Dog vs Cat Diary

The dog diary certainly sounds like a day in the life of George....too funny....

Recently we watched the terrific Pixar movie  Up! - Robert always tells me how the dog reminds me of George - so sweet, loving, and happy go-lucky!  I could not agree more....."I was hiding under your porch because I love you"

In Living Color

For our 2nd Anniversary we purchased a custom illustration of our home by an amazing artist on Etsy Rebekka Seale - check out her shop here.  Could not be more thrilled with the beautiful whimsical illustration of Home Sweet Hanna - complete with our first baby George in front... 

Originally I planned on putting it in the nursery - but loving seeing it everyday so it has found a home in our family room.  

One of the coolest parts (super added value) is that Rebekka sends you not only your custom illustration but a disc with the file and instructions for creating adorable correspondence cards.  Love that we can have such a personalized image to share with friends and family - be on the lookout - will be coming to a mailbox near you soon...

Twenty...ONE of the happiest dogs around

Saw this feel good post on BuzzFeed  The 20 Happiest Dogs Around - I am amending the list to add in our sweet Grinning George....he is certainly the happiest dog on our block....

February 1st - Happy Man!

Some of my favorites from the post....

Source: buzzfeed.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: buzzfeed.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: buzzfeed.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Christmas George

Reminiscing about Christmas makes me think about bringing home our first baby George last December.  It's amazing how big he has gotten since joining Home Sweet Hanna last Christmas....check out 2010 in front of the tree...

My sleepy little peanut at 11 Lbs

And his 2011 Tree Shot (plus Brian)...

90+ Lbs of Love!

This year apparently we upgraded in a few ways....Bigger Tree....much Bigger Puppy....

An embarrassingly late recap of Halloween and George's Birthday

Home Sweet Hanna has been on hiatus lately - it has been a busy month!  Wanted to update with a few pictures from Halloween (yes I know we are on to Thanksgiving) and George's 1st Bday - see below...

First there was Ginny's 30th Birthday Party - my DIY (see post here) Kate Middleton costume was a hit...

Ginny "Black Swan", Elizabeth "Kate" and Claire "i-Phone"

iPhone and Steve Jobs

White and Black Swan getting down

Me and my handsome fighter pilot William...I mean Maverick

Next up was Halloween at Home Sweet Hanna - we carved our pumpkin and had lots of cute trick-or-treaters...

Berkley as a pumpkin and Bridget as Yo Gaba Gaba's Brobee - too cute!

George checking out our visitors

Yo Gaba Gaba and DJ Lance - look how much big Bridget has gotten since last year - here

Trick or Treat!

2011 Jack-Hanna-Lantern...creepy

George's Birthday was on November 1st - our sweet boy turned 1 on the 1st (golden bday!)- he got extra ball tossing in the backyard and a few presents to celebrate the milestone....

Playing/chewing his new rubber duckie

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  xoxo

DIY Fascinator

Like most gals I know - I love Kate Middleton's style and enjoyed every minute of the Royal Wedding earlier this year (as noted here). So naturally, the Duchess of Cambridge is my choice for a chic Halloween Costume.  I'm utilizing two of her key looks for my inspiration...

Engagement Announcement -photo from Brides

Kate attending a wedding wearing an ornately decorated Fascinator

I have the blue wrap dress, long brown lose curled wig, black classic heels, nude stockings, and to die for Sapphire ring (a faux  copy....but a girl can dream) - the only thing missing is the quintessentially British  fascinator cap to complete my ensemble.  I found this cute tutorial on Simple Simon and Company for a DIY Birdcage tutorial - check out my creation below...

Materials - hair clip, cardboard, batting, scissors, tulle, glue gun, grey felt, and feathers

My work area with trusty assistant George looking in!

Cardboard, Batting, and Felt

All wrapped up and hot glued together

Tulle and feathers added - voila!

 Stay tuned for pictures next week of the final costume - we are going to Ginny's 30th Birthday/Halloween Party Saturday night - this fascinator will be in full effect!  Now if I could only get Brian to dress as Prince William....

Soup-er Lizzie

One of my favorite lunch spots in Atlanta is Souper Jenny - Meghan always takes me there when I visit! Unfortunately we do not have an equivalent in Richmond - so I continued my Soup a week project and worked over time this week on two delicious concoctions...

1) Crockpot Tortilla Soup - I learned about it on pinterest (my cooking board is here..check it out!)

Source: jonandjenmiller.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

This was super easy as most crock pot recipes are (another favorite here) - you just throw in all of the ingredients and leave it on high for 6-7 hours "set it...and forget it" - my steps below -

Chop - Dump, Open - Dump

Keep Dumping the Cans

Add the raw chicken 

7 hours later - mmmm tortilla soup

The chicken is so tender at the end I just forked it and it fell apart - super delicious - we have been eating it this week with Tostitos - yummmm

The most difficult part was stepping over my sous chef George....he likes to lounge on the kitchen rug when I'm cooking....always hoping a scrap may drop his way....

My extra credit soup this week was Butternut Squash - my favorite fall/winter comfort food! So rich and delicious - I always check the Costco cold section for precut/skinned....it makes this one an easy recipe...

I forgot to take an after picture - but this is a staple in our house so I'll be sure to update on a later post.

Home Sweet Hanna Butternut Squash Soup:
- 2 LBs Butternut Squash (peeled/chopped)
- 2 TBS Unsalted Butter (or olive oil)
- 1 Large Sweet Onion
- 1 Quart chicken Stock
- 2 TBS Cinnamon (more if you like)
- Cayenne Pepper (add a little at a time till you get to desired spiciness)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)

Brown the onion in your pot (I have been using my Le Creuset Dutch Oven) with butter or olive oil - add the squash, stock, and spices.  Bring the pot to a boil (you boil the squash similar to potatoes) - and cook till tender (about 15 minutes) uncovered...important because you need some of the liquid to evaporate.  Then comes the fun part - use my favorite kitchen tool (as mentioned here) the Immersion Blender to puree the squash mixture.  Let simmer on low for another 15 minutes - add spices to taste.....grab a spoon!

Next week - maybe Pumpkin Soup for Halloween?  Need to locate more pumpkin - the real stuff is hard to come by and I only have one can left in my pantry.  Will keep you posted!

Aqua Puppy

Sweet George just got home from 3 weeks at the beach - talk about a puppy of leisure....he is getting so big and loves to play catch...

What a sweet handsome boy!

Hamner Family Reunion - 2011

What a crazy summer it has been - I am few weeks behind on my updates but wanted to share a few pictures of the Hamner Family Reunion at our river house in Surry, VA.  Fun was had by all - and at its peak we had 19 in attendance...20 with George...

Highlights -

Dad,  Funky Aunt Susan, and Uncle Rob

The boys shooting  - Rob was home from the Navy (yeah R!)

Delicious Meals - grilled out every night

Porch Time - Card Games with the cousins

The pier at night

Pork Pine and Peanut Festival - Tilly had her own booth 

Bananas/Chocolate/Marshmellow - cooked to perfection in the fire by Jack and Thibaut (French Friend)

Hanging by the fire

Lots of Pier Sitting

George had a blast playing catch 

my sweet puppy

Jump George? Yeah Right!

Can't wait till the next one!  Hopefully our missing members (Katharine, Mark/Liz/Lucy) will be able to make it next time....they were missed!