Weekly Wrap Up: January 23-29th

Here is what you have missed at Entwined Community this week. Don't forget that individual membership to Entwined Community is now FREE - sign up for your membership card today to get exclusive discounts and benefits from twin/multiples owned businesses.

New Members:

1. Welcome twin parent owned For Multiples Maternity, an Atlanta based online store that offers maternity clothing just for mothers of multiples!
2. Welcome twin parent owned Twins and More Store, a San Diego based online retailer for families of twins and more.

Question of the Week:

1. Business Question of the Week: Schools in Georgia may not include cursive handwriting in their curriculum standards in the fall because they believe most students use computers or text messaging for communication. How do you communicate with your vendors and clients? Do you use handwriting anymore?
2. General Question of the Week: What would you think if cursive handwriting was removed from the curriculum standards in your state? Do you use cursive handwriting anymore?

In the News:

1. From the New York Post: Twin mom Ruth Zukerman shares the idea behind Flywheel Sports℠ - which launched in Feb 2010 and now has several NYC area locations!
2. From Corona Del Mar Today: Twin Jason Meinzer is the co-founder of Bike Sharing - a software system to help bike sharing programs track their usage.
3. From the Entreprenette Gazette: Thanks to twin mom Sarah for including me in her post - I shared tip #73 prioritize and get it done!

Blog Posts:

1. January 29th was National Puzzle Day! Jennifer and Julie, twin owners of Learning Express share some of their favorite puzzles and ask what your favorite family game night activities are.

Photo credit: (Trends in Twos)

A Puzzling Way to Get In Some Family Time

Tomorrow, January 29th, is National Puzzle Day! Puzzles were created in 1760 when John Spilsbury, a British mapmaker, glued a map onto a piece of wood and then cut around the country shapes to create a teaching aid for geography. The idea soon caught on, and over the years the popularity of puzzles has grown to include crossword puzzles, logic puzzles, math puzzles, word puzzles, and more.

Puzzles and other games are a great way to spend time with your family. If you don't already, why not create a family game night? Puzzles and games offer ways for your family to work together and solve problems or tasks in a fun and exciting way - building self esteem, confidence and team building skills in your children. Children also learn great social skills such as taking turns, communication, following rules and reasoning. Game night also may have a winning and losing team - so take this opportunity to talk about being a good sport as well.

Jennifer Palashoff and Julie Toussaint know all about the benefits of puzzles. The identical twin sisters are the owners of Learning Toys Express of Robinson and Bakery Square in Pittsburgh, PA. Julie and her sister believe that "games and puzzles are a great way to bring families together while fostering learning, creative thinking and fun"! Growing up as twins, Jennifer and Julie always played games together, which helped to create a bond that has kept them working together ever since. Here are their suggestions for some great puzzles to celebrate with on National Puzzle Day:

Melissa and Doug Alphabet Express Floor Puzzle: This floor puzzle is great for children, with larger and thicker pieces for small hands to work with. The Alphabet Express theme helps kids learn their alphabet in a fun way by linking the letters together to create a train. This puzzle retails for $12.99.

Ball of Whacks: This puzzle is a great brain teaser for adults, which stimulates the mind and helps with creativity. Rearrange the 30 magnetic blocks into many different shapes. This puzzle retails for $35.00.

Do you currently have a family game night? How old were your children when you started? What types of games or puzzles does your family enjoy? Share more in the comments below.

About Jennifer & Julie: The twin sisters own two locations of Learning Express Toys in the

Pittsburgh, PA area, where you can discover a world of unique and educational games and toys. They work hard to continuously provide the latest and most innovative toys to pique a child's curiosity, creativity, and sense of discovery. Check out the store calendar on Facebook or their website for fun events, character visits, story times and craft times. They know that being a parent keeps you busy, so they always provide complimentary gift wrapping and personalization as well as that "Perfect Toy".

Photo credits (Psychology Today); (Pittsburgh Post Gazette); puzzle photos courtesy of Jennifer & Julie

To Write, or Not To Write.....

Happy Monday - let's hope it's a great week!

