Love Rocks~ A Testimony of Love + Joy

Love Rocks are appearing all over town, but not just our town..in several towns! It’s an amazing and beautiful to see all of the places they are being found!  What are Love Rocks? Let me explain…

Susan Dieter-Robinson and I went to school together. I hadn’t seen her since; she had moved from the area, but I remember hearing the news. Susan had lost her two daughters, Anna and Abigail, last October after a tragic accident in front of her home. My heart dropped as I read the news coverage. I couldn’t imagine the pain this family was going through. All I could do was pray.

Then one day I started to see pictures of  “Love Rocks” fill my Facebook news feed. I took a peek to find out it was Susan. This amazing mom turned a tragedy  into a message of love, healing and encouragement.

Love Rocks are simply rocks that have cut out fabric hearts “mod-podged” onto them. When Susan and her husband, Tom, got married a few years ago, their daughters and guests at their wedding,  made  Love Rocks with messages written on them.  Now to  honor the memory of Anna & Abigail, Susan and Tom started leaving Love Rocks around their town of Forest Grove, OR.   Love Rocks are meant to spread joy. A few examples of doing this include, “Give the rock to someone while doing an act of kindness for them, place the rock somewhere special for someone else to find or simply give the rock to someone and let them know they are loved”

I love seeing our community embrace the love and joy of Love Rocks. I see friends children creating them with excitement to leave them for someone. I also see photos of people of all ages who are finding them and the smiles on their faces when they do. When I spoke to Susan, she shared with me “I am amazed everyday at how they have spread. I guess it’s a testimony to love and joy!!!”   It certainly is, Susan! Let’s keep it going….

To learn more about Susan and Love Rocks, check out her blog, Love-Drenched-Life

 

GM’s New OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi Stakes Lead In Connectivity

General Motors GM -0.27% and OnStar are trying to leapfrog the rest of the U.S. auto industry with the introduction of their new OnStar 4G LTE capability and embedded Wi-Fi over a range of dozens of GM vehicles by the end of the year, beginning next month with the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu.

The company hopes to stake itself to a lead in onboard Wi-Fi similar in magnitude to the early advantage grabbed by Ford several years ago with Sync, which was the first major infotainment system to untether automotive connectivity from a hard-wired system like OnStar.

A key part of OnStar plan is a trial period for customers to use three gigabytes of 4G LTE Wi-Fi or experience the system for three months, whichever comes first. The approach is similar to how GM offers OnStar free for a period then begins charging a subscription fee. Once customers begin paying, they can log in for as low as $5 a month.

A nifty pricing innovation is GM’s provision for a “one-day pass” on the system in case, say, a family is taking a vacation trip and kids in the back seat want to play video games the whole journey. For existing AT&T T +0.58% customers, a 4G LTE-equipped GM vehicle can be added to a Mobile Share Plan for $10 a month.

Thus GM brands “will be the first vehicle brands to market with 4G LTE connectivity offered on such a broad scale,” said OnStar President Mary Chan in a press release.

Audi actually introduced the first U.S. model with 4G LTE connectivity a few weeks ago, to power a new version of Audi connect in its  new A3 sedan. But GM believes its own 4G LTE gambit will quickly be perceived by mainstream consumers as the cutting edge, especially after the company, OnStar and its vehicle brands begin heavily marketing the capability soon.

“Audi has two basic price packages on a single model, and ours is more comprehensive in a number of dimensions,” Phil Abram, GM’s chief infotainment officer, told me. “We will have it available this year on 30 models. And we’re providing not only a data service for Wi-Fi, but also this is part of OnStar” and will enhance the existing 18-year-old OnStar brand and network in the process.

OnStar with 4G LTE brings a built-in- Wi-Fi hotspot into and around the vehicle. Pairable devices can include laptops, smartphones, videogame consoles and tablets — up to seven devices at a time. GM said the powerful antenna in the system is stronger than a smartphone’s, and the Wi-Fi operates without draining a mobile device’s battery — and is on any time the car is on.

“We know that consumers want to bring their digital lives into the vehicle with them,” Abram said. “This is a commitment to help them do that. And because we’re offering such a wide range of packages, we expect a fair number will find one that is right for them.”

Availability of OnStar 4G LTE begins with Malibu because it’s GM’s first model-year-2015 launch.

(Courtesy of Forbes, Contributor Dale Buss)

8 Ways to Discover Your Passion and Live a Life You Love

1. Slow down.

When we slow down, we are able to tap into the best version of ourselves, which is most often when we find the answers we’ve been searching for. This might mean practicing yoga, going for daily walks, or setting aside time each day to meditate. Slowing down allows you to quiet the outside voices and listen to yourself.

2. Change your story.

We all tell ourselves stories about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we deserve. If we can identify our self-limiting stories (I’m not good enough; I don’t deserve to be happy, etc.), then we can begin writing new stories that are grounded in confidence and courage, and map out actions that move us from one to the other.

3. Own your uniqueness.

We are here for a reason. No one else has your unique blend of talents, wisdom, strengths, skills, and creativity. We all have something great to offer, and learning to accept and own what makes you unique is crucial to sharing your gifts with the world.

4. Cultivate confidence.

If we are continually telling ourselves we can’t, then we will never believe we can. There is a chance you may fail, but it will be impossible to succeed if you don’t believe in yourself. You can create affirmations, focus on the things you want, or make a vision board that shows your future success.

5. Find the themes.

Recognizing the recurring themes in our lives creates a pattern for us to either follow or change. What themes or lessons seem to constantly surface in your life? What are you drawn to again and again? What areas of life seem to be full of discomfort and pain? What areas are full of joy and light?

6. Write.

Ideas flow more freely when we write without an agenda. New inspiration may appear unexpectedly and it becomes easier to connect the dots. Spend a few minutes of quality time each day with a pen and paper allowing yourself to process your thoughts without influence from the outside world.

7. Focus on the fun.

Too often we get wrapped up in the expectations we set for ourselves. We focus on the details and the to-do lists instead of what is most important. What do you love to do? What makes you smile? If money were limitless, what would you be doing today?

8. Push past fear.

It’s so seductive to tell ourselves that’s we’ll go after what we want when we have more experience, more money, or more time, but the truth is, that will never happen. We must identify these excuses as masks for our fear. It’s only when we get clear on our fears and recognize how it is holding us back, we can begin moving forward.

 

Courtesy of Ashley Wilhite

Insane Driving Laws In America

There are some really crazy driving laws out there! I couldn’t help but laugh (and be completely baffled) at some of them. I mean, let’s be real ~ If a law is in place, it typically means that somewhere along the way, someone did something that forced the law to be implemented.  Do you know of any others that are not on this list?

