Oh man, Jordan and I had SUCH a wonderful Christmas weekend!
Saturday we both got off work early, came home and packed up our clothes, pillows, and Christmas presents and headed out to Mom and Dad's house for a well-deserved long weekend! Saturday night we all played games and hung out by the fire. We made Christmas cookies and enjoyed company. Grandma Shirley (Del's mom) flew down from Utah the day before so it was nice catching up with and spending some time with her. At the end of the night we pumped up the air mattress and settled in for the night.
Sunday we all slept in and then went to Church. Afterwards, Mike, Kylie, and Preston came over as well as cousins Sean and Becky! We had a big Christmas dinner, played some games, ate Christmas treats, took some family pictures, and called it a night. It was nice to see Sean and Becky, although we don't see them as often as we'd like we like spending time with them and catching up on their lives! Yet again, as the night ended we snuggled up on our air mattress and settled in for the night.
Christmas Eve was a very relaxed day. Everyone mostly did their own thing. Dad and Grandma made candy, Mom blogged, Jordan and I watched holiday movies, but at times we all came together and guess what.....played more games. At about 8:30 p.m. we got a call from Kylie and she and Mike said they were on their way over from Mike's family party and that they were going to stay the night! So, once everyone was in bed the house was FULL! Mom and Dad were in their room, Kathryn in her room, Grandma in the spare room, Jordan and I were on a blow-up mattress in the office, Preston was in his crib in the mini-office, and Kylie and Mike made a pallet in the living room out of the couch cushions! Whew!
Christmas morning was fun because everyone got to wake everyone else up! We had a traditional Christmas morning with wonderful presents and a huge breakfast! Jordan and I were able to video chat with my family while they were opening presents, which was super fun to get an update on everyone "in person" and see what everyone got. After the events of the morning were over we showered and then ended up taking naps. When I woke up from my nap the ground was covered in SNOW! North Texas and the ground was covered in snow! It was amazing! I was sure glad that Dad and Jordan had gotten a fire going so I could sit by it and stay nice and warm! Around 2:30 everyone got bundled up and got in the car to go see Les Miserables! Because of the weather it took us a little longer than expected to get to the theater, but we got a great seat on opening day nonetheless! Our last holiday hoorah as a family was sitting in the theater enjoying a musical, haha! After the movie we said our good-byes and all headed home.
Jordan and I had such a wonderful weekend and it was really hard to snap back into reality! Back to the grind of the dry cleaner, back to the grind of having to cook again, back to the grind of cleaning the house, ugh. Once all is said and done though, we made some really great memories and had SUCH a great time. This Christmas will be a hard one to beat next year!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
My Favorites Vol. I
Hi guys! For a few weeks now I've been stewing over what to blog about, mostly because my life is pretty boring and if I just posted about events in my life I would lose my reading population very quickly, so with that being said I have to tell you about my inspiration for this mini-series. Last week I went to a GREAT Christmas party hosted by some fabulous girls I go to church with, it was called a "Favorite Things" party. What we were told to do was go out and purchase five our favorite thing (I brought 5 hazelnut cream candles) and bring them to the party. At the party we put our name on 5 strips of paper and threw it in a fishbowl with everyone else's 5 names and then pick a number 1-30. Once everyone was at the party we started the main event. The person that picked #1 drew 5 names out of the fishbowl and gave those 5 people her favorite thing, #2 did the same and so on. I had never been to a gift exchange party like that before, but I thought it was so neat, because a majority of the favorite things brought were things I have never heard of and yet I found myself cheering when my name was called because I was so excited to try some new things!
After the party I was lying in bed thinking about all my favorite things and I decided I was going to share my favorites with all of my beautiful readers! I'm not quite sure where to start, but I figure no one has more favorites than in their bathroom/makeup bag so...here we go with my favorite beautifying products.
Bathroom Products:
1. Vitamin C Facial Lotion/Cream
This stuff is a miracle worker!! I've never been big on putting lotion on my face, but this stuff changed my outlook on facial moisturizing! Once you get out of the shower, put a pea-size amount of lotion on and continue with your make-up routine. Why is it a miracle worker? Any blemish I have will almost disappear the next morning if I have put this on! Wow. You can get this stuff at Walmart for $8-$14.
