My Life Under The Maple Tree

Eco-Friendly Christmas ideas;

wrap gifts in reusable (fabric) bags or brown paper

have a white elephant/thrift gift exchange

hosting an event? Use https://ruckify.com/ to rent any equipment you might need

use LED lights inside and out

carpool to holiday events

send e-cards for Christmas

going out for hot chocolate? Bring your own mug to coffee stores like Tim Hortons & Starbucks

buy eco-friendly gifts, or make gifts to give

baked goods, audiobooks through Audible, makeup removal cloths, experiences, etc.

opt for an e-mail receipt

buy products with little or recyclable packaging

thrift a gift

https://poshmark.ca/

https://www.depop.com/

Facebook Marketplace

purchasing goods from places that recycle/donate some of their income to environmental/humanitarian efforts

https://www.thriftbooks.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/thegreenbunny

https://4ocean.com

https://www.tentree.ca

http://www.boso.ca

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/

support local shops and artisans

https://www.not-amazon.ca/

use a fake Christmas tree

‘rental‘ trees are an even better option, especially if you like live trees! Vancouver & Calgary have booming markets where you are brought a live, potted coniferous tree of your choice and after the holidays the tree is taken back and planted in Canadian forests.

save on energy

thermostat: Turn down your thermostat when you’re asleep or not at home, or install a programmable/smart thermostat to do it for you.

lighting: Only have holiday lights on the tree turned on when people are home to enjoy it. Use LED lights

insulation: Adding insulation to your attic is the best way to reduce your heating and air conditioning bills.

be aware of local recycling initiatives other than the local thrift store! Many used the holiday season to purge their older belongings, may as well recycle them properly

pop tabs; http://poptabsforwheelchairs.ca

clothing; https://about.hm.com/en/sustainability/get-involved/recycle-your-clothes.html

electronics; https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/on/where-can-i-recycle/

     On occasion, in seasons of my life where I’ve been blessed to have regular trips to Starbucks, I’ll find that my usual drinks aren’t doing it for me. If I’m paying $7+ for a hot drink, I’d like for it to be something I’m really looking forward to. How I discovered these was by talking to the barista working the cash register. I’d tell them what I usually like and ask if they had any suggestions for something different. I’ve been pleasantly surprised every time! 

     As I previously mentioned, I’ve been disappointed by Starbucks not bringing the Blossoming Peach Tea Latte back for the Chinese New Years each year. In my frustration, I mentioned this to the barista and she asked a few more questions about the flavors. What I hadn’t known at the time was that a London Fog was the base drink for the Blossoming Peach Tea Latte. So, the suggestion was to order a London Fog with soy but instead of 2 Earl Grey teabags, have one Earl Grey and the other Peach Tranquility. I gave it a go and much to my surprise it was amazing! I wasn’t sure how it would work since the original drink used peach syrup and cherry blossom sugar sprinkles but it worked rather well. Now, this isn’t to say it’s a perfect replacement for the original drink, but it’s a darn good substitute when the craving hits.

     Around the transition of seasons from fall to winter, I had been getting tired of my chai tea lattes. This time I asked the barista how I could change up my usual chai latte into something a little different. He had just the suggestion for me. He told me a vague idea what it was, certain I would like it, and so I told him my dietary restrictions and off we went. What I received was a delicious treat that suited both the fall and the middle of Christmas. It became my favorite travel drink during the holiday season! The order it one would need to ask for a Chai Tea Latte, no water, with two scoops of vanilla bean. Of course, my choice for milk is soy, which can change the flavor of the drink a bit but dear reader you are free to pick whichever milk suits you best.

     So, why Starbucks? I mean, I’m Canadian so I should like Tim Horton’s more... but here’s the thing. I love tea, that’s my preferred hot beverage. Unfortunately, Tim Horton’s has never been great at tea or tea based beverages. There are cold drinks I like from Tim Horton’s but c’mon, it’s Canada and often it’s cool out! I prefer Starbucks because they make great ‘specialty’ tea drinks and they can adjust to some dietary restrictions I have. I mean, the methods do include cross contamination but thankfully my body is okay with that on occasion. Of course there are local places that make a fantastic cup of specialty tea which I often prefer to give my money towards however, I can travel and always know that I can find a Starbucks somewhere along the way.

