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The Weekender

The Weekender via Yellow Brick Home

the perfect rain jacket | boots | baby carrier

We can’t thank you enough for all of the encouragement and enthusiasm you shared with us during our big backyard makeover! So, so many of you sent us messages simply to cheer us on, and that meant a lot to us while we worked those long hours. Yes, we completed the makeover in 3 days, but we hunkered from sun up to sun down (with the help of two incredible friends) to get to where we are today. As we took breaks for lunch, it made us smile so hard to see your kind words. We stayed at Tree House following the makeover to prep for our closet makeover (coming soon!), and we got home late this week. As a result, it hardly feels like a Friday, but we’ll take it.

In case you missed it, you can see the full backyard makeover we completed with Troy-Bilt right here! Although we addressed many of the questions during our Instagram Live, there was a lot of ‘tell us more!’ surrounding the pee pit. So. Let’s break it down, because I promise you, if our dogs can master the pee pit, your dogs can, too!

Training our dogs to use a pee pit / via Yellow Brick Home

The Anatomy of a Pee Pit

1 side yard or narrow path in your yard
+ 1 layer of weed screen
+ a 2″ layer of decorative gravel
_______

= pee pit!

How It Works

We have a pee pit in both our front and back yards in Chicago, and we would say that most of the time, our pups obey and potty in the pit. It’s great to have for quick breaks when we don’t have time to go on a long walk, and they especially appreciate it during the cold Chicago winters! Number ones get rinsed off with a hose (weekly, or by the rain!) and number twos get picked up and disposed of.

When we first introduced the pit, we would corral them towards the pit when we knew they had to ‘go.’ The first several times they do their business, we use a clicker while saying ‘good job!’ and reward them with a small treat. Because Jack and CC are extremely food motivated, they catch on quickly – anything for more treats! We reinforce this behavior over the course of a few days, and by day 3 (latest), it becomes old hat for them. It really is that simple. You got this!

Psst: Here’s a deeper dive into the world of Jack + CC’s pee pits. If you’re into that kind of thing. (Dog people, unite!)

What Else?

• I’ve been wearing these (cute) safety boots during our more intense DIY projects, and I don’t miss my sneakers for one second. I’m less fatigued at the end of a long day, and now Scott’s on the hunt for his own pair!

• I love all things Uniqlo (my closet can attest to this), and this mustard sweater is the only thing I want to wear this fall.

• Also this. I want so badly to be a chic turtleneck person!

• Now that it’s officially fall and the air is cooling down, I’ve been craving those warm, familiar scents in candle form. This will always be our go-to candle year round (Eucalyptus + Sage is a dream), but we just started burning this one, and it’s straight up fall in here. A new favorite, for sure. Tip: I peeled off the label so it’s less distracting when sitting out.

• We’ve been on the great couch hunt for months, and after collecting so. many. swatches, we’re leaning more than ever towards this one. And while scrolling through my Instagram feed recently, I caught this sneak peek @mandimakes, and it sort of sealed the deal. We’re measuring the living room this weekend and getting excited about the possibility for change.

We hope you have a great weekend! If you’re local to Chicago or Wisconsin, it’s the last Elkhorn Flea Market of the season! As soon as Lucy wakes up on Sunday morning, we’re packing ourselves into the car and introducing her to the flea. What are you up to?

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  • Megan9.28.18 - 3:07 PM

    I am currently on the hunt for new candles so thanks for the candle recommendations! I have been burning BBW candles for years and Leaves is my favorite fall scent. I also like Autumn, but not as much as Leaves. I will have to try Sydney Hale Co.’s candles.ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.28.18 - 3:11 PM

      We picked up Leaves as well! Just haven’t gotten around to burning it yet, but at the rate we’re burning the other one, it won’t be long until we experience it. :DReplyCancel

  • AmandaKB9.28.18 - 4:57 PM

    Yes to work boots! A couple of years ago, I picked up a pair of cute leather steel-toed boots because they were only $40. OMG… they are ridiculously comfortable, and I no longer smash my toes with lumber. (I had a bad habit of wearing flip flops.)ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.28.18 - 8:26 PM

      I might wear flip flops from time to time. Eek!ReplyCancel

  • lak9.28.18 - 6:03 PM

    I put peat gravel in my small courtyard for my dog to potty in. People thought I was crazy, but her urine ruins grass, peat gravel drains well, easy clean up, and I can see and clean up solid waste easily, and my 84 year old mother can just let her out when I go to work without having to walk the dog which is really out of the question for her.

    My go to candle is Pumpkin Spice, I am not really a candle person, sometimes the scent can make my lips tingle (allergy brewing perhaps), but pumpkin nails fall for me!

    Your blog is really inspiring and has motivated me to get more of my projects done, thanks for the inspiring post!ReplyCancel

    • Kim9.28.18 - 8:30 PM

      You’re not crazy! Pee pits forever! Thank you, lak. :)ReplyCancel

  • Nina9.29.18 - 10:48 AM

    Cooper goes exclusively in our pee pit. Zelda does intermittently. She’s too independent to listen to our arbitrary rules. Haha. Did you use the same size gravel in MI as in IL?
    Have a great weekend to the whole YBH household!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.1.18 - 10:08 AM

      Haha! The gravel we used in MI is a little bit larger than the gravel we have in Chicago. We love them both!ReplyCancel

  • Debra10.1.18 - 12:01 PM

    This has been my go-to candle for a couple of years now. I love the warm cozy scent and my adolescent self loves the giggle over the name.
    https://www.amazon.com/Our-Candle-Company-Smell-Nuts/dp/B00H0BW6I6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538413148&sr=8-2&keywords=smell+my+nuts+candleReplyCancel

  • Sarah10.2.18 - 11:44 AM

    Thanks for the break down. We are getting a dog soon (our kids are so excited!), and need all the tips we can get. What kind of clicker do you use?ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.2.18 - 12:07 PM

      It’s just a cheapie from PetSmart! So excited for you and the kids! :DReplyCancel

  • Kay10.2.18 - 2:49 PM

    Question about the pee pit! In the post you linked to, you guys laid larger river rocks down first and two layers of weed blockers. Did you do that here too? Is it a skippable step?ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.2.18 - 2:55 PM

      I think the larger river rocks were overkill to ensure proper drainage. We skipped that in the backyard (both in Chicago and most recently, Tree House), and it’s been great!ReplyCancel

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Kim and Scott

We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

Join us as we renovate and nurture vintage homes across Chicago + SW Michigan!

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