CRAVEbusiness and Ladies Who Launch are pleased to announce the support of Seattle’s TOTAL Networking, a fabulous new networking opportunity associated with a long-standing women’s event many of you have most likely attended.

For the first time ever, TOTAL Networking will be introduced on March 27, 2009 as the lead-off to the annual Northwest Women’s Show held at Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle. The Women’s Show draws over 25,000 women to three days of exhibits, demonstrations, and showcased events.

Networking the Most Effective Way
Imagine, however, a more intimate setting, where you meet professional women just like you – women who yearn to make a difference in the world through their work and their endeavors. Women from a wide variety of industries. Women who want to help you succeed.

This is not your typical networking event. It is not about collecting a fistful of business cards, and calling it a night. TOTAL Networking is different.

TOTAL Networking helps you network in a more conscious way that encourages you to seek out others with whom you can enjoy a viable professional relationship, and to sustain that relationship long-term.

You will learn how to network from leading experts in sales, marketing, and networking techniques. Then you will immediately practice what you have learned. By the end of the evening, you will have established at least 2-3 new relationships based on genuine interest in helping each other reach goals and achieve major accomplishments.

TOTAL Networking is limited to 300 women from select organizations just like CRAVEbusiness and Ladies Who Launch. You will be in the company of women eager to learn, mingle, and connect.

Click here to learn more and register for this event. Be sure to indicate CRAVEbusiness or Ladies Who Launch as your group affiliation on the dropdown box. Your $44 admission offers you four hours of keynote speakers, table discussions, networking exercises, one-on-one conversations, SWAG bag, appetizers and wine, and admission to the Northwest Women’s Show.

Mamapreneurs Inc. is a national support and networking organization for mom business owners. Owner Marlynn Jayme Schotland offers mom-owned businesses of any size or industry, both at-home and brick-and-mortar, opportunities to connect and grow through meetings, workshops, trade shows, conferences and special events. Members receive discounts on valuable resources, access to private forums, family support services and more.

Mamapreneurs is proud to be a collaborative, close-knit community, which is why we chose to feature them in our upcoming CRAVEguide, CRAVE Portland: The Urban Girl’s Manifesto. Here are some excerpts from our interview with Marlynn about her business:

CRAVE: How would you describe your business in 3 adjectives or less?
Marlynn: Collaboration. Connections. Support.

What are the most popular or best selling products or services?
Premium Membership ($100 annually), Standard Membership ($75 annually), At-Large Membership ($50 annually)

People may be surprised to know…
We support moms who own not just at-home businesses, but also large storefront or office corporations.

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
I wanted to offer a place where mamapreneurs could connect with others who could understand what it’s like to balance being Boss and Mom at the same time.

How do you spend your free time?
Online: I am a social media junkie. Also: cooking and baking, going to the beach with family.

Where is the best place to find gifts?
The Mamapreneurs Inc. Member Directory of course! I buy almost all gifts from member businesses because they offer such amazing products and services.

Our favorite award show is less than a week away! No plans yet? It’s not too late to plan a rockin’ party. Here are some quick and easy ideas for a fab event.

1. Send out a simple Evite asap. Alert your guests of your party’s costume theme. Some past faves include: celebrities ‘the day after,’ worst Oscar gowns of all time, and creative interpretations of costumes from your favorite nominated period film.

2. Line the path to your living room with a red carpet made from inexpensive fabric or felt. Enlist sunglasses-clad ‘paparazzi’ to shoot each party goer as they enter your home.

3. Create unique cocktails inspired by the nominated films. Title your libation with a pun from the movie’s name. For example, you could make “Dark and Stormy Nights” inspired by the film “The Dark Night.” For a 2oz serving, mix two shots of Gosling’s Rum with 8oz of ginger beer and garnish with lime. Alcohol not your thing? Make “Milk”-shakes!

4. Keep the food simple and movie theater inspired — gourmet popcorn, nachos, hot dogs and oversized boxes of candy are all you need.

5. Have a fun and easy backup ballot for guests who may not be as familiar with the nominated films/actors. The ballot could consist of designer predictions, who will thank God the most in their acceptance speech, who will cry first etc.

6. Purchase faux-Oscar statues and award your friends for their stellar performances over the last year. As you hand them out ask them to make an Academy worthy acceptance speech.

We are constantly looking for ways to further ourselves and are interested in leading fulfilling, productive lives full of meaning, balance, and positivity. The “Ask a Woman” seminar series coming up in April in Vancouver BC is going to be a fab chance to link up with like-minded ladies who CRAVE inspiration and want to learn motivational strategies to help them achieve goals. This event has life changing potential and is not to be missed. Check out the deets here.

PS – CRAVE gals get an additional 10% off the ticket price! Contact Ask a Woman to get the discount.

