A Side of Sweet - Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

2021 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Valentine Guide

This year let’s all agree to move beyond the traditional Valentine’s Day present of chocolates and flowers. I’m all for giving and receiving something practical for Valentine’s day instead. If you’re scratching your head, don’t worry! I’ve done the legwork for you with my annual Valentine’s Day Gift Guide! I’ve tested each product personally and can 100% vouch for them and the companies behind them. Many have an eco-friendly or natural ingredient spin so you can feel about supporting the company behind them. A few are even on sale or have a discount offered if you sign up for their mailing list.

Read on for what to get for Valentine’s Day!… Read More »

Valentine’s Candy Bark with White Chocolate

Gluten Free Vegetarian

Valentine’s Candy Bark with White Chocolate is equally festive and delicious. It’s easy to make and is a great Valentine’s party recipe.

I’ve had Valentine’s candy on the brain in a big way lately.

Picking out the perfect candy for this Valentine’s bark recipe, I felt like I was three years old again. Rows and rows of heart-shaped candy with more shades of pink than a crayon box. Heaven. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for my sweet tooth…. Read More »

Perfectly Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

The BEST perfectly moist carrot cake recipe. It’s perfectly spiced, perfectly sweet and so delicious! So good, I made it for my wedding!

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this on the blog before, but baked my own wedding cake. Is that crazy? If it is, then I should also mention that made a full dessert table – full of my own dessert creations.

The crown jewel of the dessert table was a two-tiered wedding cake. The larger tier was this incredible carrot cake. It’s my favorite cake in the whole world – and my husband’s too!

Read on for the best carrot cake recipe decorated with beautiful candied carrot curls…

Holiday Shopping at Westlake Shopping Center

Westlake Mall Shopping Center Daly City, CA

We’re officially gearing up for the holidays! Even though they look different this year, one thing is the same – I’ll be running all of my holiday errands at Westlake Shopping Center in Daly City.

Even though we live in San Francisco, Westlake Shopping Center is less than 15 minutes from our house! We actually prefer shopping there because everything is in one place and it’s easy to find parking. They have a huge variety of restaurants and cafes within the shopping center which makes running errands surprisingly enjoyable! I’m much happier crossing things off my To-Do list when I’m well-caffeinated and have a belly full of pastries.

2020 Holiday Gift Guide

2020. Has there ever been a time when we needed the holiday spirit more? We aren’t going home for the holidays for the first time in eight years, so gifts have taken an even more central role for us.

Everything on this guide has been personally used and tested by my husband and me. I’ve focused on items that are high quality and versatile; that won’t get tossed after the holidays are over. Many of the products have a social or environmentally-friendly component, from plastic-free shipping to empowering artisans in Guatemala. You’ll find something below that is sure to spark joy for everyone on your list. In the spirit of 2020, all of the items can be purchased online and shipped directly to your loved one, letting them know that you’re thinking of them despite being physically apart.

Read on for a holiday gift idea for everyone on your list!

Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen – My Review

Does the Rodan + Fields Redefine Regimen Work?

Thank you to Rodan + Fields for sponsoring this post! Pictured: Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen

A review of the new Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen with products that target anti-aging. What is included and do the products really work?

Customized Skincare for My Aging Skin

Skincare company Rodan + Fields just released their new and improved anti-aging REDEFINE Regimen. I was excited to try this new collection of skincare products that target the visible signs of aging – my number one skincare concern. I may not be able to turn back the clock, but I want products that make it look like I can! Rodan + Fields has developed the REDEFINE Regimen to improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and make skin visibly firmer. I was able to try the regimen for two months to see if the products live up to their claims.

Read on for my review of the Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen…