Winners announcement

Winner of the Bummas baby wipes 10 pack is

Ashley W

I am swamped, but here

I seriously thought I could do the whole add yet another blog to my list, but I am finding it extremely difficult to keep up with two review blogs. Plus, add in the fact that I have been sick the past two weeks and today is the first day I even feel remotely alive, and you get slackerness major! I don't want to see this blog die, I just want to be able to keep up without everything suffering because I am over doing it! So if the posts are sporadic and here and there, know I am working on getting you great products for giveaways, and trying to keep my sanity! LOL

Winners announcement

Winner of the Flo from Boon is comment #15

Marin

To dress alike or not to dress alike?

That is the question of the day. I am wondering how many twin parents dress their twins alike. Matchy-matchy or same clothes different colors kind of thing. Or are you more of the "No way in h*ll will I dress my kids alike"? See I fall in the middle. While I LOVE seeing the boys in adorable matching outfits, I also know that if I dress them differently I will get two things-1) They are identical so it is soooo much easier to know who I am talking to if they are wearing different clothing, and 2) They are gettig a chance to express their own personalities.

I swore when I was pregnant with Connor and Colton, that I would NEVER dress them alike. Then my SIL bought the boys matching outfits for their hospital pics. I was hooked. Didn't even fight the hook at all, just got reeled right on in. (Can you tell I have been playing Fishing Master on Wii?) I switched to the "Until they can tell me whether they want to wear it or not, they will dress like I say!" I stuck by that too. The moment one said "Not wanna" to a shirt or pair of pants, we went to letting them have options.

I did an experiment with them when they were around 15-16 months old. I let them pick their own clothes out. I would bring in two outfits. I let them choose which they wanted to wear. Everyday that week they wanted to wear the same outfit! I repeated this experiment last week (in anticipation of this post), and they picked differently each time.

I feel confident knowing that my boys are ever growing and developing, and that I am a mom am doing something right. At least for now. LOL So now I also feel confident that no matter whether the boys dress matchy-matchy or completely different-they will always be alike and different at the same time. Okay that has nothing to do with dressing alike,a nd it is a post for another day!

What camp do you fall into? I want to know people! What are your thoughts on matching or not?

Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

Today starts National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. And while I believe focus should be on it everyday day of every month of the year, it is wonderful that there is a month out there for recognizing pediatric cancer. I'll be hanging my yellow ribbon this weekend around the tree in my front yard. And we will be having a cause party to raise money at the end of September, combined with a Cookie For Kids Cancer bakesale! I can't wait!

How will you support pediatric cancer? Host a bakesale yourself? Auction off an item on your blog? Have a yard sale and donate the proceeds? Or even just writing a post on your blog to let everyone know? Please do what you can!

Places you can find out more about Pediatric Cancer-

http://www.goldribbons.com/index.html (Gold Ribbons)

http://www.bearnecessities.org/ (Bear Necessities)

http://www.curesearch.org/ (Cure Search)

http://www.hopestreetkids.org/ (Hope Street Kids)

Two for Twos-day

Okay I know it is more than twofer, but I think this photo is just too cute! Can you believe this is a dehydrator box?!

Now head on over to Who Say's 8 Is Enough and see who else is playing along with Two for Twos-day.

Winners Announcement

Winner of the Podee twin pack of bottles is our one lone entry! You are one lucky woman Gigi! You will love these bottles and wonder how you managed without them! Emailing you now.

Bummas review and giveaway

One of the things I always looked for when the boys were little were things that would serve a multitude of purposes. Purses became diaper bags/suitcases, bottles were for milk and juice, my arms were for EVERYTHING! LOL Boy do I wish I had had Bummas when the boys were baby babies. They have so many uses it is not even funny.

Their original purpose is to help with the ever present problem when changing a little boys diaper. Drop a cloth over the tid-bits and no worries about getting an impromptu bath with a less than desirable substance. But they can also be used as spit up wiper offers, bath rags, and endless moments of giggling if you trail across their bellies just right.

The cloths themselves are SUPER durable. They are very soft. And they have the cutest slogan- Keep diaper rash at bay, the Bummas way. After the wipe and before the dipe, use a soft kiss of cloth to dry bums off!

Features:
• Eliminates the use of talcum powder.
• 100% Cotton - Woven Velour Terry Cloth.
• Variety of color combinations for nursery themes.
• Handy 5” x 7” size.
• Durable. Just throw them in the washing machine and use them again.
• Won’t pill, shrink, or fade.
• They will last until your little one is out of diapers and beyond!

Bummas also come in a variety of colors. You can get wild or get calm, or colors just for girls or boys. You will end up saving money when you switch to Bummas, because you won't be spending it on wipes, powder, butt paste, and all the other diapering things. All you will find yourself needing is diapers and Bummas!

Want to buy yourself some Bummas? Well, you can visit their online shop and purchase yourself a package of 10 Bummas for $16.99. When you think about all the wipes you will go through in the first few years of your little ones life, you will realize that Bummas will save you a TON! But WAIT!!! Bummas has kindly offered one of you readers a chance to win your very own set of Bummas. You get to pick the color you want. BTW-this is a dual blog giveaway! So you could double up your entries!!! Head over to Life with 5 monies and enter from there as well!

Mandatory entry:

Visit Bummas and tell me what color set you would choose!

Optional entries:

Follow this blog

Grab the button or add this blog to your blgroll

Follow Twin Tested on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway (can be done 2x a day)

Fav this blog on technorati

Blog about this giveaway linking to both me and Bummas for 5 extra entries!

Giveaway will end September 14th @ 11:59 pm! Open to US only!

That ole' twin connection

I have often wondered when I read twin mags or other twin blogs and they talk about this "twin connection" that their twins have. The C's didn't develope this unique connection until recently. Okay, they have always had this thing about not being able to slep well without the other and the need to touch every so often, but this physic seeming connection where they know what the other wants or is soooo in tune with the other, has just recently come to light.

For instance-they play the same imaginary games! I mean seriously, is it just having another person right there that totally gets you, or is it more? Their favorite game-doggy. Colton pretends to be a puppy and crawls around barking and panting, while Connor says "See my puddy". It is downright adorable.

Or the cookie thing (that is what I call it, some may simply call it sharing). Connor gets a cookie, and has to take one to Colton too. Will not leave until either his brother is right there getting a cookie or I give him one to carry to him.

Another one is their sippy cups. If I tell one to go get his cup, he gets his brothers and takes it to him before he comes back to me with it.

Okay so maybe these are not the "connections" other parents see. More a show of how caring my C's are towards each other. Who knows? I will be on the lookout though for ever elusive "twin connection"!

