Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S Showed Me How To Get To Sesame Street

November 16, 2018

I had the opportunity to visit the studio where Sesame Street is recorded for an event with Chrysler to unveil the new Pacifica Hybrid S and it was amazing! I was given this opportunity because Claudia Krusch from Trendy Latina had a last minute change in her flight and needed coverage from NYC.

Claudia didn’t tell me the details of what I was going to see because she likes to surprise people. I was VERY surprised when I was told I’d be going on a tour of the Sesame Street set! Sesame Street will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary next year; and I grew up watching Sesame Street. I NEVER in my life have thought that I would go on the actual set of Sesame Street.

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S and Sesame Street Event

The event was sponsored by Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S and Sesame Street at George’s Restaurant at Kaufman Astoria Studios. When I arrived, I was warmly greeted by Lisa and Christine from Chrysler and Beatrice from Sesame Street. This was my first car event and I wanted to do a great job for Claudia. Having such a warm welcome was a pleasure.

I was there with a small group of writers and influencers and we were given a presentation about the new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S model, took photographs of the car to share and then went on the tour of the Sesame Street production set!

What I learned about the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S

I loved the car! When I heard about the features in the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid I knew I had to share what I learned about it. The first thing I noticed when I approached the car was that I could barely hear the car running. I also loved the amazing features to make life easier and more convenient such as the hands free sliding doors and liftgate that opens with the kick of a foot!
We have a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I like having the diesel SUV, but here are just a few of the features that I really liked about the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S:

I really liked the efficiency when running in electric mode and gas mode
The hybrid qualifies for a $7,500 tax credit, along with state and local incentives.
It seats seven comfortably with plenty of room for everyone’s stuff in the back!
The in-car entertainment system is also incredible – the passengers can use HDMI, audio jacks and USB ports on the seatbacks with the 10″ touchscreens.
I also love a sunroof and this car has the two pane panoramic sunroof. A
Another amazing feature I never knew a car could have…a Stow ‘n Vac integrated vacuum powered by RIGID!

What I learned about Sesame Street

I learned about a lot of amazing features that a car can have for today’s family on the go; but next it was time to visit life on Sesame Street! Our group was escorted to the Sesame Street production studio for our tour.

When we were on the level for the set we saw the control rooms for the taping. I had never been in a control room before; but I was in awe to see some of my childhood friends on the hundreds of monitors in front of me. I wanted to know what every single monitor and person did in that room.

Then we were told to silence our phones, stay quiet on the SET and don’t record the special guest that was filming on the set that day because they are taping shows to be used during their 50 year anniversary. Wow! We knew a secret and we couldn’t share it out to the world!

When the door opened and I felt a rush of wind on my face from the large size of the room I couldn’t believe what I saw! I was walking behind the set of a live production. The On Air Light blinked and it was show time! There were cameras, and booms, lights, and lights, and lights, and people. Lots of people work on that one set to get everything exactly as the producer wants it.

After the initial excitement, I looked around more and saw all of the parts of the neighborhood I grew up with right there in front of me. I even got to sit on the steps right where my childhood friends in the TV sat! That was a huge moment for me.

Then I spotted Big Bird’s Nest! And then Oscar the Grouch’s can! Then Hooper’s sign, and then I saw out of the corner of my eye, the actual Sesame Street street sign. I saw windows that I recognize from when I was little and I thought of Bert and Ernie sitting in their bedroom talking and going through their nightly routine. The memories came flooding in. I had them all throughout my train ride home and when I was posting to social media later that night.

Lunch at George’s Restaurant at Kaufman Astoria Studios

What a fun and amazing experience! I felt like I went back in time and was star struck by my childhood TV stars! I enjoyed lunch with writers, an Stammering, and Beatrice at George’s Restaurant. They had a wonderful buffet for us with salmon, salad, fresh rolls, rice and vegetables.

Beatrice shared with me a lot about Sesame Street PR and how celebrities work with Sesame Street. Also about how Sesame Street has changed when it first came out in 1969 versus the way it is portrayed now almost 50 years later. She told me the show wasn’t aired in Mississippi back in 1969 because of the diversity of the cast.

I Found Out How To Get To Sesame Street

What a wonderful day. As I was riding the train back home and viewing the skyline of the city I was remembering all of the episodes I saw with the city in the background. I went to a place I had been for so many years, but never actually physically visited. It felt like a dream; but was really nostalgic.

Do you have a Chrysler Hybrid Pacifica or the Pacifica S? Would you consider this as your next car? This is a great car that I would consider for our next family vehicle! Tweet out what you would like about the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S if you had one!

