Old Man Winter can pack his bags and hit the road.

This has been some winter, hasn't it? I don't know about anyone else, but I am so ready for Spring to get here.

Alas, it doesn't look like warmer temps will be here anytime soon.

{sigh}

A few things that help me get through these cold days:

curling up with my favorite blanket and slippers...

eating a yummy-licious bowl of Baked Potato soup...

wrapping my hands around a hot cup of tea...

daydreaming about spending time on a warm, tropical beach...

with my cabana boy, of course...

How are you staying warm this winter?

brown paper packages, tied up with string...

We all love to receive goodies in our mail boxes, right?


I've got a great giveaway from CSN Stores on my review blog...


So head on over to Reviews from the NutHouse to see what's up for grabs!

Table Topics Tuesday: Toss it!

what possession of your spouse's/significant other's would you most like to throw away?

While I enjoyed art class in school, I wasn't really good at it. Shane, on the other hand, was. Somewhere around here are a few of his paintings and drawings... maybe even a pottery piece or two.

However, there is one piece of Shane's art, titled "The Stranger", hanging on a wall in our den that I wouldn't mind "misplacing"...

It's a scratchboard Shane did is his senior year of high school and entered in a city-wide art contest that same year . Not to brag, but over 400 works were entered... and only 102 were selected for a month-long exhibition at the Hunter Museum of American Art, including Shane's piece.

So, obviously, it's well done. But honestly? It creeps me out a bit.

How would you like this staring at you?! Yikes.

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Your turn! Which possession of your spouse's would you like to toss in the trash? Answer in the comments...

Or play along by writing a post on your own blog and linking it here!


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Get ready to discuss!

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Tomorrow's topic:

what possession of your spouse's/significant other's would you most like to throw away?

If you'd like to play along, post your answer on your own blog tomorrow (2/23)... then come back here to link up! Don't forget to grab the button!

My girl should have been royalty.

'Cause she sure can rock a crown.

Today is Michaela's 7th birthday! Last night we celebrated with a birthday dinner out...

Naturally, she insisted on wearing the crown throughout the meal.


Earlier today I took a cupcake to her at lunch. The crown made it easy to spot her amongst all the first graders...

Me: "Have you been wearing your crown all day?"

Her: "Yup."

Happy 7th Birthday, Michaela!

I'm watching the Games to show my U.S. pride. Yeah, that's it.

My week has been absolutely, 100%, totally craptastic so far... I'm going to need some motivation to get through the rest of it.

How 'bout we ogle a few hot U.S. Olympians?


Look! It's cross-country skier, Kris Freeman!

Well, hello, Evan Lysacek... how you doin'?

Mmmmm... hockey player Zach Parise, you are scrumptious.

Apolo Ohno? Oh-YES.

I could stare at Chad Hedrick's massive, spandex-clad, speed skating-thighs all. day. long. And his face ain't half bad, either.

Are you watching the Olympics? What events are your favorites? What hotties athletes are you drooling over rooting for?

Table Topics Tuesday: Let's Party!

what is the most fun you've had at a party?

I've tried to think about all the parties I've been to... but for myself, I can't say what was the most fun at a party I've had. But for my girls, I know they wouldn't hesitate at all to give their answer: their slumber party from this past weekend!

Pizza, cupcakes, presents...

Smiles, laughter, giggles...

My sister, Heather (who had never attended a slumber party before in her life!), offered to stay the night in order to help me with all the girls. Hannah and Michaela loved having their aunt at their party... and all the girls thought "Aunt Heather" was the coolest.

It'll be hard to top this party!

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So what about you? What's the most fun you've had at a party? Answer in the comments...

Or play along by writing a post on your own blog and linking it here!


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Get ready to discuss...

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The topic for tomorrow is:

what was the most fun you had at a party?

If you'd like to play a long, post your reply to the question on your own blog tomorrow (2/16)... then come over here and link up! Don't forget to grab the button!

Sorry, kids.

I love...

Cinnamon rolls, fresh out of the oven.

Hoodies.

80s pop music.

Fall.

Carbs.

Coca-Cola.

Shane's green eyes.

And his laugh.

