Cassie DeNisco

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The Last Thing He Told Me- Book Review!!

Today I’m sharing another book review for the month of November!! This book review is all about The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave! When I tell you I seriously could not put this book down, I’m not kidding!

I read this in like 3 hours on a Sunday night because I couldn’t start my week without knowing how it ended. If you’re into a good mystery thriller, this one is for you with twists and turns at every chapter!

The Last Thing He Told Me– Shop Here

The last thing he told me

This book follows a step mom and step daughter who are forced to worked together to find their missing husband and father. The scene starts when he goes missing and has a group of young girls deliver a note that says “protect her” meaning their daughter.

I was immediately taken in by the writing of this book. It continued to unfold bits and pieces. It paints a picture of this mans life that showed he definitely wasn’t who he said he was. I found it to be so refreshing to see the step daughter and step mom grow together while going through this difficult time.

My major issue with this book is the ending really didn’t do it for me. I felt like the writing and the twists were so good that the ending really just fell short for me. No spoilers here but it honestly was so underwhelming.

I love the thrillers that really get you at the end. This book just honestly ended without that final satisfying twist. Had the book done that, it would’ve really been a 10/10. The writing leading up to it was amazing, the end fell short.

You should still read this book if you love mystery and thrillers! The writing was so good and I was captivated by the story! If you like posts like these, check out my latest book post here!

My Viral Chrome Nail Tutorial!

It has been a hot minute since I’ve done a nail tutorial! I am obsessed with this viral chrome nail tutorial that is a take on the Hailey Bieber nails! Mine are done differently because I prefer the powder gel to the uv so I’m going to share my version!

If you are looking to set up your at home nail kit, read this post here so you can get all the goods to get started! I am by no means a professional nail artist but I took up this hobby during the pandemic and honestly just stuck with it!

chrome nail tutorial

Products:

  1. Chrome Powder- Shop Here
  2. Translucent Dip Powder- Shop Here
  3. Gel Top Coat- Shop Here
  4. Gel Base- Shop Here

Directions:

  1. I have an electric nail file that I use to prep my nails but you can just take a file to file and buff them out.
  2. Take your gel base and apply a thin layer then dip your finger into the translucent powder at a 45 degree angle.
  3. Continue this process about 2-3 times depending on your desired opacity.
  4. Coat nails in activator then file them down to smooth and even out.
  5. Apply one coat of the gel top and let it get about 95% dry.
  6. Take the chrome powder and dust it on top of your nail until you have your desired effect.
  7. Apply another coat of gel top and let it sit!

I seriously just love the look of these glazed donut nails! They are gorgeous and not as difficult as they look! The key is just applying the chrome at the right time so it stays nicely in place!

If you loved this chrome nail tutorial be sure to subscribe to the blog and follow me on Pinterest for more exclusive video content!

My Bruschetta Recipe!!

I am kicking off my November cooking series TODAY!! I’ll be sharing some great recipes for your to have on your Thanksgiving table and we’re starting with appetizers today! My Bruschetta recipe is so easy to make and will seriously make people think you spent forever on it!

I made this for the first time over the summer with my fresh garden tomatoes and have been craving it ever since! This seriously tastes delicious and has become one of my favorite appetizers. This is perfect for your Thanksgiving feast!

my bruschetta recipe

Ingredients:

3 Cups diced grape tomatoes

6 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon balsmic vinegar

1/2 fresh basil leaves

3 tablespoons butter

1 French baguette

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 and thinly slice your French Baguette. Melt 3 tablespoons butter and mix with 3 tablespoons minced garlic. Evenly coat both sides of baguette then bake for 20 minutes or until super crisp.
  2. Sauté 1 tablespoon of olive oil with the remaining 3 tablespoons of minced garlic. Cook until fragrant then set aside.
  3. Dice your grape tomatoes and combine balsamic, basil, salt and pepper together. Mix in your oil olive and garlic mixture.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for it to marinate but the longer the better!

This bruschetta recipe is perfect year round! I actually never really liked it in the jars because it always was way too salty! It’s so easy to make so you might as well try it out and flavor it your way! If you loved this recipe you can view more here and be sure to follow me on Pinterest as I’ve been posting lots of video content there!!

My Fall Lifestyle Favorites!

As we are in the thick of this fall season, I wanted to share my fall lifestyle favorites getting me through it! Fall is truly my favorite season so I am really in my element these days! This bonus post has everything from fashion to food that you need to try this fall.

As always, these are affiliate links where I make a commission off of them but there is no pressure to purchase! I just had to share these with you so you can get all the cozy fall vibes too with my fall lifestyle favorites!

Free People Ruby Jacket- Shop Here

fall lifestyle favorites

This jacket has leveled up my fall style! I love that I can throw this on with sweats or jeans and it instantly gives the best layered looking vibe. I haven’t stopped wearing it since I got it and this color is everything. It’s a creamy white with a hint of pink so it just screams fall to me!

Ugg Ultra Mini Mustard Seed- Shop Here

fall lifestyle favorites

The Boston Birkenstocks are what I truly had my eye on but ended up settling for these instead! I felt like I wanted a full shoe that would be warm and fuzzy and these do just that. I am a huge UGG fan but these are even better than my minis because they are super flattering and hit just the right spot!

