BLC's 20th Year

{photography by kayeileenphotography}

This is Josh's 20th season in business.

What in the actual.

He's 31 and he's owned his own company for 20 years. This SAME company in this exact industry. To say this is rare would be an understatement...to say it's unheard of would be more accurate.

When we meet people for the first time and they ask what Josh does, he'll casually answer that he owns a lawn care + property maintenance company...his reply includes nothing flashy because Josh is not a "flashy guy." The company name is just our last name...which is kind of basic and boring. Lots of people own companies in the service industry, the conversation continues...

...until I speak up to say that he's actually owned and operated his company SINCE HE WAS TEN. This is what makes him special and interesting and awesome. He's been incorporated since he was 14 or 15 (his parents can't remember). He owned equipment before he was legally allowed to drive it to each job. But this is my very favorite...HE STILL HAS HIS FIRST CUSTOMER. 

I can't with that.

So I felt like Year 20 should be a big deal for BLC. And to kick off our 20th season in business, I thought taking it back to the beginning might be helpful for some of our newer friends and customers...people know he's the 'Grass' part of 'Glitter and Grass' but maybe aren't really sure how we ended up owning a lawn care company.

Let me set the scene for you. The year is 1999. Josh is in the midst of an All-American summer...jumping on the trampoline with his brothers; orchestrating water gun fights; riding his bike to the nearest Casey's to buy donuts and Mt. Dew with friends...oh, and also becoming a legitimate business owner at the ripe old age of 10.

Most 10-year-olds just save their birthday money to pay for candy at Bible Camp, but not Josh Boersma. He'd been an entrepreneur for years at this point...authoring books to market and sell to friends...catching snakes to travel door-to-door 'selling' to the neighbors. His little entrepreneurial spirit was so obvious at such a young age, and it wasn't something he was taught (though it was encouraged!). 

He's never filled out a timesheet...never had a 'boss' in the traditional sense of the word...to my knowledge he's never filled out any kind of legal employee paperwork. Sometimes when he's had a hard day I try and picture him finishing his degree and entering the workforce and it's laughable...because I just cannot picture him putting on nice clothes, leaving for work at 7:30 in the morning and getting home at 5:30, while someone else tells him what to do (and how to do it) for the hours in between.

*Disclaimer* There is absolutely nothing laughable about the scenario I just described. It's honorable, hard work to provide for a family this way...however, after 20 years of being his own boss, I'm not sure it's in Josh's nature to ever work for anyone besides his own customers.

Until Josh was able to drive himself, his mom helped load his push-mower into the back of her 1996 maroon Ford Windstar (which was the family's main mode of transportation now permanently smelled like gasoline) for the mowing route each week. He pushed his mower to accounts within walking distance. Bills were written on notebook paper and slipped inside mailboxes or front doors. Josh kept meticulous notes about each lawn he cared for...how long it took, what he should do differently next time, etc. Bookkeeping was accomplished using a green, wide-ruled, spiral-bound notebook. 

Simpler times. 

All while his mom waited for him inside the van...in the middle of an Iowa summer. Windows cranked, foot stuck outside, novel in hand. The more mom's I tell this story to, the more I hear say, 'I don't think I could do that for my kid.' This business was (and still is!) a family affair.

With a few seasons under his belt, Josh had made enough money to cover his expenses, his giving, and even extras like skydiving and as many snacks as he wanted at Bible Camp. He started hiring his friends and his brothers as his employees so he could take on more work. Once he was 16 he no longer needed mom to drive him to accounts, so he bought the Windstar from his parents; purchased a small trailer (which he still uses!); and added his first zero-turn mower to the growing fleet, a Gravely 152Z. I don't think I've ever known anyone to love a piece of equipment more. He had his senior pictures taken with this mower. When he sold it a couple years ago because he'd upgraded (twice) and we didn't have room to keep it just for sentimental reasons, he was weirdly sad to let it go. It was kind of his first baby.

By this time, his mom's adorable backyard gardening shed had been completely taken over for use as "BLC Headquarters," and this is the part of the story where I know Patti Boersma is an actual saint. This is also why I spent the better part of last summer transforming it back to its former glory, the only way I could offer my retroactive apology.

