Thursday, June 28, 2012

Take Me out to the Ballgame!!!





Summer is here!!! We've stayed busy but have also stayed home! It's been so nice not traveling for a little while and just enjoying family time!

Big updates in June:

1. Tyler's first sleepover! Our old next door neighbors and good friends Jared and Melanie had a beautiful baby boy recently so we wanted them to have a night off from toddler duty. We took Maddie off of their hands and kept her for the night. The kids had a BALL!!! Playing, a trip to Scoops for ice cream, bath, and so much more! My personal favorite was the Mickey Mouse dance right before bed. (see video). 

2. Dylan's second birthday party. One of Tyler's Best Buds Dylan turned 2 and we had a great time at the Frog Themed Bash!

3. Father's Day- Ben got the day off to go the gun range and we ended the day with a trip to his favorite restaurant, Sugo, and some time hanging in the yard with our neighbors!

4. Neighbor Dinner- We've started a summer tradition of Neighbor Dinner Wednesday with our neighbors. One of us cooks and we rotate each week. The kids get to play and the grown ups relax a little bit! We are loving Neighbor Dinner Wednesdays!

5. Margaritaville - June 23rd we attended our Neighborhood Margaritaville Party! Tons of fun and lots of margaritas!

6. My parents came into town this week and we've had a great time entertaining them.
Tyler had his first swim lesson on Tuesday, yesterday we went to the Braves game and tonight it's a trip to the aquarium!

This weekend is our Neighborhood Backyard Camp Out! Be on the lookout for pics!

Lastly, we've really been working hard with Tyler on his potty training this month. We've pretty much conquered it...it's the "poo poo in the potty" that's killing us. All in due time I guess. But making the shift to big boy underwear and then having your kid crap themselves in the middle of Target is as terrible as it sounds! Wish us luck!!!!

Friday, June 22, 2012

The Customer Service Difference

Seriously people!!! If I've said it once I've said it again...sometimes you get what you pay for!
Here are examples of two recent customer service stories...one at Walmart and one at Crate and Barrel.

This is verbatim what I just sent to the Walmart Customer Service hotline:

Last night 6/22/12 I visited the Walmart on 970 Mansell Road  Roswell, GA 30076
It was 9pm at night and I wanted to get a bike that I had been eyeing for a few weeks, so that I could start training for my triathalon in September. I flagged down a lady in shoes who said that she would page someone in Sporting Goods. I waited 15 min. No one showed up. So I went to Customer Service where they tried to page someone again. I was promised by the Customer Service Manager (Angela) that if I went back again to Sporting Goods, someone would be there. I went and waited another 15 min. No one showed. So I finally went back up (I was getting angry at this point) and asked if someone could please help me. I was basically ignored by Angela and the other associate in Customer Service. They said they couldn't help me. I started to leave the store (visably upset) but a kind associate named Randy saw me and asked if he could help. He escorted me to sporting goods, where I showed him the bike. He said that I would have to buy the display bike because they had no more Schwinn Hybrids in stock. However, upon inspection there was a rip in the seat. I asked if I could exchange the seat for a Schwinn seat replacement off the shelf (retail price $21.97). He said that we should go ask and escorted me up front (bike and grocery cart in tow). 
I went up to Angela and explained that the display bike had a rip in the seat and asked if I could exchange the seats. (Mind you it's been 45 min at this point, not to mention the other 30 min I spent shopping for other items). She made me wait another 15 min while she contacted store management. I was then informed that they would only discount the bike 10% and would not change the seat for me. (10% discount off of the bike would be $15.90. The cost of a new seat $21.97. I was not going to pay an extra $7 out of my pocket for a defect that was not my fault).At this point, I thanked Randy, Told Angela that her lack of customer service skills resulted in a lost customer (I've shopped at Walmart for many years) and abandoned my cart. I was at a loss for words and brought to tears. I've never been treated that way at any store in my life. Angela acted like she could care less (mind you she is a Customer Service Manager) I waited patiently for almost an hour for help, only to be told that I was going to have to pay for Walmart's defects. 
I'm 33 years old, married with a child, and have a high level corporate position at a healthcare company in Atlanta. I will tell everyone I know about my experience and encourage them to stay as far away from Walmart as possible.
As a result of my experience, you lost an approximate $250 sale last night (the bike plus $100 in groceries) and will lose my business forever going forward. I hope that you can do something to redeem yourselves in my eyes. I'm not hoping for much from this message but I would love the opportunity to get the bike I wanted.
Regards, Kristen S (and included my phone number)

