Peak Auto Travel Tips and Wiper Review - Road Trip

 

One of the most important (if not the very most) things on a Road Trip your car. This is going to be the form of transportation that gets you from point A to point B. Because we live in Washington and because it does still rain here in the Summer windshield wipers are very important. It seems like we go through them quiet often on our vehicles, replacing them almost yearly it seems like. With Peak Auto we were able to get new wiper blades on our minivan before we started on our journey.

My husband easily installed the Peak Optix Flat Blades on our Dodge with literally a snap. The instructions inside showed each type and you picked the right piece according to what your wiper looks like. So easy and so simple. He snapped it out and snapped it in! 

Taking off the old blade.

The simple pictured instructions.

Snapping the new blades on.

 About the Peak Optix Flat Blade-

• Curved design hugs windshield to provide clean wipe in any weather
• Blade lengths range from 15"-28"
• New EZSNAP™ Multiple Connector System covers 98% of vehicle fitments
• Aerodynamic spoiler reduces wind lift
• Frameless technology prevents ice and snow buildup.

Ten Summer Travel Car Care and Gas Saving Tips:

Before you get on the road

1.    Get a Check-Up: Having your vehicle regularly serviced by a trusted technician is essential year-round. However, bringing your car in for a check-up before you take off for vacation could help identify any problems before they surface on a long trip.

2.    Check Your Tires:  Dealing with a flat tire while you’re on vacation can ruin a trip so remember to have your tires checked. If they need to be replaced, it is crucial to have this done.

3.    Check Your Windshield Wipers: Properly functioning windshield wipers are a fundamental part of traveling long distances by car. Even if you’ve checked the forecast (which is highly recommended), weather is ultimately unpredictable; you never know what road conditions you might run in to. PEAK offers high quality Flat Wiper Blades that are durable, and the installation is quick and simple.

4.    Focus on Driving: Be sure to have activities, books or games along to keep your kids occupied so that you can focus all of your attention to the road. 

5.    Don’t Forget Maps: Be prepared with maps – the old fashion kind. Electronics can malfunction and cell phones may lose their signal. Having a folding map along for the ride could prevent a disaster.

While you’re on the road

6.    Check Gas Levels: Always be aware of your gas level and where the next gas station is. If your tank drops below half-full and you’re not sure how far the next gas station is, save yourself the worry and fill up while you have the chance. 

7.    Bring a Power Inverter: Carry a power inverter to keep your electronics charged – most importantly, your cell phone. It’s imperative to have a mobile device fully charged in the event of an emergency on the road. PEAK offers a 150 Watt Power Cup Inverter that fits into your vehicle’s cup holder and provides two power outlets and two USB plug-ins.

8.    An Emergency Kit: Have an emergency kit handy. This kit should include flares and an emergency flashlight in the event that you have car trouble at night. It’s also important to have water, blankets, snacks, fresh batteries, a cell phone charger, a first aid kit and jumper cables. If you do have to jump start your car, PEAK’s portable power systems will do the work for you without the need of another vehicle.

Gas saving tips

9.    Make Sure Tires are Properly Inflated: Make sure tires are inflated to your car’s specifications, as underinflated tires will cause your car to waste gas. Specifications can be found on a sticker on the driver’s door or in a car manual. 

10.  Use Cruise Control:  Anytime you can avoid breaking and accelerating, will save you gas.

PEAK Automotive Products are sold at more than 20,000 retail outlets in the U.S., including Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Advance Auto Parts, Pep Boys, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Sears, True Value Hardware, AutoZone and NAPA.

 For more PEAK news, DIY tips, and giveaways visit PEAK AUTO Shop Talk, the Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/peakauto, or follow @PEAKAuto on Twitter. 

 *I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free the product mentioned in this post for my review.

Uncle Milton's Toys National Geographic Starry Night Lantern Review

Ever since I was a kid I have been a fan of National Geographic. The magazines, the VCR tapes (yes I dated myself lol) were my little peek into the rest of the world. I even said I wanted to be a Nat Geo photographer one day. Although that has yet to happen, but never say never!

I love that Uncle Milton carries National Geographic toys. I can share the adventuring spirit I have with my son in our home. My son and I  recently were able to play with the National Geographic Starry Night Lantern in our home. We built a sheet tent and took the lantern into his room and turned it on. It was so cool. He smiled and pointed out the stars on the sheet above us.

