Stacey-Ann's Blog

Elizabeth The Queen: The Life Of A Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a child who grew up in one of the British commonwealth nations I have always found the pomp and circumstance of the monarchy fascinating. I enjoyed this book and really enjoyed learning more about the inner workings of the royal family.

There were times when I found the people in the book difficult to follow - all the different Dukes & Earls, etc could be quite confusing. Also, the politics of the many prime ministers was sometimes very distracting.

The book was decidedly pro-queen. It felt as though sometimes the author went out of her way to convince us that the queen was a nice person. This made some of the accounts seem to not ring true. The author was also very unfavorable in her descriptions of Diana while down playing some of the bad behavior of the other spouses. Charles' role in the demise of the marriage was significantly down played.

Loved the pictures throughout the book which helped to bring alive some of the stories.

Overall, an interesting read.

View all my reviews

Oak Creek Club, Upper Marlboro MD SOLD Homes 2011

Houses SOLD:  19

Average LIST price:  $484,114

Average SELLING price:  $483,992

Average DAYS ON MARKET: 107

LOWEST SALE price:  $303,000 - 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath townhome built in 2008 - short sale

HIGHEST SALE price:  $689,000 - 7 bedroom, 7.5 bath single-family built in 2007 - short sale

 

 

Oak Creek Club, Upper Marlboro, MD ACTIVE listings (as of 1/11/12)

ACTIVE Houses:  12

Average LIST Price:  $516,350

LOWEST LIST Price:  $282,000 - 2 bedroom, 3.5 bath townhome built in 2007 - short sale

HIGHEST LIST Price:  $795,000 - 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath single-family home built in 2010 - new construction

Current Average Days on Market:  150

 

Oak Creek Club, Upper Marlboro, MD Under Contract listings (as of 1/11/12)

UNDER CONTRACT Houses:  7

Average LIST Price:  $385,842

LOWEST LIST Price:  $275,000 - 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath townhome built in 2007 - short sale

HIGHEST LIST Price:  $649,995 - 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath luxury single-family home built in 2006 - short sale

Current Average Days on Market:  168

 

 

Oak Creek Club has seen a small reduction in the sale prices in 2011.  The number of re-sale units sold in 2011 is very similar to the total number sold in 2010.  However, there was a significant reduction in the number of new construction homes sold.  

Oak Creek Club is located in Upper Marlboro, MD (Prince George's County) just outside the Nation's Capital. It is Prince George's County premiere gated, country club community.  Amenities include 24 hour guard gated entrance, concierge, and a swim & tennis.

Oak Creek Club is accessible to DC and Baltimore.  It is only minutes away from I-495 and Rt-50 as well as the Largo Town Center and Morgan Blvd metro stops.  Bowie Town Center, Largo Town Center, restaurants, and Fedex Field (Home of the Washington Redskins) are located within a 10 minute drive from the gates.

If you would like to buy or sell a home in Oak Creek Club, Upper Marlboro MD or if you would like more information about this community please contact Stacey Baugh of EOP Real Estate, Inc.

Last year I challenged myself to read 25 books.  I love to read but often find myself too busy to devote time to it.  However, in 2011 I decided that my only real resolution would be to make the time to enjoy the people and activities I love.

Unfortunately, I fell shy of my reading goal managing to only read 21 books in 2011 (this is probably double what I read in 2010).  

My favorite book read in 2011 was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.

Other books I really enjoyed were:

"Ah So Wi Do It" by Joelle Cohen Wright - a hilarious collection of Jamaican sketches written by my very good friend from college

"Still Alice" by Lisa Genova - a book about a person's descent into Alzheimer's told in the first person

"Band of Sisters" by Annette Lyon - a book about a group of women who support each other while their husband's are away at war.

 

The most recent book I read (completed on 12/30/2011) was "Gabby:  A Story of Courage and Hope" by Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly.  I did enjoy this book but wished they had waited to write it until we had a more complete picture of her recovery.

 I also read "The End of Normal" by Stephanie Madoff Mack.  This was written by Bernie Madoff's daughter-in-law.  The one married to the son who committed suicide.  I must say I found her a very unlikable person, despite what I know she had been through.

I read the book "One Day" by David Nicholls which came highly acclaimed and recommended.  I hated it.  I found it tremendously boring and the only reason I finished it is because I was delayed in the Miami airport and it was the only book I had with me.

 

 

2011 was the first year I began reading electronically on my I-pad and I really enjoyed exploring some of the free books available on Amazon.  

This Christmas my husband gave me a Kindle so now I can read anytime.

 

I am once again challenging myself to read 25 books in 2012.  Hopefully, I will be able to hit and exceed my target this year.  Anyone want to join me?

 

 

Beginning in January 2010 I implemented Pay It Forward - $150 donation to charity with every closing.

Following the successful closing of 872 Nalley Road, Hyattsville MD I am happy to report that the following donations have been made:

 

• $50 to the UMBC - UMBC is part of the University of Maryland system.  When I first moved to America it was to attend this wonderful university and I have always been grateful for my wonderful experience there.

• $40 to Angie Houtz Memorial Fund -  This fund provides scholarships to students attending Maryland public universities who have shown a committment to academics and community service

This charitable donation is rapidly becoming one of my favorite pats of the real estate transaction.  I am excited to be able to make these donations and I look forward to making many more donations in the coming months (and years).

