What I lost in becoming a surgical scrub student

Let's begin-

1) The urge to impulse buy nail polish. As they get old with age, the only thing I can do with my nails is:

        -Get a mani with no polish (and risk getting cut and not scrubbing-in for surgeries)

        -Buff and polish my nails (gives me the illusion of clear nail polish)

        -File them down so I don't have any nails (thankfully I have long nail beds)

Just get pedis!

They're more enjoyable anyway!

2) Good hair days:

         -As my straightener accumulates dust, my head bands are my new best friends (Hey Blair Waldorf!)

         -I wear my hair in a low-bun. Boring.

         -My hair is covered by my only way to express my personality, MY SURGICAL CAPS (Need to get a Lilly Pulitzer scrub cap - if only!) 

    

3) Make-up. Pffff please! I'm getting up at 4:30am. I only really make sure I brush my teeth and wash my face. DON'T LET ME FORGET MY D.O! In all honestly, I wear a mask the whole day. So I think about it like this: What are the features people actually going to see?

              -Eyebrows. Must be on point!

              -Eyelashes. Mascara must be on. Long and lush! 

              -Concealer. Ain't nobody got time for bags under their eyes!

              -Setting powder. Because it's a must. I can't skip it. 

*And I'm not there to impress with my looks, but with my brain! (But you can't skip the basics because no one takes a rough-looking girl seriously)

4) No discretion whatsoever! You've seen one, you've seen them all - of all ages. No shame! And of course not on purpose - no creepers!

5)  Being able to pee when you feel like it. Stuck in a 5 hour long surgery? Keep starring at that clock or door and pray someone taps you out. On breaks? Pee even if you don't even think you have to - cause who knows when you'll get the chance to go again!

6) Drinking water. Yes this hydrates you BUT it also makes you pee! Think long and hard about that cup of water. But I did see an episode of Grey's Anatomy where they wore diapers so they didn't have go to the bathroom. Doesn't sound that crazy to me anymore!

7) The ability to be a girly-girl - it's nonexistent in the OR! You can't be afraid to get in there and get a little dirty. What's more important? Saving a person's life or that spot on blood that just splashed onto you? In Ortho, I was doing a replacement and was PROUD of my one drop of blood on my gown. It meant I was getting in there for the patient, not me!

8) My engagement ring. No, not to be materialistic but it's so much more than just a ring, it's a promise my fiancé gave me and worked hard for, and gosh darn it he did such an amazing job picking it out too! Regardless, he is always in my heart and on my mind. But sometimes I get little panic attacks because I don't feel it on my finger, but then I remember it's at home safe and accounted for. I don't recommend anyone to bring their jewelry into the operating room, safety pins open and things get dropped. No, not just on the floor, but in a patient's opened body!

Any questions, or post requests regarding surgical scrubbing, please let me know! 

***

xx, mindey

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

Hello fellow medical peeps!

No I haven't not abandoned you, nor have I been ignoring you either. I have micheivous classmates that want to get others into trouble. Although I am not stating patient info, or have I ever given out where I have been located let alone my school name and hospital I'm in. People are people and I want to graduated and NOT get into trouble for blogging. This doesn't not mean I having been blogging, this just means I haven't been posting. (Get it?) well I miss everyone and hope everything is going well! 

Fyi: I got my first needle prick today, not to panick, the needle never touched the patient, it was sterile.(thank god!!)Nevertheless I'm blogging about what happened and why it did happen. 

Graduation is July 8th, 2015.  Be on the look out, for publishings! 

Xx mindey

Serendipity Caps Review

EXTRA, EXTRA.. READ ALL ABOUT IT!

My newest surgical cap arrived last week from Serendipity Caps. I have had a week of wearing it, washing it, and wearing it again and have finally come to make this review!

The surgical cap is light but not made of cheap fabric (100% cotton and pre-washed to prevent shrinkage). Serendipity makes surgical caps with various fabric designs that can let you express yourself in a classy, preppy way! The packaging was the absolute cutest! It comes in a little pouch for you to throw in your laundry. S.C. also gives you a cute note with washing instructions. If you want nice compliments all day be sure to purchase these! These caps are not only cute but they come in a low price (less than $10).  As you all know, I'm a student! I'm not made out of money! 

