TwinTastic

Life- As It May Seem

2009-06-06T11:56:00.004-05:00

Angela here!

We obviously stink at updating TwinTastic. I think it stems from the fact that we each have our own 2 blogs to regularly update. I have Texas Banter and Texas Banter Book Reviews while Manders has Confetti Dreams and Mudpies with Manders. What can I say- we've been a little busy.

Hell, life has been busy! I, for the life of me cannot figure out why, have embarked on a challenge- to read 100 books before December 31st. The way it is looking, I won't read 100. I'll be lucky if I read 75. I know that my head will explode into mere nothingness because I have read so much. Manders is doing well. She's reading as well but I don't think she's taking the 100 book challenge like I am. She hasn't said that she has so I'm taking it that she hasn't.

She finally dyed ALL of her hair purple. While it is now taking on a pink hue, it still looks rockin! It took us forever to get it finished because of the whole process but thanks to me, her whole head was (and probably still is) purple!

Looks cool, doesn't it? I personally dyed my hair black because the brown was starting to shine through and I prefer to have jet black hair than brown- brown isn't a good color for me.

I can't believe Manders is still asleep! I didn't go to bed until like 1:45 in the morning due to heart palpitations (from a pre-exisiting condition) but still woke up at 9:30. I guess when she goes to college, her classes will have to be afternoon classes since she seems to love to sleep in. I would love to sleep in- but can't seem to sleep past 9:30. It annoys me.

No fair- I want to sleep too. Everyone else is still asleep! Maybe I'll just grab some caffeine and give up the chance to taking a nap.

I hate summer.

Update

2009-05-01T20:03:00.003-05:00

Angela here! Manders is asleep (I guess because she didn't sleep so well last night.). She's taking a longer nap than I did today and I was under the influence of cold medicine! I guess she's just tired.

Things are going well for us. We are reading the Twilight series and we love it! Manders needs to read the 4th book and I need to finish reading the 3rd. Even I would have fallen in love with Edward. He's sounds so damn sexy!

Zeus, Princess, Patches and Smokie are doing the... same? Smokie has gotten needy. She escaped this afternoon while we were out and when we got home, she was by the porch. She saw me walking up the sidewalk so she decided to start walking up the porch steps and meow at me. Usually she just runs away because she likes the chase. Today, she actually let me pick her up and when she fought against my grasp, once the door was open, she walked right in. Good kitty. But now she wants attention constantly, ever since she lost both her kittens. I won't go into details but she has gotten super needy since then and will often wake me up even at 3 in the morning for attention. I feel sorry for her. I really do.

Now, I will be holding a giveaway starting May 4th on my blog, Texas Banter. It will run from May 4th to May 10th at 11:59CST. I am not disclosing what it is, but you should head on over there so get a peak at the blog and find any way to remind yourself. If you have Windows Vista, a note on the side bar will come in handy.

So remember: May 4th, the giveaway will go live. May 10th at 11:59CST, the giveaway will end.

See ya there!

Edited to add: Might help if I post the link, dontcha think?

http://texasheartland.wordpress.com

And don't forget to head over to Confetti Dreams for lots of Manders' banterings as well!

http://confettidreams.wordpress.com

Yanni Voices CD Review

2009-04-08T10:19:00.004-05:00

This CD is relaxation at your fingertips. As soon as the first song, Omaggio (Tribute), plays, every muscle in your body relaxes and you know something good is going to happen. The second song "The Keeper" has an r&b, pop, and soul feel to it. It is also a great song to play when you're getting tender with your significant other. Leslie Mills' voice is ethereal, angelic-like.

"Our Days," the third song, has a fantastic beat/rhythm. You feel as if you are in some far away country. It really has that ethnic Moroccan/Indian beat to it. It is a great song!

Every song on this wonderful album is unique and the songs pull you into their lyrics. Leslie Miss, Chloe, Nathan Pacheco, and Ender Thomas' voices are immaculate. This album will make you want it to never stop. Everything is perfect!

Song number 5, "Before The Night Ends" sounds almost like a lullaby. It's beautiful and soothing- which a lullaby-type song should be. I would recommend listening to it before bed. It will make you a tiny bit sleep. That's how good it is.

Song "1001," which is number 6 by the way, has a tango flair to it. If you close your eyes, your mind will come up with a story. You're walking down the hot streets of Buenos Aires and you lock your eyes with a hot guy. He walks towards you slowly and as he reaches you, the song starts playing. You both start the tango as the look of desire can be seen through his eyes. I really need to stop day dreaming!

But honestly, while I'm listening to the rest of this amazing CD, go get this album. It is the most relaxing music you will EVER hear. That is a promise!

Visit http://www.yanni.com/ to find out more about this album. Then go to your local music store and buy it!

Ballas Hough Band- Closer (CD Review)

2009-03-24T15:14:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, I had gotten a CD to review from the One2One network. That CD was from the Ballas Hough Band.

First off, I have to say, I LOVE this album! While I listen to almost everything, I also have a soft side for metal music. In this case, I have grown to love pop music! The band reminds me of Backstreet Boys, BBMak, and Westlife from the Boy Band era.

The first song off of the album is "Do You Love Me." I absolutely love this song!! When I first heard it, I swear I played it over and over until I finally got to the rest of the songs.

Number 8's song is called "Do It For You." Now, some songs just grab you and make you want to dance. This song did! My sister and I, in fact, danced to it several times- even if it we did look like dorks.

