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We're in Brooklyn without a car, so we have always just done grocery shopping at the nearest shop (a 15 minute walk). When I found out we were having twins, I thought for sure we'd have to switch to online grocery shopping and delivery by the end of the pregnancy, but somehow I endured! Now I've got 3 little ones and am STILL managing to get to the grocery store almost every day. Here's how it goes: Here's an article I wrote for Mommy Nearest with online grocery shopping options. It just pains me to spend $5-10 extra per order. We might switch eventually, but for now, if you see me in the store, and I mean this in the nicest way - GET OUTTA MY WAAAAAAY!!! hehe
Shoutout to StrollAir MyDuo stroller, the Englacha X-Rider toddler board/seat, and the WeeGo Twin Carrier!! Without them, we'd be screwed!
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So you've got twins on the way, do ya? Congratulations!! You have a TON of shopping to do, and one of the first things you have to decide is where your little bundles of joy will sleep. They can co-sleep in one crib but that involves an increased risk of SIDS. They could go straight into their own cribs. They can co-sleep with you in your bed, but you might have to kick your partner out of bed to fit them in there, and many will argue co-sleeping with your baby/babies isn't safe. There's also the good ol' Rock 'n Play, however many blame them for flat head, not to mention the steep incline creates a risk of postural asphyxiation, yikes! Yes, you have many options for sleeping arrangements but here is one you probably haven't heard of and should definitely consider. Are you ready for a REALLY cool (and beautiful) product for twins? Are you?? I give you, the Babyhome So-Ro Twin Cradle:  1 product, 2 great functions: A) twin cradle, B) shelving unit!! We just got one and here is what I'm loving about it:
 Daddy put the cradle together in about 10 minutes, with some "help" from our toddler. This made for a great present to our girls on their first Christmas! Here are our twins enjoying their So-Ro: We're not the only ones loving it. The Babyhome So-Ro Twin Cradle has been awarded "Best of Baby" by The Bump in 2015 and the Norwegian Design Council's Award for Design Excellence, and was a nominee for the 2012 German Design Award.  Distributed by Babyhome (like other awesome children's products from high chairs and bouncers to strollers and bed rails), click here to purchase your very own So-Ro Twin Cradle (or a single So-Ro Cradle for just one baby). And don't forget to follow Babyhome on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest for the latest info on their products, and giveaways, too!! Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
Being a new mom is an overwhelming time in your life. You experience the highest highs and the lowest lows simultaneously. You're beyond exhausted but overjoyed to simply gaze into your baby's eyes. You're anxious about breastfeeding but over the moon to be sharing such an amazing bond with this baby you anticipated meeting for nine long months. Your hormones are all over the place, you might still look pregnant despite already holding your newborn in your arms, and yet you couldn't be any happier.  A newborn photo shoot can capture all of these emotions and the beauty behind them, if you choose the right photographer. I recently found one in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn who not only has the experience and amazing portfolio to prove it, but actually pampers new mothers at the shoot. That's right - new moms get a full hair and makeup session as part of Christina Marotto Photography's newborn package!! But Christina doesn't stop there. Here's what you can expect: Before the shoot Christina will come to your home to get to know your family better. She will ask about your hobbies, how you and your partner met, about any other kids you might have, the color and theme of the baby's nursery, etc, in hopes of finding something unique to make your photos YOURS rather than just your baby in the same classic newborn photos you see every day. My husband is Japanese and we're a pretty goofy family. Christina and I joked about dressing the kids up and she ended up finding some adorable sushi costumes for our newborn twins, and my toddler dressed as a sushi chef - it came out super adorable!!  During the shoot At the shoot, mom will be pampered by a professional makeup artist with full hair and makeup being done while the baby is being photographed in a small (warm) cozy room. She has an assortment of wraps for mom and backgrounds for baby and family, so she can get just the right feeling and color schemes. The location couldn't be better if you have older kids - it's a back room in a family run indoor play center, so your older kids will be able to run around and have a ball when it's not their turn in front of the camera!  After the shoot Christina will come by your home, or you can meet her at the studio, to go over the photos which she'll have printed out for you. She has tons of different products to choose from, from prints to canvases to leather-bound albums and even a new iPad full of all of your digitals! If you choose a product for the wall, she'll even come to your home to find the best spot for it and hang it herself! Talk about full service!!  Here are some more goodies from our twins' newborn shoot: Besides newborn photography, Christina also does beauty & boudoir, maternity, family, senior portraits, holiday shoots, and more - so keep her in mind the next time you're looking for an amazing photographer in Brooklyn or beyond! Be sure to check out her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram!
