CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE

Sprucing Up Your Space

August 25, 2010 by Melanie | Comments (0)

Take a look around my home and you will see that I am in need of some design help. The nuts and bolts are there, but it could be more polished. We all CRAVE a home that is esthetically pleasing and a true reflection of ourselves.

Sarah Davis from Susan Fredman Design Group offered up the following easy updates that can make a big difference to home or office:

• Her favorite thing to do is find old scraps of really cool fabrics and frame them as art – it gives a really great pop of texture and color. You might find a vintage dress that doesn’t fit or fabric from a  furniture gallery’s sample bin that  you love enough to put it on the wall.
• Adding unique and unexpected throw pillows to the sofa or bedroom is a very fun way to change the look of a space. Sarah likes to find completely non-matching patterns, sizes and textures. The more the merrier; you can have a chest or basket next to the sofa if you need to store them.
• Accessorizing tabletops and walls is the best way to make any room feel special and designed. Whether you can find interesting items from you Grandma’s attic, a thrift shop, or a local supersaver store (Target), incorporate varying sizes, weights, colors and textures.

Celebrate Earth Day April 22

April 12, 2010 by Melisa M. | Comments (0)

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment, held on April 22. It is celebrated in many countries and has been receiving added attention in current years with the newfound popularity of going green and our increased consciousness of how we are harming the planet. As active motivated women, we, here at CRAVE, think Earth day is a wonderful chance to help women discover new ways to help our earth and conserve it for generations to come. The Nature Conservancy has some wonderful tips to do just that, pertaining to activities a lot of women deal with in their everyday lives.

Use reusable totes

You can help save oceans when you use reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags. Sure, it’s a small step — but it can make a big difference in the health of our oceans. Unfortunately, 90 percent of the debris that washes up from our oceans are man-made and shouldn’t be there. Most of it has – unfortunately – come to be expected: derelict fishing equipment, disposable plastic bottles, plastic bags, cigarette butts, bits of unidentifiable plastic, Styrofoam. To help encourage others, share where you take reusable bags or where you’ve found your favorite tote.

Eat food

Just like you, conservationists, fishermen, chefs and consumers are working together to find new ways of living off our oceans and waters while keeping nature healthy. In a day and age when many of us “harvest” most of our meals by filling a grocery cart or skimming a menu, it can be easy to overlook nature’s role in putting food on our tables. This is especially true when it comes to seafood. For centuries, the oceans’ bounty seemed inexhaustible. Now, as scientists unravel the intricate relationships between fish and the vast lands below the water’s surface, we’re gaining a clearer picture of how humans have altered our oceans’ ability to provide for us. The Conservancy is tackling the problems by working with communities to restore degraded habitats and rebuild depleted fisheries. But sustainability also depends on how fish are brought to market. A service called FishPhone is Blue Ocean’s sustainable seafood text messaging service that instantly puts sustainable seafood information at your fingertips. To find out about your seafood choice, text 30644 with the message FISH and the name of the fish in question. They’ll text you back with their assessment and better alternatives to fish with significant environmental concerns.

Green your gardening

Even while you’re gardening in your very own backyard, you can make a big difference in the health of the ocean. Fertilizers and other chemicals used in conventional gardening are washed into watersheds and eventually to sea, where they can harm coral reefs and other marine life. To help cut back on pollution, go native! Native plants require much less water and fertilizer than non-native plants do. Make your own compost! Composting kitchen scraps is a great way to create (free!) all-natural fertilizer. Set your mower to a cutting height of 2”-3” — which will eliminate undesirable weedy plants. Don’t rake your clippings; leave them behind as fertilizer. You can even try square-foot gardening. This method uses 90% less water and 95% fewer seeds than a traditional backyard garden and requires no chemicals!

You can find all the details on these tips and plenty more at earthday.nature.org

Do It Yourself Design Inspirations We CRAVE

March 22, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (0)

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:

• From gloomy kitchen to apple green colored charmer
• From boring and granny-like rocking chair to modern rockin’ chic
• From an apartment that belongs in a Golden Girls flashback to a place that Carrie Bradshaw can call home!

Do you have any home DIYs plans for spring?

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!

Beauty on Call and Glossed & Found: Interview with Stacey

January 22, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (1)

Stacey Roney is the girl to know. After spending five minutes with her you’ll realize if you want to feel hip, look amazing and be a part of everything that is going on in and around the city, you need to add Stacey to your rolodex. Stacey broke away from the typical corporate day when she began Beauty on Call, a freelance company offering on-location beauty & spa services. Beauty on Call is every girl’s dream source to magnificent make-up, spa parties and seminars.

Once you’re beautified, it’s time to make use of lookin’ good! Stacey developed Glossed & Found as a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog {and vlog} that can’t be missed! Glossed & Found offers insight into spectacular events, exclusive celebrity interviews and spotlights on emerging Chicago designers. The Glossed & Found weekly e-newsletter is one of our favorites!

