Shelbell's World

Last Sunday mom and I went down to see my little bro's new condo. He decided we should go look at puppies. So we headed over to the new PAWS facility..and look who he brought home! That would be Wrigley (brought home to feline brother Altoid). He's a 7 month old mutt. And SUCH a sweetie..most of the time. He's not very socialized with other animals so he barks at other dogs and his new brother. Though yesterday when my bro tried to introduce them for the second time Altoid gave Wrigley a run for his money by giving him a good swipe - and got a claw stuck in Wrigley's head. The folks at PAWS said it would be just a few swipes from the cat before the dog would back off..so I guess we're on swipe one! Mark says that Wrigley has been sleeping through the night in his crate without making a sound. And he's lasting all day in the crate with no accidents. And the very smart Wrigley already is shaking his paw and when he wants to go out he brings his leash to Mark. Ho...

I decided to treat myself..... More pics: Here

Dear Furbabies, The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom (or top Miss Elphaba!) is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run. I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball w...

And hate it when there is an extra scene all the way at the end of a movie?? I was just sitting here working on the laptop while X-3 was on in the background. Has anyone watched it all the way through the end of the credits? I've seen this movie several times and never saw the end of the credits. Well guess what...Charles is alive! The credits end..and you go to a scene with a nurse caring over a patient (unseen). You hear the patient (Patrick Stewarts voice) say "hello moira" and the nurse look at him started and say "charles ?" OMG....what does this mean.... He's supposed to be dead..and I didn't think there was going to be another sequel... Reminds me of the fact I've heard there's always something special at the end of the Pirates of the Caribean credits too. I never knew this until a week after I saw the third movie. Apparently a scene comes up and you see Kiera Knightly walking the beach with a young boy...its the first time Orlando Bloom...

Hey readers! My uncle started a blog a while back, there's just a few posts, but he said something to me about no one reading it because I'm the only one commenting. So do me a favor...go check it out and give him a quick comment please! http://chiefsworld-warner.blogspot.com/

Good news I got an A in my second class! Yeah!!!! Bad news Elphaba and Joey both have ear mites. Yucky! Thats the kind of thing that makes sense for good news bad news right?? How about this. Dad calls Saturday night..mind you..Dad NEVER calls. I'd heard from mom that Dad's father, my "Pa", was really sick. In fact, mom said my bro and dad had gone down there last week because in my brothers words "he's gonna go at any minute". Now, a normal person would think perhaps DAD would have called to tell me about this at some point in time....but no. So Saturday he calls and first chit chats about when we're going to see a Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater. Then he tells me he has some bad news. Me: About Pa you mean? Dad: Yeah, how did you hear? Me: Well I know Mark says he's sick and you guys just went down there. Dad: So you talked to Mark? Me: No. Mom told me. Dad: Oh. Well, yeah, he's sick. Its really not good. (then he goes ...

The girls and I are headed into NYC this weekend to celebrate Karen and my birthdays. And Destiny and I had tickets to see Legally Blonde...but due to the freaking stagehand strike....there will be NO Legally Blonde on Saturday. They better get this straightened out by next week. I'm gonna be REALLY upset if mom and I don't get to see The Little Mermaid the day after Thanksgiving!

That would be coming home to find the house across the street... ON FIRE! Here's the aftermath.

Many of you may remember my first Zella in a box post here . The saga continues......I have a little tiny basket for Elphaba's toys...and look who has decided its her new favorite place to lay...well....squish!

So I finally finished my "clap" well..kind of...turns out I didn't follow the decrease directions right and missed the second drop stitch during the repeats. I don't see how I can frog it given the drops....so...guess its just for me!

Thats right! Miss Elphaba had a visit to the vet today for her next round of shots, and she's currently weighing in at 2lb 5oz. Thats a full half pound growth in 2 weeks. No wonder her bigger harnesses are starting to fit!

xSo we started this week at 90 degrees..but its quickly fallen very cold. Especially for Miss Elphaba. So, it was sweater time. I was wary thinking I wouldn't find a patter small enough. But she's bulked up a little in the three weeks she's been home and I think this will do for a while. How cute is she? Also, Miss Elphaba has her very own web page..be sure to check it out! Elphaba

Three nights in a row with clean cage!! Yeah!!!! And her special harness showed up and fits so we went on a few nice little walks last night and this morning.

