Tuesday, May 8, 2012
BOOMER AND X - MOTHER DAUGHTER CAR TEAM
It isn't often that the Boomer and X auto team of Two for the Road USA get out of the office. However, a Boomer and X bachelorette party had these two relaxing for an evening of fun. The car for the event? 2012 Chrysler 200... Thank you Scott Brown of Chrysler Corporate.
Monday, May 7, 2012
KENTUCKY DERBY HATS WITH HISTORY
Jane's mother who is 96 years old suggested her friends borrow some of her hats for a Kentucky Derby party in the neighborhood. How generous I thought, and why would someone have enough hats for twenty women. It turns out that when she sold her beautiful hat shop, that she owned in the l940's to the l980's she had over 500.
I've been told that many went to museums but the 100 or so that were left are in the family to be shared with friends and family. We had so much fun trying on hats and looking at the year it was in style tagged to the hats... it was more fun than the KD itself.
I've been told that many went to museums but the 100 or so that were left are in the family to be shared with friends and family. We had so much fun trying on hats and looking at the year it was in style tagged to the hats... it was more fun than the KD itself.
DON'T MESS WITH TRADITION
By: Julia Serafine – Two for the Road USA
Exactly! I was so glad I had the opportunity to drive the “familia” to the Italian Festival this past weekend in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SE. We had been planning this outing for quite some time and the very thought of big hair, spray tans and of course, fantastic Italian food, made me so excited.
I was even more excited when I saw how much room my kids had in the backseat!
Volkswagen has increased the size of the Passat for 2012. Our fellow journalists are incredibly pleased with this change, which gives the back seat plenty of legroom. One test driver says the legroom is so abundant it verges on full-size sedan status.
The base Passat comes with fabric seats, while higher trim levels offer leather. Heated front seats are standard on the SE trim level, as well as an eight-way power adjustable driver seat. The SEL trim gets power lumbar support for the driver’s seat which I need, while the SEL Premium and TDI SEL Premium have leather-trimmed seats with faux suede inserts.
With everyone seated comfortably, including two child safety seats in the rear, we were on our way…Ciao!
I enjoyed driving the 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SE very much. Just like the Italian tradition, I love a vehicle that has been around for a long time and that is trustworthy. I don’t need something with a million bells and whistles like the more trendy vehicles you see these days. Now I’m not an engineer so I listen when knowledgeable opinions are spouted to me so it’s been said the VW Passat’s available powertrains maintains Volkswagen’s reputation of building cars that are fun to drive. Fun being the operative word.
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has three engine choices and four transmission options. With the price of gas, shoppers will like that Volkswagen offers a diesel version of the Passat. The base 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine makes 170 horsepower and is bred to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. This engine gets an EPA-estimated 22/32 mpg city/highway with a manual and 22/31 with an automatic. Not bad!
The mid-level engine is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 140 horsepower. This diesel engine gets an EPA-estimated 30/40 mpg city/highway with an automated manual transmission and 31/43 with a manual. The diesel engine can be combined with either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed DSG automated manual transmission. A strong safety rating comes with this vehicle.
Standard safety features on the Passat include anti-lock brakes, hill climb assist for models with a manual transmission, six airbags (dual front, dual front-side and dual side curtain front and rear) and Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System.
In an accident, the system automatically shuts off the fuel supply, unlocks the doors and turns the hazard lights on. … but can it stop my little girls from crying?
The starting price for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SE with Sunroof starts at $26,000, but the base model for the 2012 Passat starts at $20,000
With our tummies full and a stroller full of every stuffed animal known to our two year old, we slowly piled into our VW, opened the sunroof and stared at the moon…which just happened to look like a big pizza pie!
Exactly! I was so glad I had the opportunity to drive the “familia” to the Italian Festival this past weekend in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SE. We had been planning this outing for quite some time and the very thought of big hair, spray tans and of course, fantastic Italian food, made me so excited.
I was even more excited when I saw how much room my kids had in the backseat!Volkswagen has increased the size of the Passat for 2012. Our fellow journalists are incredibly pleased with this change, which gives the back seat plenty of legroom. One test driver says the legroom is so abundant it verges on full-size sedan status.
