Blog

Well, we don’t know about you, but one of our favourite things to enjoy when there’s even a little nip in the air is indulging in a cup of luscious hot chocolate!  There’s just something about this rich and velvety hot drink that warms a person straight to the soul.  Whether you make yours with steamed milk or boiled water or a few shots of espresso, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this sweet wintry drink.  But how much do you know about this seasonal beverage? more Celebrating National Cocoa Day with These Cool Facts: Cocoa was one of the first crops cultivated in South America for the Mayans and the Aztecs. The word “cocoa” comes from the South American “cacao” which is derived from the Nahuatl word “Cacahuatl.” In Mayan culture, the cocoa/cacao tree was a sacred plant and cocoa fixture in both engagement and marriage ceremonies as well as a form of currency between communities. In Latin, the word cocoa means “Food of the Gods.” When the Spanish discovered cacao/cocoa and began to import the beans back home, they initially cornered the market.  But as chocolate began to grow in popularity, this versatile treat made its way to France and other areas. Did you know that today we consume upwards of three million tons of cocoa beans? Wild! Best Recipes for Hot Chocolate: World’s Greatest Camping Hot Chocolate Adult Hot Chocolate from Spruce Eats Homemade Hot Chocolate from Celebrating Sweets Homemade White Hot Chocolate from Celebrating Sweets Mexican Hot Chocolate from Bon Appetit TikTok Hot Chocolate Bombs Xocolatl (Traditional Aztec Chocolate Drink) Authentic Mayan Hot Chocolate Mayan Chili Cocoa Elixir Vegan Mayan Drinking Chocolate Easy Hot Cocoa for Kids Recommended Cocoa and Hot Chocolate Mixes: Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate Mix Godiva Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix Moon Juice Adaptogenic Cosmic Cocoa Mix Jack Torres Hot Chocolate Classic Mix Taza Chocolate Oaxacan Sampler Nestle Abuelita Hot Chocolate Bars Mexican Hot Chocolate Kit Looking for a great travel mug to take your hot cocoa on the roads? Check out this list of recommended to-go mugs!

Here at Classic, we love to celebrate the holidays by visiting friends and family over winter break.  Keep those kiddos busy and occupied over the holiday break with exciting activities, coloring pages, and keepsake crafting ideas for the holiday and winter season.  Some of the crafts here would even be great gifts from your little ones made special for relatives or grandparents!  And what could be a better way to share your love and affection for the special folks in your life than a handmade holiday gift?  We’re sharing some great hands-on crafts for kids and a delightful ornament tutorial on today’s blog! more DIY Your Own Water Snow Globe What You Will Need: Recycled or new glass jars with matching tight fitting lids or snowglobe containers Optional: decoupage and paper, spray paint, or felt for Jar Lid Hot Glue or E6000 Epoxy Glue or Super Glue (both to be used by adults) Glitter and/or small sequins A small container of glycerin Miniature toy cars or miniature figures that fit on jar lids Distilled water How to Make It: Paint or decoupage your lid if desired. Arrange your decorations on the jar lid, and secure them with the glue.  Allow to dry fully (check glue container, tube, or glue sticks package for dry time.) Once your decorations are glued and dry.  Add your glitter or sequins to the clean, empty jar, add ½ teaspoon or so of glycerin to the jar, and pour distilled water into the jar until it’s just about full, leaving room for your decorated lid to fit inside. Add glue to the edge of your jar lid, secure it tightly to the top of the jar and allow the glue to fully set and dry (yes, your decorations will be upside down until the glue is fully dry and sealed!)  Add glue around the edges of the seal once the lid is applied. Once the glue is all dried and fully sealed, flip your jar over, and voila!! It’s a snow globe you’ve made all on your own! Crafts for Kiddos Who Love Cars: DIY Car Magnets Footprint Racecar Valentines Build a Cardboard Box Car Easy Jingle Cars Ornaments Car in a Snowglobe Jar DIY Christmas Wreath with Cars DIY Wreath for the Car to decorate your vehicle General Crafting Fun for the Whole Family: 1 5 Crafts You Can Make While Traveling Melted Snowman DIY by Darice made from felt and foam Gorgeous Sparkling Icicles for hanging on the tree or from your window Snow Slime in a Jar f or hands-on sparkling, squishy sensory play Any of these Ice and Snow experiments when the weather gets chilly DIY Twinkling Snow Puffy Paint for making snowmen or painting winter landscapes Oil Pastels and Watercolour Resist artwork for painting snowflakes and more Frosted Sparkling Winter Pinecone decorations or ornaments Sand Art Menorah for Hanukkah (or swap up the colours for Kwanzaa!) Mixed Media Flower artwork and designs Pom Pom Hot Cocoa mugs with marshmallows for kiddos Peace Sign Pom Pom wreath for the home or gift giving Foam Cup Snow Owl craft for the wizard world or bookish kiddos Arctic Animal Snow Globes with wildlife figures for the nature lovers Observational Drawing exercises for children Monoprinting with Kids to practice fine art technique Melted Bead Suncatchers craft for parents and children together Making Rainsticks for sensory play and music time