Start your SURGICAL CAP COLLECTION with Serendipity Caps!

Follow her instagram : CLICK HERE!

ESTY :   CLICK HERE!

**Disclaimer : I was given this cap from Serendipity Caps, this review is based off my opinions only. Thank you!

xx, mindey
Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshorgirls

what's in my bag

Longchamp
Le Pliage Edition

I love my Longchamp for oh-so-many reasons: it looks good, the color goes with everything (that I wear,) it's comfortable to carry, and it fits SO MUCH CRAP. I like to call it my Mary Poppins bag. You never know what you're gonna grab a hold of when you stick your hand in! (That's what she said??) Mindey and I were hanging out the other day and she caught a glimpse of the inside, "Damn you got a lot of stuff in here!" No Mindey, I'm prepared! Zombie apocalypse? Psshhh I have everything essential that I'll need - or that's what I like to tell myself.

Now I'm going to warn you, this is a long post of pictures of random girly crap. Some of you may like these kind of posts, some of you may not. I know I'm always interested to see what someone carries in their bag, especially if it's a big ol' thing.

So I hope all you lovely people enjoy!
---

Michael Kors wallet

This wallet literally holds EVERYTHING. I love it!

Sugar Paper planner

I'm OBSESSED with my planner. Enough said.

iPad mini

I don't know how I got through life before
owning an iPad mini.

Victoria's Secret bag for pens

I have SO many pens that I've collected. Perfect little
case for all of them!

Eos chapstick & Lush lip scrub

These two go with me EVERYWHERE.

Women's Health & Cosmopolitan

Typically I'm not one to keep magazines in my bag but this
past week my boyfriend was in the hospital and I needed
some reading material while hanging out at the hospital.

Mac Studio Fix powder foundation

I typically use the Studio Fix liquid foundation so

throughout the day when I tend to get oily around

my t-zone, this powder is the bomb dot come when it
comes to handling that situation!

PINK "Ready to Party" body mist

What I love about this scent is that it's not too overwhelming.
It's perfect to spray on after a day at the kennel.

Eos hand lotion

I love this little Eos lotion. I wash my hands a lot
throughout the day at work so they tend to get super
dry - this is the perfect fix for that!

Small Betsey Johnson bag for Washi tape

I have a serious Washi tape problem. It's so bad that
I had to use this bag to put them all in. I haven't even
used half of them but I CAN'T STOP BUYING THEM.

Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in "Lust for Blush"

I love Maybelline's matte formula. This is the perfect pink 

shade for ANYONE. It's always nice to have just in case.

Too Faced "Better Than Sex" mascara

Because it's better than sex, duh.

My car keys

I've been driving Colton's car this past week so these have
taken up residence in my bag. Typically they're hanging
on a cute little hook by our front door.

Kashi granola bar

Yo girls gotta eat!

Colton's bracelets

Like I mentioned above, my boyfriend has been in the
hospital this past week so the night he got admitted,
these got thrown into my bag while in the ER.

iPhone/iPad charger

My electronic devices die so fast. Cannot be without this!

Annddd of course I have the random array of trash: receipts, old mail, food wrappers, and god knows what else. My bags a mess. My life's a mess. But whose isn't?!

***

xx, brit

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

HEY!

LET US KNOW

***

Good morning to our beautiful followers! This is just a quick post to ask you, the follower:

What are you interested in seeing/reading about on our blog? We like to consider ourselves a lifestyle blog so we can blog about all sorts of things that interest us AND you. So let us know! What do you want to see more of? This blog is not only a place for us to express our interests (make-up, clothes, etc.) and share our routines through school/work but also a place for YOU to get lost in our words.

***

xx, brit & mindey

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

What Not to forget in the sterile field - Mindey's version

Yes, you need to know what surgery you have, make sure your goggles are on, shoe covers, etc. I'm talking about the stuff you may not really think about. Things I've heard from classmates or stories my preceptors have told me. The following are my top 5!