Business Question of the Week: I heard on the news this morning that the state of Georgia may not include cursive handwriting in its curriculum standards starting with next school year, because officials believe students prefer computers or text messaging to handwritten communication. Quite surprising! Do you use handwriting in your business, or are a majority of your communications with vendors and clients via typed messages?

General Question of the Week: What would you think if cursive handwriting was removed from the curriculum standards in your state? Do you use cursive handwriting anymore?

Photo credit: (SF Gate)

Weekly Wrap Up: January 16-22nd

Here is what you may have missed at Entwined Community this week.

Question of the Week:

1. Business Question of the Week: The Hollywood awards season has begun - with the Golden Globes finished, the Grammys on February 13th and the Oscars on February 26th. Has your business ever been nominated for an award? What was it? Did you win? If you have not been nominated for an award, what award do you think your business should be nominated for?
2. General Question of the Week: What business would you like to nominate for an award, and why?

In the News:

1. From the Sydney Morning Herald: Identical twin sisters Catherine and Jennifer Strutt describe their artistic style and influences.
2. From the Los Angeles Times: Father of twin girls Armand Sahakian shares the history of Nory Candy & Pastry in Winnetka.
3. From the Rachel Ray Show: A trio of twin experts on the Rachel Ray Show January 10th, providing advice on cooking, fashion and interior decor.
4. From the New York Post: Founder of Flywheel Sports (and twin mom) Ruth Zukerman talks about spin class, chocolate chip cookies and dancing.

Blog Posts:

1. Guest contributor and twin mom Alida Ryder of Simply Delicious shares a recipe and some tips of sneaking veggies into meals for young eaters.
2. Entwined Community readers discuss some of their favorite kitchen gadgets - what is yours?

Photo credit: (Trends in Twos)

Picking Favorites - This Post Has Moved

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Twice the Fun - This Post Has Moved

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You Deserve an Award!

Happy Monday - once again, it is time for our Questions of the Week! Today is also Martin Luther King Day and Day of Service - we hope you are able to get out and give back to your community today.

Business Question of the Week: The Hollywood awards season has begun - with the Golden Globes last night (with lots of twin parents nominated!), the Grammys on February 13th and the Oscars on February 26th. Has your business ever been nominated for an award? What was it? Did you win? If you have not been nominated for an award, what award do you think your business should be nominated for?

General Question of the Week: What business would you like to nominate for an award, and why?

Photo credit: (The Guardian UK)

Weekly Wrap Up: January 9-15th

Here is what you have missed at Entwined Community this week. Don't forget that individual membership to Entwined Community is now FREE - sign up for your membership card today to get exclusive discounts and benefits from twin/multiples owned businesses.

Question of the Week:

1. Business Question of the Week: MLK Day of Service is a way for you to give back to your community and connect with people and causes in your local area. How do you give back as a business owner? Do you donate your products or services to the less fortunate in your community? Do you participate in a community service project, such as repainting a community center? How will your business give back this MLK Day of Service?
2. General Question of the Week: Have you taught your children about volunteering? What activities do you do as a family to give back?

In the News:

1. From Feather Baby: Our friends (and triplet mom owned) Feather Baby shared a picture of Camila Alvez with baby Vida wearing one of their dresses.
2. From Taos News: Identical twin Lesley B. Fay of Graham's Grille by Lesley B. Fay in Taos, NM released a new cookbook Straight from the Heart.
3. From La Jolla Light: Surf Diva, owned by identical twin sisters Coco & Izzy Tihanyi, was nominated for the Surf Industry Manufacturer's Association (SIMA) Women's Retailer of the Year.
4. From Access Philly Blog: British pub The Dandelion opens in Philadelphia, with identical twin Chef Robert Aikens running the kitchen.

Blog Posts:

1. Guest contributor Clarice Connors shares her recipe for bacon wrapped dates and some memories in the kitchen with her identical twin sister.
2. Learn more about our Business of the Month, Double Up Books, and our Member of the Month, Terumi P!
3. January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month. Twin dad and tech expert Daniel Gauthier shares some tips on getting your computer back in shape.