Today is National Brownie Day!  Perhaps you’re not a fan of the holiday cookie platter, and instead rather indulge in these delectable, fudgey, ooey-gooey confections.  We’re right there with ya. Whether you prefer the center squares or only want the crisp and chewy edges, brownies are a timeless treat no matter how you slice it! more The first incarnation of brownies appeared in the late 1800s, and rumor has it that its roots come from the Palmer House Hotel in the form of a portable chocolate cake with apricot glaze.  And the first official recipe appeared in 1899, known as “Brownie’s Food” with the most modern incarnation that we know today appearing in 1907. Whether you’re looking to flex your baking muscles or keep it simple and classic, we’ve got a brownie recipe to fit your needs: Let’s start with these fabulous Racecar Brownies! Perfectly fudgy frosted brownies Delectable crackly topped gooey chocolate brownies Velvety and magnificent gluten free, dairy free cocoa brownies Paleo and Keto friendly super fudge brownies Spectacular 4-ingredient breakfast brownies (Yes, you heard right!) Nanny’s Fudge Brownie Bundt Cake A batch of brownie batter waffles Crinkle topped brownie bites in a muffin tin Some sweet and nutty British Brownies Ooey-gooey Salted Caramel center brownies Quick and easy One-bowl brownies Spice up Friday Pizza night with a Brownie Dessert Pizza The very first “Palmer House Brownie” recipe with apricot glaze Super chocolatey Black Bean brownies 5-ingredient Flourless Chocolate brownies Chocolate chickpea brownies Deep Dish chocolate brownies Not sure how to pick the best brownie recipe for your persnickety palette?  Here’s how the ingredients you use help chance the brownie’s taste, physical makeup and texture: For gooey, soft brownies you’ll want a recipe with a higher concentration sugar, butter, and eggs. For cakier style brownies, you’ll want to use cocoa powder and more flour than the rest of the ingredients (butter, sugar, egg) If you’re mixing your batter and the ingredients start to separate due to the melted butter and oil, you can add a little bit of milk into the mix to help it all meld together Your choice of brand in cocoa and melting chocolate does matter; you need to select higher quality ingredients for each to produce that prime fudgy texture and richer flavor Pull your pan out a little “underdone” and softer in the center as they will set while cooling in the tin Try some of these great kitchen tools to perfect your brownie baking skills: Car Cake Tin for baking Car Cupcake liners Lightning McQueen Wafflemaker Wilton Spatula with Car design NASCAR Baking Race Car driving All Edges brownie pan Car themed Nordicware Bundt Baking Tin Fondant rubber racecar tire mold Brooklyn Brownie Baking Tray Charming Baking Molds with Car Shapes! These amazon silicone car molds for baking would be perfect for XL brownies and fudge cake recipes. Yum! This great two pack of mini silicone chocolate car molds for cake, jello, candy and more!  Would also be a great way to make brownie bites or chocolate minis for cake decorating. For a little variety in your baking, try these clever little truck and car themed bakeware trays!  And buy an extra set for multipurpose use for crafting in addition to the ones used for baking. Today is National Brownie Day!  Perhaps you’re not a fan of the holiday cookie platter, and instead rather indulge in these delectable, fudgey, ooey-gooey confections.  We’re right there with ya. Whether you prefer the center squares or only want the crisp and chewy edges, brownies are a timeless treat no matter how you slice it! The first incarnation of brownies appeared in the late 1800s, and rumor has it that its roots come from the Palmer House Hotel in the form of a portable chocolate cake with apricot glaze.  And the first official recipe appeared in 1899, known as “Brownie’s Food” with the most modern incarnation that we know today appearing in 1907. Whether you’re looking to flex your baking muscles or keep it simple and classic, we’ve got a brownie recipe to fit your needs: Let’s start with these fabulous Racecar Brownies! Perfectly fudgy frosted brownies Delectable crackly topped gooey chocolate brownies Velvety and magnificent gluten free, dairy free cocoa brownies Paleo and Keto friendly super fudge brownies Spectacular 4-ingredient breakfast brownies (Yes, you heard right!) Nanny’s Fudge Brownie Bundt Cake A batch of brownie batter waffles Crinkle topped brownie bites in a muffin tin Some sweet and nutty British Brownies Ooey-gooey Salted Caramel center brownies Quick and easy One-bowl brownies Spice up Friday Pizza night with a Brownie Dessert Pizza The very first “Palmer House Brownie” recipe with apricot glaze Super chocolatey Black Bean brownies 5-ingredient Flourless Chocolate brownies Chocolate chickpea brownies Deep Dish chocolate brownies Not sure how to pick the best brownie recipe for your persnickety palette?  Here’s how the ingredients you use help chance the brownie’s taste, physical makeup and texture: For gooey, soft brownies you’ll want a recipe with a higher concentration sugar, butter, and eggs. For cakier style brownies, you’ll want to use cocoa powder and more flour than the rest of the ingredients (butter, sugar, egg) If you’re mixing your batter and the ingredients start to separate due to the melted butter and oil, you can add a little bit of milk into the mix to help it all meld together Your choice of brand in cocoa and melting chocolate does matter; you need to select higher quality ingredients for each to produce that prime fudgy texture and richer flavor Pull your pan out a little “underdone” and softer in the center as they will set while cooling in the tin Try some of these great kitchen tools to perfect your brownie baking skills: Car Cake Tin for baking Car Cupcake liners Lightning McQueen Wafflemaker Wilton Spatula with Car design NASCAR Baking Race Car driving All Edges brownie pan Car themed Nordicware Bundt Baking Tin Fondant rubber racecar tire mold Brooklyn Brownie Baking Tray Charming Baking Molds with Car Shapes! These amazon silicone car molds for baking would be perfect for XL brownies and fudge cake recipes. Yum! This great two pack of mini silicone chocolate car molds for cake, jello, candy and more!  Would also be a great way to make brownie bites or chocolate minis for cake decorating. For a little variety in your baking, try these clever little truck and car themed bakeware trays!  And buy an extra set for multipurpose use for crafting in addition to the ones used for baking.

