2010 Chevy Equinox

So, the 2010 Chevy Equinox has been awesome to drive. It was dropped off at my place in San Diego around noon on Monday. I grabbed the keys, signed the Loan Agreement and it was mine. I headed out that afternoon, driving through traffic in Riverside, past the lights of Vegas and finally stopped long enough to close my eyes for a few hours in Cedar City, UT.

Bright and early Tuesday morning, I got in the car and headed straight to Denver, stopping along the way for gas and potty breaks. I somehow scheduled it just right and was able to pick up Sugar Jones at Union Station in downtown Denver just before the traffic rolled in for the Rockies' game.

We literally ran into iGrandmaTV (actually, her friend backed into us when we were parked outside the Union Station). We ended up crashing the Denver Podcasters Meetup and learned about some great sports blogs and podcast sites. We also enjoyed some great beer from the Wynkoop Brewery and visited with some friends.

Sugar took the wheel this morning and now we're making a much-needed pit stop for some shut-eye so we can be ready to land in Chicago mid-morning tomorrow. We had a blast along the way, tweeting and laughing our way through a lightening storm and pulling over so the State Trooper could pull over a car ahead of us. Phew!

There are so many awesome features on the Chevy Equinox that we're enjoying, like the leather seats with the red stitching (so cute!) not to mention the rear-view video camera that allows you to see what's behind you as you're backing up. Oh and your side mirrors rotate down towards the curb as well when you're in reverse so you can see how close (or how far) you are from the curb when parallel parking.

No need to worry about blind spots with this vehicle either, since there's small windows behind the second row seats that let you see that space that is typically out of view. The driver's seat has memory adjustments for two drivers so Sugar and I have both been able to save our settings for where we're most comfortable.

The best thing about the car, in my opinion, is the handling. It's very smooth and with the V6 engine, we were able to pass some pretty slow travelers which allowed us to stay on track after getting slowed down by road construction. The cruise control has awesome settings that allow you to slow down or speed up with a roller button. The fact that it also gets 32 MPG (highway miles) also helped us cut down on our gas expenses!

Since we have no passengers (yet), enjoying the back seat, we'll have to wait until our route home to test out the DVD players but I have a feeling we'll all be pleased with how that works! The back seats are very flat so child or infant car seats will be snug and secure.

The automatic hatchback door also comes in handy as we're usually heading towards the car with our hands full. We're still getting used to "Dolly," the GPS voice we've named for her sweet hospitable charm but she's growing on us as is the XM Radio that we're enjoying as we sing along to the 80s hits that keep us awake.

And, speaking of sing-alongs, Sugar will have some travel games for our trip back West, including a karaoke something or other that is sure to be entertaining. We'll be taking song requests all weekend...

Keep on following us as we journey through BlogHer:

Twitpic:
SugarJones
Hip_M0M

Twitter:
Sugar Jones
Hip_M0M

How I really feel about GM: The ultimate test-drive

I purchased my ticket to BlogHer at the end of February since I knew that it would eventually be sold out, like it had been in the past. I was able to get in before the price went up but I had no idea how I would get to Chicago or who I'd end up hanging out with. All I knew is that I had to be there this year.

Money is always an issue for single moms, but this year, especially, I've been watching my spending and limiting any unnecessary expenses. So, when Rockin' Mama contacted me about joining her carpool, I said, "Yes," right away. I mean, I agreed so quickly that she had to ask me several times if I wanted to think about it.

These are the sorts of things that one should not think about for too long, or all of the negative aspects of driving cross-country in the middle of the summer start to take precedence above all other thoughts. For example, stinky feet and armpits at 80 MPH is worse than slow-moving BO. Trust me - I've driven across the country before.

Exactly ten years ago this June, I picked up and moved to San Diego with my girlfriend. The two of us and her sister drove from Western Wisconsin to San Diego with a 17' U-Haul truck. My friend's Mustang was pulled along behind on a lift.

I'll share the whole story another time but for now, just know that after that experience, I vowed to never again drive cross country in anything other than a car, truck or mini-van.