While I am 24 years old, I still like to revisit my teen years and listen to pop... So, naturally, I wondered if this album would be up to par with the other ones that are out there. Honestly? This CD is not even in this world. If you have daughters (or sons) that love pop music, but also need a different sound to it, then get them this CD. They will love it as did I!

Twin Banter and more

2009-03-22T12:33:00.004-05:00

I hate technology.... and pollen.

We're sorry we haven't posted in a while. We once again had computer problems (as if that's anything new) so we had to wait almost a month before we were able to get it fixed. We had to go to the public library every other day just so we could do the basics: check our e-mails and post on our personal blogs. That absolutely sucked because you only get 1 hour a day to do anything and everything you need. Personally, I need more than an hour do to what I want. I am a fast typer but slow at doing everything else. Hell, I'm even putting off studying Algebra (remember: Studying for the THEA here) because I suck at it. But no worries, computer is all fixed now.

I also hate pollen for one specific reason- allergies. I have the WORST Spring allergies around the house and it makes me feel extremely terrible. Today might just be another day where I don't get anything done. I'm okay with that.

We're going to have to hold off on the giveaway. The economy hasn't helped and we can't seem to find a sponsor (even though we were going to hold our own). Hell, I can't even get a sponsor at Texas Banter... I'm jealous of those who get to hold them all the time. I promise that as soon as we can, we will hold a giveaway. I'm just not sure when.

Manders is doing well. Still studying for the THEA (she's going for Psychology and I'm going for Animal Science). I don't think much has changed for her... That is- except for her nickname. It's "Twister". "Twin" "Sister"- get it? Not much has changed for me either.

Sad, isn't it?

Easy Does It!

2009-03-02T11:18:00.004-06:00

I know, I know. You are all chomping at the bit for us to get this giveaway... well, underway. I feel the exact same way. Sometimes it's hard for people who hold their own giveaways (without the help from sponsors) to get everything together so that they CAN hold their giveaway. That's how it is for us. But as soon as I know when we're going to hold it, you'll be the first to know. Okay? Now, don't forget to subscribe to TwinTastic just in case we post updates or post little hints on what the prize might be.

Anyways...

Lately it seems as if all I do is study. No, I'm not in school yet. I am studying for the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment), which is a test to evaluate the readiness of students for college-level coursework in Texas. It's divided into 3 sections: Reading, Math, and Writing. Of course the Reading is Reading Comprehension, which I have absolutely no problem with. I just suck at Math and need a little help with the Writing. I am starting with the Writing so I can devote the rest of my time to Math and brush up on the Reading. I don't know how Manders is doing in the sections, but I can promise that she's a hella lot better at Math than I am! So we've decided that soon we will hold a "Study Session", in which she helps me with Math and I'll help her with anything she's having trouble with. I think Manders is a little more prepared to take the test if she had to take the test now than I am.

Smokie had her kittens but unfortunately, none of them made it. They were premature and underdeveloped. Smokie got really depressed that morning and the following day but is doing better. She's playing with Princess (Manders' kitty) and eating. Of course, she still wants to sleep all the time but she's starting to come around.

Beside the economy hitting us hard, we are doing a-okay. Now I am going to finish a few things, listen to a few songs, and then go hit the books.

Giveaway, here we come!

2009-02-27T19:03:00.003-06:00

Now if you noticed in the previous post, I said I would talk to Manders about holding a giveaway. I didn't get to ask her before bed because, well to be honest, I forgot. So after the whole thing last night with Smokie giving birth (none of the kittens made it because they were born premature), I got some much needed (but not much) rest.

I woke up before Manders did so I wasn't able to ask her then. But then again, I probably wouldn't have remembered anyways. I'm not a morning person. You can ask anyone in the family. I hate mornings. I hate them especially after not getting enough sleep 2 nights in a row. I'm pretty grumpy.

ANYWAYS, when she finally woke up and I had been awake long enough to remember, I finally asked her about it. She agreed. So we will have a giveaway! Right now, we can't share any details because while we have the prize, we haven't discussed when we're going to have it, for how long and all the rest that goes along with having your own giveaway. This will NOT be a sponsored giveaway so we're not gonna make you jump through a ring of fire and balance a treat on your nose. Oh you will have to answer a question but we promise it will be easy!

So when will we hold the giveaway? I don't know. For how long? I couldn't tell ya. But I do know we're going to hold it.

-Angela

Update 02/26

2009-02-26T22:55:00.005-06:00

We are getting behind on posting! Yikes!

We just wanted to update our readers. We have been going through a lot- mentally, physically, and financially.

I'll start with the computers. Our new one went down for some reason one night and we couldn't figure out what was going on! We realized it was the power supply but we had to wait until payday to buy one. So we brought out Old Trusty (our old ass computer) and it worked- for a few nights. Then it started saying something about a signal cable. Damnit. So we bought a signal cable for the monitor, thinking that was the problem. It didn't work so we gave up. We ended up going to the library to use their public computers for almost 4 days straight and we finally bought the power supply. We're not exactly experts at it so it took us a while to install it but it worked!

Then I (Angela) ended up going to the Emergency Room on the 21st because of heart palpitations. They said I was dehydrated but I knew I wasn't because I've been dehydrated before- that never happened. We did some research and my mom saw symptoms of potassium AS WELL AS magnesium deficiency. I had almost every symptom and we realized that's what caused the heart palpitations. But they couldn't "treat' me because I don't have insurance. But my heart rate in triage was 122 and a high blood pressure. They took blood, put me on fluids, and it came down a little. Yet they still released me when I said I still had the heart palpitations, though they weren't as bad! Sheesh! Way to go, docs! But I had a nice nurse. Yea. I liked her.

