Women Speak For Automobile Repairs

Just the other day while having lunch with a room full of men, I told them that it would be so great if I knew how to fix my own car. I envy how easily they talk about one automobile problem after the next and then explain how they repaired it. As a woman, I always feel uneducated about car repairs. Often, automobile repair shops have taken advantage of my lack of knowledge and I've spent thousands of dollars needlessly. The term, "They saw me coming" pops into mind frequently.

I have found a splendid site that will help women walk confidently into the automobile repair shop armed with the necessary knowledge to avoid being ripped off. Let me show you as we pretend I own a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 truck and it has a problem. First, I log into RepairPal and type in 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. On this page you will find:

• Problem Reports

• Questions & Answers

• Ratings & Reviews

• Recalls
  

Those pages alone sold me on the site! So much information by REAL people that have nothing to gain except the satisfaction of being helpful. Using our example vehicle, let's pretend someone said that my truck needs a brake job and I have no idea all that the problem entails. I then visit the Auto Repair Encyclopedia and click on Brakes to find a whole bunch of information in language that even I can understand.

All of this is so helpful, but there is still more! RepairPal also helps with finding reputable vehicle repair shops. Since I used to live in Dallas, Texas, let's use Dallas auto repair as the search example for old times sake. After looking up our term, I am brought to Dallas Auto Repair Shops and Mechanics. I am able to research the Top Rated Repair Shops and Mechanics in Dallas and read comments about the shop, service and mechanics.

Is that awesome or is that awesome?!!

Whether you live in a city with over 1.2 million people like Dallas or a podunk town with a population of 18,000, RepairPal is a site well worth using frequently.

Am I hooked? Oh yeah! Maybe one day I will be able to sit down at the lunch table and know exactly what it means when I say something like, "The steering developed a clunk type noise from the upper intermediate steering shaft, so I had it replaced under warranty because it was covered."

My opinions are valued and I was compensated by my friends at RepairPal.com for this post.

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The Ants Go Marching One By One

The ants go marching one by one

WAIT!!!

Do you remember what the next couple of words are to that song?

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!

Hurrah?

We are supposed to be excited about ants?

I don't think so-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! Not for the rest of my life will I ever be happy to see an ant because of that horrible experience years ago. Ants always seem to appear where and when they are not wanted...like a broken bra strap on the first day of a new job or gum on the bottom of a shoe!

Ants are simply pesky and aggravating.

When can you always rely on an ant to show up?

At picnics.

I love, love, love picnics as much as Yogi Bear. So Yogi and I have something in common. We love those pic-a-nic baskets and the delicious food inside.

I found some glorious picnic baskets at 1001 Picnic Baskets.com and thought that I would share them because picnics are not that much fun alone.

Come on over here and sit down next to me. Here, do you want some fried chicken and potato salad or would you prefer a veggie roll with pasta salad?

Both? Alright...

There. Are you comfy now?

Okay.

The key word for me in this first basket is "collapsible" because I simply run out of room to store big items in my home. Finding something cute, big enough for a picnic, insulated to keep the cold air inside AND collapsible is simply wonderful!



Cute, huh?

If you're like me, cozy little picnics for two are rare which is really quite alright because more is merrier in my opinion. Since my family is larger than two, a picnic basket for four does nicely.

However, being the "Shopper That Isn't" which is akin to the "Little Engine That Could" in a weird opposite sort of way, I haven't looked at picnic baskets for years and years. Well, not until recently and I definitely let my fingers do the shopping instead of my feet.

I'm so much happier when I can shop in my pajamas.

Anyway, I think Yogi would go crazy over the cute picnic baskets that are available in 2010!

Take a peek...

Don't you love that olive green color?
Redheads look good in, on or with olive green.

Look at all that room in the big open pocket!

This one is definitely my daughter's pick.
It is trendy and hip!

I love the little cutting boards!

I love the little roll connected on the side.
It says, "I promise we will sit and relax together."
Not literally, but that is what I hear in my head.

Kissy, Kissy, Huggy, Huggy
Wouldn't this make a great anniversary gift too?

Be still my beating heart...
Isn't that just elegant?
Maybe I have a bit of Scarlet O'Hara in me...

I never gave up having picnics when Brittany and Alyssa were little girls. I would pack tons of food and games with a pretty tablecloth and a whole lot of determination to combat the elements.

We always had lovely picnics, but some of the most common things heard at our jaunts was...

"There's a bee!" screamed Brittany as she ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.

"Mommy, make the fly go away," spoken in an Alyssa pouty voice.

"Kill the ant! Kill the ant! It's going to get my food!"

"Ewwww, there's bird poop over there!"

"I don't want to sit on the ground. There might be bugs hiding in the grass."

"I'm hot."

"How long do we have to picnic?"

"Why do you like picnics so much? There's so many bugs and it's hot!"

Am I exaggerating?

NOT ONE BIT!

I laughed as I recalled their tiny freckled faces in the shade of trees in the hot Texas sun.

Not too long ago we had a picnic and I kid you not...

Both girls were obsessed with the ants that kept crawling around their shoes.
Prissy girls will always be prissy girls!



Do you go on picnics? Visit 1001 Picnic Baskets.com and tell us which basket you would love to own! Share a picnic story or leave a link to a picnic story you have posted on your blog.







Stretching back on a blanket in the grass
with the Windsor Picnic Basket,
staring into the big blue sky with puffy white clouds,

"Girls, it's time to go! An ant just bit my foot!"
Well really, where did you think they got that attitude?

