Twin Tested

Big Announcement

We are so excited to announce that we have accepted positions as hosts of Fox 13’s new lifestyle show! We never thought this opportunity would come up in our lives where we would be able to work on something we are both extremely passionate about – and do it together! We feel extremely blessed and could not be more excited to get the show going! We are so grateful to all of our family, friends, and mentors who have been so supportive all along the way. We look forward to working with some fun, new faces. We will be posting details about the show as the launch gets closer. Wish us luck!

Twin Travels: Montage Staycation

We were lucky enough to get little taste of winter this weekend at the Montage. They invited us to bring our husbands up to Park City for a one night stay! The non-stop rain in the valleys made for snow capped mountains in Deer Valley. It honestly felt a little like Christmas. We loved getting the chance to relax and unwind. If you haven’t been to the Montage before here are some fun facts:

Free s’mores every night from 4:30-5:30 around the fire on the patio. These are no ordinary s’mores of course – they make flavored marshmallows daily like peppermint and cinnamon. I loved the delicious hot cocoa that goes with it.
Each guest is greeted by the Montage dogs in the reception area {adorable!}
Thanks to their partnership with Mercedes, guests can drive a Mercedes for a scenic drive or to get around town.
The outdoor pool and hot tubs are open 24/7.
The game room is decked out with a bowling alley, dartboards, shuffleboard, and countless arcade games. We spent a good amount of time in there. Who knew shuffleboard was so fun?

We loved every minute of our stay. When we tried to pin point why we liked it so much we decided it’s because the Montage feels like a big, cozy, beautiful home. Our suite was gorgeous and we are hoping to go back soon! Thanks to everyone at the Deer Valley Montage for such a fun weekend!

So much snow! We seriously could have gone skiing if the lifts were open.

Idiot photographers 🙂

Of course we had a snowball fight and hot cocoa to go with the amazing s’mores

Just reading fancy old leather bound books in the coolest little library

And yes, comfiest beds ever!

Quick Treat: Smores Rice Krispie Treats

After making these 3 times in the last week I decided this recipe was worth sharing. Britt and I are no experts in the field of baking… BUT we are obsessed with treats and like to share recipes when we think they could be beneficial to someone else. There are a few things that make me instantly love this recipe.

1. It takes under 10 minutes to make.

2. You can take it, share it, eat it… or all of the above.

3. No turning on the oven.

I have seen a number of different recipes for these online but just decided to do my own because I am more of a “fly by the seat of my pants” type of baker. They are ridiculously simple, yet a crowd pleaser. My husband regularly requests them as his favorite treat. I took them to a youth group activity and a dozen, hungry teenagers devoured them in minutes. These are especially yummy fresh out of the oven when the marshmallows are lightly browned and ooey gooey!

Smores Rice Krispies

1 bag of mini marshmallows
1 bag of chocolate chips
2 cups of rice krispie cereal
2 cups of Golden Graham’s
4 TBS of butter

Melt butter in pot on medium heat. Slowly add in 3/4 bag of marshmallows. Stir continually until well blended and melted. Take off heat and add rice krispies and Golden Graham’s until desired thickness. Last add 1.5 cups of chocolate chips. Quickly pour into pan. Cover the top with remaining marshmallows and a sprinkle of chocolate chips. Broil in oven for 2 minutes. Voila! You are done!

Interview with ‘A Beautiful Mess’ sisters

Britt and I were lucky enough to interview bombshell sisters Emma & Elsie of ‘A Beautiful Mess’ while they were in Utah for the SNAP Conference. What started out as a bakery and vintage clothes shop for the sisters has turned into a hugely successful company and brand. The two could not have been sweeter. And they don’t try to… but they just ooze cool vibes.

Here is our quick interview with them:

Q: Why are you guys in Utah?

Elsie: We are in town speaking at the Snap Conference about being creative

Q: If you go online and see a new trend, you guys are the trendsetters and probably started it. What do you guys think is next?

Elsie: My favorite trend is the color blush. It is what I want to buy for my clothing, paint my walls, just everything.

Emma: I do a lot of cooking and recipe development at our site so I am really excited about different flavors for spring like lavender, lately I have been putting lavender in everything. Drinks, brownies, everything.

Q: You guys are sisters, we are sisters. How do you guys get along?

Elsie: It’s really bad. No (laughing) we love each other. We are normal people so we have little fights and stuff but we have really open communication and also, I mean – we’re best friends.

Emma: We have different strengths and weaknesses, you guys might be the same I don’t know, so we try to kind of focus in on “oh Elsie is really good in this area so I’m going to let her make the decision” and not try to be the leader all the time. I think that helps us kind of come together and make projects happen.

Q: For the people that are not familiar with your website you guys also have 2 great books. What can people expect to find in those?

Elsie: The first one is called “A Beautiful Mess: Photo Idea Book”. That is where we give tips for photography and it is just kind of a kickstarter for creativity.

Emma: And the second one is called “A Beautiful Mess: Happy, Handmade Home”. We have a thing for long titles, right? (laughs) That one is all about home decor and how to make your space feel more like you, adding personality and color all over your home. And we share our houses in the book.

Britt: Which are so beautiful!

After the interview the sisters told us they are tentatively working towards a TV show and may release a new app soon. Over achievers! We loved meeting them and look forward to following all their adventures.

The 3 Caribbean Islands You Should Visit

Parker and I were lucky enough to go on a Caribbean cruise with the entire Hackett clan. My mother-in-law Linda was nice enough to give us the trip for Christmas, so we have anxiously been waiting since then! The islands we visited were all so beautiful – yet so different from one another. Although I absolutely loved every minute, I had a few favorites along the way that I wanted to share.

Puerto Rico: It was my second time in Puerto Rico and the more time I spend there, the more I love it. The city of Old San Juan has colorful buildings and tiny cobblestone streets with a European feel. We spent a day exploring the old fort and finding the most divine burger place that puts mini fries ON your burger!

Dominica: A tiny, non-commercialized island. We made a surprise stop there and it might have been my favorite place. The island has waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanoes so there is a ton to see! It’s incredible to be walking through the jungle and feel like you are in Jurassic Park.

St. Maarten: I loved the Dutch and French influences on the island. This was definitely the most developed and affluent island. The shopping is great with little cafes that offer gelato and crepes. We spent most of our time at Maho Beach where planes land right behind you. Perfect photo op!

How to Stop Fighting With Your Spouse in Bed

We both pretty much scored the jackpot when it comes to husbands. We have some pretty crazy sleep habits and they are the kind hearted people that have to deal with them.

Here are a couple of things we have learned since getting married and learning how to share a bed:

1. Make it comfortable. We grew up sleeping in twin beds til college, so anything bigger than that always feels huge. This is not the same for our husbands, who are both pretty tall. One thing they both agree on is the fewer pillows the better and comfy sheets are critical. We were both given bamboo sheets recently. They are a GAME CHANGER! So soft, yet silky and breathable all at the same time. Our girlfriends have been telling us about them for a while, we were a little skeptical because we didn’t understand the magic of bamboo. Now that Spring is here they are seriously perfect for warmer nights. They actually stay cool the entire night so you never wake up sweating, it’s gross but true! Ours are from Cariloha and we are obsessed.

2. Watch out for sleep walkers! Britt and I have been sleep walkers since we were young, crazy I know. Instead of growing out of it, we still sleep walk regularly. It usually involves getting in the shower, doing our hair & makeup, or eating breakfast in the middle of the night. It is extremely odd but a little bit hilarious too. I’m sure you can imagine how thrilled our husbands were to first find us eating breakfast at 2am or changing into our work clothes shortly after midnight 🙂 Over the years we have found that stress and sleep deprivation are the main triggers. Now we try to control both of those things to avoid sleep walking in middle of the night and scaring our husbands to death.

3. Snoring=the sad realization that we are turning into our parents! A little nudge or in desperate times plugging each other’s noses work like a charm.

4. Cold feet. This is the number one reason to get married, so that you have someone to warm you up ha! I sometimes am guilty of putting my cold feet on Parker’s warm legs. Oops. He is a good sport and always warms me up, but I do need to reach for some socks more often!

5. Make the bed. We have a rule that whoever gets out of the bed last makes the bed. Since we are both more of early risers than our husbands – it works out perfectly.

What are the tips and tricks you use for staying happy in bed?

Just Ask: Jessica of Alice Lane Home Collection

Alice-Lane-Home-Collection-Jessica-Bennett-Photo-by-Matthew-Mead-682x1024

image via alicelanehome.com

We are starting a new series here on Twin Tested called “Just Ask” where we chat with women we admire and ask them a few questions. We adore Jessica from Alice Lane and decided to chat with her for our inaugural post! Over the past 10 years she has created a design and brand that is respected worldwide. If you haven’t ever been in the store or seen her work, check it out. Jessica is one of the most humble, down to earth, and helpful people around! Read more about her incredible story here.

We went to her with our top 3 design questions that have come up since we both got married because we all know decorating your house changes when you throw a boy into the mix!

Q: How do you successfully combine feminine and masculine looks?

A: Whenever you get something feminine, temper it with something masculine. For example, if you get something peachy then get something black to juxtapose it. Or if you buy a tufted headboard then go with straight angular nightstands to create balance. Then point it out to your husband so that he can see that you are incorporating straight, architectural pieces.

Q: How do you successfully create a bed that the two of you both will like the look and feel of?

A: Scale is important. Go big, not tiny, when it comes to the pillows. When you have 11, small, decorative pillows it starts to look knick knacky. Instead, lay 2 or 3 big Euro pillows across the bed with one smaller statement pillow in front.

Q: What is the best way for couples to compromise?

A: Choose a livable look for your home. Something comfortable and usable. Make sure you can live with it day-to-day and your not just going to get things out when guests come over.

Girls Staycation at Hotel Monaco

This weekend we took a little breather from real life and gathered up a bunch of our best friends for a night together in SLC. The best thing about this group of girls is that they are all from different phases and places in our life, which made for some really fun conversations! We started our night at Settebello with some gelato (dessert first of course) and then had the delish pizza. Hotel Monaco was our destination of choice. The boutique hotel is gorgeous and right in middle of town. We had way too much fun and because there is way too much to write about I have bulleted out the highlights!

We got to stay in the penthouse suite on the 14th floor!!!
Monaco set us up with the most adorable Italian soda bar in our suite, aka best party idea ever, they were soooo yummy.
We were given our first selfie stick, oh my goodness bad idea! Hours of entertainment.
They have complimentary bikes at the hotel. Awesome! You can jet around downtown without having to worry about finding a parking spot.
All pets are welcome with no extra fees. If you don’t have one, they let you “rent” a goldfish for the night. So fun! (they gave us two that were twins!)
There is a complete yoga mat set in every room that is complimentary. Love this, especially because Parker and I have started doing yoga together once a week!
We stayed up way later than 10:30 pm which was impressive.
Students in interior design stop at the hotel frequently for field trips because the rooms are incredible, i.e. fur throws, geometric carpet prints, etc.
The hotel gave each of us girls a lush lip balm and cute nail polish, plus we all loved wearing the amazing animal print robes that come in every room!
We honestly laughed until we cried and our cheeks hurt. Girl’s nights are so good for the soul, thanks to all of our lovely friends for coming and making it such a fun night!

Huge thank you to the Hotel Monaco for showing us such an incredible time! Yay for a successful girls night! xo

Salt Lake Magazine Feature

We are so flattered to be featured in the latest edition of Salt Lake magazine. We were legitimately surprised they wanted to talk to us, but it turned out to be such a fun experience! We met the reporter at the Rose Establishment in downtown Salt Lake City and did something we’re very good at… chatted about ourselves for a good hour. He somehow turned all of our mumbo jumbo into a really nice article. Then, we did a photo shoot at the station. Of course we’re wearing sparkles and sitting on the anchor desk… that just seemed like the right thing to do. Thanks to everyone at Salt Lake magazine for thinking of us, it really means a lot!

You can read the full article HERE (We love that the title of the article is “Stunt Double”

(Brooke’s outfit: top & skirt from Anthropologie Brittany’s outfit: top from Anthropologie, skirt from Mindy Mae’s Market)

What Happened When My Husband Dressed Me

Have you ever asked yourself the question, what would happen if I let my husband pick out my outfit? We loved the recent feature Summer Bellessa did titled, “My Toddler Dressed Me”, where she let her toddler pick out her clothes for a week. We decided to put a spin on it and see what would happen if we left the decision making to our husbands! They are always saying they could pick out great outfits for us, so we decided to put them to the test. The Outlets at Traverse Mountain were nice enough to give each of the boys $150 to spend at any store they wished. We knew we were in a safe place because the Outlets have our top 3 faves: J Crew, Loft, and H&M! Photographer extraordinaire Travis Richardson joined us for the adventure. It helps that our husbands both think he is awesome and that he makes them feel comfortable in front of the camera! If we are being honest, Britt thought she would end up in a button-down shirt and cardigan, while Brooke was pretty sure Parker would go for a full Nike sweatsuit look.

Luckily, their choices weren’t quite that extreme but we did learn a few things about our husbands:

They do not like pointy stilettos.
They prefer more casual looks.
Instead of the newest trends in denim, the boys love the classic colors and cuts.
They do not go for lace, embroidery, embellishments, or sparkle.
Sensible flats are the name of the game.

Overall, it was a really fun experience to see their perspective and learn what they prefer to see us in. Once we made it clear Victoria’s Secret was not an option the guys had a lot of fun. We didn’t correct any of their choices and truly just let them pick things they liked… it was kind of hard to hold our tongues! (Like when I was trying on furry scarves and leather pants). However, we think this definitely calls for a Part 2… “This is what happened when my wife dressed me.”… to be continued!

Here are our BEFORE looks. Typical work outfits for both of us: Brooke in a dress and me in patterned pants, fitted jacket, and heels.

Nothing more confusing than trying to find a pair of cute women’s shoes! I saw this look on his face quite a bit during our shopping adventure…

Parker went straight for the flats, no high heels in sight.

This is my face thinking about the last time I wore faux leather pants in 7th grade. One word comes to mind: sticky

Cute on him maybe? In a snowstorm? Maybe just Antarctica?

This is me realizing these leather pants would actually be perfect for a Sandy from Grease Halloween costume.

Another moment of enlightenment, Parker loves Duchess Kate Middleton’s style, striped tee-shirts, Keds and fitted trench coats! His taste could be much worse so I didn’t mind!

This is a capture of Parker looking on Pinterest for some last minute fashion inspiration… jk he was checking ESPN.

Our outfit details: Brooke is wearing a striped shirt from J Crew, her new favorite dark wash jeans from Loft, a trench coat from H&M and shoes from H&M. Britt is wearing a floral top from J Crew, jeans from H&M and silver flats from H&M.

Huge thanks to the Outlets at Traverse Mountain for letting us do this experiment on their turf! If you want to do the same thing with your husband, post using the hashtag #MyHusbandDressedMe so we can feature some of our favorites!

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What Happened When My Husband Dressed Me

Luckily, their choices weren’t quite that extreme but we did learn a few things about our husbands:

They do not like pointy stilettos.

They prefer more casual looks.

Instead of the newest trends in denim, the boys love the classic colors and cuts.

They do not go for lace, embroidery, embellishments, or sparkle.

Sensible flats are the name of the game.