Cassie DeNisco

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Halloween Party Ideas that you Have to Try

The count down to Halloween is now in the single digits which means my annual Halloween Night party is almost here! I love hosting a Halloween night party because I live in a really high traffic area for Trick or Treaters and houses that give out candy. We have my little cousins and family all come for dinner and then we trick or treat and finish the night with dessert and handing out candy. Now my parties aren’t too crazy but everyone always has a great time so I’m sharing some halloween party ideas!

Decorations:

Carving pumpkins isn’t only fun it also provides for some great decor. I love to carve the pumpkins prior to trick or treating so that we can display them for all to see. I also think getting a cute banner that says like “Happy Halloween” or “Trick or Treat” is a great addition. Target has some really cute ones! Having the perfect table setting also sets for a great vibe. I like to get the tougher table clothes so that I can reuse them year to year, especially if I really love the design.

Food:

In my house, it is a tradition to have “bat balls and worms” for Halloween dinner. It might just be spaghetti and meatballs to some but it’s definitely an easy meal to throw together. It’s also awesome to have ready when your guests arrive but leave it on the stove while you’re out trick or treating. You get to come back to an easy meal to reheat. For dessert, cupcakes are always my go to. I made these adorable mummy cupcakes by using white frosting and a straight icing tip. I added these candy eyes and they are a total hit!

Games:

Making sure your kids are entertained all night might seem hard but having games on hand to keep them busy. Target has an entire aisle with some really cute games. I grabbed this pumpkin bean bag toss game and the kids absolutely love it. I also have bingo and a pin the skull head on the skull. All of the games fit the Halloween theme perfectly and were really inexpensive. They’re great to reuse year after year and are always a crowd favorite!

I hope that these halloween party ideas help you get inspired for your own party. Halloween is the best time of year and I seriously love the spooky season. Let me know if you have any of your own favorite halloween party ideas in the comments below!

Here’s the link to my last blog post!

Jackets for Fall You Can’t Live Without

My favorite fall accessory is a jacket. Jackets during fall are the perfect accent to any outfit and are generally going to be your statement piece because it’s going to be most visible. Jackets for fall are the first thing people will see because it’s not like summer where you can leave the house without one. I’ve gathered all of my favorite fall jackets for you to hopefully break down the idea that jackets have to be bulky and made out of weird materials. These jackets for fall are perfect for all style tastes!

The Peacoat

jackets for fall, peacoat

This is a classic fall/winter jacket for me. It might not be the most warm but it gives off a really classy, put together vibe. I suggest having a peacoat in a few different colors so that you’ll have one for all of the events you need to go to and it can match your outfit perfectly. My peacoat is from J Crew a few seasons ago but here is a link to a similar one!

The Puffer

Now puffers might be a little more winter related but I love starting to wear them on those cold fall nights. I have two really cute puffers here with different material. The white is a classic winter jacket material but the cut makes it so flattering. It’s boxy and slightly cropped so it would look great with a workout outfit or anything street style related. On the other image, I have a suede pink puffer. I’m obsessed with this because it gives the classic puffer a really fun twist. The suede puffer is from Abercrombie but the other is from Target. Here’s a link to the similar one!

The Denim

jackets for fall, denim jacket

I love love love a denim jacket with a hoodie. I think it gives such a cool and cozy vibe. Denim jackets scream fall to me and I couldn’t imagine fall fashion without one. I like to get my denim jackets for fall a little more oversized so that I am able to layer with them. It helps to make it so much easier when I’m not trying to shove my bulky sweatshirt into a cropped jacket. I also think it could be fun to get a colored denim jacket. I know black ones are really cool but I also think a red one could be perfect for fall. Here’s the link to my exact one!

The Teddy

jackets for fall, teddy jacket

These were huge last year but I think that they’re back again this year. The I.am.Gia craze might be over but nearly every store has some sort of teddy jacket. I’m obsessed with mine from garage when I want to be extra cozy and warm. I definitely don’t wear this jacket out as often but I think it is a staple in most people’s wardrobes. Here’s a link to a target dupe!

