Being a blogger definitely has its weirdness here and there, so when Sudo asked me to try out their app and write a post about my online adventures, I couldn't help but think immediately of phone calls.

When I used to work in an office, I loved having a phone to quickly call my colleagues with a quick question or to give them an update on a project--you didn't have to write an email and wonder if they got it yet or not. What I really loved, though, was getting up and walking to their desk--it was a great way to not spend the whole day sitting, and then you got some face-to-face interaction, which I certainly don't get now working for myself and form home. 

When it comes to work now, I really only correspond with people through email, which is pretty nice, but there are times when I wish I could pick up the phone. It is super rare for me to ever hear a reader's voice, which is kind of strange if you think about it. Of course, I'll be in conference calls about collaborations and other sponsorships from time to time, but the truth is that even at its most professional, being a blogger means that a lot of the time you're talking to strangers--so I'm probably never going to have my cell phone number listed in my email signature. 

One of my favorite podcasts is Awesome Etiquette and they recently got a voicemail, which they were so excited about because listeners could call in and leave them messages. I've been thinking about that so much! I love hearing from all of you via email and sometimes I think it would be so awesome to hear some of your voices. It's so funny--we'll give out our email addresses but our phone numbers feel off limits, don't they?

Enter Sudo: a really cool mobile app that allows you to put a layer between yourself and the online world. It automatically generates safe, secure, and private personas, complete with email addresses, phone numbers, password managers, and a secure browser that doesn't track your online behaviors. Now you (and I!) can be empowered to take the web head-on.

I created an account and got to choose a phone number (with a North Carolina area code! I've never had one of those) that allows me to both make and receive calls without having to use my cell phone. I also have my own email address and can send texts as well. They're working to add functionality for single-use credit cards, which I think would be amazing because my credit card number has been stolen more times than I can count, and it's always such a hassle.

All in all, Sudo is a seriously innovative app that allows you to take control of your online identity. What do you think? Would you use Sudo? What would you do with it?

Sudo in 60 seconds! from Sudo App on Vimeo.

This post is brought to you in partnership with Sudo. As always, I can't thank you enough for your support as I continue to work with sponsors.

If you haven't caught on by now, my absolute favorite way to entertain is with small plates. It gives everyone a little bit of everything and makes it really easy to make sure you're providing for allergies/dietary restrictions, which is something that means a lot to me. Plus, it's delicious, and that's really reason enough.

Here's how I do it:

1. Start with olives, bread, cheese, and some other charcuterie stuff. I love salami and prosciutto but this time I went with chorizo and some Iberico ham.
2. Get fancy with it. Regular almonds would be just fine, but I seasoned some and roasted them instead, which made for a more thoughtful touch. Plus, who doesn't want a spicy roasted almond?
3. Pick a few "main" dishes--these are bigger than the snacks. I went with mussels and goat cheese dip with artichokes, which I served with crusty bread and tortilla chips.
4. Pour the wine! It's not a tapas dinner party without some delicious wine. I served La Crema's Willamette and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs as well as a few chilly glasses of their Monterey Pinot Gris. Mmm.

Head to the La Crema blog now and get all of my tapas dinner party recipes! And if you make the goat cheese artichoke dip, invite me over so I can eat it.

Photos by Rémy Thurston for Freckled Italian.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of La Crema. The opinions and text are all mine.

Vaseline recently asked me to talk about my beauty routine, and I am happy to do it! I'm always looking for more ways to share beauty content with you guys--so if you have any requests, please let me know! I did some hair tutorials in the past but would love to update them and include some makeup and product posts, which I'm starting here today!

As far as makeup goes, I like to stick to one thing at a time until I've mastered it. I love liquid eyeliner and mascara, and about two years ago I started learning how to do a little contouring on my face. I've always been more of a heavy-on-the-eyes girl and usually leave my lips pretty plain--I think it's because for the most part, you have to reapply it. 

That doesn't mean I'm not a lip balm fan though! Quite the contrary--you can always find me with some kind of moisturizing balm in my bag. Vaseline has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid--it reminds me so much of my mom, because she always used it as lip balm and I started doing the same as a kid, and I still use it all the time. It's not sticky at all and lasts a really long time. Plus it just does its job really well and moisturizes your lips.

In the U.K. they have Vaseline Lip Therapy in cute little tins, which Vaseline just released in the United States! They're pictured above and below and come in a variety of flavors/scents; the Rosy Lips one even has a pinkish tint that's perfect if you're like me and rarely wear lip color. (Although the Aloe one is my favorite right now--it's super fresh and is getting me so excited for spring!)

What does your beauty routine look like? When it comes to makeup, are you more of an eyes or a lip color fan? What's your favorite lip balm? 

This post is brought to you in partnership with Vaseline. As always I thank you for your support as I continue to work with sponsors. You can get your own Vaseline Lip Therapy Tin at Target!