I am sitting at the table working on gifts for Jackson's teachers....cute little lip balms with a tag that says "You're the BALM! Excited for a great year."
Darron is laughing at all the cheesy gifts and sayings on Pinterest so he decided to come up with a few of his own.
Here the Top Ten Teacher Gifts from a Dad
by Darron Meares
10. Lip Balm "Here's some cap stick because I know you get tired running your mouth all day."
9. A pair of underwear "Because I know there will come a time when you need to cover my kid's butt in your gradebook."
8. A Butterfinger "Because this is only finger my kid can give you."
7. A bottle of Jack Daniels "You're going to need this after the 3rd week with my child"
6. A pair of boots " To wade through all the excuses my son gives"
5. A bottle of wine "To go with all the cheesy gifts my teacher wife will give you"
4. A normal cardigan sweater "Because not everyday is NOT a holiday that requires a goofy sweater"
3. A diet Coke "To 'offset' all the sugar and candy the other kids give you"
2. A Wal-Mart gift card "Because most dads aren't as creative as me"
1. A bottle of champagne "To celebrate surviving the year with my child"
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
50 shades of GREY HAIRs
No this post is not about what you think it is about. I know that there has been a lot of buzz lately about the book and the movie. Yes, I have an opinion about both of them. No, I will not share it with you.
OMGeeeee....the grey hairs I have discovered this week are making me crazy.
I remember the first grey hair I found....I was driving home from school a couple years ago and when I looked in my rear view mirror I noticed something shiny in my hair. I was teaching kindergarten at the time, so I thought it could be glitter or fuzz from my pipe cleaner crown (that is a story for another day). I haphazardly tried to brush it out. When I got home I consulted the mirror and found the shiny speck still there. OMGeeeee....A grey hair sticking up from my part. I remember panic and then the tweezers. GONE.
I have had a couple more over the years...all met the same fate as the first one.
Recently I have noticed a few more but decided to ignore them. I am closer to 40 than 30 so a few grey hairs are expected.
This week is a different story. I am preparing myself to go back to work so this week has meant actually fixing my hair and putting on makeup.
Hello Mr. Grey Hairs.
50 Reasons I Have Grey Hairs.
14 years of marriage. People often joke and say that I am a saint for putting up with Darron. I wish those jewels they say I deserve in my wife crown were what was sparkling on my head instead of the grey hairs. (Darron has a tough job too...I am not saint.) Marriage is hard work. We have a good days and bad days but in the end our commitment to each other keeps us strong.
Jackson---the 9 year old. Being a mom is the hardest job EVER. Jackson came into this world with his own agenda and continues that today. I am unsure where he gets his spunk, sassiness, and ATT I TUDE but I often hear my parents giggling and whispering "what goes around comes around". I have no clue why!!!
Next week I begin my 15th year teaching. Enough said....
3 males in my household...dog included. I have no sympathy for the men who whine about having a house full of women.
QSA...3 small letters that my body often curses. I love working out with the coaches at QSA. They push me to my limits. It is a great stress relief and keeps me young. I think the grey hairs are trying to tell me that my body isn't what it used to be....a reminder that I am getting older. THEY ARE FAILING.
13.1.....I ran a half marathon in April. I think my knees and ankles are told my head to sprout a few new greys to try to convince me that I was too old for things like running.
Pickens County Princess...PCP...3 letters. The Pickens County Princess is my alter ego. I have some friends with alter egos named Tawanda, Moma Bear, etc. She is the one you don't cross. Don't mess with my family, don't question my integrity, don't make promises you can't or won't keep, always be honest with me. Follow these rules and you and the Princess will be BFFs.
Now to schedule my hair appointment... Amber and I may be discussing ways for me to dump MR. GREY.
OMGeeeee....the grey hairs I have discovered this week are making me crazy.
I remember the first grey hair I found....I was driving home from school a couple years ago and when I looked in my rear view mirror I noticed something shiny in my hair. I was teaching kindergarten at the time, so I thought it could be glitter or fuzz from my pipe cleaner crown (that is a story for another day). I haphazardly tried to brush it out. When I got home I consulted the mirror and found the shiny speck still there. OMGeeeee....A grey hair sticking up from my part. I remember panic and then the tweezers. GONE.
