Today, I am a story. You get the idea.
I read some comments and people are saying that the female is in depression and starting to lose the trust in her partner although nothing has gone wrong. Here's my take on the song. Might've made it kind of cheesy in the end, CHEESY.
Title: Just Give Me a Reason
I stand still, my hands cupping my ears. I closed my eyes, shook my head, and screamed, "stop, just stop talking."
You sighed, took a deep breath and spoke with a quiet voice, "I'm sorry I dont understand where all this is coming from. I thought we were fine."
We were. In fact, we would still be fine if your new business partner never appeared. You told me everything was fine, but I felt otherwise. Since then I felt like you were different. You stopped saying things to me that you would. The 'I love you' or the 'how was your day' turned to 'I need to work' and 'there's a huge project and I need to attend the event with her'.
"Your head is running wild again," you mentioned, "we still have everything. Nothing is going on between her and I." You stepped closer, but I stepped back.
And it was like that did it. I could tell you were frustrated. "I explained myself. I never lied to you, not at all." Your voice escalated, "What else do you want from me?"
I remained silent.
You sighed, "What happened to us? We had everything."
"I dont know," I replied. You've left scars on my heart from past experiences when we were just dating. Tears continued to stream down my face. I couldnt control my emotions, but I just feel as though you're not the same. "Just give me a reason why I should trust you? Just a little bit is enough."
I looked at you straight into your eyes, and you spoke with tears coming out from them, "Because I love you." You caressed me in your arms. I was too tired to even move away, "I'll fix it for us. We'll come clean, and everything will be back the way it was."
I held onto you tight. I didnt want to let go.
"We're not broken, just bent," you comforted, lifting up your face to stare at mine. You started wiping away my tears, "and we can learn to love again."
----
Story seemed much better in my mind but I cant seem to word it. Trust is a huge issue in today's relationships. There might be nothing going on between your partner and others, but if you cant surpass yourself into trusting and believing that your significant other is telling the truth, maybe its best to move on, but like the song says "we're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again."
That being said, my relationship is doing well! I had my conflicts, but there's always a way to amend things. Keep your head up and do what you need to do to stay strong.
teaC101
Friday, 26 July 2013
Thursday, 25 July 2013
I Am a Name
Today, I am a name. I range from the simple Bill to the interesting Strawberry. Some names have meaning, while others are named just to sound 'cool'.
A few days ago, Kate Middleton, the Dutchess of Cambridge, gave birth to little Prince George Alexander Louis. The name is rather traditional, as how all royals should be named. The meaning behind the name? It's said that they chose George in memory of Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI.
I dont know much about royals, but after hearing the name, it was rather 'typical' to me. That being said, the royal baby is adorable, and I wish him good health throughout his life.
So point of my post? Names. I personally like the name Isaac, but the last name (surname) can change the preference of a name, especially coming from an asian family, sometimes you come up with a name that might end up being the worst name possible. Nonetheless, I personally like the name Isaac... and possibly Joseph. Joseph sounds a bit old though, but those two are the ones I can think of now. To be honest, Michael is a nice name, but I know far too many Michaels to name my own child that.
As for a girl? Livia is a nice name, but my sister insisted that she names her child Olivia, until my cousin present her daughter (my adorable niece) with a middle name of Olivia. For sure not Mary, Michelle, those kind of names...too common and Mary (to me and not to be offensive) sounds old too. I cant think of the girl names I like, slipped my mind just now.
Anyway, what's a good name? I dont really like my name, but it grew on me (and of course it has to!). Regardless of what the name is, you still love your child, and I'm sure no matter what Kate really named her child, he will still be loved by us all (maybe just a little nagging for the next couple of days), but everyone is more or less satisfied with George.
Today, I am a name. Tiffany, Lucy, Georgina, Larry, Thomson, Cletus, Harmony, Joyce, Rob, End.
TeaC101
A few days ago, Kate Middleton, the Dutchess of Cambridge, gave birth to little Prince George Alexander Louis. The name is rather traditional, as how all royals should be named. The meaning behind the name? It's said that they chose George in memory of Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI.
I dont know much about royals, but after hearing the name, it was rather 'typical' to me. That being said, the royal baby is adorable, and I wish him good health throughout his life.
So point of my post? Names. I personally like the name Isaac, but the last name (surname) can change the preference of a name, especially coming from an asian family, sometimes you come up with a name that might end up being the worst name possible. Nonetheless, I personally like the name Isaac... and possibly Joseph. Joseph sounds a bit old though, but those two are the ones I can think of now. To be honest, Michael is a nice name, but I know far too many Michaels to name my own child that.
As for a girl? Livia is a nice name, but my sister insisted that she names her child Olivia, until my cousin present her daughter (my adorable niece) with a middle name of Olivia. For sure not Mary, Michelle, those kind of names...too common and Mary (to me and not to be offensive) sounds old too. I cant think of the girl names I like, slipped my mind just now.
Anyway, what's a good name? I dont really like my name, but it grew on me (and of course it has to!). Regardless of what the name is, you still love your child, and I'm sure no matter what Kate really named her child, he will still be loved by us all (maybe just a little nagging for the next couple of days), but everyone is more or less satisfied with George.
Today, I am a name. Tiffany, Lucy, Georgina, Larry, Thomson, Cletus, Harmony, Joyce, Rob, End.
TeaC101
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
I Am a Dress
Today, I am a dress. I come in different sizes and colors, worn (I think) only by females.
I love wearing dresses, but there never seems to be an excuse to wear one that's more fancy. During my high school years (and being apart of the music department), I always had an excuse to purchase a new dress. I went to music banquet every year, and each year I'll have to wear something new (since I couldnt borrow anyone else's due to my petite and wider size).
It's drawing close to my goal date of losing 5 lbs. I have to say, from the day I set that goal to now, I lost... 4 pounds ish but that comes and goes. Happy that I'm maintaining a weight around this area, I have no idea where this fat is being lost (or if I'm just losing water weight). Whatever it is, my tummy is still the same size (maybe even bigger!) and that's costing me my dress!
I bought this yellow dress three months ago, knowing that it's not the perfect fit. The tummy area is just making my dress tighter than it should (I think) and that's not looking good at all. Why cant cute dresses just fit you perfectly? Sigh.
On a second note, because my sister attended many weddings, I'm happy to say that I have a few backup dresses. That being said, I wish I can fit into my yellow dress. The back is completely bare, and I'm not the type to like showing off more skin than necessary, but this dress i got from Zara was sold out numerous times and the size was so hard to find. I held onto this one since it was the last one in my size, but sadly I might've wasted my 69.99+ tax money. Surely, I know I'll be able to wear it some day... maybe in the future. I dont know when though. No weddings or anything close yet.
Today, I am a dress. You can wear me and someone else can wear me, and you'll both have a very different look (unless you're twins).
TeaC101
p.s. today's random thought: is it worth wearing a dress thats slightly tighter but you love? or something that you're not so fond of but still looks good and better fit?
oh! look! thats my dress!
I love wearing dresses, but there never seems to be an excuse to wear one that's more fancy. During my high school years (and being apart of the music department), I always had an excuse to purchase a new dress. I went to music banquet every year, and each year I'll have to wear something new (since I couldnt borrow anyone else's due to my petite and wider size).
It's drawing close to my goal date of losing 5 lbs. I have to say, from the day I set that goal to now, I lost... 4 pounds ish but that comes and goes. Happy that I'm maintaining a weight around this area, I have no idea where this fat is being lost (or if I'm just losing water weight). Whatever it is, my tummy is still the same size (maybe even bigger!) and that's costing me my dress!
I bought this yellow dress three months ago, knowing that it's not the perfect fit. The tummy area is just making my dress tighter than it should (I think) and that's not looking good at all. Why cant cute dresses just fit you perfectly? Sigh.
