Room Reveal: Master Bedroom

I am in the middle of approximately 43 projects at our house right now...one of which is my usual spring deep cleaning. But I've been getting pretty side-tracked, you know what with the baby news and the floors and the constant dust that has covered every surface of our house since we started this construction project on November 8th.

So my 'reward' for deep cleaning each room is that it gets a special 'room reveal' on the blog (like I'm some sort of HGTV star and this post is worthy of being titled a room reveal...lolzzz). It's taken me five years to feel 'right' about this bedroom...I figured now that it's clean (it will look like this for about 11 days) I might as well throw a few pictures up on the blog. ;)

So welcome to our room. Some people probably think it's really weird, but I really don't mind hanging out in here with friends and siblings and watching movies. Not to mention, it's super convenient when Josh wants to watch Breaking Bad on Netflix on Monday's in the living room while I watch The Bachelor or Dancing with the Stars.

When I first met Josh's family, it was not uncommon for me and his mom to watch a movie in his parents' bed on a Sunday afternoon or for me to sit and fold my laundry in their bedroom while they watched TV at night. So I decided to adopt those customs and make our room just as welcoming, comfortable, and cozy. It's not a huge room, but I wanted it to be usable for more than just sleeping.

I re-painted this room last summer and meant to post updated before and after pictures but never got around to it. So you're just seeing the final, finished product. Our bed used to be totally turned around and facing a different way, which made much of the room crowded and unusable. Two of the walls in this room used to be white and two of them were a bold aqua color. Which was pretty, but not seasonally friendly and I decorate year-round with Christmas in mind. These walls are now a very faint gray. I wanted a clean and neutral canvas to work with in here so I could change things over the years without being stuck with a bold color on the walls.

Sticking with the vintage glam theme I carry throughout our house. There's some old stuff in here...some sparkly stuff in here...and most importantly...it's organized, clutter-free and PRETTY. :)

Here's the rundown of where I found everything, what I paid, and how long it's taken me to gather everything.

Curtains: Drop cloth from Lowe's - $20.
Made both curtains last fall. Jillynn literally just cut them down the middle and I hemmed the edges.

Side Tables: Amazon - $150/both.
Our bed is really tall so it was hard to find something that worked for us. I'm not head over heels in love with these, but we desperately needed something. I had an Amazon gift card last Christmas and was tired of looking.

All Frames/Wall Décor: Wedding gifts.

Lamps: TJ Maxx - $30/each.
Just bought these a few months ago with baby in mind. Before we only had one lamp. And for a while it sat on my side of the bed, then it moved to Josh's side (I move things around...a LOT). I decided we both needed one for the middle-of-the-nights that I know are coming.

Yellow Doors: Free!
French doors from our farmhouse that we found in our barn...THEY ARE PERFECT IN HERE.

Giant White Pillows: Target - $35/each.
Paying this much for throw pillows should actually be a punishable crime. But wedding gift cards are meant to be used on such things. And they still look as fresh and white as the day I bought them 4+ years ago.

Gray Throw Pillows: Target - 2/$8.
I got these in the back of the store during that 'After Christmas Sale' Target always has. I have a ton of these square pillows because they're easy to use anywhere and also SUPER easy to sew cute new pillow cases for depending on the season/décor. I've had some of these since college!

Mr. & Mrs. Pillow: TJ Maxx - Christmas gift from Josh!

Sheets: Target/Kohl's - $30
We rotate between two sets of gray sheets. One set are Threshold brand from Target, and the other set are JLo brand from Kohl's. Both came from Black Friday sales...which in my opinion, is the only time to restock on bedding.

Duvet: Wedding gift.

Duvet Cover: Approx. $80?
Homemade three years ago.

Memory Foam Mattress Pad: Target - $80.
If you haven't before...I would encourage you to come lay on our bed sometime. This mattress pad was worth every penny. And way more affordable than buying an actual memory foam mattress (which is what Josh wanted to do). Happy 3rd anniversary to us! :)

Sleigh Bed/Mattress, etc.: Slumberland - $800.
We bought this a few months before we were married and when we went shopping I recall that Josh was completely shocked at the idea of purchasing a bedframe...and my request for a headboard nearly sent him over the edge. 21-year-old, college Josh thought we were just going to put our box spring and mattress on the floor of our bedroom. Bless his heart...look how far he's come. ;)

Elliptical: Facebook Swap - $125.

