YEAR OF THE DRAGON

Thank you Chinese New Year for an excuse to eat fried rice today.

SAFE WINTER DRIVING

As I was driving up Provo Canyon to the Sundance Film Festival last Saturday, Old Man Winter was working in full force. The snow was falling, visibility was diminishing, and the roads were quickly icing over. Never fear...I made it up safely (maybe with the help of a few prayers and in time to hang with the hottest celebs), but I saw numerous cars around me both north and south bound sliding off the road.

On the trip back home through Parley's canyon, winter storm warnings were in effect and drivers were advised to use caution if traveling. We made it down at a mighty speed of 25mph, while big trucks and so-called 4 wheel drive vehicles blew past us. I later saw many of those cars covered in snow banks and I even saw a Jeep on its side off the highway. I'm not gonna lie, I pictured myself sleeping in an ice cave a few times and was worried I didn't have a winter car safety kit in the trunk. But then I snapped out of it.

If you haven't seen this video of cars sliding and crashing on just one street in Bountiful, UT, that same day, you should check it out:


So now that the winter weather is finally here (the snow gods have heard your pleadings snowboarders/skiers), it's time to talk about safe driving tips. Because the way you drive not only affects your trip, but the trips of those around you.

On the Esurance Blog, I found some good driving tips that I thought I should share. It addresses the topics of ice/snow/hail, rain, floods, avoiding deer, and safe driving to get you to your destination (hopefully) without any problems.

On the post there is a list of items you should keep in your car in the winter. They call it a winter car kit and it includes:
1. A small bag of sand or cat litter to use under your tires for traction
2. A shovel to clear snow from around your tires
3. Tire chains or cables
4. A large flashlight and batteries
5. A blanket or sleeping bag (several if there are more than one or two people in the car)
6. Waterproof matches and votive candles with stable bases
7. Non-perishable food items (like high-energy protein bars, trail mixes with nuts, and raisins)
8. A coffee can, which can be used to melt snow for water if help is a really long time away


In addition to those items, you should carry the following items in your car year-round:
1. A first aid kit
2. A properly inflated spare tire
3. Jumper cables, signal flares, and other car emergency items


Don't worry, if you don't have those things in your car like me, you can buy pre-packaged roadside emergency kits with most of those items at the store.


Stormy weather happens EVERY year in Utah, so check out the post and let's be ready for it by driving safely.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

SUNDANCE 2012

It's that time of the year again...time for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.

Utah's annual little Hollywood event.

 There's plenty of parties to try to get in

cool schwag every where you go

Famous people walking down the street and celebrity gawkers

oh...and films to watch & producers to meet

UGG...THIS FASHION TREND MUST DIE

I've mentioned this before, but why do girls insist on wearing pajamas with slippers or sweat pants with UGGs to the store?! It doesn't matter if the pants cost you $50 and say something pink across the butt, it looks bad. I guess they forgot to tell you in the catalog that those clothes are meant to be worn at home NOT in public.

Seriously, please help stop this tacky trend.

EASY CANVAS PRINTS GIVEAWAY -- CLOSED

I'm kinda obsessed with canvas lately. Not shoes or tote bags (although those are cool), but prints. Some of you may know I like to travel a little bit and I like to take photos. So I recently ordered some photos on canvas of my favorite spots (this one is Prague) to decorate my walls. I'm swooning. I have only printed one so far from the company Easy Canvas Prints, but don't worry another is on it's way!  It was easy to create and the canvas was delivered to my house super fast.

The color quality is fantastic

Nice wrapped edges (you can choose from several border and thickness options)

You can choose to have it made with a wall hanger on back or with a stand (depending on whether you want to hang it on the wall or stand it on flat surfaces like desks or shelves)

You can also easily turn your typography, drawings, or digital artwork into canvas prints with step by step instructions and help from the site's design idea gallery.

If you go to the Easy Canvas Prints Facebook page and like them, you can get 50% off and free shipping on your order!

Anyone interested in winning a professional-quality canvas of your  own?! The nice folks at Easy Canvas Prints have offered to give away an 8X10 to one awesome blog reader! 

Just use the rafflecopter form below to enter. (Feel free to do as many entries as you like, but the more you do the more chances you get to win.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RESOLUTIONS

I'm not the best at sending out holiday cards to friends. I either send them too late or too early just to avoid being late. 

Two years ago I sent Valentine's Day cards, last year I sent Thanksgiving notes, and this year I had to adjust the prewritten wording a little and inform the recipients it wasn't a Christmas card but rather a New Year card with the resolution not to procrastinate anymore.

It's the thought that counts, right?!

GET SOME

You can bet if I need some guns or ammo in the near future, I'm for sure going to buy it from this place:

Get some!

WHEN YOU'RE A CELEBRITY

It seems as if celebrities marrying/dating celebrities doesn't really work out. So maybe you hollywood hunks should take me out on a date. Just a suggestion...

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HoHoHo....

The holidays are over and the cheer is pretty much gone. It might be due to the long lines at the retail stores, people cutting you off to steal your parking spot, or places being sold out of the ONLY thing your special someone wants because you waited too long to buy it.

So I thought I'd share a few little treasures to brighten your spirits I noticed this holiday that added a chuckle to my season.

The very Cornhole Christmas at the festival of trees

The all too often seen shopping cart (exposed hairy butt crack) lean

Angry kitty in his santa shirt

And this one I saw on the customer service counter at a bookstore. Really?! This book has been red flagged...hope it doesn't end up in anyone's stocking.

POP FULL OF FUN

What would make a night of babysitting 5 little ones more fun than watching Mr. Popper's Penguins together? 

Watching Mr. Popper's Penguins while making penguin shaped ice cubes and eating popcorn! 

 Best auntie award goes to...ME...tonight.