Velvet - As any good journalist knows, it’s important we conduct research and do our due diligence on anything we get a hot tip on. So we had to experience this new anti-aging phenomena ourselves. Deborah was amazing and we left this state-of-the-art new Fountain of Youth looking and feeling younger, relaxed and feeling (for the first time in years) skinny!

Velvet is a center for Endermologie and Cosmecanique. What’s that you ask? Only the latest trend from France. Endermologie is a treatment for body contouring and Cellulite reduction (!). It is the ONLY FDA approved treatment for cellulite, and it is non surgical and non-invasive. And the best part, it feels just like a deep tissue massage. You will be so relaxed you will fall asleep. And there’s even a bonus. You can do it on your lunch hour. The relaxing treatment is only 35 minutes and won’t leave your hair oily like a typical massage.

Cosmecanique uses the same principal as Endermologie treatments with a rhythmic continuous soft pulsation that is described as a "workout for your face." It increases the blood flow to the skin as well as stimulating the collagen fibers to fill in and repair fine lines and bring hydration to the surface of the skin. It left us w ith an amazing sense of well-being and we fell asleep during this 30-minute treatment too! It’s so cool and the hottest new thing among the Hollywood set. We felt like we had a spa experience that not only left us profoundly relaxed but it also had meaningful results.

They recommend a package of 14 or so for the best results though individual sessions are under $95.

Velvet is located at NW 19th & Johnson in the Johnson Professional Building.

They have free parking for their clients. The space is designed to be private, comfortable and spa-like, rather than clinical in feel.

Velvet
1920 NW Johnson Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 228-0274
www.velvet-skin.com

Say Say, oh playmate, come out and play with me…

Okay, okay. We just want to talk a little more about Say Say Boutique. Named after two Sarah/Sara’s from Denver. Say Say Boutique is so bright and completely addictive, and the added bonus is that it is located by the Galleria at 10th and Morrison. Delightful and convenient are a lovely combo!

They have the hottest Rachael Bamboo reversible belts. We love their Green Space Candles; all-natural soy candles that are made right here in Portland. Another hot item is their silk and cotton Baby Bags, wee small bags for you in beautiful fabrics. They have darling skirts in bright prints and a great collection of funky and feminine t-shirts. It’s a fresh clean space filled with trendy treasures you won’t find anywhere else. And we love Sara and Sara-with-an-h.

They, and their new boutique, are a welcome addition to Portland.

Say Say Boutique
1010 SW Morrison
503-223-1282

A Tavin Tan:
Speaking of summer tans, be summer ready with a nearly perfect tan in 30 minutes or less. Airbrush tanning from Tavin Salon is the way to go, for the same cost as a spray on tan at Tan Rio and clearly more natural.

Remember though, always tan a shade lighter than you think in order to avoid looking like an Oompa Loompa (it helps to exfoliate before and hydrate well after). The quality of an airbrush tan is the next best thing, and your dermatologist will thank you.

Tavin
811 NW 19th B101
Portland
503-222-5001
www.tavin.com

Oak and Willow:

Do it with us.

Hmmmmm… (inhale.)
Ahhhhhhhh…(exhale.)

This job is very difficult. You have no idea of the pain and suffering involved. For example, one of the most difficult aspects of the job is trying not to purchase everything you “review,” as we are sure you can imagine. Occasionally, however, we are treated with kindness.

Today, for example, the lovely postman delivered a big box of treats and we got to dig into a treasure trove of lovely spa products. How did they know? And, despite the fact that we are utterly persnickety, we absolutely loved everything.

Oak and Willow is a local family owned company with a myriad of pure, all-natural, high-end products “to heal and calm the body, soothe the senses, appeal to the soul’s sense of beauty, and respectfully utilize natural resources.” Simply stated, Oak and Willow is: Pure. Spa. Everyday.

Some of our favorites include:

• Their vintage lavender sachets. Oak and Willow’s organic lavender sachets are made from feed sacks and vintage fabrics our mother’s, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers bought and utilized for their families.
• Their Sprouts line for babies is adorable. The packaging alone is worth every penny. The Sprouts products include Baby Bath, Baby Crème and Baby Powder. These are designed with the youngest of babies and the most sensitive skin in mind.
• Their Lip Therapy is an all-natural lip treatment to rescue the lips from fine lines and dry conditions with plumping DMAE, nourishing and regenerative vitamins and the staying power of beeswax. The packaging includes a lip brush and comes packaged in glass jars protected within a simple box and tied with a bow. Our lips are one of the first to go, and we need to pamper them!
• Their Exotic Butter Spa Scrub is a spa experience unto itself. A luxurious spa treatment of whipped exotic butters and sea salt to beautifully polish skin and penetrate, nourish, and protect the skin long after the exfoliating treatment. It’s beautifully presented in glass amber jars tied simply with cotton ribbon.

