I have received a few requests to update last year’s 2012 cupcake toppers for 2013.

Click the following link to download a copy of the 2013 cupcake toppers!

Graduation Cupcake Toppers Class of 2013

Please Pin them to share them with your friends! Thanks!

Here’s a pic from last year.
I used a 1.5″ circle punch on the white circles and a 2″ circle punch on the black cardstock.

Lemonade Day is Saturday, May 4, 2013. Kids throughout Louisiana will learn how to start, own and operate their own business – a lemonade stand. All registered participants will receive a yellow backpack – inside is everything you need to prepare for Lemonade Day. Get a backpack, make a plan and get started making money! Here’s how:

1. Pair Up: You must have a “caring adult” with you when you register – that could be a parent, grandparent, older sibling, teacher, scout leader or other responsible adult. You must have an adult say that it is OK for you to do Lemonade Day and operate a lemonade stand.

2. Register: Sign Up at http://louisiana.lemonadeday.org  (After completing the online registration, you will receive an email instructing you to print out the reply and bring it with you to any Raising Cane’s restaurant. Don’t forget this part!)

3. Pick Up Your Backpack at one of the Raising Cane’s locations in the area.  Backpacks will be available after March 28th. Click here for the list of backpack locations that still have them available. Many are already of out of backpacks.

4. Prepare for Lemonade Day:  When you get your backpack, you’ll find two workbooks: one for you and one for the adult working with you.  At your own pace, work through these lessons about starting, owning and operating a business.

5. Inform us where your stand will be:  As May 4th approaches  go to the website and input where your lemonade stand will be.  Please be creative with your stand and you may sell other items, ie cookies, brownies, etc.

6. Set Up Your Stand on May 4th: You can setup your stand wherever you wish but if it is on private property, you need to ask permission.  On May 4th, you’ll be one of thousands of kids across Louisiana selling lemonade – think about how to stand out from your competitors and have a blast and make spending money!  And be sure to donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity of your choice- we can all make a difference in our community!

This eclectic crew of scientists and explorers, led by Captain Barnacles, is equipped with a fleet of aquatic vehicles and underwater gadgets that come in handy when rescuing sea creatures, exploring incredible new underwater worlds, and saving the day before returning safely to their home base, the Octopod. The show is unique in that it teaches about marine life.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to review the new toy line with my son
and share it with you!

First, there are the vehicles. There is the Octonauts Gup-B Mission Vehicle and Kwazii which features Lieutenant Kwazzi and the shark inspired GUP_B mission vehicle and the Octonauts Gup-D Mission Vehicle and Barnacles which features Captain Barnacles and the Manta Ray Gup-D mission vehicle. They both feature color changing creatures and rescue tools and they both work in land or in the water. These are at the top of my list of fun toys because they get the most use in our house. My little guy loves bath time because he gets to play with both of the these great toys!

Also, toys that can be used in water like the bathtub are these action figures. They come with Octonaut characters and a water squirter! They also change color when in warm water.

Our favorite, non-water, toy is the Octonauts Octo-Compass. Your child can act out their favorite missions with the hand-held Octo-Compass. Hear phrases from your favorite Octonauts characters Barnacles, Kwazii, and Peso! It also features creatures sounds and the signature Octo-Alert signal. We bring this toy along for car rides and it keeps him entertained. Thankfully it says of 60 phrases and creature sounds so there is a lot of variety coming from the back seat. It folds up and is easily stored in the side pocket of our carseat or stroller.

Be sure to check your local listings to watch Octonauts on Disney Junior! You can also click here to find them on the web and also find them on Twitter & Facebook:

  nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn      

Disclosure: I was given these toys for review and, as always, all opinions are 100% my own!

Olivia was extremely kind to share what it is like to be a mom watching her sons play in the NFL. She really tries to watch every play they make and lets Archie do the pacing. But what about when they are playing each other? Well, that is where she tries to be as neutral as possible by not wearing one teams colors or excessively. She has firsthand knowledge for the parents of the Harbaugh brothers of what’s its like to watch brothers compete against each other on the world’s stage. Peyton and Eli have yet to meet in the Super Bowl but with one son in the AFC and another in the NFC it is a possibility. Next year they will face off in New York when the Giants host the Broncos.

