Cassie DeNisco

Puppy Products You Need Right Now!

April 17, 2020

It’s hard to believe that Sky is now 10 months old! I’ve been putting together a list of puppy products you need right now these past 7 months. These months have had some of the best and hardest times of my life. People really aren’t kidding when they say puppies are as hard as babies. My list of responsibilities has grown but I wouldn’t change a thing because she is always the best part of my day.

One major thing I’ve learned from having a puppy, similar to a baby, is you have to do what’s best for your own dog regardless of the tips people give you. It’s always nice to hear what products people love or training tricks they have but you have to be flexible because something that one person loves might not work for you and your pup. This list is full of products and things I’ve come to love for Sky and would reccomend you and your pup try out!

1. Hut or Play Pen

We soon found out that Sky hated her metal cage. No matter how comfy we tried to make it, she would just freak out in it. After some research, we found this mesh play pen from Amazon and she is so comfortable in it. We use it similar to how we would use her crate but it’s just more cozy than a normal cage. This was a serious game changer!

2. Car Seat

I will never drive with Sky again without her car seat! We used to just keep her on my lap in the passenger seat but she started to get so crazy, not to mention it’s not the safest for her to not be tethered to something. This K & H Pet Bucket Booster was pricy, but we bring it inside when she’s not using it and it doubles as a bed in my kitchen for her. This a puppy products that changed the game for us. It’s seriously awesome because it keeps her safe and she loves to be in it!

3. Antlers over Raw Hide

For so long I remember getting raw hide bones for my families’ dogs but they are not good for them! Once they eat the raw hide it can expand in their stomachs and then make them sick. We switched to antler chews for Sky because as she gets older, she does need something to chew and these are more natural. We get them at all stores like Walmart, Petsmart, or PetCo and they keep her busy and happy!

3. Ear Cleaners

With Sky being a French Bulldog, her ears stand straight up and attract so much dirt. She even got an ear infection because we weren’t doing the best job cleaning them. We found a cleaner that you pour into their ears, let it sit for a second and then have them shake out. After that, we take a cotton pad and just gently pull out the extra wax that didn’t already come out. It definitely is more effective and helps to keep her ears healthy.

5. Velcro Harness

This is another Frenchie tip but I do think velcro harnesses are really great for all dogs. We noticed for Sky, normal harnesses don’t sit correctly on all of her muscles and she needed one to come up higher on her neck and leave more room for her shoulders. We love this Voyager Harness from Amazon not only for the quality but for the price as well. We’ve actually gone through two harnesses and I don’t think I’ll ever buy another brand, unless I want a patterned one!

6. Fruitables Dog Treats

What I’ve learned about treats is that if you wouldn’t eat them yourself, you shouldn’t give them to your puppy. I like to get minimal ingredient treats. It’s good to know exactly what the ingredients are and I would eat myself. I love the Fruitables dog treats because they are minimal ingredients and the actually smell good. I also love that they help Sky get in her fruits and veggies that are so good for her.

7. Toothbrush & Toothpaste

Dental hygiene is so important even in dogs so as weird as it sounds, brushing your dogs teeth should be a step in their weekly routines. Sky actually doesn’t hate having her teeth brushed but I find her tooth brush and paste does much better then the cleaning stick treats. I prefer just putting the little silicone brush on my finger because I can really move around her teeth. Starting with a good oral hygiene routine now will set your puppy up for a great mouth as they get older. These puppy products are a must get.

8. Kong Products

Not only are these a yummy treat for your pup, but they also are a tool for you to use to keep them distracted! The puppy phase is definitely tough, especially working from home so I loved giving Sky a little peanut butter or a few small treats in here when I needed her to play quietly. I highly recommend these because they help to keep you and your puppy sane!

9. Training

I was definitely skeptical about enrolling Sky in training programs. With her breed and what I’ve read, they’re usually pretty easy to train but I’m so glad we signed her up. We use clicker training and to this day, it still works. I would look into it if you’re looking for a training method for your dog. We found a beginner class at our local Petsmart and not only did she learn tricks, she also got to socialize with so many puppy friends which was great!

