It's A Christmas Miracle

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday yesterday and ate our faces full of BBQ ribs, cheesy potatoes, brussel sprouts, and amazing chocolate cheesecake that one of Pete's aerobics ladies made him. It was sugar suicide and worth every bite. We had a record 4 dogs in Grandpa's house, ranging from 5 to 75lbs, and amazingly enough, no catastrophes occurred because of them.

Who, me??

On Christmas Eve, we toasted to my wonderful grandma who would have been 83 years old (I think). Truly one of the most amazing women I ever knew, and I think she would have appreciated our semi-flat, local champagne and complimentary bottle of beer toasted in her honor. 

Christmas is always a little weird at our house because we are a super low-maintenance family and rarely ever need anything. This might sound like a blessing, and it probably is, but when it comes to getting gifts for everyone it can be a challenge. We can always resort to the ole socks and underwear grab bag, but that can get old after a while. My mom always manages to find us the strangest, most awesome "treasures" from various thrift stores and estate sales throughout the year--one year we got a baby incubator, a chandelier, and a velvet rendering of the Last Supper. Classics, right??

This is what happens when Rudolph comes through The Lou...

This year's theme seemed driven by alcohol, as we had a more than 40 different beers accumulate under the tree, several bottles of wine that Pete bottled himself, and even fancy old-man whisky. This is particularly funny seeing that my parents aren't big drinkers, and I'm usually satisfied falling back on a light and airy PBR in a can. We fancy huh now, I guess. 

My little house is coming along slowly, and my tree and assortment of Christmas cards on the mantle managed to give it a pretty homey feel. Even the crickets laid low yesterday and gave me some peace...

I went to a killer pedal, kettle, bosu ball class this morning with a couple girls from work, and now I am ready to spend the rest of the day lounging, reading, and downloading music for a new mixed CD. Thank Jewus for week-long vacas! Can't wait to rage in DC with my lovers this weekend to bring in the New Year!

Countdown to VP PIC Pregame in the MPL!! Love it.

Happy early New Year!

xoxox,

Hannah

Make Me A Bird, So I Can Fly Far, Far Away...

Ok. So. I'm back on the hunt for fabric to upholster the multiple amazing wingback chairs that I have (luckily!) inherited/bought/discovered from relatives + Goodwill. I think I'm up to 4 or 5 now, all of which are in desperate need of some fluffing, stuffing, and re-covering. I've seen so many examples of reupholstered chairs that it's a little overwhelming. Do I want traditional? Artistic? Preppy? Toile or houndstooth? Oh, the pressure... 

My first thought was to have at least one chair covered in some sort of blue and white stripe (duh). However, after seeing this photo, I'm loving the leaf-themed print and how cozy it looks next to that window.

Something about this fabric reminds my of my Aunt Margo--who was always super stylish--so maybe that's why I'm lovin' it.



I've always really liked the idea of having mismatched chairs at a big, chunky dining table. These wingys are cool, but I'm thinking you'd need a really tall table or a chair with no arms to accomplish the appropriate "scooted-in" feel. Also, I'd probably be rll stressed about spilling spaghetti sauce or lentils or red wine (winter only!) or some other tragically staining substance on them--my middle name is Grace, after all.

Mmmm...I don't know why the color yellow is always taking a bad rap. It's cheerful and bright and deliciously sunny! Look at it. So pretty... 

Ok. Obviously I was drawn to this like a squirrel to a bird feeder. However, I think it would be a bad call for me to spend (a lot) of time and money picking out swatches, figuring out the best panel placement, and mixing/matching the colors only to change my style in a year or two. Sigh. I will appreciate from a distance and harness my inner middle-school taste buds...

All right, all right. It's not exactly a wingback. But--everything about this print is pulling at my heart/purse strings.  I've always been a fan of chairs that are more long than wide. If that makes sense. Perfect leg-curling potential...

Anyway. Thursday!? Yes, it's true. Only a day left until I'm chillin' on a dirt road (kind of), stuffing my face with local seafood, jamming out to fresh playlists, gorging on Bailey's cake, and ridin' dirty (top down, chrome spinnin).