1. Alabama  ~ It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one way street as long as a lantern is attached to the front of your car
2. Alabama ~ It’s illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle
3. Alaska ~ It is illegal to tie a dog to the roof of your car
4. Arkansas ~ It is illegal for a person to blare the horn on a vehicle at any place where cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9pm
5. California ~ It’s illegal to jump from a car at 65 mph
6. California ~ No unoccupied vehicle may exceed 60 mph
7. California ~ It’s illegal in San Francisco to buff or dry your car with used underwear
8. California ~ Women driving on Californian roads are prohibited to do so while wearing a dressing gown
9. California ~ No matter how luxuriously comfortable the divided highway may look, it is illegal to use a road as a bed
10. California & Tennessee  ~ Shooting animals from your car is illegal unless that animal is a whale
11. California ~ It is illegal in Hermosa Beach to spill your margarita on any street
12. Colorado ~ In Denver, it is illegal to drive a black car on Sundays
13. Connecticut  ~ You will be ticketed if bicycling over 65 mph
14. Florida ~ If an elephant is tied to a parking meter, the owner or attendant must deposit money into that meter
15. Florida ~ The fine for hitting a pedestrian in Sarasota is $78
16. Georgia ~ In Marietta, it is illegal to spit from a moving car or bus, but it is okay from a moving truck
17. Georgia ~ It’s illegal to drive through playgrounds
18. Illinois ~ In Evanston, it is illegal to change clothes inside a car with the curtains drawn, except during a fire
19. Kentucky~ You will be fined if your pet molests a vehicle
20. Massachusetts  ~ You will be ticketed if you drive with a gorilla in the backseat of your car
21. Minnesota ~ It is illegal to cross state lines, regardless if you are walking or driving, with a duck on your head
22. Nevada~ It is illegal to drive a camel on the highway
23. New Jersey ~ You may not frown at a police officer
24. New Orleans & Tennessee  ~ In New Orleans and Memphis, it is law that a woman must have a man in front of the car with a warning flag if she is to drive
25. Maine ~ You will be fined  if parking in front of a Dunkin Donuts
26. Michigan ~ If your car breaks down, be aware that sitting in the middle of the street reading a newspaper is illegal
27. Minneapolis  ~ It is illegal to go onto Lake Street while driving a red car
28. Missouri ~ It is illegal to honk the horn of someone else’s car
29. Montana ~ It is not permitted to leave a sheep unescorted in a truck
30. Ohio~ Authorities will ticket you if you consecutively drive around the town square more than 100 times
31. Ohio ~ If you break down and phone for a cab, you will be ticketed if you opt to ride on cab’s roof
32. Oklahoma~ It is considered illegal to read a comic book while driving
33. Pennsylvania ~ Traveling across country roads at night, you are required to stop every mile and detonate a rocket signal in order to warn livestock of your arrival
34. Pennsylvania ~ If you spy on horses, you have to cover your car with a cover to blend in with scenery. If the horses react, disassemble your car and hide the parts

 

Source: Barrington Freight

Vanity Plates That Will Make You Laugh

The thing about vanity plates is that they are something meant to stand out, to be unique, to get our attention. People will pay more money for their plates just to share a short message and leave us either laughing or asking ourselves “why?” they chose to get that plate. Here are a few funny vanity plates that we found.

Using acronyms to squeeze in a five word message on your plate might seem like cheating, but we support this whole heartedly.

 

“I have an idea! If we spend the extra $15 for the vanity plate and stick it in the back window,  then we can keep the bungee cord in place holding down the trunk and we can forget about fixing the lock!”

Someone didn’t forget the old calculator tricks from the 4th grade!

Just in case you were thinking of giving that ticket, you have now been warned!

Way to think Outside the plate!

Well played, Virginia….Well played!

I’m going to go out on a limb and say only a man would love this.

That’ll show her!!

 

Have you seen a funny vanity plate? Feel free to share it!

 

Cruising in the 2014 Cruze LTZ

One of the perks of being new in sales is having the opportunity to drive the vehicles so that I am familiar with everything about them. This week I started with the Cruze. I had my original opinion thoughts about this car before I got behind the wheel. It’s no secret it’s a big seller, the cost is very affordable, the gas mileage is great at 36 MPG (highway); let’s face it, it has a great reputation for being a compact car. My concerns about it was that it was “compact”. I have two teenage boys who tend to be on the tall side. I had felt that this car would not be the right fit for our family based on the leg room these boys would need and because of its affordability, something had to be sacrificed.  I can admit when I’m wrong and this time…I was definitely wrong!

Here’s what I loved about the Cruze LTZ;

1. The Push To Start was my favorite! It was so convenient and all I could think of is it would not surprise me to find out a woman who ever left the salon and had that fear of damaging her manicure by turning the key could have easily thought of this! As long as the keys are in your possession, the car will start with the push of a button
2. Refinements such as soft-touch interiors, rich colors, heated leather -appointed seats and leather wrapped steering wheel gave the Cruze a premium feel.
3. The Back Up Camera is a must for anyone that is challenged, such as myself, in determining how close you really are to that object. I will never go without a back up camera again!
4. My Link Rocks! The boys and I loved the touch screen! We were able to stream music from my son’s iPhone, get local gas prices, check out movie times and locations, and  get directions. We were able to talk and text hand free which was a great safety feature!
5. The ride was smooth and quiet! On the road, it was a very smooth ride and I was impressed with how quiet the highway ride was, damping out wind and road noise and absorbing road shocks well!
6. Here was the final test…the roominess! I picked the boys up from school and baseball so I was curious to hear their thoughts (as they will gladly offer up whether I want to hear them or not). The first thing my oldest said was “this has a lot more room than I thought”. (the he continued to tell me how this would work perfectly for his first car!). They both agreed. It was very comfortable for their long legs. 

