Customer Service

It works on both sides.  That is, I expect good customer service in any establishment where I am letting go of my hard-earned dollars.  Don’t ignore me, try to find answers to my questions, don’t make me wait too long, etc.

But customers should also try to be a little nicer.  Why is it that when a worker dons a hat or apron for their job that people immediately treat them like second-class citizens?  Daughter Alison has worked retail for more than 10 years and has many stories of the rudeness of customers.  People come in with obviously used merchandise and try to get full refunds or new products in exchange, shoplift in shocking quantities and paw through merchandise that was carefully folded, etc.

Now that I’m working part-time at a coffee shop that specializes in custom drinks, it is amazing how people take that as an opportunity to be overly demanding. Again, the fact that I wear a hat and apron seems to bring me down a few levels beneath them in their eyes; maybe they’d be surprised to know of my “other” jobs as magazine publisher/writer/photographer, travel director and on-air talent and my college cum laude degree, etc.? A woman demanded a new drink today because the bubbles in her foam were too big….the next person made the drink the same way, but showed her as they spooned it into the cup so she felt it was better. *aargh. Another ordered 20 pumps of chocolate and 20 spoonfuls of chips in his drink and the way the system works, he wasn’t even charged extra…wow, working the system!

But don’t get me wrong! I enjoy people…talking to people, serving people, trying to bring that “rainbow to someone’s day”….but I often wish people were more aware of how they are affecting people around them. Is it harder to be nice?

Think about it next time you’re in a retail or food establishment, okay? And check this out… http://www.fatbraintoys.com/play/2013/5/15/five_lessons_in_customer_service_i_learned_from_my.cfm?gclid=CPWWleye8r4CFa1cMgodaVkAuw

 

 

Elder Care

If you know me, you know the in-laws have been living with us for 3 years now. We’ve been through many ups and downs in that time, as sharing a household is never easy.  Feelings get hurt, things get broken or dirty, schedules compromised, etc.

Hubz and I went into this like everything we do;  we researched, learned, prepared, made lists, etc. and yet knew there would be surprises. What surprised us the most, I think, is the fact that things never settle into a routine.  Each week of the last three years has brought new challenges and new ways of doing things. Just when you think you have it down, something changes! Someone gets sick, a health care provider retires or moves, and more.

Our latest change involves the nursing home.  Again, we knew it would happen, but you can never really fully prepare for the emotions that come along with that.  Gene fell Thanksgiving week and cracked a vertebrae, which is easily cemented…but nothing is easy when you’re 87.  It has set him back both physically and dementia-wise, necessitating his permanent move to assisted living.

That leaves Nola home with no daily health care provider, no social life and an overriding sadness of having to put her husband in a nursing home.

Nola & Gene = 65 year anniversary! 1/21/14

And so we enter a new phase of this cycle of living.  No one ever said it was pretty.  And even as I say “I can’t do this any more” I’m reminded of Phil. 4:13…”I can do all things through Him, who gives me the strength I need.” and I trudge on.

 

2013 Blogging in Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for my blog.  My take-away is I need to write more often…just 11 posts in 2013, apparently.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,300 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 38 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

 

My First Quilt

I took a quilting class to learn the basics so that I can tackle the vintage quilt my mom gave me from my great-grandmother. I was impressed at the number of tips, etc. I picked up even though I’ve been sewing since 4th grade.

The process is not difficult; it just takes patience (okay, I admit I’m a little lacking there), precision (well, I’m usually in a hurry and not so precise either) and persistence.

The quilt is called “Just Between Friends” and I took the class with a friend, so that was fun. It is the ‘lap quilt’ size, which is nearly twin sized!

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Chalk-Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Lauren was not a fan of her 1980s pink-toned cabinets, but wasn’t able to purchase all new ones either.  She started to paint, but quickly decided she was in over her head and called me in!

Here is the process;  clean, lightly sand, paint x 3 coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, distress with power sander, 2-3 coats of clear wax, buff.  Also, removed all hardware and spray-painted some of the old handles to match the new knobs. Then replaced all cabinets and hardware….and got myself a bottle of wine! *whew* long process and good arm muscles.

BEFORE….1980s pink cabinets.

Keep track of all hardware and number the cabinets to keep it all straight.

Starting to paint boxes.

Painting coat #1, backs first. Helps to have TV going…

More painting! 20 cabinet doors x 2 sides x 3 coats + 5 drawers x 3 coats.

AFTER! Much more updated. Kitchen will soon be painted ‘asparagus green’ and white cabinets will POP much more.

Corner cabinet and distressing.

