Is it that time of year again?

I'm trying to get this list out early... not to mention I've had a lot of things on my mind to get myself so it helps having a list.

What tops my list this year??
Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera

OR Canon Rebel XSi

A new big mirror for the bathroom (no bigger than 24" by 36") - Here are some examples of shapes I like (may not be the right size). (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

I'm very into dresses and found like a million I like. I think I'm a size 10 or probably medium... so here are like the million I found today that I like. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28)

Jeans would also be nice... I am a curvy style size 10

Note: Old Navy tends to run big.

Shirts I like, size medium or large: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22)

Sweaters, size medium or large: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Skirts, size medium or large: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) I also like knee legnth flowy skirts

Maybe a business suit?: (1)

Shoes, size 9.5: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) also, some flats with a bit of a heel (I saw some at Target, with my mom, but I can't seem to find them online)

Mini fridge - Like this 16 can one, I want something with small capacity...

Board Games:
Trivial Pursuit - Easy Medium Hard

Catch Phrase

Scribblish

Love Board games so up for some other ones too...

Earrings - I really like fun dangles (nice quality) - diamond (fake or real) studs (want a good metal on the earring... ideally white gold), silver hoops (bigger than small, smaller than big) and red or any other fun ones. I really enjoy looking at Etsy for this to get some originals.

Headbands, on the thicker side

Gift Cards:
**Home Depot
**Michael's
**Hobby Lobby
**Old Navy
Snapfish

Target

Bed Bath and Beyond

iPhone cover

Bamboo Palm

This coffee table

Leggings - in black, probably size large...

Tights - brown or black with patterns

Book light

A new Hand Vac - Dirt Devil Kurv or Dirt Devil Kone or Dyson

Citrone ring (size 7-8) - I'd like a real one here are some I like, not necessarily the right size... (1) (2) (3) (4)

The awesome, amazing blue Jaguar statue from the South County Antique Mall

Pitbull Shirt (size medium, women's light or jr. jersey) (1) (2) (3) (4)

Bumper Stickers (1) (2) (3)

Queen bed sheets in tan, brown or light blue

Donkey Kong Country for the Wii

Love this ring and this one.

This bracelet is awesome.

Check back for updates!!

NFL Week 8 Picks

Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins vs. Detroit Lions
Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs
Carolina Panthers vs. St. Louis Rams
Green Bay Packers vs. New York Jets
Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers
Tennessee Titans vs. San Diego Chargers
Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders
Minnesota Vikings vs. New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints
Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts

Chad
Jenn
Both

Finally the tie is broken... can you believe the game that broke it was only a difference of 1 point and came down to the last 20 seconds... ho-hum... Chad's now in the lead

Chad: 61 - 43
Jenn: 60 - 44

NFL Week 7 Picks

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons
Washington Redskins vs. Chicago Bears
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints
St. Louis Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers
Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks
Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
New England Patriots vs. San Diego Chargers
Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
New York Giant vs. Dallas Cowboys

Chad
Jenn
Both

We'll finally break this tie in next week!

Chad: 51 - 39
Jenn: 51 - 39

Happy Pit Bull Awareness Day

14/25

I finished this book about a week ago, but am just now getting around to writing the review.

My awesome friend Carrie bought me this book at a book fair. I have heard of the book, but I didn't know anything about it. They are making it into a movie that's due out next year. And I'm a big fan of reading the book before I see the movie. I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to turn the pages. Water for Elephants tells the story of Jacob as an old man looking back on his time traveling with the circus. There were parts of this book that were hard to read, due to animal cruelty, but it was balanced well with good times and love. I really loved how the book ended... left me feeling good. I would recommend this book to others - I've already given my copy to my mom, who might some day actually read it (she's behind on my suggestions.)

Thinking Back about Travel

I was in Washington DC last week for a conference. I had quite a few people ask me if I traveled often. My typical response is I travel about once a month... and it really is true... since April I have traveled every month. It's been insane this year the amount of travel... but not insane in a bad way but insane that I've been able to this much. For the people in my same position I travel way more than anyone else... and for that I feel pretty lucky. I've been complaining lately that I'm just sick of it, and that's sort of true. I've really been dreading the travel beforehand, but once I'm there I typically enjoy it. I'm in nice hotel rooms, I get paid extra money, I get to visit different cities and I get out of the office. None of those things are bad. I do get sad to leave home and Chad and the animals... but I'm really getting a lot of experience and I'm getting much better at being at these conferences. The things to look for, the questions to ask, the things I can get hotel staff to do for me, etc.

