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February 19th, 2010
Well, we made it through last Sunday without any serious emotional scarring. Another V-Day come and gone. We’re not sure if it’s related to the holiday, but now we have this nagging feeling like we’re missing something, and we haven’t been able to shake it all week. Bills are paid, dogs are fed, laundry is done, the stove is turned off, we called Grandpa to wish him a happy birthday, we even cleaned out the fridge… what could we possibly be forgetting? Did we floss? Si. Did we take out the trash. Oui. Did we get to our appointments on time? Da. We even made it to boot camp—twice! So what in the heck is causing this feeling? It’s getting kind of annoying. Meh. Maybe if we have another glass of wine it will go away… |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Be Kind, Rewind Full confession: when we were little, we were that weird… ahem… unique kid who identified more with adults than with other little girls our age. We were old souls from the get-go, and it wasn’t until our friends caught up to us in college that we finally felt understood. True to that old soul, we love vintage—with one little catch—the second we step into a vintage store, we feel overwhelmed and unable to make decisions. Luckily, we felt instantly at home at Broadway’s new I Heart Retro, a vintage fashion and furniture boutique with which we quickly fell in love. The difference between this chic store and others? Gone were the cramped displays of questionable merchandise and knick-knacks. Instead we found we found nicely staged furniture sets and ample display space for dishes, décor and accessories from years past. And we didn’t have to ask ourselves the age-old vintage question, “Is this cool-vintage or tacky-vintage?” And just $61 later, we tore ourselves out of what could have been a pricey shopping trip. Our old soul was very happy… and very, very understood! I Heart Retro |
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| 2 | I’m OK, You’re OK We’re prone to ripping pages out of magazines—especially the ones with juicy info about self-improvement. Thinner thighs in 30 minutes! Irresistible man-snaring strategies! Fresher breath for life! Recently we yanked a page detailing what to do about our obliques. Obliques? Yeah. The sides of your stomach. Like we needed another word for love handles. Thankfully, we found another Oblique that loves us just as we are—and the feeling’s mutual. Located in a former beer & cigarette shop, Oblique Coffee Roasters has witnessed a transformation worthy of any “after” photo in any glossy magazine. Green construction has preserved the original architecture of the 1890s building, showcasing the beautiful past (original, unpainted woodwork) and the present marvels (high-efficiency heat). Let’s not forget about the coffee. Oblique roasts their own, and the Americano we enjoyed is one of the smoothest, most delicious cups we’ve had in ages. And with comfy chairs abounding and Tastebud bagels and Pearl Bakery pastries available, the only exercise we’ll need is running our mouths—about our new favorite hang. Oblique Coffee Roasters |
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| 3 | Get Out There! We’re peeved at that little rodent who predicted six more weeks of winter. We’re not proud that a groundhog makes us pout, but come on! We want springtime weather and we want it now. We’re ready to shed the layers, rain gear, and woolly mittens and show off our favorite flouncy skirts, feminine blouses, and, well, a little leg. In other words, we want to get outside and get noticed. And what better way to do that than on two wheels? With the recent opening of Kalkhoff—a charming bicycle boutique and showroom in the Pearl—we can roll around town in style. German-engineered and oh-so-snappy, Kalkhoff bikes come in two varieties: regular pedal power, or with the added zip of electric power (gotta love the e-bikes for helping us stay sweat-free). We can even complete our Euro-tastic look with a bike basket from Nantucket Bike Baskets, and protect our precious noggin with a Nutcase Helmet (local folks!). We'll forgive the 'hog if he can guarantee us a long, dry spring and summer… so we can get our pedal on! Kalkhoff |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | You’re Not Fickle, You’re Fabulous! We like what we like when we like it—and that “like” may not last. So our recent obsession with vinyl wall art is the perfect way for us to make a noncommittal relationship work in our favor. And Seattle’s own Tacky Smack offers up the cutest and easiest-to-apply (and remove!) decals we’ve seen. They even feature designs by guest artists, so you can have original art on your walls, tabletop, shower doors… it’s totally genius and totally adorable! |
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| 2 | Sit, Stay, Praise We just got our first puppy, and we’re already turning into those people—the kind who stand in the treat aisle, checking labels to make sure we’re not poisoning our new best friend with additives. It’s been surprisingly challenging, since nearly all the major brands contain multiple things on the vet’s no-no list. Enter Beggar Dog biscuits. They’re locally made, all natural, and even met with wild approval from the ever-mindful dog trainer—and the ever-hungry furball. |
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| 3 | Revenge is Sweet We recently received a text-message dumping from a guy we weren’t that into anyway, and we’re feeling slighted. So we’ll share our annoyance with a little gloriously anonymous revenge! Douche Bouquet is the perfect way to say, “It’s not me, it’s you. Because you’re a douche.” And because the Douche Bouquet is basically a bucket containing black silk roses, a 5-foot enema tube, and a straightforward card that proclaims his douchebaggery in no uncertain terms, there’s no chance he’ll miss the message. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | One-Stop (Celeb) Body Shop Courtney Cox. Jennifer Aniston. Gwyneth Paltrow. Elizabeth Hurley. Denise Richards. Claudia Schiffer. Ever wonder where they get their gorgeous bodies? Sure, some of it is genetics, but the rest of it is Pilates! NW Pilates offers top-notch, affordable Pilates instruction with group, private or semi-private lessons. Call today to start your transformation! What: Affordable classes at NW Pilates |
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| 2 | A Perfect Pairing We love community collaborations, and Bolt Fabric Boutique has been partnering with
Caldera Arts (a year-round arts-education and summer camp for underserved kids) for over a decade. Next Saturday, all fabric on the tall tubes will be 25% off, and 10% of the day's total sales will be donated to Caldera. Shop, help out, and treat yourself! |
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| 3 | Make Your Wedding Day Spectacular Planning a wedding? RSVP to the Bravo! Wedding Affair for creative ideas and inspiration! Local wedding vendors will transform the Embassy Suites into a sampling of reception and wedding décor ideas, with fabulous resources to create your own unforgettable wedding. This show is not to be missed, and the first five people to email Denise@bravoportland.com will receive complimentary tickets! What: Bravo! Wedding Affair |
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Look out, mamas! March 12 is Portland Picks’ annual Mommy Guide issue, with tons of ideas for moms, moms-to-be, friends of moms, kids, and getting Mama out of the house to spend some QT on herself. Sign up your mommy friends at www.PortlandPicks.com so they don’t miss out! |
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