Tween Interviews the President!

Eleven-year old Damon Weaver, a student at K.Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary School in Florida, interviewed the President today about his views on education, school lunch, basketball, low-income communities, and more. You can see the interview on the White House blog. Damon did a terrific job!

Tweens Going Green - the Music Video Version

This just in: Disney Channel released the music video of "Send It On" on the web a day early. The video stars Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez performing in concert in support of Disney's Friends For Change Project Change campaign. Friends For Change is movement to activate kids to take steps to save the environment. Kids can register and spread their support on the site, and snippets about the campaign and eco-education tips appear on Disney Channel throughout the day. You can buy the video for $0.99 and all proceeds benefit the eco-charities supported by the campaign. Sort of "We Are the World" for tweens!
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Let's Dial-Down the Dialogue About Miley at the Teen Choice Awards

The airwaves are abuzz about Miley Cyrus' performance of her new song, Party in the USA, at the Teen Choice Awards (broadcast this past Monday). Reactions have run the gamut from outright condemnation to artistic kudos. One thing is certain: things will never be quite the same for the Hannah Montana star.
Every family makes their own choices about what is appropriate for their children to view and how to best communicate their values, but Ms Twixt takes issue with people labeling this young woman (she is 16 years old) as a "slut". Regardless of your stance on the appropriatenes of Miley's performance or even your views on the motivations behind this dance choice (see Anastasia Goodstein's well-written post on this at YPulse and the LA Times article for a corporate perspective), as parents we need to dial-down the vitriol. She is, after all, somebody's daughter too.
This is a "teachable moment" and a great opportunity to continue the discussion with your tween on what behavior is consistent with your family's values, the influence of the media on body image, the role of celebrities as entertainers as opposed to role models, etc. This instance is but one of many opportunities to engage in a productive dialog with our daughters and their coming of age - let's show them how we can do this with respect for all parties.

Tween Back to School Picks: First Things First - the Bag/Backpack

Ms Twixt has two recommendations for bags/backpacks for 2009 Back to School for your tween: an investment-in-her-posture backpack and an-inexpensive-but-oh-so-styling messenger bag. Deets below (remember, our reviews are 100% editorial - no pay to play here):
The Zuca
Our own dd's wheel around their classes with the posture-friendly Zuca rolling backpacks - technically, Zucas are not backpacks - they are lockers on wheels. Twixt has carried Zucas for a year now, and despite their steep price tag ($145 - but these will truly last you forever - they are made of the same alloy as airplanes), these sell out every year. Zucas were developed by a mom (who else?) whose daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis after lugging around a regular backpack. Have you weighed your kids' backpack lately?? Our children are carrying around WAY TOO MUCH stuff. Now, part of that is due to the tween pack-rat mentality, but part is truly due to the volume of books/binders/laptops/sports gear required. Our wake-up call was when yours truly had trouble hoisting the backpack from the car one day at drop-off - and we ordered our Zuca that evening. We found Zuca by researching backpacks and then expanding our search to sporting bags. Zucas are often used by ice skaters because their design allows for skates to be stored and transported easily. These "bags" are super lightweight, cannot be hoisted on the back (a plus in our book), have stair-climber wheels, can be used as a seat, and are roomy enough to fit a week's worth of school books, binders and sports gear. The frame has a lifetime warranty, and the bag can be swapped out as whims change (for the much more modest price of $45). Ms Twixt and clan are partial to the write-erase bag pictured here - it's like a walking yearbook for my daughters and their friends. The Zuca is perfect for all tweens and comes in a range of prints and colors. You can pre-order your Zuca at Twixt - orders placed by August 20th will arrive in time for the first day of class.

Tokidoki Messenger Bag from Target
We have been eagerly anticipating the release of Simone Legno's line for Target, and he did not disappoint. Mr. Legno is the cartoon/artist/wunderkid behind Tokidoki (who, incidently, is also doing a line with Hello Kitty in honor of her 35th birthday this year), one of our fave lines. Right now on Target's website you can pre-order this messenger bag. At only $19.99 (most other Tokidoki bags retail for $180-$250), this is a fun, recession-worthy purchase. Perfect for the hard-to-buy-for tween, Tokidoki's designs are modern, edgy and fresh. And you can also by paper goods/notebooks/pencils with Tokidoki motifs in Target stores (these are not available online).

It's National S'Mores Day!

Vanessa Hudgens may have joined the Girls Scouts (see post below) just to get S'Mores, and we wouldn't blame her one bit! Today is National S'Mores Day according to the National Confectioners Association, but Ms Twixt and family don't need an excuse to eat or make these treats. Health food these are not, but one makes a real treat and can turn around even the worst day. These are our tweens favorite after school special snack.
For those of you who know me personally, you know that I have a thing for homemade marshmallows - I make marshmallows for every occasion in every flavor and color. Homemade marshmallows make an AMAZING s'more!
You can find recipes for marshmallows online, and I've posted my version here. This is a great dessert to make with your tween - just be sure to help her with cooking the syrup and pouring it into the mixer as sugar gets really, really hot. The process of making marshmallows is part cooking, part science experiment as you are turning liquid sugar into pillow-like marshmallows. Enjoy!

