2012 Honda Odyssey – King of Mini-vans

September 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

When our family was expanding to three we resignedly agreed it was time for a mini-van.  Off to the dealership we went, with our notes in hand and dutifully we poured over the features of said ‘people-movers’ but our hearts were not in it.  Not yet.  Instead, our eyes slid over to the used section of the dealership and our eyes fell on a lovely 2005 Chrysler Pacifica.  This was not a car I was familiar with – a crossover – we loved the space AND style.  We are still driving it today.

However, the Pacifica is not perfect and if we were in the market, we would no doubt be shopping for a mini van and the mini van that gets rated one of the best over and over is the Honda Odyssey.   I had the pleasure of testing the 2012 Touring edition this summer and the family loved it.  This is a mini van that drives like a car but gives you space and luxury as well as great fuel economy.  This car is made to move people in style.  I think the only negatives I heard during our test drive was from the dogs who were confused by the sunken cargo space in the back.
Room for everything you need including dogs
There are honestly too many cool features to mention in one short review.  Honda has loaded this van with everything it could think of when it comes to safety, practicality and comfort.  For those with kids still in car seats and boosters, the Odyssey has FIVE Latch placements, with 3 available in the middle and 2 in the rear.  I had Tara way in the back for a bit and had no problem getting her in there.  The middle row of seats is so versatile that you can remove the centre seat/console entirely and move the remaining seats to either side to make rear entrance even easier.

2012 Odyssey from the back

With children still in mind, the touch sensitive auto slide doors as well as the rear hatch made me breath easier.  Trying to wrangle multiple kids, animals and groceries has me tending to miss their impulsive leaps towards moving doors.  Thank you, Honda for allowing me to breathe a bit easier with features like this.  The Odyssey does give you the option of manual or auto for the sliding doors.  Why you would want this option, I cannot fathom, as Honda has done everything it can to think of easing you and your passenger’s minds while traveling.   The kids were in love with the wide screen DVD player and wireless headsets.  The Odyssey is also wired for other platforms that can be viewed at the same time as the screen can split into two.  I had to be firm when telling them to NOT hook up the Xbox in the van for a trip to Aldergrove.  They also loved the air conditioning and their ability to control it themselves easily.   Another feature that overjoyed them was the built in sun screens on the rear windows.  They had NOTHING to complain about.
Car seat in the rear no problem
Honda has not forgotten the driver when it comes to the Odyssey.  I never felt like I was driving anything longer than a car or bulkier than a sedan.   It moves very easily and has plenty of power courtesy of the  3.5 litre, 24 valve, i-VTEC V6 Engine, making this mini van remarkably easy on the gas.  With its noise cancellation technology and acoustic windshield, this is a quiet ride for all.  The rear view cameras are great as is the blind spot information system (BSI).  The Odyssey is as hands free as it can get, but also comes with access to almost everything on the wheel.  It also remembers the drivers seating preferences and mirror settings too, great for two drivers.  The navigation set up is okay, though I prefer Fords’ version of this.  My husband loved Honda’s music system and had a lot of fun navigating through his large iPod collection on board the Odyssey.
photo 3
I could go on and on.  This is an effortless and luxurious vehicle to travel in.  The Touring version has everything you could want in a high-end mini van.  The one we were driving is about $48000.  The base model, the LX starts at $32000.  I haven’t tried many other mini-vans, as in all honesty I really wanted to AVOID them, but I did try the Dodge Caravan years ago and would like to do so again to compare and also the next top contender, the Toyota Sienna.   The Dodge Grand Caravan, base model I tried wasn’t that bad at all, in fact I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to drive and park with NO rear sensors or cameras.  However, I can’t imagine choosing a Dodge over the Odyssey.  This is the KING of mini-vans.

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Taking to the Road with the 2012 Honda Pilot

August 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We could not have managed a camping trip without the amazing 2012 Honda Pilot Touring edition.  This SUV gave us the room for all our stuff without taking away the comfort of the passengers – my family.  This is great vehicle for people like me who love the feel of a truck with all the zip and power of a car that holds all your kids and all your stuff, and still looks cool.

and they're off!

