Between the last time I posted and now, there’s been quite a few new life updates. New things can be good, but new things can also cause a lot of stress. A lot of new things have been happening lately, and I figured it would make for a good post!
Goodbye, Mazda
A week or two ago, I had to say goodbye to my old car. I’ve owned it for a little more than five years, and it’s done its duty of getting me to many far away places. My Mazda3 has been with me since March 2015, back when I was still studying at NJIT (bleh) as a Digital Design major.
It’s been rear ended by an old lady, and it survived my horrible commute to BCC when I was studying dental hygiene for two years. After that, it reliably took me back and forth to my job with the terrible Russian dentist as well as the horrendous corporate dentistry company in Bayonne, New Jersey, all of which took at least an hour and a half (one way) to travel.
Rush hour traffic every morning and evening with the NYC commuters, the potholes and manholes. My car was pretty solid for the five years I owned it. It was also very very red, and made it a cinch to find in crowded parking lots.
My Ol’ Faithful
Rising Problems
Of course, everything ages eventually, and at the five year mark, the Mazda had over 190,000 miles on it. Not only that, but it started to develop bigger problems that required a lot more money to fix. At this point, it was hard for me to see how it was still worth fixing and spending such money for my old car.
At some point, it started dying on me while it was parked in the driveway, and even when the gear was in drive. I started getting nightmares that my car would die in the middle of the highway or a busy road and kill me, and that’s when I decided that we had to part ways.
New Car
I ended up leasing a 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback in blue! I think it’s super cute and drives well. This was my first time getting a car from a dealership, so the entire process was new and stressful. My mom was with me and was able to negotiate for the monthly lease payment to be a couple dollars less, plus give me two free car washes and one tire rotation. I’m really not good at negotiation, and I’d probably just reluctantly agree to what they say without trying to make them budge.
Close to sealing the deal with my new car, I was sent to speak to a guy in the finance department and I ended up getting persuaded into buying an extra protection plan for the car. It supposedly covers certain scratches up to a certain size, tire punctures, and a damage waiver of up to $5,000. Do I really need those? I have no clue, but I was just so afraid because it’s a lease … I don’t know what will happen in the next three years!
Now I’m a blue gal
Anyway, here’s to having a new car and not having to worry that it will die on me while I drive. The only thing I worry is that my work hours are going to get cut this coming Fall due to my school schedule. By next Fall, I’ll probably be enrolled at a four year uni, so I imagine I would barely be able to work at all! I’m fortunate to have my boyfriend backing me up and offering to help me make my monthly payments, but I really don’t want to rely on him if I can help it.
New Job Protocols
I haven’t gone to work yet, but will return on July 30. I was supposed to start work this Friday, the 10th, but I managed to ask my boss to delay it for a few more weeks. PHEW!
The office apparently has implemented a few extra things so that we can resume working and hopefully not contract the virus. This includes face shields, KN-95 masks, and high suction air filters. I also bought disposable caps (looks like transparent shower caps) to wear while at work, and my boss will reimburse me for that.
I’m relieved to hear about the extra things my boss bought for us to work in, but there’s always still a degree of worry in me because I just don’t trust people.
Potential New Part Time Job
It’s possible I may end up taking another part time dental hygiene job in August. As much as I dislike working in my field, I recognize that my finances now are extremely tight. I’ll need to work as much as I can before school arrives and I make less money. Due to COVID-19, a lot of dental hygienists ended up retiring permanently from the field (I wish I was one of them), so there’s been a lot of job openings for hygienists.
I’ve yet to hear back from my coworker who recruited me for this position, so we shall see! It would be okay not to end up getting the job, but I’d also hate myself because I know I need the money. I’ve never blamed and got angry at myself more for choosing such a field as this until the pandemic happened. It may not be the absolutely worst job to work right now, but it’s definitely one of the top on the list that would be considered “the most dangerous”.
New Shop Merch
For my shop, I decided to go ahead and outsource a few of my artwork to a local print shop to make bookmarks!! I used my five fast food designs and I’m honestly super happy with the finished product! Likewise, I went ahead and ordered gold tassels and corner punchers to round the corners (only for people who want it rounded).
I also went and ordered more vinyl stickers, which should be arriving within this week or the next! After that, I’ll get ready to photograph them and plan for a shop update. Announcements will be made on my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook account!
New Business Experiment – Kinda?
This topic is actually tied in a little with the “New Shop Merch” but I decided to give a separate title of its own! I’m on my way to creating my very first Kickstarter to make my very first set of enamel pins!! It’s such an exciting and scary venture but I’ve been wanting to expand and make more types of merchandise like this. What’s really great is that with the help of KS backers, I can make this a reality.
Currently, I’m in the process of researching how I want to make my Kickstarter, as well as reaching out to pin manufacturers in China and getting quotes for the designs. This is another stressful thing for me because obviously I don’t want to screw anything up!
