Cassie DeNisco

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Top Books for 2024!

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

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top books 2024

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

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top books for 2024

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

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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

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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!!

Beauty lover Gift Guide 2023!

Here is my beauty lover gift guide for 2023! Whether you have a makeup lover or a skincare lover this post is perfect for you! I love gift guides because they really help get your ideas going for the perfect gift!

This post contains affiliate links and I make a small commission if you decide to purchase from me! Everything is directly linked below!

Gift Sets from Sephora- Laniege Duo

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Like I mentioned in my Sephora sale post, I got the fragrance sampler set. I feel like any Sephora sets are the perfect gift especially if you know someone has never tried the product. I think this Lanegie duo is honestly perfect for everyone because who doesn’t love luxury chapstick.

Microcurrent Facial Device

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beauty lover gift guide

I’ve had my eye on something like this for awhile! I feel like it’s truly a great gift because this is not something I would readily go purchase for myself. I think devices like this are just so fun to rotate into your beauty routine and this one from Amazon is pretty inexpensive.

Nail Tool Set

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This is something so random but I feel like a lot of people don’t actually have a good set of nail tools! I feel like this would make the perfect gift with a set of nail polish. I personally love Essie polish and would love this as a gift. If you want to bump it up even more maybe throw in a gift card to their favorite local nail salon.

The Ordinary Facial Set

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beauty lover gift guide

This little set is everything for the beauty lover. You have all the serums you would want for an at home facial and I feel like gifting this with maybe a tool from Vanity Planet is perfect for the beauty lover. This is a great gift set from Amazon and I love that it has a little of everything they would want!

I hope you get some inspo from this beauty lover gift guide in your life! If you are still in need of shopping, my pet and foodie gift guides are already out! I have one more gift guide coming out after this for him so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

Gift Guide for the Foodie!

I am back with another gift guide for the foodie in your life! This is perfect for the person who loves to cook or honest just spend time in the kitchen! I’ve recently discovered my love of cooking and have some of these items on my wish list this year!

This post contains affiliate links so I make a small commission if you chose to shop from them! All opinions are my own!

Our Place Always Pan

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If you’ve been here awhile, you know I can’t stop talking about this pan! I’ve mentioned it in my 2022 Christmas list & my cooking favorites posts! This pan has really made me excited to cook different recipes because it makes the cooking and cleanup so easy. They just recently came out with a bigger size and a smaller size so no matter what you need, Our Place has you covered!

Dutch Oven

gift guide for the foodie

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I have recently become a bread maker and my dutch oven has made it so easy! I will be sharing an easy recipe soon but I seriously think a dutch oven is a great gift! You can do so much with it from baking to just making pasta on top of the stove. Having it in my pot rotation means my possibilities are endless and if the foodie in your life doesn’t have one yet, they’re missing out!

Knife Set

gift guide for the foodie

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This is actually something I don’t have but definitely have on my list. I have a few knives I love but I really would like a set that all matches and is just fresh. I love the color of these and the matching scissors just elevate this set for me. Knives are so essential for cooking and if who you’re shopping for doesn’t have them yet, they’ll definitely make a great gift!

I hope this gift guide for the foodie gave you a few ideas! The holidays are coming up quickly so don’t wait to get your holiday shopping done! You can check out my gift guides from last year here!

Gift Guide for Pets 2023!

We’ve reached my favorite time of year where I begin to roll out my gift guides! You guys love these so we’re kicking it off with my 2023 gift guide for pets! We all know I love my Frenchie and I’ve curated the best gifts for your furry friend!

This post includes affiliate links so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through these! I linked everything below so you can easily add to cart as Black Friday is just around the corner!!

Ball Launcher

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This one in particular caught my eye because Sky loves the smaller size tennis balls! We throw the ball around a lot with her and I just feel like this is a little more fun and playful. I think she’ll get a kick out of watching it pop out because she loves when her Furbo throws her treats and this is kind of the same concept!

