Time For A New Website Design - FOR US!

Well, the time came - and so it was - for a website redesign of our own little place on the internet.

Kim was reviewing our site - and our visitors to our site. She felt that our site was boring and a bit outdated. She thought it needed to 'pop' a bit more.

We spend so much time designing other small business websites and Volusion Store website designs, that we haven't even really taken the time to update our site - it's layout or look and feel - in over two years. And you know what - she was right. Our website needed some attention.

So - we took the week and redesigned the website, added some of our favorite colors and updated our content to keep it fresh. We kept the filenames the same, as well as most of the copy - in hopes that we don't lose our SEO rankings. Redesigns can often hurt or 'reset' rankings on the search engines, so we tried to change only the stylesheet and graphics - and then we pruned the rest of the files that were outdated on our server.

Every website needs to be freshened up from time to time. But this doesn't mean you have to totally redesign your entire site. In most cases, you can simply change out a few graphics here and there - change the font, colors or homepage a bit - and your visitors will know that you are on the ball when it comes to monitoring your website and keeping things new and exciting.

We hope our visitors will like what we've done!

Kari & Co. Featured on Core Commerce Design Gallery

Kari and Company is proud to have designed the Fly Jumper site that is featured in the Core Commerce Design gallery. Fly Jumper is a Canadian based company that provides you with the ability to “fly” without getting in an airplane, yes that is right - “fly”!

With these flying stilts, it is a known fact that you can literally jump up to 6 feet in the air! They are capable of powerblocking (a new extreme sport), which is performing the actions of walking and jumping all in one step. The fly jumper makes this possible because they are made of spring loaded stilts.

In need to run a marathon? Why not try it on Fly Jumpers? It was discovered that you can run over 20 miles per hour on them. Now, don’t forget that these stilts are spring loaded and it is very important that you buy the right ones for your weight, otherwise, well you might be spring loaded into your neighbor’s house.

I don’t know about you but on these beautiful spring days, I am ready to “Spring” on outside with a new set of fly jumpers.

To view our work in the Core Commerce Design Gallery - just follow this link and select "Fly Jumper Canada, LTD".

Only The Best For Dallas Interior Designer

Have you ever walked into someone’s home and the home furnishings and accessories literally took your breath away? A space where every piece of furniture is a unique piece perfectly placed, and beautiful art and interesting pieces from around the world adorn the walls? Where everything fits into a clean and distinctive design? If you've walked into a home like this - and you're in the Dallas area - chances are - it was an interior design by J. Douglas Bradford of J. Douglas Design, Inc.

Kari & Co. is proud to present one of our newest websites - J. Douglas Design Inc. - This is the place to visit if you are ready to transform your home into the one described above - you know - the one that takes your breath away.

They offer the most exclusive brands in fine furnishings and accessories, window treatments, fine rugs, and interior design services to help you take decorating your home to the next level.

J. Douglas Bradford has been creating award winning interior designs in Dallas for over 30 years. He or one of his designers will meet with you with one on one during your consultation to help you envision your “perfect” palace. From suggestions on colors & textures, furniture selections, fine art options, window treatments, and accessorizing - J. Douglas Design has it all covered where designing interiors is concerned.

So the next time you have that 'feeling' that transforming your house into a true showplace is what you need to be doing - visit the showroom at J. Douglas Design, we are certain that you won’t be disappointed.

Who Wants To Support A Great Cause?

For most people, our high school senior year holds many fun memories, lots of activities and planning for your future. But, for Grand Prairie High School Senior Alex Puente, he spent a lot of his senior year in the hospital fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Alex continued his fight and graduated from High School as Cum Laude in 2008. Alex pursued his college career and moved forward with his aspirations, but unfortunately became ill in October of 2008 and lost his battle to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on October 8, 2008.

Because of Alex’s grace and dignity and his family & friends' love for Alex, a scholarship fund was established to keep his memory alive.

The Alex Pete “Bo” Puente Memorial Scholarship will help a teen have the opportunity to fulfill their dream of attending college and build on their future.

Kari and Co. has been blessed with getting to know the family and Alex through creating their new website design. We feel that while listening to the stories of Alex and how he fought and showed great bravery, we have become better people by knowing his story. And - it's a cause near and dear to our own hearts - as Kari's husband, Kelly was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in 1997. He currently receives treatment (and a miracle treatment indeed..) from Oregon Health and Sciences University, under the medical direction of Dr. Brian Druker - and is currently at 0% cancer.

