Thomas Smith

Accessibility aids, household tools, apps and services that my girlfriend and I use to make everyday life easier. These recommendations come from our experience with bathroom routines, remembering tasks, shopping, cleaning and finding comfortable ways to sit or rest. Some are simple changes, like keeping food notes on the freezer; others reduce how much carrying or organizing we need to do.

I've included the appliances that make cooking, meal prep and everyday kitchen tasks easier for me, along with what I like about each one and what I actually use it for in my life.

These are the foods, drinks, and everyday meal staples that my girlfriend and I genuinely buy and enjoy. Because her disability can sometimes make cooking and meal preparation more difficult, we appreciate foods that are easy to prepare, convenient to keep on hand, and still taste great. I’ve included our higher-protein favourites, quick breakfasts, convenient meals, drinks, and versatile everyday staples that make mealtimes a little easier for both of us.

My girlfriend and I use Cricut for making custom mugs, shirts, cards and other craft projects, both for ourselves and for things we make for our small business. This list includes the Cricut machines, heat presses, mats, tools, blanks and materials I personally use. I’ve included what I use each one for, what has worked well for me and how it fits into the different projects we make. I’ll keep adding more Cricut tools and craft supplies as I use them in future projects.

Disability and accessibility resources that can help people living with disabilities in Edmonton, Alberta and across Canada. These include disability income and health supports, tax programs, long-term savings, affordable housing, transportation, recreation and help accessing equipment for everyday life. My girlfriend has a disability, so we've personally dealt with many of these programs while working toward greater independence and making everyday expenses more manageable. Some programs take time to apply for and eligibility varies, but knowing what support is available can make a major difference.

These are the walking rewards, step tracking and activity apps I use to get more out of the walking and exercise I'm already doing. I especially like apps that can reward my everyday steps without requiring much extra work. Some are simple enough that I only need to check them once a day, while others offer extra ways to earn through activities, challenges, maps and other features when I want to be more active in the app. I've tried a lot of step rewards apps, and these are the ones I've found useful enough to keep using. They each offer something a little different, from passive step rewards and gift cards to GPS walk tracking, friend challenges and everyday wellness goals.

I use several survey apps and Canadian survey panels together as a survey stack. When one doesn't have anything available, I can check another or work through the survey invitations I've received by email. I've had different experiences with each one, so I've included how I personally use them, what keeps me using them and where they fit into my survey routine. Survey availability, rewards and payout options can vary between people.

From sushi and Vietnamese food to breakfast, pizza, fish and chips and special-occasion dinners, these are some of my favourite restaurants in Edmonton. Most of the places we visit are around Century Park, South Edmonton Common and south Edmonton, so the list leans heavily toward that part of the city. I’ve included what I normally order, what keeps me coming back and which locations we usually visit. Some are regular casual stops, while others are places we save for an anniversary, date night or occasional treat.