I have had a couple more over the years...all met the same fate as the first one.
Recently I have noticed a few more but decided to ignore them. I am closer to 40 than 30 so a few grey hairs are expected.
This week is a different story. I am preparing myself to go back to work so this week has meant actually fixing my hair and putting on makeup.
Hello Mr. Grey Hairs.
50 Reasons I Have Grey Hairs.
14 years of marriage. People often joke and say that I am a saint for putting up with Darron. I wish those jewels they say I deserve in my wife crown were what was sparkling on my head instead of the grey hairs. (Darron has a tough job too...I am not saint.) Marriage is hard work. We have a good days and bad days but in the end our commitment to each other keeps us strong.
Jackson---the 9 year old. Being a mom is the hardest job EVER. Jackson came into this world with his own agenda and continues that today. I am unsure where he gets his spunk, sassiness, and ATT I TUDE but I often hear my parents giggling and whispering "what goes around comes around". I have no clue why!!!
Next week I begin my 15th year teaching. Enough said....
3 males in my household...dog included. I have no sympathy for the men who whine about having a house full of women.
QSA...3 small letters that my body often curses. I love working out with the coaches at QSA. They push me to my limits. It is a great stress relief and keeps me young. I think the grey hairs are trying to tell me that my body isn't what it used to be....a reminder that I am getting older. THEY ARE FAILING.
13.1.....I ran a half marathon in April. I think my knees and ankles are told my head to sprout a few new greys to try to convince me that I was too old for things like running.
Pickens County Princess...PCP...3 letters. The Pickens County Princess is my alter ego. I have some friends with alter egos named Tawanda, Moma Bear, etc. She is the one you don't cross. Don't mess with my family, don't question my integrity, don't make promises you can't or won't keep, always be honest with me. Follow these rules and you and the Princess will be BFFs.
Now to schedule my hair appointment... Amber and I may be discussing ways for me to dump MR. GREY.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
36 years young
Today is my 36th birthday. I am not ashamed of my age. I really don't think I would want to be 25 or even 29 again. I am much wiser and in a much better place in my life today than I was back then.
Today I am celebrating with some goals for the 365 days.
I wish I could remember the saying that I pinned to my Pinterest wall about having 365 and making each one count. Yes, I am losing my memory....no old jokes :)
Goal #1: A RED band at QSA (to most of you this will not make any sense....let's just say that it proves that I am improving)
Goal #2: Finish the Run Like A Diva half marathon on April 27
Goal #3: Continue with my personal weight loss/body fat loss process and become a better physical me
Goal #4 Find something positive everyday to be thankful for (especially when I am frustrated)
Goal #5 Be a great mom and wife everyday.......I know that I am going to fail on this one. I am human, I make mistakes, and I get frustrated. But I can always recognize when I am not being great and fix it.
Goal #6 Buy a new house :)
Today I am celebrating with some goals for the 365 days.
I wish I could remember the saying that I pinned to my Pinterest wall about having 365 and making each one count. Yes, I am losing my memory....no old jokes :)
Goal #1: A RED band at QSA (to most of you this will not make any sense....let's just say that it proves that I am improving)
Goal #2: Finish the Run Like A Diva half marathon on April 27
Goal #3: Continue with my personal weight loss/body fat loss process and become a better physical me
Goal #4 Find something positive everyday to be thankful for (especially when I am frustrated)
Goal #5 Be a great mom and wife everyday.......I know that I am going to fail on this one. I am human, I make mistakes, and I get frustrated. But I can always recognize when I am not being great and fix it.
Goal #6 Buy a new house :)
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Oh No...Snowmageddon
This the last week of the challenge. Actually, the final weigh in is less than 38 hours from now. Saturday at 10:00AM
Snowmageddon began Tuesday. Thank goodness we got to QSA for the 8AM class. The conditions got so bad that QSA was closed from noon on Tuesday, all day Wednesday and Thursday.
I made the comment Tuesday that I hoped the other "competitors" sat at home, ate their carb filled milk and bread sandwiches, and drank a lot of beer.
