The Whittle Shortline Railroad

The Whittle Shortline Railroad is a family owned, 20 year old, wooden toy train company. We hand craft realistic toy trains that are compatible with Thomas, Brio and Chuggington. Our toy trains are modeled after real trains you would see in your neighborhood. As a part of our 20th anniversary we released over 20 new trains in August of 2016. In December 2016 we will begin a program of releasing a new train each month and expanding our offering to trains around the world! Visit our website right now to watch video's and learn more!

My Readers receive 20% Off High Quality MIXED 5 Car Diesel Engine Toy Train Sets. Enter Promo Code: WeLoveWhittle! in comments section at checkout at https://www.woodentrain.com 
For Ongoing Special Offers Save This link to the Whittle Shortline Railroad online coupon: http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=13138&dealid=3063

How to get your kids in the kitchen and make Turkey Cake Pops

I love for my kids to help in the kitchen.  Whether it be chores like washing dishes or FUN, like making these awesome cake pops, it gives your child a sense of responsibility.   Most children have a break from school during Thanksgiving and this is the perfect opportunity to get them in the kitchen and make some delicious treats. I give you cake pops!!!  These Turkey Cake Pops are easy to make and kids love them!  You can make some now and make some to to have at your Thanksgiving dinner.  I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did,  This is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids to work as a team, teach about measurements, and a very tasty art project!

1 Box Duncan Hines Butter Golden Cake Mix

2/3 cup Cream Cheese Frosting
1 bag Vanilla Candy Wafers
2 (14-ounce) bags Milk Chocolate Candy Melts or Wafers
Vegetable Oil
Pretzel Sticks (broken into 2cm sections)
Thanksgiving Feather Sprinkles
Yellow Peanut M&M’s
Edible Black Pen
Orange Candy Coated Rainbow Chips
Heart Shaped Sprinkles
Lollipop Sticks
Treat bags
Large piece of Styrofoam
Foil
Double Boiler

Lay out a couple of ungreased pans, set aside. Cover a large piece of Styrofoam with foil, set aside. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Break apart cake and place in a large bowl, then crumble completely. Stir in frosting, then blend together with hands until you have the texture of play-doh. Melt a small amount of vanilla candy wafers in a small bowl, set aside. Roll cake into an oval shape. Dip tip of lollipop stick into melted candy, then insert a little ways into the ball. Lay flat on pan. Repeat until all dough is used. *You will need to melt your vanilla candy wafers every so often to continue use. Place in fridge for 1 hour. While cake balls are chilling, break pretzel sticks into 2cm sections, set aside. Just before removing from fridge, melt 1 bag of milk chocolate candy wafers along with 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a double boiler. Remove 5 cake pops at a time from the fridge. Carefully, remove from pan and dip most of cake pop in the melted candy. Use a spoon to drizzle the candy coating near the stick. Tap cake pop on the side of the pan so excess will drip off, then use your finger to smooth out the back. Carefully, insert 2 sticks into the bottom sides of turkey for legs. Place in styrofoam. Melt candy wafers as needed to continue use. Pour leftover melted candy in a bowl and save. Let cake pops sit for several hours to set. Reheat leftover hardened candy in bowl and use to seal any cracks in coating with the tip of your finger. Place back in styrofoam to harden. Dip end of feather sprinkles into melted candy and place on back of turkey making sure to hold for a couple of seconds to set. Dab a small amount of melted candy on the back of the peanut M&M’s, then place in center of turkey for face making sure to hold for a couple of seconds to set. With an edible black pen, make eyes. Dab a small amount of melted candy on the back of the orange chips and place on face for a nose making sure to hold for a few seconds to set. Dab a small amount of melted candy on the back of the heart sprinkles, then place upside down under the nose making sure to hold for a couple of seconds to set. Let sit for a few hours. Place a treat bag over each cake pop and tie with ribbon.

*You will need 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil for each bag of Chocolate Candy Wafers.
*Mike’s Candies or Candy Corn can be used in place of the feather sprinkles.

