Friday Pick Six: 4/28/17

Here's what we're loving and living for this week!

1.  Our friends (and yours) the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate their 6th anniversary tomorrow.  We remember their gorgeous wedding like it was yesterday!  Yes, we got up early to watch and you'd better believe we had champagne and a cake.  If you want to relive the fabulousness, check out this classic post from Go Fug Yourself with all the royal fashion and romance you can stand.  Speaking of which, if you haven't read their book, The Royal We, it's a perfect beach read!  Finally, if you have three hours to spare, pop some champagne and watch the Royal Wedding in its entirety and thank us later!

2.  If you're looking for something to watch this weekend, the new season of Catastrophe returns to Amazon today.  This show is about an American guy and British gal who find themselves who started off their relationship with a positive pregnancy test after a one-night-stand.  Stars Sharon Hogan and Rob Delany are charming, funny and sad all in the same episode.  Binge-watch the first two seasons to get caught up first!

3.  Now that spring is finally here, it's Rose' season around these parts.  We love to drink this summertime staple as is, but we are looking forward to trying it FROZEN (or Froze'...get it?) this summer.  This recipe looks fool-proof!  We will definitely be drinking this on the deck or by the (baby) pool this summer.

4. Do you guys know about Millennial Pink?  Apparently, it's the name for the popular tone of pink (think blush) that's been so popular in fashion lately.  We love it, but it can be a tricky color to wear in large doses.  This article gives some great tips on how to sport it, even if you weren't born in the 90's. We love incorporating it with beauty products, like this great nail polish.

5.  I've been looking for comfortable capris for running that don't slip down while I'm on a jog.  I think I've finally found them in the Go-Dry High Rise Compression Crops from Old Navy.  They do have a fair amount of compression (sort of a Spanx-like feel) but I liked that support while I was running.  The high-waist gives me nice coverage while moving around with no slippage.  Lucky for us, they also come in a variety of patterns and colors, although I went classic with this subtle black dot pattern.--J

6.  We are totally digging Cold Brew Coffee these days.  Now that the weather is warmer, we need an alternative to our usual latte and these always hit the spot.  Our favorite is the Vanilla Sweet Cream  Cold Brew at Starbucks!  It's just as delicious as it looks!

What are you loving this week?  Let us know in the comments and have a great weekend!

At-Home Happy Hour

One of our favorite things to do is to have Happy Hour on Fridays.  We love catching up after the long work week and celebrating the weekend.  We used to go to Happy Hour at our favorite local bar each week, but that became a little harder after Jess had a kiddo.  We decided that sticking around home while enjoying cocktails and snacks was not only easier, but much more cost-effective.  Here are our favorite Happy Hour hosting tips!

• Keep the guest list low key:  One of the best things about Happy Hour is that it's a great way to reconnect with friends after the work week.  The best way to do this is to keep things small and intimate.  This isn't a time to host your entire office or everyone from your Pure Barre class.  Keep the list small (maximum 10 people) so that you can mix and mingle with everyone.  Also, no formal invitations are required.  Group text or Evites are sufficient for something this laid-back.

• Pick a signature cocktail:  Sure, your favorite bar has an extensive collection of cocktail specials, but you don't need a full-bar to have fun at home.  One great option is to mix up a six-pack of beer (or two) at your favorite grocery store.  Many stores sell single bottles that you can add to your own six-pack, so you can offer several different kinds to your guests.  You can also just grab a few bottles of your favorite rose (ours is Charles and Charles) or pick a signature themed cocktail and mix up a batch ahead of time in a big pitcher.  Try this skinny margarita recipe or an old school classic like the Manhattan.  This way, you don't need a giant liquor selection, you're just focusing in on one or two quality bottles of booze.  Your guests will be happy and it's easier on your pocketbook, too.

• Presentation matters: Since you're hosting at home, you want to take a minute to make things a little bit special.  A fast floral decoration tip is to grab one kind of flower or flowers all in the same color (Thanks, Barefoot Contessa) and display it in a simple container.  You can even use a jar or wine glass if you don't have a vase handy.  Also, who wants do dishes after a party?  Hit Target and grab some cute paper plates and plastic cups.  Stick to finger foods so you won't need to worry about utensils.  Also, you can keep a supply of cute or kitchy cocktail napkins on hand so you don't have to run out each time you host.

