Cassie DeNisco

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The Best Products from 2022!!

Buckle up because this post is a full list of the best products from 2022! These were featured on my monthly favorites but ended up making the cut for things I couldn’t live without this year! I absolutely loved doing my favorites as a bonus post. I figured they needed their own post before the end of the year!

These products all have affiliate links so you can shop right through this post! As always I make a small commission if you purchase but there’s no pressure at all to do so!! Hopefully these give you some ideas if you still need a last minute present too!!

Crop Tanks

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products from 2022

These crop tanks were feature in my Amazon Favorites post in January and let me tell you, I’m still obsessed! These are the perfect crops to wear when your teaching dance or just working out and want to be covered. They hit in the right spot and are so inexpensive and look great.

Five Minute Journal

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products from 2022

I seriously use my Five Minute Journal almost everyday! It’s really great if you’re just starting out to journal and need ideas about what to write. I also like it because if I want to write something quick it’s super easy to do. Read about all my wellness favorite here!

Lululemon Belt Bag

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If you have a pet you need this bag! It’s essential for treats and any other items you need on the go. It’s also perfect to just take out and about to run errands on your own. This was featured in my Pet favorites post but I’ve talked about it in many other posts since!

Our Place Always Pan

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If you’ve seen any of my cooking posts or videos, you know I always reach for this pan. It seriously does everything you need in a pan so that you don’t need many. I love to boil pasta, make veggies, and even breakfasts foods in here because the non toxic non stick coating is life changing. Read the full cooking favorites post here!

Amazon Sunglasses

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I shared these sunglasses in my May Accessories post and I still loveeeee them! I’ve actually got a second pair in case anything happens to the first. They look super luxe but are only like $15 bucks. I just never can justify designer sunglasses because I’m not gentle with them at all and I just know I’d lose them. These are the perfect dupe and so inexpensive. I would argue this is one of my best products from 2022.

Super Goop Unseen Sunscreen

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products from 2022

This year really became my SPF year. I found that I love the Super Goop Unseen Sunscreen and use it everyday. It’s nice and light but protects and doesn’t break you out. I wear it pretty much everyday and it gives me the piece of mind that my face skin is protected from the harmful effects of the sun. My summer skin essentials post shares more must haves!

Sculpting Bar

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I can tell you out of all the things on this list, you probably don’t need this but you’ll love it! I was inspired after watching a Hailey Bieber skin tutorial and this seriously is a treating. It vibrates and sculpts so it’s essentially a mini massage for your face! Read about all my beauty tool favorites here!

Low Dunks

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These were in my summer shoe favorites but I seriously wear my dunks all the time! My latest way to wear them is with a nice trouser and blazer! It gives such a fun look and I love these shoes. I am still an air force once girly but these are just a teeny bit comfier because sometimes air force 1s are too bulky.

Glow Recipe Niacinamide Drops

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These drops are essential to a glowy makeup look. Swap out your primer with this product and your life will literally be changed. I swear my makeup has never looked better and it’s absolutely this product. It leaves a tacky finish so the makeup just sticks to it and it gives you this gorgeous glow from within! Read more of my makeup favorites here!

Ugg Ultra Mini

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I love the Ugg Ultra minis that were featured in my fall favorites post! They are seriously something that I wear literally everyday! Now that they are cool again I even throw them on with jeans and I just look so perfectly put together. The mustard seed color is my new favorite because it’s a little more neutral and just looks amazing with everything! These are probably my top products from 2022.

Crimper

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products from 2022

This crimper was my top choice for my gift guide for her this year! I just seriously love how it makes my hair look. It’s a more natural wave/curl and it almost matches my natural hair. I love that it just spices up your hair and gives you another way to style it other than the usual curling iron or wand.

Stanley Water Bottle

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products from 2022

So this actually isn’t in any post but I’ve just been so obsessed with this cup this month! I was a little late on the train to purchase it but I seriously love it. It’s so big but not bulky and actually fits in the car cup holder. That’s a serious essential for me and I just know that I this is going to be a favorite for the new year too!!

These 12 products are best products from 2022 I can’t live without from this year! Ranging from pets to beauty, I literally mentioned it all and know that this products will be your favorites too! Be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss a post!

