This post is brought to you by a STSL sponsor.
Moving into a new home, I’d say, is both equally fun and challenging at the same time. On the one hand, you’ve got yourself a blank canvas to basically do whatever you want. But on the other hand, that also means that you’ve got a LOT of things where you need to start from scratch.
Since we moved in in August of last year, that didn’t give us a ton of time to focus on the outside of the house. We spent the majority of the end of last summer working on just getting all of our stuff moved in and settled (and honestly, we’re STILL working on getting fully settled!).
During the fall and winter months, we started working on quite a few projects that could be accomplished in the house. We painted the majority of the house, we had a backsplash put in in the kitchen (which we hate, by the way, and already want to redo…but that’s for another day), Jay built our dining room table, and we started working on finishing the basement. Of course, that’s among other smaller things like decorating, building picture ledges, hanging pictures, putting together furniture pieces, installing ceiling fans, and that sort of stuff.
But honestly, the projects can get overwhelming! You wind up with a list of all sorts of things to do and think, okay, we’ll work on them on the weekends! Or after Lucas goes to bed! But in reality, after working a full day, handling the regular house stuff, and still attempting to have a social life outside of our house projects, sometimes I feel like we’re ready to throw in the towel. Or just take a weekend off. And I’m sure Jay feels that way more than me, since he’s the one doing the majority of the work. Bless that man.
Now that spring is here, I’m hopeful that our basement project will be finished soon; partially because I really wanted it done before the baby arrived, but partially so we could also start tackling some of our other projects…outside.
If there is one thing that is driving my husband absolutely crazy with our new house, it’s attempting to grow a lawn. Growing a lawn from scratch is no easy feat, and it’s something that he’s always taken great pride and care in. That photo above is our sad story of a back yard from last September…here’s where we’re at now.
Now that it’s finally (hopefully!) getting warmer outside, I think we’ve all got some spring fever symptoms and are ready to get outdoors. On the list of projects for outside the house?
- Attempt to grow/fix/do whatever it is we need to do to get the grass growing
- Build a deck on the back of the house
- Spruce up the plants in the front of the house
- Plant some flowers (maybe…we’ll see how motivated my pregnant self is for that one)
- Cut down some more trees and clear (more of) the brush in the backyard
So for all of these reasons, we’re excited to be heading to Sears this coming Sunday for their “Spring It On Black Friday” Member Private Night sale (you can check out details on the sale HERE!)
I’m beyond thrilled to be partnering again this year with Sears as a member of their Blogger Squad, and this month, they’ve invited me in to both check out the private sale, AND utilize their Meet With An Expert service.
Have you heard of it? The service has just recently been extended to include their lawn and garden section, making it easy for members to shop for lawn and garden equipment they need and getting the advice and support of an in-store expert.
This service combines the digital world with in-store experts and hands-on experience to make buying large purchases stress-free (love!). In addition to scheduling a personal appointment at your preferred time, your Sears expert will know the lawn and garden product you are interested in, compare and contrast different options, and offer advice specific to your needs.
You can find detailed, step-by-step instructions at sears.com/expert-advice.
So this coming Sunday, we have an appointment to meet with an in-store expert during the “Spring It On Black Friday” Member Private Night sale (which goes from 6 to 9 p.m) to go over a list of some items that Jay says we’re going to need (this is totally his area of expertise more than mine!). I’ll be sure to update you guys with how our trip went.
***UPDATE & NEW GIVEAWAY***
This past Sunday, we did have the pleasure of stopping into our local Sears store and utilized their Meet With An Expert service and it was great! I was able to easily schedule my time online and received a confirmation from an individual associate not long after (I was quite impressed by this!).
Unfortunately, I somehow deleted the few photos that I took from my phone while we were there, but both Jay and I went and were able to talk with an expert in the lawn and garden department about a couple of items that we were considering purchasing (both a leaf blower and a new wheelbarrow).
