Cassie DeNisco

My French Bulldogs Care Routine

February 19, 2024

One non-negotiable I have every Sunday is my french bulldogs care routine. I take about 30 minutes and focus on all things Sky to keep her happy and healthy for the week ahead. I’ve also found this routine has helped to keep problems like ear infections at bay because I’m taking care of her each week.

I am obviously not a vet but having Sky for 4 years now has made me realize how important a maintenance routine with your pup, especially a Frenchie can be. This post contains affiliate links so I make a small commission if you purchase but I wouldn’t recommend a pet product that I don’t absolutely love.

Teeth Brushing

tooth brush- shop here

tooth paste- shop here

This is probably the most important thing you can do for your pet but I know not every pup will let you do this. I started brushing Sky’s teeth as a puppy and she honestly just sits and lets me do it. The vet always compliments her teeth and how great the look and I know it’s from my weekly brushing.

Ear Cleaning

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When Sky was a puppy, she would get so many ear infections and just gunk in her ears. Now that I clean them weekly, they have stopped and it’s truly easy to maintain. I put a squirt in each ear and let her shake it out. I then go in with a cotton round and just gently wipe an debris out!

Wrinkle Wipes

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These were vet recommended to us and I love them. Sky was having some weird gunk in her wrinkles and after using these they’ve been so much better. I will use these twice a week sometimes if I feel like she needs it but it’s great because you wipe it clean and then it helps to dry out the moisture which is the problem with wrinkles.

Wipes

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These are my favorite all over wipes for Sky. They’re fragrance free and so great for her sensitive skin. I use these when she’s muddy or just needs a like refresh in between baths!

I hope you like these french bulldogs care routine post! I love taking care of Sky and these products help me keep her healthy and happy! Let me know if you have any favorite Frenchie products!

Vegan Chickpea Orzo Soup

January 2, 2024

I have a delicious recipe for you today that I know you’re going to love! My vegan chickpea orzo soup is so easy to make and perfectly cozy for these colder winter months. I also love that this is a vegan recipe because I love incorporating meatless meals into my rotation! This is perfect for your new year resolution to be a little healthier!

This is definitely one of my easier recipes and really doesn’t need too much! I feel like many of us have these ingredients on hand already, so it might just be the orzo you have to actually get! I hope you love this as much as I do!!

Ingredients:

8 cups veggie broth

1 bag orzo

can carrots

1 can chickpeas

1 tbsp flour

medium onion diced

2-3 celery stalks diced

1 tbsp garlic

italian seasoning

1-2 tbsp vegan heavy cream or milk

salt + pepper to taste

Directions:

To a large pot, sauté diced celery and onions in buter, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
Add in 2 tbsp of flour and stir until thick.
Add in veggie broth, orzo, chick peas, and carrots.
Bring to a boil then cook until orzo is al dente. Make sure you stir often!
Remove from heat and stir in seasonings and heavy cream.
Serve with biscuits or bread and enjoy!!

As you can see this is literally the easiest soup recipe! I love this vegan chickpea orzo soup because it’s packed with veggies! If you loved this recipe, you can follow me on pinterest or click here for more recipes!

Top Books for 2024!

December 18, 2023

I am so excited to be sharing my top books for 2024 with you! This post is dedicated to all the books I’ve read this past year and the ones that really stood out to me! Posts like this really help to grow my to be read list and I hope it gives you some inspo for this new year!

I love this recap because it really forces me to go through my Good Reads and see what books I truly enjoyed this year. Everything is linked below through an affiliate link so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase! I hope you love this post as much as I do!!

The Rules of Magic

Shop Here: The Rules of Magic

I always love the Reese’s Book Club picks but this one was just extra good. I love the movie practical magic but to explore and dive into the story lines before the movie was just so fascinating to me. This was so well written and I just loved it.

Daisy Jones and the Six

Shop Here: Daisy Jones and the Six

I snuck this book in as quick as I could before the series came out and boy am I glad I did. This love story is epic and I still think about it to this day. I loved the uniqueness of how the book was written and I seriously couldn’t put it down.

The Woman in Red

Shop Here: The Woman in Red

This historical fiction read was a game changer for me. It gave me all the girl boss vibes with little hints of romance and adventure. I’ve never heard of the main character from this book but I’ve actually done a lot of research on her since because this read was fascinating.

The Nightingale

Shop Here: Nightingale

The story of The Nightingale itself is amazing but this book really opened me up to Kristin Hannah and her writing. She really helped me fall back in love with historical fiction this year. Her attention to detail with the time periods she sets her stories in is epic and the stories themselves are so amazing and heartwarming.

Books of the Month 2023:

January– Confess

February– The Luckiest Girl Alive

March– The Hollywood Spy

April- The Woman in Red & The Housemaid

May- The Cuban Heiress & The

June– Meet Me at the Lake

July- The Senators Wife & The Rules of Magic

August– Did you hear about Kitty Karr?