My Bruschetta Recipe!!

I am kicking off my November cooking series TODAY!! I’ll be sharing some great recipes for your to have on your Thanksgiving table and we’re starting with appetizers today! My Bruschetta recipe is so easy to make and will seriously make people think you spent forever on it!

I made this for the first time over the summer with my fresh garden tomatoes and have been craving it ever since! This seriously tastes delicious and has become one of my favorite appetizers. This is perfect for your Thanksgiving feast!

my bruschetta recipe

Ingredients:

3 Cups diced grape tomatoes

6 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon balsmic vinegar

1/2 fresh basil leaves

3 tablespoons butter

1 French baguette

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 and thinly slice your French Baguette. Melt 3 tablespoons butter and mix with 3 tablespoons minced garlic. Evenly coat both sides of baguette then bake for 20 minutes or until super crisp.
  2. Sauté 1 tablespoon of olive oil with the remaining 3 tablespoons of minced garlic. Cook until fragrant then set aside.
  3. Dice your grape tomatoes and combine balsamic, basil, salt and pepper together. Mix in your oil olive and garlic mixture.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for it to marinate but the longer the better!

This bruschetta recipe is perfect year round! I actually never really liked it in the jars because it always was way too salty! It’s so easy to make so you might as well try it out and flavor it your way! If you loved this recipe you can view more here and be sure to follow me on Pinterest as I’ve been posting lots of video content there!!

Summer Hair Essentials for Great Hair!

This post is dedicated to the summer hair essentials you need for great hair! I feel like the summer is the hardest month to style your hair because of the heat and humidity. I really love these essentials to style my hair and keep it’s style.

90% of the time I don’t even bother with my hair because it truly get’s so frizzy but I’ve found these help my hair look good. As always these are affiliate links so I make a small commission but there’s no pressure to purchase!

Claw Clips- Click here

summer hair essentials

It’s funny because when I was younger I couldn’t live without a claw clip. They really went out of style and now they’re back. This is a lifesaver for me because when it’s super hot and humid, my hair still looks cute. I love the wrapped look and it just helps give me a style that combats the humidity.

Kristen Ess Hair Spray- Click Here

summer hair essentials

This is seriously my new favorite hair spray! It’s a finishing spray but it really helps me to combat frizz and that humidity. This is also just a great year round product. I seriously love it after I straighten my hair or curl it to really lock in the style.

Slip Silk Hair Ties- Click Here

summer hair essent

These hair ties are always a must for my hair essentials. These help to not damage your hair but also really preserve your style. I love both the thick ones like these and the really thin ones because both really do the job.

Drybar 100 Proof- Click Here

This is a serious summer must have for me. After I wash my hair, I can’t not put this stuff in it. It helps to lock in the frizz and keep my hair soft and fresh. This is a really pricy product but I constantly find myself coming back to it because it’s that good.

1 1/2 inch Curling Wand- Click Here

This is a lifesaver on days my hair actually does get frizzy. I love going back in and just re-curling a few pieces of my hair with this bigger barrel to preserve my natural hair. This is a serious life hack because my hair is wavy so just touching up a few pieces saves me time and makes my hair look great.

As you can see these summer hair essentials are far reaching. I seriously cannot live without them because they just help to take the edge off of that humidity. These seriously help my hair stay set all day long!

Be sure to read my other hair care posts here and subscribe here to my blog so you don’t miss a post!

The Eyebrow Waxing Products I love!

This post is dedicated to the at home eyebrow waxing products I can’t live without! After covid, I made the transition to doing a lot of things at home. I never thought I would wax my own eyebrows but when I had no other optioned, I turned to Amazon.

Amazon had so many products to choose from so I’ll share my favorites with affiliate links! No pressure to purchase but I do love everything I’m about to mention. I will put out the disclaimer that you should go slow & gentle the first time.

Don’t try to create a new eyebrow shape while you’re getting the hang of waxing. Focus on just cleaning up the eyebrow and you won’t make any mistakes!

