What a GREAT day

Today was a great day. It started out by deciding that I needed to take a day off at my personal assistant job. I realized that my house was a complete disaster and I needed to clean it. Knowing that I wouldn't have a dirty house anymore started me off in the right direction.

Work at Panera was pretty easy. I just worked my little buns off, even through my break, so that I could get off early. I ended up getting off only a half hour early but it was worth it.

After work Michael and I headed to Target to get a new vacuum. We have been married for 3 1/2 years and in that time we have owned 3 vacuums: the same one twice. We have always gone cheap and we have paid the price. So, while we were at Target we took the time to look at the vacuums and weigh them out for what was best. We decided on a Bissel something something. IT IS AWESOME!! I just vacuumed with it and it picked up all the cat hair, even on the couches. It has this attachment that acts as a little hand held, powerful vacuum. SO AWESOME!!! Also, while we were at Target we got the 5th season of The Office. We don't own 1-4 but some friends of ours let us borrow them and I really wanted to start season 5. It was on sale too. Double awesome.

After Michael left for school I cleaned the whole house. It feel so nice to be in a clean, vacuumed (our other vacuum has been broken for longer than I want to admit I've gone with out vacuuming) home.

During my cleaning I was called by a gentleman that I am catering a party for. (This is my most exciting news) I've been in contact with this lady from my ward over the last couple of days talking about a memorial service for this man who was a "patron of the arts." The party is going to be about 150 people. I made up a mock menu and sent a quote last night. Today the conversation was about vamping up the menu to meet more of this guys style. I think that everyone here pretty much knows my passion and love for food. I truly believe that food brings people together better than anything else. So between my passion for food and the coordinator's stories of this gentleman we were able to create a wonderful menu. I'm excited for this event. I can't wait to get started.

I am now going to end this awesome day by taking a shower and relaxing while watching Season 5 of The Office. I love good days.

A letter to laundry day

Dear Laundry Day,

I just have some things that I've been thinking about lately and I feel it's time to get them off my chest.

I don't like you. You always sneak up on me, I never have time for you, and I am pretty sure you make clothes appear out of thin air because there is no way Michael and I wear that many clothes. You always take at least one full day but usually manage to make it two. You make me separate stinky clothes into piles all over my house and refuse to wash and dry them at a quicker speed. On top off all of this you mock me by making me fold the clothes and put them away. What is your deal? Why must you hate me?

Like I said, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I have come up with a compromise. Would you be willing to fold the clothes and put them away? I think it would make you a little less annoying. Just let me know.

Thanks,
Luanne

Because 3 is just simply not enough

I am crazy. I think something snapped and I started to realize that Michael's school loans are not only going to stop "paying" us but we also have to start paying them back. Because of this, I am now working three jobs:
1-Panera
2-Personal Chef for Jason
3-Piano Lessons

Obviously, though, this was not enough because I just decided to take on a whole new load. There is a woman in my ward who is working for a family a little bit like I am, except she doesn't cook. The mom in the family has just decided to start the raw veggie diet. If you are wondering what that is...well it's just what it sounds like. Anyway, so the mom needs someone to chop up veggies for her twice a week. So, I have "volunteered" my time in exchange for some extra cash. Looks like I will be able to save up for that Disney Cruise after all.

Almost there

I just thought I would brag and let everyone know that Michael has only 5, count it F.I.V.E, weeks left of school. We will then be going on the trek mentioned in my last blog, then down to visit his mission.


Oh, and I finally got that promotion at Panera. I am officially a shift supervisor. Well, in a few weeks. :)

Just call me Ma

I have some exciting news...
Have you ever heard of the Pioneer Trek? I hadn't... youth, ages 14-18 have the opportunity to spend the weekend in the forest pulling a hand cart and doing other pioneery stuff to have a better appreciation for the pioneers. The youth are split up into groups and make "families." And as we know every family needs a Ma and Pa, right? Well Michael and I are going to be a Ma and Pa. We are in charge of making sure the kids work hard and get the spiritual stuff. It is going to be such a great opportunity. I'm so excited.

Heather Isom

I have this pretty awesome friend, Heather Isom. She and her husband have recently become really good friends of ours and I like to think that we both compliment each other very well. One GREAT thing Heather and I have in common is our love to cook and bake. The slight difference is Heather is a little bit more out going about it. Good for you, Heather. Anyway, she bakes and cooks a lot and then she posts the recipes and pictures of her yummy treats on her blog. So, you should all take advantage of this blog to get great recipes.


WARNING: You might drool on your keyboard.

I love to see the temple

It has been almost 8 months since I have been to the temple. I understand that for most people it's perfectly normal to not make it to the temple that often. Most people have kids or live far away from a temple and it makes it really hard to get there. But I have no excuse. I live really close to the temple and have no kids. So, pretty much, my excuse is...nothing.

Every first Thursday of the month is my ward's temple night. Last Sunday a member from the bishopric announced ward temple night and I made a decision that I would go, no matter what. Don't be so proud of me, though. Tonight is Thursday. All day all I thought about was how I "had" to go to the temple. I was thinking of how tired I was and how I just wanted to sit at home and watch The Office. I even made a whole bunch of reasons of why I "can't" go because I was so busy. I even started to think, "I shouldn't go to the temple if I don't want to."

I started to think some more about the whole situation and realized that there is nothing that I had planned for tonight that is more important than the temple. I also realized that I would be able to stay awake no matter how tired I was and that Friday would be better if I just went. So, I hopped into the shower and left.

Oh man, I'm glad I did.

I was a little stressed because I left late and there was bad traffic. I arrived in barely enough time to get in there. The sweet temple worker slowly took my recommend and slowly scanned it. I was thinking, "Go FASTER!! I'm late." But right as he said, "Welcome to the the temple Sister Hardy" my world came to a screeching halt. I made one step into the temple and the spirit spilled over me and I was overwhelmed. To make it even better the sister that was welcoming people at the front door asked me if I would do one of her family names.

My session was awesome. I didn't realize how much stuff I needed to work out in my head and how much I needed to hear. I was able to stay wide awake and I learned so much.

I'm so glad I went.

P.S. Don't wear a watch while in the temple. You'll just keep looking at it and all it is, is a distraction.

People keep asking...

..."So how's the new job."

Things are going well. It's nothing too exciting, yet. The first two days I had to help him finish this huge filing project he was doing. It was nice because we got a chance to sit and talk and get to know each other better. On Friday I was able to do menu planning for this coming week and grocery shopping for the weekend. I'm at that point when you start a new job and you think, "I will never be able to get all this." So I have to remind myself that I will be able to get it all and it will be fine.

Tonight I cook my actual first meal. I'm making quinoa with a roasted red pepper sauce and salmon. I haven't cooked salmon in a long time so I'm a little nervous about that but I know it will all come back to me.

Talk to you again soon bloggers.