Her Southern charm was evident when talking about moving to New Orleans from a small town in Mississippi. She was a little worried at first about the raising sons in such a large town with so much to do. In contrast to where she grew up and parents were notified in 10 minutes if you had gotten into trouble. But she said they all really enjoyed the experience of growing up in New Orleans and took away from it so many things including the people, food, music, and culture. She mentioned how special it is to now  see her sons grown and being Dads to their own children.

I know everyone is preparing for the Big Game and so I wanted to share with you the recipes that Olivia Manning will be incorporating in her game day spread and you can too! They are creative recipes such as a Jambalaya Fixings Bar, Dirty Rice Tacos and “Westbank” Wings. Below is the recipe for Olivia Manning’s Ultimate Jambalaya Bar. You can visit Zatarain’s Facebook Page to get the Dirty Rice Taco recipe and the Westbank Wings Recipe.

I am excited to be giving one lucky Nola Mommy reader a free entry for The Color Run: Mardi Gras in New Orleans on February 9, 2013 at City Park. Check out the race map here! You’re probably curious about what exactly is a Color Run right?

Well, It’s a 5K filled with crazy, color FUN!

Start at the start line in a clean white shirt and once your go through the color zones you’ll finish the race full of color! Proceeds from the event will benefit The New Orleans Art Council!

Here are the NOT complicated Race Rules:

RACE RULES

Rule #1 All participants are welcome… fast, slow, runner, walker, old, and young.

Rule #2 White shirt dress code at the official start line and ready to roll at 8:00am!

Also, each Hasbro’s KRE-O Transformers set comes with KREON figures which feature Autobots and Decepticons. Remember, that is the good versus bad guys. My 10 year old son loves playing with the KREON characters and bases his set selection on what characters are in the box.  He also enjoys building and rebuilding them between modes. He doesn’t just build them and stick them on a shelf afraid he’ll never get them back together.

On Christmas morning after your child opens up his own KRE-O Transformers set he’ll be entertained with all of the different ways he can build and play with his KRE-O Transformers set. This will be my son’s 10^th Christmas and there is nothing worse than giving him a gift that he opens, hits a few buttons, and puts it to the side in less than 2 seconds. This is NOT that type of gift. Oh no, this is the kind of present that he will sit down and enjoy, especially since all of his favorite characters are in it.

The Battle for Energon set includes pieces to build two of the most iconic Transformers characters – the heroic and ever optimistic Optimus Prime and the evil Megatron. Both of these iconic characters are in one set! The sizes of the sets vary. The smaller sets like the Cycle Chase set and the Decepticon Ambush set are great for beginning builders, ages 6 & up. They are also the perfect size to fit in a stocking. Now the Destruction Site Devastator set is the ultimate gift for advanced builders ages 8 & up. Kids can build four construction vehicles, four construction robots, or the massive Decepticon robot Devastator! I really like the versatility of these sets and how they push my son to use his creativity.

As a great add on to a set, Hasbro offers KREON Micro-Changers Mystery Bags for just $2.99. Each Mystery Bag contains a random KREON figure, which can also convert into an alternate mode like a jet or an insect. For me, the Micro-Changers make a really good surprise or reward for something like good grades or keeping a clean room for an extended period of time. (It’s more likely for good grades than for a clean room in this house!).

There is still time to surprise the little boy in your life with a Hasbro’s KRE-O Transformers set this Christmas. You can learn more about Hasbro’s KRE-O Transformers sets on the web at these locations:

Disclosure: I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and Hasbro partnered in support of this campaign. Hasbro compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own. My son was a big fan of these toys before I agreed to the program

It’s shocking that in a few short weeks we will be ringing in 2-0-1-3!

If there is one thing that I learned from 2012… it’s to never, ever, ever take one moment for granted and that includes staying up for midnight and ringing in the New Year with friends and family!

Are you having a New Year’s party?

If so, Tiny Prints is the perfect place to order some amazing invitations.

 These are top-of-the-line invitations, sure to impress.

You can completely personalize them, change font sizes, add your own text, and even use their Online RSVP Manager-They’ll make you a FREE RSVP website! How cool is that?

Ordering them is simple.

1. Visit Tiny Prints and look through their selection of New Year’s party invitations.
2. Add your information for the invitations.
3. Review them for accuracy (take your time here!).
4. Complete your order. If you need them fast, use their Super Rush shipping and you will have them in two days!

