Life Archives - Page 9 of 11

5 Holiday Shopping Tips

Brooke and I have been trying to be more proactive this year. We want to get to things before they stress us out and I would say for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job. You can still catch us baking a stressed out batch of chocolate chip cookies every now and then (are we the only ones that do that?), but I just convinced her to start using her phone calendar (welcome to the 21st century Brookey!), so we are getting quite organized. We were diehard paper planner users, but have now transitioned to the phone calendar and it’s SO much easier! What are your favorite calendar/scheduling apps? We would love to know. So, in the spirit of owning life and being on top of things, why not do some Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving? We made a little date out of it earlier this week and explored Trolley Square and had so much fun!

Here are 5 Completely Unsolicited Holiday Shopping Tips:

1. Go NOW! Holiday shopping is so much easier and less overwhelming if you start early. I know, I am probably preaching to the choir with this one.

2. Start your shopping trip with a meal. And end that meal with spumoni ice cream from The Old Spaghetti Factory because I forgot how good that stuff is!

3. All holiday dress shopping begins and ends with Ypsilon. This store is jam packed with the sparkliest, most gorgeous gowns. If you need a show stopper, go here!

4. Buy yourself a little something. This may sound completely egotistical, but I think if you allow yourself to pick out a few things it makes shopping even more fun.

5. Make sure you ask about the return policy, most stores are extending theirs through January!

{strawberry pistachio and chocolate perfection}

{stunning dresses at Ypsilon, someone invite me to a fancy holiday party!}

{Sam and I are known to throw on onesies Christmas Eve, so I maybe might have bought this for him from Spark}

{Brooke and the cute Sarah Tyau – look her up, she does the most amazing things with vintage clothes! Also, not sure who the creepy photobomber is behind them :)}

{do not go to Alice Lane because then you will go home and try to convince your husband you need the entire store. Is this bedroom not an absolute dream?}

What are your holiday shopping secrets? We would love to hear!

Do’s & Don’ts for Couples Photos

We present… Couple Photo Do’s and Don’ts. We jumped at the chance to work with Jessica of Jessica Janae Photography . She is a world renowned photographer known for her ability to capture beauty and movement.

We are in the stage of getting married and wanting beautiful engagement photos, so we thought it would be fun to show you some Do’s & Don’ts for Couple Photos. Of course we had Sam and Britt do it because they are a couple who loves to laugh at themselves. Whether you are getting Christmas card photos or engagements, or just photos as a couple, we hope these tips help!

#1 The Ring Pic:

Every newly engaged lady loves to show off their wedding ring, but it can look very stiff if you’re not careful. This before and after shows a few slight changes so you can still display your bling without looking mega awkward.

#2 The Boy Nose Smash/Foreheads

Of course it’s cute that he wants to nuzzle your face, but let’s get some space in there so it looks good! I loved this tip from Jessica to lightly touch foreheads instead, so you still get the lovey-dovey vibe without any body parts being smashed.

#3 The Kiss

Lesson learned- the moment before your lips actually touch looks a million times better than squishy faces. But, we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people around the world that they love both pictures. I do need to mention that Jessica told us what angle to kiss in the first one as well, so it doesn’t look as awkward. There’s just something about the moment right before your lips touch that is a little bit steamy!

#4 Just say no to the piggyback

It is so rare that it looks cute and just don’t even think about it in a dress! There are plenty of other ways to look like you want to be close, without being THAT close. Especially for photos you are sending out with a wedding invite, the YES picture looks cleaner because instead of seeing jumbled limbs, you are seeing two smiling faces.

#5 The Awkward Stance

You have to create shapes and angles with your body to make it more interesting. Try different arm and hand placement instead of sticking to one static pose. It may feel a little bit awkward to move around and try different positions, but it is guaranteed to look so much more natural.

#6 The Boob Squish

Hands down the most awkward of the bunch! Although when we were taking the photos it didn’t feel like that awkward of a pose, it is flattering to no one. It might feel *cozy* but it is never a good option. Jessica had us make a few small changes and it looks so much better! You can also get a better look at the ring with the improved pose.

