CG: Being a chocolatier is not a typical job, how did you both decide this was what you wanted to do?

C&D: Cristina attended culinary school and chocolate was her favorite focus. It was a natural progression. Cristina and I have creative backgrounds so we followed the creative flow.

CG: What are the advantages and disadvantages ... Read More »]]>

Valentines day is fast approaching and Cristina and Diana at Shocolaate are hard at work making sure it’s a sweet day for everyone. New to the world of chocolate, Shocolaate has caused quite a buzz with it’s fun and chic treats that are sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

CG: Being a chocolatier is not a typical job, how did you both decide this was what you wanted to do?

C&D: Cristina attended culinary school and chocolate was her favorite focus. It was a natural progression. Cristina and I have creative backgrounds so we followed the creative flow.

CG: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a mother-daughter team?

C&D: We are able to trust my business partner, we effortless compliment each other and work in sync. On the down side we spend a lot of time together! It is important that each team member maintain personal time.

CG: What is your job like on a day-to-day basis?

C&D: Busy! Busy! We have to stay organized as there are always exciting things happening at Shocolaate! Always, we plan our days accordingly as we are an e-commerce company. We fill the orders and everything is made fresh daily. We also do custom orders so things change daily. We always make sure our local shops are supplied. Marketing and Social Media also keeps us really busy. In addition to order fulfillment, Shocolaate participates in volunteer projects.

CG: Valentine’s day is a popular holiday for chocolates, what is Valentine’s Day like for a chocolatier?

C&D: We will be experiencing our first official Valentines Day in 2011. Creating the Valentine’s Day Collection was exciting and it has generated a greater response than we had expected!

CG: What are your plans for the future; do you have any new ventures in mind?

C&D: Our next plan is to roll out our St Patrick’s line and our Spring Collection 2011 and we are continuously inspired by design and other creative elements around us to offer something entirely unique.

For more information and to check out all the collections visit www.shocolaate.com.  Follow @Shocolaate on Twitter and visit their Facebook page.

Ana Valentine is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying Journalism with a focus in content management. Along with school and campus involvement she is actively pursuing a career in Journalism with dreams of working for a magazine.

CG: The Alison-Paul show is so unique, whose idea was it to start all of this? What gave you the idea?

Alison Stewart: Paul and I met in 2002 at a Big Bang Baby show (Paul’s amazing band), ... Read More »]]>

Co-Hosted by Alison Stewart, a vivacious New York City stylist, and Paul Anthony, a lead singer for Big Bang Baby, “The Alison-Paul Show” brings a new meaning to the word talk show. Filled with exciting commentary and controversial subjects Alison and Paul’s upbeat personalities keep listeners hanging on their every work. With this dynamic duo you will never know what to expect next!

CG: The Alison-Paul show is so unique, whose idea was it to start all of this? What gave you the idea?

Alison Stewart: Paul and I met in 2002 at a Big Bang Baby show (Paul’s amazing band), but it wasn’t until the Fall of 2009 that we decided to work together. Since it was an unusual pairing (the “Jersey rocker guy” and the “NYC fashion girl”…), we thought that hosting an online talk-show would be a great (and fun!) way to sort of announce to the public that we’d become a team. It was also a fantastic way to have everyone get to know us a little better and give us a platform to promote other projects we’re working on. I had hosted a number of online style shows in the past, so I knew enough about the whole process to come up with the initial idea. But it’s really become a huge team effort with a producer, a promotions team, etc.

Paul Anthony: We wanted to cross two cultures and two states…even though NYC and NJ are so close geographically, they are so far away idealistically and culturally. Crossing the two worlds, like Alison said, makes for a really original duet of personalities! Our personalities are basically like Alison holding a cup of gas and me holding a match…and she’s always trying to blow it out to slow down my impulsive side!

CG: What is the best part of your job?

AS: For me, it’s the creativity and really “making” something exciting each week. We get to be ourselves, meet interesting people, and no matter what, we always have a blast together! And as a Fashion Stylist for the past 10 years, it’s been so cool for me to branch out and be a tiny part of Paul’s music world…

PA: It’s not a job, it’s an adventure with no cubicles to sit at!!!

CG: Do you ever butt heads on certain subjects? How do you handle your differences?

AS: We absolutely butt heads. We are two creative, opinionated people who like to be heard. But I think it’s also what makes other people find us interesting or exciting to watch. And when we have a business decision to make and don’t agree on something, we’re lucky – it’s turned out that his strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa. So we’ve gotten pretty good at hearing each other out…

PA: Yes, of course we sometimes disagree. How do we handle it? Well, we could always watch Dr. Phil…!!

CG: If each of you could pick one person to interview on your show, who would it be? Why?

AS: I have about 200 fascinating people on my “wish-list” (!), but I think as a New Yorker and former ballet dancer, my #1 pick right now would be Mikhail Baryshnikov. He’s a creative legend and an idol of mine, and has led such an interesting, politically-charged, controversial life…

PA: All the executives (sorry, I have more than one in mind) at the Federal Reserve. Oh, and I’ll need some truth serum to give them all before the interview begins!

