This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine.
Today has been the first really nice, warm and humid day in a very long time; possibly since last summer. If the weather keeps this up, we can start believing that summer is in fact well on its way. Summer brings upon so many good things–family gatherings, graduations, camping, laying by the pool, vacations, barbeques, theme parks and fond memories.
It’s May and it is during this month when a great deal of people will be planning their upcoming summer vacations, outings and gatherings. For most families, this summer will involve at least a moderate amount of traveling and most will do this traveling by car. If you don’t have a GPS or other in-car navigation system, you may be picking one up to make traveling easier without having to carve out more time for yourself to get lost and get found again. If you have an in-car navigation system, you may think you’re good to go, but think again. Your in-car navigation system could be tragically out of date and some pertinent information could be missing from your route, which could potentially cause a great deal of unnecessary chaos.
May is also NAVTEQ’s Map Update Month and at www.mapupdatemonth.com, you can find all of the information on how to make sure the maps within your GPS or in-car navigation system of any kind are completely up-to-date.
As soon as the weather starts to get nice, we can see the amount of roadwork that starts popping up all over our own communities; when thinking about the amount of work being done to create new highways, which create new routes used by travelers over the summer months, the amount of maps that change just because of that are tremendous. By having up-to-date maps, you will be able to plan out the easiest and fastest route possible to get to your destination and also find out what restaurants you will be near, where to stop for gas and where the nearest ATM will be, regardless of where you are.
GPS and in-car navigation systems also make extremely great gifts for new graduates. A great deal of newly-graduated young adults feel the need to flex their freedom and independence before entering the college ranks as freshmen. After graduation, many young adults will be headed on vacations or cross-country trips of their own and to make sure they are safe and efficient on the road, be sure to head to www.mapupdatemonth.com to make sure your new graduate’s in-car navigation system is up-to-date with all of the information they will need when driving to a great new spot during the summer and to college for the next four years while they plan out what will encompass their life’s work.
There have been several times in my life where having an up-to-date in-car navigational system would have saved me a great deal of frustration and even fear. When I was a teenager of maybe 16, my boyfriend at the time had just gotten his driver’s license and told me to pick somewhere I desperately wanted to go so we could take a real trip in his new car. I was ecstatic and very into the singer/songwriter Conor Oberst. I picked to travel a few hours’ distance and see him play live in Philadelphia. We did fine getting there and didn’t get lost at all, but getting home was severely frightening and frustrating. We got lost several times, completely turned around and wound up going in the opposite direction we needed to for several hours wondering why we never saw the turn we were supposed to take. What should have been a few hours worth of driving turned into an all night ordeal and I still remember the panicked feelings I had at the time when I finally got home and then had to go right to school so I didn’t miss my pre-SAT testing.
I wouldn’t wish those kind of feelings on anyone, so having an up-to-date in-car navigation system is imperative to your life and to your happiness while traveling. Traveling should be a fun, adventurous and eye-opening experience and to let it get ruined by anger, frustration and confusion just isn’t necessary when you have access to the kind of technology we are seeing and utilizing today.
This is a guest post by Ricochet’s Rapid Detail located at 715 Fig St in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Your vehicle is one of the most expensive assets that you will purchase in your lifetime, next to your home. In fact, our cars are under constant attack from pollution and airborne contaminants. If left on the surface of the car, it can embed into the clear coat or even the paint, causing expensive damage. This is why it is essential to wash your car frequently, at least once every two weeks. Exterior and interior car cleaning will keep your vehicle looking and feeling new!
The most important step before polishing your car is washing it. Before you begin to wash your car, you want to have the proper supplies. First you want to try to find good quality soap, not dish washing liquid, as the majority of dish washing liquids are not pH balanced and can strip the wax right off of the car. Try to find good car soap, maybe by Meguiar’s that is pH balanced and has fortified brighteners that won’t dull the paint. Let’s get started and I will take you through the steps to properly clean your vehicle’s paint.
- Pour soap in one bucket creating suds.
- Fill your other bucket up with fresh water.
- Try and keep your vehicle in a shady place because the sun will allow the soap to dry, creating water spots.