Rocker: Free!
Found in a closet at our farmhouse...Patti estimates its age as...OLD. Like, really old. And in a few months I'll be using it for more than just decor. 

Throw Blanket: Approx. $40?
Homemade last winter.

Chair Throw Pillow: Wedding gift.

Chair Pillow Case: Free!
Made from duvet scraps.

Dresser: Free!
One of the first pieces of furniture I ever 're-habbed.' Would you believe this dresser used to be dark brown with gold hardware? Yea...me neither. Black paint and a can of silver spray paint is all it took!

Sheer Closet Curtain: Target - $10.
One of the first things I did in our house (with the help of my dear, crazy friend Ellen) was to rip out all the accordion doors that plagued every room. Josh wasn't sold on the idea...which is why I recruited Ellen to help me one day while he was at work, and made her stick around when he got home so I could tell him with someone else in the room. I know, I'm a child. Anyway, he actually ended up not caring at all.

Guess it's time to start cleaning the next room...

MmB

Kids: Why we 'Waited'

I'd like to point out that our 'plan' for waiting, wasn't ever really 'our' plan. Clearly, it was God's plan too because here we are, almost five years into marriage and a baby scheduled to arrive shortly after that 5-year mark.

I love it when a plan comes together. ;)

As we've been relentlessly badgered for the past five years with questions like, 'When are you starting a family?' 'When are you guys going to have kids?' 'How many kids do you think you'll have?' 'If you're not going to have kids for a long time, why don't you move that guest bed out of the laundry room?' Some of these questions came from family...some from friends...some weren't even in the form of badgering per say...but the easiest, sassiest, fastest answer for me to come up with was, 'Meh. We want a hot tub first.'

Now there is a lot more to it than that, but that answer usually just did a good job of keeping people quiet. However, I also think it gave people the false idea that we were this selfish, childless, young couple without a care in the world, spending our money frivolously, blind to the fact that children are a gift from God.

First off, I'd like to point out to those of you who like to ask these questions to your young married friends...there could be fertility issues you know nothing about. Or couples who miscarry and don't feel like telling the whole world. This wasn't the case for us, but every time someone asked me a stupid question, I vowed to NEVER ask these kinds of questions to friends and acquaintances because of the hurt and heartache it could cause. In reality, without anyone ever knowing, Josh and I COULD have been having these issues. And for people to continually ask these questions...it's just super inappropriate. There's my two cents.

To those of you who have babies in your first two years of marriage. Bless you. You certainly have your crap together better than Josh and I did. And I think God knew that. Balancing the business and newlywed life was hard. Not hard on our marriage to the point where we were having serious problems or anything like that, but it was just not the time to bring Boersma babies into this world.

The two years that followed were drought years, and while BLC faired pretty well through those seasons (by the grace of God)...there was a lot of stress in our household during those two summers while the jury was still out on how the year would end up. Adding a baby to that equation would certainly have been 'do-able,' but not ideal under those circumstances. Clearly, God knew this too.

Many of you who know our family know that Jamie went through some stuff a few years ago that I just generally refer to as, "Remember that time when you sucked?" And we all laugh about it and move on because she rocks now...but I think the tribulations of that year would have significantly overshadowed any joy that came from pregnancy news and a new baby in our family. Of course God knew I would need my sister to call during these 9 months and had His hand in this too.

Scott and Jane Larsen and Anthony and Becky Bardgett are couples from my home church who I have always looked up to for a number of reasons. Anthony and Becky let our youth group constantly raid their house for late night food and sleepovers and Scott and Jane have a revolving door at their house (they're the camp directors at TLCC). Both of these couples share everything they have, open their doors to high school and college kids, and have raised families who love the Lord (not to mention, mom's look fabulous while doing it all). One other tidbit about each of these couples...they waited seven and five years, respectively, before having kids. And their advice to us during multiple conversations? "Oh my word! You can wait to have kids! These years with just you and Josh are precious!" "We waited and it was the best thing we've ever done! There's no need for you to feel pressure!"

