Love Where You Live

I'll be the first to tell you that I. Love. Charlottesville. I am surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains, have quick access to the ocean, get to interact with the smartest people in the country (trust me--they'll tell you), and can take a hop-skip-jump and be immersed in something historic.

This weekend was no exception, and it started on Friday. Sometime earlier this week I go the brilliant idea to ask my boss if I could take a tour/spend the day at Monticello (because I honestly haven't been there since SECOND grade and what if one of my groups wants to visit?! I need to know how to sell the product!!). Being the laid-back boss that she is, she said, "Yes of course!!" Even better--earlier this year I won two Behind-the-Scenes passes to see the upstairs of the house, so naturally I invited my wonderful mama to tag along and snoop inside Mr. Jefferson's abode. 

Friday was the perfect day to visit because a giant rain storm the night before left us this awesome spooky fog:

However, once we got through the tour, we were given beautiful sunshine and perfect fall foliage.

She's sooo pretty! 

Ole TJ knew what he was doin. 

Yesterday, I went to an adorbs baby shower for little Quinn N. She is sure to be the most fashionable baby on the block and I'm pretty pumped to see her rock her infant legwarmers. After the shower, I got a wild hair and decided I HAD TO SEE COPPER ASAP + we had a free pizza coupon that was expiring this weekend (waste not want not!) so I drove up to the VP and we gorged and drank like the good ole days. 

OMG SO EXCITED!!

It's rough around these parts. 

Some things never change...

And what better way to follow up a night of pure, unadulterated laziness? A trip to the Vineyard!

I've missed these two so...

Anything the light touches, Queen Caroline...

Obviously, another wonderful weekend under the belt. The only thing more exciting is that today is Granny's 92nd bday! All those years + a knee AND hip replacement and still lookin' fly. I'll take those genes. 

Cheers to the Weekend,

Hannah

She Lives!

... I'm inching closer and closer to having an established homestead and INTERNET!!! I know, it's a miracle beyond words, but just know that I have been insanely busy; cooped in the boondocks; filling my brain with an inordinate amount of information; traveling, near and far, with some of the most glorious ladies in the world; and figuring out what the hell I'm going to craft for our family Thanksgiving feast (horse-shaped pumpkin loaf, duhs).

Still wishing I could enjoy VP PSLs every day and ride my bike to work and be told I'm soooo pretty every .5 seconds, but in the meantime I am packed to the brim with new adventures. 

I'm sitting here, waiting for the dear and wonderful Kirtley to come my way and toast to our new neighborly addresses. This weekend will hold more painting, more scrubbing, and more adjusting of furniture in hopes of creating the most glorious little nest...ever. 

Give it time, people. I'll be back on the radar soon!

xoxox, 

Hannah

Blogging In the Boondocks

...is rll hard, y'all. I've tried to upload pictures. FAIL. I've tried to insert videos. FAIL. So, I'm sticking to simple text for the time being. Womp Womp.

However...TOMORROW = MONTPELIER HUNT RACES = THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!! I'm so excited for my favorite fall festivity, and don't you worry--there will be pictures galore!!

Yes, yes. The time is upon us again. Pack up the troops. Load the cigars. Prepare the sausage balls and head down the road to good 'ole Jimmy Mad's pad to drink Bloody Marys, lust after Irish boot salesmen, watch (sadly) the Jack Russell Races, don hats from Preppy Palooza, make visits to Louise (my most wrinkled and beloved former coworker), bump into old friends, feast on tailgate fabulosity, and p-i-m-p myself out to Cville Smokeshop.

After the races, I begin what is sure to be the longest two weeks of my life. I'll leave Montpelier and head straight to my basement/landlady/VP PSL PIC; spend the night; pack even more (if that's possible); drive back; unload; sleep; work; drive back to NOVA; sleep; meet my group at Arlington National Cemetery; spend the next three days playing tourist in DC bahaha; catch a bus to NYC; BACHLORETTE AMAZINGNESS ALL WEEKEND!; bus back to DC; drive home; bus back to DC the next morning; spend the next two days playing tourist (again) in DC; come home; die. 

I'm already exhausted, but hooray for the weekend and everything wonderful!

xoxo, 

Hannah

Oh Copper...

I'm getting really good at stretching out these weekends, and I think I've found the key: never go to sleep. Go out on Friday night and dance dance dance until it's 4am and crash at a downtown apartment with some fools and an automatic skittles machine. Brilliant!

Friday Night: Rage in Dupont (check it off the list)!

Flew home from work, changed into my boots (boot season is finally upon us), smoothed on the red lips, and headed downtown to meet up with B-rad and Wheels. Did a little pregame, sipped some Abita Purple Haze (oh! my favorite!), attempted to power hour, then walked two feet down the street to bars and dancing and clubs oh my! Either there was something in the water this night or we found the water hole for delicious men because people were on.their.game.

Saturday: Great Falls Park "Hike"

I've been trying for two whole years to go bowling or hiking or SOMETHING with Jenny, and we finally set a date to wander GF Park, gaze at some muddy rapids, and enjoy the textbook-perfect fall weather. We met up at the falls and, in a somewhat hungover state, navigated the treacherous paths together.

I blurred your face to highlight your magical shirt but obvi I still lurve you.

After our walk, I spent the rest of the day catching up on Disney movies I've never seen (I'm looking at you, Fox and Hound), sippin PSLs, sitting in our chairs outside with our slippers, and eating chicken fingers dipped in blue cheese. Mmmm....

Sunday: Ugh. Running.
Woke up. Ran 4 miles-ish. Went to the dog park. Chugged Gatorade. Made some homemade yogurt. Nahx4Nahx4Nahx4.  Begrudgedly began a little tiny teeny bit of packing. Aaanddd the rest is pretty much a blur.

Counting down the days till we dominate das dance floor again. Not counting the days to some other scary deadline. Oh dear...

SW in the Vintage Place...is on....

xoxo, Hannah

Hold on to Your Britches!

Earthquakes, shmearthquakes--Aunt Irene is coming to town and she's the house guest who always leaves the toilet seat up. The last time I braced for gale-force winds and fled the scene of potential destruction, I was a wee baby freshman at Tulane and I had the pleasure(?) of camping out at one of LSU's classiest establishments...the AGR frat house. Yes, it was an interesting time in my young life--a time that included kegs and kegs of beer, homemade beignets, barefoot soccer games, and--let's be honest--a few hurricane make outs. What? I WAS LOOKING DEATH IN THE EYE! It had to be done.

Luckily, Hurricane Ivan took a turn for the better and left New Orleans unscathed, and I was forced to return to my little world of running, rules, and rich kids. Lame to the max.

But this time's different. This time we've got Irene, and although I'm nowhere near the coast, I'm not taking any chances. I'm headed south in a blazing fury to meet up with some of the most chill, fun-loving, let-the-good-times-roll former Blacksburgians on the map.

Reunion 2011 is gonna cause some serious waves on its own, and hopefully the only hurricane we encounter comes in a glass with an umbrella. I'm sure we'll celebrate our glorious union with some variation of this:

And probably four or five orders of these:

Obviously, we'll need to soothe our worries with the beer that "has the touch":

And hopefully the weekend won't result in this:

Yes, this is a PBR coffin. You can cast your own judgement on this one.

And although our plans for floating lazily down the river may be dashed, we can always cross our fingers for rapids, right?? No matter what trouble we find, it's a guaranteed good time. We've got Rockstarr, Dlock1, Aaaamazing, Kirtley, Feets, and tons more.

Sweet baby Jesus better brace himself...B&B is back in town!

xxx, Hannah

Summer Breeze

You must know your own beauty. Look at your world: all those roses, saucepans, violet lipsticks, your eyeglasses, your favorite armchair. Study your handwriting. Draw a little yellow house under a November sky. Inquire if you must of your cat or dog or parakeet but no one else. Simply know that with every breath, you are luminescent as rain, radiant as any Northern star, beautiful as a wild garden shimmering before the first frost. 

She Lit up the Sky that Fourth of July

Glowstick bracelets, 15/pack

Air in my tires

Strapping, American-grown fireman from Truck 425

Hand-me-down Holga

 

Tie-dye supplies + a fresh-cut T-shirt

6 pack of Starr Hill Lucy beer

Nose ring

Crystal Light Mocktail mix!

Blueberries + strawberries + Cool Whip

Red, white, and blue sparkly nails

Cheers to a happy holiday!

Pleased As Punch

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the weekend! Looking forward to blackbean burgers in the backyard, mandioca, canoeing on the river, homemade candles, summer reading lists, Trader Joes wine, and a happy happy father's day. Breaking wishbones for beautiful weather! 

xxx,

Hannah

Bonjour, Weeeeekend!

It's absolutely brilliant outside, and I just found out I get to leave work at noon! Plus, I'm meeting Caroline for lunch at The Counter....going for a run...maybe checking out the Anthropologie sale section...basking like a cat in the sunshine...starting a new crafty project...probably heading to Jazz in the Garden...and getting ready for a glorious Memorial Day weekend. BONUS: I get to work from home on Tuesday!!

Go outside and get you some of this...

...a sweet southern breeze 

... a hydrangea buzz

... a long and lazy brunch

...an afternoon delight

...and a little present for you from me

Come run with me, the best is yet to be...

Shutdown 2011!!!

With the government on the brink of shutdown, I feel like I'm an extra in the ever-thrilling, fabulously acted Twister. Cows are flying--people are screaming--Helen Hunt is looking fierce in a mud-strewn wife beater. All hell is breaking loose, and I'm trying to figure out how to spend my potential spur-of-the-moment vaca next week.

Shit.


I could spend my days shredding with Jillian. Repainting my dresser. Making homemade laundry detergent. Baking rosemary/olive oil/jalapeno/cheese bread until I burst. Embroidering Christmas presents. Getting late-term abortions to piss off the masses (jk! duh). Applying to new, non-government-related jobs. Participating in Wine Friday?! In general, LIVING MY LIFE. No point in getting bummed about this mess now. I'll be gettin' my blog on and readin' my books...nobody puts this baby in a corner, government!

In honor of me wanting to punch Congress, etc. in the face, I am offering you some 'punches' of color for today's post.
Get saturated.



This hue makes me want to leap to the heavens with happiness.
It's the perfect grapefruity vibe that I need, and I love the mirror with the green reflections.
 Juicy fruit my life away.

These gorgeous blue doors opening to that fabulous staircase...are perfection. They make the front stoop feel like an entirely separate outdoor space. Sparkles x 1million. 



Bam!--bam!--colors!--everywhere!

This butternutty goodness reminds me of my mom's "new" bathroom. Bonus Mom points from me.



Just look at this. Soak it up. Almost as good as Heath Ledger's baby's mama's dress circa Oscars 2006.

Sigh.



Go forth and load up on national parks + cherry blossoms while you can. Who knows where they'll be tomorrow.

xxx,
Hann