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

Interview with Christy and Sarah of Coastal Surf Boutique

February 26, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (1)


Coastal is a Seattle Boardsports Boutique that carries lifestyle apparel, accessories, swimwear and sandals from brands like Roxy, Billabong, Hurley, Reef and more. What started in 2003 with 400 square feet of women’s clothing has grown to a larger store on Alki Beach that now offers the lifestyle to men and kids. Owners Christy Pudduck and Sarah Steere strive to make Coastal a fun and comfortable place to shop, where you can find new styles or just hang out!

How would you describe your business in three words or less?
Fun, Friendly, Fashion!

What are the most popular or best selling products or services?
Reef Sandals, Swimsuits and Casual Industrees tees.

People may be surprised to know that…
In addition to our women’s and men’s clothes, we now have an adorable kids section!

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
We wanted to create a place where people could find the cute clothes and lifestyle of the boardsports industry (snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding) without an intimidating environment. We also knew we both wanted to have careers that supported a hands-on family balance, and we think we’ve found that with Coastal.

Who is your role model or mentor?
Any woman or mother who takes on raising a family and running a business at the same time!

What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
Overbuying! It’s hard with such cute clothes to choose from, but having too much inventory is a recipe for retail disaster! We learned that the hard way…once.

How do you spend your free time? What is your indulgence?
Sarah: Besides going to the Zoo with my daughter, I like to check out new boutiques around Seattle when I have time to browse.  There are so many great hidden spots out there!
Christy: Being outside! Seattle has great parks and green spaces we love to frequent, I love spending time working in my yard and garden, and of course hanging out with my family!

What is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
Sarah: The movies, or just out on the town to enjoy the good company.
Christy: Tapas bars with great drinks, or just on good long walks with a cup of coffee.

Favorites and Why?
Best place to get a pedicure?
Christy: Frenchy’s in Madison. Love the Parafin dip. And selling sandals all summer, our feet need to look good!
Sarah: Elegant Nails in West Seattle.  They are so friendly and can always get you in for a pedicure!

Best place to get a manicure?
Christy: Julep. Though with kids and work, manicures aren’t the most practical indulgence in our lives anymore!

Favorite Salon?
C & S: Elliot Salon on Alki.  It’s quaint, stylish and we always walk out happy.

Best place to buy shoes?
Christy: Edie’s on Capitol Hill
Sarah: Clementine in West Seattle.  I love the sale they have at the West Seattle Street Fair!

Best place to buy clothes?
Christy: It’s ridiculous and seems self-interested, but I love shopping at Coastal as a shopper. I think when I stop shopping there I’ll know we’re not doing it right anymore!
Sarah: I’m going to have to concur with Christy on that one

Best local designer?
Christy: Suzabelle – I discovered her at a CRAVE party and am such a fan of her coats!

Best gym or fitness club?
Christy: The Promenade on Alki…running or walking outside along the water is better than any gym, especially in the Summer!
Sarah: Alki is the best spot to work out.  Greenlake is my 2nd favorite running path.

Where to find:

West Seattle
2352 Alki Avenue SW
Seattle, WA
206.933.5605

coastalseattle.com
Coastal Seattle on Facebook
Coastal Seattle Blog

Peek into the CRAVE Closet

February 25, 2010 by Sarah Clise | 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.

Best of Baby Shower Gifts

February 24, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (0)


Nothing is quite as special as welcoming a new baby into the world. And well it can be easy and fun to shop from the traditional baby registry – many new moms CRAVE a different approach. For this week’s Best of we compiled a list of shops around the area that provide a unique selection of gifts for baby and mom. The Best of Baby Shower Gifts is sure to bring a smile to the face of the new baby – and the new mom of course!

Kate Quinn Organics – perfect for the earth friendly mom. Kate Quinn Organic sells 100% certified organic baby clothes and fair trade certified garments. They also feature organic baby bedding and clothes for mom! Located in Downtown Kirkland, it’s your one stop shop for children’s eco-chic!

