Caring for Our High Mileage 15-Passenger Van with Pennzoil #FuelTheLove #Ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FuelTheLove #CollectiveBias

When Jamie and I were in the early years of parenthood, we joked that if God kept growing our family, we'd end up with a "church van" someday. Well, that day came sooner than we thought it would and we found ourselves the proud owners of a 15 passenger van after baby #7 came along! We bought a 1999 Ford Econoline that had been used by a local boy scout troop since being purchased new. That was five years ago and it's been more than just good luck that's kept this van running as long as it has. While we don't deny it's been a blessing from God from the beginning, some good vehicle maintenance on our part, including regular oil changes, has gone a long way in keeping it going with as many miles as we've put on it.

Our van has been faithful to transport us all between Seattle and Eastern Oregon numerous times, as well as on our cross-country move out to Arkansas a couple years ago. It's still going strong and dependably making sure we get to ballet, church---even the kids' first formal dance---safely and on time.

One way we keep it running smoothly is by getting regular oil changes using High Mileage oil from Pennzoil. We like Pennzoil because it cleans out yucky sludge that other oils might leave behind and it's designed to allow you to drive an extra 550 miles per year on a cleaner engine. On top of that, Pennzoil also offers a free warranty, covering fifteen engine parts that may fail due to engine wear or which take on abnormal wear from  friction. (For more information, check out the Pennzoil Warranty Site.) 

It's really convenient for us to take our van in to the Walmart Automotive Care Center every few months because the crew there can change our oil while we shop. Jamie took it out last night to have it done after work and by the time he finished his other store errands, they were done.  

The High Mileage formula comes in these brownish/gold bottles and can also be found near the Automotive Center for those in-between service times when your oil is running low. It is great for vehicles over 75,000 miles. This formula specifically helps to reduce leaks and oil use in worn-out or higher mileage engines and is uniquely designed for late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles.

Now through September 9, Pennzoil oil changes at Walmart will be on Rollback. The High Mileage change like we got is $35.88, compared to the regular Walmart price of $39.88, and the Platinum Full Synthetic oil change is $45.88, compared to the regular Walmart price of $49.88. 

I don't think they make them much bigger than 15 passenger but we've still got four spots left. I'm not sure if we'll ever fill them up, but we'll do our best to keep treating the van well and make sure it runs for a long time more---just in case.

Easy Energy Boosts for the Busy Homemaker #V8EnergyBoost #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #V8EnergyBoost #CollectiveBias

This past school year has been a busy one full of homeschool co-ops, field trips, and play dates. Now that it's summer, I'm changing the focus of that busy lifestyle to home---where it should be, really. I've really been feeling the pull to focus inward more on my own home and family, as there were a lot of things neglected the past few months due to all our running around! The house and garage need a thorough cleaning and decluttering, and I'm even planning to revamp our homeschool routine to make it fit better with the huge range in ages I've got now. All these things require energy, so I've had to restyle some of my own personal habits, as well. Here are some energy-boosting ideas that I know will really help me this summer. I'll start with the new V8 V-Fusion+Energy drink Jamie bought me from Walmart last night.

V8 V-Fusion+Energy drink gives me natural energy since it's made from Green Tea. It's a great alternative to soda or coffee as it brings a boost of feel good energy without the crash later on. It's nice to have a few in the fridge so I can grab one and go. Jamie likes to take these in his lunch, as well, since a day of staring at computer code can really wipe a guy out mentally!

Jamie found V8 V-Fusion+Energy at Walmart in the shelf-stable juice section. He brought home a six-pack of Black Cherry---his favorite flavor. They also make it in the following flavors: Pomegranate Blueberry, Peach Mango, Orange Pineapple, Tomato, Diet Strawberry Lemonade, and Diet Cranberry Raspberry.

