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Twins

Local Charities in Northern Virginia You Should Know About

by Courtney El-Ghoul February 15, 2020

Today I am totally switching gears from all of the party planning chatter to something a bit more serious, and extremely important in our family. Philanthropy and giving back to the community. In my post about >>> going back to work <<< at Glass House for Khalil, I shared that one of the things I would be focusing on is bringing more awareness to the local charities that we believe in and have/will continue to support. Then I thought, I’ve also got this platform, so why don’t I also share a few of our local favorites here? I believe it is so important to talk about being socially conscious and how we can all give back where we can.

Let’s dive in:)

Local Charities We Love to Support

Wholehearted Foundation- I can’t say enough about this organization. It is staggering how many children are born with life-threatening heart conditions. We know a few families personally that have children struggling with heart conditions. Hearing the stories about how much they go through is just heartbreaking. I can’t even begin to imagine what I would do if Ava or Nahla had to go through heart surgery, never mind multiple. When I started to think about the long hospital stays, major bills, and all of the rehabilitation that comes with each of these surgeries, I realized that there is NO way any family could ever prepare for that financial burden. I hope that we can bring more awareness to this wonderful organization that is doing incredible work to support these children and their families. Khalil and I will continue our long-standing support of this foundation.
Wolf Trap Animal Rescue- The El-Ghoul family is full of major animal lovers. So, it is no surprise that we are passionate supporters of this Northern Virginia based non-profit organization. Khalil and I think teaching the girls about how important animals are is an important part of setting them up to be kind-hearted adults in the future. This is why Nahla, Ava, and I try to make it to as many of the “Meet and Greet” events as we can. They love getting to donate and then getting to snuggle all of the puppies. We have considered fostering but, we have a 12-year-old poodle named Sadie who is diabetic and blind, and we are not sure how she would react. Realistically, if we could adopt all of them, we would. There is nothing like the unconditional love of an animal. Imagining any of these special puppies or kitties not having homes just kills me. Anyway, this organization is amazing, and to date has rescued over 5000 dogs and cats from euthanasia!
BRAWS- I know that a ton of the readers here are moms, so I’m sure that like me this one will hit close to home. BRAWS works to provide women living in homeless shelters with clean undergarments and menstrual supplies. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to be homeless. It is so easy, especially in the world we live in today to take for granted how lucky we are to just have a roof over our heads. This organization brings in supplies to help aid in women’s shelters. Things you may not think about, but are super important. Underwear, pads, and tampons to name a few. I know it may not be fun to talk about, but as women, we all need these things. Khalil and I are excited to be attending a fundraiser in March (MardiBras) to help support. I hope to get so much more involved here so we can raise the awareness around this topic.

Those are just a few that are in our local Northern Virginia area. I could go on, and maybe I will soon because there are so many organizations and groups that need help/support. I encourage you to think about what causes and organizations are in line with your family values and then to dig deep and figure out how you can support them. There is always something you can do to help, ALWAYS. Even if it isn’t monetary. Volunteering and spreading the word through fundraisers and social media can be so incredibly valuable. I guess it’s clear this is something I want to be more involved in. 2020 is a new year and there is always time to do more!

What about you guys? Do you have any charitable organizations that hold a special place in your heart?

My locals, have you heard or been involved with any of these?

Courtney

February 15, 2020 1 comment

Lifestyle Twins

Master Party Planning Checklist

by Courtney El-Ghoul February 10, 2020

So, party planning has taken over my life, for all of 2020 so far… not even slightly exaggerating that. So, I figured, I might as well share with you guys some of my best party planning tips. Need to plan a Kids Party, Holiday Party, or a Client Appreciation Event. Don’t fret I’ve got you covered 🙂

Party Planning Checklist

1.) Vision Board- The first thing I do when I am starting to brainstorm about an event or party is to hit up Pinterest. I am not by any means Pinterest obsessed, but when it comes to planning parties it is perfect. You can create a board, and just start gathering ideas. Maybe you see an invitation style you love, the cake you want at your kids’ party, or a drink that will be perfect for your Holiday party. PIN IT.

