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Archive for March, 2010

Add More ~ing To Your Life

Monday, March 29th, 2010

In her debut book, Add More ~ing To Your Life, motivational speaker and life coach Gabrielle Bernstein takes readers on a fun and fulfilling journey to happiness in 30 days. She promotes writing, meditation, and movement as ways to combat ego and release romantic illusions. For every goal in her book, she lays out an Equation with multiple steps packed with reflection and perspective. Some of her unique blues-blasting concepts include compiling a Compassion List, creating a Personal-Shift Statement, and ceasing to Future Trip. By the end of the book she’s created an arsenal of happiness-promoting exercises to conquer negative thinking and create personal change. Read on to learn more about this gifted guru and what she craves.

What is your motto, slogan, or theme song?
Expect Miracles

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I was ever given was from my mother when she told me that meditation would guide me to serenity.

In a past life you were…
A preacher in South America.

How do you get ready to write?
I clean my desk. Then I meditate. Following my meditation I write an outline. I’m a mess without an outline. I turn off my phone and I unplug the Internet. Then I start writing.

What’s a place that inspires you and why?
The place where I’m most inspired is in Abadiania Brazil. I travel to Abadiania, the home of psychic surgeon and spiritual healer John of God. When I am in Brazil with John of God and his team of mediums I feel my strongest sense of inspiration.

What makes you feel most CRAVE – able?
My authenticity. What you see is what you get.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?
I feel deeply connected to helping people overcome addiction and more specifically the issue of teenage suicide due to prescription drugs. I am a recovering drug addict and I am very transparent about my sobriety in order to help others recover. I plan to write a book on overcoming addiction in all areas of life.

What makes you laugh so hard you cry?
So many things. I don’t know where to begin…

In 10 years you want to be…
In 10 years I plan to be known as the messenger for happiness for the next generation. I will have a television show and several published books. I will be a mother and dwell in New York City and in a warm weather climate.

Describe yourself in 5 words.
I am spirited, loquacious, alive, connected, love

* This publication was sent to the CRAVEcompany for review

Gal’s Best Friend

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Sure, every CRAVE girl loves to be pampered now and then, but what about your pup? These Boston spots know how to show your pet some love!

Want to shower your furry friend with luxurious gifts? Stop by Espeso! This “pawtique” is the ultimate retail destination for the sophisticated dog or cat, offering accessories ranging from Swarovski studded collars and organic products to gourmet all natural doggy treats and spa treatments!

For some pocketbook-friendly bonding time, take your dog for a walk through the Boston Commons on a beautiful spring day or let her roam free during off-leash hours (6-9am and 4-8pm).

After some quality time in the park, make a day out of it and indulge both your pup and yourself at Sweet Cupcakes. Here, cupcakes are freshly baked each morning in the Sweet kitchen. All of the Sweet’s frostings, fillings and batters are handcrafted from scratch using the finest ingredients including Callebaut chocolate, Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and Bensdorp cocoa and do not contain trans fats or stabilizers. Bring your canine friend along for the trip, and while you enjoy a scrumptious treat, they too can indulge in Sweet’s Pupcakes!

Eye 4 Color

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Eye 4 Color provides expert color scheme solutions and interior design services for your home. Jane Brunelle’s fine art and interior design background, blended with fifteen years of experience and extensive knowledge of color theory, offers you a distinct expertise that you don’t get from a paint chip! Many of the colors Jane selects are custom mixed by her, creating a unique palette designed specifically for your surroundings. The possibilities are limitless and will give you a house you CRAVE coming home to!

Continue reading to learn more about this fabulous business and its savvy owner, Jane Brunelle, who will be featured in our upcoming CRAVE Boston Guide!

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Expressive. Encompassing. Energetic.

What are your most popular products or services?
Color design and consultation; interior design and redesign.

What or who inspired you to start your business?
That first box of 64 Crayolas.

What is your indulgence?
Starting a novel, and not putting it down until I finish it.

Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
One of their kitchens for a great meal and laughter.

What do you CRAVE in business? In life?
Happiness, balance, satisfaction.

Images from CRAVE stock photos.