Smokie, my cat, is expecting any day now. She should only have 1 or 2 kittens at the most since she is 6 years old and a cat's litter gets smaller as she gets older. I know this will be her last litter. Zeus, on the other hand, is back to his normal self. He does have a limp but he's back to running, biting, and chasing the cats. They're not amused.

Manders is doing well. Ain't nothing has changed- except her hair color. She has purple hair! Don't believe me? Look for yourself!-->

Crazy, ain't it?! I only dyed my hair black to jet black. I don't have the guts to change my hair something that isn't natural. But I think it looks good on her.

I've been thinking of holding some sort of giveaway that isn't themed-style. Something totally out of the ordinary and something you wouldn't expect. Okay, well you might considering what we listen to, but hey, who knows. I might have to talk to Manders about it.

Angela here...

2009-02-03T11:34:00.004-06:00

For some reason, we tend to become further and further from our posts. We apologize. We just have a lot to deal with right now!

If you don't remember, we have a puppy named Zeus. Well, technically he's still a puppy since he isn't a year old yet but bigger than a God! But back on the 29th of January, he bolted from the door and ran across the street. I went across to the street to get him while our Mom stayed in the front lawn. I saw a car coming down the street and my heart sank. Zeus ran across the street just as the car starting coming down the street but she had enough time to slow down. But she wasn't paying attention and ended up hitting him. I screamed, ran across the street and fell to my knees. I just saw my puppy get run over (something I can still see vividly in my head) and thought we were going to lose him. But we didn't. He only has road rash and a broken "ankle" on his left paw. He's actually up and hobbling. Eating like a horse, barking at air, and wanting to chase the cats- my puppy is coming back!

The economy is definitely rearing its ugly head- though I'm sure that's true for a lot of people. We're taking it one day at a time, though we tend to worry about tomorrow and the rest of the year. I'm not going to bash Obama, but I have my reserves. But then again, I wanted McCain to win. What can I say- I'm young.

Oh yea, if you want us (as a pair) to review your product and have a giveaway, please e-mail us at twintastic99@yahoo.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

-Angela-

Long time no see!

2009-01-20T20:58:00.002-06:00

It's only been... *counts on finger* 10 or 11 days since our last post. Us twins aren't up to too much. However, one of us have decided to pursue her college degree. That would be me, Amanda. I have decided that I will be spending 6 years here at the local community college to get my Bachelors Degree in Psychology then off to University of Texas in Austin for my Masters. Why have I decided to major in Psychology? Well frankly (this is my 3rd time using the word today....), it is because when I was in high school, it was what I wanted to do once I graduated. However, things happened and I couldn't attend college. Now I have the opportunity and I am grabbing that opportunity. So in roughly 10 years, I will be a psychologist. The only problem that I have is that I hope that I don't become my own patient. I'm only joking!

What is the other twin up to? Well, she's sick at the moment. She has a cold. This cold weather always kicks her butt. So while she is sick, she's been listening to the iPod I received this Monday. It's a great little music thingy. I had an iPod shuffle a while back, but it has been lost in the house somewhere. I knew I would lose it! I won't lose this one, however, It's going to bed with me every night in the case it came in. How could I lose that?

Well, that's enough of an update right now. Look out for our next post!!

Ok, we lied.

2009-01-11T20:47:00.003-06:00

Remember when we said that our computer had kicked the bucket? Manders neglected to write and say that it was temporarily working. TEMPORARILY being the keyword. In 2 months (maybe 2 1/2 but I'm hopin that it'll only be 2 months) we should have a BRAND NEW computer tower and some super cool accessories. It's like Christmas all over again. We're asking if we can get webcams, this, that, green, purple, silver, chrome, and leather. Ok, maybe not the leather or the silver and chrome. But you get the jest of it.

I do want to share this with you. I shared this with my Texas Banter readers and though I would be nice. While me, Manders, and our mom were coming back from Best Buy (to comparison shop), we were talking that life is like swimming. You have rafts, boats, and lifesavers sometimes. There are times you don’t. I said “I don’t even have my floaties!”. Funny, huh?

As I write this right now, the computer is alive and breathing. Let's hope it stays that way until we can get our freakin' brand new computer tower... complete with hidden ports! Pretty wicked!

Special Languages?

2009-01-08T19:09:00.002-06:00

You know, there are literally thousands of languages out there. You have German, French, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, etc. Each of those are special in their own little way. However, have you ever thought that us twins may have a language of our own? Here's some insight on what I have experienced and perhaps teach you a new one!

Food/Drink Talk
The first one cannot be fully explained, but you will get the idea of it. Let's say one of the twins decides to take a drink or take a bite out of something. The other twin asks them a question. The one with the food/drink in her mouth responds. The twin that asked the question would automatically the answer without having to ask the question again. Normally, some people wouldn't understand a word that was said. Sometimes we don't have to use words to understand one another. It just is.

Gibberish
This one is quite easy to do AND understand. A few years ago, my sister and me decided to try out something new. It was of course a new "language." This one can be tricky- so take notes! First, I will start with a regular sentence then reverse it; do a 180° if you will.

Regular Sentence: That boy is hot.

Now, here's where we reverse it:

Reverse: .toh si yob tahT

Voila! You have a simple sentence reversed into gibberish. That's something you won't learn in school. It may not necessarily be used in the real world, but it certainly is used among us twins.

Looks
The last one is pretty simple. If you've been around or have known someone for years and years, you get that thing called ESP. Well, it's almost the same thing. With twins, all you need to do is look at one another and everything is understood. Sometimes we may never fully understand why twins have such a strong bond, but I don't mind. It gives us a chance to be just a little different than other people.

That's it for today's lesson! No homework and enjoy your weekend!!!

Goodbye Computer, We'll Miss You!

2009-01-07T13:37:00.002-06:00

Amanda here with some unfortunate news. No, my twin hasn't decided to leave, but our home computer has gone bye-bye. It no longer works. It kicked the bucket. It went up to meet other computers who have passed.

We originally bought the computer in early of 2004. So, it has lasted roughly 5 years. We had our share of problems with it- and before you ask, it was a Gateway. We now know that that particular brand is probably not the best.

We will be unable to get a new one until March. So, 2 1/2 months of no blogging, no writing, and definitely not venting any frustration? I'm going to go insane!! We will miss you guys and TRY to update as much as we can as we are only limited by the computers at the public library. The other bad thing is that you are only allotted an hour on the computer.

So, I don't say goodbye as we are not leaving for good. Instead, we will say SEE YOU LATER TWINTASTIC READERS!!!

Goodbye 2008 Hello 2009!

2008-12-29T23:26:00.003-06:00

Angela here... Manders is most likely sleeping, which is what I should be doing. I have a busy day a head of me. Yet, I keep plugging away at Online-Sweepstakes (comment us for referrer names) and chatting with friends old and new.

But as I am doing this, I think back about the year me and Manders had. It started off great, and it seemed to get better. She was winning stuff, I was winning stuff. We were both single and having the times of our lives. But then I met someone who I will call "Jerk". We fell madly in love and as they say, the rest is history. And so was our relationship. It didn't so well but I don't care. I moved on.

You will most likely say "Yeah right. You're still talking about it!" but it was part of 2008. So what did me and my twin sister learn this year?

*Don't fall in love unless you think he can catch you.
*Don't move in with him unless you think HE can handle it.
*Just because you have a boyfriend doesn't mean neglect your family and twin.
*Going on a road trip with your family is fun as hell!
*Cold turkey and cold pasta sauce make for a really good snack!
*Puppies don't stay cute for long.
*Even if the year is almost over with, you can still have brilliant creative ideas!
*Some of your best friends (or good friends) could be right around the corner and across the country!
*Blogging is the cheap therapy.

We learned a lot more but I can't remember everything Manders has learned. We know that despite the economy, 2009 will be our year to shine!

Christmas With Twins!

2008-12-25T21:47:00.002-06:00

This year, while Christmas didn't have the magical feeling, was good with the twins. Obviously, we know each other VERY well!

Around the springtime, Manders had won something but wouldn't tell me what I was. I kept asking "Why?" and she said that it was for my birthday present. She would give me hints all through the year and tried so hard not to give it away. Well, she didn't give it to me at our Birthday. Instead, she gave me a Jagged Edge CD (I LOOOOVE Jagged Edge!!) so I had to wait until Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve came and it was time to open presents. She is very good at wrapping the box and hiding the present under shredded paper! I am pulling the shredded paper out and pulling more out... then I see a hint of black. I throw the rest of the paper on the floor (including the box) and could not believe my eyes! My sister had given me a hand-crafted genuine leather wallet! It was absolutely beautiful and just what I needed!

As far as Amanda, it wasn't THAT hard to find what she wanted. I was walking through Hastings' when I found the perfect gift! It was a dragon with an electric ball... Ahh hell, this was what I had gotten her:

You touch it and it moves with your finger. Since I knew she liked dragons and always wanted one of those when she was a teenager so I knew she would love it. Well, she did. She spent ALL night playing with it and taking pictures. We got some wicked pics!

We got Mom the most unique but beautiful present ever! It was a stuffed cat dipped in lavender wax... It's not a candle but it smells oh-so-good! Since Mom loves cats and cat things, we knew we hit the jackpot.

So what's Christmas like with twins? A little hectic (hell, we're 24 and we still get giddy when we hand out presents) but definitely worth it.

Happy Holidays from TwinTastic!!!

2008-12-22T11:26:00.002-06:00

As Christmas Eve draws very near, I start thinking of Christmases that have already past. Yes, I know that we should look toward the future, but with the economy the way it is, I like to remember times when Christmas was simple.

So, from us twins at TwinTastic, we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!!

Well I Was In The Dark!

2008-12-20T12:58:00.003-06:00

And so was most of Waco! I guess around, oh say 6 p.m, the lights in the house all wen off at the same time as Mom was plugging in the outside Christmas lights.

Mom: Great, I think we blew a fuse.

Me: So did I.

Mom: Wait! The whole street is out!

Me: What?! (At this point, I get up to look outside.) Holy mackerel!

I got up, went to the bedroom because Manders was hollerin’ for us and we needed a candle. I couldn’t even see an INCH front of my face! It’s like being in a dark cave with no lights. Scary thought. Luckily I didn’t bump into anything… that is, except the hallway door frame.

We all went outside (and our psycho dog as well) and waited for the lights to come back on. We kept hearing sirens and noises like the military was down the street!

About an hour (maybe an hour and 1/2) later, the lights come back on and I get online to see if any of the local news websites talked about why on a Friday night, Waco was in the dark. Are you ready for this? Brace yourself!

M.C., the manager of Rudy’s Country Store & Bar B-Q (great food by the way!) saw something explode at a substation near the restaurant.

from http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/36475514.html

It was a transformer! Several transformers actually exploded! These are major transformers that blew, causing half of Waco to be left in the dark, wondering what the heck happened!

That’s it. I’m investing in a back-up generator, flash lights, and vodka.