I am also getting pretty darn good about navigating airports. I'm an expert getting my ticket, getting through security, boarding the plane, etc. I've also figured out exactly what kind of hotel rooms I want to stay in and what seat I want on the airplane. I know exactly what to get out of my bag and when to fall asleep. I also know exactly how to book my travel and complete my expense report upon return... I'm the go-to person in my area for questions.

There are still some I need to get better at. There are times I travel when I'm not traveling with someone who wants to do things, or doesn't want to do things I'm interested in. I need to be better about doing things on my own. Touring the city by myself, going shopping or to dinner or get a drink by myself. I'm trying to get better, but this is something I really need to improve on.

On every work trip I get a magnet to display at work. I'm gaining quite the collection... So where all have I gone?

Denver - June 2009
San Francisco - August 2009
Baltimore - September 2009
Las Vegas - September 2009
San Jose - October 2009
San Diego - January 2010
Indianapolis - April 2010
Tampa - May 2010
New Orleans - June 2010
San Francisco - July 2010
Atlanta - August 2010
Los Angeles - September 2010
Washington, DC - October 2010
Salt Lake City - November 2010 (haven't gone yet, but travel is already booked)

NFL Week 6 Picks

Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears
Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers
San Diego Chargers vs. St. Louis Rams
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans
New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos
Oakland Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings
Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Redskins
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Chad
Jenn
Both

Obviously we're still tied... and we didn't do so hot last week

Chad: 42 - 34
Jenn: 42 - 34

Blah

I'm hoping that writing will help. I've been feeling anxious all week for a bunch of random stupid things, but tonight I'm really thinking about one of them. I have finally made the decision to move forward with grad school. I know that I need to get a masters to really get ahead at work and honestly I'm really excited about the degree program and the classes. What also helps is Chad is working a new schedule and I have some alone time that I really could be productive instead of milling around the house watching America's Next Top Model marathons.

I've decided that going through University of Phoenix would really work for me. They do not require me taking the GRE and my GPA is acceptable (which sadly is a concern for me.) The program is also completely online which works well since traveling is part of my job. I had talked to them back in December and decided that it really wasn't the right time. I am very excited to start and sadly right now the program isn't available in Missouri. The basicness of it is every state must 'sign off' on the programs saying they meet the regulation and blah blah blah. There is no ETA for when it will be available again.

I am really disappointed. There are probably other schools that would work... but I feel at a stand-still. I'm really not sure where to look and the other programs that I've look at (very briefly I will say) look scary for lack of a better word. I know I need to do more research but as with some things I feel very overwhelmed about it right now. It's just really been bothering me. It's been on my mind. I keep kicking myself for not starting the program earlier when it was offered instead of now. I'm mad at myself... and sometime I have a hard time letting go... not beating myself up about it. So any ideas? I know UMSL has a program that I plan on looking into more tomorrow... I need to call the University of Phoenix person back. He said it could be weeks or months...

I just don't know. Blah... work has also been pretty annoying lately. I don't want it to sound like I'm sad and pathetic but these last few weeks have just gotten to me more than ever and this education thing doesn't help. I just need to burn off some nerves, and I haven't gotten very good at knowing how to do that. I think I'm going to force myself to paint tonight... maybe that will also help to focus myself on a project. Yeah, maybe a project in general will be a good idea.

Maybe it will all work itself out... I guess let's hope for that...

NFL Week 5 Picks

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Atlanta Falcons vs. Cleveland Browns
St. Louis Rams vs. Detroit Lions
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts
Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins
Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers
Denver Broncos vs. Baltimore Ravens
New York Giants vs. Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans vs. Dallas Cowboys
San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Jets

Chad
Jenn
Both

And after 4 weeks we are STILL tied, can you believe it?!? (and it looks like we'll be tied into Week 5 too... hmmph)

Chad: 36 - 26
Jenn: 36 - 26

The Competition - Week 7

Whoops, I completely forgot to post about this...

As a reminder here's where we started:

Chad: 210
Jenn: 178

After week 1:
Chad: 208.5
Jenn: 177

After week 2:
Chad: 207
Jenn: 176.5

After week 3:
Chad: 208
Jenn: 177

Week 4:
Chad: 206.5
Jenn: 176

Week 5:
Chad: 205
Jenn: 175

Week 6:
Chad: 203
Jenn: 173

Week 7:
Chad: 203
Jenn: 173

And percentage of weight lost (weekly):

Chad: 0%
Jenn: 0%

This week neither of us dropped any weight, but we also didn't gain any weight... just a wash.

NFL Week 4 Picks

San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns

Detriot Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans

Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams

Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders

Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Diego Chargers

Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins

Chad

Jenn

Both

After 3 weeks we are STILL tied!!

Chad: 28-20

Jenn: 28-20