Twin Tested

We test the latest beauty, fashion & lifestyle trends so you don't have to!

Where’s Waldo Family Costume

This year’s Halloween needed to be one thing – easy! So, we decided on a Where’s Waldo theme for the whole family. Being 8 weeks postpartum, I highly recommend if you need something quick and easy in every size!

My kids LOVE the Where’s Waldo books, so they were very excited. They also loved dressing the same 🙂

I bought everything on Amazon! It was so easy. I highly recommend doing Where’s Waldo as a family because there are costumes to fit every age and every size. Here are the exact links:

Women’s red & white striped shirt https://amzn.to/4f3mHNZ

Kid’s full Waldo costume https://amzn.to/4f44QXg

Waldo Hat 4-pack https://amzn.to/3UqRFr2

Baby Waldo onesie https://amzn.to/3YGrhvP

[Read more…]

SNOO Update 4 months

SNOO Update

happy baby SNOO update 4 months

Taft is 5 months old!! I cannot believe it. We are still using and loving the Happiest Baby SNOO Bassinet. He had a very rough stretch from 4 – 5 months because he got a cold that lasted 10 days and then RSV, which was so scary.
We have used the SNOO since the night we brought Taft home from the hospital. I had such high hopes. Hearing from several friends that their babies loved the SNOO and slept great in it convinced me to try it. I am so happy to report that it is a miracle bassinet! I cannot believe my baby has been sleeping through the night since he was weeks old. He consistently sleeps for at least an 8-hour stretch from 9 pm – 6 am.

I honestly just thought people were lying about their babies sleeping through the night. I didn’t know it was possible! I remember with my first baby thinking that I would seriously pay $50 for an extra 10 minutes of sleep in the morning because I was so exhausted. Now, there are many mornings where I wake up before the baby refreshed because I got a full night’s sleep.

3 Reasons I Love the SNOO

1. Peace of Mind

The SNOO was created by a pediatrician and is the safest bassinet on the market. That’s because the SNOO 5-second swaddle keeps the baby firmly on their back during the night. It also keeps them centered in the bassinet, so you will never find them with their face pressed against the edge. The SNOO is made of mesh, so it creates a breathable bassinet. The swaddle also has mesh sections so the baby does not overheat. Being a typical mom, I was worried Taft would get cold sleeping without a blanket on, but he never has needed one. They also don’t recommend putting blankets in the SNOO bassinet. Simply dress your baby in pajamas and zip them into the swaddle.

If you’re anything like me, you have a hard time sleeping with a newborn. Add to that swaddle blankets in a bassinet they can roll in and I was up every 20 minutes checking on my first baby. To know your baby is safe and secure the entire night is such a huge deal.

2. It rocks your baby back to sleep for you.

I was curious to see if the SNOO would actually be able to soothe my baby. Shockingly enough, it totally does! The SNOO has sensors inside of it that hear when your baby is unsettled or upset and increases both the rocking motion and the sound machine level until the baby is soothed. It usually takes less than 60 seconds. That means I don’t have to get up in the middle of the night, I can enjoy my sleep! When I put Taft in the SNOO to go to sleep he is usually groggy, but not fully asleep. With the sound machine on and the gentle rocking motion of the SNOO, it puts him right to sleep.

3. It is easy to use

I’m all for technology, but there are only so many gadgets I can handle while taking care of a baby. The Happiest Baby SNOO app is so simple and easy to use. I love that it tracks Taft’s sleep. Have you ever had one of those nights where you thought your baby was up, but then you can’t remember? The SNOO tracks it all for you. You can see how many times they wake up in the night and how long they sleep. I also love that everything is customizable. If you have a preemie, they even have special settings for that.
It’s such a gift for all parents and I am so grateful that we tried it!

The app shows you how much your baby sleeps. The dark blue is sleep, the red is crying/agitated, and the gray means the SNOO is turned off. It’s so helpful to look back and see how the night went.

Just for comparison’s sake, we used the Halo Bassinet with my first baby, and to put it simply – she was over a year old the first time she slept through the night. It has been a night and day difference using the SNOO this time around.

I am absolutely terrified to transition out of the SNOO, which we have to do at 6 months old. I will let you know how it goes.

If you want more information about the Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Bassinet, go here. To see my other SNOO updates and reviews go here.

Does the SNOO really work?

Does the SNOO really work? It’s something I wanted to know when I found out I was expecting baby #2. The first thing I started stressing about was sleep. My first child, Hazel was not a great sleeper when she was a baby and it was really challenging. So this time around I wanted to research new products and see if I could try something different.

Does the SNOO really work?

That’s when I started hearing about the Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper from several friends who swore by it. The SNOO is a baby bassinet that is really so much more. Not only does it come with swaddles, it is super high tech. You download the app to your smartphone and control everything from it. After you secure your baby in the swaddle, you push the “on” button and the sound machine starts, along with the gentle rocking motion. SNOO automatically rocks your baby to sleep and uses soothing white noise to boost sleep.

What’s really fascinating is what happens next. The SNOO senses when your baby is fussy and increases the volume of the sound machine and the rocking motion. It truly is amazing to watch. It’s a bassinet that rocks your baby back to sleep!

For tired parents, it’s like hiring a night nurse. When it’s 3AM and your baby starts getting restless it’s so nice to look over at the SNOO as it gently rocks them back to sleep while you get to stay in bed.

Helps drowsy babies fall asleep

We put Taft in the SNOO when he is drowsy and he goes right to sleep. He is sleeping 4-6 hour stretches every night in the SNOO. I think that’s pretty amazing for an 8-week-old baby.

sleeping baby in the happiest baby SNOO Smart Sleeper

A couple of things to know:

5-second swaddle

SNOO’s easy “5-second-swaddle” is hip safe and never unravels. Protective swaddle wings keep your baby safely on their back.

My 3-year-old daughter can easily do it (supervised). It’s by far the easiest and most effective swaddle I’ve used. SNOO comes with an organic fitted sheet and 3 SNOO Sacks.

happiest baby snoo smart sleeper

You can rent a SNOO

The best news is you can rent the SNOO! If your house is anything like mine, you don’t have one more square inch to devote to storing baby gear. We are renting our SNOO until Taft is 6 months old. That is the age you transition baby to a crib. I think other baby companies should take note because this is a genius idea!

The SNOO is aesthetically pleasing

It’s beautiful. It seems too good to be true- a bassinet that rocks your baby to sleep and it’s pretty too?! The designers really hit it out of the park on this one. I would have still loved it if it was giant and plastic and sparkly because it works! But the fact that it’s pretty? Bravo SNOO!

Created by a pediatrician

The SNOO was created by a very experienced pediatrician. Dr. Harvey Karp is one of America’s most-trusted pediatricians and child development experts. He is also the founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, a smart-tech and parenting solutions company. He is also the author of The Happiest Baby on the Block.

Keeping you in the loop

I will continue to share my experience using the SNOO. So look for those in the coming months. Right now all I can say is I’m so grateful someone created a bassinet that helps my baby sleep! I hope he continues to be a great sleeper.

If you’re in the market for baby products, you can read our recent post on our favorite baby stroller. Find it here.

Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream

Raspberry Ice Cream

This is the ice cream recipe you have been waiting for! I did not know I could make ice cream this good at home. This recipe is so simple and easy to put together and everyone will love it! I have always loved raspberry ice cream, but I knew to really take this to the next level, it needed to be Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream! The raspberry flavor, along with the Oreo mix in is so delicious.

My Favorite Ice Cream Maker

I’ve tried several different kinds of ice cream makers and they all yield very different results. I had a cheaper, smaller ice cream maker and I’m going to tell you the truth – the results were disappointing. It never quite froze all the way and you could make only a small amount at a time. Luckily, I have found the greatest ice cream maker ever!

It’s the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt-Sorbet & Ice Cream Maker. It costs $75 on Amazon and has been the greatest purchase of my year! Not only is it extremely easy to use and clean, but it makes ice cream in 25 minutes. Like perfect, thick, creamy consistency in less than a half-hour. It’s amazing. You can use my affiliate link to purchase here. It’s the #1 Bestseller in Ice Cream makers on Amazon because it truly is the best.

