Pet Travel Tips!

It's usually not as easy as you think it would be. Bringing your best non-human friend on the road with you seems simple enough, right? Not always so. Here are a few tips on how to make travel with your pet easier.

Healthy Start: The last thing you need on the road is a sick pet. Make sure your pet is all set on vaccinations and has the proper certificates if you intend to cross any international/province/state borders.

Frequent Pit Stops:  You pet can get stir crazy just like you! Stop at any designated waiting area or service stop and take it on a little walk. This may increase your travel time, but it is well worth it! Breaks like these also serve as a perfect time to hydrate.

Proper Restraint:  Whether your pet is calm and obedient in the car it is always important to make sure they are safe. No need to roll the windows down for fresh air, you don't want any debris hitting them in the face. A favorite blanket or pet bed is perfect for a long road trip. Creating a normalcy and routine for car rides helps your pet stay calm.

There are lots of other ways to make you and your pet calm during a car ride lasting anywhere between 5 minutes and 8 hours. Thank you!

Courtesy of Tripswithpets.com

Link: http://bit.ly/1hrgECD

Best road trip songs of all time!

Driving on long road trips doesn't have to be boring. Music can be quite the element that turns a regular drive into an epic memory that you will never forget. For this reason, we have decided to compile the best driving songs of all-time. We understand music is very, subjective, so please do not hesitate to chime in and tell us what you prefer! 

Those are motivating, fun, upbeat and will keep you going for hours!



1. "Sweet Escape" - Gwen Stefani
2. "Highway to Hell" - AC/DC
3. "Don't stop me now" - Queen
4. "Road Tripping" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. "Hurricane" - Bob Dylan

Celebration Concludes Third Year of Toyota's 100 Cars for Good

Nine LA-Area Nonprofit Organizations Gather With Winning Vehicle Models

 

March 27, 2014

TORRANCE, Calif. (March 27, 2014) – Nine nonprofits ready to serve their communities will gather today to celebrate the 2013 100 Cars for Good philanthropy program. The charities will use their nine vehicles (seven Siennas and two Tundras) won through the program’s public voting to transport people, food and even musical instruments. Those same instruments will help veterans and at-risk youth find confidence and friendship through music education and performances, thanks to The Rock Club and Rock for Vets.

“These individuals are all struggling, but when you put them together, it’s something amazing,” said Frank McIlquham, founder and director of The Rock Club and Rock for Vets. “To win the Sienna is an honor and a one-in-a-million opportunity. We can move equipment, reach more people and perform further away – we can’t wait to get started.”

The nine organizations at Toyota’s headquarters today will showcase a slice of the many diverse causes selected by online voters every day between Oct. 1 and Nov. 19.

• A New Way of Life (Los Angeles): A re-entry program for formerly incarcerated women in South Central LA to support successful transitions back to the community (Sienna).
• Green Vets Los Angeles (Calabasas, Calif.): A vocational rehabilitation program that provides job training for veterans (Sienna).
• Honoring Our Fallen (Cypress, Calif.): An organization that provides direct support to families of fallen military members (Sienna).
• House of Ruth (Pomona, Calif.) A group that assists families victimized by domestic violence (Sienna).
• Mojave Desert Animal Rescue (Apple Valley, Calif.): A pet food bank and resource center for homeless pet owners (Tundra).
• New Directions for Veterans (Los Angeles): A resource organization for veterans and their families (Sienna).
• Operation Gratitude (Van Nuys, Calif.): A group that sends care packages to military members, their families, veterans, caregivers and first responders (Tundra).
• Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging  (Santa Clarita, Calif.): A senior center that provides meals, transportation and other assistance (Sienna).
• The Rock Club and Rock For Vets (Signal Hill, Calif.): A musical education group for at-risk kids and veterans (Sienna).

Winning nonprofits chose among the Toyota Highlander, Prius, Sienna, Sienna Mobility or Tundra, which come with a six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty from Toyota Financial Services. To see the full list of winners, visit www.100carsforgood.com.

