It’s like that guy Journey said, “Don’t stop believing…”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o&w=560&h=315]
xx
-h
Author Archives: Hannah Hanley
Tuesday Shoesday: Sydney
It was foggy for a solid week and then the rain came and it’s grey. This is the time of year, where all the stereotypes about Pacific Northwest weather are true. What I would give to soak up a little sun, to feel the warmth. Needless to say, I’m dreaming about summer. When I made my way over to the Sole Society page for the first time in awhile, I was delighted by all the new options. Animal print, boots, flats, heels, and these summer casual wedges.
Sydney in Black and Gingersnap – $49.95 on Sole Society
The hard part is deciding which color I like more. Leg elongating nude or black with a tribal punch.
xx
-h
Custom Wood Headboard
You guys! My brother made this headboard and it turned out amaze! He is taking custom orders right now if you live in the Seattle area.
You can contact him: NathanCharlesBowling@gmail.com
He can make it any size and stained any color! I’m thinking an over sized version ala this room from La Dolce Vita would look so chic white washed with a upholstered neutral headboard in front for a monochromatic scheme. Or with a bold color in front for something more dramatic.
xx
-h
Liz Lemon becomes Lemon-Honey Tart
When R and I bought the house, I knew that I wanted to get a lemon tree. I stalked our local hardware store until they arrived in April and convinced R that it would be the perfect “housewarming gift” to ourselves. We painstakingly looked through all the lemon and lime trees in the store to find the perfect Meyer Lemon varietal, the tree had 5 established lemons already growing and looked promising. We spent the day transporting the tree, which I promptly named Liz Lemon, home and planted her in a beautiful pot. She spent the summer in our sunroom, where 2 out of 5 of the tiny lemons survived the traumatic move. All summer, R and I doted on Liz Lemon like she was our child. Slowly, but surely, the lemons grew larger, but stayed green. At one point, I expressed to R that it was taking so long maybe we had gotten a lime tree on accident instead.
Finally, about a month ago, the color started changing, and I knew I had lemons. They slowly turned totally yellow, and dropped off the tree.
I was ecstatic. That weekend we had some people over for game night and cut into one of the lemons to garnish our drinks. The inside was nearly orange and smelled very sweet. Oh my gosh, did I get a orange tree instead? All night, everyone discussed the great lemon tree mistake of 2012. The next day, I googled meyer lemons and refreshed my memory to the fact that the meyer type is actually a cross between a mandarin and a lemon, it boasts all of the lemon flavor with much less tartness. Phew.
In hindsight, using one of my lemons to garnish vodka-sodas might not have been the best use of this quality ingredient. I knew that with my 2nd lemon, I needed to make something that would emphasize it’s best features. This Lemon-Honey Tart with Salted Shortbread Crust highlighted Liz Lemon’s delicate flavor perfectly.
We brought Liz Lemon inside near our dining room window that gets lots of light for the winter. A lot of her leaves have fallen off, which I read can be normal when the tree goes dormant. Here’s to hoping Liz Lemon will grow lots this spring and double her production next year!
xx
-h
Tuesday Giggle
xx -h
Tuesday Shoesday: Vegas
There are certain rite of passage trips that every chick takes in their life. One of those is the quintessential Vegas Bachelorette Party (VBP) trip. One of my best friends is getting married in April, and I have the VBP coming up in a couple of months. I’ve been slowly acquiring necessary Vegas attire options including a new pair of Vegas shoes. There are a some things that Vegas shoes can pull off that most shoes cannot, including: extremely high heel, sparkles of any type, impossible to walk in, and cheap. When I found a pair of sequin 5″ heels at Target on clearance for $14.98, I knew I had struck a rose gold mine.
Target Rose Gold Pump – $14.98 (update: now only available in black sequin)
I got the opportunity to give my Vegas shoes a trial night out when I went down to visit R a couple weeks ago, who was training for work in Sin City. We decided to head to the strip for dinner and drinks. I confidently put these pink babies on and we headed for the elevator. I could tell that my new Vegas shoes and I were going to be duking it out all night from the first step into the hallway. The toe slopes up, so as I stepped, I wobbled forward, and almost ate it on the carpet. No biggie, they were brand new and still slippery on the bottom. We made it to the Bellagio and headed toward Olives. The floor of the Bellagio boasts concrete that has been pounded to look like cobblestone – greeeeat. I stayed close on Rory’s arm as we headed to the bar for a quick drink before our reservation and I started getting more comfortable in my shoes.
