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January 5th, 2007
We are tired of disappointing ourselves with failed resolutions. Like the year we gave up sugar, and wound up face-deep in a Sara Lee poundcake not three days later. Or the year we decided to get more exercise at home, and after doing Tae-Bo half-way through, twice, we used the videos as coasters for White Russians. But then again, maybe we’ll adopt a “New Year, New You” mantra. We just watched “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Who Killed the Electric Car,” and now we’re ashamed of our ExecuCar with its stinky combustion engine. But since we can’t go from shoe-shoppers to tree-huggers in a weekend, we’ll make small changes. For instance, we’ll schedule an appointment for a trim to clean up our scraggly ends, so we’ll look cute while home-brewing biodiesel. We’ll plant more trees, eat less meat, and be strict about recycling. We might even pull a Martha and decorate the bins, to set an example for the neighborhood. And…whew! Is it 2008 already? Just thinking about all that stuff wears us out! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Hoodoo Gurus Every time we drive through the Sunset Tunnel, we hold our breath. At Thanksgiving, we make a beeline for the wishbone instead of the white meat. And when we break a mirror, our first instinct is to hole up in our bedroom for the next seven years. So, yeah, we're a little superstitious...and that's why we were so excited to stumble upon Orleans Candle Company. Orleans, named for the great city where the owners lived pre-Katrina, is a traditional botanica—a store that sells herbs, charms and other spiritual items. And whether you're religious or just believe in the power of positive thinking, their products have been known to get results. There are perfumes to attract love, floor washes to send away evil, spiritual oils to remove a jinx and candles to bring everything from a new job to a peaceful home. With the start of 2007, we picked up a “road opener” candle that should bring new opportunities our way. We’ll keep you posted on how it works out! Orleans Candle Company |
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| 2 | Thai Beau Back east (we start so many stories this way that we sound like Rose on “Golden Girls”), when we felt congested or suffered from libation-infused toxicity, we would call our favorite Thai place and order the Tom Yum soup. We did it so much that our hubby referred to it as "the sick soup." Despite his unpleasant nomenclature, the spicy brew and its healing steam opened our sinuses like (legal) Bolivian marching powder, instantly clearing a clouded head. But alas, we relocated, and hadn't found a match. Until now. Pok Pok has reopened, bigger and better! While before it was just a "to go" shack, now we can come in from the cold for some astoundingly well-made food in its new Whiskey Soda Lounge. We fell in love with the '70s wood paneling, perfectly-made drinks (seriously, they made us like Manhattans), and well-chosen beers. And when you try to pronounce the names of what you're ordering (e.g. Laap Plaa, Yam Khai Dao), rather than pointing (sooo déclassé), the waitstaff will smile gently, and you'll get what you ordered. Even though you totally sounded like that backward-speaking dwarf from “Twin Peaks” when you asked for it. Pok Pok/Whiskey Soda Lounge |
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| 3 | Look Your Best in 2007 You’ve tried all the gimmicks—the Oprah liquid diet, the Zone, the Atkins, the cabbage soup, the “writing down everything you eat,” the “lying to yourself,” and none of it is as satisfying as finding that perfect outfit—which is magically cut just right—that makes you look taller and leaner (and feel happier) without leaving the dressing room. In 2007, we want you to love the way you look, without taking drastic steps to change it. Save yourself the grief (and the $$) and instead vow to: A) Get happier about your body, B) Get smarter about what it needs, and C) Look hotter. All with a call to style coach Jandi Girard at Inspire. You can change your weight, but your body frame will stay the same. Jandi teaches you lessons to last a lifetime on how to play up your best assets, and camo the parts you’re not so fond of. (We call them our “fat parts,” and they’re No Touch Zones.) You don’t need our hang-ups, though, you need Inspire Style! www.coachinspire.com |
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| 4 | Naturally, I’ll Say it’s the Wine… In our house we have a nightly squabble about salt—when the staunch table-salt user and the avid sea-salter make their case with a war of words, it rivals the Lincoln-Douglas debates. (Which were long, boring, and remind us of high school.) We each use our salt of choice while cooking (when the other one’s not looking), and always have both kinds on the counter. So when we heard of The Meadow and their dozens of finishing salts, well, ONE of us got excited. And they did not disappoint—from black crystals to pink powder to sticky white, it’s a wonderland of flavor. But we were bowled over by the rest of The Meadows’ offerings—decadent single-origin chocolate bars (like grapes, the origin determines the flavor & character of the bean); an incredible wine selection (they sell what they love—ask about the Pineau des Charentes, a mix of Semillon and cognac) and a full-service florist (gorgeous blooms arranged in lush, bohemian displays). We’ll concede that fancy salt ain’t for everyone, but who doesn’t love chocolate, wine and flowers? The Meadow |