I am looking forward to using it on a real camping trip. For now we will put on our adventure hats, we have ones I call our Outback hats, and we will bring the dog for safety to explore the back yard!

National Geographic Starry Night Lantern Features:

• 2-in-1 lantern and star projector
• Projects a glowing field of stars.
• Illuminated lantern
• Explorer Activity Guide

You can learn more about Uncle Milton's Toys and the other National Geographic Toys by following them on Twitter and being a fan on Facebook.

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free the product mentioned in this post for my review.

Not so Homemade Homemade pizza

The boys getting ready to make dinner.

Making dinner almost every night can be daunting and tiresome. Sometimes it is nice to get a little break and let them make their own dinner. So every once in a while we bust out the pre-made pizza flats, cut up the meats and veggies and just let them go to town. I like to think they are also using their creativity and imaginations, every good mom wants their child to do that as much as possible right? ;) Fun for them and easy for us. A win win!!!!

Working so hard...

Love that you can add whatever makes you happy.... I love the green peppers. YUM!!

JJ's sausage and olive delight!

Be a smart consumer when it comes to auto insurance

Lately I have been trying to come up with ways to save money in anyway I can. We are a one income family and I am ALWAYS on the hunt for a deal. It seems although the value of my house is not going up, and sometimes still going down, my property taxes are on the rise! It is always something isn't it?

One way to cut costs can be researching the right car insurance. Car insurance is a must in life (at least it is to my family) but at one point my little sister thought otherwise. My sister who was 17 years old at the time thought she couldn't afford car insurance. She was a student on a very small budget and thought not having car insurance would save her money. Well it did in the beginning she had no payments, well fast forward to about a year later and someone hit her car while it was parked! She was upset because the person left, without leaving a note or anything, she had no idea who had hit her poor car. So there she was with a dent in her car and nobody to pay for it. She had to decide if she wanted to pay out of her pocket or drive around with a big dent in the side of her car. It can be a tough choice on a small budget. She eventually saved the money and 9 months later she was able to fix her car. She was obviously upset and wished she had just sucked it up and made the payments for car insurance. One way to save is to look into cheap affordable car insurance to see how much you can really cut down your costs. There are ways out there to be able to cover your assets, you just have to do the research.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own and may vary from your experience*

ErgoBaby Review and Giveaway - Road Trip

We knew we were going to be so busy on our Road Trip and always on the go, we knew a great baby carrier was a must! My preference for this trip was the carriers made by Ergobaby. It was so great knowing that while we were on the go we still were close to our little ones with our Ergobaby original baby carrier. Ergobaby was created and designed for mobility and comfort for the parent and child in mind. This allows parents to keep your baby close while bonding with your little one and continuing your life without limits. 

Ashley and I waiting in the minivan for everyone else to get it together :)

Even at the end of a long day and into the evening we were still smiling!

The feeling and fit of the Original Carrier was great, my little one was snug as a bug the whole time whether she was awake soaking up all the fun or she was fast asleep while we enjoyed the sights on vacation. The Original Carrier was easy to snap, use and the neutral color of the Aussie Khaki "Outback" was a great choice so we could share the baby wearing duties. Not only did my 6 month old enjoy the ride, my 2 year old was just as happy to be toted around in the Ergobaby carrier. It can be worn in the front, back or hip position, and it supports babies up to 45 lbs. I wore it in the back like a backpack with my 2 year old son it in and life was good for both of us. Sometime strollers can be a hassle and many times too bulky, when you can "babywear" your little one it makes life a little easier. He loves to be close to us and to be held so this really left my hands free to do the many other things needed to be done throughout our time. Ergobaby also carriers a line of Carrier Accessories designed to make your baby carrying even easier and more convenient!


While the Ergobaby carriers are great for nice weather and vacations, I love the Lightweight Papoose Coat! This would really come in handy here in Washington and a few other places that get really cold as the weather changes.

Can't decide which Carrier you like best between the Original Carrier Collection, Sports Carrier Collection, Designer Collection , Organic Carrier Collection or any of the other Collections? Me either, they all have their purpose and would be a great choice!!  I just loved our vacation and loved having Ergobaby along for the ride!!

