We've MOVED to TwoferMom.com!

We've Moved!!! TwoferMom.com is live and waiting for you!

2009-07-22T10:28:00.001-07:00

Click to see how we designed the new logo!

My BRAND Spankin NEW site is up!
And I can't wait to see you over there!
After all my bitching in moaning in the last post, I'm so happy it's done :).

What do you do?
1. Stop coming here and bookmark http://twofermom.com
2. Subscribe to the RSS feed over at Twofer Mom (click on the big coffee cup)
3. If you grabbed my old Twofer button replace it with this:

(grab the code from my sidebar ---->)

Then leave a comment for me at Twofer Mom so I know you made it! :)
Thanks for following me,
Janine

Give Us Your Conference Call Blooper and Win an iPhone 3G from Packetel!

2009-07-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

Have you ever said the wrong thing to a client? Have you ever been caught not paying attention on the line? Have your kids screamed something crazy during a call...

If so - Packetel wants to hear about it!

If not - try out Packetel's Web Conferencing services FREE for 30-days and tell us about your experience!

Packetel Turbo Meeting makes web conferencing simple and easy to do. Here are just a few of their web conferencing features:

Share screens/desktops with multiple participants

Assign and acknowledge meeting roles of presenter and controller of keyboard/mouse

Allow an unlimited number of users to host a web conference

Schedule meetings and webinars

Hold ad hoc meetings and webinars and use verbal meeting invitations without resorting to e-mail

Integrate with Outlook for sending e-mail invitations

Optimized for different internet connection speeds ranging from broadband to 28KB dial-up

Annotation over the entire screen/desktop

Whiteboard and chat functionalities

Win an iPhone for my misdeed on a conference call? Yes! Here's how you can win:

1. Fill out the form below, including your blooper story

2. Try out Packetel's Web Conferencing Service for FREE for 30 days, fill out the form including your experience with the server

Entry form: http://cli.gs/PsvX9W

Bonus Entries! After you've completed 1 or 2 above and filled out the form you can also...

- Blog about Packetel's Online Fax Service and link the text "packetel's web conference service" to: http://www.packetel.com/web-conferencing-turbo-meeting-main.asp

- Become a Fan of Packetel at their Brand New Facebook Fan Page here: http://facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=121265230239#

Contest ends 7/31/09 at 11:59 AM ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

Win a Wii Fit and Help your Kids Maintain a Healthy Weight!

2009-07-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

With childhood obesity reaching an all time high across the country, many parents struggle with how to help their children maintain a healthy weight with proper nutrition.

Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, the official doctor of Camp Shane and a board certified pediatrician, has created Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh, a traffic-light system that allows kids to learn which foods are healthiest without counting calories. To spread the word about her site and program, Dr. Weigh, is sponsoring a Wii Fit contest to help you get your family up and moving this summer!

To Enter:
To enter to win the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest, check out client testimonials and fabulous Dr. Weigh success stories then fill out this secure contest form telling us which story was your favorite!

Form: http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontest

Want a chance to speak with Dr. Dolgoff about your nutritional questions and win more prizes?

Join her Friday, July 10th at 9 p.m. ET on Twitter for her #KidsWeigh discussion. Door prizes will be awarded. To RSVP and for more information go to:

Resourceful Mommy.

One grand prize winner will receive a Wii Fit. Two runners-up will receive a free one month membership to Dr. Weigh. This contest ends Friday, July 24th at 11:59 a.m. ET. and is brought to you by Momfluence.

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters - two big thumbs up

2009-07-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed my samples of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters from My Blog Spark and so I will do pros and cons for this review.

Pros

(or, why I freakin love these things)
1. Super Delicious...nutty, crunchy, sweet and salty all in one
2. Filling...they definitely take the edge off that 3:00 hunder
3. Portable...come in resealable bags that are great for car trips, a picnic, the beach or the pool.
4. No high fructose corn syrup...real honey and sugar used for sweetening

Cons

(or why I might suggest you not try them in the first place cause you're gonna love them)
1. Not Low Fat....but not horrible if you limit it (7 clusters are 160 calories and 10 grams of fat)
2. Addictive...see number 1
3. They won't last very long...see number 2

New Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters comes in four flavors: Honey Roasted Peanut, Granola Nut Clusters, Roasted Almond, and Roasted Cashew.

Get a $1.00 off any bag of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters (you'll see link at the bottom of the home page) and then tell me what you think!

Janine
Product provided by

What's "Good For The Kids" is good for the parents at this online store

2009-06-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

I only wish there was a shop like this when the Twofer were little. But way back then (6 years ago) there wasn't as much information out there about the plastic that was used in baby bottles or the lead paint often found in toys we import.

Safe and Affordable for Babies and Big Kids

GoodForTheKids.com is one place where you know the things you buy are safe. They have everything from BPA-free bottles to Melissa & Doug brand toys. The prices are very competitive (most of my items were $5.99 or lower). And many come with a lifetime guarantee.

The site is easy to navigate and you simply pick a category: Play - Feed - Nurture - Engage or Shop By Brand. Here you'll find unique products that will satisfy even the most (and I can say this because I'm one of them) neurotic mother, while providing exactly what the child either wants (in my case) or needs.

Thanks to Momfluence and GoodForTheKids.com I have the opportunity to test a number of Melissa & Doug craft products like:

Origami Paper

Take-Along Water Color Set and

Jumbo Triangular Sidewalk Chalk.

These have really come in handy as I put my Summer Survival Guide to the test!

And the Tooth Fairy Box would have been helpful yesterday when that silly fairy, ahem, FORGOT to come.

Be sure to check out GoodForTheKids.com and send the link to those new (and neurotic) moms. They will forever thank you!

Janine

Product provided by:
Momfluence
GoodForTheKids.com

Carefree Fresh Start Fund giving $10,000 for a fresh start!

2009-06-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wish you could make a fresh start in your life?
Your job?
A relationship?
Starting a business?
Maybe a new look?

My fresh start would be hiring a professional organizer to come to my home and help me find a place for everything so all I have to do it put it where it belongs!

Carefree has a wonderful website that not only gives tips for little ways to start fresh every day (including the Carefree Ultra Protection products) but they are also helping to fund your dreams of a fresh start!

Check out the Carefree Fresh Start fund contest:

"Tell us why you want to make a fresh start and how we can help for the chance to receive $10,000 in funding, a consultation from change expert Ariane de Bonvoisin of First30Days.com, and a trip to New York City to receive your funding and be honored at the CAREFREE® Fresh Start event held in partnership with Step Up Women’s Network."

Plus be sure to try the new Carefree Ultra Protection panty liners. You can get a free sample here, and start every day right. These panty liners are 10 times more absorbent than other products - perfect for travel, and long work days.

Tell me - what fresh start do you want to make?

Janine

Product supplied by
Mom Central

Enter to win an iPhone by tweeting #HouseofGems! (Or, don't...better for me!)

2009-06-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

So over vacation my brother bought the newest iPhone. I started playing with his old one and am really getting envious. The good thing is that I just found out that a tweet on Twitter could win me an iPhone 3GS!

I've already told you about the jewelry supplies you can win from House of Gems and Momfluence.

Anyone on Twitter who tweets with the hashtag #HouseofGems between 12:00 noon eastern Monday, June 22nd and noon eastern Saturday, June 27th will be entered to win an iPhone 3GS! U.S. residents 18 years and older are eligible.

The winner will be announced during the #houseofgems SiteWarming party
Saturday
June 27th
9 p.m. Eastern

I'm tweeting - are you? Wait, don't tweet - the better chance I'll have of winning :).

With iPhone envy,
Janine

Sponsored by Momfluence
and House of Gems.

Get "Bejeweled" and enter to win $250 in Jewelry Making product!

2009-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Most of my friends have dabbled in jewelry making. A number of us bought thetools and wires, and most of us have bought beads at one time or another.

When you add it all up it's a small fortune. And - we have never tried to sell our wares, but this opportunity from Momfluence has renewed our interest!

From my personal collection

Meet House of Gems, Inc. - they have been selling quality beads, pearls, findings, pendants, chains and other jewelry making accessories at wholesale prices, directly to the consumer since 1992.

House of Gems has their own factories, craft shops and import directly, so they have the best prices on quality products. Now, with the power of e-commerce they have eliminated the 'middle men', bringing their quality products at low wholesale jewelry prices, directly to your doorstep.

Now you can win a bracelet making kit plus $75 in product - a $100 value - by entering the "Bejeweled Giveaway" contest. Ten readers across the Momfluence network blogs will be chosen to win!

Those ten winners will be able to submit a picture of their completed bracelet to the House of Gems, and one will be chosen to receive a $250 gift certificate, enough product to really jump start a business!

To Enter:

Option 1 - Subscribe to one or more of the House of Gems feeds found at http://www.houseofgems.com/feeds.aspx - each feed subscription counts as a new entry! Once you've subscribed fill out this entry form: http://cli.gs/ND4NMe

Option 2 - Blog about the "Bejeweled Giveaway" contest on your own site then fill out this entry from: http://cli.gs/ND4NMe

Then:
Join me and Momfluence on Twitter Saturday, June 27th at 9:00 p.m. eastern for a #houseofgems SiteWarming party where the 10 winners will be announced!

Good Luck!
Janine

Prizes supplied by Momfluence

Just call me Julia George Foreman Child - delish dinner in 10 minutes

2009-06-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

I love my George Foreman Grill.

I have the original. It's smaller than the new ones.
It's white (not very practical with grilling).
But it cooks chicken in 5 minutes.
No. Kidding.
So, I did a video to show you just how quickly it cooks.
And, there's some dancing in there too...

Here's what you need:
Purdue frozen chicken breasts from Costco (they are thin and require no cutting... just thaw, season and cook!)
Montreal Chicken Seasoning or Cavender's Greek Seasoning
George Foreman Grill

Sides:
Frozen veggies
Mrs. T's Piergoies

So pull out that George Foreman and let me know what you think.
Also - try making grilled cheese in it. 3 minutes flat!

Janine

This post sponsored
by me and my kitchen.

Micro G-Bike: A very cool kick-bike for little ones. Where's the adult model??

2009-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Um - this is freakin AWESOME! So much so that I wish I was two again!

I know, I know you want one too.
Maybe we can all get together and demand an adult size version?
Can't you just see people cruising along the boardwalk on one of these?
Or on a bike path?
Or commuting to work...a short, very flat commute?
I wonder if older folks would use these to get around the retirement community?

You can see more products (none for adults that are this cool but still) at KickboardUSA.

The Micro G-Bike is pricey ($139.00) but I bet kids don't want to get off of it. And if you add up the prices for all the plastic ride-on cars, scooters, and roller skates my girls had a 3 they probably come close. Plus, I'm sure they would have gotten lots more use out of this G-Bike.

Waiting for the Adult model,
Janine

Cancer? You Look Mahvelous- Look Good, Feel Better turns 20!

2009-06-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've done it, have you?
I have dressed up on a day when I either felt bad, or sad, or mad, and guess what? It made me feel better.

The founders of Look Good...Feel Better (www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org) had this in mind when they started the non-medical, brand neutral program to help cancer patients increase their self esteem as they battle their disease.

Look Good...Feel Better Celebrates 20 Year with a Makeover contest!

