Best Hikes With Kids - St. Louis and Beyond by Kathy Schrenk

(Disclosure:  I was gifted this book for review, however, my thoughts cannot be bought and all opinions are mine.) 

Eighty-two kid friendly hikes just a short distant from St Louis, Missouri - with full graphic maps, tips, and all you need to know about the trip.

Nope, this is not my article, this is the handy book Best Hikes With Kids - St. Louis and Beyond by

Kathy Schrenk.

You know those handy little map brochures that you pick one up at the nature center, carry around for a day, and then shove them in your glove box of your car, and it is ripped to shreds before you can use it again?  Imagine all that compacted in a small book that you can carry around - only add another 81 trails with it.

So I love this little book, yes for real, it is a compact book that is easy store.  The maps are well detailed and Schrenk takes extra time to add in family hiking tips - rather to use strollers, if the trail is easy for toddlers, bathroom availability, and which season is best to visit the hiking trails.

Have you ever heard of Howell Island Conservation Area?  Did you know that Howell Island Conservation Area has a 3.9 mile loop that is jogging stroller accessible?  Me either!  That is this entire book - full of hiking trails that are rarely known and very close to the St. Louis, Missouri area.

You can get your own copy of Best Hikes With Kids - St. Louis and Beyond by Kathy Schrenk by following this link.

I am SOLD on the Panasonic LUMIX ZS60

So a few years back Panasonic gifted me with the Panasonic ZS40 - that camera made me like Panasonic - I even wrote a whole post comparing it to my Canon EOS Rebel T3.  

Then last year they teased me by giving me the Panasonic A500H  to test out, again, I was amazed by the technology and ease of use. 

HOWEVER......

This year, just days before my wedding, Panasonic surprised me with  the new Panasonic LUMIX ZS60 - and I am SOLD on Panasonic products now. 

I have used only the Panasonic ZS60 while on my honeymoon - below I am sharing a few of the photos and the features that amaze me with this camera.

The quality of images is amazing.....

Again, you all know I have been a Canon girl for years, for the fact that I despise grainy unprofessional photos, but secretly I loathe carrying around my great big camera bag and all the gear.

After a few shots with my new Panasonic Lumix ZS60 - NO editing this was the result.  

Shot of the Thorncrown Church in Eureka Springs Arkansas

The ease of use is perfect....

So I am like super busy, okay every mom is super busy, but I am that mom that can't waste time on reading directions - in fact don't tell Panasonic, but I have no idea where my directions to this camera are.

However, with no directions I was still able to shoot photos, edit photos, share photos with my phone, ohhhhhh and I discovered (unlike my last Panasonic) this camera has a touch screen - with my fat fingers that does wonders!

demonstrating the little green lines'

Another new feature that sold me on the new Panasonic ZS60 is the leveling technique - I am terrible at taking straight pictures, even with my big camera, well this new feature makes me want to level my photos and get all green lines!  

Below is a photo I was able to shoot while using the the leveling technique.  

a photo I was able to shoot using the green lines...no editing or filter

The Zoom......

Like my other Panasonic camera the ZS60 has amazing zoom quality - below you will see 2 photos one shot without zoom and one shot zoomed in - I see no grainy pixels or poor quality in either photo.

Not Zoomed -

Zoomed in -

The video quality....

Now Panasonic talks about the 4K video quality - I am not really an expert on 4k or video quality. What I do know is that my camera shoots amazing videos when I hit the button, oh and I can shoot a photo while I am videoing - double awesomeness.  

Video of Bam Bam the Bear at Turpentine Creek Animal Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Panoramic View...

Part of the shooting features that I love is the panoramic view - this has become some what popular, but as a travel writer, this is a must.  I want to be able to show my readers the same view that I am seeing - I want you to feel that you are there with me.

Panasonic offers this on the Lumix ZS60 with just a turn of the dial - I must admit this photos speaks wonders - look at the clouds.

Customer Service and Deals...

I am a person that seeks good customer service and a good deal - I can say the few times I have had a question or issue with my Panasonic cameras their support team as been there to help me - either in person or over the phone.

Panasonic has also been so kind to offer my readers and the Traveling Mom's readers a really good deal - just in time for Mother's Day.



Would I suggest you buy the Panasonic ZS60? 

My close friends always ask "if you had to pay for that camera would you buy it?"  Yes I would - I would recommend this camera to anyone including those who have to see me daily.  This camera is perfect for everyday use, business use, and busy moms like me.  

