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The Best Movies to Watch with Your Girlfriends

March 1, 2010 by Ashley | Comments (1)

What would we do without our girlfriends? They keep us sane when things get crazy, offer a shoulder to cry on when things get tough, encourage us to buy those shoes we just can’t live without, pig out on junk food with us after a bad breakup, and always, always make us laugh. One of our favorite things to do with our best gal pals is to pile onto the couch with plenty of buttered popcorn and indulge in a chick-flick movie-fest. Check out our picks for the movies to watch with your best girlfriends and start planning your next girl’s night in!

Beaches
Grab your tissues for this one. Its a tear-jerker but its also the story of a friendship that lasts a lifetime – CC and Hilary were totally BFF.

Thelma and Louise
Two best friends on a wild adventure, together until the end, and Brad Pitt? Sign us up!

Steel Magnolias
This one is another sob-story, but we love the story of this group of women who are there for each other through all of life’s ups and downs.

Bridget Jones’ Diary
Because Bridget’s kooky antics make us laugh every time and remind us everyone does silly things from time to time.

Fried Green Tomatoes
A testament to the strength of a woman and what she’ll do for her friends.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Because we all love Audrey Hepburn and we all have a little bit of Miss Holly Golightly in us.

Grease
A true guilty pleasure that we love to sing along to with our girls – a definite pick-me-up.

Sixteen Candles
Because we swoon over Jake Ryan and every girl’s high-school fantasy come true, every time we see it.

Dirty Dancing
Another guilty pleasure and classic that we know by heart and can watch with our girlfriends, time and time again.

Mean Girls
It may not be might not be your typical girl-power, female bonding kind of movie, but we all learn a lesson in the end – to support the women in our lives. Plus, its hilarious.

We could go on and on, but we’ll stop here and let you start planning which flicks to view at your next girl’s night. Hooray for girlfriends!

Host A 2010 Winter Olympic Viewing Party

February 10, 2010 by Jade | Comments (1)

As of this morning the Olympic torch has officially passed from Washington State into British Columbia. In less than three short days the 2010 Winter Olympics will begin. The opening ceremonies will begin on Friday at 6pm PST and the games will continue through February 28th. Rumor has it that we can expect a performance from Sarah McLachan, performers flying through the air on harnesses, fiddlers, tap dancers and aerial snow stunts. If you are as excited as we are about the 2010 Winter Olympics then you are probably already gearing up for a viewing or watch party as we speak. If you need a few last minute ideas or inspiration read on.

• The Olympic Potluck is an awesome way to bring people together and celebrate the Olympic spirit. Assign each person attending a different country that is participating in this years game and have them bring a food dish or cocktail associated with the assigned country. Blisstree.com (blisstree.com) also has a great list of Winter Olympics theme food.

• Kelley Moore (kelleylmoore.com) features a two party series on how to throw and Olympic Tailgate Party. The first part features theme invitations, centerpieces and drink presentation. The second part features coasters, headgear, awards and fan finger. Everything you will need to make your viewing party a huge success.

• SheKnows (sheknows.com) features a full post on Hosting an Olympic Celebration complete with ideas for games, food, drinks, decorations and planning.

• Celebrate the best of the winter olympics from A to Z with this extensive guide on how to Host a Winter Olympics Party courtesy of BusyBeeLifestyle.com.

• Venues in Denver, New York ,and Seattle are hosting neighborhood viewing parties. For a party near you try searching “2010 olympic watch party” in Google.

• For the USA fans NBC.com has a complete list of even airing times and listings based on zip code. For our fans to the North CBC.ca has a complete Olympic airing schedule. Both are categorized by sport and day. Use these listings to help plan the day and time of your viewing party.

Enjoy yourself and celebrate your favorite Olympic sports and athletes by hosting a watch party in your area. No matter where you live or who you are cheering for we wish all the athletes Good Luck in this years 2010 games!

For a complete list of events and Olympic details go to vancouver2010.com.