I'm not sure Josh and I are quite on their level of awesomeness...but for our first three years of marriage we had college kids here CONSTANTLY. Our doors were never locked, our washer was always running, and throwing a frozen pizza in at midnight for random visitors was common. I loved it. Josh constantly whines about missing the "old days" and I keep trying to explain to him that 'our kids' graduated, got jobs, and moved away...that's what's supposed to happen! And even though there was no 'title' for this 'ministry' we had at 422 13th St. I don't think any of it would have been possible if I was trying to breastfeed in a room full of college boys or an had infant sleeping in the other room during those late (LOUD) movie nights. Or maybe it would have been possible. I'm just not sure I know of any first-time moms who would have handled college boys making a mess with pancakes in the kitchen; grilling steak and leaving a mess on the deck; or guitar-playing in our living room at 2am very gracefully. God knew all of this too.

Not that I was gracious to these visitors all the time (truly, there was one evening we locked the doors, thought all the 'kids' were at Salt, and still had a 'surprise' visitor...Peter Seehusen happened to be in town and ended up banging on our doors and windows. We were literally like parents who couldn't have a minute to ourselves). I think I also may have yelled at Ben and Kyler once via text when I came home to a complete disaster in my kitchen and dining room after they had hosted connection group one night and didn't clean up the house before I got home the next day. But I think the whirlwind of the past five years has taught us a few things we needed to learn, prior to having kiddos. Our 'stuff' really isn't that important. Beer got spilled on the couch and it came out. Candle wax got spilled on the carpet, and who cares. Glasses have been broken, gutters have been smashed, motorcycles have even been crashed and totaled...and at the end of the day. All that meaningless stuff 'we' have really isn't 'ours.'

And this is a lesson that is like, multiplied by 100 with babies and toddlers and kids. Things are going to get broken, spilled, and ruined...I already know all of this. When it happens it will still be frustrating, no doubt, but it certainly won't be a shock. I'm thankful that God taught us some of these lessons in eternal perspective BEFORE we were also learning how to feed and sleep train and keep a new baby alive (look at me throwing out 'sleep train' like I know what it is...I know nothing). The whole selfless thing...it can be a tough one to swallow. Luckily we've had an intro course.

People are always telling me, "If you guys wait to have kids until you're ready, you'll never have kids...because you can never be ready for this!" I get what they're saying, I really do. I'm not some sort of first-time mom who is barely 17 weeks pregnant that thinks I'm smarter and better than everyone else. Like I said...we haven't read a single book! But also, I think you can be ready. God has been preparing us and teaching us and growing us for the past five years for us to be 'ready' for this. And I really think we are.

I mean, we checked hot tub and tropical vacation and deep freeze off the list...so, like, how could we not be ready? ;)

I'm thankful for the five years God allowed us to wait to have kids; to 'my' college kids who taught me some perspective; and to my hardworking husband who has spent the past five years tirelessly working to prepare for our future family...I'll let you in on a secret...it was never really about the floor or the hot tub or buying more reliable vehicles or saving money...it was all just God's perfect timing.

And now we are ready to rock everyone's faces off with this parenting thing. BRING IT ON.

MmB

Speaking of floors. We are. almost. there. But not quite ready for the big reveal. More scrubbing and sealing and scrubbing before we can move furniture back and get back to real life...oh...and as soon as that happens, we'll be ripping the gross carpet up in our living room...so all that stuff about getting back to real life? Yea...that, except not.

I'd like to take a moment...

...to brag about my husband.

No I was not put up to this. He didn't even get to read it before it was posted. So...SURPRISE! :)

Anyway, it dawned on me a few days ago when Tami asked, 'Hey, who do you guys use for an electrician?'

And I thought about it for a minute and realized...

