Forrest Gump’s mama always said that “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”. The same could be said for the carseat covers that CPS programs all over the country receive. We order our various CRs from several different distributors/sources but the one thing they all have in common is “factory select” covers. Which means, you never know what you’re gonna get! Every time a new order arrives I get a little nervous wondering what’s inside. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised. Most of the time it’s just… eh (another boring combination of brown and tan). And sometimes you open up that generic brown box and it’s like Rosemary’s baby looking back at you and wailing “Maaaaaama!” Eeek!
This year I got a little of each. My Graco order was kinda nice although I think the Turbo boosters are a bit girly. Hopefully the boys won’t think so. The Sceneras were a neutral brown pattern which was fine. The Maestros were a plush beige fabric with small polka dots. The High Rise backless boosters were a nice gray pattern that should go over well with the bigger kids. But the Tribute convertibles were another story. I know ugly is in the eye of the beholder but these things are hideous as far as I’m concerned! I’m glad I only ordered a couple of them to see if I like them better overall than the Scenera (stay tuned for an upcoming blog on this subject). I don’t know what Evenflo calls the cover but I’ve named it Rosemary’s Baby. Hopefully there’s a Mia Farrow out there somewhere who will love it and care for it anyway – lol.
Lillian would love that Turbo cover, she is into anything that looks like Aborigine art.
I wonder why they even make covers like that. We have some “blah” program seats and some that border on pretty ugly. I’d think it would be possible to make some “cheap” covers that are still decent looking.
I received a scenera shipment that was straight out of my grandmothers Lincoln. Blue Velour… anyone else. I have a hard time even giving those seats out in the summer!
once I figured out the red seat was a titan, not the tribute, then I understood… why no pic of the scenera?
the spitfire turbos are actually great for boys… not girly at all… I like the Maestro… just not it and the tribute next to one another… sometimes I wonder why carseat companies don’t purposefully coordinate (dont’ have to match, just not clash) their seats.
KQ – I hear ya and I don’t ever want to sound unappreciative. I thank my lucky stars every day that we have grant money to cover program seats here – regardless of what covers they happen to be wearing at the moment.
(And even if they all looked like that Tribute- you don’t know how bad I wish we had a budget to buy seats to give out. Sigh.)
I think the Maestro is just about as bad as the Tribute. I love the Turbo for a boy or girl though!
My 5 yo ds would love that Tribute cover! LOL.
Oh wow, you weren’t kidding about that Tribute cover. Yikes!
LOL! Those are BRU exclusive covers, for the seats that are now long gone, they must have loads of fabric left. The Tribute is “Steeplechase” (used to be on the Chase), and the Maestro is “Cocoa Fizz” that used to be on the Triumph.
“Ugly old man pants” was the usual thought on the steeplechase (Sorry, Emily, I know you love plaids, I think they could just have done *better*), and the Cocoa Fizz was like bad 70’s indoor/outdoor carpet :p
Ha, I actually like the tribute! lol
Aw, I love that Turbo pattern. I think there was a thread on c-s.org wondering if it was “too boyish” so maybe it is truly gender neutral. 🙂
The tribute is a little hard on the eyes, but I like that Turbo pattern 🙂
Good Lord, that cover is like a homophobic man dressed in drag!