Why Family Dinner Is So Important

Posted on April 27, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Once your children reach their teens, it becomes increasingly difficult to get them together for family dinner. You start to wonder whether scheduling dinner around after school jobs, extra curricular activities, and the teenage quest for a new girl or boyfriend is worth the trouble.

What if you knew that teenagers in families who consistently eat dinner together are less likely to smoke, drink alcohol and experiment with drugs? Would it be worth it then?

Here’s what the research shows about the importance of family dinner:

Family Dinner and Risky Behavior
The National Center on Addiction and Drug Abuse at Columbia University surveyed a thousand teens. About half felt that dinner time was the best time to talk about important issues. About three-fourths preferred eating dinner with the family to eating alone. A University of Minnesota study indicated that teens in families that ate dinner together at least five nights a week were 42% less likely to drink alcohol, 59% less likely to smoke cigarettes, and 66% less likely to smoke marijuana.

Educational Benefits of Family Dinners
It stands to reason that parents who put family first when it comes to dinner time would foster a loving environment and produce children less likely to engage in unwise behavior. These benefits carry over into school as well. The Homeschool Study of Language and Literacy Development at Harvard and Clark Universities showed that teens who engage in dinner time conversation develop a better vocabulary. Columbia University quantified these claims, showing that teens who eat dinner regularly with their families are 40% more likely to achieve A’s and B’s.

Health Benefits of Family Dinners
Even on your worst night, the pot luck casserole with a glass of watered down lemonade is far healthier than a fast food medley and a soft drink. The aforementioned University of Minnesota study also showed that teenage girls who eat at least three family meals per week lowered the risk of eating disorders by 50%.

Strong Families Eat Dinner Together
While many tasks are outsourced today, family should not be one of them. Family dinners are a sign of a family that prioritizes staying connected as a family. If the busy crush of everyday life has caused regular family dinners in your household to become less regular, reclaim this time together. Start with Sunday dinner or a few nights a week, if necessary. Before you know it, everyone will be asking, “What time is dinner?”

Posted in Health, Things To Do | Tagged | Leave a comment

10 Ways to Make Every Day Earth Day

Posted on April 24, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Earth Day is celebrated every April 22, the start of the spring season. This annual celebration originated with the goal of educating Americans about environmental conservation, but today it’s celebrated around the world. Earth Day honors the various achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness about growing and changing environmental concerns. Having a day devoted to environmental awareness is important, but it’s what’s done on a daily basis that really makes a difference. If you want to do your part to protect the environment, start with these 10 tips to make every day Earth Day.

1. Recycle. Recycling is second nature in some households, but many homes and businesses across the U.S. have yet to begin or fully take advantage of this basic environmental practice. If you’re not already doing so, create bins to separate your glass, plastic, paper, aluminum, and other recyclables. Many neighborhoods offer recycling pick-up services, or you may need to bag up your recycling and drive it to a local recycling center. Some centers even pay for your aluminum.

2. Air seal your home. Air sealing your home is one of many ways you can save energy every day. A simple part of weatherizing your home, air sealing involves “plugging” any places where air can get in or out of your home, typically with insulation. Because air sealing helps save energy, you won’t just help the environment; you’ll also reduce your utility bill.

3. Adjust the thermostat. Everyone wants their home to be comfortable, but heating and cooling costs are among the highest energy expenditures in most homes. Because of this, dialing up or down by just one or two degrees can make a big different in your energy usage and your utility bill. Most likely you won’t even notice the difference, but if you do, try using more blankets or adjusting your clothing.

4. Turn on the fan. If dialing up the thermostat has left you feeling a little stifled, try utilizing a fan or ceiling fan. Fans use much less energy than central air because they focus on a smaller area, but they can make the air around you feel several degrees cooler.

5. Close empty rooms. If some rooms in your home aren’t regularly used, such as the rooms of kids who’ve gone off to college, you’re wasting energy by keeping them heated or cooled. Shut the doors and close the vents to save energy.

