Three Things Thursday

• This weeks’ weather has really thrown me for a  loop! Don’t get me wrong…I’m LOVING it, but I’m confused. It’s Southwest Louisiana. As in…20 miles from the Gulf and it’s May 15th! I’ll definitely keep it as long as it wants to stay – I just don’t understand this year’s weather pattern. Crazy. My runs have been amazing this week because I can actually breathe! Speaking of running, I’ve had an odd pain in my right knee this week – reminds me of the old pain I used to have before ITBand pain plagued me. I’ve been icing it and it’s going away (just like it used to)…feels like runners knee. I’m not worried about it, but definitely need to watch it and baby it for sure.

• Build it in an afternoon. That’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard. How about….build it over the course of fourteen days….with lots of frustration. Yep, that’s better. Lies, Brock. All lies.

• Did you happen to catch my review on the latest Pop Sugar Must Have Box by Naturebox? If not, click here to read all about it! For a limited time, Must Have Snacks by NatureBox will be 50% off the first month’s box! Don’t pass on this great offer!

How’s the weather in your area? Is it crazy unusual for this time of year?

DIY: Creating A Patio

I’ve been bitten, bruised, and scratched…I might have even smashed a finger or two.

Despite the pain, multiple trips to Lowe’s for extra sand (100 bags total, thank you), and hours put into this project, it’s finally complete and I can honestly say that I love it my new patio!

Was it easy? Definitely not. Would I do it again on my own? Probably not. However, the patio is finished and I can look on it with the satisfaction of knowing it’s something I’ll be able to enjoy in the years to come!

How did I put this patio together on my own? In FIVE EASY STEPS. (Catch the sarcasm there??)

Word to the wise….if you see anything at a hardware store that says the word “EASY” on it, they are probably LYING.

We came across these Brock Paver Base pieces in Lowe’s last year. This patio project is actually a completion of our “backyard improvements” from last Spring. Prior to this patio project, I also placed 2 layer of stone under the deck to keep grass away and for visual enhancement of the area.

After reading the paver base box and watching a Youtube video on the process (isn’t that the way to do it?), we set out to purchase supplies for the patio.

After returning home, we cut the top layer of grass from the area first.

Then we began the real work – which was a lot more tedious than I originally realized.

After laying and packing sand, we placed a paver base on top, followed by a brick. This is the part where the project became tricky – the bricks tended to wobble, no matter how level the sand read on the leveler.

I once spent over an hour trying to level out one brick alone – hence the reason I almost gave this project up last Sunday. I even debated having someone come in and pour concrete instead, but changed my mind – even stamped concrete designs didn’t give me what I was looking for here.

Did I mention this project was a dirty one? Cause it was. My gloves have a lot of holes in them now!

Here you can see the layers better – weed paper, paver sand, paver base, brick.

We reached this point after several days of work. Whew.  (By the way, my yard slopes, so does the deck, so does the patio…that’s on purpose).

I finally completed the patio last night! Here’s the finishing touches…

After laying out the stone, I placed restraints at the edges to hold in the joint sand and help the stone stay in place. 

Ready for joint sand!

This sounded easy enough – probably the easiest part of the project – pour, sweep, spray.

We bought JUST enough sand, too. I’m telling you, if I had to stop and go back to Lowe’s for another bucket of joint sand, I was not going to be a happy camper.

Spray…

Voila!

Here’s a photo of the completed patio this morning! (No walking on it for 24 hours.)

I can honestly say this was one of the hardest and most tedious things I’ve ever done. I almost said I would rather go through nursing school all over again before re-attempting this project, but  I changed my mind – I don’t think anything in my life has been/will be as tough as nursing school!

I’m so glad it’s complete and I’m thrilled with the outcome! We can’t wait have a BBQ and enjoy the new patio with family and friends. Who wants an invite? :)

What are your thoughts on DIY? Would you attempt  it?

A Patio In Progress

Y’all. This patio business is NO joke, especially when you aren’t sure what you are doing.Yesterday, I was so frustrated with the leveling process, I threw in the towel and called it quits. I even took a shower as I decided I was done for the day. You might have seen my facebook post requesting references for people in the area who could come in and finish the job!

After cooling off, rethinking my approach, and talking with my parents, I decided to give it another go. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a challenge but I’m the type of person who wants it finished now. After realizing that the patio isn’t going to be perfect in the end (not even if I hired someone), I felt much better and was able to finish another row of stone.

In all, we are almost halfway finished. If it takes a bit longer, oh well who cares – we will continue to work on it day by day until it’s complete! I know I will come to enjoy this space so much more because it’s mine and will have been completed by my own hands!

As far as a workout goes, my entire body is sore. I didn’t run on Saturday but we did spend about 8 hours straight outside (only stopping for water) and several hours on Sunday afternoon. Hauling heavy brick and 40 pound bags of sand around is no joke. I’m pooped!

Here’s a sneak peek:



Jason and I joked that if we can do this, we can do anything! Change out the tile floor in the utility room? I got that. Change out the carpet in our bedroom? I got that. There’s a youtube how-to video on all of the above, easy breezy!

Yeah right. I’m calling in the professionals next time!!

Have you ever started a project that was bigger than you first realized?