1) You do NOT know! In fact, you don't know it at all. If you did, you wouldn't be a student, right? DO NOT let these haunting words (...oh, I know) slip out of your mouth! (if it does, recuperate at all costs)

2) Have a list of questions you have already written down for the doctor (They like it when they get good questions and might open up better for you.)

I typically ask:

                        What was this patient's diagnosis?

                        How long is recovery after the procedure? Etc.

3) READ the BOARD. This might sound unnecessary to tell you, but when you scrub and put two pairs of latex gloves and open instruments and have everything ready in a neat pile, JUST TO KNOW YOUR PATIENT HAS A LATEX ALLERGY! YUP! That whole setup and instruments you laid out is aallllll to waste. And yes, you will feel 2 feet tall when you tell your doctor.

4) Be EXTRA EXTRA careful with sharps. Last thing on your mind. Passing suture, cutting suture, and counting with the circulator, it can make you work up a sweat. PLEASE be EXTRA careful with this. You might think, "that will never happen to me." Think again. And the process that comes with it, lets just say SLOW DOWN when you're anywhere near sharps. EYE contact with your sharps when you're around them. And be afraid of them. YOU HAVE THE CONTROL, take it!

5) INTRODUCE YOURSELF ESPECIALLY to the surgeon. Yes, I know it's intimidating and YES I know they may forget your name the same second you tell them, and they may also look at you as if "ain't nobody go time for that", but it is a MUST. And hey, you have the mask on when you take it off its like you have an alter ego. They wont ever know who you are if you make a mistake.

Don't forget to SPEAK UP! This is what I say out loud to the doctor in one breath -- "Good morning Dr. ___ my name is _____ and i'm the surgical tech student for this case, I hope that's alright."

Disclaimer - these are my opinions and advice as a student in the Surgical Tech world. Always follow hospital policy where ever you may go! :)

***

Thank you all for your amazingly good feed back! Hope this helps!

Good luck!

xx, Mindey
Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

Things That No One Tells You About Being A Kennel Tech

"Oh my gosh, your job is so cool! I wish I could play with puppies all day! You must love it!"

Secretly, I roll my eyes. This is the typical response you receive from animal lovers after announcing what your job is. People envision us snuggling puppies all day and getting to wear really comfy scrubs. Do we get to do that? Of course. But there is so much more to being a kennel tech than playing with dogs all day.

When you're a kennel tech/working at a dog boarding facility, you will:

      * Become covered in every disgusting bodily fluid you can imagine.

Blood, urine, vomit, saliva, anal glands, and diarrhea are the bodily fluids most technicians navigate through on a daily basis. On a typical morning at the kennel, you'll come in to about half the dogs having peed or took a giant shit in their "rooms" throughout the night. Sometimes, they even manage to get it on themselves and the walls. It's impossible to clean it all up without getting at least some of it on you. Those are always the fun days. Word of advice: don't wear your favorite Nike Free Runs. Then throughout the day, you'll deal with owners handing their dogs over to you and said dog peeing out of excitement/being scared of you, big guys shaking their heads and drenching you in their slobber, etc. No matter what, you're going home covered in some sort of shit..literally.

      * Become very good at wrestling.

Our "guests" are not always the most well-behaved. Every dog that walks through the door has not heard of obedience school and sometimes these dogs weigh way more than twice the size of you and want to eat your face. Therefore, you become an expert at manipulating your body to deal with them.

      * Wear battle scars.

Being a technician, in some ways, is dangerous. Your "guests" have teeth. Some have long/sharp nails and some of them are huge and don't know their own strength. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't come home with bruises and scratch marks all over my arms, legs or back.

      * Learn to swear like a sailor.

Technicians swear. Like sailors. It's our second language, maybe only second to sarcasm. It's what keeps us sane and helps us from wanting to kill the dog that just shit in it's kennel right after you brought him inside. Now, I wish I could say this was something that developed with the job, but in all honesty this is something that's been a part of me since...well, I can remember. But working in this environment has made me realize that all us kennel girls are the same.

      * Make assumptions based on breed.

