Hi, I’m new here!

The build up and anticipation for this first post has been intense!  There are so many things I want to talk about!  And if you can’t tell already I love exclamation points!  I have two beautiful babies and during this last year life has changed in every way.  I invite you to follow me on my journey to healthier living, managing life with twins, keeping the household in order, cooking, crafts and so much more.

My kids are my inspiration and that is primarily what this blog will focus on.  I will share my pregnancy journey and all things motherhood I have discovered along the way.  Finding your new normal after having kids is a process.  I am constantly learning from those around me and I hope this can be a positive and inspiring page for others.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to stop by my page and more posts will be coming soon!

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Hello Again!!

I think in order to really get to know someone you have to understand where they came from.  I thought I would give you a look into my history with Jonathan and how we got to where we are today.

In September of 2010 my family was invited to the wedding of Jonathan’s brother.  Our fathers had been friends since high school and my parents thought it would be fun for all of us to go to the wedding out in Texas.  I had met Jonathan’s parents a few times over the years when they would stop through town and figured if it was a free trip, why not get out of town for a few days!

I was 23 and had graduated the year before during the big recession.  I was living at home with my parents because the job market was a nightmare.  I was saving up to move out and couldn’t afford to pay for a trip of my own so this was a good alternative to get off work for a few days.  I wasn’t thrilled that the wedding fell on my birthday weekend but thought maybe it would be fun.

When we arrived we went straight to Jonathan’s sisters house for a BBQ.  I didn’t know anyone other than Jonathan’s parents and it was like a big family reunion for everyone else.  I am shy by nature and stuck pretty close to my mom for most of the night.  When Jonathan arrived he was full of energy and was instantly the life of the party.  He introduced himself to me and was very confident.  We talked for a brief minute and that was about it because he was busy socializing with everyone at the party.

As my parents and I went to leave the party Jonathan asked if I wanted to come over to his brothers house (the groom) and hang out with some people that were headed over there.  Being my shy self I politely declined because I was too nervous to go somewhere I had never been with 10 strangers and no means of transportation.

With there being so many out of town guests we ended up giving Jonathan’s cousin a ride over to his brothers house.  When we arrived they invited us all in for a tour and we ended up hanging out for about an hour.  Jonathan was super easy going and had a great sense of humor.  Even though I was shy he was easy to talk to and made me feel comfortable.

The next night was my birthday and the rehearsal dinner.  I was so bummed because I got a call that morning from my friend who I was going to rent an apartment with that it might not work out.  Bummed is not the right word… I was devastated.  This apartment was perfect.  It was in one of the best areas in Denver, great size and within our price range.  I knew I couldn’t take living with my parents much longer and was at a loss for what would happen if it didn’t work out.  My mom and I went shopping that afternoon but I still couldn’t get my mind off things.

We went back to the hotel early to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.  There was a shuttle that was supposed to pick everyone up at the hotel at 5pm.  We were all dressed up, wearing heels and the shuttle was 55 minutes late.  Waiting in a hotel lobby was not exactly how I wanted to spend my birthday and I was hungry because we had an early lunch.  Once we were finally on our way we hit the most insane traffic jam.  Like no movement for 30 minutes traffic jam.  By the time we finally got to the restaurant I was hungry, had to pee, thought I would be stuck living at home forever and was spending my birthday with strangers!  When we went inside I discovered that my place card was next to Jonathan and I was at a different table than my parents.  Naturally at this point I decided to head straight to the bar!

Since it was my birthday I decided to go all out and order a bottle of my favorite champagne.  I went to our table and Jonathan (who had already been drinking all day) jumped at the chance to help me finish off the bottle.  We had so much fun laughing about stupid stuff and I knew I kind of liked him when he picked up the bottle and drank straight from it.

The party continued that night back at the hotel and due to my liquid courage I went to hang out with everyone.  There were lots of drinks and lots of laughs but Jonathan didn’t make any moves on me so I thought there was probably no chance he was into me.

The next day at about 4:30am I woke up so SICK.  I thought I was being punished for drinking to much.  After puking for a good 4 hours I began to realize it was something more when I still felt like I got hit by a bus at 10am.  It got so bad I could hardly get out of bed.  I was determined to make it to the wedding after coming all that way but after I gathered the strength to take a shower I knew there was no way I could make it.  I was too sick.

It turned out that about 40 of the 65 people at the rehearsal dinner got just as sick as I did.  The ring bearer and some of the groomsmen couldn’t even make it to the wedding.  After an awful day in the hotel I felt well enough to go to the post wedding brunch the next morning.  Jonathan and I chatted for awhile but he didn’t ask for my contact info so once we left town I never thought anymore of it.

Much to my surprise 3 weeks later an email popped up from Jonathan.  He was on a mass email my dad had sent out and he searched out my email address to get in contact with me.  Turns out he felt the connection as well.  We started emailing and after 4 weeks we swapped numbers and he called me.  The first time he called me we talked for SIX hours!  When I finally looked at the clock and realized what time it was I couldn’t believe how long it had been.  There was not a moment of awkwardness and the conversation just flowed.  These kinds of long talks went on for weeks.  We finally decided we needed to see each other in person.  Jonathan told me he would book a trip in December if I would come to Dallas and spend New Years with him.  We bought our tickets and I had a feeling he could be the one.

After those first two trips we couldn’t go more than two or three weeks without seeing each other.  We fell in love.  He was showed me chivalry wasn’t dead after all. We had so much fun traveling and planning our weekends full of adventures.

The long distance relationship began to take its toll and we made the decision that one of us needed to move.  Jonathan got a job in Denver and made the move.  I will forever be eternally grateful for that.  Having him here and building a life together has been the biggest blessing.

In October of 2012 we went to Oregon so Jonathan could show me around his old stomping grounds and we could cheer on the Ducks at one of their football games.  Little did I know he was going to propose to me at the top of a beautiful hidden waterfall in Oregon back country.

A little less than a year later we were married!  I will save all of our wedding details for another post because I think I have rambled on long enough.  But I will tell you our wedding was beautiful and one of the most amazing days of my entire life.  We were so lucky to be surrounded by all of our closest family and friends.

Not but two years later we had two beautiful babies which lead to this blog.  Are you ready for the crazy part???  Jonathan and I actually met when I was one and he was nine!  Our families went on vacation together in 1987.  It is so weird when I look back at this picture and think that I met my husband when I was only a year old… especially considering the age difference.  Then again it is kind of cool and such a rare experience for people to have.  I am on the far left and Jonathan is on the far right.  It took God 22 years to bring us back together but we both always say that we came into each others life at just the right time.

Love tends to happen when you least expect it, so if you heart is not yet taken keep it open and you never know what will happen.

xoxo

Sabrina

Sometimes one of the hardest things about being a Mom can be keeping the family schedule and tasks organized. Let me start by telling you I am a total type A planner personality. In fact my day job is working as an event planner. Planning is just what I do and how I run my life. However, twins can throw quite the wrench into all of your organizational time.

After I had the babies I was so sleep deprived that I felt like the fog in my brain might never go away. As I am sure all new parents can relate, sleep deprivation is for REAL! Being organized is what always helped me keep things straight in my brain. After getting around 3 hours of broken sleep a day, for weeks on end, I struggled to remember everything. If I didn’t write it down, I was not going to remember it. Once you become parents you are keeping track of multiple schedules instead of just your own. My husband and I continually would tell each other about things going on and then quickly forget in the midst of our new found chaos.

After a couple of months the babies starting sleeping through the night and I finally came far enough out of the fog to find a system that works for us. For starters, communication and patience is key when finding your new groove as a family. My husband and I had to work a lot on how we communicated our schedules and needs. Once I went back to work it seemed as though everything doubled with pickups, drop offs, doctors appointments, work events, social outings, grocery shopping, etc. etc. One of the first things I learned is that SIMPLIFYING IS A WORTHY INVESTMENT (especially if you have twins)!!! Coordinating a family schedule can be stressful enough, let alone if you are worrying about uninstalling and reinstalling cars seats everyday, so you and your significant other can share the carpool duties. Our budget was working double time so I understand that this is not cheap. There are many ways to reduce costs and still simplify your life. Lets take car seats for example. We invested in some nice, super safe car seats for our babies. After getting to the point of needing a second set of bases I researched all the options. Here are my suggestions:

• Research the retailers (do you have points or miles that can be used?)
• Search high and low for coupons
• Talk with the retailer and ask about upcoming sales, promotions and discounts because you might be surprised what they will share with you
• Look on craigslist and other similar websites for gently used items you can purchase at a killer price
• Join a Moms group because many times they will organize sales for gently used goods
• If you decide to buy new take excellent care of your items so you can sell them when you are done
• Talk to your friends and see what they did
• Do you know anyone with hand me downs or someone that might sell you items they are done with
• Get creative… do you have a friend that is saving their items for their next baby but aren’t planning on getting pregnant for awhile? See if you can borrow or rent their extra items until they need them again

After simplifying what we could, we searched for a better way to communicate our schedules with each other. We tried the old fashion way with a paper calendar but I would always for get to update it. The times when I did remember I would be away from the house, where I didn’t have access to it. I tried calendar invites but with my husband and I using different operating systems that made it tricky. Finally, I found a solution that worked for us. It sort of fell in my lap when I got an email about a new family organizational app. The app that we use is called COZI. It was free so I figured why not give it a shot. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love. The whole family has one login and everyone can access it on their phones. You can add permanent recurring events to the calendar like your trash day. All events can then be coded to certain family members or the entire family. I still maintain my personal calendar but this helps share the pertinent information that my husband needs to know. We are able to stay in the loop on things like my husband working late, picking up the kids, lunch for grandma’s birthday, dinner with the girls… etc. What I love most is that every Sunday they email you the upcoming weeks schedule. This always gives us a reminder to go over the calendar with each other and discuss the week ahead.

My other favorite feature about Cozi is the grocery list and shared to do list. Grocery shopping with twins or kids in general can be a project. All moms know you need to efficiently manage this time and it’s not easy to just run back to the store if you forget little things. So many times I would run out of something and think “oh I’ll have to put that on the grocery list”…. But do you think when I actually went to make the list I remembered what in the heck that item was? NO! Cozi has helped us keep a running grocery list. If I think of something I put it on there right away because I always have my phone with me. The best part is that we both have 24/7 access to it so if Jonathan needs something for his lunches he can add it right then and there. This makes those little trips to the grocery store much more effective so you don’t have to go home and do a full pantry scan to see what you need. It goes back to the practice of simplifying so you can maximize your time. As for the to do list, I don’t know about you, but mine seems never ending! Keeping this running list helps Jonathan and I prioritize our time and see what tasks we need to tackle each weekend.

Be a team, work together and with a little organization you can get it done!

Hi Friends!

Happy National Smoothie day! I am going to share my favorite protein smoothie recipe with you and let me just say you are going to be sorry you didn’t have this delicious concoction in your life sooner. It is healthy and yet it taste like a peanut butter cup! Trust me I am a picky PICKY eater and this smoothie blows my mind every time with how delicious it is!

This has become my go to breakfast every single day. I used to skip breakfast all the time! Breakfast is so important in so many ways. This smoothie is the perfect quick and easy breakfast to get me through an action packed day. As a mom energy is so important and Juice Plus is the most nutritionally rich, plant based protein powder I have ever had. Not to mention it is FREAKIN delicious.  That’s right I am yelling it because it makes me so excited! I mean how many people can say they had over 20 plants in their morning meal?

Are you ready for the next awesome fact?? This shake is gluten free AND dairy free. Even my husband who continually resists breakfast (unless bacon is involved) is a fan of these shakes. I knew I had a winner when he drank the first one I made in about 2 minutes flat.

Are you ready? Get out your blender and combine the following ingredients:

½ cup of ice

1 cup of vanilla almond milk

1 heaping handful of spinach

½ banana

1 packet of Juice Plus chocolate complete

1 large spoonful of almond butter

1 individual packet of ground salba chia

Salba chia is the most nutritionally consistent chia grain money can buy. It is such an amazing source of omega 3’s and I love that salba sells individual packets of whole seed or ground chia. I prefer the ground so that I can mix it into all kinds of recipes and get the added health benefits without even tasting it.

You know what else is fun? My kids love this shake as much as I do. When I am making this as a breakfast for all three of us (Daddy has usually left the house long before we eat) I simply double the recipe.

Don’t forget mason jars and cute straws give your morning that extra flare to get you excited for the day

Bottoms up!

Hello again!

In the chaos of preparing for twins I didn’t make the traditional baby book. In the early stages of baby development I was searching for the best way to celebrate the many firsts and milestones the kids were reaching. I decided to order a book for each of them (from Etsy) where I could journal about it. I keep the books on my desk so that at night before bed I can write them a little note when something fun and exciting happened that day.  Remembering all of those dates and milestones was hard to keep up with so this became a great way to track it all. It will be a fun memento they can read through when they are older. It also gives me the opportunity to give each of them something special about their own development. With twins so many things get tied together and I want them to know how special they both are individually.

If you don’t know it already I LOVE pictures. Like obsessively love pictures and have since I was a little kid. A few years ago Jonathan bought me this Polaroid camera. It prints these cute little 2×3 images. Are you ready for the coolest part? They are sticker backed! When these books came about they were the perfect fit. I don’t always have a photo but sometimes it is fun to add a picture of our day when I am writing to my babies.  Check out my camera here Polaroid Z2300 10MP Digital Instant Print Camera (White)

In my teenage years I worked at a scrapbooking store so don’t worry photo albums will still be created! This is just a fun way to create something for my kids that they can keep and look back on. My goal is to not limit myself with a set timeline but to write when I am inspired to say something to my kids about what they were like or what was happening in the world at that time.

I look forward to maintaining these books so my kids will have a timeline from things we did during their childhood. I love including little treasures from trips we took or places we went. I am not always the best speller or grammatically correct but my kids will have an honest look at who I am and all the adventures we went on when they were little.

As some of you might already know I spent the weekend in Minneapolis for a photography workshop. The workshop was hosted at the beautiful Pinch of Yum studios. Pinch of Yum was the first blog I ever read and to this day it is still my favorite. If you are not already following Lindsay, you should be!

The workshop was so inspiring. When they did their first round of classes a few months ago I decided to set the goal for myself that I would make it to one of classes one day.   I have always loved photography and I have always had the desire to learn how to shoot in manual. We spend so much time drooling over gorgeous pictures on the internet and I wanted to learn how to take those photos. When the next round of workshops were announced I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it.  Finances are tight and the thought of leaving my babies made me nervous.  As time went on I realized that it was okay to invest in myself and that 48 hours away from my kids would probably be harder on me than it would on them. After lots of debates in my head, with the support of my awesome husband I decided to go for it.

What an amazing experience it was to connect with other bloggers and get to learn from the best about food photography. As moms we don’t get much time for ourselves and having two days to focus on something creative, that I love, was just what I needed.   I was able to take a few moments to myself, refuel and do something that inspires me.