10. Gates

Sky came home on a Saturday and by Monday our house was already gated. Baby gates are so helpful because they allow her to roam freely in the room we’re in, without her heading to another room. With working from home, I would just keep her in whatever room I was in and it would make my life so much easier. Everyone I know agrees gates are a must get puppy products.

Getting Sky was seriously the best time of my life so far and she is the greatest companion. I know a lot of you are thinking about getting puppies or just got one because of quarantine so I say just do it. I hope this list of puppy products is so helpful! As long as you can afford them and will give them the love they deserve, it’s always the perfect time to add a new friend to your home.

Follow me on Instagram : @casssiedenisco

Follow Sky on Instagram : @skythefrenchgirl

Subscribe Here: http://cassiedenisco.com/home

5 Ways to Stress Less in 2020

January 26, 2020

Welcome to 2020, the year where we all will stress less! I am an over thinker which leads me to have some seriously stressful days. I’ve put together some of my ways to stress less to ensure you’ll have a stress free year!

1. Meditate

Meditation started out as a simple 2020 goal but it has seriously helped me as a way to stress less. I swear that just spending those 10 minutes in silence can do wonders for your mind. I like to let those stressful thoughts just pass through my mind but I don’t act on them. Once I’m done meditating, I am so much happier and all around less anxious.

2. Spa Shower

This might sound bizarre, but have you ever showered with the lights off? I swear that it gives off this spa vibe and seriously can help to relax you. Whenever I’m feeling stressed out or worried, I make sure to save myself time for a good long shower. I’ve also heard some people use the Himalayan Salt night light which just adds to the spa atmosphere.

3. Treat Yourself

I can’t tell you how easy it is when you’re stressed out to completely ignore your self-care. I know an easy trick for my stressed out days revolves around spending a little extra time on myself. Whether it’s a face mask or self-tan lotion, just spending a few extra minutes alone and on yourself can help clear your mind.

4. Don’t Deflect the Stress

The only way to really rid yourself of the stress is to let it pass. Don’t try to compartmentalize your feelings or else they could just come back at a later time. As with all things, it’s important to attack them right away and head on. I like to write out what’s stressing me out and then I almost always realize it’s not that big of a deal once on paper.

5. Plan for the Next Time

If you stressed out over a grade or a deadline, make sure next time you study more or do your work earlier. It’s important to realize that a lot of our stress we inflict on ourselves. We overthink or put ourselves in situations that will stress us out so why not just try to avoid it before it gives you anxiety?

I hope that these ways to stress less in 2020 will be helpful for you. I feel like I’m the queen of thinking myself into stress and I know that doing these things seriously helps me to stress less. Do you have any good tips to stress less? Let me know in the comments below!

Follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco! And check out my latest blog post here!

My Hello Fresh Review

January 19, 2020

In today’s world, if you scroll through Facebook you’re almost guaranteed to see an ad for Hello Fresh or even a Hello Fresh Review. I’m not going to lie, Hello Fresh does seem like a great meal solution. The fact that it all comes pre-measured and in one package makes life so simple so who wouldn’t want to give it a shot?

I received two free box coupons from my cousin so I decided to choose one veggie box and a meat & veggie box. There are no dietary restrictions in my house or kids but I did appreciate the types of box options. Once I chose the box, I chose a delivery day and got to pick the meals. I would give the app and overall 10 out of 10. It was easy to use and made what I was looking for accessible.

As for delivery, both boxes came on the designated day and were in the iconic Hello Fresh box. I like that everything was labeled out and I only got the necessary ingredients. It definitely helps to not be wasteful. I can’t tell you the amount of times that I’ve been at the grocery store for a recipe and did not use the full amount of stuff I got. It also is nice because it really helps with portion control and not having too many leftovers.

All of the meals I had were yummy. I loved the Couscous Bowl the most and my least favorite was definitely the Sausage Gnocchi. Whether you like a meal is based on personal preference so definitely no lost stars here. I LOVED the recipe sheets. They were so clear and informative. Not only did it give you step by step directions but it also said all of the pans and other things that you would need to use. The amount of time that you would need to complete the meal was also right on the front and it made meal planning so easy.

