The Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire

When you think of dollar stores you think cheap and junky, however that is not the case!  You can find a lot of great products from party supplies to food; the Dollar Tree has everything you can think of, not to mention everything in the store is $1.

I am proud to say that I am a regular shopper at the Dollar Tree.  Yes some of the items they sell I would not purchase, however there are many great finds.  I have purchased holiday decorations, frozen food, candles, and much more.  If you see something that you like, buy it then, because when you go back it may no longer be in stock.

Sea glass

Shortly after I got engaged, I already knew the type of wedding that I would want, beach themed, and my mom and I went straight to Dollar Tree to see what we can find.  I found these beautiful centerpieces online, but decided to make them myself in order to save money.

Tea light candle holders

At the Dollar Tree, we have found tall vases, colored sea glass, tea light holders, and candles!  Each centerpiece would cost approximately $6, now thats what I call a great deal.

 There are certain items that I will not purchase from dollar stores like personal hygiene products, kitchen items, and make up.  There are many wonderful products that I encourage you to buy, which include gift bags, wrapping paper, office/school supplies, party goods, and much more!

I am a bargain hunter, who is constantly looking for steals and deals and dollar stores are a great way to go!  Some people make fun of me, as I am always looking at local ads for sales, etc.  With this tough economy, buying things on sale is the way to go, but I am NOT an extreme couponer.  One day take some time to check out your local dollar store, because you never know what you could find. 

Decorating Like A Pro

Baking has always been a passion of mine, so I have decided to take it to the next level.  The local Michael's offers three different Wilton cake decorating classes (Decorating Basics, Flowers and Cake Design, and Gum Paste and Fondant).

Michael's offers student kits for each class, however since I knew that I was going to be decorating many cakes, I decided to get the Wilton Ultimate Decorating Set, which includes everything I would need for all three classes!

The first class is Decorating Basics, which teaches you how to properly bake and frost a cake, make your own frosting and  how to use decorator bags and tips.  The first night of class we were given lesson plan, which has everything we will be learning during the four classes.  

With lesson 1 completed, I could not wait to see what lesson 2 would bring!  There are many supplies that I need to purchase, but this is going to be an investment.  Who knows I could start my own cake decorating business out of the house.  I am looking forward to sharing my creativity and designs with family and friends.

April showers bring May flowers

Flowers are blooming, trees are growing and the grass is green, which means it is spring time in Annapolis! After surviving my first winter, spring has finally arrived.  It is nice to have the windows open and hear the birds chirping, see the flowers bloom and the wonderful smell of fresh cut grass!

Daffodils at the entrance of USNA

The beautiful azalea bush in the front yard

Now that the weather has warmed up, I have a new office location, which is the front porch.  I set up my lap top, a glass of water and enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

Spring time brings many activities around Annapolis,  and I will be taking full advantage of what this town has to offer.   It is nice to live somewhere that offers all of these activities for residents and the best part is that most of them are free, which is even better.

On May Day, downtown Annapolis residents and merchants welcome spring by decorating their doorways with baskets of blooming flowers.  Since we are Annapolitans, John's aunt Mari made us this beautiful flower basket for our front door!

Along with May Day, there is the annual St. John's College vs. Navy croquet match, where spectators picnic on the lawn, swing dance, and dress in Gatsby-like fashion.  

The same day is the Annapolis Food, Wine, and Hops Festival, which showcases many local restaurants, cooking demos and performances.  If arts and crafts is something you enjoy, there is the First Sunday Arts Festival which takes place on the first Sunday of the month from May until October.  Everyone loves some good barbeque, to sample delicious food there will be the Naptown barBAYq, which is a competitive barbeque contest, which will be held at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, which happens to be within walking distance of the house!

Annapolis is a wonderful town, with a lot of things to do and visit.  It is the capital of Maryland and the home to the United States Naval Academy (Go Navy!).  With warm weather comes tourists and a lot of them too!  I am blessed to be living in such a beautiful town and lucky to call myself an Annapolitan.

Working from home...a blessing or a curse?

I have been employed by CBS Interactive since 2005 and have enjoyed my time in the office.  In June of 2010, approximately 10 employees from my department were made "remote".  The company provided each of us with a lap top and headset, to make and take phone calls.  Working from home is not for everyone, however you must be very disciplined and dedicated to your job, in order for you to succeed.