Keys to Ice Cream Success

A couple of notes on how to successfully make this ice cream recipe:

  • It’s all about the ingredients – make sure you buy the highest quality available.
  • Make sure you put your freezer bowl for your ice cream maker in your freezer for AT LEAST 24 hours before making ice cream. This is the only part of the recipe that requires any planning!
  • You can switch up the mix-ins with the raspberry flavor – or simply leave it plain raspberry. Some other favorites include brownie bites and crushed graham crackers.
  • This ice cream can stay in the freezer for a few days! Just put it in an airtight container in the freezer. I really like THESE containers, also from Amazon, for ice cream.

Are You New to Making Ice Cream?

If you’ve never attempted homemade ice cream, it really is easier than you think it will be! We have made this homemade Chocolate Marshmallow recipe for decades in our family if you’re in the mood for something chocolatey.

The fun thing about making homemade ice cream is you can switch up the flavors depending on the season or your mood. This raspberry oreo ice cream recipe is perfect to make in the summertime because you will get the freshest raspberries. I can’t wait to make it in a few more months when we have fresh raspberries in our backyard!

This raspberry oreo ice cream recipe is very adaptable. Let’s say you prefer strawberries to raspberries, feel free to add them instead! Just make sure you also mash them and make them the same smooth consistency so that they will mix in well and not end up frozen solid.

Yield: 2 quarts

Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream

Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream

This recipe lets the flavor of fresh raspberries shine while adding a fun touch with the oreo mix in.

Prep Time 40 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 C white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 C heavy cream
  • 1 C 1% milk
  • 1 C raspberries, mashed
  • 1 row of Oreo cookies, smashed

Instructions

  1. Add sugar to beaten eggs and whip until stiff peaks. This takes 5-10 minutes.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients, excluding Oreos.
  3. Remove from mixer and pour into ice cream maker.
  4. Turn on and mix until it starts to thicken (mine takes 20-25 minutes)
  5. When the ice cream has started to thicken, add the crushed Oreos.
  6. Let all flavors combine for a minute or two.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

Make sure you put your ice cream freezer bowl in the freezer for a full 24 hours before making this recipe. It makes a huge difference in getting the right consistency.

© admin
Cuisine: dessert / Category: Food

7 Books we are Loving Right Now

2020 has been a good one when it comes to reading! We’ve read a lot this year and want to share 7 books we are loving right now. One thing we have loved about always having a book or kindle handy is that we have been able to spend less time on social media and feel like our brains are growing and developing instead! We’ve rounded up our favorite reads from the past few months and they come from lots of different genres. So whatever your mood, there’s probably something for you!

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates

How Empowering Women Changes the World

Written by Melinda Gates, this book is filled with her memories working with women around the world. Her experiences center around working on global public health initiatives with the Gates Foundation. I was impressed with not only Melinda as a human being trying to give back, but how truly impressive and expansive her efforts are. The book brought tears to my eyes many times as I struggled to read about the horrors and sadness many women have to deal with. In the end, it inspired me to support and champion women however I can.

You can buy it on Amazon here.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I just loved this book. The premise is different than most romantic comedies given the fact that the main character has Asperger’s. Instead of being critical of that, the book uses that characteristic to bring humor to many situations. I found myself laughing out loud many times. I also loved the sequel to this book, The Rosie Effect.

You can buy the book on Amazon here.

The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee

This book is riveting from the very first chapter. I could not believe the things I was reading. It is rare to read a factual account of life in North Korea and I found it absolutely fascinating. I could not believe the author’s personal courage and bravery. The fact that she has shared so much of her life and experiences felt really special to read. I recommend this book to absolutely everyone.

You can buy the book on Amazon here.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

This book touches on serious social issues but does it in a way that makes you want to keep turning the pages. I feel like I will give away the plot if I say too much, so I will just say that it is highly entertaining and a definite page-turner. If you’ve ever worked as a nanny, you should read it!