The base Passat comes with fabric seats, while higher trim levels offer leather. Heated front seats are standard on the SE trim level, as well as an eight-way power adjustable driver seat. The SEL trim gets power lumbar support for the driver’s seat which I need, while the SEL Premium and TDI SEL Premium have leather-trimmed seats with faux suede inserts.
With everyone seated comfortably, including two child safety seats in the rear, we were on our way…Ciao!I enjoyed driving the 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SE very much. Just like the Italian tradition, I love a vehicle that has been around for a long time and that is trustworthy. I don’t need something with a million bells and whistles like the more trendy vehicles you see these days. Now I’m not an engineer so I listen when knowledgeable opinions are spouted to me so it’s been said the VW Passat’s available powertrains maintains Volkswagen’s reputation of building cars that are fun to drive. Fun being the operative word.
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has three engine choices and four transmission options. With the price of gas, shoppers will like that Volkswagen offers a diesel version of the Passat. The base 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine makes 170 horsepower and is bred to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. This engine gets an EPA-estimated 22/32 mpg city/highway with a manual and 22/31 with an automatic. Not bad!
The mid-level engine is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 140 horsepower. This diesel engine gets an EPA-estimated 30/40 mpg city/highway with an automated manual transmission and 31/43 with a manual. The diesel engine can be combined with either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed DSG automated manual transmission. A strong safety rating comes with this vehicle.
Standard safety features on the Passat include anti-lock brakes, hill climb assist for models with a manual transmission, six airbags (dual front, dual front-side and dual side curtain front and rear) and Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System.
In an accident, the system automatically shuts off the fuel supply, unlocks the doors and turns the hazard lights on. … but can it stop my little girls from crying?The starting price for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SE with Sunroof starts at $26,000, but the base model for the 2012 Passat starts at $20,000
With our tummies full and a stroller full of every stuffed animal known to our two year old, we slowly piled into our VW, opened the sunroof and stared at the moon…which just happened to look like a big pizza pie!
ARIZONA AND ACURA ARE HOT !
April 4, 2012
Arizona and Acura are Hot !
By: Melanie Droz
My review of the …2012 Acura RDX Tech
Spring is here! In most parts of the country, the weather is subtly warming while the flowers are in full bloom. In Phoenix, 90-degree temps are happening. It’s hot; however, it is a perfect time to test drive the HOT 2012 Acura RDX Tech. There is nothing subtle about this vehicle; it screams springtime in Phoenix – hot, hot, hot!
Starting with the crystal black pearl exterior paint on the RDX that I tested, this Acura is especially sizzling on the outside. The sleek look of the RDX comes with a stylish, power moonroof with tilt feature. Despite the warm temps during the day, the moonroof is perfect for the cool evenings in Phoenix.
The interior of the 2012 Acura RDX Tech is also hot! The sport seats with perforated leather trim keep the inside looking sporty, but they also offer cool comfort. The driver recognition memory system is another strong feature that provides the driver with consistent ease every time they get in the car. And, if you really want to turn up the heat, the front seats are heated. When it drops to the eighties in Phoenix during the springtime, some may choose to use the heated front seats; after all, that is a bit chilly for us Phoenicians.
There are several other scorching interior luxuries in the Acura RDX. To make the high temperatures in Phoenix easier to accept, the RDX is jam-packed with technical advances. With the Tech package, priced at $36,880, the RDX comes with a navigation system, a rearview camera, and a surround sound system that has 10 speakers. The Acura RDX also comes standard, at an MSRP of $35,995, with XM radio, a HomelInk system and steering wheel mounted controls. The RDX makes it simple to enjoy the ride, no matter what the temps are outside.
It’s easy to say that the hottest element of the 2012 Acura RDX Tech is its performance. The paddle shifters, MacPhearson strut front suspension and drive-by-wire throttle system make the RDX fun and easy to drive. Other safety features that make this Acura blistering include: rollover sensor on side curtain airbags, 3-point seatbelts and tire pressure monitoring system. The RDX gets 19 city and 24 highway mpg, so , overall, the hotness of this car is undeniable.
Although the weather is heating up in Phoenix, it is definitely easy to stay cool in the 2012 Acura RDX Tech.
