Handbag Giveaway With Good Housekeeping And Toyota

Not my old Toyota: the 2015 Toyota Highlander

Just as I’ll always be fond of boys who wear Stan Smith tennis shoes, (as my first boyfriend did) I’ll always have a warm place in my heart for Toyota, my first car.

OK, my only car.

I learned to drive in a 1979 Toyota (yes, I am THAT old) and my mother passed it along to me when I was in college. I then dumped it on my sister since my boyfriend at the time (different boyfriend, same Stan Smith tennis shoes - go figure) had a better Toyota and we were moving back to NYC, where we only needed one car.

We owned several cars over the years, but they were never actually MY car. Now, I get to drive cars from all different brands. But I’ll always love a Toyota.

And I’ll always love to check out the hot new cars at the NY Auto Show, which starts next week at the Javits Center. We always went here when the girls were little - they loved to sit in the back of pickup trucks (city girls!) and they still do, even as young women and teens. 

My daughters, hanging out in the back of a pickup truck

When they were younger, another draw was Camp Jeep, a simulated off-road drive. Fun!

But this year is extra special. Good Housekeeping is giving away 35 designer handbags between April 3 and 12th! To enter to win, show attendees must take a photo of themselves in the drivers seat of a vehicle in a booth with the Women in the Drivers Seat plaque and tweet or Instagram it with the hashtags #GHDrives and #LetsGoPlaces.

You can get more info about the contest here.

The Toyota booth is front and center, so it should be easy to stop by and snap a selfie - and maybe win a pocketbook.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Opinions expressed are my own.

Running a Half Marathon - and Celebrating at the Spa

What a greeting: champagne & dark chocolate

When I first started training for a marathon, even a half marathon seemed a huge challenge. But now with 5 halts (halves?) under my belt, I think I'm ready.

My bathroom, for an hour

Unfortunately, I once again didn't get into the NYC Marathon. But I will persevere, doing my 9 New York Road Runners races, plus one volunteer spot, to guarantee entry in 2016. As long as no bike accident derails me again.

This year, my friend and I decided to celebrate the day after with massages at Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf Astoria.

The lobby of the Waldorf is a hive of activity, but once you reach the 19th floor, where the spa and fitness center are located, serenity sets in.

State of the art fitness equipment

When you check in, you are escorted to the locker room, with a robe and slippers, and you can use the fitness center before your appointment. I got stuck on the subway so I had no time to exercise - but then, I had just run a half marathon. I'd love to work out there some time - everything was brad new and pristine, and there wee cold towels and chilled water bottles available.

Room to stretch, or use the stability ball or Bosu ball

My friend and I had our rooms for the massage, each with a fully equipped shower - great products from--, razor, shaving cream and plenty of soft fluffy towels. We used the too cool steam room after our massages, so we showered in the fitness center showers, which also had rain shower heads and the same products.

The massage was fabulous - an hour of bliss, with a heated bed and a masseuse who worked out all the kinks of my 13.1 mile run. Having my feet and legs rubbed was amazing, and the head rub, back massage and full body relaxation was wonderful.

Romantic setting - though just for me & my friend

When I got to the room, a bottle of water and a piece of dark chocolate was waiting. My masseuse also brought in a glass of champagne; and at the end, she sets up a couple of glasses in the relaxation lounge for my friend and me.

It looked so romantic, I think my husband and I have to celebrate our anniversary this way!

Teen Driving: Tire Safety AND Giveaway

Don't let bad tires lead to an accident

My 21 and 23 year old went to public high school in New York City, where driver’s education doesn’t exist. They took a local driving course and learned how to drive, but even after passing their road tests, we didn’t feel fully confident in them as drivers.

Turns out, we weren’t being overly cautious.

Teen drivers, even those who have had driver’s ed at school, just don’t learn everything they need to know in those courses. And tire maintenance, an important component of safe driving, is often neglected altogether.

That’s why I was glad to hear about Michelin’s new campaign promoting tire safety and other safety tips.

And the need for more time behind the wheel was driven home a two weeks ago when my nephew, who had just gotten his license after completing his high school’s driver’s ed program, took my brother in law’s new car for a spin.

My brother in law bought a new car on a Saturday morning, coming home around 11:30 with it. At noon, we headed over to a festival in Kennet Square, PA. My nephew got home about an hour later and called, asking if he could take the car for a spin.

He drove fine, until he returned home and drove the new Audi through the garage wall. True, this had nothing to do with poor tire maintenance; the car was 90 minutes old, but it was still a reminder that new drivers, even those who pass the test on their first try, still are inexperienced and have a lot to learn.

My brother in law, after he regained the power of speech, allowed that in a way, this accident was a teachable moment, showing his son that he needed to be alert at all times. The damage was limited to a smashed in front end, no one was hurt, and every driver, at some point, is involved in at least a fender bender

But why not check out way to increase the likelihood that any accident is minor.

And enter the SheBuysCars giveaway for a new set of tires!

Note: this is a compensated post; opinions expressed are my own.

Driving Me Crazy: My Daughter's Song Choices

U2 on Sirius XM!

It's funny how quickly you get used to something that you never knew existed. WiFi in the car? Great when we drove a Chevy Silverado but then we missed it in the otherwise luxe Kia K900.

So we were shocked - shocked - when the tricked out Ford Expedition we took on a road trip didn't have Sirius XM. Oh, it had the preview stations, but I like to listen to my 70s & 80s Next Wave station. Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Joe Jackson...

We listened to a few radio stations, but the commercials are so annoying and the reception was spotty. Then we plugged my daughter's iPhone in and she controlled the tunes.

I don't know how it happened that we raised a kid in the city and she likes country music. Not exclusively - she also likes pop, Bruce Springsteen and U2. But she's on this country music kick right now.

I guess it's preferable to her addiction to Music Together as a toddler, or her obsession with Broadway show tunes, ages 3-11. And I like Broadway music, just not the pained moaning when my husband sings along.

This was one of our last trips with our teen daughter - we were returning to a college for admitted students day, and soon we will be driving an empty car to visit her. So I guess listening to country music for a few hours is a small price to pay.