Curtsy Bella -  offers a wide variety of humorous and practical gifts for the “new human” in your life. Complete with career prediction t-shirts and a labor and delivery survival kit – Curtsy Bella gifts are sure to entertain – some gifts can even be customized!

Fireworks – with a fabulous combination of children’s accessories, blankets and bedding, tableware, apparel, diaper bags and toys/games, Fireworks has a fabulous selection of whimsical gifts for children and baby. Celebrate art in life!

Bundle Love – the name says it all! Bundle Love offers a wide variety of baby gift bundles for babies with dreams of all shapes and sizes – the rock star, the alum, the bookworm, the foodie and the princess are a few of the fabulous bundles you can choose from to give the baby a “lovely” start!

Queen Anne Dispatch – the perfect one stop shop, Queen Anne Dispatch is fabulous. Choose from a unique selection of baby gifts and children’s toys and then have your selection gift wrapped and shipped all without leaving the store! This is perfect for a out of town baby shower!

Clover Toys – located in the Ballard neighborhood, Clover Toys offers wooden toys, baby clothes, stuffed animals, dolls and puppets. And for the indecisive shopped they offer gift certificates that are available in store or over the phone!

Willow and Bloom – in the heart of Fremont, Willow and Bloom offers a variety of customizable gift baskets that can include custom gifts, accessories, flowers and gourmet foods in a luxurious container. Specializing in premiere flowers they also carry a line of fabulous knit baby caps. With a “it’s a girl” bouquet and a strawberry patterned knit cap – it’s the perfect way to welcome home the new bundle of joy!

Whether “it’s a boy” or a girl – these shops are sure to have a one of a kind gift for baby’s and moms of all styles!

Home is Wherever You Hang Your Hat

February 23, 2010 by Lynn Edwards | Comments (0)



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!

Interview with Alicia Olsen and Kathy Perkins from Paper Delights

February 19, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (0)


For Kathy Perkins and her daughter, Alicia Olsen, Paper Delights has been a dream come true. They thought of the idea one warm summer night over a bottle of wine, and when they woke up the next morning they still thought it was a good idea.  From that moment on they started dreaming about it, and six months later they opened our doors. They are delighted with the results.

How would you describe your business in three words or less?
Cards, Confections, Cravings

What are the most popular or best selling products or services?
Our line of custom wedding invitations and announcements

People may be surprised to know that…
Everything fell (that is if working our heads off qualifies as “falling”) together at once.  We made the decision to launch our business, we found our location, Alicia and her husband sold their home in LA, Alicia resigned from her job, moved to Seattle and we opened two weeks later.

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
We both love beautiful papers and graphics. As stationery wholesalers, we saw some beautiful shops in other states that inspired us to bring those offerings to the Seattle market in our own style.

Who is your role model or mentor?
Even though she is my business partner my mom is my mentor.  She is an amazing graphic designer, entrepreneur, retailer and loving mother.

What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
Proofread, proofread, proofread.  We reprinted way too much the first few weeks.

How do you spend your free time? What is your indulgence?
Relaxing at our beach cabin.

What is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
Hiking down the beach trail provides a little exercise, inspiration and a chance to catch up.

Favorites and Why?

Best place to get a manicure/pedicure? Habitude in Ballard

Best place to find gifts? Paper Delights of course!

Favorite Salon? Ooh Las in Fremont

Best place to buy shoes? Nordstrom

Best place to buy clothes? Olivine in Ballard

Best gym, fitness club? Harbor Square in Edmonds

Where to find:
2205 N. 45th
Seattle, WA 98103

206.547.1002

www.paperdelights.com
Paper Delights on Facebook

Be Fearless with You Finances: Meet the Speakers Carrie and Denise

February 18, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (1)


Denise and Carrie will be joining us as the speakers at Sunday’s CRAVEchat “Be Fearless With Your Finances.” Learn more about where they come from and what they will be sharing on Sunday!

