6.22.2009

Zane turned One!

Zane= beloved, Americus = Home ruler....Zane Americus is our beloved home ruler and he just turned 1 years old! He was fully potty trained at 9 weeks, lost his first tooth (that we found) the day he turned 4 months and only recently started lifting his leg to pee! haha You love to eat oranges with daddy, are confused about ice chips in your water bowl and every time the garage door opens you sit patiently waiting for whoever might be coming. You are also a super sport and always let mommy take pictures of you doing random things. Like on your birthday....


Zane is a huge NY Yankee's fan just like his family! woo-woo



You love to read and look at books a.k.a. lick them. This book was from Aunt Mary! He looks surprised, huh?!

You can't sleep without Bucky Beaver and you carry him everywhere!

You're full of surprises...like the day I cam home and you brought your bed and all your toys out, ate the rug padding and tossed my expensive rug back.
...we still love you!
And if you're good you can have a 4 legged brother or sister in the future....yes, I've been "browsing" so it's a slight possibility.










6.13.2009

I had the blues...

So, we all know how hyped I was about going to the acupuncturist to get my migraines, stomach pains and all those girly hormones in check. I went through 3 evaluations, took all the tests, had a physical and even watched his slide show presentation about myself before my first treatment. The needles didn't hurt except for the one he put directly into my eye. JUST KIDDING! I had 11 on my ankle, knee, fingers, hands and a spot on my leg, weird how all those spots make a difference, huh? For those of you who fear it, the needle isn't really a needle, its the equivalent to a cat whisker yet made from stainless steel. Anywho... so after my treatment we sit down to talk about "The Plan of Action" which I'm going to refer to as the Pissed Off American (me). Everything was great until that point. The point where I found out my plan consisted of 3+ months of treatment at a whopping cost of $3,800 for Plan A, Plan B was even more expensive. Yep, see insurance pays zero dollars in the state of TN for western medicine. At that point, i was very upset and knew only 3 people could understand. I tried calling them one by one and each time I cried worse and worse like a little punk! (you know I hate to cry) I was just upset that I got my hopes up thinking something could help me only to find out I wasn't willing to pay that amount. Thankfully, I met a friend and her 2 cuties for lunch and she let me pour it all out which helped. I know if you break down the cost of each Dr. visit its exactly the same, just your insurance pays the difference. I also know I only have 1 body, but I'm still not willing to part with my rainy day fund for 3 months of acupuncture treatments. There must be another way! So, now I'm doing my research and have others helping me. Tomorrow is another day and everything will be okay. That's what I tell myself! Thanks for reading, sorry its a whiny one!

Our Story

In 1st grade I moved from upstate New York to Tennessee with a French-Canadian maiden name; Chartier [Shar-T-ay]. It was hard to pronounce, harder to spell, and VERY different from my peers.It didn't help that I had a head full of long black hair.   My mom kept my First grade journal and it read something like this: I want to live on a farm with 8 cows, 4 chickens, 5 horses, and 1 dog (can you tell I'd never seen farm animals before). I want to have a nice husband with 3 boys and be a teacher. I want to have a name that everyone knows.  Ha! Careful what ya wish for! While some of the dreams came true, lots of them have changed! I did however get the all American name-Hicks! That's where my blog came to fruition.

I live in the Nashville area with my husband of 5 years, Steven, and our amiable boxer, Zane. We were engaged in the  mountains, married via a destination beach wedding,  and spent 15 glorious days honeymooning in Europe. We love to travel! (If I could travel for free I'd be a goner) No, we don't live on a farm, or have any little Hicks running around, but I am a teacher!


Children, antiques, and photography will always be my passion, balanced with my love for all things GREEN in color, Mexican food, (ok...eating in general)  my girlfriends, Tivo, cooking, R&B music, coke icees,flip flops  and of course my family!


6.09.2009

I got FIVE on it!

Five Summer Fun facts...this should be easy!

