Double the Fun

For the past two years, I've had an almost daily struggle with the whole "twin mom" thing.  I hate the comments about my "hands being full", I dread double the diapers, and have looked enviously at my mom friends who only have one little wonderful person to juggle.  I've feared that somehow we'd missed out on that personal intimacy that it was to have this tiny little family when we were so quickly immersed into our own private chaos.

But lately, I've been catching beautiful glimpses at what having twins is really about.  I've been seeing the beautiful emotion they have with one another - sharing hugs and kisses when one another, seeking them out if they hear the other cry.  It's amazing to have the opportunity to be proud of the generosity, kindness and empathy that your two year old is showing - proud of the little person they're becoming.

Brayden picks up his spoon and fork at a casual dinner out - and proceeds to bang them together with glee.  "Great idea bro" silently says a joyful Julie who joins him in the merriment.  They just beam at each other.  The first proud that he started a trend, and the second thrilled to show that she can do it too.  I smile...

Even in the midnight hours, when they both should be sleeping I can't help but enjoy their fun.  Julie gets the idea to run through the upstairs - onto our bed, off the other side, around the loop and back out the door, and across to her room.  Brayden jumps up and follows.  And the two do laps like this for ten minutes squealing as they go.

They share all of this without words, but are so united in the experience.  It's obvious that they love the "twin thing."  And how could they not?  It's a best friend to play trains, it's a person to steal extra hot dog bits from, and a constant sleepover companion.  I'm coming to realize, we're not missing out at all.  We are the luckiest...

Quiet moments snuggled together watching a favorite show, swapping binkies and laughing in domino effect at the funny parts. Every moment bonds them together.

Today we played this game where we would count "one" "two" and then giggle wildly on "three" as we tickled someone.  It was so much fun it almost brought tears to my eyes.  Who else gets that?  Even if kids are close in age, the joy of having two together, at that same moment and stage, discovering life's pleasures is absolutely incredible.

I've always wondered what all these moms meant when they talked about their pairs - "double the fun" they'd say.  I could get behind "double the love" and "double the blessing" but really?  Double the fun? I'm becoming a believer...  I feel like the fun in our family grows exponentially every day.  And I am so blessed to be part of this wild ride...

Kulcar: An Innovative Solar Powered Car Ventilator Review

Our trip to Puerto Rico was the perfect escape from cold and snowy Pittsburgh, and a great time to try out our new Kulcar - a solar powered car ventilator!

The compact device was small it easily packed in our checked luggage, and was easy to install even with almost no tools.  All we needed was the included device, the included rubber strips, and a small pair of scissors.

The perfect year-round solution for warm climates, we’re looking forward to regularly using the Kulcar during the scorching summer temperatures regularly at home. 

The device is so innovative – using environmentally friendly solar panels to generate it’s own power for the device’s small fans.  It significantly lowers the temperature inside your car – while the car is moving or parked.  Because of it’s self-sufficient power source, there’s never a chance it’ll drain your battery, and there are no wires to attach.  A little known fact is that some car upholstery can release dangerous chemicals when heated to extreme temperatures – and in addition to the more comfortable temperature achieved by using Kulcar, this danger can be reduced by kulcar’s use.  What an easy and efficient way to provide a healthier environment for your “always on the go” family.

Installing the Kulcar is super easy:

1 – Roll down the window

2 – clip the precut (small) rubber strip to the window

3 – clip the Kulcar device onto the glass, next to the precut rubber strip.

4 – measure and trim the flat end of the long rubber strip, and clip it on the other side of the Kulcar device.

5 – Slowly roll up the window, ensuring that the solid end of both rubber pieces and the kulcar device are inside the car’s window seals.

That’s it!  You’re ready to go just by flipping the solar panel to a horizontal position and tightening using the metal crank.  I was initially apprehensive about installing this in a rental car, but there was no need.  The installation is as permanent or as temporary as you’d like, leaving no effect on the vehicle.  The rubber strips create a great seal around the device, preventing any issues for security or insects.

