# 97 Check

This is kind of cheating, but I am in charge of the Sunshine Committee at my school. Our job is to send "rays of sunshine" to people in hard times or in times of celebration. I actually sent flowers twice this week. One lady at school lost her daughter so I sent flowers and another coworker had a baby girl! But regardless, I completed my #97 to send flower to someone :)

4 months until the wedding!

I woke up today and immediately asked Marvin what today was. He responded "4 months until our wedding," so he passed the test! I am getting super excited about all of it. I still have a ton of stuff to do and I keep putting it off because of all my Grad work. Thank god for my mom! I have my wedding binder at school (yes, I have one :))and when I get a chance I look at some things. Mostly just pictures of the brochures, but I act like I am accomplishing something. I still have to get everything I am wearing that day. Got the dress, but I still don't have shoes and I need to research this Spanx stuff, I have heard it works miracles!

The only thing I am worried about is the hotel situation. There are only 24 rooms at Kent Manor and I know at least 10 are filled up already with family and the bridal party. I know my girls have reserved their rooms, but I am sure the guys haven't done anything. The typical guy waits until the last minute. I told Marvin to spread the word, but not sure if he remembered. So if you all want a room, make sure you make a reservation soon!

There are 2 things I can't wait for. One is the first time I see Marvin. I am sure he will cry, he is such a baby. And the other is the father/daughter dance. For some reason girls always dream about their wedding day and who they will marry. Me? I dream about dancing with my dad. When I hear the song we are going to dance to on the radio, I immediately start to tear up. I hope I can keep it together on the wedding day. Back to the first time I see Marvin. We aren't getting married until 6pm and he said he doesn't want to talk to me all day. I don't know if I can do that. I might need to hear his voice or at least a text message or something the day of to help calm my nerves. We will see. . .

I still have so much going on with my life right now that I haven't really focused or had time to stress about the wedding. I keep thinking to work in baby steps. First I have to go to settlement (March 27th) and get started doing some things in the new house. Then I am graduating in May with my Masters. I think I might walk on stage, but only because 2 of my close friends will be. I thought it would be cute walk across stage together since we have been through the whole process together. Another obstacle is finishing the school year. I can't believe we are already half way through the 3rd marking period. Not much longer to go! And the last thing is Dave and Amanda's wedding. I am not angry that they decided to get married 2 weeks before us, but it really makes it hard to get things done 2 weeks before our wedding if you are traveling out of state. I am sure it will all work out :)

Couples Survey

Couples Survey. . .

What are your middle names?
Mine is Claire and his is Edward.

How long have you been together?
We have been together for 2 years.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We started dating about a month or so after we met, but only because he didn't call me for a month.

Who asked whom out?
I made him get my number. He called me, but I set up the date. I knew he was shy so I thought I should take the lead. I also had to kiss him first because he was so shy.

How old are each of you?
I am 26 and he is 28.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
His sisters, although he sees my brother a lot since he is ALWAYS having car trouble.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
His work schedule. He leaves the house at 6:30 and doesn't get home until after 7. Plus, he works from 8 until 2 on saturdays. I get off at 2:30 so I get lonely. We only have 1 day off together.

Did you go to the same school?
Nope. We went to rival high schools. . . me, Arundel and he is a Glen Burnie Gopher.

Are you from the same home town?
Nope. Me, Crofton and Marvin, Severn

Who is smarter?
I am with school things, he is with motors, computers and any electronic device.

Who is the most sensitive?
He is way more sensitive than me and I thought I was sensitive.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Fast food, Chik fil a
restaurants, Yin Yankee, Bone Fish, Fortune Cooky, and any mexican place :)

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
I got him a trip to Las Vegas as a graduation gift and we will be going to St. Lucia on our honeymoon!

Who has the worst temper?
I get mad more easily, but he has the worst temper. I think because he is such a nice guy he holds it in and then he explodes. As long as it isn't directed towards me it is ok!

Who does the cooking?
I do every night.

Who is the neat-freak?
Both of us. That is why we are perfect for each other.

Who is more stubborn?
No question about this one. . . ME!

Who hogs the bed?
He does. I wouldn't say he hogs it, but he likes to sleep REALLY close to me so he ends up on my side of the bed.

Who wakes up earlier?
I wake up at 5:45 and he wakes up at 6:00. On sundays, I usually wake up earlier and wake him up.

Where was your first date?
Calypso Bay to hear my roommate play.

Who is more jealous?
He is.

How long did it take to get serious?
We have always been serious. You know what they say, when you know, you know.

Who does the laundry?
I do. He is not allowed to do my clothes after he ruined a pair of jeans because he washed and dried a pen in the load. He does do his work clothes occasionally.

Who's better with the computer?
No doubt he is. I have no idea what I am doing.

Who drives when you are together?
Usually him, unless he is falling asleep behind the wheel. I think he does this on purpose so I have to drive every once in awhile.

Still no big news!

I am getting lots of grief for not updating my blog this week so I guess I better post something. . .

