Showing posts with label multiples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label multiples. Show all posts

Thursday, January 27, 2011

of Peanut Butter & Tea

Moms of Multiples need to de-stress at times, how do you de-stress?  I know a hot shower or bath helps sometimes, or a good swim, maybe a nice walk, or a great cup of tea!! Tea is a great all day de-stresser for anyone, especially Moms of Twins, Triplets, or more!!

I was just having some tea, so I thought maybe it would be nice to share it with you!

My Twins are always trying to get me to share my tea with them. I do let them sip some of my tea sometimes. I just have to limit which ones they sip. Certain herbal blends are not good for them at their age. Plus a lot of teas contain caffeine. Twin Toddlers on caffeine would be dreadful. eeek!

I love tea! I have been ordering it from a couple of pretty unique tea websites for quite a few years now. Before then, I just bought whatever looked good in Publix, Whole Foods, or Chamberlins.


One great one is Adagio Teas. They have some really nice teas. One great thing they have is the tea-of-the-month club. Adagio has an amazing array of loose leaf teas. Plus they have REALLY great teaware to easily brew your loose leaf teas in!!


My other favorite tea website is Republic of Tea.  They have fantastic tea. Most of the tea I have ever purchased from Republic of Tea has been bagged tea. I have purchased a few loose leaf teas from then though. If you are much happier with a bagged tea, Republic of Tea would be a great one to try then, They have a really cool perk that I love!! If you subscribe to their monthly tea catalog will arrive wrapped in plastic with a TEA SAMPLE INSIDE!! Talk about awesome!!! It is so nice to see that tea sample every month. Then I think, ooooh wonder what it will be next month!


PB&J??
Now, how about peanut butter. Who likes peanut butter?

Raise your hand if you do.
Well, ok well honestly I won't see your hand even if you do raise it. I can tell you that if someone asks me what I want for lunch, it sure as heck won't be peanut butter rolling off of my lips. However I have found a few REALLY cool alternatives to your average store bought traditional smooth or crunchy peanut butters. Let's face it, peanut butter is pretty darn boring, right?  Yes!!! Kids seem to like it, some kids that is. I can name off five kids who really do not care for it at all. Those would be my five kids.

I did some digging online several years ago and found some pretty great alternatives. How about Curry Spice Peanut Butter or White Chocolate Peanut Butter.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  Now that sounds tasty! Well it just so happens that there are 2 companies that make some pretty crazy peanut butter flavors. One is unfortunately closed down now but they had a really amazing array of flavors, so I had to mention them too. I am not a peanut butter lover but these make me want a PB&J!

First off is Peanut Butter & Co. They ARE indeed still in business and I have actually caught a jar or two of there on the shelves of a Wal-Mart believe it or not! Peanut Butter & Co. has a really nice variety of flavors. Some are pretty darn impressive if you ask me. They make one called White Chocolate Wonderful that if you pair it with Raspberry Jam, it makes one heck of a sandwich!!! My kids were going on a field trip last school year and for that field trip the students were all asked to bring a simple bagged lunch that could be tossed in a trash can afterwards. My kids were really not cool with this at first. They said well can't we just take a lunchable? UHHHH NO! Lemme evaluate this situation. First off we live in FLORIDA and not in the panhandle where it can occasionally get super cold. We are in the Orlando area. The trip was during one of our warmest months, and if you take a brown paper bag lunch, you can not throw in an ice pack to keep it cold until lunch time rolls around. Could you imagine the nasty lunchable that sat in the bag from 6 am when they left the house to board the field trip bus until noon when they had lunch? EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! So I had to get creative, needless to say. I picked up this white chocolate wonderful peanut butter and then said to myself what on earth would go best with this, and then it dawned on me.... RASPBERRY!! So, raspberry jam it was and wow was it incredible. They could not stop raving about their PB&J after the field trip. They wanted more and more and more of it!  Score one for Mom and Score one for Peanut Butter and Co!


The second Peanut Butter company I wanted to mention is the one that is now closed down. It was called PB Loco and their flavors were so wacky but so awesome! I am not really sure why the company closed but in my eyes they are a legend in the world of Peanut Butter. They had really crazy Peanut Butter flavors flavors like Asian Curry Spice, CocoBanana, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Sun Dried Tomato, Jungle Banana, Raspberry White Chocolate, Sumatra Cinnamon and Raisin, European Cafe Mocha, Sun Ripened Apricot, Dark Chocolate Duo, Creamy White Chocolate, Classic Crunchy, Classic Creamy.   Wild huh!! I bet once you read Sun Dried Tomato you might have thought to yourself, is she really talking about a Peanut Butter flavor here??  WELL I WAS!!! That is why PB Loco was a great name for that company. I really hope one day they re-open,  either that or Peanut Butter and Company decides to make more flavors and adds ones like PB Loco had! This site did a nice review of some of their flavors.


Barney Butter is not even Peanut Butter, it is Almond Butter!! YUMYUM! I really like this one and it is an excellent alternative for those with peanut allergies that do not have almond allergies. It is also a Gluten Free food!! Definitely check out Barney Butter!! It is quite tasty and very good on a sandwich!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Got Twins? Got Triplets? or MORE??

Each month we have Multiples of the month and feature the Multiples of the months' photo on Life with Twins and Multiples!!

If you would like your Multiples to be the next Multiples of the month, reply and let us know!!

Then email us with their photo ASAP!!
You must include their names, age, and optionally location.

Email to TwinsandMultiples@cfl.rr.com



Our past Multiples of the Month








Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Linky McLinkersons... All Mom Bloggers

For Any and All Mom Bloggers...not just Moms of Multiples.

Tag Back Tuesday...We're Teaming up with Mommying on the Fly!

Welcome To "Tag Back Tuesday" .. If it's your first time... or you come every wee... THANK YOU!!!

We have found so many hidden gems with these blog hops.. !


 How it Works

  First rule is..... There are NO rules... Except.. Have fun.. Follow if you want and please NO giveaways or adds .. 

***But a few simple suggestions***
Mommying On The Fly

But ALL optional
  • Add your blog to the list. (NOT your giveaways or adds please!)
  • Grab our button and add to your blog...

  • Follow the first 3 entries which includes your Host Blogs and our Co-Host of the week.

  




Our Highlighted co-host of the week (will be chosen randomly from the past weeks' Linky)


NOW, follow as many other blogs as you would like. ***Please leave a message so we know you followed.***
PLEASE these are NOT mandatory, but it is polite etiquette to at least follow the first THREE.. It's almost like going to someones house and eating up all their food and not even saying thank you!!!! I have seen many co-hosts end up with maybe 3 new followers and we have had 60+ link up, and that's just SAD!!!
  • After you follow a new blog make sure you leave them a comment letting them know Just how awesome they are and that you are now a follower so that they can follow your Awesome Blog back... 
 **There is NO obligation to follow any or follow back.. Only follow those you truly enjoy....




    and our Co-Host of the week is......


    Amy from Nine-Ninety-One 
    She's got a really cute crafty blog... I absolutely ADORE her posts and tutorials... 


     My Photo









    So, head on over and show some love......


    Sooo, click, like, follow and tell your friends...







    To Be eligible for the Co-Host of the week, our badge must be visible on your page....




    and a Shout Out to our Past Co-Hosts.. of the week........
    1.  Our Crazy Little Life
    2. Live Well Spend Less
    3. The Baby Bottom Line
    4. Mama to 4 blessings 
    5. Bassgiraffe 
    6. Paisley Passion 
    7. Adventures of a Military Family of 8 
    8. A Contest Queen's World 
    9. The Adventures of Goober Grape and Monkey Man 
    10. Mom to 2 Posh Little Divas 
    11. Reflection of Something 
    12. Nine Ninety One


    INTRODUCING The Star of the Blog World for January 2011!!!!!!

    You will see this on the 5 hosts blogs and hopefully more blogs all throughout January!!! It is a month long mega blog HOP!!!!  Want more followers, get on board NOW!!!!




    Photobucket



    BlogHopPalooza


    Your 5 Blog Hostesses

    The Rules
    1. follow the first 5 blogs..
    2.leave a comment that they have followed so we may follow back.

    optional BUT a GOOD idea for all
    3.add the badge
    4.feel free to blog about it and add linky
    5.follow others and have a blast

    Friday, January 14, 2011

    143 and counting!!! Get Noticed!

    INTRODUCING The Star of the Blog World for January 2011!!!!!!

    You will see this on the 5 hosts blogs and hopefully more blogs all throughout January!!! It is a month long mega blog HOP!!!!  Want more followers, get on board NOW!!!!




    Photobucket



    BlogHopPalooza


    Your 5 Blog Hostesses

    The Rules
    1. follow the first 5 blogs..
    2.leave a comment that they have followed so we may follow back.

    optional BUT a GOOD idea for all
    3.add the badge
    4.feel free to blog about it and add linky
    5.follow others and have a blast

    Friday, January 7, 2011

    Why Life with Twins and Multiples??

    We just received out first nasty comment. *giggle*

    No biggie...but since our negative Nancy had to comment, I guess I will clear up her question.

    She asked and I quote:

    So I just have to ask, why do you call your blog, "Life with Twins and Multiples"? Twins ARE multiples; whenever I hear someone mention "twins and multiples," to be honest it sounds like they don't know what they're talking about and think that "multiples" refers to triplets and higher.

    Well that is an EASY question to answer!! This blog is written by several Moms.

    Some of the Moms have Twins, some have Triplets, some have Quads. Not all have written yet, some are new, some have been with us for a while. Most of the posts are written by myself, a Twin Mom. However if this blog was solely written by me, I would not call it Life with Twins and Multiples. I'd come up with some other fancy schmancy name that recolved around my own Twins names most likely.

    Since this blog is not all about my Twins and not all about Twins, I named it Life with Twins and Multiples, explaining that this blog is about Mothers and their lives with their Twins....or in some cases if the author has Triplets or Higher......Multiples.
    Kind of almost a hybrid of a title in a way.

    IN most cases, with the Mothers of Multiples that I know.....Triplets or higher order multiples are referered to as Multiples and usually Twins are just, well... Twins.
    This is just how it is in my circle of Mom of Multiples friends.

    anyhow thanks for asking, Nancy.  :)


    Some of our readers agree.....


    I agree as a mom of Twins, I see moms with "Multiples" to be moms who had trips, quads, etc. whether it's the correct term or not it's like slang in the "multiples" world. In fact nurses in the NICU used it the same way as well. Not to mention can be used to describe a mom with SETS of twins. I thought all moms of multiples knew that? ;)


    I've written a couple of times (one of my resolutions is to try to write more now that my kids are older!) but I also don't think of my twins as 'multiples', I've always associated that with trips and up. Technically I know that isn't correct, but "Twins and Multiples" takes up a lot less space and rolls off the tongue much easier than the title "Twins and HIGHER ORDER Multiples". :-)

     

    Saturday, January 1, 2011

    Cuties from our FaceBook Fan Page!!!

    Some of our awesome fans on FaceBook have submitted pictures of their multiples, we hope to see lots more in the future!!  Thanks for sharing your adorable pictures!!

    Here comes the cuteness!


    Amy & Amber- Orlando FL- 9/15/2009




     
    Bella and Vinny, 4 months - Florida




     
    Natalie Hope and Jeremiah Clinton are 22 months - Alabama



    Raelyn Rose and Jordyn Leigh, 4 months - Pittsburgh, PA




    Thursday, December 30, 2010

    January BlogHopPalooza

    INTRODUCING The Star of the Blog World for January 2011!!!!!!

    You will see this on the 5 hosts blogs and hopefully more blogs all throughout January!!! It is a month long mega blog HOP!!!!  Want more followers, get on board NOW!!!!
    yah I am excited so I posted it early... besides many of you all will be hung over on January 1st anyhow.






    Photobucket



    BlogHopPalooza


    Your 5 Blog Hostesses
    1. Mommying On The Fly
    2. Life With Twins and Multiples
    3. Family Organic
    4. The Thompson Twins
    5. TwinHappy

    The Rules
    1. follow the first 5 blogs..
    2.leave a comment that they have followed so we may follow back.

    optional BUT a GOOD idea for all
    3.add the badge
    4.feel free to blog about it and add linky
    5.follow others and have a blast

    Tuesday, December 21, 2010

    Blog Button

    We just do not see enough of our button on other blogs, will you add it to yours?


    Let me know if you add it!! I would love to say a special thanks to you in a future post!


    copy and paste this code



         THANK YOU!!

    Tuesday, November 30, 2010

    Featured M.O.M. Cheryl Ringen 12/1/10

    Name: Cheryl Ringen


    Age: 36

    Marital Status: Married

    Blog: cherylnlee.blogspot.com

    Multiples names and age: Anastasia and Lillian (Anna and Lily) age 2.5

    About you: former Teacher and Admin Assistant

    About your Multiples: Anna and Lily were born at 39w 5d gestation 20 minutes apart on May 12 2008

    advice for other moms of multiples: Go with the flow.. they are only little once.. embrace it all

    additional info about you and your multiples: I love to knit and scrapbook, spend time with my girls, currently working at a toystore that just opened in my hometown. Anna and Lily love to play, watch Elmo and Caillou and being cute.


    Pictures: Lily in plaid dress, Anna in dotted dress, Anna and Mommy at a Halloween Party, Lily and Daddy on a Hayride




    Thank you Cheryl, wonderful photos!


    Featured M.O.M. Erika Borden 11-30-10

    Name:  Brook and Erika Borden

    Age:  36 today:)    (Happy Birthday!!)


    Marital Status:  Happily Married 

    Multiples names and age: Jacob and Spencer - 21 mo, Hayden - 6 yrs 

    About you:  From Texas originally, I have been in the US Navy for 15 years.  I plan to retire and be a SAHM!!! It just can't come soon enough.

    About your Multiples : J & S are very different boys. Jacob loves to read, flirts alot, very outgoing, will go to anyone, loves to get into trouble, smiles a ton, and loves to help out.  Spencer is not as outgoing, does LOVE to scream, an explorer, more reserve to go to strangers, loves to jump and dance, enjoys reading in your lap - same book over and over.  They both love to sing Little Bunny Foo Foo.  They could listen to that all day I think.

    favorite items for multiples: Double Strollers. 2 cribs! Bibs with catch trays.

    favorite toys for multiples: I don't know if I could name one...most items were double purchases.  2 lovies different colors! 



    Thank you Brook and Erika, fantastic photos!!
    advice for other moms of multiples:  It is hard in the beginning.  But as they become more independent it really gets easier.  With our first - Hayden - I felt all the instant connection with him...smothered and covered in oozy love.  There were 2 of us and 1 of him.  It was different.  With twins, it seem to take longer.  I felt a bond to them - sort of unrealistic that "OMG I have 2 more boys" feeling.  I felt guilty for a long time that it wasn't the same as with Hayden.  But I know now that my life would never be the same nor could I imagine my life without all my boys.  There are some challenges but if I didn't have all my TMMB Twin Mamas - I don't think I could have survived.  Find other moms that you can relate with, vent to, share with...It makes all the difference.  When all the twinarrazi rears its ugly head, you will find the network to be a sanity check.   Oh and one last piece of advice - when it gets tough - take them outside.  For a walk, play, whatever....kiddos do soooooooo much better outside.  It is crazy but it works.
     

    Monday, November 29, 2010

    Posterboards, so useful!

    I remember back when I was a teen that anytime there was a school project or presentation, it involved buying a posterboard. I am actually happy now that I had all of that posterboard experience! I have out it all to good use in the present day!

    I kept getting annoyed with how children's coloring books rip so easily and bend up very easily. When you have toddler twins(or more) it really seems like coloring books to not stand a fighting chance. The ones in our house don't.

    So one day we were going to have a finger painting playdate with our playgroup, I thought about how that would go with paper. It would be really messy and the paper they finger painted on would be torn and crumpled after all was said and done.  So I bought posterboards! They are usually around $1 each and are sold in most places like Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, etc. They are big so they provide lots of room for creativity. They are strong, so your multiples can go nuts with finger painting and not tear them (usually)....and the best thing about them is they are PERFECT for coloring on!!

    My twins, age 2.5 LOVE to color on them. I just keep one handy and when they fill it up, we pull out a new one. One usually lasts a week or so. We still use coloring books to but I prefer they use posterboards. They are way more durable than coloring books, you can use stencils or stamps on them, you can save them and even frame them if you wanted to.

    They are a nice blank slate for maximum creativity and they sit so well on the floor..not like paper or coloring books. Coloring books and paper or coloring pages do not mesh well with carpet. They bend up and fold. Making it hard to color on and avoid ripping.

    Just wanted to share 2 of their posterboards, hope you and your multiples have fun with coloring or finger painting on a posterboard sometime soon too!



    Him Not Nice Mama

    About 2 yrs ago I went into Apples to Zinnias with my friend, Wendy and the LGs. The LGs were still in a stroller. When we walked the man working there looked like he was going to blow a gasket. He followed us around and made us feel really unwelcome. I called the next day and talked to the owner. The owner was as nice as could be and apologize profusely. A week later I went in and bought the wallet I had been trying to look at when I was in there the first time.

