Backyard & Side-yard Renovation Part 2: The Patio

For the past two weeks my husband and I have been working on a major project: tackling our backyard & sideyard and totally renovating everything! We finished putting in new rock, new trees & bushes, two raised planter beds, a paved walk-way, and stepping stones. You can see the first part of our renovation here. Next on our to-do-list for the backyard was to install a patio cover. Having a patio cover is seriously a must for living in Las Vegas. Also considering the fact that we have a large sliding glass door and huge window downstairs that faces the sun the majority of the day/afternoon! It gets so hot downstairs in the summer! Last week we had our new patio cover installed! One guy from DURA-KOOL installed the whole thing in 8 hours! I was totally impressed and he did an awesome job too! We had DURA-KOOL install a solid and lattice patio cover: half & half. I'm amazed with how much light it blocks from coming into the house. It's also a lot cooler in our house too. This sounds really weird, but I'm excited to see our air-conditioning bills in the summer and how much money we might be saving now that we have a patio cover! Here are some before and after photos of our new patio!

Before

After

{Ant's eye-view of the lattice portion of our patio cover}

{Ant's eye-view of the solid portion of our patio cover}

{Our new patio furniture}

{Our finished patio!}

I've decided to make my Backyard & Side-yard Renovation a series in chapter installments. We are still not completely finished with our renovation. In the next chapter, we will tackle the flower beds!

What home projects have you been working on?

What I Wore Wednesday

I found out about What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy through my sister-in-law today, and I thought "How awesome is this!" It's been awhile since Fall Fashion Week 2010 and I've missed looking at what other ladies are wearing! Now, every Wednesday I get to see the latest fashions and post some of my own...how fun is that?!

Here's What I Wore This Wednesday

I bought this dress a few weeks ago and I love it! It's cotton and super comfy. 

What I'm Wearing:

*Black & Gray Striped Cotton Tank Maxi Dress: Target ($19.99)

*Black Patent Leather Flip-Flops: Charlotte Russe ($5.00)

*Betsey Johnson Double Banded Cross & Heart Necklace ($38.00)

What I Plan To Wear This Wednesday Evening

Tonight my hubby and I are going out to downtown Las Vegas for a friend of his' going away party. I love days like these when I get to dress up!

What I'm Wearing Tonight:

*Black Cotton Dress with Gray Flower Pin: Target ($11.88 - sale)

*Betsey Johnson Necklace ($38.00)

*Black Chain Necklace (Handmade - $5.00)

*Black Vintage Flower Earrings: Charlotte Russe ($3.99 - 3 pack)

*Bangles: Charlotte Russe ($3.99)

*Express Clutch: Express (FREE - Black Friday Giveaway)

*Nude Patent Leather Pumps: Charlotte Russe ($10.00 - By 1 get 1 for $10)

What are you wearing this Wednesday?

Top 2 Tuesday...My Favorite Drinks!

My Favorite Drinks

***Please note I am an avid water drinker. Water is definitely me go-to drink of choice and it is super healthy for you! But, because it's a boring drink I listed some of my other favorites that are quite fun!***

1. My all-time favorite drink, and the one you will most likely see me drinking at least once a week, is a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino. I would say that Mocha Frappuccinos are definitely one of the little things in life that brightens my day just a little. There's nothing better than enjoying an ice cold frappuccino on a beautiful spring day, discussing life with friends/family nearby. For me, drinking these things is borderline obsessive, an addiction really. However, I've cut down a lot! I love Mocha Frappuccinos, they are just so good! 

2. I also love strawberry lemonade! Fresh and Easy sells a strawberry lemonade that is to die for! It is so sweet and perfect for summer weather! 

I know I've been M.I.A. for awhile, but these past few weeks have been super busy. There's so many projects we've been doing around the house and different events going on that I haven't had much time. But now that most of the projects are finished, I should have more time to post more often! 

