Paw Patrollin' Good Time with the Lookout Playset & Basic Vehicle & Pup Combos!

   

Enter to win InfoMommy's Paw Patrol Toy Giveaway! Giveaway ends October 31st, 2014.

Paw Patrol is a huge hit in our home! If you haven't already guessed by my Paw Patrol Badge Cookies or my Paw Patrol Cupcakes, then you'll be happy to hear about this:

Paw Patrol toys have finally arrived in Canadian stores, thanks to Spin Master Ltd! It feels like it's been a long time coming, so you can imagine my sons were very excited when these items arrived for testing! They were eager to set up the Lookout Playset and save Adventure Bay!

Chase's Cruiser has 2 detachable pylons to help him perform his police pup duties. When not in use, or when Chase is responding to an emergency, they can be stored on the back of his police car. Marshall's Firefightin' Truck features his tool of the trade - a moveable ladder to help him come to the ruff ruff rescue! Rubble's Digg'n Bulldozer has a moveable drill & scoop which help him blast through whatever is in the way. Also in the series is Skye's High Flyin' Copter, Zuma's Hovercraft, Rocky's Recycling Truck, and last but not least, Ryder's Rescue ATV. All come with real working wheels and the pups come with moving limbs so that you can have them lie down or stand to accommodate whatever rescue mission is at hand. These are a hit with my kids! Each of these vehicle and pup combos retail for approximately $15.99CAN and are recommended for children 3yrs and up. A great buy!

The Paw Patrol Lookout Playset consists of the tower lookout, along with an elevator to get to the 2nd level and a slide/chute for the pups to fly down and leads directly to their awaiting vehicle. There is also a fire type pole for Ryder to quickly get to the ground level, and a real working periscope on the upper level that can rotate 360 degrees to aid in keeping a lookout over Adventure Bay. The large Paw Patrol badge activates real sound effects from the actual TV show and lights up. To see the commercial for how it works, click here and scroll down until you see the posted video.

The Lookout Playset is a great concept for a toy, and a great way to bring Paw Patrol to life! It is easy to assemble and actually comes with batteries. Included with the Lookout Playset, is Chase and his vehicle, and 2 pylons. My kids love this particular toy too, however get frustrated, as do I, when the slide often becomes unattached. I feel that the

slide should really have 2 more brackets on it close to the middle of the slide to keep it fastened properly. With that being said, it's nothing that super glue can't fix, but at the price point of $46.99CAN, I would expect that to be permanently attached without having to do any extra work. With that price range, I would also think it would be better to include a few extra characters, or at least Ryder who is integral to the group. The tower lookout is quite stable, although a rounded base might make it more anchorable. Perhaps these are 3 things that can be looked at for a second edition of this toy.

Despite some minor technical issues, it is a great toy for kids that promotes teamwork and creativity when playing by themselves or with a sibling or friend. Like the basic vehicle & pup combos, this playset is geared for kids ages 3+. It would be a definite hit with kids and would be an even bigger hit with parents if it could be purchased when it's on sale!

Happy Patrollin'!

***** 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.*****

Hug Your Produce With Food Huggers!

    

Food Huggers are an ingenious product that prolongs the taste and freshness of cut produce! Food Huggers ensure that you don't waste nearly as much as you did before, and helps stop basically throwing money into the trash because you didn't use up your fresh fruits & veggies quick enough.

Food Huggers essentially act like a second skin by creating a seal around the item. This helps to keep the item from spoiling and maintains its freshness longer than it would with many other conventional methods.

You can use Food Huggers for all kinds of fruits and vegetables. From kiwi to citrus fruit and from avocados to onions! The avocados have their own special Avocado Huggers that come in a smaller and larger size, due to their unique shape and varying dimensions. Avocados are a beast to keep from browning and these Huggers help to reduce the amount of oxidization that will occur. Most other fruits and veggies can use the regular round Food Huggers. They come in different sizes, so they will fit a variety of circular and oblong shaped produce. The small sized Huggers are ideal for limes, kiwi etc... The regular Food Huggers will fit larger items such as bigger onions, peppers, tomatoes, grapefruit, and the like.

