New from Envirosax Bags: Sesame Street Faves

Who doesn't like Sesame Street? From Oscar the Grouch to Cookie Monster and now fairy-in-training Abby, favourite kids show Sesame Street has something for everyone – even adults. The latest reusable shopping bags from Envirosax featuring favourite Sesame Street characters are perfect for anyone who wants to take a retro eco walk down memory lane. The bright colours and cartoon-like graphics combined with the practical benefits of these handy Envirosax bags: lightweight, water resistant, holds 44 lbs., no toxic chemicals, reinforced seams, folds down to the size of a piece of sushi, make Sesame Street a hit with adults too! Ideal for shopping, our funky Sesame Street Envirosax bags are good for carrying pretty much anything from sports gear to books to picnics and more. For an economical option, check out our Envirosax Sesame Street 5-pack pouch.

Even Halle Has a Bird Bag

We love our Brown Bird Lunch Cooler Bag from Canadian company So Young Mother. Apparently, so do many of you - we have a hard time keeping it in stock. Now we find out it's a favourite of the Hollywood set too. Oscar winning actress Halle Berry was spotted carrying this same Birds Cooler Bag with her daughter Nahla in tow. It's no wonder. Not only is this bag free of nasties like PVC, lead and phthalates, but it's insulated, easy to clean and made with natural linen. The carry handle is adjustable so you can strap it to a stroller or another bag and it comes with detachable shoulder straps so you can always sling it over one or both shoulders and carry it on your back. The bird graphics are gorgeous and the zipper opens on three sides for easy packing plus there's an ID card inside and an exterior mesh pocket on back. Above all else, our absolute favourite thing about this cooler lunch bag is its upright style that allows for stacking containers or standing bottles upright. It's a great option for back to school or work lunches. For more details, click here.

Cool Canvas Bags for Kids

Kids don't necessarily care what a lunch bag is made of -- it's what's on the outside that counts. That's why we're so excited about our new line of insulated cotton canvas lunch bags for kids. The fantastic graphics are colourful and kid-friendly yet being made of cotton, these reusable lunch bags are free of PVC (the poison plastic) and tested lead safe. Parents can like them too, knowing they're safe for kids to use daily. The insulated bags keep food cool until lunch time. Other features include a cushioned handle, outside pocket, interior mesh pocket, ID tag and a sturdy three-sided zip for full opening and easy packing. The exterior of these funky lunch totes is treated with a non-toxic waterproof and stain resistant coating, the inside is easy to wipe clean on a daily basis. The good news is they're also machine washable on delicate with a line dry for a more thorough clean. Take your pick from butterflies, owl, peace skulls, monsters and robots. For more details, click here.

Today's Parent Picks from Lavish & Lime

Open up this month's issue of Canada's #1 parenting magazine Today's Parent and guess what you'll find on page 28? Four Lavish & Lime products recommended as top fun and eco-friendly ways to bring food to school. We couldn't be more thrilled!

Today's Parent is a great resource - both online and offline - for families of all ages and at all stages. Here are the four products they recommend you use for bringing lunch to school - as they appear in the 'your family Downtime' column.

1. Reduce, Reuse Rewrap! Forget cling wrap; send a sandwich that leaves a smaller footprint. Reusable sandwich wrap, $10, lavishandlime.com.

2. Double Duty This sleek lunch pail is conveniently divided into separate, no-leak compartments. Goodbyn lunch box. $29.50, lavishandlime.com.

3. Green Eats Warmer than metal, earth-friendlier than plastic, this is cutlery kids can feel good about. Bamboo utensil set, $13, lavishandlime.com.

4. Back to Glass Classic glass bottle with an edgy silicone wrap for durability. Glass water bottle, $26, lavishandlime.com.

For these and more waste-free lunch gear ideas, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about packing eco-friendly lunches, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

The Goodbyn Lunch Box: a morning time saver

Weekday mornings are hectic for most, but for those of us with school age kids, some days they can be absolutely manic. Enter the Goodbyn. An all-in-one lunch box with an alter ego: time saver.

