Jan

CAUSE / SEE THE GOOD X 20x20x20

i made my decision on which cause to support with the proceeds from the soup exchange coming up as well as all the other exchanges planned for this year. i mentioned in this post that i wanted to give back and help those who cannot see or have a hard time with their vision. it’s something that affects me on a daily basis (-7.00 and -7.25 anyone?) and with the aid of glasses, regular optometry visits and care that is so readily available here, i can.

i know this is not the case for so many around the world.

so i set out to research various causes in this realm of giving back and in doing so i came across 20x20x20. it’s a charity that aims to restore vision to blind adults and children in very poor and rural areas. you see, without vision there are so many things you just cannot lean into. be it small things like being invited to play or big things like not being able to provide for your family. and without proper life-essentials education, or a place to learn to live with your disability, it becomes so difficult for many of these people to thrive, let alone survive, in their own ways in their lives. “the WHO reports that 60% of children die within 1-2 years of going blind. whether you are 8 years old or 80 years old, in most developing countries they say a blind person is like a “mouth with no hands.”” - 20x20x20

it’s just bleak. and that is no way to live.

this charity has somehow found a “miracle surgery” that takes as little as 15 minutes and costs $300 to perform. it also aims to empower local doctors and nurses with the tech and training to provide these life-changing procedures. so its like a win win win. it just seems like the right fit.

so since the exchange is $11*, i have upped the number of guests to 30 from 25 so that we can collectively provide one person their sight.

to me, that’s huge.

mother teresa, that bad-ass good girl, said, “if you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

this is me doing what i can with, what i’ve got, where i am. and i hope you will join me and some friends in doing that. the exchange is on january 24th from 1-4 pm. it’s a ladies only thang. sorry, fellas and kids. it’s our time to connect, share, inspire and most importantly nourish ourselves socially and spiritually and obviously, physically. trust me when i say, there will be much simple, colourful deliciousness that will make your tummy full.

you can buy your tickets here. please, if you are planning on coming, get your tickets sooner than later, because the last day to get them is one week from now. and the earlier we sell out, the earlier we can start preparing for you all! and the more prepared we are…well, you know. it’s just so good to be prepared.

thank you with all my heart!

*one dollar from each donation will be going towards admin fees. sorry guys, but i cannot seem to escape that.

Jan

CAUSE / SEE THE GOOD SOUP EXCHANGE

ok guys, the soup exchange date in january has been set. i hope you all follow along on my instagram and already marked your calendars when i announced the date there a week back. if not, now’s your chance - save january 24th from 1-4pm for some major yumminess in richmond hill.

you can purchase your ticket to reserve your spot here in my shop right now.

“ticket?” you ask.

well, yes. you see, the way the exchanges work is that there are a limited number of spaces for participants, and there is a buy-in/donation to the cause we are collectively raising money for. this year i hope to collect funds from the different exchanges i’m planning for a cause that i hold dear to my heart - eyecare and sight.

it’s something that affects me on the daily. i am practically blind and if not for the care i receive here in canada, i would not be able to function as i do. and at times i’ve taken that care for granted. but as i’m getting older and the more i think about it, i realise i am so blessed that i have the ability to see which then, among other things of course, allows me to work. and be inspired. being such a visually based person, i sooo rely on my sight. and i feel for those who do not have this essential sense.

so that’s generally what your donation will be going towards. i haven’t yet affiliated myself with a specific organization, and am totally open to suggestions in this area. if you are aware of an amazing charity or non-profit or school that you think i should know about, then please share. i will let you all know what i end up deciding on.

so back to the soup. i’m excited to be co-hosting this one with one of my most favourite cooks, sally. check out her insta for some mouth watering-food inspo. i am soo ~~lucky~~ blessed to be able to share meals, that she has cooked, on the regular and am happy for you that this is your chance to taste even a fraction of her skills in the kitchen.

once you’ve bought your ticket all you have to do is make one big pot of soup and divide it into four 500mL mason jars to bring. and then you get to sample a variety of feature soups, munch on the perfect partner to a warm bowl - sandwiches, hang out, chit chat, you know, all that good stuff and then go home with four different soups. it’s the perfect amount for a hearty and healthy lunch during the week. trust me, you’re going to want in.

and it’s fun. so it’s a no-brainer.

if you are not feeling super inspired right now, that’s ok. why not think international? you could go moroccan harira, vietnamese pho, pakistani nihari, southwestern taco, canadian mushroom barley, thai tom yum. i could really go on here!! i made this persian soup jough the other day and it is so. so. good.

you decide if you want to try something new, or go with your own personal specialty.

if you’re still feeling unsure of what to make check out my soup pinboard for some inspiration from all over. some of my faves right now are this, this and this.

so if you are free and want to hang out, please click here to reserve your spot. and if you can’t make it, but still want to contribute to this cause, whichever one it ends up being, you can send me a message and we can work something out.

i really hope to see you there.

ps. stay tuned. my ridiculously easy and nutrient-filled stock recipe is coming this week. so start saving your scraps and bones!

1 month ago Short URL 2 Comments

CAUSES/FOOD

20x20x20/soup exchange/tahsin dhirani/tahsin the good/toronto events

Dec

CAUSE / KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

i use wikipedia all the time.

like all the time, all the time.

its my go to resource for learning these days. if i don’t know what something means, like say dukkah, then i’ll just type it into google and click on the first link which on a normal day is wikipedia and bam, i now know all about that lovely mixture of spices, herbs and nuts. i used that example because it was the last thing i used wikipedia for while researching a very delicious looking carrot soup recipe.

i digress. i could give you many many many many more examples of such cases. from imporatnt things, to simple things, to silly things. the last time i went on i noticed the message above along the bottom of their page. and i felt compelled to share with you.

“wikipedia is something special. it’s like a library or a public park where we can all go to learn.”

i know, we are all weary of scams and being duped to shell out our money these days, but for some reason a free learning tool for all seemed to be a cause i wanted to stand behind. and one that is distraction free is so valuable in a time where everywhere you scroll an ad for something (usually something you like or have shown previous interest in) pops up or mysteriously finds you. that’s just the way of our world now. but, for someone like me, who is driven by images and attractive things, it can get very hard to concentrate, very fast.

so, if you’re so inclined, take a little time and help me in helping keep wikipedia ad-free and online.

what do you think? tell me the last thing you searched and learned from wikipedia. just try denying its usefulness. ;)

2 months ago Short URL Comments

CAUSES

ad free wiki/cause/free learning/tahsin dhirani/tahsin the good/wikipedia

tahsin, the good.

Category Archives: CAUSES