- Spray the car before you start to wash, this will remove loose particles and cool the paint for cleaning.
- Spray the wheels and wheel wells to remove overspray from the undercarriage.
- Start at the top of the vehicle working your way down, do one panel at a time, rinsing as you go to keep the suds from drying.
- After each panel, rinse your mitt in the bucket with the clean water, as this will prevent the dirt that is collected from scratching your car.
- Be sure to pay extra attention to the front panels, because these are the panels that normally are affected most by bugs, tar and overspray.
- Polish your car’s paint using a polisher and a high grade polish as this will clean the paint and smoothen the surface, preparing it for waxing.
- Wax or seal the paint, which will protect the paint. We recommend using Meguiar’s NXT Wash & Wax Kit.
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Ricochet’s Rapid Detail is owned by husband and wife team Dave and Lucia Peregrim, who have over 25 years of experience in the auto detailing industry incorporated as an LLC. Dave Peregrim has detailed cars for Tom Hesser Chevrolet, Kelly Volkswagen and other shops and opened Ricochet’s Rapid Detail in 2002, accompanied by his wife, Lucia, who works as the Operations Manager, keeping everything within the business, including their online presence, afloat.
Check out the Ricochet’s Rapid Detail Blog, become a fan on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
This is a guest post by Ricochet’s Rapid Detail located at 715 Fig St in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Your car accumulates numerous particles that can harm its finish; these particles include, but are not limited to pollutants, mud, salt, dirt, sand, bugs, tar, rain, sun, etc. and are all extremely harmful to the paint. Detailing leaves microscopic layers of fine wax particles that provide a deep shine and forming a clear chemical bond that protects the paint and its original clear coat. Detailing guarantees longevity to the paint and retains the value of the vehicle. Professional detailing is not just a luxury, it is an investment that has become a necessity!
What is the difference between DETAILING and WASHING?
WASHING removes loose contaminants–dirt and grime. DETAILING removes blemishes, oxidation and etching marks that are caused when contaminants penetrate the surface. Rub your hand across an upper surface; if it is rough, you need to detail your car. Detailing prevents the paint and its clear coat from deteriorating. Retain the value of your car; have it washed and detailed by one of our technicians.
Our proven Water Smart system:
The technique that is used to wash a vehicle without the use of water. This method uses a product that contains many different ingredients, including wetting agents, lubricants and protectants. The detergents and wetting agents in the product combine to soften and emulsify surface grime, while a specific blend of fluids and lubricants attach a microscopic layer of protectant to the surface. The protectant is a substance which provides a bonded layer of protection against any remaining abrasive not broken down by the detergents and wetting agents.
What do the products used contain?
The protectant often contains cross linked polymers, which make it extremely effective as a car wax or glaze. Our product, when used on your vehicle, contains a complex mixture of cleaning elements along with the glaze ingredients.
The product used by Ricochet’s Rapid Detail is a concentrated cleaner and protective sealant.
How does the application process work?
At Ricochet’s Rapid Detail, when we properly apply our formulation to the surface of your vehicle our product lifts dirt from the vehicle by emulsification. The product surrounds dirt molecules, lifting them from the paint surface, before you start to wipe. At the same time, the application process initiates in combination with use of micro fiber technology, the cross chain polymer linking process that results in an extremely shiny, highly protective glaze finish. All this happens very rapidly due to the balance of ingredients within the product itself. At Ricochet’s Rapid Detail, we use biodegradable products which are safe for the environment and utilize our proven Water $mart technology.
In our proven application process and Water Smart technology, it does not involve using high pressure not extensive rubbing on a vehicle’s surface.
The use of soft micro-fiber towels captures the dirt and removes it safely from the vehicle’s surface without scratching.
Many application processes in the past required the use of large amounts of water and extensive scrubbing and rubbing on a vehicle’s surface causing micro scratches and damage to the exterior paint.
At Ricochet’s Rapid Detail, our proven application process also does not require “soaking”–using a high volume of product and water usage. When used in compliance the vehicle will shine and water will bead on it and not have common micro scratching and damages to your valued automobile.