Overall, I was really impressed with the Cruze! It met every expectation and more! Bonus… the pricing is great and the leases are amazing right now! I honestly don’t want to give it back, but it’s on to the next car. Super proud to know this car is made right here in Lordstown, Ohio! Way to Go General Motors and Chevrolet!!

Customer Referral Program

I realize that the best form of advertising is you, my satisfied customers, friends and family.  Realizing this, I created a program to thank you for telling others about me and sharing your stories. My commitment is to treat your referrals with the same amount of care and respect that I would treat you.

Each time you send someone to visit me at Greenwood Chevrolet, your name will be placed in a hat. The beginning of each month, a winner will be chosen for a super cool gift!  Make sure to tell those you do send, to ask for me and to let me know that you sent them!!

Thank you to everyone who has sent someone to see me. A referral is the highest compliment anyone can receive and I truly appreciate it!

My Journey ~ The Path Of Desire

For the past four years I’ve been on this search of self discovery. I’ve learned to pull the layers back and find what is at the core of who I am and how to be a better version of me. I’ve surrounded myself with books and people who have inspired me and pushed me to where I wanted to go. I’ve made mistakes along the way and there are things that I’m not all that proud of, but what I’ve learned is that it’s a process of always pushing forward, throwing out some things I’ve been taught and embracing a new way to think.

Here’s what I mean…I’ve always been someone who loves goals. I’m the girl that makes a checklist in the morning and loves to check things off.  My goals usually consist of things like “Save a certain percentage each month”, “Start this new hobby”, “Meet this goal”,”Finish this task”,  etc.  However, looking at this list only inspires me that day and then I lose focus. So I created a vision board. Now, I LOVE my vision board because I can see the goals  I wanted to accomplish. But as I sat at my desk staring at it, I realized that although I will never throw my vision board out, there is still something missing.

The past couple months have been challenging for me with a lot of new interactions presenting themselves. Not all challenges are negative, in fact, I like to look at each one and try to figure out what it is I’m suppose to be learning at this given time. I started to realize that these “goals” I’ve created for myself were in some way sabotaging what it was that I was really trying to accomplish.

I started stripping away the “goal” and thought about what was the real feeling I wanted to get to.  If I had “Success” up there, what does “Success” mean? What I realized is that “Success” didn’t mean what I thought. Success  is created by what others have designed. We compare ourselves to our neighbors, our co-workers, our family and decide that being successful is based on of other’s people’s dreams. When I stripped it away a little more, I realized that being successful to me wasn’t what I initially thought, but it was other feelings that came with that was what I really wanted.

So, what are those feelings for me that I really want?

• Love
• Inspire
• Joy
• Abundant
• Gratitude
• Vibrant
• Harmony

What I’ve learned is that we can’t rely on outside sources to fuel these feelings. We can’t look to friends, lovers, or careers to provide this to us. We have to look within ourselves and find it.

I’m learning to make decisions that will provide me these things. Decisions as to who I choose to surround myself with, where I shop, go to dinner, how I prioritize my life.   It’s about wearing heels instead of flip-flops, spending some time with my camera at the park and doing what I love,  surrounding myself with those who make me laugh, and loving those around me more.

We are all worthy of having everything we want. It’s time to let go of fears and insecurities and start going after the pieces of life that make us feel fulfilled.

So, what are some of the feelings that you want to achieve?

