Progress #5: Go greener

Unloaded some stuff and picked up some more at the Evergreen Brickworks Trade and Swap Market.

It was overwhelming and I wouldn't do it again, but I'm glad I followed through on my green plans this weekend.

Original goal list posted here

Progress #5: Go greener - First Field Trip

Today I took a subway trip to meet up with my good friends Tim and Megan (whom I hadn't seen in far too long!) in Toronto's Bloordale Village to check out a few "green" places.

First we went to the pick up location of Saponetti Inc. (Bloor/Dufferin)
615c Brock St. - 3-7 W-F, 10-3 S

I bought a 1L mason jar of The Soap Works hand soap, along with a pump that turns any mason jar into a dispenser.

I'm unfortunately just out of delivery range, but I think one of the Toronto Tool Factory refill stations is nearer to me.

You should definitely check this place out, GTA friends! They are wanting to turn it into a franchise and expand delivery areas, but it is catching on slower in Toronto than in cities like Vancouver. Please help support a greener Toronto!

Next we walked to Annares Natural Health (Bloor/Dufferin)
1076 Bloor St. W.

Very cool vibe, and I wanted to buy just about everything. I settled on 1. some crushed apricot seed shells for an exfoliant in the next soaps I make, and 2. An aventurine necklace charm for a friend.

Next, we walked to lunch at a place that has been on my radar for quite some time: Hogtown Vegan (Bloor/Dufferin)
1056 Bloor St. W.

I ordered the vegan mac 'n cheese, which was great -- but I'd love to stop by again sometime for some "un"chicken 'n waffles.

By chance, next, we ended up at a lovely little place two doors down called The Maker Bean Cafe.

My older sister and beloved nephew came by to meet us at Hogtown Vegan, but the latter was not feeling the bustle post-interrupted-nap and needed to take a walk. They ended up here. It was a lovely little coffee place that also does 3D print and laser woodcut designs. My nephew really took to all their 3D display pieces and they really took to him.

Nice little place, which also does workshops!

Great little day.

Original goal list posted here

Progress: #20. Make 5 recipes with the dehydrator: 1, 2, 3/5

I originally wanted a dehydrator in order to be able to make the most of my almond pulp after making almond milk. I received one as a gift from my sister last Christmas, but then got overwhelmed because it was new and left it in a cupboard until yesterday (#asdprobs).

I started simple: one tray for drying some basil I've been growing in my AeroGarden; one tray for some apple flax almond granola; and a third tray for flax almond crackers, with chopped tomato, garlic, and basil inclusions.

All were a success! I crumbled the basil into a shaker, I ate the granola for a highly rare breakfast with my freshly made almond milk, and I ate the crackers for dinner with hummus.

Next time I'd like to ease on the salt for the crackers, because they end up so flavorful already. I'd also like to add oatmeal to the granola.

Now that I have a basic familiarity with this machine, I want to make some fruit leathers soon!

Original goal list posted here

Progress: #13. Do more advocacy for ASD

Step one has simply been to just own my diagnosis -- to not be afraid to mention it, casually, in context -- because if I am stigmatizing myself, for years now, how can I say I expect anyone else not to do the same? 

Also exposure breeds understanding. If this has given myself a context to better understand myself over the course of five years -- how can I expect anyone else to understand without context?

I have not regretted this choice.



Original goal list posted here