Friday Pick-Six: 3/23/18

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

1.  How cute are these pants that Jess snagged on sale this week?  Looking forward to wearing them with a strappy heel once it finally warms up!

2.  We love this upcoming collaboration between Keds and Rifle Paper Co.  These will be perfect for spring!

3.  Our grandma is celebrating her 100th birthday this week!  Can you believe it?  In honor of her birthday, we thought we'd share a similar recipe to her signature cookies.  She fries a batch of these up at Christmastime and they always go fast!  Happy Birthday, Grandma!

4.  If you're looking for a killer workout, try this 30-minute tabata on Popsugar.  It will get you working hard in hardly any time!

5.  Mark your calendars, the Royal Wedding is coming on May 19th!  Harry and Meghan have sent their official invitations and you can see them here.

6.  Are you guys following our favorite gal, Jennifer Garner, on Instagram?  She's the cutest and super relatable.  She has shared some cute cooking videos, which you can check out here.

What are you loving and living for this week?  Let us know in the comments below and TGIF!

Friday Pick-Six: 3/2/18

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

1.  Last week, we featured a post about our favorite bright lip colors as one of the latest beauty trends.  Check out this video tutorial on Popsugar featuring another adorable set of twins, Shanae and Shaniece Cole on how they rock this trend.

2.  Her recipes are always amazing, but how good does Smitten Kitchen's take on the classic boxed macaroni and cheese look?  We may need to give this a try soon!

3.  After seeing this Lavender Salve on one of our favorite blogs, Sweet Southern Prep, this week, I knew I had to order it.  I'm looking forward to comparing it to my old favorite, Smith's Rosebud salve.

4.  We upped our Taco Tuesday game with these fridge pickled veggies this week and they were awesome.  Next time, I think we'll add a jalapeno or two! I think they'd be great not just on tacos, but on a sandwich (pulled pork?), burger or whatever!

5.  The Oscars are Sunday!  Will you be watching?  Ry hosts an annual party (complete with swag bags), so we'll be watching together.

6.  If you love Meghan Markle (the Duchess to be)'s dress at her speaking engagement earlier this week, but the Jason Wu dress is too pricey, check out this article with some similar looks!  We knew we loved her--she also rocks navy and black together, which is one of our favorite looks!

What are you loving and living for this week?  Let us know in the comments below and TGIF!

TTO the Wardrobe: What to Wear for Valentine's Day

We aren't huge Valentine's Day people, but we do like incorporating a little red and pink into our wardrobe this time of year.  If you're looking for something cute to wear for Valentine's Day, we put together a few outfits that will work for a variety of Valentine's Day outings.

Fancy Date Night: 

Dress, tights, earrings, nail polish, heels

If you're going out on a date, bring the drama!  We love using red as your main color, but you can always go classic with a little black dress and go for a daring red lipstick.    Here are a few other ideas!

Try this jumpsuit with a red heel!

Nothing says Valentine's like a red dress!

Love a little sparkle.

Girls Night Out:

Top, Velvet leggings, nail polish, earrings, lip crayon, over-the-knee boots

For a night on the town with your gals, you want to look cute but stylish.  We love adding an extra fashion-y touch that your friends will appreciate like this eyelet detail or an over-the-knee boot.  Here are a couple of other ways to rock this look.

This bodysuit plus jeans!  Yes!

This dress would be pretty with some booties.

Wear it to Work:

Dress, nail polish, earrings, shoes, lip stain

You can also incorporate some Valentine's Day flair into your outfit even if you're in a more conservative work environment.  Look for some neutral touches and different shades of red to mute this look a little at work.  Here's a few more ways you can incorporate this vibe into your work look!

Jess might be wearing this dress for her class Valentine's Party!

This sweater looks cozy and festive.

Red tweed?  Yes, please!

So, do you know what you'll be wearing this Valentine's Day?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Loafer Mules

Although we like to think we have a pretty classic sense of style, we often like to try out new trends as they pop up.  A recent trend that we've seen around are loafers, specifically backless, mule-style loafers!  Lots of places have mentioned these as the "It-Shoe" of the fall/winter, so we finally decided to check them out.  Since it's a trendy item, we decided to try an affordable option, rather than the Gucci splurge that many bloggers are sporting.

