Cassie DeNisco

My Sunday Reset for a Good Week

April 25, 2022

If you know me, you know I love a good Sunday Reset. Sundays are the only day that I actually don’t have to go anywhere so I take full advantage of that. I like to spend my Sundays setting myself up for a good week.

Life can get super crazy during the week so I generally leave a lot of things for Sundays to do. I’ve been loving reading posts like these to see what Sundays look like for everyone else so I figured I’d share my typical Sunday routine!

7:30 am

Sky is always up around this time no matter the day so we’re usually up and feeding her at this time. After she’s all set for the morning, I grab my ice roller and we head back to bed!

10:00am

By 10 we’re usually ready to be up for the day and will either grab bagels or make a yummy breakfast at home. I rarely have breakfast in the morning but on Sunday it’s so nice to spend the time making something like pancakes that I wouldn’t normally eat!

11:00-1:00pm

Depending on how productive I was on Saturday, I may or may not have to grocery shop on Sunday. We usually will need fresh salmon so we will make a quick trip out for coffees and whatever we need. I love actually taking the time to go for a morning ride on a Sunday because it’s leisurely and something Sky enjoys.

I always will take a few minutes to refresh the house though. I love changing my sheets, dusting, using the Roomba and mopping. This little refresh helps to keep cleaning simple and not overwhelming. During the week, I cannot be bother to do this so carving out time on a Sunday to do this is essential to keeping me sane during the week.

1:00-4:00pm

After that, I always make sure I spend time doing whatever I want. Whether it’s a nap, reading, or doing some yoga/pilates, I like having time for it. Sundays are only relaxing if I can be productive but also make time for myself to rest and recharge. We generally do laundry throughout the week so this time on a Sunday can really be relaxing.

5:00-7:00pm

I am all about an early dinner on a Sunday. I love eating early, cleaning the kitchen, and then taking a good shower. Sundays are my favorite days for a yummy meal but that has easy clean up. You can check out my favorite soup recipe here that’s always a go to on a Sunday for me.

My Sunday showers are also a ritual. I love washing my hair on Sunday to set myself up for a good week. I’ll lotion and also lymphatic drain as well since I actually have the time to spend doing that. I finish off my day with comfy pjs and a glazed donut skin on my face.

7:00pm

Once I’m all set, I’ll hop into bed and we’ll usually watch a show or movie that we’ve been putting off. I love being in bed early on a Sunday because it seriously sets you up for a good week. I’ll read and then finish off the night with essential oils and a quick mediation before bed around 9pm.

Everything I just listed is my ideal Sunday reset. Obviously not every Sunday will be this dreamy but I do try to make a few of these things a priority no matter what I’m up to that day. Also, your Sunday reset might be totally different and that’s okay too.

I’m all about setting yourself up for a successful week and you might have to do different things to do that. Let me know your favorite things to do on a Sunday in the comments below and subscribe here to the blog!

Winter Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

January 10, 2022

I knew I had to make a post dedicated to my winter skincare routine after I’ve finally found some products that actually leave me hydrated. As I’ve gotten older, my skin has transformed from being more oily to being more dry, especially in the winter. Because of this, I pretty much have to swap out my skincare routine halfway through the year to accommodate for the change in my skin.

I think a lot of you probably can say the same thing about your skin. There are just some products that work better for me in the summer than they do in the winter and vice versa. I think I have finally found a combo that is great for my skin so today I’ll share those products in case your interested in trying them. I make a small commission from the links in this post but there is no pressure to purchase!

Face Wash – Shop Here

If you’ve been here for a while you know my go to is Cetaphil. Over the summer I actually gave another brand a try but it just didn’t do it for my skin. I’ve found that Cetaphil is the staple in my skincare routine no matter the season because of how gentle it is. I always get the unscented one and it leaves my skin feeling clean but not stripped of the moisture I need.

Toner- Shop Here

This First Aid Beauty acne pads are a great toner for when I’m breaking out. I definitely don’t use them everyday because they can be super drying but a few times a week they really do the trick. They leave me skin feeling smooth and my breakouts soothed. I also just really love this brand because a lot of their products say safe for sensitive skin right in front.

Moisturizer- Shop Here

This Clinique moisturizer is it. I have tried so many and this truly works best for my skin. I can’t do a really thick and heavy moisturizer because it tends to clog my pores. This is light but moisturizing enough for me to not be dry and like flaky. I highly suggest giving this a try because I always have this in my winter rotation because of how well it works for me.

Body Lotion- Shop Here

Not only does my face get so dry but literally the rest of my body during the winter too. It get’s so red and itchy so when I found this, I was in love. Hyaluronic Acid is so good for hydrating and I love that this Neutrogena lotion has it in it. The texture is like a cooling gel which also feels so amazing on your itchy and inflamed skin. My biggest tip for dry skin in the winter is to make sure you lotion as soon as you step out of the shower. Once you start, your life will be changed.

Face Masks- Shop Here

I love incorporating a face mask in once a week not only because they’re fun but to really hydrate in the winter. This Loops brand is a new favorite of mine and I love these sheet masks. My skin feels so dewy and hydrated after I put it on and has really helped to add moisture back in without breaking me out, which is always my goal.

Everyone’s skin is so unique and different so these products might not work for you like they do for me. I will say I love reading posts like these because they always give me the best product recommendations for things to try out so I hope this did that for you. If you loved this winter skincare routine, you can check out more skincare routines here!

If you liked this post be sure to subscribe to my email list here so you never miss a post! I’m posting every Monday at 9:00am with a few bonus posts throughout each month!

French Bulldog Life Hacks You Need to Know

October 15, 2021

I love my french bulldog but as many of you know, they are a very particular breed. After having her for now 2 years I can say I have found many french bulldog life hacks that I want to share. I love this breed but you have to be prepared to care for them and their many needs. You can read more posts like these here!

Bentonite Clay Shampoo

I’ve found that shampoos with Bentonite Clay work wonders for my ichy Frenchie. This class has been shown to work wonders for itch and hotspots which is something Sky suffers from over the summer. I love the Moosh brand shampoo because it’s all natural and doesn’t have harsh cleaning chemicals. For me, I would never want to put something on her skin that would potentially have bad effects later on. I stick to all natural and organic ointments and creams. This shampoo does the job to clean her and keep her skin soft and itch free.

Dasuquin Hip and Joint Supplements

I became interested in giving her hip and joint supplements after some research. Dasuquin was recommended to me by my vet so I have just stuck with it. Starting a pet on hip and joint supplements early, especially if they are a breed prone to issues, can help lessen the chances of developing major issues down the road. One thing I’ve learned with French Bulldogs is the key is to make sure they are bred well and then do everything you can for preventative care.

Portable Fan

This one is life changing. Everyone knows Frenchie’s overheat easily so it’s important to have ways to cool them down. I am obsessed with this little fan because it’s perfect to carry for her wherever we go. The flexible legs are great because I’ll attach them to her carseat in the car to give her an added level of coolness. This little fan from Amazon is powerful and I actually got the recommendation from my cousin who uses this on a baby stroller.

Life Jacket

Because Frenchie’s are top heavy, this French Bulldog life hacks is essential. Life jackets might seem pointless but they can save your pups life. We have this one from ruff wear because we needed one that would prop her head up enough. Some have a buckle around the neck but we need one that was all floating material to support her head so that she can’t get her head stuck.

I hope this French Bulldog life hacks post helps you whether you have a Frenchie or not. All of these tips and tricks are great for a different breed as well. Let me know in the comments below your French Bulldog life hacks or if you have any pet tips or tricks!

How I Plan and Create Blog Posts

February 5, 2021

With having my blog for almost 2 years now, I’ve truly started to get into the flow of how to plan and create blog posts. The first word that comes to mind when I think of my early days of blogging is overwhelming. In the beginning, it definitely was hard to figure out what to do first or how to even plan a post. This system didn’t come overnight but I’m going to walk your through my process and hopefully can help you out sooner rather than later.

Step 1: Brainstorming

If you were to look at my notebook of ideas, you would think I was crazy. I literally write down any and every thought that comes to mind of a potential post or content idea. Maybe I’ll use it or maybe it will just sit in the notebook forever but I make sure to always write it down. This has helped tremendously because I have a notebook of ideas now, something I didn’t have before. I can easily look at it and get the creative juices flowing for picking a topic.

Step 2: The Topic

Sometimes I already know exactly what I plan to post. Others, I have to refer to my notebook to get an idea. I like to think of my topics in terms of categories from my site. You can see here my posts are always put into a different category. Not only does this keep my blog organized but it helps to keep my topics within my niche. If I wrote last post about beauty products, I’ll try to make sure this post is a recipe or puppy related. This helps to narrow my choices and keep you, my reader, getting fresh content each week. Let me know if you’re interested in a blog post dedicated to just blog topics in the comments below!

Step 3: The Outline

I can’t start writing unless I have an outline. This isn’t necessarily something I write out but it’s a picture in my head of how I want the post to look. If you notice, I use a similar structure for recipes but a different one for product reviews. The photos and fonts are also something I like to starting imagining during this plan and create stage. One thing I never actually do is start with an outline that already has content. I like to just be able to write so I make sure that the outline in my head is ready and then I’m ready to write.

