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Getting the Yard Spruced Up {+ a Sears Gift Card Giveaway}

By Courtney 60 Comments

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.

IMG_3284

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.

IMG_3734

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.

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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.

IMG_2873

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

IMG_3886_thumb

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.

sears expert1

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. Winking smile

Spring It On Black Friday Member Private Night

***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:

wheelbarrow

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!

win

*************

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

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April 12, 2016 Filed Under: Sears Tagged With: lawn and garden, new home, Sears blogger squad, Sears gift card giveaway, Sears Meet With An Expert

About Courtney

I'm a working mom of two beautiful little boys, Lucas and Alex, and I began writing Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life in April 2010. I enjoy chronicling my love of food (healthy and indulgent!), baking, motherhood, fitness, fashion, and everything in between!

« House Updates, Finished Picture Ledges, and Weekend Stuff
How I’ve Changed Since Starting This Blog 6 Years Ago »

Comments

  1. Abby says

    April 12, 2016 at 7:02 am

    Fun projects! I'm moving into a new place next month so I have lots of shopping to do :)
    Reply
  2. Brynn says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:18 am

    There is always a house project in the works for us!
    Reply
  3. heather @ life in leggings says

    April 12, 2016 at 9:11 am

    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!
    Reply
  4. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says

    April 12, 2016 at 9:46 am

    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
    Reply
  5. Carrie says

    April 13, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    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.
    Reply
  6. Jenn says

    April 20, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    With the weather getting nicer I would definitely use it for outdoor projects!
    Reply
  7. Chantel says

    April 20, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    We desperately need some new light fixtures outside. I'd love to do some shopping at Sears for them!
    Reply
  8. shelly peterson says

    April 20, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    If I won I would use it towards some new outdoor chairs for my porch. cshell090869 at aol dot com
    Reply
  9. Ash Z says

    April 20, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    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.
    Reply
  10. nadya kotik says

    April 20, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    fitness equipment or electronics
    Reply
  11. Barbara Montag says

    April 21, 2016 at 10:41 am

    I would use the Sears gift card towards a garden tiller. thank you
    Reply
  12. Laurajj says

    April 21, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    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!
    Reply
  13. Kim says

    April 21, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    We just enclosed our deck so I need all new furniture!
    Reply
  14. Serendipity says

    April 21, 2016 at 4:17 pm

    We just had a patio installed and desperately need some new furniture!
    Reply
  15. Whitney Haller says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:27 am

    Porch furniture!
    Reply
  16. erin m. says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:57 am

    I'd love to get a new lawn mower!
    Reply
  17. Jen Vadalabene says

    April 22, 2016 at 6:22 am

    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!
    Reply
  18. Katrina says

    April 22, 2016 at 6:27 am

    I would use the gift card to buy a power washer. My husband really wants one :)
    Reply
  19. Katie Cardell says

    April 22, 2016 at 6:29 am

    We have so many projects to do in our new house, including fixing up our new patio!
    Reply
  20. Rae says

    April 22, 2016 at 6:47 am

    Unfortunately I don't have a very big yard, so I would probably use the gift card towards something for the kitchen!
    Reply
  21. Makenna says

    April 22, 2016 at 6:53 am

    I'm buying my first home this summer and the project list is ongoing!!
    Reply
  22. kristen ECM says

    April 22, 2016 at 7:37 am

    I'd put towards a grill - thank you!!!
    Reply
  23. JOCELYN says

    April 22, 2016 at 7:49 am

    we have some dead areas in our yard that I would LOVE to solve before Memorial Day!
    Reply
  24. Abbie says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:24 am

    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 :)
    Reply
  25. Nicole H says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:27 am

    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
    Reply
  26. Maggie says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:38 am

    I would put the gift card towards a new lawn mower! Ours recently bit the dust :/
    Reply
  27. Stephanie says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:38 am

    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.
    Reply
  28. Emily G says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:46 am

    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 :(
    Reply
  29. Kristin says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:55 am

    We are in the process of re-doing our backyard, so if I won, grass seed, shovels, and wheelbarrows would be in our future!
    Reply
  30. Dana says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:56 am

    I would but a changing table/dresser for my baby on the way!
    Reply
  31. Karen says

    April 22, 2016 at 9:01 am

    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
    Reply
  32. Laura G. says

    April 22, 2016 at 9:05 am

    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!
    Reply
  33. Angela says

    April 22, 2016 at 9:22 am

    I'd really love some new kitchen gear right now!
    Reply
  34. Melissa says

    April 22, 2016 at 9:31 am

    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
    Reply
  35. Catherine says

    April 22, 2016 at 9:47 am

    I need some serious patio chairs.
    Reply
  36. Kaelin says

    April 22, 2016 at 9:59 am

    We recently moved into a new place, too. Our landscaping could use some improvements. We need tools to tackle that job!
    Reply
  37. julie says

    April 22, 2016 at 10:36 am

    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!)
    Reply
  38. Shawna says

    April 22, 2016 at 10:55 am

    kitchen stuff!! or bedding!
    Reply
  39. Ashley says

    April 22, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    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!;)
    Reply
  40. Julie says

    April 22, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    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!
    Reply
  41. Mary says

    April 22, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Just moved into our new home, and getting married. Love what Sears offers for the home. We are in need of almost everything! :)
    Reply
  42. Erin says

    April 22, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    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!
    Reply
  43. Cory says

    April 22, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    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.
    Reply
  44. R says

    April 22, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    Summer clothes :)
    Reply
  45. Emily says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    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!
    Reply
  46. KARENANN SHARROTT says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    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!
    Reply
  47. Blair says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    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!
    Reply
  48. Kaitlyn says

    April 22, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    we just bought a house and a Sears gc would be great to help fix it up.
    Reply
  49. Melissa B. says

    April 22, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    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.)
    Reply
  50. Katy says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    Baby stuff for our first
    Reply
  51. Katie says

    April 22, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    I'd buy some patio furniture.
    Reply
  52. Kristen says

    April 23, 2016 at 6:34 am

    I would use it for supplies for our new house !
    Reply
  53. Lisa Reed says

    April 23, 2016 at 6:40 am

    I would get some new workout clothes
    Reply
  54. Mary Burns says

    April 23, 2016 at 7:50 am

    I'd use it towards new patio furniture.
    Reply
  55. Michele says

    April 23, 2016 at 5:04 pm

    I would use the gift card for some tools. We have lots of home improvement projects to tackle!!
    Reply
  56. Lindsey Gibson says

    April 23, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    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!
    Reply
  57. Sarah says

    April 23, 2016 at 11:48 pm

    I would love to use a Sears gift card toward near deck furniture!
    Reply
  58. Sarah says

    April 24, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    I really want a new pair of sneakers!
    Reply
  59. Kari F says

    April 26, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    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!
    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Fun Facts Friday {4/22} - Sweet Tooth Sweet Life says:
    April 22, 2016 at 5:00 am
    […] Did you guys hear? I’m giving away ANOTHER $50 Sears gift card! All you have to do is go check out this post from last week and leave a comment to be entered to […]
    Reply

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Sweet Tooth Sweet Life
Court Profile CircleI'm Courtney, a 30-something wife and working mom living in upstate NY. I'm a food lover, fitness enthusiast, baker extraordinaire and lover of all things sweet.
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