Tag Archives: review

The Newly Redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla, A Car With Wow Power!

October 14, 2013Car Reviewsautomobile, car, Corolla, review, ToyotaAlicia

Is looking for a new car something you’ve had on your mind for a while but haven’t decided on which vehicle you want to look at and learn more about first? While finding the right vehicle can sometimes be a challenge, when you take time to check out the newly redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla, you’ll be amazed at this car’s “Wow Power”! Wow Power is when a car impresses you on more than just looks alone and the Toyota Corolla has great looks and much more! Cool new features for the tech-savvy driver, a sleek, restyled design that appeals to the eye and the same Toyota reliability that’s been a favorite among buyers for many years adds to the allure of this contemporary and affordable car.

2014 Corolla Safety with 8 Airbags

My review of the new Corolla found the addition of several great safety features, including 8 airbags that come standard on all 2014 Corolla models which include:

driver and front passenger airbags
driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags
driver knee airbag
passenger seat-cushion airbags
and front and rear side curtain airbags.

These, along with the three-point seat belts for every passenger make the 2014 Corolla one of the safest vehicles around. Sure, no one plans to be in an accident, but even the most seasoned driver on a familiar commute may still contend with the traffic becoming faster and heavier. Even with the convenient 60/40 rear seat split, no matter which seat you’re occupying, you can be reassured that you will be as protected as possible.

The Corolla has a beautiful interior as well and you’ll be sure to notice the aerodynamic dashboard with sleek, fluid lines. I can almost guarantee that when you get in the Corolla for the first time, your hand will involuntarily caress the dashboard as if you are touching a $1500 handbag you’ve saved for for years.

2014 Corolla Backup Camera

The addition of the backup camera which comes standard on all 2014 Corolla models with the exception of the Corolla L, is a superb touch. How is this a benefit to you? The touch-screen on the control panel gives you not only a view of the area behind your car, but also peace of mind that when backing up there is nothing in your path. You never know what prompts a child to run behind a car and the addition of backup cameras in a vehicle can be a life saver. Additionally, the camera also assists in parallel parking, making it easier to see the curb and vehicles in front or behind you. Tight spot to park? No problem now.

Inside the 2014 Toyota Corolla

Now, let’s take a tour of the other features inside the Corolla that make driving this car an immensely satisfying experience. Available only on the LE, LE Eco, and S Models, the ENTUNE Multimedia Bundle combines everything you love about technology and takes it on the road with you. The touch-screen features a 6-inch display and the AM/FM CD player and six speakers gives you an excellent surround-sound quality. There’s also an auxiliary audio jack for headphones, a USB port, and iPod® connectivity. With the advanced voice recognition and hands-free phone capability, you can dial, talk and control your phone effortlessly. The music streaming via Bluetooth® technology adds to the appeal of this intriguing and sporty vehicle.

Under the Hood

Under the hood, the Toyota Corolla offers two engine options and three transmission choices in the four differing models ranging from a six-speed manual shift to the classic four-speed automatic. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the impressive gas mileage this car can get with an EPA estimated 42 miles per gallon on the highway. In short, the newly redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla has everything you could want and more. It’s the ideal vehicle for everyone from long-distance commuters to budget-minded college students. It definitely has Wow-Power!

Cost:

MSRP

L – $16,800
LE – $18,300
LE Eco – $18,700
S – $19,000

Explore, Build, or Test Drive a Toyota Corolla Today!

Find your local Toyota dealer
Visit Toyota.com/Corolla to learn more about the Corolla

Thank you to photographer Ernesto Roman for providing a few of the photographs above.

Toyota flew me to Miami Florida to learn about and test drive the 2014 Toyota Corolla. They provided accommodations at the gorgeous Viceroy Miami hotel which I will tell you about in another post so stay tuned. All opinions are my own.

Want to read more about the 2014 Toyota Corolla?

I had a blast hanging out with Zippy from Champagne Living during this trip, who also provided a review of the Corolla on her blog.

Chili Vinaigrette Recipe – Use Colman’s Dry Mustard To Add Spice To Your Salad

June 14, 2013Food and Drinkcolmans, dry mustard, food, recipe, reviewKim

Summer is here!
Summer made a swift entrance into town a couple of days ago already hitting 90+ degrees outside. It’s hot and I don’t feel like eating when it is hot out. I know, I know, I have to eat. I just don’t feel like it. I usually eat lots and lots of salad in summer. But salad gets boring. A couple of months ago I started making my own salad dressing. I have come across some great recipes for salad dressing. It has been fun experimenting with different kinds of dressings. Then I came across a recipe using Colman’s dry mustard powder. I never would have thought of using dry mustard as an ingredient!

Colman’s dry mustard powder has less than 15 calories and only 0.8 grams of fat per teaspoon. They have some great recipes on their website. Here’s one that I tried out and I absolutely love!

Colman’s Chili Vinaigrette Recipe

Ingredients:

4 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. Colman’s Original Powdered Mustard
4 “splashes” mild green Tabasco sauce
½ cup lemon juice
2 tsp. honey

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together. That’s it!

I had all the ingredients on hand so it was easy to whip it together fast. I put just enough on my salad to barely coat the lettuce and it was great!

The Chili Vinaigrette had just the right amount of sweet and spicy for me.

Now that I know about Colman’s Dry Mustard I am going to check out their website more often and find even more recipes to try.

You can find more information about Colman’s on their website, facebook page and on twitter.

About Colman’s

Established in 1814, Colman’s of Norwich has been recognized widely as the English mustard in the world. Using a unique and zesty blend of brown mustard seeds (Brassica Juncea) and white mustard seeds (Sinapis Alba), Jeremiah Colman created a mustard with a flavorful heat sensation that has become an essential condiment and paramount ingredient in Britain’s favorite recipes, even to the highest royal order. In 1866 Queen Victoria bestowed the ultimate seal of approval – the Royal Warrant – galvanizing Colman’s as the crown jewel of mustards, securing its place in the most discerning kitchens around the world. Sold as prepared mustard and mustard powder, Colman’s provides a pure, fiery and complex condiment for all your recipes and dishes. Complete Your Cooking With Colman’s. Visit Colman’s of Norwich on the web at www.colmansusa.com. For recipes, extended history and information visit www.colmansusa.com.

My Review of the All-New 2012 Honda CR-V

January 7, 2012Car Reviews, Travel2012, CR-V, Honda, preview, reviewAlicia

Now completely transformed for its fourth generation, the 2012 Honda CR-V heads in a more sophisticated direction with refreshed styling, improved fuel economy, innovative technology and even greater value for money.

The 2012 Honda CR-V has received several changes from the 2011 model. Honda focused on offering the driver more space, improved technology and fuel economy. The vehicle was changed to make it more in line with the traditional SUV while remaining true to the mid-size Honda style.

CR-V Exterior

The fourth generation Honda CR-V’s subtle changes to the exterior and interior give consumers upgrades they expect in a new vehicle but Honda kept the overall design of the CR-V similar to previous models consumers have proven to love for years. The exterior of the 2012 CR-V has stylish fenders and tail lights in this year’s model. The overall look of 2012 CR-V is more sleek than the previous model; the exterior is more aggressive overall. The front bumper has been lowered and the wheels are tailored with a large five-spoke alloy. The CR-V from Honda in 2012 has a lower, more aggressive exterior style; the mid-size SUV offers more space with accommodations alongside better fuel economy to the driver. What’s not to love about that?

CR-V Interior

The interior for the 2012 Honda CR-V is intended to create more space inside the vehicle; overall, Honda wanted to be more accommodating to the passengers in the vehicle for toddler car-seats and other necessities and they succeeded with the many storage compartments including my favorite, the

The CR-V has a host of new features along with the new design; though, there are few faults in what Honda offers in the 2012 CR-V. The 2012 CR-V has improved engine performance and accomplished a more stylish appearance, in my opinion.

CR-V Engine & Fuel Economy

Honda has given the CR-V a lighter and more fuel efficient engine this year; the CR-V has two different engines for drivers to choose from for this model. Either engine will still have the five-speed automatic transmission, however the difference will be between the old engine or a new option Honda is offering. The driver can choose the original 2.4 liter in-line engine from the previous model that produced 175 hp or the driver may choose the new option; the latest 2.5 liter in-line engine produces 201 hp. Honda has also claimed to improve the fuel efficiency for this year’s model.

Honda focuses on more style, more space and better performance in the new fourth generation CR-V; the company also wanted to offer more innovative technology to the driver. Beyond these changes, most aspects will be the same about the 2012 model from last year. Drivers will experience more space and better accommodations in this new model. The cargo space is a nice improvement and number of cup holders is fabulous too! The various luxury and technology packages and upgrades available for the 2012 CR-V can be seen on the CR-V website.

Honda CR-V Leap List

Honda has made a Leap List on Facebook. I filled out my Leap List and can’t wait to see your Leap List! Fill it out and add a link to your Leap List in the comments below, if you’d like to share.

Connect with Honda:

Disclosure: I was invited by Honda to test drive the 2012 Honda CR-V in California. While my travel and accommodations were covered by Honda, I was not provided financial compensation for this review. All opinions here are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way.

Excedrin® Migraine – Win a $140 Excedrin® Migraine Relaxation Gift Basket! {Contest has ended}

December 12, 2011Contests, Giveaways, Health, New postsExcedrin® Migraine, giveaway, reviewAlicia

Congratulations Kathleen, Wendy, and Angie!

I have had several migraines in the last few years and I know how uncomfortable they can make someone. My sister gets migraines often and I hate to see her feeling so badly during them. The first things that I do when it feels like a migraine might be coming on is go to a dimly lit room, turn off all electronics, and place a warm compress on my forehead. These are things that help for me. I’m not suggesting they help for everyone. Believe me, I know migraine symptoms can be terrible which is why I’m including some more ‘official’ migraine tips and prevention techniques from Execdrin, below.

Did you know that if you don’t take medication at the first sign of a migraine, it could last 24 hours or longer? I’m a believer in taking medication for a migraine at the first sign. If you can prevent it from lasting very long, why not?

According to a survey conducted by Excedrin® Migraine and the National Headache Foundation:

eight in ten (83%) migraine sufferers confess that when they have a migraine, their family suffers as much as they do because of the impact it has on their ability to go about their regular routine. I believe it!

Migraine Tips and Prevention Techniques

There are many different ways to manage migraines. There is no simple solution and every treatment plan should be individualized.

Perhaps the most important tool in tracking migraines is a migraine diary. It is used by doctors to track potential triggers and patterns related to your migraine. It helps you track food you eat when migraines occur, duration of migraines, type of pain, amount of sleep, etc.

Aerobic exercise has been shown to make an appreciable difference in reducing migraines and promoting a general sense of well-being. Even if you walk only 15 to 20 minutes.

Drinking plenty of water will help you keep hydrated and can help prevent the frequency of migraine incidents.

And, when migraine pain does set in, consider finding a quiet place to rest, applying a cool compress to the back of your neck.

Talk with your doctor about an over-the-counter pain reliever like Excedrin® Migraine, which starts to relieve migraine pain in 30 minutes.

For more tips and insights, please visit www.execedrin.com/migraine.

Migraine Resources:

See real migraine stories, and share your tips and suggestions with other sufferers.
Visit the Migraine Center at www.excedrin.com/migraine for more information on migraine relief.
Excedrin Migraine $1 off coupon: http://bit.ly/ExcedrinCpn

Excedrin® Migraine relaxation basket GIVEAWAY! {Contest has ended}

Approximate $140 value.

We are giving three lucky readers an Excedrin® Migraine relaxation basket that includes:

A therapeutic neck wrap that can be heated or frozen
Swarovski Crystal Ear Buds to listen to relaxing music
A soothing gel eye mask
$15 iTunes gift card to purchase relaxing tunes
$50 American Express gift card for additional stress-free needs
Foot massager
Back massager

To enter to win, share a migraine treatment and/or prevention tip with us in the comments below.
You can leave up to 5 migraine tips in the comments and please leave each tip in a separate comment.

Earn extra giveaway entries:

Be sure to have completed the mandatory entry first!
1 extra entry – Follow @mommyinsider on Twitter
1 extra entry – Like The Mommy Insider Facebook page
1 extra entry – Subscribe to The Mommy Insider (and confirm your email address via the confirmation email)
1 extra entry (each time) – Tweet this up to once every 8 hours:
“I entered to win an Excedrin® Migraine relaxation basket from @mommyinsider! You can enter to win here: http://wp.me/plszx-2DC”.
3 extra entries – Write about this giveaway on your own blog and leave the URL to your blog post in the comments below (can be done once).
5 extra entries per giveaway you enter – Enter any of our other giveaways and/or The Divine Miss Mommy’s giveaways and leave a comment below telling us which giveaways you entered.

Entries accepted through 11:59pm ET December 14th.

Open to U.S. residents only. No P.O. Boxes.

3 winners will be chosen by 7am 12/15 and must respond to our email by noon 12/15. If we do not receive a response by then, we will have to choose an alternate winner.

Connect with Excedrin®:

Excedrin Facebook page

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Migraine relief and relaxation kit were provided by Novartis Consumer Healthcare, the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine free experience is my own.

Review (Part 2): Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips + a Giveaway!

September 22, 2011Beauty & Skin Care, Contestscontest, Crest, Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips, giveaway, review, teeth whiteningAlicia

This is a follow up to Part 1 of my Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips review.

What can you do in 2 hours while you’re whitening your teeth?
Iron clothes, answer emails, pack for your trip, make your grocery list, feed the kids, and exercise! And I’m speaking from experience.

Having the Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips on my teeth for two hours didn’t hinder my ability to do anything really. The strips were easy to put on. You simply peel off the backing and apply them to your teeth. The strips provide good coverage all the way up to the gums. The very tops and bottom of my teeth are what were most yellow/discolored and I can tell a difference since using the Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips.

After removing the strips, I felt a little bit of gel on my teeth and per the instructions I wiped the gel away. I didn’t experience discomfort through the entire process. Yes, it was a little strange having strips on my teeth but I kept busy and was looking forward to the results so I wasn’t bothered by them.

Drumroll please…. here is the before and after photo:

Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips Review - Before & After

The bottom line is, if you are in a time crunch and need whiter teeth quickly, Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips will do the job! What busy mom couldn’t use the boost of knowing that her teeth are whiter?

More about Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips

Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips remove the stains below the tooth’s surface
They give you a whiter smile in just 2 hours that lasts for 3 months
4 treatments per kit to keep your smile bright for a whole year

Visit the Crest 3D White website to learn more about this and Crest’s other teeth whitening products.
You will will find a coupon for Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips here and can learn more about them by liking Crest Whitestrips on Facebook.

You can purchase 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips at Amazon.com (affiliate link) and at most local Walgreens, Kroger, Target, and Publix stores.

Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips GIVEAWAY!

We are giving a lucky reader Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestripes
To enter tell us what life event would you whiten for in just two hours, in the comments below.

Earn extra entries

Follow The Mommy Insider on Twitter and on Facebook
Tweet this: “I entered to win Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips here http://bit.ly/crest3dgiveaway You can enter to win too! @mommyinsider #giveaway”
Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in separate comments below.

Entries accepted through 11:59pm September 30th. This contest is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and over only. No P.O. Boxes.

Disclosure: I am participating in a Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips campaign hosted by One2One Network. This is a sponsored post. The opinions here expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way. You may not experience the same results.