LEARNING: LESSON NUMBER 1: I learned how to create a facebook page for the blog!

Tonight I started my "LEARNING" for 2014, by learning how to create a facebook page for this blog. Thanks to the help of the lovely Kim at Tales of a Ranting Ginger. 

I would love it if you visited my NEW facebook page say hello and gave it a like! 

CATHY THINKING OUT LOUD FACEBOOK PAGE

It is already turning out to be an exciting year!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about facebook pages.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY FEATURE: WORTH THE READ JAN 10, 2014

I read cool informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing, networking, and the like all the time. I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to this type of thing. So I thought I would share one said post or article every Friday, and maybe send you into your weekend with some food for thought.

 NUMBER ONE MISTAKE EVERYONE MAKES ON TWITTER

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.

TAKE THE #BLOGCHALLENGEDONE CHALLENGE! EASY WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGGERS WRITING EFFORTS

#BLOGCHALLENGEDONE....what the heck is that? Before I explain, I would like to give you some of insight into my reasoning for starting this challenge. 

Ask any blogger why they started blogging and I think most will tell you they started a blog to write. It may have started as a journal, or to educate and inform, and for others to share something they are passionate about like travel, or food. The focus might be different, but the motivation is generally the same, they blog to write. 

I think the majority of bloggers will also tell you that writing, and researching, and maintaining a blog takes time, a lot of time. As the saying goes time is money, and if you are spending hours of your day writing, then you are probably not making money from it. So in order to continue to be able to write, and finance this time, many need to "monetise" their blog. It may be by brand ambassadorships, giveaways, product reviews, ads, or hosting twitter parties. This is a compromise of sorts, meaning no matter the way you monetise a blog, it generally means at least some of the focus will move from the writing to the monetising efforts. Sometimes the very necessary process of making an income, and supporting the blog crowds the posts that motivated one to start the blog in the first place. 

Hey, no judgement here, it is a necessary evil, and the events, twitter parties, conferences, and giveaways can be a lot of fun. I'm just saying it would be nice if readers read and commented on the posts that are personal, and meaningful, and reveal to the reader something about the blogger as well. Won't it be great if people commented not because it was a requirement for an entry into a contest, but because they enjoyed the post and they want to acknowledge the time and effort required to write and publish a regular stream of posts. 

So in that spirit I have started something I am calling BlogChallengeDone. The challenge is to read and comment on at least one NON-GIVEAWAY blog post everyday. Ideally from a blog you haven't visited in a while, and then tweet the link of the post, tagging the blogger, using the hashtag 

#BLOGCHALLENGEDONE.

EG: 

"I just read a fantastic post by @cantoncathy about travel  http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/01/travel-tips-tidbits-tuesday-post-1.html?spref=tw #blogchallengedone "

I hope you will join in this daily challenge to support the writing efforts of bloggers, and in return I hope someone else will take the time to read and comment on yours. I ask that if someone shares your post in the #blogchallengedone hashtag, don't just say thanks, return the favour. Pay it forward and read, comment, and share someone else's post. Maybe we can get a movement going.

HAPPY BLOGGING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about blogging.

MY WORD FOR 2014: LEARNING

Over the last week or so I have seen many posts, discussions and comments about what people's word or theme for the new year is. 
If I understand correctly it seems to be a combination of mantra, goals, hopes, and focus for the year all wrapped up in one word. 

LEARNING

Clearly many people have given this a great deal of thought. Having only recently been introduced to this concept I have not completely defined my goals for 2014, but I think the word learning really does sum up my goals and focus for this year. 

LEARNING: the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

I believe that 2014 will be a year of learning:

• Learning about myself, my strengths and areas I can improve on. Learning what I think my limits are and pushing myself to expand those limits, to see what I am truly capable of.
• Learning not to be afraid, and learning to work through my fears, and use the fear to my advantage to reach my goals, rather than let it control me.
• Learning about blogging, social media, and all the technology of blogging and social media. Come on people we are talking code to the technically challenged here! There is so very much for me to learn. I feel like I am in an apprenticeship program, and the world of Bloggers and social media are the Masters and teachers.
• Learning about and improving my writing skills. I agonize over my writing; is it good enough, interesting enough, relevant, did I catch all the typos and grammar mistakes, did I source and site this properly. 
• Learning about my friends, and their skills, and strengths, and the depth of their kindness, and ability to give, as well as their limitations since they are indeed human after all.

So in this new year of 2014 my word is LEARNING, because indeed this old dog can learn new tricks!

Wishing everyone a year of wonderful connections, growth, and learning!

Yep, just Cathy thinking out loud about 2014.  

Fast and Easy 3 Ingredient Tartar Sauce #Recipe #foodhack

Fastest and Easiest Tartar Sauce Ever!

