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

Tricks of the Trade

May 31, 2010 by Karina | Comments (0)

When great minds come together, amazing things can happen. When great CRAVE minds come together, amazing things DO happen! Part of our mission – along with being the go-to source for all things fab in your city – is to connect women business-owners to the resources, information, and other like-minded women that will enable their success and growth as professionals. So to offer up some advice and inspiration to all of our hard-working entreprenesses, we’ve got a handful of intelligent lady-experts opening up their book of knowledge for us. Consider it the metaphorical – and less painful form of walking a mile in their fiercely fabulous high-heeled shoes. Read on for each experts’ single most important tip for fellow entreprenesses and their favorite part about working with women in business.

Dawn McCooey- McCooey Consulting Group Inc., Woman’s Enterprise Centre
Must-do: Understand the act and the art of juggling. If you know which balls are rubber and which are glass – you can handle anything.
Love-to-do: As a business advisor with Women’s Enterprise Centre, and as a consultant, I love the energy and the synergy of women business owners. I love how they are willing to collaborate and build community.

Carlie Smith- Portobello West
Must-do: Don’t write-off any idea until you’ve looked at it from various perspectives and always run the numbers.
Love-to-do: Female business owners are very supportive of one another and are great at working together to create amazing projects and businesses!

Pauline O’Malley- TheRevenueBuilder
Must-do: Without sales, you don’t have a business. As a woman, you have the natural abilities to persuade others to believe in you. Women are the best sales people in the world; they just don’t know it yet!

Heather White- 2020 Communications
Must-do: Take action!
Love-to-do: Sitting on the shoulders of my clients and watching them make their dreams come true. Female business owners have high energy and it’s a lot of fun to be around them.

Felicia Lee- Ghost CEO Advisor
Must-do: You are not an island – utilize mentors, resources and communities around you to help you build your business.
Love-to-do: Many women entrepreneurs are afraid of sales.  It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the transformation from fear to embracing to owning the sales process!

Katie Bennett- Double Black Diamond Coaching
Must-do: What separates my clients that get good results from my clients who get great results is commitment.  100% or 0%. There is no wiggle room on true commitment.
Love-to-do: The best part of my job is getting to help people achieve the lives and businesses they have always dreamed of.

Shauna Causey- Voluntweetup
Must-do: Test your limits on how generous you can be.
Love-to-do: The best part of my job is that I get to talk about dynamic ideas, inspiring people and worthwhile causes.

Maria Ross- Red Slice
Must-do: Make sure you know who your audience is! Get as close to defining your “ideal” customer vs. just your “average” customer.
Love-to-do: Seeing the light go off when they discover what their brand is really all about or who really is their ideal customer.

Andrea Baxter- Bratface Marketing
Must-do: There is nothing more beneficial to business women in a small city than to get out there, make yourself aware, and make a name for yourself.
Love-to-do: I would be lying if I didn’t say the freedom it allows me to have my own business.

Interview with Entrepreness Gretchen Alley of Bernadettes.com

May 28, 2010 by Katelin | Comments (0)

As the technology of consumerism evolves, bringing Internet flash sales to our fingertips and online-only promotions to our PDA’s, there’s no denying the convenience of this new Internet-centric style of shopping. However, according to Gretchen Alley, owner of the sophisticated and well-stocked online boutique: Bernadettes.com, there’s no substitute for personalized service and a unique inventory. Though traditionally found in brick-and-mortar establishments, Gretchen has created the perfect hybrid of online convenience with the venerability of a well-seasoned vintage shop. The inventory at Bernadette’s is comprised of hand-selected pieces of distinction from all over the world, thanks to Gretchen’s many international connections, whose paramount focus is providing items steeped in the richness of traditional craftsmanship and the thrill of rare designer finds. A visit to Bernadette’s is the perfect cure to the familiar frustrations of gift giving and the occasional personal pampering. In a world where new doesn’t always mean improved, this sweet online boutique seems to prove that a happy balance truly does exist.

Hi Gretchen, tell us a little about yourself.
I’m originally from Austin, Texas and I did real estate and investments for my family while I was there. After my husband passed away, I decided I needed to do something different, so I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and stayed there for about eight years. I moved to Portland when my son came out here, and now I travel between here, Jackson Hole, and Austin.

Do you find differences in personal style between cities?
Yes, it’s interesting. There’s a lot of cowboy culture in Wyoming, in the art, music, etc. But then there’s a whole different group there as well. A friend of mine has a very high-end boutique there and she goes to Paris, Milan, New York, London 
 So it’s an interesting combination of the Western culture and a lot of money from Chicago and the East Coast.