Patients and families at St. Jude take a trip to the North Pole without ever leaving the hospital via a 180-degree digital wall in the hospital lobby and in-room TV streaming Kia will make a donation for every new car purchased this holiday season during Kia’s “Season of Giving Back”. The company will give a minimum of $1 million 1 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help aid cancer research and treatment more IRVINE, Calif., December 8, 2022 – Kia America is continuing to “Accelerate The Good” this holiday season by expanding its partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in an effort to bring the joy and magic of the holiday season directly to St. Jude patients and families. Created by David&Goliath (D&G), Kia’s creative agency of record, the “Season of Giving Back” campaign gives children at St. Jude and their parents the gift of a virtual trip to the North Pole without ever having to leave the comfort and safety of the St. Jude campus. For the first time in the hospital’s history, the TV spot was filmed on-site at St. Jude in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to airing on television, the video will be available on the St. Jude in-house television network. The centerpiece of the campaign is a :60-second broadcast spot titled, “ Holiday Joyride.” For the commercial, Kia constructed a custom 50- by 100-foot set which included 296 curved LED screens surrounding an all-electric Kia EV6 mounted on a system of hydraulic compressors. The commercial opens with St. Jude patient Adalyn sitting safely in the backseat of the EV6, which ‘travels’ through a tunnel of red and green star-shaped arches created by the curved screens. The LED screens slowly transition to depict a star-filled night sky as a personalized welcome message appears featuring the patient’s name. As the EV6 is gently lifted and lowered to simulate the experience of driving, the virtual landscape reveals a forest filled with majestic snow-covered pine trees, a galloping reindeer, a soaring eagle and a narwhal moving across the sky. The excitement and joy of being transported to this mystical winter wonderland shine on Adalyn’s face as the EV6 ascends above the rooftops of the North Pole. “Helping those in need is at the heart of the Kia brand and we are proud to support St. Jude with our ‘Season of Giving Back’,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. “We hope to provide holiday cheer to those families that are facing the most difficult of circumstances with dignity, bravery, and grace. Kia is honored to be a small part of the impact St. Jude has on so many.” In November, Kia America announced that the brand will donate a minimum of $1,000,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The donation represents the brand’s third act of giving to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this year as part of Kia’s “Accelerate The Good” charitable initiative, which has donated more than $14 million to various causes since 2019. Previously this year, Kia donated to St. Jude as part of the 10 millionth Kia vehicle sold in the U.S., and again as part of the groundbreaking announcement for a new assembly plant in the state of Georgia. “With creativity rooted in purpose, Kia America helped put smiles on some St. Jude patients’ faces this holiday season by taking them on a light-filled journey to the North Pole,” said Richard C. Shadyac, Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “We have such gratitude for our partnership with Kia and its dealer network, whose support helps to ensure that no family will receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food so that they can focus on helping their child live.” In addition to the broadcast spot and monetary donation, the campaign includes, :30,:15,:06 cutdowns of “Holiday Joyride” for use on digital platforms. The campaign will also feature broadcast radio, OOH, print, point-of-sale and social media extensions. To accelerate progress globally and help kids everywhere, support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ® by donating at stjude.org. Kia America – about us Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrified vehicles sold through a network of over 750 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America.* For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert. * The K5, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride (excludes HEV and PHEV models) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. ® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel. # # # 1 Kia will donate $8.00 for every new Kia vehicle that is purchased or leased at authorized Kia dealerships, and delivered to retail customers, between November 11, 2022, and December 31, 2022 - with a guaranteed minimum donation of $1,000,000 in the aggregate - to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. For more information, please click here.Press Release Information Accuracy DisclaimerInformation posted in press releases on the Kia Media website was accurate at the time of posting but may be superseded by subsequent releases or other information.