My favorite feature of the @Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S is the capacity to seat seven people comfortably and still have room for luggage or sporting gear! #Chrysler #SesameStreet Share on X

Also, have you prepared your car for winter yet? Connecticut has already experienced one snow storm, and many people were stuck in their cars for three hours on their commute home. I recommend you get your cars prepared so you won’t be stuck in the cold!

Have Yourself An Ozark Mountain Christmas #BloggingBranson

November 15, 2018

I was invited by Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center as part of a media FAM to explore Branson, Missouri. All opinions are 100% my own.

Where Are the Ozark Mountains?

If you are a Netflix subscriber, then you are familiar with the reference to the Ozarks. But have you ever been to the Ozarks yourself? I have not, so when I landed in Springfield, Missouri, I did not know what I was going to expect. When I arrived in Branson, Missouri, it was already dark out. So I really didn’t know what the landscape looked like. But I did get a sense for the “hills” in Branson as I was traveling along the Interstate with long winding hills and no street lights.

The next morning as I met the members of the #BloggingBranson group I would soon learn about the beauty, hospitality, loyalty, and patriotism that this little city can offer on top of its entertainment, lodging, attractions, and restaurants!

What Is There To Do In The Ozark Mountains?

Over the next several weeks I will share with you what I have experienced from my visit to the locations listed below. But that’s not all that Branson, Missouri has to offer.

The Showboat Branson Belle and Silver Dollar City
Clay Cooper Theatre, The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show, and the Baldknobbers
Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex, Montana Mikes, and McFarlains Restaurant
The Titanic Museum Attraction and the Branson Ferris Wheel
Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center
Pasghetti’s
Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction

In addition to the several locations that I was able to enjoy during my three-day tour of Branson, the bloggers also had the opportunity to find an adventure of their liking. I selected zip lining and snow tubing (without snow) at Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain.

My family and I love adventures so I knew I wanted to try something that I think we all would enjoy. There’s no doubt that my family won’t love zip lining. We took one ride down the mountain and ended our journey with a 100-foot free fall. And-I-Loved-Every-Minute-of-It!

How To Get Into The Christmas Spirit In Branson

That’s not hard to do! Once I exited the main highway and drove towards Branson, I saw the twinkling of some Christmas lights. Then I slowed down as I went around the corner and started to take in the signs and lights everywhere, the theaters and mini golf parks, the shops, the entertainment complexes, and the hotels. They were all decorated for the Christmas holiday!

So I’ve been told, on November 1, a switch it clicked and Halloween is only a distant memory as the holiday lights flood your view along the streets, hotels and theaters. And it sure does look beautiful!

Visit the Live Christmas Shows

Even if you just see one holiday show, it will be enough to put you in the mood for the holidays.

There’s more than one to choose from and the Branson partners that we had the opportunity to visit were:

Clay Cooper
The Hughes Family
The BaldKnobbers
The Showboat Branson Belle
Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction

I’ll be sharing in more detail my experience at each of the shows listed above in future blog posts. They all have a unique story to tell and I want to be sure I give you the true essence of what each show offers. But I can guarantee you that there is not one bad show.

See The Holiday Lights

There are several places where you can see the holiday lights, but no other place has over 6.5 million! Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas features the Christmas in Midtown Light Spectacular once again.

Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Christmas Light Parade winds through the streets of the City twice each evening. A 5-story special effects Christmas Tree with a light and sound show also “performs” throughout the evening.

You can also catch two Broadway-style original musicals, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, and It’s a Wonderful Life during your visit to Silver Dollar City.

Dining in Branson, Missouri

There is no shortage of places to eat in Branson. And it wasn’t hard to find a great place to eat as well! I enjoyed every meal I had while touring Branson. We ate our first group meal at Montana Mikes, famous for their great steaks and burgers! We had the pleasure of meeting the Sales Manager Tom who told us the story of how the current owners are 90 years old but still enjoy running the business.

Ninety percent of people who are on vacation want a great experience. You will get that when you visit Montana Mikes. Montana Mike’s is also owned by Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex.

Lunch on Monday was at McFarlains Restaurant inside Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex, where I had my first experience trying fried green tomatoes! I liked them and would consider making them at home since many times my tomatoes stay green for quite a long time! You can add to your experience at the restaurant by asking for a round table in the dining area. I’ll share what makes that seating arrangement so special in my recap of the restaurant.

