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July 3rd, 2009
The death of MJ confirms that we are definitely a product of the 80s but in a really bad, painful-memory-kind-of-way. We were too dorky for red-leather jackets and dancing the moonwalk. And, as much as we begged our mothers to let us buy that Lita Ford-inspired zebra print miniskirt and a pair of white moccasin boots with fringe with our summer allowance, she always said no. So we ended up in neon, acid-washed jean skirts, and plastic charm necklaces. Summer vacation meant plowing through books by R.L. Stine and the Babysitter’s Club series, playing marco polo in the above-ground pool with our beloved baby brother, reenacting “Dirty Dancing” with our BFF Rachel, and biking over to 7-11 for a pack of Garbage Pail Kids stickers. It’s no wonder we became an over-hormoned NKOTB fanatic in junior high and later a mod goth in high school. What a traumatic childhood! At least we can proudly say, “Nobody put this baby in the corner.” |
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| Phoenix Picks: | |||
| 1 | She’s a Brick House Mid-summer in the desert can leave us feeling uninspired. The pool is officially bath water. We’re already burnt out on Otter Pops. And that whole “fry an egg on the sidewalk” thing was fun the first time, but have you ever tried to scrape egg off pavement? It’s 108 degrees, the toddler is climbing the walls, and we need a change of scenery—now. Bricks Studio to the rescue! This charming Arcadia-area oasis offers classes in cheer, gymnastics, and dance for the older kids, as well as Mommy-and-Me classes for the younger set. The studio also offers “grown up” kickboxing and yoga classes, as well as a delectable selection of girly gifts and sundries. Rejuvenated after an hour of twirling and proudly clutching a colorful new tutu, the young’un is back in form, and we’re once again inspired and craving an Otter Pop and a warm swim. We can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon. Come to think of it, maybe summer here isn’t so bad after all. Bricks Studio |
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| 2 | Rock ‘n Roller Over the weekend we did something extremely painful. We parted with the beloved record collection we spent nearly 10 years gathering. Thousands of odd psychedelic finds from the 60s, our collection of Edith Piaf and Francoise Hardy, and the Chipmunks sing Willie Nelson. How will we ever replace those Sunday mornings with Bob Dylan’s “Desire” and a cup of coffee? Sure, the iPod is definitely a viable, space-saving solution, but it just doesn’t feel the same. Plus, we’ve lost our music-junkie street cred now that we have nothing to show except for a little white box with earphones. Luckily a tried and true fixture in the Arizona local business scene always saves us from this kind of despair. When we feel we’ve lost our musical avant-garde, we head straight to Stinkweeds, which delivers redemption in the form of hard-to-find recordings of our fave indie bands, local talent, and awesome B-sides and imports from rockers that fall off the radar. Thankfully, owner Kimber Lanning and crew really deliver the morsels that compel us to rethink our low-fi obsession. Stinkweeds Record Exchange |
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| 3 | Mex on the Beach Summer in Arizona is a dirty, steamy affair, and yet something in our wacked-out, native-Phoenician psyche allows us to harbor certain affection for the dreaded season. Like the faux-leopard creepers we rocked in high school; looking back, we know they were ridiculous, but we still sort of love them anyway. But the second it hits 110, we hightail it straight to the beaches of SoCal and Mexico and don’t look back for at least a week. We’re convinced there is something in the waters of the Pacific that washes away the memories of steering-wheel burns and two-shower days. Until we reach our breaking point, we get our fix of coastal goodness at Two Hippies Beach House. This laid-back little taco shop makes us feel like we just ran straight off the blistering sand for the perfect après-surf. Their generous portions of Mexican faves like burritos, tacos, and cheese crisps are all prepared with organic meats and vegetables (as any good hippie fare should be.) Their blood-orange lemonade, punctuated with an umbrella, will keep you cool and help perpetuate the beachy illusion. It’s cheap, easy and delicious, just the way we like our ... excursions. Two Hippies Beach House |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Kiss Me, You Fool! Remember back in high school when you and your boyfriend used to kiss for hours on end? For so long that your lips came away nearly raw, but always the perfect flushed, red hue? These days, when we’re lacking a beau to kiss, we use Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter instead. With the right amount of shine and that ideal “I’ve-been-making-out” tint, it melts on your lips, making them incredibly soft and hydrated. Perfect for when we find someone worthy of smooching for hours on end. |
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| 2 | We’ll Take Two As true Phoenix Picks gals, we do love to be original and one-of-a-kind, but we confess, we also have our moments where we just want to carry that “It” bag that all the starlets and socialites have (we blame the influence of “Us Weekly”). Our solution is to create our own “It” bag phenomenon, and the perfect candidate is the handcrafted Okinawa bag from Valhalla Brooklyn. Made in ultra-soft lambskin in colors like bright turquoise, we’re nominating it as our own personal “It” bag of the summer. |
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| 3 | Paying for It Dearly The indiscretions of our youth are coming back to haunt us. Those all-nighters have transformed into permanent black rings around our eyes, sunbathing without sunscreen equals heinous sunspots, and smoky nights with our buddy Jack D. have been marked with some serious face wrinkles. We’ve learned that if anything is going to save us from the wrath of our party girl days, it’s Laboratorie Remedie skincare. The products are made with botanical goodness—already we’re seeing the benefits! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Covet Me The awesome summer sales are part of what makes the Valley bearable right now. One of our favorites is the spring/summer sale at Covet. Guys and gals can score some of the best duds from up-and-coming designers for cheap, plus take 50% off footwear by Spring Court, Tretorn, Nike, and Alexander McQueen. Stop by ASAP! What: Semi-Annual Footwear/Apparel Sale at Covet |
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| 2 | Don’t Miss Out on the Golden Ticket Support Independence Week and shop at local indie businesses! Download and redeem your golden ticket at participating local businesses before July 5 and get 20% off purchases. The deals are spectacular—a discounted stay at Valley Ho, a shopping extravaganza at Bunky Boutique, Spoken Boutique and Frances, and some cheap reads from Bards Books! Check it out. What: Independents Week |
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| 3 | Sail Away With Me Interested in purchasing some desert, beachside property? We know you’re smarter than that so we found a temporary fix that is sure to alleviate any sweaty, heat-infested misery. How about renting a luxurious houseboat for the weekend at Lake Powell or Lake Mead? Check out Forever Resorts—they’re running some great specials for water, sun and fun! What: Forever Resorts Vacation Value Special |
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Three-day weekends, pool parties, fireworks, tofu-and-mushroom kabobs on the grill—these are just a few things that make the 4th of July one of our favorite holidays. As you mingle with your friends and family this weekend, be sure to tell them about Phoenix Picks, or better yet sign them up for free at www.phoenixpicks.com! |
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