Oak and Willow products are sold online at www.oakwillow.com and in fine retailers such as: New Seasons Markets, Escentials, Henny Penny, The Bridal Loft, and Natural Spaces. Outside Portland, their line can be found mostly in boutiques and specialty stores throughout Oregon and Washington, as well as in Chicago, and New York City.

Chokers are a Girl’s Best Friend.

We found these beautiful one-of-a-kind chokers made right here in Portland by Angie Burr of Circle Clothing and Bedding. They are made with a soft velvet thread and Swarovski crystals. They add such a punch of color to any outfit and make such a uniquely hip statement. This one in particular is our favorite. It really brings out our eyes, we feel like Cameron Diaz.

Afternoon Delights.

Head down to the Pearl and pick up some Italian ice cream from Mio Gelato, homemade in their shop. Meander over to Jamison Square Park and let the children frolic in the enormous water feature, or sit on the large expanse of lawn and enjoy the people watching and the outdoor sculpture garden. A great way to beat the heat, City Style.

• Jamison Square
  Between NW 10th & 11th
  NW Johnson & Kearney
• Mio Gelato
  25 NW 11th Ave
  (503) 226-8002

Bring your blanket, and head up Burnside to Pittock Mansion for a picnic and a glorious, sweeping view of your city and the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Even if this was your ‘Inspiration Point’ in high school, revisit it as a grown up and appreciate more than the parking lot. If it’s open, definitely take a peek inside. Pittock Mansion is a fully furnished, magnificent, turn-of-the century, architectural treasure. (Maybe it’ll even give you some inspiration for your own home.)

Enjoy a picnic while you’re there on the beautiful lush lawn with the city backdrop. Just call Elephants Deli and they can deliver a boxed lunch right to you. Their Boxed Lunch includes: Sandwiches prepared with homemade breads, crisp salads, signature soups and fresh baked cookies. Just give them a call right from your picnic blanket.

• Pittock Mansion
  3229 NW Pittock Drive,
  Portland
• Elephants Deli
  Uptown NW 23rd
  503.238.8140.

Family Dinner

Dinner with the kids doesn’t have to mean Supersizing it at McDonalds. And it’s nice to get your kids acquainted with more sophisticated fare than that standard kids menu of strips and fries. We know it can be painful, humiliating even, but you need to “face your fears.” We know, you tried it before and you spent most of the time under the table, nonchalantly picking up all the piles of foodstuffs that were scattered around your feet so it just looked like they spilled a smidge and not their entire regurgitated plate. Well, we say what the hell: visit these restaurants, leave a bigger tip and walk out with your head held high.

Here are some of our quick Picks for family dinner night. These are Grown Up places that are just loud enough to bring the kids nearly unnoticed. You can still have a life without a babysitter.

• PF Changs - 1139 NW Couch St, Portland, 503.432.4000
• Henry’s 12th Street Tavern - 10 NW 12th Avenue Portland, 503.227.5320
• Blinns Boathouse - 40 N State St Lake Oswego 503.636.4561
• Jopa - 4439 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Portland, 503.892.6686
• Manzana – 305 1st St, Lake Oswego 503.675.3322
• Sammys - 333 NW 23rd St

We're the first to admit we are not the crocheting type. Knitting? Forgetta ‘bout it (though we'll gladly be the recipient of someone else's patience). But we have discovered something we will try our not-so-creative hand at...Crewel Embroidery Kits from Wool & Hoop. For those not quite in the know, like us, Crewel is the art of embroidering wool on linen. Crewel has been around a long time -- so long, in fact, that it's ready to be dusted off and renewed. Wool & Hoop makes its debut with five sleek designs. Their kits feature the finest Appleton Wools, Ulster Linens, a chenille needle, and hand-drawn instructions, for displaying the finished 3" x 3" piece.