CG: It seems you both are always working on a new project…what can your fans expect next?

AS: Of course, “The Alison-Paul Show” will be back with Season 2 after the New Year, and we have so many other exciting things happening as well! We are collaborating on a rocker-inspired collection of neckties with an amazing tie designer – “The Alison-Paul Collection for Vittorio J” – they are gorgeous and coming out soon. We also have a television project in development, and are starting a multi-media company involving fashion, music & politics that we hope to have launched later in 2011. And Big Bang Baby always has its own exciting things happening as well…

PA: You can expect this multi-media company to bring a cool and unique form of business that is new and that works in the post-recession era. Our fans and friends need a new view of the future of business and entertainment in this country (and worldwide, actually). The team we are building will be the future of the way things should run for success and unity, and is based a lot on the idea of “strength in numbers.” And as a leader in the entertainment industry, Big Bang Baby is also bringing its fans a whole new show (we’re calling it “BBB 6.0”) that will connect an old-school rock-&-roll culture with the current dance-club scene – an awesome show for all of our followers!

For more information and to see what Alison and Paul are up to next visit them at www.alison-paul.com and www.bigbangbaby.com!

Ana Valentine is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying Journalism with a focus in content management. Along with school and campus involvement she is actively pursuing a career in Journalism with dreams of working for a magazine.

What attracted you to the beauty industry?

As a young girl, I remember being so fascinated with the artistic way my mom applied her make up. She never let my father catch her looking less than beautiful. Her skin ... Read More »]]>

Ghada Abuhakmeh, just like every other girl went through the awkward teenage years, but it was in those years that she discovered her love for the beauty industry. Passionate about living a healthy full life, she has made it her mission to not only enhance her own lifestyle but also to share her tips with the thousands of women who read her blog.

What attracted you to the beauty industry?

As a young girl, I remember being so fascinated with the artistic way my mom applied her make up. She never let my father catch her looking less than beautiful. Her skin was always flawlessly glowing, hair perfectly smooth and never frizzy, and her wardrobe was always colorful and elegant. I knew my mom was naturally gorgeous, but make up somehow enhanced her features even more. I couldn’t wait to grow up and be like her!

As I grew into my teens, I began to experience the change of hormones. My body started to transform in a way that no mother can prepare her daughter for. Besides being traumatized by a menstrual cycle, I began to suffer from teenage acne and even hair growth in places that I never knew could grow anything!

So to answer your question, I became interested in the beauty industry when I was forced to. I had to visit a dermatologist for my skin, the spa for my hairy legs, and the hair dresser to help smooth my frizzy, course hair. Ever since then, I’ve been addicted to the latest in beauty products and technology and helping other women feel beautiful.

Why is it so important to you to make natural products?

When creating a product, I always look for the best ingredients even if it’s not all-natural. Of course, I will always opt for ingredients found in nature before infusing my product with something synthetic, unless there is no substitute and after I have done extensive research on both its safety and efficacy. With natural ingredients, there is less chance for toxicity and harmful chemicals to penetrate your skin. The earth is abundant with ingredients that have been shown to effectively nourish, repair and hydrate any skin, so why not use them first?

What inspired the new Love Your Lips LIP BALM?

A few months ago, I started noticing my lips were chapped due to the change of seasons. I felt the taste, smell and feel of medicated balm was not what my lips deserved. After some trial and error, I finally found a combination of natural ingredients that not only left my lips soft, supple and shiny, but also felt like it was naturally restoring my lip’s moisture. I couldn’t wait to share this with my mom and friends, so soon after, I decided to share the formula with all my Smallworld Beauty customers. Smallworld Beauty Lip Balms are made with nature’s super softeners Macadamia and Jojoba oil, healing and nourishing Coconut Oil, and a little bit of Castor Oil to give your set of lips that touch of healthy and lustrous shine.

You seem to practice what you preach; have there ever been times where you find this hard to do?

I am human and just like everyone else, I get distracted, fail, and even indulge in things that I know I shouldn’t but that’s what makes everyday life interesting and not tedious! I am so far from the perfect person or body, but I make the best of every moment I have. Just like most women, I get depressed, irritable and even get down on myself. I have just accepted that these emotions are natural and that I just have to push through them until I reach another great moment that makes everything so worth it. I have chosen to live my life with very little restriction. I believe in moderation and being open minded to everything in life. I never want to look back on my life and regret anything.

Since starting small world beauty, what has been the most rewarding experience?

The most rewarding experience that Smallworld Beauty has given to me is the feeling of true health, mental and physical strength, and unconditional self-love. I have learned that I can achieve anything I put my mind to, from losing weight, to being an entrepreneur and working for myself. Smallworld Beauty has also become my tool to inspire others to take charge of their mind, body and life and truly open up to enjoying it. Smallworld Beauty was created for the purpose of showcasing beauty in diversity, and in the whole world. We all deserve to love our lives.

