Cassandra Wang hails from Edmonton, Alberta. But before settling in, she lived in Shanghai for the first 7 years of her life. That’s where she grew up and got her taste of the vibrant food culture. Since moving to Edmonton, she has fallen in love with international cuisine. If there’s a new restaurant in town, she would be the first to line up outside the door. At home, you can find her experimenting with recipes around the world. She hopes to share these experiences with all who care to listen.
In her spare time, Xin cares for 6 rescue budgies. Many of which she found stranded in parks or her backyard. On weekends, she drives out to Banff or Jasper where she can be found hiking new trails. She’s thankful Athabasca University has allowed her to work full-time as a researcher while taking courses that interest her such as abnormal psychology.
Good habits shape good decision making. It means that once we continue a behavior, our brain can be on autopilot and focus on bigger priorities. For example, the routine of brushing our teeth before bed saves our brain-space from worrying about it as a task. The same goes for many other good habits such as… Read more »
One of the most stressful, but also fascinating, experiences in 2021 was traveling amidst the pandemic. I know I might get a lot of hate for this post, but I wanted to share what some of my experiences have been like. I also know that while avoiding travel is highly recommended at this time, there… Read more »
My all-time favorite secret sauce (or rather powder) for my baking is matcha. Despite not being the most enthusiastic baker, I certainly love occasionally treating myself, my friends, and my family with some homemade matcha snacks. As of late, my favorite matcha treat is the matcha shortbread cookie. Pair the soft, crumbly texture of shortbread… Read more »
COVID-19 has thrown a lot of obstacles in our course. Whether it was your intended graduation date or the job you were eying for the next internship but was cancelled. So how can we make sense of these different obstacles without it feeling like life has thrown a number of wrenches in our plans. As… Read more »
Canada’s dry winters can cause many skin concerns. Having struggled with dry or flaking skin for years, I’ve looked to strategies to better manage this dryness for the last two decades. Depending on your particular skin type, there may be various ways to help replenish the lack of moisture in your skin. I’ve recently discovered… Read more »
Sending the right gifts during Christmas can be a headache. Especially for people whom you’ve barely interacted with or perhaps have interacted with for a long time but hardly know their interests and hobbies. These can be colleagues, classmates, professors and other acquaintances. What are some ways you can give authentic gifts relevant to the… Read more »
One of the traditional foods I had growing up was skewers. There are so many variations in different regions of the world. The infamous Middle Eastern kebabs are a mouth-watering treat. Satay skewered meats served with peanut sauce are a favorite in Asia. Yakitori is a Japanese skewered meat dish that uses charcoal grills with… Read more »
The Christmas festivities will be soon upon us. How ready are you to tackle some dinner hosting and the art of food presentation? I’ve recently explored charcuterie boards on many separate occasions and have enjoyed the happy faces of my guests as they sample different meats and cheese pairings. There are infinite combinations and pairing… Read more »
Are you a foodie? Or better yet, are you, your friends, and family members food-lovers who thrive on trying different cuisines? If so, Christmas gifts that are centered around making their food experience in the kitchen better will be a joy to have this Christmas season. With COVID-19 pandemic rules becoming less restrictive and more… Read more »
It’s no surprise that living in a northern climate can affect our mood, sleep. and energy levels. But you may not be unfamiliar with the term Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—a mood disorder that leaves many feeling lethargic, agitated, and unmotivated during the winter months. While the general condition refers to changes in season, for many… Read more »