Kudos to those of you who are organized enough to make your lunches the night before. For the rest of us, get a Goodbyn lunch box. Reminiscent of an airline meal tray, the Goodbyn has six different compartments to keep food separate and one lid to seal them all up. That's the secret - one container, one lid.

No longer will you spend precious morning minutes hunting and low for appropriate-sized containers - and their lids - to fit the various parts of little Billy's lunch. Or even better, having a container in hand and trying to figure out what you have in the fridge that will fit into it.

Today's lunch in a Goodbyn. See the funky stickers on the lid? The Goodbyn comes

with nearly 300 stickers for your child to personalize his or her own lunch box.

Simply open up the Goodbyn, put it on the counter and start filling the various compartments with whatever little Susan loves to eat. Grab that box of crackers, cereal, cookies and throw a handful in whichever compartment you like. Put a sandwich in the big one or a wrap in the long one. A banana and granola bar in the top one and raisins in the smallest one. Put grapes in one side compartment and carrot sticks in the other. It feels like you're emptying your cupboards and fridge into this one lunch box. It's so easy - and quick! Plus you'll realize there's no need to buy all those pre-packaged snacks with all their disposable wrapping.

We highly recommend the Goodbyn lunch box. Not only is it BPA, lead, phthalate-free, made responsibly in the USA out of dishwasher-safe, recyclable material and helps cut down on waste, but it's been pivotal in ensuring we avoid getting that late slip on far more than one occasion.

Goodbyn Lunch Box Sale: Save 20% on Goodbyns this Victoria Day weekend at online eco boutique Lavish & Lime. Choose from four bright colours: pink, blue, orange and green. Offer ends midnight, May 24th - limited time only! If you have Goodbyn story, please leave a comment below and tell us about it. We'd love to hear from you!

New Envirosax Minisax Lunch Bags are a Steal

Envirosax has just released a new bright and cheery range of stunning reusable shopping bags for Spring 2010 and top of these, they've come up some funky little lunch bags that are literally a steal.

At just $5.50 each, the new Minisax Reusable Lunch Bag is sized to fit your lunch, plus a drink in the inner pocket. Cleverly designed, the whole bag ends up folding into the pocket for a flat, easy-to-store or transport 4" x 4.5" rectangle when not in use.

The best part is these fully washable bags are made of recycled plastic bottles. Envirosax has come up with a new RPET fabric, made of 55% polyester and 45% Repreve®. Repreve® is made with 100% recycled fiber—and manufactured like no other recycled yarn in the world. The process is so unique, the Discovery Channel featured it on an episode of How It's Made. The inclusion of polyester in the fabric is important for ensuring its durability and strength. The fabric is made of a stronger weave than regular Envirosax shopping bags and feels heavier to the touch.

But back to the Minisax design, which is quite frankly, stunning no matter which of the three bags you choose. There's funky flowers, fine print leaves or stripes - all on a black background with a different pattern on back. The flowers feature a contrast green/white polka dot design on back, the leaves a solid aqua and the stripes, a black back panel. The contrast trim detail is not to be missed either. All three are stylish and fun - perfect for older kids and taking to work.

For more information about the Minisax lunch bags, visit Lavish & Lime where you'll find a great selection of Envirosax reusable shopping bags and new shoulder Slingsax bags too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about reusable lunch bags in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Last Minute Giveaway: WIN a Neoprene Lunch Bag!

With all the last minute Christmas shopping and preparations going on, we've decided to do a last minute Christmas giveaway. Wouldn't it be nice to win a free gift?

We're giving away a reusable bug lunch bag made of insulating, machine washable neoprene - a great gift for any little one on your list, or a funky bag to keep for yourself... Simply leave a comment below telling us about the best Christmas present you've ever GIVEN. Was it fantastically imaginative? Did it make the recipient incredibly happy? Tell us and you could win this bug bag!

Become a Lavish & Lime fan on Facebook - leave a comment below telling us you have - and you'll increase your chances of winning with an extra entry.

Tweet this giveaway and yes, another entry!

We'll be drawing the winner's name this Sunday, December 20th and shipping the next day - hopefully to be received for Christmas. Good luck to all!

