Cassie DeNisco

Gifts for the Guy in Your Life!

December 11, 2023

We’ve reached my final gift guide for the 2023 season! This post is dedicated to gifts for the guy in you life! These items are actual gifts I’m giving this year so I hope they help you check off the last few people on your list!

This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission if your purchase any of these items! Everything is linked below and should be able to ship in time if you’re a last minute shopper!

Lululemon Oversized Men’s Fleece

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Jordan purchased one of these earlier in the season and really loved it! I decided to get a second one for him for Christmas because it’s one he always wears. The material is SO cozy and its warm, but light weight that you’re not sweating in it. It’s great for the gym or to just wear around as athleisure.

New Balance 574 in White/Gray

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The one thing on Jordan’s list this year was shoes. He usually liked whatever I pick out for him and I previously purchase him a neutral pair of nikes so when I saw these new balances I fell in love. Jordan loves a good pair of sneakers and these look so cozy and the colors will just match everything.

Gift Cards

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Who doesn’t love a gift card, especially when they’re to all your favorite places? Jordan loves ordering out so Door Dash was a no brainer. I also did a few cards to other places for him like Home Depot, Amazon and Dunkin. I love doing like $20 to a few stores for gift cards because then they get a few bucks to go all around to their favorite places.

I hope this gifts for the guy in your life gift guide gives you some gifting inspo! I love keeping it so simple by sticking to whatever the person really loves. People can drive themselves crazy with trying to get the perfect gift and honestly, any gift is special from someone you love!!

If you liked this gifts for the guy guide, Check out my other gift guides here!

Beauty lover Gift Guide 2023!

December 4, 2023

Here is my beauty lover gift guide for 2023! Whether you have a makeup lover or a skincare lover this post is perfect for you! I love gift guides because they really help get your ideas going for the perfect gift!

This post contains affiliate links and I make a small commission if you decide to purchase from me! Everything is directly linked below!

Gift Sets from Sephora- Laniege Duo

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Like I mentioned in my Sephora sale post, I got the fragrance sampler set. I feel like any Sephora sets are the perfect gift especially if you know someone has never tried the product. I think this Lanegie duo is honestly perfect for everyone because who doesn’t love luxury chapstick.

Microcurrent Facial Device

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I’ve had my eye on something like this for awhile! I feel like it’s truly a great gift because this is not something I would readily go purchase for myself. I think devices like this are just so fun to rotate into your beauty routine and this one from Amazon is pretty inexpensive.

Nail Tool Set

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This is something so random but I feel like a lot of people don’t actually have a good set of nail tools! I feel like this would make the perfect gift with a set of nail polish. I personally love Essie polish and would love this as a gift. If you want to bump it up even more maybe throw in a gift card to their favorite local nail salon.

The Ordinary Facial Set

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This little set is everything for the beauty lover. You have all the serums you would want for an at home facial and I feel like gifting this with maybe a tool from Vanity Planet is perfect for the beauty lover. This is a great gift set from Amazon and I love that it has a little of everything they would want!

I hope you get some inspo from this beauty lover gift guide in your life! If you are still in need of shopping, my pet and foodie gift guides are already out! I have one more gift guide coming out after this for him so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

Gift Guide for Pets 2023!

November 20, 2023

We’ve reached my favorite time of year where I begin to roll out my gift guides! You guys love these so we’re kicking it off with my 2023 gift guide for pets! We all know I love my Frenchie and I’ve curated the best gifts for your furry friend!

This post includes affiliate links so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through these! I linked everything below so you can easily add to cart as Black Friday is just around the corner!!

Ball Launcher

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This one in particular caught my eye because Sky loves the smaller size tennis balls! We throw the ball around a lot with her and I just feel like this is a little more fun and playful. I think she’ll get a kick out of watching it pop out because she loves when her Furbo throws her treats and this is kind of the same concept!