UP-TO-DATE LINKS:

http://www. wacotrib. com/news/content/news/stories/2008/12/20/12202008waccops. html

http://www.kxxv.com/global/story.asp?s=9558071

Well I'm freezing...

2008-12-16T11:45:00.004-06:00

And the twin is still asleep. It's almost noon, and here is Manders, still in bed. Well, hopefully she's still warm.

Yes, it's freezing here in Texas. And I'm not even close to the Panhandle! Temperatures started dropping rapidly yesterday... wait, no Sunday evening is when the temperatures started dropping. They were near freezing yesterday morning and then it started to drizzle. Now if we all learned something in school, we know that when it's near freezing and it starts to rain, it makes ice. Thus, we have ice on the roads! And I am freezing! Temperatures are definitely below freezing and have more precipitation coming this way. Great... I'm staying my butt inside.

Our birthday was pleasant! We got great gifts from our mom and from each other. It wasn't too cold but it wasn't too warm either. The day was glorious with plenty of sunshine. We got out that night and had the time of our lives!

That picture was taken at Heritage Square in front of the city's Christmas tree. It's something we do annually.

Tomorrow night we plan on doing something we do semi-annually. Every state has a thing where you can drive through miles and miles of light displays (and not on city streets). We call ours Nature In Lights and that's in Belton right adjacent to Fort Hood. No, we won't be on base though we have been before. What baffles me is that it's not on base but when it's not Christmas, the lake pavilion is off limits to civilians. Anyways, we went the year before and plan on going this year. It's really cool, even if it seems dorkish. It's quite extravagant. Here, check it out:

http://www.hoodmwr.com/nature_in_lights.htm

Hopefully it won't be as cold. That would really suck.

Yoohoo! Santa!

2008-12-10T11:33:00.002-06:00

No, I don't believe in the jolly guy. I used it as a way to get your attention. Worked, didn't it? I know you're disappointed that it won't be about Santa. I'm sorry.

Oh by the way, this is the other twin, Angela. I decided that since the blog is "TwinTastic" why not help? What fun would it be with just 1 twin writing and the other M.I.A?

If you can't tell, Manders is excited about our birthday. I don't blame her, I am too! And she is right, I am an early bird. But come Friday (Dec. 12th, our birthday), if I see the present she has for me wrapped up, I will wake her up. What fun would it be if I open mine and she doesn't open her's until later? I am going to be anxious!

Oh shit, that reminds me... I have to think of what to get her! I am going "Birthday" shopping tomorrow. But I have noooo clue what to get her! I know her extremely well but why do those you know too well have to be THE hardest people to shop for? I also have to get her a birthday card. I am hoping that won't be as hard to choose, but I am leaving myself open for the same thing as the birthday gift. Ugh... Why do I do this to myself?

Wait, where was I going with this? Was I gonna tell you about myself other than what twinsy already said? Oh crap, I forgot. I'm sorry.

HELLO HELLO!!!

2008-12-09T23:26:00.004-06:00

Wow, it's been so long since i've written anything. I'm terribly sorry about that. You know how life goes, right? One thing happens and then it's an avalanche. Well, you ready for some updates? Alrighty then...

First off, we had Thanksgiving dinner at my grandmother's house. It wasn't my first choice, but since we wouldn't see anyone until next year, I thought we might as well go over there and see what has been going on in our relatives' lives. I found out that my cousin's husband is in Baghdad right now. I feel sorry for her and their son. However, he does get leave sometime soon, so he gets to see them. That'll be wonderful!

I'm on the hunt for a boyfriend. As long as he has a beating heart and a personality, I don't care otherwise. Wait, I take that back. There's a small list, but it's things that I will not give up. Respect towards my family and I is definitely one of the items i'm not giving up. There's more to the list, but who wants to hear a boring old list of must-haves for a boyfriend?

My dearest sister is doing good, too! In fact, soon she'll be the one writing some articles! Finally I won't have to do all of the thinking. Yippee!

Soon we'll both be turning 24 (Dec 12). We don't have anything special planned, but knowing that I share it with her is good enough! I already have her gift (I've had it for a few weeks now) and her card is already sealed. So when she wakes up that day (she's an early bird!), i'll put it somewhere where she can see it and she can either open it or wait for me to wake up. If I know her, she'll end up waking me up as soon as she sees it. Bring on the coffee!

So anyways, Christmas/Yule/Other holidays are coming up. We have our tree up, but no presents yet. So would you like to see it? It's not big, but it's cute and fits our personality!

Now the cats can't try to knock down the decorations, and the puppy can't pull the tree down. I think that this year we've outsmarted them. 1 points for the humans.

Now that I think my insomnia has finally passed, i'm going to try to get some sleep. Let's hope I don't get awoken by... well... anything!

Good night!!

Snap snap goes the camera!

2008-11-13T21:24:00.011-06:00

Do ya'll want to see pictures of us? Please say yes! I have to say, though, there's none of us together. Don't ask me why. Okay, i'll tell you. We were both kind of grumpy, tired, and stressed. We wanted to get it over with and then relax. These all were taken at the park's natural springs, so that's why it's sunny!

I'll post 2 of each. The first ones are Angela, then me!!

Yes, we are wearing the same thing- well, sweater wise. These are the most comfortable sweaters made on Earth! OH MY GOSH!

By the way, in a few days, i'll be posting an article that my be helpful to those who are pregnant with twins and need help on how to handle them when they are born. Of course, it will be from my mother's point of view, but it just may help others in some way!

TwinTastic Reviews? Really??

