While my friend is here I need to mention something to him I know I've talked about on all my blogs before. There's a site called Car Angel where you can donate your old cars to raise money to make educational videos for next generation's children. Car Angel has raised enough money to give away 2.4 million videos.
What are the videos about? Some of them are religious while others deal with topics that some parents may have a hard time discussing with their children like drugs. Here's an example of what some of the videos are like.
If you want to donate to Car Angel but you don't have a car that you can get rid of you can also make a boat donation if you have an old boat you don't use any longer.
Seeing An Old Friend
I'm so happy because I just found out some great news. Hubby and I have a friend who lives up north who comes down from time to time to show luxury real estate to some very rich clients. He mostly deals with people who buy multi-million dollar vacation homes, and most of his clients have more than 1 vacation home.
He comes down from time to time to help them look at property down here on the lake or in Highlands and Cashiers, NC where some of the communities sell lots for millions. I haven't see Chris in about a year, and hubby just told me he'll be coming down later this week to show a client the vacation home hubby is currently building. If they like it they might be interested in buying property in the same gated community.
I'm just happy because I'll get to see one of my best friends who I hardly ever get to spend some time with. If I'm kind of quiet around the blogosphere later this week you'll know why. I'll be out enjoying the time I get to spend with my friend.
He comes down from time to time to help them look at property down here on the lake or in Highlands and Cashiers, NC where some of the communities sell lots for millions. I haven't see Chris in about a year, and hubby just told me he'll be coming down later this week to show a client the vacation home hubby is currently building. If they like it they might be interested in buying property in the same gated community.
I'm just happy because I'll get to see one of my best friends who I hardly ever get to spend some time with. If I'm kind of quiet around the blogosphere later this week you'll know why. I'll be out enjoying the time I get to spend with my friend.
Unconscious Mutterings
I'm late as usual on my Unconscious Mutterings this week.
I say ... and you think ... ?
- Booze :: A wild night
- Counter :: Strike
- Action :: Hero
- Trial :: By Jury
- Wheelchair :: Paralysis
- 1-800 :: Hotlines
- Chop :: Suey (yes the song)
- Relatives :: Family
- Bed sheets :: Cotton
- Funnel :: Cakes
Monetizing Your Blogs
What are your favorite methods for making money with your blog(s)? There are a ton of different methods to generating some income from blogs and websites, but not everyone feels the same way about each method. The newest method out there involves audio ads that play each time someone visits your website. Personally I think those are annoying, and you better believe if you're running audio ads on your site I'm not going to continue my visits.
In my opinion sidebar ads are ok, but sometimes the banner ads can become annoying when they contain lots of animation and sparkles. Well executed banner ads can work, but they're not for everyone.
Yes I admit paid blogging is my favorite way to monetize my blogs, but why? I think it's because the ads aren't obtrusive in the way sidebar ads can be. Would you rather see a big flashing banner screaming at you to click it or would you like the ability to scan over a few links words like term life insurance.
See that wasn't so bad now was it?
In my opinion sidebar ads are ok, but sometimes the banner ads can become annoying when they contain lots of animation and sparkles. Well executed banner ads can work, but they're not for everyone.
Yes I admit paid blogging is my favorite way to monetize my blogs, but why? I think it's because the ads aren't obtrusive in the way sidebar ads can be. Would you rather see a big flashing banner screaming at you to click it or would you like the ability to scan over a few links words like term life insurance.
See that wasn't so bad now was it?
Dragon Naturally Speaking Follow Up
Back in November I wrote a post using a dictation program to write a blog post. I was testing the Dragon Naturally Speaking program by Nuance. I was testing this product for my aunt who had carpal tunnel surgery back in September. She needed something that would help her cut down on her typing she has to do for work everyday, and we decided a dictation program would probably be her best bet.
I received an email today from someone wanting to know how it program was working for us, so it reminded me I needed to write a follow up post.
The first day I used the program was the day I dictated my blog post using the program. I purposely did not correct any errors the program made so that I could show the results I achieved. It took me over 45 minutes to dictate that first post because I was learning how to use the program. I wasn't happy with the outcome of that first post because there were many many errors even after I ran through the initial training for the program.
After writing that post I spent about 2 weeks using the program once or twice a day training it to recognize my voice. By the end of the second week my dictations were coming out faster and with fewer errors proving that the program continuously learns as you use it.
At that time I installed the program on my aunt's work computer, showed her how to use it, and helped her set it up. She has been using the program for about 2 1/2 months now, and she absolutely loves it. Of course like any other computer program it's not 100% accurate, but the more she uses it the better results she sees. It's really made her life much easier when it comes to large amounts of typing at work.
I called her tonight to get an update on how the program was working, and she informed me she now uses it for most of her emails as well. It's much easier to slide on her headset, give commands, and speak out the email. She confirmed that she can now dictate much faster than she was able to type, and she will be using the program for many years to come.
I received an email today from someone wanting to know how it program was working for us, so it reminded me I needed to write a follow up post.
The first day I used the program was the day I dictated my blog post using the program. I purposely did not correct any errors the program made so that I could show the results I achieved. It took me over 45 minutes to dictate that first post because I was learning how to use the program. I wasn't happy with the outcome of that first post because there were many many errors even after I ran through the initial training for the program.
After writing that post I spent about 2 weeks using the program once or twice a day training it to recognize my voice. By the end of the second week my dictations were coming out faster and with fewer errors proving that the program continuously learns as you use it.
At that time I installed the program on my aunt's work computer, showed her how to use it, and helped her set it up. She has been using the program for about 2 1/2 months now, and she absolutely loves it. Of course like any other computer program it's not 100% accurate, but the more she uses it the better results she sees. It's really made her life much easier when it comes to large amounts of typing at work.
I called her tonight to get an update on how the program was working, and she informed me she now uses it for most of her emails as well. It's much easier to slide on her headset, give commands, and speak out the email. She confirmed that she can now dictate much faster than she was able to type, and she will be using the program for many years to come.
In Need Of A Vacation
Lately I've really been itching to go on vacation. I guess it's mostly because it's been so long since we've actually been able to take a real vacation. All the financial issues we've been dealing with for the past year have really gotten me down. I really want to go to Florida to see our friend "T-Mac".
Last time I was in Florida was quite a long time ago. I went to Tampa with my high school honors chorus group. It was awesome because we performed at a showcase in Orlando, then we got to perform at Disney World! It was super awesome, but the most memorable part wasn't the performance. What I remember the most was mischievous for a group of teenagers, but funny now that I look back on it.