Denise Marinacci of Flaunt! Inc. says:
Why does Flaunt! focus on QuickBooks and women? Simply because almost half of all small businesses in the US are owned by women and they need help.

Flaunt! teaches women business owners, like you, who may not like QuickBooks to fall in love with what it can do for your business. For example, track your vendors to take available discounts;  find the top selling products and add more to the mix;  know your bank balance before you write that next check.

If you’re struggling in your business join me at the CraveChat on February 21st from 2 – 4 pm. In 2010 you too can become a
Business Wonder Women….Smart, Savvy, and Successful!

Carrie Middlemiss of Bella Cupcake Couture says:
I’m very excited to participate on the panel of speakers at the upcoming CRAVE Chat. The theme of the event is “Fearless with your Finances”.

This is a very familiar topic for me as a business owner and from my previous career working for a bank for almost 18 years. I started with the bank right out of high school and worked my way up in the financial industry. From a Teller to Account Representative selling mutual funds to a Marketing Coordinator and finally as a VP Division Marketing Manager. During my role at the bank I managed budgets up to 4 million+ and executed over 1,000 events.

Now after a layoff, I’ve turned a “Pink Slip into Pink Frosting”. I created a unique product for cupcakes; Bella Cupcake Couture a chic textile-inspired cupcake wrapper. Our wrappers hide the crinkly, translucent cupcake liner they are baked in and add a touch of elegance to any special event.

Having my own business now, I quickly learned to do more with less. Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way:

Marketing and PR: I started my company, Bella Cupcake Couture last March 2009 and have had some amazing press including the Seattle Times, Gourmet News, Kitchenware News and my all time favorite being selected as a Martha Stewart “Doer of the Week”. Many people have asked how I’ve done it? I often respond with “We have been very lucky” but in many cases it is a simple belief that “People reach out to people who reach out”. I heard this once from a wonderful speaker at a seminar and have made it my mantra. If I feel someone may be interested in my product or story I simply pick up the phone or shoot off an email. I don’t always get a response but feel it is worth a try.

Website and Social Media: It is important to have an inviting and easy to use website. It is the first introduction to your brand. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are several stylish and affordable options with web designer templates. Another way to create a buzz and drive traffic to your site is interacting with your audience. I have found the use of Facebook, Blogging  and Twitter a great (and very fun) way to communicate updates and have conversations directly with people who enjoy your product (and cupcakes).

Photography: A majority of my customers find my product online. Therefore, I knew the importance of making an impact with my photos. I didn’t know if I could afford a good photographer so my husband ended up surprising me with my own counter top photo studio in a box. It included all the lighting, mini tri-pod, etc. I learned how to set up the lighting, created elegant and simple displays and learned few tips on how to use photoshop and voilĂ … I became my own photographer. I can now set up my own photo shoots when ever I need to. I still need professional photos now and then and it has always been well worth the investment.

Things I wish I had known about starting a business:

  • It’s not always easy.
  • You can’t do it all on your own and it is good to know your weaknesses. For example, learning to do my own Quickbooks (and understanding it) and knowing when it is the right time to call your accountant.
  • It is true that sometimes you have to spend money to make money….it is just finding the “right” things that will increase brand awareness and (best of all) drive sales.

Hope to see you at the upcoming event. I look forward to answering more questions and sharing other tips I’ve learned along the way.

Best of Organization Tips

February 17, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (0)


March is right around the corner, and it’s about this time where new years goals and resolutions fall by the way side as the reality and craziness of the year crank into full swing. With March approaching this also means spring is coming and it’s time for spring cleaning, rearranging and reorganization. At this point in the year it might be handy to have some tips and tricks to help you reorganize for the spring keep you organized in the coming months. So for this week’s Best of we bring to you the Best of Organization Tips – from some of Seattle’s pro organizers. We hope you walk away with skills to help you achieve functional organization and improve efficiency and “butt-kicking” ability!

Ode to organization:

We hope these tips and resources will help you take off into the wonderful world of strategic organization. Happy organizing to all!

