Cassie DeNisco

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My Favorite Water Bottles!

With so many water bottles on the market, I wanted to share my absolute favorites! I drink over 100 oz of water a day so I like to think I am an expert on reusable water bottles! My favorite water bottles are ones that can hold a lot of water and also can keep your water cold all day!

As always, there are affiliate links below where I make a small commission if you purchase through my links! There is no pressure to purchase!

Stanley 40 oz

Rose Quartz- Shop Here

favorite water bottles

My Stanely has become my everyday house water bottle. It’s so big that I just fill it up like 3 times a day and I get all my water in. I don’t love to take it out because it’s kind of bulky due to the handle. But the handle really makes it so I wouldn’t just get rid of it if that makes sense!

Hydro Flak 40 oz

Black- Shop Here

favorite water bottles

This is my I’m going to be out all day water bottle. It’s easy to throw in a bag or just take on the go because it’s just a little sleeker than the Stanley. I’ve had my hydro flask for literally years and It’s still going strong. I do swap out my straws every few months just to keep everything extra clean.

Simply Modern 28 oz

Black- Shop Here

favorite water bottles

My Simply modern water bottle is literally my errands and out and about water. I take this to work, a workout class, or when I’m in and out of stores shopping. It’s small so it’s easy to go out with and I love it. It’s also great when I’m washing my stanley to have this as my back up.

As you can see, I literally have a water for every part of my day. This list here is really my favorite water bottles ever and I truly use them all the time. It’s so important to get your water in and having these just makes it easier!

If you liked this post, you can check out more of my favorites here!

My Iced Matcha Recipe!

As I mentioned in my last week’s post, I have been loving this Iced Match Recipe! I look forward to it each and every morning! Matcha is so great for me because it doesn’t leave me anxious and jittery like coffee or chai does so this is a great alternative.

Before you start making matcha, you definitely want a few things on hand to make your life easier! I’ll link my go to matcha essentials below! They’re affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you purchase through me!

iced matcha recipe

Ingredients

Chamberlain Coffee Matcha

Milk of choice (i love almond)

Ice

Sweetener of Choice (I go between sugar free vanilla or caramel)

Directions

  1. Start by boiling water. Grab a glass cup and pour 1 tsp matcha into it. Mix in the hot water and use your mini electric blender to blend. (can use a regular whisk too but electric one works better)
  2. Prep the cup you’re actually going to drink out of by adding ice, 1-2 pumps sweetener, and 1 cup of milk.
  3. Pour the hot matcha over the iced cup and stir with a straw to combine!
  4. Enjoy!!

Matcha Must Haves

Electric blender- shop here

Chamberlain Matcha- shop here

Cute Cups- shop here

Sweeteners- shop here

I hope you loved my iced matcha recipe! It’s so simple and I highly recommend giving it a try if caffeine makes you too jittery! This gets my day going but in a more natural way that doesn’t give me crazy highs and lows!

If you liked this post, be sure to let me know below and check out more posts here!

My Workout Routine that I Actually Do

If you’ve been here awhile, you know I love Melissa Wood Health! Her program has seriously evolved into a workout routine for me that I actually do every day! I figured I would share my current routine using her methods so you can see how great it is too!

My previous blog post was all about meditation and I think the reason I love MWH is because it pairs a workout with mindfulness. Almost every flow has some breath work associated with it either before or after which just elevates the whole experience.

workout routine

My Routine

I really like to workout at least 5 days a week. Usually it’s Monday- Friday for me but if I miss one of those days I like to incorporate a weekend day in too. I’ve found that these flows are so gentle on my body that I actually want to do them everyday because they help to stretch me out and keep my body feeling good.

Most of the time I follow her weekly workout guide but sometimes I like to throw in something I’m feeling. I love the standing series she does because they remind me of the ballet barre. It is such a good all over workout that I can do anytime/anywhere because I don’t need equipment other than a stable surface.

She breaks down the week into a different body part each day which leaves you with a great all over workout each week! I also find that I’m not really run down because I’m not doing the same workout everyday for a month. Each day is so different which keeps it exciting.

The best part of these workouts is the time. Some are over 20 but most are under 20 and that’s something I can commit to. Most of us don’t want to spend hours working out so getting something in that’s quick but effective is life changing for me!

