• Community Responds Quickly

In less than 6 hours, local charity's need of a freezer, was met. 

At about 9:00am this morning City Councilmember Bridgette Moore posted about a need of the Five and Two program at Gracepoint Church on facebook.

Not long after the post was up, Paula Willette pledged the first $100. 

A couple of hours later, Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit saw the thread and also pledged $100. About an hour after that $50 came in from Pete Lent.

Two more donations came in bringing the total up to $450, more than enough to get the type of freezer that Wink Davis had in mind for their bi-monthly food distribution program.

I know that none of the people that donated did so for recognition, but I don't feel like blurring out their names. lol

They've done a terrific thing, and it's not a bad thing that others know about it. Thanks again to the quick community response to a worthy cause that has been helping those less fortunate in the community for many years.

I reached out to pastor Wink Davis to get his reaction to the pledges from the community.

"I am absolutely amazed by our community. I was at a meeting most of the day so I didn't get a chance to see it happen [in real time], but I came back and saw all the notifications on my phone and was amazed as I was looking at it. I am overwhelmed, it's exciting. We have been putting our money towards food, both for emergency and for the distribution [program], this is going to be a huge, huge help. I can't say thank you enough to everyone."

—Pastor Wink Davis, in response to the generosity of the community.

It's nice to see positivity come from facebook.

Link to 2016 blog about 

Five and Two program at Gracepoint Church

•                •                •

For it is in giving that we receive. 
– Francis of Assisi

Wildomar Rap gets that... and you?

• New Burger Place Gives Out Combos

The Habit opened its doors late Sunday morning and gave out a burger, fries and a drink to the first 200 people that came. They have other specials on Monday and Tuesday, then open their doors for business on Wednesday, November 29th.

The Habit in Wildomar around 11:10am Sunday morning.

Knowing that the parking at Wildomar Square is difficult under the best of circumstances, we aimed to get there by about 11am (service was to begin at 11:30am). 

Good thing we didn't dawdle more than we did. When we got there, the line was already pretty deep. By 11:15am it was stretching into the drive-thru area. 

One of the workers came out with vouchers. About 90% of the people got one for the Charburger (the basic burger). The other 10% got a special voucher for a fancier burger... and then the stinkeye from all those that didn't get the upgrade. Don't be haters! ☺

Even though I was given the super whammy voucher,
Grace reminded me that what is mine is hers in no time flat.

Not long after that, the manager came out and informed people that if they'd like to use the drive-thru, they'd probably get served faster. That's all it took for about 30% of the line to disappear, as they headed for their cars.

This is what the line was like at about 11:45am

It took about 30 minutes to make our way to the front of the line, but really, the service was great... even considering the abnormal crowd size.

The counter people were very helpful and friendly, as was the person that made sure our order was correct before giving it to us. This place obviously cares about their customers. 

That smile really means, "Cool it with the camera, and do what I tell you for a change."

There was plenty of seating, and we chose an out of the way table for two in the corner. It came with a view of the cars leaving the drive-thru. 

Note to self: Three ketchup cups is TOO MUCH.

We liked both of the burgers that we got. One was regular, the other was the Portabella Charburger. Neither of us had knowingly tried Portobello mushrooms before, but have had many people suggest we try them. 

I like most foods, but lets be honest... mushrooms usually taste like slimy dirt.

Since we usually prepare our own meals at home, and never go to fast food places, we had a bit of sticker shock. This meal was comped, but otherwise this humble meal would have set us back $17.60.

It's obvious that I'm not in touch with current fast food prices, since I would have guessed two burgers, fries and drinks would have been somewhere between $11 and $12 (including tax). I better not even think about going on Price Is Right if I'm that far off the mark.

This is what the total would have been on a usual day.

Still, all in all, everything tasted great... and the juice and tea options were a nice alternative to the standard Coca-Cola products associated with burger places.

Now the only food place in Wildomar Square that has yet to open is Sushi Ka. 

•                •                •

The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it.
– Ray Kroc

Wildomar Rap reminds you that tossing in a memorable jingle, a crazy redheaded clown and a good secret sauce into the mix doesn't hurt your prospects either.

• New Wildomar Business: Robeks Juice

Have You Been To Robeks Yet? 

It's a Juice and Smoothie place located in the new Wildomar Square on the southwest corner of Clinton Keith and the I-15.

The image on the left is what you see while driving on Clinton Keith, the one of the right is what you see inside the Wildomar Square shopping center. Robeks is between Jersey Mikes/Supercuts and Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins.