As for the negatives, one of the things I found was that the packaging is pretty wasteful. There’s plastic covering most of the foods because they are pre packed so I would like to see Hello Fresh maybe use eco friendly containers. I also thought that for two people, 60 for 3 meals seemed a little expensive. I can go to the grocery story for 60 a week and get enough meals for a week. I think to solve both problems of plastic and cost, it might be useful for them to make 3 meals out of the same ingredients for that week. It would probably cut down on the plastics and maybe the cost.

If you can look past the expense and plastics, I do think Hello Fresh is useful if you’re too busy to put together healthy meals for yourself. For an overall rating, I think I would give my Hello Fresh Review an 8 out of 10. I definitely would sign up and purchase my own boxes here and there when I know I’m having a busy week. I’m not sure if I would use it every week but I must say I am impressed overall with the company!

*This is not an ad or sponsored, all opinions are my own*

Follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco! My Latest post is here!

January Tech Favorites

January 15, 2020

With the new year in full swing, I’ve decided to implement a new series on my blog call “monthly favorites”. For the next 12 months, each will have one post in the middle with my favorite products and things I’m loving that month. To kick of my favorites series I’m breaking down my January tech favorites!

My first January tech favorites is my iPhone tripod. I got it for Christmas and it has seriously changed the game. It makes taking photos so simple because you don’t need someone else there to take them for you! All you have to do is pop your phone on the tripod and then sync it to the bluetooth from the remote. You can happily take all the photos you want easily and they all come out great!

My next favorite is my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Yes, I did get the most extra iPhone but I’m not gonna lie, it’s worth it. The camera lens on it is insane and since I take pictures for a living it replaces my big bulky cameras. Having such a powerful camera in my pocket ensures that I can easily take photos on the go and always get the best shot.

Now that I’m a dog mom, I literally cannot live without my Furbo Dog Camera. This camera makes leaving my sweet Sky a little easier knowing I can check in on her. The camera resolution is awesome and I love the treat throwing feature!! I can keep her happy and my sanity in knowing she’s okay with this simple and easy to use camera.

Another tech favorite this month is actually an app. I’ve been loving the app Headspace. One of my 2020 goals (click here for the post) was to meditate more and this app leads you through meditations. I love it because you can choose between 3, 5, and 10 minute meditations that are revolving around things like sleep, anxiety, or confidence. This app is so useful and I’m excited to continue to use it on my journey of happier mind.

My last tech favorite is another app and is called 8fit. It’s for working out. I feel like everyone wants to start the new year happier and healthier so they look to working out. As a dance teacher, I get most of my cardio in at night but I like to do something in the morning to start my day. This app has guided workouts that are like 10 minutes each but they seriously work. I love turning the app on and working out while watching the trainer do the same workout. It’s like we’re working out together and because it’s an app, it sends me daily reminders to work out.

This January tech favorites post is the first installment of my 2020 favorites series! I hope you love it and that these posts help you to learn about and try new products. These are things that I have been using everyday so far this month and I plan to keep using. I am literally obsessed with them and hope you will be too!

Be sure to follow my blog so you don’t miss a post and check me out on Instagram @cassiedenisco.

iPhone Tripod $23.49: Amazon

iPhone 11 Pro Max: Apple

Furbo Dog Camera: Amazon

Headspace

8Fit

Summer Glow in Winter

January 12, 2020

It’s finally that time of year where most of our summer tans have disappeared. Have no fear because a good self- tanner will help to have you glowy and bronze in no time. I love making sure I have a summer glow in winter. One of my absolute favorite self- tanners is by Loving Tan. Not only do they have natural products, but they also have a built in anti-orange so that your tan will never look like an umpa loompa.

I love all their products but my top two are the Ultra Dark Tanning Mouse and their Gradual Tan Lotion in medium/dark. They seriously help to keep my tan looking natural all year round. I also highly recommend trying out their own tanning mitt because it absolutely will make a difference in the look and duration of your tan. Using these products literally gives me such a natural, healthy glow in the winter when the sun is definitely not as strong. Now that you know my products, here’s my routine!