2008-11-12T18:02:00.002-06:00

You know, it can get tiring trying to find things to write about, or what your crazy twin did the other day. Yes, Ang, i'm still laughing about the bowling ball.

Anyways, we've decided to start another blog separate from this one- only for reviews. Yay! The reason for this is because we wanted to keep twin stories/information separate from reviews.

Want to visit: http://twintasticreviews.blogspot.com/

We started the blog a few days ago, but wanted to get a decent design for it before we posted anything. There's only 1 review at the moment, but look for more this coming weekend/week.

Have a great.... Wednesday night and enjoy!

Seal's New Album

2008-11-11T11:37:00.002-06:00

Okay guys, I just wanted to let you know that Seal's new album came out on the 8th of this month (November.) I've listened to a few songs and frankly, I can't wait to buy it! If you love Seal, then you'lll ove this. Who doesn't remember "Kiss From A Rose?" That song rocked!

So, go buy it and listen to it, got it? Good!!

Remember: Don't Let Go Of The Ball

2008-11-10T20:32:00.004-06:00

Not every twin excel in the same thing. In fact, your sibling may not be athletic in ANY way. If they aren't, save them embarrassment and tell them that they aren't cut out for that sport. Or, if you need a laugh, then don't.

Before I start laughing until my stomach hurts, let me tell you what my sister did Sunday night. Please, hold all laughter until the end. Thank you.

Sunday afternoon, my sister's friend came into town and wanted to see her. We all decided to meet in the Wal-Mart parking lot (some place safe) and go from there. Seems harmless. He's a cool guy. He has a personality. He has a nice truck. She's lucky.

Anyways, we decided to go home to drop the puppy off. By the way, here's my baby, Lucky.

We've nicknamed his Cujo because he's a playful biter. Cute though, right? Ah... those eyes. That puppy face. I just want to squeeze him and kiss his nose!

Ah... right, the story. Well, we figured out what we wanted to do. You guys ready to guess what we did? I'll wait...

5...........4...............3.............2.........

Nevermind. I'll tell you. We went bowling! That's right, bowling. Let's just skip right to the funny part.

So, the twin is up and it's her turn to bowl. Apparently, don't go up if you're mad about something else. Things will happen to either you or the ball. She moves her arm back to roll, but the ball doesn't make it down the lane. Instead, it went the other way. That's right, it flew BACKWARDS! Imagine a green (or was it orange?) ball coming right near your ankle. Those things are kind of heavy. So, as soon as it lands, we all laugh. She laughs. I laugh. Her friend chuckles. Even the girl next in the next lane laughed. She let go of the ball before she threw it forwards.

That was the highlight of the night... for me, atleast.

Now, you may laugh.... hysterically. No, I didn't get a picture or video of it. I think if I were, then I might have had to send it to AFV (Americas Funniest Videos.)

So, a little reminder for you bowling fans: DON'T LET THE BALL GO! Make sure it actually makes it down the lane.

Homemade dolls are AWESOME!!!

2008-11-09T11:27:00.003-06:00

It's Sunday morning, and while i'm trying to do some window shopping for Christmas presents, I decided to check on Etsy-which i'm falling in love with!! If you don't know what Etsy is, let me give you a rundown of what it consists of. Etsy is like e-Bay, except that everything is homemade, a lot cheaper and easier to handle. No, you won't see a $400 blender from China, but you get to see everyone's unique crafts and abilities!

So, while i'm on Etsy, I decide to see what they have for twins- just in case I want to buy something for my sister. I see a picture of plush dolls. I click on the link and it takes me to the listing. I must say, these dolls are cute and who wouldn't fall in love with them?

Oh, did you want to see what I was talking about? Sorry! My bad! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_12&listing_id=16925092

The good thing is that they're only $30- which is great because i'm not crafty enough to try and undertake something like that!

If you want to give something homemade but really don't have the ability to make something, try Etsy! I'm sure you'll find something you like!

Now, the only thing I have to figure out is what to get a dad who has no hobbies, only watches wrestling and works almost 24/7. Yikes!

Warning: Swirling Glow Stick May Cause You Bodily Harm

2008-11-01T21:23:00.002-05:00

We all know where this is headed... correct? I don't have a scary Halloween story, but I did do something stupid last night. This is where I bang my head against the wall before telling the story. Now keep in mind, no one else was harmed and I did learn my lesson- IMMENSELY!!

I was laying in bed and had just finished eating some pizza. Just thinking about that pizza makes me drool now.... Oh, sorry. *Ahem* Anyways, I saw that there was a glow stick hanging on the backboard of my bed. What do I do? Grab the darn glow stick. I can't seem to stay away from anything that glows!

So, I start twirling it around my fingers from the cord that it's on. This is a bad idea- especially since the lights were off. Horror movies are just scarier that way. Apparently, when you're into a movie, anything and everything is oblivious to you. As i'm swirling this glow stick, I knew it would be only moments before it would hit something... like a WALL! I just never thought it would hit me. Well, it did. It ended up swerving off course and smacking me in the forehead.

It stung. I cursed. I think I even threw the remote off of the bed. I will never swirl something on a string ever again. Next time, if I want to swirl something, i'm gonna pad myself and make sure it's not plastic.

The moral of this story: Wrap yourself in bubble wrap before handling glow sticks on a string!

BOO!!

2008-10-31T15:19:00.006-05:00

Today is October 31st. Do you know what that means? Well, yes it means ghosts, goblins, and witches. Also, it does mean getting candy. So that must mean that it's... HALLOWEEN!!!