#7 The Announcement

If you’re not doing a pregnancy announcement (which we are totally not), then don’t do the pregnancy pose with the hands on the stomach. It is also a little too reminiscent of the “prom pose” which we all need to leave in high school where it belongs. The much better option is the sexy back hug snuggle with your best Tyra smize.

#8 The Nuzzle

Squished noses are just not cool and they make everyone look weird. By slightly turning your face, everybody gets to show their best angle! The photographer also had me move my arms down, so I didn’t look like I was trying to jump on Sam haha.

There you have it! The 8 poses that you should steer clear of for engagement photos (or really any photos for that matter). Huge thanks to the fabulous Jessica Janae for the photos, she is so incredibly talented and knows how to direct clients. If you are in the Salt Lake City, Utah area BOOK HER and if you are not she travels for clients that she really want to work with!

We had so much fun doing this shoot and have since done many more photography blog posts. Make sure you take a look!

Family Photo Do’s & Don’ts

What to Wear in Family Photos

How to get a toddler to smile in family photos

Why You Should Buy a Fiat Convertible

So we basically won the lottery two weeks ago. We were asked by Ken Garff Fiat in Salt Lake City if we would like to test drive Fiat convertibles for two weeks. Um yes! Brooke and I have always loved tiny cars and then you take that tiny car and turn it into a convertible and I’m not so sure we will actually be returning either of the cars. We got to drive 2015 Fiat convertibles. Brand new cars. They have been so much fun! We love how they look, but they are also great on gas mileage and they handle really well. The car seats four adults comfortably (really, we had lots of friends that wanted to go for a ride, so we tried it out). The best part is that they are not pricey at all! You can get a brand new one for around $20,000. Not too shabby. If you mention TWIN TESTED you get $500 off when you buy one. That’s like so many fro yo runs and stops into F21.

Here’s the best part for you guys, now that we have returned the convertibles, you can go test drive them any time you want! Fiat of Salt Lake City is located at 198 East 500 South. You don’t have to buy one, you can just go down and go for a fun little ride! You can find more information HERE.

Someone please go buy one so we can live vicariously through you and maybe catch a ride every once in a while 🙂 Have a great weekend!!

Last Minute Costume: Unicorn

This is a costume we have been wanting to wear for years, so we finally just did it! All of the supplies are from Zurchers, and the best part is you really just need the hat (which is surprisingly warm and comfy). We paired it with a plain white t-shirt and hot pink workout leggings. Pretty magical.

Last Minute Costume: Pinata

Happy HalloWEEK!

We will be sharing a different last minute costume every day this week. Each of these costumes takes less than an hour to put together and costs less than $20!

First off, we have the pinata. It’s cute and ridiculously easy to put together. I took a plain red dress I already own (super cheap from Old Navy) and used black painter’s tape to attach fringed crepe paper in several different colors. Then, I added two multi-colored party hats, red tights and a fun little pinata stick.

Huge thanks to Ashlee Brooke Photography for her help with the pictures! If you end up using this idea, tag your costume with #TwinTestedCostume so we can see it!

Happy Halloweening

Weekend Escape: Sundance Resort

We were lucky enough to be invited to stay at Sundance Resort up Provo Canyon, so we decided to turn it into a little weekend getaway with our husbands!
Here are our 10 favorite things about Sundance:

1. The feast we had at Foundry Grill, the most enchanting restaurant you have ever seen. It has the most picture perfect ambiance and as you can see our food was to die for. We feasted on roasted chicken, pasta, filet mignon and ribs. We also got the truffle mac & cheese and it was some of the best ever. Melt in your mouth good. Thanks to our cute waitress’ recommendation we ordered the peach crisp with homemade blackberry ice cream on top. Hands down the best dessert I have had this fall!

2. The gorgeous mini cabins that they call rooms. We both were given suites to stay in and they did not disappoint. We both married tall guys that like their space and the king beds are ginormous! I am pretty sure they are made of clouds because we both slept like rocks.

