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

Interview with Sandra Cowan of Goldstein Boutique

August 27, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

Goldstein Boutique opened in 1998 to offer a unique personal eyewear experience. There are no walls of frames or harsh lighting, just the benefit of 25 years of experience and Sandra’s international scouting of boutique brands and up and comers.  This is a one woman show, no juniors, just Sandra sharing her creative eye for which of her 1000 frames is perfect for you.

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Quirky.  Stylish.  Individual.  

What or Who inspired you to start your business?
My husband.

People may be surprised to know…
Opticians are trained, licensed health care professionals.  Sales associates are not.

What business mistake have you made that you will not repeat?
Hiring a friend.

What is your indulgence?
Fresh flowers.

How do you spend your free time?
What free time?

Where is your favourite place to go with your girlfriends?
The Trane Studio for jazz.

What do you CRAVE? In business? In life?
To just keep rolling.

Contact Goldstein Boutique at:

171 1/2 King Street East
Toronto, ON 416.368.9910

Interview with Celina Ainsworth of The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary

August 20, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

A visit to The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary is a unique experience for anyone interested in herbal medicine and complementary healthcare. The beautiful ‘apothecary style’ dispensary also provides high quality practitioners services including Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Bowen Therapy, Re-connective Healing, Registered Massage Therapy, Psychotherapy as well as Community Acupuncture  in the adjacent clinic rooms. Fully qualified Herbalists are available to assist in the dispensary.

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Green.  Natural.  Unique.

What or Who inspired you to start your business?
I did some of my herbal medicine training at Napier’s Dispensary in Edinburgh. This was a fantastic experience which definitely inspired me.

People may be surprised to know…
We lovingly hand make many of our natural herbal medicine and skin care products on site.

What are your most popular products and services?
The herbal medicine ‘custom formulae’ services and the practitioners clinic services are very popular. We have many regular clients.

Who is your role model or mentor?
The women in the past who gathered plants from the woods and meadows to make their medicines and those who continue this tradition today are my role models.

How do you spend your free time?
During winter I love to cook and keep cozy by the fire with my family.  Summer months are spent out of doors in my gardens.

Where is your favourite place to go with your girlfriends?
The Pub of course! We have a great local spot which is run by a lovely Irish woman named Melissa just across the street. It’s the best!  There are no TV’s and they play good tunes.

What do you CRAVE? In business? In life?
Doing what I love everyday and believing in what I do is what I CRAVE. I enjoy what I do and I admire all the people associated with my business – it’s all good.

Contact The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary at:

409 Roncesvalles Ave.
Toronto, ON 416.537.5303

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

August 16, 2010 by Jenny P. | Comments (0)

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

Interview with Richelle Dayle Chapman of Conception Design Solutions

August 13, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

A design is nothing without the ‘conception’ of ideas, creative talent and design excellence!  Behind Conception Design Solutions is designer, thinker, photographer; Richelle Dayle Chapman, who provides clients with graphic solutions that work! With a passion for art and a career in design, Richelle discovered her love for photography through traveling around the world and capturing snapshots in an attempt to freeze moments and places in a single image!

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Refined.  Dependable. Creative.

What or Who inspired you to start your business?
The love I have for the arts, design, typography and photography and my desire to compose, capture and create something in a unique way whether it be a visual design or photograph.

People may be surprised to know…
I have an obsession with collecting anything and everything visually pleasing – contributing to my overflowing printed ephemera collection.

How do you spend your free time?
Catching up with friends over a coffee or a glass of wine, phone calls locally or back home to South Africa, paging through design magazines or reading Vanity Fair, cooking a new recipe or traveling.

What are your most popular products and services?
My graphic design services and visual solutions. Merging photography with design, I create calendars with theme-inspired photographs, which are popular.

Where is your favourite place to go with your girlfriends?
A bustling and busy patio in the summer sunshine or around a dinner table in the comforts of a home!

What do you CRAVE? In business? In life?
In business: knowledge, creativity, new inspirations and passion for beautiful things. In life: Nurtured friendships, exploring the undiscovered, finding a balance, good food, good company, good wine 
. What else matters?

Contact Conception Design Solutions at:

647.295.2512

Interview with Jennifer Best of Steeped and Infused

August 6, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

It’s Tea Time! At Steeped and Infused, loose leaf teas are the specialty.  Their teas are carefully selected for their quality, sensational taste and most importantly-their health benefits.  They offer a selection of premium creative blends that bestow warm and embracing aromas, a palate pleasing finish and the refreshing awareness that you’re doing something good for YOU! 

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?
Healthy, Welcoming and Informative.

What or Who inspired you to start your business?
A journey with my health and the benefits of tea provided the opportunity to combine my two passions; health and business.

People may be surprised to know…
Tea isn’t just your Grandmother’s drink anymore.

How do you spend your free time?
On a never-ending journey for knowledge and self improvement.  A great meal with friends and family.  Embracing life!

Who is your role model or mentor?
The community of amazing women entrepreneurs, that I am proud to be a part of.

Where is your favourite place to go with your girldirends?
For ice cream, out dancing or for a fabulous lunch followed by manicures and pedicures.

