Before & After: Backyard Edition, 3rd & Final Phase

When we bought our house 8 years ago, there was a lot of work that needed to be done, especially the backyard.
The backyard was a DISASTER.
 It was 30 years of over growth & not being maintained.

The pool had issues. Major issues. Cracks. Leaks. Nastiness.

Kevin & I saw the potential and we had a vision of what we wanted our backyard to look like.
Well, 8 years later the backyard is FINALLY completed.
We did the backyard renovation in 3 phases and we are so happy with how it turned out!
Here is a little walk down memory lane to see the backyard transformation.
You know I love a good before & after :)
Backyard when we first bought the house in 2010.
There was a rotting overhang:
Phase 1 of this area...tearing down the overhang:
Phase 2 of the remodel in 2013...tearing out all the bushes along the fence & getting a new fence.
(Kevin tore all those original bushes out....took MONTHS!!!!)

 Alternate view:

 Phase 3...get rid of some of the lawn to extend the patio and to make a better walkway:

We added steps to new French Door (we added the French Door about 4 years ago)

Our beautiful outdoor living area that Kevin & our neighbor built:

Alternate view in 2010:

After:

I mean....wow.

So much better!!!

Garden area Before in 2010. It was just a bunch of weeds & overgrown plum trees that didn't produce anything.

We changed this area in 2011 & Kevin built Garden boxes & we added steps.

Garden Area 2018:

The pool BEFORE when we first bought it......it was like a swamp.

One of the first things we did before we moved in was re-do the pool, put up a pool fence, put up a new side fence & re-do the landscaping around the pool.

 Alternate view of pool area after we fixed in 2010 before we moved in:

In 2013, we ripped out the bushes and added more cement around the pool:

Last summer we took down the pool fence while Kevin was building the outdoor structure and we never put it back up (because Luke is extremely pool safe). Kevin also ripped out that palm tree that used to be in the middle of the patio)

The pool area is so user friendly now.

 BEFORE {May 2010} The kids called the pool a pond...it was scary!
After in 2018:

The lounge chairs are from Costco (and match the outdoor couches)

Closer look at the furniture in the Ladies Lounge:

The Ladies Lounge is what my friends and I have named this area :)

Furniture is from Costco.

We have a TV under here and we spend a lot of time out here. It's like an outdoor family room.

  The table converts to a firepit.

Night view:

Here is what the structure looks like from another angle:

The structure was officially finished at the beginning of this year, but this was the first Summer we have enjoyed it. 

It's been so nice to have shade back here!

The side yard is another area we re-did. 

Before in 2010, it was dirt & a random walkway.

To the left you see a mini fence (that hid our pool equipment). Another before because it was just nasty.

Here is what it looked like after we fixed it up a few months after we moved in:

Here is what it looks like now!

 Kevin & our neighbor built this awesome bar! We had the pool equipment moved so that it wasn't in the way, now it is behind the fence on the side yard.

Here is what the back of the bar looks like:

We call it the LarBar:

It seats 8 people at the bar.

There is also another TV.

I got the chairs HERE.

View from across the pool:

 We got rid of the grass in this area and extended our patio:

Of course I had to add hanging twinkle lights:

Here is what it looks like at night:

We are SO happy with how our backyard turned out.

It has been a labor of love. 

We did most of this with our bare hands (except for building a new fence & pouring the new cement, we hired professionals for that)

We also hired a professional to re-do the pool in 2010, move our pool equipment & change the electrical, but everything else was done by myself, Kevin & our neighbor. 

I did all the landscaping planning & Kevin and I did all the planting of trees, plants & laying black mulch.

The only thing that is original in the backyard is the grass (even though we changed the shape of it)

We ripped everything out, including the original patios & walkways. 

Everything else in the backyard from 2010 we literally ripped out with our bare hands. 

There is not one original tree or plant in our backyard.

Many hours of our blood, sweat & tears have been spent working in this backyard.

We do a TON of entertaining & throw a lot of parties and we love having people over to our house. We designed the backyard so that it would be an outdoor living space.

Kevin has guys over to watch sports & it's so nice having the outside bar area.

My girlfriends and I watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette on Mondays and it was so nice to have the outside Ladies Lounge so we could watch it there. We are also lucky that here in California we don't have bugs, so we spend a lot of evenings out there.

I think we've eaten dinner outside every night this summer.

So happy that we are FINALLY done and this was the first Summer we could relax in the backyard and not have a project going on.

You can see the entire Before & After of Phase 1 HERE and Phase 2 HERE

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Friday Favorites {Goodbye Summer, Hello School}

Happy Friday!

Today I'm linking up with Friday Favorites!

 Hosted by: Andrea, Erika & Narci

I am SO happy it is Friday.

We are just finishing our 2nd week of school and I am starting to get my groove back. 

The first few weeks of school always kick my butt.

All summer long we sleep in, stay in pj's until noon, pretty much just wear swim suits, and have lots of family hang out time. There is a reason they call them the lazy dog days of summer and they are glorious.

