{Giveaway is Closed}
The winner is: #24 judiW
I finished up one more little project that I can’t wait to share with you this week. One more to check off the long list.
This month’s Lowes challenge was fixing up an outdoor space and I knew just what I wanted to tackle this time around. My mailbox is nothing great to look at. Old, peeling wood posts that are probably original to the house.
See, not exciting at all. Here’s my sad little mailbox. Bricks were around it originally in some sort of pattern, but it was long over grown and not very attractive. Definitely in need of a makeover, don’t you think? The original wood wasn’t even worth saving, so we bought new 4×4’s to cut the new post with, pressure treated lumber of course.
I picked up some supplies from Lowes and decided on this cute sign by Nite Bright to display my house numbers on the mailbox. It is the coolest little system, all packed in one package. It comes with numbers 0-9, several of them, that are plastic and they are sticky on the back. The sign has a little template and you can place your numbers in there to get them lined up properly and they are so cute. You can mount this on top of the mailbox or on the post. I opted for the post.
So, remember our mailbox post that I had to whack off the end of? Yep, it’s ready to go now. My dad got the old mailbox out and the new one in place, along with a pretty new white metal mailbox.
I picked up this cute little finial to go on top of the post. When you can add just one little thing to make a mailbox look even better, I say do it. Finials are perfect for that for just a couple of bucks. I used my drill to start a pilot hole and added the finial.
With the addition of a new white mailbox, this is so much cuter than before. Using the same stain from the back stairs to stain the post, it now gives my house instant curb appeal.
Here’s the cute little numbers sign that is now attached and can be seen from both directions and it lights up at night. And those cute little metal fencing pieces add so much charm too, don’t you think? I did blur my numbers to keep the stalkers away. 🙂 You know, safety on the internet. In real life, the numbers are crisp and perfect.
Now, the mailbox is adorable! I love it so much better and now this actually feels homey to me. I’ll eventually add some pretty flowers around the box and it will be extra special then. It’s too hot to plant flowers, but I can’t wait til next spring and hopefully I’ll be tackling some more outdoor projects. Fencing from Lowes too.
So, that’s my spruce up to the mailbox this month. I’m so glad to get this finished and couldn’t wait to show it off. Charming, cottagey, it has such curb appeal now.
We also got some great cleaning products to try out this month from Lowes! All of these available in your local Lowe’s store.
Dawn Grill cleaner and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and Outdoor Pro cleaner. My sister and brother-in-law’s grill was the perfect candidate to try it out. We had just grilled out for my dad’s birthday and the grill was plenty dirty.
The outside of a grill definitely gets dirty and we don’t always take the time to wipe it down after use.
There was plenty of baked on grease along the top edge. We didn’t clean the grates even though you can take them out and clean them. I kept trying to figure out what that pink is on the stainless grill and finally figured out it’s the red bottle reflected.
I sprayed down the grill and let it sit for about 15 minutes to soak off some of that baked on grease.
Then I wiped it down with a wet rag in warm water. See all the dirt coming off? I’d say it’s working pretty good!
The front looks much better now. Most of the baked on grease wiped off without a lot of effort.
And that side panel looks better too.
After cleaning, the grill looks nice and shiny now. All in all, these are good products to try out.
I am thrilled to be a Lowes Creative Ideas blogger and Lowes provided a giftcard for the outdoor mailbox project. All opinions and ideas are my own.
Thanks to Lowes for sending me some products to try out and they want to send a set to ONE of my readers too. Just leave a comment and tell me what is your favorite thing to grill out in the summer?
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dorothy says
My husband is the griller and this summer we have really enjoyed grilling salmon but of course he loves to make his famous wings an Naan bread is a crowd favorite.
Michelle@Life on the Funny Farm says
The mailbox looks nice. We planted Carolina Jasmine around ours a few years ago. It looks and smells beautiful when in bloom but, the down side, it needs CONSTANT trimming. I don’t think I’d plant it at the mailbox again. Your house is looking so lovely. Keep up the good work.
Angela says
Lemon wedges!!!! Grilled lemon adds the most delicious zing to salads, steaks, fish and more. We grill several lemons’ worth to keep some on hand. My family also loves grilled pineapple, in salsas, as a side to main dishes, and for dessert.
Denise says
Our family loves grilled tilapia and lemon wedges, so light and satisfying in these hot summer months. Congrats on the new house, you inspire us daily to get creative!
mandy byrne says
We love to grill portabella mushrooms and squash & zucchini.
maven says
You might want to try “lasagna gardening” on that spot around your mailbox. It saves a lot of time and really works! Basically, if in the Fall, you cover the area with several sheets of newspaper and then cover that with a few layers of mulch, you will have an easy no dig garden in the Spring.
http://organicgardening.about.com/od/startinganorganicgarden/a/lasagnagarden.htm
Donna @ My Sweet Things says
What a great little makeover! Love the crisp white! As for summer grilling, I’ll take a rib eye steak any day!
linda t says
Hi Rhoda! Great mailbox makeover! Great give-away!
We love grilling shish kabobs!
Barb S. says
I will take a steak please…..I love beef! I love what you have been doing with your new home! I am anxious to see it all completed!
Tammy says
My favorite thing to grill out is chicken but I’m soon going to venture out and grill some fruit and from what I hear that my soon be my new favorite.
Janette@the2season says
I am so glad to learn about the grill cleaner. I am definitely going to try it.
Brenda Kula-Pruitt says
Love your mailbox transformation! Some black-eyed Susans would look pretty in your little enclosed area around it.
Brenda
Renae says
Great job on the mailbox Rhoda!
We grill EVERYTHING! Steaks, chicken, fish and veggies. One of our favorites is a grilled salsa…corn, avocado, and tomatoes! Mix all together after shaving the corn from th cob, taking ate avocado out of the peel and chopped, taking the skin off the tomatoes and chopping, add cilantro, salt, pepper and lime juice!
Linda says
I love reading your blog with all your projects you tackle! This summer we have been grilling fish with a lot of lemons.
Sharon Avinger says
I love to grill pineapple and chicken! Your mailbox looks great. Love the clean white with black contrast, Rhoda. Things are looking good at your “new” house!
jane says
Like the curb appeal you added. Maven’s comment is spot on for our brick like clay we have here in GA! I always enjoy a rib eye from the grill!
Cassie Coleman says
Just one??? Shrimp kabobs (any kabobs) are one fav. I just love grilling and this summer is the year to do it. It is too hot to cook in the kitchen, even with AC.
Your mailbox looks great and I love the fence.
Cynthia says
STEAK!
Jaye @ Just Trying to Make Cents of it All says
Pizza! So easy and so awesome! But I’m not waiting to see if I win that cleaner from Lowes – I’m heading out right now to get some!
Your mailbox turned out great! Just adding the finial made a huge difference.
And thank you so much for featuring Rambling Renovators! They have some amazing re-dos! Can’t wait to spend some time over there!!
Stacey says
Hi Rhoda! Every little detail you come up with is adding so much to your new home. I’m with you, the mailbox has to look good. I’ve laughed about the disagreement you and your dad had over the post sticking out. 🙂
We love to grill all year round. Recently we made chicken shish kabobs and wrapped each piece of chicken with bacon. Mercy it was delicious! We’ll definitely be repeating that one.