Peanut M&M's.

Thunderstorms.

Personalized stationery.

Hannah's smile.

Michaela's dimples.

Curling up with a good book.

Cozy sweaters.

Slippers.

Philosophy's Pumpkin Spice Muffin lip gloss.

Hot tea.

Iced tea.

Orchids.

Girl's Night Out.

Movie-theater popcorn.

Pedicures.

Flip-flops.

LOST.

Banana bread.

Scented Candles.

Naps.

Thanksgiving.

OPI nail polish.

Cupcakes.

My family.

What do you love?

Love is in the Air

Shane went on a date last night with two gorgeous ladies... and I didn't mind one bit!

Shane took Hannah and Michaela to their school's Father/Daughter Valentine's Dance. The girls enjoy getting to spend an evening with their Daddy... and it's something special Shane can do with his girls.

Since I already received my surprise from Shane, we don't have any plans for Valentine's Day. Do you? How do you feel about Valentine's Day... love it? hate it?

I have a few confessions to make.

One: I don't like surprises.

I am not someone who likes to be spontaneous. I need to know like to know the details, no matter how small they may seem. I'm the type of person who has just as much fun planning a vacation as actually taking a vacation. I thrive on knowing the who/what/where/when.

Two: I don't really care for Valentine's Day. But it works out just fine, because Shane isn't a fan of the holiday, either. We usually give each other a Valentine's card, but that's about it.

So you can imagine how apprehensive I was when Shane dropped the bomb that he had planned a Valentine's surprise for me.


He called Tuesday morning to tell me to be ready to go when he got home that evening...

Me: "Ready for what?"

Shane: "Just be ready to go when I get home. And wear something nice."

Me: "Where are we going?"

Shane: "I'm not telling you."

Me: "Why not?"

Shane: "It's a surprise."

Me: "I don't like the sound of this. What am I supposed to wear?"

Shane: "Just something nice... it doesn't have to be anything fancy. And eat something, 'cause we're not going out for dinner. And that's all I'm saying."


What?! That's all the info I get?! How can I dress for the occasion, when I don't know what the occasion is?!


So, I was ready when Shane got home. After dropping the girls off at his mom's we were on our way to...



See a performance of "Cabaret" at the Tivoli Theater downtown.

Both of us really enjoyed the show. I've managed to talk Shane into going to a few musicals before, but neither of us had ever seen "Cabaret".

All in all, I had a great night out with the man I love. And I love him for taking the time to plan a special evening for the two of us.

But, honestly? I still don't like surprises.

Table Topics Tuesday: I call do-over!

I'm bringing back my "Table Topics Tuesday" posts... but this time with a little twist. I'd really like to turn this into a weekly meme/linky feature and hope you'd like to play along!

Beginning next week, I'll announce the following day's topic/question. On Tuesday, you can answer the question or discuss the topic in the comments...

OR... you can write your answer in a post on your own blog, then come back here to link your post. Be sure to grab the below button and use it in your post, too!

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which moment from your life

would you choose to relive if you could?

Have you ever had a moment in your life you wish you could relive? A happy memory you'd like to repeat... or a bad choice you wish you could go back and change...


One such moment I wish I could relive is my wedding day. Of course, for the reason that it was a was a happy day... family and friends all gathered for a day of celebration in my honor? Yes, please.

(I'm a Libra. We like to be the focus of attention.)

(We can also be a tad self-centered. Ahem.)

But I'd also like to relive that day because it's pretty much a blur.... especially the reception. I do have memories from my wedding day, and certainly photos. But, honestly? I don't remember who was there. Who I spoke to. What songs were played, other than "La Vie en Rose" for our first dance.

(Well, that... and the Macarena. Only because I have pictures of my attendants and I doing the dance.)

Also, my wedding day is a tad bittersweet. Because eight months later, my beloved grandfather passed away...

If I had known that my wedding day would be the last time I'd see my Pap alive, I'd do a better job at committing the details to memory.

Then I really could relive that day, any time I wished.

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Join the conversation by commenting (I'd still love to know your thoughts/opinions) or linking your post here! Be sure to sign up with the URL for your "Table Topics Tuesday" post, and not the URL to your blog.

what's in a name?

When Shane and I decided to start a family, I figured naming our baby would be the easiest decision we'd make as parents. In fact, it was ridiculously easy for us to agree on a name for our first child...


so long as that child was going to be a boy.


Very early on we decided if "it" turned out to be a "he", we would name him Jakob Harrison. But every "girl" name I liked, Shane shot down. Every. Single. One.


Rebecca? "Meh."


Madeline? "Too fancy."


Corinne? "NO."




So the day came for my 20-week ultrasound... and of course it showed we were expecting a bundle of pink.


Somehow we were able to finally agree on three names: Hannah, Ashleigh (but Shane hated spelling it that way) and Sarah. I can't remember when or how we narrowed it down to Hannah.


(And don't even get me started on the issues we had regarding her middle name...)


(It's Kaitlin, by the way.)


When Hannah was 15 months old, I became pregnant for the second time.



Again, if the baby turned out to be a boy... Jakob Harrison.


And again, the ultrasound showed we were having another girl.


You'd think deciding on a name would be easier the second time around... but it wasn't. We still had not agreed on the name by the time I went to the hospital for my induction.


We still had not agreed on the name when it came time for her to be delivered.


We still had not agreed on a name the next morning when a nurse came in with the paperwork to fill out for the baby's birth certificate.


"Well, just as long as you've named her before you leave the hospital", is what the nurse told us.


This time around a few of the names I threw out for consideration were Madeline, Elise and Kayla. Shane vetoed them all.


So while I sat in the bed with our new baby in my arms, I made Shane look through the baby name book I had brought to the hospital. I can still see the image in my head: Shane sitting in the chair next to the bed... not saying a word... just flipping through the pages of girl names...


flip...


flip...


flip.


After awhile he stopped, looked up from the book and said, "What about 'Michaela'?"


I looked at him. Looked down at the baby in my arms. Then back at Shane. And said, "'Michaela' it is".


Thank goodness I had already decided to use my sister's middle name (Rian) for the new baby's middle name. Otherwise, there's no telling what we would have put on her birth certificate.


We may have had difficulty in choosing... but I like the names we gave our girls. I like how they both have Hebrew first names and Irish middle names. I even like how both of their first names end in "-uh" and middle names end in "-en".

And the girls like their names, too. Although Hannah has said she wished her name had been spelled "Hanna"... just to be different. And when Michaela learned that she was thisclose to being named "Madeline", she shook her head and said, "No. I'm Michaela."


How did you come up with your kid(s) names? Was your husband as unreasonable* as mine was when it came to deciding on a name for your baby?

*What's so bad about 'Corinne?! It's a perfectly lovely name!

I think she's seen better days.

After one week (including 2 days of rain),

Annie is a little worse for the wear...

Is it March yet?

I know February just began... but I'm pretty sure I'll be glad when this month is over.

'Cause things are about to get muy loco here at the NutHouse.


Hannah's birthday was Tuesday; Michaela's is two weeks from today. Their slumber party is next Friday.

Which means I have one week to make cupcakes, get party supplies and get the house in order before eight giggling girls descend upon it.

That same Friday is also the day for their class Valentine's parties.

Which means as homeroom mom for Hannah's class, I have 19 goody bags to make. As well as recruiting volunteers to bring food for the party.

It's also a half day of school. And no school the following Monday due to President's Day. But it's not a holiday for Shane.

Which means another day of entertaining the kids. I think we may go see the new "Percy Jackson" movie that day. Maybe.

(Do you know, my kids have not had a full week of school since they went back after Winter Break? Holidays, snow days, half days... every week it's been one thing or the other!)

Since the girls are having the slumber party for their birthdays, Shane's side of the family is coming over here for dinner and cake a week from tomorrow.

(Yes, that's the same weekend of the slumber party.)

(Yes, I apparently am a glutton for punishment.)

Which means once all the slumber party guests leave, I'll have about six hours to get the house back in order and make dinner before family arrives.

We'll have another dinner for my side of the family... not only to celebrate the girls' birthdays, but also my niece, nephew and uncle, who all had birthdays last month... and my brother's, whose is at the end of this month.

And if that's not enough birthdays for this month... the girls have a birthday party to go to on Sunday!


While we're on the subject of birthdays...

Also going on this month? The "Father/Daughter Dance" at school next Thursday (the day before the half day of school/Valentine's parties/slumber party).

(note to self: call florist about wrist corsages)


Yeesh. This is only what I can remember off the top of my head. I'm afraid to look at the calendar to see if there is anything else scheduled for the month!

My Neck O' the Woods

Welcome to Tennessee, Blogtrotters! I'm thrilled to have y'all visit my NutHouse today!

Feel free to poke around a bit... you can check out some of my favorite posts by clicking on the "best of" tab up there in the navigation bar.

Now, on with the tour...

Though I was born a Yank, I've lived in the good ol' South for almost 24 years... with 23 of those being in Tennessee. Naturally, after so many years of living here, I've picked up a bit of a Southern drawl. I don't think it's very noticeable myself, but whenever I meet someone that isn't a Southerner, they automatically know what part of the country I'm from.

Of course, when someone asks where I live and I give my reply, I usually get a bewildered look from the person. Because the answer to the question, "Where are you from?/Where do you live?" is...

Soddy Daisy.

Yes. The town I live in is called Soddy. Daisy.

Soddy Daisy is located in southeastern Tennessee, not far from the Georgia border. The city was founded in 1969 when neighboring towns of Soddy and Daisy decided to merge. Of the two, Daisy is, by far, the more upscale.

And by "upscale", I mean it's where you'll find the Wal-Mart Supercenter and Feed & Seed.

All joking aside, Soddy Daisy is really a great place to live. Our little community is growing rapidly... I can remember when there was pretty much only one grocery store, a Pizza Hut and a KFC here. The area boasts some of the top-ranked schools in the county (including my alma mater, Soddy Daisy High School... Go Trojans!) And low property taxes, relatively low cost of living and a virtually non-existent crime rate makes Soddy Daisy a desirable place to call home.

We're only 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, where we love to visit the Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum and Coolidge Park. And in less than 15 minutes I can be in Hixson. Which means Target, Old Navy and Starbucks are practically in my backyard.

Another thing we like to do is spend a summer afternoon on Soddy Lake...

Soddy Daisy really does give one the best of both worlds... the advantage of a large metropolitan city nearby, tempered with small-town friendliness.


It's the type of town where you just might find goats on your back deck or horses in your front yard.

Good luck getting that in the big city.

I am now the mother of a nine-year-old.

Just how Hannah came to be nine years old, I'm not sure. 'Cause I could have sworn her first day of kindergarten was just yesterday...

Sigh.

Anyway, to celebrate her red-letter day, I was up early this morning to make a special breakfast. The Birthday Girl requested sausage and biscuits, and I was most happy to oblige.

I also went to Hannah's school to join her for lunch, where I surprised her with a slice of chocolate cake.

Some things never change...

Tonight we're taking Hannah to her favorite restaurant for dinner (one of those Japanese Teppanyaki restaurants where they cook your food there in front of you).

After dinner the celebration may continue... however, my involvement in the festivities end promptly at 7:55 p.m.

Shane has been notified that when 8 o'clock comes, he is on duty... unless the house is on fire or someone is bleeding, I am NOT to be disturbed.


'Why', you ask?...

Duh.

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Happy 9th Birthday, Hannah, my most precious girl. I hope each year gets better than the last!

more fun in the snow

Since my girls have been born, I think it has snowed here 6... maybe 7... times. And I mean snowed enough to a least have a light dusting on the ground. And those times it has snowed, the stuff was pretty much gone by the next day.

So when Hannah and Michaela woke up Saturday morning to find all the snow still on the ground, they couldn't wait to get outside to play. Shane even joined in the fun, helping the girls make a snowman...

Truth be told, Shane did most of the work on the snowman. And then I caught him doing this...

Yes. That is my husband. Putting BOOBS on the snowman. Er, I guess that should be snowwoman.

So let me introduce you to Annie. And her lopsided cleavage...

I can only guess what the neighbors think...