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?

D.I.Y Car Elfing Kit + Trapped Elf Vent Air Freshener Holiday Car Hacks

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

Momma Told Me: I could certainly use an elf or two around here!

When my car was totaled (before you panic no one was harmed but my beautiful purple P.T.'s undercarriage) on St.Patrick's Day I was devastated. Vehicles are just things, and things can be replaced, but my car is my rolling sanctuary. It's my place where all is zen, and I'm completely in control of the music, the sights, the smells. And I take immaculate care of my car- whenever I can fit in the time. So, when I ended up getting a replacement vehicle with 60k less miles it was not only the 'newest' car I'd ever owned, it was a bit stressful to know how to properly care for and maintain it. For example, in the past, I'd always walked in and asked for the standard high mile Pennzoil® oil change, but now I had a younger engine, a Turbo engine, and it was ticking it's way towards past due on those regular maintenance services when I took possession of it.

I'd intended to drive it straight from signing the papers to my local Walmart, but somehow life got in the way and 1 round trip road trip to Oregon to visit Momma, and I found myself past due! And every day that ticks closer to the holidays I wind up with more and more on my plate and less time to juggle everything on my honey do list. Thankfully I'm at my local Walmart at least once, if not twice, a week. It's my one-stop-shop to knock multiple things off my seasonal checklist. From prescription refills to a new Winter jacket or just some party snacks for the big game, I can achieve a lot all at once.

So you won't be surprised to hear I brought my new wheels into my local Walmart Automotive department and they had a good chuckle at the fact this is now the 6th car I've brought to them for regular service. (Just try and guess how many emergency tires I purchased there in the past year.) It started a few years ago when I was trying to drop my car off at a local lube and oil chain but simply didn't have time to sit around and wait for more than an hour. After my first Walmart oil change I was hooked by not just the convenience of being able to shop while I waited, but also the ability to follow my car's progress while shopping, and the amazing prices on quality Pennzoil® Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil change packages. And now even more states can enjoy the convenience of Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic thanks to Walmart locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee expanding to offer these services!

And it was during a recent shopping trip, and Walmart automotive service, visit that I was inspired by this sentiment, and the theme of the season. You see, I give back a lot when I'm in my car. It may seem strange but I stop at intersections, or near fast food joints all the time and buy meals, or give money, to outstretched hands in our community. I'm also that person who regularly pays for the order behind me in a drive-thru.

 I believe in paying things forward and spreading unexpected cheer, and few times are as stressful as the holidays, no matter how much cheer they bring. So I picked up a cute greeting card, a tire pressure gauge, some craft supplies, and a Walmart gift card with $44.88 on it. Yes, $44.88, the precise amount to help another shopper check of their upcoming oil change while getting some holiday shopping done thanks the the rollback ($49.88 to $44.88) on Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic oil changes now through December 27, 2016.

My favorite DIY projects are also ones I can share, so I knew my Flattened Elf Vent Air Freshener was going to be the perfect handmade touch to complete my little car 'Elfing' kit. All you need to get started is:

Pair of Scissors

Hot Glue Gun (Mini is fine)

Small Clothespins

1 Sheet Red, Green And 2 Sheets White Felt

Peppermint (Or Your Fragrance of Choice) Essential Oil

Small Bells

Pencil (NOTE: I used a marker and the oil made residual ink bleed over time)

Optional Markers or Fabric Paint To Decorate

Start by pulling up a few reference photos of elf legs to decide on the style you want to go with. You don't have to be a world class artist- feel free to take some creative liberties when drawing your leg and feet outline on one of your white felt sheets. TIP 1: For your white 'base' felt go with the stiffer felt sheet over the soft fabric style felt. This will help give your finishes product more stability when you glue your bells on at the end. TIP 2: Place your clothespin on your fabric when planning the length of your elf legs. Ideally your clothes pin will run along the length of the leg, and not exceed the leg in width.

Cut your legs out carefully and use the stiff white leg cutout as a template to trace your feet onto your green felt, and your pants onto your secondary (softer) white felt sheet. Once your white pants are cutout trace the pants onto the red felt and cut a second pair of identical pants. TIP 3: This project will make 2 Flattened Elf Vent Air Fresheners- Just cut a second 'base' pant/leg template from your stiff white felt, and a second pair of green shoes, and you will have everything you need to assemble 2- no need to cut out extra white or red pants.

Next use your hot glue gun to attach your green shoes to the bottom of your elf legs base. Place your red pants over your white pants, lined up identical. Carefully cut slightly angled strips across your (layered) pants. This will create two sets of interlocking stripes in each color, with which you will use to make your elves' stockings.

The next part can get a little tricky, so be careful to arrange your strips in ascending order from largest to smallest (sort of to create the illusion of striped long johns). One at a time place your strips from smallest to largest, skipping a size between each color, alternating red and white. Don't get frustrated if you start to get straggler glue strings, they'll clean up easily when you're done.

Once all of your felt pieces are glued on you will have an extra set of alternating red and white stripes perfect to make a second elf, if desired. Flip your pants over and glue a clothespin on each leg, paying attention to angle them just right to allow room for both to clip without hitting each other. Flip your pants over and glue your bells onto the tips of your elf shoes. Lastly, add a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil to the legs. Only 2-3 drops are more than enough to keep your car smelling great for weeks! If you really want to go the extra mile when gifting you can give your recipient a bottle of essential oil to refresh their elf legs all season long!

Now that my car was smelling great, and running great thanks to it's recent Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil change, it was time to spread a little holiday cheer and share some of the joy of a happy car during the holidays. I wrote a little note in my greeting card explaining a little about who I was and why I wanted to do something nice for a stranger, tucked my Walmart gift card inside, and tied it up with the tire gauge and handmade air freshener.

I'm not going to lie, I get butterflies everything I 'stop and drop' something like a 'boo kit' or 'elfing kit'- I always worry I'll get caught in the act and some stranger will come rushing out of a store or their house with the wrong impression. So I tried to keep my photos brief here, haha! Really all I did was pull up to a random parking spot and tuck my Elfing Kit into the windshield wiper on the vehicle next to me. It was that easy. And just think how awesome it will be for someone to discover this on their windshield instead of one of those classic business card or advertisement spam flyers! P.S. How adorbs does the elf air freshener look sticking out of my air vent???

Of course there is no season for giving- it's important (to me) to give back all year round- it's my way of helping to make the universe a little brighter. But there is a season of dinner parties, frantic gift list shopping, family photos, and road trips- and it's easy to let your regular car care slide in the middle of it. Naturally its' also one of the most dangerous seasons to ignore regular vehicle maintenance, so make sure you bring your car by the Walmart Automotive Care department during your next shopping trip. Remember, for a limited time you can take advantage of that great Pennzoil® Platinum Full Synthetic Oil change rollback of $44.88 through December 27th, 2016! So, go ahead and dish- what have you been overlooking when it comes to your car care as the holidays sneak closer?

What Daughter Says: Be someone's elf this season and surprise a stranger with a little extra cheer- then let Walmart be your elf and save you time while you shop.

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!

Little Tikes RC Tire Twister- Ready To Hit The Road, No License Required

We received an RC Tire Twister from Little Tikes in hopes we would share our experiences here on the blog. Regardless all insight is genuine and all photos are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2016.

Momma Told Me: Driving takes a lot of responsibility!

I don't know about you but one of the first marks of adulthood I idolized was the car. I was a bit of a tomboy, sure most of my friends were young boys my age, but I think what really did it was those darn Hot Wheels action cars and their crazy yellow tracks you could link up infinitely. After all, Momma's white Windstar (minivan) wasn't exactly the most alluring example of a motorized vehicle- though it did have that red stripe down the side. Whatever it was, I had the urge to be in control and to go fast and remote controlled vehicles only made that thirst even more exciting. The funny thing is, those RC toys always seemed to frustrate me more than anything as I desperately worked on my cognition and dexterity skills to react fast and operate the dual joysticks.

The Little Tikes™ RC Tire Twister™ immediately caught my eye as a big kid at heart and was an instant crowd-pleaser at our Thursday play group. I was extremely skeptical that this remote controlled toy was age appropriate for 3 and up, as indicated on the packaging, but the over-sized tire track and easy to grip large racer seemed as if engineered for such an age bracket. Needless to say this was one 'little kids' toy even the older kids were waiting their turn in line to play with! And who wouldn't want to play with a dual sided race car that can ride inside a giant tire track doing flips OR hit the carpet for some off track navigation?

We let our 3 year-old experiment with this toy first- though she seemed a bit more overwhelmed than excited. The wheel was too much for her to handle- and even too heavy for her to lift up after topping, and too awkward to set up on her own. However the car, outside the wheel track was much more forgiving. It had a wide turn radius and, even though there were two control pad buttons to operate, she was fairly happy to watch it go forward or back, or in circles without a real plan of action. It's definitely a toy I could see her growing into.

Of course, if you have siblings around, this is a wonderful toy for everyone to play with. Lynnsey, our 5 year old was much quicker to train her brain to the dual pad button operation, but also had trouble with the tire turning too sharp and toppling. This is where I, as an adult, sort of wished there was some sort of rubberized coating on the giant wheel track- the sound of that plastic toppling over is fairly jarring, especially if that car comes popping out. In truth, it took the 7 and 8 year-olds to master the finer mechanics of balancing the speed and turns within the wheel. They were able to get the car to 'flip' inside the wheel generating a series of applause and cheers each time.

In the end the Little Tikes™ RC Tire Twister™ is probably going to get more use outside it's tire track than inside. The tire is a cook way to store and present the RC car, and neat for those old enough to manage the tricks but not quite something most toddlers can master intuitively on their own. I think this would be a great toy for a dad and son or daughter to bond over in the kindergarten range. Since it's Little Tikes™ it's also built really durable, to withstand a lot of play, and the battery life is extremely impressive for an RC toy of it's size.

Despite my slight disappointment with the difficulty level of the tricks and tire operation, the RC Tire Twister remains one of those toys the children wait all week to play with and a great tool for growing patience and dexterity. Of course, as far as RC toys go, it doesn't get much more entry level than a Little Tikes™ submission to the category. So, in conclusion this toy gets ample 'cool points' for being one of those head turning toys with great growing potentiality and should not be overlooked by any age bracket (we suggest 5-10.) Now, tell me, did you or your kids ever have an obsession with car toys as a child?

What Daughter Says: Race cars aren't all cool tricks and flashy wheels, the Little Tikes RC Tire Twister helps build dexterity and persistence through fun.