last week, i was given the opportunity to attend an event about teen driving sponsored by the allstate foundation & the national safety council.  although i am not the parent of a teenager, i AM the parent of a tween and – before i know it – my first born child will be behind the wheel.  the mere thought of having a teen driver in a few short years is enough to give me heart palpitations.

{i attended the event with my blogging bestie, in the center, & we also met the genius behind mom on dealz.  and, no, i don’t always have a flower pot on my head!}

back in the 1990s when i got my driver’s license, i had a learner’s permit for a few months and i remember standing in front of a judge when i was issued my “real” driver’s license.  i remember being frustrated because i was heavy on the gas pedal or i hit the brakes too hard.  i remember getting upset with my parents because they wouldn’t let me drive to a friend’s house or even to school.  but, i do remember the excitement i felt being able to drive to swim practice a few nights a week – with my mother or father in the front seat, of course – and how it finally felt to be driving on my own.  all of the hours spent learning to drive in my high school’s parking lot on the weekend with my dad, the time spent in a driver’s education course and the strict rules set by my parents have, perhaps, made me into the safe driver that i am today.  i consider myself one of the fortunate former teen drivers.

the drive it home event obviously focused on teen driving – the risks, the frustrations, and the uncertainties.  the event also focused on parenting and how parents can be better advocates for their teens as they begin to drive.  as someone who has been a licensed driver for nearly 20 years, i was completely blown away by some of the information shared by the national safety council…

•  one of the most dangerous years in a person’s life is the first 12 months after getting a driver’s license.  annually, there are about two million teens under the age of 18 in their first year of driving on u.s. roads, the national safety council (nsc) reports.
• inexperience is the number one cause of teen crashes.
• parents, despite their good intentions, are not setting rules around some of the most dangerous {teen} driving behaviors including nighttime driving and having passengers in the car

those are just a few of the tidbits of information shared by the ncs.  to learn more, please check out the drive it home website.

{the drive it home event offered a humorous, yet serious, look at teen driving & how parents can help their teens become better drivers.}

the event also opened my eyes to the new driving rules and regulations set for by my own state, er, commonwealth.  back in the day when i got my learner’s permit and driver’s license, virginia did not really enforce too many rules regarding teen driving.  i remember i had to be 15 years and 8 months to get my learner’s permit and i could not apply for my driver’s license until i was officially 16.  and, of course, we had to take a safe driving oath {or something to that effect} in front of a judge when we received our license.  my, oh, my how times have changed!  while there are strict rules about nighttime driving and not having passengers {other than a licensed family member over the age of 18 in the car}, virginia teens must also log a minimum of 45 hours of driving practice before they can obtain a driver’s license.  45 hours may seem like an eternity to a teen desperately wanting to borrow dad’s convertible for a fun night with friends.  but, when you compare that time commitment to what it takes to become a licensed nail technician in virginia, well, you’ll soon realize that there is not enough emphasis placed on the importance of being a safe, well-trained teen driver!

when i think about the day when my oldest child will start driving, you had best believe that i won’t be permissive or easy-going.  it’s best to be authoritative when it comes to teen driving.  don’t be afraid to set rules and expectations about driving.  also, make sure that YOU are setting a good driving example.  after all, we should practice what we preach, right?

whether you’re the parent of a two-month old or a 12 year old, thinking about the day your child starts driving is scary.  i definitely encourage you to check out the drive it home website for tips and statistics regarding teen driving.  also, if you have the opportunity to check out a drive it home event in your area, please do!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

what:  Drive it Home Show, presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation

when:  wednesday, april 10th from 7pm to 8:15pm

where:  sandler center for the performing arts {201 market street, virginia beach, va  23462}

price:  FREE!  {no tickets required}

parking:  if you’re a hampton roads local and are familiar with virginia beach’s town center {across from pembroke mall}, then you know that there is plenty of FREE parking in the various garages and lots found in the area.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

that was a l-o-n-g blogging hiatus.  honestly?  it was completely unintentional.  after all, i was on the computer nearly every day since my last blog post.  but, i guess wasting away on twitter & facebook is much easier than coming up with blog content…sometimes.

so what have i been up to?

well, i got a fresh, new look thanks to this fabulous lady.  i am IN LOVE with my blog’s new look & i think a new design is just what i needed to get back into the blogging groove.

my long winter break is about to come to an end.  i start student teaching next week.  i’m nervous.  i’m excited.  and, i’m glad that my graduate school career is nearing its end.

i spent a lot of time with my family over the holidays.  my mother visited us for a while and, shortly after christmas, i asked her to teach me how to crochet.  since then, i’ve been cranking out infinity scarves like it’s my job.  ha ha ha…like it’s my job.  in all seriousness, i AM selling them.  i do not have a shop set up…it’s kind of one of those “you tell me what color you want” or “i make it and post it on instagram” kind of deals.  if your neck is chilly, i’m your girl.