2.) Secure Your Venue– If it’s not happening at your home, be sure to find, reserve, and visit, of course, the space you want to throw the event or party at least a month or so in advance. There is nothing like being a week out and realizing the space you picked can’t accommodate your guests, or it just won’t work with what you have planned. I am learning this lesson with the girls’ birthday party this year… We invited 40 kids!! Guess it comes with the territory… twins in two different classrooms.

3.) Entertainment– If you are planning a kid party or any special event where kids will be attending… You can’t go wrong with a bouncy house, petting zoo, or in our case a local kids magician! Stay tuned for the girl’s bday post to hear all about our guy. Honestly, it may sound like it’s being extra, but the reality is that it isn’t that expensive for the return you get! Even a face painter or balloon artist will do the trick.

4.) Decorations- Depending on your theme, a little decor goes a long way with any party. Etsy and Amazon are your best friends, especially for Party Bundles. I could’ve spent hours on Etsy for the girls’ birthday party. You can really find anything, and it’s so affordable. Need table setting ideas? Fresh flowers will always spice up any table setting. If you love the look of flowers but want to save money, Baby’s breath is super inexpensive and looks so nice on its own in a pretty vase.

5.) Invites– Again if you want to be super into your theme, Etsy has so many cute paper invites. For me, Paperless Post is my go-to. It looks super professional and the platform is so user-friendly. Canva is also a great option.

6.) Catering – I mentioned this in my Holiday party post, but I think having parties catered is so much easier. Again, so many options. I mean pretty much anywhere has catering options – from Whole Foods to your Local restaurants… Save yourself the stress! If you are having a fancy party at your home, I love the idea of an in house chef who will whip up some appetizers. I tried to do this for our last Holiday party but I waited too long. So sad. Around the Holidays they will be booked most weekends so you’ve got to plan if you are going that route. With Nahla being GF/DF I can’t just order pizza, so I had to get more creative for their b-day party this year.

OH! And how could I forget, gotta have a good playlist! Music is so important. If it’s an evening party you are hosting make sure the lighting is on point as well!

Okay, I feel like I could go on and on, but I will stop for now. I will follow up with a more specific post about the girls Birthday Party this year! It is going to be such fun, if I do say so myself:) I have been party planning like crazy for their big day!!!

On a side note, for us throwing a party at our house always motivates us to get more things done in regards to home improvement! Whether it’s the organization, furniture placement, or just something you have been putting off doing!

What about you guys, any tips you have for planning the ultimate party??

Courtney

February 10, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

Introducing the El-Ghoul Twins: Part 2: Meet Ava

by Courtney El-Ghoul February 7, 2020

Earlier this week I introduced you to our eldest twin, and now, it’s time for you to meet our feisty little cutie pie, Ava. Aka … Avo, Av, or Avie pooh. You didn’t think that Nahla was the only one with nicknames… did you?!

Ahh, Miss Ava, such a special gal. Sometimes I am just looking at her like… What?! Who are you?! The consensus in our families is that Nahla is a lot like Khalil. Ava, on the other hand, we are still baffled and confused about where she gets her quirks. She is a broken mold kinda gal. There is no one else like her. I am serious, she is truly one of a kind. At three years old she could sit down with you and have a full-blown, real talk, conversation with you. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting her, you will never forget her, that I can be sure of. Recently we spent an afternoon with some friends of ours, and after they were just like… “She is something else. #Avaforpresident.” haha. I think you get the point…

Ava’s Likes/Dislikes:

She is the pickiest eater on the planet… thank god she doesn’t have the gluten/dairy allergy. Seriously, I would probably lose my mind. She hates trying new foods. Especially vegetables or really anything with a little color, haha. She also has a major sweet tooth, loves horses, a true mama’s girl at heart. She is so protective of Nahla and is constantly looking out for her. She is not a girly girl, at all. She would much rather be on the soccer field, riding her scooter, or her bike. She is such an athlete, really solid. I picked her up the other day and I looked at her and I was like … “You are ripped girl!” So strong, seriously.

