Suzannah Hamlin Stanley's Blog, page 81

PNW summer dinner party - simple real food, local, seasonal recipes and beautiful styling

I have a gem to share with you this week. A few weeks back I did an awesome collaboration withSam Rosen,Mary Bodyen,Stemm Floral, andKelsey Malie Calligraphyfeaturing wild-caught Alaskan salmon from local community-supported fishery (CSF) Kenai Red Fish Company. I came up with the recipes for the salmon and smoked salmon, plus appetizers and sides to go with. Sam did the styling and Mary

Win my book! DIY Wardrobe Makeovers giveaway - 3 copies! And reviews

Three copies of my book to give away, plus two very special raves to share! I wrote a note to my grandma in her copy of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers. She's not known for being the sentimental type, but sometimes I am, and she's been sewing for most of her life and was part of my growing up surrounded by sewists. She and her mom taught my mom to sew. My mom is a professional seamstress, and taught me

Honey basil chocolate chip coconut milk ice cream recipe!

I'm all for trying new things. I love learning about new flavors and combinations, and creative spins on classics like ice cream! Three things: 1) We have a ton of basil growing on our tiny porch garden this year. 2) Chocolate mint chip was my favorite kind of ice cream my mom would buy when I was a kid. 3) I saw a recipe for basil ice creamin a fancy magazine last month and thought I'd try

A versatile denim shift dress with organic cotton lace!

I did it again. A shift dress, my favorite plain pattern, neutrals/basic fabrics. Several of my recent dresses have been white, denim, or black... and I've used Simplicity 2584 for 3 dresses this year! This dress was inspired by a few much more elaborate denim and chambray and lace dresses... how pretty are these?? Source/Source/Source That's a lot of insertion lace and embroidery! I

Street of Dreams 2015 - a morning of inspiration and overwhelm!

As much as I love houses, decorating, and getting new ideas, I don't stay up on glamorous home decor trends (I now realize). Last weekend husband and I went to Street of Dreams for the first time in about 10 years, and wow, were we surprised. Things have changed. I guess we would know might if we watched shows about mcmansions on HGTV, but we don't. We wandered through each of the 9 homes with

Seriously chunky, fudgy, fluffy, dark chocolate Paleo brownies

Aaaah, brownies... is there a more perfect easy dessert for a crowd?? We went up to my husband's grandparents' place last weekend for relaxing time with family, which we do a few times a year--and I've become known for making rich, grain-free treats for everyone once a trip. My mother-in-law requested something chocolatey, since her mom likes it a lot. I didn't want to yet again make the amazing

Back to summer camp!! Company picnic and a great reason to screen print!

Last weekend featured the most wonderful hot Saturday afternoon in my recent memory. I love summer camp. I went to a great one in the San Juan Islands for 5 summers as a kid, and I have great memories and friends from there and will always appreciate those happy, fun, carefree times. I'm so grateful for the experience. So, I have some nostalgia about summer camp (increased by movies like

Beginning gardening, plus tech! The Edyn garden sensor

I'm an aspiring gardener. Not a very experienced one, nor one with a lot of resources (like a yard of any kind)... but, I do what I can! This summer our little porch garden contains 6 tomato plants, several varieties of herbs, and a ton of onions. We've done peppers, lettuce, and even cucumbers in the past, but this year we stuck to a smaller selection and just got more of them. So when I got a

Dark denim versatile romper

The romper cannot be avoided these days. I made this romper last summer, and shared this roundup of romper patterns earlier this summer. Around that time, reading one of my magazines, I came across this page and was inspired by these chic, fitted, interesting denim rompers. (I love denim in many forms!) I also love the Anthropologie McGuire Sailor Romper in dark denim. So, I found some

Beautiful grain-free baking - and a giveaway! My Paleo Patisserie

I've had phases with baking. My mom wasn't much of a baker, so when I got into it in high school it was new and exciting. After grad school when I switched to a very restrictive diet, I still made treats but didn't do detailed, careful-measuring "baking" and didn't use common ingredients or chemistry. Now that we eat our own personalized versions of the Paleo Diet, I avoid super sweet things most