The city is beautiful this summer! Which leaves no need for excuses when going and grabbing some delicious treats to make your day that much sweeter. We’ve searched Chicago and found some perfect goodies for to satisfy your sweet tooth. You’re taste buds will CRAVE these tasty treats and have you running to the shop nearest you!

Sarah’s Pastries & Candies
Sweet and delicious these goodies will leave you in perfect bliss. Sarah Levy, owner and the one who makes the magic happen, offers all types of goodies ranging from pastries and tarts to cupcakes and gelato. With so many options and flavors, its impossible for your taste buds to be disappointed. To see all the delectable treats, look on her website here.

Starfruit
Who ever said you needed to satisfy your sweet tooth with more sugar? Julie Smolyansky, owner of Starfruit, proves that wrong! Their frozen kefir puts regular fro-yo to shame. There’s no shame or regret after eating these healthy and delicious treats. They are perfect on a warm sunny day to refresh and revive you. Check out more about them here!

Candyality
For all us who do need that sugar fix, this is the perfect spot to satisfy our CRAVEings! Derived from the concept of associating candy with your personality, Terese McDonald owner of Candyality, offers highly indulgent, quirky, and unique sweets that will have both lasting and universal appeal. With so many to choose from, everyone will find something delicious! Click here to find out more!

Lara Miller is a woman of true beauty and talent, which resonates within herself and within the clothes she designs. Her designs are influenced mostly by architectural and cultural landscape. The playful geometry of the garments created connects the the personalities of the women who wear them. We caught up with this busy woman to ask her a few questions we were CRAVEing to know the answers to.

What is it about Lara Miller Designs that you love the most?
I love so many things about my company! I love that everything I make is made in my hometown, Chicago. I love that I support my local ecomomy by paying fair wages. I love the amazing community that I have been so lucky to create through my business. I love that everything I create and the way that I run my business acknowledges the responsibility I feel we all have to protecting and respecting our enviroment. I love getting to meet my customers and playing dress up with them. I love that people know that “eco” doesn’t have to be unflattering, that organic cotton is luxurious, and that hemp in fact is not itchy. I especially love that almost all of my pieces are designed to “wear it your wayTM” meaning they can be flipped, wrapped, and reversed to have multiple garments at once.

What is the most important thing about yourself that you’ve learned through running your business?
Wow, there’s a lot that I can say to answer this question as well. I have learned so much about myself since beginning my company 5 years ago. I think the most important thing that I have learned is that I am easily excited which leads to easily exciting others, and that is a ton of fun! Daniel Burnham’s quote sums up everything I have learned about myself to a t.”Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans. Aim high in hope and work. Remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die”

When did you first know you wanted to be a designer?
According to my father, the first time he let choose what I wanted to wear, which I guess was around 1? My first memory was in high school, taking a fashion and interior design elective. Before that, despite working for an infamous denim store in Chicago, I wanted to be in neuro research. The brain still fascinates me.

What is currently your most popular design?
Hand-loomed Sweaters – Any of the flips, especially the Elizabeth Flip. Wovens – The Donna Dress.

What is the best piece of advice you could give about starting a business?
Stay true to yourself and your vision, but make sure that aligns with your target market. Know your market inside and out. Know them like you know yourself. And be ready to eat, sleep, live your business – and have fun doing it! If it’s not fun then it isn’t worth it. If it’s not fun for you, it won’t be fun for your customers. Be ready to be flexible and make the changes that you need to make to keep it fun!

We’ve made it, summer is finally here! With the warm weather comes the scary shedding of our layers. But, not to worry! We at CRAVE have found some fabulous trainers that will keep your body looking its best all through the rest of the summer! With their help, your biggest worry will soon be which bikini to wear and accessorize, rather than which coverup will look the least frumpy.

The Dailey Method Chicago
This studio has the exercises you need to look your best. They focus on a unique combination of ballet barre work, core conditioning, stretching, and orthopedic exercises. They promise to help strengthen, tone, and lengthen your entire body. What more could you ask for?! Their methods are effective, addictive and empowering. To see how you can become involved in their classes check out their website.

One Mind Body & Being
This studio’s goal is to motivate clients to develop and maintain an overall sense of wellness. They accommodate a variety of clientele from all levels of fitness. Their sessions include Pilates, yoga, body-sculpting mat classes, boot camp, and rope burn. It is a safe haven of exercise and physical wellness and therapy. Your body will be thanking you for their help! To see more about them click here.

Gray Wellness
Fitness coach Victoria D. Gray is a certified athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, kettlebell instructor, and post-rehabilitation specialist. Skilled at working with athletes,dancers, and fitness enthusiasts of all levels for over ten years, we believe this woman can get anyone into shape! She believes dedication and determination are the perfect ingredients in accomplishing any goal. For more information check out her website here.

Harmony Mind Body Fitness
This studio offers more than just an opportunity to get back in shape. They encourage a more meaningful connection between mind and body in exercise. Offering sessions in Pilates, Gyrotonic, and Gyrokinesis; these forms of exercise are changing the way people work out. With these sessions you will see that fun exercise really does exist! They are exercises beneficial for all ages and body types. To see more about them and their classes click here.