The Body

”MILLION PLEDGE MISSION” AIMS TO STOP 1,000,000 DRIVERS FROM TEXTING AND DRIVING

Texting and driving caused almost 400,000 injuries and deaths last year across the United States and is quickly becoming America’s fastest growing killer, but there’s a growing mission to drive those numbers down.
What started off as a wearable reminder to be text free while driving has grown into a national mission to make the roads safer for everyone. Earlier this year, a Colorado family started giving local teens a “TXTNG KILLS” thumb band to make them aware of the dangers of texting and driving. Just a few months later, national attention of the texting crisis has the Edgin family sending out over 30,000 bands per month and working with schools, community groups and police agencies across North America to collect 1,000,000 signatures on their text free driving pledge.
“Texting and driving makes you 23X more likely to crash and causes more accidents than drinking and driving”, says Robert Edgin (founder of the Million Pledge Mission), “even though it’s illegal to text and drive in most states, very little has been done to educate drivers of just how dangerous it is – until now.” The laws across the US and Canada have become increasingly strict in dealing with texting and driving and a number of drivers have been charged with vehicular homicides in recent years for deaths they caused while texting behind the wheel.
The problem, according to Edgin, is that an overwhelming number of drivers make texting a normal part of their daily commute and end up spending more time looking at their phones than they spend looking at the roads. “Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds at a time. At 55 mph, that’s the same as driving the length of a football field blind”, says Edgin.
The Million Pledge Mission kicked off the first week of April to educate drivers across North America of the dangers of texting and driving and collect 1,000,000 signatures from drivers who commit to be text free behind the wheel. Schools, colleges and a number of police departments and community groups are giving away “TXTNG KILLS” thumb bands to drivers who sign the pledge as a wearable reminder to stay text free while driving. Anti-texting campaigns have grown by the thousands across the nation over the past 12 months and schools are making an extra effort to promote text free driving as prom and graduation seasons (the 2 deadliest weekends of the year for teen drivers) is getting under way.
“This is a problem that every driver in the country has to deal with every time they get in their car”, says Edgin. “Most of the people who die in texting and driving accidents are just innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s time for people to do the right thing and put an end to all of these preventable accidents.” You can sign the pledge online at www.millionpledgemission.com or by downloading the pledge to print and sign it.
The Body

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Why not stop at the store on your way home, grab these ingredients and make yourself a festive drink to celebrate the day…………….
Blood Orange Margarita
Drink Recipe Ingredients:
•1 oz. Stirrings Blood Orange Mixer (32 oz. per bottle)
•.25 oz. Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters
•1.5 oz. Don Julio Añejo Tequila (25 oz. per bottle)
•1 slice(s) orange
Drink Recipe Preparation:
In a cocktail shaker combine Stirrings Blood Orange Mixer, Don Julio Añejo and Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters with plenty of ice.
Cover and shake vigorously.  Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with slice of orange.   ENJOY!!!!
The Body

Happy Mother’s Day to all the “Garage Moms”

This Sunday May 8th, many of us will be celebrating the one woman responsible for so much in our lives. It’s a day to thank our “mums” for all they have done for us over the years, even though we owe them much gratitude everyday for the countless ways they have inspired, pushed and encouraged us in every way.  We decided to focus on one important kind of mom, the “Garage Mom”.  You know the mom who’s married to the guy that is constantly in the garage. He could be working on the family car, working on the lawn mower, maybe building a special dream car project or maybe just maintaining the street and dirt bikes.  The kids are usually hanging out in the garage with dad riding their bikes and getting a hand from Dad as they flip the bike over to lube the bicycle chains.  Sometimes Dad’s buddies will come over and lend Dad a hand and maybe chase the kids around.

Where is Mom while this is all going down? You can usually find Mom tending to the kids, maybe in the kitchen cleaning up after supper, hanging clothes out on the line, or right there next to Dad lending a hand. (maybe even showing him how to do it). She is always supportive and just genuinely loves spending time with her family sharing the moments that she knows are shaping her kids into the good people they will turn out to be. She knows the life lessons that will be shared in the garage are going to stick with her children over the years.  On a day when the family is going to take the cool family convertible to a car show mom always packs up the best lunches and goodie bags to take for the ride. She also always knows to grab a coat or sweatshirt for you as the air might get cooler on the ride home in the open convertible. We here at Garage-Girls salute all you “Garage Moms” and celebrate our own “Garage Moms”  here’s to creating memories in the Garage that will stay with the family forever!  Happy Mother’s Day!

