A Side of Sweet

Easy Fall Watercolor Cards

I’m back with another easy greeting card idea. I had some girlfriends over for Ladies Who Brunch and I used these cards as an invite for the fall-themed gathering. I wanted to do something special and nothing makes someone feel special like a handmade card in the mail!

To make these fall leaf watercolor cards, I used a white crayon to outline a leaf shape. For stencils, I used fallen leaves that I collected. I then brushed watercolors over the front of the card. That’s it!

I slipped a separate paper into the card with all the invite info on it and intentionally left the card blank. I encouraged all of the girls to re-use the card and pass it on. That way two people get the warm fuzzies of receiving real mail.

These watercolor cards can be adapted for any occasion with any shapes or messages. I’m already planning to write “Thank You” and “Just a Note” in fancy handwriting – I just need to develop some fancy handwriting first, of course! It would also be fun to a Christmas tree or a turkey. This is also a great project to do with kids.

P.S.: Check out some more of my greeting card ideas here, here and here.

One Pot Skillet Vegetarian Lasagna

Vegetarian

Healthy and filling one pot skillet vegetarian lasagna cooked on the stove and broiled to make the cheese perfectly gooey. It’s the best vegetarian lasagna yet!

Happy November! Until I came across this skillet vegetarian lasagna recipe, I’d never dreamed of making lasagna on the stovetop. I was surprised and skeptical to see that the noodles don’t have to be pre-cooked. I gathered a little faith and followed the recipe directions and sure enough, they cooked perfectly.

The original recipe is made with ground beef and I made some major modifications to make it vegetarian. The first thing I did was add zucchini and summer squash. The trick to keeping the lasagna from getting too soupy is cooking them separately and then blotting off the extra moisture before they get added to the dish.

I also added some fake meat. I’ve been cooking more with vegan meat substitutes lately but I have to admit I’m a little torn. Meat substitutes really contribute texture and protein much more than taste. The thing is, there are so many ingredients on the label that sound like toxic chemicals I’m not certain it’s really any healthier than just adding red meat to the dish. I think it would be perfectly fine without it – scratch that – it would still be perfectly amazing without vegan mean substitutes.

Thanks so much for reading A Side of Sweet! For more Sweet in your life, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, Bloglovin’, Snapchat (@asideofsweet), or Twitter. You can also subscribe to receive a weekly email with new posts.

Like this vegetarian skillet lasagna? Check out this easy and healthy spicy sweet potato breakfast skillet!

Easy Punch Dot DIY Card Idea DIY

Today I want to share with you a DIY card idea that you can do in minutes. It’s almost ridiculous how quick and easy it is. All you need for the project is a circle punch and some cardstock.

Punch out circles in various colors that complement your cardstock. I used paint chips that I had swiped from our local hardware store. I chose some fall-themed colors this time but I have made them in almost every color combination you can think of! Glue them on your cardstock in any pattern you choose.

For a finishing touch, I embossed “Thank You” on the card.

These got sent off to the doctors who wrote me letters of recommendation for residency. I also made each of them a bag of pumpkin pie granola, which I will share pictures and a recipe for soon!

It was so great to have a weekend off of studying. I can’t believe it’s only 9 days until I take my licensing exam! To procrastinate, I’ve been cooking and baking up a storm and I can’t wait to share what I’ve been up to! Do you anything special planned for Halloween?

P.S.: Check out some more of my greeting card ideas here and here.

Today’s Rant – Oxblood

Can we all just get real and call it what it is?

Oxblood Dress via ShopBop.com

MAROON!

Introducing…

After weeks of silence on the blog, I’m so excited to unveil what has been occupying my time. And for once, it’s not school! My fiancé, Pat, is an amazing photographer. He’s booked a few weddings and engagement sessions through friends and family, but word of mouth can only get you so far when you don’t have an online portfolio. We’ve talked about him taking the next step in his business for a long time and creating a website.

I recently had my first taste of self-hosting and blog design with this blog, as I transferred from wordpress.com to wordpress.org and signed up for GoDaddy web hosting. Here is the final product, I hope you’ll check out Pat’s site and consider booking him for your special day!

Patrick H. Photography:

Patrick H. Photography - Madison, WI Wedding & Lifestyle Photography | Running Blonde

Pumpkin Scones with Toffee and Maple

As I’m looking out the window at the rain pouring down, it’s hard to not sigh a little. Indian summer has come and gone and the first frost is just around the corner. The days are shortening and I’m bundled up in a blanket waiting for the landlord to turn the heat on.

Despite the short days and cold mornings, it’s pumpkin season! I’ve been adding pumpkin to everything I can – oatmeal, smoothies, and these pumpkin scones. Although they are delicious on their own but I dressed them up with toffee bits and some maple syrup drizzle.
… Read More »