Did you know that if you want to save money on your energy bill, you should plant a few inexpensive low shrubs around your AC unit to shield it from the sun? That trick will boost its efficiency by 10 percent – and drop your energy bill by the same amount.

Check out John Tesh every weekday evening on EZRock for more helpful hints.

Lou-Anne

The federal government this week released its official “Royal Tour 2011″ app on iTunes, offering mobile access to photos, video and tweets about Prince William and Catherine’s nine-day trip, which begins on June 30.

The app also includes their full itinerary and is accompanied by an official Facebook page, YouTube channel and a mobile site for users of other mobile devices.

“Launching this application will offer Canadians the opportunity to connect with the Royal Tour and interact with friends and colleagues in exciting new ways,” said Heritage Minister James Moore, in a statement.

The newlywed royal couple — also known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — are set to arrive in Ottawa on June 30, travelling to Quebec, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Alberta before leaving July 8 for California. It is their first official trip as a married couple.

The free app works on the iPhone, the iPad and the iPod touch.

See ya in the morning,

Lou-Anne

With the summer wedding season well underway, Brides magazine says the average wedding now costs $26,501. Other findings:

- the cost of the average wedding has fallen by $1,581 over the past two years.

- the amount spent on engagement rings has dropped by 27% since 2009 to $4,647.

- Just 42% of couples now opt for a sit-down meal

- 20% of couples now send wedding invites digitally

- the cost of the average wedding gown has increased by 20% over the past two years, from $1,072 in 2009 to $1,286 in 2011.

See ya in the morning,

Lou-Anne

Did you know that if your salad greens are in a bag, there’s a trick you can use to keep them fresh longer? DO NOT dig inside the bag with your hands. Digging your hand into a bag of baby spinach will only make what’s left over spoil faster. So shake out the amount you need into a bowl and tightly seal the rest.
Listen to John Tesh weeknights for more information tid bits on EZRocksoo.com

Have a great weekend, and I’ll see ya Monday morning!

Lou-Anne

The food pyramid you probably remember from grade school has been tossed out. In its place, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has introduced, “My Plate” – a new nutrition icon that divides a dinner plate into four sections for the ideal healthy meal. According to My Plate, one-half of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables, and the other half with whole grains and lean protein. Off to the side is dairy – say, a cup of skim milk or low-fat yogurt.
The new graphic coincides with the USDA’S revamped dietary guidelines, one of which recommends whole grains – like corn, brown rice, and quinoa, instead of refined grains – like white bread, white rice, and pasta – which are stripped of vitamins, fiber, and iron. Tom Vilsack is the secretary of the Department of Agriculture. He points out that 33 percent of kids and twice that many adults are overweight or obese. So, the new plate graphic was designed as a reminder about portion sizes, and whether you’ve got enough produce on your plate.

So, what was wrong with the food pyramid that most of us grew up with? A lot of nutritionists say it was too confusing. For example, some people thought that since sugars and fats were on top, they were most important to eat. Others thought that since bread, cereal, rice, and pasta took up the largest section at the pyramid’s bottom, they were supposed eat more carbs than anything else. In fact, Dr. Marion Nestle – who teaches nutrition at New York University – says that the food pyramid contained so many servings of grains, that it promoted obesity. She says that the new plate symbol is much simpler. To really help you keep from overeating, don’t think of it as a dinner plate – but as a salad plate. If you’d like to go further, check out the website ChooseMyPlate.gov or listen to John Tesh this evening on EZ Rock.

See ya in the morning,

Lou-Anne

The Sea Life aquarium in Sinsheim, Germany is looking for the next psychic octopus to predict World Cup winners. As the Women’s World Cup begins next week in Germany, the country’s eight aquariums will compete with their own octopus that will be put to the task of predicting winners. The creature with the most correct picks will officially become the successor of Paul the octopus. Last year Paul went eight for eight in predicting Germany’s wins but died in October. (AOL)

See ya in the morning,

Lou-Anne

Did you know? Christina Aguilera makes 3-times as much as her male counterparts on “The Voice.” She collects $ 225-thousand per show while Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton each earn $ 75-grand per episode. You go girl!

Happy Father’s Day!
See ya Monday mornin’,

Lou-Anne

Who are the Well-thiest Women of Sault Ste. Marie? They are the women who dare to dream and who have decided to participate in their health and well-being. They are the women who have made a commitment to transform their lives…for the better…They are members of the LIFEforia Wellness Club. LIFEforia’s passion is to inspire health, wellness and happiness through wholeness and balance of mind, body and spirit.
LIFEforia Wellness Club presents: Wine Women Wellness on June 21st, 6:30pm-10pm at the Comfort Suites.
LIFEforia invites the public and media to attend an interactive information session on June 21st prior to the club’s grand opening in July 2011. Guests can expect an elegant wine and cheese gala with speaker Emily Gair and presentations from LIFEforia owner, Tina Colizza. This event is an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the new facility and meet the LIFEforia staff and clinical team.
Over 50 LIFEforia prizes will be raffled off to attendees and registered members will be entered into a grand prize draw for a trip for 2 anywhere Air Canada flies.
Guests can register for a 1 month trial membership which can be activated prior to September 30th at a reduced cost of $69.00 +HST. LIFEforia Wellness Club is for those people who want to participate in their health and are looking for a better way of life. The LIFEforia experience begins with a conscious decision to shape a healthy lifestyle. LIFEforia members get back in touch with their ‘self’, improve their immune functions, raise energy levels, and enjoy a higher sense of well being.
Members and Non-Members are welcome to attend. This is a free event but registration is required for this event as seating is limited. Interested guests can register online at www.lifeforia.com.
LIFEforia Wellness Club is a facility that provides comprehensive wellness care services and aims to become the source of health and wellness lifestyle information, services and products. LIFEforia Wellness Club will open on McNabb and Pine in July 2011.

A new study shows that we waste 36 minutes every day worrying, which equates to nine days every year — or a year and a half during a lifetime. The high cost of living, feeling ‘stuck in a rut’ and body weight are the most common causes for concern. Four in ten are stressed about debt, a quarter are concerned they are ‘not living life to the full’ and one in five is troubled about family members falling ill.

You know exactly what I’m going to say, don’t you? ; ) Don’t Worry, Be Happy!!!

Have a good weekend and I’ll see ya Monday morning.

Lou-Anne

A recent study performed by Divorce Online shows that 15 percent of divorces are due to a video game addiction; that’s up from 5 percent the year before. Which games are causing the most trouble in marriages? Titles like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Halo were cited most often, but casual Facebook games were also a sore spot in rocky unions. What’s worse, symptoms of a video game addiction can be similar to those of a drug or gambling addiction. If it sounds scary, it’s because it is — seclusion, obsessive behavior, sudden weight loss or gain, lack of personal hygiene, sleep deprivation, and even child neglect can not only cause problems at home, but in professional lives and legal arenas as well.

Just another good reason why you should be listening to the radio anyway! ; )

Have a great weekend and I’ll see ya Monday morning,

Lou-Anne