Puffer Vest with Harness Hooks

gift guide for pets

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Sky has had this particular vest for 3 seasons now and it’s truly an essential. I’m trying to find another one so I can upgrade it since it’s getting a little snug. Sky wears the XL and since she has such a large chest, it doesn’t seem super comfy anymore. This vest is amazing though and if you have a pup smaller than her I highly recommend it. It’s so nice to have the leash hooks right on it so you don’t need a harness then the vest!

Raised Bowls

gift guide for pets

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Raised bowls help to make eating just a little more enjoyable for your pet! I also love the clear acrylic of these bowls. Sky got these after Christmas last year and she uses them everyday. It’s better for Frenchies to eat from raised bowls for digestion and I know these have definitely made a difference for her. This makes the perfect gift for your pet because it’s not a necessity but will become something you’ll use everyday!

Himalayan Dog Chews

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These are always on Sky’s list. She loves these bones and I like them too. I do find they seem a little hard but I monitor her closely with them. I even purchased a little bone holder that helps her not really be able to chew it as fast as she would like. When these get too small, you can throw them in the microwave and they turn into a cheese puff for you pup!

These are definitely on Sky’s Christmas list these year! She’s really a simple gal who doesn’t need much but I know she’ll love these! If you have any other gift ideas for your pet let me know and you can check out last year’s gift guide for pets here!

My Sephora Sale Picks!

It’s the best time of year where I share my Sephora sale picks with you! Whether you’re looking to stock up on your favs or get your Christmas shopping done, you don’t want to miss this sale. You get a different percentage off based on your insider rewards so essentially the more you spend in the year, the more you save during the sale.

I personally am doing a major stock up. I’ve pretty much been waiting for the sale because I’ve run out of a lot of my go to products but wanted to wait to stock up until they were on sale. As always, these are affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you purchase from them!

Glow Recipe- Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Serum

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This is my favorite makeup primer! I swear by this product because it leaves such a beautiful glow under your makeup! It’s also a little tacky so I believe it really helps to make the makeup last longer.

Nécessaire- The Body Essentials Trial + Travel Set

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sephora sale picks

I am so excited for this that I’m buying one for me and one for someone on my Christmas list!! I love Nécessaire so much and I swear by the body serum. It’s truly my all time favorite moisturizer because it just glides right on!

K18- Mini Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

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I actually don’t have this product already but I have heard such great reviews. I’ve been dying to try it so what better time then now!

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

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sephora sale picks

It’s been a minute since I’ve head this Summer Fridays mask in my rotation. I love it because as the weather is getting colder in New York, I’m really reaching for hydrating products to lock in moisture. This is so great and I will just put it on in the morning and let it soak in throughout the day as I work.

Inky List Brighten-i Eye Cream

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This is a repurchase for me and I actually was pleasantly surprised with how much I love this product. I just needed an eye cream and grabbed this. It’s at such a great price point and I’ve really noticed a big difference in my eyes!

Peace Out AHA Pore and Blackhead Exfoliator

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sephora sale picks

I am on the hunt for a blackhead mask that actually works and I’ve read good reviews on this. I’m excited to give it a try especially because I really like the shape of the packaging.

Sephora Perfume Sampler

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I saved this for last because this is like the number one thing on my Christmas list this year lol. I am on the hunt for a signature perfume/scent for myself and I feel like this is a really good place to start. You get all of these mini sizes and then can trade it in for a full size when you pick the one you love!

Be sure to check out the Sephora sale picks which runs until tody 11/6!! Use code “Timetosave” at checkout if you are a member of their loyalty program! Let me know if you liked this blog post and be sure to check out more like this here!

Halloween Costumes from Your Closet

If you’re reading this on 10/30 when it comes out, I have the perfect post for you! I’m sharing my easy Halloween Costumes from your closet! These looks will use pieces you probably have in your closet with accessories you can grab easily!

Halloween is truly my favorite holiday but as I get older you don’t really know if you’ll need a costume. Of course you don’t want to be stuck with nothing at the last second so this post is for that. These are affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you purchase!