Puffer Vest with Harness Hooks

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Sky has had this particular vest for 3 seasons now and it’s truly an essential. I’m trying to find another one so I can upgrade it since it’s getting a little snug. Sky wears the XL and since she has such a large chest, it doesn’t seem super comfy anymore. This vest is amazing though and if you have a pup smaller than her I highly recommend it. It’s so nice to have the leash hooks right on it so you don’t need a harness then the vest!

Raised Bowls

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Raised bowls help to make eating just a little more enjoyable for your pet! I also love the clear acrylic of these bowls. Sky got these after Christmas last year and she uses them everyday. It’s better for Frenchies to eat from raised bowls for digestion and I know these have definitely made a difference for her. This makes the perfect gift for your pet because it’s not a necessity but will become something you’ll use everyday!

Himalayan Dog Chews

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These are always on Sky’s list. She loves these bones and I like them too. I do find they seem a little hard but I monitor her closely with them. I even purchased a little bone holder that helps her not really be able to chew it as fast as she would like. When these get too small, you can throw them in the microwave and they turn into a cheese puff for you pup!

These are definitely on Sky’s Christmas list these year! She’s really a simple gal who doesn’t need much but I know she’ll love these! If you have any other gift ideas for your pet let me know and you can check out last year’s gift guide for pets here!

Holiday Cocktail Recipe!!

December 19, 2022

I struggled a bit with what type of recipe I wanted to share this month. I decided it would be so fun to share one of my favorite holiday cocktail recipe to get you in the holiday spirit! Recently I’ve gotten really into making cocktails and it’s actually so much fun.

Even if you aren’t hosting a big party, this cocktail is so yummy that you’ll want to make it on your nights in too! I am big on just using what you have at home and this recipe seriously is things you probably already have in your home!

Ingredients:

Vodka

Cranberry Juice (I prefer low/sugar free recipes)

Limes

Lime Juice

Shaker bottle

Directions:

Pour 1/2 cup cranberry juice, 2 cap fulls of Vodka, and 2 squeezes of lime into a shaker with ice. Shake well.
Pour into a cute cocktail glass and garnish with a lime!

I probably didn’t have to give you the written out directions but hey you never know! This recipe is so easy and I love how easily you can control the sugar content. I worry about how much sugar is in those crazy cocktails you get out and about so I love making it at home. I’m not a huge drinker but I love something sweet for the holidays!

This recipe was a hit on Thanksgiving and I feel like it’s going to be just as good for Christmas! The sweet cranberry with the tart lime is soooo good and you have to give it a try! Let me know if you love this holiday cocktail recipe and if you’re interested in more like this!

Shop here for my shaker bottle

Shop here for my cute plastic cocktail glass

Check out my latest blog post here and be sure to subscribe to the blog so you never miss a post!

Christmas Presents for Him 2022!

December 7, 2022

The final piece of my 2022 gift guide is here! I’m sharing my go to Christmas presents for him this year! I love curating theses lists because they’re actually things I’m purchasing this year for the people in my life.

These items all have affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you purchase through them! Hopefully they’re all still in stock when you go to purchase, I tried to create this post as close to upload date as possible!

Gymshark Set

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Shop Bottoms Here

Gymshark makes some really great active pieces especially for men. I really almost everything that they have on the website because they’re just great basics. I feel like everyone can always these pieces so you can’t really go wrong with anything from their webstie!

UGG Slippers

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Did you think we’d get through a gift guide series without UGG? My go to gift is always a nice pair of slippers or boots. It’s something people wouldn’t necessarily ask for but that they would use every day if they got it. Not to mention, UGG has seriously made a comeback so truly everything that’s on the website could work for your whole family.

Winter Jacket

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This might be a little trickier to gift unless you really know the person. I love a good jacket and I feel like boys just don’t prioritize outerwear like they should. I love this Nike jacket because it’s an elevated basic where you can wear it dressed down or up. Most men don’t even have a jacket so this is definitely a good gift because it’s an essential.

