I have to admit, I was a little worried about going out with the family in the Malibu. Is there going to be enough room? Are the kids going to be all cramped and fighting? Was I going to have to listen to “she touched me!” and “he breathed on me!” or “her leg is touching my leg!” the whole time in the car?
Well, we decided to test it out with a 45 minute trip to Litchfield for my mother in laws birthday. It was myself, Kevin, Chelsea, Jake and Chloe. Normally we would have taken the mini van, but I really wanted to see how “family” this family car was.
IT WAS A GREAT RIDE!
Yes….I just yelled. but seriously, it was . We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of room that was in the back seat. Of course we did have an argument about someone calling someone dumb or something like that, but we would have had that happen no matter what we were driving! The kids were happy in the backseat, and since Kevin drove I was able to see how much room (ALOT) was in the passenger side. It was a very comfortable and smooth ride.
Once we got to the party, everyone checked out the car, and they were all very impressed. Lots of comments about how nice looking it was, and how “luxury” it was in the inside.
We had an awesome time at the party and fabulously quiet ride home.
LOVED IT.
Don’t forget to check out www.girlfriendgetawayctchevy.com to find out how you can get a $40.00 Spa Finder gift card and to
register for a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland!
It’s the end of the Summer. The kids are back in school, and routines are getting somewhat back to normal. Most of our back to school shopping is done, except for a few last minute things. Chelsea and I went shopping to finish up, and also go grocery shopping. Not only did we need food in our house, we needed to get all the stuff for our annual Labor Day picnic. We were not convinced that everything we were going to buy was going to fit in the trunk. We love a challenge, so we knew this was going to be good!
Check out our video of our shopping trip. Do you think everything we bought fit in the trunk?
Make sure you check out www.GirlfriendGetawayCTChevy.com for more information on the Chevy Malibu and how you can get a $40.00 Spa Finder Gift card just for going for a test drive! There is also the chance to win a trip for two to Ireland!
Disclosure: I received gift cards for participating in this campaign.
Okay people! The CT Chevy Girlfriend Getaway campaign is offically underway! Those of you that follow me on Twitter or Facebook have seen me hinting about something fun coming up with Chevy…THIS IS IT! I am super excited to be part of this amazing campaign!!
I picked up the car at a launch event on Wednesday. Not only did I get to pick up this awesome Malibu, I got to meet @Moomettes and @TheMommyologist. It was a blast! Had a fun lunch and met so many nice people.
We are going to be blogging and video blogging on the Girlfriend Getaway website for the next month all about our experiences with the Malibu. I can’t wait! This is going to be a lot of fun. I will be taking you along on some FUN “missions” with my Malibu, so keep checking back!
Beginning August 30th, if you visit any of The NEW CT Chevy Network Chevy Dealers and test drive a new Chevy Malibu, you will receive a $40.00 Spa finder gift card. Woot! How cool is that! Test drive a cool car and then head over to the Spa! You can also enter to win an amazingly cool Girlfriend Getaway trip for two to Ireland! Check out girlfriendgetawaychevyct.com for more information!
SafeSocial, a new AOL product that launches today, can help you protect your children, even if you aren’t a social media expert. SafeSocial helps you:
· Find out where your child has online accounts
· Know who your child is “friends” with online
· Get notified if your child is in a conversation about violence, suicide or drugs
· See photos your child has posted online, and others’ photos in which your child has been tagged
Another benefit? You can monitor all this activity without being a “helicopter parent.” Your child will have to agree to be monitored, but you won’t need to connect with them on the social media accounts, or hover over their shoulders in person.
Guest Post by Regina Lewis, AOL Consumer Advisor
These days, your teens’ “friends” aren’t just the kids hanging out in your kitchen and family room, they’re hundreds of contacts on their “friend” and “buddy” lists. More than 50 million teens (ages 13 to 17) are online worldwide and the average number of “friends” is 130. For many teens, these numbers are even higher. It’s not unusual to have more than 500 “friends” and more than 1,000 profile photos.
So, how can you realistically keep up with your child’s vast circle of “friends” and ongoing status and photo updates?
1. Become a “Friend”
For starters, you can become your child’s online. They’ll need to accept your friend request. This can be easier said than done. In some cases, you may get push back. It’s your call how strongly you press.
There are more private alternatives. A new product called SafeSocial lets you privately see everything you would as a “friend” and even more. Many kids prefer this route. Remember, you’re not “spying” on them; you’re simply doing your job as an informed and involved parent.