• Shop and serve smartly: No one wants to come home after a long work week and spend hours slaving away at the stove.  You want to pick a menu that's a combination of things you're going to make and store-bought favorites.  We like incorporating a few heated dishes and a couple of dip/chip/veggie combinations.  Trader Joe's has so many options for appetizers that just need to be heated and served and dips galore.  Anything miniature-sized (mini quiche, mini hot dogs, etc) is always easy to eat while you have a drink in your hand.  Store-bought dip or hummus with pita chips and cut veggies is effort free and a crowd pleaser.  You can easily buy store bought salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips, too (Although we have the best and easiest guacamole recipe ever).  Cheese and crackers are always a hit--try adding sliced pepperoni with some chunks of parmesan for an Italian twist!  

• Don't forget a little something sweet: Even though most folks won't stay too late at a Happy Hour, you might want to have something sweet on hand to finish off the evening.  Again, keeping it as simple as possible, stop by the bakery in your grocery store and grab a few items. Whole Foods always has amazing baked goods that are sold by the slice.  Grab a couple of different things (cheesecake, fruit tart, chocolate mousse cake) and slice them into bited-sized pieces on a pretty serving tray.  Also, who doesn't love a chocolate chip cookie?  No one can tell the difference between homemade and break-and-bake so pick up some pre-made dough and throw them into the oven.  Your kitchen will smell amazing, too!

Do you have any plans to host a Happy Hour at home?  Let us know if you try out any of our tips!

Twins Take on the Holiday: Mother's Day Gift Guide

If your mom is anything like ours, sometime around January, she starts mentioning what she'd like for Mother's Day since it's "coming soon".  As a result, we usually have her present ideas locked up pretty early on.  (Mom, we know you're reading, so NO HINTS!)  We thought we'd do a little gift guide, so that you could start to think about the special lady in your life.  Don't know what to get your mom?  Read on!

For the Fit Mama:

A mom who loves fitness will love some gifts to help her maintain her healthy lifestyle.  Great gifts would be this adorable sweatshirt to throw on before Barre class or some new kicks.  Another great option is a gift card at her favorite gym or studio.

For the New Mommy:

 

A first Mother's Day is a wonderful time for a sentimental, personalized gift.  Jewelry is a nice way to mark this occasion because it can serve as a daily reminder of how special it is to be a mom.  You can also represent her children with names or birthstones, too.  There are so many great personalization options at Three Sisters Jewelry.  Fun fact--Jess wears one of their necklaces daily that was a new mom gift from Ry!  Birthstone jewelry is also a great idea and has been updated a lot since those outdated rings that our Grandmas used to wear.  We love simple rings from Jennifer Meyer and Helen Ficalora that can be worn alone or stacked together (We wear both).

For the Foodie Mom:

If your mom loves to cook, grab a new kitchen gadget or cookbook. We bought our mom a Keurig coffeemaker a few years back and she still uses it everyday!  How great is this one in Jess's favorite color?  We both have this cookbook from the fantastic Deb at Smitten Kitchen and the photos and recipes are to die for!

For the Fashion Forward Mama: 

Splurging on a beautiful bag or some sassy shoes will make this mom smile.  One of Jess's favorite bags is this Longchamp tote.  There's a reason everyone and her mother carries it around.  It's lightweight, washable, holds basically everything and is much chicer than the average diaper bag.  It's a great everyday bag, but we also think a cute cross-body is perfect for a mom-on-the-go.  These go-with-everything sandals are also a great splurge she'll enjoy all summer long!

For Any Mother on Your List:

All moms appreciate a gift that helps them take a little time out for themselves.  We love these cozy pajama sets that come in lots of color options.  Our favorite comfy slippers are currently sold out, but these are awesome, too.

