Outdoor spaces shift with the seasons, and concrete often shows those changes first. A patio that once felt even can develop a slight dip. A driveway can lean just enough to send water in the wrong direction or snag a stroller wheel. These changes usually happen quietly, then suddenly feel impossible to ignore. Concrete never stays frozen in time. Soil settles, moisture moves beneath the surface, and older slabs adjust to the ground below them. The encouraging part is that these issues rarely demand demolition. A simple maintenance step can restore a surface to its original position and Continue reading...
DIY Rocking Chair Rehab Reveal!
My daughter thrifted two free wood rocking chairs for me over the summer so I got to work refinishing and painting them so they will look perfect on our paver patio! (I took them indoors this fall to protect them from any harsh winter weather.) Get the details on how I rehabbed them—just click on the links to see all the products I used! I have always loved rocking chairs. When I was growing up, there was one in my home's living room. This past July, I was thrilled when one of my kids secured a pair of rocking chairs for me from Facebook Marketplace—for free! She even picked them up for Continue reading...
Latest Projects and Crafts —What I’ve Been Up to Lately
Happy November, everyone! I can't believe how quickly fall has been flying by! I thought I'd take a little time to share what I've been up to! Rocking Chair Rehab with My Multitool In July, my daughter picked up for me two rocking chairs that she had spotted for free on Facebook Marketplace — that was so sweet of her! The chairs were in pretty good shape, except that they on is missing a slat, and they needed some refinishing. For the missing slat, I think it will be fine after I add custom cushions I plan to make for them. It looks like the slat broke off and I don't have any Continue reading...
Spring Happenings—and Giveaway!
If you read my blog, you know that I have an adorable little Shih Tzu named Mochi! He is my buddy! I just got him a haircut, and he is looking super dapper! I love how clean he is now! The groomer even brushed his teeth! But anyone who has a dog knows they can be messy! For instance, when he goes on walks, he loves when we go to this one wooded area with a stream and gets into everything! Sometimes I have to brush dirt and leaves off him, which can get my hands quite messy. So I'm glad I have NOWATA—I bring a tube of it on our walks. My kids are about to graduate from college next month, Continue reading...
Hammock Pad Tutorial: Protect Your Hammock with a Comfortable and Waterproof Covering
Today I am sharing a super easy tutorial for how to create a comfy and protective pad/cover for an outdoor hammock—my husband and kids gifted a hammock and hammock stand for my birthday this year, so I am looking forward to using it! My DIY cover will make it more comfortable and help keep it clean! Sturdy Fabrics for Outdoor Decor I got my outdoor waterproof fabrics and trim from Fabric Wholesale Direct™. They have a wide selection of fabrics and sewing tools to suit all sorts of fabric projects. My hammock is 144 inches x 51.5 inches, so I ordered 5 yards of each fabric and Continue reading...
DIY Flower Pot Umbrella Holder (and My Outdoor Work Area)
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one, I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. Thanks! Amazon is having its BIG SPRING SALE, so now is the perfect time to ready your patio and buy all the decor, furnishings and supplies you'll need! I adore sitting on my paver patio with my Shih Tzu pup, so I recently worked on getting it spruced up. Because the patio can be quite sunny, I got myself a half umbrella to shade the little outdoor loveseat that I like to sit on outside with my pup. I got a red patio umbrella, since dark umbrellas block the sun and its UV rays more Continue reading...
Inexpensive Patio Pet Enclosure
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This post was previously published on Mom Home Guide—I am sharing it again with new updates since it ranks among one of the best DIY projects that my husband and I have completed for our home! Today I'm sharing a project my husband and I completed—or, I should say, HE completed! When the weather gets nice, I like to spend a lot of time outside. The only problem I have is that our yard isn't fenced, and I have a 7-year-old Shih Tzu who wants to be with me all the time! Plus, he is not one to listen to commands, so having some kind of fencing is Continue reading...
Fall Patio Prime Day Wish List
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I am so excited that we've been starting to see some cool fall weather here in NJ! I am looking to beginning to work on the patio again (my day job is as a content writer) and to perhaps enjoy some relaxing evenings outside. I am looking forward to Prime Day Deals on October 10-11 (NEXT WEEK) and have already saved several items that I'd love to update my patio with! I have been checking Amazon daily, since there will be special discounts every day leading up to the special Prime Day Deals! Waterproof Light Sensor Timer I couldn't Continue reading...
Easy Patio Planter Posts for String Lights
Thanks to Thompson's for providing the Waterseal Waterproofing Stain used in this post. I've always wanted to add extra lighting to my home's patio. When we moved in, our patio only had the one light fixture by the back door, which did little to light up the patio. Last summer I put up simple patio planter string light posts that I secured with Sakrete (quick setting concrete) in planters and hung string lights from. Last week I decided to add a few more DIY patio planter posts and an extra length of string lights. I chose Edison-style outdoor string lights for my DIY string light Continue reading...
Readying a Patio for Summer (Plus Water Feature)
This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Thanks to Aquascape for providing me with the patio and fountain described in this post. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. With summer less than a month away, I have been readying my home's backyard patio for summer. Last week I took out the leaf blower and blew off all the dirt and leaves that had accumulated on the patio over the winter and this spring. Over the weekend, I got out my patio pond from Aquascape. My patio pond is a 33-inch square slate-like container that looks wonderful on my Continue reading...