WIN a Custom Fascinator!

Have you ever noticed the amazing head pieces that Kate Middleton and the rest of the royal crowd wears and wished you had one too? These fascinating pieces are called, (yes, you got it), fascinators and they are making waves in the fashion world. Luckily for you, we have our very own designer, Phaedra, who makes exquisite fascinators right here in the city!

Enter the “Fascinating You!” raffle exclusively for Urban Girl Squad ladies for the chance to work with Phaedra and make a customized fascinator ($300-500 value) for that next special event! You will get the opportunity to discuss with the designer what type of fascinator you would like to have made, then meet with her in her studio and have a personal fascinator custom built just for you…all while you drink champagne and enjoy delicious cookies, of course. Two runners up will receive beautiful fascinators (worth $150 each)! It sure is good to be an Urban Girl Squader!

TO ENTER: Tell us your favorite celebrity outfit that included a fascinator and why?

NOTE: You **must** be a fan of Phaedra’s Facebook page in order to qualify. Like her page here.

*We’ll enter you TWICE if you post a photo!*

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Everyone gets a little blue from time to time…

The UGS staff was procrastinating yet again and while surfing the web, came across this article and thought we would share. Next time you are just a little down in the dumps — get off your couch and try these simple yoga poses to help shake it off!
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Yoga To Ease Depression

You probably know about the great physical benefits of yoga, but did you know that you can use yoga to ease depression? It’s true, there are several easy poses that you can do to help yourself start feeling better and get out of the “blahs.” A lot of these poses are called “inverted” poses, which allows more blood and oxygen to flow to your head and cause a release of “happy chemicals” known to produce a calming effect, such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenalin. You’ll see that with regular practice you’ll begin to feel happier (as well as become more flexible!) So which poses are the most beneficial to ease depression? Try these three:
* Standing Forward Bend
* Extended Foot Pose
* Dolphin Plank Pose

You can do these individually, or for even more benefits as part of a yoga routine. Don’t worry, you don’t have to twist into a pretzel to begin to feel happier. These poses are great for beginners. However, if you do begin to feel dizzy, out of breath, or experience pain, stop and see your doctor before continuing. Also, yoga is beneficial for mild depression–if you feel your depression is more severe, please see your doctor. So, why not give it a try and see how you can use yoga to ease depression? A more joyful you is waiting!

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/yoga-to-ease-depression

Want to try yoga for yourself? Check out Pure Yoga, our favorite spot in NYC to practice whether you are an expert or a first timer!

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Rita to the Rescue! Win a teeth whitening treatment!

Rita to the Rescue!A CONTEST TO SMILE ABOUT! Win a whiter, straighter, BETTER smile!

Remember when metal mouth was the only road to pretty teeth? If you think the “Ugly Betty” look is the only way to get straight teeth and a healthy smile, you’re mistaken. Enter our special raffle with our favorite Orthodontist and Invisalign specialist, Rita Taliwal of Metro Orthodontics, to win one of three free whitening treatments (value: $500 each!). One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a whitening treatment **and** an incredible Invisalign discount of 50% (value: $3,000!).

TO ENTER THE CONTEST: You know you’ve got that terribly embarrassing story about your braces, or your friends’ braces, from your adolescence (maybe you made out with that guy and got stuck on him… literally?). Confess it on our Facebook page, and you’ll be entered to win.

Never had braces? You can still enter to win by telling us any embarrassing dental story.

We’ll enter you TWICE if you post a photo from your story!

NOTE: You **must** be a fan of Rita’s page in order to qualify. Like her page here.

What’s Invisalign? Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you simply wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements your dentist or orthodontist plans out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You simply pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete and you achieve the confident smile that you’ve always wanted. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth.

Still not sure what Invisalign is? Well it is a modern approach to braces where clear plastic “aligners” are made ‘specially for your teeth. These aligners then gently shift your teeth into place! No metal. No fuss. Still want more information? Msg Rita on Facebook today – she is an Orthodontist who cares! Care about your  health, self-confidence and well being. She will happily msg you back about anything!

CONTEST ENDS: Friday, March 16, 2012 at 11:59PM. Winners will be announced by Monday, March 19, 2012.