Read more here: http://toyota.us/1hizXxd

Courtesy of Toyota Media Online

How to Organize Spring Cleaning

Springtime is the traditional time to remove the winter blues from your home and make it ready for the long days of summer fun. It's also a good exercise in taking stock of your home and its contents. Just make sure that you share the work--and the credit for a job well done.

Instructions

1. Make a list of each room in the house that needs to be cleaned.
2. In each room, breakdown the individual items that need to be cleaned with a bulleted list. For instance, a kitchen might include refrigerator/freezer cleanup, silver tarnish, cabinet organizing, etc. This way, you can tackle each room piecemeal.
3. Do a double-check for items that exist independently of a specific room's list. For instance, filters in your air conditioning unit might be due for a change, or you gutters may be clogged with late winter's heavy rains.
4. Farm out responsibilities to the members of your family. If you have young children, you might give them something small to do.
5. Schedule a weekend for the spring cleaning. Make sure your family knows that this weekend is dedicated to cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the weakest cleaner first, then graduate to stronger solutions when needed. This way you're least likely to harm surfaces with harsh, inappropriate cleaners.
• Pop moist sponges in the microwave oven for 20 seconds to kill germs.
• Spring cleaning is also a great time to change out your wardrobe. Wash and pack away winter clothes, and break out the short sleeves and beach towels.
• Stock up on trash bags, boxes, cleaning supplies and rags.

(courtesy of eHow)

5 of the World's Fastest Roads

Here are some of the fastest roads you will find on Earth. Enjoy!

5) Nürburgring

Where Is It: Near Nürburg.

Speed Limit: What's a Speed Limit?

Fastest Stretch: All the way.


4) Isle of Man

Where Is It: In the middle of the Irish Sea.

Speed Limit: Whatever you can do.

Fastest Stretch: Ask Clarkson.


3) Australia: The Outback

Where Is It: Between Alice Springs and Barrow Creek.

Speed Limit: Will be unlimited soon.

Fastest Stretch: Wherever you won't hit kangaroos.


2) Germany

Where Is It: Where you see the Autobahn sign.

Speed Limit: Unrestricted if you're lucky.

Fastest Stretch: Wherever they aren't doing roadwork.


1) Bonneville Salt Flats

Where Is It: In Utah.

Speed Limit: Have fun.

Fastest Stretch: In the middle.

Utah might have a general 80 mph speed limit, but Bonneville has different rules. It might not be a road per se, but you can drive there and you can go as fast as you please.

(courtesy of Jalopnik)

Seven Tips to Help Save on Fuel

Looking for ways to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to fuel? There are ways to help maximize each tank for a longer period of time. Some are well-known, and others you may not have realized; however, try these 7 tips to get the most of your next fill-up:

1. Lighten up. Empty your trunk and back seats of any items you don’t need. Also, don't fill up your tank until you're close to empty, as toting less fuel will also make your vehicle lighter. A lighter car should get you better MPG.

2. Cool off. It's okay to turn on you AC. Consumer Reports says that Air Conditioning's gas-guzzling reputation is undeserved. Furthermore, at higher speeds, opening the windows or sunroof can hurt on gas miles by increasing drag.

3. Stay straight. Staying in one lane as much as possible will also help with fuel consumption, as weaving in and out of lanes uses up more gas miles.

4. Tighten up. Your gas cap, that is. You don't want to let any of that precious fuel evaporate.

5. Shift up. Put your car in overdrive for highway driving. It lowers your RPM, which saves you gas money. Check your owner's manual for the recommended speed at which you may use overdrive.

6. Just cruise. Go ahead and use cruise control when you're on a flat highway, where it can increase gas miles by 7%. However, don't use it on uneven roads where it's not efficient.

7. Shut off. Turn off all electronics and climate controls before you cut the engine. With the extras off, your engine won't have to strain so hard to restart, leading to better gas miles.