Personal – Page 5 – A Double Dose

Our Most Common Questions Answered

January 12, 2018

Happy Friday, y’all! We are excited to share some of our most common questions answered today on the blog! If you all have any other questions you want answered, email us at doubledoseblog@gmail.com

What is your opinion on laser hair removal? Does it hurt and has it helped, and what areas have you gotten it done?

Before we get into anything about laser hair removal, we want to say that we HIGHLY recommend it. We have been getting ours done at Enlighten MD for almost a year now, and couldn’t be happier with the results. We will have a full blog post on it once we finish all of our treatments. We have gotten treatment on our underarms and bikini. We have seen a dramatic improvement on our underarms and bikini. We used to have a shadow on our underarms by the end of the day after shaving, but now it is so soft (like a baby), and the hair doesn’t really grow back– super fine! The bikini is the same. We have both seen a huge difference! As far as pain, it does hurt, but they give you numbing cream to apply before to help with that a little. The underarms we don’t numb for, but the bikini, we definitely do! The good part is that it only hurts for a second while the laser goes off (almost like a rubber band snap).

What do you like to do to unwind from a hard day?

That is a great question! We are honestly TERRIBLE at slowing down, and that is one of our goals for the new year. To be honest, we will probably be writing a blog post on this specifically because we have both been suffering from Adrenal Fatigue and a ton of constant stress, so we are working on that. We have both started to slow down on our instagram posts each day, just to help alleviate the stress. We are extremely type-A, so it is challenging for us, but our health is more important than anything else. We have been trying to incorporate more yoga (even at home), meditating, going on walks, trying to be present (aka be off the phone and actually relax on the couch or watch a movie). We don’t really take baths, but that can be relaxing! We also loveeee going to reflexology. Look it up if you haven’t been before!

What is your opinion on Lululemon?

We love Lululemon! They have some great pieces. We love their speed shorts and their long-sleeved tops. As far as leggings, we have some of them, but think there are other brands that are just as good! Their mens stuff is really great, too!

What is the best way to get exposure when you’re a new blogger? Sometimes it feels like I am posting for no one but my mom, haha!

That is a great question, and honestly, we feel the same way most of the time, if it makes you feel any better. Instagram has completely changed their algorithm, and people don’t see your posts anymore, unless you’re continuously ‘liking’ and commenting on all of our pictures. We would suggest interacting with other bloggers like commenting on their pictures to get exposure, and just to post consistently. It can be discouraging, but keep going!

How do you make your photo collages for the gift guides?

I use Adobe Photoshop!

What do you usually get done on your nails and where do you go?

We usually get nexgen dip in this color. We go to Castle Nail Spa in Mockingbird station. For those of y’all who don’t know what dip is, or what the difference between that and gel, you can read more in this post.

Who does your hair in Dallas?

We got to Hair By Viviana. We have been going to her since we moved to Dallas 4.5 years ago, and wouldn’t go anywhere else. She is amazing!

What do you all usually eat to stay fit?

We usually will eat something with carbs, protein, and healthy fats. We will usually eat eggs with toast, a smoothie bowl, oatmeal, or something like that for breakfast. For lunch, we will usually have a salad with chicken or salmon, and for dinner, usually some kind of lean protein with vegetables and a healthy carb like sweet potatoes, squash, rice, etc. You can read more about what we eat in a day in this post. We also have snacks throughout the day like hummus and veggies, or a quest bar.

Where can I find your recipe for your smoothie bowls?

You can find the recipe for the smoothie bowl and what we use at the bottom of this post.

I saw that you all got microblading done on your eyebrows. Do you recommend it, and how long does it last?

Yes, we did! We got it done over a year ago at Enlighten MD (more about it in this post). We HIGHLY recommend it. Even a year later, we still only have to fill in our eyebrows a little bit. It lasts about a year, or longer, depending on how active you are, etc. It makes all the difference!

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?

Some of our favorite snacks are Quest bars (chocolate chip cookie dough), their new Quest cookies, hummus and veggies, hard boiled eggs, etc.

Where are those bracelets you all wear all of the time from?

Our bracelets are all from David Yurman. Some of our favorite ones are this ring, this cable bracelet and this cable bracelet.

I noticed you all have Apple watches. I was thinking about getting one, but I don’t know which model to buy. What are your thoughts on it?

I am visting Dallas in a couple of weeks. What are some of your favorite restaurants?

Some of our favorite restaurants are: Mudhen Meats in the farmer’s market, Henry’s Majestic, HG Sply Co, Mr. Mesero, Kozy Kitchen, Americano, and Ziziki’s. You can also read some of our other favorite spots in this post.

