It's been a while since I've posted one of the frustrating conversations from my golf vacation job, so here goes!
Me: Golf Vacations, this is Jessica!
Customer: Hi, I'd like to book some golf for September 22 - 24.
Me: Okay. Just so you're aware, overseedingThis is an annual process of adding new grass seed to a golf course. In order for the seeds to grow without being trampled, the course closes for about a week. Once it reopens, they ask their customers to NOT drive their golf carts on the grass for two weeks or so. takes place the last two weeks of September, so only one of our courses will be open at that time. This course will have just reopened on the 17th after overseeding, so the course asks that players only drive their golf carts on the designated paths, and not on the new grass for a period of two weeks.
Customer: So you're telling me I can only play one course during my stay, and I can't drive my cart on the grass?
Me: That is correct.
Customer: Well I'm handicapped, so I would need to drive on the grass.
Me: I'm sorry, sir. The course won't allow players to drive on the grass until early October. Are you flexible with your vacation dates?
Customer: NO.
Me: Okay. We also book for 3 lovely courses in a town about 45 minutes from here. Would you be interested in playing one of those courses?
Customer: NO! If I'm going to have to drive 45 minutes, I might as well book my whole vacation THERE! I can't believe that your whole golf community just shuts down for two weeks. It's unbelievable that you do nothing to accommodate players at that time.
Me: There is one course open at that time, but again, you would not be able to drive your cart on the grass.
Customer: That is discrimination! I'm handicapped, and I HAVE to be able to drive on the grass!
Me: I apologize for the inconvenience. If you decide you're flexible with your dates, please feel free to call back and we'll arrange it so you can drive on the grass at each of the courses you play.
Customer: THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! You can't arrange it with the one open course to allow me to drive on their grass?
Me: Unfortunately, no. You may want to try booking a vacation in a nearby city where overseeding is not taking place.
Customer: Well! This is just poor form. Thanks for nothing. Bye. [click]
UGH CRAZY MAN! First of all, if you're so handicapped that you can't walk 20 feet from your golf cart to hit a ball, what are you doing golfing in the first place?
Second of all, don't shoot the messenger. Overseeding HAS to take place in September because it's prime weather for the grass to grow. I'm pretty sure they're NOT doing it just to spite handicapped people!
Featured: Life as Supermom
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Today I will be featuring Stephanie of Life as Supermom! As Stephanie and I started to discuss the concept for her design, she shared how her title "Life as Supermom" is meant as light-hearted sarcasm. Her blog is a place for her to share her mommy triumphs and faux pas as she strives for unattainable supermom-perfection.
This design was a fun project for me, because I got to combine girly colors with subtle comic book elements, such as a sunburst background, halftone dots, and polkadots! One of my favorite parts of the design is the tiny supermom emblem I created for the favicon.
Here's what Stephanie had to say about her experience:
"I appreciate all of the hard work and effort Jessica put into the design of my blog. I had an image in my head of how I wanted my blog to look, and she was able to transfer it to the screen perfectly. She customized the fonts, the colors, and tweaked every detail of the graphics and layout until my blog was exactly how I wanted. I am especially thankful that she was so friendly, professional, and easy to work with. Most of all, I am thrilled with the design of my new blog! I am glad I chose A Blog to Brag About and would not hesitate to use Jessica again for future design needs. Thank you Jessica, you are awesome (o:"
Throughout the design process, Stephanie was ever-positive through the many drafts it took to arrive at the final product. I love the way the design turned out!
This design was a fun project for me, because I got to combine girly colors with subtle comic book elements, such as a sunburst background, halftone dots, and polkadots! One of my favorite parts of the design is the tiny supermom emblem I created for the favicon.
Here's what Stephanie had to say about her experience:
"I appreciate all of the hard work and effort Jessica put into the design of my blog. I had an image in my head of how I wanted my blog to look, and she was able to transfer it to the screen perfectly. She customized the fonts, the colors, and tweaked every detail of the graphics and layout until my blog was exactly how I wanted. I am especially thankful that she was so friendly, professional, and easy to work with. Most of all, I am thrilled with the design of my new blog! I am glad I chose A Blog to Brag About and would not hesitate to use Jessica again for future design needs. Thank you Jessica, you are awesome (o:"
Throughout the design process, Stephanie was ever-positive through the many drafts it took to arrive at the final product. I love the way the design turned out!
Book Review: Mackenzie Blue - Friends Forever?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Mackenzie Blue is an average 7th Grade girl facing the challenges of preteen life. The series resonated with the 13 year old in me as I recalled facing similar challenges - everything from embarrassing crushes to losing friends and making new ones.Today I will be doing a review of the third book in the Mackenzie Blue Series, entitled Mackenzie Blue - Friends Forever?
In the third book, Mackenzie (also known as "Zee")'s best friend Ally comes to visit from Paris. Together they go on a school camping trip, where Zee faces the challenge of juggling old and new friendships simultaneously.
The books were fun, quick reads with lots of illustrations! I especially loved the IM conversations depicted in little windows just like you'd see on a computer screen.
Check out the full series!
Featured: Just Hide the Dishes in the Dryer
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
I'm always struggling to find things to post about, and today I had an epiphany: I'll do a little blurb on each of the latest designs I complete! Today I will be featuring my client Jennifer, author of Just Hide the Dishes in the Dryer.