My Routine:

About 1-2 days ahead of when you plan to tan, take a shower and shave your legs. I like to do this a day or two before I tan bc sometimes the tan gives me little hives with fresh legs.
Right before you tan, take a shower and exfoliate your skin. I use an exfoliate glove in order to really get the dead skin off. Exfoliating is key to an even and long lasting tan.
As soon as you get out of the shower, put whatever tan product you plan to use on a mitt and start working it into your skin in circular motions. Make sure you really blend the product in to make sure you don’t have streaks. I like to start at the bottom of my body with legs and work my way up.
As soon as you’re done tanning, put on loose fitting close and plan to do a rinse in about 6-8 hours. (Sometimes I skip this step and just rinse at my next shower)
For the week with your tan, don’t exfoliate in the shower and pat dry when you get out. This will help to preserve your tan.

With following this routine, I usually will be tan for a solid 5 days. On the 6th and 7th days my tan does start to fade so thats generally why I tan at least once a week and make sure that I follow all of these steps.

Now of course being tan all year round might not be everyone’s cup of tea. There is just something about being tan that makes me the happiest. Not only am I more confident in my own skin but I just have that summer vibe in the cold and dreary months of winter. Having the summer glow in winter really helps to keep me happy and motivated for summer. Recently, I just found a really great face oil that tans but I’ve only used it once. I’ll let you know if it works well in my January Favorites post!!

Follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco! And don’t forget to check out my latest blog post here!

Got Goals? My Goals for 2020

January 5, 2020

2020 New Years Goals & Resolutions

Before welcoming in a new year, I like to take a look at the goals and I set for the past year. 2019 was a huge year for me with new responsibilities and mindsets. I actually accomplished the 3 goals I set for myself this past year. For 2020, I wanted to make sure that the goals I set, I stick to and accomplish .

I think a goal for most people is to be healthier and maybe even lose weight. For me, I accomplished my healthy living goal last year and still continue to implement it in my everyday life. I wanted my new goals for 2020 to be more about overall wellness both physically and mentally. Through meditation and positivity both for myself and others, I plan to work on my mental health this year.

Another aspect of my life I really want to tackle this year is definitely to live fearlessly. I tend to say no way too often so I plan to start saying yes more. Whether I say yes more to friends, work or family, I feel like overall I will be living a life with out anxiety and worry. This past year I have stepped out of my comfort zone but not as much as I would have liked to. I need to listen more to those around me and learn to speak less. I want to attract the energy of good people but that can’t happen unless I start putting myself out there.

Aside from just living an overall better life, I want to make sure I actually set aside time to read more. Other than one book over the summer and required reading, I honestly can’t tell you the last time I read a book. Reading is such a great way to unwind at the end of the day and I want to start incorporating it into my nightly routine. I also want to make sure I actually give back. Whether I volunteer or donate goods, I just want to make sure that I am giving to others in need. It’s so important to me to make sure that I stay aware of how lucky I am to live the life I do.

My final and most important goal is to stay motivated and stick to the things that I start. Being a very motivated person means I can bounce from one thing to the next without having to stop for a break. I used to think it was because I would get bored so easily but I believe that it is actually because I lack the motivation for things once I’ve done them for so long. For 2020, I need to make sure that I keep up my promises.

I hope my goals and resolutions have you inspired to create and set some of your own. I know that when I actually sit and write things out I tend to actually see them through. It is so important to hold yourself accountable for things. Why not challenge yourself to set some goals in this new year? Not only is it a new year but also a new decade. There is no better time to accomplish your goals and try new things than right now!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco. Also, check out my health posts for some inspiration in the new year!

Ultimate Guy Gifts Guide

December 11, 2019

As promised in Sunday’s blog, I’m back with my ultimate guy gifts guide for all the men in your life! Sunday’s blog was all about the girls in your life so if you still in need of gifts, check out my gift guide here ! I hope this list helps you with your last minute shopping. This men’s list was put together with the help of @jordanlee_mavra so check him out on insta if you’re interested in more ideas. Let’s get into my ultimate guys gift guide!

