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2011 is Your Year for Business Freedom

December 27, 2010 by Nicole S. | Comments (0)

We would like to introduce you to Natalie Sisson, The Suitcase Entrepreneur. Natalie is a fellow entrepreness who CRAVE founder Melody Biringer met on the road earlier this year. Natalie is launching an exclusive membership program made solely for women business owners starting January 1, 2011 and we wanted to give you the inside scoop.

Melody was so inspired by this trail blazer that she is signing up for her cool new program, “Passport to Business Freedom” and wanted to give you a chance to do the same.

Introducing the Passport to Business Freedom!

Eight amazing women entrepreneurs who know how to create business freedom will be your guides. Natalie Sisson has interviewed each of these women in depth and created actionable business accelerating modules – complete with multi-media content, workbook takeaways, and a VIP members lounge where you can interact with your fellow attendees!

Passport Package Options:

There are three awesome passport options – First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class – beginning at $77. The following is a sampling of the cool features you’ll find inside!

* 8 week program with focused modules designed to create your million dollar mindset
* 8 information-packed, hour-long video interviews with the entrepreneurial wonder- women that reveal their priceless expertise
* 8 fully-edited transcripts of each interview to make reviewing and note-taking a breeze
* 8 fast-action and practical business workbooks for each module hand-crafted by the experts specifically for you

Join this Program Now!

Learn more details and sign up today by clicking here.

Find Natalie on twitter: @womanzworld and Facebook: facebook.com/womanzworld

This Year: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too!

December 13, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (2)

This year you can have your cake and eat it too!

The holidays are fantastic time of year filled with friends, family, and the nostalgic food that bring us together. And when I say food, what I mean is dessert! Everyone has a soft spot for holiday desserts which we tend to eat at all hours of the day between Thanksgiving and New Years. (Pumpkin pie for breakfast, anyone?)

The problem with all the excess sugar during the holidays, besides unwanted weight gain, is that come January 1st we are all in a total sugar coma. We feel tired, lethargic and completely burnt out. Luckily there are a few options when it comes to dealing with too much sugar during the holidays. One is that you can just say NO, though this can be difficult if you have less than stellar willpower. The second, and more delicious option, is to use healthier sweeteners in your holiday baking. Though natural sweeteners still contain sugar they are much less processed, which allows for higher amounts of trace vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. They also have a deeper flavor than white sugar which adds a lovely well-rounded sweetness to any dessert.

Here is a small list of my favorite sweeteners that you can easily substitute in your holiday baking:

Honey
One of the oldest natural sweeteners, honey is sweeter than sugar. Depending on the plant source, honey can have a range of flavors, from dark and strongly flavored to light and mildly flavored. Raw honey contains small amounts of enzymes, minerals, and vitamins.

Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is made from boiled down maple tree sap and contains many minerals. Just be sure to buy 100% organic pure maple syrup, and not maple-flavored corn syrup. It may seem pricy but a little goes a LONG way.

Brown Rice Syrup
This product consists of brown rice that has been ground and cooked, converting the starches to maltose. Brown rice syrup tastes like moderately sweet butterscotch and is quite delicious.

Unrefined/Unbleached Cane Juice (Not the same as evaporated cane juice)
Unrefined/unbleached cane juice is derived from a process of extracting juice from the sugarcane plant, evaporating the water from the juice, and then grinding the results into a fine powdery texture. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and easy to use in a variety of baked good. The company Rapunzel is a good brand to look for when purchasing unrefined/unbleached cane juice.

Sweetener	Amount equal to 1 cup of sugar
Honey	1/2-2/3 cup
Maple syrup	1/2-3/4 cup
Brown rice syrup	1-1 1/3 cups
Unrefined, unbleached cane sugar	3/4 cup

Make it a goal to try one of these new sweeteners. I promise you will love their complexity and flavor and you won’t even miss the bad stuff. Think of it as a culinary adventure! Making changes is not about doing everything on one fell swoop. It’s about making small adjustments over time that culminated into a whole new way of living. Have a great holiday season and enjoy!

Are you already over-tired, over-consumed, or just plain over it?!? If so, contact Jamie at 510-393-0437 to take advantage of her special JAMIE|LIVING Power Pack! This 4-session health intensive is just what you need to start eating better and feeling better for 2011!

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Jamie G. Dougherty. Jamie is the owner and founder of JAMIE|LIVING, Health and Lifestyle Counseling. She is an AADP certified Holistic Nutrition Coach with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is passionate about deliciously healthy food and specializes in helping her clients transform their lives through the power of nutrition and self-care.

Pets in the City

December 10, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (0)

A few months after moving to ‘the big city’ after college, I started looking into getting a pet. I had always been a pet passionate person, and knew that I would eventually have a pet of my own, but I really had no idea how to get started. I spent weeks researching the best pets for city living and eventually narrowed it down to the following dog breeds: the Boston Terrier, the Miniature Pinscher, and the Italian Greyhound. All three of these dogs are small, enjoy being indoors, and need only light exercise; perfect for an apartment-dweller with a full-time job. I eventually ended up adopting an Italian Greyhound. (I had determined early on that a cat wasn’t what I was looking for, although they are fabulous city pets as well!)