This is my 2nd most favorite holiday in the year. For those who aren't familiar with the history of Halloween (no, not the commercialism), here's a little snippet:

Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win").

The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.

The festival would frequently involve bonfires. It is believed that the fires attracted insects to the area which attracted bats to the area. These are additional attributes of the history of Halloween.
(Taken from http://www.halloweenhistory.org/)

Now that you have that little history, want some fun links to enjoy before taking the little ones trick or treating... or even going by yourself? Well, i'm glad you asked!

Want to carve a pumpkin without the mess?
http://www.cubpack81.com/images/carve_pumpkin.swf

Want to print and make your own masks?
http://www.allfreeprintables.com/halloween/jacklantern.shtml

http://www.allfreeprintables.com/halloween/clown.shtml

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/acProject?lc=en&cc=us&extcat=partykitsdecorations&dlc=en&project=halloweenmasks

Want to be able to color online?
http://www.coloring.com/pictures/halloween

Funny Halloween pictures?
http://www.halloweenwishes.com/funny_pictures/

What are we doing this Halloween? Not too much except eat on ice cream and watch horror movies. We weren't able to get candy to hand out this year. :( Sorry, kiddos! Next year, I promise to give ya'll tons of candy to make up for this year!

So, have a SAFE Happy Halloween from us to you!

Who are we?

2008-10-30T19:15:00.003-05:00

(Let's use this picture again so you get the idea. Right? Good, let's go on!)

Okay, this post, I thought I would let you in on your blog hostesses (is that even a word?). First off, let's start with the blue-haired twin. Well, the blue is no longer there, but you get the idea. Cool? Cooooooooel!! Then, a few posts later, you'll meet the other twin. Thumbs up for that!!

The blue-haired woman is me, Amanda. I'm from Texas (yeehaw!) and 23 years old. It doesn't seem like it in the above picture, does it? I didn't think so either. We need a new one done. Hey Twiiiiiiiiin, let's make Saturday picture day, okay?

............................................................. want that one...... oooh! Christmas gift alert........
Sorry, got distracted. Darn those cute Etsy shops!

Anyways, what can I say about me.... Amanda. I'm a mean-spirited, egotistical and stubborn southern gal....... GOTCHA! I'm not actually mean-spirited or egotistical. I can be stubborn, and how far south can you go than Texas? On second thought, don't answer that one.

Before you ask who's older, the other twin is by 1 minute.

Now that we have that answered, let's keep on truckin'. I love anything Christmas, Halloween, or teddy bears. I have a thing for teddy bears. I don't know why. Also, I love anything that matches something else- like twins. It's just a natural thing.

Now that you have a TINY taste of what i'm about, looking for the next post about the other twin.

If you have any questions, ask them! No question is too offensive, big, small, stupid, or just random!

Umm... i'm sorry, what's your name again?

2008-10-29T13:44:00.002-05:00

Have you ever gone blank with 1 person's name? C'mon, don't be bashful. You know you have. Now, like in the previous post, I told you I would give you a lesson in meeting with twins and ways not to be nervous. Shall we start?

Okay, let's start off with a scenario. The tips will be much more helpful if you can visualize this.

You're at a party. You're kind of a wallflower and shy. You don't like to draw attention to yourself. Now, keep in mind this is just a pretend thing, this may not be you at all. A set of twins come your way and want to talk to you. Are your palms sweaty? Are you afraid you won't be able to tell them apart? Here's where the tips will help.

Whatever you do, be honest. If they tell you their names and you still can't tell them apart, ask them for ways to help you remember. Believe me, they've had plenty of people ask them- so they won't feel offended.

If they are talking at the same time, and it reminds you of the movie, The Shining, and it freaks you out, or confuses you, ask them if there's any way they can speak one at a time. There's two things that will happen: 1) They'll say "Sure!" or 2)Continue talking in unison and then their heads will swivel around and they'll cackle. I'm pretty sure you can guess which option is more likely to happen.

Pretend you are talking to 2 separate people. In fact, they are 2 different people. They have separate personalities. They have their own likes/dislikes. The only thing that sets them apart from other people is that they look a like. Don't let it confuse you. It's perfectly normal.

Also, twins tend to stick together. They are 'joined at the hip' so to speak. To make yourself seem more comfortable, ask them questions. We've heard all the questions in the book, so we most likely won't get upset if we hear it again. However, don't ask what it's like having a twin sister. The most common answer, and it is truth, is "It's like have any other sibling. We're just the same age."

By the way, not all twins dress alike. Usually, we just do it because we want to and well... it's funny to confuse people.

So there ya go. Easy tips to help less your nerves when meeting twins. This has been Amanda, your host this afternoon. Have a lovely evening.

Before I leave, don't forget to send in your funny/sad twin stories! Send stories and/or pictures to: twintastic99@yahoo.com

Twin Story Of The Week. CALLING ALL TWINS!!!

2008-10-25T21:40:00.002-05:00

I'm going to do something new. Every Thursday, i'll spotlight a funny/sad story sent in by other twins. It'll even include a picture of the siblings if they want it. There are some guidelines to sending in your story:

Guidelines

1. Stories should be family-friendly.
2. No pictures for twins under the age of 18 will be accepted.
3. For twins under the age of 18 who are submitting a story, get your parents permission first.
4. When submitting your story, give only first names and your state.
5. There is no timeline for when you must get your story in.
6. Again, stories should be family-friendly.

To send in your picture (optional) and story, email them to twintastic99@yahoo.com.

Once your story is chosen, I will email you back with the link to your story. So, what are you waiting for?? SEND SEND SEND!!!