Not only do they extend life, they also help seal in the odours that come off certain items like cut onions which quickly permeate its scent to other items in your fridge. You can also use them to seal the top of an open can of fruit, vegetables or other food items that you haven't fully used up yet. This beats putting plastic wrap that doesn't stick to the metal cans! I've also used them to help open up those stubborn lids on jars of sauce, pickles and other containers that can sometimes be sealed on extra tight.

They nest into each other, making them compact and easy to store in your utility or utensil drawer and are so easy to use. You simply push your fruit or vegetable against the flexible silicone edge and it will mold itself around the item, thus sealing the open edge and preventing the loss of moisture. It also helps to keep most of the juices inside. They are easy to handle, making them a cinch for kids! You can view their video, which shows exactly how simple they are to use.

These Food Huggers which are BPA-free and phthalate-free, are made out of FDA approved food-grade silicone, are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. The small ones come in yellow and green, and the larger ones come in the following colour schemes: Autumn Harvest, Bright Berry, and Fresh Greens.

Food Huggers can be purchased directly from www.FoodHuggers.com. Each 4-pack of round Food Huggers, as well as the Avocado Huggers retail for $9.99US. FoodHuggers.com also allows you to pay for your purchase with PayPal, which is a great alternative to using your credit card online.

It's time to start giving your produce a hug!

***** 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.*****

SugarBooger - It's Not What You Think!

   

Whenever you have a product with the word "booger" in it, kids are sure to be intrigued! Ore Originals is a small Southern California company, and their Sugarbooger brand is no different! Except for maybe that the parents will love it too! LOL

Designed with young kids in mind, Ore Originals' Ocean Zipee! Backpack is made of hand washable, well-constructed cotton & nylon canvas, and seems more durable than most school bags for little kids that are on the market. It weighs only 7 ounces, and is perfect for little kids! The sturdy zipper has a carabiner clip on it for attaching little key chains, and other little accessories they might be into. The zipper pulls have oversized zipper fobs on them to make it easy for little fingers to grasp and hold onto while opening and closing.  There is a place to mark who the bag belongs to, and the front zippered pocket adds extra space, allowing for smaller items to be secured easily. The mesh pocket on the size for water bottles is also a great feature, allowing for more room inside the backpack. I did find the backpack straps to be a little bit narrow, but they are well padded and adjustable, so it's likely not an issue. Price: $28.00US.

The Ore Originals' Ocean Zipee! Lunch Tote is made of a denim like cotton canvas. The thicker fabric ensures this lunch box will last a lot longer than most, and the inner lining can be easily wiped clean. It's machine washable and is waterproof and stain resistant. The main compartment is deeper than most kids' lunch boxes. I love this, as it ensures that you can pack your child's lunch without forcing or jamming things inside. The Ore Originals Good Lunch Box (or another similar size container) fits perfectly inside, and leaves enough room to add in an ice pack or some extra snacks along with the container itself. There is also a mesh pocket inside that will keep an ice pack secure, and along with the thick insulation of the tote itself, helps keep cold food chilled until the lunch hour. And hopefully until they get home if there are any leftovers to reduce food waste. In addition to the main compartment, you will find a pocket in the front of the lunch bag to be useful for small items such as cutlery, napkins, a love note etc... Like the Zipee! Backpack, the zipper pulls on the Lunch Tote also have zipper fobs, and includes an information card to write your child's information on. It is BPA, phthalate, lead and PVC free, and meets or exceeds Canadian, U.S. and European safety standards. Price: $20.00US

I love a matching set, and the Ocean Good Lunch Small Snack Containers (they also come in Large) are not only super cute and the same design as the Ocean Zipee! Backpack, but they are fully functional & practical. These small clear containers are perfect for snacks and come in both a 1/2 cup and 1 1/4 cup measure. They are freezer and top rack dishwasher safe. They're BPA free, shatter & scratch resistant as well as resists odours and stains. They are also stackable and leak-proof! Price: $7.50US.

The Ore Originals' Good Lunch Box is designed to fit into Ore Originals' Zipee! Lunch Tote. This container is made of food safe, nontoxic, lead-free, PVC-free and phthalate free polypropylene. Like the Lunch Tote, the Good Lunch Box is quite deep and has 3 compartments that are perfect for keeping items separate, in keeping with the current bento box trend. We all know that for some kids, having one item touch another can make lunch a tear jerker! The container is microwaveable, freezer & top rack dishwasher safe. It is airtight, but it does state to avoid liquids just in case. The Good Lunch Box measures 8 1/2" wide, 5 1/1" deep and 2 1/2" high. Price: $7.00US.

