Start Local's indigogo campaign only has a day left!! go poke around the sites and see what's new. there are a handful of videos that are really quite inspiring. It was one of the sponsor videos that got me inspired to hope on board!!
So.
What does it mean to live local?
I've been musing over this for a few days.
Regarding produce, I buy Ontario over Canada, Canada over US, and US over South America.
I'm not sure I would be able to eat much produce in the winter just buying local.
Regarding everything else?
I try to go to small independent stores first. I live 'on the Danforth'. For me that means going to The Big Carrot, Strictly Bulk, or one of the small produce stores first before I go to Lablaws.
And that's about it for now. That's as far as I think. Food.
I buy my underwear on sale at the mall, or at big box stores.
I buy my toothpaste at Shoppers because Tom's of Maine is less expensive there.
I buy my toilet paper at Lablaws 'cause, well, it's less expensive than the corner store, and I get the PC 'green' TP.
In a Big City, what does local even mean?
There is a health food store that Sister works at that I go to because she works there. It is independently owned. And as long as they treat her right, I'll go there when she doesn't work there when I am in the neighbourhood, over going to Shoppers across the street from it.
In the summer I go to the farmers market in a park near me.
And when I have Saturday mornings off I go to St. Lawrence Market.
I think my focus is going to be keeping out of Big Chain stores. Lablaws, Shoppers, Ardene (heh...I have an Ardene addiction!), Home Depot, Starbucks (well, you know...unless I'm at work), Mac Donalds (yes, I eat Mac Donalds on occasion), Dollerama etc.. I've go a lot of navigating to do. Like where to buy my underwear, toothpaste and toilet paper.
On the entertainment front I feel like I'm ok. When we go to the movies, we go to a local theatre, rather than a chain. We go see live shows our friends (or I am) in.
I wish Toronto had more than one bowling ally!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
a two week fishing expadition
and the things I caught in the net
Neil Gaiman writes stories from 'suggestions from the audience'. hmmm, like improve, only in writing.
...
...
and uh...that's apparently all I found interesting on the internet this week.
I've been busy with work and other projects I guess!
Like thinking about Start Local!
4 days left on their fundraiser campaign.
I've been doing a lot of performing this February. Lunacy, Mullet's Night Show, a burner party...the last one is Thursday. Edith is hosting a clown show. Very excited and very nervous. Edith is going to SPEAK for this one!!
Maybe you'd like to come and support local talent and a local establishment! (?!)
Neil Gaiman writes stories from 'suggestions from the audience'. hmmm, like improve, only in writing.
...
...
and uh...that's apparently all I found interesting on the internet this week.
I've been busy with work and other projects I guess!
Like thinking about Start Local!
4 days left on their fundraiser campaign.
I've been doing a lot of performing this February. Lunacy, Mullet's Night Show, a burner party...the last one is Thursday. Edith is hosting a clown show. Very excited and very nervous. Edith is going to SPEAK for this one!!
Maybe you'd like to come and support local talent and a local establishment! (?!)
Saturday, February 23, 2013
a choice!
Today I made a choice to use a local business.
I needed to print a couple pages, and out printer isn't functioning. So I went to Copy Cat. I really only spent 75 cents there. Not a huge thing. The lady was nice (and patient. She had 4 bratty kids in the store whose father couldn't/wouldn't control them. They went and typed on someone elses document while he was at the desk asking a question, and pushed buttons on the printer and activated something. She was great. Firm, and great) I'll go back!
I was printing some signage for Brazapalooza. Click the link and you'll go to the event page. Click THIS and you'll go to Braz's band page, with the album. And a letter, from Braz, about what is going on.
J is donating an hour massage. I'm donating 2 8X10 photos, and a 3 item package: a Li'l Scrapper, an 8X10 photo, and some photo gift cards. My work also donated a gift bag!
I'm feeling pretty jazzed about this, with all this local talk going on. Braz's community: Friends from Lunacy Cabaret, his other bands; The Starfires and The Fabulous Quitters, a local coffee shop; Merchants of Green Coffee, friends and family are all coming together to help him.
THAT is why we need to live locally. Big box stores wouldn't do this for you. As charitable as Starbucks is (hey, my store donated to the cause!) they would never hold an event like this.
Tonight is going to be a fun night. A celebration of life, community and art.
Only 5 days left to contribute to the Start Local movie. Help a fellow out eh?
http://www.indiegogo.com/startlocalmovie
I needed to print a couple pages, and out printer isn't functioning. So I went to Copy Cat. I really only spent 75 cents there. Not a huge thing. The lady was nice (and patient. She had 4 bratty kids in the store whose father couldn't/wouldn't control them. They went and typed on someone elses document while he was at the desk asking a question, and pushed buttons on the printer and activated something. She was great. Firm, and great) I'll go back!
