Let’s Chat!

Hey Friends!

I’ve created this discussion corner for everyone to share ideas, talk about the blog posts, and make suggestions! Please feel free to share and talk, this is a safe space for my readers. I will be occasionally checking in here once or twice a week, and moderating the comments.

Anything that involves body shaming, negativity, foul language, hate speech, or general disorderly conduct will be deleted. If you’d like to ask me a personal question, or make a blog post suggestion, you can type it here using the hashtag #askSharon, or you can send me a direct email in my “Contact Me” form. I try to get back to everyone as soon as possible, but give it some time it may take a few days to get a response 🙂

Thanks for all the ongoing support!

Let’s chat!

33 thoughts on “Let’s Chat!”

  1. Hi Sharon! I guess you haven’t seen my last comment but I would love for you to reply!!!!
    Also, I am wondering, have you ever considered a 100 mile diet? Because all the food you eat travels a lot to get to you which is a lot of waste and leaves a bad footprint on our planet. I just started my 100 mile diet journey and everything is so yummy and fresh and better.
    Also, do you ever get concerned about the types of shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, make up, etc. you use? I use vegan stuff, not tested on cute little animals and better for our earth. Normal stuff pollutes the water supply when it goes down the drain.
    God, I am SO happy I found this blog, I just want your readers to be more connected, you know? But I am making so many positive changes.

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  2. Hi Sharon!
    I was wondering a few things.
    I listened to your podcast and it was sooooooo funny! So sweet and charming. But idk, maybe I am being silly, but you brought up questions that fans have asked, and you didn’t really mention me (your biggest fan) at all, but you mentioned that one fan who suggested you knit with cat hair…who you never even responded to.
    Also, idk, it bothers me a bit that you keep making it harder for fans to comment. Like, I can’t really interact with other fans now unless they have twitter accounts or whatever.

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  4. Also I think lush has a reusable program for containers and also has a shampoo bar if I’m correct, haven’t checked it out yet but maybe that can be a blog post too! Zero-waste in the shower?

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  6. That’s a fair question. Makeup I will have to buy, but I don’t use that much to begin with so it tends to last me a long time. Shampoo, conditioner, and soap (including dish soap) I have recently learned, can also be purchased also in bulk! I haven’t had to do so yet, since I still have shampoo and conditioner from before the challenge started, but I do buy soap in a bar form at one of my favourite little shops. They just have them sitting all in a basket with different scents and you can pick them up and put them in a bag if you want or in your own reusable shopping bag. What I’ve realized is soap is soap. Whether it’s dish soap, hand soap, body soap, it’s all the same really so you can buy different bars with different scents to whatever suits your mood!

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  7. Hmmm.. I think 2 and a half weeks ago. I just took my nail polish off yesterday since it was chipping and haven’t put on new polish yet.

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  10. Hey Aurora, thanks for all the questions 🙂 I’ll try to answer them all as best as I can!