Overall the Sugarbooger brand offers a wide variety of fun & trendy durable child friendly items. They come in several gender specific or unisex designs which you can mix and match or buy the complete matching set! Yes, it may cost more than your typical supplies at your discount department store, but you really do get what you pay for in this case! 

Ore Originals Sugarbooger products are available both online at Ore Originals, and at various independent retailers throughout Canada and the U.S. To check out these items in person, visit their Retailer Locator page, email them at customerservice@oreoriginals.com or simply call them directly at (800) 367-2675.

***** 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.*****

Cool Coolers Puts the Extra-Cool In The Nathan Lunch Bag!

   

Who doesn't try to make sure their kids' school lunches (& their own!) stay cool until the lunch hour? Who hasn't had their child come home with a warm yogurt, cheese or other products that were wasted because they weren't kept at the proper temperature when they didn't get eaten? We usually stick a cooler pack in our child's lunch, and most of the time, we can salvage whatever perishable items may not have been consumed that day.

I recently found out about Fit & Fresh's Cool Coolers and they are just that - COOL! Literally & figuratively!  These playful designs are slim enough so they barely take up space in your kid's lunch bag and keep food cool! Not only do they come in the Cool Coolers Cars design, but they also come in Sunglasses, Penguins & Squares! There are 4 non-toxic & BPA-free ice packs to a pack and they retail for approximately $7.99, making them a great investment in both keeping your child's lunch cool, but also in helping to reduce food waste. Simply wipe clean and throw in the freezer and re-use as necessary!

Fit & Fresh also has a great selection of lunch bags both for your kids and for yourself! Those Cool Coolers would fit into their Nathan Kids' Insulated Lunch Bag perfectly, if it didn't already come with its own ice pack! The Nathan Kids' Lunch Bag is made of 12oz cotton that you can tell is very durable just by touching it. It seems much more durable, is much more insulated, and has a deeper cavity than most other mass market kids' lunch bags out there, while still being a comparable size. The extra insulation along with the ice pack is another way that you can ensure cold food stays cold until lunch time, and even possibly salvage any leftovers that are kept at the right temperature throughout the day.

It has a mesh pocket inside to hold the ice pack snugly and has a front Velcro pocket, and a zippered back pocket that would be perfect for cutlery, etc...

This non-toxic, PVC-free, BPA-free lunch bag comes in both the Surf Sketch design as pictured in this product review, as well as a Flames pattern. It is easy to clean by simply wiping down the PEVA-lined interior, and is opened and closed by zipper. It is 9" tall, 4 1/2" deep and 7 1/2" wide.

At $14.99, the Nathan Kids' Insulated Lunch Bag with Ice Pack is a great value. You can shop online at Fit & Fresh's website, or find their products at various retailers!

***Now, here's 100 School Lunch Box Ideas on what to fill it with!***

Happy munching 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.*****

I-Am-A-Budget-Friendly-Robot-Lunch-Bag! (Robot Voice!)

  

If you are looking for a budget-friendly thermal lunch bag, Target Canada has a selection of affordable Circo Thermal Lunch Bags!

They come in a wide variety of brightly coloured embroidered designs and retail for approximately $12.99CAN. They are about the same size as your traditional rectangular lunch bags, and have a sturdy zipper with 2 zipper pulls so that you can open up the lunch bag from any side. This is great for left or right handed kids!

You can fit a small thermos in there, as well as a sandwich, fruit, savoury snacks, puddings - you name it! If you're wondering what on earth you are going to make for your kids' lunches this year, you can check out InfoMommy's 100 School Lunch Box Ideas to help you fill your child's tummy!

These lunch bags have a padded handle that comes with a clip on the side so that you can actually clip it to your child's school bag. I love this feature as we all know how hard it can be to try and fit all of their supplies, books, hoodies, etc in there! This is a great space saving feature that is not typical to most kids' lunch bags. Clipping it on the outside also reduces the wear and tear of jamming things into the backpack, putting strain on the backpack zipper, the seams, etc...   

