Transformation

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

-Maya Angelou

With Love, Nickel Lowman

Were you overcharged by Las Vegas Valley Water District?

Hey Las Vegas Residents & Homeowner, you need to see this...

Las Vegas Valley Water District may have over charged you in February! AND charged you a late fee, AND dinged your credit because of it!

I have had auto-pay set us for years on most all of my utility bills (All except sewer- for some reason Clark County Water Reclamation does not bill like the rest of the companies here in Vegas- but that's not what this is about.)  So, back to my point... I was surprised when my water bill from Las Vegas Valley Water District was double this month of what the normal charges usually are. For my household it's not a big deal (my bill runs about $25 per month) so when it doubled it was noticeable, not critical, but for larger households, homes with pools, and higher volume users, this could be hundreds of dollars! 

When I logged into my online account, I could see I was current on all previous payments (why wouldn't I be, after-all, like I said, I was on auto-pay.) Hoping, I did not have a water leak like the last 2 times my bill was abnormal/outrageous (by the way, previously it was a water-main leak on the water company's side of the valve, so they had to repair it at and credit my "so called wasted water usage" at their cost) and the time before that it was a underground sprinkler pipe that had frozen during an unusual cold front one January, that lasted longer than normal (which was quickly repaired by an AMAZING Company- ran my Tony Olteam- Future Yards of Las Vegas.) I decided I better call the water company and see what was up, I dislike wasting water especially knowing Vegas and California are in some of the worst drought years in history!

So, I called Las Vegas Valley Water District customer service to investigate, automatically getting a hold message that they were experiencing a high call volume (9 minutes), so I found other things to do while waiting on hold. (I find that is the best way to keep calm when having to deal with a company with long hold times.) Jann, a not so friendly customer service rep took my call and asked for my address, last 4 of my social security number, to confirm my phone number and give her my birthday before she would even allow me to ask my question- (account verification is one thing, it just seemed like an absorbent amount of information.) After sharing/confirming ALL my personal information, she proceeded to tell me I was late with my last payment, was charged a late fee, and my internal credit score had been docked! What! The online system said I was current with all past payments. I continued to ask questions; maybe I was misunderstanding the online system? (Naw- not me.) After a short hold, she came back on the line, and told me I was not late after-all! What? Now I'm confused and a bit frustrated, but happy.

Apparently, their auto-pay system had problems in February, where it charged account holders, but forgot to/ did not credit their accounts! It was a known issue, and up to me (the resident) to tell them there was a problem! Surprised, I asked her how to correct it, she said she would open a tech ticket and someone would credit my account for the over charged billing period in approximately 3-5 days, and I would need to follow up at that time. Surprised with her lack of apology on behalf of the company and concern, I asked for a confirmation number for my records, (I wanted to make sure it was actually taken care of if I needed to reference it in the future) she said that she could not provide one, she could only provide her name J-A-N-N. I said okay and thank you, and then decided to ask for a inconvenience credit. Surprisingly, she offered $5.00 off a future bill. (Better than nothing and a little compensation for my wasted time. Cool.) 

Curious, I inquired further about her statement about a credit score. Apparently, Las Vegas Valley Water District keeps a credit score on each of their account holders to determine if a deposit will be charged, or if future service can be turned on after a move. Your score starts at a 100 points and is docked for late or returned payments. So they had automatically docked my score because of their internal error! No way. So she corrected that for me too. (I'm happy now.)

A few lessons and tips:

• Stay patient while on hold, everyone has a job to do, some of us more than we can squeeze in all in a day's work
• Watch all billing statements, even if on auto-pay
• Keep an eye on recurring payments and call if something seems abnormal, you may be being over charged
• Inquire about the refund process time frame
• Always get a confirmation number or name of employee for future reference
• Ask how it may affect a future account or credit score with their company
• Ask for an inconvenience credit, sometimes they are there for the asking, but not given unless asked for

So, Las Vegas, I urge you to take a look at your past couple of months of water bills with Las Vegas Valley Water District and check to see if charges may have resulted in late fees and a reduced internal credit score because of an internal known technical error. It may be worth your time. The call saved me about $30.00.

Las Vegas Valley Water District Customer Service can be reached at (702) 870-2011, www.lvvwd.com

Written by Nickel Lowman

Independent Blog Writer
916-426-8348
www.ChalkItUpTo.com

Farmers Market at the Fort

Buy Local. Eat Fresh.

Farmer's Markets reflect local culture and economy, the purpose of a physical retail market is to feature foods sold directly by farmers to consumers. Farmers' markets typically consist of varying vendors and local products.

The aroma of fresh cut flowers and herbs will fill the air at The Fort, join Cowboy Trails Farms at the Old Las Vegas Fort, this coming Wednesday September 10th from 2-6pm and fill your basket with fresh produce, and farm fresh eggs, herbs and organic specialty items. There are crafts for the kids and recipes that will keep your weekday dinners interesting.

