Summer driving tips

Posted on May 31, 2023June 7, 2023 by carly.hegstad@l-s.com

SUMMER DRIVING TIPS

A Dos and Don’ts Guide

May 31, 2023

Summer’s back in full swing, which means it’s time to break out the sunscreen, use your PTO and go on a trip. It’s also a great time to practice being safe on the road because, of all the seasons, summer is the most dangerous for drivers according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Don’t go cancelling your plans just yet. Instead, follow these dos and don’ts for a summer of safe driving. You’ll be at the beach in no time.

Custom Message Creator

Posted on February 9, 2023February 10, 2023 by carly.hegstad@l-s.com

Custom Message Creator

Need to Decline a Call? We’ve Got You Covered.

February 9, 2023

Do you ever find yourself having to decline a call while driving? Are you bored of the typical “Sorry, I can’t talk right now” response? Same — which is why we’ve brought you a How-To guide to customizing a “decline” message that you’ll be excited to use (because driving distracted is never worth a response).

Quick Reminder! 250 South Dakotans were killed or injured in distracted driving related crashes in 2020.

Step one

Grab your phone and go into Settings->Phone (iPhone) or Call Settings (Android).

STEP two

Scroll until you see “Respond with Text” (iPhone) or “Quick Responses” (Android).

Step three

Create the most unique, epic and applicable response message you can think of.

message inspiration

If your go-to message is the average “I’m on my way,” then thanks for reading thus far. However, if you’re looking for something that speaks more to you or your situation, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite custom responses.

Driving distracted is deadly. Craft your message, decline the call and drive safe.

FREEZE!

Posted on January 10, 2023January 10, 2023 by carly.hegstad@l-s.com

FREEZE!

Are you ready for winter driving?

January 10, 2023

If you answered “no,” check out our top tips for keeping yourself and your vehicle safe in blustery conditions. If you answered “yes,” use this to refresh your snow-covered driving skills.

PREPARATION IS KEY

GRAB A PENNY

Before you brave the snowy roads, grab your lucky penny and stick it in the treads of each tire. If Abe’s eyes have disappeared, you’re in the clear. If you can still see his forehead, it’s time for new tires.

FILL ‘ER UP

Make sure your tank is at least ¼ full, if not more. When temperatures start to drop, the chances of frozen fuel lines start to rise, so it’s always a good idea to keep enough gas in the tank to ward off any freezing.

DE-FROST, DE-ICE, DE-CHILL

We’ve all seen those people, the ones who clear the bare minimum of snow from their windshield. Don’t be like them. Be diligent in scraping all windows of ice and snow, set your heat to “Defrost” mode and make sure you give your vehicle enough time to warm up before you head out.

PACK A BAG

Snacks? Check. First-aid kit? Check. The tie blanket you made in 6^th grade? Double check. Make sure you have the “what if’s” covered by packing an emergency weather kit, especially if you’re traveling from one town to another.

HERE WE GO

SNOW MEANS SLOW

Whether it’s a light dusting or a full-blown blizzard, our best piece of advice is to stay home unless you absolutely must travel. If so, slow down and increase the distance between you and other cars by at least double — you never know how long it will take to stop.

GUIDE THE SLIDE

Ah, the dreaded skid. From black ice to high winds, chances of skidding or sliding increase dramatically during winter months. Our top tip? Steer in the direction of the skid. That way, once you’re out of it, you don’t have to make a last-second over correction.

KEEP CLIMBING

For this tip, we’d like you to imagine a little kid trying to run up a slide. Got it? Now picture the slide as an icy hill and the little kid as your vehicle. What we’re trying to say is avoid stopping while driving up hills as much as possible. Gravity and ice will always win.

IT’S ALL YOU

As tempting as cruise control is, especially on long drives, using it during icy or snowy weather isn’t the best idea. Using cruise control can mask the loss of traction until it’s too late to correct, so stay alert and in control.

Well Done

You did it. Now that you’ve reached your destination, grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate as a reward for staying safe on less-than ideal roads.

Holiday Mocktails

Posted on December 19, 2022January 6, 2023 by carly.hegstad@l-s.com

Sip sip hooray!

Your mocktail guide to being the life of the holiday party.

December 19, 2022 // 2 Minutes

We’ve got a list of holiday-inspired mocktails that yule never forget. Something else to never forget? How dangerous it is to drink and drive. So, snuggle up, grab your glass and get ready to sleigh the (safe and sober) holiday party game.

Berry Merry martini

Serves: 1

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1/2 Cup raspberry flavored sparkling water

Splash of cranberry juice

1-3 Raspberries

This mocktail is easier to make than your Slide-to-Buy Amazon order. Add the first three ingredients in a fancy martini glass, find a stirrer (or small stick) and garnish with raspberries.

Holiday mimo ho-ho-sa

Serves: 2-4

The juice of 1 grapefruit

3 12-Oz cans of ginger ale

1/4 Cup simple syrup

Handful of fresh basil

We love a mocktail that can make an appearance at any meal, any party or any time of day. Juice the grapefruit and mix with the ginger ale and simple syrup. Add your ice, basil and grapefruit rind to a champagne flute for the best non-boozy bubbly.

White (Christmas) Russian

Serves: 1

2 Oz brewed coffee

1/4 Tsp vanilla extract

1/8 Tsp peppermint extract

2 Oz heavy cream

1 Peppermint stick

Instagram-worthy and refreshing? Count us in. Grab your favorite Old-Fashioned glass, fill it with ice, pour in the coffee, and add in the vanilla and peppermint extracts. Slowly “float” the heavy cream over the coffee, plop in your peppermint and be on your merry way.

The outcider

Serves: 3-5

10-12 Quartered apples

1 Quartered pomegranate

1 Quartered orange

1 Cinnamon stick

4 Tbsp maple syrup

There’s nothing better than a warm cup of happiness on a cold winter day. So, let’s get started. Throw everything into a crockpot, add 5-6 cups of water and cook on low for 6-7 hours. (This is when we suggest taking a nap, going sledding or baking cookies.) Strain the mixture, locate your coziest mug and enjoy.

Coquito of the bells

Serves: 2-4

4 Cups of coconut milk

2 Cups of heavy cream

1 1/2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Pinch of salt

1/2 Tsp cinnamon

Pinch of coconut flakes

Known as Puerto Rican eggnog, this mocktail is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Mix all ingredients in a blender, refrigerate overnight and serve in the trendy glassware of your choice. Garnish with coconut flakes, cinnamon and holiday wishes.

Author: carly.hegstad@l-s.com