Cassie DeNisco

New Posts Weekly

A Yummy, Healthy Rice Bowl!

I’m super excited to be sharing this healthy rice bowl recipe with you! I was originally introduced to it through Green Chef, but I’ve made it so many times now I have my own take! Rice bowls are seriously such a good dinner idea because they have something for everyone.

I also love to have meatless nights but still get in enough protein. This bowl is so filling and if you wanted to add a meat protein, chicken, beef or turkey would pair well!! Here’s my recipe!

Ingredients:

1 cup White Rice

1 cup veggie broth

Tomato

Scallion

Lime

1 can pinto beans

1 can corn

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp chili flakes

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp mayo

1 tbsp dijon mustard

Pecans

Directions:

  1. Bring veggie broth, rice, and salt to a boil then let simmer covered for about 10 minutes.
  2. Chop up tomato, scallion, lime, and rinse pinto beans
  3. Use half of the tomato, half of the scallion, and half the lime to create a salsa. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
  4. Saute the other half of tomato, scallion, and corn in the pan then add pinto peans and spices. Cook until heated.
  5. Add the cooked rice to this veggie pan and sprinkle with the other half of the lime. Mix thoroughly and remove from heat.
  6. Divide the rice & veggies evenly into bowls. Add salsa on top then pecans and finish off with dijon mustard & mayo mixed together and drizzled on top.

As you can see this bowl is so easy to make but jam packed with flavor. I seriously love to try out green chef recipes because they open your eyes to different ways to put food together! It really gives me the inspiration to create a healthy rice bowl like this!

If you liked this post, check out more recipes here ! Be sure to subscribe here to my newsletter so you never miss a post!

Summer Outfit Ideas for Warm Weather

I am totally embracing this warmer weather! I wanted to share some updated summer outfit ideas based on the trends we are seeing. Styling for summer is so fun because the colors are so bright and the patterns are so fun.

For me, this summer is all about comfort but elevated style. More than anything, these outfits will be wearable but actually look really great. As always I have affiliate links below so I make a small commission if you purchase through them!

Look 1- Bright Retro

summer outfit ideas

This poppy floral pattern is all over this summer! It really gives me a retro vibe and screams summer to me. I paired it with a solid basic top that still has a little fun with the sleeves. To finish off this look, I added a statement bag because look how cute it is. This is a perfect day or night look!

Shop the Look:

Skirt

Top

Bag

Look 2- Classic Basics

Jeans and a white top is probably my summer go to. Whether its jeans like this or jean shorts, there’s just something about the denim with white that is classic summer. I love that I paired this with a fun colored sandal because it just gives a pop of fun to a pretty basic look.

Shop the Look:

Jeans

Top

Shoes

Look 3- Casual Comfort

summer outfit ideas

I love a good set for summer. It seriously makes life so easy because you really just have to worry about accessories. I added a claw clip and a basic sandal but this is such a cute look that is put together. Sometimes when it gets hot I don’t want to get dressed up but I love pieces like this because it makes life easier.

Shop the Look:

Set

Clip

Sandals

Look 4- Beach Bum

summer outfit ideas

I’m telling you that the floral will seriously be in this summer! Not to mention, using an oversized button down as a cover up is seriously the move. I actually have these pieces myself because I just love this look. The sunglasses are so fun and just add that pop of color that a summer outfit needs.

Shop the Look:

Swimsuit

Button Down

Sunglasses

I hope you enjoyed these summer outfit ideas! I had so much fun putting this together like my holiday outfit ideas so let me know if you like these posts! Fashion is so much fun and I love seeing different ways people style outfits.

Be sure to subscribe here to my mailing list so you don’t miss a post!!

A Summer 2022 Playlist for the Beach!

I can hardly believe that I’m writing my latest Summer 2022 playlist post! I have done this every year since the blog started and it is wild that I am going on my 4th year with my blog!

This post always does so well because everyone is looking for some great music to listen to for road trips, beach days, or just hanging at home! Summer and music for me really go hand and hand. There’s so many great opportunities to listen to music and have it set the vibe for whatever you’re doing.

Sharing this playlist is always so fun and I love hearing your feedback on what you’re listening to! Here’s my go to summer playlist for this year!

summer 2022 playlist

As you can see, this summer 2022 playlist seriously has something for everyone! My music choices are always wide ranging. I listen to music so much for dance that when I’m at home, I know exactly what I’m in the mood for!

Let me know your top favorite songs for this summer! I like to keep this playlist super current so it’s fresh and fun! You can listen right through this post or add it to your apple music library!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe here to my blog! If you liked this playlist, check out my 2021 playlist here!

My Green Smoothie Recipe to Boost Beauty

I am so excited that the weather in NY is finally warming up. I’m sharing with you today my go to green smooth recipe that is great to boost your beauty. Smoothies are my favorite summer morning drink to get in your greens and keep you cool.

I also feel like the summer months are my favorite for fresh produce which helps to elevate these smoothies. I’ve shared my green juice recipe before but never my smoothie. This is perfectly sweet and refreshing for the warmer months!

green smoothie recipe

Ingredients for Green Smoothie Recipe:

1 Frozen Banana

1/2 c frozen mango

1 c spinach

1 tsp Spirulina powder

Coconut Water

Directions:

  1. In a powerful blender, combine frozen banana, frozen mango, and spirulina powder.
  2. Fill to the top with spinach and then pour in about 1/2 cup of coconut water.
  3. Blend and see consistency. If you like it thicker your might just need to add a teeny bit more coconut water where as if you want it thinner add a lot more coconut water!
  4. Pour in a mason jar & enjoy!

As you can see this smoothie recipe is so easy to make but is oh so good. This green smoothie recipe has all the tropical vibes you’re looking for on a summer morning. Smoothies are seriously such a go to for greens in the am to start off your day.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe here to my mailing list so you never miss a post! Let me know of your favorite smoothie combinations in the comments below!

Revlon Hair Dryer Brush vs Dyson Air Wrap!

In my last post about the Dyson, I mentioned that I also had a Revlon Hair Dryer too. I originally purchased this before I was gifted the Dyson so the Revlon and I have some history. I thought it would be super beneficial for you to get an in depth comparison of both.

I feel like when I hear about the Revlon and Dyson dryers, people only talk about the price. I feel like that is only a little part of the comparison between the two. Keep reading if you’re in the market for a new blow dry brush or want to see if the Dyson is actually worth it.

Revlon One Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer- Shop Here

revlon hair dryer

This blow dry brush averages around $60 and is basically a brush that blows out warm air. I love the design of this one because it is so thick and easy to hold. I also like the shape of the brush part because its flat with rounded edges.

This helps to create a really bouncy and curved blow out look that I feel like is really in. However, the blowout look is really the only thing that this gives you. There are no other attachments so you really only can get a blowout every time.

I do like how the blowout comes out and that I can dry and style my damp hair right out of the shower. Similar to the Dyson, you do need your hair mostly dry to avoid damage. My biggest con with this is I can just feel how hot it gets and know it’s not good for my hair. I try not to use this often but it’s so great on nights I take a shower and want my hair styled for the next day.

Dyson Air Wrap- Shop Here

revlon hair dryer vs dyson

This set averages $549.99 and comes with a base and multiple attachments. The Dyson is great because you can blow out, straighten, and curl your hair all with this one device. One slight issue I have with this product is that it’s hard to travel with. I love all the attachments so it just makes everything bulky to bring with it.

Styling wise, the possibilities are seriously endless. I love the brush heads to give me a sleeker blown out look. I actually don’t use the curl barrels that much because no matter what I do the curl just doesn’t stay. I can say that I don’t feel like my hair is being damaged like I do with the Revlon. That doesn’t mean it’s not damaging but I think the Dyson is a bit better on the hair.

