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

Give Your Head a Hug

November 30, 2010 by Nicole S. | Comments (0)

We are women, we want to feel beautiful. There are several aspects of our looks that we may try to primp, paint and polish. What we are really doing, is attempting to take control of the image we present to the world.

It is a sad truth that we all know someone who has been affected by cancer.  When women begin to experience thinning or loss of hair due to cancer and other diseases, this can be an extremely emotional loss. This represents a loss of control of the image we present to those around us. As women, so much of our identity, the way we see ourselves, is tied to our hair.  To get through this tough period, women need options. This is how the idea for Good Wishes came about- a woman who had just undergone chemotherapy and had lost all her hair contacted the hair accessories company France Luxe asking what choices were available to her. The owner, Laurie Erickson, decided to make a special silk scarf that could be worn on her head. From there, Good Wishes was born.

When I met with the Good Wishes team, I was lucky enough to hear first hand the moving experience of two best friends as one suffered from breast cancer. Fighting disease will always be hard, but to watch the people you love suffer is a particular type of pain that can feel so helpless.  The first woman, wanting so desperately to reach out to her friend battling the disease, decided to leave a gift basket on her door with many small gifts to show her support. The friend with cancer was obviously grateful for every gift received, but said that it was the Good Wishes Scarf that stood out to her. It was a sign that it was okay to still want to feel beautiful. That at a time when perhaps hair should be the last thing on your mind, you must still face the world everyday. Now she could face the world every day in style.

The goal of the Good Wishes program is to provide support and comfort to women and children already fighting a tough battle with disease. The It’s a Wrap and Good Wishes Scarfs are free of charge, all you have to do is contact the company and they will send you a  customized “hug for your head.” These vibrant accessories can help give some who has lost their hair the courage to feel beautiful in every situation.  Each “hug” is truly a labor of love, with every staff member personally signing an individualized card to send to the recipient. When I met with the amazing women behind this concept, including Laurie herself, I was deeply touched by the compassion of everyone involved. The concept for Good Wishes is still new, but they are working tirelessly to spread the word of their organization in order to send free gifts to deserving recipients. The non-profit, still a branch of the hair accessories company France Luxe, now donates 20% of proceeds from select items to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.

My aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer this past August. She is currently kicking chemotheraphy’s butt, and has her own Good Wishes Scarf on the way. She says she is looking forward to having something nice to wear for the holiday season.

To contact Laurie Erickson for more information or to order a scarf contact:
goodwishes[at]franceluxe[dot]com
To read more infomation about Good Wishes, click.
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And They Said You Couldn’t Take On The World?

November 29, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (1)

True confession: I have many interests, not just one. I am multi-dimensional, not one-dimensional. I am a creature of habit, but I love new challenges. Does that make me crazy? No. It makes me like many of my Generation X and Y peers- we are creative, destined to be the captains of our own ships and we don’t just do one thing. You don’t have to take my word for it. Next time you are on the train, during your morning commute to the office, ask the person next to you what they do. This, will be their likely response,

“I teach a business course to graduate students, I am a writer, on weekends I lead a yoga class and I also am working on a line of…” You get the gist.

Now, imagine that same person providing that answer in a job interview. Depending on the interviewer, they may be perceived as a great job candidate or a poor one. Great because they’ve demonstrated a vast skill set, that they are ambitious and possess the ability to multi-task. Or poor, because they are viewed as lacking focus and concrete goals. I agree that if one dabbles in too much, they risk being average at everything and great at nothing. The keyword is RISK. The question is, “How do you overcome that risk? You want to find an outlet for your many talents and interests, but how can you excel at everything?”

My answer is simple- productivity. If you are as productive as humanly possible in every aspect of your world, then you free up time and mental space to take on…the impossible. Here is a list of a few, free productivity tools that you should keep at your fingertips.