And thankfully, Crewelwork requires no Math Skills….no counting, no grids, no cross-stitch: just free-form embroidery. You'll enjoy learning all the crewel stitches, and the lush wool threads and rich linens will make your craft "pop" like never before. You can do it yourself and then transfer your work onto pillows, greeting cards, tote bags, quilts, t-shirts, handbags, whatever. They have very funky Now styles. You can even sew your own cool crewel greeting cards, handmade by you with love. You CAN do this; trust us. If we can, anyone can. They make it so easy, and then you get bragging rights.

Okay, we all know it’s true; how do all the good guys get taken by, well, bitches? Sherry Argov, comedian and radio show host, guides you through the shark-infested waters of romance and explains what we all know deep down…men like a strong woman who can stand up for herself. Explaining why men take nice girls for granted and what you can do to gain self-empowerment from within, Argov provides hilarious insight into the male psyche, complete with such straightforward tools as "She Said/He Thinks" tables. If you want bottom-line answers and advice on how to become a feistier female, get thee to www.amazon.com pronto ($14.95).

PP Cliff Notes (if it’s any consolation to the nice girls): Men do love bitches, just like women love a “challenge.” At least, initially. But long term is an entirely different story. Eventually he’ll be bummed out when he discovers he’s married to one ‘til death do they part, and bitchy has transformed to the less appealing torturous Rag. And that ‘challenge’ you married, he turned out to be an ass. (Alas, rhymes with ass, nothing wrong with playing the game during the “marketing period”…bitchy meaning, at least, occasionally aloof or having a life.) Just be careful what you wish for. Bitchy or a Challenge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Play the game if you must, but we still think Nice is pretty nice.

And we thought our thirties were rough! Best friends Jess Taylor and her glamorous friend Lucy are suburban moms whose last glimpse at their ‘40’s was a few years ago. Jess, divorced, but happy with her fabulous 10 year-old daughter Jen, her work with the Art Council for Kids & her beautiful home in New York’s Pine Hills, is content with her life…or is she? Suburbia gets turned on its head as Jess covets Lucy’s glamorous life as a TV producer and her affair with a TV host/lover. Then, her sexy ex-husband Jacques comes back into her life… Add to that her daughter’s earnest desire to see her remarry (including booking her on a reality dating show), and hilarity ensues.

The dialogue is quick-witted, and the friendship of these women shines through as their "second childhood" or delayed mid-life crisis leads them on the road to happiness with a few missteps along the way (we won’t even begin with the orgy in Willie Nelson’s trailer). Log some beach time in and visit www.amazon.com for the perfect summer beach read ($16.77).

This is such a lively book written by sisters from the Bay Area (okay, our cousins if you must know). It dares you to Funky up your space and let it reflect the real you. It dares you to stretch your imagination to find a style that’s uniquely yours and that adds a spring to your step. Funky Shui is all about liberating your playful side and filling your home with joy. Remember, they say fun in your home is fun in your life. This book is about living a creative life, a joyful life, down to where you rest your toothbrush, and not being afraid to do it. Say no to beige, show off all your toys, draw outside the lines, act like a kid. With Funky Shui, there’s no end to funlightenment. The journey is from here to funfity.

Check it out: www.bn.com

Song 1. " Sarah McLachlan's, “Time”

"Time here all but means nothing, just shadows that move ‘cross the walls”.

Sarah McLachlan’s song Time, from Afterglow, is so emotionally moving, thought provoking and honest. “Maybe I want to hug you, I just get confused and I come all undone.”

Totally morose and depressing. You’ll love it!

Song 2. Eva Cassidy’s, “Song Bird”

Forget the fact that she has the most beautiful, sad voice in the whole world, and she’s died so young of cancer, this is a gripping, heart tugging love song. In fact the whole CD is chock o’block with terribly grief-laden songs.

Hang on to that hanky.

Song 3. Joni Mitchell, “Both Sides Now”.

“Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say I love you right out loud.” “I look at love from both sides now, from give and take but still somehow, it’s love’s illusions that I recall, I really don’t know love at all.”

It’s the familiar ballad itself that makes you want to cry.

“Dreams and screams and circus crowds I’ve looked at life that way. Oh but now old friends are acting strange and they shake their heads and tell me I’ve changed, well something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day. I looked at life from both sides now from win and lose but still somehow it’s life’s illusions I recall, I really don’t know life at all.”

After all those years and wisdom gained we learn this: we really don’t know at all.

Now how depressing is that?