You will learn breed tendencies and will start making assumptions based on breeds. Maybe it's not always right and sometimes you end up pleasantly surprised, but it helps to keep you safe. For example, Terriers, Chow Chow, Akitas, and Chihuahuas are more than likely going to try and bite you. Pit bulls, Labs, and Golden Retrievers will let you cuddle the shit out of them all day. Beagles and Huskies are dramatic and yell the second you try and touch them. And Bull Dogs are rarely neutered. Because for some reason, people think they are tough and need to retain their manliness.

      * Deal with dog aggression.

The most common reason for aggression is fear, but occasionally other factors contribute to aggression. With that being said, sometimes you have to deal with dogs that want to "kill" each other. Or dogs that may want to "kill" you. It always makes it very fun when it comes to potty time.

      * Learn that scrubs show a lot of ass-crack.

Scrubs are comfortable as hell but not very flattering. They give you no shape, your pants slip down, and pretty much everyone's ass-crack shows when you bend over. And you bend over a lot. So you become very cozy with your co-workers cracks. But hey, that's just part of the experience.

      * Be overworked and underpaid.

The job is not only physically exhausting, but mentally exhausting as well. Technicians work long hours, often receive little thanks, and really do not make that much money.

      * Work with humans. 

A lot of people think that becoming a technician means you get to avoid working with people and just spend the day with animals. The truth is, you still have to interact with people when they drop and pick up their dogs. Sometimes they're pleasant, sometimes they're not.

      * Love your job anyway.

With all the challenges that being a kennel tech provides, it is also can be very rewarding. To some, I may only be babysitting dogs while their family is away but to me, I'm making sure they're comfortable while they're in a temporary unfamiliar environment. I literally try to make it a vacation for them so when they come back, they want to and are excited. There is no better feeling then seeing a dog come back for a visit and he is wagging his tail and leaving his owner in the dust. And at the end of the day, I am working with dogs. There's a reason I work where I do and am going to school for become a Vet Tech - I love them!

***

Are you a technician with anything to add? What are some of the things you wish people knew about your job? 

xx, brit

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

Meet Myla!

Hello world, meet Myla!

This is Myla, our 1-year old Chihuahua/Pug mix bundle of joy!

This is her the first day we got her, February 11, 2014. It's hard to believe it's only been a year because it feels like she's been a part of us forever. She weighed a whopping 1.2 pounds and was smaller then her Chewbacca toy that we got for her (we're huge Star Wars fans here in the Colton/Brittany household!) We got her on a whim right before we moved into our new apartment. I'm ashamed to admit we got her off of craigslist but it was love at first sight and could not resist. 

It took about an hour for us to fall in love with her. With a face like that, how could you not? It didn't take long for her roaring personality to make an appearance either. She's so playful and cuddly and so, so loving. She has to be the center of attention. She loves everyone! I have never seen a dog get so excited and so anxious to meet new people. Her daddy is her best friend. Their favorite game is hide-and-seek and of course, rough housing. I get so worried that every time they play, that he's going to hurt her but she's so tough and fights back!

We told ourselves that we would not be those people that would let our dog sleep in bed with us. Guess how long that lasted? Juuussttt about the 2 weeks I had left in my old apartment. The second we got into our new place was the second we decided that she belonged in bed with us. She has a routine in bed as well. She typically has to have a toy in bed with her (normally her Chewy, Yoda or a bone) and she'll start the night out in-between my legs - it's warm and safe there. Half way through the night she'll shimmy her way up to put her head on my pillow with her body still under the covers - she thinks she's a human. And that's where she'll remain for the rest of the night, which means I'm typically hugging the edge of the bed because even though we have a queen size, her teeny tiny body still manages to take up the entire bed.

Myla also has her best friends! Surprisingly, they're big dogs. The first dog she ever met was her cousin Sadie, who is a Pit Bull/Boxer mix and ever since, she doesn't tolerate those small peasants we call dogs. She also has Sam, who is our bestest friend of all. Every time they see each other it's like Christmas morning. They also have puppy sleepovers!

As I write this, Myla is cuddled up against my side. She follows me around the house wherever I go. If I go to the bathroom, she's right at my feet - staring into my soul or frantically pawing at me to hurry up. If I'm in the shower, she curls up on the rug just outside the tub.  There is so much truth in the saying "a dog is a mans best friend." As silly as it sounds, she's my best friend and I couldn't imagine life without her. The loyalty and unconditional love one receives from a dog is enough to fill your heart for a million lifetimes!

