Backyard Transformation (Warning: picture heavy)

Hi again!!!  This blog post has nothing to do with Stampin' Up! or crafting.  This is about our backyard and the massive transformation it has undergone over the last number of months.  After lots of delays and a few setbacks it was completed about a month ago.  And at the end of all of this we have nothing but high praise for Bromar Landscaping, JWS Woodworking and Design, SolarWave and Paradise Pools for what we now consider our backyard getaway.  The planning process and lining up who would do the work began last summer.  And my recommendation for a job like this is to get your tradespeople, plans drawn up etc, months in advance.  Especially if you want things done right.  If you wait until spring, you might be disappointed, these guys get booked up really fast once the snow melts.  

First are the "before" pictures.  These were taken a couple of days before they broke ground, the first week of April.  You can see the stakes marking what goes where.  And how cold and desolate everything looks.  Bye bye grass.  

During the process Mother Nature had other plans.  When they were digging the pool it snowed and snowed.  Then when the landscapers started excavating it rained and rained and rained.  We had a wicked freezing rain storm, and lots more rain.  I think we broke a few records in terms of how much rain we got.  And we expanded the job even more.  Since they were doing the walkway on the garage side of the house, why not re do our front steps and driveway as well.  I will have to post those pictures later.  The pool was filled with water and completed while I was in Salt Lake City, just in time for the hottest week of the year around here.  

And below is the completed project.  New gardens, that I will add on to as time goes on and I see how these current plants do where they are.  Next year we will get some container gardens set up. Maybe some hanging baskets etc.  And of course some decorative accessories.  Right now its a blank canvas, and I will use this coming off season to plan and figure out what I want.

First is our pool house.  The pump etc is behind it and inside is the breaker panel, a bench and storage shelves.  We will use this house to store toys and cushions when not in use, pool chemicals and gives people a space to change as well.

View from the back of the property.  The cabana off the house has a series of solar panels on top that we are using to heat the pool. And gives us shade since our backyard has all day sun.  We also had them dig the deep end a few feet deeper for safer diving.

Dave's skyshed works perfectly with added pool and patio elements.

The lounge area with the (now closed) cantilever umbrella for shade when needed.  I have spent a few days out there getting some sun while I was sick.

The fireplace. And you can tell by the towels etc., we getting lots of use of the patio.  Love the seating area here.

The BBQ/bar area under the cabana, we can now BBQ 12 months of the year hopefully.

 
View of the yard from the back door.  Ahhh paradise.

One of the setbacks occurred when we had to fire the original fencing company.  The chain link needed remeshing for the pool by-law code so it is no longer climbable.  And we decided to do a cedar privacy fence from the gate area to just past the hot tub.  The original company made promises and never showed up.  So we fired them.  We contacted JWS, who originally built our cabana, and they showed up within a few days and finished the job within the week.  And they did an amazing job, including custom lattice and archway.  

Hot tub area.

Fireplace is ready for some s'more making.  This has been getting used at least a few times per week so far.  And the nights have been unusually cold for this time of year.

Hot tub at night, the lights change color.  Kids love the lights.

The pool lighted at night.  Two spotlights in the pool itself and lights sunken into the patio around the pool.

We also had lights installed underneath the step going from the lower patio to the upper pool patio, can't have our guests tripping up the stairs at night.  And it makes a gorgeous statement.

And these are the solar panels.  So far they have kept our pool warm, anywhere from high 70's to mid 80's, depending on the sunlight we get during the day.   We haven't had to use the gas heater at all yet.  Which is a huge savings for us considering how big of a pool we have.

And that is our little piece of paradise in our own backyard.  We are more than happy with the end result.  Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.

What's in That Really Sweet Backpack

Hello everyone.  Its been awhile since I last posted.  I have very very sick.  Just finished a round of antibiotics for a kidney infection which was on top of a really bad flu bug that just didn't want to go away.   Saw my Doctor yesterday, things are looking better but I am to go back to the lab for some more tests on Monday just to make sure the antibiotics killed off all the bacteria and that my system is back to healthy and strong overall.  I haven't been this sick in a long time.  Dave and the kids have held down the fort quite nicely the last two weeks.  Everybody remained fed and had clean clothes.  House needs some work, my standards are little different than the rest of the family. lol.  But all in good time.   

