[Witty Title Here]

Through the Lens: Photos from May

May 30, 2014 by Cassie

It seems like just yesterday half of my Facebook friends were sharing that tired old “It’s gonna be May” meme. (Just kidding. That grinning, curly-haired JT mug never gets old.)

Now, it’s almost time to officially kick off the summer months. Is anyone else as happy as I am when it’s 7:30 p.m. and still light outside?

It’s been a jam-packed past few weeks, and I’m looking forward to the month ahead. But first, here’s a look back at some of my favorite moments from May—photo roundup style.

Ah, yes. More Joshua Tree pics. I was pretty snap-happy that weekend, and the landscape never disappointed. The wild plant life fascinated me as much as the impressive boulders did.

Also impressive? Rooftop bars, baby.

Besides taking in the downtown skyline at night, I also spent a fair amount of time checking out Los Feliz, which is adjacent to my neighborhood. (In fact, I’m right on the border between Los Feliz and Silver Lake.) It has such a neighborhood-y feel—I love it.

And I can never get enough of those dreamy mountains.

So that’s my May in a nutshell! Now, I’m ready to kick off June with a day at the beach. (Tomorrow’s gonna be a hot one.)

What are you looking forward to in June?

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: camping, desert, dtla, joshua tree, los angeles, los feliz, photo roundup, photography, plantlife, road trip, through the lens

Camping in Joshua Tree

May 26, 2014 by Cassie

Photo by John Mancini

This weekend I slept in the desert beneath the stars, and it was just what I needed.

No WiFi, no cell reception, no looming deadlines and no worries. And it. Was. Awesome.

John and I ventured two hours out of the city to Joshua Tree National Park, a place straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. With the crazy rock formations and twisty yucca plants, it feels very much like a made-up fantasy world, and I was happy to call it home for the weekend.

We pitched our tent in the popular Hidden Valley campground, a first-come first-serve site nestled among several large rock formations that make for great climbing. There were a lot of pro climbers who scaled impressive boulders—we stuck to the formations that didn’t require a harness and rope.

The sun woke us up early each morning, and John and I got two full days of climbing, hiking and exploring in. We followed several trails, checking out the plant and wildlife along the way (I spotted one lizard way up high that was the size of my calf), and we took breaks by firing up the propane stove and eating canned soup in the shade.

Temperatures were in the low 90s, but I truly felt the difference between the desert heat and the East Coast summer heat I’m so used to. 90 degrees in Maryland feels like death. But in Joshua Tree without humidity, it was tolerable. There were regular cool breezes to offer relief, and the shade was a perfect respite as well. It was almost perfect weather-wise, though tourist season will soon die down when higher temperatures become more frequent. It’s not a place you want to be when it’s 100 degrees or more.

What are some of the camping essentials for Joshua Tree?

Sunscreen is a given. And twice as much water as you think you’ll need. (This campground doesn’t have pumps for water, so you’ll need to bring extra jugs for washing out pots and pans.) That means you’ll also want hand wipes or sanitizer after using the lovely restrooms. Firewood is a must for evenings—it cools off considerably at night, and all of the campsites have in-ground grills. We didn’t have any, but I’d love to bring headlamps here, too. We spotted several climbers who wore headlamps and braved the boulders at night. Finally, remember there’s no cell phone service whatsoever, so it’s important to plan ahead and let people know you’re going off the grid.

Camping in Joshua Tree was the perfect way to kickstart a summer that I’m hoping will be a good mix of both work and play. Our next camping adventure? Big Bear!

Have you been to Joshua Tree? What are some of your favorite national parks?

Filed Under: Photography, Travel Tagged With: camping, camping essentials, desert, hidden valley, joshua tree, national park, rock climbing, yucca

How to survive your first year of grad school

May 21, 2014 by Cassie

A few of my classmates and me. (Photo courtesy of Scarlett Chen)

Last week, in a daze, I hit “submit” on my last final project for the semester.

I’d officially wrapped up my first year of grad school, and I wasn’t quite sure how I should celebrate.

(The answer, of course, was margaritas. The answer is always margaritas.)

Since then, I’ve been making plans for the summer, which, um, isn’t shaping up to be any less busy. But there’s a lot to look forward to.

And looking back, there’s a lot that got me through my first sometimes-hellish, sometimes-awesome year, and I’m sharing my incredibly helpful and super-serious knowledge with you.

Here’s how you, too, can survive your first year of grad school:

Get a blender. You never know when you might need a margarita or piña colada, and most of us can’t afford to always be hitting up the bars. The best part about owning a blender is you can enjoy your favorite frozen drinks while working on assignments… or while binge-watching Orange is the New Black and thinking, “Hey, at least I’ve got it better than those gals.”

Find healthy distractions. Sometimes, when it’s midnight, you just need to procrastinate before getting to the assignment that’s due tomorrow. My favorite distractions are scouring apartment listings on Craigslist (with no budget limit, of course—Beverly Hills, anyone?) and trolling dog rescue websites while showing dogs’ pictures to John telling him how we need to save the puppies right now.

Give yourself something to look forward to. And by that, I mean food.

Invest in your mental and physical health. In certain high-stress moments of the semester, my cohort’s classes would turn into very expensive group therapy sessions. (“Why do they want us to suffer?” we’d sob.) I also bought a Groupon for 70 percent off yoga classes at a local studio. I might’ve been cursing the teachers under my breath every time we were instructed to hold a plank pose, but ending on savasana every time was a great way to get a quick nap in.

Soak it up. And not just the margaritas. If you’re in a two-year program like I am, the first year makes you realize just how quickly the whole thing will go by. Before you know it, friends will disperse all across the country, hopefully landing some kickass jobs in the process. (Or in our program’s case, moving back in with our parents, because hello, we’re in journalism school. GUYS, I’M KIDDING. WE GOT THIS.)

Follow these five easy steps, and you’ll rock grad school. Cheers and ¡Salud!

Filed Under: Thoughts on Life Tagged With: first year, grad school, how to survive grad school, lists

Must Reads: For anyone who thinks they can have it all

May 17, 2014 by Cassie

Photo by Naomi White

Last month, I read what has easily become my new favorite non-fiction book.

The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock by Tanya Selvaratnam is the perfect combination of smarts and heart. What business does someone like me, who still shudders at the thought of having a child any time soon, have reading a book about motherhood? Ah, well, lots, actually. The information and message in this book pertain to anyone who might want to become a parent some day.

The book addresses the harmful myth that we can “have it all” and make babies when it’s most convenient—like say, after we’ve established a career and settled comfortably into adulthood. Selvaratnam packs a lot of stats and research about fertility into her book. Did you know 10 percent of the world’s population experiences fertility issues, which affect all people (rich/poor, black/white, male/female) equally? And that the initial drop in fertility among women happens as early as 25 to 29 years old? Which is not to say you should be freaking out if you are 30 or older—but you should be empowering yourself with the knowledge of such facts.

The Big Lie is not all statistics and percentages, though.

What surprised me most about it is how much Selvaratnam’s personal story with three miscarriages and a cancer discovery humanized everything I was learning throughout the book. She really gets vulnerable here, and I found myself teary-eyed and cheering Selvaratnam on along the way. That’s what really set this book apart for me.

Though I haven’t read Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In yet, I think anyone who has read it (whether they agreed with it or not) is likely to enjoy The Big Lie. It touches on similar issues, but comes from a generally more relatable perspective—as in, the COO of Facebook didn’t write it.

I had the chance to do a Q&A with Selvaratnam over at Neon Tommy, and she shared some wise and thoughtful words. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

“When someone says feminism is no longer necessary, I think, Tell that to the mother raising five kids who can’t get paid as much as a man to do the same job; tell that to the woman who is treated as the aggressor when she is raped; tell that to the girl who isn’t allowed to learn how to read. It’s a Big Lie that we don’t need feminism.”

We also talked about Millennials having a harder time than earlier generations to afford children, as well as the importance of having conversations with our partners and doctors about our eventual plans for children. Tanya also had some fantastic book recommendations for anyone interested in these topics. You can read our conversation (and find out what the “big lie” is) here.

The Big Lie has already gotten a lot of attention from the press, and I hope it becomes one of those books you see popping up all over the blogosphere. Check it out for yourself, and let me know what you think!