Coffee Maker

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This could be for him or her, but if you have a coffee lover this is the gift for them! Most people either buy coffee everyday or refuse to upgrade their dinosaur of a maker. Getting a new one is so exciting because they can really do it all now. From frothing to shots the new coffee makers are serious about bringing the coffee shop to your house. I love this one and think the guy in your life would love it too!

Tool Organizer

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All men have tools but I can guarantee they aren’t organized. This set from Amazon is super inexpensive and can work in any little storage system. I stopped getting the tools or gift cards to these stores because they definitely don’t need more things, they just need a place to organize them. You can even go bigger and get a big container for storage depending on how much room you have!

I hope this gift guide gave you some good ideas!! These Christmas presents for him are sure to be a hit this holiday! All these pieces are carefully curated so you give the best gift this holiday! Be sure to check out my other gift guides here!

PS as I am writing this Abercrombie also has some really nice men’s pieces if you’re still stumped!

Christmas Presents for Her this Christmas!!

December 5, 2022

I am sharing my exact Christmas list in this post so get ready!! These are mostly items I’m purchasing for myself but I love see what’s on other peoples list! It helps give you some inspo on what’s currently in and what people are looking for! This Christmas presents for her will be helpful because sometimes you just get so stuck if you don’t have any starting point!

These are affiliate links which means I get a small commission if you purchase through these links but there’s no pressure to purchase! I tried to create these posts as close to upload date as possible so hopefully everything is still in stock!

Thera Gun

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As a dance teacher, I get so sore and this just looks like something I’d love! A nice massage to work on my tired muscles after a long day just sounds so lovely! You can actually purchase different attachments on the smaller version so I am just very excited to get my hands on one of these!

Aritzia Sweatsuit

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This was definitely on my list last year and is on my list again this year! I love these sweat sets because they are such good quality! Definitely pricy but you’ll have them forever. One thing about Aritzia is you do have to be patient because they definitely also are sold out but if you pre-order you’ll eventually get what you want!

Our Place Perfect Pot

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When I look at this pot all I want is soup! I have the Always Pan that I am obsessed with! It seriously does it all and I cannot wait to get my hands on this pot! The only downside is it can’t be baked in but I definitely still want it for soups and chilis this winter!!

Clogs

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I have been trying everything to get myself the Boston Berkenstocks but that just isn’t happening considering they’re sold out always. I am obsessed with this look and these are super cheap. This dupe definitely looks like the actual pair and if you really want them now and not to wait, these are a good alternative!

Hair Crimper

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I lowkey am getting sick of regular curls so I’ve had my eye on this waver for awhile now! This is a fun look for special occasions and it just spices up your hair. I love this one because it’s not too expensive so if you find out that it’s not necessarily for you, you didn’t spend a fortune on it!

I hope you love this gift guide!! These are things I’m actually asking for this holiday season or purchasing for myself! Be sure to check out my other gift guides here so you don’t miss out on gift ideas!!

Christmas Presents for Kids 2022!!

November 30, 2022

I’m sharing another gift guide but this time exclusively for kids! These Christmas presents for kids are great ideas to get the little one on your list this holiday season. I’ve actually never done a dedicated gift guide for kids but I thought I’d give it a try so let me know how you like it!

These are actually presents I’m giving this year so I’m very excited to share them! As always these are affiliate links so I make a small commission if you purchase but no pressure at all!

Sneakers

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Low dunks are seriously everywhere this year and my 12 year old cousin made it quite known he wanted a pair this Christmas! I feel like sneakers are the perfect gift for the older kids who are out of the toy phase but not quite fully in a gift card phase. They still get something cool to unwrap and can actually use/wear right away!

Amazon Gift Card

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I feel like parents and kids of all ages can really benefit from Amazon gift cards! Amazon has toys, clothes, and electronics so it might be nice to give a gift card so they can pick what they want! For little kids, parents might love this gift because they can get clothes and other things in the next sizes up since they’ll know exactly what they need.