GIVEAWAY
 
 Win Original Collection  Aussie Khaki "Outback" ErgoBaby Carrier for your family.


To Enter This Giveaway: (mandatory entry before extra entries)


Which ErgoBaby Carrier is your favorite?

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

 

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like ErgoBaby on Facebook +1

-Follow ErgoBaby on Twitter +1

-Follow/Add to your circle  Frugal Family Tree on Google+ ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1

-Follow FrugalFamilyTree on Pinterest +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a Original Collection Baby Carrier from @ERGObaby at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 8/30 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/08/ergobaby-review-and-giveaway-road-trip.html

 

 

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts August 4 2012 and ends on August 30, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. I was provided items in this post for free to review. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax Coming to Blu-ray AUGUST 7, 2012

 DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX Coming to Blu-Ray / DVD AUGUST 7, 2012 

Plus Get Three Never-Before-Seen Mini Movies Available only on Blu-ray^™ Combo Packs for the Ultimate Experience

So happy to have his copy of The Lorax

 

 I can recall reading the Lorax Dr. Seuss story a little from being a kid. It did not mean as much as it does now. This movie my son clapped and danced to all the fun songs. For me it was inspiring, moving, which is odd since its a cartoon. The message of the movie that we should take care of the other living things around us to have a happy healthy environment is wonderful. The message of one person who cares enough can change the world brings me to tears. 

The ending of the movie will leave you smiling! This is a great film for the young and young at heart. You can visit the official Lorax Movie website to play games, tips on going green and so much more! You can get downloadable printables too.

SYNOPSIS

The imaginative world of Dr. Seuss comes to life like never before in this visually spectacular adventure from the creators of Despicable Me! Twelve-year-old Ted will do anything to find a real live Truffula Tree in order to impress the girl of his dreams. As he embarks on his journey, Ted discovers the incredible story of the Lorax, a grumpy but charming creature who speaks for the trees. Featuring the voice talents of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate and Betty White, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is filled with hilarious fun for everyone!

 

 

 

The colorful and captivating world of Dr. Seuss bursts onto the screen as never before on August 7, 2012 in the hilarious and captivating adventure, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  Available on Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray™ Combo Pack -- both featuring DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet™ so you can watch it anytime, anywhere -- Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is non-stop family fun that includes three delightfully entertaining mini movies not shown in theaters,available only on the Blu-ray^™ Combo Packs.  The film will also be available on DVD and Digital Download.   To view a trailer of the new mini movies, visit http://youtu.be/3DXU1348PHg

 

 

 

 

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax transports viewers into a fantastical landscape imagined by Dr. Seuss and vividly brought to life by Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team at Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me). Directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me) from a screenplay adapted by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (Despicable Me, HOP, Horton Hears a Who) from the 1971 children’s classic, the film is an imaginative journey that begins in the town of Thneedville, where a boy searches for the one thing he knows will win the heart of his dream girl. But in order find it, he must discover the story of the Lorax, the often grumpy but loveable protector  of Truffula Valley, in an exciting adventure filled with comedy and heart that USA Today’s Claudia Puig calls, “The right blend of funny, silly, and sweet.”

Danny DeVito (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Twins, L.A. Confidential) lends his unmistakable voice to the Lorax, the remarkable creature who “speaks for the trees,” with Ed Helms (The Hangover, The Hangover Part II, “The Office”) as his enigmatic nemesis, the Once-ler. The all-star cast also includes Zac Efron (High School Musical, The Lucky One, 17 Again) as Ted, an idealistic 12-year-old searching for the Lorax; Grammy^® Award winner Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day) as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams; Rob Riggle (The Hangover, Big Miracle) as the villainous O’Hare; Jenny Slate (Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, “SNL”) as Ted’s protective mother; and five-time Emmy^® Award winner Betty White (The Proposal, “Hot in Cleveland”) as Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.

The moment everything changes!