September– Summer of ’69

October– The Great Alone

November– The Four Winds

I hope this top books for 2024 gives you some great ideas for next reads! This has become my favorite post to write for the year because I love looking back at great books! You can check out last year’s recap here Books to Read in 2023!!

How to Stay Organized this New Year!!

January 2, 2023

I love to share blog posts on how I plan! This year I wanted to put a twist on how to stay organized this year! I have recently moved more towards digital planners. If you know me, you know this is a shock because I have been a pen and paper girl forever. However, I recently discovered some really helpful digital tools that honestly have made the paper planners useless!

My all time favorite paper planner is the Day Designer. I love this for so many reasons, but my top is it has a spot to plan out your entire day. Working at the studio in the evenings means I seriously need to plan my mornings to be as productive as possible. I actually was able to swap the paper for these 2 super helpful digital organizers!

Google Keep

This is the real game changer that most people don’t know exists! It’s essentially an online to do list, however you can share it and collaborate on it! We use this at the dance studio but I’ve started using it in my personal life too. I treat it essentially as my giant life to do list.

Any time I get a thought, I jot it down. I have the app on my phone so it’s always near me and accessible. Having a big to do list seems daunting, but I love just seeing everything that has to be done whether it’s today or 2 months from now.

I’ve recently started organizing it with the day of the week then the item to keep my even more on top of things. I seriously love it and I like that I can share it too. I found it super helpful for even ordering Christmas presents with Jordan because we were able to share the list and check off who we got for!

The best part is, this is a free service through Google! If you have a Google account, you can access it today and really start to get your life organized! I did try the Apple Reminders app which is similar to this, but Google is more universal so I love this so much more!

Google Calendar

Like I just mentioned, I was an Apple girl but it’s not universal like Google is! I just love that I can share calendars with people so that everyone sees the exact same info. This is great for my entire week or month in a more general fashion. I have it set to download to my iPhone calendar app so that I literally see everything on all my devices.

This is a great resource to just share with others. Family events or just work stuff is so important to share so that’s why I switched to this. It helps the people around me to be as organized as I am so it makes my life easier.

I’ve even tried to plan out my days through this but most of the times I would just rather have this as an overall calendar. I do know people who block out their day with this and use it as their planner so it definitely can work for you!

As you can see I really don’t need the whole pen & paper thing when I have these two free resources. I love both and how they seriously keep me on track and productive. As we head into the new year, it’s essential figure out how to stay organized and I know these both will work for you!

Be sure to check out my Pinterest here and a yummy recipe here!

My 2023 New Year’s Resolution!!

December 26, 2022

I can hardly believe another year has passed and I’m writing out new year’s resolution! It’s crazy how quickly the years go by and how fast we get to the next one. This year I wanted to share my new year’s resolution in a different way.

Instead of picking multiple things, I just wanted to choose a word that everything falls under. I started this last year with the word wellness and I truly think I got to live that word out. This year I’m doing the same because I feel like sometimes resolutions can be too limiting and put too much pressure on yourselves.

Patience

Now people always say patience is a virtue but I feel like a lot of my anxiety comes from jumping to the next thing or next worry. I want to really slow down in 2023 and try to get everything back in check.

In the times we live in we can really just feel out of control a lot. Life flies by us and if we’re not moving as fast as everyone we feel like we’re missing out or not doing something right. For me, I want to try to break this habit next year.

A slower lifestyle and mindset doesn’t put me behind others, if anything it’ll set me up for success because I’ll be able to make decisions based on thinking things through. I want to be so intentional with my time so I think having patience will help with that.

One other aspect of patience is with purchases. We live in a world where it’s so easy to order exactly what we want and have it delivered right away. Financially, you can only do that for so long so I just know being patient and thinking through purchases on clothes and other non-necessities will boost my finances as well.

As you can see, choosing one word that encompasses your mood instead of a resolution changes your mindset. I never followed through on resolutions because they always felt like too many unattainable goals. With choosing a word to live by, you can find it in all areas of your life and mold it to how you’re feeling.

If you have a word for 2023, share it down below! I love hearing how other people approach the new year with their mindsets. You can read more resolutions posts here! And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest here!

Best Books to Read for 2023!!

December 12, 2022

I LOVE writing this post every year! I take a look back at my Good Reads for the year and share some of my favorite books I’ve read!! These best books to read for 2023 are truly the books I fell in love with this year!

Some of my best performing posts for the year were my book reviews and it was such a fun year to share what I read with you! We’ve read everything from mysteries to romance and some Colleen Hoovers in between. I even met my Good Reads goal of 50 books in 2022 so I’ve definitely read my fair share of books this year! Here are some of my favorites!!