I hope you enjoyed this post about my workout routine! I seriously love the MWH method and it has transformed how I look at working out. A little goes a long way and it’s more about consistency than anything else!

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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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My Wellness Favorites!

This year instead of resolutions I decided to choose a word to live by. I picked “wellness” which just means I’ll be more conscious of my well being than I was last year. Whether it’s working out, eating right, or honestly just slowing down and taking time for me I want to promote and elevate my wellness.

With that being said, January was a bit of a transition month for me with this and I found some products that I seriously love. These wellness favorites range from all different categories and seriously have helped raise my game for wellness!

The Five Minute Journal- Shop Here

wellness favorites

This guided prompt journal was game changing for me. Before the new year I had tried to journal and write out my thoughts but honestly it became a chore. I often was struggling with what to write and stopped enjoying it.

I loved this journal when I found it because there’s 3 questions for the morning and 2 for the evening. They’re short and sweet but get me thinking about what I’m grateful for and set up my mindset for the day. I also like that there’s room to reflect at night how the day went. Highly recommend if you’re looking to start journaling but need a prompt to get you started.

Microwave Heating Pad- Shop Here

wellness favorites

I became obsessed with this. There was not a morning or night that I did not heat this up and use it on my neck, feet, or back. I live in NY where it is so cold in the winter so this just helped to relax me and elevated my mood and my vibrations.

I love that you can just microwave this because it is so easy to use. I don’t like the plug in kinds because you have to sit near and outlet. Although this will lose it’s heat, by the time it started to cool down I was ready to either go to sleep or get going with my day.

Melatonin & CBD Gummies- Shop Here

wellness favorites

I am usually a great sleeper but once or twice a month my anxiety runs wild. These CBD + melatonin gummies are everything for the nights I need to relax and shut off my mind. I usually take some time to read before bed so I’ll take 1 of these and in like 30 minutes I’m ready for bed.

I’ve tried other gummies before this but they honestly leave you groggy in the morning. I think because these have CBD they help you to fall asleep, stay asleep, but wake up refreshed and ready to go. Highly recommend these but of course take at your own discretion!

Pajama Set- Shop Here

I just had to include this pj set because I swear it instantly makes me cozy and relaxed. I got this set off of Amazon after I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to invest in the more expensive version. This dupe did not disappoint me and I wear the robe like all the time.

I have a Barefoot Dreams robe but since this one is significantly cheaper, I find myself wearing it more. I don’t feel nervous cooking in it because it wasn’t as expensive. These Pj’s are so soft and seriously make me feel ready for bed the second I put them on.

Bamboo Pillow- Shop Here

wellness favorites

I was definitely a skeptic when it comes to pillows. I liked pretty soft and squishy pillows because they’re honestly the comfiest. Over winter break I got a COVID booster and I was down for a few days. The only thing that helped me sleep was my boyfriends super thick pillow.

Ever since then, I have slept religiously ever night and I think everyone needs one. The stiffness is great especially if I want to read. It keeps be propped up enough but still comfy and cozy in bed!

As you can see, these wellness favorites are all for better sleep and just overall relaxation. I think for me, wellness seriously just means reducing stress and using that to live my life. We live in such a face paced world that is like perfect for anxiety to grow and it takes a toll on you.

Using these wellness favorites have helped me to take a step back and be able to shut off the world when I’m home. It’s so important to me to use my house as a safe space that isn’t chaotic and each of these products just elevates that feeling for me!

Let me know in the comments below your resolutions or word for 2022! You can check out my last favorites post here! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter here!

Melissa Wood Health Review One Year Later

I am honestly super surprised to even be giving you this Melissa Wood health review one year later! Prior to her workouts, I could never stick to a program for longer than a few weeks. I used to find working out a chore and really not something I wanted to spend a lot of time on.

Working out means different things to different people and for me, I want something quick and effective. I don’t want to be at the gym for hours but I want to be left feeling like I moved my body and am a little sore. My other goal with working out is increasing my flexibility since I’m a dance teacher and need to maintain that.

melissa wood health review

What I Love:

I think the really pull I have to Melissa Wood Health is her vibe. It sounds crazy but she is seriously so calming. I feel like with each workout, I’m not just getting a workout but also like a mini meditation session in. It makes me want to keep coming back for the feeling of peace each time.