National Illinois day is celebrated annually to commemorate the Land of Abraham Lincoln, and commemorates the same week that it was officially declared the 21st state (December 3rd, 1818.) In celebration of this exciting day, here’s some fun facts about our state that you may not know about! Illinois has 102 counties and most of them are named in honor of early US leaders. Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the constitution, which abolished slavery on February 1st in 1865. The first modern day skyscraper, The Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago in 1885 Walt Disney was born in Chicago on December 5th in 1901 Illinois is the third largest producer of popcorn, with 330+ farms and more than 45,000 acres dedicated to the crop Iconic fast food franchises of McDonalds and Dairy Queen both opened their first stores in Illinois Illinois is known as “The Land of Presidents” since it’s the birthplace of eight different US presidents Route 66 was first opened to traffic in Springfield, and has been considered one of the most iconic American Road Trips.  The roadway used to run from Chicago to Los Angeles, and is now considered a scenic byway, with about 432 miles of this roadway still running through Illinois! Metropolis, Illinois has been dubbed the official hometown of DC Superhero Superman as of 1972, and is home to the Super Museum full of Superman Memorabilia, a statue of Superman along the banks of the Ohio River, and is the filming location for the fictional Metropolis in the 1978 film! The Sears Tower in Chicago is the tallest building in America, reaching 1,729 feet all the way up to the tippy top Illinois is home to the world’s largest bottle of ketchup in Collinsville Illinois is the 25th largest state in the US by area Illinois is the top generator of nuclear power than any other US State The Chicago Public Library is the 5th largest library in the US, has 5,949,251 volumes in their collection, and has 81 different locations for library and technology services for native Chicagoans Chicago Deep Dish Pizza was invented in the 1940s by Ike Sewell, founder of Pizzeria Uno Chicago is the third largest city in the US with more than 2.5 million residents You can see four different states from the top of the Willis Tower The Chicago River used to flow in the other direction, but from 1862-1922 it was reversed thanks to a series of highly skilled engineers designing special canals.

We’re just a few weeks away from the holiday season. Hanukkah starts on December 18th, Christmas follows on the 24th, and Kwanzaa starts on the 26th!  So let’s get ready to celebrate both in our homes and on the road. Grab some of these travel friendly gadgets for yourself or surprise a friend or loved one with some festive fun. Plus, they make very entertaining gitables for the company holiday present exchange or white elephant parties!  Check it out on today’s blog. more Celebrate the happiest of Kwanzaa holidays with this fun, festive car shade for under $30 on Amazon! We also love these multi sheet sets of Kwanzaa window clings that you can use to decorate all of your family cars so no one is left out of the fun. Share your seasons greetings to all those who celebrate with you with this Happy Kwanzaa car flag! You’ll have to grab a car window flag pole separately, but that just means you have flexibility to swap it out for other festive flags all year round. Light up the night for 8 straight says with this fun magnetic Chanukah  menorah! It’s a little pricey, but it’s so festive and well made that it will be delighting families for many, many years to come, so we think it’s worth the investment. We also love these fun gel window clings that are perfect for car windows, and a little more budget friendly. Choose from Hanukkah Emoji Dreidels, and two different colorways for Menorahs and Hanukkah greetings. Got a car with a shiny new grille? We’ve got just the thing to bring it into the festive winter season. This Clayflame Exquisite Christmas Car Decoration with lights is a perfect choice. Grab one for yourself and gift a few to friends with their multibuy discount sale options. Transport yourself to Toyland and join in on the local holiday parade fun by adding this wind-up car key decoration to your car’s roof! It comes in lots of fun colors to match your personal aesthetic, and is sure to bring some smiles. The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear, and who better to do so with  than with your best pal, Buddy the Elf! This goofy inflatable car buddy is perfect for spreading joy this holiday season and is available on Amazon for fast shipping. If Buddy the Elf is not your speed, we suggest checking out the classic antihero and lovable grump, The Grinch! This car buddy inflatable grinch has a santa hat and scarf, making him the perfect seasonal carpool companion. We could all use some more cheer and happiness these days after a few long years of lockdowns and lack of socialization.  Bring the funny to the roadways with this goofy Light-It-Up Christmas Vacation WiperTags Decal by WiperTags on Etsy. We are pretty sure it’ll bring some laughs and reduce some road rage for all those who see it. The kids all love it when the big man rolls into town, but what about the reindeer?  Light up the night with these clever reindeer antler decorations with festive LED lights and jingle bells! You’ll be bringing the holiday spirit with you wherever you go on the road!

