Sunday I was at the Wolfgang Puck

Saturday I was at the Walmart fuming when I noticed they weren’t carrying my favorite caffeine powdered beverage and had filled the shelves with Great Value brand sugary kool-aid drink. Sunday I was at the Wolfgang Puck in Detroit feasting upon herbalicious flat bread, fancy salad with mystery plants, and the best tasting steak I have ever experienced in my life. In fact, the steak was so big it had a bone and I think I had a foodgasm.

Until I tasted the dessert.

Perhaps I don’t have refined enough taste, but the “chocolate” dessert they served us reminded me either of

1.) a mouse, 2.) a rat or

3.) can you possibly imagine what my kids said?

It really didn’t taste that great either. In fact, I’m still not sure what flavor it was hence the word chocolate in quotation marks above.

The main thing that bothered me about Wolfgang Puck was my lack of etiquette skills the lack of ranch dressing and Dr Pepper. The missing Dr Pepper wasn’t too surprising since I had been forewarned that Yankees don’t typically keep Nectar of the Gods stocked in restaurants, but not stockpiling ranch dressing kind of had me feeling butthurt. Fortunately the steak and potatoes made up for my disappointment. The waiters also graciously laid my cloth napkin in my lap and peppered my food for me–although I also didn’t realize I was supposed to tell the waiters when to stop peppering until after they’d blackened my food. So, Mr. Puck there you have it from one southerner whose fanciest restaurant before you was Chili’s–my off the wall review of my very first four course dinner.

(By the way Wolfgang, I know you were in town that night because you were on one of my fellow blogger’s same flight and I just wanted to let you know how much I loved that steak. In fact if you would have shown yourself to me Sunday night at your restaurant I was going to whisper sweet nothings about that steak in your ear.)

After my novel experience at the Wolfgang Puck of Detroit we then made our way to a cocktail party to socialize with other journalists and auto bloggers. Andie Smith a Dallas based freelance photographer, Jane Devin of Finding My America, Connie Burke of GM, and I chatted for a bit and then ditched that place for few minutes to tour the casino grounds for a bit. Connie got the gambling bug, but it was Jane who raked in the dough that night. It was too bad that I don’t have a passport yet and could not have made our way south to Canada for some more fun (although I keep hearing there’s tons of strip joints so we’d just have to skip those places. Also someone else told me I can get milk in a bottle in Canada and I really want to try something vintage like that. I also wonder if I can get caffeine by the pill up there since it seems like I can buy every other pill from the looks of my spam folder.).

My fun in Detroit didn’t stop at the Wolfgang Puck or the casino. I had so many new adventures to experience, laughs to laugh, candid moments to photograph over the next two days. Oh and I had to work like a crazy woman on speed (which is why that caffeine would have really come in handy). I can’t wait to show y’all the newest vehicles and concepts to come out with the various automakers at the North American International Auto Show with just a touch of humor–just a touch, who am I kidding?

Seriously though, General Motors kept us so busy I can feel every muscle in my legs, feet, and toes. I almost couldn’t make it out of bed this morning to get my children ready for school, but I did because I’m not like my husband who makes our children four hours late for school because he forgot it was Monday. True story my friends.

PS: The whole Walmart reference up there is to honor Andie Smith and Jane Devin who joined me in Detroit for the auto show and made fun of basked in my love for all things Walmart.

PPS: I wonder how many other writers have put both Walmart and Wolfgang Puck in the same paragraph.

Disclosure: General Motors paid for my patdown free flight, Dr Pepper free Wolfgang Puck four course dinner, hotel at the Marriott (just wait til I tell that story), cocktail party that we ditched, as well as basically everything else. I only include this disclosure because the FCC makes me, not because I want to brag. Now if GM can buy me some etiquette lessons we’ll all be covered and the world will be a safer place–and then I could gloat. But nah, I’d never do that.

Full Disclosure

Celebrating My Twenty-Ninth Birthday

Friday I celebrated my 29th birthday! I’ve been looking forward to this birthday for over a year because it means I am just that much closer to the magical age of 30 when others will take me seriously based on my age. I’ll be all grown up and mature–or at least that is what others will think. That is if I quit being carded for spray paint at the Wally World.

As my chiropractor said as I lifted my face off the tissue paper last week after he adjusted my back, “You know, having an oily face is a good thing, because it means you’ll age slower.”

Yah, well it also means that you still break out in zits thankyouverymuch.

Seeing as my birthday also falls on New Years Day, the same day most people traditionally declare resolutions, I can’t find a good reason to go along with what could be the number one goal of most people: Go On A Diet.

Besides the fact that I don’t like to follow anything where the first three letters are “DIE”, I also automatically forfeit that goal when my birthday cake is presented to me. Or should I say birthday cakeS? That’s right ladies and gentlemen…I had three birthday cakes this year.

Three.

As I said, there is no point in making New Years Resolutions in the dieting department over here.

I had a grand birthday party with my friends also after celebrating with my family. We ate homemade quesadillas on Donna’s new quesadilla maker (just under $20 at Target–yes, I bought one the next day).

Then we watched The Princess Bride in Donna’s cozy theater. By the way, the Cliffs of Insanity look more insane on Blu-Ray. Inconceivable. (Andie got me the Princess Bride Book, which is also probably the only book I’ll read all year.)

I had a wonderful birthday Friday spending time with my family and celebrating with my friends. We laughed, we talked, we shot marshmallows across the living room, Donna’s husband flew helicopters in the house, I caught Andie shying away from the camera.

I also caught Andie taking photographs of me blowing out my candles on two cakes at once. But not until after I’d gotten home.

But that’s what she gets for stealing our friend LaShawn’s famous look.

You wouldn’t know that though since I’ve neglected to post LaShawn posing so. I only know that because I just sifted through thousands of photos on my computer so I could show you an example and couldn’t find a single one. Just take my word for it.

My Interview with Tim Herrick of GM

Last week I had the opportunity of interviewing Tim Herrick, General Motor’s Global Chief Engineer of Global Crossover Vehicles. I first met Tim Herrick at Texas Motor Speedway before the truck races the weekend of the 2009 Dickies 500. If you read that post, then you will recall that I decided I’d do an impromptu interview with Tim while he tried to keep me from falling off the back of a golf cart. However, since I’ve never really interviewed anyone before besides an elderly lady at a nursing home when I was a junior in high school (and I really screwed that interview up because of my timidness–i.e. the interview didn’t get done), then you can imagine my trepidation as I asked GM’s Global Chief Engineer of Global Crossover Vehicles the following two questions:

1.) What is your favorite feature of the Equinox?
2.) What feature would you not take away from the Equinox?

As you know, I totally forgot what he said in answer to those two questions immediately after the words came out of his mouth. Actually, this is what I remember: “Yadda yadda yadda Safety yadda yadda yadda safety yadda {something technical here} yadda safety safety.”

Which is why I should be fired.

A few days later I received an email from a General Motors’ employee asking if I’d like to reinterview Tim Herrick over the phone so he could answer the two questions above. I thought about it for a day and then told them: Sure! Why not? I mean, what’s the worse that could happen? We’re not on the back of a golf cart so it’s not like he can throw me off for having a weird sense of humor.

Once the interview was scheduled, I went to my readers and friends on my Facebook page and asked y’all what I should ask Mr. Herrick, General Motors’ Global Chief Engineer for Global Crossover Vehicles. Mike suggested I ask Tim if he gets paid by the letter in his job title–and I almost did just to be funny–but I let that one rest for now. I should probably also note that most of the questions I asked Tim came directly from Mike, cause we all know I am not smart enough to come up with professional questions myself.

Note: I should probably also admit that I don’t know how to record interviews over the phone, so I wrote everything I could that Tim said onto a piece of notebook paper. Later, I had to decipher my own scribbled handwriting, so the following may or may not be an exact account of my conversation with Tim Herrick.

My Interview with Tim Herrick of General Motors:

Me: How does General Motors (GM) define a Crossover? Is is basically an SUV on a car chassis?

Tim Herrick: Yadda yadda yadda yadda. Something very technical here. Yadda yadda yadda.

Me: Um…that just went right over my head. I didn’t get a thing you just said. Could explain that in simpler terms?

Tim: Well, okay…What kind of vehicles do you own?

Me: A Ford minivan and Ford truck.