You can buy the book on Amazon here.

American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton

This book is written by a journalist and you can tell – which is probably why I loved it so much. This story is unbelievable from beginning to end. American Kingpin is about the creation of the Silk Road on the Dark Web. It reads like a long-form article and I really enjoyed it. Vanity Fair correspondent and New York Times bestselling author Nick Bilton keeps you hanging on his every word. The bonus to this one is that I felt like I learned a lot about a true story and events.

You can buy the book on Amazon here.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

This is a fun one because it’s written differently than anything I’ve ever read before. Written by Gottlieb, who is an actual therapist, she shares memorable patient stories, while intertwining her own life story throughout the book. It never felt preachy or like I was reading self-help. The book is extremely well written and it felt like she kept a fast pace throughout, so I never wanted to put it down. I finished it in three days – which is fast for me!

You can buy the book on Amazon here.

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

If you are looking for a 400 page People magazine, this is it! I need to disclose that I am a Jessica Simpson fan and I loved reading it for a lot of the nostalgic moments she talks about. I was amazed at how open the former popstar is in sharing her real-life experiences, mistakes, and relationships. Overall, I think if you enjoy reading memoirs you will enjoy this one.

You can buy the book on Amazon here.

We want to hear from you!

There you have it! The 7 books we are loving right now. We would love it if you shared your favorite books you are loving right now. 2020 seems to be the year of reading for us, so we need some new recommendations. Books are magic and we love sharing our favorite reads with you.

December Challenge: Make it Meaningful

We are so excited to be partnering with Ancestry on our final challenge of 2019! How in the world has an entire year passed of doing these challenges? We have learned so much and truly loved it.

For our final challenge during the month of December, we want to do something meaningful. Immediately, we thought of Ancestry. They are changing lives and connecting the world to their past and present.

We learned firsthand how eye-opening it can be to take an Ancestry DNA test. Although we are identical twins, we got completely different DNA test results! You can read that blog post here.

How to Make it Meaningful

So, for the month of December, it was clear our challenge should be MAKE IT MEANINGFUL.

For us, this means making family interactions more valuable this year by trying something new. Instead of talking about the weather, we are going to ask real, thought-provoking questions.

We are realizing what a wealth of knowledge our family members are and how little we have dug into the past.

Brooke at Britt at Ancestry.com's headquarters in Lehi, Utah.

According to a new Ancestry® survey, nearly three in four Americans (70%), even more so millennials (80%), wish conversations with their family during the holidays were more meaningful.

So, everything from conversation starters to family tree connections are going to be covered this month in the challenge.

People Crave Connection

We realized in creating this challenge that we are really missing out on connecting to our ancestors and it turns out many Americans feel the same way.

In a recent Ancestry study, 37% of Americans “strongly agree” they wish more members of their family knew about their family
history.

This is likely because there is a knowledge gap – more than one in ten (14%) Americans know nothing about their family tree. More than half (59%) of Americans don’t know the year their grandparents were born.

Do you know when your grandparents were born? I’m embarrassed to say I have no clue! It’s a wake-up call for me to ask my one remaining grandmother all of these questions while she is still alive and I have the chance.

Parker holding a few Ancestry conversation starter cards in his hands.

Simple Conversation Starters

The good news is, all it takes is a simple conversation to change this!

To start things off, I have 10 simple ideas for conversation starters you can use at your upcoming family gatherings to make them more meaningful.

  1. What is your most treasured family recipe?
  2. Is there a legendary love story in your family?
  3. Tell me about a family tradition that goes back generations?
  4. What family story have you heard once too often?
  5. Is there a family heirloom you treasure?
  6. What is your ideal place for a family reunion?
  7. In a movie about your life, who would play you and your family members?
  8. If you could invite any famous person to join your family for dinner who would you choose?
  9. Do you have an infamous family member?
  10. What three adjectives would your family use to describe you?
Parker holding 3 different conversation cards with different questions on them.
Brooke, Parker, Sam, and Britt laughing while sharing family stories.

We Hope You Join Us

This is a challenge that is close to our hearts and we hope you will join us in connecting to your past. Each of our stories is so unique, it’s a tragedy when we don’t take the time to find out where we came from and who came before us.

Ancestry conversation starters

Gift Ideas for Your BFF

Since we consider all of you friends, we wanted to share some realistic gift ideas this year. These are some of our favorite things that we have actually purchased and LOVED!-];

We see a lot of holiday gift lists with fun things, but they are usually so pricey! We love our family and friends, but not that much. Just kidding 🙂 Our list is just more reasonably priced, almost everything under $50!

Hopefully our list helps you with your holiday shopping.

#1 Ancestry DNA Kit $59

This is a pricier item on the list, but definitely the most impactful. You are giving someone tangible proof of their family’s heritage and history. It is honestly so fascinating to find out where you come from and to learn more about your ancestors and how they have shaped the person you are.

Brooke and I did DNA tests last year and we, as identical twins, GOT DIFFERENT RESULTS! You can read more about it here.

#2 CRZ Leggings $25

Brooke wearing CRZ leggings

Now, this may seem trivial, but these leggings are truly life changing! You are getting Lululemon quality for a fraction of the price. You can buy five pairs of CRZ leggings for the price of ONE pair of Lululemon leggings. Get them here.

This year, they’ve also come out with a bunch of new colors and prints, but I have to say the classic black will always be my favorite.

#3 Kortni Jeane Lip & Cheek Stain Stick $18

A makeup item that will seriously work for EVERYONE. This stick is so versatile and easy to use. I love to swipe it on both my cheeks and lips, but have also been known to put a teeny bit on my eyelids!

It’s easy enough to throw in your purse but makes it look like you spent a significant amount of time perfecting your glow. This is also a great gift for friends who aren’t super into makeup, but want to try something new because it is so user-friendly!

#4 A Chatbooks Monthly Minis Subscription $50

Who knew that toddlers loved to look at photo books? We didn’t until we started printing monthly minis from Chatbooks. Our girls absolutely loved looking back on happy memories from months prior. It also made us realize how valuable it is to tangibly hold onto your memories.

Chatbooks does such an incredible job of making their app so easy to use, you can create a book in less than 5 minutes. Chatbooks are also really fun gifts to give because it is something the person will hold onto and cherish forever.

You can use the code TWINTESTED40 for 40% off through the end of the year! Click here to go to the Chatbooks page.

#5 Female Foodie Card $34

This one is especially for Utah locals. Brooke Eliason, the founder of the restaurant review site Female Foodie, has created a card with discounts to more than 30 of the best restaurants in Salt Lake City.

She is meticulous in curating the absolute best picks and has never led us astray with her recommendations. We just tried one of the places on the card – Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade – and it was just as she said it would be, mindblowing!

So, if you want to make date night more exciting and end the endless battle of where to go to dinner, this is for you! It sells out quick, so run and grab yours here.

#6 Evvie Drake Starts Over $13

Looking for a fun read? I loved this cute book and have recommended it to all of my friends. It’s not your classic romantic comedy and definitely has some surprising twists and turns. I fell in love with the characters and read the entire book in 3 days. Highly recommend. Click here to buy it.

#7 Be Kind Half-Zip Pullover Sweatshirt $15

Target does it again! This cute half-zip is the perfect item to throw on and stay cozy this winter, while not being pajamas 🙂

We love the half zip style and have yet to find someone who does not love these sweatshirts. Super comfy for the price of lunch. It just can’t be beat! Click here to see it.

#8 Baking Hive Baking Mixes $15

Our friend Elisa owns the cutest bakery cottage called The Baking Hive. It is adorable but is also filled with the most amazingly delicious assortment of treats.

I can confidently say Elisa is the one who has taught me all of my best baking tips and tricks. She has educated herself at the best schools to become an incredible chef and baker. It definitely shows when you taste her treats. And now, she has created take home baking mixes, so you can create some of her famous treats in the comfort of your own home.

The Baking Hive is located at 3362 S. 2300 E. in Salt Lake City.

