Posts By: Xin Xu

Cassandra Wang

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.

Five Keto Snack Ideas

Since starting on my keto journey, it has been challenging to find healthy snacks that are in line with this new diet.  However, as time passed, I’ve discovered new creative ways to snack without starting a bad habit.  Many options exist if you’re looking to lower your blood sugar and stay healthy and fit.  Here’s… Read more »

Top Five Canadian Early Winter Warm-Up Picks

Living in Canada has never been easy in the winter.  Despite my love for skiing, ice fishing and building snowmen, I’ve always struggled with rhinitis (inflammation of my upper sinuses when the temperature drops).  Staying warm is a must in Canadian winters and I’ve accumulated a wardrobe of essentials for when the temperature dips below… Read more »

When is Online Shopping an Addiction?

Since the dawn of online shopping with giants like eBay, we’ve loved the convenience of clicking a button in the comforts of our homes and receiving a package in the mail.  My own interest in online shopping came early.  Back then, eBay took about a month to ship my beloved international charging adapter that I… Read more »

I Tried a Keto Diet for One Month

I started Keto about a month ago and it has been a life-changing experience.  It started with a single day at the gym where I ran for about 15 minutes.  I was completely out of breath, unfit and nauseated.  I felt that my stamina was waning as I watched the treadmill total the calories I… Read more »

Calgary Stampede 2021 Experience

Last week I had the opportunity to attend Calgary Stampede, a summer festival that has been the heart and soul of Calgary, Alberta, for decades, with history that dates back to the 1920s.  While many summer festivals offer similar experiences with rides, games, and an assortment of fried and sweet goodies, the Calgary Stampede boasts… Read more »

The Not-So Starving Student—Bullet Train Sushi

While some of the most exciting dining experiences I’ve had have been outside of North America, there are a few experiences I’ve had in Canada that are worth mentioning.  One of these is a bullet train sushi experience.  Even though these are fairly common in Japan and parts of Asia, it was a rare find… Read more »

Four Tips for 2021 Graduates

So, you might have just recently finished your courses and are waiting for that prestigious piece of paper that shows you’ve worked hard to get where you are academically.  However, graduating during the pandemic is also scary.  As the 2020 graduates can relate to, the pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives from personal… Read more »

Three Reasons to Make Journaling Part of Your Routine

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 »

How to Be a Pet Foster Parent

With a new wave of lockdowns in place for many provinces, many households may be looking for some activities or time to dedicate to a pet.  I know a year ago, I was in the same place.  I suddenly felt a surge of free time and energy to take care of a rescue animal.  Of… Read more »

How to Start a Workout Routine At Home

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there.  Whether it’s the incessant snacking from the last year or the numerous Skip The Dishes takeout we’ve resorted to, COVID-19 has placed a mental and physical toll on our bodies.  For myself, I know the pandemic has been unforgiving on my workout routines.  With the number of public… Read more »