Tim: Well, if you look underneath your minivan, you’ll see that it is not built on a frame which means that it will pull less than your truck. A truck is built on a frame, like an SUV, and can carry and pull much higher loads than your van can. A Crossover is somewhere between a car and a minivan, but in the shape of an SUV. It is lighter in weight, steers and handles like a car, but also gets much better gas mileage than what is typical in a minivan at the same time carrying and pulling much of what your minivan can.

Me: Why such an aggressive Crossover strategy? 

Tim: We have the largest growing segment of Crossovers on the market. The Traverse, Enclave, Acadia, Equinox, Terrain…the Crossover market is growing and we are growing with it.

Me: Have you ever had a so-called Mommy Blogger interview you? Why do you think it is important to obtain insight from mothers on vehicles they are likely to purchase?

Tim: Well, from a non-engineering standpoint and from my interactions at Texas Motor Speedway where not one mainstream media outlet interviewed us, what I got from that experience is that GM is gaining traction on what’s important to our customers. Women make over 50% (and I think that percentage is higher–perhaps even 60-70%) of the purchasing decisions in a household. Women tell us what they want in terms of features for vehicles. Women also take into consideration the value and safety of a vehicle they are purchasing.

As a mother, you understand the importance of safety when researching vehicles. Not only are we the safest company to be working for (we begin each of our big meetings going over safety), but we have the safest vehicles to purchase.

Me: Of all the things I forgot you said when you answered my questions at Texas Motor Speedway, I remember you mentioned the word “safety” at least three or four times. How would you rate the safety of GM’s Crossovers?

Tim: Our Crossovers have the highest safety ratings and meet all new standards of safety. Our Crossovers have received 5 stars across the board.

Me: If I send you the photographs I took of you at Texas Motor Speedway, would you sign two and send them back to me?

Tim: Like for…

Me: Well, did you see the photographs I put up of you on Flickr?

Tim: Not sure if it was Flickr, but I saw one that you put up of me on your blog. I really liked it and showed it to my kids. They teased me about it.

Me: Oh good! Well that’s the one I want you to sign. I want one since I reviewed the 2010 Equinox, which I love by the way, and my friend, Andie, wants one to hang in her Equinox. It’s blueberry colored.

Tim: Sure! I’d love to!


Post Script: I still forgot to ask Tim Herrick the original two questions (see above). So pretty much, if you want the answers to those questions, you’re going to either have to ask Tim yourself or maybe he’ll leave his answers in a comment on this blog.

Post Post Script: I may or may not have misquoted Tim in this interview, because again I had to read through my really bad nervous handwriting when typing this post.

PPPS: Those photographs are in the mail like yesterday.

Does It Feel Like Christmas Yet?

I prepared fish, bread, vegetables, and latkes for fifty women at church last Thursday. We broke bread, ate cheese, woofed down desserts.

Does it feel like Christmas yet?

We listened to talks about Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. We remembered the many miracles Jesus performed. (I discovered how to turn off the beep on my camera so not to ruin everyone’s spiritual moment.)

Does it feel like Christmas yet?

I fancied all the beautiful decorations–the nativities, the lights, the floral arrangements. I took comfort in the beautiful singing, the angels, the prepared food.

Does it feel like Christmas yet?

Then I remembered the true meaning of Christmas: Not all about pricey gifts and fabulous parties. Instead, about Jesus Christ’s miraculous birth and glorious, yet humble, life.

I gave thanks to Heaven.

And coveted my neighbor’s shoes.

Homemade Marshmallows

You thought I was kidding, right?

I’m a Rookie

Last month, I was making my way up to Texas Motor Speedway from my home in North Texas. I was nervously excited for a night at the speedway since I had never been to any kind of race before and I didn’t know anyone else that was attending that evening.

I parked my van, looked across the parking lot at the magnificent Texas Motor Speedway, and then spent the next forty-five minutes searching for the Chevy Tent to sign in. Wouldn’t you know that I had only passed up the Chevy Tent three times.

Cause that’s how I roll.

When I finally found the tent, I signed in, handed over my drivers license, and then proudly put on my VIP Bling. Then I stood like a dork because I didn’t know anyone else around me. I hope no one noticed how panicked I felt, and if you did please don’t tell me. I really felt like Jenny the Bloggess at that moment and wanted to hide underneath the 2010 Chevy Silverado Texas Edition.

