A Side of Sweet

Pretty Conscious Skincare Review

As you know, I’m always looking for skincare products that will make my skin look and feel the best. It’s also important that these products are cruelty-free, all natural and eco-friendly. That’s why I’ve been loving Pretty Conscious skincare. They are a small Latin-x owned business that makes botanical beauty products that are perfect for sensitive and problematic skin. The founder, Charlene, actually started the company because nothing she could find worked for her son’s severe eczema.

They craft all-natural, luxurious, vegan & cruelty free products that smell great and make my skin happy.

Here are my favorites:

Where to Buy Marble Countertop Slabs in the Bay Area

Everything you need to know about choosing stone and marble slabs for your kitchen countertops in the San Francisco Bay Area. What places sell stone countertop slabs and what to consider when shopping for stone.

Where to Buy Marble Stone Countertop Slabs in San Francisco Bay Area

Our marble countertops were one of the biggest purchases in our kitchen remodel and also one of the most stressful. To say I worried about choosing the right stone for our countertops is an understatement! I like to joke that I have a Master’s degree in agonizing about what stone countertops to pick. I just didn’t have a clear vision for what I wanted when we started out and that made everything harder.

I’m going to spill the tea about everything I learned during this process to hopefully help you too! We went to four different places in the San Francisco Bay Area and ended up finding stone slabs for both our fireplace and kitchen at Integrated Resouces Group (IRG) in Brisbane, California (15 minutes south of San Francisco). The cliff notes version of this post is that IRG has the best and largest stone selection in the Bay Area and the best service.

Want more? Read on for everything you need to know about where to find stone countertops in the Bay Area.

2022 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is coming up quickly and I have some great gift ideas for any mom, grandma, or someone special in your life. You’ll find the perfect products for a little pampering, gifts for the mom who loves fitness, and so much more! Many also have an eco-friendly component so you can feel good about minimizing the environmental impact of your gift. There’s something there for even the hardest to buy for mom.

Beet-Dyed Mustard Ranch Deviled Eggs

Vegetarian

Bright pink beet-dyed mustard ranch deviled eggs are stunning and easy to make. They are the perfect way to use up hard boiled eggs and they make a great appetizer.

I’ve never needed an excuse to get friends together for a celebration. Especially with blogging, I’m always wrangling girlfriends together for some hair-brained scheme, whether I need hand models or people to pose in front of a photo booth.

A while ago I hosted a confetti party. There were two reasons for the party – one, I finished a rough stretch at work with mostly night shifts, meaning I had basically dropped off the planet. I wanted to get everyone together to reconnect over drinks and snacks. Plus, I needed a party spread to highlight the balloon party centerpiece DIY I was working on for Martha Stewart. Why go to all of the trouble of making the decorations, recipes, and libations for a photoshoot if you can’t have people around to share them?… 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…

Authentic Italian Tiramisu Recipe

The BEST authentic Italian tiramisu recipe made even more fun with individual servings. Make it the night before for a great party recipe!

I have such a treat for you today! This recipe for an authentic tiramisu will absolutely knock your socks off. It’s probably even better than the tiramisu at your favorite Italian restaurant. It’s just a bit boozy, with a rich coffee flavor and the creaminess of mascarpone cheese…. Read More »