My photography improved so much just from two days with Lindsay. She is a master at what she does and has the most wonderful personality. She was a teacher before she became a full time blogger. This made the workshop that much more special because it was so well laid out.  Lindsay and her husband Bjork have made it part of their business to teach others about blogging. I think teaching others is what makes people great leaders. Some people want to keep all information to themselves by thinking it will make them less important if others know their secrets, but actually it is the opposite. Sharing knowledge is powerful. Not just powerful but it can bring so much joy to share what you have learned and see others succeed. This is what makes Bjork and Lindsay so special. They are excited about sharing what they have learned and helping others grow their blog as a business. If you are interested in blogging I highly recommend checking out Food Blogger Pro. You don’t have to be a food blogger to reap the benefits of this educational site. FBP walks you through everything step by step and teaches you how to build your blog, improve your photography and keep up with social media. My admiration for these two is endless and did I mention how delicious Lindsay’s recipes are?? Check out her blog Here

I know everyone is not into photography but I encourage everyone to find something you are passionate about…. something that you can do for yourself. I am the worst with Mommy guilt but I feel like giving myself a little break and doing something creative makes be a better mom. I want to teach my kids that self-love is important.   This is something my mom has taught me throughout my life. She is the most selfless person I know but she also takes great care of herself. So I will stop getting all sentimental and just say that all of you out there should make an investment in yourself because YOU ARE WORTH IT!!

Cheers everyone, thanksgiving break is almost here! Are you as happy about it as I am? Life seems non-stop these days… every so often after a long day the hubby and I will unwind with a cocktail. I was at the grocery store the other day and the simply blueberry lemonade caught my eye. I decided to pick some up and that evening we sort of stumbled across this delicious cocktail recipe by combining things that were already in our fridge. We had picked up some passion fruit vodka the week prior because friends, passion fruit=the best thing ever! Mix it with vodka and I am one happy girl. The blueberry lemonade made for the perfect fruity combo. I am usually a ‘free pour’ cocktail maker and like to take a sip and adjust what is needed. Everything else I am a pretty strict recipe follower so for those of you Type-A personalities here is the breakdown (I used one standard sized shot glass to measure):

Fill your glass to the top with ice

1 part passion fruit vodka

4-5 parts Simply Blueberry Lemonade -depends how strong you like it

1 part Sprite

Top with some blueberries (optional)

I hope you love this flavor combo as much as I do! Get out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend and celebrate with those you love

Cheers!

-Sabrina

Hey there 2017, it’s nice to see you….

As 2016 comes to an end I find myself reflecting on so many things from this year. In 2016 we had some big victories but we also faced an unexpected bumpy road these last 6 months. It was during this turbulence that changes started happening, I began to evolve and my path changed. I can confidently say that I am not the same person I was 6 months ago. I have been given the gift of a new level of awareness and the knowledge & power to create the life I want. This new perspective required a great deal of self-work and self-care. Self-reflection is not always an easy thing. In fact, I found it at times to be a little painful but what I discovered on my journey that the pain of staying the same is far greater than the pain of making changes. If I had to think of one word to describe 2016 it would be transformative. Entering 2017 I finally found my light and I am ready to follow it.

My word for 2017 is nourish. All of my goals moving into the new year are about nourishing my mind, body and soul. I have been on a mission these last few weeks to find tools that will help me stay on track this year. I found this amazing Nourished Planner and it has been the perfect thing to help get me ready for a new way of thinking about food. With two toddlers and a busy schedule, I think meal planning and goal setting will be the best way to keep our family focused. My goal with the planner is to map out and try 3-4 new recipes each week. I love finding new recipes on different blogs. I also have fallen in love with my Inspiralizer and both Insprialized cookbooks. Gina from Skinnytaste.com has an awesome new cookbook called fast and slow. I’ve had a crockpot for years and I have only used it a handful of times. I cannot wait to bust that baby out and make it a new staple in our weekly cooking routine.

My other main goal is to nourish my children. This means better food, more quality time and a more conscious approach to my parenting. This daily greatness parenting journal fell into my lap at just the right time. It is the perfect match for some other things I am working on (more to come on that later!) and this will be a daily reminder to check in and help me stay mindful, playful and intentional.

I have learned in the last few months just how important self-care is. Taking time for yourself, even if it is just an hour here or there, change the dynamic of so many things. I have learned that by nourishing my own feelings and needs I am better able to care for those around me. I am setting workout goals, scheduling social time and at least an hour a week all to myself.

My daily goals include waking up a little earlier each day to make sure I create the time I need for my self-care, drinking a minimum of 100 ounces of water a day and squeezing in that workout! Each day I am also going to work on living the 10 principles Brene Brown maps out as living Wholehearted. The power or vulnerability and putting my true self out there will continue to transform me in 2017.

I am grateful for all of the experiences in 2016 and I am ready for all the amazing things 2017 has in store.

What are your goals for 2017? I would love to hear.

Remember to live in the sunshine and don’t take a single day for granted! Let’s stay focused and help motivate each other! We all need to see our value and our worth. Staying true to ourselves will make 2017 all that we want it to be.

Cheers to a New Year!

Everyone gets very excited and anxious to visit new parents. Holding a new baby is like a drug for some people and everyone wants to see the precious new arrival in person. For some new parents (especially those of twins) it can be slightly overwhelming if you are trying to settle in and have 50 people calling that want to come and visit. Everyone is so kind and has the best intentions but when trying to find your rhythm, nurse and function without sleep it can be a tough juggling act.

Here are my tips for visiting new parents:

-Bring food! The last thing most parents have the energy to do during those first few weeks is cook. When we had our babies my best friend surprised us and setup a meal train for us. This has become my FAVORITE way to organize meals to help new parents, people who have had surgery, are sick, etc. We were blessed to have food brought to us for the first month we were home. This relieved a huge amount of stress and allowed us to stay full and happy while focusing on our babies and adjusting to our new life. What I also love about this for new parents is that it eliminates the scheduling aspect for you. People sign up for a day and can list what they are bringing you. This allows other people to see what you have gotten so you end up with a variety of food instead of spaghetti 4 nights in a row. Keep in mind that it doesn’t always have to be dinner. We had a few people bring us fruit, oatmeal and quiche, which provided us with breakfast for two weeks. You don’t have to home make the food if you don’t have time just aim for something healthy that is going to give the new parents energy to keep doing what they are doing. Having people pick a day to come and visit helps you space out your visitors so that you can enjoy your time with each person and avoid the overwhelming feeling of 20 people wanting to hold your baby all at once.

-If you decide to stop by and don’t have the chance to bring food, clean or help in some way. Insist on it! Doing a few dishes or switching out the laundry helps more than you might think. You can also offer to stay with the baby while the parents take a shower or nap. Thirty minutes to yourself can be just the refresh that parents need and it will give you some awesome cuddle time with the new baby.

-Don’t over stay your welcome. Sometimes new moms are not comfortable nursing in front of people or maybe just need a nap before the next feeding. Play off of the vibe the new parents are giving and don’t be offended if you need to keep your visit short.

-If you don’t have time to make a meal for the family a nice thing to do can be to call and ask if they need anything from the grocery store. Fresh produce, milk or household items can be a huge help so that parents don’t have to load the baby (or babies) up to make a grocery run.

-If you share a group of friends or have a large family make it a group visit. This can make it more fun and is nice for the parents to be able to dedicate time to a special group of visitors. I spoke with some of my mommy friends and I would recommend keeping a large group visit to 2 hours or less and smaller group visit to roughly and hour to and hour and a half.

-Don’t wait to be asked to wash your hands! If you are coming to hold a new baby being cautious about germs is important. I sometimes felt awkward to have to ask people to wash their hands before they could hold the baby. When it is your turn to hold the baby jump up for a quick wash and I promise the new parents will appreciate that.

-New babies should have limited exposure to young children that are not immediate family. Some people worry about this more than others. If you have young kids and would like to go visit the new baby I would suggest either going alone the first time or waiting until the baby is 4 weeks old. You can also check with the new parents to make sure they are comfortable with young kids coming around.