What is you target clientele?
My target market is men, and women between 25 and about 40 with disposable income, who are looking for something they can’t find anywhere else. They’re shopping for someone who has everything in the world, or maybe for someone who is looking for a particular bag or accessory and just can’t find what they want. I think that a lot of people find that they want certain things but they just don’t have a lot of time to look for them, it’s not the focus of their day. If a friend knows you’re looking for it and they stumble across it, it’s pretty neat. Not like a Jimmy Choo from Bergdorf’s that anyone can get, this is a Louis Vuitton vintage flat that isn’t made anymore.

Also men who have women friends who are demanding. It’s not so much that they can use the present, but that the guy listened and got something unique for them. They didn’t just go to Jared.

What makes the Bernadette’s shopping experience unique?
When you go shopping it feels like you see the same thing everywhere. Somebody gets a good idea and everyone else copies it. At Bernadette’s I have items that are very unique. Some are just junky fun, for white elephant gifts and such, and others things are really special. Many of my friends whom I consider to be pretty high-end shoppers comment on my pieces saying things like ‘I had no idea that even existed,’ like the Halston compacts I carry. There are some listed on Ebay but mine are new and unused. And that’s what I look for. I used to have an antique shop in Austin, and from there I have great connections with what I call ‘pickers’. They’re people that I know from years back, they travel all over, and they know me and what I’m looking for. If they find something that they think is really unique they pick it up for me. I also travel, and what we all look for above everything else is uniqueness beyond simply what you could find at an average vintage store.

How often do you travel?
More than I’d like to. Oftentimes I’ll take little driving trips, that way you can find interesting out of the way places on the road. Sometimes you don’t find anything, maybe just a good place to eat, but other times you find amazing places to stop along the way. Having connections with my ‘pickers’ also helps, because they can do some of the shopping for me. Don’t you ever find that when you’re shopping just to look, you find something that you just love, but you don’t need it? That’s where it’s fun for them, because they can shop and still pick things up because they know I’ll take it. When they send the pieces to me, it’s like Christmas!

In your opinion, what is the benefit to buying vintage?
The way I see it, there’s really nothing new in the market, if you study fashion you can see that a lot of the items that come out have already been done, just changed a little bit. And sometimes I don’t think they change it for the better. So if you’re buying vintage, you’re buying a lot of the originals. There are few designers that are doing things that are so incredible, and you just want to get their things just hold on to them for ten or fifteen years down the road, but there’s not a lot of that today. So buying vintage means you’re getting the original look. A lot of times you’re getting better quality. A lot of jewelry I have is costume jewelry, but there’s a difference between the costume jewelry of today that’s disposable and that of the 1940’s and 50’s, it’s really hard to tell that they aren’t real. That’s hard to get today, you just don’t have the craftsmen to produce it.

I imagine your own collection is full of great pieces. Do you have a favorite piece or designer?
I’ll always pick up David Webb jewelry and original Halstons. And a lot of times it just depends on the condition, it may be something I love, but many times people try to repair jewelry but they don’t take it to someone with a lot of experience of the era they’re restoring. Kind of like people who polish silver to where there’s none of the black left, and you’re like ‘my God it looks like it’s stainless steel!’ So if you don’t know who to take it to, then it’s ruined, in those cases I don’t purchase the pieces.

You donate a percentage of proceeds of to a charity of choice each quarter. How do you choose the charities?
From friends. Bernadette is my puppy, and I really feel for animals, so a lot of it is animal related charities. I don’t know if it will stay that way, but a lot of these animal charities don’t get the publicity they need.

What are some challenges to being an Internet entrepreneur?
Having had both online and storefront shops, I think the challenge is the same: getting the word out. It just goes on forever, and I’m always working on it. There’s always somebody out there newer, so you’re fighting that. And sometimes, you just can’t buy the advertising, it has to be word of mouth. And what I’m trying to do with Bernadette’s, the website, is make it into the store that maybe your mother or grandmother would have gone into years ago, with that personal touch. Where they could actually talk to the owner, and feel that they really cared about you and making you happy. So if you want your note written a special way, or name spelled a certain way, and it’s a handwritten note that comes to you with your package, we’ll do that. Also, the wrapping is beautiful and its’ wrapped so that when it comes to you, you can open it and see if you really like what you bought. I hate when I buy something to give to someone else, and it’s wrapped in a way that I don’t get to see and handle it. We do our wrapping so that you can open it and then wrap it back up and it looks the same. To me, that’s important. The fact that you can text, call, email us and we’ll get back to you with more pictures, or whatever you need. It’s about service, and I think that’s something that’s really missing in society today. I’m hoping that is what makes Bernadette’s special.