    1) The glass bottle I just kept with my mason jars to store homemade salad dressing or other dressings I might make in the future
    2) I think I’m realizing that people are asking a lot about how much money I make, given I work at a cafe. The cost of living is pretty good in Toronto, and also Canada’s minimum wage is pretty high in comparison to the US. I don’t find it difficult to pay for food, go out, have drinks, pay rent, pay car insurance etc. because we make a decent hourly wage. Ryan and I split everything evenly, sometimes I’ll buy food, sometimes he will, but we don’t get it split down to the penny because we don’t need to! Money comes and goes, all that matters is that you spend it on things that make you happy (in my opinion).
    3) I do my own nails every 2 weeks or so, whenever I’m in the mood. I find the polish bottle lasts me at least 4 months, even longer sometimes. I haven’t had to throw one out yet, so we’ll see what happens when I do!
    4) When I go out, to the bar, to a restaurant, etc. I always ask for no waste. I ask for no napkins, straws, or coasters. The project is a great conversation starter, and usually peaks the interest of the bartender/server, so that’s a neat conversation to have too.
    5) Lady stuff: I have thought about a menstrual cup, but I take a birth control pill that makes my periods light, and once every 3 months. I’ve been on it for a really long time, and I find it is what works best for me. I don’t know if that option is available, but I always talk to my doctor before trying new things out, gotta love that free health care! lol
    6) The egg carton is still under my sink, I’m hopefully planning to use it soon but don’t want to give too much away!
    7) The photoshoot was super fun, but I did not see the finished product yet! As far as the painting, I don’t think he ended up using my photos yet, but may in the future. The waste from the painting I don’t consider my own personal waste, but I also know he does reuse paint, uses a wood easel, things like that.
    8) The pizza box is actually compostable because it is soiled cardboard, we have a compost bin at my work so I just rip it up and throw it in there.
    9) I reused cardboard boxes from a friend who had moved in January, so I didn’t have to buy new ones. As far as packing stuff in the boxes, I used towels, pillows, blankets, and clothes to pack everything. This also makes the boxes lighter by separating the heavier items (and makes your movers happy!) After I was done with the boxes, I gave them to a friend who is moving next month and will reuse them again! The tape to seal the boxes was unavoidable, so that was a lot of waste, but sometimes you have to make a little trash to save some cash.
    We also have this thing called frog boxes, you can rent plastic storage boxes and they deliver them before you pack, and pick them up when you’ve unpacked. This was a bit too pricey for me to do, but is another good option.
    10) The shrimp was in my freezer pre-challenge, but normally I would by fresh from the market and bring my tupperware.
    11) We have a compost bin at my work and our tea bags also are compostable so it’s easy to just throw them in there knowing they will be put back in the earth 🙂
    12) That is really sweet of you to say ❤ I have done some photos for my music stuff, but never thought about modelling, I'm actually pretty camera shy and never know what to do with my facial expressions! I usually need lots of guidance from the photographer (hence the flower over my face)
    14) Since the women's march, there have been other protests in Toronto that I have taken part in, and am continuing to fight the good fight for equality for all! I'm upset I missed the Women's March, but I know I can make an impact in other ways 🙂
    15) I love frozen fruit in my smoothies, so I usually freeze whatever I have that is about to go bad in a container to keep for smoothies. I don't know how but I always have a big container of frozen fruit ready to go, I buy a lot of fruit and then don't get a chance to eat it all! I buy a lot from a market, so things are basically at the "eat me right now" stage when I buy them. Flax seeds, oats, and peanut butter are all from the bulk store, where I take and refill my mason jars.
    16) I know in California there's been a drought for a while (although there has been some lovely rain the last few days I've heard!) We are really lucky that we never have a water shortage, and it rains or snows at least once a week here. Also it's really cold and I want to stay in my warm bed most days lol
    17) The show was amazing! Super fun 🙂 The butter doesn't usually bother my throat, but yogurt or cheese does so I avoid those before a show
    18) The container is pretty big, so I don't go through all of it and didn't need to throw out the plastic container. I just stored the leftovers in my tool kit 🙂
    19) Our pizza place serves every slice on napkins, which makes them easily compostable! No waste pizza 😀 yummmm
    20) I don't find there is any waste when I get massage therapy, they use all cloth towels and sheets on the chair and I bring in my own medical moisturizer that helps relieve pain. I've always had back pain so I just like to have my one cream that I know works well with my body 🙂
    21) I don't find medical marijuana to be helpful to me personally, but I know people who find it helps a lot!

    Hope this answers all your questions!!! Don't hesitate to ask more 😀
    Lots of love ❤
    Sharon