Two for Twos-day

It is time for Two for Twos-day hosted by Debi from Who Say's 8 is enough. Yes, the very same Debi that was guest poster last week. If you didn't get to check out her post you can do so as soon as you finish with this post! You really should check it out. She is doing a three part Guest Posting for all of you on the "Holy Trinity" (three must have items for parents of multiples. Yes, I am cruel. I sent this picture to my parents after photoshopping away Connor's birthmark.

Now you can head on over to Who Say's 8 is Enough and see who else is playing along with Two for Twos-day!

BTW-Can you guess which one is which? You have a 50/50 shot at getting it right! And first person to get it right will get a $25 Amazon giftcard!

Carissa from Sugar Boogers & Tantrums got it right! Connor is on the left and Colton is on the right. See the faint brown spot on Connors hand (the one stuck in his mouth?)

Flo from Boon Inc Review and Giveaway

Bath time in my home is chaotic. The twins get a bath together which is fun on one hand, and a nervous wreck kinda thing on the other. They are at the fishy swimming and sliding all over the tub phase now. Which results in bumped heads on the faucet for whoever is sitting on that end of the tub.

So on a quest for faucet covers I go. And I come across the wonders of Flo from Boon Inc.! Now I already knew about Boon because of their amazing potty seat, but I had no idea they had so much other great stuff! They literally have everything for bathtime, potty time, and food time that you could need!

Flo is this great faucet cover that comes in your choice of green or blue. It holds bubble bath in the top that flows out with the push of a button. And when the water is running through it, it looks like a waterfall in your own bathtub. It was so easy to put on the faucet also.

The boys love the Flo. They sit there putting all their toys in the waterfall for some water catching action. Their favorite thing though is the the bubble bath dispenser. They love pushing that button so much that they do it even when they are not in the tub! LOL

The added safety that the Flo offers makes it an approved item in my book. The ease of usedefinitely gets my approval. And you are getting it from a company you can trust!


Want your own Flo? Well, you can purchase it from Boon, Inc. for $14.99 or check out their nifty locator map and see where the closest retailer is to you! But WAIT!!!! One lucky ducky will win their very own Flo from Boon, Inc.! YAY!

Mandatory entry:
Visit Boon, Inc. and tell me another product you would like to try.


Extra entries:
Follow this blog
Grab the button
Suscribe to this blog
Follow Twin Tested on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway (can be done 2x a day)
Follow Boon, Inc. on Twitter
Blog about this giveaway and get 5 extra entries (link to both me and Boon, Inc. please)
Become a fan of Boon, Inc. on Facebook
Fav this blog on Technorati
Link this giveaway on any list, site, facebook page, myspace, wherever! Tell me where you link at! (For every place you link it, leave and additional comment!)
Suscribe to Boon, Inc. via email

Giveaway will end on September 7th @ 11:59 pm. Open to US only!

Winners Announcement

Winner of the Twin Spins CD is comment #1...

Meg said...
My twins would love this! My favorite song is "Twins Are In" mjs1708[at]yahoo[dot]c om
August 14, 2009 9:50 AM

Thanks for entering Meg! I will be emailing you shortly and you will have 48 hours from the time your receive the email to claim your prize.

Guest Post ~ Debi from Who Says 8 Is Enough?

A short while ago, Brandi asked me to possibly do some guest posts for her about some of my favorite "twin-tested" items.
So, I thought maybe it would be fun to share with you what I considered to be my Holy Trinity for Raising Twins.... but in 3 parts. So, you will need to stay tuned for part 2 and 3 :)

Holy Trinity, Part 1
The Podee
A while ago it occurred to me that there are many people who possibly aren't aware of some of the normal ins & outs of life with multiples, so this website is probably a Godsend for those who are expecting.
Life with multiples can be a blast, but there are definitely moments that can make life a HUGE challenge as well. So, when you find an item that can make it even just a teeny tiny bit easier with twins, you want to share it with the world.
The #1 item for me was Podee bottles. ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES!
For anyone who has ever tried to feed 2 or more babies alone, you know that it doesn't take long to realize the logistics don't quite work.
Hmmm, how to feed more than one screaming baby at the same time, esp. at 2am ? Well, that's where the Podee came to the rescue.
A hands-free bottle!!!!

Will & Emma used these handy little suckers from the time they were 1 month old until they could hold their own bottles at 8 months old. Of course, since my babies happened to be a bit odd about the nipples they would drink from , we didn't use the nipples that came with the Podee system, but instead used our own.



Let me just tell you, these bottles were SUPER handy in the car seats & the stroller too!
We could pack them in the stroller, go for a nice long walk, and both babies could happily drink their bottles while I kept on walking.

They were also not too expensive! Although, I have to admit, that on those really rough nights, when both babies were crying and wanted bottles at the same time, Podee could've charged me $4000 for one bottle and I would've been willing to fork it over ;)
Thankfully, they aren't anywhere near that pricey.

And, even more awesome, Podee is giving one away for you to try, right here on Twin Tested.
If you'd like to enter to win, just click HERE.
I promise, you won't regret it!

PS After you're done checking out the give-away, come on over to my blog, Who Says 8 is Enough and say "hi" :)

Two for Twos-day

Normally the boys will not have anything to do with these swings. They like the big boy swings. But when we went to the park last Saturday the big swings were taken. So after a moment, the boys got in these. AND STAYED THERE FOR 2 HOURS!!!

And when it was finally time to go home, and I was cruel and force them out of the swings-this is what happened...

Now if you would like to see who else is playing fr Two for Twos-day, just head over to Who Say's 8 Is Enough!

Philosophy giveaway

As man of you know pediatric cancer research is a cause very close to my heart. When I was found out about whatPhilosophy is doing to help, I immediately asked to be involved. Philosophy has teamed up with Cookies for Kid's Cancer to help raise money for pediatric cancer research.

Cookies For Kid's Cancer is a great site that give you a way to donate, find events to buy cookies, and even host your own bake sale! What better yummy way is there to raise money?! We all love cookies, and we all want to help irradicate a senseless disease. If you think you don't care..visit HERE and then tell me you didn't feel something! Children are dying EVERY SINGLE DAY because our government will not put in the neccessary funds to help find cures for some of the most deadly diseases. Often times they state that the cancer is too "rare". Like Neuroblastoma. Only 25% of children diagnosed with NB survive! And it gets NO FUNDING from cancer research funds. As it is only 7% of cancer research funds are earmarked for pediatic cancer research. Are the babies dying, families being devastated, and hearts being wrenched out not important enough?! Seriously people start sending letters to your goverment officials letting them know that no matter how "rare" the cancer it still deserves to have a cure! Okay I got off topic!

