Ode to My Minivan and Other Things That Have Changed My Life

Oprah can do it.  So can I.  

My Favorite Things.

If I were mega-rich, all my readers would be getting all of these products for free.  :)

Thanks to Keri for introducing me to Cafe Rio's amazing pork salad, black beans, no pico, no guac...

...and most importantly, TWO house dressings.  There is a myth going around that this dressing has caffeine in it.  I believe it.  I'm addicted.

If I can't Downy Wrinkle Release it, it either goes to the dry-cleaners or into the trash.

I will never iron again.  The end.  Period.

I give my kids a spray down on their way out the door to school.

  I keep the travel-size in my closet and to take along on vacations.

I have nightmares about burning my house down with my kids inside because I left a scented candle burning.

Problem solved.  Flame-less candles.  They are scented and even have a timer so they turn on every evening around 7:00 and off four hours later.  I keep them in my room and family room.  

All the ambiance and none of the hazard.

A great product to help my laziness.  Dry shampoo.  I can go a whole extra day without washing my hair.

Don't judge.

I love kettle chips.  I love barbecue chips, I love spicy chips.  These are all three together.  Hard to find and kind of expensive, but so worth the calories.

Lotion that smells good and shimmers for days.  I love it.

Found at The Body Shop.  

(I'm sort of over Bath and Body Works.)

I'm hypoglycemic and whenever I get the shakes I run to the pantry and spread some PB on a slice of bread. This happens at least once a day so I eat a lot of peanut butter.

I found this at Smith's.  Kroger Peanut Butter with Honey.  So good.

I saved the best two items for last.  

Jeff got me a Nookcolor for Christmas.  

I love that I can read without a lamp on.

I love that I only need one hand to hold it up and a flick of my finger to turn the page.

I love that I can buy a book and download it instantly rather than having to go to store or borrow from a friend.

I love that I have WiFi so I can get on the internet, check facebook, email, etc.

I love the pink cover that Jeff got for me. 

And last, but SOOOO not least.

My minivan.

Oh, how I love my minivan.

Love.

Why was I so proud and stubborn for YEARS?

I was never going to be one of THOSE moms. 

Those mini-moms.

Never.

I drove a Suburban for the last 5 years and I HATED it!!!

It started to break down and we drove down to the Honda dealership and I was determined to make a Honda Pilot work with my 4 kids.

Jeff had to literally drag me over to just look at the Odyssey.  When I saw all the features and amount of storage (more spacious and cargo space than the suburban, I kid you not), I was sold.

I still wake up everyday and get excited to drive it.

Who cares that when I pull up to a 4-way stop three out of the four cars are a Honda Odyssey?

Who cares that I am so not cool anymore?

I'm over being cool (a little).

It's all about convenience.

Kids can climb in and out by themselves.  No more climbing over seats to get in the back.

No more having to get all the way in the car to buckle up Sam.

No more driving over the curb on right-hand turns every. single. time.

No more parking far, far away because I have to find three open spaces to fit the 'burban.

And so, so, so much space. 

(Have I also mentioned that I had TWO people tell me I looked funny driving the suburban because I was too small?)

Automatic doors galore, rear camera (yes, I have also had nightmares about backing over a kid), heated leather seats, sunroof, 6-disc CD changer, DVD, iPod, XM Radio, and HELLO?....gas mileage!

My fuel bill is cut in HALF.  Wahoo!

My kids make fun of me, because I even have a song I sing about my beloved Odyssey.

(My only regret is, unbeknown-st to me, they came out with a new body style 2 weeks after we bought this.  So my brand-new car is already out of date.  That's okay, at the rate I am driving, we will be getting a new one in 2-3 years.) 

Now I think I'll go dry shampoo my hair, "iron" my shirt, and drive my minivan right on down to get my pork salad, black beans, no pico, no guac, and two house dressings, thank you very much.