Today is National Cookie Day, and what could be more perfect to enjoy a month-long festive holiday season than festive holiday cookies?  We’re so excited to welcome in the holiday season!  We can’t wait to hop in our cars for some holiday traveling to see our friends and family.  Better yet, we can’t wait to get into the festive baking for some cookie swaps and holiday gifting!  So for today’s post we’re going to celebrate the classic holiday treat: fancy cookies. Yum! more You’ll find everything on this list from car themed cookie cutters to cookie scented car fresheners, and some of our very favourite cookie baking recipes. And of course, we can’t forget everyone’s favorite family members, the pets!  You’ll also find a great list of pet treats that you can make and bake for the paw lidays for your dogs, cats and other pals. As well as some great white elephant gifts and stocking stuffer ideas. Great Holiday Cookie Recipes for Homemade Pet Treats Homemade Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Icing Homemade Fishy Dog Treats with Salmon and Tuna Homemade Carrot Cake Dog Treats Carrot and Cheddar Chewies for Dogs Homemade Liver Treats for Dogs Peanut Butter, Oat, and Banana Dog Treats Carrot and Catnip Kitty Cat Treats Tuna Puff Cat Treats Recipe Homemade Chicken Treats for Cats 5 Homemade rabbit treats Easy and Delectable Cookie Recipes for Humans Butter and Jam Thumbprint Cookies Drop Style Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles Quick Snickerdoodles Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Brown Butter and Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies Gluten Free Wedding Cookies Thick and Chewy Classic Gluten Free Cookies Best Vegan Sugar Cookies Easy Lemon Bar Cookies Moving Car Sugar Cookies Spritzer Cookies Meringue Cookies Sally’s Gingerbread Cookies Cranberry Orange Cookies Car Themed Cookie Cutters Ann Clark Cookie Cutters 4.5” cookies, $6.99 These adorable cookie cutters are round, bubbly, and cheery. A little vintage festive flare. Sports Car Cookie Cutter, $12.99 Small, but sleek and stylish racecar cookie cutter is perfect for festive Christmas cars! Ann Clark Cookie Cutter Vintage Truck 4.5”, $6.99 Great for gifting to car enthusiasts or baking up a batch for your local mechanic. A little vintage charm in the form of a peppy little pickup truck. Extra Large Vintage Pickup with Christmas Tree, $10.99 Who doesn’t love a good Cchristmassy cookie? Check out this great option for vintage pickup with a festive little evergreen in the trunk! Decorated up nicely, this will make a splendid focal point on your cookie swap trays. Extra Sweet Cookie Themed Car Gifts The Candleberry Candle Co “Fresh CarGo” aromatherapy cookie scent for your vehicle so you can enjoy the smell of freshly baked holiday cookies no matter where you are! The Yankee Candle Car Freshener Scent in Christmas Cookie is the perfect seasonal scent and gift idea! The Chemical Guys have a fantastic scented odor eliminator that smells just like freshly baked hot glazed cinnamon rolls, and who wouldn’t love that?! Check out their other scents while you’re there like apple pie, pound cake, and more!

There’s nothing more daunting than clearing your car after a big winter snow storm rolls through town.  You’ll need a good set of gear to get your vehicles unburied, clear the ice from your windshield, and enough traction to get out of the slush.  That’s why for today’s blog, we’ve got a great gift guide for winter weather snow safety gear! more Everything on today’s blog is perfect for gifting to yourself or your loved ones, and keeping you safe and warm.  Coworkers will appreciate your help with gadgets for getting the cars cleared to finally get home after a long day at work.  New drivers will feel anxiety relief knowing they can easily improve visibility for driving in inclement weather. The car enthusiast who “has it all” will always appreciate an extra pair of ice scrapers/brushes and an emergency portable snow shovel.  In short, everyone’s going to love today’s list, and they’re perfect for last minute gifting! The long and short of it for winter weather vehicle safety is that there’s a few essential items you need: shovels, ice scrapers and snow brushes, emergency blankets, emergency flares, rock salt/sand/kitty litter, de-icer spray.  Today, we’ll highlight some of our favorites in each of these categories and a few extras along the way! This cone shaped car windshield scraper removes ice and snow very quickly and easily with no risk of scratches!  It also doubles as a funnel for adding windshield wiper fluid to your car with less spills!  We love a good multipurpose tool And it’s currently on sale for 15% off and if you purchase 3 or more you’ll get free shipping. This incredible tool both chips and clears ice in one fell swoop, making it perfect for those days with sleet and freezing rain, or a slightly warm day before the night time frost freezes the snow again!  It’s lightweight, ergonomic, and convenient. We love the TESSONO Ice Scraper with its 270º Pivoting brush head and a 3-in-1 convenient design for multipurpose use.  It’s got an ergonomic foam grip, making it easy to hold securely! It also comes in two colors and can extend from 33.9” to 38.1” for convenience! This Rain-X snow brush is extendable up to 63” to remove snow from your windshields and roof for save driving and convenience.It’s got a wide 4.5 inch blade with ice chipper feature, and a 13” pivoting broom head with T-blade rubber squeegee on the other side. Next up on our list of tools are some very convenient portable snow shovels! First, we’re highlighting Protocol Shovel Plus 4-in-1 Emergency Tool Set which is currently on sale at Kohls for less than $30!  