Silly Bandz Misses With Kardashians But Recovers With Custom Bandz

Silly Bandz were the hot tween accessory/collectible last year, but the company's latest addition of Kardashian Silly Bandz is oh-so-2010. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Silly Bandz seem age-appropriate for tweens, but these? Not so much.

On a more positive note, the company now offers custom Silly Bandz. While pricey (the minimum order is for 5000 of each shape at $0.16/each - this adds up to about $800), these could be great for school or camp fundraisers, a joint Bat Mitzvah party, etc. We wish these were around when we had Twixt!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Happy 18th Birthday to Selena Gomez!

The star of Disney Channel's "Wizards of Waverly Place" turns 18 today. Ever busy, this young UNICEF Ambassador tweeted today to let her fans know that Trick of Treat for UNICEF. boxes are now available online and urged her fans to participate again this year. Selena Gomez will celebrate this birthday with a BBQ at home with family and friends. Happy birthday!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary!

You can celebrate this iconic author's birthday at the special Ramona event at Hooray For Books, an independent bookstore located in Old Towne Alexandria. Tweens can make Beverly Cleary themed crafts and test their Ramona facts. Prizes include free Ramona and Beezus backpacks (and we can't wait for the Ramona and Beezus movie starring Selena Gomez in July).

April 14th from 4-5pm at Hooray For Books, 1555 King Street, Alexandria, V

What: Bookworms (ages 7 and up) can make crafts and test their knowledge of beloved author Beverly (“Ramona”) Cleary’s tales in celebration of her birthday.
Why: Twenty lucky kids will score free Ramona and Beezus backpacks during the event.
When: Wed., 4-5 p.m.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Kids' Choice Awards Pre-Party

Not all of us can jet to L.A. to walk the orange carpet at the Kids' Choice Awards, but a virtual pre-party is being hosted by Nickelodeon Parents' Connect for all to attend (full disclosure: Twixt was voted Best Kids' Clothing Store in DC in the Nickelodeon's Parents' Connect Parents' Pick Awards in both 2008 and 2009).

This year, a new category was created,Cutest Couple, and the President and First Lady have been nominated in it - they are up against Edward and Bella and Jacob and Bella from The Twilight Saga: New Moon among others.

Also up for Kids' Choice Awards are the Twilight cast, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Zack and Cody (played by twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse), iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato. Should be quite the night! The awards show airs on Saturday, March 27th at 8pm.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

DisneyMania7 Album Released Today

We know what will be playing in your car non-stop: DisneyMania7 is released today!  The album features tracks from Selena Gomez, Honor Society, Tiffany Thornton, Mitchel Musso, KSM, Booboo Stewart (yes, he of Twilight fame), Drew Seeley, AnnaMaria Perez de Tagle (from Camp Rock), Alyson Stoner (also from Camp Rock), Demi Lovato, and Debby Ryan - very cool!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Kids Helping Kids: Project Haiti

The rebuilding and devastation in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti continues, and a youth volunteer organization, Kidz Helping Kids, is throwing a benefit called Project Haiti to help orphans in that country.

The event will be on February 28th in Hollywood, CA (sounds like an under-21 club event, kind of like the scene in Starstruck) and features a concert with Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock), David Henrie (Wizards of Waverly Place), Nathan Kress (iCarly), and Lindsay Taylor (School Gyrls). 100% of the proceeds are going to God's Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti, and the organization is seeking donations for the silent auction and raffle. Twixt has made a donation since we cannot be in L.A. for event, and we're so proud to support a tween-sponsored and organized event.

We are in awe of the amazing tween volunteer efforts that have sprung up in the wake of this tragedy: JONAS and Starstruck star Chelsea Staub organized Harmonies For Haiti, Nick created a website in record time that helps kids identify age-appropriate fundraising ideas, organizations to support, and ways to help the people of Haiti, and Selena Gomez is using her bully pulpit as UNICEF's Ambassador to raise awareness and raise funds. Go tweens!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt

First Lady Partners with Disney Channel to Stop Childhood Obesity

The major news story of today (other than the snowstorm hitting D.C.) is First Lady Michelle Obama's announcement of her initiative to end childhood obesity. She's come under fire in recent days for speaking about diet and exercise concerns raised by the family's pediatrician with many saying she divulged too much about First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama's health and body image issues. Regardless of your views on how Mrs. Obama handled her personal account with the subject, the topic of childhood obesity concerns every parent of a tween.

Mrs. Obama has found a powerful media partner to promote her issue: Disney announced today that they will develop a program in collaboration with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which is about creating a a healthier generation.