In high school Josh spent summers alternating between roofing with a crew of friends and mowing. He was up at 6am and worked six days a week, 8-14 hours a day depending on the weather, as both of those industries do (remember, this is a high school boy in the summer...'sleeping in' and 'video games' have never been part of Josh's lifestyle). Both track and cross country overlap mowing season in the spring and fall, so he'd go run five miles at practice, mow until dark, then go home to finish his homework. He somehow managed a perfect grade-point average + offers from multiple colleges to run. 

Despite better offers, he chose to come run at Iowa State (I think) because he wanted to continue running the business he'd spent the past eight years building. And this was still doable driving from Ames to Ankeny a couple days a week to keep his eye on things. His collegiate running career was short-lived due to injuries but this is the part of the story where I come in!

When I met Josh in August of 2007, I remember a couple of things...an insane farmer's tan from mowing in cutoffs all summer; the blondest hair I'd ever seen in my life, also from being outside all summer; and a work ethic that was almost maddening. His declared degree, Agricultural Systems Technology was the antithesis of mine (Art and Design), and his 'fashion-sense' was non-existent. It was not love at first sight. We spent a year telling friends we didn't like each other 'like that,' the subsequent year admitting to friends we actually did once we started dating, spent six months engaged...and then on June 19th, 2010 I became wife to this Titan of the Lawn Care Industry.

Josh's advisor encouraged him to do an internship with 'himself' and Boersma Lawn Care in the semester leading up to our wedding. He created a logo, a Google Business profile, ordered business cards from VistaPrint, and also planned a honeymoon. He was the first person I knew to get a smartphone, but unlike most people, its sole purpose was for tracking the weather to could keep mowing as long as possible leading up to a storm...always finding ways to be more and more efficient to provide the best service to his customer's. It was around this time that Josh took classes to become a certified chemical applicator to take steps toward making BLC a full-service lawn care company.

{photography by kayeileenphotography}

For the first time in more than a decade of owning Boersma Lawn Care, Josh was able to run his business on a full-time basis and as it turns out, wouldn't return to college. Many years the grass-growing season lasts through November...there wasn't really a way for him to do both, so we agreed running this business together would become our life's work. We created a Facebook page...printed door-hangers and fliers to canvas neighborhoods...and had shirts made with the phrase, 'Don't worry, it will grow back' printed on the back. We spent approximately one season 'marketing' and haven't done it since because too. many. people. want him.

Josh found even more ways to diversify BLC in the years that followed. He continued to perfect his work as an applicator, but also took classes to obtain his license as a certified backflow tester. This meant he was able to test backflow devices; start-up + shut-down irrigation systems; and fix any irrigation-related issues that came up for customers during the season. Josh found this to be work he enjoyed a bit more because it gave him the opportunity to connect with his customers on a more personal level. Josh also spent the past ten years gradually growing BLC's snow removal division...which is now a fairly large operation for us in the winter months. This spring Josh became a proud board member of the Iowa Professional Lawn Care Association (IPLCA) and plans to use that platform to educate his customers and further the support of the turf care industry.

And did I mention we flipped a couple properties in the middle of all of this? Please don't ask about it because we both have home renovation PTSD, but BLC owns a handful of rental properties as well.

{photography by kayeileenphotography}

Now BLC exists and grows strictly by customer referral...typically neighbors who spread the word about how much they like 'Josh their lawn guy.' We don't even have a website because we've never needed one, the people just keep calling. To quote Josh's favorite movie, "If you build it, they will come." We have the best customer's and our retention rate proves that the love affair goes both ways. To be able to say we've had many of the same customers for the past 15-20 years is something we take great pride in. 

Every year we turn away so much work in order to keep our loyal, current customers our #1 priority...our job is to take care of them first, company growth has always come second. Ten years ago when Josh went full-time with BLC, he knew if we grew faster than we could handle, it would mean trouble...so the name of the game has always been balance. It meant choosing our customer's wisely and taking on just enough to be able to sustain our high standards, while steadily achieving balanced growth, depending on how many qualified employees we've been able hire.

And it's a known fact that our biggest struggle has always been finding employees to help carry the BLC workload. Josh's standard is perfection. His work ethic is unmatched. He is faster and more efficient than any employee will ever be because he's simply been doing it longer than anyone else (we hear this is a common struggle for almost everyone who owns a business, specifically in the service industry). This year we have a full-time, licensed chemical applicator, along with two mowing crews and for the first time in 20 years Josh is sitting in the management seat...something he has a love-hate relationship with. He's been able to send out more quotes to new customers; communicate more effectively with his current customer's; and coordinate jobs BLC was never able to take on in the past. It became impossible for Josh to be the owner/operator AND the only full-time employee, though somehow he managed to pull it off for nearly a decade.

