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...]
2014 Mazda Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring Take a moment and look at the lines on that Mazda Mazda3. This is not your standard 5-door hatchback style car. When I was told I could review one I agreed but admittedly my expectations were low. I wasn't feeling the whole 5-door factor. The car arrived and I liked the color, Soul Red Metallic and instantly fell in love with the sleek lines. The interior stole my heart in seconds. Sporty, stylish and super soft almond and black leather seats. First, I love the simplicity of this car. The interior is refined, uncomplicated and has a display for navigation that sits on top of the dashboard rather than in it. Not everyone loves this feature, but I did. I don't care how throwback it looks. It was easier to see maps, what was playing on … [Read more...]
Disclosure: TMC was not paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Cars provided by Drive STI. Opinions are TMC's only. All new 2014 Kia Soul When I was told that the Kia Soul would be staying with us for a week during spring break, I became a little giddy. How much fun would this little car be to drive around with my girls while we did all our special activities during the week? Then, I panicked. Would I be able to fit three kids into the back of a Kia Soul? … [Read more...]
Disclosure: TMC was not paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only courtesy of Drive STI. Opinions are TMC's only. The stylish Sonata Limited seats five. I fit one booster, one child with no seat and a car seat in my Sonata for the week. … [Read more...]
Scene: RE and I are sitting at the kitchen table having a chat over our breakfast.TD: Mommy, you are going to live longer than Daddy.V: I am? Why do you say that?TD: Beee-cawsz YOU are one of US! (as she looks across the room at her younger sister.)Maybe all those Newsweek, Economist magazines and newspapers they pretend to read are actually infiltrating their young minds. … [Read more...]
I can be a bit of a control freak. I like things to be done certain ways and when they aren't well, I tend to get a bit, uh, testy. You are sitting there completely shocked right now, I know.When The Comedian started eating cereal straight from the bag yesterday morning I looked at her and TD and declared it, "Totally Untamed Tuesday!" I was going to just let things go. For a day. My friend, Kristen would say I was letting go of my "New England hang-ups sensibilities". So I let the kids eat cereal out of the bag. I let them put cereal in sippy cups with milk and try to eat it that way. We made an impromptu trip to "Crazy Town" as TD calls it and when the book store we were visiting wasn't open yet (an hour late!) I just 'Meh'd' it and we took … [Read more...]
I don't like dressing my kids in cartoon characters. It's a real pet peeve of mine. Cars, Disney Princesses, Dora the Explorer, what have you. It looks cheap and makes your kid a walking billboard for stuff that doesn't need any more advertisement. I mean, really, Disney. Really? They need another dime from me? Bah! Giving more money to Disney is like giving more money to Mr. Burns. Neither of them need more money. … [Read more...]
It's a busy here. Actually, when isn't it busy here? I've got three kids under five. One of which does all of the following and more in a single day-"Mom! The Comedian has food coloring!" Yes, she did. I entered the kitchen just as she was about to squeeze out drops of yellow food coloring onto the kitchen floor. Next to her feet was an uncorked bottle of wine she had also seized from the pantry. I don't know what kind of party she had in mind but I wasn't down with it. That same day she clogged the upstairs bathroom with toilet paper and then proceeded to take all the paper out and throw it on the bathroom walls. Before I even got to that I had to pick up an unopened box of ob tampons that were all over the bathroom floor and in the tub. The … [Read more...]
It occurred to me the other day as I was jammin' out to some funk music (p-funk, g-funk, disco-inspired, 80s stripped, whatever I can't get enough) in my grocery getter that I am subjecting my kids to music that is akin to what my grandparents made me listen to as a child. Back then, in the 80s with all its big hair and synthesizers spinning like a record right around the Top 40 dial, they would sit back in the cushy boat-sized beige car and play Big Band sounds. Ah, the 1940s. My love of funk (OK, funk is even older by origin so geez) and its 70s sister music disco and even very early rap are now um, entering into their fortieth decade of existence. This my friends, is frightening. Even my iPod is engraved with the phrase, "Don't fake the funk." I am … [Read more...]
Cross-posted and archived from DC Metro Moms. Original post from February 27, 2008. My daughter turned two this weekend. Yes, I know, it is hard to believe. I can barely wrap my brain around it either. However, you know what the hardest part of her turning two was for me? It was- To have a party or not to have a party? It was the ultimate question on my mind. What would people think if we opted out of this birthday milestone? Would we be labeled as bad, unloving parents?I drove myself mad with this conundrum. I wanted so badly for her birthday to go right I kind of freaked out. There were blog posts about it. I consulted friends and family. Everyone had an opinion and an idea of what I should be doing or forgetting all together. When it came right down to it I felt like my … [Read more...]