We hosted a Beech Nut Naturals baby foodie party

It’s time for holidays and one of our favorites is peeking through the window. That would be Thanksgiving of course !

It’s the holiday where I get to cook all of my favorite meals for the family; from the elders down to the babies.

I learned about Beech-Nut Naturals line of baby food purees inspired by homemade just in time. The line of jar purees was created with input from moms and dads to share how Beech Nut ® Naturals ™ ‘s company from Upstate New York message is real food for babies™!

I wanted to host some of my favorite moms and babies to a casual get together in order to share how feeding your family the best possible food can be introduced at an early stage, as well as using the delicious ingredients made with real fruits and vegetables that we would use at home to create deliciousness for us adults as well.

As a #Beechnutpartner #realfoodforbabies #mommies parties host; I created this delicious purée dip that included real strawberries, fresh blueberries and whipped cream cheese, served with crackers for the moms while the babies feasted on their favorite Beech Nut Naturals fruits and vegetables.

The cutest honey pot jar with the rich green top can be found in your local grocery store for the babies to enjoy, just like these Little’s.

Our NEW go to brand for home decor and style for the family is at JCPENNEY

Over the weekend a big thing happened at JC Penney and I’m bringing the good to you!

An exclusive brand for JCPenney has been curated into a collection of classic styles to mix and match for the entire family and the home.

This super exciting brand is called Peyton & Parker!

For me as a one stop shopper and style lover this is game changer especially during the holiday season.

Peyton & Parker is the photo ready collection that is perfect for coordinating a style or home decor with perfect mix and match pieces. It’s NOW possible to even bring the photo studio to your home for the holidays for some real life shots…. just the way we love!

I had the privilege of trying out the new brand in a style challenge and couldn’t find a piece I didn’t love; so much so that I did some boys styling and the whole family. This sweater has actually just made my wish list.

The new lifestyle brand is designed entirely by the in-house design team at JCPenney and sold exclusively at their stores and online. It’s truly a moms dream come true.

Peyton & Parker is now available to make instagramable moments real and simple for you and yours.

This post is sponsored by MOMTRENDS

NYFW hair and fashion street style

NYFW is the highlight of fashion as we all know and LOVE!

In 2018 fashion has gone beyond clothing and is now embracing beauty And wellness as an overall fashion lifestyle. This new turn on fashion lifestyle has opened up many doors for creatives as well as fashion lifestyle lovers.

I used to find it hard to incorporate my work into the big world of fashion, because of the dedication to children and As a mom who considers my daily schedule before planning my style for the day…. I may fall off trend at times. However the excitement of not only having children’s fashion become a small part of fashion week but hair and beauty has taken center stage and I was super excited to attend the Texture on the runway event by Sally Beauty.

#naturallycurly was the movement of the night.

The runway was filled with creatively styled hair up dos, while talented models and ceo’s of hair brands like Cantu, Mane, carols daughter, Mielle, Shea moisture graced the stage to speak all of their goodness into the audience.

This change in the fashion week sparked so much excitement in everyone. It was awesome to interact with the brands, feel the products and learn more about the story behind them .

Another highlight and perfect combination to Fashion week is the event parties that follow. Media outlets are the reasons why we all strive in our businesses.

Which is why an Elle Magazine Fashion week party could not have been missed. They hosted the most elegant soirée to pamper the hard workers that put on these shows, and their guests. The glam squad was in attendance to make you shine, while a showcase of on trend looks were displayed for a first look and feel.

Sorel

I can now say that I’m especially looking forward to a new shoe release by Sorel. Now that Fashion week is done and fall is creeping in I should be prepping fall looks and style but I can’t seem to put our resort wear away just yet.

We will see you back on the blog when we return from the 🏖 beach!

(Visiting The beautiful 5 in the Caribbean … including Honduras)

Back to school preparation and style needs

Are you and your kiddos ready to begin the back to school hustle?

We’re holding on to the last bits of summer but are in no way in denial that school will begin very shortly.

There are so many school supply lists with must haves and trends that begin to surface in retailers starting July that we may get a bit confused. It’s always best to abide by the school supply lists (so that’s an easy task conquered) but how do we prepare and make back to school exciting.

I attended a few events in Mid summer to learn about new trends and products that may excite me and the girls for back to school.

– At the mom trends event I discovered this adorable lunch bag and pencil case that would be trendy for the girls… since Unicorns rule their universe right now.

Unicorns for them and Mabel’s Labels for me (kind of) . On my to do list from teachers and to create an easy morning for us Labels are a must on most of their books and supplies.