Info on Pediatric cancer for you to chew over:
· Cancer remains the number one disease that claims the lives of our children. Each year cancer kills more children under the age of 18 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
· Pediatric cancer is referred to as an “orphan disease” because there is little or no profit to be made by the pharmaceutical companies and the reason why they ignore pediatric cancers for the most part.
· The government has paid little attention to pediatric cancer research and it has been grossly under funded.
· Each year in the U.S., nearly 13,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. That’s the equivalent of two average size classrooms diagnosed each school day.
· Today about 75% of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors yet in the U.S. cancer remains the leading cause of death from one year through adolescence; more than any other disease. In the early 1950s, less than 10 percent of childhood cancer patients could be cured, proof that research can and is making a difference.
· The genetic origins of human cancer manifested by the discovery of cancer causing oncogenes and mutated tumor suppressor genes were first discovered in uniquely pediatric cancers.
· Historically, some of the most basic and essential treatment strategies now employed in the fight against cancer – such as multi-agent chemotherapy and combined modality therapy – were developed through pediatric cancer research.
· Pediatric cancer research continues to add immense value to the science of oncology, unlocking the secrets of this terrible disease.
· Leukemia’s, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles are the most common childhood cancers.
· In the U.S., Combined, the cancers of children, adolescents and young adults to age 20 are the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.
· Breakthroughs in pediatric oncology will undoubtedly continue to progress the diagnosis and treatment of adult cancers. Many of the principles in therapy used today in treating adults were first developed and tested for children.
· During the last ten years, more than 32,000 children with cancer have been enrolled into 138 different completed clinical trials.
· Only two to three percent of adults with cancer are enrolled in clinical research trials, whereas the majority of children diagnosed are enrolled.
· Recent reports indicate that nearly two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors experience significant medical problems resulting from their original cancer and/or its treatment.

All you have to do to help is buy some cookies or bake some cookies and sell them, then donate the proceeds to Cookies For Kid's Cancer. It is that easy!

I guess I should tell you a bit about the wonderful sponsor Philosophy that has gotten involved with Cookies For Kid's Cancer.
From August 15th – October 15th philosophy will be donating 100% of the net proceeds of their oatmeal raisin high foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer -- an organization created to raise awareness of and funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer through the concept of hosting local bake sales.

philosophy will also be hosting two bake sales of their own at their Arizona store locations, and wanted ask your help in getting your readers to do the same for a really great cause. Cancer remains the number one disease that claims the lives of our children. Each year cancer kills more children under the age of 18 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.

The Cookies for Kids’ Cancer website (www.cookiesforkidscancer.org) makes it easy for anyone that wants to get involved in the fight against pediatric cancer by detailing the 4 easy steps your readers will need to throw a bake sale for this cause (planning, details, bake and sell!).

And, all you non bakers can help as well by picking up the oatmeal raisin high foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath benefiting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer on http://www.philosophy.com/

And because Philosophy is so awesome they are giving 3 lucky readers a bottle of their Oatmeal Raisin 3-1 body wash, bubble bath, shower gel! All you have to do to enter is donte $1.00 to Cookies for Kid's Cancer! That is the ONLY entry I am offering. As I have said many many times every dollar helps! Please leave a separate comment for each entry though! You can donate in three ways. And each way you donate is one entry.

1)Donate money HERE

2)Buy some cookies HERE

3)Buy a bottle of Oatmeal Raisin 3-1 HERE

Giveaway will end on September 1st at 11:59 pm. Open to US only!

Podee Bottle review and giveaway

Ahh, the joys of trying to feed two mouths at once. I know ever twin parent can understand the joys that come out of this endeavor. Either you figure out a schedule where each baby eats at different times (which is a pain in the arse all by itself), or you figure out how to feed two babies at once!

When Colton on Connor were bottle drinkers I was also breast feeding. So one baby got bottle and one got boob. Even with this it was a work out. I ended up on the floor with one propped up in a boppy and a blanket propping the bottle. Did I mention how fun this was? And then Debi told me all about the Podee bottle! I immediately went and hunted a couple down, and fell in instant love. Not only did it help me with feeding time at home, but it also helped with feeding while on the road, out shopping, or just out on a walk.

The Podee bottle has this great design. It is a regular bottle with a special "straw" inside of it that allows the nipple to be in the babies mouth while the bottle next to the baby. When the baby sucks on the nipple it draws the milk from the bottle into the straw and then into the nipple.

Some common questions and answers regarding the Podee bottle (from the website):
1. What is the appropriate age to start using the Podee® Baby Bottle?
The principal purpose in using the Podee® Baby Bottle is to help reduce colic, ear infections, and reflux. This is accomplished when the baby uses the bottle in an upright or semi-upright position. Hence, it is best to use this bottle when the baby is able to sit in an upright or semi-upright position.

2. How do we clean the Podee® Baby Bottle parts?
You can wash all parts with mild soap and warm water. Inside of the tubes can be cleaned with a tube cleaning brush. If you prefer, you can sterilize all the parts in boiling water.

3. Are other nipples of different brands compatible with Podee® bottle?
We strongly recommend using nipples made by PODEE®. Other brand nipples are designed to work only with ordinary baby feeding bottles while nipples made by Podee® are designed to work only with Podee® Baby Bottle. Using nipples other than Podee® brand will cause the Podee® Baby Bottle not to work properly.

4. What is the bottle part made of?
The new Podee baby bottle is made of BPA-Free material. If you are looking for FDA-Approved polycarbonate Podee baby bottle, there are still few remaining in the market.

Since you feed the baby in an upright position opposed to leaning back, it reduces ear infections, colic, and gas. I loved my Podee bottles and definitely would say that they were a product that I couldn't have lived without that first year of twindom.

It took the boys a couple of times using the bottles before they really got the hang of them. But once they did, they never had a problem with them after that. They used them till they could hold their own bottles at around 5-6 months. Then I passed them to my SIL for her singleton.

The time and energy the Podee bottles saved me was well worth it! I could comfortably go off somewhere and give the boys their bottles in the stroller without having to worry about propping them up with something. I could feed them at home and know that I wouldn't be constantly having to rearrange the props of whomever was getting the bottle that time. Definitely a mom approved item!

Want to buy podee bottles for yourself or someone else you know that is having twins? Well you can visit HERE to find an online retailer of Podee bottles! But WAIT!!!! Podee has graciously offered up one twin-pack of Podee bottles for one lucky parent! All you have to do to enter is visit Podee and name one store where you can buy the sytem at!

Extra entries:

Follow this blog

Grab the button

Fav Twin Tested on Technorati

Tweet about this giveaway AND follow Twin Tested on Twitter (can be done twice daily)

Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries! (Please link to both me and the sponsor)

Enter the Twin Spins giveaway.

Giveaway will end on September 1st @ 11:59 pm. Open to US only.

I am soooo sorry! And an impromtu $25 giveaway

Okay, for some reason I could have swore the Wonderbal giveaway was set to end last Monday, but it should have ended tomorrow. And since I goofed major, closed the comments, and just completely screwed up I will be drawing a name from the entrants for another prize. A $25 gift cert to Babies R Us!!!! Yep. So my screw up is your lucky day.