The Pilot carries EIGHT people comfortably and still leaves you enough cargo space for any sort of cargo you may have, dogs included.  It has 4 spots for the Latch system for car seats, with 3 in the 2nd row and one in the back.  Both rows have a 6/40 split for versatility.  When we were packing for our trip, we folded the 3rd row down and the kids were perfectly happy all in a row – car seat in the middle – of the 2nd row.  The built in DVD player and wireless headphones didn’t hurt either.

Kerry's ready to rock and roll in the 2012 Honda Pilot

Did I mention the DVD player?  Yes, the Touring edition rocks.  Not only does it have a great DVD player, but with the assortment of plugs, you could actually bring along your fave video game console right in the car.  We had two sets of the wireless headphones, but there are outlets for wired one’s to add too and they worked just fine.   We in the front didn’t have to bother with any of that, and were perfectly happy with our choice of XM, AM/FM, CD, HARD DRIVE, or MP3/iPod music that can be voice activated, allowing for fabulous hands free enjoyment. The hands free technology also extends to the Bluetooth phone system and the navigation system too.  Though I did find the Nav a big clunky, but that is probably more about me than the car.

When does the movie start!

I find with Honda that it isn’t necessarily what you see that makes the car worthwhile.  Honda has a reputation of making safe, reliable and long lasting vehicles.    With solid frame construction, six standard air bags, vehicle stability assist (VSA), hill start assist, and tire pressure monitoring; the Pilot is all about making your drive easier and safer.    The Pilot is a big vehicle, but it doesn’t feel that way.  It was very nimble on the highway and in town.  The maneuverability is great, especially when we were on the dirt road mountain switchbacks at Manning Park.  It has great steering for a larger vehicle.

am a little in love with the Pilot

I also found for an SUV of this size that it was pretty good with the mileage.  We used about half a tank on our road trip and that was about $65 to fill up.  The Pilot has something call Variable Cylinder Management on its engine.  This system intuitively activates or deactivates the operating cylinders. When you need maximum horsepower, the engine operates on all six cylinders. When you need moderate horsepower, the engine can operate on four. And when horsepower isn’t required, the system can operate on three cylinders.   I could feel it powering down on the freeway and back again on the hills.

I loved the auto lift rear door and the fact that you can open the rear window too.  I also loved the hidden storage at the back; the room for stuff is amazing.   In fact, there really are too many features to mention.  I could go on and on. The kids loved the built in sun screens on the windows and the fact that the second row has great AC that they can control.  The list goes on and on.

Honda is a happy camper

As you can tell, I really enjoyed driving the Pilot and the kids enjoyed riding in it too.  Next up with be the lovely people mover; the Honda  Odyssey.  Stay tuned to see what we thought about that ride.

 

 

 

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Back to School with Hallmark Canada

August 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A while back Hallmark sent us another fun box of stuff.  Most of it made me do the ‘lalalalalala I can’t see you’ dance since it was Halloween stuff, but there was a lot of other cool gift ideas and so on for everyone.  One fun thing that would make a nice little back to school gift is their new Text Bands.

The Text Bands work like digital watches and you can figure them out pretty easily.  The kids got the hang of them and the ‘bumping‘ to share their messages.  A couple of these in their backpacks to share with their friends would be a fun little gift.  Beat the usual pencil cases.

Hallmark has long been home of many wonderful Peanuts collectables too, and I loved this cute Tigger…sweet in any babes room.

Hallmark is always fantastic for great selection of cards……Hallmark stores are wonderful for one stop shopping for special occasions.  I will share the Halloween stuff a bit closer to the actual day!

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Need a phone for your Tween or Teen? Check out the Nokia Lumia 610

August 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The return of school is creeping up on us at an alarming rate.  I will freely admit to being in total denial about it.  I am not prepared and not ready at all. I suppose I should start making lists of the things I have to buy and deal with before the beginning of next month. ONE of the things that my kids want on that list is their own cell phone.