Tungle Me: Tungle Me syncs your calendars and provides an at-a-glance view of your availability. It provides a link that allows clients and colleagues to schedule a meeting with you. It also provides email notifications of when a meeting is scheduled and auto-reminders. Tungle Me is a great time saver.

Rapportive: This is a great add-on for Gmail. Have you ever received an email from someone and you can’t recall for the life of you who they are? Say goodbye to the days of digging through old emails. Rapportive automatically creates a detailed profile for everyone who emails you. It provides their business information, twitter updates and direct links to their social networks, directly in the email. Bye bye mysterious contacts!

Evernote: Evernote allows you to clip and organize web pages, photos and notes. It is very useful for anyone who does a lot of research. It is also a great way to catalog business cards that you collect at networking events. Every time I receive business cards, I snap the photo, Evernote scans the text and I tag it under industry and the person’s name. This makes organizing your business contacts a snap!

Productivity is the root of all success, embrace it. The world is yours, go get it!

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Patrice N. Perkins, founder and editor of My Lifestyle ZEN, a Chicago-based blog for working professionals and entrepreneurs who value quality of life. You can visit Patrice’s website here: http://www.mylifestylezen.com/

Small Business Saturday is Finally Here!

November 27, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (1)

It’s finally Small Business Saturday – a holiday in its own right as far as we’re concerned! For those of you who don’t know, American Express OPEN has been promoting today as an opportunity “to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.” They’ve been hyping Small Business Saturday like crazy using social media and traditional media alike, even giving 10,000 small business free Facebook advertising. CRAVE’s just jealous we didn’t think of it first!

So how are you going to take part in today’s shopping festivities? We recommend you whip out your handy dandy CRAVE guide or check out the “Where to Buy” section of your city’s CRAVE website and get your shop on! Every little bit helps and could make a huge difference in your favorite small business owners’ lives not to mention giving your neighborhood’s economy a much-needed boost! Whether you get your hair cut at your neighborhood salon, have dinner at your local mom & pop, or snag a pair of cute boots from that small boutique on the corner – it’s important to bolster your community and you’ll feel darn good about yourself (and your new purchases!) afterwards.

There are many organizations and movements around the globe that fight for small businesses. The 3/50 Project, for example, challenges consumers to spend a total of $50 a month between 3 independent businesses. The impact this would have on the economy, if even half the employed population participated, is incredible. Feel free to share any other small business movements that you know of in the comments below!

Happy Small Business Saturday and we look forward to hearing your stories of how you made a difference today!

6 Healthy Holiday Meal Substitutes

November 24, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (0)

The holidays are here. According to the stores, the holidays have been here for a while now. AAHHH!! Don’t let holiday meals stress you out! There are plenty of ways to make them a little bit healthier. To help you out, I am sharing 6 ways to help you make the holiday meals- healthy, holiday meals!

1. To make your mashed potatoes healthier, leave the peel on. This adds vitamins, minerals and fiber. Use low fat sour cream, cream cheese and milk.

2. Corn, peas, green beans, asparagus and carrots are colorful and very nutritious to add to any meal. If you can, try using fresh or frozen vegetables. Canned vegetables are also good but usually have higher sodium content.

3. Whenever possible, use stuffing that’s made from whole wheat bread. Whole wheat stuffing will add extra nutrients and fiber.

4. Use low sodium broth when preparing stuffing broth. Further lower the amount of salt by diluting it with water. For a recipe that calls for 2 cups of broth, use 1 cup of water and 1 cup of broth

5. I am going to be honest. I LOVE green bean casserole! But this tasty side dish can be very costly from a calorie stand point. So skip the canned soup and all the fat and sodium that comes along with it. Instead use fresh mushrooms, sweet onions and low-fat milk.

6. Last but not least, the delicious pumpkin pie! With a whopping 300 plus calories and 12 plus grams of fat and that is WITHOUT the whipped cream… That can and will ruin anyone’s diet. Try using fresh pumpkin, soymilk, and truvia, or the like, instead of the canned pumpkin, full fat milk and regular sugar.

