Starlight, Star Bright

Hello all,

Today I took the time to stand on my balcony (with a glass of cold vermouth, of course) to watch the sunset. I had gotten home just in time, after a long day at work, to enjoy one of life's most beautiful everyday occurrences. It seemed to me worthwhile and something necessary today.

As I put on some music in the background and let the orange rays engulf the world around, I felt suddenly melancholy and euphoric simultaneously.  It was as if a rush of emotions came at me, all at once. So much has happened to me within the past week, and I guess I really don't know how to emotionally process all of it. The melancholy is probably a result of all that I have realized that I lost, and the euphoria is the excitement and extreme bliss at the thought of all that I could gain. I have always been one for adventure, even if not necessarily physical. What I mean is, I often love uncertainty. It scares me yet excites me. I find predictability wonderful too, but riding life's adventures freely makes me the most happy.

Anyway, as the sun set and the stars began to shine more brightly, I found myself gazing higher and higher into the night sky. I found myself staring at one of the brightest stars and wondering who else was looking at it too. I find it so wonderful and fascinating that us humans can be bound by something so distant. I was probably not the only person looking at that same star tonight, and even though I may never meet those others staring at the same star, we shared a moment in time. No matter how different we may be, we shared an experience somehow. I think anyway.

I also had the inevitable last thoughts. No, not those of "the end" but those of moving forward. I will be leaving my apartment at the end of the month, and I will no longer see the stars from the same angle. I have grown to love my apartment over the last 3+ years, but I am so excited to get my own place and start a new chapter of my life. I think it will be an amazing time to grow and learn. I am also someone who values her space, so I'm so excited! Still, I will miss this home. Of course, I am still planning on living on the same island and in the same city, so I won't be moving that far :P

I will leave you now with a photo I took this evening, right as the sun was leaving as.

Hope you all have a wonderful day/evening/afternoon, wherever you are. xx

Moving Forward

Hello lovely bloggers,

I haven't written in a while. My life has been a jumble, and I am finally getting it back in order. Which means I finally have time for some blogging. I find myself at a computer more times than I am at my journal, which is an unfortunate happenstance but oh well. I love journal-ing, but I do get joy from sharing my personal thoughts with the world too. Ok ok...I'll stop rambling now.

Recently, I found myself re-evaluating my life choices. Life is flying by more rapidly than I thought possible.  I feel like the year has just begun, but it's already almost April. CRAZY! I feel like time is whirring past me, which is not necessarily a terrible thing. But this feeling has made me realize how important it is to seize each day and make it yours in the best way possible. We all have only one life to live, and each moment that passes instantly becomes a blip in time that you can never have back.

Let me be clear. This reminder of life's finite nature is not something I found depressing but rather invigorating and eye-opening in a way. Now that I'm well out of school and am working, I am finally able to focus on me, what makes me happy, and what can make my dreams come true.

I had to make a few painful decisions as of late, some of which may be too personal to lay out in this medium, but I think they have all been for the better.  I have decided to make each day as full as possible so that I go to bed with a smile or at least with a sense of satisfaction. I vow to become more involved with my passions and to do all of the things I say that I want to do. Life is too short to spend it simply daydreaming. What a waste that would be. Although, daydreaming can be a form of introspection, which is necessary for progress. But I digress...

I also vow to remain positive. The world is so full of opportunity, beauty and love, and only you prevent yourself from fully appreciating all three. Even in the darkest times, there is always light. Or at least light to come. And that light to come is what should matter.

Right now, I am looking forward to: my new apartment (I'm finally living on my own!!!), new friendships, possibly dancing again, my college reunion (which means seeing my besties!), travel, and days full of laughter and learning. I'm so excited. YES.

Love,
Cassie

Recipe Feature - Classic Beef Meatballs & Spaghetti

Hello wonderful people!

Sorry I have neglected my blog, yet again. I need to be better about this lol. Anyway, as an apology, I have decided to share a recipe that was a recent hit with my family! It's a classic dish: spaghetti and meatballs! BUT this is one of the best meatball recipes I have ever tried. I modified a little here and there (modifications are in green), but I pretty much followed the instructions as is.

Classic Beef Meatballs (Source)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pounds 80 percent lean ground beef (I used 85% lean ground beef from whole foods)
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (I used part skim)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried) (I used 1 tablespoon of italian seasoning)
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
• 4 cups Classic Tomato Sauce (I made my own simple marinara; read below!)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle olive oil into a 9-by 13-inch baking dish; using your hand, evenly coat entire surface. Set aside. 
2. In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together beef, ricotta, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red-pepper flakes, and fennel until fully incorporated. Roll mixture into firmly packed 1 1/2-inch balls.
3. Place meatballs in prepared baking dish, taking care to line them up snugly so that they are touching one another in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. Transfer baking dish to oven. Bake until meatballs are firm and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball reads 165 degrees. (I just baked them for about 16-18 minutes)
4. Meanwhile, heat Classic Tomato Sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
   * OR you can make a quick marinara if you have less time
   My Marinara Sauce
   32 oz  organic tomato sauce
   1/2 medium onion, chopped
   2-3 large garlic cloves, minced
   2 tablespoons olive oil
   1-2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
   pinch of salt and pepper
   - heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
   - saute the onions and garlic in the oil, until slightly browned.
   - pour in the tomato sauce and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
   - simmer for at least 15 minutes...and you're DONE!
5. Remove meatballs from oven and carefully drain excess grease from pan. Pour heated sauce over meatballs and return to oven; cook for 15 minutes more. Serve. (I served mine on a bed of angel hair pasta!)

