Twin Tested

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Archives for June 2018

DIY projects that are actually fun and easy!

Britt and I were invited to try out Anders Ruff Workshop Holladay. They recently opened their doors in May and we just need to talk about how cute the shop is for a second. I want to move in. From the gorgeous original, exposed, brick wall to the streamlined projects. Even the bathroom is gorgeous! They have a full catering kitchen so you can have small or large parties too.

 

This is how it works: you hop on their website and pick out your project. They have everything from wood signs to lazy susans to decorative pillows that you can create. Once you have your project chosen you pick the time that you would like to do it. I went with my mom, sisters, and sisters-in-law and we had a blast!  The hours flew by and we had so much fun crafting, chatting, and snacking.

craft

paint bar

craft project

The AR Workshop Holladay has kids camps going on this summer and they also accept walk-ins! The owner, Ginger, is as sweet as they come. She is also thorough and makes sure that every person has a project they are proud of when they walk out the door. And before you leave the shop be sure to check out the cute items that Ginger has handpicked at the front of the store like towels that are hand woven in Turkey and to-die-for small gifts. I am dying to go back and do the framed American flag as well as a Christmas sign! Check out all the projects here.

Top 3 Summer Reads

Hi! Hope you are having a great summer. There’s nothing like cracking open a great book at the pool or on vacation during the summer. We narrowed it down to our top three we have loved the past few months. Please pass on some of your favorite light, summer reads!

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Summary: Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace; to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom. Then Bernadette disappears.

This is a fun and different book. Definitely on the light, entertaining side, but it also touches on the topics of mental health and motherhood. This book is one that doesn’t tie everything up with a bow at the end, so you have room to create your own opinions and endings. Cate Blanchett is set to star in the film version coming out in 2019.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Summary: Rachel Chu is happy to accompany her longtime boyfriend, Nick, to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. She’s also surprised to learn that Nick’s family is extremely wealthy and he’s considered one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Thrust into the spotlight, Rachel must now contend with jealous socialites, quirky relatives and something far, far worse — Nick’s disapproving mother.

This book! It’s outrageous and ridiculous but also so entertaining. It takes you inside the (fictional) lives of Asia’s wealthiest families. It’s a page-turner and is the first in a series of three books. I read them all and found them all equally entertaining, so if you’re looking for a lighthearted series, this is it. It is being turned into a movie that will be released this August. And it looks gooood. You can watch the trailer below.

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

Summary: Cecilia Fitzpatrick thinks that she has her life under control. Her illusion is shattered when she finds a letter written to her by her husband John-Paul. Her husband had intended for the letter to be read in the event of his death. … In the letter, her husband confesses to the murder of a teenager named Janie Crowley.

If you loved Big Little Lies, luckily Liane Moriarty has another hit! This is another suspenseful page-turner.

You need to add Loveland Living Planet Aquarium to your Summer Bucketlist!

Every summer I like to jot down a couple ideas for a summer bucketlist. That way, whenever we don’t have plans, I have a list of fun ideas. Well, with two 9-month-old babies in tow, this year’s bucketlist looks a little different. When we were asked if we wanted to bring Hazel and Lila to the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, we said of course! We have both visited before – Brooke even swam with sharks there once!!

We were amazed at just how much there is to see. You can easily spend an entire day there, which is perfect since summer temps are already above 90 degrees! It’s so much more than an aquarium. There are the cutest sloths, otters, clouded leopards and so many more unique animals you would not expect to see in an aquarium.

The babies loved it. It was so cute to see them in front of the fish tanks, they were mesmerized. The cool thing about the aquarium is that it’s just as fun for adults as it is for the kids. I pet a manta ray while we were there! I had no clue that it would be so slimy. It was fascinating. You can also touch tiny sharks and starfish.

We were both given season passes, which is awesome! I’m sure your kids are perfect, but our babies have a 3 hour maximum for any activity before they need naps. Which makes getting a pass so nice because you don’t feel like you only have one shot to see the entire aquarium. Instead, we plan on going back once a week for a fun little field trip to see something different every time we are there. We brought our mom and had a blast! Thank heavens for grandmas. Our babies absolutely love her, so we all had such a great time. Talking with our mama friends, they all say the aquarium pass is worth it simply for their amazing playground. Hazel and Lila are still too little for that, but it just goes to prove there is so much to see and do at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium!

Aquarium Memberships are the best way to save. You only have to visit two to three times a year in order for it to pay for itself (but can visit as many times as you want during the year). On your first visit, you can put the value of your tickets toward the price of a membership if you choose to. There are several levels of memberships, including Individual, Family (two adults and four children *additional children can be added), Family Plus (two adults, four children, and two guests each visit) and Grandparent Memberships. You can get more information on memberships here. 

They also have huge, nice areas available for parties, which would be so much fun. We are so excited for our summer of fun at the aquarium!

Two Utah Road Trips You Should Try This Summer

Brooke and I grew up in Utah, but have realized the last couple of years that we have not seen a lot of really neat places in this beautiful state. It’s been a goal of ours to go on more road trips and explore more of the diverse beauty Utah has to offer.

So, first off, have you been to Zion National Park? Just an hour outside of St. George, it is the perfect stop on the way to southern Utah. Sam and I took Hazel on her very first hike in Zion. We did the overlook hike – it was perfect, about one hour round trip and very easy. It was amazing what we were able to see in such a short hike! Gorgeous views, rock formations, and even mountain goats. I would highly recommend it. As a couple, we agreed we need to make trips to more of Utah’s national  parks because they are so accessible to us. It was $15 for the entry fee to the park – it is different if you take the shuttle.

Next time we are there, we are going to try two of the most popular hikes:

The Narrows & Angels Landing

What to know about Zion:

  • Very popular, get there early if you want to go on a hike and not have it be too crowded
  • There are hotels right outside the park so you can stay there or drive to nearby St. George
  • The weather varies throughout the year but is quite hot in the summer. We loved visiting in Spring because it was not too hot yet!

Brooke and Parker took Lila on her first camping trip over Memorial Day weekend. They went to stay at a family ranch in Bicknell, Utah. Where the heck is that? It’s in central Utah right outside Capitol Reef National Park. It’s a tiny little town with a population of just over 300, but they do have a movie theater! A couple of things they loved doing: visiting horses, riding dirtbikes and enjoying gorgeous red rock views in every direction.

What to know about Bicknell:

  • It’s a relatively short 3 hour drive from Salt Lake City
  • It’s a perfect place to camp if you plan on visiting Capitol Reef National Park
  • It does get chilly at night – around 40 degrees – so make sure to bring your layers!

You can get more information on Utah’s national parks here. 

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