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

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

How Life Is Supposed to Be Lived

It's 80 degrees. You're eating oysters. You've caught enough crabs to feed six people. You've got good jams, good drinks, good friends. It's October. You brunch at Rayfields. You take drives to Virginia Beach to pick up Bailey's Cake for birthday celebrations. You buy new nail polish. You go to used book sales at small-town libraries that have been converted from old churches. You buy 3 hardback books for $1.00. It's 80 degrees.

There are cute dogs...everywhere.

It's 80 degrees.

You lay out by the pool.

You get good kisses.

You wander the bay.

You drive down country roads and snap close-ups of the cotton fields.

You drool over old buildings and fantasize about renovations.

You sip Cape Charles coffee.  You eat bagels with lox and capers and onions and cream cheese. You make garlic bread.

You are free to "express yourself."

You drive a turquoise T-bird for four hours with the top down. You film everything.

YOU DO IT FOR MELFA!!

Basically, you are this woman:

She's rlll famous.

xoxo,
Hannah

Everything's So Golden Delicious

Such a good weekend--on Saturday, I headed to Carter Mountain with friends to start the season off right with some apple-picking, cider-drinking fun. I haven't been to the mountain since I was really little, so I was super excited when Eileen suggested we make a weekend out of it and head for the hills. Caroline and I drove down to Fredvegas to meet up with everyone, then we headed into Charlottesville to eat BBQ, climb trees, and stuff our faces with as many apples we could handle.

Bang-arang! CarSex could barely contain her flannel-filled excitement.



I think BBQ is a little weird to serve at an orchard, but the apple cider donuts were potent and delicious.

Just a little worm!

(Look, I know it's not a vineyard, but you get the idea.)

How you like them applez? Rob was on the hunt.

Baby Lily was a rock star and wasn't letting any leash hold her back.

Gotcha Eileen--only the trendiest apple picker out there.

Yumm, so many choices

I spy...

Teamwork.

Virginia is for lovers, see?

This was a big weekend for Caroline--she tried apples, ate tomatoes, and even drank some wine! Three cheers?

 

Later that night, we (Rob) made homemade pizzas and Yuca/Mandioca.

We had great plans to make caramel apples, but let's be real--we were in bed by 10pm. Grannies to the max.

The rest of the weekend was equally great and included such festivities as pumpkin loaves shaped like Dala horses, more crock pot sensations, breaaadddd, and the busting out of warm LLBean slippers. It was a freezing ride to work this morning. I think it's safe to say that Fall... is here.

Countdown till CC Oysterfest 2011: 4 days!

xxx, Hann