Yay! New job starts tomorrow! (NY here I come!)

So I just thought I'd let everyone know that I start my new job at Bigelow Fowler clinic tomorrow. I'm so excited! I've had to push so hard to even get this job, but I hope that shows the administrator how bad I really want the job. It's the perfect nursing job, Monday - Friday 8-5. No weekends, no evenings, no shift work. It's perfect! So with me working full time as well, we are thinking about planning a trip out to New York city to visit with some of Chris's family and see the sights. Hopefully we'll make it out there about April or May, should be fun!

Frustration!

Well I figured since everyone else had a blog, it was time that I started one for my little family. When I was creating the blog, I was worried that I would have nothing to say, but as I got thinking about it, I have a lot to say! Today I'm having issues with my wedding dress maker. Don't get me wrong, Shelly Court is a great woman, she is very pleasant and super nice. On a business level however, I am having some issues. She made my wedding dress, and charged me $800. That's fine, for a custom gown of superior hand craftsmanship that should be a reasonable price. Unfortunately I didn't get superior craftsmanship. When I went to her, I had purchased the fabric, and the pattern. I also purchased the lining, zipper, and boning for her. All she provided was her skill to slightly alter the pattern (went from a closed loop halter at the neck, to a tied halter), thread, and a hook and eye. When I tried it on at my last fitting, she tied it in the back for me, and told me everything looked great. I paid her, and took the dress home. Being a destination bride, I went home and packe my dress so that nothing would happen to it in the 2 weeks until I flew out to Las Vegas. (Yes I was married in Vegas and LOVED it!) When I got to Vegas and the blessed day rolled around, I was so excited to get into my dress. My mom was there to assist, and we began. Keep in mind, the undergarments I was wearing, I also wore to Shelly's when I was having my dress fitted. When the back zipper was done up, it was 4 inches too big. The wraps at the waist were all that held me into my dress on my wedding day. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no way that I lost enough weight to cause that in 2 weeks. Not to mention, the wraps were lined with polyester lining, which against satin is ridiculous. My whole photo session I was so concerned that my lining was showing I didn't even get to enjoy myself. When I returned to Lethbridge, I had 3 weeks until my reception, where I was wearing the dress again. Shelly was in Europe in the meantime, so my mom took the dress in at the back so that it would actually fit and I would be comfortable in it for my reception. When she was doing so, she noticed that the seams between the bodice and the skirt were coming undone and they were sewn so close to the edge of the fabric that it was causing them to fray. My mother had enough to worry about being the mother of the bride without having to take in her daughter's dress. If I had purchased this dress, for this price, in a store I would have taken it in and asked for a refund. I asked Shelly for a 50% refund to compensate, explaining everything that happened and have not received one. I am asking for that amount because of my mother's time, how many materials I provided, the fact that she only did half of a mock up in muslin and the fact that she didn't even mention how large it was on me at my final fitting. I think it is very unfair that I had to deal with this on my wedding day and thought she would understand that, being a new bride herself, but unfortunately not. So I am left with the $800 bill for a dress that I am far from satisfied with. Well that's my rant for today, hopefully I'll be more pleasant tomorrow!