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!

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)

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!

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

An email turned blog

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen... it's short, but deep.
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

leavin' on a jet plane...

Can you see me, lounging between these palm trees? Of course not, this is a photo of last years Mayan Riviera vacation....geesh, use your imagination people! A week from today we will be cruising the Exotic Eastern Caribbean, soaking up the sun and dining on a smorgasbord of delicacies! Notice I had to mention the food before the ports of call? We'll be in Turks and Cacaos, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas again, (love this place) and a private Carnival island. Then we are spending some down time in Miami upon our return and hitting up south beach and Miami Ink for the hubby.

We will miss our little buddy though and are paying way too much to make sure he enjoys his "staycation" at the doggy place.

You're not seeing things, it's a Boxer holding a card with a boxer dressed as a bee on it. :o)

Saturday, in the park! (sing the title)

A few weekends ago Steven, Zane and I took a mini Saturday afternoon trip to the Natchez Trace Bridge/Park. It was a great day to drive with the windows down! Zane loved the bridge and wasn't scared one bit! We even saw wild turkeys and everything was beginning to bud and bloom.

very high up, look how small the car is!

Look out point
Momma and me!

Dogwood trees in bloom

When we got home our tulip, the only one Zane hasn't dug up, opened! Apparently, tulips have sweet roots.

After a fun day walking the bridge and enjoying the fresh park air he was tuckered out! Look at that precious face! He just turned 10 months too!