multiplicity magazine - winter 2013 issue

1

Winter 2013

new yearno yelling

the art of

the scoop onflat head syndrome

how balanced is yourteeter totter

cover cutiesJust over 1 year old now Aiden and Silas

are identical in looks but couldnrsquot be more different in personality Aiden

likes to take charge at playtime while Silas is always watching and learning Both

boys love to dance and each has his own style They LOVE music and playing with big brother Jack When they grow up they will probably be

Superheros photos courtesy of Jillian Farnsworth Photography

New Year - How about try no yelling

Reading Readiness --- are your twins ready

How to Shop on a Multiplesrsquo Budget

Fitness amp Getting the Family In It

Product Buzz - the scoop on must-have items for moms and kids

Itrsquos our Birthday and YOU get the gifts

How to Write Meaningful Resolutions

Kitchen Comforts - Easy recipes the whole family will love

Ask Joan Sleep routines

The art of efficiency for every mom of multiples

Appy Winter Apps the whole family can enjoy

Heading back to work - know what to do

Fashion Finds for Less Itrsquos time to update that fall wardrobe amp we share some great ideas

Flat Head Syndrome - what every mom should know

Balancing the Teeter Totter

Five Minute Fix - Animal Appeal

After the Move - making it work

Do Something Good - MOMs come together to make a difference

6

10

13

17

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

31

34

36

38

40

41

42

38

20

10

mamas on a mission

multiplicity the must-have magazine for all moms of multiples 3

4

Natalie Diazfounderpublishernataliemultiplicitymagcom

Talitha A McGuinnessexecutive editortalithamultiplicitymagcom

When I was a little girl my biggest dream was to grow up and become a mommy Never did I realize that I would go to college be swept off my feet by my Prince Charming have identical twin girls and a toddler son (with my fourth due in May) and own my own Consulting company plus help run a magazine for moms just like me Whewlife as we all know it can be exhausting if we give it too much thought Lucky for me (or unlucky some would say) I happen to surround myself with women and mom friends who are much like myself ( just plain crazy) I have a hard time saying ldquonordquo when asked to do things love a full plate work best under pressure never procrastinate (okay Irsquom not a meal planner so dinner each night is usually thrown together just before we all sit to eat) and generally just have more to do than there are hours in a day I know that many of you balance schedules very similar to mine and even if you arenrsquot crazy enough to have four kids in the mix we all have a number of things to juggle (ie playdates volunteer efforts work in or out of the home spouses who still like our attention

Multiplicity is published as a digital magazine four times per calendar year with additional supplements as desired Multiplicity cannot assume responsibility of statements made by advertisers In addition though hand-picked and carefully reviewed Multiplicity cannot guarantee the accuracy of editorial pieces No portion in whole or in part of this publication may be reproduced without express written consent from the publisher Questions Email editormultiplicitymagcom

multiplicity the must-have magazine for all moms of multiples

once in a while and the list goes on) This is where this issue comes in to play

We offer advice from moms just like all of us on how to balance it all Want to write and carry out New Yearrsquos resolutions Wersquove got you covered Ready to get back into the workforce Check Can we truly balance the teeter totter of life Wersquove got that too One of the biggest things on which we pride ourselves is being a support system full of resources to help each other After all the mom squad didnrsquot get here by just needing something else to do We all have twins (and then some) businesses volunteer efforts etc and live our lives just like you We have learned some amazing things over this past year not only about each other and ourselves but about you and what you want from us We hope yoursquoll join us in celebrating our 1st birthday and will grow with us on this wonderful journey of moms of multiplehood With that said herersquos to many more birthdays ahead and to having it all (at least by each of our own respective standards)

PublisherNatalie Diaz

Executive Editor Creative DirectorTalitha A McGuinness

PhotographersFirewife PhotographyJane Goodrich Photography

Contributing WritersNicole HastingsJodi SmeiskaCara KrennDr Joan FriedmanJessica TherivalJulia FritzeAngel RodriguesKathleen Tirella EckerFarrah RitterJudi HoweDr Jane ScottJill MarcumTraci ZellerAmanda Stephens

Social Media MgrAd SalesJill Marcum

Contact us141 Mulberry StreetApt C-1 New York NY 10013917-442-2020infomultiplicitymagcomwwwmultiplicitymagcom

mom squad

happy new year andhappy birthday to

photograph courtesy of paired images

multiplicityThank you for helping us make our first year such a success As moms of multiples ourselves we are all on a similar journey to raise our multiples successfully and with as much love and guidance as possible We hope yoursquove gained valuable information and insight from our past articles and tips and maybe even had a few cries and laughs along the way too We know itrsquos our birthday but you all get the gifts See pages 20 and 21 for more details on entering to win one of our fabulous prizes

multiplicity the must-have magazine for all moms of multiples6

by jessica therivel

t I know what you are thinking Here is another article where the writer sets out on a quest for improvement in parenting and makes themselves the guinea pig with a set task and a deadline The problem is much like a diet anything you can only force yourself to do for a short period of time is not likely to be sustainable for the long term I am not going to set a New Yearrsquos resolution this year to never yell again because the fact of the matter is with my twin kindergartener girls I might break that by early afternoon on January 1st and then feel like a failure When you have a sense of failure you will often revert back to the old behavior because if you have already messed up what is the point of continuing with that resolution

Instead I am going to take a long hard look at why I yell look at how I can make changes but fully realize that it is not realistic to think I may never yell

new yearno yelling(and why do we do this any way)

again Yelling of course has the potential to cause emotional trauma in extreme circumstances but I think what most of us as parents have realized is that it is really ineffective (yet we still do it)

I figured a first step was to look at my patterns of yelling and try to see if there are any common themes My main trigger is definitely to yell when I feel like my girls are not listening Sometimes to be fair it is my fault if I start talking or issuing an order without checking to see if they are paying attention to me What I have found helps is to make sure they are making eye contact There is definitely a difference between defiance of a parental request and the child just not paying attention

I have also seen in my household that yelling is ineffective for a number of reasons With having twins it gets interesting because the reasons for why yelling is ineffective is dependent to which twin I am talking I have one twin who has always been very internally focused so if she is deeply engaged in something it is as if the rest of us are not even there She is also internally motivated rather than being greatly influenced by outside factors I have to approach her more with logic Yelling at her for the 100th time that she has not picked up her shoes will mean nothing but if I tell her she canrsquot have her snack until she picks up her shoes she gets it On the flip side her twin sister is much more sensitive as she

I am making for example ldquoPut on your shoes clear your plate put your backpack awayrdquo are made when I have the girlsrsquo focus and they are actually paying attention I am also going to work hard to examine myself and see if the urge to yell is truly coming from the girlsrsquo behavior or if there is something going on with my end of things A perfect example was recently when I had a headache and it had the bad luck to be present at the same time both girls decided to go into crazy mode and were playing some loud game that involved lots of screaming No one was getting hurt they were getting along and having fun The problem was mine I had a headache After yelling at them for being too loud I quickly realized that if I had just told them I had a headache they would have likely piped down Recognizing if the problem is their behavior or your problem is key

So 2013 is going to be a time to keep working on if not ldquono yellingrdquo at least much less yelling and more talking I am going to work hard at truly listening to the girls and what is upsetting them using empathy and active listening And seriously I am going to stop saying ldquoSeriouslyrdquo

Jessica Therivel has been married for 8 years to Laurent and is mom to twin girls who started

kindergarten this fall Now that she has some free time again Jessica is freelance writing and running a photobook design business

cares very much what other people think or how they feel about her She is very tuned into what an adultrsquos tone of voice is and we went through a phase where if she knew I was upset she would shout ldquoDonrsquot use your mad voicerdquo Because she is so sensitive I can use this to my advantage when I talk with her instead of an exchange of yelling We went through a phase after kindergarten started of terrible tantrums once she was home from school usually for very minor things that because she was so tired were very big deals to her I told her that it hurt my feelings that she used all of her good behavior at school and was nice to her teacher but was not nice to me when she got home This was definitely more effective than me turning around and yelling at her when she had a tantrum

Also have you ever realized how much children pick up on our speech mannerisms and ways of saying certain things For me it is one simple word ldquoSeriouslyrdquo This became clear when one of my daughters was engaged in imaginary play with her stuffed animals and one toy was clearly not cooperating and I heard my child say ldquoSeriouslyrdquo My husband quickly confirmed I say this a lot Notedhellip

So what can I set for myself for a goal for the New Year in regards to yelling My first step is going to be to remember to count to ten and keep a speaking tone of voice vs a louder yelling tone I am going to work really hard at making sure that any requests



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2-Pack 8 ozStandard Bottles

2-Pack 4 ozWide-Neck Bottles

2-Pack 4 ozGlass Bottlescopy2012 Handi-Craftreg Company

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Twins_Adai 1 121411 116 PM

Answers for todayHope for tomorrow

Being pregnant with multiples doesnrsquot have to be scary even if an unheard of diagnosis is involved Have questions We can help


of the monthsponsored by

This year we want to meet YOUR multiples Tell us why they rock and share some of your fondest memories All submissions will be considered and reviewed by the Twiniversity Mom Squad The chosen twinnies will be featured on Twiniversity and will receive a toy from Step2 selected just for them So what are you waiting for Send us your submission