While on site for the Farmer's Market, tour the Mormon adobe fort, that was established more than 150 years ago that is now part of the Nevada State Parks and is remnant of the original adobe fort, which contains interpretive displays. The Visitor Center contains exhibits on the history of the site original , as well as historic artifacts of the period. Historic interpretation is important and will remain the focus of the park even with events such as the Farmer's Market. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is located in downtown Las Vegas, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue.

How exciting is inspiration in the old and tired?

How exciting is inspiration in the old and tired? 

Last week as summer vacation came to an end for many of my closest teacher friends, we celebrated with a girl’s night on the first day of school with an annual dinner out; to catch up and say goodbye to the lazy days of summer. I can say, my summer has been all but lazy beginning a new business and doing all the things I love.  There’s a Swedish proverb that says “A life without love is like a year without summer.” Well, a few summers back, I found a new love; now one of my many loves. No, it’s not a person; it’s renewing and re-purposing random things into something new again. So, you ask, how does re-purposed junk fit into last week’s dinner plans?

As we dined at Yard House, one of our favorite local hang outs for happy hour at Town Square, I was a bit distracted. With lots going on in my mind, life and business, I had an unusually hard time focusing on some of our conversations. (I was really surprised with where my mind was that night.) It wasn’t until after we made a trip to Yogurt Land, that my brain began to wind down. It wasn’t until we walked into ARTIFACT, that it actually forgot there was even anything to think about. At that moment and for a good hour or so as we shopped, I had mastered life’s chatter.

ARTIFACT is a creative boutique featuring one-of-a-kind, aesthetically pleasing, re-purposed and up-cycled home furnishings, clothing and other unique products. Their eco-conscious offerings are hand crafted by talented local artisans as well as artisans from across the United States. I fell in love with this little boutique. It’s reminiscent of a little place I visited in Laguna Hills a few months back. 

ARTIFACT is also of similar style, to a shop I hope to one day run, at a retreat-style bed and breakfast that supports my dreams of a running a non-profit organization (that is created to empower and ignite the life back into those who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have given up on living the life of their dreams) To me, giving up on your life and dreams is similar to the old junk we toss into the garage (thinking it will be used again) to one day be sold at a yard sale or donated to the Goodwill, but instead sits and collects dust. An example of this is the old trophies we have won over the years; at ARTIFACT, they are turned into fancy Wine Toppers.

As I browsed the store with two of my friends, I found myself laughing constantly and saying “look at this”, “oh-my gosh; isn’t this cute”, “he/she would love this”, “how much is that”, “did you see this”? If I hadn’t noticed the friendly smile of the woman behind the counter when I picked up some of the greeting cards, I may have never known she was the local artist, Heather Richileau who created them. We chatted and I asked about their price, and she shared how she was inspired to create them and that all the items in the store have similar stories. 

How exciting, is inspiration in the old and tired? Tonight, at ARTIFACT, there is a champagne and shopping event that starts at 7:00pm to celebrate the accomplishments of Huilin Chen, the Junior League of Las Vegas 2014 Fashion Forward Winner as she premiers her fall 2014 collection. Join ARTIFACT and support local artist by frequenting this lovely gift shop and boutique; you will find many one of a kinds. Her designs are unique and exciting she was recently featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal and was noted as the “Whimsy” of Las Vegas.

As I build my blogging, social media and website enhancement business, I know that it is a vehicle that will lead me to my own little gift boutique one day. Currently, without a shop front, I display some of my own artistically re-purposed and handcrafted items on my own website www.ArtsyOccasion.com and will build my Etsy shop that will one day be overflowing with one of a kind gifts that will support my bigger goals and when the time is right, all of the pieces will fit into the perfect puzzle, after all, I dreamed it up in a local Life Mastery Retreat (an amazing 2.5 day leadership course). So, as the summer comes to an end, and the evenings turn cool, many of my happy hours will be spent creating and repurposing new artifacts of my own. Enjoy the last days of summer Vegas and check out ARTIFACT and some of the other cool events like First Fridays Downtown, this coming weekend.

Written by Nickel Lowman

Dogs Leave Paw Prints On Your Heart…

I know this because I was a dog owner for 15 years. She was my 70 pound baby. Kima was a Husky-Chow-Rottweiler-Wolf.  A real mix by all standards, nevertheless, she was this girl’s best friend for many years.  As I now sit in my over-sized chair, working from home, I think of how she was by my side no matter what, unless of course, she was chewing through the fence boards to make her way out of the yard so she could chase a stray cat, terrorize the neighbor’s bunny, or if she was munching on a peacock (yes, I said peacock) or bringing me gifts of live possums into the living room. She was always at my feet, with an unconditional love. She relocated with me 8 times over the years, and she now rests peacefully here in Vegas.  In honor of National Dog Day, I thought it was fitting to share some local places that value our furry friends as much as they do us, two legged folk.

