Category: Birthday Buddy - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #1169 | Celebrating The Birthday Buddy

4/19/2026

Seven years ago, I attended the wedding of my Birthday Buddy's sibling. Now, on a gusty April day, it was her turn to walk down the aisle.

Heading towards Burlington harbour, the weather was an unthinkable mix of rain, hail, snow, sun, and wind. Canadian springs tend to be unpredictable, but to experience three seasons over the span of one hour was unthinkable.

Leading up to the occasion, my head of faded, straw-like strands were restored with a fresh round of purple dye and hydrating treatment. A dusty pink, floor-sweeping gown made its debut, as did a pair of white strappy heels that I had hurriedly purchased just two days in advance upon realizing an absence of appropriate footwear in my shoe closet.

We - or rather, I - arrived just in time for the ceremony. In the absence of on-site parking, my browsing partner missed the vow exchange, creeping in quietly towards the midway mark.

After a round of photos with the newlywed couple, we filed into the hallway, gradually making our way towards the bar and reception area. Along the corridor were hidden doors: one for the coat check and another for the bathrooms. Nearby kitchen access would facilitate delivery of hors d'oeuvres to the bar area.

We queued for the photobooth first, then meandered over for drinks. Offerings were varied and splendid, ranging from classic cocktails to craft beer to wine from Cave Springs. I pointed towards the Chardonnay without a moment's hesitation, while my browsing partner sought a virgin Margarita.

It was an intimate wedding, with the attendee count hovering around fifty. Most of the attendees were already long-time friends. It was amusing that I knew most of them by name or face, and them me, yet our paths hadn't crossed prior to this day.

Due to my perpetual lack of punctuality, I had rushed into the hotel to ensure arrival by the ceremony start time, consequently neglecting admiration of the hotel atmosphere. Featuring large windows, a carpeted stairwell, and a dangling, bulb-shaped chandelier, The Pearle was a truly breathtaking venue. (It was merely a shame that my browsing partner had not taken the opportunity to capture any images of my elaborate ensemble!)

We filed into the reception hall just before 5 PM. A sea salt-speckled brownie cookie and handwritten name card welcomed each guest into their seat.

Out & About #1105 | Cherry Avenue Farms, Parkway Orchards + Square One Asian Night Market

7/20/2025

Had I not been still recovering from a swollen foot, I may have dragged my birthday buddy hiking once more. In keeping with seasonal activities though, I opted for the tamer alternative of fruit picking.

Consistent with my naturally ambitious nature, the trip would involve more than one stop, as to take advantage of the kilometres already travelled.

The first stop was Cherry Avenue Farms in Vineland. Previously bookmarked as an outing candidate with my browsing partner, the event was ultimately unrealized due to scheduling conflicts and the passing of cherry picking season.
Despite not being particularly pleased, my birthday buddy was open to the idea of departing in the early morning - which is already more agreeable than the likes of my previous picking counterpart.

We departed around 8:30 AM, with traffic being incredibly forgiving on a Sunday morning. Around 9:20 AM, we pulled into the muddy, gravel lot. It was unbelievable that the lot was already nearing capacity at the early hour, with a line forming for entry. The act of parking became a competition, including the tailing and waiting associated with Costco.
Cherry Avenue Farms had just opened at 8 AM, so the volumes was honestly quite ridiculous.

Visitor demographic was not unsimilar to the likes of Costco (Heartland specifically) either. From the hoards of Southeast Asian families to uncaring North American parents that allowed their children to tug at tree branches and snap off leaves without reprimanding them, my birthday buddy and I knew we were in for some fun times.

Admission was $12 per person and included a small basket for picking. Payment was taken at the entry booth, in formats of either cash or debit.

We were then roughly directed inside the farm and towards a young man who provided an overview of the rules. All visitors were allowed to pick up to the handle of the basket, but no further.

The front part of the farm housed sweet cherries, while another section both sweet and sour cherries. Given that the objective was both varieties, the young man directed towards a small, white tent. The general area assumed a pickup spot for tractor rides towards the section of the farm housing both species.

