Make Car Buying Simple: Shop From Pretty Much Anywhere

Last week my newest car's odometer ticked past the 75k milestone. I simply cannot believe how the time, or miles, have flown by! This really got me thinking about my previous car buying experience, and how stressful the process had been. Unfortunately, due to an accident where I was in no way at fault, my car buying journey was entirely unplanned, and I was in no way prepared for it. To complicate the usual barriers in car shopping (haggling, deciding on make and model, financing, etc) I had an additional hurdle to climb; I had no car to shop for my new car in- as my previous car was totaled. This meant I was often left making blind phone calls and stopping into random dealers whenever I was lucky enough to bum a ride. I felt completely 'thrown to the wolves' and entirely in the dark the entire way.

Regardless of your unique situation the process of car buying, certainly car shopping, should be fun and transparent. Purchasing a new car is a big decision, which causes stress in itself- and, for most people, it's a long term decision that will impact their lives every single day. I often describe my own car as my 'rolling sanctuary' or 'home away from home' because I spent so much time in it, and I rely on it to get me to most of life's worthwhile events. It's our family's gateway to new adventures, reconnecting with family, and opportunities yet to be discovered. It's hard to believe there was a time during my most recent car buying journey I actually found myself in tears talking about giving up on the process all together. That's no way to feel when shopping for a new car!

Thankfully there's a new platform for online car shopping that launched this week, PushAuto. I had a chance to play around with it this week and I've actually started dreaming of CAR #2 as a result. Yea, it's good enough to turn my thoughts around, and make car buying fun again. Best of all, PushAuto is entirely FREE to use and can be used on any device with an active internet connection- no app download necessary. I will note, however, that you will want to sign up for an account (don't worry it's painless and quick) to unlock the more in depth services of this unique online car buying aide.

Personally, I prefer the mobile interface for PushAuto- the simpler things are, the more I find myself drawn to tinkering with them. The mobile interface for PushAuto easily guides you from step 1-4 of their simplified car buying experience. Use PushAuto to browse better prices and rates between multiple dealers and lenders with the push of a single button. Not sure if the prices are fair or competitive? You'll have access to the prices paid by others for the same car, and even an estimate for annual cost of ownership. There are no hidden surprises- and no ambiguous prices. You'll cut the haggling process out with real lowest price offers, and often get a response from dealers or lenders in 24 hours.

Of course there are a lot of ways to shop for cars online- I feel like I've tried them all. One of the things I especially love about the PushAuto interface is how easy it is to find not just a make and model, but a car that has exactly what I need. If I'm shopping with a budget in mind there are many options within the vehicles I'm considering to fit my unique needs, since PuchAuto is working with so many local lenders and dealers near me.

A lot of time, when I was shopping by myself for a car last year, I'd see dealers would have their own financing options but I could not get an ideal of my approval value, or apply, without going directly to the dealer itself. This wasn't very practical since I didn't have a car to go out to multiple dealers- With PushAuto I can browse and shop for a new car from anywhere, while I apply for lending options. This truly helps summarize the car buying experience into one neat time-saving package.

In about an hour of playing around, poolside, with PushAuto I'd found several makes and models I'd been desperately looking for on my previous car buying hunt. I was put in touch with several local dealers, and even provided a picture of my financing options- which would really cut down on time spent signing papers later. Car buying may not be a flash decision choice, but PushAuto definitely helps me process my options much clearer so I can spend more time deciding between a handful of cars that would be great for me, rather than sorting through lot after lot of question marks.

It can feel your life is on hold when you don't have a vehicle, or are in need of a more reliable vehicle- but car buying should be simple and fun. There are enough main events in life to plan and look forward towards without having to turn the process of car buying into one. What's that phrase Momma always told me? Oh, yeah, "Time is money"- but, more importantly, my free time should be spent living life to the fullest and having fun. I've got too many places to see and things to do to let car buying drag me down!