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  11. 1) I am soooooo sorry for not keeping up with your posts recently. I had a slow day today (at home sick) so I decided to binge read all your blog posts again and I have questions and comments and suggestions!
    2)
    3) 1) On day one, you mentioned that you had a drink with your burrito. What sort of cute craft did you end up doing with the glass bottle?
    4) 2) On day two, you made a romantic and delicious meal for you and Ryan. I am just wondering how you afforded it with your café job! Please tell me your secret!!!! Did Ryan pay for it?
    5) 3) On day three, you had to remove some nail polish with a q-tip. I was wondering how often you have your nails painted and what you do about the wste of the nail polish.
    6) 4) On day four, you mentioned going to a bar with Ryan and having your iced tea and vodka combo. I still haven’t tried it…will have to one of these days. But I was wondering what you do about the napkins that bars always place your drink on when they give it to you. Bars don’t tend to compost that stuff.
    7) 5) On day five, you had some lady stuff….personal lady question, but did you ever make a decision about using a menstrual cup??? How has that been?? I’m scared to make the leap!
    8) 6) On day six, you mentioned that you are going to do a cute DIY with your egg cartons…what did you end up doing with them??? Do you have pics???
    9) 7) On day seven, you did a photo shoot with your painter friend. Did you ever get to see the finished product???? I was wondering how you deal with “related waste”? Like, the waste that he made while painting the painting of you.
    10) 8) On day eight, a friend brought pizza to share at your work! What did ya’ll end up doing with the pizza box?
    11) 9) On day nine, you mentioned packing for your cute new apartment. I was wondering what you are putting stuff in to avoid those boxes that you end up throwing out.
    12) 10) On day ten, you had to throw out a plastic bag that your shrimp came in. I was wondering why you don’t get fresh shrimp from the butcher and just put it into a Tupperware container?
    13) 11) On day eleven, you mentioned just having a normal laid back day, but I had a suggestion! You could save used tea bags from your work and put those into your worm bin! Or you could hang them up around your apartment for the yummy smell!
    14) 12) On day twelve, you mentioned standing up for yourself against that creep! Good job! However, you are a pretty girl, so why haven’t you done modeling? Ear models do make money, it could be another cushy job and you might get cute jewelry in the process.
    15) 13) On day thirteen, you had a bad day 😦 . It happens to the best of us! I was just wondering why you didn’t add the guac and salsa containers into your waste round up.
    16) 14) On day fourteen, you kinda beat yourself up about not making a cardboard sign and marching, but it was so cool that you posted about it! Why don’t you make a cardboard sign and hang it from your window?
    17) 15) On day fifteen, you made a smoothie to help that tickle at the back of your throat. I was wondering what you do with the packaging for the frozen berries, yogurt, flax seeds, oats, spinach, etc.
    18) 16) On day sixteen, you took a hot steamy shower to help feel better….I was just wondering if there is a water shortage or drought in Toronto?
    19) 17) On day seventeen, you had some butter on toast before your show! How did your show go???? Also, doesn’t butter clog your throat up when you sing????
    20) 18) On day eighteen, you did some moving in stuff. I was just wondering what you did with the containers for the hole filler.
    21) 19) On day nineteen, you mentioned having pizza and a local joint. I was wondering what they served the pizza on. Did you have to use a napkin to soak up any of the grease when they served it to you?
    22) 20) On day twenty, you went for some much needed massage therapy. ❤ How do you deal with the inevitable waste of their supplies for massages?
    23) 21) On day twenty-one you were in pain. 😦 I was just wondering if you smoke medical marijuana. It helps me with my back pain and period cramps!

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  16. Hey Jeff! No I don’t use toilet seat covers… not very popular in Toronto/Canada much. All toilet paper is biodegradable, so that’s not really an issue when in public spaces

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  17. Hey Aurora! I’ve been going to this specific restaurant at least twice a month for the last 2 years. They are actually the ones who taught me that parchment paper is compostable, so I am sure they compost that paper 🙂

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  18. Did you compost the paper from the dim sum yourself? If not, do you know for sure that the restaurant composts it and doesn’t simply throw it away?

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  19. 1) Do you use toilet seat covers?
    2) How do you deal with toilet paper that isn’t bio-degradable when you are in public?

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  22. Hey Mary! There are actually tons of places that offer the reusable washable plastic ones. I also sometimes bring my own just in case, or I ask for a fork. I know a ton of dim sum places do it too like Rol San on Spadina, and Sky Dragon on Dundas.

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  26. I just asked because this seems like the type of blog buzzfeed would sponsor Do you have any goals with them?

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  27. Hey! This is going to sound silly, but I also live in the city and just read Day 14 – Where on earth do you go for sushi that has reuseable chopsticks???!!! I’ve lived here for ten years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.

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  29. Hi, I decided to give this blog one more chance. I had a question. Do you have a deal or partnership with buzzfeed in the works?

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  31. I just found your blog. So cool! You seem like the best kind of #nastywoman 😉
    (in America, that is a compliment. You’re a bad bitch who kicks ass and takes names)
    Keep up the good work!

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  32. Hey Musicchickie! Thanks for the comment. Yes Joni Mitchell is awesome, and Canadian! I have 2 of her records on vinyl. Been playing and writing for 7 years. Been on tour a few times and played some fun big shows 🙂 Usually the music and album sales help me pay for rent, bills and stuff like that. I pay for recording time that way too and my label helps me with a lot of the distributing of my album. You should listen to Jennifer Castle, very cool musician and a new favourite of mine!

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  33. OMG! This is so totally positive and wonderful. One thing I was wondering, I googled your name out of curiosity and found some music videos on youtube! Wowie! :3 You have so much talent!
    A few things:
    1) Have you ever considered writing a song about this project? You could be the next Joni Mitchel! Idk if you heard of her, she is kinda underground, but she’s really cool.
    2) How long have you been playing guitar and singing?
    3) How long have you been writing?
    4) How do you pay for all that studio time and equipment with a cafe job?
    #AskSharon
    :3
    I look forward to your songs about trash! Maybe check out Joni Mitchel, she is a bit hard to find because she is so underground, but totally worth the search! What can I say, I like less popular and less known music. :3

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