Cassie DeNisco

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Affordable Holiday Outfit Inspiration

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

affordable holiday outfit

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

affordable holiday outfit

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!

Neutral Basics You Need this Winter

As many of you know, I rarely wear color so I found it fitting that I share my neutral basics you need this winter. Not only are neutrals trendy but they’re so great to have in your closet year round. I’d like to think I have a capsule wardrobe where I have only what I need and can mix/match but that’s just not true.

My closet has some fun pieces but is many built around neutrals and there’s no better time to rock them then the winter. Bright, fun colors to me are more spring and summer and the neutrals are perfect to pair with the snow.

Here are my must have neutral basics for winter:

Cream Knit Sweater

neutral basics

I put this one first because a cream sweater is seriously the first and most important neutral basic in my winter closet. Whether you pair it with jeans or a skirt, this single piece can get you through the whole winter. I am obsessed with the mock turtle neck on this one from H & M.

Beige Flannel

neutral basics

One trend I’m really into this fall and winter is a flannel to layer with. I paired this beige flannel with my matching set and it seriously looks so cute. It gives you all the fall and winter feels but also makes the outfit complete and warm. This flannel I’m wearing is thrifted but here’s a similar one from Amazon you can shop!

Tan Jacket

I feel like everyone has the big puffy jackets but I think a good tan or camel color is essential for the winter. Peacoat’s are great to elevate a look while still staying super warm. I love this one from J Crew because it’s not too long for my short legs, but it is longer then others. I invested in this piece a few years ago but here’s a similar one from Lulus!

Black Long Sleeve

neutral basics

A black long sleeve is so essential to a winter wardrobe. You can layer with it or wear it alone which makes it the great piece for your closet. A black long sleeve has great versatility so finding one you love and will wear is actually a great addition to your closet. I love the neckline of this one from Lulus because it’ll be flattering on so many bodies!

I love reading posts like these because they really help to get you thinking about what’s in your closet. It also helps me to think about what I should have in my closet and how to create outfits from that. I am a firm believer in you probably have an outfit in your closet but knowing you have basics is so important to ensure that.

I hope you liked this post and got thinking about neutral basics you need in your closet! To read more posts like this, click here!

20 Questions to Get to Know Me

You asked, so I answered! I recently asked on my Instagram story for you guys to ask me questions to get to know me better. Here are my answers to some of the juiciest questions you asked.

  1. How old are you?

I’m 21 years old and my birthday is on March 1st. I share the same birthday as Justin Bieber so I guess that makes me pretty cool.

2. What’s your college major?

I’m currently majoring in Political Science with a minor in Digital Analysis (Social Media). I was on a pre-law track but I just did not see myself being happy in law school or with the life that being a lawyer entails.

3. Where do you go to college?

So I actually take all of my classes online. I originally was at a University local to me and I commuted but the campus and the vibe just wasn’t for me. When I realized that I wanted to transfer, I looked into online school and fell in love with Arizona State’s programs so that is where I take classes. I LOVE online school.

4. What do you plan to do with your life?

Ideally, I would love to do social media management or consulting for other people or companies. I really am fascinated by how much social media can help people grow their companies and I would love to help others with what I’ve learned.

5. Do you have a job?

Currently, blogging is actually a part time job for me. I am working hard at it and being compensated for some of my posts/ Instagram posts so I do consider this a job. I also am a dance teacher at the dance school that I used to attend. I absolutely love teaching dance. It makes me so happy.

6. Why did you start your blog?

I reached a point in my life where I was planning on doing an internship but thought that it would be more beneficial to learn first hand what it would take to build a brand and an online presence. I literally have wanted to blog since high school but I always was so afraid of what others would have thought. I finally got the courage to start and I have loved it ever since.

7. Do you have an siblings?

Nope, I am an only child and I absolutely love it.

8. Do you have any pets?

No, I have only ever had fish. Stay tuned though because this is about to change. (:

9. What kind of music do you listen to?

Taylor Swift is my favorite artist but the music I listen to really depends on my mood. Some days I’m into rap and house music but other days I like country.

10. Fav TV shows?

I absolutely love Gossip Girl and the fact that it’s getting a reboot is amazing. I also love The Office, That 70s Show, and any Kardashian or Real House Wives series.

11. How do you edit/ take Instagram pictures?

So I was using a legit camera and lenses for awhile but I love a good iPhone picture. All of my Insta pics are taken now on an iPhone and I use Lightroom and Afterlight to edit. I used to use the same preset so that they all looked the same but sometimes I get super lazy and don’t care.

12. Tell us something no one knows about you.

I am a certified Scuba Diver. I got certified in like 7th grade.

13. What kind of workouts do you do?

Because I teach dance almost everyday, that’s my cardio which I do a lot of during the week. I also love going to yoga classes and pilates but thats my main workout source.

14. Any advice on starting a blog?

My biggest piece of advice is just to do it. I spent like 3 years contemplating it and now that I’ve started it, I absolutely love it and would never turn back.

15. What is a quote that you live by?

“She remembered who she was and the game changed.”

16. Where do you shop for clothes?

I love Target for basics. I do most of my other shopping at Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Topshop, and Nasty Gal.

17. How do you always have it together?

When I read this, I LOL’d for real. I think this is such a problem with social media these days because sometimes you’re only seeing the version of a person they want you to see. I have a lot of times when I don’t have it together at all. Everyone is human and everyone has bad days and good days.

18. Extrovert or Introvert?

I am the biggest introvert I know. I thrive being on my own and alone for long periods of time. I do like to go out with friends but mostly I am all about staying in and recharging myself.

19. What’s your sign?

My sign is a Pisces. I definitely fit this sign so well, like seriously it’s me to a T.

