Twin Tested

A GRAND 30TH!

When I started thinking about mine and Britt’s 30th birthday I knew I wanted to do something special. Since having babies, Britt and I often talk about the luxury it would be to go to a hotel for one night, no babies, and sleep in our own fluffy beds without worrying about waking up with a baby. I decided I wanted to make this a reality for our birthday, selflessly or not haha! I immediately knew that The Grand America would be the perfect venue to make us feel pampered and doted on for our little getaway. To make things extra special I put a little bug in the staff’s ear that it was our 30th birthday and that I would be surprising Britt. Of course, they came through 1000%!!! We were upgraded to the Executive Suite which is just pure heaven and so spacious. It has been SO hard to keep the getaway a surprise from Britt but it made the moment I told her that much more special! And yes, her eyes glistened a little as she thought about a full night’s sleep in her own quiet room after taking care of a sick baby all week.

To make things even more fun the staff had a personalized chocolate mousse birthday cake waiting for us in the suite! (Go to La Bonne Vie and try it immediately, so decadent and fluffy!)

All-in-all the weekend was picture-perfect.

Here are some insider recommendations for making the most of your weekend stay at The Grand America:

Let the staff know what you are celebrating! They are incredibly accommodating and can point you in the right direction whether that is a spa day or breakfast buffet in the Garden Cafe.
Speaking of the breakfast buffet – don’t miss it! This is fine dining at a really fair price point. You have your choice of everything from cronuts to savory cheese crepes. Being that breakfast is our favorite meal of the day we were in heaven.
Make time to relax by the pool. The gardens surrounding the pool area are manicured to perfection and the setting is ideal for a fun beach read on your Kindle under one of the bungalows. The staff makes you feel extra special by bringing around little snacks every hour or so ranging from frozen grapes to mango smoothies. We also snacked on their queso and pico de gallo dip which we highly recommend. Next time we have a goal to try the gourmet popsicles that are made on-site.
If you are staying without kids or babies check out The Grand Spa. It occupies 4-stories of the hotel and is on a completely different level than any other spa on earth. You can experience the relaxation rooms, 360 waterfall showers, and hot tub area. And once the clock strikes 9 pm the area is strictly 18 and up if you are looking for some peace and quiet.

Whether you are looking for a girlfriends getaway or want to surprise your spouse with a night away this is the place to do it. Thank you to everyone at The Grand for helping us ring in our 30th right! Here’s to the best year yet!

Kortni Jeane Swimmers

While having babies is definitely the most joyful thing we’ve ever experienced, it also throws your body for a loop. Learning to love and appreciate the postpartum body has been a challenge. Both Brooke and I work hard to stay healthy, exercise 5-6 times a week and live a good lifestyle. Even with all of that, some things are just never going to be the same. Facing that and learning to be proud of our bodies for what they accomplished and what they do for us each day has been really life-changing. Our cute swimsuit designer/mogul and friend Kortni Jeane asked us to be part of her #TheKJWomanIsGood campaign to talk about what makes us feel good. We are so honored to be part of something that promotes body positivity no matter your size or stage of life. Although we were hesitant to model swimsuits, it turned out to be a great experience. You can learn more about the campaign here.

Here is the fun video they put together:

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.

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.

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.

Makeup must-haves from our group course

Life is as busy as ever as we forge ahead with some new projects and soak in all the time we can with our baby girls. If you are new to the blog -welcome! We will be posting more regularly and will try to keep everyone updated on what is going on. We post all of our Makeup Monday’s on Instagram, so make sure to check them out each week over there. Group Makeup Classes have been SO MUCH FUN! We have loved meeting so many of you and getting a chance to be a part of your GNO’s.

Since we get a lot of questions after the classes about the products that we use I wanted to create a space where you could find links to all of them! These are all of the essentials that have been tried and tested over the years!

Step 1 Primer:

This is what you want to apply right after your favorite moisturizer. A primer gives makeup something to cling on to and helps your makeup to last longer and crease less. Our go-to right now are either a silicone based primer if you want to fill in fine lines and wrinkles Smashbox Primer or our favorite spray:MAC Prep + Prime Spray

Step 2 Foundation:

Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation is a godsend! It has 4 times the amount of pigment as other foundations meaning it gives full, matte coverage and you only need to use a little amount. Win-win! Highly recommend buying if you have a big event like a wedding or family photos coming up… or just want to look bomb every day!
If you don’t want full coverage and would like something lighter for everyday use we recommend IT Cosmetics CC Cream. It has medium coverage but what we really like about it is the dewy look it gives to your skin.

Step 3 Concealer:

This is for dark spots, under the eyes, and blemishes. Our all-time favorite is IT Cosmetics Bye bye UnderEye. It is waterproof, perfect for a long day at the pool looking flawless!

Step 4 Setting Powder:

This is a nice thin veil over the face to set the foundation and concealer that you have just applied. Our favorite is BECCA Soft Light Blurring Powder. The Ulta brand setting powder is a great cheaper option.

Step 5 Bronzer for contouring:

Our very favorite bronzer in the entire world is Vita Liberata Trystal Minerals Self Bronzing Minerals. Quite a mouthful but this bronzer is worn and raved about by celebrities like Emma Watson for a reason! It is a bronzing self-tanning powder so the color really stays on. It looks good on every skin tone we have ever put it on, we swear its magic! Plus, it comes with a nice fluffy kabuki brush for smooth application. Our second favorite bronzer is pressed powder by NARS.

Step 6 Blush:

NARS The Multiple in Orgasm just can’t be beat. It’s quite affordable considering mine has lasted 2 years! Make sure you get it in the orgasm shade – no product promises haha. We really like using the stick and powder versions. The closest cheaper option we’ve been able to find is L’oreal Infallible Blush Stick.

