Home Stretch

Summer vacation is only three official days away for me, and for many it is already in full swing! I have one more final to go tomorrow morning and then I'm completely done learning for the year. My last final is English, and all I have to do is write out a preplanned essay, followed by coming home and writing a short little essay for First Aid and CPR that I was absent for. Then, after all of that I will be 100% done with school work! Wednesday is an early dismissal and sort of a party day in all my classes, and then Thursday, the last day, an even earlier dismissal, is a new tradition my school is starting this year called "Move Up Day", where you check your out classes for the next year. 

I think Move Up Day is a good idea so that you can see who all is in your classes and get some info about summer AP work, but at the same time I sort of like being surprised by my new classmates on the first day. I have never been one to freak out over who I have classes with and who I can walk with from class to class, unlike most of the people in my school. I have always ended up knowing people and like I said, I quite enjoy not knowing. Finding out on the first day doesn't give me a whole lot of time to think about how upset I am that I have a class with so-and-so or that I'm surrounded by smart people and will feel stupid, or that all my friends have a different teacher, and I think that just makes the overall year more enjoyable. 

I feel like having an entire summer to stew over who's in my classes will just take away the fun. Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand people who feel anxious not knowing. That's just not me, I'm surprisingly pretty chill about it, for a somewhat uptight person. I'm weird in the way that I am very independent but also not a loner; I like being surrounded by people but am completely fine not being around others every second. My Meyers-Briggs personality is an ENFJ, if you google it I think it sums me up nicely. 

Most girls are always walking in a posse, whereas there a few classes each day where I walk confidently alone. I have never felt judged by anyone for walking alone, probably because I never look sad. If someone asked to walk with me of course, I'd say yes! More power to you, though, if you're the type always walking in a pack. To each his own!

I have really strived this year to embody something Kid President said: "Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody." This goes along with my philosophy of taking each classmate for what they're worth. Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect- I judge people. I think it's impossible not to, at first. But one of the ways I keep myself from missing out on someone I might actually like is by not freaking about who I do and do not have classes with. 

If you haven't heard of Kid President, you need to look it up on youtube right now! He is so awesome!!!

XOXO,

Cass

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's day is only a week away, but with finals and all the end of the year madness, shopping is always last-minute for me! I love giving gifts and I strive to make each one something special that the person will really enjoy. Sometimes a little inspiration is all I need to spark the perfect idea, or other times people will share a product that is just perfect for the occasion. So, without further ado, here are some things I think would be the perfect gifts!

One// Weber's New Real Grilling ($15)- Perfect for the grilling aficionado, this cookbook is complete with mouth watering pictures of every recipe and extremely helpful grilling tips. I actually bought this for my dad last father's day and he loves it. We have been smitten with every recipe we've tried so far. Cookbooks can be a tricky gift because they can be somewhat boring and impersonal- after all, who doesn't have loads of cookbooks piling up on a shelf somewhere? The key is to find one unique, easy to use, and tailored to your dad's taste. We don't have anything like this cookbook, and the photography alone makes you want to try everything. There are several guides and grilling tips which make my dad feel like a pro. The recipes are modern but nothing too far out of the comfort zone. Think classic with a twist- unexpected yet delicious favor combinations, like prosciutto-wrapped grilled pineapple spears, bourbon-glazed bacon-wrapped pork chops, and grilled peach with blue cheese bruschetta drizzled with honey. 

Two// Life is Good Tee ($26)- You really can't go wrong with one of these super-soft, positive message inscribed t-shirts. With so many different images on the front, you'll be sure to find one that screams your dad's name. Everyone loves things that perfectly describe their interests and talents. Whether your dad is a kayaker, hiker, baseball lover, bike rider, motorcycle dude, barbecue king, or anything else you could think of, Life Is Good has a t-shirt made for him. Another past father's day gift, my dad was amazed there was a t-shirt with three of his favorite things (bike riding, kayaking, and hiking) on it in a cheery graphic image. Plus, who doesn't love good vibes and clothes that feel like pajamas?

Three// American Crew Shave Products (around $12 each)- I'm no expert on men's shaving products, so I will just say this: we bought my dad a sample pack of these products from our salon one year, and he continues to ask for them and purchase them when he wants to splurge. Coming from a man whose sole toiletries are typically Suave 99 cent shampoo, Dove soap, and whatever shave cream's on sale, that's saying something. I mean, who doesn't like to feel pampered? Whatever product from the line you choose, it's sure to be a winner for any dad.  