I am petite like you all. What are some of your favorite jeans?

Some of our favorite jeans are the following: this pair in the harper medium wash, this black pair , and this pair.

I love the bedding you always post in your mirror pics on Instagram. Where is it from?

The bedding is this duvet and this coverlet underneath. These are the pillows that are on there, too!

How do you hear about new restaurants you post on your insta-stories?

We love to use yelp! It is a game changer!

How do you start your day off?

We both usually jump right into work, but are trying to be better about it and get up slowly, eat breakfast before answering any emails, etc. We have been trying to do more yoga in the mornings, but it is still a work in progress. We love to drink hot water with lemon or green tea!

What workout tennis shoes do you like best?

We love this pair for running around, this pair is SO comfy (highly recommend), and this pair is also really comfy.

Does Nordstrom sponsor you and your sister?

Nordstrom does not sponsor us, unless it is noted at the bottom of the blog post. We always disclose when we are patterning with a brand.

How did you first get started as a blogger? Any tips for an aspiring fashion/style blogger?

That is a great question. We actually started in public accounting and just started sharing our outfits, and it kind of took off from there. You can read more about it in this post and this post. We also shared some tips in those posts!

I have never shopped at Shein before? Is it a safe site?

It is a safe site. They have a great mix of trendy pieces, but it is kind of hit or miss. We only share the pieces we like, so we can’t speak for everything on the site. You can use ADOUBLE20 for 20% off.

What are your guys’ resolutions for this year? Any new things you guys are trying out? Any places on your travel bucket list you’re going to?

We haven’t set any major resolutions other than to really slow down this year. We are always “go-go-go” and our health has been really affected by that. We are trying to take more breaks and take more time off of work, so we are not so burnt out. We have been trying to incorporate more yoga, too. We are dying to go to Spain!

What is your go-to-cheat meal? Have you tried veganism?

Our go-to cheat meal is probably ice cream or pizza. We have not tried veganism before. We eat animal products. We have eaten paleo for a little bit.

How did you become insta famous, and actually fund the lifestyle you live? Love you btw!

That is very sweet. We don’t consider ourselves “famous”, but we truly do love what we do. Similar to the question previously, we talked about how we got into blogging and this career in this post. We actually do this full-time and this is how we support ourselves.

What happened to your podcast? Noticed you guys haven’t done an episode in a while. Loved them!

We had to take a break (that wasn’t supposed to be so long) due to schedules, the app we used not working anymore, and just timing. We are definitely planning on having it up again soon– just trying to find the time to start up again!

What is your hair/makeup routine/ what are your fave products?

We have been using a lot of the same products for our hair and makeup for years! We shared what we use for our makeup in this post . For our hair, we use this curling iron, this shampoo ,this conditioner ,love this hair primer, and this dry shampoo.

How do you keep your hair so long and healthy? Any tips?

We only wash our hair about once or twice a week. We take a bunch of vitamins (more in this post) and eat a bunch of fruits and veggie. Oh, and we drink a lot of water!

Lifestyle / Personal

Happy Birthday To My Person

June 13, 2017

Our Stay at Breathless Cabo Resort + Spa | adoubledose.com

{ Hat | Black Top | Blue Sunglasses | Earrings }

It is our 26th birthday today! We wanted to share a different type of post today. Last year, we shared a bunch of facts about ourselves, but this year, we wanted to talk about what it is really like to be a twin, and what we love, and sometimes don’t like so much about it. We are each going to share some personal thoughts, so you all can see how we are different (and similar).

It is something so hard to explain or understand, unless you are a twin. The bond is so unique. I know we have met tons of twins along the years, and a lot of them are super competitive, or just lead totally opposite lives. For us, we have always been close. Growing up, we went to a private school, so we were always in the same class. When we went to a public high school, and still had the same classes together. Of course, we like any siblings, we can be competitive. In the end, though, we are always happy for each other’s successes, even if it means both us can’t always win.A lot of the stuff we argue about revolves around stuff a married couple would argue about (we refer to ourselves as that sometimes, haha) like laundry, cooking, cleaning, getting gas, etc. We literally have an argument about who is going to drive if we are going somewhere together. Some other things we argue about is work, of course. As you all know, we share the actual blog, but we have our own instagram pages. We usually shoot each other’s pictures, so we will always have an argument when we are both being super picky about how we look in a picture, or who’s going to post the same backdrop first. I know it sounds SO silly and superficial, but it is the truth of what goes on behind the scenes. We both do still live together, and so we will argue about one of us not paying a certain bill, or someone not picking up after themselves, but the GREAT thing about living with your sister, especially twin, is that there is zero filter. We just say it how it is, and we don’t have to be “nice” about it. We also get over arguments super quickly, as in seconds. One second we will be yelling at each other, and then the next second, we act as if nothing even happened and are perfectly happy. It is so odd, but that is how it has always been.