     In terms of what I like there are quite a few beverages that I will specifically go to Starbucks for.

Matcha Green Tea Latte (soy)

London fog (soy)

Chai Tea Latte (soy)

Caramel Apple Spice (no whipped)

Blossoming Peach Tea Latte (soy, no whipped)

     As you can see, I’m a big fan of tea lattes. I make my own at home (Green, Earl Grey/Chai) but if I’m traveling or really craving something special then I’ll go to Starbucks and have one made for me. Of all the lattes, I often will select the matcha latte. If I’m feeling something special, I might shake a bit of cinnamon on top of it for some extra spice. 

    The Caramel Apple Spice is basically liquid apple pie. It’s by far my favorite fall beverage. I treat myself to it often around Thanksgiving and when the family goes pumpkin picking. It’s rather sweet but not nearly as sweet as the version that Tim Horton’s used to carry.

     What makes me really sad is that the Blossoming Peach Tea Latte is no longer available. It was trialed for a few years as being a Chinese New Year beverage that would be seasonal. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off as well as Starbucks would have hoped and so it has not been brought back. The base of this drink was a london fog, then peach syrup, whipped cream, and cherry blossom sprinkles were added. It was my favorite spring treat. I hope that they bring it back someday but in the meantime, I’ve devised something close to it which I will mention in the follow up article. 

    First off, storm chips are a thing! The focus around food is that it has to be counter or cooler safe. It was recompensed to us to have 4 days worth of food prepared before the storm hits. So of course we did, and we had all the leftovers in the fridge. Once the power went off, it hit us that what we did wasn’t the best idea. Thankfully, the Atlantic Superstore down the street has it’s own backup generator and we were able to purchase some quick meals. Many people will also buy numerous bags of ice to pack into their fridges/freezers to try and keep the area cool if a blackout lasts for a few days. Much later in the storm season when the weather is rather cool, one can store things to be kept cold outside. Many who have BBQ’s will opt to fill their propane tanks and BBQ their meals once the storm has passed. PLEASE DON’T BBQ INSIDE YOUR HOME. Canada’s public health services recommend food that won't spoil, liked canned goods, energy bars and dried foods.

     Water is also a big deal. You want to be sure to have enough water to drink, bathe, flush the toilet, clean etc. for about 4 days. So, buying jugs of water is common as well as filling up all bathtubs with water. Canada’s public health services recommend two litres of water per person per day. Include small bottles that can be carried easily.

Photo credit

     Batten down the hatches! Storm winds range from ~75km/h to ~115km/h which can have a huge impact on your yard and home. All loose Items or things that aren’t permanent fixtures should come down and be stored in a secure location. This could be under the skirting of a deck, inside a shed, inside the house or if you’re so luck you’ll have access to an indoor garage. Cars should be moved close to the house or taken to places that have indoor/protected parking. During storm season, many businesses in the area offer their protected parking areas for free to people who don’t have garages. It’s honestly a wonderful benefit to the maritime community. Of course doors and windows should be firmly locked & latched. I like to have the blinds open so I can see what’s going on in the community and can better anticipate if any property damage is going to happen to our home. Trees are a big thing to look out for. Depending on the time of season, there can be a lot or minimal damage from trees. The leaves act as sails which is more likely to down branches/whole trees so an early storm can do a lot of damage. Once the leaves have come off the trees, the risk of damage is far less as only limbs are likely to break instead of whole trees coming down. If you can, trim high risk/loose/damaged branches prior to storms.

     Power outages can last a while. In the Atlantic region, most of the power lines are hung, not buried, due to the density of clay in the ground. This means that power outages happen often and after a big storm, they can last for a few days while everything is being repaired. Some people have backup generators or other power sources that they can use during this season. Obviously, there is priority restoration to places like hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities, and people’s homes who have a resident living on an electricity powered device. This can pose a problem when it comes to heat and light. Many folks have candles all over their home and a plethora of blankets. A big one is to be sure to fully charge all of your devices and backup/external batteries. It was advised to me to limit the use of them after the power goes off because one never knows exactly how long the power outage will last. 

