1. Broom
2. Mop
3. Floor cleaner
4. Toilet brush
5. Glass/mirror cleaner
6. White distilled vinegar
7. Baking soda
8. Bleach (possibly)
9. Rags/brushes/sponges

(Note: White distilled vinegar works as a “green” disinfectant killing many germs, bacteria and mold and you don’t have to wear gloves while using it! Do not use on granite since it will etch the surface thus ruining it!)

Mirror: Let’s start out slow and simple. Clean the mirror with a glass cleaner. News paper is the best thing to use to wipe it clean because it won’t leave behind lint.

Sink: Hard water spots build up here fast and may seem impossible to get clean without harsh chemicals, but try this: sprinkle baking soda over the sink and faucet then apply white vinegar with a spray bottle and watch it suds up! It’s amazing the reaction those two ingredients have together! After letting the suds do their magic for a few moments, start scrubbing with a rag. The baking soda and vinegar will form a paste as you scrub and those hard water spots will disappear. Your sink surface will be smooth and your chrome will sparkle! Other stains such as rust also came out when I first used this method in my bathroom. Make sure you rinse very well with warm water so you are not left with a cloudy baking soda residue. Wipe dry… and it was as simple as that!

Shower/Tub: Soap scum can build up here fast. To reduce the amount of buildup, make sure to rinse out the tub after a shower and especially after the kids have their baths. You can use the same method as I mentioned above with the vinegar and baking soda or I have also used Dawn dish soap to easily remove the dirt and scum on a more regular basis with good results.

Have you ever wondered what that pink stuff is that grows in your tub? It’s a bacteria called Serratia marcescens. It loves to grow in damp places and can cause infections in the urinary and respiratory tract, wounds, and in your eyes. Less commonly it can also cause pneumonia, and meningitis. We would not want our little ones getting any of these infections from simply taking a bath! So how do you get rid of it? Once it starts growing it’s difficult to completely eradicate but can be accomplished by cleaning the entire area with a bleach-based disinfectant. Spray and let it sit for a couple minutes before rinsing off and scrubbing with a brush. Make sure to wear gloves and have the bathroom well ventilated while you do this by turning on the exhaust fan and opening a window if there is one. Don’t forget to wash the shower curtain as well. Just toss in the washer machine with bleach added to the cycle. If you do have bacteria or mold growing it is a good idea to wash down the walls and ALL other surfaces as well with a bleach-based disinfect. (otherwise wipe down surfaces, walls and baseboards with a mix of half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle. This mix makes a great all-purpose cleaner to use almost anywhere in the house.) To help prevent another outbreak, rinse and dry the shower and tub after each use and turn on the exhaust fan every time you shower or give the kids a bath.

Toilet: The throne has to be cleaned too. I just hope the men of the house know how to aim to make this job a little easier for you. But guess what?! You can use the same baking soda and vinegar mixture here too!! Can you believe it? Let it foam for a few minutes then scrub with a brush. Spray the whole toilet down with vinegar and wipe clean and you’re good to go! If you would rather use a traditional toilet cleaner there are “green” cleaners that are better to put into our water systems but the ones I have tried still have a strong smell.

Floors: Finally Sweep and mop the floor with the appropriate floor cleaner and your done!

–Now go treat yourself to a nice bubble bath tonight after you put the kids to bed. But when you are done rinse out the tub and turn on the exhaust fan to make your job easier the next time!

NOTE: Since the humidity in your bathroom is high and there is an increased risk of bacteria and mold to grow here, it is not recommended that you keep medicine or first aid kits in this room. Those need to be stored in dry places, not in the “medicine” cabinet in the bathroom.

—Read other articles in this series:

Spring Cleaning: Waging War With Dust Bunnies And Clutter

Spring Cleaning: Make Your Kitchen Shine!

Spring Cleaning: Bedroom Bliss

Their new Katori print has subtle accents of tangerine that are woven in among navy and gray Asian flowers in Katori – a gender-neutral pattern that is a re-imagined take on our immensely popular Ascot pattern.

Bebe Au Lait’s new Oxford pattern has light blue calligraphy against a backdrop of slate gray. This pattern is also gender-neutral and  blends both simple and intricate design elements to create a stunning combination. Available now at Destination Maternity and Motherhood Maternity Stores.

Both of these new patters make excellent additions to their current print collection and two lucky winners will be chosen to receive one!

Simply enter the info below and let us know which pattern you like best and we will be announcing the winners this Friday via our Facebook page. The winner will be notified via email by Friday May 18th. Good Luck and happy iTwinsDay!

