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CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE
South Surrey’s Local Gem: Belle’s Country Market
Located at 3208 140 Street, in the Crescent Beach area of South Surrey, Belle’s Country Market is an exceedingly charming local gem. Mother, and entrepreneur Leslee Kerfoot brilliantly created a community centre when she opened the doors of Belle’s. Belle’s boasts the best of many worlds – a cafe, market, restaurant and live entertainment centre. With such a dynamic appeal,  it really is no wonder that Belle’s is able to successfully attract an array people from within and outside of the community. Belle’s truly has what many of us crave – a vibrant neighbourhood venue with a welcoming, comfortable feel. Leslee has truly created an  ideal  neighbourhood quarter  to  connect with family and friends. Below, Leslee shares some advice, and inspiration with the CRAVE community.
Inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
I had worked in the Corporate world of Keg and Spectra (Bread Garden, Milestones, Boathouse) as VP Marketing and HR and had done all that I wanted to do in that world.  I always wanted to have my own business where I could be “hands on” and creative. I also wanted a business closer to home where my children were. So I packed in the Corporate World and started “Belle’s” – 2 blocks from home. I started the business and also bought the real estate where my business sits, so I am my own landlord too!!
What do you love most about your job?
The people. I love my customers – they are all from my neighbourhood – just fantastic people who really care about supporting a local business.  I also love my staff. It’s a real neighbourhood place where everyone knows each other and it makes it a joy to come to work!  I also love the flexibility I have in my job now that I am out of the corporate world. I can do whatever I want – introduce a new product in a day that used to take a year of meetings in the corporate world! I also have had more flexibility and time with my family.
Other than all kinds of great food, not much. I am very happy with my business and my life!!  I do look forward to retirement when I can hand my business off to my children and travel the world!
Advice for future entreprenesses?
If you are going to start your own business be sure that you are passionate about what you are doing. You have to love it, because it is a lot of time and energy having your own business. It takes years to build a successful business so you have to have stamina.  Make sure you surround yourself with good people – people that are different from you with different strengths and talents. Be positive, never stop creating.
Feature with Candeo Weddings!
Latin for “shine, gleam, glow, sparkle” Candeo (can-DAY-oh)  is manifested by the minds of Ashley Burnstad and Dawn Barrett. The ladies of Candeo Weddings help couples to craft their romantic visions into reality. And whether you have been planning your wedding since you were seven, or you’re completely and utterly overwhelmed by the idea of planning such a momentous event, Candeo is sincerely in-tune with your needs. What makes Candeo Weddings unique is the pairs’ ability to create a CUSTOM wedding tailored specifically to you. Ashley and Dawn’s intentions are precisely outlined in their mission statement – “let us work on the details, while you work on creating the memories.” We caught up with these multi-tasking mavens to learn how and why they do what they do! Â
What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?Â
We have both been intrigued by and committed to wedding planning because it piqued our interest as something that is based equally on design and creativity as it is on organization and attention to detail. As we began to collaborate with one-another as business partners, we quickly realized that we had the same ambitions and goals. We began by brainstorming our idea of a perfect wedding planning company, and Candeo was born! We wanted it to be centred on what we would look for as brides: fresh ideas, stunning execution and highly-personalized service.
What do you love most about your job and why?
Honestly, the romance of it all. The ability to bring to life everything that a couple envisions for the wedding day is more rewarding than we ever imagined. Our job is to share the most special moments of someone’s life – we think that’s pretty amazing.
What do you CRAVE?
To be the number one boutique wedding planning company in Vancouver, based solely on personal experiences by our clients and word of mouth. To make every wedding that we are a part of perfectly memorable and fabulous. And chocolate.
Q&A with Jenny and Karen of Blo Morgan Crossing
Blo is a Blow Dry Bar. Scissors are verboten. Dye, ditto. In about 30 minutes, get a wash and blo out style. No cuts, no colour: Just WASH BLOW GO. Blo’s newest location is located at 15745 Croydon Drive in Morgan Crossing, South Surrey. Blo Morgan Crossing’s Franchise Partners, Jenny Randhawa and Karen Manhas, recognized the need for women outside the downtown core to have easy, reliable access to the affordable luxury of flawless hair, 7 days a week.Â
Book  your blo out at 778.294.3334 or blomedry.com
What do you love most about your job and why?
We LOVE the flexibility of managing our own hours and being our own boss.  We also love working with a group of girls that we hand picked.  It’s been great…everyone has fun and laughs and works hard at the same time!