The Fun Ones

jackets for fall

I am literally so obsessed with a fun jacket for fall. I love this pink fuzzy one from Lulus but I also am obsessed with any kind of statement color jackets. I have a gorgeous yellow from Brooks Brothers but I think statement jackets for fall are a must. Find one you’re obsessed with and just rock it and live it.

The Leather

jackets for fall

I had to finish off this post with my all time favorite fall jacket, a leather one. Leather jackets are the perfect accent to fall because of their texture and warmth. Adding a scarf to a leather jacket is the perfect accessory to any fall outfit. This one is from Topshop and is real leather but you can totally get a faux leather one for much cheaper.

I think fall jackets are so important in putting together the best fall outfits. Jackets are what people will see so you have to make sure you’re choosing wisely. I’m a bit jacket obsessed but for good reason, not only are jackets for fall key to keeping you warm they also are great to add to any outfit. Check out my last fashion post here. Follow me on Insta for more fall fashion: @cassiedenisco!

What’s your favorite type of fall jacket?

Fall Foundations I Can’t Live Without

fall foundations

Something I rarely talk about here on the blog is makeup. I definitely don’t wear it that often but I find myself in the winter putting it on more often. I self-tan a lot over the winter and I also just feel like no matter what you do, your skin is just duller in the winter. Although I am wearing foundation, I make sure it’s still clean and not too heavy. There is literally nothing I hate more then a thick and cakey foundation that you’ll wear on your skin all day. Most of my favorite foundations are actually CC creams or tinted moisturizers because they provide coverage but they’re not too heavy. Choosing your fall foundations might be hard but it’s so important to set your skin up for success in the winter.

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

It Cosmetics CC Cream

This seriously is my go to winter foundation. It helps to keep my skin moisturized in the winter months and gives me some coverage to help with the dullness in my skin. Buyers beware though, the shade range is very little. I wear Light but honestly it only looks great when I’m self tanned. I like to apply this with a beauty blender because I feel like it helps to blend it out much easier.

Tarte Amazonian Clay

Don’t be afraid of this foundations because it may look like full coverage. I find that if I use a little bit, it not only covers but its also not cakey at all. This foundation is seriously one of my favorites of all time because it’s create in the summer and winter. It’s super moisturizing for those winter months which is something that I really like to have. If I’m using it in the summer, I just apply extra setting powder and I know I’m good for the day. Highly suggest trying this one out and this has a much wider shade range. I also like to apply this with a beauty blender.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue

Bare Minerals is definitely stepping up their game and coming into modern times. I used to use Bare when I was in middle school and needed something for my sensitive skin. Now I like Bare minerals because of how light coverage this foundation is. I really think that this is merely a tinted moisturizer but it is so great. It’s not heavy on my skin at all and it feels like its barely there. This product is also awesome because it comes in a gel formula and also a face stick. Seriously an amazing product and definitely a go to for a fall foundations.

As you can tell, my reoccuring theme is that I do not like heavy coverage foundations. If I’m going to wear makeup, I want something that’s barely there and these are definitely my top three. Fall foundations are so important because as the air gets cooler, your skin starts to need more moisture. By choosing a lighter, more moisturizing fall foundation, you’re sure to keep your skin happy and healthy all winter long!

Check out my latest Blog Post here!

Life Updates!

puppy life updates

Wow I can hardly believe that we’re halfway through October so I decided it was time to do some life updates. Seriously can’t figure out why time moves so quickly. We’ve had Sky now for 3 full weeks and I honestly am absolutely in love. She is the most perfect pup and I am so impressed with her intelligence.

Overall, she’s doing really well with potty training. We only have accidents in the house once every few days and she really knows when she needs to go out. One of our biggest challenges is still putting her in the crate overnight. I know that it’s best for her but she cries so much. I would let her sleep on my bed with me but I’m worried she might fall off and my bed is quite high off the ground. We also don’t totally trust her yet for that long without going potty, and I don’t think I even want to imagine cleaning up that mess. Other than that we are doing great and she seriously is such a fun puppy to have!