Okay...so we've not been able to go on a real walk on a leash yet....because the tiny harness I got at Petsmart was WAYYYYY too huge for my little Elphaba. But I scoured the internet this weekend and found a company that said they had stuff for dogs up to 2 pounds...so I placed a couple of orders and found that "Tiny 1" from Cloak and Dawggie fits Elphie! We just went on our first walk on a leash! I ordered a Puppia harness too in XS (their smallest) but its still way too big...but maybe she'll grow into it (I hope since you can only return for size!). Anyway, for any other mommies with teeny tiny babies...here's where I got my harness from! The New York Dog Shop Looks like they have other cute stuff too so I'll have to check it out. But I ordered on Friday and it arrived USPS on Monday..not too bad! Oh yeah..and TWO nights in a row with no mess in the crate! Yeah!

Well, little Elphaba has been home a week now and I'd say things are going pretty well overall. Zella seems to be warming up to her...she still runs off most of the time, but she is letting Elphie get closer...and of course Zella and Joey love Elphie's food so they are REALLY close by when she's eating! Housetraining is going .... probably good for this age....during the day I've been gone up to 6 hours and come home to no mess in the crate. Problem seems to be at night...and its not wet, but dirty... :) I thought we'd gotten passed that Friday night when it was wet but not dirty...but then last night..nice little present again when I got up in the middle of the night. As far as in the house outside the crate...I've figured out her signal for when she needs to go #2...so thats not a problem anymore. I just have to watch REALLY closely. She does like to go to the kitchen and pee....so again..have to watch REALLY closely. Big problem at this point is sh...

that everything she eats comes out IMMEDIATELY! Have to readjust schedule to go out RIGHT after she finishes eating!

ittle Elphie (short for Elphaba) came home yesterday, and I'm exhausted already! She wimpered a little in the car on the way home..but nothing too bad. We got inside and I put her on the kitchen floor. She promptly took off after Joey and Zella. And for you to understand how funny that is.... Sweet little Elphie weighs in at 1.75 lbs currently. Zella weighs 11lbs and Joey weighs 17lbs. After the cats were out of reach Elphie took off after TMX elmo..and promptly knocked him over and started jumping on him. To put that in perspective...she only comes up to his hands! Most of the day was spent in the crate with Elphie not too happy. I was laying on the floor working on my final paper for this class (worth 18% of my total grade) and she was CRYING away. Then Wicked came up on iTunes and she got quieter...just a wimper. Then when Defying Gravity started with the sharp "Elphaba!" from Glinda...she perked right up and got super quiet...so Elphaba it is! We had ...

TOMORROW! YEAH!!!!!! Lots of pics coming soon I'm sure! :)

That would be my new PUPPY!!!!!!! She's not home with me just yet because she's not even 8 weeks old yet!!!!! She's a yorkiepoo (yorkie poodle mix in case you weren't sure) and weighs about 1 lb right now. Her parents are 4 and 5 pounds so she should stay pretty tiny! I'll have to watch her carefully around the cats since they are 11 and 17lbs! I have to call middle of next week to check on her...they may let me pick her up next weekend...might have to wait til the weekend after that...but they said she's the strongest of the pups so next weekend is promising. I'm so excited!

YAY!!! I finally made Loopy Groopy status at the Loopy Ewe !!!!!!! Sheri sent me the most beautiful colorway of Panda Cotton. Strawberries Limes. Yummy!

......you show up in the office on Sept 4 and your page a day calendar still says July 31. If only I were done.... Headed to Baltimore tonight and traveling all over MD, VA, and WV Wed/Thurs this week. Then headed out to Pittsburgh and State College PA the week after...THEN I think I'm done for a while. No..I know I'm done...I don't have any more travel and entertainment budget left!

So happy! I finally got my invite to Ravelry last week! I didn't have much time to play with it mid week...but I did over the weekend...I've sucessfully loaded up some projects and some of my stash! I'd taken pictures before heading to Chicago last week knowing that I was getting close to getting my invite and wanted to be prepared... Now I need to find time to finish photographing my stash!

Picked up this little beauty for $200 less than retail at the outlet last weekend. YEAH ME!