The Body

quick quesadilla pockets

Here is a healthy spin (that is a snap to make) on an all time mexican favorite!
ingredients
•Nonstick cooking spray
•1  tablespoon  canola oil
•1  large  red sweet pepper, finely chopped
•1/2  teaspoon  onion powder
•1/2  teaspoon  chili powder
•1-1/2  cups  loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
•1  15 1/2-ounce can  pinto beans, rinsed and drained
•1-1/2  cups  reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese blend (6 ounces)
•1/2  cup  purchased salsa
•6  8-inch  flour tortillas
•1  2 1/4-ounce can  sliced pitted ripe olives (optional)
•1/2  cup  light dairy sour cream (optional)
directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a very large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sweet pepper, onion powder, and chili powder. Cook about 5 minutes or until pepper is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn, beans, 1 cup of the cheese, and the salsa. Cook and stir until the mixture is heated through and cheese is melted.
2. To assemble the quesadillas, divide bean mixture among tortillas, spreading evenly over half of each tortilla. Fold over, pressing down gently. Place on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle quesadillas with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and, if desired, olives.
3. Bake about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and tortillas are golden brown and crisp. Cut each quesadilla into quarters. If desired, top quesadillas with sour cream.
nutrition facts
•Servings Per Recipe 6 servings Calories 286, Total Fat (g)10, Saturated Fat (g)4, Cholesterol (mg)10, Sodium (mg)615, Carbohydrate (g)37, Fiber (g)6, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
The Machine

Lifelong Mechanic Shares Money Saving Advice in New Book

We came across this book the other day and decided to share with you since we get tons of emails asking questions about “noises” on cars, grab a copy of this book and get a better understanding of what service work your car is in need of.
“Don’t Let Your Mechanic Pick Your Pocket”! by George A. Moyer educates readers before car breaks down by guiding them through common noises and vibrations.
“Don’t Let Your Mechanic Pick Your Pocket!: A Simple Guide That Can Save You Money and Keep the Dishonest Mechanic in Line. It Works for any Car, Truck or SUV, Anywhere You live, the book is intended to help readers self-diagnose and understand automotive problems.
“This book is designed to save its readers money and provide the knowledge needed to deal with unscrupulous repair shops found everywhere,” says Moyer.
Moyer promises the book will easily reveal a variety of bumper-to-bumper noise, leak and vibration symptoms into understandable diagnoses. The goal is for car owners to be able to prioritize the problems before seeing a mechanic. For instance, tens of thousands of brakes, he says, are replaced prematurely based on non-serious squeaks. “Most of these problems can be determined without even having to touch your car,” says Moyer, “Mechanics have been ‘scaring’ people into unneeded repairs for decades. This book will help keep them accountable and protect the consumer in the process.”
Customer Mark Smith says, “I have seen a preview copy of Don’t Let Your Mechanic Pick Your Pocket!. The book is informative and imminently useful. If my daughter had had this book, she could have saved her engine and $3000.”
Moyer says he believes so strongly in educating consumers that he had given dozens of free seminars to car owners on basic automobile anatomy at his shop, Advantage Automotive Services, Bridgewater, N.J.. “It is my experience that a well-educated consumer is a better customer,” he says.
About the Author
George A. Moyer, an Army veteran, owned an automotive repair shop for eight years, working as chief diagnostician. In 2003, he was recognized as a local United Way “Unsung Hero” for the charity mechanic work he performed for needy families. Moyer and his wife, who have been married 37 years, have two children and three grandchildren.
The Body, The Machine

Hurry, Ultimate Biker Makeover deadline for entries May 10th

How would you like to score a new riding jacket from Hot Leathers, a pair of riding gloves and helmet from Z1R, cool clothing from Rebel Girl Gear, a pair of riding boots from Harley-Davidson Footwear, a case of full synthetic engine oil from Spectro Oils, a pair of riding glasses from 7 Eye, a $50 gift certificate to Otterbox for the technology case of your choice, a cooler filled with motorcycle detail gear from Wizards Products, a new motorcycle seat from Mustang Motorcycle Seats, tons of accessories for your ride from Kuryakyn, a set of Avon Tyres and a set of shocks from Progressive suspension?  Yes, how would you like to win ALL OF IT?  You can by entering the Ultimate Biker Makeover, deadline for entries is May 10th so hurry up get yours in. Winner must be present at Carlisle Summer Bike Fest Saturday July 23rd 2011 to claim their prizes! Please read all the rules for entries before submitting your entry.

The Body

International Female Ride Day Rides Around the World for the 5th Year on Friday 6 May!

Ladies, we want to know how you feel about International Female Ride day?  We have heard lots of you claim “why do we need a separate female ride day?”  Do you feel this keeps women  separated from riders in general, do you want to be considered a “rider” or a “female rider”? Do you even care? Tell us how you feel about it….
This year International Female Ride Day celebrates its fifth year of women riders getting on their motorcycles to JUST RIDE. With four years of history bringing awareness for women riders, the force created and expected for the fifth year of this globally synchronized action will be nothing less than phenomenal! More women, and more countries are including themselves in the campaign and those already participating are bumping up the game plan with expanded actions for Friday May 6th.
Countless women riders participate year after year delighting in their role to “just ride” on International Female Ride Day. For them, this annual occasion is unlike any other motorcycle event and has become the activity “not to be missed” in women riders’ agendas. “The growth and dedication each year of proud and enthusiastic participants who have supported the concept from the get-go, is wonderful.
International FEMALE RIDE DAY “fever” significantly magnifies each year and 2011 expects to host and welcome more riders and participants than in year’s prior. Canada, United States, Australia, England, The Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Poland, Israel, Qatar, Denmark and Russia as well as other countries will again be contributing to the campaign in compelling numbers. In 2010, International Female Ride Day was recognized by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).