Once installed, the device goes to work almost instantly when in direct sun.  You’ll know it’s working by the slight whirling sound coming from the device, and the gentle breeze you can feel when placing your hand on the indoor side of the ventilator. 

On our trip, we found significant difference in indoor temperature when using the Kulcar and would definitely recommend it to our readers.  It would make a great Christmas gift for anyone with a daily commute who parks outside, who lives in a year-round or seasonally warm climate, for the environmentally conscious, and for those road warrior travelers.  Order your Kulcar from NewEgg or stay in touch by following the links below!

Sonray Technology Co Ltd: http://www.sonray.com.tw/

Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0FB-00N8-00001

Kulcar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kulcar/551389814931439

Sonray Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sonray-Technology-Inc/500367573391926

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KulcarSonray

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/112610127414860017836/posts?cfem=1

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ksonray/

Kulcar Australia: http://www.kulcar.com.au/

Want to see Kulcar in motion?  Check out our installation and demo videos below!

Disclosure: We received Kulcar for our review purposes.  All opinions remain true and honest of our experience.

A Tale of Two Bathers

So I guess I should have learned by now, that my days of stealing a few quick minutes for a shower are limited.  We'd planned to head to the mall for just a little evening out, so I thought I'd get in for a quick scrub.
With the door shut and Disney Jr on the television, I was sure I was safe for just a few minutes.

Getting out, I was shocked to see the door opened wide and no babies in sight.  Wrapping a towel around me, I realized I could still hear water running - although the shower was off.

Rushing into the babies' bathroom, there I found them - with the water running, and both happily splashing in the tub.  Brayden was in just his diaper, but Julie was fully dressed in a sleeper, enjoying the frigid water.

I just stared at them for a minute, too shocked to do anything, but just let them be until Dan arrived as I heard the garage door start and knew he'd have to see it to believe it!

I was surely glad that they were safe, and figured - while they were already wet - we might as well scrub them up.  I wish I would have snapped a pic for posterity but Dan had them undressed before I even thought of it!  I guess I'm going to have to shower when Dan's home, or get a lock for our bedroom door!

Delicious Nonni's Biscotti Review and Giveaway

I usually wake up with Brayden climbing onto my rib cage - ready to start his day much earlier than his Mama.  I rub my eyes, and groggily shuffle downstairs in search of some lukewarm coffee (leftover from the pot Dan brews before heading to work).  It's been like this for a while, me with a mediocre cup, getting the kids ready for the day.

Lately though, I've been lucky enough to enjoy a new morning luxuary - delicious Nonni's Biscotti.  They're a sweet and simple morning joy and I might just be addicted!

If you're not familiar, Biscotti is a light crisp cookie - perfect for dunking or for munching alone.  Nonni's is the most popular selling brand in the US and the only national brand sold coast to coast. My guess is that it's their dedication to quality ingredients including real eggs, butter and bittersweet chocolate that make them so irresistible.

I was SO excited to be given the opportunity to try out all eight of Nonni's fabulous flavors and it is near impossible to pick a favorite.

Originali Biscotti: A crisp cookie with the flavors of almond and walnut with just a touch of anise.
Cioccolati Biscotti - The original dipped in chocolate.  Yum!
Turtle Pecan Biscotti - With caramel and pecans - a real treat!
Toffee Almond Biscotti - A light crunchy cookie with English Toffee, Almonds, dipped in chocolate.
Salted Caramel Biscotti - That perfect combo - sweet and salty with pockets of caramel and a dip of chocolate.
Decadence Biscotti - A dark brown chocolate almond biscotti dipped in bittersweet chocolate.
Triple Milk Chocolate Biscotti - Chocolate heaven with coco biscotti with chocolate chunks and chocolate drizzles.
Limone Biscotti - A light lemon cookie with sweet white icing.

I really did love ALL of them but I will try to narrow down some favorites for those of you ready to get out and try them for yourself!.

