Christmas Vacation

Chicago may not have yielded a white Christmas, but it's certain to be a snowy white New Year now that we have arrived in Colorado.

2011 "Year in Review" AndTwinsMake5's List of Top Kids & Mom Apps

In 2011, we head the pleasure of sharing 13 different app round-up posts with our readers. We hope to bring even more to everyone in 2012! Watch for monthly and themed app round-ups including not only apps for the Apple iPhone, iTouch, and iPads but for the Kindle Fire as well.






Here's all the 2011 round-ups:

The Betty 10: #10 {Chocolate Coal Lumps}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #10 is Food Craft.

The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Chocolate Coal Lumps recipe.

The Betty 10: #9 {Dog Bark}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #9 is D-I-Y for D-O-G.

Man’s best friend deserves man’s best effort. That’s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes. This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido’s list.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Dog Bark recipe.

That Sneaky Elf Magic Elf!

Jynx, our visiting elf, snuck into the preschool "sharing bag" home with one of our twins the other day and made a surprise appearance at school.  Oh that crazy elf has been up to all sort of antics including getting himself trapped in our candy cane jar and playing video games once everyone goes to sleep.

You can learn more about Elf Magic on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure:
Please note that the travel ticket and sleigh costs for Jynx were provided.

The Betty 10: #8 {Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #8 is Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly.

Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn’t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we’re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone – whether you’re allergy-sensitive or not.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread recipe.

Just Dance 3 for Wii

Just Dance 3 was near the top of my 10 year old daughter's Christmas list before Ubisoft beat Santa to the punch, delivering this one to our house in time for a holiday review.  If you haven't tried this Just Dance title, you must!  It's gobs of fun, especially when you get friends and family involved.  I mean, what's funnier than watching grandpa dance to Party Rock Anthem with the kids?

Julep Maven Nail Polish & Products (Giveaway)

Whether you are looking for a girly last minute gift idea or just a way to spoil yourself a little bit in 2012, I'd suggest you check out Julep. 

Julep is an eco chic Nail Parlor with four locations in the Seattle area. I've never been there myself, but their exclusive Julep products are now available to bring Julep experience to your home.

The Betty 10: #7 {Sweet Potato Hummus}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #7 is Veggie Love.

Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Sweet Potato Hummus recipe.

Marie Callender’s Pot Pies

I'm never cooking again!  Ok, so I'm being a little over dramatic ... After a huge weekend of baking and cooking in preparation for my husband's office party and the upcoming Christmas holidays, I am feeling in need of a day or two off.

The timing is perfect, since Marie Callender via TheMotherhood recently invited me to try their Pot Pies.  Comfort food I don't have to make myself was exactly what I needed, and better still they have no preservatives.

The Betty 10: #6 {Cajeta Caramel Fudge}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #6 is Better than Bought.

From canning to candy making, there’s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Cajeta Caramel Fudge recipe.

The Betty 10: #5 {Skinny Clementine Martini}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #5 is Skinny Cocktails.

Here’s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light and flavorful cocktails.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Skinny Clementine Martini recipe.

The Betty 10: #4 {Mantastic Fried Chicken ‘n’ Waffle Sandwich}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #4 is From Cave to Kitchen.

Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that’s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can’t resist.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Mantastic Fried Chicken ‘n’ Waffle Sandwich recipe.

And the winners are ...

The winner of the Pro Chef Roleplay Toy is #18, D SCHMIDT .
The winner of the Educational Insights Bean Bag Toy  is #1, Shannon.

And, the winner of the Educational Insights Toy PowerTool Workshop is #98, Gina L.

Free Downloadable Holiday Cards from Company Kids

The holidays are here and Company Kids is getting in the spirit again with their free, Downloadable Holiday Cards. 

All you have to do is download, print and let your kids color in these festive designs.  Once they’re done decorating, kids can add a fun message for their friends or teacher.

Hershey’s Cookie Headquarters (Kisses Giveaway)

10 days until Christmas?  I can hardly believe the holidays are almost here!  I haven't even finished my Christmas shopping, let alone started on all the wrapping and baking I have planned.  We need lots of Christmas cookies as we will be entertaining multiple times next week.  The good news is I have Hershey's to turn to if I end up in need of additional advice.

I say additional advice because I already had the chance to ask Linda Stahl from Hershey's Kitchens and Kristen Olson from Betty Crocker some of my questions.  Watch the video included below to see what I asked and hear all the great advice they gave me:

The Betty 10: #3 {Cake Batter Cookie Stackers}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #3 is Color. Flavor. Fun.

Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food!

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Cake Batter Cookie Stackers recipe.

The Betty 10: #2 {Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. Trend #2 is Boozy Baking.

 From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We’re loving these boozy baked goods.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe.

Giveaway: Bratz Masquerade from MGA Entertainment

Yet another giveaway from Time to Play Magazine's Toy Guy Chris Byrne. As some of you already know, The Toy Guy sent us a package that included four of his top toy picks for the holiday gift giving season for us to check out. Time To Play also gave us the opportunity to host a giveaway for each of these four toys.