Submit your story of how the Look Good...Feel Better program helped you cope with cancer and be featured on the Women of Hope is Beautiful blog to help educate others who are still fighting their fight. In August, Look Good…Feel Better will choose five women with the most-compelling stories to receive a trip to New York City for a makeover an a trip to the DreamBall, a black-tie gala and the program's largest annual fundraiser, held each year in New York City!

Encourage your family and friends to visit the site, view the entries, and leave comments of support. And, know you are sharing your story with others who really need to hear it most.

Is a woman you know going through cancer treatment?

Take them to the Look Good...Feel Better site where there are lots of great make-up tips and even ways to cope with hair loss. Then check out the Before and After photos. They make ME feel good just seeing how they feel better!

There is so much information on the site including program locator. A wonderful resource for something that seem so simple, and yet can make all the difference. Giving someone the gift of feeling better about themselves really can affect what is going on inside.

Janine

Sponsored by:
Mom Central

Kajeet: Perfect Phone for Tweens/Teens...and their Parents (coupon code)

2009-06-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

Award winning Kajeet is the perfect cell phone service for kids, teens, and especially their parents.

Here's why:

Kajeet has No Contracts

Kajeet can be used as a pay-as-you-go phone or you can choose from one of the money-saving monthly plans that work month-to-month. No contract. Stop any time and go back to paying per minutes

Kajeet has the best Security Features

Easy to navigate and set up, Kajeet's parental controls are all handled online. Parents can determine who their child is talking to and texting (allow or block numbers), and when the phone can be used (exceptions can be made for certain numbers like Mom & Dad). Parents can set an allowance and the option for 2 wallets (parent and child) means parents can decide who pays for the calls to Grandma! Lastly, GPS can help find the phone that was left at practice, school, or at the friend's house.

Kids love Kajeet

Kajeet has the most popular phones including the LG Rumor, the Sanyo Katana II, and the Samsung M300. All phones offer talk, text, and pix capabilities. Kids can download games and ringtones too...as long as they have enough money in their wallet.

Kajeet COUPON CODE!

Twofer readers can save 15% - just go to Kajeet.com and use code: TWOFER

Enjoy the savings and enjoy the summer knowing your kids will work hard to earn their Kajeet dollars!

Janine

Sponsored by
Kajeet

Twofer Thumbs Up for Musician Diane Birch and Discover & Donate

2009-06-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

What a great idea!
Discover and Donate has created a way for people to discover new artists, and donate $1.00 to one of 6 charities. Not only that, they have created a fun way for you to spread the love of Diane Birch and your favorite charity whether you blog, Facebook, or partake in some other social networking site.

I'm choosing to support SOS Children's Villages and you can click on the widget below to purchase and donate.

Or, grab your own widget and start placing it wherever you spend time!

Diane Birch has an incredibly soulful sound. Part Joss Stone, with a little bit of Carol King, and, possibly, a dash of Joni Mitchell. I have no idea what Diane Birch would think of that comparison but that's what I'm going with.

Maybe I'll ask her at the next #GNO! Yes, @DianeBirch is on Twitter so give her a shout out and let her know what you think of her sound!

Janine
This Post to Benefit
SOS Children's Villages

5 Things I Love about Crocs

2009-06-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

My NEW Cabana Crocs

1. Crocs Don't Smell when my Feet Sweat

Maybe this is TMI but my feet sweat, a lot sometimes. Whatever, I'm sure you're are no roses. Anyway, Crocs don't smell even after the longest walk on a 90 degree day. And actually, my feet don't sweat at all in my new Cabana Crocs!

2. Crocs has Affordable Comfort and Style

The average cost of a pair of Crocs is what, $30? Maybe $40? I think my Cabanas were about $50. My original pair of Crocs have lasted over 3 years...and they are still going. I have never had a $30 pair of shoes last that long. I'm getting my money's worth for sure. And comfort is something that simply cannot be debated.

3. Crocs has @GeorgeGSmithJr

George is a Crocs blogger, he represents Crocs on Twitter, and is an all-around nice guy. Just ask any one of his 2500 followers. He is a perfect example of how a big company can reach out to consumers and make them love them even more. Since "meeting" George I have really gained a sense of loyalty to Crocs which has resulted in me buying 3 more pairs of Crocs - one for me and one for each of the girls.

4. Crocs has Great customer service

When the rivet broke off of my daughter's Mary Jane Crocs my friend George sent me the link to where I can order more. And by order, I mean fill in your name and address and they send you a package of them for FREE! You can also get replacement straps!

5. Crocs is Spreading the Love

Most recently I had ordered a pair of Crocs with a gift certificate I received at the Blissdom conference. It was taking an unusually long time but I was patient as paying customers surely take precedence over my freebies. I tweeted with George a few times and he had me email him my information again. A week later I received my Cabanas. A week after that I received a second pair!
When I told George I think I had been a little too squeaky of a wheel he said, "Keep the extra and spread the love!"

And so, that 's what I'm going to do. The size 8 Cabanas are going to be donated to a local women's shelter and I'm spreading my love for Crocs here with you.

Janine

Where I go for Last Minute Baby Gifts (and Giveaway)

2009-05-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone say Hi to my neighbor Sharina. (((waving)))
Sharina has got a sewing machine and isn’t afraid to use it.
Sharina, owner of BlankiesBurpsandBibs.com, is where I turn for last-minute baby gifts. And because I’m a last-minute kind of gal, I’m at Sharina’s house...a lot.

BlankiesBurpsandBibs.com has all kids of great things for mom, baby, and little kids including bibs, blankets, clothing, stroller tags, even hair bows!

The matching bibs and burp clothes have been a huge hit with my friends.

These little dresses are so cute!

You can even get matching dresses for your big and little girl!

This Snacker Packer is ingenious.

Tuck a small bowl inside for easy snacking without all the mess. Little hands can reach in and you can tie it up easily. A clip keeps the snacks from flying off the stroller and onto the floor. The bag is reusable, better for the environment than plastic baggies, and washable!

Do you need last minute gifts? The good news is that you don’t have to drive to Sharina's house to shop. You can shop online at www.blankiesburpsandbibs.com .

Enter to Win a Snacker Packer!

I have in my hot little hands THIS Snacker Packer (see above photo) to give away to one lucky reader. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Go to www.blankiesburpsandbibs.com and look around
2. Come back and leave me a comment describing what other item you’d love to have or give as a gift

Extra entries: (separate comment for each)
Tweet link to this giveaway
Subscribe to this blog (leave your email)

Contest open to US residents in the 48 contiguous states, and ends June 10, 2009 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and notified via email or Twitter and will have 3 days to claim the prize.

Good luck!
Janine

Product Supplied By
Blankies Burps & Bibs

Solar Car Kit Giveaway - Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Can be FUN!

2009-05-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

Image by theresangooi via Photobucket

Last week I was invited to sit in on a call with folks from ShrinkYourFoot.org and explore ways to reduce my carbon footprint.

What is my Carbon Footprint?

Each of us product a certain amount of greenhouse gas through the things we do and the products we use. The footprint is and how much it contributes to global warming.
On ShrinkYourFoot.org you can use the Carbon Calculator to see what affect you are having on the Earth.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint can be Fun!

On the call I learned how to make a solar oven and all I can say is we are definitely doing that this summer. I will start with cookies but my goal is to cook chicken breasts and see how long it takes. Anything to no turn on my oven, or stand in front of the hot grill when it’s 90 degrees outside!

A solar oven is just one way learning is fun. The ShrinkYourFoot.org site has lots of cool activities that will engage you and your kids and are great tools help your family learn more about reducing your carbon footprint. For example, one activity shows tips for cutting back your carbon footprint as you travel.

Not only that, you can shop for carbon credits so as you work to reduce, you can purchase credits that will offset what you produce!

Win a Solar Car Kit!

One lucky reader will win a cool solar car kit….not for you to drive, but Barbie and Ken can take a spin. This is a great activity to show kids the power of solar energy and it’s importance in our future.

How to Enter: (be sure to leave a separate comment for each with your email or twitter ID so I can reach you if you win!)

Visit ShrinkYourFoot.org and play one of the games then leave me a comment and tell me which one you played.

Extra entries:
Tweet this giveaway
Email this giveaway to 5 of your friends and cc me (scarytwins at yahoo)
Subscribe to this blog (and leave me your email)

Contest open to US residents in the 48 contiguous states and ends June 9, 2009 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and notified via email or Twitter and will have 3 days to claim the prize.

Dreaming of solar baked cookies,

Janine

Product supplied by
Bonneville Environmental Foundation

UPDATE Clorox Greenworks Dishwashing Liquid Tips and Giveaway

2009-05-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE** Winner is...furygirl3132.
Congratulations and happy dish washing!

I guess you could say I'm a person with a sensitive olfactory organs (look it up...I did) because one of the first things I do is smell. I smell books before I read them, I smell food before I eat it, and I even smell people...in a subtle way. You won't find me sniffing around.

So the first time I tried Clorox GreenWorks dishwashing liquid I was in love with the smell. But after using it a number of times I realized this stuff was powerful. Not only that, it's better for the environment because it is made with biodegradable ingredients and is 99% natural. Here are a few other tips you should know:

GreenWorks Tip One

Have some baked on mess in your Pyrex or glass dish? Spread a thick layer of GreenWorks dishwashing liquid on it and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Then take your sponge or a plastic spatula and the mess should scrape off easily. I haven't used a wire pad since I discovered this little trick and my hands and nails are much happier.

GreenWorks Tip Two

You can make your own bubbles! All you need is some GreenWorks dishwashing liquid, water, and karo syrup or glycerine and you've got large or extra large bubbles. We tried this the other day and the Twofer loved it. They loved mixing the 'recipe' and they loved the large bubbles too.

Here is the link to 3 different versions of the bubble recipe: http://www.shadesofgreenjournal.com/files/GreenWorks_BubblesRecipe.pdf

GreenWorks Giveaway!

Haven't tried the GreenWorks dishwashing liquid yet? Enter to win a free bottle!
All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me if you have tried any of the GreenWorks products yet and if so, which ones. That's it! (be sure to include your email or Twitter ID so I can get in touch with you if you win!)

Extra entries (include link back to this page)

Tweet this giveaway
Email this contest to 5 friends and cc me (scarytwins [at] yahoo)
Blog about this giveaway

Contest Ends Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 at 11:59 pm. Winner will be chosen by random drawing, and given 3 days to respond after notification.

Good Luck!
Janine

Product supplied by Clorox GreenWorks

UPDATE Win $50 in Free Groceries at ShopRite

2009-05-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE** Winner is...Lara!
Happy ShopRite Shopping!

More and more people are clipping coupons, cutting back, and finding ways to save money when they head the to the grocery store. I have discussions with friends over which stores are offering the best deals, and which are offering double or triple coupons.

When Shop Right contacted me about giving away $50 in gift cards I was thrilled to be able to offer this to my readers. Shop Right has a terrific selection of Shop Rite brand food including a line of organic, and Kosher that offer great savings.

Here's what you need to do to enter:
Leave a comment explaining one way you have cut back in the last year
Make sure you leave your email or website so I can get in touch with you if you win.