Disney will create a series of public service announcements (PSAs) featuring the First Lady and leading Disney Channel stars (including, we assume, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez among others) to inspire healthier eating habits, physical activity and more. The messages will be featured across Disney’s kid and family targeted media platforms, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Radio Disney and Disney.com, and will begin airing later this year.

From Disney Channel:

“Having been at the forefront of making healthier lifestyle choices appealing to kids and families, Disney is delighted to work with the First Lady to promote exercise, nutrition and healthy living,” said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Company.

Disney’s participation in “Let’s Move” complements its long-standing commitment to kids’ health and nutrition. In 2006 Disney pioneered groundbreaking nutritional guidelines aimed at giving parents and children healthier eating options. Disney food policies limit the use of the company name and its characters to only those kid-focused products that meet specific guidelines, including limits on calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar.

Disney made nutritionally-beneficial changes in the meals served to children at all Disney-operated restaurants in the Disney Parks and Resorts. Today more than 85% of Disney’s licensed food portfolio consists of healthier options, including produce and low-fat dairy, with more than one billion servings of fruits and vegetables sold in 2009 alone. Disney Channels Worldwide is committed to programming that reflects and recognizes that everyone shares a responsibility to encourage kids and families to adopt healthy lifestyles. Guidelines are employed to model behavior that demonstrates good nutrition and physical activity.

At least one episode of each series currently in production — including “Hannah Montana,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Sonny With A Chance,” “Zeke and Luther,” “Phineas and Ferb” and “The Suite Life on Deck” — centers on a healthy lifestyle theme. In addition, over 100 program "interstitials" have been dedicated to encouraging healthier lifestyles. They include ‘Pass the Plate,’ a global effort to both inform and empower viewers, showing them how kids just like them around the world enjoy and benefit from healthy foods, and “Get’cha Head in the Game,” an interstitial series that inspires kids to follow their dreams through physical activity.

Photo from the First Lady's Sesame Street appearance.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at http://www.blogger.com/www.twitter.com/MsTwixt

Gorgeous Fun Gems for Tweens from Tarina Tarantino

One of our fave designers, Tarina Tarantino, has just introduced a new line of fun gems for tweens called Electric Hearts. They come in a rainbow of shades and are bedazzled in Tarina's signature crystals. We LOVE them!

BTW, did you see Selena Gomez rocking this look in Seventeen? So pretty.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Tween Queen Selena Gomez Urges Action to Help Haiti

Selena Gomez was busy in 2009 in her role as UNICEF's (youngest ever!) Ambassador and constantly uses her celebrity to hype worthy causes. The horrific earthquake in Haiti is no exception, and Ms. Gomez posted this video asking for help for UNICEF's efforts on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Please join us in our prayers and thoughts for the Haitian people.



If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Should Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/MySpace Be Blocked By Schools?

Tweens are using social media (Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/MySpace) a lot more these days - they post pics of their friends and family, watch episodes of Fred or Justin Bieber videos (that's how he was discovered, actually), and follow their favorite celebrities on Twitter (or not, as Miley Cyrus famously quit Twitter last year) (check out MsTwixt's list of Tween Celebs on Twitter) and bands on MySpace (including Honor Society, Selena Gomez and Emily Osment). And in recent days, we've all witnessed how social media has been used for good - more than $6 million has been raised in the U.S. alone towards earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, much it driven by social networks and text messages. Demi Lovato even took to Twitter to encourage her fans to get involved to help.

Some of this takes away from studying and certainly shouldn't be done in school, but should schools totally block them? The debate is on, with proponents of blocking social media sites claiming that they are a distraction at best and used for cyber-bullying at worst. Opponents of banning social media in schools are beginning to grow, claiming that they're simply a new channel (not unlike mobile phones) and can actually be used to monitor and pre-empt social problems. Slate magazine, an online opinion blog, recently ran an op-ed on the subject.

Full disclosure: MsTwixt uses social networking a lot (you can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt, join our Facebook page, or see us on MySpace at www.MySpace.com/MsTwixt), but this is about tweens using social networks.

What do you think?

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

The Ultimate Tween New Year's Eve Party

Ms Twixt's plan for the Ultimate Tween New Year's Eve Party:

It must be a sleepover, of course. Invite her BFFs to ring in the New Year with style and sweets.