Although I should have readied myself since the horrific fumes and dust clouds of Downey's, I had committed the blunder of bringing neither sunglasses nor a face mask for the adventure. The tractor would traverse along a portion of Cherry Avenue before turning into a secondary field. Exposure to the elements and exhaust of passing vehicles was none too pleasant.

Upon reaching the access path of the second field though, the tractor ride became more enjoyable. Overhanging branches of nearby cherry trees provided shade as well as a scenic view of the orchards.

The group disembarked at a station similar to the one from which we came: a small, white tent with a picnic table underneath.

As the impossibly rowdy, uncultured masses headed in the direction of the sour cherry fields, my Birthday Buddy and I decided in the opposite direction for peace of mind. The sweet cherry trees were evidently damp from the previous night's downpour, its leaves cloaked in dew. Interestingly, the ground underneath our feet was not extremely sodden.

Venturing between the rows of cherry trees was rather pleasant. With stout bases and branches that extended to just above our heads, we easily found shade and bunches of the fruit within reach. Unfortunately, many of the cherries had already started rotting. More often than not, their exteriors bore a darkened appearance with questionable yellow bumps. In trekking between the trees, a sour odour was perceived: fermentation of end-of-season cherries had begun.

Out & About #1103 | Cube Challenges + Backyard Celebration

7/12/2025

July Baby Celebrations has been my idea for several years now. We even added one more to the list last year!
Members of this year's edition had all met the screening criteria, for my browsing partner, the "honourary" July baby was not in attendance.

The day would involve a stopover at HERO Tea followed by the newly opened Cube Challenge, eventually terminating with a dinner of sushi and pizza in my backyard. It hadn't dawned on me in the moment that I had suggested the agenda that, by inviting others, I would effectively adopt the "hostess" title. Yet, as much as I disliked hosting events and all the cleanup that materialized with it, it sufficed to say that my 1.5 L bottle of 2009 Vidal Riesling and 750 ml of Sparkling Choya would not drink themselves. And so, hosting it would be.

Logistics and activity planning can be considered my forte, but being able to render a space guest-ready - not so much. Leading up to the day, I procured additional lawn chairs, disposable utensils and tablecloth, and even decorations to theme. Single-handedly preparing balloons was a first for me, and I likely wouldn't have bothered for any regular occurrence.

On the morning of, one of the July babies would meet at my house, witnessing the tail end of my last-minute cleaning operations. We'd later join the others at HERO Tea.

As part of their Pawsitivity Event, the bubble tea chain was giving away one dachshund keychain, one Chestnut Milk Tea, and a newspaper-style photo sheet per customer between the hours of 12 PM and 2 PM. My Birthday Buddy queued around the 11:30 AM mark, eventually receiving her share of freebies one hour later. I was keen on neither the drink nor the dog, so waiting for extended periods of time in the sweltering heat seemed unjustified. When I arrived on scene and joined the line around the 1:45 PM mark though, the wait was approximated to be no more than twenty minutes. We somehow became the second-last customers of the day to receive the benefits. My satisfaction originated from the photo printouts, and I gladly handed over my drink ticket to other members of the party.

The ordeal concluded somewhat sooner than envisioned, so we parted ways for bathroom usage/errands before re-convening at Cube Challenge.

Despite its peculiar location, the games facility was notably busy during our visit. The format operated similar to Activate in that visitors would form teams and play physically and/or mentally challenging games to earn points. Complimentary, passcode-secured lockers were available on site, as were revolting bathrooms.
After obtaining Rec Room-style fabric wristbands, all members of the team were required to register at the kiosk at the same time before starting. This approach differed from Activate, as players could register individually based on their arrival time. This approach wasn't unreasonable, as points were accumulated on a team basis, as opposed to individual basis with level designations. We were informed that points redemption for prizes is not available at this time; there is also no option to carry over one's status to a future date. For some, this may reduce potential for repeat visits significantly, but I personally found the format to be ideal for collaboration, as it shifted the focus away from competition. Team photos would also be taken during registration and would appear with each tab of the wristband.

Prior to entering the rooms, our direction would be gestured towards an animated instruction video. The snippet provided a brief description of the room types and noted forbidden items such as phones and food/drink. Safety hazards were not discussed explicitly in the video, though we collectively felt as they should have included a section beyond the availability of an in-room "Panic Button". In departing the facility, I have discovered cuts and scrapes from rough, wooden edges and a bruise from sliding from a slippery pedestal. My Birthday Buddy expressed her distaste for un-sanded "plywood" fixtures and insufficient fall protection ("one layer was not enough"). Although the venue appears to cater towards adults, safety warnings should never be optional. Cube Challenge definitely requires their liability waiver for protection.

The rooms were slotted into three categories: "Physical", "Brain", and "Skill", with a different colour representing each category. "Physical" was as intuitive as could be, housing games that involved running, monkey bars, tire climbing, soccer, hoops, swinging ropes, and more. The obstacle course-type games were particularly interesting, as each team member would need to finish the course and tap their wristband at the end to secure success. "Brain" and "Skill" were less distinguishable from each other, but varied between problem-solving (finish the math equation!), unscrambling puzzles, trivia, and mind-eye coordination - think Speed of Light or pressing coloured buttons in a given order.
The rooms were arranged in a U-shaped corridor, with Physical rooms grouped together around the midway point and "Skill" towards the end. The shuffling of game types was great as it enabled brief periods of recovery time.

Out & About #1035 | Forks of the Credit + Mono Cliffs South Outlier Trail

9/14/2024

The sole purpose of obtaining a Mississauga Library Card had been to increase my chances of obtaining an Ontario Parks or Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) pass. While I'm very much still in the queue, I happened to find a number of "Lucky Day Collection" passes being offered at my local library. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity and managed to secure an Ontario Parks pass.

Each pass is valid for a period of seven days and area limited to Day Use passes. Consequently, obtaining my pass on a Tuesday morning would require return the following week at the same time. This would restrict usage to the weekend, for majority of parks were too far to be visit on a weekday evening after work.

With my budget proving tragically tight as of late, I proposed the idea to my browsing partner. In place of boujee brunch, shopping, DIY LINE Friends bracelets, and an evening of wine, my wallet required a more affordable alternative - and ideally one that did not require cleaning the house to facilitate guests.

In typical me nature, I set out to optimize the pass by contemplating visits to two Provincial Parks within the same day. Forks of the Credit, Mono Cliffs, and Earl Rowe were quite close to one another. The Fall Colour Report hadn't informed on leaf change at any site. Upon further investigation, Earl Rowe was found to be relatively bland in terms of trails and landscapes, with a murky, contaminated lake to boot. Naturally, the former two were confirmed as the contenders for the day trip.

For parks with automated gates, reservations are mandatory. With the possession of an Ontario Parks pass, visitors could make as many reservations as desired as long as they did not overlap for the same day, time period, or license plate/occupant. In other words, I could reserve both Forks of the Credit and Mono Cliffs, but only one would be valid for the "Full Day" category. The second would be restricted to the slots of: 8 AM - 12 PM, 12 PM - 4 PM, and 4 PM - 8 PM.

I opted for Forks of the Credit first, followed by Mono Cliffs. The decision had resulted from evaluating the availability of tree coverage in each park, analyzing peak periods, and accounting for overall logistics. While early morning trips to Mono Cliffs had proven ideal, I banked on quieter volumes along my trail of interest. In addition, heading to Vaughan appeared swifter from Mono than Orangeville.

Braving a dense layer of fog and less than six hours of sleep, I swooped up my birthday buddy at the early hour of 8 AM. The route would comprise of fast food franchises for washroom stops and lunch/snack breaks, but commence with a last-minute stopover for gas. Caledon was found cheaper than the GTA suburbs, thus I added the most convenient location as a detour.
The Esso was possibly the oldest gas station I'd seen in years: the pumps were not equipped with tap capabilities, the ceiling partitions were dangling, and the entrance to the gas station cashier was camouflaged with an obscene number of flyers against the walls. Somewhat proper signage had informed of the location being an LCBO Convenience outlet. Beyond this addition, it was certainly not the standard Esso.

Next up would be Tim Hortons.