Because there's no 'off switch' to his entrepreneur brain, Josh purchased a skid loader this spring so BLC would be equipped to take on more landscaping work than ever before. Three semi-loads of mulch later tells us that this was apparently something our customer's were craving. We're thrilled to be able to offer more landscaping, brush clearing, tree work, and snow removal services to the people we love serving.

My part of this business is what I like to call 'Chaos Coordinator.' Since we had Mav, I became a stay-at-home-mom who also manages the day-to-day crazy at 'BLC HQ'...this means invoicing/bookkeeping; stocking the fridge with plenty of Monster and breakfast sandwiches; cleaning out the trucks; and replenishing first aid, bug spray, and sunscreen supplies for Josh + employees. I run Josh's errands and return voicemails during naptime. I post to our social media platforms when Josh sends me interesting pictures and I handled our new logo/branding project + the very little 'marketing' we do with signs, truck decals, and small chemical signs. I frequently place Amazon Prime orders for things like multi-tools, snow stakes, and rain gauges. As a 'creative' this work is not really in my wheelhouse, and many of you know the bookkeeping part of my job description has come with a learning curve. I'd like to simultaneously apologize and offer my thanks for kindly pointing out little mistakes when I make them and graciously allowing me the change to fix them. Like I said...we know our customers are the best.

20 years in this business hasn't been easy. It's meant more 90+ hour weeks than we care to admit; an insane amount of determination; and pure hustle (if you've seen Josh 'walk' while he's out working, you know he gives a new definition to the word hustle). Josh has missed countless holiday's, weddings, birthday/bachelor parties...he's generally been unable to attend social engagements from March through November. Because this is the hustle and drive that got us to his end goal...running his company from his office while at home enjoying his family.

Hiring, then training new employees, starting irrigation systems, testing and filing backflow information, and navigating the spring rain always creates a perfect storm for us, but this year has been a slightly different story. Though he's working, Josh has been HOME so much more, giving us some semblance of what a healthy work-life balance might look like. We've spent actual weekends together as a family; taken more trips than we did in the first eight years of our marriage combined; and had some time to enjoy our busy Maverick while he tears around our acreage on his Gator.

So this is our story. This is how Boersma Lawn Care began. It's not exciting and glamorous...there were no big investors or start-up campaigns or 'network marketing' incentives...no social media posts or sponsored Google/Facebook/Instagram ads to get people to hire Josh. He started when he was ten and he's just so darn good at what he does, it 'stuck.' 

Of course ten-year-old Josh probably didn't have the foresight to imagine this business would grow to something so big that one day it would support his family...the families of his employees...college kids paying for school...donations to excellent nonprofit organizations. He was just a kid who wanted to make some money to buy a new bike. Ever since I've known Josh all he's ever wanted was to take care of his family and make enough to give more away. He's so unwavering, focused, and driven, most don't get to see his unbelievably kind and generous side. 

Sometimes I forget that this is my very favorite story to tell. And that's why I wanted to share it here.

{photography by kayeileenphotography}

If you've been a customer in the past, are a customer in this present season, or are interested in being added to Josh's quote (waiting) list for the future...we are so grateful for your support of our small business. We appreciate you hiring a small, family-owned business over a large business or a franchise-chain. Every time someone shares our name with their friend or neighbor, it tells me you see how hard Josh works...it says you care about hiring a company that directly supports a family. I'm literally moved to tears thinking about the amazing life we get to live because you like us enough to hire us for your lawn care + property maintenance services. 

Clearly I came up with a few, but there really aren't enough words to express our gratitude.

If you see Josh in your yard this year, would you go pat him on the back and tell him congratulations on his 20th season in business?

Thanks for celebrating with us,
Josh, Mollie, & Maverick Boersma

{photography by kayeileenphotography}

Here's a wedding speech for you...

What in the world do I say in two minutes or less about Jamie? And keep in mind, I'm the 'planner' so I've limited my own toast...because I feel like this is the part of the night where the party really starts...or it's where weddings go to die in a room full of people who don't understand the inside jokes.

It's actually impossible to sum up our relationship in two minutes. Instagram would probably do a better job of giving this toast, but old people don't have Instagram so here I am giving a speech...something I have not done since sophomore year of high school.

Let me start at the beginning. I'm told I prayed for a sister. I don't actually have proof of this, and I'm not sure I ever said it because we spent the 14 years that followed fighting in the backseat of the car and drawing lines down the middle of the living room to keep each other from crossing. When I prayed for a sister I'm sure I didn't have sharing a room and a set of bunk beds until I was a freshmen in high school in mind.

So that was basically childhood. Then I went off to college and Jamie had mom and dad all to herself for four years and I'm honestly not sure how they survived without me, but they're here so they obviously did. At some point during those years Jamie became sort of mine and Josh's first baby. We fed her when she was crabby and 'parented' her through college even though she didn't like it. Here's our secret though...we needed her as much as she needed us. We love her like our actual baby! She's more than a sister, she's part of this weird mini-family unit we have in Ames when there aren't 'real parents' around. We're a semi-dysfunctional family who irritates each other daily, eats way too much chips and salsa, and binge watches Netflix like kid whose parents aren't home to give them a list of chores.

When we met Jamie on campus for coffee and told her we were pregnant with Mav she looked at us and said, 'we're having a baby?!' ...like it was the three of us. And I actually think after surviving pregnancy with me, she does qualify as part of the 'we.'

So that's the thing. Since Josh and I have been married, now for almost 9 years, we've pretty much always been a family of three. She's always around. Always helping. Always slumber partying. Always putting up with our Christmas shenanigans. When she's not around, Josh is asking where she is and why she isn't at our house.

Last night when I read the card she wrote in my gift at the end it said, 'Let's get married!' ...not 'I'm getting married!' or 'Adam and I are so excited to get married!' ...she said, 'Let's get married!' like it's somehow the four of us who just got done saying vows to each other.

Because we aren't losing her from our little sibling family of three...we're getting another brother. Adam almost instantly fit into our family and even fit into the Boersma family and THAT is the real miracle. He helps me hang things that require wall anchors, stays up late to watch movies with us when Jamie falls asleep at 8:30 pm, and entertains Mav when Josh and I physically cannot play another. minute. of toy trains. He's a perfect husband for Jamie, a great new brother for us, and an amazing uncle to Mav. We frequently call him 'Dadum' because it's funny and also accurate.

We're excited it's official so now I can stop washing and making two different sets of bedding every time they sleep at our house. We love you both and are honored to be part of your special day.

Spring cleaning is about to hit the (dirty) fan

I've written about spring cleaning before, but I feel like every year I find new ways to make it easier...more efficient...and.......................fun?

It's never 'fun'...but for me, spring cleaning is all about the hype. Saving up some of my favorite podcasts...buying a book on Audible just for Spring Cleaning Week (read: month). It means new sponges and gloves and re-stocking my cleaning supplies. I send Mav outside each morning, light a candle, crank the music and then...get down and dirty behind my washer and dryer, inside my oven and even underneath the living room furniture.

THINGS I DON'T DO WHILE SPRING CLEANING:

• Play dates
• Organizing/Sorting/Donating
• Sleep
• Unnecessary craft projects
• Cook
• Errands
• Things I can hire out (ie: window + screen washing)
• Swap seasonal decor

For the past few weeks I've been feeling the urge but never pulled the trigger. Spring Cleaning is easiest to accomplish when it's planned in advance and is focused and efficient. Otherwise it's too easy to get side-tracked and lose momentum. I posted this blog a couple years ago that mentioned some of those things...but I've come to realize I do best with a comprehensive list. Like...a HUGE list.

When I say 'List' I don't mean your basic list of chores. I'm talking about every. single. thing. that needs to be done. Wiping down woodwork/baseboards. Dusting air return vents. Ceiling fans that you haven't seen the top of in the past calendar year? Those definitely need attention. I'm even talking about inside and behind all appliances...underneath all the beds. Washing every sheet, curtain, pillowcase, and bathroom rug. I list it ALL, room by room, even including hallways/entrances. Some days, deep cleaning the hallway doors and corners of cobwebs and mopping the floor is all I can accomplish, and that's ok! It gets another space cleaned and checked off the list.

In this massive book of lists I also include things like testing smoke detectors...replacing light bulbs...touching up obvious paint scuffs/scratches/dents...I do a little closet/drawer organizing as needed, but I like to keep my organizing overhaul separate from cleaning because it can get very overwhelming if you combine the two. I'm also not sure people organize their spaces as frequently as I do, therefore I think it's probably a good idea to separate the two.