I got in the car this evening to hear that Rapper Heavy D had passed away at the age of 44.  

I clicked on a link to read more of what may have caused his death and I was horrified by the number of comments that said "Good Riddance" or "Hopefully all the other rappers will die too".  I am disgusted that people hear that someone is a rapper and automatically assume that he did not deserve to live.

I am not a fan of country music but I would certainly never say good riddance if I learned of the death of a decent human being who happened to be a country singer.  

Regardless of whether I am a fan or supporter of someone it's hard for me to revel in the loss of life.

 

RIP Heavy D!  Though many may belittle your influence i know that you were an integral part of my teenage and college party years.

 

 

 

I used to be a voracious reader.  It wasn't unusual for me to read several books each week.  As I've gotten older and now have many more responsibilities, jobs, kids, husband, etc. I don't get nearly as much quality reading time as I would like.

Over the past few years I have neglected my passion for reading allowing all the demands of being the mom of young children and a young real estate career to take over the time I would usually have devoted to reading.  I have gone from reading a minimum of 1 book each week to sometimes not even reading at all in a month.  For awhile, magazines were my best substitute but they never fulfilled me in the same way.  

I realized this year that I really miss my reading time a great deal and I set myself a challenge to read 25 books this year. For me reading is the only true ME time that I get where I am doing something that I totally want to do without having to consider what other people want.  I have begun to try to carve out moments here and there that I can enjoy a good book.     

Yesterday I finished my 16th book which puts me 5 books behind where I should be to make my goal of 25 books for the year.  

To make my goal I am going to have to average more than 1 book each week until year's end, yikes!

If I had an extra three hours each week I would definitely use it to curl up with a good book!

"This post is a submission to the DocuSign/ActiveRain Thankful Contest. It's possible I will win a prize for writing this post. You could win a prize too by going to the Contest Announcement and sharing your own story"

I spent a good amount of time recently on the verandah outside my mom's hospital room.  In the days following her surgery she slept the majority of the time so my dad and I were often sitting outside, reading and talking, and playing Fruit Ninja on the I-phone.

While I was there we had thunder storms most afternoons.  It was fascinating to watch these storms from the verandah.

 

These 2 pictures were taken from the same point on the verandah at the same time just with me facing in opposite directions.

 

 

I was really amazed at how much the landscape changed as the storm moved over us.

 

The storms were gone as fast as they came.

 

There is something to be said for recuperating in a hospital room that had these beautiful vistas outside your window.

 

Update on my mom:  She is recovering nicely.  Each day is exponentially better than the last.  We are still waiting to find out whether she will need additional treatment but for now things are going well.  Thanks for all who have offered prayers, thoughts, and support.

 

Today I attended an auction for a condo in Largo, MD.  We were allowed in an hour before the auction to investigate the unit.  I was actually surprised that there were so many people there - my guess is 8-10 sets of people bidding.  

The bidding started at $20,000 and quickly climbed to a point that eliminated many of the buyers present.

I'm not sure what I expected but it kinda felt like I was on an episode of Storage Wars.  It was very civilized and controlled and the unit actually sold for very close to market price.

One interesting thing was that the buyer is charged a 5% auction premium which is added to the sales price but this auction company only offered 1% commission to an agent who brought their client.  That means at opening bid price I had the potential of earning a whopping $200.

Most buyers shy away from auctions because they aren't contingent on financing.  However, it seems that they would be good ways for cash buyers to scoop up some good investment properties.

Having attended one and seeing that it really wasn't that strange I no longer feel intimidated by the concept and I look forward to attending more in the future.

I got my I-Pad last year for my birthday and I absolutely love it even though I don't use it for anything intelligent.

On Wednesday night my 6 year old son says to me "Mommy I have to tell you something and you have to promise not to yell".   As a mom, you know no good can come of that statement.

Turns out, my daughter was in the bathtub waiting for me to wash her hair and my son was hanging out in the bathroom keeping her company and watching something on the I-Pad.  She asked to see it and in turning it around it slipped out of his hand and into the bathtub.

At this point I am livid and frantic and I am absolutely yelling!

"Do you know how expensive this is?" I asked.

"More than $100" he says

"More like $500!" and then he replied "Well then how did daddy afford it in the first place?"

This is the point where I removed myself from him because I was not sure that I wasn't going to kill him.

I'm now setting up the I-Pad in rice hoping it will be ok and my daughter says I think it needs more rice.

"I'm well aware it needs more rice but if I put more rice then we will have NO dinner!"

 

I swear this was one of those days where I really, really wished I was a drinker because I really needed a drink.

The I-Pad is still sitting in too little rice.  It turns on but you can actually SEE the water in it. 

I would appreciate your keeping my I-Pad in your thoughts.

 

The National Book Festival will take place this weekend on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 10am - 5:30pm

Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 1pm - 5:30pm

The National Book Festival is free to the public and will feature appearance by over 100 authors including popular authors like Toni Morrison and Terry McMillan.  The authors represent several genres including teen and children literature.

Books will be on sale by the authors present and authors will be available to sign your books.  Check the schedule for author appearances and signing times.

The National Book Festival is a great way to enjoy beautiful Washington DC while getting a chance to explore the wonderful authors and books that are present.