There are about a thousand good reasons to check it out (the best being ME!!!!) lol.
The show is this Saturday and Sunday May 19 and 20.
If you were one of the lucky families to join me for a Twiniversity class, you know my style and my no nonsense approach to parenting. This weekend I’ll be speaking about “The Balancing Act”. I’ll give you some tips on managing your life, parenthood, marriage, and your own free time.

All in all, this is just an incredible family fun day of renowned speakers, top vendors, all sorts of kiddie fun–not to mention the Ultimate Nursery Giveaway. (CLICK ABOVE)

See! I'll be there!!!!

Plus, the first 100 Twiniversity families to reserve tickets (don’t wait too long) go for FREE by using the code: twins.

Everyone else, only $20/family, $10 person.

For more info, visit NewYorkBabyShow.com.  See Ya There!!!!

If you are planning on going to the expo, let’s meet up after my lecture and I’ll give you some pointers on who NOT to miss at the expo! Email me at Natalie@Twiniversity.com and let me know you’ll be there!!!

Syl S. “Home Depot Home Defense outdoor indoor spray.”

Tiffany M. “We use the Ortho Home Defense spray inside & out and it works great!”

April B. “Spray white vinegar.”

Angela T. “Avon’s Skin So Soft Body Oil Spray, works GREAT!! I have been using it for years!”

Katie G. “I make sure to have the outside of the house treated every 3 months and haven’t had a pest problem except a spider or two, in over a year and half.”

Jenny R. “We had ants the first 2 summers we were in the house (little brown ants) I bleached every hard surface twice and they haven’t come back.”

Heather P. “Our last house had an ant nest inside the kitchen wall. They were so bad I threatened to move every year until we started using vinegar. We poured it all around the foundation and it stopped the ants!! It also works on weeds in the driveway!!”

Jennifer W. “Baby powder kills them and is safe for animals and kids to be around. Messy, but it works.”

Stacey V. “I have used white vinegar as well…They key is to find the “route” they use to get around your house…Each ant follows the other’s trail, so there is usually an ant highway…Spray where you know they enter from and then continue along their route. It may take a few times, but you will notice they have “left the building” pretty quickly.”

Jeannie T. “Boric acid mixed with sugar.”

Karen H. “A tube of clear caulk. Every time you see a trail, apply the caulk to wherever it looks like they’re coming in from.”

Charissa L. “We hired an exterminator! Came home while pregnant with twins to a pantry full of them – after I cleaned up the mess and threw out a ton of food it was the best option. We had them do mostly outside and entries/pantries but not the kids rooms or play area. Now we have ‘tubes in the wall’ in our newer home.”

–If you get ants in your home I hope that one of these options will work for you. I know there are a few ideas mentioned that I have never heard of that I am willing to try. Thank you to our twin parent community for always being there with helpful tips on all sorts of subjects to help daily life be a little bit easier.

Twins –
there’s two to wash, there’s two to dry; there’s two who argue, there’s two who cry.
One’s in the mud, having a ball; the other holds a crayon… another marked wall.
Some days seem endless, my patience grows thin.
Why did God choose me to be a mother of twins?
The answer comes clear at the end of each day, as I tuck them in bed and to myself I say…
There’s two to kiss, there’s two to hug; and best of all, thank you, God, for two to love.

As a child I started writing letters when my best friend moved to another state. And when it was time for my family to move across the country I wrote letters to keep in touch with the friends I left behind. The anticipation of a return letter was so exciting that I wanted to go check the mail every day! Did you have a pen pal when you were a kid? Do your kids have pen pals? It is a good way to help build their language and hadwriting skills and it is a great way for them to learn about how other people live and view life. If you live in the city maybe your children wonder what it’s like to live on the farm or vice verse. Or maybe they wonder what it’s like to live in another part of the world! Can you help your child find a pen pal? Maybe you know of an old friend from high school or a relative who has children the same age as yours? Talk to your child’s teacher; they may be willing to set up a pen-pal program to match them with kids their same age in another school. Or maybe you can encourage them to keep in touch with an exchange student that visited their school.

When your children write their letters encourage them write about their interests, the things they do, the foods they eat, the places they see, and the books they are reading. Make sure they ask questions to get to know the interests of their pen pal and to find out what you have in common. Questions like “what do you like to do in your spare time? Have you ever been ice skating?” will draw out conversation. To make the letters come to life include pictures or postcards from the local area and bits from their life like the ticket stub of a movie they went to see. They can send little gifts like stickers and book marks that reflect their friends interests.

