I received an order today and needed to adjust the amount the person was charged for their order. I received an error when I tried to place another charge on the customer's card (yes, customer was aware of the new amount) so I called my credit card processing company, Authorize.Net to try to get some assistance. What I got instead is a recording saying the average wait time was 62 minutes! How is that even acceptable??
Here is a message from their "Live Help" screen.
"All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
You are currently at position number 40 in the queue. We are experiencing high volumes today and appreciate your patience."
I tried to call them last week and the wait was 34 minutes. Luckily, that time I was able to take care of the situation myself.
When I have actually gotten through to customer service on previous calls I was told the wait time was down dramatically from what it used to be. What was it then? A couple of days???
Authorize.Net is a very popular credit card processing company which many businesses use. It truly amazes me they think they are providing their customers with excellent or even acceptable service when the wait time to speak to them is over an hour!!
If their call volume is so high then they need to hire more people!!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
My Wedding & Party Favors
This is what Emerald Coast Brides had to say about my plantable wedding & party favors in their Spring '08 issue that is on newsstands now.
"For a wedding favor that keeps giving to both the guests
and the environment, consider handing out something
for their yard or garden. All the guests would consider
the Decorative Daisy Seed, Wildflower Seed Favor
Kits, Plantable Wildflower Favors, Seed Balls, the Love
Bean, or Butterfly Gift Baskets, available through www.
CherishedGiftFavors.com, fun and useful."
The magazine is now sold in 18 states in stores such as Walmart, Winn Dixie, Publix, Books A Million, Borders, and many others that I can't remember.
I went to Publix last week and the found the magazine kind of hidden in the middle of the bridal section . I moved the whole stack to the front. Hey, I gotta promote my business!
"For a wedding favor that keeps giving to both the guests
and the environment, consider handing out something
for their yard or garden. All the guests would consider
the Decorative Daisy Seed, Wildflower Seed Favor
Kits, Plantable Wildflower Favors, Seed Balls, the Love
Bean, or Butterfly Gift Baskets, available through www.
CherishedGiftFavors.com, fun and useful."
The magazine is now sold in 18 states in stores such as Walmart, Winn Dixie, Publix, Books A Million, Borders, and many others that I can't remember.
I went to Publix last week and the found the magazine kind of hidden in the middle of the bridal section . I moved the whole stack to the front. Hey, I gotta promote my business!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I Want This!
Love the coat that Felecity Hoffman is rockin at the Sundance. Too cute!! I want her shoes too!Saturday, January 19, 2008
Stuck Inside
It is cold and rainy outside so my family is stuck inside all day. My hubby is hating it, but I think it is the perfect chance to de-clutter my house and start getting together all of my business receipts/sales info for my accountant.
I hate this time of year because of the work involved in compiling everything I need for my business taxes, but it is also nice to see how much Cherished Gifts & Favors has grown since 2006.
I'm looking forward to 2008 being a great year business wise. I'm in the process of adding my 2008 line of elegant party favors and personalized gifts to my website which will give my customers even more unique items to choose from for their special event. I'm also increasing the advertising that I'm doing in magazines and on the web. It should all add up to a very busy year for CGF, Inc. January has already been busy so I'm really excited about the upcoming wedding season.
I hate this time of year because of the work involved in compiling everything I need for my business taxes, but it is also nice to see how much Cherished Gifts & Favors has grown since 2006.
I'm looking forward to 2008 being a great year business wise. I'm in the process of adding my 2008 line of elegant party favors and personalized gifts to my website which will give my customers even more unique items to choose from for their special event. I'm also increasing the advertising that I'm doing in magazines and on the web. It should all add up to a very busy year for CGF, Inc. January has already been busy so I'm really excited about the upcoming wedding season.
Friday, January 18, 2008
My Drama Filled Morning
It was a different kind of morning for me. I went to work for a little while then it was off to my son's doctor's appointment.
It is always a blast to sit in a pediatrician's office. I get to try to entertain my child while keeping him away from kids that are sick and if he is sick then I have the fun job of keeping him away from kids that are not. The waiting time to see the doctor is usually over an hour which seems like 5 hours due to the crying, screaming, and/or misbehaving angels that are stuck in the waiting room with you.