IN THE FIVE YEARS WE'VE BEEN MARRIED AND OWNED A HOUSE, WE HAVE NEVER ONCE CALLED AN ELECTRICIAN. Not once.

And do you know why?

It's because Josh Boersma can literally do...everything.

It's not that we haven't had our fair share of homeowner issues. Leaking toilets, broken appliances, power surges, a moldy attic...but I'm not kidding when I tell you...there is so much more to this man than BLC.

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Last fall Hot Spring Spas gave us a electrical box to wire out hot tub to our house. I sort of thought we were going to call an electrician to come out and get this done for us (isn't that what most people do?), but no. The night before our hot tub was set to arrive (nothing like waiting until the last minute *cough*cough*) Josh wired the whole thing in the dark with me holding a flashlight. And the next day when the hot tub arrived, was filled, and wired in...it actually. turned. on. I about died.

***Disclaimer: The hot tub issues from a few weeks back were not the result of this in-the-dark wiring, it was a bad motor or something, I don't know I was gone thank goodness***

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After we bought the farm we realized the oven didn't work. I was not about to give renters a brand new beautiful stove, so instead we took our older-but-working stove to the farm. For whatever reason, when our stove (which worked perfectly, without problems for three and a half years) arrived at the farm kitchen, it wouldn't work. CLASSIC. Josh spent a few frustrating days and trips to the appliance store figuring it out...but that's the thing...he figured it out. And it's been working ever since.

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There have been quite a few occasions where Josh calls his buddy Tommy and together they tackle the dryer in our basement, the washer upstairs, or cleaning out the appliances at the farm. And every time...they get it fixed. I just can't even believe.

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Some of you may remember this, but last fall Josh roofed our house. No I literally mean...HE ROOFED OUR HOUSE. HIMSELF. Josh pulled together his BLC crew (and Kurt Fisher for a day) and they just learned on the spot how to be a roofing crew. I mean...the dumpster arrived, they tore the old shingles off, replaced the sheeting (look at me describing this like I know all about it), then laid those shingles...like it was no big deal.

WHAT?!

 

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Just this week, Josh went out and replaced a cracked light on his truck. He actually bought his truck with a couple cracked/broken lights because he knew he could just order a new light from Schaffer's and replace it himself. Most people would probably never buy this truck at all or demand it be fixed before purchasing. Not Josh Boersma.

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Josh's dad is an accountant, so I am at a complete loss for how Josh acquired all these skills. When I ask how he knows how to do all of this stuff he just says, 'I spent a summer doing electrical stuff in Sheffield,' or 'In 6th grade I helped with construction at ACA,' or 'I helped Rob lay the tile in my parents' bathroom eight years ago,' or 'I YouTubed it and figured it out.'

And while Josh would laugh and tell you that he's, 'Not very good at a LOT of things.' I say he's REALLY GOOD AT EVERYTHING.

So I'll leave you with this. Although it took about four months and there were days that I wasn't sure if he was at home working on the floor or at home or preparing to file divorce papers (jokes!) this floor is done and it. is. gorgeous.

And even though Josh still doesn't think it was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears, I keep reminding him that when we are cleaning smashed fruit and vegetables off the slick TILE floor...instead of cleaning smashed food ground into crusty CARPET...he will eventually see it my way. ;)

***More pictures and info about this flooring process coming soon. Ignore the slight grout color difference, I was in the middle of sealing.***

So to recap...Josh's skills include, but are not limited to:

Appliance Repairs
Flooring Professional
Licensed Chemical Applicator
Plumber
Business Owner
Heating and Cooling Repairs
Electrician
Husband
Certified Backflow Specialist
Roofer
Irrigation Professional
Mechanic
Hunter (of rodents in our backyard)
Landscaper
Small Machine/Engine Repairs
General Handyman
Lawn Care
Tree Removal
Boss/Employer

And his latest title...Dad. ;)

Worst End of Winter Wife Ever

THIS POST WAS SHAMELESSLY INSPIRED BY THE INCREDIBLE JEN HATMAKER AND HER HILARIOUS SAYINGS. 