So...not too many people know this and I don't think I've blogged about it...but I started Weight Watchers again back around the end of April. Well this week was officially week 16...and I weighed in...and I finally got my first weight loss goal of 10% of my body weight!!! Thats right...in the 4 months since I started I've lost 10% of my body weight! I still have a long way to go..but this is super exciting for me! My ticker is set based on the minimum loss I need to do to be in the healthy range again....we'll see how things are going when I get there...I may add another 10-20 pounds to my ultimate goal. For the meantime....my next goal...10% of my NEW body weight!!!!!

I finished these a while ago but kept forgetting to post pictures. Made using TOFUtsies in I think it was the Light Foot Colorway. Used my generic pattern that I modified from the pattern on the Colinette Jitterbug yarn I am in love with. Oh..and the sock blockers are from the The Loopy Ewe . Be sure to check it out! Only two more orders from the Loopy Ewe and I am officially a loopy groopie. Gonna have to get Michelle's birthday present from there I think..... :)

I'm registered for my first class to start on Aug 15. And I finished one of two orientation classes tonight. Gonna get a little done on the second one now.

1) I'm typing on my new MacBook as I speak!!!! I already got most of the software I needed installed and my music moved over. Working on pictures and documents now. 2) My iphone which was out for repair (don't want to tell THAT story on my blog..if you really want to know and actually KNOW me email me...I'll send ya the story) is finally showing repaired and to be delivered to me TOMORROW! And I never got a call with a repair estimate so I assume that means they fixed it under warranty. YIPPEEEE!!!!!! I will say though...kudos to apple on the AppleCare Service phones. My iPhone was out of commission 2 days before I got to the apple store to meet with a genius. And I was going crazy without it! Its insane how hooked I am after just 3 weeks with it! Anyway...for $29 you can "rent" a service phone to use while yours is out for repair. I know there is a ton of griping about the battery life and having to rent a phone while the battery gets replaced i...

Oh man..I'm having the best day! First, I'm officially enrolled in grad school. My advisor should be in touch today or tomorrow to help me register for my first class. Second, I got approved for tuition reimbursement started from DAY 1!!!! So now instead of shelling out $5000 this year on school....it will be more like only $500 I spend! Well....plus books...but $500 rather than $5000 is a BITCHIN deal!!! And finally, my new MacBook showed up today two days ahead of schedule!!!!! If only I didn't have to work this afternoon...I'm going crazy wanting to start playing with it!!!!!

Goodness...I've been a bad blogger lately!!!! I'll try to put together a little update ... at least on my July which has been hectic! I've been off a bit this month as I had two friends get married. My friend Missie got married outside St Louis on 07/07/07 (yes I know someone who got that crazy wedding date!) Anyway, I'd hoped to stay in Illinois between this wedding and the one I had on the 14th....but the cost was crazy since one was in St. Louis and one was in Chicago and I'd need to get between the two.... So....after talking with Mandy who was also headed to the wedding near St. Louis I flew into Nashville to drive with Mandy and her husband to St. Louis. This was great because I got to see their new house and meet their dogs! Drive to St. Louis wasn't too bad...less than 5 hours I think....of course...we weren't really IN St. Louis...we were in the sticks and pretty much bored out of our minds the entire time we were there.... That said,...

$175 at target on super paper mario (thanks to recommendations from julienne and my mom), assets (from the creator or spanx) and assorted toiletries. $6.75 for movie ticket $8.75 for dinner at moes

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$10 dinner and drink $8 for carnival ride tickets

Its coming tonight!!!!! I'm finishing getting the room cleared out and a path way for them to bring it up. Will post pics soon!

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$3.76 for latte $4.95 for dinner at panera $3.25 for ice cream at 3Bs in Harrisburg - my first time and it was GOOD!

$3.76 for morning latte

$8 lunch $45 at home depot for 2 hanging floral baskets, a stake for my tomatoes, and two shepherds hooks for the floral baskets.

