Worldwide Christmas Traditions: Mexico Feliz Navidad

While we have all seen the strategically placed bright red-and-green plant around the holidays, does anyone know where it originated from? In 1828, Joel R. Poinsett, the American minister to Mexico, brought over a plant from Mexico to America. Due to its bright red-and-green coloring, it seemed only fitting that it would be perfect for the holidays. After his arrival the plant, called a poinsettias after Poinsett, started showing up in greenhouses in 1830. Soon after, in 1870, New York stores began to sell them during Christmas time and by 1900 they became the universal symbol of the holiday we all recognize today.

How to Make Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies wont just be tasty to eat, but fun to bake as well. Bring in the kids and make it a family affair. They will love decorating these fun Gingerbread people and then leaving some out for the Santa on Christmas Eve. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup margarine 
• 1/2 cup sugar  
• 1/2 cup molasses 
• 1 egg yolk  
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves  
• 1 teaspoon ginger 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

Directions:  

1. In a large bowl, mix the margarine and sugar together until smooth. Then, stir in the molasses and egg yolk until smooth. 
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg and then blend the dry mixture into the molasses mixture until smooth. 
3. Cover dough for at least an hour until chilled.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into the desired gingerbread people shapes. 
5. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes a 350 degrees F oven.
6. Once finished remove from cookie sheet and cool on wire racks. 
7. Frost or decorate once cooled.

 

The Birth of the Red Nosed Reindeer

The creation of Rudolph, unlike his legendary counterparts, didn't happen hundreds of years ago. In fact, the ninth reindeer wasn't introduced until 1939 by a copywriter at the Montgomery Ward department store named, Robert L. May. Using a similar rhyme pattern to that of "Twas a Night Before Christmas," May generated a story about a red-nosed reindeer who was teased by all the other reindeer because his red-nosed glowed. Once the story was released it sold over two million copies and was reissued in 1946. The song, that accompanies the story, was written by May's friend, Johnny Marks, and was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949. Since its inception, the story has been translated into 25 languages and in 1964 a classic animated Christmas movie.

World's Most Dangerous Roads: Mexico's Federal Highway 1

The world's most dangerous roads aren't just just located through war-torn countries or plagued with bandits, but in many cases are located in areas where the topography causes hazardous driving situation. One such road contains both harrowing elements, Mexico's Federal Highway 1.

Mexico's Federal Highway 1, is a 1,000-mile-long peninsula that takes motorists on a journey through the winding mountainous roads and cliff hugging coastlines of Mexico. Being the only connection between the Baja Peninsula and Mexico's outlying towns and villages, this two way highways is frequented by almost every vehicle in Mexico. While precautions are set up, accidents are common and guardrails are ineffective as they have been split open where previous drives have missed their turns. 

Winter Driving Tip: What to do if your front wheels skid.

In winter it is extremely important to practice safe driving and know how to control you vehicle on the icy roads. If you're most accustomed to dry, warm weather, it is especially important to know how to control your vehicle in the event that your wheels skid. If your front wheels begin to skid, follow the directions below.

1. Shift into neutral and take your foot off the gas, but don't try to steer your vehicle immediately.
2. As your vehicle's wheels begin to skid sideways, they will start to slow down the vehicle and some traction should return. As your vehicle's traction gets better, try to steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

Hopefully this should return your vehicle to normal and you can drive to your destination without any further issues.

Winter Car Care Tip: Don't Idle in the Snow

While warming up your vehicle in winter may seem like a good idea, it wastes gas and can add to air pollution. While there are extenuating circumstances for letting your vehicle get toasty, like your windshield is frozen and warming up the car is needed in order to scrape all the ice off the windows, it is generally best to follow the following warm-up routine: start the car, put on your seatbelt, and drive. 