BLU-RAY 3D COMBO PACK AND BLU-RAY^TM COMBO PACK BONUS FEATURE EXCLUSIVES

• MINI MOVIES

• Serenade -- Two Bar-ba-loots -- one love shy and the other suave and confident -- battle for the heart of their would-be sweetheart with the help of a colorful cast of characters, including the Humming-Fish and Swomme-Swans.
• Wagon-Ho—Two Bar-ba-loots take The Once-ler’s wagon on a ride they won’t soon forget.
• Forces of Nature—Determined to scare The Once-ler out of Truffula Valley, The Lorax decides to create the illusion of ominous forces of nature.

• MAKING OF THE MINI MOVIES—Go behind the scenes at Illumination Mac Guff to see the joys and challenges of continuing the characters’ stories in the dynamic format of the mini movie.
• DELETED SCENE
• SEUSS TO SCREEN—A fascinating look into the translation of Seuss’ iconic style from book into the big feature film canvas.
• SEUSS IT UP!— A great tutorial on how to draw the Lorax, a Humming-Fish and a Bar-ba-loot in the unique Seuss style.
• TRUFFULA RUN—The player moves left and right to avoid obstacles while attempting to pick up berries with modes for easy, medium and hard.  As difficulty increases, the player will have more obstacles to avoid. 
• “LET IT GROW” SING ALONG— Karaoke-style sing along to the end credit version of Let It Grow.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH CO-DIRECTORS CHRIS RENAUD & KYLE BALDA
• ONCE-LER’S WAGON— While the Once-ler is away peddling his wares, the curious forest creatures have fun with his belongings.  Users can select an item for the creatures to mimic or play with and then watch the adorable antics of all the forest friends.

 
 
 

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON THE BLU-RAY^TM:

• GET OUT OF TOWN—In this game, the player must help Ted navigate through town on his scooter in order to make it to the Lerkim and meet the Once-ler.  At the end of each level, Ted must solve an obstacle puzzle to advance to the next section. There are three levels and three puzzles to complete to win the game. 
• O’HARE TV— Watch the Lorax with hilarious commercial interruptions courtesy of O’Hare TV.
• EXPEDITION TO TRUFFULA VALLEY—Explore and navigate within the Truffula Valley to learn more about how the characters and creatures come to life.

ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIVE COMBO PACK FEATURES

·      ULTRAVIOLET^™—The revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, store them in the cloud, and download and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smartphones. Currently available in the United States only.

·      DIGITAL COPY—Viewerscan redeem a digital version of the full-length movie from a choice of retail partners to watch on an array of electronic and portable devices.

• uHEAR™:  Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.

·      pocket BLU^™ APP—The popular free pocket BLU^™ app for smartphones is now even better with newly updated versions for iPad^®, Android^™ tablets, PC and Macintosh computers, with features made especially to take advantage of the devices’ larger screens and high resolution displays.

• Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray^™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live^™ functions with ease.
• Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
• Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray^™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
• Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU^™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray^™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
• Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.

"UNLESS Someone Like You Cares an Awful Lot, Nothing is Going to Get Better. Its Not." -Dr. Seuss

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free a copy for my review.

Water Babes

I love the summers in Washington. Most of the time. Some years are better and warmer than others, this year has been pretty good. We can't really complain. Not really hot but we have had some really beautiful warm days. Recently we went to a local park that is set on the beach, what a great way to spend the afternoon. We took our buckets down to the beach to collect rocks and shells, I really had no intention of the boys actually get in the water. I thought for sure the water was too cold, even for kids. I guess I was wrong. In a matter of moments they were both knee deep in the water with their shirts off frolicking, playing and collecting creatures.

Liam toughing it out in the cold water!

Catching the baby crabs :)

JJ checking out his catch of the day!

Insurance. We all need it.

Are you noticing as life goes on and we grow older that things like Insurance; car, life or other are more and more important? Also have you noticed the older you get the more your car insurance goes down but your life insurance goes up? We are always trying to get the best rate and the best coverage with the right company. When researching car insurance there are so many things to take into account. I am one that wants all of the coverage but really need a lower deductible just in case something does happen and I have to pay out of pocket. I have been in a few accidents in my life and while most of them were not my fault, there was one time I was the one who was at fault. I rear ended a truck at a stop light. We were all ok and nobody was seriously hurt, but the front of my car was all smashed up and things were leaking all over the place. Because it was my fault, I was the one paying for the damages. The good news was that because I had been fully covered with the right insurance my deductible was very low, only $500 to completely fix my car. If I had not been properly insured the damages to my bank account would have been thousands of dollars.That is and was something that can cause hardship a hardship in life. Not to mention my insurance covered me in case there were any medical bills from either party. I was and am very grateful to have the coverage that I need at a price that I could afford. You never know when you may need it in life. There is a lot of information out there and it can be a lot to take in and you can feel like you are on information overload. The good news is the information is out there, click here for more information and facts. There are so many ways to save on insurance, your age, marital status and driving history are all things that can help you save money. I know that before I kids I never really worried about anything other than car insurance. While car insurance is important, there are so many other ways to protect your family, you should check out all options available and make the best choice for you and your family.