Thank you Step2 for partnering with us

for 2013

To submit complete the form on Twiniversitycom and upload a picture Wersquoll take it from there

have you heard about our program


readingreadinessbegins ininfancy

by judi howe

According to the National Center for Education Statistics approximately 50 of the nationrsquos unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional ly il literate with virtual ly no prospects of obtaining good jobs Let our job be to teach them from the start

photo courtesy of jane goodrich photography

From the day they are born I am going to get my babies ready to do well in school I am going to raise smart kids My commitment to get us there

1 I wil l read aloud to youStart reading to your babies the day they are born Continue reading aloud every day to your child throughout the elementary school years Some children like for their parents to continue reading to them in middle school let this be each childrsquos choice Treat books like all of your your childrenrsquos toys by putting them wherever your babies are If they want to chew on a laminated board book let them as it will only encourage their curiosity and interest in hearing the spoken word through story and rhyme

2 I wil l sing to youDonrsquot worry about whether or not you can carry a tune A singing voice is a happy voice and it will convey peace and comfort to your children Singing has been proven to alter behavior If you want your babies to calm down sing quietly and slowly If you want to perk your babies up sing a tune to which you can march or dance around the house while carrying your babies (probably one at a time but the other will certainly enjoy watching the show when itrsquos not their turn) Sing every day Make up songs for the everyday tasks that you are doing to make things fun and keep the interest of your babies

3 I wil l talk to youSome parents think it is silly to talk to a baby After all he or she canrsquot talk and doesnrsquot understand very many words either However this is missing the point entirely Your baby needs to hear the sound of your voicehellipyour happy voice your calming voice your conversational voice your praising voice Talk to your baby everywhere While riding in the car talk about the weather the traffic what you are going to do later in the day You are building their vocabulary little by little If you canrsquot think of anything to talk about repeat step 2 ndash sing

4 I wil l aff irm youFrom day one praise your babies Tell them how precious they are how smart they are and that you are proud of them Whatever values you prize praise them for those and be sure to do it individually whenever possible For example ldquoYou were so cooperative when I was changing your diaper It made my job so much easier Thank you (use his or her name) I am so proud of yourdquo

5 I wil l say lsquoI Love Yoursquo to youA lot of us think that our children know that we love them Hopefully they do But it is very important to say it out loud Start this the day your babies are born and never stopnever

6 I wil l play music for youExpose your children to music Play music of different types in your home Choose quiet calming music when you want them to nap or happy upbeat music when you want them to be playful There are many wonderful sources

of music for babies you wonrsquot have to look far Having a CD player or iPod in the nursery is a great idea for putting quiet classical music on before bedtime Putting a CD on in the car is also funhellipyou can sing along yourself

7 I wil l touch youYour touch conveys a sense of security and confidence for

your babies Cuddle them tickle them Rub noses and play pat-a-cake A loving touch is worth a million bucks

Judi Howe aims to spread the message of the importance of reading aloud to preschoolers with a long-term goal of improving literacy for all children thereby enhancing each childrsquos opportunity to one day pursue higher education She has a website for her books and a blog

called Books are Building Blocks and she writes childrenrsquos picture books Judi lives in NC with her husband George They have five grandchildren

I wil lread aloud to you

sing to youtalk to youaff irm you



what yoursquore talking aboutHow do you go about starting potty training and how do you know when your twins are ready to start

Google the topic and become familiar with the ldquosignsrdquo of potty training Every child - including each of your twins - will be different - AnnaJust do 1 at a time so you can concentrate and keep them on the potty We used cotton training pants after the first few days so if there were accidents they could feel it Mine hated that wet feeling so eventually figured out the potty - Jenny[After my boys turned 3] we tried potty training and they did good for about a week but then there was poo in their underwear all the time One month later I spent a long weekend sending them to the bathroom every 15 minutes giving them [rewards] and it just clicked - Megan

Itrsquos totally up to you what you bringprovide unless the playdate coordinator specifies otherwise Playdates are really just excuses to get some adult [time] and give your kids a change of scenery donrsquot overthink it - lovebugsmamaI think you can ask if there is anything you can bring I always have snacksjuice on hand that I can feed the kids and coffeetea for the moms - KathyYou should not feel inclined to bring a gift or anything fancy I always try to bring cut up fruit or veggies or pretzels animal crackers goldfish etc thatrsquos easily shared - Mariah

I have 3 year old twins and Irsquom curious about playdate etiquette If I go to someonersquos house what am I supposed to bring If someone comes to our house what do I provide

YOUR AD COULD BE HEREReaching parents of multiples all around the globe wersquod love for you to be a part Contact talithamultiplicitymagcom to learn about ad rates

and securing your spot in a future issue

superM O M

sponsored by

We are partnering with MAM to recognize 12 of the most outstanding moms of multiples around the the world

To nominate a Mom please complete the form online and tell us why she should be one of our Super MoMs All submissions will be reviewed and considered by the Twiniversity Mom Squad The chosen Super MoM of the month will receive a $50 SpaFinder Gift Card Even Super Woman needs a day off every now and then

Thanks to MAM for partnering with us in 2013

Know a Super MOM who deserves to be recognized

admit it Money and I have always had a lovehate relationship Love it when

I have it hate it when I donrsquot For most of my working life Irsquove made enough to survive but to be honest I never paid much attention to where my paycheck went Perhaps it was naivety perhaps it was denial but I had gotten cozy with the fact that on Friday my paycheck was there and Saturday it was gone Then enter my twin boys and stay-at-home-momhood My familyrsquos dual-income catapulted into one and forced me to face my estranged relationship with money Even though I wasnrsquot bringing in any income it became my job to be the household economist and a frugal one at that since we have two more mouths to feedmdashand two little bottoms to cover

It may seem out of place that Irsquom now writing advice to you about budgeting but my finicky relationship with finances has gotten me in trouble more than once in the past and the lessons learned have outweighed the trouble and so I pass some of these lessons on

Groceries and FoodAccording to a Gallupcom 2011 poll Americans report spending

an average of $151 on food per week It doesnrsquot say if that was money toward groceries or eating out but I can tell you one thing for sure the best way to make the most of your weekly food budget is to stop eating out The quick drive-thru trips may be convenient when itrsquos hard enough to get out the door with young multiples but these conveniences eat up your money subtly and slyly Simply put we donrsquot eat out I learned to cook and I learned how to shop for groceries Here are some rules I go by that may help you too

1mdashGet over what other people think of you and your familyrsquos finances Itrsquos none of their business anyway Who cares if people think wersquore cheapmdashthat goes for strangers at the grocery store as well I used to ldquofeel badrdquo for saying to the clerk that Irsquod changed my mind on something so Irsquod buy it to avoid confrontation Thatrsquos silly Itrsquos their job to be there and theyrsquore paid to put things back Besides it saves you the time and energy suffering from buyerrsquos remorse later and driving back to return the item

by nicole hastings

shopping on amultiplesrsquo budget

Get over what other people think of you and your familyrsquos finances --- itrsquos none of their business

i

tried amp true tips



2mdashI donrsquot need to tell you that shopping with multiple children of the same age can turn a one-hour shopping trip into a three-hour event so this rule is better practiced alone until you get the hang of it Write out your needs-only list at home (I personally donrsquot have the attention span to meal-plan but if you do yoursquore my hero) bring a calculator and only cash with youmdashleave your plastic at home At the store go down your list calculating the price of everything that goes into that cart (round up to leave wiggle-room for sales tax at the end) Knowing that you only have the allotted grocery cash forces you to think carefully about what goes into the cart When yoursquove reached your cash amount on the calculator yoursquore done It may seem drawn-out and strange wandering through the aisles with a calculator but eventually yoursquoll be good enough to calculate in your head When yoursquore a pro attempt a trip with the kids (unless of course the shopping trip is your ldquoalone timerdquo so then if your husband asks why were you at the store for three hours by yourself you can say you were calculating)Tip This is a teachable moment for older kids Give them a calculator or let them practice their mathematics on paper with a small list of items for them to find

3mdashGet groceries that lsquomulti-taskrsquo Find weekly staples that can be used for multiple meals For example two whole roasting chickens can be popped in the slow cooker

and oven on a Sunday and you have chicken for salads pasta and tacos for the rest of the week Plus you can use the carcasses to make a soup stock you can freeze for later For produce and other leftovers that will otherwise go bad I put out what I call a ldquorainbow dinnerrdquo --- buffet style on the counter (this is a great way to get more fruits and veggies into the kids also fingers crossed) Any leftover veggies can be used for a vegetable soup stock Itrsquos not complicated or hard it does take a little planning and time but itrsquos worth it

4mdashA treat is just that a treat Wersquore inundated with the message that we deserve to treat ourselves on a daily basis

According to another online Gallup poll in 2011 Americanrsquos self-reported daily spending for a household income between $60000 and $89999 was an average of $82 per day I canrsquot imagine what Irsquod spend

$82 on every day but I can guarantee that some of that money is going toward things wersquod be better off without (like sugary coffee drinks) As a former barista myself there are people who get $5 (or more) coffee drinks every single day of the workweek Thatrsquos $1250 or more a year Donrsquot get me wrong I love my coffee and wouldnrsquot know what to do without it but Irsquove had to adjust Most of the time I brew my coffee at home and take it with me to reduce the latte-temptation This is also a priceless lesson for our children saying ldquonordquo to the things we really want but canrsquot afford

Ideas for saving on clothingI believe there is no need to buy brand name clothing unless you can truly afford it Therersquos a phrase from Dave Ramsey mdashsyndicated radio show host and best-selling authormdashthat I cling to when I get the I-need-to-buy-new-clothing-bug donrsquot try to keep up with the Joneses because the Joneses are broke There is no shame in a good deal and thatrsquos the only way my family is clothed Here are some tips to save on your familyrsquos thread

1mdashThrift is in Itrsquos good for the environment and most thrift storesrsquo proceeds go to local charities the sellers themselves (moms just like YOU) or others in your own community

2mdashChildrenrsquos consignment stores and sales within multiples clubs have popped up everywhere here in Denver and Irsquom sure itrsquos a trend nationwide Therersquos no time

This is also a priceless lesson for

our children saying ldquonordquo

to the things we really want but

canrsquot afford

like now after the holiday craze to sort through all of your childrenrsquos toys gear and clothing to consign or sell at one of many MOMsrsquo kid sales Just be sure to take your profits and put it toward clothing in order to break even

3mdashHost a clothing-swap for your friends and their kids What someone may not fit into may be perfect for someone in your brood

Just remember that responsible

spending is a step-by-step process and it takes a while to start new habits Irsquom definitely not an expert Irsquom just a mom whose twins (and the gazillion diapers they require) were a blessed wake-up call to change my familyrsquos money handling not only for our present needs but for future needs as well

Nicole crossed the stage at her college commencement ready to

devote every waking minute to interviews and writing as a budding journalistmdashand making money along the way because thatrsquos what happens when you graduatehellipright Two years later shersquos a stay-at-home mom to twins with looming student loans and credit card Nicolersquos faced with the challenge of holding the purse strings and trying to tighten them at the same time Frugality has become an everyday reality in her home And Nicolersquos learning to live it and love it

Learn the times of year to buy

JulyAugust and late January

February are the best times to hit

the stores for various deals



focus on fitness

decided to run after watching the Biggest Loser and I thought ldquoif those people could run so can Irdquo I was overweight and had to do

something before I turned 40 So I decided to run a 12 marathon (131 miles) I joined a local training group from the local shoe store and in 12 weeks I finished my first 12 marathon I started with the Jeff Galloway runwalkrun method since I had a prior knee injury I started with a 1-minute run1-minute walk routine slowly increasing the run portion over the 12 weeks and now run 5 minutes walk 1 minute

With peer pressure from one of my best running buddies I completed the San Francisco Marathon (262 miles) in July The full marathon was NEVER on my ldquoto-dordquo list but I am thankful she made me do it It is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life (behind having my kids of course)

We got our twin girls involved by having them cheer for me They had pom-poms and cowbells and cheered for everyone (which made everyone smile) and in August Jane after seeing all my medals wanted one of her own We signed her up for a 5K Fun Run and it was on from there After seeing Jane get all the attention Valerie wanted some of her own so

we did the Awesome 80primes race as a family It was a wonderful experience and wersquoll be doing more races once the season starts in April We make exercising fun by spotting things along the route and run around the block to ldquotrainrdquo for the races This is a great time to talk to each other and bond as a family I also encourage healthy eating by having snacks on hand like fruits and vegetables and always offer water first

To get started yourself visit a local running store to get fit for a good pair of shoes Find a race SIGN UP I find that if I donrsquot sign up for the race Irsquoll never follow through If a 12 marathon is too daunting try starting with a 5K (31 miles) instead Use an app like the Nike+ app that

tracks mileage and time to keep you on track I also use the ldquohalf marathon with Jeff Gallowayrdquo app

Success is yours if you follow a good training schedule and these guiding principles

1 Your mission each day is to simply cover the distance --- donrsquot run too hard

2 Run so slowly that you are not huffing and puffing --- even at the end of your workout

3 Walkers Every 3-5 minutes on your long walks shorten your stride to ldquobaby stepsrdquo for 30 seconds or so contd pg 27

how one mom met her goal amp got the family involved too

by amanda stephens

i

amanda amp twin mom running buddies


18

the buzzthe scoop on things worth giving a try

twin testedMOM

approved

fundanoodleFundanoodle is a new education readiness brand from Carolina Pad (check them out online to see all of their beautiful and fashionable office and school supplies) designed to develop and improve the skills needed for handwriting and many other everyday activities Their learning modules are broken down into three main categories 3 year olds Pre-K to Kindergarten and Kindergarten to 1st Grade My nearly 3 year old son loves pounding the pegs into a template to create a picture and the beading is great for working with and teaching patterns (and he just thinks hersquos playing) Other moms with older twins especially love the magnetic pieces and the dry erase board in helping them form and write letters (in the K-1st Grade Activity Pack) Products range from writing tables to full multi-activity kits With learning and a lot of fun whatrsquos not for a mom to love ~ talitha

tidy table tray + flexi-dinerI could never get my kids too close enough to me at the table when they were in their high chairs I felt I had to reach so far to feed them Now I can have them sit right at the table in their booster chairs with us The Tidy Table Tray and Flexi-Diner is a great space saver without giving up the convenience of a tray to catch spilled food and drinks The insert removes easily for cleaning but not easy enough for my kids to detach The spill catch lip that extends towards the child catches food that would otherwise fall into their lap resulting in fewer changes of clothes After removing the flexi tray to clean the remaining tray is good to use with craft projects so that

crayons donrsquot roll away The tray clamps onto probably any table with an easy to use clamp ~ jill

scarawayLadies if you had a c-section and are still bothered by the appearance of your ldquowar woundrdquo this product may be the answer I was able to deliver my twins (granted who weighed in at only a little over 4lbs each) yet required a c-section for my little boy who a) did not feel the need to arrive on his birthday and b) weighed more than my twins combined Who would have thought My scar is pretty low but still an eye sore to me Irsquove tried creams and store-bought ointments guaranteed to lighten its appearance but nothing has ever done the trick However the ScarAway silicone sheets seem to have significantly lightened my scar after using them for just over 2 months Each box has four strips and they are clinically proven safe in the treatment and prevention of new scars They also carry sheets for other types of scarsother areas of the body which may come in handy for my seven year old twins who constantly feel the need to climb everything in sight I also recently learned that these same sheets are recommended by plastic surgeons and are used in burn centers around the world Sounds like a great solution to me ~ talitha


YOUcould be our

winner

squeezrsquoem food pouches by booginheadMy kids have minor food allergies some narrowed down and others still a mystery so I like to make my own food for them Thus I have never purchased the food pouches that are so popular today But then I ran across Squeezrsquoems refillable food pouches from BooginHead These are refillable food pouches that are dishwasher freezer and microwave safe I also love that it is all in one piece cap and all so I am never searching for a piece I like to whip up a batch of real fruit slushes or homemade ice cream slushes fill the pouches and freeze them so they are ready to go These are currently available in Wal-Mart stores The best part They save money the environment and are healthier for your children ~ jill

See pages 20 and 21 for how to enter for your chance to win one of several fabulous prizes in honor of our 1st birthday

best cradle by itrsquos you babeThis product is for all the expectant mamas in the mix Now on my third pregnancy (fourth child) I decided to try something a little different I have always had difficult pregnancies (at least compared to the moms who deliver and never knew they were pregnant) and ended up needing a cerclage and a little to a lot of bedrest However I discovered the Best Cradly a prenatal support cradly that is not only comfortable to wear but it actually feels like it lifts my growing tummy giving me the support I need in my back and the pelvic rest I need after surgery Irsquom not saying itrsquos a miracle product but I havenrsquot been forced on bedrest yet (and fingers crossed I can keep wearing this support cradle and avoid it altogether) Learn more and purchase at their website ~ talitha

peeled snacksAs a mom who is constantly looking for alternatives to the sugary unhealthy snacks for my kids I was recently introduced to Peeled Snacks and I and my kids have fallen in love Their ldquoclustersrdquo are very similar

to a cereal texture and they come in several different flavors including my kidsrsquo favorites apple and berry crunch They also carry a dried fruit line and while my kids arenrsquot big

fans of any dried fruit they did try them and at least liked the Pine-for-Pineapple These snacks are made with natural ingredients are full of vitamins and minerals and are so easy to pack for lunches at school for those playdates at the park or even for snacking around the home You can order samples or the full kits online ~ talitha



$300 retail value

Giveaway 1 Rooster Diaper Bag 2 Toy Nannies

amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom

birthdaygiveawaysItrsquos our party and you get all the gifts Over the next few weeks wersquoll be featuring and giving away these great prizes for moms and twinnies too Visit our website and be sure to ldquolikerdquo us on facebook for more details on entering and when each giveaway will be featured Winners will be notified by email each week Good luck and thanks for celebrating our milestone

each album $1499 value

Giveaway - 2 Winners will receive4 albums of winnerrsquos choice

wwwbabyblanketmusiccom

with music by Lady Gaga

Giveaway1 pack of ScarAway sheets

$30retail value

perfect for all of us moms with c-section

scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom

Giveaway2 Lyft Booster Seats

$7995 retail value each

the boost they need to reach the family table at mealtime

Giveaway$200 Gift Certificate

wwwgalloenfuegocom

made from real fire hoses and

come in S M L

$29 value each

Giveaway2 boys belts

$80 value

Giveaway2 Everyday Layette outfits and 2

Kushies Zolo Linki Toys

wwwkushiesonlinecom

Trusted by moms since 1987 Kushies offers more than 350 baby products including stylish layette and playwear washable diapers the award-winning Kushies Zolo toy collection and a broad range of baby essentials