-If you are like me many of your friends are having kids around the same time you are. My advice to new parents would be to make sure you return the favor and take meals or offer help to other new moms that were there during your first few months home.

-Lastly, if something comes up for the new parents don’t take it personally if you have to reschedule. Trust me they want to see you as badly as you want to see them so be patient and I promise you will find the right time.

I have no affiliation to meal train but can’t speak highly enough about their site. If you would like to check it out and possibly organize a meal train for someone you know click HERE.

Making your own baby food is easier than you might think. Initially the thought intimidated me and I thought it would require way more time than I had available. The more and more I became invested in my kid’s health, I wanted them to have the best produce. With twins there was also a significant cost to buying dozens of jars and pouches of food each time we went to the grocery store. I decided to give making my own food a try when my kids began eating solid foods.

To start, I decided to use the Baby Bullet System and purchased some OXO Tupperware to store the food in. I started with single ingredient items and would introduce a new food every few days or so. The process was much easier than I anticipated. On average it took me about two hours to prep two weeks worth of food. The overall cost was about 65% less than pre-made baby food. The reduced cost was a huge benefit, but more than anything I loved having control over what my babies were eating.   I also loved that the twins got to try a larger variety of foods than what was available with store bought foods.

The baby bullet system makes things quite easy. The steamer comes with timing instructions depending on the food you are making. I would pick 5-6 new items every few weeks to pick up from Sprouts. I like the quality of produce at Sprouts and after comparing prices with other stores, they were surprisingly less expensive on average. I would start by washing and chopping everything. Some items didn’t need to be steamed, such as pineapple, so all I had to do was throw it in the bullet, add a little water and voila! For the thicker items, such as sweet potatoes, I would steam them and then follow the same steps above. Once all of your food prep is completed, it is best to leave 2-3 days worth of food in the fridge and freeze the rest.

***Tip: if the food contains a lot of water and is runny, you can add some brown rice cereal before serving to thicken it up.

As my kids graduated to more complex foods I started using the Infantino Squeeze Station. Baby food pouches are pretty much the greatest things since sliced bread but holy cow they are not cheap… especially since I was buying for two babies.   On average pouches are about $1.50 each. The Infantino pouches come in packs of 50 and cost 30 cents each. When I broke down the cost of the amount of food it took to fill them, each pouch came out to about 70 cents total. Anytime I can save more than 50%, count me in!

I typically mix 2-3 fruits or veggies for the kid’s combination pouches. Their favorites are banana/raspberry and broccoli/eggplant. After blending some of the very seedy fruits, like raspberries, I strain them through cheesecloth to keep all those pesky little critters out of there. Once everything has been steamed, blended and mixed together all you have to do is pour it in the easy pouch filling stand and you are done. Easy as 1-2-3! The pouches can also be frozen and I make 40-50 at a time.  Make sure if you freeze pouches that they are labeled and dated.

If you are thinking about making your own baby food give it a try! This system is affordable, simple and you can use just about any food you want. I love knowing exactly what my babies are eating and saving some serious cash is a nice bonus.

Happy mixing!!

Twins man… it is intense, but twice the fun. My husband and I were talking about a friend of ours the other night that just found out his wife was pregnant with twins. As we reminisced about our own experience, we starting talking about what it is like to be a twin dad and what tips we would give to new twin dads. Here is our best advice:

Drink as much as you can before the babies come- just kidding!

1. Do whatever your wife tells you the last month of pregnancy!                                                     Guys your wife is carrying two babies, which means twice the hormones. Those last weeks are brutal and having extra patience during this time goes a long way. If she wants you to rub her aching feet… do it! If she wants ice cream from the store at 11pm… suck it up and go get it.   If she needs you to sleep on the couch so she can some how use the entire bed and all the pillows to get comfortable… do it! None of this sounds fun but your wife will appreciate it more than you know and “sharing the load” during the home stretch will make life so much better.

2. Prepare yourself for the unexpected at the hospital.                                                                         Twin pregnancies include twice the doctors visits, twice the ultrasounds and twice the risk. Come delivery time things can change quickly and C-sections are much more common in twin pregnancies. Preparing yourself for all options and doing your research will help prepare you for all the unexpected things that can happen.

3. The lawn will grow back…                                                                                                                        Things that were important before may not be now. It is amazing how quickly time passes during those first few months that your babies are home from the hospital. If you find your self in a place where things like lawn care have slipped away, don’t worry the lawn will grow back and once you get into a good routine you will find time to do all those things again that were once important to you.

4. Jump in!                                                                                                                                                       Diaper duty, midnight feedings, whatever it is, your wife needs help. Two babies literally means everything is doubled. Being as hands on a possible (especially in those early months) will not only solidify your bond with your baby but it will show you what true partnership looks like. My bond with Jonathan grew so deep during those early months because I truly felt like we were in the trenches together. He was up during every night feeding with me, changed just as many diapers and worked hard to keep our house in order. Jumping in together also meant our babies got the individualized love an attention they both deserved.

5. Never listen to a man with only one child—ok ok kidding again!                                                     Parenting is hard no matter how you slice it. Everyone has a different set of challenges and parenting is the hardest job any of us will ever have. Don’t one up your friends with only one kid because they complain about things that seem so minor compared to your doubled workload. Finding other twin dads to connect with and relate to is a great way to blow off some steam. We also continually remind ourselves that people with triplets think we have it easy and that helps put things back in perspective!

6. Teach those babies how to sleep.                                                                                                          Sleep has been the key to our survival. Since our babies were born early they were on a strict eating schedule from day one. This led to us developing a good routine with them, which then led to healthy sleep habits. Our twins started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks. This makes the long double duty days manageable and keeps us sane.

7. Master the art of something helpful.                                                                                                     Whether it is laundry, bath time or long walks, mastering a new skill to take one task off Mommy’s list will help immensely. Jonathan took over laundry duty which was life changing. Between breastfeeding and recovering from a C-section I had little energy left to keep up with the laundry.

8. Take tons of pictures.                                                                                                                               Don’t rely on your wife to take all of the pictures. The moments are fleeting and selfies are allowed. The beauty of cameras these days is that you can take as many pictures as you want for no cost. We also setup professional pictures every few months for that first year to make sure we captured some great family moments. Otherwise pictures of the 4 of us would have been very very rare. Even if you are exhausted you will never get those precious moments back so document as much as you can.

9. Force yourself to get out of the house with the kids.                                                                      Getting out and about with two babies is a learning curve. Two car seats, a double stroller, the biggest diaper bag ever… yep you will need all that to do even the simplest task, but it is worth it. For your sanity try to get out a few times a week. If the weather is nice go for a walk. If it is cold out take them to the mall and walk around. Anything simple that gets you out of the house is good for you and good for the babies.

10. Don’t try to act as a one man show.                                                                                                    If people offer to help you, let them! If they want to bring you dinner, let them! You will have a lot to juggle and accepting help will be key to keeping all of your balls in the air. Also, be your wife’s teammate. You can’t do it all alone and neither can she so support each other, give each other breaks and keep each other going on the days that are tough.

11. Date your wife.                                                                                                                                        Date night is so important. This goes for any new parents. It is easy to get lost in the chaos. Scheduling time for you and your spouse to connect, get out of the house, go to dinner child free, watch a movie, get a full night sleep will keep your marriage alive. Even if it is only once a month, call on friends, family or neighbors to give you a few hours to get away and take a break together.

12. No matter how bad today might seem tomorrow will always be better.                                      It’s inevitable. All parents have hard days. Caring for two infants can be exhausting and sleep deprivation will take its toll. Tomorrow is always a new day and the joy of watching two babies grow and thrive will get you through. On the hard days have empathy for yourself and never forget how blessed you are to have two babies!