Another thing I love about these workouts is I can do them anywhere. On vacation, I actually took my mat with me a and did her workouts. This is something I literally would never do but again, my body craves the post flow feeling. Her workouts range from weights, balls, and bands to literally just your own body weight. This makes her workouts easy to do anytime and anywhere.

In addition to the low maintenance of these workouts, I like that her message is never to do a super hard workout on your body. If you are just moving a little each day, that is more than enough. Putting this thought in my head has built up a consistency that I have never had before.

The Melissa Wood Health workouts start at like 5 minutes and go up to 50. If I am feeling a longer one, I’ll choose that but most of the time I am around 20 minutes. Because of this, I am able to put a workout in everyday and build that good habit in myself.

I thought about including a “what I don’t love” section but honestly, I don’t have anything. These pilates and yoga flows fit my lifestyle and are so easy to incorporate in my day. Finding Melissa Wood Health workouts during the pandemic seriously changed my view of working out.

I always thought that I needed a hard, intense cardio filled workout but I find that these slow workouts are just as effective and so much better on my body. I am obsessed with MWH and think everyone should at least give it a try. You really have nothing to lose when you’re moving your body in a gentle but crazy effective way!

You can read my initial Melissa Wood Health review here! If you want to check out the MWH method, you can read more here!

How to Meal Plan Each Week

If the pandemic taught me anything, it was how to meal plan your dinners for the week. This not only makes life easier but it saves you money because you only have to go shopping like once a week. I usually will grocery shop on a Friday so I sit down on a Thursday and plan out what I want for dinner. By planning it out, I know what I’m making and I’m not tempted to order out.

The key to my meal planning is this little notepad. It has space to plan out literally your whole week and even your grocery list. I will usually just fill out the dinner side but I like that if I want to plan lunches or snacks I have enough space to. You can shop this notepad from Amazon here!

how to meal plan

One of the major tips I have for meal planning is actually creating an outline. I will usually have the same type of meals each week but change up the recipes. This makes planning easy because I know I’ll have a pasta night or a chicken night.

Sample Meal Schedule

  • Monday- Pasta
  • Tuesday- Salads
  • Wednesday- Fish
  • Thursday- Sandwiches
  • Friday- Turkey
  • Saturday- Beef
  • Sunday- Chicken

As you can see, each day of the week had the same things but I switched up the recipes. This is seriously such an easy way to plan because you don’t just have to think of an idea, you have the base. Also, I’m not super strict with my meal planning. If I’m not feeling a certain meal or want to order out one night, I’ll do watever feels best.

Most of my meals actually come from Pinterest so make sure you’re following me so you’re not missing out on the recipes I’m sharing. With my meal schedule, I just have to type in the keyword and then from there like millions of recipes pop up making life so much easier.

Once I have all of my meals, I’ll see what I have here versus what I need to get. I also always have a few things like almond milk or bread that we need every week so I’ll add those too.

I will do anything to make my life easier so I really hope this was helpful! Not only will my how to meal plan post save you time but it will save you money so you’re not buying random things at the store. Let me know in the comments below if you have any how to meal plan tips!

You can see more recipes here!

Tips for Getting into a Fitness Routine

With summer now over, I find myself wanting to get back into my fitness routine. I usually am much more laid back with workouts during the summer months, really only doing what feels good. Now that I am back into work mode after a relaxing summer, I wanted to share my tips for getting back in to my fitness routine!

1. Cute Workout Clothes

I swear this is a bigger tip than it may seem. I am most motivated to workout when I have something I feel confident. Workout clothes really help not only the workout but showing up for the workout. When I have something fun and cute to wear, I am most likely going to be excited for the workout and keep coming back. I love Amazon for workout clothes. This tank here came in a 4 pack for only 28.99!

fitness routine

2. Pre/Post Workout Snack

fitness routine

I must say, waking up and having my pre workout meal is something I really look forward to. I like to workout mid morning during my lunch break so I love to make a morning smoothie. You can check out my morning smoothie recipe here. Some people wake up and look forward to their coffee, for me I love waking up for this smoothie with my workout gear on. If your a person who workouts out later, you can have your favorite protein bar or smoothie post workout to keep you motivated through your workout.