Extra entries (include url in comment so I can check):
Tweet about and link back to this giveaway ( Hey! @twincident is giving away $50 in groceries from ShopRite! http://tinyurl.com/osugcm )
Post link to this giveaway on Facebook
Subscribe to the Twofer Thumbs Up RSS feed (leave email)
Email link to this giveaway to 5 friends and cc me scarytwins [at] yahoo dot com

Contest open to US residents and ends Tuesday, June 2nd 11:59pm
Winner will be chosen using Random.org Good Luck!

Janine

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and US Airways Reward Readers

2009-05-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Say that 10 times fast.

My twins were early readers and while I'd like to take credit for it, I can't. They had an early love of books and I just kept them coming. The reading part is all them.

So when I was sent the RIF press release on the Read with Kids Challenge I couldn't help but let you know about it too.

Here are the deets.

Register at www.RIF.org/readwithkids
Log your reading minutes there, online.
You can join as an individual or create a team of three or more adults.
Participants will be entered to win a Walt Disney World Resort vacation package from US Airways Vacations!

There are other prizes as well like US Airways gift cards, and one team will be randomly chosen to receive a featured RIF program and school in their community to receive a special children's book collection.

In addition, US Airways is encouraging people to donate to RIF by making available a special edition of Off You Go, Maisy! and donors are also eligible to receive up to 5,000 US Airways Dividend Miles.

My girls LOVED all the Maisy books...I might just have to donate for that reason alone!

Also - for more information on Reading is Fundamental I found the CEO's blog with lots of cool links including Facebook and Twitter

Happy reading and good luck winning the trip to Disney!
Janine

Mamapedia - join the party and you just might win a VADO Camera

2009-05-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

*Thank you to New Baby for donating this VADO camera from Creative Labs to our fun event. Please check out New Baby and consider adding your own vlog!

I LOVE Momfluence blog opportunities. Just saying. Anyway, last weekend we had the opportunity to meet a wonderful new parenting advice search engine, Mamapedia, and now we'd like you to try the site out for yourself with our new contest, "What Can I Learn Today?" One grand prize winner will win a VADO digital video camera!

To Enter:
1. Visit Mamapedia and ask any parenting question.
2. Choose how you want to enter - or choose all three for more chances to win:

Comment to this post with your question and the answer you found
Blog about Mamapedia on your own site sharing the question you asked and the answer you found
Vlog about Mamapedia and your question/answer at New Baby.

3. Fill out this secure form to let us know that you entered.

It's that easy! Then join us for another SiteWarming Party on Twitter Saturday, May 23rd from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m eastern time to find out who won! There will also be several great door prizes.

Good luck!

Janine

*This contest is open to all U. S. residents 18 years or older and ends May 23rd at 9:00 p.m. eastern.

*This contest courtesy of Momfluence - Rocking the Cradle and Shaping the World.

UPDATE Edy's / Dreyer's Ice Cream Giveaway and Contest to Win $100K

2009-05-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE**
After verifying all comments, tweets and blog posts

The winner is....
comment #41 Lily!

______________Original Post____________

Edy's Lego Truck
Photo Credit: Model Gal via Flickr

I. Love. Ice cream.
I'm pretty sure I've said that more than once.

I even love sharing it with you!
And I'm so happy to share 3 ways you can WIN with Edy's / Dreyer's Ice Cream.

1. Win an ice cream Block Party for 100 guests

Log onto www.slowchurned.com and in 350 words or less explain why your neighborhood deserves a Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute ice cream blog party. You just might be one of 1,500 winners...great odds! But hurry - entries MUST be in by May 29, 2009.

2. Win $100,000 for one day's work of dishing out ice cream

Edy's / Dreyer's created Rocky Road 80 years ago during the Great Depression. This June, they will debut a new Slow Churned Light ice cream flavor to 'deliver a double scoop of optimism' for the Taste of Recovery promotion. Visit www.icecream.com (can you believe that domain name wasn't already taken? I digress.) One lucky person will be given the oportunity to earn $100K for one day of dishing out the new flavor and lots of smiles.

3. Win a 6-month supply of Edy's / Dreyer's Ice Cream!

Yes, one of my lucky readers (and commenter, c'mon people - you know how this works) will win gift certificates for a 6 Month Supply of ice-cream. All I'm saying is, if you are local to me, you better be prepared to share!
How to enter:

Leave a comment- What do you think of Edy's / Dreyer's Taste of Recovery promotion?
a) I think promotions like this help 'lighten things up' during times like these
b) I think it's just another way to advertise
c) I don't care either way I just want some free ice cream!

Extra Extries as usual leave a separate comment with link:

Tweet this giveaway "I just entered to win a 6-month supply of Edy's / Dreyer's Ice Cream! http://tinyurl.com/ow72mp "
Blog about this giveaway
Email 5 friends and cc me scarytwins [at] yahoo [dot] com

The give certificate giveaway ends 5/27 at 11:59 pm ET.

I scream, you scream we all scream for Ice Cream!
Janine

Remember to change your filters, or have Filtrete remind you!

2009-05-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

We ALWAYS forget to change our filters. We forget until the house is not cooling down like it should. We forget until we call ‘the guy’ who then comes out, changes the filters that are filthy, and charges us $300. We then swear we’ll remember to change them but we never do. Now, thanks to Filtrete and Mom Central, I just might remember!

I am going to sign up for the Clean Air Club on www.Filtrete.com to get a seasonal newsletter and reminder to change my filters! There are other ‘member’ benefits like a wallet card so I never forget which size filters I need, a Homeowners Guide to indoor air quality booklet, and special member promotions and rebates.

Plus, I’ve noticed my allergies picking up this year. I have new pillow protectors but what I didn’t realize is that sometimes my ‘cleaning’ efforts (including dusting and vacuuming) can increase irritating particles like mold spores, dust, and pet dander. This is where a good filter can help.

For more useful tips on how to create a healthy home and to sign up for the Clean Air Club so you remember to change your filters visit www.filtrete.com.

Checking on mine now,
Janine

This post sponsored by

Whrrl.com has my head swirling with ideas!

2009-05-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I'd like to that Whrrl.com and my blog friend JessicaKnows for an afternoon of pampering in honor of Mother's Day and Moms Night Out 2009.

Second, I thought Whrrl was cool when I saw Jessica's stories but now that I've done my own I'm completely hooked!

Below you will see my latest Whrrl story (this widget will continue to change):

It's like mini blogging but I can do it all from my phone! And I don't even have an iPhone! I can use SMS prompts or whatever you call it to send text and picture messages to create a story.
SMS looks like this:
# Janine's day of pampering
@ some location with a spa
POST Look what I got to do!
PHOTO (send pic attached to this mssg)
POST Look how happy I am
PHOTO (attach another picture)
POST Thanks Jessica you RAWK!
LEAVE (ends the story)

In addition to Whrrl, Joey Totes gave us each a 3-pack of reusable bags and you already know how much I love my Joey Totes! Plus Jessica had Whrrl t-shirts and mini Ford Flex cars for all of our kiddos (she thinks of everything).

Don't forget my manicure and pedicure. I certainly won't forget it because it's going to last me until next Mother's Day when I'll finally get another one!

So now my mind is whrrling and twrrling around all the fun ways I can use whrrl to document events in my life. Watch out - a story is just a Whrrl away!

Janine

Someone thinks I'm an expert! Join me this Friday (5/8) for Mamapedia Twitter Party!

2009-05-05T18:41:00.001-07:00

Picture this...
It's 2:00 a.m. and your three month old is crying...a lot. You're a first time mother, and while you've got a ton of questions, you called your mom at 2:00 in the morning last night about that crazy looking diaper, so you'd really like to get through this one on your own.

But where can you turn?

Mamapedia is a new parenting information site that takes the wisdom of thousands and thousands of moms and makes it searchable! You can head to the computer with that screaming infant in your arms and type,

"Why does my baby cry so much at night?"

And this is what you'll find - an article about a mom who asked a question titled "Sleepless Nights with a 13 week old" and the responses of forty-four moms. You can read those forty-four answers while bouncing your baby, and with a little luck by the time you are through your infant will be fast asleep and you will feel better as well.

Twitter Partaay!

To launch this new mom resource, the Momfluence network and Resourceful Mommy are throwing a party. Join us on Twitter this Friday, May 8th, from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. eastern time along with mom experts in a variety of parenting areas: multiples (that's me!), kid crafting, health and safety, potty training, home schooling and more!

Stop by the party, ask questions that make me look really smart AND that make me look like a great mom and I will forever love you!

During the party, details about a "What Can I Learn Today?" contest will be revealed...along with the incredible grand prize.

Join Us - RSVP!

This event brought to you by Momfluence: rocking the cradle and shaping the world.

Pulling up my smarty pants,
Janine

ChicTots Wristlet review and giveaway

2009-05-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE 5-12-09***
Winner of the ChicTots Wristlet is....Lollie!
Congratulations!!
********************
The opportunity to review an item from ChicTots came to me via my roll as editor of the twins/multiples section at TypeAMom.net.

After looking at all of the products online I chose an item that is great for a mom with children in diapers, but that I just might be able to use as a mom with 2 almost-6 year olds. I chose the Chic&Carry Wristlet.

The Chic&Carry Wristlet would be the perfect new-mom gift

Infact, I'm about to buy one for my friend who just had her 4th child and now has 2 kids in diapers. There are 2 versions of the Chic&Carry Wristlet.

One holds 2-4 diapers, the other holds up to 6 disposable diapers or 2 cloth diapers plus have a separate zippered front pocket for your phone, money, etc.
Both have the wrist strap and oval hook so they can be worn on a beltloop, attached to another bag, or hooked onto a stroller if you don't want to carry it.
Both also come with a wipes holder (you'll see below how I used this) and the newer version's is PVC, Phthalates, & Lead free. NOTE: you can buy additional wipes holders separately!

ChicTots has lots of great items for mom and baby but I know the wristlet is something that can be used as the kids grow.

What I have in my Chic&Carry Wristlet

I have been using the Chic&Carry Wristlet now for a few weeks as a summer clutch. It's perfect for a trip to the playground with the girls. It can hold my phone, a small wallet, my sunglasses, and the wipes holder which is perfect to hold emergency playground items like:

sunscreen
Neo To Go (Neosporin)
bandages
bug spray
and, of course, wipes!

Giveaway-enter to win your own Chic&Carry Wristlet from ChicTots!

Rules:
You can choose from any of the wristlets she has available.
Contest ends Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Leave a separate comment per entry with links as needed.

How to Enter:
1. Visit the ChicTots website (www.chictots.com) and tell me what OTHER item looks like something you would buy
2. Leave a comment telling me what you found
3. Tweet about this contest: "Enter to win #ChicTots wristlet from @Twincident http://tinyurl.com/d3xyka "
4. Mention and link to this giveaway on your blog
5. Email 5 of your friends a link to this giveaway and cc me: scarytwins [at] yahoo [dot] com

Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

Be sure to follow Michele (@ChicTots) on Twitter as well. She is a local DC mom, inspiring Mompreneur, and new friend.

Janine

The What-did-they-do-before-breast-pumps? Evenflo Giveaway

2009-05-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE 5-9-09***
Winner of the Evenflo Comfort Select breast pump and nursing pads is....Rusti!
Congratulations and thanks everyone for entering!
****************

This is not a ‘product review’ as I am not currently breast-feeding and I have not actually tried this product. I do, however, know a little something about breast pumps.

What I know about breast pumps.

