Distracted Driving Is More Dangerous Than You Think EYES ON THE ROAD We’ve all been there — you’re running late, juggling a coffee, fumbling with the GPS, and maybe even trying to sneak in a quick text at a red light. But here’s the reality: Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous habits on the road, and April is the perfect time to talk about it because it’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month. When most people think of distracted driving, they picture texting behind the wheel. That’s certainly a big one — taking your eyes off the road for even five seconds while going 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. But distractions come in many forms, including eating, adjusting the radio, chatting with passengers, and even driving while sleep-deprived. Many don’t realize just how much lack of sleep impacts driving. Studies show that driving while drowsy is just as dangerous as driving drunk. Skipping just a couple of hours of sleep can slow reaction times, impair decision-making, and increase the risk of an accident. If you’ve ever “zoned out” while driving or caught yourself nodding off, that’s your brain waving a giant red flag. So, what can we do to cut down on distractions and stay safe behind the wheel? Here are a few easy (but life-saving) habits to adopt: Put the phone away: Use the Do Not Disturb While Driving setting or stash your phone in the glove box to remove the temptation. No text is worth your life. Plan before you drive: Set up your GPS, pick your playlist, and send any last-minute texts before you start moving. Take sleep seriously: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night. If you feel tired, pull over safely for a break, switch drivers, or even take a short nap before hitting the road. Avoid multitasking: Your car is not a dining room, makeup station, or mobile office. Focus on one thing: driving. Let’s make the roads safer. Put the distractions aside, get some solid sleep, and keep your focus where it belongs — on the road!
LEN’S BIRTHDAY CAKE Inspired By SugarSpunRun.com
INGREDIENTS Cake • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened • 3 cups granulated sugar • 3 large eggs • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 4 cups all-purpose flour • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder • 1 ½ teaspoons salt • 2 cups buttermilk • ½ cup colorful sprinkles
Frosting • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened • 12 oz cream cheese softened • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract • ¼ teaspoon salt • 5 ¼ cups powdered sugar • ¾ cup natural cocoa powder
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease three 8-inch or 9-inch baking pans. 2. Add butter to a large bowl and beat until smooth. 3. Add sugar and beat until well combined, then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 4. Stir in vanilla extract. 5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 6. Using a spoon or spatula, add about a fourth of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until just combined. 7. Add approximately a third of the buttermilk and stir again until combined. Repeat alternating adding flour mixture and buttermilk until all ingredients are completely combined. 8. Stir in sprinkles and evenly divide batter into prepared pans. 9. Transfer to oven and bake 25–30 minutes if using 9-inch pans and 32–34 minutes if using 8-inch pans. 10. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Frosting 1. Combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer and beat until creamy. 2. Stir in vanilla and salt. 3. Gradually add powdered sugar. Then stir in cocoa powder. 4. Ice cake and enjoy!
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