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There are few adventures I love more than a road trip, be it an impromptu trek to the country, a drive along the coast or merely taking off without any specific aim. What I don’t love: most “road trip” foods aren’t exactly of the health-conscious variety. In fact, they tend to be the exact opposite - think the same potato chips, cookies and candy bars you noshed on as a kid in the backseat all those years ago.

Fast forward to today. I’m in the driver’s seat - literally and figuratively. When it comes to planning my road trip, I keep one goal in mind: fresh foods that taste great and keep me satisfied. All I need is a cooler large enough to hold enough food for the trip (plus enough for whoever is along for the ride, natch). Just like Ben and Justin, the intrepid travelers who took an adventurous cross country “Freshpedition” with a GE French Door Refrigerator hooked up to the back of their Ford truck, I’m all about good, healthy foods. These two roughed their way across the country, fridge full of fresh foods in tow, in order to surprise a scientist working in a remote desert with a delicious, home-cooked meal.

Inspired yet? The good news is, I don’t have to drive cross country to a desert in order to replicate the experience. I can throw together a few healthy foods of my own, right in the comfort of my own home, before I hit the road. Some of my favorite on-the-go options include baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, frozen grapes, fruit salads (sliced apples, peaches, apricots and plums) and almonds. I also love tossing a jar of sunflower seed butter and a container of hummus into the cooler - they’re both perfect for dipping and are relatively mess-free, too.

When it comes to drinks, I steer clear of sodas and juices. I love blending together a little health smoothie before I go, complete with almond milk, bananas, strawberries, flax seeds and a touch of sweetener. Not only is it nutritious, but it also keeps me fuller than any canned beverage ever could.

Perhaps the most important reason to opt for fresh foods over junk: they keep me energetic and alert while I drive. There’s nothing safe about suffering post-meal grogginess on the road - ask anyone who’s ever needed a nap 20 minutes after lunch. Hydrating and healthy, fresh foods are always the perfect choice for a road trip.

GE is continuing this same passion for fresh food with the Freshpedition Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes uses Pinterest, which means you can actually pin for a chance to win all new GE kitchen appliances.  

But wait, there’s even more to win! 

You can also enter each day of the sweepstakes for a chance to win a $100 VISA® Prepaid Card. Entering for this prize is fun as you’re asked to pin your favorite fresh foods or your own recipes. Also, these pins when hashtagged with your state (e.g. #GEfreshTX) become part of a “Best of Fresh” map featuring freshness from around the country. Explore the map here: http://www.freshpedition.com/sweepstakes/fresh-map.htm

For official rules and to enter visit here: http://www.freshpedition.com/sweepstakes/

image: Dan McKay

Keeping in touch just got a whole lot easier and more fun with JustWink, an exciting new way to send personalized greetings using a free mobile app or online interface.

Over the years, electronic cards and Facebook messages have become the most common way to send a Happy Birthday or Congratulations note. However, a Facebook wall post can be a bit impersonal and many e-greetings can be grating with music and flash movies that go on and on. So annoying, in fact, that I’d all but given up on the e-card method of keeping in touch with friends and family. Until now…

I recently downloaded the free JustWink app to my iPhone and I’m 100% hooked! Not only does it offer a huge variety of cheeky, fun, and memorable greeting cards, but there are multiple ways to personalize them including photos, messages, even a handwritten signature. Creating the perfect card takes just a couple of minutes before sending via email, Facebook, Twitter, text message - even real mail. The best part? The finished product offers an experience similar to opening an actual card - no music, movies, or other distracting displays. Just a heartfelt message that is sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face.

Here are some screenshots of a card I created, complete with a photo, message and signature. You can view the finished card here.

Friends and family, you’ve been warned: I’m officially addicted!

Since deciding to step up my fitness routine this summer, a new pair of sneakers were my first order of business. It’s not that I don’t have a few pairs of running shoes, I do, but they’re pretty basic looking (read: boring) which doesn’t help much in the daily motivation department. Setting my sights on something bright and colorful, I decided to design my own pair of Nike LunarGlide+ ID shoes to ensure I get exactly the look I wanted.

After discovering that I could use my iPhone to access NIKEiD Mobile, I spent some time at the beach this weekend designing my dream sneaker. Not only does the new Nike LunarGlide+ ID offer the ultimate in lightweight responsive cushioning and dynamic support for necessary stability, there are so many ways to customize them to suit my individual style.

The mobile custom designer was super easy to use and offered several ways to customize the color and appearance of everything from the upper and midsole to the laces and swoosh. After playing around with several different color combinations, I opted for a bright orange to red fade design with “volt” accents and a reflective inner sleeve. Check them out!

Ready to hit the beach or the pool this summer? We found everything you need to make a stylish splash at oldnavy.com’s swim central. From bikinis to tankinis to one-pieces, we found an amazing selection of seriously chic swimwear in the season’s hottest colors and prints - all at prices that won’t blow your vacation budget. Even better? Everything is on sale from June 13 to June 27, so you can stock up on a brand new swimwear wardrobe.

Here are just a few of the swimsuits we’re craving: a string bikini in a fresh tropical print and a triangle halter tab bikini in an exotic fauna print with gold “hardware” details. A figure flattering watermelon-hued one-piece gives new meaning to fresh summer style and an ombre striped tankini will brighten even the cloudiest day.

With so many styles to choose from, Old Navy Swim Central should be your first stop on your summer vacation!

Old Navy brings fashion fun to the whole family: from trendy threads to trusty basics,
for newborns through adults, all at prices that are oh-so-right.