After wersquove popped our champagne and sang ldquoAuld Lang Synerdquo many of us begin thinking about New Yearrsquos resolutions Each January marks the start of a new year filled with possibility ndash one that may be better shaped by setting resolutions for ourselves

About half of Americans make New Yearrsquos resolutions every year Most donrsquot keep them Some people even dread writing them But resolutions donrsquot always have to be work and they donrsquot have to be unattainable

This is the year to make your goals meaningful AND fun Follow these tips to write great resolutions ndash and keep them

donrsquot rush - This year make drafting your resolutions an act of reflection What have you loved about your life this past year that yoursquod like to continue What would you like to see change What areas could you work on Think of 2013 as a clean slate and take your time determining your goals for the new year

be specific - Many resolutions fail because theyrsquore far too general and difficult to enact According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology the top three resolutions for 2012 were 1) Lose weight 2) Get

organized and 3) Spend less save more If these are your goals too how can you make them specific and achievable If yoursquod like to ldquoexercise morerdquo why not resolve to walk or run a 5K or 10K Look up a training plan online to regularly use as you work toward your goal Want to ldquoget organizedrdquo Schedule a specific weekend to tackle your home office clean out your closet or de-clutter your kidsrsquo rooms Yoursquoll get an extra boost of satisfaction by donating unneeded items to your local thrift store Do you need to focus on spending less and saving more Register for a free money management service such as Mintcom to help you organize and categorize your spending

go in on it with a friend - Research shows that yoursquore more likely to stick with a resolution if you have someone to hold you accountable to it This year make a fun resolution and ask a friend to commit to the same one If you want to exercise more in the new year set aside a ldquodaterdquo with your friend each week to go on a walk or hit the gym Or perhaps yoursquove both been eager to try Zumba or hot yoga classes Itrsquos harder to make excuses when someone else is counting on you ndash especially if itrsquos a good friend whose company you truly enjoy

be realistic - Donrsquot make your resolutions too

write meaningful resolutionsand keep themby cara krenn

daunting Feeling like yoursquore not spending enough alone time with your partner Maybe a weekly date night is unlikely to realistically fit into your hectic schedule Aim for a monthly ldquoadventurerdquo together ndash try a new restaurant take a fun class or go on a long hike Desperate to fit into your pre-baby jeans Donrsquot resolve to go to the gym every day ndash commit to two times a week or resolve to always take the stairs when possible Want to create a better family environment at home Try enforcing a ldquono cell phonerdquo rule at dinner and ask each family member to share something about their day Often aiming ldquosmallrdquo with your goals will help you achieve them ndash and make you feel happy not defeated

put reminders in your calendar - Whether you rely on your phone to run your life or use an old-fashioned planner make sure to write (or type) resolution reminders into your calendar the same week you draft them These ldquopop-uprdquo reminders will help keep you on track until your goal is achieved Additionally you can write your resolutions down and post them in a visible spot yoursquoll see frequently (a closet door refrigerator door etc)

read something motivational - Kick off the new year with some inspirational reading Gretchen Rubinrsquos blockbuster bestsellers The Happiness Project and Happier at Home follow the authorrsquos year-round resolutions divided by month and provide excellent inspiration for starting your own ldquohappiness projectrdquo

break it down - If yoursquove got your sights set on a large goal such as writing a novel or running a marathon break it down into short-term smaller goals For example you can plan to sign up for a writing group or compete in a 5K race as you ramp up to your big resolution

make it a family affair - Get your kids involved in writing their own resolutions by dedicating an afternoon to drafting goals together Have fun brainstorming and sharing resolution ideas and make a game plan for how each person can achieve their goals You can even think of family resolutions such as creating a ldquoHiking Dayrdquo each month participating in a charitable walk together committing to a community service project ndash whatever is fun and meaningful for your family

re-evaluate - Remember that you can always start over if you decide to change your goals for the year January isnrsquot the only time for re-invention ndash you can be a ldquochameleonrdquo year-round

stay positive - Attitude really is everything Believing you can do something is half the battle to actually accomplishing it Regularly give yourself a pep talk and make sure to congratulate yourself on achieving a goal Therersquos something fabulously satisfying about marking a new yearrsquos resolution as complete This is your year to make it happen

Above all donrsquot forget to make your resolutions (and the process of writing them) fun And remember whatever your resolution for 2013 may be ndash you can do it

the hiveare you down with

If you and your little ones havenrsquot yet watched the Disney Junior channelrsquos The Hive tune in and yoursquoll see why itrsquos a hit in more than 150 countries worldwide

A fun and friendly kidrsquos TV series The Hive follows the fortunes of Buzzbee and friends in their fun-packed adventures in the Hive Every day brings something new for the little bee as he explores the world around him with best friends Barnabee Jasper the wasp Debee and his sister Rubee

How it helps storylines in each episode explore themes such as working together to solve problems being part of a diverse community and valuing family and friendships

Fans can also enjoy The Hive online at wwwthehivetvshowcom where they can find video clips preschool friendly games activities downloads and more



On a cold day there is nothing better than coming home to a great smelling house and a hot meal With four kids plus homework activities and work our household is a busy one I love using my crock pot or my tried and true ldquocook once ndash eat twicerdquo recipes to maximize mealtime and keep me out of the kitchen Below are two of my familyrsquos most favorite recipes They are both easy on the budget and easy to make (not to mention delicious)

Easy Vegetable Soup

Herersquos what you need4 cups Low Sodium Vegetable Juice (like V8)12 cup water1 cup Chopped Celery1 cup Chopped Carrots

kitchen comforts

by kathleen tirella ecker

12 cup Chopped Onions (I leave mine big so the kids can pick them out)2 small Zucchinis choppedAny leftover vegetables in your fridge (great way to use vegetables - just throw them in I have used green beans spinach cabbage corn etc)If you have no leftover vegetables add 1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables Pepper to taste Vegetable Seasoning to taste

Cook on high in crock pot for 1 hour turn to low and cook all day This makes approximately 6 servings My kids have been known to have ldquothirdsrdquo of this I try to not cook with salt but you can throw some in for flavor too This recipe is loosely based on the Weight Watchers Vegetable Soup Recipe and it is so easy to makeyou cannot mess it up Consider for lunch or dinner with grilled cheese or warm crusty bread

Roasted Orange Chicken

Herersquos what you needWhole Roasting Chicken14 cup Olive Oil14 cup Orange JuiceSalt amp PepperRosemary1 Fresh Orange

I like to cook two whole chickens at the same time as we will have one for dinner that night with oven potatoes and a vegetable The second chicken will become chicken enchiladas or chicken quesadillas for dinner and chicken salad or chicken noodle soup for lunch

Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees and spray a large roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray

Start with a whole chicken (or two) Remove anything that is inside the chicken body cavity (neck and giblets) Rinse chicken inside and out and pat dry I like to wear gloves when washing and handling raw chicken (if you do not have any gloves you can use two sandwich bags on your hands) Place chicken breast side up on rack in roasting pan and go wash your hands (if you do not have a roasting pan you can use a Pyrex baking dish) In a small bowl combine olive oil and orange juice Pour this over chicken and rub in Season chicken with salt pepper and rosemary Slice orange in half and squeeze fresh orange juice on top Take remaining orange rind and stuff inside chicken Roast chicken for 15 minutes After it cooks for 15 minutes reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to roast for 18-20 minutes per lb then add on an additional 15 minutes (A stuffed 6lb chicken takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes to cook) Remove from oven when done and check temperature When fully cooked the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees To make easy oven potatoes to go along with your chicken yoursquoll need

6 large potatoesOlive OilRosemary

Wash potatoes thoroughly and pat dry Slice into circles Place on lightly greased baking sheet Drizzle potatoes with olive oil and then sprinkle with rosemary Cook in oven with chicken for about 30-40 minutes They will be fork tender when done Enjoy

KathleenTirella Ecker is a full-time stay at home mom part-time blogger and part-time event planner for DC Event Planners She and her husband Bart have been married for ten years and were blessed with four beautiful children in four

years including a surprise set of twins Kathleen lives with her family in Loudoun County Virginia where they love exploring the local farms cooking together playing tennis and visiting the beach Be sure to visit her blog to see how she is surviving and thriving as a mom of 4 wonderful amp crazy kids



ask joan

Dear KatieIn order to answer your question I consulted The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Twins by Dr Marc Weissbluth Both authors write extensively about the biological importance of sleep Pantley explains that a babyrsquos biological clock begins maturing at about 6-9 weeks and does not work smoothly until 4 -5 months Dr Weissbluth asserts that around 12-16 weeks daytime sleep starts to regularize and bedtime is earlier He finds that around four months of age babies become interested in things that can disturb their sleep

Each of them underlines the importance of establishing sleep cues along with self-soothing techniques so that the infant becomes accustomed to falling asleep on his own In response to your question about your twinsrsquo diminishing nighttime sleep and shorter daytime nap schedule I offer the following explanation based upon these expertsrsquo research Pantley writes that by six months of age the average naps per day is two and the total length of naptime hours are between 3-4 hours Since naptime sleep has a great impact on nighttime sleep do everything that you can to get your babies to nap longer during the day Pantley suggests the following

About five or ten minutes before the usual awakening time sit outside the bedroom door and listen Yoursquoll find the baby in a sleepy just about to wake up state Use whatever techniques you have that helps the infant to fall back to sleep Take daytime naps in a lit room where the baby can hear noises of the day