While waiting today I happened to overhear a conversation between a grandmother and teenage mother & her mother. The grandmother was probably in her 40's and stated that she was at the doctor today with her grandchild because her daughter was working. She asked the teenage mom if she was doing home schooling like her daughter was. The girl said yes and they started talking. The stories of the 2 teenage mothers seemed almost identical. Both had stopped going to high school and were trying to complete their studies at home, both had been cheerleaders, and both lost most of their friends when they had gotten pregnant. The grandmother pulled out a picture of her daughter taken at a dance. The only one she ever attended.
I felt bad for the girls. Their lives had completely changed in the last year. Their time should be spent preparing for college, attending dances, football games, and hanging with friends. Instead they are spent taking care of their baby, working, and dealing with problems that only adults should have to face.
One girl is now married so she is also responsible for keeping up a house while her young husband works. I really felt bad for the girls. In the blink of an eye their lives changed so much.
After finally seeing the doctor I walk out to schedule my son's 4 year old check up in June. As I walk up to the receptionist I hear one of the staff telling a customer in a firm voice the doctor couldn't see him right now because he was very busy. He was asked to take a seat and he would see him as soon as he could. I don't know what the situation was, but a few seconds later the lady helping me also told him to sit down. She then told him that if he didn't she was going to call the police. At this point there were a couple of other people in line behind me and we all had shocked looks on our face.
The staff was doing the best they could to handle the situation, but you could tell they were very embarrassed that it was happening in front of a packed waiting room. My heart went out to the staff because I work with the public too. Like I said, I don't know the history between the staff and the man, but it seemed like things had gotten ugly before.
Needless to say the doctor's visit this morning was an interesting one.
It is always a blast to sit in a pediatrician's office. I get to try to entertain my child while keeping him away from kids that are sick and if he is sick then I have the fun job of keeping him away from kids that are not. The waiting time to see the doctor is usually over an hour which seems like 5 hours due to the crying, screaming, and/or misbehaving angels that are stuck in the waiting room with you.
While waiting today I happened to overhear a conversation between a grandmother and teenage mother & her mother. The grandmother was probably in her 40's and stated that she was at the doctor today with her grandchild because her daughter was working. She asked the teenage mom if she was doing home schooling like her daughter was. The girl said yes and they started talking. The stories of the 2 teenage mothers seemed almost identical. Both had stopped going to high school and were trying to complete their studies at home, both had been cheerleaders, and both lost most of their friends when they had gotten pregnant. The grandmother pulled out a picture of her daughter taken at a dance. The only one she ever attended.
I felt bad for the girls. Their lives had completely changed in the last year. Their time should be spent preparing for college, attending dances, football games, and hanging with friends. Instead they are spent taking care of their baby, working, and dealing with problems that only adults should have to face.
One girl is now married so she is also responsible for keeping up a house while her young husband works. I really felt bad for the girls. In the blink of an eye their lives changed so much.
After finally seeing the doctor I walk out to schedule my son's 4 year old check up in June. As I walk up to the receptionist I hear one of the staff telling a customer in a firm voice the doctor couldn't see him right now because he was very busy. He was asked to take a seat and he would see him as soon as he could. I don't know what the situation was, but a few seconds later the lady helping me also told him to sit down. She then told him that if he didn't she was going to call the police. At this point there were a couple of other people in line behind me and we all had shocked looks on our face.
The staff was doing the best they could to handle the situation, but you could tell they were very embarrassed that it was happening in front of a packed waiting room. My heart went out to the staff because I work with the public too. Like I said, I don't know the history between the staff and the man, but it seemed like things had gotten ugly before.
Needless to say the doctor's visit this morning was an interesting one.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Oh The Power Of Makeup!
I stumbled upon these celeb photos on Yahoo. This is what these ladies really look like. WOW! Not only do they need makeup, but a brush would help a lot too!!
Eva Longoria
Jessica Simpson
Julia Roberts
Eva Longoria
Jessica Simpson
Julia Roberts
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Things I Do...
I'm a pretty smart chick, but sometimes I wonder about myself. Why do I do the things I do?? Case in point, today I couldn't find my keys when I was leaving work.