2. E.L.F. Essential All Over Color Stick
Okay, now I don't use this the way I'm sure it is intended. I use this stuff as an eye shadow primer. When I was a sophomore in high school going to my very first formal dance I let my sister do my makeup. She told me to close my eyes and next thing I knew she was putting sticky goop on my eyelids! I freaked out and asked her what the heck she was doing to me, she taught me that in order to have powerful and bold color stick and stay on your eyelids for hours and hours you need to have a base on which the shadow can stay, hence the sticky stuff, aka lip gloss. I have since advanced from ultra sticky lip gloss to this stuff that is not nearly as sticky, more functional (in the sense that I don't have to force my eyelids closed), and long lasting. You can get this stuff at Target or KMart for $1. ONE BUCK! That is pretty good!
3. Freeze-It Hairspray
Holy Crap! I will never use any other hairspray ever again. Now, I'm the kind of person that teases her hair and likes her bangs to stay in place once she leaves the bathroom....I don't do beach hair, I don't do loosey goosey hair, I just can't, my hair does not have the capability. My hair is very fine and has a hard time doing anything without a little product. This hairspray does just what it is named, FREEZE IT! It is a fine spray, but not as fine as Kenra or some of those other big names, but it DOES work! I think it smells like Diet Rockstar which is my energy drink of choice, so all in all I love the product. You can get this almost exclusively at Walmart for about $5 a can.
4. Three Row Comb
Okay, this is the bad boy of all combs! There are three rows of teeth on this comb. If you tease your hair or do any type of back-combing, YOU NEED THIS COMB! I'm not sure where you can get one of these because I somehow (cough cough) acquired this during my days of living with roommates! Haha! This comb will save you so much time and allows you to just power through your style session!
5. Mary Kay Eye Make-Up Remover
My mom got me hooked on this stuff. Just like I was never one to use a facial lotion, I was never one to use a special product just to get my excess mascara off after a shower, I just used some toilet paper, or my towel. Last winter while my mom came and visited us in Idaho she saw my "terrible habit of being rough on my precious soft eye skin." (Direct quote!) She told me she was going to get me some and I was really hesitant to accept because I'm not know for finishing a bottle of any type of product, but reluctantly I accepted. A couple of weeks later I got my pink bottle in the mail and I literally fell in love with my first use! This stuff isn't greasy, is very mild, gets everything extra off your eyes with one cotton ball, and quite honestly feels like silk. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! You can get this through Mary Kay and is about $13-$15. With this stuff a little really does go a long way, it took me about 6 or 7 months to go through my first bottle, so worth the money!
That wraps up my favorites in the bathroom! Hope you enjoyed and if YOU have a favorite you'd like to recommend to me please please please do!!
After the party I was lying in bed thinking about all my favorite things and I decided I was going to share my favorites with all of my beautiful readers! I'm not quite sure where to start, but I figure no one has more favorites than in their bathroom/makeup bag so...here we go with my favorite beautifying products.
Bathroom Products:
1. Vitamin C Facial Lotion/Cream
This stuff is a miracle worker!! I've never been big on putting lotion on my face, but this stuff changed my outlook on facial moisturizing! Once you get out of the shower, put a pea-size amount of lotion on and continue with your make-up routine. Why is it a miracle worker? Any blemish I have will almost disappear the next morning if I have put this on! Wow. You can get this stuff at Walmart for $8-$14.
2. E.L.F. Essential All Over Color Stick
Okay, now I don't use this the way I'm sure it is intended. I use this stuff as an eye shadow primer. When I was a sophomore in high school going to my very first formal dance I let my sister do my makeup. She told me to close my eyes and next thing I knew she was putting sticky goop on my eyelids! I freaked out and asked her what the heck she was doing to me, she taught me that in order to have powerful and bold color stick and stay on your eyelids for hours and hours you need to have a base on which the shadow can stay, hence the sticky stuff, aka lip gloss. I have since advanced from ultra sticky lip gloss to this stuff that is not nearly as sticky, more functional (in the sense that I don't have to force my eyelids closed), and long lasting. You can get this stuff at Target or KMart for $1. ONE BUCK! That is pretty good!
3. Freeze-It Hairspray
Holy Crap! I will never use any other hairspray ever again. Now, I'm the kind of person that teases her hair and likes her bangs to stay in place once she leaves the bathroom....I don't do beach hair, I don't do loosey goosey hair, I just can't, my hair does not have the capability. My hair is very fine and has a hard time doing anything without a little product. This hairspray does just what it is named, FREEZE IT! It is a fine spray, but not as fine as Kenra or some of those other big names, but it DOES work! I think it smells like Diet Rockstar which is my energy drink of choice, so all in all I love the product. You can get this almost exclusively at Walmart for about $5 a can.