If you're a fan of Shark Tank, you may already be familiar with the Twin Z Pillow, a nursing pillow designed especially for breastfeeding twins. But did you know the makers of the Twin Z have recently created a pillow for nursing a single baby? It's called the One Z Pillow and if you have a baby or one on the way, you need to know about it!  The One Z Pillow, like its Twin Z predecessor, is super comfortable for mom and baby, with a very unique back support built in. It's quite a different feel from the current forerunners in the breastfeeding pillow market, and now that I have tried it I really wish it had been available for me with my son! This thing is really amazing!  On both the One Z and Twin Z Pillows, part of the pillow kind of flips up and acts as back support, making it like nursing on a cloud. SO comfortable!!! The minky cover is also seriously luxurious and feels really nice for mama and baby. Of course it's not just for nursing, you can use them for bottle feeding as well, for baby loungers, and for tummy time! But these pillows are not limited to that... before the baby arrives, you can use these as pregnancy support pillows, and after your nursing days are over, these pillows make for great toddler chairs, allow for super duper comfy book reading in bed (or on the floor, or anywhere), and more! The One Z and Twin Z Pillows come in regular or waterproof, the covers have several colors to choose from, and they also offer personalization of the pillow (can you say AWESOME baby shower gift!??). If you have one baby, you can get more info and buy the One Z Pillow here (or on Amazon). If you have twins, you can get more info and buy the Twin Z Pillow here (or on Amazon). Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
I recently professed my love for Naturepedic and Lullaby Earth crib mattresses, and explained how crib mattresses can weigh anything from around 6 to 30 pounds. Well, the lighter ones are not too much trouble when it comes to sheet changing, but the heavier ones? UGH!!! And then you have the mattress pad adding bulk, so sometimes it's not the weight but the fact that the mattress is totally wedged in there and you need an extra set of hands to wiggle it in and out of the frame! If this sounds familiar, you are going to LOVE ME today for introducing you to... With QuickZip, you have 2 parts - the base fits onto the bottom and up over all sides of the mattress and the top part lays on top and zips onto the base. So, you just zip off, wash, and zip back on the top part instead of having to deal with taking the mattress out or getting the sheets back over the corners and all that nonsense! Check out my demo video to see how easy (and fun!??) it is!! But wait... when a baby spits up or blows out or a toddler has an accident, it's not just the sheet you have to change. You are right! And QuickZip knows it, so they also have a waterproof mattress pad for crib and twin sized mattresses as well as play yards!! Seriously awesome right?? And if you want to just go all out and add QuickZip to every bedroom you're in luck because their QuickZip sheets come in sizes play yard, crib, twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and cal king. They also have pillow cases. The different sizes and products come in a variety of colors and textures, from organic cotton to sateen and velvety soft fleece. Woohoo! See their full product line-up here (or on Amazon if you prefer!  And don't forget to keep checking back here because we are planning a giveaway with QuickZip in the near future!
In the meantime, here are some recent posts you might enjoy:
Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
Shoes. Let's face it, they make or break the outfit, am I right? When we're talking kids' shoes, you want them to be stylish, functional, comfortable, and durable (to pass down to their siblings), and a company whose shoes encompass all of those great qualities is pediped.
Tis the season and pediped has a great assortment of shoes for holiday parties & photos, and gift giving. From dress shoes to waterproof snow boots and even cute socks and tights, Pediped has gotcha covered!!
But don't take my word for it - pediped has been named Best Footwear in the 2015 Earnie Awards presented by Earnshaw’s Magazine (winning this award 6 times in the past 9 years)! They've also been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development.
Styles vary in design and features, such as machine washable capability, water-safe technology, Memory Foam Technology™, Ultra Light Technology™, eco-friendly material, slip resistant sole, self-cleaning sole, and temperature ratings! Love it!!
