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August 21st, 2009
We’re a mere six weeks into new-motherhood and we have totally let ourselves go. We have circles under our eyes, spit on our shoulders, our bin of MAC cosmetics sits by the wayside gathering dust, and to top it all off our hair has become permanently affixed to our heads in the much-dreaded mom-bun. But the worst part? We’re still wearing those stinking maternity clothes. Don’t laugh, but we had actually convinced ourselves that our fantastic diet and exercise regimen while baking our little bun would result in us being the first woman in history to fit back into the pre-preggo wardrobe ASAP, so imagine our disappointment when we tried to don our favorite jeans only to find we could barely squeeze a fat foot in. And actually pulling them up over our big butt? Well that would’ve involved an obscene amount of grease, one ginormous shoe horn, and a whole lotta’ wishin’. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | What We Like About You What we don’t like: out-of-towners thinking the extent of the Midwest craft scene consists of wooden carved loons, cross-stitched pillows and pine cones dipped in paint. What we do like: that our metro is bursting with authentic and affordable art, from contemporary portraits to ornate jewelry and fashionable knittery. And no shop puts our cities’ creativity on the map better than I Like You. As we wandered through the lush grass turf by the large tree swing, we quickly realized that a fanciful land of ingenious home items, baby clothes and artisan accessories thrive here. Lavishly staking claim on a load of local artistry, this gift shop effortlessly marries a variety of hip Minneapolis-themed goods, from tees by Campfire to prints of area landmarks by Adam Turman. We swooned over the vintage-inspired handbags from Third Willow, and fell for the colorful retro-esque lace earrings by newcomer Play by Marly. So ditch the kitschy north-woods goods and get modern Made in Minnesota gifts for your peeps. Do we think you’ll like I Like You? You betcha! I Like You |
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| 2 | One-Stop Style Shop Obviously, handbags are the “it” accessory, the modern mark of good taste and social status. (At least, that’s what our stylist’s tattered copy of “Cosmo” tells us.) But one day while walking downtown, we spotted the same bag five times in five minutes. Suddenly we were on a crusade; it was time to find a to-die-for bag that boasted both |
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| 3 | Puttin’ On the Glitz We try our best to be economically responsible in such tough economic times; after all, we want to retire with enough scratch to live out the rest of our days on the Riviera. But after committing to brown-bag lunches and sale shopping, we felt like treating ourselves a little bit. And that’s what led us to Jeri Kaplan Jewelry, nestled right in the hubbub of Uptown. This jewelry boutique strikes a perfect balance between high-class and cozy. To put it another way, the usual glass cases and diamonds were all there to greet us, but so was a fishbowl full of candy. The owner welcomed us warmly and showed us around, No matter the occasion (or non-occasion), Jeri Kaplan will have something to suit you. And if you don’t see what you want, no problem. The boutique also does a brisk business in custom orders, especially engagement rings. (Guys, take notice!) |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Scentsibility When we were twelve our mom finally let us buy our first perfume (Baby Soft, anyone??) and our love of delicious scents was born. Enter the Soap and Paper Factory, a delightful purveyor of soaps and scrubs, scented stationery and drawer liners, and even bees’ wax candles (to name a few). All are infused with heavenly scents like verbena, fig, and rosewood, and artfully adorned with eye-popping, natural prints with a distinctly modern vibe. Love. |
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| 2 | Eco ‘Do’s We used to hot-roller our hair into big beautiful waves that left our friends chartreuese with envy. Our secret? Mind-blowing amounts of Aqua Net. For real… our head probably had its own little ozone hole floating above it. Oh, the guilt! But with age came wisdom and a much sleeker ‘do, and we turned our follicles on to Logona Hair Spray. Not only does it do right by the Earth, but it totally rocks our locks and leaves our pals oozing with jealously. |
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| 3 | Show and Tell We love things that are one-of-a-kind, because truth be told, we kinda love having something that everyone admires but no one else has. Is that wrong? If it is, then when it comes to Necklush, we don’t wanna be right. Is it a scarf? A necklace? A cowl? It’s all of the above! This all-in-one design with multiple seamless loops and dozens of prints and color options makes for endless possibilities. It’s simple, modern and fashion-forward—we can’t wait to show ours off. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Low Cost, High Style We’ve been cursed with champagne taste and a beer budget, so naturally we love gh2 and their top-notch selection of designer duds at discount prices. When we heard that they were hosting a 90% off sale, we darn near fainted. Don’t miss and your chance to score high-end style without breaking the bank. What: Sale at gh2 |
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| 2 | On the Boardwalk Get a sneak peek at some fabulous fashion finds by top-notch Northeast boutiques and businesses like Key North, Belle Reve and Miyagi at the Boardwalk Fashion Show. DJ Chris Dunn will be providing tunes to rock the catwalk with FM 107.1’s Shop Girls emceeing. Afterward, trot next door for the Red Stag Block Party. What: Boardwalk Fashion Show |
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| 3 | Put on Your Arty Pants Cool kids ages 3–5 and their hip parents need not relegate themselves to another hum-drum afternoon in front of the tube. Instead you can embrace your artistic sides at Arty Pants. Hosted by the venerable Walker Art Center, participants can make art projects, watch films, and enjoy gallery activities and story time. Let the good times roll! What: Arty Pants |
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