I pumped a lot.
I pumped 4 times a day for 45 minutes at a time.
I pumped in front of people. Men even.
I pumped driving up the New Jersey Turnpike racing to get to my father before he died.
I believe I remember pumping IN the hospital as I waited to give him my last goodbyes but those memories are fuzzy and all I know is that I was in that hospital all day and so I would have HAD to pump at some point.
I then pumped before and after my father’s funeral.

You see, my twins did not take to breastfeeding. Oh, I tried. I tried, then I cried. I tried, I cried again, I went to a lactation consultant. The lactation consultant was very nice. She told me at least one of the girls had a strange sucking thing that meant she could latch on all day and NOT get and ounce of breast milk. She told me I could work at teaching the babies how to suck correctly, but as I mentioned before, my father died. I had a lot going on.

I remembered thinking, “What would I have done if I didn’t have a breast pump? Would my twins have just perished?” So pumping is one reason I did not go completely insane those early days, because while I was an emotional mess, at least I knew they were getting breast milk.

Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump

The Evenflo brand was definitely one that I trusted. Infact, I think I JUST tossed out the leftover Evenflo nursing pads that prevented many a wet spot for me. The Evenflo Comfort Select pump really seems to be made for moms who are on-the-go. The carrying case is much smaller than the one I had, and it has dual motors. That might have cut down on my pumping time! I like that all components are made without BPA and contain less than 0.01% phthalates. But what really caught my eye is the base – you know, the part that holds the bottle...so when you are done pumping what little breast milk you can get after 45 minutes it won’t tip over and spill all over the place!

For more information on the Evenflo Comfort Select pumps visit www.Evenflo.com and check out www.MomCentral.c om as well where you can read breast feeding tips and enter to win your own Evenflo breast pump.

Enter to win an Evenflo pump for yourself or win one as a gift!

Thanks to Mom Central I have one Evenflo Comfort Select Performance breast pump AND two boxes of Evenflo Comfort Select nursing pads (one with Lanolin) to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Here’s how to enter: Leave a comment telling me who the pump is for and either why they(you) need it OR your funniest breastfeeding / pumping story! Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

Extra entries (the more chances you have of winning) – be sure to leave a separate comment for each!

Tweet this giveaway (include link): " Win an Evenflo Comfort Select breast pump --> http://tinyurl.com/dm9vee "
Blog about this giveaway and link back (I need link for this too)
Subscribe to this blog (need your email to verify)

Contest ends Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 11:59pm
Good luck and I'm looking forward to some funny stories,
Janine

A Mother’s Day Gift that Gives Back to Mompreneurs in Africa

2009-04-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

This mom supports her family with coconut oil

What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than to buy your mom a gift that supports other mothers. Basa Body all-natural coconut oil products make the perfect Mother’s Day gift for so many reasons.

About Basa Body

Basa Body products are made with organic coconut oil that comes from Coast Coconut Farms, a micro-franchise business that provides sustainable employment, management and ownership opportunities for the rural people of Kenya. Coast Coconut farms produces coconut oil for cooking and for Basa Body products. When you buy either line of products ayou are helping moms in Africa support their families.

But How are the Basa Products?

I received a Kiss Me Pack that includes three products that no only smell good, they feel really good too. The Basa Body Lotion was supple yet not greasy. The Body Stick was perfect for my cuticles and elbows. And the Mint Trouffle Soap was oddly refreshing, if not hunger-inducing!

Basa Body Kiss Me Pack

Two reasons to Buy Basa Body products for Mom

First, purchase a Basa Body Kiss Me pack between now and May 12, and use the promotion code "momitforward," to receive an additional 10% off. That makes it a fab Mother’s Day gift for under $30.00!

AND

If you purchase a Basa body or Coast Coconut Farms product OR make a donation of at least $20 between now and May 12th, you will be entered to win one of three prizes from MomItForward:
$250 Disney gift card
$150 Amazon.com gift card
$100 Target gift card

Already got your mom something?

Look ahead to the end of school and get your child’s teacher a Basa Body or Coast Coconut Farms gift as a thank you that goes a little further.
Is there a mom-to-be or new mom in your life? Surprise them with a gift that really celebrates mothers everywhere.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of my mom friends. Please visit the Basa Body site and consider donating or making a purchase.

And Mom – you can guess what you’ll be getting May10th !☺
Janine

Mister reviews Ragu Old World Style Sauce

2009-04-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Normally Mister does not contribute to my blogs. Occasionally he'll leave a comment or two. A number of times he's helped me figure out html code. Usually I'm throwing him under the bus in one of my posts.

But this time I was running out somewhere being fabulous and all, and he was in charge of making dinner.

I had thawed out some previously made penne with ricotta but it was lacking in the sauce department.
So the mister grabbed a bottle of Ragu Old World Style sauce I had just received from Mom Central and unknowingly became part of the Twofer review team.

Here's how it went:

Me calling to check in from my land of fabulous to see how the kids are doing, "Hi! How'd it go?" (I'm rather verbose)

Mister, "That pasta stuff was awesome!"

Me, "Really? Because it was frozen and I didn't know how it would taste."

Mister, "I used that Ragu sauce...that stuff was great! You should get that more often."

Me annoyed by his sexism, "YOU should go to the store and get that more often."

Mister, "{sigh} Whatever. That Ragu sauce is good and the girls ate it up."

Me, "Well........good. I love you."

Mister, "mmm, hmmmm" which means 'I love you back'.

So you see, Ragu Old World Style sauce not only tastes good, it can help you communicate with your spouse.

Eating the leftovers,
Janine

Interesting Study: Healthy Choice meal + walking lowers cholesterol & weight

2009-04-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I got to sit in on a call with Dr. James Rippe who will be releasing results of a study he did with 130 participants who all had at lease one major risk factor for heart disease.

The Rippe / Healthy Choice Study

In this study one group of participants were required to eat one Healthy Choice frozen, prepared meal a day plus participate in a walking program.

The other group only did the walking program.

The result was the Healthy Choice group lowered their cholesterol by an average of 12 points. They lost an average of 18 lbs and all of that weight was body fat. More importantly, according to Dr. Rippe, the participants did NOT have a decrease in dietary quality which is often the case when people diet.

Why Healthy Choice for this study?

Apparently Healthy Choice is the ONLY brand of froze, prepared meals that fit the criteria 'healthy' in terms of calories, fat, sodium, etc. as determined by the FDA.

In addition, Healthy Choice has developed a new line of All Natural Entrées that are filled with protein, whole grains, fiber and antioxidants to help promote heart and digestive health...without preservatives, artificial flavors or colors.

I have yet to try these frozen entrees but the study findings were interesting enough for me to check out Healthy Choice on my next visit to the grocery store. If any of you follow me on twitter (@twincident) you'll know I've been trying to watch what I eat including less carbs, sugar and sodium (using hashtag #dietingsucks) so this may be just what I need! (Thanks Mom Central for letting me know about this!)

For more information on the study visit: http://www.rippehealth.com/index.html

For a list of Healthy Choice All Natural Entrees including vegetarian choices like Mediterranean Pasta,or Pumpkin Squash Ravioli visit HealthyChoice.com.

Janine

Celebrate Earth Day with Joey Totes! (Update: Giveaway!)

2009-04-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

***Update 5-10-09*** Joey Totes winner!
The winner is....RobynsOnlineWorld.
Congratulations!!
***********************
Joey Totes Contest!
Leave a comment with ways you use reusable bags & be entered to win a Joey Set of 1 Big 2 Small tote bags! (a $20 value!)

Contest ends Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Winner will be chose randomly.
All those who already left a comment are counted in the contest!
*****************************************************
Make at least one change in your life this Earth Day and stop using plastic bags when you shop. Joey Totes can make that easy.

Joey Totes are the coolest reusable bags yet!

They are lightweight and fold up into themselves.
They are machine washable.
They are strong (made of ripstop nylon and hold up to 40 lbs).
They are affordable-just $20 for a large and 2 smalls (hint: SAVE 10% with Coupon code TWOFER) coupon expires May 31, 2009

Here's what the Joey Tote looks like folded up:

Small, flat, easily fits in your car or purse

Here's what the Joey Tote looks like stuffed....and this is the small!

Expands, lightweight, sturdy

Here's what else I realized about Joey Totes:

They hold WAY more than plastic bags.
The handles don't cut into your hands and arms like the plastic bag handles.
They don't blog away like plastic bags.
They are reusable over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over and over....

Twofer Readers get 10% OFF your Joey Totes purchase!

Go to: JoeyTotes.com
Choose the totes sizes you want.
Use Coupon Code: TWOFER

That's it!
Then come back and tell me how you'll use your Joey Totes so we can all trade ideas.
I'm feeling Green...
Janine

Aller-Ease Giveaway - you need this more than you know!

2009-04-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Let's talk for a minute about....

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Dust Mites

A single female dust mite lays 40 to 100 eggs, creating more than 100 new dust mites and 8,000 fecal droppings per month. Dust mites multiply so significantly, that unprotected pillows will weigh 10 percent more after just two years – and unprotected mattresses will double in weight after 10 years.

How about...

Pet Dander

Pet dander consists of the flakes of dead skin shed by cats, dogs, hamsters, and guinea pigs...even those called "hairless"

and

Mold Spores

Molds are tiny organisms that float through the air, often settling in soil, vegetation and rotting wood outside, and enter a home through open doorways, windows, vents, and through heating and air conditioning systems.

Here's what they all have in common:
1. They are gross.
2. They are the most common causes of allergy and asthma
3. They can be prevented simply by using Aller-Ease protective products

Stop whining and Enter to Win!
Now that I've completely grossed you out, stop whining about your loss of appetite and just do something to take care of your dust mite, mold, and dander problem!

Enter to win an Aller-Ease Deluxe pillow AND queen cotton pillow protector!

The Aller-Ease Deluxe Pillow offers superior allergen filtration in a 100% breathable fabric. Plus, it comes with a washable bonus cover, so your pillow stays cleaner longer.

The Aller-Ease Cotton Pillow Protector is 100% cotton so the fabric breathes to give you a good night's sleep while still protecting you from the most common household allergens.

To Enter:
Visit the Aller-Ease site and leave me a comment with one tip to reduce allergies in your bedroom.

Extra Entries (require separate comment for each with links as needed)

Subscribe to this blog (leave your email in comment)
Blog about this giveaway and link to this post
Tweet this giveaway: Suffer from allergies? Win Aller-Ease Pillow and Cotton Pillow Protector --> http://tinyurl.com/cw9x77
Email this giveaway to 5 friends and cc me: scarytwins [at] yahoo
Grab the Twofer Thumbs Up button for your blog

Contest Ends Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 11:59 PM

Covering my pillows as we speak...
Janine

X-14 Mold & Mildew Sounds Powerful (and is)

2009-04-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

I was one of those people that hired a cleaning lady as soon as I could afford one. Working full time I valued my Saturdays and Sundays and could not stand losing one to a day of cleaning...especially bathrooms.

Me versus the Bathroom versus X-14

Well last year we were looking at ways to cut back and I decided to TRY cleaning my house myself (with some help from the Twofer and Mister). So I hugged my beloved Martiza and told her this is not "goodbye"! This is "see you later"! And then I went to the store and loaded up on cleaning supplies that would make this new job of mine easier.

