New Pottermore Site Brings Wizarding World to Life, Sorts You Into Hogwarts Houses

Details about J.K. Rowling's new Harry Potter website, Pottermore, were released at a press conference today, and millions of Harry Potter fans are rejoicing. About the site the author says, “You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.” E-book versions of the Harry Potter series will also be available.

The site won't be live in the U.S. until October, but a few lucky tweens in London got a personal tour of Pottermore by Ms. Rowling herself.

Photo credit: New York Times

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New Harry Potter Website From J.K. Rowling: Pottermore

“The owls are gathering…Find out why soon.”

Tomorrow at noon London-time, J.K. Rowling will turn the "On" switch on her latest Harry Potter creation: Pottermore. (Click on the owls on the website, and it will lead you to a YouTube video post from Ms. Rowling.) Pottermore is a gaming site for Harry Potter fans, but rumor has it that several real wands are hidden throughout the United States and the U.K. as real-life prizes in the virtual game. Says Ms. Rowling, "The site is 'not a new book' and 'not directly related' to the upcoming movie."

There has been a fair amount of drama leading up to the launch of Pottermore: on June 15th the author sent coordinates to ten Harry Potter fan sites leading fans on a scavenger hunt. The coordinates had to be entered at another website, secretstreetview.com (using Google Maps), and those could be zoomed in on to reveal the letters of Pottermore.com

Our tweens already have their tickets to the midnight showing of the last movie, and this new game has them cheering even more.

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The Perfect Summertime Treat For Tweens To Make

Today is officially the first day of summer, and we stumbled upon a new twist on an old-fashioned summertime treat that we thought would be perfect for tweens to make.

Ice with flavorings exist in multiple forms: in Hawaii they're called shaved ice, at state fairs they're known as sno-cones, on the East Coast there are Italian ices, and in New Orleans, they're called Sno-Balls.  A new New York City spot just opened with a fabulous name: Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls, and they make this New Orleans-style icy treat. Sno-Balls are not in the shape of a ball at all - they come as lighter-than-air containers of shaved ice that are drenched in neon-bright flavored syrups. We love how they are served in Chinese takeout boxes with a straw and spoon and come in flavors that range from Root Beer to Pink Bubblegum to Peaches N' Cream.

They're super easy to make at home but do require one piece of special equipment: an ice shaver (not just an ice crusher - you won't get the air ice texture you need). From there, you can add any flavorings you like - we're partial to the all natural line of syrups from Monin (our tweens' favorite is the blue curacao - a non-alcoholic orange/vanilla flavor).  You can mix the syrups with half-and-half to make any flavor a cream-style flavor.

Happy Summer!

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A Tween Fashionista's Closet: Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka at Home

We've written about the very cute and age-appropriate style of Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka in previous posts, so we are thrilled to share with you a story about her fashionable leanings. Only 11 years old, this tween is already an accomplished actress - Ms.Shipka has earned two SAG and one Emmy Award for her portrayal as Sally Draper, daughter of Betty and Don Draper on the hit show. Coveteur, an online magazine, interviewed the tween actress and published a story about her closet (both what's in it and how she likes to organize it), her newest talent as fashion designer (including the adorable coral tafetta dress below), and her ballet prowess (she's already en pointe).  We have a feeling that we'll be hearing much more about this talented tween in future.

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American Girl Opens in Washington, D.C.

The newest American Girl store opens in Washington this weekend at the Tysons Corner Mall (which is actually in Virginia, not the D.C.), and our tweens were invited to the opening party to get a preview.

As a parent of tween girls, it's nearly impossible NOT to know about the American Girl line of dolls and books. When our eldest tween was very young, my mother-in-law gave her the Samantha doll (which was sadly just archived). The feminist in me was relieved to have an alternative to Bratz and Barbies, and our daughters took these dolls and their books immediately. This has lead to years of birthday and holiday presents (an admittedly expensive habit fed by my very generous mother-in-law) and visiting the American Girl Place in New York has become part of our family's Christmas tradition.

The new store at Tyson's Corner lives up the hype - it is beautifully executed and a tween's dream. The cafe is stocked with even more pink treats than I recall from earlier visits and the doll "salon" is as eagerly anticipated by our eldest tween as our youngest (and this parent is glad to not have to tame the doll's hair). The Tysons' location has added a new feature - the Creativi-Tees station, where girls can get custom tees with matching decals for both their dolls and themselves (remember all those iron-on tee short places in the 80's?).