Four// Harding Lane Needlepoint Baseball Cap ($30)- A similar option to the Life is Good t-shirts, every man will enjoy an addition to their hat collection. These top-notch quality hats look and feel good, and they come in all different designs for whatever suits your dad. Especially perfect for the summer months, these hats are unique enough to make them special. It is my personal opinion that, for most men, you can never go wrong with a baseball hat. And that Aprés Ski beanie... Oh, my heart.  I'll definitely have to remember it for Christmas. 

Five// L.L. Bean Monogrammed Terry Cloth Robe ($69) or Seersucker PJs ($59)- For some reason LL Bean would not allow me to save an image off their website, so I'll have to leave you with a measly link. But seriously, this is one of those gifts no one knows they need. I especially adore the navy terry cloth robe. Your dad will look so tan! And please, please, add a monogram. Everyone loves a personal touch! Especially for men, good quality pajamas are something that people just don't tend to allow themselves to spend money on, but my oh my, are they missing out. 

Hopefully this list gave you some ideas and helped ease the stress! Dads can be so hard to shop for. I know it's quite last minute, so hopefully you're either able to overnight these or pick them up locally. Have a wonderful father's day, and remember to say thank you to your daddy (as if you'd forget!) for raising you- just look what a fine job he did;)

What are you doing for your dad this father's day? Let me know in the comments!

XOXO, 

Cass

P.S.- this post is not sponsored in any way!

The Sugar Challenge: UPDATE!

I have made it a whopping six days without sugar. I now only have until Wednesday to complete the challenge! It's actually been a lot easier than I thought. That said, I seriously don't think I could've done this if my parents hadn't hopped on board. It's so much better when you have a support system!

My friends in my Aerobics class have been a great help as well. Outside of gym class, however a lot of my friends have made me especially grateful to have people willing to take the challenge with me, because I've gotten my fair share of "Wow that sucks! This donut tastes so good" at the lunch table. ;) "Power through!" I tell myself.

And power through I have. Nothing makes you feel better than staying on track of a goal! Okay, I'm gloating I know. Whoops. But, let's call it "glowing" instead. This challenge has actually been fun, it's an adventure finding snacks in the grocery store! No more picking up random handfuls and stuffing them in my mouth just 'cuz. 

I hope to stick to a healthier regimen even after this challenge, although I do plan on letting myself have dessert on occasion. Or once a day. Like my Dad always says, "all things in moderation!"

Also, I've discovered some truly yummy AND  good-for-you snacks thanks to this process.

My favorite? Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal with strawberries and bananas or over Chobani greek yogurt. Such a delicious, easy, and filling way to start your day.

Only four more days!!!! 

The Sugar Challenge

Dearest readers,

I would like to challenge YOU to take part in a challenge to cut down on sugar in our diets, at least temporarily.

I have currently gone two full days without eating sugar or any of its various forms. At least, nothing that contains sugar in the first three ingredients.

You guys. I love me some sugar. I have an enormous sweet tooth. Needless to say, this IS NOT EASY.

The Sugar Challenge was assigned by my aerobics teacher. Well, not really assigned, since it's a challenge. It's for your own good, to test your own will power. No punishment if you decide not to do it or try it and fail. The goal is to go 10 straight days without eating anything that contains sugar in the first three ingredients. (Ingredients are listed in order of most-least)

You can use natural sugars such as raw honey, Stevia, coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, maple sugar, barley malt syrup, brown rice syrup, date sugar, and blackstrap molasses.

The forms of sugar that are not allowed:

Brown sugar
Confectioner's sugar/powdered sugar
Corn syrup
Dextrose/glucose
High-fructose corn syrup
Honey
Invert sugar
Lactose/milk sugar
Levulose/fructose
Raw sugar
Sorbitol
Mannitol
Malitol
Xylitol
Sucrose/table sugar
Turbinado sugar

This challenge is making me so much more aware of how much junk I typically put into my body on the daily.

Even my lunchmeat ham had sugar as the third ingredient! I accidentally ate it for lunch yesterday because I didn't even think to check the label. I mean, it's deli ham!

