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

One Boutique: Two Amazing Events

October 28, 2010 by Crystal | Comments (0)

Mark your calendars ladies! Not one, but TWO amazing events are coming our way! On October 29th and 30th, the fabulous LYNNSteven boutique will be joining forces with Oliver & Lilly’s, Kiss & Makeup, Eden Boutique and Violet Boutique for an out of the world, epic warehouse sale. I know, it sounds too good to be true! This rare event only lasts for two days, so grab your girlfriends and make your way downtown to snatch up some fabulous new items (we know we will!)

Learn more about the event  here!

And there’s more! Once again, LYNNSteven will be partnering up with BeautyMark, Vancouver’s premier beauty boutique, for the 2010 Fall/Winter Gastown Shop Hop! Never heard of the Gastown Shop Hop? Gastown’s creme de la creme will be opening their doors late on November 4th from 5pm to 9pm for an evening of awesome deals.

Drop by LYNNSteven and enjoy some irresistible cupcakes from Dolce Delights, mini makeovers by BeautyMark and 20% off fall 2010 merchandise! Whether you’re getting some early Christmas shopping done or just in dire need of some retail therapy, this event is the place to be! Can’t wait to see you all there!

Learn more about 2010 Fall/Winter Gastown Shop Hop here!

Take Control of Your BlackBerry: Swirl Solutions

October 22, 2010 by Crystal | Comments (0)

Today, the word “BlackBerry” doesn’t just conjure up images of mouth-watering pies and stained teeth, it also (and dominantly) makes people think of none other than the sleek, black smartphone. As one of the best smartphones out there, it’s no surprise that a BlackBerry can make your life a lot easier! Having said this, we have all encountered the moment after the initial awe of actually owning a BlackBerry wears off, and the confusion, and what I like to call the “What am I supposed to do now” syndrome sets in. Have no fear ladies! Darci Larocque, the founder and owner of Swirl Solutions, knows exactly what we and many other professionals are going through.
Having discovered that many BlackBerry users actually do not know how to maximize the use of their BlackBerrys, Darci went on to find Swirl Solutions, offering BlackBerry training workshops and providing clients with solutions they desperately want and need. We finally got the chance to chat with the fabulous owner herself and here’s the advice she has to give us BlackBerry users, or soon-to-be users out there!

What are some of the biggest misconceptions about a BlackBerry?

1. That you can’t multitask on your BlackBerry. You can! You don’t have to hang up on people to go check your calendar.
2. Lots of folks don’t realize that you can play music, watch videos and keep documents on your BlackBerry.
3. That doing certain things are free. Nothing is FREE and Smartphone’s can be expensive, especially when you travel.
4. BlackBerry doesn’t have applications. It sure does, in a recent article from BerryReview there are over 10,000 BlackBerry apps. From games to apps specific to your business. Check it out here.
5. You can only have one email account. So not true! You can forward up to 10 other accounts to your device.

Top 5 Tips to using a BlackBerry more efficiently:

1. How to automatically turn your BlackBerry Off and back on at a specific time.
2. How to stop the black screen from coming on every 15 seconds.
3. Make your BlackBerry inbox look like your Outlook inbox. You don’t have to see Phone call logs, Sent (checked) items and folders. Once hidden, there are fast ways to see them. Find out how here.
4. Troubleshooting: Top 5 things to do when you have BlackBerry issues.
5. How to delete multiple messages

What are the most common questions asked about the BlackBerry?

1. Which BlackBerry model do I buy?

• My experience from years of asking questions at our workshops and conferences is that the preferable devices are the ones with a full keyboard, WiFi ability (to save you money) and the trackpad for more consistent and easier movement.

2. iPhone or BlackBerry?

• In my opinion, BlackBerry is a better email device as it encrypts and compresses the data. Data compression doesn’t mean much to people until they travel and the latest stats are that the iPhone uses 5 x more data. That can really add up when travelling internationally.
• iPhone has so many cool games and apps and I believe it is adopted more by the under 35 age group. Touch screen email typing isn’t the same as texting where you can use the short acronyms like c u l8r. You wouldn’t use that in a business email. I find many BlackBerry users switching because of the hype to iPhone and then switching back to their BlackBerrys.

One piece of advice you would give to brand new BlackBerry users:

• Call your Carriers before you travel to make sure you are on the right plan for where you are going and ask if your current plan is good for your the way you are using your device. Plans change ALL the time and what you signed up for 2 years ago may not be the best plan for you now.

Darci is also a regular on Get Connected TV! Watch an interview below:

Darci on Get Connected TV

Your Guide to the Ultimate Closet

October 20, 2010 by Crystal | Comments (0)

When standing in front of our (too) full closet wondering what to wear for the day, there’s always one thing we consider before we slip into anything. “Where did you get that?! I have to have it!”-and there we have it ladies, the ultimate outfit reaction that leaves us glowing the entire day. Amrit Baidwan the lovely boutique owner of Ishara knows exactly what we’re talking about. Focusing on well-designed pieces and luxurious fabrics, the items found in this chic boutique brings together great design and style, without sacrificing quality. With each item carefully chosen by the fab owner herself, there’s no doubt that each piece is the awe-inspiring, head-turning and simply unforgettable piece that we CRAVE. We decided to get to know the wonderful women who created the “ultimate closet” a little better. Let’s see what she has to say!

What do you love most about fashion?

I love the ability to reinvent yourself with every season. Figuring out how to adopt the newest trend and make it work for your personality and lifestyle make fashion an ongoing experiment, which I find utterly fascinating.

What are the top 5 looks and must-haves for the Fall?

So many great looks to choose from! Fall is definitely my favorite fashion season – my must-haves include:

Picture Perfect!

August 25, 2010 by Crystal | Comments (0)

It’s an undeniable truth- sometimes our lives get a little too hectic and we forget to recognize the important moments in life. Starting a new job or finishing school, becoming a grandmother or mother-to-be, celebrating an anniversary or a birthday- nearly everyday life gives us something to celebrate! As much as we’d like to capture all these moments, we’ve all gone through the horror of waiting in line at the department store studio and the insane fees at the independent studios- and let’s face it, after all that we are NOT happy photo-ready campers!

Here’s the good news ladies! Bopomo Pictures recognizes these difficulties and offers a photo-studio that’s flexible, stylish, and affordable. Their experienced photographers and consultants work with you at every stage of the shoot and create perfect portraits without leaving your pocket empty! Fun, friendly and chic, this is a place where you can come back to time and time again, worry and worry line free! Work it ladies, and capture those unforgettable moments in picture-perfect, fabulous style!

Back to School Means Back to Business for Moms in Vancouver

August 13, 2010 by Crystal | Comments (0)

For many Vancouver moms, September means back to school but also back to business!  How do local business moms shift from a summer of vacations and carting kids off to day camps, to bringing their businesses back into high gear?

Felicia Lee, Business Coach and Vancouver Chapter Director of Enterprising Moms Network, says: “For mom entrepreneurs, the business cycle often works around the school cycle.  September is a time to re-look at your business goals, set strategies, and get focused on steps needed to take your business to the next level”

The Vancouver chapter of Enterprising Moms Network, an organization supporting mom entrepreneurs, is hosting a get together at the popular downtown Mink Chocolates on August 25, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.  More than 40 business-minded moms are attending to network and collaborate with each other to start the fall season off on a (sugar) high note.

For more information about the event, visit: http://emnsocial.eventbrite.com.  For more information on Enterprising Moms Network, visit http://enterprisingmomsnetwork.com/vancouver.html,  or contact Felicia Lee at vancouver@enterprisingmomsnetwork.com or by phone: 778.986.1138.