Experience

One thing I think gets lost during Christmas is sometimes kids want experiences with you! Whether its a trip to a movie or maybe your local Legoland, kids just want to spend time with you! I have a tradition that I started for birthdays where I’ll take my cousins shopping for whatever they need like clothes shoes. They’ll get a budget and then afterwards we get lunch. It turns into just a fun day and an experience they’ll remember and look forward to!

North Face Jacket

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I love gifting the kids in my life something their parents would never spend money on! I know kids grow so fast so it’s not always practical to spend so much on their clothes but I love a North Face! They’re so comfy and the style has really come a long way. Definitely pricy but sometimes it’s fun to gift something they wouldn’t get otherwise!

Baktivity Subscription Box

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This is literally the coolest thing I’ve found for kids! This is a monthly subscription box that you can get right to your door with ingredients and easy steps to bake things! Think hello fresh but baking and for kids! I know I would love a gift like this as a kid because it’s like the easy bake but just better! You can just pick one box or do a monthly/yearly subscription so it’s really great for all budgets!

I hope you enjoyed this post dedicated to Christmas presents for kids! I’m seriously so excited for this holiday season and I can’t believe December starts tomorrow! Let me know in the comments below who’s on your shopping list this year!

Check out my lastest blog post here and check out last years gift guides here!

My Vegan Pumpkin Bread Recipe

December 13, 2021

I love the holidays because of all the pumpkin spice. I wanted to get this post up sooner, but it has really taken me this long to perfect my vegan pumpkin bread recipe. It is finally ready to go out and I am obsessed with it!

This is a really easy recipe and since it’s vegan, it has very minimal ingredients too! I really have tried to move away from white sugar so this also is a little healthier since it uses brown. This recipe is going to be a go to when I want a healthy treat!

Ingredients:

1 c pumpkin puree

1 c brown sugar

1/2 c neutral oil (I used vegetable)

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 tbsp sugar free maple syrup

1 3/4 c oat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Sprinkle of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare a loaf pan with parchment paper and grease it.
Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup in a bowl and mix until combined.
Next, add in your flour, baking soda, baking powder, spice, and salt. Mix again until well combined but try not to over mix. You’ll notice it become fluffy and that is the consistency you want.
Pour batter into loaf pan and cook for 45-50 minutes or until you can stick a knife in it and it comes out clean.
Let it set for an hour and enjoy!

I am obsessed with this recipe. The oat flour makes this vegan pumpkin bread dense and so decadent. This is a perfect dessert to bring to a holiday party which will already be filled with all the other typical goodies. This is a really healthy alternative and I hope you’ll try it out!

If you loved this recipe, follow me on Pinterest for more or you can read my latest recipe here!

PS.. here’s a funny behind the scenes pic of what happens behind most of my food pictures lol!

Affordable Holiday Outfit Inspiration

December 6, 2021

One of the most exciting times to style outfits is right around the holidays. I’m always looking for affordable holiday outfit inspiration to build a great look so I thought I would share some of my ideas. I like to have options because sometimes you just don’t know what you’re going to be doing until the day of. With these looks, I have you covered from everything to glammed up holiday to NYE in your pajamas!

Look 1: Casual Holiday Spirit

This look screams elevated comfort to me. This is probably the vibe I’ll be going for this holiday season. I love the sophisticated sweater paired with the edgy leather boots and skirt. I chose to style it with a simple pearl headband and you’re set for a holiday party. One thing I find is that I don’t love to wear read or green for the holidays which is why I went for white. Still festive, but not overly festive.

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Look 2: Holiday at Home

After creating this post, I put all of these pieces into a cart and checked out. This is seriously a Christmas dream. With Covid, everyone’s holiday plans are so up in the air or just different than usual so why not have a cozy look ready to go. Not to mention, this set is from Target and was incredibly affordable for how nice it looks. I paired it with slipper, maybe you just got them for Christmas from my gift guide and a soft scrunchy. Simple yet cozy and giving me all the holiday feels.

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Look 3: Glammed Up Holiday

I mean this velvet green dress is everything. I usually don’t do anything crazy for the holidays where I would need a look like this but I might just get this dress to have. Green or red on the holidays isn’t always my favorite but these deep almost forest green is festive but doesn’t screen Christmas. I paired this with neutral gold hinted accessories and you’re set for your glam holiday party.