Darron and I were determined not to cheat or break the eating plan. We succeeded.
I will confess, I made snow cream for J on Tuesday night and ate about 1/4 of a cup of it. However, I only used 1/4 cup of sugar instead of a 1/2 cup so that only counts is a half of a cheat.
Wednesday I drank my gallon of water. And made myself run back up the hill after sledding down.
Thursday morning meant more sledding and running back up the hill. Cardio...even in small doses is better than no cardio at all.
What a difference a couple hours can make.
The above sledding was taking place around 9:30 AM. By 1:00PM the sun was breaking through the clouds and melting away 3 days of snow.
At 5:00PM, Darron and I backed the cars out and turned our garage into our workout area. Thanks to QSA for posting a 25 AMRAP workout for us to do. It was tough because we made it tough and motivated each other.
I am surprised that DSS was not called on us. "Yes, I would like to report that there is a child running around in his snow-filled yard with no coat on playing baseball with himself. He keeps running back and forth to the fence. His parents appear to be in the garage doing something that looks suspicious."
And the called would have been placed by my brother-in-law and sister-in-law who drove by real slow trying to figure out what was going on. Or by any of the numerous people driving by our house between 5:15 and 5:45 PM.
J had on layers and is always playing baseball so this was perfectly normal except for the snow filled yard. I am sure our neighbors have seen us doing tire flips around the house before. Just another day at the Meares House.
As I type this I am finishing the last of my gallon of water today.
Hallelujah...QSA is open tomorrow. 9:00am class for me. And then a repeat class with D at 4:30PM.
I want that CASH. Or spa day. Or massage. Or the team prize. GO TEAM AMANDA!!!
The competitor in me is ready for the final results on Saturday.
Snowmageddon began Tuesday. Thank goodness we got to QSA for the 8AM class. The conditions got so bad that QSA was closed from noon on Tuesday, all day Wednesday and Thursday.
I made the comment Tuesday that I hoped the other "competitors" sat at home, ate their carb filled milk and bread sandwiches, and drank a lot of beer.
Darron and I were determined not to cheat or break the eating plan. We succeeded.
I will confess, I made snow cream for J on Tuesday night and ate about 1/4 of a cup of it. However, I only used 1/4 cup of sugar instead of a 1/2 cup so that only counts is a half of a cheat.
Wednesday I drank my gallon of water. And made myself run back up the hill after sledding down.
Thursday morning meant more sledding and running back up the hill. Cardio...even in small doses is better than no cardio at all.
What a difference a couple hours can make.
The above sledding was taking place around 9:30 AM. By 1:00PM the sun was breaking through the clouds and melting away 3 days of snow.
At 5:00PM, Darron and I backed the cars out and turned our garage into our workout area. Thanks to QSA for posting a 25 AMRAP workout for us to do. It was tough because we made it tough and motivated each other.
I am surprised that DSS was not called on us. "Yes, I would like to report that there is a child running around in his snow-filled yard with no coat on playing baseball with himself. He keeps running back and forth to the fence. His parents appear to be in the garage doing something that looks suspicious."
And the called would have been placed by my brother-in-law and sister-in-law who drove by real slow trying to figure out what was going on. Or by any of the numerous people driving by our house between 5:15 and 5:45 PM.
J had on layers and is always playing baseball so this was perfectly normal except for the snow filled yard. I am sure our neighbors have seen us doing tire flips around the house before. Just another day at the Meares House.
As I type this I am finishing the last of my gallon of water today.
Hallelujah...QSA is open tomorrow. 9:00am class for me. And then a repeat class with D at 4:30PM.
I want that CASH. Or spa day. Or massage. Or the team prize. GO TEAM AMANDA!!!
The competitor in me is ready for the final results on Saturday.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
NYNY Weekly Update
My good intentions were to blog daily through out this challenge/journey. With the realization that the reality would be every other day.
The real reality is this has become a weekly thing.
I can't find the time to sit down and write.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
My Saturday/Sunday prepping for the last week of the challenge in pictures:
Omelet cups--with peppers and spinach are being baked. So much easier in the morning to warm one up instead of cooking an omelet.