We had 3 day passes to get into of the collective Disney theme parks. Even though I was a goody good back then, a group of kids decided to sneak away from Epcot to visit MGM. First of all we all boarded the wrong shuttle, so we ended up at Animal Kingdom. The next shuttle didn't arrive for 45 minutes, so we got stuck sitting outside waiting. By the time we finally made it to MGM we only had 2 hours before we had to meet up with our group back at Epcot. We ended up eating at a 50's style diner inside the park, and that's all we had time for. We boarded the shuttle back to Epcot and met back up with our group.
The next day arrived, and to our surprise our teacher asked the group which of the other parks we would prefer to visit. We had spent half a day at Epcot, half a day at Magic Kingdom, and a full day at Animal Kingdom, so we could choose to go back to Magic Kingdom as was planned or he would take us to MGM instead. Of course the group voted to go to MGM!
What we didn't know was that once our tickets were scanned at certain parks, we weren't allowed to reuse them at that park per the rules of the ticket packages purchased by the school. MGM was one of the ones we could only visit once on our 3 day ticket. It was a huge bummer because not only did we all get busted, but we had to pay for our own admission to get into the park. Thankfully our teacher took it easy on us. He made us run laps that night around the hotel, but we didn't get in trouble when we got back home.
I really would love to go back to Florida, and I would love to not only go back to Disney World but to also take one of the Orlando Tours that Trusted Tours & Attractions offers. They've got a ton of sightseeing tours in many different cities, and right now you can win a handheld GPS just by signing up for their newsletter!
Last time I was in Florida was quite a long time ago. I went to Tampa with my high school honors chorus group. It was awesome because we performed at a showcase in Orlando, then we got to perform at Disney World! It was super awesome, but the most memorable part wasn't the performance. What I remember the most was mischievous for a group of teenagers, but funny now that I look back on it.
We had 3 day passes to get into of the collective Disney theme parks. Even though I was a goody good back then, a group of kids decided to sneak away from Epcot to visit MGM. First of all we all boarded the wrong shuttle, so we ended up at Animal Kingdom. The next shuttle didn't arrive for 45 minutes, so we got stuck sitting outside waiting. By the time we finally made it to MGM we only had 2 hours before we had to meet up with our group back at Epcot. We ended up eating at a 50's style diner inside the park, and that's all we had time for. We boarded the shuttle back to Epcot and met back up with our group.
The next day arrived, and to our surprise our teacher asked the group which of the other parks we would prefer to visit. We had spent half a day at Epcot, half a day at Magic Kingdom, and a full day at Animal Kingdom, so we could choose to go back to Magic Kingdom as was planned or he would take us to MGM instead. Of course the group voted to go to MGM!
What we didn't know was that once our tickets were scanned at certain parks, we weren't allowed to reuse them at that park per the rules of the ticket packages purchased by the school. MGM was one of the ones we could only visit once on our 3 day ticket. It was a huge bummer because not only did we all get busted, but we had to pay for our own admission to get into the park. Thankfully our teacher took it easy on us. He made us run laps that night around the hotel, but we didn't get in trouble when we got back home.
I really would love to go back to Florida, and I would love to not only go back to Disney World but to also take one of the Orlando Tours that Trusted Tours & Attractions offers. They've got a ton of sightseeing tours in many different cities, and right now you can win a handheld GPS just by signing up for their newsletter!
Hibiscus City Soap Co. Goodies
After using a sample I received in my last Candle Buzz Box I decided to order some soap from Hibiscus City Soap Co. owned by Jesse Baierl out of Vero Beach, Florida.
I previously tried both the natural soap and liquid soap in Orange Spice. I loved the smell of the Orange Spice in the bar soap, but I thought it was a little too strong of a scent in the liquid soap. Both soaps lathered really nicely, and I love the way they left my hands feeling.
This time I decided to order a bar of Lavender Oatmeal Moisture Rich Natural Soap with oatmeal and essential oil of lavender. The 3.5 oz bar cost $3.75.
Hibiscus City Soap Co.'s description:
The crushed oatmeal on the one side of the bar wasn't what I expected. I could see how it's expected to be a good scrubbing surface, but most of it flaked off when I was trying to pull the soap out of the cardboard packaging. Most of it what was left came off with one use.
Other than that I still think it's a great soap. It lathers nicely, and it moisturized my hands without leaving them with an oily feeling like a lot of other soaps I've tried.
I also received a ton of free samples, so this order was well worth it. Included in the shipping box was a sample of natural liquid soap in "Rosie" as well as three samples of moisture rich natural bar soap in "Ginger Lime", "Daily Grind", and Orange Spice.
I already know I'll love the Orange Spice. The only reason I didn't order another bar of the Orange Spice is because it's currently out of stock.
Informal Critique's Rating?
Overall this is a great handmade all natural soap, and the flaking of the oatmeal wasn't enough to turn me away from it. I definitely have to give Hibiscus City Soap Co.
.
I previously tried both the natural soap and liquid soap in Orange Spice. I loved the smell of the Orange Spice in the bar soap, but I thought it was a little too strong of a scent in the liquid soap. Both soaps lathered really nicely, and I love the way they left my hands feeling.
This time I decided to order a bar of Lavender Oatmeal Moisture Rich Natural Soap with oatmeal and essential oil of lavender. The 3.5 oz bar cost $3.75.
Hibiscus City Soap Co.'s description:This soap has the wonderful scent of lavender coupled with the humectant and exfoliating properties of oatmeal. Crushed oatmeal is found throughout the bar and on one side providing a good scrubbing surface. Works great as a foot scrub.This soap smells wonderful! It's looks just as awesome, but how does it work? One use of this stuff had my hands feeling really great.
Ingredients: Palm oil, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil, sodium hydrodxide, distilled water, essential oils, oats.
The crushed oatmeal on the one side of the bar wasn't what I expected. I could see how it's expected to be a good scrubbing surface, but most of it flaked off when I was trying to pull the soap out of the cardboard packaging. Most of it what was left came off with one use.
Other than that I still think it's a great soap. It lathers nicely, and it moisturized my hands without leaving them with an oily feeling like a lot of other soaps I've tried.
I also received a ton of free samples, so this order was well worth it. Included in the shipping box was a sample of natural liquid soap in "Rosie" as well as three samples of moisture rich natural bar soap in "Ginger Lime", "Daily Grind", and Orange Spice.
I already know I'll love the Orange Spice. The only reason I didn't order another bar of the Orange Spice is because it's currently out of stock.
Informal Critique's Rating?
Overall this is a great handmade all natural soap, and the flaking of the oatmeal wasn't enough to turn me away from it. I definitely have to give Hibiscus City Soap Co.
