Twin Mom | Raising Girls | Twin Advice

Wednesday

Sep012010

Who the hell needs a watch anyway? Oh wait, I do.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 09:00AM

My watch battery died, oh, 4 months ago?

I've been living without.

Occasionally I'll wear one of the watches I got in Disney at the Social Media Moms Celebration. But I don't want to lose those and they aren't waterproof.

So instead I've been walking around asking people what time it is.

Or, I staple my cell phone to my hip so I can check the time.

Or, I ask one of the girls to go in the other room to ask Daddy what time it is and then come back and tell me.

Of course by then it's 5-10 minutes later because you know they don't do anything in a straight line.

I think it's time for a new watch.

Something sporty?

Something waterproof?

Something retro?

Or maybe something that reflects the way I feel some days.

melted watch image via gadgetgetbargains.com

And by that I mean squeezed! Not pear-shaped!

What watch are you wearing?

Janine

Disclosure: some links are affiliate links.

Janine Nickel |

1 Comment |

tagged

back to school,

lazy,

stress,

time,

watches in

a better me,

fashion,

just for me

Monday

Aug302010

We cut it close on the first day of school but at least we eat well

Monday, August 30, 2010 at 01:55PM

Here's what I did this morning all before 8:00 am:

1. made chocolate chip pancakes

2. made bacon

3. made an egg casserole (for the annual neighborhood brunch)

4. Packed lunches including snack

With all the cooking I barely had time to take the traditional snuggle-up-to-your-sister-and-smile-even-though-I-just-yelled-at-you-for-changing-your-shoes-for-the-third-time photo:

But, they do look so cute don't they? Not matching but definitely twins at their best. And, they were excited.

So excited I could hardly get them to slow down enough for me to take this photo of the walk.

Phew! We didn't miss the line-up outside and we even found a few of our friends in class.

I can't wait to hear how it all went. And the goal for tomorrow? Less cooking, more snuggling.

How was your first day of school?

Janine

For more on back-to-school see

Fashion Friday: bold print backpacks and Chucks

Wisdom from the bottom of a mimosa

Janine Nickel |

6 Comments |

tagged

bac k to school,

first day of school,

food,

school,

twins in

just for fun

Friday

Aug272010

Fashion Friday: Animal Print Backpacks and Converse "Chucks" for back-to-school

Friday, August 27, 2010 at 10:15AM

You want to know THE SHOE all the kids have to have this season?

You've probably seen them around in every store, including Target.

If you shop online you'll notice things in red saying "Only 4 left".

May I present the ever-classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Sneakers :

Shorty Converse Chucks in pink and black.

I am not sure when The Twofer became aware of them. Last Spring you'll remember they fell in love with the purple Sketchers Twinkle Toes. Somehow (inner fashion sense?) they knew these would be the thing to have.

They are classic.

They Come in a variety of colors (seriously,check out this rainbow of Converse Chucks )

They are the perfect back-to-school shoe.

A Little on the WILD side

Of course what goes better with a classic shoe than a non-traditional backpack?

Bold prints are big for backpacks this Fall

Bold prints are in for backpacks this year and my kids were tuned in to this fashion trend before I even had a chance to crack open the cover of this season's The New York Times: Fashion of The Times.

Again, a quick search online and many animal print backpacks are in limited supply so order one today if your daughter is pining for one!

What fun things did your kids ask for this year while shopping for school?

Janine

Disclosure: some links are affiliate links.

Janine Nickel |

5 Comments |

tagged

Chucks,

shopping in

fashion

Wednesday

Aug252010

Crafty Crafters

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 09:30AM

You know that friend who always sends your kids home from a playdate with cookies and fun crafts they made?

I am not that friend.

I don't craft.

I don't really bake either.

The Crafter in Me

I have craft things around the house because at one time or another I have...

tried to make Scultpy beads (could never layer it right to get those cool swirl designs)

made my own jewelry (always falls apart)

had the urge to scrapbook (that urge dies as soon as I realize I have to organize the photos first)

I also have children and The Twofer have always been big on 'projects'. See? We even refer to crafts as 'projects' around here because of the amount of work it seems like goes into it all.

That said, my friend who is the craftiest of crafters (to the point where she has created a little business making beautiful baby gifts) sent her girls over for a playdate with The Twofer.

I was determined to impress them.

Crafty Crafters

First, aprons and, because they all looked so darn cute, a photo!

Aprons on, we are ready to craft!

(See THAT's what I do well! I document any and all moments for the blog.)

Then I found a box of tongue depressers (wooden craft sticks), some glue, and paint. Ah-ha! Let's frame that cute photo!

Here are some of their creations:

sparkly glue and REAL paint, we use nothing but the best around here

Printing the photo to fit was a little frustrating, but I'm a PRO-fessional so I got it right. The crafter in me decided on a 'rustic' piece of twine would look best to hang our beautiful framed photos.

Here's the final product:

final product, hand made photo frame to remember the awesome playdate

Is it the most creative? No. But I proved I can craft when I set my mind to it.

Janine

For more crafty blog posts see...

Make your own American Girl accessories

Unfinished Business

Bendaroos review

Janine Nickel |

5 Comments |

tagged

craft,

twofer in

Monday

Aug232010

Grandma turns gifts into a lesson on money, shopping, and saving with a mini yard sale

Monday, August 23, 2010 at 09:00AM

I cannot take credit for this idea.

Only a pair of grandmas (listen up Sugar and Rachel) could come up with something as exciting, fun, and best of all inexpensive as this!

Gift From Grandma

Each year we head to the Jersey Shore early in the season. My mom and my aunt get there before us and usually they arrive the weekend of the city-wide yard sale. Each year we get there and they have purchased a collection of gifts (knick-knacks) for each child.

The kids are thrilled. They love gifts, they love surprises, and, as anyone who's ever brought home birthday party goody bags can attest, they love gobs of platic and paper crap.

Grandma's Yard Sale

This year the grandmas did something different.

They laid out each item along the porch steps of the beach house. Items were marked with a price that varied from 1 cent to 8 cents, and each child was given $.20 in pennies.

items laid out for Grandma's yard sale for children

We explained to the kids they can only purchase 4 items so they need to budget wisely and take their time to look over all the items before making a decision.

Kids shopping at the mini yard sale

The simple exercise of laying out the items, pricing them, and allowing the kids to shop made them really appreciate the 'gifts'. I liked it because the Twofer were learning something about the value of money. The grandmas loved watching the kids' reaction ("Oh this plastic rose is soooo beautiful Grammy!") and everyone had a good laugh at how exciting a pile of junk and some pennies can be.

Crap is still crap but some crap is worth keeping

By the end of the week everyone's purchases were still just crap to me, but the kids seemed to keep them organized. They had spent money on them afterall! So it all came home with us...until our next yard sale.

Janine

For more posts on the Jersey Shore and the Beach see:

Jersey Shore Cast on The View

Beach Cover-Ups

Fashionista Friday: the Family that Bumpits Together

Janine Nickel |

3 Comments |

tagged

Jersey Shore,

grandma,

money,

vacation,