I am a huge fan of the salty sweet trend and so I absolutely adored the Salted Caramel Biscotti.  The perfect combination and really luxurious!  I love the crunch of the course salt and the smooth chewyness of the caramel bits.

I am a twin mom and so of course, get my chocolate fix whenever I can.  I tried hard to figure out which I liked better - the Decadence Biscotti and the Triple Milk Chocolate Biscotti and have to say that they both were fantastic. I really can't choose but would HIGHLY recommend them.

For my kids, the Originali Biscotti was perfect for their little teeth and for not-so-messy hands.  They loved it!

I couldn't keep all this goodness to myself, so I got some of my mom friends together to enjoy a little coffee and biscotti play date.  It was the perfect way to relax with friends and we had a blast choosing flavors to try.  I loved that biscotti was such a simple food for entertaining - no plates necessary and it's easy to munch while you chat!

My girls were so impressed with the variety and how each flavor was so different than the next.  "It's like they all have their own little identity!" one friend said.  Others loved the texture and one shared that she was really surprised how light the cookies were - having expected biscotti would be hard. "I expected to break a tooth and that's definitely not how these are at all" she said.

We're so thankful to have been able to partner with Nonni's and check out all their scrumptious cookies.  Want to try some for yourself?  Luckily for you, Nonni's has offered to give five of our readers a bag of Biscotti Bites - yumm-o!  Just enter using the rafflecopter below!

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A Quick Family Update

Just a quick post to update on what we've been up to lately as I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like to lately!  Here's what's been going on with us lately:

GiggleBuzz is in overdrive, and I've been super busy bow making and running around to craft shows lately.  I unfortunately find that I can't really "create" more time, and so, as business picks up there, things slow down a bit here.  Good news is, in just a few short weeks - I'll be shutting down until after the holidays and will be able to snuggle in to more active blogging!

Brayden and Julie are doing so very well.  I can't believe that they'll be two in just about a month!  We're planning on a small family party for family on the day of or day before their birthday, and then a party for our playdate friends the next month.  I guess I need to start browsing Pinterst for some ideas!

They've both been making great progress working on speech with Early Intervention.  Our new words list includes the following:

Brayden - All animal sounds (including dogs, cats, dinosaurs, bees and pirates), Up, Dada, Mama, Blue ("bwew"), duck, Pap, Yum, "ahhh" (after drinking), Thank You, Uh-Oh, Bye and can sign "all done" and "more"

Julie - Dada, Mama, Square, Dog, Pap, Nana, Up, Car, Uh-Oh, Oh-No, Bye, Please, Cheese, some attempts at Hello (which really sound like "How"), Why, something that sounds like Bubble, Hair, Eyes, Nose, Ear, Cold.  She's doing super really...

We've been doing a little traveling - to Baltimore to see my gorgeous little niece, and Dan and I will be heading to Puerto Rico next week for a friend's wedding.  It's a bittersweet trip - thrilling to have a tropical vacation despite the Pittsburgh snow, but sad to leave the kids for a special holiday.

I have yet to begin holiday shopping, so this is really going to be the time to hussle up with three family birthday's and Chistmas in the same month!  So thankful for online shopping because I'd speculate 90% of our gifts will be purchased this way!

Also, just a quick note of thanks for your patience and understanding for the more frequent occurrence of sponsored posts lately.  I love that I'm able so be a stay at home mom, and DO love blogging just to record our everyday experiences.  It is so nice though to occasionally partner with a brand (that I do truly love and respect) and earn a few dollars for the time I spend writing, photographing and promoting their post and giveaway.  I know you don't come here for a commercial, but hope you occasionally do learn of a new product you love from my reviews!

I think that's the "quick and dirty" hello - I'm looking forward to posting some new and interesting holiday content very soon!

We're ready for Christmas with WOW Antlers

I can hardly believe we have less than 35 days before Christmas.  How did fall fly past me so quickly!

So we're planning to decorate the house this weekend, but my van is already fully ready in this super cute pair set of WOW Antlers.  They were super easy to install, and really make me feel like I'm in the holiday spirit!

