The Sisterhood.

Oh how sweet it is when they play well together

Twin Moms Stick Together

We moms of twins, as much as we try to blend in, are different.

We have anxieties that only someone with 2 kids who are CONSTANTLY COMPARED can understand.

This woman has 11 year old twin girls.

As soon as she found out I have 8 year old twin girls she gave me

The Look.

The look that says, "I know what you are going through. I understand your fears. And you are right to be afraid. But we are survivors."

Yes, a look can say all that and more.

Because only a moms of twins (and possibly only a mom of twin girls who are about to embark on a trips through the Sea of Hormones) can understand the fear and anxiety that comes with knowing we'll have to manage

2 girls who are constantly compared BY others and By themselves

maturing at different stages

experiencing hormones, changes, drama...

together, and yet, alone.

As soon as I meet another Sister we are quick to bond.

We understand that we struggle to help our kids navigate because we weren't twins. We may have had siblings, we may have experienced comparisons, but there was a buffer in a difference of sex (I had a brother), age, or grade to ease the comparison.

We bond when we discuss the dominant twin and how that role can switch from time to time.

We trade stories of similarities, differences, separation.

We hold onto hope that they stay close, like Mary Kate and Ashley, rather than divided, like Cain and Able (who were not twins but the only reference of sibling rivalry I could come up with for now)

Then we hug each other goodbye knowing we have met someone who understands.

Did you know....

46% of US parents studied, wtih children age 8-17, do not use parental controls.

Study conducted by FOSI and Hart Research

As a mom of young girls who are turning into tweens before my eyes, I know the cell phone / texting thing is not far off. As the wife of a computer expert, my girls are already on their 3rd computer, and they can maneuver around an iPad like anyone's business. They are already on the internet, by themselves, sometimes unsupervised.

Lucky for us, computer expert Dad knows how to install parental controls.

Did you know...

58% of teen internet and cell phone users say their parents have been the biggest influence on what they think is appropriate or inappropriate when using the internet or cell phone.

From a study on Teens, Kindness and Cruelty conducted by Pew Research, FOSI, and Cable in the Classroom

I once heard a wise mom say that just when you want to let go of your teenagers because they are all grown up and self-sifficient, that is when they NEED you the most. They need your guidance, your listening skills, and they need you to continue to set boundaries. This is how they learn how to deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly when they are out there in the real world by themselves.

AT&T offers 'smart controls' for TV, Internet and phones help parents create an Internet safety plan along WITH their kids.The biggest issue seems to be getting kids involved in the discussion from the start. No teenager wants to have their parents monitor their texts or online discussions. Yet this is exactly what can help them to understand the importance of thinking before you text, tweet, email, or post. If you don't want your parents to see it, why are you putting it out there on the Internet???

Did you know...

44% of online teens admit to lying about their age so they could access a website or sign up for an online account.

From a study on Teens, Kindness and Cruelty conducted by Pew Research, FOSI, and Cable in the Classroom

 
Kids need to understand that when you click, "I agree" online, it's as valid as signing your name offline. Be careful what you agree to, and be careful who you share your information with. We learned that 30% of online teens reported sharing one of their passwords with a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend. It begs the question, how many teens are not only lying about their age, but about WHO is really behind the online profile? It might not even be the account holder.

We have already had a very serious discussion with our girls about why they cannot sign off on their daily reading log in the space where it says 'parent's signature'. Even if I KNOW they read that night. Even if I forgot to sign it. If I gave them the idea that forging my signature on a homework paper was ok, then it would definitely reduce the importance of an online signature.

Disclosure: I received compensation and attendee pass from AT&T for covering the conference. All opinions are my own and this stuff really does keep me awake at night. This post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published.

Water.

Turn on the tap, and out it pours. Clean, safe, and the best thing to put into your body.

But did you know...

"Diseases from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war"?

via Charity: Water

The world is in a water crisis. But there are things we can do to help.

Holiday Greetings With Nautica

Starting today, you can upload a photo of your family to the Nautica Facebook Page, include a caption of how your family gives back, and celebrate Nautica's donation of $5,000 to Charity: Water - an organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to needy communities!

Did you know that 100% of public donations to Charity: Water are used for water projects? And, Nautica's donation of $5,000 will bring clean water to an entire village!

Save 30% on Nautica for Your Family Photo

Nautica will choose a few family photos to highlight on the page each day in their Well of Fame on Facebook. You can save 30% on Nautica for your family holiday photo starting today with code: BLOG30 at check out.