You would never know she secretly is not a fan of ballet haha

She is funny, loud, loyal, and incredibly smart. She thrives on a routine and doesn’t forget anything, ever. Sometimes, out of the blue she will come up to me and say something like – “Mom, do you remember that time when I was a baby and we went to that beach with the dolphins?!” I am like… How does she remember this?! She was legit a baby when we saw the dolphins in Mexico. But then she goes on to tell me specific things that she remembers from that trip. She is like “Of course I remember mom, I told you like 10 times already!”

…both of them with the sassiness, already. We are in trouble.

We butt heads at times, but she keeps me on my toes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The way she challenges me is one of the things that I love the most about her. She is so strong. I know that I don’t have to worry about anyone messing with her, or Nahla, for that matter.

Would love to hear your stories about your kiddos quirks?

Courtney

February 7, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

Introducing the El-Ghoul Twins: Part 1: Nahla

by Courtney El-Ghoul February 4, 2020

Okay, so I wouldn’t be “Twin Latte” without our twins. So, this week I want to introduce you to Nahla and Ava – The El-Ghoul girls. Our spirited, fun-loving, and exhausting little ladies who are truly amazing. I thought about introducing them as a pair… But man, are they different. So I think it makes more sense to introduce them individually.

Since Nahla is the eldest, by one minute, it seems fair that she goes first. Right?? 🙂

Nahla El-Ghoul

My littlest love, in size, is tiny Nahlie pooh. Nahlie, we love nicknames in our house, in case you were wondering. She is just the sweetest thing. She loves being a care-taker and is just an old soul to her core. She is always looking out for her sister and really anyone she is around. Her teachers tell me she is like the class mom. She has creativity and maturity that is a little outsized for a typical 4-year-old. Sometimes, when I listen to her, I just can’t believe she is only FOUR?! Her imagination and the stories that she tells are so freaking cute. Lately, her favorite thing to do is to have me tell her a story so that she can act it out while I am telling it. It usually goes a little something like this…

Nahla: “Mom, I need you to tell me a story. The one where I am a princess riding my horse in a scary forest because a mean bear is chasing us.”

Me: “What is your horse’s name?”

Nahla: “Mom, I’ve told you like 20 times before. Her name is Bellaaaaa!” (In her most like … Duh, Mom Voice.)

Me: Oh, sorry I forgot haha.

Nahla: “It is ok. Just keep going. Where is the bear? Is he getting closer?! Nooo!!! He is going to eat us!!!” This is, of course, accompanied by the most dramatic arm movements you have ever seen.

The whole time I am just dying trying not to laugh. She will even ask me to pause so that I can modify the story to include a break so that her horse and the mean bear can drink some water. I could seriously go on for hours. She is super imaginative, creative, and tender-hearted.

She loves animals, coloring, singing, dancing, and playing the piano. Perhaps, I have a future performer on my hands??? She hates chocolate (who even is she?!?), is not a fan of outdoor sports, hates bedtime, and doesn’t like to be alone. She is the polar opposite of her sister Ava, but you know, it works out.

Nahla’s Favorite Things To Do

As soon as Nahla gets home from school, it is no brainer that the first thing she is doing is changing into a dress with heels. She doesn’t skip a beat. I seriously die of laughter. We will have been home for two minutes, and I hear the clip-clopping coming down the hall. What can I say, I guess she gets that trait from her momma? Who doesn’t love a bit of glam and a hot pair of stilettos?! Her sister Ava is who doesn’t. HAHA. More on her in the next post…

For such a tiny girl who is so positive mentally, the past few years have been an uphill batter for her, physically. (Read more ☞ HERE) Her little digestive system wasn’t working properly, and we had to try everything, just to figure out why. She was so patient through the trial and (so many) errors. Eventually, we discovered that by eliminating Gluten and Dairy, we could solve all of her tummy troubles. We are so blessed that she has taken on this change like a total champ. I mean this diet change has been a lot of work and super hard and really, she never complains. Just one more thing that makes her so special.

