Stacey-Ann's Blog

The supermarket shopping experience has really changed drastically over the years.  I remember going to the store with my mom.  You put your items in your cart (trolley if you are from Jamaica), take them to the cashier, she would punch some numbers in to ring them up, someone else would bag them and then someone would take them to your car. 

Then they invented the swipe to speed up the checkout process.  Eventually it got to the point where you bag your own grocery and take them to the car yourself. 

Then, my grocery store implemented the self-checkout.  Now you ring up your items yourself and someone may or may not help you to bag them. 

Yesterday, I went to my usual grocery store (Giant) and now they have something even better.  When you get in the door, you scan your bonus card and they give you a scanner and some bags.  As you pick each item off the shelf, you immediately scan it and bag it.  Once you are done, you take the scanner to a register and pay.  This reduced my shopping time by almost half.  The really neat thing about this is that it keeps a tally of what you are spending, no more violent surprises at checkout.

What will be next?

Steuart Kret Builders feature 4 condo floor-plans at Sycamore Point.

The Buttonwood, The Planetree, The Boxelder, & The Silver Maple.

All floor plans feature 2 bedrooms, and 2 or 2.5 bathrooms.  All floor plans also feature a den or a possible 3rd bedroom.  A hallmark of each home is the 2-sided electric fireplace that makes a dramatic addition to the living/dining room areas.

These homes come equipped with many standard features including corian countertops, crown moulding, and Whirlpool Appliances.  In addition many upgraded features including garage parking are available.

These homes are conveniently located in the beautiful community of Fairwood in Bowie, Maryland and are available for immediate delivery.  Quick delivery homes are currently available from $289,900 with $10,000 available closing help.

Fairwood is a planned communtiy in Bowie that features many different home styles and amenities and is located convenient to Rt 450 and Church Road.  In addition, it is accessible to the Fairwood Shopping Center which features many merchants including a bank, supermarket, gym, gas station, and several restaurants.

Give me a call is you are interested in learning about these or any other available new construction in the Bowie/Upper Marlboro area.  I would be happy to help navigate the exciting, but often confusing experience of buying a new home.

I recently was involved in the planning of two community events that were held at the new Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro.  For both I visited the Fairwood Shopping Center in Bowie, MD.  This shopping center was a short drive from Oak Creek.  I was amazed at how friendly and supporttive the merchants were.  Almost everyone that I spoke to was more than willing to provide assistance where ever possible.  Special thanks to:

• Fairwood Cafe Liquor and Wine that donated 2 cases of beer to my golf tournament.
• Suntrust Bank in the Safeway Supermarket who were helpful in setting up my checking accounts and also in supporting and making a donation to the golf tournament.
• Marines recruiting who donated prizes.
• Gold's Gym which donated a 3 month membership for us to use as an auction item.
• Touch AV that donated gift cards.
• KBQ that catered the event.

Thanks to all who helped but thanks in particular to these merchants who showed an interest in being a part of the local community and in giving back to a local charity.  Without merchants like these, the events would not have been successful.

If you are in this area, stop by the Fairwood shopping center and support them the same way they are supporting the community.

The 2nd annual Angie Houtz Memorial Tournament was held on Friday September 19, 2008 at the Oak Creek Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, MD.  The tournament was a huge success.  There were 76 golfers and they all seemed pleased with the course and the events of the day.  Most were impressed with the conditions of the new Oak Creek Golf Course and are looking forward to next year for a chance to play again on the private Oak Creek course.

Thanks to an army of volunteers, donors, and players the event went off without any major glitches.  We raised over $4000 for the Angie Houtz Memorial Scholarship Fund and look forward to the scholarships that we will be able to offer next year thanks to the success of this and the Spring fundraisers. 

Thanks again to all who supported us.  We look forward to seeing you again next year.

For more information on the Angie Houtz Memorial Fund please visit the website:  www.angiemhoutzmemorialfund.com

I was reading some info today about discontinued products that people really miss.  There were interesting things on the list including the Polaroid Camera.  It got me thinking about what products I used to use that I can't get anymore and whether I would want them back.  Interestingly, for me, all of my most missed products are food.

1. Duncan Hines Chocalate Chip Cookies.  I've tried other chexy brands and they are good but not quite there.
2. Planters Cheez Balls - I actually did not realize they were discontinued.  I just thought my grocery store stopped carrying them.
3. There was this wonderful brand of chocate in Jamaica called Highgate.  My family would know to bring me several when they came to visit and they stopped making them last year.

What products do you miss?

I remember the last conversation I had with my friend, we discussed her work trip the previous weekend, the fact that we were getting"old" because my husband and I were ready to try to have a baby, and when we were going to get together the coming weekend so she could get her birthday gifts.

I remember driving to work that morning thinking it was just like any other day.

I remember my husband calling me to say that planes had crashed into buildings.  Since I didn't realize the magnitude, my response, a casual "do they think its terrorism?"  His response, "Stacey, what about Angie?"

I remember driving home on what was the most beautiful day I had ever seen,

I remember the initial hope when we told her office was on the other side of the Pentagon and then the hope dashed when we realized they had moved offices the week before.

I remember the phone call from her mom the next morning confirming our worst fears.

After that, all I remember is crushing pain and anger.

How could she be gone?  This ray of light for so many people, this wonderful person who put others before herself.  What kind of world took that person away?

I was stuck there for so long, angry every day!!!  Two things helped me pull through:  (1) I got pregnant with my daughter & (2) we set up a scholarship fund in her honor that gave me a purpose, a way to make her loss seem less meaningless.

Fast forward, 7 years.  Am I still angry?  Absolutely!!!!  Am I still sad?  Absolutely!!!!  Do I still miss her?  Everyday!!!!  I still think:  Angie would have loved this, she would have thought this was funny, I wonder what she would have thought about this, etc.  The worst part is that I think everyday how much my children would have loved her and what a wonderful influence she would have been for them.

September 11 has been a defining moment in my life. It taught me what real pain was like.  It also taught me that I was stronger than I thought, and that I could withstand more than I realized.  The most important thing it taught me was that it was better to love and lose than to never allow yourself to love at all.  Despite all the pain I felt once she was gone, I would not have traded the chance to get to know and love her.  I would not have traded those 9 years as best friends and all the memories we shared for anything! 

I am a better person because she was a part of my life.

Use this 9/11 anniversary as a chance to make sure everyone you love knows how much you value them.

If you want to read more about Angie visit:  www.angiemhoutzmemorialfund.com

Kingsford Elementary in Upper Marlboro, MD is holding back to school nights this week.  Tuesday, September 9 from 7-8pm for PreK-2nd grades and Wednesday, September 10 from 7-8pm for grades 3-6.  This a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers and learn about what's going on at there school.  In addition, this is your chance to join the PTA of Kingsford Elementary school.  Parental involvement is the key to school success. 

Come on out and support our children. 

Hope to see you there.

Its here!  The Community block party for the Deer Run & Deer Ridge neighborhoods of Oak Creek will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 3-7pm (Rain date 9/20).  This will be held on Bottsford Ave in the Deer Ridge Community.  There will be great food as well as fun activities for kids and adults.

Oak Creek is a wonderful new development and this is a great opportunity to meet many of your new neighborhoods and help to build a sense of community within the neighborhood. 

In addition, to meeting new neighbors the block party committee is hoping to raise money to help local schools.  There will be raffles and a silent auction, and donations of school supplies are being requested.

Come on by on Saturday.  We look forward to meeting you there!