SHOP Symposium/09 is dedicated to celebrating, inspiring and educating independent business owners of all stripes. The only conference of its kind, this one-day event teaches practical skills, offers wise encouragement, and builds camaraderie. Whether you sell shoes or facials, travel getaway or graphic design, we invite you to join us. Bring your questions, your frustrations, your fears, and your hopes. Prepare to be inspired!

This year, we’re coming to three cities: Seattle, Vancouver BC, and Portland OR. Check the pertinent details below, and read more about the day on the SHOP Symposium/09 site.

SEATTLE WA
When: Mon, March 23, 2009
Time: 8am-5:30pm
Where: Seattle Design Center
5701 6th Ave S #378
Seattle, WA 98108
Learn more and register

VANCOUVER BC
When: Mon, March 30, 2009
Time: 8am-5:30pm
Where: VanCity Theatre
1181 Seymour St
Vancouver, BC V6B 3M7
Learn more and register

PORTLAND OR
When: Mon, April 6, 2009
Time: 8am-5:30pm
Where: Portland Center for the Performing Arts – Brunish Hall
1111 SW Broadway
Portland OR 97205
Learn more and register

The cold weather has arrived! Time to break out your go-to pieces for this season: a toasty wool coat, your fave winter sweater, and not to mention your humidifier. Unfortunately, as the temperature drops so does our body’s ability to stay hydrated. Here are a few simple tips on how to keep your skin looking fantastic during frigid winter months.

1. Make water your liquid of choice. Limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol will prevent your body from dehydrating.

2. Use a facial cream to protect your face from harsh elements. Using cream-based cosmetics will not only provide a protective layer for your skin, but it will also eliminate the look of flakiness.

3. Bundle up! Minimal skin exposure will help aid in the prevention of dry skin.

4. Moisturize. Your hands and feet are probably the most frequently used parts of your body. Take special care of them by applying cream regularly. Pure lanolin for your feet and cuticles should do the trick; while overnight treatment such as wearing cotton mittens for your hands, or oiling your feet and encasing them in socks, can help aid in extreme dryness.

5. A moisture-filled environment means happy skin! Try using a humidifier or leaving water in a bathtub or sink. The extra moisture in the air will help keep your body from drying up.

Right photo credit Thomas Northcut (Getty Images)

We love this article written by Hazel Grace Dircksen of Socialbees on creating and maintaining your image on Facebook: “The DOs and DON’Ts that can make or break your image online.”

DO:

1. Fill out your profile completely and accurately.
2. Add a photo of yourself, but keep it real–this isn’t the place for glamour shots!
3. Use your privacy & account settings. Facebook has the most advanced privacy customization of any social network!
4. Tag your friends in photos. They’ll thank you for it.
5. Mind your manners.
6. Try to be a good member of the community.
7. Be AUTHENTIC, transparent and true to yourself.
8. Stay current on your news feed; it’s a window into the lives of people you care about.
9. Poke friends – it’s fun!
10. Add to your virtual network by reaching out to people with common interests.
11. Share nicely – Facebook is all about discovering & sharing quality content.*
12. Respect the inbox. Facebook is just like email, but even more personal.
13. Join a network, but remember that Facebook is not everything. Know your network in person.
14. Find your friends.
15. Attract quality traffic and treat them like royalty. Practice your best customer service!
16. Invite your friends. The more REAL friends you have on Facebook, the more effective it becomes.
17. Know when to send a private message. Walls aren’t for sharing personal details.
18. Proudly “Fan” causes and businesses you genuinely care about.
19. Use Facebook’s targeted ad system to acquire fans.
20. Have FUN!

DON’T:

1. Hold out and leave your profile blank.
2. Show or tell anything you wouldn’t want your granny to see… or a future client, partner or employer!
3. Complain about Facebook because you failed to take advantage of the privacy settings.
4. Upload embarrassing photos of friends. They’ll hate you for it.
5. Be a jerk.**
6. Try to be the center of the universe.
7. Do anything you wouldn’t do in REAL life.
8. Be an island and let life pass you by. Isolationism never ends well…
9. Poke strangers – it’s creepy.
10. Friend people without having a two-way dialogue first. You wouldn’t assume a stranger on the street was your friend. Don’t do it online.
11. Flood friends with too many updates or requests in a short period of time – stick to one fan page or group update every 2 weeks.
12. Message people you don’t know and ask them to become fans/members of your group, etc. That’s spam.
13. Add random coworkers/people from your network. Just because you share a network, doesn’t make you friends.
14. Friend strangers.
15. Be fooled by short-term gains… trash traffic does not convert into $$.
16. Ignore hints. If someone doesn’t respond to your request, it’s his/her polite way of saying no!
17. Be a wallflower. Constant lurking is no way to make friends.
18. Be a groupie. It’s great to support a cause, but be sure you actually know what it is – “fanning” everything dilutes your personal brand.
19. Spam for fans.
20. NEVER break the rules of etiquette!