Getting women red carper ready is also a great feeling.  Watching a woman’s confidence go up in a matter of minutes with a simple blo out is the best thing that we have experienced so far.
We also love what we do because we come from completely different, and serious, professional backgrounds (healthcare and federal government) so getting involved with Blo has been such a fun, exciting and completely opposite of what we are used to doing professionally. We keep thinking that we are supposed to be stressed out and worried like new business owners should be but so far we have been fortunate.  We have had such strong and endless support from Blo Corporate Office and our friends and family. It’s made us LOVE our job even more!
Do you have any recommendations for business reads for women in business?
We are always on the look out for inspiring ideas and lessons on managing our team and business. We are new to owning a business so basically anything we can get our hands on we will read and learn from.
What do you CRAVE?
We definitely CRAVE chocolate everyday! Thank god we are on our feet everyday because we can work those calories off! The sun, sand and beach are obvious favorites too…hopefully we can get away sometime this year and get our Vitamin D dose!
Any advice for future entreprenesses?
Starting a business can be scary and you may not know what direction to go in. Step One: ask a million questions! Look in your network of friends and family who have been successful (professionally and personally) and talk to them about your goals and how you plan to get there.  Get their feedback and really listen to what they have to offer.  They’re firsthand knowledge and lessons learned are invaluable. Last but not least is to follow your gut.  We strongly believe women have that special instincts, so if you have a really strong feeling something is going to be successful, go for it, work hard and things will fall into place!
xo, Jenny & Karen
Welcome to the CRAVE “Think-Tank”
We sit here today- sippin’ on a tea, CRAVE Guide in the other hand and we cannot stop smiling as tomorrow is our big day- The 2010 CRAVE Symposium! Ladies, summer is upon on: the birds are chirping, the sun is (sometimes) shining and we are craving time with our bff’s! We are very pleased to announce the eight winners of our contest- Each business is vibrant and original with the brains behind the operation being a dynamic woman! We look forward to “think-tanking” these businesses. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect…
Service Business:
Fitness Ali:  Owning her business for 25 years, Alejandra really is the epitome of the woman who does it all. Running her own fitness studio, we look forward to learning more about  her exclusive services. Whoever said fitness can’t be fun hasn’t experienced Fitness Ali.
Calculated Presentations: 7 months ago, Janice Tomich launched Calculated Presentations – a service that provides idea generation, presentation and visual aid coaching. The service is interactive and has a set online presence (blogs, twitter, facebook). We look forward to interacting with Janice Tomich herself at our symposium.
My Edible Advice: Providing Nutritional Consulting, Jennifer Trecartin commenced her business in October 2009. My Edible Advice focuses on providing people the tools they need to properly fuel their bodies with the best foods possible.
Online Business:
Rock.Paper.Scissors Inc. : Established in 1992, Rock.Paper.Scissors builds core principles in businesses by performing hundreds of live comedy shows and conducting celebrated training and team building workshops from coast to coast. Aiming to launch the online aspect of the company, we’re honoured to introduce this intriguing, exciting  business to the Crave community!
Fraser Valley Pulse (FVP): This online website/blog/lifestyle guide for Fraser Valley region was created by Kristi Ferguson. Fourteen months ago, Kristi realized the need for recognizing and advertising businesses and events in the Fraser Valley region. We look forward to hosting FVP at our event!Â
Product Business:
PaperNic: Nicole Davies has been invested in PaperNic 8 months full time (3 years on and off). This hands-on business skillfully and thoughtfully handcrafts original books and other paper creations. Both the company concept and the PaperNic creations are exceptionally unique and exciting.
Retail Business:
Urbanity: Founded in 2004, this South Granville boutique features european clothing that promotes unusual, colourful, quality pieces made of natural materials in the country of source. We’re thrilled to share this quality boutique with like-minded entreprenesses at the Crave Symposium.
Burke and Hair Inc. : For 4.5 years, Melanie Burke has been providing hair styling services and selling related products.  The salon has been recognized by several media sources for its exceptional services.Â
Interested in attending after hearing about these fabulous businesses- We thought so! Last minute tickets can be purchased here!