Anyway, she is a super cool little chick, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.

Would love to hear differences in my fellow twin parents kiddos? Do you have one that seems to be more of an old soul?

Courtney

February 4, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

Valentines Day With The Kiddos

by Courtney El-Ghoul January 24, 2020

This week it seems that the only things I can think about are Valentine’s Day and Nahla and Ava’s Birthday Party… Aghhhh ( post on this is in the works)…

I am sure by now that it is pretty obvious… that, I love the Holidays. If you are new… “Hello, I’m Courtney, and I LOVE the Holidays!” HaHa. So, back on track… Since Valentine’s Day is first… That’s where I am “trying” to focus my efforts. When it comes to celebrating this day of LOVE, we inevitably have to go all out. I have already been all over Target, Home Goods, and Amazon… gathering decorations for my house, and little gifts for the girls, of course 😉

I already shared (what I think) is a pretty great gift-guide for the adult women in your lives. But, I thought it would also be fun to share with you guys how I incorporate the little girls in our house, into this special day.

Around the time they turned one I started explaining to them what Valentine’s day is about. This is also around the time I started getting a little “extra” with decorating the house. On Valentine’s morning when they would wake up I would have a pretty over-the-top display of all things hearts and candy for them to enjoy. It was sort of like someone threw up pink and red all over our home. Haha. For me, it’s so fun, and they loved it. This went one for the next few years.

Last year I decided they were old enough to have a little party. If we are being real, it is such a pain to get a sitter on this day. Again like New Year’s, even if you can get a babysitter and actually go out you are dealing with overpriced pre-fixed menus, crowded restaurants, and it just feels a little corny. ( I know, the irony here… after I just divulged my extravagant decorating ways, ha) So, I thought – Hey, why don’t we host a Valentines’ Day party? We can invite a couple of close friends, and their kids. Everybody wins!

It worked out perfectly! I got a mommy helper to hang with the kiddos in the basement. (Finding one for-hire adult, for four families, is a lot easier than finding one for each.) The basement was decked out in Valentines’ Day decor. It was all set up with their heart plates, napkins, balloons, etc.. You get the idea, pink/red explosion, and it was sooo cute! Upstairs, for the adults, I had a nice dinner set up. We all got fancy. Like we would have if we had gone out to dinner just the two of us. It was actually a full sit down dinner. The kids were having so much fun, they never even came upstairs until it was time for bed. They talked about it for weeks! Kids love the littlest gestures. Just having their friends over, and feeling like it was their very own v-day party meant the world to them. Now, it is one of their favorite holidays.

I just think this is great. You don’t have to leave your house, and the whole family can enjoy the celebration! I don’t know If I will be able to pull it off this year, as it’s so close to our anniversary trip, and I have a “Galentine’s” Day party that I am hosting for all the mom’s at the girls’ school (stay tuned for that post as well) but I will of course still do something special for the girls.

If you are racking your brain for what to do, and you have the time this is such a fun way for your whole family to enjoy.

What about you guys, thoughts on celebrating Valentines Day? Do you include the kids?

Courtney

January 24, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

Managing Twin Rivalry and Balancing Extracurriculars

by Courtney El-Ghoul January 17, 2020

Oh, #twinproblems… Haha, I swear. Each day with these girls is such a blessing, but man, they always keep me on my toes. I talked with you guys in a previous post about the “twin jealousy” and how bad it was getting. We have since taken steps to improve our parenting styles to adapt to this issue, and some days are great, but we still have a long road ahead. This brings me to the latest obstacle on this roller coaster that is twin parenting! They are so different when it comes to their athletics/pastimes. How on earth are we supposed to manage potentially conflicting schedules and commitments? Up until recently, it has been okay to have them in the same activities. Okay, in the sense that it has been super easy for me and neither was really upset about missing out on anything. But, if I am being honest they’ve each been in activities that they might not really be LOVING because the other one loves it.

Lately, though, it is so obvious how different they are. They have been dancing since they were two, and currently they are both in hip hop and ballet class! Ava has for sure shown less interest this year, but I was really hoping maybe she was just having a bad day, or that it was in my head. Well, I am for sure so WRONG!