They loved the Unicorn style and ran with the theme! ✅

Speaking of labels: Epson ecotank printing has an amazing new device that makes it easier to print out your magnificently designed labels. This eliminates the hours of perfect handwriting, with less stress on whether or not you’re running low on ink – let’s just print it!

I couldn’t do a Back to school preparation list without including Vamousse. If you’re not familiar with this brand; you’re welcome for the introduction. Lice is a very scary thing. It’s overwhelming and includes lots of work. We were faced with a scare in Kindergarten. The letter comes home from school that there is a case of love in the class and then the show begins. Before learning about Vamousse, my immediate reaction was to take them to the doctors office.

I couldn’t imagine where I would start. So each year I’ve prepped with rosemary shampoo and peppermint oil, hairspray etc. – I mean have you seen the hair on them x’s 2…. no thank you!

The Vamousse brand not only contains shampoo, conditioner but household products if an outbreak was to occur. They are now our go to for back to school prepping.

Back to school style includes accessories, and necessities! Many teens,tweens or younger children whom parents work late have to use cellphones. It isn’t a must have but if your child does have a device chances are their friends and others will know that they have one. We thought that it would be a great safety feature to collaborate with a company and make finger slider phone holders that are flat and less visible when in their pockets or bags. (One less reason for bullying) Cell phone Finger holders

-The sturdy hold unlike the other distracting holders allows for your other fingers to type or grip the phone better, avoiding chances of falling to the ground.

To piggy back off of the cellphone subject and the many ways that families become busier during he school year; sportsmanship for girls is always a great idea. Now is the time to figure out what extracurricular activities are of interest to them. We love the message thatAthleta girl is spreading and believe whole heartedly that team work will keep the grades up!

Style style and more style!

When choosing a back pack for school durability is first on the list. Yet, once again unicorn🦄 lifestyle has to be in close proximity in order for the girls to get excited about packing those bags with books. We loved the Lands End personalized feature with monogramming and patches. The color Teal won and so did the 🌈 rainbow.

Though their school supply list only includes plain color folders… we couldn’t resist this collaboration with Avery and Amy Tangerine. These special folders were so exciting to them that they’ve decided to use them as their personal journal folders. They plan to carry their lunch books and clean sheets of paper with them to write during lunch… I mean don’t all third graders … ugh 3rd grade 😭

More than likely we will be TwinDollicious-ly twinning in style this year (Shopping haul video to come, you’ll have to watch to see) so thanks to Keds and Rifle Paper co for designing these amazing sneakers. Their new print designs include florals, decor and animals for adults to toddlers just in time for Back to school !

KEDS and RIfle Paper co 💕💕

Disclaimer: This blog post is of personal opinion and review, based on use of products sponsored by the brands.

Natasha’s Interview with Beyond Mom

TwinDollicious founder and Beyond Mom interview

I’ve always loved speaking to people and listening to their stories. I have recently found joy in sharing my story as well. It is always rewarding to help others, even if it’s by sharing your experience in life, mom-ing or business. I am always eager to share and work with others.

I hope you enjoy this interview. 🌸🌼🌸

“Where can you find the latest baby gear and toys”…you asked?

In other breaking news Toys r us and Babies r us are here no more… but when Sweet Suite and Baby Palooza NYC come to town your prayers are answered and there is hope again!

There is always so much anticipation as to what brands will be in attendance at the mornings event of Baby palooza NYC.  The amazing team pulls together great brands, new and old to create a space that showcases all of the goodness the brands have to offer.

This year I attended with Bash in tow (fast asleep) OMG! We worked the floor visiting our favorite brands, while getting to learn about new start up brands and products.

You may have read about Babobotanicals   here before.  However their new skin care, tinted line for moms is one to enjoy.  Where else can you enjoy an online shopping experience for you and your little baby at the same time? Find them at #babolove for awesome promos and product updates via facebook.

Next, B.Box the go to brand for feeding your babes from 6 mos…to 7 Years.  The new double servings container is perfect for kids on the go.  With summer camp well underway we couldn’t have asked for a better find when it comes to packing up snacks and lunch.

DEAR MOM , well what can I say? A four pack of a delectable wine beverage found at your local grocers and here for you to enjoy.

We’re always looking for something to include for mom 🙂 The 3rd mom treasure found at Baby palooza NYC was Armitron ..one watch many faces; it so hard to choose a favorite.

Lets talk about Thule; the company known for urban explorers and outdoor adventures. We love a great adventure and having our little Bash to tag along requires a durable vehicle for him.  With Thule’s luxury line of luggage, ride alongs, and now carriage system the little’s are sure to be anticipating just as much of the adventure as the older siblings and parents.

