Miami isn't necessarily known for being a Mecca of all things fall, but over the years, our balmy city has grown to love all things pumpkin and spice. And while we sure do love us some classic Pumpkin Spice Latte action, there are also some really creative people out there who have put that fall flavor into some of our classic Miami offerings. If you're in the mood for a fresh take on some of the classics, check out these fall treats to try in Miami. 

Pumpkin y Queso Pastelitos from Vicky Bakery

A fall twist on the favorite pastelito de guayaba y queso - perfect for a breakfast treat or a snack with your afternoon cafecito. 

Pumpkin Gingersnap Banana Pudding from The Pudding Parlor 

I didn't even know how much I liked banana pudding, and this one, homemade and with this deliciously spiced take, has me slightly obsessed. 

Pumpkin Spice Cake Donut from The Salty

Their brown butter donut is my favorite because I'm not a HUGE donut fan. And this is a pumpkin spice version of that. So good. 

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake from The Berry Farms

I mean, if I took pumpkin pie and ice cream and threw them in a blender, this is what it might taste like. 

Pumpkin Spice Key Lime Pie from Bakey Shop

REAL key lime pie is one of my absolute favorite desserts. Bakey Shop has come up with some incredible versions of key lime pie, and this pumpkin spice one was a thousand times better than I could have imagined. A good alternative to a regular pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving!

I've tried each of these, and they're all amazing. But them get while you can, because fall won't last long (if we truly get it at all in Miami)! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

Before We Were Yours is written by Lisa Wingate and is based off of a real-life child adoption ring, where Georgia Tann, the director of an adoption organization based in Memphis, would kidnap poor children from their families and sell them to wealthy families all over the country. Reading the accounts of the children living in dirty, unsanitary, and precarious situations was heartbreaking. Rill is forced to grow up so quickly, and as much as she fights to save her siblings and keep them close, something always comes up against her.

Reading this brought up some big feelings for me for two reasons: 

• I imagined someone taking our children away from us just because they didn't see us as fit to be parents. I imagined what my kids would go through, not only being separated from us, but then being separated from one another. And just the thought nearly tore me in two. 
• I thought about my paternal grandmother. When she was just a girl, her dad left and her mom died. She and her brother were tossed around from place to place, and eventually separated because nobody wanted to take them together. While she was somewhat able to maintain a relationship with him, she was sent to the United States and he remained in Cuba. She mourned the lost relationship with her brother for their entire lives - even after she learned of his death. 

Lisa Wingate has written a heart-wrenching story that tells about the atrocities of this villainous character, but also about the ties that bind us together. It's a story about connection, roots, and understanding where you come from. I thought it was beautifully written and I really found myself completely immersed in the story. I highly recommend checking this one out. 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

*These are affiliate links. I will earn a teeny tiny commission if you purchase from these links.
Get it on Amazon. 
​Get it from your local bookstore.

Last week, Eddie and I decided to book a spontaneous overnight trip to the Florida Keys with the kids. We figured a night away would be good recharge for everyone and the Keys are close enough that we wouldn't spend a ton of time in the car. After looking at our available rewards points and which hotels were available, we settled on Bakers Cay Resort in Key Largo. 

We arrived on Sunday around 10 am, and to limit guest interaction indoors, check-in is done at the guard gate at the entrance. Our room wasn't ready, but we were allowed to use the premises and all the amenities once we were checked in. After taking a quick walk around the resort, we headed to the kids' pool, complete with a cascading waterfall and a bar with really delicious Pina coladas. The pool is surrounded by trees, so it makes you feel like you are in your own little oasis. After hanging out there for a little bit, we headed to the beach and to grab some lunch at the outdoor restaurant, Dry Rocks. We sat on one of their couches and ordered food and drinks, all of which was delicious. 

Sunday night we enjoyed dinner at Calusa, their other restaurant which features Creole-Caribbean flavors. You can dine indoors or al fresco. Because we went pretty early, we decided to eat indoors, and there was nobody else inside the restaurant. They have a great kids' menu and the staff was really kind. The food was SO good (I highly recommend the Rum Chicken).  Calusa is also where they serve breakfast, but we didn't eat there in the morning. There is also a Tiki Bar on the beach where you can get drinks and some light bites. 

As far as things to do, there are a lot of activities available and they are all included. I really loved how kid-friendly the whole resort is (it's pet-friendly, too!). There is an adult pool and a kids pool, an open court, and there are two separate beach areas with lounge chairs and towels. By the lagoon there are kayaks and paddle boards available, and they're included in your resort fee, so take advantage! The lagoon is perfect for kids because it's nice and shallow - Chloe loved playing in the water. There is also a pier where you can fish, and Eddie and Caleb took part in that activity - they give you bait and fishing rods, also included in your resort fee. 