These festive antlers include multiple LED lights and a battery pack to really light up your holiday driving!  

Attaching securely to the side window, it was super simple to install.  Simply roll down your window, clip over the side, and roll up!  It literally took me five minutes to get everything out of the box and onto the car.

One QUICK word of caution.  If you have these weather gaurds on your front windows as I do (above) - I'd recommend choosing another window to install.  I hadn't considered it and the result wasn't so great.

Adding the peppermint plush nose in the front with a wire into the grill decoration was the finishing touch to make my van ready to pull Santa's sleigh (or load full of toddlers) The kids really got a kick out of them and I can't wait to drive around with them all lit up as we checkout Christmas lights this year!

There's still plenty of time to order a set for your favorite vehicle.  They even have antler sets for bikes!  To order, visit their site at WOW Car Antlers or pick up a set at Pep Boys or Autozone!  Be sure to connect with Wow Antlers  on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest on social media! Want a set for yourself or a friend?  You'll be excited to know we're giving one away!  Enter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway

An App for Families in our Scary World - React Mobile Review

There were lots of anticipated life changes when I first had the babies - less sleep, fewer nights out, lots and lots of love.  One of the biggest surprises to me was the sense of total and utter vulnerability - suddenly the world was a scarier place than it had ever been before.

Just a few years ago here in Pittsburgh, a woman and her 16 month old daughter were abducted from the parking lot of a poplar shopping center in one of the most elite neighborhoods.  Her story of terror and sexual assault are horrifying.

Our vulnerabilities come from such a deep realization that despite our best intentions - our attempts at high tech car seats, the best preventative medicine, and our most over protective 6th sense -we can never fully protect ourselves or our children from all the dangers in this world. I too have carefully packed my children into my car in that very same shopping center.  It could be be me tragically sharing my story.  If you let it, the fear can be almost paralyzing.

When I was introduced to React Mobile, I knew it would become an invaluable resource for our family.  React Mobile is a free safety app that allows iPhone and Android smartphone users to turn their phone into a powerful security device.  Just the peace of mind that I get from knowing this technology is here to support me, is tremendous in easing my motherly anxiety.

There are two major ways to utilize the app - the Follow Me function for times when you simply want to be tracked "just in case" - and the SOS Alert function for when you feel the need to alert your chosen contacts, social media and authorities that you are in danger.

The Follow Me function is one that sets React Mobile apart and is perfect for every day use of anyone who  might be a potentially unsafe or uncomfortable situation.  Fellow users (of your designation) can track you in real time, making sure that you are on your way to reaching your destination safely.  This would be perfect for parents tracking children, family tracking college students walking home from the library, anyone leaving work after hours in a parking garage or personally, for coming home after late night Moms Night Out events.  As someone can become "hyper-vigilant" in potentially dangerous situations, this setting eases my fears in knowing that my mom or husband can virtually walk me to my car and ensure that I make it safely.

We all hope we'll never have to use it - but another important feature of React Mobile is the SOS Alert feature, which with a push of the button, you can silently send a silent alert that you are in danger with GPS coordinates to where you can be found.  Prior to needing to send this alert, you will designate the contacts to which it would be sent.  The system can email and text family members, post to your social networks to broaden your reach, and will prompt a call to 911.  This can happen within seconds and all with the touch of a button.  And don't worry if you accidentally set off the alert - it can be disabled with a security code if need be.

For institutions like businesses, schools and universities, React Mobile even offers the opportunity to add private labeling to help you customize the app to ensure the protection of your staff and students.

Watch this short video to see how simple React Mobile is for anyone to use.  International travelers can even rest assured that React Mobile is there with them where ever they go - with coverage in 39 countries.  While you can never fully prevent scary things from happening to you or your children, a good offense is the best defense and being prepared with React Mobile is a great step towards protection.

