Cassie DeNisco

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My Sensitive Skin Care Routine!

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that my skin has really become sensitive. I try to combat that with using gentle but still effective products. I’ve been using these for about a year and I’ve definitely seen a difference with my sensitive skin care routine!

As always these are affiliate links so I make a small commission if you decide to purchase from me! These have become my go to products I can’t live without so I hope they help you too!

Vanity Planet Face Brush

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sensitive skin care routine

This has been a constant in my routine for years. I love that this gently exfoliates my face and leaves me with that really deep clean feeling. I use this at least once a day every other day because sometimes I do find it to be a little too abrasive. This paired with my cleanser has really kept my skin clear and glowing.

Cetaphil Sensitive Skin Cleanser

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Sensitive Skin care routine

This has been game changer for me. I’ve been really trying to find a cleanser that is effective but not overly drying. I’ve even tried other similar products but I just keep coming back to this one. I love this Cetaphil cleanser with my whole heart. It truly cleanses but doesn’t strip my skin.

The only downside is that it’s hard to find but I often can order it on Amazon. I just make sure it doesn’t get too low!

Kiehl’s Moisturizer

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sensitive skin care routine

This is pricy but so worth it. I’ve found that this Kiehl’s moisturizer is probably the best on the market right now. It reduces my redness and really gives me a nice glow. I’ve found it’s really not that heavy on the skin either which I appreciate. It’s been a few months with it and I haven’t found it to break me out which is also another plus.

Inkey List Eye Cream

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sensitive skin care routine

My last step in my routine is this Inkey List eye cream. I really love how well it works and just leaves me looking awake. I actually use this night and day because I do really enjoy looking awake all the time. This one is really affordable with good ingredients so I am happy with it!

As you can see, I’ve really cut down on the quantity of products I’m using. I really wanted to clear my skin and stop going overboard. Once in awhile I’ll do a mask or use a different serum but for now this is what keeps my skin clear and glowing!

If you liked this skin care post, you can check out more here!

The Summer of ’69 Book Review!

It might not be summer anymore but I’ll always love a good beach read! I recently discovered Elin Hilderbrand over the summer and I’ve been reading through her books. I’m excited to jump into my Summer of ’69 book review because this was my first read by her!

As always this post contains an affiliate link so if you purchase the book through me I make a small commission but no pressure to purchase!

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand

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summer of '69

The iconic title of this book really just takes you back to a nostalgic era. I was craving a book about summer with depth and this was just that. The writing is so good as we follow along the summer of 1969 with a mother and her 3 very different daughters.

I loved that each of these women were in very different phases of their lives. Each had such a unique story to read about due to what they were going through. I’ve personally never been to Nantucket but Elin’s writing is so descriptive you really get a feel for what it’s like.

The story is set against the back drop of the war in Vietnam and the eldest son is sent off to war. It leaves the mother with anxiety and grief. As the story unfolds we begin to see the lengths that she goes to to protect him even though he’s so far away.

What I enjoyed most about this book was how it was surprisingly geared towards historical fiction. Elin was able to really touch on the social issues that were going on at the time but it wasn’t in a heavy way. The book was fascinating and I really found myself not being able to put it down.

Because this was the first book that really opened the door to this author for me. I have since added a few more to my to be read list! I hope you liked this review of the Summer of ’69! You can read more book reviews here!

I’m almost at my Good Reads goal for the year! Feel free to leave book suggestions in the comments below!

How to Unwind for Bed!

As we sink back into the routine of normal life after summer, I always find myself looking for ways to unwind for bed! I’ve found a few of these tips and tricks I’ve listed below really get me to relax after a long day.

As many of you know I’m a naturally anxious person so shutting off my mind and being able to relax fully is something I struggle with! I’m sharing my favorite items that relax me below and they are affiliate links that you can shop right from, I make a small commission if you purchase through them but no pressure!

Hatch Alarm

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unwind for bed

I love my hatch in the mornings but I also really love it all day! I turn on the red light as soon as I get home from work and it transforms my dark room into a cozy relaxing sanctuary. Red light is great as a restorative color for you and I’ve really found that this has helped me be able to relax at night and even throughout the day.

432 Frequency

My family actually makes fun of me because I almost always have some sort of frequency going. I swear it really calms you down not only at night but even throughout the day. I love this at night when I’m reading because it’s good background noise to have on but not distracting where you can’t read. This specific frequency is my all time favorite from YouTube!

Shower Vaporizers

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unwind for bed

Do these steamers work? I’m not sure, but are they great? Yes! I love lavender to relax and you’ll transform your shower into a spa with these steamers. You just throw one in right before you shower and it releases the lavender scent while you shower. This is like game changing before you get into bed because it just sets the tone and the mood for the night!

Whether you’re looking for better sleep or just want to be able to relax more easily, I hope this post helps you on how to unwind for bed! Be sure to check our more posts on sleep here!

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

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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

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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

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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!

Summer Day in My Life!!