$6.75 movie ticket $140 two sweaters, a dress, a cute little strapless top, and a pair of bermudas

$4.95 dinner at moes $69 two classic controllers for the wii and a vacuum filter

$148 on groceries

This stuff is the BEST! I know all the ladies like me who love their shoes will instantly enjoy this product..... Ya know how when you put on a new pair of shoes...sometimes there is a little spot that rubs funny on your foot. Or some shoes you can wear for a few hours but longer than that they start to rub and you end up with a blister. Well....blister no more! I ordered some Band-Aid Brand Blister Block from drugstore.com recently and have finally gotten around to using it this week. I noticed the first time I wore my black patent coach wedges that there were a couple of spots that were a little scratchy (knowing my coach shoes I know it will go away and its a break in thing) so when I broke out the bronze ones to wear this week I grabbed my blister block and rubbed a little on in what I thought might be the problem areas. It looks like a mini deodorant stick, goes on clear, and doesn't really feel like anything other than its smooth. I put it on when I put my shoe...

$21.60 on wii points (which I promply used to buy donkey kong jr and donkey country). Now I need to buy another remote because only dk jr uses my wii classic remote.

Yeah!!!! So Thomasville's delivery company called today and they are going to deliver my furniture on the 22nd! I'm so excited! I was really bummed that I couldn't be home tomorrow when they wanted to deliver..and I"m thrilled I only have to wait an extra week! Will post pics of the new furniture with the new decor once its all in and neat!

$0... work meeting continues...who has time to shop?

$0 due to a work meeting all day including all meals and not allowing any free time!

$39 at rite aid on assorted things for women.....

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$3.76 iced latte $10 contribution for food for a coworkers going away party last night

$4.01 on iced latte $139.47 on grocerys and wii play game for my wii (which mom said was a must based on her research...but I'm thinking is pretty lame...so it might become her birthday present since she needs the extra remote anyway)

$3.86 mocha $1.19 coke vanilla zero $6.87 dinner at panera

$4.01 iced latte $57.97 3 new bras dinner was expensed!

$100 to US Department of Education for additional loan principal payment $61.38 for electric bill $105.90 for personal miles on company car for may $4.01 for iced sugar free vanilla nonfat latte

$4.01 for morning latte on the way to pittsburgh $1.00 for powerball ticket

$0 chillin at home watching tivo and playing wii

$0 stayed home and painted my bathroom with previously purchased paint!

$960.62 Primary Mortgage $6.95 Bill Pay Fee $95.47 Personal Miles on company car for April and May $15.68 Verizon

Alright....so....my spending in May didn't really fall in line with my spend less goal I've had.... For example $5400 on a new bedroom set $1200 on two coach purses, a messenger bag, and two pairs of shoes $440 on hermes bracelet $200 on yarn $400 on clothes $350 on Wii and extra remote set You get the picture. On the plus side...I did open up a savings account with HSBC so that I'm earning more interest on my savings....and because its not linked with my other accounts I don't see the money there to think of as a cushion! That said....I know I was doing a really good job on spending when I was tracking it....so...gonna start listing it here again!

.....Not THAT kind of action! I wish!!! Mom's in town, and since I bought a new bedroom set LAST weekend (pics to come when its delivered) I decided it was time to redecorate my bedroom.... So Friday was painting day.....which started with primer since my bedroom was a crazy bright yellow before. Now its a pale purple with lavendar and chocolate bedding. Very peaceful and calming. Anyways....painting a room is a lot of work as some of you know...especially when you are up and down on the ladder a lot...and using the roller up high...my legs are still sore!!! Then today...I got Wii!!!!!!!!!!!! Its crazy how much it gets you up moving...in fact I started doing research and there are people that add 30-45 minutes of wii play (typically wii sports .. with boxing or tennis burning the most calories) who have lost weight over time. Anyway...mom and I have been playing wii for hours...its fun! But exhausting! Maybe now I'll play more wii than keep shopping...damn have...

"High heels are a paradox. They can make a woman appear more - or less - powerful" --Rona Berg, Vogue How true is that????? A woman in a power suite with Manolo mary janes looks a lot different than a big haired woman with too much bright colored make up, a mini skirt, and 3 inch stilettos .....