Here are my girls modeling their new pediped Originals Natasha Black dress shoes. With a simple velcro strap they're super easy to get on and off, and feature genuine leather upper and all leather sole (which is nicely padded). But let's face it, we love 'em cuz they're stinkin' cute!!! They're size 0-6 months but as you can see are way too big for the twins this holiday season. Maybe they'll fit by Valentine's Day? 
Here's my son in his new pediped Grip 'n' Go Max Navy shoes - I guess Christmas came early, who knew a kid could be so excited about shoes?! He loves them cuz they're "cool" and I love them because they're lightweight, cute, have a flexible rubber sole and breathable mesh lining, and are water safe! That light reflective strip on the toe is pretty smart, too!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Enter in the Rafflecopter box below for a chance to win a pair of pediped Originals shoes - winner choses the size (0-24 months) and gender. Open to US and Canada residents ages 18 and over. Giveaway ends at 11:59PM EST Tuesday, December 29.
Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
I'm not a professional but we've done the whole application process and several casting calls with my son, and at just 2 months old my girls have booked their first gig. Friends have been asking left and right for tips on how to get their kids into the business so I thought why not just put something together to help guide them a wee bit? Here's what I've got:
Don't Pay a Dime
Seriously, no agency should ask you for a dime up front. If they do, they're most likely a scam. You don't even need professional photos - just casual shots you take at home in a simple well lit setting, showing their face (no hats or props) and wearing simple clothing without logos or graphics.
Where the money comes in is getting to and from casting calls, hiring a babysitter to watch your other kids, etc etc. This is TOUGH to shell out for since you are very unlikely to get the paying gig, but you don't have any chance if you don't go unfortunately!
Find Legit Agencies
But how do you know if they're legit? Do a Google search. Check with the Better Business Bureau. Ask around! You want to make sure they don't have complaints against them for not paying in a timely manner and as I mentioned above, you want to make sure they're not charging you to sign up with them or forcing you to pay for a professional portfolio through them. They make their money as a commission from your child's gigs, and trust me, that's enough!
"Like" and click "Receive Notifications" on their Facebook pages to be kept in the loop of upcoming castings, and check through their wall for engagement to see how they respond to their families and what kind of gigs they are coming up with. I've seen some with a lot of negativity and I get it, being an agent can be frustrating, but some of them just come across as very unprofessional and I really wouldn't want to work with them. Some agencies have a quick and simple online application process or via e-mail, others require you to send everything via snail mail. Some also host big open calls (they pick a day and an age group and invite anyone and everyone to come in between the hours of XX - XX) where they look for new recruits. These can be chaotic but can also be great if you have a child who really shines in person with their cheeky personality! Just be prepared - the agents often are quite blunt with no filter. It's the business and it's not always nice, even when children are involved (and present)!
Work Permits & Bank Accounts
The industry tries to protect the interest of the children in the acting and modeling worlds. Before they can step foot on the job, they have to have a work permit. New York provides animmediate 1st time work permit good for 15 days (convenient if they book their first job last minute) but then you have to get a work permit for 1 year and renew it within 30 days of expiration. As part of the work permit application, you have to get a health form filled out by their doc, a form filled out by their school, and a form filled out by a financial institution showing you've set up a special custodial trust fund (UTMA, UGMA, Coogan, or Blocked Trust) into which a minimum of 15% of their earned money must be placed and cannot be touched by the parents.
Some Agencies To Consider in NYC
I've noted whether application is online (including e-mail) or via snail mail.
Have you gotten your kids into the business? Are you an agent? Share your experiences and advice below!!
DISCLAIMER: I cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies in the above information and I do not endorse any of the agencies listed, they simply appeared legit in my research. Please be sure to do your own research!