My hard-knock life...continues. 

xoxo, Hannah

The Old College Try

So I've been feeling kind of 'meh' with this blog lately. I mean, I have a million beautiful images stored up, a thousand dreamy rooms I want to share, and I just can't seem to find my mojo. Ok, so I've been dealing with a lot of bullshit and simultaneously going on many a gorgeous getaway. Good for me. But--this blog has gone rouge. It's getting a little ridiculous. Maybe because I feel like everything I post gets stolen and posted *ahem* elsewhere, copy-cat style, I feel like 'eff it'. If someone wants to live my life, go for it! I don't blame ya.

But in the meantime, I wanna get back to some fucking beautiful rooms, emo poetry, and occasional random posts. Huzzah!

Peep.this.

I'm all for bright colors, but there's something about this melon-colored goodness and the old-school silhouette that really get my teeth chattering. Plus, I love the Ikea lamp pendant thingies that have been painted turquoise. Thank you for that.

So, this weekend, I toured the most fabulous house in all of DC, complete with rooftop deck, transom windows, and skylights galore!! I died. And I imagine these boots chillen at the entryway.



Speaking of Deli, we're on the hunt for the perfect desk. I want it long, hard, thick, and heavy. Who wouldn't? We're gonna paint it with goopy goodness and make it the most magical desk in all  the land!



Simplest.headboard.evah.

love.



See, a iMac makes everything better. Plus, squares of wallpaper hung willy-nilly make for delicious scenery, yessir.

All right all right all right all right. I know this is an Urban Barfitters couch. But I want to love it. I want to touch it. I could cat nap on this piece until the end of time! The rest of the room...well...we'll get there.

Giant mirror? Squishy couch? Lemongrass paint? Orchids orchids? STRIPES? I think we're done here.

Ok. I'm getting my shit together. Well, today at least. Tomorrow--can't make no promises.

It's Thursday, it's Thursday, gotta get down on Thursday! Plus, woke up with this in my head, so you know I'm feelin' right.

Oh Balls.

Easy peasy ball jar holder.

Lovely glass cabinets + awesome sink.

Good day, sunshine, and hello patterned chair.

Room love all around. Ok, maybe minus the black couch. Blech.

It's that time of year again....stripes!

Feeling sick-ish. Popping Vitamin C with all my might, chugging Thera-Flu, stocking up on tissues, and choking down chicken soup (and maybe some Doritos, shhh) while visions of sun and sand dance in my head.

In the Bedroom...

While I'm sure many of you fine and fabulous people spent your Valentine's wrapped up in a sea of sappy love sickness, I don't care. If I had my choice, this is where I would spend my next free weekend...burrowing deep under the covers of these delicious gems.

Ok. I'm really into this mirrored shit. I don't care if it's trendy of gaudy or whatever. I think it's sweet, and lord knows I've never met a mirror I didn't like.

So. This is very white. Like, compulsively white. It makes me want to whip my hair back n forth with paint on the ends to splash things up and drip some color onto this palette. However, I'm digging the super low, bed-on-the-floor look. It's just asking to have a Sunday crossword completed in its nest.

First off, I am automatically jealous of anyone living in a loft, much less a loft with exposed brick and chipping paint. Nothing says love like potential lead poisoning. Nothing.



This is J-Lo's bedroom. It almost makes up for the 98% skank vibes she puts out. I die for that light fixture. I pine for the flesh-colored, rosy walls. I want some GD lucite in my life! Damn you, Jenny. If this is what your block is like, sign me up.

My fav fabric, minus the color. This is what I would upholster my chairs with in my dream world.

My thoughts...exactly.



Happy Tuesday, hoebags. My face is feeling luscious post-indulgent facial and the angels are singing.

P.S. Speaking of angels...potential Holla Back DC! alert in my very office:

Get in the elevator. Hit L. Go down one flight. Two guys from my work get in, both old/decrepit--go figure. They push the button for P3. We ride down the elevator, them chatting, me ignoring. Arrive to the lobby and they realize they've pushed the wrong button. As I get off the elevator, one of them says, "Well, we forgot to push the right level--looks like we were distracted by the angel in the elevator with us! Couldn't get over what we saw! Did you see that? Bahahaha!"

Kill me. Angel of death if you look at me again, mofos.

That is all.

Golden Slumbers + More

All this gloomy blah blah weather has got me in my usual January funk...I'm craving warm, delicious colors and bright yellows...golden hues and hints of glittery goodness. I guess the good thing is I'm not in the beloved (but frigid) Blacksburg, where I truly would be freezing my arse off.

This weekend I have the following (potential) plans:

- Go to Eastern Market and snoop around their thrifty/flea things

- Pop my RCC cherry and take a dip at the indoor pool

- Sand  my little pink table that I picked up at the Y last year and paint it some sort of tealy, greenish, seafomy color.

Sounds good to me! In the meantime, I will continue to stare at these cozy photos...summoning the sun one blog post at a time.

An upholstered desk chair = butt heaven.

This bed is so super cute I can't stand it. It started out an old blah boring white, and now look how fab it is! Perfect for lounging on weekends and snuggling with a cat. Or three cats. Meow.

My favorite part about this room is that it's teeny tiny but still fabulous. Literally a bed room. Holla to the matching bedside tables and sweet-as-punch polka dot headboard.

This house reminds me of a luxe country cottage/mansion somewhere where I should probs be living. Wallpaper, armoire, Burberry-eque jacket, green ploppy chair, hardwoods--done and done.

Introducing the most terrifyingly awesome wine cellar that ever existed!!! It's like walking into wine hell/heaven! Mega creepy, but pretty much to die for.

And finally....ready for Spring already. So. Ready. 

Freezing,

Hannah

Lemme Upgrade Ya

Sooo, this weekend my mama came up to the hell-hole of NOVA to get her thrift on at The Big Flea in Chantilly. She came up Saturday night in a blaze of glory and we immediately drove to Ikea to drool and dream and splurge until our hearts were content.

I got an ironing board. And a lamp. And two new pillowcases for my bed. And a coffee jar. Holla. Moms got a trashcan, bathroom floor rug, and some wine glasses.

We are beyond easily amused.

Yesterday we spent the entire day being flea bags. We started out the day by me thinking I'd forgotten our $2-off tickets at home, only to discover that they were sitting in my car...the entire day. FML. Whatever, I made it though with some saweet new Pyrex mixing bowls to add to my new collection (thanks to Mama Parrish and her Christmas contribution).

*These are not my bowls, per say. See below, STAT!*

Tragedy Alert: I am missing one of the bowls! I've hunted on eBay, but I'm not good at that shit, plus I'm cheap, so if any of you fools stumble upon a turquoise Pyrex mixing bowl (I think it's the 1.5 qt one), throw me a bone and pick it up!

I also got a baby pipe tobacco tin that I'm using to store my chapstick:

"Edgeworth Extra High-Grade Sliced Pipe Tobacco"

Larus & Bro. Co. Richmond, VA U.S.A

"To the consumers of high-grade tobaccos...we desire to call your special attention to EDGEWORTH TOBACCO. It is the best combination that can be made, only finest selections of leaf being used. Every box of it is guaranteed not to burn the tongue and to give satisfaction. We will cheerfully refund money to any dissatisfied customers."

Also, picked up a badass bent fork key chain holder thingy to rock my work ID, solidifying my role as coolest coworker in the land. Duh.

Then we saw the usual junk that we figured we could craft and upgrade by about 3,000% on the cool-o-meter:

Mom bought some (unintentional) potentially racially offensive artwork that she thought was cool and historic or something. You can't hold her back.  

Then, we drove home, gorged on Potbellies, watched the Beyonce DVD because I just can't get enough, and crashed. Sads to see her leave, but twas a good weekend fo sho.

Get yo-self a case of the Mondays!

Playing Ketchup

Sooo, I've been crazy crazy busy at work for the last couple weeks and have been collecting tons of delicious pictures to post for you. Hold on to your hats--here are some of my favs...

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Best brunch seat in the hizzouse

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Kitchen love. Love the teal, love the yellow, love the red stove, love love the little cafe curtain a la window

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Would probs die happy if I had windows/shutters like this.
And that couch. Yummm...
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Dreamy dream escape.

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Look at the ceiling!! It's like a clean version of Ms. Havisham's house.

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This would be nice in my beach cottage.

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Table love.

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Ok, seriously, WHO LIVES HERE??

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Easy peasy bedside table. Recently I've seen a ton of glass/Lucite nesting tables and I'm about to be all over them like ham.

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Headboard love.

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So there ya have it. Short, sweet, to da point.

Ugh, it's hump day...but only two days till Codiak lovin' and bridesmaid dress shopping with some of my life-long lovers! Yesss!

Peace out.