Paint By Number

Got a serious itch that needs scratching... starting with the front door. 

It's my last night in a hotel with INTERNET and barfing kids. 6:45am breakfast call. Drive back home. Answer millions of work emails.  Is it summer yet?

Yellow is never mellow.

Stenciled mosaic amazingness. 

I will never not love a Tiny House...

Ready to chop off my ear at this point. 

Sigh.

xoxo,

Hannah

The Arc of a Love Affair

There isn't really a way to express how amazing last night was for me. I left work early. Got an awesome haircut. Made it through Tysons with minimal traffic. Caught the first train into the city and met up with my lovers. Lounged on the mall and soaked up the sun. Wandered our way  to the DAR Constitution Hall. Found our fantastic seats. Let the magic begin.

So I was expecting this concert to be amazing. I was expecting to be completely happy and blown away. I was expecting it to be somewhat life-changing. I wasn't expecting to tear up at the sound of the first song (Crazy Love II) and remain in a state of complete euphoria for the next two hours. It was the best performance I've ever seen. I love that little man.

Now, I've always had a soft spot for Paul Simon in my soul, but all drama aside, this was the closest thing I've ever had to a religious experience. Every song he performed took me back to a different memory, a different place in my life in such an unexpectedly vivid way....

....like listening to 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover while driving around UVA grounds with The Boy.

...debating the saddest section of Slip Slidin Away and realizing how one song can mean three completely different things for three different people.

...feeling the bumps that ran up and down Wendy's car seats on the way to Grymes with Gumboots in the tape deck.

...lying on the floor in the Tiny House with Del, singing Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. 

  

...remembering how I've stood on the corner of Lafayette (in the state of Louisiana) and relished in NOLA lovin' with that song ringing in my ears for a good solid year.

...seeing Alex's face when Obvious Child came blasting through the speakers and the way she clutched her little hands together for the whole song.

...pondering the fact that I play Mother and Child Reunion every time I drive home to Louisa.

...and a million more. Every song. Every one. I want to be reincarnated as a Paul Simon lyric-- no more, no less.

If you ever have the chance to see him in concert, do it. Cough up the dough and soak it in because it was one of the best experiences of my life.

The Fun of Bittersweet Truth

I had a great, much-needed trek home to the 'burg this weekend. Went out with friends. Spent time remembering. Saw the Tiny House 2.0 and realized that it and everything it held--the smell of lavender through a bedroom window; splintered hardwoods under bare feet; pure, uninhibited happiness;  endless freedom and microscopic responsibility; broken locks and drafty windows; technicolor creative juices;  the allurement of secret love--are gone forever from the 709. 

Anyway-back to the grind, new nose piercing in tow.

Feeling mobilized, energized, and completely revived.

Where to go from here?

We shall see.

xxx,

Hann

Oh, HoJo, You Had Us At Hello...

So last weekend I went down to the great state of North Cack-a-lacky with my awesome and amazing coffee house loves, Eileen and Julianne. I'm obsessed with these girls. On Thursday, I had the day off (whoop whoop!) so I drove down to Fredvegas where I picked up my girl Eileen.

--On the way, my belief that Stafford County is actually a piece of trash was strengthened as I drove down the highway next to a truck full of idiot rednecks who tried to run me off the road...for miles. I sped up, I slowed down, I flipped birds, and finally I picked up my phone to call the Po. I guess homeboys didn't like what they saw because they sped up and got off at the next exit. Seriously. Get some class, assholes. But I digress.--

 So Eileen and I hit the road to the glorious land of Blacksburg where I meet up with the one and only fabulous Julianne who now lives in the cutest blue house evah, just a hop, skip, jump from my old Tiny House. It was bittersweet to be back because I love the 'burg but I know I'd be annoyed as hell if I still lived there.

Anyway. Drank some beer from J's kegerator. Chilled w/Owsley/Pockets/Mason/Mason's Dad. Made some random squash/mushroom concoction. Picked up E and went to Mill Mountain. Realized their products are shitty nasty burned crap...but I drank it nonetheless. Hit up the Rivermill for some cheap beer and graffiti memories. Crashed at Casa de Alwang. Woke up at the butt crack to start our journey to Asheville (but first, made a pit stop back at Mill Mountain to mooch free food/beverages compliments of U.S. Cellular...bawmm).

So we drove to Asheville. Looked around, shopped cute stores, watched J spend money in every shop we entered, and finally hit up our luxurious abode, the Asheville Howard Johnson (rated 2.8 on the customer satisfaction scale!!).

Enter HoJo.

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There was a stray cat to welcome us.

Let's just say the ol' HoJo left us feeling safe, warm, and...itchy/creeped out by the cigarette burns in the "comforters." Whatevs, for $40, I'll take anything hollaa...

After dropping our stuff we: went back out for more retail therapy; ate doughy pretzels at Mellow Mushroom on the cheap with our 15% coupon; contemplated buying Uggs and Doc Martens; and mastered the art of the parallel park.

We also visited the Mast General Store where E found candy and

I found an awesome fleece coat/jacket.

We stumbled upon this sweet thing--a double-decker bus that someone converted into a coffee shop. Glorious. Order your drinks on the first floor, sit and enjoy on the top. LOVED it.

Look at the ceiling! Obsessed.

Asheville love.

Oh! Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree!

Here's the upstairs. Decked out to the max with mosaic table tops/awesome lights.

Peppermint hot chocolate, yes please!

Ridin' dirty.

After the double decker we headed back to the hotel where J fell asleep at 9:00. Then, we froze our asses off with the "heat"/AC unit blowing softly in the background.



The next morning, we woke up and headed to the Visitor's Center to figure out where the illusive Gingerbread House competition was being held. Got some info, saw some shit, stopped in a bizarre bazaar where they had lots of crap and some salted walnuts that were delicious. I tried on some hand soap that literally smelled like urine...but it was organic, so we're good!

On the way to the Gingerbread House hotel, J made me snap this awkward stalker photo of one of the amazing houses on the way. So cute, Mini Cooper included.

We made it! The Grove Park Inn, where lots of celebs/presidents have stayed (including Michelle Obama, ok, and Barack too). I mean, this joint ain't got nothing on the HoJo, but it's aight I guess...

Mountain retreat like woah.

Inside, this place was filled with crazy gingerbread creations from near and far. Most of them were INSANE, like, you know for the youth division someone's mom was totally up at night crafting these things.

I obvi loved the blue ones the best.

There were also Christmas trees scattered all of this piece...most were themed...this one was the best though.

That's right. There were birds hanging off. Brilliant.

Ok, so, these are all the pictures I've uploaded so far. I know you're just dying to see the rest. We'll see how lazy I'm feeling tonight as to whether or not I post some more. This adventure's not done yet!

Stayed tuned mofos....

If I Had A Million Dollars

Well, let's face it--I'd probably buy something else. But look what I just found!
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Le Tiny House. Sigh.

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You're welcome for picking this paint color.

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Tiny kitchen!

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Granny Smith bedroom.

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Anyway.

Holy Shit, I'm Moving to Vermont!!

...based entirely on this website that I just discovered--Vermont Tiny Houses!!! Also, I saw this adorbs post on Design*Sponge, my original blog love. I'm obsessed.
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Isn't it cute?! THEN, I stumbled onto an EVEN BETTER website called Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Is this for real? My life's calling has materialized in front of my eyes!!! They're tiny, they're cute, and they're like, $40,000! MEGA loves it! Take a look at a few of my favorite choices:

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Here's the blueprint. It's awesome! Perfect size! I think it's bigger than my old Tiny House, in fact! I can just picture it now--me, Uli, Finn, and friends chillin' on the porch, sippin' Sangria, livin' it up in the cutest Tiny House on the street!Look at the little church-like windows! And the trees! And the teeny tiny porch!

I'm dying over here.

Precious.
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It's a little baby bodega. Hearts all around.

- Check out this sneaky bugger. Can you even see it?! ...probably the best thing I've seen all day. Gahhh!
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So here's the deal: we'll listen to Paul Simon, smoke the hookah, and have a grand old time. Bring yo happy asses over, it's party time!!