Honestly my two big cons are that I wish it had an attachment like the Revlon’s brush. I really like the bouncy and flipped in ends look. I haven’t quite gotten that with the Dyson because the brush it has isn’t that big. I also think the price is super steep for something that you probably don’t need.

Revlon vs Dyson

If you want my honest opinion, you really don’t need the Dyson. It’s a cool tool with crazy technology that helps to minimize heat damage. However, it’s super expensive and honestly, the Revlon does just as a good a job. I feel like the people who are in the market for a drying brush just want a blown out look which the Revlon gives you. The choice is entirely yours, but had I not gotten the Dyson as a gift, I’m not sure I would have purchased it myself.

I hope this revlon hair dryer brush vs Dyson review was helpful! I wish I had something like this to help with my decision. It’s crazy that the Dyson is so expensive that you really have to weigh all the pros and cons of it.

If you want more Dyson reviews and tutorials, you can read my Dyson Review here and my Dyson Tutorial Here! Be sure to subscribe here to my mailing list you never miss a post!

My Sunday Reset for a Good Week

If you know me, you know I love a good Sunday Reset. Sundays are the only day that I actually don’t have to go anywhere so I take full advantage of that. I like to spend my Sundays setting myself up for a good week.

Life can get super crazy during the week so I generally leave a lot of things for Sundays to do. I’ve been loving reading posts like these to see what Sundays look like for everyone else so I figured I’d share my typical Sunday routine!

7:30 am

Sky is always up around this time no matter the day so we’re usually up and feeding her at this time. After she’s all set for the morning, I grab my ice roller and we head back to bed!

10:00am

By 10 we’re usually ready to be up for the day and will either grab bagels or make a yummy breakfast at home. I rarely have breakfast in the morning but on Sunday it’s so nice to spend the time making something like pancakes that I wouldn’t normally eat!

11:00-1:00pm

Depending on how productive I was on Saturday, I may or may not have to grocery shop on Sunday. We usually will need fresh salmon so we will make a quick trip out for coffees and whatever we need. I love actually taking the time to go for a morning ride on a Sunday because it’s leisurely and something Sky enjoys.

I always will take a few minutes to refresh the house though. I love changing my sheets, dusting, using the Roomba and mopping. This little refresh helps to keep cleaning simple and not overwhelming. During the week, I cannot be bother to do this so carving out time on a Sunday to do this is essential to keeping me sane during the week.

1:00-4:00pm

After that, I always make sure I spend time doing whatever I want. Whether it’s a nap, reading, or doing some yoga/pilates, I like having time for it. Sundays are only relaxing if I can be productive but also make time for myself to rest and recharge. We generally do laundry throughout the week so this time on a Sunday can really be relaxing.

5:00-7:00pm

I am all about an early dinner on a Sunday. I love eating early, cleaning the kitchen, and then taking a good shower. Sundays are my favorite days for a yummy meal but that has easy clean up. You can check out my favorite soup recipe here that’s always a go to on a Sunday for me.

My Sunday showers are also a ritual. I love washing my hair on Sunday to set myself up for a good week. I’ll lotion and also lymphatic drain as well since I actually have the time to spend doing that. I finish off my day with comfy pjs and a glazed donut skin on my face.

7:00pm

Once I’m all set, I’ll hop into bed and we’ll usually watch a show or movie that we’ve been putting off. I love being in bed early on a Sunday because it seriously sets you up for a good week. I’ll read and then finish off the night with essential oils and a quick mediation before bed around 9pm.

Everything I just listed is my ideal Sunday reset. Obviously not every Sunday will be this dreamy but I do try to make a few of these things a priority no matter what I’m up to that day. Also, your Sunday reset might be totally different and that’s okay too.

I’m all about setting yourself up for a successful week and you might have to do different things to do that. Let me know your favorite things to do on a Sunday in the comments below and subscribe here to the blog!