4. Three Row Comb
Okay, this is the bad boy of all combs! There are three rows of teeth on this comb. If you tease your hair or do any type of back-combing, YOU NEED THIS COMB! I'm not sure where you can get one of these because I somehow (cough cough) acquired this during my days of living with roommates! Haha! This comb will save you so much time and allows you to just power through your style session!
5. Mary Kay Eye Make-Up Remover
My mom got me hooked on this stuff. Just like I was never one to use a facial lotion, I was never one to use a special product just to get my excess mascara off after a shower, I just used some toilet paper, or my towel. Last winter while my mom came and visited us in Idaho she saw my "terrible habit of being rough on my precious soft eye skin." (Direct quote!) She told me she was going to get me some and I was really hesitant to accept because I'm not know for finishing a bottle of any type of product, but reluctantly I accepted. A couple of weeks later I got my pink bottle in the mail and I literally fell in love with my first use! This stuff isn't greasy, is very mild, gets everything extra off your eyes with one cotton ball, and quite honestly feels like silk. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! You can get this through Mary Kay and is about $13-$15. With this stuff a little really does go a long way, it took me about 6 or 7 months to go through my first bottle, so worth the money!
That wraps up my favorites in the bathroom! Hope you enjoyed and if YOU have a favorite you'd like to recommend to me please please please do!!
Monday, December 3, 2012
My T-Shirt Quilt
I'm going to start off by saying that this is NOT a tutorial, but I will make links to all the tutorials I used to help me piece together this project.
After Jordan and I got married we didn't have all the furniture we'd hoped we have, so we had to go out and purchase those plastic drawer sets from Walmart. It turns out that you can't fit a whole lot in those things so I had to truly downsize my "collection" of shirts from high school. I could not bear to get rid of them or throw them out because of their sentimental value so I just put them in a plastic bag and hid them in the closet. There they sat for a year, then we moved down to Texas and again...there they sat.
After Jordan and I took over the business I was working at our drop location, which provided a lot of down time, so I finally made up my mind that I would FINALLY start working on my quilt with all that down time.
The first step was to cut out squares from my T-shirts. Once my squares were cut out I ironed on a fusible interfacing.
The next step was to lay out my shirts and decide on how I wanted the top of my quilt to look.
It took me a few attempts to get it just right. Once the layout was what I wanted it to be I sewed each square together horizontally, ironed the seams, then sewed each row together, ironed the seams again and my top was complete. The next step was to sew my border, put on batting, and sew on my backing. The tutorial I used suggests cotton fabric for both the border and the backing, but I used flannel for my border and a minky/ furry fabric for my backing.
Once I had my border sewed on to my top I then used a basting spray (it is like a glue spray that holds the batting in place while you sew and then comes out once you wash your project) to temporarily hold my batting in place while I got my backing situated and sewed on. Hooray! My quilt was almost done! Once my quilt was turned right-side-out I sewed the turn hole shut. Next, I needed to make sure my back and my front wouldn't separate in the wash or while in use so I sewed along the border and also along the seam of each square just to secure the fabric and voila! I'm done!
This was my very first quilt I started and finished and I'm really proud of my work. Yes, there are a couple mistakes and a few things I would do a little different next time, but overall I'm so glad I saved my sentimental shirts and made them into something I can snuggle up in and share with my children in the future!!
This site is a REALLY great source of information. I followed this tutorial almost exclusively. If you have any questions on how to do something or want to do things a little different I would search for other tutorials, there are lots. I liked the one I linked because she did a really good job with all the details and pictures. There are so many variations to this quilt, so if you want to do a T-Shirt Quilt do a little brainstorming and figure out what you want your quilt to look like and search for a tutorial from there!
Whew, I can FINALLY check that project off of my list!
After Jordan and I got married we didn't have all the furniture we'd hoped we have, so we had to go out and purchase those plastic drawer sets from Walmart. It turns out that you can't fit a whole lot in those things so I had to truly downsize my "collection" of shirts from high school. I could not bear to get rid of them or throw them out because of their sentimental value so I just put them in a plastic bag and hid them in the closet. There they sat for a year, then we moved down to Texas and again...there they sat.