In other news in life updates, I have also accepted an internship. I’m currently working with a digital marketing agency and I absolutely love it. It’s exactly what I want to be doing. I am so lucky that I was able to find something with such flexible hours and so close to home. I’ve also been with this internship now for about 3 weeks and I feel like I’ve learned a lot. At the same time, I also am working on the skills I already had.

Digital marketing is basically what I do for this blog. From writing and designing websites to promoting it on social media, in a sense I’m my own marketing person. I think it’s so cool that this is actually a job that people have because it’s fascinating. I work on the social team so I get to create graphics for Instagram and come up with captions. There’s a lot of hashtag research involved as well which is something I can apply to my own blog and posts.

With all that is going on in my life I definitely have had moments that I feel overwhelmed. I actually wrote a blog post about all of this change as it was happening. Although, I just didn’t share the details but you can read it here. I was doubting myself for so long and now that I’ve let go I am seriously so happy. Friends in life come and go but you have to be your own cheerleader 100% of the time. I really was able to learn that this year and I know how capable I am of handling any type of situations. 2019 so far has been a crazy year and I can only imagine where else it will take me.

Hope you enjoyed reading my life updates. Stay tuned for more because 2019 is not over yet and there’s still so much more to come!

Sky’s Instagram: liifewithsky

Homemade Halloween Costumes

It’s officially spooky season and Halloween is right around the corner. Halloween is absolutely my most favorite time of year because you can dress up however you want without any judgement. Every year I really try to step up my Halloween costume game but I’ve noticed that the best costumes are the ones that are usually homemade. Often the costumes you get at like Target or Party City don’t really fit right and leave you looking awkward. At least if you make your own, you can make sure that it looks exactly how you would like it too. Here’s a list of some of the homemade Halloween costumes you could do this year!

Wonder Woman

wonder woman homemade halloween costume

This might be one of my all time favorite costumes ever. It was made entirely from clothing that I had from home. I used a red leotard and blue tutu that I already had. All I needed was to just purchase the gold and white sticky foam from my local craft store. For the crown, I got it at my local craft store as well and just used paper cups for the cuff. I seriously love this costume because it looks so cute and it was actually so easy to create.

Black Widow

black widow and captain america homemade halloween costume

Even more basic, Black Widow is so easy to put together. I had black pieces already in my closet and just paired them together. Not only does it look cute, but it matched Jordan’s super hero shirt so it looked like we somewhat arranged our costumes together.

Minnie Mouse

mickey and minnie mouse homemade halloween costume

Probably one of my most reused costumes is my mini mouse costume. I just took a basic black bodysuit and paired it with a red tutu. I hot glued some white dots onto the tutu and then purchased on Amazon some Minnie Mouse accessories. This costume is so timeless because she’ll never go out of style and is perfect if you’re looking to do a family or group costume.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

ninja turtles homemade halloween costume

This costume wasn’t for Halloween but we did do it for my cousins birthday party. We just went out and purchased the Ninja turtle shirt and then paired it with black leggings. I made sure to get the same color fabric for all the arms, legs, and eye ties. My family also used an aluminum foil turkey tray and spray painted it brown for the shell. This was such an easy costume to put together but is one that seriously was one of my favorites.

Clearly you can tell I take my Halloween costumes very seriously. I start planning them over the summer so that I have time to gather everything. Making homemade Halloween costumes really just adds to the fun of the season. Let me know in the comments below your Halloween costume plans this year!

Click here to see my latest post!

Acai Bowls at Home

acai bowls

It might be fall but I still love acai bowls for breakfast! Not only are they super delicious but they also keep me full all morning. The real key to acai bowls are the consistency. My recipe is guaranteed to make you the perfect bowl each and every time. Feel free to alter my recipe however you’d like or use it as is. I absolutely love acai bowls and I even have included a hack to making them even easier.

Ingredients:

Frozen acai packets

1 Banana

1 c mixed berries

1/2 c almond milk

1 scoop collagen peptides

1 scoop of protein power (any flavor)

Directions:

  1. In a blender, I prefer the Nutri bullet, blend the acai, 1/2 of the banana and the mixed berries.
  2. Once somewhat blended add the collagen, protein powder, and blend.
  3. Gradually add the milk. Make sure you only add it a little at a time so that you can ensure it stays as a bowl and doesn’t turn into a smoothie.
  4. Put it in a bowl and add whatever toppings you’d like. I love banana, granola, honey, and coconut flakes!