1. Beard Trimming Kit

2. Headphones

3. Bluetooth Speaker

4. Coffee Maker (Nespresso is awesome!)

5. Sneakers (Adidas is Recommended)

6. Work Boots

7. TV

8. Tablets

9. Sports Tickets

10. Concert Tickets

11. Joggers

12. Hoodies

13. Sunglasses

14. Watches

15. Video Games

16. Car Cleaning Kit

17. Shaving Kit

18. Boxers

19. Jerseys

20. Food!! – gift cards are great!

And there you have it! My 20 ultimate guy gifts ideas for this Christmas. I feel like with any of these presents you can’t really go wrong. There is something for everyone here. I also feel like getting guy gifts is much easier than girls to begin with because they are usually not super picky and will be happy with whatever fun thing they get! Even bundling a few of these gifts could be fun to make a larger gift for someone like your dad or husband. I hope my ultimate guy gifts was helpful and be sure to check out my girl gift guide too! I can’t believe Christmas time is almost here!

Follow me on Instagram: @cassiedenisco and be sure to check out Jordan’s as well!

Ultimate Gift Guide for the Girl in your Life

December 8, 2019

I honestly can’t believe we are a little under 3 weeks to Christmas! If you’re like me, you haven’t even started your shopping yet. The holiday season is such a world wind that it’s hard to keep up but I’m here to help! I’ve put together the ultimate gift guide for the girl in your life with 20 things she’s sure to love! But don’t think I’m going to leave you hanging, on Wednesday I’m coming out with the top 20 gifts for guys with a little help from my boyfriend. But today is dedicated to the girls, so here we go!

1. Mini Uggs $115- Just a classic

2. Barefoot Dreams Blankets $49.97

3. Comfy Pajamas – VS Pink

4. Skin Care- Gift Sets

5. Small Wallets

6. Furbo Dog Camera

7. Board Games

8. Gift Cards- Literally to anywhere

9. Sherpa Jacket

10. Candles

11. Tech Accessories

12. Wine

13. AirPods (or even the knock off ones!)

14. Workout Sets

15. LuluLemon Align Leggings

16. Concert Tickets

17. Hydro Flask

18. A Good Book

19. Air Fryer

20. An Experience- a trip, going to see a movie, bowling!

I hope my ultimate gift guide for the girl in your life was helpful! These are things that make my life easier and things I am obsessed with so I’m sure these gifts are great for whoever you’re shopping for. I also think that you could bundle some of these gifts if you’re looking to give a bigger present. Giving a candle and comfy pajamas or Uggs and a sherpa are two awesome gifts that are good alone but even better together.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco! And be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss Wednesday’s Ultimate Gift Guide for Guys!!

Check out my latest post here!

Where I’ve Been…

December 1, 2019

In life I believe we all go through phases in our lives when we’re feeling the least creative or unmotivated to do things we love. For me, I was really dealing with that during November. I love blogging and taking/posting Instagram photos but I soon found myself drowning from school work, my internship, new puppy, and dance work. I felt like my life was fully out of my control and the stress I was under just kept piling up.

I knew that my blog would take some sort of side position in my life once school started back up but I didn’t realize that it would become my last priority. I had so many other things on my plate that my energy was going towards that trying to write blog posts just became mechanic. I was writing merely just to not miss my Wednesday-Thursday deadline. I often would forget to announce the new post on Instagram on my story and I haven’t even been consistently posting on Instagram.

For something that was supposed to be a fun side hustle, it turned into in my eyes my biggest failure. Over the summer my analytics were threw the roof when I was posting consistently. After realizing how much I’ve neglected my blog, looking at my analytics is painful. This paired with the stresses of everyday life left me not at all wanting to blog. I had just too much on my plate that I couldn’t even allow myself to just blog for fun, I turned it into basically a competition for myself.