***

xx, brit

Don't forget to follow us on instragram - @twoshortgirls

Top 14 of 2014!

BRIT'S TOP BEAUTY PICKS OF 2014

The time has come! It took me these past few weeks to come up with this list and I'm proud to say that these are my Top 14 of 2014! Enjoy!

1) Two-Faced "Better Than Sex" Mascara $23

When I say I love this mascara, I FRICKIN' LOVE IT. Is it really better than sex? Not quite, but it definitely does a lot for me. The packaging is gorgeous and the hourglass brush does wonders when it comes to adding volume, length and definition to my lashes.

2) Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer $29

I bought the shade Vanilla cause let's face it, I'm pale. I have a lot of redness/scaring on my face from bad breakouts when I was younger and let me tell you, this concealer NAILS it when it comes to coverage. I use a wet beauty blender to blend it out and it looks flawless under my foundation. Long lasting and just the right consistency - thick enough to cover well but not too thick to look heavy/cakey! The only downside is the price, of course.

3) Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette $29

This is my go-to palette for everyday wear! The colors are so versatile - I use them as shadows, for my brows and even for an under eye liner. The texture of these shadows are silky, smooth, and finely-milled but not even a smidgen powdery - so no fall out! They're densely pigmented with true-to-pan color payoff.

4) Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray $30

I haven't used a lot of setting sprays but after using this one, I don't feel like I have to. It really helps my make-up stay in place and keeps me looking and feeling fresh!

5) Mac Studio Fix Liquid Foundation $27

I was looking for a full coverage foundation when I stumbled across this one, and it did not disappoint! I love the consistency, coverage and how long it lasts. I can go a full day at work and it still looks great at the end of my shift, which says a lot since I work with dogs and tend to work up a sweat. I use a flat top brush to apply and a little goes a long way! I think I've found my holy grail foundation.

6) Coach "Poppy" $68

This has become my signature scent - I always get so many compliments when I wear it and not to mention, it drives Colton wild. It's feminine and flirty and has the perfect combination of florals, sweetness, and warmth but it's not over powering. AND it lasts. I can spray it on a shirt, throw that shirt on the floor and a week later it'll still smell of Poppy. Not the mention the bottle is absolutely adorable!

7) Sephora Mattifying Moisturizer $23

Picked this up on a whim because I had been using a product that made me super oily - I was not prepared to love this as much as I do! It not only moisturizes BUT it mattifies and helps keep my oily skin under control all day. It has a light-weight, non-greasy application and absorbs into my skin pretty quickly. It's also has SPF 20 and is paraben free. Love, love, love!

8) Lush Bubble Gum Lip Scrub $9.95

I heard all about this product on YouTube and decided I needed to try it. It is extremely effective! I use it every night before I go to bed and then apply my favorite chapstick. My lips usually get really chapped during the colder months but since I started using this product, they've been great. It also smells and tastes pretty good (it is 100% edible)

9) Kat Von D Liquid Ink Liner $18

I've been using Elf's gel liner for awhile and finally decided to take the plunge into liquid liner. I went between a few different ones before finally deciding on the Ink Liner and let me tell you, I'm so glad I found this! The black is very black - it lasts so long and is so smooth and easy to apply. I love the felt tip and how it allows you to get thick or thin lines. Overall, super thrilled with this liner!

10) It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Lite $17.96

Let me say this, my hair is in it's own brand. It's thin/fine and damaged and curly and dry - I could go on and on. I always have a hard time with products leaving my hair too oily or too full of product. This does neither! The smell is AMAZING and it leaves my hair silky and smooth and makes it super easy to brush through.

11) Benefit Gimme Brow $22

I have very light/thin brows and have always had a problem with brow pencils or gels being too thick or obvious that I was filling my brows in. This product is perfect! It adds color to each individual hair for a super natural look while still looking bold and gorgeous.