Little girl in ballet class wearing a tutu and a bow — She is over it, haha

Little girl playing with red ball at the park.

For example. Normally, if one of the girls is sick I wouldn’t have anyone to watch the other, so we just skip the extracurriculars all together. But recently when Ava got sick, it just so happened that Khalil was around to stay home with her…. so I took Nahla to dance alone. That’s when I realized we needed to figure out how we were going to manage their increasingly different interests. Not only to make whoever is less interested happy (Ava in this case)… but also to let the more interested twin thrive (Nahla, for this example). Oh my gosh. Seeing Nahla on her own, was like a totally different experience. She is so into it, and really good! When the two of them are in class together, Ava is so disinterested and probably asks to go to the bathroom, for a tissue, or water what feels like 50 billion times in the span of an hour!!! Then, of course, Nahla does the same thing right after. So, in the end, Nahla is missing out on something she could really enjoy, Ava is stuck doing something that just doesn’t vibe with her, and the teacher gets beyond annoyed (I can tell). It’s heartbreaking.

Little girl in pink dress with large purple bow in her hair.

Twin sisters playing at park with a water bottle.

On the flip side… Ava is straight up like… on her way to being a pro soccer player. Watching them is kind of hilarious because Ava is out here just crushing it… and you look off to the side and Nahla is literally picking flowers, off in her own world. Luckily, in this case, Nahla doesn’t seem to dim Ava’s shine here… and she likes to pick flowers so… no harm? haha, However… The piano is a different story. Nahla is starting to show some real interest in Piano and could be pretty good at it. Ava, on the other hand, is not so into it. But, she is so jealous when I sit down to practice with Nahla. So, Nahla doesn’t end up practicing as much as she should and when she does – Ava’s jealousy is really palpable in the house.

Point being, we have made a TON of progress on the jealousy front… but this is a new struggle that we can’t deny any longer. Just because they are the same age and twins I can’t expect them to like the same things. I gotta figure out how to make it work. Maybe it means a mommy helper… who can drive!!! Or, maybe only doing one activity per child so I can make the schedule work?

Fashionable twin toddlers playing outside with big bows in their hair and bomber jackets on.

Little girl wearing Elsa dress standing next to gold Christmas tree. — always in her princess dress and shoes:)

Wouldn’t life be so much easier if they just liked the same stuff!?!? … I kid, I kid… I am actually super happy and proud that they are so different. It really is pretty cool that two humans who have literally been together their whole life are really so unalike! Even as their mom, I am amazed every day how unique each of their personalities is.

What about the other twin parents out there? Has this been an issue, How do you deal with it?

Courtney

January 17, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

Going Back to Work After Being a Stay At Home Mom?!

by Courtney El-Ghoul January 14, 2020

Okay, so if you have been following me for a bit you may already know that I left my decade long career in new home sales, to stay at home with the girls. Now, five years later, Kindergarten is quickly approaching, ( I can’t believe how fast the girls have grown- ugh).

Tangent – It’s so funny how desperately you want those sleepless nights to pass as fast as possible, and then *boom* you’re like… “Um, wait… what?! slow down!” How in the world are they so big, so fast, like, how???

Anyway, back on track… So, with Kindergarten looming and the idea that I will have extra time soon, dangling in front of me… I have been toying around with the idea of maybe going back to work, part-time? Maybe? Hmmmm? It’s such a tough decision. I really did love my old job, but, I have to be honest with myself. It was super demanding. I had to work every weekend with late, unpredictable hours. If I went back, my time with the girls would be significantly less, and I have no idea how I would handle all their commitments. Who would I even find to be their driver, haha? In the same breath though… who can argue with having two incomes? Feeling like I am contributing financially, AND… getting to having conversations with adults, daily!? Even thinking about this makes me reflect on how my life has totally changed in the past three years. Going back to work would be so weird!!!