Best Yoga Studios for Inner Peace and Detox
As a busy businesswoman, multi-tasking mother or generally an all-around dynamic diva, you’re the type of woman who’s always on her toes. As important as it is to stay on the ball, it’s also essential to invest time and energy back into your own health and overall well-being. CRAVEVancouver has developed a list of some of the city’s BEST Yoga Studios to find inner peace and detox. Because hey, if you don’t have your health, what have you really got? Do you have a go-to destination for Yoga? Be sure to let us know!Â
Exhale Studio : Located in Yaletown, Exhale offers yoga, pilates and dance classes for adults. The zen-like environment is soothing, friendly, and highly encourages relaxation. Exhale offers a healthy, comfortable and inspiring atmosphere to wind-down and invest in YOU. Exhale is located at 1083 Cambie St.
Semperviva Yoga: Semperviva is your one-stop-shop for all things yoga. The studios feature ” The largest variety of yoga styles offered in Vancouver, including Hatha, Kundalini, Power Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Gently and Prenatal.” For all of you yoga gurus out there, you will be highly impressed with Semperviva’s extensive knowledge and variety.
Westcoast Hot Yoga: “Know your mind, know your body, know the universe” Camille Noel, Westcoast Hot Yoga co-owner & 1992 Olympian. Westcoast Hot Yoga offers three types of yoga classes: Hot (40 degrees Celsius to assist in a process of natural detoxification) , Yin ( holding postures for 3 to 5 minutes to access the dense fibrous ligaments, or connective tissue of the joints) and Flow (basic power yoga). Westcoast Hot Yoga has locations in Yaletown and White Rock.
Best Cocktail Lounges to Visit with Gal Pals
An important part of living the Sex & the City Lifestyle is reconnecting over cocktails with the girls. At CRAVE Vancouver, we have compiled a list of our fav’ cocktail lounges. Whether you prefer hip and vibrant, or classic and low key, we’ve got the inside scoop on where to enjoy the best cocktails that Vancouver has to offer.Â
Bao Bei: Located in Chinatown, this venue serves up superior cocktails following classic recipes – all made with quality ingredients. The Bao Bei must-have cocktail? A piña colada, that combines fresh pineapple, coconut reduction, aged rum and lime juice.
Chambar: This Vancouver favourite delivers fabulously mixed, creative cocktails that pair perfectly with the Belgian dishes in this restaurant. We suggest the Vesper Lynn Martini or the Blue Fig Martini
The Diamond: This swanky Gastown venue really delivers. The carefully crafted drink menu is separated into categories like “boozy” and “refreshing,” contributing to the Diamond’s funky, fun atmosphere. There is an interactive aspect to the Diamond too – the Gastown establishment is now offering courses for aspiring bartenders and amateurs alike keen to master mixology.
Do you have a great recommendation for us? If so, please share! 
Best Places to Find Baby Shower Gifts
Have you left your baby shower gift to the last minute? Are you fresh out of cute, thoughtful ideas about how to spoil that Mom-to-be? Don’t fret – CRAVE Vancouver has created a list of the best, most adorable places to make the ideal baby shower purchase. We’ll have you whining for more.
Chick Pea : This European-style boutique has a wide selection of natural baby products, locally made clothing, whimsical story books. The items in Chick Pea are unique, wholesome, and completely lovable.
Hipbaby : From furniture, to art work, to clothing, Hipbaby has everything the modern baby could ever dream of – and more. Who says babies can’t have style too?
Mally Bibs : Specializing in the original leather baby bibs, Nicole Garza of Mally Bibs got it right when she created these ultra-durable (and ultra-cute) baby bibs.
Moboleez : “The idea? Design a hat just for the breastfeeding baby, with a tiny little head and great big brim that gives mom a little privacy and shields baby from distracting lights or noise.” These modern bonnets combine style, innovation and practicality!
Stonz Wear : Stonz creates innovative, versatile and fashionable infant/toddler apparel. Stonz offers durable, wind/water resistant booties, linerz, hatz and mitz – they are the perfect accessory for the west coast baby!
Best of Cupcakes Galore
When you are in the mood for some treats and down-time from your daily life, take a trip down to any one of these bakeries and you will enter into a magical world filled with fluff, colors, and a whole lotta’ icing! Check out some of our favorite places in town to experience the better things in life- aka: Cupcakes.
Big City Cupcakes: With over 20 locations across British Columbia, this is a one-stop destination in our Big City! Offering a range of delectable goodies combined with top-notch service, Big City Cupcakes is taking over one cupcake at a time! Ask about their “Free” Cupcakes for  Gluten Sensitive and Egg and Dairy Sensitive Diets!Â
Butter Baked Goods: Located in Vancouver’s lovely Dunbar area, this family-run business is operated by Rosie Daykin. Known for their oh-so-yummy marshmallows, Butter offers a variety of delicious cupcakes and other baked goods! Flavors include: Chocolate Rasberry, Red Velvet, Chocolate Peanut Butter and the list goes on! Check out this must-visit place for all you Cupcake fanatics!Â
Cupcakes : Cupcakes was founded by best friends and business partners Heather White and Lori Joyce. The retro design of the Cupcakes shops is just as sweet as the cupcakes themselves! Cupcakes has six locations ranging from all over Vancouver to White Rock. These treats add a delectable touch to a wedding, business event, or fun night in with the girls!