While I'm working in each room, I continue the list making. I note things that need to be purchased, replaced, or projects that need to be finished. I want to add shiplap to a couple areas in our house but fun projects are kind of my 'reward' for getting this massive spring cleaning done. Having a goal to work toward always seems to help me. The reward is the fun part...filling nail holes and doing touch-up paint is the part that I loathe (even though every time I look at my trash cupboard, the paint scratches drive me NUTS!). I'd put it off for years and years if I didn't have this big, 'fun', Spring Cleaning project to motivate me. Lumping crap like that into a bigger project when everything is already out and kind of a mess helps the process.

Another thing I do that most people probably will never understand...I like to start Spring Cleaning with a clean house. I know, I know...kind of insane. BUT. It's impossible for me to accomplish BIG THINGS when there are two baskets of laundry and a pile of dishes in the sink. Staying on top of the usual daily grind stuff is KEY to being able to accomplish anything else above and beyond the normal household stuff.

I take the Spring Cleaning a step farther by including the exterior of the house. This spring I have quite a few paint touch-ups on our metal gutters from where an ice storm pelted the house and knocked the paint right off...that's going on the list. I need to hose down all of our porches/decks and lightly power wash the house in a couple places too...then I'll hose/wipe down all the furniture and that brings me to the windows. We have a million. They're all different styles and sizes and the screen porch is a whole other monster, so this is one of the things we outsource. We hire Josh's friend who owns a window-washing business to knock that out in a morning (it would take me a couple of days and it wouldn't be done nearly as well).

After that I can get my flowers planted, the landscaping finished, and be ready to fully enjoy summer without feeling like the house is falling apart inside and the dust bunnies are growing by the second. This is THE BEST PART OF SPRING CLEANING. We get to spend the entire summer outside, at the pool, eating on the porch...without feeling like all I'm doing is trying to get my head above water with the house projects and cleaning.

Mainly I just try to use my time really well when I'm in Spring Cleaning mode. Lots of independent play and naptime hustle. There's not a lot of deck-sitting or reading or entertaining during these weeks...the time for that comes once everything is clean and in order! Of course we have things come up and random things get scheduled but if I stick to the list, I can usually keep the momentum going to knock it all out before the pool opens (that's currently my goal...we have a wedding during my usual cleaning schedule, therefore the schedule has been thrown off a bit). I finish one thing at a time, one room at a time. And somehow, it all gets done!

I'll check back in a month to let you know how I did...I might even post some of the gross stuff I'm conquering along the way to my InstaStories.

MmB

Bridal Showering

The best part about throwing a shower back home? Access to church's enormous TABLE CLOTH CLOSET. The weird ugly lace that wasn't cool 10 years ago is suddenly beautiful. Exhibit A.

We've been all over your Facebook with these photos, but that's partly because my mom was COMMENTING on all of them instead of CAPTIONING them, and for that I want to sincerely apologize.

However...it was one of the loveliest showers I've ever decorated thanks to my mom's huge collection of milk glass dishes; fresh greenery from Chicken Shed Primitives; and a group of ladies from my home church who I adore.

Here's what typically happens when there's a bride-to-be at our church.

A group of ladies get together. They pick the date, put the details in the newspaper, and divide up the menu. They pick a cute theme, make up a skit/dance/song for the 'program,' throw in a personal devotion by a beloved Sunday School teacher, and make sure the groom comes for the whole thing because this group of ladies...they are a rare fun breed. The groom's presence is required so he knows what he's getting in to.

Josh was so confused about why he had to come to our bridal shower. He was actually kind of annoyed about it because apparently this is not how churches in 'the big city' do things. The group of ladies who threw our shower dressed up like us (Mollie circa 2010 wore a lot of scarves) and did a hilarious skit where 'Pretend Josh' (ie: Mark Pearson) wore cut-off jeans + tank, work boots, an an obnoxious sleeve tattoo. I don't remember the content, but I remember everyone laughing. Hard. You bring a farmer in to play the groom at a bridal shower...and it's GOLD.

I've helped with a bunch of showers back home, and this is still the typical pattern that is followed. It's a system that's worked for 30 years, why mess with it?

I've messed with it. But only a little.