Cat

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pants- shop here

bodysuit- shop here

cat ears- shop here

This is probably the easiest to throw together. Whether you’re going for black leggings, jeans or leather pants you definitely have the outfit to put this together. I’d pair any of those pants with a black long sleeve top and black boots. Grab a set of cat ears and add some whiskers with eyeliner and you’re good to go!

Princess

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crown- shop here

I think this is another easy one but you might want to double check you have a dress that works for this. You can really do like a generic princess which means you really just need a flowy dress. Sundresses would work great for this but you might just need to layer up if you’re going trick or treating. The only real accessory you need is a crown!

Devil

halloween costumes from your closet

top- shop here

pants- shop here

ears- shop here

Unlike the other two, red is like the specific color you need to get this point across. You can use the same pair of black pants you used for the cat look but throw on some sort of red top for this. Maybe a red workout tank if you’re wearing leggings! Again, you can just pair this with a devil horn headband and you have the easiest look put together.

I hope these Halloween Costumes from your closet really gave you some inspo! Most of these pieces you already have in your closet so it should make putting together these looks easy! Let me know if you liked this post! You can check out more Halloween posts here!

My Favorite Health Supplements

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to take more supplements to support my overall health. I love seeing what other people take and thought this would be a beneficial post to put together of my favorite health supplements! I’m obviously not a doctor so this is just what has worked for me!

Always consult with your doctor before you start any new supplements!! Some of these are affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you decide to purchase them from me.

Seed Probiotic

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favorite health supplements

The Seed probiotic has truly been life changing for me. I’ve been a girl with stomach issues my entire life and I truly started to find relief around the time I started taking this. This seriously does wonders for my digestion as I don’t deal with bloating much anymore. I also cut out dairy around this time so that could factor into it but I love this. It’ll be 2 years in December of taking this and I am still seeing the benefits.

Olly Women’s Multi Vitamin

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favorite health supplements

I don’t know what it is with these but I seriously have never had hair and nail growth quite like this. These are great to take nightly right before bed and I swear they really work. I used to have almost no hair or nail growth but because these have biotin and folic acid they really work great. Not to mention, they really taste great so I can’t complain about these gummies.

These are actually the only two supplements that I take consistently. I have noticed such a difference in even my skin after taking these so I definitely recommend giving them a try if you are in need of new supplements.

I hope my favorite health supplements inspire you to start making small changes for your health to get in in check!

Fall Loungewear I’m Obsessed With!

The temperatures are finally cooling down and I’m stocking up on all my fall loungewear. I am the unofficial queen of sweatsuits as they are my go to for sleeping, going out, and even working from home. Sweatsuits are the matching sets you need to feel like you can conquer the world.

As always these are affiliate links so I make a small commission if you purchase through them. I know you’ll seriously love these pieces as much as I do!

Aritzia

TNA Cozy Fleece Mega Raglan Hoodie- Shop Here

This is truly my go to hoodie. I like to size up to a Medium or Large so that it’s super oversized. The quality of the Aritzia pieces is truly unmatched and I just love it! I also like that their pieces perfectly match all styles of tops and bottoms so that you can mix and match.

TNA Cozy Fleece Mega Sweatpant- Shop Here

fall loungewear

Hands down these are my most favorite sweatpants. They are incredibly flattering on someone like me who is curvier. I find that sweats are often just too baggy and oversized but these are literally perfect for me. I just stocked up this season and I’m really loving the cool grey color pictured above!

White Fox

Offstage Hoodie Posie Pink- shop here

Offstage Sweatpants Posie Pink- shop here

This is a new brand to me but I’ve been seeing these sets everywhere. I was drawn to this pink color because I feel like it’s so fun for fall and winter as a pop of color. The quality of this set is great and I’m actually interested in trying out a few other pieces by White Fox. Let me know if you’d like a full review!

Skims

fall loungewear

Soft Lounge Tank- Shop Here

I couldn’t talk about my favorite loungewear pieces without mentioning this tank. This has become the staple sleep shirt in my rotation. I have this in pretty much every color and I wear it literally every night. It’s really the perfect tank to take from lounge at home to out and about running errands!