Flip Side Auto from wrecks to classics....

One of the perks of living in small town America is you get to see what people grow up to be.  

I vaguely remember Darron Baker from when I was a kid, his sister was close to my age....so it was a

roundabout way.  

After moving back to my hometown of Marble Hill, MO - I again knew Darron in roundabout way - my gal pal decided she would buy a new used wrecked rebuilt car from him.

I was a bit hesitant about her decision - until I really got to know Darron and his business.  

Darron Baker owner of Flip Side Auto just outside Marble Hill has been in the fixing car business for 20+ years - that's like before I was even driving.  The man has a passion for turning wrenches and has turned his passion into a business that not only helps him, but helps his community.  

Flip Side Auto is exactly as it sounds, they take wrecked cars and flip them into something new - making nice cars even more affordable for his customers. 

Flip  Side Auto also offers full automotive repair, custom wheels, custom suspensions, custom exhaust, custom paint, insurance estimates, and insurance work and specialize in rebuilding wrecked vehicles and bringing them back to their showroom condition!

After

I recently visited Darron's shop and he was excited to say that Don Sitze former owner of Sitze Autobody in Marble Hill, had joined his team giving adding more years of experience to his team.   After a short chat and showing me around the shop - Darron threw me the keys to one his rebuilt Jeeps and said test out my work and some backroading - so we did.   I as a budget conscious person would I would trust Darron and Flip Side Auto with my car and I would trust his work to buy one of his rebuilt cars.

Book Review: Success Can Kill You

I am going to be honest, several years ago I lost all respect for former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton.  While I seriously doubt Mr Jetton remembers me, I remember him.

He was the guy we all looked up to, he was a hometown guy that was going somewhere and would

change things.  I remember Jetton from Bible Camp, from him shopping at the local hardware store that I worked at, I remember him running the race in our hometown parade - then I remember reading in the local papers about how his life was falling apart.

A few months back I was having lunch with our local newspaper editor and Mr Jetton's name came up - we were discussing how we so wished his life had turned out different - Linda (the editor) spoke up and said "Becky, you really should read Jetton's book - it is quite humbling."

A few days later, I begin reading Jetton's book with a tad bit of bitterness - I still felt Jetton let our community down - then the book got juicy, and I came to realize that God has and is using Jetton and his talents to reach people.

Jetton's book is very honest, more honest than most men could ever be.  He admits his wrongs, shows where is life fell apart, and reminds us that God has to be in control of our life no matter how important "we" are.  

My opinion of Jetton changed drastically as I read the book; I built an understanding as to why his life changed the way it did.  Then I came to admire Jetton in a whole new way - I admired him for being a living testament for God and not hiding away after his "fame and fortune" was gone.  

I encourage you to pick up a copy of Jetton's book "Success Can Kill You" and read it with an open heart - you may be amazed how it can impact your life.   

Sharing Safety with Michelin - #SharingSafety

(Disclosure:  This post has been sponsored by  Michelin Tire Company- however, all thoughts and opinions are my own - unless you want to share yours)  

Living in the middle of nowhere - when I say nowhere, I mean surrounded by dirt roads and limited cell service - we have to take vehicle safety serious.   We have a breakdown, wreck, or any kind of vehicle problems; it very well could be a mile or two hike until we can make a phone call.

Fifteen or so years ago (we don't really want to know how old I am) I took off for town one Tuesday morning.  My then Chevy Lumina had been acting funny - I am a girl, I mentioned it to my dad, but again I am a girl - I got a little over a mile down the road and my car just quit going.  The only option I had was to leave it on the side of the road and start hiking back home - did I mention that I lived down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.   I hiked about 5 mins and along came a neighbor that I barely knew - they offered me a ride and I took it - fortunately for me my neighbor was not a bad person, cause I am still here today to tell the story.

Come to find out my car was really sick - when I say sick, I mean $1500 later sick - my transmission went out that morning.  The scary part is my transmission had been going out for a while and I had been driving my car everywhere at all times of the day.

Thinking back on that crazy day and the days leading up to it makes me think about all the things I wish I had known.  While my story ended semi-good (it did cost me a ton of money); it could have ended really bad.

Here are the things I wish I had known: 

When your vehicle is acting funny do not let people just brush you off.  You know your vehicle, you know the way it drives, when it makes a funny noise be sure they take that serious.

