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One would think that a subject so universal to mankind (and womankind) by its very nature must be simple. While, or shall I say, whilst, it may be the most analyzed of subjects, it certainly is not the simplest. The poets have written about it since the beginning of civilization and the scientific community has studied it ad nauseum and most of us still do not understand it. We feel it if we’re one of the fortunate, but I daresay, we don’t always understand it.

I love Loving Leah for many reasons. In the opening scenes we are placed in the middle of diversity. Diversity that is almost palpable. Not an uncommon scene; two brothers with dramatically different chosen paths, one an Orthodox Rabbi, the other a Secular Cardiologist. Diversity. My review truly isn’t about the movie; it’s about us, and the world we live in today. I realized that while we think diversity is about Muslims and Jews, Republicans and Democrats, or Protestants and Catholics, it truly is just about humanity. It can be about the rich and the poor or the educated and the uneducated and yes, it can be about black and white. Truly strange, if you think about it, no one is truly white and no one is truly black, they are just names, names designed to put down or elevate, depending on where you are on the spectrum. Names created to divide…diversity. Reality is, there are many sects within each of the major religions of the world. Even Christianity has denominations too numerous to mention, but they are there, with their differences, some subtle, some not so subtle.

So, now back to Loving Leah, one of my top two romance movies I’ve ever watched. In full disclosure, I will say that it was one of the original Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies. I love Hallmark in general for championing clean entertainment, but this one is truly a cut above. Firstly, the stars were not used over and over again, as is currently done with the Hallmark “mill.” I don’t want to disparage their efforts because I still believe they hold up against mainstream TV, but they are “churned” and usually with the same cadre of actors as in the early Hollywood Studio days. Loving Leah is just different; there actually is a back story—a story about culture, devotion, brotherly love, and yes, romantic love.

Two brothers, Jacob and Benjamin. Jake is a single, successful doctor who can’t remember the last time he went to temple. Benjamin, a devout Orthodox Jewish Rabbi. Leah, Benjamin’s wife from a (semi) arranged marriage. Diverse but reasonably happy. Brother Benny dies and up crops tradition. An ancient custom asks the single brother to marry the widow without child or denounce his brother’s existence. That’s all you get! The rest you have to watch the movie to see. It’s easy to find. If all else fails, try the Library.  Trust me, you’ll love it, it’s witty, it’s funny, it’s eye-opening. While writing I realized that love is not immune to diversity, it is the champion over diversity. Whether its love thy neighbor or love the love of your life, love is love. Down deep, it sometimes brings hurt, sometimes brings sorrow, but if you persevere, it almost always brings joy. As always, I invite your comments at Carolyn@carolynhastings.co

This time of year is always a bit funky. It’s not spring, but most of us are starting to feel ready for warmer days and fewer winter layers. It’s not quite time to switch out our winter wear, so to change things up, have some fun with your accessories! It’s a great way to feel renewed with your style. It doesn’t take a ton of effort, but it packs a big punch! The same outfit suddenly feels brand new with the addition of a hat, scarf, or hair accessory.

Let’s face it, we’ve spent all of our money on the holidays; investing in new pieces for our wardrobe might not be feasible—not for our bank accounts or just for our brain capacity. Still, it does feel nice to feel fresh and start our day feeling confident in our clothes. With that said, it can be done inexpensively if new items are needed. Or it’s just time to raid our own closets and get creative with the accessories we already have!

Hats are a great way to make a statement. Add a fedora to a classic look—white tee, cropped jeans, a moto jacket, and booties. Something you’ve worn a ton, now feels new! Wear your slip dress, oversized sweater, boots, and a beanie for a funky flare to an otherwise feminine look. Opt for wearing a baseball hat on the day you’re wearing a pair of skinny jeans, knee-high boots, and a cropped pullover sweater. Add a pair of hoop earrings for a finishing touch. Hats are a great way to change things up. I love wearing them with something unexpected. But, of course, wear each in a more traditional sense and it’s still a great way to spice up an outfit.