Supplies I bought just to clean the shower:
tile cleaner, bleach for the tub ring, gloves, and various scrubbers for the tub and tiles.

X-14 Eliminates Mold, Mildew, and the Bucket

Had I known then what I know now...Mom Central just introduced me to X-14 Mold & Mildew cleaner which virtually replaces my bucket-o-goodies with one neatly packaged blue bottle. Not only does "X-14" sound like some top-secret, powerful agent, it really is! A powerful cleaning agent that is. {feel free to chuckle now at my lame joke} X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover doesn't require scrubbing so off come the gloves and the brushes, and it cleans the ring in the tub AND the tile and grout. That leaves me with just this....

Much easier to carry from bathroom to bathroom

Other Cool Facts About X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover

proven to keep mildew stains from returning for up to 2 weeks
can be used on hard, non-porous surfaces in the home, RV or boat!
can clean vinyl surfaces like showers, vinyl bath mats, shower curtains,
great for plastic garbage cans
excellent as a deck wash (unpainted wood surfaces)
great for preparing surfaces for painting

I'm curious, how many products do you currently use to clean your tub and shower?
Janine

Get the Fax! Packetel Online Fax Service -Receive Faxes at Home Without the Machine

2009-04-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Don't want to invest in a fax machine?
Tired of using the neighbor's fax machine?

Packetel’s Online Fax Service allows you to receive unlimited incoming faxes in your e-mail inbox for only $3.95 a month! Great for Work at Home Moms or small businesses, Packetel's Online Fax Service can send faxes to multiple e-mail addresses, text you you have a new fax, and deliver your fax in PDF format.

Try this service for FREE for one year!

Two (2) lucky readers will win just that! Here’s how you can win:

1. Blog It!
Blog about Packetel’s Online Fax Service and link the text “online fax service” to http://packetel.com/fax/faxservicemain.asp

Fill out this entry form: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cFFrTmlWY0lsMVFZalBHUWJIWkF4ZFE6MA

2. Facebook or MySpace
Write about Packetel’s Online Fax Service on your Facebook or MySpace page and link the text “online fax service” to http://packetel.com/fax/faxservicemain.asp

Fill out this entry form: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cFFrTmlWY0lsMVFZalBHUWJIWkF4ZFE6MA

3. Flickr Group
Show us your cluttered office, your broken fax machine, or even just the space where you wish you had a fax!

Join the Flickr Packetel contest group and upload a picture: www.flickr.com/groups/packetel
Fill out this entry form:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cFFrTmlWY0lsMVFZalBHUWJIWkF4ZFE6MA

4. YouTube
Make your own video of how much you hate your broken fax/printer and upload it to YouTube with a link back to http://packetel.com/fax/faxservicemain.asp

Fill out this entry form: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cFFrTmlWY0lsMVFZalBHUWJIWkF4ZFE6MA

Want a Bonus Entry?
Become a Packetel Facebook Fan here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Packetel-Online-Fax-Service/77071701974?ref=s
Then fill out this form: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cFFrTmlWY0lsMVFZalBHUWJIWkF4ZFE6MA

Contest is open to all U.S. residents. The contest runs from Sunday, April 12th to Friday, May 1st. Two winners will be chosen by random number generator.

Good luck!

Janine

Win 1 Free Month to DrWeigh for tips on feeding children

2009-04-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Joanna Dolgoff, MD (aka: Dr. Weigh) at the Subway/NIH Pep rally in DC where I learned about the WE CAN! program to defeat childhood obesity.

Watch the Stop Light

Joanna has created a very cool online program that gives parents what they need to help their children eat healthy without being hungry.

Her easy "stop light" system rates thousands of foods with a red, yellow, or green light to easily determine which foods need to be limited and which foods are unlimited...yes, unlimited, so there's always something to snack on!
Recipes and sample menus help you plan ahead and make eating healthy much easier.
Weekly newsletter and nutrition lessons offer support and exercise tips to help keep your family's health on track.

Check out her success stories so you can see how kids really did learn to make better choices all on their own!

Enter to Win a FREE MONTH at DrWeigh

Here's how you can win a free month of membership with all the benefits listed above:
1. Go to www.DrWeigh.com and read the program FAQs
2. Leave a comment here with the FAQ that jumped out at you most (the one that made you click and read more)

That's it!

Extra entries- LEAVE a COMMENT for Each:
3. Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
4. Blog about this contest (leave link in comment)
5. Grab the Twofer Thumbs button (leave link in comment)
6. Email a link to this contest to 5 friends and cc me scarytwins [at] yahoo [dot] com

Contest Ends Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:59pm

Be sure to visit Joanna's blog for lots of valuable information too: www.DrWeigh.com/blog.

Janine

Win an Electrolux eco-friendly washer & dryer that's really "Kelly Green"!

2009-04-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Kelly Ripa and Electrolux have a new way to bring the outdoors in:
Green your laundry room with the new limited edition "Kelly Green" front load washer and dryer from Electrolux!

Great for spring, and even better for the environment, Electrolux washers are up to 83% more energy-efficient and use 56% less water. This comes just in time for Earth day when Electrolux is kicking off its virtual flower garden campaign to drive awareness and raise funds for Global Green USA.

Starting today, when you go to electroluxappliances.com and plant a virtual flower for a friend, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support their healthy green schools initiatives across America. Everyone who logs on to the site and plants a virtual flower will be automatically entered for a chance to win a new eco-friendly Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer!

In addition, Mom Central will be giving away one Kelly Green washer and dryer set to a member of their community!
Simply go to www.momcentral.com and leave a comment with:
1) the flower you planted on the Electrolux site and
2) your own "laundry tips" for saving time and energy.

Mom Central will pick one lucky winner in a random drawing from all entries received!* (Mom Central giveaway ends April 27, 2009)
* small print tax stuff that you can read at Mom Central but trust me...still a good deal :).

Good luck! I'm off to plant my flower now!
Janine

Bringing me to tears...Haagen-Dazs Five Review and Giveaway

2009-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE** Winner is Mike & Jill (comment #17)
Thanks for playing!
____________________________________

Today is a very sad day.
For a week now I've had something in my kitchen that has become a great source of comfort.
For a week I have had something that allowed me to take a moment, to reflect, and even smile.
For a week this little something motivated me, encouraged me, and rewarded me to get more work done.

I am, of course, talking about the containers of creamy, all-natural, delicious Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream that Mom Central sent me to sample.

The last of the Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream has been consumed.

I. am. crushed.

Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream has just five ingredients:
1. skim milk
2. cream
3. eggs
4. sugar
5. flavor*

*Hold onto your taste buds here because HDFive gives new meaning to flavor with
Ginger, Passion Fruit, Vanilla Bean, Mint, Milk Chocolate, Coffee, and Brown Sugar.

Here's what the Twofer thought:

The magic of Haagen-Dazs Five

These container of goodness encouraged me to get more done...."OK, one more blog post and I can have a spoonful of HDFive Mint!"
And I found the creamy, sweet-but-not-too-sweet flavors gave me that little afternoon lift I needed.
Plus, the HDFive ice cream seems to have fewer calories and fat than regular Haagen-Dazs premium ice cream so there was no guilt (I can convince myself of just about anything).

Win FREE Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream

Now YOU have the chance to win 3 of your own Haagen-Dazs Five!
To enter just leave me a comment telling me which HDFive flavor you want to try the most (or if you already have tried one) and you'll be entered to win 3 coupons each good for one free container of HDFive!

Contest ends Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 11:59pm.

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each) include:

Grab the Twofer Thumbs button for your blog (include url in comment)
Tweet this post (tip: click on the "2 minutes ago" below your tweet to isolate and grab that url to leave in comment here)
Email link to this post to 5 people and cc me (scarytwins[at]yahoo[dot]com)

Be sure to check out the pictures of the ice cream arriving on dry ice from Mom Central and read about our dry ice experiment too at Twofer the Price of One!

Missing my HDFive {sniff},
Janine

The Pillsbury Million Dollar Bake-Off

2009-04-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

Here's something you didn't know about me...I. Love. To. Bake.

Oh sure, I know you've never seen a post even slightly resembling domestic from me.
I fully admit that I'm blog friends with people like The Happy Housewife, in a way that opposites attract.
Well, there was the one Apple Pie post I did, but that's really it and it was such a big deal to make that I had to blog about it.

However, starting today I LOVE to Bake!
And I'm up for a Baking Throw-Down!

WHY?
Because money talks and I hear that Pillsbury will give ME a $1 million grand prize for my fabulous recipe! Plus, one hundred finalists will win a trip tot the finals NEXT April (2010) at the Waldorf-Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek hotel in Florida.

Want to try?
You must beat my original recipe that will taste and look delicious, is easy to prepare, and that families across American will love to eat. There are 4 categories but I plan on winning in all so good luck: Breakast & Brunches, Entertaining, Appetizers, Dinner Made Easy and Sweet Treats.

Entries are accepted online between now and April 20th, 2009 at www.bakeoff.com.

Just don't get your hopes up because when this blogger sees $1 million big ones and a free trip to Florida she won't quit until she wins!

Thanks to My Blog Spark for alerting me to the contest.
Sweating in the kitchen,
Janine

Take Stock in Your Girlfriend and Enter to Win a Chocolate Spa Getaway at Hershey!

2009-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Hotel Hershey Hershey, Pennsylvania

It’s time to take stock in your girlfriends, celebrate your friendships, and reflect on the support you’ve given each other. Now think about a friend who could really use a Chocolate Spa Getaway at the Hershey Hotel… That’s what entrepreneurs Lorrie Morgan Ferrero, Shannon Cherry and Joanie Winberg thought about when they joined forces and pooled their resources to develop the Girlfriend Getaway Contest!

How to Enter
Tell us in 300 words or less why YOUR FRIEND deserves a Chocolate Spa Getaway Weekend. Has she had some struggles, challenges, or just plain needs a break? (The contest is for all women- married, single or single again.) Then COPY and PASTE your essay into an email (no attachments accepted) and send it off to chocolatespacontest@gmail.com by midnight April 17th.

Winners will be announced April 24. Best of all, if your story is chosen, you get to go, too!

More details and FREEBIES

Have questions? You can find more information at www.GirlfriendGetawayContest.com and check out the freebies offered by some of the sponsors! The winner will receive a Chocolate Spa Weekend Getaway at the Hershey Hotel from May 15-17, 2009 including:

Air fare
Limo service to and from the hotel
Poolside room for three (3) days/two (2) nights at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Over $400 worth of Spa Treatments
Admission to the Hershey Gardens
Dinner at the 4-start Circular Dining Room

Good luck and spread the word to all your girlfriends. Who knows, maybe they'll write about you!

Janine
Special thanks to JessicaKnows and Buzz Cooperative for the heads-up on the contest!

Unilever Coupon - Don't recycle that Sunday paper yet!

2009-04-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

Don't recycle the paper before you've clipped the Unilever Holiday Ham or Turkey Rebate where you can get up to $20 back on your ham or turkey purchase by mail when you buy $40 in Unilever products during the month of April!

Grab that insert and clip that coupon pronto!
Then keep track of you Unilever purchases because you know you buy brands like
Caress, Bertolli, Breyer's and Dove.

Next visit the new Making Life Better website (that I already fell in love with) and click the link in the box on the upper right for all the details.