I feel like I've bought more than my share of vehicles for the 30 something years I've been alive so far- really, so many I consider myself an expert. Choosing the right make and model car for you can seem like a daunting task- once you've finally found the car that works for you don't let finding the right financing and actually locating the car pull you down. Enjoy the simple way to shop for cars with the new PushAuto online car buying platform. And since it's brand spanking new to the U.S. you'll be one of the first of your friends and family to know all about this little car buying secret, too! Now, tell me, car buying- love it, or hate it? What part of the car buying process do you wish was easier?

Bring The Best Of The Outdoors To Your Car This Season With Clean Air + A D.I.Y Vent Clip Freshener

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FRAMFreshBreeze #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: The air's fresher outside.

I'm the sort of person who pays attention to the air I'm breathing.

In our living room we have a portable air purifier, as well as on the night-stand in the master bathroom. Though we have a cat and a (allergy friendly/fur free) dog I am constantly vacuuming and lint rolling away the traces of them. And, of course, I keep an eye on the local pollen counts and air advisories. Living in Southern California we're also at risk for long periods of ash falling from the sky, during brush fire season, and notorious for poor air quality in the form of smog. Thankfully, we live a good 40 miles from the main 'inland' cities, on the coast, so pet dander, pollen, and the occasional ash are my most common concerns.

In our home we clean vents, replace air filters, and keep the windows closed on poor air quality days. I like to think we maintain the (allergen/irritant) risk factors quite well. And, for many people, this is quite common in modern times. However, how do we maintain a pleasant breathing experience when we are on the go? Arguably, our car, is one of the places we are potentially subject to the most, and widest range of, air pollutants.

I keep a lot of air fresheners in my car because I like a 'stinky drive', as Jay likes to put it. But, as much as I like to envision flowers growing out of my vents, the term air freshener might be deceiving and without proper air filtration I might literally be breathing in irritating pollen as the flowers bloom over the next 6 months. Air fresheners really don't do much but mask odors- odors commonly caused by smells (bacteria) lingering in various aspects of your car. (Yuck!)

When I bought my current vehicle last year it was the newest (for me) vehicle I'd ever owned. While it was a 2005 model it had had but one owner (a grandmother who used it for casual cruising when the grand-kids were in town.) It had a whopping 54k miles on it and had been garaged nearly all it's life. Because it was in such impressive condition, I began investing more time than usual on maintaining it's quality with a few small automotive DIY projects. We refurbished the headlights, I replaced a few simple parts, bought new windshield wipers, and took it in for a full tune-up and oil change at my local Walmart automotive center. Even the mechanic complimented the condition the car had been kept in, but we were both surprised to learn one item was still in 'like new' condition. The cabin air filter compartment sat there, under my hood, with the original manufacturer's seal sticker still taped over the front. The previous owner had never decided to install one.

In fact, you just might be surprised how many people could be driving around without a cabin air filter in their car. Certain makes/models don't include cabin air filters off the lot- despite having a perfectly functional designated space for one. And many people get the cabin air filter confused with their engine air filter- they are NOT the same thing. Just as your engine air filter is important to ensure your engine is breathing nice clean air the cabin air filter directly controls the quality of air that is pulled from outside your vehicle, inside, through your car's air conditioning and vent system. Even more alarming the air inside your vehicle can be up to 6x dirtier than the air outside!

Thankfully, I was able to browse the in-store automotive department at Walmart on my last trip. I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of Fresh Breeze® cabin air filter stocked on the shelves, so an employee was happy to assist me. In fact, he not only helped me find the right air filter for the year, make, and model of my car, but he assured me that most cabin air filter replacements could be done by owners with little to no car care experience. He also told me that Fresh Breeze® cabin air filters help filter up to 98% of dust, dirt, and allergens entering my car, and are the only cabin air filters that use the natural deodorizing qualities of ARM & HAMMER® baking soda.