Please join Kari and Co. by supporting the Alex Puente family and their dedication and support to the Alex Pete “Bo” Puente Memorial Scholarship. You can get additional information on this wonderful foundation and their upcoming golf tournament by visiting www.apmsf.com.

It has been a wonderful pleasure to be a part of the making of their new website and meeting such a wonderful family.

Greek Food & Great Photography

Kari and Company is proud to have provided the markup for the website design of a brand new Addison, Texas restaurant - Volos Taverna. It's a hip twist on it's sister restaurant - Ziziki's - greek cuisine menu and atmosphere.

What's even cooler - is that I got to meet yet ANOTHER very cool Dallas photographer (maybe I am in the wrong profession - because I am LOVING photography and the art of it these days...) - Matt Callahan. The pics he took of the food at Volos & Ziziki's - seriously didn't help my hunger pangs while testing and validating the HTML for the site.

If you're in the Dallas area - and you're not already a Ziziki's customer, then you need to be. And if you're in and around the hot night spot Addison area - be sure to check out Volos - it's destined to be a Dallas Night Spot.

Zilch Mixers ... a great margarita!

We all know that we love a GOOD Margarita with our Mexican food, especially here in Texas! I am not a stranger to trying out different restaurant’s Margarita’s just so that I know who has the best but will tell you, I certainly don’t like the calories or need the extra calories.

Zilch Mixers is a Sugar Free Margarita Mixers, and they have given dieters and diabetics or people just wanting to watch their calorie intake a exciting alternative! Zilch Mixers are popular on online stores across the country and now available in retail stores all around the US. If you would like to find a retailer in your area visit their website at www.zilchmixers.com. These great mixers come in Gallon packets and individual packets for on the go and travel or just one margarita, just add tequila and water!

This great sugar free Margarita Mixer made their splash in 2004 and has had great success and great reviews. A regular 8 ounce margarita contains up to a whopping 540 calories and 50 carbohydrates. Zilch Sugar Free Margarita Mixers contain zero carbohydrates and zero calories but I will tell you from experience the taste is just the same as a big old wonderful Margarita with all the fixins!

Kari and Co. had the wonderful opportunity to assist in their new and updated website and from experience, a great company, a great Margarita and a great group of people to work with!

Visit Zilch mixers website and see for yourself how great these wonderful sugar free Margaritas are! You won’t regret it and neither will your waistline.

Living 4 Zachary - Stop Sudden Cardiac Arrest

During the last month or so, Kari and Co. has had the pleasure of working with the Living 4 Zachary Foundation. Many times building a website is just that, a website. But working with Karen Schrah (Zac's mom) and the Living4Zachary family has been something that has touched our lives and will forever stay with us. We are so very proud to have been a part of their new website.

Living4Zachary.org is a foundation dedicated to spreading the awareness of SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) in youth.

On April 2, 2009 Karen and Troy Schrah lost their 16 year old son, Zachary due to SCA. He was a healthy, vibrant young man who loved life... and, after a normal off-season football workout with the Plano East Football Team, he collapsed and died. Zachary had no prior history of heart problems an no family history.

SEC (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) IS a silent killer and strikes at least 10,000 young people a year, according the American Heart Assocation. Approximately 28 of our children die each day from SCA and often can be prevented.

Simple heart screening can detect a heart problem in the early stages and can help parents make the best decisions for their child’s health.

At Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, TX they are offering a L4Z screening for youth for 100.00. You no longer have to wonder, worry and wait, the screening will detect any heart issues and if further treatment is needed.

We have enjoyed our time working with Living4Zarchary and feel that as parents, we WILL live for Zachary and have our children screened and encourage you to as well.

Have a DivaGirl Game night!

All women would like to think of themselves as a Diva from one time to another. When we are little we put on our boa’s, our Mom’s makeup and high heels and strut all around the house dreaming of being a DIVA!

Now, whatever age you are, you can be a Diva~with just a few friends and the DivaGirl game. You can dress up in your favorite Diva Wear and prepare for a night of fun, food, gifts and lots of laughs! All you need is the Diva Girl Game and some girlfriends and you can certainly have a Diva Girl Game Party!

Diva Girl Game is a game that is easy to play, involves things that all Diva’s love ~ champagne, diamonds, red lipstick, sun tanning and big feathery boas! The dealer shows a card and the Diva with the matching card turns it over and the first Diva to turn all of her cards over wins the round! Its not just about the game either, each Diva brings a wrapped “Diva” gift to the party and the winner of each round, wins a gift.

Kari and Co. received a Diva Girl Game in the mail for helping with their new website and we think it is so much fun, thank you Nancy and Liz!