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May 23rd, 2008
We’re not vain or anything, but don’t you love our new pics on the About Us page? We’re such ... babes. (We’re so overdue for good photos right now that we can’t even play coy.) Ok, so maybe we are vain, but the whole photo shoot experience reminded us of Class Picture Day all those years back. By our senior year, we’d probably pulled off one nice photo in a dozen. And it’s not that we didn’t try. It’s that we did. The early ones were just awkward, with baby-fat chins and ugly blouses, forced smiles and bad makeup. But the later years were truly rough. We remember one frightening pea-sized pimple. And a perm gone wrong. And one year we ended up with thirty 2x3s, fifteen 4x6s and one 8x10 of us with, what looked like—by some horrid mistake of the printer—a missing front tooth. Oh, the teen-angst horror! ps: Thank you Mandy and Megan from 77 for glamming us up! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Little Shop of Dreams We’re all grown up now, but we still like fairy tales, or at least Hollywood ones. We were so jealous of Julia Roberts’ carte blanche shopping spree in Pretty Woman. She had every sales girl at her beck and call, scurrying to fetch whatever might tickle her fancy. Neverland, for sure. But off-screen, we happen to know a place where fairy tales do come true! Sashay over to Lily Atelier, where of-the-moment fashion meets exceptional customer service. Owner Dawn handpicks her apparel from edgy collections (e.g. Weston Wear and Johnny Was), premium denim labels (Agave, Robin’s Jean and LTB), and classic brands like Gant (think American style with European flair). And she doesn’t just carry fabulous apparel. At this chic boutique, the style mavens help clients build wardrobes with staple and statement pieces, one spectacular item at a time. (Or maybe four or five!) Be sure to polish off that new look with accessories from their gorgeous selection of designer shoes, exquisite jewelry and to-die-for Junior Drake handbags. We’re absolutely smitten—proof that there really are Happily Ever Afters! Lily Atelier |
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| 2 | Gemtastic We think we’re pretty unique. We dress in a way that shows the world that we’re fun (but not weird). We buy shoes and bags that reflect our innermost fashion soul, and probably most important of all, we buy jewelry that inspires the envy of ladies across the city. “Where did she get that totally fab necklace?” they’ll ask. We’ve got your answer! We got it at Aylee & Co., Portland’s newest jewelry shop. A fusion of semi-precious gems and fine metals, Aylee is no doubt a “little box of jewels,” with pieces that are glamorous and fashion-forward, from long summery necklace strands and charm bracelets to rings set with oversized gems. Plus, with nothing but one-of-a-kind creations, Aylee has something for even the most discriminating jewelry shopper (ahem, like yours truly). Tucked neatly into the couture culture on NW 23rd Ave., this teeny little store is easy to miss. But we recommend you take our little trade secret and find Aylee & Co. now. Heads will turn, and you and your new jewels will be the talk of the town! Aylee & Co. |
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| 3 | Thai Love You When we have out-of-towners come ‘round, we like to show off our P-Town lovelies. It’s flippin hard candy, though. And we can’t, for the shame, leave out any major Portlandia element. So we started making categories. City of Roses. City of Bikes, City of Books, City of Bridges and—can’t leave this one out—City of Yummy Thai Food. Well Sweet Basil Thai has been on our hot list since we discovered the charming red building in NE. And now!—now they’re located in the NW, too, carrying on their signature style built upon creative food presentation and scrumptious delights. We’re suckers for their Crispy Trout, vertically prepared on a bed of shallots, green apples, cashews, lemongrass and mango. And we adore their curries, with pumpkin, Pa Nang and House Specialty varieties. Plus their O My God app is like oh my god! with crab, basil and cream cheese wrapped in a flaky shell and served over plum sauce. Sweet, sweet basil; you won us over. We’re putting you on the list next to Powell’s. That’ll keep our west-coast girlies visiting. Often! Sweet Basil Thai |
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| 4 | The Power of the Dot Despite our love for all things polka-dotted—from flip flops to water bottles to summer dresses and cutie-pie dog collars—we’re actually referring to something that can truly make us smile. We’re talking about tiny, micron-sized dots that erase years from your face. We’ve been trying creams and masques and whatnot for a while, but it’s time to give something more permanent a try. DOT Therapy is the state-of-the-art procedure in laser skin-resurfacing, and you can find it at Key Laser Institute for Aesthetic Medicine. Thank you, Dr. Key, for bringing the power of the DOT to Portland! We can now rid ourselves of lines, wrinkles, crêpey necks, and crow’s feet! It’s pretty technical (Dermal Optical Thermolysis is an advanced fractional CO2 laser that precisely delivers light energy to stimulate new collagen growth), so let’s skip to the good part: it kicks your skin into regeneration mode, and that’s when beautiful things happen. DOT Therapy wins the “patients’ choice award” not only because of the results (wrinkle-free, smooth, firm and radiant skin), but there’s no pain and no downtime. That’s the Power of the DOT! Key Laser Institute for Aesthetic Medicine |
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| 5 | Style in Spades Back in the day (those painfully awkward days), we wanted to be just like our girlfriends. We’d spend hours at the mall together, blowing our allowance on the exact same earrings and bangles. Thank goodness we grew out of that stage! These days, we frequent cute boutiques and pride ourselves on individual style, but we couldn’t resist a trip downtown when we heard Kate Spade (oh my gosh, oh my gosh!) just opened a sleek new store brimming with stylin’ accessories. Like giddy teenagers, we fawned over adorable handbags in juicy summer colors, cute on-the-town clutches and modern classics. But that’s not all. We found wallets and wristlets in shimmery finishes, stylish ballerina flats and sandals, Audrey-esque sunglasses, unique jewelry and whimsical stationery, too. Plus, KS even designed a limited edition “stop and smell the roses” canvas tote—glamorous, eco-kind and Just for Portland! Go now, and be one of few in the world to flaunt it. Handbags. Shoes. Kate Spade. Need we say more? Sounds like the perfect excuse to get the gals together for a reunion at the mall—no matching required! Kate Spade |
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| Cocktail of the Week: | |||
It’s time for summer cocktails—honestly, we can’t wait any longer. And what’s better in summer than a fine, smooth tequila? In this rendition, it’s a bit girlier when you use the surprisingly light 1800 Select Silver tequila and add hints of pomegranate and fresh juice.
