You’ll have to forgive me. this post-really has taken a long time to write. I have no good excuse for that, except perhaps that bubble I was waffling on about yesterday.
Which, when I think about it, is actually a really, really good excuse.
Anyway. Just before-Christmas, as money in the TinyTrainHouse slowly squeezed itself tighter and tighter, I decided that maybe it was time to do some cost cutting. And the most practical way to do that was by downgrading my much-loved but extremely petrol-hungry AWD SUV Turbo and invest in something slightly smaller, cheaper to run, and that hadn’t caused me months of unnecessary emotional heartache.
Sometimes life is, as we know, ridiculously difficult, for no other reason than it can be. And because the universe is, so to speak, a bit of a bitch.
But then, sometimes, for no apparent reason at all, things just… work. I’d like to say it happens ‘often’, but that might be a lie. So I’ll settle for saying that the Universe seems to be working with me lately, rather than engaged in a stupid arm wrestle that I just can’t win.
The universe seemed to appreciate this idea of buying a new car. Within a week of making the decision- and just begun to mull and fret over the effort required, the selling and pricing and buying and registering and what-not- a solution, easy and practical, presented itself.
Which is a welcome change from feeling very much like a lightning rod for bad karma.
I’d forgotten- though maybe my subconscious had remembered- that my mate Bunny had, just a month or so ago, decided he was bored with the car he drove. And had gone New Car Shopping for a car just like my SUV, but had been unable to find one he liked. Obviously because the Universe was saving his small, efficient blue Lancer for me.
The Brand New Second Hand Car.
And the further we investigated the pro’s, con’s and prices of Bunny’s Car vs My Car, the more obvious the answer become. Both cars sold for roughly the same price- within $300 difference of one another. The kilometers they had both done were identical to within 50 k’s. And both were about 2000 k’s overdue for their next service.
Swapping cars was just too easy. No messing around with ads and phone calls and waiting and negotiating and waiting more. I didn’t even have to vacuum the bloody thing before I handed it over. (l probably should have. But didn’t. Because that’s what friends are for.)
Sometimes, things can be simple. Maybe sometimes I just need to let them be simple.
So- introducing our brand new second hand Car. That we’ve actually had for a while now. Despite missing my turbo, I’m loving the Lancer. Who, after some discussion via Twitter and IG, has been christened ‘Genevieve’. Because I just couldn’t pass up the suggestion of calling the car ‘Sir Lancer-lot’….
But as everyone knows, all cars are girls.
***
And further in line with the Universe being nice to me… at around that same breath-holding, just-scraping-by time of year; just when I was beginning to glance warily at the Bump’s daggy old car seat and worry incessantly at how her shoulders were just getting higher and higher against her shoulder straps (tall skinny thing that she is), I got one of PR emails. An awesome one this time, not a sucky one.
This one was inviting the Bump and myself to review the new Britax Safe-n-Sound Maxi Rider AHR Easy Adjust car seat. I think Miss Mini-Fashionista (obviously doesn’t get that from me) sums up what we thought of it, here…
Bumpy Fashionista
It was pretty damn cool.
It’s built like a veritable car seat fortress… the old one actually feels like polystyrene in comparison. It’s got so many layers of padding that it really does suit kidlets from approximately six months to around-abouts eight years old, without them ever looking like itty bitty tiny dolls with floppy necks that may just fling out of their seat at the slightest touch of the brakes. The Bump is currently harnessed in, but this seat has impressive fold-down arms for when she’s heavy and old enough.
The straps are so easy to move around, with actual buttons to release them (who would have thunk…?) and there are pockets and storage compartments everywhere.
And to complete the way too school for coolness of it all… it has speakers built into the head rest. And, tucked into it’s own little elasticised pocket on the side (out of reach of tiny fingers!) is the headphone jack. Total win.
Safe-n-Sound Maxi Rider AHR Easy Adjust
At around $529, it’s actually the kind of car seat I’d usually look at in a baby shop and sigh over and think to myself that I just couldn’t justify the expense. But having tried it, it actually feels… safer. Which is quite logical given the whole value for money equation.
And it just looks so much… cooler.
***
Tales of everyday equilibrium continue tomorrow with the story of a replacement kitten, and a missing DimSum. Stay tuned.
Tagged as: bump, children, Life But Not As We Know It, my head is an awesome place to live, stuff that makes me happy, yup this one’s sponsored
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Horrible tattoo. I hope they paid u for that!
you tattoo is adorable , i got some tattoos designs of burger on my stomach .
Your tattoo is cute. I went "Awwww" when I saw it even! I have the words "Enrique" tramp stamped on my lower back…wouldn't that suck if I did?
I really am tattooed, but nothing to write home about. I have sun, moon and star tattoos on my left arm. Not nearly as cute as Jiminy.
Recently, I've been getting the urge to add to the collection. I should consult with you before deciding what it is.
Love the Jiminy, and the concept of it too. The only tatts I have are my eyelids which the overly-exuberant nail shop owner (who served wine) which I regularly frequented back when we had the money talked me into. (I didn't frequent the owner, just the nail shop) I was naive and didn't know that "permanent makeup" and "tattoo" were both applied in the same way.
Cute tatt! I've never wanted one myself, in fact I'm surprised I've even got my ears pierced twice I'm so conservative.
Oh that is so cool! I think he needs a touch up & he'll be awesome again
I am inkless. Ink free. Minus ink. I couldn't do the needles. Cute cricket!
I luv it – Jiminy Cricket is a such a cool idea for a tattoo!
That is a very cute little tatt!
I have one very small pale green star. On my upper, inner right thigh. There are about 3 ppl who have ever seen it.
I want one on my foot though, for my best friend. I just haven't decided what it should be.
I have four tatts – one on each shoulder blade, one on my upper left arm and one on my lower back ( tramp stamp! ).
But i gotta say, none of mine hurt. Uncomfortable, yes, but hurt ? No. Man up Lori!
I've been getting inked since I was 17 and have no intention of ever stopping! Sorry, mum!
Nope, no ink here either. But Jiminy is way cool!
I don't have any tatts but I do have a shit load of stretchmarks and I ain't sharing those! te he. Noice tatt lovely xx
I can share an ingrown pubic hair… if you want?
I didn't get my first tat till I was 51, and loved it. And they told me that woman that have had children do a lot better with the pain than any man that gets them.
You should have them "freshen up" Jiminy. He would probably thank you
No ink here, but I love your Jiminy and totally get why people get tatts. Your blacking out and throwing up story would most definitely be me!!!!
Yep, I have a tattoo on my ankle, but I'm in the midst of having it removed via laser treatment. It was a last minute decision when I was 18 and I've hated it ever since!
Eek!! Needlephobe!!! I like yours though.
So Brave! I want to black out and vomit just thinking about getting a tattoo- so I'm guessing its' not for me?
Super cute, Lori. I've been planning to blog about my ink for some time now – this has inspired me to do it sooner rather than later. I've got four pieces now (but I've got rid of all the piercings bar one in each ear): back of my right wrist, left side of my back (ow), side of my foot (Ow!), and right ribcage (OWWWW!!!). I love them. I want more (and more and more) but I am limiting myself to one every two years, and even then only if I've wanted the same design in the same place for six months. I love my ink.
Love it! No ink on this bod. Just paint.
Love your tat
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jiminy is cool as, you should get it touched up so he's all fresh again.
I have a tramp stamp, it's a rose in the middle with some generic tribal bits either side. When I was 18 EVERYONE got a tramp stamp. But now that they're labeled trampy I want to change it up a bit.
Funny thing is, when I was 18 it went all the way across my back < --this way and now it only takes up 1/3 of my < -back space-> #putonweightmuch?
I've got a couple more tats planned but I just don't have the money for it right now.
No tatts here! I can't imagine doing that…passing out, throwing up, and doing it again. Crazy.