How to Shop for a Car the Right Way

When shopping for a new car, it’s essential to do your research and go into the process with a plan. There are a lot of factors to consider, and if you’re not prepared, you could easily wind up paying too much or buying a car that doesn’t fit your needs. This blog post will discuss the best way to shop for a new vehicle so that you can make an informed decision and get the best deal possible.

1) First, you need to figure out what kind of car you want

This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are a lot of different types of cars out there, and it’s important to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for before you start shopping. Do some research online and in magazines to get an idea of the different options available. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, take some time to test drive a few different models to see which one feels right for you.

In addition, it’s crucial to think about your budget and what you can realistically afford. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and spend more than you intended, so it’s crucial to have a firm budget in mind before you start shopping.

via Pexels

2) Get pre-approved for a loan

If you’re planning on financing your new car, it’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a loan before you start shopping. This will give you a better idea of how much you can afford to spend, and it will also help you get a lower interest rate. You can usually get pre-approved for a loan through your bank or credit union.

Also, make sure to shop around for the best interest rate possible. The interest rate on your loan will have a big impact on your monthly payments, so it’s worth taking the time to compare rates from different lenders.

3) Do your homework on pricing

One of the most important things to do when shopping for a new car is to educate yourself on pricing. It’s easy to get taken advantage of by a car salesman if you don’t know what a fair price is for the car you’re interested in.

Spend some time online researching the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the make and model of the car you’re interested in. This is the starting point for negotiation, so it’s important to know what it is before you start talking to dealers. In addition, check out websites like edmunds to see what others have paid for the same car. This will give you a good idea of what you should expect to pay.

4) Don’t be afraid to negotiate

Once you’ve found the car you want and you know what a fair price is, it’s time to start negotiating. Remember that the salesman’s goal is to get you to pay as much as possible, so don’t be afraid to stand your ground. Start by offering a price that’s lower than what you’re actually willing to pay and see how the dealer responds. If they’re not willing to meet your price, be prepared to walk away. There’s always another car out there, and there’s no need to overpay just because you’re feeling pressured.

In conclusion, shopping for a new car doesn’t have to be stressful if you go into it with a plan. Do your research, know what you want, and be prepared to negotiate. If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to get a great deal on the perfect car for you.

Writing Your Life With Ryemarkable Moms

As moms, we all have special, memories from our lives – our childhood, our parents, the birth of our kids – that we’d love to share with our families as they grow older. 

Preserving these moments helps us connect with loved ones today – AND for generations to come. 

That’s why you might be interested in joining the upcoming course: “Writing Your Life: Finding Wisdom In Your Story.” 

Taught by journalist and writing coach Andi Atkins Hessekiel, this online course will:
🎁 use prompts to help you get your stories on paper
🎁 help you discover the wisdom and perspective they offer
🎁 preserve your memories to pass on to future generations
🎁 possibly be the perfect gift for loved ones on your holiday list! 

You’ll get specific, focused attention in a supportive online group through the Zoom platform. Classes start Wednesday, Nov 2nd at 10am. Register by Sunday, October 30th!
Register here!
Screen Shot 2022 10 26 at 7.59.04 AM

Fall Boot Edit

One of the most requested posts is a Fall Boot edit. I love black boots. I love them with leather pants, jeans, dresses and skirts. This season I think I found the most versatile round up. I am torn between 11, 9 and 8 but honestly I love them all. Click the numbers below for more info on each pair!!!! Happy Shopping!!!

1296A039 D8E4 4FA2 8061 2DF1FA889186

ONE//TWO//THREE//FOUR//FIVE//SIX//SEVEN//EIGHT//NINE//TEN//ELEVEN//TWELVE

3 Tips To Make Your Home Smell Nice

Image Credit: Monicore from Pixabay.

Nobody wants their home to smell bad and be full of dirt. It’s why they put so much effort into cleaning up. Despite how much cleaning you do, you could feel as though your house still doesn’t smell the way you want it to. You’d want it to smell better.

You don’t need to put a lot of effort into this. Instead, it’s as simple as knowing how to make your home smell nice quickly and easily. With three particular tips, it’ll be much easier than you’d expect. They shouldn’t take much time or effort, despite how much of an impact they’ll have.

How To Make Your Home Smell Nice: 3 Top Tips

1. Scented Candles

Scented candles can be one of the more notable ways to make your home smell nice, but it can also be overlooked. It’s worth picking up a few of them and putting them around your home. There are plenty of options on offer with this, even candles for smokers.

Having a few of these you like the smell of, and lighting them regularly, will make sure your home smells as nice as possible. They can even make your home feel a little cozier.

