My Mom, Jody DeVere CEO of AskPatty.com, invited me to attend the Blogher 2011 Conference on behalf of AskPatty.com Automotive Advice for Women. I am so grateful for the opportunity. I am a Mom of two beautiful kids ages 4 and 6, there is so much for us "Mom's" at BlogHer it almost overwhelming! I’m new to the blogging world and started a blog about worms and organic gardening.   

BlogHer 2011 was held in San Diego CA. with 3,600+ attendees at the Marriot and San Diego Convention Center.  BlogHer supplied an endless list of parties, sessions for learning and many inspiring speakers. The EXPO, OMG! Just packed with fun free new stuff. I loved how so many sponsors and attendee's supported causes that help our children, people fighting cancer and our mother earth.  I wish I could have been in more places at once because there are so many layers of BlogHer11 activities happening. I was so bummed I missed the Operation Glory Flash Mob and the Ford on Foot Family Road Trip picnic!

As a 1st time newbie BlogHer attendee I found everyone very approachable, (even Smurfette). The women have so many positive and helpful blogs. I loved talking to everyone about what they blog about. I found women who are passionate and want to make a difference. Starting from parenting, life styles and cooking as well as being green, organic products and fighting to keep our air clean. I was there mainly to talk about AskPatty.com Automotive Advice for Women and "She" was well received. The women all loved the Ladies Guide to Automotive Repair and often commented;  “What a great idea to have a trusted place for women to ask any of their automotive questions."  I felt so proud of what my Mom has created and I know she has worked hard to make this possible. 

Automotive Marketing to Women pioneer and CEO of AskPatty.com, Inc. Jody DeVere is preparing for her trip to Texas this August. Jody, whose company has just joined the American Oil Change Association, will be speaking at the iFlex expo in Dallas, Texas (http://www.iflexexpo.com/), presented by the AOCA, on the importance of women consumers in quick lube and automotive service marketing. The title of her session gets right to the point: “What Women Want.” The blunt title is no accident, either, because a warm no-nonsense, direct, and honest approach is exactly what women are looking for when it comes to having their car serviced, and they hold the purse-strings.

Business Week reports that women make over 80 percent of the buying decisions in U.S. households today. “In effect, women have become nearly every family's chief purchasing officer," says Jody DeVere, president and CEO of AskPatty.com. "Creating an experience that 'WOWs' women will increase market share, drive ROI, and differentiate automotive retailers.” DeVere believes this message, coupled with her female focused company's new AOCA Member designation, will help quick lube providers across North America keep a finger on the pulse of the female consumer, building trust and earning loyal business.

The Car Care Council Women's Board, comprised of professional men and women who are dedicated to getting information to female audiences concerning educating women about car care and encouraging young people to investigate "automotive" as their career choice,  has a simple two-fold goal: To encourage women to become active in vehicle maintenance; and to promote career opportunities for women in the automotive parts and service industry.  Their members include motor sports figures, service shop owners, writers, association and company executives and consultants, and they also feature scholarship programs to female students who are heading into an automotive career.  If you're pursuing an automotive education, head past the jump for details and to apply online.

International Women's Day, which occurs every year on March 8, is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, it's a national holiday, but for those of us who aren't so lucky, we can still treat it like one.

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.  It is a day set aside to recognize the achievements of women that began in that turbulent period - not the least of which is the struggle for women's suffrage in this country, which began in the late 19th century and culminated in 1920 with the ratification of the nineteenth amendment.

A WIsconsin High School teacher, Keith Gundlach, has been named one of six Outstanding Agricultural Educational Teachers in the country by the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), and as part of the honor, Gundlach received a two-year lease on a new Toyota Tundra Double Cab 5.7L V8 4x4, from none other than AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly location Jon Lancaster Toyota Scion.