Do not take off across country if your vehicle is not running right - while I was only a mile or so from home when the car broke down - just 3 days before it broke down I had been 40 miles from home at 4 am in the morning - it is scary to think what could have happened.

Vehicle maintenance is important - there is more to keeping your car up then changing your oil.  You have to have everything serviced, so minor issues can be found and dealt with.  

Vehicle issues or problems can cause car accidents - while I was lucky and was on the dirt road going only a few miles an hour, I could have been on a major highway doing 70 mph when my transmission went out - that would have been really bad.

Did you know....

Car crashes remain the No. 1 killer of teens, with 2,614 teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - I could have been one of those statistics.  

Many accidents could have been prevented if people (especially teens) had a better understanding of how important vehicle maintenance is and how to react in certain driving situations. 

Michelin Tire Company is helping America become more informed on vehicle safety - they are looking for your vehicle safety stories.  They are asking for you to share tips on what you have been taught (and learned the hard way) over the years by using the hashtag #SharingSafety on social media.   

They are also (drumroll please)  GIVING AWAY a $600 Gift Certificate for  Michelin Tires!  Oh Yes!  Who couldn't use that right before winter weather hits!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rather we are old, young, or somewhere in between (like me); we all share the road so let's keep it SAFE.   

Onstar helps make Vehicle Emergencies Easier!

(disclosure: this post has been sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own)

We spend a lot of time in our cars - when I say a lot of time - I personally drive almost 500 miles a 

week.  When you have that much time in your car, you are likely to have an accident or a vehicle emergency.

We as adults almost always know what to do incase of an accident, however, it is not always that easy for kids.

This month Onstar has released an ebook that is loaded with information, tips, and ideas to help us parents educate our kids on car safety and what to do in an emergency. 

As I read through Onstar's ebook, I fell in love with logical questions they put in this book - like who should you contact in an emergency - while for most that is a dumb question (911) how many people would first post it on social media?  

In road safety, knowledge is power, and educating your kids is important!  

I encourage my fellow parents to take a second and download Onstar's ebook, educate your kids (and self), and feel a tad safer out on the road!

Join  SheBuysCars.com on Monday July 8th for for a fun filled Twitter party and your chance to win a $25 gift card!

Panasonic Home Surveillance System - Knowing they are Safe and in all the right places

(Disclosure:  I was given this product to test, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own) 

Life happens - we watch it on the news, we see in our local papers, and we even hear of it happening to our neighbors.  However, we rarely think about something happening in our home - but when we do it is scary. 

This past month I was given a Panasonic Home Surveillance System to test out - and use to help protect my home and more!  

The idea of this had my kids laughing, they could not imagine cameras sitting around our house monitoring what is happening.  My sister who lives with me did not think this was such a grand idea - in fact I have often come home from work to find one of the cameras covered with a towel??

hiding from the camera

The Panasonic Home Surveillance System does give us peace of mind as far as watching who is visiting our house when, however the product also gives me the opportunity to monitor what the kids are doing when - as I have camera mounted in their favorite room.

Ideas of ways to use your Home Surveillance System 

Safety - monitoring your home and visitors. 

Monitoring your kid's activities 

Watching Wildlife that roam around your house.

Spying on your kids dates

Communicating with family when you are away. 

The surveillance system is affordable, does not require expensive contracts (like many do), and even connects to your mobile phone - so you can monitor on the go.  

Fran Capo - fellow TravelingMom

The Amazing Ricardo Roxbury 2.0 Suitcase

(Disclosure:  I was given my this product to review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own) 

Just two days after returning from Walt Disney World - my brand new Hard-Sided Ricardo Roxbury 2.0 suitcase arrived. 

Made me sick, but then I decided I should just plan another vacation - so that I have a real chance to break in and test out my new luggage! 

However, in the meantime I have discovered all the things I love about about my Ricardo suitcase. 

• It is airline friendly - the suitcase fits in overhead space on the airplane, maneuvers easily, and looks classy as you are pulling it around. 

• Road-trip friendly - the suitcase stacks easily, so it will be great for hauling around in the back of a vehicle. 

• Kid -friendly - just a day after I unpacked the suitcase; D-man managed to lock the suitcase without me knowing how to unlock it - we figured it out, but proves to me the luggage has moms in mind.  

• Pet-friendly - the hardshell case obviously protects the suitcase and your personal belongings. 

