new year – A Double Dose

20 Things I Am Leaving Behind in 2019

December 30, 2019

lifestyle and fashion blogger alexis belbel wearing tan suede pointed boots and neutral/camel color satchel crossbody bag from Sole Society with a grey coat, grey sweater from nordstrom topshop, hollister skinny jeans | adoubledose.com

With only two days left of this DECADE (so crazy!), I wanted to share some things I am leaving behind in 2020. This has been quite the decade, and year, so although there have been great memories in the past, I am looking forward to starting fresh in 2020 and creating new memories!

Before I get into some things I am leaving behind in 2019, I wanted to share about this look! You can wear this one into January and February, and I love that this look combines all of the neutrals.

These suede booties from Sole Society are actually on sale right now, and come in leopard, too! I have size 7 on for reference. I am wearing it with this neutral crossbody bag, also from Sole Society, that an be worn on your shoulder, wrist, or over your body. I love how this color goes with everything.

I paired them with these legging jeans I LOVE (wearing size 0 short) and this grey sweater (size xs). This grey coat is another great find I have shared a lot (wearing size xxs).

And, now for some things I am leaving behind in 2019:

The feeling of having to ALWAYS be doing something
Letting other people’s moods or issues get you down
Feeling guilty
The need to be right a lot
Judging people for their decisions (even if it is internally)
Being too hard on myself
Feeling resentful
Worrying about the future
Not getting enough sleep
Staying on my phone too late at night

The idea of a “timeline” in my life
Worrying about things that are out of my control
Clothes and things I don’t use or wear
Perfectionism
Not taking breaks from social media/work
Not being fully present
Complaining about mundane things
Not practicing enough self care
Mindlessly checking my phone
Mindlessly snacking instead of eating when I am actually hungry

{ Tan Suede Booties | Neutral Crossbody Bag | Grey Sweater | Grey Coat | Legging Jeans | Sunglasses | Name Necklace | Evil Eye Name Necklace | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Apple Watch and Watch Case and Glitter Watch Band }

In partnership with Sole Society.

5 Things We Learned in 2018

December 31, 2018

We can’t believe today is the last day of 2018! It seems like this year has totally flown by. We feel like we should have at least a couple more weeks or months left of this year! Today, we thought we would share five things we learned in 2018 (although, it feels like we learned way more than five, haha!) Before we get into that, we wanted to talk about this neutral, winter-white look, featuring our favorite studded shoes ever!

We are firm believers in white year-round, so this is the way we do it! Pair some white jeans with some neutrals like this metallic gold clutch (has a chain strap, so you can wear it on your shoulder or crossbody!) and these neutral studded shoes (also come in black!).

We also paired this neutral windowpane scarf from Sole Society (also where the shoes and bag are from) with this camel turtleneck sweater underneath! We love shopping for shoes and accessories for any season at Sole Society because they are affordable and SO stylish!

And, now to close out 2018, here is what we learned:

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALL: seems obvious, duh! But, seriously, we are so type-A and extremely motivated, especially if it involves things we are passionate about- ie: work, eating/cooking, family, etc. It is hard for us to say “no” or to “turn it off”.

We are trying to work on this by creating a list of things that have to absolutely get done, and things that can be pushed to the next day, and that has been helping!

THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON– YOU CAN’T PLAN SOME THINGS: we probably have said this before, but we are such planners, and it can be difficult at times to not have an exact plan of everything. A lot of things that we thought were going to go a certain way, didn’t go the way we thought they would, and sometimes you just don’t know why, and that is okay. Sometimes, you just have to know there is a better plan in the future that will be the explanation for all of the stuff that happened.

FOCUS ON THE THINGS YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR, NOT THE THINGS THAT YOU DON’T HAVE: we have all heard this one before (insert eye-roll), but especially with social media and all of our world, it can be hard to not compare, or wish you had certain things. We are really trying to focus on what we DO have, and how great it really is- ie: our family, our great job, health.) There is always something to be grateful for!

YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE: this isn’t just about work, it is about everything in our life. Relationships, work, family, etc. All you can do is focus on loving yourself and putting yourself first. That is not a selfish thing to do! You have to care about yourself and LOVE yourself first, otherwise you will live in resentment. Besides, nobody needs toxic people in their lives!

YOUR HEALTH IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING: boy, did we learn this! We have been through so much this year with our health, and feel like we are finally on the right path (more in this post! ) Don’t ever take your health for granted because without it, you have nothing. We had days where we could barely get out of bed or go on a short walk, so we are so grateful that we are feeling better and getting our energy back! Trust your gut, and know when you don’t feel right. You are your own best advocate!

{ Windowpane Scarf |Tiaa Rockstud Shoes |Metallic Clutch| Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater, also Similar Here |White Ankle Jeans|Grey Coat Similar Here and Here | Curling Iron | Nail Color | Toe Polish | Necklace | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Michele Deco Watch }

In partnership with Sole Society.