When preparing for our twins we made a list of different things we need to prep and plan in the months leading up to their birth. One of the items that seemed increasingly overwhelming for me was choosing a pediatrician. After focusing in on exactly what we were looking for we were able to start narrowing down our search.

To start we asked friends and family for suggestions. We received some good recommendations and started researching each practice. Here are some steps and recommendations to help you during your own search to find the right doctor:

1) Explore their website in depth

You can tell a lot by the information on a doctors website. Some offices I checked out had little to no info while others had all the essentials.  The one we ended up selecting had the answers to many of our questions readily available. I also recommend taking the time to read the doctor bios because most likely you will select one doctor to meet or schedule a tour with. I also enjoyed checking out resources and links that the offices had listed.  This was a great gauge on whether their style resonated with us and what we were looking for.

2) Prepare a list of questions

Take some time to think about what qualities are really important to you in a doctor. Once I really focused on what I was looking for, I came up with some questions that would help me get a feel for the doctors we were meeting with. Here are some sample questions:

-What are your thoughts on vaccinations?

-How does scheduling work? How long does it typically take for a call back? (I was able to get a good feel for this when I called to schedule the tour)

-How far in advance do I need to schedule a well visit?

-What is the average wait time to see you from the time the appointment is scheduled? (Some places would have an average wait of 45 minute which was not ideal for me with two babies)

-Is there a better time to schedule that usually results in less of a wait?

-How do we reach you if my child gets sick after hours?

-How often will we see other doctors in the practice?

-Are you ever available on weekends or evenings?

-Are calls for routine/non-emergency questions encouraged?

-Is there an on call doctor? What hours?

-Are you affiliated with Rose hospital? (This is the hospital where I was delivering and it is good to check if your doctor does rounds at the hospital you are at.)

-Does the office respond to email?

-Will you be available to discuss behavioral developments?

-Views on breastfeeding vs bottle feeding? Do you have a lactation specialist on staff?

-What parenting books or other resources do you recommend on baby or child care?

Since we were having twins I also asked:

-Do you have experience with twins?

-Is there a different fee structure for twins?

3) Ask your OBGYN

Your OBGYN most likely has heard of or worked with tons of pediatricians in your area. My doctors office had an info sheet of several practices in the different parts of Denver with all necessary contact information. I asked my doctor for her top recommendations on that sheet. She recommended the doctor we ended up selecting.

4) Setup a tour

When you call to setup a tour you will get a feel for how their office operates. Some offices let you setup individual appointments with the doctor of your choice. If you’re not sure which one to pick, ask the receptionist some questions and about the doctors schedules. Some doctors only work certain days so this helped me narrow it down. Some offices setup group visits where 4-5 couples would meet with one doctor for a tour and to answer everyone’s questions. The benefit of this was that other parents had questions I hadn’t even thought of and the group dynamic allowed for much more dialogue than the individual sessions.

5) Visit at least 3 offices

I would highly recommend visiting at least 3 different pediatrician offices to give yourself a good range for comparison. The first office we met with was actually the office I went to as a child. It was funny because 90% of it was the same from when I was a kid and the doctors were all on the edge of retirement (aka old and tired). The doctor we met with was a bit grouchy and slightly annoyed by the questions we asked. It was also impossible to get someone on the phone and call backs took about 24-48 hours. Being the type A personality I am this didn’t jive with me. Jonathan and I wanted to find a place that we could stick with for a long time and we decided it wasn’t the right fit. **One side note: be sure to check out the parking at the offices you visit. This first office was in the city and had very limited parking or street parking in a busy neighborhood. Not ideal when it comes to unloading two babies, a stroller, etc. ** The second office we visited was recommended by a friend and the doctor was very nice. There was plenty of parking and I liked what I saw during the office tour. This office was close to our house but there was still something about it that we weren’t 100% sold on. We decided to check out one more office that I had a few people say was great. I was instantly impressed by their receptionist, the ease of scheduling the visit, their quick responses and that 75% of my questions could be answered by the information on their website. The doctor we met with had twins himself which gave us a sense of ease to find someone that related to having two babies. There was no doubt in either of our minds when we left the tour that this was the office for us.

7) Trust your gut

You should feel complete confidence in your choice so if it doesn’t feel right don’t do it. Keep searching until you find the office who’s values are aligned with yours and you feel totally at peace with your decision. You want to feel total confidence when your doctor makes decisions that affect your child’s health, so you must feel total confidence in choosing the right pediatrician.

8) Unique situations

If you are facing any unique situations such as twins, down syndrome, etc it is so important to talk about these topics in detail with your doctor. It might sound like common sense or you may figure that all doctors are well versed in all areas… I can tell you from my experience that this is not the case and by asking the hard hitting questions up front we have found the perfect doctor to fit our needs.

Best of luck on your search!

Parenthood… man what a journey it is! Never will anything be as hard or as good as parenting. It’s sort of like running a marathon all day, EVERY DAY! We are tested mentally, physically, emotionally, and pushed to different limits constantly. I have dedicated this last year to growing, shifting and learning. Here are the five most powerful things I learned along the way:

1) Allow kids to feel their emotions

For myself, and most of the parents I know, our instinctual reaction when something goes wrong for our kids is to try and fix it. If we are not trying to fix it we usually end up rushing them through their emotions. It’s kind of a hard thing to wrap your mind around at first, but once you find a way to stop trying to fix it and just listen to kids, so many things will shift. Sometimes we all just need someone to listen. Not fix, but listen. It’s easy to say “oh you’re fine” or “buck up it’s no bid deal” or “tomorrow will be better”. I found that when I stopped rushing my kids through their emotions and slapping this band-aid on everything, my kids were able to move through their emotions more quickly (seems counterintuitive right?). Feeling heard and like your feelings are OK is a powerful thing. It is also easy as an adult to dismiss kids feelings because we think they are little and don’t really know anything or what they are feeling isn’t really that bad. What we forget is that to them they don’t feel little and those big emotions are overwhelming. By honoring and respecting their emotions they will feel a sense of belonging and acceptance that can take them far in life.  Some studies have shown that emotional intelligence (EQ) is much more important than a persons IQ.

2) Bribery is damaging in the long run

Bribery is one of the easiest defaults and yet one of the most damaging things to your relationship with your child. Bribery is a slippery slope and before you know it you can end up in a situation where every action requires a reward, bribe or trick. Bribery is damaging to the connection with your child because young kids associate this with your love for them. If they don’t complete the task at hand and the reward or bribe is taken away, to them it is like you are taking your love away. It feels as though your love is dependent on their behavior. We know we love our kids but they will begin to focus on external motivators and do things for the wrong reasons. If we can connect with our kids and offer them ways to find internal motivation it will deepen our relationship with them. That calls for celebration or a special treat, which is different than a bribe. It is a joy to celebrate with them instead of making everything a reward/punishment situation.

3) Self care is vital

I am sure you hear this a lot but I cannot emphasize this enough. If we do not take care of ourselves we cannot take care of others to our fullest potential. Sure you can survive the day but trying to pour from an empty cup only gets harder and harder. Self care does not have to be an elaborate spa day or weekend away with the girls. It can be as simple as a 20 minute meditation in the morning. If you struggle with this start small. Think of one way each week that you can nourish yourself emotionally, mentally and physically. This was super hard for me in the beginning. Before kids I was great at this but it was so hard for me to ask for help when the twins arrived. I have learned that I am a social person and so getting out with friends every few weeks restores me emotionally. Physically I try to do something each day whether its drinking half my body weight in ounces of water, a walk with the kids or painting my nails. Mentally we have to be strong as parents. I started waking up earlier in the morning so I could do a meditation and calm my mind. I also try to work on creative things twice a week because that fills up my soul. When I ask for help and take care of myself, I am without a doubt a better mom, wife and friend. Not only does it fuel me up to get through each day but I love demonstrating for my kids how important self care is.

