October 16, 2011

Stroller Mama

So, when you have to wait until you are 36 and watch everyone you know have a child before you...you learn a lot just by watching others.  If you are like me, you also get an obsession for some things.  "If I could only have a child of my own" is kind of depressing to think about, everyday.  How about just obsessing about the THINGS that you would have IF you had a child, that seemed more fun.  Diaper Bags and Strollers, those were my coveted vices!  The diaper bag was Kate Spade, of course.  But, I did a lot of research on strollers, a lot!  I couldn't justify the cost of the Bugaboo to Darren for sure...but also, it wasn't easy to travel with so it was a problem for me too.  Did I mention the $800 price tag!  We settled on Maxi Cosi for car seats and our stroller and I was really happy with them and their customer service.  But, when it came to traveling, it was a full sized stroller and was hard to fly with.  More research....I found an umbrella Stroller Kooper by Joovy.  Their company headquarters right here in Dallas-awesome, easy enough to fold and small enough you could get through security and gate check it- awesome, and it was actually functional and comfortable when we got where were were going- awesome!  We love our Joovy and it has gone to CA, CO, the State Fair, the Arboretum, the Aquarium and Grandma-mas!

It is crazy that we have 3 strollers, each for different purposes.  Consumerism at it's best.  (Did I mention we have 5 different IPods in this family).  Being a runner, something that truly brings me zen and joy...it is hard to find time to run being a single parent.  On my "off" days from Trevor, I take advantage of the freedom to go for a long run.  But, I kept saying "I would go running today, but I have Trevor".  We went through a long process with another stroller company....I won't go into it, with our first jogging stroller.  Loved the concept, hated the stroller.  The only stroller that seemed fit for a true runner was the BOB and that one costs $450.  That seemed excessive.

But, I kept wanting to go for a run...outside.  I could go to the gym and put Trevor in the kids club and run on the treadmill but that is a lose, lose for both of us...not fun!  Us both getting to be outside would be so much nicer.  I got on Craig's List earlier this week to see if any BOB's were out there (there never are).  But, then...I saw a post by the main Joovy office which is in Deep Elum in Dallas.  *Warehouse Sale*  by appointment only and they had jogging strollers for $99.  I called and ran down during my lunch.  They weren't quite sure about one of the wheels but I said I would try it out, he would only take $50 for it.  Sure enough it pulled to the right, so hard that it was difficult to keep it on the trail.  I emailed the guy who sold it to me and he apologized that he should have checked it out more before it got advertised.  He felt so bad that I came down that he said he had a brand new, in the box stroller that he would sell me for the original $99 advertised (so, $50 more dollars but what I had originally planned to spend for a floor model for a NEW one).  Sign me up!  Talk about great customer service.  Check out our new Joovy 360 Jogging stroller!

I haven't had a chance to really run with it yet because I have been so sick, but we did go for a long walk today and I can honestly say that I LOVE it!  I would love to be able to just go running and leave Trevor home while I did it.  That is just not going to happen during the week.  If you have ever been on a bike trail and see kids in jogging strollers you will agree, they NEVER look unhappy.  Trevor loves going "running" and being in the stroller, even at 2 1/2.  He does tell me to go faster, which is kind of funny...a new kind of motivation.

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