1. I hate people who home school. I think its weird, your child will grow up an oddball with no social development skills OR they will get to college and be a little rebel. You can't protect them from the world. If you were a GOOD parent you would teach them about the world and then lead by example and know they will make good choices. If they stray you help get them back on the correct path. You cant hide your kid in a closet forever!

2. I love ghost hunters, mysteries, paranormal state, etc. all those things on TV. Its the one show that my hubby and I both watch as he isn't into Real Housewives and I'm not into UFC.

3. I love to drive alone with my music super loud. I sing along, never play a song in its entirety and sometimes play the same songs over and over! I think I would die without music. All my songs have a meaning or memory behind it and listening to it takes me back to that place and time. Driving and typing are two things that make me very calm and relaxed.

4. I hate talking on the phone with a passion! I didn't even get a cell phone until I was a Junior in College (my parents made me that time) because i didn't want to lug it around or talk to people. I know its strange... but that's me. If I call you, then that means I want to talk. You can call me, lets just not talk on the phone for hours, okay? I prefer email or direct face to face conversation. Sorry, but I am this way with everyone.

5. I deeply enjoy all things relating to: Amish people, Native Americans, Oregon Trail, Holocaust & WWII, and anything circa pioneer years. I'm a total dork but I can visit these places over and over, read about them, tour museums, watch movies, and I never tire. When I was a kid I told my Mom I could speak Indian (still can to this day) because I watched Dances with Wolves so much I memorized the lines. My family knows my love....don't hate! ;o)

6.03.2009

Adventures in South Beach

After the cruise we spent the weekend in Miami-South Beach! We got a pretty good hotel deal in the swanky art deco part of town built in the 1930's with a beach side view. If you go, you MUST stay on Collins or Ocean Drive. The strip is lined with shopping, boutiques, outlets and little no name food joints from around the world. Too bad the weather was only good in the morning, it was cloudy all afternoon and rained all early evening.

Our art deco hotel
Our amazing pool, cabana lounge and if you look closely the end cap is a swim through waterfall.
The Atlantic...it was cloudy and had tons of shells.


The #1 thing we had to see was Miami Ink. Steven regrets not getting his tattoo that was totally jacked up price. Before you ask, the "famous" guys from the TV show were not there. they had 3 other shop guys. You actually have to pay to take pictures on the inside, I didn't though. None of the people who waited with us ended up getting tattoos. They all went down the road to another place. But, according to Steven, that lady didn't do lines well.


Making Stevens outline...before he told us the price of his tattoo (which was only the size of an Oreo cookie HONEST) was going to be $550.00 approximately!



The shop was awesome, exactly like on TV.

waiting for our Taxi to take us to the airport...there's no place like home! We did see a bit of the South Beach night life, skimpy clothes, Lamborghini's, lots and lost of people speaking multiple languages. You didn't hear much English because everyone speaks in their native tongues. Not really what I expected, but I can say I've been now!

6.02.2009

Cruisin' the Caribbean 2009

We went on another fabulous cruise as previously mentioned. Our ports were: Half Moon Cay, Turks and Caicos (Grand Turk), St. Thomas and San Juan Puerto Rico. We had a great time, tried new things (smoked a cigar or puffed twice), snorkeled (saw a shark and tons of fish), toured at each destination and met some Canadien friends, ay! These are just a few pictures to capture the moment. Everything else is going straight to the scrapbook or FB so check them out. Only Sister Sarah knows how much I LOVE cruise ship frozen yogurt. Mmm..Mmm good!


Half Moon Cay

St. Thomas, Beacons Point view above, below our awesome ride! Raymond's Ride...we toured in a fire truck. His truck is fully airbrushed with pictures of him as a fireman, saving a child, etc. Big Pimpin' tour style with the FDVI.


The Piano Bar and Lounge...

It's 5 O'clock somewhere....Margaritaville on Grand Turks. We snorkeled in an awesome lagoon. Look how close we are to the ship. Palm trees were everywhere....heavenly!

We toured Old San Juan and New San Juan which were incredibly like the US. This is us in front of the capital before we hit the streets for shopping.



Captain's dinner



Formal Night 2