4) Eliminate comparison and judgment.

As the wise Theodore Roosevelt once said “Comparison is the thief of joy”. It is so easy to constantly compare ourselves to other parents its not even funny. In my experience comparison is also directly related to judgment. Whether I am judging myself or another parent I lose. Everyone is unique and everyone’s kids are unique. Can we all just embrace each other and our differences? If we can love ourselves and our kids where we are at, we will all be much happier. Social media makes this hard because the pop up photos of that “perfect” happy family make us doubt ourselves. That photo doesn’t tell you about their struggles, only the best side of them that they want you to see. Cheer on other families because ultimately we want them to cheer us on as well.

5) Learn the language of empathy

I will be honest that learning the language of empathy is truly like learning a different language. For starters it’s hard and requires dedication. Empathy is constantly confused with sympathy but they are so different.   Empathy goes back to the idea that we have to listen to and honor our kids. Instead of dismissing their emotions put yourself in their shoes and let them know you hear them, you’ve been there and you get it. This requires us to put our own emotions aside and really focus on the ones we love. Don’t discount or judge their feelings because everyone’s perspective is valid. If you have received empathy you know how good it feels to feel heard and accepted. Self empathy during those tough parenting moments is also part of the learning curve. When you’re having a rough parenting day its ok to stop and say this sucks or its hard before you try to move on. We must honor our own feelings so we can honor our kids feelings. I highly recommend Brene Brown’s books and parent coaching if you are looking to expand your empathy capabilities.

For more on my parenting evolution and journey you can visit my webpage at www.peaceatheartparenting.com. I am deeply passionate about educating and empowering parents to find Peace at Heart on their own parenting journey!

Welcome to the first Monthly Media Mashup! This is where I will talk about all things music, movies, tv, books, apps, social and new in my life. I have a deep love for music and so my goal is to create a new playlist for you each month. This month the weather has been all over the place in Denver but I am ready for more sunny days. My playlist is a mixtape of some of my favorite songs to drive down the highway to with all the windows and the sunroof open. You know those relaxing drives when you bust out the sunglasses and let your hair get all tangled because its getting whipped around and you don’t even care? Yeah, one of those awesome days in early summer and so… behold the Sunny Days playlist:

P.S. you can follow me on Spotify @sunshinetickles

So if you are like me and totally obsessed with the show This Is Us, your week was left a bit empty when the first season ended. Luckily season 3 of Grace and Frankie came out shortly after. A lot of people have very strong feelings about Jane Fonda because lets be real she did some awful things back in the day… but if there is one reason to forgive her this show is it because it is so funny! Lilly Tomlin will have you laughing your ass off and there is the perfect mix of dry and witty humor throughout the show. If you don’t have Netflix that is a whole other issue so spend the $8 a month and watch this show!!  Seriously though, please tell me you have netflix

Let’s talk about Easter! The kids will be big enough this year to look for eggs and I am so excited. Easter has also become the blanket excuse to buy every cute tiny thing I see and say “well it’s for their Easter basket”. I found the cutest little glitter eggs at the grocery store so Miss Olivia’s basket is going to be full of sparkle!  Hopefully I can keep their Daddy out of all the candy before then What are some of your favorite Easter basket items?

I just finished Jen Hatmaker’s book For the Love, and she is so funny and real. She has some awesome advice and her writing is very relatable.  This book is a perfect mix of gaining perspective, advice and humor.  I didn’t really know much about Jen before this book but I am definitely a fan now.

Ok can I also just tell you about one of my favorite photo editing apps??  A Color Story is a really easy app to navigate and gives you lots of options on how to edit.  If you are a photo lover like me you should check it out.  This app was developed by the awesome ladies over at A Beautiful Mess.  Their blog is amazing and packed with so many awesome ideas!

To wrap up this months M.M.M, let’s discuss the INSTANT POT!!! Ok, I know you’re thinking I am crazy but it is literally the best invention ever. I think every mom should have one because you can cook insanely delicious meals in a matter of minutes with very minimal effort. Instant pot where have you been all my life?? To put it in perspective I made quinoa the other night and it cooked in 1 minute…. 1 MINUTE… yes you read that right, 1 minute!! Normally this would require 15-20 minutes on the stove. I was getting heavily into my crockpot because with two little kids I was trying anything I could to simplify my life. Well the instant pot just blew that out of the water. What would take 8-10 hours in a crockpot takes 20-40 minutes in the instant pot. If you are looking for recipe inspiration the blog This Old Gal has some awesome starter tips and a variety of recipes.  Check it out and let me know what you think!  I would love for you to share your favorite instant pot recipes in the comments below because I am always looking for something new to try.

Thanks for tuning in and I’ll be back with another M.M.M in a few weeks!

These easy, healthy and delicious pancakes are an awesome way to try solids with your toddler. If you have gone through this stage with little ones before you know there is nothing scarier than having your baby choke when they are first learning to eat solids. These pancakes are thin and are easy for them to chew. The best part is that they will only take you about 20 minutes start to finish to prepare. We make a batch of these on a weekly basis for our kids and rewarm them in the mornings.

Here are the ingredients:

-2 bananas

-2 eggs

-A few sprinkles of cinnamon

-One scoop Juice Plus Vanilla Complete Protein Powder

If your baby is just starting solids blend all ingredients in a blender (I used my NutriBullet)

If your kids are used to eating solids: wisk the eggs together, mash the bananas with a fork, combine and add the other ingredients. This will give them a little thicker consistency which bigger kids like.

Then spray a griddle or pan lightly with cooking spray and make 25-30 small pancakes. Since these do not contain flour they need to be small in order to stay together.

Although I call these baby pancakes I enjoy them as much as my kids do!

Happy eating!

I get asked a lot about my beauty routine and my favorite products. I am breaking down my top 5 beauty items today and explaining why I cannot live without them.

-Its all about that base, bout that base!

Starting with the right base and primer is a game changer when it comes to your beauty routine. I have been asked approximately 9,146 times how I get my eye shadow to last all day without creasing. Behold the urban decay primer potion. I don’t know how they fit so much magic into that little tube but they do. This primer is my number 1 beauty secret. Your shadow will be more vibrant and last all day and night without those annoying globs and creases.

My second must have primer is MAC’s False Lashes Maximizer. This will help your lashes appear thicker, longer and fuller. I can’t even tell you what a difference this makes when it comes to creating the perfect lash look.

-Good clean skin

Cleaning up my beauty routine has been a slow but steady process. I am working to eliminate chemicals and toxins in all different areas of my life (more on that coming in another post). One of my FAVORITE beauty stores is Alliea. They have a location in Larimer square and Cherry Creek in Denver. If you are in the area stop by and check out their beautiful products or you can also shop online. This is the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser that I cannot live without. The smell is seriously intoxicating! It is so fruity and fresh and leaves my skin feeling silky.

-Pucker up!

Weather you’re single or taken having smooth beautiful lips is always appealing. This SMOOTH anti aging lip treatment comes from EVER skin care. I have a slight obsession with lip balms and glosses. Most days it felt like I was applying it all day because my lips would still feel dry or it would wear off quickly. That was until I found this gem. It lasts forever and is one of the rare products that didn’t make my lips feel dried out. Not only that, but it left my lips smooth and refreshed. I keep an extra one on my nightstand so I can always put some on before bed.

-Finishing Touches

This Chanel Iluminating Powder is one of my beauty splurges. It is the perfect finishing touch to your makeup routine and works on most all skin tones. This helps to smooth and blend any other foundation you are wearing and gives you a bit of extra glow to make your skin look even more radiant. It is also a great way to brighten and even your skin tone when worn alone. On days when I need to get out of the house quickly I will put this and a little mascara.