Photo credit

     People safety is obviously an important one. Be sure to refill all prescriptions prior to the storm, including an extra set of glasses/contacts if you use them. Fill up all of the vehicles you own with fuel before the storm. Be sure you let the power company know if someone in your home is dependent on electrical devices (oxygen providing, ventilator, etc.). Many people take storm season as an opportunity to check the smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in their home and support/replace them as needed. In the interest of community, make sure that you have the numbers of people you care about as well as neighbors and high risk people in your community so that you can check in on them throughout the storm. It’s often a good idea to have an emergency/storm kit in your home as well;

flashlight & extra batteries 

candles & matches

can opener

external battery for electronic devices

basic first aid kit

fire extinguisher: ABC Class

battery-powered or wind-up radio and extra batteries

blankets & toilet paper

special needs or health-related items such as prescription medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities

extra keys for your car and your house

cash (especially smaller bills and change for payphones)

your family's emergency plan

     Pet safety is close to many people’s hearts during storm season. Have carriers/leashes on hand with a little travel pack of your pet’s necessities inside. This is mostly done to prepare for if there is significant property damage and the family needs to get out fast. That being said, I keep my pets on the same floor or in the same room as I am just in case we need to leave fast. Please don’t leave your pets outside or unattended during a storm such as these.

     So, what are my skin related concerns?

Angry skin; very dry, sensitive and agitated from poor care

Adult acne; black/white heads > cyst

Large pores across nose & cheeks (likely from sun damage & picking)

Discolouration; redness across nose/cheeks, dark circles around eyes (ethnicity related)

Wrinkles developing around eyes

     At the beginning of this journey, I was convinced I had combination skin. I would feel so dry at times and so oily at others. I was washing my face so frequently to combat my skin in the only way I knew how. I perused exfoliators and was gifted toners and cleansers from my mother-in-love. Some of it helped but it didn’t feel right. Finally, I asked my esthetician who knew my skin rather well. She expressed that I actually had very dry skin, and explained why she felt that dryness and sensitivity was the cause of my problems, not the cleanliness of my skin per-sae. She recommended some product ideas that at the time were out of my price range, and so my sister stepped in for a birthday surprise and convinced my parents to go in with her to buy these products. She also recommended an order to try, and to do it once in the morning and again before bed. Her order was this;

Wash face with soap

Cleanser

Exfoliate (2x per week, morning only)

Tone

Moisturize

     This was a great start for me! I followed her advice and after 2 weeks my skin responded very differently than it once had. It had resilience, I could wash my face with different water an not break out. It was brighter, and there was less acne! I had never seen my skin so happy, even my mom was surprised. What started as tackling some wrinkles had turned into something much bigger and better for my skin. 

     Since then, I’ve been able to experiment with more products, especially as my routine has developed and certain products I go through much quicker and can’t always afford the good stuff. What I do now is a little different than what I was first recommended; 

Wash face with soap

Masks (when available, only once per day and 2 per week at maximum, relaxed morning or bedtime)

Cleanser

Exfoliate (2-3x per week, morning only)

Tone

Moisturize (warm months, cold months, overnight/run out of others)

     I can’t say that my routine is perfect yet, there are still things I want to add in and make more regular, but for now on a student budget this is working really well for me. In the future, I want to move away from my overnight/’I’ve run out of everything else’ oil to a more evening, creamy, deep moisturizer. As much as the oil is effective, I generally don’t like heavy, oily, greasy things on my face... it makes me need to exfoliate more frequently to clear out my large pores. I would also love to go back to using my favorite black honey exfoliator instead of my home made one. I found it to be softer, less oily, more effective, and safer for daily/frequent use. Mask use is something that I’d like to use more regularly as well. In particular there is a pink clay one and a pollution clearing one (I live in a big city) that I would like to integrate. I’ve used pink clay masks in the past as both a full facial mask and spot treatments. It works really well for my skin and I can feel the yuck being drawn out. The only downside to pink clay is that it can be rather drying so I’ll have to follow up with a deep moisturizer. I’ve had the opportunity to try the pollution clearing mask and at first I thought it would be too intense for my skin. It had an intensely cooling effect on my skin before settling down, which gave me concerns for the sensitivity of my skin. I left it on for the minimum recommended time after doing a test area and found that it did an incredibly job aiding my skin. Four days later and I can still see the positive effects of it! 