2. Curb the Comments
If your child is reluctant to accept you publicly as a “friend,” be sure not to push your luck by excessively commenting on their page once you are granted access. Grandparents can be over-commenting culprits, too. Often teens find this “embarrassing” and it may even lead to having them “un-friend” you. It happens all the time.
3. Get a Report Card The new parenting tool SafeSocial offers a time-efficient and thorough way to keep tabs on your children’s social networking without being too intrusive. It delivers an easy-to-read report card providing a 360 degree view of their overall social networking— what they’re saying and doing and who their friends are.
This answers one of the biggest issues facing parents all over the country—feeling like you need to spend hours each week monitoring your child’s online activity and still not really being sure if you’re seeing everything (they can filter your view) or what you might be missing (what’s happening on their friends’ pages).
4. Watch the Friends
All friends are not created equal. Some your children may know well, some they may barely know at all. You can get a good feel for their entire list via SafeSocial’s Friend Engine, which takes an extensive look at your kids’ friends and checks them against more than 50 databases to see if they may not be who they say they are. You’ll be alerted when an adult becomes a friend of your child, when someone looks suspicious or has no or few other mutual friends with your child.
5. Loaded Language and Photos
Specific words that may come up in strings of conversation— sex, drugs, alcohol, suicide and so on and suggestive or violent language will be flagged, so you can hone in on the suspect dialog versus reading every post. This helps prevent missing something inadvertently.
You can even opt to be immediately notified via an email alert. This piece could prove priceless in protecting your children’s safety and managing their reputations.
While every conversation and image is archived, you can adjust the settings to simply view those that are called out. This lets you give kids more privacy as they mature. You will also see all photos, including those other people post of your child. Young people tend to push the envelope with photos and videos, so checking out this section of the report card is critical.
Overall, social networking is an integral part of many teenage lives and an opportunity for your kids to learn to express themselves in a creative and responsible fashion. It’s too big a trend to ignore. You can embrace it with these new tools on your side. For more information, visit www.safesocial.com, www.safety.aol.com and www.reginalewis.com.
AOL Consumer Advisor Regina Lewis (www.reginalewis.com) is a national TV and radio contributor and Internet trend expert. She knows the tips, tricks, secrets and shortcuts for making technology work for you.
Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom with your participation. Join now!
The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is charity blog meme, bloggers are able to raise $10 per blog post for Adopt-A-Classroom by writing a blog post or Facebook note and donating a virtual bag of school supplies . Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written for Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.
HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.
* Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post or Facebook note with specific rules described below.
* Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
* You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
* The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
* The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.
* In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:
ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES
* Copy and paste these rules into your blog post or Facebook note.
* Create a post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
* Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
* Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
* Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
* Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
* Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.
Here is the photo you can use for your virtual bag or create your own!
I had lunch withChef Jon Ashton today. I have NO pictures. What kind of blogger am I? I mean really?? I actually did have my camera, but I was having such an awesome time, I didn’t even think about pictures. Kicking myself now as I am writing this post. Oh well…such is my life.
I had no idea what to expect when I got to lunch. I did not know much about Jon Ashton before getting there, and was looking forward to hearing what he had going on, why he is in Connecticut, and all of that fun stuff. You know, the stuff the blogger in me wants to know. But when I sat down I immediately felt like I was having lunch with an old friend that I hadn’t seen in a while. I felt like I totally knew him already! I sound like a crazy person huh? He is really THAT genuine and THAT real. The passion that you can feel when he talks about his philosophy of simple and seasonal cooking will blow you away. He LOVES food and you can feel it. Plain and simple.
Oh yeah..you want to hear what he is doing here in Connecticut? Jon is teaming up with Big Y and Driscoll’s to do a fun in store session at the Big Y in Avon CT tomorrow from 2-6pm. Learn all about cooking with the Seasons best Blueberries. Here is Chef Jon Ashton’s recipe for the Driscoll’s Blueberry Parfaits that he will be demonstrating in the store tomorrow!
Driscoll’s Blueberry Parfaits 1 package Driscoll’s blueberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla essence (optional)
1 cup whipped cream
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1 pound cake
1/4 cup blueberry preserves
1/4 cup toasted almonds Place blueberries in a ziplock bag with sugar and vanilla and crush with hands, let sit for 10 minutes.
First, slice a half lb cake sideways and spread each half with blueberry preserve. Chop them in to cubes. Then divide them into 4 parfait, white wine, or other tall glasses.