This fun fueled pack day did not end at baby Palooza!

Yes, there was more to discover in one day. Sweet Suite took place just hours later in a perfect location by the piers in NYC. The anticipation of Suite Sweet is based on the entry way and showcase displays of brands.

This year guests were greeted by a balloon maze watch here !

Upon entering the show floor, V & K were excited to see all of their favorite brands. Yes, the girls attended a toy insider event and were able to work and play!

Their top 5 favorites included

  1. Roblox
  2. Orbeez
  3. Boxy girls
  4. Nickelodeon
  • 5. Cra Z art
  • However the showcase floor is so big, it can be hard to cover the entire event ins few hours, so the amazing team of toy insiders send along a swag box for some at home fun.
  • We found an extensive amount of amazing toys to share for all toy lovers…. starting with Plushee lovers
  • 💕 Jigglydoos – which can now be found at Walmart!
  • 2. Getting creative with these toys for Stem and science play
  • 3. V & K’s kind of science mixed with beauty include tons of this…
  • 💕 Shimmer and sparkle scented bath bombs
  • 4. Kind bag Fun is all the craze and will continue with these fun new toys! Have you heard of the Party pop teenies ?!
  • 5. Outdoor play products just in time for summer vacations. How about floating on a flamingo floatie… I mean that is seriously the life that any 7 year old would want to live ; isnt it?
  • Music and wonder for the imagination thanks to Microphone
  • For those moments when it’s time to unplug; turn to highlights activity books, crayons fun and mini game boards for siblings to learn and play together.
  • We won’t forget the smallest of the bunch. The little learners who enjoy light and sensory based stimulation to grow.
  • Cool off at these Summer Pop ups

    How amazing is the craze of pop up shops?!

    Doesn’t it seem like everyone is sharing their photos in these perfectly curated locations? Pop up shops are so popular right now and we are enjoying the amazing talents of designers who create the space as well as the brands they’re dedicated to.

    Since summer is the most motivating season to get out and enjoy the weather we visited 2 pop ups that will only be in NYC for the summer.

    One is the museum of ice cream’s Pint Shop.

    There are walls covered in photo opportunities and skateboards to purchase ( amongst other things) . The girls and Bash couldn’t get enough of the boards; but unfortunately Mr B couldn’t ride so he wasn’t too happy.

    However ice cream to the rescue!

    Yes there are refrigerators with stacks of frozen one of a kind delectable ice creams for you to purchase. The 7 amazing flavors make it hard to chose but we were strategic and narrowed it down to 2 of our favorites.

    Can you guess by this photo ? And the other was chocolate chunk (how can you resist) besides we had to make Bash happy too! “Choco-wit” is his favorite!

    After choosing our ice cream, we took advantage of the photo opportunities and went with the Banana setting. Hey ,girls like to chat; even if its with a banana in the ear.

    We then headed over to the new pier 17 waterfront location at the south street seaport NYC.

    On opening weekend of this pop up music, family fun and food location The amazing artist Geronimo created an installation of colorful balloons along the deck. The ambiance was very close to Ibiza or European waterfront (as close as I’ll be again for the next 8-10years) with music, happy children and adults mingling together on a summer day and night.

    – It was an inspiration of color, art, and love! Everyone danced, and enjoyed the opportunity to take photos sharing the new Pier 17 location.

    🎼 We highly recommend these locations for an easy summer day in the city !

    For More photos and stories

    Books Books and more Books at BEA & BookCon

    NYC Book Expo and Book Con has become one big playground for literary lovers, publishers and creators during this amazing event.

    Over the years these two amazing events have joined in to offer a full display of authors, books, opportunities to connect readers  libraries and literary enthusiast over the course of 5 days. We were so excited to spend the weekend touring the floors at the NYC Javits Center.  V & K were so excited to explore the children’s books section of scholastic as well as checking out the new “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” .  While I was happy to have them lead the way and chaperone.

    Walking into the center was very exciting their faces were highlighted when noticing the huge image of our friend (in our minds) Jim Patterson. Whom introduced his new book collaboration with Bill Clinton “The President is missing”.  Which has just been added to my must read pile right after MICHELLE OBAMA’s published story, “Becoming”.

    I’m always inspired by the book expo because of my background in publishing and writing.  I love to attend to refresh my visions and connections with all of the great people working the floor.  There is always something new to discover in this creative space.  Quirk Books  a publishing and creative group of leaders in the literary world set a very open and inviting setting to allow you to learn more about what they offer their readers and authors.  The nostalgic animation to the new sense of fun and pops of color was noticed in their array of publishing.