Previously, I would just laugh at this request.  They are, after all, only ten and 8, and beyond the cost, neither are mature enough to be in charge of such an expensive item (in my old-fashioned opinion anyway).  However, the folks at Telus Mobility asked me to check out the Nokia Lumia 610 for a few days this summer and they may have swayed me to the dark side so to speak.

The Nokia Lumina 610 is a Windows based smart phone.  It is about the same size as the iPhone and its touch technology is fairly intuitive.  The kids were impressed that it came with Facebook, Twitter, Xbox Live, and Youtube.   I liked having Microsoft Office on it, since a person like me grew up in a non-Apple world and all my documents are Office documents.  Of course tech costs if you are using it away from the home wifi connection and that is definitely something to think about when looking at phones for your tweens.

My kids love all the tech on the new phones.  When I upgraded my own phone I took all the data eating toys and games off it and let them use my old phone for Angry Birds.  Yes, they love YouTube and Google and all that social media, but do they really need it on their phones?  Our house has computers, and iPad, iPhones, and an iPod.    Does he need to carry that around?  In my opinion – not really.  Not when he isn’t paying for the plan himself.

The phone IS a good deal with Telus.  The phone itself is free with their 3 year contract; you just have to find the right plan that suits yours and your kid’s needs.  I have to admit that I loved being in contact with my son while he was out and about.    Even on sleepovers it was nice to check in on him via texting to see if he was happy.  He may be ten, but he is still my baby boy and I worry when he is out of my sight.  At the same time though, I love watching him spread his wings and venture farther afield the older he gets.

Did I like the phone?  Yes.   I wasn’t familiar with the Windows based phones and I liked the design and how easy it was to figure out.   Would I buy it for my ten year old?  Honestly, I don’t know.  He is a bit young yet, but if there was a package that wouldn’t put an enormous dent in my pocket, I would certainly have this as one of my first choices.

I would love to know who has already purchased cell phones for their kids and at what age they did so.  I would love to hear what people really think about the idea and whether they are a necessity or just us buying into the marketing.  Can any of us imagine life before our smart phones?

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Lindt Shares the Chocolate Olympic Dream!

May 10, 2012 by 1 Comment

On Thursday May 17, fans are invited to join Lindt to help make dreams come true at a very special celebration event. The first 75 guests will get the chance to meet Canada’s skating darlings, 2010 Olympic Gold Medalists & 2012 World Champions, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir from Stars on Ice.

This unique event brings Vancouver chocolate lovers together for an unforgettable evening. Ann Czaja, Lindt’s Master Chocolatier will also be onsite to join in the festivities and share her deep passion for and knowledge of chocolate with consumers.

Come join in the fun with chocolate galore, prizes, autographs and celebrity meet and greets and more.

The event takes place at the Lindt Boutique store at  Queensborough Landing located at 805 Boyd Street, New Westminster from 5 to 7 pm.

Am a bit to giddy that Lindt has an ENTIRE store so close to my house.

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Dorset Cereals Review & Giveaway

May 8, 2012 by 6 Comments

DORSET LOGO-2

I will freely admit that Cheerios are usually as “healthy” as we get when it comes to breakfast cereals.  I feel like I am pushing out the healthy boat when I treat myself to the sugar loaded Harvest Crunch.  You can imagine my enthusiasm at trying a new line of cereals that promise ‘simple pleasures’ when it comes to their line of cereals.   I was dubious.

But.  But…this stuff is good.  They have a great line and you are sure to find the taste that appeals to you.  I have been reading up on what people are concerned about when it comes to their cereals.  The origins of their grains is a big concern…are all these tasty nuts and grains from genetically modified stock?  Is anything certified organic?  How much fat or sugars are there?

It all seems pretty complicated when you just want a breakfast that won’t make you fat.

What I like about the Dorset Cereals is that they are not going the route of promising amazing health benefits OR having packaging YELLING at us about how NATURAL  their products are.  Their cereals are what they are.  What is on the box is in the box.

