By : Alicia West


Deciding to adopt an animal is a big decision. First I adopted two kittens from a rescue group.  But it was several years later until I decided to adopt a German shepherd from the Virginia Beach SPCA (VBSPCA).  Although I’m really happy with my animals I just never released how much a 100 pound dog can eat. Since I live in a condo with limited parking the trip from the car to my home can be a trek.  It’s normally not a problem unless I’m trying to haul a 50 pound bag of dog food. 

I decided I needed a wagon of some sort to haul the dog food and groceries from the parking lot to my home.  However I wanted a wagon that could fold up flat and fit in the trunk of my car so I wouldn’t have to make an extra trip to my house before I unloaded.  It took a little bit of searching but I finally found a wagon sturdy enough to haul all that dog food that would also fold up flat. 

The VBSPCA also has a low cost veterinary clinic that I use as much as possible.  It was a warm spring day when I pulled into their parking lot with a toddler, two cats, and a dog who were all due for their shots.  Well, except for the toddler. 

Opening the car door I lifted the heavy baby carrier off the base and set it on the ground.  Roxy, my German shepherd, nearly strangled herself leaping out of the car while her leash was still thankfully attached to the gear shift.  Meanwhile the cats were meowing piteously from their carrier.  It felt like a three ring circus so I made the decision to leave the cats and take the baby and the dog inside first.  Three steps from the car I realized I was going to have to drag the baby carrier in and out and in again because I couldn’t leave the baby unattended.

Then I remembered I had the pancake flat wagon in my trunk.  Although I had never used it for anything other than hauling groceries it now had a new purpose.  Pet propulsion.  I loaded the two cat carriers one on top of each other and wedged the baby carrier beside them.  I carefully rolled my Noah’s ark on wheels towards the vet and made it in one trip.  Perfect!  My hairy day at the vet turned out to be smooth rolling thanks to the Pancake Flat Wagon.  The receptionist was amused by my little caboose and I  told her that she could order online from www.foldflatworld.com or find it on Amazon Marketplace as well in some Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) Taylor Do-It-Yourself centers.

By: Cassandra Travis, Artist

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse. -Winston Churchill

I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember.  I’ve always enjoyed going to the Virginia (VA) Boardwalk Art Festival and coming home excited and giddy with a thousand new ideas.  Everyone always asked me after seeing my work why I hadn’t done an art show and so I finally did.

However “doing an art show” isn’t as nearly as easy as it sounds.  First you have to be accepted into the art show, then there’s the entrance fee, tent rental, having enough work to show.  The details are exhausting.  Another problem I had was the logistics of getting tables, art, display cases, a chair, cash box…..and much, much more to the site.

At this point I didn’t have a lot of room or a lot of money left.  So I was really pleased when I found the pancake flat wagon.  It was fairly inexpensive for something so sturdy and rugged.  It was also the only wagon I could find that folded flat.  The wheels literally fold under and hide up inside the wagon making it only 7 inches.

The wagon is constructed of metal so it’s sturdy and I was able to secure some of my bigger art pieces with bungee cords.  With the seagulls cartwheeling overhead I towed my first load of art out onto the boardwalk and it was smooth sailing the rest of the weekend.  I finished off the show with several large pieces sold and tired but happy.  Once again my little lovely wagon helped me get everything back to the car and loaded.

A bunch of other artists asked me that weekend where I got the pancake flat cart by pancake wheel, this newest piece of essential artist equipment.  I told them that they can order online from www.foldflatworld.com or find it on Amazon Marketplace as well as at a couple of Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) Taylor Do-it-Yourself centers

By: Justin West Jr.

You don’t have to be a soccer mom or  soccer coach for that matter to need a little help carrying sports equipment around.  Cheerleaders need mats, football players need pads, and baseball players need bats, balls, gloves and the ever important cooler of sport drinks.  Getting the hideaway pancakeflat wagon was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done to haul my sports equipment.

I do happen to be a coach, recreation league soccer to be exact.  Our soccer fields are booked solid in the afterschool hours and weekends are equally as popular.  I was getting ready for one of the last games of the season.  The leaves had already turned and the brisk morning air had everyone wearing a sweatshirt.  

We got to our side of the field and started practicing drills.  After about thirty minutes I looked up and noticed the other team wasn’t here yet.  If they didn’t show up soon it meant a forfeit.  Suddenly one of our parents came racing across the field with a red face and out of breath.  

“You’re on the wrong field, if you don’t get over to the orange field in the next 3 minutes we’re going to have to forfeit,” he said.  In a matter of minutes we had to get all the kids and our equipment to the other side of the sports complex to the orange field.  

“Throw everything in the wagons and run,” I yelled.  What I didn't mention, is that I got two of the pancake flat wagons, which are new fold-up carts that fold down totally flat so I can leave not one but two in my SUV.  Most people that see this pancake flat wagon/cart have no idea what it is till I set it up in a few seconds.

What a sight we were- parents, kids, my assistant parent coach and two pancake flat wagons leading the charge across the complex.  I’m sure somewhere there’s a Youtube video or facebook post of us hauling butt across the fields. We got there with only seconds to spare but in time to play the game.

Some of the team parents (and a parent from the other team!) wanted to know where I got the amazing pancake flat wagon that folded to seven inches flat.  That was the easiest part of the whole day.  I was quite proud to say www.foldflatworld.com,”  Of course you can get them at some Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) Taylor Do-it-Yourself hardware stores and online at  amazon.com .  I’m just glad I had them or my Kempsville team may never had made it to our first place finish.

By: Ricky Hunter

Taking trips in a recreational vehicle (RV) gives many families a great sense of freedom.  Part of that freedom for me, is knowing that I can go up to the Martinsville, Virginia (VA) speedway and watch a NASCAR race without having to catch a flight or pay for a costly hotel room.  So when I decided to take my new girlfriend up for her first race I was pretty excited.  I usually go with my friends who help me prep the RV but they couldn’t come this time.  I’ve only had the RV for about a year and have never been out in it without them.  

The first problem I ran into was that I hadn’t filled up the potable water tank nearly enough and we ran out of water the first evening we were there. Considering I had promised my girlfriend a hot shower things weren’t looking that good.  The upside to the campground I picked was that is was only about a mile away from the speedway.  The downside was that it was essentially a field with no power or water hook ups. This presented a problem.

Luckily there was a gas station about a half mile down the road so I offered to haul a bunch of water back so that my girlfriend could at least wash her face and hair after a hot and sweaty day at the speedway. With triumphant flair I popped out the pancake wheel wagon.  She eyed it suspiciously and wanted to know, “What in the heck is a pancake wheel wagon?”   I explained to her that this little blue beauty is a metal wagon that folds flat to only 7 inches.  She was so impressed she snapped a picture of me pulling the wagon and posted it on facebook with the caption, “My hero.”  This was the main reason I bought it so that when I went Rving and camping I’d have a way to cart my stuff around and it folded up so small I could store it about anywhere.

I knew without this folding utility wagon there would be no way I’d ever make it up and back in one trip.  When I set it up was able to fit two 10 gallon water coolers in it considering it can haul up to 200 pounds I was confident my girlfriend would be cleaned up in no time.  I made it up and back with no problem and the wagon’s wheels were able to easily navigate the rutted dirt road until I got to the pavement.

Having a wagon that folds flat to a mere 7 inches is great for Rving and camping because it’s much easier to stow than traditional bulky wagons. 

I got quite a few comments on the wagon that weekend and a bunch of people wanted to know where I got the pancake flat cart by pancake wheel, this newest piece of essential camping gear.  I told them that they can order online from www.foldflatworld.com or find it on Amazon Marketplace.