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| 5 | Your Skin is Beautiful… You know by now that the Key Laser Institute® can offer you just about every laser treatment available today. But did you know that Dr. Douglas Key believes that the skin care products you use at home are just as important as your laser treatment? It’s a New Year, so find a New You with the Epionce® line, recommended by Dr. Key for your skin’s health. Call now to find more about Epionce products and to arrange a complimentary, private consultation with their knowledgeable (and fabulous!) medical aestheticians. The Beauty of Healthy Skin awaits! And if you have other “imperfections,” the Key Laser Institute can help there, too. SmartLipo™ anyone? You’ve seen it recently in “PEOPLE” magazine…it’s called Laser Lipolysis and it’s the latest non-surgical method for removing fat. Available…where else? The Key Laser Institute! Everything you need to know is at keylaserinstitute.com/news. Key Laser Institute™ |
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| 6 | And the Winner is… We haven’t held back this holiday season at all. We’ve had the eggnog lattés, our mother’s deadly full-fat mashed potatoes, and probably a few too many glasses of champagne. And you know what? We’ve loved every bite. But sadly, every festive eating frenzy must come to an end, so we’re moving on to the celebration of…small plates! Which brings us to Victory, an adorable, cozy little bar located in the thick of Southeast. They’ve been open since mid-December, a very busy bartender tells us as she pours cocktails from an impressive menu of locally crafted spirits (Aviation Gin, New Deal Vodka and Medoyeff Vodka to name a few). The room was packed and there was lively conversation between all kinds of Portlanders. We even noticed an old man knitting a scarf at the bar—awesome. The Victory’s dining menu shines just like their new martini glasses. Small-plate items like the ricotta and chanterelle raviolles and braised spaetzle satisfied our desire to eat wonderfully, and, ultimately, made it easier to leave the food frenzy back in ’06. |
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| 7 | Za Za Voom! We wouldn’t consider ourselves hippie chicks (though we do enjoy a good wrap skirt and a falafel now and then) but we do love wearing comfortable, all-natural fabrics, one factor of a natural lifestyle that laid-back dressers do so well. We also love things that are fully machine-washable (as we are averse to hand-washing) and things that are a bargain (as we are thrifty). Za Zen Imports meets every one of these needs and then some, offering surprisingly charming clothes that can be dressed up for work or down for play. We love their girly tanks, since they’re only semi-frilly and just right for layering. Plus they’ll be perfect for showing our shoulders in spring (we promise…it’s coming!) We’re not adventurous enough to try the Thai fisherman pants at the office (though they do look supercomf for lounging around the house), but Za Zen assures us that if you’re the type that enjoys fire spinning, massage, or belly dancing, they’ll be a perfect fit! Za Zen Imports |
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| 8 | Are You Saying What You Mean to Men? |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Change Your Space Our friends are doing home-improvement projects and we’re so jealous—but a new bathroom isn’t in the cards. Thank goodness for Shakti Space Designs! They can help us renew and refresh without a major overhaul, with their complete range of specialized decorative painting services: old-world plasters, custom wall finishes, murals and trompe l’oeil, hand-painted furniture, cabinetry, and decor. It’s all so fabulous! And they do more than homes—they do offices, retail spaces, even restaurants! Call 503.998.2411 for a free initial faux-finish consultation. |
 shaktispacedesigns.com |
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| 2 | The Bangles Are Back Not the 80s girl group—though we did play the heck out of their version of “Hazy Shade of Winter” one summer—but bangles as arm-candy. And we can’t get enough of these intricately hand-painted lovelies from Ethnocity.com. The folklore scenes depict Indian gods and goddesses, and put a contemporary spin on the traditional Indian craft of “miniature painting.” So modern, but with so much history! We can’t resist. |
 ethnocity.com |
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| 3 | Fun with Weight Loss Surprise, one of our New Year’s Resolutions is to lose weight. Typically, as we scrape the last of the peanut butter from the jar, we recite with a jumbled mouthful, “Starting tomorrow.” Then when tomorrow comes we strip off all our clothes, trim our nails, tweeze our brows, anything to lose another quick ounce, and step on the brutal scale.But now we’ve added a sense of humor to this ritual. Instead of telling us an actual number, we can step on the scale and see what celebrity we weigh. From King Kong to baby Jesus. Our goal in ’07? Jessica Simpson. www.angry-associates.com |
