In this video, I’m literally sitting in our backyard in Colorado because it was finally time to get it done from scratch. In our community, we had about 9 months after moving in to finish the backyard, and I learned it’s actually smart to sign contracts in winter—labor can be cheaper and contractors have more availability. I walk you through how we took multiple quotes, finalized a landscaper, and then went through the HOA approval process (which can take 2–4 weeks). We also had to coordinate fencing with our neighbor since the cost is shared. You’ll see the whole timeline: marking the layout, digging trenches, installing sprinkler lines, and pouring + stamping the concrete patio (they used a “skin texture” stamp and concrete color). And then… Mother Nature happened. Our fire pit area turned into a mini swimming pool because the yard is slightly tilted, so we had to pause, rethink drainage, and go back for HOA approval—delaying everything by another month. Finally, I share the full backyard reveal: gazebo seating, patio furniture, Costco lights, a Marketplace propane fire pit, and my favorite part—our raised vegetable garden that Rishab basically owns. He shares real tips on fertilizing (banana peels, coffee grounds), drip watering, and pollination, plus what we grew (tomatoes, peppers, basil, zucchini, squash, chilies).