Happy Holidays and thanks Mom Central for reminding me to grab the rebate coupon!

Janine

Winner UPDATE: Kajeet Giveaway - The BEST Thing About Kajeet Phones is...

2009-04-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

*****UPDATE 4/21/09*****
Winners of the Kajeet Prize Packs are...
Joann and Erin! Congratulations!!
____________________

Kajeet phones have a-m-a-z-i-n-g parental controls.

All the articles on 'sexting' (sending sexy pictures via cell phone) has me freaking out and my kids are only coming up on six! With Kajeet, parents can set the controls to block all pictures being sent/received or block pictures to/from certain numbers! (Kajeet's Time Manager and Wallet Manager help you monitor when the phone can be used and set a budget for use.)

Kajeet phones make great gifts.

Did your middle-schooler improve their grades this year? Want to reward them for the hard work? Looking for a graduation gift or birthday gift?
Kajeet phones have what kids are looking for in a phone.
Additionally, once your child has a Kajeet phone, you can 'gift' them credit to their phone to use for more ringtones, games, or more text time if they need it!

Kajeet phones can be pay-as-you-go OR you can choose a monthly plan

Flexible does not begin to explain the Kajeet service. Choose a money-saving monthly plan and at any time you can switch to pay-as-you-go. No contracts. No agreements. Just great customer service. Both get you the parental controls you want and quality phones on the Sprint network.

Twofer Kajeet Prize Pack Giveaway

Enter to win 1 of 2 Kajeet Prize packs that include:
Kajeet t-shirt, buttons, stickers, notepad with pen, tattoos and magnets

Use the prize pack as an incentive before you buy your child a Kajeet phone, or use it as part of a larger gift!

To Enter do one or all of these (and leave separate comment for each)
CONTEST ENDS Monday, April 20th at 11:59 pm

Leave a comment with your BEST thing about Kajeet
Grab the Twofer Thumbs Up button and add it to your blog (leave me link)
Tweet this blog post and leave link to your tweet in comment
Follow this blog via feed reader or email

Special Twofer Savings!

1. Purchase a Kajeet Phone between April 6-20, 2009 and save 15% off the price of a Kajeet phone by using promo code: TWOFER

2. If you activate your new Kajeet phone before May 31, 2009 you can use the code: BONUS10 at activation to receive an extra $10 added to your balance!

Good luck! Janine

More Kajeet giveaways:
Short Pump Preppy
Musings on Kids....

Win a FREE Pillow Protector from Aller-Ease!

2009-04-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

Fact: 1 in 4 Americans suffer from asthma or allergies.

I bet there are times you wake up feeling a little stuffy, sinuses a little clogged, slight dull headache. What's causing that? Could be one of the little microscopic things living in that pillow like
dust mite droppings, pollen, fungal and mold spores, and pet dander.

All I can say is, eeeewwwww.

One thing you might try is changing that pillowcase and Aller-Ease is making it really easy to WIN one so you can test my theory FREE!

Aller-Ease is giving away 50 pillow protectors EVERY DAY through Monday, April 6th.
Not only that, give them your WORST allergy story and you could win an allergy-proofing bedroom makeover! (Allergy horror story contest ends April 30, 2009.)

What are some other things you can do to reduce allergies in your bedroom?

Wash bed linens weekly in 130-degree Fahrenheit water
Remove dust collecting clutter from the bedroom and other areas of your home
Place non-washable plush toys in a zip-lock bag and put them in the freezer for 3-5 hours every week to kill off any dust mites
Change air conditioner filters frequently during the allergy season
Shampoo hair nightly and change clothes before entering the bedroom to avoid transferring outdoor pollens into your bedroom

For more tips and to hear answers to common allergy questions from the Medical Director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, Dr. Clifford W. Bassett, visit the Aller-Ease site today.
Don't forget to enter to win one of 50 pillow protectors before Monday!

Janine

Review: You're family will find time with Eggo Bake Shop Twists

2009-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Do you eat breakfast as a family?

In my house, this usually only happens on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Weekday mornings are spent rushing about, the girls getting ready for school, wolfing down some cereal, while I pack their lunches. I usually don't eat breakfast until I am home after walking them to school.

On the rare occasion we have a few calm moments before heading out the door, I notice we all smile a little more on that morning walk. It seems to set the mood for the day, and it's so much nicer to start the day with a smile, instead of stress.

I was reminded of this when I was given the opportunity to review Eggo Bake Shop™ Twists by Mom Central and Kellogg.

Eggo Bake Shop™ Twists, are microwaveable pastry treats made of soft, pull-apart dough sprinkled with sugar crystals and Strawberry or Apple filling made with real fruit. Here's what the Twofer said:

M, "Mommy these are YUUUUUUMMMMEEEEEE!"

L, "mmmmmmmmmmmmm" as she polished off her strawberry twist faster than I could say "smile!" as in, for a picture.

Wait, smile!

I tried them as well and the first thing I noticed was the yummy bakery-fresh dough. Then I noticed they were delicious without being overly sweet - something I was concerned about. Just enough filling, but not too much. The sugar sprinkles were just that, sprinkled -not a heavy glaze of icing or anything.

Eggo Bake Shop Twists & Circus clown cups bring the family to the table!

I realized as I popped 2 more into the microwave (25 seconds per the directions but I did 40 seconds for two) that a yummy treat would encourage all of us to find the time to sit down for breakfast together - mainly because we'd be fighting over the last Eggo Bake Shop™ Twist - but whatever gets you together, right?

My only suggestions to Kellogg:
I wish the twists were bigger.
I wish there were more than 4 in a box.
I wish they were made with whole grain like the Nutri-grain Eggo Waffles and Pankcakes.

How does your family find time for family breakfasts either during the week or on weekends?

Unilever's "Making Life Better" site can help you save money

2009-03-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

Call it smart marketing, but when I see the Unilever "U", I know I've found a brand I can trust. I clip the Unilever coupons every week, and with brands like Vaseline, Bertolli, Breyer's, Dove and more, that means I'm saving money on all kinds of products that I use every day.

All this makes it even easier to appreciate a company website like this: www.makinglifebetter.com

Unilever has developed a very cool company site that has tips on saving money at the grocery store, quick and healthy recipes, and expert advice on everything from stress-free taxes to boosting your child's self-esteem...things that really will help to make life a little better.

For me, this means Unilever really is a company that cares and it only strengthens my trust in the brand.

Visit www.makinglifebetter.com now and see for yourself.
Want to save money?
Need a quick recipe?
Do you know your vitality level?

Then come back and tell me what you thought of Unilever before, and what you think now. Special thanks to Mom Central for the opportunity to review this site!

Is there a company site that has strengthened your loyalty? If so, tell me what it is so I can be sure to check it out!
Janine

Sparks fly and fingers are licked at Medieval Times

2009-03-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

On the surface, it's a fake castle, in a mall, with plastic hologram cups.

But once inside Medieval Times there are knights, swords that spark when they collide, royalty, talented horses, amazingly good food, and, oh yeah - those plastic hologram cups are filled with beer.

Brave young knights

Our friends have been telling us about this place for at least a year. They decided to take a few of us there as their treat...but really, it was our treat to go!

Medieval Times IS what you make of it

With kids we made it a real castle with real knights having real battles...but not really getting hurt. We cheered our knight shouting "Red and yellow, red and yellow" and waving our flags wildly as he rode by. This got easier with each beer refill. I actually started to lose my voice.

Cheering for our knight

There is a story to follow, and the show is performed in a sand pit 'stage' with lighting and sound effects to bring it to life. I noticed the kids didn't catch much of the story, but they did see that someone was captured and thus there were "good and bad guys" - basically that's all they needed to get into it.

Prisoner (Good Guy)

Medieval cheers and jeers

Each section is color-coded to a knight and the crowd cheers and boos as needed. There is a break in the middle where the list of birthdays is read...in our case, 4 pages...and if the cheering gets weak the court clerk calls you on it.

Knights provide entertainment in the form of incredible equestrian skills, jousting, and hand-to-hand combat. The swords they use spark as they scrape against one another and the jousting poles splinter before your eyes! Chivalry exists within this castle and t didn't hurt this review one bit that our kinight chose yours truly as a fair maiden and tossed me beautiful red...carnation. (The jury is still out whether he threw it to me or the girls but I'm banking on the fact that he was not trying to woo two 6-year olds.)

Equine Skillz

Fingers are for Food

Bring your own Wet-Ones because there are no utensils but the food is GOOD. Tomato soup is served in a bowl with a handle and a slice of garlic bread - easy enough. But then a half of a roasted chicken is put down before you and there's no delicate way to dig in.

No utensils but hologram beer cups!

It all adds to the experience and you can imagine how this would have been a welcome break from the daily grind of just surviving in those dark times. The meal is completed by a mini apple turnover and even the servers admit everyone calls it a McDonald's Apple Pie. This is what makes Medieval Times so much fun - they get that it's campy, a little cheesy, but still lots of fun.

Have you been to Medieval Times? I'd love to know your experience so leave me a comment and tell me what you thought of it!

Janine

Hidden Valley makes veggies fun!

2009-03-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Image by alicemariedesigns via Flickr

Want to get your kids to eat more veggies? Don’t hide them in the sauce; instead bring them out to play!

That’s what the Hidden Valley Veggie Adventure game is all about.
This free online game is part of the Love Your Veggies™ campaign that was inspired by a study, which found that children consumed 23 percent more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing.

In Veggie Adventure you start by battling birds, bugs and skunks as you grow vegetables on the farm and the game ends with serving and sharing vegetables with friends.

Veggie Adventures provides players with great tips and vegetable facts that you can use outside of the game, and in the grocery store to help your kids learn more about veggies. At the end of each stage, players receive a printable certificate to commemorate their success.

The game was easy enough for the Twofer to play without getting frustrated, and challenging enough that I had fun too!

Be sure to check out www.loveyourveggies.com for more activities, recipes and tips.

And remember to test your Veggie Adventure skill at www.loveyourveggies.com/games .

Special thanks to Hidden Valley and Mom Central for the opportunity to review and share this great resource with my readers!

{crunch},
Janine

A cake for us, a cake for a soldier, and a pen pal too

2009-03-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

There is a lesson to be learned eating cake, and it has nothing to do with nutrition...or lack thereof.

How would you feel living far away from family and friends, often risking your life, on your birthday? I bet something as simple as a surprise birthday cake would make you feel pretty damn happy...even for just a few minutes.

That's what Bake Me A Wish! had in mind when they started the Freedom Cake program. When you purchase a Freedom Cake from Bake Me A Wish for someone here, a second cake is sent to a soldier serving oversees for their birthday!

My family was given the opportunity to experience the Kids Freedom Cake: a cake was sent to our home and the Twofer then wrote a letter online that will be delivered to a soldier along with a birthday cake for them!

We decided to share the deeeeelishious cake from Bake Me A Wish! with some friends and explain the Freedom Cake to all the kids.

Let me just pause here to explain how yummy this cake was. When I say my mouth is watering just remembering the chocolate, the icing the....{slurp}. And my husband who is not an big sweets guy and basically never eats dessert...ate an entire piece. Here's what the kids thought of it:

I will be ordering Gourmet Birthday Cakes at BakeMeAWish .com! for every birthday and holiday from now on. If I'm going to eat cake - I want it to be good and this was lip-smackin, mouth-watering, tounge-cleeking, eyes-rolling, don't-you-dare-touch-my-piece cake!

