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?

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

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

It's a rainy, drizzly, grey mess everywhere. Going on Day 2 of no bike riding to work and it is very troubling. Enter the beginning rumblings of seasonal depression! Noooo! I despise driving my car anywhere these days (well, I've always felt that way), and I am so ready for some crisp mornings with the birds chirping and the leaves changing. I just escaped a three-hour meeting from hell and I want nothing more than to curl up in a super overstuffed chair with a book, a latte, and some kind of fleece-lined, cable-knit blanket. Yes. Get on that.

In the meantime, I will continue to daydream about cords and elbow pads...

Cashmere sweaters with simple white tees.

And serious light-filled rooms decked out with overhead fans + warm hardwoods underneath. Yumm.

However, the best part of today would definitely go to the fact that it is none other than this fabulous, beautiful, ferociously sweet woman's birthday! I couldn't be more happy than to spend the day thinking about the one and only AM! Happy birthday, lovah! Can't wait to hear from/play with ya soon!



It ain't easy being this adorable 24/7, but she does it with ease!

Gettin' my nails did tonight. Real fancy. Preferably with some kind of airbrushing. Yes. Wish me luck!

xxx,
Hannah

Bittersweet Bday

Love ridden, I've looked at you

With the focus I gave to my birthday candles

I've wished on the lidded blue flames

Under your brow

And baby, I wished for you