Guys! Today is a super fun day because…Andrew is taking over here in blog world!!
A few weeks ago, I had a sweet reader ask if we could share a “day in the life of Andrew”. I asked him if he was up to the challenge, and he said, “Sure!”. He took all the pics, he uploaded them here on my blog, he wrote the captions…he did it all. I’m going to step out of the way right now and let him take over. Friends, I give you a day in the life of Andrew Shull…
Good morning everyone. First, let’s get some stuff out of the way. I am not a writer. I actually have a little anxiety with every key stroke. AHHHH. Second, because I am a man, this whole taking pictures thing was really difficult. I can go on a whole guys snowboarding trip and between 15 guys we MAYBE have 3 photos documenting the occasion! The thought of having to document this day gave me a whole new appreciation to what Mix and Match Mama does. 🙂
Wake-up call 4 am. Even if I stay up late (11 PM), I have to pay the band in the morning. So, if I stay up late watching sports on the patio with Tab, it’s the price I pay.
Coffee stat!! My coffee is 2 espresso shots with 10 oz of hot water and 3 Truvia.
At the same time my Americano is brewing, I start my oatmeal. I have to have something to burn while I workout. ½ cup of Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal and a cup and a half of water. 2 min on high. After it cooks, I leave it in there until 4:40 before I pull it out. I don’t like my oatmeal runny.
I get my coffee and start my quiet time. Last year a group of guys and I read through the Bible in a year. This year, we decided to branch out and turn the 5 into 5 more groups of 5. Simple multiplication. Our group decided to stay together so we started a using a prayer app. Echo Prayer app is the best. You can add prayer requests, see answered prayer requests, update prayer requests….and more. Highly recommend. I am a big believer that when you say the words “I will be praying for you”, it is not just something you say to be nice. If you invoke the P word you better follow through and do some praying.
Our group and our walk through the Bible. Love it!! In the “talk it over section”, Sam our Pastor (aka touchdown), challenged us to have a “say” (what jumped out at me today and what is it saying to me), “obey” (how can I apply), and “tell” (name someone to share the thought with). If someone misses you can all see who it was. It really holds you accountable.
Oatmeal back out of the microwave. Insert scoop of protein and tablespoon of almond butter.
Poppy waiting to be let out before I leave for the gym.
Staples in my gym bag. 2 scoops of protein (unmixed) post lift snack, 1 smart water, Gatorade towel, ab roller, weight belt, wrist straps.
On my way to the gym, The Ticket goes on…
At 5:30, while I am working out the Heavens open up and the Ticket begins a new day. They talk about more than just sports, so it is a must listen. Shay even listens now!! George, Craig, and Gordon, you complete me. For those in the Dallas area 6:15, 6:40, 7:15, and 9:15 are the greatest segments of all. I have literally laughed so hard I have fallen off the stair mill in the gym. 🙂
In my lifetime, I think I have only taken one workout photo (and felt awkward doing it). I don’t want to be that guy, so you only get a post workout photo. We did chest and back on this day, with some abs. Total workout time, 50 min. This is (another) Andrew. Normally, I work out with my buddy Ty (shown below), but he was out of town on vacation. Ty and I met in the gym over 7 years ago and have been friends ever since! He played football at Auburn. This photo was from a couple of years ago when I went to see a game with him (he had his tough guy face on while I was cheesing it up, HA)
Had to swing by the grocery store on the way home to stock up for a baseball weekend. Protein cookies and Gatorade.
From the grocery store to my office. I like to get things up and running before everyone else gets there. It also allows me to get caught up on email and do some admin tasks.
Then home to kiss these kiddos as they are eating their breakfast. I am usually a little sweaty so I always ask, who wants a sweaty hug? After I say hi and “encourage” the kids to eat their breakfast, I head to the starimill for my cardio. I love doing the Peloton, but it interrupts my ticket time, so that is a big no-no. I usually hit the Peloton, once or twice a week and then on the weekends.
Look what I saw… a hawk sitting on the fence looking for breakfast. Run Frenchie!!
With a few minutes left this sweet girl asked me to hit the volleyball with her. How could I say no!? I quickly jumped off and we started. A,B, C, D. We like to at least finish the alphabet with the ball never touching the ground!