The next step was to go online to BakeMeAWish.com and register to 'meet' our soldier. It will take a few weeks but we will be assigned a soldier who will receive the cake in our name, and with whom we can start a correspondence.

Many kids, including our group, have already had the opportunity to write letters to soldiers. Bake Me a Wish Freedom Cake is the opportunity to wish a soldier Happy Birthday when they really need it, and maintain contact to have a pen pal.

I can't wait until we get our soldier/pen pal and the girls are excited to find out how they enjoyed their cake!

Janine

Listerine Total Care Anticavity Flouride Mouthwash Review

2009-03-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

I have recently become much better at taking care of my teeth. I used to just floss right before my annual dentist appointment (oh I know you did too) but the pain and bleeding gums were enough to motivate me to do more.

And then I cracked a tooth.
And then I had it repaired.
And then it cracked it again.
And then I finally had to pay out of pocket a LOT of money to get a veneer.

All this because I grind my teeth which wears down the enamel of my teeth so they are more prone to cracking.

I now wear a mouth guard at night (very sexy I might add) and most recently found Listerine Total Care Anticavity Flouride Mouthwash thanks to Mom Central and Johnson's!

As a reviewer I was sent a bottle to test and the first thing that caught my eye was the benefit in the fact sheet that said "Restoring enamel".

In fact, there are 6 benefits to LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash that give you a cleaner, healthier mouth:
• Helping to prevent cavities
• Restoring enamel
• Strengthening teeth
• Killing bad breath germs
• Freshening breath
• Fighting unsightly plaque above the gum line
This bottle of Listerine is a welcomed addition to my dental routine. Just swish the mouthwash around for one minute after your brush (twice a day for best results) and remember not to eat for 30 minutes afterward. Then go about your day or head to bed knowing your teeth are better protected. Thanks Mom Central and Johnson's! My dentist thanks you, I thank you, and my wallet thanks you!

Janine

Twins Clowning Around for the Ringling Brothers Circus

2009-03-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Ringling Brothers Circus here we come!

As you can see we are getting very excited for the Over the Top performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Baily Circus Thursday night with the folks at Mom Central.

Don't forget the discount code!

I know I already blogged about the Special Code: MOM that gets you 4 tickets for just $44, but I think it's such a great deal I can't help posting it again!

Mom Central + Feld Entertainment = Fun!

As part of the Feld Family Activator Influencer events that Mom Central is hosting, we were sent our own clown noses and program book. I'm looking forward to meeting some of the Mom Central crew who have made it possible for me to review so many great products.

My two clowns give it a BIG Twofer Thumbs Up...especially the 'adimals' and the clown noses.

Have you bought your tickets yet?
Janine

Yummy Chocolate Mocha Review & Giveaway! Winners Announced

2009-03-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE***
Congratulations to our winners!

Minnemom
Cheryl
Lorrie
_______________________________________________
My Blog Spark apparently knows me better than my own family because they recently sent me a beautiful spa basket filled with all kinds of chocolate goodies including Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars.

When I say I LOVE chocolate, I'm talking about the must-have-at-least-once-a-day-keep-a-stash-of-chocolate-chips-in-an-emergency kind of way. My experience with the Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bar is that it satisfied not only my 3:00 pm chocolate craving, but it satisfied my hunger long enough for me to get home and make dinner without snacking!

Better yet, Fiber One products like these offer 35% of the recommended daily fiber and are a good source of calcium.

Why Fiber you ask?

Fiber can help you satisfy your appetite and manage your weight. Fiber can also help keep your digestive system on track!

Want to know if you are getting enough fiber? Check out the Fiber-O-Meter at: http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-fiber-meter

FREE COUPON!

Fiber One is now offering a $1.35 off downloadable coupon for one box of Fiber One Chewy Bars available at:
http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=55392&ci=1&c=GM&p=4AbZ6NPX

Now for the GIVEAWAY!

YOU can win one of 3 Spa Break Gift Baskets that include:

Coupon for Free Box of Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars
Cozy bath pillow
Chocolate scented soap, lotion & bath salts
And coffee scented candle

How to Enter (Ends Friday 3/20 11:59pm EDT)
1. Leave a comment and tell me why you need a Spa Break and which Fiber One product is your favorite

2. Subscribe to Twofer Thumbs Up either in a reader or (new) via email!

3. Blog about this contest and link back to this blog post.

4. Tweet about this contest using: "Win a Chocolate Spa Break gift basket here ---->http://tinyurl.com/bcbnvz"

***NOTE: Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry (so you can enter up to 4 times and leave 4 comments) as I will be using Random.org to choose the three winners! (Fine print: each winner can only win one basket even if multiple entries are drawn.)

Good luck and remember to download the coupon to save $1.35 on your next shopping trip!
Janine

Neosporin + Pain Relief Has Earned a Spot in My Medicine Cabinet!

2009-03-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

(This is a cross-post with Twofer the Price of One)

This past weekend we had a taste of Spring. The twins were so happy to toss their heavy winter coats to the side, climb a tree, ride their bikes, and then come running inside because one had scraped her knee and the other had cut her finger.

This time, thanks to Mom Central and Johnson's, I was prepared! I had just received my samples of Neosporin + Pain Relief ointment and cream and was excited to try it out. I grew up with Neosporin so of course it is what I stock in my own house. But this Neosporin + Pain Relief is different because it helped stop the crying while it helped to prevent infection.

TIP: Double-check the tubes of antibiotic cream you have in your cabinet and I bet you'll find a few expired ones...just like I did. And don't forget to pick up the nifty Neo to Go that fits anywhere and sprays on in an instant. This little guy will stay hooked to my key chain this summer!

Janine

Dole Fruit Parfait Proved Perfect for Picnics

2009-03-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

We recently had the opportunity to try Dole Fruit Parfaits and the twins gave it a very big, ask-me-every-day-if-they-can-have-more Twofer Thumbs Up!

These come in 4 different varieties including Peaches & Creme, Pineapple & Creme, Apples & Creme, and Mandarins & Creme. L's favorite was the peach parfait and M's fave was the apple. I love the convenience of tossing them in their lunchboxes or the picnic bag for a special treat!

Check out the "DOLE Fruit Parfait Sweet Retreat Contest" and you could win a 3-day, 2 night luxury spa retreat! But hurry - contest ends March 14th!

Here's what you need to do to enter:
Take a picture of your DOLE Parfait Moment at home, at work, at play, with your friends or on-the-go. Upload your photo and caption to www.DoleSweetRetreat.com and have six different ways to win.

The Grand Prize is a three day/ two night luxury Spa Retreat Getaway for two at the 27-acre Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ., set amidst flowering cactus and framed against the majestic McDowell Mountains.

Also included in the prize is a $750 VISA gift card to cover your meals and other hotel amenities you feel like taking advantage of including, championship golf, water playground or tennis.

Five First Prize winners will receive a Homedics Personal Massage Lounger valued at $100 to have a relaxing moment anytime in their home.

Good luck!
Janine

Quick, Efficient and Green Laundry with Laundry Alternatives

2009-03-09T19:39:00.001-07:00

This is just about the coolest thing I've seen in terms of laundry since the hand-cranked laundry spinner thing I used during my short stay with a friend and her host family in Costa Rica in 1994. (Not to mention their kitchen disposal...meaning the pig that lived just under the kitchen window and would eat all the scraps you tossed.)

This is the Wonderwash from Laundry Alternatives - the space saving, time saving, energy saving Green Clean solution for your laundry needs! As seen on The Rachael Ray Show, the Wonderwash uses a patented pressure system to thoroughly clean a five pound load in just minutes using less water and detergent than hand washing!

What can you wash with the Wonderwash? How about a week’s worth of dress shirts, 10 t-shirts, 30 pairs of socks, bibs, cloth diapers, burp clothes….the list goes on and on.

How does the Wonderwash work? When you put warm or hot water into the drum, fit the lid in place and seal the machine,the air inside the drum will absorb the heat of the water and expand (i.e., just like a hot air balloon). When the air expands it creates pressure inside the drum. The pressure forces the detergent (which is diluted into the water) into & through the fabric (which is porous) about 100 times faster than you could by hand or machine.

Definitely Twofer Thumbs Up for the Wonder Wash!

**Contest/Giveaway**
YOU can Win a Wonderwash PLUS a Mini Countertop Spin Dryer! This dryer quietly spins the water out of your clothes in just minutes.

To participate follow these easy steps by Friday, 3/13 at 8:00pm!

1. Blog on your site about what YOU would use the Wonderwash and Mini Countertop Spin Dryer to clean.

2. Post a photo or a video of your mess and be sure to link back to Laundry Alternatives at www.laundry-alternative.com.

3. Fill out this secure participation form to be entered to win!

4. Then join us on Twitter Friday, March 13th from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. (EST) to tweet with Green Cleaning experts and find out who won the grand prize!

Five attendees will also win The TrueGreen Laundry Washing Ball, which cleans your clothes without bleach or detergents in cold water. It does not contain harmful synthetic detergents, perfumes, dyes, or oils!

RSVP here: http://resourcefulmommy.blogspot.com/2009/03/show-me-your-mess-and-win.html

Contest is open to all U.S. residents and runs from Friday, March 6th to Friday, March 13th at 8:00p.m. EST. All winners will be contacted within one week of closing to verify participation and obtain shipping information.

Janine

Twofer Thumbs Up for a new home!

2009-03-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

When I first started blogging I did what I usually do...jump in without reading the directions. I never read directions. I skim at best. But usually I like to just play with it until I figure it out, or break it.

I started Twofer the Price of One as a twin blog and then started I'm a Little Green as a place to catalog all the cool green products that I was reading about. I sill am a little green, but I have decided to rename this blog Twofer Thumbs Up which is the term I use when I find something I like or have reviewed at Twofer the Price of One.

So welcome to the first installment of Twofer Thumbs Up and right now I'd like to pass along THIS blog as something I like and you should too :).

Janine

Styrofoam CAN be recycled - but it's not easy.

2008-09-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

So tonight as I was cleaning up from another put-it-together project, I was trying to cram the Styrofoam packaging into the trash because "everyone knows it can't be recycled and it's just a sad fact, and save the tears for the whales"...right? WRONG!

After much searching it seems everyone is in search of a recycling center that accepts the static-y white stuff. Lo and behold I found The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers! And they are located in my home state of Maryland!

And the excitement stops there.

It seems the Alliance with all their muscle can't even get a drop-off location for Styrofoam recycling IN the state where it's located.

They offer some nice suggestions for mailing the packaging material to the centers that accept it by mail. But I can't image the cost for the box and postage for the huge chunks of Styrofoam...even if they weigh less than a pound. Plus, it seems silly to mail shipping material. I should just hold onto it until that next fragile package - right?

Plus, some of you live nearby a Styrofoam drop-off location! To see if you do check out the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers website and download the .pdf file. And then take advantage of it!

Lost in the foam,
Janine

A New Sniffing Sensation

2008-08-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

First was the laundry detergent. Now I've found Clorox GreenWorks dish soap and again...I'm WOWed by the scent! These GreenWorks folks have it down when it comes to smelling good. I'm sure there's science behind that, or maybe it's as simple as things that are natural smell good. Either way, I find myself sneaking sniffs of the stuff.

