Landscaping, Shed, Patio, & Pool Adventures

This house has my blood, sweat, and tears in it. From yard disasters to DIY victories, I’ve faced every challenge head-on and learned so much along the way. Here’s the full story of how I turned overwhelming projects into spaces my family can enjoy.

Landscaping Wins (and Lessons)

Mulching & Weeds

Pro tip: always use landscape fabric and pins before mulching. I learned the hard way. Within days of skipping this step, weeds took over. I ended up digging out all the mulch, laying the fabric and pins, then putting the mulch back. Time-consuming? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely—weeks later, no weeds and ready for flowers

Bricks, Edging, & Rocks

Mulch fades and collects debris over time. I invested in landscaping bricks, lawn edging, and white marble rock. It took 68 bags of rock (yes, 68!), but now I have a low-maintenance, sharp-looking yard that was worth every penny

The Rock Wall Disaster

There was a crumbling rock wall that was both ugly and unsafe for my toddler. I found a handyman on Angi who happily took the rocks (he was building his own wall), saving me money. Then came the heavy lifting: 20 bags of mulch + 41 bags of topsoil + grass seed = fresh green yard. Exhausting but rewarding

The Rock Wall Disaster

There was a crumbling rock wall that was both ugly and unsafe for my toddler. I found a handyman on Angi who happily took the rocks (he was building his own wall), saving me money. Then came the heavy lifting: 20 bags of mulch + 41 bags of topsoil + grass seed = fresh green yard. Exhausting but rewarding

Patio Projects

DIY Sunshade

Amazon sunshade + DIY hardware + hand-cut 2x4 posts = affordable shade solution. Storms tested it, but after reinforcing with longer screws, it held strong

Staining & Sealing the Deck

This was the toughest job: cleaning, sanding, staining, and sealing—all while five months pregnant. Seven hours later, with redwood-tinted stain, balcony privacy fencing, and new furniture, the patio turned into our outdoor oasis just in time for the 4th of July

Pool Adventures

When we moved in, we inherited an 18ft above-ground pool—and a steep learning curve.

• Hole Disaster: A leak turned into a multi-day Flex Spray, Flex Tape, and Gorilla Duct Tape project. But it worked!

• Opening the Pool: Draining, scrubbing with algaecide, replacing filter sand, and balancing chemicals became a family marathon.

• Maintenance: Weekly vacuuming, skimming, backwashing the filter, and water testing quickly became routine.

• Closing the Pool: Toys washed and stored, water balanced, plugs in place, tarp secured tight—ready for winter
  
  

Final Thoughts

Every single project—whether hauling 68 bags of marble rock, staining the deck while pregnant, or battling pool leaks—was exhausting. But when I look around now, I see more than a house. I see a home built with love, grit, and resilience.

If you’re tackling your own home projects, remember:

• Mistakes become lessons.

• Sweat turns into stories.

• And every challenge makes the final result even sweeter.