What are your plans for the future of Bernadettes?
I would like for more people to know we’re out there, that’s one thing. And just to keep searching for that very special item that maybe someone bought a long time ago, never wore, and stuck in the back of their closet, left in perfect condition. Those are great finds! Give us a try, and you’ll see what a unique experience we have.

More Cravings: Jewelry Designers and Shops

May 26, 2010 by Elijah | Comments (1)

Mother’s Day may have already passed us by, but is it ever too late for some of the finest jewelry Portland has to offer? Maybe you’re planning to pick up a little something extra for mom, but let’s be honest, after you see what these ladies have to offer, you’re going to be shopping for yourself!

Gem Kitty’s Arwa Jumkawala is the gal to know if you want beautifully crafted custom necklaces and earrings. Use her site’s easy jewelry designer to create your very own unique piece of jewelry with a whole array of stunning, richly-colored semiprecious stones. After you submit the design, Arwa will skillfully put together your piece and ship it to you for free! If you don’t trust yourself to design your own pieces (and if you’re anything like me, you certainly shouldn’t), Gem Kitty’s limited edition pieces will still allow you to enjoy Arwa’s work. If you see something you love, buy it quick though! Limited edition pieces truly are limited with fewer than ten of each being created, and once they’re sold out, you’re going to have to scour Ebay to get your hands on one. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste any time in ordering her upcoming limited edition piece: a gold and turquoise necklace perfect for summer.

Katy Kippen, owner of Grayling Jewelry, works magic with crystals, stones, and chains. Her current collection combines layered chains, stones in neutral colors, and clear crystals that pair beautifully with any outfit. Grayling pieces are understated yet complex and beautiful. Pick up something such as the Celestial, an enchanting necklace crafted out of silver chain and quartz crystal, at the Grayling online store or at local boutiques such as Relish. Keep checking the Grayling site in the coming weeks for the premier of Katy’s new collection, which will feature summery greens, blues, and burnished gold. Clearly, turquoise and gold are must-haves for your jewelry box this summer!

Betsy & Iya combines beautiful, unique pieces of antique metal and bright, retro celluloid plastic. Betsy & Iya carries a huge number of necklaces and earrings– most at very affordable prices– that will appeal to just about any style. Bold metal pieces like A Mighty Brass Shield earrings are a great way to add interest to an outfit for any season, and fun plastic Sunburst earrings are a vibrant addition to summer dresses. Browse the Betsy & Iya Etsy shop to see these and lots of other fun pieces that, at less than $40 for most earrings, you won’t be able to resist. If you prefer brick and mortar, you can find Betsy & Iya at Mabel and Zora as well as dozens of other shops around the city and around the world (yes, you can even find Betsy & Iya in the Netherlands).

Behind barred windows, emily-jane hides a wealth of unique pieces made by their in-house team of designers. emily-jane offers a full range of jewelry including the elegant yet fun Spyglass necklace or the bold, smoky Blue Labradorite ring. All of emily-jane’s pieces are edgy, exotic, and guaranteed to turn heads. If you’re looking for a bargain, you may want to look elsewhere: emily-jane pieces are made without cutting corners, and it shows in the prices. However, if you’re guilty of the occasional jewelry splurge, emily-jane is a must-visit. Shop their online store, or swing by their boutique on NE Broadway and get treated to champagne as you shop!

emily-jane
1428 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 460-0516

If you just can’t get enough of Portland’s amazing jewelry scene, check out our very own Cecilia Doan’s visit to local designer and artisan Sahlia Michelle’s studio.

Dangerous Foods Hiding in Your Pantry

May 24, 2010 by Nicole S. | Comments (0)

Do you CRAVE a healthier lifestyle? We asked one of our favorite wellness gurus, Jamie Dougherty, for some simple ways to improve your diet by cleaning out the “dangerous” foods hiding in your pantry. Here is what Jamie had to say about those last few items in your kitchen standing between you and your healthiest self.

When people begin to eat better, the food in their refrigerator changes. More fruits, fresh vegetables, organic, pasture raised diary and meat. However there is one place that is always the last vestige of unhealthy food…the pantry! Pantries are the final frontier of “hazardous for your health” foods. Pantry food must be shelf stable, meaning food items are pumped full of chemicals and preservatives to make them last longer. Processed foods are also loaded with sugar, low quality oils and genetically modified fillers that can damage our bodies.

Luckily there are a number of tasty alternatives to replace the unhealthier models. Here are a few easy pantry raiding swap-outs to get started.

Top 5 pantry foods to replace

Bread crumbs

OUT - The packaged stuff. Full of hydrogenated oils, sugar, and anti-caking agents.
IN - Make your own crumbs. Take unused stale bread, put in a food processor with sea salt, and then toast in a slow oven. Keep them in the freezer or in the pantry in a sealed container.