The expert explained a few different features that are available for each of the products she showed us and, ultimately, we decided that right now, we’re probably better off getting a new wheelbarrow to help with all of the dirt shoveling and whole-filling we have ahead of us this spring in the yard. Ay yi yi!
Here’s the one we’re looking at:
Jay said we’ll need a nice, big one, since our current one is a bit smaller and also rotting in a few different places. So I have no doubt that this will be a huge help for us this spring!
So good news for YOU…the sales aren’t done yet! The “Spring It On Black Friday” MAIN shopping event takes place this Friday and Saturday (4/22–4/23), and there are plenty of deals left up for grabs.
And better yet?
I’ve got another $50 Sears gift card to give away!
TO ENTER: Just leave a comment below on this post sharing what you’d use your Sears gift card for!
A winner will be chosen and emailed on Friday, April 22nd. Good luck!!
**The winner of the giveaway has been chosen and emailed – congrats to Mary!
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Disclaimer: I am a member of the Sears Blogger Squad and was compensated for this post. All opinions, as always, are my own. Thank you for your continued support of STSL! <3
Abby says
Fun projects! I’m moving into a new place next month so I have lots of shopping to do :)
Brynn says
There is always a house project in the works for us!
heather @ life in leggings says
I can only imagine how overwhelming putting your backyard together can be. We just moved to NY and I have about a million ideas of how to settle in and make our new apartment home INSIDE. Looking forward to seeing how everything turns out!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says
Your house looks lovely. There is always something to do and a new project. It is nice to be outside this time of year. Good luck with the lawn. Growing grass is harder than you would think. LOL
Carrie says
I applaud your effort and understand the difficulty of your struggles to organize a safe and child friendly play area. Hardest work I have ever contracted out to do, s many different subcontractors to deal with on a daily basis and different idiomatic expressions. Anyhow, you have my best wishes for your efforts, and if it becomes all just too much, consider a general contractor to organize the subcontracted work, especially with outside lighting and coordination\ for the colors in our deckwork and the stone pavers staining. And the mulch colors can change over time so account for that in your palette scheme.
Jenn says
With the weather getting nicer I would definitely use it for outdoor projects!
Chantel says
We desperately need some new light fixtures outside. I’d love to do some shopping at Sears for them!
shelly peterson says
If I won I would use it towards some new outdoor chairs for my porch.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
Ash Z says
We would use the card to get stuff to create our yard too. Right now is is shale and dirt – our new house was finished February 1st so this is our big project this Spring.
nadya kotik says
fitness equipment or electronics
Barbara Montag says
I would use the Sears gift card towards a garden tiller.
thank you
Laurajj says
Oh I love all the room you have in your yard! We need to work on our grass this spring. We have alot of bare spots. If I won, I would love to get the BBQ Pro® 3-burner red gas grill with side burner ! We really would love to start grilling this summer!
Kim says
We just enclosed our deck so I need all new furniture!
Serendipity says
We just had a patio installed and desperately need some new furniture!
Whitney Haller says
Porch furniture!
erin m. says
I’d love to get a new lawn mower!
Jen Vadalabene says
I would love to use it on flowers and veggies for the garden or stones for a fire pit! I love this time of year!
Katrina says
I would use the gift card to buy a power washer. My husband really wants one :)
Katie Cardell says
We have so many projects to do in our new house, including fixing up our new patio!
Rae says
Unfortunately I don’t have a very big yard, so I would probably use the gift card towards something for the kitchen!
Makenna says
I’m buying my first home this summer and the project list is ongoing!!
kristen ECM says
I’d put towards a grill – thank you!!!
JOCELYN says
we have some dead areas in our yard that I would LOVE to solve before Memorial Day!