In addition to the occasional V8 deliciousness, my big energy go-to is water. It's amazing how much water our bodies actually need daily and how different our basic functions are without it. Without adequate water intake, I feel irritable, exhausted, and depressed. My body aches and I even have trouble with my vision. Our bodies may require up to half our body weight in ounces of water on a daily basis, so lots of water, as well as water-rich fruits, vegetables, and soups will really help increase our energy levels.

I also find that activity levels and sleep go hand in hand to keep me functioning with alertness and vitality. Working from home means a lot of computer hours and, as much as I think I need to do that *one more thing* online, sometimes I just have to shut it and get out of the house. Jamie and I have started going for walks in the evenings and it's amazing how much better I sleep when I've been active with daily housework and daily walks. Better sleep means more pep for the next day---it's a great cycle to get in to.

One more motivation tool that has surprised me lately is the use of essential oils. A couple months ago, my friend made me this gorgeous diffuser locket so I could wear oils throughout the day. There's a piece of leather inside and every couple days I put a few drops of oil on it. I've been using a citrus blend that really takes the edge off when I'm struggling with stress and lack of ambition. After a couple weeks of wearing it, I'm so convinced that I decided to sign up to sell oils myself. There's a lot of info online about blends to enhance your moods and relieve anxiety. I bought a bottle of lavender, too, for the days when I want some calming relaxation---but for energy, it's citrus all the way!

I encourage you to give new V8+Energy a try. It's a nutritious choice for natural energy and, at only 50 calories per eight ounce serving, you can enjoy it often. 

V8 and Walmart are offering the chance to win $2,500 in Walmart gift cards in this awesome sweepstakes. Make sure to enter to win below and let me know which V8 flavor you're excited to try! V8 V-Fusion+Energy #V8EnergyBoost $2,500 Sweepstakes

Dark German Chocolate Cake

I apologize now for what I'm about to do. Some of you have been faithful readers for YEARS...and I hate to betray your good faith in me. BUT! This cake! Oh, this cake.

German Chocolate cake has always been one of my very favorites, but I rarely make it because Jamie is allergic to coconut. Last weekend, he took the boys camping. Well, what do the Coller girls do when the Coller boys go camping? Why, we have a tea party and eat cake!

Contrary to what pretty much all of us think, German Chocolate cake does not come from Germany. In fact, it was originally called German's Chocolate cake after the American Sam German who developed a special kind of dark chocolate for Baker's Chocolate Company. They named the chocolate after him---Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate. That was in 1852. Over 100 years later, a homemaker from Texas submitted a cake recipe, German's Chocolate Cake, to her local newspaper and sales of the chocolate were boosted by almost 75%. The cake became a national tradition and the rest is history!

Ready to try out my take on this American heritage recipe? Don't worry---you'll only need a small piece 'cause it's really rich! That's totally ok, though. Makes it last longer!

Step One: The Cake
3/4 cup butter 
1 1/4 cups dark cocoa powder
3 cups milk 
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 TB vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 TB baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350º. Grease three 8 or 9" cake pans. (Yes, I know the cake in my picture only has two layers. I made the third layer for Jamie with just the dark chocolate frosting)
Melt the butter and whisk in cocoa powder until well-combined. Whisk in the milk well, then add the sugars, eggs, and vanilla. When everything is smooth, set aside. *This mixture will seem really runny to you. Don't worry about it...it's going to be great. Trust me.
Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and add to the wet mix, stirring until just combined. Divide into the three pans and bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out barely moistened. Cool before loosening and removing from pans, then cool completely on a wire rack.

Step Two: The German Chocolate filling
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup butter 
1 TB vanilla
3 cups Sweetened Flaked Coconut
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans 

Toast the pecans in a pan on the stove. Then whisk the sugar, milk, yolks, and butter together over med-high heat, and continue to whisk until the mixture is bubbling. Add the vanilla, pecans, and coconut. Allow the mixture to cool down quite a bit before filling the cake. 

Step Three: The Dark Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup butter 
2/3 cup dark cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla 

Melt butter and mix in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, beating to desired consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. This mixture is very much like ganache---but more frosting-y. Very awesome and very rich.

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