What are you getting for your mom this Mother's Day?  If you're a mom, what are you hoping your kiddos will get for you?  Let us know in the comments below!

Friday Pick-Six: 4/21/17

Here's what we are loving and living for this week!

1.  We've already professed our love of podcasts, but this week's favorite is the Best of Friends podcast.  Friends Krista, Erin and Jamie are super fans of the classic show, Friends (as are we) and they offer their insight and input on each episode.  Listening to this hilarious show reminded us about how great Friends really was!  Could we BE loving this show any more?

2.  Deb from Smitten Kitchen has one of our favorite blogs and Instagram accounts.  She recently featured a photo of these Chocolate Chip Meringues and we decided we need to make them immediately!

3.  One of our weekly-watched shows is Quantico.  This week, we couldn't help but notice the amazing one piece swimsuit worn by the show's gorgeous star, Priyanka Chopra.  Luckily for us (and you), Popsugar sourced it here!  We're not saying this suit will turn you into a supermodel/actress, but you never know...

4.  Are you guys watching Nate and Jeremiah By Design on TLC?  Husbands and interior designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent help out homeowners who are over their heads with their home improvement plans.  We are alternatively horrified and amazed by the transformations Nate and Jeremiah pull off.  Gentlemen, if you're listening, I think Jess has a basement you can work on.

5.  It seems like we are always talking about another great Clinique product, but they really do kill it when it comes to skin care.  My latest fave is the Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser.  Its mousse-like texture wasn't harsh yet removed my makeup easily.  Love!--J

6.  If Heaven does exist, we like to think it's a lot like the Target Dollar Spot.  We are always finding the cutest little toys or adorable holiday decorations there!  This week, Ry hit the jackpot with these festive summer finds!  Run, don't walk to Target and thank us later!

What are you loving this week?  Give us your picks in the comments below!

Spring Sugar Cookies

Hi friends, it's me, Jess.  One of my favorite things to do on a rainy day is bake cookies.  Recently, I decided to make sugar cookies with my little gal when it was too stormy to go outside.  We usually do this only around Christmas time, because sugar cookies require a little more effort than good old Chocolate Chips.  However, I forgot how fun it can be cutting and decorating cookies!  It's not too complicated and creative and you can make seasonal or holiday themed treats!

To get started, you'll want to gather your recipe and ingredients.  There are a lot of great sugar cookie recipes out there, but my favorite one comes from Martha Stewart.  Whatever you choose, you'll want to make sure the recipe does not say "soft sugar cookies" as that dough most likely won't hold its shape enough to roll and cut.

Use real vanilla!  It makes a difference!

After you mix up your dough, make sure you chill it according to the recipe.  This also allows the dough to become firm enough to hold its shape while you cut and bake.  When I'm baking with my kiddo, I usually try to get the dough made up before her nap and then let it chill during nap time.  It's usually plenty of time and gives her something to look forward to post-nap.  

Once you're chilled, it's time to roll that dough out.  I personally prefer a French-style rolling pin without the handles, because it gives you more control.  I have this one and use it all the time.  I also like to roll on a long cutting board instead of my counter because I've found that cookie cutters have scratched my countertop. By all means, if you have a fancier counter than I do, you can skip this.

Now, it's time to cut!  This is where you can get seasonal or holiday themed.  There are so many adorable cookie cutters out there these days available anywhere from Etsy to your local grocery store.    We used these spring theme cutters. In the fall, I use footballs or leaves.  In the winter, of course, it's trees, wreaths and stockings.  Whatever fits your season or mood!

Time for decorating!  When I want something a little fancier, I will bake the cookies as is, and then add a tinted royal icing.  This makes for a pretty, shiny finish and a little added flavor.  However, I have found that toddlers and piping bags don't mix well!  When I'm working with kids, I stick to the basics, so we just use a variety of sprinkles.  If you're sprinkling, do it BEFORE baking. I have found that with a little one, it works best to pour sprinkles into small bowls and distribute them with a small spoon.  This helps get the sprinkles actually onto the cookies, not just on your cookie sheet (and counter, and floor...you get the idea...).