Reminders of Him By Colleen Hoover -Book Review

I am so happy to be sharing our 4th book of the month with you- Reminders of Him! This month I went with a newer release by one of my favorite authors, Colleen Hoover. Colleen Hoover books are the best because she’s able to write a really wide variety of pieces.

I initially was introduced to her through Verity, which is an absolute must read if you haven’t already. It Ends With Us, also by CoHo is a completely different vibe but another must read. Colleen Hoover books are always so good so I was happy to get my hands on this one when it came out!

Reminders of Him–Shop Here

reminders of him

The cover of this book immediately draws you in, so I knew just from the outside this was going to be good. This book follows Kenna and Ledger, both dealing with the grief of losing someone they both love. We learn Kenna is a single mother, who was actually in the accident with her boyfriend Scott died.

Kenna went to prison for the accident and was never able to see her child. Scott’s parents blamed her for the accident and the after math. When she got out, Kenna goes back to the small town. She wants to see if she can meet her daughter for the first time.

Kenna meets Ledger, the bartender at the local pub and they hit it off. It gets a little steamy between them until Kenna realizes Ledger is Scott’s best friend who she never got to meet. With this beginning alone, it really draws you into the book.

The details surrounding the accident are not what they seem but everyone in the small town wants Kenna to go, except Ledger. As he learns more about her and the day of the accident, he realizes how terrible Kenna was treated due to everyone’s grief. By the end of the book, Ledger helps to make it possible for Kenna to see her daughter and they end up falling in love.

Final Thoughts

I really liked how Kenna got a happy ending. You could feel how much pain she was in throughout the book from the accident. It was great to see that Ledger ended up helping to create a relationship between her and Scott’s parents.

Ledger lost his best friend but was able to see what Scott saw in Kenna. Ledger took care of Scott’s daughter like his own so this book was just so heart warming and a great read. It wasn’t as heavy as some of her other books.

I hope you enjoyed this book review of Reminders of Him! I have been loving this book club we created so be sure to subscribe to my list here so you don’t miss one! You can read last month’s, Death By Dissertation here!

My Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

As summer begins to wind down, I thought sharing my favorite chicken noodle soup recipe is fitting. I love the chillier weather that comes with fall and my go to dinner is usually a soup. I am obsessed with this chicken noodle soup recipe because it’s delicious and filling! Here’s how I make it:

Ingredients

2 cups of cooked rotisserie chicken

1 can of sliced carrots

4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

1 white onion chopped

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2-3 tablespoons of garlic (i love more garlic)

8 cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 package of egg noodles

Directions

  1. I start by heating a large pot with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. I then place the onions in and sauté until cooked down then add the garlic and carrots and cook until fragrant.
  2. Add the 8 cups of broth, cooked chicken, potatoes and spices to pot and cook for 30 minutes on a simmer covered.
  3. After 30 minutes, I remove the lid and cook uncovered for 10 more minutes with the uncooked noodles. You really just have to make sure the potatoes are soft enough for you and that you boil the noodles to your liking.

This is literally one of my favorite chicken noodle soup recipes because I cheat and use rotisserie chicken. It makes life so easy and the soup I swear tastes better. Rotisserie chicken is a serious life hack because you can get it and use it so many different ways throughout the week!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious chicken noodle soup recipe. Weather you’re trying it out this summer or holding off until the fall, let me know how you liked it! Soup is always a favorite meal of mine because of just how easy it is to make and how yummy it tastes every time!

You can see more recipes of mine here!

How I Use my Day Designer Planner

With the summer half over, I thought now would be the perfect time to share how I use my day designer planner. Back to school is right around the corner. There is no other time like the present to get your stuff together. This is going to be a bit of a mix of why I love Day Designer and how I use it.

