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Archive for August, 2010

Changing Up the Interiors of Your Home? We Know Who to Call!

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

When it comes to deciding we want to re-do or re-decorate our homes, we instantly flinch because we know how large of a project it can easily become. From finding the right builder, to the right interior decorator, and then to deciding the right decor itself; the load can sometimes have you throwing your hands up in surrender. But CRAVE says, “Fear not!” We have found exactly who you need to help with your next home project. Big or small, they have exactly what you’ll need and love for your next home change.

PMI Builders
The most crucial part of rebuilding is finding the people who will do the job right the first time. Precise Measurements Inc,  is a unique and small team who specialize in kitchen and bath renovations as well as residential additions/alterations. Don’t let their small size fool you, with their small company they are able to maintain exceptional craftsmanship and superior customer relations. They keep a genuine concern for customer satisfaction with minimal interruption to their living environment which to them is a very important element contributing to an overall positive experience.

Shari Saiki
When taking on the challenge of recreating the essence and feel of a room, Shari Saiki Design Studio is who you need to call. “Atmosphere and Inspiration” is the design philosophy of award winning interior designer, Shari Saiki. Her designs are inspired by a passion for Architecture and respect of history resulting in balanced environments of comfort and elegance.

Fishcake
Showcasing fresh furnishings, accessories and art for the contemporary home; Fishcake provides a unique home furnishing and gallery experience. For designers and shoppers looking for that special piece; Fishcake has just what you need to complete your ideal feel perfectly.

Suffering from Skin Damage this Summer? Fight it with these Foods!

Monday, August 16th, 2010


We all want beautiful skin, especially during the “skin showing” months of summer. So how do we get it without spending a fortune at the Clinique counter? By eating antioxidant rich foods, that’s how. Your skin, just like every other organ in your body, needs antioxidant laden foods to keep it healthy and toxin free. Here are some of the most important foods to eat for beautiful skin. Try to get these delicious foods into your diet as often as possible and I promise you will love the results.

Foods for beautiful skin:

Sunflower seeds, Swiss chard, and almonds- What do they all have in common? Vitamin E! Vitamin E works to protect skin from ultra violet rays and rejuvenate the cells. Sauté swiss chard with garlic and olive oil and top with a mix of toasted almonds and sunflower seeds. Vitamin E never tasted so good!

Cauliflower, walnuts, and cabbage- Did you think wild salmon was the only place to get Omega 3 fatty acids? Well get excited because they are in vegetables too! Omega 3’s are essential in creating beautiful skin for they help maintain cell membranes. It is these membranes that act as barriers for the body, letting water and nutrients in, and keeping toxins out. Make an easy cabbage slaw topped with walnuts then steam cauliflower and serve with a lemon tahini sauce (also packed with Vitamin C). After these two dishes, your skin will be good to go!

Carrots, Kale, and Apricots- Not only are these foods quick and easy to get your hands on, they also serve up a giant does of Vitamin A (aka Beta Carotene). Vitamin A is involved in the repair and growth of body tissues, which is particularly beneficial when dealing with sun damaged skin. Stir-fry carrots and kale with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce for a great side dish. For the apricots, try throwing them on the grill for a great summer dessert!

Bell peppers, broccoli, and strawberries- Loaded with more vitamin C than an orange, these foods work to create collagen in the skin and protect your lovely epidermis from oxidative stress. Best ways to eat them? Grill the peppers and broccoli or eat them raw with hummus. As for strawberries, just pop them in your mouth (or put them in a crisp).

Shitake mushrooms, cod and shrimp- Mushrooms (both shittake and crimini), cod, and shrimp are chock full of selenium, a potent nutrient that promotes skin elasticity and quality. Broil cod with a fresh tomatoes and basil. For the shrimp and mushrooms, toss them into an easy Thai curry. So good!

*This post was written by Jamie Dougherty for the Please feel free to contact Jamie with questions or to share your health, wellness and foodie stories. Email: jamiegd@jamieliving.com Facebook: JAMIE LIVING Twitter:JAMIE LIVING

Five Fabulous Trends for Fall!

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Here in Hawaii we have great boutiques that are ready for the upcoming season. Fall is almost here which means time to grab the new must haves for fall! From the outfits, shoes, to accessories; they have everything you need to look your best.

1. Tops to compliment a great pair of skinny jeans is what Bamboo Sky does best. They have fashion forward colors and designs that are aching to be worn this fall. Each is unique and flattering, leaving you with a great new addition to your closet.

2. Next on our list for fall must-haves is a neutral colored jacket for the cooler weather. We are loving this cropped shrug jacket from Jessica’s Traveling Boutique. It will be a staple for your wardrobe that you could either dress up or dress down easily. Unique and fun it will leave you feeling comfortable and confident.

3. We are CRAVEing the dresses offered at Mu’umu’u Heaven. Not only are they designed right here in Hawaii, with styles changing to the different seasons; they are also doing good things for our planet! Each dress is a one of a kind and hand crafted out of vintage Hawaiian mu’umu’u.