A New Twist on the Theme Song

February 15, 2010 by Jade S. | Comments (0)



A Theme Song. Normally when you think of a theme song you think of the first 30 seconds of a TV Show or news broadcast. That annoying thirty second melody that plays over and over in our heads days after we have watched the show. But this week we take a new look at the theme song. We asked around on Twitter and Facebook and came up with a fabulous list of songs people consider their “theme songs” for life.

These are songs that lifts you up and makes you feel good. Songs that starts a fire and keeps you going. Songs that you dance around in your bedroom listening to while you sing into your hair brush. These are the songs that define us. Everyone has one hidden some where inside of them. It might be your phone ring or the song that plays in your headphones while you work out or before a big meeting – whenever you use it and however it makes you feel we thank you all for sharing your themes.

Here is a complete list of the suggested theme songs:

For your listening pleasure go to the complete playlist on the blip.fm page titled CRAVEThemeSongs.

And next time you need a pick me up or inspiration, crank up one of these tunes and sing out – you might be surprised just how good it makes you feel!

Valentine’s Day – Pink Themed Recipes

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


There are so many pros to going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day and we can think of a lot of cons to staying in and cooking. But with the following recipes, staying in and making a home-cooked meal with your sweetheart might just look like the best idea ever!

Rack of Lamb with Herb and Olive Crust
For a pink themed menu, let’s start with a delicious lamb recipe. It comes from Caroline in Chicago’s blog (hwhippedtheblog.com). Our mouths are watering already!

1/3 cup coarsely chopped olives – kalamata, picholine or Manzanilla
1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh thyme
2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
2 racks of lamb (7-8 ribs each, trimmed or frenched)
salt and pepper
3/6 cups breadcrumbs

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine olives, parsley, thyme, garlic and red pepper in a food processor or mortar. Make a rough paste. Stir in mayo. Set aside. Trim lamb so only a thin layer of fat remains. Heat a heavy skillet (NOT a nonstick) over high heat. Season racks with salt and pepper. Set in skillet fat side down and cook for about 2 minutes. Spread breadcrumbs on a plate. Coat the surface of the lamb with the olive paste then dip in the crumbs to coat. Put bone side down in a roasting pan. Cover the bone tips with foil so they don’t burn. Roast until instant read thermometer is 120-125 degrees for rare or 130-135 for medium. It will cook another 5 degrees when out of the oven. Let the lamb rest for 5 minutes. Cut apart between the bones and serve.

Strawberry Cupcakes
Amy Sherman, a San Francisco-based author, writer, and developer of all things food, shares an amazing strawberry cupcake recipe on her blog (cookingwithamy.blogspot.com). Cupcakes and strawberries are the key to any beau’s heart.

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 large egg
6 ounces Dannon® All Natural Vanilla Lowfat Yogurt (or any other fruit flavor of yogurt)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced

Frosting:
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 fresh strawberries, about 2 Tbsp. mashed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. With an electric hand mixer, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg, Dannon® All Natural Vanilla Lowfat Yogurt and vanilla, blending until smooth.
2. Measure the dry ingredients into the bowl and blend, then fold in the strawberries.
3. Divide the mixture equally between the 12 paper-lined cupcake cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
4. Beat together butter, powdered sugar, and mashed strawberry in medium-size bowl until creamy and smooth. Chill frosting for 15 minutes or until thick. Frost cupcakes with a spatula. Keep cupcakes in the refrigerator loosely covered.
Yield: 12 servings

French Kiss
To accompany your beloved meal (cupcakes are a meal, right?), the Wedding Paper Divas have some suggestions for romantically festive drinks (blog.weddingpaperdivas.com). May we recommend the French Kiss? It’s just the perfect shade of pink to match you cupcakes…we mean cheeks!

Âľ oz Chambord
Âľ oz Peach Schnapps
Âľ oz Vodka
Splash orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice
Serve straight up in a martini glass

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