My son is almost 3 years old and has LOVED the water since his first dip in the pool at 11 months. Other than a few baby and parent classes this summer at our local pool, he hasn't had any kind of instruction and is pretty reluctant to blow bubbles or jump into the pool. But in the arms of mom or dad, he's a total water baby.  Personally, having him in or near the water makes me a bit nervous, so while at our hotel pool during our visit to Philadelphia over Thanksgiving weekend we had him in a Konfidence jacket as an extra precaution and thank goodness we did because he gave us quite a scare! My husband was in the hot tub and I was just to the side with our twins. Kenzo was walking around the hot tub perimeter when he mistakingly walked right over the edge head over heels. I screamed out (bloody murder) as soon as I saw his foot go over the side, and by the time he went under and bobbed back up (instantaneously thanks to the Konfidence jacket) my husband was there to scoop him up and onto the side of the hot tub. Having researched and written a piece about delayed drowning last year for Mommy Nearest, I was completely freaked out with what the result of his little accident could have been. It's so true what they say about never taking your eyes (or hands) off of your little ones for a split second, because that's all it takes. We are so so so lucky that 1) he had on a swimming aid and 2) that he fell in at a spot of the hot tub that was a deeper non-seating area (the seats were a hard stone/concrete - he would have cracked his head open had he fallen there!!) So, phew. Crisis averted! Long story short, we love the Child Konfidence Jacket and if you want to build confidence in your child while learning to swim, I highly recommend one. Here are some of its great features:
 Photo credit: Konfidence If interested, you can find an assortment of jackets and swimwear by Konfidence on their website and Amazon! And for your viewing pleasure, below are a couple snippets of our little water baby in action: Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
Life with a newborn is no joke. Life with newborn twins? Well, it's not infinitesimally harder, but it's harder... a LOT harder! I now have two months under my belt and feel I'm ready to pass along some of my tips and tricks to those about to embark on the adventure! Babywearing!  You can go with any infant compatible carrier for when one baby is fussy and needs to be held. Personally I love the Moby and Mei Tai. But when BOTH infants need to be held and you need to be mobile and/or hands free? You have way less options. If you're very skilled (or have the patience to sit through a bunch of YouTube tutorials and practice practice practice) you can try wearing both babies in a Moby or other kind of wrap. I tried, and failed. It was quite humbling. So I stuck with the WeeGo Twin Carrier, the only one made specifically for two infants. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, or perhaps I'm not wearing it right? All the weight is on my shoulders, but still I wear it at least an hour a day. Sometimes you have two overtired and screaming babies and the only way to get them to both calm down and go to sleep at the same time is babywearing and the WeeGo has been a life-saver for me!! Don't let them get overtired!  Babies cry for many reasons, many of which we are hard wired to check for. They're hungry (look for hunger cues such as hands at mouth, sticking out tongues, smacking lips, etc), they have a dirty diaper (pinch / sniff the diaper or take a peek), they're too hot (check for sweaty neck), or they're too cold (hands and feet are not a good indicator since newborns have poor circulation - instead stick your hand in and feel their belly or back to make sure it's warm). You may also have a colicky baby or sporadic gas (be sure to burp them several times at feeding, and try laying them on your lap with head face up by your knees and feet toward your belly and then rotate their legs in a bicycle motion - this can help work out the gas). But in my household, if they're fed and changed and still crying, they are simply overtired. They may not look it. They may not have "sleepy eyes" or be yawning, but they need to sleep... desperately... even more than I do! It's amazing how much time flies and how little awake time newborns can handle. In the first month, they are pretty much only awake for feeding. After that, awake time gradually grows but even at 2 months my little ones cannot handle much more than 1 hour of awake time. If we pass 90 minutes they start flipping out and will not go down without a fight (which is when I resort to the WeeGo carrier mentioned above!). Stay organized but don't stress over schedules!  I went to twin prep classes by Twiniversity and Twin Love Concierge and they both had some really great charts for keeping track of feedings, diapers, medicine, sleep, etc. Using those as guides I created one that was more tailored to what I needed to keep track of, and I filled it out religiously for the first week. I quickly realized the sleep portion of it was a pain in the butt - newborns doze in and out, it was doing my head in! For me, keeping track of feedings (which baby took which boob and at what time) and how many poo/pee diapers they had was most important. After a month, I was only keeping track of feedings. And now at 2 months I've stopped the charting altogether. That said, I will keep track of feedings, diapers, and sleep for 2 days prior to each check up since the nurse always asks for those numbers and you don't want to feel like a big dummy (which I always do - "Ummmm 5? 10? I have no idea!!!") Most twin parents say getting babies on a schedule is key, and you can try straight from birth but it may not be worth the stress. My babies had a terrible latch and were not gaining weight the first two weeks so I had to give up tandem nursing for a "laid back" position and on top of that I had to pump to supplement. By one month they were both on track for weight and we were back to exclusively breastfeeding. The doc OK'd me to not wake them at night, but when one baby was up I made sure to get the other one up so they were on the same schedule at night. I kept the room fairly dark at night with the sound machine on, which was their cue that it was nighttime, and they never did get their days and nights confused. We were VERY lucky there! During the day though, I still haven't bothered with getting them on the same schedule. I actually kind of prefer when they are opposite since I can enjoy feeding and bonding with one baby while the other is peacefully sleeping. But we will probably be attempting a schedule soon, the flexible 3-hour "eat-play-sleep" BabyWise schedule worked well for my son from about 8 weeks so we may try that soon. Stay positive!