Switching to natural cleaners is a perfect way to transition into being greener. But it's hard to switch when we often have brands we've used for years. For me, as a Clorox user, I was willing to try the GreenWorks dish soap without putting up too much fuss.

The real test came when I used it in my sink on foods that are notoriously "tough" to scrub off....peanut butter, baked on cheese, burnt veggies (I'm green, I never claimed to be a good cook). Clorox GreenWorks dish soap passed with flying green colors!

Try it and let me know what you think...about the dish soap, not my weird smelling obsession.

And thanks to Mom Centra l for introducing me to Clorox GreenWorks!

Janine

One way to keep leaves out of the landfill

2008-08-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'm really a city girl and because of that have always loved the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair that comes through every August.

I get my fill of animal smells, Wrangler jeans, and 4H, while my kids get their fill of games, and rides.

This year we explored the outer regions of the fair where I came across a booth that had information about a county-wide compost program that seemed only too good to be true.

I realized that all those brown yard bags filled with grass, leaves, and trimmings don't just get emptied into the local landfill, or burned. They are brought to a large compost facility and transformed into products called Leafgro and Compro.

Whomever thought that one up gets a LilGreen pat on the back!
If you live in Montgomery County, Maryland, click HERE for more information and to find locations where Leafgro and Compro are sold.

Janine

The "Tide" is changing!

2008-08-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

My house was always a die-hard Tide house. Nothing did laundry like Tide, and if it did, we didn't want to hear about it.

And then I went and decided to get green.

To Mr. Green's dismay, I switched to Seventh Generation natural laundry detergent...and fell in love!

It's 2x concentrated so you can use less per load.
And the smell...ooooh the smell. So yummy and clean and refreshing!

My choice is white flower and bergamot citrus and if I cared to do my homework I'd look that up but I don't - I just like how it smells....a lot!

It makes my nose tingle in a good way and I...get this...look forward to doing laundry!

Who knew I'd ever put that in writing.
Janine

Don't Trash those Broken Crayons

2008-08-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
I recently found out about a crayon recycling program called Crazy Crayons.
But...
How many broken crayons have I tossed into the trash?
Hundreds? At least.

This program takes old and broken crayons, with the wrappers still on, and recycles them into mixed-color crazy crayons.

One woman, LuAnn Foty, is to thank for developing this program and "saving over 34,000 lbs of unwanted crayons" according to the website. And, buying Crazy Crayons helps the program continue, and make great gifts!

Lil Green tip: shipping one large box uses less material and will cost less than shipping lots of smaller boxes.

Ship crayons to:
CRAYON RECYCLING PROGRAM
LAF Lines, Ltd.
721 Village Road
Pelican Lake, WI 54463

I'm already thinking this would make a great school, scouting, or family recycling project. It's easy. It's little. But it will make a big difference.

Janine

To Market to market with my new Envirosax

2008-08-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

I'm headed off to the farmer's market with a little green gift from my eco-friendly mom. It's an Envirosax and it's waaaay cute, very functional, and green!

These lightweight, water-proof, reusable bags fold up into a tiny pouch that fits easily into my purse. I'm already a fan of the reusable grocery bags and I leave a stash of them in my car. But there are often times I forget to grab them and they certainly don't fold up this small.

My Envirosax will come in handy at the market,
at the fair (to carry all those horrible prizes my husband likes to win),
at the pool (to carry home wet suits),
just about anywhere!

There is a line of kids bags too. How cool!

Janine

What Every Kid Needs

2008-07-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

A wind-up flashlight!

I know these have been around for awhile. But it's got a new use for me. Every time the power went out it was a struggle between my kids wanting to feel comfortable by having their own flashlight,
and me wanting to save the batteries because this could be "the big one" - you know, the one power outage that lasts days and there's a run on C and D batteries and flashlights.

And then I found these. Originally a gift for my husband (who can NEVER find a flashlight when he needs one), they quickly turned into toys for my kids. They love it when the power goes off now. They love playing in a dark basement (saves some electricity for me!). They love to crank the handle and charge them up.

And I don't fret about the batteries.
It's a win-win. Only my husband loses...his gift is no longer really his.
But now I know what to get him for his birthday :).

Janine

Hooray for butter and margarine tubs!

2008-07-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

OK, not your typical cry for joy, but it's the little things that make me happy.

My county NOW recycles butter and margarine tubs among other items that we all thought were recycled but really weren't.

For years just about everyone I know who recycles has thrown in all kinds of plastic items including peanut butter jars, yogurt containers, mayo jars, salad bar plastic containers, and margarine tubs...all of which were NOT accepted.

So what happens to all that stuff? Some poor soul is tasked with pulling it off the conveyor belt at our local recycling center. I only learned this when I volunteered to do a recycling contest at my children's preschool. Once I started telling people, I realized not one person actually knew that there were things that couldn't be recycled!

So while everyone thought they were doing a good deed tossing in all that plastic, in reality, they were creating much more work for someone.

Today, all that has changed. I saw not one, but several small ads promoting the fact that those items previously mentioned (and more) can be recycled.

So a little green pat on the back to to the person in Montgomery County government who recognized there's a lot more plastic coming in, and finding a way to recycle it.

If you aren't sure what your local recycling center accepts, check their website. Need help finding a recycling center or a place to take "unacceptable" items? Visit this site: earth911.org for a very cool recycling search tool!

Happy sorting,
Janine

Cha-ching! The $ound of Tra$h

2008-07-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

WAIT! Don't throw that out! It could be worth money!

This is the new saying in my house. This past spring I participated in my neighborhood yard sale and made about $200. And now I take a second (and third) look at just about everything to determine if it has any value.
That old toddler swing? Sold on CraigsList for $10.
The Little Tykes playhouse...brought me $100, cold, hard cash. I didn't even have to help take it apart. (Little Green Tip: do a little research before you post your stuff. I included photos, and retail pricing so potential buyers could see the savings right on my post).

But sites like eBay, CraigsList, and others aren't just making people money (and conversely getting people deals), they are helping people to reduce, reuse and recycle that valuable thing called stuff.

And a really cool place for stuff that doesn't sell is Freecycle.org
I'm almost shocked at the stuff people have taken from my driveway.

Old broken fishing rods? Someone else wanted to fix them. A baby swing that only moves back and forth? One lucky person got that and I threw in the batteries too!

I didn't make money on these items (on Freecycle everything is free). And yet I was grateful that I didn't have to experience the green guilt that comes with putting stuff out in the trash.

So next time you tackle that garage, attic, or closet, don't be so quick to toss things in the trash. Consider that someone may just want what you don't...and they may be willing to pay for it.

Janine

I Drive 55

2008-07-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a New Yorker. I haven't actually lived in NY, but I grew up in Connecticut and NYC was what I referred to as "The City". I now live outside of Washington, DC but "The City" will always be New York City to me. DC is DC.

That said, I drive like a New Yorker...at least compared to people around here. I plow up to the front of a merge lane and push my way in. I peel out from a light and slam on my breaks at the next light. I weave in and out of traffic trying to find the best lane of the beltway...much to my husband's dismay.

That all came to a screeching halt when gas hit the $4 mark.

I decided I'd try driving the speed limit on the highway just to see if it made a difference.
(Lil Green Tip: ease into this. you'll go nuts driving 55 if you're used to doing 75-80 on the highway. Start at 70. Next week set your cruise control at 65. The following week go to 60 mph. You've got to give yourself a chance to get used to people passing you. Deep breathing, Howard Stern, or books on tape are good distractions.)

And as uncomfortable as I was having everyone pass me by, I did notice a tank of gas was lasting longer!

Of course I started doing a few other recommended things:

1. I've started easing out of a stop instead of gunning it.
2. I drive close to the speed limit even on back roads.
3. I combine trips as much as possible.
4. I try to telecommute for work an extra day a week.

And the result is for the past 3 weeks a tank of gas has lasted me one, whole week*!

So another Little Green pat on the back for me for having the patience to slow down.

Janine

*note: I don't drive on the highway everyday and I don't have a long commute.

Rain, rain, stay and play!

2008-07-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

In the past few years in the DC area we've had periods of tremendous rain in the spring, followed by periods of drought in the summer.

I've experimented with ways to collect the rain we DO get during those droughts and for all my efforts the only thing I collected, in any large quantity, was funny looks from my neighbors (and guffaws from my husband) as I run around my house with trash cans and a baby pool in the middle of a storm.

And so one of my first real efforts at turning a little MORE green will be installing a rain barrel.

Rain barrels have been around for ages and if you're like me, you might think of the old western movies where the bad guys fall (butt first for laughs) into a wooden barrel filled with water.

Well rain barrels have come a long way. Just see these rain barrels!

I'm just trying to decide if my less-than-green husband will help me, or if I should just pay someone. I'm also wondering if my home owners association will care.

So if you have tips, tricks, or connections to a discount rain barrel guy, let me know! (Rain barrels cost anywhere from about $150-$300 depending on the size you want.)

Janine

Ban the sandwich bag.

2008-07-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

When my twins started preschool, I started making lunches.
At first it was just 2 days a week. Last year it was 5 days a week and if it weren't for pizza Fridays I would've had a nervous breakdown trying to come up with a variety of foods that were nutritious, fun, and can hold up in a lunch box.

I also started to feel a sharp pang of guilt every time I grabbed another one of those plastic baggies which seemed so perfect for sandwiches, crackers, cookies, veggies and everything that I wanted to pack separately.

And then I found Glad and Ziploc containers in a variety of sizes that not only fit in a lunch box, but also open up my food options to include hummus, salad, and dip for their veggies.

They even make these little ones that I can use for yogurt and applesauce. That means I get a little green pat on the back because I buy larger containers of yogurt and applesauce which cuts down on packaging thus reducing waste. And not to mention the number of baggies that will stay out of a landfill.

Janine

In Case of Emergency...

2008-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I know what I want for Christmas.

It's a portable (you can fit it on your back) solar power pack that would be great to have when the power goes out. A little "ray of light" on a dark night...and green to boot!

In a pinch I bet it would run a space heater in the winter, charge a laptop, charge a cell phone, maybe even run a portable DVD player for my kids the next time my car breaks down on the Jersey Turnpike (cause you know I'm not lucky enough for that to only happen once!).

I've read the folks at National Geographic took it with them on an expedition - so it's got to be good, right?

Anyone else want one? Maybe we can get a group discount! Although $419 seems like a small price to pay for a little piece of green that can help in an emergency.

Janine

Small Expectations

2008-07-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

I've always been one to recycle, turn the lights off, and turn the thermostat up/down a few degrees to save energy. But I can't say I've recycled EVERY can and bottle. I practically live in my car. And my first thought when I consider solar panels is if they'll interrupt my satellite service.

However, I can't open the paper without reading an article about the ice caps melting, and at over $4 a gallon, my car is no longer an ideal second home. I really am becoming concerned with how I can make a difference for the environment AND, let's be honest, SAVE money.

I have very small expectations for myself in terms of turning a dark shade of green. I know I won't be making any major adjustments in my life soon. But this space will give me the opportunity to catalog all those cool sites, gadgets, and ways to be a little green. And maybe a little here and there will add up to a lot.

Baby steps.
Janine