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April 27th, 2006
You know how you first get a crush on a boy and you get all skinny? Like you’re so excited by his sheer existence that you have no interest in food? Or even better, the breakup skinny where you’re feeling saucy again (after months / weeks / days of angst, depending on your age and circumstances…like, as a 35-year-old, you’ve probably invested more time in the relationship, so the angst lasts longer than, say, the two days it lasted in high school.) Anyhoo, we need that now. We need a first-blush crush to drop a few so we can look cute in spring clothes. Does that come in pill form? And if so, does anyone know where to get some? |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | It Suits You So there we were, sunbathing in Vegas and lounging another day of vacay away when the ludicrous idea came up that maybe we should actually do something on this trip, just so we can say we did. “Why don’t we go down the lazy river?” my sis suggested. “That’s something.” “Serious? You mean get up and walk in our bathing suits all the way over there and then actually go into the water?” I asked, trying to wrap my arms around the fantastical thought. “Yes,” she said. “I know it’s crazy, but why not? Let’s do it!” We mulled it over for quite some time, figuring out our strategy. Our cabana was quite a distance. We’d have to walk through a lot of people out there, in our bikinis and all, but we agreed it was something. Luckily we managed to find some big inflatable innertubes that we could use to cover our arses nonchalantly as we walked. It was a bit “I Love Lucy” as we stepped in the center of the tube and placed it just so around our problem areas and waddled through the crowds. We slunked into the water, gingerly floating down the lazy river, dodging splashes and others that maybe should have been wearing their innertubes, too. We went around once and then scurried back out, tube placed just so, and went back to our cabana for more lounging. In the ‘skinny position’ of course. Whew, that was something. Next time though, we’ll shop first at Poppi Swim, the Portland swimwear boutique with custom retro suits that are made just for us. These suits make us have a cute figure even though we don’t. They are so stylish, think Copacabana of the 40s, made by local designer Pamela Levenson. We would actually tromp through a public place in these suits without a towel draped around our bum, and maybe we’d actually do something more often. Everyone looks good in Poppi Swim. You can be stylish, and show off your assets with confidence. Poppi Swim and Sport |
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| 2 | Surfin’ Safari How sexy will you look on a surfboard? How saucy will you be in a skintight wetsuit? Well, that part, maybe not so much, but there are loads of hot hot surfers out there who will appreciate you just for getting out and hanging 10, and you can ditch the rubber for a
sundress and join them for cocktails afterward, swapping stories of riding the waves. |
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| 3 | Fields of Dreams As we were driving around our neighborhood last weekend, when the weather was perfectly sunny, we saw that most of Portland was outside, working diligently in their yards. Tending to shrubberies, pulling weeds, mowing lawns, planting flowers; it was awfully inspiring. Maybe we ought to do it too. And lucky for us, we discovered a gem of a store called Daisy Fields. They specialize in garden art, accessories and furniture, as well as home decor and accents. In addition to the myriad ideas they give us for improving our own yards, Daisy Fields also is a gift-giver's paradise (think: Mother's Day!), and some of our favorite items include lovely myrtlewood baskets (called Trugs, and made locally in Coos Bay) that Mom can carry into the garden to collect her homegrown flowers, fruits or vegetables. We also adore their art glass (check out the Robert Held Art Glass collection), the hand-painted earthenware vases and pitchers by Soule Studio, and the Spear & Jackson tools that are hand-painted by a local artist - they're not only pretty and unique, but practical, too. And even if your mother doesn't have a green thumb, Daisy Fields has a lovely selection of indoor items that make perfect gifts, such as handmade soaps from Napa Soap Company. They smell great & have fun names: Soapignon Blanc, and Honey, Please Pass the Soap, and are beautifully wrapped in handmade paper with a satin ribbon. So stop by Daisy Fields today, and tell them Portland Picks sent you! Daisy Fields |
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| 4 | A Dream Come True My son lost his tooth one evening. This would have been good news except that I never carry cash (bad, unprepared Tooth Fairy!) and I couldn’t pilfer from my husband’s wallet because he was out of town. I thought maybe I could leave a note, “Congrats on the tooth. Unfortunately, I’m experiencing hard times.” But I knew he’d be so disappointed. He was the last one in his class to lose a tooth and this was a monumental event. I waited for him to go to sleep and then I ran around the house looking under cushions and in pockets and managed to collect about 67 cents in pennies, not worthy of a first tooth, which usually goes for about 5 bucks in our family (followed by a dollar for the other less valuable ho-hum teeth). So I did a terrible thing. Don’t tell, but I broke into his piggy bank and “borrowed” the five bucks Gumma and Boompa had recently sent him for Easter. Needless to say he was so excited to wake up atop the 67 filthy pennies and a whole five dollars. He of course went immediately to his piggy bank eager to count all his money (oopsie). Betcha you didn’t know it was National Volunteer Week, which includes Teach Children (and their mother) to Save Day. Umpqua Bank will be partnering with schools throughout Oregon to teach children the value of being… ahem… responsible with money. They’ve got these darling “dream jars,” which encourage kids to divide their money into three categories: Share, Spend and Save. The dream jars are available at the Irvington store at 15th and Weidler or Umpqua Pearl starting this week and on throughout spring, while supplies last. Plus there are treats and other activities for kids who visit any Umpqua stores this week. And I’m getting a Dream Jar, too, (so I don’t have to take my son’s.) |
