Burning Like A Flame

This blog is for Fur Baby Mommas too! I was thinking of you when I chose today's post. Some of the best parents I know have fur children. I was a Fur Momma first and our Boston Terrier is still my spoiled little boy. Some of my friends are the most amazing parents to their dogs and cats. They are so devoted and spend time, money, and untold energy making their homes safe for their "children".

In our house we have three toddlers: two darling little girls and their Boston Terrier brother. In an effort to keep all three of them safe I had to make the switch to flameless candles. I absolutely love candlelight. A room, or dining table, becomes so inviting when illuminated in that soft glow.

Candles+kids+pets= not such a good idea. So I was thrilled to buy some flameless candles. There are a lot on the market. My purchases have been from CandleImpressions and I got them through QVC.

These gems are battery operated. They flicker, mimicking real candle-light perfectly. They even smell like candles! I love that they have a timing feature. I have mine set to come on at dusk and they stay on for 5 hours and then they shut themselves off. FABULOUS! I do not have time for on/off switches! I'm wrangling toddlers over here! Once the children go to bed sometimes I cannot get off the couch, so it's a true joy to look over at my mantle and see it all aglow.

These are so realistic that I got scolded by my mother for doing something so dangerous! My candles interspersed with garland for the holidays looked like a gorgeous fire hazard.

I use these daily and the batteries last quite awhile. Shine on, Mommas!

No time for lather, rinse & repeat

Having two little ones with Celiac & mitochondria has forced me to be hyper-vigilant about all the products that come into our house. I am personally wild for foaming soap. It may sound crazy to people who do not have multiples, but I do NOT have time to lather.

I hailed foaming soap as a genius product to friends and family who nodded quizzically. Believe me, when you are wrangling two little ones this is not a luxury item. You need to get poopy off your hands and you need to get back to work pronto!

When I had to make a change to green products I was shocked to find things like red dye #40 in some of my favorite hand soaps. I don't want to be exposed to chemicals like that, so I certainly won't expose my children who have health issues.

Check the labels. I must make sure that our soaps are gluten-free. All moms could do without chemicals in their little ones' soap. Ever notice how much time those hands spend near little: eyes, noses, & mouths?

Kiss My Face makes a nice foaming soap that I have in all our bathrooms. If anyone has any other great soap products let me know, but remember it has got to foam. I'm a busy lady.

Here's a TOAST!!!!!

The first casualty of my baby B. being diagnosed with celiac was my morning toast. I was a tea and toast girl from birth. (Extra strength coffee and toast once I became a twin momma.) I tried every gluten-free bread on the market and I can tell you without pause that Udi bread is the best. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I keep it in the freezer and use my toaster's :"frozen" option in the morning. Viola! Perfection.

If you are just starting on a gluten-free path I guarantee you will feel a difference in your body and mind. I am gluten-free because of my daughters' allergies. Baby A was found to have celiac as well. My home is gluten-free because I am not willing to risk cross-contamination. I have more energy and less "brain-fog" since I got rid of gluten. Believe me, you need energy to be a full-time toddler wrangler.

I serve Udi products if friends pop over and I haven't had time to bake. Their double chocolate muffins are FABULOUS! Check out their web site for other gluten-free products. http://udisglutenfree.com/products/

If you have just decided (or have been forced by the fates) to go gluten-free DO NOT be overwhelmed. You've got this. You can do it. Take some baby steps. I'm here to help. Let's raise our bread and I'll propose a toast, "To being healthy!" *Cheers!*

Piggy Paint!

My little fashionistas love to be like Mommy and get their Mani/Pedis. Due to their health issues, their little bodies cannot process toxins well. Thus, we have to be very careful abou the products we use. This little gem we found is called Piggy Paint! http://www.piggypaint.com/

We were thrilled to find it. The makers bill it as "safe as mud". I'm so excited to have a product I can feel safe about using with my daughters and they are just thrilled about all the fun colors. We are already on a first name basis with our UPS man! I'm sure these products will keep him even more busy. We have our eye on a green for St. Patty's Day and wouldn't a bunch look great tied up in a bow in The Twincesses Easter basket? I look forward to many more trips to Mommy's spa!

February Break-Throughs (Zen and the art of folding towels)

February Break. I used to love it. Then it became a lot like a boyfriend I had TOTALLY outgrown. Travel was a given back in the day. It isn't possible with my kids health issues right now. (Don't leave. This isn't a Debbie Downer post! I swear!)

Are you still here?

Thanks!

I am not on a beach somewhere fabulous. (Thanks for all the beautiful picture texts Mom. *sigh*) However, I am having what is proving to be a darn good time!

I've been working on an article for Multiplicity Magazine. It's an online publication for ladies like me who gave birth to a litter. I'm so excited at the idea of connecting with other mothers of multiples!

I've been baking like a mad woman. More to come on that as both twins have been diagnosed with celiacs and a slew of food allergies. Cooking is a phenomenal way to bond with your children. It also creates a huge mess. The Twincesses are up to almost as many wardrobe changes as Anne Hathaway hosting the Oscars.

Laundry has taken over my universe. It's not the washing. It's not the drying. It's the folding. Sometimes there is so much to fold that I fantasize about putting it all in my SUV and dumping it in the woods, like a mafia hit.

I had to find a way to embrace laudry. I can't even doll it up with pretty fabric sofener smells. It is straight up Seventh Generation, eco-friendly detergent for my allergy babies. So at first I lied to myself. I told myself laundry was my hobby. This started to work a bit. I started thinking about great memories each of the items held: a shirt my hubby looks hot in, bath time with The Twincesses, etc. The task became more joy filled.

If this doesn't work for you - MOMMY TIP: Dump the laundry on your bed! Then you have to fold it! I know there are those among you who will be sleeping on your clothes...........

I count my blessings while I fold. I think about how lucky I am to have these amazing people to take care of, how holy being a wife and mom is. It's very zen. It's almost therapeutic. Laundry as hobby? Laundry as religion? Probably NOT! However, I may be on to something. First born begs to help with the laundry now. Perhaps she sees mommy radiating enlightenment as she folds? Perhaps it is a novelty? Perhaps she can take this over as a chore in a few years and I can read US Weekly?

I'm having a great February break. There are no photos for this post. Sorry, but I'm busy. I've got laundry to fold!