12) Nars Audacious Lipstick - Olivia $32

Ok, ok, ok - I know this is an expensive one. This was an impulse that I bought for myself over the holidays. I couldn't resist the packaging and color (big sucker for the reds) so I said what the hell! And I'm so glad I did. This is the best formulation in lipstick that I have ever put on my lips. The colors are opaque, creamy, comfortable, moisturizing and long-wearing. Definitely worth the hefty investment!

13) Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Touch of Spice Lipstick $7.99

Yay, finally a drug store product! This is what everyone likes to call the "Kylie lip" and it's pretty darn close. It's such a versatile color and this Maybelline formulation is so creamy and easy to apply. Definitely a great shade you can dress up or just simply wear everyday!

14) Nars Virtual Domination Cheek Palette $65

Ok, I end this list with a bang. This is not only my favorite because it is an AMAZING palette but also because Colton got this for me for my birthday. It meant a lot that he not only knew what to get me but he went out of his way to spend this kind of money or something he knew I would love. Now onto the palette - holy cheeks! The blush colors are great for my light skin tone, the bronzer is a classic and the highlighter is a nice touch as well! They're all super smooth and easy to apply. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this palette and Nars nailed it yet again with their packaging.

***

Let us know what products you loved using in 2014!

xx, brit

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

First week of clinicals!

Ok, I'm not long to lie to you and tell you it was the best week of my whole life, Because it was crazy! It was more than what I expected! Here's why:

***

I went to school last Tuesday being told to come to school the next day, like normal, for my teacher to then text our group at 8pm THAT NIGHT to meet her at the hospital at 7am the next morning! I frantically had to go to Kohl's and buy new "operating room shoes" because I can't even express to you how gross the hospital can be - especially when you're in the guts of a patient! I rather not bring that home with me!

I woke up frantic, and excited. The only thing getting me through everything was the fact my friend Kiki was in the same boat and close by. Thank goodness for Kiki!

Walking into the cold surgical center with everyone looking and moving fast really intimidated me. Thankfully, we got a tour of the hospital and had a very long (3+ hour) scavenger hunt. The next day, however, I knew we were going to observed. I was so nervous going in - I needed to make sure I was nowhere near the sterile field! With my luck, I'd get yelled at and thrown out! That is not on my bucket list. Kiki and I got paired together (thank goodness, again!) and we observed a couple of surgeries together. On Friday, I observed a three-hour long surgery. End of week-one, phew! Monday (this week) I knew I had to scrub in! Thankfully, I had the same surgery as Friday so it was perfect. I was prepared!

All in all, this week was a lot better. I now know what to expect. I am also now handing instruments, talking to doctors AND cutting sutures! Best of all, today I HAD A BENGIN TUMOR IN MY HANDS!!! Talk about an amazing feeling and experience!

***

The point of this post is to 1) not only tell you about the incredible things I am getting to experience and 2) to tell you not to give up, even when stressed, and make sure you have an amazing support group behind you! My fiancé was my number one (listening to me, giving me words of encouragement and even wiping tears,) Brit telling me to get in there and reminding me why I started this journey, family, and last but not least, Kiki for pushing me to do my best! 

Until next time, wish me luck!

Xx, mindey

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

NEW YEAR, NEW FITNESS ROUTINE

A few years ago, I started a "fitness journey" that made me really happy, energized and less stressed. I found myself wanting to wake up early everyday to work out. I would then continue my day with healthy and yummy snacks/meals and would end the day exhausted - but I welcomed the exhaustion. It was a rewarding feeling to know that I was exhausted because I was working to maintain a healthy lifestyle for myself and the body I was given. However, over time, I more or less gave up. My Disney schedule was so time consuming and erratic that I didn't even have time to stop and think about wanting to work out or prep a meal - let alone actually do it. That was 3 years ago. I now realize that was just an excuse.