Ms Twixt's Homemade Marshmallows

Ingredients
4 pkgs Knox unflavored gelatin (you can find this next to the Jello in the baking aisle)
3 cups granulated sugar (I use vanilla sugar, which you make make by storing a vanilla bean in a bag of sugar for a few weeks)
1.25 cups Karo light corn syrup
.25 tsp salt (I use kosher salt)
1 Tbsp pure vanilla (don't skimp with fake stuff here; this is the main flavor of the marshmallow)
Lots of confectioners' sugar (about half a box)
cooking spray (not olive oil, though)

Equipment
heavy duty aluminum foil
candy thermometer
rectangular Pyrex or other glass baking dish
standing mixer (like a Kitchen Aid)
silicone spatula
offset spatula
really good, non-slip, oven mitt
heavy saucepan
small strainer
sharp knife (not a paring knife; something with a longer blade)

Directions
First, prep the pan: spray the glass dish with cooking spray, line it with the heavy foil with a few inches of overhang on the two long sides, and then spray the foil with more cooking spray
Next, soften the gelatin: in a large mixing bowl (it must be large enough to hold the expanded marshmallow at the end), sprinkle the packages of gelatin over .75 cup of cold water.
Then make the syrup: in a heavy saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, .75 cup cold water, corn syrup and salt. Clip the candy thermometer to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook syrup until it reaches the "soft-ball" stage on the candy thermometer, which is about 238 degrees.
Now comes the alchemy: using the whisk attachment on medium-low speed, whisk the gelatin in the mixer bowl. Grab hold of the saucepan with the non-slip oven mitt and slowly pour in the syrup in a continuous stream into the gelatin. This will take some time, and your arms will get a nice workout in the process. After you've added all syrup, gradually turn up the mixer speed to high and beat the mixture until it is quite stiff - usually about 15 minutes. At this point, add the vanilla (you don't want to add flavorings when the mixture is still hot) and beat it in thoroughly. If you want to tint the marshmallows, now is the time to add in a few drops of food coloring.
Pour the marshmallow mixture into the glass dish; you'll need the silicone spatula to scrape the bowl. Using the offset spatula, smooth the top of the marshmallow mixture to make it as even as possible.
Now comes the hard part: you must wait overnight for the marshmallows to set.
"Unmolding" the marshmallows: put some confectioners' sugar in the strainer and sift it all over the marshmallow while still in the glass dish. Then sift more confectioners' sugar over a large area of the kitchen counter (be sure it's clean first!). Using the foil overhang, lift the foil from the glass dish and invert it onto the sugared counter surface. Carefully peel back the foil and sift more confectioners' sugar over the marshmallows. Spray the knife with the cooking spray and cut the marshmallows into squares or any shape you want (you can also use oiled cookie cutters). Roll each cut surface of the marshmallows in more confectioners' sugar so that they don't stick to each other.
Eat! (Warning: you may never buy a package of marshmallows again!)

We Know What's For Lunch: It's National Farmers' Market Week!

August 2-8, 2009 marks the first ever National Farmers' Market week. Our new Secretary of Agriculture has created this new event to raise awareness of what we eat and where it comes from. As far as we are concerned, this comes at a perfect time as we are slowly (with feet dragging) thinking about Back to School and what to pack for lunches. Stay tuned to the blog this month for our Back to School gear reviews!

Girl Scouts Are Cool - Just ask Vanessa Hudgens

A very warm welcome to our newest Girl Scouts: Vanessa Hudgens and Aly Michalka! Both young ladies were honored as they received a special badge to become honorary Girl Scouts at a special Bandslam screening at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Los Angeles last night (August 7) - see below for Ms Twixt's review of Bandslam at the DC advance screening on July 13th. Vanessa and Aly were inducted into the Girls Scouts of Greater Los Angeles for their energy, leadership and heart that exemplify the Girl Scout spirit. You can read more about this event on JustJaredJr. The event also launched the new Walden Media Girl Scout patch which is focused on literacy. The Walden Media Patch asks Girl Scouts to complete a series of immersive activities that encourage them to read, research and compare how literature have been adapted into movies.

First Tweens Enjoy Burgers on the Hill

Malia and Sasha Obama and the First Lady stopped by Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill yesterday for lunch. No ordinary burger joint, Good Stuff Eatery is owned by chef Spike Mendelsohn (of Top Chef fame). There's room in every healthy diet for the occasional burger and fries!

We Will Miss Director John Hughes

Ms Twixt would not have survived junior high or high school without Director John Hughes' films - especially Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sixteen Candles. He captured the angst and hope of teens and tweens and was a man before his time. He also gave me my first job: yours truly was a paid extra in his film, Some Kind of Wonderful.

Our Trip to Beacon Street; New BSG Book Just Released!

Ms Twixt and family headed to Boston this week to pick up our copy of the new Beacon Street Girls book, "Ready, Set, Hawaii"! We were so excited to tour the real Beacon Street and take in the scenery from the series: we walked around Coolidge Corner in Brookline and saw the apartment buildings and Victorian houses like those that the BSGs live in, found the local middle school that Abigail Adams school is modeled after, and even got to sample the REAL chocolate cupcakes (Maeve's favorite!) from Party Favors. You can read our Tweets in realtime from yesterday's outing by following us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MsTwixt) and checkout the independent bookstore in Brookline that we frequent: Brookline Booksmiths - whom you can also follow on Twitter at @booksmithtweets (support your local businesses!).