A product I used in my teens was the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It was very effective but often left my skin feeling and looking irritated. I jumped off of that bandwagon once someone told me that because the seeds were ground up and therefore had sharp edges, would damage my skin in the long term. It was too intense with more risk than I would like for my skin. So, I stopped exfoliating and my facial skin health deteriorated. Years later I discovered some other products that my skin enjoyed much more. Of course, neither of which were available at the local drug store.

The products I use;

Archipelago Botanicals: Black Honey Sugar Scrub

GM Collin:  Phytoaromatic Gommage

I absolutely adored the Archipelago Botanicals scrub. I would use it daily since it was so gentle on my skin and it contained moisturizer to help my skin feel hydrated after. It never left my skin irritated, rather it felt protective of my skin. Unfortunately, a tub of it would last me a month if I used it every other day so it quickly became not feasible to keep up with as a student. The GM Collin scrub is also amazing, though it feels rather different from the Archipelago Botanicals scrub. It’s also very soft and can be used daily however it’s still rather expensive. I find that this scrub had less of a protective feeling but more of a deep clean feeling. It also takes far less product to use for the same results. On my  esthetician‘s instructions, I’ve been using it between the cleanser and the toner 2-3 times per week. Still, it was too expensive for a student budget. I had to find another way to exfoliate my skin safely and effectively without breaking the bank. I decided to try and figure out how to make my own exfoliator at home. 

The recipe I use; 

2 cups sugar (I use regular white sugar)

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

3/4 cup liquid honey

~1/4 cup lemon juice OR juice from 2 lemons with the pulp but no seeds

Optional: a few shakes of turmeric

Using an electric hand mixer, combine the sugar and melted coconut oil. 

Add in the honey and blend until smooth. 

Mix in the lemon juice (and turmeric).

Package in mini mason jars. Can be stored at room temperature but for long term storage, put it in the fridge. 

I made this recipe by trying out a few from articles & Pinterest, taking the elements I liked and putting it all together. I love it because the ingredients are easy to come by at the grocery store, it’s quick to make, it makes a lot (~7 mini jars), cooking grade ingredients so I feel like they are safe to put on my skin. In terms of routine, I use this 2-3 times per week in the shower. I’ll wash my face with soap and then use the exfoliator. I was hesitant at first to leave the exfoliator on my face, so I would wash it again with soap. I didn’t want to honey or oil to clock up my bigger pores! I slowly began to not wash my face a second time but rather make sure the exfoliator was rinsed off really well. So far, it’s going really well. 

In terms of a routine, I always exfoliate in the morning. This seems to work best for me because I sweat quite a bit in my sleep so I need to get more off in the morning than I do at the end of the day. Like I mentioned above, I use the honey/lemon/coconut recipe 2-3 times per week in the shower. If I need to exfoliate more than that then I use a bit of the GM Collin exfoliator since it’s a bit gentler and more expensive. 

Eco-Friendly Christmas ideas;

wrap gifts in reusable (fabric) bags or brown paper

Have a white elephant/thrift gift exchange

use LED lights inside and out 

carpool to holiday events

send e-cards for Christmas

Going out for hot chocolate? Bring your own mug to coffee stores like Tim Hortons & Starbucks

buy eco-friendly gifts, or make gifts to give

baked goods, audiobooks through Audible, makeup removal cloths, etc. 

opt for an e-mail receipt

buy products with little or recyclable packaging

purchasing goods from places that recycle/donate some of their income to environmental efforts

https://www.thriftbooks.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/thegreenbunny

https://4ocean.com

https://www.tentree.ca

http://www.boso.ca

use a fake Christmas tree 

‘rental‘ trees are an even better option, especially if you like live trees! Vancouver & Calgary have booming markets where you are brought a live, potted coniferous tree of your choice and after the holidays the tree is taken back and planted in Canadian forests.

save on energy

Thermostat: Turn down your thermostat when you’re asleep or not at home, or install a programmable thermostat to do it for you.

