Avery & Grey

Back to School - Energy Bite Recipe for your Babes' Lunchboxes

Caroline PotochnikComment
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The first day of school is approaching and if you’re anything like me, you’re scrambling and searching Pinterest for “School Lunch ideas my picky child will eat.” Sound familiar?

Up until 10 days ago, my five-year-old was going to attend a pre-k program that was just 4 afternoons a week - no lunch required. Plans have changed and my baby will be going to school (across town!) 5 full days a week. I’m going to have to find ways to sneak protein in to her meal, because she’d prefer to live on fruits and veggies. Also, she won’t eat sandwiches.

I started searching and created my own recipe that I thought I would share with you! Full disclosure - my 8-year-old loved these, but the jury is still out with her little sister. Regardless, I think these will be a great addition to her lunch box, or maybe to be packed with fruit for snack time.

They are gluten free, dairy free and nut free. They remind me of those tasty no-bake cookies I haven’t made in years.

I combined everything in my food processor, scraped the sides once and pulsed again to combine. Then scoped 1 tbsp sized portions, rolled them into balls and popped them into my fridge.

Makes approximately 18 bites

  • 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

  • 1/2 cup Sun Butter (you could use peanut or almond, but I like to send nut free options to school)

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup (you could use honey, but I thought my 8-month-old may like a bite and she can’t have honey)

  • 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed meal

  • 1 tbsp chia seeds

  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

  • 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips (I use the enjoy life dairy free chips)

Thats it! What are your go-to lunch box additions for your picky eaters?

XO,

Caroline

Summer Fun!

Caroline Potochnik

We have been enjoying our summer here at Avery & Grey. 

Between two June birthdays (first the Avery, then the Grey respectively), lots of family visits, trips to the pool, TWO ready-to-ship sales, and a whole lot of popsicles, we're officially pooped, and summer has really just begun!

Here's a peek at the Flamingle Birthday Bash we had to celebrate my daughters turning 3 and 6! A huge shoutout to my friend Mary, owner of our favorite local party and gift shop Love of Character for helping with decor and setup! We love how it turned out! 

 

The week of the party my youngest was very sick, so you won't spot a single headband or hair clip to match the theme! Crazy, right?!

It was fun to play party planner (again) for a change, but we're back to work making the hair accessories that keep this brand alive! 

XO,

Caroline

It takes a village...

Caroline PotochnikComment

For my inaugural blog post I thought, why not talk about all the people that make this shop, this site, and this dream, even possible. 

One of the most common things people say to me is, "How do you do it all?" - and my first response is to stifle a laugh. Why? Because I wake up every morning and think, "What will I ignore today? My business, my housework, or my children?" That sounds dramatic, I realize, but it's not exactly wrong. Here's why: 

When we try to do it all on our own, we get NOTHING done, am I right? If I try to work, clean my house, and give my children the attention they need (and deserve) all in the same day, I do every task a disservice because it just doesn't work. I've been a working mom, a stay-at-home mom and a work-at-home-mom, and let me tell you - there are challenges to each. Working mom Caroline had the guilt of missing out, stay-at-home-mom Caroline struggled with motivation and structure and work-at-home-run-my-own-handmade-business-mom Caroline is pretty much a hot mess. 

So what do I do? I take help where I can get it and give myself grace and understand when I can't get it all done. My husband vacuums up the felt scraps, and keeps our laundry in check, and never hesitates to take the girls to the park so I can get an hour of work in. 

My in-laws watch my girls once a week - and it is super helpful. And I have been blessed with some of the most amazing neighbors on the planet. Not only that, but I am lucky to have a few friends who ditch their families for a night and come help me cut flowers, label packages, stamp product cards - all in exchange for good conversation, a glass of wine, or some fabulous hair pretties! The house cleaning? Let's just say I've just had to cut myself some slack. 

The point is - none of this #girlboss or #momboss life is possible without HELP - and I never turn it down! But you know what else? I wouldn't change a thing! 

Ok, maybe I would hire a housecleaner, but that's a post for another day.