Just found out you're having twins? Don't miss my post on "How to Prepare for Having TWINS!" and "My Positive Twin Birth Story" to give you some encouragement! And have you seen my "Twin Pregnancy Progression Time Lapse Video"? You may wanna try creating one, too!! And here's a glimpse into our life with newborn twins and a toddler... Do you have tips for surviving life with newborn twins? Questions? Leave a comment below!!
We are very excited to bring you an amazing giveaway sponsored by Mommy Scene and lots of great family and kids brands! Enter to win one of FIVE holiday gift set prizes featuring great gift ideas for mom, kids, and baby!
Prize Set 1: Cute & Girly
1) Piggy Paint - Mistle Toes Set
2) EarZings pierce-free earrings - style of choice 3) VTech Flipsies - Lexi's Trampoline & Classroom 4) Yummi Pouch Cloth Snack Bags 5) Sudsy Dough moldable bath soap - Sassy Strawberry
Prize Set 2: Curious & Creative
1) Funbites Minion Food Cutter
2) The Cibo Placemat 3) Sudsy Dough moldable bath soap - Bubbly Blueberry 4) Cuddly Wearable Blanket 5) Medipro First Aid Kit Pod 6) Rubber Duckie & Friends bath and shower wand
Prize Set 3: Baby Adventures
1) Lulla Belay car seat cart strap
2) PouchBuddy by ChubChub 3) iFamCare Helmet Camera 4) Silkberry Baby Bamboo Footed Sleeper with easy dressing zipper 5) Ubbi Diaper Caddy 6) Buttons Diapers trial pack (1 diaper cover & 3 daytime inserts - style of choice depending on availability) 7) Wristy Buddy Elephant teething wristband
Prize Set 4: Cozy & Stylin'
1) Blue Baby Bum's Baby Crinkle Toy - set of 3 for boy or girl
2) Toofeze Baby Teether 3) BandaBib from Bazzle Baby 4) BabeeTalk Eco-Buds Take-Along Pals 5) Pure Hazelwood teething necklace 6) Pearhead Baby's First Christmas Chalkboard 7) Pacific Baby 3-in-1 Thermal Baby Bottle
Prize Set 5: Glam Momma
1) Ja-vie Houndstooth Collection flats
2) Ecocentric Mom Box - one month subscription 3) Glasstic Shatterproof Glass Water Bottle - color of choice 4) ISA Professional Xanadu 24K Makeup Primer and Serum 5) Pure Hazelwood adult necklace 6) Shuga Bebe Couture Nurse & Swaddle Muslin Blanket & Nursing Cover All-In-One 7) Everly Grey Roxanne 5-Piece PJ Gift Set 8) Mindful Soap Company Essential Oil Roll-On - blend of choice
Enter in the Rafflecopter box below to win one of these FIVE Gift Sets!
This contest is sponsored by Mommy Scene and is open to US entries. Five winners will be chosen and displayed in order of prize number on the giveaway widget after the contest ends on Dec. 18th, 2015. Mommy Scene and participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand.
Don't forget to check out Mommy Scene's 2015 Holiday Gift Guides:
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About ME:I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, saving moms time finding the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! 
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