After Jordan and I took over the business I was working at our drop location, which provided a lot of down time, so I finally made up my mind that I would FINALLY start working on my quilt with all that down time.
The first step was to cut out squares from my T-shirts. Once my squares were cut out I ironed on a fusible interfacing.
It took me a few attempts to get it just right. Once the layout was what I wanted it to be I sewed each square together horizontally, ironed the seams, then sewed each row together, ironed the seams again and my top was complete. The next step was to sew my border, put on batting, and sew on my backing. The tutorial I used suggests cotton fabric for both the border and the backing, but I used flannel for my border and a minky/ furry fabric for my backing.
Once I had my border sewed on to my top I then used a basting spray (it is like a glue spray that holds the batting in place while you sew and then comes out once you wash your project) to temporarily hold my batting in place while I got my backing situated and sewed on. Hooray! My quilt was almost done! Once my quilt was turned right-side-out I sewed the turn hole shut. Next, I needed to make sure my back and my front wouldn't separate in the wash or while in use so I sewed along the border and also along the seam of each square just to secure the fabric and voila! I'm done!
This site is a REALLY great source of information. I followed this tutorial almost exclusively. If you have any questions on how to do something or want to do things a little different I would search for other tutorials, there are lots. I liked the one I linked because she did a really good job with all the details and pictures. There are so many variations to this quilt, so if you want to do a T-Shirt Quilt do a little brainstorming and figure out what you want your quilt to look like and search for a tutorial from there!
Whew, I can FINALLY check that project off of my list!
Friday, November 23, 2012
I'm thankful for...
As I have a moment to scroll through Facebook this morning it is quite obvious yesterday was Thanksgiving. There are a lot of things people are thankful for and it makes me happy to see everyone declaring so boldly their thanks.
In honor of the holiday I will publicly share a few things I'm thankful for this year.
I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. My faith has taken me to new heights and because of His love and grace I am a much better person than I could have become on my own.
I am thankful for my family. My family is Washington probably doesn't know how much I miss them and love them, I miss them and love them a whole lot! My family in Texas has turned out to be a huge blessing to me. I am very close to almost all of Jordan's immediate family and I am so thankful to know each and every single one of them.
I am thankful for my friends. I have very few close friends, but for that I am also grateful. The people that have stuck with me even though we live 1000 miles apart, the people that make an effort to check up on me, the people I can pick up a conversation and it feels like no time has passed, THOSE are my true and lasting friends and I'm so grateful to have the privilege of calling them MY friends.
I'm grateful for our business. As many of you know this is the hardest thing Jordan and I have ever done. We work all day everyday at the business and when we aren't at work, we are thinking about the business. This is the hardest and most stressful thing I've ever done, and yet I know this is one of the reasons we were supposed to come to Texas. We had no idea what we were going to do when we moved down here and in retrospect everything has worked out just perfect.
And lastly, but certainly leastly, I'm so grateful for my husband, Jordan. We are so very different and yet he is my best friend, my equal, my partner in crime, my fellow adventurer. Of all the things we disagree on or argue about, none of them really matter in the whole scheme of things, and for that I'm thankful for. As I watched him play with the little ones yesterday it reminded me of what a GREAT father he is going to be and I'm SO thankful for the privilege to be his wife and the mother to his children.
Although I may have a few bad days and sometimes forget how thankful I am for all that I am and all that I have, I hope those around me and the Lord know that I know I am blessed.
In honor of the holiday I will publicly share a few things I'm thankful for this year.
I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. My faith has taken me to new heights and because of His love and grace I am a much better person than I could have become on my own.
I am thankful for my family. My family is Washington probably doesn't know how much I miss them and love them, I miss them and love them a whole lot! My family in Texas has turned out to be a huge blessing to me. I am very close to almost all of Jordan's immediate family and I am so thankful to know each and every single one of them.
I am thankful for my friends. I have very few close friends, but for that I am also grateful. The people that have stuck with me even though we live 1000 miles apart, the people that make an effort to check up on me, the people I can pick up a conversation and it feels like no time has passed, THOSE are my true and lasting friends and I'm so grateful to have the privilege of calling them MY friends.
I'm grateful for our business. As many of you know this is the hardest thing Jordan and I have ever done. We work all day everyday at the business and when we aren't at work, we are thinking about the business. This is the hardest and most stressful thing I've ever done, and yet I know this is one of the reasons we were supposed to come to Texas. We had no idea what we were going to do when we moved down here and in retrospect everything has worked out just perfect.