Broth

OUT - Bouillon cubes, powder or canned stock. Full of sugar, low quality salt, MSG, and genetically modified ingredients.
IN – Homemade or organic boxed stock (Pacific Naturals Vegetable Stock is very good).

Cooking Oils, Fats & Sprays

OUT –Aerosol oils (PAM) and vegetable shortenings. Dump the corn, peanut, vegetable, soybean, safflower oils, margarine, and Crisco.
IN - High quality extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, sesame oil, flaxseed & hemp oils, ghee/clarified butter, organic butter.

Salad Dressing and Sauces

OUT - Bottled dressings, marinades, sugary BBQ sauce, ketchup, soy sauce.
IN – fruit sweetened ketchup and BBQ sauce (check out Organicville), tamari/shoyu, and homemade dressings. Use good oils, balsamic/red wine vinegar, ginger/sesame oil/tamari, tahini with lemon.

Vanilla

OUT - Imitation vanilla: loaded with corn syrup and added sugars.
IN – Real vanilla extract and vanilla beans. They’re expensive, but totally worth it!

To receive your fill of healthy living tips become a JAMIE|LIVING Facebook Fan or follow her on Twitter! You can also find delicious recipes at www.jamieliving.blogspot.com.

Jamie G. Dougherty is the owner and founder of JAMIE|LIVING, Health and Lifestyle Counseling. She is an AADP certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is passionate about deliciously healthy food and specializes in helping her clients transform their lives through the power of nutrition and self-care.

Insight from Makeup Artist, Sheila Patel

May 21, 2010 by Jennifer L. | Comments (0)

Whether it’s just a hint of blush on our cheeks, a swab of lipgloss to our puckers, or a brush of mascara to our batting eyelashes, we all want to look and feel our best! However, with the plethora of make-up options out there, finding the right products can be quite overwhelming…what color foundation to use, what eyeshadows look best on a brown-eyed beauty, liquid eyeliner or pencil??? This is where renowned make-up artist, Sheila Patel comes into the picture. With a trained eye, a steady and skilled hand, she applies the right mixture of shadows and powders
Voila! You have your own customized look. Here is her expert advice and a video featuring the “Artist at Work”, enjoy!

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?

My sister in law, Xuan Thu Pham encouraged me to get back to doing something that I have excelled in in the past and all the credit goes to her for my getting back in.

What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?

Overscheduling. Earlier on in my career when I just started out, there was a time when I was working continuously from one makeup client to another in a single day. Because I worked with more clients than I could manage in one day, I felt that I did not put in the effort and time that each client deserved. I wanted to give the focus and attention to each person, but with time against me, I was not able to do that. From that experience on, I never did that again. Each customer is special to me and I’ll only work on a client at a time – that is my philosophy.

What is your favorite make-up brand?

I like different makeup brands for different reasons. I use MAC, Shu Uemura, Glauca Rossi, NARS, Makeup Forever, Ben Nye, and Kryolan. In fact, I have so many different brands in my professional makeup toolbox that I can’t name all the brands I enjoy using. Each brand is uniquely used for different purposes and events such as TV or weddings. As an everyday favorite makeup brand, I like Bobbi Brown.

What defines the Bollywood style? Do you think it would cross-over to the U.S.?

I’m glad you asked me this question because so many people have different notions of what the “Bollywood style” is and what it really means. Coming from Mumbai and having worked with Bollywood and MTV – I see the different perceptions of how people view Bollywood. What defines the Bollywood style has more to do with what you see on a film set: the movie scenes, dance scenes, and the ensemble of women who dress up in extravagant attire along with the extravagant makeup to go with it. Bollywood is about glamour, visual performance artistry, and telling a story.

This is why a Bollywood style is not suitable for everyday looks. If you’ve ever seen a wedding scene from a Bollywood film, you’ll notice the rich colors, embroideries, and magnificent jewelry that the women are wearing. Also notice their makeup – it’s created and done up to be very dramatic. When you wear such beautiful clothes, your face is competing with it and pales in comparison to what you’re wearing. That’s why it has to look very dramatic.

I think it the Bollywood look can absolutely cross over to the U.S. if it’s in the wedding space. However, with everyday looks, it might be too much, especially without the costumes. But if you’re up for that look for yourself, why not?

What is your favorite make-up look for spring/summer?

I have this secret passion for the orange and yellow color theme. If it’s done well, it can really work for you. Case in point: you can use a yellow eyeshadow

and apply it over your eyelids. Then use an orange eyeshadow to contour the lids as well as the edges. Next, you can define your eyes with black eyeliner and mascara – and voila. Most people think they can’t use these colors, but you can!