The winner of the gift cert is Nancy! Whoo hoo.

Once again I apologize for my stupidity!

Guest Poster...Sean from My Life With Twins

Guest poster time again. As you could tell, we slacked yesterday and didn't get it up til today! But I can assure you it was worth the wait! Today's guest poster is Sean from My Life With Twins. As a dad to itty bitty baby twins (a little boy and a little girl), he offers us a unique prespective in this mom dominated bloggy world. Please enjoy!

The
10
things
I
couldn’t
have
lived
without

(after
I
had
twins)


1. Netflix
subscription
‐
$9.99
month.


2. LG
BluRay/Network
player


3. iPhone


4. Exergen
temporal
scanner/infared
thermometer


5. D60



6. SB‐600
flash


7. Hiking
pack/diaper
bag


8. Swaddles


9. Ceiling
Fans


10. Alcohol




This
is
not
a
list
of
the
usual
things
you’d
necessarily
register
for.

Yes,
I
love
the
swings,
the
bouncy
seats,
the
car
seats
that
fit
into
the
stroller.

Those
go
without
saying.

They’re
simply
boring,
lacking
in
technology,
and
not
very
manly.

So
here
are
the
top
10
moderately
manly
things
I
really
haven’t
been
able
to
live
without
since
the
twins
arrive.

Consider
some
of
these
ideas
if
you
want
to
get
out
of
the
box
with
gifts
for
people
expecting.



1. Netflix
subscription.

This
is
awesome.

You
can
stream
movies
to
your
computer,
all
for
$9.60
a
month.

I
spent
the
first
two
sleepless
months
keeping
myself
occupied
during
the
century‐long
feeding
sessions
of
the
premature
babies
by
watching
movies
on
my
computer
and
TV.

(see
number
2)

The
babies
have
appeared
to
enjoy
all
9
seasons
of
South
Park,
the
classic
Steve
McQueen
movies,
and
Superbad.




2. LG
370
Blu‐ray/network
player.

Best
father’s
day
gift
I’ve
ever
received.

It
was
also
my
first.

For
no
extra
cost,
I’m
now
able
to
watch
my
Netflix
movies
directly
to
my
TV
without
running
my
laptop
through
the
stereo
receiver
and
VGA
input
on
my
TV.

Simply
fantastic.





3. iPhone.

Yes.

I
had
this
the
day
it
came
out.

The
long,
sleepless
nights
I
was
feeding
babies
every
2
hours,
I
could
keep
on
top
of
email,
play
games,
and
keep
myself
occupied. It’s
also
exceedingly
helpful
to
take
pictures
when
the
babies
are
being
cute.

I’ve
also
used
it
to
record
their
babbling
in
the
morning
that
my
mom
wanted
to
hear.

There
are
a
number
of
baby
logging
programs
available
to
keep
track
of
poop,
feedings,
etc.

Ahh,
technology.


4. Still
on
the
technology
kick.

Trying
to
take
a
screaming
child’s
temperature
with
a
digital
thermometer
is
one
thing.

Sticking
it
under
their
armpit
for
up
to
5
minutes
when
4.5
lbs
is
another.

Seriously.

The
instructions
said
it
could
take
up
to
5
minutes
to
get
a
reading.

That
wasn’t
going
to
happen.

Enter
the
Exergen
temporal
scanner/infrared
thermometer.

When
we
first
visited
our
pediatrician,
the
nurse
grabbed
this
magic
wand,
ran
it
over
the
babies’
heads,
and
magically
it
took
their
temperature.

Thinking
this
was
some
fancy
hospital
equipment
that
cost
a
month’s
mortgage,
I
was
surprised

to
see
this
at
Walmart
for
$30.

I
asked
the
nurse
next
time
we
saw
her
if
they
were
the same
ones
and
she
said
“yes”.

So
I
bought
it.

It’s
a
few
fractions
of
a
degree
different
every
time
you
use
it,
but
if
you’re
worried
about
a
fever
and
you’re
not
willing
to
create
a
crying
machine
at
3:30
a.m.
by
sticking
the
thermometer
under
their
armpit,
this
is
the
solution.




5. Nikon
D60
camera
with
SB600
external
flash.
Any
digital
SLR
will
work,
but
this
is
the
one
I
have.

Without
getting
all
technical,
you
can
visit
my
webpage
for
some
talk
about
getting
started
with
family
photography.

The
external
flash
is
simply
outstanding,
as
it
balances
the
colors,
and
makes
skin
look
so
much
more
natural.

Skip
the
point
and
shot,
spend
the
extra
cash
for
a
camera
you’ll
get
many
more
miles
out
of.


You’ll
be
able
to
take
pictures
more
quickly
with
a
SLR
which
is
important
for
moving
targets.


6. Coleman
Max
65L
Backpack.

This
is
my
man
diaper
bag.

Not
that
I’m
insecure
in
my
manhood,
but
the
little
Etsy‐looking
diaper
bag
we
have
that
we
take
to
transport
the
twins
around
the
world
doesn’t
cut
it.

There
are
few
pockets
and
things
get
lost.

I
have
no
idea
where
anything
is
after
I
put
it
in
the
bag.

Upon
looking
at
diaper
bags
online,
I
realized
it
was
silly
to
spend
a
bunch
of
money
on
an
authentic
dad‐bag.

I
spent
$60
(cheaper
than
other
big
bags
online),
and
was
rewarded
with
plenty
of
storage,
cool
compartment
spaces
to
keep
bottles,
clothes,
first
aid,
diapers,
and
the
occasional
praying
mantis
my
wife
wanted
to
take
home.

When
it’s
no
longer
a
diaper
bag,
I
now
have
an
extra
hiking
pack
for
my
mountain
climbing
expeditions.


7. Baby
hospital
blankets.

I’ll
admit
it,
I
lifted
some
of
them.

Well,
I
figured
I
paid
for
them
after
seeing
the
sticker
shock
of
the
days
in
the
hospital.

At
first
I
only
wanted
them
until
I
got
home
and
could
use
the
thin
blankets
we
were
gifted
(still
can’t
use
nice,
comfy
blankets
with
them,
which
we
have
some
excellent
ones
made
for
us).

I
learned
how
to
put
my
babies
in
their
straight
jacket
with
these
blankets,
so
at
least

I
have
a
head
start.

I
quickly
found
these
were
the
only
ones
big
enough
or
didn’t
stretch.

Next
trip
to
the
hospital,
I
stuffed
a
bag
full
of
them.

We’re
still
using
them
after
being
home
for
3
months.

Sorry
hospital.

Please
don’t
arrest
me.

I’m
sure
they
cost
you
$0.45,
but
I
love
them.


8. Ceiling
fans.

The
kids
aren’t
able
to
play
with
toys
yet.
It
doesn’t
matter
the
type
of
fan,
they’re
complete
junkies.