Fashion Sense is a Relative Term

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

In honor of the recent Fashion Week hoopla, I thought I’d share my fashion “sense” and I use that term quite loosely. For those of you that have read the CRAVE Crack Up blogs, you’ve quickly come to learn I am “challenged” in many areas of my life that include domestically, home interiorally, culinarily, and more. Fashion is no exception….I have narrowly escaped being featured in the black-boxed face photo in many a fashion magazine.

Every Spring I am inspired to clean out the closet, buy some colorful shoes and skip around looking cute. I pledge to wear a pretty floral print dress just because they look so dang fun on the TV ads but then realize I would actually have to shave my legs.

I adore all the fabulous sunglasses but find myself still sporting the $3.99 pair I bought at the Ritzville AM/PM after a long night. I vowed to never buy expensive eyewear because I was sure I’d lose or break them…these signature shades I picked up near the corn dogs have lasted me five years, naturally!

Each April I travel to Las Vegas for some much needed girl fun. One year I committed myself to having the right “Vegas” shoes, so I splurged. I found just the right pair of smoking hot black strappy pumps. When I got there, I made it from my room to the elevator in the hotel before I had to return to the room for my flip flops. They looked super cute in the pre-func party pics though.

A southern friend once sent me a Spring purse set. By “set” I mean that it looked like one of those Christmas dolls that you open and find 15 more mini-Christmas dolls inside, only this had a matching wallet, sunglass case, etc., it had a million pieces. I had no idea what to do with all of them but they sure were cute. Don’t be surprised that I don’t have a purse “set”…I just recently realized you should have more than one bag for different seasons.

Speaking of seasons, when I lived in the south I was outcast due to my major faux pas of wearing white heels before Easter. Silly me, it had been 80 degrees since New Year’s Eve so I figured white shoes with my cute floral skirt would work. The fashion police literally showed up and locked me in a dressing room at Dillard’s until Easter for that high crime.

You might say I am a “function over form” kind of gal. I am all about comfort and all my jeans have to do is at least accommodate my cell phone and lip gloss.

I do love coats, it’s a strange addiction but I must have a hundred in my closet. Ok, 50% are fleece, but I do dig the outer layer action. Funny thing is I am always so warm, I rarely wear them, not just because most of them would look ridiculous with my floral dress but also because I don’t want to be bothered with carrying one around. I would probably leave it in some coat check somewhere and lose it….like my $3.99 expensive eyewear.

Here’s to putting on a pretty floral dress and skipping around looking cute this Spring!

Do It Yourself Design Inspirations We CRAVE

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Spring is finally just around the corner. We are gearing up to do all our regular spring cleaning tasks – flip mattresses, wash curtains, and finally organize our junk drawers. One of the highlights of spring is rebirth and getting a new lease on life . Well, how about doing the same for your home or an old piece of furniture? Small changes are sure to make a large difference in any home! We love to turn to designspongeonline.com for inspiration and really love the before & after posts. Check out some of our favorite makeovers:

Do you have any home DIYs plans for spring?

Mint Julep

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Mint Julep is a charming women’s clothing boutique with locations in Brookline and Cambridge Massachusetts. Their neighborhood shops offer a wide, eclectic selection of high quality women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories.  Each piece is selected with thought and love so what you browse is a well-edited collection of fashionable favorites from countless designers. From flattering denim to flirty dresses to fabulous cocktail rings, Mint Julep is the place to go to add stylish and chic must-haves to your wardrobe.

Continue reading to learn more about this fabulous business and its savvy owners, Brooke Garber and Stephanie Nist, who will be featured in our upcoming CRAVE Boston Guide!

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Fresh, Welcoming, and Fun!

What are your most popular products or services?
We are a go to place for the perfect all occasion dresses, denim and accessories.

What is your indulgence?
Vacations!

Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
Florida, California, and any country where John Mayer is playing!

What do you CRAVE in business? In life?
Happiness and joy for our customers, family, and friends.

CRAVE up your St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and whether you are of Irish heritage or not, it is a great excuse to dress up in green, drink Guinness and eat corned beef and cabbage. In case the traditional Irish feast isn’t your thing we have come up with a few cool ways that you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your girlfriends. So grab your green, your “Kiss Me I’m Irish” sticker and a few gal pals and celebrate with us! Erin Go Bragh!

Coordinate a cocktail party with you gal pals using this fabulous party guide from Girlfriend Celebrations. Get cocktail creative with green drinks that aren’t beer. Pair these with fabulous green snacks and appetizers. Finish off the Irish ambiance by playing Celtic music in the background. As a fun party activity everyone can plant individual clovers and each guest can take home a pot to remind them of their fabulous friends.

Not into food and games? Coordinate a gift exchange with girlfriends and require that everyone purchase something that is authentically Irish. Set a spending limit so everyone gets something fun.

This year the holiday is celebrated on a Wednesday so if you aren’t in to going out and partying hard consider spending a night in watching movies. Use food coloring to dye your popcorn green and pop in a Irish “chick-flick” like PS I Love You, Tristan and Isolde , or Leap Year. All St. Patrick’s Day rules still apply so make sure your PJ’s are green!

If you want to go all out and spend the night on the town check out this fabulous St. Patrick’s Day event guide and find out what fun St. Patty’s festivities are happening in your area.

We wish you the “luck o’ the Irish” this year as you celebrate with friends. And no matter where or how you celebrate remember the old Irish adage “Before you call for one for the road be sure you know the road.” Slàinte

Moxie

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Boston’s most-fashionable shoe and accessories aficionados feed their cravings at Moxie. Moxie’s selection is always engaging, flirty, strong and fabulous.  With selections from top designers like Tory Burch, Cynthia Vincent, Loeffler Randall, Foley & Corinna, Kooba, and Beirn, there is no better way to top off your warm weather wardrobe this spring than with the perfect Moxie accessory!

Continue reading to learn more about this fabulous business and its savvy owner, Karen Fabbri, who will be featured in our upcoming CRAVE Boston Guide!

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?

Vibrant, Feminine, Playful

What are your most popular products or services?

Tory Burch Flats, Loeffler Randall Platform Pumps and Booties, Foley & Corinna Bags

How do you spend your free time?

Playing with my children, sharing wine and good food with my husband and friends, volunteering with organizations that move me.

Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?

Vegas, Baby!

Sip and Savor with the Girls Tonight!

Friday, March 12th, 2010

CRAVEing some girl time? You don’t have to wait until the weekend to spend a fun night out on the town! Why not plan an easy, midweek pick me up – drinks with the girls! Enjoy the best of Boston happy hour: small plates (and prices!), delicious drinks, and your fabulous friends! Here are some of our favorite places:

Vox Populi Vox is home to one of the best Martini Bars in Boston and some very delicious food! CRAVEtip: Try the Maine Diver Scallops, the Pomegranate Glazed Salmon, or Fried Goat Cheese Salad – all superb! Looking for a holiday hot spot? Vox has great parties!

Grendel’s Den This cute and cozy Harvard Square standard is a great place to meet the girls for some sippin’ and noshin’ after work with the gals.  Added bonus? Everything on the Grendel’s Den menu is half-price from 5-7:30 every evening!

Noir Bar If greasy bar food isn’t your cup of tea, head to Noir to indulge in more sophisticated bites. Noir’s drink menu changes seasonally, so there’s always something new: from the latest in mixology to their rotating wine list or our selection of international beers. Sip your cocktail and take in Noir’s sultry, decadent atmosphere on the beautiful outdoor patio.

Clink Located a short escalator ride from the Liberty Hotel lobby, Clink is a gorgeous space with high ceilings, brick, purples, and even touches from the original Charles Street jail (from which the hotel was renovated). This lounge-inspired bar fills ups fast and is frequented by stylish Bostonians looking to see, be seen, and dance the night away.

Romance Travel Expo

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Are you considering a destination wedding or excitedly planning your honeymoon? Then definitely do not miss the Romance Travel Expo!

Join Saphier Events, Fiddlehead Florist, and A Girls Gotta Go at the Romance Travel Expo on Sunday, March 14, 2010. Come see what exhibitors like Boston Harbor Cruises, Aruba Tourism, Luxurious Limos, and many other professionals have to offer to make your big day or honeymoon even more memorable. Saphier Events will be presenting a seminar with wedding tips, including décor ideas and planning solutions. Fiddlehead Florist will have a booth with lots of wedding day flowers ideas! And Good Wife and StyleFixx are donating some awesome prizes!

Admission is free, so be sure to sign up. The first 1000 brides to sign-up will receive fabulous gift bags. There will also be prize giveaways throughout the event.

WHEN: Sunday, March 14, 2010 from 10am – 4pm
WHERE: Burlington Marriott