Wax Kit- Shop Here

eyebrow waxing products

This is truly why Amazon is great. I purchased a kit just like this one and it came with everything I needed. From the wax warmer to the pre/post wax spray this has you covered. Kits like these are a great way to start out because everything comes in and you’re able to see how it works for a pretty inexpensive price.

Slanted Tweezers- Shop Here

eyebrow waxing products

If you’re trying to pluck your eyebrows with normal tweezers you’re doing it wrong. I love a slanted tweezer to really get those little hairs. This is a true eyebrow essential because you can even pluck mid week when you notice something.

Derma-planing Razor- Shop Here

eyebrow waxing products

This is a newer product to my eyebrow regime but I love that this can help to shape them without waxing. The wax makes me nervous sometimes because I can’t control it as well as this. I can use this to really shape the eyebrow with full control. As opposed to wax where you just kind of glob it on and hope for the best.

Scissors- Shop Here

I love a good slanted scissor. I have the longest eyebrow hairs at the top and use the scissors to trim them down. This is always the way I like to finish off my eyebrows because it’s essential for me to keep them all the same size.

Eyebrow Brush- Shop Here

I love to brush out my brows before I trim them and a brush like this is my go to. I like to brush up with the clear side and leave the hair in it. I just trim across that to help keep them even. Brushes like these are even great when you’re just trying to do your makeup.

As you can see, these have become my tried and true eyebrow waxing products. I like to do my eyebrows every 2-2/12 weeks because that’s how fast they grow. Having everything at home makes my life so much easier and in the long run I do end up saving money.

If you liked this post, I have more beauty posts here! Be sure to subscribe here to the blog so you never miss a post!

That Girl Night Routine!

If you know me, you know I am passionate about good sleep and unwinding at night. I’ve even written posts about it like this one for tips for better sleep! I wanted to share my version of the that girl night routine because I think this concept is really interesting.

This trend has a negative connotation because people feel like they need to act or do things a certain way. I think it’s really just bettering yourself and making sure you are the best version of you. The that girl night routine vibe is just helpful to inspire you to want to take better care of your mental and physical health.

With that being said, here are 5 things to do before bed for better sleep!

Lighting Matters

This is my top tip that I always suggest. Turn off or dim your lights a few hours before you plan to go to bed. As soon as I get home from work I like to start to turn off lights after I use them so that my brain starts to process that the darkness means sleep.

I feel like too bright of lights will keep your body awake. It helps to get you in the mood to lay down when the lights are dim and cozy anyway. This will help making falling asleep easier.

No Phone

that girl night routine

This one was seriously a tough one to get used to. It seriously has made such a difference though. I use the sleep feature on my iPhone and actually have it set to go on for 8pm. Essentially this turns on do not disturb so you’re not seeing any notifications.

When the light on your phone keeps popping up from notifications your more tempted to check it. I like to just put my phone on charge and maybe turn on a show or my next step to help me unwind.

Reading Helps

If you are someone that likes reading, try it right before bed. Unless I’m reading a really high action thriller, my eyes almost always get heavy after reading for like 30-45 minutes. Most nights I turn to reading instead of a show in order to reduce that light and screen time.

I try to just make sure that whatever I read isn’t going to be too exciting or interesting so that it doesn’t have the opposite affect on me. I’m currently sharing one book a month for my book club so be sure to check out the posts here!

Essential Oils

Essential oils are my very final step. I love falling asleep to the smell of lavender and I almost feel like I have conditioned myself to fall asleep as soon as I smell it. Sometimes I’ll even put a drop in my humidifier so that the entire room smells good.

Essential oils are really underrated and I think more people would like them if they gave them a try. I even have body wash and bath soaps that have the essentials oils infused in them so if I shower at night, I’m setting myself up for success.

Don’t Stress

that girl night routine

One thing I hear all the time when I hear people talk about sleep is how they get stressed about it. You have to go in with an open mind and not worry if it takes a bit to fall asleep. There’s no worse feeling then watching the clock tick by because you’re stressed that you’re not asleep yet.

If you can’t sleep one night, that’s totally fine but get up and get water, or take a lap in your house. Don’t let yourself spiral into anxiety and stress which will only prevent you from sleeping.

Like I said, I am all about good sleep. I think quality sleep seriously sets you up for a great day and keeps you going. These things have seriously helped me to unwind and honestly get in the mood for sleep. I hope they help you too.

The that girl night routine is all about being your best you and honestly that’s why I love it so much. Night routine posts are always my favorite to write. Let me know if you liked this post and be sure to comment more posts you want to see from me!

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24 Things I Manifested Before Turning 24

Because this post is going live on February 28th, the night before my 24th birthday, I wanted to reflect on my life so far! I came up with this idea of 24 things I manifested before turning 24 as a way to look back on everything I’ve accomplished so far.

Manifesting isn’t this crazy concept. It’s based along the principle of speaking things you want in life into existence. You have to focus on specific ideas and the universe will help guide you towards them. I think making room to dream about your future is so important in helping you actually want to work towards it. You’ll see some of these things are huge goals, and others are just small daily things that make my life so much better.

24 Things I Manifested

24 things I manifested

1.My Puppy

2. The Blog

3. Paying off half of my college loans in cash right out of college

24 things I manifested

4. Purchasing a new car on my own

5. Able to dance & teach dance everyday

6. Working from home

7. My relationship 🙂

8. Ability to Travel

9. Financially Indepedent

10. Healthy Lifestyle

11. Time to read everyday

12. Being close with my family

13. Able to do something creative everyday

14. Managing stress and anxiety

15. Parents who support whatever I do

16. Time for hobbies and to explore other things that interest me

17. Brand partnerships from my blog

18. Creating a side digital marketing business

19. Toxic people leaving my life

20. Intentional with every action I take

21. Finding what makes me happiest

22. Letting go of things that don’t serve me

23. Ability to manifest & just let the universe move through you

24. Being grateful for everything no matter what

Wrap Up

As you can see, this list has all sorts of things on it. Whether you manifest, pray, or just set intentions they all do the same thing. Just focus so hard on what you want in your life and just let things take their course.

I am so grateful that I realized how powerful manifesting was and was able to have this list. Manifesting isn’t magic and you won’t over night be able to meet some goals. Living each day focusing on only what you want and letting go of things that don’t serve you will help you reach whatever you want.

I am so grateful to have built this community and am able to continue to share all my favorite things with you. Let me know in the comments if manifesting has worked for you!

Read more posts like this here. Join my email list here!

My Top Date Ideas in NYC

In honor of this being posted on Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share some of my top date ideas in NYC! Whether you live in the city or are planning a trip, these places and restaurants are must stops in the city.

For me, the city is only about a 45 minute train ride or drive away so I find myself in the city quite a bit. I’ve curated this list over the past few years. I wanted to make sure I hit the major categories like food, entertainment, and of course shopping!

Dinner & Drinks

Italian in Little Italy

Not sure about you but there’s nothing more romantic to me in the city than Little Italy. It has this adorable charm to it and some really great restaurants to just pop into for dinner. One of my favorites is Capri but I honestly just like to walk around a pop into whatever looks good. It’s always fun to discover something new and it kind of makes that place special for the both of you!

LadyBird Vegan Tapas

I have yet to actually go to LadyBird yet but I have heard nothing but great things. It’s a vegan apps and drinks kind of restaurant and the inside is decorated beautifully. If you’re looking for a quicker bite to eat and are in the area I think this is a great option!

What to Do

A Trip to the Met

This is one of my favorite things to do in the city. The Met is seriously a beautiful museum and honestly, it could take a you a few times to check everything out. I love finishing up at the Met and then walking through Central Park. This combo is literally perfect and honestly a great activity that’s not too expensive but gives you plenty to talk about.

A Walk Around South Street Seaport

date ideas in nyc

If you’re looking for a less city atmosphere but great views, South Street by the boats is for you. I love this area because of the water and the peacefulness it has. Crazy that you can find this pocket of peace in the craziness of the city. This area also has some shops and restaurants so there’s more to do than just look at the water.

Where to Shop

The Shops at Hudson Yards

date ideas in nyc

Not only is the building across the street sick but you get the mall vibe in the city. If you want to go shopping but not have to pop around streets this is great. I like this for a date idea because this area has a lot to do so you can stay in one place, eat and shop at once.

