Upon my arrival in the office, I learned of upcoming initiative such as a United Way Cake Silent Auction and winter clothing drive. Eager to participate in both, I began to contemplate crowd- and transport-friendly baked goods, while simultaneously considering the items at home that could be donated for better use.
There is probably nothing so perpetually exhausting than back-to-back office days. Recalling the once-normal five-day work weeks of pre-pandemic years, I struggled to envision how the continuous trips downtown would be possible in today's society. Transit capacity was exceeded long ago, making the new hybrid format not only more accommodating to workers but vital to managing congestion within the GTA. Upon my arrival in the office, I learned of upcoming initiative such as a United Way Cake Silent Auction and winter clothing drive. Eager to participate in both, I began to contemplate crowd- and transport-friendly baked goods, while simultaneously considering the items at home that could be donated for better use. The gloomy skies overhead and sporadic spurts of precipitation prompted an indoor lunch walk. Weaving in and out the PATH, I'd complete a series of errands, simultaneously noting new arrivals (such as Tiger's Cup Bap replacing McDonald's in Brookfield Place and Booster Juice replacing David's Tea in Royal Bank Plaza). My coworker would join me on this hurried expedition, as we'd eventually arrive at Decathlon for her pre-hiking needs. As predicted, the downtown outpost carried a limited assortment of apparel and fitness gear, though was generously stocked with skates and an elaborate bike repair centre. When the weekly team meeting concluded earlier than expected, my coworker and I made a mad dash towards Union. Both of us successfully caught an earlier train home. This early return enabled an impromptu stopover at Tim Hortons, where I attempted to maximize mobile offers in anticipation of redeeming rewards later in the month before points expiry. The Sheridan Centre location constantly features lineups in the Drive Thru passageways. With that in mind, I had presumed a lengthy wait in store. However, after just ten minutes, my duo of Pumpkin Spice Muffin and Iced Latte with Chocolate Milk were attained. Having sampled the specimen last year, I approached the cream cheese filling-containing creation with high hopes and was not disappointed in the slightest. The filling would present itself in the form of a starch-based solution, as to prevent moisture seepage into the rest of the muffin; I was, by no means, taken back by the comparatively budget approach given the main clientele of the Canadian fast food chain.
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Drawn-out drives have ceased to terminate for the foreseeable future, for upcoming schedules are nowhere near local. The first weekend of October had been reserved at least a year in advance for attendance at ochungg's wedding. Naturally, I'd not relinquish opportunities to undertake other endeavours in the vicinity, thus reallocated my errands accordingly. A mid-day departure enabled receipt of a Pineapple Cake Gift Set from Taiwan, which I enjoyed thoroughly. The pastry was tender, yet nowhere near as crumbly as Costco's rendition. The filling, while admitting to incorporation of wax gourd, retained a pineapple-y essence and gratifying texture. A Click & Collect order would lead towards Uniqlo's new Heartland location, There, I'd be subject to congestion, a painstaking parking situation, and even more painful lack of common sense in buyers of secondhand cameras. Fundamental functional requirements of any technological device comprise of: a) a power source and b) memory source. Those devoid of such basic education ought purchase directly from retailers, for their poor preparation would be combatted by the presence of customer service, instruction manuals, and product warranty. Predictable was the layout of the apparel shop itself. That said, the Vancouver-esque layout was less preferable to the mall outposts given its comparatively higher visitor volumes and narrow aisles. In place of the promised water bottle, I received a canvas tote bag for my troubles. The next stop was Oomomo. Similar to Heartland, I'd encounter another round of parking frustrations at First Markham Place. Once inside, I'd discover a greater variety of storage bins compared to the Don Mills location. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, my search for the perfect organization solution was halted due to the ceremony start time of 4 PM. I had also yet to change into my wedding guest attire; the process was intentionally delayed to prevent soiling the attire when moving about and using public washroom facilities. I opted to undergo the transformation in an empty asphalt lot en route to the venue. It was then that I discovered disappearance of my chosen necklace: a hibiscus pendant from Hawaii bearing a dainty, silvery sheen. Despite pacing about the car and rummaging around the driver's seat, there was, unfortunately, no trace of the jewellery piece. With my earlier stops of Heartland and Oomomo, there was, essentially, no telling where I had lost the necklace. Both the ceremony and reception would take place at Angus Glen Golf Club. Just as I pulled into the asphalt lot, droplets of precipitation began to descend. Two suit-donning visitors were spotted scurrying towards the entrance. I soon followed, umbrella in hand, attempting a speedy walk in my clunky, too-big platforms.
Out & About #1040 | Roaming Yonge/Dundas, Attempting Biscoff Storm + Continued Cleaning Operations10/5/2024 With my browsing partner halfway across the world, I've been exposed to snippets of life in other continents. Living vicariously through media received, I was introduced to Biscoff Storm. Created by Hungry Jack's, the Australian equivalent of Burger King, the soft serve creation was akin to a McFlurry, with the exception of retaining the clear delineation of soft serve and crushed biscuit. Needless to say, I was avid to recreate the concoction. While, in hindsight, obtaining a Vanilla Cone from McDonald's would have been the easiest method of obtaining a soft serve base, reluctance towards leaving house, in conjunction with a soon-to-expire carton of heavy cream, convinced me to craft the creamy foundation from scratch. Into the stand mixer I poured about 200 g of heavy cream, allowing it to be whipped until reaching soft peaks. Truthfully, in all my attempts to date, I've consistently found the consistency of machine-whipped heavy cream to inferior to when using a hand mixer. Often is the formula lumpy and on the verge of separating, rather than voluminous and smooth. Overwhipping is the probable cause, for textural evolution is trickier to identify when observing from afar. Adopting a ganache-making approach, 25% of white chocolate by weight would be used to stabilize the cream. I'd advise against this method though, for the result was sickeningly sweet in its soft, pliable state. Of course, the recommendation may be altered should one opt to incorporate a bitter or pungent flavour like matcha, coffee, or ginger. Generally speaking, the dessert was decent when frozen, but cloying, excessively rich, and devoid of complexity immediately after compilation. Stabilizers are non-negotiable, I have learned. Ontario weather is deceiving. The forecast promised sunshine and temperatures hovering about the low 20s; in actuality, the morning revealed overcast skies and a slick coat of humidity that wouldn't persisted for the entirety of the day. Being the heat-loathing species that I am, I pondered once again when the arrival of autumn would come - When would we be granted conditions suitable for outdoor physical activities? I picked up a Nescafé Rich Instant Coffee sample at the Bay Concourse, then continued on my way. There was no shortage in free fare in the office. From early Halloween treats of Mars, Coffee Crisp, and KitKat to my baking coworker's rendition of SK's New York Crumb Cake to the wholly unexpected arrival of a coffee filter machine for office use. By the mid-morning, I was absolutely stuffed. My standard breakfast of oatmeal aside, the New York Crumb Cake had proven excessively greasy, with a sugary topping that, albeit crunchy, did not adhere. Few variations in climate were observed across the morning. The outside world flitted between overcast and pockets of sun, but nevertheless remained humid and too warm for brisk walking (or cycling). There weren't any errands pressing, nor particular destinations of interest.
For the past month, museum and gallery outings have somehow become a regular outing for my coworker and I. Starting from the Bata Shoe Museum to the AGO to the Free Tuesday Nights at the ROM, the trips have revolved primarily revolved around the downtown area on mandatory office days. Upon observing an ad for Aga Khan Museum's 10th anniversary celebrations, I presented the prospect of a weekend visit to my coworker. The two-day event would include complimentary admission to the Main Floor of the museum, as well as $10 discounted admission to a rotating immersive exhibit, LIGHT: Visionary Perspectives. Her enthusiastic response led us to plan for a Saturday sojourn. We'd travel separately, given that we were coming from opposite directions. While the TTC had miraculously enabled her early arrival, my commute along the 403, 401, and DVP were nowhere near as smooth. Congestion upon congestion - plus a car lodged in a ditch - had resulted in nearly sixty minutes of driving. By the time I exited the DVP, I was more than ready to call it a day. Aga Khan Museum was not located in convenient coordinates whatsoever. Google Maps had directed me to the underground parking garage. In fear of paid parking being enforced, I exited the loop and entered through the main access path. There, members of security directed me back to the garage, confirming that the gate would remain open and my stay would be complimentary. Re-routing back to the garage, it was indeed confirmed that neither a key pass nor proof of payment would be required. The drive aisles were incredibly narrow - and even narrower still in the presence of the local population's abnormally large, wide vehicles. Behind the wheel were those possessing the most obscene maneuvering skills observed in suburban Toronto. At the very least, plenty of security had been positioned on site to facilitate traffic flow. The below-grade garage would connect to Aga Khan via a sloped corridor illuminated with LEDs and Museum highlights. A numbered ticket was bestowed upon me by a member of staff at the top of the corridor. Residing on the basement level would were bathroom facilities along with servicing rooms. These stalls were noted to be far cleaner and more spacious than those on the ground floor, likely due to frequency of use. Residing on the basement level would were bathroom facilities along with servicing rooms. These stalls were noted to be far cleaner and more spacious than those on the ground floor, likely due to frequency of use. The Main Floor featured common art and culture institution elements of a ticket booth, gift shop, and plenty of signage promoting celebratory activities and performances. In spite of the museum's tall ceilings, the establishment merely spanned one floor and a half (the secound level did not utilize the entire floor space) - the decision to replace additional exhibition grounds with tall glass windows for light appeared to be intentional. I gradually made my way towards the exterior of the building. Upon stepping outside, I was met with the most breathtaking courtyard - Aga Khan Park. Although my drive from the west had been grey and dreary, the skies of Toronto had revealed cloudy swirls against a backdrop of luminous blue. Sunshine could be even be perceived sporadically bits of the stay. Weather was perfect. Truly remarkable was the scene that lay before me: an unobstructed view of Aga Khan Museum and Aga Khan Park, surrounded by fountains so clear that the skies and sophisticated architecture were reflected with utmost clarity. The contrast of off-white tile, glass, shiny waters, and lush shrubbery had me starstruck. Elegant yet lively, I found myself strolling about the aisles with absolute awe and admiration. Basking in the magnificence of it all, I had momentarily forgotten about providing my coworker an update regarding my arrival. We soon found one another outside the main entrance, though, then decided to head inside for the 12 PM Cake Cutting. View the full album HERE !
Extremely hectic weekends have caused work-from-homes to transition towards catch-up periods for sleep, chores, and the occasional home improvement task. It is with undying regret that I declare this extent to chaos to persist for at least another few weeks due to prior schedule commitments.
Office days provide a breather that melds social interaction with focused work. My baking coworker instantly brightened the otherwise overcast day with coarse sugar-speckled blueberry muffins.
Due to damp external conditions, lunchtime was spent navigating the PATH and associated connections, exiting onto ground level only when necessary. I had come downtown equipped with waterproof footwear, though wasn't about to risk frizzy hair due to utterly unwarranted levels of above-seasonal humidity.
Observations included:
Even before embarking on the day, I knew a strenuous schedule lay in store for me. Adorning ahga-attire was mandatory. Of my many merchandise tees on hand, I sought out comfort in my thoroughly worn Eyes on You t-shirt, pairing jeans and sneakers to account for the round of errands that would precede the concert. BamBam's AREA 52 cap, the beaded Jinyoung bracelet from my coworker, and asymmetrical feather earrings would seal the look. I was now ready. The Thai ahgase and I had agreed on a 12 PM meet-up at Yorkdale. While I departed late but arrived sooner than expected, she was not only late but further requested stopping for Starbucks before continuing. Despite my ceaseless concerns of the kiosk being amongst the slowest of all locations, she insisted on coffee. Meanwhile, my plans for us to collectively obtain coffee from IKEA would be delayed/dismissed. Lo and behold: the Starbucks app estimate was wrong and we hovered about the kiosk for an additional seven minutes before gradually descending back to the parking garage When the drink was finally delivered, I asked the barista for an empty cup, causing him to glance over at the Thai ahgase's drink, thinking that we'd be sharing the drink. He warily handed me a Tall cup, to which I grimaced but did not pry further on the basis of time. Frankly, the size assumption was not appreciated; other locations would hand you a Grande cup in the case of water requests or ask whether a preferred cup size exists. Yorkdale was a driving monstrosity for those that do not frequent the area. Departing the garage, I realized that the 401 on ramps had changed location. Detouring about Dufferin, I eventually found my way towards Sheppard and continued to IKEA on local roads. September 22nd, which coincided with Jinyoung's birthday, would mark the third and final instance of the Swedish homeware store's Hej Days promotions. Truth be told: I was none too keen about back-to-back weekend visits. However, I was irritated that the items I had just purchased had gone on sale! Hej Days was, in essence, both an instigator and act of redemption for more Rykta bins.
Hangovers are hardly a happy time. Though, I had none to blame but my own series of questionable decisions that stacked impacts of dehydration from outdoor physical activity on intense alcohol intake in a short span.
Ginger helped tremendously in curbing feelings of nausea. Gnawing on the root brought me back to reality, allowing for somewhat of a functional presence instead of headaches and pure suffering. Light meals and warm broths were sought out, as was a dessert of Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Balls in a yellow sugar syrup heavily infused with the anti-inflammatory root.
With Monday constituting a "catch-up day" after my Sunday recovery, my mandatory in-office presence arrived swifter than expected, or desired.
Morning skies were beautiful with cascading ribbons of clouds across an azure background. The presence of such atmospheric masses promised some degree of sun cover, which, in turn, convinced me to undertake another cycling adventure in the city.
My destination of the day would be EATALY. Seeing that Saletember was still underway and I had no immediate errands in the area, I decided to traverse along University towards Bloor. The northbound stretch along University was brimming with potholes, hot dog cart smoke, and pedestrians that somehow felt entitled to jaywalk before oncoming cyclist traffic. Conditions would improve drastically once past College Street, however.
Queen's Park Crescent featured unidirectional curbside cycle tracks separated from vehicular traffic with concrete barriers and bollards. Despite permitting two to three lanes of traffic on either side of the Legislative Assembly building, biking was exceptionally peaceful along this stretch. Although I was heading uphill, the abundance of street trees ensured plenty of shade, while uninterrupted travel gave rise to breeziness. Particularly worth noting was the decidedly early colour change of foliage. A handful of crunchy, gold-tinted leaves had descended onto the grassy boulevard and along the gutters, making for beautiful autumn scenery. As with any urban setting though, cyclists must be mindful of turning vehicles and pedestrians that meander onto the crosswalk without checking for traffic. Vehicles halting past the stop bar can camouflage pedestrians in the intersection, leading to potentially dangerous situations. Being aware of such hazards is crucial in a city with bustling volumes.
Construction on Queens Park between the east-west crescent split and Bloor Street required additional care to navigate safely. The unexpected lane reduction prompted blind spot checks for oncoming vehicles, as well as a temporary detour onto the sidewalk to connect with the east-west Bloor St bikeway. By the time I had reached Bay and Bloor, pedestrian volumes were so substantial that I opted to dismount instead.
The flyers hadn't noted any articles of interest to me. Nevertheless, I browsed every single aisle, scrutinizing the selection and their asking prices.
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:
When it comes to tackling house duties, 48 hours is hardly a lot of time. My browsing partner would be slated to return for a short-lived stay, and there were a number of preparations required in advance to ensure unobstructed execution of tasks. Non-negotiable was the assembly of shelves. Leading up to the weekend, I had undertaken a number of virtual (and physical!) visits to IKEA to finalize my shopping list. The Swedish furniture store is aggravating in that not all products are eligible for shipping. Moreover, merchandise availability varies across the GTA and Click & Collect incurs an addition five-dollar fee. Up until Friday evening, I had resolved to obtain all items on my list from the North York store - that is, until one of them sold out. The unforeseen decline in stock had elicited a last-minute change of plans: IKEA Etobicoke would assume the first stop of my itinerary instead. Departing at 9 AM, I hit all the reds venturing along my regular route to the GO station. The trip was swift via the QEW, albeit stressful given sudden narrowing of lanes and needlessly assailing behaviour from surrounding drivers. Pulling in around 9:30 AM, I was surprised to witness high visitor volumes in the surface lot. The covered parking area was comparatively quieter, but exceedingly busy for the first hour of store opening. Thankfully, more visitors were interested in browsing the showroom and hadn't yet made their way to the merchandise areas. The washrooms were also of decent cleanliness in the early hours, though the same commentary could not be validated at my time of departure. Navigating the aisles was a breeze, save the horrible cart with wheels full of hair. With time, wielding the dysfunctional apparatus and arranging the weighty items would lead to fatigue. I hadn't realized that the warehouse and common items (storage cases, plates, etc.) were stored separately either. Although I had managed to procure all articles of interest - and a few extras - the solo expedition on a schedule was not amusing in the slightest. And I'd envision the trip to be even more stressful during peak hours. People were already speeding through the aisles in the covered parking area! A Cinnamon Roll with Icing would serve as my reward. The base of the bun was barely cinnamon-y, but passable. Horrendously tacky and cloying were the centimetre-thick squiggles of icing, being comprised of just icing sugar and water as opposed to cream cheese. The concoction would be wholly better without it. Around 10:20 AM, I'd climb back into the car, head throbbing but ready for my next schedule. The touch-up appointment with Kettle had been arranged several weeks ago, with the location being a relatively new studio in the Yonge-Lawrence area. BRINGMEYOURSKIN was located about five minutes south of Auberge du Pommier, just a short drive away from York Mills station. Street parking would be enforced along Yonge Street, thus I took to the nearby side streets. Posted signage confirmed that one hour parking was permitted Monday - Saturday between 8 AM - 6 PM. I walked past the studio without realizing, as the second-level storefront did not really attract attention. Despite being denoted as "Open", the metal door did not budge. I hovered about for at least five minutes before realizing that it was, indeed, open, but just too heavy to shift with a light tug. Climbing the steep stairwell, I was immediately welcomed by a member of staff. "I have an appointment." I voice trialed off while scanning my surroundings for Kettle. The space was compact, with a coat rack and tattoo chairs positioned near the landing area. Admittedly, it was odd to find the studio's waiting area and reception desk further away from the entry path than the servicing grounds. The constant inflow of customers posed somewhat of a distracting presence to artists and clients alike. Kettle would emerge from her station by the window, then gesture towards the waiting area at the rear of the unit. Similar to La Maison, a waiver would be required of me before proceeding with the appointment. Situated on the stout coffee table was a double-sided menu stand: one side featured the QR code for PMU (permanent makeup) for brows, while the other for tattoos. The listed clauses were near identical to the Vancouver parlour, but did not require proof of ID to be attached to the form. Located in the corridor between the waiting area and servicing chairs was a cramped single stall washroom with grimy shower stall (used for storage). The layout was astoundingly typical of Toronto, being both poorly maintained and difficult for guests to move about comfortably. Given the downstairs neighbour of My Roti Place/My Dosa Place, greasy fumes laced with Indian spices wafting upwards were also inevitable. BRINGMEYOURSKIN was roughly one fifth the size of La Maison, if at all. That said, the studio was located in a much, much nicer area than Hastings, as Kettle would agree. Since our first encounter in the sketchiest section of downtown Vancouver, she had been travelling the world - and also received hair extensions. Having visited Bali and other parts of the nation (Banff, Montréal), I was eager to ask of her Canada travels briefly. She noted preference for Toronto over Montréal due to the availability of Korean food, and also expressed relief towards the cleaner, calmer neighbourhood of Yonge-Lawrence, understandably. The touch-up was remarkably quick, just as the original tattoo had been. With the reference image beside her, she retraced the ahgase outline, etching the shape in darker, bolder lines. At the end of my visit, I extended a number of recommendations for coffee:
The same care instructions previously provided would apply for the touch-up, though this time she had recommended Aquaphor instead of Vaseline. Bidding Kettle farewell, I resumed exploration of the BIA district.
I can never quite predict my sleep patterns. Sometimes, I crash into bed and remain stationary until the whirring buzz of my alarm. Other times, my body is fatigued yet the mind is restless, pouncing back and forth between thoughts conjured by recent stressors. Truth be told: alcohol aids not in promoting deep sleep, but rather a drowsy, relaxed sensation that transitions to disrupted slumber. Small quantities rarely render an impact, however, but I'd be mindful of consuming too much too late. With barely four hours of sleep under my belt, the morning commute was indeed a struggle. Nearly zombie-like in my demeanour, I sluggishly eased into the morning after an incredibly justified intake of cold brew. My coworker surprised me, along with another member of the team, with a handmade bead bracelet. While slightly juvenile for my tastes, the gesture was appreciated nevertheless. Mine would be appropriately themed in green, with colourful, cubed letter beads strung together to read "Jinyoung". Naturally, it summoned a giggle from me and I happily slid it on my wrist. Despite the splendid weather, inadequate rest had suppressed sharpness, diminishing my ability to command alertness and consequently discouraging my initial contemplation of cycling in the city. Recently introduced by Amazon was a streamlined return procedure. Instead of a shipping label, a QR code would be sent to customers to enable drop-off at any Staples, Canada Post, Purolator, or Intelcom location. The method neither required a shipping box or printer, nor incurred any additional charges to the customer. If desired, though, one could opt for a Purolator drop-off with "box required". Located at the northeast corner of Armoury and University is likely one of the neatest, most spacious Staples outposts in the city. Besides a Mos Mos coffee counter and dedicated workspace with glass walls (termed "Staples Studio"), the location also offered a "solutionshop" section with a separate counter for Amazon returns. A member of staff would scan the QR code, print a label, and tack it onto the return item in a matter of seconds. Then I'd be on my way. The process was swift and seamless, and ideal for individuals without printers such as myself. IKEA would constitute the following stop. In response to move-in week for post-secondary students, the homeware giant had introduced a number of new dorm-friendly items. Although the selection was impressive, I ultimately strode out without making a single purchase. For starters, I'd need to take measurements to ensure feasibility of the items. Secondly, I was keen to avoid transporting items back home on a rush hour commute with limited GO train seating.
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Who Am I?Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics. Archives
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