What is the most common make-up mistakes you see people make?

Mismatched foundation has to be the topper on the list. This is the most common mistake I’d like to see people stop making. Coming from an Asian country, there is an obsession to have fair skin. People try to correct that by using light foundation. The end result? Your skin will end up looking grey. Also, some people tend to incorrectly use bronzers or foundation that’s too dark for them, which are really too orange for one’s face. This looks hideous.

A good indicator of using the proper foundation for yourself is to reference it in natural sunlight. Typically, when you buy it in the mall under fluorescent lighting, it’s easy to make the mistake of buying the wrong color for your skintone. What you can do is apply a small amount from the tester on your skin – step outside and see if it matches your skin. Just be true to your skin tone and be proud of your natural beauty.

Visit Sheila Patel at:

Website: sheilapatelsf.com

Blog: bit.ly/MakingFaces

Twitter: bit.ly/cZvamc

Facebook: bit.ly/cKLfS7

YouTube: bit.ly/91hB9F

Interview with Entrepreness Kim Sibley of Little Urbanites

May 21, 2010 by Cecilia D. | Comments (1)

Kim Sibley is an influential person in your community and in your business but you may not even realize it until now! Not only is Kim the proud owner of Little Urbanites, a wonderfully curated children’s store in Portland’s Pearl District, she also sits on several neighborhood associations planning and implementing ways to improve our neighborhoods and business districts in Portland. With a degree in Early Childhood Education & Fine Art and seven years of experience working for a children’s museum as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Kim brings her expertise, knowledge as well as energy to Little Urbanites. Offering a unique selection of safe, worldly, and quality products, Kim provides exceptional customer service and gives expert advice for families in Portland and across the nation. Kim set aside some time for me to interview her for our CRAVE Portland Entrepreness feature and it was so much fun getting to know more about her and her business.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I grew up in New York and New Jersey and have traveled 48 out of the 50 states in the U.S.–I’ve lived everywhere too. My background is in art, and I worked at Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’m passionate about education and developing the business districts in Portland. I’m also VP of the Pearl District Business Association (PDBA), on the board for Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associaion (APNBA) as well as a mentor for Mentor Portland. I also love to garden and volunteer!

What aspects of the business do you handle most?
I do all the buying for the store, merchandising, I handle marketing and public relations, web design and maintenance, and I also do sales on the weekends. I oversee all other aspects of the business, but for example financials–that’s not me, I have someone else taking care of the numbers, that’s boring to me!

What’s the significance of the name “Little Urbanites”?
My mom, Suzanne owned a kids’ store in New Jersey and I actually give her all the credit for coming up with the name. We knew that we wanted to have the business in the Pearl District, and so our customers would be city dwellers and their children would be growing up in the city.

What’s your criteria for buying for your store?
I always ask where it’s made and whose making it. In addition to uniqueness, I try to choose products that are safe, environmentally friendly and socially response. I feel that I can make an impact by making responsible choices.

What are some of the most popular products that you carry?
The Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair — “the chair that grows with your child.” It was made in the 1970′s by a dad and is actually in Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) cafe! Baby registry, strollers and stroller advice are also popular products and services. i spend hours and days helping customers find the right stroller!

In addition to your retail store, you also have your online store www.littleurbanites.com. What are the pros & cons of having both entities?
The retail store is fun, interactive, and you get to meet your customers but it also has to be open all days of the week. I really love doing social media online and working on relaunching our blog! The downside of online is the maintenance of everything!

Besides being your own boss, what’s the most rewarding aspect of having your own business?
I get a feeling of personal achievement, that you built something from the ground up and it’s become something successful. I also curate the store and go through a very in-depth selection process and research to make sure that each and every one of my products in the store has a purpose and makes a statement. That’s rewarding to me!

What do you do to maintain a balance in your life?
Balance is very difficult to achieve! I try to take at least one day off a week, garden or spend time traveling. I don’t have any children yet but Little Urbanites IS my baby and that’s where most of my focus is right now.

Do you have plans for the future of Little Urbanites?
We’ve had our online store for two years now and it’s been doing pretty well, but I’d love to grow it even more. I’d also like to open up in other locations in the future.

Any last words for our readers?
Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter! Those are both ways I’m able to connect and interact with fans and customers. I would also love your feedback on how we’re doing and what products you like!

How to Plan Your Perfect Summer Party with LA Glam

May 20, 2010 by Nicole S. | Comments (1)

Planning a party can be loads of fun but let’s be totally honest
planning and attending the same party can be tough. That’s why CRAVE asked Christina Murphy, who runs LA Glam Events with her partner Erin Preuss to give us a few pointers. The good news is that with a little planning and creative magic you can host a party everyone (including you) will love!