Now that it's 2015 and I'm 25, I'm going to MAKE TIME. I don't want to be one of those people whose resolution is to "get in shape" and blah, blah, blah. I just want to be healthy. My body is so screwed up from 6 and a half years of wearing heavy character costumes and performing in shows and parades that I can barely do anything without being in excruciating pain. I also don't have the healthiest of eating habits - I rarely eat breakfast and am constantly snacking throughout the day. So, I got to thinking - what can I do to better this lifestyle that I created for myself? I wanted to incorporate the workouts and eating habits I was doing before but also add a little something different. And this is what I came up with:

***

1) GO FOR WALKS: I have a dog who LOVES being outside - so why not take her for longer walks to wear her out AND exercise my body?! There are SO many health benefits to taking regular walks; they build physical activity in your life, strengthens your heart, gives you energy, boosts your vitamin D levels (wear sunscreen!) and not to mention it'll help tone those legs and booty! It's something so simple yet so rewarding for you and your body. So take 30 minutes out of your day to take a walk with your dog, friends, yourself or spouse. I hear sunset walks can be very romantic!

2) AT HOME WORK-OUTS: Now, this will vary per person. I am someone who does NOT need to lose weight by any means - and I know that. I'm 5 foot tall and about 98 pounds. A lot of people say I could even gain a few pounds BUT that doesn't mean that I don't want to tone up so I look good not only in my clothes, but naked as well! THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH WANTING THAT. In my previous "fitness journey" I would do an array of workouts from crunches and sit ups, planks, squats, push ups, etc. This is something I want to incorporate back into my routine. My main focus areas are my love handles, pancake booty and my tiny belly pooch I have developed over the years. You can find SO many different work outs to do at home (Pinterest or YouTube) for these areas and more. I am someone who does NOT like going to the gym so why waste the money?! Colton got me a membership once but we cancelled it after a month because, well, I never frickin' went. Anyway, when it comes to those specific areas you want to work out, make sure you focus on something different everyday that way you don't over work that area. And always take a rest day!

3) YOGA: This is something new that I want to try. I've always heard about the amazing health benefits of yoga (flexibility, muscle strength, better posture, managed stress, improved respiration, energy and vitality, etc.) and with the shape that my body is in because of Disney, I thought this would be something amazing to get into. Without getting into too much detail about the condition of my body, I'll say this: my posture is beyond horrible and my back is in 24/7 excruciating pain because of this. Now, I'm not going to get crazy - I'll probably start with 2 times a week to see how I adjust. Yoga with Adriene is someone that I have found on YouTube who specializes with at home yoga routines for beginners, etc. This is something I am very excited to start because yoga is a great way to get in tune with your body and inner self and can be practiced to enhance your overall health.

3) FOOD: Let me say this, I LOVE FOOD. There is a fat man inside of me that is just waiting to explode out of my pores. I could eat all day, everyday, 47654 different types of meals and be completely satisfied. But in the long haul, my body would not be ok. I'm not saying I have to COMPLETELY cut all this yummy goodness out of my life, but I also need to realize that some of the things I am putting into my body are very toxic. So I've started with cutting out soda - which is going to be very hard at first because I have a secret love affair with Mountain Dew. I've already replaced it with lemon water, which has honestly turned into my favorite thing at the moment. As far as meals go, this is where Pinterest becomes my best friend. There are thousands upon thousands of healthy recipes on Pinterest that are just dying to be tested out. And I am just dying to eat them all. At once.

4) SLEEP: While you may think this isn't exactly part of a fitness routine, it is. Sleep is so crucial to our physical and mental health. It is not only the time your body takes to heal and process all the activity that you've done throughout the day, but it is also extremely important for the functioning of your brain. Which in turn is obviously important for the functioning of your body and can hugely effect your overall feeling of happiness. Also, our brain needs sleep to release certain toxins. Without sleep, these toxins have NOWHERE to go. If the brain does not rid itself of these toxins, certain degenerate diseases can be brought on. Scary, huh?!

***

And that's what I've come up with so far. If you all want to hear about the progress I'm making, or the struggles I am having, please comment down below! This is something I am very excited about and this blog is the one place I can be open about my excitement, frustration, etc. I know the hardest thing for me, at first, is going to be staying focused and motivated. I have become such a couch potato over the years but keeping that in my mind is what's going to help me stay focused. What's sexy about a couch potato? Not much. Unless you're in underwear. What's healthy about a couch potato? Absolutely nothing! I'll just have to keep telling myself that.