6. Take advantage of the sun. Solar panels are one way to harness the sun’s energy, but you don’t have to undergo the expense of installing them in order to take advantage of the sun. Harness the sun and save energy by keeping your shades open during the winter to let the sun’s rays help heat your home. Or, any time of year, turn the lights out during the day and open the shades to utilize the natural light.

7. Cook smarter. You can save energy and make every day Earth Day by cooking smarter. When cooking on the stove top, using lids on pots keeps heat from escaping and reduces cooking time. When using the oven, save energy by cooking together those foods with similar temperature requirements. Cooking in bulk and refrigerating or freezing leftovers can also save energy and money.

8. Be a better dishwasher. If you have a dishwasher, you’ll save energy if you always wait until it’s full to run it. You might also designate at least a few nights a week as “hand washing” nights, when your family washes dishes by hand to save energy. Either way, always aim to use as little hot water as possible when washing dishes.

9. Laundry tips. Unfortunately, laundry is a household task you can’t avoid, but you can save energy by using cold-water detergent, always doing full loads of laundry, and air-drying your clothes whenever possible.

10. Get your community involved. The proceeding tips focus on ways to make every day Earth Day in your home, but you don’t have to stop with your household. Earth Day is all about education, so starting neighborhood or community awareness groups to tackle important area environmental concerns is a great way to make every day Earth Day.

Posted in Go Green, Things To Do | Tagged | Leave a comment

The New ZL1 Camaro

Posted on April 18, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is the highest-performing production Camaro of all time
It is literally like nothing you’ve ever driven before. Built to be track-capable right from the showroom, and tested on some of the most rigorous tracks around the world, including the Nürburgring, where it clocked in at 7:41.27. This is the car every engineer dreams about building. Every racer dreams about tearing around the track. And every owner dreams about—a sports car that looks mean, but feels comfortable and docile enough for daily driving.

In 1969, 69 regular-production Camaros were installed with ZL1 all-aluminum racing engines. In that moment, those mythical 69 cars became the pinnacle in Camaro performance.

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 was recently let loose on the Nürburgring racing circuit and recorded a lap of 7:41.27, nearly a 40 second leap ahead of the previous Camaro SS lap time in 2009.

 

“The ZL1’s full capability is evident at the Nürburgring,” said Aaron Link, the Camaro ZL1 Suspension Engineer. “You have to have an extremely well-mannered, confidence-inspiring car to take any corner at 160 mph without lifting off the throttle…and the ZL1 was just brilliant.”

Nürburgring is unparalleled, being widely regarded as one of the world’s most-demanding courses, measuring 12.9 miles with over 154 turns. Over the years, the racing circuit has come to be popularly referred to as “The Green Hell”. 

“The Nürburgring is unlike any track in the world,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “Each lap includes fast straights, sweeping off-camber turns, hairpin corners, and elevation changes. In order to do well on the ‘Ring, the car has to do everything well – including acceleration, braking and lateral grip. Breaking an 8 minute lap in a 2+2 production car is a tremendous accomplishment.”

Not only does the car pack its punch in speed, but also in power
It features a supercharged 6.2L “LSA” engine SAE-rated at 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft of torque (754 Nm).

With its epic trek through Nürburgring, it’s pretty evident that it packs the power and speed fit for the thrill of the racetrack.

The Pinnacle in Camaro Performance
“At every stage of development we wanted things that improved performance and looked the part. This car brings the latest and greatest of everything, all proven on the most demanding tracks around the world.”—Tony Roma, ZL1 Program Engineering Manager
 
ZL1 is designed to be driven exactly like it should be—hard. The fuel system has added fuel pick-ups to maximize the amount of fuel available even under high g cornering on the most aggressive tracks. The standard Tremec® 6-speed manual transmission comes with a revised short-throw shifter for increased precision.
 
The dual-mode exhaust enables peak performance at high engine speeds, and has been engineered to create an aggressive sound at idle without overwhelming when cruising at a steady speed—the drawback of some aftermarket performance exhausts.

