Organizing Your Next Road Trip

The season of road-trips is upon us!  As the temperatures climb and the days get longer, we will yearn to hit the road for some much needed vacation.  Organizing the trip is one thing, but your car…that is a completely different story.  We came up with five great tips to keep your vehicle organized, clean and accessible for your upcoming adventure.

 

1)     Designate a trash bag—We recommend that you use a paper bag to store your trash in as you drive across our fine states.  In fact, grab a couple—one for recycling and one for trash.  Keep these bags either in your trunk or on the floor behind you (if there is no one else there) and throw away at your destination.

2)     Clean out your console—Before you take off, go through your main console and remove anything that you will not need.  This can help reduce clutter as you progress along your trip…but we recommend keeping the Summer Fun Jams mix you made ten years ago.

3)     Tie extra shoes together—It is always good to bring an extra pair of shoes, but what a pain when you can only find one!  Tie your pair of shoes together before you load them up so if you can reach one, you can reach the other.

4)     Vacuum first—Trust us, start the trip off on a clean note to alleviate a headache later.  Getting the extra dirt out of your vehicle early on will help you enjoy your trip that much more. 

5)     Laundry basket food—This one is our favorite.  Put your food in a laundry basket!  Why a laundry basket?  They are see through, easy to carry and light!  All of your dry foods, snacks and drinks you don’t need chilled should go in a laundry basket.  They are durable, easy to pack and great for toting things around!

Have a great trip! 

At Ryan Family Dealerships, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

S.O.S...Save Our Shoes!

Kids are not the only ones who fly through shoes—we adults do too!  More often than not, we look down to the ground and see how beat up our favorite shoes have become.  We found some solutions for you!  Believe it or not these tips help extend the life of your shoes:

Wipe Your Shoes- This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people do not wipe their shoes off when they come inside.  When you fail to wipe them on a doormat, the excess dirt, rocks and dust build up on the bottom.  Over time, these particles wear down the rubber on the bottom of your shoes. 

Lace 'em Up- Most shoes were designed to be laced up firmly when worn.  Obviously we want to make sure they aren’t too tight, but a well-tied shoe can increase its life span.  When you fail to tie the shoe firmly it causes your foot to shift around in the shoe.  All of this movement causes the stitching and the soul to wear and eventually break.  It can also cause the plastic in the heel to bend or crack.

Tie and Untie- We have all done it.  We leave our shoes tied and slip them on and off.  This, unfortunately, really wears on the toe and the heel of the shoe.  When we shove our foot into the shoe it causes the plastic in the heel to bend and excess force to be pushed onto the toe stitching.  Try to tie and untie your shoes every time you put them on and take them off.

2 Pairs- Having an extra pair of shoes for the outdoors or sports related activities will save you money in the long run.  Plus, your sports shoes will break in properly for maximum flexibility and athletic feel (we only want to see you dominate in your rec basketball league).

Socks are Saviors- The right kind of socks are also crucial to your shoe life.  When performing high movement or athletic activities make sure you are wearing a decent cotton or athletic sock.  These kinds of socks allow for more flexibility and movement in shoe and they reduce the effects of friction.  Save your shoe’s soul!  Wear good socks!

At Ryan Family Dealerships, vehicles may be our  profession, but people are our passion.

Go Green...At Every Meal

We have all heard the rumors that green foods, specifically vegetables, are very good for you, but more often than not, most people do not know the benefits of “Going Green.”  There is a plethora of delicious green foods that are great for your health.  Here are some great greenies for you to eat every day: 

Kale- Loaded with vitamin C and vitamin K, Kale helps strengthen bones and boost energy.  If that isn’t enough, Kale also contains anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.

 

Brussels Sprouts- These wonderful green gems give its consumer blood pressure balancing potassium.  If you are not a fan of their taste, try roasting them for better flavor!

Kiwi- Crack open a Kiwi to find over 230% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C, an almost full daily portion of potassium and fiber.  Kiwi is great on any salad or as a garnish on sweet dishes.

Green Tea- Many studies on Green tea has shown that it can lower your risk of heart disease.  Green tea is also full of antioxidants.

Basil- Perfect for most salads and pastas, Basil is a great source of vitamin K and iron.

Green Beans- Who doesn’t love steamed green beans?  These wonderful veggies can help stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol.

Asparagus- The season of asparagus is upon us and that means a healthy dose of vitamins A, C and K.  Asparagus is helps promote healthy digestive health and is a good source of protein. 

These are only a few of the healthy green veggies that can compliment any meal.   Stay healthy and more importantly, stay green! 

At the Ryan Family Dealerships, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.