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September 19th, 2008
Whoever said that one was the loneliest number obviously never had kids (or pets, or a spouse for that matter). There have been times when we would have forked over our Frye boots for a crack at a calm, quiet, stress-free weekend without our family (don’t worry—we love ’em and stuff). But a weekend with no meals to plan, no faces to wipe, no dishes to do, no cartoons to watch would be heaven. (And okay, we kinda like the cartoons.) |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Nordic Bliss In college we spent a year studying abroad, and in between our matriculating and sightseeing we somehow found time to fall head over heels for two equally lust-worthy things: a swarthy blond named Sven and chic Scandinavian design. We cried crocodile tears when it was time to return stateside—not because of Sven, as men come and go—but because of the shopping we had grown accustomed to. Luckily we found Saga Living to mend our broken hearts! This unassuming Nordic haven is tastefully stocked with a harmonious collection of mod shift dresses, slouchy sweaters, and printed fabric handbags, as well as luxe bedding and gorgeous housewares. We love the super cute stripy baby tees by Marimekko, and find ourselves secretly envious of the under-three’s for looking so much better in horizontal stripes than we do. And we couldn’t resist the Design House Stockholm mugs that perfectly fulfill our modern desires. A selection of cool MOMA gifts, wooden toys, and jewelry from the land of oh-so-now make Saga a perennial fave whether shopping for gifts… or for ourselves. Saga Living |
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| 2 | La Vie En Rouge We are unabashedly in love with France. Even their president is more fun than ours (we are so rooting for Carla Bruni, even if his ex-wife calls her a trollop). Sadly our budget of late has been more Jeanne D'Arc than Jane Birkin, so while we save for plane tickets we sate our cravings for Parisian style at Salon Rouge. We love everything about this opulent salon, from the disembodied hands that greet you upon arrival (clutching vintage hairbrushes no less), to the enchanting Euro-glam of the crystal chandeliers, which we adore and totally want, but can’t have because our apartment is cursed with ceilings as low as a submarine’s. The staff is talented, friendly, and remarkably good at turning our weak description of how we want our hair cut (um, shortish with layers, but not layers-layers, you know, piecey—but not too piecey). Add the fact that we can score a mani in the same visit while stocking up on irresistible products from Kevyn Aucoin and Malin + Goetz, and we’re left with a one-stop beautifying shop that exudes fabu French style! Salon Rouge |
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| 3 | Travelin’ Fools Some of us (those with savings accounts) are going to Europe, and of course we want to look our best en route and in the big, posh cities we are visiting. (Memories of schlepping our old backpack—complete with smiley face buttons—through Paris and the looks of “quelle horreur!” still haunt us.) So we headed to Urban Traveler for some luggage updates. Everything from travel-size flat irons (a must have in our book) to every size, shape and color of luggage you can imagine make us even more excited to yell “Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament!” The selection of high-quality luggage (at surprisingly good prices) is staggering, and we fell in love with the brightly colored J. World luggage—pink, green, blue, you name it, it makes us happy. Plus we will immediately know it’s ours on the carousel. Add in the electricity converters and travel pillows, and we have everything we need to travel in style. So next time you have some traveling to do—continental or intercontinental—make Urban Traveler in Uptown your first stop. Urban Traveler |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Bye-Bye Bad Face Day We have finicky skin, and by finicky we mean impossible to please, oily yet dry, and ultra-sensitive. It’s your basic nightmare. And while we’ve tried to soothe our savage beast with a variety of products that promise to please, we always return to our Super-C Cleanser by JASON. Completely natural and packed with a powerful punch of antioxidants including vitamins C and E, this fresh, foaming wash gently cleanses the face, sloughing off dead skin cells and revealing super silky skin. |
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| 2 | Wrapped Up In Style Fall can be a precarious season to navigate. With daytime temps fluctuating between the 50s and the 70s it can be a bit challenging when it comes to outdoor apparel. Our solution? Wrapping up in the cozy-chic shawl we spied on Etsy. This offbeat beauty is hand-woven on a loom from 100% organic wool. Completely seamless, it can be reconfigured in a variety of ways for maximum versatility, plus it comes in a myriad of cool colors to please every palate. |
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| 3 | A Perfect Fit We’re not blessed with a bod that’s easy to fit, and we’ve spent years honing in on the brands that do our curves justice. However, lately we’ve grown tired of battling the throngs of pushy mall-goers, so we’ve gotten a personal shopper to do the hard work for us! At ShopItToMe.com we simply select our favorite brands and sizes, and they scour the web for our new fab finds (on sale no less!) and email them to us. How cool is that? www.shopittome.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Strike Up the (Oompah) Band Rally the troops people, and get to Oktoberfest to partake in all things German. Enjoy cooking demos, authentic German foods, delish beer and brewing info, plus live music and performances that’ll have you wishing you’d been brave enough to don your lederhosen. Got kids? Bring ’em! There’s plenty of family-friendly fun to be had. What: Oktoberfest |
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| 2 | Fashionable Do-Goodery Love doing good? Then hit Fashion with a Purpose, a fundraiser benefiting Dress for Success, a non-profit that helps disadvantaged women by providing professional attire. Emceed by WCCO anchorwoman (and downright stylish gal) Amelia Santaniello, this worthy event features a stellar fashion show by Bumbershute, signature cocktails, indulgent buffet, and a silent auction. |
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| 3 | St. Paul, Restyled Contrary to popular belief, Minneapolis isn’t the only place to score hot fashion and good eats. Don’t believe us? Check out “Taste of Grand: Restyled” in St. Paul. Enjoy an inspired runway show featuring the compelling clothing of Grand Avenue boutiques, plus tastings from local restaurants, a silent art auction, and a cabaret show. What: Taste of Grand: Restyled |
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You people continue to rock our world week after week. Thanks for making Minneapolis Picks your resource for all things fabulous! Please forward this issue to a friend and share the love! |
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