• Weather-friendly - while not completely waterproof, I would not be afraid to run across a rainstorm with the suitcase. 

• Storage-friendly - while I am not out traveling, this luggage is easy to store away and I am not overly worried about it fading in the sunlight or getting dirty.  

• Budget-friendly - now I know the sticker shock of the Ricardo Roxbury suitcase, but when comparing durability - this suitcase will outlast the other luggage.  Currently Ricardo is also offering 65 percent off and free shipping on orders over $99 - use the TMOM65OFF code!

• Brag-friendly - okay just face it, feels kind of good to sport fancy luggage while you are on vacation - honestly this maybe my favorite part of this piece of luggage! 

A Room with a View - Any where we Go!

We have a tent!   

I have never been much at camping, mostly because it is a pain in the .... to set up the tent, and because I find nothing attractive about sleeping on the ground...I am just too old for that!

A few weeks back we received a tent, cots, and a sleeping bag from Bass Pro Shops! 

 I was excited for this - I want to give my kids the "rugged" experience - that is as long as it don't cost me sleep and sanity! 

To my surprise and my pleasure, camping really can be fun and enjoyable!

• I have a room with a view ANYWHERE I go - oh and it didn't cost me out the .... for it! 

• Tents do not have to take hours to set up.  It took me like twenty minutes to set up out Bass Pro Shops -8 Person Speed Frame Tent with Screen Porch Tent - that is less time than it would take for me to back in a trailer.  

• There is something special about waking up in nature - you know that sound of birds chirping, wind blowing, and oh that pleasant fresh smell.

• Room - our tent is roomy, but the outdoors is roomier - we have space to roam and are not confined to the safety of our locked hotel door.  

• The tent goes anywhere - I don't have to make reservations, arrangement, find the best deal - if I am in the mood to travel, I can travel to my backyard and have my night out.

• I do not have to sleep on the ground!  Bass Pro Shops has these easy set up cots that also store really well - yeah I am in love with them!  In fact D-man thinks everyone that comes to visit should try them out!  

• The kids think it is a BLAST - I officially became the coolest mom in the neighborhood, because we now go camping!

• Clean- Up is a breeze - there is no checking under beds, there is no making sure we check out at a certain time, oh and the tent comes down as easy as it goes up! 

Now I am not completely giving up hotel rooms - don't get too excited! 

 However, from time to time you will find me camping in the woods, the state parks, national parks, conservation lands,  my dad's farm, or anywhere else I decide to "put up my tent."

Our Room with a View.  

Exotic Jerky from Jerky Dynasty

"Mom, what does Kangaroo Jerky taste like?  I didn't know you could eat kangaroo?"  Those were the words of D-man as we dug through our box of jerky from Jerky Dynasty.

A few weeks ago - in the middle some chatter on Twitter a company called Jerky Dynasty asked if they could ship us some Buffalo Bob's Jerky - I am a smart woman, with males in my house, I never turn down food.

As we opened the box, I heard squeals of delight and disgust - they had sent us everything from buffalo jerky to ostrich jerky - things we had never imagined eating.

At first the little ones (Lesse and D) went for the "known" foods - venison jerky, elk, stuff that they trusted.   Then Momma opened some alligator jerky - from there it was all downhill - or down the hatch to the tummy.

We happily devoured some kangaroo jerky, wild boar jerky, and pheasant stick.  I heard no complaints and they even asked where I had scored these interesting treats.

We finished off the case of jerky within the weekend - every flavor was loved - EXCEPT the Cajun seasoned jerky.  We all agreed the Cajun seasoning was a bit too peppery for us and decided to send the last stick off for someone else to try - we never heard their thoughts.

My favorite did happen to be the Ostrich Jerky - along with alligator and wild boar.....the kids all liked the venison and elk, or at least that is what they said.

Jerky Dynasty sells a full line of jerky, spices, sausages - pretty much anything you can think of along the lines of manly/meat snacks - note these would make awesome stocking stuffers!

My Review of the Family Proof Catalyst Case

(Disclosure:  I was given Catalyst Cases to test, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own - unless you want to add yours) 

It is no lie that my family is tech savvy, even the six year old has an I phone 4 (with no sim card).   We love our electronics, but we are also HARD on our electronics.  

Lesse's broken Ipod (it crashed from her bicycle) 

I was recently sent the Catalyst Waterproof iPhone case for review, when it arrived the family began to argue over who was going to test this contraption.   