Tell me what your favorite beauty products are in the comments below! I would love to hear!

Prepare to have your house overtaken with baby gear! (wish I was kidding)

As an expecting twin mom I found it to be somewhat difficult to find the best twin friendly items… and sometimes just twin items in general.  As twins become more and more common, there are new resources popping up, but it can still be difficult to find the right items when you don’t have fellow twin mom friends to ask.  I had to piece a lot of things together to find the right items.  So to all you twin mamas out there in need of a friend who has been through what you are preparing for, here is my must have list based on all the items I tried:

Twin Z Pillow

One of the things that gave me some serious anxiety after bringing the twins home from the hospital was thinking how on earth I was going to do everything by myself when my husband went back to work.  We had gotten the kids on a regular schedule and I didn’t want to mess that up by trying to feed them one at a time when I was alone.  The Twin Z pillow was a life saver and something we used every single day until about 11 months.  Think of this as a double boppy.  The middle section lifts up to make the pillow nursing support for two babies.  When I was alone I would cover the pillow with a blanket and prop up both babies with a bottle so they could eat.  When they got a little bigger and more wiggly I would use the strap and buckle it over their waist to keep them secure.  This is truly my number one pick for must have twin items to survive the first year!

Baby Jogger City Select Double Stroller

With twins you HAVE to use a stroller.  Carrying two babies or two car seats is just not possible.  If you plan on leaving the house you will need a stroller.  No matter what you get don’t buy a double wide stroller.  Not only will you not fit through most doorways it will feel impossible to fit in stores, restaurants, etc.  At first I didn’t love the idea of stadium seating but I am beyond thankful this is the stroller I chose.  The stroller holds two car seats and when your twins get bigger these seats can be used with all different configurations.  This is also a great stroller for parents with one baby who plan to have more kids.  It is the perfect stroller to grow with your family.  It can be used with only one seat and the other seat can be added at a later time.  This stroller is easy to collapse, great for travel and very sturdy.  I can’t tell you how much I love this stroller!

Dropper Stopper

If your kids are like every other child I have ever met, they will enjoy dropping things on the ground.  While gravity is fascinating… it makes me want to pull my hair out!!  I get so tired of picking things up off the floor.  When we are out in public it started to get quite expensive to have them continually dropping and losing toys.  Then I found this little gem… the dropper stopper!  You will notice in the pictures above that they are always attached to our stroller.  They have one gripped side for bottles but  you can use them for so many other things.  I use this for toys when we travel or any time we are out and about to make sure that everything is attached and safe from the constant throwing.  I also love that it saves your stuff from all the nasty germs on the ground!  Picking up after two babies can be exhausting so be sure to add this to your registry!

Baby Brezza

I had hoped to be able to exclusively breast feed but unfortunately I didn’t not produce enough milk to do so.  The first few months were a mix of nursing and warming formula… with two babies and 8 feedings a day, that gets to be a lot of work.  I saw this one day at the store and thought it was too good to be true… I mean it measures the forumla and warms it to the perfect temp all with in about 15 seconds!!  The cost threw me off at first and my husband said don’t buy it, we’re fine without it.  Being the person I am I decided to give it a try anyway and this was one of the BEST impulse buys I have ever made in my entire life.  This little dream machine saved us so much time and headaches I can’t event tell you.  The Baby Brezza is an absolute must have if you need to use formula.  I also felt like we maximized our formula use and saved money because it eliminated spills and measuring.  Think of it as a baby keurig… trust me this is one purchase you won’t regret.

Rock and Play Sleeper

We had two of these sleepers in our room and that is where our kiddos slept for the first 3 months.  There are music and vibration options built in.  What I liked most was that it kept their heads slightly elevated because early on spit ups will happen.  If you are asleep and don’t hear it or aren’t right there, this keeps them safer than if they were lying flat on their back.  We had this happen in the hospital so I was extra cautious when we brought the twins home.  I also love that the sleepers collapse and fold up which makes them ideal for travel.

Pack and Play

This changing station pack and play makes everything a little more convenient.  This includes a removable bouncy seat and changing table.  When I was recovering from my c-section I didn’t want to have to go up and down the stairs an extra 20 times a day to change diapers.  This was the perfect addition to our living room, not only a resting area for the babies but also as our second changing table.  This makes for a great travel crib and folds into a nice carrying bag.  For only $100 this will simplify many things for you.

Space Saver High Chairs

Unless you have a giant kitchen you will want to get these space saver high chairs!  These attach to your regular kitchen chairs and are designed to grow with your baby.  They convert into a booster seat for when your baby gets older.  The kitchen in our first house would have overflowed if we had two full size highchairs.  These also come apart easily and are nice to pack up if you are traveling somewhere nearby.

Mamaroo Swing

If you are going to get a baby swing I definitely recommend the 4 moms mamaroo and infant insert for not only the design quality but also the compact size.  The swing includes a variety of settings and has bluetooth capabilities for music and motion control.  In other words if you are too exhausted from the sleepless nights you can operate the swing from your couch

Buggy Bench

Grocery shopping just got a whole lot easier!  The buggy bench was designed by a twin mom for twin moms.  The seat attaches to the grocery cart and makes it possible to shop with two kiddos and still have room in the cart for your groceries.  If you are a busy mama running all the errands by yourself this is a must have!  Sometimes I feel like an American Ninja Warrior when I can make it through the store with both kids in under an hour

Bath Support

This Angelcare bath insert made bath time with two babies at the same time possible.  This helped keep my kids upright, relaxed and made it possible for me to bathe them without help.  If you have help use it, but in my situation that wasn’t always the case.  I was able to use these until about 10 months. 

Bumbo

I found these little seats to be immensely helpful as my babies started to grow.  They are easy to move to any room you might be in and my twins had a blast sitting next to each other playing.  The bumbos take up very little space and there are a variety of colors.  Best part is they are incredibly easy to clean.  I was also able to resell these for half of what I paid for them. 

Play Zone

My husband jokingly calls this the O.K. CORRALL!  I am ending with this playzone and extension kit because this has been one of my biggest twin lifesavers.  It has grown and evolved with us as the twins have grown.  Both of the houses we have lived in have not been an ideal layout for kids as far as safety goes, so having some means to contain them when necessary is priceless!  Chasing two kids running in opposite directions sometimes seems impossible.  This playzone allowed me to have a safe space for them if I had to load them in the car one at a time, go to the bathroom or pretty much do anything that required me to step away from them for a second.  This also created a great space at the end of the day to compile all of their toys so they were in one area.

I hope you enjoyed this very LONGGGG post but I have explored so many items that I really wanted to sum up for my readers the products that have helped me most as a twin mom.  Please reach out to me if you have any questions or know of other products I might like!

Every year Mother’s Day rolls around I am always trying to think of a special gift to honor my Mama and all that she does. This year I am putting together my top picks in hopes of giving you some inspiration to find the perfect gift for your Mama! Personal gifts are always better than gift certificates (*unless it is to the spa*) so here are some of my favorite items and suggestions:

For the Book Lover:

Daring Greatly

Brene Brown and her work have changed my life. Every person I know that has read this book loved it!  There is so much wisdom in Brene’s work and your mom will enjoy this thoughtful gift.

For the Love

Jen Hatmaker is funny, witty and this is a great read!

Bloom

Kelle Hampton has the most incredible way with words. Her book brought me to tears on multiple occasions but she leaves you feeling so full of love and hope.

The Body Book

Cameron Diaz pretty much blew my mind with this book. She gives real life examples and shows the true power of how all things affect our body. You are guaranteed to learn something by reading this book.