Bake them on a sheet tray (I prefer non-stick), cool and enjoy! 

How easy was that? In a matter of hours, you have delicious, cheerful cookies and you kept your child busy on a rainy day.  That's a #momwin if I ever had one.  Do you like sugar cookies?  Let us know if you give this recipe a try!

Spring Beauty Picks

Since we gave you our Winter Beauty Guide, we thought we would bring you some of the things we love for spring.

1.  Clinique "Chubby Lash" Fattening Mascara: Now, usually, fattening isn't a good thing, but when it comes to our lashes, we'll take it.  If you follow us on Instagram (and you SHOULD, we are @twinstakeon), you may have seen me rocking this on a recent date night.  I received it as a free sample in a Clinique bonus pack and was very impressed.  My lashes are long, but can look a little thin with the wrong mascara.  (Who wants spider eyes?) This gave my lashes volume without getting clumpy or heavy.  I have the "Jumbo Jet" black color but how cool are the teal or navy?--J

2.  True Blue Spa Efferfecent Foot Soak: No matter how well we moisturize, it seems that our feet get dry and cracked over the winter.  This foot soak softens dry skin and smells fantastic.  This stuff dissolves in warm water for a great first step in a spring pedicure.  Soak for a while, scrub off any dry bits, moisturize and you're ready for polish and sandal weather!  This is an old favorite that we think might be getting phased out, so stock up now!

3.  Yes to Coconut Cleansing Wipes: Picture it, you've finished a workout and you need to meet a friend for coffee or pick up your kiddo without time to hit the showers.  If you're anything like us, you find yourself in this type of situation more than you'd like to admit.  We've looked far and wide for a cleansing wipe that helps you clean and smell fresh quickly so you can be on your way (and hopefully hit the shower later!)  These definitely do the trick!  These wipes are paraben-free and compostable!  They are made with real coconut water to cleanse dirt and smell like the best suntan lotion ever.

4.  Essie Gel Couture in Lace Me Up: At the risk of repeating ourselves (again), we have to profess our love for Essie's latest gel couture line.  The colors are perfect for spring and the polish has great staying power.  We are really feeling pastels this year, and this the lightest, brightest pink around.

5.  Philosophy Señorita Margarita Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash: We love a good margarita, so why would a beauty product that smells like a margarita be any different?  We have used these Philosophy "3 in 1" products for years as shower gel and always love the moisture and subtle scents they provide.

6.  Benefit Eye Bright: With everything I have going on (work, family, catching up on Housewives), I rarely get enough sleep.  Lucky for me, this product helps us look as though I've had my beauty rest and then some.  It's a pencil like product that you use in your inner eye and brow bone to make everything a little brighter and lifted looking.  It takes a little finesse to blend properly (check YouTube for some tutorials) but once you have the hang of it, you'll look great!--J

What beauty products do you have your eyes on this spring?  Let us know in the comments below!

Friday Pick-Six: 4/14/17

Here's what we're loving and living for this week!

1.  You guys, Veep is coming back for Season 6 on Sunday and we couldn't be more excited!  We've been Julia Louis-Dreyfuss fans since Seinfeld and she's so funny as Selina Meyer, a clueless politician.  Check out the trailer here and tune in on Sunday, April 16th at 10:30 on HBO.

2.  We've loved John and Sherry at Young House Love forever and how adorable (and easy) is their DIY Easter Egg Tree!  If Ryan's cats and Jess's kid wouldn't knock this baby over, we'd be making this in a heartbeat!

3.  Recently, we were lucky enough to attend a book talk/signing with Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of the wildly popular The Nest.  Cynthia was funny and engaging in person and our evening reminded us of how much we loved this book!  If you haven't read it yet, it's a story about the complicated, dysfunctional relationships between the adult children of the Plumb family.  We also heard that it's been optioned for a movie, which we wholeheartedly support (We even have our own casting ideas!) It's out on paperback now, so check it out!

4.  We might be late to the party, but we finally saw Beauty and the Beast last week!  We especially enjoyed the costumes and sets, which stayed really true to the original cartoon.  The movie was at its best in the musical numbers and we enjoyed old favorite songs.  Also, how handsome is Gaston?  