Downsizing our yard from over a half acre in California to a small cinder blocked fenced patio sized space, didn’t leave much room for Kima to roam, so we looked for alternative pet friendly (leash free) locations and activities. If you haven’t yet checked out Desert Breeze (Dog) Park, I recommend you do, it was one of our nearby favorites. Desert Breeze is actually where we met Kima’s furry friend Ash, and her owner, who eventually became my housemate for a couple of years. I had posted an ad on Craigslist for a roomie, and because you don’t know what kind of crazies you will meet on Craigslist (please be careful), we met at Desert Breeze Dog Park. The dogs hit it off (and as a dog owner, you know how important it is for the pets to get along) we realized it could work out, and so Ash and her owner moved in. The dogs really enjoyed each others company and I found having a second dog in the house made for fewer social trips to the dog park. I’ve included a site with some of the other dog friendly parks in Las Vegas.

Sometimes I would met up with friends and bring the pooch along. As I searched for new places to eat out, what I found was, dog friendly restaurants were few and far between, unless you were looking for fast food (and I don’t eat fast food). I was pretty disappointed with the selection, so I kept searching.  I was able to find a list of 37 dog friendly restaurants (that includes the fast food options) with outdoor tables on a site called BringFido.com.  Sometimes after a walk we would stop for coffee; Holley’s Cuppa in Mountain’s Edge has outdoor seating and a great chai tea, I just needed to pack Kima’s water bowl if we were stopping there.

Just across the parking lot from Hollie’s is a little place called Barking Dogs, it’s a pet bakery, boutique and self and full service grooming salon. I usually groomed Kima at home, so we never tested out the grooming services, but my niece takes her dog there all the time. It’s a cute little place, with treats and specialty items, and they take a holistic approach to your dog’s overall health. It’s a cute place, a nice alternative to the big chain places. As an alternative for grooming,  mobile pet grooming seems to be big in Vegas, a convenient option, especially if your furry friend was like mine: so excited to take a car ride, she would jump out of the moving car, if the windows were open wide enough.  As I write this, I wish  I could remember the name of the mobile company I would see every day on my way to work as we raced down morning traffic on Blue Diamond.

Kima was a runner (and a free spirit) and could magically get out of most fenced areas, so vacationing without her or even working sometimes out of the house for long periods of time, would be cause for concern wondering if she would be home when I returned. I couldn’t kennel her because of her magical Houdini disappearing act, so I often had friends and family helping out when I was away. I recently met a women, who I now consider a friend, who does pet sitting, and de-cluttering while you are away. If Kima were still with me, I would definitely call on Amanda of Declutterbug Plus to pet sit in my absence.

When Kima’s senior years started affecting her ability to do things, like the 5K American Heart Association Walk, and we needed an emergency Vet on a Saturday afternoon, because she had collapsed (I thought she was having a heart attack, It ended up she was just overly exhausted) we found Durango Animal Hospital. From our first visit to her regular dental cleanings, I always felt like Kima was in great care there; I highly recommend their services.  (By the way, great tip- they even recommended getting her pet prescriptions at Target or a local pharmacy to save on the expense of getting them directly from the Vet.) When she passed away, they even sent me a card expressing their condolences.  I refer them all the time.

Growing up, a pet was an animal (that lived outside) and not so much of a focus as they are now where people actually do live and plan activities with pets. As I Googled National Dog Day, I found this short article that was referenced on a radio broadcast this week, titled More Young Women Choosing Dogs Over Motherhood, it’s pretty interesting to hear the statistics of “Women (who) are not only having fewer children but are also getting married later. The federal data behind the report show that over the past seven years, the number of live births per 1,000 women between ages 15 and 29 in America has plunged 9 percent. At the same time, research by the American Pet Products Association shows the number of small dogs — under 25 pounds — in the United States has skyrocketed, from 34. 1 million in 2008 to 40.8 million in 2012.” The article goes on to say, “There are more single and unmarried women in their late 20s and early 30s, which also happens to be the demographic that buys the most small dogs.” As an unmarried woman without children, I have always had the belief system, that having a pet was a lot easier than having a child. 

Coincidence or not, dogs are not only man’s best friend, but woman’s best friend too. However, ladies, if you do have a 2 legged best friend gearing for the attention you once gave your 4 legged friend, and there is an engagement ring on your finger and marriage is in your near future, there are ways to incorporate your pup into your wedding ceremony, Wedding Bells Chapel, might be your Las Vegas option (it was the only venue I stumbled across that was pet friendly, but I wasn't looking.) As I searched for restaurants, I came across plenty of hotels and motels that were pet friendly in Vegas. Just remember you get what you pay for when you stay in some of these dog friendly rooms.

To all my Facebook friends who posted pictures of their favorite furry friends yesterday for National Dog Day, I hope you find these links useful as you spend time in Vegas with your pup. I’ll be posting other useful links soon. Check out some of these cool places, as the time spent together with you pup will leave paw prints on your heart long after the memories of repairing a broken fence board disappear.

Feel free to share your favorite pet friendly facilities, we love the exchange of information and to hear about Las Vegas local’s favorites.