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December 11th, 2009
With holiday shopping and revelry comes the realization that we’ve spent over a month focusing on other people. Sure, we like/love them and all, but we’ve been neglecting ourselves. We’ve been skipping the gym, running around town like crazy people getting errands done, baking cookies like fiends, drinking more vodka and less water, and frankly, we’re tired. One night—after a long day of pavement-pounding to find a vintage bar set for a housewarming gift—we went to bed without brushing our teeth. Oh, the horror. Anyhoo, when this issue of Portland Picks came together we noticed that it’s all about, um, well… pleasing ourselves. Take that however you see fit, because once you see what we’ve picked for you this week you’ll know a lot more about our personal habits than how often we floss! Want to make your smile even bigger? Forward this issue of Portland Picks to 5 or more friends & CC picks@portlandpicks.com, and you’ll be entered to win an Icing kit—for a gorgeous, whiter smile which you do yourself at home, in just 2 hours. “Icing 30 Carats” was developed by Dr. Raymond Frye, owner of Bling Dental in the Pearl. (And if you don’t win, it’s just $99 right now for the kit—makes a great gift!) |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Can we give it up for the female singers of the 80s? Patty Smyth, Pat Benatar, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper. These gals taught us it was okay to pamper ourselves and just have fun, empowered us to kick our loser boyfriends to the curb, and helped awaken our senses and embrace our femininity. She bop... he bop... a-we bop? You know it. We were feeling especially empowered when we discovered the recently opened She Bop, a women-owned/female-friendly sex boutique (devoid of the ick-factor found in most adult stores). Owners Evy Cowan and Jeneen Doumitt created a totally fabulous experience in a light, bright, and oh-so-right storefront just off Mississippi Avenue. Filled floor-to-ceiling with a plethora of non-toxic toys in whimsical designs and colors (many that are rechargeable), educational "guide" books, alluring DVDs, paraben-free personal lubricants, and tees and undies, She Bop certainly covers all the bases. A vibrator that plugs into your iPod and "plays" along to the beat? Yup. Toys for your beau's, um, g-spot pleasure? Of course. Sustainable sex toys. Only in Portland. We’re so hot for this town! She Bop |
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| 2 | Absolutely Fabulous We had a traditional wedding, but skipped the bachelorette debauchery for a relaxing “destination spa” weekend with our girls. We had a blast—we sunned and shopped, we swam and got massaged… er… the girls got massaged. The spa somehow managed to lose our massage appointment, leaving this bachelorette massage-less and miffed. Hmph. Then and there, we decided that we were totally over giant spas. We prefer an intimate spa environment now, which we found at Absolutely Flawless, a new bodycare studio in northwest Portland. Tucked into the attic of a giant Victorian house on NW Westover, Absolutely Flawless is unassuming yet comfortable, conveniently located, and all-inclusive yet reasonably priced. We got a facial and a massage, and could have gotten waxed but decided we’d stick to things that feel good for the first visit. We adored Ruby, our massage therapist and esthetician. She put us at ease immediately, and we think it’s great that she offers frequent specials on her services. Our advice to bachelorettes? Go small—go Absolutely Flawless! Absolutely Flawless |
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| 3 | Pure and Simple Some might call us beauty junkies, but we prefer to think of ourselves as “experimental.” After all, when the secret to fighting crow’s feet is discovered, we plan to be the first to know. Stock up on Pure’s own line of skincare products, made from natural ingredients like lemongrass, yuzu and citrus. Splurge on a Mason Pearson hairbrush (you and your Demi Moore hair will thank us later). And don't leave without snatching a bottle of StriVectin. The miracle cream minimizes wrinkles and dark circles, so you can skip on botox and take off your ginormous Chloe shades. Until the secret to eternal youth is discovered, this place is pure genius. Pure 4 Skincare and Cosmetics |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | The Look You’ll Love After most haircuts, we put our new ’do in a ponytail a block from the salon. Sigh. But no more! Heather Simon at Tribe is our new BFF. Heather’s passionate, creative, and she really listens—you’ll get what you want and love it! (She won the Best New Talent Stylist award in B.C.!) Try her Keratin Smoothing Treatment—it’s all-natural and makes any hair smooth, healthy and straight. And right now the amazing Nordic Hair extensions are Buy One Full Set, and your friend gets one free! (Until Dec. 31.) |
