Happy Tuesday! We are currently in paradise, El Dorado Royale, for those who have asked, and it is just incredible! We can’t wait to share our full stay recap with y’all! This outfit is a must for spring and each of the piece is so versatile and can be mix and matched with so many other of our your favorite pieces. This eyelet cami (wearing xs) is perfect for warmer temps! You can wear it with white jeans, regular jeans, or even a pencil skirt for work. We paired it with this denim jacket (we loooove the distressed look it has– also wearing xs!)To dress up this look a little bit, we paired these white shorts with the eyelet cami. These also come in a few other colors (we have them in black, too). We are wearing 00 in them, and love how they are higher waisted!
And, now for what everyone has been asking us about! In case you missed it, we talked all about our hair extensions in this podcast episode. We got tape in extensions from our hairstylist, Hair By Viviana (we’ve been going to her for years and wouldn’t go anywhere else!) The main reason we got them is because we had longer hair about a year and a half ago, but have been going through some health issues, and our just stop growing. SO frustrating! So, we decided to put some tape-in extensions in to add some length. Of course, now, it seems like our hair is starting to grow really quickly now that we have them. Go figure!A lot of you all have been asking about the cost, where they are from, etc. To be honest, we don’t know the brand and our hairstylist doesn’t give it out, but from what we know, these are the safest on hair and keep your real hair the healthiest!At first, it feels like SO much hair, but you get used to it! Here are some tips on how we care for ours:
Brush hair regularly, very carefully
Wash hair only once or twice a week
we honestly get it washed at Drybar or blown out frequently 😉
When working out, use these hair ties to put hair in bun or pony to avoid getting super sweaty and tangled
We found all of these super cute pieces for spring from Express. We love shopping there for casual, affordable pieces like these, or even some workwear. They also have a bunch of petite stuff, which we are ALL about! You can get $25 off our purchase of $100+ in-store only with code 3409
Today, we are sharing about something we have both been struggling with for over a year now, and we have had so many of you all reach out about it, so we are going to talk about briefly in this post, and more in an upcoming podcast episode! Before we get into that topic, we want to talk about this super CUTE white dress that is absolutely perfect for Easter coming up, or just any spring event! It also makes a perfect bridal shower dress.We paired it with some neutral accessories like these blush sandals and this studded satchel. Both great pieces for spring! The sandals are blush, but also serve as a good neutral!Now, we want to get into our health struggle with Adrenal Fatigue. As you all know, we have struggled with Hypothyroidism (more in this post), and had it under control for a while. About a year and a half ago, we started gaining weight (specifically in our hips and abdomen), feeling extremely fatigued, our hair and nails were weak and not really growing like they used, to, our hormones were out of whack, and we had major anxiety, amongst other issues. At first, we though it was our thyroid acting up again, but after some research (and listening to some podcasts), we realized we definitely had some kind of hormonal issue/imbalance. We started seeing a hormone specialist, who ordered a ton of tests, and eventually diagnosed us both with Adrenal Fatigue. You’re probably wondering what Adrenal Fatigue is. Well, since we are both not doctor’s we did some of our own research, obviously! According to James Wilson (author of “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome”), chronic stress and lifestyle affect the body’s ability to recuperate from physical, mental or emotional stress. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue symptoms include
extreme fatigue
brain fog
weight gain
insulin resistance
Adrenal Fatigue is an overstimulation of the adrenal glands (or “adrenals”) by chronic stress over time that could lead to an inconsistent level of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the bloodstream, sometimes far more than normal and at other times, far too low. In addition to this overload or improper cortisol level, people with adrenal fatigue often don’t have enough DHEA, the “parent hormone” responsible for the creation of many necessary hormones in the body.
Dr. Wilson describes the unique progression of adrenal fatigue throughout the day as follows: you wake up and are unable to function without a significant amount of caffeine, finally feel a boost of energy during the early part of the day, then your energy levels crash around 2 p.m., rise around 6 p.m., fall again around 9 p.m. and then finally peak again at 11 in the evening.
source Obviously, you all know that we are pretty Type-A personalities, so it is not surprise that we are suffering from this. It is frustrating, but we are glad we had some sort of answer as to why we were feeling this way. So, after doing the test with our doctor (which included blood tests, saliva tests, and a few others), we read THIS BOOK (super helpful) and started taking some of these supplements + some other vitamins:
Not going to lie, we totally feel like grandmas taking our huge pile of pills, but we are starting to feel better slowly. In addition to the supplements, we also have been doing the following:
cut out all coffee
we only drink green tea in the mornings and decaf coffee or tea later in the day
cut out sugars
we try to stick to just stevia, and the occasional sucralose
limiting refined carbohydrates
we do eat some carbs like wheat, but not anything processed
sticking to whole, natural foods
we eat a lot of fresh veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats
TRY to go to bed earlier (still a struggle)
slow down with the cardio (we used to do wayyyy too much, and this can really affect your adrenal glands)
sleep at least 8 hours each night
do something relaxing for yourself (also hard for us)
take breaks from work (also a struggle, too, haha)
In addition to Adrenal Fatigue, Sam has been struggling with inflammation, which appears like it is weight gain. Honestly, it has been very tough for her, and she will probably wrote a separate post on it, but she is thinking that she has Leaky Gut. If any of you have struggled with this before, please reach out! It always helps to have a support system.
Happy Wednesday, y’all! We are FINALLYYY back with a fitness post. A lot of you girl had been requesting more fitness and recipe content, so we promise to share more. Today, we will be sharing another downloadable workout, and some easy breakfast ideas. If you all are looking for more fitness-related content, you can find a ton of workouts under the main page under the big drop down at the top right-hand side that says FITNESS POSTS, or you can just search ‘fitness’ on our blog!
In case you missed they last one, you can check it out in this post. Each day (workout) is split into a muscle group with rep amounts, set amounts, and weight amounts. We also are giving a few tips as well. This workout schedule is available for download for $10. It is exactly what we will be doing this week, and you could always re-use this plan for other weeks, and mix and match them. To download the workout schedule, click below:
Note: you will be taken to PayPal to pay, and then should receive a link to the download shortly after that in your inbox. If you do not receive it, please email us!:)
We get a lot of questions about what we like to eat for breakfast, and the answer is, it really depends on how busy our mornings are. We know, like most of y’all, mornings can be crazy and rushed, but breakfast is something we NEVER skip! We know it sounds cliche, but really, you should never skip it, and it really is one of the most important meals. Honestly, we think EVERY meal is important just because we loooove to eat, haha, but in all reality, if you skip breakfast, you will just be staaaarving at lunch, which leads to poor choices. We have all been there!
We suggest starting your day with some protein and carbs. It can be something like the following:
egg white or 1 egg + 2 whites omelette or scrambled eggs with some fruit or whole wheat toast/Ezekial bread
2-4 GG crackers with eggs (same as above) or with smoked salmon
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 [email protected]
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!
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?
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?
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!
Happy Tuesday and Halloween! Hope y’all are up to something fun! We are back with another round of our favorite posts from this month on the blog/instagram. To shop each outfit below, click the items to shop them directly! You can also shop all of our outfits at adoubledose.com/outfits or adoubledose.com/instagram.
We know we are not the only ones who are literally OBSESSED with Amazon, and if you don’t have Amazon Prime, it is worth every single penny. If you don’t have prime, basically, you get free two-day delivery (sometimes you can get same-day delivery, you can stream music/videos, etc.
We wanted to share all the things we buy on Amazon (which is literally everything, haha). Some items you don’t think about ordering, but it just makes life so much easier if you can just order it all online and then it just appears at your doorstep!
So, to start off, we buy all our office supplies there. We even bought this piece of furniture for our office, which we absolutely LOVE. We will buy things like the following items: