TwiceToddlers (No More) Mom Really Likes Welch's Healthy Start Juice

As a BuzzAgent, I am able to test or try out certain products. This is one of those products I was able to try out. I have to say, it was delicious. It was not too sweet and was something I drank at least two times a day. Welch's Healthy Start comes in three flavors: Concord Grape, White Grape Orange Mango and Blueberry Pomegranate Concord Grape. The flavor I tried with my coupon for a test taste was the White Grape Orange Mango. It was just delicious.

This new juice by Welch's is made from 100% Juice-no sugar added, 260% daily value of the antioxidant vitamin C – 2x the vitamin C of the leading OJ and is a good source of calcium.

If you love drinking juice in the morning, but are not a fan of all that added sugar, this is the only morning juice you need. This Welch's Healthy Start juice will wake you up and get you one your way, naturally.

Original Children's Art Work is Fun and Affordable

Having children is a blessing and when it comes to decorating your baby nursery or older child's room, you will find many original children's art illustrations from KrankyKrab. With original art work from KrankyKrab, your child's room no longer has to have bare walls.

The single alphabet art letters, are made with each letter of the alphabet. The art work is signed by the artist, can be framed and matted or unframed.

If the single alphabet art letters are to your liking, there is also the Single Print Name Framed Art Work. These are adorable prints in a variety of colors and animals. The colors range from light blue, yellow, pink to lavender, blue and more. The animals represented on the prints are a hippopotamus, cat, bumble bee, butterfly to elephant, crab and many more. Once you have decided on an animal print, with corresponding color, add your child's name in the spaces available to you.

Finally, there are the Name Frames. The Name Frames are just as adorable as the individual art work, but are combined with letter's to spell our your child's name as hanging art work. Each work of art is hand drawn, then finished on the computer. All art work is created with an acid free matting and archival ink. The frames are made with wood or metal and you can choose between a white or black frame.

Your child's room or play room will not only make these rooms more personal, but more enjoyable to sleep and play in. In fact, your family and friends will ask you were you got the art work as they too will want one for their children too,

New Bedding and Furniture is Fun, This is the Best Place to Look

Recently, I purchased a new bedding set. It took me forever to make a purchase as I was in need of an upgrade. Sometimes, we get stuck in a rut and just need to update the old with something fresh and new. If you find yourself in this situation, then it is time to look at these various bedding and room furnishings.

I happened to come across this bedbathstore online and just thought this New Bedding by Textrade was amazing. Don't you just love the look of it! It looks so rich and inviting. As if it is saying, 'come lay on me and feel how luxurious I am'. This new bedding by Textrade is called Crystal Orbit Gold and it is a 7 Piece Comforter Set. Comforter sets are great because it allows you to purchase everything, all at once. This comforter set has a metallic print, is 100% polyester and comes in a Queen and King size.


If, on the other hand, you are looking for something more whimsical or youthful, you must look at the New Bedding by Egyptian Peddler comforters. In fact, the two I was looking at come in two different colors, brown and light blue. The brown and light blue comforter have polka dots on both sides, while the decorative pillows have stripes on them.

These comforter sets have two pillow shams, 1 square cushion, 1 decorative pillow, 1 neck roll, 1 bed skirt, 1 flat and fitted bed sheet and two pillow cases. These adorable comforter sets come in the sizes Queen and King. This comforter set is so fun, you will never want to get out of bed.

Finally, after finding the comforter set you want, check out the New Products by Fun Furnishings. There are some really cute, and functional, kids chairs and rockers. Just as adults have a couch or chair to sit and relax on, children now have their own. The children's couch or chair come in the colors pink or blue. There are also bean bags and other couches and chairs to look at and purchase as well.

From what I recall, I never had products like these to sit on when I was the age of my twins today. It is fun to be a little person today. Just as it is fun to be a little person, it is also fun to be an adult with the many styles of comforter sets to look at and choose from.

Photo Christmas Cards and So Much More

Right now is the perfect time to look at and choose your holiday cards. There are over twenty photo Christmas cards, Christmas Greeting Cards, Christmas Postcards and Thanksgiving cards and so much more. When I went to this website, I knew I was going to get my Christmas cards here this year. In fact, instead of normal holiday cards, I purchased the photo cards this year.

Ever since, well even before my twins were born, I was purchasing these cool photo cards. Before my twins, I was just sending out photo Christmas cards of my hubby and myself. Now, I send out photo Christmas cards of the family and of each twin.

This year for our photo Christmas card, I put our Fall Family photo on the card, and two individual photos of my twins holding a gold picture frame. Instead of writing about it, I will show it to you.


The best thing about these photo Christmas cards is, they can be purchased at a low cost. Some of the cards cost from $1.29 and up to $2.39. The fifteen photo Christmas cards I purchased cost me $1.29. The more you purchase, the lower you pay. That means, it pays to purchase more than ten photo cards.

If this is your first time purchasing holiday cards, you can enjoy 20% off your first Cardstore.com purchase. All you have to do is use this code CSHOLIDAY20 at checkout. Now, you can easily make holiday cards for family and friends with this 20%gift given to you.

TwiceToddlers (No More) Mom Finds Hot Pink Sweaters!!

Last week I thought my twins had lost their cool HOT Pink hooded sweaters. My husband and I looked all over the place. I called the school where we have church on Sunday's, I called the place we take our twins to have fun on the jumpers, I looked all over the house, Daddy called his parents and sisters house. The HOT Pink sweater was NO Where!!

Then, today at church, my friend said she had the HOT Pink sweaters. I, not my husband or twins, left them at their friends birthday party. My friend daughter and my twins were born on the same day, but a year apart.

Anyway, what a relief! I finally found the cool pink sweaters, right AFTER I had used the gift card from one of my twins GGs, on my side of the family. So now, my twins have two pink sweaters. One in HOT Pink and the other is stripped with two different light pink colors, a hood and zipper.

But hey, they could certainly use two sweaters. The rain jacket I got then, a size 4T, still fits them amazingly. If need be, I will use the rest of the money left on the gift card and purchase two rain jackets...

So yeah for finding the sweaters....

TwiceToddlers (No More) at Bass Pro Shop Santa Wonderland

Yesterday afternoon, we took our twins to the local Bass Pro Shop. Last year we went so our twins could get a photo with Santa. So, we went again this year. We were given a card, with a time on it. At that time, we stood in line for the girls to see Santa and get a photo with him.

This year, we stood in line with one of our friends from church and her neice, which is my twins age. Once we got up to see Santa, I put both my twins on Santa's lap and the photographer took a photo of them. I too took photos of my twins.

After the photo, I went to take my twins down and Twin "B" said, "You are not real" to Santa, and he said, "I am real, pull my beard." Well, Twin "B" walked over to Daddy, but Twin "A" was still next to Mommy and she pulled on Santa's beard.

It was too funny. I think my twins got that line from watching a Santa movie on TV.

Here are some photos of our day at the Bass Pro Shop.

This is the Only Butt Paste Your Baby Needs

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Before my twins were born, I thought this Boudreaux's Butt Paste had a funny name and probably did not work too well. Boy was I wrong. I had three baby showers and at two of those showers, I received a tub of Butt Paste. Well, I have to say, I was wrong in my thinking. This happens to be the best diaper rash paste your baby will ever use.

In case you did not know, Boudreaux's Butt Paste® had been formulated by a pharmacist. The pharmacist had some help from a pediatrician for providing effective diaper rash care. Pharmacist like this Butt Paste because it  is made from 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam.

In fact, this is the only Butt Paste which is Pediatrician recommended because it goes on and cleans off easily, it is available in convenient sizes, there are flip top cap (tubes), cones in a handy travel size, has a pleasant scent and there is a skin protectant ., .

If you watch daytime and nighttime television, you might have seen ads on such shows as Oprah Show, Tonight Show, Today Show, People Magazine and ESPN.

Just a reminder that Butt Paste come in convenient sizes such as 1oz, 2oz, 3oz and 4oz tubes and a 16oz jar. Whatever size is more convenient for you, it will be found on the Butt Paste shelf.

Cut Out My Twins Paper Christmas Tree

This morning, I cut out my twins paper Christmas Tree. Oh, they will be so happy because when they get home, I will take out all the craft stuff they can use to glue on their trees to make them whatever designs they want.

My twins do have a wild imagination, so it should be interesting to see what designs or type of tree they come up with. Like I have stated on various occasions, my twins, like many other young children I am sure, need to stay occupied. Being bored is something my twins can not handle.

Speaking of staying occupied and, I found this awesome Fairy Wishes Table and Chair Set, that I knew my twins would just love. They will be opening a tea set for Christmas this year and this table set would be the perfect place to have their tea parties.

Also, if your home happens to need some extra tall bar stools, now is the time to look into some. This is true, especially if your kitchen has a bar area surrounding an island. These tall bar stools would make a great addition to any kitchen/eating area.

Today is Premature Awareness Day

This letter below is from the March of Dimes newsletter I receive. When my twins were born, they were preemies at 3.8 and 3.13. Twin A was 3.8 and Twin B was 3.13 and they had to stay in the NICU for two weeks. Wow, what a time that was. At that time, I felt as if I was in slow motion. I mean, everything was in slow motion to me, especially my body and mind. They were on two seperate schedules. My body was healing from the C Section and my mind had not caught up to my twins being born at 32 weeks or 7 weeks early. It was a strange time for my hubby and myself.

Since my twins were in the NICU for two weeks, I could only stay in my room for one week to heal, walk around the nurses station to gain strength and walk downstairs to see my very fragile, fraternal twin girls, in their incubators. Everytime I went down to see them, I cried, and hard. It was so surreal seeeing them on a heart monitor and breathing machine. Twin A and Twin B had janudis for a day or two, they both worn purple eye wear and headgear to protect their eyes and head from the heatlamps.

Oh my, this was all five years ago as they just turned five a couple weeks ago. I have to praise God for their health and well-being. They were born early, but looking at them today, you would never know.

**************************************************


This is the third of four installments of Susan Bryant's story about her premature son, Xander. Part 1 | Part 2

Dear Friends,
Today is Prematurity Awareness Day — a day to remember, honor and celebrate special babies. In my family, we’re celebrating Xander. He is one of more than 5,500 babies born too soon this year in Arkansas. Our state scored an "F" on the Premature Birth Report Card the March of Dimes released this morning. That's worse even than the national grade of "D."

As a mother and a nurse, this is unacceptable to me. We have to do better for our babies. Can you help? Please give what you can, so that the March of Dimes can continue the research and programs that may one day prevent premature birth. Thank you so much.

In the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), Xander's progress is agonizingly slow. He had to learn how to suck. His first real meal was less than half a teaspoon of breastmilk. By comparison, a normal newborn needs 1 to 2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours.

My husband, TJ, and I are always in the NICU with Xander. I've gained new respect for the parents here. As a medical professional, I know what's happening and why. As a mom, it's unbearable to see my son like this. I can only imagine how terrified other parents must be. I ache for the young mother quietly pumping milk in a corner even though her baby cannot eat.

For us, we're hoping that Xander will make it home for a very special day — his brother Sebastian's first birthday. It's only a few days away ... to be continued.



Next week, will Xander be home for Sebastian's birthday party?

TwiceToddlers (No More) and a Christmas Tree

So my twins come home from school today with a large and green, paper Christmas Tree cut out. Mommy has to cut the tree out for them and they get to decorate them with whatever is on their list.