{$20 per scarf or $15 each if you’re purchasing two or more…shipping IS included in the price}

{a crocheting tutorial is in the works}

in addition to making & selling scarves, i’ve been organizing and purging my home.  i am currently tackling quite a few small projects in my home like creating a new gallery wall, painting a bathroom and cleaning & re-organizing the laundry room.  oh, i’ve been lining our kitchen cabinets, too.  do i know how to live it up or what?

and, finally, i have been doing my best to spend time with friends.  my time will be very limited over the next 14 weeks {thanks to student teaching}, so it’s important that i get out & have some adult time.  last weekend, i had a blast giggling & eating chips with white sauce with three amazing blog buddies friends:  lis, ashley & sarah.

as far as this blog is concerned, my goal is to have blog posts scheduled throughout the week.  i have a couple of product reviews & giveaways lined up, too.  AND, this is huge, i have decided to dabble in ads once again, so please be sure to check out the updated advertise with me tab at the top of my page.  i’m not the biggest blog out there, but one of my goals for 2013 is to really get this blog hoppin’ once again.

and, as always, you can find me here:

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an episode of the best thing i ever made was on television.  the focus of that particular day’s epsiode?  chicken.  we eat a LOT of chicken.  i try my very best to vary the chicken dishes that i make…i’m constantly on the hunt for new, yummy chicken dishes.  yummy chicken dishes like sunny anderson’s southwestern chicken pot pie.  not only is this recipe ridiculously delicious, but it’s also super easy to make {yes, even the homemade crust is easy peasy}.  also, i was finally able to use the rest of the sazon we had in our pantry.

flour, butter, sazon {dissolved in cold water} & salt…that’s it!  the sazon transforms the color of the dough into something spectacular.  seriously, the color is amazing.

the best part about this recipe?  the filling.  i could not find the exact frozen veggie mixture that the recipe calls for so i used a mixture of frozen corn, carrots, peas & green beans.  i’ve also added lima beans before.  and the chicken?  the first time i made the recipe, i followed every. last. step.  the second time?  i didn’t poach my chicken.  i sauteed it.  however you choose to cook your chicken…just know it will be delicious.  if you have a thyme plant growing in a pot on your front porch {you know, like i do}, use it!  oh, and don’t skimp on the crema.  buy it.  it’s the nom dot com.  {yep, i just made a corny joke.}

yes, i make my pot pie in a square pan.  you can use a pie pan.  just remember this:  a rustic looking crust is a yummy tasting crust.  well, crust is yummy regardless of how fancy or funny it looks.  we serve this with black beans.  or, you could just pair this with a side salad.

the bottom line is this:  if you need a new way to serve chicken & you’ve been looking for an easy chicken pot pie recipe, definitely try sunny’s southwestern chicken pot pie.  your taste buds…and your tummy…will not be disappointed.  i promise.

my family rocks.  and, no, i’m not just saying that because i’m the momma.  i’m saying that because we DO rock.

music is a big part of our lives.  some of you might cringe when i say this, but my husband and i do not censor what we listen to when our children are present.  i’m not saying we listen to gangsta rap.  i’m saying that, well, my kids listen to what we listen to…always have, always will.

yes, i listened to my fair share “kiddie music” and, to this day, laurie berkner’s “victor vito” is still my favorite.  but, as my children have gotten older, they’ve grown to appreciate music and i feel, as a parent, that it’s my duty to nurture & support their interest in music.

we purchase cds.
we jam out in the car. {oh, who am i kidding, i don’t drive a car…i drive a minivan.}
we watch musical documentaries.
my children have even met justin bieber.

but, one of my favorite musical past times is attending concerts.  there is nothing more amazing than seeing your favorite band live.  my husband and i have been to MANY concerts over the years and, not long ago, we took our children to see one of their favorite bands, big time rush, live.  a few years ago, i took our oldest child to see the jonas brothers.  this past summer, her brother finally got to experience the magic of a live show when we took the kids to see big time rush.  i cannot even begin to describe the look of awe and surprise on their faces.  they enjoyed every last minute of the concert…singing, dancing, screaming!  and, i’ll be honest, my husband and i had fun singing and dancing along, too.

yes, folks, i can break it down to some big time rush.

i absolutely love that my family finds joy in listening to music.  whether we are cruisin’ down the street or cleaning the house, music is always involved.  always.

does your family rock, too?  if so, Hyundai Santa Fe & Rolling Stone want to hear from you. they are looking for families who not only rock, but who also exude core values like sharing, hard work & kindness.  oh, and it doesn’t hurt if you like practical jokes and are a bit of a mischief, too.   and, don’t worry loud singers, they’re looking for you, too!

if your family rocks {you know, like mine does}, then enter Hyundai Santa Fe & Rolling Stone’s contest by clicking here.  entering is SO EASY…all you have to do is enter a photo of you & your crew and write {500 words or less} about why your family rocks.  if you’re still on the fence about entering, let’s just say that the prizes are AH-mazing!  you could win a photo shoot in Rolling Stone, airfare, hotel & transportation to the 55th grammy awards PLUS a sweet, totally tricked out Hyundai Santa Fe.  hurry…the contest ends on december 14th!

disclaimer:  I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.