We were privileged to be included in tonight's opening event, and all proceeds benefitted the National Children's Medical Center - one of the most deserving organizations in the District.

The American Girl Store in Tysons Corner opens tomorrow, June 18th.
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Meet Justin Bieber at the New York City Launch Event for Someday

By now you've probably seen the television ads for Justin Bieber's latest project, a fragrance for girls called "Someday". What you may not know is that all sales of the perfume benefit charity.  The product was created by the Give Back Brands Foundation, and ALL proceeds benefit the following organizations:  Give Back Brands Foundation and Communities in Schools LA West.

In addition, Mr. Bieber is auctioning off the opportunity to accompany him at the official Someday launch in New York City on June 23.  The proceeds from this auction will also benefit Communities in Schools and the Give Back Brands Foundation.

While a bit schlocky, here's what the star had to say about the fragrance: “Someday is the idea that we can change the world, make our dreams come true, and even be with the one person that means everything. Giving back has always been incredibly important to me, but let's be honest... I wanted to create a fragrance for my female fans that I can't get enough of... that I want to get next to and I can't stay away from. I know they'll love the scent, but also the opportunity to support some amazing charities. It's a gift that gives back.”

The auction for the June 23rd launch event is being run by CharityBuzz, and bidding is currently at $3500.00 (the auction ends on June 21st). The perfume itself is considerably less expensive at $45.00

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Part One of the First Tweens' Summer: Malia and Sasha Obama Visit Universal Studios, iCarly Set

The First Tweens are officially on summer vacation, and they've kicked it off by accompanying mom, First Lady Michelle Obama, on a trip to California.

Malia and Sasha Obama were in Los Angeles on Monday. They took a VIP tour of Universal Studios Hollywood and rode on several popular rides including  "King Kong 360 3-D", Jurassic Park, Shrek 4D,  the Simpsons ,and Revenge of the Mummy. Sasha Obama, whose tenth birthday was June 10th, reportedly wanted to ride the Mummy ride twice - and did.

Also on Monday the First Lady visited the set of iCarly to film a segment for the show about the hardships military families face. On the show, Carly is upset that her dad (an Air Force colonel who has been deployed) isn't home for a birthday, so her friends break the rules to set up a web chat with him. "We are big fans of iCarly," Mrs. Obama said. "Well, let’s say I’m the coolest mom on the face of the planet."

The First Lady plays herself in the episode and said this about her role: "The story line is very sweet. iCarly..they have a webcast, and Carly is a military kid, and that's always been a part of the script. That's been a part of their situation. Her father has been deployed, and it's just a way for us to recognize her challenges as well as how her friends are stepping up to support her. So I'm pretty excited about it." Mrs. Obama's appearance is to promote Joining Forces, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and support for military families.

After the taping, iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove tweeted: "Worked with Michelle Obama today. She's one awesome funny lady. We were so nervous and she just made everybody feel so comfortable #honored."

Later that night there was a fundraiser held at the home of the interior designer who decorated the White House for the Obama family (including the First Tweens' rooms), Michael S. Smith. After the fundraiser the Obama women had a late night pizza dinner at Pizzeria Mozza (the same spot they visited the last time they were in L.A.).

Tuesday (today), the First Tweens traveled with their mom to Berkeley, California (MsTwixt is an alumna of U.C. Berkeley - go Bears!). The First Lady spoke at a fundraiser featuring breakfast prepared by Edible Schoolyard founder Chef Alice Waters at the historic Claremont Hotel in the Berkeley Hills. No word on what Malia and Sasha Obama did in Berkeley, but we hope that they toured the beautiful U.C. campus and visited historic Tilden Park (the Tilden Merry-Go-Round is our tweens' favorite).  UPDATE: Malia and Sasha Obama also visited the Alcatraz Island prison complex on Thursday - they went via a private hovercraft and got to take turns driving the boat.

Next week the First Tweens will visit Africa as part of Mrs. Obama's official visits to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa and Gaberone, Botswana. That trip focuses on youth leadership, education, health and wellness.

To read about how the First Tweens spent last summer, click here.

