Let Your Cupcakes & Muffins Ride in Style!

 

I love spreading the word on products that I love, and this one definitely takes the cup"cake"! Next time you

need to transport cupcakes or muffins, considering using Fox Run's smartly designed Cupcake Carousel!

It is adorable with its BPA-free sturdy giant cupcake design, and is wonderfully functional. It has 3 stacking trays holding 8 cupcakes each, allowing you to compactly and fashionably transport up to 2 dozen fully decorated cupcakes!  Each tray has a handle which makes it simple to pull out of the carrier, as well as easy to manoeuvre while you're placing it on a table or other surface. These removable trays also double as display stands. What's not to love?!

Each cup cavity is deep, ensuring that your cupcakes do not tip over, and the semi-transparent lid allows you and others to appreciate the beauty you put into your treats. The handle on the lid and the carrier's four strong snap locks ensure that your carrier will stay locked and keep your delicacies undisturbed during travel or storage.

The Cupcake Carousel is available in Red, Hot Pink & Brown. Retail price in Canada is approximately $25-$30, depending on where you shop. It is 14" in diameter and 11" high. 

I used this for the first time to transport the Paw Patrol themed cupcakes with tie-dyed icing I made for my son's birthday. I loved it so much that I think my friends just might have thought that I was a paid spokesperson for this product! (For the record, I am not at all! LOL) I just really thinks it's a great, innovative product!

If you want tips on making your own tie-dyed frosting, watch this 4-minute Rachel Ray episode clip featuring

Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro. That's where I got my idea for the frosting. It's so easy to do and looks so unique, and is made with just a simple buttercream icing recipe. (You could probably cheat and use store-bought too!)  Now, clearly I didn't make a whole cake like they did, I just got the tie-dyed icing all set in my piping bag and went to town frosting the cupcakes. So easy, and my son was overjoyed with the final product! 

As a side note, the toothpicks with the Paw Patrol characters fit on the top layer while transporting them as I only needed enough cupcakes to fill 2 inserts, allowing for extra room at the top of the carrier. If I had of required a full 2 dozen cupcakes, then I simply would have brought the toothpick Paw Patrol pictures with me and popped them in the top of the cupcakes once I got to where I was going. But there is more than enough room for all the tiers to have fully frosted cupcakes while stacked in the Cupcake Carrier, just not with the actual toothpick embellishment during transport when fully loaded. 

If you are looking for great Paw Patrol decoration ideas, visit the Nickelodeon Jr website. Knowing full well that this new show is taking off, they've offered everyone a whole slew of printable decorations and ideas in the meantime, until they can manufacture their own licensed products for sale. Best of all, it's FREE! 

So let your cupcakes and muffins ride in style in the Cupcake Carousel! You put so much love and effort into making them, showcase them like the awesome treats that they are!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****

 

Ride & Relax in This Awesome Little Tikes Wagon!

 

Now that spring is finally upon us, I want to share a product with you that I think is awesome! The Little Tikes Ride & Relax® Wagon is every parent's dream for a children's wagon, and is the epitome of practicality and fun! The most exciting and unique feature on this wagon is that with a simple flip of 1 side of the wagon, it instantly transforms into a bench!

 It's suitable for children approximately 18 months to 10 years of age, and comes with 2 seatbelts. It features QuietRide wheels, which are not completely silent but are much quieter than some wagons and other ride ons out there. It also has 6 cup holders, which is perfect for hot days when you want extra drinks with you to keep everyone hydrated.

In the middle section of the wagon, you can either flip up the flaps to create seats or keep the flaps closed and use it as a storage place or cooler. The kids can sit in it no matter which way you want it! When the flaps are in the seated position, the flaps provide great back support to the kids sitting in the wagon, and allows their feet to rest on the bottom. When using as a cooler, you will appreciate the drain plugs in the bottom for easy drainage and cleaning.

