Friday Pick-Six: 4/20/18

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

1.  We usually keep it simple on our nails, but these nail art ideas got us thinking that maybe we should branch out a little.  Maybe we'll try one on our next manicure.

2.  We know it's not new, but we've been addicted to Fixer Upper reruns on HGTV lately.  We love Chip and Joanna's style and it inspires us to tackle some house projects of our own this summer.  Stay tuned for more!

3.  My husband made this One Skillet Lemon Chicken and Orzo this week and we couldn't stop eating it!  It would be awesome with shrimp instead of chicken, too.  Plus, who doesn't love a one-pot meal? (Especially when you're the one doing dishes like I am!) --J

4.  Last night was the series finale of Scandal!  So much for our Thursday tradition of wine, popcorn and Olivia Pope.  If you're going to go through withdrawal without this show, then look back at this amazing retrospective of Olivia's amazing fashion sense!

5.  GAP is running its Spring Sale with up to 60% off and an additional 40% off with the code HAPPY.  If the forecast ever looked like it would warm up, we'd definitely be stocking up on some spring stuff!

6.  If you're looking for a new comedy show to watch, try The Good Place!  We recently caught up on this comedy and were sad to finish it off.  It took a little while to click, but by the end, I loved the characters and was cracking up.  The first season is on Netflix and you can find season two on NBC's site.  --J

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

Friday Pick-Six: 4/13/18

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

1.  Our mom gifted us with these adorable monogrammed insulated wine glasses for Easter!  You better believe we'll be rocking them this summer around the pool or at the beach!

2.  Are you getting as excited as we are about the upcoming Royal Wedding?  If you (like us) love Meghan's style, you can check out this great post about how to copy her look yourself!

3.  We spotted this new Essie Summer collection on Amazon earlier this week and had to order!  Can't wait to try out At Sea Level for summer!

4.  We are suckers for a good striped shirt, so we loved this Popsugar post with so many great striped options!

5.  We're always hearing ads for MVMT watches and sunglasses on our favorite podcasts, so we finally had to check them out.  There are so many amazing styles and the prices are great!  Polarized lenses for less than $100!?  Yes, please!

6.  How delicious does this chicken milanese look on Happily Eva After?  This would be great for a spring dinner with an arugula salad or angel hair pasta.

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

New Arrivals at GAP

As you know, one of our favorite places to shop is GAP.  We have been GAP fans since way back in the day when they were just doing button-downs and rugby shirts.  Since we're looking to refresh our summer wardrobes, we thought we'd feature a few of our favorites in the New Arrivals category at GAP lately.

Top Row (Left to Right): Kimono jacket, pants, eyelet top, peplum tank, workout leggings
Bottom Row (Left to Right): t-shirt, ruffle skirt, wrap dress, blouse


Will you be picking anything up at the GAP this spring?  Let us know what your favorites are in the comments below and Happy Shopping!

Friday Pick-Six: 3/9/18

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

1.  We always get excited for great Target collaborations and this week, they announced an upcoming collection with Hunter!  You better believe we'll be standing in line for this one!

2.  We love stripes in any season, but they're especially great in the spring and summer.  Jess immediately ordered these earrings after spotting them 40% off at JCrew last week!   Can't wait to rock them!

3.  You guys know how much we love Smitten Kitchen and this week, we tried her black bean soup.  It was awesome served up with a little avocado toast on a Meatless Monday!

4.  It's time again for the GAP Friends and Family sale.  Everything is 40% off and free shipping with the code FRIEND.  We've got our eye on a few new arrivals for Spring including this top, and this floral dress.

5.  If you're looking for a great neutral nail polish that's perfect as a spring transitional color, try Essie Mixtaupe!  I tried it this week and my nails looked super professional and pretty all week! --J

6.  We each pinned this recipe for Penne ala Vodka to Pinterest within minutes of one another, so it must be a good recipe!  Going to have to try it out soon!

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

TTO the Trend: Strappy Sandals

One of our favorite things about spring is switching to sandals!  Of course, it's not *quite* warm enough here, but that won't stop us from doing a little scouting and shopping.  Here are some of our favorite sandals out right now!

Top Row: (Left to Right): orange block sandal, Gladiator sandal, strappy flat, rose gold sandal

Bottom Row: (Left to Right): Knotted sandal, yellow block heel, navy mule, pink block heel

Will you be wearing strappy sandals this spring?  Which are your favorite?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Florals for Spring

We know what you're thinking...

However, we think florals are always appropriate and springy!  We've checked around and found lots of great new ways you can incorporate floral patterns into your spring looks!

Top Row (Left to Right): Pajama pants, Kimono, Top, Dress

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Dress, Earrings, Shoes, Workout Leggings, Bathing Suit

Will you be wearing florals this spring?  Let us know how you're planning to rock this trend this spring in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Crossbody Bags

One trend we've been seeing around a lot lately is crossbody bags.  Even Meghan Markle has been carrying one lately instead of the usual royal clutch bag.  Although for gals who carry a lot of stuff on the reg (AKA US!) they're not practical for everyday, they do have their uses.  For example, a good cross body is great for travel when you don't need much and you want your hands free.  If you're looking for a good crossbody bag, check out the following!

Top Row (Left to Right): Rebecca Minkoff Aime bag, Strathberry East/West (the actual bag Meghan is carrying!), Kate Spade Watson Lane, A New Day Zip-Top Crossbody (GREAT PRICE)

Bottom Row: Quilted Crossbody, BP Foldover Crossbody, Nylon Messenger Bag, Rounded Saddle Crossbody

Do you have a favorite crossbody bag?  Will you be following this trend?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Bright Lipstick

One beauty trend we've been noticing lately is bright lip color.  We tend to stick to more neutral lip color but we love the idea of taking a little beauty risk on color choice.  In fact, one of Jess's friends always rocks her brightest lip color on her most stressed out days, and she swears that it turns her day around.  If you're feeling bold and want to give this trend a try, check out some of these picks!

Top Row (Left to Right): Julep It's Whipped, ELF Velvet Matte Lipstick, Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color, Clinique Chubby Stick

Bottom Row: L'Oreal Pro Matte Gloss, L'Oreal Colour Rich Lipstick, Julep It's Balm

Do you rock bright lips?  If so, what's your favorite shade?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Matte Black for the Home

We are always trying to track the latest trends for fashion, beauty and home.  Lately, a lot of places have been talking about the trend of incorporating home items in matte black.  It was even named a trend of the year on Popsugar.

If you're looking to incorporate matte black around your house, try some of these products!

Top Row (Left to Right): Guthrie Coffee Table,  Monte Carlo Vase,  Stoneware Serving Dish,  Table Clock

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Kitchen Aid Mixer, Toaster,  Suitcase, Coffee Mug

Do you plan to incorporate matte black into your home decor?  If so, let us know how in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Check Mate

One trend that we've seen around this winter and fall season is plaid, specifically glen plaid or check-style plaid.  As you know, we love plaid of all kinds, so we are down to add more to our wardrobes!  Here are a few ways to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe this season!

Top Row (Left to Right): Plaid loafer, gingham tank, plaid skirt, gingham shirt, coat

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Swing dress, PJs, dress pants, turtleneck

Have you incorporated this trend into your wardrobe?  Let us know what you think in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Oversized Earrings

We've been taking on some of the popular trends of the winter.  One of those is oversized earrings.  We have long been fans of a statement earring, so we're on this train for sure.  Here are a few of our favorites!

Top Row (Left to Right):  Tory Burch Hoops, Baublebar Maraca Drops, House of Harlow Hoops, Kendra Scott Olympia

Bottom Row (Left to Right):  Natasha Crystal Drops, Kendra Scott Glenda, Kate Spade Posy Grove

Will you be rocking oversized earrings?  Which ones are your favorites?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Blanket Scarves

If you're a regular reader, you know about our love of blanket scarves.  Not only do they look stylish, but they're a great extra layer in our current freezing temperatures!

Now, maybe you're saying to yourself, "Hey, twins.  I also love blanket scarves, but they're so huge and bulky!  How do I tie them?"  Well, look no further, here's our favorite way to tie a blanket scarf.  Please note--for this tutorial, we're using a square scarf (This one is our favorite).

1. To start off, lay your square out flat on the floor or a bed.  Fold it from corner to corner to make a triangle.
2. Hold the ends of the triangle in your hands.  Place the scarf so the point of the triangle is down in front of your body.
3. Take one end of the scarf and wrap it around your neck, tucking the end underneath the front of the scarf.  Do the same with the other side.
4. Adjust the length as needed so it's comfortable around your neck.  There you go!  If you're looking for more ways to style and wear a blanket scarf try check out Pinterest.  There are tons of great tutorials like this one or this one!

If you're looking for a blanket scarf, here are some of our favorites!

Top Row: (1, 2, 3)
Bottom Row: (1, 2, 3)

Would you rock a blanket scarf?  What's your favorite way to style it?  Let us know in the comments below!

The Way We Wore: Holiday Outfits

Earlier this holiday season, we showed you some of our favorite outfits for any occasion.  We thought it would be fun to share the actual outfits we wore and how we styled them for some of our holiday events.

• Ugly Christmas Sweater Party:

As we mentioned back in a Friday Pick-Six, our cousin and his girlfriend, Kayleigh, hosted an awesome Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.  Here's what we wore:

Jess: sweater, faux leather leggings, tassel earrings, Missoni for Target heels (old!  similar)

Ry: Home Alone theme sweatshirt

• Annual Girls Christmas Dinner:

Every year, we go out to a special dinner with just the ladies in our family.  We enjoy food and drinks, and great conversation.  It's always a great way to kick off the holiday season and spend a little girl time!

For a girls night, what's better than Lilly Pulitzer?  I'll admit due to some last minute snow, I swapped out these shoes for some boots before heading out.--J

Jess: Lilly Pulitzer Elsa top, leggings, flats

I went with a black lace top from JCrew which is sadly sold out (similar) and completed the look with one of my favorite Baublebar earrings.--R

• Cookie Baking Party:

This year, we started a new tradition of having a little cookie baking party on Christmas Eve morning.  We thought it would be fun to bake and relax before the kick off of the big holiday celebrations.  We wanted something cozy and casual.

I wanted something cozy but not actual PJs.  I went with my favorite cardigan and comfy leggings.--J

Jess: Cardigan, graphic t-shirt, leggings and cozy socks (old, similar)

• Christmas Eve with the Fam:

We had a great Christmas Eve party and dinner with our family.  We ate, drank and exchanged presents.  We wanted outfits that were festive but comfortable enough to chill in all night.  Here's what we wore!  

I wanted to wear something festive and comfortable, so I decided on one of my favorite sweaters with velvet leggings.  These plaid shoes are so great, too, right? --J

Jess: Boatneck tunic sweater, velvet skinny pants, plaid heels (sold out! similar), earrings (old, similar)

For Christmas Eve with the fam, I wore this festive plaid top from JCrew.  Bonus--it's flannel!  With dark jeans and my favorite tall boots, I was comfy and stylish.

• Christmas Morning:

For opening presents and enjoying brunch, we wanted to be as comfy as possible with a holiday twist!

Who doesn't love plaid, right?  Also, these socks are sold out, but so warm!  I also laughed when I opened them because online, one sock says "naughty" and one says "nice."  I got two "naughty" socks in my order.  I guess they know me...--J

Jess: PJ Set and socks (sold out!  similar)

I went with my favorite Old Navy leggings, which I have in just about every color (this time I wore charcoal).  I added this GAP FIT tee and a slouchy cardigan that even Olivia Pope would approve.  What winter outfit is complete without a scarf?  I love the one Jess featured, but my other recent favorite is this one (and it's on sale, too!)

What was your favorite outfit from the holiday season?  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!

Color Crush: Ultra Violet

Have you heard?  This year's Pantone Color of the Year is Ultra Violet.

Ultra Violet can be a little bit much, but as an accent color it has a fun and energetic vibe.  If you're looking for some ways to incorporate this trendy color into your style, check out the following links!

Top Row (Left to Right): Butter London nail polish, Julep It's Balm Lip Crayon, C9 Champion Pull Over, Keurig Coffeemaker, Nike Flyknits.

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Lilly Pulitzer Elsa top, Safaveh rug, Kate Spade earrings, Project 62 Tufted Bed, Julep Eyeshadow 101, Essie Play Date.

Would you incorporate this color in your wardrobe, beauty routine or home in 2018?

TTO the Winter Wardrobe: Jess

Each season, we bring you our favorite wardrobe essentials.  Since winter weather (and style) is in full swing, we thought we'd show you some of the clothes we are living in this winter.  This week, we'll feature Jess's essentials and will share Ryan's next week!

Hey guys, it's me, Jess.  Here are the wardrobe items I cannot live without this winter!

1.  Old Navy Boat-Neck Sweater tunic: I love this sweater so much, you guys.  I originally bought it in the cranberry color (which I wore for Christmas), but eventually ordered the jade as well.  It's not too bulky and just the right length for throwing over a pair of leggings or skinny jeans.  With boots, a scarf and a cool pair of earrings, you're set for any occasion.

2.  Sorel Joan of Arctic boots:  I mentioned these in a pick-six, but they were a Christmas present from my husband.  They're super cool looking and they keep my feet warm and dry at recess duty.

3. Old Navy Open Front Cardigan:  I'm a big fan of light layers, especially since the temperature at work is so variable.  With layers, I can feel warm enough but I don't end up feeling like a stuffed turkey all day long.  This cardigan is great for throwing on over a plaid shirt or simple v-neck t-shirt.  Plus, there are pockets.  I may be a total nerd, but I love when there are pockets in a cardigan!  Yay, someplace to put my hands!

4.  Frye Melissa Boots:  Although I have quite a few pairs of Frye boots, this style is my favorite.  They work with pretty much any outfit (dresses, jeans, etc) and they're totally worth splurging on (especially on SALE, as many colors are here on Amazon)!

5.  Kate Spade Rose Gold Earrings:  These were another Christmas present (Thanks, Ry!) and they are my new everyday earrings.  They're just subtle enough to go with literally everything and just special enough to get noticed.

6.  Spring Fever Blanket Scarf:  I know we've mentioned this a million times on the blog but I love these scarves so much!  They come in great color combinations, provide style and warmth to any outfit and how can you beat that price!  I should probably stop ordering them, but I'm not gonna.  #sorrynotsorry

What are your winter wardrobe essentials this season?  Let us know 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!

Pinky Ring Round-Up

You might know that we have slightly different styles when it comes to jewelry.  Jess tends to like statement pieces where Ry keeps it on the simple side.  However, we each have started wearing sentimental pinky rings.  Jess wears an engraved signet ring that belonged to our Grandma (who is 99!) and Ry wears our great-grandmother's wedding band.  Check them out here!

Pinky rings are a great simple everyday jewelry item that goes with everything.  Just keep in mind, the sizing is really important on a pinky ring.  You want to go a little smaller than you might on another finger as there's no real knuckle to hold it on.  Our pinkies are a size 3.5, so you'll probably want to look around the 3.5-4.5 size range.  If you don't have a family heirloom, but want to recreate the look, try one of the options below.  

1.  Heirloom Signet Ring

2.  Burst Flat-Top Signet Pinky Ring

3.  Classic Hammered Rose Gold Ring

4.  Disc Ring-Monogram

5.  DY Signature Cable Pinky Ring (A splurge, we know, but had to include it!)

6.  Baublebar Maya Brenner Initial Ring

Would you wear a pinky ring?  If so, which one do you love?  Let us know in the comments!

The Way We Wore: Fall Trends

Earlier this fall, we spotlighted some of our favorite trends and colors for fall.  We thought we'd show you some examples of how we've been wearing them lately.  Some of our favorite trends included plaid, cozy knits, red, navy and spruce.  Here are some of the outfits we've assembled lately and sources so you can copy our looks!

Jess wore this outfit to the Apple Orchard with the family.  Sweater (old) similar, t-shirt, jeans, shoes,
necklace

Date Night!  Dress, tights, necklace and boots (old) similar

Plaid and navy for work?  Yes, please!  Blouse (old) similar, skirt, necklace (old) similar, boots

Jess wore this one on a field trip with her class and was cozy, comfy AND on trend!  Buy these leggings, guys!  We both have them and you can dress them up or down and they're so comfortable!  Tank (old--RIP Merona!) similar, cardigan (old) similar, leggings, boots, blanket scarf.

Love this swing dress and the red for fall!  Blazer (old) similar, swing dress, necklace and boots.

Jess wore this one to rock Parent-Teacher conferences! Blazer (old) similar, t-shirt, jeggings, boots, necklace (old) similar

This is the coziest sweater EVER!  We even featured it in Friday Pick Six last week! Sweater, plaid shirt, leggings, boots, earrings.

Have you rocked any of these trends so far this fall?  If so, let us know what you're favorites have been in the comments below!

Color Crush: Spruce

Another color we are feeling from the Fall 2017 Pantone Color Picks is spruce.  We don't wear a lot of green, but when we do, this shade is especially flattering.  You can pair it with naturals of any shade (tan, brown, black, etc) for a distinctively fall/winter look.  Here are some great ways to incorporate spruce into your look.

Top Row (Left to Right):  OPI Amazon Amazoff, Hunter Tall Boots, Gibson Twist Pullover,  Old Navy Heavy-Knit Leggings

Bottom Row (Left to Right): GAP Softspun Dress, Julep Eyeshadow 101, Athleta Chi Tank Top, CND Shellac in Emerald Lights.

How will you rock spruce this fall?  Let us know in the comments below!