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

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

Big Ditto On That

Breaking news: we finally checked off a goal from the white board and went out to the wild unknown... a wharf. A wharf, you may say? Why in god's name would you choose a wharf for a weekend adventure?? I'll tell you why--it's got fish. And crabbies. And weird people trolling around and natives chillin on their house boats and little mangy fat squirrels running around eating everyone's leftovers. Who wouldn't want a piece of that??

We started off bright and early with a homemade PumpkinSpiceLatte (VP PSL), put on some serious walking shoes, and headed downtown. However, before we left, we were faced with the most daunting task of all: surviving Hayley's guilt trip.

Sooo sad! How much is that stupid doggie in the window, because she's rll cute.

God. CarSex is just as depressing. Matching sad faces? Give me a break people, we'll be back in a few hours! Lock it up!

Moing on. We made it to the cityyyyy. And saw some birds on a light post.

This is A dock.

We found some boats. See?

This was the cutest one of all. Green thumb + waterfront + shady canopy + picnic table = everything's better down where it's wetter, take it from me.

The fish market!

...visions of Cape Charles danced in her head.

Ouch Ouch Ouch!

Fried oysters...mmmm......

After we stuffed ourselves with the appropriate amount of seafood, waded our way though traffic, and weaved in and out of blobs of small children, we wandered to the Mall to revel in all that was the National Book Festival. BOOKS EVERYWHERE!

Exhibit A: this is not a Land Baron.

Yes, yes--awkward pictures aside, this was a brilliant discovery and we stocked up on !free! posters, pamphlets, and delicious readings from some of our nation's finest writers. Can't you see we are bursting with culture?



Unattractive giddiness taking over!

All in all--weekend success! Got our exploration on; ate some seafood; wandered the city; returned my North Face jacket to [finally] have the hood repaired; ate lunch with Jeanne; shredded; and watched some weird Sunday-night movie. Hip Hip Hooray!

Sunday snuggles <3

xxx,
Hannah