The Canadian coffee house chain was again very old and dilapidated. In contrast to the rumbling pick-ups and stout occupants, the asphalt lot was rather compact. The interior would feature a similar layout to any other of the franchise's outposts, however bathrooms were limited to two unisex stalls instead of the usual gender-separated facilities consisting of two stalls each.
One of these stalls was revolting with a conspicuous puddle of water on the ground. The second was, unfortunately, not much better with grimy floors filled with debris and trash and a nonexistent mirror.

My birthday buddy hadn't heeded my words of wisdom in consuming breakfast beforehand, and took to a savoury pastry during this stop instead. We also procured assorted Timbits to share; the spherical morsels revealed themselves tremendously cloying, and frankly reflective of the local population's average size and weight.

We pulled into the gravel lot at 9:15 AM, already finding a handful of vehicles in the proximity. The early morning hours were cool with plenty of shade, though these patches of breeziness would later recede to yield uncovered stretches with prominent sun exposure. I shed my neon windbreaker within the first hour of trekking, though my birthday buddy persisted with her starting ensemble: Doc Martens and cotton layers were far from the ideal hiking attire though.

The intended path would be as follows:

Trans Canada Trail → Bruce Trail → Meadow Trail → Falls Viewpoint → Return to Parking Lot

Out & About #983 | Oomomo, Dal Pilates Session #2 + Midori Ramen

3/10/2024

The "spring forward" portion of Daylight Savings is not one many anticipate, sheerly on the basis on losing one hour of sleep in the process. Notwithstanding this inconvenience is the gradual gain of natural illumination during waking hours, which is usually appreciated by most, if not all, of the working class - natural night owls excluded, of course.

My browsing companion was running late and arrived nearly thirty minutes later than scheduled, a rare occurrence given our prominent differences in punctuality. Our arrival at First Markham Place was delayed by roughly the same duration, extended even later by an impromptu stopover at LCBO.

Hailing from yours truly, the proposal had, surprisingly, resulted in a brief visit devoid of purchases. For once, the assortment before me failed to spark curiosity. Moreover, my sake stash had been replenished not too long ago.

With flurries flittering about First Markham Place, we braved the gusty trek across the asphalt lot and dove into Oomomo. My roster of to-buy items was limited: a coffee filter case, plastic pouch, and compartmentalized jewellery case were the primary items of interest.

Instead, I walked out with a far grander amount than the aforementioned trio. Cookie rolling rulers of 5 mm thickness, piping bags of various sizes, piping tips, a lavender storage bin, noodle ladle, and silica gel packets had also made their way into my basket. Asahi Dry Zero Free was nowhere to be spotted.

Meanwhile, my browsing companion had a blast roaming the aisles, also acquiring a handful of unplanned purchases.

Navigating between the kitchen and craft sections, we bumped into my Birthday Buddy on the hunt for a "bag strap". The encounter marked my second instance of chancing across a highly familiar face far from home.

Our second session at Dal Pilates had been scheduled for 5 PM as opposed to the 7 PM slot of the previous weeks. As such, we were required to make haste and depart York Region within minutes of the clock hitting 4 PM. Naturally, this meant that desires for egg waffles, HK Milk Tea, and claw machines would be postponed till a later date to prioritize my companion's browsing needs. The earlier slot also meant relinquishing slightly pricier parking fees (as the day maximum rate wouldn't persist until 6 PM) and laying eyes on the studio surroundings during daylight hours.

Out & About #962 | Apple Factory Final Run, Bramalea City Centre + EATALY Sherway

12/17/2023

Wonderland and I must have some unresolved affairs from the last life.
I hadn't questioned why freezing rain graced not one, but both attempts at Winterfest 2019. I also hadn't questioned why the mid-pandemic visit and Perkopolis Day had proceeded with drizzly dreariness for essentially the entire day.

It was with much self-sustained gratitude that I discovered this year's "inclement weather"-based cancellation before venturing onto the 400.

The website announcement had us caught by surprise, for both my birthday buddy and I had braced ourselves for the external conditions, evident in our decision to don as much weatherproof attire as we had in our possession.
While I had debated a handful of alternate festive events, the majority comprised of outdoor activities, ticketed happenings, or limited-time occurrences expected to cease by early afternoon. After all, it was Sunday.

We commenced in the direction of Toronto Premium Outlets, though quickly diverted towards The Apple Factory instead to save our sanity from holiday shoppers.
The impromptu decision felt fitting, for the farm market was set to close permanently in a few days' time.

Each of us took to a 2L Mulled Cider, with me foraging for an additional 3L jug of regular Apple Cider. By this point in the day, the bakery shelves had been mostly depleted.

Striding past the butter tarts towards the pie section, it dawned upon us that Pecan Pie had sold out completely. Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Lemon Meringue, and more were still stacked high behind the counter, however the absence of our desired creation spoke audibly of Pecan's popularity ranking.

Grabbing a handful of reindeer-shaped Mint Maltesers and a pack of Frosted Wine Gums, we gradually inched towards the checkout line. A black canvas reusable bag was acquired at a reasonable rate of $1.50, as to allow the legacy of The Apple Factory to live on in our hearts.

The subsequent order(s) of business were unplanned - unthinkable given my scheduling track record thus far, but I wasn't the teensiest bit angry.

There was, in essence no rush at all. As such we began routing leisurely to Bramalea City Cente amidst the rain.

I had opted to undertake the scenic route through Downtown Brampton, but was promptly distracted by the Glow Zone 360 sign spotted from the corner of my eye.
Needless to say, a U-turn was made - safely, of course - for the sake of satisfying (my) curiosity.

The interior of the facility was consistent with the expectation of an establishment offering glow-in-the-dark mini golf and laser tag: dimly-lit, colourful, and boisterous.

Admittedly, the size of the space was quite disappointing, especially in comparison to the intricate, two-level playing grounds of Putting Edge in Vaughan. The arcade games were also familiar sights as a regular visitor of The Rec Room. Unlike Dave + Busters, Glow Zone 360 did not offer any exclusives.

For a brief moment, we contemplated investing in one round of mini golf. However, upon closer inspection, a kids birthday party was taking place and the routes were positively brimming with participants. The scene was hardly attractive at this point, thus we returned to the vehicle and continued towards the intersection of Main and Queen.

Beyond a 24-hour closure of the municipal parking garage, we also belatedly learned of construction in the neighbouring, which consequently led to lane closures through the BIA district.

We continued eastward towards Bramalea City Centre on rainy residential streets at a snail-like pace. While my birthday buddy declared a vague recollection towards her last visit to the retail centre, my own experience hadn't dated back too far, being that two separate visits had been undertaken for Activate and skate returns at Decathlon.

Holiday shoppers had plagued my December mall-perusing intentions. Even without the post-pandemic virtual shift, online shopping had always been preferable to me. That said, I was surprised to find Bramalea auspiciously less chaotic than the likes of Square One and Yorkdale.
Confuse this not with a peaceful underground parking garage, for no mall is exempt from aggressive drivers, a scarcity of parking, honking, and awfully wide turns.

Our unplanned mall run led us to exploring the lower level shops first. Admittedly, suburban Miniso outposts were a refreshing change from Eaton's microscopic outlet.

Out & About #915 | Rollerpony + Mikaku Izakaya

7/8/2023

After concluding a day at Wonderland, my birthday buddy called me out on an obvious lack of effort in dressing up for outings.
"Do you even try anymore?!" she exclaimed vehemently. "It's either leggings or sweatpants and some weatherproof jacket."
Her words struck home, and I admitted to all charges, though without a shred of remorse. In my defense, the simplest outfits are the quickest to compile, and further serve to facilitate movement in the chosen activity.

For our annual birthday hangout though, it was unlikely that we'd be moving much. We agreed upon rollerblading at least several months prior, then finally decided on the outfit theme in the morning: 90s schoolgirl. Drawing inspiration from NewJeans' Hype Boy performance attire, I revealed myself in Danielle's braided Pucca buns, choker, collared shirt, and knee socks. Meanwhile, my Birthday Buddy mimicked Hanni/Minji with a knitted V-neck pullover, cute hair pins, black knee socks, black lace-up sneakers.

The excursion likely marked one of the few times we purposely matched getups. But, as with all intentional styling, the process is painfully time-consuming. We departed one hour later than the proposed departure time, partially owed to my looping back home to grab PPE (ie. knee and elbow pads) and picking up a Drive-Thru order at McD's.

The atrociously pricey Zesty Lime McWrap was dismissed for a Ranch Chicken Snack Wrap with Grilled Chicken, which rang in nearly 2.5 times cheaper at $3.29 before tax.

Rollerpony had been chosen destination for rollerblading (or roller skating, depending on the chosen footwear). Owned and operated by the same owners as Pursuit OCR, I pulled into the familiar asphalt lot, expecting to find an adjacent warehouse fixture with signage. When I did not, I looped about the facility and spotted a loading deck with the burgundy, triple-outlined R logo. Behind it was the customer entrance, and across the entrance a handful of parking spaces along a wired fence.

Pulling away the doors revealed high ceilings and a colourful interior. It was apparent that, instead of purchasing a new property in the vicinity, a section of the Pursuit OCR warehouse had been allocated towards Rollerpony, with the businesses assuming Unit A and Unit B respectively.

We strode up towards the front desk to notify the staff of our reservation. The slot had been secured between 1-4 PM, although we had just pulled into the lot nearing 2 PM. Waivers could be completed online prior to arrival, or filled on site using the provided tablets lining the wall. Beyond the signing of waivers, the staff member also requested IDs, despite the booking only falling under one name.

Once the process was complete, we were supplied token for skate rentals. They were solid plastic chips adorned with the facility's logo, complete with a QR code on the backside. Rentals were situated at a different counter; a carpet with shoe sizes had been placed nearby for measurement, reminiscent of footwear stores in the 2000s. We relayed our sizes with hesitation, though the girl behind the counter assured us that skate sizes would align with our regular shoe size for the most part.

Similar to Pursuit, the facility offered an abundance of lockers, but no locks. Nearby were benches for changing shoes and tables for dining, if so desired. Having forgotten my lock at home, we settled for placing our belongs within one of the cleaner spaces, then closing the door. We weren't particularly concerned, as there were few skaters at the early afternoon hour. Furthermore, any valuables were locked within the car or zipped inside my waist pouch.

Out & About #894 | Wonderland Perkopolis Day

4/29/2023

Due to schedule conflicts, last year's Wonderland trip had been scrapped and replaced with CNE (832). For this year's run, the group collectively agreed on Perkopolis Day. Beyond being amongst the first to experience the amusement park's public re-opening for the summer season, it also included the added benefit of a discounted ticket.

Leading up to the weekend, the forecast had been dreary. Precipitation was expected, prompting one of our party members to recall our equally overcast 2021 visit, joking that I was the cause for poor climate conditions.

One day earlier, I had lined my car mats with Canadian Tire flyers in an effort to prevent yet another round of deep cleansing. After a breakfast of coffee and a Coconut Bun (with crumbly filling) from Lucullus, I geared up in nylon bottoms and a trusty, fleece-lined windbreaker - my "weatherproof" jacket, as my birthday buddy had disapprovingly declared. The comparatively appearance-conscious members had taken to layering hoodless outerwear with cotton hoodies and more cotton innerwear - for reasons beyond me, of course - while my carpooling partner and I were the only ones donning outdoor-appropriate apparel from head to toe.

We witnessed a downpour in the morning, which made for slick roads but an easier parking process.

Yukon Striker was my suggestion - Why not start strong? The wait was a mere thirty minutes - a shocking reduction from the first year of operation.

I had initially proposed riding it a second time, but the queue had lengthened when we exited the platform. We detoured to the Behemoth instead, as the classic coaster was often known to have the longest lineup. But, this time, our wait didn't even exceed one hour.

My carpooling partner and I took to the front two seats, while the remainder of the party sat in the third and fourth rows respectively. Traversing across each hump introduced a new gust of iciness - gusts so ruthless our lips were left numbed and fingers frozen.

The sleepy polar bear voiced concerns of nausea after these first two rollercoasters, thus retreated to the sidelines while we continued queuing. My memories of the Backlot Stunt Coaster were vague, but riding it again assured me that no future visits would be made; constantly banging into the side of the cart was far from my idea of enjoyable.

Making my rounds with my birthday buddy ensured that there was a voice of reason on the team. Furthermore, it enabled me to ride on the less popular attractions, such as the carousels, without having to persuade the others. Once again, the lines were extremely short.