For more information about this reusable lunch bag and to view our entire range of eco-friendly lunch essentials, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

Sandwich Wrap Saves Egg Salad

We know and love how effective our eco-friendly reusable sandwich wrap can be as an alternative to plastic sandwich bags. It's great to hear how much our customers love them too.

Here's the prize-winning story that helped Tiff Gil win the sandwich wrap giveaway on our Lavish & Lime Facebook page last week.

"The absolute best part was that I had stored an egg salad sandwich in my wrap. Normally I pack the egg salad and bread separately as the sandwich ends up soggy by lunch, but I was not thinking when I made my lunch as it was the first time making lunch for work since being off on maternity leave. Anyway, the point is that my egg salad sandwich was perfect...as if I had just made it moments before eating it...instead of the night before. I’m sure the sandwich wrap had something to do with this. Regardless, I am hooked and will be snagging more reusable sandwich wraps, whether I win one or not." Tiff Gil

We think the sandwich wrap probably had something to do with keeping Tiff's sandwich fresh too. It's made from the same material as plastic sandwich bags but a thicker grade, to ensure its re-usability. The thicker material allows less air to penetrate, keeping what’s inside fresher than the typical plastic sandwich bag.

Sandwich wraps fold out flat into a place mat for a clean place to eat and are easy to wash, just wipe clean and air dry. There's no hidden corners or fabric weave for bacteria to build up. They come in loads of fun and funky designs for adults and kids and are free of BPA, lead and phthalates. Once you go for an eco-friendly wrap, you'll never go back to plastic sandwich bags again.

Check out our eco-friendly sandwich wraps at Lavish & Lime. Become a fan on our official Facebook page and you too will be privy to our exclusive facebook giveaways where fans are winning some great prizes!

Create your Own Back-to-School Labels

Why buy when you can create your own? With a little creativity, a computer and printer you can create your own personalized labels for school supplies your kids will love - thanks to the queen of crafting, Martha Stewart.

We think this is a great idea. Download and make your own labels here.

Another great tip from Martha is her make-it-yourself Magnetic Lunch Chart. Here at Lavish & Lime, we have loads of great lunch gear like insulated neoprene lunch bags, stainless steel containers, water bottles, etc. but what about all the good stuff that goes inside? Instead of a daily struggle, make lunch planning easier by getting the kids involved in the process with this movable chart.

Just a couple more ideas to help make going back to school a little bit easier - and more fun!

Don't forget our Reusable Sandwich Wrap facebook giveaway to one lucky fan. Become a fan, leave a comment on our discussion board on the ENTER TO WIN topic and you could win a wrap!

WIN an Eco-Friendly Reusable Sandwich Wrap!

It's back-to-school time and to help make things a little easier - and a bit more fun - we're giving away a reusable sandwich wrap to one lucky Lavish & Lime Facebook fan.

Simply become a fan here then post a message on our discussion board topic called 'Enter to Win...' and voila - you're entered. If you're already a fan, then just simply go to our official Facebook page and leave a comment on the discussion board. The discussion board is located under the 'Boxes' tab at the top of the page.

If you share this contest with your friends on Facebook, leave a comment letting us know and you'll be entered twice. Tweet it, let us know, and you'll be entered again.

Our sandwich wrap is a simple idea, but a fantastic one. It eliminates the need for plastic baggies! The wrap is BPA-, PVC- and lead-free, it folds out into a place mat for a clean place to eat and can last a whole school year. Ideal for sandwiches, it's also great for crackers, cookies, carrot sticks and more!

The draw for a wrap (random style to be chosen) will take place on September 16th - so you have until the 15th to enter. Good luck!

Browse our Back to School collection at Lavish & Lime for a great selection of eco-friendly and non-toxic lunch and school gear.

Eco-Friendly Tip: Why Stainless Steel Gets an A+

There's plastic, glass and all kinds of food containers out there, but why does stainless steel get top marks when it comes to packing snacks and lunches?

Eco-Tip #5: Choose food containers made of stainless steel.

