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

DC’s Happiest Hour

March 5, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (1)

Every CRAVE gal has moments like this – when her feet kill from painfully gorgeous heels, her head hurts from incompetent employees, and her tummy growls from skipping lunch yet again. I think the Partridge Family said it best when they belted out these famously cheesy lyrics, “Come on, get happy!”  Grab your girlfriends and  head to happy hour to rid your mind of the day’s woes with cheap grub and cocktails!

Poste - (postebrasserie.com)
555 – 8th Street

French favorite Poste Modern Brasserie (in Penn Quarter) recently received a makeover! Celebrate their fabulous renovation with $5 Happy Hour Mon. -Fri., 4 – 7 pm and sip a much-deserved glass of wine while munching on sinfully delicious Pomme Frites & Truffle Frites. Happy Hour or not, Poste boasts exquisite cuisine that is market fresh and eco-friendly.

The Reserve - (reserveonl.com)
426 L Street

Striking a balance between sophisticated tapas bar and fun late night lounge, The Reserve’s hardwood floors and finished brick walls definitely create a certain ambiance. One look at their tapas menu (including Sweet Potato Puree with Grilled Scallops and Garlic Butter Sauce) and the Happy Hour menu (Tues. -Fri., 5 – 8 pm) with $5 wine and beer will leave you feeling anything but reserved!

Sette Osteria - (setteosteria.com)
1666 Connecticut Avenue

Who doesn’t love Italian good? At Sette Osteria’s daily Happy Hour from 4:30 – 7 pm you can’t go wrong. With choices like $3.75 Budlights, $7 Pizza Margheritas, and $5 mixed drinks, you’ll be itching to sidle up to the bar and get comfortable. This authentic Italian gem specializes in Neapolitan cuisine and has a wood-burning pizza oven to boot!

Peek into the CRAVE Closet

February 25, 2010 by Sarah C. | 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.

Come Clean in DC

February 23, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

Given the recent Snowpocalypse, it’s hard to believe that winter is coming to an end. It’ll be spring cleaning time before you know it…  The question of the hour is, will you be ready to face your closet, let alone your entire house or office? Below, two local ladies who make a living out of organizing other people’s stuff give us their top five organization tips in anticipation of spring cleaning!

D. Allison Lee (dallisonlee.com)
phone: 301.502.3835

From organizing your home or office to helping you with home staging and storage solutions, D. Allison Lee will de-clutter and de-stress your space in the most efficient way for your lifestyle. A Certified Professional Organizer since 2008, Ms. Lee offers a variety of packages for virtually any budget and promotes innovative, structured, and organized living.

1. Set Organizing Goals. Figure out what you want to accomplish, and put those items in order of priority. Sometimes it feels like our whole house needs help, and it might. However, there are likely to be specific areas that bother you the most. Start with those areas first.

2. Gather Everything You Need. Once you’ve set your goals, get everything you need to work successfully on your project. For example, when sorting and categorizing documents, be sure that you have a shredder, recycling bin, file folders, etc.

3. Work When You’re at Your Best. Most of us don’t do anything well when we’re hungry, tired, and/or in pain, so be sure that you’re mentally and physically ready to work. Also, think about the time of day that you’re the most productive. Are you an evening or morning person? Do you get your “second wind” in the afternoon? When do you feel the most alert? Finding out when you perform at your best will help you to complete tasks more efficiently and with greater success.

4. Play Your Favorite Music. When we exercise, we play up tempo music. It makes the whole process more fun and it can be very motivating. The same is true for organizing. Who says you can’t sing while you organize the kitchen cabinets?

5. Do a Little Bit Every Day. Have you ever tried to tackle a large project all in one day? It can be pretty daunting and overwhelming to manage it all at once, so spend 10-30 minutes every day doing some type of organizing activity. Not only will you keep the momentum going, but you will also get a chance to do other things you love to do. You’ll be surprised by how much you can get done when you do a little bit at a time.

Put It Away! (putitaway.net)
phone: 240.242.PIA1 (7421)

Catering to homes and small businesses, Kim Oser’s professional organizing service customizes its services based on each client’s particular need. Her business uses the most up-to-date organizational tools and trends to help you get rid of the clutter in your space! Put It Away! also does a great deal of community service, including supporting local non-profit organizations.

1. Schedule time to get organized. Mark it in your calendar. Set aside 20 minutes to 2 hours. Are you more productive in the morning, mid-day or at night? Schedule it like you would a doctor’s appointment. If you wait until you have spare time, you’ll never get started. Adding organizing time to your calendar establishes a commitment.