- NOTE: Make sure your child corresponds in a safe, supervised manner. This can be easier with written letters rather than electronic messages since the electronic ones can be easily deleted or made unavailable by passwords. Make your own judgment as to how much privacy your children need based on his/her age. If your child is open to sharing the things they are learning then it is a good sign that the correspondence is safe.

When was the last time YOU sent someone a letter? It is a great way to express your appreciation to someone who makes your life better or encourage a friend going through a rough spell or express how proud you are for a friends recent accomplishment. And what about your significant other? I know I have kept all of the love notes my husband wrote to me when we were dating. Those notes are more precious to me than any electronic communication we sent. They share the deep reflection of thoughts and feelings that he had for me; you just can’t get that in a text message. Make it a point to write your significant other a love note to let them know the reasons you appreciate and love them. Everyone loves the “just because” gestures without a prompting of a special occasion. I won’t tell them that I told you to do it. *wink wink*

Bebe Au Lait is offering shoppers an amazing deal on their awesome nursing covers. From now through May 14th you can buy one regularly-priced nursing cover and receive a free burp cloth 2-pack AND free shipping!

Not sure what you are currently using as a nursing cover, but Bebe Au Lait covers are stylish, comfortable, and are more like a fashion accessory then a nursing cover.

Here on the streets of NYC, you see them all around, not only just being used as a nursing cover, but as a sun shade as well. Heck, I wish they made nursing tops (hint hint Bebe Au Lait) in matching fabrics since I absolutely LOVE their patterns. My personal favorite, totally the Mint Chocolate! (Before the rumor mill begins… I’m not nursing, but I remember how long I wore my maternity tops even after the twinnies were born, and I can’t be the only one who did/does that.)

While you are on their website, check out their other amazing products too. My personal favorite, HANDS DOWN, are their quibs! It’s a quadruple bib (get it…quib!) since the bib is totally reversible and has four clean sides. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these! Plus this urban chick can’t help but love their cityscape pattern!

So this Mother’s Day, buy yourself a little gift of fashion from Bebe Au Lait and get a free gift and free shipping too!

Designed by Twin Mama Lindsey Sandefur, TABLE FOR TWO is a must-have product and lifesaver for all parents of twins! This secure, sturdy twin feeder saves you time, energy and sanity, and makes mealtime comfortable for you and your twinnies. No more struggling to position your babies in order to feed them at the same time – Table for Two puts them in the perfect feeding posture to aid in digestion and help relieve symptoms of colic, reflux, colds and breathing difficulties. Armrests alleviate the strain from YOUR neck, back, arms and shoulders. Shorter middle-of-the-night feedings mean more sleep for everyone-only one parent required! No more spilled or mixed up bottles, no more mess – Table for Two cuts the work and feeding time in half!

Here is what moms are saying:

“I received this as a gift from my sister-in-law for my baby shower. It was definitely the talk of my shower! It works just as amazing as it looks. It puts my girls in the perfect position to take a bottle so effortlessly. It also has such fun fabrics to choose from that I just recently ordered two extra seat inserts to have on hand when milk gets spilled and I have to throw them in the washing machine. I love my Table for Two!” -Christina, mom of Ella and Elizabeth

“I literally wanted to cry every couple hours when my twins were ready to eat! Feeding time by myself was the most stressful part of my day. I used to put two bouncy seats next to each other and hold my arms in the air for 30-45 minutes at a time! It was painful! I was so excited when I heard about Table for Two and immediately ordered one. It has turned feeding time into one of the easiest times of the day for me and my twins! They are so happy when they are in it so we use it as our lounger as well instead of bouncy seats. Definitely recommend this product!!”-Caroline, mom of Parker and Cole

Not only is this table going to make your life easier, but a portion of each sale goes to a very special cause that is near and dear to Lindsey’s heart, the London’s Grace Foundation. Since Lindsey’s Baby A was born without a left hand, she understands the challenges, frustration and great need for a charity that specifically helps with assisting families receive prosthetics.   Since London has been wearing her prosthetic since she was six months old, she has grown up using it and even learned to crawl with it on. Lindsey and the Table For Two folks have set up a charity to assist families who are unable to afford their own children’s prosthetics. Cheers to Table For Two for creating this amazing charity!

Today Twiniversity is giving you the chance to enter to win one of these fantastic “tables”!

Two lucky Twiniversity members will get the opportunity to win. One from Twiniversity Gold. Gold members check your email for details!.

A winner will be chosen on May 11th via random.org and announced Facebook and Twitter. Check your email to see if the winners is you!

Rather not wait to see if you won? Want one today? You can buy one today at www.buytablefortwo.com today.

*Please note that Twiniversity strongly suggests that this product ONLY be used for feeding and not sleeping.