On a second note, because my sister attended many weddings, I'm happy to say that I have a few backup dresses. That being said, I wish I can fit into my yellow dress. The back is completely bare, and I'm not the type to like showing off more skin than necessary, but this dress i got from Zara was sold out numerous times and the size was so hard to find. I held onto this one since it was the last one in my size, but sadly I might've wasted my 69.99+ tax money. Surely, I know I'll be able to wear it some day... maybe in the future. I dont know when though. No weddings or anything close yet.
Today, I am a dress. You can wear me and someone else can wear me, and you'll both have a very different look (unless you're twins).
TeaC101
p.s. today's random thought: is it worth wearing a dress thats slightly tighter but you love? or something that you're not so fond of but still looks good and better fit?
oh! look! thats my dress!
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
I Am a Review: Fred's Not Here, Summerlicious 2013
Today I am a review, a food review for Fred's Not Here located at 321 King St W.
My friends basically ordered the other salads, which were nothing special. Sadly we couldnt try the more 'skillful' items on the menu.
The prime rib was well cooked: the meat was tender, juicy, and soft. Perhaps I shouldve ordered the prime rib (again) instead, but my friend said the mashed potatoes were nothing special. The NY strip steak was juicy but oversalted (for my liking). I didnt try the lobster, but my friend said it tasted bland and rubbery for one of the two lobster tails. Duck fat frites were also nothing special, tasted like normal fries.
I did not know what a melba was (still dont), but from what we had, the dish had caramelized peach paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with strawberry sauce. The dish overall was sweet. My first bite reminded me of an orange cremesicle, and I... dont like those at all. The second bite, however, tasted better but the peaches felt like they came out from a can of Dole peaches. Dish was good, but thats it.
I enjoyed this much more than the peach melba. Not really a fan of chocolate cake (usually they get too chocolatey for me), but this one was tasty. The buttercream was not heavy but offered a rich chocolate taste. The sponge cake layer was thin, and once you put the buttercream and cake in your mouth, the cake basically disappears and gives the dish a tiny bit of fluffy and moist cake. I avoided the almonds (not a fan) but it gave the cake a bit of texture as well. Enjoyed this much more than the melba.
Category: Food
Title (Restaurant): Fred's Not Here
Event: Summerlicious 2013
Fred's Not Here, located right across from the TIFF Bell Lightbox building on King St W and John St., has a big sign with simple letters of "Fred's Not Here" highlighted in red lights. Surrounded by competition (aka other restaurants) with waitresses calling you in for a delightful dinner, this restaurant shares the space with Red Tomato. While a little confused as to which door to enter and where we shouldve went, my friends and I slowly walked up the few stairs towards the hostess.
The People
Hostess: She was nice and friendly. Greeted us upon arrival and (even though we were 10 minutes late), brought us to our dining table situated right beside the open kitchen. We also mentioned that one of our guests will not be joining us, and they politely accommodated us to our adjustments.
Waiter/Server: He was a great guy. Slightly humorous and surely approachable, he was one of the better waiters that I've encountered over the year. Unfortunately, he had to ruin our visit by telling us that their infamous soup was sold out. Not only that, the next best option (wings) were also gone. To apologize for the inconvenience, he did give us a 10% discount, and joked about why we couldnt get our soup. I must say, he has a tiny bit of attitude which can easily get in your nerves if you're sensitive to those personalities.
The Ambience
Small, cozy area with comfy seats. I sat at the far back of the restaurant right beside the kitchen, so there was plenty of space beside me. The kitchen was 'open' so you can peer inside and see what they were doing, which made the place looked a bit bigger. The restaurant was quite red/ red tone shades, with images painted on the wall of naked bodies - 18th century type drawings. The outside seem a little blah, but other than that it was just a typical downtown restaurant.
The Food
Bread and Butter
We were served three different types of bread and it came to our table right when we sat down. As good to some as that is, the bread was cold so it doesnt give you that soft squishy warm toasty bread. Instead, we were served with white and rye bread (that's rye right?) with a stick of jalapeno cornbread. The cornbread became quite addictive but the other two were just average and cold.
Appetizer 1: Iceberg Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese and Peppercorn Dressing
I personally wont order a salad for licious events because you're paying $35 for greens that you can toss at home. That being said, I was pretty much forced to because they ran out of their famous lobster soup. As sad as my crew was, the situation got worse when they ran out of the chicken wings too! I would've chosen the gnocci but it came with walnut sauce and I'm allergic, so salad it is. This salad was pretty good. A bit of peppercorn taste blended with honey dressing added flavour to the iceberg lettuce. The lettuce had its crunch, and big bacon bits contributed a bit of salty flavour alongside the texture it offered. Red onions were very raw, but I didnt mind that. The blue cheese wasnt strong as the dressing hid the cheesy flavour that blue cheese usually offers. Still, it added another flavour into the dish that made it better. Overall, it was a good salad.
Appetizer 2 and 3: Caesar Salad and Feta Salad
Appetizer 4 to 6: Lobster and Crab Soup, Duck Wings, Gnocchi
Entree 1: Two Way Beef: Petite Filet and Brisket with Mac & Cheese
I enjoyed the brisket more than the petite filet. When my plate came, I found the petite filet to be rather, tiny: petite was for sure the right word to describe it. Perhaps an inch thick with diameter of 4 inches, this wood grilled and simply seasoned filet was more towards medium rather than my preferred medium rare. The filet itself had a an off texture and got saltier overtime to a point that you might say it was oversalted. In contrast, the brisket was much preferred. Soft and falls right off by just a slight touch of the fork, this piece of meat was well cook. The flavours were also a bit salty, but bearable. A little sweet with the sauce balanced out the saltiness, and the fat from the brisket gave it a moist coating. The meat paired well with the mac and cheese, but the pasta dish itself was disappointing. Not much flavour and was already cold (and hardened) at arrival. More cheese and a hotter (fresh) dish would've been better.
Entree 2: Prime Rib with Celeriac Yukon Gold Mash & Vegetables
Entree 3: Wood Grilled New York Strip Steak with Duck Fat Frites & Vegetables
Entree 4: Twin Lobster Tails in Garlic Butter with Grilled Vegetables Israeli Cous Cous
Entree 5 - 6: Vegetarian Dish and Seafood Linguine
The prime rib was well cooked: the meat was tender, juicy, and soft. Perhaps I shouldve ordered the prime rib (again) instead, but my friend said the mashed potatoes were nothing special. The NY strip steak was juicy but oversalted (for my liking). I didnt try the lobster, but my friend said it tasted bland and rubbery for one of the two lobster tails. Duck fat frites were also nothing special, tasted like normal fries.
As a seafood fan, a part of me wished that I chose the salmon, tiger shrimps and clam linguine, but considering this was a steakhouse, I thought that eating their beef wouldve been the dish to try. Vegetarian dish also didnt seem that worth it.
Dessert 1: Fresh Ontario Peach Melba
I did not know what a melba was (still dont), but from what we had, the dish had caramelized peach paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with strawberry sauce. The dish overall was sweet. My first bite reminded me of an orange cremesicle, and I... dont like those at all. The second bite, however, tasted better but the peaches felt like they came out from a can of Dole peaches. Dish was good, but thats it.
Dessert 2: Chocolate Almond Cake
I enjoyed this much more than the peach melba. Not really a fan of chocolate cake (usually they get too chocolatey for me), but this one was tasty. The buttercream was not heavy but offered a rich chocolate taste. The sponge cake layer was thin, and once you put the buttercream and cake in your mouth, the cake basically disappears and gives the dish a tiny bit of fluffy and moist cake. I avoided the almonds (not a fan) but it gave the cake a bit of texture as well. Enjoyed this much more than the melba.
Dessert 3: Fresh Fruit Ice
We felt this was a waste of money so we didnt order it. Maybe we should've. Couldve tasted good!
The Verdict
The People: 4.5/5
The Ambience: 3.5/5
The Food: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Come again? I would for the soup and for the people yes, but for food (and hence the lower overall rating) no, it's nothing special. I prefer The Keg more.
Worth $35? I would say for what I had, not really, but if I had the lobster soup (or wings), then yes. That being said, they were very considerate and gave us a 10% off for not having the soup, so I do give them S for SUPER service.
Recommend? Not really... it's not bad, but not amazing food.
Comments? Overall, the place had great people, good ambience, and average food. I enjoyed my stay as they never rushed us out either (we were one of the last people still there after their open hours) and gave us a 10% off because there was no soup, which, although I thought they should, I didnt expect them to actually give us a discount. Food can be better, though, and my ratings are more based on food.
Thanks for reading! Summerlicious is over. I can save money again!
TeaC101
Friday, 19 July 2013
I Am a Revew: Chop Steakhouse & Bar, Summerlicious 2013
Today I am a review, a food review for Chop Steakhouse & Bar.
The Ambience
Warm, soft, fluffy interior with a touch of crunchy exterior. The average fist sized bread was cut into 4 slices, but you can argue that the serving size can easily be eaten by one individual. Nonetheless, great bread to start off the meal!
Category: Food
Title (Restaurant): Chop Steakhouse & Bar
Event: Summerlicious 2013
Chop Steakhouse & Bar, located near the Toronto Pearson Airport at 801 Dixon Rd, is your typical steakhouse and bar. I came across this steakhouse randomly as I was trying to find a summerlicious restaurant suitable for my Irish relatives. Steak seem to be reasonable since it offers a bit of everything: chicken, fish, dessert, soup, salads...oh, and steak.
The People
Hostess: Friendly people. I didnt really interact with them since my relatives spoke for me. When I did ask about parking (shared parking with hotel nextdoor), they kindly mentioned to us that the parking was free today and no need to worry about it. Great!
Waitress: Nice but not that friendly/ as professional as she could be. Polite, composed, basically everything that a waitress should be, but no special or outstanding personality. Took a bit of time bringing us extra bread though.
Servers: Also nothing special. Polite young gentlemen and ladies.
The Ambience
Stepping into Chop was no different than stepping into The Keg or Moxie's and all those other casual fine dining restaurants with dim lights and modern interior design. Seats were quite comfy, the tables were the right height, and there really isnt anything to complain about (other than dim lights). Cute lights though (they're hats!).
The Food
Bread and Spread
Warm, soft, fluffy interior with a touch of crunchy exterior. The average fist sized bread was cut into 4 slices, but you can argue that the serving size can easily be eaten by one individual. Nonetheless, great bread to start off the meal!
The Drinks: Caesar and Pink Lemonade
First time drinking a caesar, and it was very vegetable-y. Tasted that sourish spicey bit from the tobasco, and had intense tomato juice flavour. It was my sister's drink. I went for the pink lemonade: raspberry liqueur, raspberry sorbet, vodka, lemoncello, and I think one more thing. Tasted just like a fruity drink. Didnt really taste the vodka, but at the beginning tasted the bit of alcohol, afterwards it just tasted like rasberry flavour diluted lemonade. A little sour, a little sweet. For a short period of time it tasted like the fruity medicine, but I'm not saying its bad, it was pretty good actually!
Appetizer 1: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
This was good. Nice creamy butternut squash taste. Simply delicious. The lemon sour cream gave it a bit of a tang to accompany the sweet taste of squash. I personally love squash, so this satisified me a lot! Soup wasnt grainy, instead it was very smooth, rich yet not too heavy. Would've tasted great with bread, sadly we ate it all before it came, and waitress took too long to bring us our second batch. Large bowl too!
Appetizer 2: Crab and Shrimp Cakes
Appetizer 3 & 4: Mixed Greens Salad and Caesar Salad
Appetizer 3 & 4: Mixed Greens Salad and Caesar Salad
The two seafood cakes were small (palm size) but pretty good. They didn't cheap out on the seafood, at least from the piece I ate. You can taste the shrimb and a bit of the flakey texture from the crab. It wasn't oily either. No sauce. Didnt need it. Salads was ordered but looked no different from any caesar. The mixed green had sesame seeds and a honey vinegrette, but I didnt get to taste it :( .
Entree 1: Baseball Sirloin and Lobster Topper
The image might look nasty, so I must say that the plating was nothing special or very 'rough' and looked very empty with such a big plate. The baseball sirloin was the smallest entree out of the three we ordered (all steak). The steak itself was good, not wow thought since a baseball sirloin is known for their thick cut. I ordered medium rare and it was cooked perfectly, but slightly touch (I blame the cut though). The sauce was creamy, savoury, and had bits of lobster. It reminds me of an 'oscar' but overall very good and paired nicely with the meat. The mashed potatoes and the tomato side was nothing special: good mashed potatoes with skin in and a nicely roasted tomato.
Entree 2: Prime Rib (12oz)
Entree 3: New York Striploin
Please refer to menu for rest (too many!)
Prime Rib was AMAZING. Tender, juicy, HUGE, moist, soft, not too fatty, and simply melts in your mouth. This piece of prime rib (which I should've ordered instead) was the perfect cut of meat. Simply seasoned with only the basic spices paired with au jus and horseradish. That's all it needs. The meat speaks for itself. Yes, I got all that from just one piece. My skinny 6.2ft cousin weighing 130 (and usually eats nothing) devoured this dish like he hasn't eaten in years.
NY striploin was also very juicy. I didnt eat much of it since my mom ordered it and she sat far away, but from the piece she cut me (and it was sadly the fatter piece), it was tender, juicy, and perfectly seared. Their steaks are definitely a must try. So fresh! I must comment on the sides. They're very unevenly distributed. My sister and my uncle both ordered veggies, and my uncle got twice as much as my sister. Tsk tsk.
Dessert 1: Unforgettable Apple Pie
Last but not least, dessert! I was very satisfied with my order of apple pie. I wont say it's UNFORGETTABLE, but it was pretty awesome for a piece of pie. In my picture the serving size is normal, but my mom's apple pie slice was literally twice mine! Although I wished mine that was huge, I was happy with my portion size. If you remember, I'm trying to lose 5 pounds. The pastry was supposed to be a cream cheese crust, but I didnt taste any cream cheese flavour. Perhaps it just gave it that flaky texture. Nonetheless, the pie was slightly warm and the apples were perfectly caramelized and not sour/too sweet. The pie wasnt heavy or sweet, perfect the way it is. The crust had a slight crispy texture while still being soft and flaky. Paired nicely with the vanilla ice cream.
Dessert 2: Raspberry Creme Brulee
Dessert 3: Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge Butter Cream
The custard for the creme brulee was good, but I was disappointed with the inconsistency again with the brulee-ing of the dessert. This one was very burnt, so you could only taste the burnt sugar. The custard at the bottom was great. Sweet and silky like how a custard should, and the raspberries (which werent too evenly distributed) werent sour/too sweet. Once again, it paired well with the custard. The cookie I didnt take a bite out of but family said it was too buttery. The chocolate cake I didnt taste, but my cousin got it and said it was good.
The Verdict
Come again? Yes. The steak was amazing and you can tell its really fresh since its so tender and juicy and perfectly seared.
Worth the $35? Definitely. The portion is pretty big, and even though my side mashed potatoes (or my sister's side veggies) was nothing different, 30 dollars at a normal steakhouse can probably get you just a prime rib (no dessert or appetizer).
Recommend? I already did :)
Give it a try! Although service wasnt the best and there are some bads, I guarantee you that if you love steak this place would satisfy you (and if it doesnt people have different tastebuds so you cant blame me!)
TeaC101
The Verdict
The People: 3.5/5
The Ambience: 4/5
The Food: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Come again? Yes. The steak was amazing and you can tell its really fresh since its so tender and juicy and perfectly seared.
Worth the $35? Definitely. The portion is pretty big, and even though my side mashed potatoes (or my sister's side veggies) was nothing different, 30 dollars at a normal steakhouse can probably get you just a prime rib (no dessert or appetizer).
Recommend? I already did :)
Give it a try! Although service wasnt the best and there are some bads, I guarantee you that if you love steak this place would satisfy you (and if it doesnt people have different tastebuds so you cant blame me!)
TeaC101
Thursday, 18 July 2013
I Am a Review: Canoe, Summerlicious 2013
Today, I am a review, a food review to be exact.
Waiter: We waited a bit for our waiter but in no time, our waiter came and asked us if we were ready to order. He was polite and friendly as well, but it was hard to catch him down just to ask for a drink that my friend ordered (Watermelon and Strawberry Sparkling Lemonade). At least he came and gave us bread. With that being said, I (might also be because I was a few minutes late) was unable to speak with the waiter more and getto know him.
The Ambience
The Food
Appetizer 3: Whipped Sheep's Milk Cheese
Recommend? Definitely.
It's definitely worth to try it. The portions arent tiny like some fancy restaurants, but medium to small sized portions (compared to other less expensive canadian dining restaurants). If the summerlicious menu was this delish, I cant imagine how awesome the actual food is. Not to mention, actually, some people ordered off from their regular menu and the portions looks perfect. Not sure about the price though.
Category: Food
Title (Restaurant): Canoe
Event: Summerlicious 2013
Canoe is well known for their beautiful view of Lake Ontario, the Ontario islands, and the city of Toronto. As a branch of Oliver and Bonacini, Canoe offers Canadian cuisine alongside this breathtaking view. Situated on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower at 66 Wellington St. W., my first impression as I stepped out of the elevator was simple, yet fancy. Opaque white milk jugs lined one side of the wall, while the entrance displayed a simple yet elegant wooden design. Here I begin my experience at Canoe.
The People
Hostess: These ladies were friendly and polite. Every face had a smile, and each spoke with confidence and enthusiam.
Waiter: We waited a bit for our waiter but in no time, our waiter came and asked us if we were ready to order. He was polite and friendly as well, but it was hard to catch him down just to ask for a drink that my friend ordered (Watermelon and Strawberry Sparkling Lemonade). At least he came and gave us bread. With that being said, I (might also be because I was a few minutes late) was unable to speak with the waiter more and getto know him.
Servers: I might be getting these terms mixed up, but here I'm referring to the people who serves you food (other than your waiter). Every meal came quite on schedule, and each dish was present to each of my dining crew all at once. The plates would be set at the same time, and some servers would also go in depth and explain the composition of the dish. Others, however, would just place the dish in front of you and leave. A mixture of personalities here, but over nice and patient.
Now because I was sitting in the middle of the restaurant, I was unable to capture the pure breathtaking view of the city. From where I sat, however, I was able to look outside the windows and see the lake and islands with a few sail boats on the lake. Unfortunately, it rained horribly the day before, so fog covered most of the view. If it was a clear and sunny day or luminous night, I can understand how the view will take your breath away. The seats were very comfy, the tables were set very nicely. The place wasnt dark or gloomy as there were windows as walls, and overall, a very comfortable place to be.
Bread and Spread
Served almost right after we ordered, this soft and spongey starter had a crispy outer layer. Accompanied by a chickpea puree infused with olive oil, the bread was a great way to start off the meal.
Appetizer 1: Slow Cooked Heritage Salmon
The plate was beautifully presented. The orange salmon flesh was paired with a green watercress sauce. The Salmon was cooked to perfection, especially if you love salmon slightly rare. Each segment of the fish melts in your mouth: smooth and soft, the perfect texture for the fatty salmon. The meal tasted light and refreshing. The salmon was accompanied by puff wild rice, which tasted like salty rice krispies cereal, giving it a roasted flavour and some crunch. A Kabosu mayonaise was offered as well, but because I've never tried Kabosu on its own, I'm unsure if I really tasted it. The dish tasted like sashimi at first, then you're overwhelmed with the beautiful taste of fresh salmon. I believe there was some candied kabosu, which I did not enjoy since it was rather bitter/sour tasting. Perhaps if I ate it with the salmon (rather than alone) it would've been better.
Others
Appetizer 2: New Farms Chilled Cucumber Soup
Appetizer 2: New Farms Chilled Cucumber Soup
Appetizer 3: Whipped Sheep's Milk Cheese
A few of my friends ordered the chilled soup and I had a small sip. I wasnt a big fan though since I'm not a cucumber (or chilled soup) person. Strong cucumber taste, yet creamy in texture. No one tried the sheep's milk cheese, although I wanted to as it sounds very interesting.
Entree 1: Albacore Tuna
Fish again? Yes, I wanted to try their fish as I havent really tasted a beautifully cooked albacore tuna yet. Bravo Canoe! You've presented me with tuna (a type of fish that I personally dislike when served raw) that tastes delicious without that fishy taste which many tuna sashimi offers. The bright orange broth served with the ruby tuna was tomato and fennel. You can definitely taste the tomato as it was highlighted with some salty flavours. The jalapeno chutney gave the tuna a tiny kick, but I really didnt taste anything spicy in this dish. The corn gave the dish some more texture with the smooth buttery fish, and the succotash was soft and moist; the sweetness paired nicely with the salted broth and the perfectly seared tuna. Tuna itself was simply seasoned: the surface seared to give the denser meat, while the inside kept the tuna's fresh and pure flavour. First bite tasted like pho, I presume its because of the fennel shaves on top with the tomato broth. Overall very satisified, even if it was just fish. Tasted very different from the salmon dish.
Others
Entree 2: Wellington County Beef
Entree 3: Rock Cornish Hen
I tasted the wellington beef, but before I comment on the taste, let me say that I was a bit disappointed with this dish. Being a foodie myself (or someone that just love watching Hell's Kitchen), I thought I was finally going to taste beef wellington. I searched it up because I was skeptical that it says 'wellington beef' and not 'beef wellington' and yup, I was wrong and wasnt going to taste that fatty pastry goodness. It was just beef from Wellington. That being said, the dish tasted pretty good. I cant really comment on the texture and everything since I just took a little bite, but from my piece it was moist, tender, and the sauce was good. Again, no one had the cornish hen, but it was beautifully presented (as I saw on other diners' tables).
Dessert 1: Torched Bread Pudding
Alas! Dessert! I must say, out of all three courses, the dessert was... the most disappointing to me. Why? Well, my bread pudding was, although beautifully presented, was rather on the stiff side. As I do love a bit of texture to bread pudding rather than it being a blob of soggy egg-soaked pieces of bread, there was a bit too little 'egg custardy' texture for my liking. The flavours were wonderful: sweet with the sabayon, but slightly salty due to the bread. The sabayon was delicious on its own! Even though it wasnt my favourite, I still wouldnt really put down my fork. I also didnt like the plums that accompanied the dessert, probably because I'm not an alcohol fan and I'm pretty sure they soaked it with something. It was a bit too acidic for me there. The plating was interesting as the dessert was placed on the side, I didnt really know how to take the picture from birdseye view (shouldve just taking a side shot).
Others
Dessert 2: Frozen Yogurt
Dessert 3: Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse
Finally a course with all three on the menu presented! Frozen yogurt was very tangy, not the sweet stuff you get from say, menchies or yogen fruz. It was good, but very frozen, and nothing special really. As for the chocolate mousse, I'm not really a chocolate fan, so taking a small bite of the mousse made me thinking that it might taste better if it was slightly colder? Chocolatey flavour that will satisfy your tastebuds if you like chocolate. I remember it being not too sweet, a tiny bit of bitterness to it. Presentation was also a little weird as the chocolate blobs looks like something else (hehe).
The Verdict
Well from my (positive) review, I'm sure you know approximately what my ratings are:
People: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Food: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Come again? FOR SURE, but I wonder how expensive the actual food is
Worth the $45? Yeah, pretty much, especially since its a high end restaurant with a gorgeous view of the city
Recommend? Definitely.
It's definitely worth to try it. The portions arent tiny like some fancy restaurants, but medium to small sized portions (compared to other less expensive canadian dining restaurants). If the summerlicious menu was this delish, I cant imagine how awesome the actual food is. Not to mention, actually, some people ordered off from their regular menu and the portions looks perfect. Not sure about the price though.
Today, I am a review. To be exact, a food review for the restaurant Canoe.
TeaC101
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
I Am a Year Old
Today, I am a year old. What does that mean? I'll explain.
A year (and a few days) ago, I lost someone that meant a lot to me. If you read my Insanity review, you would know that the person that I'm referring to is my grandma. Although the thought is always in my mind, I was reading a comment on this apple pie recipe webpage and it was the author who shared the recipe. Like many other recipes, this one was passed on from her grandma.
Not to sound cliche, but my grandma was a brilliant cook. I loved her food, although I knew she probably used a lot of oil or salt or sugar. Regardless, the food tasted amazing. I remember when I was young and visited my grandma often, she would make me two simple yet beauitful dishes: the tradional chinese style tomatoes and eggs, fermented beans spare ribs rice, and chinese style salty fish meat pattie rice.
When I watched my grandma lie in the hospital bed, it didnt really hit me that some time soon she was going to stop breathing, and when she did, I remember watching my relatives cry as I just stood, not digesting the information. It wasnt until my mom said that we needed to leave the room when I realized that this might be one of the last times I'll ever get to see her. As I type I can picture the incident... not the best memory but I sure wont want to forget it.
This is life. Everyone has to move on, and as much as I miss my grandma, I know she wants me happy.
A friend and I got into an argument a while back, causing me to bring up my grandma's death to prove a point (that you must move on in life). He asked me "how do you know she wants you happy?"
I dont.
And up to this point I feel guilty not seeing her, and rather a chose to go to ribfest. A few days later, she was hospitalized.
But why tell myself she hates me when I know she doesnt. My grandma was someone who's very polite, sincere, kind, selfless, and forgiving. She would go out of her way just to make you happy. She was the perfect grandma.
It's been a year since I've heard her voice. She did come visit me in my dreams (a chinese saying) and told me to stay strong. If I cry (and I am a cry baby), only cry for a little while, stay strong, and move on.
Whether that was myself thinking it, or if she actually did come into my dreams, I took those words and kept it close to my heart.
One year can make a difference. I've lost 15 pounds since she passed away (as I mentioned part of it in my other post) and is very proud with myself! In a year I'll be graduating from University, and hoping to start another chapter of my life in veterinary school.
Today I am a year old. I bring back memories that I obtained one year ago. I miss my grandma, and I love her. That was really the main point of this post, but there's no need to feel upset as I am happy because she wants me to, and I know it.
TeaC101
A year (and a few days) ago, I lost someone that meant a lot to me. If you read my Insanity review, you would know that the person that I'm referring to is my grandma. Although the thought is always in my mind, I was reading a comment on this apple pie recipe webpage and it was the author who shared the recipe. Like many other recipes, this one was passed on from her grandma.
Not to sound cliche, but my grandma was a brilliant cook. I loved her food, although I knew she probably used a lot of oil or salt or sugar. Regardless, the food tasted amazing. I remember when I was young and visited my grandma often, she would make me two simple yet beauitful dishes: the tradional chinese style tomatoes and eggs, fermented beans spare ribs rice, and chinese style salty fish meat pattie rice.
When I watched my grandma lie in the hospital bed, it didnt really hit me that some time soon she was going to stop breathing, and when she did, I remember watching my relatives cry as I just stood, not digesting the information. It wasnt until my mom said that we needed to leave the room when I realized that this might be one of the last times I'll ever get to see her. As I type I can picture the incident... not the best memory but I sure wont want to forget it.
This is life. Everyone has to move on, and as much as I miss my grandma, I know she wants me happy.
A friend and I got into an argument a while back, causing me to bring up my grandma's death to prove a point (that you must move on in life). He asked me "how do you know she wants you happy?"
I dont.
And up to this point I feel guilty not seeing her, and rather a chose to go to ribfest. A few days later, she was hospitalized.
But why tell myself she hates me when I know she doesnt. My grandma was someone who's very polite, sincere, kind, selfless, and forgiving. She would go out of her way just to make you happy. She was the perfect grandma.
It's been a year since I've heard her voice. She did come visit me in my dreams (a chinese saying) and told me to stay strong. If I cry (and I am a cry baby), only cry for a little while, stay strong, and move on.
Whether that was myself thinking it, or if she actually did come into my dreams, I took those words and kept it close to my heart.
One year can make a difference. I've lost 15 pounds since she passed away (as I mentioned part of it in my other post) and is very proud with myself! In a year I'll be graduating from University, and hoping to start another chapter of my life in veterinary school.
Today I am a year old. I bring back memories that I obtained one year ago. I miss my grandma, and I love her. That was really the main point of this post, but there's no need to feel upset as I am happy because she wants me to, and I know it.
TeaC101
I Am a Summerlicious 2013: Food Reviews
Today, I am Summerlicious 2013 review intro. Summerlicious is an event that lasts for 2-3 weeks during summer (of course) inToronto where top restaurants offers a set meal for lunch and/or dinner, price ranging from $15 to $45. If you're going during the summer, Toronto also offers a Winterlicious for the winter.
I was never a summerlicious/winterlicious person. Yes, the food sounds tempting, but travelling to downtown when I dont usually need to and reserving spots and paying that amount for food (usually I go for the $25 lunch and $45 dinner just because the restaurants I'll like to try offers those prices) was not so attractive. Nonetheless, I always get jealous of others going, and feeling so left out, I decided to go and try out some places.
Canoe - downtown Toronto, 66 Wellington St. W.
I've heard great reviews for Canoe, and because I had American Express, I was able to reserve a table asap (unfortunately our view was not the best since we werent close to the windows)
Chop I chose because my relatives from Ireland came, and I decided that steak would be the perfect choice. Seeing such great review for Chop on Urbanspoon and not being able to determine where I want to go eat, I decided to give Chop a try.
Fred's Not Here was chosen because during Winterlicious 2012, many of my friends went and the food there looks amazing, so I chose this place over Auberge du Pommier (another supposedly awesome place) just because I wanted steak (although after eating at Chop, I might prefer the smaller portions from Auberge).
I was never a summerlicious/winterlicious person. Yes, the food sounds tempting, but travelling to downtown when I dont usually need to and reserving spots and paying that amount for food (usually I go for the $25 lunch and $45 dinner just because the restaurants I'll like to try offers those prices) was not so attractive. Nonetheless, I always get jealous of others going, and feeling so left out, I decided to go and try out some places.
I reserved places at three restaurants (and went to two already):
Canoe - downtown Toronto, 66 Wellington St. W.
Chop Steakhouse - near airport in Etobicoke, 801 Dixon Rd.
Fred's Not Here - downtown Toronto, 321 King St. W.
I've heard great reviews for Canoe, and because I had American Express, I was able to reserve a table asap (unfortunately our view was not the best since we werent close to the windows)
Chop I chose because my relatives from Ireland came, and I decided that steak would be the perfect choice. Seeing such great review for Chop on Urbanspoon and not being able to determine where I want to go eat, I decided to give Chop a try.
Fred's Not Here was chosen because during Winterlicious 2012, many of my friends went and the food there looks amazing, so I chose this place over Auberge du Pommier (another supposedly awesome place) just because I wanted steak (although after eating at Chop, I might prefer the smaller portions from Auberge).
The Menu:
The Reviews (to come):
Friday, 5 July 2013
I Am a Review: Insanity Workout
Today, I am a review. I tell you someone's opinion on something.
Insanity Workout
Over 10 different workouts.
Works intensely on cardio.
Tones the whole body.
No equipment required.
At least 30 minutes each workout (with exception to 1-2).
LOTS of water required.
Workout 6 days a week, one break day.
1. Find The Reason:
I chose to do insanity because I was curious as to how hard it was and if it will really give me that sexy body. Of course, my expectations were beyond high as the commercial always shows how built and toned both the males and females were after doing the 60ish days workout. I started in Summer 2012 and stopped after day 2! During the fall season, I worked on just doing the warm up they provided (approx. 9 minutes), but it wasnt until January 2013 where I made my new years resolution, and that was to 'COMPLETE THE INSANITY WORKOUT'.
2. Find The Motivation:
As weird as this may sound, I started pushing myself because I wanted to do it for my grandma. She passed away last summer and, although she never called me fat or anything that even hinted I was a bit on the heavier side, I felt like she would support me with whatever I do. Whenever I wanted to give up, I think of how proud she always is with my accomplishments and I tell myself that I can do it.
On a less emotional note: my boyfriend works out and does badminton on a regular basis. Although I'm far smaller than him (5ft vs 6.3ft), him working out made me afraid that one day I would be some short fat chick with a tall fit man, so I pushed myself to do my best. Of course, he himself was very supportive and said that I motivated him to do the workout. :)
3. Find The Diet:
I must confess, I DID NOT FOLLOW ANY DIET PLAN. I did, however, try to control my diet by eating less carbs, less desserts, more veggies, etc. I didnt cut something out nor did I make my own schedule to keep track of my diet. With that being said, I think the results would be much better (more prominant) if I paid more attention to it. The video package provides you with a guide as to how to approach your meals. What I truly liked was the list of food items and separating them into 5 Tiers (of course, much of what I love is in the worst tier, Tier 5).
4. The Journey:
4a) Myself
Level of physical activity: moderate (jogging, yoga, cardio workouts once in a while - 4 days a week)
Age: 21
Height: 5ft
Weight (at start): 106-118lbs ... I honestly dont remember (I know, huge range)
Medical conditions: none
4b) Workout in Perspective
Fit Test: The first thing you do is the fit test. You will re-visit this video every other week. This allows you to keep track of your progress, whether or not you've improved and where you should, as Shaun T would say, dig deeper. The fit test to me was hard. The first time I did it I was literally going to collapse halfway. The second fit test I did was much better and my results were amazing compared to my first one. Unfortunately, and I'm guessing that I should see better improvement continuing on, my fit tests results stayed around the same thenafter, +/- a few for most of the exercises.
Month One: I think the hardest for this month was to just push yourself to continue after doing the first few days. Since I only did moderate exercise, suddenly working out my whole body was brutal. After day two (including fit test), I remember being really sore and I couldnt even go up stairs! Nonetheless, you need that motivation to get you through it. With that being said, you should make sure that you're safe. Take it slowly. If you cant keep up with Shaun T then dont. I took many breaks in between (when you're technically not supposed to) and just did what I could. Ultimately, you'll get better. You dont want to get hurt!
You start hating Shaun T after a while because you start to realize how he's not really doing the exercises but pushing others. The duration for the workouts ranged from 20minutes to 45minutes. Midway into month one, the exercises are combined so the workout everyday is longer. I think after month one, I lost some of my fat and they were replaced by tiny muscles. My weight, however, stayed around the same, but people were commenting how I looked better than before. (I can guarentee its more around 110lb, the lower limit of my huge range)
Recovery Week: This week was difficult and you think to yourself 'how is this considered a break!?!' Near the end of the week though, I could almost do the whole workout without stopping. I was impressed with myself because squating (which you will see a lot of here) was not my forte (though I cant say the same now : D ).
Month Two: Now I recommend (and for the other workouts too) to watch the video first and maybe try out the moves prior to actually doing the workout. I started right away and I was confused for much of the exercises. Some were the same from month one, but more intense and/or longer. These workouts were also longer and lasts to approximately an hour. Just remember to motivate yourself and keep going. I have to admit, near the end of month two I started to be more lazy as I knew I was 'almost done'. Up to this day, I think I couldve done better during those last two months, but that just shows that the next time I do this workout I'll remember to push myself harder.
4c) Workout in (a little bit more) Depth
Exercises
Now I didnt go in full detail about the workouts, more of just what I thought of each month and what you need to know briefly about. The workout overall contains many exercises: suicides, power squats, power knees, jumping jacks, mummy kicks, drills, push ups, tricep dips, globe jumps, and many more. There's videos that focuses on stretching, some on abs, and a video in month two where he puts workouts from sports (i.e. football drills, long jump etc.) and compiles them all together into one video. The best way to familiarize yourself with the workout is to watch and see what moves he does before each video, but for most of the exercises, Shaun T introduces the move before they actually get into it.
Layout
I dont know the right term for this section, but what I'm trying to say is, the workouts are either interval training or full out.
You always begin with a warmup. For most workouts, the warmup is nonstop for approximately 10 minutes (and I think longer in month two). Usually 6 exercises, each 30 seconds, done 3 times (I guess mathematically speaking, thats 9 minutes).
Then comes stretching, the most important part of the workout!
Then comes the actual workout:
If its intervals, usually 4 exercises, 30 seconds each, followed by a 30 second break, and repeat x 3. The last rep is usually followed by a cool down exercise.
If full out hence no breaks, the exercises are 1 minute each and you take breaks when you need to. Try to 'dig deeper' and do it all, but rest assured, not even Shaun T's workout buddies can do the whole thing.
The above is for month one. Month two is similar, but more workouts and therefore, longer in general.
Other workouts (abs, recovery etc) are usually shorter and you do a lot of balancing stuff. Works your leg muscles and its just brutal! Similar trend as they're usually interval training as well.
In addition, and this is optional to do and not apart of the schedule, Shaun T has a video where he uses weights. A little bonus I guess you can call it.
5. The Conclusion:
Would I do insanity again? Yes. Am I motivated to? Not really. I got kind of bored when I tried starting again. The workouts are a bit repetitive to me, and even though starting month one again was easier (as in the workouts), I realized that I should focus on other things (i.e. studies). I still do insanity exercises once in a while, but right now I've been focusing on another, less intense workout (Hip Hop Abs! to tone my abs).
Insane review! So long, and probably not as informative as it should. Hopefully you got something out of it.
Today I am a review, more specifically, a workout review for Insanity by TeaC101.
TeaC101
Category: Workout
Title: Insanity
Host: Shaun T
Level of Difficulty: 5 (out of 5)
Insanity Workout
Over 10 different workouts.
Works intensely on cardio.
Tones the whole body.
No equipment required.
At least 30 minutes each workout (with exception to 1-2).
LOTS of water required.
Workout 6 days a week, one break day.
1. Find The Reason:
I chose to do insanity because I was curious as to how hard it was and if it will really give me that sexy body. Of course, my expectations were beyond high as the commercial always shows how built and toned both the males and females were after doing the 60ish days workout. I started in Summer 2012 and stopped after day 2! During the fall season, I worked on just doing the warm up they provided (approx. 9 minutes), but it wasnt until January 2013 where I made my new years resolution, and that was to 'COMPLETE THE INSANITY WORKOUT'.
2. Find The Motivation:
As weird as this may sound, I started pushing myself because I wanted to do it for my grandma. She passed away last summer and, although she never called me fat or anything that even hinted I was a bit on the heavier side, I felt like she would support me with whatever I do. Whenever I wanted to give up, I think of how proud she always is with my accomplishments and I tell myself that I can do it.
On a less emotional note: my boyfriend works out and does badminton on a regular basis. Although I'm far smaller than him (5ft vs 6.3ft), him working out made me afraid that one day I would be some short fat chick with a tall fit man, so I pushed myself to do my best. Of course, he himself was very supportive and said that I motivated him to do the workout. :)
3. Find The Diet:
I must confess, I DID NOT FOLLOW ANY DIET PLAN. I did, however, try to control my diet by eating less carbs, less desserts, more veggies, etc. I didnt cut something out nor did I make my own schedule to keep track of my diet. With that being said, I think the results would be much better (more prominant) if I paid more attention to it. The video package provides you with a guide as to how to approach your meals. What I truly liked was the list of food items and separating them into 5 Tiers (of course, much of what I love is in the worst tier, Tier 5).
4. The Journey:
4a) Myself
Level of physical activity: moderate (jogging, yoga, cardio workouts once in a while - 4 days a week)
Age: 21
Height: 5ft
Weight (at start): 106-118lbs ... I honestly dont remember (I know, huge range)
Medical conditions: none
4b) Workout in Perspective
Fit Test: The first thing you do is the fit test. You will re-visit this video every other week. This allows you to keep track of your progress, whether or not you've improved and where you should, as Shaun T would say, dig deeper. The fit test to me was hard. The first time I did it I was literally going to collapse halfway. The second fit test I did was much better and my results were amazing compared to my first one. Unfortunately, and I'm guessing that I should see better improvement continuing on, my fit tests results stayed around the same thenafter, +/- a few for most of the exercises.
Month One: I think the hardest for this month was to just push yourself to continue after doing the first few days. Since I only did moderate exercise, suddenly working out my whole body was brutal. After day two (including fit test), I remember being really sore and I couldnt even go up stairs! Nonetheless, you need that motivation to get you through it. With that being said, you should make sure that you're safe. Take it slowly. If you cant keep up with Shaun T then dont. I took many breaks in between (when you're technically not supposed to) and just did what I could. Ultimately, you'll get better. You dont want to get hurt!
You start hating Shaun T after a while because you start to realize how he's not really doing the exercises but pushing others. The duration for the workouts ranged from 20minutes to 45minutes. Midway into month one, the exercises are combined so the workout everyday is longer. I think after month one, I lost some of my fat and they were replaced by tiny muscles. My weight, however, stayed around the same, but people were commenting how I looked better than before. (I can guarentee its more around 110lb, the lower limit of my huge range)
Recovery Week: This week was difficult and you think to yourself 'how is this considered a break!?!' Near the end of the week though, I could almost do the whole workout without stopping. I was impressed with myself because squating (which you will see a lot of here) was not my forte (though I cant say the same now : D ).
Month Two: Now I recommend (and for the other workouts too) to watch the video first and maybe try out the moves prior to actually doing the workout. I started right away and I was confused for much of the exercises. Some were the same from month one, but more intense and/or longer. These workouts were also longer and lasts to approximately an hour. Just remember to motivate yourself and keep going. I have to admit, near the end of month two I started to be more lazy as I knew I was 'almost done'. Up to this day, I think I couldve done better during those last two months, but that just shows that the next time I do this workout I'll remember to push myself harder.
4c) Workout in (a little bit more) Depth
Exercises
Now I didnt go in full detail about the workouts, more of just what I thought of each month and what you need to know briefly about. The workout overall contains many exercises: suicides, power squats, power knees, jumping jacks, mummy kicks, drills, push ups, tricep dips, globe jumps, and many more. There's videos that focuses on stretching, some on abs, and a video in month two where he puts workouts from sports (i.e. football drills, long jump etc.) and compiles them all together into one video. The best way to familiarize yourself with the workout is to watch and see what moves he does before each video, but for most of the exercises, Shaun T introduces the move before they actually get into it.
Layout
I dont know the right term for this section, but what I'm trying to say is, the workouts are either interval training or full out.
You always begin with a warmup. For most workouts, the warmup is nonstop for approximately 10 minutes (and I think longer in month two). Usually 6 exercises, each 30 seconds, done 3 times (I guess mathematically speaking, thats 9 minutes).
Then comes stretching, the most important part of the workout!
Then comes the actual workout:
If its intervals, usually 4 exercises, 30 seconds each, followed by a 30 second break, and repeat x 3. The last rep is usually followed by a cool down exercise.
If full out hence no breaks, the exercises are 1 minute each and you take breaks when you need to. Try to 'dig deeper' and do it all, but rest assured, not even Shaun T's workout buddies can do the whole thing.
The above is for month one. Month two is similar, but more workouts and therefore, longer in general.
Other workouts (abs, recovery etc) are usually shorter and you do a lot of balancing stuff. Works your leg muscles and its just brutal! Similar trend as they're usually interval training as well.
In addition, and this is optional to do and not apart of the schedule, Shaun T has a video where he uses weights. A little bonus I guess you can call it.
5. The Conclusion:
Would I do insanity again? Yes. Am I motivated to? Not really. I got kind of bored when I tried starting again. The workouts are a bit repetitive to me, and even though starting month one again was easier (as in the workouts), I realized that I should focus on other things (i.e. studies). I still do insanity exercises once in a while, but right now I've been focusing on another, less intense workout (Hip Hop Abs! to tone my abs).
Insane review! So long, and probably not as informative as it should. Hopefully you got something out of it.
Today I am a review, more specifically, a workout review for Insanity by TeaC101.
TeaC101
I Am a Cubicle
Today, I am a cubicle. I'm an area in the office where individual employees sit and work. Sometimes I have walls surrounding the whole desk, other times I only have three walls, creating a wide opening for others to peer in.
My current cubicle at work is very out in the open. You can basically see everything that is on my screen, and you can even sense/ see with your very own eyes people turning their heads as they walk by just to see what you're working on. As a coop student, I have some days where there's a bit of down time, and because I have a bit of time, I write in my blog, check my email, read the news etc.
I guess it is normal, since I see many permanent employees on random forums and websites as well, in my opinion, its never a good thing (for a student) to be seen on a random webpage. So sometimes, instead of going on the internet, I do the following:
List of Things To Do When I Have No Work:
1. Read the News
The most legit thing to do and people wont think you're slacking 'that' much. It looks professional compared to going on facebook or what not.
2. Read a Book
I only did this once for like half an hour because it seems kind of random. Taking out a book at work might seem better than a phone, but that just means you're REALLY bored, and I dont want to look like that
3. Check Email
Simple, but doesnt take much time because you can only check so many times and can only get that many emails in that amount of time.
4. Do Origami
I know right? I did do this once because I had nothing to do (at my old workplace as well) and it's funny because my co-worker came by, saw me folding paper, and quickly said to me "I'll give you something to do after lunch!"
5. Study for MCAT
Yeah, I hate this, but studying for MCAT (which mine is coming in September!) or any other subject, kills a lot of time and sometimes makes people think you are studious. The downfall is if you have notes and stuff, people wont really know what you're reading and just think you look funny having an open textbook on your desk that has NOTHING to do with where you work.
6. Get Furious with my Split Ends
For those of you who have luscious hair, split ends are exactly what it sounds like, the ends of your hair is split into two, three, four.....10?!?! (it's possible) I HATE split ends to the MAX and they are sooooooo distracting. I look at my hair (my hair salon-ist? remembers me as 'the girl with really thick dark curly like hair) and BAM, a gazillion split ends and its never ending. Some are so long that you think its two strands of hair and not just one. It is horrible.
7. Walk Around
This is normal I guess, but I dont like leaving my desk because sometimes my supervisor or project leader comes around and gives me random assignments, so its better to stay at my desk.
8. Write in My Blog
Thats what I'm doing now : P
9. Go Into My Department Storage Room and Stare at Nothing
Its like a lounge, but not really because there's pretty much just a window I can look through.
10. Stare.
Thats right, stare at nothing. Duh................
