First Tweens Cheer Justin Bieber at "Christmas in Washington" Show

Meeting Justin Bieber is quickly becoming de rigueur for the First Tweens. Malia and Sasha Obama again welcomed Justin Bieber to the annual "Christmas in Washington" show this weekend at the National Building Museum. The Biebs was the big tween draw last night, but other tween favorite performers included Victoria Justice, Jennifer Hudson, Cee Lo Green, Conan O'Brien, and The Band Perry.

The First Tweens were dressed in colorful holiday attire for the show: Malia Obama wore a bright yellow silk dress by the fashion house "Elizabeth and James" (which parents may recall as being the clothing line developed by former tween stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) with black tights and flats accessorized by a long chain necklace, and Sasha Obama wore a ballet-inspired lilac tulle dress with plum-colored tights and metallic flats.

This was the 30th Annual "Christmas in Washington" event, and it benefits the Children's Medical Center. Mr. Bieber has also performed at the White House Easter Egg Roll and at the 2010 Christmas in Washington event. You can tune into the TNT channel broadcast of "Christmas in Washington" this Friday, December 16th at 8pm EST - or click here for your local broadcast time.



Credits: AP, WireImage for Turner; video from whitehouse.gov

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First Tweens Cheer BigTimeRush at National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Malia and Sasha Obama attended the 89th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse last night. On hand to perform "Beautiful Christmas" was Nickelodeon Band Big Time Rush, and the First Tweens cheered their performance and bopped along. The girls continued their sartorial love of color and wore bright, double-breasted coats in deep blue (Sasha) and black with red piping (Malia) - both girls also sported skinny jeans.

Video of BTR's "Beautiful Christmas" performance in Washington below:


You can view the National Tree Lighting ceremony and performances when they are broadcast on your local stations here.

Photo credit: Getty

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

• Sept 4 Tavi Gevinson's "Rookie" magazine launches
• Sept 8 Fashion's Night Out
• Sept 11 Grandparents Day
• Sept 8-15 New York Fashion Week (#NYFW)! (full schedule here)
• Sept 11 NYFW: Victoria Beckham at 10am, Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. & Harajuku Lovers at 2:30pm
• Sept 12 NYFW: Rachel Zoe at 3pm, Betsey Johnson at 6pm, Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne at 6pm
• Sept 13 NYFW: J.Crew at 930am
• Sept 13 Missoni for Target collection available (a must-have for tween scarves, mittens)
• Sept 13 International Chocolate Day
• Sept 14 NYFW: Gap at 5pm
• Sept 17 Sprint For A Cure Kids' 100-Yard Dash by FourSeasons
• Sept 18 "Fred the Movie" airs on Nick
• Sept 20 Material Girl's 1st Birthday Party at Macy's in NYC
• Sept 21 New American Girl dolls welcome party at American Girl DC, "Fete for Cecile and Marie-Grace"
• Sept 22 National White Chocolate Day
• Sept 23 "Dolphin Tale" opens
• Sept 24-25 National Book Festival on the National Mall
• Sept 24-25 Life is Good Music Festival
• Sept 30 "Jessie" Disney Channel premiere

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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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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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What's Cool for Tweens in April: MsTwixt's Calendar