Testing new products is always a joy to my under-privileged kids (who all have Ipods and are under the age of 18).  We finally decided that David, would test the Family Proof Catalyst Case on his I phone 4s - this way he could tweet and share his thoughts, but......

At first David absolutely loved the case, and it is a well built case, but 24 hours into him having the case on his phone, he had to call home.  He could make the phone call, but he sounded like a robot on the phone and I couldn't understand a thing he said - which was terrible because the truck would not start and he needed me to come to town.  

When he got home that night we took the case off, cleaned everything, and tried again for the next day - only it was an epic fail and his voice sounded more distorted - I am guessing the case did not fit his phone properly.  

I was not convinced this was a bad product, I knew as well built as it was, it had to work.  I moved the Catalyst Case to D-man's Iphone 4 (with no sim card) and sent him on his way.  

The case was a success for D-man- he has had his Iphone at the beach, the splash park, in the yard, at rodeos, ball parks - you name it, it has gone.    

The sound issue was not a problem on his phone, now given he cannot make phone calls, however, he DOES have Voxer (a walkie talkie app) that requires him to use the microphone and it works perfect.   

D-man's Iphone visiting the local beach - resting on the picnic table.  

The Catalyst Case cost about $65 - which is right in line with the other life-proof cases.  The extra bonus is you get a handy wrist band - which came in really handy with an accident prone 6 year old.

Facts about the Catalyst Case (from the company):

• Impact-proof from 2 meters (6.6 ft) and waterproof to 5 meters (16.4 ft), deeper than any other everyday iPhone case on the market
• Hard coated optical lens maintains iPhone camera’s high image quality
• Preserves all iPhone features including Touch ID, access to charging and headphone ports and True Sound Acoustics maintain high voice call quality even underwater!  
• Ultra-slim profile of 13.2 mm (0.52 in.) and clear back panel

When sending my Catalyst Phone Case the company offered to send me a waterproof sleeve for my tablet - now everyone knows that I take my Chromebook everywhere - to the beach, fishing, ball games - pretty much everywhere I go.  

I gladly accepted the offer (who wouldn't) and am glad I did.   Until this past week, I did not get a real chance to test out the waterproof bag - July means no rain, and even at the beach, I stay dry.  

It was a bright sunny afternoon, so the kids and I headed over to Whippoorwill Lake for the afternoon, I opted to pack my Chromebook so that I could work for a while. After an hour of being there, it began to cloud up and thunder - Ughh!  

I slide my Chromebook, my Iphone, and my car keys down in the bag, just in time for a heavy heavy downpour.   Guess what?  My Chromebook, my phone, and my car keys were nice and dry, but I was DRENCHED.  

Now any time my Chromebook leaves the house, as does my waterproof sleeve!  

 

I love Philips ActionFit Headphones SHQ1200

(Disclosure:  I have been given my headphones in return for a review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own)

Anyone that knows me, knows I am all about my headphones.  They go everywhere I go, I like to put them in my ears and jam out to music while I do everything (including blogging). 


Photo Credit Deb Jamot

Having good quality headphones is important to me, I have sensitive ears, and I don't want to waste my money on headphones.

For years I have been all about Motorola S10-D, I bought myself this wireless headphone set about 5 years ago, and have loved them ever since. 

That is until I was given a set of the Phillips ActionFit Headphones SHQ1200 - now I have switched headphones completely.  

The headphones give me comfort, quality sound, and STAY IN my ears while I exercise - that is so hard to find.   

The ear buds also seem more durable than others I have owned in the past.  They are sweat resistant, soft so they do not hurt your ears, and they conform to fit your ear.

I love these Phillips ActionFit Headphones SHQ1200 so much that I am working with Philips Sound to give you a chance to win a set of your own. 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BEST WESTERN PLUS- Capital Inn in Jefferson City, Missouri

(Disclosure my visit to Jefferson City, Missouri was sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own!)

It has been a long time since I stayed in a Best Western Hotel - no real reason I have not, just haven't. 

Last month while visiting Jefferson City, Missouri I was booked for the Best Western Plus Capital Inn of Jefferson City, Missouri. 

Photo Credit Best Western Plus of Jefferson City

Now honestly I have stayed in a lot of hotels and the way I judge a hotel is by cleanliness and how friendly the staff is - not hard, but often hard to find.

