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. *****

The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage Play Set is the Hottest Garage in Town!‏

   

Hot Wheels has been a staple brand for many families since the 60's, and continues to produce creative race track sets and dinky cars. The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage is one of their latest play sets and is their largest garage set ever made! It is a little boy's (or girl's) dream! 

The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage is geared for ages 5-10 years, but personally, I think many kids 3+ would enjoy this just as much. In addition to the garage itself, the set includes 5 Hot Wheels dinky cars and 1 rescue helicopter. The garage has 36 parking spots spread out over 4 separate parking levels. Within the garage are several mini activity centres such as a fire hall, a gas station and a tune up shop which feature coordinated lights and sounds to enhance play.  There are other smaller, more basic centres throughout the play set such as a restaurant and other places to cruise around.  

The helicopter has a helipad to land on, which also has lights and sounds to compliment use. The helicopter has a rescue mechanism underneath for it to pick up and move the dinky cars around the playset or wherever your little one's heart desires.  There are 2 working manual elevators on each side of the structure to move cars up and down each level, which is great if you have more than 1 player. 

There are a number of entry/exit points on this play set, and 2 tall race track ramps. 1 is a side by side dual race track where a pop up sign will show who the true winner is. The other is a spiral ramp allowing you to race your car down from the fourth parking level and challenges you to beat getting bitten by the shark at the bottom. Will you be fast enough? 

This play set is assembled in typical Hot Wheels fashion, by clicking and snapping track and pieces together. It is easily assembled, but it will take you some time due to its size and various components. Besides the obvious, one of the best things about this play set, is that you can connect your existing Hot Wheels tracks to this one, and expand the garage even more! You could end up having an entire Hot Wheels community if you had a couple of other track sets to attach! For a demonstration on how this set is assembled, you can visit this Hot Wheels link on YouTube. 

The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage is quite large in size and takes up a fair amount of floor space. They don't call it "ultimate" for nothing! It's an ideal toy for siblings to share, or to play alongside a friend or two. The size of it allows one or multiple players to get the most out of this play set, practically guaranteeing hours upon hours of play. As always, I love toys that promote creativity, free of electronic devices and this one definitely does that. You could play simply with what is included in the set, and/or use your imagination to create all sorts of additional scenarios. It comes with an on/off button and can double as a storage place for 36 cars in the parking spaces and more in and around the base of the structure. It's also a fabulous starter kit given that it comes with 5 Hot Wheels cars and a helicopter! 

The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage requires 3 AA batteries which are sold separately, and you will need a Phillips screwdriver to gain access and to secure the battery compartment. If you plan on storing this play set in its assembled state, it may pose a challenge due to its size. The box that it comes in is huge and comparable to the size of some flat screen TV boxes. You will have to get creative in wrapping the box if you don't want to use up a whole roll of wrapping paper. 

The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage retails for approximately $149CAN/$100USD. Prices will vary from store to store. As always, I recommend using holiday sales and/or price matching to your full advantage to get the best price possible. While this play set is a bit pricey, it is like no other. Especially so given the fact that you can re-purpose existing Hot Wheels track sets by attaching them to this Ultimate Garage. When you factor in the going rate for things like video games, it's not all that much more and fosters imaginative play without using a device. 

All in all, I think this is a hit! 

This play set could very well be the ultimate gift this Christmas! 

***** 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 *****

Turbo Flip Thomas is Definitely Turbo!

   

Thomas the train has been a fan favorite in many a home over the years, including ours. I was curious when I heard about the Thomas & Friends Turbo Flip Thomas. Would it do what it claimed it could do? 

The Turbo Flip Thomas does not disappoint. When they chose to include the word turbo in the name, they weren't messing around! It flies quite quickly across a flat surface like hard wood floors, and has some real guts. I'm not a car racing enthusiast but I am going to steal and modify lingo from the racing world and say that this Thomas goes from zero to turbo in practically zero seconds! He is very responsive. 

The Turbo Flip Thomas goes forwards, backwards, pops wheelies, and does impressive back flips. He even knows when he's tipped over onto his side, saying phrases like "Uh, this is not part of the routine", and "A little help please?".  He is controlled by a remote control that is perfectly sized for little hands. It gives them the power to control Thomas & his tricks. The best part about the remote control is that if you lose it, or if your child is too young to maneuver it, you can still use the toy. You can get it to work pretty much the same way by depressing the numeral 1 on the side of the train. While it won't be completely controlled by the child like it would be using the remote control, Thomas will perform a sequence of pre-programmed stunts. 

Turbo Flip Thomas also has a light which projects train tracks in front of him onto the surface he's driving on. While it's not as visible during daylight, it does look pretty darn awesome in a darkened room or in low lighting!  Turbo Flip Thomas is geared for kids ages 3+, and both my sons enjoys this. The older one is able to maneuver the remote control better than my almost 3 year old and can pull off some pretty wicked stunts with this action packed little railway star. 