Jamie walks in, sees this massive table and goes, 'Ohhh that's why she was so stressed last week.'
In my defense...wedding doesn't stress me out nearly as much as BLC does...together, it's not been a great combination this spring. Creating this beautiful table was actually the easiest thing about my week.

We used to give corsages to the bride/groom/mom's/grandma's. This was actually still the practice for our shower nine years ago. Something about corsages feels sooooo painfully 90's to me...when I help plan the shower, that part of the budget goes toward something else...like framed pictures of the couple, a creative 'guestbook' or toward a more expensive present from the committee.

The first time I was part of a 'shower committee' at home, I suggested the 'no-corsage' idea and I swear...there was literal pearl clutching. Bless it. Now everyone sees me coming and just assumes ridiculous ideas will ensue.

Ideas like using real dishes to serve everyone at Jamie's shower.

The collection of dishes my mom has started with my G'ma Lottie. It continued with my G'ma Rose, and then they gave their collections to my mom shortly after she got married. I remember this collection of white dishes rattling in our china cupboard for my entire childhood. A couple years ago when my antiquing obsession took off, I found that adding to the collection was really fun. The hunt was fun, surprising my mom with the new things I found was fun. Researching the different brands, styles was fun (hers is all a grape vine pattern, but there are many different kinds of that pattern!), and my dad even has fun scavenger hunting for more when he's with us. It became our new goal to amass a collection so large that it could someday be split evenly between Jamie and I. In the meantime, we try to use the dishes as often as possible, decorate my parents' whole house with them, and we have a lot of fun searching for new pieces!

Using them for this shower seemed like a really beautiful and unique idea. So we went for it.

Guest Book Table Requirements: Pictures of the couple, something creative to sign (we used the engagement Shutterfly book for the third time!), and blank envelopes to save the bride some time on thank you's.

It's always my goal to do something NEW when I plan a party or shower. I don't want it to be like I'm just repeating the same ideas over and over with the same stuff. That wouldn't be special at all. I do use the same stuff from my entertaining + decor collection but I'm always trying to think of ways I can revamp things to make it all seem new and unique. Or I borrow a couple things to add to what I have.

I start by thinking about what the couple likes/dislikes/enjoys...once I planned a 'camping' themed shower because that's what the couple getting married loved....once I planned a vintage-cowboy-themed baby shower because that's how the new baby's room was being decorated. There was the vintage-pinup-girl-themed bachelorette party and the book-themed baby shower. And then Mav's birthday parties...Woodland Creatures, Top Gun, and Train (and this year I'm thinking Dr. Seuss!)...all totally unique and perfect for the honored guest.

Did I empty my actual kitchen cupboards to haul these mason jars to the shower so the cute floral straws would look perfect on this table? Yes. Yes I did.

I like to over-plan things so then I can leave a little extra time at the end to kill myself with unnecessary details. While my mom and I were rinsing an insane about of dishes the day before the shower, we noticed 'Rose' in old masking tape on the bottom of two plates and quickly decided that should be some kind of contest. Whoever flipped their plate over and had the ROSE label won a cute little brown bag with a pink candle + kisses. Funny enough, the real Grandma Rose had her name on her own plate. We didn't even know where we put the plates and we also didn't know where G'ma would want to sit. What are the odds.

I also spent a couple hours sifting through Jamie's Instagram and screen-shotting every single picture she and Adam have ever taken so I could email them to myself, put them on a Word Document, and have my mom print them on cardstock. It cost next to nothing to accomplish and look at how cute the beverage table was.

Thank goodness the rest of the committee handled the food, because as we all know, THAT is not my department and mom helped me behind the scenes. I started the shower with a video of Maverick talking to Nana about Jamie and Adam, their jobs, and his ring bearer duties at the wedding, which was super cute. Then Donna, Jamie's godmother (and our 7th + 8th grade Sunday School Drill Sargent) did the devotion. Julie Maley came up with this idea for Jamie and Adam to bake a cake from scratch without a recipe, without help while we all watched! It baked while they opened gifts and then they had to eat it.

It was terrible, but my guess is, Weston Keil spent the better part of his week making sure it didn't go to waste.

This shower was probably the hardest I've ever had to work to pull off exactly what I imagined...and I wouldn't do it for just anyone. But Maid of Honor and Sister Best Friend are not titles I take lightly...so it obviously had to be the prettiest shower I've ever decorated. 

