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Vosges Haut Chocolat: Interview with Katrina

February 26, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (2)



That’s haut.

Haut-Chocolat, that is, and by haut we mean delicious! Any life experience is instantly made special with an addition of Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Owner/Chocolatier, Katrina Markoff, personally chooses every spice, flower and chocolate that is flown into our Chicago kitchen. Markoff utilizes the original methods of French confectionery artistry which she learned during her training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Having graduated with the Grand Diplôme from Le Cordon Bleu and having worked extensively in France, Spain, Italy, Southeast Asia and Australia her collections of haut-chocolats have great, worldly inspirations. Inspired by her global apprenticeships, Vosges truffles have exotic influences of an “East meets West” theme.

The Vosges Haut-Chocolat mission is to create a luxury chocolate experience rooted in a sensory journey of bringing about awareness to indigenous cultures through the exploration of spices, herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, nuts, chocolate and the obscure. What better way to learn about a culture, person or object than through eating. If we can all embrace the idea of trying something new such as the perplexing oddity of curry and chocolate, we just may come one step closer to bringing peace to the world through chocolate.

Let’s learn more about peace-seeker, Katrina…

People may be surprised to know…
I have my pilot’s license.

What or who inspired you to start your business?
The Nagaland people of India.

How do you spend your free time?
When I have free time, I’ll be riding my horses, planting seeds and going everywhere with my sweet puppies! {Katrina also recently welcomed a new baby into her family, and we’re sure the bundle of joy is keeping her busy!}

Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
I think it’s great to go for a walk on Devon Street in Chicago, drinking young coconut milk on the street and buying Indian jewelry.

We invite you to join Katrina on her gorgeous (and tasty) blog, Peace, Love + Chocolate.

Peek into the CRAVE Closet

February 25, 2010 by Sarah Clise | Comments (0)


Our very own Melody Biringer had her closet raided! MyCloset.com, a website dedicated to airing people’s dirty laundry (literally), recently featured the CRAVEcompany founder in its scintillating Celebrity Closets installment. Among the hangers and hampers, a myriad of wardrobe gems were unearthed from all over the world. Woolen leg-warmers from Amsterdam, Ilse Jacobsen rain boots from Seattle, a bold purple dress from Vancouver, BC… how can that much cuteness exist in one closet? Lucky for us, Melody divulged a few of her shopping secrets and we can all check out her fashion favorites for ourselves. Below check out some of her most-cherished boutiques.

Moscow (moscowdesign.nl)
Runstraat 8, 1111 AA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Horseshoe (horseshoeseattle.com)
5344 Ballard Avenue Northwest Seattle, WA 98107

Lambs Ear (lambsearshoes.com)
3516 Fremont Place No.inesgloves.com Seattle, WA 98103

Ines Gloves (inesgloves.com)
Oudezijds Achterburgwal 132 1012 DV Amsterdam, Netherlands

JC Studio (jcstudio.ca)
46 West 6th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1K1

sonja | clothes to live in (sonjatacoma.com)
2701 N 21st St, Tacoma, WA 98406

Switch Shoes (switch-shoes.com)
7871 Southwest Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219

For a truly in depth look into the world of women-owned boutiques, check out the CRAVEguide for a city near you. These books are brimming with local women you need to know, whether you want to satisfy a craving for your closet, appetite, business, or piece of mind.

Out with the Old, In with the New!

February 24, 2010 by Suzanne N. | Comments (0)


You just got your CRAVE Chicago Guide and have been hitting up all the extraordinary woman-owned boutiques and enjoying special savings! The only problem? Where to put all of your fabulous finds!

Follow these tips to turn your closet into a sanctuary!

1. Set aside at least an hour, maybe two. And remember, many hands make light work! See if you can get a friend to help you… or at least keep you company!

2. To begin, remove everything! As you do, sort the items, putting similar ones together. Also make “Trash” and “Give Away” piles if you plan on purging. CRAVE tip: If you haven’t worn an item in a year, and don’t plan to in the foreseeable future, get rid of it! It is just taking up precious space.

3. Good news! You are half way there! Now, you just have to put everything back. Organize your clothes by there function: dresses, work skirts, work blouses, evening blouses, work-out clothes… etc. Place purses and accessories on shelves; put shoes on the floor. It is helpful to store shoes in boxes, either their original boxes or plastic ones, especially if you have a lot of shoes! Stacking shoeboxes is a great space saver, and an easy way to help find exactly which pair you want to wear.

If your closet is only as big as a shoebox, you may need to take additional steps to create more space. Consider over-the-door organizers, wall hooks and multi-level rods and remember that the space under your bed can be utilized as long-term storage, particularly for out of season garb. If you’re ambitious, you can create a second shelf in the closet, or convert your narrow shelf into a deeper shelf by utilizing a wider board.

Does your closet need some professional help? Whether you are overhauling your closet or your entire house, Karyn Madorin at Extreme Organizing provides a custom approach to organizing by understanding each client’s personal style and preference. She gives your house a clean and fresh look in a confidential, non-judgmental and supportive manner. Check out her website for coupons and discounts!

Amber Kussen at Amber’s Organizing makes organizing simple. Dont have several hours to rearrange your closet or kitchen or or office or basement? Amber and her team of professional organizers will customize orgnizing solutions to your lifestyle so it is easy to maintain a clean living space!

Don’t let a mess overwhelm you! Follow our quick tips or turn to our experts to make organizing less of a headache!

Home is Wherever You Hang Your Hat

February 23, 2010 by Lynn Edwards | Comments (1)



For those of you who have read my Rachel Ray blog you know I’m culinarily challenged, but love those food shows. I’m equally as inept at home design & décor but I love me some Design on a Dime (although I don’t actual DO either). I love the word “home.” I grew up in a small rambler with seven people, one bathroom and no dishwasher, but it was home. My Dad still lives there and it’s amazing how it feels sleeping in that house. It’s awesome when we all go home with our families, the bathroom line is just a little longer now with 23 people. After college I became a vagabond and lived all over the world, followed by 18 years as an army spouse. The Army has this cute little sign that says “Home is where the Army sends you.”

Needless to say, my “home” has been a stinky room the size of a closet, a grass hut in the middle of a rice paddy, an apartment on the 75th floor, a condo near a strip mall, a large sprawling tudor style, and approximately 5000 hotel rooms. I love all that cool stuff you get for your home when you get married but I made a critical mistake and had a really small wedding. Turns out I received three place settings of my formal china. When we’d have another couple over the fourth person had to eat off a plastic power ranger plate. I’m so home décor challenged I have lived for months with no pictures on the wall, have gone 20+ years without buying window treatments and I don’t have more than two bath towels the same color. When people ask me what “theme” I have decorated my homes I answer with a mid-modern century “pot pourri”.

As a joke one year my friends bought me an entire set of holiday plates. I now have salt & pepper shakers with snowmen on them…so stinking cool! I think chicks that wear hats are fashion forward stars, those with holiday-themed china are domestic goddesses….now I’m one. There are some staples I love that seem to make a house a luxurious home…a million pillows on your bed & lots of thread count sheets, a system to organize your plastic wear & lids, real flowers on your kitchen island, and that’s living. Oh, and whoever invented that electric fire place switch needs a raise…big time! I love huge tubs but have spent little time in them. The time I did spend was usually jockeying around to get comfortable around all those hot wheels in there with me. I did build a water feature on my deck once. I loved it, yeah for Lowe’s. I looked like a landscape architect genius just by putting part A into part B and firing up the hose. It was great to fall asleep to but it made me have to get up and pee all night long.

Oprah says make your home an oasis…take a look around and think about what you can do to make your house a little more “homey”…even if it’s just a $2 apple pie scented candle.

Put a Spring in Your Step with these Hot Colors

February 22, 2010 by Madeline C. | Comments (0)



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!

Mulberry & Me: Interview with Jana

February 19, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (2)


Mulberry & Me is the perfect boutique for ladies looking for a great fashion find and a fab friend. Jana Zacek, owner of Mulberry & Me, has created a fun atmosphere for unbelievable shopping. Savvy shoppers find themselves perusing the gorgeously filled racks with a sprinkle in their eye as they soon discover the items in this boutique are great finds at perfect prices! Jana believes there are two essential categories of product. She says “either it’s a beautiful basic that my customer is going to live in or it’s so fabulous and special that you just have to have it. There is no room for an in between.” Let’s learn more about Jana…

People may be surprised to know…
The name of my boutique stems from my time spent living on Mulberry Street in the NoLita neighborhood of New York City, hence the name, Mulberry & Me!

What is your indulgence?
A glass of red wine, a good read, and unwinding in the bathtub.  Preferably all three at the same time!

Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
My customers ARE my girlfriends and I love to hang out with them in the shop!

Who is your role model or mentor?
My Mom is just THE ultimate.  She had a coffee shop in our neighborhood when I was growing up.  She taught me about running your business with love.  That is the base of everything.

We love Jana.

Spring (Baby) Showers

February 18, 2010 by Suzanne N. | Comments (0)


We all know spring brings showers! So if you are attending a baby shower this month, stop by one of these fabulous Chicago boutiques for chic itsy-bitsy apparel and fun goodies for mom!

Bellybum Boutique This charming boutique, a celebration of mama bellies and baby bums, is a haven dedicated to encouraging new moms to feel beautiful, empowered and comfortable with their new mommy selves. Bellybum Boutique is home to a wide selection of baby accessories, great gifts, chic diaper bags, organic soap, jewelry and maternity clothes plus tons of fun mom-and-baby classes and activities! The staff is welcoming and knowledgeable and all of the products in the store are good for you, good for your baby, and good for the Earth!

Beautiful Beginnings In 1995, sisters Jackie Wilkinson and Debbie Feiler realized their true passion…babies! With 11 children between them, their love for babies does not go unnoticed and they love to help busy moms and moms-to-be! So they opened Beautiful Beginnings, which has since become the trusted consultant to mothers who appreciate the shop’s attention to detail. Located in historic Western Springs and Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Beautiful Beginnings offers a beautiful selection of must-have layette, one-of-a-kind Christening and Bris gowns and gifts, personalized piggy banks, educational and fun toys and a wide selection of books. They also carry classic baby and children’s apparel by Lilly Pulitzer, Florence Eisman, Petit Bateau and many more! All gifts are elegantly wrapped in their exclusive gift-wrap, perfectly finished with a bow!

Peek-a-Boutique Founded by Stacy Weitzman, Peek-a-Boutique is a city-inspired chic baby boutique conveniently located in the ‘burbs. At Peek-a-Boutique you will find unique apparel, accessories and gifts for babies, toddlers and expecting moms plus a selection of adorable gifts for big brothers and sisters. Stacy hand-selects each item in her shop and many of her products come from local artists. Looking for a custom gift? To add that extra special touch you can embroider your favorite blanket, burp cloth set, and more! And Stacy believes presentation is everything – she will be sure to have all your items “gift-ready” before you leave! Stacy’s mission is to ensure a unique shopping experience, friendly customer service, upscale products, a loyal customer following, and a smile on your face as you exit the shop.

A New Twist on the Theme Song

February 16, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (0)



A Theme Song. Normally when you think of a theme song you think of the first 30 seconds of a TV Show or news broadcast. That annoying thirty second melody that plays over and over in our heads days after we have watched the show. But this week we take a new look at the theme song. We asked around on Twitter and Facebook and came up with a fabulous list of songs people consider their “theme songs” for life.

These are songs that lifts you up and makes you feel good. Songs that starts a fire and keeps you going. Songs that you dance around in your bedroom listening to while you sing into your hair brush. These are the songs that define us. Everyone has one hidden some where inside of them. It might be your phone ring or the song that plays in your headphones while you work out or before a big meeting – whenever you use it and however it makes you feel we thank you all for sharing your themes.

Here is a complete list of the suggested theme songs:

For your listening pleasure go to the complete playlist on the blip.fm page titled CRAVEThemeSongs.

And next time you need a pick me up or inspiration, crank up one of these tunes and sing out – you might be surprised just how good it makes you feel!

Though you can’t change the economy, you can change your career

February 15, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (0)


Though you can’t change the economy, you can change your career! This is why Girl on Top’s Nicole Williams has partnered with Plan B to bring women of the Chicago area a night of top-level networking not to be missed. Held at the prestigious Hotel Allegro, guests who RSVP will receive a VIP pass to the event which includes:

  • Chatting up women in the area you need to have on speed dial
  • Free cocktails and desserts
  • Complimentary career advice from Nicole Williams

Date February 17, 2010
Location The Hotel Allegro at 171 West Randolph Street in Chicago
Time 6-8pm

To RSVP, send an email to RSVP@nicolewilliams.com with you and your guests’ names.

About Nicole Career expert and best selling author Nicole Williams is re-defining the world of work—making it glamorous, entertaining and relevant to modern women. Nicole founded WORKS by Nicole Williams in 2006 with the vision of building the first media and content company focused on career development specifically for the highly dynamic and powerful market of young professional women. Her website, Nicolewilliams.com, is the go-to destination site for modern working women.

Nicole is the author of two bestselling books; Wildly Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success (2004) and Earn What You’re Worth (2005), published by Penguin Group Inc. Her latest book Girl on Top, for which she partnered with The Limited on a successful nationwide experiential event tour, was published in Fall 2009.

Harmony Mind Body Fitness: Interview with Laura

February 12, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (0)


Harmony Mind Body Fitness, located in the heart of Lincoln Park, offers private, duet and group sessions in Pilates, GYROTONIC®, and GYROKINESIS®. All of these forms of exercise and bodywork are changing the way that people workout, as they find that intelligent, fun exercise does actually exist. Harmony offers clients, from the novice to the athlete, a chance to find a more meaningful connection between their mind and body as they move. The exercises are based on those of yoga, dance, tai chi, and swimming, and when you mesh those ideas together, they become a wonderfully connected series of movements that reap many benefits. You may feel taller, leaner, stronger, but most remarkably, more alive when you leave a session. Just ponder some of the principles of Pilates: concentration, control, center, fluidity, precision, breath, imagination and intuition. Our goal at Harmony is to give each client a fun, safe, effective workout – changing the body one session at a time. Let’s meet the owner of Harmony, Laura…

What are your most popular products or services?
Private Pilates sessions with our staff of certified instructors. Individual attention is key in understanding the fundamentals of Pilates.

People may be surprised to know…
Anyone can do Pilates!  We know how to modify exercises to make them beneficial for every body.

What or who inspired you to start your business?
I wanted to find a way to balance my creative side with my business-minded side.  Teaching regularly, training instructors, and maintaining a close relationship with clients have allowed me to find a perfect balance.

Follow Harmony Mind Body Fitness on Twitter

Harmony Mind Body Fitness will be one of eight fitness options during the upcoming Bloom and Tone CRAVEparty!

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