I'll admit, while I've been doing more and more 'at home' car maintenance lately, I always get a bit of anxiety whenever I have to go under the hood. The first-most important thing when preparing to install your FRAM Fresh Breeze® cabin air filter is that you have the proper filter for your car- refer to FRAMFreshBreeze.com to determine the appropriate model number, and local Walmart availability, for your particular vehicle. While I'm about to share the simple process involved in changing my 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser (Convertible, Turbo)'s cabin air filter you will find more specific instructions and installation videos by part number on the FRAMFreshBreeze.com website.

Here's what I used for the job:

*FRAM Fresh Breeze® Cabin Air Filter CF10900
*Needle Nose Pliers,
*Both A Phillips and Slot HEAD Screwdrivers
*A Large Bowl/Container (For Loose Parts)
*Some Baby Wipes/Paper Towels
*Good Music/Companionship Optional

In my 2005 Chrysler PT Cruise the cabin air filter is located under the hood in the upper left (passenger's side) corner of the engine compartment. PT Cruiser vehicles are notoriously annoying for any sort of 'under the hood' work as the engine compartment is very compact and things can be touch to get to/navigate. In some vehicles the cabin air filter may need to be accessed through a glove compartment.

To get to the cabin air filter box I had to first remove the top grill of my engine compartment. This is a 2-piece, long, grated plastic cover that interlocks in the middle and has both top and side screws. The screws are inserted into caps and both the screws and caps will have to be carefully removed in order to pull the grill. Depending on the age of your vehicle the plastic caps your screws are inserted into may be brittle and subject to breaking. Carefully use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to remove them without damage. There were a total of 5 screws, and 5 screw caps on our vehicle. We kept an oversized bowl in the middle of the engine compartment to hold our screws while we continued the project.

As with all 'under the hood' projects you'll want to be mindful of your hands, and how greasy they may become. You may be tempted to rest your hands, or lean, on the outside of your car. Since my car is cream, and I didn't feel like adding a full afternoon of detailing to my chore list that day, I kept my wrists on the outer engine seal whenever I needed to brace myself for a better look.

While you can get away with only removing one half of this upper engine grill/cover you will be best served to remove both as they interlock in the middle and it takes a bit of coaxing to get the passengers side free. We ended up partially closing the hood to allow better rotation access in the upper left corner. Once I'd tiltes the back corner up it twisted out and the panel was easy to lift out.

With the upper engine compartment open I could immediately see the (in our case empty) cabin air filter box. With a flat head screwdriver I easily popped the two tabs holding the front cover in place and pulled it out. Be sure to keep one hand on the cover as you do this to prevent it from falling down into the compact engine compartment.

So, in about 8 minutes of prep-work I was ready to install my brand new FRAM Fresh Breeze® cabin air filter at last! The air filter was clearly labeled  indicating which way should face in towards the cabin for proper air flow. Install your air filter with the arrows facing in towards the inside of your car, with the lighter side of the filter facing out towards you.

Again, PT Cruisers are notorious for tight engine spaces and having the washer fluid basin directly up against this compartment made for some colorful language on my part. You may want to clean your hands, and the area around the air filter prior to attempting installation. If you have a second set of hands to gently pull the washer tank back, every 1/4 inch of leeway helps when sliding this chunky air filter into it's new home.

Once your FRAM Fresh Breeze® cabin air filter is happily seated in it's new home you can begin moving backwards to reassemble that which you disassembled. Again, the only tricky part is getting the two upper panels to interlock, then it's just pop the screws back in and you're done until next year, or about 12,000 miles (when it's suggested you replace your cabin air filter again). *Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle owner’s manual.

