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Archive for February, 2010

11 Ways To Be Single on Valentine’s Day

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

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.

  • Get all your single girlfriends together for a fun-filled night of vino and good music… that’s what I’d do. Oh and shopping too (hell make an entire day of it)! -Phaedra, Taken, Los Angles [A Very CRAVE V-Day]
  • 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!

Hit the Slopes at Ski Camps for Girlfriends

Monday, February 8th, 2010

The Groundhog said it all – On February 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and doomed the rest of us to six more frigid weeks of winter. Rather than crawl under the covers and hibernate ’til spring, why not make the most of the chilliest time of year and go skiing (or snowboarding) with your girlfriends? Take a look at these women-only snow camps and book your long weekend now!

1. ROXY All Star Snow Camps – Whistler Blackcomb
These 2-day snow camps are all about girls, fun, and hitting the slopes! The women-only camps are taught by highly skilled female skiers and riders and give you the opportunity to make friends with other women in the group. ROXY caters to ladies at any level of skiing and snowboarding, from beginner to expert, and they even throw in some prizes to get you motivated to boost your skills! Check the website for rates and dates.

2. Women’s Edge – Aspen Snowmass
Women’s Edge is a 4-day female-centric experience for intermediate to advanced skiers. You’ll spend time getting to know the women in your group while being instructed by female pros and getting treated to a luncheon, lectures, and chances to ski at nearby mountains with skiers in your same skill level. It’s a fun program with chances to build relationships with like-minded women while having a great time! Check out the website here.

3. Women’s Ski Camps – Snowbird
In Snowbird, Utah, these 3-4 day ski camps offer small group sizes and ample one-on-one coaching with women instructors to make for a truly rewarding experience. Intermediate to expert skiers can be accommodated, and the intimate program comes with an optional Meal & Spa Add On with special perks! To see prices and itineraries, check out the Women’s Ski Camps’ website here.

These are a few examples of resorts that currently offer women-only skiing and snowboarding camps. Check out your favorite mountain’s special deals for girls in advance and start planning next year’s wintry adventures now!

Fiddlehead

Friday, February 5th, 2010

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this European-style flower shop located north of Boston is busy creating exquisite floral feasts for the eyes. From simple bouquets for loved ones to incomparable arrangements for extraordinary events, Fiddlehead prides itself on elegant simplicity. Their premium flowers, unique containers and exceptional service and design combine to exceed your expectations.

Also, with spring just around the corner, Fiddlehead is excited to announce their new approach to patio and window gardening! They will be offering garden consultations, plus bags of soil, bulbs, containers, plants and accessories! Jacqui at Fiddlehead will bring the garden to you and leave it looking fabulous!

Continue reading to learn more about this savvy businesswoman who will be featured in our upcoming CRAVE Boston Guide!

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Creative, Fresh, Unique

What or who inspired you to start your business?
I come from a long line of crafts people, artists and entrepreneurs… It seemed fitting to do the same myself.

What is your indulgence?
Shopping!

Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
I love shopping at the Wrenthem Village Outlets… making a whole day of it.

The Paris Haute Couture Shows

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The Paris Haute Couture fashion shows are unlike any other fashion experience you have ever had, seen or heard of. True to what couture is, this kind of fashion is definitely one-of-a-kind. Showcasing their spring and summer couture collections, the French designers filled the runways with whimsical, wonderful and weird creations this season. There was bizarre head-wear at Jean Paul Gaultier (shocking, right?), Lady-Gaga-inspired hairdo’s at Chanel, and clothes with a strong space-age feel at Armani Prive.

Like Hilary Alexander, fashion director of The Daily Telegraph in London, says, the couture shows are a “laboratory of dreams”. Made to fit exactly to the wearers specifications, these one-off creations aren’t something you will see another girl at the club wearing – they are far from anything worn in everyday life. True haute couture is art. Its the kind of clothing that makes for a lush, other-worldly Vogue fashion spread. Its usually impractical and at prices that rival a small house or car, its the best kind of fashion fantasy.

This season, Chanel seemed to be channeling the great Lady Gaga with hairdo’s resembling giant bows or ears, but their colorful collection had us drooling from start to finish. Actually, it seemed like everyone was feeling the Lady Gaga vibe on the catwalks this season. The Jean Paul Gaultier headpieces looked like something we might see Ms. Gaga sporting at the next awards show, and a balloon bubble dress from Armani Prive looked like something she might rock down a red carpet any day now. If not Lady Gaga, then the architectural, space-agey dresses from Armani would definitely look fabulous on any future astronaut/fashionista. Finally, the pieces at Stephane Rolland were escapism and futuristic fashion-as-artwork at its best with laser cut Plexiglass forming coils and crenelations on shoulders and pockets.

Across the board, this year’s couture shows were all about pastel colors and Lady Gaga-inspired style. Haute couture may not be made for a trip to the grocery store, or even your next birthday party, but the shows are spectacular and the pieces are a work of art in themselves. Vive la Haute Couture!

Boston’s Lady Olympians

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Next week, four fierce female athletes from the Boston area will join Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Read on the learn more about them!

