Updating Registries

My mom notified me of a few problems with our online registries, so I've been trying to fix them. Of interest:

• Kohl's had everything on there doubled, which got really interesting for some of the things we did want more than one of. No, we don't want 16 towel sets (just 8).

• We scanned a microwave at Target but apparently it's one of those "in-store only" items. So when you see CHEFMATE 0.7 CU.FT. 700WATT MIC, CHEFMATE, HLB WHITE, .7 CF on there, what it's actually trying to say is that we wanted a Chefmate 700 Watt 0.7 Cubic Foot microwave. I don't remember the price now unfortunately but it should be in the aisle with all the other microwaves.

• That's the most confusing one, but a whole bunch of the other Target stuff is also "in-store only," which means they don't put prices, pictures, or anything else helpful on there. However! If you go to the store they will print it out for you and you can use it to help you shop.

• I tried to use MyRegistry.com to aggregate things from other stores without registries (like the Apple computer, the Home Depot toolbox, and the cell phone case), but the website is severely under performing my expectations. You can see the gifts but it is impossible to click "view gift" and actually see it (ironically, it works fine when I preview it via my account there). Notice to all you up-and-coming web design people, there is an untapped market waiting for you. At any rate, here are direct links to what I had on there:

• MacBook Pro laptop. This is significantly less expensive from the Apple Education store, but since you have to "verify" to get to it it's impossible to directly link to the product page.
  
• Tool box from Home Depot. I would like to use this box to hold all of my computer parts and accessories, as they are currently housed in a dilapidated cardboard box.
• Cell phone case. This is available at a number of regular stores, but $24.95 is the absolute maximum I would pay for it. I know Columbia Best Buy would charge customers $35, so avoid that particular store.
  

Moving

Over the past several weeks Rachel and I have been moving our belongings from our respective places of residence into our new apartment. This past Wednesday was a killer though, as we had to move everything from my Walker Avenue apartment on UMBC's campus to the new place in one day. We had tried packing up a few things and moving them several days before but as we moved on Wednesday it was as if more things to move were breeding in the corners.

At any rate, we finally managed to get everything moved which leaves the stuff from my mom's house as the only things we have left to transport. Currently, our apartment is akin to a dragon cave, in which wealth and interesting "shiny things" are heaped high, and the dragon, having collected it all, sits atop the pile and worries about people stealing it.

Clearly I have my work cut out for me this holiday weekend. Hopefully we'll be able to wrest the piles into some semblance of a home during that time - especially since both of us will be around since Rachel is no longer required to work on weekends.

MyRegistry.com

Several websites (like HomeDepot.com) have decided to not support bridal registries, while there are others with only a few items that we are interested in (like the Apple store).

To that end, we've made an account on MyRegistry.com that allows us to put these miscellaneous items in the same place. Check it out (especially the very cool toolbox I can use to store my spare computer parts). Note: It will take you to the main page with our names filled in, but you have to click "search" to get to our actual registry page.

Our Dream Computer

If Rachel and I were able to get an awesome laptop, the overall stability of our marriage would be increased, as we wouldn't have to fight over who gets to use Tess (my desktop computer). It's significantly less expensive via the Apple Education store, but I can't link to a configured page as you need to verify that you are indeed eligible to purchase from it each time.

This would also be a great opportunity for my Mac-loving friends to say "I told you so."

Wedding Tips

Throughout this process so far, I have learned two important things (Jason, pay attention):

• Gather all of your addresses before you start sending out invitations. This allows you to send most of them all at once (aside from the few people you will inevitably remember later).
• Hard-code your website address into your invitations, so everybody realizes that they can go and check it.

There are always things you learn when doing something very big like this. Hopefully my experiences will be able to help others in some way, because I only plan on doing this once.

Another Registry

In addition to Target and Kohl's, we've got a registry at Bed Bath and Beyond as well.

Also, today is the last day to ensure the discounted rate at the hotels so make sure you have that taken care of if you haven't already.