2. Grab a buddy. Do you ever feel like you get more done while you have a repair person at your home or you get the laundry folded quicker while the kids are doing homework? Have you noticed the kids get their room cleaned faster when you are standing at the door even though you never lift a finger? Invite over a non-judgmental friend, your mom, the dog or turn on the radio. This is the concept of body doubling. The body double’s only job is to stay in the room with you and help you stay on track, keep you from getting distracted. The presence of the body double serves as a physical and emotional anchor whose existence helps keep you focused on the organizational process. Plus, doing anything with company usually makes it more fun.

3. Spend 10 minutes setting goals. Why do you want to get organized? What is preventing you from being organized? By getting this information out of your head, it gives you an idea of what you want to accomplish and purpose for moving forward.

4. Drop a perfectionist attitude. We tend to think “I can’t get started because I won’t be able to make it perfect”. Our desire for perfection inhibits any success. So rather than tackling the whole office or closet, start with one drawer, or just the shoes. If we plan for small accomplishments, we feel success and inspiration to move forward.

5. The organizational process starts at home (or your office). When getting organized, our first inclination is to go buy a bunch of bins, new bookcases, file folders. While buying these supplies may get us excited, we tend to get home, pull out our supplies and go “now what?”. The organizational process starts with your stuff. Pick an area to start organizing. Sort the items in the area, match like items with like items. Determine do all of the items in this area belong here? Do empty shopping bags really belong in your closet? Do your heels belong in your file drawer? If items are out of place from where they are being used, set them aside to be returned to their appropriate area. Once an area is sorted, pick appropriate containers, label them and assign a home. By assigning everything a home, you always know where to find things and where to return them.

Interview with Sondra Lewis from Chic Chocolate

February 19, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (5)

Chic Chocolate (chicchocolate.net), Sondra Lewis’ lifestyle fashion blog, focuses on what she calls “The Chocolate City that is DC”. From designers to make-up to models to accessories, she blogs about it all in fun, chocolate-coated posts that leave us drooling over luscious looks and CRAVE-able couture.

What’s your favorite fashion must-have or must-NOT-have?
My favorite fashion must-have is a great pair of jeans! A pair or two that fits perfectly for your proportions and that make you feel sexy and confident at the same time.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
You have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak!

When you’re not focused on the blog, what does your life look like?
I’m a defense contractor by trade. When I’m not busy with work, I’m working on building my beauty business. I am a makeup artist, too. I love doing bridal makeup and I’m looking forward to doing fashion show and other beauty events really soon. I love making women pretty! When I have some down time, I love going to new restaurants with my friends or taking a road trip with my family.

What or who inspired you to start your blog?
The inspiration to start my blog, Chic Chocolate, came from loving fashion and beauty and art. I’ve always been a visual and creative person and my blog gives me the outlet that I need to express and share what I’m about.

What makes you feel most CRAVE – able?
A beautiful fragrance and a friendly smile makes me feel CRAVE-able!!

Tell us about a cause you’re passionate about.
Helping women succeed and prosper is what I’m passionate about. Although, I haven’t gotten the chance yet (no excuse), I want to volunteer with groups like, Dress For Success or Suited For Change. Being able to use my passion for fashion and helping very capable and smart women who may have fallen on hard times get back on their feet would be an honor for me. I’ve been very blessed in my life and it’s all about helping the community and giving back.

What makes you laugh so hard you cry?
It doesn’t take much to make me laugh. I’m a “born giggler!” My friends and I have a lot of inside jokes that we laugh about constantly, so that keeps me going.

Go Ga Ga for Babies in DC!

February 17, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

If you’re a mom or a mom-to-be (or an auntie or granny for that matter), you know how fun it is to buy baby stuff. Admit it – adorable outfits, cute-as-can-be accessories, and maternity clothes that actually make you feel pretty all have the ability to put a smile on your face. Read on for local baby shops near you!

Apple Seed Maternity & Baby Boutique (appleseedboutique.com)
115 South Columbus St. Alexandria, VA 22314
Expecting moms need look no further – Apple Seed is brimming with all things baby. Hip, chic clothing for moms and tots, the latest baby gear, and an array of unique gifts make this shop in Old Town a must-visit. Be the best dressed mom-to-be with maternity clothes from the likes of Citizens for Humanity, Paige, and Olian. Don’t miss the baby How-To videos on the boutique’s website!

Daisy Baby & Kids (shopdaisybaby.com)
4912-A Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Specializing in design services for children’s rooms, Daisy Baby offers a comprehensive experience for parents and parents-to-be. Founder Dana Evans helps you create the perfect space, one that is visually stunning and a happy place to be for everyone in your home. Furniture, bedding, window treatments, flooring, art, and more – Daisy Baby offers the works, and they even do House Calls to ensure that your new nursery or child’s room is the best it can be!