Lighting: Only have holiday lights on the tree, turned on when people are home to enjoy it. Use LED lights 

Insulation: Adding insulation to your attic is the best way to reduce your heating and air conditioning bills. 

Be aware of local recycling initiatives other than the local thrift store! Many used the holiday season to purge their older belongings, may as well recycle them properly 

pop tabs; http://poptabsforwheelchairs.ca

clothing; https://about.hm.com/en/sustainability/get-involved/recycle-your-clothes.html

electronics; https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/on/where-can-i-recycle/ 

Bring your own mug to coffee stores like Tim Hortons & Starbucks

Invest in a set of metal cutlery for your lunch box

Invest in a stainless steel straw (& bring it with you to fast food joints)

Use fabric grocery bags

Opt for an e-mail receipt at local stores and libraries

Wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets

Turn off the water unless you are actively using it when brushing your teeth or using the shower

Participate in local/global cleanups and events!

https://pokemongolive.com/en/events/earth-day/

https://www.earthhour.org

Turn off all the lights when you leave the room

Turn off all electronics when not in use

Wait until all of the laundry is washed to run the dryer

Use reusable wrapping (bags instead of paper, fabric bags instead of paper, etc.)

Get acquainted with local recycling initiatives

http://poptabsforwheelchairs.ca

https://about.hm.com/en/sustainability/get-involved/recycle-your-clothes.html

Get acquainted with local wildlife rescue networks as a volunteer

http://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/volunteer.php

Plant honeybee friendly flowers (and birds, and butterflies too!)

https://bringbackthebees.ca

http://beefriendly.ca/25-plants-for-bees-in-your-garden/

https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/create-pollinator-friendly-garden-birds-bees-butterflies/

Recycle and compost every week

Buy products with little or recyclable packaging

On the go? Don’t forget to recycle or at least throw out your unwanted packaging, litter is bad!

Use a reusable lunch box and containers for travelling with food

When you can; carpool or take public transit

If you are able; invest in a hybrid or electric vehicle. At least consider a vehicle with more mileage for less gas

Donate old clothes to shelters, thrift stores, etc. 

Depot won’t take some of your old clothing? Try recycling them at H&M instead! https://about.hm.com/en/sustainability/get-involved/recycle-your-clothes.html

Fabric diapers instead of disposable ones

Makeup removal cloths

The brand ‘Erase Your Face’ is the best that I’ve encountered yet!

Invest in good quality makeup tools that have been made in an eco-friendly way. Makeup too.

Purchasing goods from places that recycle/donate some of their income to environmental efforts

https://www.thriftbooks.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/thegreenbunny

https://4ocean.com

https://www.tentree.ca

http://www.boso.ca

Beautiful art that personifies mental illness;

http://www.zestydoesthings.com/realmonsters#_=_ 

I love how Toby Allen has the description of what each monster does. They really take into consideration the experiences of a person who struggles with each monster.

Another set of pictures using the artistic mode of photography;

https://www.facebook.com/pg/christiansampsonphotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=910789085666180 

Sayings that people say and mean it as a joke can still be hurtful. The Huffington Post addresses this in one of their articles, outlining common phrases and how they hurt people struggling with mental illness. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-griffin/4-jokes-about-mental-illness-you-need-to-stop-making_b_8932500.html 

Simply the spiritual importance of counseling. Finding help is a crucial step in finding healing that lasts.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/spiritual-importance-going-counseling

Sometimes, a big life change can really effect someone’s mental well being. This article looks at what happens to competitive athletes after they graduate post-secondary education and the opportunities of competitive sport are no longer available.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/without-the-game 

Finally a photo comparing what others seem to think depression is all about vs. what a sufferer is more likely to experience.