Design Thoughts Pt. 1

The idea for this post came from a friend whose blog I follow (you can follow it here)...Lauren's most recent blog has me thinking about a couple of things. First, I'd like to share this quote (that I copied from her blog, that was copied from her sister, who is reading this book).

"A Christian, above all people, should live artistically, aesthetically, and creatively. We are supposed to be representing the Creator who is there, and whom we acknowledge to be there. It is true that all people are created in the image of God, but Christians are supposed to be conscious of that fact, and being conscious of it should recognize the importance of living artistically, aesthetically  and creatively, as creative creatures of the Creator. If we have been created in the image of an Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry, and be sensitive to beauty, responsive to what has been created for our appreciation." - Edith Schaeffer, The Hidden Art of Homemaking

I don't know about you, but it's time for me to dust off my Kindle. I am TOTES reading this book. Like, now.

This quote so literally describes what is at the heart of my decorating 'obsession.' I've never been able to put it into words like Edith did, but OH MY GOSH, THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL! Yes, I genuinely enjoy organizing and painting, but it's more than that. I believe I was created specifically to use these gifts and display creativity in a way that reflects the image of God and gives Him glory...And the perfect venue for me to display those gifts is at our house.

You might think wrapping frappucino and salsa bottles with twine doesn't accurately glorify our Heavenly Father (my husband would certainly question it), but you guys, it totally does! Little details can impact decor in such a big way. Bottles wrapped in twine look MUCH better holding pens and pencils in a pretty office, than a plastic Iowa State cup.

Okay, okay...it was a good solution in college...but the old plastic ISU cups we were all so excited about after freshmen orientation just don't work as part of my household decor anymore (no offense if that's what you currently use in your office...it might totally work! :).

Here's an example of how I believe I honor God with my decorating...this was an old barn shutter I found last fall. I found my inspiration on Pinterest and used acrylic paint to create this for Christmas:

Many of you probably also know that I strongly believe a well-organized home lends itself to good design. In fact, I would say it's central to how I plan and decorate everything in our house. Organization is just another way I feel like I can be a good steward of what God has blessed us with. If our cupboards are a mess and our closets are overflowing with crap...in turn, my house becomes cluttered and messy.

NOT good design.

And NOT what I believe God had in mind when he blessed us with our lovely little gray house.

Obviously our house isn't always perfect and the kitchen drawers aren't always clean and organized...but I wanted to share some of the things God has laid on my heart for the design direction of our household. On the outside I know it looks like I really love glittering light bulbs and canvasses, when ultimately I'm just striving to be a creative creature of the Creator.

And I KNOW there will be, like, pounds of glitter in heaven.

-The Glitter Queen

Crafty Tuesday

While I'm feeling ambitious, I thought I'd share what I've been up to this afternoon. This craft is one of my new favorites because it takes very little time, and it's super cheap.

First, I found some salsa jars, pickle jars, old mason jars, cans, and whatever I had lying around my house. 

I bought tacky glue ($2.99) and some twine ($4.99) to have on hand so I can be ready to craft at a moments notice. :) I love the Hobby Lobby app on my phone, so if I need something that isn't on the 50% off list for the week, I can get 40% off a full-priced item. 

Then it's basically just glue, wrap, repeat. Seriously...it's suuuuuper easy. And I love how spring-y and rustic these jars look (Although I'm not totally committed to the rustic theme, Josh likes farms. So I do what I can to contribute to that 'feeling' in our house, within reason, of course). Here's what the process looked like:

And this is what it looks like when implemented into my household decor:

Here's what the jars look like when I use them to de-clutter and organize...here's a before and after picture of my 'cloffice'...so much better right?

-BLC CEO (Cheif, Executive Organizer)

Chevron Obsessed

Well folks, I wanted to share with you my very first attempt at painting chevron. I wouldn't say it was 100% successful...but for my sister's college apartment I think it looks pretty darn good!

I spotted this small coffee-table at a second-hand store in Nevada called Leftovers. It's the perfect place for finding old junk to experiment and craft with. What I love most about Leftovers (besides the fact that it was the brainchild of my boss who is awesome, Tami Hicks) is that ALL the proceeds are a freewill donation and 100% of the money goes toward sponsoring five kids in Africa. Nothing is priced and people are able to give whatever they are able or feel like giving...way fun, right?

Anyway...here's a picture of the table before, and after we painted it using two coats of high-gloss, black paint. If you know anything about me, you know I always keep a can on hand because I tend to bring junk into my house, then paint it black and call it classy furniture. Josh is always shocked at the junk I can disguise with a little black paint. ;)

Totally worked, right?!