With the summer party season about to get into full swing starting on Memorial Day Weekend it’s a perfect time to treat your friends to a love-everything-about-summer party that will set the standard for everyone else. (And no, it doesn’t require boatloads of cash or a swank Hampton’s seaside soirees.)

4 easy ways to make your Memorial Day BBQ better than everyone else’s


1) Invites: Evites are ok, Paperless Post is so cool (but pricey) and so why stick to the norm. A trip to the 99 Cents store will yield a plethora of fun and funky ideas. It’s much less expensive than you would think to send unusual invites and it’s a great way to make your party stand out from the rest. Mix and match and let your imagination run wild. It’s half the fun.

2) Food: it’s sort of crucial to a good party. Nothing is more delicious and easy than good old fashion burgers on the grill and burgers don’t have to boring. Add an array of interesting self-serve toppings like sautĂ©ed mushrooms, arugula, bacon, avocado, etc to create a gourmet burger bar. You can even ask people to write down their custom burger, name it and take pictures for your own Burger Hall of Fame.

3) Cocktails: a trip to your local farmers market will start your inner mixologist juices flowing. Take all the favs (fresh squeezed OJ, grapefruit, lemon and lime) throw in some new twists (muddle berries, pineapple or watermelon) and some smoothie-like purees (cantaloupe, honeydew, banana and mango).Use some basic alcohols and set it all out for people to create their own signature cocktail. People love experimenting and the bonus is for the people who are going adult-beverage free they can make a killer virgin version of the same thing.

4) DĂ©cor: for some seriously-talented-crafty types dĂ©cor is a hallmark of their parties. For me, with limited time, dĂ©cor needs to be simple and accessible. My favorite budget friendly dĂ©cor item is cotton quilt fabrics. These fabrics are your new, super crafty best friend. You can make awesome mix and match table overlays (most standard fabrics aren’t wide enough for a full table linen) but they make cute overlays either over whatever linens already have or over plain white sheets hemmed to fit your table. Mix patterns and colors to create a really festive look.

The good news is all these projects are relatively easy and don’t require a bunch of time or money. Just give yourself a week to work on your dĂ©cor projects in the evening and prep your food and juices the morning of your event and you will be able to party-hardy with all your pals!

What We’re Craving: Mani-Pedi’s

May 19, 2010 by Stephanie M. | Comments (0)

This past weekend, signs that summer is on the way were all around us. The sun was out, birds were chirping, flowers were in bloom; I think I even heard an ice cream truck. With the onset of the sunshine, it’s also time to bring back your much anticipated warm weather rituals. For some this may include gardening or spring cleaning, maybe shopping for your new go-to dress or going on a hike. No matter what your spring to-do list includes, make sure you include a fresh manicure and pedicure towards the top. Sit back, relax and get sandal-approved toes at one of these local shops.

Beauty Bar Portland
At Beauty Bar Portland, don’t expect your typical nail salon. Oh no! The Beauty Bar is a vintage beauty parlor and bar, complete with stiff drinks, music, and mixologists. For a unique night on the town, grab your friends and head to the Beauty Bar for their famous Martini & Manicure happy hour, where you can get thoroughly pampered while enjoying a delicious cocktail and live music. Happy hour is offered Monday through Friday from 4-7 pm and Saturday from 6 pm to midnight.

Beauty Bar Portland
111 SW Ash Street
Portland, OR 97204
503-224-0773

Lace Beauty
Lace Beauty, located in the Pearl is the perfect place to be pampered with one of their signature hand and foot treatments. Try the Spa Pedicure, which will leave your feet soft and soothed from exfoliation, massage, paraffin dip, vitamin E and essential oils. If you really want to relax, enhance your treatment with a hot stone massage and slip into serenity.

Lace Beauty
405 NW Tenth Avenue
Portland, OR
503-208-3183

The Nail Sanctuary
Need a break from the hustle-and-bustle of daily life? Sneak away for some individualized attention at the Nail Sanctuary. Esthetician Cindi Rice treats one client at a time to a variety of tranquil and relaxing services. The Cooling Comfort pedicure is perfect for women on the go with its cooling combination of peppermint, chamomile and botanicals used to energize and rejuvenate tired feet. But it doesn’t stop here; Cindi provides extra refreshment with a peppermint-infused foot masque and cool towel wrap.