.
New Couch
I splurged on a few items this week that I'll be reviewing very soon, but that's the last of my splurging for awhile. Hubby and I have decided to buy a new couch. We might also pick up a new recliner to go with it, but we definitely know we need a new couch for the den.
I'll probably end up moving the old couch to my office to replace the old futon I currently use as a couch. The futon frame is totally falling apart, and when I have clients over I feel like of embarrassed that they have to sit on that futon.
The only reason I have a futon in here instead of a couch is because it doubles as an extra bed when we have extra guests. Maybe I can convince hubby that our new couch needs to have a pull out bed. If not no big deal. Our guests can totally just sleep on the couch. We've got a daybed in the guest room, and I might just pick up another air mattress for those times we do have more than 1 guest.
I'm hoping I can convince hubby to look at more modern furniture. I like our old couches, but they've got what I call a "granny print". I've always wanted leather couches in my living room, but there's no way I can have them right now with the dog and cat. They'd ruin them in no time.
That sucks because I saw an awesome white leather living room suite I'd love to have, and it wasn't too pricey either. Oh well, I'll have to find something hubby and I can compromise on anyway. I don't think he'd go for solid white because it'd be hard to keep clean.
I'll probably end up moving the old couch to my office to replace the old futon I currently use as a couch. The futon frame is totally falling apart, and when I have clients over I feel like of embarrassed that they have to sit on that futon.
The only reason I have a futon in here instead of a couch is because it doubles as an extra bed when we have extra guests. Maybe I can convince hubby that our new couch needs to have a pull out bed. If not no big deal. Our guests can totally just sleep on the couch. We've got a daybed in the guest room, and I might just pick up another air mattress for those times we do have more than 1 guest.
I'm hoping I can convince hubby to look at more modern furniture. I like our old couches, but they've got what I call a "granny print". I've always wanted leather couches in my living room, but there's no way I can have them right now with the dog and cat. They'd ruin them in no time.
That sucks because I saw an awesome white leather living room suite I'd love to have, and it wasn't too pricey either. Oh well, I'll have to find something hubby and I can compromise on anyway. I don't think he'd go for solid white because it'd be hard to keep clean.
Totally NOT Happy
I've tried to refrain from using the name of the company that hosts our server because I didn't want to call them out right now. Unfortunately they've just totally pissed me off beyond the point where I can kiss and make nice right now. I've already told you both my friend and I have been trying to find out why our 2 servers have been down since Friday. We haven't been able to get a straight answer out of anyone from 1 & 1. I hate freaking' outsourcing. I can't even get anyone who speaks good enough English to understand me asking to speak to someone who speaks fluent American English.
We're not the only ones experiencing problems either. 3 other friends who also host servers with the same problems have had problems this weekend although none of them have experienced full downtime.
We finally figured out some of what was going on today, and we were told at 3:30 that our servers would be back up within 45 minutes to an hour. That never happened. After a few hours we checked out account to see that now it says we were suspended for non payment. That never happened either. Our monthly payment cleared last week. That was at 7:30pm. The billing department closes at 5pm EST, so we have no way to contact them now.
At 10:30 pm we logged in to update payment information to another card. We decided we would pay a month ahead, and maybe that would fix the situation. Nope. Every card we tried (3 in total) was denied even though none of them have any balances. Then we tried the Paypal option. Our business account has plenty of cash in it right now, but that was denied also.
I'm thinking they're having huge billing problems (I'm hoping not a mess up like Dreamhost), and they don't want to admit what's going on. The problem they told us we were having was in no way connected to the billing thing. The billing thing didn't come up until hours later, so why are we having all these problems? Why is the account denying payments from all sources?
I totally have no idea what's going on now. I logged in a few minutes ago to try again, and now it says 1 server is paid and 1 server is pending. I'm seriously not happy with 1 & 1 anymore. We never had problems with them until recently, and I'm extremely close to finding another server provider.
We're not the only ones experiencing problems either. 3 other friends who also host servers with the same problems have had problems this weekend although none of them have experienced full downtime.
We finally figured out some of what was going on today, and we were told at 3:30 that our servers would be back up within 45 minutes to an hour. That never happened. After a few hours we checked out account to see that now it says we were suspended for non payment. That never happened either. Our monthly payment cleared last week. That was at 7:30pm. The billing department closes at 5pm EST, so we have no way to contact them now.
At 10:30 pm we logged in to update payment information to another card. We decided we would pay a month ahead, and maybe that would fix the situation. Nope. Every card we tried (3 in total) was denied even though none of them have any balances. Then we tried the Paypal option. Our business account has plenty of cash in it right now, but that was denied also.
I'm thinking they're having huge billing problems (I'm hoping not a mess up like Dreamhost), and they don't want to admit what's going on. The problem they told us we were having was in no way connected to the billing thing. The billing thing didn't come up until hours later, so why are we having all these problems? Why is the account denying payments from all sources?
I totally have no idea what's going on now. I logged in a few minutes ago to try again, and now it says 1 server is paid and 1 server is pending. I'm seriously not happy with 1 & 1 anymore. We never had problems with them until recently, and I'm extremely close to finding another server provider.
Unconscious Mutterings Week 259
Bike Show
I really wish I'd gone to the bike show in Atlanta today. We were planning on going, but we backed out when they started calling for more snow. We got the snow, but it was preceded by a ton of rain, so the snow never stuck. We totally could have gone to the bike show without worrying about getting stuck in Atlanta.
Oh well. We can always make the trip down there tomorrow, or we can go next year. Maybe next year we can go down for the whole weekend. It's the Cycle World International Motorcycle show, and it runs Friday through Sunday. I would love to make a weekend trip out of it so we can see all the featured bikes that are showcased on each day. I've really been itching to travel somewhere lately. I really need to invest in some new luggage before we go anywhere though. My old Samsonite suitcase is in rough shape.
Oh well. We can always make the trip down there tomorrow, or we can go next year. Maybe next year we can go down for the whole weekend. It's the Cycle World International Motorcycle show, and it runs Friday through Sunday. I would love to make a weekend trip out of it so we can see all the featured bikes that are showcased on each day. I've really been itching to travel somewhere lately. I really need to invest in some new luggage before we go anywhere though. My old Samsonite suitcase is in rough shape.
Totally Stressing
My personal blog is down yet again. I'm really getting sick of this especially since I don't know why my server is down right now. The company that hosts our dedicated server is giving us the round about on telling us why it's down. It's really getting old.
My friend has had this dedicated server for over a year, and not once did we experience any downtime in the first year. A couple months back the company that hosts our server made a big boo boo. One of their guys screwed up something big, and our entire server crashed. It was so bad that we were given a new hardware. After the hardware switch we've had nothing but problem after problem.
I'm extremely unhappy with this, and the fact that I'm also having huge problems with my ISP isn't helping any either. I'm totally stressing right now. I seriously need a vacation. Maybe I should check out some Hilton Head rentals. I'd love to take a trip to the beach right now while there aren't a lot of tourists around.
My friend has had this dedicated server for over a year, and not once did we experience any downtime in the first year. A couple months back the company that hosts our server made a big boo boo. One of their guys screwed up something big, and our entire server crashed. It was so bad that we were given a new hardware. After the hardware switch we've had nothing but problem after problem.
I'm extremely unhappy with this, and the fact that I'm also having huge problems with my ISP isn't helping any either. I'm totally stressing right now. I seriously need a vacation. Maybe I should check out some Hilton Head rentals. I'd love to take a trip to the beach right now while there aren't a lot of tourists around.
I'm Feasting Late
Due to all of my internet problems and the weather we've been dealing with I'm feasting late this week, but I'm still enjoying my feast!
Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?
Sweet Tea
Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.
My digital camera, a notebook I use for blogging notes, and my Clemson pen.
Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?
I'm going to say 8. I'm pretty honest, but none of us are perfect.
Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?
I would rename Easley, SC to Sleazely. We nicknamed it that because the side of town we used to live on is now pretty sleazy.
Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?
Tons of things stress me out. Lately it's stuff not working properly like my cable internet, my server, one of my computers, stuff like that. What calms me down is spending time with my family and friends. Blogging calms me, too. It gives me a chance to rant about whatever I need to get off my chest.
Needing New Glasses
On the other hand hubby has to wear glasses. He's got a very strong prescription, and he can't see much without them. I remember how bad it was when he broke his glasses at work. It was 2 weeks before our wedding, and we were basically broke. We had to take a large chunk of money we couldn't afford to spend to buy him more glasses. Just last year he broke his glasses at work again. Luckily it was a clean break on the frames, so I was able to solder them back together for him.
I would love to be able to afford new glasses for both of us and now I think I can with Great Discovery: $ 8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglassess. Wait a minute. $8 glasses? Yep! But how? Well the ZenniOptical.com people manufacture their own frames, so they're selling them direct to you without the middle man. They've got a huge selection of frames to choose from, and they can even fill prescriptions for bifocal lens and progressive lens among others.
Unconscious Mutterings
I totally didn't forget Unconscious Mutterings this week. Yay me! Lately I've been really slack forgetting to do this one.
- Dream big :: Dreams are what you make them.
- Competition :: Winning
- Torn :: Away
- Modeling :: Showing something off
- Coaster :: Roller!
- Slut :: Bimbo
- Spread :: Some cheesecake cream cheese on my bagel
- Amanda :: my friend "Bucky"
- Romance :: Lots of Flowers
- Paradise :: Where I need to be
Taking A Look At My Life
With the new year in full swing I decided it's time to take a step back and look at everything going on in my life. Call it a self assessment if you may, but I'm just not happy with a lot of things that have been happening in and around my life. I've decided it's time to take a step back away from everything.
Blogging is my one escape from all of that. When something is driving me crazy or upsetting me I can step into my office and forget about it for a few minutes while I put my mind on something else.
I think the biggest change I'm going to make in my life this year is going to involve friendships. I hate to say it, but I feel like I've grown into another person, and I'm looking back at most of my friends through a looking glass. Over the past few years I've grown into a full blown woman with responsibilities while most of them are just not reaching the stage I was at 5 years ago. We don't connect anymore. I worry about paying bills, feeding myself and hubby, and running our household while they are worrying about which party to go to Saturday night.
I admit I never wanted to grow up either, but I came to that point in my life where I realized it's inevitable. I'm 26 years old. I'm ready to start a family. Hubby and I are finally stable enough to do that. I don't want to have to worry about what friend got drunk at a party and needs a ride home at 4am on a Saturday night. I want to be tucked away in bed getting rest so I can spend the next day with my family.
I feel like a total bitch right now, and I feel like that's how I've been acting towards my friends. Is it wrong though to want to move past these people who have no intention of growing up though?
Blogging is my one escape from all of that. When something is driving me crazy or upsetting me I can step into my office and forget about it for a few minutes while I put my mind on something else.
I think the biggest change I'm going to make in my life this year is going to involve friendships. I hate to say it, but I feel like I've grown into another person, and I'm looking back at most of my friends through a looking glass. Over the past few years I've grown into a full blown woman with responsibilities while most of them are just not reaching the stage I was at 5 years ago. We don't connect anymore. I worry about paying bills, feeding myself and hubby, and running our household while they are worrying about which party to go to Saturday night.
I admit I never wanted to grow up either, but I came to that point in my life where I realized it's inevitable. I'm 26 years old. I'm ready to start a family. Hubby and I are finally stable enough to do that. I don't want to have to worry about what friend got drunk at a party and needs a ride home at 4am on a Saturday night. I want to be tucked away in bed getting rest so I can spend the next day with my family.
I feel like a total bitch right now, and I feel like that's how I've been acting towards my friends. Is it wrong though to want to move past these people who have no intention of growing up though?
Gevalia Coffee For Two Coffeemaker
I don't drink coffee a lot, but I do go through phases where I just want a cup of coffee every morning. Just because I don't drink it a lot doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good cup of coffee. I enjoy coffee so much that I asked my mom for a coffee grinder for my birthday last year so I could enjoy my coffee when it's fresh ground. Yes, I like a lot of flavored coffees, and I think that's because I drink it to enjoy the taste, not because I need something to keep me awake. God knows I don't need anymore help staying awake. Of course I mostly buy decaf.
Anyway the reason for this post isn't because I want to ramble about how much I like coffee. I want to ramble about how much I loathe my current coffeemaker. A few months ago hubby broke my old coffeemaker. It was the typical pot style that made 12 cups, and it was a cheap one that I got at the Dollar General for maybe $8, but it did the job perfectly. When hubby broke it his Grandma passed on a Gevalia coffeemaker she'd just purchased but never used.
This one is the Gevalia Coffee For Two Coffeemaker that comes with two thermal mugs.
The Good:
-The ability to brew one or two cups depending on how much you need.
-The ability to brew directly into your thermal mug. You don't have to transfer your coffee from the pot to the mug.
-The brewing chambers snap off for easy cleanup and can be placed in the dishwasher.
-The coffee for each cup is separated in the brewing chambers, so you have the ability to brew two different kinds at once. I can brew decaf french vanilla for me while hubby gets regular caffeinated coffee.