I like it when I enter a hotel lobby and the first thing I am greeted with "Hi, how can I help you?"   It immediately sets the mood for my stay - at Best Western Plus - Capital Inn that was how I was greeted.

I am not the best hotel guest - as I entered room I tossed my luggage on my bed and made myself at home.  

I loved the oversized room, the mini fridge - as I had stocked up on wine at the Art Stroll, and the CLEAN bathroom. 

Best Western Capital Inn offers: 

Complimentary Breakfast - that is more than complimentary, it is good too! 
Pool - I did not pack my suit, but saw many families taking advantage of the nice pool.
Hi-Speed Internet - I did take advantage of this! 
24 Hour Coffee Bar
Fitness Room  & much more. 

The hotel is also conveniently located close to  Missouri State Capitol building, Governor’s Mansion, the historical Missouri State Penitentiary, Lincoln University, and many government offices. 

Extended Stay America is hosting a Recipe Contest.

The hardest part of vacation is "where do we eat" - well the perk of Extended Stay America is they have KITCHENS in them. In fact Extended Stay America is the larges hotel chain with kitchens in every room! Currently ESA is hosting a recipe contest for fans and followers! From food lovers and moms to business travelers and road-trippers, Extended Stay America encourages aspiring cooks to submit their travel-friendly recipes along with a photo of their signature dish by visiting Contest.AwayFromHomeCooking.com. On July 28, followers will have the opportunity to select two favorites by voting for their favorite cooks on Contest.AwayFromHomeCooking.com. So visit often and check out who is your favorite! The two cooks with the most fan votes will become automatic finalists, to gain votes and support fan favorites, followers are encouraged to share the Away From Home Cooking Recipe Contest on Facebook and Twitter using #cookwithESA. Good Luck Friends and may the BEST cook WIN!

Discover the Forest Near You

(disclosure:  I have been compensated for the review of this product, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own)

We often think that we have to go to far away to discover something cool, but we over look the cool

stuff right out our backdoor.

I can still remember my first hiking trip with my kids, all the bugs we saw, the deer that seemed to follow us through the woods, and the sound of laughter in the woods - back then we were clueless.

Nature is good for kids - and while nature surrounds me here in rural Missouri, it is not always so easy to find.

I was recently introduced to Discover The Forest website - a new way for parents to navigate nature.

Discover The Forest features an interactive map tool that enables users to search for nearby forests and parks, and filter by zip code and desired activities. Free outdoor activities are also available for download and printing, which you can take the next time you visit.

The website impressed me!  Even way out here in the boondocks the Park locator found parks and museums close to me - that rarely happens on national websites!

Canon EOS Rebel T3 versus Panasonic DMC - ZS40

(Disclosure :  I have been given the Panasonic Lumix ZS40 for review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own)

Everyone knows how in love I am with my camera, or at least photography.  I never leave my house without

Shot with Panasonic Lumix ZS40

at least one camera in hand - you just never know when you are going to have photography emergency.

I have preached, persuaded, and bragged on my Canon Rebel EOS T3 for years.  I have convinced most of my friends to switch to Canon cameras, and I am a true believer in their product and would only use Canon.

Until now....

Recently I was given the new Panasonic Lumix ZS40 to test.  At first I laughed, but not moments after getting my hands on the camera, I was in love.  So in love that I actually left my big Canon camera at home on my last trip and took only the Panasonic ZS40 with me, and I did not regret it.

I am not camera guru, I am a photograph lover.  I think my images that I shoot should look like something I would hang on my wall.  I don't have time to spend hours editing photos, cropping out nonsense, and cleaning up the image.  I want to point, shoot, and go.  

The Panasonic Lumix ZS40 really does come with a lot of extra features, but the features are easy to use and on the camera...this saves me tons of editing time.

Example of editing features:

Normally I would not take a picture of a trash can, but this after all The Disney Boardwalk, and I thought I would mention how "green" Disney is.  Then after shooting this blah, okay, standard picture of the this trash can.

I flipped over to the artistic feature in my camera - note I forgot to mention, you can edit the pictures after you shoot them, but before you upload them - and chose to use the One Color Feature.  Now I can not only say that Disney is very green, but they also have stunning trash cans, thanks to my photography skills. 

After within camera edit

Now the most jaw dropping feature of the camera, is the fact that the Panasonic ZS40 WiFi sinks to my iPhone.  