***I was compensated by 1001 Picnic Baskets.com for reviewing their site and writing this post. However, my opinions are always honest and I really do love their picnic baskets. Thanks 1001 Picnic Baskets.com for the opportunity to brag about you!

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Country Bob's Becomes A Winner

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I love to eat.

Alyssa loves to eat.

Tom loves to eat.

We are the perfect family to test and try any food for several reasons:

We all love to eat

And we are honest critics.

I recently had the opportunity to review Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce because they mailed two 13 oz. bottles of their"Original Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce" which also came with a free Recipe Collection booklet and a bookmark. I was immediately impressed with their professional presentation!

The first line on Country Bob's website reads "It was 1968 when Country Bob Edson perfected his steak sauce recipe and he called it an All Purpose Sauce because it was more than just a steak sauce."

Keep that in mind for a moment...especially the "perfected" part.

The ingredients read: All Natural - tomato paste, water, vinegar, corn syrup, sugar, molasses, salt, onion powder, caramel color, garlic poweder, tamarind, corn starch, natural flavors and other spices (gluten free)

Wanting to give it a "live" test, I made my special meatballs (recipe posted here with pictures) and presented them to the family. We put the meatballs on big, soft submarine rolls, poured Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce on top and took a bite...

Wow! We were immediately in love with this sauce! My daughter, Alyssa, said, "You should order this, seriously, now." The two bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce are not going to last long because since then, I have found that it is delicious on chicken, pork chops and shrimp. I have to say that this product is a winner!!! The sauce is perfect!!!

Do you want a free bottle too? Nothing required. Seriously,

nothing to Twitter,

nothing to blog,

nothing to comment.

To get your free bottle all you have to do is sign up and give your mailing address to Country Bob and he will put it in the mail.

It can't get easier than that and then you too will taste the absolutely, wonderfully marvelous, deliciousness of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce! No kidding!

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I Can See Clearly Now

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When I was in elementary school, the whole class walked single file to the nurse's office every year to take the eye (vision) test. No one, including my parents, knew that I had a hard time seeing. I felt that it made me "lesser" of a person and I didn't want eyeglasses, so I never revealed my problem to anyone. While all the other children took their turns covering one eye then the next reading the lettered eye chart hanging on the far wall, I would stand in line and memorize the correct answers to the eye chart questions.

Many people in my family wore prescription glasses. I loved them and thought they were beautiful and handsome, so I have no idea why I had such crazy ideas! Anyway, when it was my turn to step up to the line, cover one eye and read the chart, it was as fuzzy as a foggy shower door after a very hot bath. That didn't matter. I would pass the test each time because I had completely memorized the correct answers.


Now that I am older, I actually think eyeglasses can look cool or add the intelligent factor to your appearance. It all just depends on the style of eyeglass frames used. Of course, I now know that it doesn't make me any better or worse than another person. I was so ridiculous as a child! I love my "bifocal progressive four eyes" which enable me to see clearly. Besides, I will always look studiously intelligent because I wear them faithfully.

I guess I should have preceded that last sentence with "Nerd Alert!"



Disclosure: I will be paid by GlassesUSA for my post.

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Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio

Life is not always easy.

I must confess. I think the main singer in Diamond Rio, Marty Roe, is one of the hottest men to look at and his voice is smooth and unforgettable in my opinion. So when Thomas Nelson Book Reviews gave me the opportunity to review the new book, Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio, I jumped fast!

If you are not familiar with this group, watch this short video of one of my favorite songs by Diamond Rio. I have acted like the main character in the song's story and you probably have too...



Beautiful Mess is the story of the band Diamond Rio. Each members history, from childhood to the present, is recounted. The story includes the "beautiful mess" called adversities and trials along with the happiness of making their dreams become reality.

The band is an inspiration to the fact that bands do not have to get into trouble with alcohol and drugs before or after becoming a success in the music industry. Diamond Rio's journey has been filled with struggles, but they were committed to their families and each other which helped them come out on top.

I really liked learning about each member and how they were bonded to each other by their music, faith and drive for making a difference with success. I found this book extremely inspirational and motivating. It gave me a renewed boost to believe in myself and never give up!








Disclaimer: Thank you Thomas Nelson Books (now known as Book Sneeze) for sponsoring this giveaway! I received a book for review. No monetary compensation has been offered or accepted. The opinions above are entirely my own.

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Rainbow Brite Review - Too Cute

I have been given the opportunity to review a brand new Rainbow Brite Adventure Pack CD. It has been a while since I actually sat and played with children toys for an extended time, but it was so fun! I thought about being a child and how excited I would have been to have these CD's. They are filled with games, puzzles, coloring pages that can be printed, and a very cute theme song.

I was given CDs to share with friends and family and they were all thrilled to get a freebie that was actually fun! I still have a few CDs to give to my readers, so if you would like one, let me know and I will send them until I run out.

Check out their site: Rainbow Brite because it is fun and happy! While you're there, you just have to hear this song...click ANIMATION and then SING-ALONG. I have that song stuck in my head! It really is cute. It makes me want twenty children of my own. No, I haven't lost my mind. Yeah, I really did love this Rainbow Brite CD.

Disclaimer: Thank you Hallmark and Mom Select for sponsoring this giveaway! I received a matching CD for review. No monetary compensation has been offered or accepted. The opinions above are entirely my own.

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