Acai bowls can take awhile in the morning but if you pre make a huge bowl of it and freeze it, you can defrost a little each morning and just add your toppings. I also find that if you are still hungry after having a bowl, you can add some type of nut butter to increase your protein which will help you stay fuller longer.

I love acai bowls and they can be such a fun treat in the morning or at any point during the day. You can make them exactly however you’d like which makes it the best and easiest way to switch up your morning breakfasts.

Don’t forget to check out my pinterest for more recipes and check out my last recipe for apple crisp here!

Fall Fashion Must Haves

Contrary to what the weather man is saying, it is fall according to the calendar which means its finally time for fall fashion. Fashion blogs are my absolute favorite posts to do and fall fashion makes it all worth it. When I think of fall I absolutely think of booties, sweaters, and a good statement jacket. Having these simple accessories as staples in your wardrobe will make creating outfits so quick and easy.

My first must have is a cozy sweater. With my new internship, although its hot outside its so cold in the office. Having a cozy sweater not only keeps me warm but it also adds to whatever I’m wearing. I find that a big chunky sweater or cardigan really gives any outfit that fall look but gives you the freedom with layers to not be sweating. These two cardigans are from Topshop and were $68. Although pricy, I had to jump on them because they are the perfect chunky oversize cardigan that I have been looking for.

My second must have are a good pair of suede booties. I do love leather but I find that the texture of a suede bootie gives off a comfier, cozier vibe. I know booties are often times hard to find that you like, but my go to fall shoe store is always Steve Madden. They always have the cutest shoes and are really up on the trends of the seasons. These booties I have had for 3 seasons now and they’re still really in great shape. I highly recommend Steve Madden not just for fall but for good quality shoes that will last you.

My final fall outfit must have is a good statement jacket. Whether the jacket is denim or leather, it nonetheless really helps to make the outfit. I love this black leather jacket from Topshop but I also find myself gravitating towards oversized jean jackets with hoodies. I really love the look of it and its definitely so cozy. Fall is perfect to try out new jacket styles too because its not cold enough to where you only want to wear your heavy puffer jacket.

Fall fashion is seriously my favorite time of year. It’s cool enough to break out sweaters but its never as miserably cold as winter is. Fall is also a major time for fashion trends with fall fashion week so there’s always fashion inspiration everywhere. I hope my must haves help you in your fall fashion endeavors. Let me know in the comments below your fall must haves and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco!

How I Let Self-Doubt Hold Me Back

I think for most of us, we’re our own worst enemies when it comes to self-doubt not feeling good enough for the things in our life. For myself, I know that I easily could let my stress and anxiety about change and new experiences control my life but I try my hardest to not let it. Letting things that scare you control your life isn’t a healthy way to live but a lot of us decide to not overcome the things that stress us out.

Self- doubt has been a huge factor in my life and honestly has controlled some of the decisions I have made. I often feel either not worthy enough for the things in my life or I let the fear of the unknown consume me. It often consumes me so much that I sometimes won’t do certain things or will not go all out in situations that I really would have liked to. I know for a fact if I started truly believing in myself whole-heartedly, I wouldn’t be as anxious of a person as I am.

For a little context, I used to think I was just an extremely indecisive person. Once I dove deeper and tried to get to the root of my problems, I realized that I just wait for “signs” on how to handle situations and and make decisions that may or may not come. And if they don’t come, I let fear take over and not do whatever it is I really want to do. It literally took me almost 22 years of my life to realize this but once I got to the root of my indecisiveness, I realized it was my own self-doubt that was holding me back.

This week alone I have had to make some major “big girl” decisions for myself and I almost talked myself out of them, even though they were things that I really wanted. Just take a moment to think about that, I almost let two amazing opportunities pass me by because I was scared. It was comforting to know that I had other people’s support no matter what I did but ultimately it had to be me making the decision as to whether or not I would pursue these things. Although I’m super nervous, I know that I just need to in a sense rip the bandaid off and get to it.

