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May 21, 2010
Everyone has at least one teeth-gritting pet peeve. Some people can’t handle non-blinker-using or stops-at-yellow-light drivers. Some freak over bad grammar. Others hate people who just want “one bite” and end up eating half, movie trailers that are so long you might as well not bother seeing the movie, or waiters who don’t write down orders and get them wrong—for these people, social gatherings are more torture than entertainment. What irks us? We can’t stand clutter. Excessive stuff that takes up valuable space really gets under our skin. We’re constantly dropping hints to our guy about getting rid of the three old TVs he’s got propped up around the house that aren’t in use, his collection of beer and tattered sports tees that overrun his closet, and boxes (and boxes) filled with hand-me-down junk in the garage, closet and under the bed. It drives a tidy lady loco! We just don’t get the attachment to a surplus of stuff. We’re just trying to help, but we can’t help wanting to intervene—or just throw it away for him. Grrrr! |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | “L” oh “V” ee! Today’s Pick is brought to you by the letters “L” and “V.” That’s right, kiddies—the iconic purveyor for purse-o-nistas everywhere is now nestled in our fave first-ring suburb. A recent visit bought us more dreams than purchases, but that’s what capitalism is all about, right? We were told that the hot seller these days is the “Speedy” bag, so named because it can be easily crushed for travel (and really, haven’t we all been crushed by travel?). Another popular pick is the “Neverfull,” described to us as a “spring-into-summer tote, perfect for the beach.” The idea of that tote getting just one speck of Lake Harriet sand on it is enough to make our credit cards melt, but we get the point. LV isn’t just for elite jetsetters anymore. Heck, it’s a mile away from the SuperTarget, for crying out loud. So the next time you’re heading home with a trunkful of Tide and Bounty, take a sharp turn at the Galleria and do a little dreaming, brought to you by “L” and “V.” Louis Vuitton |
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| 2 | The Boy’s Got Style Lake season is upon us! Goodbye to days curled up on the couch, hello to days curled up in a lawn chair near the water, grilling and drinking beer out of those squishtastic cozies. Warm days also mean laid-back, comfy clothing, and while this translates to “cotton sundress” for us, our man always seems to interpret it as “that stretched-out polo I got in 11th grade.” Time for a trip to Impact of Excelsior. There’s no better place in this charming, bustling part of Excelsior to find the best men’s casual clothing and accessories for every taste, with an edginess that’s eye-catching but not overwhelming. We found denim, super-soft T-shirts and zip-ups from great brands like MEK and Penguin. Another standout was the line of hot button-downs from Bertigo—chic and crisp shirts with little extra twists in the details and patterns. But let’s not forget the actual water part of lake season. Whether he’s on his way to Lake Calhoun or Lake Superior, Impact has your guy covered with swim trunks, flip flops and sunglasses. Last one in is a rotten egg! IMPACT of Excelsior |
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| 3 | Garden State of Mind We’re right in the sweet spot of Minnesota weather; when it’s nice and warm out, but the bugs haven’t yet reached their apocalyptic numbers. Obviously, this is the best time to eat, drink, play, or whatever outside. This year’s project is revamping our patio (a.k.a. the small space on our lawn where re-seeding didn’t work). Gray Gardens has just about everything we need to make our outdoor space into an extension of our home and our personality. The store itself is an adorable renovated house, and the porch and yard feature all the outdoor elements we could want. Stoneware (in the form of birdbaths, fountains, and benches) shares space with giant glazed pots great for planting, and wrought-iron chairs meant to withstand just about anything the weather can dish out. Bonus: Just in case we decide we want a garden area as fabulous as our accessories we just bought, Gray Gardens is also offers top-notch landscaping, and indoor style gets some love from Gray Gardens, too. Head inside the shop for a wonderful mix of vintage, repurposed, and new merchandise—great for your home, or as a gift. Gray Gardens Home Store |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Fake and Take Every morning we’re out the door with a plastic to-go mug filled with organic light roast, but there’s something about picking up a java at a coffee shop that gives us a wee bit of luxury. Meet the cup that fakes it. The eco-friendly washable “paper” cup that is not only great for taking your own Joe for the road, but also having the barista fill it up at your next stop. Best part? No empty cardboard cups floating around the car! |
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| 2 | Queen of Hearts We don’t do a lot of shopping across the pond—even online—but sometimes an item comes along that’s worth international shipping. We’ve found the most uh-dor-able heart-felt gifts from a British artist. Veronica Pollard cuts out tiny hearts and arranges them in a box frame, and each artful creation is personalized with initials or images. We’re thinking buying one is a must-do for the next couple that says “I Do!” |
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| 3 | Dashing Heels Confession: “Keeping up With the Kardashians” keeps us glued to the tube. We have a thing for big-family reality shows, but this one has more drama and better-looking people than most, making it easily addictive. So we were very interested to hear that Kim K. is behind a new personal shopping site that surveys you on shoe style and matches you to pairs that you can rent. Think Bag, Borrow or Steal for your tootsies! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Dressed to Frill You have to love a designer who doesn’t take fashion too seriously—and that is exactly Betsey Johnson. Her feminine, whimsical and over-the-top embellishments are for the woman who’s a girl at heart. Her new MOA boutique celebrates its grand opening with two runway shows and 10% off all weekend. Stock up on her fun and flirty fashions! What: Betsey Johnson Grand Opening |
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| 2 | Sunglasses and Sushi Obvi, some fab sunglasses are an absolute must summer accessory. Graf Optical is set to show off the latest trends with an eyewear show at Seven Sushi Ultralounge. With each eyewear purchase, Graf will donate a pair of eyeglasses to senior citizens who can’t afford them, and enter you in a grand prize drawing for two Sun Country airline tickets to a sunny destination! What: Graf Optical Spring Eyewear Fashion Show |
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| 3 | Girls: Get To Shopping Every summer, we look forward to our day trips to Stillwater, so we’re getting the girls together for shopping specials, prizes, eats and activities during a garden-themed Ladies Night Out, which kicks off at Interior Motive with swag bags for the first 50 women. Score fabulous door prizes—the grand prize is a $100 gift certificate to Nutrition Revolution. What: Ladies Night Out |
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