Then finally John White with General Motors gathered us in a big circle and starting speaking. Now tell me this–doesn’t John look a lot like Woody Harrelson in King Pin just with more hair? I still can’t remember what John does with GM, because the twenty-hundred times he told me all I could think of was, “Dang he looks like Woody Harrelson. I wonder if they’re cousins and don’t even know it. Maybe I should ask him if he’s been Munsoned. Or at least if he likes bowling.”

I have no idea what John talked about for the ten minutes or so that he spoke. I introduced myself, the other people in the group introduced themselves, and then I got hooked up to sit next to Tim Herrick in the golf cart on the trip to the Chevy Drive area.

Tim Herrick is the engineer for the crossover vehicles with General Motors and specifically engineered the Chevy Equinox (the same vehicle I reviewed over the summer). He is a gentleman and tried to keep me from falling off the back of the golf cart several times.

He even answered a couple questions I asked about the Chevy Equinox, specifically:

1.) What is your favorite feature of the Equinox?
2.) What feature would you not take away from the Equinox?

I hope you’re not looking forward to his answers to these two burning questions, because, again, I was so nervous I totally forgot what he said.

Once we arrived to the Chevy Drive area, I hopped in the 2010 Chevy Malibu and drove around the course scaring the guide next to me as I peeled around the turns. I should let you know right here that if you are looking into getting a car that has great steering and maneuverability, the 2010 Chevy Malibu is for you. I know I could have done some totally rad donuts in that car if I hadn’t thought the guide next to would have freaked out. Are you the type of person that gets lost quite a lot? The Chevy Malibu can make perfect U-turns…

As we prepared to enter the Texas Motor Speedway to watch the drivers perform practice laps and to eat our catered light (yah right) dinner, I shot this scene of the sunset reflecting onto the speedway:

Once again, we hopped into the golf carts and began our journey down into the center of the  Texas Motor Speedway. We ate catered food and chatted for a little bit. I found Trish (twitter: @BouncingCoCo) and her friend there and proceeded to have a great time as my nervousness wore off. Trish, her friend, and I moved along to the crowd forming where two men gave us instructions for the Driver Introductions. I honest to God thought that Driver Introductions were all about two or three drivers introducing themselves to us. When Chevy told me that I’d be driving one of the racing drivers around the Texas Motor Speedway track, all I could think was, “You’ve got to be kidding me. You really don’t know what you’re getting yourself into by asking me to do this.”

Oh my sweetness they did not know what they were getting themselves into.

Into the 2010 Chevy Silverado I sat like a scared plucked chicken. Donna with General Motors got into the seat next to me. I was so nervous I couldn’t figure out how to turn off the headlights. I was so nervous my hands began to shake. I gave my camera over to Donna and told her she had to take the photographs. She told me she couldn’t because her hands shook. I looked at with a so-what expression and told her she still had to take photographs and that I adjusted the settings so she’d have a hard time screwing the photographs up. Then it was time to begin driving.

As I pulled onto the speedway track and turned left towards the stage, I began waving at the crowds. Cheers and whistles blew up from the stands. I was having a nervously grand time! Then the Number 15 gasman came over to us and chatted. He says he’s gonna be my Facebook friend, but I have yet to see him on there. Maybe I scared him off.

Then the line began moving.

I watched as the drivers got introduced one by one on the big screen and then jumped into the back of the Silverados. Too quickly, it was my turn to pick up a driver. I pulled up, Number 25 or 29 or some-other-number got into the back of my truck and I carefully proceeded driving away, watching the driver’s nice rear in his black and yellow uniform in my rearview mirror. That is why they call it a rearview mirror you know.

Of course, I was so busy carefully glimpsing this driver’s rear that I completely forgot that I was supposed to drive all the way around the speedway track. So I turned left back down towards, well I don’t know where I was going, then had to turn back right, then slow down to an almost stop, all while the poor, probably embarrassed driver, yelled to me, “Go! Go! Keep straight…Where are you going?!”

Donna, laughing, yelled out the window back to him, “Sorry! She’s a rookie!”

