Free Lunch Sack!

Funny thing. Someone posted a comment on my last post, complaining that I was posting about a product's sale. I don't know about you, but I love a great bargain...especially on health products. If I find a sale worth noting, I'm going to share it with you! Who doesn't need to save a little money these days? So, here is another great deal...and it's FREE. Well, with a purchase of two Annie's Homegrown products. I already buy Annie's Homegrown, so this isn't a stretch for me. Click below for details on how to receive a free reusable lunch sack!

Here's to a great deal and here's to your health!

Simply Christmas

Well, sorry I haven't been around much this month. Our trip to the mainland for Christmas has kept me quite busy. We did not get to visit family last year at this time, and we have truly enjoyed being with them this holiday season.

This time of year can be so hectic. People scurrying all around, the traffic, the last-minute shopping frenzies. It is easy to lose sight of what is most important. There were lots of things I intended to post this month and never got around to...I've been too busy doing what really matters-spending time with loved ones.

Like anyone else, I've shopped. I've wrapped. I've attended parties. But we have made a real effort in our home lately, to just look at Christmas... and be amazed. Amazed at the wonder and the simplicity. The reason we celebrate. An act of love. A lowly birth. An innocent baby. A Savior is born.

When you celebrate Christmas this week, I pray that in the midst of the surrounding frenzy, you will slow down, take a deep breath, and simply worship the King.

These tips are coming a bit late, but here are a few ideas for keeping it simple this year:

1. Help your kids make homemade goodies to give as gifts. An easy, healthier option are these Candied Pecans.

2. Incorporate traditions like reading the nativity story or singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

3. Get bundled up and go Christmas Caroling! Remember that??

4. If you haven't already...don't break the bank! Draw names from a hat and do a gift exchange. Or get together with other moms and dads and have a toy exchange. Gather gently used toys that your kids have outgrown and swap them out with other families. Toys don't have to always be brand new.

5. Forgo expensive gifts and do a White Elephant exchange instead. Those gifts are always the most memorable!

6. Save on wrapping paper and gift-tags...reuse bags from last year or get creative by using newspaper, magazines, or grocery bags to wrap with. Or my personal favorite, give gifts a personal touch by wrapping them up in one of your child's many masterpieces.

7. Okay, this may be controversial, but here goes...re-gift! I see absolutely nothing wrong with taking something that, let's say, isn't you...and passing it along to someone who would truly enjoy it. And if it's just hideous? Well, then, recycle it!

8. Give. Give to a needy family, or the Red Cross, or the Salvation Army...or any number of other causes. You will be the one who receives the gift.

8. LAUGH!

9. Enjoy one another. Love one another.

10. Worship.

Have a Happy Tiffin!

I am glad to know there are so many great new food storage options. I just learned about a product line from a reader who commented on my post, More Reusable Options. If you are looking for style and function, Happy Tiffin is a fabulous, chic way to go! Their three-layer stainless steel containers and gorgeous, insulated bags would make a great gift for anyone on your list.

Check out all of their items at www.happytiffin.com. A big thank you to the reader who posted this comment, and to all my readers who share their latest tips.

Have a great and healthy day!

More Reusable Options!

With the overwhelming number of reports about BPA leaching, I am making an extra effort to have a plastic-free kitchen. Of course, many food items we buy come in plastic packaging. It is impossible to avoid it completely.

I prefer glass for drinking and for food storage. But we are a busy family on the go and glass is not always the most practical option. I have previously shared some of my favorite reusables. Here are a few more.

I bought some stainless steel containers that are quite handy for packing lunch items or snacks. They are lightweight, reusable, and provide natural insulation, which helps keep food cool longer. We have been using Lunch Bots for sandwiches and other snacks. My husband takes them to work in his lunch bag, and we also use them for food storage in the fridge. Lunch Bots have a rectangular shape, and a tight seal lid. I got a great price for these on Amazon.

We also really like Kids Konserve Nesting Trio. These three round containers are great for veggie slices, crackers, hummus, whatever. They "nest" inside one another for easy storage, and have rubber, leak-proof lids that seal tight and keep food contained, so there is no need to worry about spills. You can find these on The Soft Landing.

We have traded our Sigg Bottles, due to possible BPA leaching, for great new stainless steel sippers. I ordered three different brands to try out. For my husband, I got Nathan's 240z with a flip straw. My daughter now has a pretty CamelBak butterfly bottle with a flip straw. And I love my gorgeous new bottle by Thermos. It has a one-touch button release for a straw, which makes it super convenient and easy to sip from during workouts or when driving. I really like how liquids stay a consistent temperature for hours in these stainless steel bottles.

All of these choices are stainless steel, but remember, there are also many safe BPA-free plastic choices as well. It may not seem cost-effective to switch out your containers, but it actually is. These are durable, safe containers that do not leach harmful chemicals. They are not microwaveable...sorry. But they are reusable and will last a long, long time. Resuable containers conserve resources, reduce waste, and ultimately, keep more money in your pocket. Now that, I like.

Here' s to your health!

The Big Bottle Swap!

Uuurgh! I just hate to find out that a product I LOVE is not as dreamy as I thought. I recently found that my beautiful Sigg bottles could be leaching PBA. Darn! I could ignore the information, but since I have gone to great lengths to have a chemical-free home, I am looking for alternatives. I have a friend who carries around a glass bottle everywhere she goes. Looks like I will be joining her. BUT I am also looking into swapping out my bottles for non-leaching stainless steel with The Big Bottle Swap. Click here to check it out!