Mommy Mandy will be joining Rockin' Mama and I (aka Hip Mom) as we trek from Southern California, through NV, AZ, UT, CO, NE, and IA before reaching our final destination. in IL. Traveling in such tight quarters with people we barely know is bound to create a bit of drama and, although I don't consider myself high maintenance (all of the time), it should definitely make for an interesting ride.

It is expected to take us a few days to get there (2,065 miles) and we'll be blogging on our respective sites about the journey. If you know of some good places to stop in the cities and towns we'll be driving through, please let us know. We'll be looking for some great little restaurants to make us some yummy and healthy meals. We'll also be recruiting volunteers to invite us to their house for dinner, or inside for potty breaks.

As for our vehicle, GM is, once again, the sponsoring carpool provider for this year's BlogHer conference, so we'll be able to test drive one of their Chevy vehicles - in every sense of the word. We'll also be testing each other's limits so stay tuned for more details on when we'll be leaving and how we plan on surviving the drive without killing one another - or ourselves.

No matter what you think of GM and their role in the economy, we ask that you support us as we leave our kids behind, jump in the driver's seat (we'll be taking turns, of course) and make our way to the Windy City in, hopefully, an SUV or something big enough to carry us and all of our equipment (ie. shoes, make-up, clothing, food, beverages, reading materials, laptops, etc.).

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering - YES - we do plan on stopping in Vegas and Denver for some fun. Sponsors interested in helping us with the cost of gas, snacks or meals & lodging should contact us ASAP. Since there's three of us recruiting, we're bound to have some pretty major investors helping us get across the states, safe and sound.

Who's in?

giggle guide to baby gear

Chronicle Books exhibited at ABC Kids Expo for the first time this year. Author Ali Wing was signing copies of her new book, giggle guide to baby gear. Ali is the founder of giggle - a web site and national chain of baby boutiques offering the best products on the market for families with children.

Let the experts at giggle make it easy to choose the baby gear that's right for your hip family. The giggle guide to baby gear features handy checklists that let you know what you need to buy, and when to buy it. It also provides detailed guidance on big-ticket purchases from cribs to car seats.

To win an autographed copy of the giggle guide to baby gear, simply leave a comment here with the due date or birth date(s) of your children.

A winner will be selected at random in one week.

Banda Bib

Today's blogoversary giveaway comes courtesy of Bazzle Baby, based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Banda Bib by Bazzle Baby, offers something different, really different. A bib that's designed specifically with your dribbling baby in mind! It's adjustable, fashionable and made with 100% soft cotton fabrics free of harsh chemicals.

One size fits all with these Banda Bibs that fit close to the chin to absorb moisture, and help eliminate soreness and chafing. They're great for teething and fashionable feeding since they accesorize baby outfits.

Winner of the iParenting Media Award, and many others, Bazzle Baby also offers Big Bibs, Burpers, Bitsy Bibs, Squeaky Shoes, and Paci Clips.

If you'd like to win a Banda Bib with a pink & white butterfly pattern, simply include your child's date of birth in the comment field and be sure to include your email address (which won't be published).

Winners will be selected at random at the end of one week. Be sure to stop by tomorrow, and the rest of the week to register to win some additional prizes offered by some great companies that were exhibiting at last week's ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas.

One Year Blogoversary!

An entire year has gone by since I first started this blog. It's evolved quite a bit in these twelve months, as have I, and I thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your day to stop here, visit and perhaps leave a comment.

Comments are what keeps us bloggers going so even if it's to disagree or to ask a quick question, I truly appreciate what readers have to say.

In honor of the one year anniversary of the blog and my company, Happy Healthy Hip Parenting, I will be hosting several giveaways and contests over the next week. Great prizes were donated from some amazing companies that I discovered at the ABC Kids Expo last week in Las Vegas.

If you'd like to learn more about the upcoming baby gear giveaways, you can subscribe to the blog via email, RSS Feed or text messaging!

You won't want to miss out on your chance to win so be sure to stop by every day next week.