And lastly, but certainly leastly, I'm so grateful for my husband, Jordan. We are so very different and yet he is my best friend, my equal, my partner in crime, my fellow adventurer. Of all the things we disagree on or argue about, none of them really matter in the whole scheme of things, and for that I'm thankful for. As I watched him play with the little ones yesterday it reminded me of what a GREAT father he is going to be and I'm SO thankful for the privilege to be his wife and the mother to his children.
Although I may have a few bad days and sometimes forget how thankful I am for all that I am and all that I have, I hope those around me and the Lord know that I know I am blessed.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Sewing Projects
I have taken a liking to sewing, finally. Let me be a little more specific....I like sewing rectangles and squares!
A few weeks ago I caught the "motivation bug" to finally start on my T-shirt quilt that I have been waiting/wanting to do for about a year now. I started the tedious task of cutting my squares, sewing them together, sewing my strips together, and now I'm at a standstill. I have to go get material for my border AND my backing. I'm at a standstill because I have to sit down and figure out how I'm going to measure my backing (because my quilt is HUGE and keeping the material in one piece is not an option) and, quite honestly, I have not had the time or desire to do that. I will though, I will!
Since the progress on my quilt stopped I decided to pick up material for my soon-to-be-here niece and make her a couple baby blankets. Those I finished and they look SO cute if I do say so myself!! I can't say anything more about those until after they are given as gifts. ;)
Now that I'm done with baby blankets I've offered to help my pregnant sister-in-law with some of her sewing projects. First in line of that list is a nursing cover. No, I have never made one and no, it is not a rectangle or a square. I'm a little apprehensive, but I think it will actually turn out great! I've decided that I need to be more patient with myself and take the time to let my projects take shape and not rush through them, so with that being said I'm excited to try my hand at something a little different than what I normally sew. Normally as in the last three projects I've done. After the nursing cover I'll be making baby headbands, also for my soon-to-be-niece.
After all that is done, I'd really like to make myself a tree skirt. I think I'm being a little ambitious at wanting a Christmas tree, but I'd at least like to have a skirt prepared for when we DO have room for a big ol fir tree!
Whew. That is quite the list! Wow. I amaze myself sometimes...not at my enthusiasm, but my straight stupidity at thinking all this is going to happen. Haha, at least I'm going to give it a really really good effort! When I have a little bit of time I'll make sure to post pictures of my many sewing adventures!
A few weeks ago I caught the "motivation bug" to finally start on my T-shirt quilt that I have been waiting/wanting to do for about a year now. I started the tedious task of cutting my squares, sewing them together, sewing my strips together, and now I'm at a standstill. I have to go get material for my border AND my backing. I'm at a standstill because I have to sit down and figure out how I'm going to measure my backing (because my quilt is HUGE and keeping the material in one piece is not an option) and, quite honestly, I have not had the time or desire to do that. I will though, I will!
Since the progress on my quilt stopped I decided to pick up material for my soon-to-be-here niece and make her a couple baby blankets. Those I finished and they look SO cute if I do say so myself!! I can't say anything more about those until after they are given as gifts. ;)
Now that I'm done with baby blankets I've offered to help my pregnant sister-in-law with some of her sewing projects. First in line of that list is a nursing cover. No, I have never made one and no, it is not a rectangle or a square. I'm a little apprehensive, but I think it will actually turn out great! I've decided that I need to be more patient with myself and take the time to let my projects take shape and not rush through them, so with that being said I'm excited to try my hand at something a little different than what I normally sew. Normally as in the last three projects I've done. After the nursing cover I'll be making baby headbands, also for my soon-to-be-niece.
After all that is done, I'd really like to make myself a tree skirt. I think I'm being a little ambitious at wanting a Christmas tree, but I'd at least like to have a skirt prepared for when we DO have room for a big ol fir tree!
Whew. That is quite the list! Wow. I amaze myself sometimes...not at my enthusiasm, but my straight stupidity at thinking all this is going to happen. Haha, at least I'm going to give it a really really good effort! When I have a little bit of time I'll make sure to post pictures of my many sewing adventures!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Whew!
Oh. My. Gosh.
I have not posted in weeks because we have been SO busy with the dry cleaners! Every day all day I eat, breathe, sleep dry cleaning.
I don't really have any new news because we have just been working our hineys off trying to finding our stride with the business, but I'll go into detail with that a little more.