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Look 4: New Year’s Glam

Let me just tell you, I am all for the sparkle on New Year’s Eve and this dress from Lulus is seriously doing it for me. I love how the dress isn’t super structured so the sequins don’t sit weird. One thing I hate usually about glitter dresses is they end up sitting weird but with this material it looks great. I paired it with these subtly sparkly Steve Madden heels and these incredibly affordable earrings.

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Look 5: Cozy Ball Drop

Nothing says New Year to me than new pajamas. These silk Skims ones are to die for and give you a little bit of that glam feel you want for NYE but get to be comfy. I paired this with another pair of super cozy slippers and of course, the iconic Barefoot Dreams blanket. Ring in the New Year cozy but looking and feeling great.

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This was such a fun post to put together. I love styling outfits but never thought of putting them together for a post like this. I’m trying to step up my content in the new year so please let me know if you have been enjoying the recent posts!

My affordable holiday outfit ideas are perfect for whatever you have this holiday season so be sure to check out all of the pieces linked! As always, I make a small commission off of the links but there is no pressure to purchase. I’ll see you again next Monday for another new post!

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty

December 11, 2020

Some of my favorite things to ask for around the holiday’s are beauty gifts. They’re often something we won’t always splurge on ourselves but are great to receive as gifts. I’ve complied here my list of products I’m loving and would love to receive as gifts this season. This holiday beauty gift guide is your go to in finding the perfect gift for the beauty lover in your life!

Truly Beauty Gift Set

I’ve see this brand and these products all over TikTok lately so I was definitely intrigued. They claim to help with firming and tightening certain areas on your body. I’ve only been using them for about 2 weeks so I can’t yet say they work, however they smell amazing!! I picked up this gift set from Ulta but unfortunately its sold out already. They have a similar set on the Truly website for $47.60 and I think its totally worth it to give these products a try. Gift sets are the best to be introduced to new products or get products you love at a great price!

Tatcha Dewy Skin Moisturizer

This moisturizer is life changing if you have really dry skin in the winter. The price tag is steep at $68 but I definitely think it’s worth it. I love how glowy my skin looks after applying and it really helps to hydrate the dry, cracked skin I often get on my face as the winter months approach. This is an awesome gift for the beauty junkie who likes luxury products but might not be willing to purchase them their self!

Olaplex Shampoo & Conditioner

Hands down my favorite thing to ask for or receive around the holiday season is Olaplex. This combo is my go to shampoo and conditioner that actually works for your hair. These work to rebuild the bonds of your hair and strengthen them. Their are so many great gift sets out right now that make these affordable and you get to try them out before committing to the full product. I linked one above for $60 that has the mini shampoo, conditioner, oil and mask.

Rare Beauty

One thing I love to give or ask for are lipsticks, highlighters, or blushes. Often they’re easy to purchase since they don’t need to be color matched the way a foundation or concealer needs to. I have been loving the Rare Beauty line by Selena Gomez. I plan on giving some goodies to friends and family for Christmas. All of these products have great messages in their names and the line is awesome. If you know that the person you’re buying for has a signature product or color, getting them it is a great reminder you pay attention to the little things.

Glam Glow Face Masks

My go to brand of face masks is Glam Glow, so I included them in this beauty gift guide. Face masks are great to give or receive because everyone can use a good face mask. They’re great for self care nights and generally help your skin at least a little. This is the Super Mud Mask and is great for pore refining. You can also use it as a spot treatment on acne.

I love beauty gift guides because they really help when you might be stuck on a present idea. I hope my beauty gift guide helped you and gave you some great ideas for all the people on your list this year. This is the first of my 2020 holiday gift guide series so I hope you enjoy and check back next week for another one!

Let me know in the comments below your favorites from this beauty gift guide or what products you plan on giving or receiving this Christmas!

Check out my gift guide for her and him from last year here!