Then all of the kids pile on and it is off to school! On beautiful mornings, I like to take the golf cart. The fresh air never gets old.
I always give the girls a kiss on their heads and then I grab Smiths backpack and hold him down for his. 🙂
My morning call with my friend John on my way home. John and I became best friends many years ago when he was the Executive Pastor at First McKinney. He now lives in Indiana, but we talk every day. Interesting fact about John, before he was a Pastor, he taught hand to hand combat in the Marines. Needless to say, when we have gone on mission trips together (once we were on the Turkish/Iranian border) I have never been worried.
I used to be an anti-vitamin guy and then one morning I woke up and thought, what in the world am I doing?
10 egg whites scrambled, 3 pieces of turkey bacon, Ezekiel English muffin with a generous tablespoon of almond butter, and a Vann’s waffle with a tablespoon of natural honey.
After I eat, I throw a piece of chicken in the air-fryer. I bought this one off of Amazon. Easy and food tastes great!
I just stick in there with some olive oil and Montreal garlic chicken seasoning on it.
Next off to do chores. Had to heat the pool for Shay, because today it just so happened to be Smith’s skip day.
And then off to do some brush control. I will show you in a second, but behind our house, I am in a constant war with greenbrier vines (I think that is what they are called).
On my way out back, I stop to weed the garden really quickly.
And stop to water the plants.
Recently fallen tree over the creek. I like the base so I left it.
This stuff right here is nasty. It has a bulb in the ground that keeps it coming back year after year. It will climb so high they can choke your trees and kill them. Not to mention they have super sharp thorns.
You always get the view from the other side, so this is across the creek looking back.
We even have one tree that is completely horizontal.
At the top of the picture you can see what it used to look like. This is the view looking onto my neighbor’s section. It took me 2 years to remove the debris and get is cleaned up for the kids.
Smith and I spend a lot of time working back here.
Anyone know what this is? Leaves of three…….I also spray for this.
Ticket still on…..
Next I hustle inside and start getting ready for work. Now for three things I couldn’t live without. My toothbrush. Warning, it’s like a weed-eater in your mouth, but I am ruined forever from regular toothbrushes. Also, I have to use this for my feet. If not they crack. Fun fact, before I met Shay I NEVER used lotion or any sort of moisturizer—EVER. What was I thinking??? I use the other for my chest, legs, and arms, during the summer months. It may not be some uber manly, backwoods lotion, but quite frankly it remind me of summer and spending time on the beach or Nantucket, so I will let it slide.
Ready for work. MacBook, chicken and Yeti with ice.
Saying goodbye and getting hugs before I leave.
Quick photo with 2 of my staff members. I have 5 full-time employees and a handful of part-timers. Some work in office, while others work remotely. Couldn’t do it without them.
This morning, I had an appointment in the office at 9:45, then one at 10:45. In between appointments, I began running payroll, reviewed my group health insurance plan, and quoted life insurance plan for a few clients.
This is my friend and client Chad. How sweet is his Bronco!?
Making calls until I leave for lunch.
At least 2 days a week I grab a quick bite to eat at the country club. Since I eat the same thing pretty much everyday, I call to pre-order and when I get there it is ready. I was catching up on Chernobyl. Wow. What a show!!!
Ceasar salad (dry), 2 chicken breasts and sweet potato fries. Who is this guy? You many know his wife…Andrea. Dave has been a great friend of mine for years, and he’s a manager at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club.
Back to the office to review some baseball schedule details. The rain in Texas right now is killing our schedule.
Starbucks for an Americano, and on my way, I grabbed 2 sonic drinks for Kensington and Ashby. I went to see them at lunch, but because of state testing that day, I could only drop them off. BOOOO.
I spent the next few hours making client calls and meeting with staff. Then for my 2:30 lunch.
Smith has a hitting lesson at 4, so I picked him up at 3:45 along with his friend James. After his hitting lesson I took them out with Nixon and I hit them 45 minutes of grounders. Nothing like a little practice.
I took the boys home, and at 5:45, look what Shay had waiting for me. Jameson is always my drink of choice. I really feel like Shay and I have perfected the cheese board. On this night, Shay had a strawberry Margarita. We sat in the dining room while the kids showered for dinner. We talked and worked out some more details for our summer trips. Love doing this with her!