11 Ways To Be Single on Valentine’s Day

February 9, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

Single, taken, or “it’s complicated”… regardless of your relationship status, Valentine’s Day can frankly be very obnoxious. If you’re with someone, you’re pressured to partake in extravagant displays of lovey-dovey cuteitude against your will. If you’re single, it’s even worse. You’re brutally reminded that those millions of cheesy greeting cards with kissing puppies on the front simply aren’t meant for you. Of course Valentine’s Day isn’t all bad, but it can be tough to go solo on a day when the rest of the world seems madly in love. In an effort to give single gals out there some solace, here’s a smattering of ideas from women (and two men) on what to do on February 14th if you’re single.

• Two words: Southern. Comfort. Now you have advice from lady AND gentleman – Corbin, Taken, Washington DC [Best "Drink Your Sorrows Away" V-Day]

• Celebrate the Chinese New Year! -Jocelyn, Single, Woodinvile [Best V-Day Replacement Holiday]

• I heard the trick is to not make Valentine’s Day about loving a person you are in a relationship with, but to make it about loving all the people you love. If it isn’t about one person than it can be less disappointing when you spread out the love! – Courtney, Single, Santa Clara [Sweetest V-Day Idea]

• Remember that it’s easier to be single on Valentine’s Day than stuck in a relationship that’s going nowhere fast. -Mike, Divorced, London [Best V-Day Reality Check]

• This might be an LA only thing…but going to Disneyland with friends is awesome, as is going to Amoeba Records by yourself. – Natasha, Single, Los Angeles [Most LA V-Day]

• Offer to babysit for your friends with kids! -Deborah, Taken, Woodinville [Most Charitable V-Day Idea]

• I loved my single Valentines the best! Having a dinner party (with yummy cocktails) is fun with your single friends, or taking a little trip somewhere- the ocean, a cabin, a movie- with a few friends is wonderful! Just celebrating the people you love is what it’s all about! – Carly, Taken, Camano Island [Best Girlfriends V-Day]

• If I were single on VDAY I’d go to Vegas for sure. But that’s just me… – Ashley, Taken, Los Angeles [Best V-Day for Ladies on the Prowl]

• It’s two weeks away…. whose to say you will be single? Also… I hear having a bonfire is great fun… and if things go awry, a fireman comes over to visit – Adrienne, Single, Santa Fe [Hottest V-Day Idea]

• Valentine’s Day is just another day…I would go to brunch and buy yourself some flowers. – Jess, Taken, San Diego [Best "Celebrate Yourself" V-Day Idea]

So there you have it. Booze, babysitting, brunch or bonfires – whatever you do, you definitely do not need a beau to enjoy your Valentine’s Day this year. Have fun!

Super Bowl, Shmuper Bowl — A Game Day To REALLY Get Excited About

February 1, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

Super Bowl, Shmuper Bowl… A Game Day To REALLY Get Excited About

What does February 7th mean to you? Charles Dickens’ birthday? The bonfire of the vanities in 1497? Grenada’s Independance Day? Nothing? If these answers come to you more readily than “The Super Bowl! Yeahh!!” read on…

For ladies craving an alternative to football, beer, and lots of commercials (about beer), try having a different kind of Game Day with your girlfriends! Below find our suggestions for games and goodies that will make Sunday afternoon really worth getting excited about.

The Food: Asian Take-Out
Indulge differently. Have fun playing board games while munching on a family-style Asian feast of pot stickers and dumplings with your friends. It’ll save you the trouble of cooking, not to mention that disposable Bento boxes are a welcome change from dishes in the sink. You’re craving that Sesame Chicken already, aren’t you?

The Drinks: Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktails
Step out of the box, and whip up a batch of these slushy treats or another cocktail with ginger as the surprise ingredient. The lemon/ginger combination adds a refreshing zing and will compliment the take-out perfectly! Find the recipe from MyRecipes.com here.

The Games: Scattergories, Apples to Apples, and Cranium.
Games are the crowning glory of your day. If everyone brings a game she likes, there should be enough options to make everyone happy. There are hundreds of board games out there, but these three are sure to have you giggling the afternoon away in no time.

The Entertainment: Whip It
If the Cranium competition gets too intense, you can put on a fun movie as a half-time distraction. Any favorite girl-power flick will do, but if you’re strapped for an idea try Whip It. A “chick flick” with attitude, Whip It chronicles teenager Bliss Cavender’s [Ellen Page] hilarious journey as she follows her bliss to Austin, Texas and joins a woman’s roller derby team.