As easy as 1, 2, 3 ingredients!

TIP: A mason jar is perfect to make 
and store your Tartar Sauce in.

This is to taste, but I like these proportions:

1 part Mayonnaise 

2 parts Sweet Green Relish

a squeeze of lemon juice or a 1/2 tsp of the liquid from your jar of pickles.

VOILA! DONE!



Now just add your favourite fish.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Tartar Sauce.

#WordlessWednesday I SENT MY KID TO SCHOOL ON A SNOW DAY! HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED.

What can I say? It is High School and most of the buses used are city buses that are NOT cancelled. 

This was attached to an email my son sent me with the subject line reading: Happy I came to school! 10 minutes after the bell rang.

12 Tips for Packing the Perfect #CarryOn #travel #traveltips

How to Pack the Perfect Carry-On 

I've been to Florida at least 25x times, London England 2x, California 3x, Italy 2x, Barbados 2x, Mexico 1x, Hawaii 1x, Holland 1x, ... OK you get the picture. I've taken at least 40 trips where my mode of transportation was flying, so I think I'm being conservative saying I've flown in at least 100 planes. With each flight I got better at figuring out what worked for me in regards to what to pack in and how to pack my carry-on. So I share this hoping to make your travel as stress-free as possible.

The Carry On Packing List:

• Change of Clothes (in case checked luggage is lost or delayed) packed in an XL ziplock bag (with the air removed to make it as small as possible).
• Travel Size Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrush (in case checked luggage is delayed) Tip: if your luggage is delayed and you didn't pack these ask the airline for a toiletry bag - many of them have them but will only give to you if you ask!
• Travel Pillow/Blanket Combo packed into an XL ziplock bag. Often these are no longer available from airlines free of charge, or are reused and that is GROSS Just saying.
• Reusable Water Bottle and Clip that can be clipped it onto carry-on. Note: if you use a soft collapsible water bottle like PLATYPUS it can also used as an ice pack during your trip. I found this very valuable in Italy in the very hot weather. 
• In-Flight Beverage Management: I always bring a Pop Can Lid  and ask for the whole can, so I don't have to babysit my drink. Tip: If you're travelling with kids bring along one of those cups, lids, & straws you get from restaurants to help avoid messy spills, plus they are great to have during the rest of the vacation as well.
• Snacks packed in a ziplock bag or plastic storage container, include granola bars, gum, mints, hard candies (for during off), and single serve drink crystals. Leave your water bottle empty until after you've cleared security, then fill it at a water fountain, add your flavour crystals, to void the prices & lines of buying drinks at the airport. Tip: When I travel with kids, each had their own snack bag in their carry on. Timing is everything when it comes to travelling with kids, so I never want to have to depend or wait on flight attendants for snacks or beverages.
• Electronics and Chargers are packed into a ziplock bag, so they can be easily located. This always includes a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Note: headphones are generally not available free of charge, and are generally not very good quality. Tip: make a earbud holder from a prescription bottle.
• Magazine, Book, Sudoku Puzzle Book, Paper Clipboard, Pencil, Pen & Calculator all go into another Ziploc Bag so it can easily be slid in and out of the front of my carry on bag. 
• 5 Boredom Busting Free Apps I have on my phone to help pass the time on flights and longer stop-overs: Sudoku, Three's 2048, Mahjong, and the Kobo app.
• Emergency Items and Other Important Things: Wipes, Kleenex, Plastic Grocery Bag (to use for garbage rather than waiting for the flight attendant to come around) Gravol, Tylenol, Advil etc. all packed into a ziplock bag. 
• Emergency Contact and ID Cards if travelling with kids are a great idea, and easy to make. 
• Soft foldable bag (e.g. ENVIROSAX) and Carabinder Clip: For 2 reasons: First you can pull out the items you want from your carry on (book, water, headphones) put them into the bag and onto the pouch on the seat in front of you. By doing this at the beginning of the flight you avoid getting up and down for items from you carry on during the flight. At the end of the flight quickly put entire bag into carry on and off you go. Second in some very small planes you may be required to check your carry-on because many standard carry-on bags do not fit in the overhead compartments or under the seat space. You may not be informed of this until the flight boarding has begun. If your carry-on is checked it is returned at the end of the flight and there is no access to it during the flight. In a situation like this before I check my carry-on I take valuables such as my camera, phone etc., and anything I might want during the flight and put them into the envirosax, which will fit under the seat. Tip: When travelling with my kids, they each have their own bag! BTW these double as shopping bags and beach bags once you reach your destination.

Well that is it! All my tips and wisdom. 

Hope that there are a few tidbits that are helpful to you the next time you pack a carry on and venture out to see the world.

Bon Voyage!

Yep, just Cathy thinking out loud about travel.