Welcome to the AskPatty Blog Carnival, where we celebrate back to school with a refreshing assortment of female friendly news and interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere. Whether it's informative stories about eco-friendly people and cars, adventures, roadtrips, or safety, exciting reports about women in the automotive industry, or female friendly car reviews, we've got something here for everyone. Have you got something to share? Email Ask Patty at info@askpatty.com or use the form at the end to include your own blog bits in next week's carnival!


Traveling Mamas is a group of professional travel writing women hoping to inspire others to explore our world. These four Traveling Mamas share their adventures with the world, offering tips on great (and not so great) places to visit with children and how to have the best family vacations -- but it's not all about the kids, of course! Romantic escapes, girlfriend getaways, and solo trips are also important to us. In addition to industry news and travel gear reviews, they also love to give things away! In fact, just last week, they awarded one of their readers a Busch Gardens Williamsburg Getaway! Check them out. Summer vacation may be over, but that doesn't mean you can't still sneak away for a long weekend, or make plans for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays.

Cinda at Dillweed's Weblog wants to introduce you to Firecracker, her beautiful red 2007 Honda Civic EX. She says the two of them are "1 with the road. Firecracker is my first car that I really had a say so in getting. So, we have that immediate bond." Theirs is great, happy car-buying story, so why not cruise by her blog and share their joy?

Yep, we already knew that women also love their muscle cars! This Woodward Dream Cruise video report at WXYZ.com explains how the car you choose says a lot about the person who drives it. Regardless of whether it's a flashy red '55 Corvette, or a flame-painted '67 Camaro, these women filmed at the recent Woodward Dream Cruise certainly do believe their cars make quite a statement about them.

And while we're on the subject of what our cars say about us, this blogger at secret women's business  has begun the process of identifying various "types" of women based on their vehicles. From the ultra-feminine woman or greenie/activist, to the girlchild or neat freak, she's got her descriptions figured out down to the tee. She's even got one that fits me perfectly: "Overwhelmed Mother." Have you noticed other "types" of women's cars? What "type" is your car? What does this say about you? Mine says it's time to visit the car wash...

Auto sales may be slowing across America,  but aaccording to the New York Daily News, that's good news for some - specifically mechanics, who benefit from consumers hanging onto their cars for a longer period of time. (Tell me about it! I just spent $2000 breathing new life into my 10-year-old Accord) But there's a dearth of qualified auto repair technicians, says Brian Miller, newly elected Chairman of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA). Miller says, "At the center for Automotive Education & Training, we basically get guys and girls ready to work at dealerships...Nationwide, I hear there's a shortage of 70,000 service people." Interested in starting a career as a technician?

According to a recent J.D. Power report at Dealer and Restyling Accessories, growth in consumer demand for high-tech features supplied in new vehicles has led to a significant increase in satellite radio and navigation systems. The J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study reveals that 55 percent of new-vehicle owners report having satellite radio capability in their audio system, up considerably from 39 percent in 2007. Additionally, market penetration for navigation systems has also increased -- up to 25 percent in 2008 from 20 percent in 2007. Who remembers AM radios and folded up roadmaps? Anyone?

Here's some more happy news from around the globe: The Saudi ban on woman drivers may be eroding.  The rule is (supposedly) founded in the belief that women at the wheel create situations for sinful temptation. They argue that women drivers will be free to leave home alone, will unduly expose their eyes while driving, and will interact with male strangers, such as traffic police and mechanics. (Gasp!) Supporters of ending the ban on female drivers point out that the prohibition exists neither in law nor in Islam. Last September, a group of women formed the Committee of Demanders of Women's Right to Drive Cars to lobby for the right to get behind the wheel, collecting more than 3,000 signatures. Way to go, ladies!

In the need for some automotive retail therapy? Check out this fun site we found that offers all kinds of cute girly gifts for you and your car. The U.K.'s first on-line car accessory store aimed primarily at girls,  Me-Mo offers fun car-focused products: everything from fabulous flower and polka dot car seat and steering wheel covers, to in-car tidy and car cleaning products, sparkly tire and wheel nut caps, to maternity seat belts and child seat belt comforters. Even if you don't want to pay for shipping from across the pond, it's still a fun place to window shop. I want the antenna ball!!!