    Today I had A LOT of time to kill in Orlando so I met Wendy at Borders. After that we went to lunch, then I asked her if she wanted to go to A to Z with us. She said sure.

    As we walked into the store I saw the employee behind the counter bristle as if he had just seen something that really makes him angry. I told the girls they could touch things with 2 fingers but could not pick them up. As we rounded a corner Avery came face to face with her first Christmas tree of the season. She was touch, touch, touching it. I repeated my touch but dont pick-up rule a few times. I noticed that the employee (who was still behind the counter talking to another patron) was visibly upset everytime one of the girls touched or even looked at something. He would lurch forward and make an audible noise, like he wanted to yell "STOP!!!!"

    I saw that Avery was bending my rule a bit. She was taking two ornaments and "tinking" them together. Not pulling them off the tree but making them touch so that they made a pretty noise. I told her a few times to stop. She wasn't listening. In my head I thought, 'I could make her stop. then she would move on to something more expensive or I could take my chances with the $12 ornaments. ok, I would rather pay for those then something $100 that I dont want.' So I kept walking and the clerk was getting more and more upset. I was about 3 feet away from Avery with Emerson in between the two of us and the clerk yelled, "Hey, They are not listening to you!" I of course was already on edge due to the way he was acting so I turned around and realized he was the same guy from 2 yrs ago. Here is a paraphrased version of the conversation(yelling match) that happened next. I am not proud of my self for loosing my temper. I am trying to be a better role model for the girls...I do believe though that I did a lot less yelling then he did.

    "Your the guy who was nasty to me the last time I was in here!"
    "Probably, if you had them with you."
    "Let me talk to your manager."
    "Im the owner."
    "I dont think so."
    "I'll bet you $50, 000 I am!"
    "whatever, If they break something I will pay for it."
    "YES, YOU WILL PAY FOR SOMETHING IF THEY BREAK IT!"
    as if the fates were listening my gentle little Emerson who was standing right in front of me picked up the ugliest ceramic reindeer ever and dropped it.
    "OK, YOUR GONNA BUY THAT!"
    "IT'S NOT BROKEN!!!" and it wasn't

    "Emerson Avery, come on we are leaving."
    "Good. (something I dont remember, but it wasn't nice)"
    Avery looked at me and I said, "Come on we are not welcome here." and she started to cry (like a fit cause she did not want to leave) "No, Avery we are leaving...Wait actually cry, cry like you you've never cried before." She just looked at me like, 'what? you've never asked me to cry before...'

    Im thinking I need to plan a playdate with all my Mothers of Multiples friends.

    When we left I had to go sit to calm myself down and Wendy then told me he was talking about me and the girls to the other customer. Avery said, "Him not nice, Mama." I agree Avery, him not nice.

    For those of you who own a business...here's a little customer service advice: If you are worried about a child breaking something all you have to do is engage the child. Talk to them about the things they are looking at. Show them other "shiny" stuff. It does two very important things. 1. It lets you keep tally of what the kid has it's grubby little hands on. 2. It gives the parent time to SHOP!!! SPEND MONEY!!!

    I was in retail for over 10 yrs... I should know...

    Sunday, November 28, 2010

    Featured Multiples in their Strollers!

                          Featured Multiples in their Strollers!

    Triplets: Sarah, Jacob, & Lucas ages 10 months
    Mommy: Kelly Koenig
    Location: Atlanta, Georgia


    Mom, Kelly says: We have 2 strollers- we have one that is 3 front to back stadium seating style and a triple jogger which is 3 side by side.




    Super cute!!!  Wonderful photos!
    Thanks so much for sharing with us Kelly!!

    If you would like to send us photos of your Twins, Triplets, Quads, Quints, or Sextuplets in their wagon or stroller please email your photos to TwinsandMultiples@cfl.rr.com
    Be sure to include your name, their names and age, and your location (location optional)


    Saturday, November 27, 2010

    Thursday, November 25, 2010

    be featured on Life with Twins and Multiples

    If you would like to be featured on Life with Twins and Multiples

    Submit the following info to TwinsandMultiples@cfl.rr.com 

    • Name:
    • Age
    • Marital Status
    • Blog
    • Multiples names and age
    • About you
    • About your Multiples
    • favorite items for multiples
    • favorite toys for multiples
    • advice for other moms of multiples
    • 2-4 nice clear crisp photos (close, not far far back in the pics)
    • additional info about you and your multiples