Earth Week 2017 - Simple Ways To Save Energy

While solar panels and wind farms are becoming more popular, they still are not the norm in neighbourhoods and community areas.  Instead we are more familiar with power lines and hydro towers. 

We all try to do our part to save energy whether is making sure to turn the lights off when we leave the room or using timers on devices.  Making small changes help save energy and save on the amount we spend on utilities.

Here are a few other ideas that may help reduce your monthly energy usage and water consumption.


My trick is to cook several “long cook” items at once in the oven and use them over the next few days. Learn more about this simple trick.

Try to keep the oven off altogether.

Learn a new way to save water by trying out this recipe.






Use your time on long weekends wisely.

Have a unique idea save energy? I'd love to hear all about it! Leave a comment below.

Celebrate Galentine’s Day With Australia's Thunder From Down Under - Enter To Win

We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes we did receive complimentary tickets, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance attend too! Enter the contest at the end of this post!

UPDATE: WE HAVE A CONTEST FOR MARCH 30th IN NIAGARA FALLS TOO!

Are You Wondering What Galentine's Day Is?

Taken from an episode of Parks And Recreation, Galentine's Day is a great way for women to celebrate with their female friends.  Hear the explanation in the video below

 

Get Your Girls Together To Celebrate Galentine’s Day

Celebrating Galentine’s Day could be much more than heading out for breakfast.  I suggest that you get all of your gal pals together and grab tickets to see AUSTRALIA'S THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER.  While you would normally have to fly to Las Vegas to see AUSTRALIA'S THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER perform, you now have the opportunity to see them March 31, 2017 @ 7pm for ONE NIGHT ONLY at the Living Arts Centre In Mississauga Ontario Canada. By attending their show last fall I know what a fun experience it is!  So while you’re gathered together with your gal pals on Galentine’s Day make sure you make arrangements to GET YOUR TICKETS to see the show in March! PLUS WE HAVE JUST ADDED A SECOND CONTEST FOR THEIR NIAGARA FALLS SHOW ON MARCH 30TH!!!!

Reminder this is an "ADULT" show

The PERFECT Girl's Night Outback! Australia's HOTTEST Export – Thunder From Down Under - hits an intimate Vegas stage every night of the week showing off chiseled bodies, seductive dance routines, cheeky humor and boy-next-door charm that you won't be able to resist! - See more at: http://www.livingartscentre.ca/theatre-performances/thunder-from-down-under

 

As you can see I'm pretty excited about THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER. That's because I get to giveaway a pair of tickets to a lucky reader!

Enter To Win 

Enter the rafflecopter contest THAT YOU HOPE TO WIN below (it may take a minute to load) YOU NOW HAVE THE CHOICE OF MISSISSAUGA OR NIAGARA FALLS - JUST BE SURE TO ENTER ON THE WIDGET OF WHICH VENUE YOU WANT TO GO TO and tell me why you want to attend THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER in the comments at the bottom. It may just win you a night out for you and a guest to attend the show!
 You must provide your own transportation.

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simple Trick To Save On Oven Energy Costs

Your oven can be an energy sucker and using it often increases your utility bills.  This simple trick will save you time and energy, both your energy and the energy costs required when using it.

Most people will use their oven several times a week and usually for about an hour at a time.
My trick is to cook several “long cook” items at once in the oven and use them over the next few days.

For example, right now I have a spaghetti squash for lunch, a roast beef for dinner and pork for another day all cooking in the oven at once (excuse my oven’s look, think of it as well used).

Separately these items each take about an hour or more to cook.  That is 3+ hours of your oven being on throughout the week.  Because I am cooking them all at once the time for the oven being on is reduced to 1.5 hours for all 3 items.

This will ensure I will save money on my utility bill and save time when it comes to preparing other meals as well. Because the items are already cooked, re-heating them on the stove top (or microwave if you use one) is minimal and you can easily transform the cooked items into other dishes that you would normally reserve for leftovers!  While saving 1.5 hours of your oven being on might not seem like much, but this is for one week.  Now think of it on a yearly basis and you can see how it can save on your energy costs!

Let me know if you try this trick and how it worked out for you!

Make It A Girls Night Outback With Australia's Thunder From Down Under @ Centre In The Square - Enter To Win

We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes we did receive a complimentary tickets, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance attend too! Enter the contest at the end of this post!

Because I had a such a good time at the Naked Magic Show we thought this would be a great follow up! Next month THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER IS HEADED FOR CENTRE IN THE SQUARE!!!!  I cannot wait to see what this show has in store.  I'm guessing a lot of heat that's for sure.

Make It A Girls Night Outback @ Centre In The Square

While you would normally have to fly to Las Vegas to see AUSTRALIA'S THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER perform, you now have the opportunity to see them October 13, 2016 @ 8pm for ONE NIGHT ONLY at Centre In The Square in Kitchener Ontario Canada.  With these abnormal HOT September temperatures I think Mother Nature is preparing for THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER's invasion of Kitchener! It's going to be a scorcher, so be sure to gather your gal pals and GET YOUR TICKETS!