The Extra Touch (down):
Give each of your friends a personalized score card when they arrive, and keep track of who wins the most games or rounds. At the end of Game Day, tally up the scores! Everyone should get a treat, but perhaps the winner gets a little something extra. Chocolates or salted caramels would be a sweet way to wrap up a fun evening with the girls…

Ready for a football-free weekend of fun? Call your friends, put on your game face, and get excited for a truly super Game Day!

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.

Holiday Wishes!

December 23, 2009 by Lilla | Comments (0)

CRAVE would like to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!

It was a busy year for the CRAVE team and we are excited to report the successful launch of new books in Portland, Austin, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta!

We enjoyed the opportunity to expose new CRAVE entreprenesses to CRAVE girls all around the country, and are thankful for all the support we received along the way.

As the year comes to an end, we have no intention of slowing down. In 2010 we will launch another five books in five new cities: Toronto, DC, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Boston!

You can also look forward to new editions of the Seattle and Vancouver books. Get those calendars ready- we will be bringing you a fabulous new series of events, CRAVE chats and speakers.

This is the season to spoil your loved ones and yourself! We hope you will get all that you CRAVE – you deserve it!

the CRAVE team.

p.s- CRAVE is Taking a Blogcation, see you in 2010!

At Home Spa Party With Your Girlfriends

December 22, 2009 by Nicole S. | Comments (0)

The winter holiday season is a time to be joyful and thankful. However, every year it seems we spend the majority of our time running around trying to buy the perfect gift and appear at every event.  All of us CRAVE girls can get frazzled by the stress (not to mention the havoc the cold air is playing on our skin) and forget what is most important- spending time with the people we love! So go ahead and trade in those boots for cozy slippers, call your best girlfriends and treat yourselves to something we all CRAVE- a DIY at home spa day of pampering and relaxation.

Mani/Pedi
Sure we can all paint our own nails- but it’s so much less fun! Take turns doing each other’s nails, but let the manicurist choose a color you never would. Are you a classic red? Switch it up with bold orange or purple for fun. A flirty pink? Step out of character and don some fierce jet black nails. And don’t forget to treat your pals to a hand massage and a salon-style gab fest.

Facial Steam
Before you get ready to moisturize and clarify, treat your dry skin to an easy and relaxing steam treatment. Simply boil some water and then pour into a large bowl with circumference at least at big as your face. Throw in an herbal tea bag, and wait a few moments for water to slightly cool. Grab a towel to place on top of your head to trap in the steam, and lean with your face at least 6 inches from the water. Now breathe deep, relax, and repeat. Rest like this for at least five minutes to open up your pores.

Home-made Face Mask
This is a fun one to really play around with whatever you have stocked in your kitchen and pantry. There are hundreds of ways that you can prepare an at home facial from kitchen edibles. You can check online for different suggestions- but great go-to ingredients include honey, bananas, brown sugar, strawberries, avocados, yogurt, lemon juice and oatmeal! Special tip- if you have normal to oily skin, use an egg white. For dry skin, use the yolk.

Home-made Hair Treatment
Believe it or not, you can easily use all the same ingredient you just put on your face to double as a miracle hair moisturizer! Some of the best super products for your tresses are: honey, egg, yogurt, olive or almond oil, banana, and full fat milk. Want to get ultra shiny locks? Mix orange juice and honey.  A great post-shampoo rinse for redheads and brunettes is apple cider vinegar, blondes stick with lemon juice.

Massage
There is no better feeling than the lightness you experience after a great massage. While you and your girlfriends can attempt to get out each other’s knots- for an extra indulgence you can hire a professional to come in to give mini-massages to everyone.  The rest of the gang can sip tea and catch up on your favorite Sex and the City episodes while you wait your turn!

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!

