Under the Hood with Barbara Terry

Heading into spring cleaning season, there is no better time to consider tuning up your car by making sure you are equipped with everything you need to drive safely and maintain your vehicle’s condition over time. The words “expensive” and “stressful” are often top of mind when car owners think about servicing their vehicles. National automotive expert Barbara Terry says that doesn’t have to be the case. Barbara is partnered with Cars.com to provide the information people need to make confident decisions when it comes to dealing with their cars. Tips for women and their cars: Educate yourself. The more you know about your car, the better off you will be. Knowledge is power. Get to know your vehicle, so that you are familiar with it and the owner's manual, which will come in … [Read more...]

Winter Trunk Show with Toyota

Welcome to my version of a trunk show with the Toyota Highlander with AWD! I had fun riding around during these last few weeks of winter with this Nautical Blue Highlander. While we might be safely out of the harsh weather here in the 'burbs of Washington, DC that is not the case everywhere. So I put together a handy list of what I stock my car with each winter and some additional items just to stay safe. I polled TMC readers asking them what items they keep in their cars and trucks in the cold winter months and in case they need to do snow plowing.  Here are the most popular and important.  Unless you live in Alaska, then you might want to add a sleeping bag and jumper cables to the mix. Stay winter-ready with snow removal company MJ Landscapers in Oakville. Their professional … [Read more...]

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD 2.0T

Source: Victoria Mason Some rides are worth getting excited for.  The 2015 Santa Fe Sport with AWD from Hyundai is one of those vehicles.  Right away I was drawn to the Canyon Copper color that sparkled in the sun while the dual panel sun roof beckoned me to take a ride and enjoy a day where we finally had blue skies. Source: Hyundaiusa.com Style-wise the Santa Fe Sport is ready for its close-up.  I reviewed this car in the past (non-Sport model) and liked it and it has only improved over time.  That's what Hyundai is all about these days.  They made a crossover vehicle that performs well, is a pleasure to drive and has a dose of fun included in the Sport model.  The interior is roomy without taking up too much space and really comfortable and well-appointed. Inside the Santa Fe … [Read more...]

2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD

Source: Mazdausa.com I'm sometimes reluctant to get car reviews in the dead of winter.  Not only can the car get super dirty on the inside and outside, there is also an extra car to shovel out (#firstworldbloggerproblem) but I worry that I might do something to it in inclement weather.  It's all in the name of writing the review though, right? … [Read more...]

6 Wicked Easy Winter Driving Tips

Being from New England I grew up surrounded by bad winter weather and people who took precautions when driving in it.  The winter I learned to drive was one of the worst we had in a long time.  I lived on a hill that was often covered in ice.  It was no joke getting to school my senior year. I totally have my share of "when I was growing up... " stories about driving in winter weather. Here are some of the best tips I know and use to this day.   … [Read more...]

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC

Source: veamason "It's short and squatty." That is just what my five year-old first said when she took a look at the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC.  This four-door crossover SUV arrived at my door in a sharp Mercury Gray with black interior.  It did look short and squat, but so what, it is a crossover SUV.   The grill has a predatory look to it that always makes me smile and it zips around highways with a speed that surprised me. Here's why. … [Read more...]

2015 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

Source: veamason I have always had a thing for dark blue cars.  I wanted a navy sedan years ago and ended up with desert sand beige. The Deep Crystal Blue on a Mazda CX-5 is a beautiful thing.  Much like the Soul Red 2014 version I reviewed last year ,  the Mazda colors have depth and the sleek lines on the car stand out making the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring with AWD an attractive small crossover SUV.  … [Read more...]

Ford & OPI OH MY!

You all know how much I love mixing fashion with cars. They are two of my big loves that go together like peanut butter and chocolate like on this peanut butter cookies recipe or birthdays and cake. That's why I'm so excited to be teaming up with Ford for their collaboration with OPI for nail colors inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. … [Read more...]

The Audi A6 & More Pieces of Me

This week I'm so excited to have Carylee from More Pieces of Me guest posting over here about her new Audi A6! A gorgeous car to be sure and Carylee proves that fashion and cars are a match made in heaven. Hey, everyone! I'm Carylee and I blog over at More Pieces of Me. I recently acquired this gorgeous 2014 Audi A6 Prestige Supercharge Quattro with the black optic package in Daytona Grey. I got excited to try it asap. I was so flattered and excited when Vicky asked me to do a guest post not only about my new car, but about an outfit inspired by the car! Wow! How fun!  … [Read more...]

Family Fun in the 2014 Nissan NV200

  The Nissan NV200, commonly seen on the streets of NYC in full-on taxi mode arrived at our house on one of the last weeks of school.  I looked at it and thought, "What on earth am I going to do with that?"  Turns out, a whole lot. If you're a taxi owner, ensure that you check out these tailored options for your taxi's insurance. … [Read more...]