*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own and may vary from your experience*

DownEast Basics Summer Outfits and Blogger Event

My favorite display in the store. I purchased the skirt shown.

Last week I was able to attend a great blogger mixer thanks to an invite from another local blogger. The DownEast Basics Blogger Event happen to be on my birthday! So cool to be able to meet some great local bloggers and shop all on my bday. We had just left an outdoor festival and planned to go to the mall to do a little birthday shopping so it was a perfect plan. The sales gals were super sweet. They had gift bags, cookies and drinks for us. My plan was to bring my mother in law but she was not feeling up to it (she has Lupus) so I brought my husband and son with me. My husband is actually fun to shop with. He tends to pick out stuff I would not think to buy, he tries to get me out of my little fashion box I tend to stick to.

Turning 31 I feel like my 30s needs to be more fashionable. Less dressing like a tshirt and jeans gal and onto the skirts and colorful tops. DownEast Basics is the perfect place to start that. They have comfy clothing that is cute, stylish and colorful. The great thing is they have sizes XXS to XXL which means you can go shopping for just about anyone in the store. I can even shop with my skinny sisters there LOL.

Super cute display with the gold frame

I purchased the Orange Flower Afternoon Picnic Skirt with my blogger gift card, THANKS DownEast Basics! I also found a white shirt for $5! I looked for an orange top like the one I made on my Pinterest Board but did not find on the fit right on my top. The tshirts are a comfy fit though. I was also looking for a Yellow Subtle Nuances Skirt that I saw on the DownEast Basics website, it was not in stock but they sales gal was nice enough to add me to the list to give me a call when it was in stock. I am loving yellows and oranges for the summer and I think will be great into the fall.

I will be back to DownEast Basics for my yellow skirt when its in stock and hopefully will have the chance to work with DownEast Basics more in the future. You can shop in stores or online for great prices. They are having a $25 and under sale on fashion tops / sweaters and a denim sale of up to 40% off.






*This is a personal post, I was not paid for this post but was provided a gift bag from DownEast Basics for the event.

Ice Age Contential Drift Arctic Games Wii Video Game Review

We enjoy playing the Wii. Its easy for my son to do and I like easy games too. The new Ice Age movie coming to theaters had us excited for the new game. We have not seen the movie yet but playing the game was fun.

Game Story:

Team up with your favorite Ice Age characters in a continental competition of glacial proportions!  Battle for treasure with the Herd and the Pirates in their craziest adventure yet!

Hop, Smash and Dash in 10 wild arctic events including Glacier Hopping, the Prehistoric Plumber, Bob-Smashing and Coconut Slingshot!
Battle for Prehistoric Plunder and win gold, silver and bronze acorns!
Climb to the top of the leaderboard as you challenge your friends in fast-paced multi-player action!
Test your skills in multiple modes including Story Mode and Free Play designed to test even the most skilled arctic athletes!

Ice Age Continental Drift™ & © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. ©2012 Activision Publishing

 My son was really excited to see the characters from the Ice Age movies on the game. We have been watching all of the Ice Age movies this month to lead up to seeing the new one in theaters.

The game was fun. Its based on a clash between the Ice Age characters and the "bad guy" Pirates. Sid finds a huge acorn full of food just as the pirates find it too. They declare a battle of games to see who will win the treasure of food. The games are easy enough for my son to play and have a fun story line to them. The game play was ideal for kids. This will be a fun game for your kids who are fans of the Ice Age movies.

You can watch the Ice Age Confidential Drift Arctic Games Video Game Trailer on Activision Game site.

My son testing out the game:

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free a copy for my review.