Tonight's dinner is in the crockpot. Healthy chicken fajitas.
The weekly menu is made, posted, and groceries were bought yesterday.
5 workouts this week = a huge pile of dirty gym clothes. These are from the second half of the week. Yes we do a separate load of just workout clothing in some special detergent Darron bought.
Salads with chicken have been made for lunch this week.
One more week to go....Not really. I have finally seen success. Small success but success. I plan on continuing with the eating plan until I reach my goal. Of course, to keep my sanity I will eat some carbs here and there and allow myself a semi-cheat meal.
In 3 weeks I have lost 7 pounds and 4.3% body fat. The most impressive numbers for me are the fact that I have lost 11 pounds of fat mass and gained 4 pounds of muscle.
If you are not a QSA client, ask me about their wonderful programs and how you can join me on this journey to a New Me!!!
The real reality is this has become a weekly thing.
I can't find the time to sit down and write.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
My Saturday/Sunday prepping for the last week of the challenge in pictures:
One more week to go....Not really. I have finally seen success. Small success but success. I plan on continuing with the eating plan until I reach my goal. Of course, to keep my sanity I will eat some carbs here and there and allow myself a semi-cheat meal.
In 3 weeks I have lost 7 pounds and 4.3% body fat. The most impressive numbers for me are the fact that I have lost 11 pounds of fat mass and gained 4 pounds of muscle.
If you are not a QSA client, ask me about their wonderful programs and how you can join me on this journey to a New Me!!!
Saturday, February 1, 2014
10 things I have learned ---Half Way Point
Today marks the half way point in the New Year New You Challenge.
Here are 10 things that I have learned or rediscovered in the last 14 days:
1. I can survive on a clean eating diet and no carbs.
2. I can be like June Cleaver.
4. Waking up and checking the WOD is not a smart idea.
Here are 10 things that I have learned or rediscovered in the last 14 days:
1. I can survive on a clean eating diet and no carbs.
- Nutrition and eating well have always been a struggle for me. I have survived 2 weeks eating lean protein and veggies. And eggs. And cottage cheese ( I still hate it). Thank goodness for the awesome meal ideas and recipes that QSA has provided. During our warm up on Thursday, several of us were talking about food and creative recipes. "I am so tired of chicken and fish"...me too pal :)
2. I can be like June Cleaver.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner have been cooked and prepared in my home for 2 WHOLE WEEKS. With the exception of dinner this Thursday night....QSA, D's meeting, and no time = McAlister's Deli. I had a salad and only used a portion of the balsamic dressing.
- Time management and preparation are key. Weekly planned menu that hangs on the fridge, pre-prepped as much as possible, using time on the weekend makes it so much easier through out the week.
- Bonus....I don't have to order lunch on Fridays with my co-workers. I have will power and my salad I fixed the night before.
4. Waking up and checking the WOD is not a smart idea.
- Why do I torture myself through out the day? Isn't the WOD torture enough?
- 2 Saturdays in a row at the 9AM class. I am most impressed with myself.
- Who comes up with the Saturday workouts anyway? Some evil trainer that is locked up in the back room?
- "How bad do you want it?" is the new motto on Saturday.
- I obsess with my weight and body fat. (You can't tell by looking at me)
- I have educated myself to know how to read that crazy printout with all the numbers.
- Today was the first time I have not had a loss in body fat. FRUSTRATED. Thanks to Vaughn I learned.....
- And not in a good way. I am burning muscle. Eating less calories and long runs are partly responsible.
- I have 13 weeks until my race and 2 more weeks of this challenge. If I want to win that cash and help Team Amanda I need to limit my run to only 1 long run on the weekends for the next 2 weeks. And add in the interval cardio blueprint.
- Encouragement is what is meant by it. Giving me a push. Telling me I can do it.
- I am trying my hardest. I know I can do 1 more. Or finish strong. Don't you people see my struggling.
- When I am struggling I hear "don't quit you weakling", "I am done so hurry up and finish", "your form sucks and you can squat deeper than that", "keep moving"....blah, blah, blah
- I need an attitude adjustment when the going gets tough.