In celebration of my new FRAM Fresh Breeze® cabin air filter and the 9.5 pollen rating forecast for the upcoming week I decided to revamp one of my favorite automotive DIY projects with Spring and Summer in mind. Pretty much anyone can literally make flowers spring from their car's air vents with this simple Vent Clip Air Freshener tutorial. Here's what you'll need:

*3-4 Sheets of Colored Felt- I prefer to have at least 1'stiff' felt sheet for my base layer

*Small Clothespins

*Hot Glue Gun/Sticks

*Essential Oil of choice (I used Lavender)

*This nifty, FREE, printable template and Scissors

It may seem complicated but piecing these felt flowers together is easy- just print 2 copies of our FREE flower template printable and cut the outer shape of your flower of choice into 3 layers of felt at the same time. If you can choose a base layer that is the stiff kind of felt sheet and top with 2 layer of the traditional softer felt. This will make cutting and assembly much easier all around.

Reserve your bottom (single piece) layer and set aside. Next cut the most obvious, outer, shapes from the template on the second layer of pre-cut felt. Lastly, cut the 'background' layer/shapes into the 3rd. Everything from layers 2 and 3 will fit together like a puzzle, just mix and match however you'd like the colors to pop through. With the rose template you'll want to cut all the shaped out of both the 2nd and 3rd layers then just place them together into 1 single layer (leaving half leftover for a second rose) and glue them directly onto a single layer base.

You can go simple with your leafs- they mainly serve to act as a small pop of color and the portion that will stick primarily into your car's air vent. Securely glue them together, over-lapping partially, then glue them onto 2 clothes pins. Lastly, glue your completed flower onto the leaves.

Add a few drops of essential oil to the felt flower- preferably at the top where fingers won't have to directly touch to pinch and insert the clips into your vent. Or course you can also clip the flower into your vent and apply the essential oils after. Depending on the quality of fragrance (and where you're in a warmer climate where your car might 'bake' during the day) a few drops will last a week of more for fragrance. These little air freshener clips can be re-used endlessly, just add more essential oils.

I like to make these vent-clip air fresheners as gifts, and seasonally to add a handcrafted touch to my vehicle. They're quite affordable to make and I find 4 felt sheets will make about 6-7 with scraps left over. Best of all they're the perfect compliment to my new FRAM Fresh Breeze® filtered air!

With the warmer months upon us I'm sure we will all be driving more, to some pretty exciting places and adventures. When was the last time your cabin's air system had a refreshing? Chances are it's long overdue. I'll admit, I was pretty horrified when we opened up our engine compartment to see we'd been breathing the air through our car vent system without and form of filtration! Thanks to FRAM Fresh Breeze® cabin air filters at Walmart the entire family can breathe a sigh of relief- and, thanks to my adorable vent clips it smells FABulous. Now, dish- did you know your car had a cabin air filter? When was the last time it was replaced?

What Daughter Says: The air inside your car could be 6x more contaminated than the air outside. Maintain your car's cabin air filtration system for a better in car air experience.

How To (Absolutely, Positively, Completely) Rock Your Road Trip

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Every mile is a memory.

My first road trip was at 17.

I packed up the back of my very first car with 'all' of my worldly belongings and my best friend and I squeezed ourselves into the front for a 2,986 mile cross-country drive spanning a total of 50+ driving hours. We made it to our destination, my new home at the time, in just 3 days alternating driving shifts and stopping only for one night at a hotel. Some may argue that's not much of a road trip. Sure, we got the driving part down but we didn't truly have a chance to do more than stop at rest stops and highway signs for a quick photo-op here and there. At the time all my teenage, star-crossed, romantic heart could think about was getting to my high school sweetie for the Summer.

It's not my fault, really- nobody ever taught me how to road trip.

I'm sure my parents traveled here and there, up to the Redwoods, or Cannery Row, when I was an infant- but my mother's battle with cancer back in 1990 put an end to most of that. From there on out we became a flying family. And by flying I mean I flew back East with my pop twice a year while Momma stayed behind and 'held down the fort.'

