Ubiquitous Stickies Need to Go

By: Emily Hansen

It started with some fish. First it was the outline of a fish on the back of the car, then there were as many fish as there were people in the family. Awww, cute (wretch). Now the fish have evolved into stick people on the window. You know the ones: mom with her tennis racket, dad with a fishing pole and little Suzy with a big giant bow on top of her head.

There are so many iterations of this trend now I can'�t keep up. Why do people do this? Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing how many kids I have and whether they're girls or boys. Does this bother anyone else?

I think maybe the sheer popularity of these unsophisticated stickies is part of the repulsion to me. Do we all have to be the same? Personally, I like to be unique. I think I'd stomach the stickies better if someone came up with a cheeky version. Maybe Suzy could wear a skull and cross bones T-shirt and combat boots. Mom's hair would be a mess, and she'd have a coffee mug welded to her hand. Dad could use some hip-ifying as well, but I haven't figured out how to do that at my own house, let alone in the stick-figure world.

Am I alone in this? Who else out there thinks these decals need to go away?

This Car is Hot

By: Courtney Messenbaugh

I was in the land of starlets and studs (aka Los Angeles) for the press launch of the 2008 Pontiac G8, so I guess it's not too surprising that the phrase that kept coming to mind to describe the G8 was borrowed from Paris Hilton: "It's hot." So what if I'm using a worn-out phrase from one of society's most useless celebutantes? It's the plain truth about this car.

The G8 is fast and stylish — ideal for a hot momma who likes a speedy yet totally affordable ride. Even with the lure of speed set aside, this car has more than a few family-friendly features: The Latch anchors are easy to locate, and there's lots of storage space, including a two-tiered glove compartment (wipes on top, with maps, brochures, etc. on bottom, and you're instantly organized!), a low-lift trunk (making loading groceries effortless) and one of the largest trunk pass-thrus in the industry. In back, there's nearly 40 inches of legroom, making for plenty of car seat and/or passenger space.

I said this car is affordable, and it is when you factor in how hot it is. The car comes in two versions — with either a V-6 or a V-8 engine — and prices start at $26,910 for the V-6 and $29,310 for the V-8. All told, you won't spend more than $33K if you want a fully-loaded G8 with a whole lotta power.

I know technical talk is not hot, but there's something you should know: The G8 has a function (called Driver Shift Control) that allows you to select one of three distinct shifting styles: Normal for an optimal blend of performance and fuel economy; Sport, which gives you a bit more "oomph" with the shifting points; and Manual for those of you who want the ultimate in "oomph" and control.

To sweeten the deal further — and make things more comfortable — you can opt for a dual-zone climate-control system (his and hers, if you will), as well as remote keyless entry and remote start (for days when it's freezing outside and you want to warm things up before you slide onto the chilly leather). There's also a theft-deterrent alarm system, because you don't want someone stealing this hot rod!

You can even opt to customize your front seats to come in two-tone black and red leather. The G8 I drove at the launch had these seats, and I must say it's not really my style. If you're into that sort of thing, though, I say go for it — this car is hot!

Pontiac Did Well With Vibe Redesign

By: Lori Hindman

Pontiac redesigned the Vibe for 2009, and I got a chance to check it out for a whole day recently. It's still a small hatchback, but it's cuter than before and more functional than ever. The peace, love and happiness starts with three trim levels (including an all-wheel-drive version and an upgraded GT) that start under $16,000 and feature about as much stuff as you can cram into a five-seater.

We're talkin' moonroof, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, six airbags, antilock brakes and the coolness that is OnStar. OnStar, by the way, now offers navigation sent directly to your car, so no internal navigation system is necessary. Stop, children, what's that sound? Oh, it's the XM Satellite Radio.

While all that is righteous, the cargo space is where I really start feeling the love vibe. The large center console actually holds a purse, and there are small bins everywhere else for containing the inevitable car clutter. The rear seats fold completely flat, and rubberized strips along the floor keep your stuff from sliding around. Also, every version of the Vibe comes with a really nifty pop-up divider system to keep everything organized. And yes, it has bag holders. Right on, Pontiac.

The good vibrations keep on keepin' on while driving the Vibe. Pontiac gave it more power and a smoother ride, which translates into good times on the road. Both the AWD and GT models come with a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter engine that seriously rocks. Through hill and canyon, the Vibe is a blast to drive, especially while blasting the stereo (which you'll need to do, because there is a fair amount of road noise to mask).

A teeny turning radius makes U-turns and city driving easier, and sporty bolstered seats are comfy even on longer trips. Honestly, I initially had a feeling that the Vibe was going to be a whole lot of hype and not much more. But as soon as I got a chance behind the wheel, I changed my tune. It's just like they say: quick and agile. The Vibe is even — dare I say? — groovy.

She won!

By: Sara Lacey

Do you know what it's like when you've been dating someone a while and everyone asks, "When are you gonna get married?"

Do you remember how sick you got of it?  Now imagine getting asked that 20 times a day, for three years.  On top of that, add the pressure of not just future in-laws and total strangers asking, but also getting asked by the people you have to answer to and compete against, like automotive racing-team owners and pit crews. Now, you might have an inkling of what it's been like to be Danica Patrick.

Starting today, Danica will no longer have to answer the racing world's equivalent to, "When are you gonna get married?" She won her first race Sunday just outside of Tokyo at the Japan 300. She is the first female winner in IndyCar history.  We are so proud, and Danica no longer has to hear that question or shoulder and burdens about her gender's ability to win races.

So now I wonder what the racing world's equivalent to "When are you gonna have kids?" is?

A bad tire day

By: Emily Hansen

Have you ever had one of those mornings when you wonder what you did to upset the karma pool? Well, this was one of those days. The kids were crabby, we were running late, and when I opened the door to the garage I was greeted with a flat tire. Since I've practiced changing a tire in a non-emergency situation, this was really no big deal and the process went very quickly.  Ha ha!  I'm lying. The morning was officially shot to hell.

I could have called roadside assistance, but I decided that all of you MotherProof.com fans would rather see me change the tire, right? I was lucky that it went flat in the garage, I would probably have been more unsure of my ability to change the tire had it not been parked on my winter-dirty garage floor.

So here goes...

Step 1: Please, oh please, set the emergency brake before starting. It is also a good idea to put some sort of object like a big rock behind each tire to keep the car from rolling, just in case the car falls off its perch once you have it raised.

Step 2: Get the manual out of the glove box and you will find a handy-dandy page in the table of contents that is labeled "changing a flat tire" or something similar. Unless, of course, you own a British automobile, then you will be changing a tyre. Brilliant!

Next you should get the tools you'll need and find your spare tire. In the 2008 Subaru (my nemesis), the toolkit was neatly packaged in the center of the spare tire. The locations of each of these things varies with the different cars. If you can't find something you need, check out that manual you pulled out in Step 2.

Step 3. Read the manual again to see how to operate the jack, and where it should be placed on the frame of the car. This is one of the most important steps. My picture of the manual is a bit blurry but you can see the diagram points to two notches in the cars frame where the jack should be positioned.

Step 4: Place the jack under the car. This part is where you will get dirty. If your kids aren't around, feel free to cuss a lot.  If they are around, cuss anyway, because you can't help it. It is important to look under the car to see that you have placed the jack where the manual has indicated. Improper placement of the jack is very dangerous and could lead to the car becoming unstable while you are changing the tire. As luck would have it, I got dirty in my own garage because of some gravel that had arrived courtesy of a couple of earlier snowstorms.

This particular jack has a big long hook that attaches to a key which I then turned a million times to raise the car to the height required to lift the front wheel off the ground.

Step 5: Now the flat tire must be removed. Hopefully the bolts on your tires are tightly secured. It took me about five seconds to determine that I was not strong enough to turn the bolt with my hands. So, I turned to my butt and thighs to have them do the work. They couldn't. Once I used my foot, the bolts came off quickly. Just for the record, my workout outfit usually does not match my shoes that nicely; I must have woken up on the right side of the bed that morning.

Step 6: Pull the wheel off to reveal the inner workings of your car's suspension and brakes. Pause for a moment to admire the round disk that keeps your family from plowing into things, and then quickly make sure there are no giant dirt clods on the bolt plate before you grab the spare.

Step 7: Line up the holes on the spare with the bolts that are sticking out and then place the spare tire on your car. Screw the bolts back on as tightly as you can. Carefully lower the car down using the jack. Here is where I hope you listened to your dad, and have checked to make sure your spare tire is full of air on a regular basis. Now step back, do a little happy dance, and admire your mad tire-changing skills.

Step 8: Drive to the nearest tire store or gas station and have someone tighten the bolts properly for you. I know that if I was not strong enough to remove the bolts, I am probably not strong enough to get them as tight as they need to be. The guys at the oil-change place about a mile down the road were more than happy to help me get the bolts tightened all the way. While my morning certainly didn't start out the way I'd planned, it wasn't too bad, after all was said and done. Next time, it'll go much faster because I've done it before.

Advice on how to spend that refund

By: Courtney Messenbaugh

I hereby declare that it's time to throw practicality out the window, even if only for one day. I'm talking about how we spend our tax refunds. Too often, people put their refund toward outstanding bills or drop some into their child's college savings. I say, "Let's stop with the sensibility! Let's use our tax refunds to trick out our rides! And ourselves!"

For example, when your refund hits, promptly drive your car to the nearest hand car wash and get it cleaned inside and out. Go crazy and spring for the wax job. All this will run you about $75, and you will notice a marked difference in the way your car looks and smells. You've become so used to that stale milk smell from your tot's spills that you won't even recognize the scent of a normal car. (Hint: it's heavenly.)

Once your car has received the spa treatment, wheel yourself to the nearest human version for some mani/pedi action. This too will make a difference in your life, and it will only run you around $35 to $100, depending on how indulgent you want to be.

Next, pimp your ride. Enter any one of the many big box stores around town and invest in somecool gadgets for your car. A portable GPS receiver is a great place to start. If your car does not have a fancy navigation screen (mine doesn't) this is a cool addition. You can get turn-by-turn voice directions to your destination as well as a clear map of where you are and where you're going (some even use celebrity voices for the directions-ooh!). All of this comes at you from about $200 to about $350.

Or you can choose to upgrade to a satellite/HD radio. For about $150 plus installation, you get stunning audio quality and even a Bluetooth hook-up. Some HD radios can even mark a song for you at the push of a button so that you will later remember to download it from iTunes. I am always hearing songs I like, wanting to buy them and then spacing, so this device would rock my world!

There are plenty more goodies to choose form in this area, but since I'm kind of a frivolous gal, let's end this with a more frivolous spending suggestion, shall we?

For the fashionista in you, I would suggest putting some of that refund money toward — that's right — some sweet driving shoes. Burberry and The Original Car Shoe have a few beautiful pairs of driving flats on the market right now for the bargain prices of about $190 for the former and up to $400 for the latter. Don't hesitate about the money — just buy them and remember that tax refund money is money you didn't really have to begin with. Poof — it's gone! Happy Tax Day!

4/14/08

How You Can Keep Calm Year-Round

By Lori Hindman

Well, it came as news to me, but April is Stress Awareness Month. I'm not quite sure what to make of that: Is it to say that we are all stressed and need greater awareness of it? Or we need to be more aware of the stress level of others? Are we more stressed in April than in other months? Or are we less stressed and need to be reminded of the stressfulness of the other eleven months of the year? I mean puh-leeze! You people think I'm not aware of my stress? Seriously? Come on!!! For the love of chocolate!!! I KNOW ABOUT MY STRESS!!! I'M AWARE OF MY FREAKING STRESS, OK?!!!

OK, count to 10. Breathe. In with the good, out with the bad... Ooohhhhmmmmmm...

I guess it's safe to say that stress in not an altogether unfamiliar concept to me, or to any other parent in this intense day and age. Particularly while we're driving, stress is dangerous, not only to ourselves, but to everyone around us. In the interest of lowering our collective blood pressure and lengthening the life expectancy of our children, let's look at some ways to relieve stress in the car. I've never had much luck with the whole counting to 10 thing. I need to count to like, 4,000. So, as alternatives, in honor of Stress Awareness Month, here are a few new techniques to counter stressing out in the car.

Car Yoga: I've heard of "car yoga" which I think involves breathing and stretching your toes, but this sounds iffy. I mean, yoga is hard enough in an open space with soothing music and an instructor. I think if I tried it in the car, I'd cramp up.

Car Karaoke: I'm more enthusiastic about "car karaoke." It's much more my speed. "Car karaoke" allows my to turn the stereo volume up to drown out the, um, stress coming from the backseat and belt out my favorite tunes at the top of my lungs. Deep breathing happens naturally and I'm feeling much better midway through my second rendition of "Breakaway." I'm pretty sure this works even if your stress isn't coming from the peanut gallery in the back.

Car Comedy: Even if you don't have satellite radio with a comedy channel, just one look at that sticky face in the rear-view mirror can elicit a giggle. In dire cases, an old "knock-knock" joke may work. Knock, knock! Who's there? Boo. Boo who? Oh, don't cry! It's only me! (Awful, I know, but you giggled. Admit it.)

Experts say that the keys to managing stress include eating well and getting adequate rest (nuggets and midnight feedings are not helpful.) Additionally, although I don't exactly have the research to back it up, I'm pretty sure that really good dark chocolate can fix any problem. Unfortunately, coffee can't. Caffeine raises your blood pressure and can cause a rather unpleasant "low" when it wears off. That's not gonna help. And I know I don't have to tell you what a horrible idea that glass of wine is before you get behind the wheel. Let's not even have that talk.

To recap: screaming, caffeine, booze = bad. Music, laughing, chocolate = good.

Have a stress-free day!

4/10/2007

Driver's Edge Instructor Wins Firestone Indy Lights St. Pete Race

By: Kristin Varela

The mom-reviewers here at Mother Proof are slightly paranoid about our kids getting nearly old enough to drive.  With car collisions being the No. 1 killer of teens, it's not an unfounded fear.  Without an easy way to cure our tremors, we're thrilled that Driver's Edge exists. We're even more thrilled that the instructors of Driver's Edge are up-and-coming rock stars of the motorsports world.

Take, for example, Raphael Matos, winner of last weekend's Firestone Indy Lights St. Pete Race. Rafa took first place in Saturday's race. Can't seem to motivate your speed demon teen to get excited about driver's education?  Maybe an excursion to any number of weekend races where Driver's Edge instructors can be idolized in the winner's circle will do the job.

Congrats Rafa and Driver's Edge!