I am obsessed with reading and watching day in the life content so I decided that I would share my own! My day varies a little here and there but for the most part it’s the same routine!

summer day in my life

7:00am Wakeup & Walk

My favorite way to start my day is on a walk with Sky! Since she’s a Frenchie, she can’t really walk during the heat of the day so she and I get our steps in first thing. It’s also just a great way for us to start off the day with some movement!

7:30-8am Breakfast & Matcha

As soon as we’re back from our walk, I feed Sky because she’s always a hungry puppy! I make myself a matcha because I’ve found it makes me feel the best. The caffeine is there but it doesn’t leave me anxious and jittery like coffee or chai does!

8am-11:30am Work

This varies for me day to day depending on if I’m doing blog content like today or working for one of my Social media clients. This time blog is when I try to get a bunch of content created, uploaded and scheduled for whoever I’m working with!

11:30am-12pm Workout

I love me a good Melissa Wood Health pilates series and this is probably my favorite time of day! You can read more about the MWH method here! I like to try to do at least 15-20 minutes of movement everyday because some movement is better than none.

12pm Lunch

I am someone who always is starving by 12pm so I’ll make myself lunch asap! In the summer I love one of my toast recipes, like this pesto toast one! Something light and refreshing is always the best for me!

12:30-2:30pm Sun or Downtime

I leave this time up in the air in the summer. I love to lay out and read in the sun over the summer. It makes me feel so good so I love that I’m able to schedule time in. Sometimes I will just read inside or finish up work before I switch to studio mode!

2:30-7:00pm Dance Time!

I am in studio 3 days a week and Saturday Mornings even in the summer so I usually spend my late afternoons/evenings there!

7:00pm Dinner & wind Down

After I get home I’ll have dinner and probably watch an episode of Love Island! I’m obsessed with the show and it’s like a reward each night in the summer!!

I hope you liked this summer day in the life post! I love this kind of content so I hope you do too! You can follow me on pinterest to see what I’m up to in real time! And don’t forget I post new blog posts every Monday at 9:00am!!

My Zucchini Pasta Recipe!

I stumbled upon this recipe when I unused Zucchini in my fridge. I was craving pasta and ended up with this delicious summer zucchini pasta recipe.

This pasta is so light and tastes so fresh because you’re really using in season veggies. You can also swap out the protein to your liking but I found the sausage just really makes this great!

zucchini pasta recipe

Ingredients

1 pound rigatoni pasta

2-3 small zucchini diced

1 cup grape tomatoes diced

4 Italian sausages (I slice them open and discard the casing)

olive oil

1 tbsp garlic

red pepper flakes

salt/pepper

parmesan cheese (I used vegan)

Directions

  1. Fill a large pot of with water and boil it to cook your pasta. Follow the directions on the pasta box to cook.
  2. In a sauté pan, add a little olive oil then the ground sausage. Cook until lightly browned (no pink).
  3. Add in minced garlic, diced zucchini and diced tomatoes. Cook until zucchini is soft and tomatoes start to burst open. Sometimes I put the lid on my pan to help steam everything quicker.
  4. Once the veggies are soft, drain your pasta but save 1 cup of the water. Add pasta and pasta water to the veggie pot.
  5. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Plate pasta and top with cheese and red pepper flakes.

I hope you’ll give this zucchini pasta recipe a try! I absolutely love making this once a week with the in season veggies. It’s literally so delicious and has become a staple in my house. You can even make it without the sausage and it’ll be just as good!

Be sure to check out my other recipes here! And check out my pinterest here for more content!

Magic Lessons Book Review!

My summer of reading is still going strong! I’ve been working my way through the Practical Magic series and I have been loving it! This Magic Lessons Book Review by Alice Hoffman is the prequel to the book based on the movie.

I was looking to break up my currently to be read list with a little more fantasy. This series is great for just that and I really loved these books! As always, this post has an affiliate link where I make a small commission if you purchase but no pressure!

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

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magic lessons book review

This book sets the stage for the movie version and was written after the fact to kind of give it some context. You can definitely read them out of order but highly suggest reading it this way.

We follow the stories of three kids who just find out they have magical capabilities. What’s great about this story is we get to know each of them as they grow up and have different life experiences. I love that this book flows so easily and isn’t choppy. It has a lot going on but it’s easily digestible.

I’m trying to not give spoilers because if you haven’t seen the movie, this series is even more magical. The twist at the end really gets you and you see just how much love the three siblings have for each other even when they are miles apart.

One other part of this book and series that I love is how it gives a little bit of historical fiction vibes. This book takes place before present time so it gives you a glimpse into things surrounding magic like the witch trials and then just life after.

I highly suggest this series as a whole. Like I said I really needed to break up my reading from just rom coms to something more in the fantasy realm. I was definitely not disappointed!

This book is a Reese’s Book Club pick so I always know going in I’m going to love it. This Magic Lessons book review is all about family and getting through whatever life throws at you so it’s really relatable. Even though magic is a central theme! If you liked this book review, read my latest one about The Senator’s Wife here!