Keith is a teacher who always knew he was going to be a teacher - he decided in the fifth grade, when he was inspired by a teacher  of his own, that he wanted to follow that path.  For 34 years he's been teaching at Randolph High School, imparting wisdom that can't be found in books, like the value and adventure of sometimes not having a plan. 

Toyota is asking an important question (well, important to grammar-lovers like me) - what's the plural of Prius?  Rather than wondering, they've put it to a poll.  You can vote on the "official" plural form of the popular Hybrid.  If you ask me, I am a fan of "Prien," but if I had to guess which will win, I'd bet on Prii (pronounced "Pree-eye") simply because it's a common misconception that any word that ends in "us" must change to an "-i" suffixed plural.  (Sorry everybody, the plural of virus is not virii or even viri - it's just viruses.  It's true!) 

As if that wasn't enough fun, they've also written a song about plural nouns, and it makes me very, very happy.  Head past the jump to watch the video and go vote in their poll.  Voting ends on February 20, so hurry - and please, for me... vote for Prien? 

"Imagine there's a balloon under your gas pedal," explained Johnny Kanavas.  That was one of the tips offered by my instructor at the Go Green Auto Rally held last month in Long Beach, CA.

Launched by Jean Paul Libert, the Go Green Auto Rally instructs participants how to drive "green" and compete in a road rally, not for speed but efficiency. The training is very similar to racing techniques.

Read the full article at www.earthgarage.com

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Helpful information from InsWeb.com

If you’re a woman on a tight budget, auto insurance probably puts a significant dent in your pocketbook. It would be cheaper to cancel auto insurance for a few months while you pay off credit cards and other bills, right?

Wrong.

With the recession hitting Americans hard, more consumers are choosing to eliminate insurance policies. But many drivers don’t realize that lapsed insurance policies make it more difficult—and expensive—to secure coverage in the future.

According to Timothy Gaspar, an insurance agent with FMS Financial Partners in Encino, Calif., a lapse in coverage will always have a negative impact for the consumer, especially when dealing with auto insurance.

“Many auto insurance companies give consumers a discount for what they call ‘persistency,’ which is a discount for the amount of time you have had continuous insurance,” Gaspar explains. “If you let this coverage lapse, the persistency credit will disappear, causing an increase in your rate.”

Don’t forget that auto insurance is required by law in 48 states, and the penalty for driving uninsured is steep. Offenders may face driver’s license suspension, vehicle seizure, misdemeanor charges and a multitude of fees. Additionally, uninsured drivers may be considered ‘high-risk’ by insurance companies and charged hundreds more per year—or rejected outright—the next time they apply for a policy.

But the financial headache doesn’t end there. Depending on the type of coverage, a lapsed policy could end up as a negative mark on your credit score, and the insurance company that carried your policy may be reluctant to insure you again.

So here’s the bottom line, ladies: If you’re having difficulty paying your auto insurance, it’s better to look for money-saving tips than to cancel the policy altogether. If you need help saving money on auto insurance, InsWeb.com's free, no-obligation car insurance quote form can help you shop and compare several low-cost auto insurance quotes in minutes.

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Whether you are renewing your car insurance or purchasing insurance for the first time, the experience is the same.  There are many options and features and buying the right vehicle insurance can be perplexing.

SHOP AROUND AND COMPARE

To begin with, price, coverage, and service rates vary widely state by State and by Province.  Age, gender, where you live, and your driving history are all factors.   No one wants to pay more for insurance than they need to so it is important to secure several quotes before you make your decision.  The Internet is a good place to do research because you can compare many company rates and their coverage in a short time frame.  The AskPatty.Com Insurance quote is a great place to start.  

Today, roughly 40% of the vehicles on the highway today have receiver hitches – and although they are great for towing – they HIDE rear end collision damage and INCREASE the chance of whiplash by creating a stiff “crash pulse” when hit from the rear.

Low impact crash cases are becoming increasingly more complex and harder to prove.  The old adage from the insurance company – no damage, no claim - is difficult to litigate.