You Are Sex On the Beach When comes to drinking, you like it to go down smooth. You really don't like the taste of alcohol - just its effect on you. So, you're proud to get drunk on fruity, girly drinks. Because once you're liquored up, the fun begins! What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Hermes Kelly Dog Bracelet in Plum Signature Stripe Multicolor Messenger Signature Stripe Multicolor Mini Skinny Ireland Wedges in Bronze Crinkle Patent and Black Patent

I spent a LOT of money today in Chicago!!! Started off at Nordstrom where I bought a dress that might be good for the weddings I have to go to this summer. Headed on to the coach store where I picked up the Ireland wedges I've been coveting...in the bronze (because they didn't have the black I wanted in my size). I also picked up Signature Multicolor Stripe Messenger I've been longing for. Along with t he matching Mini Skinny . And some signature cleaner. Then stopped off at Macy's on the way to Hermes...because I was FREEZING and decided I needed a sweater or jacket or something....where I ended up with a Lauren Ralph Lauren denim jacket. Then finally on to Hermes for Michelle to shop....but I ended up making my first Hermes purchase....A Kelly bracelet in Raisin Box. Then mom wanted to hit the OTHER coach store...and they had the Ireland wedges I wanted in the BLACK! So I bought those too.... Thank god it was dinner time and then too late to keep shopping!

Over the weekend I ran by Colonial Yarn the new yarn shop close by now that the one right down the street closed. That's where I'd previously bought the Colinette Jitterbug for the socks I just finished. I was so in love after sock 1 that I picked up two more skeins of this while there. While I was at Colonial I asked if she could wind my new yarn...but she doesn't have a winder currently...and after the hassle of winding by hands the last two hanks I bought and used for socks....I decided perhaps I needed a swift and winder of my own..... So off to JoAnn.com where everything was on SALE! Yeah!!! Then, a new Lime and Violet podcast came out..and after listening and watching on their message boards I decided to make my FIRST purchase at The Loopy Ewe which I've been oogling ever since I first heard about Lime and Violet. So....I'm super excited about my new yarn, my new equipment, and the sock blocers I ordered this week.....but I think I'm down ne...

Finished the second sock in the latest pair in less than a week! I'm so impressed with myself!

This was knit using Colinette Jitterbug in the Fruit Coulis colorway. Its gorgeous! Can't wait to finish sock number 2 so I can wear them! I've heard they get even more lovely after the first washing!

A new messenger bag..... How cute is this???

According to the calendar spring is nearly upon us..... Will someone PLEASE tell that to the SNOW that is falling AGAIN! I just spent the better part of an hour shoveling the first 4 inches off my driveway (my mommie always taught me its better to shovel as you go then to have to shovel 12 inches off!). And by the time I got to the bottom...I already had another half inch of snow at the top! I hate the snow!

I want I want! I can't spend the money because of my recent glasses purchase....and its really too big for me...but its so damn cute! Limited Edition Lily Straw Basket There's also a crazy expensive perfume themed straw basic - $1600 - but it comes packed with all kinds of perfume themed goodies!

Just spent $400 on new glasses.... thank god I put so much in my flexible spending this year!

So I had the girls over tonight before/after a game night event we were going to. After a exciting game of Disney Scene it we somehow got on the topic of all the naughty things in Disney movies over the year. And I'm very sad to say.....Disney has pulled ALL of them out on the DVDs!!!!! Seriously....we opened up several of my as yet unopened Disney DVDs to find...no more penis during Eric's wedding to Ursula in The Little Mermiad....No more SEX in the clouds in the Lion King..... you get the picture. If you didn't realize all these things existed....check out Snopes - Disney Films and you'll see what I'm talking about. On the plus side...my Videotape of the Little Mermaid was purchased on the first day the videos came out...before Disney realized the phallus on the cover in the castle. I'm told my video is worth some money because of it...and I do have The Little Mermaid on DVD now....I should check into selling it for cash I think. If you're no...

So I've been having serious issues with my eyes of late....in fact...its now been nearly 3 weeks since I've had my contacts in. And I HATE wearing my glasses.....always have..not because of their serious coke bottle lenses...but because my vision is so bad I don't like the correction glasses provide as opposed to contacts. And thus far I've not been considered a LASIK candidate as my vision isn't "stable". So the last few weeks of constant glasses wearing has been particularly stressful....especially when it comes to things like oh...DRIVING! So I finally got into the eye dr my whole office sees today. The good news is...he thinks my problem is just deposits on my lenses...not due to how I care for them...but because they are nearly 5 years old and it happens! My prescription has changed some....but just slightly they say. So....he thinks with new contacts I'll be good to go. That said, he said my current lenses FIT so well (I wear Rigi...

