Twin Tested

How to redeem your weekend when you miss your flight to Cancun

On Wednesday morning at 2:00 am Parker rolled over in bed and said, “this isn’t good” the details after that moment don’t need to be shared but I soon realized that we would not be boarding our flight to Cancun at 9:00 am that morning. Not that it was the end of the world, but we had been looking forward to the trip for the past three months…

After getting Parker some medicine for his sudden case of the stomach flu, I started the cancellation process. Talk about depressing! However, after it was all said and done I decided I couldn’t let our entire week go to waste. Grand America to the rescue! I have always loved The Grand but it is especially convenient when you need a last minute escape. We have stayed at the hotel before but this time was special because we got to bring our little lady. Here are some insider tips we found out during our stay:

Upon check-in, they gave us a special token for Lila to use at the Jou Jou toy store. When you enter the store and redeem your token your child gets to pick out a new toy! Lila got a little, stuffed fox and absolutely loves it, it’s pretty cute.
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies in the check-in area. Maybe my very favorite thing about The Grand. The cookies are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfection.
Tell them your story. If you are staying for an anniversary or special occasion or like us – need a last minute escape, they will make it special. When we entered our room they had set out a dessert platter with an eclair, creme brulee, chocolate cake, and cheesecake because they wanted us to feel special even though we didn’t make it to Mexico.
They have a program called Family First where they totally take care of you if you bring your littles along. They supplied us with a crib, rocking chair, and diaper genie in our room upon arrival. Talk about amazing!
The pool and spa area are incredible. It was fun to take Lila for her first ever swim in a pool. However, if you are there for a romantic escape make sure to go to the pool between 9-10 pm when it is adults only.
My very favorite treat at the grand is the Salted Carmel Bread Pudding. Even if you are not staying at the hotel you need to pick some up at La Bonne Vie. I took some to go and one order is plenty to share between two people. Bonus = it is only $4.50!

Now it is time to start planning a trip we can take in the next two months. All suggestions welcome and appreciated! We loved our stay at the Grand and I am so glad we were able to spend time together as a family!

Travel Guide for Oceanside, California

We were lucky enough to be able to travel to Oceanside, California for a work trip. We decided to make it a real party and bring our babies, our mom and Brooke’s mother-in-law, Linda. The grandmas were angels and watched the babies while we shot segments all day. We’ve traveled to Oceanside before, and it’s always been a family favorite beach spot. It was extra fun to introduce our babies to such a beautiful place! If you’re not familiar with Oceanside, it is the quaint beach town situated between Los Angeles and San Diego. The great thing about Oceanside is that it has such a laid-back, local and beachy vibe. We loved our time there and plan to go back soon!

What to Do:

Helicopter Tour: by far the most amazing thing we did! It was so neat to see the California coast from the sky at sunset. I felt like Brooke and I were on a Bachelor group date with our photographer and pilot haha. It was magical. You can get more information about Waverider Helicopter Tours here.
Dolphin & Whale Watching Boat Tour: it’s so nice to get out on the water. This is perfect for any age. We saw sweeping coastal views and beautiful water on our tour, but the definite highlight was the gorgeous dolphins that played right next to our boat. It was also neat to get a little information about the sights and animals we were seeing from the Captain of the boat. You can get more information on Oceanside Whale Watching Tours here.
SURFING Lessons: Ahhhh! I was terrified. Brooke spent a summer living in Hawaii in college, where she took many surfing lessons and learned to really like it. I have only had one previous lesson from my brother and his friend a few years back. It didn’t end well – as in I mooned my brother’s friend while trying to stand up on the surfboard!! I know. Sad. We got a surf lesson from the Hemsworth’s American brother. He was the greatest. He pushed us on our boards and helped us both get up multiple times on the surfboards. The cold California water scared me, but wearing a wetsuit I honestly didn’t even notice it. I definitely want to try it again. We went with Whitlock Surf Experience and they were amazing. Not only do they teach lessons, they also have a surf factory and print shop. You can find out more here.