The Perfect Ozark Christmas Itinerary

From booking your room at the Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, to finding the right entertainment and activities for your family. You can do as much or as little as you want when you prepare your trip to Branson. With so much to do there, you have to leave options open for future visits.

Don’t forget, when you stay at the Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, you can enjoy a full hot breakfast every day, the convenience of a location in an area where you can avoid the traffic, themed rooms, two indoor pools, and an amazing staff!

Veteran’s Appreciation Week

I had no idea how supportive Branson is to the veterans. During the week prior to Veteran’s Day Branson supports the veterans with various events, special shows and a parade. I had several opportunities to talk with veterans, be an outlet for them to share their story and to just listen.

Include Branson As A Must Do For Your Upcoming Vacation

Everything in Branson is family or privately owned. So when you are coming into town to see the shows and eat your meals out at restaurants. You are helping the families and owners support their business and keep their doors open for another season.

How To Winterize Your Car

November 15, 2018

The forecast has had the word snow pop up in it this week. And here we are! The first snowfall of our season! I guess with it being mid November we are pretty much going to get just about any type of weather these days. Now is a good time to make sure your car is ready for the winter.

How To Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter

Interior

I cleaned out the back of the car and removed all of the summer softball gear (chairs, gloves and balls). I added another blanket to the back just in case the car should break down and we don’t have much heat.

I also added the following into a bag in the back of the car:

Winter shovel
Ice scraper
Flashlight
Fares
Snacks and water bottles
I keep a first aid kit in my car all year round
I also have a jumper kit in my car all year round.

Exterior

Although my car is loaded with sensors for the tires, Diesel fluid, etc. I still like to scroll through the screens to make sure everything is checking out properly. You also want to check the following items on your car to make sure it is winter ready:

Replace Windshield Washer Fluid with Winter Windshield Washer Fluid
Change your wiper blades
Check your anti-freeze. You don’t want your coolant in the radiator to freeze.
Check your tire pressure. Cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop.
Change your tires. If you use all-season tires and live in a snowy area you should consider snow tires. They have tread patterns designed to grip the snow and ice.
Check the battery. Remove any corrosion and test the battery to determine if it is charged enough or needs to be replaced.
Change the oil. The colder the weather, the thicker the oil gets. Change your oil to a thinner viscosity to help the car start better in colder temps.
Check your four-wheel drive. My car has 4-wheel drive. I had the fun of using it up at the farm over the summer when the mud was so thick. I also used that time to learn how to put the car into 4-wheel drive and how the car responds while in that gear.
Keep the gas tank full.

Hopefully you didn’t get stuck in traffic and this first significant snowfall and are home snuggled up or you are outside playing with your kids! Make sure you get ahead of this season and get your car prepared for the winter season.

How I Prepared for the NYC Marathon

November 4, 2018

November 1 is here and that also means that very soon around this first weekend in November, the NYC marathon is run. A year ago today I was preparing for the start of the NYC Marathon. Last year I made a last minute decision to head down to NYC for Marathon Friday and visit the Pavilion and see the finish line. This was a good decision because I got a better lay of the land and the subway system.

This exact day last year I was on the train once again to check in to my hotel, go to the expo and have dinner with my friend Linda Ambard. It was the day before the race and I wanted to make sure I knew where I was going, what time I had to be there and where my family would be able to see me.

A year ago today, I was getting butterflies because the NYC marathon is an entirely new set of logistics for me! A year ago, I was trained. I had fought a bit with my training schedule but was able to manage a safe increase in mileage to be able to fit in a 20 mile run prior to the marathon taper.

Knowing my family was going to be there to cheer me on and see me in three places along the race course meant the world to me. And our friend Lyla’s dad was also coming to cheer me on. That also meant the world to me. Bill also knew how to get around so that was very helpful to my family as well!

What Am I Preparing for This Year?

Right now I am training for the 2019 Dopey Challenge. My 5th consecutive, and possibly my last. I can say I am running, but I can’t say that I am training. I should be training, but I have had more life and work/life juggles to manage this year. And with it being such a critical year that I succeed with my business, I had to let some of my training days slip a bit. I am still at a point where I can recover from that lack of diligence and get back to a firm schedule. But I have to also consistently ramp up my mileage to at least get in a 20 mile run.

Where Was I then?

This time last year I was full of nerves and anxiety. But the race was a good focal point for me to set my eyes on a goal. I had always wanted to run the NYC marathon. I still haven’t written about my experience yet, but I will. It was a very important achievement for me. It began with my diagnosis with kidney vasculitis.