Let’s learn more about Stacey, founder of these two amazing companies…

People may be surprised to know…
Although I am considered a beauty expert in the industry, I am the worst makeup artist!  I am great at finding and managing top artists and have extensive product knowledge, but you don’t want me doing your makeup!

What or who inspired you to start your business?
I was previously a cosmetic buyer for Nordstrom and saw a void in the industry, so I started the first staffing agency in the country focused on beauty.

What business mistake have you made that you will not repeat?
Trying to do everything myself!  I’ve since hired amazing people who help handle the day to day responsiblities so that I can focus on the bigger picture.

What is your indulgence?
Taking a nap.  With 3 kids under 3, it doesn’t happen very often.  Come to think of it, it never happens!

We are excited to announce Beauty on Call and Glossed & Found are partnering with CRAVE on our Beauty & Wellness event in April 2010!

A Bright Star has Gone Dim

January 11, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (1)

It is with deep sadness and such shock that I bring you this news tonight…

Last week we lost a treasured member of the CRAVE Chicago community. Meghan Hormann, owner of Backbeat Music Instruction, passed away on January 7, 2010 after a month-long battle for her life. I would like to share with you some thoughts regarding Meghan and the amazing work she believed in… Meghan and I met on Facebook and become fast friends. Her shining personality and radiant warmth added a smile to anyone’s face that knew or met her. The passion she held for her work and bringing music into the lives of every soul was touching and real; Meghan was amazing.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Meghan most recently at the Winter Wonderland CRAVEparty on 12/9 where she had a booth, coordinated a performance with two associates and donated gorgeous glass ornaments for the goody bags. All evening, despite the chilly air, Meghan had a huge smile on her face and a spring in her step.

We are extremely sad to have lost such a bright star in our entrepreneurial community.

Harmony Haus: Interview with Nichole

January 8, 2010 by Michele K. | Comments (0)

A new year and a new you, right? Of course! But if you’re like me, it’s the ‘new you’ part that’s hard to set into motion. I look for other things to make anew. Like my home decor! That said, I’m not a billionaire and I can’t go spending thousands of dollars on new furniture at my every whim. That’s why we at CRAVE love Harmony Haus. Harmony Haus specializes in environmentally conscious painting services with the utmost attention given to efficiency and minimizing waste in all aspects of business. Nichole Lovett, owner of Harmony Haus, arrives in a superwoman cape {by way of bicycle} and whips your home into a refreshed, beautiful splendor with her unmatched painting skills. We love including Nichole in the unique grouping of CRAVE featured entreprenesses, and after you get to know her you’ll see why…

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
scintillating, efficient, restorative

People may be surprised to know…
that I commute by bike and trailer with all materials in tow to the majority of job sites.  People are often amazed that I do nearly all of the work myself.

What or who inspired you to start your business?
Oddly enough, when I was unable to obtain a job painting for another company after deciding to change careers, I decided to make it happen for myself.

Now that’s creating your own Harmony!

Novelty Nouveau: Best of Chicago Area Novelty Shops

December 9, 2009 by Lindsey | Comments (1)

As the holiday season approaches, gift giving adds a bit of extra stress to all of our lives. What’s a good gift for ____? How much money should I spend? Is a gift-card too impersonal? You get the idea. Instead of just grabbing any old thing from a department store, why not try shopping at some of Chicago’s coolest novelty shops? The variety of items offered at these local gems, will not only make shopping easier, but guarantees a uniquely fabulous gift! Here are some of CRAVE’s favorites.

Bramble Know any outdoor enthusiasts or nature-motif lovers? If so, stop by Oak Park’s Bramble for an eclectic mix of nature-inspired gifts and home goods. This treasure trove features everything from French table linens and Japanese ceramic tiles to wearable accessories like scarves and jewelry. It’s the perfect place to buy someone (or yourself) something to bring the garden indoors.

Fly Bird For all things quirky and kitsch, head on out to Fly Bird, Oak Park’s most modern gift shop. From the humorous Ugly Dolls to soy Skeem Candles (the gorgeous holder can be re-used as a drinking glass after the candle has burned out), everything in the this gift shop is meant to peak your curiosities and leave you smiling.

Olive Owl Organics Need something for your eco-friendly friend? Olive Owl in Oak Park offers special natural and organic items that are unique to their store! These products are handmade personally for you and include body care, face scrubs, soaps, lip balms and more! Plan for an extended visit as you’ll also find plenty of home decor, pet goodies, baby items and totes to droll over as well!

Randoons Wearables and Whatnots Get your city style in the burbs! Located in Winnetka, Randoons is a couture cafe inspired by all things both sweet & funky. A walk throughout the cafe will find you admiring everything from fab jeans to luscious soaps, a true treat! There truly is a special gift around every corner…

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