 angry-associates.com |
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| 4 | Step Away from the Candy If temptation strikes, we can lock away our Hershey bars in the Shockolate Jar, the latest in willpower aids. This little jar will remove temptation from you for up to 24 hours. You choose how long you think you can go without a bit of chocolate or a cigarette, etc. Set the timer and place your stash inside. If you change your mind there will be shocking consequences. Keep temptation at bay and lock your fave goodies away...or you’ll be sorry! www.coolhunting.com |
 coolhunting.com |
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| 5 | Jog Your Dog When we were little, our grandfather would take the dog out for a run. Instead of walking with her, he would drive the car with the leash hanging out the window, and oooh, poor Cindy, our collie, would be running something fierce. (Grampa wasn’t up on ethical treatment of animals, but Cindy wasn’t harmed and did get quite a workout.) Thankfully, now you can put your little friend on the Jog A Dog canine treadmill and let him go. They come in different sizes, even a little one for your tiny pup.www.jogadog.com |
 jogadog.com |
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| 6 | Shop for Change One of our resolutions is to give more to charity this year. And now we can do that, a lot! We’ve just discovered MixedMarket.com and bookmarked it. Mixed Market provides an opportunity for you to help bring about positive change by doing something you would do anyway. Shopping. By simply clicking on one of the retail links from the Mixed Market shopping page and making a purchase at that store, a portion of the purchase price will go to a charitable organization. That's it. Piece o’cake. |
 mixedmarket.com |
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| 7 | Don't Get Steamed! Rather than gloves, muffs or mittens, we use a hot cup of coffee to warm our hands during the winter months. But regardless of the season, it's hard to find the delicate balance between "just right" and "ouch!" when holding a naked cup. That's why we adore Cup Couture, handy sleeves that combine our love of fashionable accessories with our penchant for a steamy brew. As an added bonus, these cuties are enviro-friendly, fit from small to venti, and are 100% reusable. Drink up! |
 cupcouture.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | No More Dieting! Be Nourished invites you to explore how an enjoyable relationship with food happens naturally when the focus is more on nurturing body and mind, and less on dieting.
What: Be Nourished 2007 programs |
 benourished.org |
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| 2 | Special Invite: A Personal Appointment with Mandalena Schedule an exclusive one-on-one appointment with Mandalena, spend $300 and save 30%! Imagine having the store all to yourself! She will help you coordinate fabulous jewelry with your own outfits, or custom design to your wildest dreams. This is a once a year event; appointments are limited. What: One-on-one with Mandalena |
 mandalena.com |
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| 3 | Multitask and Relax You have a lot going on, and sometimes it seems you’ll never get it done. Enter yoga shala of Portland. There’s yoga practice for all levels, plus daycare at both locations—now that’s multitasking! In January, mention Portland Picks and receive a 10% discount on any 10- or 5-class card! What: Yoga Shala 10% off a 10- or 5-class card when you mention Portland Picks |
 yogashalapdx.com |
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| 5 | Ooh La La! All parties pale in comparison to the sassy fun of an Intimate Discovery party. And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, now is an excellent time to host your own! Sign up for their free newsletter and book a party to receive a fabulous free gift along with an exclusive shopping spree! What: Book an Intimate Discovery party for Valentine's Day |
 intimatediscovery.com |
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| 6 | January Women's Health Brown Bag Having a plan can make the difference between survival and becoming a statistic. Eric Brown, M.P.H., will discuss the critical importance of disaster preparedness. Learn how you can protect yourself, your family, your workplace and your community in the event of a disaster. Bring your lunch and a friend! Free! What: "Disaster Preparedness for You and Your Family" |
 ohsuwomenshealth.com |
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| 7 | Pedicure Special at Tootsie’s Ring in the New Year at Tootsie’s with a fantabulous special: Buy one Ultra Pleasures Pedi and bring a friend for free. Their incredible salon pedicure is the ultimate in pampering…have fun with a friend, and afterward, try on cute shoes! (We dare you to leave with just one pair.) |
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| We have been practicing writing “2007” on our checks since Thanksgiving, so we are ready to S-H-O-P in the new year. And as usual, we love to receive your cards and letters (okay, emails) alerting us to the newest & hippest spots and boites in your hoods! Keep us posted! | |||
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