The METRO 5: March 2009
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1. [bath/body workin'] Verikira Naturals
There’s nothing like the subtle, refreshing scent of grapefruit in the morning—especially when you’re rubbing it into your head. Verikira Naturals, a line of luxurious vegan-certified, essential oil-based skincare and beauty products based in Eden Prairie, recently launched its pink grapefruit collection, committing 10 percent of sales to breast-cancer research. But don’t deny yourself goodies from the entire line (hint: the lavender reed diffuser and gift-ready shower steamers). This month, METRO readers can take advantage of an exclusive 30 percent discount on all Verikira products; just type in the promo code “metro” at the online checkout and prepare to bliss out.
2. [slow cookin'] Crock Pots
Take our word for it: 2009 is the Year of the Crock Pot. Think about it: Belts are tightening, your dining-out budget was the first to meet your red pen and cooking classes are starting to look like a luxury. Answer: The slow cooker. It’s like a magical oven, one that transforms whatever you want into a delicious dinner that serves 12, all while you’re at work. You just may have to loosen that belt after all. Just in time for the new Crock boom: Northfield, Minn. nutritionist and author Linda Larsen has two new books out in paperback: The $7 a Meal Slow Cooker Cookbook and Church Potluck Slow Cooker: Homestyle Recipes for Family and Community Celebrations.
3. [organic babyin'] Sweet Cheeks Baby Food
Babies are the original locavores—hey, it doesn’t get much more local than breast milk—and now a Minnesota company is helping local mothers get back to those roots. Sweet Cheeks is made from 100 percent organic fruits, vegetables and Minnesota-grown grains. Our favorite: The “Baby-roles,” casseroles for one-year-olds. Owner Lori Karis works with local farms and hawks her wares at farmers’ markets and local co-ops. (We get ours at the swank new Seward Co-Op on Franklin.) It’s even on the menu at the 128 Café in St. Paul.
4. [smitten knittin'] Yarn Garage
If you knit, there is nothing better than a good yarn shop. If you don’t, go to the Yarn Garage in downtown Rosemount anyway. Packed to the rafters with a surprisingly wonderful selection of beautiful yarns in a quaint storefront, the place feels cozy, as a yarn store should. But your expectations end there. Who else has an owner/resident named “Glitter Knitter”? Steven Berg provides both expertise and entertainment with his wit, passion and color sense. Weekly knitting nights, excursions, charity projects–and available WiFi–make his Yarn Garage a must-visit.
5. [high-tech flyin'] Electronic Boarding Passes
Hey spring breakers—or anyone cashing in on spring break deals to get out of Minnesota’s sorry excuse for “spring”: Don’t forget your Blackberries. Minneapolis-St. Paul International is one of the few airports nationwide currently converting to an all-electronic boarding system, which means that rather than taking the time to print out your NWA/Delta boarding pass, you can just bring your phone to the gate, where an attendant will scan a barcode on the screen. It sounds like a cost-cutting measure disguised as progress, but hey, getting rid of paper boarding passes means one less thing to worry about while we’re dashing to the plane.
There’s nothing like the subtle, refreshing scent of grapefruit in the morning—especially when you’re rubbing it into your head. Verikira Naturals, a line of luxurious vegan-certified, essential oil-based skincare and beauty products based in Eden Prairie, recently launched its pink grapefruit collection, committing 10 percent of sales to breast-cancer research. But don’t deny yourself goodies from the entire line (hint: the lavender reed diffuser and gift-ready shower steamers). This month, METRO readers can take advantage of an exclusive 30 percent discount on all Verikira products; just type in the promo code “metro” at the online checkout and prepare to bliss out.
2. [slow cookin'] Crock Pots
Take our word for it: 2009 is the Year of the Crock Pot. Think about it: Belts are tightening, your dining-out budget was the first to meet your red pen and cooking classes are starting to look like a luxury. Answer: The slow cooker. It’s like a magical oven, one that transforms whatever you want into a delicious dinner that serves 12, all while you’re at work. You just may have to loosen that belt after all. Just in time for the new Crock boom: Northfield, Minn. nutritionist and author Linda Larsen has two new books out in paperback: The $7 a Meal Slow Cooker Cookbook and Church Potluck Slow Cooker: Homestyle Recipes for Family and Community Celebrations.
3. [organic babyin'] Sweet Cheeks Baby Food
Babies are the original locavores—hey, it doesn’t get much more local than breast milk—and now a Minnesota company is helping local mothers get back to those roots. Sweet Cheeks is made from 100 percent organic fruits, vegetables and Minnesota-grown grains. Our favorite: The “Baby-roles,” casseroles for one-year-olds. Owner Lori Karis works with local farms and hawks her wares at farmers’ markets and local co-ops. (We get ours at the swank new Seward Co-Op on Franklin.) It’s even on the menu at the 128 Café in St. Paul.
4. [smitten knittin'] Yarn Garage
If you knit, there is nothing better than a good yarn shop. If you don’t, go to the Yarn Garage in downtown Rosemount anyway. Packed to the rafters with a surprisingly wonderful selection of beautiful yarns in a quaint storefront, the place feels cozy, as a yarn store should. But your expectations end there. Who else has an owner/resident named “Glitter Knitter”? Steven Berg provides both expertise and entertainment with his wit, passion and color sense. Weekly knitting nights, excursions, charity projects–and available WiFi–make his Yarn Garage a must-visit.
5. [high-tech flyin'] Electronic Boarding Passes
Hey spring breakers—or anyone cashing in on spring break deals to get out of Minnesota’s sorry excuse for “spring”: Don’t forget your Blackberries. Minneapolis-St. Paul International is one of the few airports nationwide currently converting to an all-electronic boarding system, which means that rather than taking the time to print out your NWA/Delta boarding pass, you can just bring your phone to the gate, where an attendant will scan a barcode on the screen. It sounds like a cost-cutting measure disguised as progress, but hey, getting rid of paper boarding passes means one less thing to worry about while we’re dashing to the plane.
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