Upgrade before my move: New Car!

For the past (embarrassingly enough) nine years, we have held back on buying a new car for other things like, trips, new furniture, and even little items like a gazebo for the backyard here at the Hiatt House in Oregon.  But with my move coming up, it was time for an upgrade to a better vehicle that would be able to make the long haul from Oregon to Arkansas.

This trade-in and upgrade was a bit of a bitter sweet moment.  The car we traded in was an Oldsmobile Achieva and was a gift from my parents.  It was also the same car that Jeff and I brought Skylar home in, so letting go of it was sad to me, but it was a much needed trade that should have happened awhile ago.

We ended up going to South Pacific Auto Sales in Albany, Oregon for the car.  I searched and searched for weeks online to find a good car that suited our needs.  Even though I wasn't really looking for a used car, this Jeep jumped out at me when I saw it.  We test drove it and knew we had to have it!  It was perfect!

We got treated so well at South Pacific that I have to give them props for others to go there.  If you live in or around the Willamette Valley of Oregon, give them a try for your next car, they are amazing!

We went with the Jeep Compass Sport because it came with a lot of great things such as, sunroof, an actually two-prong 115v plug in, a very roomy trunk space, factory-tinted windows, great gas mileage, the color is beautiful, and cloth seats.  Going from a car that had leather seats, I welcomed cloth, especially in the summer months.

We signed over the title, gave them the keys, and said goodbye to the old car.  It was a bittersweet moment, but we are glad to have a more reliable car now.

It was a good feeling to go on the dealer site and see the word "SOLD" across the top of the picture.  This car is going to give us many good road trips ahead and to break her in we are driving her all the way from Oregon to Arkansas.

Spark of Loves this Week

These Lucifer's Tongue Flowers.

Because I will miss how lovely they are in front of the house in Oregon when I am gone.  You can see more here through Flickr.

This Snack.

Because it was fun.

This Color.

Because it was the color that came in my Brit Kit for this month and it was a nice change.

This Watermelon.

Because he ate it while watching Arthur and spending the day in his underwear.

This Timeline.

Because the move from Oregon back to Arkansas is really happening in less than a week.

This Grasshopper.

Because it was so tiny and Skylar found it.

This Beer.

Because I changed it to El Hefe in honor of Jeff one day.  His nickname is El Hefe to some.  It was a good laugh.

This Picture.

Because my birthday falls on the same day as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's famous, "I have a dream" speech.  This year marked the 50th anniversary.  It's sort of a special day times two.

This Car.

Because we finally did it, we traded off the old maroon car we received as a gift from my parents 10 years ago.  We went with a Jeep Compass, and it is perfect for our needs.  And we get to break it in by driving it all the way back to Arkansas soon.

This Car.

Because Ugly Betty will be missed in more ways than one.  This is the exact car that Skylar was brought home from the hospital when he was born.  She really, really will be missed.

Eco-Tip:  It's time for back to school for many kids, so why not send them back to school with greener school supplies.  Look for items that are made from recycled materials over virgin materials this year.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me:  Go Green.

Spark of Loves this Week

This Ice Cream.

Because it's wonderful and I will miss it.

This Moment.

Because nothing is better than a nap with your dog.

This Grapefruit.

Because it was ice cold and was a wonderful breakfast treat.

This Spider.

Because I wasn't afraid of him.

These Rabbits.

Because Skylar wanted one so bad, but I told him he would have to wait till after we moved.

This Mouse.

Because I love the colors.

This Sign.

Because it reminded me of the Pirate and Gypsy Festival.

This Star.

Because it was in grandma's garden.

This Lunch.

Because it was just like a school lunch and was yummy to my little Bean.

These Leaves.

Because they make my day every time I see them.

This Watermelon.

Because I ate it all by myself and it was wonderful!

This Skyline.

Because it was the perfect end to a perfect evening.

This Lavender.

Because I grew it and it produced a lot this season.

This Shadow.

Because it was eye-catching.

This Water Bottle.

Because it says Crystal Springs on it.

These Clouds.

Because they needed to be shared.

This Ice Cream.

Because it was enjoyed at the local ice cream parlor.

These Cups.

Because they are so colorful.

This Hermit Crab.

Because they are about to go on an adventure in two weeks. 

This Machine.

Because it was super cool and we couldn't help but play with it.

Eco-Tip:  Power down your desktop and laptop computers at night, and when they aren't in use.  Power down your computer at night is a smart way to not waste electricity while you sleep.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me:  Go Green.