Both authors relate that the process of falling asleep is learned Put the babies in bed when they are sleepy instead of sleeping Both experts agree that the earlier you can help your babies fall asleep on their own the better off everyone will be ndash the babies will be able to sleep longer and more deeply and you will feel less sleep deprived They both agree that the social cues imposed by parents become the primary factor in childrenrsquos sleep patterns They advocate a nightly routine so that the babies associate nighttime sleep with a dark and quiet room

Finally parents need to appreciate that ldquosleeping through the nightrdquo must be realistically redefined Weissbluth suggests that parents reframe their thinking to expect an ldquoorganized night sleeprdquo which occurs when your twins have a block of uninterrupted sleep lasting 4-6 hours Pantley writes that a baby ldquosleeps through the nightrdquo if he is sleeping five consecutive hours and adds that most babies awaken 2-3 times a night up to 6 months of age Reorganizing your expectations and routines should help promote healthier sleep for your babies and for you

Dr Friedman is a prominent and well-respected twin expert who shares her passionate views and insights with twins and their families throughout the world The fact that she is an identical twin and the mother of five including fraternal twins makes her ideally suited to this task Her commitment to twin research and her treatment of twins of all ages demonstrate the breadth and depth of her skills and experience She conducts ongoing groups for parents of twins and provides consultation on twin-related matters such as school placement developmental discrepancies and behavioral issues

My identical boys are 4 months old and have developed the same sleep problem in the same way at the same time Over the course of the night both sleep about 4 hours wake then 3 wake then 1-2 hours for the rest of the night Given their age hourly feeding seems to be a bit much Both wake to nurse only (no playing) and go right back to sleep Neither will accept any other comforting (pacifiers snuggling etc) I have slept in their room from time to time and there isnrsquot any external stimuli to startle them What makes them wake up and why does the sleep length keep shrinking as the night goes on Can we fix it Oh and they nap on schedule during the day but not for more than an hour ~ Katie

about getting some zzzzzzrsquos

contd from -- fitnessThis takes pressure off your legs feet and joints

4 Recruit someone to join you Having an exercise partner improves motivation

5 Donrsquot go out and run 3 miles if you have never run before To prevent injury (and discouragement) you should ease into your running program gradually Each session should take about 20 or 30 minutes three times a week Also be sure to space out these three days throughout the week to give yourself a chance to rest and recover between efforts And donrsquot worry about your speed --- it will increase over time

Tues Thurs Weekend Day of Choice

Week 1 10 min 12 min walkrun 1 mile walkrun combo

Week 2 15 min 17 min walkrun 15 miles walkrun combo




Week 6 20 min 20 min walkrun 35 miles walkrun comboWeek 7 20 min 20 min walkrun Race walkrun combo

A combination of runwalk you feel comfortable doing (ie 30 sec1 min 1 min1 min 2min1 min etc)

healthy snacks by jill

amandarsquos suggested training routine

Amanda Stephens had her fraternal twin girls (who are now six) after 9 years of trying She has gotten healthy for herself and for her kids Through running and eating healthier she has lost a total of 42 lbs since the day she got pregnant with the girls She runs with other twin moms for the excercise as much as the therapy they give each other Her mottos are ldquoJust do itrdquo and ldquoI run because itrsquos cheaper than therapyrdquo

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothiebull2 Frozen Bananas bull2 TB Peanut butter bullfrac12 Cup Milk bullChocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend to a smooth consistency Add more milk for a smoothie-like consistency You can freeze any leftovers and defrost in the refrigerator for a couple of hours for an ice cream snack after school tomorrow

Before you throw out those darkened bananas peel them and slip them into a freezer bag and freeze They are perfect for ice cream or a smoothie without watering it down with ice

Hummusbull1 Can Hummus (drain only frac12 the juice out)bull1 Squeeze of Lemon Juice

bull1 Teaspoon Greek Seasoningbullfrac14 Teaspoon Minced GarlicbullDash of Olive Oil

Poor ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth If the consistency isnrsquot smooth enough you may need to add more olive oil Serve right away or refrigerate until snack time Eat with your favorite corn chips Our family favorite is Tostitos Simply Natural Blue Corn Tortilla Chips Enjoy



efore children I felt as though I was at the pinnacle of efficiency I

made from-scratch bakery on a weekly basis dinner was prepared nightly and presented along with a glass of wine and the laundry was most certainly washed folded and put away nightly I did all these things with ease (with perfectly coiffed hair of course) along with working full-time and attending school (or at least this is how I recall things but the memories are fuzzy) Once the girls were born it felt as though my life imploded I was unable to keep up on the simplest of tasks let alone cook healthy meals on a nightly basis The laundry stacked up and I began questioning why on earth we had decided to cloth

diaper It was during the first six months after the girls were born that our little family of four pulled together and through the process of prioritization and elimination created an efficient and stable ship able to withstand any storm that comes our way

The most quintessential tool in any momrsquos belt is the art of organization Getting to a state where you feel as though you have things under control takes time but once you have arrived your household will run like a well-oiled machine When I went back to work after my maternity leave my mornings were a harried mess of breast-feeding diapering packing bags and rushing out the door I started an inventory approach to packing

the girlsrsquo bags stuffing gallon-sized bags and marking the bag with what its contents were For example I had a bag with onesies and socks and another with two complete outfits and spare shirts for spit up and blow out situations When refilling the diaper bag it was easy to see which had been depleted

Another area that we struggled with was the division of labor In the early months I felt run-down as though my purpose was solely for food (ok so in a lot of ways it was) and it began taking a toll on my mental health I found that one of the best things for our family was to divide the chores and create a schedule for them Both my husband and I know exactly

the art ofby jodi smeiska

b

for a life with mess

what our responsibilities are and complete them (I cook he does the dishes) We also started the ldquofrantic fifteenrdquo where we spend 15 minutes picking up as much as possible before sitting down for the evening In the early days my husband and I were seldom without a baby in our arms These snuggly moments were priceless but there was little room left in the day for chores After purchasing two slings and two wraps life got a whole lot more efficient Breastfeeding while doing dishes Check Rocking a baby while chopping vegetables Double check Supermom was in the house

That is until we actually had to venture outside our home Leaving the house was typically a drawn-out affair which left me feeling anxious and stressed To avoid this I created a checklist of items that we would need for both short and long trips These lists help to quell my feelings of anxiety and allow me to know that I brought with us the things we need to keep the girls happy I also loaded a stash of necessities into our van for those times where wersquore gone for longer than anticipated Another efficiency technique Irsquove started using is enlisting my husband as our official family chauffer In this arrangement I can get the girls ready and out of the house and put on my makeup as he is driving This has lead to a few mascara mishaps but the overall savings in time is well worth looking like a character from Clockwork Orange

The final tip I can offer on running an efficient household is actually counterproductive to the general idea of efficiency It is simple enough in concept but it really is the most difficult skill to master Slow down and regain a focus on the important things Forfeit all the housework and just simply be in the moment with your family Time will continue to march on and in five years you certainly wonrsquot remember that in one day you were able to wash dry and fold the laundry shampoo the carpets scrub the grout in the bathroom weed the garden bake macarons and cook a lovely risotto for dinner but I can guarantee that you will recall the day when you decided to leave the messes and jump in rain puddles with your children or lay on your backs cloud watching or building an

epic fort out of every blanket in your home I donrsquot dispute the need for efficiency In fact most days I strive to do more with my time than is possible but the real art of parenting lies in our ability to acknowledge when it is time to stop breathe and be present for the little moments that create the greatest memories with our families

Jodi is a mother to fabulous twin girls and wife to the worldrsquos most concentrated source of both

useless and useful information In between working full-time raising the girls attending school homesteading sewing canning gardening and volunteering in the community she pretty much has no time to do anything else Visit their blog to learn more


Donrsquot let the bugs ruin their playIntroducing a safe and easy alternative to messy toxic sprays

Mosquitno Bandztrade and Spotztrade provide natural proven protection from mosquitoes and other bugs

Non-toxic DEET-freePROMO

Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF


appy winterfun educational apps for kids of all ages --- and for mom and dad too

for the preschool and under crowdKiddos (or you) having a little trouble sleeping due to noises when away White Noise features ambient sounds of the environment to help you sleep It includes looping soundscapes such as ocean waves hard rain and flowing stream water White Noise has been featured by Dr Oz the NY Times Health Magazine (and now Multiplicity) as an app essential for restrelaxation You can purchase at itunescom

For Android users yoursquoll love the Kids ABC Letters Lite edition for entertaining little busy bodies This app is free and has several features to teach the alphabet including naming forming (where each letter is made up of various shapes the child has to fit into the correct

place) and recognizing (an interactive game where the child has to ldquocatchrdquo the correct letter) for each of the alphabet letters The app also teaches recognizing letters in context by asking the child to select a certain letter in a given word Visit Googlersquos Play Store to download

for kids 5 and upGeared toward users of the iPad and iPhone BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr are apps offering hundreds of free featured movies plus a full collection of movies and quizzes on a range of topics Even teachers love and use the app in the classroom (in fact itrsquos won a number of educational awards --- whatrsquos not to love) This app covers seven main subjects (ie science social studies etc) and parents can help their children ldquorefine their playrdquo by finding things that align specifically with what their children are learning by state standards subject matter and even grade level Visit their website to begin the learning fun