It seems quite sturdy overall, although the back door and the white engine steam on the top of the train that are used in the back flipping might wear out over time seeing as you have younger ones playing with it who are generally known to be less than delicate. I do find this toy to be quite loud, but it does come with an on/off switch. With that being said, whoever said Turbo meant quiet? While it does include the 4 AA batteries for Thomas, it does not include the 2 AAA batteries for the remote control device. Given the retail price of the toy, I would have liked the remote batteries to also be included. 

As previously mentioned, he boots it good across a flat surface. It does go pretty quick as well on low pile carpet but not as quick on medium pile.We don't have long shag in our home but my guess is that it probably wouldn't go nearly as far on shag, simply because of the type of carpeting.  Driving it over medium or longer pile carpet might also drain the batteries quicker as he would be working extra hard at reaching turbo speeds.

Turbo Flip Thomas retails for approximately $49.99USD/$59.99CAN. 

All in all, I think this toy is a hit! It's interactive and a real hoot. I'm sure it'll even amuse some of the adults! I'm starting to think that maybe I should be a toy developer... They must have a lot of fun experimenting and testing out their products as they go! 

***** 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 *****

Be the Sidekick with PAW Patrol - Mission Chase!

      

As most of you know, we are huge PAW Patrol fans. Chase has been the top dog for my boys from the get go, and they were pretty pumped to learn that there was a new interactive Chase toy on the market!

The PAW Patrol - Mission Chase toy is geared towards kids ages 3-6 years of age. The toy affords them the opportunity to work interactively with Chase on 24 different rescue missions which are based off real PAW Patrol episodes. While on these "missions", children are encouraged to assist Chase by using a variety of gadgets in his transforming backpack, while following Chase's 130+ phrases and instructions. 

To activate a mission, simply depress his badge. Chase will announce the mission and then provide instruction and direction on how to help him solve the issue. Inside of Chase's transforming backpack is a spring loaded net launcher. Simply depress the proper button on his backpack and it will release and shoot the rescue net, which flies a few feet. The other side of his backpack contains a real working searchlight which doubles as a megaphone. For those worried about noise from the megaphone, fear not - it isn't loud like a real one is! The searchlight is pretty cool during night-time play. Like the net launcher, the searchlight and megaphone are mobilized by pushing the appropriate buttons for activation. The gadgets can then be easily folded back into their slots, and secured by gently closing the backpack hatches.

Chase moves his head while talking and will sit and stand up. He also likes to howl in approval and excitement throughout play. Chase will help your child by telling them which gadget to choose if they initially choose the wrong one. This is great if your child gets easily frustrated. Chase encourages them to try again and succeed.  The toy also has an on/off switch, which most parents appreciate on children's toys. 

Some young children who have limited dexterity might have a bit of difficulty reloading the net until they get the hang of it. The searchlight is not super bright but I suspect that it was done that way to conserve battery power. Seeing as it's geared for kids ages 3-6 years, for me, it's not an issue. It would be nice if it came in a bilingual version but that might already be on the table for the next generation of this toy. It is quite large in size, comparable give or take, to the proportions of an adult basketball. 

Overall, the PAW Patrol - Mission Chase toy is pretty awesome! It is unique and interactive, and I'm sure kids will love it. PAW Patrol - Mission Chase requires 4 AA batteries to operate, and the batteries are included with this toy. It retails for approximately $79.99CAN/$59.99USD and is available at most toy and department stores.

While it is definitely not the cheapest PAW Patrol toy on the shelf, you can save yourself on the cost by watching out for holiday sales. This is the perfect time of year to save money on toys! 

***** 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.*****

How Are Babies Made? These Are the Books for You!‏

   

With all of the talk and controversy surrounding the new sex ed curriculum being implemented in schools across Ontario this year, it got me questioning how I was going to have these types of conversations with my own kids. I always knew the day would come when I would get questioned, and I knew it would probably happen in the most awkward of locations. After all, isn't that what kids do? LOL

While perusing resources and print materials online, I came across a book called What Makes a Baby written by Cory Silverberg. That led me to finding his other book Sex is a Funny Word.  I was starting to read up on it when Cory Silverberg just happened to be promoting his latest book on CTV's The Social. When co-host Cynthia Lloyst, a trusted sexual information guru raved about both of these books, I knew I had to get review copies so I could check them out for myself!

Cynthia Lloyst was right! At least in my opinion! 

What Makes a Baby is geared for kids from preschool ages up to about 8 years. This book is written in such a brilliantly simple way that allows it to be applicable to any child, no matter how they were conceived or brought into this world. Or what the child's religious or cultural standards and practices are. It is purely informational, and does not contain any reference to intercourse. It does explain birth, both vaginal and C-section, but is not graphic in any way. It does not contain any images of any genitalia. The birthing explanations are tastefully done. So no matter if you are more conservative, or more open, it is equally helpful. 