3. Haunted Lift Ride: This spooky little ride is as beautiful as it is fun. The lift offers stunning views of the mountains and the night sky. We loved the star gazing. Since you are above the action it is really great for all ages. At the bottom of the lift they have Hocus Pocus playing on a big outdoor movie screen, corn hole games, and teepee’s. Definitely our kind of Halloween haunts!

{of course the guy in the gorilla suit came and scared us while we were getting a picture. and of course we screamed and jumped about 10 feet}
4. The general store is pretty much the cutest thing on the planet. They have so many fun local products, it is really fun to take a look at everything.

5. Handmade Soap & Beauty Products: they make them on site and they smell amazing. Every room is fully stocked with a bunch to choose from.

6. Glass blowing: Sundance brings in world renowned glass blowing artists from Guadalajara, Mexico to create one of a kind pieces. You can even take a glass blowing class at the Sundance Art Studio. They also decorate a lot of the rooms with the hand crafted glass artwork.

7. You can build your own fire in your room. As Sam said “they give you all the supplies, so it is fail proof.” There is nothing quite as cozy as a warm fire on a cold night up the canyon.

8. Location: Sam and Britt went on a canyon run in the morning and said it was absolutely beautiful. Sundance is located on the Alpine Loop and it is stunning. And this is Sam’s go to pose…. if you weren’t already aware, he works out 🙂 We also happened to choose the best weekend of the entire year, it was 78 degrees!

9. Perfectly crunchy and crispy cookies for breakfast. Yes, we sometimes have dessert before we begin our day 🙂 They pair perfectly with a pumpkin steamer or hot chocolate.

10. Canyon drive home

Thanks to Sundance for treating us so well this weekend! It was one we will always remember! If you want more information, you can go to www.sundanceresort.com

Wedding Day Photos!

I have split my wedding photos into two categories: wedding and reception. I love them all! A huge thank you to Travis J Photography for capturing our day. Every time I look at them I am reminded of how lucky Parker and I are to have shared our day with so many supportive family and friends. Thanks again to everyone who helped make it the perfect day! Now onto a fabulous weekend filled with warm weather and a mini getaway!

Twin Tested: New Workout Orange Theory Fitness

Orange Theory Fitness has made its way to Utah! It’s the only workout we know of that focuses on your heart rate to get results. We decided to test it out. Here’s 10 things to know about Orange Theory Fitness: orange theory 2

1. You wear a heart rate monitor during the entire workout

2. The workouts are developed by a team of doctors in Florida.

3. Each workout is 60 minutes.

4. Any skill level can take the classes.

5. The average calorie burn is between 300-600 calories per workout for women. (Brooke and I both burned more than 600!)

6. The workout is split into three parts: treadmill, rowing machine and strength training

7. Everyone’s heart rate is displayed during the entire workout on a big screen in the front of the room.

8. The trainer gives you a “target heart rate” to aim for during each part of class

9. There is fun music and the equipment is brand new.

10. After every workout, you get an email with all of your stats from class (your heart rate, how many calories you burned, etc.)

The first location is at The District. We had so much fun trying out this workout and were so sore in the days that followed. Our favorite part was the rowing machine, because it was something fun and new that definitely made us feel the burn! Tonight is the Grand Opening and they are offering all kinds of great incentives and deals to sign up. If you want to switch up your workout, you should try it out! Everyone that works there is so friendly and really helps motivate you to work your hardest during class. They have classes that range from 5:00am to 8:15pm. For more information, you can go to www.orangetheoryfitness.com or call (801) 758-0500.

We loved it and are definitely going to sign up when the new Salt Lake locations closer to our houses are finished!

Let us know what you think.