Stack the States asks a range of shape capital and geographic questions about

each of the 50 states When answered correctly your kiddos are able to drop the states to the bottom of the screen to begin ldquostackingrdquo them Be careful --- as states are not always easy to stack and can easily fall off of the platform (meaning you lose it) Once they reach the correct height a level is passed and they earn a

random state that appears on their own personalized map of the US Visit itunescom to download the app

for mom and dadEver wanted to send that far-away friend a sweet something without the mail lag time or breaking the bank With gifts under $20 yiftees are for when you want to do something more than just a social media post or an email They are real gifts that you buy your friends receive via Facebook email and text and they pick up and redeem at real shops and restaurants local to them

Best part If the gift is not picked upredeemed within four weeks the money is returned to the purchaser Sign up at yifteecom or visit them on facebook to download the app

hen I had my first baby in 2005 I was a working

mom Sure I took the allocated maternity leave After that it was straight to work for me more out of necessity than desire My husband and I worked opposite schedules and therefore didnrsquot need daycare

Then we decided to have a second child We figured everything would be exactly the same except there would be two of them Then we found out we were having twins ldquoTwo for the price of onerdquo we kept telling everybody Wersquove got thisright

With our family growing fast my husband was faced with either working his rear end

off or staying home with two screaming babies A few days trying out stay-at-home dadhood and we quickly learned what choice he was going to make So this time maternity leave turned into stay-at-home mom time and I was ready to go on the craziest ride of my life

One twin had colic and the other acid reflux or GERD to which itrsquos commonly referred My toddler was the best little man ever and just rolled with the punches and got up at every bottle feeding for moral support He was the best big brother and middle-of-the-night assistant a mom could ever ask for With my husband

working two full-time jobs I felt like a single mom with three little ones I got up early in the morning provided play time breakfast packed the diaper bag and cooler for a day outing I carried my twins in their carrier car seats from our third floor apartment down to our van every day to get out of the house At night my husband was working so I slept from bed to bed keeping everyone fed happy and loved except the babies cried all the time (from illness) and so did I I was severely depressed and quickly shutting down Having moved out of state when the twins were born we knew no one I mean no one We persevered until we decided to

by angel rodrigues

back to work

w

how do you prepare where do you start how do you know itrsquos time



ask the veterans

twins beyond the twos

How do you handle it when one twin seems to excel at an activity or subject in school How do you explain this to the other twin who loses sight of their own strengths in favor of what their twin does better

move closer to family Hillary Clinton wasnrsquot kidding when she said it takes a village to raise a family I felt like I needed the United Nations

With the dawning of a new day and the help of a really long nap I realized I needed to go back to work The kids were past their colic stage and my husband could handle it now Back to work I went My depression and disconnected feelings were all erased and I was whole again My children were doing well dad was bonding and I was making friends Life was good Did I mention that it was right about this point when I realized I was surprised with an unplanned pregnancy

With another bout of tears in my eyes and the weight of the world on my heart and soul I quickly realized I was heading backwards and not forward It wasnrsquot until I went for the gender screening and we found out our fourth baby was our much wanted and missing family member It was a girl I knew now that our family was complete and this was not a backwards movement but just the circle of life Singing Hakuna Matata I happily went on maternity leave but this time was different I decided to set myself up for a better future and go back to school online So while I stayed home with our four children I went to school online started freelance writing and my own blog I was connected healthy happy and so were my children My husband however really needed a vacation

phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy

Many twins especially identical grow accustomed to doing the same things at nearly the same time (ie napping eating playing etc) However even at an early age you may notice some differences in things they like or excel at individually Itrsquos only natural when they begin preschool and elementary grades to begin separating them not only in class but also in extracurricular activities One twin may be much more athletic while the other enjoys the arts like drawing music and

dance Explain that while they were certainly born on the same day they are individuals who will excel at different things in life Explain how they can encourage each other in their choices and root each other on What could be more encouraging than your twin cheering from the sidelines

Also enjoy the times when you have them individuallyit doesnrsquot require anything special but take those moments to embrace their differences while still enjoying the rare one-on-one time ~talitha

Once the 2012 school year came around our oldest was entering second grade and we decided to put the twins into preschool Having never ventured preschool it was scary and unfamiliar to us but they wanted to go more than anything So off to school the boys went Baby girl on the other hand stayed home I went back to work and relieved my husband of the crazy hours he was working (because quite frankly I was afraid he was going to have a heart attack and die)

Our daughter has become a complete daddyrsquos girl I am loving work my husband can actually sleep and we even manage a family dinner every now and again We may be running from one place to the other most of the time but one thing is certain our family of six is now perfect

Angel has a feminist brain a thirst for knowledge and writing is her dirty little secret She is mom to a 7 year old 4 year old busy twin boys and a 2 year old independently spirited young lady She has been married to the best man

on earth for over 14 years and is kept alive by coffee You can follow her blog or find her on Facebook and Twitter

back to work tipsMoms are often looking for a way back into the workforce after the children have arrived According to professional staffing firm Mom Corps here are 5 basic things that will help you re-enter the workforce with gusto

Be organized - Have your resume prepared Be sure to create spreadsheets for networking applications for which yoursquoe applied etc

Writing is crucial - Brush up on your grammar spelling etc as people DO notice

Sell yourself - Create a strong and effective elevator speech for selling yourself

Follow up - This one speaks for itself How do you know if you donrsquot ask

Itrsquos not about you - Remember that itrsquos what you can offer the company in helping maximize productivity and profits

1

2

3

4

5

Want to write for us Check out our guidelines and send us your stories

protecting the earthand your familynext issue

sneak peek


multiplicity the must-have magazine for all moms of multiples34 FASH

ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess

For most of the country (and many parts across the world) there is a definite chill in the air with winter weather on the horizon We moms of multiples wear many different hats from stay-at-home moms (taking care of the kids and household to organizing playdates etc) to the ldquonever enough time in the dayrdquo moms always on the go and the corporate and work from home moms who are often expected to be a little more professional in their day-to-day attire Regardless of our activity therersquos little excuse to dressing fabulously especially when you can find so many great items to fit any budget

The biggest rule of thumb right now is to layer --- which especially comes in handy when you get overheated chasing little ones at the park Scarves jewelry and purses arenrsquot just accessories for those moms whorsquos children have outgrown their constant care (and tugging and pulling) but rather for those ready to embrace their own sense of fashion once again Good ldquoinrdquo colors for now are the grays and blacks but always with a pop of color (the turquoise is beautiful this time of year) I also love to mix up styles adding the feminine touch of a frilly coat over straight pants or the cute dress over chunky patterned tights Depending on length of pants (hint shorten using hem tape) you can opt for either the boot for cooler days or the basic but trusty flat When selecting your outfit for the day donrsquot ever be afraid to be the envy of all moms at the playground

Herersquos to finding your sense of fashion for lesshope you enjoy

Merona Womens Double Breasted Classic Peacoat Target - $40 Grey Zip Detail Naples Bootcut Trousers A|Wear - $24 Black wedge Lulus - $39 ALDO Bunger handbag Aldo Shoes - $50 Womenrsquos Braided Scarf Old Navy - $19 Black Dome Ring Dorothy Perkins - $11 Silver Filagree Teardrop Earrings Maurices - $8

1

2 3 4

Cropped Swing Tank Witchery - $31 Twill Jacket Oasis - $40 Womenrsquos Stretch Skinny Fit Trousers Uniqlo - $48 Grey Filagree Pumps Dorothy Perkins - $29 Grey Buckle Zipper Riding Boot Go Jane - $35 Amrita Singh Bridgehampton Ring Amrita Singh - $50 Textured Hoop Earring The Iconic - $26 Infinity Mod Circle Scarf Etsy - $22

Long Line Pintuck Blouse Debenhams - $31 212 Collection Plaid Slimming Straight-Leg Pants Kohlrsquos - $28 Slim Hooded Black Trench Coat Romwe - $170 Red Suede Snake-Embossed Mary Jane White House Black Market - $40 Metallic Snakeskin Clutch Bag Debenhams - $39 Zipper Wrap Bracelet EMP - $26 Feather Hoop Drop Earring Oasis - $23

Rust Belted Dress A|Wear - $24 Rob Bow 34 Bolero Vila - $33 Brown Mid Waist Elastic Skinny Striped Leggings She Inside - $16 Poppie Jones Fringe Mini Bag DSW - $27 Resin Double Bangle Mango - $20 River Island Black Leaf Drop Earrings River Island - $5 Michael Antonio Baldwin Faux Leather Knee High Boots In Cognac Beyond the Rack - $56



Have you ever been out and seen a baby wearing a helmet If you are like most moms you probably marveled at how adorable it looked on the baby but then silently wondered what in the world it was for The answer is one that all mothers especially those with multiples should be aware of Flat head syndrome

What is flat head syndromeIf you are not familiar with flat head syndrome you are not alone Flat head syndrome is the condition in which an area of an infantrsquos head is flattened often with little hair growing in that area It is most often the result of babies spending a lot of time lying on their backs or often being in a position where the head is resting against a flat surface (such as in cribs strollers swings and playpens)

The two main components of flat head syndrome are plagiocephaly (the condition in which flat spots develop on the infantrsquos skull) and torticollis (when an infantrsquos neck muscles become tight on one side causing a head tilt)

In 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched the ldquoBack to Sleeprdquo Campaign to reduce Sudden Infant Syndrome (SIDS) in newborns ldquoBack to Sleeprdquo has been a truly life-saving service and has decreased SIDS deaths by over 50 However this initiative had some unintended consequences

ldquoBack to Sleeprdquo coupled with the amount of time newborns spend on their backs sleepingnapping in their car seats bouncers and swings have caused a 600 increase in positional plagiocephaly and torticollis

