Do you know what to do after an auto accident? Print this checklist off, fill in the blanks and keep it with the insurance card you keep in your vehicle. Hopefully you will never have to use it, but if so you will be prepared!
Tags: Merla, Vehicle Safety Posted in
With the weather changing and the chill in the air, it may seem there is not much to do with the little ones once fall begins. Check out these ideas for some great things you can do together!
1. Build your own scarecrow with some old clothes, hay, straw or even newspaper.
2. Play a few rounds on your old board games, like Monopoly, battleship or Operation.
3. Take a nature hike; explore all of the changes fall brings to the outdoors with your little ones.
4. Make it a movie night, heat up some popcorn, and grab a blanket and a movie you can all enjoy.
5. Do a puzzle together. Find an autumn puzzle and you can even use puzzle glue and a frame and make it a home decoration when you are done.
6. Bake something together. Some favorite autumn dessert ideas include, Classic Apple Pie, Carmel Apple Crisp, Cranberry Oat Bars, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy Sweet Potato Pie or Cranberry Pie.
7. Have a scavenger hunt. You can do this inside or out, just get together some things from the house, make a list and start searching.
8. Throw a tent in the backyard and have a camp-out! You can use the flashlights for a game of flashlight tag.
9. Make use of those pine cones outside. Paint them for decoration and put them around the house.
10. Clean up the yard in a fun way, pile up those leaves and jump in with the kids.
11. Make Candy Apples together.
12. Go on a leaf hunt! Encourage them to find as many different ones as they can. Afterwards you can paint them for decoration or use them as crafty fall stamps.
13. Make those pumpkins they found this year their own. Carve, paint or even use stickers for the younger ones to decorate them how they like.
14. Have a family fun game of fall touch football.
15. Gather all those pictures from the summer and make your own scrapbook together.
Tags: Jennifer Posted in
Mother Tested, Kid Approved!
Honda Odyssey Quick Facts:
Price Range: $26,255 - $40,405
City MPG: 16 - 17
Highway MPG: 23 - 25
Seats: 8
Latch Connectors: 3
Me, drive a minivan? Never. That’s what I thought when assigned the task of reviewing the Honda Odyssey with my family of five to put it to the test. Well, that was the past, because the moment I got into the Odyssey it was love at first drive. My boys loved it too, as I pulled into the driveway they were all over it like a jungle gym. I had to remind them it was not ours! An hour and a half later we were still in the Odyssey watching the kids Star Wars movie on the DVD player and as I sat there with the boys I thought to myself “this could be a weekly family tradition, movie night in the Odyssey”. This minivan thing could really start to grow on me.
Exterior Features
Honda has lead the pack with the Odyssey for years, and now with the updated exterior body style it is more sleek and stylish than ever. The exterior is fantastic - unlike the common boxy or bubble type passenger cabin, the Odyssey has an elegant sleek style, yet its broad stance demands control of the road.
Interior Features
As I sat in the driver’s seat the first word that came to mind was comfortable, and I’m talking La-Z-Boy comfort. The EX-L not only comes standard with leather seats, but they are heated as well which certainly comes in handy for both cold mornings and cool evenings. The Odyssey back seats are just as comfortable as the front and my kids had it good with their own A/C controls, DVD player and captain’s chairs. It was glorious to not hear “it’s too hot”, “are we there yet?”, or my all time favorite from way back when I was kid, “he’s on my side!” For once, harmony while driving as a family! There were a few features that left me a little confused, like 15 cup holders for 8 passengers, you do the math - I still can’t get it to add up! Instead of a center console, the Odyssey has a collapsible table; at first I thought it was very clever but over time realized it might be a pain to clear off every time we wanted to use the 3rd row. The other tiny thing – there is no coin holder! These things aside, all the clever creature comforts completely outweighed any minor things I noticed.
Performance
One of the newest developments with the Honda engine is called (VCM) variable cylinder management; basically some of the cylinders are turned off when not needed. When more power is needed the other cylinders kick back on. The transition happens so smoothly and quickly you’ll never notice it, except at the gas pump in savings! Don’t worry - you still have great get up and go that the V6 engine has to offer. I actually found myself applying the gas on some turns that I normally would have braked for in the past, making the Odyssey very fun to drive.
Safety
As a mom of three boys I know that I can’t always keep them from harm’s way while on the road. The Odysseys’ 5 Star Crash Rating is very reassuring – it is the highest ranked vehicle in its class. The first thing that I noticed as I backed out of the parking space I was in was the backup camera that popped up in the left hand corner of the my review mirror. I wonder how many precious little lives that been saved by this feature already. The Odyssey has 3 LATCH systems, there’s even one in the 2nd row middle seat. Most parents would choose to have their baby or toddler in this seat, yet few vehicles supply a LATCH system in that seat location. Some safety features that you can’t see and never want to include 6 airbags and (VSA) vehicle stability assists which helps your vehicle stay the course in the event of over or under steering. (ACE) advance compatibility engineering body structure helps direct the force of an impact away from the passenger cabin. You might be wondering if only the EX-L model gets all these safety features, but Honda’s motto is ‘safety for all’, so these safety features are on all trim levels of the vehicle.
Of course the kids asked, “Can we keep it?” When my real life test drive was over you would have thought I was taking their dog to the pound. I must admit - I didn’t want to give it back either, and as much as I may have tried to convince myself that I would never own a minivan, I now can’t wait to own my Odyssey.
Looking for a Honda Odyssey? Click Here to find yours!
Questions? Call Nora or Merla at 1-877-503-2740
Tags: Nora, Vehicle Review Posted in
Now that we have a child in the house, I figured out quickly that I had better get organized when it came to dinner. This book, Saving Dinner written by Leanne Ely has been a lifesaver and a resource I adore!
The book is divided into the four seasons with each week having a menu, shopping lists and nutritious recipes to follow. Shopping is a breeze, and my mediocre culinary skills still turn out great meals. I also print off this ultimate grocery checklist when shopping so I remember the groceries we need for other meals as well.
We have saved a ton of time and money and I no longer get home after a busy day of work and errands wondering what to cook for dinner. Hope you find it helpful too!
Tags: Merla Posted in
Common phrases heard in the
back seat of a car…
“Are we there yet?!”
“I’m bored!”
“She’s touching me!”
“He won’t stay on his side!”
Road trips - got to love them! Whether you are driving around Portland/Vancouver or traveling cross country, keeping your children entertained and fed will keep them happy and you sane. Here are our favorite tips for your next road trip.
kids.audible.com - a fantastic resource for Books on CD
Parenting.com - great travel advice and shopping ideas
Tags: Jennifer, Kids & Cars Posted in
Last night was our Customer Appreciation Event that we throw monthly for our valued customers! Over a hundred guests come, many of our customers return time after time because it’s a great way to stay connected and make new friends. Hate to brag, but I have done these Customer events longer than anyone else in the Portland/Vancouver area and it’s something I am very proud of!
After everyone was settled our cast of characters did a brief introduction of our parts and service departments and their crews, a rep from our collision center spoke, and then some of our sales staff and yours truly answered everyone’s questions. We played dashboard lights trivia to get things warmed up and after that we began our raffles (kids get our special raffles - the secret is they all win, but shhhhh it’s a surprise) and the prizes are AWESOME! After that we handed out gift bags to one and all so everyone wins.
The cherry on the top however is setting off one or two AIRBAGS which is a real experience! Have you ever seen one blow up? It is very dramatic.
Last night Mr. Hannah came to shake hands and thank people for being a part of the Hannah Honda family. It is a personal honor to have him here - his kindness, generosity, commitment to the community and the environment is very apparent to all that meet him. I should mention he has a great, yet subtle, sense of humor.
I have to say my favorite part is just how comfortable everyone is together and what a warm feeling it leaves me at the end of the evening when I think back on all the laughter, handshakes, smiles and yes, even hugs.
It was a great night and I can say in all sincerity that I love what I do, and the folks I do it with. Hope to see you here at our next event, and thanks for “clicking”!
Tags: Simone Posted in
I have found that often there are great things going on right here in our area that many people don’t even know about! Here are a few things for you to check out this month…
Portland Corn Maize 8/30/08 – 10/31/08
This one started in 1999 and has become quite the tradition. This year the huge maze in the cornfield is a design they call “Bridgetown Maize” featuring our very own Portland cityscape. Located at The Pumpkin Patch and at only $5 for kids 6-12 and seniors, $7 for ages 13 and up and FREE for 5 and under, it sounds like a day full of fun with the family. Here is the address; 16525 NW Gillihan Rd. Sauvie island Portland, OR 97231. Sounds easy to find, just don’t get lost in the MAZE!
NW Women’s Show @ The Oregon Convention Center 10/24/08 – 10/26/08
This one is the 16th Annual Women’s Show! This one sounds like a blast, Fireman Fashion Show, Author’s Corner, Cook Demos, Seminar’s, Celebrities, a day of presentations for Mom’s and more fashion shows….what’s not to love! Its over the weekend too, so many chances to get there, and just $9 admission! (Seniors 65+ $7.00, 12 and under FREE)
Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour @ the Rose Quarter. This is a great one for the family! Music, dancing and fun 10/23/08 – 10/26/08. Here is a number you can call for The Rose Quarter 877-789-7673 or check out their site for tickets, www.rosequarter.com.
National Make a Difference Day! If you want to make a difference on 10/25/08 then get ready to make a huge one with the City of Vancouver’s Greenway Team and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation! They are looking for volunteers at 9am to help them plant close to 5,000 trees and shrubs along Burnt Bridge Creek in Leverich Park (Off 39thand Leverich Park Way) What a great addition to the area! Be sure to grab your gloves and boots and they will provide a free picnic for volunteers at noon. Here is the person you should contact if you or a group you know want to put in the helping hand…..Bock at (360) 487-7193 or e-mail gary.bock@ci.vancouver.wa.us.
If you have any comments about any of them, or get a chance to go check one of them out, please share how it went!
Tags: Jennifer Posted in
We want you to be safe.
Our intention is not to scare our valued female customers but to help women drivers learn how to be safe and secure when driving alone. If you have other tips to add let us know!
It’s all about opportunity…
Rape, carjacking, and robbery are often crimes of opportunity, in which the perpetrator scouts areas where no witnesses are present, identifies a vulnerable target, and waits for the moment when his target lowers her guard. The most common locations where many of these crimes occur are:
• When you are stopped at a deserted intersection
• When your are parked in your own driveway
• When you park at the far corner of a parking lot, away from parking attendants or entrances
• When you park on any street in ( insert your city here )
A simple lapse of caution, such as failing to lock your car door before starting your engine is an ideal opportunity for a desperate aggressor to swiftly approach your vehicle from the blind spot in your side view mirror, open your door, pull you from the vehicle, or enter from the passenger side.
We women spend a ton of time driving, running errands and driving to and from work. While doing so we need to be alert to perpetrators that commit rapes, abductions, carjacking, or worse.
The Moment of Distraction
Rapists, carjackers and thieves look for potential targets who are alone, unaware, and vulnerable. A woman who is preoccupied removing her child from the rear seat without checking her environment first, will be completely surprised when the aggressor strikes. The woman who fails to ask for the attendant to escort her to the far end of a dark parking garage is not aware of the opportunity for foul play that lurks there.
A consequence of our busy lives is the fact that we often multitask while driving. Because we are not paying attention to our environment and fully attending to the task of driving, perpetrators are finding it easier to overcome a distracted driver who is stopped, talking on a cell phone or applying cosmetics.
By the time a predator has made himself visible to his target, it is often too late to evade him. The best advice is to heighten awareness of potential risk before you place yourself in a position of no escape.
Park in good light and in plain view.
It is important that women park in areas with good light and high visibility, both for you and people passing by. Avoid parking next to vans or other vehicles which can harbor perpetrators who can quickly emerge from a sliding side door and grab you. People hiding under vehicles with high ground clearance can easily subdue a hapless victim.
What to do outside your vehicle.
We ladies love to shop, and sadly, parking lots, especially during the holiday season is when a large amount of crime happens. If you are confronted by an abductor while near your vehicle, drop your shopping bags/packages and run, making a lot of noise. Doing so will cause many abductors to stop right there.
Have your keys handy, enter your vehicle quickly and lock it!
While walking to your vehicle make sure to have your keys handy, not buried at the bottom of the amazing carry all purse you just got! That time it takes to find your keys gives a criminal a few extra moments, which is all that is needed to complete the job of mugging you, abducting you, or stealing your car.
Be Alert!
If someone is on the passenger side of a vehicle close to where you will enter your car, and that vehicle is idling, be careful. Go back to the store and ask an employee or someone you feel is safe to help you to your car.
Worst Case Scenario
If abducted, always avoid going anywhere with them, even if they say they will not harm you. Once you are in their control and with them in their comfort, you have very few options left. If you find there is someone in your backseat as you are driving, slam on your brakes to throw them off balance, put your vehicle in park, get out of the vehicle and run. Get to the nearest gas station and call 911.
Keep your cell phone handy
It’s great to be helpful to people in need, but be careful when doing so, especially on the road. If you see a vehicle that looks possibly broke down and someone flagging you for help, call the highway patrol or 911 to report their location and let them help the person in need. Don’t put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, but help by making the call to the police for them.
If pulled over by an unmarked police officer
We are all raised to respect and trust the law authority, so most women getting pulled over do as they say. However, still be aware. If you don’t think you have done anything wrong or the officer just looks odd to you, you can call the police and ask them if there are unmarked cars in the local area. If you are still not sure things seem right, turn on your dome light, and acknowledge the officer so they know you see them. Then drive to a well lit, public area such as a gas station or supermarket and then come to your complete stop. Before rolling down the window or getting out of your vehicle, ask for his/her official identification card, not just their badge. Call the local police station for verification. If the person refuses to show identification or acts suspiciously then call 911.
Note: Be sure the person is dressed in uniform and that all of the uniform parts match. Even in unmarked vehicles, police are generally still in uniform rather than plain clothes for traffic patrol.
Know where you are going
Women are most vulnerable when they are lost. Make sure you map out your route online with clear prints outs or via your GPS system before you leave. Let friends and family know where you are going – work, school, errands, etc. when and where you will be expected.
Know your vehicle!
It is important to familiarize yourself with your GPS, anti-theft, and other protective features of your vehicle. Stealth tracking will alert authorities in certain emergency circumstances. It is imperative to keep your vehicle well-maintained and learn how to check tire pressure and vital fluids before you leave on a trip. Our female auto professtionals are some of the best in Portland, and we more than happy to show you how to use your vehicles safety features, check fluids and more, just ask!
Tags: Jennifer, Vehicle Safety Posted in
Did you know that over 85% of car seats are installed improperly? Keep your children safe by making sure that their car seats and boosters are properly installed!We have gathered info to help you know what to pay attention to when installing a child seat, and at the end of this post have added a list of additional resources for you. The pictures and videos are courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Need a visual demonstration of common mistakes, correct car seat use, and a typical safety inspection? Watch the videos below on infant & toddler car seats and convertible car seats.
REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS: Use in the back seat from birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds.
Using the installed car seat.
- Adjust the harnesses to make them snug. If there’s a plastic harness clip, keep it at armpit level to hold shoulder straps in place.
- Be sure you know how the buckle system works. You can tighten and loosen the straps around your baby with the harness adjustment lever.
- Don’t allow the straps to get twisted - they should lie flat.
- After you buckle your child in, tug the straps to make sure they’re locked.
- Place rolled-up cloth diapers, blankets, or towels around newborns to keep them snug in the car seat. You can also purchase head, neck, and body supports to secure your baby.
- If your infant’s head flops forward, make the seat more level by wedging a folded towel or other firm support under the front of it.
FORWARD-FACING TODDLER SEATS in the back seat from age 1 and 20 pounds to about age 4 and 40 pounds.
Need more help? Check out these sites for more information.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers more diagrams, videos, car seat recommendations and more.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has a Car Seat Safety Guide updated for 2008, as well as a checklist to make sure your current car seat is safe.
- Feeling super technical? SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.’s website has a TON of details on the technical aspect of car seats and proper installation.
Tags: Kids & Cars, Merla Posted in
While at Costco I ran across this beautiful ‘Autumn Wreath’ for less than $25! What struck me was the high quality of materials used and the fantastic attention to detail. It is very similar to ones I have seen at Smith & Hawken for far less. Got to love a great deal!
Tags: Merla Posted in
   
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