When you walk in you're greeted by one or more team members with a hearty welcome and you instantly feel at home in their clean and well lit establishment.

A shot of the Wildomar Robeks crew. Owner Tariq Johnson is in the middle.

I arranged to for a tasting of some of their more popular items while speaking with owner Tariq Johnson for this blog. I also put together a short promotional video below (sort of like a TV commercial). It's about 30 seconds and gives you a feel of the Wildomar Robeks.
The name Robeks is a portmanteau of the first owner's first names, Robert and Becky... so the story goes. They opened their first juice place back in 1996. Today there are about 90 franchises located in various pockets throughout the nation.

The various size cups they serve their smoothies and juices in.

I asked Tariq "when it was that he wanted to be a juiceman?" Which brought out a chuckle. 

In short, since his early twenties he thought it would be "pretty cool to own a franchise someday". He'd been in financial services, investments and banking, since before he turned 20 years old. 

When he and his wife were dating, they were regular customers of the Robeks in La Jolla. 

Choosing which item to have.

When they chose to open a business together, they considered the diverse options in various industries. The most obvious answer was to choose something that they both believed in; were passionate about.

A look at their menu boards. There are quite a few items to choose from.

They'd always made a lot of smoothies at home, so they did their due diligence by looking at the different franchises in that sector. Robeks won the day due to their menu, versatility, options, that the company was going in a good direction, etc.

Squeezing fresh lemon into the Evergreen fresh juice.

They were adamant about wanting to open in Wildomar Square, and the company complied. With other franchises, it's quite likely that you'll have your location dictated to you.

I asked what the most popular menu items have been so far. Since they have several different categories, I was told of the most popular in each.

Most Popular By Category:

Super Foods: Hero's Garden

Acai Smoothies: Acai Energizer
Classic Smoothies: Strawnanaberry, Mahalo Mango and Big Wednesday
Performance Smoothies: 800 Pound Gorilla (which comes with 40 grams of protein in it)
Low Calorie Smoothies: Lean Green and Berry Reboot
Wellness Smoothies: Doctor Robeks
Juices: Between Evergreen or ABC (Apple, Beet, Carrot)
Bowls: Acai Strawnanaberry 

They also sell Lenny & Larry muffins and cookies, which are made from a protein based mix.  

At the time of this blog they don't have oatmeal yet, but that is something that will be available very soon. 

What is Acai?

"One of the most delicious members of the superfood squad — aka the cool kids of the food pyramid — is a fruit you've probably seen all over your Instagram feed. Açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) is best known for being the not-so-secret ingredient in picture-perfect smoothie bowls, but there's more to these berries than just their good looks."

— excerpt from drozthegoodlife.com

Link to complete article on Acai.

If you're still not sure how to pronounce Acai, follow this link to a short video demonstrating how to say it.

There is a Robeks Rewards program and the best way to sign up for it is through their app. You get $3 off your next purchase just by signing up. You can either download the app (Robeks Rewards) or go to the website and register there (link is at the bottom of the blog). For every $12 you spend, you get $1 off. 

It doesn't get much easier than this.
Just click the image to sign up.  ☺

You don't need a traditional "rewards card," you can use your phone number as your card/identity. However, if you're a bit of a dinosaur, like I am, they will still give you a traditional customer rewards card to put in your billfold (note: if you use the word "billfold" you're definitely going to want an old fashioned rewards card too). ☻

The benefits are good at any of the Robeks locations. You also get a free medium smoothie on your birthday if you're signed up for the rewards program.

Getting ready for a refreshing treat.

I asked if they have a way to order online, and as it happens, that is being rolled out next month. Be part of their facebook community or the Rewards Program to stay up to date. 

☺         ☺          ☺

Taste Test Results

We tasted 8 different items and they were all good, but some were future favorites and others... well... things that would be ordered less often (I think that's pretty diplomatic ☺).

• Hero's Garden (superfood smoothie)

You could taste the greens (it's color is deep green), it was a refreshing taste, but won't easily be confused with a chocolate milkshake if that's more your speed. 
Ingredients include: fresh spinach, matcha green tea, pineapple, mango, banana, spirulina, flax seeds and apple juice. 

• Acai Strawnanaberry• (bowls)
You can't go wrong with a strawberry and banana base. When it comes to taste, this one is a big winner.

The little taster cups were as fun as they were delicious.