#9 Visit Salt Lake CONNECT Pass $96

AboutTwinTested

This is the one reason we survived 2019 with toddlers!! The CONNECT pass gets you into 16 of Salt Lake’s hottest attractions once.

This turned out to work perfectly for us because we got to see so many different things. Getting yearly passes to attractions is fun, but I think it’s even better to experience new adventures and sights. It’s also fun to be a tourist in your own city.

Some of our favorite attractions we discovered with the pass: Tracy Aviary (very cool for kids AND adults!), Red Butte Garden (stunning and so lucky we have such beauty in Salt Lake City), and the Snowbird Tram (google how to impress out of town visitors and this will pop up).

Overall, we can’t recommend it enough and the value is insane! Get more information here.

#10 Take a Class Together (starts at $50)

brooke and britt standing with governor's declaration

We recommend signing up for a Lifelong Learning Class from the University of Utah because they are top-notch. They offer everything from watercolor to welding and we want to take them all!

Brooke helped create the Fearless Abstract Modern Art above and had such a blast! There’s nothing more valuable than continuing to learn and grow, no matter your age. So, take a look at classes nearby and sign up. We dare you!

pictures of Lifelong Learning classes you can take like cake decorating and painting

Click here to see the classes at the University of Utah.

How to get your toddler to smile in family photos

We thought family photos were simple until we added a wild toddler and tried to get her to smile! It seems like toddlers have a sixth sense about family photos. Like they know they are coming and they are going to do everything possible to make it a miserable experience. If this is not the case for you, lucky you!

For me, on the day of our family pictures, my 2-year-old refused to nap and then fell asleep on the drive to family pictures, which meant I had to wake her up and try and get her to smile. I pulled out a few tricks I learned from photographer friends and THEY ACTUALLY WORKED! So, here are four tricks for getting your toddler to smile.

#1 Bring a family member or friend your toddler loves

This was absolutely key! If you don’t bring someone else to family photos, chances are you will be looking at your child in every photo either trying to get them to look happy or making sure they are happy. It is stressful. We invited my toddler’s grandpa to come and he had a great time! She loves him, so he was able to make funny faces and sing her favorite songs and get her to smile for us.

This is also super helpful for photographers so the pressure to get your child to smile is not on them. Instead, they get to focus on capturing the whole family. I also felt like it gave the photographer more of an opportunity to set up the shot and make sure everyone in the photo looked great.

#2 Bring bribes

Yep, I said it. Bring ALL the bribes! We brought favorite toys, favorite snacks and special treats she rarely gets to have. As you can see in some of the photos, we had to pull out fruit snacks very early on to even get her to hold still for 5 seconds. After that, we moved onto a green sucker that completely dyed her mouth and tongue green. ha.

I say the more things you can bring the better. We just gave the bag of bribes to Grandpa and let him go through it. He used every single thing in there by the end of our session, so I really don’t think you can overprepare.

#3 Tell your toddler not to smile

Isn’t this the oldest trick in the book? We thought there was no way it was going to work but guess what? It worked every single time! There is just something they love about not doing what they are told 🙂

#4 Don’t take it too seriously

Have fun with your child! Play with them! These photos will end up looking natural because they are natural. Kids love to play and when you give them the opportunity to have fun, most of the time they don’t mind being photographed. We also went into family photos knowing that we may only get a handful of good photos. That’s all you really need anyway! We want to remember this time in our life as it actually is, not how a perfectly stylized photograph of our family is.

One other note because I’ve been getting questions about the weather. If you can try to pick a day with nice weather, that is, of course, ideal, but if not, come prepared for the conditions. It was about 95 degrees while we were getting our photos taken, so we made sure to dress our toddler appropriately and have plenty of water and drinks on hand.

I hope these tips helped you and would love to hear any others you have. Good luck with getting your toddler to smile for family photos! Let me know if these four tips helped. Our photos were taken by Tori Hillyard Photography, she is located in Salt Lake City. You can find her website here.

Don’t forget to take a look at our other photography posts:

tips for couple photos

Couple Photo Do’s & Don’ts

outdoor family photos

Family Photo Do’s & Don’ts

walking family photos

Family Photo Outfit Ideas

Change Your Life and Learn Something New at the U

Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a declaration for Lifelong Learning Week August 12-16!

