unlicensed student, painful pedi, immodest massage

The brochure stated the Passage to India package was 4 hours, which is plenty enough time to perform the services and yet I was still there at 6:30pm. I was left standing in the hallway multiple times awaiting my next treatment. The massage therapist barged into the room 3 times while she knocked when I was naked. The manicurist was very nice, but shaved off skin on the outside of my right foot causing an abrasion and filed right through the skin on my big toe. (It's been 2 days and I can't touch the outside of the foot to anything without pain. I can send pictures if needed. The facialist told me she was a student at the International School of Skin & Nailcare on Roswell Road. Facials by students are $17 ($35 for European) and my husband booked services here assuming they use licensed estheticians. She could not understand my questions, nor could I understand what she was asking me to do before, during, and after the facial. Although she was very proud to be a student awaiting citizenship, she's working without a license. They would not provide the individualized yoga session. They switched the yoga session for a mani/pedi combo because I already knew how to do yoga. They told my husband it was because they didn't have time. They booked another client for a facial to further their income instead of providing the services described in the package. I will not return.

MDs and medical assistants all knowledgeable

This practice is quick to respond to phone calls both during and after hours. I've never waited more than 30 minutes even when I was late. The Midwives are wonderful and take as long as you need them to explain your options if you're crying from frustration with breastfeeding, but are never pushy. The MDs always stay calm and take a conservative, but flexible approach to OB care instead of sticking to "protocols." If you need someone to keep you grounded, calm, but informed with the most up-to-date knowledge, this is the practice for you.

Not covered by BCBS but worth it

Sharon was wonderful on my first visit. Instead of just latching on the baby, she FIRST assessed the baby's suck and my problems. 3 Hospital lactation consultants kept sticking the baby on my breast, disregarding the excrutiating pain it caused me during and after discharge from the hospital. Sharon correctly diagnosed thrush/yeast the baby and I were transferring back and forth, my blocked milk ducts, and the baby's swallowing issue which turned out to be aspiration into the lungs. $95 for the first visit wasn't cheap ($78 successive visits), but it was priceless to eliminate my pain and ensure safe feeding of my infant son.

Two people for 5 hours of solid cleaning!

Eduardo and Ellen performed our "deep cleaning" which I was skeptical because I cleaned houses all through college, but they were incredibly thorough and exceeded my expectations. I had double-sided tape I couldn't remove from all my kitchen countertops (failed anti-cat technique) and Eduardo got it all off when "Goo-gone" could not! Ellen even got our 1957 bathrooms spotless and somehow stopped the leaking faucets. The return visit was just as great (although we weren't home) and it's priceless to come home to such a clean house with a company we trust! Not just another National company without pride and accountability!

If I knew they'd turn out that great I'd paid more

Seriously, in a 1957 home with a prior family of 6, it looked like the floors had never been refinished. The nails straight into the floors in an effort to reduce noise made most companies tell us we'd have to rip them up and start all over (no way!) or rip up the sections with nails and try to match them (good luck!). Jerry was the only company who gave us up-front estimates and honest feedback of what he could do. He ended up being the least expensive and if I knew how amazing the hardwoods were going to turn out, I'd have paid more! He owns the company and does all his own work with an assistant, so their attention to detail is superb. Even when I said they didn't have to do inside the closets, they still did, cleaning up everything along the way. Such personal service with attention to detail is rarely found in this day and age. Jerry also allowed up multiple stains so we could make a decision and gave us honest opinions, regardless of what stains he had in stock. Absolutely a high-class operation I'd recommend to anyone, so you can e-mail me if you want before and after pictures!

Recommended by OB instructors

When you ask your friends about their OB, they'll typically love them because their baby is healthy or find another OB. However, what do non-medical people know about rating an OB? After looking on websites for "board certified fellows of OB" and trying to find online rates of malpractice suits, emergency c-section rates, episiotomy rates, and complications, there truly is only one way to choose an OB/GYN. Talk to them. "Mac" answered my list of questions honestly and patiently, and when I said I couldn't decide between his practice and another practice, he did not demean the other practice, but said exactly what a nervous new mother needs to hear, no matter what her medical background: "Pregnancy is a normal process and we're just here to keep you out of the ditch." So you can choose a "doctor" dictated by strict medical protocols or a practice with Certified Midwives and OBs who know that the best medicine for a newly pregnant mother is to allay her fears by listening to her and simultaneously instill confidence in her OB and the natural process of childbirth. (of course with effective drugs if desired!!)

$25 dyeing of ANY shoe you bring them

This is the fastest, cheapest place in town to dye shoes! Bring them your shoes and they'll have them done in an hour if they have the dye, and in a day or so if they don't have the dye! Cato and all the others charge $45 to dye shoes or you have to buy shoes at $50-$90 for the dying to be included. Excellent customer service and they also sell dyeable shoes for much cheaper than 5 of the other stores I tried (Bride Beautiful/Demetrious Brides/ Miss Scarlets/ David's Bridal/ etc.)

cheaper than rest for receptions at Anthony's

Although we thought Mark's cake would be more expensive, we knew from multiple cake tastings that it was not only the best tasting, but also the prettiest of all the places we tasted cakes. Then we found out that Mark had a relationship with Anthony's Fine dining that saved us the cake cutting fee. This savings made Mark's cake CHEAPER than the competition! So even if you aren't having you wedding reception at Anthony's, and even if you don't want cheesecake for your wedding cake, Mark Lotti is still the top cake guru (wedding or otherwise) in Atlanta. You MUST check out his website pictures. Truly amazing!

Treats your family like their own (royalty)

I used Wingate to hold 100 of my wedding guests and they treated us like family. They provided a large conference room seperate from the dining hall to accomodate my family/guests for the full breakfasts included in the room charge. My fiance/husband and I stayed in the honeymoon suite and it had a larger 2-person jacuzzi tub than the Grand Hyatt Resort in Kauai! Anthony (manager) delivered welcome baskets to each and ever guest who arrived, no matter what day they checked in. Lastly, the complimentary limos took all 100 guests AND my bridal party and myself to the church, reception, and back to the hotel on the day of the wedding. This saved a bundle since I didn't have to rent a seperate limo service and the guests all felt like royalty. Limo drivers even stopped off at a store on their way back from the MARTA station one night for my guests. Wingate truly goes out of their way for you and your guests. As one of my guests put it, "it's almost scary how friendly Wingate staff are."

Billed incorrectly twice

Do not get the bridal package. The price sheet quotes one thing and they charge another citing that they are independent from the corporation and don't have a seperate price sheet. (Then why misinform people with the price sheet given at the front desk from the corporation?) The mineral makeup used may work if the proper (not orange) color is applied. Jolie staff do not take criticism or requests for changes well. Instead they solicit other staff to support their unchanged work even if you repeatedly say you don't think the makeup is the right shade and is obviously heavy. In my bridal photos you could see the blotchiness of the makeup on the face and my neck/chest was a totally different color, even though I complained at the spa before I left. Definitely have a trial run of hair and makeup wherever you go, but know that if you don't like it, Jolie is very unlikely to change it. After multiple phone calls, they did credit the unused second makeup application to a manicure the day of the wedding. So be persistent or go elsewhere. Lastly: they do not provide samples, so if they suggest something, DON'T but it at Jolie. Go to Sephoria first for samples until you know you skin can handle a $90 serum. They'll take it back, but what a wasteful way to find out.