65 Days Until Spring

As I shoveled snow again today, it got me thinking about spring.  So I checked, and 65 days to go. Maybe I need to develop a winter sport hobby, but that would mean being outside in the cold, so I will pass.

As to keep my theme of talking web design/usability on my blog, I thought I would also added a tip, so I am including a link to an HTML 5 cheat sheet-TAGS that I stumbled across today while inside on my computer,  enjoy!

ADA Accessibility Checker

A really great ADA Accessibility Checker is PowerMapper.com.  Not only does it check your site for ADA Accessibility, but it also checks for broken links, browser compatibility issues, compliance, search engine issues, W3C standards (points out deprecated attributes), and usability.

For example, did you know that if you have a link to a PDF on your website, you should provide a link to download Acrobat Reader without it Priority A – accessibility users will find it impossible to use some pages.

http://www.gfsfundraising.com

Launched our first eCommerce website Monday for Candy Fundraising: http://www.gfsfundraising.com

If you are involved in Fundraising activities for your school, your church, or another organization, please check it out!

http://gfspartyplanning.com

Working on a new party planning website for GFS Marketplace: http://gfspartyplanning.com

Filled with everything one would need to throw a great summer party from grilling recipes and menu planning to food tips, storage tips, party tips, and so much more.

New Website

We just launched a redesign of our website on Saturday March 7.  More exciting things to come. Keep checking back:

http://www.gfs.com

Update

I am now an eBusiness Specialist at Gordon Food Service – Marketplace, as of September 8th,  and I could not be happier. Very exciting time to be at this company. Lots of new things in the works.

Looking for a Web Design E-Marketing Specialist job in Grand Rapids

Social Networking online is KEY thesedays to finding web design/e-marketing job leads. I have gotten so many leads in the last few days via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Its amazing how great these things work.

Sad Sad Week of Events

So my week starts out Monday with my brand new MINI Cooper Clubman blowing a rod, destroying my engine, shooting car parts and oil all over the road. Nice, huh? So I have to have it towed all the way to Detroit to be fixed. Find out, I guess luckily, that it was a malfunction and is covered under warranty. Bad news, probably 2 weeks before I will see it again. Borrowing the mom’s car till then.

Next lovely bit of news, the general manager at work informs me there is a good chance I will be let go at work, due to the fact the company has no money. And he was right, I was informed Friday that I have one week left. Makes no business sense to me as I was able to quadruple their online sales in the 1 year that I was there, but I guess that does not count for much.  Oh well, on to bigger and better things, but hopefully soon as UNEMPLOYMENT bites!  This will be the first job that I have ever been let go of. At least I was not fired, but still. Its a kick in the gut and its a little scary not knowing where the mortgage payment and the car (of which I do not actually have one, see above, but yet still need to make payments on) payments will come from. Unemployment alone will not cut it.

So to recap, in one months time, my one and only remaining grandparent died, my new MINI Cooper died, and my main source of income will be dead very soon. Ah life!  Things can only get better, right? Web Designer seeking new job!

Keeping Tabs 3

This past Friday I went on my very first walking pub crawl. Guess I am pampered in having my butt bus’ed around when I do these things that having to walk after a few beers and shots was a little more exercise then I really wanted to have, so I only made it to 2 pubs. The first was a local dive in GR called Broadway Bar, no air, smelled like years of smoking and greasy foods, but it had character and a juke box. Second, Jukes, was a step up as it had air conditioning and a band. Still smoky but what can you expect from a pub I guess, you need to go to a brewery in GR to get that smoke-free atmosphere. As a non-smoker, that is just the BEST. Maybe I need to organize my own smoke-free pub crawl. There has to be enough of those now to fill up a night of fun.

Keeping Tabs 2

I recently turned in a 3 year lease on a Jeep Wrangler that got 13 mpg for a MINI Cooper Clubman that gets 34 mpg. I am so happy with my new car. I had to drive to Detroit to pick it up but I have friends there so I was also able to visit with them. I drove it home Saturday and then went to Bells and Shakespeare’s in Kzoo to visit a friend of mine while he was home for fathers day. Little bit of Cherry Wheat beer, little rain, little pool and some darts. Then a fun drive home in my new car. Followed by dinner at Boatwerks in Holland for Father’s Day. Little too windy to sit outside and my fish was not so good. Normally the food there is great though and the view is just as wonderful.