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August 1st, 2008
Recently we attended yet another backyard BBQ. Now we love the summer food fun, but all of this indulgence has led to a rather jiggly midsection that frankly we’re not fond of. So before we lose control of the situation, we’ve decided to implement a rigorous exercise regimen and super-healthy new diet. And no, this won’t be like those other times we swore to get fit. This time we mean business. No ranch dressing! No fried cheese! And we will limit ourselves to half a bottle of wine (shocking, we know). We’ll start jogging and drink green tea. The pounds will melt off! We’ll develop a six pack! We’ll look ten years younger! Of course before we can get started we need new sneakers, workout gear, and maybe a routine we can plug into an Excel spreadsheet. We have a lot of prep work… so we’ll set a tentative start date of September first. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | A Lyrical Revival When our new boy toy (with major potential to be more) invited us to a Metallica concert, we were a) stoked he asked—he’s literally McDreamy’s smokin’ hot twin, and b) panicked, because our pastel plaids weren’t exactly 80s edgy. In an effort to show our “up-for-anything” versatile style and appreciation for his musical taste, we skipped to Lyric. A suburban newbie, Lyric is a one-stop shop for rock n’ roll glam n’ glitz. We’re talking denim jeans and skirts in every hue (think hot pink to bright yellow) with flip-flops to match. Amongst the uber-sexy dresses we zoned in on a line called SPY, decorated with some tough lookin’ firebirds and sprinkled with rhinestones. Quietly slam-dancing to the David Bowie DVD playing on the flat-screen TV, we decided the Denim of Virtue mini-shorts were just the right amount of back… to our future. We leave with our concert gear in tow, confident our music man will soon be our new beau. We even rocked out to a little Guitar Hero before the big date. Lyric |
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| 2 | Something Old, Something New |
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| 3 | Beach-Baby Glam We have a love-hate relationship with summer. While we welcome the warm sun on our skin, margaritas at our favorite eatery and lying in the grass gazing at stars, two words simultaneously bring an abrupt halt to our sunny disposition: swimsuit season. Just the thought of swearing off carbs, slathering on cellulite cream, and facing our fitting-room demons makes us wish we were shoveling snow instead of surfing safari. Luckily we've found a remedy for the swimsuit blues. Say Aloha to Nani Nalu (Hawaiian for “beautiful wave”) where you'll find the most flattering fits, fabrics and fashions for every body. Hollywood glamour girls can score Ed Hardy bikinis with graffiti-like prints of fish and mermaids, while luxe ladies can tout Trina Turk's sophisticated, well-structured suits with gold embellishments. We pined over the pin-up girl-worthy ruched one pieces by Janzen, which prove you don't have to show a lot of skin to look sexy! We may still be slightly beach-shy, but only because of our pale legs. With sizzling swimwear, we'll sail through summer with style and self-esteem! Nani Nalu |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Once Bitten We weren’t blessed with the perfect pout a la Angelina Jolie, and though the same look could be achieved by smacking ourselves in the mouth with a two-by-four, we prefer to use DuWop Lip Venom, a much less painful mode for amping up our lips. A few quick brush strokes of this ultra-potent plumper leaves our lips with a sexy au natural glow while at the same time creating Hollywood-worthy fullness. Eat your heart out, Angie! |
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| 2 | Emergency-Shmergency Our BFF is disaster-prone. She’s been known to fall down (sober), and once she stepped on her own skirt while standing up, resulting in one torn hem, two broken nails, and a chipped tooth. So when we found the Shemergency kit we laughed out loud and bought her three. Loaded with everything from stain remover and bandages to double-sided tape and earring backs, this cute kit is ready to tackle life’s little mishaps and beauty dilemmas with style and ease. |
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| 3 | DIY Style Before leaving on vacation we searched high and low for the perfect bag to tote our goodies in, but nothing was quite right. Everything was just too sporty, too teen, or just plain blah. If only we’d found Bari J. sooner! Besides their sweet selection of makeup bags and clutches, this savvy site also boasts a stylish do-it-yourself option that allows you to customize any bag with a slew of chic fabrics, making for a one-of-kind handbag that’s all you. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Art of the City We secretly wish we possessed the necessary talent to create divine works of art, but since we can barely draw a straight line, we defer to the professionals found at the Uptown Art Fair. Fabu finds abound including photography, sculpture, jewelry and glasswork. Plus there’s entertainment for the fam, a wine garden, and tasty food. What: Uptown Art Fair |
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| 2 | Irish Fun for Everyone Celebrate the land that gifted us with Guinness by hitting the Irish Fair. There’ll be a stellar Marketplace to satisfy your inner shopper, homemade traditional food and beer from local Irish pubs, cultural events and performances, and live music from bands like Flogging Molly and Romantica. All the fun of Ireland, minus the jet lag. What: Irish Fair of Minnesota |
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| 3 | Humor Yourself Last Comic Standing was one reality show that we actually followed this year, so naturally we were stoked when we found out the finalists were coming to town. These talented stand-up comedians will have you laughing ’til it hurts, so don’t miss your chance to snag tickets to this hilariously good time. What: Last Comic Standing |
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Beer, swimming, beer, outdoor concerts, beer, camping… Aaaah summer. Time flies when you’re having fun! |
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