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May 1st, 2009
Why is it that when we have our makeup and hair done by a professional we leave looking like an au naturale beauty? A dewy complexion… flowing, bouncing tresses a la a shampoo commercial… but when we get home with our bevy of makeup purchases and hair products and try to duplicate the magic we end up looking like some sort of overly waxed, wind-blown psycho clown? Is it just one of the many mysteries of the universe that we’re forced to accept without question? Like fat mirrors, dog clothes, and L.A. starlets who wear Uggs in 65-degree weather? Well, we say, “No more!” And we’re crying foul for all of us everyday chicks who primp and pluck ourselves within an inch of baldness only to fall short of some sort unrealistic expectation. So we’re not perfect—but you know what? We totally rock. Who needs a dewy complexion when you have a sense of humor about life? |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | No Place Like Home In college we loved coming home for purely indulgent and self-serving reasons (homemade lasagna, quarter-free laundry and loads of maternal pampering). As we’ve matured (only slightly), we have begun to admire our parents’ abode for its awe-inspiring aesthetic. We find ourselves wondering where Mom finds those vibrant centerpieces and perfect dinner-party platters. Enter mom’s best kept secret—Three Rooms. This well-appointed art and craft gallery (run by a mother and daughter duo) hosts the perfect selection of home decoration and gifts. We had a hard time finding something we didn’t like. Our favorites include Jim Nelson photos, colorful Olga & Felix pottery (a couple hailing from Russia and now running their business out of a chocolate factory), and Caskata table-top standouts. Sprinkled amidst these gems are unique Roost votives and Mudlark stationery. We couldn’t help but admire their Phillipa Roberts jewelry for our own personal decoration. We can only hope that someday our wee ones enjoy coming home as much as we do. With a little help from Three Rooms, it is bound to be a sure thing. Three Rooms |
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| 2 | Abracadabra! When we were five years old we loved magic. We’re talking rabbits in a hat, quarters coming out of our ears, and the spell of the magic wand. Since then our idea of good entertainment has changed a bit, but we still appreciate the unexpected and seemingly impossible. Enter Whymsy, a one-stop Galleria shop that carries such a unique assortment of gifts and apparel that even the pickiest shopper (from grandma to our teen niece) is tempted to splurge. Now, we’ve never seen a store where three generations of women can shop in perfect harmony, so we wandered Whymsy as if in an enchanted forest. We admired the Baekgaard leather passport cases in colors of the rainbow, eyed the designer jeans and ogled the bright beaded bracelets and angel-hair scarves. Whymsy also hosts a snazzy assortment of JWLA & Linq tees, Michael Simon tops and C. Luce dresses that are sure to put a captivating trance on the opposite sex. Finally, an affordable Galleria crowd-pleaser! Shop now and receive 20% off when you mention Minneapolis Picks. Now that really is magic! Whymsy |
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| 3 | Best Thing Since Sliced Bread Whether we’re charming our coworkers at a mid-week happy hour, rocking out with tragically hip indie kids at a Solid Gold concert, or talking fast cars with the neighbor boys, we fancy ourselves the type of gals who can work any crowd. So when we’re looking to grub in a restaurant as versatile as we are, we hit the Cheeky Monkey Deli. This casual culinary chameleon boasts a little something for everyone. Like cold sandwiches? We swear their shrimp roll with cilantro, cucumbers and spicy mayo will hit the spot, and if hot and spicy is more your thing, then sink your chops into the pot roast with horseradish cream sauce. For folks still on that dreadful anti-carb kick (or who just want something a bit lighter), they can flip any sammy into a foliage-filled salad. But our personal fave was their delicious chocolate-dipped macaroon, perfect for indulging our sweet tooth. Unlike those mini-mall chains, Cheeky Monkey is friendly enough for kids, funky enough for lunch with the girls, and cozy enough for a date. And totally delish! Cheeky Monkey Deli |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Scent-sational Having a signature scent that reminds people of you (and only you) when they smell it is one of those crucial style rules we follow religiously. But we don’t want our signature scent to be the same as someone else’s—the horror! Enter top perfumer Le Labo—with ten exceptional fragrances, these exclusive scents are formulated by hand, on demand. You pick the perfume and name it (sweet) and they print the label with your scent and name, so it’s totally original. Mission accomplished. |
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| 2 | Buh-bye Ms. Nice Gal Our jewelry tastes run the gamut from colorful and oversized costume jewelry to simple pearls—depending on our mood and outfit of course—so when we recently injected our wardrobes with some rocker-chic clothing we decided we needed a piece of edgy jewelry (and tons of smoky eyeliner) to round out our look. Naturally we turned to Alex and Chloe for their mod-goth designs and found the Black Shell necklace from their new Tar Collection. Hello, perfect ensemble! |
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| 3 | Dear Diary… Our first diary was a lovely powder-blue number emblazoned with a rainbow and a white unicorn galloping through the mist. We eagerly filled its pages with crushes, disappointments, and aspirations… and then we grew up, got busy, and stopped pouring out our hearts… until we discovered Awaken Journaling. Their ruggedly luxe journals are masterfully handcrafted from the finest natural and recycled leathers and are perfect for airing gripes, doodling, or for channeling your inner poet. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | May Day Mayhem at the Lounge Pay homage to spring while welcoming summer at il Vostro’s May Day Mayhem fashion show. A bevy of beautiful ensembles from casual and chic to ultra glam will be showcased courtesy of the Edina hotspot. A mere $5 gets you in the door and includes a live performance by local hip hop MC Most Official. What: May Day Mayhem Fashion Show |
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| 2 | Happy Cinco de Mayo! Join roughly 10,000 other partygoers at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. Featuring over six blocks of food, music, and general frivolity, this year’s good time also includes a fun parade, a lowrider car show (sa-weet!), kid-centric activities, a delish salsa-tasting contest, and five stages of entertainment! What: The 2009 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta |
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| 3 | A Handmade Haven Crafty lovin’ mavens unite—it’s time for the St. Paul Craftstravaganza! A bevy of fabulous arts and crafts items will be on hand for your shopping pleasure including baby goods, ceramics, tons of jewelry, and other one-of-a-kind must-haves. Free parking and admission, plus the first 100 shoppers will score swag bags full of cool goodies! What: The St. Paul Craftstravaganza |
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Don’t let all this goodness go to waste! Please tell a friend about Minneapolis Picks. |
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