For more information and products, visit Smallworld Beauty and www.iloveproteinbars.com.

Follow @GhadaSmallworld on Twitter and visit on Facebook.

Ana Valentine is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying Journalism with a focus in content management. Along with school and campus involvement she is actively pursuing a career in Journalism with dreams of working for a magazine.

Goodsociety is not just about the quality of jeans, but about the quality of life. Standing by their motto “love, will, and do good” Goodsociety sends a portion of their proceeds to non-profit organizations such as Child of Mine and the Servant Anoynymous foundation. At the end of the day purchasing a pair of these jeans is something too feel good about.

What was the inspiration for Goodsociety?

In 2006 a buddy of mine asked me to come down to a center for families that he was directing because they were shorthanded that night. I knew that this center supported single women ... Read More »]]>

Goodsociety is not just about the quality of jeans, but about the quality of life. Standing by their motto “love, will, and do good” Goodsociety sends a portion of their proceeds to non-profit organizations such as Child of Mine and the Servant Anoynymous foundation. At the end of the day purchasing a pair of these jeans is something too feel good about.

What was the inspiration for Goodsociety?

In 2006 a buddy of mine asked me to come down to a center for families that he was directing because they were shorthanded that night. I knew that this center supported single women and their kids, providing them with meals, clothes, and creating a caring community of individuals to love others through the challenges of life. The first night that I was there, I met a n 8 year old name Surab that was there for the first time as well. His mother had escaped from the Taliban in Afghanistan and was trying to set up a better life for herself and her son in North America. Connecting with Surab that night impacted me deeply. He was slightly shy, incredibly warm kid that quickly won me over. I was asked to come down for one night, but kept going back every week for the next 3 years until I moved out of the city. Thankfully I’ve gotten to keep in touch with Surab and his mom. Love those two.

These years spent at this center for families deeply impacted me in a couple of ways. First, I got to connect in a very personal way with a lot of people that could really use a helping hand in life. Most often these were people that had wound up in challenging situations through difficult circumstances that were completely out of their control. The second thing that really impacted me was the realization that I was finally living out the values I had said I cared about, but never really felt like I had fully gotten to embrace before that. Goodsociety is an expression of our values to love others, that people are always worth it, and that there is enough to go around for all.

This is my story, but there are similar stories from everybody around the Goodsociety family. We’ve been touched by the impact that love can have and want to share that with other any chance we get.

What made you decide to manufacture jeans, say instead of t-shirts?

The current Goodsociety team is actually the second team to run this label. The first team started it and put some amazing pieces in place. The second team took over when the opportunity was presented to us and have developed the brand and the giving side of what we are about.

How do you choose the projects Goodsociety participates in, such a SA Foundation and Child of Mine?

Goodsociety is always looking to be involved in being apart of and giving back to communities wherever we are located. This has resulted in getting to participate in some amazing projects both locally and internationally.

The first thing that we typically look for in a project is the opportunity to develop relationship with the organization and the people that they are caring for. Every project that we have been involved with, has always developed from relationship first, and from this foundation into dreaming about the impact that working together could have on helping others.

Beyond relationship, there are always two things we look for in evaluating potential projects:

1. That resources are directly being used to care for people stuck in poverty. While our giving might be focused on education with one organization or housing with another, we always ensure that money is being spent directly on those in poverty.

2. That the people receiving resources are being cared well throughout the process. We believe that not only should we help those around us, but that friendship and relationship is a common desire in everyone. With each project that we support, we spend time on the ground sharing in the joy that a gift can make and spending time with the beautiful people that we are blessed to support.

What is the number one thing that sets Goodsociety apart from other companies like it?

We would like to think that our cuts are incredibly flattering and just wearing rad denim can change a persons life. While we hope this might be just a little but true, it is definitely the relationships that we have with different development projects and the impact these projects are having that sets us apart.

Year before Goodsociety began giving to Child of Mine, I was traveling in India and stumbled upon a children’s home in northern India called Dur-Ur-Fazl. I was invited to spend some time playing with the kids, adventuring around the mountains with them, and being involved with their everyday lives for a while. These kids left a lasting impact on my life, and years later it was the first project the Goodsociety began to fund. Relationships are incredibly important to myself and our entire team. Beyond simply sharing finances, we love spending time with the people we give to. While it looks like we are the ones giving, it feels like we are receiving more than we could ever give.

What do you see for the future of Goodsociety?

The dream of Goodsociety is to encourage and participate in a movement of giving. We are always looking for new opportunities to be apart of the giving process with incredible organizations out there.

The vision for our line is thinking of new ways to invite our retailers, friends, and consumers to be apart of the giving in more active ways. Together we have an incredible potential to impact the world for good and feel connected in doing it. As Goodsociety continues to grow, we will be creating ways for others to be more actively involved with the projects that we are involved with.

For more information and products visit Goodsociety.

Ana Valentine is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying Journalism with a focus in content management. Along with school and campus involvement she is actively pursuing a career in Journalism with dreams of working for a magazine.