5.  We have been fans of Bolthouse Farms Juices for quite a while, but recently our mom recommended their yogurt based creamy salad dressings.  They're surprisingly low in calories and don't use high fructose corn syrup.  I just got the Creamy Caesar today and can't wait to try it out for dinner.  

6.  Much like one of our favorite tv characters, Olivia Pope, we LOVE popcorn.  However, until recently, we have found making stove top popcorn kind of a pain.  That is, until we found the Great Northern Popcorn Popper.  All you do is dump the popcorn in, add a little bit of oil, turn the knob for about 5 minutes and you have delicious freshly popped popcorn!  We are pretty sure even Liv would approve!

The Easiest & Best Guacamole Ever

It's really kind of unfair to call this a recipe.  It's basically a shopping list with a tiny bit of assembly.  However, it does leave you with one of the tastiest snacks or best additions to Taco Tuesdays you can find.  It's also so simple that you can have you kids help you.  The key to this recipe is a small piece of equipment--the mortar and pestle.  We have an old IKEA one that's no longer available, but this or this fits the bill nicely.  In addition to that, you'll need:

• One ripe avocado 
• Two cloves of garlic
• pinch of kosher or sea salt (We used this one!)
• Small bunch of cilantro, chopped
• juice of one lime

To get started, put in your cilantro leaves and muddle them with the mortar. (Shout out to Jess's husband for the stellar pics and even better guacamole!)

Next, put the garlic cloves into the mortar and sprinkle on the salt.  Then use the pestle to smash them until you create a garlic paste. This paste helps the garlic incorporate smoothly into the avocado.  Don't get us wrong, we love garlic, but no one wants a giant bite of it in guacamole.

Next, slice the avocado.  The easiest way to do this is to slice around the outside so it's in halves.  Remove the pit by hitting it with your knife (it will stick into the pit) and then pulling it out.  Keep the avocado in the shell and make a criss-cross pattern with your paring knife.  Push the avocado up from the shell and you should have chunks of avocado.

Put the chunks into the mortar and smash them up.  This is where your kids can get involved.  They love smashing stuff (who doesn't, really?)  You may want to stir the mixture around with the pestle to incorporate the garlic, too.  The texture is up to you.  We like it a little chunky, but you can keep smashing if you like a smoother mixture.

Finally, squeeze in the lime juice and stir again.  

That's it!!  You're done!  Some folks like to add tomatoes or onions to their guacamole, but we like it as simple as possible to bring out the creamy flavor of the avocado.  This stuff is amazing on tortilla chips, but you can also top tacos, or bling out your burrito.  If you want an Instagram-worthy breakfast, you can also spread this stuff on some toast and sprinkle on some red pepper flakes.  Any way you serve it, it's easy, fast and delicious!

So there you have it!  The easiest and best guac around town!  Try it out and let us know what you think!

Twins Take on Aging

We like to think that we look pretty great for our age.  Some of that we attribute to amazing genes (No kidding, our Grandma just turned 99, guys!), but we have also worked pretty hard to maintain healthy, young-looking skin.  Here are some of our tips and tricks so you, too, can get carded the next time you see an R-rated movie.

• Wash and exfoliate your face!  As we age, our skin tends to dry out more easily making it more prone to fine lines and wrinkles (gasp!)   Look for a face wash that contains alpha-hydroxal acids to help to gently exfoliate as you wash.  This not only makes your skin look smoother and more radiant, it also preps your skin to better absorb your moisturizer.  Keep in mind if you have sensitive skin, you may need to alternate days with a non-exfoliating wash.

Exfoliating cleansers:

Splurge: Philosophy The Microdelivery Daily Exfoliating Facial Wash

Save:  Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser

• You're never too young for moisturizer!  Healthy skin is well-moisturized skin.  Believe it or not, we've been wearing day, night and eye cream since high school graduation.  Starting much younger than you expect allows you to preserve the natural moisture and tone in your skin long before wrinkles develop.  If you wait until your late 30's to start using eye cream, your skin might have already started deteriorating.  We started out using some drug-store brand moisturizers, and have graduated to department store brands as our budget has increased.  You don't have to spend a lot of money to look great!  