They have made no promises regarding GMO products or in promising organic products.   This isn’t diet food.  This is food.  This is unprocessed grains, nuts ….the things your cereals should have.

photo 1 (9)

The Simply Delicious Muesli was one of my favourites as was Honey Granola.  Any of these cereals would be great with some nice Greek Yoghurt.

If you are a person interested in reducing the amount of fillers, additives and processed food, the Dorset Cereals are a good choice.  I was happy to see that London Drugs was carrying them.

Also, gazing at the pictures of how pretty the area is where these cereals come from is as close to rural England as I will be getting for a while.  Sigh.

Anyway….the people at Dorset Cereals want you to try them, so we have a bit of a giveaway going on here.

P1010488 Dorset prize pack1

We have to lovely packages retailing at $75 each that include:

-       An attractive gourmet getaway lunch tote made from protective material that insulates for up to four hours and folds flat for easy   storage

-       Seven boxes of Dorset Cereals (four tasty recipes, each bursting with the tastiest fruit, nuts and seeds available)

I really encourage you to try these cereals….low sugar, low fat..just tasty grains.

Simply leave a comment about your fave childhood cereals (mine was chocolate rice krispies)  and I will draw two names on May 15th.

Good luck!

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Shame on Jane – Mothers Day and Much More

May 6, 2012 by 4 Comments

Shame on Jane is well known among the celebrity set thanks to her quirky and fun and totally YOU jewellery.  They kindly sent me a sample of their fun REMINDER Rings to check out.

photo 4 (4)

The Reminder Rings are a riot…..for people like me this is the step up to writing on my hand or tying strings on my fingers!  Mine are more inspirational – they remind me to think beyond the daily – “Make a Difference,” “Repair the World,” and “Inspire Change,” are but a few of them.  But there are true reminders for things in your life or things that should be, like “Make a Reservation,” or “Mani/Pedi.”  Each ring is 2.5mm wide available in sterling silver or sterling silver plated with 18k gold.

I am running totally behind on my blog and for things like this, but they have great ideas for Mother’s Day on their site….check them out.

For me they are doing a giveaway of a set of the rings….a fun gift for a friend, mom, sister or yourself.  Simply comment here about what the rings would mean to you and I will enter you in a draw….winner will be drawn this Thursday right before Mom’s Day…oops.

 

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Pure Imagination

April 25, 2012 by 4 Comments

After a mistimed nap, Tara was wide awake and asking – nay – demanding to go out to play. This was exacerbated by the fact that the two older siblings were out taking full advantage of the longer daylight. This led me to be following in her pursuit of the kids to join in their games.

I gotta admit, we seem to have a ‘different’ crop of kids around here for this generation. I remember when I was a teen, the kids seemed to only play street hockey and catch and nothing else. Not this lot.

They were playing a game based on a video game. It involved lots of drama, action, and most importantly, unfettered imagination. They were PLAYING.

Playing is an art I fear is dying due to the often over scheduled or isolated lives of kids these days. I am much relieved to see my kids have found neighbours who are just as much into imaginary play as they are. Let us not forget that they are school age. The age range there with Tara included, ran from 2.5 to 12. They were completely unselfconscious even when I arrived on the scene shadowing Tara. This made me smile.

Apparently this is the norm at school too. The kids have a long list of play based games that get rotated and pushed aside as they create new one’s. There seems to be little mockery from the more ‘grown up’ of the kids. The school seems to have done well cultivating a culture of fun and expression among their diverse students.

This joy of play is one of the reasons festivals like the Vancouver International Children’s Festival needs continuous support, as does the few child focused theatres like Carousel and Arts Umbrella. Children need the opportunities to see what play can be transformed into and what an active imagination can create.

We can’t let the art of play die. We need to create a space that doesn’t involve US. We need to be able to back away and let children be children. They need to create fun for themselves out of nothing. They need to be able to create something out of nothing. You can’t teach fun….you can only allow fun to be there for the kids and nurture it from a safe distance.

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