Photo credits: Getty Images, AceShowBiz

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Celebrating Flag Day With Tweens

Our tweens are celebrating Flag Day today by making red, white and blue Jell-O (click here for this super easy recipe) and crafting fun ribbon barrettes in patriotic colors (thanks to our friends at Chica Circle for sharing the instructions). Bonus: these accessories can be used again on the Fourth of July!

Because they're on summer break now, nail polish is back in their repertoire - so of course their nails are red, white and blue (check out these instructions for doing a patriotic manicure inspired by Beyonce in her "Telephone" music video - very fun!).

Does your tween know the essentials about the American Flag? Our girls earned their United We Stand badge in Girl Scouts, and whether or not your tween is a Scout, this is a great guide for learning about the flag.

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Lessons Learned From Middle School: A Tween Parent's Reflections

Middle school is one of the most universally hated rites of passage in the U.S. And let's face it: it's with good reason - when else must one endure the growing pains, onset of puberty, ramped up academic requirements, and ever-shifting social landscape ALL AT ONCE? And for good measure, let's stick all of the kids going through this phase together in confined spaces for duration. I'd say that a close second to enduring middle school is parenting a child through those years. 

I realize that this intro might lead folks astray - our tween who is graduating middle school this week actually achieved some of her biggest accomplishments to-date, made some great friends, and is turning into a strong, confident young woman. But this is in spite of middle school, not because of it. So as I look to parent our other kids through their middle school years, I've cobbled together a list of lessons learned and shared wisdom from other tween parents so that I might be wiser the next time around. Please add your thoughts - because boy, does it take a village.

• Teach perspective. If I have one mantra in parenting, it is "perspective", and believe me, I chanted it endlessly throughout the past couple of years. Because everything - the good and the bad - seems amplified in the middle school years, I tried my darndest to give our tween perspective on whatever drama was going on at the moment. Perspective that today's perceived snub wasn't the end-all-be-all of lunchroom dynamics. Perspective that one bad exam score did not doom her to never getting into college. Perspective that a sports injury didn't mean giving up a sport she loves forever. Perspective that just because "Everyone watched Glee last night" she wasn't going to be a social pariah if she had to wait until the weekend to see it. It seems that middle schools are the birthing grounds for peer pressure, so I figure that coaching her now to realize (or at least consider) that there are many paths/options/choices out there is an act of self-preservation (hers and mine).
• Form a family policy on technology. Whatever your views on mobile phones, Facebook, Formspring, and the like, get out ahead of technology and your tween and make an informed opinion. As parents, we need to be aware of  the digital landscape before our tweens are - both the risks and the rewards. Make whatever policy makes sense for your family but have and articulate a stand on mobile phone usage, texting, social networking, etc. Be clear with your expectations and boundaries (e.g. "No Facebook until you're 13" or "Yes, you can have access to a family Facebook profile") and monitor how they engage. I don't know of a single middle school where Facebook isn't prevalent, so I highly recommend chatting with other parents about how they have established technology standards in their families.
• Read what she's reading in English class. This is something that I've tried to do but wish I had done more of. Middle school English also functions as a very rigorous book club, and if you've read the same book she has, you'll be amazed by the conversations you'll start and continue years later. We read "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, and to this day the themes raised in the book come up in conversation. Sharing her reading list gives you wonderful substantive conversation fodder, helps her to further develop her arguments for class, and keeps your brain from turning to mush (All things in moderation folks, even People magazine.).
• Teach stress management. Middle school algebra may strain your mind a bit, but the skills you learned to cope with exams, manage stress in school, and get a grip on a fear of public speaking are still fresh in your mind. Tweens will encounter pop-quizzes, final exams, and standardized tests for the first time in middle school - and it's gonna stress her out. Sharing the little tricks that worked for you can really help her calm the pre-test butterflies in her stomach. For more ideas, check out our Middle School Finals Care Package.
• Coach her in study skills. She's learning study skills in school already, but you can reinforce these at home. Post her big project due dates and tests on the family calendar (this has certainly helped me to NOT schedule a dinner meeting the night before). Talk about how you've broken down a big project before into smaller, more manageable tasks. Teach her that writing is supposed to be an iterative process - the more she's used to the concept of multiple drafts, the easier the feedback will be to take.
• Make home a home base. The later tween years are when kids "try on" different personas and take longer strides towards independence. They'll have their first school dances, attend inter-league sporting events, go to the school play with a group of friends, and much more without you. While it's a far cry from dropping them off at college, these little excursions are simultaneously fun and stressful: Will I fit in? How casual will other girls be? What if I don't see anyone I know? What if I run into the girl who was mean to me yesterday? Where will I sit at lunch? She's going to have to figure most of this out on her own, so do what you can to make home as safe as possible. For us, this means recognizing that our tweens need some downtime to just veg-out with music or with t.v. - any time that doesn't have to be productive is what you're going for here. Let her regress a bit and don't freak out when she suddenly demands to sleep with a hall light on, retrieves her once shelved stuffed animal, or suddenly craves more nesting time. The tween years are a tug and pull between young childhood and adolescence, and the small comforts of home are huge to help them make this transition.  This doesn't mean, however, letting her off the hook. Our Head of School recommends that parents keep the same standards for girls completing their chores even during exam week because it's routine, it reminds them of their role beyond being a student, and it's part of what everyone does in the family.
• Pack the bags the night before. This sounds silly, but honestly, I've found that as our tweens age, they're WORSE at keeping track of their stuff. Maybe it's because they've got so much more going on, or maybe keeping track of their multiple class binders is all that their minds can handle at the moment, but I've made more "emergency" mid-day school deliveries than I care to admit. Institute a rule that all bags - school, soccer, swimming, etc. - be packed the night before no matter how late they're up doing homework. It'll save her a lot of last minute angst.
• Model moderation. I'm not a doctor, but I seems to me that tween girls develop ravenous sugar cravings in middle school. Our kids like treats as much as the next ones, but candy has become a big thing in our house. I'm trying hard not to freak out too much, so I consulted our pediatrician (and our dentist). It turns out that our girls are not alone in their sugar rush, and they counseled me to keep an eye on three things: 1) Make sure that on balance, the girls eat well (so think back to the baby years when you evaluated what they ate over the course of a week) - they're going to have good days and bad. To avoid battles over food, keep an eye on what they ate over the week rather than the day (chances are they are successfully self-moderating after a sugar binge day). When in doubt, consult with your pediatrician. 2) When the sugar intake goes up, so does the level of activity. Introduce a new sport or institute family walks after dinner to counterbalance the increase in desk time and t.v. time during the tween years. And parents, this means you've got to get up and move too. 3) Make certain that dental hygiene doesn't slip - this is doubly important if she's got braces. Her friends will likely let her know if she's forgotten to brush her teeth that morning, but now that she's got her adult teeth, she's got to take care of them for the long-term.