Entering into the kids' area, sightings of the Peanuts crew were made. Alas, Snoopy was nowhere to be spotted!

Out & About #884 | Pound Cake with Black Sesame Cream, Yoga Mats + One Week of LA Fitness

4/2/2023

"Don't you have a lot of yoga mats?"
"They're not here." I responded, matter-of-factly. "And I need one for class."
"You have a big one in Vancouver."
"I brought my orange one over."
"No, there's one more, probably tucked away somewhere."

After discovering the utter lack of mats at LA Fitness, I took matters into my own hands. Being utterly convinced that a budget mat with fast, free shipping would suffice for the grimy gym studio floors, I resorted to Amazon. And then, in the absence of a carrying strap, I DIYed my own variation with thin elastic cord.

Composed of supposedly eco-friendly TPE material, the surface was smooth, unlike my bumpy Gaiam one (that I had left at the sleepy polar bear's) and proclaimed to be nonslip. The mat arrived within twenty-four hours, from which point ensued a thorough sanitization process: once with soapy water and another with tea tree oil and water. It was with relief that the mat did not emerge reeking of rubber or cheap plastic.

However, it was nevertheless, subpar for its price. After a short while in bird dog position, a dent formed where my knee was. It persisted for the duration of my workout, like cheap memory foam. The surface was decent and indeed nonslip, but gripped toes excessively during dynamic movements, causing my toe to bend underneath instead of assisting it along its path. The foamy texture further caused insulation of heat, rather than its dissipation. My POPFLEX version, albeit far pricier, was just so much better. (That said, both mats susceptible to streaking and surface discolouration, regardless of usage count.)

Leading up to the sleepy polar bear's birthday, I have begun my preparations accordingly. Reservations have already been confirmed, up to three weeks in advance. A last-minute present also wound its way to me, for it is difficult to resist stationery necessities at clearance price points.

Meals of the week comprise of: Steamed Pork with Pickled Radish + Gai Lan/Kale, Tomato Minced Pork with Sweet Bell Peppers over Macaroni, and Myungdong Shabu Shabu takeout of Wang Mandu, Bibimbap, and Kimchi Jeon.

The roster also includes Homemade 杏仁蜜棗茶 to the rescue for parchedness and perpetually sore throats.

Out & About #864 | Le Génie, Gingerbread House Construction + Karaoke

12/18/2022

Just when I thought the sleepy polar bear's revulsion towards raisins were childish and abnormally choosy, the office crowd proved the popularity of this opinion, deserting a raisin-filled banana bread loaf in favour of the chocolate chip-containing rendition.

Typically, my in-office days of late have been spent exploring the cardinal directions of the intersection. When the need to undertake a mid-day venture downtown emerged though, I jumped at the opportunity to extend the lunch break and explore the unknown.

Boarding Line 1 southbound during the lunch rush made for an interesting trip. The train was noticeably less congested than the afternoon peak, yet busier than in the morning. As we pulled into Wellesley station, I caught sight of a filthy blanket entering my peripheral. Huddled underneath the grimy mess was a red paper cup and a mop of mental instability. I was fortunate enough to be far away enough to escape any potential interaction, though a girl who had found herself next to an empty seat was not so lucky.

I exited at College station, first out of intent and second out of contingency; I was not looking forward to any further happenings in that passenger car.

The trip had been centred about Le Génie, a bakery that I learned of for nearly one year, yet never visited due to its inconvenient coordinates.

Gargantuan pastries and elaborately decorated cakes filled the display case. These specimens were larger than the typical puff pastry, yet also exponentially pricier.

Beyond their impressive assortment of baked goods, Le Génie also served espresso-based beverages and wine, complete with a wine fridge against one wall of the asymmetric establishment.

My first pick was the Vanilla Flan. Reminiscent of an egg tart, the $7.38 delicacy contained a semi-viscous custard speckled with vanilla within wispy thin layers of puff pastry. I had been expecting a looser consistency to fill its cavity, along with more widespread fragrance to be perceived.

The buttery, flakey shards were lovely, but the filling left a little to be desired.

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky = a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things

Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

Contact ME

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!

© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.