Powertrain cooling and thermal
Unlike many of its competitors, ZL1 comes fully equipped with factory-integrated auxiliary fluid coolers that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars to install, including a liquid-to-liquid engine cooler typically found on high-end sports cars. Both the manual and automatic transmissions are equipped with high-capacity oil coolers, consisting of a liquid-to-liquid and air-to-oil heat exchanger plumbed in series.

The differential cooler is a truly unique design. This innovative system pumps overcooled transmission fluid to a heat exchanger inside the housing, removing excess heat from the differential fluid.

6.2L SC V8 Engine
The 580-horsepower, 556 lb.-ft. of torque, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine can be mated to a Tremec® 6-speed manual (MG9) or HydraMatic® 6L90 automatic transmission. This aluminum-block engine is based on GM’s legendary small block V8 architecture and features an intercooled supercharger system and premium heat-resistant aluminum alloy cylinder heads.

Eaton® Supercharger
The uniquely designed sixth-generation intercooled 1.9-liter Eaton® supercharger gives ZL1 additional thrust and more force. The 4-lobed supercharger enables a broad range of power through the rpm band, giving the engine great low-end torque and excellent horsepower at the range where a supercharger generally loses its effectiveness.

Ready for the ride of your life. Get in touch with us now.

Posted in Vehicles | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Recipes: How to Make Perfect Omelets

Posted on April 17, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Omelets are the perfect way to cook eggs for breakfast, brunch, or even as part of a more substantial meal later in the day. The procedures for making an omelet are fairly simple and the entire preparation and cooking process takes at most ten minutes. Although omelets are delicious served in their most basic form, it is possible to create simple fillings for omelets, which really enhance their flavor. You may want to consider finely diced tomato with the seeds removed, diced mushrooms, diced leftover chicken, or even simply some shredded or grated hard cheese as perfect choices in this respect.

The Perfect Omelet
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves one

Ingredients
* 3 large eggs
* Salt
* White pepper
* A little butter for frying

Directions
An important tip for making perfect omelets is to remove your eggs from the refrigerator and allow them to reach room temperature, prior to starting cooking. This may not always be practical, as a couple of hours will be required for this to occur, but where it is possible, the effort is worthwhile.

Break the eggs in to a small basin or bowl, careful not to include any of the shell. Season with salt and white pepper. Black pepper can be used if desired but may leave unattractive spots of color within the cooked omelet. Beat the eggs with a fork or a small hand whisk, just enough to combine them and not to the extent where they are overly frothy.

Add a small stick of butter to a non-stick frying pan and melt it over a low to moderate heat. When the butter is completely melted, pour in the beaten eggs and increase the heat to medium. Use a plastic spatula to work your way around the circumference of the pan, gently drawing the egg mixture from the edge in to the center.

When it can be seen that the egg is beginning to set, it is vitally important to desist from working it around the pan. Otherwise, the eggs will scramble rather than form in to the perfect omelet. Reduce the heat slightly and watch the omelet until it appears to be almost completely set. There should just be the slightest film of liquid remaining on the top. It is important to recognize this stage and not to overcook the omelet, which should be served deliciously moist in the center.

If you are going to include a filling in the omelet, it is now that it should be added. Great additions included cheese, roasted potatoes, onions, and roasted peppers. Carefully scatter the filling over one half of the omelet only, before gently lifting the empty half with your spatula and folding it over the top. If no filling is desired, simply fold the basic omelet in the same fashion and be sure to serve it immediately.

Posted in Recipes | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mice and Your Cars Wiring

Posted on April 13, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Caught the Culprit in his home

With the new environmental laws requiring manufacturers to use biodegradable wiring, most are now encased in rubber made from peanut or soybean oil that mice love.

 

 

 

  Air Box on a Chevy Colorado 

 Found his way into the Passengers Cabin by chewing up the Grommet
 
 
Not only was the cap chewed on, but he also liked the taste of the rubber hoses 
 
 Red wires must taste better?
 