20. How do you have so much confidence?

I think this is similar to my answer to #17. I have not always been confident, it’s definitely something that I have had to work on. I deal with anxiety and the idea that I’ll never be that great everyday. It took me so long to finally come to the realization that there’s no one else like me and comparing yourself to someone else doesn’t help. Once you learn to love yourself for your most purest self, the world just loves you back.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading some of the questions that you guys asked me! I always struggle with opening up but I think its so important for us to get to know each other better.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram so that you won’t miss out on asking me any questions! @cassiedenisco

My Productive Morning Routine

It took me so long to get to this point of actually enjoying my mornings, so if I can get into a productive routine in the morning so can you!

7:00am

I start every morning at 7:00am regardless of if I have anything major planned for the day or not. I find waking up every morning at the same time helps me to fall asleep around the same time every night. It helps me to regulate my sleep schedule and start my day. I always make sure to have some water as soon as I wake up to jumpstart my day.

7:30am

I’m not going to lie to you, the first thirty minutes to an hour of my day are spent in bed on my phone. I know it’s a terrible habit to have but it’s just the perfect opportunity to get it out of the way and not get distracted by my phone throughout the day. As soon as I finish on my phone, I immediately make my bed. This step is so important if you’re one who has trouble getting out of bed. Get up and make your bed so that you aren’t tempted to get back in it!

7:45am

By this point in the morning, I am usually awake enough to wash my face. I start with my Clinque face wash on my facial brush. Then I use the Clinque toner that matches my face wash with a little cotton round. I finish off my face routine with the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Serum. I don’t typically use make up so I find that this skin combo leaves my face with a really great glow for the day. While I’m here, I’ll typically brush my teeth at this point too.

8:00am

I typically like to workout in the morning on an empty stomach so when I’m getting dressed and ready for the day, I’ll put on my workout gear for either a workout class, at home workout, or if I’m going to the gym. I like working out in the morning because it gets me pumped for the day and I get it out of the way.

9:30am

After whatever workout I end up doing, I’ll sometimes shower depending on what it was. Because I workout again at night in the dance classes that I teach, I’ll generally do strength training in the morning since I’m doing cardio at night. After that I’ll get fully dressed for the day and do something to my hair.

10:00am

My morning has already been so busy but by 10 am I’m sitting down at my desk either doing work for clients, writing blogs posts, or doing lesson plans for my dance class that night. During the school year, all of my classes are online so I’ll substitute this work for my homework. I’ll usually work until like 3pm so that I have enough time to get ready for whatever classes I’m teaching.

11:30am

Like I said in my what I eat in a day, I intermittent fast and food combine so by this point in the day I like to have my bowl of fruit as my breakfast. I think by this point my day turns into full work mode so my day starts to shift from morning to afternoon really quickly.

I hope my little morning routine inspires you to wake up early and be productive. Keep in mind, by 11:30 I’m usually already done with 50 oz of water. The morning doesn’t have to be such an annoying part of the day that everyone hates. Doing little things like spending some time scrolling on your phone or getting a morning workout in help to make it more fun and make you want to wakeup everyday. Don’t forget to subscribe down below so you stay updated with all my latest posts!

C

Why I Love Drunk Elephant

These three drunk elephant products have done wonders for my skin. Growing up I used to have combination skin but as I have gotten older, my skin has moved more towards being dry all year round. Because I have such sensitive skin, I have to be really careful about what goes on my face and I have been so impressed with the Drunk Elephant skin care line.

For Christmas this year, I was given the travel kit from Sephora called “The Littles“. It retails for $90 and probably was the best gift I received. In the kit, it pretty much as a little version of all of their products which was a great introduction for me to their line. I also really appreciated their mini directions because it actually said what each product does and when to use it. This was seriously a game changer because for the first time, I was able to use products directly how they were intended to be used and what they should be used with.

After giving everything a chance for about a month, I realized that some of the products were just not the best for my skin. I found the jelly cleanser to be something that was similar to my previous face wash brand. I also was getting breakouts from using the Vitamin C serum everyday. This could just have been from my overly sensitive skin but I did leave this experiment with natural, clean and cruelty free products that I absolutely LOVE.

T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum $90

This T.L.C. Night Serum is probably the best product to happen to my skin. I put this on in the evening right after I wash my face and I wake up with the softest and best looking skin ever. I can honestly say that this product has seriously helped to resurface my skin and has completely transformed the texture. This product does have a tingly sensation when you apply it but I think that it just really is telling you its working. With the AHA and BHA ingredients it does wonders for not only the texture of your skin but helps to improve your complexion and pores.

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum $52

I use this B Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum in the morning. I feel like after using a somewhat intense product in the evening that this serum is perfect for the morning to really replenish the skin after the dehydration it goes through at night. I love the way that this looks on my skin that sometimes I’ll just go out with only this on my skin. I really like that it mimics a moisturizer because I truly feel my skin is more hydrated and supple after I use it.

T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial $80

I am not going to lie to you about this product, I was definitely scared to use it. I read a lot of reviews prior to purchasing it because I had heard that this can leave skin really red and splotchy because it is basically an at home facial. I was pleasantly surprised that after my initial use, I had no redness and fell in love immediately with this product. I like to think of this product as a strong version of the T.L.C. night serum that I use once a week when I’m feeling my skin really needs the extra push. After applying this mask, I like to go in with my moisturizer and I am good to go for the night.

Now I know I probably have you really wanting to try these products but their price tag is a little steep. I think getting that “The Littles” set from Sephora is perfect for you to try out these products without the full commitment. I know you’ll fall in love with them like I have because who doesn’t love clean, natural skin care products?

C

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