Song 4. Julia Fordham’s “Swept”

This entire [Swept] CD is so gorgeous and not new. I had this album when I first moved to Manhattan a million years ago. I would sit on the floor, since I had no furniture, in my tiny studio apartment. Course I had no friends or family within 3000 miles, and was terrified and lonely.

Why I thought it was a good idea to saturate myself in deeply sad music, I’ll have to defer to youth.

Song 5. REM’s, “Everybody Hurts”

While we are wallowing by now in our wistful drama, why not rub it in with REM’s,

“Everybody Hurts.”

“If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long, when you think you've had too much of this life to hang on. Well, everybody hurts sometimes, everybody cries.”

And so you are too by now.

Song 6. Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the cradle”

And as the grand despairing finale, just to hit you while you’re down, we have Harry Chapin’s, “Cat’s in the cradle.”

You remember it, especially excruciating as a parent now,

“When you coming home Dad? I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then. I know we’ll have a good time then.”

Stop, no, More! It hurts!

• Bold florals make up the new “power sundress” of the season.
• Long wispy hair, think messy bedroom, windy beach blown look, washed but naturally dried
• Chunky bracelets, cuffs
• Big sunglasses
• Sexy sportswear: yoga, golf, tennis, aerobic, fitness attire worn around town. This is definitely not your mother’s sweat suit you’re putting on to hide those extra L-Bs. Sportswear has become so attractive, stepping away from the manly look of yesteryear. You can be smart, sexy, feminine AND FIT, and look damn good doing it!
• Chandelier earrings with tiers of silver or gold hoops and colorful gems
• Hippie-inspired bags, skirts, blouses & shoes
• Sexy, satiny green shirts with simple white pants or skirts
• Lilac is blooming everywhere in patterns and solids
• Terry in surprising places…think a Chanel-inspired jacket
• Polka dots and stripes are all around
• Short shorts with bold prints and a flat front; wear with a figure-flattering shirt but don’t show too much skin! (Your sweet cheeks should not be hanging, if you catch our drift.)
• Black and white for a crisp, elegant look --- keep it simple with a sundress
• Feminine, strapless dresses and tops
• The baby doll look in skirts and shirts --- careful, ladies…this is one that can go awry if not done properly (remember, careful with the cleavage)
• Head scarves ala Jackie O
• Hip fabric belts
• Candles, candles, candles…the “hot” decoration of the year (especially soy candles)
• Tunics (perfect with pants or over your bikini)
• Charm Bracelets (and charms on everything, including your purse)
• Tiny Tees and t-shirts with ironic messages or that make a subtle statement (but as always, in good taste)
• Bright cotton skirts instead of pants, as everyday casual wear.

Thank you:
See us in last Friday’s Portland Tribune….a great column by Jill Spitznass.

We want to thank her for bringing attention to our “Splurge for a Cure” breast cancer event. We think she is an adorable and witty Portland Pick and we love her!

Visit Blinns Boathouse in Lake Oswego each Friday for Flirtini Fridays, 5 p.m. - Close. Flirtini Fridays are sponsored by The Shoe Club. What better way to spend your Friday night than sipping on scrumptious Flirtinis on the Lake with other Carrie Bradshaw types, talking “sole-ly” about shoes.

We can’t think of anything more rewarding! Puts the traditional book group to shame.

For more information, log onto www.theshoeclub.com

But what about the other days of the week you ask.

Never fear. Tuesday through Thursday at “Wine O’clock” (a.k.a. 5-6 p.m.) traipse across the Sellwood Bridge to Caprial’s Bistro for a special selection of wines and bar bites, all for just $3.00 each.

Great after work wind-down with friends. Wine O’Clock at Caprial’s Bistro.

Come mingle and swingle.

Get ready for Wow Wednesdays!

Does mid-week have you down?

Retailers in the Nob Hill Neighborhood, from NW 23rd to 21st and the Uptown Shopping area, will provide new, fun distractions on the last Wednesday of each month.

Starting July 28, What’s on Wednesdays, a.k.a. WOW, will feature a wide variety of stores staying open until 9 p.m. for late night shopping. Each participating store will have something different going on—trunk shows by local designers, tasty treats, special shopping deals, and so much more!

You never know what you might find—and they change each month—so you won’t want to miss a single WOW!

When:

Starting July 28, 2004, and August 25th,
September 29th, October 27th,
November 24th, December 29th…