I haven't written the actual post where I go in depth of all the products, process, information, etc. about the backyard but I feel like I've let y'all down with any sort of update to begin with. It's finally done (with the exception of a few minor details) so here's a sneak peak! I promise a more in-depth DIY post will follow soon! Just need to get more pictures.

A DIY/how-to build these outdoor couches is coming soon! Stay tuned. For now, here's quick and short source list to give you an idea of where I spent all my money. 

Source list 

-Couch frame: Lowes (blue print and how-to from Ana White) 

-Cushions: IKEA (Shipping was INSANE)

-Pillows: Target/Lowes

-Globe Lights: Target

-Coffee Table: Craigslist (stained in Java Gel)

-Solar Lights Accessories: Target

-Wood Bowl: Target

-Corner Candle Holder: Craigslist

Basically all accessories are from Target...I love that place. My whole bank account goes there. I have a problem. 

I should've gotten my degree in interior design (not that I'm even remotely good at it) but I seriously have a passion for it and just absolutely love designing and renovation. I need to pitch to HGTV for a new show. Any title ideas? (Totally...partially kidding y'all).

Backyard Happenings - Progress

Hi y'all. I wanted to give you an update on our backyard reno progress. When we bought our house, we transformed the backyard from a dirt lot to a semi decent turf/brick/rock combination. I could not for the life of me find a "before" picture of when we first moved in, but just imagine a long dirt/rock/trash-ish backyard and you have ours. Standard in Vegas now-a-days. After it was all said and done, I knew it wasn't my "perfect backyard" and that I would eventually take on renovating it at some point in time. Here's what it looked like after our makeshift turf and brick border, yikes. Decent, but so far off.

I think it was raining that day so Homer was too chicken to go out there. Why are dogs so afraid of the rain? Or is it just my dogs? Anyway, the whole yard was covered in sports turf and there was a 2ft brick border with rocks filling it to the walls. BORING. We originally created the yard for the dogs so it wasn't a big deal, but I soon realized that I love sitting outside on nice days (and Vegas has a lot of them & I'm also probably the only one who'll say that) so adding a patio area/grill area/game area was on my list of to-do's for the house. Ryan will say that to-do list is never-ending, and he may be right.

The time has come and we finished all the major work, with the exception of furniture (which I'm building and will have a post up soon!) and a fire pit. We bought grade A turf this time and I must say it makes a world of difference. It looks like real grass and the pups love it. Its so much more plush and nicer to walk on. Proof: picture below.

We also didn't have any sort of patio area so I bricked an entire 10x11ft patio myself. It was A LOT of work but well worth it. We removed all the old turf so that's why everything is all black from the sand/rubber. Also, the first picture is of it wet from filling the cracks with sand and watering it. Because everyone knows you have to water your brick so it grows...

We had a grill area against our house next to the sliding doors until it literally turned the side of our house black from the smoke so we built it's own little area next to the patio.

Now there's turf on one side and a patio on the other, and the walkway you ask? Well, we struggled a solution for that because no one had rocks we liked, either that or the super nice ones were going to be crazy expensive. That will come in another post because this one is already so long. But just giving you an idea of what we were juggling, I pulled a few inspiration pics from none other than Pinterest. Duh.

I really love the river rock look but the decomposed granite style was what we ended up going with. I don't have a picture just yet because we just finished that portion (takes days with tamping and watering and more tamping and more watering) but I'll get that up tomorrow. So far, the backyard looks AMAZING with designated areas. And.........

Here's a sneak peak into my current project of building my own outdoor furniture. 

Yes, I built that! On my own! And no, it will not break when you sit on it. I'll go into detail once it's done, but basically made of 2x4s, stain (which I only did the outsides because cushions are going on top), and a few handy tools you can get at your local hardware store. It took me only a day to build (few hours) and 2 coats of gel stain baby! Stay tuned, DIY how-to coming soon. 

A Couple House Updates (Floor Update, too!)

We're making headway people! Well...sort of. We've done a few new things to the house since I last updated it on the blog 20 years ago. Our new floors got put in but they look absolutely terrible on camera, which is why I have yet to post about them. They're dark, but have some hues of blonde, but in pictures the blonde comes out so much more making them look like butthole. Excuse my french. So until I can figure out a way to make them look how they really do in person, you'll be getting snips of them here and there.