Soho

date ideas in nyc

This is more of a general are to shop in. Of course you can head up and down Fifth Ave but I feel like for a date you’re looking more for a vibe and experience. Fifth tends to be a bit busy and I like the Soho quaintness.

I hope this top date ideas in NYC post gives you some tips on planning your next trip. I had a lot of fun putting this post together so let me know if you want more like this! I’m hoping to travel this spring and summer so I’d love to put more of these together if you liked it.

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Read my latest post here!

Winter Closet Essentials for Cold Weather

I have been waiting so patiently to share this list of winter closet essentials with you! I have been curating this list since the weather got cooler and I feel like I might have the best combo of clothes. A lot of people use winter as just a time to stay warm but I think winter fashion is so fun.

The layering aspect of cold weather just makes it fun because you really can’t go wrong. As long as you layer with a color palette in mind, you are seriously good to go. These pieces I have been wearing all winter long so far and think they are winter closet essentials you need.

Aritizia Super Puff- Shop Here

winter closet essentials

When you see the price tag for this jacket you might wonder why I even bothered. I had been looking for a black somewhat cropped puffer for years and when I finally came across this I knew I needed to have it. This keeps me so warm when I’m out walking Sky and even has little built in black hand covers.

I have a jacket obsession but this one really does it for me. The hood can come off and this really can be dressed up or down, there’s no way you can’t wear it. I also just think a jacket is an investment you can’t go wrong with. I was seeing online that this jacket you can get in the next length and make it cropped but I just liked the cropped length best.

Faux Leather Leggings- Shop Here

winter closet essentials

Back again with another Amazon recommendation. These faux leather leggings are everything. I throw them on with a hoodie or a sweater and I just look put together without even trying. Leather pants themselves had been coming back and I just think these are a happy medium.

They’re comfy and easy to literally throw on. The price tag is also hard to beat with these too. I will warn, I did have to purchase a few of these to find the ones that were good quality and actually fit well. I love these and seriously think everyone needs a pair in their closet.

Steve Madden Betty Combat Boots- Shop Here

I really had been going back and forth about getting similar name brand boots to these. They apparently take awhile to break in and weren’t that comfy so I made sure to do my research and found these. I instantly became obsessed and wear these those every where these days.

They are super comfy and the platform is everything I’ve ever needed a more. These are just a great staple shoe for winter when you’re not looking for something too crazy. Winter shoes to me are hard because I just want to be comfy but look good and these do just that.

Ugg Mini- Shop Here

They’re back! I have been plugging these boots on literally every gift guide I’ve done here on the blog and I can finally tell you they’re back on trend. I’ve had my minis for years now because they just hit at the perfect length. They give you the warmth and comfort you want.

These boots are being styled with nicer outfits as well as sweats so I don’t think you can really go wrong with them. I have them in the chestnut and the sand color but am hoping to get maybe black so that I have all the neutrals!

Beanies- Shop Here

I personally was never a beanie gal but something about your head being warm in the winter changed me lol. I personally love the Carhartt beanies because they’re really great quality but any beanie will work. You can really do so much with them. I personally love putting them with a lounge outfit, uggs, and a puffer.

These pieces are all winter closet essentials. I think they’ll probably continue to be trendy because of just how basic they are. Building a wardrobe with basics like these gives you the foundation to create really great looks without having to keep going out to get new items.

I’m all about investing in nicer and a bit more expensive pieces that I know will last. This makes transitioning to different seasons a bit easier because you have a foundation of your closet that you don’t need to go out and buy new things. Not only does it save you money in the long run but you’ll just have quality pieces that will last.

If you liked this posts, you can read a basics post here from November!

It Happened One Summer- Book Review!

I am so excited to be launching this new series on the blog for a book of the month! Reading is one of my favorite things. I know a lot of you have found me because of my book recommendations. I thought I would share one book I read from the previous month as a way for us to form our own book club!

To chronicle this book journey, I made a separate Instagram @bookchatswithcass to not only share these books in real time but keep myself accountable as I read! I hope you’ll give it a follow as we start this new series together!