I hope this post satisfies your fall loungewear inspo! For me it’s cute sweatsuits and sometimes leggings that I can rotate in! I love these cozier pieces as the weather cools because you get to be really comfy but don’t compromise looking put together.

If you loved this post, you can check out more fashion post here!

My Salmon Bites Recipe!

I’m sharing a quick a delicious salmon bites recipe that will have you adding it to your weekly rotation! I use these salmon bites in a delicious bowl that seriously takes about 25 minutes tops! This has become my go to Monday meal because I’m obssessed!

This post contains a few affiliate links for some of the kitchen items I mention! As always I make a small commission if you purchase through me but no pressure! I hope you love this yummy recipe as much as I do!

salmon bites recipe

Ingredients

1 pound salmon (cubed & skinned)

4 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tsp honey

2 tbsp sriracha (add more or less depending on how spicy you like)

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 drizzle sesame oil

air fryer & parchment paper

Optional add ons: white rice, cucumbers, carrots, & sesame seeds

Directions:

  1. Start by taking the skin off your salmon. With a sharp knife, carefully remove the skin as if you were cutting thin chicken cutlets. Cube the salmon and set aside.
  2. Assemble your marinade by whisking together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha, garlic & sesame oil. Add in the salmon and marinate for at least 20 minutes. (I prep before hand so I set if for like 2 hours)
  3. Place parchment paper or parchment paper liner in your air fyer and add salmon. Cook on 400 degrees for 9 minutes, flipping salmon over halfway through for maximum crisp!
  4. Serve with rice, cucumber and carrots !

I just started making a little extra sauce and putting it to the side to save as a top drizzle. You should not use any extra marinade from the raw salmon because that can make you sick.

I love this salmon bites recipe because it’s really a great twist on my Crispy Salmon Recipe here! It really levels up your dinner and makes everything taste better!

If you loved this post, be sure to check out more of my recipes here!

Affiliate Links

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Parchment Paper Liners- shop here

The Great Alone Book Review!

I can hardly believe this is my first October post for the month! I have finally surpassed 50 books this year goal and I am so excited to share one of my favorite reads of the summer with you! The Great Alone book review by Kristin Hannah was such a great read and one that I often find myself thinking about, even today!

This is a historical fiction read, which we all know is one of my favorite reads. I devour books like this, even with a page count of 549 because of how interesting the read is. This post has an affiliate link to shop for the book but as always, there’s no pressure to purchase!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

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the great alone book review

This book follows the Allbright family as they navigate very big life changes. Leni, their daughter is forced to move with the family to an extremely remote part of Alaska. Mom Cora will do anything for her husband Ernt, even though he’s working through PTSD and is extremely abusive towards her.

Once they move to Alaska things only get harder as they realize life up there is rough. It’s essentially a full time job just prepping for Winter in order to stay alive. The community around them welcomes them with open arms but Ernt still struggles with his mental health.

I found myself captivated by what life would be like up in a remote part of Alaska. They had no running water in the house so they’d have to collect and boil water for cooking. It’s such a different way of living that I’m not sure I would survive.

We read as Leni starts to grow up and move into her teen years. Navigating being a girl is hard enough but with a toxic home life and just the harshness of Alaska, you find yourself routing for her to make it through.

With really tough topics, like domestic abuse, this book does need a trigger warning. If you are able to get passed that, the themes of community and resilience are popping off the pages. We read as Leni falls in love for the first time and has to battle her father who is very much against it.

I loved this book because you route for Leni and her mom on every page. Kristin Hannah really gives you insight into toxic relationships but finishes off the story with an ending that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and so incredibly proud and happy for Leni.

Final Thoughts

I’ve reviewed another book by Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale which I absolutely loved! It’s safe to say for me Kristin Hannah has really become one of my top author’s! She writes so beautifully that you really become transported back to the time period the book is in.

I also recently read Four Winds and if you’d like a book review on that let me know! I’d give The Great Alone Book Review a 4.25/5 and would consider it a must read! Be sure to check out my other book reviews here!