For my "fun" stuff from my bonus this year...I did not buy a purse...or shoes...or clothes....well I did get a couple of sweaters on clearance at ann taylor loft.... but the bulk of my fun stuff (since most went into savings or paid off debt) I went tech!!!! I had lots of fun at The Apple Store (online of course cuz this dumb burg I'm in doesn't HAVE an apple store for 100 miles in any direction. Thank god apples got a distribution center about 4 miles from my house and stuff normally shows up next day when I order online! A wireless keyboard: Wireless mighty mouse (which I just recently learned to configure for "right clicking" I can't believe it took me so long...I knew it was supposed to work...but couldn't figure out why it didn't...dumb me...I had to SET IT UP for that! And a 120GB hard drive for backing up. Especially since I'll need it for Time Machine when Leopard releases. But for now even using "Backup" its a hell ...

Check out "Nundies"!!! I just saw these in my bliss catalog...and it seems like such a great idea!!! Nundies

I've known for about 5 months now that Coach was soon to be developing their own fragrance....and waiting eagerly to see what it might be. As we've gotten closer to its March 5 release date there's been more in the press about it...and LOTS of buzz on the Purse Forum. Some of the Coach sales associates on the purse forum have been raving about how much they love it. AND from what I've heard the prices are great. So yesterday I got home to find THIS in the mail! Not only does it smell amazing..but how cute is the packaging!!!!! And I have a lovely little purse size spray that will last me for ages!!! Guess I'll have to add this to my wish list when my sample starts to go away....maybe that means I won't need to buy a new bottle of the Hermes Rose Ikebana I liked when I'm in Chicago in May....certainly this would be WAYYYYYYY cheaper than that one! And if Michelle buys more at Hermes they'll probably give me another generous sample of that anyway w...

"Boots are very seductive, in a stronger way than stilettos or satin shoes, which are much more fragile. Boots take out anything that is fragile about a woman" - Anh Duong, artist "A pair of new shoes might not cure a broken heart or sooth a tension headache, but they will relieve the symptoms and chase away the blues." - fashion critic, Holly Brubach

There are only 2 days i've not liked owning my own home.....and both are for the SAME reason....and happened almost exactly one year apart. Unless you've been hiding under a rock you've probably heard about the storm that swept the midwest and has not hit the north east. I swear I've never seen a storm that big...the radar maps yesterday showed it going from Iowa all the way to PA. We were in Hartfort, CT for a meeting - not due to return this AM....but upon watching the storm information decided we had a better chance of getting home last night than today.......(staying longer wasn't an option for various reasons). We hit the rd at 2:30pm yesterday....made it to NYC in good time with minimal traffic...and just before we made it from Jersey into PA the snow finally started. Mind you...we'd been getting updates from spouses at home that the snow was climbing higher and higher...and that the snowblowers had been out several times already..... Alas...we h...

My aplogies to Krissy I just realized the link to her blog was missing off my page....I must have accidentally deleted it when i was trying to clean up the links. Also, be sure to check out The Lazy Chefs !

$5.48 at starbucks $5.xx at taco bell for lunch $15 on water bill $32.30 on my corporate visa for tolls while I was on the way to and in illinois over the holidays $15 to verizon

$5.68 for lunch $45 at knutty knitter for the size 2 double pointed needles I was waiting to come in and three skeins of sock yarn (20% off on the needles and 30% off on the yarn). And I opened up a special savings account to be my "christmas club" account. $100 from every paycheck (I get paid monthly) will get automatically moved into that account..and come Christmas I'll have lots of cash saved for christmas shopping and misc expenses while I'm at home -and anything left over will help pay for vacation in 2008 - mom and I are gonna see if we can swing the panama canal cruise on the disney magic while they move it to the west coast for another summer of mexican rivera crusing.

So I think I posted before about how I discovered this particular knitting needles I love....they are called "brittany" and they are made of birch. I bought some when i was working on all my christmas goodies and noticed I was able to knit a lot longer with these needles than I normally can in one sitting. The next time I was in my yarn store I mentioned it and they told me its because they're relatively soft needles....so they feel better in your hands. So....all these needles I've been buying lately are brittany birch needles to convert my entire selection of random needles to one good type of needle. I decided to pick up and make some socks again....so far I've actually only completed one pair like 2 years ago...and about half of a single sock that I haven't touched in over a year..... But I picked up some great pink/purple supermerino that I bought in Laguna Beach a while back and my size 5 double pointed needles and went to town....and I made a ...