Handy.com Solving Problems

Handy.com Solving Problems

For anyone looking to find professionals to help them around their home, the search can be long and frustrating. Finding good, quality help seems like an impossible task. That was the issue that 19-year-old college student Osin Hanrahan was having. From this issue, he and a fellow college classmate found a solution to this problem.

Osin had been buying and developing apartments in Eastern Europe. He was having trouble finding quality handymen to help him with his business. A few years later, Osin met Umang Dua while they were both attending Harvard Business School. Umang expressed how he was having the same issues finding quality workers. This is when the idea of handy.com was born.

The idea behind handy.com is to be the connection between household service professionals and those who need their services. Currently, this website is available in 35 cities located in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The cities are larger in size such as Chicago, London, and Toronto.

The types of services that are provided cover four categories. Those are plumbing, electrical, cleaning, and handyman services. This provides a wide variety and should suit the needs of most people. The wide variety is a definite plus.

The process of scheduling a service seems fairly streamlined. The website states that it takes roughly 60 seconds to complete your transaction. This does seem to be the case as basic information is needed to complete your request. You need to enter what type of service you are requesting, how long you think it should take, and when you need your service done. Before you pay for your service request, a quote is given so you know the exact cost before anything is set in stone.

All professionals that are available through handy.com are screened and checked before they are added to the system. All and given a background and identity check. This does give some piece of mind that all employees are worthy and will be reliable.

Handy.com offers a 100% money back guarantee, they have customer service available 24/7, and they state that their rates are affordable. When it came to customer service, it was a bit tough to get in touch with an actual person. There is no phone number listed on their site and to even get closer to getting a phone number to call, you will need to create an account on the site. There is a large frequently asked questions section that does answer most questions and concerns but having a number to call would be nice.

How to celebrate National Pumpkin Day

If you love pumpkin spice, NOW is the time to get your Captain Morgan Jack O' Blast and make these delicious drinks!  

Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast is the first pumpkin spiced rum to ever hit shelves, as a blend of Caribbean rum and everyone’s favorite fall flavors - including fresh pumpkin, cinnamon and other autumnal spices. Whether you’re preparing for your Halloween party or carving Jack-O-Lantern’s with friends, Jack-O’Blast is the perfect way to toast to the pumpkin holiday. Happy National Pumpkin Day!  Enjoy!

Orange Pumpkin Smash 

·         1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast

·         2 oz. orange juice

·         2 oz. club soda

DIRECTIONS: Combine Jack-O’Blast and orange juice in a glass filled with ice and stir. Top with club soda and enjoy.

Jack-O’Lager

·         1 oz. Jack-O’Blast shot

·         4 oz. Lager 

DIRECTIONS: Drop shot of Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast in a glass of lager beer and enjoy.

Blasted Brew

·         .5 oz. Jack-O’Blast

·         .5 oz. Cannon Blast

DIRECTIONS: Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a shot glass.

Please drink responsibly and NEVER drink and drive.

Jack O' Blast Hot Chocolate with Toasted Marshmallows

Fall is in the air! ahhh  We know what that means.  All things pumpkin.   This spiked hot chocolate is sure to satisfy your pumpkin craving.    Make a large batch so all your friends can enjoy.  

This recipe makes two (2) servings

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Captain Morgan's Jack-O-Blast Spiced Rum (each mug)
• 1 oz. Bailey's Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream (each mug)
• 2 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
• 4 1/2 tbsps Dark Chocolate syrup
• Marshmallows

Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pot over low heat, add two (2) cups of heavy cream and four (4) tablespoons of dark chocolate syrup, stir ingredients until the heavy cream is a rich chocolate brown.
2. Remove the pot from the heat source and divide the hot chocolate into two mugs.
3. Add one (1) ounce Bailey's Pumpkin Spice Irish cream, and one (1) ounce of Captain Morgan's Jack-O-Blast Spiced Rum into each mug of hot chocolate.
4. Top each mug with three (3) medium size marshmallows, then torch marshmallows using a baker's Crème brûlée torch, or place the mugs onto a cookie sheet and brown the marshmallows in the oven using the broil setting. 
5. Serve.

Drink responsibly, and never drink and drive