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Put a Spring in Your Step with these Hot Colors

February 22, 2010 by Madeline | Comments (1)

When we think of spring we think of pastels and floral prints, but those just seem a little too passé and boring. What will you be wearing this spring to spice up your wardrobe? Here are some of the color trends that you won’t want to miss out on. Pick up a few bright accessories that are both trendy and timeless.

Turquoise – We’re pretty sure this is on EVERYONE’S hot-list, along with other aqua-colored hues. This vibrant color turns every outfit up a notch, making you just exude that cool confident aura that will make you the center of attention. Splurge on a Jamie Joseph brightly colored stone ring. We love this Sea Blue Chalcedony Ring for a beautiful eye-catcher.

Light Pink – More specifically, champagnes and corals are two “light pinks” that won’t have you gagging on pastel and cotton candy. Champagne is the closest you can get to a nice neutral color while adding a little pop! And for coral, try some of Cara Lyndon’s hairpins, we recommend Coral Wheel . Whether your hair color is light or dark, this feminine flair will turn heads.

Yellow – In every shade and size. Add a dash here or there or a big bright bag to have everyone around you smiling. Evoking sunshine and happiness, everyone could stand to integrate this cheerful color into their wardrobe or even their home. Try a bright throw pillow to add to your living room, we like the yellow Gloria pillow from Henry Road. The great thing about throw pillows is, when spring is over, you can just throw them back into the closet until spring comes again!

Get Your Hollywood Hair On

January 28, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (2)

Need to jazz up your style? Easiest way is to get a new hair do! We recently stumbled upon a blog called berlinhairbaby.com and Twitter: @BerlinHairBaby. It features tips on celebrity make-up, hair & style.  Berlin Baby shows us the do-it-yourself way to the most iconic and recognizable hair and makeup styles. Here are some of our favorites:

1950’s look

1920’s Waves

Queen Sophie Anne from True Blood

Grecian Goddess

CRAVE Crack-Up: Adorn

January 6, 2010 by Lynn Edwards | Comments (2)

Ahhh, the New Year… so full of hope and possibility. Whoo hoo! I have always had hopes of ringing in the New Year at one of those fabulous celebrations you see on TV. I’d be wearing a very hip, cool, shiny dress, insanely uncomfortable shoes that would hold up to dancing into the wee hours, and have a fantastic looking date on my arm to dip and smooch me at midnight. Who does that really happen to other than Cinda-frickin-rella? Even she had to leave the party before the ball dropped.

I rang in 2010 in my sweats on the couch, watching all those fashionable people whose adorable “Happy New Year” tiaras perfectly accented their cute up-dos. I missed the party this year but I was still hopeful and dreamy-eyed about what the new year may bring: fewer pounds, more business, and that hot date!

Just before New Year’s, Melody and I shared a holiday tottie and she asked if I would join the CRAVE team. I am so excited to have the opportunity to share my fun stories and silly views on this crazy world that we all try to navigate (in cute but uncomfortable shoes) in hopes that it might bring a smile to your face and maybe even crack you up a little this year.

Smile,
Sara (my Vegas name)

Adorn

Adorn. To me, that word means “bobbles.” For those who know me, I’m the girl who wants to wear cool hats, fashionable bobbles and colorful wraps… but I don’t. I have one pair of fake diamond earrings that I wear every single day, despite the outfit. My college roommate was the “adorn” queen, the chick had gold lamé shoes for crying out loud. She has tried for 20+ years to accessorize me. Her latest attempt was when I showed up at her house headed to a holiday party and she said, “Is that all you’re wearing for jewelry?” I of course said, “be glad my earrings at least dangle. This is my holiday wear!”

She promptly went to her closet of accessories and reappeared with a necklace that looked like a left over item from a Mad Max film. It had huge black square jewels and weighed five pounds. She dropped it around my neck and said, “It’s fabulous!” I figured, what the heck, if ever there was a time to be fabulous it was at a holiday party. So I braced my neck for the workout it was about to endure and headed out the door.

