"Unapologetically Diverse: The Beauty of Balance"

  Fall feelings, Florida temperatures. Sometimes I want the cozy sweetness of brown sugar and cinnamon, but I still want my coffee over ice. This Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso brings those two moods together in one creamy, foamy glass. The secret is the shake. Espresso, brown sugar, vanilla, and a little cinnamon get shaken hard with ice before the milk goes in. It’s simple, a little fun, and just enough of a ritual to make a coffee break feel special. Makes one 16–20 oz iced drink What You’ll Need 2 shots espresso, about 2 oz 1½–2 tablespoons brown sugar ¼ teaspoon cinnamon Tiny pinch of salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup ice, plus more for the glass ½–¾ cup oat milk, whole milk, or your favorite milk Shake Up Your Coffee Break Brew the espresso directly over the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Pour the mixture into a shaker or heat-safe jar with about 1 cup of ice. Secure the lid and shake hard for 15–20 seconds , until the espresso is c...

  A Different Kind of Fall This fall feels different. Our family recently celebrated a pretty big moment—the grand reopening of Countryside Florist in its new home. For as long as I can remember, Countryside has been part of our family story. Now Mom and Dad, Karla and Aaron, are stepping back. And, in a way, so am I. Uncle Shane and Aunt Lora are becoming the new faces of our family tradition, and they have their own “people” coming up right behind them—my younger cousin Zoe. Watching that happen has made me realize just how much all of us are stepping into a new phase of life. And I don't think new phases are always as neat and exciting as we make them sound. Sometimes they're exciting. Sometimes they're a relief. Sometimes they're exactly what you've been working toward. And sometimes you find yourself standing there thinking, Okay...what do I do with myself now? For the first time in a very long time, I have more control over my time. I'm building Unapologet...