Once you are done using it as a children's wagon, you can actually use it as a flatbed utility wagon to haul items around your yard, etc. With a weight limit of 250lbs, most can easily take a seat and rest

on the wagon themselves while the kids play. It also allows for your older child to sit on the wagon along with your little one. I know my bigger child was excited about this as he has been told that he's too big for our former wagon. Not to mention how much stuff you could haul around once it's a flatbed with this higher weight limit. The wagon itself weighs 32lbs and is easily cleaned with soap and water.

The extra long handle can effortlessly be folded underneath the wagon to allow for better storage and transport. Some of these Ride & Relax wagons come with an umbrella that attaches to the side to assist with sun protection. Mine didn't come with this feature, so I cannot speak to how sturdy the umbrella would be in windy conditions. But it is a fabulous idea to help keep the little ones out of the sun. You will also find some reflective decals with your package to affix to the corners of the wagon to assist in making it a bit more visible in lower light conditions.

It took me about an hour in total to assemble, however I'm quite confident that it would take someone experienced assembling these items about 30mins or so. I usually leave tasks like this to my husband, but this time, I wanted to see how long it would take the average Mom to assemble.

In Canada, this wagon retails for approximately $130, and the Deluxe version with the Umbrella retails for approximately $150.

The only thing I think it's missing is locks for the wheels, as you have to be cautious that the wagon doesn't roll or blow away with you, being that it is such a smooth ride. That and maybe a cold drink or two! :)

Happy spring everyone!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****

 

Show Me Your Paw Patrol Cookie Badge!‏

 

Sometimes, you just need to be rescued..... Sometimes it's for something serious, and sometimes it's to make your child's birthday dreams come true. The Paw Patrol gang are usually the ones that do the rescuing, but this time, it was CheapCookieCutters.com!

This show, which is on TVO here in Canada, and Nick Jr in the U.S., is loved by my son with a capital L! Being that it's a brand new program, it is very difficult to find anything that is legitimately Paw Patrol, except for craft sites like Etsy. Add to that a child's birthday party theme request and we have a celebratory dilemma.

I went online searching for badge cookie cutters as I wanted to fabricate a Paw Patrol logo for his cake or make decorative cookies as part of the loot bags. I found only 2 websites offering a badge. One was out of stock, and the other was CheapCookieCutters.com!

I contacted them, and got a very prompt response. I had it shipped to me and voila - Paw Patrol themed cookies by InfoMommy were born -  thanks to the creativity of those at CheapCookieCutters.com! (And to the inventor of edible icing! Without that, my son's beloved Chase the dog picture would never have been featured on the cookie! LOL) 

CheapCookieCutters.com has over 2,000 cookie cutters available and if you are searching for something that they don't actually have, you can customer order! How paw-riffic is that? They guarantee to ship within 2 business days and are made in the U.S., giving you great quality. Almost all of their cookie cutters are made of steel plated tin and are sturdy and a pleasure to use.

If you are looking for something unique, or for your run of the mill cookie cutter design, consider CheapCookieCutters.com. If you are searching for all things Paw Patrol for a party, check out the Nick Jr website. They have all sorts of printables that you can use to plan and decorate. While your child might think that these adorable puppy characters are heroic, he or she will think you are the real hero! 

You can use this great recipe from Company's Coming to make your next Sugar Cookie creation!

Ingredients

3/4 cup Butter, softened    
3/4 cup Granulated sugar 
1 Large egg
1 tsp Vanilla 
2 cups All-purpose flour (I use whole wheat flour) 
1 tsp Baking soda    
1tsp Cream of tartar
1/4 tsp Salt     
1/4 tsp Ground cardamom (optional)

Directions

Cream margarine and sugar in large bowl. Add egg. Beat well. Add vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Combine remaining 5 ingredients in small bowl. Add to margarine mixture in 2 additions, mixing well after each addition until no dry flour remains. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Shape each portion into flattened disc. Wrap each with waxed paper. Chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Discard waxed paper from 1 disc. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch (3 mm) thickness. Cut out circles with lightly floured 2 inch (5 cm) cookie cutter. Roll out scraps to cut more circles. Arrange about 2 inches (5 cm) apart on greased cookie sheets.