To which I yelled, also laughing, “Sorry! I have no idea what in the world I am doing!”

And then Donna and I laughed the entire way around the speedway track. I had never had so much fun in my adult life before. Here I was, meeting the greats of racing, and I will probably always be remembered by this driver as the Chick Who Embarrassed the Hades Out of Me at the 2009 Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350.

If he can get all that out in one breath.

Much thanks to Chevy and BurbMom for a great experience at Texas Motor Speedway!

It was the Pits

I’ve never looked forward to being in the pits before this last weekend. Deep down in the middle of the pits. No, not those kinds of pits. The racing pits. The NASCAR pits. Where the smell of grease and exhaust is entrancing and the smell of sweaty armpits ever rampant. Where I could have farted and should have blamed it on one of the rednecks.

Our Pit Tour got a jump start with our VIP passes–cause that’s how we roll.

Oh, and this guy with the Chevy beanie who took our drivers licenses.

First, he led us towards the Texas Motor Speedway across the parking lot. I was ever so nonchalant snapping photos every few seconds. (In fact, in all I took over 700 photographs from the beginning of the day until after the races. Yes, I went a tad overboard. Like when I had to take a photograph of a Fort Worth fireman, well, just because.)

Remember how I told you that the VIP bathrooms rocked? Well, this is what everybody else had to use:

Notice no lines. Either someone puked in there or it’s the result of very careful placing by event planners.

The Speedway Club:

The inside of Texas Motor Speedway on our tour:

The guy who forgot which sporting event he was attending and was lucky he didn’t get decked by a drunk redneck for that mistake:

Then the guy with the Chevy beanie hat gave us back our drivers licenses and we were then free to wander the pits.

I have no idea what these dudes are doing, but they look like they are working hard.

Unlike this dude who looked like he was hardly working. My friend, Andie, even asked him, “So, are y’all playing Go Fish up there?” That got him to smile.

Post Script: Andie and LaShawn are in love with #33, Clint Bowyer. I think they’re gonna be eating Cheerios and Hamburger Helper the rest of the month. Who ever said that Cheerios and Hamburger Helper were just for broke college students, cause Andie and LaShawn sure didn’t get the memo. (I speak from experience here folks, having been a poor college student once in my lifetime. Crap. I’m still poor. Just not in college anymore.)

Need proof? I bought a lug nut off the Dollar Menu at The Pit:

And I discovered where the best mechanics in the world work. Their specialty–Bare Bond. Bera Bond. Bear Bond. Like duct tape on steroids. I hear they use it to silence the whiny drivers.

The Garage:

Then it was time to find our seats in the Grand Stands before the Dickies 500 began, so down the tunnels we went.

There was writing on the wall which reminded me of this song:

Not a very good racing type song, and I really can’t imagine any NASCAR driver actually listening to it cause I think it’d either slow them down or make them crash. Wait. Maybe Jimmie Johnson…

What he should have been listening to was this:

Yes, much better racing mood music.

Why exactly I’ve become a NASCAR fan I can’t entirely figure out. Certainly it has something to do with my Chevy VIP experience for my first time ever attending a NASCAR race, yet I’d like to think it also has tons to do with my curiosity for everything fast-paced, down home, dirty, and redneck.

That’s right–I LOVE NASCAR.

Probably because it’s the only sport I understand. Turn left, be the fastest, tape your fender, fill up with gas. Perfectly straight forward.

Stayed tuned…there’s still the Dickies 500 race to come. How I’m supposed to make that funny, I haven’t the slightest.

Old Alton Bridge Part Deux

Our family loves going on hikes, camping together, and fun adventures. Every so often we revisit some of the more local spots for a few hours (or a couple days) of excitement and family time. In fact, this last Saturday we did just that revisiting the Pilot Knoll trail near the Old Alton Bridge (Goatman’s Bridge) in far north Copper Canyon with our eldest son’s cub scout troop. Legend has it that this bridge is haunted by The Goatman, so you know I had to tell the cub scouts and their siblings the scary tale–in keeping with my favorite holiday, Halloween.