Finished with distressing and new knobs

Chalkboard inside pantry door as a bonus!

 

A Simple Chair, Updated

How many chairs like this have you seen at garage sales, Goodwill, etc.?  I think this came from a yard sale and cost less than $10. It is solid wood and has a nice figure, tho.

Well, with just a little paint, a friend who fixed the seat for me, and some fabric I already had from Crimson Tate, suddenly it is a very cute side piece.  Just because I had more fabric that happened to coordinate, I made the pillow, too.  I frequently buy fabric that I just LIKE, so when I’m bored I can make a pillow or two or cover a bulletin board or some little project like that. I know…its a disease!

Don’t you think this is much cuter now?  (and…its for sale if you like…but not the cat!)

 

Updating a Table

We had this square coffee table, which worked great when we had a sectional sofa. We no longer have the sectional sofa, so it was time to sell the table.  No one seemed interested in a wood table, so out came the paint…and Pinterest for inspiration!

Chalk paint and distressing (with some shoe polish) on the bottom, chalkboard paint on the top….and Voila! Off to the consignment store…

Before, pretty dinged up from feet and kids/dogs. Woodgrain not as popular anymore…

After! Top can be wiped clean for a more upscale look.

 

Near-Zero-Budget Wedding

A friend, knowing my crafty tendencies, asked me to assist with her daughter’s wedding….her daughter’s Near-Zero-Budget wedding. *wow. What a challenge. The ceremony and reception will be in a public park, with all participants barefoot.  Think burlap, Ball jars, etc.  Very stylish right now…

So of course I went to Pinterest. So many crafty ideas swirling in my head. I agreed to spend less than $100.  Here’s what I have so far:

• Borrowed burlap runners for the (picnic) tables
• Collected Ball jars from various relatives of the bride
• sticks from my yard (neighbor’s River Birch tree sheds regularly)
• River rocks at $1.00 /bag from Dollar General
• Adorable terrariums made mostly with stuff I already had.
• Free scrap wood scavenged from a trash can in the Lowes lumber aisle 🙂 (for signs)
• Ordered cute (cheap) custom labels so each table will have a Ball jar of “Lydia &  Ben’s Salsa”

Here are the centerpieces…and even with 20 tables, I’m still only half-way through the budget! Green sprigs are Russian sage from my yard; at wedding time they will actually be covered with grayish-purple flowers.

 

Chalk Painting an Awesome Vintage Dresser

I absolutely love this dresser.  Someone bought it online for just $100 and asked me to paint it for her.  We were going to replace the hardware with glass knobs, but she decided to just have them painted white, which I loved after I did it; retains the vintage feel, I think.

Since the drawers were kind of icky inside, I also lined them with grey flannel for her.

I’m so happy with how it turned out and she is also thrilled.

Let me know if you have any old piece you’d like me to restore and re-purpose.  For instance, that old t.v. armoire makes a great bar, or add shelves inside and paint and it makes a nice open-shelved piece in a guest bedroom).

Before…former owners called it “the coffin”

Not in good shape…

*blech

Ah…much better!

Isn’t this detail awesome!

Painted, distressed, waxed, etc.

 

Just Give Me Jesus

photo by Tom Lavin

About a year ago I was asked to serve as volunteer marketing director for the Indianapolis Just Give Me Jesus organizing committee.  The committee has been hard at work arranging for Anne Graham Lotz to come to town to present her Just Give Me Jesus 2-day revival.

Well, I had no idea what I was getting into at that time;  lots of time committed to meetings and phone calls and planning.  Since that time I’ve put together a marketing and a public relations plan and implemented it, purchasing billboards and radio and newspaper and online ads throughout central Indiana and some beyond and arranging for numerous interviews as well.

And it is finally upon us!  The excitement has built to a fever-pitch, with literally hundreds of volunteers trained and ready to act as ushers, counselors, prayer warriors and more.  Local ministers are participating, churches are sending groups, and more.  12,000 women are expected to descend upon the Indiana Convention Center to hear Anne‘s message as she and Babbie Mason,Sheila Bailey and Fernando Ortega fan the flames to renew the passion of faith and the love for God in believers’ hearts.  The media has finally taken an interest, with newspaper articles, radio interviews, television interviews and more and I am so honored to be a part of this huge public mission.

Please consider joining us April 5-6, 2013 and if you can’t, you can get a similar message in one of Anne’s books.  She is a beautiful woman with a very important message for us all!  You will be stirred in worship, inspired in prayer and will hear God speak personally to you with a fresh touch from Heaven.