I've realized that just about EVERYTHING contains sugar. It may not be in the top three ingredients of everything, but it's probably fourth or fifth.

Even besides sugar, when you really look at the ingredients on foods, there are so many funky chemicals in there that you don't even think about. I tend to turn a blind eye when I grab a granola bar out of the cabinet, or anything else that I know is processed, but even seemingly healthy things, like granola bars, are mostly comprised of chemicals. So gross, right?

We put so much unnecessary junk into our bodies without even realizing it.

Even though it's only the second day, things that wouldn't normally taste that sweet to me taste like candy now. Strawberries, for instance, taste like candy. It's kinda great.

Other ways to satisfy your sweet tooth if fruit isn't cutting it:

Special K Dark Chocolate protein bars have been my secret weapon. They have chocolate drizzled on them and chocolate chips, but sugar is the fourth ingredient so I'm allowed to eat them! When I'm craving something sweet, I whip out one of those and it's surprisingly satisfying.

I've basically been living off of these Special K Red Berries frozen waffles. They also have sugar as the fourth ingredient. Since I'm always in a rush in the morning, I can just pop two in the toaster and eat them plain. They already have berries in them so they're pretty good without syrup.

I know it sounds like I'm just sneaking around the challenge by loading up on foods with sugar as the fourth ingredient, but I really have been eating a lot healthier. I just wanted to include those to help you get by, because if you have a sweet tooth like me, this is really difficult!

For lunch today I packed a turkey sandwich with just turkey, cheese, and lettuce on a sandwich thin. I also packed goldfish and strawberries, with a Special K protein bar as my snack. This is not too far off from a normal lunch that I would pack; the only difference is no dessert!

For dinner last night (my parents are joining me on the challenge), we had chicken fajitas. One of my favorite meals, this tasted SO GOOD after a day of bland food.

I'm going to the grocery store tonight to get Chobani greek yogurt and cottage cheese, both of which are sugar free. These will be great for after-school snacks, and I can't wait to have the Chobani to make smoothies. Both alone and in smoothies, it'll be a great way to add some natural sweetness.

After this monster of a post, I hope you'll consider joining me on this sugar challenge!

XOXO,

Cass

P.S. It may be April 1st, but this is no April Fool's joke! ;)

The push for STEM Careers

Today my Chem teacher read to us a list of facts about STEM careers and talked about how great our lives will be if we go into that field. We've all heard the stats. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers are the best bet for job security and making the big bucks. I hear it everywhere- in my school, in magazines, online. It seems to be all I EVER hear. I'm probably exaggerating, but that's what it feels like.

So what, then, happens to us right brained people who have zero desire for a STEM career? I think it's great my teachers and counselors are sharing all this information with us, but I do think it can be hard to remember that it's equally important to choose a career that you're passionate about.

Figuring out my career path and what I want to do with my life has been a huge stressor for me ever since I started high school last year. Up until recently, that is. Writing that out makes it sound so crazy. I'm only a sophomore in high school for goodness' sakes! The only thing I knew up until recently was that I want to work with kids.

I have always been a dreamer and a hard worker. I've had a lot of role models and experiences that have made me this way, but I've always been sort of a try-hard. I think this is partly what contributed to my mid-highschool crisis.

It all started last year with Honors Bio. I took all honors classes my freshman year. This class I found interesting, which was bizarre because I have never been one for the STEM subjects. I did really well in the class, finishing with an A. Most of my friends suffered a lot with it and finished with Bs and Cs. This made me think that I wanted to do something medical.

I got it in my head that I wanted to be a pediatrician or a nurse. I did find Bio interesting, but what mostly did it for me was the fact that the medical path is one for the elite. I could do really well in something that's REALLY hard. Or, so I thought.

I'm going somewhere with this, I promise.

The push for STEM careers and the idea of job security, making $$$, and fierce competition made me  convinced that medicine was the field for me.

Had it not been for my Child Development class this year, I probably would've continued on my entire life in a career I wasn't passionate about. 

I chose to take Child Development over Anatomy when scheduling last year, and thank goodness I did because it reassured me  of my calling. I realized just a few months ago that I have the choice to pursue my dream job of teaching or child psychology. It sounds so crazy, but I really had ruled out those fields because I thought my only choice for having a good future was STEM careers. I now am excited about my future instead of nervous and anxious, since I'm completely positive that this is what I'm meant to do.