What to Eat

Local Tap House & Kitchen: my favorite meal of the trip. Fresh and delicious. My hosts in Oceanside convinced me to try the quinoa burger and it was delicious. Everything we tried was good and the chef is constantly changing the menu. If you’re looking for a late night snack, you can stop by for a gourmet hot dog.
Oceanside Sunset Market: the town hosts this awesome street fair every Thursday night. They close down several streets to host food vendors, crafters, local artisans and musicians. We ate some of the best food of the trip here. Food vendors are put through a very strict vetting process before they are allowed to sell there. They must produce high-quality food that you can’t find anywhere else. This creates the most unique, fun atmosphere with some absolutely incredible chefs. If you go, make sure to try the salmon, authentic Belgian frites and homemade carmels. We ended our night with a horse-drawn carriage ride around town for wait for it… $5!
The Flying Pig: locally owned and operated farm to table restaurant. The owner coined the name flip flop fine dining. That’s exactly what it is. Great food with a casual vibe. Another huge bonus – it’s family friendly! The homemade pasta is to die for.

Where to Stay:

We stayed at the Marriott Springhill Suites. It sits right on the beach in the middle of everything so you can walk most places, plus has a great free breakfast every morning.
Our friends at Visit Oceanside set up our trip itinerary and it was perfect. If you need any help planning your trip or finding discount tickets, go here.

(the prettiest harbor! Lots of fun to kayak/paddle board on the calm water here)(the prettest whiteside dolphins. they were huge!) (lots of pretty palms in Oceanside) (Joanna Gaines would love Apotheque – the cutest shop/spa in a historic building)

Observations of service

A random act of kindess usually entails anonymity. However, I was asked to participate in the #lighttheworld challenge and agreed to share my experience. My specific assignment was to do an act of service that lines up with the scripture “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat.” (Day 21). As I was thinking of a service project to do my mother-in-law immediately came to mind. She volunteers weekly at the Youth Detention Center and often feeds homeless youth downtown. I asked her if we could set aside a night to serve dinner to at-risk and homeless youth downtown during the month of December. She agreed and prepared a hot meal made up of delicious orange chicken, rice, green salad, rolls, and gingerbread cookies. I should also mention that she made enough for 50 PEOPLE all by herself. This is not her first rodeo and she did it all without breaking a sweat. She has fed this specific group at the Volunteers of America Resource Center many times and was able to lead our group through the necessary steps. I want to share a few of my observations throughout the night. But before I do, here is a little background about the center. They offer emergency shelter beds, 24/7 assistance, 3 meals a day, and free legal services to 15 to 22 year olds in the community. Overall they are able to help around 800 at-risk teens every year. The facility is clean, tidy, and provides the kids with a safe, warm place to stay.

A few observations:

As we unpacked the dinner in their kitchen I found myself wondering what it would be like to have to rely on strangers for your next meal.
As an angsty teenager I was allowed to make mistakes and be forgiven by loving parents. Where were these kids’ parents? Did they know where they were or what they were going through?
These kids were once babies, just like my little Lila, that depend on parents to nurture and help them. I need to take my role as mother seriously and make the most of my opportunities to teach Lila what matters most.
These kids are fighters who are battling the world on their own and doing the best they can.
These kids are brave and polite. The vast majority offered thanks for their warm meal and polite small talk.
My breath caught in my throat when I asked one of the teenage girls how old her pretty baby girl was that she was lugging along in her car seat and she responded “3 months”, the exact same age as my Lila. This little baby did not have grandparents, aunts, and uncles doting on her every move and smile. Why was I so lucky to have a loving support system in my life? Do I take it for granted sometimes?
My attempts at eye contact and small talk felt very inconsequential to these kids that are facing unthinkable troubles in their lives. But at the very least I wanted to treat them with dignity and respect.
I hope they know that each of them matter.
God loves us all the same. No matter if you are rich or poor. I think of what Pres. Uchtdorf said in the Christmas devotional. There is no shame in being poor. Remember that the Savior of the World was born in a stable and laid in a manger “because there was no room for [Him] in the inn.”⁵

He went on to say, “Even if all we have is a handful of crumbs, we gladly share them with those in emotional, spiritual, or temporal need as an expression of our gratitude for the divine feast God has prepared for us.”

