A Side of Sweet

Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

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!
Anthropologie Target Inspired DIY Upcycled Cake Stands Gold Lettering

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!

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How to Make a Fake Marble Backdrop for Photography

Everything you need to know about making your own fake marble backdrop at home for only a few dollars! It looks better in photos than real marble and is easy to clean. Includes video tutorial.

How to Make a DIY Fake Marble Backdrop for Photography

I’m sure you’ve seen the real marble cutting board surfaces from places like Sur La Table. You might even own one! I used to too, but I was able to sell that crazy heavy bulky thing once I made my own. It was so satisfying!

The craziest thing is this DIY surface it actually looks more realistic and better in photos than the real thing! It works great for Instagram flatlays, product photography and obviously food styling.

Read on for the step-by-step DIY.… Read More »

Last-Minute Holiday Centerpiece with Pomegranates

Here’s a great holiday hack – a last-minute holiday centerpiece with pomegranates and rosemary that takes just a few minutes to put together!Easy Last Minute Holiday Table Centerpiece DIY When it comes to the holidays, I sometimes spend weeks thinking about the food. I spend hours listing possible dishes, scouring the internet, rewriting my list and grocery shopping. I love picking recipes that you can make in advance, so I even start cooking several days in advance!

Unfortunately, this same organized approach doesn’t always apply to party decor. Even though I’m fine throwing down $50 for a fresh turkey, I’m extremely reluctant to spend that kind of money on table decorations. I’m always looking for ways to keep things cheap – and easy…. Read More »

Splatter Painted French Macarons

Use edible food paint to make these colorful splatter-painted French Macarons! Plus, a step by step recipe for plain french macaron shells.

Splatter Painted French Macarons DIY with Plain Macaron Shells Recipe

Painting macarons, or sugar cookies or cakes, for that matter is so easy! All you need is some high-quality food coloring gel, a food-safe paintbrush, and a bit of vodka or almond extract.

I probably should have inserted some sort of joke here about drinking vodka to reduce the stress of making macarons, but it’s actually for your paint! It’s the perfect solvent for your gel food coloring. It evaporates when it dries and leaves no taste or unwanted color behind…. Read More »

Candied Rose Petals for Cupcakes & Cakes

Candied Rose Petals are a perfect upgrade for homemade or store-bought cupcakes and cakes. Yes, they are actually edible and they take just minutes to make!How to Make Edible Sugared or Candied Rose Petals

One of the things I love about baking is that there are always new techniques to try. From the perfect pie crust to a French macaron with feet, there’s always something new to learn. Making candied rose petals has been on my list for far too long.

Many people don’t realize that rose petals are edible, and they actually taste amazing! They are the perfect addition to many desserts, from cakes to cupcakes to cookies…. Read More »

Heart Valentine’s Day Photobooth + Free Emoji Props

An easy DIY Geometric Heart Valentine’s Day Photobooth made with yarn and wire, plus FREE printable emoji photo booth props to download!

Make a Geometric Heart Valentine's Day Photobooth Wall

Last weekend, I hosted a Galentine’s Day Fête for some of my girlfriends. I felt like we were long overdue for some quality time, so I got everyone together for a brunch at my place! With the current political climate, it felt even more timely to celebrate the friendships I’ve made here in San Francisco.

A photobooth has become a party essential for me. They are so easy to make and people go crazy for them! They are a way to make sure each of your guests goes home with something memorable from the event. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to create a photo booth though. For this one all you need is some craft wire and yarn!… Read More »