3. Do What You Love

Let me tell you, this one took awhile to figure out. I absolutely love Melissa Wood Health pilates and yoga inspired flows. They are gentle on my body but I feel so strong after them. I seriously look forward to my workout because they are just that great. You need to find a workout program or class that you love and that excites you or else you won’t want to keep coming back to it. My Melissa Wood Health Review is live here on my site if you want to check it out!

4. Build it into your Schedule

This one is so important for me. I build my day around work and my workout. Workouts keep me energized to get through the day and my mind clear. I like to workout midday so I make sure that I find time for a workout even if it’s only 5 minutes. A little movement is better than no movement so whatever you can get in whenever you have time will make the difference. It’s all about the little consistency that will make habits for you.

5. Don’t Stress!

Missing a workout isn’t the end of the world. I’ve found you just have to listen to your body to see what works for you. I like to workout Monday-Friday and if I’m feeling it, I’ll do a Saturday or Sunday workout too. If I miss one day, I don’t get myself worked up or down because it’s not a huge deal. For me, it’s all about listening to your own body and doing whatever you can to form healthy habits.

I hope these tips for getting into a fitness routine helped you. My perception of working out has really shifted as I’ve gotten older. It’s more about the habit as opposed to the actual work out. You can workout once or twice but until you get a habit formed of working out a few times a week, you won’t stick with it.

For me, these tips have helped me get into my own fitness routine and keep it going all year long. Let me know some of your fitness routine tips in the comments below!

My Simple Pizza Recipe

If you’re anything like me, pizza is one of your favorite meals. I swear I could eat pizza for almost any meal and this makes it so easy. I was in search of a pizza recipe a little less carb heavy and I stumbled on the pita in my fridge. Using these as a crust leaves the pizza almost like a flatbread. The size of the pita also makes it perfect for personal pizzas or to mix and match the toppings. In this post, I’m sharing my go to pita pizza recipe.

Ingredients:

Pita Bread

Olive Oil

Tomato

Fresh Mozzarella

Basil

Balsamic glaze

Directions:

  1. Start by putting the 1 teaspoon of olive oil all over your pita
  2. Thinly slice your tomatoes and layer them around your pizza
  3. Add your fresh mozzarella & basil to the top
  4. Bake at 350 for about 8-9 minutes or until cheese is melted
  5. Once out and cooled sprinkle balsamic glaze over

This pizza recipe is seriously so good. I love how healthy it makes pizza night and makes it quick and easy to make. Some other toppings that I love to use are ricotta cheese, zucchini and even red onions and barbecue sauce. Pizza night is awesome with pita because you can make everyone their own flavor and don’t have to worry about trying to find one everyone loves.

Another really yummy way to make pizza is with flatbreads. I buy mine at my local stores and its similar to the pita. Of course it has more carbs but sometimes you just really want that great slice of pizza.

What are some of your favorite pizza toppings?

If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my others here! Follow me on Pinterest for more recipes!

My Favorite Summer Salad Recipe

There is no better feeling than eating a salad made entirely from your own garden. I’ve been really obsessed with knowing exactly where my ingredients are coming from lately so this salad recipe is a culmination of that. There’s a secret ingredient to this summer salad ingredient and it’s a chopper. Getting salads into bite size pieces not only makes it easier to eat but I swear it makes it taste that much better.

The salad chopper I have is from Amazon and you can find it here. I absolutely love it because you literally throw everything into a bowl and then just take the chopper and go to town. Chopped salads are so good and a great way to get all of your nutrients in without feeling like you’re eating too much. Here’s the recipe!\

summer salad recipe
Ingredients:

Greens of your Choice (I love spring mixes with spinach)

Hard boiled egg

Tomatoes

Avocado

Red Onion

Cucumber

Protein (sometimes I add chicken, or bacon, or chickpeas)

Pepita Seeds

*fun add in is cheese (I like a cheddar)

Dressing of your choice

Directions:

I started off chopping salads by just trying to chop everything whole however it is good to cut everything up a little. This really helps to even out everything and make it all the same size. I also was a huge over-chopper. I would just keep going until it was small pieces but everything lost its integrity. Make sure to use a big bowl so there’s room and just put everything in and chop. Add in your dressing last, mix and enjoy!

I love making chopped salads like this one. It’s a great salad recipe if you have produce that’s starting to look iffy so you’re not wasteful. Another awesome thing about salad in general is you can really customize it so that everyone in your house can make their own! The more toppings the better for a salad in my opinion so happy chopping!

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