Vows and Cockfights

Whew,...what a weekend.
I think I'll spend the next 5 days catching up on sleep, sanity, and recovering from the cloud of extra-firm-hold hairspray that loomed over my head all day Saturday.
Despite the hole I created in the ozone, I've decided that going to get my hair done for a wedding is necessary.  I don't want to even have to think  about it.
I just want to sit there,...spin in the chair,..hold my breath through the hair product, and pray my scalp doesn't bleed from all the bobby pins. 
Worth every penny.

I had a blast with my dear friend Melissa, and even managed to make it through a brief speech during the rehearsal dinner that didn't offend majority of attendees.  I cried.  Shocker.  Cried, cursed, talked about flatulence,...I covered it all.
I wanted to make sure their marriage started off on the right foot...

The wedding was beautiful and it was great to catch up with old friends from high school and a few former coaches.
One in particular, you know who you are, proceeded to recall stories of me and my mouth during travel ball and the day I got nailed in the crotch on the softball field.  Sometimes I'm blown away by what people remember,....and my wit at 15 years old.  Ha.  Seriously though, I guess if they still derive laughter from it, I will take responsibility for something that just may have caused Sparkles to soil herself had she heard it.  Cheers to the good 'ol days!

Speaking of Sparkles,...her and Happy Feet made their debut Saturday night as well...
As I was standing in front of the congregation holding my flowers and sweating like a champ in my spanx, I was so distracted by mom's head.  Literally.
I will give her credit for the edgy creativity with feathers and ornaments,...but the craft project she rocked on her cranium was a little much.  Bless her heart, every time she moved her head during the service it looked like she was about to fall victim to a cockfight on pew 6.
We give her a hard time, I know, and debates are still looming as to whether or not she made it and its a Sparkles' original.  I'd say its a 93% chance.
Rock on mom, rock on...

Well, its back to the grind tomorrow.
I've felt a little out of sorts and extremely busy the last few days, but tomorrow is Monday and will thus find some way to drag me around. 
Ready to get back to the gym, see my peeps, yell at a few adolescents, and then call it a day...

The Baby Got Hitched...

Well, we officially survived my brother's wedding weekend.
I am pretty much in recovery mode until Wednesday.
No, I didn't drink like a fish, but it was one thing after another and between packing, appointments, and keeping my mom under control, I am exhausted.  Not to mention that for the first time since 2004 I was up until well after 2am this morning, making me one worthless human being today.
As Kelly and I sat in the hotel throwing down coffee like tequila shots at 9am, I was well aware that I am no longer young and resilient.  In fact, I was envious of everyone who was up being productive before 7. 
My line of thought scares me more each day.
You know how they say you start to become more and more like your parents as you get older?  Well, I think I completely bypassed that generation.
I am more like my grandparents.
Not sure which is worse,...that I am, or that I'm ok with it...??...

Highlights of the wedding...
Rehearsal dinner speeches.  Whew.  I was thankful that David went before I did so that he could go ahead and cross everyone's line of decency before I did.
I'd say he nailed it.
Mine went fine.  I teared up at the end, but it was only after a few comments that they will never let me live down.  I won't even repeat it on here, but the way I said what I said was taken out of context by everyone at my table (average age ~24 with the mind of a 17 year old boy).  We've laughed about it all weekend, and its safe to say I will not make that comment in a public setting again......maybe....ha....

The good thing was that my slip was soon forgotten thanks to mom.
She is unbelievable with a serious heart of gold.  I did not receive that gene. 
Due to the fact that she will cry at the drop of a hat and this was her baby getting married, she did not trust herself trying to deliver a speech in front of a crowd.  Next best option: sign language.
Yes, my mother did sign language to a song to 60 people with no hearing problem.
That's pretty much all I need to say about that...
My comment = forgotten.

The wedding was such a sweet ceremony, and then it was time to stretch and test the seams on my dress on the dance floor.
I seriously could not keep that thing up.
Yet despite setbacks, I was out there.  About 3 or 4 family members came up to me and said "Meredith, I've never seen you dance like that."  And I'm sitting there thinking...uhh, when would you ever have seen me do the Wobble...??!...Don't act so shocked people.  Get out there and shake what your momma gave you.  Then apologize if its horrible.

Other highlight of the weekend: wedding cake.
Wedding cake is the ultimate splurge for me and I literally want to plant my face in it.  Instant diabetes.  Ridiculous, I know.  I wake up with a sugar-hangover every single time, and today was no exception.  But it was so good. 
I'm good for another 3000 miles. 

Cardio today did not feel exceptionally great, but I kept my expectations low.  Tomorrow is back to the grind...thank God.
I'll leave you with some pictures from the weekend events...

Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Blair Parker
Congratulations you two! 

Wedding Bells and Eager Grooms

Rainy Sunday.
Fine by me...I needed a rest day.  And after 5 hours of emails and computer work, my brain was pleading with me to stop.
Some of you are used to sitting in front of a screen all day.  Not me.  Its amazing I survived college.  But after overdosing on tea and 2 calls to mom for distraction, I was glad to be done. 
Its unfortunate I can't prank call them anymore.  They figured out caller I.D. 
Its ironic that technology is slowly stripping away my entertainment...

Weekend was good and fairly eventful.
One of my dear friends whom I've known for over 20 years got married on Saturday.
Here's a throw-back picture of us before our senior prom.  She's jokingly kneeling down because with heels she's well over 6' and makes me feel like a midget.

 Ceremony was beautiful, and I always like to watch the groom's face when those doors open and the bride makes her way down the aisle.  Ladies, just know that when he's looking at you smiling and practically drooling on himself, he is not analyzing your dress or how your hair looks.  No, your gentleman up there is standing shoulder to shoulder with the pastor picturing you naked and ready to jump on you like a sex criminal. 
Romantic isn't it?

