Joint or Separate - or Both?

Separate, joint - or a combination of both? That is the question. I'm talking about finances! This week, the NBC Nightly News is taking a closer look at: "Marriage - The State of our Unions." Very cheesy...but also very interesting. We happened to catch it on Monday...and Tuesday and Wednesday (Dan has a thing for Brian Williams). What we found interesting was the story on how married couples now-a-days manage their finances. (Here's a link to the story on MSNBC.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17803471/)

They say that 37% of women keep some type of separate account. We've been thinking about this for a while, how we'll combine our assets and accounts, all that mumbo jumbo when we tie the knot. While it isn't practical to maintain completely separate accounts - I joked with Dan about going "halfsies" on our mortgage someday - I see some benefits to keeping my checking account. First, I would drive Dan completely nuts with all of my daily, small deductions ($5 at Subway, $3 at CVS, etc.). Second, I would like to maintain some sense of independence financially. Third, we don't necessarily keep the same spending habits. Dan goes shopping like twice a year - and drops a larger amount of $$ on those two occasion. On the other hand, I spend money - not necessarily more (that's probably a lie) on a more frequent basis. Hello, I'm a chick - I can't help it!

This segment had some very interesting quotes:

It's not romantic, but we're talking about a generation raised on equality. Keeping money separate means husbands never get to ask, "You paid how much for those shoes?" It's not romantic, but we're talking about a generation raised on equality. Keeping money separate means husbands never get to ask, "You paid how much for those shoes?"

While we will most likely have a joint "main" account, I imagine I'll still squirrel away some "discretionary" funds for my own use. It's an interesting debate, and one we've seen covered in other outlets as well. In the April issue of Money Magazine (Dan has a subscription), they cover it also.

I'm off - to shoe shop online - (ha!) Actually, I am, sort of. Each year, Dan and I compete just with each other in a March Madness pool - and I won. He can't catch up with me point wise, I've locked it in with the final four! In the past, we've bet a nice dinner, movie of winner's choice, etc. This year, I decided if I won, Dan would have to buy me a pair of shoes of my choice. Within reason of course - as I am a very reasonable person:) So - here I go. New shoes await!

Centerpieces

Wow...time flies by when you're planning a wedding! I stepped into a Tricia-induced panic-mode this week, when she kindly reminded me of all of the things that I need to do for the wedding. It's true, I think I got a little comfortable after we settled the photographer and dj - and then there's that full-time job I have during the week:) And, that brings us to almost the end of March. Basically, only five months left to get it together!!!

So, I got busy this week. I'm trying to settle some logistical issues - hotel, transportation, etc., and also settle on a theme. Maybe theme isn't the best word, maybe it's style? I'm trying to figure out the reception right now. What will the centerpieces be? What type of favors? How about placecards, tablesettings? (Just writing all of this down right now is bringing on that panic feeling again!)

I'm focusing on centerpieces right now - and it is a big wild card. Dan and I took a trip to Michael's yesterday to see if we got inspired. Tricia took a trip as well at the same time Dan and I did, so we conferenced via cell phone at our respective Michael's stores. I have a lot of ideas in mind - all DIY (do-it-yourself) to some degree. I have a few solid ideas in mind, but am not sure how to bring those ideas to life. One of the ideas I have is to place 2-sided floating frames on the table with a picture of us (together or from our childhood) and write something to explain what the picture represents. If we were to do something along those lines, it would affect what we "name" our tables (rather than using #s). So far, we haven't come across a frame that would stand alone. And I will not use plexiglas - under no circumstance!

Does anyone have any insight? Seen anything really cool at other weddings?



In other news...our second reader at our wedding is celebrating his 8th birthday on March 26! That's Brandon at the 4th of July parade last year. We're very excited that he is going to be doing a reading for us. It's a big year for him - he's making his first communion in April.


I'm off to surf the Web for centerpiece ideas - until next time!

My Very Own Personal Trainer

Thank goodness that spring is right around the corner! It seems that by March, I'm just really ready for warm weather. Especially now, it's light out later and the temperature seems to hover around 50-60 degrees, with little teases of 70s every now and then. So, Dan and I have been taking advantage of the pre-spring weather and are running outside. We've never really worked out together, and neither of us are runners. I tried to become one last year, and I just sort of lost my committment. Well...I have a great reason to stay motivated: looking and feeling awesome in my wedding dress!