Filed Under: Books, Feminism Tagged With: book review, books, feminism, fertility, lean in, motherhood, tanya selvaratnam, the big lie

Interweb Finds: The unmothered, crazy bitch & more

May 11, 2014 by Cassie

Griffith Park

When was the last time you met someone whose struggles were so profound it gave you a good dose of perspective?

For me, it was yesterday. And two days before that. For my final projects (which will wrap up my first year in grad school!), I interviewed a 21-year-old inmate who was sentenced 40 years to life in prison and I went to a reunion for patients and the hospital staff who saved their lives. (Including this young woman and her fabulous mother. So moving.) I heard some pretty heartbreaking and inspiring stories this week. Journalism sure leads you to meet some fascinating people.

Here are this week’s interweb finds for your browsing pleasure:

Shannon’s post on not calling women crazy is an important read. I wonder: Why is it that the word is only used to describe men when they act out violently and uncontrollably but women get called “crazy” whenever they send too many consecutive texts to a guy?

A fascinating interview with the man who would make eating obsolete.

“I’m looking forward to the point where we don’t have to worry about hunger, or nutrition. Where people make food just because it’s beautiful—like gardening, or painting. I’m looking forward to the point where food can just be art.”

I love this guide to finding a mentor from Rebecca.

A slight contrast to the “crazy” post: Stop being afraid of being called a bitch.

“We have to admit to ourselves that it’s easier to sit behind a computer screen than it is to look a group of men in the eye at an Oscar party and say, Hey asshole, you’re demeaning the talented women you see in front of you, and I won’t hear another word of it.”

Gala put together a great roundup of advice for writers from writers.

Tabloid headlines without the sexism. So yeah. Without sexism, tabloids couldn’t exist!

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a mom to celebrate on Mother’s Day. Here’s a beautiful essay to the “unmothered.”

Speaking of moms, Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and all the other moms out there!

Thanks for everything you do & have a wonderful week.

Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: advice for writers, Awash with Wonder, calling women crazy, Gala Darling, Interweb Finds, life after college, mentor, mother's day, Rob Rhinehart, soylent, tabloid headlines without sexism, unmothered

Beer with a Blogger: O’Brien’s in Santa Monica

May 7, 2014 by Cassie

You know what I love about L.A.? There are so many bloggers here!

Which means this Beer with a Blogger series is turning out to be a regular thing. This month, I met up with a blogger whose site I only discovered within the past few months and quickly came to be one of my favorites. Meet Erin, who suggested we meet up at an Irish pub that shares her last name.
Erin O'Brien

THE BLOGGER

Erin O’Brien, a SoCal native who blogs at Modern Notebook. She writes about life, music, fashion, books, food and more, and she’s just about to wrap up her undergraduate degree in Journalism. Recently, Erin recapped her trip to Coachella, and in another post, she wrote a love letter to L.A. She’s super sweet, smart and easy to talk to—probably because she’s always smiling. You can follow Erin on Twitter here.

O'Brien's Irish Pub

THE BAR

O’Brien’s on Wilshire in Santa Monica. (There are two unrelated O’Brien’s in Santa Monica, so don’t get them confused!) This Irish pub and restaurant celebrated its 20th anniversary last month. Just the vibe you’d expect—friendly and casual. The hockey game was on TV, so the other patrons were pretty animated (i.e., excited and drunk). While Erin and I were taking photos of the pub, the owner, William O’Sullivan, came out to meet us. He was incredibly friendly and told us he hoped we’d come back again soon.

THE BEER

Smithwicks Irish Ale for Erin (fitting) and a Lagunitas IPA for me. (Not exactly Irish, but hey, it’s one of my favorites!)

William O'Sullivan

I love any excuse to hang out on the West Side, and meeting up with Erin turned out to be a great one. We had a lot to talk about, especially since she and I are both in school for Journalism. Erin also gave me a couple of book recommendations—beer, blogging AND books? My kinda night.

Cassie & Erin

Thanks for hanging, Erin! Can’t wait to get together again soon.

Are you a blogger living in (or visiting!) L.A.? Do you like beer? , and let’s go to happy hour!

Filed Under: Beer with a Blogger, Life in Los Angeles, People Tagged With: beer with a blogger, erin o'brien, life in Los Angeles, modern notebook blog, o'brien's on wilshire, o'brien's santa monica