Archives for February 2020

Tips for driving safer during the winter

How to change a tire

This month our challenge with #LesSchwab has been to #DriveSafer and we have learned so much! We kicked things off by learning how to change a tire, a goal that both of us have had for a long time. If you missed the video, you can watch it here and learn how to do this in a couple of minutes. Bookmark the video so you will know where it is in case something should happen to your tires at some point.

Both of our husbands are incredibly helpful and tend to take care of most of the car matters in each of our families. However, we are at a point in life where we actually want to know what is going on and how we can help. It feels really good to be confident when it comes to our cars and how to take care of them.

We also learned about winter driving safety while visiting the Bountiful location of Les Schwab, which we highly recommend. The manager Rhett is highly knowledgable and the store is extremely well kept and gets you in and out quickly. Les Schwab has 28 locations across the state, so no matter where you are they can help.

How do you put on snow chains?

Rhett showed us how to put snow chains on tires. I thought it was going to be a long 20-minute process that was complicated and hard to replicate. With older snow chains years ago you had to lay them down on the ground and literally drive over them to put them on. I am happy to say the process has gotten so much easier and Rhett showed us how to put the chains on in under one minute! So simple and so helpful if you are ever in the situation where you need them. I know there are some die-hard skiers out there and chains on your tires can help you get up the canyon when they are required and you won’t have to miss out on the fresh powder! We will be posting the simple how-to put on chains video to our social channels later this week.

The snow is not stopping soon

This winter we have received a ton of snow here in Utah, this has made me so happy to have snow tires and all-wheel drive. I highly recommend that that be your first step towards a safer driving experience if you do not have good tires on your car. They make such a difference and allow you to safely travel in weather of all kinds. You can check the tread on your tires by using a penny in between the tread lines to see how much the tread has actually worn down. At Les Schwab they will also do a free check if you want a professional opinion.

A few tips for making your tires last longer

Did you know when your alignment is off you are not only wearing out your tires faster but also getting worse gas mileage?! I had no idea. Les Schwab does free alignment and brake checks. It is a good idea to do this every 6 months or so. Especially if you have a road trip coming up and want the car in tip-top shape before traveling. I know many people are traveling for the long President’s Day holiday so it is definitely something to keep in mind.

How to know when your alignment is off?

How can you actually tell if your alignment is off? There are some tell-tell signs. For example, my older well-loved car in college always veered to the right. I was young and naive and had no idea that this was something that had to do with the alignment of my car, I thought it was just a quirk that had come over the years. Thankfully in newer cars that have sensors, they will alert you when there is a problem with your brakes or alignment which is so nice!

Don’t forget to compile an emergency kit

Yet again, I just have to say I am so grateful to be doing this challenge with you all! A few of my favorite things I have learned so far are how to change a tire (like I mentioned at the top of this post, watch the one minute video, I promise you will not regret it) and how to compile a proper emergency car kit. If you missed the post on emergency kits make sure you check it out here. Thanks as always for joining in on these challenges and offering up your own great advice and wisdom, we are learning so much!

13 things to pack for your next Road Trip

It’s road trip season! It’s always nice to escape for a road trip this time of year. Some of our favorite spots to visit are St. George, Newport Beach and Lake Tahoe. In order to have a good trip, we always make sure to pack these 15 things.

Get a Free Pre-Trip Safety Check

Before we start packing, we get a free pre-trip safety check from Les Schwab. Did you hear that? It’s FREE and it brings so much peace of mind before hopping in the car for a road trip. The pros at Les Schwab check everything out on your car to make sure it is up for whatever adventure you have planned.

It’s so important to try and prepare for anything that may happen and packing these things can keep you ready for whatever you may encounter. Click here to find your closest Les Schwab location to schedule your safety check.

#1 New Games & Toys for Kids

We have found the simpler, the better when it comes to things to pack in the car. We tried a necklace making kit and.. it did not go well ha. Instead, we’ve found simple things like silly putty and magnets are really fun for toddlers in the car and don’t get EVERYWHERE.

#2 An Old Wallet Filled With Surprises

An Old Wallet Filled With Random Surprises. This is my only genius mothering hack I’ve ever come up with. I found an old wallet of mine and filled it with all of Hazel’s favorite things – stick-on earrings, bandaids, mints, candy, pen, and tiny notepad, old gift cards, a matchbox car, and stickers. She was busy for over 30 minutes, which is an absolute eternity in toddler time! I not only used it in the car on the trip but also at all of the restaurants we stopped at.