They
take
what
they
can
get.

The
fancy
Hunter
ceiling
fan
in
the
dining
room,
the
antiquated
fan
in
the
kitchen
with
energy
saving
bulbs
that
are
too
big
for
the
enclosures,
or
the
bedroom
fan
that
sways
with
a
please‐fix‐me‐gyroscope‐pattern.

When
they
start
fussing,
it
used
to
signal
hunger
or
a
diaper
that
I
neglected
for
too
long.

Now
they’re
chasing
the
dragon
and
the
only
thing
that
will
appeal
them
is
me
begrudgingly
acting
as
their
enabler
as
I
lead
them
to
a
fan
to
quell
their
hunger.

At
least
it
keeps
them
occupied.


9. The
Chaos
Mat.

It’s
real
name
is
the
Baby
Einstein
Play
Mat.

We
didn’t
register
for
this,
but
it’s
pretty
great.

Despite
having
every
color
of
the
rainbow
smattered
around
in
seemingly
random
patterns,
mirrors,

ADD
enabling
toys
and
a
singing
star,
we’ve
gotten
a
lot
of
use
out
of
this.

The
bars
that
cross
over
the
top
also
act
as
a
magical
dog‐prevention
barrier,
 impenetrable
when
the
star
is
playing
the
third
movement
from
Mozart’s
Piano
Sonata
in
A
Major.


10. Beer.

This
is
silly
because
I
could
use
beer
before
the
babies,
but
now,
I
think
I
might
truly
understand
the
joy
in
alcohol.



Now if you enjoyes Sean's post, head over and visit him and his gorgeous babies at My Life With Twins

Thank you Sean for such a fun post.

Sage Advice

(n.) smart words to help you

I have been given plenty of "sage advice" since having the twins.
Sleep when the baby sleeps!
Accept all help offered!
Don't worry about the house right now!

Wish someone had something for what to do when one twin eats one half of a worm and then offers the other half to his brother.

Two for Twos-day

I wonder why they call 'em "mirror image" twins?

Now that you have seen my two for twos-day post, head over to Debi's and see who else is playing along this week!

We have a winner!!!

I am so happy to announce the winner of the Complete Laundry System from Mystic Wonders is comment # 24....

Leslie M. said...
Seriously.. I need the Wonder Microfiber Cloths!! These things last forever and you can wash and reuse these!! I have had these in the past and worn 'em out!Thanks for the chance to win the Mystic Wonders Complete Laundry System!! My interest is sooooo Piqued now!!! I am such a TREE Hugger and nature lover, save the EARTH and Fishies Girl! I want to Give this a Whirl! I hate to think of all that harsh Detergent polluting our Waters!LeslieLeslieVeg@msn.comhttp://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/
August 4, 2009 10:31 PM

Thanks for entering Leslie, and I will email you shortly to confirm!

Twin Spins review and giveaway

I have often wondered if there was music just for twins. I figured there had to be, so I went on a hunt. What I found just tickled me silly! I came across Twin Spins:Tunes for Twins a couple of months ago. I absolutely love it! The creator of Twin Spins, Judy Krause is a twin mommy. She is also an award winning song writer! Along with Judy, there are several top musicians and songwriters who contributed to the making of the CD.


With songs like "Wish Come Two", "Twins Rule", and "Me Me & You You" you will find yourself bopping along with your own twins. The music is catchy and easy to sing along with. It is definitely"Double Double Fun Fun"!







The boys love this cd. When I put it in they start grinning from ear to ear. Connor has mastered the hop-dance. Too cute. And Colton likes his toe-tap. I would say that they have given this their seal of approval 100%. Their favorite song is "The Twins Are Marching", they start marching around the living room when it comes on.







I definitely approve of this CD. It is so much fun just listening to it. I can't say there is any "learning" going on while listening to this cd, but can't we just have fun listening to music?!

Want your own copy of Twin Spins for your twins? Well you can purchase your copy on the Twin Spins website for $15.99 for CD and $8.99 for the cassette by clicking HERE. But WAIT!!! You have the chance to win your very own CD here!

Mandatory entry:
Visit Twin Spins and tell me your favorite song!

Optional entries:
Follow this blog or let me know if you already do.
Grab my button
Fav this blog on Technorati for 2 extra entries
Follow Twin Tested on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily)
Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries!

Giveaway will be end August 24th at 11:59 pm! Open to US and Canada!

Saturday Funny

It is time to laugh! I heard the funniest joke. While some may be offended, I bet all will laugh even if they don't want to!

There is no way for me to write it and it sound as funny. So here is the link and it is the second joke. (About a man laughing at a pregnant woman).

Life in the fast lane...how to get individual time

Or maybe it is more the slow lane. Which ever way it is, I know with the boys I feel like one is always going 90 to nothing and the other just wants down-time. So how do you manage to make both feel as if they are getting what they need? Seriously how do you do it, cuz I feel like I may explode on days like that! LOL One wants you to spend time buiding a fort. The other wants you to spend time running around like a dinosaur.

The only tips I can really say from exerience is that each child (no matter whether you have 1 or more) needs their own mommy/daddy time. With multiples it is even more important to give them that individual one on one time. But how do you manage to do it without breaking the bank, or without feeling like you are not giving equally?

Go outside! Yep, take one child outside and blow bubbles, run around like a mad person, whatever will give you that bonding time that both of you need desperately. I know this sounds easier said then done. Especially when the other child(ren) try to follow you out. But do it when dad is there, or someone else, to keep them occupied.

Bake together! Yes, even if you have little boys you can still bake together. Mix up a batch of cookies, and let them pour everything into the bowl. Bake a cake and let them help frost it. I know you are thinking of the huge mess that could possibly happen, but think about the fun you'll have sneaking choco chips with your little one. Or the sheer joy on their face when they get to frost the cake any color they want.

Read a book! Go to their room, close the door, and sit down with a book. Kids love having books read. They love the silly voices parents do. And the time is both educational and fun!

Go to the park! Pick a Saturday or Sunday and rotate between the kids, and take a trip to the park. Pack a lunch or snack, water bottles, and a bucket. Then head out. Spend time on the swings. Look like an idiot and slide down the kiddie slide. This really is so much fun, and such a simple way of making time.

Do you have any tips? I'm always interested in hearing tips to make things happen, so please share away! And then go find something you and your little one can do together. Maybe a super messy art project outside?!

Guest Poster Thursdays...Leslie Loves Veggies

I love hearing other's stories and tips. It intrigues the pee out of me. So on Thursday's you will find a guest poster around these here parts. Whether they be twin, twin mommy/daddy, twin grandma, twin whatever I'll wrangle them up and let them do the talking (errr typing).

This weeks guest post is written by Leslie M. You can visit her blog Leslie Loves Veggies just as soon as you read her post! LOL

Best Friends, Worst enemies...the Life of a Twin!