Fashion / Fitness / For the Gym / Workouts

How To Ease Back Into Workouts

January 15, 2018

It is winter, and it is also flu season, unfortunately, so we had a few requests to do a post on easing back into workouts whether you’ve been sick, or just have had a lot of time off! I (Alexis) have personally had to take a lot of time off because of an infection (more in this post). It can be so exhausting to think about working out again, especially if you’re super low on energy, or just haven’t hit the gym in a while. Before we get into our tips, we want to share a little bit about our fave part of this outfit: THIS WHITE VEST! It is so soft and warm. We love the white, but it does come in a few other colors. We are wearing xs for reference! These leggings are literally like butter. They are so soft and you’ll literally want to live in them! We are wearing xs for reference, and want to order like 10 more pairs because they are that good! You can wear them for workouts or just running around! This tee is not super warm, but we love that it is looser and more lightweight. It has really cute cutouts in front, too!These shoes are so lightweight! They are great for training workouts and just running around, and we just love the colors! And, now for our tips on easing back into a workout. Trust us, we know how hard it can be!

Don’t overdo it right away: even if it is just 10 minutes, it is better than nothing. Your body has been through a lot (whether it is being sick or just out for a while), you don’t want to go too crazy!
You don’t have to workout every day: make it a goal to workout at least twice a week, and then work your way up!
Take it slowly and focus on form: it is not a race, so go slowly, and really focus on your form and feeling good, so you don’t get injured!

It is okay to take rest days: we are really bad at this, but getting better! It can be hard to not to go the gym, especially if you’re a creature of habit, but your body needs days off. We are trying to take at least two days off!
Walk on the treadmill or walk outside: this is what I have been doing. Just a steady, easy pace (like 3-3.5 mph) with little or no incline, just to get moving!
Dont skimp on sleep: we know you have heard this before, but sleep is KEY. We were getting up really early and heading straight to the gym, but we are trying to focus on starting off slower and letting our body get up slowly, and sometimes starting with yoga in the mornings.

We love shopping at Nordstrom for all of our fitness/athleisure gear. They have super cute pieces that can be mixed and matched with your other pieces at home! They offer free shipping and returns, and you can even pick up your online orders the same day with in-store pickup, which we use ALL of the time!{ White Vest | Long Sleeve Tee | Grey Leggings | Flyknit Sneakers | Sunglasses | Nail Color | Lip Color |BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Michele Deco Watch }

In partnership with Nordstrom.

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Lifestyle

What We Learned in 2016

December 30, 2016

Getting Active With Lululemon | adoubledose.com

{ Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve Crew | Speed Short Mesh} Cardio Squad Tank II | Run Around Tight | Free To be Zen Bra }

Can you all believe that tomorrow is the last day of 2016?! How crazy is that? This year has literally flown by! We thought it would be fun to do a post on what we learned this year, and some goals for 2017. We don’t typically get too personal on here, but I thought, “what the heck, I would want to know;)”

So, here we go:

WHAT WE LEARNED THIS YEAR:

You Can’t Be Everywhere and Do Everything:
- We are both very type-A, and want accomplish every single thing and be in a million places, and if we don’t get something done, we are disappointed, and don’t focus on what we actually accomplished. UGH! Do any of y’all relate?! We both want to try to learn to accept that it is OK to not get it ALL done, and to focus on how much we actually got done!
Life Has a Plan:
- Even though it is hard to accept at times, there is always a reason things happen the way they do. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to try or put in some effort, but life has a funny way of working out in certain ways. We always want to plan every single thing out, so this is hard for us to accept at times;)
Believe in Yourself:
- We think it is safe to say everyone struggles with this as some point. It can be so hard to do, especially when you work for yourself, and are surrounded by tons of other people doing the same thing as you, but if you really go for what you’re passionate about, like we did, you will succeed. We both never thought this would turn into our full-time job after working in public accounting, but it did, and we couldn’t be more grateful! All of your support is the reason we get to do this! Yes, there are tough days, and days we lack motivation, but for the most part, we love it and are so happy. We remember just a year-and-half ago, we were sitting outside talking about how cool it would be to be a “fashion/lifestyle blogger”, but just dismissed it. All it takes is believing in yourself and working hard:)
It’s Okay to Have Fun and Let Work Slide:
- Okay, remember we said we have a hard time not getting everything done we wanted to? In our minds, we have to get all of these things done, and if we don’t, we feel really guilty! Even if we are out with friends, we are thinking, “We really need to post that Instagram” or “We need to go home and finish that blog post!” Yes, it is because We LOVE our jobs, but we also tend to be really anxious people, and always feel like we can’t get enough done, or actually let loose and let go of work. We are slowly getting a little better;)
Put Yourself Out There:
- We both can be a little reserved at times, and since we have each other, it is harder for us to make an effort to meet other people, especially because we are always working! We don’t really get too personal on here, but we both have put ourselves out there way more than we ever thought we would (i.e.: dating apps;)) More on that in another post in the future, BUT, if you’re single, we highly recommend trying them out and being open to it!
Putting a Business On Hold:
- You all may remember our Double Dose Bakery waffles. Yes, we had our own food product! Even though it was hard to let go of to focus on our blog full-time, we know we made the right decision, and are really proud of what we accomplished with it.
Learn From Your Relationships:
- We both truly believe that people come into your life for certain reasons. Some fade in and out, but they all are meaningful.
Stop Comparing Yourself To Others:
- We know, everyone says this. We are both pretty confidant people, but with social media, comparison is a constant thing, no matter how many times you tell yourself you’re not going to compare. What we have learned is that the best thing you can do is stay in your own lane, and focus on what works for you. What others post or do may not necessarily work for you! Everyone has their good and bad days, and while we both are very transparent on our instagrams, it is a highlight reel, and we don’t share when we are struggling or having a crappy day or going through a rough time.