So that's it. When I have nothing to do I try to find something legit, and although some of the things on my list arent that 'work friendly' in the sense that it's obvious I have nothing to do, I still do it. Of course, surfing the internet is another thing, but I also try not to do that too much either :).
If I had a more enclosed cubicle, I think I would do that more often.
Today, I am a cubicle. If you have an office job, you'll see me every weekday.
TeaC101
My current cubicle at work is very out in the open. You can basically see everything that is on my screen, and you can even sense/ see with your very own eyes people turning their heads as they walk by just to see what you're working on. As a coop student, I have some days where there's a bit of down time, and because I have a bit of time, I write in my blog, check my email, read the news etc.
I guess it is normal, since I see many permanent employees on random forums and websites as well, in my opinion, its never a good thing (for a student) to be seen on a random webpage. So sometimes, instead of going on the internet, I do the following:
List of Things To Do When I Have No Work:
1. Read the News
The most legit thing to do and people wont think you're slacking 'that' much. It looks professional compared to going on facebook or what not.
2. Read a Book
I only did this once for like half an hour because it seems kind of random. Taking out a book at work might seem better than a phone, but that just means you're REALLY bored, and I dont want to look like that
3. Check Email
Simple, but doesnt take much time because you can only check so many times and can only get that many emails in that amount of time.
4. Do Origami
I know right? I did do this once because I had nothing to do (at my old workplace as well) and it's funny because my co-worker came by, saw me folding paper, and quickly said to me "I'll give you something to do after lunch!"
5. Study for MCAT
Yeah, I hate this, but studying for MCAT (which mine is coming in September!) or any other subject, kills a lot of time and sometimes makes people think you are studious. The downfall is if you have notes and stuff, people wont really know what you're reading and just think you look funny having an open textbook on your desk that has NOTHING to do with where you work.
6. Get Furious with my Split Ends
For those of you who have luscious hair, split ends are exactly what it sounds like, the ends of your hair is split into two, three, four.....10?!?! (it's possible) I HATE split ends to the MAX and they are sooooooo distracting. I look at my hair (my hair salon-ist? remembers me as 'the girl with really thick dark curly like hair) and BAM, a gazillion split ends and its never ending. Some are so long that you think its two strands of hair and not just one. It is horrible.
7. Walk Around
This is normal I guess, but I dont like leaving my desk because sometimes my supervisor or project leader comes around and gives me random assignments, so its better to stay at my desk.
8. Write in My Blog
Thats what I'm doing now : P
9. Go Into My Department Storage Room and Stare at Nothing
Its like a lounge, but not really because there's pretty much just a window I can look through.
10. Stare.
Thats right, stare at nothing. Duh................
So that's it. When I have nothing to do I try to find something legit, and although some of the things on my list arent that 'work friendly' in the sense that it's obvious I have nothing to do, I still do it. Of course, surfing the internet is another thing, but I also try not to do that too much either :).
If I had a more enclosed cubicle, I think I would do that more often.
Today, I am a cubicle. If you have an office job, you'll see me every weekday.
TeaC101
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
I Am a Barbeque: Canada Day
Today, I am a barbeque, but you might know me as just BBQ. I'm a method of cooking, where you use a grill and cook basically anything on me, basically, but not all.
Two days ago was Canada Day, so I know I'm late with this post! Regardless, having a BBQ on Canada Day is like a given. Majority of the people do it, I guess because its July and the weather is usually beautifully sunny (like this year).
The Goods of BBQs:
1. The Food
Depends on who's grilling I guess because you can end up with burnt food since it's actually quite hard to cook food perfectly on the grill. Luckily my friend (sadly NOT my boyfriend, as he even forgot to put on the honey at the end) is a pretty good cook, and the food was pretty amazing, especially the perfectly grilled steak to medium rare! Usually we get steak, porkchop, chicken wings, fishballs (yum!), corn, and mushrooms. I also love yams, squash and more veggies, but I guess we wanted to be meat eaters for the day.
2. The People
This also depends on who's hosting and whether or not you're just 'there' or you were invited invited. I always hate being invited to something where I'm just seen as 'his gf' or 'her friend' or something like that. Although the BBQ was at my boyfriend's house, his friend hosted it. I used to not know them that well, so I was known as 'his girlfriend'. I'm probably known as that now too, but at least I know them better to be more than a girlfriend and more of a 'friend that's also his gf'. But anyway, being with friends is always great. I dont see these people often, so having to just talk to them and catch up was amazing.
The Bads of BBQs:
1. The Food
What? Well let me explain. So grilling food might end up eating burnt stuff, and that's pretty bad for your health. Not only that, but the food can make you fat because, like us, you usually eat more meat than veggies (unless you're a talented chef) and usually you add butter (because butter corn is so much better). Also, if you're just a guest, there really isnt a choice as to what you can eat, so if its all meat, you'll have to eat it!
2. The Smell
BBQ smells great actually. That meaty food aroma never goes away, literally. It might smell good then, but once you're out of the area, driving back home or just watching a movie, you realize that you smell.... a lot like what you just ate. A little burnt, a little BBQ sauce, a little spice, and it lingers on your clothes and hair until you wash it. Make sure you wear not so pretty clothes, in case you want to wear it again without washing. White is also bad, since it can stain!
All in all, BBQs are a yes and must do once in a while. As an asian person coming from an asian family, we dont BBQ often anymore, since we have such long work hours and its just a lot of work cleaning and things. And I dont know, I think us asians (or at least my family) would prefer hot pot!
Today, I am a BBQ to celebrate Canada Day. What more do I need to say?
TeaC101
Two days ago was Canada Day, so I know I'm late with this post! Regardless, having a BBQ on Canada Day is like a given. Majority of the people do it, I guess because its July and the weather is usually beautifully sunny (like this year).
The Goods of BBQs:
1. The Food
Depends on who's grilling I guess because you can end up with burnt food since it's actually quite hard to cook food perfectly on the grill. Luckily my friend (sadly NOT my boyfriend, as he even forgot to put on the honey at the end) is a pretty good cook, and the food was pretty amazing, especially the perfectly grilled steak to medium rare! Usually we get steak, porkchop, chicken wings, fishballs (yum!), corn, and mushrooms. I also love yams, squash and more veggies, but I guess we wanted to be meat eaters for the day.
2. The People
This also depends on who's hosting and whether or not you're just 'there' or you were invited invited. I always hate being invited to something where I'm just seen as 'his gf' or 'her friend' or something like that. Although the BBQ was at my boyfriend's house, his friend hosted it. I used to not know them that well, so I was known as 'his girlfriend'. I'm probably known as that now too, but at least I know them better to be more than a girlfriend and more of a 'friend that's also his gf'. But anyway, being with friends is always great. I dont see these people often, so having to just talk to them and catch up was amazing.
The Bads of BBQs:
1. The Food
What? Well let me explain. So grilling food might end up eating burnt stuff, and that's pretty bad for your health. Not only that, but the food can make you fat because, like us, you usually eat more meat than veggies (unless you're a talented chef) and usually you add butter (because butter corn is so much better). Also, if you're just a guest, there really isnt a choice as to what you can eat, so if its all meat, you'll have to eat it!
2. The Smell
BBQ smells great actually. That meaty food aroma never goes away, literally. It might smell good then, but once you're out of the area, driving back home or just watching a movie, you realize that you smell.... a lot like what you just ate. A little burnt, a little BBQ sauce, a little spice, and it lingers on your clothes and hair until you wash it. Make sure you wear not so pretty clothes, in case you want to wear it again without washing. White is also bad, since it can stain!
All in all, BBQs are a yes and must do once in a while. As an asian person coming from an asian family, we dont BBQ often anymore, since we have such long work hours and its just a lot of work cleaning and things. And I dont know, I think us asians (or at least my family) would prefer hot pot!
Today, I am a BBQ to celebrate Canada Day. What more do I need to say?
TeaC101
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