Who is at riskEvery baby is at risk of positional plagiocephaly and torticollis (flat head syndrome) and nearly

1 in 2 babies develop the condition to some degree by the time they are 5 months old It is important to note that preemie babies and multiples are at even higher risk often spending an extended amount of time lying flat on their backs in the NICU after birth

What are the consequencesWhile it was once assumed that flat head syndrome would simply resolve itself without causing any long-term consequences for the baby current research suggests that many infants with flat head syndrome can experience not only cosmetic abnormalities but also varying degrees of developmental delays later in life (Pediatrics 200 105e26)

How is flat head syndrome treatedThese conditions when caught can be extremely expensive and emotionally and physically difficult to treat Physical therapy can be uncomfortable for the child but is often required and in severe cases cranial remolding (the helmet) is necessary

Can flat head syndrome be preventedYes The best method of prevention is to be diligent in repositioning your babyrsquos head Newborn infants sleep the majority of the time and itrsquos important that they be flat on their backs when they are To reduce the pressure this can cause on the back of the head parents should change babyrsquos head positioning after each feeding alternating sides so that one does not become favored

Parents can also try alternating the arm in which they hold their baby for feeding and alternating the side from which they approach baby during diaper changes

As baby gets older and strong enough to move on his or her own parents can provide distractions to entice baby to turn their head from side to side perhaps using a favorite toy Another helpful tactic

the story behindflat head syndrome

by dr jane scott

can be to turn baby around in the crib so that they naturally turn toward the parent and the activity in the room

Prevent flat head syndrome with Tortletrade Dr Jane Scott is a Board Certified Pediatrician a wife and a mother of four Over the last 20 years practicing she has watched flat head syndrome grow exponentially in infants to now epidemic numbers and has witnessed countless parents struggle to treat this Some are fortunate to receive an early diagnosis when the issue is still fairly easy to correct However there are also many emotionally devastated parents who are faced with many difficult choices to make because of something that could have been easily prevented After seeing so much unnecessary heartache Dr Jane made it her mission to end flat head syndrome across the US and the world

In addition to educating new parents on the prevention of plagiocephaly Dr Jane created Tortletrade a non-invasive affordable solution that not only helps to treat mild cases of early-diagnosed positional plagiocephaly and torticollis in young infants but can prevent it from ever occurring

The Tortle is an FDA cleared simple safe and comfortable beanie designed to aid parents in positioning their infants By switching the Tortle from side to side with each feeding parents alleviate the flat spots and neck tightness that newborns often develop For more information about Tortle and Dr Janersquos mission visit Tortlecom

It is important to remember that prevention is key and flat head syndrome doesnrsquot have to affect your baby Speak with

your pediatrician about plagiocephaly and torticollis Get informed and be prepared before your baby is born Help spread awareness by talking to your friends and family There are numerous online resources for information and support from other families who have had a baby diagnosed with flat head syndrome Through education and awareness we can keep babiesrsquo heads beautiful and round

About TortleFounded by Dr Jane Scott in 2012 Tortle Products is the maker of Tortle a comfortable lightweight baby beanie that helps prevent the problem of positional plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome prevalent among infants All babies are at risk for this condition Tortle is available in three sizes and a variety of colors and designs Follow Tortle and Dr Scott on Facebook on Twitter and on Pinterest

Dr Jane Scott is a Board Certified Neonatologist Pediatrician and Founder of Tortle Products LLC As a neonatologist and pediatrician babies and moms are Dr Janersquos life Not only does she have first-hand experience as a mother ndash she had four premature babies ndash she works with infants who have severe medical conditions and understands how difficult this can be for families

In addition to educating new parents on the prevention of plagiocephaly Dr Jane created Tortle a non-invasive affordable solution that not only treats mild cases and early diagnosed positional plagiocephaly and torticollis in young infants but can prevent it from ever occurring The Tortle is a patented FDA cleared device that Jane hopes will eradicate flat head syndrome while allowing moms to safely follow AAPrsquos important Back to Sleep protocol Dr Jane is currently writing her first book on plagiocephaly which is slated for release in Spring 2013

Dr Janersquos work is her passion but when shersquos not working she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren



the teetertotter

by julia fritze

trsquos a balance You are standing in the middle of a teeter totter On one end of this teeter totter is your

ldquoworkrdquo On the other is your ldquoliferdquo Your task is to stay in the middle of this teeter totter and keep it perfectly balanced never letting anything hit the ground And now you have done something crazy You have thrown your multiples on the ldquoliferdquo end of your teeter totter And they are children They do not know it is easier on their mom if they sit still Chances are they are bouncing up and down and trying to enjoy the ride Is it possible Can you really balance work and your life with multiples in the mix

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics 706 of all mothers with children under the age of 18 are in the workforce That means the majority of moms are working on this teeter totter every day Some mothers you see seem to have all the answers and have it all together but I bet if you look a little closer you probably have more in common with them than you might think There are some tactics you can use and are even more important as a mother of multiples Here it is broken it down into four rules that may improve your chances of keeping the teeter totter in balance

RULE 1 ndash PRIORITIZEEasier said than done but this is something that should be done on both the large and small scale on a regular basis Identify what is important to you and your family Once you realize you canrsquot and probably donrsquot want it all I bet you feel a wave of relief As mothers we too often feel we have to be everything to

everyone at work home church clubs etc If you prioritize what is the most important eliminate activities that are superfluous to the major goals and focus on your family and your needs it will be a guiding principal You will know what is important to you for ldquoworkrdquo and ldquoliferdquo and the balance will come much easier

RULE 2 ndash LEARN TO SAY NOThis is a hard one for many but key to keeping the balance Once you have established your priorities yoursquoll realize that many things that are probably stealing large chunks of your time are not the important things Eliminate what you can Perform time cutting shortcuts when possible Buy the cupcakes for the twinsrsquo school bake sale skip the happy hour with the friend you have grown apart from turn down the extra project at work that you know wonrsquot get you recognition and help you get the promotion you want When the priorities are all competing and you cannot get them all done it is time to move to rule 3

RULE 3 ndash ASK FOR HELPAgain this is hard for us mothers to do but is also another key to balancing the teeter totter Once you come to the realization that your priorities are competing and something is going to push you out of balance it is time to pull in the reinforcements Ask a more junior employee to help you with a project and use it as a mentoring experience Ask a friend to watch your kids while you get a haircut Utilize your parents and in-laws who always offer to help Ask your husband to film the twinsrsquo

i soccer game so you can watch it later as a family and you can go to the important meeting Set your priorities know what is important and ask for help where needed

RULE 4 ndash MAKE TIME FOR YOUThis is important for all mothers but even more so for the mom of multiples You can go 247 only for so long Find time to go to the gym Finish your top priorities and then get some sleep Eat right The healthier you are the more you will be able to do It is counter-intuitive making time for yourself to have more time for your work and your family but by putting yourself last you are helping no one and possibly hurting your family and your career Take care of you and watch the energy you are able to give to others grow

These are four simple rules It is by no means a comprehensive list and I am by no means an expert in this area I was even late in meeting my deadline for this article due to my girlsrsquo teething causing interrupted sleep this week coupled with a business trip But that said I think we can do it As mothers of multiples we have learned to be jugglers very early in our babiesrsquo lives Throw two screaming infants at a singleton parent and watch them crumble We are made for this True occasionally there will be a slip up One end of the teeter totter will hit the ground Itrsquos ok Just get back to the middle regroup and start again With a little work and planning I bet you can keep your teeter totter in balance and your priorities will be achieved



ould you ldquotake a walk on the wild siderdquo and use animal print in your interior design

Please tell me the answer is yes If your room is lacking a little bit of ldquooomphrdquo an animal-inspired accessory may be just the ldquofive minute fixrdquo you need The pattern color and texture of animal prints or furs add interest and energy to just about any space Zebra leopard cheetah snake and other patterns are easy to find and available colors range from those found in nature to those only imagined Best of all animal prints and furs are available at all price points and in real or faux versions

In this traditional living room I relied upon animal print pillows to strengthen the color story and add another layer of pattern and texture The small scale of the print does not compete with the striped window treatments or the classic styling of the spool chair but instead makes the vignette more vibrant and youthful

Pillows throws and rugs are easy ways to incorporate animal print or furs into your deacutecor A few of my favorites are the Black and White Spotted Pillow from Furbish the KOLDBY cowhide from IKEA the Mongolian Lamb Pillows from West Elm and the Celine Cheetah Rug from Ballard Designs If those things are too much for you pick something inexpensive and start small Itrsquos the perfect way to experiment Small elements like coasters make a difference in the overall look of a room and let you try out the style with little risk I found these faux snakeskin coasters from Zara Home for a little shot of pattern that costs less than a pack of diapers

Remember too that animal prints are not limited to fabrics Tortoise glassware ndash like those available at Horchow -- adds punch to the most basic white dishes A horn bowl or cup such as this one from World Market is a wonderful difficult-to break alternative to glass accessories on a coffee table Similar items are often available at Home Goods and other discount retailers In the right space I also love the look of papier-macirccheacute animal sculptures like those sold at West Elm

