Blogging

5 First Steps To Boost Your Blog’s Traffic

June 21, 2019 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Starting a blog is something that many people do simply to share their favourite passions and topics online. In the beginning, you may not even think about whether or not other people are reading what you write. But whether you start your blog with the goal of growing a large readership or not, at some point you’ll likely start thinking about your website’s traffic.

It can be frustrating to pour your heart and soul into your posts only to see them sit, unread, on your website. But writing a blog post is only the first step in getting traffic to your site. Use these five tips to help you increase your readers and share your blog posts with the world!

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Colour Your Hair to Conquer Cancer and Join the #GetYourColourOn Twitter Party

May 4, 2018 by Kathryn 1 Comment

When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer just after her sixtieth birthday, I was completely shocked. It was something I’d worried about as a child because my grandmother had died battling breast cancer. But as an adult, I’d put it out of my mind, convinced that my mom was still far too young to have to worry about such a thing.

In retrospect, I realize just how foolish that belief was. Current statistics show that nearly one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. And while my mother’s story was the one that hit closest to home, I realized after her battle that I knew many, many people that had also received the dreaded diagnosis.

I’m very thankful that my mom’s chemotherapy and radiation has ended, hopefully forever. But I still want to do my part to help end cancer once and for all! That’s why I’m excited to learn about Colour Your Hair to Conquer Cancer, the newest initiative from Princess Margaret Centre to help raise funds for cancer research! [Read more…]

Come Join the Canadian Tire #JumpstartMonth Twitter Party on June 7 at 8pm EST and Help Kids Get in the Game

June 3, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

For the first time in a few years, both my boys are participating in organized sports this spring. Benjamin decided he wanted to play soccer, while Zackary chose baseball. Both boys have made some new friends, developed lots of new skills and learned about teamwork and the value of cooperation. My energetic oldest son has even done some pitching!

Seeing my boys grow and develop as part of a sports team was worth every penny I paid to register them for their chosen sports. But for some parents, that extra money just isn’t available. That’s why Canadian Tire started the Jumpstart program. The charity helps pay registration fees for kids in need so that they can reap the many benefits of being on an organized sports team. And since June is Jumpstart Month at Canadian Tire, it’s a great time to show your support for this worthy cause!

To kick off Jumpstart Month in style, Canadian Tire is hosting a fantastic Twitter party that you won’t want to miss. Come join the #JumpstartMonth Twitter party on June 7 at 8pm EST and chat with special Olympic guests Hayley Wickenheiser, Meaghan Mikkelson and Benoit Huot about the importance of organized sports and how you can help support Jumpstart in your community.

Best of all, there’s $1000 in prizes to be won for those that take part, so make sure to mark your calendar and get ready for fun. Please note that prizes are available to Canadians only, excluding Quebec, but everyone is welcome to join in the conversation! And if you’re new to Twitter parties, you may want to follow along on Twubs.

One of my favourite things about Canadian Tire Jumpstart is that all the money raised in a community stays in that community. So supporting Jumpstart means that you’re helping local kids get off the sidelines and into the game! Whether a child wants to try a new sport or continue a favourite one, everybody can reap the benefit of organized sports thanks to Jumpstart!

Date: Tuesday June 7, 2016
Time: 8:00pm ET
Hashtag: #JumpStartMonth
Hosts: @CanadianTire – @CTJumpstart
Guests: @wick_22 – @Mikkelson12 – @benhuot
Prizing: $1000 in Canadian Tire Gift Cards
NO RSVP

Don’t Chicken Out! Ask Your Member of Parliament To Be the #MPChickenHero

May 31, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a really good chicken sandwich. Topped with fresh and tasty fixings and served on a perfect bun, there’s just nothing better than that first bite of tender, juicy chicken when I’m feeling hungry. Since 1992, the wonderful people at Chicken Farmers of Canada have served up tasty chicken sandwiches on July 1 at the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue on Parliament Hill. It’s a big job, but so is creating a sandwich so delicious that Canadians will fall in love at first bite. That’s why Chicken Farmers of Canada is searching for an #MPChickenHero!

That’s right! With Canadians already planning to attend the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue, who better to create the perfect chicken sandwich than one of Canada’s current Members of Parliament? Last year’s winning sandwiches included a Pesto Chicken Philly Melt from the Manitoba MP Hon. Vic Toews, a Chow-Style BBQ Sandwich from Ontario MP Olivia Chow and a Canadian BBQ Chicken Sandwich from Quebec MP Sylvain Chicoine. Personally, as a serious lover of both cheese and basil, the Pesto Chicken Philly Melt is my top choice for a great sandwich. But I can’t wait to see what delicious creations are put together this year too!

And even though superheroes don’t need a reward, the #MPChickenHero is going to get a great one for his or her community! The MP that creates the winning sandwich will win a $10,000 donation for their local food bank. I grew up in pretty severe poverty, so food banks are a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. In fact, when I won a $1000 donation to my favourite charity a few years ago, my own local food bank was my immediate choice. Over one third of the people that depend on Food Banks are children and in my own admittedly biased opinion, no child should ever have to go hungry. Such a generous prize means that the winning MP is ensuring happy, well-fed kids that will have the drive to thrive in their society.

And that’s where we come in! None of our Members of Parliament can be the #MPChickenHero if they don’t know about this great opportunity, so let’s band together and make sure our local heroes enter their best recipes! I’ve been looking through the downloadable recipe book from last year’s contestants and there are some pretty amazing recipes that have been created in the past. But I’m sure this year’s MPs are up to the challenge! Visit the #MPChickenHero contest page to learn how you can contact your MP and let them know about this fun opportunity. In addition to the grand prize, a second and third place sandwich will also win donations to their local food bank. And of course, everyone that attends the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue will get to enjoy the winner’s mouth-watering recipe on July 1. There are really no losers in this contest!

I wouldn’t have thought that there was a way to make me love chicken sandwiches even more than I already do, but Chicken Farmers of Canada has done it! The chance to discover a delicious new way to cook a chicken sandwich while also ensuring that kids across Canada have the food they need to grow and prosper is an opportunity that I can’t pass up. Visit the contest page now and make sure that your MP takes part. A little time in the kitchen could make a world of difference to a hungry child!