The Bad:
-The included coffee scoop is supposed to measure out 1 serving. 1 serving with this scoop in the 14 oz thermal mug produces coffee that looks like water with a drop of brown food coloring. I don't drink strong coffee, but I can't drink coffee that looks like water either. It took multiple tries to figure out exactly how much coffee I would need.
-The filters do not stay in place in the filter compartment when the water runs through leaving you with a huge mess of grains in the bottom of your coffee. Sometimes the coffee will clog (doesn't matter if it's pre-ground or ground at home) in the bottom of the filter causing all of the brewed coffee to overflow from the filter cup onto the counter in a huge mess. Of course the cat is always there trying to get his coffee fix licking up the mess as quick as possible!
-The included Gevalia filters were horrible. Only about half of my coffee would brew before the filter would break sending all of the grounds flying into the coffee. Purchasing replacement filters from my local grocery store helped some with this, but I still have occasional breakage.
-The mugs are cheaply made. I hand wash my thermal mugs, but after less than a month's use (4-5 times) the plastic interior separated from the metal exterior. I have to wash each separately to avoid mildew, then I have to put my thermal mugs back together after both pieces dry. During use if you accidentally pick up the mug by the top rim the metal part will fall off.
I've tried many different methods to get my coffee to brew with this coffeemaker without making a mess. I've finally found that the only way I can do so without the filter busting or overflowing is to disregard the fill line on the coffeemaker. Instead I have to add the water to brew in thirds. This means I have to stand over the coffeemaker adding more water every minute or two. This doesn't always work though. Just this morning I ended up straining my coffee into a coffee mug because only half way through the brew cycle the filter burst (a Gevalia filter and Gevalia french vanilla coffee ground coffee).
Easy of Use:
Brew Time (when working correctly):
Features:
Works Properly:
Informal Critique's Overall Rating:
Anyway the reason for this post isn't because I want to ramble about how much I like coffee. I want to ramble about how much I loathe my current coffeemaker. A few months ago hubby broke my old coffeemaker. It was the typical pot style that made 12 cups, and it was a cheap one that I got at the Dollar General for maybe $8, but it did the job perfectly. When hubby broke it his Grandma passed on a Gevalia coffeemaker she'd just purchased but never used.
This one is the Gevalia Coffee For Two Coffeemaker that comes with two thermal mugs.The Good:
-The ability to brew one or two cups depending on how much you need.
-The ability to brew directly into your thermal mug. You don't have to transfer your coffee from the pot to the mug.
-The brewing chambers snap off for easy cleanup and can be placed in the dishwasher.
-The coffee for each cup is separated in the brewing chambers, so you have the ability to brew two different kinds at once. I can brew decaf french vanilla for me while hubby gets regular caffeinated coffee.
The Bad:
-The included coffee scoop is supposed to measure out 1 serving. 1 serving with this scoop in the 14 oz thermal mug produces coffee that looks like water with a drop of brown food coloring. I don't drink strong coffee, but I can't drink coffee that looks like water either. It took multiple tries to figure out exactly how much coffee I would need.
-The filters do not stay in place in the filter compartment when the water runs through leaving you with a huge mess of grains in the bottom of your coffee. Sometimes the coffee will clog (doesn't matter if it's pre-ground or ground at home) in the bottom of the filter causing all of the brewed coffee to overflow from the filter cup onto the counter in a huge mess. Of course the cat is always there trying to get his coffee fix licking up the mess as quick as possible!
-The included Gevalia filters were horrible. Only about half of my coffee would brew before the filter would break sending all of the grounds flying into the coffee. Purchasing replacement filters from my local grocery store helped some with this, but I still have occasional breakage.
-The mugs are cheaply made. I hand wash my thermal mugs, but after less than a month's use (4-5 times) the plastic interior separated from the metal exterior. I have to wash each separately to avoid mildew, then I have to put my thermal mugs back together after both pieces dry. During use if you accidentally pick up the mug by the top rim the metal part will fall off.
I've tried many different methods to get my coffee to brew with this coffeemaker without making a mess. I've finally found that the only way I can do so without the filter busting or overflowing is to disregard the fill line on the coffeemaker. Instead I have to add the water to brew in thirds. This means I have to stand over the coffeemaker adding more water every minute or two. This doesn't always work though. Just this morning I ended up straining my coffee into a coffee mug because only half way through the brew cycle the filter burst (a Gevalia filter and Gevalia french vanilla coffee ground coffee).Easy of Use:
Brew Time (when working correctly):
Features:
Works Properly:
Informal Critique's Overall Rating:
Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday: The Bubba Edition
Apparently my desk chair is Bubba's newest favorite sleeping spot. Working involves 10 minutes of coaxing him out of the chair. I think he just likes my super fuzzy blanket!
New Desk In The Works
I think hell has frozen over...or at least there's a pig flying somewhere. Hubby has finally agreed to finish building my "dream desk." I designed the perfect desk over 4 years ago, and it took me 2 years to convince hubby to tackle the task of building it. It's a huge wrap around desk that will take up two walls of my office, but I'll have plenty of room for everything. It's really not that hard of a project, especially for a lead carpenter who builds multi-million dollar homes, but hubby just has this thing with not wanting to build anything around our house.
He started building my desk 2 years ago, and he got exactly one shelf section, and one 5 foot section of the desk top build. He stopped because he ran out of nails for the nail gun, and he never started again. I finally gave up and turned the shelf section into an under the desk storage for my current desk. The top has been leaning against a wall in our utility room since the day he quit building it.
I've begged him to finish it, and now he has finally agreed to work on it next weekend. I don't know what the sudden motivation is to finish the project now, but I'm happy! Now I can start imagining all the awesome things I can buy to fill the desk! I think I might start with one of those engraved plaques that I can have on the desk with my name on it. Then at least I'll feel important!
He started building my desk 2 years ago, and he got exactly one shelf section, and one 5 foot section of the desk top build. He stopped because he ran out of nails for the nail gun, and he never started again. I finally gave up and turned the shelf section into an under the desk storage for my current desk. The top has been leaning against a wall in our utility room since the day he quit building it.
I've begged him to finish it, and now he has finally agreed to work on it next weekend. I don't know what the sudden motivation is to finish the project now, but I'm happy! Now I can start imagining all the awesome things I can buy to fill the desk! I think I might start with one of those engraved plaques that I can have on the desk with my name on it. Then at least I'll feel important!
Kodak V803 8MP Digital Camera Review
I finally did something I've been saying I was going to do for a long time. I finally bought a digital camera! Aren't you guys proud of me? Now I don't have to subject you to those crappy cell phone photos I've had to use! I'm so indecisive that it's taken me a lot of time to buy a new camera because I want to research everything.