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*This article was written for the CRAVE company by Beth Swanson, founder of B4 Health and Fitness in Chicago, IL.  A personal trainer and nutrition expert, her techniques will soften the blow by making workouts fun, challenging, and a bit different each and every time.

You can visit Beth’s website here: b4healthandfitness.com

7 Immunity Boosting Foods for Healthy Holidays

November 19, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (0)

Tis the season – for colds and flus! This year, be prepared; reduce sugar consumption, get plenty of sleep, and bulk up on these 7 foods. Pesky viruses will be kept at bay, so you can ‘deck the halls’ and be merry all the way through the New Year.

1- CITRUS
Oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons, and limes are all high in Vitamin C – which is key to consume to ward off colds and seasonal illness. Try eating them whole, instead of juices, to get all the extra fiber to help flush your system and keep your digestive track clean.

2- ORANGE VEGETABLES
Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash are chock full of Beta-carotene which increases production of the cells that fend off bacteria and viruses. An extra bonus? Cooking orange veggies naturally concentrates their sweetness and helps prevent cravings for sugary sweets that wreck havoc on our immune systems.

3- YOGURT
The probiotics found in yogurt are crucial for keeping a healthy digestive system and supporting our immunity. Be sure to buy plain yogurt, as the high amount of sugar found in the flavored variety will negate the positive effects. Don’t do dairy? Try sauerkraut, tempeh, miso, kombucha, or take a high-quality supplement.

4 – RAW HONEY
Swap out refined sugar for nutrient-dense raw honey. Raw honey also provides instant energy and helps combat fatigue. There are also studies that raw honey helps reduce seasonal allergies.

5- GARLIC
Garlic is a natural antibiotic that helps prevent and fend off viruses. It is rich in allicin (and other compounds) that battle infection. But, be sure to eat garlic raw, as cooking garlic kills of most of the beneficial compounds.

6- LEAFY GREENS
Greens are great to eat all year round. Super nutrient-dense and rich in antioxidants, consuming leafy greens work to oxygenate the blood and provide an energy boost. In the cooler months, choose sturdy, slightly bitter varieties: kale, bok choy, escarole, or endive.

7- SPICES
Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, tumeric, black pepper… All of these spices have their own set of health promoting benefits, but generally speaking, they are warming and anti-oxidant rich. Try adding ginger, cinnamon, or cardamom into oatmeal or smoothies, and add tumeric or black pepper to add a kick to soups, stews, or whole grains.

Here’s a recipe to get you started:

Citrus-Spice Immunity Booster

Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1 naval orange

1 pink or red grapefruit, peeled and seeded
1 tablespoon grated ginger

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cardamom

1 teaspoon ground maca root

1 banana

1 cup ice
2 teaspoon raw honey

Procedure:
Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Amanda Skrip. Amanda provides culinary and wellness services to inspire healthy living. She lives in Chicago and works with private clients and teaches public cooking classes around the city.

Begin As You Mean To Go On: A Mantra For Business Owners

November 18, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (1)

Begin as you mean to go on. A handful of simple words that have always sounded sort of vaguely British to me, and quaint yet impressive; a bit like the Keep Calm and Carry On adage we’ve all, by now, seen or hung on our walls. (Or purchased on mugs or printed on t-shirts, or what have you). Seven words with a meaning that became, during the first year of owning a business, blindingly clear to me.

Begin as you mean to go on. Meaning, do things the way you want them – the right way – right from the get-go. Meaning do not fudge, or casually (purposefully) overlook, or (worst of all) completely ignore your instincts about how things should be. There are many situations in life that call for flying by the seat of your pants, and while there’s tons of room for taking chances and stumbling upon unexpected delights, whimsy’s not a very good course to set if your goal is success.

For me, beginning as I mean to go on has three main components. They are:

Set clear goals. Know what you want from each interaction. Probably, without thinking about it, you categorize events somewhere along these lines: good for business/good for networking/good for being a decent human being. Sometimes they intersect; sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you don’t know which category an interaction will fall into until it’s over. But aiming for at least one of those is a pretty good way to guarantee something good will come out of everything you do.