Put on high heels. Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a thin wheel of lime. Sip as you watch Sex and the City reruns with your glam gal-pals! |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Magic Making We think our job has given us carpal tunnel. It’s mostly our fault, though. We’ve had our laptop for over a year now and still, no mouse. Can you imagine 40 hours a week with nothing but a scroll pad? Well, massage therapist Sarah Ryan pulled that strain right from our wrists in one of the most glorious body treatments we’ve had. Incorporating hot stones, scalp massage and general full-body bliss, Sarah made Catalyst Hands look more like Magical Hands in our book. |
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| 2 | Twist Me Up We wish we had the talent of Ken Paves or Vidal Sassoon—but we can barely master a good blow out, never mind a stunning updo on a night out. So naturally, we were stoked when we came across the Twistii. Within seconds, this styling tool creates dozens of effortless-looking updos—much more chic than a boring old ponytail. We are now red-carpet ready! Get your free Twistii, compliments of Portland Picks! Let the styling begin! |
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| 3 | Baby Gifts You’ll Want to Give Three of our friends are having babies like n-o-w and we want to send them adorable gear that A) they won’t get from everyone else, and B) is eco-friendly. Thank goodness we found Lavender Blue Baby and their amazing items, from adorable soft toys to clothing and bath & body products. We finally decided on the Baby Bambu Gift Set, which includes a onesie, baby cap, pair of socks, and hooded blanket in the softest bamboo fibers. This stuff is almost cute enough to start our own clocks ticking… |
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| 4 | Mama, You Are Not Alone |
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| 5 | To Gloss Or Not To Gloss Most girls are either stuck on the stick or gaga for gloss. Lip, that is. We count ourselves among the former, but a recent find has got us liking the shiny stuff more than ever. Meet Velana K., a former Portlander who made her way overseas, but sent back 10 scrumptious glosses to keep us happy. From the hot red Courtney to the perfectly pink Kim, in this case, great things come in absolutely adorable packages! |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
Join Baby Star for an amazing sample sale that will include the new little dipper apparel line. Also, get a jump on the perfect Father’s Day present with a photograph by Jill Dunn Photography. Photos are $25 for one 5 x 7 portrait or given as a special treat from Baby Star when you spend $100 or more at the sale. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Spring Ahead If you’re like us, you’ve already started putting money aside for Portland’s largest sample sale featuring designer clothing, handbags, jewelry, home décor and more. Enjoy wholesale prices along with body treatments, bevvies and bites, plus a fashion show with the hottest trends found right here in our own style-savvy city. Spring wardrobing never seemed so fun! What: CRAVEparty Spring Market |
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| 2 | Run for a Cause! Nike 5K for Kids It’s time for the Nike 5K for Kids! Do the 5K course or the “Let Me Play” one-mile route, and 100% of the entry fee will be donated to Greater Portland-area schools’ physical education, play and athletic programs. You choose the school! Register online at www.nike5kforkids.com by May 30 or in person at NIKETOWN until June 6. What: Nike 5K for Kids |
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| 3 | Get Suspended! Are there areas of your body that are resistant to change? Power *Strength *Grace studios announces TRX suspension training. This program is designed to activate your entire core as you move through many planes of motion. Elongate your body, improve posture, and add strength/definition to hard-to-hit areas. Coupled with “fusion” interval training—we can tell you—it’s mind-blowing. What: TRX Suspension Training at Power *Strength *Grace |
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| 4 | Recess Boot Camp Starts Soon! Get in the best shape of your life—and have a blast doing it. Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga, Budokon—it’s all a part of the plan. You’ll also receive nutrition and cooking instruction to fit your lifestyle. Meet three times a week to get healthier, make new friends, and drop a dress size. Call Recess now and receive $200 worth of free goodies if you sign up by June 1. What: Recess Boot Camp Health Immersion |
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Don’t forget to check out our archived Guides for 2008! They have tons and tons of ideas for everything from gift-giving to planning a wedding. Also, be on the lookout for our first-ever Dining Guide—the Pub Crawl—due out June 13! Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide |
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