I loved this project! Due to the clear-cut theme of Jennifer's blog, it was easy for us to conceptualize a design. It was especially fun and challenging to build the dryer in Photoshop!
Here's what Jennifer had to say about her experience:
"When my blog started gaining momentum, I decided to research blog designers as I wanted a signature look; I found rave reviews on A Blog to Brag About. I filled out a short questionnaire, paid my money and let Jessica come up with the basic idea which turned out just as I expected, fabulous! From the first draft to the final draft, and many tweaks in between...my blog was finished in a matter of two days. I would highly recommend anyone to work with Jessica as she was easy going, accommodating and had the perfect vision in mind for my blog from day one."
Jennifer was a pleasure to work with. She was always very polite and quick to respond to my emails. We worked as a team and came up with a great finished product!
I loved this project! Due to the clear-cut theme of Jennifer's blog, it was easy for us to conceptualize a design. It was especially fun and challenging to build the dryer in Photoshop!
Here's what Jennifer had to say about her experience:
"When my blog started gaining momentum, I decided to research blog designers as I wanted a signature look; I found rave reviews on A Blog to Brag About. I filled out a short questionnaire, paid my money and let Jessica come up with the basic idea which turned out just as I expected, fabulous! From the first draft to the final draft, and many tweaks in between...my blog was finished in a matter of two days. I would highly recommend anyone to work with Jessica as she was easy going, accommodating and had the perfect vision in mind for my blog from day one."
Jennifer was a pleasure to work with. She was always very polite and quick to respond to my emails. We worked as a team and came up with a great finished product!
Laptop Case from CSN Stores
Monday, August 16, 2010
Hey ladies, it’s that time again! I’m very excited to be reviewing a new product from CSN Stores. For those of you who are new to CSN Stores, they are one of the top online retailers on the net with products ranging from diaper bags to bistro sets!
This time around I’ve decided to review a laptop tote from Golla, since my current bag is in a very sorry state. I have used Golla bags in the past, and they are very durable and high-quality with LOTS of compartments! Stay posted for my review! :)
This time around I’ve decided to review a laptop tote from Golla, since my current bag is in a very sorry state. I have used Golla bags in the past, and they are very durable and high-quality with LOTS of compartments! Stay posted for my review! :)
Image Theft: It's a Big Deal.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Excuse me for a moment while I climb up on my soap box.
To Preface, I am a strong advocate of the Golden Rule when it comes to ethical business/blogging practices. I do my best to abide by the terms of use of any artwork or templates I use in my designs, because I know how it feels to have my work stolen.
Tell-tale signs of a stolen image are A) it's very pixelated - meaning a thumbnail preview was stolen and resized; or B) There are remnants of a watermark on the image.
With all of that said, you can imagine how it irks me when I come across blogs displaying creative masterpieces such as this*:
*The artwork displayed in this post was created by me for the purpose of visual aid and is NOT in use by any blog author. And yes, to make my point, I did sacrifice 14 iStock credits to purchase the image below (only to botch it) so that I may legally and ethically use it within this post.
It is particularly upsetting to me when the perpetrators are very outspoken about their religious ideals on the same blog where they are displaying stolen artwork!
As a member of the LDS Church, I'm asking you to please not hand out free copies of the Book of Mormon when your artwork kleptomania is so blaringly obvious to your blog readers. Not only am I embarrassed for you, but I'm genuinely concerned that you are giving us Mormons a bad rap. (I'm sure my snarky remarks also reflect poorly on our religion, but I digress...)
If you are currently displaying stolen artwork on your blog (especially if it's obvious!), there are a few things you should consider:
A) Someone worked hard to create the image you're using, and they expect to be compensated for it - whether monetarily or by receiving recognition.
B) Do you think the blogging community can respect you and take you seriously if they know your blog contains stolen artwork?
C) Is it worth sacrificing your integrity over?
I understand that many bloggers don't give a second thought about using images they find around the web on their blog, so I apologize for being so harsh. I have had many an eye-opening experience when it comes being ethical.
For example, I never felt bad about sneaking snacks into movie theaters until I had worked at a few. I learned that most theaters could not stay in business relying on the small profit of ticket sales alone. If it weren't for the concession stand, my paychecks would have gone unsigned. Now if I want the pleasure of munching during my movie, I gladly fork out the extra cash to do so. :) A little extra patronage is what keeps the movies coming.
Sometimes we don't realize that a seemingly harmless action can affect others in a BIG way! So for us buffs of the blog and movie varieties, may our actions stay ethical!
The Domestic Diva Recommends...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
So! Remember the review of that kitchen utensil set I promised you over a month ago? They came in the mail a couple weeks ago, and I'm finally getting around to it.
First of all, you should buy said utensils so you can be like me and look sooo legit during retro-style photoshoots.
For this review, I was planning to do a cooking tutorial-type post with pictures showcasing an assortment of my awesome new kitchen gadgets. However, I'm way too lazy for that. You'll have to settle for just one picture.
All kidding aside, I'm pretty impressed with my new utensil set. I compared them side-by-side to a few Pampered Chef items I own, and they certainly measure up quality-wise.
You could easily spend over 200 dollars to buy all 11 pieces individually, so at $55.95, they're a great deal! The set would make a great wedding or graduation present.