This is a great deal and gift idea for the gentleman in your life. The people at ShaveTech are offering a free companion airfare when you purchase two ShaveTech Travel Shavers. They are perfect for your guy to leave  in his carry-on, car, or office for anytime that he needs a quick shave. The ShaveTech Travel Shaver is about the size of an average smart phone and can be charged using a USB charger. This deal ends December 21, 2012 and I’ve listed the rules and regulations below:

Click here to purchase your own ShaveTech Travel Shaver.

It would make an excellent Stocking Stuffer!

One of the first things we did was hit the the Treak or Treat lane and even my littlest had a great time after he figured out that each little “house” was giving him candy. My advice is to head that way early. As the night when on the line got pretty long but it did seem to move pretty quick.

After the Trick or Treat Lane, we went through the Dinosaur Exhibit which usually cost a few bucks when you go to the zoo. It was pretty neat to go through at night! My oldest went through the Amazing Maze (twice!) and the Haunted House after that. It was around there that we ran into the VooDoo’s mascot.

The pumpkin carvings were really neat and these hamburger pumpkins were my son’s favorite!

Don’t miss all of the Star Wars characters in the main walkway. There is also a really cute Star Wars play with Stormtroopers who find out about Halloween on their trip to Earth. It shows every 30 min.

If you have a toddler in your family, then don’t miss the toddler area that is located in the Cool Zoo! There were some really cute games and my littlest had a great time playing each game and getting his stickers.  The carousel is also open at no charge.
Remember that concessions (food & drinks) are sold and are not included in your ticket.

In New Orleans, Boo at the Zoo is a tradition for many families. I know its something my oldest son looks forward to every year and this year will be extra special because Carnival Cruise Lines has jumped onboard with Children’s Hospital and Audubon Zoo to make it a year to remember.

Each year over 340,000 passengers sail out of New Orleans on a Carnival Ship bringing tourist from around the country to our great city and giving local families the opportunity to travel to amazing places across the Caribbean. Did you know Carnival Cruise Lines entertains over 710,000 kids per year. That’s the most in the cruise industry. Thanks to Carnival my oldest son has snorkeled the reefs of Belize, visited the amazing beaches of Honduras, and enjoyed Camp Carnival, their top rated kids program, while onboard the ship. Soon the Carnival Conquest will be returning to New Orleans after its extensive dry dock that added new dining options, entertainment, and other great new amenities.

Boo at the Zoo Presented by Carnival Cruise Lines will be held on four nights over two weekends including: Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 from 5:00-9:00PM each night.  To ensure that each little ghost and goblin has the best possible experience, a limited number of tickets will be sold for each evening. Those interested in attending are encouraged to order tickets early for this highly popular, often sold-out annual event.  All games and treats are free with $17 admission (for children and adults), excluding concessions. Tickets are now available at AudubonInstitute.org or at any Audubon attraction ticket window.

Mike the Tiger & my Football Zombie from 2011!

There will be some great new features thanks to Carnival Cruise Lines including a Halloweened themed Fun Ship that is 70 feet long, pumpkin carving displays, children’s decorating stations, and tropical themed treats. Also, don’t miss Carnival Cruise’s performers on the Capital One Stage. There will be a toddler area in the Cool Zoo (minus the water, of course) to entertain the little ones. I’m planning on hanging out there with my littlest one while my husband takes our oldest son on the Zombie Themed Ghost Train.

For live updates from Boo at the Zoo on twitter follow
the hashtag #BATZNOLA and follow me @NolaTricia!

The really exciting news is that I am honored to be giving away a FAMILY FOUR PACK of tickets to a local family. The tickets can be used for your choice of night! Get your costumes ready and ENTER TO WIN! It’s simple:

To Enter to win a FOUR TICKETS TO BOO AT THE ZOO:

Leave a comment telling me your favorite Halloween candy.
(You know, the ones you might sneak out of your kid’s Halloween Trick or Treating stash.)

Giveaway ends 10/13/12 at 9:00pm CST. Winner will notified by e-mail address provided with comment. Winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected.

m

Disclosure: I was given tickets to Boo at the Zoo in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own and Boo at the Zoo Rocks! Tickets will be given to winner by sponsor of this post.