The first three weeks we took over we were training with the previous owner. This kind of training was not spending an hour with him watching what he did and then off we went, this was intense training. He was there with us, and when I say us I really mean Jordan, 13 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 3 weeks. He taught Jordan the labor side of a dry cleaner for 3 weeks straight. The labor side consists of: what chemicals take out what kinds of stains, what fabrics you can wet clean or dry clean, how to properly press clothing, and how to organize clothing, just to name a few. It tires me out just thinking about it. You wouldn't think it would be that hard....until you stepped into the back and saw all the machinery and presses and everything that goes into cleaning clothes on a mass level and then you would probably want to turn around and walk right back out the way you came! Jordan, though, has tackled every obstacle and has picked up on everything so well. He really is so smart and can do anything that helps him on his way to success!
After the initial 3 weeks of training, this week was our first week without the previous owner there to guide us. Man, I gotta tell you, it has been a looong week. It has been a very emotional and stressful week. This week has been emotional in the sense that we worry everyday all day about the business. We are constantly thinking up ideas that could potentially make the business better, worrying about how we are doing from the customer's perspective, ugh, and all kinds of other things. It has been very emotional for me, personally, because I now know it is a fact that I cannot work side-by-side with Jordan. He is a chief and I am chief and that is too many chiefs in one place. I wanted so bad to work with him, but it ain't gonna happen. We've decided that I'm going to manage the drop-off location we have in the next town over, and I am thrilled about that. I'll be able to work with Jordan, but not work with him, if you know what I mean. This week has also been very stressful because we have to stick to a schedule and we have to make sure that the clothing is taken care of so everything is ready for the customer when they come to get their clothes. Whew!
I know that things will get better with time and that eventually things won't be quite so stressful, but for now I'm so thankful for these precious moments I have to just relax for a few minutes. Time really is a special gift.
I have not posted in weeks because we have been SO busy with the dry cleaners! Every day all day I eat, breathe, sleep dry cleaning.
I don't really have any new news because we have just been working our hineys off trying to finding our stride with the business, but I'll go into detail with that a little more.
The first three weeks we took over we were training with the previous owner. This kind of training was not spending an hour with him watching what he did and then off we went, this was intense training. He was there with us, and when I say us I really mean Jordan, 13 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 3 weeks. He taught Jordan the labor side of a dry cleaner for 3 weeks straight. The labor side consists of: what chemicals take out what kinds of stains, what fabrics you can wet clean or dry clean, how to properly press clothing, and how to organize clothing, just to name a few. It tires me out just thinking about it. You wouldn't think it would be that hard....until you stepped into the back and saw all the machinery and presses and everything that goes into cleaning clothes on a mass level and then you would probably want to turn around and walk right back out the way you came! Jordan, though, has tackled every obstacle and has picked up on everything so well. He really is so smart and can do anything that helps him on his way to success!
After the initial 3 weeks of training, this week was our first week without the previous owner there to guide us. Man, I gotta tell you, it has been a looong week. It has been a very emotional and stressful week. This week has been emotional in the sense that we worry everyday all day about the business. We are constantly thinking up ideas that could potentially make the business better, worrying about how we are doing from the customer's perspective, ugh, and all kinds of other things. It has been very emotional for me, personally, because I now know it is a fact that I cannot work side-by-side with Jordan. He is a chief and I am chief and that is too many chiefs in one place. I wanted so bad to work with him, but it ain't gonna happen. We've decided that I'm going to manage the drop-off location we have in the next town over, and I am thrilled about that. I'll be able to work with Jordan, but not work with him, if you know what I mean. This week has also been very stressful because we have to stick to a schedule and we have to make sure that the clothing is taken care of so everything is ready for the customer when they come to get their clothes. Whew!
I know that things will get better with time and that eventually things won't be quite so stressful, but for now I'm so thankful for these precious moments I have to just relax for a few minutes. Time really is a special gift.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Job Update!
Good Mornin' Ya'll!
So I just thought I would give everyone an update as to the status of the dry cleaning operation I posted about a few weeks ago.
Drum roll please! After all the waiting and anticipation, we have FINALLY taken over and are now working at the dry cleaners!
This past week Jordan and I started training with the previous owner, Song. He is a Korean guy that has been in the business for ten years, so he know his stuff! He has been training Jordan and me quite intensely for the past week making sure we understand all the steps and all the details that go into making a dry cleaner successful.
