She Lives?

It's been a while and it may be a while, but I'm popping in to say hi! I've been buried under dust and construction, but my tiny kitchen is coming along and it's almost finished (!!). I'm preparing myself for the next step...the dreaded bathroom. Eeek! I've become a pro at indoor camping, and I am loving the wall colors we picked and the way my jars look so nice all lined up in a row. I'm waiting until the final-final product to post some befores and afters, but the pictures can really do no justice, anyway. We've come a long way, baby...

Meanwhile, I've had birthday celebrations--I've worked up to running 7.5 miles!--and I've finally started to get the hang of things at work (...sort of).

 The weather in Virginia has been insane. We had 5 inches of snow on Monday, and by Friday it was 75 degrees, sunny, and we were lunching on the roof.

 Old faithful nom nom...

Jimson weed discoveries at Windy Knoll. 

Down on da farm.

 Perfect nose for smooching.

 Hanging on for dear life.

Steve Keene looking good in every nook. 

Finally got to break out my Pyrex dishes!! And Iced Capp season is upon us, so life is beautiful!

I am so so lucky and thankful to have my wonderful grandpa and all his craziness. He may be old and he may be long-winded, but he has always given everything he has to make sure we're happy and taken care of --I   am more grateful that he probably knows. By the time we're finished, ole Bennington won't even know what hit it. 

Happy Almost-Daylights-Savings,

Hannah

I'm On A Mission

...to find the best Southern cornbread recipe known to woman. All this Twain talk about cracklin' bread and a "scenery of ham and eggs" and homemade churned butter and "the look of an apple that is roasting and sizzling on a hearth on a winter's evening....and the comfort that comes of eating it hot, along with some sugar and a drench of cream" is making me want to unearth my aprons and get.to.mixing.

I've always had a mild obsession with cornbread, even if it's the super-easy Jiffy kind that's been spruced up with corn kernels and chopped jalapenos. It takes great restraint to keep from eating the entire batch, especially when it's straight out of the oven and globbed with a huge, gooey slab of butter (mmmm...cornbread....).  

Does anyone know of a particularly good recipe? I don't care how much cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, lard, chicken fat, sugar, salt, corn syrup, frogs legs, or time that it takes--this is serious. As my mother would say, "I betcha a cookie" I won't have to look much further/farther/fuckit than the living, breathing cornbread-personified machine that is Paula Dean. Mrs. Dean appears to have had one or two cornbread muffins over her culinary lifetime and I want in on her secrets.

As with all of my favorite foods, I will require offensive amounts of garlic and onions, as well as any and all peppers I can get my hands on (preferably free). Other suggestions are gladly welcome. In the meantime, I will remain diligent and on the hunt; I suggest you do the same.

Amen, sistah.

xxx,

Hannah

Tricks Are for Kids.

So my cousin Jenny just had a baby last week (a boy named Sawyer...love it) and I think the whole infant arrival sent me on a whirlwind hunt for pastel pinks and blues. Not that I think I would ever decorate a kid's room in these colors, but I do love a sweet pastel palette, especially when it's chock full of lush flowers and crisp white backdrops.

Super into the idea of separating little makeup items with this "industrial"-looking tin thing.

I am willing to bet that no children live in this house with this staircase...way too white and perfectly unscuffed for any of that nonsense. Still...lookin' good....

Turquoise. Pink. White. Yes. Yes YES.

Would only look better with a little teal Pyrex peekin out.

Chunky coffee table legs ftw.

Light fixture + marble-ish counter tops + glass-faced cabinets + artichokes at the ready

Yoga tonight. Whining my way out of work on Friday. Cape Charles for the weekend (!?!). Leftover Rio Grande for dinner!!!! And it's not blazingly hot as balls out today. Score!

xxx,

Hann

Pyrex Love

Look what I found! An entire glass-faced cabinet of blue and white Pyrex? Beyond love. So pretty and clean.

Also--a pie safe of Pyrex?!

I added two new pieces to my collection while traveling through New England. They're looking super fab on my blue wheelie kitchen cart, and I can't wait to find more. I'm determined to never pay more than $8 for a single piece and I want to see how far I can go...keeping my eyes peeled on thrift/antique stores and hoping my mama can swing some serious magic on her Longest Yard Sale adventure this week...

Namaste This

Picture yourself on a very small island with a very large drink and a very delicious suitor. Yes.

Grab a book or three and curl up in this nest, cat included.

Ring a bed-side bell and get someone to bring tea and biscuits, stat.

Soak it all in.

Make some blueberry-lemon muffins and try not to drool over your butcher-block countertops and sweet farmhouse sink.

Light it up, smell the orchids, and give yourself a long stare out the window.

Thirsty Thursday couldn't get here soon enough. Buh.

It's a Marvelous Night for a Moondance

Can it get any more beautiful outside? Low humidity, sun shining, birds chirping...perfect weather for one of the last days of the month. Took my car to the shop to get inspected [finally!], running after work, then getting my stretch on at yoga. Also, I'm becoming obsessed with Caprese sandwiches/tomato sandwiches in general. Nothing says summertime like two pieces of bread, thick mayo, juicy tomatoes, and salt + pepper. Heaven. In the meantime, while I'm counting down the hours till I'm free (1.5!), check out these gorgeous shots from around the way... 

Cabinet r-e-s-p-e-c-t right here. I love how there's glass all the way around and not just the front. Super pretty, especially with the robin's egg bead board.

The first work I think of when I look at this photo is "plush."

She is divine.

Kicking back to my old faithful stripes, this time in a soft, shabby pink. Not of a fan of the window treatment, but who am I to judge and/or blow against the wind?

This room is fantastic. From the millions of windows and natural light to the cool collection of portraits stacked against the wall, I love the artsy fartsy studio vibe and the electric pillows.  

Where can I get my hands on these!?!?! Skinny dip tea party at my house!

Hopefully everyone is beautiful! Taking my Holga out for a spin this weekend to see what kind of goodies I can get into. Fingers crossed for greatness.

PS. Beyonce's new album dropped yesterday. Get thee to iTunes, stat!

xoxo,
Hannah

If You Want Breakfast In Bed...

With today's greige outlook, I thought I'd slap up some delicious, light-filled kitchens for everyone to drool. Last night I went a little crazy in my kitchen and ended up with warm, jalapeno cheese bread; marinated chickpeas; and black-bean/orange salad. Get in my belly...

Survivor Island.

Baby blues + marble countertops +

off-the-shoulder MILF shirt = success

 

This is one glass ceiling I'd love to see.

 

Sconey, salmon-y walls: yes.

 

I would pay rent on this pantry.

Lake house lovin'

Tuesdays.

What can ya say?

If I know one thing, I'm getting gelato tonight...and maybe watching Biggest Loser.

Come ovah,

Hann

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

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.

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.