Inglesina Swift Review

Fall Swift

It seemed like Autumn took forever to get here. Those 90 degree days may have something to do with it. Many of the trees are still green. I told StrollerPrince 2.0 they are confused. But at least, some are changing.

I think this new yellow Inglesina Swift blends in nicely with the leaves, don't you? And check out how tall that canopy is. So much headroom for S.P. 2.0.

Baby Jogger City Micro Review

Micro Zoo

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, a lot of us will be traveling home to see our families. 
("Where did he go?)

Some of us may take advantage of winter school breaks to go somewhere far off, and exotic. 
 (Look, there he is"!)

  

BabyHome Emotion Stroller Review

Last Day of School Emotion

Every end of school year brings tears. From me, not the kids. They are shouting for joy and whooping and hollering "SUMMER! SUMMER!" And me, I am crying for another year gone by. And this year, we had not one, but two children graduating. Leaving their schools, moving on. Maybe I don't have any more babies at home to keep my emotions in check, but I do have the Babyhome Emotion.

  Stroller, that is. And it makes me very, very happy.

Combi Cabria Review

Combi, Thanks

I've long been a Combi fan. Readers of my "2012 BIG Stroller Roll-Out" know that I took a circa '98 Jungle Savvy Z to the Expo this year. It's always a tricky choice, because no matter what I take, people will say, "Why aren't you pushing mine?" So I figure if I take an old classic, then they will think I am just eccentric, and not playing favorites.

But it was a great choice, anyway. Ultra light, carry strap, great one-handed push.

And the new Cabria has a lot more features than the Savvy Z, like this peekaboo mesh window,

Snack tray,

Bigger wheels,

And bigger basket. It's a new fave of StrollerPrince 2.0!

In fact, why don't I do a more thorough comparison to an older Ultra Savvy--yes, I have that one, too!

Actually,  I have three older Combis, and two newer ones. So I guess it's time to say thanks, for all the great strolls we've had together.

And enjoy the beautiful fall leaves!

Combi Comparison

 

 At first glance, they look quite a bit alike. But take a closer look.

The Cabria is quite a bit bigger, as you can see more clearly from the rear.  

 The basket is not only larger, but more accessible.

 

 The frame is longer, and the wheels are bigger. And the handlebar on the Cabria is higher, to accommodate taller parents.

The most obvious huge difference, is the huge canopy. I'm so happy manufacturers have finally become so responsive to our "Please keep the sun off my baby" pleas. The canopy on the Ultra Savvy used to be about the best on the market!

 Both have thick padded seats, with headrests and shoulder pads. Both have breathable air mesh fabric. The frame color is black on the Cabria and silver on the Ultra. Although it is also black on my "Z's".

The recline is a bit less on the Cabrio. The mechanism is different, too. The Cabrio uses a drawstring, while the Ultra Savvy uses a push button. But both have this wonderful enclosure feature, to make a sort of kind of bassinette.

And both have snack trays, carry straps, and cupholders; albeit of a different type.

The Cabrio retains one of the best features ever. A single bar handle, that still folds flat into a "Tri-Fold", rather than a "Book fold." It stands folded, and the wheels stay on the ground, so they don't make your 

canopy dirty!

Combi Cabria

Weight: 14 pounds

Width: 21.25"

Length: 26"

Height: 41"

Seat Width: 12"

Seat Depth: 9.5"

Seat Back: 18.5"

Seat to Canopy: 25"

Drop to Footrest: 7"

Seat to Floor: 16"

Folded: 41" x 21" x  11"

BumbleRide Flyer Review

Flight into house
 
   Sometimes the most mundane trips in life turn into, well, something else. Something not mundane. Something quite unexpected. 
 
It started as a trip to the grocery store, with the StrollerPrinces, StrollerPrincess, and our  new Bumbleride Flyer.
 
I had been wanting to try this stroller for a long time. Because, let's face it, there are very few lightweight, reversible handle strollers on the market.

One of the reasons is that people get hung up on how to fix the wheels. You always have to keep the ones closest to you locked, so they will go in a straight line. And then you always want the wheels in the front to swivel, no matter which direction you have the handle. Sometimes people get a little mixed up about this. So they wind up trying to steer a stroller skittering sideways, because the back wheels are swiveling all over the place. Or, the front wheels won't steer, because they are the ones locked. Yes, it is a little confusing. So just remember, lock the wheels by your feet, unlock the ones in the front. 

Anyway, the Flyer is a good choice for a newborn car stroller. Has the flat recline, and extendable legrest. 

The canopy, like all of the Bumblerides, pulls all the way down to shield your baby from the elements, or from grabby hands. And look at the cute design inside the canopy!

It has a peekaboo window on the top, which matches. Nice detail.
 
The back has a zippered pocket.

 It's very easy to reverse, by just pulling up the levers on the handle. The handle is height adjustable. And it comes with a raincover, bumper bar, and cupholder.

You can also add this additional snack tray. I really like the fact that it matches the inside canopy design, too!

Now, after the shopping was finished, we stopped off to see a plane in a house.
 
Yes, a small plane crashed into a neighbor's house earlier in the day. 
 
 I wasn't prepared for the sight of an upside down plane sticking in a wall, and it was rather shocking.
 
 So much so, in fact, that I didn't grab the camera until the firefighters were lifting the plane out of the house. 

So here is a better shot, courtesy of KABC.

And here is how it looked earlier in the day.

Thanks to the quick thinking actions of nearby painters, the pilot escaped with only a broken leg. When the plane hit, they grabbed a garden hose and extinguished the flames. Then they bravely cut the pilot out of the plane. They are the true heroes in this story. It is something that I remind my children. Of how quickly an ordinary day--painting a house in this case--can become an an extraordinary rescue. A simple, courageous, and selfless act, that likely saved a life.

And seeing as how this is Santa Monica, the house belongs to this actress--Rachel Blanchard. 
 
I don't plan these things. I really don't.


Bumbleride Flyer

Weight:                               21 lbs.

Seat Back:                          18"
Seat to canopy:                27"
Seat Width:                       13"
Seat Depth:                        9"-16"
Drop to footrest:              9"
Seat to ground:               18"
Length:                              29"
Width:                               20.25"
Height:                              27-46"
Folded:                              35"L x 21"W x 12"H

 
To see more 2011 models, go to StrollerQueen.net And if you would like me to help you choose a stroller, go to StrollerQueen.com and click on "Consultations."