Monday, December 26, 2011

Tools of the Trade: 12 Great Gifts to Give Your Website

Hi neighbors -

Hope everyone's been having a great holiday! It's definitely been a busy season. On top of all the great holiday events around town and family activities we're trying to wrap up the site development and launch our blog redesign and officially launch our website IEShineOn.com. I was perusing Mashable.com and came across this useful infographic. It illustrates 12 improvements site designers should consider when optimizing their site. IEShineOn.com hasn't launched yet but these strategies and tips are definitely things I'll be keeping in mind.

Anyone else building a site and planning on optimizing in 2012? Did you find these improvement tips useful? We'd love to hear about it - let us know.

Till next time...



Mintleaf Web Design Studio

Monday, December 12, 2011

'Tis the Season to Lend a Hand

Hi neighbor -

Does this holiday season seem busier to you for some reason? I seem to have more to do every season but in my busy preparations I try to reflect on the year that is about to end and all the opportunities which make me grateful. In this time of reflection I also try to find ways that I can give more back to my community and maybe help those that may need a helping hand.

The list below are some programs that are happening this holiday season where you can help those in need. There's also a list of some local soup kitchens and food banks that are always looking for donations or volunteers. If you want to learn more you can click on any of the links. And I know there are a lot more to add to this list so if you know of one and don't see it on our list please let us know so we can add. You can reach out on Facebook or Tweet us.

Happy season of giving! And till next time...

1. 2011 Riverside County Food Drive: Take a Bite Out of Hunger – Drop off food donations now through the end of December.

2. Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) Food Bank/Holiday Food basket - They also accept grocery store gift cards!

3. KTLA Season of Sharing - Benefits three food banks including Second Harvest Food Bank Inland Empire. Drop off locations at Jerome’s Furniture in Corona and Murietta and Stater Bros in Grand Terrace.

4. 2011 Care to Share Holiday Program – There are lots of ways to help. You can make a monetary donation, purchase a gift for a child, purchase a gift card and send to St. Martha Catholic Church in Murrieta or sponsor a food box from the Western Eagle Foundation.

8. Western Eagle Foundation (Temecula)

9. Hope Foods Inc. (San Jacinto) - Companies donate over produced products, near expiration date products, discontinued products or they just desire to donate. Supermarket chains donate their surplus and damaged items. Local farmers donate produce before their surplus spoil.

10. FIND Food Bank – (Eastern Riverside County/Southern San Bernardino County) - For the past 27 years FIND has provided much needed food assistance, nutritional education and basic essential items to those in need in Eastern Riverside and Southern San Bernardino.

11. Senior Citizens Service Center (Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and surrounding areas)

12. GAP Food Bank – (Rancho Cucamonga)

13. Big Bear Foursquare - Distributes food every Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m.

14. Second Harvest Food Bank – Serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties

Monday, December 5, 2011

Holiday Shows, Pageants and of course..."The Nutcracker"

 
Images courtesy of http://www.brava-arts.org/

Hi neighbor -

Have you been feeling the holiday spirit? It's almost unavoidable now that we're in our second week of December and especially with all the Christmas tree lightings, parades and other festivities that are happening. On top of the lightings and the parades the IE is bustling with holiday shows, pageants and theater productions - like everyone's Christmas favorite "The Nutcracker." We've compiled a list and want to share it with you. We hope you and your family make some time to check them out during this busy season.

If we've missed any, please give us a shout so we can share with all our neighbors. You know where... :) Facebook and Twitter.

Till next time...

Enjoy!

1. Mannheim Steamroller Holiday Concert (San Bernardino) – 12/7, Wednesday

2. "The Nutcracker" performed by California Riverside Ballet (Riverside) - 12/9-11, Fri-Sun. - New York City Ballet principals Janie Taylor and Sebastien Marcovici will perform as Sugar Plum and Cavalier.

3. Mariachi Christmas (San Bernardino) – 12/10, Saturday

4. “The Nutcracker” by BRAVA (Riverside) – 12/17-18, Saturday-Sunday (Landis Performing Arts Center)

5. "The Nutcracker" performed by the Inland Pacific Ballet at Claremont's Bridges Auditorium and Rancho Cucamonga's Lewis Family Playhouse. Celebrating their 18th season! - Now through 12/18

6. Moreno Valley Wind Symphony Seasons Greetings! (Moreno Valley) – 12/8, Thursday

7. “A Christmas Carol” (Rancho Cucamonga) – 12/9-10, Fri-Sat

8. La Sierra University Big Band Concert (Riverside) – 12/10, Saturday – Oh and it's FREE!

9. “A Christmas Carol" (Temecula) – 12/7-10, Wed-Sat

10. “It’s a Wonderful Life — The Radio Drama” (Upland) – now through 12/16 at The Grove. You can get 50% off tickets at Goldstar.com

11. “A Christmas Show of a Lifetime” (Corona)– 12/16-18, Fri-Sun

12. Bob and Bing's Holiday Road Show (Rancho Cucamonga) - 12/18, Sunday, at the Lewis Family Playhouse

13. “A 1950’s Christmas at the Mansion” (Big Bear) – 12/18, Sunday

14. “Home for the Holidays” with Broadway stars Dale Kristien and Bill Hutton (Upland) – 12/18, Sunday. You can get 50% off tickets at Goldstar.com

15. “Holiday Follies 2011” (Fontana) – now through 12/30 – Fontana residents get 25% off the ticket price!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

2011 Inland Empire Holiday Gift Guide

Picnik collage

Hi neighbor -

The holiday spirit is going strong which also means most people are starting to cross folks off their shopping list. We've compiled our shopping list along with some suggested unique local spots to pick up those hard to find gifts. If you have any folks on your shopping list who fit our categories we hope you'll go off the beaten path and try out our sugestions.

Take a look and let us know, or even better, if you have another suggested local spot we'd love to hear - we'll add them to our list and share with everyone. Keep in mind this is just the beginning of our list. As we lead up to Christmas we're going to continue to add categories and local spots. So if you think of something don't be shy - share with us! You can leave us a comment or give us a shout on Facebook or Twitter.

And let the shopping begin!

1. "Can't go anywhere without their camera"
- Expert photog gifts from the Claremont Photography and Video
- A nifty print from the store at the California Museum of Photography

2. "The cheesiest friend"
- Temecula Cheese Shop - 42072 5th St Temecula
- Cheese Cave (Claremont)
- Gerrard's Market (Redlands)
- Olive Ave. Market (Redlands)

3. "Wine afficionado"
- The Wine Tailor (Rancho Cucamonga)
- Wine Merchants (Claremont)
- San Dimas Wine Shop & Tasting Room (San Dimas)
- Joseph Filippi Winery & Vineyards (Rancho Cucamonga) - 10% discount on mixed cases of 12 bottles or more!
- Chris Kern's Forgotten Grapes (Riverside)

4. "One throw pillow is never enough"
- Distinctive Home PS (Palm Springs)
- Gardener's Cottage (Riverside)

5. "Natural medicine shaman"
- Yeh Center of Nature Medicine (Upland) - I've never been but from the services and products they're offering make me curious.

Keep an eye out for additions to our list. Till next time...

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