Thanks for reading my blog as always! Until next time! ♡
Asian Market Grocery Haul + Mooncakes
Treating Myself
My Silver Linings During Lockdown
Supporting the BLM Movement With Art
I hope work isn’t too awful for you when you go back! I have been working from home since March and we still haven’t had a date yet to let us know when we’d be going back into the office – I feel like I’ve gotten so used to being at home all the time!! Love the new car, I would deffo be the same with just saying yes to everything and get charged the most money for it haha. Super excited to hear about your enamel pins, I bet they’ll look amazing!
Chloe xx
Thank you so much Chloe! I know a lot of it is in my head but it’s not hard to think of all that after seeing all the news about the virus. Working from home is such an amazing perk of your job haha! We need to be more negotating! Thank you for reading Chloe! I am super excited to get my Kickstarter going 🙂
Lots of exciting updates! I’m sorry about your old car, but your new one looks so lovely! I completely get the struggle of getting a new car from a dealership. I bought my first car last year and hated every bit of it, lol. Luckily, my parents came with me too and helped me out. I hope you’ll be able to stay safe when you go back to work, girl! ❤ aND WISHING YOU THE BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR NEW PROJECTS (SHOP AND UNI!)
mUCH LOVE ALWAYS,
gabby | http://www.gabbyabigaill.com
THANK YOU GABBY!! Ugh dealerships are so stressful esp when you don’t have much money to throw around haha! I hope you stay safe amidst all this chaos as well!! Thank you so much for the well wishes ❤️❤️
Congrats on the new car!! Oh man, your Mazda went through a lot!! It is amazing that it almost hit 200k miles but I feel you about needing a new car. Story of my life a few years ago LOL. Your new Civic is cute!! I love how Honda has been stepping it up with their designs. OK, I learned that they are SO SMART with tricking people into buying protection warranties. I am paranoid of others but spend 3k more for the different extended warranties. It is so interesting to learn that a lot of dental hygienists retired. Speaking of which, I need to go to the dentist :(. Hopefully you will get that new part time job. AND YASSS I love that you’re doing a lot to keep your business going strong and BIG PLUS on introducing new content!! I am looking forward to your kickstarter hehe.
Nancy ✨ exquisitely.me
THANKS a bunch Nancy!! Having a nightmare about it meant it was really a sign haha!! My aunt was saying I shouldn’t have gotten the extended warranty. How was I supposed to know, this is my first time doing this! 😂 So paranoid of People too, I haven’t been driving much lately so I feel less confident!! I hope your doctor is implementing protocols for everyone’s safety!! Thank you so much Omg I’m dying of anxiety and excitement for the Kickstarter 😂
Ooooh, yay for a new car!! And good luck launching enamel pins. New things during this time feel all the more special, don’t they? xx
Thanks girl!! Really unexpected but hopefully I can pull it off with coming up the money 😂 it definitely does!
That car looks really lovely! Thats great! Wishing you all the success for your other projects!
Thank you so much lovely!
Congrats on the new car. I feel you on the tight finances. I’ve been working a temp job for extra income, and it’s taken alot away from personal life. I hope work isn’t awful for you when you go back the end of this month. Your business is looking great and I’m excited to see the pins you’ll have available on your Kickstarter.
Thanks a bunch angela!! Sorry you have to do that, I hope the temp job isn’t too hard to deal with. I hope you can also find the time you just relax and give yourself some TLC! I only have about 10 days left and I’m dreading it but I’m honestly really thankful because everyone has gone back to work since last month already. Thank you so so much, I appreciate the well wishes and I will need all the luck I can get for the Kickstarter!!!
Ahh! Congratulations on the new car, girl! Welcome to the Honda family :3 Civics run so nicely and save so much on gas – I hope you’re enjoying new ride! Also, I’m glad you were able to get some more time off; with how crazy things are going right now, I don’t blame you for not wanting to be back at work! Congrats on the business again!!1 So excited for you!
☼ cabin twenty-four
Thank you so much eena!! It’s seriously drives so well and the bumps feel less painful to go over when I’m in my new car 😍😂 I haven’t driven it out much because still staying at home for the most part but I can’t wait to get out on the highway!! Hope work is not too crazy for you, I think being home and surrounding myself with all the media also makes me feel more scared than I should be haha
Exciting times of your life. I love my red car and It seems so hard to part with it even if we have a new silver car already. But your blue car looks cool!
http://www.busyandfab.com
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I definitely am quite sad I had to part with it but it’s great that I can finally drive without worrying it’ll fall apart!
ooo all of this is so exciting geraldine (well outside of an old lady ruining your car…) but i’m super excited for your enamel pins! good luck lovely (and i hope you get your part time job) xx
mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com/
Thank you so much Mia!! I’m super excited and I hope I can get the enamel pins made 🙂 I hope you are well!
Aw so sorry that it was time to trade in your old car – it is so crazy how we form attachments to things like cars. They’re almost like sponges in the way that they soak up old memories, both good & bad! The new blue car looks so gorgeous!
As always, I’m so proud to see how you’re really expanding your shop & growing your business!!! It is so amazing how you’re pursuing your dreams & making them a reality!!
Thank you so so much LP for all your support!! Like what did I even do to deserve such a good friend like you 🥺😭❤️ the cars definity do hold some sort of sentimental value, it surprised me!!