Speaking of, the Mrs. texted me this morning.
Not going to lie, while I was grateful to hear from her, I couldn't help but think that being the morning after her wedding there was a high probability they were naked a few minutes ago,...currently,... or were going to be.  I suddenly felt the need to sanitize my phone.

I hit a serious wall today....I think it had to do with the weather.
But there I was sitting in church about to take communion knowing that if I closed my eyes for one more prayer I may end up in fetal position on the floor.  So I opted to simply stare at the cup and pray that grape juice would somehow transform into the strongest shot of expresso known to man. 
Oh I believe He heard me.
He just probably shook His head.
Its ok,...I'm used to it.

I'm ready to hit the gym tomorrow.
Like a moth to a flame.
It will be a busy week and then we'll hit full-fledged wedding mode after that.  5 weeks until my little brother gets married...showers...bachelorette weekend...breast pads to sew into my dress....so much to do.
And of course I have to prepare my speech.  5 bucks says mom is honestly worried I just might offend someone in there. 
Perhaps....and if I wing it, then yes, its safe to say that something might slip that we'll have to have a family meeting about later.
But 5 more bucks says I cry like a baby.  At which point I will try and play it off like someone let one rip at my table...


Here we go Monday....game time.

To Have And To Hold...

Its 6:30 in the morning and I'm currently the only person up and moving like a regular human being.  Someone is asleep on the couch under a few blankets so I haven't been able to make out the face yet, I assume he's alive...
Its been an incredible weekend with friends, but I know the guys will be hurting when they have to reenter a normal routine next week.  Currently, they think they are rockstars.  Slightly delusional, but I won't be the one to kill that dream...yet.
Today is the big wedding day, as Ryan and Katherine take the ultimate plunge and she becomes Mrs. Galligan.  I'm sure the ceremony will be beautiful and everything will go smoothly....the only thing that has me worried are the moves that will ultimately bust out on the dance floor.  This could go south rather quickly.  I've seen this crowd in action and I'm fairly certain that at least 6 people missed their calling as a stripper.  Not sure that can actually be a "calling", but let's just say they have a special gift.  Yes, I will have my camera ready as evidence to future kids that their parents are heathens,.....and dear friends.....heathens and friends.  Its an honest combo.

So, last time I said I would touch on a subject that has come up numerous times over the last few weeks with clients.  Its mainly been with my female clients, and I think its simply because cookouts, parties, and vacations are upon us and so the opportunity to slack off, gorge ourselves, and drink into oblivion has reached a new high.  I say that as several livers will no longer be eligible for donation in this house after this weekend.  The irony...
I had a few women come up to me inquiring about living a "fit" lifestyle in the midst of all this.  We'd go over nutrition and activity strategies for the weekend and then they'd respond "ugh, but I have a party this weekend."  The smartass part of me (probably my largest part), was thinking "...and your point iiissss?!"  No, I didn't say that, because what I've discovered over the last 7 years is that people tend to think of it in black/white and completely miss the whole lifestyle aspect of it.  They genuinely believe, and have actually said this to me, that "if I want to be fit then I WILL NOT have a life."  You'd be amazed how many times I've heard that.  Ok, I will now attempt to address this in a civil manner without cursing...
98% of you are not looking to compete or take fitness/nutrition habits to the extreme where you're LIFE is dramatically effected and you are in any way inhibited by healthy choices.  Read that again because its important.  You simply want to feel good, perhaps lose some weight, establish a routine, and be the healthiest YOU that you can be.  Correct?  Ok,...first, I would say that if you're serious about your goals, then there are some obvious habits that will change as a result.  HOWEVER, does this mean that you can't attend functions/parties/gatherings?  NO.  So then some of you are thinking but there's all this great food there, and beer, and wine, and blah blah blah.  You're right.  There is.  So here's a bigger thought for you,.....STOP MAKING IT ABOUT THE FOOD.
We're immersed in a culture that makes social events more about the food than relationships.  Whether you're attending a wedding, graduation party, birthday party, or God forbid a family reunion, strive to be more intune with the people and conversation instead of the banana pudding staring you down like a predator.  Too often we go there already resigning ourselves to this notion that we have to eat everything on the buffet, drink like fish, and try every dessert.  2 things...1) No one is force-feeding you, so yes, you do have a choice, and 2) there are generally some healthier options.  When you toil over going or not going to an event where tempting food will be, you are basically giving food power over you.  You are waiving the white flag of surrender to an undeserving"opponent" that should not even be labeled as such to begin with.  The goal is not to have a twisted-adversarial-relationship with what you put in your mouth. 
Is there a time to splurge and enjoy something you crave?  Yes.  But its not everyday or at every event.  And let me remind you that everyone's goals are different.  We need to stop playing the victim to "a busy social schedule" or "I'm traveling" or "but there was cake there".  Instead, practice good 'ol fashion will-power and moderation, focus on your goals, and mentally remind yourself that its not about the food.  Will it be easy?  No.  BUT, I guarantee that you'll feel better the next day.  And THAT will be the catalyst into a new lifestyle.

You do have choices people.  BUT, it doesn't have to be an either/or life.  HEALTH doesn't have to be extreme, and part of being healthy is creating a balanced mindset.  There is a time to rest, run, splurge, go harder, back off, etc...
We are striving for health....physical as well as mental.  One day at a time :)

I'll leave you with a few pictures thus far from our trip...(ladies and the rockstars)...

 That's all for now....beach time once again.
I need to lube up and get rolling.  Red today, brown tomorrow.  Probably not the best words to live by....ranks up there with "YOLO".  A motto spoken by pretty much everyone who is about to make a horrible decision and ruin that "one life" they speak about.  Awesome.

Here's to another day at the beach!!!