The Nail Sanctuary
The Old Sellwood Square
8235 S.E. 13th Avenue, Suite 4
Portland, Oregon 97202
503-236-4567

The Grand SalonSpa
Need a chocolate fix? The Grand SalonSpa is the place to go to satisfy your craving. Try the Chocolate Indulgence Manicure and Pedicure and prepare for cocoa bliss. You will be indulged with the finest chocolate treatment, beginning with chocolate and mint exfoliation, followed by a hand massage and of course all the classic mani/pedi services. If your hands are really overworked, instead try the nourishing Grand Caviar & Pearl Manicure for extra rejuvenation.

The Grand SalonSpa
4200 SW Watson Ave
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-644-2800

Portland Spa and Boutique
At the Portland Spa and Boutique, owner Danielle VanAuken and her staff deliver organic treatments served in a luxurious spa atmosphere on the South Waterfront. The “Wisdom” pedicure uses the powerful anti-oxidants of green tea to sooth and renew tired feet. Also try the “Citrus Lemonade Manicure” to energize and refresh your mind and body as the citrus aroma excites your senses.

Portland Spa and Botique
0315 SW Montgomery Street, Suite 390
Portland, Oregon 97201
503-222-0105

Where do you go for your all of your spring pampering?

Planning a Fun in the Sun Picnic

May 17, 2010 by Jennifer L. | Comments (0)

Food always seems to taste better when enjoyed outdoors and in the company of great friends and family. So, pack your picnic basket, grab a blanket, bring some companions, and take advantage of the sunny warm weather the spring and summer months have to offer with an al fresco dining experience! Don’t sweat, planning a picnic doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some fun and fuss-free ideas for planning a picnic in the fresh air and sunshine!

1. Pick a Location:

• At the Park: Whether you’re on a grassy spot in the sunlight or under the shade of a tree, a park is the perfect place to gather for a picnic! If you’re feeling guilty about leaving your beloved pooch at home, there are plenty of pet-friendly parks so you can bring Fido along!
• On a Beach: Sun, surf, and sand is the ideal combination for a picnic on the beach! Just make sure you enjoy each element separately to avoid melted, soggy, or grainy grub.
• At a Drive-In Movie: CRAVing a romantic night with your sweetie? Dinner and a movie underneath a blanket of twinkling nighttime stars is a perfect date night combination. Don’t forget to bring popcorn and candy!
• In Your Backyard: Want to enjoy a meal outside but don’t feel like hauling a basket or cooler full of food around? No problem, a picnic in your backyard can be just as fun and probably less stressful if you happen to forget the napkins!
• On a Roof-top Patio: For those of you dwelling in the concrete jungle, many apartment and condo buildings have a roof-top patio for their residents to enjoy. The only difference? Rather than being surrounded by trees, you have adjacent skyscrapers to provide shade.

2. Picnic Menu Items:

We encourage you to be creative, but to also keep things simple with your picnic menu! Remember, you have to schlep these baskets around with limited heating or cooling available, and food poisoning is never included in the recipe for fun. Pack your picnic baskets with these simple palate pleasers, bon appetit!

• Savor: Definitely use your left-overs when you can! Roasted chicken can be used to make a yummy pasta or Caesar salad. You can also make some simple PB&J or turkey sandwiches the night before and refrigerate them until you’re ready to head out. Soft bagels with cream cheese are also a great and effortless menu option. Here are some other easy picnic recipes to consider.
• Sip: Class up your picnic with a bottle of wine to sip while you savor your meal, which is ideal if you’re enjoying a laid-back picnic on your backyard porch. For public parks and beaches, we recommend some bubbly and refreshing sparkling apple cider instead. Lemonade is also the classic beverage of choice for a sunny spring/summer picnic.
• Sweets: You can’t go wrong with brownies and cookies, which are crowd-pleasers for any age. A fresh fruit salad is delicious and nutritious, and also surprisingly portable! We generally don’t recommend packing anything that melts quickly, but if you’re having a backyard picnic you can get away with serving ice cream and popsicles!

3. Picnic Essentials NOT to Forget:

• Sunscreen/sun block: Don’t ruin your outdoor picnic with a painful sunburn, keep yourself sun protected! As the people from the land down under would say, “Slip, Slop, Slap: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat.”
• Insect repellant: A good idea if you’re going to be outdoors long enough for the mosquitoes to come out for their own picnic.
• Big quilt/blanket: If you’re going to be dining on the grass, sit on a big quilt or blanket to protect yourself from ants in your pants, or even worse, in your food!
• Eating utensils: Finger food is always fun, but if you plan on serving something that requires a fork, spoon, or knife, eating with your bare hands will get messy and complicated.
• Plastic bag(s): Be considerate of others and the park in which you are enjoying your picnic and clean up any trash or food waste. Also, if your pooch joined you for your picnic, please pick up behind your pawed pal as well.
• Anti-bacterial hand gel/wipes: Ahh, germs! Need we say more?
• Entertainment: Don’t dine and dash, stay a while! Bring some playing cards, a Frisbee, or play bocce ball while your tummies digest.