- Truth...I have only actually had a gallon of water on 3 days. I try really hard everyday to drink that much.
- Kindergarteners are okay for the teacher to leave them and take a restroom break. No, I don't leave them alone. I have an assistant. Yet one little boy insists on knocking on the door and asking me a question at least once a day. Just like being a mom at home :)
- Vaughn has hired the BEST STAFF on the planet. I adore Amanda and love working out with her at 4:30pm. She knows just the right buttons to push to motivate me.
- All of trainers care about the clients. Everyone is encouraging and wiling to help and answer questions. Thanks DJ and Alex---your were my support staff today. Jason--I miss working out with you. Come visit us at 4:30 on day.
- I love my QSA family. My Apex buddies, my ladies, my 4:30pm peeps, the Saturday crew.... a smile, a facebook post, a "hey, I read your blog", a "you look great". Each of you have a quality that I strive for. Thanks for being my friends.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Playing catch up--Days 6,7,8,9
I have been busy....school is crazy right now. With an iPad distribution happening, I have been out of my classroom more than I have been in it. My free time has been playing catch up and planning for the times when I am out of the room. Sometimes being gone is harder than being there.
Thursday was an exercise day off for. I am giving myself one of those a week. My old body can only take 6 days a week of work. God rested on the Sabbath. I did not food cheat this day...jsut no exercise.
Friday, I did not ordered out lunch with my co-workers. 2 of us are "being good" so it helps to not be the only one.
QSA workout at 4:30 and then a 12 minute cardio set to finish off the day. WooHoo!!!
Saturday workouts at QSA will now be known as "how bad do you want it" workouts. PJ enjoyed inflicting the torture on us. Alex, Ryan, DJ, and Jason all keep popping in the room to witness the torture. Secretly they were laughing at us.
Who starts a workout with 50 burpees, 50 renegade rows ON EACH SIDE, 50 thrusters, and then 50 kettle bell swings? This wasn't even the first half of the workout. AND the kicker was...a 35 minute cap. I finished all but the last 48 superman jacks in the time limit....and then finished the superman jacks.
Meal planning and shopping were done on Saturday. It is the little things like BOGO chicken breasts at BiLo that excite me.
Sunday we hit the track as a family. I got my 45 min training run in, D did an interval workout and bleacher runs, and J played football with some people who already playing on the field.
As of Friday afternoon, I am down 6 lbs and 3% body fat. The best stat is the loss of 9 lbs of fat mass. This is working. The clean eating and the workouts are making all the difference. My jeans were loose this morning. My ultimate goal is to wear this one particular white and black dress again. I would love to be able to wear it in St John on March 8.
How bad do I want it? That is the question...
Thursday was an exercise day off for. I am giving myself one of those a week. My old body can only take 6 days a week of work. God rested on the Sabbath. I did not food cheat this day...jsut no exercise.
Friday, I did not ordered out lunch with my co-workers. 2 of us are "being good" so it helps to not be the only one.
QSA workout at 4:30 and then a 12 minute cardio set to finish off the day. WooHoo!!!
Saturday workouts at QSA will now be known as "how bad do you want it" workouts. PJ enjoyed inflicting the torture on us. Alex, Ryan, DJ, and Jason all keep popping in the room to witness the torture. Secretly they were laughing at us.
Who starts a workout with 50 burpees, 50 renegade rows ON EACH SIDE, 50 thrusters, and then 50 kettle bell swings? This wasn't even the first half of the workout. AND the kicker was...a 35 minute cap. I finished all but the last 48 superman jacks in the time limit....and then finished the superman jacks.
Meal planning and shopping were done on Saturday. It is the little things like BOGO chicken breasts at BiLo that excite me.
Sunday we hit the track as a family. I got my 45 min training run in, D did an interval workout and bleacher runs, and J played football with some people who already playing on the field.
As of Friday afternoon, I am down 6 lbs and 3% body fat. The best stat is the loss of 9 lbs of fat mass. This is working. The clean eating and the workouts are making all the difference. My jeans were loose this morning. My ultimate goal is to wear this one particular white and black dress again. I would love to be able to wear it in St John on March 8.
How bad do I want it? That is the question...
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