I have led a pretty boring life lately. I worked the Boys Basketball game on friday night. Saturday I sat around until it was time to go to the new house for the home inspection. Even that was boring, but according to the home inspector that is a great thing since there are no major things wrong with the house.

Sat night we had intentions on going out, BUT . . .there is always a but :)
Marvin slept until 8 pm and I didn't feel that well and since we live so far from all of our friends it would have been about 10 before we got up to Baltimore. Again, very boring!

Sunday, Marvin and I took his grandmother to the new house. Of course she loved it. We also watched Pride and Glory with Ed Norton. I thought it was going to be good because of the cast, but it wasn't that great.

Anything going on this weekend? I really want to go out now that I was shut in all last weekend.

Happy Deb? :)

No big news

This is more of just an update post. Our home inspection is on Saturday for the new house. Hopefully it all goes well. Marvin and I have been dreaming of all the things we could do to the house, but probably can't afford. It is nice to dream I guess. . . We would like to redo the bathrooms upstairs. That is more of a neccesity if we are going to have a happy relationship. I need more space and it needs a little updating! Maybe our tax returns will be a good way to fund these projects, if we ever find time to do our taxes.

Our projected settlement date is March 27th and as Marvin pointed out that is exactly 3 months before our wedding date :) So much to do still! I am really excited. My mom finally bought her dress. We are still doing little things like centerpieces, invitations, attendant gifts etc.

I am working the basketball game tomorrow night. It is nice getting the extra money, but it stinks having to work on a friday night. There is 43 days until Spring Break. We don't have a day off until then. It will be a long haul, but the week off is worth it!

#51 Complete!

Marvin made reservations at Windows on the Bay for Valentine's Day. At first I didn't really want to go. I thought we could save money instead, but the food was AMAZING!!! It was a 4 course meal. We started with Cream of Crab soup, had a salad, he had stuffed lobster and I had prime rib with shrimp (we shared of course) and then we finished it all off with 2 delicious desserts. Dinner was so much fun. I am really glad I didn't cancel! I know you can't really tell from the picture, but I wore a nice dress with high heels and all.



We went back to our new house yesterday so my parents could see it. They LOVED it! Then we went furniture shopping for some things like a kitchen table. Marvin is one of those people that has to think about a purchase for about a week before he buys anything. Me, I see something I like and want to buy it on sale! I don't know why he puts up much of a fight since I am the decorater between the 2 of us. He acts like he cares, but I think he secretly likes fighting with me about stupid things.

Girls night tonight! I am so excited!!!! Ruth's Chris for $29.95 you can't beat that :) Haven't been to Ruth's Chris since Marvin proposed :) Should be a great night, can't wait to catch up with the girls. But first, I am shopping with my mom today. She wants me to see some possible dresses for her to wear to the wedding. Off to shop. . .

Friday the 13th ain't so bad. . .

Friday the 13th proved to be a lucky day for me and Marvin. I just found out they accepted our offer on the house in Churchton, MD. I am so excited!!! I never thought in a million years in less than 2 weeks I would find a house, fall in love, put in an offer and then get the house! Wow. . . I am speachless! The next step is our home inspection. They already had one which found normal wear and tear, but we are doing one of our own just to make sure. I have no idea when we might actually be moving, but I thought I would share our good news!

#90 Complete

I should have done this long ago, but I FINALLY bought reuseable grocery bags. As an Environmental Science teacher I thought it was my duty to set a good example. And man, can those bags hold a lot of groceries! I bought tons of stuff and I fit it all into 2 bags.

Update on our moving status. We found a house we loved in Churchton, MD. It is a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath single family home. It is 4 blocks from the water. It is really nice! It was originally $335k but reduced to $260k. We got approved for the loan and meeting with our Realtor (Marvin's sister) tonight to discuss some things. Hopefully it all works out :)

On another note. . .
I have a head cold. Gotta love working with sick kids all day. My goal this year is to not take a day off. I have accumulated 30 days of sick leave and I am trying to bank all 10 days from this year. My friends think I am crazy, but I am trying to be professional. It all ties into my internship for my Master's. I graduate with my Administration and Supervision certification in May! What that means. . . I qualify to be a vice prinicpal or secondary supervisor :)

Friday the 13th
My friend Cathy is hosting a Murder Mystery party this friday for her birthday. I have never been to one before, although I have seen the Girls Next Door episode where they hosted a murder mystery party and that looked like tons of fun! Yes, I am addicted to reality TV.

Moving???

I have thought about this forever, and I think we are going to try and move! I have wanted to move for many different reasons. First, Calvert County is so far from EVERYTHING and we are constantly packing up and spending the weekend in Crofton/Severn. It is getting old. Second, I am so tired of listening to my upstairs neighbors. They are really nice, but I can hear the college boy play Rock Band ALL THE TIME and I can even hear them going to the bathroom! Third, I am trying to plan for the future. Both of our parents are 45mins + away. It would be nice to be closer when we have babies. . . whenever that may be :)

I want to buy a house in between Calvert County and Baltimore. I will keep my current house and rent it out. I already have a renter :) That was my first big fear. A coworker heard me on the phone and said she would be interested in renting from me! So check, that was easy! Next, we have been looking in the Annapolis and Bowie area. I am not too fond of the PG county schools, but I am willing to give it a chance. Who knows how long we will be in the new house.

