Suzannah Hamlin Stanley's Blog, page 51

Personal and house updates! This will be a big summer!

This week's episode of the Your Home Story podcast features some personal and home/project updates from both me and Ashley, and some big things I haven't shared on here yet!

We wanted to let listeners get to know us better and share some personal things, like more about Otto and about Ashley's summer goals and current challenges. Plus, as we recorded this the other day I had some big news about the house we've been trying to buy (...things have gone up and down again since then and I hope...

8 tips for brand new moms: getting through and enjoying the first month!

Otto's age is now measured in months as well as weeks, and we are feeling more like parents than total newbies! This month has been full of changes for both Otto and me, and I wanted to share some tools and tips that have helped me - that I wish I'd known a month ago!
(Also check out my post of baby registry essentials for the first for 4 weeks--that one has been popular!)
First, some 1-month-old photos - Otto has gained 2 lbs since birth and I'm sure some length, too last he was me...

All kinds of window covering dos, don'ts, and opinions

I have developed some pretty strong opinions about window coverings in my years experimenting at our first house, and my months of doing all of the Stanley 90's Reno. And I am already thinking about them for the FSBO house we're trying to buy next!

Source
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Baby registry newborn essentials - for the first 4 weeks! (Most of which I didn't realize I'd need!)

Otto is 4 weeks old this week! Seeing as I now have alllll this baby-raising experience (kidding, I'm still a newbie, though at least it's fresh), I wanted to share the items that have been most valuable for us so far. I read a ton of registry guides when I was pregnant (read about our registry experience here) but honestly, the most important stuff is the stuff you need right away--not the high chairs, baby books, sippy cups, etc.

So here is my list of newborn essentials to add to you...

Entryway/foyer inspiration and what makes a great entryway?

I've always known the entryway, as the first thing you see when you enter a home, is an important space to make pretty and functional. I think there's a feng shui principle about it being nice to promote good energy for the whole home. But one thing I didn't think about before was that the foyer or first part of the home you see walking in can also express your personal style more strongly than other spaces! (And, does it need hooks for hanging versus a horizontal surface for coll...

Simple maple coconut protein granola recipe (gluten-free, low sugar)

This recipe was born from necessity!
Okay, I know I could have lived without granola for another couple weeks, but why not try making my own?

I am pretty much stuck at home with baby Otto, not really up for doing faraway errands with him unless I have to, and I'm feeding him every 2-3 hours so I don't want to go out shopping without him, either.

I have been mostly processed food-free, grain-free, and definitely gluten-free for years now. But when I was pregnant for a while there I just c...

DIY or hire out: small electrical

Bear with me.....
“Small electrical” may not sound very exciting, but I promise it is. Whether you're a DIYer working on a fixer upper project or you know nothing about the hardware store and just bought new construction, it is SO empowering to have the skills to make small changes in your home with light fixtures, light switches, and more.

I've been both! In our townhouse we did little changes that made the home custom for us in look and function. At our 90's fixer upper, we change...

Just the basics: New mom/first Mother's Day gift guide

Mother's Day really snuck up on me! I always do something for my mom, but this year is the first time I get to celebrate me, too.

For many years now I've been sad to not be a mother at this time of year (and all the time). (I'm actually tearing up a little as I write this--dang postpartum hormones.) I am so grateful for baby Otto who made me a mom and I still can hardly believe it!! Already I'm learning that motherhood is hard. Nice that there's a special day to celebrate m...

Baby Stanley is here! And the final pregnancy update

This post is a little delayed. (Man, it takes forever to get anything done with a newborn!! #duh, I guess.)  Just hours after I wrote this post (40-week pregnancy update),  my water broke and our long and crazy labor experience began.

Meet baby Otto Monroe Stanley, born April 19, 2018 at 11:42 AM. He was 8 lbs 15 oz and 21" long.
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Spring bedroom refresh and DIY striped or plaid tassel throw tutorial!

I've said before... our bedroom in this little apartment has been looking pretty sad. We sold a lot of furniture like our DIY black four-poster bed and aren't quite ready to invest in big new pieces yet, so our bedroom was kind of a hodgepodge. Also, I've been Team All-White Bedding for yeeeears and it usually looks elegant and fresh, but in our little headboard-less room it just looked plain and depressing.

Also, I've been using throw blankets a lot recently for naps (new baby...