I just had them an hour and a half before when I ran to the bank and to the UPS store across the street to pick up my business mail.
However, at 5:00 I found myself looking everywhere for them. I checked my purse twice, the office kitchen, the counter in the supply room, the floor by my desk, the top of my desk, on top of the file cabinet by my desk. They were nowhere to be found.
I started panicking. Another girl in my office was waiting on me to find them so she could leave.
I looked through my purse again. Then around my desk.
For some reason, I still don't know why, I decided to look in another place.
There they were!
I'm embarrassed to tell you where I finally found them.
I'm embarrassed for myself that I did it.
Of course, I'm crazy like that. When we were dating my husband called me his "Fruitcake".
So where did this crazy girl find her keys????
In my garbage. Yes, I said my garbage.
Hey, it is always nice to have a good laugh, even if it is at yourself.
My life is never boring let me assure you.
I'm famous for doing another crazy thing. Perhaps I will blog about it sometime. People who know me always get a good laugh over it.
I just had them an hour and a half before when I ran to the bank and to the UPS store across the street to pick up my business mail.
However, at 5:00 I found myself looking everywhere for them. I checked my purse twice, the office kitchen, the counter in the supply room, the floor by my desk, the top of my desk, on top of the file cabinet by my desk. They were nowhere to be found.
I started panicking. Another girl in my office was waiting on me to find them so she could leave.
I looked through my purse again. Then around my desk.
For some reason, I still don't know why, I decided to look in another place.
There they were!
I'm embarrassed to tell you where I finally found them.
I'm embarrassed for myself that I did it.
Of course, I'm crazy like that. When we were dating my husband called me his "Fruitcake".
So where did this crazy girl find her keys????
In my garbage. Yes, I said my garbage.
Hey, it is always nice to have a good laugh, even if it is at yourself.
My life is never boring let me assure you.
I'm famous for doing another crazy thing. Perhaps I will blog about it sometime. People who know me always get a good laugh over it.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Scary Moment
While I'm sitting here typing away during my lunch hour I decide to have a Hersey Kiss while I'm blogging. I pop one in my mouth from a jar that a vendor gave the staff at Christmas.
All of the sudden it hits me that the Kiss I'm eating is crunchy. The more I think about it the more I wonder if it should really be crunchy.
What if something is wrong with the Kiss? Due to recent food scares with hamburger meat, spinach, etc. I'm a little worried.
I decide to eat another kiss to make sure that Kiss is crunchy too.
I pop it in my mouth.
It's not crunchy.
OMG!
I dig in the trash to find the wrapper of the first Kiss I ate.
I find it and then dig through my candy jar to find another one just like it.
The tag says its toffee flavored.
I pop it in my mouth and it is crunchy too.
Thank God!
I'm safe!!
The toffee kiss was really good too. Now I have to keep myself from eating another one since I've already had 3 in the last few minutes!
All of the sudden it hits me that the Kiss I'm eating is crunchy. The more I think about it the more I wonder if it should really be crunchy.
What if something is wrong with the Kiss? Due to recent food scares with hamburger meat, spinach, etc. I'm a little worried.
I decide to eat another kiss to make sure that Kiss is crunchy too.
I pop it in my mouth.
It's not crunchy.
OMG!
I dig in the trash to find the wrapper of the first Kiss I ate.
I find it and then dig through my candy jar to find another one just like it.
The tag says its toffee flavored.
I pop it in my mouth and it is crunchy too.
Thank God!
I'm safe!!
The toffee kiss was really good too. Now I have to keep myself from eating another one since I've already had 3 in the last few minutes!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Little Things
They say to be thankful for the little things in life. Today was one of those days when I was thankful for the little blessings that made my day brighter.
1. I found out my Grandma doesn't have cancer. (This of course is a VERY BIG blessing).
2. I finally got my new treadmill in working order. I broke mine about 3 weeks ago. Because I ate my way through the holidays I really need to start exercising again. I haven't done much since my surgery on Nov. 19Th. Bad Girl!
