Happy Birthday Amanda!

My BFF's birthday is today! So lucky to have her in my life. Here goes a new spin on my birthday shout outs:}

A - Stands for aMazINg. She never ceases to amaze me with her kindness and compassion.
M - Stands for MiLd. Amanda seems to counterbalance my exuberance. She is the voice of reason, the voice of calm. I seem just to relax & my stress is diffused when I am around her.
A - Stands for aRdENt. Amanda is one of the most loyal and unfailing people I know. I know she has my back and will bend over backwards to help me in any way she can. So few people in my life like this. Lucky.
N - Stands for NiCE. Okay, many people are described as nice, but really, Amanda is so nice to people. She thinks of people in ways I can't even begin to explain. Meals, cards, quilts, babysitting, homemade gifts, treats, etc., etc., etc,. Her service to others always makes me want to reach a little higher to be a little kinder to people.
D - Stands for discOUrse. Love, love, love talking to Amanda. My fun gossip friend that I can talk to for hours. She is such an amazing listener, helper, my own personal therapist:}
A - Stands for avANt-GArde. Amanda is so creative, resourceful, always showing me something new and different. She inspires me with cooking, crafting and decorating.

Love you A! I hope you have an incredible day!

For today

Love this simple documentation idea from The Simple Woman's Day Book :

FOR.TODAY June 23, 2009

Outside my window...it is the perfect summer evening. My neighbor is mowing his lawn. All is right with the world on nights such as these.

I am thinking...I need to make a zillion offers tomorrow for Park City Medical Center. Have had such amazing candidates for these jobs. Praying Mack feels good tomorrow about his Spelling Bee!! He is so excited he made it to the school finals. Thinking how I can package Amanda's birthday gift just right.

I am thankful for...the basics--my home, car, central air. Bigger stuff--happiness, upcoming travel, new books.

From the kitchen...Chick-Fil-A tonight in between studying spelling words and practicing piano. Have been making some amazing smoothies though lately for breakfast.

I am wearing...a massive pj dress thing. My house got cold and my work clothes were bugging me today.

I am creating...Whitney's pay it forward gift and a birthday card for Amanda.

I am going...to book a trip to the Four Seasons Scottsdale

I am reading... The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing - City (Kindle Edition) by David Lebovitz

I am hoping...Mack has fun at his Spelling Bee

I am hearing...the new Pete Yorn album and Mack now resting and playing his DSi.

Around the house...my dog is finally being allowed to be by himself at short intervals in the house. He has done great so far. Fun coming home today to see him sleeping on the couch with no one else around.

One of my favorite things...is that Mack and I were somewhat productive tonight. We did watch a DVR'd episode of Wipeout though. Why do I love that show so much?!?!

A few plans for the rest of the week...A's birthday, Raingutter Regatta, Transformers, Spelling Bee, piano recital, WestFest, fireworks

A picture to share...

For Tonya.

So there aren't that many of us out there. Working Mom's in our 30's I mean. Most of my friends my age are busy at home with kids, so it is rare for me to find someone out there kind of like me--a working professional that is LDS and has kids. Enter Tonya. We have so much in common--working for Intermountain for years doing recruiting, curly hair, Scorpios, a love of the Cheesecake Factory--but we are so different too. She can remember dates like I can't even believe (how can you remember what happened in June of 2005 like it was yesterday?), really ponders and thinks about things, and even is a Sarah Palin devotee. I adore Tonya as I can completely count on her for anything and everything. Need to lean on someone to do tons of tasks for UAHCR super fast and perfect? Tonya. How to use a filter in Photoshop? Tonya. Need to IM someone to complain at 2:00 in the afternoon? Yep, you guessed it--T.

So, when thinking about what I could do for my pay it forward for Tonya, I had to think of something perfect! Tonya has sworn off treats and other goodies in trade for clean eating and exercise, so, no sugar could enter this equation. Since I am not a good resource on vegan sweets, I thought a workout CD would be perfect.

When I bought my treadmill last year, I resorted to a bunch of purchased coached runs at iTunes. I really had never run before and wasn't quite sure the most effective way to get it done. My favorites quickly became the interval runs, but found some of the music wasn't really my style, that inspiring or motivational, etc. Once I got the hang of what they were doing, I started making my own.

I know you have also traded in your treadmill workouts for your bike, but hope this little treat can be utilized by foot or pedal. So, here is an interval mix just for you! It is a 33 minute focused workout. Sooo--no Facebook or email--just straight concentration to get you sweating and done with your workout.

Tonya's Workout CD

For starters - Vampire Weekend - Ottoman
Start your treadmill up, flip on the fan (if you have one), and start at a 3. Crank your speakers. Start walking! Vampire Weekend is my new favorite band--and I thought since you love U2 you may love this too. Love this song--instantly makes me smile and gets me going. Reminds me of spring--love the violins and harpsichord. Stretch everything, roll your neck out and remember today is for you:} I usually just walk this song out. No need to break a sweat yet.

Then.. - Prototypes - Je Ne Te Connais Pas
The first song to rock you out. This is the song I start out jogging. Super invigorating. All in French, but I am assuming lyrics are great:} Flashback to your time in Paris! I usually fantasize about my Paris trip on this one:} You may have broken a bit of a sweat and feel ready to kick butt at this point!

Take it down a notch to...Adam Lambert - Ring of Fire
I usually walk it out to this one. I wasn't an American Idol watcher--got too obsessed with Biggest Loser and never got around to watching AI on the DVR, but am a sucker for an interesting cover. If you are an Adam hater--sub this out for a Kris Allen tune!

Kick it up again to...Black Kids-I'm Not Going to Teach your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
Another jog song. Okay--we are only a year apart, so I assuming you may have listened to the Cure, Morrissey, all that depressing stuff from our high school/college years? This is kind of the same type sound except way more upbeat. Caution--you may want to jump off the platform to groove it out. LOVE this song!!!

Relax a bit to...Jason Mraz - Coyotes
You hopefully will be a bit dripping by this point. Walk or jog it out to this tune. Love the lyrics--who wouldn't want to be know as an opposite of the foot in the door?:} Plus, he uses a phone as an instrument. Had to include this on a playlist at some point in time just on that merit.

Okay, now it gets fast to...Emiliani Torrini - Jungle Drum
This song is only a tad over two minutes. You can do ANYTHING for 2 minutes. Nudge your speed up to a 6 or 7 and listen to how cool the whirring of the platform goes with this song. Don't give up--it goes so fast. You will feel AMAZING after it!!!

Really slow it down to...Rolling Stones - Under my Thumb
After you have run it really hard, I love this song to take it down. Mick Jagger is just so silky and seductive in this song, you may want to repeat it like a zillion times. Summery and perfect. Another song that may give pause to jump off and just want to dance:} Walk it out or jog it out.

The FINAL push...P.O.D - Boom
For sure didn't find this song on my iPod--but found it on Shane's on our 13 hour drive back from Seattle in February. This was on his "Gotta get excited at 3:00 am" playlist. Listened to this as I was easing Shane's car a bit past 100 in sixth gear somewhere in Oregon. It is pure adrenaline. It is raw and unrelenting. Make sure your speakers are turned up and you are ready to really rock it. Take your speed as high as you can maintain for 3 minutes and really WORK IT!!! This song reverberates throughout your chest and somehow finds a way to extract all your aggression and stress. It is deliciously terrifying. DON'T GIVE UP--PUSH THROUGH IT!!!!!

The reward..Zee Avi - Honey Bee
Now you are all out of breath and feeling amazing--you get the gift of this song to wash over you. I usually am feeling all introspective, relaxed and motivated, so love planning, thinking, forgiving, all that healthy stuff, and this is the perfect backdrop. This could possibly be better than chocolate:}

A final stretch if you need it...Ray LaMontangne - Gossip in the Grain (Live)
By now, you should be down to like a 2 or lower and stretching out your calves. Jump off and do a few really deep plies and downward dogs to this one to get every little piece of you stretched so you are not limping the rest of the day. This song is like honey dripping over you - warm, sweet and perfect. Heard this guy for the first time when I was down at the pool at the Four Seasons last year in Scottsdale on Pandora, so reminds me of the ultimate in relaxation and zen. A few really deep cleansing breaths--and you are ready to take on the world:}

Love ya T! Watch for your CD in interoffice:}

Squeal!

I got my first blog gift tonight. The cutest little chipboard book ever. Amanda--love ya!!!

Want a job at the new Park City Medical Center?

For Ashley.

Had soooo much fun doing this photo shoot of my newest little nephew, Clark Keith Johnson. He is just so delicious. Love him & his cute Mom:} Here is just a sneak peek Ash. I will deliver your CD and scrapbook to you tomorrow!