Wedding Dress Dilemma

Now that I have officially been married for 3 weeks (yay!) I wanted to post a wedding photo. But before I share the photo I wanted to share my WEDDING DRESS DILEMMA story! My wedding day was truly the best day of my life and everything went perfectly… my dress was the only major hiccup along the way.
So to begin the story, a couple of weeks before Parker and I got engaged I was able to snag a gorgeous Reem Acra gown that had just gone on sale and had the exact bodice and skirt that I was looking for. Thanks to Pinterest I had an idea of what I wanted the top to be built up to look like. I found a seamstress and handed the dress over with pictures and instructions of what I wanted. Here is a picture for the top of the dress from Pinterest that I gave her: STUNNING, right? All of my wildest fashion designer dreams were about to come true! (And no I never wanted to wear pants, just that top!)

I went to some fittings for the dress and nothing really changed with the dress over time. Then one day I arrived for my appointment and the top of the dress had been cut off and replaced with a flimsy thin fabric. What the heck? That is when I realized this dress making thing was getting a little fishy. However, I still wanted to give the seamstress the benefit of the doubt so I scheduled another appointment for the next week. As I arrived for my final fitting 3 days before my bridal pictures I walked into the room and saw the top of the dress in shreds. Some {tacky} ribbons had been haphazardly pinned onto the flimsy top and the edges were frayed with no sleeves in sight. This is the moment that I began to panic and hope that some kind of fairy godmother would show up. I immediately went home and showed Britt this picture I had taken during the appointment:

Thankfully she kept me calm and successfully convinced that I would be able to find another dress in 2 days! Little did I know she was also freaking out inside (how could you not be?!?). We were finally able to track the seamstress down after being blown off countless times. Planned out a little tag team approach and left with some cash, but NO DRESS.

This is the point when my fairy godmother/BFF Bailey came to the rescue! She told me she had a friend who bought a few extra wedding gowns for her big day and she thought I might like one of them. So… long story short I went over to the girl’s house to try on the dress and it fit like a glove. It was meant to be and I am so glad! I loved the dress I got to wear and now could not imagine things going any other way. Crazy how things always work out, right?

Here is a sneak peek my photographer Travis J sent me of our wedding day photos of the dress in all it’s poofy glory!

10 Hours in Monaco

As many of you know, my new career goal is to become the Princess of Monaco. It is hands down the dreamiest place I have ever been. It is the second smallest country in the world and the most densely populated. Every inch of Monaco is beautiful. We spent about 10 hours there, so here is my advice for the must-see sites!

Casino Royale

Even if you’ve only seen part of the James Bond Casino Royale movie cuz you fell asleep halfway through and started drooling on your boyfriend’s throw pillow, not to worry, it is still worth a look. It is a stunningly beautiful building. You have to pay 10 Euros to get in and when we went they were giving a private tour, so we just got to see the entrance and lobby areas, which were beautiful! They have a strict dress code you must adhere to if you want to go inside, no shorts or flip flops and a jacket is required in the private rooms.

Harbor

Basically every beautiful yacht on earth is parked in Monaco. We walked around the harbor for about an hour just oohing and ahhing over how lavish they are. They all come with a highly trained crew, which made me think – how much does a yacht captain make? Well, most of them make about $150,000 a year, not including bonuses. Sign me up! Seriously, they were the most amazing boats I have ever seen.

The Grand Prix

We arrived in Monaco 3 days after the Grand Prix had wrapped up. It was awesome because everything was still set up for the big race. We walked along the tiny, windy roads and were amazed at how fast those cars zip through them. The CARS

I am just about the last person on earth to ogle at cars, but in Monaco you are absolutely surrounded by exotic vehicles. I don’t think Honda Civics are allowed… It was fun to see them all zipping by us on the street and of course Sam loved getting some up close views of some super fancy cars. We started counting Bentleys the second we got there, but stopped after we made it to 10 within 10 minutes…

Larvotto Beach

This public beach is similar to Nice in that it is made of tiny pebbles, but they are not as big as the ones in Italy. We could not get over the beautiful clear water. Warning if you go: You will see a lot of boobs! At first, Sam was like oh my gosh did you see those, look at THOSE, but by the end of the day we were actually pretty used to it (and don’t worry mom, I kept my top on :))

Monaco is such a gorgeous place and I can’t recommend it enough. If you go, it is about a 10 minute train ride from Nice, France.

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