Tracey Cakes Bakery Café : A local favourite, Tracycakes cupcakes are available in 40 tempting varieties. With cutsie names that describe their character and flavour like Va-Va Vanilla, Smartie Pants, Peppermint Patty and Happy cupcakes, it is no wonder these treats are an Abbotsford and White Rock favourite!
Ooh La La Cupcakes: Located in Victoria, this Parisian-inspired cupcake shop is thoroughly divine. The cupcakes resemble pieces of art so you may be hesitant to take the first bite. But don’t worry, the enticing aroma will seduce you! There’s nothing vanilla about Ooh La La Cupcakes.
The Vancouver Women of 2010
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games are almost here. Do you know who will be representing our nation? If not, we’ve decided to enlighten CRAVE Vancouver readers and do a feature on the women of 2010. We have selected some of the Vancouver women who will proudly be representing Canada while they compete on home turf. KNOW who you’re supporting when game time arrives! Add to this list by listing any fabulous athletes below!Â
Alexa Loo – Born in Richmond, Loo, a snowboarder, is the first Canadian woman to compete at an Olympic Winter Games in the parallel giant slalom event.  Not only is Loo an incredible athlete, but she is also a member of the AthletesCAN board of Directors. For the International Paralympic Committee, Loo volunteers as a seeing-eye guide. She’s going for GOLD in 2010!
Britt Janyk – Member of the Canadian Alpine women’s Ski Team, Whistlerite Britt Janyk is no doubt ecstatic to compete on the terrain that she calls home. Janyk’s advice to up-and-coming athletes: “Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your accomplishments from time-to-time. Unless you celebrate the process, you’ll never appreciate the product.”
Kristi Richards – Hailing from Summerland, B.C., Kristi is a member of the Canadian World Cup Mogul Team, the 2007 World Champion for women’s moguls and a 2006 Olympian. Kristi is also an avid blogger so fans are able to get unique insight into the life of a Canadian Olympian!
Best of Vancouver’s Evening Wear!
Whether you’re preparing for a gala, glam night with the girls, or simply fuelled by the desire to dress sharp, you’re not going to find the perfect ensemble at just ANY shop. That is why CRAVE has compiled a list of the top places to find couture and evening wear in Vancouver. Chic, charming and classy, review our list of the crème de la crème boutiques in Vancouver. O la la! Â
Bodacious : Celebrate your curves at Bodacious! Showcasing some of the most sexy, flirty dresses in Vancouver, you will not leave this location empty handed!
Boudoir: Boudoir really is “bringing pretty back.” With an influx of dresses, dresses and more dresses, you are sure to find the most exquisite dress for your special evening out.  Each piece is ultra-chic and unique – so unique that there’s a good chance that the girl you love to hate won’t be wearing the same thing.
Brandycandy: From vintage to uber-trendy, Brandycandy is near guaranteed to have the ensemble that you’ve been lusting for. Her designs are so authentic and glamorous, you’re going to have trouble shopping for just one outfit. Trust us, we sure did.
Dace :  Fun, flirty and feminine, Dace is quickly becoming a Vancouver favourite. The British Columbia born and raised designer creates pieces that are tailored, sophisticated and timeless. In Dace, you’ll start using any excuse to get dolled up.
(fun fact : Crave collaborator Kendall’s horse, Austin appears in the Dace Fall 2009 photo shoot!)
Honey Love Design Boutique : Bursting with ultra-girly, feminine fashions, Honey Love makes the closet of your dreams a reality. The advice from the boutique’s expert stylists will ensure that you leave feeling great about yourself, and ready to rock the town!
JC Studio: Home of the Jaqueline Conoir Collection, this is where you can find the elegant, classic and also the fashion trends of today. If you want to be noticed, AND remembered, visit the JC Studio on W 6th today.
Malary’s Fashion Network : Malary’s is downtown Cloverdale’s hotspot for evening wear and gowns. Featuring a comprehensive selection of one-of-a-kind dresses by Vancouver designers, you are sure to leave feeling like a queen!
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