And, now for some positivity, haha, here are our goals for 2017:

GOALS FOR 2017:

Go To Yoga Twice/Week
Turn Off Phone for 1 or 2 Hours/Day and Be Present
Focus On Things That Make You Happy
Learn To Say “No” To Things You Don’t Want/Can’t Do
Be OK With Being Off a Routine
Go to Bed Earlier and Get Off Phone Before Bed

Hoping that writing these down will keep us accountable;)

Here’s a look back at our favorite posts from 2016:READ FULL POST
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We want to hear what your goals are and what you learned- Share them with us if you want! We can’t thank all of you enough for your support! We have some exciting content coming in 2017, so stay tuned for a fun year. LOVE Y’ALL! XO

Also, loved this article I found the other day for the new year!

Fashion / Gift Guide / Recipes

Healthy Cocktail Ideas + Hosting Gift Ideas

December 27, 2016

Holiday Styles With Express | adoubledose.com

{ Black Sparkly Dress | Red Caged Heels | Black Lace Top sold out, Similar Here | Black Flouncy Skirt | Black Velvet Block Sandals | Black Bag | Lip Color | Nail Color | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here| Necklace Similar Here | WATCH: Michele Deco Watch }

Confession: we don’t drink cocktails that often, and are not really into spirits or wine that much, BUT, we will say that we have recently gotten a little more into it, and by more into it, I mean 1-2 drinks a week total;) Hey, it’s a start, right?!{ Black Sparkly Dress | Red Caged Heels | Black Bag | Lip Color | Nail Color | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here| Necklace Similar Here | WATCH: Michele Deco Watch }

After getting into healthier eating, etc., we slowly began to realize that most drinks that actually taste good are terrible for you. You might as well go eat a HUGE piece of cake or a dozen donuts with how much sugar and carbs you end up consuming without even knowing it! We both are not really fond of how alcohol tastes, unless it’s masked with a ton of sugar, so we are always looking for cocktails that actually taste good AND are not horrible for you!

WHAT DO WE ORDER?

We will typically order a vodka water with a lot of lemon or lime, cucumber, and/or fresh mint. If the bar doesn’t have any mint or cucumbers, we will just ask for a ton of limes and lemons. Also, we take this liquid stevia with us in our bag! It is a healthier sweetener made from the stevia plant, so it is great if you want to sweeten your drink or coffee! Sometimes, we will ask for our drinks at a restaurant or bar (like a mojito or margarita) without the sweetener or sugar, and when I get it, I will add some of my stevia drops in it! It saves a ton of calories and carbs!;)

Some other good drink ideas are:

Vodka with cranberry juice
Vodka with orange/lemon/grapefruit juice
Moscow Mule
Glass of red wine
Glass of white wine

Here are some healthier cocktail recipes that we found and can’t wait to try:

Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosa
Photo and recipe: A Beautiful Mess

Coconut Water Champagne Fruit PunchPhoto and recipe: Averie Cooks

Pineapple and Coconut Champagne CocktailPhoto and recipe: PineappleandCoconut

Sparkling Fruit SangriaPhoto and recipe: Sally’s Baking Addiction

Ginger Kombucha CocktailPhoto and recipe: Love and Lemons

Skinny MargaritaPhoto and recipe: Gimme Some Oven

Ginger Beer MargaritasPhoto and recipe: Minimalist Baker

And, now since you all will be attending some sort of NYE party, and will be looking for a hosting gift, we have you covered! Here are some ideas of what we would bring as a gift!

Click each item below to SHOP it directly! PS- some of these can be shipped in just TWO days or available same-day via in-store pick-up!

{ Pineapple Bowl | Gold Bottle Stopper | Wine Glasses | Cable Pillow | Rose Gold Candle | ” I Love You A Latte” Mug | Gold Shot Glasses | Heart Bottle Opener | Zebra Dish | “Nom” Gold Plate | Gold Serving Utensils | Gold Cocktail Shaker | Bronze Pineapple Decor }

SHOP more gifts for the home below: