Friday Pick-Six: 5/5/17

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

1.  It's Cinco de Mayo today!  We are planning to celebrate with our mom and aunt with some chips, salsa and Margaritas!  If you're in a fiesta mood today, try out these great recipes!

• Our Easiest and Best Guacamole Ever!
• 15 Margaritas You Have to Try
• Crockpot Barbacoa
• Sheet Pan Nachos

2.  If it ever gets (and stays) warm, we are going to break out our sandals.  We spotted these on Instagram earlier in the week and how adorable are they?  Great price, too!

3.  We are big-time fans of La Croix sparkling water.  These drinks have no calories, fat, or sugar but they still taste amazing.  We love every flavor, but our recent favorite is this Blackberry Cucumber flavor.  It's crisp, refreshing and super summery!

4.  We seriously need to do a post about how much we are loving the clothes selection at Target right now.  Merona always has some great stuff (at great prices) and the Who What Wear line is killing it. Ry recently picked up this top and it is perfect for work with a black trouser or with jeans and a block-heel sandal for dinner out.  At only $25, I think we need all three colors!!

5.  Anyone who knows us, knows we love rose', however sometimes it's just inconvenient to worry about bring a glass bottle of wine around town with you.  Well, we were recently introduced to Trader Joe's Simpler Wines Italian Sparkling Wine and we fell in love.  These tasty sparkling wines come in 6-ounce cans that are perfect for a BBQ, the beach or just watching Real Housewives.  Plus, the four-pack clocked in at under $5. We just know these are going to be a staple around the Twins Take On Headquarters this summer! 

6.  We've been excited to try to the Honest Beauty line available at Target since its launch.  Honest is a company co-founded by Jessica Alba that provides great products with all natural ingredients.  We think our first order will be this Honest Beauty Truly Kissable Lip Crayon.  We love this type of lip product and the color selection looks awesome!  We'll let you know what we think when our order arrives!

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

Twins Take on Entertaining: Kentucky Derby Party!

Ryan here.  Anyone who knows me knows I have always loved the Kentucky Derby (I got it from my mama who loves it too!)  Last year, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to see it in person.  Yes, that picture above is actually one I took during the actual Run for the Roses!

The First Saturday in May is this weekend, and even if you can't make it to Churchill Downs, you can still have a great time watching with family and friends at home.   Here are a few recipes and tips so that your pals will feel like they're deep in the heart of My Old Kentucky Home...

Step One:  Drinks!

Everyone knows you can't do the Derby without a Mint Julep.  This traditional cocktail is simple to make and doesn't require a lot of fancy ingredients.   Here's the classic recipe-- feel free to use whatever bourbon you like.  I'm partial to Bulleit (we visited the distillery when we were in town and it was awesome), but some other great reasonably priced brands are Evan Williams and Buffalo Trace.

For folks who aren't bourbon fans, in addition to Mint Juleps, they also served the Lily, the official drink of the Kentucky Oaks (which takes place the day before the Derby).  Believe me, they are quite tasty and refreshing on a warm spring day.

Step Two:  The Menu

At my Derby parties, I like to serve some of my favorite Southern dishes.  Some of the greatest hits over the years include:

• Shrimp and Grits
• BBQ Brisket- in the oven or smoked
• Hush puppies
• Sugared pecans
• Traditional Caramel Cake (Ok, I've never made this one, but someone should... Jess?  Looking in your direction ;)

Step Three: Ambiance

You don't have to know what a boxed trifecta is to make a friendly wager on the Derby.  Believe me, it took a day's worth of betting (along with some serious assistance from our cashier at the betting window and my BFF's dad, Bob) before we got the hang of it.  However, at home, all you need to do is to print a list of the Field and let your guests pick their favorite.  Whether you decide based on hours of research or if you simply go by name or colors, having someone to cheer for for always makes the 2 minute Derby more fun.  If you want to get fancy, here's a quick reference guide to some popular betting terminology.

Since the Derby is also known as the Run for the Roses, decorations are easy.  Just pick up some red roses at your local grocery store or Trader Joe's and you are good to go.  If you have them, I think it's cute to put the flowers in metal julep cups.

Finally, one of the best parts of the Derby was dressing up (check out my outfit below), so ask your guests to come in their Derby finest.  Think seersucker, florals, linen, pastels, bow ties, and HATS. 