I was printing some signage for Brazapalooza. Click the link and you'll go to the event page. Click THIS and you'll go to Braz's band page, with the album. And a letter, from Braz, about what is going on.
J is donating an hour massage. I'm donating 2 8X10 photos, and a 3 item package: a Li'l Scrapper, an 8X10 photo, and some photo gift cards. My work also donated a gift bag!
I'm feeling pretty jazzed about this, with all this local talk going on. Braz's community: Friends from Lunacy Cabaret, his other bands; The Starfires and The Fabulous Quitters, a local coffee shop; Merchants of Green Coffee, friends and family are all coming together to help him.
THAT is why we need to live locally. Big box stores wouldn't do this for you. As charitable as Starbucks is (hey, my store donated to the cause!) they would never hold an event like this.
Tonight is going to be a fun night. A celebration of life, community and art.
Only 5 days left to contribute to the Start Local movie. Help a fellow out eh?
http://www.indiegogo.com/startlocalmovie
Friday, February 22, 2013
only a few days left to help!
I posted a bit ago about my friend Nate, and his movie Start Local.
They've got 7 more days on their fund-raising campaign, and if you could donate, that would be fab. $5000 would be AMAZING. But $5 is too. They break down what the money is going to be used for on the indiegogo page (link is the different coloured words just above)
And on *that* note. I've decided to join Ashley and Nate on their local living initiative.
We are all dipping our toes in right now. Testing the waters, and figuring things out.
What are the rules?!?
In the month of July, we will be living 100% local.
From now until then we'll be figuring out what exactly does 'local' mean?
Am I only allowed to watch CBC and CTV? Listen to Toronto bands? ONLY BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO GREW UP HERE!? What tooth paste do I use? or can I just buy it from my mom and pop shop? What if I need underwear in July? I buy that at big box store. Are there independent retailers that sell underwear?
I don't want to 'cheat' and buy up all the things I'll need before July.
I'll be chronicling things I discover here.
And just exactly *why* am I doing this? What inspired me? 1st is Nate's passion for what he does. He's pretty inspiring. But as for this project? Supporting my community first is important. It has been for a while, but I've never explored it. There is a reason people like small towns, and we need to make the effort to preserve that feeling. I live in a BIG city. Our neighbourhoods though, are small towns. I want to support my small towns, and the people who bust their butts to do something they believe in, rather than work at big box store. (says the girl who works at Starbucks)
So here we go. Lets see what we see!
They've got 7 more days on their fund-raising campaign, and if you could donate, that would be fab. $5000 would be AMAZING. But $5 is too. They break down what the money is going to be used for on the indiegogo page (link is the different coloured words just above)
And on *that* note. I've decided to join Ashley and Nate on their local living initiative.
We are all dipping our toes in right now. Testing the waters, and figuring things out.
What are the rules?!?
In the month of July, we will be living 100% local.
From now until then we'll be figuring out what exactly does 'local' mean?
Am I only allowed to watch CBC and CTV? Listen to Toronto bands? ONLY BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO GREW UP HERE!? What tooth paste do I use? or can I just buy it from my mom and pop shop? What if I need underwear in July? I buy that at big box store. Are there independent retailers that sell underwear?
I don't want to 'cheat' and buy up all the things I'll need before July.
I'll be chronicling things I discover here.
And just exactly *why* am I doing this? What inspired me? 1st is Nate's passion for what he does. He's pretty inspiring. But as for this project? Supporting my community first is important. It has been for a while, but I've never explored it. There is a reason people like small towns, and we need to make the effort to preserve that feeling. I live in a BIG city. Our neighbourhoods though, are small towns. I want to support my small towns, and the people who bust their butts to do something they believe in, rather than work at big box store. (says the girl who works at Starbucks)
So here we go. Lets see what we see!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
sicky pants
I'm not going to try and make words go together in a way that comprehends.
I'll share another post on how to get better from being sick...that has no sense making to it either.
I'll try and follow this advice and maybe get better.
Becca's feel better home remedies
I'll share another post on how to get better from being sick...that has no sense making to it either.
I'll try and follow this advice and maybe get better.
Becca's feel better home remedies
Friday, February 15, 2013
feelin' buggy
I'm feeling down right buggy today. Maybe I mean wiggy. Jittery or just plain weird.
I was going to post about how well I've been doing food wise. About 2 weeks of no gluten. Some grains, rice and buckwheat. Very very little sugar. Just some lemonade and chai latte, and a bite or two when Jason gets a choky bar. Subing in raw honey and maple syrup.
I felt happy, and people noticed. No one was so bold as to tell me out right, but people interacted with me differently. It was great. I even *liked* people. That was huge. I didn't think people where likeable.
