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July 3rd, 2009
We can tolerate a lot of things. Mariah Carey tunes? Annoying, but not unbearable. Men in mandals? Not our first choice, but we can look past it (for the right hottie of course). But the borderline freakish humidity that Minnesota is known for? That’s where we draw the line. The other day when shopping we were asked—more than once, mind you—if we had given ourselves a perm (insert horrified grimace here). A perm, people! Now we have nothing against our naturally curly cohorts, and have often dreamed of romantic ringlets, but our hair is more akin to Morticia Addams, not Keri Russell, so the fact that people thought we had given ourselves some sort of haphazard Ogilvie home perm kind of wreaked havoc on the ol’ psyche. Isn’t it bad enough that we gals have to deal with cankles, back-fat, and bat-wings, but now every time the dew-point rises we have to deal with frizz-bomb hair, too? What a crock. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Hello, City Life When we first moved to the Twin Cities from our small hometown, we didn’t know much about boutique shopping (a bulls-eye emblazoned superstore was about as fancy as it got). Luckily our new, city-savvy friends pointed us toward Len Druskin, a Twin Cities institution for men and women who want edgy yet wearable fashion. Len Druskin was doing premium denim before it was pervasive, and they continue to do it well, with brands like True Religion (adorable bermudas!) and AG Adriano Goldschmied. We snagged the perfect pair of capris for summer weekends, as well as a yummy soft linen-blend tee from Canadian brand Twen-Tee. Our man was able to class himself up head to toe with new jeans, shirts, and accessories, not to mention a hot pair of Asics Tiger sneakers. The hip, minimalist groove of the spacious store extends all the way to the fitting-room area, which is as sleek as any downtown lounge. Can’t swing the boutique prices? Cut across the street to Southdale, where Len Druskin has an outlet store with name-brand merch at ridiculous discounts. Len Druskin |
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| 2 | Cookies for the Soul Some of our favorite childhood memories including sneak-reading the “adult” Judy Blume books, pretending to be on the cast of “Love Boat,” and mom making us cookies. The latter is still a favorite (Judy Blume is a close second), as freshly made cookies really truly make everything better. That’s why when we have a broken heart, miss our mom, or are having a stellar day that can only get better, we head to 2 Smart Cookies. The goodies here are from the absolute nicest Minnesota State Fair award-winning bakers, and it shows: big, round, chewy discs of flavor combinations like Frosted Malted, Triple Ginger and Snickerdoodle are just what the mouth ordered. They offer about 10 cookie choices every day, plus two brownie and two bar flavors, and all are nom-nom-nom. (Yes, we tried them all—don’t judge.) They are closed on the weekends, so stop by and taste their rotating roster of about 50 selections and seasonal offerings during the week. You can also special order a dozen or two, or even join their cookie if the month club—when it comes to cookies, you don’t need an excuse! 2 Smart Cookies |
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| 3 | Do Right Babies Gone are the days when a young, hip mom can walk into any store and buy any baby product she sees. Our “age of enlightenment” means labels must be read, materials must be inspected. A PVC toy leaching chemicals as your baby sucks on it? The phthalates from some old-school baby powder seeping into your little one’s skin? No thanks! All of this frantic label-reading is turning into something of a full-time job. Who has time for that? Enter Peapods, a store specializing in natural toys and baby products. Housing shelves stocked with Zutano clothes and Robeez shoes, as well as renowned Haba games, Peapods is the Twin Cities’ best spot to find safe, non-toxic products for your little ones. From classic wooden blocks to an assortment of cloth diapers, Peapods focuses on natural materials and, when possible, buys from small, family-owned businesses. The icing on this organic cake? Reasonable prices. So if you’re in the market for wholesome, renewable products for your family, check out Peapods. Your kids (and Mother Nature) will thank you. Peapods |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | The Object of Our Desire We remember with great clarity feeling totally left out in high school when all of our girlfriends started sporting class rings and going steady. What we failed to realize was that we didn’t need some dude to give us jewelry, and that class rings were, well, pretty freakin’ uggs. Nowadays we simply gift ourselves with stylish baubles like the ones we spied at Shy Siren. Their pieces epitomize a vintage-modern chic, and they’ll make you forget all about those gaudy high-school trinkets. |
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| 2 | Pucker Up Remember back in high school when you and your boyfriend used to kiss for hours on end? For so long that your lips came away nearly raw, but always the perfect flushed, red hue? These days, when we’re lacking a beau to kiss, we use Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter instead. With the right amount of shine and that ideal “I’ve-been-making-out” tint, it melts on your lips, making them incredibly soft and hydrated. Perfect for when we find someone worthy of smooching for hours on end. |
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| 3 | Scent-sational One of the nicest compliments you can pay a gal is that there’s just something about her—that certain je nais se quoi. Stars have it in spades—and we want some! And after discovering that stars like Madonna and Teri Hatcher are all die-hard devotees of LuLu Beauty perfumes, we’re on to their little secret. These roll-on perfumes are hand-blended with 15–20 scents in each perfume, like gardenia, freesia and jasmine. Plus the packaging is oh-so-scrumptious. It’s our new secret weapon. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Stylish Summer Savings Sara Beth Goldfine, stellar jewelry designer to the stars, is joining forces with local paper haven Give My Regards To… for a fabulous summer sale. Her lust-worthy summer collection will be up for grabs alongside of a bevy of divine paper designs, making for a savvy (and stylish) shopper’s dream come true! What: Give My Regards To… and SBG Designs Summer Sidewalk Sale |
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| 2 | Party Hearty Nothing screams summer like great music, warm, sunny rays, and general outdoor frivolity, which is why we’re stoked for the Basilica Block Party. This quintessential summer concert promises to please, offering up fab tunes by bands like The Black Crowes and The Hold Steady alongside tasty beer and yummy food… Aaah… summer. What: Basilica Block Party |
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| 3 | 70 Years of Mid-Summer Fun Load up the mini and get ready for some fun, family style… the Minneapolis Aquatennial is right around the corner! This perennial classic is once again offering up a bevy of fun-in-the-sun activities, including block parties, sandcastle-building contests, sporting events, beach bashes, parades, and fireworks, making for good times for one and all! What: 2009 Minneapolis Aquatennial Festival |
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Have a happy 4th of July! Be sure to tell everyone to sign up for Minneapolis Picks when you’re out BBQing, boating, and attempting to not catch fire on sparklers. www.MinneapolisPicks.com |
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