After that, I was on to grilling chicken for dinner. This is the mango sauce we sometimes use from Trader Joe’s to marinate chicken.
I had to take a picture of my fountain. My name is Andrew and I have a problem. When the water in my fountain starts turning colors it drives me crazy. My trick to keeping it clean? In small amounts, put Hydrogen Peroxide in with the water. It keeps the water cleaner longer.
While I made dinner, I watched the 27 time World Champion New York Yankees slug it out for a win against Baltimore.
Sweet potato fries, corn from Trader Joe’s, and grilled chicken. My best memories are spent around the dinner table. Doing highs and lows, and hearing about everyone’s day.
After dinner call with another one of my best friends. Tab and I were probably talking baseball.
Some nights, I make chocolate chip cookies for the kids’ desert. The trick? Under-cook them. No one likes a burnt cookie!
Now time to cuddle up and watch a family show, or movie. Time spent relaxing as a family is always the best. I know the day is coming when they won’t want to jump or me or play “chase daddy’s foot”. 🙂
I know this sounds strange, but for years Shay and I have had small brownie with light cool whip almost every night. I find that if I allow myself this simple treat I don’t feel the need to eat a half a gallon of cookie dough topped with ice cream (or something of the like).
Confession time, yes I watch Bravo. Question my man card all you want! I like reality TV, and Bravo has perfected this art. My favorites are Southern Charm and Summer House.
I used to eat 10 egg whites before bed, but lately I have been sticking to Greek yogurt with protein mixed in . Sometimes, it’s good to change things up. You might ask why? After I finished playing football, I lost over 40 lbs, but in all reality even with the weight loss, I looked horrible. What I was doing was starving myself. All I would have in the morning was a protein shake, for lunch PB and J, and dinner, whatever Shay made. Naturally I lost weight, but it was miserable. One day, Sean and I got to talking nutrition. Sean connected me with Sagi Kalev, and Sagi rocked my world. Look Sagi up online if you want to read about him. He is a wealth of knowledge. I realized by starving myself all day my body was in a constant storage mode. I changed my routine, and naturally lost another 20 lbs, but gained a ton of muscle and strength. Now 7 years later, I still follow the same routine. I also treat food as fuel. In order to have sustained energy you have to eat, and eat the right foods. For the record I am not the authority on nutrition or fitness , all I know is what has worked for me. 🙂
Disclaimer-Sometimes the bear (me when I am hungry) comes out and I eat a whole Domino’s thin crust. HA!
Nighttime routine. Shay talked about this a few posts back. I balked at the oils when Shay first brought them up, but when we went on our last cruise, it was my idea to bring the diffuser! Sound machine, and a cool room are a must!!
On this night, Shay read for a few minutes, so I caught up on Billions on Showtime. In 10 minutes I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Well, that’s a wrap. I am hoping most of you didn’t bail out on this post and are still around reading these last lines. I realize my boring life may not be that interesting. HAHA! On the off chance one or two of you are still reading, thank you for staying around. I leave you with this. When Shay and I first started dating in Manhattan, Kansas, I was always the one who got recognized in public. Those close to me know that I am super uncomfortable in that spot light. I control it now, but I used to break out in a dripping sweat when this happened. I realize there is no bigger spot light than what I used to do, but I loved that not for the “look at me”, but for the thrill of the competition. I belabor my point, so let me get to it. So many times I can be on the top of a mountain in Switzerland, in NY, or “you insert place”, and I hear, “aren’t you Mix and Match Mama’s husband”. I am always thinking two things. One, I am glad she is the one getting noticed and two, her readers (you) are the nicest people in the world. I realize that some readers are here because they are skeptics, or to be critical, but that small portion is overshadowed by the 99.9% of you that are awesome. Thank you for being so engaged and friendly to our family, specifically Shay. Shay truly is what you see on this blog, day in and day out. Her positive attitude, her engagement in our family, how much she loves me, our kids, and Jesus is authentic. I love her for this and a million more things (it also doesn’t hurt that I find her super attractive 🙂 ). I tell her this all the time….I would be lost without her. Thank you for letting me share my day!