2013 Giveaway: Metric's "Synthetica" album

We are 17 days into the new year and I think a good way to start 2013 is with a giveaway.  Let's set the right tone for everyone with a little fun, a little treat, and a little music!  If you remember back in November, I was fortunate enough to spend a week with the Acura ILX Hybrid.  It was great to test drive another manufacturer's hybrid system and get spoiled with a bit of luxury.

Acura also followed up with CDs for me to give away to all of you.  They sponsor the Canadian indie rock band Metric, so I have 10 of their CDs to give away.  I think you will love their album "Synthetica."

I love the way Metric's lead singer, Emily Haines, describes their album, "[It's] about forcing yourself to confront what  you see in the mirror when you finally stand still long enough to catch a reflection."

Beautiful, right?

To catch a sample of their album, you can listen here. 

To enter the giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Remember, 10 of you will win!  Good luck!

Rules:

1.  Must be over 18 years of age to enter.

2.  U.S. residents only, please.

3.  Enter before January 25th at midnight EST. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Winners:

1. Ariel L.
2. Regina V-D.
3. Amanda P.
4. Art M.
5. Kerry R.
6. Traci
7. Melanie K.
8. Colleen M.
9. David D.
10. Barry R.

I sent an email to all of you, so make sure to respond so I can send it to you ASAP. Congratulations!

Giveaways provided by Acura. All opinions are my own.

My Vacation with the Acura ILX Hybrid

I figured since the LA Auto Show was going on, this was the perfect week to share my final photos of my #WeekWithILX.  (As many of you know, my laptop crashed, so I am just rejoining the Internet world!)  My final weekend was spent driving down to Palm Springs for a little R&R before the crazy holiday season.  It was the perfect time to leave Los Angeles since it was rainy and cold and we were headed to the dry heat of the sunny desert.

Here are some photos of my adventure:  

 No trip is complete without a Starbucks run...

 I really enjoyed the moonroof......no, really.  

 The navigation system came in handy when I missed my exit...typical of me.

 The windmills were a definite sign that we were close to Palm Springs...

 We made it!

 The most perfect view from our ILX moonroof......palm trees!

Once we parked our butts at the Desert Riviera, the most heavenly place in Palm Springs, I went over the Top 3 features we used in the Acura ILX Hybrid on the way down.  

1.  Navigation System:  I am one who constantly uses her iPhone for maps and directions, but I was less distracted as a driver utilizing the in-dash GPS.  I wasn't looking down at my phone and I wasn't pushing buttons while driving...I was safely watching the road.

2.  Backup Camera:  I have this feature in my current vehicle and it is a must for your next vehicle purchase.  The ILX technology was a bit more advanced than my 2008 vehicle because it actually helped you navigate into that parallel parking spot with guidance lines on the screen. Very handy if you are terrible at parallel parking like me.  

3.  Bluetooth:  Again, this is a feature I will say is a must for your next car upgrade.  It takes away the need for the old headset and it allows you to voice dial and talk on the phone hands-free. I know we love to use our phones in the car, but the more we keep our hands on the wheel, the safer we will be.  

 We hopped out of the car and onto the bikes lent to us by Desert Riviera.

 The views!

 The resort!

 The hot tub!

The pool!  (And the only shot you will ever get of me in a bikini.  Great photo trick...lie down flat, your stomach looks flat. 

 There's my significant other.....you get his toes!

 Nap time!

 My toes!

 My new favorite spot in Palm Springs....Desert Riviera.  They book up quickly, so don't miss out. 

A shot of the moon through our moonroof in the ILX on the way home....

For those of you that know me, I am already a big proponent of hybrid technology.  I have owned one for five years and I was thrilled to drive the ILX Hybrid. We went to Palm Springs and back on one tank of gas.  I didn't need to fill up all week.  Hybrids also have a ton of power since the electric motor adds extra torque to the vehicle.  Americans are obsessed with horsepower, but it's torque you really need out on the road.  Torque gets you going, horsepower keeps you going.  

A huge thanks to Larry at Desert Riviera for allowing us to stay and use the hotel room for an extra day.  We appreciate and we will be back...mark my words!  A big thanks to Acura, Brand Influencers, and Acura Insider for giving me a vehicle that impressed me and safely delivered me to all of my events that week.  

To learn more about the Acura ILX, check this out:

Acura has invited me to test the new ILX and share my honest thoughts through social media. I may receive product, access or content, but all commentary is my own.

If you missed my other posts, check them out here and here or enter for one final chance to win a #WeekWithILX here.  

My Adventures with the ILX

My first day with the Acura ILX was a really good one.  Here are some of the things I did during my first day with the vehicle.  And by the way, it's a hybrid, so you know I was super psyched!

I kicked off my day by co-hosting, Good Morning, Spreecast, with Seth Everett.  We talked about everything from Kristen Stewart to Elmo to the fact that Fifty Shades of Grey is just commercial porn....and oh yeah, I danced in my pjs to Gangham Style.  That was unfortunate.  See it all here.

I drove the ILX around taking me to my BarWorks class as you can tell from my workout gear in the top photo. I decided that the back-up camera with multi-view was my favorite feature of the day.  I have a back-up camera in my current vehicle and I always say it is a necessary piece of equipment, but the ILX actually guides me in reverse.  As someone who is an embarrassing parallel parker, this is going to be key for me this week.  Maybe I will finally parallel park in three turns of the wheel for once.

A snapshot of the back-up camera in reverse with the guiding lines.  Pretty cool, right?

This shot gives you a better idea of the screen size too.

I then drove back home to do a couple of entertainment spots on Driving with Gass in Phoenix and The Radio Dish in Kansas City all while finishing up my entertainment pieces of the day for SheKnows like this one:  

Finally, I learned my co-host, AJ Gibson, and I were nominated for an IAWTV Award along with our show, AfterbuzzTV's So You Think You Can Dance after show.  Holy cow, what a day!  See the live announcement below:

Tomorrow is definitely going to be an adventurous day in the ILX as I have a screening to attend, a little bit of beauty to work in, and a fun fan chat about last night's Twilight premiere on Spreecast.

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a week with the ILX for yourself.  It's so easy to enter.  Info is here.

If you want to join my Twilight fan chat, it's happening at 5pm PST today at this link.  See you there!

By the way, the winner of my Twilight giveaway has been announced.  Congrats to Elle A!  I sent you an email so make sure to send me your mailing address.  



Acura has invited me to test the new ILX and share my honest thoughts through social media. I may receive product, access or content, but all commentary is my own. 

Media Mondays

I can feel that award show season is just around the corner because my media appearances are kicking in to high gear and everyone wants to know who the front runner is so far.  This week, it's Argo, but we still have a solid 30 days of movies to watch.  I might change my mind next week since I have a Flight screening tomorrow.

Either way, follow me all week as I ride around in my Acura ILX Hybrid.  Yes, it's borrowed, but I am going to be chronicling my adventures all around LA.  If you want to win a week with the ILX, make sure to enter here.  It's so easy and there up runner-up prizes of $50 and $100 gift certiheficates.  You don't want to miss it!

Here are some of my fun appearances from last week...pick and choose your adventure!

Oh, hello, Molly Ringwald.....you are my 80s idol.  At reading of Molly's new book, When It Happens To You at Blushington.

Another fun week on Afterbuzz TV talking DWTS.  

The Radio Dish:  I love my Kansas City ladies.  I come in around the 19:20 mark dishing the Hollywood Bling.  

Cocktails and Conversation:  If you missed any of my Twilight press junket scoop, you can hear it here at the 24:00 mark.  I talk a lot about Kristen Stewart, Rob Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner in this one.  

Spreecast:  If you missed my interview with Marisa Quinn who plays "Huilen" in Breaking Dawn, Part 2, you can view it here.  She talks a lot about that big huge final scene.  If you read the books, you know what I am talking about!  

The Detroit Bureau:  It's amazing what you find on Google Alerts. Here's an interesting article about Toyota's appearance on HSN, it's kind of cool to be a part of automotive marketing history.  The link is here or double click the photo to read the text.  

SheKnows.com:  My favorite stories of last week:
Kirstie Alley "was trying not to be a whore"--The title of this is just awesome.
Channing Tatum is People's Sexiest Man Alive this year.--Trust me, the news has been spoiled.
Brandi Glanville disses LeAnn Rimes.--The fact that I know how to spell LeAnn that way says enough.

Okay, that's it for this week!  Just a couple of things to note:

--Breaking Dawn, Part 2 giveaway ends tonight.  Enter here.

--There is an awesome Acura ILX contest going on and it's so easy to enter.  Do it here.

--I will be chatting about the Breaking Dawn, Part 2 premiere tomorrow at 5pm PST on Spreecast.  Join me here.  

My Week With the Acura ILX

If you saw my tweet yesterday, you might have heard that Acura is giving me the opportunity to drive the ILX this week.  I'm planning on taking it all over Los Angeles with me to test drive the technology and ride quality of the vehicle.  I hope you join me on some of my adventures as I take the car to set, to workout, to a screening for Oscar season and for a little R&R in Palm Springs.  I will be posting photos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @KristynBurtt, Pinterest, Google + , and logging my locale on Four Square....yep, all over every possible social media outlet.

So here's where I need YOUR help....and you will want to read #2 because it involves some cool giveaways.

1.  Help me decide where I should take the ILX during my week:  should I go for cupcakes (Gluten-Free, of course.)?  Shopping for a new dress?  To watch the sunset at the beach?  Give me some suggestions in the comments below.

2.  Tell me what you would do if Acura gave you a free ILX for the week.  Respond in the comments below or on Twitter using the hashtag #WeekWithILX (You must use this hashtag to qualify.). The best responses will receive $50 or $100 gift certificates or a FREE week with the ILX!  Not a bad giveaway, right?

So, join me for all of the fun as I kick off my ILX week beginning tomorrow.  Ready, set, go.......tell me what you would do with this sweet ride:

Disclosure: Acura has invited me to test the new ILX and share my honest thoughts through social media. I may receive product, access or content, but all commentary is my own.