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| 5 | Poof and Circumstance |
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| 6 | Ready, Set, Glow Bliss has joined forces with JetBlue, and it's a match made in heaven (or at least 30,000 feet up). This no-attitude, 'grooming with a grin' approach pairs perfectly with JetBlue's philosophy of making flying more fun. And with the Shut-Eye Kit, designed exclusively for JetBlue, fly-by-night types can arrive from the West feeling their best. And don’t forget to make your appointment at Bliss while you’re in the Big Apple. It’s New York’s most sought after spa. Oh, and then there’s Bendel’s, Barney’s, Magnolia Bakery, Wink, Tracy Reese, Christian Louboutin, Flute Champagne Bar, Chocolate Bar...oh man, you better hurry...leave on that jet plane, stat! |
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| 7 | A deLuxe Getaway Have you ever felt like you were a glamorous screen siren in another life? (We think we may have been Doris Day...she may not be glamorous, but she was always so cheery...) If you have the slightest inkling that you are living in the wrong era, the new Hotel deLuxe is the place for you. With an art deco and 40s-era Hollywood-inspired design, the hotel will provide all of the luxury that we desire and certainly deserve.
In addition to the décor, sophistication meets charm with thin flat-screen televisions and HDTV (first hotel in Portland to offer full HDTV capabilities), sumptuous beds and linens, soft comforting colors, MP3 menus and MP3 listening stations in every room, high-speed wireless Internet, 24-hour room service, 24-hour business and fitness centers, Gilchrest & Soames bath products, pillow menus and a spiritual menu (Buddhist? Taoist? Catholic? Scientologist? They have the perfect bedtime reading for you!) For late night munchies, the restaurant, Gracie’s, will provide scrumptious eats using organic and locally grown produce in a most glamorous setting. And the Driftwood Room will remind patrons of a time lost where martinis were sipped ever-so-slowly and service was personal. They even have a screening room to see the latest films by local filmmakers. Hotel deLuxe |
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| 8 | It’s Your Duty |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Cover Me Anyhow...the pieces are generally reversible and easy to wear—without venturing into Eileen Fisher territory. Check it out...cool site, bio, music and super cute stuff. We might even wear this as a cover up with our bathing suit and it won’t look like we’re covering up. We’ll just be cool. And they have Tysa Bambini for your little hippie baby, too. So you can be just like Jennifer Aniston, Mischa Barton, and Courtney Cox...and probably for sure look like them too...when you wear these. |
 tysadesigns.com |
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| 2 | Ring It In This site is all about non-metal rings, anything but “regular” rings. Her rings are contemporary, bold, chunky, artistic. And the cute owner is so funny. You gotta love her. She likes shiny faucets and Ziploc bags, but she does not like John Travolta. Her stuff has been written about in Elle, and on BBC and Daily Candy. Check out her funky rings and see what the buzz is all about. |
 thecarrotbox.com |
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| 3 | In the Loop We love to wear glasses, after all, we can’t see without them. And sunglasses really rule. The problem, though, is that we lose them. We take them off and leave them on a counter somewhere; we’ve even been known to lose them when they’re on our head. Well, no more. Now there’s a really pretty accessory to go with your shades. and it’s practical to boot. It’s the La Loop. It’s like jewelry for your glasses. In fact, when it isn’t safely holding on to your sunglasses it looks like a necklace, which it kind of is. They have the most gorgeous styles, stones, and loops. Be stylish and never lose your glasses again. Priceless. |
 laloop.com |
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| 4 | How To After we had babies (we started with two at once) and they actually let us take them home, we were freaked by the simple coordinating effort it took to wrap the babies in blankets. It took several people to swaddle just one, and even then it was so wrong. But, now there’s a manual! Origami meets the age-old art of swaddling in Baby-Gami, and no longer does baby wrapping have to be an intimidating undertaking. Easy-to-follow instructions illustrated with step-by-step diagrams and unbearably cute photographs make it a cinch to execute flawless wraps. The first part of the book offers a variety of cocoon-like styles for newborns; the second shows parents how to create slings for "wearing" older babies. Once new parents master the basic swaddles and slings, they can branch out into more pizazzy terrain. Try the Picnic Wrap, the Glamour Sling, or the satin and tulle Gift Wrap. There’s advice from experts and real parents, tips on baby carrying, baby soothing, and a rundown of items not to wrap your baby in (ie. Hefty bags...no!) Wish they had this when we needed it! |
 shoparteffect.com |