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

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Talk about a transformative book! This love story is epic and will absolutely set the tone for your summer if you read it in June! The writing was fantastic and I just really appreciated the cozy small town vibes. It’s based around these summer houses and kids who fall in love when they’re young but reconnect as they get older. You cannot go through Summer 2023 without reading this book!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

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Luckily I was able to read all 3 of these books before the Prime series came out! I fell in love with these books and the show only added to that. Another summer read but honestly I feel like these characters and what they go through is relatable. This leans more on the young adult side so it was a quick read for me but I really recommend it if you love the show!

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

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This is the sequel to It Ends With Us by Co Ho so definitely read that first. This book really gives more layers to the characters and continues the story laid out in the first book. I love this series for so many reason but this book solidified for me this story. Essentially at the heart it’s a love story that two people get reconnected in. It’s so good and this book really did it for me after reading the first one!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

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I originally read the Guest List by Lucy Foley and really loved the thriller vibes so I knew this would be the same. The books aren’t connected but this author just has a way of writing that instantly grabs you and makes you read. I got through this in one sitting because it was a true page turner that kept you on your toes!!

The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer

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This had been on my good reads for quite sometime! I finally got around to reading it this year and I really loved it. I’m starting to see a theme that I like books about neighbors but oh well lol!! This book deals with loss and grief but also just has this amazing story to it that I really appreciate. The writing was so good and I’m just mad I didn’t pick this up sooner!

Here are my other book reviews from this year!

January– It Happened One Summer

February– The Light We Lost

March– Death by Disseration

April– Reminders of Him

May– The Most Beautiful Girl In Cuba

June– The Christie Affair

July– The Northern Spy

August– Reputation

September– American Royals

October– Ugly Love

November– The Last Thing He Told Me

I hope this book wrap up really helped you find some good books to read for 2023 !! I am looking so forward to continuing these posts so be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss a post!!

Winter Closet Essentials for Cold Weather

January 24, 2022

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

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

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!

My Favorite Products from December!

January 19, 2022

I feel like I am constantly sharing products and reviewing them so I decided along with my monthly book review, I would have another bonus post! This post is dedicated to all the favorite products I had from the month before!

December was a busy month and I had some products that I really could not live without. They seriously got me through the busiest month between content, work, dance and just life. All of these links are affiliate links so if you purchase I do make a small commission from them. As always, there is no pressure, just like to mention it!

Simply Modern Tumbler- Shop Here

I’m probably late to this party but I cannot life without this cup. It keeps my cold drinks cold and the sleek design is a serious plus. I had the pink and blue ombré and asked for the black for Christmas. Between the both of them I am set for this next year.

I think one thing I have with reusable water bottles is they aren’t always chic and cute. They’re often just bulky and too gaudy but I love everything from this brand. They also make a similar size to the hydroflask that I have but I prefer this one since it fits in a cup holder.

Day Designer Deluxe Weekly Planner- Shop Here

Okay this was a literal fail on my end. I’ve actually had this planner since June but didn’t realize how great it actually was until now. I use a weekly planner as opposed to a daily planner because I don’t need to have my entire day fully planned.

However, on a Monday when I am off from teaching, I do like to maximize my time and plan out the day. I realized that in addition to being an amazing weekly planner, in the back there’s sheets of their amazing day planner that you can use. I fill it out on Mondays and it keeps me so organized for the whole week.

Kate Spade Oversized Throw- Shop Here

I’ve had this blanket since the end of the summer but didn’t realize just how great it was until the weather got cooler. This is my go to throw because of how plush it is. I had another very expensive and luxury brand blanket but it doesn’t compare to this after washing.

I’ve washed this blanket a few times since it’s white and I have a dog and I realized it really holds up. It is just as soft as it was when I first got it. It also is easy to clean and get stains out of which is super important since it’s white.

Lululemon Scuba Hoodie- Shop Here

I’m sorry in advance for this one because it’s probably still sold out. I had to mention it though because this sweatshirt has become my life. I’m a dance teacher so I’m always in athleisure. These sweatshirts are so flattering but also easy to move in.

Sometimes I just want to be comfy and cozy but not in a huge sweatshirt. These are cut so well that they give you that vibe but are easy to dance in. I have both the 1/4 zip and the full zip and I literally love both equally. They both seriously get the job done.

Slip Silk Scrunchies- Shop Here

I feel like because I’m a dancer, I know scrunchies and hair ties best. These thin scrunchies from Slip are literally insane. They seriously hold your hair but don’t damage it. I am literally never going back to the rubber band ones.

I found that my hair was breaking so much and once I started using these, my hair was able to relax a bit but still be up and pulled back securely. That of course is key when you’re dancing for multiple hours a day.

I would swear by these favorite products because they are all just that great. These are things that I reached for multiple times this month and they’ve really held up. I think my top two would be the planner, it kept all the dates for me, and the scrunchies because I could teach in them.