Our products are designed as a high-end car care product for use on any car, truck, motorcycle, boat or plane. It contains the finest ingredients available in today’s cutting edge technology.
Our waterless car wash products allows us the ability to clean without using soaps, buckets and water hoses, and runoff into the local sewers or drains, causing further damage to the environment.
What are the benefits of using a waterless wash on my vehicle?
- When properly used leaves a “streak-free” surface.
- Safe to use on all surfaces of a vehicle, including painted surfaces, metals, glass, vinyl, rubber and plastic trim.
- Contains no solvents, toxic chemicals or abrasive compounds.
- Treated surfaces are extremely water resistant (hydrophobic).
- Continued use and detailing further retards the damaging effects of contaminants, such as bird droppings, bug splatter, road grime, acid rain and brake dust, among other things.
- Dirt is extracted into a soft micro-fiber which prevents scratching.
- Environmentally safe, Water $mart, biodegradable and non-toxic.
- No urban runoff or runoff into a local storm drain.
- Protects and leaves a great, long-lasting shine!
Can you use waterless wash on any type of vehicle?
Yes! Our formulation has been tested on every kind of paint used by the auto reconditioning industry; from older acrylic lacquers to hi gloss acrylic urethane and plyurethane paints.
Will the waterless product used by Ricochet’s Rapid Detail prevent my vehicle’s paint from fading?
Yes! When applied properly to a new vehicle, then reapplied each month, the paint will not fade. Ricochet’s Rapid Detail ‘s Waterless Wash will help protect against the effects of sun exposure, acid rain and road salt.
Is it easy for a Non-Detail professional to use?
Yes! The staff at Ricochet’s Rapid Detail will be more than happy to demonstrate and help educate the use of these safe products on your vehicle. Please feel free to stop down to our shop for a free demonstration of the products used and let us show you how to maintain your vehicle! The products are designed for the detail pro as well as non-professionals who just want to take care of their car!
What is a CLEAR COAT?
“Clear Coat” is a name given to the multi-stage paints used today. A “base coat” (frequently water-based) is applied with a pigment (color). Then, a top layer of clear paint is applied over the top of the base coat to add depth, brilliance and to provide protection for the base coat.
Clear Coats still require the same care as the old single state paints. Just because the topcoat of the paint has no pigment in it doesn’t make it impervious to environmental conditions. Topcoats of clear paint still oxidize, and the softer paints used today also allow contaminants to easily embed in the surface. These softer paints require modern formulations and technology to protect them against damage.
In short, the need for proper care and maintenance of clear coat paints is just as important as years ago. Actually, because of their softer, fragile nature, they really should be maintained BETTER than the older single stage paints.
What does detailing do to a Clear Coat Finish?
Let’s first define Clear Coat Finish: today’s modern Finish consists of a dull layer of paint called a Base Coat. It provides the color on your car. Over this base, a clear layer of paint is applied. This is called a Clear Coat. It provides the shine and protection. The result is a two-layer painted surface known as a “Clear Coat Finish.”
When the Clear Coat Finish becomes dull, it requires special attention. Our detailing technicians apply high quality fine surface polish and wax to remove the elements that dull the Finish. When detailing is complete, the Clear Coat Finish has been cleaned and properly restored.
Why can’t I use household cleaners to wash my car?
Household cleaners like dish washing detergent are specifically designed to dissolve grease. Because wax is essentially a grease, household cleaners will remove your car’s wax finish, leaving you with little shine and no protection. Also, some household detergents have micro-fine abrasive in them. These can permanently scratch your car’s surface. Always use a premium quality, commercial liquid car wash. They are formulated to dissolve dirt and grime without removing your car’s beautiful wax finish.
What about once-a-year wax and polish products?
Your car deserves better than once-a-year products. It is like the second largest investment you’ve made, after your home. Don’t scrimp on the quality of the products you use to maintain it, or the care you give your vehicle. A regular regimen of washing and waxing pays enormous dividends for years down the road. The intrinsic weakness of once-a-year products will become painfully apparent as the years pass.
What about those free car washes at the gas station?
Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Many of those car washes use mechanical brushes, which can damage your paint surface. In some parts of the country, the water is recycled, meaning your car is getting the same water applied as the “clapped out” 1970 Plymouth Duster that just pulled out (unless your car just happens to be that Duster.) While filters can catch small particulates, they can’t filter out the dissolved salt from winter use, or all those hoards of other nasty chemicals.
I lease my car, why should I care how it looks?
Chances are you’ll care when the lease ends. If you check your contract, you’ll find that you’re probably responsible for the appearance of your vehicle when it is returned. If the paint is full and lifeless (because it was never washed, polishes or waxed) you could be hit with a reconditioning fee ranging from $500 to $2,000! Take care of your investment!
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Ricochet’s Rapid Detail is owned by husband and wife team Dave and Lucia Peregrim, who have over 25 years of experience in the auto detailing industry incorporated as an LLC. Dave Peregrim has detailed cars for Tom Hesser Chevrolet, Kelly Volkswagen and other shops and opened Ricochet’s Rapid Detail in 2002, accompanied by his wife, Lucia, who works as the Operations Manager, keeping everything within the business, including their online presence, afloat.
Check out the Ricochet’s Rapid Detail Blog, become a fan on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
Okay, so maybe Pennsylvania isn’t the state of perpetual freezing; it’s just my house and not just this one, but every place I have lived in the past five years cannot stand up against the winters of Pennsylvania. As soon as the freezing temperatures and snow hit, it’s as if houses decide it would be a lot easier on them to just stop performing a vital duty.
The view from my window on October 16th–The first snow fall.
Around three years ago, as soon as it got really cold outside, the apartment we were living in lost hot water for three days. Three days of no hot water whatsoever; dishes couldn’t be done and above all, no showers could be had. That right there is enough to make me want to pull my hair out and I didn’t even mention the fact that the entire place was heated by nothing but brick heaters–little heaters attached to the wall that let out as little heat as possible to the point where you would have to stand in front of it to thaw out your frozen, icicle toes and fingers and nose. Yes, it was bad. So when the roof started leaking because of the amount of snow on the roof one winter and our slumlord landlord told us to wait four month for him to come and fix the roof because as we know, it was the middle of winter and well, how could we expect our landlord to actually fix things in the middle of winter? Were we on crack? Apparently, because we moved in the middle of an ice storm in February!
And that’s what brings us to this house. Things were fine at first–It actually had good heaters which I must admit was a selling point. I’m not that hard to please–House must have heat. See, not too bad a demand at all. Last winter, as luck would have it, our pipes froze and we had to go three days without hot water–again. Luckily, our new landlord was not a typical slumlord that we were used to, so he had the front sidewalks dug up to get the pipes fixed and it worked, although the no hot water flashbacks were running rampant. Three days without a shower is something that makes me incredibly grossed out, so that is pretty much the worst thing that can happen in the middle of winter. The past two days haven’t been fun, though. Winter has yet again brought on problems that mess with our comfort levels. The living room heater decided it took too much effort on its part to bring the heat up into the room. The same room that my computer is in, that I sit at all day working and for the past two days, have froze in front of.
You know how when it’s too humid outside your body just shuts down because you’ve been out in the sun and you just get tired? Well, I can now say from experience that the same thing happens when you’re freezing. Maybe not just overwhelming tired from humidity, but you do get to your own level of “Screw this, I’m going to crawl into my bed that has a heating blanket on it and forget that my living room has been put in the middle of the Arctic.”
So these past two days have given me wonderful words of advice for anyone else that lives in an area with a fluctuating climate: Space heaters. They will save your sanity.
We are officially in the season of summer; schools are getting out and summer vacation leaves are being taken, and while most families would be planning their summer vacations, this summer is a bit different than the others that have preceded for quite some time. A lot of families simply don’t have the money to take their annual summer vacations this year and while some are just scaling back expenses or dipping into savings in order to do something fun for the summer, a lot of families cannot even do that.
That is why HomeAway, the world’s leading vacation rentals marketplace, has started a movement called Save Our Summer Vacation to help literally save summer vacations by petitioning Congress to proclaim August 7th as “National Vacation Day.” In addition to working toward National Vacation Day, HomeAway is also searching for the person who is most deserving of a week-long summer vacation.