So December 21st is the day to “feed the hungry”, lets all find a way to participate big or small and light the world!

A few things that are helping me survive the “4th Trimester”

{newborn photos by the wonderful Meg Turley}

First things first, I just have to say being a mom is the best! I feel so lucky to have sweet Lila here and every day gets more fun as she continues to grow and change. And obviously nothing beats baby snuggles all day long. That being said, the “4th Trimester” is very real and has been an interesting process. Women’s bodies are incredibly resilient, but there are definitely some things that have made a world of difference that I wanted to share with you.

Grandmas: Lucky for us both Lila’s grandmas live within 5 minutes. That means they visit often – especially after sleepless nights. Aside from holding and loving Lila they have offered much needed encouragement through these first few weeks of her life. I truly don’t think I would have made it through the first two weeks without them.
A husband that is your equal partner in parenting. Parker wakes up at night with Lila just as much as I do (we switch off every other night), he changes diapers, knows how to give her a bath without having her squirm out of his arms, and sings her to sleep. He has kept his same calm demeanor throughout everything which has definitely been a blessing since this momma’s hormones went a little bonkers those first couple of weeks.(cue the tears) Suffice it to say I am so grateful for Parker.
A baby wrap. I spent the first 3 weeks trying to do everything with one hand because the little lady demands that she is held at all times. Bless the heavens above for baby wraps! She fits into it snug as a bug and I have both of my hands back so I can at least brush my teeth! Parker even wore her in it this week while he aerated our lawn! #bestdad
A stroller. It doesn’t have to be a fancy one. Just something that can get you both outside for some fresh air. This has been so important for my mental health during this process. Those good vibes get flowing when you have some sunshine on your face and wind in your hair.
Minky Couture Baby Blanket. Now that the temps are dropping I am always worried that baby girl is cold. I take this blanket on all of our outings because it is small enough to wrap around her in the car seat or to have in the diaper bag just in case. And we all know that nothing tops the softness of a Minky!
Caring friends. I cannot even count how many kind friends have stopped by with dinner, a treat, or flowers. The visits have buoyed us up on some bleery eyed, exhausted days. They have made me want to be a better friend and neighbor. And yes, I cry just thinking about all of them and how much love we have felt.
The Boppy makes middle of the night feedings much more manageable thanks to the support it gives to you and baby. This is the one that I have. I also feel like it helps with back support and posture. My husband also uses it for middle of the night bottle feedings and gives it two thumbs up.
Lanolin for the nips and lips! I love the nipple cream but this lip gloss is seriously the bomb. Both heal dry, cracked skin super fast.
Belly Bandit products. I faithfully wore my wrap the first couple of weeks after delivery and it definitely made my body feel put back together again by holding everything in. It is a great precursor to a corset because it has a velcro closure which helps when your body is drastically changing in size those first few days and it is so easy to put on. I also highly recommend their shirts and dresses that are made of the most buttery soft fabric. This is the shirt I wore home from the hospital and bonus -it’s nursing friendly!
Bellefit corset. After the first few weeks I transitioned to the corset which is a total confidence booster! It helps you get back into your old clothes and have a defined waist again. This is my favorite one. I can honestly say I plan to wear it faithfully for the next six months because I love it so much.

I have so much respect for all of the parents out there! I am all for products that make it easier to take care of your little ones. If you have any recommendations let me know so we can all help each other!