4. For this fall exaggerated jewelry is a must. We found some fabulous necklaces and earrings at Olive Boutique. From light and flirty earrings to daring necklaces, this boutique has great jewelry to compliment our wardrobe.

5. What else to top off your next outfit, but with a great pair of shoes. For this fall season we are loving Seastar 8.4.23‘s metallic gold sneakers. They will compliment a diverse amount of outfits in anyones closet, and leave you looking fashion forward.

Girls Retweet

Monday, August 9th, 2010

In this crazy wired-world, we all need to get away, unplug, recharge but man it’s tough to make that happen! Good thing we have those friends that make us make it a priority, they do all the planning and we just have to show up (easier said than done). Getting ready to get away is so much work, but when you get there…it’s way worth it!

I was lucky enough to be invited to a girls’ retweet recently and the goal was to get away and spend some focused time on projects that were never getting done for one reason or 50 other reasons. We went to a beach house and upon arrival realized our fancy phones didn’t have service. After a collective high-pitched horror scream heard around the world, we settled into the idea of enjoying the next 4 days being off the grid, getting things done (we had wi-fi at least whew) and connecting the old-fashioned way.

It was a rough detox, complete with shakes, the DT’s and blank stares at our phones just freaking over what was going on in the wired-world without us…OMG what WOULD we be missing?!

We quickly filled that void with chocolate, red wine and walks on the beach. We found our shoulders sinking back down from our ears (with the help of the massage therapist we brought with us) and the swelling in our thumbs going down. We were so happy to let our 10,000 words a day flow as opposed to being corralled to 140 characters in a text or tweet.

Of course the walks on the beach were still captured on our fancy phones for posting later to prove how much fun we had. It made me think of that age old questions, “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it does it make a noise?” I wondered, “If we walk on the beach and have fun, but don’t take a pic and post it to Facebook did we actually have fun?”

Disconnecting was a challenge, we have all become so dependent on that mobile phone crack. But what a fabulous experience…we slept in, we created amazing things (yes on our laptops), we sat by a fire pit and told stories and made s’mores. We belly laughed, we talked about boys (some 4 yrs. old and some 40), we breathed in the fresh salt air and we ate…holy cow we ate and it was great! And not a #4 from the drive-thru window but homemade grandma recipes of chicken verde and snack bars…like the good old days!

Let’s be clear…I have a foot firmly planted in both camps. I love me some texting but I also love making memories in person (a dying art). I love the tools that allow you to be connected 24/7, heck Facebook allows me to attend my high school reunion, daily, without having to buy a cocktail dress or loss 20 lbs. But I worry that my kids couldn’t keep track of their shoes from day to day but they haven’t misplaced their phones in five years. Are they so wired and dependent that they won’t know how to play capture the flag without that tech appendage?

I challenge all of you to go rogue…try it, disconnect and in that space you may realize how great it is to really connect, maybe even at a fabulous girls retweet!

Bloggers To Watch Out For: Fashionistas

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

From runway show recaps to laid-back street looks, the world of fashion blogging is a vibrant virtual scene. It’s not necessarily about the newest, hottest, or spendiest trend — it’s about the textiles, color palettes and silhouettes that make us feel gorgeous.

For a jolt of wardrobe inspiration to pull you through the dog days of summer, bookmark Jazzi McGilbert, Sally McGraw and “Miss” James Kicinski. While their personal styles may diverge, their message is the same: get dressed, and get going!

Jazzi McGilbert of JazziMcG.com

Thrift store scenester? Or haute couture hound? Jazzi McGilbert (aka Jazzi McG) confidently struts straight down the center of the spectrum. Her blog traipses through the world of high fashion, throws the spotlight on intimate “intern confessionals” and shares a few DIY treasures (Alexander Wang sock garters, anyone?). As Jazzi puts it, her mission is to “let everyone know that the fashion industry can be tackled without a trust fund”. Can I get an amen, sister?

Sally McGraw of Already Pretty
Can one personal stylist change the way women view their bodies, and themselves? Sally McGraw thinks so. The lovely McGraw elevates her passion for chic clothing with an outspoken commitment to body acceptance. Blog posts like “What IS Flattering?” provide commonsense insights into topics that have frustrated shoppers since the dawn of time. And her weekly contests and giveaways — which range from cotton scarves to summer frocks to hefty gift cards — are not to be missed.

“Miss” James Kicinski of Bleubird Vintage
Chic baby mama. Vinyl record collector. Frilly knicker designer. Miss James is a retro inspiration — and a drop-dead gorgeous one, at that. In addition to writing about her latest Etsy obsessions and selling dreamy vintage-inspired collections through her online shop, James also blogs over at N.E.E.T. magazine. Best of luck as she stylishly feathers the nest for her new baby (due in July). What a busy little bird!

*This post was written by Alexandra Franzen for the CRAVE company:

ALEXANDRA FRANZEN is a writer + editor + organization freak. She designs rockstar resumes, leads personal branding jam sessions, writes marketing copy and teaches wallflowers how to hustle like a gangsta’. You can find her blogging up a storm at Unicorns for Socialism and tweeting away @alex_franzen.