Jess found this pair of black loafer mules at Target on sale for only $11!

What a great deal, right?  And they're an exact match for those Guccis!  You can check the next The Way We Wore post for some photos of how Jess will be wearing them soon.  In the meantime, if you want to try out this trend, here are a few options at any price point!  We included the Gucci originals so you can see just how similar they are to our Target steal!

Top Row: Target Kona, Gucci Princeton, Who What Wear for Target Rebe, Gucci Princeton Shearling

Bottom Row: Kenneth Cole Whinnie, Dolce Vita Holli, TopShop Kylie, ALDO Shahan

Would you wear loafer mules?  Let us know how you would style them in the comments below!

TTO the Year: The Best of 2017

As the year comes to a close, we have been thinking about some of our favorites in 2017.  We thought we'd share some of the things we've loved this year in a variety of categories.

Favorite New (to Us) Beauty Products:

• CND Shellac Nail Polish:  We know that folks have been getting shellac nails for a while now, but 2017 saw our first shellac manicures.  We're always super happy with the color and staying power of CND Shellac.  Plus, we love our manicurists!  (Hi, Angela and Anna!)

• Julep Boost Your Radiance:  We've reviewed this and put it into Friday Pick-Six.  This rosehip facial oil smoothes and soothes your skin with a glowy (not greasy) finish.

Favorite Trends:

• Plaid:  We have always loved plaid and it was so fun to see it out and around everywhere this fall!  

• Cozy Knits:  One of the main reasons we love winter fashion is wearing cozy knitwear!  

Favorites in TV and Movies:

• Insecure:  We loved how funny and smart Issa Rae's HBO show about love, friends, work and relationships is!  Can't wait for the next season!

• Master of None (Season 2):  We've loved Aziz Ansari way back in the Parks and Rec days!  We loved the first season of this show and the second one was just as great.  

• West World:  Admittedly, Ry was into this show for quite a while before Jess started watching it.  Eventually, we both loved the unpredictable twists and turns and stellar acting.

• Wonder Woman:  We loved the action in this fun summer action movie and it reminded us of playing Wonder Woman as kids!

What were your favorites from 2017?  Let us know in the comments below and hello 2018!

Friday Pick-Six: 12/29/17

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

1.  It's been pretty freezing around TTO Headquarters these days!  One of my favorite Christmas presents this year has been getting a lot of use!  I love these Sorel Joan of Arctic Boots.  They're high enough to keep your pants dry in the snow and are temperature rated to -25 below zero! --J

2.  If you're looking for a cocktail for New Year's, we plan to give these Holiday Moscow Mules a try!  They look festive and delicious and will give Ry an excuse to use her new Moscow Mule mugs. (A Christmas present from J!)

3.  Everyone starts thinking about getting into shape on January 1st, but we think about it year round. If you're looking forward to some serious workouts that don't require fighting for space at the gym, try these printable bodyweight workouts from Popsugar.

4.  This year in the family Christmas drawing, my brother and I each got each other.  We actually got one another same present if you can believe it!  We each got a pair of these Beats by Dre Ur Beats earbuds.  I got the rose gold and my brother got the red and black.  So far, we like them and they're an affordable upgrade from the typical iPhone earbuds. --J

5.  You know we love face masks and reship oil so we were obviously psyched when Ry found this SpaLife Hydrating Sugar and Rosehip Oil mask at Target.  Give it a try!

6.  If you're post-holiday shopping, don't forget there are lots of great sale codes out there.  GAP has 40% off with the code WISH and an extra 20% off sale with the code GIFTS.  Old Navy has 20% off your order no code necessary!

What are you loving and living for this week?  We hope you have a great New Year's Eve and we'll be back with more content next week!  Here's to 2018!

