The name game

Found a fun little survey thing on Nora's blog.

1. How did your parents decide on your name? My mom has just said that she knew a girl in high school with my name, spelled slightly differently, and she always liked it. She also told me that my dad chose my middle name because he wanted me to have his initials. He passed away when I was very young, so I've always liked knowing we share the same initials because that's the way he wanted it.
2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny? Nope. My first and last initials are B.M., but that's not even remotely funny. Neither are grown-ass people who feel the need to point it out.
3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?) How timely. I plan to keep my middle name from childhood. I think if there were no males in my family to carry on the last name, it might feel more important to me to keep my maiden name as my middle name. But I have a few male cousins, so no big deal.
4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of the same origin...)? I don't plan on any themes.
5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind? Is middle school considered "little girl"? I had a whole list of names I used to carry around with me. I don't think any of them are the same as what I like anymore, except for my dad's name.
6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations? None that I'm aware of. Maybe I'll start that trend when I have children, because a few of the names I'd like to use are family names.
7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself? I don't pay attention to name meanings. I just like what I think sounds good.
8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)? Mostly human names. Pets in the past have been Charlie, Mac, Eddie. Current pets are P.J. and Peri. I did have a kitten named Puppy once (and P.J. stands for Puppy, Jr., although he's not Puppy's son...).
9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew? Have you ever worked at a daycare? Because there are plenty of names I wouldn't consider using on my own children because of experiences with children at the daycare where I worked.
10. What are some of your favorite names? Why? I think I just realized I like 80's girls names. Meredith, Mallory, Natalie... are those 80's names? I'm not sure. I just like that style.

So... that happened

So, you know how I mentioned in my latest report card that I will be planning the party of the decade in 2012?

Get ready for some wedding talk.

Late! Report Card

I've been the worst blogger. Here is my report card for 11 in '11 in February (now that March is 1/3 over...)

• Keep saving $100 a month: A+ I saved $100 last month, and I put my entire federal tax refund into savings as well.
  
• Start an Etsy store: C I really have done nothing else here, and that's sad.
  
• Try a new recipe every month: F I left this as N/A last month, but I did end up trying a new recipe. It wasn't great, and I didn't make anything new in February. I haven't been cooking much at all, actually.
  
• Send birthday cards: A+ My sister was the only February birthday, and I sent her a whole birthday package.
  
• Finish every project: F I... don't know if I even started any projects in February. But I still haven't completed those January projects, so, uh...
  
• Read 12 books: A+ I read 3 books in February and finished another on March 1, so technically I read 3 and most of a fourth book.
  
• Spend more time outside: B, It's been gorgeous here lately, and I have been spending lots more time outside. I imagine when the time changes and there's a lot of daylight left when I get home from work, I'll spend even more time out there.
  
• Keep one houseplant alive: N/A Still haven't decided what plant to get.
  
• Walk 365 miles: F Oh yeah, that. I probably should take this goal off.
  
• Throw a party: N/A Still not yet. But I will be throwing the party of the decade in 2012. Stick around til the next post to hear about it!
  
• Date night every month: A+, We had another date day, and it was the best. Bike riding by the river, sitting by the dam for a rest, then frozen yogurt before heading home? Perfection. And he was responsible for all of it.

Areas to improve:

• I don't think I'll be walking 365 miles this year. I did get a bike, though, for our 2nd anniversary, and I want to start riding it regularly. Maybe I'll keep up with miles on it.
• The Etsy store. If I want to do that, I should, well, do it.
• Trying a new recipe. I just kind of fell out of like with cooking. I did buy a new recipe book, so hopefully I'll try a few things in there. It's hard to get motivated to cook when I eat by myself (because the boy works at night).

Overall:

C Yikes.