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Introducing the newest addition to our staff…

Jennifer Lee Snowden, Freelance Writer

Hometown: Spring Lake, Michigan (bonus points if you’ve heard of it)
How You Found UGS: My fiance came across the website and sent me an email saying, “This is right up your alley!!!”  I went to the site and noticed the “Horse Back Riding and Wine Tasting Event.”  Oh my word, two of my favorite things combined into one outing?…how could I not love this thing called Urban Girl Squad?  I signed up and I have been hooked ever since.  I can’t wait to give Amanda a high five for creating something that brings such cool girls together and I could not be happier to be the new writer!
Most Interesting Job: Besides being a Singer/Songwriter (which comes with it’s own set of interesting stories), I was once a Private Investigator!  I didn’t wear a trench coat, but I did have lots of cool detective gadgets!  I’ll tell you more over a glass of red wine.
Favorite NYC Spot: Public Restaurant is my home away from home!  It reminds me of my year in Australia and gave me a family when I first moved to NYC!  Of course, I also love Royalton.  I’m the Maitre’ D there and am lucky to say that I LOVE both my jobs!
Off Hours:  I’m writing my first book, so it pretty much consumes my off hours.  Oh yeah, I’m also planning my wedding.  When I do have a moment though, I try to spend it walking my adorable Rodegian Ridgeback and Boxer mixed puppy, Buster Brown.  I love him so much that it makes my fiance jealous.

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Better Sex Through Yoga? Book Says ‘Yes!’

We at Urban Girl Squad were surfing the web planning more upcoming events for you at Pure Yoga (stay tuned for details) when we came across this article — and well — we just had to share!

By ABC News — Feb 9, 2012 5:33pm

 

Better Sex Through Yoga? Book Says ‘Yes!’

ABC News’ Nikki Battiste and Dan Harris report:

The latest way to improve your love life doesn’t involve a slick how-to guide. It doesn’t involve Big Pharma, either.

It’s yoga.

According to William Broad, author of “The Science of Yoga,” which came out Feb. 7, there is real evidence yoga helps sex.  For example, the cobra pose boosts blood flow to the pelvis.

“Why spend millions on those little blue pills, right?” Broad said in an interview with ABC News’ Dan Harris.

Broad, a science writer for The New York Times, spent years combing through the scientific literature on yoga.

“I can cite you study after study after study,” Broad said. “We can go through hormones, brain waves, vaginal blood flow…”

Broad said yoga started in medieval India as a sex cult, a series of practices that used our sexual energies as the fast track to enlightenment.

Broad said he was familiar with the “yogasm,” a term coined by the HBO’s “Sex and the City” to mean yoga-induced orgasm. Yogasms are now the topic of scientific study, he said.

Scientists at Rutgers University are conducting brain scans on women who lie under fluorescent lights, close their eyes and enter states of orgasmic bliss. The physical signs are visible on monitors, Broad said.

“[Y]ou can get into states where you are orgasmic without touching yourself,” he explained.  ”In the clinical literature, it’s called spontaneous orgasm. In the popular world, it’s called ‘thinking off.’”

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Want to try yoga for yourself? Check out Pure Yoga, our favorite spot in NYC to practice whether you are an expert or a first timer!

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My New Baby Girl!

My husband, Jake, and I are happy to announce the birth of Ella Simone, born February 18th at 3:48am, weighing 4 lbs 15 oz. We are all healthy and doing well! Thanks Urban Girl Squad for the great support!

Love, Amanda

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Breathing through the “crazy New York life”

New York City – if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, right? Those of us who dare to venture into the big city come willing to do whatever it takes. We work 7 jobs, with 40-hour days, neurotically attached to our iPhone/Blackberry/e-mail/etc for any “opportunity” to bend over backwards for someone else. Over time, in theory we “succeed.” Our reward? More emails, more meetings thus we must work faster, try harder, budget better. But damn it, we’re “making it” in New York! Hooray!

When we read this expression of the daily grind we realize how absurd this approach to life really is… enter yoga…

While I was lured into yoga with the promise of a perfect body and flat abs, my practice soon became an addiction that delivered on a much deeper level. A level that essentially saved my life. Yoga is first and foremost a spiritual practice, based in meditation and self-exploration of your mind and body. While the asanas (physical postures), especially in western culture, do invigorate the physical body, the sequence is designed to invigorate the mind (whether or not the student is aware).