Most of these products I actually have had for a while but I rediscovered them in December. If you have any of these favorite products or try them out, let me know in the comments below! I hope you enjoyed this bonus post and let me know the content that you’re interested in reading. I’m always looking for new posts and ways to share!

You can read more posts like this here!

My 2022 Amazon Must Haves

January 3, 2022

I originally had a completely different idea for this post but I thought you would all enjoy my amazon must haves! I’ve curated this list based everything I purchased in 2021 and used throughout the year. To make it easier on you, I broke down the products based on their categories!

Sometimes I find that Amazon is overwhelming so I love posts like these that break down products people have tried and love. I am constantly ordering from Amazon so I feel like this post can be super helpful if you’re trying to find new things to try. Buckle up and grab a snack because this is a long one!

Beauty Amazon Must Haves

Acne Patches- Shop Here

These are such a great and inexpensive dupe for the more pricy products. These patches are great to put out at night at help to protect and deal with the small acne breakouts you might get. I really like these for how discreet they are as opposed to normal drying lotions.

Lymphatic Drainage Paddle- Shop Here

After seeing this all over Tik Tok and Instagram, I knew I had to get one for myself. Lymphatic drainage is really good for your circulation but honestly this gives you a nice massage too. I like to use this with a little lotion and really helps to relax me after a day of work, working out, and being on my feet.

Dry Brushes- Shop Here

Apparently I’m all about circulation because these brushes were so great. They’re a two pack for $9.99 and the quality is great. I love this when I want to exfoliate off a tan or just need to exfoliate in general.

Fashion Amazon Must Haves

Matching Workout Sets- Shop Here

This set is a true gem. I was very apprehensive to purchase it because based on the picture it doesn’t look like it will be good but it was a true game changer. Not only do I love the color but the material is super thick and really keeps you sucked in. I love this for a MWH workout or just running errands.

Crop Tanks- Shop Here

Many of you know I’m a dancer and teach so I want workout clothes that are good quality and not super baggy. These tops were a reorder for me 3 times this year because they are everything I’ve ever wanted. They are perfectly cropped and the fit is amazing. The price for 3 is also unbeatable.

Sports Bras- Shop Here

Guys!! This is a dupe for a Lululemon Bra!! I am a true Lululemon gal but because I dance everyday, I need enough bras to get me through the week. When I found these and tried them out, I will never go back to the Lulu bras because this is pretty much the exact same quality for half the price.

Household Amazon Must Haves

Mason Jars- Shop Here

If you’re like me, your morning drink is what you look forward to. Mine is a chai and there’s nothing I love more than having it in a cute cup. I found this pack on Amazon and have been using a cup a day this year since I got it. They’re super inexpensive and seriously are great because they come in a pack with lids and straws.

Chia Seeds- Shop Here

I definitely didn’t think I’d ever buy food from Amazon but these health food items are actually pretty inexpensive. I wanted to get more fiber into my diet and heard chia seeds are great for it so I ordered these and they were organic and a great price.

Cameras- Shop Here

This one is technically for pets but I wanted to mention it here since it’s not just for them. I love my Furbo for Sky but I wanted another camera in the house when I leave so I can check in. Unfortunately they don’t make another small one so I got this one from Amazon and it’s perfect. We use the Blink camera system already so adding this mini indoor one was perfect and it’s so inexpensive!

Pets

Dog Harness- Shop Here

Not the cutest harness ever but it is perfect. Sky is a bulldog and she is so strong that she’s actually broken through some harnesses. This one is sturdy and I know she’s locked in safe. She also has this thing where she hates things going over her head so this one is great because you can strap around it.

Dog Pool- Shop Here

For less than $20 bucks this foldable pool is perfect for the summer! We took this on vacation when we went away and Sky loved it. Because we were at the beach I didn’t want her to get sandy everyday so this ended up being perfect because she got to cool off but wasn’t getting itchy and gross from the sand.

Pet Mat- Shop Here

This became an instant favorite resting spot for Sky. She really loved that this was near the door to lay on when she wasn’t laying in her bed. I also liked it because if she was wet it helped to absorb it all up. I originally saw this on Tik Tok and knew it would be perfect for her.

These are literally products that got me through 2021. Sometimes products can be hit or miss on Amazon so I personally find posts like these so helpful. Not only does it give your product recommendations but it let’s you know what products are worth it.

My biggest tip for Amazon shopping is to read through the reviews before you purchase. I have been disappointed so many times because I purchased without seeing if it was legit. I hope these products give you some inspiration for the new year! You can check out another Amazon favorites here!

Be sure to subscribe to my mailing list so you never miss a post! You can subscribe here!

New Year, New Goals: My 2022 Resolutions

December 27, 2021

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