pour in the vegetable-broth mixture and toss. Transfer to a butte...

November is National Candle Month, and as the weather gets chillier we love to fill our home with the warm scent of fragrant candles.  Here are a few of Everything She Wants ' favorites  for the fall and holiday season. Agraria ’s signature fragrance, Bitter Orange. 1.  Agraria ’s signature fragrance, Bitter Orange, is the perfect home fragrance for the winter months. A complex and subtle blend of Clove, the zest of Bitter Orange and a touch of Cypress, the Bitter Orange fragrance creates a warm and uplifting background for the holiday season. The candle is available in the larger 7 oz. Woven Crystal Candle and the smaller 3.4 oz. Crystal Cane Candle. 2. Palais des Thes tea-scented candles come in a variety of inviting flowery, fruity and classic scents including Cherry Blossom and Earl Grey. 3. Created by veteran entertainment publicist and world traveler, Yvette Davis Gayle, The Sitota Collection are an exclusive collection of exotic, soy-based c...

With age comes wisdom and hopefully a shift from the turmoil of your teens and insecurity in your 20s to more self-confidence in your 30s, 40s and beyond.  But feeling more comfortable in your skin emotionally, doesn't necessarily mean that your skin isn't literally going through changes physically.   According to WebMD , after age 30 women lose one percent of our collagen per year. And as women approach or enter menopause (usually somewhere between 40 and 58), estrogen decreases and so does the body's ability to produce oil and retain moisture, and dry skin becomes more common.  So what's a girl to do?   Skin Inc .'s customized skincare solutions help women create their own fuss-free skincare regimens to target your skin's problem areas, including hormonal skin. The curated range of paraben-free products includes nine serums, two cleansers/exfoliator, one multi-tasking mask and one moisturizer. Everything She Wants experienced the prod...

Me with my new Samsung S3 flip case./Everything She Wants A few months ago, I finally upgraded my outdated, clunky smart phone to the streamlined Samsung Galaxy S3.  While it's a couple models behind the latest Samsung Galaxy phone, I love it . And the Genuine Samsung Galaxy S3 flip cover I was gifted from Mobile Fun has made my phone even better. I selected the official Samsung case in a fashionable dark pink color.  Besides being lovely to look at, it fits and protects my phone without looking bulky or detracting from the phone's super slim profile. Admittedly, I'm not a tech gal.  So in a "blonde" moment, I originally tried to fit my phone into the case without removing the back cover. But my gadget-savvy hubby (his review of the I-Phone 5 case he picked from Mobile Fun is coming soon), quickly showed me how to easily snap the phone into the cover. The sturdy yet feminine case is great to travel with ( see the photo of me with the case on a recent t...