Get out there, shake things up, and make some influential contacts. Blogs, Facebook, Biznik, Yelp, Twitter. Let’s face it–ignoring the input, or doing nothing in social media, will yield no return. Period. When it comes to social media, you may have tried one of everything without gaining any insight into whether or not they delivered any real results. On the other hand, maybe you’re so confused by (or frightened of) social media that you haven’t tried anything at all. If you fall into either category, now is the time to polish your act and develop some “social graces.”

Learn more about social media and online networking at our upcoming SHOP Symposium/09 events in Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland, and meet Hazel at the Seattle event.

*Quality Content: Facebook users frequently share content they find meaningful: photos of friends, news stories, cool videos, interesting websites, etc. (It’s okay to share your own content, but just don’t do it too often or you’ll look like you’re bragging or spamming, neither of which are particularly appealing!)

**Jerk: A person who sends out meaningless messages to strangers, adds noise pollution to the online world, demands that you become a fan – or sends mass messages out telling friends to become a fan of their page, posts their URL on other people/group/businesses walls, excessively pokes, sends wall posts on every occasion, adds every application and invites 20 friends to join, posts too much information, copies too many people who don’t know each other on direct messages, responds to direct message when strangers are copied – resulting in including them on un-needed messages – or otherwise, disrespects the inbox.

WhitneyandWyatt.com is a TV Talk show that mixes serious stuff and girly fluff for women, on the web. Every show is provocative; packed with what-you-need-to-know info. The show is hosted and produced by two inventive, resourceful, and clever women; Whitney Keyes and Wyatt Bardouille. They left their corporate jobs to pursue our passions, and although there have been many challenges in pursuing what you love and getting paid, they’ve had the time of their lives.

This week, Whitney and Wyatt posted a show on their website where they were on a panel on “How to Follow Your Bliss.” The girls dish about how they did it, and about the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.

Watch it below or at WhitneyandWyatt.com.

Don’t break the bank trying to find the perfect, elaborate gift for Valentine’s Day. Chocolate is a simple yet delicious way of showing your appreciation for that special someone. This delectable libation has always been closely linked to Valentine’s Day. It has been said that the Ancient Aztecs of Mexico considered chocolate to be a royal aphrodisiac. Today, it’s a sweet treat for people of all ages. From white to dark, solid to crème filled, heart shaped to flower shaped, the chocolate possibilities are endless. Follow the CRAVE guide to chocolate and avoid the stress of finding your supreme chocolate match!

	The Valentine’s Day Hearts G Collection from Godiva is the perfect gift for the person who wants a little variety in their life. These limited edition chocolates designed by world renowned pastry chef Norman Love come in a variety of flavors such as Apple Pie, Bananas Foster, Lemon Drop and Caramel Macchiato.
	Give a gift designed just for them. The Milk Chocolate Cupid Card from Hershey’s will let your loved one know exactly how you feel. Personalize this edible card with a message straight from the heart.
	Know a chocoholic? Then the Chocolate Heart with Truffles from Dilettante is an excellent gift for the chocolate lover in your life. An assortment of chocolate truffles encased in a heart shaped chocolate box is sure to make that special someone swoon.
	For your honey who likes to bake, get them the Chocolate Lava Cake Giftset from Ghirardelli. Complete with lava cake mix and two ramekins, this easy to make dessert is all you need to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.
	For a touch of elegance, try these truffles and caramels from Fran’s Chocolates. Wrapped in a satin heart shaped case embellished with red ribbon and a red rose, these chocolates are both pleasing to the eye and pleasing to the palette.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a treat that is sure to wow your loved ones. Red velvet cake (a type of chocolate cake popular for its deep red color) is the quintessential dessert for this day of love. Avoid a catastrophe in the kitchen with this recipe inspired by the “Down Home Diva” herself, Paula Dean of the Food Network. Here’s what you’ll need:

Cake Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar

Icing Ingredients:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup melted marshmallows
1 (1-pound) box confectioners’ sugar
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cream, sugar and butter into a mixing bowl. Beat contents until light and fluffy. Begin adding the eggs one at a time. Be sure to mix thoroughly after each addition. Mix the cocoa and food coloring then add the sugar; mix well. Sift flour and salt then add to the cream mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to the mixture. Pour the batter into 3 greased and floured 8-inch round pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool before frosting.

Icing:
Combine cream cheese and butter and blend into a mixing bowl. Add marshmallows and sugar and blend. Fold in the coconuts and nuts. Spread icing between layers and on top and sides of the cake. Serve and enjoy!

Baking not your thing? Satisfy your red velvet fix (and check out Valentine’s Day specials) at some of our fave bakeries:

SEATTLE, WA
Cupcake Royale
Ballard, Madrona, and West Seattle

Trophy Cupcakes
Wallingford Center

VANCOUVER BC
Butter Baked Goods
4321 Dunbar St

PORTLAND OR
Cupcake Jones
307 NW 10th Ave

CHICAGO IL
Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique
115 N. Wabash