Reminder this is an "ADULT" show

As you can see I'm pretty excited about THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER. That's because I get to giveaway a pair of tickets to a lucky reader!

Enter To Win 

Enter the rafflecopter contest below (it may take a minute to load) and tell me why you want to attend THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER in the comments at the bottom. It may just win you a night out for you and a guest to attend THE SHOW!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There's Nothing Up Their Sleeves At The Naked Magic Show Happening @ Centre In The Square - Enter To Win

We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes we did receive a complimentary tickets, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance attend too! Enter the contest at the end of this post!

Feast Your Eyes On This

There's nothing to see here, clothing wise that is, but we think you won't be able to take you eyes off the @NakedMagicians at THE NAKED MAGIC SHOW happening at Centre In The Square.

We know this summer is going to be HOT so why not get ready by grabbing some tickets to THE NAKED MAGIC SHOW.It's headed for Centre In The Square on June 16th at 7:30pm. Want to know more? Here are the BARE facts.

This boisterous R-rated magic show strips away the top hats and capes, promising full frontal illusions. Good magicians don’t need sleeves and great magicians don’t need pants. This show proves just that.

Need more info? Check out this STRIP of videos.

 

See anything you like there?  Visit http://centreinthesquare.com/event/the-naked-magic-show
to purchase your tickets to this magic show. If you don't hurry, the tickets might become a now you see them, now don't, situation.

With Mother's Day just around the corner, we think you should get the Mom in your life something that SHE REALLY WANTS!

Reminder this is 19+ restricted event.  That just means it will be really really really fantastic right?

As you can see I'm pretty excited about THE NAKED MAGIC SHOW. That's because I get to giveaway a pair of tickets to a lucky reader!

Enter To Win 

Enter the rafflecopter contest below (it may take a minute to load) and tell me why you want to attend THE NAKED MAGIC SHOW in the comments at the bottom. It may just win you a night out for you and a guest to attend THE NAKED MAGIC SHOW! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How To Watermark A YouTube Video - What The Web Wednesday

How To Brand Your Video Content On YouTube

It's been a while since I have posted a What The Web Wednesday Tip so I thought it was time to post another idea for your website and/or blog.  In the post How To Reduce Bounce Rate I gave some ideas on how keep readers on your site longer and embedding videos was one of those ideas.  To increase your branding I suggest following the five simple steps below to post your logo on your video as a watermark.

5 Simple Steps To Watermark Your YouTube Videos

1. Login to your YouTube account and click Video Manager (located above your header photo)
2. In the left sidebar, pick the drop down menu arrow beside the Channel item
3. From the list that appeared pick branding
4. Now upload the image you want to use as your watermark
5. After the image is loaded you can choose how long you wish for it to appear (I suggest for the entire video) and save your settings.

For an example of how the watermark looks once it is applied to your videos see the How To Cut A Red Pepper With No Waste demonstration below.



You can see the Those2Girls watermark in the lower right hand corner. If you decide you want to remove the watermark, follow the same steps but in step number 4 click remove.  It is that easy. There is one issue, if your channel has advertisment overlays it may cover it, but if the viewer clicks to close the ad your watermark will appear again.

DID YOU TRY IT? POST YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL IN THE LINKUP BELOW SO WE CAN ALL CHECK OUT YOUR WATERMARK. If you participate be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the other URLS listed in the linkup.

For more ideas visit our WEB HOW TO's Pinterest Board .

Easy Tricks To Get New Blog Views - What The Web Wednesday

Wanting To Be Noticed

You spend all that time writing, editing, and cropping photos for your latest blog post only to be frustrated by the lack of post views.  Below are some easy tricks to get your blog content noticed.

7 Tips To Increase Blog Views

1. Start with great content. Think if you would stop and read this post?
2. Have a vibrant image. A bright photo or eye-catching graphic can make people take notice.
3. Link back to another post.  This will help reduce your Bounce Rate and keep people engaged with your blog.
4. Post a giveaway.  People love to enter contests and by using a givewaway widget it can help spread the word about your blog.
5. Share your post on your social networks. Post links to your latest blog post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram or any website where you have built up a following.
6. Use hashtags on your social posts to find those with similar interests.
7. Join a link-up like the one below to connect with other bloggers that are posting content too!

How To Participate In The Link Up

For this link up there are just a few things to do

1. Scroll to the end of this post click the Add Your Link Button
2. Put the link to the actual post (not just the link to your site) in the first field
3. Type a quick title about the post
4. Your email (not visible on the link up)
5. Then click submit link
6. For every link you leave visit another post on the link up and leave a comment on it
7. Share this post on one of your social networks

As a thank-you for participating in the link up I will be adding all the links listed to my WEB HOW TO's Pinterest Board throughout the month.