To download this amazing free gps safety app, follow the links below:

- Apple iTunes Download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/react-standard-edition/id522851588?mt=8

- Google Play Download (available on select smartphones): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reactmobile.lite 

We're so thankful to have found React Mobile and share this potentially life saving technology with you - our readers.  Think about the loved ones in your life -with whom should you share this app?  At the very bottom of this post (under the suggested posts) there are links to help you share to facebook or by email.  Take a moment and spread the word.  Your quick share might make all the difference in protecting the life of someone you love.

To help us spread the word about this fantastic app, React Mobile is offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one of our readers!  Enter using the Rafflecopter Form below.

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Sweet and Simple Redecorating with CozyWallArt

This fall has been a BUSY time in my little studio, making hair bows until my finger prints wear burn off.  I've found the white walled room a little stark though, isolating and uninspiring as I worked at my table facing the blank wall.  Small improvements were made - a candle, more lights, my tablet occasionally propped on the table streaming netflix for some company.

I knew there were many improvements to make, but I simply didn't have the time for a DIY creative solution and needed something simple but somewhat large to fill the empty wall space.

I was thrilled then, to be offered the opportunity to try a beautiful piece of wall art from CozyWallArt.com!  When browsing the site, I came across an image I absolutely fell in love with the Birds Resting on Ribbon Wall Decal.

With three birds sitting together, it reminded me of my own two little "birds" and me - smiling together with hearts full of love.  It also is a reminder of one of my favorite songs to sing to my kids - Way Up High by DidiPop which tells the tale of love birds who meet in the trees and start a happy family together.  So this wall decal was just perfect for us!

I thought installing the piece would be more of a challenge - but it was really SO simple!  It came with great instructions that made the process super simple.

The decal is backed with two sheets of paper backing on both sides. So first, (after lightly washing the wall with a wet rag) we lined tacked the decal to the wall using painters tape.  Using a level, we made sure that our image was straight and right where we wanted it to be.

With a larger piece of tape in the center, we removed the thicker backing between the decal and the wall on one half of our wall art.  Starting from the center and working outward, we used a credit card to press out all the bubbles and ensure the graphic stuck to the wall.  Next,we did the other half.

Finally, we removed the protective thin paper backing on the other side of the image - and that was it!  The whole process took us about 20 minutes and went off without a hitch.

I absolutely adore the end result.  While we could have chosen any color for our image, I think the red on white just looks perfect for this project.  While I think it was much easier with two people, this project could even be done alone in a pinch.  We chose the large (47" x 20") size since we had such a large open space, but with a variety of sizes, theirs bound to be the perfect size for your project!

Isn't this just adorable?  We even decided that the bird on the left must be Julie, is just excited about life with her hands in the air.  I just know this image will offer me the warmth of family and a sweet source of inspiration as I sit crafting away in my studio.

CozyWallArt.com is offering a special coupon offer for our readers.  Enter the code TakeswithTwo20 during checkout and receive 20% off all products.  What a special idea for a Christmas gift or for someone decorating a new baby's nursery!  Act fast though, the coupon code expires December 30, 2013.

Thanks so much to Cozy Wall Art for allowing us to review such a beautiful piece of wall art!  We are so excited to share that they're offering one of our readers the chance to win a $75 gift code to choose their own piece of wall art!

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Don't forget to vote for us every day using the links below.  Your vote helps us offer more great content and giveaways!

Happy Halloween!

It's officially Halloween and we've been having a blast celebrating the season already.  Just wanted to share a quick glimpse of some of the ways we've celebrated!

We celebrated with our awesome playdate group for a super fun Halloween Party!

We painted pumpkins (and ourselves) to add a little color to our day.

We visited Triple B Farms and LOVED sliding on their slides, visiting the animals and the pumpkin scarecrows.

We baked and decorated and ate Halloween Cupcakes!

We rode through our neighborhood to participate in the community Halloween Parade.

We visited Simons Farm and went Apple Picking.

And of COURSE - we went to the pumpkin farm!  Check back from pictures from that too - as soon as I locate the memory card.  oops!