Introducing Hazel Goldy Haslam

Our baby girl is finally here! She was born on August 27 at 4:53 AM. I went into the hospital on Saturday, August 26 (which was the day after my due date) because I was not feeling her move. I figured I would get sent home so Sam and I both went in gym clothes. Well after 90 minutes of monitoring, the doctors and nurses told me I was going to have the baby that day. All plans of being freshly showered and looking decent were happily thrown out the window. After being in labor for about 14 hours, she made her grand entrance. There are no words to describe the moment when Sam and I got to see her for the first time. It was so special. She weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. and has continued gaining weight since then and is nearly ten pounds! We never imagined we could love something so tiny so much. So far, the large majority of people think she looks like Sam and I have to agree. We stare at her all day long and can’t imagine life without her.

A few things that are helping us survive the 3rd trimester

The third trimester of pregnancy is no joke – shout out to all the mamas out there that go through it without complaining! With only a few weeks to go, we are both battling swollen feet, sleepless nights, and moments of pure exhaustion. However, in the midst of all this, we are loving seeing family and friends at baby showers, prepping our nurseries, and getting ready to meet these little humans! Here are a few things that are making us feel happy right now:

MAC Concealer: Pregnancy has been a bit of a curve ball when it comes to my complexion. Thankfully this concealer is a WINNER! It is not greasy and stays put all day long. The very best part is that it is now carried at Ulta which is nice and convenient since there is one just down the street from my house. You can find it here.
Homemade Ice Cream: Instead of a birthday cake I requested homemade chocolate marshmallow ice cream from my mom. She has an ice cream maker that is old school, at least 30 years old, and makes THE CREAMIEST ice cream! Here is the recipe she uses.
DryBar Flexible Hold Hairspray: Now that I am moving into mom territory I anticipate not having too much free time to do my hair in the beginning. This stuff keeps my curls looking good for multiple days in a row. Plus, it totally doubles as a perfume in my book because it smells really good. You can find it here.
An everything bag that fits all my stuff: Rosemary Card, of QNOOR, gifted me this gorgeous leather bag for the baby and I immediately fell in love. The leather is really supple and the gorgeous caramel neutral color works with everything. Quite possibly the prettiest diaper bag of all time!
Tassel Earrings: it’s only fun to shop for three things right now – sunglasses, earrings and makeup – because they are the only things that still fit! I got bright purple tassel earrings from JCrew and have been wearing them probably a little too often, but it’s because they make it look like I sort of tried when paired with any outfit. Here are some that are similar.

The countdown is on! Here’s to a few more weeks of waddling 🙂

Britt & Sam Maternity Photos

Sam and I were hesitant to get maternity photos taken just because it seemed kind of indulgent to take them before the baby is here, but now we are so glad we did. Although I feel the least glamorous I ever have, I’m sure I will look back and be happy to remember this time of life. In more exciting news, only one month until we get to meet this baby girl! Here are a few of my favorites from our session with Meg Turley.

3 Tricks for Tired Eyes

Everyone tells you how uncomfortable you are going to get in the third trimester, but you don’t get it until it actually starts happening! Both of us are learning to survive on a little less sleep these days (don’t worry we know, we are just getting started on that journey!). We’ve found three things that have helped a little bit in the quest to look awake on television every day 🙂

Skyn Iceland Undereye Firming Gels $30 for a pack of 8 pairs, Ulta Beauty

These feel better than 100 frozen cucumbers on your eyelids. These little gel pads are great because they actually work. Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes, then place them on your eyes and rejoice because it feels cooling, relaxing, and moisturizing all at once! We have used these for several years and always go back to them after a long night or when we just want to feel a little bit pampered. Hint: husbands love to use them too 🙂

Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil $18 Ulta Beauty

This is one we learned about while getting our makeup done in Los Angeles before the Grammy Awards several years ago. The makeup artist told us she liked to use it in the waterline above the lower eyelashes to brighten up the eye. Try it yourself and you will see how much it opens up the eye and makes you look more awake. We’ve both had ours for about three years, so they last forever. I like the color of Base 1 the best for my skin tone.