Let's see, they can use cotton balls, glitter, markers, paint, sequins, ribbons, fabric, buttons, stars and stickers. But, they can use NO FOOD..

This should be a fun project.....we shall see.....I have been looking online for something seasonal for my twins to do. Their little hands need to been occupied as does their minds.

When the craft is complete, I will post it here.

TwiceToddlers (No More) and Reading

Reading is fun for my twins, in fact,they like reading to me now. Well, the way they are learning to read is with this thin, six page paper books, with a small sentence or word in front of a tiny picture next to the words.

This way of learning to read seems to be working, but when I talk to my twins, I always sound out the letters and words for them so they know how that letter sounds. In fact, I have been doing this with my twins since they were between 18 months and two years old, until today.

This just sounded like the logical way to speak to my twins too. Is this how you taught or spoke to your twins when they were babies and into their toddler hood years?

Anyway, I read to my twins everyday and they follow along with me in that they copy me, out loud, when I am reading to them. I guess this is the way the are learning to read. I just hope they do not read out loud as their teacher does. That would be annoying for her I am sure.

TwiceToddlers (No More) and Friends

Sometimes, my twins come home with a gift from their friends. In fact, they receive a lot of gifts like jewelry from their friends. So, when I was in this particular store recently with my twins, I asked if they wanted to get something for their girl friends at school.

They, of course, did and looked for something they might like. When they picked it out, I bought it and when we came home, I placed it in an envelope and had their write their friends name on it.

Then, Monday for school, they gave each of their friends their gift. I certainly hope they do not do this all year long. As nice as it is, it is not necessary.

TwiceToddlers (No More) Opening Gifts Family at Home

After my twins celebrated their 5th birthday party with their friends, we drove home and waited for other family members to arrive. When everyone was in our home, I put all the gifts, and there were certainly a LOT of gifts, for the twins, in the family room. It must have taken them an hour to open them all. This is what happens when you have twins.....

So, here are my twins opening their birthday gifts from Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa, Grammie, Papa and Aunts and Uncles.

My twins had a blast and really loved all the gifts Mommy and Daddy, Nana, Papa, Grammie, Papa, Aunts and Uncles gave them. They truly are blessed and they have no idea. I tell them how much they are blessed and they really do not understand, yet.

So, here are my twins, opening some of their presents and going wild.

TwiceToddlers (No More) at Their 5th Birthday Party

My twins turned 5 at the beginning of this month. All they ever talked about was their birthday all day, every day for the past year. So, when their birthday finally arrived, Mommy was pleased, to say the least.

For my twins birthday, we had it at one of their favorite places. It is an indoor play area and we have taken them there since they were two years old. It is especially a fun place to play at when the weather is freezing cold outdoors. But this year, it was far from being freezing cold outdoors. The last four years of my twins birthdays have been between 55 and 60 degrees, but not this year. It was at least in the mid-70s.

So, here are some not so clear photos of them playing with their friends, eating pizza, cupcakes Nana and Mommy made and opening gifts from their friends.

In these times, store brand formulas are just as good as name brand

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you are of the mind set that only name brand baby formula's are the way to go, you would be wrong. As it turns out, store brand formula is made of the same ingredients as name brand formula. Store brand formula's can be found at stores like Walgreen's, CVS, Babies R Us and many more. When you go to your baby's pediatrician, they do tend to give you name brand formula's such as Similac or Enfamil. The reason formula's these are given out to parents in doctor's offices, is because it's a way to advertise who they are and what they offer.

Now, because these name brand formula companies do this, they also pass on the increased formula prices to their potential buyers. On the flip side, the over 20 private label baby formula companies do not advertise on TV or in doctor offices. Word of mouth is one way these private label baby formula companies spread their advertising to parents everywhere. With this word of mouth advertising, potential private label baby formula buyers save an estimated $600 annually.

When you look at and read the private and name brand labels, side by side, you will see they use the same ingredients. This is mandatory from the FDA and USDA. So, in the end, all you would be purchasing is the name brand baby formula.