In addition to the key ingredients there are blueberries and vanilla almond milk. Topped with freshly sliced strawberry & banana, blueberries, granola and raw honey.

• Evergreen Juice (fresh juices)

By my tastes, this is for the hardcore juicer, not for the feint of heart. "Earthy" tones are strong in this one, but that isn't a bad thing. ☺
Ingredients are: kale, cucumber, celery, spinach, apple and lemon.

• Nutty Acai (bowls)

This was a treat for the taste buds. The different textures and flavors came together like an unequaled crescendo. Something that satisfied, but didn't weigh you down.

Ingredients: acai, mango, banana, pineapple, coconut and vanilla almond milk. Topped with fresh banana slices, peanut butter, granola, bee pollen and raw honey.

• Root to Stem (fresh juices)

We had this ruby red jewel over ice. Though there wasn't much sweetness to it, we found it to be refreshing and best if sipped it slowly. 

Ready? Set? Go!

This juice is made with: kale, celery, spinach, carrot, beets, apple and ginger. 

• Big Wednesday (classic smoothies)

This was probably the most pallet pleasing item we had, and what most people typically picture when it comes to smoothies. 

The ingredients are: Papaya juice, strawberries, peaches, bananas, orange sherbet, pineapple sherbet and ice.

Don't tell 'em I said so, but... if you were to add your own tequila or rum... this would be a good blended base for it. Very tasty, and very refreshing... even without the booze I may (or may not) have suggested. ☺

• Acai Tropical Mango (bowls)

This was another of the mega taste-pleasers that we tried. 
In addition to acai, it includes banana, pineapple, coconut, and vanilla almond milk. It's then topped with fresh sliced banana, peanut butter, granola, bee pollen and raw honey.

• Nuts About Protein (performance smoothies)

This smoothie has a prevailing peanut butter flavor and includes: coffee, cinnamon, raw honey, non-fat frozen yogurt, multi-vitamin and 20 grams of whey protein. 

They have brochures discussing their supplement & enrichment options and of course their menu. You can either get them at the counter or online. 

There are many different options and the crew is more than happy to tell you about them... just ask!

☺          ☺          ☺

I asked Tariq if he'd like to try placing a coupon in Wildomar Rap... and you have until the end of the year to get $1 off any medium or large freshly squeezed juice or smoothie. 

Just remember to have this page ready to show the cashier at the time of purchase. If you still use a computer that is hooked up to a printer, print it out and bring it in.

Bookmark this page. You have until the end of the year to get the discount.

Be sure to give Robeks a try, even if you wouldn't usually go to a juice place, it's still fun to try new things. Also, it's nice to support local businesses. If you see Tariq, tell him Joseph and Grace from Wildomar Rap sent you... 

Hours of operation are from 7am to 9pm.

36250 Hidden Springs Rd Suite C,

Wildomar, CA 92595

(951) 678-4444

Official Website

Robeks Menu

Facebook Page

•                •                •

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food
– Hippocrates (460 BC - 370 BC)

Wildomar Rap agrees that healthy food should be your medicine, but wouldn't suggest using ibuprofen as your food... or any other medicine for that matter.

• Thanksgiving 2017

Thanksgiving is a special time of year. The heat of the Summer is past (well, it's supposed to be past ☺), the days are shorter, indoor activities take precedence, family traditions and foods circle back.

I put out a call to the people of Wildomar to participate in this blog. Many thanks to those that participated.

I'll post them in the order I received them...

I am thankful for this wonderful town of Wildomar and all of the opportunities, friendships, life lessons and love it has shown me.
— Lisa Kimura Ballard

I am thankful for my Mom and Husband. They are always there to support me and make me feel loved no matter what.

—Katie Boothby

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband, smart, funny, adorable, amazing kids and this awesome community we live in. 
—Vitalia Gonzalo

I am thankful for my great hubby, for my fabulous family and friends. I am also very thankful for my good health. 

—City Councilmember Marsha Swanson

I'm thankful we chose Wildomar to move to in 1988. Thankful for my family, including my Wildomar family and my fur babies. 

—Gloria Allred

I'm thankful for my liver transplant, [which came] with Wildomar [community] support.

—Scott Rux, newly appointed member of the Measure Z Commission.

I am thankful to live in a wonderful community, where neighbors spread kindness and lend a helping hand.

