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August 10th, 2007
Why is it that we don’t have “down time” anymore? There used to be periods where we’d be running like hamsters on a wheel, and then periods of next-to-nothingness where we’d bond with the sofa, hog the TV remote and spend a whole day—or more—in our pajamas. Now it’s hamster time all week long, and weekends, too. What gives? Seriously, let’s start a movement to bring a European work ethic to the States. Let’s all close up shop for the summer—we’ll shutter our city homes and travel to the coast to take hikes, read books and bake pies. Then we’ll return in fall, refreshed, so we can buckle down and work work work through a dark winter. It makes sense, doesn’t it? It’s cyclical, it’s restorative, it makes for better mental and physical health. Yeah, it sounds good, but nobody will go for it. So it’s back to Plan A: Buy Lottery Tickets. |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Serious Street Style We can’t think of a better place to see the hottest, funkiest, trendiest street style than Tokyo. Forget Gwen Stefani’s adaptation of Harajuku girls, and let us redirect you to Tokyo’s Harajuku district, known as the center of young Japanese fashion. You’ll see everything from tight, tiny shorts and tanks to dresses with pants pegged at the bottom to adorable denim shorts-alls with a button-down blouse on bold, brash kids who make their own way, style-wise. Now, thanks to the newly opened Atsui Tokyo, you too can redefine your own style and make a serious fashion statement. The boutique features cutting-edge clothing and accessories from a handful of carefully selected Tokyo-based designers. Lines like Mr. Olive, Filly O’ Linx, Hysteric Glamour, Cookie Fortune, Citrus Notes, and Man of Moods provide a nice selection of men’s and women’s clothing that spans casual to business attire. The theme varies, too, from fashionably comfy to edgy, trendy, versatile or sexy with one idea in common—Tokyo fashion is tight, and priced comparably to high-end NY, LA and local designs. Time to strut your own street style. Atsui Tokyo |
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| 2 | Finally Understanding "Metro-natural" We love big blue skies and dusty pastures and those thunderstorms that just don't make it to this side of the Cascades. And bringing our Wild West roots into 670 square feet of mod living space isn’t as difficult (or as Dollywood) as it sounds, especially now that we've found Capitol Hill's Square Room. |
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| 3 | Light the Way |
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| 4 | Wine Away Wine bars, wine parties, wine-tasting events, wine-sipping Sundays…we’re game for just about anything that lets us adore the fruit of the vine. We’re also delighted that our locally grown vino has been getting its share of publicity for producing wines that stand up to the more popular California varietals. Did you know that Washington has more than 300 wineries? That’s a lot of sipping to do. That’s why we’re happy to get the 411 on Stems, a new “Washington-wine only” wine bar that just opened up inside the renovated Hotel Deca. Emulating the plush interior of the hotel, Stems features a contemporary, comfortable environment for sipping some of the region’s finest wines. You’ll find the typical reds and whites from spots like Chateau St. Michelle, Glen Fiona and Silver Lake, as well as more unique choices like organic chardonnay from Badger Mountain and Sweet Pea Apple wine. Stop in for a mid-day break, work from the lounge with free Wi-Fi, have a drink with an out of town guest, or meet friends and gossip over a glass or two. Who needs a reason, really? Stems |
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| 5 | Healthy is as Healthy Does Ok girls, we’re trying to be healthier. Eating organic vegetables, lots of fiber, yadda yadda yadda. But then on our way to PCC, we detour right into a slice of pizza (or three), washed down with a cocktail (or three). Next stop: The Herbalist in Ravenna! It’s like a homeopathic spa that calms the olfactory senses within seconds ... not to mention the conscience. This neighborly retailer specializes in the best certified-organic and wild-harvested herbs collected from the Northwest and around the world. They feature their own extensive line of therapeutic products to treat the body and mind, ranging from liquid extracts to herbal and therapeutic massage oils. What distinguishes The Herbalist from other alternative-medicine retailers is a strict adherence to quality, purity, and freshness. Natural herbs arrive daily to ensure optimal potency. Macular degeneration run in