Josh and I live for the fall and winter months. We love the time off from BLC at Christmas; taking mini-trips here and there; and just having a relaxing few months where we can spend time together hanging out on the couch. But I'm telling you...it is time for all that 'hangin' to come to an end. WE NEED WINTER TO COME TO AN END.

All these super late nights with the movie-watching and the chips-and-salsa-eating. It just needs to stop. We're going to be parents for crying out loud. What kind of parents spend a Tuesday night grilling steak and then sit in the hot tub until 11:00 pm? NOT REAL ONES. I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

I'm practically begging the grass to start growing so Josh Boersma stops following me around the house like a puppy when he's bored while I'm trying to clean the bathrooms or sew curtains. I'll all but push him out the door tomorrow morning because SEE YA LATER WINTER, YOU'RE THE WORST. I have some sort of structure with my 'real job' at C21 and then AHS Cheer filling my schedule during the winter months...but I can't always account for what the BLC CEO spends his winter days doing...unless of course it's a blizzard and he's awake for 57 hours straight plowing snow. In which case he kind of gets a 'free pass' to spend the winter however he desires.

The unspoken rule in our house has sort of always been that Josh makes All The Money in the spring and summer...meaning if he wants to stay up late watching Breaking Bad or on the phone with his Navy buddy Justin...it's fine because...well...he works hard enough in eight months to support our lives for the entire year..which is actually kind of crazy but it's what works for us. (I've become, like, the chillest, coolest, most laid-back wife ever in this area. It's one of my greatest successes in life) The schedule isn't so bad, right? OKAY FINE in the spring I sing a completely different tune than I do in the fall and just whatever about it.

But I desperately need The Structure and The Schedule back in our lives. GIVE US ROUTINE, PLEASE JESUS. We need to go to bed at a reasonable hour and WAKE UP at a reasonable hour. I've been operating under the idea that, 'We can sleep-in/nap/cuddle at 3pm today because every parent I've ever talked to says, 'SLEEP NOW! YOU NEVER WILL AGAIN!' So that makes it fine, right?

Four straight months of this behavior has caught up with us. There was a week where we ate a variation of pizza (Papa John's, frozen, leftovers or otherwise) 5/7 nights. And the other two nights were likely mac'n'cheese. It's utterly ridiculous and we can not bring New Life into this frat house on 13th St. I fear for our future son's actual life if we don't get our crap THE FREAK together soon.

So as we stare down the barrel of Lawn Care Season 2015...I find myself actually excited to lay out Josh's clothes every night for his next day of work; keep his work laundry clean and organized; shop at Sam's Club for his special individually-packaged lunch items; get up early everyday to make his lunch and fill his water bottle...at the beginning of the year I even make sure I go out to his truck and gather his receipts and garbage every night. It's fun for a while...March, April, and May BLC Wife is the Best Version of Wife Josh gets to see...and I need him to remember that in October when we've had a busy, stressful, yet profitable summer.

He does all the hard work, this is true, but I helped sort of? I made those lunches LIKE A BOSS and for at least a month I woke up early to see him off with a bagel and Monster (tea!) like an adorable business owner's wife should. I delivered donuts to Van Wall and dropped weed wackers and blowers off at the shop for repairs. The books have never been more organized than they are in the spring and then poor Patti is left to sort through my obscene QuickBooks messes in the fall...but we're not thinking about that now. Winter is over! It's springtime!

(In my defense, Josh knew when he married me he wasn't getting an accountant...because...MATH)

In reality, Josh spent the winter in meetings and on the phone and crunching numbers because HIS CEO BRAIN NEVER STOPS...but I need the Real Work to start, like yesterday, so I can get back to my real human life too. The house needs to be deep cleaned! Flowers need to be planted! Closets need to be organized! Furniture needs to be crafted/painted/distressed! And do you know what makes getting these things done really easy? Having a husband who works until 9pm, that's what. What other choice do I have than to be productive for ALL THE HOURS ALL OF THE DAYS? LAWN CARE SEASON HERE I COME!