Our first toy giveaways are currently under way (the Tonka Roadway Rig and the Xia Xia) in addition today we have a giveaway for the next pick, Bratz Masquerade.

All she wants for Christmas is the cast off her leg

Santa has a very tough job.  It's no secret that some gifts are just not within Santa's reach.  As amazing as the big guy and those elves can be, there are things they just can't provide.

If you are frequent reader you may know that my three oldest kids are competitive youth athletes.  Our oldest son is well on his way to a college track scholarship competing at a Varsity level in both Track and Football.  Our second oldest son is a 7th grader who plays football, basketball, and runs track as well.  He's had the privilege of competing with both the 7th grade team and one of the two 8th grade teams.  Our daughter competes in dance and her favorite style is HipHop.

The Betty 10: #1 {Pumpkin Pie Cookies}

Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark is sharing their Ten Red Hot Holiday Trends again with us this year. What makes a trend red hot? When it's exciting, it's fresh, and making its mark from coast to coast. Our food experts have selected the trends that will be red hot this holiday season, and created delicious recipes to bring each one to life.

#1 is Double Desserts:

Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It’s a 1+1=3 kind of thing.

With this trend in mind, click over to Betty Crocker's site for a Pumpkin Pie Cookies recipe.

Dessert with Friends, Cherry Chocolate Torte

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

What could be sweeter around the holidays than a chocolate cherry torte?  The answer is a chocolate cherry torte shared with friends.  Behold the two layers of moist Duncan Hines chocolate cake, in the middle is Comstock cherry filling on top of a thin layer of Duncan Hines frosting.  The top layer of the torte is also frosted in buttercream and topped with the remaining Comstock Cherries.  The sweetest part was the company who joined us all in rendering my creation to crumbs.  I based my recipe on this Duncan Hine's classic replacing the whipped cream with buttercream.

Country Crock Veggie Shopping Adventure (Giveaway)

During this busy holiday season, it can be all too easy for healthy eating to drop by the wayside. What kids, including my own, would not try to take advantage of the chaos of this time of the year by swapping out veggies for more holiday cookies after dinner?

Vapur: The Anti Bottle

I know you are looking at the picture and thinking, what is that thing and why would I need it, right? I wasn't sure it was going to be of big interest either until I saw it work in person.

The Vapur Anti-Bottle is essentially a foldable and reusable water bottle. It stands upright when full much like any other bottle, but the big plus here is that it can be rolled or flattened when you empty it. No lugging around a bunch of heavy metal empties, these fit in pockets, purses, and backpacks.

The Eleventh Plague: Young Adult Boys Book Pick

If you are looking for stocking stuffers for teens boys, I might have one to consider.  My 13 year old son has been reading The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch and he is really enjoying it.  In fact, he says another boy in his class is reading it too.  Two teen boys voluntarily reading, it must be pretty good.

Giveaway: Xia-Xia Hermit Crab Electronic Toys by Cepia

I have another giveaway from Time to Play Magazine's Toy Guy Chris Byrne. As I previously posted, The Toy Guy sent us a package that included four of his top toy picks for the holiday gift giving season for us to check out. Time To Play also gave us the opportunity to host a giveaway for each of these four toys.

Disney's Baby Einstein Guest Blogger Spotlight: Family Holiday Traditions by AndTwinsMakes5

Disney's Baby Eistein recently invited me to share some of my Family Holiday Traditions, click over to their blog to read my post (as well as see a silly picture of the twins):

Guest Blogger Spotlight: Family Holiday Traditions by And Twins Makes Five

Giveaway: Tonka Roadway Rig

I recently was sent a package from Time to Play Magazine's Toy Guy.  It included four of his top toy picks for the holiday gift giving season for me to check out.

In case you aren’t familiar with Time to Play, TimetoPlayMag.com is a playful destination website which provides adults with information, entertainment, and services on what’s fun for children and their families. The website is powered by aNb Media and a team of leading, well-known toy, family entertainment, and parenting experts including Chris Byrne "The Toy Guy".  Chris is the director of content for Time to Play and has 29 years of industry experience in the toy industry. He has appeared on Live! With Regis and Kelly, Oprah, LIVE, Today, Good Morning America, and more.

Wet Ones Holiday Survival Kit (Giveaway)

My oldest son was home with a terrible cold yesterday, it's apparently going all over his high school.  Runny nose, coughing, watery eyes.  Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?

I wasn't shocked he managed to come down with it, he has clearly not been getting enough sleep recently with a couple papers due, some longer football practices, and a few other extra activities.  Luckily football recently ended and he'll be able to catch up on sleep during break soon enough before training goes into overdrive for track.

ABC Family TV Hit SWITCHED AT BIRTH: VOLUME 1 on DVD DECEMBER 13th

Just ask most tween or teenage girls about ABC Family and they'll tell you it's the home to several hit shows including Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game and Switched at Birth.  It's a fact that the January 2nd and January 3rd Winter Premiers of these three shows was even the subject of one of our households recent dinners.  In fact, I'm going to confess right here and now that I watch all 3 shows as time allows.  They may be aimed at the the teen crowd but it's my parental duty to watch with them, right?