I really enjoyed this recipe! The meatballs were incredibly tender and fully cooked through. I found that using the Italian seasoning (instead of oregano) was fine, esp if you have that on hand instead! I served mine with pasta, and it was perfect. I can't wait to make this again and maybe try a pork/beef combo? If any of you try this, let me know! 

Love,

Cassie

When You Fall...Get Right Back Up

Dear blogosphere,

I am sorry for my absence. Life has taken me on a wonderful ride, and I felt the need to live it! Still, I am glad to be returning to blogging. It is important to me to share my thoughts with the world and to somewhat artistically express myself lol. I missed blogging and I thought it appropriate to come back, esp during this time in my life.

I recently failed at something terribly important to me. I had prepared and prepped and endured months of agony... and still failed. I found out recently about my disastrous failure, and I sobbed and ate ice cream and sobbed some more. I thought my heart couldn't bear it. I sat in silence and stared into space. I really truly wallowed (for those of you who have watched Gilmore Girls, wallowing is necessary says Lorelai).

After my wallowing, though, I decided to open the windows to let the light in. I decided to listen to music and watch some funny TV (Gilmore Girls, duh).  I decided to eat something other than ice cream and donuts. I decided to put on a pretty dress and walk out into the world. I decided to GET UP and to BRUSH IT OFF. And I am so glad because it has done me a world of wonders.

As the Ancient Ones said, errare humanum est...which means "to err is human."  This past week, I was assaulted with my humanity.  It was not fun. It SUCKED. But I got up because I wanted to and because I had to. And also because many of those around me showed their support for me and their love for me, despite my failure. Thank you to all those who still believe in me and who have been a shining light during my time of sadness.

It has been a tough few days and it will continue to be a tough few months.  However, nothing beats sadness like positivity and the will to move forward and try again. Onwards and upwards!!!

Source: bananarepublic.gap.com

Love,

Cassie

Cafes I Adore - ChadLou's Coffee Lounge

Hello lovelies!

Today, I wanted to share with you a gem in Kailua Town on the island of Oahu. It is a gorgeous little cafe nestled in the backstreets of my favorite city on Oahu. The storefront is painted a mint green (one of my favorite colors), the menu is written on a chalkboard, and they serve up some of the best coffee (at least in my opinion). Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to ChadLou's Coffee Lounge.

I love this place so much I had to share it with you all. It's such a quiet little coffee shop with a mostly wood interior and even some cute round lights that they sometimes turn on for additional cutesy ambiance. They also serve some awesome food and great ice cream. They have traditional ice cream flavors, like butter pecan and coffee, and some interesting ones, like ube (okinawan sweet potato). I love the ube flavor by the way.

If you want to read more about this place, click here to read some Yelp reviews! And, if you are ever in Kailua, you should try this place out! So that you know exactly where to go, here is the address:

ChadLou's Coffee Lounge

45 Kihapai St.

Kailua, HI 96734

(this is the cheddar, bacon, and apple muffin & the lavender iced coffee)

LOVE

Aloha,

Cassie

Photography Feature - Paths to Take

Hello lovelies!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Thursday! Today, I wanted to share with you some photographs of gorgeous paths I would love to wander down...

I don't know if you all have heard of Robert Frost's poem entitled "The Road Not Taken." I remember reading this in high school and being inspired to take the road less traveled. We all have many paths in life, and we often come to forks in the road. We can choose to take the well-paved road, comforting and reliable. Or we can choose to take the unknown path, full of possibilities and adventure. I am guilty, as we all are, of taking the well-paved road many times, coming to reliable ends and conclusions. However, I am determined to take the road less traveled more often. I want to live a life worth living and full of adventure rather than one stagnant and predictable. As Robert Frost eloquently put it, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference."

Here are some photographs that inspire me to take the road not taken. ADVENTURE!

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Hope you enjoyed some photography inspiration! And hope you feel inspired to take the unfamiliar path.

Aloha,
Cassie

All You Need is Love - Photography Feature

Hello lovelies!

I was having a pretty stressful morning, but lunch and dessert with an amazing group of friends and the bf saved the day! Love and friendship are the most precious things in the world. Everything comes secondary to me. Although one of my top priorities is to pass this bar, I know that my No. 1 priority will always be my friends and family because they are my world. :)

Inspired by my friendships, new and old, I decided to post a few of my favorite photography moments! Although these images are of romantic love, I also find friendship love and familial love to be just as awe-inspiring and powerful (and sometimes even moreso). I simply thought that these images were gorgeous :) I also decided to do a beach/ocean theme because...summer! HAHA. Hope you enjoy.

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Remember to tell your loved ones that you care! I'm sure they know, but it's always wonderful to hear. :) Have an amazing Wednesday everyone.

Aloha,
Cassie