Back to School Lunches - Pear Cake - Homemade Fig Bars

Just like that, we're back to school .... 

What's for your lunch today?

And we're back to packing snacks and lunches.  You know the drill.  

Nutritious, yet delicious.  Varied, yet the same.  Always the same morning struggle.  You feel me?

Frozen Greek yogurt with cut-up strawberries (Yikes! Plastic!)

Well, over here we are now going on our fifth school year -- I repeat, fifth school year-- of using these amazing, durable stainless steel LunchBot containers (see below) that make dividing up meals a snap.  I still can't believe four years have gone by!  Insert wow emoji here, or better yet--happy, dancing girl.   

For more on lunch bots, click here!

Ok, maybe the tops are a tad scuffed, but the insides look great.    

Our daughter's first preschool had a serious, NO PLASTICS IN LUNCHBOX, policy and I'm glad we adhered to it.  These tins have withstood the test of time--and preschool and they're ready for another year.  Bring on the snacks!

For more, click link

Speaking of snacks, have you tried these paper snack bags as a plastic alternative?  

Lately, we've been talking a lot about plastics and how we can work towards reducing our waste.  We're fired up about minimizing and/or eliminating our purchases of new plastics like ziploc bags.      Google 'images of plastic bags in ocean' and maybe you'll be motivated too.

As the summer winds down and we say good-bye to delicious berries and cherries, pears and figs have taken the spotlight.

Recently, our friends shared with us some delicious pears from their tree.  Armed with a bag full of pears, we turned to cake.  Warm, brown sugar pear cake.  Say no more.    

Warm Brown Sugar Pear Cake

This brown sugar pear cake is loaded with pears ...and brown sugar, too (yikes), but it is sooo good. Like little squirrels storing acorns for the winter, we've been stashing away our baked goods in the freezer for a quick after-school treat on the fly.    

Pear cake

For the pear recipe, click here:  https://www.leannebrown.com/warm-brown-sugar-pear-cake/

The figs at our market have been phenomenal --so fig bars, it is.   

Betty Crocker didn't disappoint with this dangerously delicious oatmeal fig bar recipe, which we made using fresh figs.  Click here:  https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/fig-bars/fb7d27c1-c0d5-4d3d-8bf9-d72e6cbe9488

 My little love had a lot of fun making this too...

Yummy oats and chewy figs made for a perfect bar.  

As we get ready for fall, check out some of the new dresses in our shop!  Click on each link to find out more.

Red Gingham Dress

Fox Dress

Orange Cherry Blossoms Dress

Blue Gingham Dog Dress

Party Dogs Dress

Party Animals Dress

As we approach the end of this first week back at school, I cannot help but feel gratitude for all that we have.  Our hearts are heavy and our prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Harvey.  As the harrowing images of devastation continue to roll out, may God bless them all.   

Here was a helpful article on where to make a donation: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/donate-harvey-charities-scams.html   Consider the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/

 Peace.