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July 9, 2010
If we knew getting back to dieting was going to be this painful we would have quit after our “Diet Starts Tomorrow, Eat Anything and Everything You Want” celebratory dinner. When we look back (to two whole days ago), we were so naïve, so full of hope in starting on the path to getting our dream body. Our first mistake was buying a ridiculously expensive scale that measures body fat percentage. There are some horrific sights you just can’t “un-see,” and that number is one of them. Our second mistake was rushing off to the gym to try to dramatically reduce our body-fat percentage in a mere 30 minutes on the elliptical. We ended up pulling a muscle in our back (cue the “I told you so’s” from our workout-goddess friends). So far, all we’ve lost is a lot of money, and the ability to turn our head to the left… but the pounds are sure to follow, right? Right? |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Wow, That’s Some Great Stuff! We are lovers of everything vintage, and we me mean everything. We hold on to Grandma’s charm bracelets, Dad’s old varsity sweaters, tea-stained postcards, and quirky cocktail rings. There is a huge difference between junk and really great stuff worth holding on to. (We are just starting to grasp this notion.) Deep down in Georgetown, Great Stuff Vintage is the best place to find said great stuff. This place is filled with various eras of perfectly maintained furniture, along with some of the coolest repurposed objects-turned-to-art we have ever seen. Our personal favorite was a table straight from the set of Dynasty: the writing desk of one Joan Collins. Complete with a Lucite tabletop perched on four faux ivory tusks with gigantic gold leaf hardware, this table was the perfect example of ridiculous extravagance. They paired the table with a massively gnarled wood lamp, an impeccable juxtaposition to its lavish qualities. And together, they made a terrifically accessible statement. Great Stuff Vintage has a great way of balancing opulence with flea-market earthiness. We’re keeping it all! Great Stuff Vintage |
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| 2 | Meet the Parents We were meeting our new boyfriend’s parents for the first time. Should we wear jeans or a sundress? Hair up or down? But first things first, where should we go for dinner? We need something simple and not too uptight, with enough comfort food for our beau’s dad, and enough lighter options for his mom. We opted for Santorini Pizza and Pasta in Wedgewood, and knew we made a wise choice when the owner/host poured us all a glass of wine while we waited for our table. (Thanks—we needed that!) Not being sure what we were in the mood for, we figured the Greek salad was a good place to start. And indeed it was; house-made dressing, crumbled feta, sliced tomatoes… and… more wine? Yes, please! The rest of the table split the signature Santorini pizza; a from-scratch gooey combo of Italian sausage, salami, Canadian bacon, fresh mushrooms, onions, black olives, and mounds of mozzarella cheese. Conversation at the table was going well, thanks to Santorini. Clearly, this whole meet-the-parents thing should always be done at a place like this. Santorini Pizza & Pasta |
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| 3 | There’s a New “Girl” in Town… Of the sugary sweet Italian type, that is. We embraced her with open arms, and introduced her to all our favorite guys, even the stud muffin we’re trying to snag. (And no, we’re not masochists.) Although she did make him drool, we were the one he came back to, begging for more. Of course, this generous, big-hearted side of us doesn’t come out for everyone. If Kim Kardashian starts to call Ballard home, she won’t get the same reaction. D’Ambrosio Gelato has come to delight our sinful side by setting up shop in the Ballard business district. As soon as we walked in, we were tickled by the owner’s thick accent, and all self-restraint went out the door. Perfect. We ordered a double cone of chocolate and Nutella, the classic European flavor, proving D’Ambrosio’s overseas heritage. All of the ingredients are organic, natural, or just plain good for you (wink). Plus it is handmade from scratch and gets the gold star in the frozen-dessert department! H-eee-double-hockey-sticks yes, we’ll have another. D’Ambrosio Gelato |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Pretty and Practical If you’ve been reading Seattle Picks long enough, you know that our Shopping Jones extends way past our closets. We’re majorly addicted to feathering our nests, as well. And these absolutely charming throw pillows from Anna Joyce are absolutely poking our eyes out! (In a good way.) Handmade from new and vintage cottons, these playful pillows are the perfect pop to make our sofas sing. |
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| 2 | The “Go-Without” Pout We are all about going organic—from lentils and limes to linens, liquor and laundry detergent, we’re just about as eco-friendly as you can get. The one area we haven’t really gone organic in, however, is our makeup. But hooray! We just found these organic lip glosses by Afterglow, and they have everything our greenie hearts desire: flirty colors, incredible shine, long-wearing results, no “sticky” gloopiness, and nothing—zip/zilch/nada—that offends Mother Earth. |
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| 3 | Elixir of Life We exercise, eat right and sleep enough, but energy still eludes us. We even get in our eight daily glasses of H2O. We need an edge. What could that missing edge be? Enter: The Big Pitcher. Fact: beauty, youthfulness and health depend on oxygen. With The Big Pitcher, you get more oxygen with every sip of agua. Super refreshing and healthy, it tastes waaay better than tap, and after only a few days of drinking oxygen-rich water, we felt more energized. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Tres Magnifique There are so many things we love about summer—the vacations, the drinks, the clothes, the shoes… but most of all, the sales! It’s an added bonus when a boutique we love has a summer sale. This Saturday, head to Les Amis and save 30–50% off beautiful clothing and accessories. What: Les Amis Summer Sale |
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| 2 | The Doctor is In Apparently our skin forgets that we passed puberty a good 20 years ago. To pamper our punim, we turn to SkinMD. Their Summer Sampler Package includes VISIA Skin Analysis, Skin Care Consultation, Facial, PCA Chemical Peel, or SkinMedica Vitalize Peel and Vibraderm with Vibrafusion treatment for more than 50% off the original price! What: SkinMD Summer Sampler Package |
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| 3 | Turning up the Heat El Gaucho is bringing a little sizzle to your summer (and your relationship) with all new burlesque shows in their famed Pampas Room. Seattle burlesque stars—Lily Verlaine, Waxie Moon, and Kitten LaRue—will make you blush during their seductive performances. Each show also includes a four-course dinner. What a sexy night out! What: Sultry Summer Burlesque Shows |
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