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| 2 | Glam Out Your Tea Party In our house, tea time is revered. We have morning tea, after-lunch tea, after-dinner tea, and of course, nighty-night tea. There’s a whole pantry shelf devoted to tea. So when we came across Steven Smith Teamaker teas, it was like they were created just for us. Steve Smith founded Tazo and Stash, and his new small-batch line introduces 12 amazing proprietary blends like “Meadow,” “Bungalow,” “Big Hibiscus” and “Fez,” plus stunning Oolong and Darjeeling blends. Bonus: The chic packaging is hip enough to gift! |
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| 3 | Bundle Up with Style We’re so bad at being cold. We can’t layer “artfully” and our gloves never match our scarves, so we rely on giant jackets to keep us warm. This year, however, we’re going for style and substance—kind of like what we want in a man. Once we saw the Dietrich Softshell Trench from Columbia Sportswear we fell in love. It’s stylish (croco print), functional (4-way stretch), and it makes your waist look incredibly small (sharp tailoring). Check out their Flagship store: 911 SW Broadway! |
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| Dining Hotspot of the Week: | |||
The Pearl District
How’s that shop-a-thon going? We do a “one for you, one for me” thing that is much more fun than straight-up gifting. But we’re thinking we’ll treat ourselves to great meals from now on, and shopping in the Pearl District gives us so many dining options! Let’s see… French at Chez Joly or Fenouil? Peruvian at Andina? Italian at Fratelli or Piazza Italia? Pho Van? Gilt Club? Ten01, 50 Plates, sweets from Cupcake Jones or Mio Gelato, Lovejoy Bakers and Pearl Bakery to name just a few… we might never stop shopping! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | Lose Weight & Change Your Life in 2010 You don't have to do it alone. Dr. Kevin Misenheimer and Life Coach Jennifer Askew created a transformational program that attacks hidden causes of weight gain and chronic health problems. They’ll help you accomplish your goals more quickly, with less work (lose up to 50 pounds in just 10 weeks). Sign up in 2009 for big savings! What: Free Informational Workshop |
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| 4 | NW Pilates’ December Special During the holidays we have about 500 things to do, but don’t let fitness slip off your to-do list. NW Pilates offers an amazing, effective, fun workout that you can do lying down—who doesn’t want that? No joke—it will kick your booty—but your booty will look great! Book a package of 10 and get 10% off! What: NW Pilates’ December special |
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| 5 | Give the Gift of Beauty We’ll admit it—we have a few random chin hairs. Thankfully, Premier Laser Clinic offers affordable solutions for hair-removal and skin-rejuvenation needs. And their Holiday Specials make great gifts (for you and your girls)! Hair-Removal and Skin-Rejuvenation Package: 30% off; Small-area Hair-Removal Package: $169; Large-area Hair-Removal Package: $829; Microdermabrasion or Chemical Peel Package: $169. What: Specials from Premier Laser Clinic |
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| 6 | Portland Team Fitness: Save in 2010 Portland Team Fitness’ small-group training classes are on sale now! Trust us—these are killer workouts that test your mettle, but you’ll still have a blast. You’ll be amazed at what you can do. Up your game or begin a healthy lifestyle—there’s something for everyone. Visit www.portlandteamfitness.com, check out RATES/2010 SPECIALS, and register by Dec. 30! What: 2010 Savings from Portland Team Fitness |
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| 7 | Cozy Savings from Wild-Wool.com What: Wild-Wool free shipping special |
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| 8 | Pin Me + Prairie + Grayling = Trunk Show We are so excited about this that we’re sweaty. Ha. Seriously, though—Pin Me Apparel is pairing up Prairie Underground with Grayling jewelry for a trunk show next Thursday. Aside from the opportunity to get pieces you won’t find anywhere else, it’s going to be a fun party! Drinks, treats and an in-store raffle await! What: Prairie Underground + Grayling Trunk Show |
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Here’s an easy holiday gift: Sign up your friends at www.PortlandPicks.com and www.PortlandPicksforMen.com. Done and done. |
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