Here's they're before though, just for your reference.

They were red toned laminate and sheer ugliness with our grey paint. Also, during the process, we would walk on these and then our new ones and they are loads different! Much better on our feet. 

I found this amazing tufted vintage chair on CL. Originally posted for $100, I haggled to $80, then Ryan picked it up and they took $60. A STEAL. Chairs like this are worth at LEAST $300 (probably more) but I'm not giving this bad boy up, that's for sure. Still waiting to put a lamp and foot stool. I was thinking something along the lines of these at Target. 

[Source list: Chair: CL, side table: CL, pillow: amazon]

Lamp:

Foot Stool: or maybe a leather pouf

But as you can see a slight picture of our new floors, the light parts are really picking up in the picture that don't in real life. It gives our house a more luxury rustic feel, if that's even a possible combination but can be appreciated way more in person. I'm trying to modify the pictures I have to make them look as they really do but even photoshop can't do these floors justice LOL. 

A few more house updates:

Our Tv stand/dresser type thing, which is shoe storage for us, but finally put some decor pieces on there. I actually didn't mean to make it a white/teal theme but just so happened to put those pieces like that. Ryan's dad just cut into the wall and hid all the cords, YAY! It is off-centered, no, you are not crazy. Unfortunately, that was where the studs were and there's nothing I can do about that, but it doesn't bother us anymore honestly. Do you like how I styled my shoes for this shot? lol.  

Source list: all items are from Marshals except the blue Tiffany's journal & box, which was a gift.

I finally brought over my piano from my parents house. This style is temporary because I have a few vintage paintings I want to hang over it, but need to get them framed. So for now, our "model-esk" picture will suffice. Remember how I said I wanted to take on a massive project and paint that piano? Well it turns out that the stain is in really good shape and it would just be a shame to cover it up. I thought it was a lot more beat up, which is why I wanted to paint it in the first place, but because the stain is very rich and dark-toned, it goes well with the floor and gives a lot of warmth to the room. 

Lastly, I moved our chair picture ledge and added a mirror to the entryway. 

I'll have to admit that it looked better on our blue wall, but I've got bigger plans for that baby so stay tuned!

XOXO,

minsuepin

It's all about the LOFT, 'bout the LOFT: Superheroes

Ok, ok, I'm no Meghan Trainor, but those play on words were awesome! 

Although its not nearly done, I wanted to share these super cool vintage superhero pieces I got from New Orleans! They arrived weeks ago and sat on our kitchen island forever until today. I know folks, I'm really on the ball with this. Feel free to compliment.

DC:

-Green Lantern 

-Wonder Woman

-Batman

-Superman

Marvel:

-Iron Man

-Thor

-The Incredible Hulk

-Spiderman

-Wolverine

-Captain America

I decided to separate the Marvel and DC heroes, mainly because I'm evil, but also because of the color pallets and number of tin pieces we had. We originally almost bought 12, but 2 of them were horizontal and we didn't want it to be all uneven and junks, so we settled on the 10 most important to the world. 

At just about $10 a pop, it would've been stupid NOT to get them. Plus we always try to get some kind of art/thing (I use the word thing loosely) from the different places we visit. I can't remember the store we bought them from, but when I find it, I'll update the post because they have an online catalog you can pick a bunch of different vintage pieces from. Not only pictures either and at SUPER affordable prices! 

I just mainly arranged them by color. I didn't want all the yellows/greens/blues together but I made sure each side had 3 DC heroes so the fight would be even. ;) 

[LOFT] List still to do:

-Art

-Pillows

-Throw blanket

-Figure out how to make the dog kennel hidden/appealing to the eye

-Coffee table decor (books, flowers, vases, something???) Its currently empty. 

-New TV stand, or mount the TV on the wall. I haven't decided that just yet. 

Again, the loft is hardly finished. But at least the art is done. There is an American flag on the left side above the couch, but I didn't want to take a picture of it just yet because I haven't added pillows to the couch yet. The TV is on the opposite wall of that. The loft is pretty much the boy's area now, but I have to at least make it somewhat appealing and cute. SOMEWHAT. 

Boy, that dog cage is an eye-sore. Ugh.