I had a bazillion comments on my lovely necklace and I chuckled every time I heard, “that necklace is fabulous.”

Now, most of you CRAVE ladies know the value of a five pound necklace, but I am just joining you in the world of being adorned with such treasures.

I might just get to like it… and buy a second set of earrings for casual Friday.

Spend the Holidays with Your Girlfriends

December 7, 2009 by Gina | Comments (0)

The brisk air is upon us, lit trees line the streets, and the feeling of giving is all around us. Oh, and did we mention the traffic, packed malls, and hectic shopping scene? This season, spend time with friends and family without any worries. Our advice: stay away from the malls and head out for some quality holiday time with your girlfriends. Here are some activities and ideas you can try this season for some holiday cheer.

Ice Skating
Most cities and towns open an outdoor ice skating rink surrounded by lights and holiday music. This is a great idea to do something active outside. You can usually rent skates at these locations, so don’t worry about bringing your own.

Tree Lightings
Check your community newspaper or online to find out when their tree lighting ceremony is. There are usually refreshments available, and of course, some great lights and holiday cheer!

Holiday Cocktails
Some restaurants during the holidays will have one or more special holiday drinks. Grab your girlfriends for a night on the town!

Holiday Shows
Whether it’s the classic Nutcracker or White Christmas, check to see what’s playing in your area and head to the theater. Make a night of it by going out for dinner first. Maybe the Rockettes are in your town—don’t miss that show!

Holiday Party
Throw a holiday party for a group of your girlfriends. Make cookies, egg nog, and holiday-inspired cocktails. Get the ingredients to make gingerbread houses and you can all make your own. Play Secret Santa or a Yankee Swap. A Secret Santa is when you put all your girlfriend’s names in a hat and you each pick a name. The name you get is the person you buy a gift for. Then at the party you exchange gifts. A Yankee Swap is when everyone buys a gift and brings it to the party. Then you put numbers 1-10 (or however many people you have) in a hat. Each person picks a number. Number 1 picks a gift first from the pile of gifts and opens it. Number 2 picks a gift from the pile and opens it, then has the opportunity to keep the gift or take Number 1’s gift. This goes on until you get back to Number 1 who then gets to pick from everyone’s already opened gifts.

Decorated Houses
Have a low-key night with your girlfriends. Take a warm drive around your neighborhood (cocoa in hand!) to see who has decorated their houses in lights. Some people go all out with so many lights you wonder what their electric bill is!

Holiday Shopping
Everyone has some shopping to do during the holidays, whether you’re treating yourself or giving to others. Avoid the malls, with their long lines and crazy traffic, and instead visit locally-owned shops this year. Some local boutiques have such unique gift ideas, including great clothes and accessories. Grab your girlfriends, map a route, and explore some local shops! Grab a CRAVE book to guide you along!

We hope these ideas inspire you to go out and enjoy this time of year with your best friends! If you and your girlfriends have any other holiday traditions, let us know by commenting below.

Happy Holidays!

Jewelry Gem – DIY Shadowboxes

February 4, 2009 by Amanda | Comments (0)

We adore Design*Sponge and admire writer Grace Bonney’s ability to have her finger of the pulse of seemingly EVERY amazing home and product design related trend in the world! One of our favorite features on her blog is the DIY section. The projects we’ve tried have made our lives a lot more simple, beautiful, and have provided some incredibly special personal gifts for our friends and family. One of our fave projects remains the simple and stylish jewelry shadowbox. Read on for instructions.

Box How-To:

1. Select a shadowbox (or a small wine crate) with a back and sides that are at least 1/4 inch thick to accommodate the hooks. Sand and prime the box, then apply two coats of semigloss spray paint.

2. Cut a piece of decorative paper to fit inside the box, coat the back of the paper with spray adhesive, and press it into place, smoothing it from the center out to the corners with your fingers. Then lay out the jewelry where you’d like it to hang and screw in hooks at the appropriate points.