Living with a dog in the city can be a lot of fun. Most cities have designated parks where you can take your dog for some exercise and playtime. This can be fun for human social time as well, as you will meet many like-minded people who are just out enjoying the day with their pet. Even walks around your neighborhood will require extra time, as every dog owner likes to stop and greet other dog owners. You join an instant community!

I’ve also realized the joy in taking road trips away from the city – to beaches or mountains or simply family homes with large yards. It can be a fun respite from days spent with your dog indoors, with just a couple walks outside for potty time. As much fun as it is to hang out with your canine companion in the comfort of your own home, there is just something about a dog exploring the world outside that brings a smile to my face.

I’ve traveled a lot with my two dogs and have come to realize there are a few key things that will keep everyone sane during road trips. First, create a cozy place for your dogs where they will stay out of your way. Whether that means keeping your dog in his or her crate, where he or she feels safe, or transforming your back seat into a doggie oasis of beds, blankets, and pillows and keeping them confined to that space. I opted for the second option, which has worked well for me. My dogs have the whole back seat and know that they have their place and must stay there. It is stuffed full of coziness (where they have no way of injuring themselves), and they settle right in and mostly sleep for the entire car ride. They have traveled many miles this way.

Of course, there is always the chance that something could happen to your pet – whether while on the road, at the beach, on a hike, or even in your own home. Pets are unpredictable, and they can get themselves into quite a bit of trouble. That is why I have pet insurance for both of my dogs. When people find out I have pet insurance, and that I work for a pet insurance company, they always ask me the same questions. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, so I’ll answer some of them here.

Q: What is covered in a pet insurance plan?

A: Pet insurance covers veterinary costs that arise from a pet getting sick or injured. Items such as surgeries, medications, and diagnostic tests are typically covered.

Q: What is usually excluded in a pet insurance plan?

A: Pre-existing conditions are commonly excluded. A pre-existing condition is an illness or condition which first occurred or displayed symptoms prior to pet’s policy inception date. A pre-existing condition can also be an injury or recurrence of an injury that occurred prior to policy inception date.

Q: Does pet insurance cover all types of pets?

A: Some do. The pet insurance company I work for only covers cats and dogs.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: You pay a monthly fee that is determined based on the age and breed of your pet.

Q: How does it work?

A: Your pet insurance company will pay a percentage of all covered healthcare expenses for your pet. You pay the remaining percentage, as well as your monthly premium.
What is your experience with living with pets in the city? What are some of your favorite travel destinations with your furry companions? Do you invest in pet insurance? If so, what has been your experience?

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Heather Reynolds. Heather is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion, a pet insurance company. Feel free to contact her with any questions related to pet insurance at heather.reynolds@trupanion.com.

Healthy Eating for the Holidays

December 6, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (5)

The holidays are a fantastic time of year filled with friends, family, and the nostalgic foods that bring us together. It can also be a stressful time for the same reasons…too much friends, family, and especially food! By the time January rolls around we are tired, lethargic, and usually in a complete food coma. With loads of decadent treats at the ready, many people find it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits during the holidays. So how can we enjoy the holidays without feeling like we’ve been hit by a truck come January? Why with these simple healthy eating for the holiday rules, of course. Don’t worry, you can still have pie, and even some stuffing too!

Take small tastes while cooking: When you are cooking, try to limit your tastes to two small bites; one before seasoning and one after. This will keep you from eating an entire meal before the festivities begin.

Eat before you go: This may seem counterintuitive after my first tip BUT, eating before you go to a party will keep you from over eating. If you show up starving, it is hard to maintain portion control.

Bring something healthy that you want to eat: By bringing a green salad or vegetable dish you are guaranteed at least one healthy option that you can rely on.

Don’t graze: Avoid taking a handful of this and a handful of that. If you want an appetizer, put a few things on a small plate and sit down to enjoy them.

1 plate club: Take a small serving of everything want to eat and walk away from the buffet. No seconds or thirds. This will allow you to taste everything without over doing it.

Limit alcohol: Go back and forth between a glass of water and a glass of wine/beer. This way you don’t get too intoxicated and forget about the 1 plate rule!

Focus on talking more than eating: Many times this is the only occasion we have to reconnect with family and friends. Make them the focus, not the food.

Practice saying NO THANK YOU: No matter how insistent the host, do not bring home holidays leftovers. These foods are perfect for the day of, but only create trouble when we eat them over the entire week.

Take every meal on its own merit: If you over eat or drink too much, acknowledge it as an occurrence for that meal and let it go. A single evening food slip up does not mean the entire week is shot and you should now eat everything in sight.

Get good self care: Exercise, napping, help with cooking, and alone time will all help refuel your body naturally and keep you on track.
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Jamie G. Dougherty is the owner and founder of JAMIE|LIVING, Health and Lifestyle Counseling. She is an AADP certified Holistic Nutrition Coach with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is passionate about deliciously healthy food and specializes in helping her clients transform their lives through the power of nutrition and self-care.

To get more great health info and recipes become a JAMIE LIVING Facebook Fan, read the JAMIE LIVING blog at www.jamieliving.blogspot.com or follow her on Twitter.

