FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY FEATURE: WORTH THE READ JAN 31, 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. 

Four Dale Carnegie Principles Social Marketers can Implement via Collective Bias Blog

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

Grow Your #Vocabulary: This post has been brought to you by the Letter D

Three sets of words commonly misused and confused.

Diffuse: To pour out and cause to spread freely. To spread about or scatter, disseminate. via The Free Dictionary
vs
Defuse: To remove the fuse from (an explosive device). To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile. via The Free Dictionary

Discreet: Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior, circumspect. Free from ostentation or pretension, modest. via The Free Dictionary
vs
Discrete: Constituting a separate thing. Consisting of unconnected distinct parts. via The Free Dictionary

Descendant: A person, animal or plant whose descent can be traced to a particular individual or group. Something derived from a prototype, or earlier form. via The Free Dictionary
vs
Descendent: Moving downward, descending. Proceeding by descent from an ancestor. via The Free Dictionary

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about the letter "D".

WHAT TO WATCH WEDNESDAYS #W2WW This weeks recommendation on what is good to watch! #3

I'm regularly having conversations on social media and in real life with friends and family about what TV shows, or movies are good to watch. So I thought why not share once a week, on Wednesdays (aka #W2WW) the recommendations I have, or one that has been shared with me.  If you have a recommendation please feel free to share them with me in the comments section!

This week Watch Wednesday I am recommending a series I watched on Netflix called:
Ripper Street
(8 episodes) 2013, 4/5 stars, TV-MA
"It has been six months since the last Jack the Ripper killing, and East London is hopeful his reign of terror might have run its course."
(via Netflix Canada)
This is definitely for an adult audience, as there is some nudity, and the subject matter of this series. I found the storylines to be suspenseful and gripping. This is a serious drama, so you will need to give it your full attention. On a side note, having visited the area of London where the Jack the Ripper murders took place, I found it particularly interesting to see what that area might have looked like historically. 
I rated this series 4/5 :-) faces. I hope you like it.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about what to watch

Note: I have not been compensated for this post in any way. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely share with my readers.

The Colour Blue in all its beauty. #BellLetsTalk about it!

There has been lots of talk on social media and TV lately about increasing awareness, and initiatives around Mental Illness. I have listened to many stories of courage and strength, and some tragic stories of loss. January 28th is #BellLetsTalk Day. By tweeting with this hashtag today you will help to raise millions of dollars for Mental Health programs and initiatives in Canada. 
Recently I have been thinking a lot about the colour blue. Blue is the colour between green and violet on the colour wheel. Blue is also the colour associated with feeling melancholy, unhappy, and depressed.
I went on a search for beautiful blue things, and started a Pinterest Board called The Colour Blue. Take a minute to look at my collection and enjoy Blue in all its beauty, and here is hoping it leaves you feeling anything but Blue.
Then take a minute to tweet using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk so those feeling Blue get the support and services they need to see the colour Blue in all its beauty again.

Yep, just my Cathy thinking out loud about the colour blue.

Grow Your #Vocabulary: This post has been brought to you by the Letter C

Three sets of similar words commonly misused and confused.

Compliment: An expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation via The Free Dictionary
vs
Complement: Something that completes, makes up a whole. via The Free Dictionary

Council: An assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation or discussion. A body of people elected or appointed to serve as administrators, legislators or advisors. via The Free Dictionary
vs
Counsel: The act of exchanging opinions, and ideas; consultation. Advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person. via The Free Dictionary

Capital: A town or city that is the official seat of government in a political entity, such as a state or nation, via The Free Dictionary
vs
Capitol: A building or complex of buildings in which a state legislature meets. via The Free Dictionary

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about the letter "C"

Easy to Make Kids ID & #EmergencyContact Cards #familytravel #travel

Easy to Make ID and Emergency Contact Information Cards Perfect for When You're Travelling with Children. 

My kids are seasoned travellers with countless flights and road trips under their belts. They've been on dozens of flights to Florida, a trip to Italy, and countless road trips including Washington DC, Boston, Myrtle Beach, and around Canada.

For each of these trips I made my kids Emergency Contact and Information Cards. 

The first type I create is wallet size and for my kids to carry. 
It's especially important if  your child is too young to know or remember the resort or hotel information, emergency contact numbers, or if the destination's spoken language is different than that of your child's. 

The second type I make is for myself and other adults so in an emergency situation important information can be quickly and easily accessed.
I also liked to give these cards to the kids grandparents, or supervising adults during times my kids were travelling without me, especially if destination was unfamiliar to my kids.

TIP: Always grab a handful of extra airline luggage tags. 

Whether you're at a theme park, in a shopping mall, or just out and about on vacation these are perfect to attach resort and emergency contact information to a child's belt loop, or wrist.

TIP: Inexpensive luggage tag laminating kits are perfect to make kids ID cards.

 Using an ink pad, and the same laminating packs I also make information cards that I carry with me with important information that might be difficult to easily access away from home. Lets hope you never need to use these cards, but I like the piece of mind they give me when I'm travelling with kids.

Sharing is caring, so please share your tips or ideas in the comments section. 
I love hearing your feedback. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about travelling with kids.

Five Great Uses for Citrus Peels #ItsEasyToBeGreen #greenideas

Five Great Uses for Citrus Peels

We all know that using the zest of citrus fruit can add aroma and flavour to a recipe, 
but they have lots of other uses. 


Here are a few of my favourites:

Make your own citrus scented cleaner: 

• In a large glass jar: 
• Add: the peel and pith (no skin or pulp) of 3-4 oranges, OR 4-6 lemons, OR 4-6 limes, OR 3 grapefruits to 1 litre of white vinegar.
• Leave mixture for minimum of two weeks.
• Strain the peel from concentrated vinegar mixture. Store in fridge until you are ready to use it.
• Pour 50% water and 50% concentrated mixture into a spray bottle.
• Proceed to use your citrus cleaner enjoying the fragrant citrus smell as you clean.
• IDEA: Put into decorative spray bottle, and add a label  and give as a hostess gift.
• (thanks @readyowl for this idea!)

Easy microwave cleaner:

• Place the rinds of 2 oranges in a large microwave safe bowl.
• Cover the rinds with water to the half way mark on the bowl.
• Place in centre of microwave.
• Microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until the water boils and condensation forms on the sides of the microwave.
• Carefully remove the hot bowl of rinds and water.
• Wipe the insides of the microwave using the condensation to clean. 
• Voila! Your microwave should look clean and smell great! 

Easy way to remove stains from the inside of your favourite mug:

• Place a handful of citrus peel into you mug.
• Add boiling water to the mug to just below the top.
• Let mug with mixture sit for an hour or two.
• Pesto! You should have a stain free mug!

Keep cats away from your garden & the sandbox! 

• Cats hate the smell of citrus! Toss fresh orange and lemon rinds around the area you want to cats to stay clear of. Repeat regularly.

Dried orange peels make excellent fireplace kindling and fills the room with a fragrant smell.

• Take peels only (no fresh or pulp) and lie them out flat on a tray to air dry for about 2 days or until completely dried. 
• That is all there is to it. Use the dried peels with other kindling to start a perfect fire. 
• IDEA: Package up dried peels in a decorative box, add a beautiful bow, and you have a perfect hostess gift.

If you have other ideas and uses for citrus peels,
please share with me in the comments section. 
I love your feedback!

For more GREEN ideas check out my 
Recycling and Green Ideas Pinterest Board

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about being green.