Photo credit: (Trends in Twos)

Clean Up Your Act

It is a new year - a great time to get your computer in top shape. January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month, and whether you are running a business, or constantly on Facebook, you probably spend at least part of your day online. Nothing is more frustrating than a computer that does not work properly, and over time your computer will slow down due to unnecessary programs, disorganized files or viruses. Tech expert (and twin dad) Daniel Gauthier offers the following tips to clean up your act:

1. Run Add/Remove programs and uninstall any program you no longer need or use. The less programs you have, the less chances of compatibility issues causing sporadic issues and slowness of the computer.
2. Delete temporary files: In Windows XP delete files in C:\Windows\Temp and C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR-ACCOUNT-NAME\Local Settings\Temp. In Vista and Windows 7 delete files in C:\Windows\Temp and C:\Users\YOUR-ACCOUNT-NAME\App Data\Local\Temp. (If you don’t see those files – you need to make the folders visible). To make the folders visible, open the computer window and go in your C drive: In Windows XP click Tools and Options. Under the “View” tab, click on to show hidden files. In Vista and Windows 7 click Organize folder and search options. Under the view tab, click show hidden files.
3. Disk Defragmentation: After you’ve removed unnecessary programs and deleted temporary files, do a disk defrag. In Vista and Windows 7 it is supposed to be done automatically by default on a schedule. If Windows XP is your Operating System, go through start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk defragmenter.

Daniel Gauthier is the owner/operator of Twinbytes Inc., a computer service company based in Onatrio, Canada. He is also the author of Tech-Knowledgy, a self-help guide that levels the playing field between techies and non-techies. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo credit (Elegant Property Services)

Happy January from Entwined Community!

We have been so busy with exciting things around here that we have not shared our post about January's Members of the Month! After the holidays are over, it is time to settle in for a cold winter. The news has been full of unusual snow storms in many parts of the United States, let's hope you are staying warm and safe, where every you are! Happy birthday this month to fraternal twins Slater Josiah and Bronwyn Golden, children of actors Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance. Josiah and Bronwyn will turn 5 on January 27th.

January's Business of the Month is Double Up Books, the premier bookstore specializing in books about twins, triplets and higher order multiples. Double Up Books was started by Shelby Tutty of Massachusetts, mother of 5 year old boy/girl twins, after her frustration at being unable to find a central location for books about twins and multiples. Double Up Books offers not only books, but baby items too! I think I will need to get a copy of Ready or Not...There We Go! by twin mom Elizabeth Lyons, on surviving the toddler years with multiples. Our triplets are nearly three and it has been very interesting lately, maybe some expert advice will help us make it through the three's! Shelby offers 10% off orders of $25 or more for Entwined Community members.

Shelby shares a special tradition with her family each January. Every year, they invite her in-laws over to cook for them and celebrate her mother-in-law's birthday on January 2nd. They relax and watch the Rose Bowl on HGTV, while Shelby prepares a feast - although her mother-in-law does wander in the kitchen to offer a much needed hand. After they leave, they play games with the twins and get them ready for bed - which is when the real fun begins! Shelby and her husband watch the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway in the evening and fantasize about what it would be like to win. They haven't won yet - but each year they think - this year is THE YEAR! They haven't won yet, but wish them luck!

Our Member of the Month for December is Terumi P. from Seattle. Terumi is the mother of fraternal twin boys. A favorite January tradition for Terumi's family is sharing mochi - a Japanese rice cake - for Japanese New Year on January 1st.

Photo credit (Ginnerobot)

Guest Post: A Twin in the Kitchen

With the rush of the holidays over, you may find yourself in a rut over what to cook. Never fear, our twin/multiples community is here to inspire you! Guest contributor Clarice Connors is an identical twin who loves writing (she just finished her masters in Journalism) and food (she just started culinary school in January). Clarice shares some memories and a winter appetizer below.

My earliest memories of being a twin involve my sister and I (identical-- 2 months premature and 40 seconds apart) sitting on the floor in my parents' kitchen playing house by stirring imaginary food in my mom's pots, stacking just bought cans of soup, and trying to munch on dry pieces of pasta when my mom wasn't looking. She would give us the grocery bill receipts after a trip to the store so we could go over all the food items we just bought and create imaginary meals. We would store all the receipts in our PlaySkool kitchen packed with plastic food and dinnerware. I think it was our most beloved toy.