Molly Schaus will tend goal for the U.S.A. Women’s Ice Hockey Team. This Natick native started in goal at a young age on the pond in her family’s backyard because it was the only way her brothers would let her play. A current Boston College junior, Molly is ranked second in the nation among NCAA goalies.  She is a two-time member of the U.S. Women’s Nation Hockey Team and a three-time USA Hockey Women’s National Festival participant.

Kacey Bellamy played hockey for four years at the University of New Hampshire until she graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies. She, too, is a two-time member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and she was named one of Team USA’s top-three players in 2009. She is a four-time USA Hockey Women’s National Festival participant.

Erika Lawler will join Molly and Kacey on Team USA’s Women’s Hockey team.  This phenomenal athlete is both a three-time member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and three-time member of the U.S. Women’s Under-22 Select Team, which she co-captained in 2008.  She is a four-time USA Hockey Women’s National Festival participant.  She played four seasons of NCAA college hockey at the University of Wisconsin where she was part of three national championships and her 174 career points rank third in school history. As a senior at Wisconsin, she captained the Badgers to the 2009 NCAA National Championships and let the NCAA with 44 assists.

Laura Spector began her ski career at age 13 as part of a high school team in Western Massachusetts. After three years she enrolled at the Green Mountain Valley School in Vermont to pursue skiing at a higher level and begin competing in biathlon races. After graduating from high school she spent one year training with the Junior National Biathlon Team in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The next fall she enrolled at Dartmouth College, skiing for the Dartmouth Ski Team for one season before deciding to return to biathlon. Laura will compete for Team USA in the Biathlon.

Best of luck from CRAVE to all Olympians!

Rachel Ray, I’m not…

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

I don’t know if any of you are “culinaryily challenged,” but I sure am. I am obsessed with the Food Channel but don’t cook anything I ever see prepared on there. There is something soothing and brain numbing about watching them create, compete, build absurdly shaped cakes, and whip up mystery ingredients I have never heard of.

How about that Rachel Ray gal? She rocks it every night in less than 30 minutes. The big difference is when I go to my pantry or fridge I don’t conveniently have all the spices and sauces placed by the elves so my 30 minute meal turns into a frustrated 80 minute search for cumin, and a trip to the grocery store. (Consequently, I leave the grocery store with everything BUT cumin and swing through the drive-through window before returning home.)

When I do cook I seem to have portion control issues. I grew up in a big family so I assume spaghetti noodles come in “single serving” bags only. Needless to say, I have a lot of leftovers and anyone who reheats spaghetti noodles knows, they aren’t too tasty.

My Mom is an amazing cook and she knows how to put on a party with picture perfect hors d’oeuvres, now SHE could have her own Food Network show. I think I was busy outside shooting hoop when she was whipping up chef lessons. So the pressure to live up to that is huge. She would bring heaping scrumptious cupcakes to my class parties… with every child’s name monogrammed on them. I am lucky if I can pull off a drive by drop off of Oreos for the school Valentines Day party!

My southern Mother-in-Law once tried to help me out by buying me a southern cookbook. Every dang recipe started with “make a rue”…have you ever tried to make a rue? Well, it’s a special little concoction of flour and butter that you have to try not to burn. I never made a single recipe from that book!

I will have to say I have the “sipping” part of this sip/savor category down pat. Never met a cocktail I didn’t like and they seem to be MUCH easier to make. Although I recently tried a signature cocktail recipe and it actually called for pear sorbet…my Coors Light generally does not come with ice cream and- huge surprise- I didn’t have any pear sorbet in my freezer (unlike Rachel) so I skipped the garnish, the vodka tasted fine without it!

If your idea of comfort food is a large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos and you don’t own a food processor…you are not alone. Rachel rocks…me, not so much!

* a weekly humor post by Lynn Edwards

The Ultimate Oasis

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Joanna Howell-Giraud and her husband Omar Giraud welcome you to Giraud Studio, their quiet South Hamilton respite where, from the cappuccino to the blow-dry, your every whim is indulged. Joanna, a Great Britain native, has a passion for natural hair color and classic cutting techniques, and she travels to New York City three times a year to stay on the cusp of hair styling and coloring innovations. Because of her expertise, the prestigious Giraud Studio has quickly become the in-demand salon for those with discriminating color and styling taste. Joanna is a four-time recipient of Boston Magazine’s “Best of Boston” award. She has twice been honored by Allure Magazine as one of the top colorists in the country and was named the who’s who of colorists in Town and Country Magazine.

Continue reading to learn more about this savvy businesswoman who will be featured in our upcoming CRAVE Boston Guide!

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Luxurious, Professional, Elegant

What are your most popular products or services?
Exclusive Kerastase, Luzerne Pure Cosmecuticals, and Bio-Ionic hairdryers

People may be surprised to know…
I adore the opera.

What is your indulgence?
Yummy food, good wine, and British Mysteries

What do you CRAVE in business? In life?
Smooth sailing and balance.  Enjoying what I love to do.