Matcha For Beginners: My Matcha Recipe w/ Tips and Tricks
Once you have gathered the Matcha personnel explored in my previous article, you can start experimenting with how you would prefer to make your matcha. I’ll give you the basic guide on what I follow when making my matcha, but feel free to adjust anything within this guide to your liking!
Gifts That Will Not Drain Pockets This Holiday Season
We’ve all made some incredible friends here at USC, creating memories and bonds that make our college experience truly unforgettable. As the holiday season rolls around, you might be feeling the urge to show your appreciation for those friendships with a thoughtful gift. But let’s be so for real…most of us aren’t quite in the financial position to splurge on the gifts our friends truly deserve. That’s why I’m here to share some budget-friendly ideas that have worked for me, letting you show just how much you care without breaking the bank!
Things to do for the Holidays: LA Edition
The holiday season in Los Angeles offers something for everyone, whether you're staying in town or heading home to celebrate. For those staying local, LA's holiday magic shines through its dazzling light displays, festive markets, and multicultural celebrations. And if you're preparing to travel, there are plenty of activities to enjoy before you leave, making the most of the city’s vibrant holiday atmosphere. Here are a few festive activities to enjoy for the Holidays around LA!
A Freshman Perspective: Things I’ve Learned From This Semester
As my first semester here at USC comes to an end, I’ll say that my experience here has been nothing short of both pleasant adventures and those much-needed learning curves. So, here is a list of things I’ve learned over my time here on campus.
Scholarships to Apply For During Winter Break
Winter break is the perfect time to unwind, reflect on goals, and secure funding for your education. Here’s a list of scholarships to prioritize, sorted by deadline, so you can make the most of your break while working toward your academic and career dreams.
Review of DFTC’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This past Halloween season, I discovered so many people close to me that were unaware of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This year, I worked on DFTC’s production of it as a lead Hair and Makeup artist, but this was far from the beginning of my obsession with the franchise. The campy, raunchy, music-filled show is an unforgettable experience each time.
Exploring Fitness Classes Near USC
Staying active while juggling academics can be challenging, but fortunately, the area around USC offers a variety of fitness classes that cater to different workout preferences. Whether you’re into high-intensity interval training or prefer the mind-body balance of yoga, there’s a class for everyone. Check out some of my favorites!
Step in Line: A Beginner’s Journey into the World of Line Dancing
Many people have misconceptions about line dancing due to stereotypes, both negative and positive. Some examples include this idea that line dancing is all about doing repetitive moves to cheesy songs about heartbreak and drinking, being labeled as simple or outdated, and simply facing cultural criticism. The truth is that line dancing is much more complex than people think and actually challenges social norms in the sense that it represents community and jubilation.
Matcha for Beginners: Everything You Need Before Starting!
I’m very particular about my matcha, which should be a concern if you’re a matcha addict like me, who is also trying to stay on a budget. Last year I spent a bunch of money going to cafes or Dulce runs just so I could have my weekly matcha, but now I can have it every day by making it at home!
Reviewing Popular Asian Beauty Products
Every waking second, it seems as if the line between social media and e-commerce blurs. Especially for college students who may be experiencing a newfound sense of freedom through new income streams, the desire to try new products heightens. Which seems a lot like the Europeans during the early modern period. Around the period of the Renaissance, Europeans gained increasingly curious about routes to Asia for spices, porcelain, and other commodities that they did not have back home.
Friendsgiving Recipe Ideas
Here are all of the Friendsgiving recipes, from appetizers to desserts, that will make your gathering deliciously unforgettable. Most importantly, Friendsgiving isn't just about the perfect dish; it's about spending time with all of your close friends.
5 Shows USC Students Should Watch With Their Free Max Subscription
Looking for a more fulfilling way to procrastinate than doom scrolling? Luckily, USC provides free HBO Max (now just Max) specifically for these situations! Perfect for midterms or finals season when you’ve already cleaned your whole apartment/dorm, and now there’s nothing else to feasibly rationalize not working. As a professional procrastinator, here are some of my recommendations for shows to binge watch deep into the night and early morning.
Gluten-Free Fall Items From Trader Joe’s That Will Change Your Life
For people who are gluten-free like me, it can be tough to find items that meet our dietary needs year-round. By the time the fall season rolls around, the store shelves are filled with seasonal items that we can’t eat, and we’re left out of the fun. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s has been hard at work to make sure both you and me can enjoy the sweeter, spice filled side of autumn, at no cost to our digestive systems.
Review of Problem-Based Learning at Maastricht University
I studied abroad at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and it was a huge culture shock! From the Dutch food to the public transportation to the cold weather, there was a lot to adjust to. One of the biggest changes was the university itself. Maastricht University uses problem-based learning (PBL), where students work in small groups to solve complex, real-world problems. This was a major shift from USC, where I was used to large lecture halls and scantrons. As someone who is comfortable speaking up in class and working in groups, I was eager to try out this new approach. So, is problem-based learning the future of education? Here's my take.
Watch American Idiot: A Green Day Musical
“Don’t wanna be an American idiot!” Green Day's punk rock album is reimagined in the revival musical American Idiot: A Green Day Musical, presented by Deaf West Theatre at the Mark Taper Forum (October 2 to November 16, 2024). The production uniquely combines American Sign Language (ASL) with spoken English, making it accessible for both Deaf and hearing audiences. I saw American Idiot with friends and loved it! If you enjoy Green Day, musicals, or are a part of or want to learn about Deaf culture, check it out!
Easy Recipes to Try for the Fall
The coziness of fall is upon us, and with it an abundance of fall recipes to bake or cook. As someone who just got her own kitchen a little over a year ago, learning the balance between making dishes that are nutritious and ones that aren’t too difficult to make has been a journey. Also, I love to bake, and finding times to bake as a busy double major has also been a challenge. This year, I have found a few recipes that give off the coziness of fall without too many steps (or dishes)!
Last Minute Halloween Costumes
With midterms, work, and life in general, sometimes we just don’t have the time to come with an elaborate Heidi-Klum-as-a-worm costume. Nor do we even want to spend the money. So here’s a few last minute halloween costume inspirations from someone who was Snoopy with just her hair wash headband (conveniently with dog ears)!
Must-Watch Modern Horror Movies & Shows for October
As someone who can be a bit of a weenie when it comes to watching horror, yet still loves the stories, it can be hard finding the perfect horror movie/show to watch that balances good storytelling yet is scary. Lots of people have seen/heard of the classics like Scream, and The Exorcist, but there’s numerous modern horror projects that are equally as scary/fun that you might’ve not heard of.
The Correlation Between My Seat and Productivity
When selecting a place to sit, I consider two crucial factors: people and proximity. Ask what your college can do for you. There I said it. Students and professors who take a fleeting glance at me crouched on the floor motivate me to look productive and therefore be productive. Sitting next to the lecture hall makes the looming nearness of the next class a ticking time bomb to finish my readings at hand.
4 Reasons Off-Campus Housing is Better
Living on campus is a dream, mostly in the sense that you romanticize it in your own head. Before moving to college, living in a dorm seems really cool (not for me because I was terrified of communal bathrooms but still); you get to basically live in a building with all the people you know and campus is a step or two away. However, living there becomes painful eventually, as you realize that when you’re exhausted or looking your worst and just want to go out to get some food or head to the library, there’s a 95% chance that you’ll run into someone you know. Randomly seeing people is only fun in theory.