 Repair Order said; Wiper Motor Inoperative
 
At this time there is no permanent way to keep rodents from eating your wiring other than dealing with them before they find their way into your vehicle.
 
Need service, make you appointment today. >> Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Not only did he chew on the lid, he ate the hose too
 
Posted in Auto Service, Car Care, Vehicles | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Checking your vehicles fluids can be quick and easy

Posted on March 30, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Maintaining proper fluid levels is an essential and easy maintenance task.
It’s simple, takes only a few minutes and can add many miles to the life of your
vehicle.
 
Your owner’s manual tells you when fluids should be
checked,  but this is simply the minimum. Mark your calendar or just check
the fluids frequently, preferably at every fuel fill-up.

Having an adequate amount of  brake fluid is crucial to having enough
stopping power in your braking system to stop your car.

Other than your oil level, that has a dipstick, most fluid reservoirs today
are translucent and can be checked at a glance.
 
The reciprocating engine of today  generates a great amount of heat. Without proper
lubrication and cooling critical parts can literally melt down in just a few
minutes. The cost of repair can run into thousands of dollars.

Cooling system failure is the number one cause of mechanical breakdowns on
the highway, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. You have to
check the level, along with the strength and condition of the coolant or
antifreeze regularly.Never check your coolant or antifreeze while the engine is
hot. Your radiator must be cold or you risk burn injury.

Something you never want to run out of is windshield washer fluid. It’s a
misty day and road grime is covering your windshield; you turn on your washers
and you only get streaks across your windshield. This is not only inconvenient
but very dangerous. At 60 miles per hour you are traveling at 88 feet per
second. In the 3 seconds it took for you to find out you have no washer fluid
you have almost traveled the length of a football field. You would never close
your eyes and drive that far but you just did because you hadn’t checked your
fluids.
 
Maintaining proper fluid levels is crucial to the safe
operation of your vehicle. Take the 3-5 minutes at the gas station, while
filling up, to check these fluids. In doing so your vehicles life and yours
could be extended. 

For a service  visit us today or download our app to your iPhone or Android device and make your next appointment over your smartphone.

Check out all our Maintenance videos today. We add 4 videos monthly.

 
 
 
Cracked engine block from
overheating
Requires a block replacement at several  thousand dollars
 
                   
      Blown Head Gasket  from  overheating                                           Will also require Major  Work 

 

Posted in Car Care, Safety, Vehicles | Leave a comment

How to Encourage Your Kids to be Active with You

Posted on March 24, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

With all the technology available to play with today, children are spending less and less time outdoors and less time being active. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Get out and active yourself, and bring your child with you.

 

Set a Good Example
Monkey see, monkey do. Kids are less likely to be active if you are not active or if you make negative comments about your level of activity. Simple comments, such as saying “I hate not finding a parking spot close to the entrance” as you walk across the mall parking lot, may sound innocent, but it sends a negative message to children, telling them that walking is not fun.

Encourage Play
The easiest way to encourage your kids to be active is to play with them from a very early age. Activity does not have to mean competitive sports or joining a club you never use. If you have a yard, use it. Do not wait for the weather to be perfect, simply dress appropriately. Instead of watching your children play from your deck or window, get up and join them. Push them on the swing or if you are daring, climb on it yourself. Depending on your children’s ages, you can run around the yard, play tag, throw a ball, or play pretend horse by jumping invisible hurdles.

Not only will you be increasing your fitness level, which will help relieve stress and contribute to all-around health, but your children will remember you as the parents who made time for them.

Give Your Kids Control
Encourage your child to play on sports teams, but be careful to not be so pushy that you turn off his or her interest in activities. Give your child some level of control to find a sport or activity at which he or she excels. Let your children be kids. Allow them to try several things, and perhaps even make them try a few different sports. However, think twice before enrolling them into sports they strongly dislike.