Ms Twixt's Calendar

• Apr 1 "Hop" the movie opens
• Apr 2 National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks at 830pm
• Apr 2 Kids Choice Awards on Nick at 8pm
• Apr 2 Hans Christian Andersen's birthday
• Apr 4 "Race to Nowhere" screening at National Cathedral in D.C.
• Apr 5 Harry Potter Exhibition opens at Discovery Theatre in NYC
• Apr 8 "Soul Surfer" movie opens (starring Anna Sophia Robb)
• Apr 8 "Born To Be Wild" nature documentary opens
• Apr 8 1st April Giveaway: "Coke or Pepsi?"
• Apr 9 National Cherry Blossom Parade in D.C.
• Apr 10 GW/Cherry Blossom Rowing Invitational on the Potomac
• Apr 12 Beverly Cleary's birthday
• Apr 12 National Licorice Day
• Apr 15 Anthony Horowitz book signing for "Scorpia Rising" at Politics & Prose
• Apr 15 "Lemonade Mouth" premieres on Disney Channel at 8pm
• Apr 15 2nd April Giveaway: "Coke or Pepsi?"
• Apr 16-17 PEEPS Weekend at Gaylord National Harbor
• Apr 17 Washington Post PEEPS Diorama Contest winners announced
• Apr 15 "Rio" the movie opens (featuring Anne Hathaway)
• Apr 15 Emma Watson's birthday
• Apr 20-22 Big Band JAM Jazz Festival - by kids, for kids
• Apr 22 Earth Day
• Apr 22 Tavi Gevinson's birthday
• Apr 22 National Jelly Bean Day
• Apr 23-24 PEEPS Weekend at Gaylord National Harbor
• Apr 25 White House Easter Egg Roll
• Apr 28 Greyson Chance & Cody Simpson in concert at Sixth & I Synagogue in D.C.
• Apr 29 "Prom" the movie opens
• Apr 30 Drew Seeley's birthday

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iCarly Star Miranda Cosgrove Profiled in New York Times

Miranda Cosgrove, star of the tween favorite series "iCarly" was profiled in the New York Times last week. The article was authored by feminist Peggy Orenstein and reflected on how normal and level-headed Ms. Cosgrove is despite her celebrity. The title, "The Good Girl, Miranda Cosgrove" says it all - you and your tween will enjoy reading it, get a peek into Ms. Cosgrove's glamorous life, and likely walk away with a new-found respect for the actress (we did).

We're currently reading Ms. Orenstein's latest book, "Cinderella Ate My Daughter" - stay tuned for our review.

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Disney's Answer to Big Time Rush: All Star Weekend

Don't say I didn't warn you: the Disney Radio machine has anointed the next big boy band. A product of their Next Big Thing initiative, Allstar Weekend is a band of four boys who sing and dance and have good hair. Predictably, they are all best friends and Disney is chronicling the "making of their band" on their properties. The concept looks and sounds a lot like Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush (we introduced you to BTR last February, actually), and given the success of BTR (I have yet to meet a tween not familiar with these guys), who can blame them?

Allstar Weekend is on a national tour this spring and comes to the D.C. area on March 6th (and tickets are affordable at $13).

Were you one of their first fans? Did you see them when they were last in the D.C. area in November? Let us know what you think and if we should go to the show.

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Hmmm - Perez Hilton to Appear on Nickelodeon's Victorious?

We just wrote about social networking and tweens, and then learned that online gossip maven, Perez Hilton, is going to featured on the new Victorious episode airing this Friday night (Aug 27) - see video below. To be honest, I don't know if our tweens know who Perez Hilton is, but I would prefer that they not read his blog just yet.

What do you think?

Me thinks we have a new topic for the dinner table . . .



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New Gummy Bear Game!

Just for fun: In honor of Carly's new room on iCarly - complete with gummy bear chandelier - check out the Gummy Bear Burst game on iCarly.com:



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The Ultimate Tween Bedroom: the Bedroom Makeover on the Set of iCarly

Nick's popular tween t.v. show, "iCarly", stars Miranda Cosgrove as Carly, as the star of her own Internet t.v. show (I know, it's a show about a show . . kind of like "Sonny With a Chance" on Disney Channel. Are you sensing a theme too?). The main set is Carly's living room which is pretty cool on its own - it features those super cute Gummi Bear Night Lights that we wrote about years ago.

Well, now fans will get a first-ever look at Carly's ultimate tween bedroom - the show's latest storyline will be about her current room getting burned down in a brotherly accident and how she gets to set up a new candy-themed tween hangout space.  Our friends at Jellio (who created the Gummi Bear Night Lights) got to work on this set too - check out the Gummi Bear Chandelier! (Note: the chandelier shown on the set is a limited edition large size (31" in diameter), but a smaller version (18" in diameter) is available for sale on the Jellio website. Warning: it comes with a piece of art price tag: $1800, reflecting the months of work it takes the artist to make each one.)

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Our Coverage to the Kids' Choice Awards 2010 (#KCA10)

While our coverage of the Kids' Choice Awards was interrupted for 60 minutes during Earth Hour, you can view our minute-by-minute replay of the night (especially the orange carpet) on our Twitter feed (you don't need a Twitter account to view this).