Now here's a little story behind what happened with Crate and Barrel:
In 2007, I registered for a Spice Rack from Crate and Barrel on my Wedding Registry. I got it as a gift from my BFF and I loved it. In fact, I've had it for almost 5 years and use it almost every day. A couple of weeks ago, I dropped one of the glass spice jars (garlic salt..my fave) and it broke. I was devastated. I researched it online only to find that the jar replacements and spice rack itself was discontinued. Seriously devastated, I called the 800 crate and barrel number and told them my dilemma. They did some research and discovered that two stores in Florida still had the spice rack and it was on sale for $30. They gave me the Tampa store number, I called and BAM...now my new spice rack is on the way! :)


All it takes is to show you care, people!!! Sometimes I just don't get it....Hopefully I'll finally get a bike this weekend! But probably not from Walmart. They suck big donkey balls! 



Monday, June 18, 2012

My Personal Journey

We've spent June at home! And so far it has been really really nice! Weekends by the pool, chasing fireflies in the backyard, birthday parties, neighbor dinners (I'm loving this Wednesday night tradition) and so much more! This weekend we hosted Tyler's first sleep over (our old next door neighbor's 3year old daughter came and crashed with us for the night) and had some quality time with Ben on Father's Day night!

But the purpose of this blog post was to update the world on something I don't talk to much about...weight! Uggghhh...it's an ugly word for me. I've battled with my weight my entire life. I lost about 60lbs back in 2003 and as I got married and had Tyler, the scale started to creep back up. By the time I started Weight Watchers in March, I had gained back close to 40lbs of the 60 I had lost. A change had to happen and fast!!! Ben and I will be on the baby making train soon enough, and there was no WAY I was going to get pregnant again and have even more weight to lose.
So, like I said, I started Weight Watchers back in March, not thinking that it would work. I'm excited and proud to say that it has! I mean...I haven't lost 40lbs (my goal) but I'm down over 18 pounds in a little over 3 months. I'm so excited with my progress and plan to keep it up...someday this will be me!!! 

Fingers Crossed!!! 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Promise not to ignore you anymore...oh blog of mine!

So yes, I've ignored my blog.
At first it was unintentional...then I realized that I was so behind in posting that maybe my blog would update itself if I wished hard enough. Alas, I refuse to be one of those people that lets their blog absorb into cyberspace, so I promise not to let it happen again.
You may be thinking that I've promised this before...you would be thinking right. But things have happened recently to help me keep this promise this time around!
I'm excited that so many wonderful things have happened this year! I have so much to update you all on...so let's get started. I'll go month by month to get into the details of what's been going on...but here is the biggest announcement:
 I got a NEW JOB!!!! I couldn't be happier to get out of my traveling position at Concentra and be in a role where I don't have to be on the road. I'm so so so happy to be back in recruiting, at a Director Level position and be home at night to tuck my little man into bed. (Hence, why I should be able to keep up with my blog more often) YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So here's the latest and greatest in the Sullivan World:

March: 

  • Highlights include a Spa Day at Chateau Elan for my good friend Melanie's baby shower, followed by a Murder Mystery Party hosted by our good friends Roberta and Mike on the 3rd! So much fun! 
  • My friend from college Christina came into town for work and I got to head downtown to dinner for a mini college reunion! Good times with both her and Anastasia!
  • St. Pattys was tons of fun with a night out with our neighbors at Sip Wine and Tapas Bar! 
  • I was in Ft.Lauderdale for work over the weekend of the 24th...overall there wasn't anything pleasant about working on the weekend...but it was nice to see the beach! That Sunday when I returned, Ben and I were able to go see the Hunger Games though...AMAZING!!!! 
  • We went to Charleston, SC for the Cooper River Bridge Run! My sister and brother in law came down to help with "Tyler duty" and we got to see Ben's sis since it was her Bachelorette party that same weekend. She even ran the race with us! Also, we went out to dinner with my college buds Jannell and Leah...with kids in tow. It was a lot of fun! 
April:
  • Easter weekend was busy and exciting! Ben's mom came into town and it was Ben's birthday! Ben started off 33 pretty rocky though, with a nasty bout of food poisoning. It sucked for him to puke up that $50 steak from Bones...and he was pretty much out of commission on Easter. So I hosted brunch for 30 neighbors by myself....awesome (insert sarcasm here). But everything was a big success and Tyler had a BLAST hunting eggs. He was so into EVERYTHING this year..the chocolate, the egg hunting, egg dying, Easter Bunny, etc. It was so much fun for me to watch him love every second of it! 
  • I went to Spartanburg the weekend of April 12th so that Ben could host his best friend's Bachelor Party in Atlanta. The boys had a great time...or so I've been told :)
  • I was in Park City Utah for work for a couple of days. It was awesome being out west for a little bit but it was a quick trip and I was happy to come home! Especially knowing that it would be my last work trip!!!! 
  • Our friends Steph and Pat hosted a Balderdash night with our friends Roberta and Mike and Andy and Angela! We had a blast! I can't wait to do it again soon! 
  • Ben and I had a date night at Sugo restaurant where we learned to make their famous meatballs. It was a lot of fun and I ate way too much!
  • On 4/26 we headed up to DC for Ben's sister's wedding. Ben was a groomsman, I was a reader and Tyler was a ring bearer. My parents even came up too! Tyler did such a great job and I was so proud of him! Not to mention that Kate and Matt looked gorgeous and so in love too! It was a great weekend and we were so happy to see family! I was also able to get in some time with my DC Girls Sara, Christine and Jacqueline at Tyson's Mall. It was so great seeing all of their adorable babies!!! :) 
May:
  • The first weekend in May, Ben and I headed to Tulsa, OK for Ben's best friend's wedding. Ryan and Megan had a gorgeous wedding and Ben's best man speech was a hit! Tyler stayed with Nana and Papa for the weekend and had a ball as usual.
  • I started my new job on May 7th! It was an adjustment to go from a big company to a small company but so far I really like all of the people here! 
  • My mom came into Atlanta on 5/10 with her students for a field trip to the Georgia aquarium. It was my mom's last field trip with her students, as she officially retired this year, so I was happy to take Tyler down for the day to see her and her special needs group. We had a great time and Tyler was exhausted! 
  • Mother's Day was a lot of fun. We went to brunch with our friends Melanie and Jared (plus kids), I got to get my nails done, and I got an avocado tree as a gift (don't laugh...I asked for one since Tyler loves guacamole) then in the afternoon we planted  it as a family :) 
  • Our neighborhood pool opened on the 18th and we went to the pool opening party, followed by bbq and more pool time with our friends Steph and Pat on the 19th. We ended the weekend hanging with our old neighbors Melanie and Jared and grilling out on Sunday! 
  • Memorial Day weekend, we spent in Charlotte with for a UNC Business school reunion. We were able to spend Saturday without kids on Lake Norman (thanks Nana and Papa for taking Tyler duty), followed by a family fun bbq on Sunday! Such a fun weekend!
So far the first weekend in June was a great one which included a 1st birthday party for Meredith Manders (Andy and Angela's little cutie pie), a concert at Riverside park with all of our friends and neighbors, and fun times at the neighborhood pool!

We have packed away our traveling gear for awhile...ready to stay at home for the summer and really slow down a bit! But as always...I'll keep you posted :)
Enjoy the pics! 
Ryan's Wedding Weekend!






Memorial Day Weekend in Charlotte!














Cooper River Bridge Run! 







Kate's Wedding Weekend! 













St Patty's Neighbor Night Out!

Add caption







Easter Weekend!