I could go on and on about how much we argue, and how much we love each other, haha, but now we wanted to talk a little bit more about each other, and how we see the other person.

About Samantha:
“Sam”, as I refer to her as, is literally the other half of me. As silly as it sounds, it is the truth. I know a lot of people would say we are codependent, and can’t do anything without the other, I would say that it is more that I just am not the same person without her. She is the person I trust more than anyone in the world. I know I can tell her anything that I am struggling with, and that she will have my back no matter what. Well, I will take that back, I did tell her I shaved my legs (before I was allowed to), and she ran and told my mom, but other than that 😉 A lot of people don’t realize that although we are identical, we do have differences in personalities. When we were younger, she was a lot more organized and neat than I was, and a lot more dedicated in school. Not that I wasn’t, but she was way more, until high school.

Growing up, I was more outgoing and more willing to try adventurous things, while she was more reserved, and wanted me to try them first. Now, I would say she can be more open-minded to certain things than I would be. I can definitely be more of the stickler when it comes to eating healthier. She is a chocoholic, as in if there is ANY dessert, and it is missing chocolate, she will always say, “It would be better if it had chocolate!” She is older than me by 11 minutes, and she has always wanted to boss me around and be my second mom, haha.

I am not joking, if we are apart or out of town separately, we will talk non-stop, and it is too funny because I feel like I have to fill her in on everything I am doing. People always want to know what is going to happen when we get married, and the truth is, I have no idea. I do know that I couldn’t live in a different city, and that she is one of the most important things to me.

In the past year, we have really become comfortable with having our own lives, and time apart. Since we live and work together, it is a lot of time spent together, but we know how to do all of that well. I really admire her strength and discipline. She went through a really tough breakup a couple of years ago, and I learned so much from her. She is one of the hardest workers I konw, and one tough cookie. Okay, that is all for my sappy post!
About Alexis:

Ohhh little Alexis.. or “Alex”/”Al” is how I normally call her (depending on my anger towards her haha). She is one of the most dedicated people I know. She is also literally my other half or “hubby” is what I like to refer to her as. But really, my mom referred to us as an “old married couple” one time and we have joked about it ever since. After spending the last 26 years years together, I know pretty much everything she likes and hates and usually even know what she’s thinking…yes I know pretty creepy! At the same time, I know exactly just the right buttons to push to annoy her which she just loves ;).

People always ask me how we are different. To be honest, I always never know how to answer this, so even writing it now is kind of tough. I feel like I am just bashing her and saying how great I am and all of the things I do that she doesn’t. When we were younger, she was definitely the more easy going, go with the flow kind of girl. She did put effort in school and was a great student, but I was the more Type A between the two of us. She would be way more likely to chat on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger– for those of y’all thinking what in the world is that?!) instead of doing her homework, while I was in a giant panic that my math homework needed to get done right away. She was also more likely to hang out with the boys when we were younger..she and the right idea (bye bye girl drama). Also, anything that had to do with sports, she would go right for it, and I would prefer to watch her do it and then do it. I also remember Alex going right up to kids when we were younger and just hanging out with them. We even have it on home video on a vacation in Martha’s Vineyard and she just marched right up to this girl and made friends, and I just followed along and reaped the benefits :).

As we got older, Alex definitely became more Type A like me, and we both were super driven and anal about any assignment for school or work. We are now both very similar in that we put tremendous pressure on ourselves to be “perfect” which we all know is not possible. We both have lots of anxiety, and don’t know how to just chill haha. I would say between the two of us she can be more patient when it comes to design stuff (specially our blog), and gets super frustrated with the coding aspect. I am the opposite when it comes to the coding, but I still love anything creative and design related too. She is definitely a little more stubborn that I am and is very much a person of routine (as am I). One thing I always joke to her about is that she has the worst attitude when she’s hangry. She could definitely star in that Snickers commercial. Speaking of food, we both love and hate most of the same foods, except for one thing…Cilantro (YUCK). Clearly, you now know what I think of it, and Alex LOVES it. It’s pretty funny that we have such differing views on that.

At the end of the day, I honestly don’t know what I would do without her. She knows me almost too well, and as much as we fight (literally over the dumbest stuff..one time was over a Sam’s club card), we both know we would do anything for each other. I think we do a great job balancing each other out, and she’s honestly one of the only opinions that I listen to. Alright now that I have gone all cheeseball on y’all, I hope you learned some more about my hubby 😉

Hope you all enjoyed! Xo

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