If you know that you and your family are most deserving of a week-long summer vacation and drool at the mere thought of taking a break from stress, having enough space to truly relax, recharging and reconnecting with your family and friends, and of course, traveling in style without breaking your budget, all you have to do is submit a short text, video, or photo entry explaining why you deserve to have your vacation saved by HomeAway!
I find myself thinking about what my dream vacation would be quite a bit, particularly because it has been the same dream vacation since I was in the sixth grade. Since that time, I have been dreaming of going to Italy. I have also been fascinated and intrigued about Naples, Italy and more specifically, about Mt. Vesuvius. It isn’t that I just have a fascination with volcanos, but Mt. Vesuvius has always held a special place in my heart and since the sixth grade, I have read anything and everything I could get my hands on about it, poured over documentaries of Pompeii and have looked up prices on flight and hotel arrangements on several different occasions, but of course, finances have not allowed me to make those arrangements, so hands down, my dream $10,000 summer vacation would most definitely be to visit Italy and my beloved Mt. Vesuvius; and since HomeAway Vacation Rentals has savings tips and rentals at the some of the best prices I’ve seen, they are most definitely the best people to run a movement and to give a lucky person the vacation of their dreams!
Everyone has heard the saying that the best things in life are free, and now a vacation in Kissimmee could be yours for free, too. Kissimmee is giving away three weekend getaways (3 days, 2 nights) to two lucky winners as well as two week-long vacations to four lucky winners as part of their Kissimmee Freedom Sweepstakes.
This could be a great opportunity to take that family vacation you’ve been saving up for, or a time to take that romantic getaway for two that you’ve been hoping to take with your partner for far too long. This is especially a great opportunity in this economy, when families are worried about saving money and certainly do not have the financial stability to take a vacation.
Kissimmee has everything you need to take the vacation of your dreams. It offers theme parks, great restaurants, shows, and a beautiful historic downtown area complete with great shops and boutiques. It also offers wilderness preserves just waiting to be taken in by you and your family. No matter what your tastes or what you envision when you think of the ultimate vacation, you will find it in Kissimmee.
Be sure to enter the Kissimmee Freedom Sweepstakes for your chance to go on the vacation of your dreams. Drawings will be held on May 1, 2009 and June 1, 2009 just in time for summer! 
Who ever said summer was the only time to take an exciting and fun vacation? Quite a few people skipped their annual summer vacations this year, opting to stay close to home where travel expenses wouldn’t break their budget. Quite a few people have been feeling the tightness of money lately and as the price of gas, airfare and even food has risen dramatically in the past few months, it is understandable that most people just could not afford to take their annual summer vacations. But what most people don’t know is that there are companies out there that not only understand, empathize and even sympathize with what you are going through, but they are also committed to giving people affordable airfare so taking a vacation when you want and when you deserve to does not have to wipe your bank account clean.
I have always wanted to go to Disney World but because I did not vacation there as a child, I think perhaps I may have missed the age limit where Disney World is considered the happiest place on Earth. However, after doing some research and finding out that Disney World is made up of four theme parks and two water parks and is the largest resort in the world, I’m thinking that maybe there is something there for the adults out there who have always wanted to visit the magical resort but never had the chance to as a child. After seeing pictures of these miraculous resort, if you have kids, it sounds like paradise. Stuff for adults, stuff for kids, it’s truly a win-win and because of it having a little something there for everyone, every family should definitely make it a priority to visit there–I know I’m going to!
But what about the cost? Well like I said, some companies have that covered. Vacation packages for the frugal are popping up all over the place now and best of all, they are offering complete vacation packages for Disney World. Cruise and Vacation Packages not only offers great rates on airfare, but booking a flight on their website is so extremely simple that virtually anyone can do it with ease! While they do have fabulous promotions on vacation packages for Disney World, that isn’t the only vacation spot they cater to; there are numerous flight destination possibilities for just about anyone who is looking to take a vacation, visit family, or just see a different part of the world. Cruise and Vacation Packages offer great airfare rates for both domestic and international travel so wherever you’ve had your eye on visiting, now is the time to take that trip!