I finally realized something needed to change in mid November, when I actually stopped uploading. I let my last few scheduled posts go up but I just took the time off to not write blogs and focus on one area of my life at a time. I got my recital dances picked and somewhat choreographed, Sky’s older so she is much less needy, and my internship ended so I had free time again during the week. Finally, I just had to focus on my schoolwork and my puppy and I had the down time I was so desperately looking for.

In that time though, of course I couldn’t sit completely still. I started really posting on Sky’s Instagram and I swear it has really taken off. She has 81 followers in like 2 weeks of consistent posts and I realized how much FUN social media is. When I was doing it for my blog, it seriously became a chore and with Sky, I get to interact with other dogs and the dog moms behind the accounts. This really helped to inspire me to get back to blogging and actually having a desire to want to post. (Follow Sky @skythefrenchgirl)

Blogging never was something to get me Instagram followers or gain lots of money easily. Blogging was an outlet creatively for me and a way to show future employers that I am capable and able to help build an online brand. When I started to focus on the artificial and fake aspects of the internet, I lost myself and the reasons I love doing what I do. Even if you’re not a blogger, the lessons I’ve learned from having my blog can be applied anywhere. You need to remember why you’re doing something and make that the reason you do it. I love sharing my life and my ideas and my style with my audience and that’s what matters most. The numbers don’t matter and they shouldn’t affect why you want to do what you love.

So that’s where I’ve been. I really have been doing some soul searching and I can confidently say I’m back to blogging regularly. My podcast also will be back starting in January. I needed some time to get some better equipment and plan out more podcasts.I will always have a new blog post up on Sundays at 4pm EST but I am not sure yet if I will be posting on another day or just twice a week in general. I will keep you posted and let you all know once I’ve figured that out! Thank you all so much for sticking with me, it really means the world to me.

Be sure to follow me on my socials because those are also coming back hot!

Pinterest, Instagram & Twitter: @cassiedenisco

Sky’s Instagram: @skythefrenchgirl

Also be sure to sure to subscribe to www.cassiedenisco.com to stay up to date with my latest posts!

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

November 30, 2019

Can you believe its almost Thanksigiving? Or that I’m actually writing a post dedicated to Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas? We have all been there: it’s the morning of a holiday and the outfit you thought was cute ended up being ugly or widely inappropriate for a family affair. I’m here just lending my hand and put together some fall trends to help you spark some Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas early instead of waiting until the night or morning of to decide what you’re going to wear.

Fall Dresses:

This might sound basic but dresses are probably my go to on holidays. As long as they aren’t too short or too low cut, they are the easiest to style and actually look like you tried. I love a fall colored dress or some sort of pattern that just reminds you of fall. This dress is from Free People that I actually got at Marshalls (I was so shocked too). Adding my boots and a fun sock or leg warmer just adds to the outfit and makes you look more stylish then you usually do.

Accessories!

I think this tip goes for any outfit. Don’t be afraid to add a hat or knee high boots. I feel like for fall not only do hats keep you warm but they also give off a really cool vibe. It is important to find the right kind of hat. Don’t just og to the store and buy one. You should actually try them out and see what fits best for your head shape because hats are definitely not always flattering on everyone. I am obsessed with this look I put together awhile ago and I still look to it today for my Thanksgiving outfit ideas.

Cowl Neck Sweaters

Turtle neck sweaters are not my favorite but for some reason I can wear a cowl neck no problem. I love this one from Hollister because its boxy but also flattering. I dressed it up with a sweater but it also would be cute with a pair of jeans or booties. If your Thanksgivings aren’t that dressy, even wearing a nice sweater with leggings will keep you looking put together.

Corduroy Skirts

One fall trend that I love and is timeless is textured materials. I love Corduroy skirts because they look cute but often are thicker and warmer than other skirts. Forever 21 often has them super cheap and I think that is where I got this one from. I love a good skirt and sweater situation for Thanksgiving and fall so this outfit is perfect!

I hope this post is exactly what you need to get inspired for Thanksgiving outfits. These Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas are some that I will use this year to put my outfit together. Be sure to follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco to see what I end up wearing!

Click here to read my last post!

« Previous Page