The more I practiced yoga, the better I felt. And not just in the physical “look how healthy/skinny/strong/revived” I am. I suddenly found that I was less likely to bitch out the cab that tried to run me over in the street and more willing to say yes to that potentially annoying favor. In fact, my even boss yelled at me for being “too calm”…wtf!?

The core of the yoga practice lies in the breath. Vinyasa is the pair of the movement with the breath (and the intention, but I won’t get into that right now). The beauty of yoga is that you breathe through everything you’re feeling – physically, mentally, and emotionally. The more I practiced, the more I could breathe through an uncomfortable pose and remain steady, even calm.

Plus, as opposed to everything else in my life, in yoga you want to try less. Yep, less. Tensing up and exerting more effort gets you no where – releasing and letting the tension go allows you to relax into a pose naturally and (more) easily.

Inhale…”let”…exhale…”go”…

Guess what? The same idea applies to life. The stronger my practice got, the more equipped I was to breathe through an uncomfortable situation OFF the mat. Annoying project? Inhale. Rude subway rider? Exhale. Overwhelming to-do list? Inhale. Coffee down my shirt? Exhale.

Yes, my daily “yoga practice” has enabled me to be more steady, stable, calm, at ease, focused, etc., despite the level of chaos my life reaches on a daily basis. People ask me all the time why I’m such a yoga dork, specifically why I went through extensive lengths to get certified to teach. I tell them, honestly, yoga saved my type-A New Yorker ass and all I want to do is share what I’ve learned.

Bonus: now I have a killer yoga butt.

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Written By… Lindsay Carson is our Social Media Director and a Yoga Instructor

 

Want to try yoga for yourself? Check out Pure Yoga, our favorite spot in NYC to practice whether you are an expert or a first timer!

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We’re Hiring!

Just a few of our fab staff members!

UPDATE (1/27/2012): we have hired our new employees for each of these positions! If you would like us to keep your resume on file, please send in an application to jobs [at] urbangirlsquad.com.

Do you love Urban Girl Squad as much as we do?  If so, join our team!  We are currently hiring for the following positions.


Sales Associate

The Position
The Sales Associate will sell sponsorships to local businesses by engaging them in Urban Girl Squad’s mission and member base.  The Sales Associate will conduct in-person and over the phone sales meetings and will develop creative new ideas for our sponsorship packages.  Sponsorship of Urban Girl Squad could mean several things for a business, including hosting events, branding our cocktail parties or other events, offering raffle prizes to our member base, or reaching out with special offers to our social media base.

This position is part time and will be paid on commission.

Who We’re Looking For
You should be energetic, friendly, creative, and confident and be adept at thinking on your feet.

How to Apply
Send a cover letter telling us why you’re right for this position, including your history with and interest in Urban Girl Squad, and your resume to jobs @ urbangirlsquad.com (delete the spaces).  Please include a description of why you would make a good representative and salesperson for Urban Girl Squad, a short description of previous sales experience, and your online profile (Facebook page, blog, Twitter feed, etc.).  Be creative!


Get Involved as a Volunteer!

Do you love the Urban Girl Squad community and want to volunteer to help us spread the word?  There are a few ways to help us out.  First, tell your friends about us!  Have them to join our mailing list, follow our Twitter feed, and like our Facebook page.  Second, volunteer with us!  Please email us at volunteer @ urbangirlsquad.com (delete the spaces) with specific ideas for ways you want to get more involved.  The more information you can give us about the kind of tasks you would like to do, the better.


Freelance Writer

The Position
The Freelance Writer will compose Urban Girl Squad’s marketing emails and the event descriptions on the Events page.  Event descriptions and emails each go live one to two times per week.  We estimate that this position will take approximately two to four hours per week, and we ask for a 48-hour turnaround period on this work.

The person in this role will also be responsible for one-off writing projects and editing, including press releases, website updates, and occasional blog posts.

Who We’re Looking For
You should be able to write in Urban Girl Squad’s voice and “UGS-ify” the basic details of an event into a playful, exciting, and engaging description.

How to Apply
Send a cover letter telling us why you’re right for this position, including your history with and interest in Urban Girl Squad, and your resume to jobs @ urbangirlsquad.com (delete the spaces).  Please include writing samples, preferably of direct-response emails and website writing (we prefer to see more than just blog posts), your online profile (Facebook page, blog, Twitter feed, etc.), and salary requirements (including whether you charge by the hour, project, or monthly retainer).

