The DIY projects continue

I love Pinterest. 

It provides so many fabulous ideas that can turn out fantastic or can crash and burn.  Luckily, the projects my side kick and I have tried have come out pretty good.  But then because of my anal personality, I make sure I research the crap out of something I want to try so I know I don't crash and burn. 

Hence, our garage door project...

We decided to get a new garage door opener because getting a new garage door AND opener were not in our budget.  I decided to log into pinterest and do some searching on garage doors diys.  I found one interesting blog showing how the woman painted her door using a gel stain.  I watched the videos and looked at the pictures and thought.. "This looks like it's doable in a day between Steve and I".  Although I was excited about the prospect of doing something different with our door, it still made me nervous using a product I have never used in the past. 

The day came to get our opener installed, the repairman was very nice and had the job done within a couple of hours.  It was a good thing we did it because according to the repairman our old opener was about to go kaput.  He let me know that our door was in great shape and we wouldn't need it replaced for a while.  I said I didn't like the door anted wanted something different and he even said, "Just paint it!  There are gel stains that work great and cost less than $20.00".  That sealed the DIY project.  I went to Lowes, got the gel stain and came home and told Steve what we were going to do.

That day was today.  Here are before and after photos of the door.

Original white blah door...

Mahogany gel stain "After photo".

Along with the DIY project on the outside, we also finished our indoor DIY project.  We decided to do a shiplap wall in our kitchen.  We stained it, added some shelving, I found a cute teapot clock at a little boutique store in Del Mar Highlands Plaza and the last thing we have to do is finish the trim and this will finally be done. 

Little by little the small changes are turning our home into something special.  Especially since we have tackled the jobs on our own, minus the kitchen remodel.  I look around and smile. 

Next project will probably be the master bathroom and the tile counter top. 

4th of July and Pismo Beach...

When my sidekick makes reservations two months in advance for Pismo Beach camping, I tend to start organizing and stressing about anything and everything that could go wrong.  I start making my lists, more lists, I check them twice (like Santa does).

Then let's throw into the mix spending the 4th of July with your family and you have this expression...

 and then...  because now logistics come into play.  Where to park our toy hauler?  Where can we put the RZR? Where are we going to sleep?  How do we get to my sister's house from my mom's house since we can't unhook the TH from the Ram Rebel?  

My mom's answer?  We'll figure it out.  When you like everything planned ahead of time with no surprises, it's hard to relax.  Mom did have it under control and I doubt she would have let ANYONE park in the location she picked out.  This 5'4" Mexican woman with her umbrella waiting for us and we laughed when we came around the corner to their complex and there she was, waiting for her daughter and clan to show up.  They moved their car from the garage so we could put our RZR in there to make room for us to sleep in our toyhauler.  She did figure it out.  

and to boot... the day turned out to be fantastic!  

Fourth of July Bicycle Parade... It was huge this year.

Nathan missed Angus

Sziebl Sisters

My little family

My family

It was a wonderful day celebrating with my family and then the next day... PISMO BEACH with my cousin and her husband!

If you are a fan of camping on the beach, being able to ride your RZR, Can-Am, dirt bike, etc and love your toes in the sand and a beer in your hand then this is the place for you.  Easy to get to, not too expensive, beautiful views and so very relaxing.  A couple of draw backs.. 1. the fireworks at night.  If your dogs are skittish, I recommend "peace and calming" essential oils on their ears and tucked into the trailer, etc and 2.  the winds.  We weren't prepared for the wind and the erosion of sand from under the trailer.

We will be better prepared the next time we camp on the beach.  This was exactly what the doctor ordered...

I can't wait for the next time we make our way up north, down south or to the east for camping... wherever my side kick and pups are... that's where you'll find me.

A year ago this month

I love Facebook and their "On this Day" memories because it took me back to a year ago when we found our forever house.  It was a year ago I had my cousin, Jeanene help with house showings with our realtor and narrow down what she thought I would want in a house so when we came into town, we had a short list of houses to check out.  The one house my cousin couldn't get into turned out to be the one we ended up purchasing.  Luckily, since she lives around the corner so she was able to join us at the open house they were having to give her opinion also.

Of course she LOVED this house because it was around the corner from her and her family.  We loved the house because it was cute, beachy, it had a beautiful breeze and it just screamed "us".

After being in this house for almost a year, a full kitchen renovation, reorganizing, continuing to downsize with loads of goods going to habitat for humanity, Goodwill and just giving things away to those who need items, I am finally starting to feel at peace with the house.  My mom has come down and helped me in my garden, helped me to understand soil and what plants would be good in what part of the yard.  I'm growing strawberries and blueberries, I have hydrangeas and orange roses and my mom has started ten little succulents so I can have my own little succulent garden.  I'm so looking forward to that.  I feel at peace in my backyard, I am content and I love watching the dogs play also.

Bella loves relaxing among the pretty flowers

The succulent is blooming!  

My view from the kitchen window.  Don't mind the defunked golf course.

I love roses.  Especially colorful ones who make me smile.

As I continue to work in my backyard, I am starting my list of fun things I will be starting in the house... I'll post as we complete our projects.