The process at a dry cleaner is pretty easy to remember, it is all the little details that get me caught up. The basic process is as follows: go through the clothes and create an invoice for the order, tag the clothes with the customers info and invoice number, sort the clothes into their respective bins for cleaning, clean/wash the clothes, dry/press the clothes, inspect for perfection, sort clothing and match to their invoice number, place on conveyer belt, wait for customer to pick up their clothing.
Within each step of the process there are TONS of details you have to remember, for example, what the difference between a sweater, a sweater top, a sweater jacket, and a heavy sweater are because they are all different and have different prices in the system. The the most important step that Jordan is learning is what cleaning product takes out what stain and making sure the correct clothing (rayon, wool, cotton, polyester) goes into the proper machine for cleaning. Like I said, lots to learn.
I don't know if many of you know this (I didn't) but in the dry cleaning business there are two different kinds of dry cleaning places. First, there is just a normal drop-off location. This where customers bring in there clothing to have cleaned. Second, there is a store called a "plant." This is where the actual cleaning gets done. We have one of each, a drop-off location and a plant. This past week I've been training at the plant, but this week I'm going over to the drop-off location to train/take over. After last week I think it might be best if Jordan and I work in separate places...for our marriage's sake! ;)
There are many really great existing characteristics about the business as-is, but Jordan and I are excited to change some things we think might make the business even better! There will be some ideas, I'm sure, that will flop, but I know there will be some really really great ideas that will inspire growth.
Overall, the experience has been exhausting yet so rewarding. We are so so grateful to finally be working and I'm so elated that Jordan can finally be doing what he has wanted to do his whole life, be his own boss, but only while he is as work. ;) I'm so thankful for those surrounding us that have supported us and cheered us on from the beginning. Over the past few months I have, again, realized that the Lord has His hand in my life. His timing is perfect, His will is perfect. I'm so thankful for the struggles Jordan and I have gone through the last little while, for without those, this time in our life could not have been so sweet.
So I just thought I would give everyone an update as to the status of the dry cleaning operation I posted about a few weeks ago.
Drum roll please! After all the waiting and anticipation, we have FINALLY taken over and are now working at the dry cleaners!
This past week Jordan and I started training with the previous owner, Song. He is a Korean guy that has been in the business for ten years, so he know his stuff! He has been training Jordan and me quite intensely for the past week making sure we understand all the steps and all the details that go into making a dry cleaner successful.
The process at a dry cleaner is pretty easy to remember, it is all the little details that get me caught up. The basic process is as follows: go through the clothes and create an invoice for the order, tag the clothes with the customers info and invoice number, sort the clothes into their respective bins for cleaning, clean/wash the clothes, dry/press the clothes, inspect for perfection, sort clothing and match to their invoice number, place on conveyer belt, wait for customer to pick up their clothing.
Within each step of the process there are TONS of details you have to remember, for example, what the difference between a sweater, a sweater top, a sweater jacket, and a heavy sweater are because they are all different and have different prices in the system. The the most important step that Jordan is learning is what cleaning product takes out what stain and making sure the correct clothing (rayon, wool, cotton, polyester) goes into the proper machine for cleaning. Like I said, lots to learn.
I don't know if many of you know this (I didn't) but in the dry cleaning business there are two different kinds of dry cleaning places. First, there is just a normal drop-off location. This where customers bring in there clothing to have cleaned. Second, there is a store called a "plant." This is where the actual cleaning gets done. We have one of each, a drop-off location and a plant. This past week I've been training at the plant, but this week I'm going over to the drop-off location to train/take over. After last week I think it might be best if Jordan and I work in separate places...for our marriage's sake! ;)
There are many really great existing characteristics about the business as-is, but Jordan and I are excited to change some things we think might make the business even better! There will be some ideas, I'm sure, that will flop, but I know there will be some really really great ideas that will inspire growth.
Overall, the experience has been exhausting yet so rewarding. We are so so grateful to finally be working and I'm so elated that Jordan can finally be doing what he has wanted to do his whole life, be his own boss, but only while he is as work. ;) I'm so thankful for those surrounding us that have supported us and cheered us on from the beginning. Over the past few months I have, again, realized that the Lord has His hand in my life. His timing is perfect, His will is perfect. I'm so thankful for the struggles Jordan and I have gone through the last little while, for without those, this time in our life could not have been so sweet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)