In the end I made an impulse buy when woot.com was offering a new...yes not refurbished...Kodak v803 8 mega pixel digital camera for $99. I really couldn't pass that up. Normally this camera costs somewhere in the $140-$199 range depending on where you purchase.
I know a lot of people don't like Kodak's, but I've never had a problem with them. The picture quality might be a little amateurish, but I'm not planning to use it for super awesome photography. I just wanted a cheap camera that's going to get the job done, and 8mp is definitely more than I was planning to buy anyway.
First let's discuss the massive list of features for this camera. It really does have a lot to offer, and I was quite surprised. At first I didn't think the camera was going to be that great because it seems like it was designed to appeal to the customers who care more about the look of the camera versus it's features. I say that because this camera comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose the color you like best. Mine is the silver (which I love) but the camera also comes in mystic purple, cosmic blue, golden dream, midnight black, pink bliss, and white glaze.
Someone like me really can't go wrong with all of that! I've spent all evening snapping photos, and I really do love this camera. It's really easy to use, and the auto function has worked for just about all my shots. I haven't taken the time to play around with a lot of the functions, but the menus are super easy to navigate.
I'm not so sure I'm going to continue to be happy with the battery life. I fully charged the camera before using it, and I pulled it out to play with it around 7pm. I've been using it off and on for almost 6 hours, and I still have half my battery life. I'm also taking all of my photos in 8mp mode, and I'm using high power LCD display mode instead of energy saver. That's perfectly fine for normal everyday use, but when we road trip I want to be able to take a lot of photos without worrying about my battery dieing, so I'll probably have to pick up an extra one.
One other thing I like about the battery is that it is charged in the camera. There's no having to take the battery out to charge it separately. You just plug the camera into the wall outlet, and wait for the 3 lights on the top buttons to go solid.
I've also read a few reviews where people are complaining about the size of the LCD display. Most of the complaints state that it's too small of a display, and they have to squint to see the photo. I don't know what these people are talking about! This baby has a 2.5" diagonal display that shows the photos really nicely, and the camera is still small enough to slide in my purse or jacket pocket.
Overall I'm extremely happy I bought this camera.
Informal Critique Rating:
In the end I made an impulse buy when woot.com was offering a new...yes not refurbished...Kodak v803 8 mega pixel digital camera for $99. I really couldn't pass that up. Normally this camera costs somewhere in the $140-$199 range depending on where you purchase.I know a lot of people don't like Kodak's, but I've never had a problem with them. The picture quality might be a little amateurish, but I'm not planning to use it for super awesome photography. I just wanted a cheap camera that's going to get the job done, and 8mp is definitely more than I was planning to buy anyway.
First let's discuss the massive list of features for this camera. It really does have a lot to offer, and I was quite surprised. At first I didn't think the camera was going to be that great because it seems like it was designed to appeal to the customers who care more about the look of the camera versus it's features. I say that because this camera comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose the color you like best. Mine is the silver (which I love) but the camera also comes in mystic purple, cosmic blue, golden dream, midnight black, pink bliss, and white glaze.
Features:
- 8.0 mega pixel resolution (3273 × 2457)
- 1/1.8” CCD (8.32 MP, 3350 × 2483)
- 3X optical zoom, 4X digital zoom
- Kodak Retinar 3X Optical Aspheric Glass Lens (35mm equivalent: 36–108mm)
- 4X digital zoom
- 2.5” diagonal LCD display
- Switch to 32MB in-camera memory quickly with the internal memory plus feature
- Kodak Perfect Touch technology
- Digital image stabilization using anti-blur mode
- TTL auto focus
- Normal/macro/infinity auto focus modes
- AF assist light
- AE lock
- ISO sensitivity up to 1600
- Multiple metering modes
- Five white balance modes
- 22 scene modes
- Five color modes
- Three sharpness modes
- Multiple still/video review modes
- In-camera still/video editing
- 14 custom settings
- Burst mode
- Four flash modes
- Red-eye reduction
- Histogram display
- Multiple self-timers
- QuickTime MPEG-4 movie mode with audio
- On-camera favorites button
- ImageLink, PictBridge compatible
- SD/MMC memory card slot
- NTSC/PAL A/V output
- USB 2.0 port
- Measures approximately 4-1/8”W x 2-1/8”H x 1”D
Someone like me really can't go wrong with all of that! I've spent all evening snapping photos, and I really do love this camera. It's really easy to use, and the auto function has worked for just about all my shots. I haven't taken the time to play around with a lot of the functions, but the menus are super easy to navigate.
I'm not so sure I'm going to continue to be happy with the battery life. I fully charged the camera before using it, and I pulled it out to play with it around 7pm. I've been using it off and on for almost 6 hours, and I still have half my battery life. I'm also taking all of my photos in 8mp mode, and I'm using high power LCD display mode instead of energy saver. That's perfectly fine for normal everyday use, but when we road trip I want to be able to take a lot of photos without worrying about my battery dieing, so I'll probably have to pick up an extra one.
One other thing I like about the battery is that it is charged in the camera. There's no having to take the battery out to charge it separately. You just plug the camera into the wall outlet, and wait for the 3 lights on the top buttons to go solid.
I've also read a few reviews where people are complaining about the size of the LCD display. Most of the complaints state that it's too small of a display, and they have to squint to see the photo. I don't know what these people are talking about! This baby has a 2.5" diagonal display that shows the photos really nicely, and the camera is still small enough to slide in my purse or jacket pocket.
Overall I'm extremely happy I bought this camera.
Informal Critique Rating:
Friday Feast 174
You can play along by visiting Friday Feast!
Appetizer
When was the last time you received a surprise in the mail, and what was it?
Today actually. Hubby's aunt sent us a box of her famous cookies that she makes for New Year's every year. I'm not exactly sure what they're really called (she calls them cookie wafers), but they're really good. They're like huge thin wafers made with a waffle maker. Anybody have an idea what these are? Whatever you call them they're super good!
Soup
If you could have a summer and/or winter home, where would you want it to be?
My summer home would definitely be in the North Carolina mountains within close driving distance to Deal's Gap. My winter home would definitely be somewhere really warm like a tropical location.
Salad
Pick one: pineapple, orange, banana, apple, cherry.
orange-banana-pineapple!
Main Course
Describe the nicest piece of clothing that you own.
That's a toughie. I guess I would have to say the sweater my Grandma bought me for Christmas. It's nothing special really, but I haven't worn it yet, so it's still nice. I ruin everything I wear in some way.