Brussel Sprout Pasta Salad Recipe!

Summer for me is all about a good pasta salad. I live for it at BBQs and just weeknight dinners in general. Lately I’ve been trying to really use up all the produce in my fridge and I found myself making this Brussel Sprout Pasta Salad!

This combines some of my favorite summer flavors and does well on its own or as a side! You’ll be obsessed with the flavor combo once you give it a try!

brussel sprout pasta salad

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained

7-8 Brussel sprouts thinly chopped

1 package cooked orzo

1 tsp oregano

diced walnuts

feta or parmesan cheese (I used vegan)

1 tsp parsley

1 tbsp lemon juice

salt & pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

Directions

  1. Sauté your Brussel sprouts in a pan with a drop of olive oil. You just want them to be soft and not too crispy!
  2. Assemble the dressing by combining olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, and salt & pepper. Mix well and set aside.
  3. Mix together the cooked orzo, Brussel sprouts, and chickpeas then add in the dressing and mix well.
  4. Garnish with diced walnuts and cheese!

This is the most delicious pasta salad. It gives you a little more than a normal one would with the protein from the chickpeas and nuts and then the greens from the Brussel sprouts.

I also love the light dressing. Sometimes people get a little too crazy with the flavors and I’ve found this really compliments these well! If you loved this recipe, you can check out my others here! You can also follow me on pinterest @cassiedenisco for more recipes!!

The Senator’s Wife Book Review!!

I am so excited to be reviewing the latest book by Liv Constantine! Other books by this author like The Last Mrs. Parrish were amazing. I’m excited to share my thoughts on this one!

I purchased this book on my own so all of these thoughts are my own! I do have an affiliate link for you if you’re interested in getting a copy!

The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine

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the senator's wife book review

Before I get too deep in this review, I want you to know I at least think you should read it. I might be a little harsh but I still really love the author, the story is just a bit confusing.

The book opens with two couples vacationing together. The husband of one couple and the wife of the other are actually cousins and then men are on capital hill. As you can see, it’s already getting twisted and that’s only the first few pages.

The cousins end up dying and the other two are left to pick up the pieces. (I’m summarizing so I don’t give out spoilers) The book then follows Sloane and Senator Whit as they navigate politics, marriage and Sloane’s chronic illness.

They introduce so many characters that it’s a bit difficult to get into. When I thrillers, I think of them as a build up and since something so crazy happened at the beginning it was hard to imagine where the book could go from there.

There were also a few “fluff” characters as I like to call them. These characters had story lines but didn’t play into the final piece. I did like the twist at the end but getting there was rough.

Overall this book wasn’t bad, it was just a bit more tricky to navigate than other books by this author. I just didn’t love it like I loved the others so I’m giving this a 3.5/5! Still read-worthy, just not one of my favorites!

If you liked this review of The Senator’s Wife, you can read more book reviews here!

My Gardening Tips & Tricks!

After a little 2 week break, I’m back with more blog posts! The summer comes on fast and if you’re not ready for it, you often get swept away with it. One thing that has been consistent though is my gardening tips and tricks!

I started prepping it back in May and I’m starting to slowly see all of my plants come to life! Having a garden has been really therapeutic for me and given me the opportunity to get some sun every day! I thought I would walk through all of my adventures so far.

List of Plants

This was probably one of the hardest parts of gardening. When you get to the store, you just want to get everything but you have to go in with a plan and know what you can actually grow in your area. There’s lots of ways to figure it out but I just Googled “What Grows in Westchester NY” and I found a full list on a website.

It’s essential that you grow what you know will flourish so that it’s not a waste. What I did that I loved was once I made my list, I put it in a Google Doc that I not only shopped from but now I have it forever and can refer to it next season too!

Planters

After you decide what you’re growing, you have to decide what you’re putting it in! I went with these two versions of planters on Amazon. Both are great because so far my plants are really doing well in them and they’re holding up well.

I will say I feel like the metal ones are a little bit better price wise but the wood ones are great if you don’t want to be bending down to water the plants! These are affiliate links so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase from them!

Metal Planters: Shop Here

Wood Planters: Shop Here

gardening tips and tricks

Watering & Pruning

One part of the gardening process I really love is watering. It’s like a treat to be outside and getting to look at all of the garden progress each day. So far I’ve only been watering once a day, but now that it’s getting warmer, I’m going to increase to twice a day!

Pruning is also kind of fun because you get to get rid of all of the yucky leaves that aren’t helping your plants grow. I didn’t love this part but once I got a great pair of gloves, I’m able to really get in there and clean out the plants!

Gloves: Shop Here

gardening tips and tricks

I hope this post inspired you to at least get out there and give it a try. I know gardening seems so daunting but I’ve really grown to love it. If you liked this post of gardening tips and tricks, let me know! I’d love to continue sharing more!

Check out my latest blog post here!