Interview with Meagan Kurtz from ADMK Jewelry

February 12, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

ADMK Jewelry (Adorn Designs by Meagan Kurtz – admkjewelry.com) is handcrafted, distinctive jewelry made of the highest quality, cultured freshwater pearls, cubic zirconia, Swarovski Crystals, semiprecious gemstones and precious metals. ADMK Jewelry combines the natural beauty of gemstones with a bit of flare, offering a stylish and sophisticated complement to any outfit.

What are your most popular products or services?
Earrings and simple necklaces that are sparkly yet classic with a little flare or twist to the design, maybe an unusual shapes or bold colors.

People may be surprised to know…
I don’t wear much elaborate jewelry on a daily basis.  My daily wardrobe consists of jeans and tee shirts – so the occasion to get dressed up is a nice treat!!

What or who inspired you to start your business?
My husband, family and friends always inspired me to follow my dreams.   I wanted to find a way to match my passion for fashion and business with the beauty of gemstones. I have been blessed and inspired by all the people I have meet along this journey.

What is your indulgence?
Shopping!

What do you CRAVE?  In business?  In life?
The ability to take one day at a time in life, love, business and success.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
Robert Collier

Where to find:

Kiskadee
2205 Mount Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA
703.549.0813

MooJoo Ken
1512 U Street NW
Washington DC, 20009
202.234.3140

The Denim Bar
1101 S. Joyce St., #B8
Arlington, VA 22202
703.414.8202

Hello, Cupcake!

February 10, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

Hello Cupcake (hellocupcakeonline.com)
1361 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20036
Penny Karas’ cupcake flavors have the most adorable names- Prima Donna, Velvet Elvis, and You Tart! to highlight just a few. Their titles, however, don’t hold a candle to their gourmet taste. With fresh, simple, yet decadent ingredients like real creamery butter, Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and fresh strawberries, every bite is pure bliss. Don’t miss the cute Anatomy of a Cupcake section on Hello Cupcake’s website!

Baked and Wired (bakedandwired.com)
1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington DC, 20007
We love Baked and Wired’s sassy take on every girl’s favorite treat. On any given day, you may have to choose between personality-packed flavors like Smurfette, Pretty Bitchin’, and the Chocolate Cupcake of Doom, each wrapped individually in parchment paper before being decked out with a generous dollop of creamy frosting. When it’s in season, try the DC Special. The Cherry Blossom features a vanilla cake with chunks of cherry and maraschino flavored buttercream.

Georgetown Cupcakes (georgetowncupcake.com)
3301 M Street, Washington DC, 20007
Even though we recently featured this delightful cupcakery in our CRAVE blog post about sisters, we couldn’t exactly leave them out! With locations in Georgetown and Bethesda and nationwide shipping, there’s really no reason not to try one of Katherine and Sophie’s delectable confections. Check out their daily cupcake schedule if you want to see when your favorite flavor will be in the shop!

11 Ways To Be Single on Valentine’s Day

February 9, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

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.

• 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

February 8, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

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!

Local Ladies on Team USA

February 3, 2010 by Sarah C. | Comments (0)

Across the country and just over the border, intense preparation for a brutal competition is happening now, as we speak. Athletes from all over the world are mentally and physically laying the groundwork for victory (or defeat) at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC. Two of these Olympians are of particular interest to CRAVE DC – they are women from this neck of the woods! Readers, we are pleased to introduce Elana Meyers and Ashley Wagner, and we hope you root for them in the weeks to come.

Elana Meyers
George Washington University Alumnus
(elanameyers.com, facebook, Twitter: @eamslider24)

Hailing from Georgia, 25 year old Elana Meyers is a bodacious Olympic bobsledder and a graduate of George Washington University. She’s won a plethora of medals and awards, including the title of U.S. National Push Champion, the Bronze Medal in the 2009 Winterberg World Cup, and the Gold Medal in the 2009 Whislter World Cup. Check out Elana’s website for amazing videos of her in action and links to her Facebook and Twitter pages. Go Colonials!!

Ashley Wagner
(figureskatersonline.com, facebook, Twitter: @ashwagner2010)
Native of Alexandria, VA

A world class figure skater, Ashley made a big splash at the Grand Prix Finals in Spokane, WA. Finishing fourth in that competition, the Alexandria native is the first alternate for the Vancouver Olympics and for the World Championships. According to her website, the 18 year old’s favorite drink is Lemonade and she likes watching The Office, Gilmore Girls, and House. When she’s not busy training for the Olympics, she attends Northern Virginia Community College.

Ladies, please support these two strong women with ties to the DC area. The Olympics start on February 12th so stay tuned and cheer on Elana and Ashley… They both have Facebook and Twitter accounts ready and waiting for some love and hometown pride!

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