As we got a bit older we were allowed to help stir, wash veggies and we were always involved in our Christmas cookie baking. Beside learning to beat eggs, using a cookie cutter and painting the cookies-- the best part was eating the dough. I learned this from my mom early on. I mean, how else are you to ensure the cookies will actually taste good? And now, baking on my own for years...what is the best part of baking (with or without my mom and twin)? Sneaking some of the dough. It is a guilty pleasure I will always share with the two of them.

These days, my sister and I don't get to cook together often since I live in Boston and she lives in Brooklyn, NY, but just this year we threw a Christmas party at her apartment. Basically, we were the cooking duo and guests loved the fact that we would switch off-- one was in the kitchen and the other pouring drinks and socializing. We are a great tag team. Having a twin in the kitchen is excellent because we share the prep process, equally sneak bits of food, and cook with the same amount of energy and fun.

Our holiday menu was extra delicious this year because I prefer more of a savory menu and she is a bartender. Drinks included a peppermint martini (think white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps and vodka), a Canadian inspired drink we called the Canuck (maple syrup and whiskey shaken on ice), mulled/spiced wine, and classic spiked egg nog. Our food menu included bacon wrapped dates, our special secret pork and chive dumplings, homemade mushroom pizza slices, goat cheese stuffed tomatoes, and pecan shortbread "snowballs." So, in short, we love food and love cooking, and when we join forces no one leaves hungry.

Bacon wrapped dates:

1 container (pitted) Medjool dates

1 package bacon

(you can stuff your dates if you like-- I have previously done feta, or walnuts, or pecans, or

Parmesan cheese-- just pick one and stuff!)

toothpicks, soaking for ten minutes in cold water. (this helps the picks to not get dried out and splintery when baking)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. If stuffing, take the item (nut or cheese) and stuff inside the date, there should be a little hole where the pit used to be (neatly so that none is squishing out). Set aside an a baking a piece of parchment paper.

Next, cut the bacon into half slices and wrap around the date, secure by spearing the date with a toothpick. Place on parchment paper lined baking tray, about half an inch apart. Repeat with all the dates. Bake in oven from 13-18 minutes. You want to keep checking to make sure the bacon is cooked. How long you cook it is dependent upon how you like your bacon (crispy-- stay in longer,

chewy...shorter).

I love to eat my dates right out of the oven warm accompanied with some mustard sauce. I combine dijion mustard with the french grained mustard (I use the brand Maille) and a small dollop of honey. Et voila!

Clarice Connors is a writer and culinary student in Boston. Catch up with Clarice on her blog, la cuisine bourgeoise and on Twitter.

Giving Back

Happy Monday - once again, it is time for our Questions of the Week!

Business Question of the Week: Next Monday, January 17th, 2011 is Martin Luther King Day. But did you know that it is also a Day of Service? Dr. Martin Luther King once said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"

MLK Day of Service is a way for you to give back to your community and connect with people and causes in your local area. How do you give back as a business owner? Do you donate your products or services to the less fortunate in your community? Do you participate in a community service project, such as repainting a community center? How will your business give back this MLK Day of Service?

General Question of the Week: Have you taught your children about volunteering? What activities do you do as a family to give back?

Photo credits (Young Mayor of Newham)

Weekly Wrap Up: January 2-8th

Here is what you have missed at Entwined Community this week. Don't forget that individual membership to Entwined Community is now FREE - sign up for your membership card today to get exclusive discounts and benefits from twin/multiples owned businesses.

New Members:

1. Welcome Multiple Birth Parents, a nonprofit Australian based online community for parents or caregiver of twins or more.
2. Welcome twin parent owned Think Twins, an Australian based online store for families of twins or more.
3. Welcome Life with Twins and Multiples, our newest advertiser!

Question of the Week:

1. Business Question of the Week: Entrepreneur Magazine recently asked its readers - what do you drive and why? How is your car a reflection of you and your business?
2. General Question of the Week: What do you drive? Does your car reflect your family or just get you from Point A to Point B?