For the Beauty Lover:

Clarisonic

Give mama the gift of an at home facial. I love having this tool available to exfoliate and clean my skin. Your mom will be able to bring the spa home with this device

Indie Lee Coconut Citrus Scrub

This is my favorite body scrub of all time! It smells absolutely amazing. It has the perfect amount of exfoliator and leaves your skin feeling so hydrated.  Best part?  It is completely non toxic!

Bond No. 9 Central Park West

If you really want to splurge on mom you can get her this heavenly perfume. Bond No. 9 has unmatched quality and you only need a spritz or two to smell amazing! This particular scent is my favorite of all time and I have been known to be somewhat of a perfume addict.

For the Kitchen Lover:

Inspiralizer and Cookbooks



The Inspiralizer has been a game changer for our family! This is the best way to get more fruits and veggies in your diet and if your Mom is a foodie she is sure to love it. I gave this to my Mom last year and she is obsessed with it!

Instant Pot

If your Mom likes ease and convenience when it comes to cooking this is the tool for her. This tool reduces cooking and prep times and makes a variety of delicious meals. I think the instant pot should be a staple in everyone’s kitchen.

Skinny Taste Fast and Slow Cookbook

This has become my go to cookbook! I love all of Gina’s easy and healthy recipes. We have made the turkey zucchini meatballs and Italian salad about 20 times since I bought this book.

For the Jewelry Lover:

MantraBand

These bracelets are a great way to send mom a sweet message that she can wear forever! Check out all of their cute phrases and pick the one that best suits your Mom.

James Avery Initial Rings

These rings have been on my wish list for a while. I love that you can stack these rings and they are such a cute way to show off your loved ones initials.

MOM- Diamond Pendant Necklace

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right?!? This simple yet elegant necklace is sure to take moms breath away!

Happy Shopping!

How often do you hear people say, “I have the worst luck” or “I never win anything”? I hear that all the time and I used to be one of those people myself. It is so easy to get trapped in that mindset. I was trapped there for a long time and didn’t win because I never believed I would. It took me a while to realize the winning is all about your mindset and that when you truly put your mind to it you can win. Moral of the story is that you should always enter the drawing or sweepstakes because you have just as good of a chance at winning as anyone else. So… Think it. Believe it. WIN it.

I would like to give a special thanks to Amy Frances Photography, Polariod and Household Mag. for the awesome Polariod Zip Printer. I am so in love with this and I can’t wait to create so many fun things with these photos.

This printer is so cute and tiny and prints on 2×3 sticker backed paper. Craziest part is that this Zink paper uses zero ink! You can connect your phone through Bluetooth and print instantly or add the designs of your choice.

I am thrilled to have been the lucky winner and hope all of you win some goodies soon!

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having Twins

1) Routine, routine, routine

If you are going to survive the first year… or even just the first few months, I can’t tell you how essential a routine was for our family. Two babies can feel like madness at times and you will be so exhausted that you will start to feel like a robot. We were able to eliminate the guessing game of what to do next by keeping ourselves on a regular routine. Those first three months are a blur of eat, play, sleep, poop…REPEAT! This led to good sleep habits for our kids and they were both sleeping through the night by 10 weeks. Figure out what kind of schedule works for your family and stick to it!  It can be a sacrifice but it is worth it!

2) Have a Diaper shower

You are literally going to blow through (no pun intended) at least 600 diapers in your first month. If you have checked the price of diapers lately you know this is not cheap. I was lucky enough to have a diaper shower where we did a large prize giveaway to one of the people who brought diapers or wipes. The diapers we received at our shower were enough to get us through the first 4 months!! That was such a huge help during unpaid maternity leave. Also, take EVERY free sample you can get at the hospital! Every little bit helps, right?

3) Schedule one on one learning time

This took me awhile to figure out. Twins have a unique and rare bond but they also need individualized attention. I found this particularly true when it comes to learning time with my kids. My daughter will barely sit still long enough to read one book page while my son will snuggle up and focus. This led to great learning time with my son but my daughter was not getting the attention she needed. I learned she needed more play based learning activities. If you don’t have help where you can actually separate the kids to have focused learning time, just try to schedule learning time where you dedicate attention to each child. The days will fly by so building this into our routine helped me make sure we didn’t fall behind.

4) Let them be individuals (but it’s also ok to let them know they are a team)

Born together, friends forever! No matter what your twins will share something that most of us will never experience. Watching my kids bond from day one has been my absolute favorite thing about being a twin mom. I have also studied brain development and I have a deep desire to honor each of my kid’s individual strengths. It would be easier many days to have them do the same thing, dress them the same, etc. but I love giving them the space to create their own individual style and way of doing things. Eventually my kids will be out in the world without their twin next to them, so helping cultivate their individual strengths is important to me.

5) Take one baby out at a time- getting out of the house is important

This is another practice that took us about 9 months to get our minds around. We were in the habit that we would either take both kids out or one of us would stay home with them. This led to a lot of staying home because in those exhausting early days, taking both kids out all the time was a lot of work. It is so important to get out of the house and sometimes you have to force yourself. I will never forget the first time we decided to divide and conquer. My husband called me about half way through my outing with Olivia and was yelling into the phone “ONE BABY IS SO EASY!!” I quickly agreed and couldn’t stop laughing about his excitement. Taking one baby out at a time was not only easier but gave us individual bonding time which I loved.

6) Sleep deprivation is for real

I can’t say I wasn’t warned about this. Everyone jokes that you will never sleep again and how brutal those early days are. I think most people don’t want to scare you by getting to the deep truths about just how hard that phase is. I wish someone had told be how truly brutal it would be. For the first 10 weeks I got 3 hours of sleep a day and it happened one hour at a time. There is a reason that sleep deprivation is one of the methods used to torture people… because it really is torture on your mind. You will do crazy things! I sometimes felt like I forgot how to speak and towards the end of our sleepless nights I was hallucinating. This is where our routine SAVED OUR LIVES because both babies slept through the night at 10 weeks. To all you mamas that have done these sleepless nights for years, I give you mad props because I would not have made it.

7) You do not need to buy two of everything

It will be tempting to buy two of everything but it is not necessary in many instances. The necessities are obvious that you need two, but don’t buy two of every toy or entertainment device. What I have learned is that even if you have two, they will most likely only want what the other baby has anyway. We also bought one jumper and one music play station. This was a better way for us to mix it up vs. having two jumpers. At the beginning of our parenting journey I bought double of most things like a swing and toys. This proved to be unnecessary and quite expensive!

8) You will survive and things will come naturally

Every twin family I have talked to has experienced a point of breakdown. Two babies at once is hard and can feel overwhelming, but it is so rewarding! All I can say is that while you might be twice as exhausted you will survive. Whatever mountain you feel like you are climbing while trying to figure out how to juggle two, the answers will come and you will find your way.  Before you know it you will feel like a natural. Be patient with yourself and know that a little self-care and self-empathy will go a long way!

9) If you are struggling to find your groove join a Mothers of Multiples group

Twins may not be easier or harder, it’s just different. Finding a community of others that are in your same boat will give you some peace of mind. When I finally joined the mothers of multiples group in Denver I was surprised how quickly I connected with the other moms. It was so nice to talk with others that understood exactly what I was going through. It was also great to have a community of people to bounce ideas off of and be able to support when they struggled.

10) The tests are not always right

I had a pretty huge scare at the beginning of my pregnancy and we were not sure if one of the babies was going to make it. What I have learned is that hormone testing with twins is much more complicated and there can be a lot of false positives. I share this only to give hope to any other mamas out there that might be facing uncertainty. I know that was one of the hardest times of my life but thankfully the tests were not right and I was blessed with two healthy babies!