month of love #14

I love dates with my hubby. I love time alone with him in general. For an old married couple, we still manage to find the time to spend focused on each other. I think that is so key to marriage success.

month of love #13

I love spring. Have you seen it? If so, can you please tell it where to find me?

month of love #12

I love pampering. Easily, in my alternate fantasy rich life, I am one of those women with a standing appointment at the salon for my mani/pedi. But back in my reality life, one of my favorite gifts that I have ever received was a Queen for a Day pampering at a spa. I had a message, mani/pedi, facial and lunch. Ahhhhhhhh. It was simply divine. Even at home, I love an afternoon in my jammies, feet up, candles, and some chocolate.

month of love #11

I love Facebook. Whatever if you think that's lame. Don't care. The whole world doesn't have to like the same things. I love it because it's funny and I can see what people are up to. And there are an infinite amount of games.

This is what it's really like......

month of love #10

I love my girls. They are amazing and beautiful and I love them so much. I can't imagine for one second not having the privilege of being the mother of two such unique and amazing creatures. I am awestruck lately at their personalities. I think they are two cool chicks. They have great hearts and love immensely. One of them is sharp and witty and cracks me up every single day. One of them is gentle and caring and knows just the right moment to bestow me with a mood-boosting hug. I never knew how much I wanted to be a mom until these two showed up. And I am thankful and grateful that they did.

month of love #9

I love Disney. And I swore that I wouldn't. I will admit that I have always been a little scared of the Disney freaks out there. Then I began planning for our first trip, and I got quite wrapped up in the hype. I love to plan things like that anyway, so this was just amplified. Going in to the trip, I swore up and down that this would be a once in a lifetime thing, that we were to make the most of it because it would never happen again. Then we got there, and before our feet even touched the Florida pavement that magic and pampering and bliss began. It was truly an amazing time. I don't know if I will ever be able to capture it quite the way I would like. And then eight months later we were back. I couldn't help it.

Thank you to our angels for making it happen!!!

month of love #8

I love techie gadgets. I was raised by an electronics geek, and now I am one. I try to stay pretty current on tech trends that are happening. Part of my job is to prep tech news stories for a radio show, and it is one of my favorite things I do for work!

I have so many gadgets that I have come to depend on. Tivo - love. I never know what's playing at the movie theater anymore because I never watch commercials! GPS - love. Who needs to stress about directions?! Wanna know where the nearest Starbucks is? Just ask GPS! iPod - love. Tune in and tune out. Wii - love. Family fun all the way!

Oh, and then there is my dear sweet Crackberry. L O V E. It is like an appendage now. I could never live without it.

month of love #7

I love camping! It is a great way for our family to hang out together and do something we all enjoy. It is easy, cheap, and fun. I grew up camping - my grandparents would take us camping out on Cape Cod in the summertime. I have so many fond memories of those times growing up.

I used to go camping with my friend and her family when we were teenagers and it was always so wonderful. We would stay up late playing games, eating, trying to meet boys... It seemed like it was always somebody's birthday or a special occasion, and they always went out of their way to make a celebration even though we were out in the woods. I always admired that about them.

As we grew older and had our own families, we started taking camping trips with our friends. It started out pretty small, but the group has grown. The last time we all went was pretty legendary - there are more "you had to be there" jokes from that trip than I can count! ("Hey - watch out for that trash can over there!") What amazes me the most from this group is the sense of community and fun and sharing. There were too many of us to coordinate everything all the time, but we still managed to come together for family style suppers on more than a few occasions.

It has been awhile, longer than we've ever gone without camping. I definitely think we are due for a trip.

month of love #6

I love my deck. It is one of my favorite things about my house. On weekends, I often take my morning coffee out on the deck. I love to just sit out there with the sun on my face listening to the birds. It is incredibly serene. My grandmother is a bird watcher and can correctly identify a bird from the most obscure details. We were sitting out on my porch one time, and I asked her if she could tell me which bird it was that had been sitting in the branch squaking at me like that all spring. She was able to name it correctly just from its call. There are so many birds out in my yard. I have enjoyed putting feeders out to draw them to us. My favorite are the goldfinches. They are so tiny and beautiful. I have seen some hummingbirds also, but I have never been skilled at attracting them long term. It is such quiet beauty living out off of that porch. I am happy to seize any time I have the opportunity to sit out and enjoy it.

month of love #5

Since it is Valentine's Day, it is only fitting that I dedicate this month of love post to the love of my life. He is such an amazing man! He takes care of me and my girls in a way that nobody else would or could. We don't really have one of those "eyes meeting across the crowded dance floor, it was love at first sight" kind of stories, but that's ok. We just sorta started hanging out in the same circles, and then we were hanging out just the two of us, and then the rest is history. I remember back then thinking what a go with the flow kind of person he was, and I am always drawn to people like that. I remember being aware of how willing he always was to do nice things for others.

He and I always have such a good time together. We have a date today, and I am so looking forward to it. We don't even really have plans - we'll just wing it and I'm sure that no matter where we end up it will be a good time. I always look forward to and enjoy planning our vacations because those are the best times. Free of the everyday mudane responsibilities we are both really able to float and be free to relish the time together just basking in each other's presence. The activities are irrelevant.

I am sure that our everyday lives aren't very exciting to most, but we are happy. We slow dance in the kitchen to the music of our love. The girls say "Ewwwww" when they catch us smooching. We have the things we want out of life. And there is noone else on earth with whom I would rather spend it. I love you, Valentine!!!

month of love #4

I love my mom. She is an amazing woman. I am beyond blessed to have a mother like her. She is young and vibrant, and doesn't show her age at all. Nobody can ever believe that she is my mother! She teaches special education preschool - something I know I would not have the strength or patience to do. She is also funny and sarcastic - which of course is where I get it from.

She is the world's best Nana to my kids. She is the kind of Nana that is not afraid to get down on the floor and play with kids. On her last visit she got right out there with the kids and went sledding.

month of love #3

I love the Barenaked Ladies. THE Barenaked Ladies, not barenaked ladies - for those who may be confused. I'm talking about the band. I have certainly waxed poetic about them on my blog before. My blog title - life, in a nutshell - is a BNL song, as are all of the headers for my sidebar, and all of the quotes are BNL song lyrics. My little ode to those kooky boys from up north.

I'm not sure what it is about this band that has captured me so, but I just find them so darned entertaining. If you want a fun rockin' good time, plunk down the dough and check out their live show. There is nothing like it. From what I remember that is..... it is getting to be waaaaay too long since they have gone on tour. I am starting to go through withdrawal from it actually. They really need to get back in the studio and crank out that next album before I LOSE IT.

Every year I have to talk myself out of going on the Ships and Dip BNL cruise. Because that would be ridiculous and I can't afford it blah blah. But Sarah McLaughlin was going to be there this year, and I started looking into flights before I talked myself off the ledge this time. It was rough.

I have always thought Stunt was my favorite album of theirs, but after playing in my car exclusively from October to December last year, I'm not sure anymore. I think I may have finally wore it out. For now at least. My favorite songs are probably The Old Apartment, Break Your Heart, and War on Drugs. Ed is my favorite, but I tend to like Steve songs more. (There are two lead singers - just another weird thing about this band.) When I buy tickets to their shows I intentionally choose seats that are Ed side (Ed side and Steve side are actual terms in the BNL fan community).

Besides, how can you not love a guy who sits and records forty acoustic videos from a bathroom?



And to be fair - let's give Steve some face time.....

month of love #2

I love my family time. Lives are busy, and sometimes spending time with the people you love requires you to make a concerted effort. This week we were able to take some time together and enjoy each other's company. We didn't do anything particularly exciting, but I don't think that is really the point. We got to hang out and relax and laugh and dance. We had fun! That time is so special and sacred, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

month of love #1

I love my commute. I know that sounds strange, but it is really not a bad commute at all. It's mostly back roads, and it is such a pretty ride in the morning. There is hardly any traffic, so I just cruise along. I always have music on, and usually catch a couple of good tunes to get my brain awake and my mood set for the day.

I live in a quiet suburb about twenty minutes outside of the city. At one point in my ride, I reach the crest of a hill where I am surrounded by woods, but have the most magnificent view of the city skyline. It takes my breath away each and every morning. How lucky I am!

month of love

I am going to participate in another blog challenge. The assignment is to write fourteen posts this month about love. (Fourteen love posts in February!) No other parameters - just write fourteen posts about love, and to include some pics if possible. So be on the lookout throughout the month for my thoughts on love. Not sure what direction this will take - so have fun reading!