I hope we can afford it. We are going this weekend to look at houses. I have one that I LOVE, but it is still an hour away from Baltimore. It is a cute single family home in West River. Right near the water. The only bad thing I can see from the internet is it has no garage. I have been spoiled! Other than that it is so cute.

Will update later!

101 things in 1001 days

Thought the 101 things in 1001 days was a great idea. It took me a week to come up with the list and after revising it many times, I am finally ready to start. . .

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific. Tasks must be realistic (something reachable and not too far fetched).

Why 1001 Days? The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

MY START DATE: 2/1/2009
MY END DATE: 10/29/20011

KEY:
BOLD: Completed
ITALIC: In progress

Here's my list:

1. Get Married (June 27, 2009)
2. Go camping
3. Go hiking (Pigeon Island: St. Lucia ~ July 2, 2009)
4. Go skiing/snowboarding
5. Run a 5k
6. Bike the B&A trail
7. Tour DC for a day
8. Go to the National Zoo (August 13, 2009)
9. Volunteer for a day
10. Donate clothes to goodwill/charity
11. Take a cooking class
12. Do karaoke
13. Do laundry at a Laundromat (4/1/09)
14. Have a yard sale
15. Make a wedding scrapbook
16. Buy a lottery ticket (5/1/09)
17. Wash my car twice a month for 3 months straight
18. Go white water rafting
19. Get my Master’s Degree (5/23/09)
20. Travel outside the country (St. Lucia June 29th - July 6th)
21. Say the pledge at school on the PA (3/6/09)
22. Go on a girls trip
23. Bring breakfast one morning for the entire Science dept
24. Attend a spinning class at the gym
25. Look for sharks teeth at the beach
26. Have a picnic
27. Go to a dermatologist (March 4, 2009)
28. Go to the Renaissance Festival (Sept 7, 2009)
29. Buy a nice tropical dress for my honeymoon (June 20, 2009)
30. Make something for someone
31. Learn how to change a tire (June 18, 2009)
32. Learn how to change the oil in the car
33. Read 3 professional books (1/3)
34. Paint the walls of my house (6/8/09)
35. Go a whole school year without taking a day off
36. Go 1 month without eating out
37. Furnish the guest room
38. Furnish the computer room
39. Donate blood
40. Visit NYC during the Holiday season
41. Visit Chicago just because
42. Visit Aunt Sue in Minnesota
43. Ride a horse
44. Go zip lining (July 4, 2009)
45. Visit the Humane Society
46. Buy produce from the local farmers market
47. Take a kickboxing class
48. Adopt a family/child for Christmas
49. Learn to knit
50. Knit something
51. Get all dressed up and eat at a fancy restaurant (2/14/09)
52. Carve a pumpkin for Halloween (well we painted it instead!)
53. Get my haircut and styled
54. Go to watch a kickball game
55. Go away for spring break
56. Go to a concert
57. Send out Christmas cards to family and friends
58. Read all 7 Harry Potter books
59. Watch all Sex in the City episodes in order
60. Do something special for someone’s birthday (Dad's surprise party 3/28/09)
61. Buy a new bathing suit (April 09)
62. Have a movie marathon day
63. Create/update my blog (February 09)
64. Create a family photo album
65. Throw a dinner party (10/11/09)
66. Watch Lost (3/4/09)
67. Get down to my goal weight (April 09 ~ lets see if I can maintain!)
68. Organize my jump drive (August 5, 2009)
69. Help mom in the garden (April 09 ~ or her help me in my new garden)
70. Read 10 books for fun (8/10)
71. Go on a canoe/kayak trip
72. Go to gym 4 times a week for 2 months straight
73. Go to a museum
74. Do an anonymous favor for someone
75. Buy new sunglasses (5/23/09)
76. Read the Sunday newspaper
77. See a movie by myself
78. Prepare 10 meatless meals (2/10) Baked Ziti :)
79. Drink 8 glasses of water a day for 7 days
80. Make a cake from scratch (7/27/09)
81. Buy something from an antique store
82. Take pictures in a photo booth (June 13, 2009)
83. Go ice skating
84. Watch the sun rise
85. Buy a fun, new accessory ~ my new boots :)
86. Save change and go on a fun shopping spree
87. Insure my engagement ring (3/17/09)
88. Bike to the Beach 4 Sunday’s in a row (0/4)
89. Plan a spa day (I think this counts! June 26th and 27th July 1st and 5th)
90. Buy reusable grocery bags Complete 2/9/09
91. Create a family tree
92. Get life insurance
93. Gamble at a casino
94. Go to 10 Oriole games (2/10)
95. Go to dinner alone with Matt
96. Start a fire with no matches, lighter etc.
97. Send flowers to someone (Lucas family 2/26)
98. Start a family
99. Play Bingo
100. Go berry/fruit picking
101. Inspire 2 people to create a 101 things in 1001 days list (1/2)