5 Tips and 5 Totally FREE Tools To Elevate Your Digital Presence

This post was written for Volunteer Toronto and was originally published on their website. Check them out! 

No Digital Marketing Manager? Here's How To Get By!

Grassroots groups and non-profits are often strapped for resources, and it's not uncommon for volunteers, members and staff to wear many hats. Is your Kitchen Assistant managing your website? Are you tweeting two weeks' worth of content at 2 a.m. on Friday because that's the only time you have to do it?

Some say, "Never judge a book by its cover," but many of us still do. The same can be said for your online presence. Not everyone is going to care if your Facebook cover photo is badly cropped and pixelated, but ignoring comments, having impossible-to-find contact information, or being invisible on Google may cost you clients, followers, and/or legitimacy. If this sounds familiar, these tips and tools are here help.

New Year, New Obligatory New Year Post

In 2016 I wished for strength, purpose, and focus. A new path.

2017 was filled with so many challenges that made me stronger, a gallon of tears, self-doubt that became self-discovery, mistakes that became goals, bravado that became confidence, pain that made joy sweeter. It was also filled with love, friends, endless laughter, new connections, learning, magic, and so much hard work. I can see the hurdles still ahead.

I am confident that the seeds I planted this year will grow into better health and increased energy, a job that I love, new and deeper connections, tiny triumphs, beautiful art, and a clearer path ahead.

via GIPHY

Happy New Year! I hope you go at your own pace and that all of your dreams come true!

Dear Woman,

Definitely do not let him move in.

But if you do, don't be ashamed for loving someone deeply.
If you lost yourself,
changed yourself,
thought they could complete you,
depended on their attention and approval,
let their whims dictate your moods, your self-worth,
spent hours refreshing your inbox, ignoring your friends and family,
waiting, wondering why they didn't love you back...

It's OK.

Even if you're doing it right now, it's OK.

You are human and you want to be loved.

So don't be ashamed.

Don't be foolish either. 

No one will ever love you as much as you can love yourself,
and no one is going to save you from that.

But there is no shame in not having learned it yet,
in never learning it.

The rules are different for women.
The rules state that we must be lovable to have worth,
that we are innately devoted,
that love means sacrificing ourselves.

The rules are lies.



Photo: http://pichost.me/1954606/

Interview: Diana Tso discusses her new play, Comfort

I had the chance to ask writer Diana Tso a few questions about her play, Comfort, recently. The show is described as:

"Comfort is the love story of two Chinese youth; a fisherman, Ping Yang, and the daughter of an esteemed silk merchant, Dan Feng, who find love and friendship in their shared passion for opera against the backdrop of World War II. As the war rages on, their city of Nanjing is captured and
occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army, setting off the Nanjing Massacre where hundreds of thousands of citizens were brutally murdered. The lovers become separated when Dan Feng is captured and imprisoned in a comfort house in Shanghai."

Check out our Q&A below the cut!

Dragon Chase

Sometimes the reality
Far exceeds the fantasy
And you laugh
And it's easy
And you kiss
And you're in it 
And it tingles
And you're ready
And on fire and
Just... So... Close...
And then you're naked

And he feels bad
And it's been hours
And he's declined to sleep over
And is walking out the door
And you sit on the throne
And remember
And miss the one before
And you wonder
Because women often do
Was it the wine
Or was it you?

Photo courtesy: bit.ly/2fHcFFs

Interview: Kate Werneburg talks Titus Andronicus

Seven Siblings Theatre takes on Shakespeare's first revenge tragedy, Titus Andronicus

Seven Siblings Theatre, whom I've previously mentioned here and here, are going classic with their take on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. 

Widely considered to be his first revenge tragedy play, and often dismissed during his time as low-brow fare, it tells the story of a creepy Roman general, and the woman who seeks revenge on him. 

I had the chance to ask actress Kate Werneburg a few questions about the show. Her answers are below the cut. If you'd like to read my other interviews, reviews, and curated theatre posts, please see my author page at mooneyontheatre.com.

Recipe: Spanish Rice

Reasonable facsimile. Sadly I forgot to take a picture!
Credit: http://ow.ly/FqKx300WoGS

THIS one is going into my regular recipe rotation!

I served this - along with some spicy sausage and caesar salad - at dinner on Friday. My friends and I all loved it. It served three of us as a side dish, and there were two large servings left over. I just finished the last bit of it (on Sunday), cold, and it was so delicious.

As with everything, use what you've got and substitute where necessary. I'm a huge fan of experimenting in the kitchen.

Spanish-style Rice

Ingredients:
• 1 c. basmati rice, rinsed
• Approx. 1 1/4 c. water (Basmati / water ratio is usually 1:1, so I used a bit extra. Adjust this to suit whichever type of rice you're using)
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 fresh tomato, chopped
• 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped and de-seeded (next time I'll use two. I wasn't quite spicy enough)
• 3/4 cup whole kernel corn (I used frozen, but canned or fresh would do nicely)

• 1 of each: Chopped and de-seeded red and yellow bell peppers

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4-5 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 tsp. coriander powder
• Few dashes or 1 tsp. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. celery salt
• 3 large leaves of fresh basil (about the size in the photo), cut with scissors in a Chiffonade style
• 2 tbsp. oil (I use canola)

How-to:
In a large non-stick pot with a lid, cook the onions in oil on med heat. Sprinkle with a bit of the salt. Cook until translucent, and add garlic. Cook a few minutes longer and add all of the peppers and fresh tomatoes. Turn up the heat a bit so that everything browns slightly. Reduce heat, and cook a few more minutes until the veggies begin to soften. Add all of your spices except for the bay leaf, basil, and W sauce. Mix well until coated. Add the tomato paste and stir until blended. Blend in the basil.

Turn the heat up to high and get your rice. Add the rice and water along with the W sauce and bay leaf, and stir everything until well coated. Let the mixture begin to boil, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for approx. 15-20 mins (or however long your rice package says - for example brown rice could take up to 45 minutes), stirring once or twice just to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom, until most of the liquid is absorbed. If your rice happens to brown or blacken slightly on the bottom, don't worry! This will only enhance the flavour (I use a gas stove, so the centre of my pans tend to cook faster). The rice should be well-coated but not wet. If your rice still isn't cooked, add a bit more water, return to a boil, and simmer again. You don't want to stir too much or the rice will break apart.

Alternatively, you could simply add cooked rice to the mixture and omit the water. The favour may be affected somewhat, but probably still delicious.

Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!