    V & K’s highlights included Harry Potter’s portion of the Expo ; I mean don’t we all!

    The opportunity to meet a very talented Joker during Book Con was quite frightening and exciting!

    The day was made when the girls were able to take a picture with (wink) Harry and Meghan Markle while wearing crowns themselves.

    All of the added animation continue to bring everyone’s imagination to life; which is why we love attending each year.

    Here’s to more TwinDollicious Adventures – currently going to summer camp

    3 HOT NEW products we love from the NY Baby show

    This is our 3rd year attending the NY baby show and every year it gets better and better!

    This year V & K were well equipped with knowledge on what Bash enjoys, what our audience loves and where to find things that would interest them as well. There is something for everyone to enjoy at this show.

    We entered the venue and immediately checked in with our friends from Mom trends at the blogger lounge. We got our map, ate a little lunch; catered by Boston Market and headed out to the floor.

    There’s always so much to see and amazing informative panelists speaking about parenthood, secret hacks and new products. We were sure to take a listen in while Twiniversity expert Natalie Diaz took the stage.

    We mapped out our day from panelist speaking to the media lounge with the first of our favorite companies Babo Botanicals .

    They are creating products that are reef safe. From amazing tinted spf sunscreen to skin cream with ingredients to help you get a handle on your eczema; all with natural delicious scents.

    Note: we weren’t the only ones with our day strategically mapped out. There were some 3rd trimester mamas with checklists in their hands. It’s very important to be prepared, when you’re walking a venue this big and fun.

    After visiting a few brands in the search of essentials for babies, toddlers and above we were so pleased with Stuck on you ! Our second favorite brand in attendance at the NY Baby Show was an easy selection. With V & K getting ready for summer camp; we needed to a few labeling accessories and boxes for snack. The durable bento box made by Stuck on You is so trendy with his cover designs “unicorns” and more, along with its compartments will make lunch packing easier than ever!

    Third on our Lovers list includes something special for nursing moms. The yummy secret behind the recommendation to eat oatmeal and ingredients found in Beer have come together in a delicious cookie recipe by Mommy Knows Best Lactation Cookie Mix ! We ALL tested a cookie and approved the yummy-ness; but validation was approved when milk was present for Bash. Many nursing moms may have tried the two foods or drinks separate for assisting with milk production but a yummy cookie treat can do the quick trick.

    After a fun day at the NY Baby show we couldn’t wait to share our favorite top 3 hot brands and products we’ve discovered along with the many reasons why the event is for everyone learning and experiencing the joys of parent hood including the kiddos. The top 3 selections were choices and opinions of my own and we hope you’ll consider trying for yourselves.

    Maybe you need a sleep buddy too

    When the time came for V & K to transition into big girl beds and possibly different rooms they made the choice to remain together in the same room. We thought it was a wonderful idea…. perhaps they would keep each other company and be the best sleepers in history. But, of course we were all children once and either we never left our parents bed or we slept well in our own beds at the beginning and eventually ended up with our parents. That is except for a few far and in between.

    The girls and Bash have all started out in their own beds. Then it was the stage of potty training where you’d rather them wake in the middle of the night to use the bathroom than to let them sleep with trig pants.

    Well, now we’re at the stage of fear of darkness; in which they happen to wake in the middle of the night 3 times a week Times 2. That counts for, you guessed it 6 sleepless nights. We were so excited to learn about the Sleep buddy .

    1. Unable to remain in the bed throughout the night

    2. Transitioning from crib to bed

    3. Co sleeping

    4. Ready for independence

    When this list matched 2 of our 3 issues I had to invite the Sleep Buddy into our home.

    The beautifully boxed package includes:

    – a lamp/light with color options blue or yellow.

    – a bedtime story about the sleep buddy

    – a chart to record and reward successful sleeping night

    – smiley face stickers that are great for children to self reward or for watching their progress

    I am so pleased with the results. V & K are independently placing the smile face stickers on the chart and shutting their bedroom lights themselves at night.

    I also believe that Bash will enjoy using the Sleep buddy sooner than we know. For younger children between the ages 6 months and up; parents enthusiasm will go a long way ! They may not understand the reward system right away but will quickly catch on and enjoy that perfectly dim light at their bedside.

    The best option on this amazingly timed night light sleep buddy is the option of dimming the blue light for children with special needs and sensory sensitivities.

    We enjoyed documenting V & Ks success so much that we recorded and shared our first night experience with the sleep buddy.

    Our video of the experience:

    Here