2. Deodorize With Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are known to help clothes and laundry smell nicer after a wash, but you’ll need to pick up the scented options to take advantage of this. If you’re already doing this, it could be worth going beyond the laundry room with this.

Having scented dryer sheets in your dressers, closets, and other small places can help your home smell nicer than you’d think. Anything you take out of these places will smell great, even if they’ve been tucked away for months.

3. Spruce Up The Trash Can

You’ll already know you need to take the trash out regularly. Not only can a buildup of this be unhealthy and draw in pests, but it emits an unpleasant odor. You could need to go beyond this to make sure everything smells as nice as possible.

Even putting some baking soda inside your trash can could help you with this. The can itself could retain smells, even well after they’ve been emptied. In time, this leads to the trash can smelling bad even when it’s empty.

By keeping it spruced up, you can avoid this. Even cleaning the inside of the bin every once in a while can be recommended to help with this.

How To Make Your Home Smell Nice: Wrapping Up

If you don’t know how to make your home smell nice, it can seem like a complicated process. At a certain point, you might resign yourself to just putting up with it. That doesn’t need to happen, however. A few specific tips can be helpful, as they’d have more of an impact than you’d expect.

By using the right candles, sprucing up the trash can, and deodorizing with dryer sheets, you’ll have your home smelling better than expected. You wouldn’t even need to put much time or effort into these, so you’ll have an amazing-smelling home in no time.

Julia Ballentine Fine Jewelry

Meet Julia Ballentine and her exquisite jewelry pieces. Julia Ballentine has worked in the jewelry industry for nearly thirty years, earning her certification as a Graduate Gemologist with the Gemological Institute of America early on. In 1992, she began her career at Christie’s Auction House in New York, where she was a cataloguer and gemologist. This was followed by many years at Tiffany & Co where she worked as a Buyer, a Product Development Manager for Engagement, Statement and Schlumberger jewelry, and also as the Manager of the Tiffany Pearl Lab. In 2001 Julia left Tiffany and went back into the antique and estate jewelry world with an exclusive boutique jeweler on Madison Avenue and reconnected with exceptional vintage jewelry. Her experience also includes working at Christie’s London, jewelry design coursework at NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology, design work in Florence, Italy and Appraisal Certification through USPAP. She has been a member of the Jewelers Board of Trade since 2005. She is a graduate of Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut and has a B.A. from St. Lawrence University, as well as a G.G. from the Gemological Institute of America.

Over time, Julia discovered that there was a need for excellent customer service and wanted to help navigate what can be a very tricky industry. In the spring of 2005, taking advantage of the relationships with suppliers and craftsmen that she had built in her years in the industry, she launched her business on a referral-only basis. It was a natural progression to start Julia Ballentine Fine Jewelry, sourcing beautiful, high-quality jewelry for her friends and private clients. 

Today, Julia’s website includes available beautiful, fun pieces. This website represents a fraction of the jewelry that she sources and designs for her clients. She specializes in custom design work and is happy to consult on individual projects as time permits.

IMG 6267
IMG 6107
IMG 6106
Screen Shot 2022 10 13 at 4.38.19 AM
IMG 6110
Screen Shot 2022 10 13 at 4.38.49 AM
IMG 6109
Screen Shot 2022 10 13 at 4.38.38 AM
Screen Shot 2022 10 13 at 4.38.28 AM
IMG 6111

Best Butternut Squash Soup

Thanks to our awesome blog sponsor BodyBalance365 for today’s awesome recipe.

As temperatures drop and we start spending more time indoors, this is when that first round of “winter colds” start to spread. Nothing is better to relieve sore throat pain, clear your sinuses, and warm you to your core than a bowl of soup. Butternut squash is loaded with Vitamin A, B, C, potassium, and magnesium so this is a nutrient-rich and delicious soup — all year round! 

The BEST Butternut Squash Soup is so delicious!!!! Bon Appetit!!!!

Screen Shot 2022 10 20 at 2.08.16 PM

Ingredients:

2-2 1/2 lbs. butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cut into 1″ cubes

1 lrg. onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

1 lrg. sweet potato, diced

4 Tbs. unsalted vegan butter or organic butter 

6 cups vegetable stock

kosher salt

ground pepper

ground nutmeg

Directions:

Melt butter

Saute onions until soft. Add carrots, celery, squash and sweet potato. Cook for 5 minutes

Add stock, 1 tsp salt and bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat.

Cook for 35-40 minutes until squash is tender.

Use an immersion blender (or Cuisinart) to puree when the soup is cooled.

Add nutmeg and pepper to taste.