It also has a section on the back of the lunch bag for you or your child to write their name and phone # on. This is especially great for the younger ones or those starting JK who aren't used to lugging all their stuff around. Losing these items can be easy for them in particular, so it's a great way to make sure someone can contact you if it was to get lost. 

And, like most lunch bags, they have an easy to clean interior that can be wiped down!

Happy lunching 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.*****

Put Out The Fire In Your Tub - Dusty Saves the Day!

    

I have 2 boys, and believe me, there's a lot of bathing going on around our house with them. (Don't worry, we bathe ourselves too! LOL) They like dirt and they like getting dirty, so getting and keeping them in the water long enough to clean behind their ears is always a bonus! LOL

Mattel has recently released their Disney Planes Fire & Rescue Scoop & Spray Firefighter bath toy!

Dusty is sporting his new firefighter paint job that he got in the Planes Fire & Rescue movie, and his wheels have been replaced by two pontoons. He floats on the water and can be played with like a regular bath toy. Or, you can put Dusty's new skills as a firefighter to work! Simply submerge him in the bath water while depressing his cockpit, and allow the body to fill up with water.

Then, lift him up and start pressing down the cockpit part of the plane. This allows the water to flow out of the bottom of the plane, simulating an aerial firefighter. The toy comes with 3 fire targets that float in the water and when you fight the fire with enough water from the toy, the fire will "extinguish" and sink to the bottom of the tub. When you push his cockpit down, the propeller also spins, which my kids get a kick out of!

The Disney Planes Fire & Rescue Scoop & Spray Firefighter Dusty bath toy retails for about $14.99CAN and be purchased both online at Mattel.com, or at any major department store.

It is designated for kids ages 3yrs and up, and comes with a warranty.

Happy Fire Fighting! :)

***** 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.*****

100 School Lunch Box Ideas - What Oh What to Make?

  

Though it may in fact be "the most wonderful time of the year" once school starts back up, most of us dread the thought of making school lunches. I can't lie, that's one of the reasons I look forward to
summer holidays! LOL So I totally hear you!  And that's why I've created this list to help us all keep our sanity during the school year!

Simply print off this list and either stick it on your fridge, tape it to the inside of one of your cupboard doors, or put it wherever else you can post it for easy access. This way, you will always have a handy list of what you can either plan for, or create out of what you already have in your fridge, freezer and pantry! Or you can use this list to plan your school lunches ahead of time so that you always have the ingredients that you need!

Let's get started!  

COLD ENTREES 

Breads:

• Loaf Bread (White, Whole Wheat, Rye, Pumpernickel, Cheese Loaf, etc)
• Sweet Breads (Raisin Loaf, etc)
• Bakery Buns (Check out various buns at your local bakery/grocery store)
• Pitas (White, Whole Wheat)
• Tortillas (Check out different varieties of flavoured tortillas)
• English Muffins
• Croissants
• Bagels (Various flavours, both sweet and savory)

Sandwich Fillings:

• Deli MeatsCanned Meats
• Canned Fish
• Spreads (Jam, Jellies, Nut-Free Peanut Butter, etc)
• Cheese or Cheese Spreads
• Grilled Chicken or other meat
• Grilled Veggies (Zucchini, eggplant, peppers, onions, mushrooms,etc)
• Chicken Salad (Minced meat with mayo, chopped onion, etc)
• Turkey Salad (Minced meat with mayo, chopped onion, etc)
• Egg Salad (Minced egg with mayo, chopped onion, etc)
• Fried Egg

  

Other Cold Entree Ideas: 

• Deconstructed Sandwiches (Pack everything separately)
• Cold Pizza
• Cold English Muffin Pizzas
• Quesadillas (Plain cheese, canned beans, refried beans, meats, tuna, veggies, etc)
• Tacos (Hard or soft shells, refried beans, meat, cheese, tomatoes, etc)
• Burritos (Refried beans, meat, cheese, tomatoes, etc)
• Tortillas (With cream cheese, shredded carrots and dried cranberries)
• Tortillas (With a whole banana and nut-free peanut butter, jam, etc)
• Hard-Boiled Eggs (Check out these egg molds! Guaranteed to please your kids!)
• Salads (If you are lucky enough to get your kids to eat salad!)
• Macaroni or Potato Salad