Sex is a Funny Word is geared towards those 8-10 years . Each chapter in the book starts off with a cartoon about the topic and ends with questions to spark more thought and conversation about what was covered in the chapter. The chapters cover topics such as what sex is, learning about your body, touch, boys and girls, and even covers things like having a crush on someone, love and relationships. Like What Makes a Baby, it is also simply written for this age group as well. It does not include information on ejaculation or menstruation but it does show cartoon images of what a penis and vulva (commonly known as vagina) look like and that hair will eventually grow there. It does talk about touching yourself, but it is very simply explained, and once again, is not graphic at all. 

From what I understand, the author Cory Silverberg will be working on a follow up book that will be geared towards ages and stages beyond the pre-pubescent years. I look forward to seeing that book as well, and would be a great tool for parents whose kids are moving into the pubescent phase of their lives. 

I love that these books are inclusive, no matter where you come from, how you were raised, how you were conceived, how you were born, or what the dynamics of each child's family is. It is broken down so simply that I wonder why it never occurred to me before to explain it this way. 

I highly recommend these books! Whether you purchase the titles, or get them from the library, they are great resources. Even if there was something in the book that you felt might be too taboo for you or that you aren't comfortable with your child reading, you can use them as tools for yourself. You can read them through on your own and pick and choose which topics would be most suitable and helpful for your particular family. You can also tailor the questions they ask you so that you can get the most out the conversation with your child when the time comes to do so, in a way that you feel most comfortable with.

These topics can be extremely awkward for some, if not most parents. Save yourself the hassle and check out the books! I highly doubt you'd be disappointed! 

What Makes a Baby retails in both Canada and the US for $16.95. Sex is a Funny Word retails for $23.95USD/CAN. 

***** 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.*****

New Baby Alive Gear is Simply Adorable!

   

I've got boys, and I love the life. However.... every once in a while, I see something adorably pink and think about what it would be like to have a daughter. There are so many adorable things geared towards girls!

I recently received some really cute Baby Alive items that many kids would go crazy for. 

The Baby Alive Travel System is simply adorable, and is quite life-like. The streel framed stroller features a shopping basket, a retractable canopy and even has swivel front wheels like a real buggy. It comes with a plastic moulded car seat that clicks into the stroller to form the travel system. The stroller fits dolls up to 18", and the car seat fits a smaller doll up to 16". This item retails for approximately $49.99 in the US, and $59.99 here in Canada. 

The Baby Alive Play Yard is one of items that warms my heart. Like the travel system, it is life-like as well. It comes with a mobile that has a heart, star and moon hanging from it, and is easily put together by connecting the steel bars into plastic connectors. This play yard can accommodate a doll up to 16" in length and retails for approximately $29.99 in the US. In Canada, it retails for about $34.99.   

The Baby Alive 3-in-1 Swing & High Chair Combo allows for the swing to be converted to a high chair, and the seat portion to be carried as a standalone car seat. The swing actually move back and forth to soothe the doll and the high chair is constructed of steel click-to-connect tubing. This item retails for approximately $24.99 in the US, and $34.99 in Canada. 

The Baby Alive Tickles 'n Cuddles Doll is as sweet as sweet can be. This doll is dressed in a cute fleece sleeper, and comes with a bottle & rattle. When she drinks from the bottle, she makes little slurping sounds and giggles when she's tickled. The more you "tickle" her, the more she giggles. When fed her bottle, her fits of giggles will quiet down. She also enjoys playing with her rattle, will move her arms and legs, and can also hiccup. She's really quite adorable and comes in both a Caucasian and African American version. This item retails for approximately $39.99 in the US, and $44.99 in Canada. 

All of these items are geared towards ages 3 years+. They are all simple to assemble thanks to the easy click-to-connect system and would no doubt bring a lot of joy and delight to many a child. 

With the exception of the Tickles 'n Cuddles Doll, all aforementioned Baby Alive items do not come with their own doll. For that reason, I do find the travel system in particular to be a bit on the pricey side at $49.99US/$59.99CAN. With that being said, these items do seem quite sturdy and the fabric is not only adorable but durable. I am sure that they are worth the money, especially when purchased on sale. Plus you don't have to have a Baby Alive doll to use these products, you just need to make sure that a pre-existing or more cost effective doll is under 16" long so as to fit the car seat, etc. 

Given their price point for me personally, these items would be a great special occasion gift like a birthday or for Christmas. They would be especially great for kids expecting a new sibling. The recipient would likely enjoy "taking care" of their new baby alongside the new addition to the family. 

As I've previously said in other reviews, I'm all for interactive items that teach life skills and keep kids off of their devices. In addition to the pricing for the travel system itself, the only thing I personally would change is to have the play yard be collapsible like a real one, and to add a bit more diversity with regards to the Tickles 'n Cuddles doll. While many Baby Alive dolls in general come in a variety of complexions, it would be nice to have the same selection available on the market for the Tickles 'n Cuddles doll. Right now, it only comes in a Caucasian and African American version. 

These Baby Alive products are available at both Toys R Us in Canada as well as in the U.S. 

I'm sure these Baby Alive products will be on many a child's Christmas list this year, so be sure to watch for them on sale to get the most bang for your buck!

***** 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.*****