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July 9, 2010
We normally have nothing to complain about when it comes to a leisurely holiday weekend, but after three days spent on a boat in the blistering sun, living off Cheetos and Coronas, our tomfoolery over the Fourth has taken its toll on our so not twenty-one year old body. Water, Pepto and painkillers fight the bloat and thumping headache, while our toasted skin has been (very gently) treated with generous amounts of aloe. It leaves us wondering, what were we thinking? Perhaps we wanted to prove we could keep up with beer-game-connoisseur coeds. (Epic Fail.) Now, we’re not saying we’re ready to retire to a rocking chair on the screened porch, sipping Ensure, but we can surely find an in-between. For starters, how about a vacation that A) leaves Flippy Cup in the basement of a fraternity house, B) doesn’t involve heavy rotation of “I’m On a Boat” by The Lonely Island (it's still stuck in our head!), and most importantly, C) doesn’t require a second vacation just to recover.Looking to recoup like us? This week's issue is rich with ways to restore yourself! Try a Bloody Mary with Bakon Vodka; order up some comfort food at Uptown's newest eatery, Uptown Cafeteria; hit the yoga mat at the new lululemon athletica. We say try them all! Although, probably not in that order. |
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Minneapolis Picks: |
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| 1 | Home Sweet Home We all have those days when our muffin top seems to have risen overnight and our normally sunny disposition has seen one too many rainy days. When the doldrums strike, there is nothing like getting our sparkle on to help us feel better. That’s when we bring on the bling—and Go Home is our go to. Go Home carries a large variety of lighting and unique home accessories, including candles from Voluspa and Aquiesse, to add shimmer to your surroundings. If you’re in need of more help, they have you covered with a selection of chairs, couches and tables with a retro-meets-modern vibe. And if it’s you that needs some shine, they carry a variety of watches and jewelry, including crystal cuff bracelets that would make Linda Carter envious. The helpful service at Go Home will make you feel right at home, too. Whether it’s your head-case or your casa, they’ll help you bring on the bling. Go Home Furnishings |
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| 2 | Sweat Once a Day We have a friend who declares that her favorite kind of beer is “free beer.” With that philosophy in mind, we’ve decided that—better than vinyasa or ashtanga or jivamukti—free yoga is the kind that suits us best. Yogis have long sought out lululemon athletica for great-looking, long-lasting clothes. But in addition to fashion, the store is gaining notoriety for its fabulous fitness freebies. They keep that local vibe by hosting many free activities like boot camps, running clubs and weekend yoga. What to do with all the cash you didn’t blow on another studio drop-in? Put it toward a pair of Groove Pants, which a perfectly toned salesperson described to us as “must have.” After a few wearings, we have to agree. Not only are they supercomfy during class, but the fit is so flattering that they look great at post-Shavasana Happy Hour, too. (When we work that hard, we like to show off the results right away.) The lululemon manifesto admonishes us to “Sweat Once a Day.” And they offer plenty of great clothes and free community fitness activities to help us do just that. lululemon athletica |
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| 3 | Make it All Better Comfort food has always been our friend. Whether it’s tomato soup and grilled cheese or a simple mac and cheese, it’s been there for us through the rough times. And the good times—if we can’t celebrate with comfort food (and wine!) then what’s life about? Now we can satisfy and celebrate our comfort craving at Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group. This new restaurant and bar got it all right: a rotating dessert display case housing huge slices of delicious cakes and pies, a menu chock full of comfort foods (we love the Salty Banana Cashew Smoothie, Waffles and Chicken plate, and the crinkle cut fries), and a drink menu that includes $5 Good Girl Martinis and root beer on tap. Then there’s the décor: kitschy and comfy rules the dining room, with an area to hang out and watch TV or play board games, and an elevator to the roof opens up to the Sky Bar—a clean, contemporary deck that houses a covered bar, tables for dining or drinking, and an outdoor lounge area. Whether you stop in for a drink or a meal, you will definitely have satisfied some sort of comfort craving! Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Business or Pleasure You’re going on a trip and you want a cute cover for your passport. It must be original, easy to spot in your colossal carry-on, and totally affordable so you can spend more on souvenirs. This bi-fold wallet from GracieDesigns has two pockets with back and white print fabric, complimented by a red polka dotted liner for just $10! The Etsy shop also sells eyewear cases and business card cases, for all your travelin’ needs. |
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| 2 | The “Go-Without” Pout We are all about going organic—from lentils and limes to linens, liquor and laundry detergent, we’re just about as eco-friendly as you can get. The one area we haven’t really gone organic in, however, is our makeup. But hooray! We just found these organic lip glosses by Afterglow, and they have everything our greenie hearts desire: flirty colors, incredible shine, long-wearing results, no “sticky” gloopiness, and nothing—zip/zilch/nada—that offends Mother Earth. |
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| 3 | Enjoy the Unexpected Last week our water heater developed a ginormous leak, and after calling the repairman—who immediately turned off the hot water and told us we should be grateful the darn thing didn’t explode—we realized there was only one thing to do: Drink. So we opened a bottle of vodka. Bakon Vodka, that is. Seriously—it’s potato vodka, infused with bacon! And it made the most delish Bloody Mary we’ve ever had. Hot water? Who cares? We’re enjoying ourselves, thankyoumarymuch. www.bakonvodka.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | It’s Sew Personal Recently we saw a $200 designer skirt and caught ourselves saying, “Phff, we could make that!” Truth is, we can’t stitch a lick. That changes this week when we join Sewtopolis and Personal Style Concierge, Sasha Westin (from Fabuliss), to help us find our perfect skirt style! Includes $25 consultation gift certificate and $10 off a Skirt class and fabric! What: Summer of Skirts Event |
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| 2 | Partie du Joir Celebrating one national holiday in July is not enough. Join the shops at Snelling and Selby for Bastille Day (a sassy French holiday). Look for French goodies, alley vendors, and visit the stores to collect 10 stamps—you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $500 shopping spree! What: Celebrate Bastille Day |
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| 3 | Beautiful Bride Get the royal treatment as you shop for your wedding gown—but skip the king-size price tag! Shop L'atelier Couture Bridal Boutique during their Semi-Annual Sample Sale Week with discounts on designer bridal gowns from Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, Angel Sanchez, Elizabeth Fillmore, Caroline Herrera, and more. What: Semi-Annual Sample Sale Week |
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Feeling our pain? The best way to recover is shopping around town, obvi! Take our advice: throw back a Bloody Mary, swing into your fave boutique to pick up a stellar sundress, and remember: The sunburn always fades to glowing tan! Tell all your friends about Minneapolis Picks by signing them up here. |
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