Twin A. That is me!

Love it. Hate it.

Never thought alot about it!

I cannot imagine my life without Twin B! My womb mate!

I can't speak for All twins; I can only speak for me and my Twin!

So here we go!

It is the BEST and it is the WORST!

Best: I was never lonely, I had a built in Best Friend!

Worst: I had to share a strawberry shortcake Butter cream frosting Birthday cake with my Twin for 18 years!! I wanted my OWN Chocolate Whipped Cream frosting cake!

Best: No first day Jitters at school! Ha I had my Twin by my side! Even though we never had a Class together, I had nothing to fear! I had my Sissy by my side!

Worst: All the other kids had Gumby and Pokey! I wanted both too! I got Pokey Darn it! We had to SHARE every single toy we had! So NOT fair, just because we were twins!

Best: Didn't have to be afraid of the Dark! No Siree Bob! Twin Sissy and I Shared that Big old Bed together and how could a monster get me? He would surely go for HER first! So *I* was safe! Besides I would hear her scream when the monster came through the door and I would protect both of us! (That is how a twin thinks, no lie)

Worst: I must have had insomnia even as a kid. Poor Sissy (ya know my Sister's name is Helen, not Sissy Right?) would try to sleep and I would want to play, so I would put my hand under her pillow and jiggle it to keep her awake! She would beg me to stop! "Please stop Sissy!" Would I? Heck no! If I did she would go to sleep and my fun would be OVER!

Best: It was Helen who introduced me to my Hubby! I DID NOT WANT HIM! I figured he was HER CAST off! She tried to get me to meet him for 2 years. I canceled....Stood him up at least half a dozen times. I figured if he was so great, she would keep him for herself! But she insisted he was the MAN for me! Well, 28 years later and Sissy KNEW BEST!

Worst: Hearing "I told you so". Shut up Already! We have been married for 25 years! YOU WERE RIGHT!!!! ENOUGH!

Best: Our family moved to Georgia from New York 11 years ago! I did NOT want to leave my TWIN! We lived 2 miles apart Sissy cried, I cried and we made the Hubbies miserable. Finally Helen told her Hubby "We have to move to GA....You can't separate Twins, they die! They arrived in GA 6 months later! Ha! Victory!

There is NO worst! I cannot imagine my Life without Helen! I Love her and Thank God for her every single day of my life! Helen lives 2 miles away! That's how it should be!

The Twins are Happy!

The Hubbies are Happy!

*Thank you Leslie for being the first guest poster, and giving us a new way of thinking about twins. *

Disciplining

Yes, I had to write one controversial post. Watch out there will probably be more!

When it comes to discipling your children, do you ever feel like everyone in the world is judging you based on that one action? Take the recent photo of Kate Gosseling spanking one of her children. I know they wanted shock value, and probably got it. Oh, I am sure a whole hornets nest was stirred up over it. With spanking being so taboo and all. I am not a Jon & Kate fan, I think they are using their children to line their own pockets and get amazing things from people, but that picture didn't get the shock value out of me that I am sure other people exhibited. See, I spank my kids. Yes, I do. Call whoever you want. Stop reading this blog. It won't change anything. But don't jump off the boat to the deepest end possible. I said spank,not beat. BIG difference.

I do yelling, time out, sitting in the bedroom by their selves, and then spanking. It is a last resort, but it is a resort. I was raised with getting a paddle (a ping pong paddle with holes drilled in it for maximum effect) on my rear when I lied, disobeyed, or was a smart mouth to my parents. I never ever saw it as a beating. I saw it as punishment. And as much as it hurt, I knew I had deserved to get in trouble. No, I don't have a ping pong paddle in my home. I don't beat them black and blue. I simply spank them.

The point I am trying to get at, is every parent has their own way to discipline their children. Just because you do it a different way, doesn't make the other person wrong. It just makes their choices different from yours. Don't judge a person based on one aspect (or one photo), judge the whole person. Be sure to know whether what you are seeing is someone beating their child, or if it is your politically correct thinking going "Oh my God! She is beating her child!" I know some would argue that violence begets violence, and therefore spanking my boys and girls will teach them that they can hit others. I don't believe that. They know what they are getting a spanking over. But as for violence begetting violence...I think there are worse things out there teaching our kids to be violent than parents disciplining them

Great giveaway at Leslie loves veggies

Head on over to Leslie Loves Veggies to enter for a chance at a pair of shoes from See Kai Run!

You can also enter to win a 10 pack of Bummas.

Two for Twos-day

I love taking pics of the boys sleeping together. To me that is really when you see their twin bond. They have from day one, always had to be touching when they sleep. If one wakes up and gets out of bed, the other is for sure not far behind.

Now head over and see who else is playing along this week. Better yet, why don't you play along?! I'd love to see your two (or more) for twos-day pics!

WonderBall Laundry System review and giveaway (closed)

Mystic Wonders specializes in green products. Not just for cleaning, but for so many things. We were sent a complete laundry system, lip balm, and goats milk soap to review here at Twin Tested.

I'll start with the lip balm for you. I love lip balm. I have been a Burts Bees fan for many years, until now! The Lip Wonder Balm has turned my lips into a velveety smooth surface. It is not sticky or tacky feeling, does not burn when you are wearing it, and feels devine when putting it on. What I found iteresting is that on the site they say that the Lip Wonder is great for dry cuticles! I will definitely have to try that! You can get it in 3 flavors-Vanilla, Peppermint, and Plain. And interesting fact...It is hugely popular in Salt Lake City, Utah. It sells out every time it is listed on http://www.kdylam.com/.

The Wonder Goats Milk Soap is another product we were sent to try out. Colton has this werd skin that breaks out really easy, and then he ends up with ecsema patches all over him. We tried the Wonder Goats Milk Soap during bathtime on both the boys (I tried it also...but I'll go with them! LOL) Connor and Colton both had fun with the soap. You see, it doesn't look like normal soap. So all the kids were either going yuck or kewl. It lathers up nicely and got the boys spic-n-span in no time. We have used it for two nights now, and have no adverse effects. Colton's skin is nice and smooth, without patches!

And last but not least, the WonderBall Laundry System. This has got to be the most AMAZING invention for laundry ever! You see, this one little yellow ball lasts for 3 YEARS!!! Yep, you read me right! While, you may still need to pre-treat stains like you normally would, and for those really bad loads add a itty bitty bit of laundry detergent, you will not need those bottles clogging up the recycling bin. I actually one a 1 year WonderBall and have been using it for a week. I have not had to use detergen once with the clothes. When Mystic Wonders sent me the Complete Laundry System I sent the 1 year ball to my neighbor. The Complete Laundry System comes complete with 1 Wonder Ball for the washer and 2 Wonder Ballls for the dryer. If you add up how much you spend on laundry detergent over a 3 year period (especially when those twins are infants) you'd be surprised to know that you will spend in two months what you would have spent on one Mystic Wonders Complete Laundry System that will last you 3 years.