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| 5 | So Fluffy Here’s a cute girlfriend gift: The Fluff Lingerie Set. The Fluff Set comes in chocolate and pink. You get one Fro Girl Cami and one Fro Hot Pant. Fluff is an ultra-sassy line created by Los Angeles artist Claudette Barjoud. It has a vintage flair and reflects her love of design from decades past. With inspiration drawn from Art Deco, Pinup, and Mid-Century ad graphics, Fluff is at once girly, glamorous, extra cute, and sure to make you squeal with delight! It would also make a great Mother’s Day gift for any hip moms on your list. |
 shoparteffect.com |
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| Party Picks: The DosiDo Divas. | |||
| We went to the Cares Northwest Bowlarama, and this year our theme was the Polka. Well, actually it was square dancing, but Polka sounds more ridiculous. (No offense to our Polka readers.) Twelve of our extremely cute friends dressed up in a different-colored authentic square dancing ensemble. We caked on the makeup, teased our hair, and we were crazy, eerily popular. We got tons of attention. You should have seen us afterward at Doug Fir and Betty Ford, and…and...well, maybe you heard. We got so much attention, and even though we were completely dorky, it was somehow attractive to people. It must have been our exuding confidence. Guys would say, “So what’s the occasion?” and we’d look at them perplexed, “What are you talking about?” as if this is how we usually get dressed up and go out. In fact, we are going to wear these polka dresses once a month and hit the town, it was so much fun. And at the bowling gig, we were so lame but it didn’t matter, because we were so entertained by...us! We even decorated our lane with a big cardboard horse, cowboy twinkle lights, the whole over-the-top thing. It was a total blast, a really fun event, and an extremely great cause near and dear to us. You must join us next year! Don’t know what we’ll wear, but at least we have a year to think about it.
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | Baby Boomers Expo The first annual event is both a celebration of the mid-life years and a time to plan well for what’s ahead. It will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, Hall C, from April 29 - 30. Doors open on Saturday, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost is $7. Discount coupon available by going online to www.brewexpo.net. |
 brewexpo.net |
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| 3 | Biggest Eco-Healthy Baby Shower in Portland History!Sunday, May 7, 2-6 p.m. With Mother's Day just around the corner, the Oregon Environmental Council and Peanut Butter & Ellie's Café are hosting an Eco-Healthy Baby Shower as part of OEC's Tiny Footprints Program. This fun-packed celebration will feature grab bags for the first 50 moms, door prizes, mini-workshops, tips on making eco-healthy choices for baby, and a baby carrier fashion show! An "Everything Eco-Healthy for Baby" product fair will showcase adorable offerings from great local businesses. Everyone is welcome at this free event including parents, parents-to-be and, of course, kids! Free party cake will be served and the full Peanut Butter & Ellie's Café menu will be available throughout the day. |
 peanutbutterellies.com |
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| 4 | JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL AUCTION EVENT 1st Annual Silent Auction Festival: 38th Annual Live Auction Gala: Spirit of Tradition; Wings of Change For tickets, call today! 503.292.6969. |
 jesuitportland.com |
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| 5 | Indie Wine Festival Gastronomical bliss meets oneophile paradise at this annual celebration of local food and wine. The Portland Indie Wine Festival is back for a second year with a stellar cast of Oregon’s best boutique wineries and star chefs – combining for a perfect tasting weekend. On May 6th and 7th, from 3 pm – 6 pm, a jury-selected group of small, independent Oregon wine producers will uncork their labors of love and pour out their passion for lucky festival goers. The two-day festival in Portland’s downtown Pearl District puts wine lovers up close and personal with Oregon’s rising star winemakers, the only event of the year where you can find these producers at one place at one time. For a complete festival program and to purchase tickets, visit: www.IndieWineFestival.com. |
 IndieWineFestival.com |
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| 6 | Crafty Wonderland is Back! Portland's Monthly Art & Craft Extravaganza Sunday, May 14th at Doug Fir Lounge |
 craftywonderland.com |
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| 7 | You’re Invited to the 77 2-Year-Anniversary Party and Fashion Show! |
 seventyseven.us |
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| 8 | Hair for Art! Bishops Gives Disjecta a Cut! Bishops Barber Shop and Disjecta Interdisciplinary Arts Center want you lookin' good and doin' good, for art's sake. Tuesday, May 9th. Get you hair cut, colored or coiffed at any one of five Bishops locations and Disjecta will receive a portion of the proceeds. (Or pre-pay on the 9th and schedule your do--it'll still count) Get in here and get it done! |
 bishopsbs.com |
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All this talk of Mother’s Day has got us feeling maternal. We’re babying our pets, pampering our men, ironing shirts and making comfort food for dinner. What is happening here?!? It’s obvious—we need a girls’ night out, stat! Or, even better, we need someone to mother us. Maybe just for an afternoon. Yes, that’s it. We’ll lie on the sofa and watch Soap Network and some lovely someone will make us tomato soup and crush the saltines in it just so…then they’ll tell us we’re special and that we can be whatever we want to be when we grow up…ahhh… |
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