Ankle Socks- Shop Here

One thing we’ve been seeing so much is the return of the ankle socks! They’re perfect with the UGG minis or even Air Force 1s for a layered look! I love pairing them with black leggings because I feel like it just gives that cozy fall vibe we’re all after. I personally love the Aritzia ones but I cannot justify the cost so I linked a dupe for them here that are way cheaper!

These bonus posts are always my favorite to create! They’re short and sweet but share what I’m actually using/loving each month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog and check out more fall posts like this here!

My Fall Harvest Bowl!

I am so excited to be sharing with you my viral fall harvest bowl! This was posted on Pinterest Here and it seriously blew up! I am so glad everyone is enjoying this bowl because I swear it is the perfect transition meal!

Whether you want a warm dinner or a chilled side, this bowl is great for meal prep! You can make it in advance and use it throughout the week for lunches or dinners! I love how filling it is alone and it’s vegan so you’re also doing good for the planet too!

fall harvest bowl

Ingredients:

  • 1 box of orzo
  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1/2 red onion
  • handful of grape tomatoes
  • handful of walnuts
  • olive oil
  • maple syrup
  • red wine vinegar
  • basil
  • oregano
  • red pepper flakes
  • salt & pepper

Directions:

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 425 and dicing up your sweet potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. Add to an oven safe pan, drizzle with olive oil, and bake until all are soft.
  2. Meanwhile drain chickpeas and add to a baking sheet with walnuts. Bake walnuts for 5 minutes until crisp and remove. Keep chickpeas in until they harden.
  3. Cook orzo according to the package.
  4. Make dressing by combining 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 tbsp maple syrup, and dashes of basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
  5. Combine all together and mix well, adding salt & pepper to taste!
  6. Enjoy!!

I hope you enjoyed this Fall Harvest Bowl recipe! I have this recipe on repeat each week because it’s just that good. If you liked this recipe, you can check out more recipes here!

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover Review!

I can hardly believe that I’m sharing October’s book of the month! This month I went back to Colleen Hoover and gave her book Ugly Love a try! Colleen Hoover books are always so good when you feel like you’re in a book rut.

They always help me get back into reading because they’re so good! Her books are usually complex love stories with a twist at the end. I seriously love her writing style and wasn’t surprised when I loved this book!

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover- Shop Here

ugly love

Ugly Love was my last read of the summer and it definitely did not disappoint! I loved the writing between current Tate and flashbacks to Miles’ past. It helped to paint a picture of who these people are and how they got to the places they’re in.

Tate first meets Miles drunk and crying in her brothers apartment. They don’t speak of that night again but it leaves this lingering feeling that Miles isn’t telling the entire truth to Tate. He essentially just wants to be friends with benefits but as we know, feeling started to evolve.

Tate and Miles end up falling for each other and we realize Miles has a traumatic history with being in love. This makes us understand why he is so against being in love with Tate and how important it is that he might actually be ready to move on.

Ugly Love is one of those books that makes you realize just how complex love can be. It does show that it is so worth it to find your person that helps you to work through your issues and create new happiness.

I truly believe you can just never go wrong with a Colleen Hoover book. No matter which one you choose they are all so good and make you want to just keep reading!

You can read last month’s book review here!

My Trader Joe’s Essentials!

I cannot tell you how exponentially better my life is now that I have a Trader Joe’s close to me! My weekly grocery trips and meal planning has leveled up since then. I wanted to dedicate this post to my Trader Joe’s essentials, the things that are alway on my list and in my fridge!

If you like this post, I actually have another Trader Joe’s post here to check out! I made that a few years ago but honestly some of these things are the same. TJ’s is great for everything but I love to stock up my fridge/freezer because their pre-made meals are great for busy days.

Freezer White Jasmine Rice

This product is a true freezer staple for me. I rave about my rice cooker but sometimes you just don’t have the time to use it. These rice packs you just have to pop in the microwave and they come out great every time. They’re so fast and great for quick additions to your lunch or dinner.

Chunky Guacamole

I have tried so many guacamole containers but this one is truly my favorite. I also like that it’s super inexpensive because guac is not cheap these days. This one seems to last me awhile too so I can open it one day and it’s not super gross and brown the next.

Chicken Fried Rice

trader joe's essentials

I cannot explain to you the love I have for this rice. It definitely isn’t a takeout dupe but honestly tastes better in my opinion because I know it’s healthier. This is perfect on its own or I like to grab like egg rolls or pot stickers and make a full dinner out of it.

Chicken Soup Dumplings

trader joe's essentials

I saw this online and immediately knew I needed them. I love dumplings and these are so great for lunch. They come in chicken or pork but I like the chicken version best. Seriously I love these and just having them in my freezer makes me not have to worry about planning a lunch during the work day.

Vegan Cashew Ravioli

trader joe's essentials

You need to try these ravioli even if you aren’t vegan! These are so yummy and honestly you probably can’t tell they aren’t vegan. I haven’t had a ravioli in like a year because I can’t have dairy and finding these was life changing!

