Karen’s Opinion

My husband drives me crazy. He loves to drive through car lots and look at all the new cars. I only like to do that if I know I am going to get to buy one. To me, it is like going to the mall and not being able to come out with any packages. It just doesn’t make sense.

We are not in the market for a new car but my mom is. Now, this is where I can get involved! I have nothing invested except my opinion! LOL

I can suggest a new Honda because my mother in-law has had a few of those and they were so reliable. Or, I can get her interested in a new Saab like our friends who were just here from New York were driving. It was pretty cool and they said it was very comfortable on their long drive to Indiana. My mom needs a comfortable car to drive to warm weather each year when she wants to escape Indiana snowstorms.

How am I coming up with all these links to help mom find her car? I am using www dot carconnection.com. It is fun to use that website and super easy to maneuver. For instance, if I am looking for the new Mitsubishi Outlander Se, I go to the website and search for that particular car. If I want to put in the types of options mom wants and see what it brings up, I can find choices for her to look at that way too. (Doing that brought up a Lexus Gs 450 Hybrid and I am not sure she wants to spend that much money. She likes all those options!)

Try out the website and have fun looking for a new car. It sure beats driving through car lots.

When the weather begins to chill and holiday tides begin to fill the hearts and homes of many, love truly abounds. The autumn season is often breathtaking in its beauty and crispness, and it makes for the perfect backdrop for a marriage proposal. It is human nature to crave warmth and affection when the weather turns cold, and thus engagement rings make their yearly debut. The fall season is the peak of engagement proposals and many happy marriages begin with a proposal during the pre-holiday season.
One reason for the onset of autumn marriage proposals is because of the holiday season and the cheer that it brings to families and loved ones. With family traditions and tokens of love and affection in exchange, the diamond ring is the ultimate marker of everlasting love. Jewelry stores display a wide array of engagement ring settings and loose diamonds so that men seeking rings can easily find something perfect for their significant other.
Before couples wear a wedding ring on their finger, the romance and the wooing usually comes into play. What better time than the holidays to cultivate a little magic? Between the fall leaves, the ripe orchards, ice skating, and holiday cheer, you can be sure that the natural American settings provide the perfect opportunity for love.
If you are in the market for engagement rings this holiday season, there are a few things I recommend you do to get your ducks all in a row to pop the question. First, be sure that you and your significant other are ready for a lifetime commitment. Of course, if you know- you just know! When you begin thinking of the type of ring to buy, take notice of her personal style and activities. Is she very active and hands-on? Or, is she a classic and refined lady who doesn’t dirty her hands on a regular basis. Taking note of her eccentricities will help you figure out the band style and setting for the engagement ring.
Once you have a firm idea of the type of ring she would like, you can get down to the details and choose the perfect style. If you want to keep the ring a surprise but you’d like a little more help, it’s a good idea to ask her best friend or sister to come along with you and help decide what type of ring she will like. Chances are, anything with a little sparkle will wow her and she will love the ring simply because it’s you giving it to her. But if you truly want to step it up a notch, you can get her a stunning pave engagement ring, or a princess cut prong engagement ring to dazzle her for eternity. These popular styles are truly becoming an engagement favorite this year and women are going gaga over the modern yet sophisticated designs.
Whichever diamond ring you choose this holiday season, remember that the holiday cheer will carry you to a point of warmth and happiness- and the ring will simply be the icing on the cake of your winter season. Giving the gift of an eternal connection will never go out of season- or out of style!

My family has had two weddings in the past year. It has been such an exciting time with buying new clothes and making hotel plans. The best part for me was getting together with extended family. We don’t get to see my nieces and nephews very often so when we can get together it is fun. I hope that when they grow up, they will still make an effort to get together. Do families have reunions any more?

We used have a family reunion with my husband’s relatives every summer. The older people were the ones who organized the get together with a big picnic at a park. Those folks have passed on and the younger family members don’t seem interested in getting together. So sad.

Anyway, back to my thoughts on weddings. Do you watch the television program What Not to Wear? Today’s show was a little different than the usual program. The girl who was receiving instruction on how to make herself look better not only got a new look, she got a proposal. Yes, her boyfriend proposed to her. It was so romantic. I noticed that he gave her a very traditional ring as far as diamond engagement rings go. It was beautiful yet very plain.

My nephew took his mom and future mother in-law with him as he checked out the possibility of
engagement rings design your own. He didn’t take that route but he did choose a style I had not seen before. It looked antique because of the flat shape of the setting. There are so many styles that it would be a difficult decision to make. I have noticed a trend that I tend to like. It is when there are different colored stones set along side the center diamond. I think that is a beautiful way to incorporate birthstones of children when a bride and groom are blending their families.

My husband and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary this past summer. I had always admired diamond eternity rings and a few years ago, received one for myself. I know, I am a lucky gal to have such a great husband who I still love after so many years and that he buys me jewelry!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Liz Claiborne New York Outlets. All opinions are 100% mine.

As I mentioned, in an earlier post, fall has arrived here in the mid west. As much as I hate what comes after fall, I love the fall season for its cooler temperatures, menu changes and beautiful scenery. One of the best aspects of fall is that I get to change my wardrobe.

My shorts and sleeveless tops are put in drawers and out come the sweatshirts, long pants and sweaters. My favorite thing about fall fashion is that this menopausal mama gets to wear sweaters which can be taken off when I feel my blood temperature rising.

I have been noticing some changes in the fashions for this fall. Longer sweaters are in style and there are beautiful colors being introduced like deep royal blues and mustards. I see a shopping trip in my future.

One of my favorite places to shop is the Liz Claiborne New York Outlets at Michigan City a few hours north of us. I drop my husband off at the casino so I can concentrate on shopping.

I want to find a blouse with ruffles like I have been seeing the talk show hosts wearing. I know I will find it at Liz Claiborne NY Outlets. My only problem will be limiting myself to which new stripe or stylish print I need to purchase. At least buying will be less stressful knowing that the new Fall fashions are available for sale – up to 40% off. Yes, Liz Claiborne New York Outlet stores offer the best savings on everything. You can find items on sale at up to 70% savings! You California girls will love finding end of season shorts and tops on sale.

What are you waiting for? I’ll see you there.

Do any of you attend auctions? I love to go to a good auction. A few years ago Mom and I went to a sale of two families things. The elderly owners of these things had passed away and their families hired an auctioneer to sell their personal things.

There were recliners, step ladders, old croquet sets, dining sets, bookcases and lamps. I could not even begin to list all the things they were auctioning at this sale. There were two auctioneers going at the same time to get it all sold in one day.

I bought 8 Longaberger baskets at such low prices that I almost felt like I was stealing them. My plan was to sell them but of course I have become attached to them and am using them all over my house. Some needed liners and skirts so I spent more money to get them looking the way I wanted them.

What do you buy at auctions? Do you get nervous when you bid, the way I do?