So, while my first real road trip wasn't exactly an epic one, the freedom of an open road and the roar of a purring engine is something I've since courted many times since. In fact, ironically, I will always drive to a destination unless it is entirely impractical. Just ask Momma, who had to literally buy me plane tickets to convince me not to navigate the ice filled passes of Oregon last fall. There is a freedom about traveling in a car, a plethora of options presented by the prospect of charting your own way, and a world of discoveries which accompanies a road trip.

So I might not have always been the 'road trip expert' I am today- but, as someone who road tripped over 3,500 miles last year, I have learned a thing or two about rocking the road trip. Let me share with you some of my best advice to maximizing every mile and memory on your next road trip!

Let's start with ensuring your wheels of choice are in optimal condition for the journey. Few things ruin a road trip like being unprepared for a roadside incident, or an unexpected mechanical issue. While the destination and routes traveled will play a big part in some of these preparations there are a few things you should always mark off the checklist prior to departing:

• Check that your vehicle is stocked with an emergency roadside kit, including a jug of water.
• Inspect all tired for missing valve stem caps, low tire pressure/leaks, unusual wear and ensure that your vehicle is equipped with a viable spare.
• Inspect your headlights- Do they appear fogged over from age? You may want to spend 30 minutes to refurbish them. Fogged headlights are not just an eyesight, they are a safe driving hazard and significantly minimize visibility in night driving.
• Check that your windshield wipers do not streak and that the rubber is free of cracks, nicks, or dried out sections. While you may not be driving somewhere where rain is anticipated your windows may require cleaning while on the road and streaks or poor functioning wipers can cause issues with road visibility.

If your car is near due for an oil change, or will be due (according to mileage) by the time your return from your journey take your car in for an oil change prior to heading out on the road. Having your oil changed at a Walmart Automotive Care Center is not only convenient and affordable but helps provide a peace of mind towards ensuring your car is at it's best before piling on those road trip miles. Bring your car in for a Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® or Pennzoil Platinum®: Full Synthetic Motor Oil with PurePlus™ Technology vehicle motor oil change at the Walmart Automotive Care Center and ask to have your vehicle's other fluid's checked and topped off, as well as your tire pressure checked for free!

I've been bringing our cars to Walmart for our oil change needs for the past several years for 2 reasons- 1.) I love to shop and stock up for my road trips while my car is being services and 2.) I can always get a great deal on a quality Pennzoil motor oil change no matter the car I bring in. Every car has it's own unique motor oil needs, and my car will be dinging 75k miles at the end of our Summer Road Trips. It'll be just about time for another oil change and just in time for the high mileage motor oil change service rollback  at Walmart! ($39.88 on Rollback to $35.88 June 15 - September 28, 2016)

Once you've ensured all the moving parts are ready to hit the road you'll want to make sure the inside of your car is road trip ready too. Road tripping can often lead to a myriad of messes, odors, and just plain funk inside your car as you trek new terrains in and out, eat fast food curbside, and even live out of your car! A contained trash disposal system is a must and my 'Gift Bag Trash Bin' Car Hack is a genius way to not only stash your trash in style, but organize those cigarette lighter charging cords too! The best part- a small gift bag is an affordable item you can replace anytime your 'trash' bin gets a little too grungy!

If you're taking littles along for the journey you'll need to keep them entertained. When packing car travel activities for children keep in mind the motion tolerance of the passengers. Some kids do best focusing on something static directly in front of them, while others need to feel as though they are in an open space with lots of movement. Nobody wants to pull off the side of the road so someone can toss their cookies! For a fun, cheap, and endless backseat activity check out our D.I.Y Mobile I Spy game!

Drive connected, but safe. Technology is a blessing for the modern road tripper. Nearly any corner of the country mapped by a highway will yield a cell signal- but sometimes drivers become a little too reliant. Make sure to bring an extra charging cable, spare smartphone battery, hands free communication device, and smartphone mount on your journey. You'll likely be referring to your phone for navigation from time to time, if not the whole journey. Keep in mind, as amazing as GPS maps are, they're not always entirely accurate. Most importantly, if you feel you are lost or have missed a turn don't panic! Pull off the highway, at a public place when possible, and gather your bearings before heading back out on the road.