And, by the end of this month, a newly designed website will roll out over at the Happy Healthy Hip Parenting company site. I'll launch the new design over here, so keep your eyes peeled for the wonderful graphics created by Mike Ward, friend and colleague whom I met over at Twitter.

There are many wonderful people I've met on line over the last year, so again, thanks to everyone for your support and interest.

While in Vegas

I'm in Las Vegas and will be here for five days for the 2008 ABC Kids Expo - an annual event for the juvenile product industry. While I'll be focused on the new products for babies and families with children during the day, I'll be taking advantage of the night life found in Vegas. Perhaps you'll see me at one of these venues sipping on a cocktail:

Red Room Saloon (3101 West Sahara Ave, 702-257-9663)
Puff (1030 E. Flamingo Road, 702-221-PUFF)
Sugarcane Lounge (3327 Las Vegas Blvd., 702-607-0700)

Christian Audigier, The Nightclub (3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-466-9720)

Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar (3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-693-7223)
Rok Vegas (3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-740-6ROK)

During the convention, I'll be highlighting the top companies that I believe will appeal to the happy, healthy, hip parents who read this blog. Enjoy!

If you'll be in Las Vegas over the next few days, let me know. The more the merrier.

Hotslings for Hot Mamas

My sister received the Black Ecru Floral sling from hotslings a few weeks ago after they announced that they'd be launching their new fall line at the upcoming ABC Kids Expo event in Las Vegas. I look forward to seeing the hot new patterns in person but, in the meantime, my sister is enjoying the sling and figuring out which way she and her new baby are most comfortable when he's snuggled up inside it, snuggled up next to her. The sling is not only comfy for both mom and baby, but lovely in its appearance as well.

Check This Out

ABC Kids Expo is just a few weeks away and I'm getting more excited with each day as I continue to receive phone calls, email and postcards from the companies that will be there to present their products.

Here's another batch of vendors that I intend to visit with in Las Vegas:

• pearhead
• All New Materials
• bob gear
• the doodle store
• bumble ride

I also was asked to review a few products that were meant for moms with new babies. As I don't have a baby myself, I had a baby sling and new bottles sent to my sister. I'm visiting her right now. I'll be seeing both the slings and bottles myself and let you all know what we thought at the end of this week.

For now, I'm off to bed. After traveling, meeting the new baby, and entertaining my older nephew for a while, I'm exhausted. Jet lag will kick in if I don't get to bed right this minute. Until tomorrow...

New from Kid Kustoms

Normally I don't promote companies who purposely mutilate the English language but Kid Kustoms are so kool that I couldn't help but post about their latest product as soon as I discovered them tonight.

The new Roddler is krazy in its unique design and kool in just how modern it truly is. State-of-the-art, kustom krafted and safety-tested, I may have to have a new baby just so I can buy one of these, although I'm sure my four-year-old boy wouldn't mind kruising around in one of these!

Since the new Roddler will be featured at the upcoming ABC Kids Expo event in Las Vegas, I'll be sure to take up close photos of the sleek and (dare I say) sexy stroller for hip moms, dads and babies everywhere.

ABC Kids Expo

I'm preparing myself for the annual ABC Kids Expo happening September 7 - 11 in Las Vegas. While I've been to Las Vegas several times before, I have not yet been to ABC Kids Expo, the premiere event for merchandise created for babies and toddlers.

I've made notes on the companies and products that I want to learn more about when I get there:

• hotslings
• Contours Options Tandem Stroller by Kolcraft
• boon
• Awakening Organics
• Juvenile Solutions
• SaraBear Diaper Caddy
• Daddy's Matter from D.V. Family Inc.
• Quinny Buzz
• Banana Fish
• Baby Angelbug
• babysoy
• Swaddle Designs

I Dare You!

This morning, I logged in to Twitter (isn't that what we all do while the coffee's brewing?) and noticed a post by @lilfootsmommy that said simply, "Challenge me."