What is our next post going to be? Well, of course, it's going to be a little lesson on how to talk to twins and not feel so nervous. Yes, it does happen. So, stay tuned. More news at 11...

This Is Halloween.....

2008-10-23T16:40:00.004-05:00

Since Halloween is just right around the corner (8 more days... so get those costumes ready), this holiday makes me think of trick-or-treating when I was young. Oh yes, sorry by the way, there will be no pictures for the costume story. They were burned in a 2001 house fire.

So, shall we carry on??

When my sister and I were about 8 years old, we both wanted to be Minnie Mouse for Halloween. Well, since my mother would be the only one getting our costumes, make-up, and hair together, she had to come up with way to make it cheaper.

Mom bought one Minnie Mouse costume- and 2 pairs of mouse ears. No, she didn't make us share. She decided to replicate the costume. It didn't matter if the fabric was lighter or if the tulle wasn't as great quality. She did what she could. However, the sewing of the costume made it look exact- minus the small change in color. We didn't care, we would still become Minnie Mouse.

As Halloween rolls around, we started getting the glitter to go in our hair and on our face. Mom bought non-toxic make-up for our cheeks. How can I forget the black noses we donned? We were adorable. Every house we went to, we got extra candy. How could you pass up twins that had a cute Minnie Mouse costume on? We felt like we owned that block!

Now, whenever twins come up and knock on my door, I give them a little something extra. Perhaps those Snicker bars will give them more energy!

TWIN FOR SALE!!!!! Everything must go!

2008-10-21T19:42:00.008-05:00

No, i'm not really selling my twin. You do get the idea of what this subject is all about, right? Right?!

Okay kids..... it's STORY TIME!!! Sit on the magic rug and pay attention. Tommy, stop hitting Olivia or I will have to call your mom. Allison, that's not edible! Don't put that in your mouth! Once every one has settled down, I will start.

If you have a twin sibling, you know what it's like to feel like you're in some competition vying for mom's attention. It happens. However, have you ever felt like just putting them up on eBay? Well, at least the shipping would be free! No, i'm not telling you to go on eBay and advertise your sibling.

When I was a few years younger than I am now, we would have family meetings about money and how we could save. Being the opportunity-taker that I am, I raised my hand. When my mom called on me, I didn't take much time voicing my opinion.

Mom: Yes, Amanda?
Me: How about if we sell Angela?
Mom: Say that again?
Me: How about if we sell Angela?
Mom: (starts laughing)
Me: I'm sure people would pay a lot for her.
Mom: (continues to laugh)

Apparently, she didn't like the idea by what she said next.

Mom: We can't sell your sister. And we won't sell your sister.

I then looked at my sister and said "Fine! You better watch Mr. Hops-A-Lot (name changed to protect identity) or he'll be bunny-napped!" I wasn't really going to steal Mr. Hops-A-Lot. I just wanted the fear to run through her.

Of course, she knows I was just kidding. At least, I hope she did. Maybe that's why whenever she gets a stuffed animal (she still loves them at the age of 23), she hides them from me. Oops! My bad. Sorry there, Sis.

It's also Before & After picture time! Here's a picture of us really young at Christmastime. If you can't notice, we're the ones that are dressed a-like. Thanks, Mom. The next one isn't extremely recent, but it's still quite a jump there! Notice the blue hair.... that's me!!!

Twin Questions: Deny then, laugh at later

2008-10-18T18:30:00.004-05:00

Being twins, you get asked the most redundant questions of ALL time. I think I got most of the questions in elementary and middle school. Looking back on them now, I know they were just curious, but some of them just made me want to smash a textbook on my head. You know the questions, and the bolded answers are what I should have said!

1) If I hit you, will she feel it?

No, but i'm sure if I hit you, you'd know what it feels like.

2) Are you guys sisters?
Oh no! You figured us out!!

3) Do you share everything?
Sure, we share everything from our drinks to our pillows. I thought everyone did that!

4) Do ya'll have the same classes?
Yeah, it's a two-fer for the teachers.... NOT!

On this next one, I did actually get this question in middle school. I didn't answer him because frankly, does it really need an answer?? I laugh about it now because I guess they've never experienced two people that look alike.

5) Do you share the same birthday?
Well.... twins usually do, don't they?

____________________________________________________________________

When my sister and I were little, we looked so much alike it was scary- you didn't know which one is which.

By the way, we're fraternal- not identical.

I still get questions if my sister and I are twins. Some of them are asked by old people- so I can't exactly be such a smartass. I do, however, feel like every time we go out, we should be wearing a t-shirt that says "Yes, we're twins."

Twins? Oh my!!

2008-10-16T20:39:00.005-05:00

When I first started thinking about doing a blog, I couldn't really come up with anything to write about.

I could write about my life, but what fun is that if you're just one person?

I could write about my 3 cats and puppy, but all they do is sleep, eat, and play. Again, how fun is that?

Then, I looked at my sister and a light bulb went off in my head. That's it!! That dork has helped me!!

I finally figured out what I was going to write about. Who doesn't like hearing stories about twins? Well, I can name a few, but they don't count.

We're both 23, so we have very strong opinions on different things and some times we don't even see eye-to-eye (now a Garth Brooks song comes to mind... darn his good music!!).

We do have some great stories, and some sad ones. Mainly good than sad- which can be a good thing sometimes.

So what will this blog do? Well, we'll share reviews on our favorite products (that we both like), we'll give away free stuff (YAY!), and we'll share stories of being twins.....
Okay, okay, we'll even update you on what's going on in our life!

TWINTASTIC TO THE RESCUE!!!!