1. It's safer:
Stainless steel doesn't leach nasty chemicals, like bisphenol-A (BPA) or lead into your food. There's no contamination of the food or liquids that come into contact with it because there's no coating that can break down or dissolve.

2. It's better for the environment:
Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and in fact, according to wikipedia:
“...an average stainless steel object is composed of about 60% recycled material, 25% originating from end-of-life products and 35% coming from manufacturing processes.”

3. It's easy to clean: Stainless steel is a snap to wash by hand, but it's also dishwasher safe.

4. It's easy for kids: Stainless steel is unbreakable and lightweight, especially compared to glass. Glass containers can be quite heavy for little ones and not ideal for being tossed around in a backpack.

5. It looks good: Stainless has a cool, minimalistic look. Besides, shiny objects always look great and now they come with brightly coloured lids too!

Check out these Lunchbot stainless steel containers featuring orange, blue, yellow and green lids (colour coated on top side of lid ONLY) plus our assortment of handy round steel containers, including minis, compact two-in-one sets and large containers with inner trays.

This eco-tip is for those of us who are definitely not litterbugs, but we're not tree huggers either. It's simply an idea or suggestion about taking easy, little - do-able - steps towards living life a little greener. If you have any thoughts or comments on stainless steel containers, we'd love to hear from you!

Is it an Eco-Friendly Back-to-School for You?

All aboard the big green school bus! In a recent Angus Reid survey, 80 per cent of Canadian parents said they're thinking about the environment when doing their back-to-school shopping this fall.

Are you? Take the poll in our sidebar to the left - we'd love to hear from you.

Eco-friendly thinking for back-to-school means seeking out school gear with less PVC and lead and more that are made of recycled, non-toxic and sustainable materials.

Here are some of our favourite environmentally-smart picks that will help send your eco-savvy scholar to the top of the class! This insulated lunch bag is made of the wetsuit material neoprene, which is also free of nasty chemicals like PVC and lead. In fact, neoprene is recommended by the Center for Environmental Health as a good alternative to PVC-loaded vinyl lunch bags. Then there's the copious amounts of plastic baggies for sandwiches - no need to overload the landfill with these when you can get a reusable sandwich wrap. One wrap can last a whole school year. And for pencils, why not save the forests and buy pencils made of recycled newspapers?

There are loads of alternatives out there that healthier for the kids and the planet too - you just have to look.

Browse our Back to School collection at Lavish & Lime now for a great selection of eco-friendly must-have products.

Eco-Friendly Tip: Make it a PVC-Free Lunch for Back-to-School

Back to school also means back to packing lunches on a daily basis. While you may have ideas on what to put inside the lunch box, have you thought about the actual lunch box itself?

In this case, it may be what's on the outside that counts.

Eco-Tip #3 - Choose a PVC-Free Lunch Bag

Many lunch bags and boxes on the market are actually made of toxic plastic, most commonly polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl). PVC contains harmful chemicals, including phthalates, lead and cadmium which can be toxic to a child's health. Phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time causing potential danger to children. That's why PVC is called the poison plastic.

PVC has even been linked to autism. A recent Swedish study published in Scientific American found that infants or toddlers who lived in a bedroom with vinyl or PVC flooring were twice as likely to have autism five years later than those with wood or linoleum floors.

There are lots of great looking, fun and funky PVC-free options on the market now so our tip for you is: choose one of them. It's your child's health at stake - why take the risk?

Check out the vibrant graphic bags with simple, eye-catching neoprene designs from Seattle-based Dabbawalla or the sleek and stylish new brown bags from New York's Milkdot. And what about you? For adults there's a great range of four funky neoprene gourmet getaway lunch bags from Built NY.

This eco-tip is for those of us who are definitely not litterbugs, but we're not tree huggers either. It's simply an idea or suggestion about taking easy, little - do-able - steps towards living life a little greener. If you have any thoughts or comments on PVC, we'd love to hear from you!

Visit our online boutique at Lavish & Lime for a great selection of back to school products that are good for you and for the planet.

Even Santa Said Go Green

We've been talking about it, you've been talking about it and now the big man's been talking about it too.

This year - for the first time ever - Santa included messages about going green in his letters to children.

