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December 5th, 2008
We love to give gifts, and we meticulously plan for it year-round. We collect ideas for great gifts, make notes on what people love, and purchase things for the people on our holiday list—even in January. We actually consider ourselves the Reigning Queens of Gift Giving. No one does it quite like we do. We like to think that we have a particular talent for choosing the best of the best each season, and for tailoring each and every gift to each person we know. No bathrobes or sweaters on our lists, but we have scoped out a few hotels that provide the ultimate in pampering. We also turned up delicious gifts, decadent gifts, and wonderfully practical gifts. So this year, we put together the First Annual Seattle Picks Holiday Gift Guide just for you! It has some of our best ideas for gift-giving this season. It’s the least we can do to share the wealth of knowledge we have on the subject. (Aren’t we benevolent?) So, please—read on—you’ll find out about everything you simply must check out for Holiday 2008! Seattle Picks’ Gift Guide: |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 |
We have a friend who is a total style maven—she has totally mastered the fine art of casual-chic dressing. She lives in stylish jeans and cute, casual tops. For her holiday treat, we head to Lemon Meringue Boutique. They have amazing accessories to add that splash of color to her denim—plus, super-soft and comfy tops by local designer, Spun. Lemon Meringue will totally satisfy her fashion cravings! Lemon Meringue Boutique |
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| 2 |
Nothing is better than a bright bloom in the thick of winter. For our much-loved hostess friends, we pick their favorite buds from Juniper Flowers to shower them with, come the holiday party season. Winter green and ilex berry bouquets, festive amaryllis, and stunning orchids make perfect gifts—and we always make sure to pick up a few cedar garlands for decorating our house, as well. Juniper Flowers |
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| 3 | Something for Everyone on Your List Sometimes during the madness that is the holiday season, even the best of us run out of time to finish shopping for everyone on our list. In these crunch times, a Seattle Picks girl knows she can always turn to CAPERS. Stocked to the brim with baubles for mom, goods from local artisans, games for kids and families, and cozy shawls and blankets for winter warmth, we can find it all in one charming store. Phew! CAPERS Home |
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| 4 |
With all the craziness surrounding the holiday season, one of the best gifts you can give fellow Washingtonians—or yourself—is a getaway to reboot. Anguilla may be out of the question this year, but we can definitely indulge in the Staycation Package at the artful Hotel Max. An overnight stay, breakfast at Red Fin Restaurant, and unlimited valet parking ensure that we will return feeling sufficiently refreshed and pampered. Hotel Max |
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| 5 |
The holidays are an ideal time to indulge your sweet tooth on the cakes, pies, candies and treats that only come around once a year. We love to stuff our love-bug’s stocking |
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| 6 |
There is only one place in Seattle to go for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and decorations—it’s like Santa’s workshop, only better because we don’t need a plane ticket and snowshoes to find it. Romanza is the place to stock up on sparkling ornaments, classic Santas, and vintage-y themed holiday decorations. We especially love the handmade Ballard ornaments. Romanza definitely pulls out all the stops to bring in the holiday cheer! It’s absolutely lovely. Romanza |
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| 7 |
We have a great plan for saving on holiday shopping this season—do it tax-free in Portland! That also means that we get to stay at our favorite boutique hotel—the Hotel deLuxe—totally old-Hollywood glamour. And like they were reading our minds, they have a Shop Til’ You Drop Package right now that includes a $50 Nordstrom card. Totally brilliant, right? Hotel deLuxe |
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| 8 |
This would be our dream gift. Treat a loved one to a stylish new look for 2009. Darcy Camden, Seattle fashionista and owner of Styled.Seattle, is offering holiday gift packages for women and men. Get the man in your life that hates to shop, but needs a style upgrade the Ultimate Timesaver Package. Or treat your mama to the Ultimate Makeover Package —after all, what’s more fun than new clothes? Styled.Seattle |
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| 9 |
One of our secrets for great gift-giving is to give people experiences instead of things—it’s the way we became the Queen of Gifting. This year, King County is totally on our wavelength, offering discounts of 15 percent or more on gift certificates, tickets, and memberships for concerts, plays, spa treatments, museums, restaurants and much more, from 140 local businesses. Check www.wastefreeholidays.com for the offers—you’ll be a hit! |
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Forget everything you thought you knew about Tacoma, because it has come alive with new shops, restaurants, galleries and more—and we love it. We plan on giving the art-lovers in our lives, in particular, a weekend at the Hotel Murano—just steps from Tacoma’s museums—including the Museum of Glass. Through the end of January, they are offering a 20% off rate for your entire stay. Delightful! Hotel Murano |
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| Event of the Week! | |||||
It’s a Wrap!
During the hectic holiday season, it’s important to remember to give back to your community and those in need. This week, help to wrap up a brighter holiday for women in need. On one day, women in shopping centers across the country are going to be wrapping more than 40,000 gifts that will go to economically challenged women in our community. Added benefits to lending a helping hand? Mini services from Gene Juarez and makeovers courtesy of Macy’s. Feel good while doing good, ladies! What: StepOut StepUp Gift-Wrapping Party |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Holiday Shopping at Its Best! If you still haven’t found that perfect outfit (or, let’s be honest, outfits plural) for all the upcoming holiday soirees, not to worry. One of the Eastside’s best boutiques, Promesse, is hosting its winter sale right now! Grab pieces from Hugo Boss, Imitation of Christ, Ports 1961 and more at 20–40% off. What: Promesse Winter Sale |
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| 2 |
Light Me Up Being the ultra girly-girls that we are, we dream of someday having a home filled with glamorous rooms—complete with glittering chandeliers. We’re getting one step closer to our goal by shopping the chandelier holiday special at Lucca Statuary and Lucca Great Finds this week, where all chandeliers are 30% off the marked price. Shine on! What: Chandelier Sale at Lucca Great Finds and Statuary |
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| 3 | A Posh Present to Ourselves Every year we find some excuse to buy ourselves a present for the holidays. It’s important to treat yourself, after all. We expect that this year we will find our present at the Carolina Pagano trunk show at Posh on Main. We’ll indulge in some bubbly and slip on gorgeous and sophisticated shoes from her upcoming spring collection. We earned it! What: Carolina Pagano Trunk Show |
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| 4 | Run For It! Despite good intentions, when left to ourselves, we rarely get our run in before work, and we aren’t much more driven after work. We think the key is having someone to run (and gossip) with. So, we’re joining NIKETOWN’s Seattle Run Club. We can chat with peers and learn how to become better runners—and as the saying goes, just do it. What: NIKETOWN Seattle Run Club |
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And if we haven’t given you enough fabulous ideas, stay tuned each week for more great gift ideas—they fill every issue! Or even better, give someone you love the gift of Seattle Picks this year. Sign them up for a free subscription at www.SeattlePicks.com. They will never be able to thank you enough! |
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