#3 Snacks

Snacks. And more snacks. And then a couple more. You can never have too many snacks on a road trip. If you don’t eat them on the way there, you will probably eat them on the way back. Some of our favorite road trip snacks: these protein bites, monster cookies, sliced up fruit, baby carrots, veggie straws, fruit leather, and trail mix (preferably one with lots of chocolate). Make sure you throw in a couple of protein bars and fruit leather with a long shelf life you can keep in your car permanently in case of an emergency.

#4 Water

Keep bottles of water in your car emergency kit. You never know when you are going to be stopped in traffic for hours and it’s always nice to have water on hand. We make sure every person in the car has their own large water bottle (or two) on every road trip. One key to getting my daughter to drink a lot of water was letting her pick her own water bottle at the store (Moana themed) and adding a tiny bit of True Lemon to add some flavor.

#5 A Towel

You never know when you are going to need to put on your snow chains or get out of the car to do something and end up soaking wet. You will never regret having one in your car!

#6 Warm Hat & Gloves

I not only love having these in my car for road trips but as permanent staples in my emergency kit. You will undoubtedly use them regularly, but it’s a must-have for getting stuck in a cold-weather emergency.

#7 A Small Tarp

It wasn’t until I married Sam that I realized the genius of this addition to the car. Again – always necessary in cold weather if you’re putting on snow chains or trying to dig a tire out of a snowy ditch, but also extremely practical for everyday use. I cannot even count the number of times I have pulled the tarp out of my trunk.

#8 Waterproof Jacket

This is a necessity for your emergency kit. If you’re like me and don’t always dress according to the weather, this is a must. Pack an old jacket you don’t wear on a regular basis in your car emergency kit and you never have to think about it again. I like doing this rather than always trying to remember to bring a waterproof jacket with me every time I climb in my car.

#9 Windshield Ice Scraper

Getting a home with a garage was one of the happiest moments of my life and this is why. I no longer had to use my ice scraper every single day! But, I still have one in my trunk for when I am not parked in the comfort of my own garage and I am shocked at how much I use it. They cost about $5, so you will definitely get plenty of use for the price.

#10 Reflective Gear

This stuff belongs safely in your car emergency kit. Getting a flat tire on the side of the freeway at night is frightening enough, add into that the fact that most people don’t have reflective gear and are trying to walk around their car and fix things in the dark, it’s a scary equation. Hopefully, you will never have to use your reflective gear, but it’s so nice to know it’s there.

#11 Tire Chains

Pack these in your car emergency kit and keep them there! You never know when it will start snowing on the mountain pass you are crossing. If you purchase tire chains from Les Schwab and don’t use them during the winter, they offer a full refund! You can get more information about that here.

#12 Headlamp & Flashlight

Headlamp! This is often overlooked, but comes in so handy if you get a flat in the dark or need to put your snow chains on. I think, the brighter the better. While we’re talking about headlamps, it’s a great idea to buy a nice flashlight for your car emergency kit. You can use it for help in an emergency or find your toddler’s missing binky in the middle of the night 🙂

#13 Storage Container

Large Storage Tub for keeping all of your emergency essentials dry and together. Go find something that will work for you. By packing it all together, it’s no longer in a giant pile in your trunk, which I am totally guilty of doing.

Pack all of these things and you will be ready to go anywhere! We want to know where you love to road trip.

Thanks to Les Schwab for helping us prep our own car emergency kits! #LesSchwabPartner

What I am nervous and excited about for baby #2!

Brooke, Parker, and Lila holding the ultrasound picture to announce baby #2

Parker and I are thrilled to be expecting baby #2! I realize that I am very lucky to be able to get pregnant and carry a baby for the second time. If you are reading this and in the midst of your own journey toward motherhood, please know that I am thinking about you and wish you the best.

Lila holding balloons and the ultrasound picture to announce that she is becoming a big sister

The due date

This baby is due the first week of August and Lila will be just a few weeks shy of 3-years-old. This announcement post seems like yesterday but also like a lifetime ago! I truly haven’t wrapped my head around the idea of having another child in the house to take care of and love, it doesn’t seem real quite yet.

Lila looking up at Valentine's day themed balloons for our February baby announcement

Here is what I am excited about:

For Lila to be a big sister! We knew that we wanted Lila to have a sibling since we had her. She has a happy-go-lucky personality and is quite laid back so I hope her sibling will have a similar disposition.
I have a feeling right now that this baby is going to be another girl. We will find out at the 20-week ultrasound (which is in about 6 weeks) if I am right! Although we would love to have a boy as well – I would just need some boy tips and to go shopping!
Having another cute, squishy baby to love. If I am being honest, the newborn stage was very hard for me. I felt isolated and overwhelmed with a new, tiny baby. However, once Lila got to be about 4-6 months old things got easier and I really loved it!
Coordinating sibling outfits! Enough said.
To complete another nursery in our house. We have big plans for this baby’s room! We are going to attempt to do wainscoting on the walls and I have got my eye on a few key pieces of furniture I would like to incorporate. I am loving this cupboard/dresser from IKEA and this rug.
I am planning on buying a hands-free pump this time around – there is no way that I can sit still for 20 minutes a day with a toddler running around! And I have heard really great things about a few of them, including this one. If you have one, please share in the comments what you like or dislike about it before I spend hundreds of dollars!

Here is what I am nervous about:

The newborn sleepless nights. I seriously felt like I went a little crazy during the first few weeks of Lila’s life. However, Parker and I quickly learned that it works best if we switch off every other night so we are already prepared this time around with a schedule!
Another labor and delivery. I had a tough experience with Lila and I am hoping to have this experience go smoother and more peaceful. I switched hospitals and doctors for this pregnancy so that I can have a fresh slate. I am really liking them so far, they have been so gentle and friendly which I really appreciate.
Taking care of a toddler and a baby. Moms, please send me all of your siblings tips! I have no idea how you keep both happy. I would also love any advice on helping Lila with the adjustment of a baby in the house.
A name. Lila is the only name that I have always loved, and now we’ve used it so we are officially at square one! I am honestly looking anywhere and everywhere for some inspiration!

Lila smiling and holding her baby sister or brother's first ultrasound pictures!

Hoping the second time around will be easier

The blessing this time around is that it won’t be my first rodeo! I already do not feel as stressed or anxious as I did with Lila. I know what I am getting into and it won’t be my first time dealing with things like breastfeeding and newborn sponge baths.

This pregnancy has been a lot harder so far than Lila’s. I have been sick and nauseous and SO tired. However, now that I am through with the first trimester I am feeling much better. I have been taking the combo of a Unisom sleep tab at night with a B6 vitamin and it has really helped!

Thank you for all of the well wishes so far!

We published these pictures on social media with the poem:

“Roses are red, violets are blue, we are expecting baby #2!”

Lila LOVED the balloons for these photos which made it easy to have her smile. This process has been so fun and we are so grateful for another tiny spirit to join our family.

Our goal for February is to #DriveSafer

We are excited to announce our monthly challenge for February… drumroll please… #DriveSafer in partnership with Les Schwab! Cars and getting maintenance done is one thing in life that EVERYONE has to deal with. However, it is really easy to put off things and procrastinate on your car to-do list. This month we are buckling down to get our cars in tip-top shape and to learn the ropes of important car lessons like:

What to do if you get a flat tire and who to call
How to know if the alignment of your car is off
Where to go (with kids in tow while staying sane) to get your car ready for a road trip
When to get your brakes checked
How to avoid extra costs when it comes to keeping your car safe

The bottom line is we want to be educated on our cars and how they work. We picked Les Schwab to partner with because we have gone to them for years and love their customer service and quality care. (Not to mention the free popcorn in the waiting room!)

Les Schwab replacing the coolant in your car

We have both had experiences driving our cars over the years that have made us want to buckle down and really learn about what is important.

For example, a year after I graduated from college I was driving on the freeway on a snowy night. At this point in time, I did not realize the importance of snow tires and that you should have your tires regularly checked.

I was driving a small, compact car, with nearly bald tires. Due to the snow and ice on the freeway, my car began to spin in the middle of all four lanes of traffic and finally came to a stop with all the cars coming straight at me.

By some miracle, I happened to be right next to an exit and was able to quickly drive over to the exit and off the freeway to calm my nerves and make a game plan for the drive home.

scraping snow and ice off of a car windshield

Now that I have a child, safety is my number one priority when we get into the car. I have loved the crossover that we have had for the last couple of years and I love my snow tires even more! There is no slipping whatsoever no matter what the weather is outside.

This month we are going to get educated together! We will be doing a series of 4 short videos where we will be taught simple – yet very important – car lessons.

First up, we will learn what to do when you think you have a flat tire. From getting it patched (for FREE) to putting on a spare tire, we will cover it all. You never know when you will be up in the mountains with no reception or exploring some of Utah’s beautiful wilderness and get a flat. Changing a flat has been something Britt and I have wanted to learn how to do for a while now so we are finally going to do it!

The people at Les Schwab are kind and considerate when it comes to taking care of their customers. We look forward to working with them this month so get a little smarter and more educated when it comes to our cars!

Join us in the challenge this month by using the hashtag #DriveSafer and let us know what you are doing to keep you and your family safe on the road. #LesSchwabPartner

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