Anyway, I made the mistake of telling Jamie we should do some sort of pattern on the top. Honestly, I sort of fizzled on the project and she was still obsessed with the chevron idea...so at 8pm during the tornado on Sunday night...we set to work.

The theme for most of my crafts and sewing and framing and scrapbooking is 'eyeball it.' This allows me to save a lot of time, but also contributes to me not always being thrilled with the results of my crafting labor. Whatever. I hate measuring.

So I made Jamie do it.

And in the end, we didn't even really use penciled measurements at all...we just taped and eyeballed the diagonals as we went along. We made sure the tape was sealed so touch-ups due to seeping paint would be minimal. Then Jamie painted three coats with some seafoam-color paint I had leftover from the walls in our bedroom...three coats was necessary in order to completely cover the black. This is what the process looked like:

Peeling the tape off that night was absolutely thrilling. We had NO idea it would turn out this well for our first try and now I sort of want to paint chevron on every single flat surface I can find.

I'll refrain.

You can see as we went along taping from right to left, we got a little better at eyeballing. :) Jamie has a couple little touch-ups to do here and there, and then we're going to seal the whole thing with a couple coats of spray polyethylene. You can kind of feel the difference in the surface because of the three extra coats of seafoam paint, so the the spray poly will help smooth that out a little. Here's a closer shot of the table, with one of the spots that really needs to be fixed:

-DIY Princesses, Mollie and Jamie

Where is Josh?

Ahhh in recent years this question has become the theme to my summers...

People are constantly asking about where Josh is. I realize it's not a ridiculous question since it probably IS kind of odd that I'm on my own so much from April to September...and he's wonderful, so of course people miss him when he's not around. :) But I'd be lying if I didn't say that having to answer, "he's working," (with a smile on my face) doesn't get old.

We're in the midst of the fourth BLC mowing season as a married, business-owning couple. I learned very early in our marriage that trying to force Josh into attending everything and being everywhere during the summer, was NOT going to work. Unless we're in a drought or it's raining...he pretty much works six days a week for 12 hours a day, (sometimes more, sometimes a little less) from March/April until October/November. Things are obviously slower during the early spring and late fall, which is when he's actually able to enjoy his work.

WHY would I be mad at my husband for missing out on things, when the reason he's working so hard is to grow a successful business so we're able to give generously and live comfortably?

WHY would I be annoyed about something that is actually a huge blessing? I know a lot of girls who struggle with husbands who are passive, unmotivated, and even lazy. I, on the other hand, have been blessed with a husband who is driven, goal-oriented, and passionate about working harder than anyone I know so he can provide for his wife and future family.

In the summer my jobs consist of the following: making sure Josh's clothes are clean and laying them out; grocery shopping for certain things he needs for lunch; making his lunch and filling his water bottles; making sure family and friends don't stress him out; organizing his emails; cleaning his bathroom; buying aloe vera, sunscreen, bug spray, and anything else he requests; cleaning out his truck at the end of the night; ordering work shirts, buying other work clothes, and handling some minimal BLC marketing.

My reaction to these tasks the first summer we were married was: "Umm, seriously do it yourself."

Which got me nowhere fast. ;)

I'll admit I'm not always great at all of these things...and I fail weekly. But I like to think I've made leaps and bounds in the area of serving my husband while he works hard. Even when he's so stressed he's driving me nuts...I still go to the store to make sure he has Sour Patch Kids at the end of his day, as requested.

-BLC Marketing Coordinator

Happy NOT a Mother's Day {to me}!

Three generations of Sargent/Keil/Boersma girlies. Happy Mother's Day!

You all probably already know this, but Josh and I have been obsessed with the show How I Met Your Mother since February 2011. We own all the seasons and watch them over, and over, and over again. It's pretty standard in our house between the hours of 9 and 11pm. At Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, we make sure to watch the specific seasonal episodes. Sorry we're not sorry.

Okay, not the point of this post...the point was that there's an episode called NOT a Father's Day where Barney celebrates not being a father. He gets shirts and hats and cards printed to say, 'Happy NOT a Father's Day!' and hands them out to all his friends at MacClaren's.

For some reason...that episode has been in my head ALL day. 

On New Year's Eve this year, no one knew what to toast to for our second drink, and the first thing that came to MY mind was,"'I'm so glad I'm not a mom yet!" and we all cheered and laughed and toasted to that.

The truth is...if we were parents, road-tripping to Prairie DuChien for a ridiculous getaway with friends would probably not have happened. And in that moment, I was thankful that Josh and I were young, childless, and having a blast with friends we love. 

So we've been married for three years...it seems like everyone we know is having babies...I'm probably asked, on average, two times a week about when we're having kids. My answer used to be, "I'd like new furniture before we have kids."

Then I got new furniture in January. Hmmm...

Now my answer is, "Josh and I want a hot tub." Which is actually totally true! It also makes people laugh, and then the subject is dropped without me having to answer seriously. Perfect.

Bringing a child into this world is a really big deal people...and it's not something we're just going to choose to do on a whim. Partly because we're having too much fun in the meantime, and partly because we have goals about what we'd like our lives to look like before we have babies. Josh would like BLC to be in a better place; we want our current home to become an investment property so we can live on an acreage somewhere between Ames and Ankeny; and we'd like to take some trips with friends and each other before our lives cease to exist as we know it. 

I know children are a gift from God...they are wonderful...and when and if God chooses to bless us with children we will be thrilled. If God had wanted us to have a two-year-old right now...we would have one! It kills me when people have opinions about us waiting 3, 4, 5, 6 years to have babies, when God could give us a baby at any time, despite our best efforts to avoid it. :) And He hasn't. And we're totes okay with that.

Which means...our dream of a hot tub is still alive! 

-Not-A-Mother-Mollie

MMB 4 BLC

How do you feel about the title of this blog on a new pair of license plates? Totes adorbs, right?

So today I'd like to talk a little about Boersma Lawn Care. These are just some scenarios that come to mind that I'd like to share. {Disclaimer: I am not referring to one specific customer here...these situations literally happen again and again, season after season}

{Scenario 1}

Customer calls Josh. Customer wants to have an amazing yard...green, weed-free grass that's perfect for kiddos to play in. No dead spots, just thick, dandelion-less grass.

Okay, sure...Josh can do that. For about $2,000.

Woah woah, says customer...they're only interested in spending about $300 this summer...but they would still like those results.

Hmm...no.

Repeat this scenario 47 times throughout the mowing season.

{Scenario 2}

Customer calls Josh. Customer wants grass to grow in all the dead spots in their yard. Okay Josh says...he can aerate and lay seed in the spring and again in the fall for the best results over time. Kids and pets will need to stay off the grass while it's growing, and it will need to be watered consistently.

But customer wants grass in less than one month so they can enjoy it for the summer.

Josh says he can get sod and lay that in the dead spots. For about $2000.

No, no, no...customer doesn't want to do that. They were thinking they only wanted to spend about $300.

Hmm...no.

{Scenario 3}

Angry customer calls Josh and wants to know why their lawn doesn't look like they wanted it to. Customer paid for two chemical applications and their grass isn't doing anything different.

Josh asks, have you been watering your grass? No, customer doesn't have time.

Josh asks, have you been mowing your grass too short? Yes, customer doesn't want to mow more than once  every two weeks.

Josh offers to treat the yard for the next three seasons and do everything to perfection to turn this yard around...it will cost about $2000.

Customer says, never mind...they didn't want to spend that much. They really only wanted to spend about $300 per season.

Hmm...no.

These are just a few thoughts from the humble wife of a hard-working, ethical business owner who is trying to make it in a business that is over-saturated with unprofessional, immoral companies.

Woops, was that too much? My apologies. :)

-The BLC Princess

Skin and Stuff

Today I ventured to the dermatologist in Fort Dodge to have a mole I've had on my back since I was little biopsy-ed. Not super traumatic. And my mom took me to Perkin's afterward, so all in all, not a terrible trip. :) I will know the results in one to two weeks, and will know if the whole thing needs to come off or if it's totally fine.

I'd like to share with you a conversation I had with my mom today during the ordeal:

"The nurse who came in to take my information obviously tans." - Mollie

"Well the doctor who saw you certainly doesn't." - Mom

"Aaaaaand who was prettier?" - Mollie

And my mom knew I was right.

I'm sorry but this is how I feel. I like being tan. I like to think I've never been super-psycho tan. Just a nice healthy tan that I like to try and keep year-round so I look pretty and feel good about myself. And I honestly think it keeps me from getting depressed in the winter. And I KNOW it keeps me from getting depressed in the winter.

People suggest spray tans to me all the time. Those people clearly don't know that to have unlimited monthly spray tanning at Sun Tan City, it costs like, $70 a month. Without a package, it costs like, $30 PER SPRAY. And also, your hands and feet turn orange. Attractive.

I was a lifeguard for 8 summers...so as far as I'm concerned, this was bound to happen sooner or later. My old aquatics director isn't even phased by this news. I suppose if I die from skin cancer I just get to go to heaven sooner, meet Jesus, and Josh will be $150,000 richer and can by a tiny farm.

Woah, that got real. I'm totally joking. None of the nurses were super concerned about me dying before the results come back.

Those were my adventures today.


And lookie what my husband replaced in our house last week during a snow day...so long original light fixtures from the 50's!

-Mrs. Tan

Insert Clever Title, HERE?

After my first post last week, I became a little blog-obsessed. I'm now following like, 17 blogs, and I just want to post about my crafts and projects all the time. Don't worry, I've refrained...and I'm only going to post one craft/project per blog post. Here's one from last week that I'm especially excited about:

It's all of our Cornerstone t-shirts from the past six years in blanket form! There are a lot of fun college memories wrapped up in these t-shirts, which makes it special. I still need to add the backing to the blanket, but the important part is finished! And I was able to clean out our drawers and make a fun craft at the same time. Don't worry, it's only taken me about three years to be motivated to learn to sew and actually do this project, but let's not focus on that, please.

In other news, my first blog post had 94 page views! I'm excited, even if the majority of those views came from my mom and dad re-reading my blog over and over. Still fun! :) I would like to say that my least favorite part about blogging is coming up with a blog title. As you can see, it's already become an issue.

Josh and I spent the weekend in Cedar Rapids doing hipster things with our friend Katie. We visited Veritas Church, Cedar Rapids and saw our old Salt Company director, Mark Arant which was really fun. Attending church in a bar was a nice change of pace, and probably the highlight of the weekend for Josh. The highlight for me was four hugs from Katherine Elizabeth Kascel.

This is a list of things that are in my head:

1. Josh needs an employee more than an infant needs its mother. His brother is leaving for a mission trip in a week, and Josh is going to be working 21 days straight (unless it snows, ha). If you know of anyone who wants to work hard and have a steady summer job outside, let me know. Thank God for his growing business, but Josh can't work 100+ hours  a week!

2. We've had a new development in our lives this past month...we've both started putting Chipotle Tobasco on things...Egg sandwiches, bagels, noodles, frozen pizza, Papa John's pizza, salad, etc. It's been fun.

3. Our friend Dan threw us a Cinco de Mayo party last night, complete with a couple shots of expensive tequilla, limes, homemade guacamole, and Justin Timberlake music in the background. He also had the table set like this when I got home. Ole!

4. I'm obsessed with group chats with people who have iPhone's. It's made my life so much easier.

5. Okay I have to post one more craft. I painted this old barn shutter with a quote I saw from John Piper a few weeks ago. I haven't found it a permanent place for it in our house, but I'm thinking it's going to go in the bedroom.

AHHH how much do you adore barn shutters?!

-Mrs. B

Hello Blogging World, Meet the Boersma's

We have a blog! After thinking about what to 'name' our blog for three days, our friend Dan came up with an excellent title in less than 2 minutes. 'Life and Grass' seems pretty appropriate. I'm planning to write about all the crafting and organizing I do and also I'll share about what it's like to own and operate our small business, Boersma Lawn Care (hereafter referred to as BLC).

After Josh worked 38 hours in three days this week, I felt like I needed something else to keep me busy when he doesn't get home until 9 or 10pm in the summer. The other night I sewed a giant t-shirt blanket and two pillow cases for six hours and still needed something else to do. Josh thinks I'm crazy for wanting to take on something else, but he basically let's me do anything that makes me happy...so he agreed to let me talk about him on the blog, and approved the title. Yes, he's wonderful.

I've never had a blog before, but the fact that I begin writing our Christmas letter in early September is a pretty good indication that I enjoy writing about our life and sharing it with friends and family. Our friend Katie is always saying we could have our own reality show...maybe she's just saying that to make us feel good...either way, Josh and I think we're pretty hilarious on a daily basis. And our ridiculous banter about me spending too much money on Pinterest crafts, and Josh refusing to own more than one pair of jeans usually gets some pretty good laughs. So I figure I'll have plenty to talk about...as if that's ever been a problem for me. :)

Tonight we're leaving the 'kids' home and going on a date (yes I'm talking about our friends who frequently tend to drop-in at all hours of the day/night). We're planning to hit up the Applebee's 2 for $20 menu...Josh will order ribs, and I'll get the oriental chicken salad. After our date-dinner we're going home to watch Iron Man 2 and The Avengers in preparation for going to Iron Man 3 in theaters.

Sounds super romantic, right? We seem so young and adorable, I know...it's shocking that this is what 'dating' is like after only three years of marriage.

Well friends, what we lack in romance, we make up for in fun. And that's pretty easy to do when you're married to your best friend. :)

-Boersma Blogging Princess