Of course, this bridge is also the subject of less haunting historical accounts. It was first constructed in 1884 and served foot and cattle traffic of the now nonexistent town of Alton. Alton was once the seat of Denton County, but was deemed unfavorable due to frequent local flooding.  It is also the spot of a shoot out between Texas Rangers and the infamous outlaw, Sam Bass. Legend has it that Sam Bass buried stolen money here and never recovered it.

Some of the things that I love so much about hikes have a lot to do with the mystery and unknown. I find hikes and other outdoor activities highly unpredictable, which is why you probably won’t find me at a big city museum unless someone else is buying and driving. Quite contrary when you consider that I am an artist myself. For me, the great outdoors is magical and awe-inspiring, yet also unpredictably ever-changing. I may hike one trail and come back a few days later and find the scenery changed, the sounds completely different, and the weather 180-degree turn around.

With proper preparation and a little know-how, hiking can be a fun adventure for the entire family. The Pilot Knoll trail is a great starter trail, because the portion we hike is short and easy for children or beginners. We ensure we bring a backpack filled with drinks and granola bars. It is always a good idea to bring a cell phone with you just in case (and in this case it works, because we’re still close to cell towers).

To get to the Pilot Knoll trail, you will need to follow these easy directions from Flower Mound: Take FM 407 (Justin Road) west to Chinn Chapel Road; turn right (north). Travel a few miles down the road where the road will make a split at the railroad tracks. You will need to merge to the right and go over the railroad tracks (you will be now on Old Alton Road). The road will go into a low area and you’ll travel for a short ways until you see a concrete bridge ahead. Next to this bridge you’ll also see the Old Alton Bridge, a red colored steel truss bridge. Go over the concrete bridge and immediately turn right into the gravel parking lot and park. MAP

There are a few fun things that you can do at the Old Alton Bridge:

1. Fish in the Hickory Creek below the bridge or downstream. There are several fishing spots. You will need a fishing license and follow regulations. I once saw an alligator gar in there.
2. Hike the first trail (Elm Fork Trail) that goes past the benches and is straight ahead. This is a short hike, and in my opinion not as pretty as the the next one.
3. Hike across the Old Alton Bridge which will become the Pilot Knoll trail. Watch ahead for interesting spiders like this garden orb spider

and this ornate orb:

Look below for the nonvenomous rough green snake:

Keep looking below, because like most woods in North Texas it is also home to venomous water mocassins and copperheads. If you don’t know what kind of snake it is, don’t touch it. Be careful of fallen leaves on the sides of the trails as copperheads blend in well with them. I DO NOT RECOMMEND PICKING UP SNAKES. It is possible you may also come upon a rattlesnake, although I have never seen one out here before.

Now that I’ve scared all the city folk away:

If you do decide to visit the Old Alton Bridge at the right time of the year, you may also have the opportunity to taste one of nature’s treats: the wild mustang (muscadine) grape. Mustang grapes typically ripen from July to October in North Texas with the majority ripening from mid July to late August depending on weather conditions. They taste sour on their own, but make a great jelly and as my grandmother can attest a great moonshine as well. Reminder: Only pick plants and eat that you are certain of being edible. You get sick or die–not my fault.

Usually where I like to end my hike with children is at the farm fence the trail runs into and follows. At this point, the property owner’s donkey’s usually meet us for a quick pet. We’ve seen wild turkeys in the pasture and occasional deer nearby. You do have the option of continuing your hike from here, but be forewarned the total hike from the end of the trail to the beginning is nearly eight miles long. Stopping at the fence line is smart if you have young children with you.

Good Times at the Chevy Mom Event

So far so good–my smallest urchin hasn’t told his brothers what kind of fun he had yesterday at the State Fair of Texas…yet. Boy did we have fun! Nothing starts a day at the state fair quite like letting a four-year-old test drive Lightening McQueen at the Chevy Kids Test Drive area–especially when that four-year-old is my kid.

Crash!

After a close call with death in the bumper car arena we decided to do a little coloring…well we should really mean my little man and my old man.

Both were very proud of their artwork.

I think my husband’s picture was the oldest entrant in the contest.

In honor of my husband, I thought of a little poem that goes like this:

If that poem scared you, then don’t look at the following series of photographs…and please if you know Falcon the Helium Balloon Boy, please don’t show him these photos of my son inside the 2010 Chevy Traverse ever. He may get ideas:

If I ever can’t find my kids, I am looking in the back of my van first.