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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.

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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!

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New Show For Tweens, Big Time Rush, Hosting a Tweet-Up Friday, Feb. 12

Nickelodeon's newest show for tweens, Big Time Rush, is hosting a tweet-up tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 12, at 8pm EST. A tweet-up is basically a dedicated chat time, and all four stars of the show will be on Twitter chatting with fans and answering questions. The show debuted last month and is a lot of fun - think "JONAS" but on Nick - it follows four best friends from Minnesota as they try to break into the music business in L.A. Big Time Rush airs Fridays on Nick at 830pm EST.

You can participate by tuning into to their Twitter account at www.twitter.com/bigtimerush at 8pm EST tomorrow. You can also follow all of the Big Time Rush stars on our Twitter account at @MsTwixt.

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How Kids Can Help Haiti

Kudos to Nick!

Adding to Selena Gomez's UNICEF message last week, more tween organizations are helping to get kids involved in helping Haiti. Nickelodeon has 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. The site is at www.nick.com/helphaiti and is called the Big Help.

Definitely worth visiting.

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The Power of Youth, Covered by Variety

Variety magazine, arbiter of all things Hollywood, held it's 3rd Annual Power of Youth event this weekend in L.A. The event honors up-and-coming kid stars who harness their celebrity power to put a spotlight on charity causes. It's nice to see stars doing good - even nicer to see them starting young to do it.
2009 honorees were:
- Corbin Bleu for his support of the Starlight Foundation
- Miranda Cosgrove for her support of St. Jude's Research Hospital
- Jesse McCartney for his support of City of Hope
- Annalynde McCord for her support of the Blind Project
- Keke Palmer for her support of the Boys and Girls Clubs

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Happy 35th Birthday to Hello Kitty!

She hasn't aged a day since her debut 35 years ago and still looks as cute as ever. Did you know that Hello Kitty lives in London with her parents and twin sister Mimi? The woman who created her is Ikuko Shimizu.

A special exhibition called "Three Apples" of Hello Kitty-inspiried art is at the L.A. theatre space, Royal-T until November 15th. There's even an entire apartment outfitted with Hello Kitty things, and tokidoki artist, Simone Legno, created a special poster just for the event (available for $20). The exhibit is open to the public and free. (BTW, "three apples" is how much Hello Kitty weighs.)



At the opening party on October 22nd, tween celebrity Miranda Cosgrove of Nickelodeon's iCarly was in attendance, as was Tarina Tarantino and Kimora Lee Simmons. The birthday party today included breakfast of Hello Kitty waffles and pancakes, artist workshop, temporary tattoo booth, and, of course, birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Hello Kitty!

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We've Been Nominated As DC's Best Kids' Clothes Store!!

We are so honored to have been nominated for the second year in a row by local area parents as DC's Best Kids' Clothing Store in Nickelodeon's Parents' Pick Awards! Please take a moment to vote for Twixt - it takes just a minute and there's no onerous forms to complete. THANK YOU!

For Kids Clothing Store
in Washington

Kids Choice Award Winners Announced!

Winners from the 22nd annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards:

• Favorite Movie: "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."
• Favorite Movie Actor: Will Smith, "Hancock."
• Favorite Movie Actress: Vanessa Hudgens, "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."
• Favorite Animated Movie: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa."
• Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Jack Black, "Kung Fu Panda."
• Favorite Song: Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)."
• Favorite Male Singer: Jesse McCartney.
• Favorite Female Singer: Miley Cyrus.
• Favorite Music Group: Jonas Brothers.
• Favorite TV Show: "iCarly."
• Favorite Reality Show: "American Idol."
• Favorite TV Actress: Selena Gomez, "Wizards of Waverly."
• Favorite TV Actor: Cole Sprouse, "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody."
• Favorite Cartoon: "SpongeBob SquarePants."
• Favorite Male Athlete: Peyton Manning.
• Favorite Female Athlete: Candace Parker.
• Favorite Video Game: "Guitar Hero World Tour."
• Favorite Book: "Twilight" series