Step 4: Actually Writing

This step is absolutely different for everyone. When I plan and create blog posts, I want to make sure I am open for my content to go in a different direction. This is why I never have a set in stone outline. I take my theme and just get to writing it and seeing where the words and content take me. Whether it’s a recipe or a in depth how to, this step is one that you have to master . It takes a bit to get into a rhythm with writing and once you find a way to be productive, you’re all set.

Step 5: Images & other Visual Content

This might be odd, but I like to write my entire post but leave sections labeled {image} or {video} so that I’m able to just write. One reason for this is so that I’m not slowed down by uploading or downloading extras. If I need to take the pictures of products, I like to do so before I even write so that I can already know what I’m talking about. Images really help to bring your words to life so taking your time on these images will make a serious difference.

Step 6: Visibility & Scheduling

Ensuring your post is visible and will drive traffic is a crucial component to blogging. Once I have a pretty final cut of the post, I will go through and make sure I’ve hit SEO points (search engine optimization) and tagged this post properly. I want to make sure posts have everything they need in order to be ranked well on places like Google. On WordPress, I have an SEO plugin that helps make my life easier. Check it out in the image below. In addition, I’ll schedule the post for a time that I’ll be able to make social posts about it.

SEO and how to SEO — Yoast SEO Plugin- WordPress

Step 7: Promotion

Once your post is entirely finished and scheduled, I like to spend time creating the promotional posts for it. For me, this means a Pinterest pin, Insta stories, and an Insta post. My blog automatically goes out to Facebook and Twitter. This is so helpful so I don’t have to worry about them. I like to use websites like Canva.com to create these. Canva makes things so easy for you if you have no graphic design background, like me. If you’re interested in trying out Canva, use my link here for free Canva credit! I highly recommend taking the time to announce your blog posts on your social media platforms. This helps to to increase your traffic and visibility!

I really hope that this post gives you at least a few tips and tricks on how to plan and create blog posts. Blogging can be really rewarding but definitely overwhelming when you are starting out. This process is one that helps me produce the best content for you guys so I was happy to share just a bit of my knowledge.

Feel free to leave me any questions you may have below and be on the look out for my next post!

January Tech Favorites

January 15, 2020

With the new year in full swing, I’ve decided to implement a new series on my blog call “monthly favorites”. For the next 12 months, each will have one post in the middle with my favorite products and things I’m loving that month. To kick of my favorites series I’m breaking down my January tech favorites!

My first January tech favorites is my iPhone tripod. I got it for Christmas and it has seriously changed the game. It makes taking photos so simple because you don’t need someone else there to take them for you! All you have to do is pop your phone on the tripod and then sync it to the bluetooth from the remote. You can happily take all the photos you want easily and they all come out great!

My next favorite is my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Yes, I did get the most extra iPhone but I’m not gonna lie, it’s worth it. The camera lens on it is insane and since I take pictures for a living it replaces my big bulky cameras. Having such a powerful camera in my pocket ensures that I can easily take photos on the go and always get the best shot.

Now that I’m a dog mom, I literally cannot live without my Furbo Dog Camera. This camera makes leaving my sweet Sky a little easier knowing I can check in on her. The camera resolution is awesome and I love the treat throwing feature!! I can keep her happy and my sanity in knowing she’s okay with this simple and easy to use camera.

Another tech favorite this month is actually an app. I’ve been loving the app Headspace. One of my 2020 goals (click here for the post) was to meditate more and this app leads you through meditations. I love it because you can choose between 3, 5, and 10 minute meditations that are revolving around things like sleep, anxiety, or confidence. This app is so useful and I’m excited to continue to use it on my journey of happier mind.

My last tech favorite is another app and is called 8fit. It’s for working out. I feel like everyone wants to start the new year happier and healthier so they look to working out. As a dance teacher, I get most of my cardio in at night but I like to do something in the morning to start my day. This app has guided workouts that are like 10 minutes each but they seriously work. I love turning the app on and working out while watching the trainer do the same workout. It’s like we’re working out together and because it’s an app, it sends me daily reminders to work out.

This January tech favorites post is the first installment of my 2020 favorites series! I hope you love it and that these posts help you to learn about and try new products. These are things that I have been using everyday so far this month and I plan to keep using. I am literally obsessed with them and hope you will be too!

Be sure to follow my blog so you don’t miss a post and check me out on Instagram @cassiedenisco.

iPhone Tripod $23.49: Amazon

iPhone 11 Pro Max: Apple

Furbo Dog Camera: Amazon

Headspace

8Fit