In a bowl of a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment mix 1 cup mascarpone cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and a tsp almond extract until light and fluffy. Then fold in the 1 cup whipped heavy cream. Spoon 2 tablespoons mascarpone into each glass and smooth surface. Spoon 2 tablespoons crushed blueberries over top and smooth surface. Repeat the process till you fill the top of the glass and for a finishing touch sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds. This simple yet lush dessert will leave every guest at the table wanting more!
Looks easy enough even I am going to try to make them!
Don’t forget! Big Y in store demonstration July 1st 2-6pm
255 West Main Street, Rte 5
Avon, CT 06001
Also, you might want to check out Jon’s YouTube channel for lots of great recipes and ideas. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is up to! @ChefJonAshton
Here is a video from The Daily Buzz that shows Jon making burgers for Memorial Day, but I think they would be awesome anytime!
Call me a dork!
I have been looking so forward to Price Chopper opening up in Middletown. Today was the grand opening. We got there around noon, and it was pretty crowded. We were shocked we found a parking space! Once we were in the store though it didn’t feel as crowded as I thought it would. Seemed to be a good layout, and flow. Chloe was on cloud nine to see BALLOON ANIMALS! She is now the proud owner of a balloon puppy and has already said that she wants to come to Price Chopper every day.
I was so mad that I didn’t have my camera with me. I always have it in my bag, but I forgot to put it back in after uploading pictures from the weekend. I’ll have to get some good pictures the next time I go. Which I know will be soon. My daughter Chelsea had an Oreo smoothing and she LOVED it. There were tons of samples. Even brownies. Every single employee that we talked to was SUPER NICE. That is extremely important to me. There is nothing worse than bad customer service.
The sale prices were great. I forgot to print my coupons before I left! Thanks Michelle for reminding me! Check out her awesome site for all of the latest sales and deals at Price Chopper. She rocks!
So, if you are in the Middletown, CT area. Make sure you check out the new Price Chopper on Washington Street. You will love it. It is nice to finally have a store in that plaza again!
Long busy weekend! Dave Matthews was Friday. Shopping at the Outlets in Westbrook, dinner at Bills Seafood on Saturday. Sunday was busy with a picnic at our friends house that we haven’t seen in ages. It was so great to see them and all of their family.
But, the best day was Memorial Day. We go to the parade every year. One of my kids is always marching. This year, not only was Chelsea marching with the Dance Team, but Chloe was going to march with her pre-school. She was so excited. It was all she would talk about. So we decorated her wagon and pulled her in the parade. She totally did the “pageant” wave. she loved it. Al the kids had a blast. So much fun for them to do, and a great way to get the Middletown Cooperative Pre-School’s name out there. It is an amazing school! I would not have my kids go anywhere else.
I don’t know about you, but I always say that I am NOT going to sign my kids up for a bunch of stuff in the Summer, and then I sign them up for a bunch of stuff. It never fails! All year long I dream of a lazy Summer spent hanging out with my kids, all of us enjoying each others company. Laughing and swimming the days away. Then as it gets closer to Summer, the reality sets in. After three days they will all want to kill each other. we will all be on each others nerves. I hate to admiit it…but it is true. They need to have activites during the Summer.
So, then my mission to find fun affordable activities for my kids, without OVER scheduling them begins. I usually have to take about half the things that everyone wants to do off the list, but in the end I think we end up balancing it out nicly. Atleast for us.
We always recommend Camp Ingersoll. My kids LOVE it, we have been going there for years. This year we are making sure to fit in one session. Check them out if you are looking for a local day camp. Spaces are filling up, but there are some spots still available as of today.
We also really like the variety of programs and camps that are offered through our local Park and Rec department. Lots of different activities and usually very affordable. We just signed Chloe up for Safety Town, which is a week long program for kids entering Kindergarten. They learn all about safety and have a lot of fun. $30.00 for Middletown residents, $40.00 for non residents. As of this afternoon, I believe there still are spaces available. So, if you are like me and planning at the last minute (with only two weeks left of school) you may be in luck!
Those are just a few of the things we are going to be doing this Summer. Whether you are going to be running around like crazy or just totally relaxing this Summer, I hope you have a great one!
If you live in Connecticut you know that Summer doesn’t start until The Dave Matthews Band comes to town. This year they are here during Memorial Day weekend. Perfect! Unfortunately they recently announced that this would be their last Summer tour for a while.
So, if you don’t have plans for tonight or tomorrow night, check out Ticketmaster or The Comcast Theater. Maybe there are some tickets left! If you are going, leave me a comment! Maybe we’ll bump into each other! Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
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