In the News:

1. From NPR: Composer Allen Shaw shares memories of his institutionalized twin sister in his new book, Twin.
2. From Winnipeg Free Press: Twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott's new show Property Brothers debuted on Canada's W Network.
3. From AnnArbor.com: Twin sister Samantha Elias opens The Vintage Twin, offering vintage clothing, accessories, art and home goods, in Ann Arbor on Friday

Blog Posts:

1. January 8th was National Bubble Bath Day! Share your favorite bathtime memories and learn more about twin parent owned ME! Bath.

Photo credit: (Trends in Twos)

Take Some Time for Yourself - National Bubble Bath Day Jan 8th

Did you know that January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day? If one of your New Year's resolutions is to take better care of yourself this year, today is a great time to get started! Taking a bubble bath is a great way to relax by yourself - something families with twins, triplets or more may not get much of.

When I was near the end of my pregnancy with the triplets, taking a bath was one of the few ways that I could relax and feel comfortable in my now much-larger frame. I gained 60 pounds and after being on modified at-home bed rest for two months, I was pretty achy. I would get into the bath and stay there until the water cooled, enjoying the relief from the (both literal and figurative!) pressure of growing three babies. When I was done, I would have to shout for my husband to come and help me get out of the tub. I was kind of like a giant, naked, wet turtle - once I was laying on my back, it was pretty much impossible for me to get up! We still laugh about that today.

You can create a bubble bath by either using foams or fizz. Bath foams create bubbles on top of the water, while bath fizzes create bubbles in the water. Check out these luxurious bath bombs which look just like ice cream by twin parent owned ME! Bath. The above picture is the Choco-holic Mini Bath Ice Cream, which sells for $16. Now you can enjoy chocolate without feeling guilty!

What are your favorite bubble bath memories? Do you have a funny story like mine - relaxing in the tub while you were pregnant? Or maybe you and your twin used to take baths together? Share your bubble bath stories below or on Facebook - and set a date for your own bubble bath tonight - it is a national holiday after all!

About ME! Bath: Twin mom Lisa Nissanoff loved taking baths at home, but was tired of the same routine every night. She envisioned a decadent bath and body line that could transform a mundane bath at home into a lavish spa-like experience. Together with co-founder and husband Benjamin, Lisa created scents that invoked their favorite childhood memories - Birthday Cake, Lavender Lullaby, Cucumber Melon. Find ME! Bath products online or in select apothecaries and high-end hotels and spas.

What Drives Your Business?

Happy New Year! Time for our questions of the week.

Business Question of the Week: Entrepreneur Magazine recently asked its readers: what do you drive and why? How is your car a reflection of you and your business? The slideshow included a highlight of Ron Kaplan, twin dad and Founder/CEO of Surf Ohio. Surf Ohio has brought surf clothing and music to the Midwest for over 30 years. Ron drives a 2005 Honda Element, which gets the job done whether he is carrying inventory or a surfboard.

Here at Entwined Community, we drive a 2010 Dodge Caravan. It gives us the space we need for the triplets while being less expensive than an SUV. (Have you tried fitting 3 car seats in a vehicle before?) We also like the green benefits - as a flex vehicle we can use gasoline or E85 ethanol to reduce emissions. We have added the business tagline to help advertise while we are on the go!

General Question of the Week: What do you drive? Does your car reflect your family, or just something to get from point A to point B?

Photo credits (Entrepreneur Magazine; Entwined Community)

Happy New Year from Entwined Community!

Happy New Year from Entwined Community!

The economic outlook for 2011 is promising, with growth expected in business spending, GDP and retail sales, while unemployment is projected to decline. We hope this year is productive and prosperous for all multiple birth families!

Things have been very busy around here, with some exciting changes coming to the website in the next few weeks. One exciting change that we have already implemented is that all individual memberships are now FREE! Keep watching as we unfold additional updates in the weeks to come. We love to hear from you, so if you have any comments, suggestions or would like to contribute to an article in 2011, contact us at info@entwinedcommunity.com.

Photo credit (MyrtleBeach.com)