$25 to a co-worker for a color me Mine gift card he can't use. $197 for 4Q estimated local income tax

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$24 at Michaels on little holders to hold knitting needles together.

$19 on Chinese (for lunch and LOTS of leftovers!)

$35 to HOA

$3.45 at Starbucks

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Okay...so my meeting last week..... As I mentioned in a previous post..it was 48 hours before I got to take a minute to enjoy my view...and it was brief because then we headed out for teambuilding..but I'm getting ahead of myself.... Tuesday night we had 10 minutes to change for the evening and then headed over for those activities.... we had to build a race car out of various fruits and vegatables. We had to use at least a part of every food item on our table - and could only attach them using wooden skewers. Despite the fact that half the team are engineerings - with 3 of us being MECHANICAL engineers...our car sucked. Although in our defense....we actually made something that resembled a car....some of the other items were crazy...not at all car like. It was this evening we learned about the "nosiqutos" as they called them there...because the mosquitos were SOOO tiny you can barely see them....so we had to COVER ourselves in Off..and then were sweaty and sti...

$333.91 on my HELOC

$5.29 at Taco Bell $86.34 on Groceries at Target

$89.98 on knitting needles - my local yarn store is going out of business...and I'd decided its time to replace all my old random knitting needles with the birch needles I love from brittany. The going out of business sale meant they were 20% off...so I bought every size of straight needles they had that I did not already have, and 2 sets of 2 sizes of double pointed needles. They're also calling me when the third size of double pointeds I want come in. $87.96 on cat food (its special food and will probably get me through 3 months) $12.16 on Breakfast at bob evans

$21.88 on Itunes

You'll understand why when I do get around to posting...but here's the view from my balcony...its a crime that the first time I got to see it in the daylight was today though!!!!

still nothing!!! gotta love expense books!

So our meeting started in Key Largo today. I left Hburg on a 6am flight....we got to Atlanta okay...but then sat on the tarmack for EVER trying to get takeoff clearance for Miami. Somehow we were only a little late....but by the time we got bags, and our rental cars...it was 1pm...the start time of the meeting. And we had a 90 minute drive to the resort. Luckily the HOST of our meeting was also on our flight from Altanta....so they couldn't start without us. I only had about 2 minutes in my room to change for the meeting while it was light out. Its an AMAZING view. I'm hoping to get a pic tomorrow...it was too dark when we got back to change for dinner and teambuilding. Not liking the BUGS! We had to cover ourselves in bug repellent so the entire group STUNK throughout teambuilding, drinks and dinner. Anyway....I was up at 3:30am today...so early night for me tonight. Here's the web page to the resort if you want to check it out: Ocean Reef

$0 All spending today was expensed! Yeah!!!

$6.50 on lunch

So I had my annual review this morning. As suspected..it was very positive. The only negative thing is that I take things to personally sometimes. Which I know...I tried to take a class this summer on managing emotions and thriving under pressure...but the class ended up NOT really hitting on the high points I needed.....so.....yeah...didn't do me any good. Anyway, my boss said he things I've learned everything from this job that I needed to and am ready for my next one (not that I get to take it until next year). We'll start trying to get more specific about my next move and exactly what that job will be in the June / July timeframe. AND the best news....a nice big fat 6% merit raise. Now....6% may not seem like a lot to some people...but its a VERY healthy raise for my company. In fact...the only time's I've gotten close to it are the 5% raises I got with the last two promotions....the biggest my annual raise has been outside of that is 3%.... ...

I had a GREAT quote yesterday on my 2007 "just the right shoe" calendar. "High heels were invented by a woman who had been kissed on the forehead." - Christopher Morley I still think they were invented by a man as a torture device....but maybe that's just me! Somebody asked me recently why girls wore them.....and I was like are you kidding....guys LOVE them. Thats a big factor in why girls wear them. I mean..I'm not super tall....5'5"....but I like a guy to be taller than me...and most of the guys that I meet are in the 5'7" to 5'10" range. So when I wear high heels...at puts me at almost the same height.....I'd rather be shorter (its a wanting to be "protected" thing). But guys LOVE the way girls look in heels..and hence..I wear them. Although sometimes its because my pants are too long and I am too lazy to hem them.......

