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September 4th, 2009
It was our birthday yesterday—and although we tried to stay 27 years old, we moved onward and upward to 28, despite our grandest efforts. Inevitably, our birthday always makes us feel a bit reflective. We did a lot of learning in the school of hard knocks this year. But those mistakes are life lessons and experiences that we wouldn’t trade for anything. We learned that love doesn’t always conquer all (ouch). We learned that the older we get, the more our bills seem to steal away all our shopping money. We learned that you’ll always be missing somebody, and not to break up a dog fight with your hands. We learned that even though you are perfect for the job, you might not get it, and we learned that our style is ever-changing and evolving. (That one was pretty easy—we just shopped our way right through it.) Mostly, we learned that life just marches on. Makes us wonder what 28 has in store for us. We can’t wait to see. Here’s to only the best in the next year! |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Euro-Chic Summer may be winding down—we didn’t say that out loud! —but that doesn’t mean that we have to stop traveling. Okay, yes, we may have allocated our funds a bit too much toward fall fashions and not so much on European airfare, but we have found a way to solve our quandary. Whenever we get the foreign itch, we venture into Mallow, a European-inspired, flea-markety mash-up of a stationery and confectionary shop that gives us the familiar feeling of those college days spent traveling abroad. We always enjoy perusing their eclectic collection of knick-knacks, sweet treats, and art from all over Europe—it’s like a vacation in our own city. Sprinkle in racks of European fashions, shelves and tables piled with jewelry, and modern note cards and gift bags, and it’s a stateside diva’s delight! We find it nearly impossible to leave without buying something… and it’s tempting to buy everything. Just think—all of those fun foreign finds, and no jet lag! Mallow |
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| 2 | A Tisket, A Tasket We love late summer. Sunny days and breezy evenings with that telltale nip in the air. And what activity screams summer more than any other? Picnicking! We pack it up and hit the road whenever possible, but our slapdash efforts were getting tired (PBJ’s for dinner lose their luster quickly) so we headed down to Dish D’Lish to infuse some gourmet grub into our repertoire. This mod little shop is über cute, and we wanted to stay there, but we were on a mission to pack the best picnic ever. We were momentarily distracted by the huge array of specialty preserves, seasonings, and cocktailing supplies—all manner of things to enhance our own cooking—but we had to focus! We chose some fabulous pressed sandwiches (turkey with NW harvest apple chutney and brie—exquisite!), a few of the cutest little personal stratas you’ve ever seen, and a bunch of chocolate toffee s’more cookies. Everyone was impressed and not a crumb was left for the ants. We’re already planning an indoor picnic (complete with cocktails) for when the weather turns. Delish! Dish D’Lish |
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| 3 | Splish, Splash Bathtub gin… it evokes images of glamorous flapper girls draped in pearls and fringe, roaring speakeasies and fedora-wearing gangsters. Fast forward 80 years, and the age of the “noble experiment” is long gone (Thank God, btw! We’re thirsty girls!), but we’re still down for a little vintage ambiance… and the fittingly named “Bathtub Gin” is where we go for that little “underground” decadence. Secretly nestled in the alleyway between 1st and 2nd Avenues in Belltown, with nothing but a weathered-brick façade and engraved cursive letters on a gold placard to signal its existence, Bathtub Gin has a wonderfully secretive feeling. Inside it’s like a cozy European chalet, enclosed with brick walls, mahogany furniture, drooping chandeliers and piles of leather-bound books. Bathtub Gin isn’t so much a booming speakeasy like in the old Hollywood flicks—it’s more like an intimate hole in the wall (literally) of easy charm and sophistication. Plus, it’s dark and mysterious—a nice change to the usual bars. Need a perfect place to escape? Find Bathtub Gin—no secret password necessary. Bathtub Gin |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Something For Everyone Our style can change day-to-day depending on our mood, the weather—whatever. So naturally, we need an expansive jewelry collection to suit each change of outfit. Plus, it’s fun to have a bevy of baubles at your fingertips. Stella and Dot makes it possible for us to have every style out there—and more—without breaking the bank. Necklaces, bracelets, enamel, embroidered, statement pieces, pearl and ribbon designs—it’s a treasure trove! Plus, with in-home trunk shows and great personal service, what more could a girl want? |
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| 2 | An Organic Experience Seattle moms are all about the “O.” As in “organic,” silly. And we’ve found a new way to satiate your desires with a little French twist—Petite Miette, a darling purveyor of baby blankets, toys and wraps. While the bright pinks, blues and yellows are super saturated, they come from low-impact dyes that skip the heavy metals and toxins. To keep it simple, Petite Miette’s natural fabrics are good for baby, good for planet, and definitely good for you. |
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| 3 | Rise and Shine On any given day we have to give a great big old thank-you to our friend Coffee, for without this heavenly elixir we wouldn’t be able to haul our butts out of bed much less interact with coworkers without biting their heads off. So it wasn’t a stretch for us to embrace coffee-n-cream soap tarts. Scented with rich coffee and buttery vanilla-bean undertones, this deliciously decadent little soap is our new favorite way to start our day. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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We Can Hardly Believe It Every once in a while you happen upon one of those deals that just seems too good to be true—it’s like your birthday and Christmas all at once. Tweed is having a blowout sale before going on hiatus at the end of the month. All regularly priced merchandise is on sale at the price of two-for-one. Amazing! What: Tweed 2-for-1 Sale |
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| 2 | Quintessentially Seattle Some things are just so Seattle—like the Space Needle, or ferries. Bumbershoot is one of those things. This year: Modest Mouse, Jason Mraz, Katy Perry, De La Soul, Raphael Saadiq, Black Eyed Peas, plus comedy, film, dance, theatre and much, much more. Need we say more? Didn’t think so. See you there! What: Bumbershoot |
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