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Happy Holidays Giveaway, Featuring the Andean Collection

Amazon Necklace Grand PrizeUrban Girl Squad is hoping your holidays will be extra happy if you’re the winner of our latest giveaway, featuring the Andean Collection. Read more to learn about a great cause, and then enter the giveaway today!

Andean Collection was founded to bring sustainable change to impoverished communities in South America, offering artisans the opportunity to participate in the global market while inspiring their customers with the elusive world of the rural Andes. The collection is designed locally in Brooklyn and uses bright colors and soft hues, combining natural materials with rustic metals — and the results are truly beautiful designs. The company’s nonprofit arm, Andean Project, addresses other poverty-related social issues, all funded through sales and private donations.

Amazon Necklace Giveaway

One Grand Prize: Amazon Necklace (available in 3 colors)

Riverbed Bracelet Giveaway

One Runner Up: Riverbed Bracelet (available in 16 colors)

 

 

Riverbed Bracelet: stacked

Creat a Look: Multiple Riverbed Bracelets

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONE GRAND PRIZE: One Amazon necklace in any color. A combination of açaí, jaboncillo and tagua discs in bright colors come together with a twist in this bold necklace. 20 inches long, worth $125!

ONE RUNNER-UP: One Riverbed bracelet in any color. This bracelet style features tagua that is so finely polished it resembles the stones found in the riverbeds of roaring rapids. One size fits all, worth $26.

Because everyone deserves a gift this holiday season, everyone wins with a discount! Take 20 percent off your Andean Collection purchase Dec. 4, 2011, through Dec. 19, 2011, with code UGS2011X. And by joining their mailing list, you have access to VIP discounts and free shipping specials.

Giveaway starts Mon., Dec. 5, 2011, and ends 11:59 pm Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. Enter to win! Winners will be notified by Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Good luck, and Happy Holidays!

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Member Profile: Jenny MacAndrew

As the saying goes, there are eight million tales in NYC… and thousands of strollers on the Upper West Side. You’ll find Urban Girl Squader Jenny MacAndrew behind one of them, touring around her park-filled neighborhood with a six-month old “baby girl squader.” Jenny filled us in on how Urban Girl Squad helps her make the most of her precious me time.

UGS: Are you a recent New York transplant?
I moved to New York 3 ½ years ago from Florida; I’d previously lived in Palm Beach and Gainesville. I came because I wanted a big change!

UGS: What’s your favorite thing to eat or drink in New York?
One of the best things about New York is that any type of food is always on offer—that’s not the case in many other places. When we have guests visiting, we can take them to our go-to Malaysian place or Tunisian place or Turkish place. There are so many amazing, authentic cuisines right in our neighborhood.

UGS: How did you find your way to Urban Girl Squad?
A friend took me to the spa event at Trump SoHo. It was one of my first nights out with friends since I had my baby. It was a really big deal to go out and to have pamper time.

UGS: As opposed to Pampers time! We’re guessing that life in New York City changes a lot after you have a child.

That’s the understatement of the day! The biggest thing is that you have a lot less time and a lot less sleep. You really want to make sure that you’re optimizing the free time you do have with really cool activities. Urban Girl Squad helps me streamline all those things during the few nights out I can take.

UGS: What other events have you checked out?
I went to Spa Primp & Prep for Fashion’s Night Out—got my nails done and a scalp massage. Afterwards, I checked out the stores with a bunch of girls that I met there. I also joined the Running Group with Athleta. My educational and professional background is in wellness programs, nutrition, and personal training, so I’ve always been athletic. But I really hadn’t run since the beginning of my pregnancy. The run really challenged me and pushed me outside my comfort zone!

UGS: Alright, you’ve got a stroller…so what’s your favorite walk?

We took the baby out on her first walk when she was three days old. It’s great to walk down Broadway and stop for a coffee and continue on. We’re in a great location, right between Central and Riverside Parks—two amazing walks.

Urban Girl Squad is certain that everyone’s spent at least a little bit of time in Central Park. But what about Riverside, Jenny’s other local fave? Whether strolling solo, en famille, or with your bestie, we’re sure you’ll love the waterside view as much as she does!

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