Dessert
If you could forget one whole day from your life, which day would you choose to wipe from your memory?
Great Clips Seneca, South Carolina Review
In honor of the bad haircut I received last week from a girl at Great Clips I decided to write a review of my experiences dealing with the business.
I started using Great Clips as my salon of choice about 5 years ago. In the beginning I was using the Clemson, SC location, but when a new location opened in Seneca, SC I switched to that one because it's much closer to my home.
I had nothing but pleasant experiences with the salon for 4 years, but in the last year things seem to have really gone downhill. Our less than pleasant experiences began about 10 months ago when my husband went in for a haircut. There were plenty of stylists working, and there was only 1 other customer in the entire store.
My husband sat in the waiting area for almost an hour before he was called back for his cut. Already upset from the extremely uncalled for wait time, he asked for his normal cut which is a very simple military cut than even an untrained person like me can accomplish in 10 minutes time. It took the stylist close to 45 minutes to finish the simple buzz cut because she kept walking away to talk to another stylist. She even answered her own personal cell phone while she made my husband sit there waiting to finish his cut.
We complained to the store, and we were given our money back for the experience which was definitely a plus. I liked the fact that the manager handled the complaint by reimbursing us, but the stylist wasn't reprimanded. We were given the excuse that the stylist was on her cell phone dealing with a family emergency, and that we should understand. My husband mentioned that the stylist appeared to be having a casual conversation with a friend, and it didn't seem like a family emergency at all.
By this time I knew what hours the one girl I liked worked, so I would always plan to get my hair cut during those hours when I knew the store was the least busy. I was still happy with my own situations while many people were asking me how I could still use that salon. Many of my family and friends were having extremely bad experiences with the salon.
Within a couple months most of the stylists I was used to were gone, and the salon was filled with a ton of new girls fresh from beauty college. My husband had 2 more hair cuts at Great Clips before he refused to give them any more of his business. The stylists were not cooperative when he explained what he wanted, and he was getting tired of the unprofessional way they carried themselves. My husband's last hair cut resulted in a gap being cut out of the back of his hair that was extremely noticeable simply because the stylist was talking to someone else instead of paying attention to what she was doing.
Through all of this I continued to visit my normal stylist there because she was continuing to do a great job. I also allowed a couple other stylists to cut my hair that I had previous experiences with, and they were great. Then I finally dealt with my own bad experience last week.
I headed in on Friday, December 28th for a quick cut. Because of the holidays the store was dead, but my normal stylist wasn't available. I had to settle for a girl I had never seen in the salon before. My hair was extremely long, more than half way down my back. I waited about 10 minutes for the 3 stylists in the salon to stop having a private conversation before I was seated in a chair. I asked Carmen, the stylist, to cut my hair to about 1/4" below my shoulders. I said I would like a small amount of layering in the 1/4" to my shoulders to help my wavy hair curl under. This is what I always ask for when I cut it short, and it always turns out great.
After Carmen walked off two times to talk to another stylist, then a 3rd time to answer a private phone call, she finally began cutting my hair. She immediately cut the bottom layer much shorter than I requested, and when I questioned her she replied that the rest of my hair would be longer. She was just thinning out some of my heaviness.
She was cutting my hair wet, and I made a point to mention that my hair shrinks up a great deal after it's been cut wet, so she would need to leave it a little longer, but she argued that the length wouldn't change. When she was done not only was my hair much shorter than I requested, but I could see drastic layers even with the hair wet. I asked that she dry and straighten my hair so I could check the layers, and I was told that it would cost an additional $20. I voiced my dislike for this and made a point to mention that all of the other stylists always blow dry my hair straight to check the to make sure the layers blend nicely. She plugged in her blow dryer, so I assumed she was going to at least blow dry it like I asked, but instead she disregarded my request completely, blew the hair off the front of my smock, and removed the smock from me.
I left with soaking wet hair and very unhappy with this stylist after paying for a haircut I had a feeling I wouldn't be happy with. By the time I got home my hair was dry, but wavy so I immediately straightened it. This is what the cut looked like.
As you can see the cut is MUCH shorter than I originally asked for, the layers are extremely chunky, and the layers do not blend at all. I decided I could live with the length as I actually kind of liked it, but the layers were not something I could handle. I voiced my opinion on my personal blog about returning to take advantage of the 100% satisfaction guarantee Great Clips offers.
I decided I would return after the holidays when I had time to do so, but my husband pointed out something that I wasn't expecting. He held up a mirror for me to see the back of my hair, and I wasn't pleased at all.
The back of my hair was completely butchered. (click photo at right for larger view)
The layers were so chopped up that some of the top layers were longer than some of the bottom layers. It looked like someone gave a 5 year old a pair of scissors and gave them free will on my hair. Some sections of my hair didn't even hair layers while the sections on either side were cut to my chin. I was NOT happy.
I returned to Great Clips Sunday afternoon to have this fixed. I was met by one of the other girls, Shannon, who has cut my hair before. I explained the situation, told her what I had originally asked for, then I showed her the back of my hair. The look on her face was one of mortification. I even said "Would you go out in public with your hair looking like this?" She agreed she wouldn't.
Shannon was very helpful and quick to fix the situation. Even though I didn't want to, we had to go a little shorter and with a cut I wouldn't have chosen for myself.
I was happy with the cut, and the service Shannon gave me, but I was NOT happy with the way the employees handled my complaint about Carmen, the stylist who originally butchered my hair. I was told that apparently the stylist just "didn't understand what I wanted."
When I said I wanted to file a complaint about her, I was told that "some people just like the really messy look", so there was really no grounds to file a written complaint. I'm sorry but my cut was not a "messy look". It was a whack job. I don't see how anyone could purposely want their layers cut like this. Why would I waste money on a cut like this when I could do a better job of it at home by myself with a blindfold?
It's been a few days since I had my haircut fixed, and in that time I've had time to talk to a few of my friends who have vowed to never use Great Clips again. I asked each one of them what their reasons for feeling this way about the salon are, and each one of them told me the same thing. The customer service was poor, the stylists disregarded what the customer asked for, and 2 of my friends experienced the same horrible layering cut from the same stylist, Carmen.
What's my recommendation? If you're visiting a Great Clips salon for a cut, make sure you check out the stylists working there. If you're looking for a cut that actually involves the use of skill such as layering, ask to see a portfolio of previous work. ALL stylists should have some type of portfolio. Just because they have a license does not mean they know what they're doing. If you receive a bad haircut, file a complaint with the corporate office. (I'm sending a copy of this review straight to Great Clips corporate.)
