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presenting |
| PORTLAND PICKS | ||
| life + style to you: every Friday | ||
| March 25, 2005 |
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We at Portland Pick’s are in a perpetual
state of spring fever. We are “half is glass full” people, that’s
for sure. The light therapy, or should we say SUNlight therapy, definitely
helps. Course it was a welcome and cozy treat to have the pouring rain and
fierce windstorm last week (See! "Glass-is-half-full" people).
But it’s spring and it’s Portland. The best place on earth. There’s not one way to be, not one way to look. We are totally now and vintage, cutting edge modern and a flea market find. We aren’t homogenous but a very, very interesting mix of fabulous. And though we are all delightfully different, we are all very, very kind. This week we are Picking all kinds of sunny finds we hope you’ll enjoy, from cute little Bunnies to closet makeovers and gardening. Oh and of course, shoes and shopping. Our little weekly gift from us to you! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | We Can Dig It Zippety Doo Da! Spring is here, and boy, Oregonians are bursting with sunshine!!! Everyone has come out of hiding, out of hibernation, just to click their heels and revel in it. Even dreaded chores like weeding are fun! All part of the “gardening experience. “ Something once dreaded as a child is welcome again. Something about getting down and dirty this time of year when we make an exception for our nails. So little Miss Sunshine, let’s get out there and dig! Dig! Dig!!! Spring is the time for gardening, and digging, and getting dirty! It’s primal, therapeutic, creative even. And to help you in your dirty work, there’s Dig, of course, the cutest garden shop in the Pearl for just that sport. Dig (the name of the store) has the best outdoor tables, and artsy garden decor for your yard or deck to give it that ethereal, homey, and natural feel. They have great indoor, pretty things as well, and the owner, Thomas Adkisson does landscape design, too! Hey, we can dig it. Dig |
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| 2 | Fruition When the sun is shining on a Saturday, there is nothing better than sitting on the sidewalk sipping cappuccino on NW 23rd Avenue. It’s so European! Big sunglasses (have you seen Nordstrom’s new sunglasses boutique? Get yourself a pair of Gucci’s, Girl!), your Lucky magazine, and you are transformed into chic urban sophistication… all right here in your home town. Fruition is the secret of Trendy-third Avenue. Unlike other coffee chains, you get very nice, very calm service of super lattes with a neighborhood charm. There is ample seating, Internet service (no free Wi-Fi, unfortunately), and, the best part, they do wine, too! It’s so cute! (And they are attached to a very cool flower shop.) Fruition |
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| 3 | Going to His Head Your guy is a He-Man that, let’s just say, doesn’t practice any real grooming. And obviously the salon is just not his gig, he wouldn’t be caught dead. Sound familiar? First of all, there’s no hope in turning him into your pedicure pal, so forget about it. Your simple goal: a shave. So send him to Hair M salon. (Get it, harem?) They will give him $5 off his “King’s Cut” (snicker! Like he needs anything else to make his head bigger!). Not like men’s haircuts aren’t cheap already but here he can still feel comfy instead of afraid in the typical ladies’ domain of the salon. And as the girls fawn all over him, he’ll soon become a regular. Hair M |
 Hair M Grooming.com |
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| 4 | Naturally The stress of facing a jumble of clothing first thing in the morning when you gaze into your closet is almost too much to bare. You don’t even know what you have anymore and end up wearing the same few items. (We call it our “uniform.”) Dionne and Whitney from Naturals, one of our favorite stores for hip and casual finds, also offer a free consultation, closet organization and style consulting. Spring Cleaning takes on new meaning: Now you can clean out your closet, get a style makeover and add a few updated pieces to your wardrobe. And you’ll have fun doing it! Their services range from accessorizing, merchandising, organizing, and creating new fresh looks using what is already in your closet! Or, as personal shoppers, they can fill in what you are missing in your wardrobe. Imagine, a re-organized closet and clothing based on categories....clothes for work, for play, for winter, for evening. Let these girls help you get rid of your out of date frumpy clothing and create a stylish new look just for you. Now that is our kind of spring cleaning. Call them for a free consultation, or better yet, visit Naturals. They have an expansive jean selection, beautiful tunics, locally designed jewelry, cool Frye boots, everything you need for your gorgeous Natural look. Get started girly. Get it done so you can get outside and play! Naturals Clothing Company |
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| 5 | We love laptop totes - since we LIVE on our laptop, and we’re always on the look out. Plus it’s another accessory, another raison d’etre, like handbags, to shop for. Well, lucky us, we found a local company that designs and manufactures high quality women's laptop totes that are trendy and functional, allowing women to carry all their daily essentials in one bag (cell phone, PDA, water bottle, wallet and makeup.) Clark & Mayfield was started out of the need for a stylish replacement to the traditional boring, bulky, boxy nerd laptop case. Their goal was to create a fashionable and functional bag that can act as both a laptop case and a handbag. If you are a professional, these are perfect for you. There are currently two collections with several more being added in May/June, including a classy leather tote and some funky colorful ones for the more creative types that like a bit more flash. Clark & Mayfield |
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| 6 | Here comes Foo Foo Bunny....hopping down the bunny trail.... Hippety Hoppity Easter’s on It’s Way. Here comes Easter, the obvious time for bunnies. And not just any bunny. It’s time for "Jimmie Lou the Original Foo.” For $29.95, Jimmy Lou can be yours (or anyone else’s. They ship anywhere.) All of their products are handmade in Oregon. No batteries required, no calories to count and much laugher to be shared! And bunnies are considered to be lucky (or is that the rabbit’s foot? Hmmm, doesn’t sound lucky to us.) Best of all, Foo Foo Bunnies don’t multiply or go to the bathroom or get boring like real little Easter bunnies (a lesson you learned the hard way after last year’s chicky debacle.) The very best part, a portion of all proceeds are donated to organizations that assist children in need! Get shopping now. We see a bunny in your future. foofoobunnies.com |
 foofoobunnies.com |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Hot, hot, hot wedge sandals from Dr. Scholl’s. Yes, you heard right, Dr. Scholl’s! Bright, flowery, so now. Pick up a pair from Nordstrom. They are so damn sexy. Who knew?! |
 dr scholls shoes.com |
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| 2 | Also out from hibernation after a long winter and, dare we say it, UNMANICURED for 3 months, are your precious piggies, baring their delicate flesh once again in strappy stilettos! Come on, Sister, you have to treat your tootsies carefully! So when you’re doing your stealth shopping, don’t forget foot protection. These Dr. Scholl’s foot gel pads keep the balls of your feet cushy when you are teetering in those 4 inch high rises. Then get your foot salve from Bliss, one of our favorite brands. (Have you ever read their labels? They are hilarious. Check out their entire section on cellulite.) This foot cream will keep those nasty calluses at bay. |
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| 3 | Bring all your booty home in this! A new take on the tote. It’s perfect to take to Fruition (see above) with your latest issue of Vanity Fair, your knitting project (mine started out as a big scarf but I got bored so now it’s a potholder), your camera so you can snap pictures of your favorite bistro and brag about it to us at Portland Picks, then you can fill it full of wine and bread. |
 totelemonde.com |
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| 4 | Can you believe it? This bag from Old Navy was featured in Elle! A $10.99 bag in Elle where most purses cost that but with a few zeros tacked on the end of the price tag! We couldn’t believe it either, so we snatched up something like 50 of these, so if there aren’t any left, we apologize. They come in a blue scene, too. |
 oldnavy.com |
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| 5 | If you’re anything like us, all your friends are Prego. Or maybe you are, too. And it’s amazing, our friends don’t look pregnant from behind! So we dug around for some sexy mommy clothes online for them because their ankles are too bloated to plod around town trying on jeans! (What are friends for? Especially those that love to shop.) And who doesn’t love Citizens of Humanity jeans?! Even ballooning
mommies look hot in these special-front-panel jeans. Shoot! We might need
a pair ourselves soon if we don’t get out from behind this computer
and get moving! |
 babystyle.com |
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| 6 | Baked! We’re a little late for hot chocolate but maybe not too soon for roasting marshmallows. And there’s nothing more divine than homemade marshmallows from the
infamous Baked in Brooklyn. (And while you’re drooling over these, enjoy
a calorie free peep at their retro FlutterNutter. We want this recipe!) |
 bakedshop.com |
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| 7 | Safety never takes a holiday, and now you’ll never have to fear…Safety Girl is here! We’ve seen oodles of emergency kits geared toward the ladies, but never kits that also included beauty emergency items as well… Chock full of the standard “must-haves”, it also contains other “urgency” items every girlie girl needs when a beauty snafu occurs… Each kit contains an emergency blanket and candle, safety matches, 5 bandages, 2 antiseptic wipes, instructions to change a flat tire, instructions to jump start a dead battery, emergency contact list, accident record, Safety Girl Pencil and purified water. Phew! Wait, there’s more… For those urgent (though no less of an emergency…) needs, you’ll find Ritter Sport Chocolate, Zox Breath Freshener, Safety Girl Lip Moisturizer, Bloom Aromatherapy Headache Remedy, OxiClean Instant Spot Remover Wipe, Dove Anti-perspirant, Speedy Clean Cleansing Wipes, Sight Savers Eyeglass Lens Cleaning Tissue, o.b. tampons, emergency sewing repair kit & a professional nail file. Now we’re just waiting for the deluxe version complete with the instant boyfriend…($39.95 at www.sugardaisy.com) |
 sugardaisy.com |
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| 8 | It goes without saying that we should drink our H2O, but Borba has taken it a whole new level with their Skin Balance Clarifying Water - Pomegranate. Designed to combat breakouts and purify those pesky pores, it contains a bio-vitamin complex that helps your skin regenerate and gain structural strength, removing toxins in the process. Judging by the press and celebrity buzz it’s received, look for more of this beauty-from-within trend (it makes sense, right?). A case of the water includes a 6-day supply and you’re encouraged to follow the program for 28 days… Drink your way to divine skin now and visit www.sephora.com ($30). |
 sephora.com |
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| Portland Pick’s Must Have CD: | |||
| Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams Ever since Johnson’s breakout CD, Brushfire Fairytales, we’ve been fans of this ex pro-surfer not only for his rugged good looks but also for his breezy folk-influenced lyrics and soothing instrumentals. His latest endeavor, In Between Dreams, is no exception. Besides being clearly adept at the love song (swoon!), Johnson deals with heavier political issues such as the war in “Crying Shame.” Other standouts are “Banana Pancakes” --- about making his girl pancakes in the morning (double swoon!) and “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.” Pick up Johnson’s latest stellar CD at www.amazon.com ($10.99). |
 Buy Now! |
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| Website of the Week: | |||
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Daszign.com is a great shopping site with all your favorite designers, like their perfectly distressed Socialite Rainbow jeans from Joe’s Jeans and a great selection of new Juicy hoodies and bikini’s, and groovy Joie tunics and clever flip flops. Stock up for Summer. Get browsing from the comfort of your own cubicle! |
 daszign.com |
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| Portland Pick’s Cocktail of the Week: | |||
| How about a “Perfect Day”?
Heck yeah, you can always use a Perfect Day. Who can’t? Honestly, we want a Perfect Day every day. This energizing spring cocktail will surely perk you up and add a little zip to your doo da.
Glass: Pour into a Tumbler with ice *We like to say this word, more fun than “shot.” Half fill (like us!) the glass with ice and add the Stolichnaya vodka and the Triple Sec. Top off with the orange juice and add the garnish. Cheers to your Perfect Day and more ahead! |
 in-the-spirit.co.uk |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Tsunami Victims! The children of Palisades Elementary School in Lake Oswego wanted to do something to help the victims of the Tsunami so they handpainted darling cards. Proceeds from the cards they sell will raise money for the Tsunami victims. A box of handpainted Tsunami cards is $15.95, while supplies last. Sold exclusively at The Grand Papery. Please email any questions to: Katybarman@aol.com |
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| 2 | Portland Farmers Market Gets Going and Growing A Month Early Downtown Green Market Opens April 2, Beginning an Extended Nine-Month Season! Getting food from the farm to the table will be a snap when Portland Farmers Market opens for its 14th season one full month early on Saturday, April 2, in the Park Blocks at Portland State University, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 80 vendors, an opening day record, will greet shoppers with a wider-than-ever selection of fresh, locally grown plants, produce and flowers, rustic breads, artisan cheese, grass-fed meats, eggs, fresh caught salmon, crab and other seafood, homemade chocolates and ice cream, lentils, flour, and ready-to-eat and prepared foods. This year, the Wednesday farmers market, located downtown in the Park Blocks between SW Salmon and Main, will run from May 4 through October 26. Wednesday hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Thursday market at Ecotrust, located at NW 10th and Irving in the Pearl District will run from June 2 through September 8, with evening hours of 4 to 8 p.m. |
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| 3 | If you are feeling guilty about all of this shopping, go to a cool work event. Like Kevin Carroll. He is talking at Wieden + Kennedy next month about adding creativity and play (shopping???) to your work life. Kevin Carrol |
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| 4 | Women's Health Conference OHSU Center for Women's Health will hold the tenth Annual Women's Health Conference on Saturday, April 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center. The keynote speaker is Judith Reichman, M.D. one of the nation's most respected voices on women's health care issues and is the physician correspondent on women's health for NBC's "Today" show. Dr. Reichman is the author of several books on women's health issues, including "I'm Too Young to Get Old" and "I'm Not in the Mood." Her newest book is "Slow Your Clock Down: The Complete Guide to a Healthy, Younger You." Tickets to the all-day conference are $35 and includes a vegetarian lunch. To register online and learn more about the conference, please visit: www.OHSUwomenshealth.com |
 ohsu womens health.com |
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With all this sunshine it’s impossible to believe we could be any sunnier but because of you we radiate! Thank you for your kindness and support, always. XOXO |
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