If you know me, I am a huge planner. My resolution this year was actually to go paper less but that just didn’t work out. I need to write things down so that I remember them and see them. My go to planner is the Day Designer Weekly Academic Planner. I have tried so many planners and this is the one that perfectly fits my lifestyle.

The first step in my planning journey is to fill out the month calendar. I like to do this either a few days before the new month or on the start of the new month. I write down all of the events I know of and my work schedule so that there is no need to wonder what goes on. This post is written in July so I don’t have much other then work and a grad party on the calendar!

day designer planner

After I have everything written on the month, I go in to each week and re-add the events the day they take place. This helps to keep me in the loop each day of what is going on. It also ensures I won’t forget anything.

For each week, I actually won’t plan it out until the week of. I sit on a Monday and fill out each day with the tasks I want to get done. Sometimes I will pre-write these things down if I know they are coming up. I use my planner as almost an organized sticky note. I make to-do lists for each day and also have the bigger things like work and events too.

Because this post was prepared in June and I didn’t want to write out my whole July to do list yet, I included this picture of my previous planner. This is a day designer mini. When I was in college, this was literally my favorite type of planner. I liked how each day had the times so I could block off what I was doing when.

day designer planner

Now that I am out of school and working for myself, I need to see the whole week. It’s important to just write down a list of tasks. I also needed more room which is why I went up to the next size day designer. I also rarely use the top 3 sections so it was a waste.

If I know anything about planners, its that you really have to try them for yourself. I could tell you all day why I love Day Designer but you just wouldn’t know until you try it. This is what works best for my lifestyle and how I like to plan. It might not work for you but you never know until you try!

Let me know in the comments below how you like to plan.. are you a paper planner or a digital one?

You can read my other planning posts here.

My Favorite Glowy Face Makeup Products

We all are after that summer glow and today I am sharing some of my favorite products to achieve it. These glowly makeup products are my go to for summer when I want some coverage and a nice glow. If you know me, I rarely wear heavy makeup but the way this brand makes my skin look is like no other!

glowy makeup products

Step 1: Skin Care

The most important step is skin care because it will really enhance your glowy makeup products. I recently shared my skin care routine here, so be sure to check that out to find out how I prep my skin for products.

Step 2: Foundation

I almost never use a makeup primer so if that is important to you, definitely add that before you jump into this step. My go to foundation lately has been the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation. This is honestly the perfect coverage for me. It is definitely buildable so you can start out light and then go as heavy as you need. I love how this makes my skin look. It is even and has a nice, subtle glow.

Step 3: Concealer

I don’t go far without my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer. This literally has been my go to for years and I just don’t think I would stop. It conceals and brightens to give you the most flawless look. I even wear just this sometimes when I’m going for that no makeup, makeup look.

Step 4: Bronzer

I’m a huge Hula Bronzer girl. I feel like bronzer can sometimes be tough because some bronzers have an ash tone and others are a bit warmer. For me, this is the perfect shade for summer and even year round. I also like a powder bronzer because I feel like it’s lighter on my skin and doesn’t sweat off!

Step 5: Highlighter

Run don’t walk to get this Rare Beauty Liquid Highlighter. I have mine in the color enlighten and omg it is amazing. This gives me the most perfect glow wherever I put it. I love this product because you can put a little or a lot, it is buildable and gives you room to get the glow you want. This product is the key to my summer glowy makeup look.

Step 6: Blush

This is another one from Rare Beauty. Their soft pinch liquid blush made me like blush. I have it in the color joy and am seriously obsessed. I was one to just skip over blush but this changed my life and my glowy makeup routine. This product is everything and more for me. I love how it pairs so well on the check with my highlight and bronzer.

Obviously I do sometimes go in with a lip gloss and use my bronzer in my eye creases for color. I like to keep it very minimal in the summer because sometimes I just can’t handle things on my face.

Hopefully you got some summer glowy makeup products inspo from this post and want to try out some new products! I am always interested in hearing some product recommendations so leave some for me in the comments below!