My Ratings:
Overall Customer Service:
Skills:
Willingness To Please Customer:
Price:
It just goes to show you get what you pay for!
I started using Great Clips as my salon of choice about 5 years ago. In the beginning I was using the Clemson, SC location, but when a new location opened in Seneca, SC I switched to that one because it's much closer to my home.
I had nothing but pleasant experiences with the salon for 4 years, but in the last year things seem to have really gone downhill. Our less than pleasant experiences began about 10 months ago when my husband went in for a haircut. There were plenty of stylists working, and there was only 1 other customer in the entire store.
My husband sat in the waiting area for almost an hour before he was called back for his cut. Already upset from the extremely uncalled for wait time, he asked for his normal cut which is a very simple military cut than even an untrained person like me can accomplish in 10 minutes time. It took the stylist close to 45 minutes to finish the simple buzz cut because she kept walking away to talk to another stylist. She even answered her own personal cell phone while she made my husband sit there waiting to finish his cut.
We complained to the store, and we were given our money back for the experience which was definitely a plus. I liked the fact that the manager handled the complaint by reimbursing us, but the stylist wasn't reprimanded. We were given the excuse that the stylist was on her cell phone dealing with a family emergency, and that we should understand. My husband mentioned that the stylist appeared to be having a casual conversation with a friend, and it didn't seem like a family emergency at all.
By this time I knew what hours the one girl I liked worked, so I would always plan to get my hair cut during those hours when I knew the store was the least busy. I was still happy with my own situations while many people were asking me how I could still use that salon. Many of my family and friends were having extremely bad experiences with the salon.
Within a couple months most of the stylists I was used to were gone, and the salon was filled with a ton of new girls fresh from beauty college. My husband had 2 more hair cuts at Great Clips before he refused to give them any more of his business. The stylists were not cooperative when he explained what he wanted, and he was getting tired of the unprofessional way they carried themselves. My husband's last hair cut resulted in a gap being cut out of the back of his hair that was extremely noticeable simply because the stylist was talking to someone else instead of paying attention to what she was doing.
Through all of this I continued to visit my normal stylist there because she was continuing to do a great job. I also allowed a couple other stylists to cut my hair that I had previous experiences with, and they were great. Then I finally dealt with my own bad experience last week.
I headed in on Friday, December 28th for a quick cut. Because of the holidays the store was dead, but my normal stylist wasn't available. I had to settle for a girl I had never seen in the salon before. My hair was extremely long, more than half way down my back. I waited about 10 minutes for the 3 stylists in the salon to stop having a private conversation before I was seated in a chair. I asked Carmen, the stylist, to cut my hair to about 1/4" below my shoulders. I said I would like a small amount of layering in the 1/4" to my shoulders to help my wavy hair curl under. This is what I always ask for when I cut it short, and it always turns out great.
After Carmen walked off two times to talk to another stylist, then a 3rd time to answer a private phone call, she finally began cutting my hair. She immediately cut the bottom layer much shorter than I requested, and when I questioned her she replied that the rest of my hair would be longer. She was just thinning out some of my heaviness.
She was cutting my hair wet, and I made a point to mention that my hair shrinks up a great deal after it's been cut wet, so she would need to leave it a little longer, but she argued that the length wouldn't change. When she was done not only was my hair much shorter than I requested, but I could see drastic layers even with the hair wet. I asked that she dry and straighten my hair so I could check the layers, and I was told that it would cost an additional $20. I voiced my dislike for this and made a point to mention that all of the other stylists always blow dry my hair straight to check the to make sure the layers blend nicely. She plugged in her blow dryer, so I assumed she was going to at least blow dry it like I asked, but instead she disregarded my request completely, blew the hair off the front of my smock, and removed the smock from me.
I left with soaking wet hair and very unhappy with this stylist after paying for a haircut I had a feeling I wouldn't be happy with. By the time I got home my hair was dry, but wavy so I immediately straightened it. This is what the cut looked like.
As you can see the cut is MUCH shorter than I originally asked for, the layers are extremely chunky, and the layers do not blend at all. I decided I could live with the length as I actually kind of liked it, but the layers were not something I could handle. I voiced my opinion on my personal blog about returning to take advantage of the 100% satisfaction guarantee Great Clips offers.
I decided I would return after the holidays when I had time to do so, but my husband pointed out something that I wasn't expecting. He held up a mirror for me to see the back of my hair, and I wasn't pleased at all.
The back of my hair was completely butchered. (click photo at right for larger view)
The layers were so chopped up that some of the top layers were longer than some of the bottom layers. It looked like someone gave a 5 year old a pair of scissors and gave them free will on my hair. Some sections of my hair didn't even hair layers while the sections on either side were cut to my chin. I was NOT happy.
I returned to Great Clips Sunday afternoon to have this fixed. I was met by one of the other girls, Shannon, who has cut my hair before. I explained the situation, told her what I had originally asked for, then I showed her the back of my hair. The look on her face was one of mortification. I even said "Would you go out in public with your hair looking like this?" She agreed she wouldn't.
Shannon was very helpful and quick to fix the situation. Even though I didn't want to, we had to go a little shorter and with a cut I wouldn't have chosen for myself.
I was happy with the cut, and the service Shannon gave me, but I was NOT happy with the way the employees handled my complaint about Carmen, the stylist who originally butchered my hair. I was told that apparently the stylist just "didn't understand what I wanted."
When I said I wanted to file a complaint about her, I was told that "some people just like the really messy look", so there was really no grounds to file a written complaint. I'm sorry but my cut was not a "messy look". It was a whack job. I don't see how anyone could purposely want their layers cut like this. Why would I waste money on a cut like this when I could do a better job of it at home by myself with a blindfold?
It's been a few days since I had my haircut fixed, and in that time I've had time to talk to a few of my friends who have vowed to never use Great Clips again. I asked each one of them what their reasons for feeling this way about the salon are, and each one of them told me the same thing. The customer service was poor, the stylists disregarded what the customer asked for, and 2 of my friends experienced the same horrible layering cut from the same stylist, Carmen.
What's my recommendation? If you're visiting a Great Clips salon for a cut, make sure you check out the stylists working there. If you're looking for a cut that actually involves the use of skill such as layering, ask to see a portfolio of previous work. ALL stylists should have some type of portfolio. Just because they have a license does not mean they know what they're doing. If you receive a bad haircut, file a complaint with the corporate office. (I'm sending a copy of this review straight to Great Clips corporate.)
My Ratings:
Overall Customer Service:
Skills:
Willingness To Please Customer:
Price:
It just goes to show you get what you pay for!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)