As you know I am constantly on the go and I will shoot some pretty awesome photos, but then I have to wait until I get home, kick on the computer, and then upload them to my computer, so I can share.  

Not no more, I can now sink my camera to my phone and share my photos instantly anywhere I want to, rather it be my social networks, email them, or even text them to someone.  This feature alone has made my social media accounts look amazing!  

I can instantly share photos like this over my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.....who else can instantly do that?  

After learning a few or most of the features of my Panasonic ZS40, several people asked my how does it compare to an SLR?  I am going to leave that judgement up to you.  Here is 2 unedited photos of my dog laying in the yard.  I have labeled which photo is which and you can be the judge as to which camera shoots the best image. 

Shot with Panasonic ZS40

Shot with Canon Rebel T3

 

Do you know how much air to put in your vehicles tires?

(Disclosure: my trip to SuperMom Ride N Drive has been sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Everyday I try to glance back over the day and think about what I have learned from the day.  Of course today I have learned a lot...when I say a lot, I mean tons of information.

However, there is one thing that really sticks out in my head today and that is "do you know how much air to put in your tires?"
 
I have spent the day on grounds of Cooper Tire testing facility and the most important fact that the engineers informed, reinforced, explained, and drilled into our heads is know how much air to put in your tires and how to check the tire pressure in your vehicles tires.


Here is the BIGGEST thing I have gotten wrong for like 15 years now, where to find out how much tire pressure is needed.

All this time I have always just looked at the tires, but that is not correct.  The amount of PSI stamped on the side of the tire is maximum amount for the tire....not what is needed for your vehicle to operate at is best and safest.

There is little placard inside your vehicle, usually in the door or gas cap, that tells you exactly how much air you need to put in your tires.   Palm to forehead, I have seen that placard on my truck over and over, but never even paid any attention to it.  Now I know.

The Cooper Tire team also went over how to use an air gauge, how to air up a tire, and how to check the depth in the tire's tread.  I knew all this, but it was relieving to get a refresher course!

Thank you Cooper Tire for this opportunity to learn!

How to share my Instagram Photos to my Facebook Business Page

Okay Friends, Instagram has made our lives easier!  They allow you to share your photos to your Facebook Business Page.   

This makes it easier for those who follow you to see your amazing Instagram Photos.  

Here is the steps to change your share settings on Instagram.  Yes, I used my own account on here, so you get to see my stunning (sarcasm) face.  

Step 1:  Go into your Instagram account and you see the gear looking circle to the right, click that.  

Step 2.  You will be taking to this page, you need to go to the share settings and click that. 

Step 3.  You will then be taken to this page, you will want to click Facebook, as we are working with Facebook Pages.  

Step 4.  It will take you to this screen, if you have not already authorized Instagram to access Facebook, it will send you over to Facebook and a box will pop up asking you for permission to access, you simply click yes.  

Once that is granted, then you need to click share to.  

Step 5.   Choose where you share to, as you can see it list all the pages I have admin over (far too many).  Choose the one you would like to share to, then exit back out of this and you will be good to go.  

For more Instagram tips read my How become an Instagram Rock Star.  

How to use OnStar 4GLTE

(Disclosure:  parts of this trip has been sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own....I cannot be bought)

Imagine having a mobile office, only you own your mobile office.  Is it possible?  Well this weekend I learned

it is.

Of all the things that I learned or saw this weekend, what truly blew me away was the new technology that OnStar has come out with.  I am familiar with OnStar, in fact my 2007 Chevrolet Silverado came factory installed with it, and I took full advantage of it.

Since 2007 when I first encountered OnStar they have come a long way and now I am extremely impressed with them.  I like the idea of having my own WiFi connection while I am on the go!

Aside from the mobile internet connection, what impressed me about OnStar:

What impressed me  the most was their ability to locate you better than anyone else.  As many of you know, I live in the boondocks, I stand on my front porch, lean out the window, and pray for cell service.  911 address....What is that?   At this point that does not exist in our area, but OnStar can located me!  That is pretty awesome.

I like the GeoFencing, while I am unsure I would ever use it, I do think that it would come in handy when you have young drivers,  or lets face it troubled teens.  

Being able to control your car from your phone, I like that!  It is tough for us women on the go have hard time keeping it all together, but imagine being able to unlock your car from 500 miles away so you child can get their ball gear out of the car....It is possible from OnStar.

Take a few minutes (okay 14 or so) and watch how the OnStar experts went step by step through the process with me.