Thinking about going back to work

At this point, I just am not sure what I want to do! Since I have done both I feel I can confidently say that being a stay-at-home-mom truly is a full-time job. It is no joke. What I can’t figure out is – what does it look like when the girls go to a full day of school and I gain 6+ hours in my day? I guess I just need to brainstorm what would work best for our family? Interested in going on that journey with me?

Where To Work?

One of the most flexible and appealing options would be for me to start working with Khalil. We have been talking about this idea A LOT! Khalil needs to hire someone, and soon – his business is full-on booming – which is a great problem to have. Looking at it logistically makes perfect sense. He is in real estate – so I am already familiar with the industry and how things work. Yay for a low learning curve! Also – it would only be 2-3 days a week, during the day, so I can still be with the girls, and… be ALL IN with the blog! No matter what someone is getting hired, so why not me? So you may be like … “Um, Courtney, what are you waiting for??”

I am trying to meticulously consider all of the potentials of this equation before I dive in. Normally, if I were considering working this closely with someone I would have to consider – is this a good personality match? Obviously, Khalil is great, he is my husband and I love him, ha. Isn’t being married different though? I know it’s got its own set of challenges that make it tough. So, adding in working together… what does that even look like??? I know there are so many husband/wife teams that really are awesome and work so well together but honestly, I am scared!!! I don’t want to disappoint him, or for us to argue… you get the point. The only logistical thing is that I would still have to figure out after school care for the girls on those days. It would take some rearranging but I could totally do it, right ??

Whew… *WOW*… Thanks for going down that rabbit hole with me. 🙂

So, already just a couple of days into 2020, and things are changing!!! Maybe this could be really good for me!? We shall see!

What about you guys? Thoughts on working part-time after being a SAHM? If so, how was the transition? How about working with your spouse? Any advice?

I will keep you guys posted on my decision of course!

Courtney

January 14, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Travel Twins

Why We Didn’t Travel for Christmas and Why We Will 100% Be on a Beach Next Year

by Courtney El-Ghoul January 3, 2020

Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had the most amazing NYE and that you’ve all had an amazing first few days of 2020!

I am so excited to be writing my first blog post of the New Year… Spoiler alert: I am totally going to use this post as an opportunity to publicly set some intentions for 2020… Ready for it?

So, I actually started writing this post about TWO days BEFORE Christmas… Like, 12-ish days ago – I kid you not. I was soooo close to just canceling all of the plans and booking a family trip to Miami! I mean, really, I was ready to pull the trigger, but unfortunately waiting until the very last minute to book a holiday trip doesn’t always work out in your favor. You know, I’ve written tons about it, I am all about spontaneity! But, if you recall our most recent last-minute trip to NYC, a Post- Thanksgiving/Pre- Christmas adventure… You’ll understand why I decided to pull back on the reigns this time. I now see, begrudgingly, that you need a little more time to plan/prepare – especially during the holidays.

So, as I said… this post started 12 days ago and was going to be a “How we organized a last-minute trip to Miami, two days before Christmas”…kinda post. We didn’t do it, so I couldn’t post it. BUT, we are 100 percent celebrating Christmas on the beach next year! There, I said it.

Let’s dive in…

Next Year Holidays on The Beach – The Plan

A little backstory about where this idea came from, why I was waiting so long to try and book the trip, and why I am ALL IN for next year. I have mentioned to you guys before that we are a multicultural family so for us the holiday season is way more than just Christmas. It is amazing but exhausting. Christmas is the tail end of our season like it is for many other families. On Christmas day we always make the 2.5 hour drive to my parents’ house, and every year I tell my mom this is the last year we are doing it! If she would come to our house, it would make things easier, however, she is stuck in her ways and clings to the idea of tradition. Growing up she always told me that “when you grow up and have babies they will always have Christmas at grandma’s house” it’s just the way it is. I mean, I get it, she wants to spend the holidays with her family. I am not faulting her for it, I just want her to understand, that we may want to start our own family traditions. ( Don’t I sound so strong and assertive when I say it, in writing, ha)

So, every year we talk about traveling for Christmas, and every year I am too afraid to tell my mother that we won’t be at her house! Well, wouldn’t you know… this year I happened to make a passing comment to her about it, and suddenly, she was totally cool with it!? Have I been living in fear and totally freezing my butt off, for nothing?! When I could’ve been in a bikini singing Rudolph on the beach with the girls?! Maybe I have just worn her down over the years? It was incredible though, she was just like… “Yea, do what you want, the girls’ presents will be here waiting for whenever you get back.” WHAT?! Anyway, as you might imagine I was so excited that I immediately started scrambling checking flight prices, ect.. AHHHH! Really, we were so close to making it happen. The official breaking point that made the plan unravel was the room situation. We waited too long and there were just no good rooms left at the hotel we wanted. If we were spending Christmas away from home, we would have to get everything as close to perfect as we could. So we agreed we were going to plan it, the right way, for next year!

Christmas 2020 Promise

So, here I am saying it “out loud” – to the whole internet. The El-Ghoul family will be celebrating Christmas 2020 on a beach, in South Beach. It really will be the perfect way for us to celebrate and decompress from the other 1000 holidays we celebrate from mid-October to Christmas. Plus, I want to do it while the girls are young. I have a feeling that as they get older they might want to be close to home and their friends over winter break. Maybe they won’t, only time will tell. From where we live Miami is only one non-stop 2.5-hour flight, away. We can have the beach, pools, all the trendy restaurants in no time. I mean really, it sounds like a dream to me.

The plan, as of right now, is that we will just pack a couple of gifts from us that they can open Christmas morning and we tell them all their gifts from Santa are waiting for them at home when we get back! DONE!!! December 25th will be a breeze. Open some presents in the parlor of our hotel room, have a delicious holiday brunch (that we don’t have to cook or clean up), and then we can hit the pool or beach after. We get to escape the cold weather for a couple of days and recoup some much-needed vitamin D. I am not super sentimental over the whole “White Christmas” thing, possibly because it is so rare we actually wake up to snow here on Christmas morning… but I really think this is a life-hack we will adopt as tradition for as long as the girls are up for it.

So, keep an eye out, because next year you will get a complete How-To on planning a destination beach holiday with your kids for Christmas!

What about you guys? Up for starting your own family traditions?

Courtney

January 3, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

NYE with the Kiddos

by Courtney El-Ghoul December 29, 2019

Can you guys believe we are about to roll right on into 2020!? It is so crazy how fast this year has flown by! I need to get my resolutions squared away, ASAP! Don’t worry, I will be sure to share with you guys as soon as there is something to share 🙂

If you know me or have been following along for a bit, I am sure it’s no surprise that I will take full advantage of any chance that I can to get dressed up to enjoy some bubbly and alone time with Khalil 🙂 BUT… I have to admit that I do feel like New Year’s Eve is a bit overrated these days. It has taken quite a few years, and a couple of kids, for me to get to this point of “underwhelm.” Khalil, on the other hand, has always hated it! When we were younger he would only go along with the parties and dinners for me:)

Side Note: I have to share this with you guys – because it’s so funny. Khalil really does think NYE is like, the worst, he doesn’t like it at all. YET – the person who hates New Year’s Eve so much… chose this particular holiday… to propose?!?! Haha not even kidding! I give him so much crap about it, he says, of course, he only chose that night because he knew I would like it. Every year I make the joke and he is like “Courtney, I know you, you were 100% “that girl” who would TOTALLY swoon over getting engaged on NYE!” I can’t argue with the logic… He totally knows me. I loved every second of it. Plus, you’ve gotta give him extra credit for totally rebranding his least favorite holiday… Anyway, I am digressing, back to the point…

So, as I was saying… My attitude towards New Year’s has completely changed over the last decade. The thought of spending an absurd amount of money on tickets for a party or dealing with all the restaurants and their overpriced pre fixe menus… is NOT appealing to me anymore. Not to mention, paying the crazy holiday surge price to take an uber … IF you are even able to get one! Heck, if we are being totally honest, even staying up until midnight is tough for me these days! Haha, I am getting old, I know. I don’t mean to sound like such a grinch – I just want to make the point that my NYE traditions have totally changed, and honestly for the better:)

