A Star in My Own Universe

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I Went #BacktotheFuture with the #HoustonAutoShow!!!

Vroom! Vroom!

Last week, I attended the Houston Auto Show courtesy of SheBuysCars and GMCHouston. It was my first auto show ever and what an experience!

This is a sponsored post. I received admission to the show as well as a stipend for the trip. The opinions, however, are all mine. It is my Universe, after all.

#houstonautoshowIt is a different world in the auto business. Women are more and more are the decision makers in car buying. The carmakers are starting to get that. I witnessed that firsthand with a fabulous group of influencers brought together by SheBuysCars.So-called "Mom" cars are getting sleeked up without losing the bells and whistles so loved by parents. Don't want to drive a mini-van, or at least not look like it? You don't have to.#HOUAutos, Chrysler, PacificaKinda sexy, right? You could actually go out on a date night in the Chrysler Pacifica and not be embarrassed to drop it off at the valet.

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Not to be outdone, GMC's Acadia is a beauty. I personally got to ride in one to the show (with my gals Alice (@6Chases) and Kristin (@AustinKVS). What a ride! Very smooth and I loved the new safety features. If you start to drift out of your lane, it lets you know. Seriously! As someone who often has to take road trips. I think that is brilliant. It also has navigation and wi-fi. Being a blogger, you know I love that!!!But let's get to the important part, it's pretty! ;-)Acadia, #GMCHouston, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutosAnother family-sized car that feels Hollywood! And being a "Star", you know I love that.

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Throughout the day, however, I found cars we all know being updated and redesigned with a few nostalgic favorites being brought back. With all the new, there was a palpable sense of nostalgia.

So let's go Back to the Future with #HOUAutos!

When I was a teen, I thought Alfa Romeos were the coolest cars. Well, they are back, Baby. And they are back in an amazing way!AlfaRomeo, #HOUAutos, #SheBuysCarsUh, yeah. Teenage dreams coming true in 5,4,3,2... andAlfa Romeo, #HOUAutos, #SheBuysCars

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Continuing with teenage dreams is Nissan. My then boyfriend now hubby picked me up for our first dat in a Datsun. Yes, I said Datsun. Raise your hand if you're old enough to remember when Nissan was Datsun. But my hunny's Datsun never looked like this...Nissan, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutos

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But flashing back further than that red Datsun stopped in front of my home is a 16 year old getting her first car. This girl, to be exact. It was a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle that came out the year I was born. Well, the VW has come along way. Here's the new Passat...Passat, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutosElephant in the room (their words) -- the exhaust controversy. No real updates there but they are working on it and are aware that people are concerned. On the positive side, Volkswagen is committed to the "democratization" of safety features. As a military wife, this means a lot to me!!! Almost all of their features will be available in trim models. Now if you are like I was and going "what does trim mean?" Think affordable. In other words, you don't have to be rich to be safe.

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Feeling nostalgic but wanting something with a little more power? How about the new Ford F150 Shelby edition. Yes, I said Shelby. Fellow Mustang lovers know what I mean. No longer is the classic White and Blue stripe limited to the roadsters, F150s now offer the trademark look.Shelby, Ford, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutosNeed more power? How about the Ford SuperDuty? With Star Family Travels, we have pulled a trailer for a lot of miles. I loved that the new SuperDuty has been revamped from the floor up to include many trailer-friendly features. The truck can now tell you when your tires are low and it has a back up camera that can be placed at the back of the trailer. Can you say "woot, woot"? On one our trips, we almost blew a tire because we had not realized that the air pressure had gotten low. We were lucky that we gassed up at a very honorable station where we were helped but we would have loved a heads up before we approached danger. Our truck LITERALLy carries my life in it -- my husband, my children, and even my dog. I want them safe at all times including when we are pulling the trailer. Thank you Ford for that!BTW, it still looks pretty good. How about this pearl finish?#Ford, #F150, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutos

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While talking trucks, I have to show the beautiful new GMC All Terrain X. We were lucky enough to attend the reveal. I have to admit that made me feel like real "press"! LOL#GMCHouston, #HOUAutos, #SheBuysCarsNice, right?

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Back to the future, Toyota has figured out that wanting to drive a hybrid doesn't mean you don't want to ride in style. Here is the new Prius...#Prius, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutosVery driveable! Very cool!

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Finally, the show offers the gamut of fun. There are classic cars...#SheBuysCars, #HOUAutosAnd futuristic cars. I call this Lamborghini the Tron car.Lamborghini, #SheBuysCars, #HOUAutosI had my Back to the Future Moment with BMW...Houston, #HOUAutosand I got a Ferrari moment which every girl needs.Ferrari, #HOUAutos, #SheBuysCars

All in all, a fabulous experience and I can't wait to go back next year!

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Thank you Houston Auto Show, GMC Houston, and especially SheBuysCars for such a fabulous experience!

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