Happy decorating hellip and remember that these wild things donrsquot bite

Named by Charlotte Style magazine as one of Charlottersquos 50 Most Stylish People in 2010 Traci Zeller is an interior designer known for her clean sophisticated mix of classic and modern pieces Traci developed her refined

aesthetic through years of extensive travel including exposure to the finest art architecture and interiors around the world As a busy wife and mother to active twin boys she appreciates the need for spaces that are beautiful and functional Traci also authors a blog in which she shares her stylish favorites with over 120000 readers per month Her firm Traci Zeller Designs provides full service design and e-decorating packages

five minute fixanimal appeal

by traci zeller

w

y family of five moved to the Netherlands

last October We flew out of our small local South Carolina airport for a single connection to Atlanta From there we faced an overnight flight to Amsterdam with our 35 year old and 2 year old twin boys

And so started our adventure as expats There have been trials and bumps along the way but for the most part we are adjusting and creating a life here that feels like ldquohomerdquo Home is after all the people you are with --- not necessarily the physical place where you reside I know that is somewhat difficult for some people to understand --- and it really wasnrsquot until we left our home right before the holidays that this has really rung true Fortunately for us however our kids are young and flexible and my husband and I are a team We are somehow making it work

Moving to a new place is never easy You have to find your grocery stores doctors schools and pharmacies among a slew of other places that you need to know Yoursquore nervous venturing out because you fear you might get lost and you really donrsquot know anyone to rescue you should you need it Irsquove found that these are all realities that we had to face in addition to a foreign language colder climate and being so far away from everything and everyone that we were familiar with In all honesty though that didnrsquot scare or deter us It had been a dream of ours since we were dating to see the world and once our family was in a good place for us to go we did

When we arrived we had to wait a little over a month for the things we shipped from home to arrive That was a huge challenge in itself We landed with 9 suitcases and our car seats and not much else I brought the few

comfort items that I could pack with us so at the very least they had those things to tide them over We did luck out with a fantastic relocation company that ordered the necessities of furniture for us so that they were delivered and assembled upon arrival Beds a couch and kitchen table were key as it was vital that we establish our routine with the boys as quickly as possible Parents of multiples know all too well that a schedule can be a chore but it can also be your sanity Once it was clear that their routine wasnrsquot going to change everyone relaxed a little and by the second week I had them all enrolled in a preschool that we had researched beforehandWhat better way to get the language immersion process going

Our main goal while we are here is to travel and see what we can of Europe As a family

after the move making it work by farrah ritter

m



do something GOODby natalie diaz

On December 14th I decided to have the twins play hooky from school (donrsquot judge) to see Santa Little did I know the events that occurred at Sandy Hook on that day will live in my mind forever I got a call from my mother-in-law telling me to NOT turn on the TV when I got home She said there was a shooting at a school and it would scare the kids I didnrsquot know all the details and I didnrsquot even know if I wanted to find out The twinsrsquo birthday was the next day and I wanted to just be in a celebratory mood and shut the outside out

Saturday morning we went to celebrate with all of their friends During the party I got a text from a friend informing me that one of the kids killed was a twin Irsquom not sure why at that moment it all hit me but I looked at my duo celebrating and I imagined the surviving twin What were they doing right now It was then that I knew we had to do something

Twiniversity has a paid ldquoGoldrdquo

subgroup which allows for the funds collected to be used for twin families who experience a catastrophic event That Sunday I woke up and knew just what to do I started a Fundly campaign to raise funds to plant a sapling for Noah in Central Park I needed to raise $500 so I created the page sent a few emails and posted a message on facebook

Within 11 minutes $500 was raised I turned to my husband and said ldquoWhat nowrdquo I really wanted to dedicate a tree and even have a plaque for Noah in the park but it would take $5000 He responded ldquoGo for it Wersquoll figure out what to do if you canrsquot raise the moneyrdquo I never imagined we would raise the money within 12 hours

That night I got a call from another blogger and twin mom friend Jody and she had someone to match that donation so that TWO trees could grow side by side in Central Park in honor of Noah AND his twin What a great

gift We would like to thank Jay who made the donation in honor of Noahrsquos sister He did it to teach his daughter about giving community and support Thank you so much

With more than $3000 raised over the funds needed for the tree we will donate to a trust for Noahrsquos surviving siblings

The rapid response of everyonersquos support restored my faith in humanity The events that occurred were beyond horrific and I wish I had the power to turn back time so not one of those families would shed even one tear Our prayers go out to all the families of both the students and teachers who lost their lives and the survivors who had to endure the tragedy

Fundraising continues for Noahrsquos family For more details on how you can help or to donate visit Twiniversitycom

the power of our community

Flexible live-in childcare for up to 2 years A low weekly cost of just $350week Qualified ampcarefully screened candidatesPersonalized matching service A cultural exchange experience for the whole family

More Information Contact Rebecca at 704-942-0729 orRebeccaPeplinskirepculturalcarecom

Cultural Care Au Pair offers

Multiples Discounts Available

ldquoFor anyone expecting or raising multiples this book needs to be on their recommended reading listrdquo mdashMultipleBirthsFamiliescom

ldquoOffers advice to frazzled parentsrdquo mdashBrooklyn Daily Eagle

ldquoFull of information it is richly flavored with tips and tricks that are certainly very practical for the busy parents of twinsrdquo mdashTwin Research and Human Genetics

A must-read book


Dr Joan A Friedman PhD

New book about adult

twinscoming

soon too

contd from --- movewe have discussed our goals and the places that we really want to make sure we see in the next two years We live every day as an adventure and a chance to experience something new Learning new things meeting new people are all essential to an open mind and inquisitiveness that we hope to impart upon them This isnrsquot easy by any stretch of the imagination but is anything about parenting easy when it comes down to it

Farrah is mom to twin boys as well as their 3 year old brother Recently they made the move to the Netherlands

for the next few years You can follow their journey on her blog The Three Under Facebook and as Momofthreeunder on Twitter


multiplicity the must-have magazine for all moms of multiples44phot

ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy

We all have days like thisJoin moms of multiples all around the globe in supporting each other on the good and the not-so-good days

cover cutiesJust over 1 year old now Aiden and Silas

are identical in looks but couldnrsquot be more different in personality Aiden

likes to take charge at playtime while Silas is always watching and learning Both

boys love to dance and each has his own style They LOVE music and playing with big brother Jack When they grow up they will probably be

Superheros photos courtesy of Jillian Farnsworth Photography

New Year - How about try no yelling

Reading Readiness --- are your twins ready

How to Shop on a Multiplesrsquo Budget

Fitness amp Getting the Family In It

Product Buzz - the scoop on must-have items for moms and kids

Itrsquos our Birthday and YOU get the gifts

How to Write Meaningful Resolutions

Kitchen Comforts - Easy recipes the whole family will love

Ask Joan Sleep routines

The art of efficiency for every mom of multiples

Appy Winter Apps the whole family can enjoy

Heading back to work - know what to do

Fashion Finds for Less Itrsquos time to update that fall wardrobe amp we share some great ideas

Flat Head Syndrome - what every mom should know

Balancing the Teeter Totter

Five Minute Fix - Animal Appeal

After the Move - making it work

Do Something Good - MOMs come together to make a difference

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10

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18

20

22

24

26

28

30

31

34

36

38

40

41

42

38

20

10

mamas on a mission


4














mom squad





by jessica therivel




















C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K








for 2013





by judi howe

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

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amp 2 Cart Nests

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scars

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$29 value each


$80 value



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Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















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b












Follow us

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by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy


4














mom squad





by jessica therivel




















C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K








for 2013





by judi howe

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy






by jessica therivel




















C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K








for 2013





by judi howe

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy


















C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K








for 2013





by judi howe

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy








for 2013





by judi howe

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy




by judi howe

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy

























superM O M

sponsored by











by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy








by nicole hastings



i

tried amp true tips















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

wwwMyScarAwaycom





wwwgalloenfuegocom


come in S M L

$29 value each


$80 value



wwwkushiesonlinecom





























Easy Vegetable Soup


kitchen comforts















ask joan






































b












Follow us

wwwmosquitnobandcom

30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy















canrsquot afford













focus on fitness













by amanda stephens

i



18


twin testedMOM

approved






YOUcould be our

winner









$300 retail value


amp 2 Cart Nests

www2redhenscom







$30retail value


scars

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Easy Vegetable Soup


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back to work

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ask the veterans






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o co

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wife

pho

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aphy














1

2

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5



sneak peek



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finds

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the teetertotter

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m






















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phy

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ask the veterans






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wife

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aphy














1

2

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sneak peek



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finds

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the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















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m






















A must-read book




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phy

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by angel rodrigues

back to work

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ask the veterans






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o co

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wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

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talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

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the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















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m






















A must-read book




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phy

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rew

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by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

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Follow us

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30 OFF



















by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

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by angel rodrigues

back to work

w




ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy



ask the veterans






phot

o co

urte

sy o

f fire

wife

pho

togr

aphy














1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy












1

2

3

4

5



sneak peek



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy



ION

finds

for le

ssby

talit

ha a

mcg

uinn

ess





1

2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

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hy


2 3 4



















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy
















by dr jane scott













the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy














the teetertotter

by julia fritze






















by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






ogra

phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy























by traci zeller

w









m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

soon too






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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

grap

hy










m






















A must-read book




twinscoming

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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

hoto

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A must-read book




twinscoming

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phy

by fi

rew

ife p

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ogra

phy

by fi

rew

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multiplicity magazine - winter 2013 issue

Documents

musthave magazine

moms of multiplesonce

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digital magazine

attention multiplicity

calendar year

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