So to all you wives who experience this same phenomenon...whether it's tax, planting/harvest, vacation, lawn care, real estate, golf, retail, or coaching seasons...embrace your Awesome while it lasts. SOLIDARITY fellow Seasonal Wives. I am ready take on spring with all the energy, motivation, excitement, and optimism of a much younger and naive me. WOO GRASS! WOO CHEMICALS! WOO AERATING! GO BOERSMA LAWN CARE!

And then...in three months when I've had enough of the grass on the floor/counter/freezer/toilet/washer/dryer vent/sink...I'll force myself to refer back to this blog to squeeze out a few more drops of Pinterst, painting, project motivation and drag myself through the end of summer. Because...FALL IS COMING. And ***chills*** FALL IS SERIOUSLY THE BEST.

MmB

How I Plan to Rock Being a BOYMOM

We can check crib off the list! Thanks mom and dad! :)
And also, this cheetah Coach diaper bag...is. to. die. I'm literally dead over it and want to fill it with diapers and start carrying it around now, THAT'S how fabulous it is.

It hasn't quite been quite a week since we found out we're having a boy. And in this past week I've thought about many things...but these, my friends, were the first five thoughts that crossed my mind last Thursday after I hung up the phone with the doctor's office. I'm just being honest.

"Oh my gosh it's a boy, what if he wants to wrestle in high school. I absolutely hate wrestling."

"I hate all boy clothes. Why does every onesie have something stupid written on it?! 'Mommy's Little Man' 'Daddy's Sports Star' 'Handsome Guy'...JUST NO."

"Boy room themes seem so cheesey...Sports? Unoriginal. Noah's Ark? Dated. Dr. Seuss? Overdone. And blue everything is just not going to work in my house."

"We can't name this child after anyone on Josh's side of the family...male names on that side are...interesting."

"I don't hunt/fish/shoot/camp/4-wheel...and I don't plan to learn. For any reason. Ever. Oh dear."

In just six days I have found ways to remedy all five of these initial fears. And here they are:

1. Josh also hates wrestling. We have agreed to subtly, yet heavily, encourage running, basketball, swimming, soccer...and PRAY TO JESUS OUR CHILD LIKES ANY SPORT BUT WRESTLING.

2. My trip to Target last week...oh wow. Jamie got a very annoyed-pregnant-sister phone call immediately upon my departure from my first boy-shopping excursion. And then...I discovered Baby Gap Outlet and all was right with the world. Bonus: Josh loves everything I've brought home!

3. Why do baby rooms have to have a theme anyway? Neutrals is what this Baby B is getting. This means lots and lots of gray. Our registry is a masterpiece of neutral clothes, gear, bedding, etc. I like gray. Josh tolerates gray and didn't have any better ideas...so, no problems there.

"I need you to help me remember what kid books we need to register for." - Me
"Wild at Heart, baby edition." -Josh

So we compromised (since that book doesn't exist) and this is a print that is going up in B's room...neutral, modern, perfect.

4. Name is chosen! It's been in the works for years, specifically since October of 2009 (there's your hint). I like it. Josh said he likes it as long as I'm sure I like it. So a win there too.

5. This child's father is Josh Boersma and I'll do my part by packing and sending him to Hidden Acres for a week each summer from the ages of 5 to 18. I'm crossing hunting, fishing, shooting, camping, and 4-wheeling off my list of responsibilities.

So in six days I've come to the conclusion that being a girl mom would have just been too easy. God knows I'm up for a challenge, and now I plan to be the cutest, funnest, girliest, most adorable boy mom there ever was. Just because we're having a boy doesn't mean I need to carry a sports backpack for a diaper bag; decorate an all-blue baseball room; and it definitely doesn't mean I need to stop being my glittery-girly-self. Because...don't even joke about a thing like that.

And I like to think I came to that realization in a fairly quickly, rational, unemotional way. Pregnancy hormones, PSH.

I've also decided I need this hoodie. But it's $75 which is a joke. So I'm following them on Facebook and waiting for a drawing or a sale or something. BUT I WANT IT!