These Trader Joe’s Essentials have seriously become staples in my life. I’ve noticed that TJ has become really dairy free friendly and has some great alternative products so let me know if you want me to do a post on my favorite non dairy things!

Follow me on Pinterest for more recipes & exclusive daily content!

My Dairy Free Broccoli Cheddar Quiche!

September has turned into the month of recipes for me! This post is dedicated to my latest favorite breakfast recipe, Dairy Free Broccoli Cheddar Quiche! I was craving a bigger weekend breakfast and I love how easy this is!

Quiches are awesome because they’re so easy to customize and also prep. You can make this as a meal prep for morning breakfast during the week! My recipe is vegan but you can always swap out the ingredients to fit your dietary needs!

dairy free broccoli cheddar quiche

Ingredients

1 Pre-made pie crust

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups vegan shredded cheese (I love follow your heart brand)

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

1 cup broccoli (i like to bake mine ahead of time)

Directions

  1. Pre heat oven to 400F.
  2. Spray pie pan then place pre made pie crust into pie pan and fork some holes into the bottom of it.
  3. In a separate bowl, scramble eggs then mix in milk and shredded cheese. Add broccoli and give it a gentle stir.
  4. Pour egg mixture into crust and bake quiche for about an hour. This might be more time but you just a knife to come out clean when you enter it in the center.
  5. Slice and enjoy!

As you can see, this Dairy free broccoli cheddar quiche recipe is seriously so easy to make! I personally love broccoli and cheese but you can really add any veggie you want to it. As long as you have the milk and eggs, you can really make it your own! Adding meat for extra protein might be great if you eat it too!

This is a great meal prep meal since it stores so well in the fridge for about 4-5 days too! If you liked this recipe, check out more of my recipes here! Follow me on Pinterest for more food videos too!

Makeup Essentials I’m Loving!

This months bonus post is dedicated to the makeup essentials I’m loving! As we transition into the colder months, I still want to be as glowy as possible and these products are seriously going to help! I love a light makeup look but always need a little coverage to hide some blemishes.

These are some great products that will do just that! This was my go to makeup routine this summer and I’m going to stick with it as we head into the fall too! As always these are affiliate links but there’s no pressure to purchase!

Niacinamide Drops by Glow Recipe- Shop Here

makeup products

These glow drops are seriously a must have to prep your skin. I use these after I moisturize and let this get a little tacky. This works as like a primer and locks in my tinted moisturizer but adds so much glow. This seriously is such a great product on its own but is that much more amazing to pair before you put on your foundation.

Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer- Shop Here

makeup products

I fell in love with this tinted moisturizer over the summer and this is going to be a re-purchase for me. It’s super light coverage because it’s a tinted moisturizer but buildable. I swear this paired with the glow drops above is seriously the best combo.

Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand- Shop Here

I finally got my hands on this contour wand and I am so glad I did. This is like the easiest contour to use because you can just dot it on. It’s so blend-able that I can just go in with my beauty blender and it seriously does the job. If you see this in stock, don’t hesitate to get it because it’s seriously as good as everyone says it is!

Charlotte Tilbury Blush Wand- Shop Here

This is just as good as the contour. I have the blush coral color and I seriously love it. The formula is just as blend-able as the contour so it looks so natural on the skin. The color also complimented me so well when I had a tan but it’s still as pretty as I get paler.

These makeup essentials have instantly become my go to must haves! I can’t live without them because the combo on my skin that they create is unreal. A light, natural and glowy finish is always my goal and these products seriously do just that!

If you loved this bonus post, you can check out more skin care posts here! In addition, follow me on Pinterest because I’ve been posting a ton there lately, even more than instagram!

Cheesy Pesto Pasta Recipe!

I’m super excited to be sharing with you this super yummy cheesy pesto pasta recipe! I’m making a vegan version for myself but you can always use regular cheese for yourself! Pesto is like my go to pasta for summer but adding cheese helps to transition it to a heartier meal for fall!

I’m going to share with you my 3 ingredient pesto recipe that I use to create this delicious dish! It’s so easy and you can make it to freeze too! I recommend getting a basil plant if you do like pesto because it ends up being cheaper and you have it for so many recipes!

cheesy pesto pasta

Ingredients

Handful of Fresh basil

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound of pasta

Myokos Vegan Mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup sliced grape tomatoes

Directions

  1. Boil water and cook pasta according to the box. Once finished, drain water and add a little olive oil so it doesn’t stick together.
  2. To make the pesto, add a handful of basil, minced garlic and olive oil to a mini chopper and blend. You can make this thinner or thicker depending on how you like your pesto.
  3. Shred vegan mozzarella and then add pesto and mozzarella back to the pasta pot with the pasta. Mix until the cheese is a little melted.
  4. Plate pasta with sliced grape tomatoes on top and enjoy!

As you can see, my cheesy pesto pasta recipe is seriously that easy! I am so obsessed with how good this dish is. This is a great fresh recipe for this transitional time from summer to fall too! I love that it’s still light from the pesto but the cheese really makes it more decadent!

If you love this recipe, check out more of my recipes here! Also, I’ve been posting a lot of idea pin recipes on Pinterest so follow me there too!