Include Children in Your Routine
If you work out regularly, whether it is at home or not, include your children in your workout routine. At home, it may be tempting for you to retreat to the fitness room to work out in solitude. However, if your children are not active, it may be time to re-evaluate that strategy. Go on a walk as a family, or teach your child how to use workout equipment. Obviously, your child may not do an as intense or focused workout as you, but he or she can at least start learning the basics of staying healthy.

For a workout routine outside the home, see if the facilities cater to children and bring them along.

Offer Encouragement
Not all children are naturals when it comes to being active. Some have lower energy levels than others, especially if they are not fit to begin with. In this case, offer encouragement and be aware of innocent-sounding comments that may undermine a fragile self-esteem.

Posted in Health | Tagged | Leave a comment

Spring in Missouri

Posted on March 22, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Fairs and Festivals

Spring in Missouri is reason to celebrate, which is something the locals know how to do well.

•Lewis and Clark Heritage Days – St. Charles has hosted the Lewis and Clark Heritage Days the third weekend in May every year since 1979. The focal point of the celebration is the reenactment of Lewis and Clark’s voyage down the Missouri River. Highlights include a grand parade, a military encampment, the fife and drum corps muster, musket and cannon demonstrations, a skillet throw and period music, food and wares.
•Great Lake of the Ozarks Gospel Sing – Get those “hallelujahs” and “amens” ready because the Great Lake of the Ozarks Gospel Sing is coming in March. This music festival features eight gospel acts over a three-day period.
•50 Miles of Art Tour – Take a ride and enjoy arts in the river towns of Clarksville, Louisiana and Hannibal. In addition to excellent art, you’ll enjoy the breathtaking views of soaring rock cliffs, rolling hills and colorful landscapes along Route 79.
•See the World in Branson – This month-long festival beginning at the end of April showcases internationally inspired entertainment, attractions and cuisine available to visitors in the Branson area. While in Branson, be sure to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors.
•The Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival – These stories are so good it takes two tents to tell them all. Come find out for yourself at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival in April.
•The Springfield Rock-n-Ribs Barbecue Festival – Come enjoy famous ribs and barbecue during the second weekend in April in Springfield.
Baseball
There’s something magical about baseball in the spring in Missouri. Catching a professional baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City or Busch Stadium in St. Louis is a must. For those who prefer playing the game to watching it– don’t worry. There are plenty of fields in plenty of towns to knock the ball around or play some catch.

The Great Outdoors
Winter’s over– get outside! Outdoor attractions in Missouri include, the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, Lake of the Ozarks, Truman Lake, The Ozarks National Scenic Riverways, bike trails, hiking trails and just about anything else you can think of.

Springtime in Missouri is a fun time!
Before you make that roadtrip be sure and see the experts at Weber Chevrolet to make sure your car is road-ready.

Posted in Auto Service, Things To Do | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Picking the Right Paint Color for Any Room

Posted on March 20, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

White walls are dull and boring. But attempting to dress them up with a splash of color can be intimidating. What if that deep bold hue of purple you chose makes the room look as if Barney the dinosaur exploded all over your walls? Taking the bold step of introducing color into your home can be full of uncertainty and stress. But don’t worry; there are ways to ensure that a Barney disaster won’t happen to you.

Your first step should be deciding what color scheme will work with the furniture/decoration items in your room. If it’s the living room, what color is the couch? Are your TV stand, coffee table and end tables made of dark, white or lighter wood or glass?

Next, does the room have a lot of light, a ton of windows? Is it a large room or a small room? If the room is smaller and doesn’t have a lot of windows, you’ll probably want to steer towards the lighter colors to make the room feel brighter and bigger.

Ok, now you’re ready to head to the hardware or home supply store and tackle the sample cards. Choose a bunch and bring them home. Hold them up to the wall and try to see if you could picture that color on those walls. Don’t forget to make notes on the back of the cards so you remember where you found the sample cards and which colors you liked the most.