It seems that after making that decision (and before), everywhere I go all I hear is "choose a STEM job". Well, you know what? STEM jobs can suck it. Okay, sorry. If you're completely interested in STEM subjects, and that's your thing, well more power to ya. I may even be a teeny bit jealous because your passion also gets you job security and lots of moo-lah. But just make sure that's your passion!

I was reading the U.S. News & World Report College Edition a few weeks ago, and again, that was pretty much focused on STEM careers. One of the stories really stuck out to me. It was a story about a college kid who switched his major from history to some sort of engineering (I forget which) because that's what his dad had pushed for and he realized he could make tons of money with that degree. The story went on to talk about how he now had a great job right out of college, blah blah. 

All I could think about as I read about the kid's "success" was how he had decided he wanted to go to school for history. Most people don't make the decision about their college major lightly. I mean, you've gotta be pretty interested in history to decide you want to major in it. And to go from history to ENGINEERING? That just sounds crazy to me. Those two things are just so different. I hate to say it, but it sounds to me like that kid is just going to get so tired of his job and wake up every morning dreading going to work.

I get that history may not be the most practical major. There's only so much you can do with a history degree. But along with all this talk about practicality and what makes the most sense, it's important to remember your own personal happiness.

No one has the right to tell you what you should do with your life. Explore your options if you're not sure, and make sure you're choosing something that makes you happy. 

(All images found on Tumblr. My tumblr is linked on the top right of my blog.)

XOXO,

Cass

Get the Spring back in your step!

Okay so it's technically already a few days into spring. But where I live, it's supposed to snow again in a couple of days.

Being a skier and snowboarder, I've always loved the snow, and I'll admit I do feel a little excited about the possibility of snow (crazy, right?). But I know this winter has just seemed to drag on forever.

So, if you're like me and just about all of my friends and family and you have a major case of the Winter Blahs, or maybe you're just ready for a change of scenery, I've compiled a list of 5 easy things to brighten your day, even if it's gloomy and bitter outside.

1. Bake a bright and yummy treat!

(image creds: http://brilliantbakery.com/#/cupcakes/4560165593)

Nothing makes me happier than baking something new to welcome a new season. Even if it hasn't really arrived yet (thanks, Jack Frost) you can bet I'll be in the kitchen whipping up some vanilla cupcakes with my Grandma's classic buttercream frosting. For my cupcakes, I'll definitely be using pretty pastel colored frosting and bright sprinkles to make it feel especially spring-y. Stay tuned for a post on what I cook up!

2. Get outside!

It doesn't matter whether you run 5 miles (if you can do this, MAJOR props to you) or just go for a leisurely walk. Simply breathing the fresh air will leave you feeling exhilarated if you've been cooped up for a long winter. Even if it still feels and looks like winter where you live, get that booty movin' and I promise you won't regret it.

3.  Give yourself a mani-pedi!

Nothing screams spring like finally giving those poor toenails some much-needed attention after being neglected all winter. If you're like me, that is, and have an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality about toes and shaving legs during the winter. 

(image created by me on polyvore)

Above are a few nail polish colors that I think are perfect for spring. I especially love opaque icy pinks as an ideal winter-spring transition color. Essie's Fiji is a good one. Also, the pretty orchid is Pantone's color of the year, and these purple shades are a great spring color as well.

4. Get artsy fartsy!

Who doesn't love a good DIY project? These are not only fun to make but can also be useful and give your space a fresh new look.

Pinterest is a great place to search for ideas. I adore Mason Jar crafts, which are extra fun for spring. They make perfect flower vases!

(image is my own)

These are some Mason Jars I decorated with a friend. We spray painted the jars with a matte bronzy gold shade called Caramel Latte, then used Mod Podge to apply rose gold loose glitter after the spray paint had dried. To get the even line like the one jar has, I simply used a piece of paper as a guideline. For the little jar, we just cut hearts out of painter's tape and stuck them on, then spray painted the whole thing and peeled the tape off when it was dry. I love the rustic look these have. It would be cute to do bright colors for spring.

5. Pamper yourself!

For many, myself included, dull, drab skin comes along with the winter weather. What better time to treat yourself than to celebrate spring? 

Browse Pinterest for a DIY face mask for your skin type, or simply purchase one at the store. I have oily skin and I like the Mary Kay Botanical Effects Clay Mask (oily skin formula). Anything with charcoal or clay should help to draw out impurities. 

Spring is coming, people! Even if the weather forecast may not show it, it's bound to arrive sometime. 

XOXO,

Cass

New beginnings!

Okay. So earlier this morning this blog was titled "The High School Diaries" with a URL of theclassof2016diaries.blogspot.com, and I wrote a post about wanting to change my blog's name, URL, and appearance. In between then and now this blog has been fluctuating between a great variety of URLs and titles. So sorry for that state of extreme multiple personality disorder!

First, let me tell you a little about the name. I wanted so desperately for my blog to be called "Sweet Serendipity", or even just "Serendipity", or "Simply Serendipity", but unfourtunately all those URLs were taken. By people who've made only one post 10 years ago, no less. It's cool.

Anyway, welcome to the rebirth and new beginning of my blog. Sweetserendipity98!

The 98 at the end is so undesirable. But who knows, maybe one of those aforementioned will become available in the near future??? In the meantime, I'm making the best of it.

Serendipity is an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. Such a cool word, right?

I just love the meaning, PLUS it just sounds so pretty. It's a win-win.

The sweet sounds pretty in front, and is also fitting because I love to bake and will be posting lots of sweet treats!

With life, love, high school, fashion, beauty, and especially baking, desirable accidental discoveries are bound to happen.

So, without further ado, I hereby welcome you to Sweet Serendipity!

XOXO,

Cass

Loosen up a little

So here's something that's been under my skin lately. Teachers have been telling us, at least in my school district, that they're making things this hard to prepare us for college since the seventh grade.

College. In the SEVENTH GRADE.

I don't know about you, but in seventh grade my only thought about college was that I'd probably just go to Penn State, following in the footsteps of my older sister.

Now, I want to go out of state, experience something completely new. But that's besides the point.

We're all falling asleep in class and not doing our homework, getting anxiety attacks, suffering from mental disorders (this hasn't affected me personally), extreme lack of sleep, and extremely slacking on the motivation front.

Well, gee, who would've thought. We're burning kids out too fast. I've seen it hit my friends full force, to the point where they just can't get themselves to do schoolwork. Of course it's quite possible that it's just a personal lack of drive.

But it breaks my heart to see so many people giving up so young and feeling so lost and terrified of the future. I've felt the pressures and lack of motivation too, of course. It's especially bad this semester. I've still managed to get good grades in all honors classes, so I guess I haven't felt it as bad as some of my friends. But let me tell you, I see where they're coming from.

When you get home from a grueling 6 hours of being tested on things you can't find it within yourself to care about, it's so hard to get yourself to do it for another five hours. But yet I do it. Much later than I should have started, sure. I procrastinate a ton and do the bare minimum I have to get done that night, but I still get it done mostly every night.

There have been many a nights where I've felt like giving up, where I've sat on the middle of my bedroom floor just staring at the ceiling, too stressed to move. Where I've sobbed uncontrollably feeling like I'm watching my future crash down around me. I suffer from migraines, and having one of those is a whopping pain in the butt, add on having to memorize 30 pages of a textbook and it's just downright torture. I played field hockey in the fall and coming home at 10 pm when you're physically unable to move and having to study is one of the hardest mental challenges to overcome. And I'm sure I have it pretty darn good compared to a lot of people.

I've read many a tumblr post and tweet saying how grades do not define you. If you feel like that, good for you, but if you're like me and feel like they mean more than anything, let me just tell you this: you can do it. I know I sound dumb saying this when clearly, I don't know you. But I have faith that each one of us high schoolers can find it within ourselves to put the BS that we're going to fail at life if we don't get an A out of our minds one more day, pull up our big girl panties, study our butts off, and do the best we can. If you tried your best and your best is a 42%, as much as it feels like it, it's not the end of the world.

Say it with me. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.

Trying your best and asking for help and doing all that you can is different than using "grades do not define you" as a reason for not studying. Just my opinion.

Work your butt off, but know that you're only in high school. You're only a teenager. Stuff happens. As hard as it is to get yourself to believe this, at least it is for me, you can do it and you will be successful if you put your mind to it.

XOXO,

Cass