3. Finally, add two evenly spaced saw-tooth hangers to the box’s back for a steady mount.

Hilarious Beauty Blunders

November 3, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (5)

On Halloween night, my girlfriends and I got into a hilarious conversation about the most ‘frightening’ beauty blunders we endured over the past year. Their nightmarish tales were so entertaining, I just had to share the top five with you.

These stories are true; only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

1. Last winter Kelsey’s hair was in need of major moisturization. She had heard olive oil was ultra-nourishing and doused her head in a bowl full, then covered it with plastic wrap for 20 minutes. She shampooed and rinsed and rinsed, but the oil stuck and she looked like an Exxon Valdez survivor for two weeks.

2. Before an impromptu vaca, Megan wanted a Brazilian. Her regular waxer was booked, as were the estheticians at every other reputable spa she called. She found a cheap nail place that had an opening. They used poor-quality wax and ripped off her delicate perineum, leaving an awful large burn/scab in its place!

3. Strapped for time, Jessica sought out a lunch-hour brow wax and ended up at a discount nail salon. An inexperienced esthetician butchered her eyebrows, making them into tiny strips that made her look permanently ’surprised’ until they filled back in.

4. Kelly tried to emulate her hairstylist’s ease with a round-brush, but ended up whirling and twirling her way into a huge snarled, mess. She had to have the round-brush CUT out of her hair. The cute bob that resulted was worth the pain and embarrassment!

5. While saying at a friend’s, Allison picked up what she assumed was a makeup remover pad, and began to rub her face. The wipe was full of camera lens cleaning solution, and completely burned her skin.

What was your worst 2008 blunder?

Craving Girl Time? Spend a Day Exploring Bellevue’s Boutiques

September 26, 2008 by Amanda | Comments (0)

When was the last time you and your best friends spent a fun girlfriend day together?

Can’t remember? Then you’re definitely in need of some retail therapy. Bellevue is just the place to find something new; something a little funkier than at your average retail establishment. And we’re making it easy for you to find those gems. All you have to do is set a date, print this mini travel guide, stuff it in your handbag, and head for the Eastside!

1. There’s nothing better than a luxurious spa visit. We suggest starting out your day at Aviva Holistic Skin Spa (136 102nd Ave SE Suite 104, Bellevue; 425.454.2374). Here you can kick off your shoes (literally!), and choose between facials, peels, massages, manicures, and/or pedicures. Shira Paul and her staff will pamper you and send you out the door more than ready to head to your next destination. *Be sure to call ahead to make reservations and check hours of operation.

2. La Ree Boutique is just around the corner (11 103rd Ave NE Bellevue; 425.453.7868) and is full of fashion fun! Featuring samples from around the world, La Ree offers a ton of brand names, jewelry, handbags (handbags!), and designer gift items.

Getting hungry? Shira Paul from Aviva Holistic Skin Spa recommends the following hot spots for lunch — all within walking distance:

** Bis On Main: offers a unique blend of Italian, French, and American dishes. (10213 Main St. Bellevue, WA 98004; 425.455.2033). Bis specializes in upscale, high end dining for ladies who “do lunch.”

** Belle Pastry (10246 A Main Street, Bellevue; 425.289.0015): Authentic French pastry shop serving up scrumptiously European goodies, sandwiches, coffee, and soupe du jour!

** 520 Bar & Grill (10146 Main Street, Bellevue; 425.450.0520): For a more casual, yet quaint experience, try the 520. Of particular interest is their to-die-for-patio seating, with a view of Olde Bellevue.

After lunch, it’s time get back to the business of shopping.

3. Posh On Main (10245 Main Street Suite 103 Bellevue; 425.454.2022) could very well be the shoe store of your dreams. Angela Self regularly stocks new designs from Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen, making her elegant, charming, and delightfully upscale shop one not to miss. Did we mention this is a SHOE store?

4. Finish up your perfect day at Fran’s Chocolates (10036 Main Street Bellevue; 425.453.1698). It’s specialty chocolates – what else do we need to say???

If you could add one more must-do to this “girlfriend day in downtown Bellevue” itinerary, what would it be?