A Side of Sweet

14 Things to Do Around Mendocino, California (2019 update)

Mendocino, California and the surrounding area make a great weekend getaway from San Francisco. It has an amazing food scene, the Anderson Valley wine region and many charming places to stay. It’s also incredibly dog-friendly!

I just can’t say enough about what a hidden gem the Mendocino coast is. Its access to nature is incredible with the towering cliffs like Big Sur, and the redwood forests of far northern California, all with less traffic and better prices. There’s an up and coming wine country in the Anderson Valley and the food scene is booming.

It won’t be off the beaten path for too much longer though! We actually ran into a photographer from Travel & Leisure while we were there as he was getting content for an upcoming article. You need to move it to the top of your list for your next weekend getaway from San Francisco…. Read More »

What to Do in Glacier National Park Montana

Guide to Glacier National Park in Western Montana. Read on for best hikes, what to do and where to stay in this FREE travel guide!

Glacier National Park is a wildly beautiful place. It’s one of the few publicly accessible places left in the contiguous United States that truly feels remote.

Sadly, shortly after our visit, Glacier National Park was in the news due to devastating forest fires. According to recent reports the fire is still less than 12% contained, but many Eastern parts of the park remain open. Some of our favorite experiences were in Many Glacier and the eastern parts of the park so I highly recommend exploring this area.

My thoughts are with Glacier and the brave firefighters. This guide is my love letter to Glacier.

Read on for my Glacier National Park guide!

Creamy Stovetop Mac & Cheese with Bacon

Gluten Free Nut Free Egg Free

A creamy stovetop mac & cheese recipe that’s all grown up thanks to fancy cheese, bacon, and mushrooms. It’s honestly the best homemade macaroni and cheese ever!

If I had to name my number one guilty pleasure, it would be macaroni & cheese. There’s just something about pasta and cheese that makes this Wisconsin girl’s heart skip a beat. That being said, the version my family made growing up with Kraft singles just won’t cut it anymore. If I’m going to indulge, I still want the whole foods and high-quality ingredients we look for in our day-to-day diet.

Read on for the recipe and learn about my commitment to reducing my screen time!

Best Strawberry Cupcakes EVER

Vegetarian

Tried and tested, this is the best strawberry cupcakes recipe! Banish mushy cupcakes and read on for the secret to perfect strawberry buttercream frosting.

The internet is full of bad recipes for strawberry cupcakes. This watery fruit is a tricky one to bake with as it releases all that water into your cake or cupcake making it totally mushy. Most of the recipes out there are either soggy because of this or they skip the real strawberries altogether and use some variation of strawberry extract or flavoring…. Read More »

Homemade Nachos Recipe with Brussels Sprouts & Beet Crema

Gluten Free Vegetarian

This incredible homemade nachos recipe is topped with brussels sprouts, roasted corn queso and beet crema. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Eating the rainbow never tasted so good!

Did anyone else grow up hearing the phrase “eating the rainbow” in the context of making healthy choices? The idea was that fruits and vegetables with bright colors are often healthier. Although this doesn’t always apply (rainbow sugar cookies I’m looking at you) it is a decent and fun rule to live by.

Read on for the brussels sprouts nachos recipe…… Read More »

Upcycled DIY Cake Stands for $5

These gilded DIY Cake Stands are the prettiest way to display sweets. This upcycled DIY only costs a few dollars to make and is great for weddings or gifts!

This post has been sponsored by Oui™ by Yoplait®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do you have certain routines or rituals that you use to begin your day?

On hospital work days, 90% of my mornings start the same way: an early workout followed by piping hot coffee and a cup of yogurt. Enjoying this simple breakfast gives me a few moments of calm to help me start the day in a good mindset.

Read on for the upcycled cake stand DIY!