Now I am getting back to the swing of things in my real world and it dawned on me this morning that our oldest, Laura, is moving out in 2 1/2 weeks.  Yep, time to push my first baby bird out the nest and watch her learn to fly on her own.  She is off to University to study Astronomy and Astrophysics.  And yes, I am one proud mama.   But she won't be completely alone at University, two of her cousins will be going to the same University and we are hoping she is in the same residence building as one of them. 

But I first want to post pictures of this gorgeous packback and all the goodies inside that I received from Stampin' Up! while at convention in Salt Lake City.  Believe me, this back pack is very full.  We received the cost of our registration fees back in just free product, probably more.  

First the backpack.  Gorgeous.   

Peek inside, I stole a silver streamer that was part of the closing celebrations on the Saturday.  We had fireworks, and silver streamers and confetti falling all over us.  Sooooo much fun.

We received a beautiful silver pen and a lanyard for our name tag.  These sweet tags are from my upline's upline, Jamilla.  My upline is Denise, and Denise's upline is Jamilla.  At the end of convention the entire team met up at the Olive Garden, arranged by Jamilla, and we ate and ate and drank to celebrate the end of a fabulous convention.  And Jamilla made for each of us a sweet little baggie full of Christmas tags.   Thank you so much Jamilla!!

And there was of course Prize patrol.  We each were given a wrist band that was a colour from our main catalogue.  I was Sahara Sand.  And my colour won this sweet prize from the Holiday Catalogue and Main Catalogue.  It is the Magnificent Maple stamp set, with a package of Muslin Bags, and our new 3/4" Chevron Ribbon in Crushed Curry.  I am thinking little treat bags for table settings during Thanksgiving.

This package is full of make n' takes that we could make at convention or at home.  I decided to make mine at home.  And nope, I haven't gotten around to them yet.  LOL  Its summer, and I have a new pool to enjoy.

Couple more make n' takes, a MDS card, and a muslin bag.  And nope, haven't done these up yet either.  LOL

We also were given copies of the new Holiday Catalogue, which went live August 1, of course the Main Catalogue, and some special offers for Convention attendees for some stamp sets and office supplies such as business cards etc.

Our book with convention details, bios on the presenters, and of course a space for note taking, and lots of notes were taken.

All these stamp sets were handed out throughout the convention.  Sweet!!!

Our new Real Red Goodie Gear Simply Created along with Oh, Goodie Stamp Set.  Hello Christmas!!!  My favourite time of year.

July's Paperpumpkin kit.  Ok, I confess, when it came to Paper Pumpkin, I had a hard time wrapping my brain around getting the subscription.  It just didn't appeal to me at first.  I was able to see some of the early kits, and I wasn't sold.  I knew lots of people who loved their kits, and thoroughly enjoyed getting their monthly subscription in the mail.  But I thought it just wasn't for me.  At convention, they offered us a free Paper Pumpkin kit if we could write down what we would use this kit for.  Well, I took one look and knew, this would be a sweet mini album to send with Laura to University.  So she won't forget us little people back home.  And one of the first things I did when I got home, was sign up for a monthly kit from Paper Pumpkin.  And they made it really easy with the Pumpkin Deal.  Just go to the Paper Pumpkin website HERE and enter the code PUMPKINDEAL, and get your first kit for $12.50 as opposed to the usual $24.95. Taxes and shipping included.  This amazing deal ends August 31.

A sampling of our new Undefined kit (make your own custom rubber stamps) as well as Seasons of Style Washi Tape and Witches Brew Washi Tape.

And this back pack and goodies inside is what made my luggage a little heavier going home.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.  Please, feel free to leave comments or questions.  I love hearing from you.

I'm Back From My Salt Lake City Adventure (picture heavy)

It has been quite a whirlwind of a summer so far.  Between birthdays, father's day, dance recital, dance exams etc.  And of course Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City.  I returned from convention late Sunday night, Monday was chill and unpack, Tuesday took my mom to the dentist, and I have been sick since Wednesday.  We are suppose to go to my in-laws for a big family get together tomorrow, but I just might be staying home.  Still feeling kind of crappy and I have a low grade fever.   

Now back to my Salt Lake City Adventure.  After a year full of incredible lows and highs I needed this get away.  I met two of my team mates, Natasha and Gail, at the Detroit Airport and we arrived in Salt Lake City on Tuesday afternoon.  At the airport we found welcome signs everywhere, including a special priced shuttle to the Hilton where we were staying.  

We had dinner at the Olive Garden and wandered around the city.  I found Salt Lake City to be a gorgeous city.  It is surrounded by mountains, and there is an overall feeling of contentment as I wandered the core area around the convention.  We noticed that there were Stampin' Up! flags attached to all the light posts.  It is Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary, and they were getting ready to throw an awesome party!!!

The convention centre.  This place is huge, and it had to be as there were about 6,000 of us attending convention this year.  

Wednesday I slept in, enjoyed room service breakfast and met up with everyone for a day of shopping at the City Creek Centre and dinner afterwards.

During convention many of us noted it was more than just a Stampin' Up! convention, it was also a ThirtyOne convention.  I swear there were almost as many Thirty One bags as there were attendees.   I of course brought my own as you can see below, it has my name one it.

View from my room at the Hilton.  Not bad.  LOL

Convention was amazing overall.  Information overload by the time it was over Saturday night.  But worth it.  And all the free stuff I took home.  WOW!!!  Stampin' Up! knows how to spoil their demonstrators!!!

Thursday we started our day with a tour of the head office in Riverton.  I volunteer to work there for paper crafting supplies.  What an amazing place!

The room where all our orders are processed, packed and shipped.  I should say a small corner of the room.  This place is huge!!!

Our statement of the heart at Stampin' Up!

A small part of the idea board where it appears a lot of brainstorming goes on to bring us all those new amazing stamp sets etc that we all love.

With a view like this I would work here in a heartbeat.  I am sure Dave won't mind the commute to Mississauga ;)

Inside the facility.   Why yes, I would enjoy my lunches in the atrium by the waterfall when I am at work.

Friday was a busy day of general sessions, expo, mini classes etc.  Here is a small group (emphasis on small) of demonstrators from all over the world waiting to get into the main stage for one of the general sessions.  Later on this view was wall to wall to wall people.

Friday night was awards night, and I got to cheer on a number of members of my team who won various awards.   What an amazing group of women I work with.

Afterwards was the party.  And Stampin' Up! knows how to throw a party.  There was a live band, dancers, walking tables (actually girls dressed up as tables), cupcakes, lemonade, and more.  And the highlight was two gymnasts doing routines from drapes hanging from the ceiling.  At first I thought there has to be some foam pads underneath them to break their fall if something should go wrong.  But nope, there was just the concrete floor.  Amazing.

Saturday was more in-depth classes, and two more general sessions.  Sunday I came home with my luggage weighing a lot more than it did going there.  Now to sort through all the ideas and concepts I learned while there.   

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging world.   I am off to have some tea and honey for my throat.  Take care

Father's Day

Its hard to believe it's Father's day already this weekend.  I would make some BBQ steaks for Dave on Sunday, but our backyard isn't finished yet, which means the new BBQ is not hooked up to the natural gas line yet.  Told him he could still spend the day laying around beside the pool, there just isn't a liner and water in it yet.  Well, there is water, but is kind of brown with a green film on top.  

Here is the card I made for Dave (Don't worry, he doesn't read my blog, and there will be plenty of stuff going on tomorrow he won't have time to be on the computer anyways).  

I received my shipment from my first order from the new catalogue on Tuesday, and today was the first time I was able to play. This card is a mixture of old and new items.  Old, to clear out my stash to make room for all the new.  New, cause who can resist new crafting stuff!!  I know I can't.

The old product used in this project is More Mustard cardstock (I am so going to miss this color) and Fan Fair Designer Series Paper.  Inks were Riding Hood Red and More Mustard.   

New and current product is the new Label Pop n' Cuts die in the Card Base Pop n' Cuts Die (carried over from the Spring Catalogue) and the Deco Labels Framelits Collection.  Stamp Sets used were Really Good Greetings and carried over also from the Spring Catalogue is the By The Tide stamp set. Inks were Crumb Cake and Island Indigo.

That's it for tonight.  I am off to bed soon.  Tomorrow is Amanda's dance recital, always a big day with hair and make up.  The theme this year is Disney.  I am sure it will be amazing, the studio always puts on an amazing show.  And Dave and I will treat Amanda to dinner out afterwards, she just hasn't told us what is it going to be.  My money is on Sushi, she loves sushi.  We shall see.

What are your plans for this weekend?


Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the blogging universe.  Enjoy the weekend!!!