He even made special mention of his own reusable lunch bag, like in this excerpt from a letter to Lizzie and Stewart Batho of Prince George, B.C., in which he said: "I'm always amazed how beautiful our planet is and how much I wish to protect it. Mrs. Claus always packs my cookies in my favourite reusable lunch bag."

We say hooray for Santa and his helpers at Canada Post. What better way to teach kids the importance of respecting the environment than through the one man they worship for the better part of childhood?

Visit Lavish & Lime for a full range of reusable lunch bags and sandwich wraps for both adults and children.

Pack a Lunch that Won't be Traded

Back to school doesn't have to mean back to boring lunches - for you or for them.

Keeping in mind research claims it takes 10-12 introductions to new food before a child is usually even willing to taste it, here are some ideas to keep the sandwich-making mill fresh and the lunch you make in your child's own tum.

• Think small. Small-sized foods are easier for children to handle and more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, use tiny tortillas for wraps and small sandwich buns. Peel, cut and pack smaller pieces of different fruits to keep their interest.
• Try different types of bread for sandwiches and dippers - crackers, rice cakes, mini croissants, pita bread, mini muffins, little bagels, tortillas, focaccia, raisin or cheese bread.
• Take a look at those prepackaged lunches the kids always pester you for. They may not be overly nutritious, but you can pack the same types of snack foods, using healthier choices.
• Think about food safety. Freeze juice boxes or small gel packs to keep the rest of the lunch cool. Better yet, use an insulated lunch box. Lime Tip: Before filling a thermos with hot soup, rinse it with hot water (from the kettle), to heat it before adding the soup.
• Make your own snack mixes by combining dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels, and baked crackers. Your kids will love munching on something crunchy and sweet or savoury.

Then there’s the sandwich option, which isn’t always as easy as it first seems. Deciding what to put inside can prove challenging, day after day. For some different sandwich fillings, try these:

• roasted vegetables with low fat cream cheese
• ham, pineapple, lettuce and cucumber
• tuna and corn mixed with mayonnaise
• turkey or chicken with pickle, chutney or salsa
• homous, grated carrot and lettuce leaves

Lime Tip: To make the whole process easier, why not have your kids to plan their own lunch menu for the week? A good friend swears by this method. Simply ask them to write down or tell you while you write down their choices for each day of the week (perhaps with a little nutritional guidance from you), post them on the fridge or cupboard and that's it - no battles.

The Outside Counts Too
Although we all know it's what's inside that counts, there is something to be said for the outside packaging to keep kids keen on lunch. Especially since the more disposable the bag, the more likely it is the whole lunch will end up in the garbage, as reported in the Seattle Times.

We say, bring on cute and funky reusable lunch carriers and keep our kids' lunches from getting traded or worse, turfed.

Check out our NEW arrivals: tiger, panda and rabbit insulated lunch boxes that unzip to place mats, reusable sandwich wraps in funky fish and camo shark designs, and stretchy neoprene totes that insulate hot or cold for up to four hours.

Visit Lavish & Lime for more fresh ideas for back to school must-haves.

Brown Bagging Turns Green

Back to school means back to brown bagging it, but this autumn the brown bag comes in a variety of eco-friendly options.

Green foodies, or groodies – and any of us who perpetually intend to take our lunch rather than buy it - can choose from an array of colourful, stylish reusable bags and totes to transport their gourmet lunch goodies to school or work.

Try our new Munchlers – insulated, soft-sided lunch boxes that unzip into a placemat, all in the shape of a zoo animal. Choose from Benny the tiger, Boo the pink panda or Meadow, the green rabbit. Great for ages 3+ through elementary school.

Older kids – and adults too – will love our Gourmet Getaway lunch totes that have just arrived. Made of neoprene, the wetsuit material, these bags have a sturdy zip, insulate hot or cold food and drink for up to four hours and stretch to fit any combination of stacked containers and food items.

The options are out there. Now, it’s up to us. Think about buying green bags rather than brown.

View our complete selection of eco-friendly lunch carriers and 100% recyclable water bottles at Lavish & Lime.