Abbie says
Wow, that would be a hard decision! Maybe some tools for the yard since we recently reseeded it, or maybe some goodies for my baby boy due in August :)
Nicole H says
We just got a puppy so I think we will need to be puppy-proofing our gardens because he is already showing a lot of “interest”! Thanks
Maggie says
I would put the gift card towards a new lawn mower! Ours recently bit the dust :/
Stephanie says
We just built a house and have a ton of landscaping and outside projects still left to do. The gift card would be helpful to go towards some porch furniture.
Emily G says
I would use it on some kitchen items – a new measuring spoon (cannot find ours anywhere!),a new pizza cutter (ours broke last week), and the remainder would go towards a new blender for smoothies! Ours is on it’s last leg I’m afraid :(
Kristin says
We are in the process of re-doing our backyard, so if I won, grass seed, shovels, and wheelbarrows would be in our future!
Dana says
I would but a changing table/dresser for my baby on the way!
Karen says
I would use it to buy my Mom some lands End clothes for Mothers Day. I love that lands end is right there in the store
Laura G. says
We are moving across the country in 2 weeks and have to sell so much stuff (more expensive to move it!) So we will need a lot of new household items when we get there! Plus cold weather clothes! Moving from FL to CO!
Angela says
I’d really love some new kitchen gear right now!
Melissa says
I’d love to use the Sears gift card to spruce up my man’s new house. He’s in the military and doesn’t have a ton of time to worry about it, so it’d be a nice surprise
Catherine says
I need some serious patio chairs.
Kaelin says
We recently moved into a new place, too. Our landscaping could use some improvements. We need tools to tackle that job!
julie says
Thanks so much for offering another giveaway! Every year we battle the mosquitos in our backyard (we have woods behind our house, so that’s not helpful as far as bugs go), so i would probably put the money towards some kind of mosquito control. (We’ve been joking that we should just screen-in the entire backyard, ha! Ha!)
Shawna says
kitchen stuff!! or bedding!
Ashley says
I would use the gift card for some new patio furniture. My son and I are outside a lot and it would be nice to sit in a chair that isn’t covered in chalk and dirt!;)
Julie says
This summer my hubby and I will be moving from an apartment to our first house…and then soon after our October pumpkin baby will join us! So the real question is what could I Not spend the Sears gift card on?! haha So many things to buy!
Mary says
Just moved into our new home, and getting married. Love what Sears offers for the home. We are in need of almost everything! :)
Erin says
I’d also use it on the yard, my fiancé moved in and he’s much more motivated to do some yard work than I ever have been!
Cory says
With Mother’s Day coming up, I’d love to get something nice for my mom – maybe for their porch or a new fire pit.
R says
Summer clothes :)
Emily says
Yard work is so intimidating, but always ends up being pretty fun! I’d use the gift card for some nice summer clothes for my girls!
KARENANN SHARROTT says
I’d love to win the gift card and buy some nice planters for my backyard. It definitely needs some sprucing up and some nice flowers to give it some color after this long winter!
Blair says
We are getting ready to Redo our deck
So chances are the gift card would be used for that or for decorating it once it’s finished. Hello new patio furniture and some new planters!
Kaitlyn says
we just bought a house and a Sears gc would be great to help fix it up.
Melissa B. says
I’d like to use the gift card towards the purchase of a dehumidifier! Adulthood! (Need, but would love to check out their sundresses also! Lol.)
Katy says
Baby stuff for our first
Katie says
I’d buy some patio furniture.
Kristen says
I would use it for supplies for our new house !
Lisa Reed says
I would get some new workout clothes
Mary Burns says
I’d use it towards new patio furniture.
Michele says
I would use the gift card for some tools. We have lots of home improvement projects to tackle!!
Lindsey Gibson says
I’d use the gift card towards the purchase of a grill! We’ve had our house for three years and haven’t gotten one yet! Eek!
Sarah says
I would love to use a Sears gift card toward near deck furniture!
Sarah says
I really want a new pair of sneakers!
Kari F says
I would use the gift card for new patio furniture. We’ve had some nice weather recently in Seattle and I am realizing that we need new furniture!