the family? Try the bilberry extract. Crow’s feet reflecting stress? Grab the Adapt to Life herbal extract formula. There’s an herb to counter whatever ails you … even that pepperoni heartburn! The Herbalist |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Personalize Your Kitchen As much as we like to accessorize our kitchen, we’ve been at a loss when it comes to dishtowels. They’re always too “country kitsch”—dotted with apples or chickens—or too plain to fit our retro-modern style. So imagine our delight when we came across textile designs from Tikoli, a perfect way to add a punch of fresh color to our favorite room! From the bullseye design of “Fractil” to the more organic “Mummy,” these towels are the perfect way to add personality to your space. |
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| 2 | Cuteness Personified We would have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars if not for our shopping habit. But what’s better—a nest egg, or a closetful of shoes and a dresser that’s overflowing with lovely baubles? We choose baubles. Which is why Jill Bliss is so awesome—she offers affordable and adorable wearable art, like these limited-edition pinwheel flower necklaces, made from fabric. They’re so happy-making—we’re going to get a few of these now to give as gifts when the weather is gloomy. They’re sunshine on a string! |
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| 3 | Core Beauty You know it’s what’s on the inside that counts. That’s why you shop for organic food and take vitamins. But let’s face it, vitamins won’t give you a flat stomach. For that, you need Pilates. New to Pilates, we started with a private lesson at Conscious Body Pilates—you can go solo or as a duet—to get the basic principles and technique down. A 55-minute nearly sweat-free workout yielded shockingly sore muscles the next day, and confirmation that Pilates is a stealth maneuver for lasting health (…and bikinis!) |
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| 4 | Putting the “Fun” in Function Contrary to popular belief, people don’t lose interest in good design when they have babies. Even so, there’s a dearth of smart and stylish products for kids and the parents who love them. Enter Fleurville—bags that get noticed for their style, not their function. Fleurville’s totes are mom-, dad- and earth-friendly, and PVC-free in camo, stripes and mod florals. They come with changing pads and a wipe case, but moms aren’t the only ones who should check these cuties out! |
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| 5 | Don’t Eat These Treats! As smart as we are, we’re easily fooled. We fall for trompe l’oeil and even get confused when looking at Escher prints! So imagine our dilemma when we heard about the bath butters from Treat. Each one is shaped like a truffle and comes wrapped in shiny packaging, just like their dessert counterparts. What’s more, they come in deceptive flavors like coconut mango and white chocolate, leading us to believe that it’s only a matter of time before we mistakenly pop one in our mouth! |
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| Cocktail of the Week! | |||
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After another week on the hamster wheel, wanna add some spice to your weekend? We’ve got just the place: Moxie. Pop in for their signature cocktail: the Cornhusker Manhattan, a fresh corn-infused Basil Hayden Manhattan with a splash of Peychaud bitters, garnished with a maple-bacon lollipop, served up and chilled. The kicker? A late-night happy hour from 8-10 pm. Cornhusker Manhattan Hand-shake all ingredients, and serve up in a Martini glass. At Moxie, this is garnished with a maple-bacon lollipop, but at home, garnish with an orange slice and/or maraschino cherry. Moxie Food with Nerve |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Get Ready to Chat! Pam and Rochelle of Chat With Women Radio are hosting another fun-filled Chat Party. Kick off those stiletto pumps and raise a toast, because the Chat With Women Chat Parties are all about good friends, good food and good times! So what are you waiting for? What: Chat Party |
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A Day of Wine and Song Day-trip out to Whidbey Island on Saturday for FETCH! A Wine Tasting Walkabout at Buchanan Vineyard. Tasting tables will showcase wines from Bohemian Highway Wine, Barnard Griffin Winery, Penfolds, Goats do Roam and Rosenblum Cellars, along with gourmet cheeses, breads, nuts, chocolate and fruit. Plus live Bluegrass music from The Dog Gones, Steve Showell and Joanna Rouse. What: FETCH! A Wine Tasting Walkabout |
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