(thank you internet for this creepy, but helpful waterline image if you’re wondering where to apply the pencil)

Eye drops (Visine Redness Relief, $5 on Amazon)

It sounds dumb, but these actually help a ton. We both use these on days when our eyes either feel dry and achy or just look a little tired and bloodshot.

I think it’s time for a nap 🙂

Dressing the (growing) bump

Pregnancy as a first-timer has so many surprises. One of the most exciting things happened a couple of months ago when I felt the baby really kick for the first time. It is such a relief to feel a baby moving around in there! Something that has caught me off guard a bit is that my body is changing every.single.day. My bump grows at random rates and my chest just keeps expanding. I wake up not really knowing what clothing items will fit. This has made getting dressed tricky – especially because I have to look semi-presentable Monday through Friday on the show. Thank goodness for dresses! They are now my go-to. From flowy to more bodycon styles it is so nice to have something that is stretchy without a waistband! All waistbands are now my enemy. I abhor anything that feels tight and constricting. Some maternity clothes out there make you feel bigger and more pregnant than you are however I have found a few winners that I wanted to share! When you find a good thing you should share it, right?Thank goodness for Seraphine Maternity! I knew about this brand thanks to Princess Kate. She wore the brand during her pregnancies with George and Charlotte and always looked FLAWLESS. After hopping on the website I was pleased to find the exact dress she wore was available in a variety of colors and prints. Being the good sister that I am I talked Britt into getting one as well 🙂 She settled on the magenta, I went with the mint print. We both love the dress because it flows and can be worn during pregnancy and after! As for the black printed maxi, it is by far Britt’s most complimented pregnancy outfit. I went with the red dress because I needed a piece that was a little more dressed up and could flow through all the different stages of pregnancy.

5 things learned in 5 years of marriage

Celebrating 5 years of marriage is a big deal! Ok not that big of a deal when I consider my parents have been married for 35 and my grandparents were all married for more than 50. We’ve got a long way to go, but we have learned a lot these past few years. Sam and I have been together for nearly a decade – we met in high school and started dating in college. I’ve grown so much since we got married. I thought it would be nice to share a few things I’ve learned. Read on if you would like!

Try and do one kind thing every day. This sounds simple and it really, really is. Trying to be a perfect wife is overwhelming and frankly impossible, so I try to do this instead. It’s as easy as it sounds, I pick something each day that I think would make Sam happy and I do it. These are ridiculous things like making the bed, making a Costco run, or making evening plans I know he will enjoy. He is WAY better at this than I am and has taught me what it really means to be thoughtful.
Celebrate the small stuff. I notice we get little happy bursts when we celebrate small accomplishments or events. Whether someone got a raise or a really great golf score, we try to celebrate.
You can’t say I love you too much. I never tire of hearing it. I think it’s so important to let Sam know I love him every single day and he does the same for me.
Marry the guy that will do all of the jobs you don’t want to. This sounds terrible, but it’s true. Sam is much more responsible than I am. He keeps our finances in check because I hate dealing with numbers (hello journalism degree!), he keeps our yard looking nice and always does the dishes and takes out the garbage because he knows I hate those chores. He never complains about doing any of these things and I think we balance each other out quite nicely, even if my only addition is the fact that I’m kind of good at baking 🙂
Enjoy every stage. Our relationship now is much different than it was five years ago. We are a bit more grounded, but also much more deeply in love. We’ve gone through lots of stages – The Honeymoon Stage – The College Graduation/Searching for Real Life Jobs Stage – The New Homeowner Stage – and now, the Pre-baby Stage! All of them have been so fun to experience together. It’s crazy to think I’m now having a baby with the boy I’ve loved since I was 19. I feel so lucky to experience life with Sam and I think this next stage of parenthood will quite possibly be the best one yet!

(thank you internet for this creepy, but helpful waterline image if you’re wondering where to apply the pencil)

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