New Year's Eve Decorations:
A huge disco-ball-esque pinata sets the stage (we love the ones by Confetti Systems):

Similar available from Urban Outfitters, $28-$48 depending on the size

The girls can make confetti-filled balloons:

Here are the directions from Family Fun's website:

Materials:
Large balloons
Brightly colored construction paper
Hole punchers
A funnel or empty plastic bottle
Pins or pushpins

When it comes to making a big bang, popping balloons is unparalleled--and even more thrilling if streams of confetti come pouring out. Prepare your New Year's balloons by setting the kids to work punching circles out of brightly colored construction paper with a hole puncher. (or use store-bought confetti) Stuff as many circles or confetti pieces as you can into each deflated balloon using a funnel, or improvise one by cutting a plastic soda bottle in half. You may also want to write fortunes on small pieces of paper and slip them into the mix. Blow up the balloons and hang them high, but still within reach. A few moments before the appointed hour, hand out the pins. When the time is right, let that confetti fly.

New Year's Eve Festive Attire:
Fabulous glitter top hats set the mood:

From Oriental Trading.com; $14.99 per dozen

And glow bracelets are a MUST!


For a fun bit of sparkle, how cool are these glitter-y Converse kicks?

From Target, $24.99

Fun sleep masks will help the girls get some shut-eye - eventually:

From BeePosh, $10

New Year's Eve Treats:
Mocktails, for sure. Here is a fun recipe, or you can make sparkling Jell-O parfait using sparkling Jell-O and seltzer:

Starry Night Mocktail:
4 oz. purple grape juice
2 oz. pineapple juice
4 oz. ginger ale
Lemon and lime peels
1 or 2 slices of star fruit
Ice

In a tall glass, mix the juices and the ginger ale. Make spirals from small strips of the lemon and lime peels. Slide the slices of star fruit onto the glass rim.

And there must be cake - perhaps a confetti cake?


Or special NYE cupcakes?


Or maybe "almost midnight cookies"?

Receipe from The Decorated Cookie blog

Some folks serve breakfast at midnight, and this could be a great way to help wind things down.

New Year's Eve Party Activities:
If your city has a First Night celebration, count yourself lucky (Ms Twixt and tweens will be enjoying a chilly but festive First Night in Boston this year). But if not, Disney Channel is running an amazing line-up of shows and stars starting at 6pm EST featuring Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and more tween stars.

Make a wishing tree: set out strips of paper and colorful pens and invite guests to write down their wishes for the future. Hang them from a wire form or branch to make a New Year's Wishing Tree and take turns reading them at midnight.

Or have fun with fortune fish:


However you choose to celebrate, MsTwixt wishes you a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Happy (Belated) 21st Birthday to Vanessa Hudgens!

HSM star Vanessa Hudgens turned 21 on December 14th and was feted with a surprise party in L.A. attended by her HSM cast-mates and other Disney stars (including Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale, and Selena Gomez). Guests enjoyed red velvet birthday cake - Happy Birthday Vanessa!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Mickey Mouse is 81!

The most famous mouse in the world made his debut in a short film called "Steamboat Willie" back in 1928. Today, he holds the title of "Chief Greeter" at all Disney Parks. For a great history of Mickey, check out the Disney Archives.

Many of today's favorite tween celebs got their start in the House of Mouse, including Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Emily Osment, Zac Efron, and Vanessa Hudgens.

Photo: Crafty Confections

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Selena Gomez Auction to Support UNICEF

Did your tween collect any money for UNICEF this Halloween? Selena Gomez is UNICEF's youngest-ever ambassador and has been a big promoter of the "Trick or Treat for UNICEF" campaign this year. As another way to earn funds for this worthy cause, Ms. Gomez has created an online auction of several items from her own (and some cool friends') closets and an opportunity to meet the tween star herself.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Give a Day, Get a Day at Disney

We blogged about the new Disney Friends for Change video earlier, and now Disney has upped the ante: starting January 1, 2010, if your tween registers his/her day of volunteer service at www.disneyparks.com, s/he will get a free day of admission to Disney World or DisneyLand! Your entire family can register - just be sure to register each person online. Pretty cool example of Disney backing up its volunteer efforts with a big reward.



If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Selena Gomez Album Released Today!

The latest Disney tween album was released today: Selena Gomez and her band, the Scene, released "Kiss-and-Tell". We LOVE the album cover art!

Did you listen to their sneak peek last week? What do you think?

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Happy Birthday to Selena Gomez!

One of our fave tween stars, Selena Gomez, turns 17 today! We loved you in PPP - your characters always have sass and heart - as Alex, and in Another Cinderella Story. We look forward to seeing more from this actress/singer in the future!