Step 7 Highlighter:

Becca cosmetics reigns supreme when it comes to making your skin glow. This BECCA highlighting compact is our favorite! A great cheaper highlighter is the Ulta brand.

Step 8 Eyeshadow:

Moving onto eyebrows and eyes you can do a ton with the NAKED palette by Urban Decay. This is what we use to fill in our brows, line our eyes and then apply eyeshadow. Very versatile.

Step 9 Lipstick:

To finish the look our favorite liquid lipstick is by STILA! We recommend the shade “Patina” for everyone! A cheaper option for liquid lipstick is NYX Lipstick Lingerie,

One of the most popular lipstick in class is COLOR CHANGING lipstick. It is by Lipstick Queen. They also sell a cheaper version on Amazon (here). It works the same, but is not as moisturizing.

As for tools, we prefer using IT Cosmetics brushes. We really like this set. Follow along @TwinTested on Instagram for all of the latest beauty tips and monthly challenges. We have some BIG things planned this year and are excited to share them with you!

*there are affiliate links in this article

Twin Tested: Nu Skin ageLOC LumiSpa

Anyone else dealing with terrible skin after having a baby? I feel like with all of the hormones of pregnancy and childbirth, my skin has been through the ringer. I’ve tried a lot of things over the past few months (facials, special treatments, masks, etc.) but have not found anything that really works.

I was thrilled when Nu Skin, a Utah based skincare company, asked if I wanted to test out their new ageLOC LumiSpa. It’s a device that reminds me a lot of a Clarisonic- but better. I had high hopes it would help my skin.

Instead of having a brush on the end, it has textured silicone that moves in different directions to massage the skin. It is super convenient because you can use it in the shower. I was nervous it might hurt, but the device actually turns off automatically if you push too hard against your skin.

My favorite part? The smell of the cleanser & how my face felt afterward

My least favorite part? Having to charge the device. It’s a necessary evil, just a bummer when it runs out of juice.

Does it work? Yes. My skin has been a disaster since I got pregnant and now breastfeeding it is really dry, but also sensitive. This did not agitate my skin, it actually exfoliated and made it feel much more even and soft. And the smell of the cleanser, oh my gosh, I want them to make it in a perfume. It’s so good! It’s definitely a splurge at $199, but that’s also the same price as Clarisonic, and I feel like this works better and will last longer.

The cleansers use Nu Skin’s propriety blend of ageLOC ingredients, the brand’s hero line to target signs of aging, with natural ingredients like Japanese knotweed, pomegranate extract and milk thistle. Another key differentiator, the treatment heads are embedded with antimicrobial silver, for a much more hygienic clean than other brushes on the market. So… I have been using it for a few weeks and am definitely going to keep it in my skincare rotation.

The B&B Makeup Course

One of the most common questions we get is “WHAT MAKEUP DO YOU USE?” After a decade of being on TV, we have tested thousands of products. Over time we have found our tried and true favorites. That is why we are coming together to offer the B & B Makeup Course!!

Here are the details:

– We will be teaching the classes in a group setting

– Every age welcome, from teen girls diving into the makeup world for the first time to seasoned women wanting a more refined look.

– Be ready for a super fun girls night out that will leave you looking glam!

– We come to you! Your house or meeting place.

– The course is 90-minutes long with full makeup application lesson and one-on-one attention.

– Leave with a gift bag of a few of our favorite things!

EARLY BIRD PRICING: $20 per person for the groups that book this week, $45 after that! Email either of us brooke.graham4@gmail.com or brittanygra@gmail.com

*We are NOT affiliated with ANYONE but ourselves. This is the opposite of an MLM. We will NOT be selling you anything. We just want to gather women together for a night of fun and learning!

Hazel Goldy’s 6 month update + nursery must haves

Now that Hazel is 6 months old, I thought I would share a few updates about her so I never forget them. She is at the cutest age where she is so aware of everything going on around her. Here are a few things she is doing at 6 months:

Smiling (nothing is cuter than getting her out of her crib in the morning, she always has the sweetest smile)
Sitting up by herself. She loves to sit on the floor and play with her toys and is getting so close to crawling.
Waving! This is the cutest thing on the planet.
Eating real food! She hasn’t met a food she doesn’t like – even lemons and limes!
Drinking formula and still breastfeeding. I don’t produce quite enough milk for this growing girl, so we supplement with formula.
Giggling. Her dad is the best at making her laugh and there is not a sound I love more in the entire world.

Favorite things

Food of any kind
reading books
holding electric toothbrushes
singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
playing the hand stacking game with her dad

She has brought so much joy into our home. We are amazed at every new thing she does. I had high hopes of having a picture perfect nursery with every nook and cranny decorated, but then real life happened. It’s very simple and plain and I sort of love it that way.

My 3 nursery must-have items are:

A comfortable chair!! We spent a lot on our chair because we knew it needed to be comfortable enough to sleep in. Since the day Hazel was born, we have spent nearly every night in there and we are so glad we splurged on the comfy chair. It is high enough to lean your head back, it rocks and has a foot rest that pops out. We found ours at Babinski’s in Foothill Village.
Washable Changing Pad: Ok this is a topic that is heavily debated. I know most parents want to have pretty changing pads with beautiful fabric, but I love this one. A friend recommended it because it has straps so you don’t have to worry about your baby rolling off, plus you can clean up any bodily fluids easily with one wipe. Ours is the Bumbo brand and we got it at Target.
Soft Rug: I wanted Hazel’s nursery to have a cozy feel and I think that was achieved with the shaggy rug. I found it at Home Goods for $50. It’s by far Sam’s favorite part of the room. He calls it the magic carpet and plays with Haze on it every night before bed.

Of course this is just the beginning of life with our cute baby girl! Any must-have items for ages 6-12 months I should know about?

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