A Little Self-Reflection And Lessons Learned

I recently got together with my closest friend and someone asked us how we knew each other. We both explained we have been friends since 5th grade.   The girl was in her early 20’s and just said “wow, that’s crazy!”  We all laughed and started talking about our friendship…through our teens, 20’s, 30’s and now 40’s and how much we have changed and grown.

This turned into a pretty cool conversation about what we have learned through those years, how we dealt with tough times and how quickly  we learned  who our real friends were, as well as  just some general realizations and changes we learned the hard way through the years based on challenges we have faced.  Here are some of the things I’ve learned so far.

1. Just Be You  ~  There was a time I wanted impress others…what I learned is that I don’t have to. I remember when I wanted everyone to like me, I would change who I was to become what was expected from me. What I did, was never learn who I really was. I had to peel layers off to find out who I really was and peel even more off to find the confidence in knowing that it’s ok if someone doesn’t accept me for who I really am.
2. Remove Negativity   ~ Maybe it’s being in my 40’s that my tolerance for negativity has pretty much been depleted. I made a decision many years ago after reading The Saint, The Surfer And The CEO by Robin Sharma, to remove anything in my life that caused me negative stress. That could be a magazine subscription, a bill, a friend, a family member, whatever! I’ll be honest, it was hard at first! It went against who I use to being and making sure everyone liked me. I wasn’t sure if this Robin Sharma really knew what he was talking about. Well…he did! It’s freeing to not have that around me anymore and it’s so much clearer on what and who I want in my life. it has to be positive!
3. Listen!   ~  When in a disagreement, discuss to resolve not to be right!  ~ This was another tough one for me. I love to prove that I am right. My dad always told me since I was younger that I should be an attorney because I was great at debating my side and influencing others (and yes, I’ve read The Art of War). Don’t get me wrong, that’s still something I love to do, however, knowing when to do that and when to listen is what was a struggle for me. For example, recently I shared with someone I love that I was very disappointed in their actions. My intentions came from love and I explained that I believed there was so much more for this person that what had occurred. What happened was that it was heard as me judging and criticizing. That was not my intention at all…not even close. When we discussed it, I could have argued my side all day long, my love for this person was never in question, but why? The point was not to say that someone was right or wrong, it was to listen, to understand how what I said was perceived and to move on, loving this person without skipping a beat. There’s a time to speak up and there’s a time to shut up and listen.
4. Get Real With Yourself   ~  This kind of ties in with number 3 above when there is a disagreement or a challenge that I have faced. Again,  it wasn’t easy for me to do at first and there are times I still struggle with it, but what I’ve learned in “battles” is to not throw mud or point fingers, but look at the situation and see what I did personally to contribute to it and move forward to correct it for the better.  I’ve learned that once you say hurtful words to someone, you can’t take it back. That in relationships it always takes TWO to make them work or make them crumble…it’s never just one person and no matter how bad one person wants it to work, if both people can’t “get real” and put the effort in, then it won’t work.
5. Forgive   ~ Through this process, I’ve learned to forgive quickly. Some things more quickly than others…but I still try. I don’t want to carry around negative feelings towards anyone or anything. I try to understand that everyone is different in what they believe and how they respond and it’s learning those differences that makes it easier to forgive. Forgiving someone though, doesn’t mean I chose to keep them in my life or that the relationship will ever be the same, it just means I simply forgive.
6. Find Your Passion  ~ Find what you love and do it! I love being there for others, hearing their ideas and goals and supporting them to the next level. I love watching people become better versions of themselves. I love laughing and being spontaneous. I love sharing and learning and growing.  Finding your passion isn’t always easy and I honestly think there are many that go through the motions of life and never really take the time to find it. It’s so freeing when you do!

 

Fat Free Pudding Pops

These are so easy to make and a HUGE hit!

Fat Free Pudding Pops

 

1 Package of Sugar Free Pudding Mix

1 1/2 Cup of Skim Milk

2 Cup Fat Free Whipped Cream

Dissolve pudding in milk, Whip in Whipped Cream, Scoop into Dixie Cups and add Popsicle stick

Freeze and Enjoy!!