Give Back to Our Community of Women: Volunteer Nationally or Locally

November 23, 2009 by Gina | Comments (3)

The holiday season is right around the corner. What better time of the year than now to show the community of women in our world that you care. There are several organizations, global, national, local, that help women. Volunteering this holiday season will leave you with a warm feeling in your heart and the hearts of those you help. Below is a list of national organizations that you can donate your time to and help those in need.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need. You can help by giving individual breast cancer donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising for breast cancer, or volunteering for breast cancer. Every effort counts! To become a volunteer for The National Breast Cancer Foundation you can go to their website and fill out a form and they will contact you with volunteer activities in your area. You can also go right online and make a donation. Every little bit helps. (nationalbreastcancer.org)

Global Giving Foundation (globalgiving.com) is a organization and great online tool to use where you can find a cause to volunteer or donate to. You can find a cause or country to support then make donation and then receive updates on how your donation has effected the lives of others. It’s as easy as going to their website, clicking on the Find A Project button, choose a country or a theme (for example: women and girls). From there the site will give you different causes you can donate to. One example is “A Sanctuary for Empowering Refugee Girls” in Kenya. The Children’s Empowerment Project is a safe space where adolescent girls regain their physical and mental health, create a network of peer support and achieve skills which lead to self-sufficiency. This one cause lists denominations which you can donate and what that amount of money will give these girls, such as

$50 -Provides weekly bus fare for 5 girls to attend job-training classes for 3 months

$75 - Provides 3 girls with school supplies for one year, including books, notebooks, handouts and pens

$100 - Pays for one girl’s medical care assistance for one year

And so on. Global Giving allows you to decide what cause you are passionate about and want to help.

Another National Organization you could volunteer with is RAINN: Rape Abuse and Incest National Network. RAINN’s Mission: RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization.  RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline’s free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. There are many ways you can volunteer for RAINN such as staff a hotline, volunteer at your local rape crisis center, raise money to support programs, and raise awareness through public education efforts like RAINN Day. You can find out more information about these specific volunteer activities on RAINN’s website. One particular event that we found a great way to volunteer is a RAINN Day. RAINN Day is RAINN’s annual campaign to stop sexual assault on college campuses. You can register online to be an organization on your campus for a RAINN Day event. The RAINN website also offers materials you can use for your event and to pass out on campus. This is a great way to educate your college campus or community on how to stay safe. (www.rainn.org)

Another organization we’ve all heard of is Big Brother Big Sister. What a rewarding volunteer project to be a part of. Becoming a Big Sister is as easy as showing your little sister how to cook, play a game together or just spend quality sisterly time together. The impact is huge on children that need your friendship and guidance. To become a Big Sister you can go onto Big Brother Big Sister’s website and fill out an application form. A representative will then contact you to complete the process. It’s so easy, why not become a Big Sister and make the difference in a young girl’s life today. (www.bbbs.org)

There are many organizations you can find on the web, you just have to take the time to search. There are some websites dedicated to helping you find volunteer activities in your local community. One is 1-800-volunteer.org , where you can type in your city and see what opportunities are out there. Another site to search is idealist.org, where you can find volunteer opportunities near you. You can volunteer any time you want and trust me it can be so rewarding to know who or how many people you’ve helped. So have a Happy Thanksgiving and good luck giving Thanks to your community!

Girl on Top – Book Tour Hits Your Area!

November 3, 2009 by Lilla | Comments (0)

In Girl on Top, career expert Nicole Williams takes 20 tried-and-true dating rules every CRAVE girl knows (and have probably used) such as “Play Hard to Get” and “Don’t Give Away the Milk for Free”—and shows you how to put them to use when the object of your affection is your job. With her ingenious approach—taking the tactics used to land a man and applying them to your career—you’ll be able to handle any work situation and come out on top. Finally, the advice no one else has been willing to tell you, right at your fingertips!

About the Author:
Nicole Williams, the original Girl on Top, is your tell it-like-it-is big sister who happens to be an expert in all things career. As a best selling author and founder of WORKS by Nicole Williams, she has re-defined the world of work—making it glamorous, relevant, and get this—fun!—to modern women who refuse to settle for a less-than-thrilling career. Get more of her advice at nicolewilliams.com.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

11/04 Santa Clara – 2855 Steven’s Creek Boulevard, Santa Clara
11/06 Seattle – 315 S. Center, Seattle
11/09 Vancouver – 788 Robson St., Vancouver
11/11 Minneapolis – 60 West Broadway, Bloomington
11/13 Chicago – 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
11/17 Boston – 1245 Worcester Road, Natick
11/18 Boston – 250 Granite St., Braintree
11/20 Cherry Hill – 502 Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill
11/23 Washington DC – 1100 South Hayes St., Arlington
11/25 Toronto

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