I was intrigued. I felt like I was back in junior high and someone across from me just chose Dare during a round of Truth or Dare.

So, I challenged her. Alright, so this isn't exactly a crazy, off-the-wall feat that I've challenged her with but knowing how I felt about running - before I actually started running - I thought this was a good idea. I challenged her to buy a pair of ishoes (big sacrifice, I know) and run her little butt off (she mentioned wanting to lose weight).

Since I felt it only fair, I also mentioned that I'd take on this challenge myself to see how much weight I could drop before my Las Vegas trip next month. Not that I am in a competition with her, mind you, I just want to have a running buddy - so to speak - to keep me motivated and to help inspire me with her tales of success.

But wait --- What if Lil Foots Mommy is a marathon runner? What if she's reading my response right now and rolling her eyes at my "challenge?" God, I totally feel like I'm in junior high again...

I'm picking up a pair of ishoes for myself, either way. Ever since I heard @guykawasaki talk about them I've been meaning to purchase a pair. It's on my to-do list for the weekend. Oh, and since Guy spoke at Stanford, I thought too about purchasing a bike since I grew pretty attached to the one I rented for my 8 days on campus - another challenge to be made!

Gotta run...

Parenting Party 2009

There's less than one week until this year's Parenting Party and already I'm getting questions about where next year's event will take place.

I hadn't really thought about it until the idea was thrown out there...take the Official Poll found on the sidebar...Las Vegas, Miami, Portland?

Help me decide!

Surprising Discovery

Our son has discovered the .com addresses on everything he sees lately. He's just beginning to read, yet he'll tell me that there's a .com on his cereal box or on the TV commercials or on the boxes of his latest toy.

Just this morning my son and I were talking about the web addresses and how they're similar to phone numbers in that just about everyone my son knows has one. He tells me then that his website is 555.com and I just laugh.

Five is his favorite number (he can't wait to be another year older) and has told me that 555 is not only his web address, but it's his phone number and flight number as well. (He's been in more airplanes than I can count.)

Imagine my surprise when I actually found myself typing in the URL: http://www.555.com and not only discovering that a real website exists there, but it's one that I think is pretty relevant to this blog.

And so, here it is:
555 - Design | Fabrication | Management

It is the mission of 555 Design Fabrication Management to address client needs in an unmistakably bold manner. 555 has proven to be a dynamic face in the global design industry. By stressing innovation, functional design and the integration of specialized materials, 555 offers an unique language for expressing client tastes, styles and needs.

555 has applied its wide-ranging expertise to many projects, including complete architectural design, fixture fabrication and strategic brand development for Delia's, The Green Bay Packers, The Jean Paul Getty's Museum, Northstar Ski Village in Lake Tahoe, The Nine Steak House and Ghost Bar at The Palms Casino and Resort, Las Vegas. In addition, we have orchestrated the development of product packages on both a national and international level for companies such as Armani Exchange, The NBA, Burberry, Chanel, DKNY, YSL, Valentino, Tumi and Guess Jeans.


My son has a way of surprising me and making me think he knows a bit more than the rest of us (on most days).

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

I'm heading to Sin City (aka Skin City) in just a few days and I plan on sitting by the pool and relaxing. Usually that consists of getting oiled up and enjoying a few cocktails while leafing through some glossy magazines filled with more pictures than words but, what can I say? I love vacation and don't get enough of them these days.

While most of my travel adventures are for work, this upcoming trip will keep me cool at these hip new venues that I plan to check out:

Sala Lounge @ Dos Caminos

Wet Republic Ultra Pool @ MGM Grand

The Beatles rEVOLution Lounge

Starlight Tattoo

Puff Lounge

Tao Beach @ The Venetian

See you on the strip!

Cool Threads

It happened here in San Diego first. You just missed it, but you still have the opportunity to discover the hottest designers, the hippest musicians and the trend artists of this generation as The Fashion & Lifestyle Show, THREAD heads to Seattle and San Fran before the grand finale in Vegas in February.

Start planning your trip now. I mean NOW. I'll see you on the strip.