The GameChanger iPad board game from Identity Games

We recently had the chance to test out The GameChanger during family game night. It's part iPad gaming app, part traditional board game, and a lot of techy coolness.

Hickory Farms Holidays Christmas Gift Baskets

A 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

Who doesn't need extra munchies around the holidays?  The kids are home from school, family and friends are dropping by, and everyone is busy wrapping presents and enjoying the season. 

Christmas Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway for $100 Target Gift Card

Our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide has arrived!

We are so excited that we are giving away one $100 Target Gift Card to celebrate.

Help us spread the word about this guide and enter for your chance to win.

Return daily to retweet the holiday gift guide link for an extra entry & see the new items as they are revealed.

Start a Family Tradition with some Elf Magic: Meet Jynx

This year we have a new friend and a new family tradition!

Shortly after writing Christmas letters to Santa, an elf arrived at our door.  His name is Jynx and he arrived complete with a change of clothes, a passport, and a little trunk that doubles as his hangout.  Jynx gets to stay with us until Santa picks him up on Christmas Eve.  I just hope Santa can find the little bugger when he arrives.

Holiday Gift Idea for the Family: Archers Farms Popcorn

A 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

One of my favorite holiday gifts for a family like my own is a movie night basket complete with gourmet pop corn and seasonings like these by Archer Farms.  It's such an easy gift to assemble and it's a definite crowd pleaser.  Add a popcorn bowl, family movies, board games, or even an air popper for additional WOW impact.

Holiday Gift Guide for Tweens: Disney Universe Video Game

A 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

What's a Christmas List in this day and age without a video game or two upon it?  One of our picks for this year is a game called Disney Universe.  Disney Universe is available for all 3 major platforms Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, & Playstation 3 as well as for the PC.

It's an action adventure game that takes place in a universe made up entirely from the virtual worlds created by Disney and Pixar.

Contest Results

The winner of Beethoven's Christmas DVD is #37 Terra H.
The winner of P&G and Walmart Family Movie Night Kit is #14, Dnbuster

Holiday Gift for Teens: PBTeen Headphones & Gadget Cases

A 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"


I've learned from experience that electronics and cool accessories for your teens electronics fall into the category of a safe bet.  Both of my teen sons rank their headphones way up there on their favorite items list and now it's my daughter's turn to crave a cool pair.

Mega Brands Blok Squad Construction Set

Team Mom & Mega Brands recently gave us the opportunity to try one of the new Blok Squad buildable playsets.  There are several different sets in this category, we were sent the 218 piece Construction Set.  

The Keeper of the Good China

We all have roles to play in our families and extended families.  The peace maker, the organizer, the entertainer ... it seems everyone has a duty and many of us may have more than one.  I have recently named one of mine the Keeper of the "Good" China.

Holiday Gift for Tweens: Mattel Fijit Friends

A 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"


 My 10 year old daughter has proven to be a tough one to Christmas shop for this year.  She's not a little little girl anymore, but she's definitely not a teenager either.  Her list is a vague one filled with mainly accessories, gadgets, and apparel.  Don't you just hate that whole "you know what I like" thing?  The pressure!

Free Dominick’s app for iPhone ($50 GC Giveaway)

You are probably all mad at me right now because your kids won't surrender your iPhones after I shared those past couple kid app round-ups.  I know this, because I've had to hide my phone from the twins.  If you can steal it back (maybe yell "snack time" or something), you'll want to download this free app the folks at Dominick's introduced to me.

Best iPad / iPhone Apps for Kids (December 2011 Edition)

It's December and while we are certain to keep busy with the Kid's Christmas themed apps listed in our special Christmas app round-up, we also have made a list of 9 great kid apps perfect for any time of the year.  The first couple apps are 2 of 5 released from Fingerprint Kids' today.

2011 Holiday Gift Guide

It's our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide and I am so excited!

December has arrived and with it comes the unveiling of "the first batch" of our holiday gift guide picks. As frequent readers may recall, I'd just love releasing the items slowly.  I'd highly suggest you take a moment to follow AndTwinsMake5 on Facebook so you can easily stay up-to-date as more and more selections are revealed.  We'll be uncovering more items as December progresses.  

This list includes the "best of the best" we reviewed this year along with some brand new holiday season finds.

Happy Holidays, and as always a big thank you for reading.  It wouldn't be any fun to blog without you.  Also need to offer a big thank you to the many companies with have worked with this year.  We are truly honored you chose us to help spread the word about you, the things you create, and the things you do.

And without further ado ... happy shopping!

P.S.  Spread the word about our gift guide for your chance to win a $100 Target Gift Card!  Details can be found here.

Cookie Ball Recipes

Greetings to all of you Holiday Cookie Makers!

We've featured a lot of Kraft Cookie Ball (or Cookie Pop) recipes in the past and I thought I'd help you find them all in this cookie ball round-up.  Below find links to all our favorites:

Current Giveaways include:

• No Name Premium Steaks & Chicken
• P&G and Walmart Family Movie Night Kit
• Tassimo Coffee Maker
• Pro Chef Roleplay Toy
• Beethoven's Christmas DVD
• EI Bean Bags
• EI Toy PowerTool Workshop