Dear readers, what advice would you add? Please join the discussion on Facebook or by posting a comment below.

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Sasha Obama Celebrates 10th Birthday at Georgetown Cupcake

First Tween Sasha Obama is ten years old today and celebrated her birthday at Georgetown Cupcake. The younger Miss Obama and her sister, Malia Obama, and several friends had a birthday party at the original Georgetown Cupcake location on Prospect Street in Georgetown (which is now used as their television studio for their show, "DC Cupcakes"). The owners of the cupcakery were on hand for the party, and we imagine that decorating cupcakes was on the agenda. Last year, Sasha had her birthday party at California Pizza Kitchen (Hmm, do we sense a theme? Our tweens think she made really fun choices in her party locations.)

Local Georgetown journalist Carol Joynt broke this story, and she has more photos on her blog here.

Happy 10th birthday to Sasha!

Photos by Carol Joynt. (Malia Obama is the tallest girl walking into the bakery, and Sasha is holding the bouquet of flowers. We love the huge bunch of pink balloons decorating the party spot.)

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Positive Role Models for Girls in Hollywood: Reese Witherspoon at the MTV Movie Awards

Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon received an award at last night's MTV Movie Awards, but what got people's attention far more than what she was wearing was what she said (refreshing, right?). Ms. Witherspoon took aim at the "celebrities" who gain fame for wildly inappropriate behavior saying, "I get it, girls, that it’s cool to be a bad girl, but it is possible to make it in Hollywood without doing a reality show. ... So, for all the girls out there, it’s totally possible to be a good girl. I’m going to try to make it cool."

Brava! We're thrilled and can't wait to see what our favorite Blonde actress does next.