New NYE Traditions

OKAY – all that set up was to share that last year we officially started doing NYE differently. We did our first little NYE party at home and it was all about the girls! We had over a few of their friends from dance and their parents. We still had some adult time, but we made it about the kids first. We set up the basement with a kids area all set to bring in the New Year – we included them in the decorating and set up which they had a BLAST with. We made the whole start of the evening about the girls – fancy snacks, sparkling cider, and party hats. Around 6pm we started the countdown. Netflix typically has a kid-friendly NYE countdown which is so perfect because the kids get to have a midnight celebration when it’s really like 7pm!!! The kids ended up heading to bed shortly after “the ball dropped” and the adults got to have some adult time while watching the real ball drop! The girls and I still got dressed up in festive attire, and honestly, it was so cute! I loved the idea of including them in something that in years passed I was always stressing out over getting a babysitter… to only have a “meh” night. I am planning to throw a similar little shindig for them again this NYE. My goal is to make it better each year! Stay tuned for pics and stories on IG.

What about you guys? How do you feel about NYE, do you think it’s overrated or do you love it?

Thoughts on including the kids?

Courtney

December 29, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle Twins

How to Shop for Twins That Aren’t Your Own

by Courtney El-Ghoul December 23, 2019

Here I am, with only Christmas gift-giving thoughts running through my head. Every year family and friends always seem to struggle with gifts for the twins. I think it’s the “twin” thing that throws them off. Your instinct is to think “OH, matching outfits, of course! The cutest!” Or maybe get them the same matching ponies or dolls. Always, with the matchy-matchy. Look, I get it, I would do the same thing If I didn’t have twins. I think it’s pretty normal to imagine they might dress the same or because they are the same age so they are into similar things, obviously if they are boy/girl it’s easier but same-sex it is tough. I think if you were getting gifts for two 5-year-old girls who weren’t twins – it might even be safe to get them the same doll. But, with twins, I think their differences are even more magnified. But don’t stress… I’ve got some advice that I think will help.

always in her princess dress and shoes:)

Tips for Shopping Fo Twins

The first rule of thumb, get them different things, always. Even when the girls were babies I didn’t want two of the same thing. It’s cute sometimes, but I think it’s so important to let them start to figure out their separate identities as soon as possible. Trust me, I have been talking with you guys about the twin rivalry for a few weeks now. It will show itself, soon enough. So, being invested in learning what they like as individuals, is a great start… Their parents will be grateful.

3 Great Options for Twin Gifts

Books – Always a great safe choice! No matter what the age. Get them each a different one, that you think suits them personally. They can read to each other or trade when they finish reading theirs. Our girls both LOVE to read, which we are so happy about [here are some of their favorite books!].
Age appropriate activities, puzzles, and games are awesome! Some great ones are meant to be fun and educational. Bonus points if they can be used alone or done with each other.
If you want to go the outfit route, I say, do different looks. Then they can mix match, and take turns wearing them… more opportunities for sharing vs competition [here are some of our twins’ best looks!].

The older my girls get, the more they appreciate not getting the same thing their twin sister has. For example, Nahla is totally into the whole princess thing. I mean, so much so, that she puts on her princess heels when she wakes up in the morning, and as soon as she gets home from school. haha Oh my, it is hilarious. Ava, on the other hand, could care less about that stuff. She is more into technology, like, she wants a watch and a phone… just like mine:)

Point being – if your shopping for twins, no matter what the age, in my opinion, a different present for each one is a win-win. But, this is my own experience as a twin parent. If the twins you are buying for like having everything the same, that’s awesome. Whatever makes life easier, right!? Ask the parent – they will know if matching, or not, is best. The bottom line is everyone loves feeling special, and it teaches them to share & appreciate something different than what they may have wanted.

I hope this was helpful for anyone shopping for twins this year!

Any other feedback on Christmas gifts from other twin parents?

Courtney

December 23, 2019 0 comment