I live in DC with my husband and our 2 (3 in June!) kids. My relationship with our nation’s capital is one of aggravation and affection, some days more one than the other.
This is a blog about life and what makes it beautiful. This is the truest art. It is a blog about the mundane and the extraordinary, the comic and the tragic, the real and the imaginary.
When I get really excited, which happens pretty frequently, I write in all caps. I used to feel bad about this, but then I read John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, so now I just think of it as my Owen Meany voice. Other than that though, I try to do that whole grammar thing, meaning this won’t be one of those blogs where I don’t capitalize anything. It was only really cool when ee cummings did it.
This isn’t a blog about fashion, because I hate ironing trendy button down shirts, don’t wear tortoise shell glasses, do own hot rollers, and some days I never change out of my pajamas.
It isn’t a “lifestyle” blog because I don’t even really know what that means. Does that mean describing how I try to put off getting out of bed every morning or how I commute to work and cry at 50% of all NPR radio programs? Don’t think the internet needs that. Also, I’m a recent PhD grad and French teacher, so my lifestyle means reading lots of depressing nineteenth century novels that most of you don’t care to hear about. (Though they would make amazing miniseries that I’m sure you would enjoy.)
It also can’t be a blog that teaches you how to construct a chandelier out of mason jars because I have no patience for that. Plus, let’s be real — I live in a small space in the city. Where would I have room to hang a shabby chic mason jar chandelier monstrosity?
And as much as I love cooking and food and try to share some of my favorite recipes, I love frozen pizza too much for this to be a food blog. But I sure do love eating, so I wish I could make this computer screen produce a Sweet Lobby macaron or Good Stuff shake every time you left a comment.
This is just a blog to share little pieces of life with the people that I love who are scattered around the country and world. It’s a way to share words that are on my heart, and the sights before my eyes. A place to talk about faith, marriage, motherhood, and the many meaningless things that make ordinary days important. These are the beautiful fragments of existence, gathered up and laid forth as they are, with just a little bit of whimsy about what I wish they could be.
Welcome.
If you’re dropping by for the first time, start here with some of my favorite posts.
The Art in Life 
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you already got me hooked with this intro!
Loved the e e cummings reference. 🙂
Hi Hannah! Je suis un peu en retard. Je viens d’apprendre que vous vous êtes mariée avec James! Un autre de mes étudiants préférés! Les photos de votre mariage sont très belles. Félicitations à vous deux et beaucoup de bonheur! Félicitations sur votre maîtrise aussi!
Hannah would it be possible to interview you?
Hi my name is Christie and I just read your post on “my husband is not my soulmate”. I was wondering if you would be willing to answer a couple questions I had. If that would be okay, please send me an email to the one I provided in this contact form. Thank you so much! Christie
Hi Hannah,
Just found your blog after a friend posted your incredibly insightful and well-written post on The One 🙂 I also live in DC and my husband and I just celebrated our 2-year anniversary so can definitely relate to a lot of what you post here (especially the Good Stuff milkshake part!!). Looking forward to reading some more of your great stuff!
This is one of the best “abouts” I’ve ever read. And now I shall stalk the crap out of you. But not in a creepy way. A good kind of way where I think your writing is excellent and I am happy to have found your blog because I too hate ironing trendy button-down shirts. The end.
Wow, let’s be friends. This is legit my jam.
Read your About page and instantly clicked the button at the top to become a creepy blog stalker (aka, “Follow”). Thanks for smile you lent me today for 30 minutes as I began to read your posts. 🙂
Hi Hannah! I love your “soul mate” post and actually have been in the midst of writing an article about the subject for Start Marriage Right. Could I quote from your post? Thanks for letting me know!
Loved your “soul mate” post — you speak true and that from someone who’s been married over 25 years …. and you like Rick Bragg! So I will be checking in now and then. Good luck with grad school.
Hi Hannah! I know you’re probably super busy but I just wanted to ask you a few questions if you have time, through the email I listed.
I love your “about” section. I recently wrote mine for my new blog and really struggled to convey what it is and isn’t. Yours is creative, simple, and charming. Love it!
Dear Hannah, I run a blog called One thousand single days and have never re-blogged the work of another, but today I broke with tradition and re-posted your remarkable piece ‘My husband is not my soul mate’ to my site. You have written something that carries more importance than I think you realise and I believe everyone with any ounce of spirituality, or not, should read it.
Thank you for your refreshingly realistic take on a very, very important topic. I think that this will uproot the child-like and flawed ideals of many young men and women.
Bless you tons and tons.
Vanessa
I saw your article on Facebook and then stumbled upon your Paris blog (I just spent the 5 weeks in France this summer) and saw a reference to Hillsdale!! I’m an upcoming junior and I would LOVE to ask you some questions about what you did in France (although I could read all of your blog posts to get fully educated.)
Haha. I love the reference to Owen Meany. I think we all have that squeaky incredulous inner voice at times–me, mostly when I am foibled YET AGAIN at discovering the truth to “How I met your mother.”
Glad I found your blog. Dont stop. Ever. 😉
Just found your blog, LOVE IT…especially all your GORGEOUS photos and recipe posts!
I saw where someone wrote this is one of the best abouts they’ve ever read. I agree. Great writing … easy to follow and makes me smile. Neat. Thanks. Jenn
So glad I found your blog this morning. I love your writing, especially the “soul mate” post. God bless you and James.
Love this blog. Love your marriage post too. My husband says “love is a choice”. How right he is. Thanks for sharing and for unashamedly lifting up Jesus!
Hi Hannah! I just discovered your blog through a friend, and already it is an inspiration to me!! I am an aspiring writer (who has written very little) and have thus far been terrified to really hunker down and write, but your blog lit a fire under me and I plan to actually begin writing on a regular basis instead of just talking about it and dreaming about it. Thanks for the extra nudge! I’ll be looking forward to reading more of your blog when I get some time (my 16-month-old will wake up from her nap any second, so I must run.) Thanks again!
WOW, hah, I am impressed. Your blog is so organized! Anyways, if I’m getting this right, which I seriously hope I am because otherwise I’ll just sound like an idiot, love the mustard yellow jeans. Very cool introduction. Look forward to reading more.
Love your intro dear!!!
Hey Hannah, this is completely random but I got tagged for the WP Blogger award.. and I was supposed to list some of the blogs that I enjoyed. I put you on my list since I very much enjoy your blog
http://jeddacp.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Keep taking photos and writing. I look forward to them! Have a great night.
i like you and i think ill like this blog! being real is something you dont get often in the blogging community. so looking forward to your writing 🙂
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Hi Hannah,
I stumbled across your blog the other day after it blew up on facebook (well, the christian side of it anyway). I perused some of its contents (I especially liked your nod to the opening of Pride and Prejudice in one of your posts) and just wanted to drop you a note saying how much I appreciated reading it. My husband and I also both live by Eastern Market and as someone who has explored DC as a newlywed (we got married about a year ago) your blog has been really fun to read. I always take people who come and visit to the Capitol Hill Bookstore!
I. love. this. blog.
I don’t know you, but thank you for the inspiration and well written paragraphs! Always a joy to see a fellow believer who enjoys the world while keeping a head of truth in the midst of it. I was also happy to hear that you are pursuing French! Keep up the excellent blogging. Your humor is enjoyable to read!
I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your blog! I got hooked when a Facebook friend shared your “My Husband Is Not My Soul Mate” post. Keep up the excellent work!
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I pretty much want to be best friends with you. Mainly because your writing inspires me.
But also because I like those mustard pants.
I thank the Lord for you and your faithfulness in a faithless, self-driven and feeling-focused generation. You have shown to be what scripture says, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” May the Lord bless you with his presence even more than before.
A friend of mine shared one of your posts on facebook a couple of months ago. Immediately after reading it, I bookmarked this site and having been reading everything ever since! Thank you for all that you share and for being such a blessing to your readers! I would love to follow you on Instagram as well, but can’t find your account name. Could you (or anyone else who knows) please tell me what it is? Thanks again! 🙂
Hi Maggie! It’s hannahkatherinew I made it private just so I could be aware of who all was seeing pictures! Happy to have you reading and following!
You had me at “A prayer for Owen Meany”
i first read a post of yours when “my husband is not my soul mate” was floating around facebook. i have been hooked on your blog ever since and just love the rediculously awesome honesty you have floating on this blog. it is much the way i see life. just a whole bunch of senguine in others as well is enough to make my day and be awesome because senguine is awesome. you have the best into out there. just saying. i love your blog
Hi Hannah,
I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award, and award to recognize blogs that bring sunshine to our lives. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and hope to send some more readers your way.
If you choose to accept, here is a link to explain.
Thanks for writing!
Geralyn
No, tell me about your depressing French books and why you’re reading them! That sounds intriguing!
Hi, Hannah. Thank you for your blog–you have a wonderful writing voice. Loved your post on your husband not being your soul mate–and especially appreciated what your dad said to you. I’ve taught the same in seminary classrooms and from the pulpit, so it’s nice to hear someone else say it. Just wanted to let you know that I will be quoting a couple of sentences from the post in a book I’m in the process of writing on Christian marriage. Thanks for writing!
Hi Hannah,
Lovely blog – I’m so happy I came across it. My husband and I loved DC when we visited. It’s on our (secret) want-to-live-there list. I laughed and smiled a bunch of times reading your About page. You keep your writing voice real and animated – it’s fun to read :). I can relate to reading and writing about French literature – I minored in it in undergrad, and now I’m a grad student as well (in a totally different topic – Nutrition) so I can relate to the days of never getting out of PJs and frozen pizzas all too well. I also like to take some time to write about the Bible too, and songs, or reflections on Hymns. Anyway, hello, and keep up the great work :-)! Come check out my blog too, if you’d like. It’s a mix of a lot of things, and for the most part I keep the grad-school-me out of it, but I hope it is enjoyable.
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Hello, I came across your blog via Theresa Hardy. It was your posted photos of Jen and David that caught my attention. Do you take engagement photos by any chance? My fiancé and I also met in DC and we had talked about taking photos in the National Gallery of Art, Chinatown Coffee, and Red Velvet Cupcakes (a few of our first date locations). Would you be available to do something like this?
Thanks,
Naomi
Hi Naomi! I do do some photoshoots. You can find my email under the contact tab and send me a message and we can talk. It sounds like you have some fun ideas!
Pleased to have discovered your interest packed blog. More visits in store. Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (plugged in now).
Amazing pictures.. and places!! 🙂
like (y)
Just found you. So happy for me. So happy for all your joy!
Absolutely love this intro! I related to so much of it, especially the part at the end about sharing “beautiful fragments of existence.” This completely encapsulates what I try to do on my blog and with my art. Your honesty and transparency is refreshing, and your voice shines through your writing. Can’t wait to read more.