Needs. . . .

Seriously

I NEED a lot of things.
Here is the list of things I NEED

I NEED to clean my carpets
Really, I NEED to be patient until Saturday when my carpets will be cleaned.

I NEED this new brown pencil skirt.
(and I probably need legs like hers too)

I NEED to have a sleepover with my nephews
(Note to Ethan and Camden: I missed you when you were in California)
(Note to Jimmy, Ben and Luke: I miss you because you are always in California)

I NEED to take the garbage out

I NEED to call in the book orders

I NEED to start my herb garden

I NEED to take down the St. Patrick's Day decorations

I NEED this new Road Bike.

I NEED to put 21 report cards in envelopes

I NEED to read my scriptures
(really it isn't the reading part that is hard it is the not falling asleep exhausted part that is hard)

I NEED to clean the pantry

I NEED to buy some piano books for my students.

I NEED to feed the toads some live crickets
(disgusting I know. . . I kind of wish the toads would die)

I NEED to call my mom

I NEED to look at the book club schedule

I NEED to file my bills.

So, there you go. There is a list of all the things I NEED.

They are definitely needs not wants.

Here is my newly revised definition of need.
(I think I might submit it to Wikipedia)

Need: Something that is necessary for humans to live a healthy life -- the end.

If I use that definition the only thing that I really NEED from the list above is the beautiful new road bike.

Yep, it is true -- how an I be healthy without a new bike?!
I can't.

Beautiful New Road Bike -- I love you!
Here I come to buy you.
here is the picture again in case you forgot what it looks like


and just think, if it LOOKS this good it is going to feel 20x better on the road -- Heaven on Earth
(really this isn't even the celestial model -- I couldn't afford that one unless I saved for like another 10 years)

Note to my tax return: Please come soon, and please be big.

Oh and one more thing -- I probably will need that brown pencil skirt too. And if you were wondering, NO I don't have a brown pencil skirt already only white, black and gray. Can you see how the brown one is a need? I am much more healthy when I look cute.

Wants to write a thank you note to "The Government"

Dear Government,

Thank you for all of your hard work. I appreciate everything you do for me. I just have one small thing to talk to you about -- my taxes. I understand that I need to pay them. I will. Here is all I request: Just take the amount that you are supposed to take, make it fair and don't make me figure out how much more or less I need to give you. Is that to much to ask? I didn't think so. Really, do you want to process all this paperwork for someone who makes as little as I do? That is what I thought. Next year I will just pay my taxes like normal and you can take out as little as possible and I will be happy. I knew we could agree about this. As far as this year is concerned, lets just call it even.

Love, Amber
(a faithful US citizen who even put her hand on her heart during the national anthem at the race this morning)

Also, for those of you who are wondering I would even send them a homemade card with this message written in my best "first grade teacher" handwriting.

found out it is hard to put on makeup in the dark

It is not fun to have to be to work by 7:30 in the morning now that daylight savings has hit. (Well, it wasn't fun to have to be there early before either)

I get up early most every day to get to the gym by 5:00 am, but sometimes still struggle to get to work on time. It seems like no matter how little or how long I have to get ready and be to work I am always pushing the limits.

So, in order to accept the fact that I am constantly 35 seconds to 8 minutes behind I had decided that putting my makeup on in the car was the only logical solution! Up to this point in the school year this hasn't really been a challenge. In fact it has worked out beautifully for me.

Times have changed.
The time has changed.
My time schedule needs to change. . . . .

or else I am going to look like Little Miss Makeup everyday or maybe just like I haven't put on makeup.
(Not sure which is worse)

One thing is for sure putting on makeup in the dark, in my visor mirror on the freeway is not safe, logical, smart or pretty -- in fact it is near to impossible.

I guess I need to either start doing faster crunches or waking up at 4:50 instead of 4:57.

Next dilemma: How to fit in breakfast?!

wants it to not be March 9th

I am looking at this -- yes, friends, snow on my tulips. Do I live in Utah or what? I know it is only March 9th, but seriously! Good thing I have some inside too. . . sheltered from the harsh world outside.

I wish I were looking at this --Flowers on Timpanogos. I can think of few things better than that.


Right now I would have to wear this to run outside(well not exactly, but use your imagination and add a little bit of drama):

(I am kind of digging the red stripe)

But really I want to be wearing this: (It could be a long 10k on Saturday in the snow if I can't wear something pink and sleeveless)
Right now I should be grading Teacher Work Samples (well really they should have been done over the weekend. . . I am close to finishing).
But really I wish I was reading this: I started this book like 2 months ago for a book club that I never made it to. I was actually getting ready to go to Brooklyn so I didn't feel too bad missing it. However, I have really fallen in love with this book and want to finish it. Other things keep getting in the way.


With that I should probably stop wishing for things that obviously aren't going to change in the next 10 or 20 or 30 minutes. (and probably not even the next 10 or 20 or 30 hours)

Here's to hoping that when I wake up in the morning I will have a smile on my face, a skip in my step and that when I hear that first child say good morning to me and show me their lost tooth I just count myself lucky to have a job, a home, great eyes to read (with my glasses on) not to mention my beautiful legs that I use to run.

I will have a smile. . . really, I just needed some distraction and you got to read about it!

March 10th can only get better!

Is wondering about these skirts!

Fashion and Exercise all at once!

So, last night when I was online shopping (because it was too late to REALLY shop) and avoiding having to grade Teacher Work Samples I found some great stuff. I love to look online at cycling and running stuff. . . bikes, gear, apparel -- you know, the works!

Now to the BIG question! Can I wear a skirt and still be considered an "athlete"? (that is assuming that I am actually an athlete to begin with). I have been running/biking a lot lately so I am going to put myself in the athlete category.

These are the cute skirts that you can find. Just google "running skirt" and the options are endless.

They can be kind of expensive.
However, I did just check target.com and it looks like they sell a cheaper version. Side note: sometimes I buy little girls size XL and they fit even better and they are cheaper! :) I guess there are some benefits to being the size of a 12 year old.

I did buy a cute new Jersey and bike short/skirt that will come in the mail -- hopefully sooner than later. The skirt is blue and the jersey is white. Now I just need a new bike to match it!

Thinks everyone should watch this

I just found this today and think that everyone should watch it. It is just a short little video that has excerpts from Elder Uchtdorf's talk from the last General Relief Society Meeting (in October). To be honest, I don't really remember "hearing" this message last October. I think that I was kind of turned off to hearing at that point, having just gone through not the greatest of break-ups, I wasn't in a really great spot emotionally or spiritually.

Really, I didn't want to hear anything about creating or making ourselves better or anything of the sort. I was probably past feeling. Thankfully that is no longer the case and I find great peace in the message that is shared in this short clip. I even went back and re-read the talk in the Ensign. It is scary to think where I would be without the words of our Prophet and Apostles to give me guidance and hope. If you go to the website lds.org it talks about these Mormon Messages. You can find a new one each week. I think it is amazing how we can spread the gospel (or just provide reminders for all of us that have the gospel prominent in our lives) through the media!

ps -- I am sure that there is some way for me to just put the actual clip on my blog. . . I am just not sure how.