All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.

Automotive

Luxury is the 2018 Genesis G90

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The Genesis G90, embodies a more thoughtful approach to luxury, offering an automotive experience that’s all about you.

Catering to All Your Senses

Inside and out, ergonomic tactile design caters to all of your five senses, putting you at the center of the G90’s highly intuitive experience. Its bold athletic stance, iconic rear-wheel-drive proportions and refined profile convey a modern, yet timeless appeal. Everything you see, hear, and touch has been arranged and optimized for your exceptional comfort, convenience and efficiency. The Genesis G90 offers you an elegant, bold exterior; a classic interior with modern conveniences you will love and premium leather seating surfaces.

Build With Your Comfort in Mind

Everything inside has been thoughtfully designed for your utmost comfort and convenience. The G90’s driver seat has been approved by the back and spine specialists at Aktion Gesunder Rücke, the German campaign for healthier backs. Ergonomic cockpit design puts every control within easy reach while providing a clear view of all displays. Settle in to the perfect spot with the 22-way adjustable driver seat and soak in the excellent sounds from the 17-speaker Lexicon 7.1 surround sound audio and rear seat entertainment system.

Built to Perform

Even at high speeds, the G90’s exceptional agility and stability ensure you a refined ride and dynamic driving experience. The 365-horsepower V6, sophisticated dual-mode drivetrain, and Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension assure you stay as connected to the road as you are to the G90.

The Genesis G90 offers an optimal drive mode by sensing and learning real-time road conditions as well as driver behavior, then appropriately modifying throttle response and transmission shift points. The Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension developed through evaluation of critical road elements including speed bumps and potholes, reinforces steering stability and improves collision avoidance during unstable conditions. Lastly, the HTRAC- AWD senses car speed and road conditions, then distributes power to the wheels and applies brakes accordingly. This gives you a stable ride, even when you’re cornering and driving on slippery roads.

Safety is Standard with Genesis

The G90 offers all of the most advanced safety and technology.

Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Lane keep assist.
Smart blind spot detection.
Smart cruise control.
9-airbag system.

The Genesis Experience

On top of all of this, when you purchase a Genesis, you also get the Genesis Experience which includes:

Genesis Service Valet: You may never set foot in a service center. Complimentary for 3 years or 36,000 miles, Genesis will perform a remote diagnostic check, pick up your vehicle, send a Courtesy Replacement and return your Genesis when it’s ready.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance: Enjoy a worry-free ownership experience that includes Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles; whichever comes first. Plus, complimentary oil changes every normally scheduled maintenance appointment.
Genesis Connected Services: Your Genesis includes 3 years of complimentary Connected Services which offers a suite of safety, guidance and remote features, such as Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Destination Search powered by Google™ and Remote Start with climate control.
SiriusXM All Access, Plus Traffic and Travel Link: With 3 years of complimentary SiriusXM traffic and data services, you’ll stay up to speed with the latest traffic info and road conditions. In addition, a SiriusXM all-access 3 month free trial lets you enjoy more than 150+ channels of news, talk and entertainment.
24/7 Enhanced Roadside Assistance: The most essential luxury of all is peace of mind. Should your travel plans take an unexpected turn, 3-year complimentary Roadside Assistance provides tire changes or transportation to the nearest Genesis dealership or authorized service facility. Also included is reimbursement for any overnight inconvenience.
Multimedia and Navigation Updates: Advanced technology includes complimentary map updates to your vehicle’s navigation system for 3 years, to ensure you’re always accessing the most up-to-date mapping. Updates are available annually as part of your routine maintenance visit.

If you are interested in learning more about the Genesis G90 Luxury Sedan or taking one for a test drive, visit Genesis of North Atlanta today!

For the Home

10 Essential Spring Home Safety & Maintenance Tasks

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After the snows and storms of winter, it’s always a relief to know that Spring is on the horizon once more. However, it’s important to realize that in most parts of the country, even those with gentle weather, the punishing winter season has nevertheless had an effect on your home. For this reason, there are a number of things you should consider accomplishing this Spring in order to prepare your home for the coming warmer months ahead.

To help you to ensure that your home is both safe and in tip-top shape, SERVIZ has put together an easy and convenient checklist of home maintenance and repair tasks to accomplish before Spring. Most of these tasks are things that the pros in the SERVIZ network can help with, but whether you call upon SERVIZ or take these actions yourself.

10 Essential Spring Home Safety & Maintenance Tasks

Inspect your windows, and around your windows, for leaks or cracks. Repairing these will not only increase home safety, but will save energy and improve your air quality, as well. Consider upgrading your doors and windows for added safety (and better air quality), as well.
Inspect your fences and gates, and mend or reinforce any weak spots you encounter. Doing so will not only discourage criminals but may potentially add property value, as well.
Inspect and replace your exterior lighting bulbs. This is vital for maintaining your home safety, as dark spots or badly lit exteriors can signify a lack of vigilance and may attract thieves.
Inspect and clean your vents and ducts (you’ll need a professional handyman or service Pro to help with this particular task). This task is vital not only for your home’s air quality, but also to help prevent the buildup that can become a serious fire risk.
Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for overall functionality, and replace batteries. Also check for the presence of sewer gases in your home, too.
Inspect your Air Conditioner to ensure that it’s in good shape for use. You’ll also want to clean or change your A/C filters at this time, as well.
Clean your gutters and downspouts, as the snows and storms of winter can commonly leave these blocked with leaves, branches, and other detritus.
Clean your carpets to freshen up for Spring and improve your overall air quality. It’s amazing what a difference a clean carpet can make to your everyday well-being.
Inspect key appliances and components around the home, from earthquake valves, to electrical panels (for correct sizing and wiring, overall electrical health, and more), to your hot water heater, stove, and other appliances. Be sure to ask for a careful look at your hot water heater’s strapping and venting when getting help from a Pro on this, especially in earthquake zones.
Check your Garage Door for proper auto shutoff sensors, as well as for worn-out springs.

Construction worker with contemporary mobile phone

These basic tasks can help to ensure that your home will be safer, more energy-efficient, and in great shape for Spring.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions about how to accomplish these tasks, or how to find a Home Repair Professional to assist with them, contact SERVIZ at www.serviz.com. You can also learn more about how your own metro area stacks up for safety against other cities nationwide by checking out SERVIZ’s Home Safety Rankings (HSR) Index, at https://www.serviz.com/national-hsr-index.

Automotive

Get to Know the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

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What do you want in your next vehicle? Are you looking for something that is packed with style and space, safety, technology, convenience and a whole lot more? Then you will want to check out everything the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has to offer you.

Seats for Seven? Yes, please!

If space is what you need the Hyundai Santa Fe has it! The Santa Fe’s 50/50 split-folding rear seatbacks can be folded completely flat when you want maximum load-space or changed up when you want to carry people and gear.

Both the young and the young-at-heart riding in Santa Fe’s third row will love the third-row USB charging that allows them to charge their favorite digital companions, from phones to gaming devices, with ease. Think of it as a third-row seat with front-row connections.

Warm Up and Cool Down with Ease

This available feature gives the driver and the front seat passenger the option of having a boost of cooling air when the sun heats up the drive. On the other hand, available heated seats prevent your morning drive from being a chilly wake-up call. It’s nice that something so satisfying is so simple; all it takes is the push of a button.

Hands-Free Convenience

If you been out doing some shopping and your hands are full, don’t worry, Santa Fe has you covered. Pushing a stroller while carrying a child, guess what, Santa Fe has got your back once again. The Hands-Free Smart Liftgate with Auto Open is a must-have feature for serious shoppers everywhere, but especially handy in the parking lot. The available hands-free smart liftgate opens automatically when it senses the Proximity Key is behind the vehicle within three feet for more than three seconds. When you’re loaded down with boxes, bags or kids’ sports gear, you’ll love how it helps out.

Drive Safe

With the help of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Support, technology in your car is better when it’s useful, familiar and personal. For those who use their iPhone® in the car, Apple CarPlay is the smarter, safer way to get access to Apple Music®, maps, send messages, make calls and more with Siri® and your Santa Fe’s touchscreen. With Android Auto, the apps you prefer offer access to maps, navigation, contacts lists, texts, calls, even your music seamlessly and safely while driving using the touchscreen or voice recognition.

The multi-view camera is four cameras that offer a 360-degree view around your vehicle to help you see people and objects right on the touchscreen display. It’s very helpful for safely maneuvering a large kid-hauling SUV. Who needs eyes in the back of their head when they have this?

Add in the Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection that senses vehicles and pedestrians in your path and initiates braking automatically, the Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert that provides audible and visual alerts if a vehicle is detected in the driver’s blind spot. In reverse gear, Rear Cross-traffic Alert warns the driver of vehicles approaching from the side and the Lane Departure Warning that lets you know when your vehicle is drifting out of its driving lane without signaling.

All of this is on top of the optional Dynamic Bending Light, a lighting system that moves the headlights in sync with your vehicle makes perfect sense, designed to turn the headlights with the direction of the curve as you turn the steering wheel; as well as the Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start that detects a vehicle in your lane ahead, and your Santa Fe automatically slows down maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. If the vehicle ahead should stop, your Santa Fe will also come to a full stop, then start again without you doing a thing.

This is just a small sampling of everything the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has to offer you. For more details and to take one for a test drive, visit Hyundai of Kennesaw.

Automotive

Meet the 2018 Dodge Journey GT AWD

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If you are looking for a vehicle that is fueled by adventure than the 2018 Dodge Journey GT AWD from Robert’s Chrysler Dodge RAM Fiat is the vehicle for you.

With a powerful engine ( 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine) at the heart of every road trip. Teamed with the six-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick and front-wheel drive, provides exceptional performance and a total highway driving range of over 500 miles.

All the Power You Need

The available AWD system works instantly and on demand, driving only the front wheels until power to the rear wheels is needed. This is especially helpful if you drive on ice, gravel or other low-traction surfaces. With an available towing capacity of up to 2,500 pounds, you’ve got lots of towing options. Hook up a boat, a camper, a trailer; the possibilities are endless and the road and your new Dodge Journey GT AWD can take you anywhere!

Why Fit in When You Were Born to Stand Out?

Every detail of the Dodge Journey is designed to stand out. That’s why it comes equipped with stylish features like the Ring of Fire LED taillamps that are fun and functional.

The Journey GT also offers distinctive features like a gloss black front grille and platinum chrome accents, power exterior mirrors that are heated to stay free of ice, fog and frost that include a foldaway feature that’s especially handy when riding through car washes or parking in tight spaces, and prime rooftop real estate with available stylish black or bright roof side rails so you can pack “outside the box.”

Ride in Comfort and Style

Drive like a king in an available six-way power driver seat with four-way power lumbar adjustment. The second-row 60/40 split-folding seatbacks add tremendous versatility. You can also use the available Tilt ‘n Slide™ second-row seating to gain one-handed access to the available third row. For your smaller traveling companions, the Dodge Journey offers available integrated second-row child booster seats. These booster seats can be conveniently folded away when they’re not needed. This is every parent’s dream right here! No need to buy a booster or move them from car to car when they are built right in and can be tucked away when not in use.

All winter long that heated premium leather-trimmed driver and front passenger seats keep you nice and toasty without making the vehicle’s interior too warm or too cold for other passengers and when gloves aren’t enough, take hold of the available heated leather-wrapped steering wheel to keep your hands warm as you take on the curves and straightaways.

Endless Technology

It’s a plugged-in world, and we like it that way. The Dodge Journey has plenty of features to help keep you and your electronics humming along. Stay up-to-the-minute with the information you need during any road trip with the available Uconnect® 3 NAV featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen.

The premium 3.5-inch customizable Driver Information Digital Cluster Display delivers real-time information on performance, available Navigation and vehicle status.

Dodge Journey offers the available Rear Seat Video Group I to help keep your passengers entertained. They can watch movies or play video games with a second-row 9-inch screen that flips down from the overhead console.

The available Premium Sound Group on the Journey includes six Infinity® speakers, a 368-watt amplifier and one subwoofer, providing incredible sound reproduction. Available digital signal processing really brings those ‘80s metal band playlists to life. An available 368-watt amplifier lets everyone know you’re coming (included with the Premium Sound Group).

You can check out the 2018 Dodge Journey GT AWD and take one for a test drive when you visit Robert’s Chrysler Dodge RAM Fiat in Meriden, CT.

Parenting

Keeping Kids Comfortable – Quick Care for Coughs, Bumps and Aches

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As a parent, keeping your kids safe and healthy is a full-time job. Runny noses, bumped knees, and stomachaches are as normal a part of growing up as toys and games. When your little one isn’t feeling good, you look for ways to offer comfort and help ease symptoms. Here are some tips for the next time you are dealing with some of the most common childhood troubles.

Colds and Allergies Season

When your child has a cold or allergy causing nasal congestion and discomfort, there are several ways you can help relieve the symptoms. One of the best ways to help ease your child’s breathing is with a cool mist vaporizer or a steamy bathroom. Keeping the air moist will make it easier for your child to breathe. If you don’t have a vaporizer, go into the bathroom, turn on a hot shower, and let the room fill with steam. Sit with your child or run a regular temperature bath, and let the child inhale the steam for as long as possible. This will give temporary relief for a stopped-up nose.

If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, keeping your HVAC unit clean and in good order is a must. Check with AC Repair Sarasota to schedule yearly maintenance checks and make sure you follow the directions on how often to change your filter. Keeping the air clean goes a long way in helping with allergies.

Stomachaches and Indigestion

Every child gets a stomachache now and again. Whether it is too much cake and ice cream at a birthday party or an intestinal bug, the best thing is for your child is to rest and make sure they sip clear fluids like water, broth, or fruit juice diluted with water. If there is no vomiting, try having your child pass a stool and see if that helps relieve the discomfort.

Other tips to try — feed your child several small meals instead of two or three large ones. Try mild foods like rice, dry toast or crackers, and applesauce at first. Stay away from drinks with high sugar content, caffeine, or carbonation. If the pain increases or localizes to one spot, or if your child is running a fever, call your doctor, as these could be symptoms of something serious.

Bumps, Bruises, Bleeding

If your child tumbles and skins his knee or elbow, wash the area well with soap and water, and cover with an antibiotic cream and a bandage. Covering not only keeps the cut clean, it also keeps your child from bothering it. For bumps and bruises, a cold compress will usually help ease the pain and prevent any swelling. If bleeding is severe or the child complains of severe pain, go to your nearest emergency room for treatment.

There is no way to prevent the occasional childhood illness or injury. But as a mother, you can offer more than just a kiss to make it better. When your child isn’t feeling well, do the most you can to keep him or her comfortable during recovery. In a few days, your child will be up and running around as usual.