For more information on the RDX go to www.acura.com
My review of the …2012 Acura RDX Tech
Spring is here! In most parts of the country, the weather is subtly warming while the flowers are in full bloom. In Phoenix, 90-degree temps are happening. It’s hot; however, it is a perfect time to test drive the HOT 2012 Acura RDX Tech. There is nothing subtle about this vehicle; it screams springtime in Phoenix – hot, hot, hot!Starting with the crystal black pearl exterior paint on the RDX that I tested, this Acura is especially sizzling on the outside. The sleek look of the RDX comes with a stylish, power moonroof with tilt feature. Despite the warm temps during the day, the moonroof is perfect for the cool evenings in Phoenix.
The interior of the 2012 Acura RDX Tech is also hot! The sport seats with perforated leather trim keep the inside looking sporty, but they also offer cool comfort. The driver recognition memory system is another strong feature that provides the driver with consistent ease every time they get in the car. And, if you really want to turn up the heat, the front seats are heated. When it drops to the eighties in Phoenix during the springtime, some may choose to use the heated front seats; after all, that is a bit chilly for us Phoenicians.There are several other scorching interior luxuries in the Acura RDX. To make the high temperatures in Phoenix easier to accept, the RDX is jam-packed with technical advances. With the Tech package, priced at $36,880, the RDX comes with a navigation system, a rearview camera, and a surround sound system that has 10 speakers. The Acura RDX also comes standard, at an MSRP of $35,995, with XM radio, a HomelInk system and steering wheel mounted controls. The RDX makes it simple to enjoy the ride, no matter what the temps are outside.
It’s easy to say that the hottest element of the 2012 Acura RDX Tech is its performance. The paddle shifters, MacPhearson strut front suspension and drive-by-wire throttle system make the RDX fun and easy to drive. Other safety features that make this Acura blistering include: rollover sensor on side curtain airbags, 3-point seatbelts and tire pressure monitoring system. The RDX gets 19 city and 24 highway mpg, so , overall, the hotness of this car is undeniable.Although the weather is heating up in Phoenix, it is definitely easy to stay cool in the 2012 Acura RDX Tech.
For more information on the RDX go to www.acura.com
SOUPED UP SAUSAGE AND PASTA
Souped-Up Sausage and PastaBy Cathy Burford
Do you need to create a hearty meal in a big fat hurry? This is a sure hit. It’s great on a chilly night.
1 pound hot Italian sausage
1 pound mild Italian sausage
12 oz chopped baby carrots
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves minced garlic
2 – 49.5 oz cans of chicken broth
2 – 14 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 – 15 oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 bay leaf
1 Tab basil
2 cups small shell pasta
6 oz fresh spinach leaves, sliced
Shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Squeeze sausages from casings and cook on medium-high heat, stirring until brown and crumbly (10 minutes). Remove and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan.
Add onions, carrots and garlic and continue to cook for another 7 minutes.
Add broth, tomatoes, beans, basil, bay leaf and bring to a boil.
Add pasta shells, lower heat to medium, and simmer for about 10 minutes, until pasta is tender. Discard any accumulated fat and stir in spinach. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately. Pass shredded cheese at the table.
For preparing this soup on the road, you can cook the base of the soup ahead of time, just adding the pasta and spinach to the re-heated soup right before serving.
Enjoy!
GRANDPARENTS ON THE GO GO GO
By: Cathy Droz and Cathy Burford
Grandparents on the Go
If you would like to combine an era in history of slaying dragons with good ole fashioned fun for the grandchildren, we suggest a day visit to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. There is something for the grandkid and the kids in all of us.
Arizona’s annual festival is one of the largest in the nation, held on weekends in February and March and its fanciful European style village is constructed like a Hollywood movie set just below the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix. You will be amazed at the combination of theater, circus the arts and arts and crafts fair. There is a jousting tournament, people-powered rides and a culinary feast so sweet you’ll want to make a day-long adventure.
Merchants sell their wares ranging from clothing to custom ceramics. There are demonstrations displaying skills of blacksmithing, glassblowing and pottery throwing. Artisans are housed in the market lanes filled with storybook shops and medieval tents.
Food and drink (drynk) is available to satisfy any appetite young or Grand. There are bread bowls, stews, steak-on –a- stake and of course their famous roasted turkey leg.
The children will love all the activities, even if they haven’t studied the Renaissance time in history yet. A favorite of our grandchildren was Mother (and Father) Goose brought to life, with costumed ducks and geese, Maggie, Mimi and Matilda. Our older grandchildren cheered for their favorite knight in the jousting event (go early and get front row seats). The people powered rides like Da Vinci’s Flying Machine and the Swan Swing to name a few were a big hit and the kids thought it was so cool that human’s made the rides work and in period clothing.
I must say, for both our grandchildren and for us adults… you really felt as if you were back in the day; as so many of the patrons dressed in traditional wear. I think that is what makes the festival as exciting as it is. Our grandchildren said that next year they want to dress the part and want us to do the same. I think I will, I don’t know about the grandpas but Cathy and I are ready for some satin and lace and umbrella accessories.
Grandparents on the Go
If you would like to combine an era in history of slaying dragons with good ole fashioned fun for the grandchildren, we suggest a day visit to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. There is something for the grandkid and the kids in all of us.Arizona’s annual festival is one of the largest in the nation, held on weekends in February and March and its fanciful European style village is constructed like a Hollywood movie set just below the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix. You will be amazed at the combination of theater, circus the arts and arts and crafts fair. There is a jousting tournament, people-powered rides and a culinary feast so sweet you’ll want to make a day-long adventure.
Merchants sell their wares ranging from clothing to custom ceramics. There are demonstrations displaying skills of blacksmithing, glassblowing and pottery throwing. Artisans are housed in the market lanes filled with storybook shops and medieval tents.
Food and drink (drynk) is available to satisfy any appetite young or Grand. There are bread bowls, stews, steak-on –a- stake and of course their famous roasted turkey leg.
The children will love all the activities, even if they haven’t studied the Renaissance time in history yet. A favorite of our grandchildren was Mother (and Father) Goose brought to life, with costumed ducks and geese, Maggie, Mimi and Matilda. Our older grandchildren cheered for their favorite knight in the jousting event (go early and get front row seats). The people powered rides like Da Vinci’s Flying Machine and the Swan Swing to name a few were a big hit and the kids thought it was so cool that human’s made the rides work and in period clothing.I must say, for both our grandchildren and for us adults… you really felt as if you were back in the day; as so many of the patrons dressed in traditional wear. I think that is what makes the festival as exciting as it is. Our grandchildren said that next year they want to dress the part and want us to do the same. I think I will, I don’t know about the grandpas but Cathy and I are ready for some satin and lace and umbrella accessories.
GIRL'S NIGHT OUT
By: Melanie Droz
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
There is nothing like a luxurious vehicle, especially when you are having a ladies’ night out – no husbands, no babies, just the girls. Of course, I offered to drive since I was test driving the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 and had no intention of drinking. We all exchanged our baby rags with spit up, for some hot pre-baby rags tucked away in the back of our closets and hopped into the 300 looking mighty fine. That’s easy to do when you are sitting behind a bright silver metallic car with black sport leather bucket seats and premium leather interior trim. Let the good times begin.
Our first stop was dinner at Blue Martini. With kids still on the brain, the girls were asking me about the safety features in the 300. I assured them the number of airbags was impressive and the rain brake support would definitely come in handy on the rare occasion it rains in Phoenix. What I thought was the most impressive was the forward collision warning, blind spot and cross path detection, exterior mirror with signals and the rear back up camera. With all of these safety features, there is no reason to ever be worried in the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. But, it was time to throw caution to the wind and get into girls’ night out mode.
We all know women are concerned with performance, so once we realized we did not have to worry about our kids being in the vehicle, we enjoyed the power behind the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. With a 6.4-liter V8 hemi engine with fuel saver technology, this car is quick. With the windows rolled down and the dual pane panoramic sunroof open, we enjoyed the speed and steadiness of the 300 with the cool wind blowing in our hair. It had been some time since we have all felt such freedom and command. Kids can do that to you.
We arrived at Blue Martini and felt obligated to valet park. In our personal, family vans and SUVs, we may have parked our own cars; however, the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is just too glamorous to park and walk. I was even anxious about someone else (the valet guy) driving the car. I was hoping he would not scuff up the luxury floor mats, leather wrapped steering wheel or leather wrapped shift knob. After all, the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 model that I was driving was worth $56,930. I think it is safe to say that is more than he will make in a year parking cars. Maybe he could afford the base price of $47,170. He did peel out a bit on his way to park, but I could totally understand his need for speed in this vehicle.
After filling our bellies, it was most definitely time for karaoke at Bridgett’s! In order to prepare ourselves for singing, we amped up the SIRIUS satellite radio through the 18 speakers, subwoofer and 900-watt amplifier in the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. It was all about the eighties – nothing like Cindy Lauper’s “True Colors” for a karaoke warm up. We also had the opportunity to plug in one of the girl’s MP3 player to listen to some classic Michael Jackson. We were ready!
Well, turns out we were too much to handle at Bridgett’s, so we headed home. I think we were all just eager to get home to the kids. I used the adaptive cruise control to get everyone home safely, and the 14 mpg city and 23 mpg highway made it all happen without putting a huge dent in the gas tank. The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 made for a very successful girls’ night out. Did I mention I was home in bed by 10:00?
For more on the Chrysler 300 SRT8 go to www.chrysler.com
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
There is nothing like a luxurious vehicle, especially when you are having a ladies’ night out – no husbands, no babies, just the girls. Of course, I offered to drive since I was test driving the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 and had no intention of drinking. We all exchanged our baby rags with spit up, for some hot pre-baby rags tucked away in the back of our closets and hopped into the 300 looking mighty fine. That’s easy to do when you are sitting behind a bright silver metallic car with black sport leather bucket seats and premium leather interior trim. Let the good times begin.
Our first stop was dinner at Blue Martini. With kids still on the brain, the girls were asking me about the safety features in the 300. I assured them the number of airbags was impressive and the rain brake support would definitely come in handy on the rare occasion it rains in Phoenix. What I thought was the most impressive was the forward collision warning, blind spot and cross path detection, exterior mirror with signals and the rear back up camera. With all of these safety features, there is no reason to ever be worried in the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. But, it was time to throw caution to the wind and get into girls’ night out mode.We all know women are concerned with performance, so once we realized we did not have to worry about our kids being in the vehicle, we enjoyed the power behind the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. With a 6.4-liter V8 hemi engine with fuel saver technology, this car is quick. With the windows rolled down and the dual pane panoramic sunroof open, we enjoyed the speed and steadiness of the 300 with the cool wind blowing in our hair. It had been some time since we have all felt such freedom and command. Kids can do that to you.
We arrived at Blue Martini and felt obligated to valet park. In our personal, family vans and SUVs, we may have parked our own cars; however, the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is just too glamorous to park and walk. I was even anxious about someone else (the valet guy) driving the car. I was hoping he would not scuff up the luxury floor mats, leather wrapped steering wheel or leather wrapped shift knob. After all, the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 model that I was driving was worth $56,930. I think it is safe to say that is more than he will make in a year parking cars. Maybe he could afford the base price of $47,170. He did peel out a bit on his way to park, but I could totally understand his need for speed in this vehicle.
After filling our bellies, it was most definitely time for karaoke at Bridgett’s! In order to prepare ourselves for singing, we amped up the SIRIUS satellite radio through the 18 speakers, subwoofer and 900-watt amplifier in the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. It was all about the eighties – nothing like Cindy Lauper’s “True Colors” for a karaoke warm up. We also had the opportunity to plug in one of the girl’s MP3 player to listen to some classic Michael Jackson. We were ready!Well, turns out we were too much to handle at Bridgett’s, so we headed home. I think we were all just eager to get home to the kids. I used the adaptive cruise control to get everyone home safely, and the 14 mpg city and 23 mpg highway made it all happen without putting a huge dent in the gas tank. The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 made for a very successful girls’ night out. Did I mention I was home in bed by 10:00?
For more on the Chrysler 300 SRT8 go to www.chrysler.com
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