One of the quickest way to add awesome to your road trip is by starting a tradition. You likely already have some if you've been on a road trip before. One very common tradition is to stop at 'state border signs' and snap a pic. You likely won't be the only one, and, if you're lucky, the other travelers will offer to snap a photo for you! Traditions not only build memories, but help break up the sometimes long and tedious drive between destinations with something to plan and look forward to. Other traditions might include collection a specific type of souvenir from gift shops, finding a specific type of restaurant to dine at each stop, create a road trip playlist and sing along, or to hold your breath at state and county borders (a good luck tradition.)

Last Fall Sabrina and I drove the Pacific Coast Highway up to Portland, Oregon. We stopped for every sunset, looking for a quiet, yet scenic place to grab a soda (or water in my case) and soak in the locale before checking into our accommodations for the night. Since I was the driver it was her job to keep an eye out for something she wanted to explore or take in- on one particular night a beautiful bridge caught her eye and we pulled off at a bed and breakfast that was closed for the season. That's where we met and befriended a gorgeous feral cat we nicknamed and still reference to this day!

Hotels are great when traveling to a destination and staying for an extended period of time- but, on a road trip, the point should be to maximize experiences collected with something new and unexpected. Consider booking a campsite, bnb, timeshare, or beach house rental for an evening when seeking respite on the road. Most often people road trip on a budget and end up booking value hotels. While you can sometimes find a gem at a great price, you're not truly expanding your world by staying in a cookie cutter chain hotel while on the road. Yes, for road trips, seek out unique and alternate accommodations to add to your journey's story.

Bring soap. Bring baby wipes, wet naps, soap bars, hand sanitizer, and pretty much any other convenient portable cleanser you can pack. When I go on a road trip, or travel anywhere really, I always bring a new bottle of hand soap. If you're planning on staying in a hotel- does anyone REALLY like those mini itty bitty complimentary bars that slide all over the sink and stick to the porcelain? And, if you're traveling on the road- is soap always available at every restroom and rest stop? Having your own personal soap and cleansers on hand help keep you feeling clean while traveling, and feeling clean means you feel more alert and ready to enjoy your trip.

Don't over pack. Whether there's 1 person or 4, whether you're in a compact car or an SUV, the endless clutter seems to pile up the further down the road you go. Pack smart and pack only what you'll need. If you're on the fence about something you probably don't need to pack it. If it turns out you did, you can always stop at a store along the route and pick it up. The exception being, of course, those planning on traveling extremely rural routes.

While this may seem contrary to the above tip, always pack a swimsuit. Unless you are the sort who simply never ever wears a swimsuit or touches any body of recreational water, no matter what, this rule is important. Think about it. How many times have you gone away for the weekend, visited family, taken a road trip, or planned a business vacation thinking 'I'll be nowhere near a pool' then BAM everyone's heading to a pool and you don't have a swimsuit on hand? Whether you decide to take a dip in the lake at an impromptu stop, or wind up crashing at a bnb with a pool, you'll be thankful you had the option to toss one on.

So there you have it. My best tips for maximizing your road trip and getting the most out of every mile. With road trips the vacation is in the 'getting there,' as they say. If you're hopping in the car dreading every mile and just waiting to reach your destination then consider taking a plane. Road Tripping isn't for the weary of heart, but the rewards of an open mind and open road are bountiful. Just make sure you pack smart, drive safe, and get your car road ready with a Pennzoil vehicle motor oil change from a Walmart Auto Care Center near you. Now, tell me, where were you headed on your last road trip, or where are you headed next?

What Daughter Says: Road trips are all about the journey- make memories and plan a road trip for your next vacation!