Interview with Entreprenesses Denise Burchard & Meghann Markham of Bar Method Portland

May 14, 2010 by Stephanie M. | Comments (3)

Women and men around the country are turning to The Bar Method for a unique and effective workout. This being said, don’t expect your typical gym setting. Instead when you arrive at The Bar Method Portland studio on NW 9th and Hoyt, prepare to step foot into a serene, spa-like atmosphere and to be welcomed by the smiling faces of owners Denise Burchard (right in above photo) and Meghann Markham (left). Denise and Meghann exude a visible passion for The Bar Method workout, which combines the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles.

I’d like to know a little about each of you and how you got started with The Bar Method.
Denise: Before I moved to Portland, I was involved with The Bar Method in San Francisco for six years. I took a class and loved it. I had an interest in physical therapy and thought about going to school for it. Instead I took some time off and became a Bar Method teacher. When my husband and I moved to Portland, I knew I could not be without the Bar Method. I had the chance to travel and meet the owners of the Bar Method. They are such a great community of women and they are very encouraging when it comes to helping other people open Bar Method studios. They are so friendly, like a second family.

Meghann: I have been an instructor for the Bar Method for about two years. I never thought of myself as a structured class type of person. I was more into soccer and volleyball. In San Francisco, the Bar Method is really popular, but I still figured it probably wasn’t tough enough for me. I decided to give the introductory classes a try for 30 days. Over the first week, the more I went, the more I loved it. After six months of doing the Bar Method workout I inquired about becoming an instructor. The Bar Method is a unique method of strength versus grace. My husband was transferred to Portland right as I was about to be an instructor, and I was so bummed! I was told there was someone interested in opening up a Bar Method in Portland, and that’s when I was connected with Denise. We connected instantly and decided to become business partners.

What is special about the Bar Method workout?
The Bar Method workout has 17 years worth of safety and effectiveness built into it. It is based on the founder’s pursuit of excellence. The unique foundation of the exercise, in collaboration with aspects from physical therapy, make it special. You experience deep, isolated contractions, but in a way that you never feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

I read that Kelly Osbourne attributes her significant weight loss to the Bar Method. Are there other success stories like this that you have seen at your location?
Yes! If you visit our Facebook page it is always buzzing with people sharing their progress. In addition, we have a special project we just completed called 6/60, where 6 women with 6 different lives experience the Bar Method for 60 days and share their progress. We have seen successes that range from small to large. It can be as simple as being able to do push-ups on your toes, when before you had to use your knees. Two specific examples of client successes are Mary Anne who lost five inches from her waist and Jessica who is now back into her pre-pregnancy jeans.

It’s great that pregnant women can continue to do the Bar Method workout through their pregnancy. Is there any other type of client that would benefit from this type of workout? What type of modifications does this require?
Yes, pregnant women are able to continue at the Bar Method as long as they have taken the Bar Method before. If women have never done the Bar Method, we do not recommend them to start during pregnancy because we have no baseline to evaluate the changes that are happening to their body. There are many modifications we are able to add to make the Bar Method safe for pregnant women and eventually we hope to do pre-natal workshops too!

We have one client with rheumatoid arthritis who comes in 4-5 times per week. We check in with clients’ limitations to meet their individual needs. There are also modifications for people experiencing tightness in their backs, people who’ve had surgery, etc. In addition, we also have new clients come to class early and help them modify the exercise before and during class.

Can you describe to our readers more about your “spa-like” atmosphere and the reasoning behind this type of facility.
We designed our facility to be calm, but energizing and very boutique-like. We strive to keep it nice and comfortable for clients because it is often the one hour of the day that is devoted completely to “you.” During this time clients connect with the body and the mind. The time you spend at the Bar Method is the ultimate “me” time in between busy time. We have passionate people who work here and exude warmth and customers feel welcome, calm, and happy while they are here.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
We love seeing the challenge that the Bar Method provides for clients. It is a combination of body strength and mental strength. It is amazing to see people push themselves past what they thought they could do. It is gratifying to see the “big sigh” people experience when they’re done with class and everyone is carrying themselves higher and taller. You can really feel the energy in the room!

Is there anything additional you would like to share with our readers?
If all you wanted to do was the Bar Method workout, you would be in great shape. You would develop a high endurance and stamina. But the Bar Method is also great as a complementary exercise. If you have not done the Bar Method yet, put aside your hesitations and try it!

Interview by Stephanie Maul.

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