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August 8th, 2008
This was our first week back after a week-long vacation with the family, and while we are happy to be home, we are having trouble settling back into our day-to-day routine. Working, going to the gym, making dinner, taking the dog for her daily constitutionals, it’s all so mundane! We miss the sun-filled days spent lounging lakeside. We miss long, quiet evenings spent reading next to the fire or playing Scattergories (and subsequently, kicking butt at it—seriously, we rule that game) most of all. Seriously, there should be a mandatory month-long vacation for everyone in the United States—every summer. The Italians take off for the entire month of August, so why can’t we? It’s something to emulate, we say! The world would be a better place for it—although we could see ourselves having one whole month, and at the end of it, just wanting one more. In case you can't get away this summer, forward this issue of Seattle Picks to 5 friends and CC picks@seattlepicks.com, and you could win a $25 gift certificate to The Bathery Electrolysis and Skincare. |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Warm Fuzzies In case you haven’t heard, we’re gonna be Aunties! That’s right—a little one to sugar up, spoil rotten, and send home to someone else! We’re so excited, we can barely see straight, and as the big day draws near the urge to spend is getting bigger and the shopping more ridiculous. But he (or she) will be totally worth it. Our favorite baby boutique, Georgia Blu, is just a stone’s throw away, so we scooted right over. The fresh décor and scent reminded us of that sweet, newborn baby smell. Our arms quickly filled up with the cutest themed socks from Trumpette (we grabbed the golf set and the ballet set, since we still don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl), and couldn’t resist the petite, overly soft, stuffed animals that are perfect for an infant’s small hands. We enforced a five-item limit—until we meet the little one—but made sure we grabbed our sister the MomAgenda in pink Croc, and a sassy head scarf by Rachel Wessman to keep her hair stylishly out of the way. Let the spoiling begin! Georgia Blu |
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| 2 | Take Me Away One of the best things about going on vacation is indulging in a good glass of wine and snuggling up in a plush hotel bed with crisp Egyptian cotton sheets, cushioned to queenly perfection with a lofty down comforter. But we're not on vacation; we've got full time jobs and places to go and people to see. This is precisely why cocktails are so important—they absolutely must be fabulous enough to make us feel like we’re on vacation at the stroke of 5 o’clock. When we sipped our gin-based, Lavender-and-bitters cocktail at Belltown’s newest restaurant, Branzino, it felt like we were on holiday at an elegant, turn of the century guest house on San Juan Island, overlooking the Palindaba Lavender Garden and the glistening waves of the ocean. The cocktail menu at Branzino is full of aromatic concoctions, including drinks like the Fleur De Lis and the Lotus—sure to summon your senses to your own luxurious retreat. Between the lobster gnocchi and the uniquely tasty drinks, you’ll be riding the waves of summer for weeks to come. Branzino |
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| 3 | Beauty, Naturally One thing we love most about summers in the Northwest—it’s a sunlit, scenic drive to a beautiful weekend getaway. Our fave, thus far, was a recent camping trip on the Oregon Coast. The high: putting our feet in the ocean. The low: being blasted with sand by high winds—not our exfoliation method of choice. Upon our return to the city, we felt the need to indulge in some natural pampering that didn’t leave sand in our skivvies. Enter Leaf & Water Holistic Spa—offering all-natural facials and body treatments (featuring pure organic products by Vera Botania) right here within the city limits. After an hour with our Skin Care Specialist, we felt relaxed, rejuvenated and beautiful—and armed with tips on how to take care of our skin from the inside out. Leave the sand at the beach and treat yourself to some other kind of natural bliss. Your first facial comes with a free holistic skin consult, so you learn more about which supplements you might need, or which products can help your skin glow. Leaf & Water Holistic Spa |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | The Deluxe Treatment Currently, we are: planning a bachelorette party, hosting our sister’s baby shower, and arranging a dinner party for our work colleagues. Naturally, we wake up in the middle of the night, panicked we are forgetting something. To save our sanity, we decided we needed help, and called in Deluxe Event Planning. They help organize chic and modern weddings, social and corporate events, and all with elegance and a personal touch. With their help, we will be hosting three events that will attain “party-of-the-year” status. |
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| 2 | Pretty as a Flower We enjoy treating ourselves—to a bowl of ice cream after a hard day, to a new pair of shoes for a job well done, and to cheesy 80’s movies on a weekend afternoons. Our favorite way pick-me-up however, is fresh flowers for the house—which look splendid in these fresh, handmade porcelain vases from Gleena. With irregular sides that seem to sway like flowers, they are glazed with bright cheery colors on the inside. They make our day—every day! |
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| 3 | True Love We reveled in the genius that was Rami Kashou and his draped designs in the last season of Project Runway, and ever since then, we haven’t been able to get enough beautifully draped pieces into our closets. Until we found the up-and-coming line from New York-based designers, Delirius. Their pieces are cutting edge and unexpected, but ultra-feminine and flirty at the same time. Best of all, they are draped magnificently and always have some uniquely wonderful detail to them. |
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| Event of the Week! | |||
Crave Summer Party What do we crave? We crave fashion, shopping, and evenings with our best gal pals—among other things. Lucky for us, this week we can have it all—in one night and in one place—at the Crave Summer Party. Don’t miss it! We promise you will have an amazing evening of shopping, pampering treatments (and more) with your ladies. What: Crave Summer Party |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Jewelry for a Cause What: Trunk Show for Amy Bengston and Alisha Alderman |
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| 2 | No Such Thing as Too Many Trunk Shows We love a trunk show, and there is no shortage of them this weekend. One of the best can be found at Tweed with a trunk show from designer Victoria Simons. She will be showcasing her fall collection of feminine, vintage-y feeling designs which come in sizes 2–14. Enjoy wine and snacks, too, for a perfectly lovely soiree. What: Victoria Simons Trunk Show at Tweed |
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| 3 | Sweet Fashion We love shopping online and we love Happy Hour. So naturally, our new favorite thing is the online Happy Hour at Mapel. With a different Happy Hour special each week, including offers like 40% off Ella Moss, and a free chocolate truffle with every Web order, it’s the sweetest kind of shopping experience. What: Weekly Online Shopping Happy Hour |
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| 4 | A Day at the Races Emerald Downs is going to the ladies! They will be hosting the first annual “Hats and Heels” at Oaks Day to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ladies are encouraged to don their best and bring the glamour back to the world of horse racing. We’ll be there in our pearls! What: A Fashionable Ladies Day at the Races |
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Calling all local businesses! Advertise in the Seattle Picks Green Guide! We’ll be featuring Green products and services—and that includes anything you sell, purvey or do to bring some Green to your biz. From baby clothes to brie, canapés to facials, hotels to vintage furniture and sweaters to soaps, we’d love to include a diverse mix of products and services to enhance our readers’ lives. Email Ashley@SeattlePicks.com today to secure your spot! |
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