For the first month of the year, I decided that I was going to share one of my favorite books from December, It Happened One Summer. This is a funny rom com style book that was such a light and easy read that I got through it in one night. You can shop for it here through my affiliate link.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

it happened one summer

I have read I think one or two other books by Tessa Bailey but this one seriously was so great. It had me laughing out loud and almost made me feel like I was watching a TV show. The characters she wrote were people that you could really feel what they were feeling.

The review on the back said it is like Schitt’s Creek which is so funny. This was not disappointing because it really was just that.

The main character is a rich girl who gets sent away after partying too hard. She finds herself in small fishing town that is connected to her late father. Through fixing up her family’s old bar and falling in love with an average fishing captain, she realizes the life she was living wasn’t at all what she needed.

I so appreciated the humor and little bit of spice🌶 from this book. This one is great when you’re in the mood to finish a book in one night. Once you pick this up, you can’t put it down until it’s done. Another great part of this book is it is actually the first in the series so you get to meet characters from later books.

This series is so exciting to have on my blog and once a month you’ll get a bonus post, like this one, where I’ll recomend a book! You can read it and leave your thoughts in the comments below! If you’re just here for the review, I hope you’ll give this funny rom com a try!

For more book reviews, click here!

New Year, New Goals: My 2022 Resolutions

I cannot believe I am writing the final blog post of 2021. As each year passes, I realize it’s less about the resolutions you make and more about the new goals you set. For many of us, it’s easy to write down things that we want to do each year. I find that it’s more important to have actual steps to get your there. That’s why for me, I don’t make resolutions. Instead, I set goals with tangible steps that I can follow.

Last year, one of my goals was to create and upload a blog post every week for the year. I ended up with 49 posts instead of 53 but I don’t feel defeated. The consistency of writing and posting every week was more valuable to me than a number. This goal showed me that my blog can be a stream of income for me if I’m consistent. I wouldn’t have realized that unless I prioritized posting regularly.

Although I’m hoping for another year of getting things done, this year I’m actually less focused on things and more focused on myself and experiences. By the end of 2021, I was journaling every morning and reading every night, causing my anxiety to drop significantly. The theme of consistency came to my head as I was writing this list of goals for 2022 because when you continue to show up for yourself, you’re able to do so much more.

My 2022 Goals

My first and most important goal for 2022 is to be consistent with everything I do. Whether it’s getting in a little bit of movement everyday or continuing my morning/nigh routines, forming good habits is top priority. I saw first hand what consistency can do from last year by accident so I can only imagine when I’m mindful of it, how much I can benefit from it.

Be consistent with everything I do and form good habits.

I really think it’s important to look to the past year to create new goals for the next. Other than consistency, I found myself needing to create boundaries. Whether it was on a vacation or just spending time at home with Sky, I always online.

I found myself so burnt out this year. This was because I was always online doing something, even at night when I should have put it down. This year I want to create boundaries to limit time on my phone. Also, for after a certain time during the day or on the weekend so I’m not always working. I want to prevent burnout from before it even happens.

Create boundaries to prevent burnout before it happens.

My last goal for 2022 is to be present. Similar to my last goal, I want to not focus on getting a picture out of something I’m doing. I also want to just enjoy events and experiences for what they are and not focus on how I can post about them. Often, I find myself not able to shut off my content creating brain but I really want to focus on living in the moment.

I often find myself as a planner and thinking, if I do this I can post that. This leads me to not really enjoy where I’m at or what I’m doing. It’s so important to me to live in the moment and enjoy the time I’m spending.

Be more present

My biggest tip to you when setting new goals for the new year is to look back and take inventory of what made you happy or upset during the previous year. People love to say all of these huge and crazy resolutions but because they have no real substance, you most likely won’t achieve them. By making small changes based on your previous year, you’ll be more likely to form habits.

Habits are the most important part of goals because you have to form good habits to have your goals stick after you achieve them. I love the new year as a way to reset and be inspired. I also want the momentum to last throughout the whole year, not just until I reach my new goals.

Here’s to a great new year! Check out my past resolutions post here. Be sure to follow me on Instagram since I am really going to try to share more of my everyday life on my stories this year! @cassiedenisco

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