This multi-tool is portable, collapsible and fits conveniently in everything rom trunks to backpacks to duffels.  It includes a shovel, saw blade, ax head, nail remover, and convenient carryall bag. This portable folding shovel from Napa Auto Parts is perfect for any car, truck or vehicle during winter weather.  It’s a multi-functional tool for shoveling and removing snow, and the serrated edges are perfect for chipping ice, using as a pick, or even a cutting tool.  It’s made of durable steel to get you through most winter weather dilemmas. If you spend a lot of time on the roads in the colder weather, we highly recommend these fantastic tools called GoTreads. These convenient, portable, lightweight items stow easily in your car so you’re ready for action in a jiffy.  It takes second to pop them into position and give your tires some much needed traction for mud, ice, slush, and snow! Road trippers and rural drivers will really appreciate these Anti-Slip emergency snow tire chains.  They provide additional traction and safety to give your tires more grip on slippery conditions. This Car Emergency Roadside Tool Kit is perfect for all weather emergencies.  It’s got jumper cables, reflectors, a hi-vis vest, and a basic tool and first aid kit each.  It’s a great gift idea for the holidays, especially for new drivers!  You’ll be prepared for just about everything. Perfect for ATVs and SUVs, the Reliancer traction tracks are UV-Stabilized thermoplastic rubber with a galvanized steel core for anti-rust protection.  It can support vehicles up to 7 tons to provide traction from winter weather, mud, slush, and roadside muck! The Goodyear Roadside Emergency Kit is perfect for one-stop-shopping in winter weather car safety gear and gift giving all rolled into one! It includes jumper cables, a snow shovel, a flashlight, and more! It’s a wonderful budget buy and useful gift.

Today’s National Mutt Day, so we thought we’d get into the pawliday spirit a little bit with another great gift guide blog!  This time, we’re covering fun and convenient items to make traveling with your furry companions a real dream.  No matter whether you’re traveling across country living that #VanLife, or flying a few states over to visit loved ones, or even just taking a trip to the local dog park, you’ll love our finds for great pet friendly travel items.  We’ve got feeders and carriers and creature comforts galore. more Pawfect House has this adorable Personalized Car Sunshade for $35.99 plus free shipping!  You can choose up to 6 pets to feature on the car shade to show your love for your furry friends while keeping the car nice and cool while it’s parked. Mollymutt’s gorgeous Papillon Car Seat Cover measures 56”x56” and fits most vehicles with front and back seat headrests for convenience and comfort!  Forget vacuuming muddy paw prints, fur clumps, and other dust and dirt away!  This will keep your car’s upholstery clean and tidy and be comfortable for your hiking companions. If you’ve got a large and in charge pup who takes up the backseat, we’ve got just the thing for you! This backseat extender with storage option from Orvis is the perfect way to give your dog the space they need to stretch, but not lose any storage space or passenger room!  It’s under $100 and is conveniently portable to stow and store when you don’t need it, making it a real great buy. If you’re constantly on the go exploring the wilderness, running the trails, camping in the great outdoors, or just generally spending time with an active pet, chances are accidents are bound to happen.  Be prepared for just about everything with the Adventure Medical Human and Pet First Aid kit for dogs!  A great gift idea for the person who is always on the move with their canine companion, it’s just $45 on sale at the time of publication. If you’ve ever had to leave your home or hotel due to inclement weather disasters such as flooding, hurricanes, or even tornados, you know that having a go-bag is an essential survival need for evacuations.  Be sure that your pet is prepared, too! The Pet Evac Pak Big Dog Pak Pet Emergency Kit will keep you covered for 72hrs with everything you need right in a handy back pack. It includes drinking water packets, emergency basic dog food rations, portable water bowls and leads, and can keep your pet fed and watered til you can reach safety.  It’s also great for those who travel road trips and long distances, just in case of emergency! Traveling with your pals means bringing their favorite food and special treats along, too! We love the Travel-Tainer by Vittles Vault for taking your pal’s meals safely to your destination.  It’s conveniently portable and you can use the handy attached lids for food and water, too! Taking your small to medium dog with you on an airline?  Need a portable carrier for hotel and RV stays? No problem! The Roverlund Out of Office Pet Carrier is a 3-in-1 design that holds dogs up to 15-25lbs and comes with a bonus leash for easy travel! Doubles as a travel bag for your pet as well as a bed. The Mobile Dog Gear Week Away Tote Pet Travel Bag comes in four different color and pattern options that make it easy to take all of your pet essentials on the go!  It’s lightweight and built for convenience: 1 large main storage area, mesh side and back pockets, a luggage ID tag, a placemat, 2 collapsible silicone bowls, and 2 carriers for food and treats!  Perfect for picnics, beach days, camping, and visits to grandma's house. The Headrest Back Seat Protector from 3 Dog Pet Supply is made to fit most vehicle’s backseats to provide your dog with comfort and your car with an added layer of protection from grit, grime, and doggy dirt.  Offered in two colors, this easy to clean upholstery protector is a must-have for active pets.