  

HOT ENTREES FOR A THERMOS 

• Macaroni & Cheese (Homemade, boxed, frozen - if there is a microwave)
• Canned Pasta and Sauce (Chef Boyardee, Alphagetti, etc)
• Pasta with Homemade Sauce
• Pasta with Butter and Parmesan
• Chicken Fingers & Fries
• Hot Dogs/Turkey Dogs/Soy Dogs
• Pogos
• Soups or Chili
• Porridge
• Any kind of leftovers that your child likes

FRUIT

• Grapes
• Berries
• Apples (Spritz lemon juice on slices so they don't brown!)
• Asian Pears (Spritz lemon juice on slices so they don't brown!)
• Pears (Spritz lemon juice on slices so they don't brown!)
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Melons
• Kiwi
• Fruit Cups
• Canned Fruit
• Dried Fruit (Try not to offer these all the time, as they can cause cavities!)
• Applesauce

  

  

VEGGIES

• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Celery (Try "bribing" them by putting Cheese Whiz & raisins inside each stalk if they can't stand it! LOL)
• Peppers
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Raw Zucchini (We tell our kids that it's a different kind of cucumber - works like a charm! LOL)
• Snap Peas/Snow Peas

  

DIPS

• Salad Dressing (Ranch & Caesar are the most popular, or other dressing of choice)
• Marinara Sauce
• Honey Mustard Sauce (Just mix honey and regular yellow mustard together!)
• Tomato Salsa
• Cucumber Salsa
• Guacamole (Wrap it so there isn't any air on it or the discolouration might turn kids off!)
• Hummus (Cruise the hummus section to check out their various flavours!)
• Nut-Free Butters
• Tzaziki
• Baba Ganoush
• White Bean Dip
• Caramel Dip for Fruit

SAVOURY SNACKS

• Cheese (Processed slices, hard cheese slices or chunks, Cheesestrings, flavoured cheeses, Babybel)
• Rice Cakes
• Bread Sticks
• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Chips
• Popcorn
• Nuts & Bolts
• Pickles (Dill, Sweet, etc)

  

SWEET SNACKS

• Nut-free Granola Bars
• Cereal Bars
• Yogurt Cups/Tubes
• Yogurt with Fruit/Berries & Nut-Free Granola 
• Nut-Free Trail Mix
• Rice Krispy Squares
• Date Squares & Other Dessert Squares
• Cookies
• Pudding
• Dried Fruit/Berries (Try not to offer these all the time, as they can cause cavities!)
• Muffins

  

DRINKS

• Water
• White Milk (If sending in a cup, freeze 1/2 full and top it up in the morning so it's cold for lunch!)
• Chocolate Milk (If sending in a cup, freeze 1/2 full and top it up in the morning so it's cold for lunch!)
• Juice Boxes
• Lemonade
• Coconut Water (You can get flavoured coconut water for those kids who aren't keen on it!)

Bon Appetit! :)

***** 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.*****

  

Buy 2 Get 1 Free! DK Readers Are On Sale!

  

DK Canada has a great deal on right now for their DK Reader Books! During the month of August, you can buy 2 and get 1 Free! Who doesn't love free? I sure do!

They have a large selection of Reader books, from Levels 1 to Level 4. Levels 1 & 2 have 32 story pages and the Level 3 & 4 books have 48 pages.

There are a wide variety of topics for these Readers, from The Lego Movie and Lego Friends, to Angry Birds, animals, dolphins and other general interest material.

One of the other things I love about these books aside from the bright colourful pics and engaging stories are the quizzes, glossaries and index at the end of some of the titles. If your child loves a challenge and competition like mine does, the quiz in particular elevates these books to the next level. This allows him to focus more, knowing that the challenge of the quiz lies ahead. I also love how the Lego Friends books in particular have diverse characters!


At only $4.99CAN each, and the Buy 2 get 1 free deal, you'd be getting 3 books for just shy of $10CAN!

To take advantage of this deal, visit the DK Canada DK Readers Summer Reading Adventures page!

Happy Reading! :)


***** 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.*****