Recently, Similac baby formula, made by Abbott, did a voluntary recall on all their powder formula's. A small, common beetle, was detected in the powder formula in plastic containers and  offered in 8-ounce, 12.4-ounce and 12.9-ounce cans    Now, the FDA said this would not pose any health risk to your baby, but why chance it. Instead, purchase store brand formula and you will be none the wiser.

TwiceToddlers (No More) and New Disney Toy

One of the gifts my twins received for their birthday was this Disney Princess Fishing Game. Oh my goodness, they love it! I play this game with them and it is so easy too. I am not a fan of games that have too many directions or rules. Games should be fun and non complicated.

Since my twins received this for their birthday, we have played almost everyday. The game allows for four players and uses batteries. The batteries allow the game to move around and see how many 'gems' a player can pick up with their fishing pole. Whoever has the most gems, wins.

I am so glad they received this game for their birthday, I had been looking online for some easy games for them to play. Especially since we are in the Fall and heading into the Winter months. My twins tend to get bored real fast, as I am sure all children do.

These Are The Many Reasons to Earn Your MAT Degree Online

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of 2tor. All opinions are 100% mine.

Earning your MAT degree online has never been easier. As exciting as it is to sit in a classroom setting with your peers, you can now sit at home while learning instead. In order to receive your MAT degree online, all you need is this program information to get you started.

Right now, the USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT program offers current educators and aspiring teachers the prestige of earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from an elite research university with the convenience and flexibility of studying online. 

When you sign up for admissions into the MAT @ USC program, you will be in using the highly interactive online learning program combined with field-based experiences. Along with the field-based esperiences, you are able to use the groundbreaking tuition reimbursement program designed exclusively for MAT@USC graduates  , be in an accelerated program you can complete in as little as 12 months and have the opportunity to become a part of the elite USC Trojan Family. Students in the MAT@USC program are also able to read the MAT@USC Student Blog, leave comments and share information on Twitter and Facebook along with reading insights about the program from actual students.

The Rossier and the MAT@USC have been awarded by AACTE for the innovative use of technology in education,  using technology video that introduces the interactivity of the program and are the first cohort of the MAT@USC graduate in May ....

It is good to know you will be earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from an internationally renowned research institution with a 100-year history of educating teachers to be agents of change.

This School of Education has been ranked #22 in the United States, and #9 among all private universities by US News and World Report, is an innovative combination of highly interactive online learning with field-based experiences in your local area.

-As an online student, you will receive full USC student status and benefits, participation in commencement ceremonies and free lifetime Alumni Association memberships. Right now is your opportunity to become part of the elite USC Trojan Family.

Happy 5th Birthday TwiceBabies A and E!!!

Five years ago today, at 4:30PM, I began going into labor with my twin girls. It seemed my twins wanted to make their entrance into this world two months, or five weeks, too early.

When I first began feeling the pain of labor, I called my hubby and we went to my local hospital. I was weighed, but on a gurney and into a waiting room. My OB came in and put an IV in my arm. I remember freaking out and almost jumping out of the gurney for the pain was too much for me. My twins were my first, and last, babies. I had never felt this much pain before, in my life.

Twin "B",was kicking Twin "A" out of their Womb with a View. Since my local community hospital did not have a NICU, I had to be transported via ambulance to a hospital in Modesto.

I remember the EMT,s would not allow me to drink any water, but they gave me ice chips instead. They gave me ice chips because they were not sure what the attending doctor wanted me to have water interrupt the labor pains or something like that.

So, I was in labor for 4.5 hours as I had a C-section, which I wanted from the very beginning. Twin "A" arrived at 8:33PM and Twin "B" arrived at 8:34PM.

It is hard to believe my twins are five years old today. Being born early did not affect their mental or physical abilities at all.

Praise The Lord for my Precious "TwiceBabies" A and E!!!