For Daytime:

Splurge: Clinique Smart Broad Specturm SPF 15 Custom-Repair Moisturizer

Save: L'Oreal Paris Daily Volumizing Moisturizer

For Nighttime:

Splurge: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Night Cream

Save:  Aveeno Active Naturals Absolutely Ageless Restorative Night Cream

For Eyes:

Splurge: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream

Save: L'Oreal Revitalift Eye Treatment

• Protect your face from the sun EVERYDAY!   If you're outside (or even inside, really), you should have sun coverage on your face everyday.  This is another non-negotiable when it comes to having young looking skin.  Wearing sunscreen daily protects your face and body from the aging effects of the sun's harmful rays.  Sunscreen is not just for a day at the beach, it's something that should go on your face everyday.  You should also think about wearing a hat and sunglasses (Don't forget those crows feet) if you're outside on a daily basis or spending time lounging on the beach.  (Find a sun hat that was made for vacation!) Personally, we will only purchase a day-time moisturizer with an SPF to ensure protection everyday.  A great way to incorporate sunscreen is a tinted moisturizer, which gives you lighter coverage than traditional foundation with sun protection.  

Splurge: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

Save: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers Broad Spectrum SPF 30

• Staying hydrated is staying healthy. As you've seen, we're always finding ways to drink more water.  Keeping your body hydrated is a key to making sure your skin stays elastic enough to look young and dewy.  

• Don't forget to protect your whole body, too.  Of course, we all focus on keeping our faces looking young, but aging can impact your body and skin all over.  Hands are a great example of a place that you can show aging.  Again, hydration, moisturizing and sun protection are key.  Make sure you're using a great hand cream (Jess is so fancy, she actually uses this face lotion on her hands before bed) everyday, especially before bed.  Also, full body sunscreen is essential for anytime you're spending time outside.  Yes, we grew up loving the super-tan look, but no one wants to grow up to look like a leather suitcase, so protect yourself!  When we are spending a day at the beach, we like to start with a good layer of sunscreen with no less than SPF 60.  Then, as we spend time outside, we like to reapply using a good spray.  This gives coverage and is sometimes easier than reapplying lotion while at the beach or on the go.  For the moms out there, Jess likes to reapply her sunscreen as often as she reapplies sunscreen on her little one. You never forget them, so don't forget yourself!

Burt's Bees Hand Cream--Hands down, Ryan's favorite! (Get it?)

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen SPF 85

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist

• Move your body everyday: Part of staying young is staying flexible.  Working out everyday (or as close to it as you can) helps your body in every way.  It doesn't have to be an intensive workout, but try to make sure you do something to improve your strength and flexibility as much as possible.  Walk your dog, take a Barre class with a friend, practice yoga at home with a You-Tube video.  Whatever fits into your schedule.

• Everything in moderation: We try to eat healthy as much as we can, but we also firmly believe that no food should be completely off limits.  We definitely have our junk food moments, but we try to make sure we're eating and drinking in a mindful way most of the time. So if you want to age well, have that glass of wine (hey, antioxidants, right?), just don't have the whole bottle. 

Hopefully incorporating one or some of these tips will help you look younger and feel better.  What are your anti-aging secrets?  Leave us some tips in the comments below!

Twins Take On Travel: Denver

Ryan here!  I recently had the chance to spend a long weekend in Denver, and although I didn't have a ton of time to explore the city, I did visit a few places that I'd love check out again the next time I'm in town.  Here are some of my picks-

For a quick, tasty and healthy lunch, we hit up Colorado chain Tokyo Joe's.  My friends and I each built our own bowls of delicious and fresh meat and veggies, but the sushi and poke bowls also looked amazing.  They have outdoor seating looking out over this pedestrian mall-- the weather was a little cloudy here, but trust me, that day was gorgeous!