When it comes to products getting the twin test, I think laundry detergent is hit the hardest. Not only because I have boys who can't stand to get their clothes dirty and feel they must change 20 times a day, but because there are 5 other people in the house. Which makes for a lotta laundry. With Colton's eczema I have to be careful that the laundry detergent I use doesn't cause him to break out. With Mystic Wonders Complete Laundry System I do not have that worry. So it definitely passes the twin test!

The Mystic Wonders company gets my seal of approval on all of the products we were sent. The money I will save on laundry detergent alone, is amazing! The added benefits of no eczema in sight is a blessing. So it is definitely mom approved!

Want to buy your own Mystic Wonders Complete Laundry System? Well just visit their website and make your purchase. It costs $49.95. Want the Lip Balm? It costs $2.45. And the goats milk soap costs $3.45. But WAIT!!! One lucky reader will be reciving their very own Mystic Wonders Complete Laundry System!

Mandatory entry:
Visit Mystic Wonders and tell me one product you would like to try. One I haven't reviewed!

Optional entries:
*Become a follower of this blog (or let me know if you are)
*Become a subscriber
*Become a Twitter follower AND tweet about this giveaway
*Fav this blog on Technorati
*Blog about this giveaway for 5 additional entries


Giveaway will end August 17th at 11:59 pm. Open to US residents only.

Sunday Prayers

There are so many babies out there that need prayers. Whether they are twins or not. Sundays are dedicated to those babies.

Little Stellan needs prayers. As does his mommy and daddy. Stellan is about to undergo an abalation on his heart due to severe SVT.
*update...since planning this post I am beyond happy to report that God has blessed the doctors over Stellan's case with insight, and have developed a new drug regiment that is so far controlling the SVT, and have been able to put the abalation on hold until he is bigger. Praise the Lord!

Little Gia is suffering with Neuroblastoma, and needs so many prayers. They are having a hard time controlling her pain, and the doctors are not very hopeful that she will make it through this new relapse. But I know a Great Physician that is more than able to ease Gia's pain, and give these doctors the strength to find a cure! Please keep Gia in your prayers. She has fought for sooo very long.

Praise the Lord!!! Yes, praise Him. See this one little boy is about to celebrate 1 year since he underwent cord blood transfusion. Visit Ethan and his family praise the Lord with them!

Saturday Funny

I have been trying to figure something fun to post on Saturdays, and have come up with what I think will be a fun diversion. The Saturday Funny. Please enjoy!

Aren't those just the cutest baby girls?!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More

I recently won the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More from another twin mom, visit her at Twin Happy. I was excited to get it, and read it in just a couple of days. The stories in the book are stories I felt I could relate to. I cried reading some, laughed out loud reading others, and remembered how blessed I was while reading them all. If you ever get the chance to read this book, DO IT!!! This is defintely a book that every multiples family should have on their bookshelves!

Shoe shopping

Shoes are one of those things that kids go through so fast you would think that they have this little button on them that says"Okay time for shoes to expire". With twins you are stuck with having to buy two pairs of shoes instead of one. Well, if you have boys like mine. Who until this past shoe buying excursion have stayed the same size, now Connor has monster fat feet, and Colton just has monster feet. Buying shoes can get pricey. Especially if you are going to buy high end shoes in matching colors. And when they are not on sale. Been there done that. But see, kids are so rough on their shoes that really why do we spend that amount of money on something they are going to disenegrate? If you really must have the expensive shoes, save them for outings. For play shoes though, head to Payless! Yes, you heard me. Payless. You can get the most adorable shoes for the best prices. Especially if you catch it during a BOGO event! Payless's shoes are rather durable also. My boys last pair from there still look almost brand new, and I have some ROUGH boys.

Another good store is The Shoe Dept. They tend to have good sales and have their name brand shoes for about half of what you would pay in the big name department stores. I always head straight to the clearance aisle and see what they have. If you must go to the department stores. Head to Sears. With the Kidvantage program, you really cannot go wrong.

Two for Tuesday

A friend did this picture for me awhile back and I still love it as much today as I did the day she emailed it to me.

Now head over to Who Say's 8 Is Enough to see who else is playing along with Two for Tuesday.

What's for lunch?

Feeding twins can be at times a bit crazy. Especially if you have super picky twins, or twins that won't eat what the other is eating. I got lucky enough to have twins that will eat ANYTHING, so I don't face these particular problems. But if you do...my advice, and the advice of other moms who do face this problem, is to look for brands that offer a variety of items. Things like Chef Boyardee and Kids Kitchen microwavable meals are one of my turn to's for quick lunches. You also have Gerber Graduates little meals that are excellent for when they are smaller. A little pricey, especially when you add in the fact that you are buying two of each. But as for nutrition Gerber Graduates is great.

When doing sammies, it is easy to make sureeach one gets one just as they like it. Keep a variety of ham, turkey, and bolonga in the fridge. Then you are sure to be able to make whatever combo your little one will like.





The boys really like Chef Boyadee's Chicken and Rice with Veggies in the microwavable can. It is the perfect size for them to have as lunch. When they have the spaghetti or ravioli ones I do give them a small salad with it, but like I said, they will eat anything.





The price of the individual microwave meals is usually around $1 a piece. So this makes for an affordable, quick, easy lunch. Right up my alley!

Chores for toddler twins

I really could title this "Chores for toddlers", but seeing as this about twins, you get the point right?! When it comes to chores, I force ask my children ever so politely to help with things around the house. I thought I would share with you how we do chores. Yes, even the twins help out.

Laundry is one of the things that all the kids love to help with. The girls are old enough to actually do their own, so they do. They have a laundry basket in their room, and when it is full, they wash them. I do supervise however. With the 3 year old and the twins, it is more of them being in there. They like to help put the clothes in the washer or dryer. They like helping set the cycles, and the dryer times. They are learning now how to do it, just be helping me in little ways.

Kitchen duty is something I take seriously. I am not their maid. Even if it may seem that way! My children all know that they clear their own dishes, and help pick up dropped food from the twins. Since I use reusable plastic plates and bowls for the kids ($1 at Wal-Mart in a variety of colors) it makes it easy for me to relax and let them bring their plates to the sink. I am working on teaching them to clean out the plates, but that usually turns into a mess all over the kitchen floor!

Cleaning in general is where I actually dole out "chores". Different days means different areas that the 8,7, and 3 year old have to work on. The twins, and this is where this post has been going all along, pick up their toys, any books they have taken out, and any paper they find on the floor. Yes, toddlers can clean! And they even find it fun if mom/dad make it that way. We play basketball with legos and soft balls (try to ring the basket), race to see who can get to the piece of paper first, and read a story during the book pick up.

