Dear Joe's Jeans

Dear Joe's Jeans,

Being that my career field switched from a suit-only attire to very business chic, I went on a quest this fall to purchase some nice jeans. I got several pairs and always had your brand in the back of my mind. One of my best friends, Ellie, swears by your fit. Being that I have a curvy figure, I heard you especially cater to women with butts. So, thanks for that at least.

I ordered my first pair from your website the second week of December. They were the wrong size, so I affixed the UPS sticker right back on the box and shipped them back to you. And then, I sat and heard nothing. In fact, I never heard anything.

I will say your competitors, 7 for All Mankind & Citizens of Humanity, have exceptional customer service. I expected nothing less from you, but let me break down my experience with your company like this:

I expected to receive some type of email confirmation saying that you received my return to let me know you got it and that an exchange was in the process. Nope. I expected to have an alternative pair sent within a few weeks (at a max). Nope. About a month after I sent them back, I began to worry that they were MIA. Your jeans are not cheap, and I hated that I had that invested money dangling out in California and no form of knowing if the right sized pair was coming my way.

So, what did I do? Well, I called your Customer Service number. Daily. Several times a day. Do you know what I got? "We are sorry, this number is unavailable." Over and Over and Over. Oh Wait! One time I did get in touch with a receptionist who wrote down my info and told me she would 'pass along my message to customer service.'  Um.... what?!

So, then I resorted to emailing your customer service email address. Many times. I included all my order info, size info, address, contact info persistently asking for SOMEONE to get in touch with me. That never happened.

I even resorted to last-ditch efforts of contacting your Public Relations department with the subject line, "Upset Customer: Please Respond." The body of the email was really just asking for someone to talk to me and let me know where my order stood?!? Is that too much to ask?!

Well, yesterday, I came home from Minnesota and received a nice little package on my door. It was my jeans, in the correct size. I mean.... thanks I guess.... but, it would have been really nice to have included some type of "I'm sorry" note OR maybe even a small gift card as damage control for your extreme lack of customer care.

From this point forward, I want you to know that I don't care how good your jeans may be... I will never purchase from your company ever again and I will advise anyone else to do the same.

It's 2011 and you live in supposedly, one of the most trendiest states in the US. Don't you think it's about time to get your Customer Service act together?

Regards,

Brittney

I mean..... thank goodness they fit perfectly because having to go through all that for a second time..... I don't think I could have handled it.

Random Reflections

Okay Okay Okay.... It's like, Where do I even begin after being so MIA this month? I cannot believe January is almost over and we'll be moving into February. People often ask me how to pick back a blog back up after it's been quiet for a while.... I say the best thing to do is to just blog. It will pick up again and become as natural as it used to. I would describe this month as one big breath. I think last year was so emotional and there were so many changes and moves, that now I'm like... settled here and it's almost like it hasn't hit me that my life is here now. I went on a walk through Chastain Park with one of my Atlanta besties, V, and said, "Do you realize that I have been here for 6 months now?" Sort of crazy to think about.

It's been an interesting start to the new year. I have been treading through some personal things that have been painful, but I have to remember that at the end of the day... As long as I know who I am and what I believe, the rest of the pieces will fall where they will. I also have to remember that the people who want to be in my life, will. It is oftentimes difficult to have relationships change, but they do and will continue to do so, just as every new season of life brings new people, places and things. My objective in life needs not to please everyone -- what matters is that you are happy at the end of the day and are confident in the decisions that were made.

It's funny when people ask me where I am from. My answer: "I came to Atlanta from Virginia, though I spent some time living in DC, but I grew up in Florida, but now my parents live in Alabama, but I live in Georgia." How's that for a mouthful? I think I lose people at the Florida point. It's a Catch-22 because I have great friends I grew up with in Florida whom I haven't seen in six years. Same goes for my dear friends in Virginia, whom I haven't seen in six months. I miss them very much. I am meeting (slowly but surely) friends here in Atlanta. Lots through work, but primarily through this blogging community we have.

I know many of you may be completely lost right now, but that's okay. Thanks for continuing to read. Sometimes I just need to write it out in this little online journal called a blog.

On tap for tomorrow... post scheduling again so that I can continue to provide you with decent info and pictures!

Just some recent photos from the weekend! 

I'm alive, promise.