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” – 1 John 5:14-15-

Link up at The Undomestic Momma and join the fun!

Top 2 Tuesday...Songs on My Ipod!

Top 2 Songs On My Ipod!

{Disclaimer: I'm probably the only one you'll meet who doesn't own an Ipod. I laugh at this because my husband is totally into technology and loves his Apple products! You would imagine that I would have one...but no. So, for now here are a few songs that are on my Pandora Radio.

1. Never Let Me Go by Family Force 5

2. Remedy by The David Crowder Band

3. Tiny Heart by Flyleaf

4. Comatose by Skillet

Link up and join the fun at The Undomestic Momma! What are your Top 2 songs on your Ipod or Pandora/Playlist account?                      

Backyard & Side-yard Renovation!

On March 23, I mentioned that we had our landscapers come over to trim our trees and also got estimates for putting in a patio cover. Well, we decided to have our landscapers come back this week to take out all our old rock, put new rock in, put new irrigation systems in, plant new plants in the backyard, lay brick for a planting bed on the side-yard in the back of the house and the front of the house, lay brick for a walk way, and also lay stepping stones. Seems like a huge project, I know, but it only took them three days and they're all finished! Next week, the patio cover people will be coming by to put up our patio cover. We weren't expecting them for another 3-4 weeks, but they are able to start right away. Plus, it only takes them a day to put up! My hubby and I are super excited with how everything is turning out. This weekend we will be going back to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Star Nursery for bedding plants and hopefully to find a patio set. Because we have two planting beds (one in the backyard on the side of the house and one in the front yard on the same side of the house) the planting bed in the backyard will be a vegetable garden and the planting bed in the front will be all flowers. Here is the patio set we are considering to get (btw the hubster really wants a fire pit):

Alright, now what you've all been waiting for...here are the before and after pictures of our renovation!

Before

Backyard: Left side of yard

Backyard: Left side of yard

Backyard: Middle of yard

Backyard: Middle of yard

Backyard: Right side of yard

Backyard: side-yard

Front-yard: Side-yard

After

Backyard: Left side of yard - new Lime Citrus Tree & Azalea bushes

Close-up of Azalea plant

Backyard: Center of yard - new plants

Middle of yard - new Bouganvilla plants

Middle of yard - new Bouganvilla plants

Close-up of Bouganvilla bush

Backyard: Right side of yard - new Orange Citrus Tree

Backyard: Side-yard - new rock, stepping stones, & brick planting bed

Side-yard close-up

Side-yard - stepping stones/new rock

Front-yard: Side-yard - new rock, brick walkway, & brick planting bed

Close-up of brick planting bed

Close-up of brick walkway

What do you guys think? Have you done any recent home renovation projects?

Spring Wreath D.I.Y.

A few weeks ago, my sister and some girls from Hope Baptist Church's youth group Refuge got together for a craft day on a Sunday after church. My sister, Taylor, and I decided to make wreaths, each one being very different, and the others made collages.

All the girls and their crafts!

Sarah decided to  make a wreath out of old book pages.

Taylor made her wreath out of bird seed.

Chelsea, at the beginning of her collage.

Danielle working on her Mod Podge project.

I decided to make a spring time wreath like I made a year ago for fall. You can check out the fall wreath here. Making a wreath is very simple. All you need is a foam wreath (any size), yarn, ribbon, and decorative embellishments (flowers, butterflies, birds, etc.).

1. Gather supplies: Yarn, ribbon, foam wreath, hot glue gun, & butterflies!

2. Wrap foam wreath with yarn. Wrap the wreath twice so that no foam shows through. Tie knots on the back to secure the yarn in place.

3. Make a bow out of wired ribbon and hot glue it to your wreath. This video breaks down how to make a beautiful bow and its so simple! 

4. Place and hot glue butterfly embellishments.

5. Hang your wreath on your front door, wall, etc. 

Happy Crafting Everyone!