MmB

I've never used fresh greenery + flowers before and I AM IN LOVEEEEEEE. I couldn't stop taking pictures of how pretty each centerpiece was.

And then at the end of the shower, each centerpiece became a bouquet I wrapped in brown paper and sent home with mom's, G'ma's, etc. Just a more updated way to accomplish the old corsage idea. 

That Smallwood picture came straight off our bedroom wall to become shower decor. I also loved using the mugs we gifted them right after the engagement because they're adorable and perfect to drink coffee out of during brunch.

How to Plan a Bachelorette Party in 75894412 Easy Steps

Whenever possible I try and re-use decor because buying special stuff to decorate with just for parties doesn't make sense to me anymore. The Shutterfly book I made and gave Jamie for Christmas has been her guest book at all three of her showers. Everything in this picture is something I already had and just re-vamped to pull together the cute 'succulent' theme for the party. The pictures + frames were all given to her after her first shower planned by Adam's Aunt's/Sister. 

I'm kidding. I only have SIX easy steps to bequeath to you all in regards to planning the perfect Bachelorette Party.

Perhaps you noticed two weeks ago I threw Jamie's bachelorette party and I have to say, it might have been one of my best parties to date. I had six whole months to think about it, plenty of time post-Christmas to plan it, and a great group of girls to gather to celebrate. It was all pretty ideal conditions for party-planning.

So if you find yourself in the bach-party-planning position, here are my best pieces of advice:

Apparently there was a miscommunication about Jamie wearing a white dress to the party...she wanted to wear black to match everyone else but I forced her into white and this is the magic that happened. #dontmesswiththeplanner

Step 1: TALK TO THE BRIDE.

I get the whole 'surprise' thing...I mean I sort of get it. The problem with surprising is that maybe you're accidentally planning something the bride hates. There can be elements of surprise built into the night/day/weekend, but I'm a firm believer that the party should be loosely discussed with the bride prior to making plans. Who does she want there? What does she 'picture' for the day/night? What would she like to do? Most of you are probably saying, 'Well if you're the MOH, shouldn't you just know all those things?' I am not sure there has ever been a bride + bridesmaid who have known each other BETTER than Jamie and I do, and we still had lengthy discussions on certain aspects of the party. Logistics, number of guests, including the mom's, activities for the day leading up to the party, where she wanted to go for dinner, etc.

There isn't a single restaurant in Ames that takes reservations, so I called Provisions a week prior to the party and then also an hour before we arrived to let them know a party of 18 would be needing their biggest table around 7:00. We barely waited 10 minutes, just enough time to snap pictures of every possible friend-combination in the perfect evening light.

Step 2: SET A DATE + MAKE THE GUEST LIST.

A night in January full of texting + Facebook messaging wedding party, mom's, and a couple of 'key' besties, and we had the date set. At that point, I knew I could take a couple more months 'off' before the 'real planning' started, because planning something simple for months on end isn't how I like to party-prep. Certain things just don't need to be done four months in advance. I had a couple girls immediately texting me to ask what they could bring for the party and I was like, 'Cannot handle those details right now.' Once the general plan is mapped out, the rest really doesn't need to happen until the week before. Jamie's homework was curating the guest list and getting me everything I needed to address invites during this in-between time.

I served a small selection of Jamie-Favorites for appetizers...bacon-wrapped-dates, my mom's scotcheroos, and chips + salsa. The theme of a bachelorette party should be the BRIDE! What she likes, what she wants, what she eats.

Step 3: CREATE + SEND INVITES.

I make sure I know the framework for the day/night/weekend EXACTLY. Then I head straight to Etsy, pay anywhere between $5-$10 for an adorable template, and create in less than an hour. I showed Jamie everything before we did the final save+print just to make sure I wasn't implementing something into the schedule she didn't want and/or wording something in a way she didn't like. The invite for a bachelorette party is SO important because it communicates the 'vibe' for this particular kind of party. Will it be a weekend rager? Will it be a night of binge drinking + strippers? Will it be a fun, classy, appropriate affair where everyone will be comfortable and have a great time? (Ours was the latter, if you were wondering) I prefer to send invites for parties like this 4-5 weeks prior and I think I was right around the four-week-mark with these...most of the attendees were already aware of the date, which meant I didn't need to rush.

Activities with mom's + sister's included brunch, nails, shopping, coffee, ring cleaning, porch-time. 

