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My Year in Review: 2017

Posted on December 31, 2017 by stenoodie

2017 highlights

December 31, 2017: I look forward to writing this post every single year since I’ve started the annual one and I’ve honestly so excited to share with you my thoughts on this very last day of 2017. I’ve been ruminating about the things I’ve wanted to reflect on since November and drafting it in my head about things I want to share — ways to say it, what to write, etc. For ease of my own mind and to not go scatter-brained, I will categorize it for you (and for me). Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged blogger, goals for 2018, lifestyle blogger, thoughts and ruminations of 2017, who reads my stuff anyway, year in review 2017 | 4 Comments

All-You-Can-Eat Japanese Food at Sano Sushi in Thornhill

Posted on December 30, 2017 by stenoodie

Sano Sushi located at 8143 Yonge St in Thornhill

December 24, 2017: For a Christmas Eve lunch, we enjoyed the all-you-can-eat Japanese food at Sano Sushi. This is a little Japanese restaurant that serves all your typical Japanese buffet food including sushi, maki rolls, teppanyaki, tempura, salad, katsu, handrolls, and desserts Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged 8143 Yonge St, @Sano_Sushi twitter, food blog, foodie, restaurant review, Sano Sushi, Sano Sushi all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner ordering sheet, Sano Sushi menu, Thornhill | 1 Comment

Trial Class at Kalari Kickboxing and Martial Arts

Posted on December 30, 2017 by stenoodie

Kalari Kickboxing and Martial Arts located at 57 Glen Cameron Rd, West Unit in Markham

December 23, 2017: First time trying kickboxing at Kalari Kickboxing and Martial Arts for a free trial class! The trial class was surprisingly two hours long which was incredibly valuable and worth attending to try this out.

What I liked the most was that the trainer Steve was incredibly encouraging, understanding, yet motivating and a very patient teacher too! Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness, New Experiences | Tagged 57 Glen Cameron Rd, Kalari Kickboxing and Martial Arts, kickboxing classes, Markham, trial classes, West Unit | 2 Comments

Hot Pot Dinner at Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot

Posted on December 29, 2017 by stenoodie

Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot located at 650 Highway 7 E #102 in Markham

December 21, 2017: Other than tastings, it’s been a while since I’ve actually went out for a hot pot meal. This restaurant, Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot, used to be called 100 Degrees Hot Pot (I came here for dinner before and is blogged here). Since that one closed down and this one took its place, I hadn’t visited. Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged 650 Highway 7 E #102, @LiuyishouHotpot twitter, Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot, Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot mascot, Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot menu and prices, Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot reviews, Chongqing Liuyishou Hotpot split pot, File Fish, food blog, foodie, hot pot, hot pot hwy 7 leslie, hot pot restaurants, hot pot restaurants in Richmond Hill, Markham, restaurant review, Richmond Hill, sliced pork belly, Spicy Bull Frog Legs | 1 Comment

Injeolmi Bingsu Dessert at The Cups at First Markham Place

Posted on December 28, 2017 by stenoodie

The Cups Markham located at 3235 Hwy 7 in Markham

December 21, 2017: I finally made it here to The Cups! Despite them opening a second location here at First Markham Place and me living so close to it, this was my first time here. Natalie and I had one of the best foodie chats here and I was so glad to be able to try The Cups’s bingsu for the first time and see what the hype was all about. Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged 3235 Hwy 7, cafes Hwy 7 Markham, food blog, foodie, Injeolmi, Korean cafes Markham, Korean desserts Markham, Markham, restaurant review, shaved ice Markham, The Cups Markham, The Cups Markham Bingsu, The Cups Markham menu and prices, The Cups shaved ice | 4 Comments

Vegetarian Pad Thai at Sukhothai Parliament

Posted on December 27, 2017 by stenoodie

Sukhothai located at 274 Parliament St in Toronto

December 19, 2017: After unsuccessfully navigating through the Toronto Christmas Market, the four of us decided to go to Sukhothai for dinner instead. I’ve been to the Wellington location of Sukhothai but not this one. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know Sukhothai had expanded so much in the recent years to now have four locations in the GTA! Wow, great job, Nuit and Jeff! Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged 274 Parliament St, @SukhoThaifood twitter, food blog, foodie, Khao Soi, Lemongrass Fish, pad thai, restaurant review, Sukhothai, Sukhothai dinner menu and prices, Sukhothai Parliament, Sukhothai Parliament prices, Thai, Toronto, Toronto Thai restaurants | 2 Comments

The Pickle Barrel at Markville Shopping Centre

Posted on December 26, 2017 by stenoodie

The Pickle Barrel located in the Markville Shopping Centre at 5000 Highway 7 in Markham

December 17, 2017: Considering that I’ve been to this location of The Pickle Barrel plenty of times, it’s funny that this is my first time blogging about it. I used to come to this Pickle Barrel almost yearly as a end-of-year dinner with friends. Pickle Barrel was also one of the first western chain restaurants I’d ever been to and really enjoyed. I have fond memories of the lobster and spinach dip that they used to serve (of which, I found out on this visit Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged 5000 Highway 7, @thepicklebarrel twitter, food blog, foodie, Harvest Bowl, Markham, Markham chain restaurants, Markham restaurants, Markville Shopping Centre, Moroccan Cigars, Pickle Barrel Markville Shopping Centre, restaurant review, Thai Fried Cauliflower, The Pickle Barrel Markville | Leave a comment

Weekly Photo Challenge: 2017 Favorites

Posted on December 20, 2017 by stenoodie

New York, New York. April 2017

Looking back on this year (Get it? The photo?), there were definitely very many favourite moments. This week’s photo challenge asks us to recall a fave photo from 2017, whether it be a technically accomplished one (like beautifully captured or something) or a favourite moment or whatever. I can’t say I have a most favourite photo from this year because there were so many good photos and it’d take me a long Continue reading →

Posted in Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged 2017 favorites, 2017 favourites, photos of 2017, post a day, weekly photo challenge | 26 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Ascend

Posted on December 13, 2017 by stenoodie

Approaching Tianmen Mountain, China. September 2017

When you ascend so high that you see the mountain tops, mist, and fog outside your tour bus window.

(On our way up the Tianmen Mountain in Changsha, China of 1,518.6 m [4,982 ft] to see the views! I blogged about the visit here.) Continue reading →

Posted in Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged ascend, mountain views, postaday, Tianmen Mountain fog, weekly photo challenge | 8 Comments

Italian Dinner at Il Fornello (Richmond Hill)

Posted on December 10, 2017 by stenoodie

Il Fornello located at 8851 Yonge St in Richmond Hill

December 8, 2017: I originally wasn’t going to blog about this but then if I leave out bad reviews, it doesn’t help the restaurant improve so here it is. This was my third time going to the Richmond Hill location of Il Fornello. They serve Italian food and have several locations in the GTA (of which I have been to before). The first time I dined here was two years for lunch (blogged here) and the second time was for a dinner tasting hosted by a Continue reading →