Archive
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How To Pick the Right Spices for Your Food
We all know someone out there who’s a natural cook. Everything they make comes out tasting like heaven, and they never, EVER, burn a single baked veggie. Look into their freezer and instead of frozen pizza and instant meals you’ll find pre-prepared homemade dinners and oodles of ingredients. So how do they do it? Believe it or not, some of those amazing cooks started out just like you, confused and scared of the kitchen. The key to getting comfortable with cooking is knowing what goes with what, and learning that is as easy as pie. Buy Spices! A little salt and pepper can go a long way, but don’t be…
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Have Yourself a Merry, Stylish Christmas
The holidays are here and it’s time to give yourself a treat and find the perfect outfit for that amazing Christmas dinner. Have a walk down Danforth Avenue and find the top boutiques in Toronto that will have you dressing to the nines with their exclusive and stand-out designs. Share the joy! Boutique Lavilla, 766 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON (417)406-3444 Located on the very heart of Danforth Avenue, Lavilla is like an uncut diamond: once you pass through the roughness of its façade, you find an amazing variety of chic and modern outfits. But its most valuable treasure is the Spanish clothing brand Desigual, noted for its patchwork and asymmetrical…
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Help Get the Homeless Out of the Cold
Walking into the office of Heyworth House I am welcomed by the friendly smile of Haydar Shouly. He apologizes for the clutter and explains that with the start of Out of the Cold (OOTC) the space has turned into more of a storage unit. Shouly is a manager of housing and homelessness services for Dixon Hall, a community based not-for-profit that runs programs for all ages. More specifically, he manages Heyworth House, a homeless shelter located at 2714 Danforth Avenue. In my opinion, the office did not seem out of sorts at all–especially when I learned what a large undertaking OOTC has become. OOTC is an initiative that Dixon Hall…
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7 Practical Gift Ideas for Your Geeky Friends
What do you get for the geeky friends who are sure to have nearly every piece of paraphernalia associated with their favourite fandoms? Sure, figurines and posters are a safe bet, but after a while, they can get pretty boring and don’t add much value other than looking pretty on shelves and walls. So, here are a few gift ideas that bring together geek and practicality! Warning: a slew of seriously terrible puns are up ahead! Pikachu Coin Bank This adorable coin bank brings me back to the days of the Blue and Red versions on my Game Boy Colour. It’s the perfect gift for the friend who always…
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How to Eat In Style: Culinary Gems from the Past for the Present
On a recent summer excursion to France, I was fortunate to come across many different culinary hideaways. Though the trip had begun as a chance to get some good creative writing done and to marvel at the vast French landscapes, this trip quickly turned its focus onto food. The group I was travelling with was led by a native of the Bordeaux countryside. With his help, there was no shortage of fine dining to be found in the Côte-d’Or of France. With open minds and empty bellies, our group ventured to some of the local eateries which are famed for the food as well as documented historical ties to some…
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Last Minute Shoppers’ Survival Guide
Are the holidays sneaking up faster than you expected? Are you realizing that your free time is non-existent? Everyone is busy leading up to the holidays and you’ve probably chosen sleeping in and watching movies over braving the masses at the mall. Here are a few tips that will help you make it to your holiday parties unscathed, gifts in hand. Online Orders Though some may think it’s foolish to order online so late in the holiday shopping game, if you order from places with quick delivery times (like Amazon or Chapters) you can get your shopping done without even leaving your house. Have a Game Plan Browsing is not…
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Christmas Market Lights and Delights
It’s a brisk evening in downtown Toronto. A couple of friends and I decided December 15, a mid December day, was the time to go to the Toronto Christmas Market. The second we arrived and tried to find parking, is when I realized how well-loved the Toronto Christmas Market truly is. On a Tuesday evening, it took us three rounds around the parking lot to find a spot. I was really impressed with how much parking was available considering the downtown area. At a reasonable price of $15, you can park for the entire evening. Upon entering the Market, the first thing to catch your eyes are all the lights.…
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Chicken Pox Christmas
For over 23 Christmases I’ve received a significant number of gifts that would make any child happy. And though I could go in to detail, I’m not sure how much mass appeal there is in article titled: “Graham Lists His Christmas Gifts, Which is Mostly Video Games But With the Odd Pair of Socks and Underpants.” As such, I’ll use this time to remember the tender and nostalgic moments I’ve experienced over the holidays. Those gentle and quiet moments of familial bonding, wherein I, an only child, became closer to my parents and family. I remember once I uh…We…Um…There was a uh…There were some relatives visiting and uh… Ok wait,…
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The Work Initiative Network Focus on Mental Health
Serving over 37 thousand people across East Toronto, Woodgreen Community Services has a variety of programs, such as child care assistance, immigration services, and employment resources. The programs fall into a few different sections: Children and Youth, Health and Wellness, Homeward Bound, Seniors, Employment, Housing, and Immigrant Settlement. The Work Initiative Network (WIN) falls into the Health and Wellness section. This program helps people who have dealt with long-term mental health challenges return to the workforce by focusing on employment training. It works on a referral basis, as it is a partnership program with the Michael Garron Hospital, CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Alternatives, Woodgreen, and Reconnect. WIN works closely…
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Multi-Faith Holiday: Celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah
I can’t say I have ever celebrated Hanukkah in the traditional way, but I did, however, grow up learning about and celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas. My dad’s side of the family is Jewish. He grew up celebrating Hanukkah, receiving eight days of presents, and lighting the menorah. My mom, however, grew up going to church on Christmas Eve and opening her stocking bright and early on December 25th. They worked together to come up with ways that my sister, brother, and I could learn about and enjoy both holidays simultaneously, instead of choosing one or the other. We always had a Christmas tree in our house, but we also…