Step 4: KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Perhaps you enjoy taking an entire weekend away to Nashville, KC, Vegas, etc. to spend $1,500 at a party with a bunch of people you don't know. It's been my experience that bachelorette parties like that are just unnecessary and TOO MUCH. The very best ones have been when we gather to spoil and celebrate the bride with good drinks, good food, good friends, and a few structured 'activities' that all make for a fun night of laughs, conversation, and goofy stories about Nikki. I didn't over-do the decor (I went with a succulent-theme, perfect because Jamie loves succulents and I happen to have quite a collection), I didn't over-do the apps (because we were going to dinner after!) and I asked all the girls to bring a bottle of wine so I could share that expense a bit. We were strategic about how we structured the day so we could include the mom's and do some of the fun bachelorette-day things Jamie loves (nails, brunch, coffee) without asking a group of 18 girls to spend that much money and time on a bachelorette party.

A general rule Jamie and I like to abide by: Unless they're part of the wedding party or family, you shouldn't require 'your people' to attend/throw more than one shower for you. People get over-extended and annoyed that they're being invited to a bridal shower and then a church shower and also a bachelorette party, then an online Norwex/Pampered Chef shower in addition to the actual wedding + gift. SIMPLIFY, EVERYONE.

Step 5: PARTY PREP.

Start with a big list of everything that needs to be bought/ordered/cleaned on Monday the week before the party. Then just take each day at a time, checking things off the list and outsourcing as much as you can (MOM!). Do not get side-tracked with big projects that don't need to happen (See: potting bench outside of my white garage that did NOT need to be tackled the Wednesday before the bachelorette party). Don't be afraid to ask for help (Also see: texting friends to ask about borrowing wine glasses b/c I only own 8 and I had planned a 'wine bar' on my porch). And wait until the day before to do any real cleaning...otherwise, you'll just end up cleaning three bathrooms twice in one week. I like to start pulling out all the decor/party supplies I've gathered so I can see everything I have and fill in the holes with a final list + trip to the store (yes, I'd forgotten party plates + napkins until the day before) and then I take my time setting things up because that part is the most fun for me. Prep the week prior is the most important part to ensure the day is easy/fun/stress-free/and zero work.

I always like to switch the house around just a bit to make the party seem more special, not just like any other day when people come over. Part of that was adding this fun fabric, succulents, and replacing our family pictures w/ pictures of J + A.

Step 6: PARTY!

When the schedule and expectations have been clearly communicated to all guests and the MOH has done the work to over-plan every detail according to the exact desires of the bride (with a couple surprises thrown in!)...it makes for a flawless party. I'm not kidding. From drinks + apps to breakfast the next morning, it was some of my best work and it's really because I killed myself on the front end. It was so worth it though! Everyone had fun (except maybe Josh who I announced as 'the stripper is here!' when he snuck in from working at 6:00) and ending the night with a slumber party was the perfect way to get in some extra cuddle + coffee time with Jamie's most-special besties. We ended the festivities with tired eyes + church on Sunday morning, and don't worry, I made sure we stopped and posed for group-photos throughout the night because there's NOTHING WORSE than getting to the end of a party and realizing you forgot to take pictures with your favorite people.

I'd do it again! But the good news is, I won't have to. ;)

MmB

We're using eucalyptus at the wedding, so I didn't want to overuse that kind of greenery, but did throw some in to this shower. I've tried to come up with different colors/themes for each party/shower so the wedding stays completely unique.

The wine table was out on the porch to break up traffic-flow in the dining room and to get fresh air in the house.

The bride's latest obsession.

Mom's + sister's spend the afternoon at Cafe Diem reminiscing over their old wedding albums...

We ended the night with games at the Wine Bar.

Without knowing we'd get such amazing pictures at Provisions, I forced everyone outside in the middle of gifts so Josh could take this picture before he left. I have no regrets about this. #prettydressesandbarefeet

I made Jamie's favorite, sweet potato hash, for breakfast on Sunday morning. This was something I could prep well in advance so I'd be able to relax and enjoy my morning coffee with everyone else. It's been two weeks and the beds in the basement are still unmade but it doesn't matter because it was fun.

In wedding prep season, maintenance is just a whole thing. It's like our full-time job. Tans, eyelashes, waxes, manicures/pedicures, hair extensions...you guys. Having a wedding in 2010 was so different than bachelorette parties and weddings in 2019 but WE ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN.