I did as follows: take woman you plan to marry to the mall and wander around for a while. She is a woman, so eventually she will be drawn near, if not directly into one of the many jewelry stores. move her in the direction of the engagement rings, give the employee a wink, and excuse yourself to the bathroom or some place other than there. When returning to the store, call her from the door and tell her she has to come quickly to see the "whatever" on sale at the outdoor/sporting goods place. Don't talk of the jewelry store again while at the mall! Return later w/out the perspective wife and find out from the store employee what she was looking at. If is not a million bucks...BUY IT! I choose to put it on layaway, being a poor, low ranking Air Force guy at the time, I didn't have the cash to buy it right then. If the subject of the jewelry store is brought before you can complete the purchase, act like you forgot all about it!
My master plan was disrupted, because I got my orders to deploy to Saudi for Desert Storm. I was to leave the country the following day. I made dinner plans for the "wife" and I, and then rushed to the mall and plunked down the dreaded credit card to pay the ring off. 9PM that night, she said yes, and by 2AM I was airborne on my way to one of the true armpits of the world.
14 years and four kids later...I still count myself as one of the luckiest men alive. She even puts up w/ my fishing addiction!!!
I wish you luck, and many years of happiness!!!
Brandon
THAN GO FOR A DRIVE W/ TED KENNEDY 
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