What do you CRAVE? In business? In life?
Fulfillment, growth and success; profesionally and personally.

Visit Steeped and Infused at:

1258 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON, Canada M4L 1C3

647.348.1669

Back to School Shopping in Style

August 4, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

It pains us deeply to write this blog post and we apologize for it now, but the sad truth is that summer is quickly coming to an end.  With only one month left of summer vacation it is time to start getting the kids ready for school.  We all know that as much as we would love to be spending our free time soaking up the last few rays of the summer sun instead of back to school shopping, the stress of leaving it to the last minute is not worth it.  That’s why we have put together a list of some great shops to find goodies and clothing for the kids before the first class bell rings.  These fantastic places almost make it excusable to be indoors in August.

ELLA MINNOW CHILDREN’S BOOKSTORE -  ellaminnow.ca
Prepare early for the unavoidable procrastination that is book reports.  Ella Minnow has a huge selection of books catering to toddlers all the way to teens.  They also offer online shopping, so you can enjoy your last month of summer vacation without the hassle of shopping in store (although we would never turn down a chance to shop).   While you’re buying books for the school year, why not pick up an extra one and have your kid do some reading this summer too?

LITTLE ONES -  littleones.ca
My mother used to be impressed if I made it out of the house fully dressed and not covered in half of my breakfast, let alone in designer duds.  Times have changed.  Little Ones is Toronto’s premier kid’s clothing boutique offering brand name designer children’s clothing from across Europe and North America.  If you have a trendy little one who loves to be ahead of the fashion game, this is the store for them!

KIDS AT HOME -  kidsathome.com
Children’s tastes change as quickly as they grow, and their bedrooms always mirror this.  Kids At Home offers the most eclectic collection of cool furnishings, bedding, and accessories for kids of all sizes.  Help your kids express their creative side designing the bedroom or playroom of their dreams.

Girls Retweet

August 3, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (1)

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

August 2, 2010 by Jenny P. | Comments (0)

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.

Interview With Robyn Berman of Bergo Designs

July 30, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

Robyn Berman owns not just one, but two successful businesses in the Distillery District- Bergo Designs and Corktown Designs.  Bergo Designs is a gallery of industrial designs that is unique, modern, and stylish.  No knockoffs here!  Bergo features award-winning designs from around the world, including: Alessi, George Jensen, Stelton, Menu, Umbra, and Koziol among others.  You’ll find a wide range of designs for jewelry, watches, gifts, housewares, and Canadian-made furniture, not to mention a gift for every age and budget.

What are your most popular products or services?
Ethanol stainless steel fireplaces, lucite vases, The Ex knife block, Govino plastic wine glasses, Kikkerland head scratchers, Chilewich placemats and floor rugs, Peugot wine decanters, and Bodum glassware.

What or Who inspired you to start your business?
My husband.  He strongly encouraged me to expand Corktown Designs, my first shop, which offers primarily handmade jewelry.  I came up with Bergo and decided to keep them as two separate stores.

People may be surprised to know…
That Bergo Designs is a sole-proprietorship, and that I travel constantly around the world to hand-pick each item that is sold in the store.

What is your indulgence?
Soma chocolate.

Visit Bergo Designs at:

55 Mill Street, Building 47a
Toronto, ON 416.861.1821

CRAVE’s Favourites for a Ladies Night Out

July 28, 2010 by Andrea | Comments (0)

We know our CRAVE ladies are a busy group of females.  Running a business is hard work and sometimes all-consuming.  That’s why this post calls on the old adage “work hard, play harder”.  To us, there is no better way to de-stress than with a ladies night out.  Just a few hours on the town with best friends can melt away weeks of stress and recharge your batteries.  We’ve put together a list of some great spots to spend your evening out.

EMBRUJO FLAMENCO TAPAS RESTAURANT -  embrujoflamenco.com
Looking for a great meal to share and some spicy entertainment?  We love Embrujo Flamenco.  Enjoy the regional cuisines of Spain, based on centuries of traditional cooking and hundreds of regional recipes using natural ingredients such as olive oil, lots of seafood, vegetables, game, veal, ham, and sausages to name a few.  All served as tapas, these dishes are created to be shared around the table.  Not only do they have great food, but Wednesday through Sunday they also offer free Flamenco shows while dining.

THE 10 SPOT BEAUTY BAR -  the10spot.com
Sometimes after a long week (or weeks) no matter how much you want to just let loose for a night on the town with your girlfriends, you just can’t find the energy to get dolled up and dance the night away.  That is why we love the 10 Spot.  They are open late – until 10pm Thursday to Saturday and until 8pm the rest of the week.  This is the perfect way to spend a lazy evening with your girls.  They even book private parties specifically for a girl’s night out.

BERBER LOUNGE -  berberlounge.ca
The BerBer Lounge is the perfect place for a light dinner, drinks and a night of dancing with your ladies.  Enjoy delicious Moroccan cuisine while surrounded by artisanal hand-made luxuries transported back from the winding alleys of the Moroccan Medinas.  Stay after dinner for drinks and a night of dancing as a DJ takes over and transforms the Lounge into a Front Street hot-spot.

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