'Tis (finally) The Season!

Some Holiday spirit for everyone! A short video of my cousins and I dancing to some holiday music (: Enjoy! I love the holiday season, from Thanksgiving all the way to New Years! This is a great time to spend with family or the ones that you love and appreciate the most. This year, JMU gave us a month off for break (which has never happened before since I've been there) and I'm so glad that I am now home spending time with my family. Cheers, everyone! (: Just a few more days until Christmas and a whole new year! It's so baffling how time seems to slip by sometimes...

With Love,

Cassandra 

The Gratitude Challenge

A few days ago, I watched a video found on my friend's tumblr page about the greatest contributing factor to happiness. It was probably one of the most heartfelt videos I've watched, and trust me... I've watched plenty (especially wedding videos that left me bawling my eyes out wishing for a true love like that). But I digress; I felt as though this video is really appropriate since Thanksgiving is tomorrow in the United States. This is probably my favorite holiday because it is filled with lots of food and time with family! The two best combinations anyone could ask for! (: Anyways, before I explain this challenge I am inviting everyone to participate in, you'd have to watch the video to understand. Grab some tissues, you won't be sorry that you watched this.



Now, was I right that you needed tissues? Or am I just an emotional sap that cries over anything... please don't answer that because I probably already know! Here is my challenge to you, because it is Thanksgiving, and this is the perfect holiday to reflect on everything and any one that you are thankful for.

The Gratitude Challenge

Write a letter to someone that you are thankful for, or has inspired, motivated, or encouraged you a great deal. Like the video said, express your gratitude! (: Why not, right? I feel as though we live our lives saying things such as "appreciate more" but never really taking the time to express our appreciation. There are those in our lives, I'm sure, who are bending over backwards to provide all they can for you.. someone and I mean someone in your life really, absolutely, cares about you more than anything! How amazing and beautiful is that?! Take the time out of your day to write a small letter expressing your own gratitude and thankful-ness for them.

Part #2 of the challenge: give them the letter. You don't have to call them up and read it to them if that's a bit scary and tear inducing (because you already know I'd be crying). Email them the letter, send it to them in the mail (even better!!), or if you're seeing this person sometime soon, hide this note somewhere they'll find for later. A nice surprise letter expressing your gratitude and appreciation for this person (:

Like the video and study said, this is surely to make you feel a lot happier as well! Good luck everyone with this challenge, I'll be attempting to do the same thing as well. What are you thankful for this year?

With Love,

Cassandra

Wanderlust: Cross Country Roadtrippin

On the Road

So, as of lately, I've been asking a lot of my friends if they'd be interested in a cross country road trip after we graduate. I think a lot of them think that I'm kidding, but I'm being completely serious! The traveling itch has struck me again and I'm really interested in this cross country road trip idea. I even heard about the famous Foam Henge that we have here in Virginia... yes, you read that correctly, a Foam Henge that is a replica of the famous Stone Henge. Whuuut. Now, if anyone is interested in embarking on this cross country road trip with me, I'd love a travel buddy. I also have heard of the giant ball of yarn somewhere in America? What are these great natural wonders that we have hiding here... 

If you have ever been on a cross country road trip, I'd love to hear about some advice/tips on what to do and how to get planning/save money! Maybe, renting an RV? Possibly my next great adventure after graduation! (:

Food for Thought: Brave New Voices 2013

Food for Thought: White Privilege/White Supremacy

This spoken word poem really made an impact on me, that I even started tearing up! After taking my Sociology of Gender course last semester, we touched on subjects of white supremacy and what it means to be a womon and a minority. Get educated, learn about what feminism means and equality for all... the first step to creating a more equal world for everyone to live in is to educate others on the subject. Being open minded to subjects such as these can really open up your mind for discussion.

Quality Time

Spending time with my family is very important to me... To be honest, I'm a homebody. I'd definitely rather stay in and lounge around with my family than do something extravagant (minus the few adventures that I do love to go on). This was an impromptu photo shoot with all of my cousins that stopped by to see me before I left to go back to JMU. They're the cutest! I had so much fun playing with them and being silly (: They say that you can learn something from little kids, and I have to agree.

Left to right: Adrianna (my sister!), Nicole, Gabby, and Isabelle

Isabelle and I raked the leaves into huge piles while everyone else went to the park with my uncle. After they all came back, we decided to have a photo shoot with them jumping into the leaves! I was a bit wary because leaves definitely have germs and bugs in them.... but they still wanted to do it. These pictures turned out so great! (: 

Some fun things to do in Autumn weather, with your family,  before the winter season picks up:

• Rake leaves! (the old fashion way... without the leave blower) It's an incredibly calming feeling and if it's great weather outside it's perfect to soak up some sun!
• Bake! (pumpkin season isn't over yet!! here are some great recipes to some pumpkin flavored treats: Fudgy Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cup Brownies, Chai Spiced Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins, and Pumpkin Spice Donuts)
• Visit the Apple Orchard (some local ones in Virginia: Crooked Run Orchard, Carter Mountain Orchard and Virginia Farm Market)

I love when fall season rolls in, because there are holidays stacked on holidays! We've got Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years to name a few of the ones that my family celebrates. The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on all the things that we are so blessed and thankful to have in our lives, our families being one of them. Just a few more weeks and Thanksgiving will be here and next thing you know 2013 is rolling into 2014! Oh my, does time fly! I hope everyone takes some time today to appreciate and thank those in their lives who they care about most (: That's what the holiday season is all about.

What are you thankful for? 

With Love,

Cassandra

Always in our Hearts

Today marks the two year anniversary of your passing. I cannot believe that it has already been two years since we've lost you. The memories and thoughts from that night have clouded my mind all day. 

Two years ago, I lost a friend through an on campus accident that was fatal. We were at dance practice when Jane decided to take a walk and grab food for myself and a fellow friend. There was an unsettling feeling when she didn't return at a decent time and even though we had called her, there were still no responses. What scared me the most was that I was receiving text messages and twitter updates about a student that had been hit by a bus and killed. After finding out that news, exec members from Visual Distortions rushed around campus frantically trying to find her. It was chaos and confusion. Our night led us to the hospital where we waited until 4am for confirmation if it was her or not. The feelings and thoughts that rushed through my mind when it was confirmed that our Jane was the one that was hit, I could not explain it to you. 

She was a bright and beautiful soul. Her presence was a blessing. To find words to describe the aura that she had would be impossible. Jane was a caring and loving individual that would exude passion and kindness. My fondest memory of her, was being able to share similar life situations and learning from one another. One of the last text messages she had sent me just hours before was that she was excited to see what the future held for both of us. Losing a close friend in college has taught me so much about myself and about how I want to carry out my life. Losing Jane has taught me to never take a single person for granted... because in reality you never know if that is the last time you will be seeing them. Jane taught me to love whole heartedly and not be scared - that there is no other way to live life than to live it passionately. 

Jane, my friend, my tumblr partner and my angel... today marks another year that you are not here with us. You continue to be an inspiration to everyone who you've ever met. I continue to dance for you - because I know you'd be killing it if you were here. I say this every single time, but, come home. You are always, and forever will be, in my heart.

Jane Hwang
RIP 11/15/2011

Autumn Adventures

This past weekend, my Love Pumpkin, Vicki came down to hang out! We hadn't seen each other in about a month, so it was so much fun to hang out and be able to catch up. On Sunday, we ventured out to Back Home on the Farm, which is a local pumpkin patch that was only 10minutes away from my house! How convenient! They have a wide selection of activities to do there, from the pumpkin patch, the cornmaze, pig races, food and games overall. This was the first time that Vicki and I had been to a pumpkin patch in a long time... and the weather on Sunday was beautiful! I'm talking about sunny skies, light breeze and warm! Usually, Harrisonburg weather tends to be a bit confusing but Sunday was perfect. 

We arrived at Back Home on the Farm, and admission tickets were only $8 with re-entry. Their pumpkins are a bit pricier since they sell them for 50cents a pound. They had some really great selections and it was fun to have all the different options that they offered. We were both too scared to actually go through the cornmaze, but we ended up having lunch there and enjoying the scenery (: 

After picking out our pumpkins, we came back to my house and sat outside munching on chocolate chip cookies, listening to music and carving. Carving a pumpkin is a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. Gutting our pumpkins grossed us out a bit, lots of pumpkin guts are all over my porch right now... haha oops! 

i am obsessed with this picture of Vicki and I! 

Above is the pumpkin that I carved. I'm really proud of the way it turned out, especially because I free handed it! It's supposed to be a sugar skull. I'm excited to light them up for our Halloween party this weekend! (: Hooray!

The rest of our day ended up being filled with great company and spontaneous plans! Gim J and Miguel stopped by so we ended up going out to eat at the local Thai restaurant that our friend Mel works at. Miguel, Gim J and Christina came over afterwards and started carving their own pumpkins. They all turned out so great! I think this is going to have to be an annual tradition from now on. I really want to look for some different things that I can do with all the pumpkin guts we have and all of the seeds. I know I can definitely toast the pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack and possibly make pumpkin bread or pumpkin chocolate cookies... YUM. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Happy Early Halloween! (:

With Love,

Cassandra