—Mary Haire

We are so thankful to live here on The Farm with lots of great friends. There are so many events for everyone including the children. We also enjoy our delicious fruits from the many orchards. Most of all the we love the beautiful scenery that we wake up to every morning.
—Bob and Barbara Noble

I'm grateful for small miracles. I don't believe in the big miracles, but the small ones keep adding up.

—John Garrett, Temecula Valley Astronomers

Thankful for my husband and kids, my family, my community and all the positive friends and people that I get to encounter. Thank you God and bless the city of Wildomar!

—Rose Mary Napoli-Verso

I'm thankful to be raising my son in The Farm, which is such a close knit community, full of friendly and kind neighbors that quickly become friends.

— Brittney O'Sullivan

I am thankful for technology! 23 years ago I married a marine, on our 1 month wedding anniversary he was deployed to Japan. We spent a fortune on quick phone calls. My daughter is now stationed in TX with the US Air Force, we FaceTime, call, or text daily. My son plays on the Elsinore HS water-polo team, my husband's schedule rarely allows for him to make his games, we are lucky to have some really great parents who record the games and take 100’s of photos then post them on social media for him to watch. While many people may feel that technology is ruining our generation, my family uses it to keep close and I couldn’t be more thankful!

—Michele Thomas, Wildomar Planning Commissioner

I am thankful for my husband. He takes such good care of me and our home, he works so hard every day and doesn't really complain. I thank God every day for him.
— Melissa Barnett

I'm always thankful for the love of my crazy family and friends, my dog, and of a man who for some strange reason loves me. I'm thankful for fun times, great memories, rock n' roll music, champagne brunches, red roses, mouse traps, clouds, happy hours, Netflix & Hulu, my youth being stolen in the late 60s, whipped cream and strawberries, photoshop, green vegetables, eye makeup, my photography teachers, hair dye, live music, trees, antiques, shorts and flip flops.  

But what I think I'm most thankful is my faith and strength that has seen me through the good times and carried me over the rough times.

—Kat Ellis, Host of Chords and Vines Radio Show

I'm thankful for my husband, Stewart, and son, Jake, and the rest of our family! I'm thankful to live in a community that has so much heart and where we feel safe to live.

—City Councilmember Bridgette Moore 

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from the past. This year my husband and I traveled to Plymouth, Massachusetts to see the National Monument to the Forefathers and also The Pilgrim Hall Museum.  The museum displays artifacts: William Bradford’s Bible, the only portrait of a Pilgrim (Edward Winslow) painted from life, the cradle of New England’s first–born, Peregrine White, the great chair of William Brewster, and the earliest sampler made in America, embroidered by Myles Standish’s daughter. 

This glimpse into the back stories of individuals and families taking a stand for truth is a reminder of how blessed we are as a nation. It is a reminder to consider what issues we stand firm upon - those that are worth risking all to uphold. It helps to know that today I can worship God and speak freely of Him in our society, and that my family has chosen to follow Jesus Christ. We continue to give thanks to Almighty God for all His blessings. (pilgrimhall.org)

—Veronica Langworthy, Wildomar Planning Commissioner

I'm grateful that my grandparents made sure I know GOD AND THAT HIS SON GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ME. I'm grateful that the Hurley family took me in and treated me like I was blood so I would have a family growing up. Thank you GOD for giving me 3 decent kids and a wife that puts up with me.
—David Masters

I’m thankful Zac is gone and WR has replaced him.

— Doug Aames

I am thankful to be employed. I was unemployed for two months this summer for the first time in ten years. Being over 50 I think cost me a few opportunities but I am working and looking forward to advancing up in my new career.
—Tom Ebel

I am thankful for my beautiful wife and three daughters. They are literally the reason behind almost everything I do.  Every vote on council that I make, they are on my mind.  They support me and my busy schedule, are loving, caring, and kind.  I really couldn’t be more thankful for them.

I am thankful for all of my family and friends.  Again each one is supportive in their own way, ALL are loving, and each allow me to vent to them and more importantly, keep it to themselves haha. 

I am thankful for our City, our staff, and OUR RESIDENTS, who, have placed their trust in me to represent them.  I am humbled still, by that fact and am truly grateful and thankful for the opportunity. I am thankful for our Marines, service members, veterans, and especially our military members that are forward deployed in dangerous parts of the world, so we can enjoy our way of life and pursue our versions of the American dream, in peace.

—City Councilmember Dustin Nigg

•                •                •

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. 
—Tecumseh  (1768–1813)

Wildomar Rap is thankful for all the local wonders that we've experienced since becoming willing to look outside of ourselves.