Dan and I are doing this together, but he's more my personal trainer. As I alluded to earlier, I seem to lose my motivation with working out. So he's there to make sure I don't and to push me further. But, he is learning that I am not that competitive (when it comes to this). Last year when I did the Firecracker 5K in Kenosha with Tricia and my mom, I came in last of the three. I think they passed me in the first 200 meters. Dan said he's so used to his sister Abby kicking his butt in sports - and I'm the complete opposite!

I'm working on it though, pretty soon I'll start challenging him more. Given that Dan is about ten inches taller than me, it's not exactly like we're on the same pace. I have to work twice as hard to keep up with his strides!

Although this weekend, we're pretty glued to the tv -- March Madness -- we'll have to dig deep for the motivation tomorrow. Go Badgers!

An Early Surprise

Hello, it's Dan again! Laurie says its time for me to contribute to the blog. This week was very exciting for the Leopold family as we have a new addition to the family--five-pound four-ounce and seventeen-inch long Max Richard was born on March 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Max was a little early--he was due on April 14--but he, mom (Traci), and dad (Dave) are all doing well. In fact, Dave and Traci took Baby Max home on Sunday.


(Max at the hospital)


We are all excited to have this new addition to the family, and I am particularly excited about officially becoming an uncle. I am not sure what it entails, but Dave has assured me that it doesn't involve changing diapers! Maybe I should start grooming him to become a Yankees fan??!??! Hmmm, who should his favorite player be? Laurie says A-Rod or Mike Mussina, personally I think Paul O'Neill or Scott Brosius would be better choices (inside joke--Brian Klems).

In other news, I am still gloating over Ohio State's recent romping of Wisconsin. As Laurie alluded to in an earlier blog entry, Ohio State-Wisconsin games are fairly contentious for her and me. She claims that I should be a Wisconsin fan because I went to grad school there. I claim that I am a Buckeyes fan because I was born and raised in Columbus. Plus, how could I possibly root for the Ohio University Bobcats--my alma mater--they are terrible! I have to say though, Laurie did take Wisconsin's latest loss pretty well, which is surprising given Ohio State slaughtered them. Now Laurie and I are preparing for March Madness. We have competed over the last two years and each have won once. Losing the March Madness competition can be devastating because the winner has bragging rights for the whole year. Laurie thinks Florida is overrated...and...I am going to continue to let her believe that.

Until next time...

Dancing Shoes

Dan and I took a road trip to Columbus, Ohio this past weekend to visit his family. In addition to our upcoming nuptials, there are a lot of celebrations in the Leopold family this year. Dan’s brother Dave and his wife Traci are expecting their first child in April (a boy!), and both of Dan’s parents are celebrating a very special birthday! We had a great weekend. I attended Traci’s baby shower, where she was looking radiant at nearly eight months pregnant, and we all gathered for Papa Leopold’s birthday celebration Saturday night.

While the weekend was very fun, we did spend more than 14 hours in the car – about 7 hours each way. Thank goodness for satellite radio! We’ve made this drive before without it, and it is slim pickings for radio stations when you’re driving through the mountains of West Virginia. On hour four or five on the way there, I stumbled across a song that I thought would be perfect for Dan and me to dance to at our reception. It’s a song I’ve been digging since last fall – and it just occurred to me what a good fit it was.

Dan wasn’t really paying attention to the song at the time, and so when we got home Sunday night I played it for him. I’ve had it on my ipod for awhile now, but never realized how perfect it was! We had some concerns at first, like was it easy to dance to or too fast? So, we practiced. It was really cute, and the song is not too fast and it is easy to dance to. And, dancing with Dan to the song felt so right. Although, I’m pretty sure this practice session is going to result in one or two dance lessons for Dan. The song is perfect, but Dan’s dancing – that’s another story!!

I’ll give you a few hints as to what the song is, but I’m going to mark it as classified information until the reception. It is from a newer artist/band, unchained melody didn’t make the cut), it is something you could hear on the radio today, it is not a duet and it is not a traditional love song. In other words, no Faith Hill or Tim McGraw or any other country love crooner. Any guesses? (I may have blabbed to a few select people - please don’t share in the comments section!)

Also – anyone want to teach Dan to dance?!