Having the courage to fight yourself in situations is definitely not easy but is so necessary if you’re like me and are constantly in your head. You can let your internal fears and doubts run your life. Just because something scares you and you’re nervous about it, doesn’t mean you can’t do it and succeed at it. Once you’re in a mindset where you are confident with yourself about your decisions and situations, you’ll realize the life filled with self-doubt that you lived before wasn’t healthy. Whether it has to do with body positivity or fear about how you life is going to turn out, you just have to let it go and start living your life for yourself.

I wish I could tell you an easy way to overcome whatever mental struggles and self-doubt you’re going through, but like I said, it truly took a long time to become at peace with myself. I realized that I can handle situations and I shouldn’t allow the things that make me anxious to live my life. It is truly so liberating when you are able to take your life back and start doing things that make you happy. The light at the end of your tunnel will come and you will make it through whatever scares you. I mean, at the end of the day, if it doesn’t scare you at least a little, is it even worth doing?

Don’t for get to listen to me new podcast Chit Chats with Cass on Apple and SoundCloud.. new episodes every Monday!

My French Bulldog Puppy!!

I am so excited to finally share with you my new french bulldog puppy! She’s a cream French Bulldog and only 3 months old. Her name is Sky and I am absolutely obsessed with her.

Jordan and I picked her up on Saturday from a french bulldog puppy breeder in New Jersey and we are so in love. She’s very playful and has been constantly keeping us on our toes. We had been looking at Frenchies consistently for the past 6 months and randomly came across Sky’s breeder on Monday. We had been talking back and forth and ended up becoming obsessed with her.

Like I said, she is only 3 months old and is crate trained but we have started potty training today so that we can get into a good routine. She is my first dog although I have been around many. If you have any puppy tips, leave them in the comments below, I’m all ears! Also, let me know if you have a french bulldog puppy or any of the bully breed.

Be on the lookout for more Sky pictures and now blog posts dedicated to all of our furry friends. Follow our adventures on her Instagram: liifewithsky

Why I Made the Switch to Clean Products

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile now you know that I am insanely passionate about clean products in my home. From cleaning supplies to beauty products, I like to make sure that what I’m using is healthy, natural, and not filled with harsh chemicals.

I know for a lot of people the cost of clean products is definitely a factor when deciding what to purchase but knowing that I’m not using random chemicals around my little cousins or putting things on my face with ingredients that I don’t know how to pronounce is so important. I recently have come across some really affordable brands that I absolutely love and thought I would share them with you guys!

Love Home and Planet

As with any Target trip, I ended up purchasing a lot of the Love Home and Planet products on a whim but was pleasantly surprised with how well the work. I initially only have know this brand for their shampoo and conditioner line which is amazing but they also make detergents, cleaning sprays, cleaning wipes and hand soaps that are vegan, not tested on animals and have minimal, clean ingredients. I seriously have become so obsessed with these products and this entire company. They’re also carbon conscious and I just like that the ingredients they use are natural.

Method

I’ve been using Method body wash for years now but I never realized that they also make cleaning products. Similar to Love Home and Planet, they also have clean and non toxic products. I really love them for their body washes because they have all natural ingredients and minimal ingredients which is so important when you’re trying to clean and keep your skin healthy.

Aside from these awesome, all natural products, I also have come across this cool app that you can test how clean and healthy your products are. The app is called Think Dirty and basically you can scan whatever you’re using to see it’s rating. It gives you the ingredients that’s in the product and breaks down what’s good and bad about the product so that you can make your own informed decision about it.

I think that’s really the key to using healthy products. Everyone wants different things in for their lives and some people are just super passionate about what goes on, near, or around their bodies. Other people might not be as interested but at the end of the day you just need to do what’s best for you and your lifestyle. I definitely hope that you will try the products and brands that I’ve talked about here because I think you’ll love them just as much as I do!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco and leave a comment below if I should do a post on clean beauty products like Drunk Elephant!