The rooms were updated and SO nice. We had an Oceanview room with two queen beds. The floors were tile, which I loved, and the bathroom was beautifully done. There was no tub, but the shower was big enough for one of us to get in with the kids.  We loved standing on the balcony to watch the sunset and the kids loved spotting the boats on the water. The beds were comfy, and there were enough surfaces to put our things in the room. One of my peeves about hotels is that there are never enough hooks to hang things like towels and clothes that you need to air out, but this room had a set of hooks on the wall that held a bunch of items! I was definitely pleased to see that. 

Overall, we had a really great experience (and this was not sponsored). We were only there for one night, so we didn't do anything additional in the area, but I know that there are a few other things to do in the Keys if you're spending more days there - particularly in the areas of boating and watersports. We have already talked about going back with the kids because it is such an easy trip - it's a little under an hour away and it really felt like we were somewhere else. 

So if you're in South Florida and looking for an easy escape that's kid friendly and really gives you that feeling of getting away, Baker's Cay is a good bet! 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

I did a roundup of some of the best things I had bought online a few months back and you all loved it, so I'm doing it again.

Before I get into it, I wanted to share with you a little bit about how affiliate links work. Affiliate links are a way for me and other bloggers to make a little bit of money off of items we are recommending (but aren't necessarily sponsored). When it comes to an affiliate link, you won't pay more for the item, but I will get a small (very very very small) commission if you do purchase from that link. Every affiliate network has their own rules about how bloggers will get credit for their links, but most of them don't give credit after a certain amount of time has passed and you have added the item to your cart (24 hours in most cases). In any case, I always appreciate when you all shop my links, but even more so I love knowing that I helped you find some new product that you love, too! 

1. Caleb's teacher asked us to send hand sanitizer clipped to his lunchbox. I found these on Amazon. They come empty but we have plenty of hand sanitizer here to fill them with. 
2. I got a new pair of AirPods last week - I had inherited a pair of Eddie's old ones and they were not working anymore. But I wanted to keep them safe so I got this case. It's perfect because it's not bulky and I love the clip, because I can clip it to my purse or keychain for easy access. 
3. With the kids back in school, I wanted to get them chains for their masks so that when they have lunch and snack they're not throwing the masks around. I found these on Amazon and they're perfect because they're adjustable. 
4. I reorganized the cabinet under my bathroom sink and used these to organize my nail polishes and some of the other toiletries that were floating around! 
5. I also managed to reorganize the laundry area in the office, and I used these for our detergent pods and Oxi-Clean. They're not big enough to fit an entire large package, but they are plastic (which I loved) and they are sturdy. 
6. I also used these in the laundry area - Eddie can keep some of his workout equipment in there and a lot of other things - they're pretty big! 
7. This Pumpkin Spice ground coffee from Target is really yummy. We've been having it in the mornings. 
8. At the suggestion of one of my followers, I got myself the Spanx Minimizer Bra to wear with button down shirts and I'm so glad I did! It does exactly what it advertises it will, and I'm excited to not have to pin my shirts anymore. 
9. This Briogeo Scalp Revival Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo is amazing. It left my scalp feeling so nice! Their Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask is also incredible. 
10. We got this vacuum recently because between my hair and the dog's hair, our other vacuum was always clogged up. We've had it about a month and have been super happy with it. I also love the flex arm, because it's easy to get under furniture like the sofa and the beds!

xoxo, 

​Jenise

This is a sponsored post by Quaker Kids Organic. As always, all opinions are my own.

You know how moms make jokes about constantly being asked for snacks? I used to think this was a huge exaggeration. I always thought to myself, “How many snacks could a tiny person possibly consume?” Well, I am here to tell you that when moms make jokes about going to the bathroom alone or endlessly handing out snacks to  reaching hands, it is because it is absolutely, unequivocally true. Snacks are a never-ending stream in this house, and more so over the last few months.

Whether the kids are physically going back to school or learning at home, moms always need to have snacks on hand. And if you're anything like me, you always have backup snacks in your own bag, too - whether you're running errands or even just headed out for a drive somewhere with the kids in tow. Because somehow, they always want  a snack. 

With their organic whole grain bites and  bars, Quaker Kids Organic has you covered. Their bite-sized crunchy oat bites provide 19 grams of 100% whole grains and other delicious ingredients, are certified organic, and are made with real fruit pieces (like blueberries and strawberries). They have no artificial flavors and no high fructose corn syrup, no added colors, or artificial preservatives. The bars come in strawberry or chocolate flavors, which is always a favorite in this house! They come in individually portioned pouches, making it extra easy to toss in a lunch box, purse, or snack bin and let the kids enjoy.

You can find them in the snack aisle at Publix, so they are easy to get a hold of! AND when you buy a box, you can enter their sweepstakes for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Publix. Entering is easy:  visit QuakerKidsOrganic.com to upload your receipt with qualifying purchase and enter for a chance to win. Each box you purchase is considered an entry, and the sweepstakes will run from now through 11/2/20. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  You can get more information on how to enter, as well as the official rules, at QuakerKidsOrganic.com. 


Xoxo, 


Jenise