TTO the Wardrobe: Winter Wear

In our neck of the woods, January  is pretty much the coldest month of the year!  We are always looking for clothes that help us stay warm AND look cute in the winter.  Here are some of our favorite cold-weather clothing must-haves.

•  A few years ago, I asked for a new winter coat for Christmas because I was freezing outside with my class at recess.  My mother-in-law (who is a retired teacher) picked out this awesome Lands End down coat.  The extra length is perfect for keeping your legs warm and it's still thin enough that you don't feel like a snowman with it on! --J
• You know we love a good blanket scarf.  They're a great extra layer to throw on and always add an air of French-girl-chic.  If you're looking for tips on how to tie them, check this out!
• These Sperry boots will keep your feet warm and dry while you're shoveling or hustling to work.  
• Cashmere gloves might seem like a splurge but these are a great deal!
• This hat is cozy and cute.  

What are your must-haves to beat the winter weather?  Let us know in the comments below and stay warm out there!

TTO the Wardrobe: What to Wear for New Year's Eve

Choosing an outfit for New Year's Eve can be a challenge.  Here are a few outfit suggestions that will have you covered whether you're spending a cozy night in or headed to a big night out!

The Fancy Party:

Dress, Shoes, Earrings, Nail Polish, Lip Crayon

If there's ever a time for sequins, New Year's Eve is it!  Tonight, more is more!  Get as festive as you can and make sure to add some dramatic makeup.  We love a bold lip, but you can also go for a smokey eye!  Here are a couple more ways to get this look:

Jumpsuits always bring the drama!

We love a statement earring.

Sequins!

The Casual Get-Together:

Sweater, Leggings, Necklace, Nail Polish, Booties

One of our favorite ways to spend New Year's Eve is at home with friends.  We've hosted game nights and fondue parties as fun ways to hang with friends without the drama and expense of a fancy night on the town.  For this style of party, keep it casual with special accents, like the faux leather on these leggings or pretty jewelry.  This will keep you looking put-together but appropriately comfortable.  Here are some other ways to recreate this look.

These joggers are cozy and have sequins.

Plaid shirtdress?  Yes!

This sweater is so cute.

What do you have planned for New Year's Eve?  More importantly, what are you wearing?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Wardrobe: What to Wear for Christmas

This holiday season, we're offering you our guides to how to look amazing at any event!  We've already given you our Thanksgiving Guide and now here comes our Christmas one!  Here are our suggestions for dazzling and appropriate outfits for any holiday occasion!

The Work Holiday Party:

Dress, Earrings, Shoes, Tights, Nail Polish

For a work event, the key is keeping your look elegant and classic without showing a lot of skin.  You want to look polished and presentable, but add a little sparkle or holiday flare.  Here are a few other options that would be festive but totally work party ready!

Velvet jeggings

Love this jumpsuit

This color is so festive.

Family Christmas Get Together:

Sweater, faux leather leggings, earrings, shoes

At a family party, you want to be festive but not too fancy.  You want to incorporate holiday colors and special accessories but keep things simple enough that you can still enjoy holiday treats or sit on the floor and open presents.  Here are a few other ways to make this look your own!

Love this wrap top

Fair Isle is festive!

Sparkle Leggings

Cozy Christmas Morning:

Graphic T-shirt, Thermal Leggings, Cardigan, Slippers

This look is all about staying comfy and warm on Christmas morning.  Think regular PJs but with a holiday spin.  This loungy, festive look is just right for curling up with a mug of hot cocoa and watching Christmas movies all morning after opening presents!  This is our favorite of the looks because it reminds us of lazy Christmas Days spent with family.  Here are some other great ways to get this look.

We love this PJ brand at Target!

This turtleneck looks so warm!

What's more Christmasey than candy cane jammies?

Keep those feet warm!

What will you be wearing for this year's Christmas festivities?  Let us know your favorite holiday look in the comments below and Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!

Friday Pick-Six: 12/1/17

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

1.  You guys, Prince Henry and Meghan Markle are engaged!  We couldn't be more excited for another royal wedding.  There's great coverage on People and Go Fug Yourself!

2.  Speaking of the fantastic future Duchess Meghan, did you spot that wrap coat she wore in their engagement photos?  How classic and beautiful.  The actual coat is sold out and the manufacturer's site crashed this week, but how cool is this wrap coat Ry snapped up this week?

3.  Earlier this week as I was getting through the flu (Ry and I both spent Thanksgiving week being totally sick), I wanted something cozy but work appropriate to wear to the first day back from vacation.  I paired these herringbone leggings from Athleta with my favorite tunic sweater from Gap for a casual yet put-together look. --J

4.  We've got an upcoming post to suggest our favorite nail colors for the holiday season, but we wanted to give you a heads-up on a perfect Christmas color! Jade to Measure from Essie's holiday collection has a little shimmer and is the perfect green!

5.  If you're anything like me, your Elf on the Shelf has returned for the holiday season!  If you're looking for some great ideas to set up your Elf in some fun ways, check out this post.

6.  We each grabbed some of these Old Navy cozy socks at the Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale this week!  Who doesn't like warm socks?

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

TTO Holidays: Gift Guide for the Kiddos

Welcome to the next Twins Take On the Holidays 2017 Gift Guides!  We're going to bring you some of our favorite things for some of your favorite people this holiday season.  Hopefully this will inspire you to grab some great gifts for everyone on your list.

Today, we bring you our favorite presents for the kiddos in your life!

• Rick Riordan is probably the most popular author with the kids in Jess's class.  They literally fight over these Heroes of Olympus books.
• If you know a preschool girl, then you're a friend of Moana.  This doll is adorable and perfect for tagging along with any little gal.
• This walker is the exact one that Jess's kid used when she learned to walk.  Just be careful, its songs will get stuck in your head for months!
• Jess doesn't know exactly what Minecraft is, but her students are obsessed with it.  
• Who doesn't love PlayDoh?  
• MegaBloks are great for building when Legos are too little for toddler hands.  However, if the kid on your list can handle it, these Wonder Woman Legos are amazing! 
• Razor scooters are still almost as popular as bikes with the elementary set.  
• These two books are favorites with Jess's little one.  They're the kind of books you actually don't mind reading as an adult.
• We aren't big stuffed animal people, but Jellycat ones are the exception to the rule.  They're adorable and the perfect size for little hands.
• The book, Wonder, has been popular for a while with middle grade kids, but with the upcoming movie, it's sure to be a hit this year.
• We love Uggs and these are as cozy as they are cute.  
• Jess enjoys a cup of this pretend coffee about as often as she does her regular morning joe.

We hope this gives you some ideas for the little folks in your life.  What are your favorite things to buy for your favorite kids?  Let us know in the comments and keep an eye our for the rest of our Gift Guides!

Friday Pick-Six: 11/3/17

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

1.  After seeing this jacket on one of our favorite bloggers, Eva Martino, I had to order it!  I can't wait to wear it for a classic, yet edgy look! --R

2.  We're tailgating with friends with this weekend again!  If you're doing the same and looking for a great recipe for a crowd, try this combo of two great brisket recipes!  We used the spice rub from this recipe and cooked the brisket according to this recipe with delicious results!

3.  We're always looking to save a little time and eye shadow sticks help with this in the morning.  I recently ordered this Laura Mercier set and it's awesome.  The colors are great neutrals so they're perfect for work!  What a great deal, too! --R

4.  Since I've been trying to get my running game going lately, you know I had to order some new leggings.  I'm a longtime fan of Old Navy's compression leggings but look at these moto ones, you guys?  They're so cool and I swear I run faster with them on! --J

5.  I recently tried a new-to-me gel nail brand Gelish for my gel manicure.  I loved the shade (Night Reflection) and the shine.  Removal was very similar to my beloved Shellac. --J

6.  One of our favorite bloggers, Liz at Sequins and Stripes, is already rolling our her Holiday Guide! We'll be sharing our gift guides and hosting tips in the coming weeks, too!

What are you loving and living for this weekend?  Let us know in the comments below and have a great weekend, friends!