Be accountable to yourself. Following each interaction, do a quick check-in. Was the interaction useful? Did it help propel your business/cause/reputation? What could you do differently next time? (In the corporate world, these are often called postmortems. I find that hilariously weird and insist on using the term whenever possible.)

Trust your instincts. The client whose behavior makes you slightly nervous? The potential partner you’re not 100% sure about? If it makes you hesitate, chances are it’s for a good reason. Listen to the feedback you’re giving yourself. You’re probably right.
In particular, that last one is massively important. In fact, if there’s only one thing you take away from having read this, let it be that one. Save yourself from the feminine tendency to discount weird feelings and intense intuitive knowledge. Trust what you know, even if you’re not sure why you know it. You’ll be able to avoid some of the, er, less savory situations in which I was finding myself a year ago. (Fuh. Ree. Key. Trust me. You don’t want ‘em.)

I’ve learned a lot since starting my own business, and mostly by doing the wrong thing. (Some of us learn best that way, it seems.) Now I follow those three basic concepts, and they’ve yet to disappoint. Beginning as you mean to go on is just smoother, cleaner, simpler.

And leaves more time to fly by the seat of your pants in other areas, like… invoicing.

(Kidding. Totally kidding.)

(Mostly.)

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Emma Alvarez Gibson. Emma is a writer, editor and brand strategist who absorbs and analyzes media at an alarming rate, and wishes there were 48 hours in the day. A native of Los Angeles, she lives there by the sea and enjoys general tomfoolery, particularly with her husband and their four-year-old son. Check out Emma’s website here.

10 Ways to Improve the Organization of your Closet

November 17, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (4)

1. Downsize your wardrobe. Go through each item in your closet and ask yourself if the garment fits and flatters, or whether you have worn it in the last six months. If the answer is no in either instance, then it should be donated, purged or recycled.

2. Organize your closet in sections (informal vs. formal wear, shoes and accessories, etc.). Then, organize each section in a chronological manner the way you would get dressed in the morning – underwear first, then tops and bottoms, and lastly, shoes and accessories. This system can save a lot of time each morning when getting dressed.

3. Create a system for your items on hangers and items in drawers. You can organize by color, brand, fabric, cuts, etc. Then, stick to whatever system works for you! Dividers in drawers and pull-out shelves can be used to keep smaller items organized and stacked properly (e.g. lingerie, undergarments, purses, etc.). Try to avoid stacking sweaters and shirts too high. 3-5 high is a good number.

4. Replace your hangers. Omit those flimsy dry cleaner hangers from your closet and replace them with good quality hangers. Having matching hangers in your closet will instantly give your closet a face-lift!

5. Use pull-out shelves for easy access. Narrow depth shelves should be used so smaller items don’t hide at the back of your shelves. All your clothing should be easily visible. After all, what you don’t see, you will likely never wear.

6. Organize shoes. Just like you would sort your clothes, it is important to sort through your shoes. Ask yourself again – keep, purge, recycle, or donate? Shoes that are not worn frequently but are a must save, such as occasion shoes and winter weather shoes, can be stored in small plastic boxes on a high shelf in the closet.

7. Designate a dirty laundry area. Pull-out or free-standing laundry baskets in a closet can prevent garments from landing on a chair or on the floor. Make sure everything in your closet has a space and is always kept in its place.

8. Include a landing table (island or pull-out table). This allows for ease of packing and folding garments.

9. Invest in pull-down swing rods. Pull-down swing rods are a great addition to closets that have vertical height. The rod can be placed at a higher height than traditional rods, but with a swing of a rod, pulls down to eye level. This way, you can maximize the vertical height by creating more accessible drawer/shelving space below.

10. Compartmentalize small items. It is much harder to organize smaller items such as belts, ties, and jewelry within the closet space because smaller items tend to get lost much easier. There are unique organizational tools on the market that make it easy to organize, view and store these accessories

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This article was written for the CRAVE company by Lisa Adams, founder of LA Closet Design. LA Closet Design focuses heavily on the design process, customizing wardrobe spaces every step of the way; from concept to completion.

Want to Plan The Perfect Wedding? Learn the Six Ps Today!

November 15, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (0)

Is your head spinning? If you’re planning a wedding, it probably is. Many brides find themselves overwhelmed by all the details, especially in the early stages of preparation. That’s why I’ve compiled the Six Ps of Wedding Planning – these tips will help you deal with the details and reduce your pre-wedding stress:

Price. Regardless of who is picking up the tab, you need to know and adhere to the budget. Before booking the hall, ordering invitations, or spending any money at all, you should compile a list of what each item will cost and make sure it fits within your budget. Good research is the key to planning a successful, affordable wedding.

Practical. Being on a budget requires the bride and groom to make sensible choices. For example, splurging on a designer wedding gown may mean sacrificing something else down the line. That leads into our next P…

Prioritize. Your wedding preparations start with the proposal and end with the honeymoon. It’s everything in between that can be hair-raising for you and your family! There are literally hundreds of things to do, order, book, arrange, and buy. I’ve prepared a special checklist of wedding tasks that will help you get organized and prevent last minute panics. Request your free copy by sending an email to info@yourethebride.com with the words “Countdown article” in the subject line.

Pleasant. Sometimes this is the toughest of the Six Ps. When you feel the tension mounting, take time out for yourself. You don’t want your wedding to be remembered as an ordeal so try to keep a positive outlook.

Parents. Whenever possible let parents and siblings assist with the preparations. You’ll need plenty of helpers and they’ll appreciate being involved.

Protocol. Wedding etiquette has become more complex over the years. There are several books available on the subject such as Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette. But one great free resource is an article entitled “Wedding Etiquette Guidelines.” It deals with touchy issues like who pays for what, who do you tip, how do you word the invitations, and much more. To request a free copy, send an email with the subject line “Wedding etiquette article” to info@yourethebride.com.

I wish you all the best as you plan for your wedding day. Using the Six Ps can make the preparations easier and more pleasant for you and your family.

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Tracie Morris. Tracie has been a wedding consultant since 1999, certified since 2002. Since then, she’s become known as the Bride Guru and is currently the owner of You’re the Bride, a Michigan-based wedding planning consultancy. Ask her your wedding questions and get free advice by clicking here.

* Photo credit – Christine Gallagher

Take a Moment to Celebrate YOU

November 12, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (1)

Do you ever feel like you’re the original Superwoman? Like there should be an “S” branded on your chest or that you should wear “save the world” armor?

Let’s face it women, we are everything to everyone but ourselves. We are entrepreneurs, wives, mothers, cheerleaders and coaches. It is in our nature to be all of those things and more – but unconsciously there are times that we fail to celebrate the woman behind the superhero exterior.

For years, I was guilty of being that woman. As a matter of fact, I wore two costumes daily. Every day I would wake up early in the morning (5 a.m. to be exact) and get dressed in my costume (e.g. navy blue, grey or black suit) and in the afternoon and evenings I’d switch into my other costume that consisted of a sweat suit and comfortable shoes.

You see, I’m a business consultant and corporate trainer by day and proud mother and wife by afternoon and night. I have an active preschooler who keeps me busy with soccer and basketball practices, homework and tons of ongoing activities at the preschool that require parent participation. In addition, I’m a wife to a hard working husband who owns and operates a small business and a non- profit organization.

Somewhere in the middle of being overwhelmed by my role as a soccer mom and having a dual role of cheerleader and coach to my husband, I had an epiphany that came in the form of a question, “What do I like to do?” Sadly, I was unable to answer that question. Surely, I enjoy running my consulting firm and working as a corporate trainer, but the question still loomed, “What do I like to do?” I realized that in life there are things that you have to do and then there are things that you would do even if you didn’t have to. I was having a hard time determining the things that I liked to do even if I didn’t have to.

In order to determine that “thing”, I had to rediscover me and that was a job all in itself that probably deserved a superhero suit of its own.

When your lifestyle has been shaped by dealing with client needs, being a chauffer to the kids and a cheerleader and coach to your partner, it becomes harder to squeeze a minute of time for yourself. There were no AMBER alerts or police assistance in helping adults find themselves within themselves so I knew I’d have to do this one on my own.

Finally, one day it hit me. I decided that if I can schedule everything in my life from client lunches to kid parties, then I can schedule a day for myself. I decided to dedicate Mondays as my day and gave it the name Monday Me. Establishing a day for myself came with an agenda and guidelines — I reasoned if I can be organized with everything else in my life, then this day would be no exception. The agenda, which I wrote to myself and use to this day, consists of waking up and only being responsible for myself. Here are the guidelines I use:

1. Kids and family will find a way to make it out the door and back home without your assistance.

2. Lunches will be prepared by dad or they will starve.

3. Accept no client calls or emails – the day you chose is YOUR day off and it should be incorporated in your business hours as so.

4. Enjoy a dinner out alone.

5. Journaling is a must.

I started Monday Me about 7 months ago and it has truly made a difference in my life. I discovered that not only am I a great entrepreneur, wife and mom, but I’m a fantastic jewelry maker—a childhood hobby that resurfaced after I discovered myself.

Everyone may not be able to have a “ME” day once per week, but it should occur at least once every month. Consider it your day to celebrate yourself for all that you are to everyone else.

Cheers to your first “ME” day – you deserve it!

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Patrice Washington, a DC-area freelance writer, full time public policy advocate, community organizer and activist. For fun, Patrice designs funky, bold jewelry you can check out here: www.facebook.com/handmadebypatrice.

5 Makeup Trends You Want Now for the Plain Jane & the Fashionista

November 10, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (2)

Everyone wants their makeup to look their best no matter what their makeup experience is. Follow these simple tips on how to achieve fun & fashion forward trends at either the Plain Jane or Fashionista level. You can create a whole new you with less time and money than it would take to buy a new dress. Now that’s fashionomical.

YOU WANT: Dewy Skin
Plain Jane: Use a moisturizer with an iridescent glow under your normal foundation.

Fashionista: On top of that, add a liquid or powder illuminator similar to your skin tone and lightly blended on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and right above your lips.

YOU WANT: False Lashes
Plain Jane: Apply corner lashes to add some emphasis on the eyes, and follow with mascara to blend your natural lashes in. Add a thin line of jet black gel or liquid liner on top.

Fashionista: Apply full length lashes on top of those corners to get a customized look. Add a thicker line of the gel or liquid liner, and wing out at the ends.

YOU WANT: Colored Eyeliner
Plain Jane: Opt for metallic navy or plum instead of the standard black or brown. If you usually go for pencil, try liquid, or vice-versa.

Fashionista: Layer the brighter colored eyeliners in strategic places (like in the inner corners or under the eye) on top of those deeper liners to create a bold and expressive look.

YOU WANT: Bold Lips
Plain Jane: Use a gem-toned lipstick to lightly stain moisturized lips. Blot color away with a tissue.

Fashionista: Using different gem-toned lipsticks in a similar shade, apply the lighter on the top lip, and the darker on the bottom lip. Add a clear lip gloss.

YOU WANT: Crimson Cheeks
Plain Jane: Apply a layer of a pink blush into the apple of the checks and buff into the skin, creating a wash of color.

Fashionista: Add a deeper blush on top of that and tap, rather than blend, into place.

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Lauren Jaber, a freelance makeup artist and founder of Real Doll Makeup, a company that links girls in the DC area with only the top makeup artists. Check out Lauren’s website here.

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