Jumpstart Your Career with Professional Education Classes

We were so excited to be part of the ribbon-cutting for the new and expanded University of Utah Sandy Center. Offering everything from Communicating with People and Teams to Beginner’s Guide to Excel courses, there really is something for everyone.

The Sandy City mayor shared his excitement about the opening.

They Offer the Flexibility You Need

Perhaps the greatest strength of the expanded University of Utah Sandy Center is the flexibility they offer. Knowing that most of their students are working while taking classes, they offer many in the evenings and on weekends. Don’t have the option of going then? How about taking entire coursework (semester) of classes in one week?! They offer that too! No matter your current life situation, they will work with you to make continuing your education possible.

Earn the Certificate You’ve Always Wanted

Not only do they offer a wide variety of courses, but in many of the courses, you will actually earn a certificate. Here are a few examples:

  • Professional Management Certificate
  • Financial Management Certificate
  • Professional Coaching Certificate
  • Medical Coding and Billing Certificate
  • Veterinary Assistant Certificate
  • Professional Coaching Certificate

Take a Class Just For Fun

The University of Utah Sandy Center offers tons of classes for personal enrichment as well. Some that stand out to us:

  • Digital Photography: An Introduction
  • Health Psychology
  • Outdoor Cooking and Camping
  • World Music

To learn more about the University of Utah Sandy Center and Professional Development, go here.

Free treadmill exercises that don’t involve running!

*There are affiliate links in this blog post. They do not affect the price that you pay for anything we have linked to. We work hard to find you the best deals.

Treadmill workouts videos that show you fun, new exercises to burn calories!

Exercises on the treadmill that don’t involve actual running!

You guys know that we love a good treadmill workout, and the best part about the exercises we are showing you is that they don’t involve RUNNING! Treadmills are so versatile that you can do so many different moves on them besides just running.

move fitness challenge
Never be bored on the treadmill again, here are some ideas to keep moving!

Straight running can get boring on the treadmill

Running day-in and day-out on a treadmill can become very monotonous and boring. With these treadmill workouts, you are using different muscles and activating your core strength in a new way!

Most of these moves are done with your treadmill OFF

We have found that treadmill workouts really get sweaty when you turn your treadmill OFF. How does that work? You have to use your own body weight and strength to get the treadmill belt moving. This involves a lot of core work and makes each move that much more intense.

If you prefer to have a list of exercises in front of you for your workout, here it is!

Exercises to do on the treadmill that don't include running

This is a list of exercises that you can do on the treadmill that do not include running. The majority of these exercises are done with your treadmill turned off. This way you will have to use your own body weight and strength to get the belt moving!

Start with Mountain Climbers 

Mountain climbers can be done in the plank position with both feet on the treadmill rails or on the ground behind the treadmill belt.

One leg hop 

From mountain climbers, you are in the plank position and can easily transition into one-leg hops. Tuck your knee to your chest and try to keep legs low to the treadmill.

Caterpillar walk in and out

From one-leg hop, you can transition into a caterpillar walk by placing both feet back on the rails and moving hands in and out. Make sure to tuck your chin as you go down into a plank.

Crab walk

For this exercise flip over so that your behind is closest to the treadmill belt. Get into the crab walk position and push your feet back so the belt begins to move.

the best $25 pair of leggings to work out in

Our favorite pair of $25 leggings that feel just like Lululemon

When you are working out, a good pair of leggings is key to keep you comfortable and motivated! We have tested out countless pairs of leggings from Lululemon and have found that THIS pair from Amazon for $26 are actually better than all of the others!

best leggings to workout in
The best $25 leggings out there!

After ordering my 3rd pair, I am a true believer in these leggings. They are soft as butter, hold you tight in all the right places, and have side pockets that fit your phone perfectly! Get your first pair here.

best workout leggings

Watch the video below for a full explanation about our favorite leggings. Britt is wearing the runner up’s, which are perfect for cold weather and $25. You can get those ones here.

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