We’re back with another fun and festive edition of our Classic Community Calendar of events!  You’ll find plenty of ideas for families, friends, and even date nights for events happening right here in the Lake County and Greater Chicago area. more December 3rd is the GO Waukegan Winter Wonderland Park at the Jack Benny Plaza from 4PM to 5PM.  These outdoor walks are a community effort to encourage folks to socialize and get at least thirty minutes of exercise every day!  Join the Waukegan Parks District for their upcoming events! December 3rd is the Kris Kringle Art Market at Karcher ArtSpace Lofts in Waukegan.  With more than 20 local artists and artisans in two large gallery spaces, you’ll find plenty of unique holiday gift ideas! Shop local, shop small, and support the community. On December 3rd at the Dandelion Gallery and Studio in Waukegan, come on down with Artist Sunny Corba for an intro to epoxy resin crafting and create a molded ornament that’s one of a kind! December 4th is the 2022 Toys for Tots Run from 8AM to 11AM and After Party event taking place from 11AM to 4PM at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. December 6th is the Annual Holiday Open House at the Haines House Museum in Bowen Park! Take a step back in time to Christmases Past in the 1800s with this special seasonal event. Gather your best friends or your date and enjoy a charming Afternoon Tea at Oaken Bistro + Bar in lake Firest from 12PM to 3PM inside the Forester Hotel. On December 7th at the Lake Forest Library, kids K-4th grade can use their Math, engineering, and other skills to create and decorate a personal gingerbread house as part of t he Gingerbread House STEAM challenge event for kids in Lake Forest. On December 9th at the Buena Vibra Plant Shop in Waukegan, bring your friends and kids to enjoy a DIY Handmade Paper Poinsettia Class for just $25/adult and $15/child from 6PM to 8PM. On December 10th head over to the Waukegan Harbor and Marina to join Lake County Audubon Society and Guide Donna Kenski on a bird spotting adventure! Explore the local harbor birds and waterfowl together with friends. Remember to dress warmly and BYO binoculars and camera. December 10th is the perfect time to gather your family and friends to enjoy a youthful craft activity making Snow Globes while enjoying festive seasonal music, holiday cookies, and warm cocoa together at the Dandelion Gallery & Studio. On December 10th at the Village of Mundelein from 12PM to 3PM, come on down for a day of family festivities at Santa’s Cottage! On December 10th, grab breakfast with Santa at Lambs Farm in Libertyville starting 9AM to 12PM. Join the local community toy drive in Gurnee from 12PM to 3PM at 4181 Grove Avenue, and bring a toy for kids ages newborn to 16 years old, or something that adult women may enjoy.  As a special thank you, you’ll get to take a picture with Santa before you go! On December 11th, gear up to meet the big man himself with a Santa Meet and Greet, Pizza Lunch, Games and other fun holiday activities at the Holiday Inn Express Chicago NW-Vernon Hills in Vernon Hills. December 11th from 11AM to 12:30PM, Maggiano’s Little Italy is hosting a charming holiday fun cooking class for kids! On December 17th, catch a special open house and screening as part of #ArtWauk at the Belvidere Cinema inside the Belvidere Discount Mall.  They’ll be showing a screening or two of Batman Returns as part of the Mallrat Movie Cult series from 12PM to 6PM.  Admission and popcorn are both free!