After dinner, we decided to walk toward the Cosmopolitan so I could check it out on the recommendation that it would be the perfect place to stay during the upcoming bach party. (I think they were right, a giant shoe in the lobby, bling and jewels everywhere, plus Marquee!) A bit more walking and I could feel a blister coming on in my Vegas shoes. Whatever though, nothing I can’t handle. We gambled a bit and decided to head for temporary hotel home. I walked out toward the taxi lineup and was near the safety of the car, when my Vegas heel clipped a crack in the pavement, and my toe lunged forward. I was going down! Luckily, Rory grabbed my arm, and saved me. Also, luckily, no one in Vegas is judging.
My feet were beat after the night in my cheap Vegas heels, but I still think they are perfect for the upcoming bachelorette party, as long as I can grab someone’s arm at any given time.
xoxo
-h
Happy 2013!
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks with the holidays. But with any turn of the calender year comes a little bit of reflection.
I got to spend a few days in Whistler with some of my best friends and their families. We played Farkle and Cards Against Humanity (sans parents). Drank the official wine of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and enjoyed some gorgeous days skiing. The sun even graced us with its presence for about a day and a half and we had sweeping views of the Fitzsimmons and Pacific Mountain Ranges.
Happy New Year! Let’s make this year the best one yet!
A couple things from around the internets:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis NPR Tiny Desk Concert
xoxo
-h
Merry Christmas!
And a Happy New Year!
xoxo
-h & s
Tuesday Shoesday: $28 Animal Print Bootie
Um huuuuhWHAT? $28 from Old Navy? Did you say Old Navy? That was my reaction when I first saw these booties. Even at their full price of $30, these are a steal. With Faux-Animal print and texture, these babies are the perfect way to incorporate a little sass into your wardrobe.
Old Navy Faux-Animal Fur Ankle Boots – $28 plus an additional 15% off with code ONGIFT
Are you as blown away as I am?
xx
-h
P.S. I originally saw these on Le Catch, one of my favorite fashion blogs.
Christmas Book List 2012
1. The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook – long awaited, it is being raved about. I can’t wait to see the photos, I’ve heard they’re fantastic.
2. Local Pacific Northwesters know the Tom Douglas name well. This isn’t his first cookbook, but it’s definitely his sweetest: The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook.
3. Okay, maybe I’m a little late to the Design*Sponge book party, but as an avid follower of the blog. I would love to flip through these DIY pages: Design*Sponge at Home.
4. Also one of my favorite blogs, this one is back ordered right now, but I’m hoping to have a copy before they come to Tacoma in January: Young, House, Love.
5. Okay, I’ll admit, I don’t know much about canning, but I’ve been learning the last couple of years and would love to have a go-to to work from: Canning for a New Generation.
6. I just heard a story about the Jerusalem: A Cookbook, on NPR, it sounds like it’s a mix of cookbook and cultural photography at the same time. I’m intrigued.
7. My go-to for down home cooking, The Pioneer Woman knows her strengths – comfort food, step by step photography for the recipes, and a quick wit. It reads like an actual story, and you can’t help but feel welcomed into Ree’s ranch life.
8. Admittedly, I don’t know much about The Sprouted Kitchen cookbook, and am totally judging a book by it’s cover. But, I can guess that if you’re like me, you’re trying to eat cleaner, more in-season, and more local, and this looks like it could be the inspiration ticket.
9. One that I’ve been coveting for a while: Domino.
10. 10 favorite ingredients like caramel, peanut butter, booze, and chocolate? Baking? I’m in: Baked.
11. Cupcakes and Cashmere is another one of my favorite blogs, Emily has great entertaining ideas and excellent taste. I’m sure this book is an extension of her style.
12. For the coffee table, these photos of Underwater Dogs will truly make you LOL. There is also a calendar option available.
Okay – maybe it’s a little cookbook heavy, but what can I say? I love photos of food!
xx
-h