3. We were short staffed at work, but it wasn't a crazy, busy day.
4. I found my ring that I discovered was missing this morning. My grandma gave it to me 20 years ago and I usually wear it every day. Today I couldn't find it when I went to put on my jewelry. I was upset this morning, but tonight I discovered it hidden behind another ring in my jewelry box.
5. I thought January would be slow, but business has really been picking up. I'm spending this month adding tons of new wedding favors and personalized gifts to my website. I'm really excited about the new items for my 2008 line.
6. Lean Cuisine frozen dinners were 50% off at Publix today. $1.64 for lunch isn't bad!
7. I ran into a high school friend that I haven't seen in years while I was browsing through the frozen food section.
The little blessings throughout the day added up to a pretty nice day for me. Except for my Grandma's wonderful news the rest of the stuff wasn't monumental, but I'm grateful for them nonetheless.
1. I found out my Grandma doesn't have cancer. (This of course is a VERY BIG blessing).
2. I finally got my new treadmill in working order. I broke mine about 3 weeks ago. Because I ate my way through the holidays I really need to start exercising again. I haven't done much since my surgery on Nov. 19Th. Bad Girl!
3. We were short staffed at work, but it wasn't a crazy, busy day.
4. I found my ring that I discovered was missing this morning. My grandma gave it to me 20 years ago and I usually wear it every day. Today I couldn't find it when I went to put on my jewelry. I was upset this morning, but tonight I discovered it hidden behind another ring in my jewelry box.
5. I thought January would be slow, but business has really been picking up. I'm spending this month adding tons of new wedding favors and personalized gifts to my website. I'm really excited about the new items for my 2008 line.
6. Lean Cuisine frozen dinners were 50% off at Publix today. $1.64 for lunch isn't bad!
7. I ran into a high school friend that I haven't seen in years while I was browsing through the frozen food section.
The little blessings throughout the day added up to a pretty nice day for me. Except for my Grandma's wonderful news the rest of the stuff wasn't monumental, but I'm grateful for them nonetheless.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Inflated Prices
Hubby and I went to see National Treasure this afternoon. We don't go to the movies much, which I guess is a good thing since it cost us $17 to get in. We bought a large popcorn and 2 drinks and were shocked that it cost $15. To top it all off, the matinee movies now end at 1:00 instead of 5:00.
Crazy!!
I think we will stick to Comcast On Demand Movies and DVDs that we can watch from the comfort of our own home. Of course that is if we ever can find time to watch them.
Crazy!!
I think we will stick to Comcast On Demand Movies and DVDs that we can watch from the comfort of our own home. Of course that is if we ever can find time to watch them.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
I enjoyed ringing in 2008 last night with my hubby and a group of friends. We all rented a hotel room overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and attended a hotel sponsored party. It was fun and very nice to get away for a night without our little one. To help celebrate the new year I got a new dress, a pair of boats, and tried a different look by getting my hair done with a Jessica Simpson clip in hair extension.
I loved how my hair looked long. I have been trying to grow my hair out for over 2 years, but haven't gotten very far. I'm even using a special shampoo for hair growth and taking hair, skin, & nail vitamins. My hair is very fine so it looks stringy when it gets too long. Plus I don't feel I'm very good at styling it.
I would love to wear my new extensions every day, but we'll see. The video on the website makes it look so easy to put them in. I checked out the comments on HSN.com & Amazon.com before I purchased them and many ladies seem to love them. I think Amazon had over 300 reviews and HSN over 66. We'll see how they work out for me. The thought of having pretty long hair without having to spend forever styling it sounds like heaven to me.
I loved how my hair looked long. I have been trying to grow my hair out for over 2 years, but haven't gotten very far. I'm even using a special shampoo for hair growth and taking hair, skin, & nail vitamins. My hair is very fine so it looks stringy when it gets too long. Plus I don't feel I'm very good at styling it.
I would love to wear my new extensions every day, but we'll see. The video on the website makes it look so easy to put them in. I checked out the comments on HSN.com & Amazon.com before I purchased them and many ladies seem to love them. I think Amazon had over 300 reviews and HSN over 66. We'll see how they work out for me. The thought of having pretty long hair without having to spend forever styling it sounds like heaven to me.
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