Hands down, our favorite Denver hangout was the Burnt Barrel.  It's a locally owned sports bar with a giant selection of craft beers and spirits.  The menu features classic bar favorites like wings, chicken fingers and burgers, and incorporates fresh locally sourced ingredients.  The service was great (Seriously, we had the most adorable and attentive waiter both times we visited-- we love you Trent!) and it was the perfect spot to watch a little college basketball and unwind after a long day.  At Happy Hour, try the handcrafted cocktails.  A few of my friends and I tried the Awesome Sauce (bourbon, raspberry puree, lemon, and a splash of club soda) and it was, as the name suggests, awesome.  If you're a beer drinker like my pals Danah and Jeannie, they also have a great selection of local brews on tap or bottled.

If you aren't renting a car for your stay, you can easily take Denver's light rail to and from the airport for only $9.  On the way, make sure you give yourself enough time to check out Union Station which features a combo of bars, restaurants and shopping.  Plus check out the decor!  The place looks straight out of a movie.  For real-

Next time I'd love to check out Milkbox Creamery- I noticed a sign that they have boozy milkshakes... ummm yes, please.

For lunch at Union Station, we hit up Mercantile Dining and Provision. The place is beautifully designed (check out the pics below) and it's one part coffee shop, one part bar, one part restaurant and one part market (featuring an amazing looking array of meats and cheeses).

I had the grilled cheese and with a side of house made truffle kettle chips and couldn't pass up a strawberry macron for dessert.

So there are a few of my Denver faves... what about you?  Let us know if you have any additional recommendations in the comments.

Friday Pick-Six: 4/7/17

Here's what we're loving and living for this week!

1.  Even though this was technically Spring Break in our neck of the woods, someone forgot to tell the weather.  It was chilly, windy and rainy all week.  We definitely didn't love that, but it did give us a chance to make some cozy dinners.  A favorite dinner was this Broccoli Cheese soup (it IS better than Panera) with a fresh loaf of this Whole Wheat Honey Oatmeal Bread.  It was easy to make and we ate it so quickly, we didn't even have time to take a photo!

2. For years we have adored local brand Shinola, not only for their gorgeous timepieces, but for their commitment to Detroit and locally made products.  This week, I finally got my first Shinola watch, and I am in love!   I chose the Birdy 34mm with a double strap, but if you're looking to personalize your watch, they have a huge array of strap and face options so you can get exactly what you want.  In addition to watches, they also have an impressive array of leather goods, and our local store even has a coffee shop inside as well!   --R

3. If you're like us, you're not exactly a golf aficionado (our grandma has been trying to get us to golf since we were little girls to no avail), but this week is The Masters and it's always on our annual watch-list.  Even if you're not a sports fan, who can beat a beautifully groomed golf course, snappily dressed gentleman, and the opportunity for a sweet feel good story.  Nothing says Spring like the Masters!

4.  Given that my already fine (and colored) hair can be prone to damage, since I started curling my hair more (using my straightener-- keep an eye out for a tutorial post in the near future!) I have been looking for a heat protectant for a while.  I recently found the TRESemme Thermal Creations Protective Spray Heat Tamer.  Spray it on dry hair before flat ironing or curling and it helps control dryness, flyaways and frizz.  Bonus: it smells amazing!  The only issue is the packaging-- the bottle is hard to get open for the first time and I've noticed that it gets clogged kind of easily. -- R

5.  If you shop at Target as much as we do (and if you don't... you should), don't forget to download the Cartwheel App.  It gives you anywhere from 5-50% on all kinds of items and without even having to look like one of those extreme couponers!  Just add the coupons you want to use to your list and then ask them to scan the app bar code at checkout.  As the Target Lady would say APPROVED!

6.  I have fallen for watching The Crown on Netflix this week.  I know I'm late to the party here, but with a toddler, I don't always watch much of what I want (although I can easily quote Frozen if you're interested).  Anyway, this week, I started binge watching The Crown and I'm hooked.  I love the period costumes and anything royal so this is perfect.  I found myself fact-checking and ogling the tiaras and necklaces.  If you haven't watched yet, check it out!--J