Good memories were fostered, fun times captured at the Chevy Mom Event sponsored by BurbMom and Chevy. There was additional feeding into my addiction of the internet where I sneaked off for a few minutes and checked my blog. Proof of my addiction:

I decided I’d practice with my camera and photograph some other children exploring their creativity coloring at the tables. Some of the children were easy photographing subjects.

Others not so much. Pretty much the look on this dude’s face is, “Lady, back off with the camera.” Love his eyes!

Then it was time for prizes and to see who would be randomly chosen as the Coloring Champ (I think my husband secretly hoped he would win the grand prize). But no, this sweet girl won instead and my husband’s heart was crushed.

I on the other hand won this nifty leather Texas-shaped paperweight. Perfect for this Texan gal.

After winning the paperweight, my life was complete for the day. I thanked the BurbMoms, grabbed some nachos to eat, and found some animals to pet…but not necessarily in that order.

Disclosure: Chevy paid for my parking and tickets to the State Fair, not to mention my nachos too, so nanna nanna boo boo. First posted at Screwed Up Texan.

2010 Chevy Equinox – Teaching Me New Tricks

Don’t forget, you can have your own chance to test drive several new cars by Chevy, including the 2010 Equinox2010 Camaro this Thursday at the Chevy Tent at the State Fair of Texas.  Check out the Best of Burb Mom category on our sidebar for more information about Thursday’s Party!

A month ago, I approached General Motors with the proposition to allow me to drive one of their vehicles for free in exchange for blogging and tweeting about my experience. I’ve never driven an SUV, and over the last couple years I have realized that my mommy minivan no longer serves it’s intended purpose to carry around painting supplies for my mural business. To my surprise and joy, General Motors agreed to allow me to drive the 2010 Chevy Equinox for eight days.

Monday the 2010 Chevy Equinox arrived at my home. My kids couldn’t be more proud.

As soon as the representative from GM left my home, I grabbed the keys to the 2010 Chevy Equinox and took my youngest and Lily on a ride around town, but not before pulling out the trusty user’s manual so I could figure out how to release the parking break:

First things I noticed about my drive were the incredibly comfortable seats, remarkably smooth and quiet ride, easy steering, and quick breaking. Additional features I instantly fell in love with are OnStar, Turn by Turn Navigation, rear camera backup system, remote start, and XM Radio. I was absolutely not expecting to enjoy a vehicle this much so quickly!

Soon enough, it was time to pick up a friend and let her feel the experience. I chose one of my most discerning friends and also a fellow mom to ride along with me. She enjoyed right off the top: 1.) smooth ride, yet comfortable enough she could still feel the road; 2.) Turn by Turn Navigation which could probably come in handy with her job as a mail carrier. In fact, she ended up calling me the very next day when she needed directions to an office. Heck, the Turn by Turn Navigation was a life-saver when I was simply looking for a McDonald’s for my kids.

Even Lily enjoyed the ride–remarking that the leather seats were a welcome relief from the heat outside–cool to her belly.

By the way, what is up with dogs and garbage trucks? I will never understand that need!

One feature that is taking me some time getting used to is the location of the power/child lock button. I am so used to it being positioned on the door that it took me some time to find it on the console. What concerns me about the location of these buttons is that it is in too central a location for my kids to easily reach. (Maybe it’s just my kids.) Part of me likes the control of having it on the driver’s door rest, and yet I also see the convenience of having it on the console so an adult passenger can reach it. For now it is okay as long as A.) my kids don’t touch it; B.) my dog doesn’t lock me out for not taking her on a walk (she already ate my window screen and my friend’s blinds). She’s a young dog, so I am sure she can learn some new tricks.

This weekend we are taking the 2010 Chevy Equinox on a road trip and camping to the Hill Country. The 2010 Chevy Equinox is a Crossover vehicle getting 32 mpg on the highway for a possible 600 miles on one tank of gas. I’ll be filling up the roomy cargo area with camping gear and food, then I’ll be reporting back to you my adventures/misadventures. Pray for General Motors that my kids don’t destroy the Equinox in the meantime.

Read more of Allie’s adventures at Screwed Up Texan.

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