But then once school starts we are thrust back into routine (which I love) but it takes all of us a few weeks to get back into our groove. I am tired from teaching & being "on" all day. My kids are tired from spending all day at school, learning new routines with their new teachers, etc. 

Soccer for all 3 kids started back up, so they are tired from 2 practices a week, 

I am driving them around town and I am coaching Claire's team, so that is fun, but also tiring. 

Kevin is coaching Luke's team, which again is fun & tiring. 

Plus, add in Back to School Nights for all 3 kids plus my own Back to School Night so

needless to say, we are TIRED!

Everyone loves their teachers and classes, but a new school year is just TIRING! 

{ONE}

The First Day of School is one of my favorite days of the year.
So much anticipation & excitement. It's like Christmas morning to me :)

The past several years, I have been taking first day photos also :)

This is Year 15 of teaching for me!!!!

 One of my favorite things about this school year is that Kate is a student at my school!
Love seeing her at school each day :)

{TWO}

One of my favorite things to give my kids teachers the first week of school is my Back to School Printable which is a list of their FAVORITE things!

 You can download it HERE for free!
It's a great way to know what your kids teachers love and it i makes giving them treats/gifts so much easier!

{THREE}

Running is my favorite form of exercise.
In May I decided that I would run a race every month until I turned 40...in May 2019.
So, for my August race, I ran the Oakland 5k.

 One of the race sponsors was the Oakland A's and proceeds from the race went to the Oakland schools.

The best part was the race was at 4pm, so I didn't have to wake up early. Haha!

We got this cute mason jar at the end of the race & a free beer!

{FOUR}

Anniversary's are my favorite and today Kevin & I celebrate our Sweet 16th!

It has been sweet, it has been sour.
We have laughed. We have cried.
There have been good times and bad times, but thankfully the good has outweighed the bad.
Marriage is a wonderful thing, but marriage is hard and takes a lot of work.
Thanks for putting up with me, Kevin!

{FIVE}

This Avocado Slicer is my new favorite kitchen tool!

 It is AWESOME & a 3 in one tool.

It cuts the avocado open.

Twist the pit out


Then slice up the avocado.

I am OBSESSED!
You can get it HERE.

{SIX}

Birthdays are my favorite!
Luke turned 6 earlier this month.

We celebrated with a Lumberjack themed party!

Throwing parties is one of my very favorite things & so are the incredible cakes my Mother in Law makes.
You can see all the Lumberjack Party details HERE.

{SEVEN}

Rodan + Fields new product Active Hydration Body Replenish is my new favorite's because it has totally healed my cracked heels from wearing flip flops all summer!

I use it on my heels & my entire body...it is like silk!
 
If you have dry or crepy/scaly skin...you need this in your life :)
For my August Special, all new preferred customers will get $20 off your order and a FREE jar of our Active Hydration Body Replenish ($60 value!)

 

We have products for all skin types.

Redefine for Anti Aging, Fine Line & Wrinkles:

 Reverse for Sun Damage, Age Spots, Melasma and Skin Brightness.

 Unblemish for acne (works on teens & adults)

Soothe for Sensitive Skin & Redness:

Click HERE to find out what regimen is best for your skin!

And, don't forget about Lash Boost! It's the best!
 

 If you used to be a customer, we are offering this deal to returning customers as well!

Email me with questions or to place an order!
melissa_larson17@yahoo.com

{EIGHT}

As you know, my  Instant Pot is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. I used it several times this summer to make BBQ ribs. SO easy & so good!

Here are some of my other favorite recipes using my Instant Pot:

Easiest Dinner EVER:


Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup 


Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken:


 
Instant Pot Rosemary Beef Stew


Mexican Chicken Couscous Casserole:

 I use my  Instant Pot 1-2 times a week, especially in the Fall/Winter.
I have been working on some new IP recipes to share with you...stay tuned!

{NINE}

Cougars on Cruisers is one of my favorite nights of the year. This is auction item for our kids Elementary School.

It is basically a scavenger hunt/competition on bikes.
 I was one of the hosts/organizers this year and it was a blast.

When I posted about this last week on Instagram, some of you asked if I would do a full blog post on this fundraiser and what we did. GREAT idea! I am working on that....stay tuned!


{TEN}
My new favorite shoes for teaching...Rothy's!!!

I blogged about them in the Spring, but had to mention them again because I LOVE them.
I love Tory Burch flats, but the style I like was discontinued last year. I need comfy (and cute!) shoes to teach in. Enter, Rothy's.

 They are made from recycled water bottles!!!!
They come in tons of colors and 3 different styles.
I love the pointed toe version, but they also come in rounded toe or loafer.
They just now started carrying kids sizes.
My favorite ones are the pointed toe/solid black.

Not only are they extremely comfortable, they are stylish. And, a total bonus that they are made with recycled water bottles. It feels like I am wearing slippers.
And, the insoles are machine washable!
I recommend sizing up 1/2 a size.
If you click HERE, you get $20 off your order!
They offer free shipping & free returns.

So, there you have it....some of my favorites!
Have a great weekend!