Today is National Mississippi Day, and we’re celebrating with some great places to visit in Mississippi for an unexpected winter vacation destination!  From holiday events to wonderful indoor activities, we’ve got you covered for fast and easy vacation planning.  Take yourself on a winter getaway down south for a unique and memorable road trip through these fantastic areas. more JACKSON This is the capital of Mississippi and its largest city! The Mississippi Children’s Museum is such a wonderful place you could get lost in the fun for a whole day.  Families with kids of all ages will enjoy all of the activities and displays that the facility has to offer in STEAM and Health based topics! It’s got plenty of hands-on and engaging interactive exhibits that are so enjoyable your kids will hardly know it’s educational. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is perfect for history buffs. It chronicles the American Civil Rights movement from 1945-1970 through educational stories and documentary materials.  It’s adjacent to the Museum of Mississippi History, which highlights the 15,000 years of state history through its earliest days through the present!  You’ll find live educational programs, interactive exhibits, and hear stories from the people who live in the state. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is the largest museum in the whole state.  This impressive 73,000 square foot facility houses a 100,000 gallon aquarium, houses live reptiles, fish, and amphibians, and has more than 200 living species on display.  Additionally, you’ll find a wall of fossils to examine, and loads of educational science exhibits and greenhouse.  It’s also located inside a state park, getting you up close and personal with nature. The Mississippi Museum of Art is the state’s largest art museum, housing multiple galleries, an outdoor garden,a performance stage, and on-site cafe.  The core of the museum’s permanent collection is free to explore, but there may be small fees for traveling exhibitions. LeFleurs Bluff State Park is a gorgeous 305 acre park that has nature trails, camping, fishing, RV park, and plenty of other recreational opportunities. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1961 to commemorate the achievements of Mississippi native athletes, and its corresponding museum opened in1996.  It honors more than 300 athletes, coaches, and influential legends of the sports industry. GULFPORT This is the second largest city in Mississippi! While you’re exploring Coastal Mississippi, we recommend checking out these great destinations for a refreshing winter vacation: The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum is a unique way to connect with local coastal Mississippi culture as well as where we source and gather our food! The Infinity Science Center is more than 70,000 square feet of incredibly interesting and hands-on experiences in STEAM related activities. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is a gorgeous facility with more than 1,000 paintings, wood carvings, and ceramic pieces from Walter Anderso and his brothers. The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is another must-see destination in the area with contemporary and historic exhibits, featuring the works of George E. Ohr as a focus. In addition, you can also try your hand at creating your own pottery and take two clay pots home! If you’re visiting for the holidays, we recommend the winter festival. Th e Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival runs now through December 31st at Jones Park. With more than 1,200,000 twinkling lights across Jones Park,  it’s an unforgettable family experience.  What started as a smaller event in 2015 by ISland View CAsino & Resort and the City of Gulfport has evolved into a brand new family tradition year after year!  And each season is bigger and better than ever for a one-of-a-kind experience.  Choose from a walkthrough by foot or hitch a ride on a heated trolley.  It’s a can’t miss holiday experience that will make your winter break vacation truly memorable. VICKSBURG This city was the historical site of a key battle in the Civil War. If you’re around for the holidays, we recommend checking out the Walking Holiday Spectacular, beginning at the McRaven House and including an hour-long tour of the home as well as Christmas Stories and plenty of festive decorations and holiday lights! The tours run nightly from now through January 1st 2023 from 6PM to 9PM. The Beidenharn Coca-Cola Museum is a beautifully restored historic building where the iconic American soda was first bottled in 1894. It features a charming vintage soda fountain, and a beautiful exhibit of historic equipment and memorabilia for Coca Cola company. The Old Courthouse Museum is the cultural center of Vicksburg, and the city’s most historic landmark structure. This court house turned historic museum was once host to esteemed guests and presidential figures such as Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, and Booker T Washington to name a few!  You’ll find a beautiful collection of artifacts and research along with very unique architecture and a wonderful view of the river. The Strand Theatre of Vicksburg is dedicated to showcasing screenings, presentations, and other productions about regional life and people of Mississippi and related US history and culture.  It’s also home to special limited showings of cult classic movies as well as seasonal live performances. The Vicksburg Civil War Museum has a wide variety of exhibits including the Civil War, the Black experience of living in the South before, during, and after the war, and the world’s largest collection of civil war gun boat models, and an 8 foot by 20 foot diorama of the Siege of Vicksburg. It’s a great destination for any US history buff!

Telluride, Sportage, K5, Soul and Rio earn J.D. Power awards for having the highest residual value within their respective segments Kia is the most improved mass market brand year over year more 2023 Rio IRVINE, Calif., November 21, 2022 – Last week, Kia took home the highest number of model awards – five – in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards. The segment wins by Telluride (Midsize SUVs with 3-row seating), Sportage (Compact SUVs), K5 (Midsize Cars), Soul (Micro SUVs), and Rio (Small Cars), led Kia to the best year-over-year improvement of any mass market brand in the annual evaluation. 2023 Sportage X-Pro “Kia is a brand on the move, with more models predicted to hold their value within their respective segments than any mass market brand,” said Steven Center, COO and EVP, Kia America. “Resale value is one of the most important purchase considerations, and from rugged and capable SUVs to sporty sedans, the latest J.D. Power U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards are the latest demonstration of the strength and breadth of Kia’s lineup.” The U.S. J.D. Power ALG Residual Value Awards are the automotive industry standard in recognizing vehicle models projected to hold the highest percentage of their manufacturer’s suggested retail price following a three-year period of ownership. This value retention is a key variable in the lease cost of a vehicle, underscoring an automaker’s success in the areas of long-term quality and design, as well as the overall desirability of automotive brands and their models. “This year’s achievement by Kia speaks volumes about how far the brand has come,” said Eric Lyman, vice president of ALG, thedivision of J.D. Power recognized as the industry benchmark of automotive residual value projections. “The marketplace is acknowledging that Kia has a very strong product lineup in terms of design, quality and residual values. Kia has become a force to be reckoned with.” Kia America – about us Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrified vehicles sold through a network of over 750 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America.* For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert. * The K5, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride (excludes HEV and PHEV models) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. Press Release Information Accuracy DisclaimerInformation posted in press releases on the Kia Media website was accurate at the time of posting but may be superseded by subsequent releases or other information.