A Little Update!

Back in May I posted on how we had finally finished our side yard here.  Well I thought I would give you an update on how things are growing!

As you can see things are growing great!  The top pic is from the gate looking back.  In the front there are sunflowers, we have eggplant, peppers and snap peas there.  The back bed, shown in the second pic behind my bottle tree has the squash, radishes and beans.  I love how it is turning out and am looking forward to adding more!

Here are a few pics of my tomatoes.  I love the topsy turvy planter.  We planted this about 5 weeks ago with a plant from Depot.  A small plant!

Can you see the tomatoes in the center bottom!  Can't wait to taste those.  Next is the tomatoes I planted in a pot before we built the raised beds.  First there is a Sweet Cluster, then a Black Roma.

Can't wait to see those change color!

The last pic is looking from the back towards the front.  You can see my cool bottle tree!  I found that at Collections, Etc and we put it in a pot full of rocks!  As you can see we have already started decorating it!

You can also see our wine bottle tiki torch.  Love it, and I finally found a blue bottle, just need to get it all put together.

Have a great week!

Laura











 

A little frosting?

 

After redoing the hutch we have had for 25 years I got inspiration to revamp our entertainment unit.

 Here is a pic of it.  We had it built 6 years ago after we got this monstrosity of a TV!  We had to have it custom built because of where it sits.

 

There used to be a wet bar here, but we removed it cause we didn't use it, and it just collected 'stuff'.!  So what ever we got had to have a back!

Yes, have you ever seen an entertainment unit at the store with a solid back?  I couldn't find one!

Here is why!  There is a little walkway to the powder room!  So we have a solid back and there are holes on the sides for the cords and inside between shelves.  But I digress!

 

This past weekend we got a new TV!  Isn't it cool!  

Since we were working with a fixed area we could only get a certain size!  So DH built a little shelf for it to sit on with the DVR underneath!   But then I noticed how ugly the glass doors looked with all the 'stuff' inside! 

So, I got out my cricut!  I really need to sit down an play with it more.  I bought some stencil paper for it and decided on a stencil to use in the middle.  Then sprayed with frosted spray paint!

Voila!  So much better!

And so easy to do!  I knew there was a reason I bought that cricut!

Have a great day!

Laura

               

Good day at the store!

I don't know about you, but I always try to use coupons whenever I can.  I combine them with the store deals to get the most for my money.  I figure we work hard for that dollar, it should work hard for us!  So today I ran a few errands. 
Went to Albertson's first:
got 3 cans of black eyed peas  $1.19 ea
2 sweet baby rays bbq sauce  $1.00 ea
bottle of wine ( hey it is a holiday weekend ") )
12 pk of cottonelle TP
I had these coupons - sweet baby rays $1/2, cottonelle $1 off store coupon plus a $1.50 manf coupon
Total before coupons and savings $28.28
after coupons and savings $13.10.

I recently found an old Albertsons gift card, it had a $6.85 bal, then I used a rebate card I got from staples for doing the awesome paper deal a while back. So my out of pocket was $0

Then off to Pavilions - affilate of Safeway. 
Bought a lot and used coupons and ecoupons.  Total before coupons was $90.39
after coupons and savings $34.10, I had a gift card with a $24.59 balance, then used that rebate card again, so out of pocket was $0!  Plus I got a $3 off your next order for buying 4 honest teas, and a coupon for a FREE grande frappe at starbucks, DD will love this!

Last stop was staples.  Took in 10 used cartridges for $30 credit, then had to buy a new one.  Recently found a staples gift card with a $10 balance, so the rest I used the rebate card for!  OOP $0

Love it!

Now off to clean the house for the weekend..

Recycling all those wine bottles!

Yes, you know what I am talking about!

I saw this cool idea a few months ago and have been dying to do it.

It is just taking an empty wine bottle that has been washed and cleaned off, a few parts from the hardware store, tiki oil and wicks!  It is that easy.  Check out the link they give all the particulars!

wine bottle tiki torch

We went to Lowes last weekend and bought the parts, about $5 for all of them, then we bought the tiki oil and had to hunt down the wicks.  Must be that time of year.

I don't have a pic of us putting it together, but if you check out the link they give great directions!

Here is a pic of the finished product!

Last weekend we had a fire in the fire pit and lit this up.  It worked great!  Not I just need to find a blue wine bottle.  Anyone know what kind of wine uses blue bottles?

Have a great weekend

Laura

Updating an old friend!

We have had this armoire since we got married over 25 years ago.  While it served it's purpose, it need something.  

 Here it is a Christmas time, I used wrapping paper to cover the glass, it was a mess inside.

 DH wouldn't let me paint it!  So I decided to take a different approach.  I cleaned it out good and polished and got the tape residue off.  Then I got new hinges and pulls and found a cool product.  It is call Light Effects Window Film.  I found mine at my local Home Depot.  Here is their link  Light Effects

It is like a window cling for adults!  So easy to apply, just soapy water and a squeege!

Here is the final product.  Isn't it great!

Here are a few close ups!

I just loved how it turned out.

And I did it myself!

Have a great day!

Laura


 

It is finished!

I still can't believe it but we finished the side yard!  Yeah!  Here is the link about the progress link

We finished this afternoon, worked on the paver patio all day yesterday, that was a killer, but I loved how it turned out.

So with out further ado, my new side yard!

The whole yard, with the raised beds on the right.

Our new paver patio.  Love it!

Our trusty windmill.  In-laws got it at quartzsite a few years ago.  It is right by the veggies we are growing, our 'farm'.















Hope you like it!  I still have some planting to do but that is the fun part.  Now we are just chilling enjoying our labors!

Toodles,

Laura

Linking to:

Happy Mother's Day to me!

We have been looking for some new chairs for the front porch. The ones we have now are plastic adriondack chairs that are about 16 years old!  I wanted to paint them but DH didn't like the idea.  To buy chairs, they are about $100 each!  Ouch!  Well this weekend we were at HD trying to decide what to do with the paver patio and look what we spied!  Yup adriondack chairs!  You put them together and they were $29.98 ea!  Score.  

I am staining them black with Minwax Polyshades!  Here is one before and one during!  

They will need another coat, but I had to stop today to go pick up DD.  You can see the side yard garden in the background.  Where the chairs are will be a sort of floating paver patio with river rock surrounding it.

Here is the black chair.

On another note, first tomatoes!

Have a great week!

Laura