Hair accessories are super trendy right now. Large barrettes are such a fun way to add some visual interest to your hair. Maybe you don’t have time to curl it but want it to look like you put some effort in. Add a pearl barrette (or a few) and voila! Suddenly, your hair has taken on a new look. The options for barrettes are endless right now. Trends won’t stick around forever, so be sure to have fun with it while it lasts. You can bet I have been taking part. Large headbands are another way to have some fun! It’s super simple and again, makes a great statement. Amazon is a great spot to find all these trendy items without breaking the bank.

Scarves are another way to keep things interesting. Not only do they serve as a cute accessory but, for these cold months, they’re practical, adding warmth to an outfit. Wearing color is also a great way to feel refreshed and/or get ya’ out of the winter slump. Add a bold color or printed scarf to your look for outfit revitalization. The options for style of scarf are endless too. Chunky knits, handkerchief, infinity, etc. Fabric options are endless as well. Tie a handkerchief style scarf around your neck with a blazer, tee, and boyfriend jeans. Add a chunky knit to a tunic, denim jacket, and leggings. Have fun with it! Most importantly wear what makes you feel good in your skin.

There are tons of ways to accessorize. It doesn’t stop with hats, hair accessories, and scarves. Bags, jewelry, lipstick, and belts are a few ways to continue to change things up. Explore your closet and think outside the box. Life’s too short after all! Why not try something new?

Thanks for reading dear ones. Stop by maccarose.com for links to these pieces and more!

Raw Hide!

It had been a while since I test drove a Ram pickup and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with this latest version. Despite the world gravitating toward SUVs, there are just times when you need a pickup truck! Unfortunately, today’s offerings are not even close to what we had in yesteryears. They have transformed from bare bones work vehicles to technologically advanced luxurious machines. My test vehicle was the 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4, and let me tell you, it felt like a luxury car inside, while maintaining its roughed personality. Herds of leather, cowboy belt buckles, and an enormous 12-inch screen. You’d feel like you were driving a Tesla!

Pricing and Trims
The 2020 Ram 1500 is available in quad and crew cabs and in eight trim levels: Tradesman ($31,895), HFE ($34,095), Big Horn ($36,440), Lone Star ($36,440), Laramie ($40,140), Rebel ($44,240), Longhorn ($51,140), and Limited ($53,615). They are also available in 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive.

What’s New for 2020?
The 2020 Ram introduces a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine that cranks out 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. My test vehicle was equipped with their new Italian diesel engine and it ran quiet yet powerful with a towing capacity of 12,560 pounds. A new Night Edition is available on the Big Horn and Laramie trims that include blacked-out features with large wheels (22-inch for the Laramie and 20-inch for the Big Horn).

Ram Rebel Black Appearance Group returns with black wheels, black skid plate and theme-matched all-black interior (red interior optional). The Rebel Safety Group now includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Go and Hold, Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning-Plus and automatic high-beam headlamps. 22-inch two-tone wheel are now available on Longhorn. Plus, there are three new exterior colors: Hydro Blue, RV Match Walnut Brown and Olive Green.

Interior Highpoints
The 2020 Ram 1500 has a cabin that is easily best-in-class and delivers a luxury pickup truck feel. The crew cabs have an amazing amount of legroom. Available features convince you’re driving a German high-luxury vehicle including multi-toned leather and wood touches (in my Longhorn trim), an abundant supply of USB and USB-C ports, the available in-vehicle wi-fi, and the huge 12-inch tablet-like touch screen that is the first thing you notice when entering the front cabin and operates as the infotainment center. The seats were amazingly comfortable and nearly 100 percent more interior storage capacity versus closest competitor at 151.1 liters.

A remote tailgate dropdown button is available as if opening the trunk of a car. For those folks with newer smart phones, there is an optional vertical “tuck-in” slot that wirelessly charges your phone. The second row offers eight degrees of slide recline, heated and cooled seats, a flat-load floor with integrated RamBins, tie-down rings and expandable under-seat storage.

Exterior Highlights
In 2019 the Ram 1500 experienced a full big and bold design redesign, which continues in 2020 with only minor trim color, graphic and wheel changes. The Quad Cab carries 6-foot 4-inchesbed, while the Crew Cab is available in two bed sizes 5-foot 7-inches and 6-foot 4-inches. The front grille is embedded with large RAM lettering front and centered and dressed in a river of chrome.  The 12,000+ pounds of towing capacity leads in its class. The truck bed is equipped with a variety of tie-downs.

The 2020 1500 has a class-exclusive RamBox cargo management system, relocatable anchor points, bed divider, and new Multifunction Tailgate. Twenty-two-inch, two-tone wheels are now available on Longhorn. Three new exterior colors have been added: Hydro Blue, RV Match Walnut Brown, and Olive Green.

Performance Specs
There are three engine options, a reworked 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque that is fitted with a mild-hybrid system called “eTorque” to provide a more responsive takeoff. A 5.7-liter V8 HEMI®with 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter eco-turbodiesel V6 engine that cranks out 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque which is the best in its class. The air suspension is class-exclusive and enhances fuel efficiency, improves ride and gives greater off-road capability, load-leveling, and entry/exit convenience.

Cool Features:

• Available 12-inch HD color touchscreen
  
  
• On-board phone charging system where you tuck your phone in a slot to charge the battery
  
  
• Bold and beautiful interior design, layout and fit-and-finish
  
  

Safety & Integrity
The 2020 Ram 1500 received a 5-star overall safety rating from the government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick. The standard safety gear including six airbags, a rearview camera, stability control, and anti-lock brakes. Higher level trims get the option for some passive and active safety tech. The rearview camera features a zoom function for Rams equipped with the larger 8.4- and 12.0-inch infotainment screens. A birds-eye feature is also available. This allows you to see a 360-degree of the overhead view when parking. Blind-spot monitors are optional on Big Horn/Lone Star models and higher, and standard on the Limited trim.

In Summary – The Ram 1500 redefines what a luxury pickup can deliver—comfort and high-tech. There are many trim and feature options that enable you to get the truck that fits your lifestyle best. The technology features inside are user-friendly and impressive. The range of engine options offers a good mixture of fuel economy and towing abilities. The Ram 1500 is the most awarded light-duty truck in America including 2020 Luxury Car of the Year by Cars.com, 2020 Green Truck of the Year™ by Green Car Journal. Take the 2020 Ram 1500 for a spin and see what alcaldes you might brand on this “not-your-grandpa’s” pickup!

Specifications.

2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4

Base price:                 $54,390 as driven: $67,160 (including destination & optional features)

Engine:                       3.0-liter 6-cylinder Turbodiesel

Horsepower:             260 hp

Torque:                      480 lb.-ft.

Transmission:            8-Speed Transmission

Drive:                          Four Wheel Drive

Seating:                       5-passenger

Cargo Volume:          53.9 cubic feet

Curb weight:              5160 pounds

Fuel Capacity:           26 gallons

Fuel Economy:           21 MPG City, 29 MPG Highway

Turning Radius:        24.4” feet

Wheelbase:                144.5 inches

Warranty:                   3 years/36,000-miles

Also Consider:           Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F150, GMC Sierra 1500, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan

The British Royals always seem to be in the news, not only with family issues, but also with ongoing TV shows about them. February sees the debut of The Windsors on CNN.  From history to documentaries to tabloid fodder, they often fascinate. Here are some questions blending history and entertainment.

1)  Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in England’s history. In a few more years she’ll be the longest-reigning in the world’s history. Her first-born and first in line to succession is Charles. Name her three other children.

2)  Two actresses have played Queen Elizabeth II in the TV series ‘The Crown’.  There will be a third announced in the future as the storyline is brought to a more current era.  Name the two actresses who have played QE II so far on The Crown.

3)  The House of Windsor is the current royal house name. It was changed during World War I due to anti-German sentiment. What was the name before Windsor?

4)  Prince Charles called this sport “my one great extravagance.”  Name it.

5)  As shown on an episode of The Crown, Queen Elizabeth read documents from The Marburg Files, purporting to show a member of the royal family as a Nazi sympathizer.  Name him.

6)  In 2007, this Oscar-winning actress was invited to dinner by Queen Elizabeth, but she turned the dinner invitation down because she was busy with filming.  Name her.