Photo credit: LATimes

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What's Cool For Tweens in June: MsTwixt's Calendar

Ms Twixt's Calendar

• June is National Candy Month!
• June 3 NKOTB/Backstreet Boys concert at Verizon Center
• June 3 "X-Men First Class" movie opens
• June 3 "Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure - What's What Edition" on Disney Channel
• June 4-5 DC Jazz Festival Family Days (Free at the Phillips Collection)
• June 5 Battle of the Bands, Elementary School division at the 930 Club
• June 5 The Annual Washington Post Hunt (founded by Dave Barry!)
• June 5 MTV Movie Awards at 9pm
• June 5 "So Random" series premiere on Disney Channel
• June 8 World Oceans Day (Wear Blue, Tell 2!)
• June 9 Glee concert at Verizon Center
• June 10 Go-Go's concert at Wolftrap (tickets only $25)
• June 10 Sasha Obama's 10th birthday!
• June 10 Judy Moody movie opens
• June 10 "My Babysitter's a Vampire" series premiere on Disney Channel
• June 11 Battle of the Bands, Middle School division at the 930 Club
• June 11 "iParty with Victorious" 90-minute show on Nickelodeon at 8pm
• June 15 Anniversary of the Pop Rocks patent (who knew?!)
• June 16 National Fudge Day
• June 17 American Girl Store Grand Opening Benefit for Children's Hospital
• June 17 "The Art of Getting By" movie opens (starring Emma Roberts!)
• June 17 "Mr. Popper's Penguins" movie opens
• June 17 "Green Lantern" movie opens
• June 17 "A.N.T. Farm" series premiere on Disney Channel at 830pm
• June 18 American Girl Store opens in Tyson's Corner, VA
• June 20 MsTwixt's birthday!
• June 29 "Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon" movie opens (filmed in D.C.!)

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A Middle School Finals Care Package

These days our middle school tweens are busy prepping for their final exams (blissfully, the elementary-school-age tween does not yet have finals). Remembering back to our own exam weeks and the sense of desperation we recall, we were inspired to put together a Middle School Finals Care Package. Here's what we included:

• Good & Plenty candies (black licorice has tummy-soothing properties and re-energizes tired brains)
• Sugarless mint gum (the big can; enough to help stave off the inevitable fingernail biting for a little bit; Freedent gum is easiest on those with braces)
• New nail polish (here's the trick: tweens are loathe to scuff up a new manicure; waiting for the polish to dry gives them uninterrupted reading time - plus there's incentive to not bite their nails when they look so good)
• Package of hair ties (anything to help keep her hair off her face while she studies)
• Vitamin Waters (we bought a package of mini-bottles as a treat that wasn't soda; our tweens love that they contain vitamins to help them focus - we chose "Focus", "Spark", and "Energy")
• Burt's Bees Blemish Stick (stress causes breakouts, and this formula is all natural and not overpowering)
• Lavender scented candle (lavender fragrance has a calming effect, and there's something comforting about lighting a candle; obviously do this only when there is adult supervision)
• Mint flavored lip balm (to comfort those bitten lips - plus mint has cooling and invigorating effects)
• Box of chamomile tea (a terrific, caffeine-free way to wind down after a study session)

As a bonus, all of the items listed above were available at our local CVS/drugstore - one stop shopping and thus stress-free for the parents!

What items would you add to the Middle School Finals Care Package?

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Gap and Old Navy Take a Stand Against Bullying

We just heard that discount retailer Old Navy is launching a line of rainbow-hued t-shirts in support of the anti-bullying movement via the "It Gets Better Project". The tee shirts are also in support of Gay Pride Month (starting June 1) - in doing so, Gap (Old Navy's parent company) becomes the first major retailer to take a stand on this issue. The "It Gets Better Project" is a movement designed to let LGBT youth know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel - that as an adult, life gets a lot easier to manage in real-life situations for openly gay people. The site was featured in a moving ad by Google during the Glee finale, and this month the site has videos of openly gay Gap employees telling their stories of bullying, how they persevered, and how Gap supports them in the workplace today. Ten percent of sales from these shirts benefits the "It Gets Better Project", and the tees are available at select Old Navy locations (but not online - we checked).

Certainly some Old Navy stores will take heat for this stance, but we're personally thrilled that a retailer is choosing to be controversial and lift people up rather than be controversial and drag them down.

T-shirts available in select Old Navy stores only (NOT online), $7.50 - $14.50
UPDATE ON 6/1/11: D.C. area Old Navy stores will not have this line in stock until June 2nd at the earliest.

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