In my opinion I think that starting kids off early with a few simple tasks as chores starts buiding up for later when they have real chores. Make sure you have a reward system in place! That way they look forward to the reward and will do the "chore" just to make sure they get the reward!

Potty Time

*This is a repost from What's One More? I originally wrote it for over there, but thought the fact that I am potty training twin, I might should post it here also.*
You would think that after doing this three other times I would be a pro at the dreaded potty training. But see in my defense I was doing one at a time with the other three. And two of them were girls that were so easy I could've done it blind folded! With Connor and Colton, I have been "introducing" them to the idea of the potty. Bought a nifty little potty (for $1 at the 99 cent store! and yes it's a real potty), started letting them sit on it, put them in under-roos, you know all the normal do's of potty training. Now as they get closer to 3 I want to really get into this. So I thought I would share with you some of the tips I have been getting from other moms of twins or more and some things I have figured out through trial and error.



Watch and listen for clues that your little one is ready to start on the road to potty training! Things like sleeping through nap without wetting, pulling at the diaper when they pee, verbally trying to tell you that they have peed or pooped. Your little one or ones are your best gauge to when to start potty training.
Always have a treat for doing a good job going potty. Now please don't think I am comparing my kids or yours to dogs, I am just throwing this out there. When you train an animal...how do you get it to do what you want? You reward it with a treat for following through. With potty training you can implement the same thing. When they see that they will get a sticker or piece of candy like an M&M, our personal favorite, the little one will start to go just to get the treat!

Make it fun! That is right, make it fun. Make up your own potty song, potty dance, or whatever. Just make it fun! We have a silly song that ends with a high five for a job well done. And of course you know I am gonna share it! LOL

"Connor went potty! Connor went potty!

Connor went pee-pee in the potty!

YAY!"

Yes, these little round circles that we all know and love are key to training the stander-uppers. I have always started out with sitting down, I think that once they get the idea of going then you start on standing, but either way, you want the little dude to ring the where he is aiming. Put a cheerio in the potty and let him try to hit the target! It goes back to making it fun!

Now that you have the best tips I know of for the getting to go, how bout if you have multiples and it is stressful trying to get them both to go. You can tell they are ready, they just don't go. Well, one thing I picked up from "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More" was competition! That is right. Work with one. When the other(s) see the attention and the rewards racking up then they will start also. They will all want the attention that their brother/sister is getting. This is what I am going through with Connor and Colton. Connor is eager to get up in the morn and put his under-roos on. Eager to sit on the potty. Eager for the potty song. Colton, not so much. He likes wearing the under-roos, likes the potty song, but isn't to keen to actually use the potty! So I am going to keep working on my boys and let me know how your adventure in potty land goes!

Products that save you money, but work all the same

When I was told I was expecting twins I was giddy. Then a few months later, as I started buying things for them, it hit me like a ton of bricks how expensive this was going to be. One new baby is bad enough. But two! Or more?! I have come to find a few products that I trust, even though they are half the price of “name” brands.

One of the biggest expenses is diapers. In the first few months we went through 16-20 diapers a day. That is over 100 diapers a week. Over 400 a month! If you are buying “name” brand at that amount you would be spending roughly $150 a month on diapers (unless you are able to score some major coupons). Not me. I used Parents Choice diapers from Wal-Mart. I had previously used them with my other children, so I knew they worked. At $14 a box, I would spend less than $100 a month on diapers. Now I spend $28, which is roughly the cost of one box of the “name” brand. And wipes from Parents Choice brand are $2 for a pack of 80 wipes or $5 for a 3 pack (240 wipes). For your name brand wipes, you would spend the $5 on one pack! The Parents Choice diapers and wipes work as well as the “name” brand, so save yourself some moolah and head to Wally-world to buy your diaper needs there.

Another big expense is formula. Unless you solely breastfeed, you are looking at spending $4000 the first year on formula for your twins if you use “name brand”. Even more if you have to use Alimentum or any other specialty formula. But what many people tend to forget when they are new parents and are in the I-want-the-best-of-everything-for-my-child mode is that infant formula is one of those things that has a set of guidelines put out by the FDA to ensure that no matter what brand you buy, you are getting the same basic ingredients. Some add extra stuff, but what your baby needs from the formula is the same in ALL formulas sold in the US. So save some money here, and once again I will recommend Parent’s Choice brand. It is cheaper by around $10 a can. Which saves you $1400 a year. I would even recommend GoodStart for babies with acid reflux issues (mine had it, and we used GoodStart until they were about 4 or 5 months old). I also saved by breastfeeding along with formula feeding. I just couldn’t do solely breastfeeding because I wasn’t that comfortable whipping it out in public or sitting in a yucky bathroom stall trying to balance them both.

Other items that you can save money on:
*Toys-you don’t really have to buy two of everything. Only having one will teach the concept of sharing. Unless of course it is a super special toy that one is very attached too, then buy two.
Sippy Cups-Go to the Dollar Store, and purchase you a few cups for a $1 a piece. You get cute cups that last, for 1/5th the price of the other brands!
*Clothes- I fell into the category that dressed my identical twins identically. So as you can imagine all the money I saved everywhere else went to clothing. Buying two of each of everything. I have now figured out that my boys are two very different individuals. And even though I love seeing them all dressed up alike, I now buy only one of items I like. Occasionally I will come across something that I just have to see both of them in, and buy two of it, but mainly they get their brothers hand me downs and a few new pieces. Let the relatives and friends buy the matching outfits and save your money for other items!

EcoTime Toys and the Pull-Along Snail

Recently we were sent two toys from EcoTime Toys to review over at Life with 5 monkies and 1 ape. The toys we were sent were a Baja Scout (read the review HERE) and a Pull-Along Snail. The Pull-Along Snail is what I will be talking about here.

EcoTime Toys is a company dedicated to bringing you quality toys that are made from natural, biodegradable, or recycled materials. The Pull-Along Snail is made from Natural Organic Rubberwood and has proven that is a toy that can withstand the twin test. It has been beaten, rolled across concrete, gravel and black icky dirt. It has been tugged from both ends. And it has managed to stay in one piece, which attests to its high quality. I found it super easy to clean. The Pull-Along Snail is painted with lead-free paint in bright colors that have withstood the beatings as well.

We often hear the old adage “You get what you pay for” and often take it to mean that the more something costs the better a product it is. Not true! I have found with EcoTime Toys that their quality and value are equal to one another. I often times get frustrated when I buy toys and they are within days broken. I end up frustrated with the kids for breaking them, the manufacturer for making such a piece of crap, and with myself for spending the money on yet another piece of said crap. I can happily report that we have had the Pull-Along Snail for a month and it looks as good as it did when we pulled it out of the box.






The boys have done everything you could imagine to the Pull-Along Snail and it is still in perfect working order. Definitely passes the twin test!







The value and quality of the Pull-Along Snail makes this one a winner.