Lingerie Shopping 101

December 3, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (2)

Even though there’s a Victoria’s Secret on every corner, shopping in a luxury lingerie boutique still gives an unique experience the big box stores simply can’t provide.  As Alison of the celebrity-fave boutique Faire Frou Frou says on my lingerie blog, a luxury lingerie shop offers “1-on-1 advice, access to unique brands, a knowledgeable sales staff, and the ability to special-order colors, sizes, or styles not currently in stock.”

That said, if you’re unfamiliar with shopping in a lingerie boutique, I know it can be a little intimidating to start.  So here are a few tips to get you on your way!

1) Be open-minded. Whether it’s learning that you’re actually a different bra size from what you thought or being encouraged to experiment with types of bras and knickers you’re never tried before, be open to playing with new things.  You may discover something you love!

2) Submit to a bra fitting. While we’re on the subject of bra sizes, let the professionals at the boutique measure you.  Not only are they prepared to fit you, they’re happy to do so.  Knowing your correct bra size allows them to give you the very best service possible, and also lets them know how to adjust to your needs (very important since bra sizes can vary by brands!).

3) Don’t insult the merchandise. You will very likely see lingerie that is out of your personal financial comfort zone.  When that happens, don’t make negative remarks about the price tag.  It’s rude, disrespectful, and even hurtful to the boutique owner who’s invested a lot of time and energy into selecting some of the best lingerie from around the world.  Of course, if you are genuinely curious about why something costs as much as it does, feel free to ask the salesperson for details.  She should be able to tell you.

4) Tell the store you’re coming. A brief call to let them know you’re on the way or even scheduling a time to stop by in advance can make a big difference in the level of care and attention you receive.  If the store knows when to expect you and the reason for your visit, they can prepare to meet your needs…up to and including a personalized pre-selection of merchandise in anticipation of your arrival.

5) Bring and tell your friends. There’s no party like a lingerie party!  Feel free to bring your best friend, or, if you’re planning for a special occasion like a wedding, several of your best friends (of course, you should let the boutique know in advance).  And once you’re done, share the experience with your other friends.  Many boutiques don’t advertise in the traditional sense; they rely on positive word of mouth.  So if you’re happy, let other people know. That way your favorite lingerie boutique can keep on helping women for years to come.

I hope these tips help with your next trip to a lingerie boutique.  Why don’t you tell me what you think of this article over on The Lingerie Addict Facebook page?

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Treacle. Treacle is a 20-something knickers junkie who started writing because her friends threatened to tape her mouth shut if she didn’t stop talking about her underwear. She welcomes lingerie lovers of every nation and persuasion to her blog, The Lingerie Addict.

Comfy Chic Travel Tips for the Holidays

December 1, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (2)

It’s that time of year again… Time for major holiday travel. Though I am increasingly giddy about the holidays as each new season approaches, I haven’t always been the biggest fan of getting to my family in the Midwest via airport travel. Well, that was before I found my perfect formula for flying in comfy chic style. I am big on having everything I need handy when I leave my house, whether for a simple day-trip or an extended stay. So, learning to pack efficiently enough to consistently carry my luggage on the plane and also have everything I may want in transit has made all the difference. Follow these tips and I assure you – you’ll feel the same way.

• Comfy Kicks. I’ve been guilty of tipping through the airport in my share of mod but unreasonable heels or boots. Thank goodness I came to my senses and realized that I can be equally as fashionable in flats. Comfy flats are essential to smooth travel. My favorites: FootzyRolls Snakeskins. They’re so compact that if you choose to slip into a different shoe when you reach your destination, they take up minimal room in your bag.
• Compact Carry-on. While shopping for a new gym bag recently, I noticed a fabulous variety of wheeled duffel carry-ons; an instant must-have! I was sold, first, on how sleek fabric duffels have become, and then on their functionality. This new carry-on option is more pliant than a standard small suitcase. My pick: The Diane von Furstenberg R2 Snake Collection, 20in. Luxury at just $58!
• Cozy Cardi. My worst (travel) nightmare used to be getting on a flight and being told there were no more blankets. I tend to be chilly when I fly, so I never travel without a longline knit cardigan. Not only is the more relaxed fitting cardi comfortable, it’s the perfect wardrobe piece for taking your look up or down a notch.
• Noise-free Nap. I received an iPod speaker pillow as a stocking stuffer a few years back, and it really is the best of both worlds. You can enjoy a plush nap and drown out the noise around you at the same time.
• Mini Moisturizer. The ultimate jet-setter beauty find: Evian Brumisateur. Sometimes your skin can become a little dehydrated on a long flight. No worries. This refreshingly handy facial spritz rehyrdrates your skin without messing up your makeup. And it comes in a convenient 1.7 oz. size, which is TSA approved for commercial airline flight carry-on.

Happy Comfy Chic Travel!!

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This post was written for the CRAVE company by Katrice L. Mines. Katrice is an Atlanta-based editor and founder of My Vicarious Life. This lifestyle blog covers fashion, travel, beauty products, and more. To check it out, click here.