HEHE....so not what you think. I got SMASHED on friday night. Like....I think I drank and entire bottle of wine by myself, and at one point I was chugging vodka...and oh yeah.....I didn't eat dinner! It occured to me as I was trying to recover from my crazy night that I hadn't been drunk since like last May....so I'm thinking I need to get a little drunk more often...and not get CRAZY drunk occasionally!!!!! I won't get into the details of my night....lets just say....I needed a drink....or 6 .... and had them. And at least I was in good company...my girls were all pretty drunk too!

$3.05 for bagel and hot chocolate at panera

$6 at McD's for a hangover curing breakfast

$13 on lunch (way more than I was expecting...I paid $6.50 for egg salad wrap and water at one stand at the farmers market...and then went over to another place for some tomato and mozzerella salad....and I saw the sign said $7 a pound....but I just ordered the smallest container..a half pint...and it was over $6!!!!!!) $14 on veggie tray for party

$8.50 on lunch $42 Quarterly Sewer bill

Actually....this advertises fun for BOTH men and women. If you are just dying for that one extra accessory for your ipod....perhaps this is the one for you! iBuzz (warning...you may not want to access this page while at work!) They make EVERYTHING for the ipod these days don't they???

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Nope 2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters? Yeah...but its mostly because I'm afraid of losing my contacts, and a little because I'm scared 3. When's the last time you've been sledding? HEHE..Senior Year of college. We had this crazy big snow....so we went to the sledding hill by campus.....and we didn't have sleds...so we used these crazy big cardboard boxes we found. 4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? With someone else.....but I have to settle for the cats for now. And my teddy bear. 5. Do you believe in ghosts? Definitely....the ghosts of my old dogs used to torture Chloe I'm convinced. There was this place in the house they always used to lay before they died. When we got Chloe she'd always stare at that place and sometimes she'd go NUTS barking at it. I'm convinced its because she saw Molly and Pepper. 6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not really 7. Do you thin...

$3.80 at Starbucks Bought a fabulous "Barefoot Dreams" robe at Nordy's....but I had a $171 credit from returning some uggs that didn't fit and they didn't have the other uggs I wanted...so I got the robe and still have a $37 credit left!!!!!

$.17 at Panera (hehehe...I had a $5 gift card and breakfast was $5.17.....so it was only $.17!!!)

$8.50 for lunch $100 for Roxio Toast 8 (yeah tivo2go!)

Now...those of you that know me know that I LOVE my tivo! And several of you know how much I love my mac. But I've been seriously dissapointed this past year that I could not use the famed Tivo2Go program to transfer stuff from my tivo to my mac - like I could with my laptop. Which I didn't even KNOW when I got my mac.....and when I got my new tivo's last February I intentially didn't order the ones with the built in DVD burner because I figured the new Imac had a DVD burner and I could just Tivo2Go and burn from there. And I was SOOOO upset when I learned I could not do it. And tivo's web site has just said "its coming" for ever. I got excited when I found out a beta version of it was shown at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show...but all of 2006 passed with no Tivo2Go for Mac. Fast forward to today, and Macworld starting. And I get an email from Roxio, that the new Toast 8 Titantium contains Tivo2Go for Mac OSX!!!!!!!!!!! I'm downloading...

So on Saturday it was 70 degrees out!!!!!! It was amazing! I had plans to go to the driving range, but decided to take a look at the Coach outlet in Hershey first. I'd read online that some of the "legacy" collection in the whiskey color (now discontinued) would soon be hitting the outlets and had a credit I needed to use....so I tossed the golf clubs in the truck, rolled down all the windows..and off to Hershey I went! Overall I wasn't impressed by the offerings this trip...but I did luck out and find the vintage flight back from back in 2004 in the blue (I have a demi in the bronze that was part of this collection too). It was marked down to $103 and I had a $45 credit from some gloves I returned after Christmas....so it was a steal!!!! Then I headed off to the driving range to meet my friend Nik. It was so amazing outside! And Nik and I hadn't talked in ages...so we got a large bucket each and spent an hour or so swinging and just having girl talk. ...