A Lazy Sunday Brunch and Some Yard Work

Hey everyone! I hope your week’s been kind to you. I’m coming off a pretty low-key few days, which honestly, I needed. Work’s been a whirlwind with a couple of big interior design projects wrapping up, and I’ve been craving some downtime. So this past Sunday, Ren and I decided to just lean into it—sleep in, make a big brunch, and finally tackle some of the backyard chaos that’s been staring at us through the kitchen window for weeks.

First, let’s talk brunch because, let’s be real, it was the highlight. I’m not a master chef (we all know this by now), but I can handle some basics. We went with a classic spread: scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and a stack of pancakes using that Krusteaz mix from Costco because I’m not about to make them from scratch on a lazy morning. I did jazz it up with some fresh blueberries on top—straight from the fridge, nothing fancy. Ren brewed a pot of coffee with our trusty Keurig, and we sat at the kitchen table with the window open, letting in that crisp early fall air. There’s something about a slow Sunday morning with good food that just resets me. I even put my phone away for a solid hour, which is basically a miracle.

After we stuffed ourselves, we figured it was time to face the backyard. It’s been a mess since mid-summer—overgrown grass, random weeds popping up everywhere, and a sad little flower bed that I swore I’d maintain but obviously didn’t. Ren grabbed the lawnmower while I tackled the weeds with a pair of gloves and a trowel that’s probably older than I am (thanks, Grandma, for the hand-me-downs). We’ve got this little patch near the fence where I want to plant some tulip bulbs for next spring, but it’s currently just dirt and despair. I spent way too long Googling “how to prep soil for bulbs” on my iPhone while sitting cross-legged in the grass. Turns out, I need compost or something? Gardening is not my strong suit, clearly.

Ren, meanwhile, was having a whole moment with the lawnmower. He kept stopping to adjust something on it, muttering about how it’s “not cutting even.” I just nodded like I understood while secretly being like, “It’s grass, babe, no one’s judging.” We did manage to clear out a decent chunk of the yard, though, and it looks… okay. Not HGTV-worthy, but better. I even swept off the patio, which felt like a win until I realized I forgot to water the potted plants out there. Again. If anyone has tips for keeping succulents alive, I’m all ears. Mine are hanging on by a thread.

We wrapped up around mid-afternoon, sweaty and covered in dirt but weirdly satisfied. There’s something about manual labor that makes you feel productive, even if it’s just yanking weeds for two hours. We rewarded ourselves with some iced tea—Lipton, straight from the fridge—and sat on the patio to admire our half-decent work. That’s when I noticed the cats were out in full force, lounging on the neighbor’s fence like they own the place. I swear, they start grouping up like this every September, probably plotting their annual escape or something. Anyway, it was cute to watch them just chilling there while the sun dipped low.

Later, we cleaned up and crashed on the couch with Netflix. We’re halfway through the latest season of Stranger Things, and I’m obsessed. No spoilers, but I’m definitely yelling at the screen more than I should. Ren just laughs at me. We ordered pizza from Domino’s because neither of us had the energy to cook dinner after all that yard work. It was a perfect, unremarkable Sunday, and I’m not mad about it.

I’m curious—do you have a go-to brunch recipe or a weekend routine that just hits the spot? And please, if you’ve got gardening advice, drop it in the comments. I’m desperate. Until next time, I’m off to stare at my succulents and hope they forgive me. Talk soon!