She Strengthens

The Essential Items You Need for Your New Home

Congratulations on this new chapter in your life! Whether you’re newly engaged, buying your first home, or simply starting fresh, this is an exciting time. Once you’ve navigated the mountains of paperwork and planning, it’s time to focus on the fun stuff – like building your dream home.

Our Story

My husband and I got married while living in a small apartment, so we decided to keep our wedding gifts boxed up until we purchased a home. Five months later, we bought a house that needed a complete gut renovation, which took six months to complete. Now, we’ve finally had a chance to unpack and try out some of our gifts.

The Must-Haves

These everyday items have become essential to our household:

An Immersion Blender

This is my go-to tool for blending soups, dips, sauces, marinades, whipped cream, hummus, and even making salad dressing from scratch. I use it constantly!

A Microplane Grater-Zester

I don’t remember registering for this, but I’m so glad I did. It’s easy to clean and sharp, making it perfect for zesting lemons and limes, grating ginger, and shredding hard cheeses.

The Perfect Wooden Spoon

Don’t underestimate the importance of a good wooden spoon! This one is the perfect size, easy to clean, and can be used in any cooking vessel.

Washable Cloth Napkins

Using cloth napkins elevates every meal, whether it’s a dinner party or a cozy night in. Plus, they’re cost-effective and better for the environment.

Marin “Low Bowl”

We were looking for dinnerware that was both functional and stylish. The Marin collection from Crate & Barrel fit the bill, especially the “low bowl” which is perfect for grain-based meals and salads.

Linen Sheets

Linen sheets are a game-changer. Breathable, durable, and softer with every wash, I’ll never go back to regular cotton sheets.

Mini Oven Mitts

These adorable mini oven mitts are easy to store and protect your hands from burns. Who needs giant lobster claw oven mitts, anyway?

A Do-Everything Dutch Oven

This heavy-bottomed pot is perfect for soups, sauces, and one-pot meals. Plus, it can go straight into the oven.

All-Clad Cookware

My former boss, a culinary school grad, recommended this cookware set, promising it was worth the investment. Two years later, I can confidently say these pans will last us a lifetime.

A Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

This mini-Dyson is a lifesaver for quick cleanups around the house. We use it multiple times a day!

The Items That Are Still Waiting

While the above items have become staples in our home, there are a few that haven’t seen as much action – yet!

• A popcorn popper: We love popcorn, but we’ve been too lazy to make it from scratch.
• A wok: We cook a lot of Asian-inspired food, but we’re intimidated by the seasoning process.
• A wine carafe: We don’t drink much, so this has been collecting dust.
• A panini press: We’ve never used it, but I’m feeling inspired to try some fancy sandwiches.
• A crockpot: We worried about coming home to burnt food, but now that I work from home, I’m excited to try some healthy recipes.

What are your must-have items for your home? Share with us in the comments!