Hey hey! I am alive, I promise. I am either in a blogging kick or a blogging funk. It has been a little bit of a funk the last few weeks. At times, I get distant from society and it reflects in everything I do. I have barely been on twitter, facebook or the blog, obviously. People like to call it the blue funk when you don't know what is wrong, and maybe nothing is wrong (in my case), but you just feel.... well, blue. So, I've taken a step back from social media for a little bit but y'all know I always return.

Things are going well. For being the hated month of January (my least favorite month), it has been pretty good. I am beginning to travel a lot -- Minneapolis this week, Dallas in February and Phoenix in March. Possible sunny vacation in April. Should be a great kick off to 2011.

Tyke is doing well! We are getting to know one another better and better and get into some type of groove/routine. He is truly so sweet and I'm happy to have him with me.

I will do my best to schedule some posts for this week. I am so thankful for all my readers and the sweet blog friends that I have met in Atlanta.

Have a great weekend!

Iced-In

Forget being snowed-in, now we are just iced-in. We are on Day 3 of not leaving the house and I am going stir crazy! Weather reports are showing that the temperatures won't go above freezing until Friday, so it looks to be that day that we'll be able to get out. I know all you northerners are laughing right now, but we only got 3 inches of snow. It's the ice that is so dangerous and our Atlanta roads are covered! I haven't seen the first plow or salt truck come through either.

So, this is what I've been doing!

Caught up with friends on the phone! Forget text, BBM and Gchat... it's nice to actually talk for once.

Worked virtually. I have still had a busy week with my job!

Cleaned every inch of my house because I seemingly had so much extra time on my hands.

Ran out of Diet Coke. Uh oh. I'm too scared to drive to the store that's 2 miles away to get more.

Didn't wear a stitch of makeup... and it's done wonders for my skin.

Bonded with my sis!

A friendly neighbor brought over hot pumpkin muffins.

Introduced Advocare to some lovely blog readers.

Connected with Tyke. How did I end up with a dog that is already house trained, eats on schedule, rarely barks and sleeps all day... I have no idea, but I'm so thankful!

Watched a ton of Reality TV.

Ate too many calories because I'm bored.

Would give anything to go the gym right now.

My amaryllis bloomed! 

Drank a lot of coffee!

SnOMG

I had to copy the SnOMG from my buddies here in Atlanta. Having lived in VA and DC the past 5 years, a little snow is really no biggie and I am used to it. But, this is a lot of snow for Atlanta so the city did pretty much shut down. I was home from work today and there are possible delays for tomorrow. I love a good snow day, but I do get cabin fever pretty quick!

Wave hey!

Thanks all for the comments on my pink NYE top! I got it from The Limited! I no longer see it online, so I assume it is sold out, but check your local store for possible sale rack placement!

Ashlyn and I are having a fun weekend! We went to see The Tourist tonight -- what a movie! I was hooked the whole way through and totally thrown off-guard. 

Here's a little video of Tyke-man and me. Sorry for all the videos lately....I just can't help but show him off. He will be attending day care once a week starting this week. I am so excited that he will be active during a work week day with other dogs! 

A Day in the Life

See products here.

Tyke...Sit.

***If anyone knows how to change your YouTube name, please let me know. Mine still says dbegle.... yuck. Needs to be changed pronto.

Choose the Challenge

What's your challenge? Trim, Active or Well?

www.ChoosetheChallenge.com 

New Years Weekend

I sat down tonight and began to make a list of things I learned this year and resolutions for 2011, but then I deleted it all. I'm just going to live my life... If I get fitter, great. If I pay off some debt, perfect. If I read some books, that'll be good too. It's all the same each year anyway, so I am not going to waste your time, nor mine relinquishing all the blah blahs. 

I rocked in 2011... let's go! 

Happy New Year! <3, Tyke

Had to add this... I laughed so hard when I put this on. I know there is some pink in it, but real men wear pink, right?! He looks thrilled! 

Winners!

The winners of the 700 Giveaway are:

Teaching in Heels
Hello Fabulous
Life as Mr. & Mrs.
A Wedding Story
Pretty Little Reckless
The Seattle Smiths
Tea Time with Tess
Monica Carron
Ashley Carole
Lena Foxworth

The grand prize winner was: JAX!

Thank you all again! Shoot me an email with your address and email please!