I was unhappy a year ago. I felt like I wasn’t working where I needed to be. I wasn’t living my purpose. I was working to please people but I wasn’t happy with what I was trying to make work. I was in a field of work that just wasn’t the right work for me.

Where Am I Now?

I am in a place of determination, curiosity, fervor with my head down, and soaking in as much as I can learn through my eyes, my ears, and by trial and error. I am making great friends and have rekindled relationships with old friends.

I am so grateful to the help I have received from my dear friend Claudia. She has been in the business for a very long time and I have known her for several years. She has taught me some valuable lessons and exposed me to great opportunities. I will always be grateful for our friendship.

I am also extremely grateful to my family who are helping support my decision to try to be on my own and work as a self-employed blogger and consultant. We have made many sacrifices when I lost my job. But I am working so hard to make my dream a reality. They have been patient when there are nights that I work late because I am figuring something out, or because I am on a conference call.

I appreciate them but also need to remember that they are more important than work. Sometimes I am so deep in learning something new that time gets away from me and I realized that I didn’t get to have family time with them. And that’s when I feel extremely guilty. I hope they understand and learn work ethic from me. But I also need to show them a good example of work life balance. I’m working on it. It’s a critical time for me to make a good name for myself and deliver to my clients.

I’m Moving Forward and Not Looking Backwards

Even though my running/training needs some work, I have been getting out for a run, but I’m not getting enough long runs. When I did my 7 mile long run I felt amazing. I need to get another long run in as soon as I can. I also noticed that when I stopped work to get my run done, I felt less guilty about making time for myself. So it just needs to fit back into my life again like it did before. I need to stop and take time out for me and my family.

Cents Of Style Fashion Offer – Long Sleeve Tops

October 29, 2018

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Safe Video Games for Tweens This Holiday Season

Safe Games For Tweens This Holiday Season

October 26, 2018

Tips For Safe Gaming

Key Tips for Keeping Your Tweens Safe When Gaming

Select safe games for tweens to play

Starlink: Battle of Atlas is a safer and less violent game than traditional video games to date. I want to keep my kids away from violent video games. I prefer they play games with more adventure and problem solving or creativity.

Know Who They Are Playing With

My kids play animal jam from National Geographic. I allow them to play this game because I trust National Geographic. There are also settings that parents can configure to ensure the conversations are clean and safe language is used. I also only allow them to make friend connections with people that we know. The kids ask permission before connecting. Starlink’s closed environment provides you, as a mom, with a sense of security while still offering your tween/teen a deep level of play.

Be Aware of the Time

When your children play video games or any other electronic devices, it is best to always be conscious of the time they are engaged in their activity. Just like everything else, there needs to be a healthy balance of device time and non-device time. Teach your children the values you model, and keep the communication lines wide-open.

Starlink Battle For Atlas Preview

I had the opportunity to attend a hands-on preview of the new Starlink Battle for Atlas game that is played on the new Nintendo Switch game console. My son was with me to try out the game and the Nintendo Switch gaming unit which can be played on a television or on the hand held console.

What I Like About Starlink Battle For Atlas

Engagement

Starlink is a game that keeps your tween interested with challenging and engaging play. Starlink Battle for Atlas involves you as a member of a group of interstellar pilots, dedicated to free the Atlas Star System from Grax and the Forgotten Legion. That’s the back story. How will you do all that? This is where the fun begins.

You can use your ships, pilots and accessories to configure solutions to the situations you encounter. The players get to experiment to find their own solutions to problems. The game is great for kids with all levels of gaming experience. The game also allows for more than one player and we are also excited about the return of Star Fox!

Accessories

You can mix and match several physical elements of a ship, its wings, pilots, and weapons to fully customize your dream starship. You can mix and match any of these parts at any time and you will see the real-time update of your gaming experience. Then you can explore seven of the unique alien planets in the Atlas Star System.

Starlink Battle For Atlas Starter Kit

When you get the Starlink Battle For Atlas Starter Pack you will receive the following:

1 Starlink video game with Star Fox story mission
1 Arwing starship
1 Fox McCloud
1 Flamethrower
1 Frost Barrage
1 Mason Rana
1 Digital Zenith starship
1 Controller Mount
1 Starlink poster

Sony Headphones

Another great addition to your Tween’s wish list are a pair of Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. In addition to a new safe game for the holidays, your tweens would also love these Sony headphones. With a 30-hour battery life, you can go all day without charging.

Do you have any more ideas for safe games for tweens to play? I would love to share recommendations!