Then I ate a breakfast meal at Mc Donalds, and 2 pieces of cinnamon loaf from work.
Grump city. Headache and fatigue.
I will never do that again.
I have to be SO on top of my eating. I need to make my chia pudding and chocolate slop (I have no idea how she got it so stiff! she says she didn't use beaters!) and set aside time to bake. I can put bot of those in mason jars!
I challenge you today. No more gluten! and cut back on sugar. I bet you'll feel the wold of difference!
I was going to post about how well I've been doing food wise. About 2 weeks of no gluten. Some grains, rice and buckwheat. Very very little sugar. Just some lemonade and chai latte, and a bite or two when Jason gets a choky bar. Subing in raw honey and maple syrup.
I felt happy, and people noticed. No one was so bold as to tell me out right, but people interacted with me differently. It was great. I even *liked* people. That was huge. I didn't think people where likeable.
Then I ate a breakfast meal at Mc Donalds, and 2 pieces of cinnamon loaf from work.
Grump city. Headache and fatigue.
I will never do that again.
I have to be SO on top of my eating. I need to make my chia pudding and chocolate slop (I have no idea how she got it so stiff! she says she didn't use beaters!) and set aside time to bake. I can put bot of those in mason jars!
I challenge you today. No more gluten! and cut back on sugar. I bet you'll feel the wold of difference!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
"hunger month" soup, or apple cider squash soup
HEH? Hunger month? The Green Pigeon explains, and has some good suggestions on how to survive better next year.
I literally just read that post. Right after I had finished eating my own bowl of my soup. I had been thinking today that it would be a perfect recipe for this time of year.
Indeed.
Ingredients:
1 squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
3 small, 2 medium or 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 mall or 1 medium cooking onion, chopped
Enough stock (vegetable or chicken) to cover vegetables (that way you can use any sized squash)
1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp ground, or 1 stick cinnamon
2-3 tbsp apple cider vinegar (unfiltered is best, and yummiest)
2 cups apple cider
1/2-1 cup coconut milk
-Tumble squash, sweet potato and onion into pot. Cover with stock.
-Bring to a boil, and turn heat down to simmer. Add cinnamon, ginger, salt and pepper, stir.
-Cook for 5 or whatever minutes. Before the squash is soft, toss in vinegar and cider. Turn down heat more. To just buppa buping (as my mommy would say)
-Stir on occasion, and turn off once squash is soft. Don't over cook. Take off stove and wiz up with a hand blender. Be so careful. Don't lift the hand blender and make it fly all over and burn yourself. If you don't have a hand blender, let cool some and blend in blender. Add in coconut milk and stir until blended.
-Ladle out and eat with bread and butter (I sorely miss white rye and butter with my soup!)
I literally just read that post. Right after I had finished eating my own bowl of my soup. I had been thinking today that it would be a perfect recipe for this time of year.
Indeed.
Ingredients:
1 squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
3 small, 2 medium or 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 mall or 1 medium cooking onion, chopped
Enough stock (vegetable or chicken) to cover vegetables (that way you can use any sized squash)
1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp ground, or 1 stick cinnamon
2-3 tbsp apple cider vinegar (unfiltered is best, and yummiest)
2 cups apple cider
1/2-1 cup coconut milk
-Bring to a boil, and turn heat down to simmer. Add cinnamon, ginger, salt and pepper, stir.
-Cook for 5 or whatever minutes. Before the squash is soft, toss in vinegar and cider. Turn down heat more. To just buppa buping (as my mommy would say)
-Stir on occasion, and turn off once squash is soft. Don't over cook. Take off stove and wiz up with a hand blender. Be so careful. Don't lift the hand blender and make it fly all over and burn yourself. If you don't have a hand blender, let cool some and blend in blender. Add in coconut milk and stir until blended.
-Ladle out and eat with bread and butter (I sorely miss white rye and butter with my soup!)
Saturday, February 9, 2013
today I
saw:
just saw. It's taken about a year. I see potential photographs again.
a puppy rolling around in the snow
Sister!
Smelled:
honey garlic wings
Tasted:
Kim chi stew
no sugar! I didn't consume any refined sugar today!
Heard:
the Korean greeting they always yell when someone arrives
Korean pop
Buskers
Touched:
Sister and her hug
my camera
the row machine and my legs burn
Felt:
happy
just saw. It's taken about a year. I see potential photographs again.
a puppy rolling around in the snow
Sister!
Smelled:
honey garlic wings
Tasted:
Kim chi stew
no sugar! I didn't consume any refined sugar today!
Heard:
the Korean greeting they always yell when someone arrives
Korean pop
Buskers
Touched:
Sister and her hug
my camera
the row machine and my legs burn
Felt:
happy
my day
I'm rather excited.
It snowed yesterday. All day.
Today it's sunny.
I'm going on a photo walk!
First the gym for kettle bell class. and a sauna.
Then I'll walk to St. Lawrence market.
It's almost 3 KM. I walk more than that everyday, too and from work.
Keep you eyes peeled for some snowy photographs!!
In other news, my friend Beat is having some pretty major surgery soon, and is having a fund raiser. I'm planning on making a little package of a set of gift cards, a 8x10 print and a custom t-shirt. Ms. Tuesday and I are also doing a burlesque to help entertain the crowd.
My cousin had brain surgery last week. It was a success, and she's home. The staples came out. She's got a wicked scar behind her ear.
If you are paying types, or energy senders or thought thinkers, could you add both of them in?
Some good news. One of my customer friends came to see us after a doctors appointment and he is healthy as can be, after spending a year thinking he had a condition that pretty much guaranteed cancer. It's all gone. *phew*
It snowed yesterday. All day.
Today it's sunny.
I'm going on a photo walk!
First the gym for kettle bell class. and a sauna.
Then I'll walk to St. Lawrence market.
It's almost 3 KM. I walk more than that everyday, too and from work.
Keep you eyes peeled for some snowy photographs!!
In other news, my friend Beat is having some pretty major surgery soon, and is having a fund raiser. I'm planning on making a little package of a set of gift cards, a 8x10 print and a custom t-shirt. Ms. Tuesday and I are also doing a burlesque to help entertain the crowd.
My cousin had brain surgery last week. It was a success, and she's home. The staples came out. She's got a wicked scar behind her ear.
If you are paying types, or energy senders or thought thinkers, could you add both of them in?
Some good news. One of my customer friends came to see us after a doctors appointment and he is healthy as can be, after spending a year thinking he had a condition that pretty much guaranteed cancer. It's all gone. *phew*
Friday, February 8, 2013
today I
Saw:
the snow!! so much snow!
Smelled:
bacon
Heard:
J
C ask me to go into work
Tasted:
bacon
blood oranges
Touched (felt):
warm and cozy in my winter boots
Felt:
happy and giddy
the snow!! so much snow!
Smelled:
bacon
Heard:
J
C ask me to go into work
Tasted:
bacon
blood oranges
Touched (felt):
warm and cozy in my winter boots
Felt:
happy and giddy
yarn along!
hoorah for bad web cam photos!
I'm making these for an upcoming burner party.
I found a white, with silver thread, sweater at Value Village and unraveled it.
I'll post photos with them on in a few weeks!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Today I
Saw:
a flock of pigeons swarming against the blue blue sky
my green, thriving plants
Smelled:
Becky's soup
frying butter
Heared:
flocks of teeneagers
tasted:
fudge
mushrooms
Touched:
Jason
Felt:
sexy
a flock of pigeons swarming against the blue blue sky
my green, thriving plants
Smelled:
Becky's soup
frying butter
Heared:
flocks of teeneagers
tasted:
fudge
mushrooms
Touched:
Jason
Felt:
sexy
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Start Local
I have a pet project.
The making of the documentary Start Local
One of the producers/film makers just happens to be a friend. But thats only part of why I'm supporting this project.
There are some really good reasons to support your local area. Being in Toronto, that means shopping at the independent stores in my neighbourhood, before I hop on the TTC and head to big box stores. And, shop in Toronto, before I hope in a car and go to Buffalo.
Nate and Ashley Live in Midland so that is where they are focusing.
But but, I'm not *from* Midland you say. That isn't supporting Local!
To that I say, support this project and help get that word out there. What it's like to support your area. And maybe local is Ontario, or Canada vs. the US, or France.
Here is Nate's take on why one should support Start Local.
I happen to agree!
If you have a little extra money, please go to the indigogo page and donate.
Can't donate? Share the story.
Edit:
an article about the movie
http://www.simcoe.com/community/midland/article/1574925
The making of the documentary Start Local
One of the producers/film makers just happens to be a friend. But thats only part of why I'm supporting this project.
There are some really good reasons to support your local area. Being in Toronto, that means shopping at the independent stores in my neighbourhood, before I hop on the TTC and head to big box stores. And, shop in Toronto, before I hope in a car and go to Buffalo.
Nate and Ashley Live in Midland so that is where they are focusing.
But but, I'm not *from* Midland you say. That isn't supporting Local!
To that I say, support this project and help get that word out there. What it's like to support your area. And maybe local is Ontario, or Canada vs. the US, or France.
Here is Nate's take on why one should support Start Local.
I happen to agree!
If you have a little extra money, please go to the indigogo page and donate.
Can't donate? Share the story.
Edit:
an article about the movie
http://www.simcoe.com/community/midland/article/1574925
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