**DISCLAIMER: I am in no way shape or form a fitness or health expert. I honestly have NO idea what I'm talking about. This is just something that I came up with to help ME on my journey to a healthier/happier self and I wanted to share it with all of you to hopefully inspire you to want to maintain a healthier lifestyle for yourself.

If you want to start this journey with me, keep me updated with your progress as well! Namaste.

xx, brit
Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

FYI

Hello beautiful people

of the internet!

We just wanted to let you know that we will be releasing new blog posts for you every

TUESDAY and THURSDAY! Keeps US on a schedule to get YOU excited!

xx, mindey & brit

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls

GET TO KNOW US TAG

Today's blog post is going to help all OUR readers get to know us a little better!
So lets get started with the tag!

1. What state do you live in?
M & B: Florida

2. What was your favorite subject in school?
M: science! I loved projects.

B: That's a good question..

 3. What's your favorite drink?
M: for fun: gin and tonic (thanks to Alex's mum). But regularly I love lemon water! 
B: lemon water! And Mountain Dew. And coffee.

4. What's your favorite song at the moment?
M: I've Lived by One Republic 

B: Stolen Dance by Milky Chance

5. What would you name your children?
M: ha! Alex and I would had to decide together, but if I had my way girl- Madeline and the boy- idk!
B: You know, this is something I've never really thought about.. But I DO know that I don't want a name everyone else has, but I also don't want to name my baby North..

6. Do you participate in any sports?
M: CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT! And I played softball miserably.
B: Uhhhhhhmmmmmm

7. What's your favorite book? 
M: Pride and prejudice... But I can't forget -TWILIGHT 
B: There are so many to chose from! I'm a big sucker for series like Twilight, The Hunger Games, Mortal Instruments, etc.

8. What's your favorite color?
M: Pink!
B: Sea foam green

9. What's your favorite animal?
M: BUNNIES! I had one for 10 years! (Whiskers)
B: Myla! Duh..

10. What's your favorite perfume?
M: going fancy- Miss Dior
B: Poppy by Coach

11. What's your favorite holiday?

M: christmas, I just love singing Christmas songs and being holly jolly! 

B: It's a toss up between Halloween and Christmas

12. Have you graduated from High School?M: "007" lol... 2007
B: Back in 2008

13. Have you been out of the country?
M: been to PERU (father was born there), ECUADOR (mother was born there), ENGLAND (my fiancé was born there), and WALES!
B: London, Paris, and Nice - all for my senior trip!

14. Do you speak any other languages?
M: spanish and Spanglish are my specialties!
B: I speak sarcasm..

15. Do you have any siblings?
M: a 20 year old baby brother!
B: I have 1 older brother and 3 younger half-siblings.

16. What's your favorite store?
M: jcrew!
B: Sephora. Or Victoria's Secret.

17. What's your favorite restaurant?
M: chipotle !!!!!
B: Olive Garden!

18. Do you like school?
M: I love school, I love the people I get close to in school. High school was mostly a social gathering but now I'm excited to learn more than to gossip about what so-and-so is wearing.
B: I never did while I was in grade school but now that I'm studying something that I actually enjoy, it makes it a lot easier to like.

19. Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?
M: Sarahbelle93x, Dulce Candy
B: Jaclyn Hill, Marissa Lace, Meghan Reinks

20. What's your favorite movie? 
M: Pride and prejudice, duh! I got proposed to at mr. Darcy's house! 
B: Do I have to pick just one? That's not even fair. Can I count Star Wars as one?

21. What are some of your favorite TV shows?
M: greys anatomy, reign,ny med, Boston med, scandal, hart of Dixie, and game of thrones and many more! 
B: Sex & the City, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones and many, many more.

22. High-end or Drugstore? 
M: both! I like to mix and match a bit!
B: I don't want to sound like a snob but I've had really bad luck with drugstore make-up.

23. What phone do you have?
M: iPhone 5s
B: iPhone 5S

24. How tall are you?
M & B: 5 foot even!

25. Any pets?
M: my doggie, reggie! 
B: Myla!


26. What are you going to school for?
M: Surgical Tech
B. Vet Tech

Well that completes the tag! If you have anymore questions for us, leave them down below!

 xx, Mindey & Brit

Don't forget to follow us on instagram - @twoshortgirls