Before & After: Master Bedroom Renovation

Posted on October 21, 2019
Before and after photos of our Victorian home attic renovation. This is our master bedroom.

Last week, I showed the before and after pics of the main living space in our attic remodel. This week, it’s all about the master bedroom.

Quick reminder: this is what this spooky-ass space looked like before:

Our bedroom is roughly located in the “room” in the photo on the right. As I mentioned before, our house in an original duplex (meaning it was built as a duplex, not a single family house later turned into a duplex) in the late 1890s. Apparently, each unit had a bedroom in the attic for their maids. I honestly can’t believe anyone ever lived up here. There was a weird old toilet in the basement when we moved in (we’ve since updated that!), which leads me to believe they had to go down four flights of stairs to pee.

Anyhow, our goal for the bedroom was to make it big enough for a … Read more

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Before & After: Our Victorian Attic Renovation

Posted on October 16, 2019
before and after - attic renovation - hey eleanor

When we bought this turn of the century Victorian duplex in 2012, the attic captured our imagination.

First of all, it was just so creepy. Second, because there were two bedrooms up there (but no heat or bathroom, so whyyyy? We later found out that they were probably maids quarters back in the day!). And third, because it was roughly 1,000-square-feet of untapped potential.

We took a few engagement photos in the unfinished attach in 2013. Feel the romance!
Photo: Jonny Edwin

We talked about turning it into an apartment. But there were so many hoops to jump through in order to make it legal. I’d brought up this crazy idea of turning it into a big master bedroom and bath. Maybe with an office for me, and a living room that’s not filled with Legos and dolls. OMG and we could put laundry up there, too! Not hauling baskets … Read more

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What do you do purely for your own enjoyment?

Posted on April 17, 2019
hey eleanor - minivan

Hello, friends and strangers!

Things have changed a little since I was really rippin’ and roarin’ on Hey Eleanor. Allow me to elaborate.

1. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and started taking medication, which has changed everything!

2. I had another baby. His name is Clark!

3. We finished the attic on our 120-year-old home and now feel like we live in a magazine. (I keep meaning to do a full post on the reno, but it’s never clean enough to take good photos… I think I’ll just do it anyhow. I mean, I couldn’t even remove the pregnancy pillow from my bed in the photo below).

4. Namakan, the company I started with my bestie, has filed for a patent (!) on our magnetic faux fur ruff. It attaches to any hood or collar. PS get 20% off your order with code HEY20!

5. I now drive … Read more

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Why I’m glad I didn’t have a VBAC

Posted on August 6, 2018
should i have a vbac?

When I found out I was pregnant with baby #2 last fall, I had a big decision on my hands:

To VBAC or not to VBAC?

For those of you who aren’t fully immersed in mommy culture (I’m jealous), I’ll save you from Googling: it stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.

Up until pretty recently, once you had one C-section, most providers would insist all subsequent babies are born via C-section. But today, most women are able to decide whether or not they want to attempt birthing ye ol’ fashioned way.

Since my daughter was born via an 8-inch incision, and I was healthy, I got to make this choice. It wasn’t easy, so I made a pros and cons list. Here’s what I considered.

VBAC Pros:

Potentially an easier recovery. Recovering from a C-section is no joke. Trust me, I already did it once. With a vaginal delivery,… Read more
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I don’t like my postpartum body and that’s okay.

Posted on May 15, 2018
I don't like my postpartum body and that's okay.

I know it’s not the cool thing to say, and that “radical self love and acceptance” is all the rage. But can I tell you a secret?

I don’t like my postpartum body.

During my first pregnancy, I felt great. I was super confident in my body. Sure, I was gaining weight like crazy, but you’re supposed to gain weight when you’re pregnant! Before I was pregnant, I’d maybe eat ice cream or cookies or dessert a few times a month. “Polly” (aka Pregnant Molly) would think nothing of enjoying a blueberry muffin on a Tuesday morning, or having a burger for dinner. I was anemic and needed more iron in my diet. A burger was actually a step in the right direction.

I didn’t completely let the wheels fall off.

I exercised a few times a week until I hit 29 weeks and my body could no longer take … Read more

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