Bake in 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes until edges are just golden. Let stand on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Cool cookie sheets between batches. Repeat with remaining disc. Yield: Approximately 7 dozen cookies.

***This sample product was provided free of charge.

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****

 

You Wouldn't Put Your Kids In An Oven, Would You?

 

Why oh why, would someone ever leave their little kids in a car unattended in any weather, never mind hot weather?! I mean, you wouldn't put your kid in an oven, would you? I can understand teenagers who can open their own windows, and get out the car if need be. But babies? Small kids buckled into their car seats, unable to escape rising temperatures in the car?  

One woman in Arizona was charged last month with child abuse for leaving her 6 month old baby and her 2yr old in a car unattended for an hour while she attended a job interview.  

So many times each summer, (and it’s becoming more frequent in winter months too), we’re hearing stories of kids being left inside a sweltering car while a parent or other caregiver runs a quick errand, does groceries and some even going to a bar! I feel like I’m hearing these stories more and more each season. How can anyone think that this is a good idea?  

I get that it’s annoying & cumbersome to have to unbuckle your kids from their seats, take out strollers, diaper bags and anything else you might need, while traipsing through a store for only 1 item. I get it! I have 2 of my own…. And God forbid that they just fell asleep and you really don’t want to wake them. Or that they are sick, or have been particularly fussy that day, or that you’re just having a bad day yourself and they’ve just fallen asleep, maybe the only quiet you’re going to have all day… But leaving them unattended in a car? Why would you want to risk their safety like that?  

I get that most people would never think that doing this would put their child at risk. I get that the single mother written about in the article was trying to get a job, likely to improve the quality of life for both her and her kids. Most people have good intentions with their kids. I’m sure this lady didn’t go and do this for fun. She was stuck and didn’t have anyone to care for her kids while she went to her interview. But there has to be a better way. Everyone has to make a choice after considering the pros and the cons. Bad things happen to good people. Sometimes by chance and sometimes by simple choice.  Don’t think that this can’t happen to you! 

To provide you with some stats and helpful information, please consider these resources: 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Government

http://www.nhtsa.gov/safety/hyperthermia

KidsAndCars.org

http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html 

Here are some quick reference tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Government:

• Vehicles heat up quickly - even with a window rolled down two inches, if the outside temperature is in the low 80s° Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in only 10 minutes.
• Children's bodies overheat easily, and infants and children under four years of age are among those at greatest risk for heat-related illness.
• Children's bodies absorb more heat on a hot day than an adult. Also, children are less able to lower their body heat by sweating. When a body cannot sweat enough, the body temperature rises rapidly.
• In fact, when left in a hot vehicle, a young child's body temperature may increase three to five times as fast an adult. High body temperatures can cause permanent injury or even death.

I implore you! Do not do this... Ever! With the spring season, and rising temperatures now upon us, I feel compelled to remind people not to put their baby’s and children’s lives in danger. It is so unnecessary.

If the safety of your children is not enough for your to make the right choice, then consider getting yourself charged criminally as outlined in this article: http://globalnews.ca/news/677529/is-leaving-a-child-in-a-hot-parked-car-a-criminal-offence/. Or perhaps even have your children apprehended by your child welfare agency, temporarily or permanently. Is that all worth 5 minutes or an hour of leaving your kids unattended in a car? Is it? 

If you see someone doing this in a vehicle on a particularly warm or hot day, please safely keep an eye on the children. If any or all of the occupants seem like they might be in distress, or you are unable to standby, call the police or the emergency number in your area. It takes no time for the temperature to rise inside a vehicle in this type of weather. What might appear like a one time thing, might be something that that person is doing regularly. If it is an ongoing issue, then police can react accordingly with criminal charges to help ensure that these children are kept safe, or that these people become educated on the dangers that they might not otherwise be aware of. I mean, if you’ll do it once, you’ll do it a thousand times. (Not always, I know!). 

So please have a conversation with your loved ones and/or those who care for your kids, and remind them of the dangers of doing this. 

One child dead or injured from something so easily preventable is one too many.  

Photo courtesy of General Motors & Golden Gate Weather Services 

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****