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September 4th, 2009
We have a confession to make: We are not the sporting type. To say that we have two left feet would be a serious understatement (much to our dear dad’s dismay), and while we do work out, we mostly do so in order to counteract our cocktail and cheese consumption. Shocking, right? But after attending our first Minnesota Lynx game we’re rethinking our stance! These women are some fiercely talented athletes and we honestly couldn’t believe how freakin’ fun it was to watch them pound the court. With each basket we grew giddy with excitement, and by the end of the night we were literally on the edge of our seats, banging our noisemakers with pride while intermittently plying ourselves with nachos and clapping ‘til our hands hurt. Don’t believe us? Check out an upcoming game. Ferreals… Basketball…who knew?!? |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Change It Up This morning we had to don our winter fleece to fight the chill in the air. Wha? There’s no doubt that summer is waving goodbye and fall has arrived. But for some reason this year, we don’t mind it. Perhaps it’s because we have a secret go-to spot for all the essential items in seasonal home décor! Enter Maison Galleria. Located on Main Street in Stillwater, Maison hosts a large selection of home-accent pieces. Whether you’re hankering for a new piece of furniture (check out the zebra-striped dresser), a detailed table lamp, or new pillows for your couch, Maison has it. We adored the Fleur de Lis wall art (going to look divine in our dining room) and the wide assortment of fall faux flowers to spice up our kitchen. And if you’re already thinking about your Halloween costume or the taste of mashed potatoes and gravy, then you will delight at the bright orange “Boo!” signs, autumn-colored candles, and the harvest-inspired fake pumpkins. Change is definitely in the air, and to celebrate Maison Galleria is offering 15% off on all of their goodies when you mention Minneapolis Picks. What are you waiting for? |
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| 2 | Around the Kitchen We recently got a new job and our boss is one of the most brilliant chefs around. We’re both thrilled and freaked, because, well, let’s just say we are a tad domestically impaired. (e.g. that cooking class we took in Italy didn’t go so well.) As always, we’ve got to impress, so we’ve decided to take up residence at our new fave stomping ground for all things culinary-related: Chef’s Gallery. A Mecca to the food world, the CG is the ultimate one-stop shop for pots, pans, utensils, gadgets, cookbooks, mitts—you name it, they’ve got it. (Total relief!) Even terrible cooks can admire their finely selected assortment of colorful, high-end dinnerware, cookware and bakeware—it makes us want to live in the kitchen. Plus, with gift registration, it’s the perfect place for bridal registry or holiday gifts. (Do your shopping early!) Can you tell we are obsessed? They’ll even teach you how to cook (where can we sign up?), with weekly lessons on everything from knife skills to seasonal veggies, Spanish tapas and fall soups. Something tells us that we’ll soon be saying, “Bon Appétit!” |
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| 3 | Wax On, Wax Off While looking at our eyebrows this morning, we had a revelation: If the eyes are the windows to the soul, our window treatments need some serious grooming. Extrados salon has defined itself as the Twin Cities’ ninja masters of eyebrow sculpting and maintenance. Even their name, “Extrados,” is a term for the exterior curve of a brow’s arch—they mean business! And this is no simple waxing job. The aestheticians begin with a consultation, showing you the plan for getting your brows to look their best. And when they’re done, they talk with you about how to maintain your fab new face. It’s not just about eyes, though. Extrados also offers a complete menu of body waxes and treatments. Get pampered head to toe (and everything in between). And we mean everything: Extrados offers something called a “fanny facial”—a complete cleansing, massage, and moisturizing treatment for your derriere! |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | We’d Like To Buy A Vowel… We love Scrabble like men love beer. Mostly because we’re masters at using the dreaded Q without the oft-needed U. So it’s no surprise that we’re completely taken with the artistically emblazoned Scrabble tile pendants we spied on Etsy. Available in a variety of prints that run the gamut from chic vintage designs to kitschy mod animals and guitars, these cute pendants are as eye-catching as they are cool, and reinforce what we already knew: Scrabble kicks butt. |
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| 2 | Get Your Drink On Every once in a while we stumble upon something that we totally want but don’t necessarily need—and no, shoes, jeans, and cocktails don’t count. Such is the case with the cool parrot corkscrews at Abitare that make us want to say need-schmeed! Available in two punchy colors, these little cuties are modern, sleek, and infused with a healthy dose of funky style, making them the perfect addition to any hip chick’s bar set. |
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| 3 | Giddy As Schoolgirls No matter how old we get, we’re always swept away by fall’s back-to-school shopping fervor, heartily embracing cool-weather trends with the zest and zeal of a 16-year-old hipster. This year’s obsession? Eco-friendly basics with a hint of luxe style, like those we found at Nixxi. This Canadian retailer offers up a cool selection of stylish organic threads that are perfect for vamping up our fall wardrobe—while simultaneously pleasing our inner environmentalist. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Blu Dot’s Stylish Savings If you have an eye for style and penchant for sales, then hit homegrown retailer Blu Dot’s annual sale. Savvy shoppers can score 20% off all items at this online purveyor as well as at brick-and-mortar retailers that carry the Blu Dot line. Don’t miss your chance to revamp your pad without breaking the bank! What: Blu Dot Annual Sale Event |
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| 2 | One Last Hurrah Jonesing for one more festival? Check out Clapperclaw, an on-par fest that showcases emerging local and national bands, intermingled with a bevy of talented artists, film, theater, and top-notch fashion. Need more incentive? The Beer Dabbler Beer Festival is taking place at Clapperclaw with 50 tasty beers on hand for sampling. Beer, music, and fashion? Sign us up! What: Clapperclaw Music and Arts Festival |
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| 3 | Earth-Friendly Finds We pretty much live out of our handbags, so we were ecstatic when we caught wind of the upcoming Urban Junket trunk show at Shorty’s Loft, featuring designer Tracy Dyer’s new t.o.t.e. line. Not only are these laptop bags and convertible totes long on style, but they’re environmentally friendly to boot! What: Urban Junket Trunk Show |
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Don’t let your friends and family miss a stylish beat: Sign them up for www.MinneapolisPicks.com! It’s free, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving! |
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