When you’ve narrowed down a few colors, head back to the store and purchase a few pints of those paint colors. You can get them for as little as $10 each. Then take them home and paint test patches on the wall. Look at it during the different times of day and see how it works for you. From there you should be able to narrow it down for one. But never fear, if you can’t, just start all over again with new test patches of different colors.

Once you’ve settled on the color, decide whether or not you want a matte, flat or glossy finish. Matte and flat finishes will hide imperfections on the wall. Glossy paints will reflect more light than the others.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help from the staff at the local hardware or paint store. They can steer you in the right direction so long as you give them a clear picture of what you’re trying to do with the room.

After your paint job is complete and you’re now left with a brightly colored orange room, don’t fret if the color is overwhelming at first. Put the furniture and decorations back in the room and see how it flows. You just may find yourself living inside of a beautiful sunrise.

Posted in Things To Do | Tagged | Leave a comment

Recipes: Savory Waffles

Posted on March 16, 2012 by WeberCarGuy

Waffles are to breakfast what yeast rolls are to dinner. This quiet breakfast item is often used as a bland palette that folks slather with butter and fruity, creamy, or syrupy toppings. However, there are other ways to offer these deeply dimpled, soft-in-the-middle, crunchy-on-the-outside, hot-pressed, and powdered quick-breads.

Let’s examine the possibility of “Savory Waffles” for breakfast or dinner.

The batter is a long-standing café recipe first developed in the 1970s. This old-fashioned waffle recipe is made with yeast and eggs for volume and melted butter for great taste. The old stand-by is now modernized by the addition of oat bran for fiber.

For the savory part of the technique, there is a vast array of herbs, spices, cheeses, and spice-tinged cooking oils from which to choose. These add-in ingredients lend themselves quite willingly to the plan once the batter has been prepared.

Savory Waffles
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Note: The waffle batter can be made a day ahead and kept, covered tightly, in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

2 cups milk, warmed to 110-115 degrees F
1 package quick-acting dry yeast
3 tbsp. sugar
1-1/2 sticks butter, melted
3 eggs, beaten until frothy
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats plus 1 tbsp. oat bran
1 teaspoon salt

Equipment needed:
Waffle iron

Directions for batter:
Warm the milk and test for correct temperature; add the yeast, sugar, and oat bran and stir a time or two. Allow this to sit 5 minutes to activate the yeast and soften the oat bran, then pour into a large batter bowl.

Add the eggs; stir well to make sure eggs are fully incorporated.

Add the melted butter then add the flour and salt. Stir well with a long-handled wooden spoon. Cover the batter with cling-wrap and set aside momentarily.

Saffron, Havarti Cheese & Garlic Chive Savory Waffles

Ingredients:
1 pinch of real saffron
2 tbsp. hot water
3 Cipollini (Italian) onions, sliced thin and caramelized
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup grated Havarti cheese
3-4 stalks Garlic (Chinese) Chives
Salt & pepper to taste
1 dozen quail eggs (optional)

Use good-quality saffron; according to The Spice House.com, “Saffron’s golden color can be imitated by cheaper spices, such as safflower and turmeric, but its rich and delicate flavor is inimitable.”

Directions:
Add the saffron to a small bowl, pour hot water over it, and allow this to steep for 5 minutes.

In a small saute pan, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and the thin-sliced Cipollini onions; sauté until onions are nicely caramelized, around 10 minutes. Keep an eye on these onions, stir often; salt and pepper to taste.

While the onions sauté, grate the cheese.

Add the cooled saffron mixture, onions, and the cheese to the waffle batter, and then stir in the snipped chives.

Pour enough batter onto the preheated, well-buttered waffle iron, close the lid, and cook until nicely browned; approximately 5 minutes.

To create the ultimate savory waffle experience, serve these tender, mellow-yellow, tangy cheese waffles topped with several poached or fried quail eggs.

What a fantastic, totally gourmet meal!

Posted in Recipes | Tagged | Leave a comment