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March 20th, 2009
After a recent bout with the stomach flu we decided that our male counterparts are relatively useless when it comes to caring for the sick, unlike women, who are natural-born givers. Got tummy-troubles? We’ll hold back your hair. Feeling feverish? Let us wet thy brow. But not men, no sir-ee. As far as they’re concerned it’s survival of the fittest, and if you can’t crawl to the fridge to get your own darn Gatorade then too bad for you! We swear that had we asked our guy to crack open a can of chicken-n-stars for us, our request would have been met with severe eye-rolling followed by a series of snorty guffaws and an immediate order to “man-up.” In our delirium we came up with the perfect solution to this problem: an agency of hot, male care-givers (a la Colin Ferrell) that fluff pillows and tend to our needs. Talk about TLC… hubba-hubba! |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Fierce, Fabulous Finds Some women love flowers, some love jewelry, and others swoon for shoes. We do quadruple back flips for handbags, hence our newfound and perhaps overly hearty obsession with Pursecution. This urban boutique is a haven for the accessories addict, offering up a tightly honed selection of handmade, high-quality bags, purses, and leather goods that are as stylish and cool as they are completely original. Owner Jackee’s luxe line of custom-made creations take center stage and include a variety of lust-worthy handbags in deep reds, grassy greens, and rich browns, as well as ultra-hip peek-a-boo wrist and ankle cuffs, each one a masterful example of how to do fierce-meets-fabulous right. And Pursecution stays true to their handcrafted mission by stocking a bevy of other like-minded designer lines, including fun messengers by Bratpacks and eye-popping satchels by Blue Orchard Handbags. The only problem we can foresee with this Minneapolis hot spot is getting out the door with just one bag, so we suggest not even trying. Buy one of everything, and prepare to turn heads everywhere you go. Pursecution |
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| 2 | Oooh Baby, Baby We must be getting old: what used to be weekends of bachelorette parties and cheap vodka have been replaced with baby showers and decaf. Well, for the most part. The good news is that along with fewer hangovers, we don’t have to look at “naughty” pre-wedding presents—now it’s adorable, miniature clothes—especially when they come from Uber Baby. This longtime Minneapolis staple stocks many exclusive lines, can outfit and accessorize an infant or a 6 year old, and has stuff for moms and dads-to-be, too. We love the local line by Noodle and Meatball and the too-cute shoes for boys and girls, and if you’re short on gift ideas, the onesie and diaper bag walls have you covered. Owner Lynne is creative and savvy and will help you find the perfect item for any little one. And aren’t you a lucky reader? Stop in now through April 20 and mention Minneapolis Picks for 10% off your purchase from the Uber Baby store! Now that’s savings to coo about. Uber Baby |
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| 3 | Peace, Love, and Chocolate Our first memories of chocolate involve one very large basket delivered via one very large (and imaginary) rabbit. We plowed through the jelly beans, past malted-milk balls and brightly hued hard-boiled eggs only to arrive safely at a ginormous chocolate bunny. We immediately bit its head off and it’s been love ever since. Enter Legacy Chocolates, the grown-up girl’s answer to satisfying her sweet tooth. This St. Paul mainstay offers up a plethora of mouth-watering indulgences that are sure to make your taste buds dance with delight. Their deeply decadent truffles are handmade with the finest South American chocolate and infused with everything from mint and raspberry to pecans, caramel, and espresso, each one a unique flavor explosion. We darn near passed out when we sunk our teeth into their dark and spicy chipotle truffle—it was that delish—and we had to seriously fight the urge to place a late-night online order. The best part? Legacy uses only the best ingredients (no gooey corn syrup here!) in their carefully crafted creations, making for a truly luxurious tasting experience. Legacy Chocolates |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | All Lathered Up As bath and body product junkies, we have cupboards overflowing with products for every occasion. Recently we ran across a product from Seattle-based Red Leaf that will never find its way to the back of a drawer—it’s just that good. Their soap and shave cube, made with coconut oil and glycerin, it's easy to hold, and such a welcome change from messy shaving foam. Plus, it comes in yummy scents like plumeria, lavender, basil lime and orange sherbet! |
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| 2 | Private Matters Due to our indecision, we are totally unable to pack light. On our last trip, this led to having to bust open our suitcase in the middle of the airport to remove some weight. Fittingly, our unmentionables fell out for everyone to see. Next time we’re putting them in the Privé Lingerie Bag from Urban Kitty. With one zipper pocket for “unworn” pairs, and one for the “worn” pairs, it’s beyond brilliant, and will save us some embarrassment next time we over-pack. |
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| 3 | In the Know We have champagne taste and a beer budget, so we’re always hunting for discounts on the lines we love. But after being sucker-punched by some overly-caffeinated deal-hound at a recent mega-sale, we decided to check out Billion Dollar Babes. Besides being less painful, this online retailer promises nothing but the best, offering up a slew of sweet sales by spot-on lines like Ella Moss, Splendid, and Hugo Boss. It’s accessible by members only, but guess what? Membership is free! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Find Your True Colors Are you a sun-kissed vixen or a fair-skinned maiden? Not sure? Then let Juut’s talented makeup artists help you choose your perfect shades. They peek at your peepers, analyze your skin tone, carefully consider your hair color and then recommend the palette that will make you radiant. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! What: Juut Salonspa Spring ’09 Makeup Event |
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| 2 | Not Your Granny’s Game If you think Bingo belongs in retirement homes then you haven’t experienced the mad-cap frivolity of Bingo A-Go Go! Hosted by Miss Richfield 1981, Bingo A-Go Go’s Retro Bingo night features fabu prizes (spa treatments and getaways) as well as tasty food and bevies. Retro attire strongly encouraged… and frankly, more fun. What: Bingo A-Go Go, Retro Bingo, benefitting Clare Housing and Park House |
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| 3 | Feelin’ Froggy If the little people in your life are experiencing a mad case of cabin fever, take them out for some kid-centric fun at the Minneapolis Central Library. Their uber-fun Childish Film series is for kids 3 and up and features tasty snacks as well as frog-themed shorts and a cool pre-show craft time. What: Childish Films presents “Fond of Frogs” |
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Help us continue our support of our fabulous indie businesses and boutiques by encouraging all of your stylish cohorts to sign up for www.MinneapolisPicks.com. They’ll think you’re so in-the-know and we’ll be forever grateful! xoxo |
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