Check out the adorable holiday skirts and dresses for girls, or the handy gift buying section.

You can save on using your Nautica photo for your cards over at Hallmark.com by using code NAUTICA25 at checkout there.

Savings abound!

WIN $25 Nautica Gift Card right here!

I'm giving away a $25 gift card to one luck person. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me who you'll spend the $25 on!

For an Extra Entry share this URL link (http://ow.ly/7lIYi )

either on Twitter (cc @JanineNickel) or Facebook, or in an email to your pals...you get the idea.

Contest open to US residents 18 and over and ends November 18, 2011 at 11:00 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries.

In Summary: get your Nautica, upload your photo and tell the world you care, enter the giveaway, then check out Charity: Water for more ways to help.

Janine

Disclosure: I received a Nautica gift card to purchase clothing for my family photo. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Also, I care about the world's water crisis. You should too.

So. Much. Fun.

That was the theme of our Wii Play Motion slash ice cream party we held for our Brownie troop. Moms and Brownies had a chance to balance their ice cream both on screen (love the soft serve version of the game) and off screen, thanks to Nintendo Wii Play Motion and Cold Stone Creamery ice cream!

mmmm ice cream didn't last long

kids LOVED the Ghost hunter game

The ONLY issue is that the moms has to declare "adult time" so that we could get in there in play.

The Moms LOVED the wack-a-mole game. Maybe it's all that stress we have?

I'm thinking we'll have to find a night to have an adult wii party like my friend Jodi did. With wine. She's smart.

With Wii Play Motion you get 12 games in all and a special 'motion' controller. One of my party moms went home with her own copy of the game and a remote, and the other moms have added the game to their Christmas lists.

Disclosure: I received a Wii Play Motion game, three remotes, and all the fixings including ice cream gift card to Cold Stone Creamery to host the party. The ice cream and sugar high in no way influenced my opinion of the games and you can see from the smiles on the other moms' faces that the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids.

Parading

Eating Chili

I was a judge at the neighborhood chili cookoff. Tough job but somebody has to do it.

Crafting

Cupcakes

And of course, Mummy Making

Happy Halloween and Happy 13th Anniversary to Me and The Mister!

I've never asked for special consideration for my kids.

I've always respected the decision of the teacher, instructor, camp director, etc.

I've let my kids fight their own fights, fall down, even fail at things.

But I'm this close to saying something to someone at the place where one of my girls is taking an acting class.

$300 and Three Lines

Weekly acting classes at the fancy academy cost $300.

That isn't, as far as activities go, an exhorbitant amount of money. I know that.

My daughter seems to enjoy the class each week, though she has complained about the younger kids, "not taking it seriously." 

As her first official acting class, I suppose she is getting experience developing new skills, right?

So this week when she was given her assignment for the play I was curious to see how many lines I'll have to help her memorize. (A little something you may not have known is that when I turned 30 I took acting classes at a theater in downtown DC. This makes me an experienced thespian in my book).

Three.

Three lines.

She is one of 4 Narrators.

So, it's not like it's bad enough to be the Narrator. I mean, does the Narrator even ACT? But to have to share the role with three other kids while every single other kid in the class (even the young, annoying ones) have roles with fun dress-up clothes and...LOTS of LINES?

Well that just seems wrong.

Were it the school play, I wouldn't be annoyed.

Were it a real production where you audition, I wouldn't be annoyed.

But I'm paying for her to memorize and perfect her acting technique with 3 lines?

That's $100 per line!

I want to say something, but I don't want to be 'That Mom'.

I want to suggest they find a play with enough roles so there doesn't have to be 4 narrators.

I want my daughter to have a role that requires "a fancy dress, heals and jewelry" so I can see her smile wide with pride and excitement.

But I don't want to be 'That Mom'.

So, instead of becoming "That Mom" who tries to bend the rules, I'm going to invoke my own rule.

The narrator role calls for her to wear a plain, black dress. My rule is that every simple black dress needs heels and jewelry and other fancy accessories. She will smile with pride and excitement and she will deliver her lines with perfection. All three of them.

Today I had the pleasure of joining a team from Hallmark at Old Ebbitt Grill in DC for a little brunch, a LOT of coffee, a few tears, and a reminder that we should celebrate the small stuff.

After the team from Hallmark shared their 'Special Occasion' stories, it was our turn to share. We had nifty t-shirts to personalize as a reminder of our occasion:

Hallmark Special Occasion

I was the last to share and after hearing everyone else's story I was amazed at how much we really can appreciate the little moments in life...

if we only take the time to do so.

