CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE

11 Quick Tips to Tackle Any Project

November 26, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (2)

KS Consulting business consultant Kristin Swanson’s experience in Operations, Human Resources, Project Management and Management Coaching has uniquely positioned her to help you get to the root of what is stopping you from reaching your business goals. She has developed an expertise for synthesizing business improvement ideas into quick and simple action plans that produce results. She has trained and coached managers of all levels in employee performance improvement and development, streamlining processes and aligning employee strengths with a company’s vision.

Kristin took time out of her busy schedule to share with us her advice on finishing any project you start.

1. Jot down your ideal project outcome and objectives.

2. Identify the small steps needed to achieve the objectives. Don’t write “create website” on your to-do list. This is too broad and makes it unlikely that you’ll ever begin your website. Be more specific. List items like “call graphic designer” and “outline website sections.” Make sure they are do-able, bite size chunks (think one-hour tasks) that you’ll start right away.

3. Formulate a project team to include vendors and/or staff to help you. Even if it is one other person (can be a friend) to hold you accountable.

4. Outsource and delegate as many of the tasks as you can. This is where I always get push back. Two common claims and my answers:

­”I need to be the one to do each task.” This is simply not true. It does take practice to begin to let go. Start now. It is essential to growth and getting more done. Ask yourself, “which portion of the task does not HAVE to be done by ME?” There is definitely something. You can always review the work for approval. The more you delegate the easier it gets.

­”I don’t have anyone to delegate to.” Be creative here. Ask yourself, “who would be willing to help with this?” Ideas: a vendor, temporary staff, Virtual Assistant, a friend, colleague, or coworker. If you have an assistant and you are saying this, there is something that needs to be addressed. The sooner you have the conversation you are avoiding, the better.

5. Delegate smartly. Let your team know what’s in it for them. Use their strengths when assigning them tasks. Provide them with expectations for each task. Check back in with them often (set a reminder for yourself if you need to). These can be quick check-ins–answer their questions and give redirection as needed. Let them do it their way as much as possible.

6. Many of the tasks simply need to get started. Some of the work will require waiting on others to get back to you, so start the delegation, make the initial phone calls and do the quick research. Momentum is crucial so get the ball rolling.

7. Examine resistance. If you (or your team) keep pushing a ‘to-do’ off the list, ask yourself why? Talk it through with someone. Don’t keep ignoring it, address it! Even if the answer is to abandon the project for good reason, look at why and make a conscious choice versus continuing to procrastinate.

8. Have reoccurring check-in meetings with your project team until the project is completed. Share progress and troubleshoot obstacles. Never under estimate the power of accountability. The simple fact that this meeting is on the calendar will drive folks to get their tasks done.

9. Be flexible. You will need to make changes and re-prioritize along the way, go with it.

10. Anticipate and plan your next step. After each task is finished, ask yourself “what needs to be done next?” Schedule that next action on your calendar so the project does not stall.

11. Recognize the good work of your team and celebrate your success. People will want to work for you and be on your team again.

Want more from Kristin? She is our featured speaker at January’s Coffee Chat. Learn more and register here.

Black Friday Specials in Seattle/Bellevue/Snohomish

November 26, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (0)

There’s nothing we love more than a good sale, but getting up at 5am on Black Friday to head to the mall is not our thing! Instead, we love walking around Seattle’s neighborhoods, taking in the crisp fall air, burning off the calories from Thanksgiving dinner, and scouting out the best deals from independent boutiques. To make your sale search easier, we’ve compiled this anti-department-store shopping guide of specials from some of our favorite locally-owned stores for Black Friday.

4 Your Eyes Only Optical
1815 N 45th St, Wallingford Center, Seattle – 206.547.7430‎
15% off a complete pair of eyeglasses when you mention the CRAVEcrush blog.
When: Friday 11/28

BabyLegs
Selected designs will be on sale for $8 on the BabyLegs website.
When: Begins Friday 11/28

Christi’s on Main
10149 Main St, Bellevue – 425.462.7222
30% – 70% off selected items from designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Theory, Milly, Trina Turk, Nanette Lepore and more, plus 30% off all denim.
When: Friday 11/28

Clementine
4447 California Ave SW, Seattl‎e – 206.935.9400
“The Daily Sale” – One item for sale at a crazy-good price for one day only (think over 50% off)! Sale items include shoes AND accessories, and will be posted daily on Clementine’s blog.
When: Friday 11/28 – Wednesday 12/24

Coastal Surf Boutique and Coastal Collection
2532 Alki Avenue SW, Seattle – 206.933.5605
2627 NE Village Lane, University Village, Seattle, 260.525.5675
CRAVEcrush readers get 20% off everything-even sale items.
When: Friday 11/28 – Sunday 11/30

Dreamclinic
902 NE 65th St, Seattle – 206.267.0863
10% off all gift certificate purchases. Weekday visitors who get massages between 9am – 3pm receive a complimentary 30-minute upgrade on their next visit.
When: Now through Wednesday 12/31

Faded Elegance
1116 First St, Snohomish – PHONE
20% off everything in the store. Enjoy festive holiday refreshments and enter to win an indulgent gift basket. Mention CRAVEcrush and receive a fabulous gift with purchase of $25.00 or more.
When: Friday 11/28 – Monday 12/1

Flora and Henri
Sale section items will be marked 30-50% down and Clearance section items marked 60%-70% down on floraandhenri.com.
When: Friday 11/28 – Sunday 11/30

Greener Lifestyles
10% off flooring and consigned art. 15% off upholstered furniture. 30% off all other items. 50% off Black Luxury bed linens.
When: Friday 11/28 – Saturday 11/29

Horseshoe
5344 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle – 206.547.9639
Prairie Underground trunk show with the entire collection of hoodies, plus an additional selection of their winter collection for the day of the party only. Purchase a Prairie Underground hoodie and receive one of their reusable shopping bags free (a $38 value). First come first served, limited supply of bags available.
When: Friday 11/28, 12pm-4pm

Inside Out
115 Ave A, Snohomish – 360.563.0767
The store will be open late (until 8pm) on Friday 11/28 for Snohomish “Home for the Holidays” events throughout the Historic District. Mention CRAVEcrush to receive a free Inside Out stocking-stuffer gift certificate with your purchase (limit 1).
When: Friday 11/28 – Sunday 11/30

Paper Delights
2205 N 45th St, Seattle – 206.547.1002
Enjoy treats to eat and a 10% discount at a holiday open house.
When: Friday 11/28 and Saturday 11/29, 10am-6pm

Posh on Main
10245 Main St, Bellevue – 425.454.2022
40% off Designer Shoes and Handbags from YSL, Lanvin, Chloe, Tory Burch, Valentino and more.
When: Friday, 11/28 – Friday, 12/5

Private Screening Vintage
3504 Fremont Pl N, Seattle‎ – 206.548.0751‎
20% off all merchandise plus bargain racks of selected vintage pieces for only $5 each.
When: Friday 11/28 – Wednesday 12/24

Retail Therapy
905 E Pike St, Seattle – 206.324.4092
Buy 3 items and get the 4th free.
When: Friday 11/28 – Sunday 11/30

So Much Fun, Sporty Chic
1815 N 45th St, Wallingford Center, Seattle – 206.632.2742
15% off everything in the store.
When: Friday 11/28

Trophy Cupcakes
1815 N 45th St, Wallingford Center, Seattle – 206.632.7020
The “Chocolate Candy Cane Cupcake” launches! The “Candied Yam with Toasted Marshmallow” and “Chocolate Graham Cracker with Toasted Marshmallow” (featured on Martha Stewart and the cover of Seattle Magazine for November) will also be on special.
When: Starting Friday 11/28

Portland and Chicago are Going Green For the Holidays!

November 25, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (0)

Our upcoming CRAVEparties in Portland and Chicago have a similar theme: “green” shopping! Portland’s “Holiday Shopping Party Goes Green” and Chicago’s “Get Glam and Green Gifting Shopping Event for Women” proves that fashion and pampering can be practical AND environmentally friendly.

CRAVE Chicago’s Holiday Shopping Party on Tuesday, December 9th at the Chicago Cultural Center [map] will feature shopping at more than 40 local boutiques and spas, Rain Organic Vodka cocktails, complimentary Vitamin Water, appetizers by Monogramme Events Catering, a complimentary photo booth and free eco-friendly Yelp tote bags for the first 300 guests! When you buy two tickets you save $10–perfect for a holiday shopping girlfriend get-together. Bring your mom, sister, daughter or your girlfriends. Or, network at the CRAVE Connection Café hosted by Step Up Women’s Network, shehive and Alpha Women. The ticket also includes a one-year subscription to Time Out Chicago magazine. So get your girls together, grab an organic cocktail and get that holiday shopping out of the way, the green way!

CRAVE Portland’s Holiday Shopping Party on Wednesday, December 3rd at LUXE Autohaus [map] is the biggest and best shopping event of the season for local fashionistas. Shop for sustainable, local fashion and specialty retail and get all of your holiday shopping done in one place, with over 50 local designers and boutiques offering special deals you can only find at CRAVE, including 60% off eco-fashion at Greenloop and 50% off at local indie designer Sameunderneath. Gypsy Chic will headline the live holiday fashion show series on the catwalk at 7pm. Holiday raffle featuring prizes by local designers benefits Go Red for Women. $15 advance tickets online include a fabulous re-usable shopping bag filled with designer goodies, “holiday hands” treatment, CRAVE pampering services (waxing, henna, massage) and TAZO tea, SakeOne sake-tini, Bailey’s holiday cocktail sampler or a glass of white or red wine from Thirst Wine Bar.

Keith Ferrazzi’s Top Tips for Generous Relationships

November 24, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (0)

We received this fantastic email tip from one of our favorite authors, Keith Ferrazzi, called “Tip 145 – Thanksgiving Special – NEA’s Top Tips for Generous Relationships.” We love how the tips (inspired by or lifted from his book, Never Eat Alone) focus on “relationships” in general, and can be applied to business or personal connections. The video that follows gives tips and pointers for how to throw a memorable dinner party.

1. Feed people: There’s no better way to be generous than by hosting a dinner party – and what do we have coming up but the ultimate dinner party? For many Thanksgiving is a family event, but inviting a friend or colleague who may be alone on the holiday is a wonderful way to be generous and strengthen a relationship.

2. Make introductions: I’m constantly introducing people from different parts of my life who might benefit from knowing each other. It’s a sort of ongoing puzzle, matching up the right people and the right opportunities. Never hoard your relationship equity.

3. Become a knowledge broker: Share information, by blog, by email, by Twitter, over lunch or however else. But in particular, focus on sharing information that helps people solve problems, however broadly defined. Suppress the urge to tell all the world about your favorite chicken salad sandwich (unless maybe you have a cooking blog) just because you can. With all the noise out there, occasionally silence is the truly generous choice.

4. Tell a story: Sharing your history is always a generous way to give something of yourself to a friend or colleague. Telling a real story about your past – with a beginning, middle, end, and maybe even a Kleenex moment – is even better. They’ll be happy for the glimpse of what makes you tick (and hey, it saves them a price of a movie ticket).

5. Mentor and get mentored: Perhaps the only thing you can do that’s more generous than serving as a caring, consistent mentor to someone is asking someone else to mentor you – and then working your hardest to make them proud.

Currently CRAVING: Holiday Fashion We Covet!

November 24, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (1)

Now is the time of year to vamp it up! We love getting dressed to the nines for winter parties, and are super excited about the fabulous embellishments adorning holiday attire this season like lace, sequins, and feathers. Unleash your sassy side with one of these sexy and affordable dresses, available from some of our favorite online retailers.

1. Express Strappy Tiered Lace Dress
Drape yourself in shimmer and lace. Metallic floral lace glitzes this strappy, tiered going-out dress. Heads will turn!

2. Banana Republic Lace Dress
Modern romantics will swoon over this dress’ classic lines and touches touch of intricate lace. Well-mannered enough for the office party.

3. Calvin Klein Tiered Satin Dress
Chic and flattering tiered satin number that accessories could easily help transition from a party with the ‘rents to a girls’ night out.

4. Nanette Lepore ‘Still Free’ Dress
Inspire envy in this ultra-forgiving satin dress.

5. Adrianna Papell Pleated Tier Dress
A pleated bodice and a beautifully layered straight skirt give this shimmery sleeveless dress texture and dimension.

6. BCBGirls “Ariel” Gold Pearl Washed Leather Pumps
The simple silhouette of these peep-toe heels will add a chic touch to any holiday dress and can be worn well after.

7. Sigerson Morrison Metallic Flats with Ankle Strap
Heels not your thing? Rule the dance floor in these gorgeous, festive flats.

8. Urban Outfitters Peacock Earrings
Add some flair with these bright and beautiful peacock feather earrings.

9. Cwmorthin Stone Necklace
Make a statement with angular fragments of faux slate and marble. This necklace offers an earthier alternative to dainty chains and charms.

10. Carlo Fellini Pleated Flap Clutch
Store your essentials in this pleated flap clutch. Includes two drop-in straps—one chain, one rope.

What’s your favorite holiday attire trend?

The Style Spy Holiday Shopathon in Vancouver BC

November 21, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (1)

A pink carpet, dope DJ, VIP swag bags, bubbly and sweets will make this the event of the season. Walk down the pink carpet (to the throb of Britney’s ‘Womanizer’ of course) and get photographed by the paparazzi before being greeted by a personal shopper who will help you pick the latest to-die-for frock. Warning: do not leave your credit card at home!
Click here for more info

Review of November’s Coffee Chat

November 21, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (0)

Our Coffee Chat on Sunday November 16th with social networking strategy expert, Erin Anderson, was a great success! Thank you to Erin for speaking, and to our guests for coming.

My takeaways from the Coffee Chat:
• Use the “answers” section on LinkedIn
• Put your LinkedIn and Biznik links on Facebook
• Export my whole address book to LinkedIn and Facebook to invite my friends
• Use Delicious to post your favorite links
• Put “Find us on Facebook” on your blog
• Recommended book: Groundswell by Charlene Li

Here are some highlights and reviews from attendees of the event:

From Clemence Lafrades of Puget Sound Bootcamp:
• Just as valuable as face-to-face social networking, is the new age of online social networking.
• I gained a deeper understanding of the value and the “how to” of LinkedIn and Facebook
• Using online social networking will add to my marketing efforts for minimal costs.
• Set aside time to build relationships.
• Allow people to get to know who I am outside of a work environment. This helps consumers feel safe and secure about placing their spending dollars with me, someone they feel familiar with.
• Have a quarterly strategy plan for blog topics and plan to spend an hour a day using online tools

From Annemarie Beliard Ouwehand:
• I learned more about how useful social networking can be for a business, and it gave me good insight on how to better market myself successfully.
• Erin was a great speaker and very knowledgeable about the subject.

From Amy Reed of Kishi:
It was a good gathering, with lots of information and words of wisdom shared. I’ve since joined Linkedin and am contemplating starting a blog.

From Sherry Eckert:
• Link my blog page to Facebook so that blog updates will show up on my Facebook feed.
• Get photos taken so that I can post them on my site.
• Learn more about LinkedIn and how it can help me get to people with ideas on how to take my thoughts about a consulting business to the next level.
• Re-tool my Etsy site and get it all connected in with Facebook and LinkedIn as well.

From Renee Metty of It’s Eventful:
• There are so many social media avenues: LinkedIn, blogs, Wikis, Twitter, Facebook…
• Facebook is a good starting point – links to some other applications
• Spend 1/2 hour each day for blog entry and not much more
• Don’t start blogging unless you can commit to writing daily
• Build loyalty and relationships
• Follow social networking etiquette

Sassy Sweat! Dishin’ on Burlesque-Inspired Workouts

November 19, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (0)

My girlfriends and I love working out together, but need to mix it up once in a while. We’re constantly on a mission for fun, engaging, monotony-free workouts. Classes at Burlesque Beauties in Vancouver, BC offer the perfect solution for gals like us!

Foundress and creator Carla Catherwood (aka Miss Victoria) walks us through a typical class at Burlesque Beauties.

Imagine this: you and a few friends walk into a studio. You are greeted by an energetic and wonderfully positive teacher who will start the dance class by leading you through a fun, sensual, womanly warm up though movement, stretch, and strengthening! Then you will learn to dip and strut across the floor. Shortly after, the teacher will lead you into a fun, sassy, classy, and sexy dance routine! You will dance, sweat, laugh, and most importantly learn the value of being a strong and confident woman! Why run on a treadmill when you can just dance it all out?!

Intrigued? Sign up for the Santa Baby dance workshop, Burlesque Beauties’ special 4-week dance workshop, taught by Miss Victoria, for those ladies who want to learn some fun, sassy, and sexy holiday moves to the song “Santa Baby.”

It can be a gift to yourself, a sister, friend and even your man…

For more information email Carla Catherwood at info [at] burlesquebeauties [dot] com.
Burlesque Beauties was featured in our newest CRAVE Vancouver book, which comes out next week!

What’s your favorite, creative way to exercise?

Google Docs in Plain English

November 19, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (1)

We are in love with Google Docs here at CRAVE headquarters. We manage event schedules, vendor and sponsor lists, contact lists, blog topics and guest contributors, CRAVE book lists, and even employee time sheets, securely online with Google Docs. That way, when one of us works from home, everyone is still connected and up-to-date with the most current version of our spreadsheets!

We’re surprised to hear that many people don’t use Google Docs, or even know how it works! Here is a quick, easy visual explanation in “plain English.”

Introducing CRAVEshow 08!

November 18, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (2)

It’s that time of year again! The second annual CRAVEshow! will be at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center on Wednesday December 10th, 2008.

The Experience
CRAVEshow! 08 is Seattle’s premier holiday event for smart, urban-minded women, showcasing six empowering themes to motivate and inspire YOU!

The Show
CRAVEshow! 08 features a fashion and beauty runway, local boutiques, fitness demonstrations, luxury spa services, and a lifestyle stage. Browse through droves of boutique and designer wares, pausing along the way for a glamour makeover, tasty nibbles, and a bubblegum-pink manicure.

When: Wednesday, December 10th, 5pm-9pm
Where: McCaw Hall at Seattle Center, 321 Mercer St
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Sponsored by Seattle Magazine and Go Red for Women. Click here to learn more and buy tickets!

 

Next Page »