We'd love to hear your Derby Day faves in the comments below.  Cheers!

Slow Cooker Chili

Hi friends, it's Jess.  Admittedly, I'm not the best cook in the world.  Okay, frankly, I kinda hate cooking.  Something about the hustle and bustle at the end of the prep time (drain the pasta, keep the sauce from boiling over, don't burn that bread, etc etc) is a little too stressful for me.  Plus, the thought of touching raw meat gives me the shivers.  However, once in a while, I decide to help my husband out and share the cooking duties.  Whenever I do, 9 times out of 10, I rely on my trusty crockpot to help me out.  Crockpot cooking is convenient, easy for clean-up and often works without that stressful "finish everything off" time at the end.

We got our crockpot as a wedding gift and it sat in the box for longer than I'd like to admit.  However, once we busted that baby out, we found ourselves using it almost once a week.  With both of us working and a busy toddler, the crockpot does its thing and provides us with an easy (and usually healthy) dinner with minimal prep.  I highly recommend it!

During a recent cold snap (Is it even spring around here?), I decided to give this Slow Cooker Chili from the awesome food blog, Gimme Some Oven a try.  I happened to be home all day, but you could easily prep this in the morning pre-work and then arrive home to a delicious smelling house.

First things first, gather your ingredients.  I made just a couple of substitutes from the original recipe.  The first was exchanging a fresh jalapeño for the chipotle in adobo sauce.  I personally like the fresh jalapeño flavor and we happened to have one in the house.  (In the interest of getting the Tiny Person to eat the chili, I removed the stem and some of the seeds, but you could go all in if you like things spicy).  Also, we like a mixture of beans, so instead of two dark red and one light red kidney beans, I used a mixture of red kidney and white navy bean cans.

The next step almost stopped me in my tracks when I pulled this recipe.  You have to brown meat and onions.  I generally look for crockpot recipes sans ANY pre-cooking, but I thought even I could brown some onions and meat.  So, I soldiered on and frankly, it wasn't that hard.

Once that (relatively easy) step is done, you just dump all the stuff into your crock pot and give it a stir.

I set our crockpot for high (4 hours) but adjust your timing accordingly.  If you need it to go longer, then use low for 6-8 hours.  That's it! You're done!  You can do whatever you like!  Go to work!  Take a nap!  Get a pedicure!  Try to catch up on the episodes of "Quantico" on your DVR while your toddler sleeps! (I'll give you one guess which  one of those things I did.)

When the time is up, dinner is ready.  I love that our crockpot has a "warm" setting, so if it reaches the time limit, it will simply switch itself to warm to keep our dinner hot.  As for serving, we served this with Saltine crackers, shredded cheddar, sour cream and a loaf of sourdough bread.

There you have it!  A delicious, healthy and easy dinner ready to go!  This would also be killer for a tailgate or party.  Give it a try and let us know how it goes in the comments below.

--Jess OUT!

Twins Take on the Trend: Feminine Details

One of the trends we are seeing for spring is feminine detailing.  Whether it's ruffles, embroidery or floral prints ("Florals for spring?  Groundbreaking!") lots of cute accents are everywhere.  We don't generally gravitate towards these items, but we are trying to incorporate a few things into our wardrobe this spring.  Here's how we are wearing this trend for spring!

This Who What Wear from Target top has eyelet detailing (not available anymore, but here is something similar), embroidery and a peplum.  We've paired it  with Old Navy Pixie pants, rose gold accessories from Report, Kendra Scott and Bauble Bar and a girly nail polish.

We love this Victoria Beckham for Target dress (we both own it!)  styled with the perfect pink nail polish, classic earrings and wedge sandals.  

This casual outfit incorporates some popular embroidery (Sold out top, but similar), chambray shorts, bright summery nail polish, go-with-everything earrings and jelly sandals!

Also, check out these great picks!

1. Old Navy High-Rise Compression Leggings
2. Gap Solid Ruffle Blouse
3. J Crew Factory Striped Ruffle Hem Tank Top
4. J Crew Embroidered Tie Front Tunic
5. Who What Wear Ruffle Trim Tank
6. Lands End High Neck Tankini

How are you wearing this trend for spring?  Let us know in the comments below!

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!