***The main thing to remember is to drive "easy" for the first few miles allowing the engine oil and other vital fluids to circulate and lubricate their necessary components.

other vital fluids to circulate and lubricate their necessary components. - See more at: http://www.boston.com/cars/gallery/winter_car_care?pg=2#sthash.o9oLpRbe.dpuf

other vital fluids to circulate and lubricate their necessary components. - See more at: http://www.boston.com/cars/gallery/winter_car_care?pg=2#sthash.o9oLpRbe.dpuf

other vital fluids to circulate and lubricate their necessary components. - See more at: http://www.boston.com/cars/gallery/winter_car_care?pg=2#sthash.o9oLpRbe.dpuf

Five Halloween Car Costume Ideas to Trick-Out your Ride

While the age-old tradition of dressing up on Halloween remains, there appears to be a cut-off age where trick-or-treating is no longer a socially acceptable tradition. Many adults bypass this social norm by taking their children around the neighborhood to collect treats. Unfortunately, not all adults have children to live vicariously through; and for those who still want to celebrate the childish whimsy of getting dressed up on Halloween there is always the option of dressing up their vehicle. So check out these tricked-out rides for some ghoulish ideas on how to make your vehicle spook-tacular.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Free Safety Seat Checkup this Saturday!

Let Lawrence General Hospital and Commonwealth Motors ensure that your family is prepared for upcoming holiday travel. This Saturday, October 19th let our nationally certified child passenger safety technicians help you check your child's safety seat. Don't wait until you're on the road, be sure your child is safe and secure during all Holiday travel.

For more information on this event, visit our website here: http://bit.ly/19IDW1W

Delicious Halloween Hummus

Want a fun way to spice up healthy dishes for Halloween? How about trying this simple garlic hummus recipe with a twist? Start off by making the simple hummus by following the directions below.

Ingredients:

• 40 oz garbanzo beans, canned, drained and rinsed
• 6 garlic cloves
• ³/₄ cup lemon juice
• ¹/₄ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• ¹/₄ tsp black pepper, ground
• ²/₃ cup tahini
• 8 kalamata olives
• 1 TBS extra-virgin olive oil
• ¹/₂ tsp mint, dried

Instructions:

1. Purée until smooth in a food processor:
1. 40 oz garbanzo beans, canned , drained and rinsed
2. 6 garlic cloves
3. ³/₄ cup lemon juice
4. ¹/₄ cup extra-virgin olive oil
5. 1 tsp salt
6. ¹/₄ tsp black pepper, ground
7. ²/₃ cup tahini

Once your hummus is smooth, grab a bowl, some carrot sticks, and some almond slices. Put a dab of hummus on the back of each almond slice and press it onto the tip of five carrot sticks. Once done, pour the hummus into a bowl and arrange the carrot sticks into the shape of a hand. When finished your ghoulish hummus should look like the picture above.

Recipe courteous of familyspice.com

Tips for Finding the Perfect Halloween Costume for your Child

With Halloween coming up, it is never to early to start planning ahead for your child's costume. While it may seem like a simple task, there are many components you should consider before purchasing a costume. Check out the following tips to learn how to purchase a fun yet safe costume for your child's trick-or-treating pleasure.

1. Avoid costumes that are too long or too dark. Long costumes that are too baggy or loose fitting can be a tripping hazard and cause your child to trip while out hunting for the house that hands out the biggest candy bars.

2. Another costume safety hazard is the ability of dark costumes to hinder drivers visibility of pedestrians. If your child insists on wearing a dark costume make sure that you consider adding reflective tape or striping to the costume and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility

3. One more costume detail to consider is the use non-toxic makeup instead of masks. While masks can enhance a costume they can also limit visibility and prevent your child from seeing properly. 

Happy costume shopping and remember these tips for a safer Halloween. 

Commonwealth Hosts the Kid's Buzz-Off!

Commonwealth Auto Group isn't just a car dealership but a pillar of the community and in order to show their support, Commonwealth Chevrolet will be hosting the Kid's Cancer Buzz-Off! This event isn't just a chance for members of the community to show their support for kids with cancer, but it is a way for the community to raise funding for vital programs and services that provide care and support to cancer patients and their families. Please join us as we help battle cancer and make sure that all kids can have a future.

 
To register to participate in the Buzz-Off click on the link below:

https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=130168

To sponsor a Buzzee click on the link below:

https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=130168&getpage=sponsor

Event Details:

Date: November 10th

Time: 11:00 am

Location: Commonwealth Chevrolet