What me worry?

I shared that every since my twins were young I had to give up a lot of control when it comes to what they wore. At most I was able to suggest clothing that was appropriate for the weather that day, but even then I would lose the battle. And with so many battles, this was not one I was always willing to fight.

Once when the girls were 3, Ellie came downstairs wearing something that was not great for whatever the occasion was. I 'suggested' she find something warmer, colder, fancier, etc...I can't remember now.

She explained,

"Mommy, I worry about what I wear and you worry about what you wear."

Well,

How can you argue with that?

Hallmark has more than cards to help you celebrate everyday moments

I love Hallmark cards

After sharing our everyday, yet very memorable moments, I was able to look at a number of new Hallmark products that can help me make more memories from these little special occasions. They have awesome cards, and I was able to meet some of the writers and creative team, but they have so much more.

Record your voice reading the book so that when you can't be there, you can still read to them before bedtime!

Interactive books like the one pictured above are something new to Hallmark. One of the writers shared a book she wrote that interacts with a tree ornament. These are not only festive, they make great gifts for the kid who has just about everything!

What special everyday moment would you have shared?

Disclosure: I enjoyed a delicious breakfast and gift bag from Hallmark. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. 

Breast cancer has been around for decades..so why don't we know more about it and how to prevent it? Why is breast cancer still taking lives? When Dr. Susan Love asked scientists this question they explained that they had studies that simply required women, of all ages, races, and health conditions, to participate. They simply didn't know how to find these women. According to the Army of Women website,

"Dr. Love realized the problem wasnít that women didnít want to participate in these studies, but that they didnít know that they were needed. In short order, the idea was born of an Army of Women ready to serve science."

 

Join the Army of Women and Lifetime will Donate $1

When you join the Army of Women you will receive periodic emails with research studies looking for participants ñ both with and without breast cancer. If you are interested in participating in a study, click on the Call to Action and you'll be asked a few questions to determine if you are a fit, then you will be put in touch with a researcher. It's that easy, flexible, and yet so important.

Ready to join the Army of Women?

For every Army of Women recruit who joins through Lifetime Moms, Lifetime will donate $1 to the cause. So, be sure to pass along this post, or the link to Lifetime Moms / Army of Women (http://www.lifetimemoms.com/army-of-women) to your friends, family, and neighbors.

We all know that big things can happen when you are out to dinner. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, and other big life moments with our family. We also experience blind dates, connections with lost loves, and a few moments we'd rather not have captured on film.

If you are brave enough to share your Sweetest or Sauciest dining out moment, you just might be rewarded. Visit the Restaurant.com Facebook page to share your Sweet or Saucy dining moment and you might win $1,000! Hurry though - you have to have your story uploaded by October 21, 2011.

Check out the Sweet vs Saucy how-to video here: http://youtu.be/5k-TcrHzN5A

My Sweet Dining Out Story

I did my own video to capture my sweet dining out story that I'm going to enter. What do you think?

Share your own and share the prize if you win...with me of course!

Disclosure: as a thank you for spreading the word about the contest I am going to be compensated with a Restaurant.com gift card and movie tickets. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. I purchase Restaurant.com certificates on my own and my sweet story is a true story and if I win $1000 I will be sure to share the news with you!

We have had double wall ovens for years (not Frigidaire) and they have been what makes hosting the holidays at my house even a possibility. While the bird is cooking in one oven, I can be making appetizers, baking an apple pie, or reheating side dishes that my family members bring.

The Frigidaire Symmetry range is a freestanding ranges, so you don't need the wall space, preheats in just 4 minutes, and has a Keep Warm zone.

Get Turkey Tips, Donate a Turkey to Save the Children

To celebrate the Symmetry and the ability to cook 2 turkeys, Frigidaire has teamed up with Jennifer Garner to help you with turkey tips for this holiday season.  For the first 550 visits to maketimeforchange.com and Jennifer's Turkey Tips, Frigidaire will donate $1 and a turkey to Save the Children to support their US programs and families.

Disclosure: I received a gift card to purchase two turkeys this holiday season as a thank you for continuing to support Frigidaire. I was a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom a few years ago and still am loving my affinity washer and dryer. All opinions expressed here are my own and these posts are neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Also, my dad worked for Save the Chilren for a few years and we sponsored various children, so my interest in this program goes way beyond turkey.