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

Labor Day has come and gone, and it's the unofficial end of summer. And while Pumpkin Spice has been available for a couple of weeks now, this is the time when I really start to get in the mood for it. Last week, my friend Jenny mentioned in Instagram stories that the syrup you get pumped into your favorite PSL at Starbucks actually contains dairy, and she was on the hunt for a dairy-free solution so she can still enjoy her PSLs. 

YEARS ago, I had a starter blog where I tried out different recipes, and I remembered this pumpkin spice syrup being a hit at home, so I pulled it up and made some. It's really easy, and it's nice to be able to mix this into your morning (or afternoon) coffee without having to leave the house. Plus, it has really simple ingredients - so you know exactly what you are putting in there! It's dairy-free, and preservative free. AND as a bonus, it's really inexpensive to make - you may even have the majority of these ingredients on hand - this means it could save you big bucks on coffee runs.  

A couple weeks ago, Eddie sent me a link to this recipe from the New York Times Cooking site, and it immediately called our attention for the combination of flavors. I made it that night, and since then, we've had it another 3 times - totaling four times in three weeks! Honestly, it's THAT good.

The first time we had it we made it exactly like in the recipe, served over orzo for a complete meal. Twice we have had it as a side with some steaks, and once I doubled the broccolini and we just had it as a light dinner. It's got all these delicious summer flavors, and since it's a sheet pan meal, it makes for easy cleanup. It also makes for good leftovers - just heat it up in the oven (we use a toaster oven because it's easier).

It's a great dish for when you have company or when you have to take a side dish somewhere - you can prep it beforehand and just toss it in the oven 25 minutes before it's time to eat (it's best to eat the feta right out of the oven or it does get a little chewy as it cools). Plus, it's so colorful - it looks beautiful!

Ingredients

• 1 bunch broccolini (or broccoli), ends trimmed, thick stalk split lengthwise
  
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 small red onion, peeled, quartered, and cut into 2-inch wedges
• 1 lemon, 1/2 cut into thin rounds and the remaining 1/2 for serving
• 3 tbsp olive oil, plus more for serving
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
• 2 (6- to 8- oz) blocks feta, cut into 1-inch slices
• Cooked orzo, for serving
• 1/2 cup fresh basil or cilantro leaves, roughly chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack set in the lower third. On a sheet pan, combine the broccolini, tomatoes, onion and lemon slices with the olive oil and toss. Add cumin and red-pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and toss again until evenly coated. Nestle the feta slices into the vegetables. (It’s OK if they break apart a little.)
2. Roast for approximately 20 minutes, stirring halfway through but leaving the feta in place, until the broccolini is charred at the tips, the stems are easily pierced with a fork and the tomato skins start to blister and break down.
3. Serve over orzo or farro. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with the remaining lemon half for squeezing. Top with fresh herbs, if using.

Let me know if you try it and how you like it!

xoxo, 

​Jenise

This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are my own.

At the beginning of quarantine, toilet paper and paper towels were in short supply. If I learned anything from that, it was to buy what I needed and not to be a hoarder. But I always like to have a few extra toilet paper rolls tucked away because kids, ya know (and thankfully these items are back in stock)? Coffee is another staple that we go through regularly, and it always seems like we need more! And although we haven’t been entertaining much these days, I always like to have some kind of crackers on hand for when we can finally have guests over (or have an at-home date night once the kids are in bed). And whether the kids are home for days on end or headed off to school, snacks are a major necessity around here!

When it comes to grocery shopping, I know we all love a good sale. But there’s nothing better than being rewarded for buying the things you need anyway - like all the items I mentioned above. After being away from home and with the start of school (hopefully) around the corner, we were running low on a few of our staple products. So, I headed to Publix and picked up some of the products that I know I can be rewarded for purchasing!

Publix Stocking Spree is a program where you can be rewarded JUST for buying the products we already know and love. All year long, you can receive a $10 Publix gift card every time* you purchase $50 of participating Stocking Spree products (*Up to 12 gift cards per household, per year). Plus, you can save even more at Publix with special offers on select Stocking Spree 365 products during the sale week from 8/6 – 8/12 (Some markets 8/5 – 8/11).

Taking part in the program is easy - the list of products is available on www.stockingspree.com, so you can check out the participating products before you head to Publix. Make your list and purchase your products. When you get home, take a photo of your receipt, log into the site and upload the photo of your receipt - I did it in under 5 minutes! Once your receipt is reviewed and you have spent $50 on participating products, you will be able to claim your $10 Publix gift card. You can opt for a physical gift card, which will be mailed to you, or a digital gift card that will be applied to your Publix Digital Wallet. I prefer the digital option as you can receive the gift card in 24 hours and have it in time for your next shopping trip!

See StockingSpree.com for a full list of participating products and to upload your receipts. Don’t miss out on this awesome chance to be rewarded for your Publix purchases! 


Xoxo, 

Jenise

With the weather warming up and summer showing its sunny face, we are all looking for ways to cool off and relax. There is nothing like taking a dip in the pool on a warm summer day and sipping on a refreshing drink - that goes for both kids and adults. 

As a kid, one of my favorite treats was always popsicles. (Okay let's be real, they're still a perfect treat, even at 34 years old.) My kids love popsicles, too, and Whole Fruit has some of the most delicious ones we've tried yet! They're fruit bars made with chunks of real fruit. They are non-gmo project verified, gluten free, dairy free, peanut free!

But what do you do when you want to enjoy your beverage AND a popsicle? You make a poptail! One of my favorite things to sip on a hot day is sangria - it's light enough that I won't overdo it, and it's refreshing with all that fruit. Of course, the kids wanted their own version, so we made them their own version using sparkling water, and it was a hit. 

Whole Fruit has several different flavors, and you can order online using Shipt or Instacart or in the freezer section of your local Publix! And to get more fun ideas on how you can enjoy your popsicles in new ways, head over to their Instagram account @wholefruitfrozen.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white wine (I used Pinot Grigio)
• 1 Mango Whole Fruit Fruit Bar

Directions

1. Pour wine.
2. Dunk your popsicle in. 
3. Let it melt a little. 
4. Sip and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup sparkling water
• 1 Mango Whole Fruit Fruit Bar

Directions

1. Pour water into cup. 
2. Dunk your popsicle in. 
3. Let it melt a little. 
4. Sip and enjoy!

xoxo, 

​Jenise