Personally, I get a lot more work done at home, then I do being in the office.  At home, there are less distractions, which allows me to get things more accomplished and stay on task.  However, I do miss the office interaction, but one thing I do NOT miss is the gossiping, backstabbing, etc. 

Some days, I head downtown to work from the local Starbucks for a few hours, to break up the day.  During my down time at work, I spend it doing laundry, dishes and other household chores, which is great, because come five o'clock I can just relax!

Overall, working from home has been a blessing and I have extremely thankful to have been given the opportunity to do this.  Of course I miss my co-workers and office interaction, but that is why there are telephones and webcams!

Wedding Planning 101

Wedding planning is supposed to be an enjoyable experience, well whoever said that isn't planning a wedding 1,000 miles away and on a tight budget!  I have had many emotional breakdowns about the wedding, but after talking to John and my family, they have reassured me that everything will work out just fine and be beautiful!

I have turned to The Knot message boards to voice my frustrations, etc. and the "knotties" have been very supportive and offered solutions to my many predicaments.  That website is very useful and has tools from a wedding check list to creating your own wedding website (www.theknot.com/ourwedding/JohnMoreland&KayTrudel). I visit the site on a daily basis to get tips, vendor recommendations and ideas for our July 30 wedding.

When I first got engaged, my mom gave me a binder with dividers to keep everything organized.  That little pink binder is filled with vendor contracts, ideas, etc.  I will definitely be keeping it after the big day, as a reminder of everything that I have gone through planning this wedding.

John has been absolutely amazing during this planning process.  He is very involved and has helped me make decisions along the way.  Not to mention he has been extremely supportive during my emotional breakdowns.  Together, we make a wonderful team!

With 159 days to go, the venue, photographer, and DJ have all been booked.  As the big day quickly approaches, there are still many important decisions to be made.  With my best friend by my side, it will be the dream wedding that I have always dreamt for.  I cannot wait to marry my best friend and become Mrs. Moreland!

We're Homeowners

On November 10, two days after my 26th birthday, our dreams came true, as we closed on our beautiful house in Annapolis.  After looking at many homes, then signing our lives away, we have the keys in our hands!

It was such a great feeling to get those keys, knowing that this is our house!  We purchased a beautiful 2/1 home in the heart of Annapolis.  We are very lucky to be close to everything from shops to the downtown area.  The neighborhood is very quiet, which we like.

Finding a home is stressful, but it is definitely worth it in the end!  We have truly made this house a home!

Finding the Right Realtor

John and I have learned a lot when working with a realtor.  When we first started looking at houses, we found someone online.  His website, etc. was very convincing, but that was all smoke and mirrors.

Dave, the original realtor, at first was willing to work with us, but as the process began, our eyes opened up.  He would send us homes that did not meet our criteria, etc.  In addition, it was very difficult to schedule appointments, as he was busy with his children.  After much discussion, we have decided to "fire" Dave and find another realtor.

Thankfully, John knew of one, as they have played soccer together  Brian has been absolutely amazing in the search for our first home.  He was always available to see homes, etc.  He listened to our needs and even provided more homes, than we saw.

Tips on finding the right realtor for you:

• Get personal referrals.  Ask around if anyone has worked with a realtor, in the area, which you are wanting a home.
• Do research.  Visit Realtor.com to make sure that the realtor is licensed, etc.  Google.com is very helpful to finding more information about your realtor. 
• Make a list of your priorities.  Sit down and list want you would want in a home (number of bedrooms/bathrooms, type of flooring, etc.)
• Interview.  What you read and hear about someone may not be everything.  I suggest scheduling a meeting with your realtor to get to know them and see if they will work for you.  You are paying this person to find your home, so you have every right to interview them.
• If you are not happy, let them know!  If your realtor is not performing to your needs, let them know your concerns, etc.  It is very important that both you and your realtor are on the same page, etc. 
• It is ok to fire your realtor.  Do not be afraid to fire your realtor.  Unfortunately, this does happen often, but do not be embarrassed, because there is someone else out there (take it from personal experience).

If anyone is looking for a home in the Annapolis, MD area, please contact Brian Schilling and let him know that Kay and John referred you.