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February 19th, 2010
We’ve decided that this whole “winter” thing is for suckers. Our pants are caked with salt stains, we trudge around town in a jacket that closely resembles a sleeping bag, and our skin is so dry that if we tried to flash a wink and a smile at a hottie passing by our faces would probably crack and fall off. It’s not a pretty picture. All we want is spring! Beautiful, balmy spring with its warm-weather promises, cute sandals, cuter sundresses, and our personal fave: delish cocktails on the patio of our favorite neighborhood haunt with our besties. Do you feel our pain? Then join us in kicking the Winter Blahs in the butt—it’s time to implement a little pre-spring prep work to get the old bod back in tip-top shape. Amp up the exercise routine, shine up those tootsies, and think warm thoughts. Sunny days are kinda sorta almost darn-near on the horizon! |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Saucy Sundries Valentine’s Day has passed, and with it the outside pressure to buy that sometimes itchy, always impractical statement lingerie deemed so appropriate for the holiday. But—wait a minute, why should that sex appeal be confined to just one short winter weekend? That hardly seems fair to us (or to our man). Flirt Boutique believes that any day, holiday or not, is a good day for beautiful, fashionable underwear. Recently relocated to the red-hot retail corner of Selby and Snelling Avenues, Flirt’s atmosphere is as seductive as its merchandise. Of course, there are those lacy, silky, sexy, can’t-really-be-worn-under-things underthings. But there are also bras and panties for everyday wear, more practical yet no less beautiful then their va-va-voom counterparts. But the atmosphere really puts Flirt over the top. The gals manning the shop are so friendly and helpful that they instantly make you feel comfortable shopping for your most intimate purchases. And unlike other lingerie shops (you know who you are), there are no giant, intimidating photos of sex-kitten models. At Flirt, the focus is entirely on you. Flirt Boutique |
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| 2 | Morocco, Sans the Jet-Lag What comes to your mind when someone says, “Morocco”? For us, it was usually carpets and quite a few scenes from the movie “Aladdin.” That is, until we dropped into Soleil Brule, recently moved from the western ’burbs to the bustling Gaviidae Common of Downtown Minneapolis. This little shop is a glimpse into the busy marketplaces of North Africa, positively bursting with Moroccan design, from cookbooks to furniture and clothing. The owner hand-picks every item in the store during her trips to Morocco, so everything reflects both good taste and that touch of exoticism you’d expect from that corner of the world. Home decorators will find plenty of inspiration, with beautiful pillows, and even rugs that have been repurposed into dog beds (a bestseller). There are also beauty products (great as hostess gifts), and tagines, the country’s traditional cookpots. Soleil Brule has also branched out to include another fascinating culture, tied in with not one but two great causes. The boutique carries beaded jewelry created by women of the Maasai Tribe in Tanzania. Not only does your purchase support them, but it also supports the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Soleil Brule |
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| 3 | Don’t Hate Us Because We’re Beautiful… St. Paul is finally getting the publicity it deserves, and a large part of that comes from the up-and-coming, trendy yet accessible stretch of Selby Avenue. root salon (intentional lowercase) is part of the street’s elite group of businesses, and personifies its casually hip mentality. root is stylish without being snooty and offers top-of-the-line services at reasonable salon prices. The great thing about root, and the thing that sets its apart from other salons, is the exhaustive amount of training that each stylist must undergo before he or she approaches your hair. This means nine months of education past beauty school, not to mention continuing education in all kinds of techniques and trends from around the country and the rest of the world. But all that knowledge would mean a lot less if it didn’t come paired with root’s intense focus on what makes you, the client, happy. Every service starts with an in-depth consultation that takes into account not only your hair, but your face shape, your lifestyle, and your personality. It’s the perfect combination of professional expertise and personal attention that leaves you feeling and looking your best. root |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Friend, Not Foe Thanks to a lethal combination of misplaced paranoia and bird flu pandemic predictions, we’ve developed an irrational fear of our fine feathered friends. But through it all, our love of bird- and feather-themed goods has remained a constant. That’s why we’re completely smitten with the feather-emblazoned totes we spied at Bag the Habit. Available in punchy colors, these stylish carryalls are not only easy on the eyes and perfect for shopping, but they’re reusable to boot! |
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| 2 | Dream a Little Dream We’re so sick of seeing white and grey everywhere we look that we’ve contemplated throwing down an astroturf area rug in our living room just to feel a little more spring-like… but that sort of bold statement just wouldn’t jive with our stylish sensibilities. Instead we’re finding solace in the Begonia Vintage Necklace. This nature-infused bauble dangles beautifully from a cool copper chain, stylishly echoing elements of green and gold, and giving off a patinaed vibe that we love. |
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| 3 | Writers of the Lost Art The other day someone asked if handwritten thank-you notes were still acceptable. Wha?!? Anything handwritten is not just acceptable, but necessary! Puddle Jumpin Cards embraces the handwritten note, and more. Practical, whimsical, unexpected, personal—you’ll find note cards, invitations, and even children’s stationery on their website (because it’s never too early to instill good thank-you manners into your kids). Even better? Everything comes packaged in a box with a ribbon—gift-ready—and shipping is free! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | No Junk in This Trunk Stylish savings abound at Parc Boutiques’ chic spring trunk show! Shoppers with an eye for style can score a slew of lust-worthy musts from Candied Yams, Helen Wang Jewelry, Kim-Anh Tong Jewelry, Liebling Designs, M. Bridget Designs, and Twilight Soaps & Gifts, with select items up for grabs at 15% off. Tasty snacks and bevies provided! What: Spring Trunk Show at Parc Boutique |
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| 2 | We Love the Nightlife Shake those winter doldrums by hitting Mardi Gras at The Lounge. This festive fete features a top-notch night of New Orleans-style entertainment. It also includes dance-worthy tunes by a bevy of talented DJs, a professional photog to capture you and besties in your Mardi Gras finery, and of course tasty cocktails and general frivolity. What: Mardi Gras 2010 |
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| 3 | Love, True Love Our love of StyledLife knows no bounds, so if they say, “Sale,” we say, “Count us in!” Now through March 6, all of this swank shop’s fall clothing and high-end accessories are up to 70% off—plus their super stylish spring goodies will be 20% off (excludes vintage and import music)! Be still our beating hearts. What: StyledLife’s Spring Sale |
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