Let the Cold Winds Blow with the Columbia Whirlibird Interchange Jacket

   

I'm not sure about you, but since I've been a mom, things have been hectic. Getting out the door with young ones in tow is an adventure in itself. Once I've got the kids bundled up in their winter gear, I'm racing to get myself dressed quickly, before one starts complaining about how hot they are. I like to have something quick to throw on that is both stylish and versatile, no matter the weather.

Columbia's Women's Whirlibird Interchange Jacket is a great 3-in-1 coat for moms on the go. Whether it's fall, winter, or spring, you will get bang for your buck out of this multi-use jacket. 

During winter months, the jacket is used with the thermal & water repellent zip-in liner. During the fall or spring, you can utilize the jacket fully assembled, or simply use the liner, or outer shell, depending on your needs and preferences. 

The outer shell features a waterproof, but breathable seam sealed shell, thanks to Columbia's Omni-Tech technology. It has a removable storm hood, which is great during rain and/or wind, as well as underarm venting to help you cool down. The coat also has 2 deep zippered pockets on either side of the jacket. 

The inner liner features an Omni-Heat thermal reflective liner, and a nice quilted exterior. It also has a small zippered pocket on the inside of the front of the jacket, perfect for lip balm, bank cards, or your phone. Not only is this great if you are just wearing the liner on its own, it's handy for when you are using it along with the outer layer. As an avid Chapstick user, I like to wear it close to my heart, and have easy access. ;) It also has a pocket for your ski goggles. 

Overall, I really like jacket. I do wish the inside liner also had a drop tail on it like the outer layer does, to better keep my tushie warm. But I do get that if it did, it would affect the look of the inner jacket when wearing it alone. Plus, it does have an adjustable snap back powder skirt that I could use if I wanted to. Personally, I'm not crazy about the zipper on the outer shell. I would prefer it to be a larger sized zipper, typical to most jackets, which is smoother to do up. With that being said however, that is likely due to the waterproof & windproof feature, which seals out the elements. This particular zipper was a bit stiff initially, but I have noticed that it is softening up after some use, making it easier & smoother to zip up. It's a small price to pay if it guarantees you stray dry, and keeps the wind out on cold days.

While we haven't had any frigid temperatures yet this season, I have worn this jacket on the coldest day we've had so far, which was also quite windy. So far, it has kept me warm and I have not felt any wind cut through the jacket like I have with other winter coats I own. The adjustable storm hood and the adjustable cuffs are also great for keeping out the elements. 

The Columbia Women's Whirlibird Interchange Jacket comes in sizes XS-3X, and as previously mentioned, in a variety of colours. You are sure to find a style that suits your taste. I find that it has a nice roomy fit for additional layering on colder days, but is not overly bulky. It feels very comfortable and cozy to wear. Both layers are machine washable, which is super handy. As a mom, the last thing I need is something that needs to be dry cleaned!

I followed the size guide online and got the perfect size for me. If you are buying online, be sure to confirm your measurements to ensure the right fit. 

The Columbia Women's Whirlibird Interchange Jacket retails in Canada for approximately $250 for Regular sizes, and $280 for Plus sizes. In the U.S., Regular sizes retail for approximately $200, and $220 for Plus sizes. If you can get it on sale, it's a steal!

This coat is also available in Men's styles & sizes. 

***** 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. *****

The Monster Jam Tour is back in Canada for 2016!

   

The Monster Jam Tour is a family-friendly action packed show filled with 12 feet tall monster trucks. These 10,000 pound machines race around a track in side-by-side racing as well as their freestyle competition. They drive up and over obstacles and smash and crash! It's a rip-roaring good time!

In 2016, the Monster Jam Tour has 8 stops throughout Canada: 

Toronto - Rogers Centre, January 16th-17th, 2016

Winnipeg - MTS Centre, January 30th-31st, 2016

Edmonton - Rexall Place, February 6th-7th, 2016

Vancouver - BC Place, February 27th, 2016

London - Budweiser Gardens, February 27th-28th, 2016

Hamilton - First Ontario Centre, April 23rd-24th, 2016

Halifax - Scotia Speedworld, May 28th-29th, 2016

Calgary - Stampede Grandstand, September 17th-18th, 2016

Tickets prices are geared towards everyone's budget! At the Toronto show, tickets range in price on the low end from $15 for kids' tickets and $25 for adult tickets, all the way up to $135 for a Total Access Pass.  Tickets can typically be purchased from Ticketmaster or at your local venue. You can also purchase a Party in the Pits pass for approximately $10. 

For more information on Monster Jam from a parent's perspective, check out my review on last year's experience. 

See you there!

***** 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. *****

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime!

   

Ree Drummond, a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman, is best known for her cheerful demeanour and simple yet scrumptious recipes made from scratch. I am a huge fan of all things Pioneer Woman and was thrilled that she just released her latest cookbook entitled The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime. 

My family and I have been watching her television show for the last few years and have made several of her dishes. Every single one of her recipes that I have tried has been delicious! And my kids actually enjoy watching her show. She always features stories about her family and various things going on at her cattle ranch, tying it into each episode. Not only are my kids being entertained while watching her, they are also learning valuable culinary life skills while doing so. 

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime is Ree Drummond's fourth cookbook. In this book, she breaks down more than 125 recipes over 400 pages in categories like Freezer Foods, 16 Minute Meals, Comfort Classics, Soups, Mains, Breakfast for Dinner and more.  Also featured in this book are useful tricks such as preparation tips, essential items for your pantry as well as measurement and oven conversions.  

If you've ever followed her food blog or personal website, you already know that all her recipes give step by step instructions & include photos of each step along the way. Having this format reassures you that you are in fact doing it right. This cookbook does the same, making her recipes practically foolproof. 

Whether you want to make your own enchilada sauce for one of her Mexican style recipes, or you'd like to stick to typical comfort foods like Chicken Pot Pie, there are a lot of ideas on what to make in this book.  There are also a number of economical recipes, such as Hamburger Soup, Black Bean Burgers and Tomato Soup with Parmesan Croutons. 

The Freezer Foods section gives quite a few meals suitable for freezing. One of the best things about this section is her meatball recipe. Not only does she provide the recipe for the meatballs themselves that can easily be frozen, she provides other recipes that include these meatballs. This way, you can make a number of entrees with them, and aren't stuck just using them for spaghetti and meatballs.

I like the cookbook. In typical Pioneer Woman style, she has included a number of pictures of the kids, the ranch and other photos throughout the book. It's quite enjoyable to peruse. I was hoping for all brand new recipes though, that I hadn't already seen on her show or online. With that being said, there are quite a few that seem to be new or previously unpublished. Or at least new to me. The only downside that I can see is that when it comes to the Mexican style recipes, those in smaller communities in Canada might have a harder time finding certain ingredients. But with a little ingenuity and the magic of the internet, you might be able to get most of those ingredients online, delivered to your door. If you live in the U.S. however, most of these items would likely already be staple in your supermarkets. 

Ree Drummond has also just released a new line of cookware and other kitchen items this past September. It is currently available in the US but I can't, can't, can't wait until it hits Canadian retail. Did I mention that I can't wait for it? Until then, I will just have to continue cooking her delicious meals using my current cookware. Insert sigh!

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime retails for approximately $29.99USD/$36.99CAN.

***** 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. *****